The firste yere of ¶The vnquiete tyme of Kyng Henry the fourthe.

[...]HEN the fame was dispersed abrode that Kyng Rycharde had putte hym selfe from his dignitee royall,The .i. yere. and resigned his scepter and diademe im­periall, Henry Plantagenet borne at Bolyngbroke in the Countie of Lyn­colne, duke of Lancastre and Herfford 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 Irelāde, and on the daie of saincte Edward the confessor, 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 promociō, suer it is that Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche whiche was heire to Lionell duke of Clarence, the thirde begotten sonne of kyng Edwarde the third as you before haue heard, and Richard erle of Cābrige the sonne to Edmond duke of Yorke, whiche had maried Anne sister to thesame Edmonde, wer with these doynges nether pleased nor contente. In so muche that now the deuisiō once beyng begon, the one linage persecu­ted the other, and neuer ceased till the heires males of bothe the lines wer by battaill murdered or by sedicion clerely extinct 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 fayned Crouchebacke, sonne to kyng Henry the third, and to saie that the said Edmond was elder brother to kyng Edward the first, and for his deformitee repudiat and put by from the croune royall 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 frēdes but also his priuy enemies knewe, that was but a title and that this title was by inuentors of mischief fayned, imagened & published and wer surely enformed not only that thesaid 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 Edmōd was nether Crokebacked nor a deformed persone, but a goodly gentil man and a valiante capitain, and somuche fauored of his louyng fa­ther, that he to preferre hym to the mariage of the Quene dowager of [Page x] Nauerne hauyng a greate liuelode, gaue to hym the countie palātyne of Lancastre with many notable honours, high seigniories and large priuileges. Therefore thei aduised 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 be cause he was by kyng Richard adopted as heire, & declared successor & of hym by resignacion 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 sol [...]ite 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 mete to geue iudge­mente on so noble a Prince as kyng Richard is, whom we haue taken for our souereigne and liege lorde by the space of .xxij. yeres, and I as­sure you, there is not so ranke a traytor, nor so arrante a thiefe, nor so cruell a murderer, whiche is apprehended 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 manifesty 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 prehemiēnce of a kyng. And therfore I say and affirme that you do apparantly wrong, and manifest iniury to procede in any thing against kyng Richard, without callyng him opēly 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. Albones.

❧ 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 persones would presume to rere warre or congregate a multitude to releue or deliuer hym out of prisone, that then he should bee the first that should dye for that sedicious 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 appeled therle of Sa­lisbury, and there were more then .xx. appellantes whiche waged bat­taill in this parliamente. But the kyng pardoned all their offences sa­uyng [Page] the fautes of the lorde Morley and therle of Salisbury, whom he comitted to ward, and after at the request of their frēdes, 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 erle of Arundelles 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 Richard, 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 fedicious faccions within the realme. Wherfore to aduoyde suche pe­stiterus dangers, the newe kyng recōciled hym to his fauor, and made hym as he surely coniectured his perfite frende, where in deede he was inwardly his dedly enemie. In this parliament wer adnichilate al the actes pa [...]ed 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 cōmonaltee. For in that parliament, will ruled for reason, men aliue wer condemned with­out examinacion, men dedde and put to execuciō by priuy murder wer adiudged openly to die, the hie prelate of the realme without answere was banished: An erle arraigned could not be suffered to plede his 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 wonderfully 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.

After whiche acte passed, he thought neuer to bee by any of his sub­iectes molested or troubled. But O Lorde, 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 ferme 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, condiscended to by the Clerkes, ratified by the commons, and enacted by the three estates of the realme, was when he thought hymself surely mortised in a ferme rocke & immouable foun­dacion, sodainly with a trimbelyng quickesande & vnstedfast grounde like to haue sonkē or been ouerthrowen. For diuerse lordes whiche wer kyng Richardes frendes, outwardly dissimuled 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. Se how the deuill is as ready to set furth mischief, as the good angell is to auance vertue. 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 had to litle, and religeons had to muche, imagined in hymself that he now obteinyng the croune 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 persones, lerned and vnliterate, better fed then taught, toke on thē to write & regester in the boke of fame, the noble actes, the wise dooyn­ges, and politike gouernances of kynges and princes, in whiche cro­nographie, if a kyng gaue to them possessions or graunted them liber­ties [Page] 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 for gotten or omitted. But if a christian prince had touched their liberties or claimed any part iustly of their possessions, or would haue intermit­ted in their holy francheses, or desired aide of thē 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 depe pitte of helle. Wherof the prouerbe begā, geue and be blessed, take awaie and bee accursed. Thus the feare of lesyng their possessions, made them pay yerely 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 on 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, Ihō Montagew erle of Salisbury, Hugh Spē ­ser erle of Glocester, Ihon the bishop of Carleill, sir Thomas Blount and Magdalen one of kyng Richardes 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 themselfes into a secrete chamber and sat doune to counsail, when thei wer set, Ihon Hollande duke of Exceter whose rage of reuen gyng y^e 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 bee experimented then ma­nifest hostilitee or open warre. And for the expedicion of this enterprise he deuised a solempne iustes to be enterprised betwene hym and .xx. on his parte, and the erle of Salisbury and .xx. on his part at Oxforde: to [Page xij] the whiche triumphe, Kyng Henry should bee 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 accomplishe and performe this inuented assaie and policie.

THIS deuise so much pleased the sedicious congregacion, that thei not onely made an indenture sextipartite sealed with their seales and signed with their handes in the whiche eche bounde hym selfe to other to endeuoure theim selfes bothe 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 concluded the Duke of Exceter came to the kyng to Windsore, requiryng hym for the loue that he bare to the noble actes of chiualrie, that he woulde vouchesafe not onely to repaire to Oxford to see and behold their man lie feates, and warlike pastime: but also to be the discouerer and indif­ferente 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 in lawe, and nothing lesse imagenyng thē that whiche was pretended, gentelly graunted and frendly condiscen­ded to his request. Whiche thyng obteined, all the lordes of this cōspi­racie departed to their houses (as theinoised) to set armorers on worke 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 grauē 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 grandgardes the poldren, the pollettes, parted with golde and azure: And another flocke had theym siluer and sable: Some had the mainferres, the close gantlettes, the guissettes the flancardes dro­ped & gutted with red, and other had thē spekeled with grene: one sorte had the quishes, the greues, the surlettes, y^• 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 scaf­feron the cranet, the bard of the horse all white, and other had them all gilte. Some had their armyng sweardes freshly burnyshed and some had thē conningly vernished. Some spurres were white, some gilt, and some cole blacke. One parte had their Plumes all white, another had them all redde, and the third had them of seuerall colours. One ware on his headpece his Ladies sleue, and another bare on his helme the gloue of his dearlyng: But to declare the costly Bases, the riche bar­des [Page] the pleasant trappers bothe of goldesmithes worke and embraw­dery, no lesse sumptuously then curiously wrought, it wold aske a long time to declare, for euerye man after his appetite deuised his fantasy verifiyng the olde Prouerbe, so many heades, so many wittes.

The duke 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 coniectured to be prepared against her brother thē was in dede eminent & at 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 harde 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 imperiall of the same, then my hearte was heauie, my life stoode in ieopardie and my combe was clerely cut, but you then reioysed laughed and trium­phed, wherfore I pray you be contente that I may aswell reioyce and haue pleasure at the deliueryng and restoryng of my brother iustly to his dignite, as you were iocond and pleasaunt when your brother vn­iustly and vntrulie depriued and disseazed my brother of the same. For of this I am sure, that yf my brother prospere, you and I shal not fall nor decline: but if your brother continue in his estate and magnificēce I doubte not your decay nor ruine, but I suspecte the losse of my life, beside the forfeyture 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 great company bothe of Archers and horsemen, and when he came there, he founde ready al his mates and confedera­tes wel apointed for their purpose, excepte the Duke of Aumerle Erle of Rutland, for whom thei 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 I spake before in his bosome.

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 I will see it, and so by force toke it out of his bosome, when he perceaued the contente and the sixe signes and seales sette and fixed to the same, whereof the seale of his sonne was one, he sodainlie rose from the table, cōmaundyng his hor­ses to be sadeled, and in a greate furie saied to his sonne, thou trayter these, thou hast bene a traitour to kyng Richard, and wilt thou nowe be falce to thy cosen kyng Henry? thou knowest wel inough that I am thy pledge borowe and mayneperner, body for body, and land for goo­des in open parliament, and goest thou about to sekemy death and de­struction? by the holy rode I had leauer see the strangeled on a gibbet. And so the duke of Yorke moūted on horsbacke to ride toward Wind­sor [Page xiij] to the kyng and to declare the hole effecte of his sōne and his adhe­rentes & partakers. 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 shutte, saiyng that he must nedes deliuer the keies to the kyng. When he came before the kynges presence he kneled downe 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 harde: 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 writyng when he had redde, and sene, perceiuyng the signes and seales 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 toward the triumphe the nexte 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 lictell vexed, but with a great and meruclous agonie perturbed and vnquieted, and therfore determined there to make his abode not hauyng time to loke and gase on Iustes 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 wold set forward. And shortly wrote to the Earle of Northumberland his high Cōstable, and to the erle of Westmerland his high Marshal, and to other his assured frendes of al the douteful daunger and pere­lous ieopardie. The coniuratoures perceiuyng by the lacke of the duke of Aumerles cōming, 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 forthe and aduaunce. And so they adorned Magdaleue, 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 folowed in a quadrat array to the entent to de­stroy king Henry as the most pernicious & venemus enemy to thē and his owne naturall countrey. While the confederates with this newe publyshed Idole accompanied with a puissant armie of men, toke the directe way and passage toward Windsor: King Henry beyng admo­nished of their approchyng, with a fewe horse in the night, came to the [Page] 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 feare and what for entreatie surely bele­uyng that kyng Richard was there present and in company. King Hē ­ry 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 Sa­lisbury in one ynne, and the duke of Exceter and the erle of Glocester 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 mannely assaulted and strongely defended a great space: The Duke of Exceter beyng in another inne with the erle of Glocester set fier on diuers howses in the towne, thinkyng that the assailantes wold leue the assault and rescue their goodes, which thing they nothyng regarded. The host liyng without hearyng noiseand 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 cōfort, fled into Essex, and the erle of Glocester goyng toward Wales was taken and beheaded at Bristowe. Magdalent fliyng in­to Scotland was apprehēded and brought to the Tower. The lordes whiche fought still in the towne of Chichester wer woūded 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 Knightes and Esquiers & sent to Oxford, where the kyng then soiourned, where sir Thomas Blonte and all the other prysoners were executed. Whē the Duke of Exceter hard that his complices wer taken, and his councellers apprehēded, and his frendes and alies put in execucion, he lamented his owne chaunce, and bewepte the misfor­tune 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, [Page xiiij] and in the lordshippe of Plasshey a towne of the Duches of Glocester and there made shorter by the hed, and in that place especially because that he in the same Lordship seduced & falcely betrayed Thomas duke of Glocester, and was the very inward auctour and open dissimuler of his death and destruction. So the cōmon Prouerbe was verified, as you haue done, so shall you fele. Oh Lord I wolde wisshe that this ex­ample, of many highlye promoted to rule, mighte be had in memorie, the which mete and measure their owne iniquitie and il doinges, with force auctoritie and power, to the entent that they by these exaumples should auerte their myndes from ill doynges, and such vngodly and execrable offences. After this Magdalein that represented the person of kyng Richard amōgest 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 Byshop of Carlile more for feare then sickenes, rendred his spirite to God, as one rather desiryng to die by deathes darte, then temporall swearde. But nowe was come the time when al the confederates and compaignions of this vnhappye sedicion, had tasted accordyng to their desertes, the painfull penaunce of their pleasante pastime, or rather pestiferus ob­stinacy, that an innocent with a nocēt, a man vngilty with a gilty, was pondered in an egall balaunce. For pore king Richard ignorant of all this coniuracion kept in miserable captiuitie, 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 his enemies, wold deliuer himself outof all inward feare aud discord, 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: wherfore some saye he commaunded, other talke that he condiscended, many write that he knewe not tyll it was dooen, and then it confirmed. But howe so euer it was, kyng Richarde dyed of a violent death, without any infection or naturall disease of the body. 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 parliment, 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 [Page] for hunger, besette with twentie deintie disshes. One writer whiche semed to haue muche knowledge of kyng Rychardes affaires, saieth that kyng Henry sittyng at his table sore sighyng said, haue I no fai­thefull frende whiche will deliuer me of him whose life wil be my deth, and whose death wil 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 incontinently departed frō the court with eight strong persons and came to Pomfret, commaundyng that the esquier whiche was accustomed to sewe and take the assaye beefore kyng Richard, shuld no more vse that maner of seruice, saiyng, let him eate wel nowe, for he shall not long eate. Kyng Richard sate downe to dyner and was serued without curtesie 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 cōmaunded 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 of Lancastre and the to­gether: and with that worde sir Piers entered into the chamber wel armed with .viii. tal men in harneis, euery man hauing a bill in his hād. 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 himselfe, and slewe fowre of them in a short space. Sir Piers benig sōwhat dismaied with his resistyng, 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 againste his enemies beyng armed, (whiche was a valiaunt acte) but in conclusion chasyng and trauersing frō the one side to the other, he came by the chaire wher sir Piers stode, whiche with a strooke 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 perceiued 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 wil rayle and crie out vpon vs, so that duryng our na­turall liues, we shalbe poincted with the finger, and our posterite shal be reproued as children of Homecides, ye of Regicides & prince quel­lers. Thus haue I declared to you the diuersities of opinions concernyng the deathe of this infortunate prince, remittyng to your iudge­ment whiche you thinke most trewe, but the very trouthe is that he di­ed of a violent death, and not by the darte of naturall infirmitie.

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 al men might perceiue that he was departed out of this mortal lyfe) and [Page xv] was conueighed to London, where in the cathedrall churche of saincte Paule he had a solempne obsequie, and from thence conueighed to Lā ­gley in Buckyngham shire, where he was enterred, and after by kyng Henry the .v. remoued to Westminster, and there intombed honorably with quene Anne his wife, although the Scottes vntreuly write that he escaped out of prisone, and led a verteous and solitary life in Scot­lande, and there died and is buried in the blacke 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 apparantly per­ceiue by the ruyne of this noble prince, whiche beeyng an vndubitate kyng, crouned and anoynted by the spiritualtie, honored and exalted by the nobilitee, obeyed and worshipped of the comon people, was so­dainly disceiued by theim whiche he moste trusted, betraied by theim 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.

VVHEN newes of kyng Richardes deposyng were reported into Fraūce, kyng Charles and all his court wondered, detested & abhorred suchean iniurie to bee doen to an anoynted kyng, to a crouned prince, & to the hed of a realme: but in especial Waleram erle of sent Paule whi­che had maried kyng Richardes halfe sister, moued with high disdain against kyng Henry, ceased not to stirre and prouoke y^e Frenche kyng and his counsaill to make sharpe warre in Englande, to reuenge the iniurie and dishonor comitted and doen to his sonne 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 inuade England. But the Frenche kyng so stomacked this high disple sure, & so inwardly cōceiued this infortunate chance in his minde, that he fell into his old diseace of the frenisy, that he had nede accordyng to the old prouerbe, to saile into the Isle ofAnticyra is an Isle in A­sia, wherein groweth an Herbe y^• pur­geth Melāco­ly, & therof cā the prouerbe, go saile to Anticira, as who saieth, goo puro [...] youre Melancoly. Anticyra, to purge his melā ­colie humor, but by the meanes of his phisicions, he was somwhat releued & brought to knowledge of hymself. This armie was come doune into Picardy, redy to be trāsported into Englād, but whē it was certa­inly certified that kyng Richard was ded, & that their enterprise of his deliuerāce was frustrate & voyd, tharmie scattred & departed a sonder.

BVT whē the certaintie of kyng Richardes death was declared to the Aquitaynes and Gascons, the moste parte of the wisest men of the countree, fell into a greate bodely feare, and into a dedly dreade. For some lamentyng the instabilitee of the Englishe people, iudged theim to be spotted with perpetuall infamie, and brought to dishonor & losse of their aunciēt fame and glory, for comittyng so heynous a cryme and detestable an offēce against 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 thei imagined that by this ciuill discencion and intestine deuision, the realme of England [Page] 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^e 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 enflamed with malencolie, saied that vntrue, vnnaturall and vnmercifull 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.

VVHEN 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 their prince, duke and countrymanne, thei reioysed and aplauded in maruelous maners, thynkyng with theimselfes that (the Gascons nowe abhorryng and detestyng the Englishe men more then a Dogge or an Adder) thei verie easely mighte obtain the whole countree and douchie of Aquitaine, with the members and territories there to apperteignyng, if thei would ether by entreatie or by inuasion moue the people beyng now amased and comfortles, as shepe without a shepeherd, or beastes without an herdman. Wherfore in greate haste and slowe spede, Lewes duke of Burbon was sent to Angiers, & wrote to diuerse citees and tounes on the confynes of Aquitain 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 al his glosyng wordes serued litle, and al his faire promises profited muche lesse. For the people knewe that the En­glishe yoke was but a fether, & the yoke of Fraunce, was more ponde­rus then lede, seyng daily how the Frēch men vexed and molested ther miserable people with extreme exacciōs and intollerable talleges, ra­syng their skinne to the very bone, and their purses to the very botome wherfore thei determined rather to abide in their old subieccion and o­bedience, then for a displeasure irrecurable to auenture themselfes on a newe chance and a doubtfull parell.

KYNG Henry beeyng aduertised of al the Frenche attemptes and couert conueighances, sent the lorde Thomas Percy erle of Worceter with a goodly crewe of souldiours into Aquitain, to aide and assist sir Robert Knolles his leuetenante there, and to perswade and exorte the people to continewe in their ancient libertie and dewe obeysance. The erle arriued there, and so wisely entreated the noble men, so grauously perswaded the magestrates of the citees and tounes, and so gently and familiarly vsed and tracted 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, [Page xvi] whiche done he retourned againe into England with great than­kes. When kyng Charles of Fraunce perceiued 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, somtime 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 wold send his commissi­oners shortely to Caleis, whiche shoulde farther common and cōclude with them, not onely that request, but diuers other matters of gret ef­fecte and efficacie. And shortely 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 Northumberland 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 al thinges equall. 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 successe.

Then they began to entreate a continuall peace, whiche request the Frenchemen refused, and in conclusion their agreed that the truce whi­che was taken betwene them and kyng Richarde, 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 liues 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 Iewelles ornamentes & plate (with a gret 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 sainct Paule Lieuetenant for the French king in Picardie, and so conueighed to her father, whiche gaue her in ma­riage to Charles sōne 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 concluded, and so this matter seased, and was no more moued. As the old prouerbe saith, after winde commeth rain, & after one euil comōly ensueth another, so duryng the time that kyng Henry was vexed and vnquieted, bothe within the realme & without.

[Page] OVVEN Glendor a squire of Wales, perceiuyng the realme to be vnquieted, and the kyng not yet to be placed in a lure and vnmouable seate, entēdyng to vsurpe and take vpon hym the principalitie of Wa­les, and the name and preheminence of thesame, what with faire flatte­ryng wordes and with large promises, so enuegled entised and allured the wilde and vndiscrite Welshmen, that thei toke hym as their prince and made to hym an othe of aliegeance and subieccion. By whose sup­portacion, he beyng elated and set vp in aucthorite, to the intent to bee out of all doubte of his neighbors, made sharpe warre on Reignolde lorde Grey of Rithen and toke hym prisoner, promisyng hym libertee and dischargyng his raunsome, if he would espouse and marie his doughter, 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, assented to his pleasure and maried the damo­sell. But this false father in lawe, this vntrew, vnhonest and periured persone, kept hym with his wife still in captiuitee till he died. And not cōtent 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 toke hym prisoner, and fete ryng hym in chaynes, cast hym in a depe and miserable dongeon. The kyng 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.

THVS Owen Glendor 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 [...]andes returned again into Wales, neuer desistyng to do euil till the next yere, that the kyng reised a greate armie and puissance to resist and defende his malicious attemptes and sedicious inuasions, as after shal be declared. It was not sufficiēt 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 infested with the frantike waueryng Welshemen, but also fortune hauyng enuy at the glory and fortunate procedyng of this man, muste in his saied firste yere also, arme the Scottes with spere and shelde a­gainst hym and his realme, wherof the occasion shall bee to you decla­red accordyng to the Scotticall histories. A litle before this tyme, George of Dunbarr erle of the Marches of the realme, made meanes to kyng Robert of Scotlande, that Dauid his eldest sonne might ma­rie and espouse the erles doughter called Elizabeth, and deliuered for the performance of thesame 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 [Page xvij] 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 swerd to reuenge the iniury & 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 Scotland.

KYNG Roberte beeyng thereof aduertised, firste depriued the Erle 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 continew ether to deliuer into his possession the Erle 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 herault of Scotland, that the worde of a prince ought to bee kepte, and his writyng and seale ought to bee inuiolate, and consideryng 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 sweard. Kyng Henry perceiuyng, that policie preuenteth chance, gathred and assembled to­gether a greate armie, 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 of Maidens in Edenbrough, in thende of Sep­tember, whereof was capitain, Dauid duke of Rothsay and prince of the realme, and Archibalde erle Douglas, with many hardy men. Ro­berte duke of Albanie, 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 would abide and tary his coming and repaire, whiche 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, the comyng 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 Scot­tes [Page] 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 dismis­ [...]ed his souldiers, and discharged his army, the Scottes entendyng to bee reuenged of their greate domages to theim by the Englishe naciō 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 [...]orsaid sir Patrike Hebburne, encoraged & boldened with the pros­perous successe of this first iorney, with a greate armie of the people of Lowdian inuaded Northumberlande, robbyng and spoylyng the coū ­tree and departed homeward, not without greate gain of beastes and captiues. But in the returne he was encoūtered with therle of North­umberlandes vicewarden, & other gentilmen of the borders at a toune in Northumberlande called Nes [...]it, and there the Englshemen sore as­sailed, and the Scottes valiantly resisted, but after a long fight, the victory fell on the Englishe parte, and as Ihon Mayer the Scot wri­teth, 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 esquiers, 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 thesame, 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 ban­ners displayed like menne ether apte or thynkyng theim selfes able to destroy the townes and spoyle the countrey and Marches of North­umberlande. When thei wer 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 calledsir Henry hotspur, and in his company the Lorde George of Dunbar erle of Marche before banished Scotlande, as you haue heard, with al the gentill 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 reseuyng other were slaine, other gredy of praye 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, [Page xviii] and there were slaine of men of great renoune and estimacion sir Ihō 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 reproche, Hector Boece the Scottish arche­chronocler kepeth in silence and dothe omitte, beside .x.M. cōmons. But there wer taken prisoners, Mordacke erle of Fife, Archebald 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 and Montethe with .v.C. other.

When the Lord Percy had thus obtained this glorious victory, he sent his prisoners into diuerse fortresses, and determyned to subdue or destroy all the countreis 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 and destroiyng the hole countrey, and they beseged the castell of Cokelaues, wherof was capitain sir Ihon Grenlowe, which seyng that his castel was not long able to be defended cōpounded with the Englishmen that yf the castel wer not suckered within .iii. monthes, that then he wold deliuer it into the Englishe 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 nobilitie 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 timerous heartes, and Feminine audacitie (whether he thought so or no was a questiō) 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 reisyng of the siege or reskewe of the castel. But the Englishe men beyng sent for to go with the kyng into Wales, raysed their siege and departed lea­uyng the noble men prisoners 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 assent.

KYNG Henry forgat not his enterprise into Wales,The second yere. but made prouision for menne, municions and artillary mete and conuenient for so great a businesse, whereof the Frenche kyng beyng aduertised, sente priuilie Lorde Iames of Burbone earle of Marche and his two bre­thren 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 [Page] brent, spoiled and destroied diuers small villages, and poore cotages, and robbed .v. or .vi. littel Craiers and fisher botes laden with fysshe and corne. 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 flusshed and drowned .xii. of his great shippes whiche laie in the mouthe of the hauen for his safegard and defence. Wherof when the erle was aduertised, and perceuyng by the firyng of the beacons that the people began to assemble in plum­pes to encounter with him, and also seyng his power sore diminshed 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 tempest, with muche paine and great labour toke his shippes againe, and was not without ieopardie of his lyfe driuen on the coast of Bri­taine and landed at sainct Malos. The French kyng perceiuyng that this chāce had il successe, apointed one of his Marshals called Memorancie, and the maister of his Crosbowes with .xii.M. men, to saile in to Wales, which toke shippyng at Brest and had the winde to them so prosperous that they landed at Milford hauen, and leauing the castel of Penbroke vnassaulted, because it was well fortified, manned, and vitailed, besieged the towne of Harforde West whiche was so wel 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 Dinbigh abidyng their cōmyng with ten thousand men. They wer of him louingly receiued, and gentelly enterteined, and when al thyn­ges were prepared, thei passed by Glamorgan shire toward Worcester and there brent the suburbes, but hearyng of the kynges approchyng sodainly retourned into Wales. The king with a great puissaunce fo­lowed and founde them embattailed on a highe mountaine, and a gret valey betwene bothe the armies, so that eche armie plainely perceiued other, and euery hoste loked to be assauted of his aduersary, and of the groūd to take the most aduaūtage: thus they cōtinued eight daies frō mornyng to nyght ready to abide but not to geue battaile. There wer many fearce 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 Uale 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 thē. Wherfore of very ne­cessitie they were compelled eyther to fyghte or flee: And so by the ad­uisement and councell of the Marshall of Fraunce, whiche put not to muche confidence in the waueryng Welshemen, the hole hoste depar­ted [Page xix] theight day at midnight in the most secretes maner that thei could deuise. The Frenche men with littel rewardes and no gaine returned into Britayne makyng small boast of their painfull iourney.

THE kyng seyng them departed, folowed thē 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 quotidiane remouyng, his painfull and busi wande­ryng, his troblesome and vncertaine abidyng, his continual mocion, his daily peregrinacion 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 marishe to wod, from noughte to worsse, without gaine or profite, withoute vitayle or succour, he was of necessitie cōpelled to retire his armie and retourne againe to Worcester, in whiche retournyng the Welshemen knowing the passages of the countrey, toke certaine cariages of his laden with vitayle to his great displeasure, and their great comforte. When he came to Worcester 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 wil of mo had so shortely obteigned and possessed the realme and regalitie, blased a­brode & noised daily amongest the vulgare people that kyng Richard (whiche was openly sene dead) was yet liuyng and desired aide of the common people to reposesse his realme and roiall dignitie. And to the furtheraunce of the fantasticall inuencion partly moued with indig­nacion, partely incensed with furious inalencolie, set vpon postes and caste aboute the stretes railyng rimes, malicious meters and taun­tyng verses against kyng Henry and his procedynges. He beyng net­teled with these vncurteous ye vnuertuous prickes & thornes, serched out the authours, and amongest other were found culpable of this of­fence and crime, sir Roger Claryngdon knight, and eight gray Friers whiche according to their merites and desertes were strangeled at Ti­borne and there put in execucion. I may not here forget to shewe you howe that kyng Henry sekyng nowe affinitie and frendshippe in Ger­manie sent this yere his eldest doughter Blaunche accompanied with the Erle of Sommerset, the Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Clif­forde, and other noble personages into Almaine. 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 Swinsford the thyrde wife of Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lancastre father to this kyng Henry, & was buried at Lincolne. In the same yere kyng Henry maried Iane [Page] Duches of Britaine late wife to Ihon duke of Britaine at the citie of Winchester and with triumphal pompe conueighed her thorow the ci­tie of London to Westminster, and there she was crowned Quene.

While these thynges were thus doyng in England Waleran Erle of sainct Paule whiche had maried the halfe sister of Richard, hauyng a malicious heart and a deadly hatred to Kyng Henry, assēbled a great company of men of warre to the nomber of .xvi. or .xviii.C. whereof the greatest parte were noble men, and made great prouisiō of al thin­ges necessary for his feate and enterprise. And on sainct Nicholas day entered into his shippes at Harflete 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 the people of the Isle wer assembled and approched to fight with hym. He with al haste possible 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 smal or none. And in the same very season Ihon Erle 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 wonne the castell of Carlaffin, whiche was no small losse to the Englishe nacion: Duryng which time died Philippe duke of Burgoin, and duke Albert of Bauier Erle of Henault.

¶The thirde yere.The .iii▪ yere.

IN this yere appered a comete or blasyng Starre of a houge quantitie by a long season which as the Astronomers affir­med, signified great effusion of mannes blud, which iudge­ment was not frustrate as you shal perceiue. For Henry erle of Northumberland and Thomas erle of Worcester his brother, and his sonne Lord Henry Percy called hotspur, which were to king Hen­ry in the beginnyng of his reigne bothe fautours frendes and aiders, perceiuyng 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 hym, and grudged agaynste his welthe and felicitie. And specially greued, because the kyng demaun­ded of the Earle and his sonne suche Scottishe prisoners as they had taken at the conflictes 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 di­uers and 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, insomuche that the kyng openly saied that if they wolde not deliuer them, he woulde take them without deliuerance. Wherwith they beyng sore discōtent, by the [Page xx] councell of Lord Thomas Percy erle of Worcester, whose study was euer to procure malice, and to set al thynges in broile and vncertentie, fainyng a cause to proue and tempte 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 germain whome (as they reported) Owen Glendor kepte in filthy prison shake­led with yrons, onely for that cause that he toke his parte, and was to hym faithful and trewe. The kyng began not a litell to muse on this request, and not without a cause, for in dede it touched him as nere as his sherte, as you well may perceiue by the Genealogy rehersed in the beginnyng of this story. For this Edmond was sonne to Earle Roger whiche was sonne to Lady Philip doughter to Lionell 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 croune and realme, whose Aunt called Elinor this Lord Henry Percie had Maried. And therfore the kyng litell forced although that that lignage were clerely subuerted and vtterly extincte.

VVHEN the kyng had long digested and studied on this matter, he made aunswere and sayd that the Earle of Marche was not taken prisoner neither for his cause nor in his seruice, but willyngly suffered him selfe to be taken, because he woulde take no parte againste Owen Glendor and his complices, and therfore he woulde nether raunsome nor releue hym, 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 muche that sir Henry hotspur said openly: Behold the heire of the realme is robbed of his righte, and yet the robber, with his owne, wyl not redeme hym. So in this fury the Percies departed, 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 al 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 beleue by a Welsh 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 betwene them, by the deuiacion and not deuinaciō of that mawmet Merlin. I wyll no [...] reherse howe they by their de­puties in the howse of the Archdeacon of Bangor, seduced with that falce fained Prophesie deuided the realme amongest thē, nor yet write howe by a tripartie endenture sealed with their seales, all Englande [Page] from Seuerne and Trent South and Eastward, was assigned to the erle of Marche: Nor how all Wales and the landes beyond Seuerne Westward, were appoincted to Owen Glendor, and all the remnaunt from Trente Northwarde to the lorde Percie. But I will declare to you that whiche was not prophesied, 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 thesame whiche was especiall of the lorde Percie and Owen Glendor. For the erle of Marche was euer 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 thei be prognosticacions? nay thei be pestife­rous publishinges. For by declaryng & credite geuing to their subtil & obscure meanynges, princes haue been deceiued, many a noble manne hath suffred, and many an honest man hath been begyled & destroyed.

KYNG Henry knowyng of this newe confederacy, and nothyng lesse myndyng then that that happened after, gathered a greate armye too goo agayne into Wales: whereof the Erle of Northum­berlande and his sonne wer aduertised, by lorde Thomas erle of Wo­cester, and with all diligence raysed all the power that thei could make and sent to the Scottes whiche before wer taken prisoners at Hamal­don for aide and men, promisyng the erle Douglas the toune of Bar­wicke and a parte of Northumberlande: and to other Scotishe lordes greate lordshippes and segniories, if thei obteigned the vpper hande and superioritee. The Scottes allured with desire of gain, and for no malice that thei bare to kyng Henry, but somewhat desierous to be re­uenged of their olde greues, came to the erle with greate compaignie, and to make their cause seme good and iuste, thei deuised certain arti­cles by the aduise of Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke, brother to the lorde Scrope, whom kyng Henry 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 seales confirmed thesame. 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 al y^• confederates them abādoned, & at the daie of the conflict left alone the erle of Stafford only excepte, whiche beyng of a haute corage and hye stomacke, kept his promise & ioined with the Percies to his destrucciō

THE lorde Percy with therle Douglas and other erles of Scotlād [Page xxi] with a greate armie, departed out of the Northparties, leuyng his fa­ther sicke (whiche promised vpon his amendment & recouery without delay to folowe) and came to Stafford where his vncle therle of Wor­cester and he met, and there began to consult vpon their great affaires and high attempted enterprice, there thei exhorted their souldiers and compaignions to refuse no pain for the auancemente of the common wealth, nor to spare no trauell for the libertie of their countree: prote­styngopenly that thei made warre onely (to restore the noble realme of England to his accustomed glory and fredō, whiche was gouerned by a tirant and not by his lawfull and right kyng. The capitaines sware and the souldiers promised to fight, ye & to dye for the libertie of their countree. When all thynges was prepared, thei set forwarde towarde Wales, lokyng euery houre for new aide and succors, noysyng abrode that thei came to aide the kyng against Owen Glendor. The kyng he­ryng of the erles approchyng, thought it policie to encounter with thē before that the Welshmē should ioyne with their armie, and so include hym on bothe 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 hote and so coragi­ous, that thei 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 thesame night thei sēt the articles wherof I spake before, by Thomas Kaiton and Thomas Saluaine esquiers to kyng Henry, signed with their handes and sealed with their seales, whiche articles (because no Chronicler saue one, maketh mēcion 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 worde for worde accordyng to my copie do here reherce.

VVE 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 Englande toward Scotlande, and Thomas Percy erle of Worce­ster beyng proctours and protectours of the comon wealth, before our Lorde Iesu Christe our supreme iudge doo allege, saie and entende to proue 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 of thy guyle and by force of thy fautors: that when thou after thyne exile did­dest entre Englande, thou madest an othe to vs vpon the holy Gospel­les bodely touched and kissed by thee at Dancastre that thou wouldest neuer claime the croune, kyngdom or state royall but only thyne owne propre inheritance, and the inheritance of thy wife in Englande, and [Page] that Richard our soueraigne lorde the kyng and thyne, should raigne duryng the terme of his life, gouerned by the good counsail of the lor­des sp [...]rituall and temporall. Thou hast impri [...]oned thesame thy soue­raigne lorde and our kyng within the toure of London, vntill he had for feare of death, resigned his kyngdomes of Englande and France, and had renounced all his right in theforsaid kyngdomes, and others his dominions and landes of beyonde the sea. Under coulor of whiche resig [...]acion and renunciaion by the counsaile of thy frendes and com­p [...]ices, and by the open noysyng of the rascall people by thee and thy adherentes assembled at Westminster, thou hast crouned thy self kyng of the realmes aforsaid, and hast seazed and entered into all the castles and lordsh [...]ppes perteignyng to the kynges croune, contrary to thyne othe. Wher [...]ore thou art forsworne and false.

ALSO we do alledge, saie a [...]d entend to proue, that wher thou swo­rest vpō thesame Gospelles in thesame place and tyme to vs, that thou w [...]uldest not suffre any dismes to be leuied of the Clergie, nor fiftenes on the people, nor any other tallagies and taxes to bee leuied in the realme of England to the behoffe of the realme duryng thy life, but by the consideracion of the thre estates of the realme, except for great nede in cau [...]es of importance or for the resistance of our enemies, onely and none otherwise. Thou contrary to thyne othe so made, hast doen to bee leuied right many dismes and fiftenes, and other imposiciōs and tal­lagies, aswell of the Clergie as of the comonaltee of the realme of En­glande, & of the Marchauntes, for feare of thy magestie royall. Wher­fore thou arte periured and false.

ALSO we do allege, saie & entēde to proue, that where thou sworest to vs vpon thesame Gospelles in theforsaied place and tyme, that our [...]oueraigne lorde and thyne, kyng Richarde, should reigne duryng the terme of his life in his royall prerogatiue and dignitee: thou hast cau­sed thesame our soueraigne lorde and thine, traiterously within the ta­stell of Poumfret, without the cōsent or iudgement of the lordes of the realme, by the space of fiftene daies and so many nightes (whiche is horible emong christian people to be heard) with honger, thirst and colde to perishe, to be murdered. Wherfore thou art periured and false.

ALSO we do alledge, saie & entend to proue, that thou at that tyme when our soueraigne 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 Englande, 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 imedia­tly by due course of inheritaunce after the deceasse 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 thesame place and tyme, to supporte and main­tein [Page xxij] the lawes and good customes of the realme of Englande, 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 Englande and thy fautors, haue written almoste through euery shire in Englande to chose suche knightes for to hold a parliament as shalbe for thy pleasure and purpose, so that in thy parliamentes no iustice should bee ministered against thy mynde in these our complaintes now moued and shewed by vs, wher­by at any tyme we might haue any perfight redresse, notwithstandyng that wee accordyng to our conscience (as we truste ruled by God) haue often tymes therof complained, as wel can testifie and bere witnes the right reuerend fathers in God Thomas Arundell archbishop of Caū ­torbury, and Richard Scrope, archebishop of Yorke. Wherfore nowe by force and strength of hande before our Lorde Iesu Christ we muste aske our remedy and helpe.

ALSO we do alledge, saie and intende to proue, that where Edmōd Mortimer erle of Marche and Ulster, was taken prisoner by Owen Glendor in a pitched and foughten feld, and cast into prisone and ladē 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 deliuer hym thy self, nor yet suffre vs his kinsmen to raunsome and deliuer hym: Yet notwithstandyng, we haue not onely concluded and agreed with thesame Owen for his raunsome at our propre charges and expences, but also for a peace betwene thee and thesaid Owen. Why hast thou then not onely published and declared vs as traytors, but also craftely and deceitfully imagened, purpo­sed and conspired the vtter destruccion and confusion of our persones. For the whiche cause we defy thee, thy fautoures and complices as co­men traytoures and destroyers of the rea [...]me, and the inuadours, op­pressoures and confounders of the verie true and righte heires to the croune of Englande, whiche thyng we entend with our hādes to proue this daie, almightie God helpyng vs.

VVHEN Kyng Henry had ouerseen their articles and defiance, he answered the esquiers that he was redy with dent of swerde and fierce battaill to proue their quarell false and fayned, and not with writyng nor slanderous wordes, [...]nd so in his righteous cause and iust 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 the mornyng early, which was the vigile of Mari Magdalene, the kyng perceiuyng that the battaill was nerer then he ether thoughte or loked for, leste that long tariyng might be a minishyng of his strength, set his battailles in good ordre: likewise did his enemies, whiche bothe in puissance and courage were nothyng to hym inferior. Then sodainly the trumpettes blew, the kyn­ges parte cried sainct George vpon them: The aduersaries cried Espe­raunce [Page] Percie, and so furiously the armies ioyned. The Scottes whiche had the forward on the lordes side, entendyng to bee reuenged of their old displeasures doen to them by the Englishe nacion, set so fiersely on the kynges forward, that thei made them drawe backe, and had almost broken their arraie. The Welshemen also whiche sithe the kynges de­parture out of Wales, had lurked and lien in wooddes 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 ferfull messenger had declared to the kyng, that his people wer 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 par [...] so, that thei toke their hertes to theim, and manly fought with their enemi [...]s. The prince Henry that daie holpe muche his father, for although he wer sore woūded in the face with an arow, yet he neuer ceased ether to fight where the battaill was moste strongest, or to courage his men where their hertes was moste danted. This greate battail cō ­tinued thre long houres with indifferēt 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 auen­tured so far into the battaill, that the erle Douglas strake hym doune and slewe sir Water [...]lonte, and three other appareled in the kynges suite and clothyng saiyng: I maruaill to see so many kynges so soda­inly arise again, the kyng was 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 other of his parte encoraged by his doynges, fought valiantly and slew the lorde Percie called sir Henry hotspurre, the best capitain on the part 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 wer vanquished to flie, and in that flighte therle Douglas, whiche for hast fallyng from the cragge of a mounta­gnie brake one of his genitals and was taken, and for his valiantnes of the kyng frely & frankely deliuered. There was taken also sir Tho­mas Percie erle of Worcester & diuerse other, on the kynges parte wer slain sir Water Blount and .xvi.C. other persones, but on the parte of the rebelles were slain the erle of Stafford, the lorde Percie and aboue fiue thousand other, and as for the Scottes few or none escaped aliue.

AFTER this glorious victory by the kyng obteigned, he rendered to almightie God his humble and hertie thankes, and caused therle of Worcester the morowe after Mary Magdaleine, at Shrewesbury [...]o be drawen hanged and quartered, and his hed to be sent to London, at whiche place many mo capitaines wer executed. After this greate bat­taill, he like a triumphante conqueror returned with greate pompe to London, where he was by the senate and magestrates solemply recei­ued, [Page xxiii] not a litle reioysyng of his good fortune and fortunate victorye. But before his departure from Shrewesbury, he not forgettyng his enterprise against Owen Glendor, sent into Wales with a great a [...]my prince Henry his eldest sonne against thesaid Owen and his sedicious fautors, whiche beyng dismaied and in maner desperate of all comfort by the reson of the kynges late victory, fled in desert places and solita­ry caues, where he receiued afinall reward mete and prepared by god­des prouidence for suche a rebell and sedicious seducer. For beyng de­stitute of all comforte, dreadyng 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 credence to false prophesies. This ende had thei that by diaboli­cal deuinacions wer promised great possessions and seigniories. This ende happeneth to suche as beleuyng suche fantasticall folies, aspire and gape for honor and high promocions. When the prince with litle labor and lesse losse, had tamed & brideled the furious rage of the wild and sauage Welshemen, and lefte gouernors to rule and gouerne the countree, he returned to his father with great honor & no small praise. The erle of Northumberland heryng of the ouerthrowe of his brother and sonne, came of his owne free will to the kyng, excusyng hymself as one nether party nor knowyng of their doyng nor enterprice: the kyng nether accused him nor held hym excused, but dissimuled the matter for ij. causes, one was he had Berwicke in his possession, whiche the kyng rather desired to haue by polici then by force: the other was that therle had his castelles of Alnewicke, Warkeworth and other fortified with Scottes, so that if therle wer apprehēded, all Northumberland wer in ieoperdy to become Scottish. For these cause y^• kyng gaue hym faire wordes & let hym depart home, wher he continued inpeace a while, but after he rebelled as you shall perceiue by the sequele of this story.

¶The fourth yere.The .iiii. yer [...]

THis yere Waleram erle of sent Pole, considryng that he had defied kyng Henry, and also that he had made diuerse voya­ges, and doen litle damage to the Englishnacion, and sustei­gned muche 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 frō Caleis, within the territory of the kyng of Englande, the .xvi. daie of Iuly, wherof was capitain Philip Halle esquier, with .lxxx. archers and .xxiiii. other souldiers. Therle raised a­gainst the Castle diuerse engines but thei preuailed not, for thei with­in shot so fersly, and cast out stones so incessantly, and toke suche paine that to the hearers it is almoste incredible. The erle perceiuyng 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 [Page] from Caleis, the next day he gaue a sore assaute again, and with great force entered the vtter court of the castle, and toke therin a great num­ber of horse kyen and catell, at the whiche assaut sir Roberte Bareng­uile cosin to therle was slain. Thesame daie a .C. Archers on horseback comyng out of Caleis, lawe and perceiued the dooynges & demeanure of therle and his compaignie, and toward night thei sent an Heraulte certefiyng hym that the [...] would dine with hym the nexte daie: to whom he proudly answered, that he would gladly receiue them, and their din­nar should at their comyng be redy prepared. The nexte daie ensuyng issued out of Caleis .CC. men of armes .CC. archers .CCC. mē on fote with .x. or, xii. Chariottes laden with vitail and artillery, conducted by sir Richard Astone knight, leuetenant of the Englishe pale for the erle of Somerset capitain generall of those marches: whiche in good ordre of battaill marched toward their enemies, whiche before by their espi­als wer aduertised of their comyng, but that notwithstandyng thei is­sued not out of their lodginges to encounter with them, but kept them self within their closure. The Englishmen shot so sharply and so closly together, that the Flemynges and fotemen began to flie, the men of ar­mes 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 kinghtes slain. After that the English­men had taken all the cartes municions & vitailes that their enemies had brought thether, thei returned to Caleis in greate 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 vnprouided, but sir Mansard de Boys and the lorde Kygnie defended it and let the Englishemen of their purpose, and so with losse of fourty men thei returned to Caleis: whiche dedde perso­nes wer brent in an old hous, because their enimies should be ignorāte of the damage 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 cōcluded to inuade the Marches of his enemies. But the Frenche kyng consideryng the erles euil fortune and vnfortunate chance, cōmaūded 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 Marques of Pownt sonne to the duke of Barr, and therle of Dampnay, and sir Ihon Har­padane a knight of greate renoune and high estimacion. The kyng of England circūspectly forseyng thynges to come, and imagenyng that [Page xxiiii] the Frenchemen attempted some newe enterprice, against hym or his dominions beyonde the sea, sente .iiii.M. men to Caleis and to the sea, whereof .iii.M. landed at Sluce, whiche besi [...]ged a castle standyng at the mouthe of the hauen, and made diuerse assautes and lost diuerse of their compaignie, but newes were brought to theim, 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.

¶The fifthe yere.The .v yere.

ABoute this season Loys Duke of Orliaunce brother to the Frenche Kyng, a man of no lesse pryde then haute courage, wrote letters to Kyng Henry aduertisyng hym, that he for the perfighte loue whiche he bare to the noble feates of chi­ualrie and marciall actes, in auoidyng the slowe worme and deadely Dormouse called Idlenes, the ruine 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 Esquiers, all beyng Gentlemen bothe of name and armes armed at al 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 haue his prisoner, and him to raunsome at his pleasure, offeryng hym selfe 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 chalenge. The kyng of England whiche was as graue and wit­tie as the duke was light and couragious, wrote to hym againe that he not a littell mused but muche more meruailed that the duke beyng sworne aswell to him as to kyng Richard to mainteyne the peace bee­twene his brother the Frenche kyng and theym concluded, and to that had set his signe and great seale, wolde 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 geue an occasion of displeasure and ingratitude, by the whiche in conclusion might rise mortall war and deadely enemitie, 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 blud but onely for the defence of his realme, or for conquest of his right, or for amplifiyng of Christes faithe and christian religi­on, and not for pride, worldly [...]ame and vainglory, declaryng also that when oportunitie of time and conuenient leisure serued, he wold trans [...]ret and passe the sea himselfe with suche company as he thought most conuenient into his countrey of Gascoigne, at whiche time the Duke myght set forward with his band for the attainyng of honour and ac­complishing [Page] of his couragious desire and haute enterprise, promising in the worde of a prince not thence to depart till the duke ether 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 enbusied with weightie affaires & vrgent causes concernyng the publike welth of his realme could neyther apoint time nor place, protestyng that the deferryng of time was nether for disdaine nor yet for cowardnes, but only to abate the pride of him whiche knowyng not himself, nor fering reproche, regarded not his othe writyng nor seale. To this answere the duke of Orleaunce replied and kyng Henry reioyned, which doynges what for the vnprincely tauntes and vncharitable checkes in them cō ­teigned, 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 Uergy, wherof was Ca­pitaine sir Robart Antelfelde a valiant knight and an hardy captain, hauyng with him onely thre hundred Englishmen. The duke almoste euery day assaulted the towne fiersely, but they within the towne con­ragiously defended the same: In so muche that when he had lien there thre monethes & had loste many of his men and nothyng gotten, with­out honour or spoile returned into Fraunce. After this the Admiral 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 Castyll a valiant baron of Britaine, and xii.C. men of armes, & .xxx. shippes, sailed from sainct Malowes and came before the towne of Darthmouthe and woulde haue 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 hundrede other were slain, and aboue two hundred prisoners taken and raunsomed, wherof the Lord of Baque­uile high Marshall of Britaine was one, whiche was brought to the kyng and after redemed. The Admiral sory of this infortunate enter­prise with muche losse 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 sea costes landed diuers times and fi­ered shippes & brent townes and destroied people without fauoure or mercie, and when he thoughte his quarell well reuenged he sailed to­ward England, and in his retournyng he encountred with two great Carickes of Ieane laden with riche marchandise and substancial stuf betwene whom was a greate conflicte and a blouddy battell, but after long fightyng, the Englishemen preuailed and brought bothe the Ca­rickes [Page xxv] into Camber before Rye, where one of them by misauenture of fier perished to the losse and no gaine of bothe the parties. About this this time Ihon 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 Bumbardes and other municions of warre sufficient and conuenient for his abrode blowen enterprise. But when all thynges wer prepared and the hole army assembled he was by the French kyng and his councell (whiche put diffidence in the exploite of his glorious busines) countermaunded & prohibited farther to procede 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 shal shortly heare) brought him to death and finall destruction.

¶The sixt yere.The .vi. yere.

IN this yere the 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 re­uenged of kyng Henry and his fautours, began secretely to communicate his interior imaginacions and priuie thoughtes with Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke brother to Williā lord Scrop treasorer of England whom kyng Henry (as you haue hearde) behea­ded at the towne 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, Hastynges, Fauconbridge, Bardolfe and diuerse other whiche he knewe to beare deadely hate and inward grudge toward the kyng. After long consul­tacion had, it was finally concluded and determined amongest theym that al they, their frendes and alies with all their power shoulde mete at Yorkes wold at a day appointed and that therle of Northumberlād 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. Wherfore to preuent the time of their assembly, he with suche power as he could sodainly gather together with al diligēce marched toward the North parties and vsed such a celeritie in his iourney that he was thither come with al his hoste and power before the confedera­tes hearde any inkelyng of his marchyng forward, and sodainly there wer apprehended the Archebishop, the earle Marshal, sir Ihon Lampley, and sir Robart Plumpton. These personnes wer arrained, attein­ted [Page] and adiudged to die, and so on the Monday [...]n Whitson weke all they withoute the Citie of Yorke were beheadded. Here of necessitie I oughte not nor will not forgeate howe some folishe and fantasticall 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 common knowen veritie that at the howre of the execuciō of this Bishop (which of the Execucioner 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 strikē with a leprey, whiche is a ma­nifest lye as you shal after plainely perceiue. What shall a man say of suche writers which toke vpon them to knowe the secretes of Goddes iudgement? what shall men thinke of suche beastly persons whiche re­gardyng not their bounden dutie and obeisance to their prince & soue­rain Lord enuied the punishment of traiters and torment of offēders? 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: Wel let wise men iudge what I haue said. Beside these persons, diuers other of thesaid conspiracie and fac­ciō, the lord Hastinges, the lord Fauconbridge, sir Ihon Coluile of the dale, sir Ihon Griftith were beheaded at Durham. Therle of North­umberland hearyng his councel to be reueled and his confederates to be put to execucion and shameful death, fled into Scotland to his old frend George of Dunbarre earle of the Marche, which the yere before was renoked out of exile and restored to his possessions name and di­gnitie, where he taried tyll the nexte Sōmer & then sailed into Fraūce and after into Flaunders desyryng aide and assistence againste kyng Henry, but when he sawe littel hope of comfort and that fewe willyngly were ententife to his request, he accompanied with the Lorde Bar­dolffe muche dismaied and more desperate returned again to his trew frendes into Scotlande and there made his abode the hole yere aby­dyng the fauour of Fortune and chaunge of his vnfortunate chaunce duryng whiche tyme the kyng withoute any difficultie 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 deathe 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 commocion, 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 confederates and rebelles. But thei hea­ryng [Page xxvi] that the founders of the warre were apprehended and put to de­athe, made no haste f [...]ward 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, whiche thyng so muche amased the kyng of Scottes and his councel, that notwithstandyng that he had gathered and appoincted a greate hoste vnder 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 certaie monethes, of the whiche they were bothe glad and ioyouse, and so the prince laden with pray and spoile retourned with great gain to his father. While the prince thus infected the countrey of Scotlād on the land, sir Robart Umfreuile vice Admirall of England vexed the coū ­treys of Fyffe and Loghdian on the sea coast, for he liyng in the Scottishe sea .xiiii. daies and euery daie landed on the one side or the other and toke praies spoyles and prisoners ma [...]gre the gret powers of the duke of Albanie and the Erle 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 vessels, and sente Clothe vitail and diuers Marchandises to euery towne in Northum­berland, settyng thereon no great price: Wherfore the Scottes called him Robyn mendmarket. 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 towarde hym that to expell hym from his rule and dignitie they left no occasion vn­sought nor deuice vnattempted. For sodainly sprāge out a fame of an vncertain auctour that king Richard was yet liuyng 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 extincte.

¶The seuenth yere.The .vii. yere.

IN this sommer, the Pestilenciall plage so infected the Citie of London and the countrei roūd 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 til 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 see, in the middest of his iourney, whether [Page] 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 al simi­litude had knowledge of the Kynges passage entered amongest the kynges nauie and toke fowre vesselles nexte to the kynges shippe and in one of thē sir Thomas Rampston knight the kinges vicechamber­lain with all his chamber stuffe and apparel, and folowed the kyng so nere that if his shippe had nat bene swift he had landed soner in Frāce then in Essex, but by goddes prouision and fortunate chaunce he esca­ped the daunger and ariued at his appointed porte. The kyng beyng sore moued with the lord Camois, caused him to be atta [...]hed and en­dited that he condiscended and agreed with the Frenchemen that the kyng in his iourney should be intercepted and taken. On this poinct he was arraigned the last day of October before Edmond erle of Kent that day high stuard of the realme, on which day were he giltie or gilt­les, fautie or clere, 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 Denmarke, Norwey and Swethen whiche was conueighed thither with great pompe and there with mu­che triumphe maried 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, wisdome and experience in war, which had bene a Capitayn from the time of Kyng Edward the .iii. till his latter day­es, in the whiche he beyng Gouernour of Aquitayne encombred with age, resigned his office to sir Thomas Belfford a valiaunt capytaine and retourned to London, where he disseased and was honorably buried in the Churche of the White Fryers.

¶The eyght yere.The .viii. yere

YOu haue heard before how kyng Robert of Scotlande being very aged and impotent, was not able to rule and go­uerne his realme, and how Walter his brother beeyng by hym created duke of Albani [...], (whiche was the firste duke that euer was in Scotlande) was made gouernor of his brothers countree and dominion. After whiche office and preheminēce 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 sōnes had been at Christes fote in heuen. And somwhat to further his purpose, it vnfortunatly chaūsed 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 defilyng of maidens, wherfore the kyng deliuered hym to his brother the gouernor, trustyng that by [Page xxvii] his good counsaill and discrete aduertisemente he would not onely a­mend his life, but also to fall to wisedom prudence and grauitie. Whē the duke had possessed part of his desired pray, he sent his nephewe frō 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 famyne 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 father, but in conclusiō, the gouernor shewed to the king how diuerse persones traiterously had murdred hym, whiche wer apprehen­ded and iudged to die, & yet in their liues thei neuer knewe nor yet saw hym. The kyng notwithstandyng his brothers excuse, doubted muche thend of his other sonne named Iames, wherfore he priuely prouided a ship, in the whiche he put the child beyng then of the age of .ix. yeres, vnder the tuicion of the lorde Hēry Senclere erle of Orkeney, willyng him to cōuey the prince into y^• realme of Fraūce if by any possibilitie he could thether attain. And if fortune should driue hym on y^e cost of En­gland, he wrote letters to the kyng of England, y^• tenor wherof insueth.

VVHEN 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 lorde Percie slain before at Shrewes­bury, and by rigor of tempest wer driuen on the cost of Holdernes cal­led Flamborough hed the .xxx. daie of Marche, where the yong prince for to refreshe hymself toke lande. He wroughte not so priuely, but he was knowen and taken with all his cōpany, & conueighed to the kyng beyng at Windsore, where he with dew reuerēce deliuered his fathers letter. Whē the letter was redde & vnderstand, the kyng assembled his counsail to knowe what should be doen with this noble enfant. Some to whom the continual warres and daily battail was bothe displeasāt and odious, affirmed that there could not happen a better or a more surer occasion of peace and amitie betwene bothe the realmes, whiche beyng so offred, thei 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 hym 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 Northumberland and other rebelles within his countrie and geue them greate honors, but also sent a greate nombre of his nobilite against the kyng at the battaill of Shrewesbery. Wherfore it was a­greed that he should be deteined as a prisoner, lawfully taken and duely apprehēded. When tidynges of this difinitiue sentence was shewed to his father, he tooke suche an inwarde conceit and so sore a penciffe­nes, that he ended his naturall life within a fewe monethes 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 [Page] 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, rusticall, without any vrbanitie, hauyng litle lernyng 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 learnyng and freshe litterature (as the tyme then serued) but also excelled in all poynctes of Marciall feates, Musicall instrumentes, Poeticall artes and liherall sciences. In so muche that at his returne from captiuitee, he furnished his realme bothe with good learnyng and ciuill policie, whiche before was barbarous, sauage, rude & without al good nurtur.

¶The nyneth yere.The .ix. yere.

THerle of Northumberland, whiche had been in Fraunce and other regions to obteigne aide against kyng Henry, and had misled of his purpose, now putte his whole confidence in the Scottes, and in especiall in his olde frende George erle of Marche, and so assembled a great power of the Sctotish nacion to in­uade Northumberland, and recouered diuerse of his owne castles and seign [...]ories, to whom the people without nombre daily resorted. Wher fore he entendyng to bee reuenged of his olde greues, accompaignied with the lorde Bardolffe and diuerse other Scottes and Englishmen entred into Yorke shire and there began to destroy and depopulate the countrie. Wherof the kyng beyng aduertised, caused a greate army to bee assembled and marched toward his enemies, but or the kyng came to Notyngham, Raufe Rekesbie shrife of Yorke shire, in the middest of February with the power of the countrie, sodainly set on therle and his compargnie, at a place called Bramham More, where after long figh­tyng, the erle and the Lorde Bardolffe and many other wer taken and brought to Yo [...]ke 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 suche an enterprice, and in the beginnyng of Marche sent to the sea, lorde Edmond Hollande erle of Kent, chieftain of that crewe and armie. When the erle had searched all the coaste of Fraunce, and had founde not one pirate or s [...]a robber, he was aduertised by his espials that thei heryng of his armie, wer diuerted to the partes of Britayn. Wherfore the said erle entendyng to be reuenged on them whiche he sought for, made his course thether, before his arriual thei had conueighed their shippes in to the hauens, so that he could not fight with them on the sea, wherfore he 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 dar [...]es, cast stones, shotte quarelles and manful­ly defended their walles. In whiche conflicte the earle receiued such a wound in his head that he departed out of this world the .v. day after. [Page xxix] 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 resistence, and for lacke of a captain, the men of warre laden with prai­es and prisoners returned againe into Englande.

THIS Edmond erle of Kent was in suche fauour with kyng Henry that he not alonely aduaunced and promoted him to highe offices and great preheminences, but also by his meane and no small coste obteig­ned for him the eldest doughter and one of the heires of the Lord Bar­nabo of Millaine brother to Lord Galeace whose sōne also called Ga­leace murderyng his vncle Barnabo made himselfe first duke of Mil­laine, for which mariage Lord Barnabo paied to him an hundred M. Duccates at the churche of saint Marie Oueryes in Southwarke at the day of the solempnite, by doen Alphōs de Caniola. This Lucie af­ter the death of her husband by whom she had no issue, was moued by the kyng to mary with his 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 kynged desire, delityng in him the whiche shoulde more satisfie her wanton pleasure then gaine her any profite, 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 dis­pleased but also for mariyng withoute his licence he seassed and fined her at a great some of money, whiche 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 Henry had issue by this Lady, Anne maried to sir Ihon Awbemond mother to E­lizabeth Chandos mother to Phillis maried to sir Dauie Halle capi­tayne of Caen, she had also issue Mari maried to Ihon Cheddur and Luce espoused to sir Ihon Cressy. This yere by reason of Frost, shepe and birdes died without nomber, whiche continued fiftene weekes.

¶The . [...]. yere.The .x. yere.

ABoute this time Ihon duke of Burgoine a man of a quicke witte, desirous of rule, & of an haute courage, being of great auctoritie amongest the Frenche nacion to whome ciuill dis­corde was more pleasure then faternall amirie 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 ther­fore medled in nothyng. The duke of Orleance on the otherside beyng highly set vp in pride, began to disdain 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 [Page] France was deuided into two faccions, thone parte fauoryng the duke of Orleance, and the other enclinyng to the duke of Burgoyne, whiche deuision had almoste brought the realme of France to vtter ruine and perpetuall confusion. The Frenche kyng beyng somwhat amended of his dissease, heryng of this controuersie betwene these two princes, sēt for theim bothe to Paris, where he reproued their pride, rebuked their malice, and taunted their vngodly dooynges, in so muche that all the nobilitie beyng present, iudged 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 cō ­passyng the destruccion of the duke of Orleance, appoyncted a secrete frende called Raffe of Actouille, to bryng his purpose to passe. This Raffe forgettyng not his enterprise, assembled together a compaignie of suche persons as he moste trusted, & as a Wolffe 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 lamēted, 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 iusti­ficacion within fewe 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 affeccion 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 Euangelistes, 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 periury whē apetite of reuēgyng 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 murdre of his father so lightly passe without pain or punishmēt, alied and confederated hymself with the dukes of Berry and Burbon, & the erles of Alaunson and Arminacke, whiche reised agreate puissance of people, and defied the duke of Burgoin and his cōplices as their mor­tall foo and dedly enemy. The duke of Burgoine feryng the sequele of the matter (because ther was a maciō 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 [Page xxx] 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 Umfreuile lorde of Kyne, sir Robert Umfreuile, and sir Ihon Grey with .xij.C. archers, whiche toke shippyng at Douer and landed at Sluce. When thenglishmen wer ariued 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 fightyng 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 Orleāce 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 night tyme made a bridge ouer the riuer on the part of saint Denis strete, & so escaped & fled into the highe coū ­tries. And after this conflicte the duke of Burgoyn beyng now in his ruffe thinkyng no man ether in aucthorite or bloud equiuolente to his person, and blinded with a kall of vainglory before his iyes, toke vpō him the hole rule and gouernance of the realme and ordered the kyng as pleased him, and not to the kinges wil, and thinkyng that in so tro­belous a season he had vnknit the knot of all ambiguities & doubtes perceiuyng al thynges to haue better succeded for his purpose then he before imagined, dismissed Thenglishmen into their countrey geuing to them harty thankes and great rewardes. Which doyng king Hēry 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 what puissance thei had assembled. For he well remēbred that one faire day assureth not a good Sommer, nor one fliyng Swalow prognosticateth not a good yere.

¶The eleuenth yere.The .xi. yere.

KYng Henry now beyng quiet & not molested with ciuil discencion nor domesticall faccions, called his high court of parli­amente, in 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 Humfrey to the duchie of Glocester, and lord Tho­mas his halfe brother erle of Dorcet he made duke of Excester. Howbeit some writers saie 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.

¶The twelfth yere.The .xii. yere.

VUhile these thynges wer thus doyng in England, Ihō duke of Burgoyn which ruled the rost and gouerned both kyng Char­les the Frenche kyng and his whole realme, so muche stomaked [Page] and enuied the duke of Orliāce & his fautors that he caused the Frēch kyng in person to arme himself against them and their adherentes, as traitors to hym and aparāt enemies to the comon weith, & sent diuerse capitaines 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, Berrie, and Burbon with their frē ­des and alies, seyng that now their onely hope consisted in the kyng of England, sent to hym Alberte Aubemound a man of no lesse lernyng then audacite, & yet of no lesse audacitie, then wit and policie, whiche in the name of the confederates offred certain cōdicions as you shal here after accordyng to myne aucthor truly reported, whiche wer made & cō cluded in the yere of our Lorde .M.CCCC. [...]ij. the .viij. daie of Maie.

FIRST, thesaid lordes offred that frō thēce furth thei should expose and set furth their owne persons, finances and lādes to serue the kyng of England his heires and successors, when souer thei wer required or called in all iust quarelles: whiche iust quarelles the kyng of Englāde shall take to aperteigne to the duchie of Guyen with the appurtenan­ces, affirinyng how thesaid duchie perteigneth and ought to apertain to hym of righte by lineall heritage and lawfull successyon, manife­styng from thence furthe, that thei should not blemishe nor spotte their truthe nor fidelite to assist 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 Englande.

ALSO thei offred tounes castles tresures, & generally al their goo­des to ayde the Kyng his heires and successors for the d [...]fence of their rightes and quarels, so that the bonde of their allegiance might be sa­ued, the which in another secrete apointement they before had declared.

ALSO thei offred to the kyng of England generally al their frendes adherentes alies and wel 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 liberty 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 within the Duchie of Guien, to holde them of the kyng of England as the very trewe duke of Guien, promisyng 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 thē all townes and castelles apperteinyng to the roialtie and seignorie of England, whiche are in nomber .xx. what townes and castels, and as to the regarde of other townes and fortresses whiche were not in their puissaunce and seigniory, they would healpe the kyng of England his heires and deputies to winne them with men in sufficiente number at [Page xxxi] their propre charges and expences.

ALSO the kyng of England was agreed that the duke of Berry his trewe Uncle andUassal, is one that holdeth landes or pre­hem [...]n [...] ̄ces by fealtie or ho­mage. vassalle and the duke of Orleance his lubiecte and vassalle and the Earle of Arminacke shoulde holde of hym by homage and fealtie the landes and seigniories hereafter folowyng, that is to saye the Duke of Berry to holde the Countie of Pontiew duryng his life, and the duke of Orleaunce to hold the countie of Augulesme du­ryng his life onely, and the countie of Perrigot for euer, and the Erle of Arminacke to holde .iiii. castels vpon certain sureties and condici­ons as by indenture should be appointed.

FOR the which offers couenauntes and agrementes 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 bre­thren, children, frendes or alies.

FVRTHERMORE, 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 wrongfully done.

ALSO they required the kyng of England to send to thē .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 dis [...]ource and pay al the costes and charges whiche the sayd armie of Englishmen should expend du­ryng their warre, whiche letter was written the .viii. day of May.

KYNG Henry louingly receiued & gentely entertayned this mes­senger Alberte, and when he had well debated and considered the case, he first detesting the abhominable murder of the late duke of Or­liaunce and seyng no Iustice 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 selfe listed. And secondarily consideryng what large offers these Princes had made to him bothe greatly to his honour and to the high profit and commodi­tie of his realme and subiectes, thought that he was bounde by the of­fice of a kyng to ayde and succour theym whiche cried for Iustice and could haue none, and in especiall because they in that point beyng his subiectes and vassalles ought to be defended in maintenaunce of his superioritie and seigniorie: wherfore he louyngly promysed them aide and relefe. This returne of the messenger was to them as pleasant as is the deliuerance of a captiue frō his sore imprisonment, or of a mar­chant passyng by the way beset about by Theues, beyng reskewed by his frendes or cōpanions. And not without cause, for the French king not of his own courage animated, but maliciously encēsed by the duke of Burgoyn, persecuted the faction of the Orliaunces from citie to ci­tie from towne to towne, with such power and extremitie that thei wer bothe of force and necessitie compelled to repaire to the Citie of Bour­ges in Berry, and there to appoincte theym selfes [...]ther to render or [Page] defend. Ye must vnderstand that princes somtime haueArgus, the son of Aristor the .v. king of the Argiues, y^• [...] fain hym to haue had an hun­dred iyes, sy­gnifiyng ther by his wyse­wme and cir­cumspeccion. Argus iyes andMidas, the Poetes fa [...]e to haue longe eares signifi­yng hereby, y^• kynges heare farre of. Midas eares. For this feate was not so secretly wrought in En­gland but it was apparantly espied in Fraunce, wherefore the French kynges counsail sent the Earle of S. Paule the olde cankered enemy to the Englishmen into the parties of Picardy with fiften C. horsemē and a great nomber of fotemen, he ordeined certain of his men to geue assaulte to the toune of Guisnes while he stode in a stale to lie in waite for the relefe that myght come from Caleis. The furious Frenchmen brake a fewe old pales about pore mens gardeins of Guisnes, but the men of warre of the Castell shotte so fiercely at them with arowes and caste oute wildefier in suche abundance that the assailantes were faine to retire. And so the erle of sainct Paule whiche neuer wonne gain but lost honor at the Englishe mens handes, returned not onely with losse of his people but defrauded of his desired pray, returned to the toune of Saincte Quintins.

¶The .xiii. yere.The .xiii. yere

THe Frenche kyng in the meane seasō 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 thēselfes. When the Kyng of England was therof aducrtised, he with al diligence sent forthe his sonne Tho­mas duke of Clarence, and Edward duke of Yorke with .viii.C. hors­men 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 Alaūson and Richmond fautors of the Orliencial 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 wer not trewe) to be diuulged abrode that there was a finall peace and a perfit amitie concluded betwene the Frenche kyng & his lordes whiche late­ly were to hym aduersaries. When this fable was notified to the En­glishmen whiche were by hasty iourneis passed the ryuer of Leire, the [...] 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 Fraunce all the English armie. The duke was not rich to paie, and the Englishmen were gredy to haue, in so muche that thei 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 [Page xxxii] 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 thē a M. gramercies and disoursed to them as muche money as ether he or his frendes myghte easily spare: and for two hundred and .ix.M. Frankes whiche remay­ned vnpaide he deliuered in gage his second brother Ihon erle of An­gules [...]e whiche was Grandfather to Frances afterward French king and sir Marcell of Bourge, sir Ihon of Samoures, sir Archibault of Uiliers and diuers other, whiche 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 E [...]glishmen into France the duke of Orliaunce was restored 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 al men welbeloued, muche honored and highly estemed, and so continewed till waueryng Fortune turned her variable whele. For after this he beyng enemy to the Englishe nacion was vāquished and taken prisoner and so remained in Englande aboue .xxiiii. yeres, till the flower of his age was passed or sore blemyshed.

¶The fourtenth yere.The .xiiii. yere

AFter these great and fortunate chaunces happened to kyng Henry, he perfightly remēbring that there could be no more praise geuen to a prince then to execute his office in admini­stryng Iustice whiche aboue al thyng is the very necessary minister to al people, entendyng to liue in quietenes, beyng now deli­uered of al Ciuill deuision and intestine discencion, with the which al­most al Christendom was infected and disturbed, not onely to the gret decay of Christes religion and Christian creatures but to the great exaltaciō of Painim princes, by the dilatyng of the pestiferus sect of the false counterfait prophet vainglorious Mahumet: called a great coū ­sail of the thre estates of his realme, in the whiche he deliberately con­sulted and concluded aswel for the politike gouernaunce of his realme as also for the war to be made against the Infidels, and especially for the recouery of the holy Citie of Ierusalē, 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 wil, god wil not, what we thinke stable, God sodainely maketh muta [...]le, to the entent that Salomons saiyng might be found trewe, which wrote that the wisdome of men is but folishnes before God. Whē this Prince was thus furnyshed with [Page] treasure 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 [...]aied in his bed: whiche disease was no Lepry stryken by the handes of God as folish Friers before declared, for thē he nether wold for shame, nor for dehilitie was able to enterprise so gret a iorney as in to Iewrie in his own person, but he was taken with a soreApoplerye is a [...] [...] of grose humo [...]s which [...] fil the vessels of the heade from whence the felyng of the body co [...]meth. And therefore they whiche haue this dis [...]ase are [...]epri­ued of felyng, [...] & mo­uyng. Apoplexye of the whiche he languished tyll his appoyncted howre, and had none other grefe nor malady. Duryng whiche lickenes as Auctors write he caused his crowne to be set on the pillowe at his beddes heade and so­dainly his pange so sore trobeled him that he lay as though al his vi­tall sprites had bene from him departed: suche chamberleins as had the cure and charge of his bodye thinkyng him to bee departed and deade couered his face with a linnen cloth. The prince his sonne being therof aduertised, entered into the chamber and toke away the crowne & departed: the father being sodainly reuiued out of his traunce quickly perceiued the lacke of his crowne, and hauyng knowledge that the prince his sonne had possessed it, caused hym to repaire to his presence, requiryng of him for what cause he had so misused hīselfe. The prince with a good audacitie answered, sir to mine and al mennes iudgemē ­tes you semed deade in this world, wherfore I as your next & aparant heir toke that as mine own & not as yours: wel faire son said the kyng (with a gret sigh) what right I had to it & how I enioyed it God kno­weth, wel ꝙ the prince if you die kyng I wil haue the garlād & trust to kepe it with the swerd against al mine enemies as you haue done: wel said the kyng I comit al to god & remēber you to do wel, and with that turned himself in his bed & shortly after departed to god, in a chamber of the abbotes of westminster called Ierusalem 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 daies in muche per plexitie and littel pleasure, whose body with all funerall pōpe was cō ­ueighed to Canterbury, and there solemply buried, leuyng behind him by the lady Marie doughter to lord Hūfrey erle of Hereford & North­hāpton, Henry prince of Wales, Thomas duke of Clarēce, Ihō duke of Bedford, Humfrey duke of Glocester, Blanche duches of Bauier & Philip Quene of Denmarke, for by his last wife Quene Iane he had no children. This kyng was of a mean stature wel proporcioned and formally compact, quicke and deliuer & of a stout courage. After that he had apeased al ciuile discēcions he shewed him selfe so gentely to all men that he gat him more loue of the nobles in his latter daies thē he had malice and il will of thē in the beginnyng. When tidynges of his death was related to the duke of Clarence beyng in Aquitayn, he with al diligent celeritie toke ship with therle of Angulesme, and other his hostages & returned into England to the great cōfort of his brethren.

¶The seconde yere.The .ii. yere.

KYng Henry cōtinually studiyng for the honor of hymself and aduancement of his people, called his high courte of parliament the last daie of April in the toune of Leicester In the whiche parliamente many profitable lawes were concluded: and many peticions moued wer for that tyme deferred. Emongest whiche requestes, one was, that a bill exhibited in 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 & domesticall dissencion, came to none effect) might now bee well studied, pondered, regarded and brought to some [Page] good conclusion. The effect of whiche supplicacion was, that the tem­porall landes deuoutely geuen, and disordinatly spēt by religious and other spirituall persones, might suffise to maintein to the honor of the kyng and defence of the realme, xv. erles, xv.C. knightes .vj.M.ii.C. esquites, and .C. almole houses for relief onely of the poore impotente and nedy persones, and the kyng to haue clerely to his cofers twentie thousande poundes, with many other prouilions and valewes of reli­gioushouses whiche I ouerpasse.

THIS before remembred bill was muche noted and feared emōgest the religious fort whom in effect it muche touched, insomuche that the fat Ab [...]otes swet, the proude Priors frouned, the poore Friers cursled the sely Nonnes wept, and al together wer nothyng pleased nor yet cō ­tent. Now to finde a remedy for a mischief and a rent to stop a wounde, the Clergy myndyng rather to bowe then breake, agreed to offre to the kyng a greate some of money to staye this newe moued demaund. The cause of this offre semed to some of the wise prelates nether decente nor conuenient, for thei well forsawe and perfightly knewe that if the com­mōs perceiued that thei by reward or offre of money would resist their request & peticion, that thei stirred & moued with a fury wold not onely rayle and despise theim as corruptours of Princes and enemies of the publique wealthe, but would so crye and call on the kyng and his tem­porall lordes that thei were like to lese bothe worke and oyle, cost and linyng: Wherfore thei determined to cast all chaunces whiche mighte serue their purpose, & in especiall to replenishe the kynges brayne with some pleasante study that he should nether phantasy nor regard the se­rious peticion of the importunate commons.

VVHERFORE on a daie when the kyng was present in the parli­ament, Henry Chicheley Archebishop of Caūtorbury therto newly preferted, whiche beforetime had been a Monke of the Carthusians, a mā whiche had professed wilfull pouertie in religion, and yet commyng a­brode muche desired honor, & a man muche regardyng Godes law, but more louyng his owne lucre. After lowe obeysaunce made to the kyng he said after this maner in effect. Whē Iconsider our most entierly be­loued and lesse drad soueraigne lorde and naturall Prince,The o [...]acion of Hēry [...]hi­cheley Arche­bishoppe of [...]auntortrry the louyng mynd, the daily labor and continuall study whiche you incessantly im­plore bothe for thaduancemēt of the honor of your realme and also profite of your people: I cannot nor ought nor, except I would bee noted not onely ingrate to your royall person beyng my patrone & preferrer, but also a neglecter of my dutye, a secrete mummer of suche thynges whiche touche both the inheritance of your croune & the honor of your realme ether holde my peace or kepe silence. For all authors agree that the glory of kynges consisteth not onely in high bloud and haute pro­geny, not in haboundant riches and superfluous substaunce, nor in plesant pastyme and ioyous solace: But the very tipe of the magnificence of a prince resteth in populous riche regions, subiectes and beautifull [Page xxxvi] citees and tounes, of the whiche thanked be God, although you be cō ­ueniently furnished both within your realmes of England & Ireland and principalite of Wales, yet by lineal discēt, 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 Gascoyn are to you as true and vndubitate heir of the same laufully deuoluted and lineally discended 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 prerogatiues and preheminen­ces, to you as heire to your great grandfather is of ryght belongyng and apperteignyng. In whiche realme, to reherse what noble persons, what beautifull cities, what fertile regions, what substancial marchā ­tes, 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 your ryght and ti­tle to the realme of Fraunce, in the time of your noble progenitor king Edward the third, alledged a lawe, vntruly fained, falcely glosed and Sophistically expounded, whereof the very wordes are these, In terram [...]alicam mulieres ne succedant, which is to say, let not women succede in the landThe lande Salique. Salique. This land Salicque the deceitful glosers name to be the realme of Fraunce. This lawe the Logicall interpretours assigne to directe the croune and regalitie of the same region, as who wold say that to that preheminence no woman were hable to aspire, nor no heire Female was worthy to inherite. The French writers affirm that Pha­ramond kyng of the Frenche Gaules, first instituted this lawe, which neuer was, should or might be broken. See nowe howe an euell glose confoundeth the text, and a perciall interpretour marreth the sentence, for first it is apparantly knowen and by an hūdred writers confirmed that Pharamond whom they alledge to be aucthour of this lawe was duke of Franconia in Germany, and elected to be kyng of the Sicam­b [...]es, whiche callyng them selfes Frenchmen had gotten a 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 makyng warre on the Saxons dyd in bluddy battaile disperse and confounde the whole puissaunce of that nacion in the yere of our Lord viii.C and fiue, and broughte theim to the catholique faith and christian confor­mitie. After whiche victory certaine souldiers as the Frenche Crono­graphiers affirm, passed ouer the water of Sala and there inhabited, betwene the riuers of Elue and Sala, and wer commonly 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.

NOVVE with indifferent eares if you wyll note these two pointes [Page] you shall casily perceiue that the lawe Salicque was only fained and inuented to put your noble progenitours and you from your lawfull ryght and true inheritaunce. For they saie that Pharamond made the lawe for the land Salicque, whiche the glose calleth Fraunce. Then I demaunde of master Gloser or rather master Doctor commenter, yf I may call a commenter an open lier, whether Pharamond whiche died iiii.C.xxi. yeres before the Frenchemen possessed the Gaule Salicque and neuer sawe or knewe it, made a lawe of that thyng whiche at that tyme was not his nor inhabited by his people. Beside this, the realme of Fraunce whiche is your patrimony is compact of .iii. Gaules, Bel­gique, Celtique and Aquitain, and no part of Salicque: then may the gloser expounde aswell that Gaule Belgique is the countrey of Bryt­tam, 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 Iuggle with this phantasticall lawe, folowyng the crafty hasar­ders which vie a plai called seest thou me or seest thou me not. For whē Kyng Pepyn 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 remēbryng 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 coū ­sail of [...]achary then Bishop of Rome, and set vp in trone this Pepyn as nexte heire generall discended of lady Blithyld doughter to kyng Clothayre the first. Hugh Capet also whiche vsurped the croune with out 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 Orleaunce destroied the said Charles, to make his title seme true and apere good, where in dede it was bothe euell and vntrue, to blynd the opinions of the common people and to set a glasse before their eies, cō ­ueighed him selfe as heire to the lady Lyngard doughter to the kyng Charlemaine sonne to Lewes the Emperor which was sonne to Char­les the great kyng of Fraunce. Kyng Lewes also the ninth whome the Frenchmen call Sainct Lewes beyng very heire to the saied vsurper Hugh Capet, coulde neuer be satisfied in his conscience how he might iustely kepe and possesse the croune & regalitie of the realme of Fraūce tyll he was perswaded and fully instructed that Quene Isabell his graundmother was lineally discended of Lady Ermengard daughter and heire to the aboue named Charles duke of Lorayn, by the foresaid Hugh Capet of life and realme wrongfully depriued: by the which mariage the bludde and line of kyng Charles the great was againe vni­tedland restored to the Croune and Scepter of Fraunce, so that it more clearer then 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 conueighed from [Page xxxvij] the heire Female, and yet they would barre you as though your great graundmother had bene no woman nor heire female, but a painted I­mage or famed shadowe. If so many examples, if suche copie of presy­dentes collected out of your owne histories and gathered oute of your owne writers suffice not to confounde your simple Salicque lawe inuented by falce fablers and crafty imaginers of you fablyng Frēch menne, then here what God saieth in the booke of Numeri. When a man dieth withoute a sonne, let the inheritance discend 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 dyscended of the blud roial no Christians, and not worthye to inherite in the realme of Fraunce? Is the realme of Fraunce more noble then the kyngdome of Iuda of whom Christ discended by a woman? When God sayed to Abraham that in one of his sede al nacions shuld be blessed, how came Christ of the seede of Abraham but onely by that immaculate Uirgin his glorious mother? Likewise, when the Prophet Michee said, thou tribe of Iuda art not the leaste of estimacion emongest the Princes of Iuda, for oute of the shall come a capitayne whiche shall rule and di­rect my people of Israel. Howe discended Christ from the rote of Ies­se, 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 maried wife. Beholde, by goddes lawe, women shal inherite Behold in Fraunce, Frenchemen haue inherited by the onely line of the women, and yet Englishmen be prohibite to clayme by the heyre Female contrary to the lawe of God and man. Wherfore regarde wel my soueraigne 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 Isa [...]ell 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 ius [...]e by the Mosaicall lawe and vsed and approued by the Gallican discent as I haue before declared. Therfore for Goddes sake leese not youre pa­trimony, disherite not your heires, dishonour not your selfe, d [...]ninishe not your title, which your noble progenitors so highly haue estemed. Wherfore auaunce forth your banner, fight for your ryghte, conquere your inheritaunce, spare not swerde blud or fire, your warre is iuste, your cause is good, and your claim true: and therfore couragiously set forward your warre against your enemies. And to the entent that we your louyng chapleins and obedient lubiectes of the spiritualtie wold shewe our selfes willyng and desiryng to aide you for the recouery of your auncient right and true title to the croune of France, we haue in our spirituall conuocacion graunted to your highnes suche a some of money as neuer by no spiritual persons was to any prince before your [Page] daies geuen or aduaunced, beside our daily praiers and continual precacions to God and his saintes for prosperus successe to ensue in your merciall exploite and roiall passage. When the Archebishop had fini­shed his prepared purpose, Raulfe Erle of Westmerland, a man of no lesse grauitie then experience, and of no more experience then stomack, whiche was then high Warden of the marches toward Scotland, and therfore thinkyng that yf the king shuld passe ouer into Fraunce with his whole puissaunce, that his powre should be to weake to withstand the strength of Scotland if they shuld inuade duryng the kynges ab­ [...]ence. Wherfore he rose vp, & making his obeysance to the kyng sayd.

SVRELY sir,The Oraciō of Raufe erle of Westmer­land. as my lord of Canterbury hath clerkely declared, the conquest of Fraunce is very honorable, and when it is gotten and ob­teigned very profitable and pleasant: But sauyng your graces refor­macion, I say and affirme that to conquere Scotland is more necessa­ry, more apparante 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 proceded to degre in the Uniuersitie, yet I haue red, and heard great clarckes 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 vessell of water and it moisteth not, but cast it out wholy together and it bothe washeth and norisheth. This notable saiyng before this time hath encoraged Em­perors, animated kynges and allured princes to conquere realmes to them adioynyng, to vanquishe nacions to their dominions adiacent, to subdewe people either necessary for their purpose, or beyng to them daily enemies or continuall aduersaries. For profe whereof, beholde what was the chefe cause and occasion why rulers and gouernours so sore laboured, thirsted and coueted to bryng al regions to them adioi­nyng into one rule or Monarchy? Was it not done to this entent that the conquerors might haue the only power & entier gubernacion of all the landes and people within their climate, and gouerne thē in time of peace and also haue their aide in time of war? Which monarchie was of that maiestie and estimacion in the world, that no otherforein prince or exterior potentate ether had audacitie or was able to attempte any thyng within the territory or region of the monarchial prince and ad­ourned kyng. Let the kyngdome of the assiriens be your example, and if that suffise not, then loke on the Percians, after on the Grekes and lastly on the Romaines, whiche euer desired and coue [...]ed more to haue the littel Isle of Scicile, the territory of the Numidians 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 semeth to rise of a great prudent 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 [Page xxxviii] be more releued by frendes whiche be presente, then by kinsfolke dwellyng in forein and regions farre of. So princes haue commonly coue [...]ed and euer desired to se and beholde their dominions liyng nere about them, rather then to here by reporte from the countreis farre di­stant from them. If this hathe bene the pollecy of conquerours, thap­petite of purchasers and the study of gouerners, why doth your grace desire Fraunce before Scotlande, or coue [...] a countrey farre from your sight, before a realme vnder your nose? Do you not remember how the hole Isle of Britain was one entier Monarchi in the time of your no­ble auncetor Kyng Brute first kyng and ruler of your famus Empire and glorious region: whiche deuidyng his realme to his thre sonnes gaue to Lothryne his eldest sonne that part of Britain that your highnes now enioyeth, and to Albanact his second sonne he gaue the coun­trey of Albany nowe called Scotland, and to Camber his third sonne he gaue the countrey of Cambria nowe called Wales: reseruyng al­waies to him & his heires homage, lege and feaultie loiall for the same countreis and dominions. By this deuisiō, the glory of the monarchie of Britayne was clerely defaced, by this separacion the strength of the Britishe 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 inuade or attempte warre against the Britons: but when the land was once deuided and the monarchie vndone, outward enemitie or foreyn hostilitie not halfe so muche infested, greued or troubled the valiaunt Brittons as their owne neighboures discended of one parent, and come of one progeny. For the Albanac [...]es otherwise called the false fraudulēt 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, but also made continuall warre and destroied their tounes and slewe the people of their neyghboures and Britons. For whiche cause, diuerse of your noble progenitoures haue not only made warre and subdewed the Scottes for the deniyng of their homage and stirryng of rebellion, but also haue deposed their kynges & princes and erected and set vp other in their estates and dig­nities. Scater kyng of Scottes, for his rebellion was by Dunwallo Moluncius your noble predecessor slayn and extincted. Kyng Arthure also the Glory of the Brittons erected Angosile to the scepter of Scotland and receaued of hym homage and fealtie. Yf I shuld reherse 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 Emperoures ouer the vnderkinges of Scotland, haue elected & made rulers, to thētent that all people might manifestly perceiue that it was more glorious, more honourable and more famous to a Kyng to make a Kyng then to be a [Page] kyng hy natural discent, I assure you, your eares woulde be more we­ry of hearyng, then my tounge would be fatigate with open truth tel­lyng. Your noble progenitour kyng Edward the firste couetyng 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 dominion. 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 likewyse inuaded Scotlande and conquered the countreye to the towne of Perche called Saincte Ihons towne standyng on the riuer of Tay, whiche he walled, diched and fortefied, rulyng that part with Englishe lawes, Englyshe customes and by Englishe Iudges, and was all moste at a poynte thereof to haue made a perfighte conqueste and a complete Monarchie. But Oh Lorde, hasty deathe whiche ma­keth an ende of all mortall creatures, sodeynly berefte hym of his life and toke awaie his spirite, and so all thynges whiche he had deuised, whiche he had ymagened 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 bothe necessary, conueniente 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 vnite and cōbine that vertue and strēgth whiche from the tyme of Brute was dispersed and seuered, in one body, in one hed and one corporacion. Wherfore, if to your high wisedome it semeth not necessary takyng this terme neccssary for nede­full to conquere the realme of Scotlande as a thyng that nedes muste be doen, yet will I not flie from my first saiyng, but proue it necessary (as the logicall paraphrasian and Philosophical interpreters) do by a distinccion expounde this terme necessary to signifie a thyng conueni­ent: That the conquest in Scotlande before the inuadyng of Fraunce is moste expedient, for experience teacheth and reason agreeth that e­uery persone entēdyng a purposed enterprise, or a determinate voyage should onely prouide and make preparacion for all thynges requisite and nedefull for his purpose or exployte, but also ought vigilantly to forsee withLynt is a beast like to a wolfe, whose sighte dooeth perce al thyn­ges. Lincis iyes, and preuēt and study with the serpentyne pol­licie how to aduoyde and refell all thynges whiche might ether bee an impediment to his progression and settyng forward or occasion of his returne and losse of his enterprise, least he leuyng behynd hym an euill neighbour, a continuall aduersary & a secrete enemie, maie assone lese his owne 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 [Page xxxix] to you certain articles conteined in the old league and amitie betwene the realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande, wherof the wordes be these.

THE warre or iniurye moued or doen by the Englishemen to one of 1 thesaied nacions, to be as a commen wrong to bothe.

IF the Englishemen make warre on the Frenche nacion, then the 2 the Scottes at the costes and charges of the Frenche kyng, shall mi­nister to theim succours.

LIKEVVYSE if the Scottes be molested by the English warres,3 the Frenche nacion hauyng their costes allowed, shall bee to theim ay­ders and assisters.

AND that none of bothe the nacions shall ether contracte or make 4 peacewith the realme of Englande without the consente and agre­ment of the other.

AND to thentent that this league and amitee should be kept vnui­olate Robert le Bruse the vsurper of Scotland willed by his testamēt twoo thynges in especiall to bee obserued, the one, neuer to breake the treatie concluded with Fraunce: The second neuer to kepe peace or promes with Englishmen lenger then the kepyng therof were to theim e­ther profitable or necessary. Yet Ihon Mayer and other Scottish wri­ters coloure this cause, saiyng that he would haue no peace concluded with Englande aboue thre yeres. But whatsoeuer writers write or tal­kers saie, thei 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 your auncetours euer inuaded Fraunce, but incontinent the Scottes troubled and vexed England. None of your progenitors euer pas­sed the sea in iust quarell against the Frēche nacion, but the Scottishe people in their absence entered your realme, spoyled your houses, slewe your people and toke great praies innumerable, only to prouoke your auncestors for to returne frō the inuadyng of Fraūce. If I should de­clare to you their comen breakyng of leagues, their craftie and subtill dissimulaciō, their false faire promises often sworne and neuer kept, I doubt not but you would ten tymes more abhorre their doyng, then I would bee ashamed of the tellyng. Therfore I saie still, and affirme 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 wil 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 waxe skante, if the wynde turne contrary or an hideous tempeste arise, you shall bee desti­tute of aide, prouisiō and treasure, whiche in a strange region are the cō fusion [Page] & 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 desiryng to haue a forain gouernor, then a naturall 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 the recoueryng of your righteous title and true inheritaunce, in obseruyng the old auncient prouerbe vsed by our forfathers, whiche saieth, he that will Fraunce wynne, muste with Scotlande firste begyn.

NO ꝙ the Duke of Excester vncle to the Kyng,An O [...]acion of the Duke of Excester. (whiche was well learned, and sente 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 comon saiyng of the wise and ex­pert Philicions, whiche bothe write and teache, that if you will heale a malady you must firste remoue the cause: If you will cure a lore, 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 nori [...]sher or Scotlande, if the Frenche penciōs be the susteiners of the Scottishe nobilitee, if the educacion of Scot­tes 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 comen people wil sone decaie and waxe faint: Plucke away Fraūce and neuer looke that Scotlande will resist or withstande your power. For when the hed is gone, the body sone falleth, and when the sap fay­leth the tree sone withereth. Let men reade the Chronicles and peruse our Englishe Chronographiers, & you shall sone finde that the Scot­tes haue seldō of their owne [...]ocion inuaded or vexed Englande, but onely for the obseruyng of the league in the whiche thei 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 wher thei haue inuaded, as I cannot deny but thei haue dooen, what glory or what profite succeded of their entrep [...]ice, I report me to their pecu­lier histories. Kyng Malcolyn inuaded Englande, when kyng Williā the [...]econd was makyng warre in Normandy. Dauid le Bruse 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 Durrham. Let the gouernors of Scot­lande, (for the kyng is sure ynough) entre into Englande on that price [Page xl] and se what he shall gayne therby. What notable acte wer Scottes e­uer able to do out of their owne countree and propre climate? Or when wer thei able to cōueigh 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 beastes, thinkyng their rusticall fassion to be high honestie, and their beggerly liuyng to bee a welfare. Beside this, what auncient writer or autentike historiographier ether writ of them honor or once nameth theim, ex [...]pte sainct Iherom, whiche saieth that when he was yong, he sawe in Fraunce certain Scottes of the isle of Britain eate the fleshe of men, and when thei came into the woodes findyng there greate heardes of beastes and flockes of shepe, lefte the beastes and cut of the buttockes of the heardmen and the pappes and brestes of the sheperdes womē, extemyng this meate to be the greatest deinties: And Sabellicus saieth that Scottes muche delighte and reioyse in liyng. You may now apparauntly perceiue 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 Fraūce be taken from thē, of whom shall thei seke aide? Denmarke will thē re­fuse because the kyng is your brother inlawe: Portyngall & Castel wil not them regarde, 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 thei in conclusion destitute of all ayde, depriued of all succoure, bereued of all frendship (if Fraunce be cōque­red) must without warre or dent of sworde come vnder your subieccion and due obeysance. And yet I would not in this your conquest, Fraūce 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 inuasions of Scotlande. For of that might ensue this mi­schief, that if your whole power wer vanquisshed in Fraūce, the Scot­tes beyng elated by the victory of their frendes might do more displeasor to your realme in one yere then you should recouer again in fiue. But sithe God hath sent you people, riches, municiōs 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 leue my lorde of Westmerlande and other graue capitaines of the Northe with a conuenient nombre to defende the Marches if the subtill Scottes encouraged by the Frenchmen will any thyng attēpt duryng your voyage and absence. And this is to be remēbred, if you get Scotlande you haue a countree barayne almoste of all pleasure and goodnes, you gayne people sauage, waueryng and constant, of riches you shall haue litle and of pouertie muche: But if you get Fraunce, you shall haue a countree fertile, pleasant and plentifull, you shall haue people, Ciuill, witty and of good ordre. You shall haue riche citees, beautiful tounes innumerable Castles .xxiiij. puyssaunt Duchies, lxxx. and odde popu­lous [Page] Countrees, and an hūdred 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 honorable, this gayne is proffitable, this iourney is plesaunte, and therfore nether to be left nor forslewed. Uitaill you shall haue sufficient from Flaunders aide of men you maie haue daily out of England, or els to leaue a competente crewe in the Marches of Caleis to refreshe your armie and to furnishe still your numbre. Although the cost in transportyng your mē be greate, yet your gayne shalbe greater, and therfore accordyng to the trite adage, he muste liberally spende that will plentefully gayne. And because my lorde of Westmerlāde hath alleged that the Romaines de­sired the dominion of suche as were vnder flight of their owne Egle, or whose possessions were a mote to their eye, as the Numidians & other whiche he hath wisely rehersed. Behold the condicions of the counsai­lers and the desire of the mouers, what persones were they whiche co­ueted their poore neighbors rather then riche foreines? 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 woulde haue somewhat and yet take litell payne, menne that coueted thynges no­thyng honourable nor yet greatly profitable. But I remember that the noble Cato the Censor whiche when it was alledged in the Se­nate at Rome that Affrike was farre of, and the sea brode, and the iourney perillous caused certain newe figges to bee brought into the Senate, whiche grewe in the territory of Carthage, and demaunded 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 qoud Cato, if they be newe gathered, thē is not the region farof where they grewe ( [...] kant 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 coū ­trey profitable. If you gaine the Scicilians, 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 affricke, you shall haue not onely Corne Oyle and beastes, but gold, purple, precious stones, Oliphantes and all thynges bothe necessary and pleasant. Therfore my councell is ra­ther to seke riches beyng farre distant then pouertie liyng at hand, for paine is forgotten euer where gaine foloweth. This noble saiyng of sage Cato 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 vtterly destroyed and the whole countrey subdewed and brought vnder the Romain Empire. Iulius Ceasar also desired rather to conquere the Brittons deuided from the continent, ye and inhabityng almost in thend of the world, rather then [Page xli] to gayne the Pannonians adioynyng to Italy, saiyng, breke the strō ­ger and the weaker will bowe: Subdue the riche and the pore wil yeld be lord of the lordes and the vassalles 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 thre brethrē and diuerse other lordes beyng yong and lusty, desirous to wyn honor and profite in the realme of Fraunce, ensuyng the couragious actes of their noble progenitors, whiche gat in that region bothe honor and re­noune. So that now al men cried warre, warre, Fraunce, Fraunce, and the bil put into the parliament for desoluyng of religious houses was clerely forgotten and buried, and nothyng thoughte on but onely the recoueryng 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 parliamēt 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 Fraūce 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 hous in Paris, ke­pyng suche triumphante chere in their lodgyng, and suche a solempne estate in ridyng through the citee, that the Parisians & all the Frenche men had no small meruell at their honorable fassions and lordly beha­ueors. The Frenche kyng receiued them very honorably, and sumpte­ously banquetted theim, shewyng to theim goodly iustes and marciall pastymes, by the space of three daies together, in the whiche iustes the kyng hymself to shewe his courage and actiuitee to the Englishemen, manfully brake speres and lustely turneyed.

VVHEN 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 Englād 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 of effusion of Christen bloud rendre to the kyng their Master his very righte and lawfull inheritaunce, that he would be content to take in mariage 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 Englande did expresse and signifie to hym that [Page] with the ayd of God and help of his people he would recouer his right and inheritaunce wrongfully with holden with mortall warre and dēt of sworde. The Frenchemen were muche abasshed at these demaundes thinkyng theim very vnresonable and farre excessiue, and yet not wil­lyng to make any determinate aunswer till thei had farther brethed in so weighty a cause, praied thenglishe Ambassadors to saie to the kyng their master that thei now hauyng no oportunitee to cōclude in so hie a matter would shortly 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 makyng relacion of euery thyng that was said or dooen. Here I ouerpasse howe some writers saie that the Dolphyn thinkyng kyng Henry to be geuen still to suche plaies and light folies as he exercised & vsed before the tyme that he was exalted to the croune sent to hym a tunne of tennis balles to plaie with, as who saied that he could better skil of tennis then of warre, and was more expert in light games then marcial 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 su [...]e 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 Empire and dominion, determined fully to make warre in Fraunce, cōceiuyng 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 Iustice and sette furth by equitie. And because many Frenchemen wer promoted to Ecclesiastical digni­tees, some to benefices, some to Abbeies and priores within his realme and sent daily innumerable somes of money into Fraunce for the relefe and aide of their naturall countremen and lineall 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 thei that should so be admitted, should find sufficient suretie not to disclose y^e secretes of this realme to any forain or straūge person, nor also to minister to them any aide or succor with money or by any other meane. Beside this he assembled a greate 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 conueighyng ouer his men and municions of warre, and finally prouided for armure, vitaile, mo­ney, artillary, carraiges, tētes and other thinges necessary for so hie an enterprise: Whiche prouisions wer sone blowen into Fraūce & quickly knowen in Paris. Wherefore the Dolphin who had taken on hym the gouernance of the realme, be cause his father was fallen again into his [Page xlij] olde infirmitie, sent for the dukes of Berry and Alaunson and all the counseil of Fraunce, to cōclude what should be done in so great a mat­ter and so weightie a cause. After long cōsultacion, it was determined to assemble people through the whole realme of Fraunce, to resist & re­pulce the kyng of Englande and his puissaunce whensoeuer he would arriue or set foote in Fraunce, and also to fortifie their tounes & stuffe thē with garrisons and men of warre, and farther by taxes & subsedies to leuy as muche money as by wit or pollicie could be deuised or ima­gined. Moreouer to staie the kyng of England at home, it was polle­tiquely deuised to sende to him a solempne Ambassade to make to him some offers accordyng to the demaundes before rehersed. The charge of this Ambassade was cōmitted to the earle of Uandosme, to Maister Wylliam Bouratier Archebishop of Bourgues and to Maister Pe­ter 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 lāded at Douer, before whose arriual 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 approchyng, taried stil at Wynchester, where the sayd Frenche lordes shewed them selues verye honorably before the kyng and the nobilitie. And in the bishoppes hal before the kyng, sittyng in his throne imperial & his lordes spiritual and temporal & a great mul­titude of the cōmons there for that entent assēbled, At a tyme prefixed, the Archebishop of Bourgesse made an eloquent and a long Oracion, dissuadyng warre, and praisyng peace, offeryng to the kyng of Englād a great some of money with diuerse base & pore countries with the La­dy Katherin in mariage, so that he would dissolue his armie & dismisse his souldiors whiche he had gathered and made ready.

When this Oracion was ended, the kyng caused the Ambassadors to be highly feasted, & set thē 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 wold not geue with his daughter in mariage, the duchies of Acquitain, Normandy, Aniowe, & al other seignories & dominions som­time apperteinyng to the noble progenitors of the kyng of Englād, he would in no wise retire his army nor breake his iorney but would with al diligence entre into the realme of Fraūce & destroy the people, depo­pulate the coūtry & subuert the tounes, with sword blud & fyre, & neuer cease til he had recouered 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 in flamed with anger that his purpose toke none effect, desiryng licence & pardō of the king that he might speake: whiche once attained he verye rashly and vnreuerētly sayd. Thynkest thou to put doune and destroy [Page] wrongfully the most christen kyng, our most redoubted souerain lord and most excellentest prince of al christianitie of blud and preheminēce Oh kyng, sauyng thine honour, thinkest thou that he hathe offered or caused to be offred to the landes, goodes, or other possessions with his owne daughter for feare of the or thy Englishe nacion, or thy friendes or wel 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 dis­persed abrode, and that christian people 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 in god most puissant accordyng to right and reason, trustyng in his quarel to 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 realme and dominions & that thou wilt write thyne answere who­ly as thou hast geuen it, vnder thy seale and signe manuell.

THE Kyng of Englande nothyng vexed nor yet moued with the presumptuous saiynges and proude bragges of the vnnurtered and vnmanerly byshop, but well remēbryng kyng Salomon in the .xxiiii. of his Prouerbes, whiche saithe, that with discrecion warres muste be taken in hand, & where many can geue councell, there is victory, cold­ly and sobrely aunswered the bishop saiyng: My lorde, I littell esteme your Frenche bragges, and lesse set by your powre & strength, I know perfightly my right to your region, and excepte you will deny the ap­parant truthe so do you, and yf you neither do nor will knowe yet god and the world knoweth it. The powre of your Mayster you see daily, but my puissance you haue not yet tasted, If your master haue louing [...]rendes and faithfull subiectes, I am I thanke God not disgarnished nor vnprouided of the same: But this I say vnto you, that before one yere passe I trust to make the highest croune of your countrey stoupe and the proudest Miter to kneele downe: And saie this to the vsurper your Maister that I within thre monethes wyll enter into France not as into his land, but as into mine owne true and lawfull patrimonye entendyng to conquere it, not with braggyng wordes, 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 woulde not speake that sentence the which I wold not write and subscribe, nor subscribe that line to the whiche I would refuse to put my seale. Therfore your saueconducte shal be to you de­liuered with mine answere, and then you may departe 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 [Page xliii] countrye, relatyng to the Dolphyn and the kynges councel what they had done duryng the tyme of their Ambassade.

After the frenche Ambassadours were departed, the kyng as I sayd before hauing a great foresight and disposyng all thynges in an ordre forgettyng not the olde pranckes and sodeyn trickes of the variable Scottishe nacion, appoincted the earle of Westmerlande, the lorde Scrope, the Baron of Greystocke and sir Robert Umfreuile with di­uers other hardye parsonages & valiant capitaynes to kepe the fron­tiers and Marches adioynyng to Scotland, whiche sir Robert Um­freuile on the day of Mari Magdalene entred with the Scottes at the toune of Gederyng, hauyng in his company only .CCCC. Englishe­men, where he after long conflict and doubtful battaile slewe of his e­nemies .lx. and odde, and toke captynes .CCC.lx. and discomfited and put to flight a thousand and moo, whom he folowed in chace alone .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 capitayne and gouernour.

When the kyng had ordered all thynges for the tuicion and saue­garde of his realme and people, he leauyng behynd him for gouernor of the realme, the Quene his mother inlawe, departed to the toune of Southhampton, 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 whiche the Frenche cronographers declare to be these.

VVHEN the letter was presented to the Frenche kyng & by his councel well ouerloked, he made answere to thofficers of armes that he had wel perceiued the content of the letters, whereupon he would take ad­uice and prouide for the same in tyme and place conuenient, licensyng the messenger to depart at his pleasure.

¶The third yere.The iii. yere.

THis noble prince hauyng his nauy furnished, and al thinges necessary for suche a royal voyage, perceiuyng his freshe ca­pitaines to complain that thei had lost so many monethes of the yere in the whiche they might haue done diuerse haute terprices in the lādes of theyr enemies, and that nothyng was to thē & more odius then prolongyng lingeryng of tyme, determined with all diligence to cause his souldiors to entre his shippes and so to depart.

SE the chaunce, the night before the day of departure appoincted, he was credibly informed that Richarde earle of Cambridge brother to [Page xliiii] Edward duke of Yorke and Henry lorde Scrope & syr Thomas Gray knight had cōpassed his death and finall distruction: wherfore he cau­sed them to be apprehended lamentyng sore his chaunce that he should be compelled to loose suche personages by whose valiantnes and puis­saunce he should be more dreadful and feareful to his foes & enemies. When these prisoners were examined, they not onely confessed the cō ­spiracy, but also declared that for agreat some of mony which they had receiued of the Frenche kyng, they intēded either to deliuer the kyng a liue into the handes of his enemies, or els to murther him before that he shuld arriue in the duchy of Normādy. When kyng Henry hard al thinges opened whiche he sore desired, he caused al his nobilitie to assē ble before his maiestie royal, before whom he caused to be brought the thre great offendors and to them sayd: If you haue conspired the deth and destruction of me whiche am the head of the realme and gouernor of the people, without doubt I must of necessitie thinke that you like­wyse haue compassed the confusion of al that be here with me and also the final destruction of your natiue countrey and natural region. And although some priuate Scorpion in your heartes, or some wild worme in your heades hath caused you to conspire my death and cōfusion, yet you shuld haue spared that deuelish enterprice as long as I was with mine army whiche cannot cōtinue without a capitaine, nor be directed without a guide, nor yet with the destruction of your owne bloud and nacion you should haue pleased a forein enemy and an auncient aduersary. Wherfore seyng that you haue enterprised so great a mischiefe, so abhominable a fact, to thentent that your fautors beyng in the armye may abhorre so detestable an offence by the punishement of you, hast you to receiue the payne that for your demerites you haue deserued, & that punishment that by the lawe for your offences is prouided.

VVHEN these noble men were executed, the kyng sayd to his lor­des, se you not the madde imaginacion of men whiche persecute me that dayely studye, and hourely labour, to my great trauaile and vn­quietnes for the aduauncement of the publique wealth of this realme and region, and for that cause I spare no payne nor refuse no tyme, to thentent to do good to all men, and to hurt no man, and thus to do is my dutie & to this as I thinke am I borne. I pray to God that ther be none among you that be infected with so much vntruth that had leuer se me destroied and brought to confusion, rather then to se his coūtrey florishe encreased with honor and empyre. I assure you that I cōceiue no suche opinion in any of you, but put in you both trust & confidence and if I may haue your helpe to beautify my realme and to recouer a­gaine the olde honor of myne auncestours by subduyng the Frenche nacion, I for my selfe wyll forget al peril and paine and be your guide lodesman and conductor. And if you drawe backe and wyll not moue forwarde, beleueue me, God wyll so dispose, that hereafter you shalbe deceiued and sore repent had I wyst. When the kyng had finished his [Page] saiyng, all the noble men kneled doune & promised faythfully to serue him and duely to obey him, and rather to dye then to suffre him to fall into the handes of his enemies.

THIS done, the kyng thought surely in his conceipte all sedicion to be drouned & vtterly extincte. But if he had cast his eye to the fyre that was newly kindled, he should haue surely sene an horrible flame incē ­sed against the walles of his owne house and family, by the whiche in conclusion his line and stocke was cleane destroyed and consumed to ashes, whiche fyre 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 Edmond earle of Marche as heyre to duke Lyonel. After whose death consideryng that the earle of Marche for diuerse secrete impedimentes was not hable to haue generacion, he was sure that the croune should come to him by his wife, or to his children. And therfore it is to be thought that he ra­ther cōfessed him selfe for nede of money to be corrupted by the Frēche kyng, then he would declare his inwarde mynd & open his very entent For surely he sawe that if this purpose were espied, the earle of March should haue dronken of the same cup that he did, and what shuld haue come to his owne children he muche doubted. And therfore beyng de­destitute of comfort and in dispayre of life, to saue his children he fay­ned that tale, desiryng rather to [...]aue his succession then him selfe, which he did in dede. For Richard duke of Yorke his sonne not priuely but openly claimed the croune, and Edward his sonne both claimed & gained it as hereafter you shal heare, which thyng at this time if kyng Henry had foresene I doubt whether either euer that line should haue either claimed the garlande or gained the game.

VVHEN the wynde was prosperous and pleasaunt for the nauye to set forward, they waied vp the Ankers and hoysed vp their sailes and set forward with .C.xl. shippes on the vigile of the Assumpcion of our Lady and toke land at Caux, comonly called Kyd Caux (where the ri­uer of Seine runneth into the sea) without resistence or bludsheddyng. The kyng was lodged on the shore in a small priory with the dukes of Clarēce and Gloucester his bretherne: the duke of Excetter and Yorke, the earles, Marshal, Oxforde, Suffolke, Warwicke and other lordes were lodged not farre frō him. The next day after, he marched toward the toune of Harflewe standyng 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, of Adsan­ches, of Brian, of Gaucort, of Lisleadam and many othrr.

THE Frenche kyng beyng aduertised of the kynges arriuall, sente in all the hast the lorde Delabreche constable of Fraunce and the lorde [Page xlv] Bonciqualt Marshall of Fraūce, the Seneschal of Henaude, the lorde Ligny and diuerse other capitaines, whiche fortefied tounes with men vitaile and artillary on all the sea coaste. And heryng that the kyng of England had besieged Harflew at his first landyng, came to the castle of Cawdebec beyng not farre from Harflewe, to thentent to succor their frendes whiche wer besieged if thei might by any pollicy or inuencion, and if not, then thei imagined how to sleye and hurte the Englishemen when thei wente into the countree on foragyng for beastes and vitaill and so trappe and destroye them, for thei cōstrued with themselfes that their vitaile would sone faile because of the ayre of the sea and smell of the water. But thei were deceiued, for notwithstandyng the prouision and pollicy of the Frenchemen, the Englishmen forrayed the countree, spoyled the villages and brought many a riche praie to the Campe be fore Harflewe. Thenglishmen daily ceassed not to assaile the toune, the duke of Gloucester to whō the ordre of the assaulte was comitted, made thre mynes vnder the ground & approched the walles with ordinaunce and engynes, and would not suffre 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 awaie 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 Frēch men within the toune perceiued that thei wer not able to resist the con­tinuall inuasions and hourely assaultes of the fierce Englishemenne, and knowyng that their walles were vndermyned and shortely like to fal, & feryng that might happē of the chance if thei should fortune to be ouercome and takē by force, desired of the kyng of England only truce for thre daies, promisyng that if thei were not reskewed within thesame tyme, then thei to yeld themselfes and the toune their liues only saued. And to performe this, thei deliuered into the kynges possession .xxx. of the beste capitaines and Marchauntes of the toune. The kyng of En­glande accepted this offre, least 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 whō 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, thei seyng no hope nor similitude of aide and comfort to them commyng, after the third daie rendered to the kyng of Englād the toune, beyng the .xxxvij. daie after that it was besieged, whiche was the daie of sainct Mawrice, to the greate abashe­ment of all Normandy, for it was the soueraigne porte of al that coun­tree. The souldiours wer raunsomed and the toune was sacked to the greate gayne of the Englishemen. The kyng of Englande ordeigned capitain of the toune of Harflew his vncle Thomas duke of Excester [Page] whiche established his leuetenaunte there Ihon Fastolffe with .xv.C. men and .xxxv. kinghtes, wherof the Baron of Carew & sir Hugh Lut­terell were two counsaillers. And because diuerse of his nobles liyng before Harflew were sicke of the flixe and many wer ded, emongest whō therle of Stafford, the bishop of Norwich, the lordes Molins and Burnell wer foure beside other. The kyng licensed the duke of Clarēce his brother, Ihon erle Marshall and Ihon erle of Arundel beyng infected with that desease to returne into Englande.

KYNG Henry not a litle reioysyng of his good lucke and fortunate successe in the beginnyng of his pretensed conquest, determined withal diligence to set forward in performyng 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 armie to consult vpō 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 runnyng or fliyng awaie, it was decreed that the whole armie should passe the next waie by lande through the middest of their enemies, and yet that iouruey was adiudged perilous by reason that the numbre was muche minished by the flyxe and other feuers, whiche sore vexed and brought to deth aboue .xv.C. persones, whiche was the very cause that the returne was soner concluded and apoincted: but before his de­partyng he entered into the toune of Harflew and went on foote to the churche of sainct Martynes and there offered. And all the men of warr whiche had not paied their raunsome, he sware them on the holy Euangelistes to yeld themselfes prisoners at Caleis by the fea [...] of S. Mar­tyn 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 fiue 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.

VVHEN the kyng had repaired the walles, fortefied the bulwarkes refresshed the rampiers 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 Harf­flewe was gotten and that the kyng of Englande was marchyng for­warde into the bowelles of the realme, sente out proclamacions and [Page xlvi] 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 bridges to be broken and all the passages to be defended, beside that thei caused all corne and other vitaill to be destroied in all places where thei coniectured that thenglishmen would repaire or passe through, to thentent that thei might ether kepe thē in a place cer­tain without 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 withall these incōmoditees at one tyme was nether dismaied 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 greate 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 sente his light horsemen abrode to spye and seke what perilles ther wer at hand, what embushmentes ther wer laid on the one side or thother, & to find out where he might most sauely pas the riuer. The espialles returned and declared for a truth that the coū ­tree 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 enemies on both sides of him, he passed so terribly that his enemies wer afraid once to offre hym bat­taill, and yet the lorde Delabreth Constable of Fraunce, the Marshall Bonceqault, the erle of Uandosme greate Master of Fraunce and the lorde Dampier Admirall of Fraunce, the duke of Alanson and the erle of Richemonde withall the puyssance of the Dolphin laie at Abbeuile and durste not once touche his battailles, but euer kepte the passages 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 Ihō lord Ferreis of Groby, Reignold of Greistocke, Piers Tempest, Christopher Morisby, Thomas Pike­ring, Williā Huddleston, Ihon Hosbalton, Henry Mortimer, Philip Halle & Williā his brother, & Iaques de Ormōd & diuerse other. But when he saw y^e the Frenchmen made no semblance to fight, he departed in good ordre of battail by the toune of Amiēce 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 was staied that night by reason that the comē people and peysantz of the countree [Page] assembled in greate nombre, and the men of Armes of the garrison of Corby skirmished with his armie in the mornyng, whiche tariyng was to hym bothe ioyous and proffitable, 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 greate 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 .xiij.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 spēt, and newe thei could gette none, for their enemies had destroyed all the corne before their comyng: Rest thei 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 thei had ynough but comforte thei had none. And yet in this great necessitee the poore folkes wer not spoyled nor any thyng without paiment was of thē extorted, nor great offence was doen except one, whiche was that a foolishe souldier stale a pixe out of a churche and vnreuerently did eate the holy hostes with­in 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 hearyng of his straight iustice & godly mynd, ministered to hym bothe vitailes & other necessaries, although by open proclamaciō thei wer therof prohibited.

THE Frenche kyng beyng at Roan, hearyng that the kyng of En­glande was passed the water of Some, was not a litle discontente, and assembled his counsaill to the numbre of .xxxv. to consult what should be doen, the chief wherof were the Dolphin his sonne whose name was Lewes, callyng hymself kyng of Cicile, the dukes of Berry & Britayn therle of Pontieu the kynges yongest sonne and diuerse other, wherof xxx. agreed that the Englishmen should not departe vnfoughten with all, and fiue▪ wer of the contrary opinion, but the greater numbre 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 he should 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 becometh me, for surely I will not seke your Master at this time, 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 ieoperdy be it, and yet my desire is that none of you be so vnaduised or harebrained as to be the occasion that I in my defence shall coloure and make redde your tawny grounde with the deathes of your selfes and theffusion of Christen bloud. When he had aunswe­red [Page xlvij] the harauld, he gaue to him a great reward & licēced him to depart

VVHEN the Lordes of Fraunce heard the kyng of Englandes an­swere, it was incontinent proclaymed, 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 Arinure and desirous to wyn honor through the realme of Fraunce drewe to­ward the feld. The Dolphyn sore desired to bee at that battaile, but he was prohibited by the kyng his father, 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 battaill was nerer then he loked for, dislodged from Bomyers & roade in good arraie through the faire plaine 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 twoo armies to darrayne battail 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 Englishemen muste nedes passe towarde Caleis. The Frenchemen made greate fires aboute their banners, and thei wer in numbre had .lx.M. horsemen, as their owne historians and writers af­firme, beside footemen pages and wagoners, and all that night made greate chere and wer very mery. The Englishmen that night sounded their trompettes and diuerse instrumentes Musicall with greate me­lody, and yet thei were bothe hungery, wery, sore traueiled and muche vexed with colde deseases: Howbeit thei made peace with God in con­fessyng their synnes, requiryng hym of help and receiuyng the holy sa­cramente, euery man encouragyng and determinyng clerely rather to die then ether to yelde or flie.

NOVV approched the fortunate faire daie to the Englishemen and the infest and vnlucky daie to the Frenche nobilitee,The battaile of Agincourt whiche was the fiue and twenty daie of October in the yere of our Lorde Iesu Christe a thousaude foure hundred and fiftene, beeyng then Fridaie and the daie of Crispin and Crispinian. On the whiche daie in the mornyng, the Frenche menne made thre battailes: In the Uaward wer eight thousande Healmes of Knightes and Esquiers and foure thousande Archers and fiftene hundred Crosebowes, whiche were guyded by the Lorde Delabret Constable of Fraunce, hauyng with hym the dukes of Orleaunce and Burbone, therles of Ewe and Richmond the Marshall Bonciqualt and the Master of the Crosebowes, the Lorde Dampier Admirall of Fraunce and other capitaines. And the erle of [Page] Uandosme and other the kynges officers with .xvj.C. men of Armes wer ordred for a wyng to that battail. And the other wyug 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 appoincted sir Guylliā of Sauēsens with Hector and Philip his brethren. Ferry of Maylley and Alen of Gaspanes with other .viij.C. men of Armes. In the midle ward wer assigned as many persones or mo as wer in the formoste battaill, and therof was the charge comitted to the dukes of Barr and A­lenson, therles of Neuers, Uawdemont, Blamoūt, Salynges, Graūt­pree and of Roussy. And in the rerewarde were all the other men of Ar­mes, guyded by the erles of Marle, Dampmartyne, Fawquenberge and the Lorde of Lourrey Capitayne of Arde, who had with hym men of the Frontiers of Bolonoys.

VVHEN these battailes were thus ordred, it was a glorious sight to behold thē, and surely thei wer estemed to be in numbre sixe times as many or more then was the whole compaigny of the Englishmen with wagoners pages and all. Thus the Frenchmen wer euery man vnder his banner only waityng for the blouddy blast of the terrible trompet, and in this ordre thei continued restyng themselfes and reconcilyng e­uery one to other for all old rancors and hatredes whiche had been be­twene theim, till the houre betwene .ix. and .x. of the daie. Duryng whi­che season, the Constable of Fraunce saied openly to the capitaynes in effecte as foloweth.

FRENDES and companions in armes,The oracion of the Cōsta­ble of Fraūce I cānot but bothe reioyce and lament the chances & fortunes of these two armies whiche I openly se and behold with myne iyes here presente. I reioyce for the victorie whiche I se at hand for our part, and I lamēt and sorow for the misery and calamitee whiche I perceiue to approche to the otherside: For wee cannot but be victours and triūphant 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 wea­pons? Are not here the bold Britons with fiery handgōnes and sharpe swerdes? Se you not 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 smal handfull of pore Englishmen whiche are entred into this region in hope of some gain or desire of proffite, whiche by re­son that their vitaill is cōsumed & spent, are by daily famyn sore weke­ned, consumed & almost without spirites: for their force is clerly abated and their strength vtterly decaied, so y^• or the battailes shall ioyne thei shalbe for very feblenes vāquished & ouercom, & in stede of men ye shal fight with shadowes. For you must vnderstand, y^• kepe an Englishmā one moneth from his warme bed, fat befe and stale drynke, and let him [Page xlviij] that season tast colde and suffre hunger, you then shal se his courage a bated, 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 houe made their progresse farher into Fraunce, and not by so many perilous passages retired towarde Calays. Suche courage is in Englishmen when fayre wether and vitaile folow them, and suche weaknes 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 profer to strike, so that ye may no easelier kyll a poore shepe then destroye them beyng alredy sicke & hungerstaruen. But imagyn that thei wer lusty, strong and couragious, and then ponder wisely the cause of their cōmyng 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 souereigntie of the verye substance of the Frenche nacion by battaile: then he and his entende to occupy this country, 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 tuiciō of your natural countrey, the honor of your prince, the surety of your children and the sauegard of your land and liues. If these causes do not encourage you to fight, beholde before your eyes the tētes of your enemies, with treasure, plate & iewels wel stuffed and richely furnished, whiche pray is surely yours if euery mā strike but one stroke, besyde the great raunsomes whiche shalbe paied for riche capitaines and welthy priso­ners, whiche as surely shalbe 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 apprehēded & taken to the entent that with glorye & triumphe we may conuey him openly through the noble cytie of Paris to ou [...]e 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 compelled. 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 warirer. And fyrst he sent priuely CC. archers into a low medowe whiche was nere to the forward of his enemies, but seperate with a great diche, and were there commaunded to kepe them selues close tyl thei had a token to them geuen to shote at their aduersaries. Beside this, he appoincted a vawarde, of the which he made capitayne Edward duke of Yorke whiche of a haute courage [Page] had of the kyng required and obteined that office: and with him were the lordes Beaumond, Wylloughby and Fanhope, and this battaile was al archers. The middle ward was gouerned by the kyng him self with his brother the duke of Gloucester, & the erles Marshal, Oxford and Suffolke, in the whiche wer al the strong bilmen, The duke of Exceter vncle to the kyng led the rereward, whiche was mixed both with archers & bilmen. The horsemen like winges went on euery side of the battaile. When the king had thus ordred his battaile, like a puissaunt cōqueror without feare of his enemies, yet cōsidering 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 vāquish the power of the French horsmen whiche might breake the ordre and arraye of his Archers, in whom the whole force of the battaile did consist and in maner remaine he caused stakesbound 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 hedge, to the entent that if the barde horses ranne rashely vpō them, they might shortely be gored and destroied, & appointed cer­taine persons to remoue the stakes when the Archers moued, and as tyme required: so that the fotemen were hedged about with the stakes, and the horsemen stode like a bulwerke betwene thē 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 new trickes to defende the force of the horsmen 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 battailes, he left a smal company to kepe his campe & baggage, and then callyng his capitaines and soldiours about him, he made to thē an heartie Oracion in effect as foloweth, saiyng.

VVELBELOVED frendes and countrymen,The oracion of kyng Hen­ry the fift. I exhort you heartely to thinke and conceiue in your selues that this daye shalbe to vs all a day of ioy, a day of good lucke and a day of victory: For truely if you well note and wisely considre all thinges, almighty God vnder whose protection we be come hither, hath appoincted a place so mete and apt for our purpose as we our selues 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 [...]or a great multitude to fight or geue batttaile 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 [Page xlix] and distained: so that God of his iustice wyll scourge and aflicte them for their manifest iniuries and open wronges to vs and oure 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 courages: 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 like pollicy, like audacitie and of one vniforme experience in marcial 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 forwarde, then once to turne theyr one heale backward. For if you aduenture your liues in so iust a battaile & so good a cause, whiche way soeuer 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 so great a multitude shal happē to be slaine or taken, yet neither repro­che can be to you ascribed, either yet infamy of you reported, 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 consisteth 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 auncestours haue so often ouercome and vanquished. For surely they be not so strong to geue the onset vpō you, but thei be much weaker to abide your strēgth in a long fight and tyred battaile. As for me I assure you al, that England for my person shal neuer paye raunsome, nor neuer Frencheman shal triumph ouer me as his capitain, for this day by famous death or glorious victory I wyl wynne honor and obtaine fame. Therfore now ioyously prepare your selues to the battaile and couragiously fight with your enemies, for at this very tyme all the realme of Englande praieth for our good lucke and prosperous successe.

VVHILE the kyng was thus speakyng, eche armye so maligned & grudged at the other beyng in open fight and euident apparence, that euery man cried furth, furth, forward forward. The dukes of Clarēce, Gloucester and Yorke were of the same opinion, thinkyng it most con­uenient to marche toward theyr enemies with al spede & celeritie, least in prolongyng of tyme and arguyng 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 meane season litle or nothyng regardyng [Page] the small nombre of thenglishe nacion, were of suche haute courage aud proud stomackes that they toke 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 thē selues lifted into heauen iestyng and boastyng that they had thenglish men inclosed in a straight, and had ouercome and takē them without any resistence. 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 whiche 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 adioynyng, willyng them to make open playes and triumphes, (as though that the victory were to them certaine & no resistance could appeare) and also to geue God thankes for their prosperous act and notable dede, not remembryng that the whirlewynd shortely with a puffe blew away al their folishe ioy and phantastical braggyng.

Of this doyng you may gather, that it is asmuche madnes to make a determinate iudgement of thinges to come, as it is wisdome to doubt what wyl folowe of thinges begōne. I may not forget how the Frēchemen 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 cōmen rather with thenglishmen how to be redemed, then the Englishmen should take thought how to pay any raūsome 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 healmettes and set thē 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 Herpingham, a man of great experience in warre, with a warder in his hand, and when he cast vp his warder al the army shouted, at the which the Frenchmen muche marueiled, but that was a signe to the Archers in the medowe, which knowing the token, shot wholy altogether at the vaward of the Frenchmen. When they perceiued the archers in the medow, whō they saw not before, and sawe they could not come to them for a ditche, they with al hast set on kyng Henries forwarde, but or they ioyned, the ar­chers in the forfront and the archers on the side whiche stode in the me­dow, so wounded the fotemen, so galled the horses and so combred the men of armes that the fotemen durst not go forward, the horsmen rāne [Page l] in plumpes without ordre, some ouerthrew his felow, and horses ouer­threw their maisters: So at the fyrst ioynyng, as the Frenchemen wer clearely discouraged, so thenglishmen were muche chered. When the Frenche vaward was thus discomfited, the English archers cast away theyr bowes & toke into theyr handes axes, malles and swordes, billes and other weapons, and therwith slewe the Frenchmen tyll they came to the middleward. Then the king approched and encoraged his soul­diors, that shortly the second battaile was ouerthrowen and dispersed not without great slaughter of men: howbeit diuers beyng wounded wer releued by theyr varlettes and conueighed out of the felde, 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 w^estode the fearcenes of Thenglishmen when thei came to hādy strokes, so that the fight was very doubtful & perilous. And when one part of the Frenchhorse men thought to haue entred into the kynges battaile, they were with the stakes ouerturned, and either slaine or taken.

THVS this battaile continued .iii. long houres, some strake, some defēded, 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 day shewed him selfe like a valiaunt knight, whiche notwithstandyng that he was almost felled with the duke of Alaunson, 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 cōtrary to the kynges minde outragiously slew him And inconclusion, mindyng to make an ende of that daies iorney, 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 perceiued 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 encoraged his souldiors and folowed so quickely that the Frenchmen trunyng to flight, ranne hither and thither not knowyng whiche way to take, castyng away theyr armure and on theyr knes de­sired to haue theyr liues saued. In the meane season while the battaile thus continued and that thenglishmen had taken a great nōbre of pri­soners, certain Frenchmen on horsbacke wherof were captaines Robi­net of Borneuile, Rifflart of Clamas and Isambert 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 nō ­bre of kepers or persons mete and cōuenient 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 & theirs in battail the same day, entred into the kynges campe [Page] beyng voide of men and fortefied with varlettes & 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.

VVHEN the kyng by a fearefu [...] messenger was of this euil acte so­dainly aduertiled, and when the outcry of the lackeys and boyes whi­che rāne away for feare of the robbers was heard into the felde, saiyng that the Frenchmen had robbed al the the tentes and lodgynges of the Englishmen, he fearyng least his enemies beyng dispersed and scatte­red abroade should gather together againe and begynne 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 suffre them to liue, contrary to his accustomed gentlenes and pitie he cōmaunded by the sounde of a trompet that euery man vpon paine of death should incōtinently sley his prisoner. When this dolorous decre & pitiful proclamaciō was pronounced, pitie it was to se and lothsome it was to behold how some Frenchmen wer sodainly sticked with daggers, some wer brained with polaxes, some were slaine with malles, other had theyr throtes cut and some their bellies paunched: so that in effecte hauyng respecte to the great nombre, few prisoners or none were saued.

VVHEN this lamentable manslaughter was finished, thenglishe­men forgettyng their woundes and huries and not remembring what paine thei had sustained al 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 earles of Maile and Fauconbrige and the lordes of Louray & of Thyne, whiche with viC. men of armes had al 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 [...]auyng the dead corsses, he caused the retrayte to be blowen and brought al his army together about iiii. of the clocke at after noone. And fyrst to geue thankes to almightie God geuer & tri [...]utor of this glorious victory, he caused his prelates & chapelaines 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 nomini 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 deum with certaine anthemes to be song geuyng laudes and praisynges to God, and not boastyng nor brag­gyng of him selfe nor his humaine power.

THAT night he toke refreshyng of suche as he found in the Frēche campe, and in the mornyng Moūtioy kyng at armes and .iiii. Heraul­tes came to him to know the nombre of prisoners and to desire buriall for them whiche were slaine. Before he could make any answere to the [Page li] Heraultes, he remembryng that it is more honorable to bee praised of his enemies then to be extolled of his frendes: and he that praiseth him self lacketh louyng neighbors: wherfore he demaunded of thē why thei 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 ꝙ Mountioy kyng at armes, thinke you vs officers of armes to be rude and beastial persones? If we for the affe [...]cion 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 puyssaunce destroyed and confounded, will beare witnesse against vs, ye and muche more the captiues whiche be liuing and in your possessiō with their wiues and litle infauntes will saie wee bee open liers and vntrue taletellers: Wherfore accordyng to the duety of our office whi­che is or should bee alwaies indifferently to write and truely to iudge, we saie, determyne and affirme that the victory is yours, the honor is yours and yours is the glory, aduisyng you, as you haue manfully gotten it, so polletikely to vse it. Well saied the kyng, seeyng this is your determinacion, I willyngly accepte thesame, desiryng you to know the name of the castle nere adioynyng. When thei 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 vntruth 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 busely sought through the felde for suche as were slain, but the Englishemen suffred them not to go alone for thei serched with them and found many hurt but not in ieoperdy of their life, whom thei toke prisoners and brought them into their tētes.

VVHEN the kyng of Englande had wel refreshed hymself and his souldiours and had taken the spoyle 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, solempne pro­cessions and other praisynges to almightie GOD, with bonefiers and dances wer ordeined in euery toune, citee and borough, and the Maire and the citezens of the citee of London went the morowe after the daie of sainct Simon and Iude from the Churche of Sainct Paule to the church of S. Peter at Westminster in deuou [...]e maner, rēdryng to God their moste humble and hertie thankes for his haboundant grace and fortunate lucke geuen and sent to the kyng their souereigne lorde.

VVHEN the kyng of Englande was departed the sondaie toward Caleis, diuerse Frēchmen repaired to the plain where the battaill was and remoued again 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 [Page] behynde: For thei toke nothyng but gold, siluer, iuelles, riche apparell and costly armure. But the ploughmen and peysantes spoyled the ded carkasses, leuyng theim nether sherte 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 a square plot of .xv.C. yardes, in the whi­che 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 frē des 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 Uerses, complainyng that the kyng reigned by will, and that coūsaillers wer perciall, affirmyng that the noble men fled against nature, and that the comons were destroyed by their prodigalite, declaring also that the clergy wer dōbe 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 lesse numbre vanquished, and the great was ouercome. Wherfore thei concluded that al thynges was out of ordre, and yet there was no man that studied to bryng the vnruly to frame. And no meruel though this battaill were dolorus and lamentable to the Frenche 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.
• Ihon of Craon lord of Dommart.
• The Lorde of Fossenx.
• The Lorde of Humyers.
• The Lorde of Roye.
• The Lorde of Cauny.
• Sir Borsqueret lorde of Hācourt
• The lorde of Noell called the whit knight and Bado his sonne.
• Lorde Boncequalt Marshall of Fraunce whiche died in Englād
• The young Lorde of Dyn [...]hy.
• Sir Ihon of Uawcort
• Sir Arthure Bremyer.
• Sir Ienet of Poys.
• The sōne & heire of the lord Ligny
• Sir Gylbert de lawney
• The Lorde Dancobe in Ternoys and diuerse other to the numbre of fiftene hūdred Knightes and Esquiers besyde the commen people.

• Charles lorde Delabreth hie Con­stable of Fraunce.
• Iaques of Chastilon lorde of Dā ­pier Admirall of Fraunce.
• The Lorde Rambures Master of the Crosse bowes.
• Sir Guyshard Dolphyn greate Master of Fraunce.
• Ihon duke of Alaunson
• Anthony duke of Brabant brother to the duke of Burgoyn.
• Edward duke of Barre.
• [Page lii] Therle Neuers brother to y^• duke of Burgoyn.
• Sir Robert Barre erle of Marle.
• The erle of Uawdemont.
• The erle of Bawmont
• The erle of Graundpre.
• The erle of Roussy
• The erle of Fauconberge.
• The erle of Foys.
• The erle of Lestrake
• The lorde Boys of Burbon.
• The Uidane of Amias
• The lorde of Croye.
• The lorde Belly.
• The lorde Dauxcy.
• The lorde of Brenew.
• The lorde of Paix standard berar
• The lorde of Crequy.
• The lorde of Lowrey
• The Baily of Amience & his sonne
• The lorde of Raynuale.
• The lorde of Lōguale his brother
• The lorde of Mawley & his sonne
• The lorde of Diuirie.
• The lorde of Newffile
• The lorde of Galigny,
• The lorde of Rocheguiche.
• The Uicedane of Lamoys
• The lorde de Laligier
• The lorde of Baffremont.
• The lorde sainct Bris.
• The lord of Contes and his sonne
• The lord of Nannes & his brother
• The lorde of Ront.
• The lorde of Applincort.
• lord Delariuer with diuerse othre whiche I leaue out for tediousnes.

But surely by the relacion of the Heraultes and declaracion of other notable persons worthy of credite as Enguerrant writeth, there wer 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 wer slain .viii.M.iiii.C, of the whiche .v.C. wer dubbed knightes the night before the battail. Frō the felde escaped on liue, the erle Dampmartyn, the lorde Deiariuier, Clunet of Brabante, sir Lewes of Burbon, sir Galiot of Gaules, sir Ihon Dengermes and fewe other men of name.

OF Englishemen at this battaill wer slain Edward duke of Yorke therle of Suffolk, sir Richard Kikeley & Dauygāme esquire, & of al o­ther not aboue .xxv. if you wil geue credite to [...]uche 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 yet vnpossible but more Englishmen then fiue and twenty were slain and destroyed.

THIS battail maie be a mirror and glasse to al Christian princes to beholde 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 barded horsses, nor yet in his owne pollicy, but he putte in GOD (whiche is the corner stone and immouable rocke) his whole cōfidence hope & trust. And he which neuer leaueth them destitru [...]e that put their confidence in hym, sent to hym this glorious victory, whiche victory is almoste incredible if we had not [...]edde in the boke of kynges that God likewise had defended and aided them that onely put their trust in him [Page] and committed them selfes wholy to his gouernaunce.

AFTER that the kyng of Englande had refreshed 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 Nouembre he with all his prisoners toke shippyng at Caleis, and thesame daie 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 troubleous that two shippes laden with souldiers apperteignyng to sir Ihon Cornewal lorde Fan­hope, wer driuen into zelande, howbeit nothyng was loste nor no per­son was perished. The kyng by soft iorneies with al his prisoners cam to London and so to Westminster, where he rested hymself a conueniēt 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 prolixe, how the Mayre of London and the Senate appareled in oriēt grayned Skarlet, how .iij.C. comoners clad in beautiful Murrey wel mounted and gorgeously horsed with riche collers and greate chaynes met the kyng at Blackhethe, reioysyng at his victorius returne. How the clergie of London with riche crosses, sūpteous copes & massy cēsers receiued hym at .s. Thomas of Wateryng with solēpne procession lau­dyng and praisyng God for the high honor and victory to hym geuen & graunted: but all these thynges I omit and returne to the very matter.

VVHEN the dolorus tidynges of this bloudy battaill was decla­red to the Frenche kyng beeyng 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 daie in the whiche thei had lost their paramors, the seruātes waxed mad for destrucciō of their masters, and finally, euery frend for his frend, euery cosyn for his alye, euery neighbor for his neighbor, was sory, displeased & greued. Wher­fore the Frenche kyng and his counsaill preceiuyng that the war was but newly begon, and that towarde them with euill spede, determined to prouide for chances that might folowe, and to forsee thynges or thei sodainly happened. And first he elected his chief officer for the warres called the Constable, whiche was therle of Arminack, a wise and a pol­litique capitain and an auncient enemy to thenglishmen, and sir Ihon of Corsey was made Master of the Crosbowes, and then thei fortefied tounes & furnished garrisons. While these thynges were thus in wor­kyng, ether for Malencoly that he had for the losse at Agincourt or by some sodein desease, Ihon Dolphyn of Uienoys heire apparaunte to Charles the Frenche kyng departed out of this naturall life without [Page liij] issue, whiche was an happy chaunce for Robynet of Bournouile and his compaignions as you haue heard before, for his death was their life, and his life would haue been their death.

¶The fourth yere.The .iiii. yere

AFter this notable victory obteigned by the Englishmen and that kyng Henry was departed into Englande, and the Frenche kyng had made newe officers in hope to re­leue and sette vp again the olde estate of his realme and coūtrie. 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 Fraunce, enten­dyng in his first iorney to wynne his spurres, and in his compaignie aboue .v.M. horssemen, 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 saue his men was com­pelled to retire, as pollitiquely as he could deuise: But for all that he could do, he lost almoste .ccc. of his fotemen. The Frenchmen not contēt 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 chaced them aboue eighte miles toward the citee of Roan.

ABOVTE this ceason Sigismond Emperor of Almayn whiche had maried Barbara doughter to therle of zilie cosyn germain remoued to kyng Henry (as by the pedegre set out in the end of this boke you shall plainly perceiue) a man of greate vertue and fidelitie, whiche had not onely long labored to set an vnitee and cōcord in Christes churche and christian religiō, but also he sent diuerse Ambassadors aswel to y^e Frēch kyng as to the kyng of Englande, because he was farre distaunt from their countries and regions to encrease perfight peace and reasonable vnitie. Wherfore, seyng that his Ambassade brought nothyng to con­clusion, he in person came frō the farthest part of Hūgary into Fraūce and after into Englande, intendyng to knit together all christen prin­ces in one line and amitee, and so beyng frendes together, to make war and reuenge their quarelles against the Turke the persecutor of Chri­stes faithe and enemie to all christendome. With this noble Emperor came the Archebishop of Reynes and diuerse other noble men, as Am­bassadors frō the Frenche 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 hym through London to Westminster with greate triumphe, where Iustes, tournayes and other marciall feates wer to hym with all ioye [Page] and pleasure shewed and set furth. Duryng whiche tyme there came in to Englande Albert duke of Hollande, whiche also was frendly entre­teigned. And these two princes wer by the kyng conueighed to Wyn­sore to. S. Georges feast, and elected compaignions of the noble ordre of the Garter, and had the color and habite of thesame to theim deliue­red, and satte in their stalles al the solempnitee of the feast: by the whi­che ordre thei knowledged themselfes highly honored and muche exal­ted. After this solempne feast finished, the duke of Holland wel feasted and greatly rewarded, returned into his countrie. But themperor 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 finall 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 suffre yet more plagues and detrimentes of thenglishe people then before thei had tasted. For when concorde was at hande and peace was enteryng into the gates, a newe cause of more discord and dissencion sodainly brake out and cam to the kynges knowledge: for he beyng informed of the losse of his mē at the conflict late had in the territory of Roan (as you haue heard) was so displeased and vnquieted that he would heare of no treaty, nor haue once this woorde 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 coniūccion should be in more meker si­gnes stirryng to peace. And so when a mete & conueniēt tyme came, he broched again the vessell of cōcord and amitee, & put it in so faire a cup and presented it with suche pleasant wordes, that surely the kyng had tasted it sufficiently if y^e Frenchmē had not sodainly prepared a new ar­my. For therle of Arminacke puffed vp with his last victory, although the honor wer small and the gain 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 appoinctment was kept and the toune was be­sieged bothe by water & land before the capitaines of the toune knewe perfightly the first mocion. For Ihon Uicount Narbon Uiceadmirall of Fraunce had brought the whole nauy to the riuage and shore adioynyng to the toune, entendyng priuely to haue entred 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 cō ­tinued [Page liiii] 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 Henry, and that he knew that his people were in great ieopardye excepte great diligence were vsed for their relief and deliuerance, he without delay apparelled a great nauy & intended in person to minister succours 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 quenche that blasyng flame: aduertisyng him that it was neither necessary nor honorable for a prince in whom the whole waight and charge of the cōmon welth consisteth, to aduenture & ha­zard him self in euery peril and doutful chaunce. The kyng beyng persuaded with the reasonable and louyng aduertisment of his frende the emperor, appoincted the duke of Bedforde his brother, accompanied with therles of Marche, Marshal, Oxford, Huntyngdon, Warwicke, Arundel, Salsbury, Deuonshyre, and diuers Barons with .CC. sayle to passe into Normandy for reskew of the toune of Harflew. Whiche makyng good expedicion shipped at Rye, and with a prosperous wind and a freshe gale came to the mouth of the riuer of Seyn on the day of the Assumpcion of our Lady. When the vicount Narbon perceiued the Englishe nauy to approche, he geuyng a token to al 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 wel 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 incō tinently with all his puissance and like a valiant capitaine with great courage and audacitee, set on his enemies: 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 defendantes 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 sonke 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 whiche swarmed euery day about thenglishe shippes.

AFTER this victorye fortunately obteined, the duke of Bedforde sailed by water vp 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.

[Page] VVHEN the earle of Armynacke heard that the puissaunt nauye of Frau [...]ce was vanquished & taken, he raised his siege before the toune and returned with smal ioy to Paris, as he that had no hope nor sawe any likelyhod or meane to recouer again the toune of Har [...]ew for whiche he so sore thirsted.

AFTER this discomfiture and great losse, the fortitude & strēgth of the Frēchmen 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 studiyng howe to reuenge their olde iniuries and displeasures, refused to take payne for thaduauncement of the pulique wealth and sauegard of their country And for priuy displeasure couert or hatred, their power began to wexe so slender, & their libertie was brought into suche a malicious diuersi­tie and doubtful difference, that as herafter shalbe shewed, it was merueil that their coūtrey was not brought to a perpetual bondage: whi­che thing no doubt had folowed if kyng Henry had lenger liued in this mutable worlde. For notwithstandyng that the duke of [...]leaunce the capitaine and head of the one faction was at that time captiue and prisoner in England, yet there grewe so muche priuy dipleasure & can­kard hatred betwene Charles the Dolphyn and Ihon duke of Bur­goyne, that while the one studied, compassed and deuised how to ouer­come the other with armure or with pollicy, with dissimulacion or crafty cōueyaunce, euery iorneiman of their faction, & euery noble mā 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 howe to re [...]ist and refell the present ieopardye whiche was com­myng out of Englād. And as one incōuenience suffred many to folow so was it in Fraūce 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 exstreme misery and vtter distructiō as after you shal heare.

VVHEN the duke of Bedford had acheued his enterprise and per­formed his cōmission, bothe in raisyng the siege of Harflew and vitay­lyng of the toune, he with no smal nombre of prisoners and great ha­boundance of pray as wel in shippes as prouision for the sea, [...] into England with great triumph and glory. For that victory he was not so muche thāked of the kyng his brother, as lauded and praised by the Emperor Sigismond 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.

VVHEN the Emperoure perceiued, that to moue 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, [Page lv] he him selfe was not wel cōtent but greatly moued: Therfore leauyng all treaty and persuasion, 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 thē both after, not only muche honor but great cōmoditie. When the Emperor had thus cōcluded a league with the kyng of England and had done al thinges in England accordyng as was thought necessary, he toke his iorney homeward into Garma­ny, and the kyng partely to shewe him pleasure, and partely because of his owne affaires, associated him to his toune of Caleys. During whiche tyme the duke of Burgoyn offred to come to Caleys to speake with the Emperor and the kyng because he heard speake of the league and confederacy that was concluded betwene them. The kyng sent to the water of Grauelyng the duke of Gloucester his brother, and the ear [...]e of Marche to be hostages for the duke of Burgoyne, and sent also the earle of Warwicke with a noble company to cōduct him to his presēce At Grauelyng foorde the dukes met, and after salutacions done, the duke of Burgoyn 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, cōce [...]nyng onely the counties of Flaū ­ders and Arthoys, for the whiche cause the Frenche kyng and his sōne were highly displeased. The duke of Gloucester also was receiued at Grauelyng by the earle Charoloys sonne to the duke of Burgoyne, & by him honorably conueighed to S. Omers & there lodged that night The next day the earle Charoloys came with diuers noblemen to vi­site 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 him shortly without any great reuerence or cōmyng towarde him, you be welcome fayre cosyn, and so passed furth his tale with his seruātes. The earle Charoloys for al his youth was not wel content, but suffred for that tyme.

VVHEN 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 departyng 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 sainct Lukes euen, the yere of our Lord M.CCCC.xvii.

¶The fift yere.The .v. yere.

IN this yere the kyng assembled together his high courte of Parliament and there in open audience made to them a shorte and pithy Oracion, declaryng vnto them the in­iuries lately doone and committed by the Frenche na­cion, he shewyng also the iust and laufull 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 necessary and nedeful to represse & ouercome them withal their power & puissaunce, & that without defer­ryng or prolongyng of tyme, desiryng thē to prouide for money & trea­sure out of hand for the conduct & wages of souldiors, to thentent that nothing should lacke when thei shuld be ready to set on their enemies. His causes wer so iust and his demaūdes so reasonable, that he had no soner spoken but it was assented, and he had no soner demaūded but it was graunted. And for to geue men a courage for to go furth, money was fyrst gathered to make prouision for al thinges necessary for such a royal voiage: for surely there was no creature whiche with that war was either discōtented or displeased, for it semed to al men no lesse pro­fitable then honorable, nor no lesse honorable then conuenient.

IN this Parliament also Ihon duke of Bedford was made gouer­nor or regent of the realme and head of the pulique 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 liyng in waite for him, might attrappe him sodenly or he had any knowledge of their settyng forward. This lusty earle called Ihon Holand, sōne to the duke of Excetter behedded at Circiter in the tyme 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 inconclusion he encoū tred with .ix great carickes of Ieane (whiche lord Iaques the bastard of Burbon had reteined to serue the Frenche kyng) & set on thē sharp­ly, the conflict was great & the fight long, but inconclusion the Frenchmen wer ouercome and fled, and .iii. of the greatest carickes with their patrones, and Monsure Iaques de Burbon their Admyral wer taken with asmuche money as should haue payed the souldiors of the whole flete for halfe a yere, and .iii. other carickes wer bouged and sent to the botome of the sea.

THE kyng hearyng of this good chaunce, aboute the ende of Iuly toke his ship at Portesmouth, accōpanied with the dukes of Clarence and Gloucester brethren to the sayd kyng, the earles of Huntyngdon, Mershal, Warwike, Deuonshyre, Salsbury, Suffolke and Sōmer­set: The lordes Rosse, Wylloughby, Fitzhugh, Clynton, Scrope, Matriuers, Bourchier, Ferreys of Groby and Ferreys of Chartley, Fan­hope, Gray of Codnore, sir Gilbert Umfreuile, sir Gilbert Talbot & di­uers [Page lvi] other: and so hauyng wynde and wether to his desire, he lāded in Normādy nere a castle called Touque, wher he cōsulted with his capi­taines what way was best to be taken cōcerning their high enterprise.

THE Normans hearyng of the kynges arriual wer sodenly striken with a deadly feare and wer almost distracted frō their sences for dred▪ wherfore like mad men in desperacion they ranne out of their houses, tounes and villages with wiues and children, bag and baggage into the walled tounes and fortefied garrisons, cariyng with them corne, wyne and vitaile necessary for their sustinance and liuyng, preparyng swordes, hatchettes, crosbowes and al other weapons mere to set back and resist their enemies, sent worde to Charles the Frenche kyng, re­quiryng him to defend and preserue his louing subiectes against their cruel and fierse enemies. The men of warre whiche were left in euery place to skoure the countrey, went into walled tounes with the rural cōminaltee, 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 Mayne wel furnished with men and vitaile. The names of the Frēche capitaines were to tedious to reherse, and therfore I ouerpasse them.

VVHEN kyng Henry had taken counsel, he layde siege to the castle of Touque beyng very wel fortefied both with nature and mans arte and began to assault it: & although that they within valiantly defēded it, yet by fine force he ouercame it, & toke it, and them within to mercy, & made therof capitaines sir Robert Kerkeley knight, and after determined to besiege the strong toune of Caen, remembryng according to the dutie of a good capitaine, that the Frenchemen would come to healpe their frendes beyng in nede and exstreme necessitie: whiche thyng he most desired & wished. And vpō that purpose he set furth toward Caen after the warlikest fashion, depopulatyng the coūtrey, & destroiyng the villages on euery part as he passed. The toune of Caen standeth in a plaine fertile coūtrey, no stronger walled then depe ditched, wel vitay­led and replenished with people. For the citezens fearyng the kynges cōmyng had prouided for al thinges necessary & defensible. And assone as the kyng was come, he cast a depe trenche with a high mount to prohibite them within the toune to haue any egresse or outwarde passage: and that done, began fiersely to assault the toune. But the men of the toune wer nothyng abashed and stode manly to their defence, abidyng all chaunces whiche might ensue. The fight was fierce and euery mā toke hede to his charge. The Englishmen studied all the waies possi­ble to damage their enemies, some shot arrowes, some cast stones and other shot gonnes: some brake the walles with engynes and other vn­dermyned: 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 threw doune great stones, barres of yron, dartes, hote pitche and burnyng brimstone and boylyng lead. [Page] diuers daies this assault cōtinued, not to the lytle losse of the English­men, whiche toke more harme of the defēders then they gat hurt of the assailantes. When kyng Henry perceiued that the dice rāne 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 onely vpō postes, to fal when fyre should be put to it. The kyng caused his people to ap­proche the walles and to kepe the citezens occupied, least either they shuld make a coūtremyne or be an immpediment to his workemen and laborers. Wherfore he caused thassault 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 desiryng to get vpō the walles and with hand to hand to graple with his enemy: The cite­zens manfully defēded. While the fight was quicke and fierse on both partes, the Englishmen in diuers places perced 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 in to the toune. The kyng hauyng cōpassion on the tounes men, desiryng rather to haue them saued then destroyed if they wold humbly submyt thē 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 warre to be sacked and destroyed, sent them worde by an Herault that yet was tyme of mercy and clemency if they would incontinently rendre them selues & the toune: But they obstinately hopyng of succour, answered that they would stand at their defence. Then the Englishmen again skaled the walles and enterprised to enter through the trenches. The fight was sore by the space of an houre, the English men coragiously enforced to enter, and the Normans manfully defen­ded, but inconclusion the Englishmen obteined.

VVHEN the kyng was possessed of the toune, he incontinently cō ­maunded al harneys and weapons to be brought into one place, whi­che with al diligence was done without any resistence. Then the mi­serable people knelyng on their knees, holdyng 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 wēt on foote to the chief churche in the toune and rendred to God his most heartie thankes for his prosperous successe and fortunate chaūce. And yet that same night he would not slepe, but cōmaunded al his armye to watche in aray, either least his men of warre in the night tyme might fal to spoyle & sacke, or els the citezens fearyng the sequele that might ensue would priuely steale and conueigh them selues away.

IN the mornyng he called al the [...]agestrates 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. [Page lvij] Then he callyng together his souldiors and men of war, bothe gaue to thē high laudes and praises for their manly doynges, and also distributed to euery man accordyng to his desert the spoyle & gaine ta­ken of the toune & the tounesmen, chiefly because at that assault he had tried to his honor their valiant corages and vnfearfull hertes.

IT is to be imagined that kyng Henry in this conflict would prin­cipally shewe aswell his owne force as the puissance and experience in warres of his nacion, ether to the intent that the Frenchemen should know that thei 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 conclusion.

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 possession: The capitain where of, to thentent to shewe hymself 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 beautifull and necessary, both to kepe the toune frō goyng backe, and also to defend thesame when oportunitee should serue: Whiche Castle if he distroyed, 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 dammage, And if he would bee foolishe and obstinate, all clemency and fauor should be from hym se­questred. When the capitain and his compaignions had well digested his message, beyng in dispaire of cōfort, vpon the condicion offred, ren­dred the Castle and yelded themselfes. And so kyng Henry obteigned bothe the toune and castle of Caen.

VVHILE the Kyng of Englande 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 deuision and dissencion emongest themselfes, 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 bothe of his treasure and of his kyngdome, and euery man spente and wasted the common treasure. Charles the Dolphin beyng of the age of .xvi. or .xvii. yeres onely lamented and bewailed the ruyne and decaye of his countrie: He onely studied thaduauncement of the comon wealth, and he onely deuised how to resist his enemies: but hauyng nether menne 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 [Page] 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 quene forgettyng the great perel that the realme then stode in, but remēbryng y^• displesure to her by this act dooen, declared her sonne and the Constable to be her mortall ene­mies, & promised that thei should be persecuted to the vttermoste. And euen for very womanly malice, 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 realme with all preheminence and souera [...]ntie. 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 vnbrideled gentle­man, then he determined as he might to refell and withstande the comē enemies of the realme. Thesame 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 to subdew and destroy duke Ihō of Burgoyn as the chief hed & leader of that wicked and great mischief: Wherby the realme was muche vnquieted & more decayed, and in maner brought to a final ruyne 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 vnperformed, sent the duke of Clarence to the sea coast, whiche with greate difficulty gatte the toune of Bayeux. The duke of Glocestre also with smal 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 solempne feast and made many knightes, and beside that, he shewed there an example of greate pitee & more deuocion. For in searchyng the castle he found there innu­merable substance of plate and money belongyng to the citezens, wherof he would not suffre one peny to be touched or conueighed away, but restored the goodes to the owners and deliuered to euery mā his owne When the fame of gettyng of Caen was blowen through Normandy, the Normans wer so sore afraied & so muche abasshed that you should not onely haue seen men, women & children ronnyng in euery waie by great plōpes frō 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 catell. But when the rumor was spred a­broade of his clemency shewed to captiues and of his mercy graunted [Page lviij] to suche as submitted themselfes to his grace, all the capitaines of the tounes adioynyng came willyngly to his presēce, offryng to hym them selfes, their tounes and their goodes. Wherupon he made proclama­cion that al men whiche had or would become his subiectes and swere to hym allegeance should enioy their goodes and liberties in as large or more ample maner then thei did before. Whiche gentle entreteinyng and fauorable hādlyng of the stubburne Normans, was the very cause why thei wer not only content, but also glad to remoue and turne from the Frenche part and become subiectes to the croune of Englande.

VVHEN 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 U [...]freuile erle of Kyne, and sir Gilbert Talbot: and made bailife ther sir Ihon Pophane, and so departed frō Caen to Argenton whiche was shortly rēdred to hym. Then all these tounes folowyng without stroke striken yelded to hym, in whom he made captaines these persons whose names ensue.

• At Creuly, sir Henry Tanclux an Almaine.
• At Thorigny, sir Ihon Popham to whom the toune was geuē.
• At Boyeux, the lorde Matrauerse.
• At Argenton, the lorde Grey Codner.
• At Chamboy, the lorde Fizghugh, and made him lord of thesame.
• At Uernoyle in Perche, sir Ihon Neuell.
• At Alāsō the duke of Gloucester & his leuetenāt sir Raufe Lētal
• At Essay, sir William Hoddelston baylif of Alanson.
• At Faloys, sir Henry Fitzhugh.
• At Cruly, sir Loys Robset.
• At Conde Norean, sir Ihon Fastolffe.

• At y^• cite of Lisieux, sir Ihō Kikley
• At Cowrton, Ihon Awbyn.
• At Barney, William Houghton.
• At Chambroys, Iames Neuell.
• At Becheluyn, therle Marshall.
• At Harecort, Richard Woduile es­quyer.
• At Fangernon, Ihon saint Albon.
• At Creuener, sir Ihon Kerby to whom it was geuen.
• At Annilliers, Robert Horneby.
• At Ragles, sir Ihon Arthure.
• At Fresheney le Uicount sir Ro­bert Brent.

• At Cauenton, the lorde Botraux.
• At Seint Clow, Reignold West.
• At Ualoignes, Thomas Burgh.
• At Chiergurg, the lord Grey Cod­ner and after his decease, sir wa­ter Hungerford.
• At Pont Done, Dauy Howel.
• At the Hay Dupayes, sir Ihon Aston Bayly of Constantine.
• At Cōstāces, the lord of Burgainy
• At Seint Saluiorle Uicount, sir Ihon Robset.
• [Page] At Pontorsō, sir Robert Gargrane
• At Ham [...]ery the erle of Suf [...]olke, lorde of the same place by gift.
• At Briqueuile, thesaied Erle by gift also.
• At Anranches, sir Philip Halle, Bayly of Alanson.
• At Uire the lorde Matrauers.
• At Sainct Iames de Bewron, the same lorde.

VVHEN 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 apere, howbeit one daie 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 hauē of Southamptō, the whole nauie had perished and the people had been destroyed, and yet the sauegard was straunge: For in thesame 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 Hāpton (as diuerse writers affirme) suche is the power of the wynd, and suche is the rigoure of the tempest. Whē the fury of the wynd was asswaged and the sea waxed calme, therles of Marche and Huntyngdon passed ouer the sea with all their compainy 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 thei passed through the countrie destroiyng of villages and takyng paynes till thei came to the kyng goyng towarde Roan. Duryng this marciall feactes and greate conquestes in Normandy, sir Ihon Olde­castle lord Cobham whiche was as you haue heard before was conuic­ted of heresy, and proclaimed a rebell, and vpon thesame outlawed and brake out of the toure, was now as his [...]ortune chaunced apprehended in the Marches of Wales by the Lorde Powes, and so restored to his olde lodgyng in the toure, where his kepers looked more narowly to hym then thei did before. After whiche takyng, he was drawen from the toure on a hardell to Sainct Giles [...]elde, and there hanged in chaynes, and after consumed with fire. Well nowe leauyng the matters of Englande let vs returne to the affaires in Normandy.

¶The si [...]t yere.The .vi. yere.

AFter kyng Henry had thus victoriously obteined so ma­ny tounes and so many fortresses from the possession of his enemies, and that his great [...]ame and litle per [...]onage was the whole terror and feare of the Frenche nacion, he ymagined with hymself that he had nothyng do [...]n nor a­ny thyng gotten excepte he brought the famous citee of Roan beyng the Empery and diademe of the Duchy of Normandy in to his possession & dominion, to the whiche out of euery parte the Nor­mans had conueighed their money Iewelles and houshold stuffe: And [Page lix] whiche citee sithe his firste arriual thei had not onely walled and [...]or­tressed with many rampiers & strong bulwarkes, but also with val [...]āt 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 the Frenchemen whiche kepte the passage heard of the kynges approchyng, thei gathered together a greate numbre of men of warre redy to defend and prohibite the passage, apointyng 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 vessell should eskape any maner of waye. When he came to the toune, first he sette forwarde towarde the bridge, whiche when he sawe it so well defended that it would not without greate losse be obteigned, sodainly he blew the re­traite 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 botes and barges, what with hoggeshedes and pipes he conuei­ghed ouer the brode riuer of Seyne a greate compaignie of his armie without any resistaunce of his enemies. For thei whiche wer on the he­therside of Seyne, thynkyng that thenglishmen had gone to conquere some other place folowed thē not, but studied how to defēd their toune (whiche was ynough for them to do). When the king saw that his men wer on the otherside of the water, he the next day earely returned to the toune and assauted it on bothe the sides. When thinhabitantes percei­ued that contrary to their expectaciō thei wer cōpassed & 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 hauyng no let or im­pediment determined to besege and assault the citee and castle of Roan for the whiche he had taken diuerse long and tedious iornayes, and sēt before hym his vncle the lorde Thomas duke of Excester with agreat compaignie of horssemen and Archers, whiche with banner displayed came before the toune and sent to the capitaines Wyndsore a heraulte at armes, willyng them to deliuer the toune to the kyng his Master, or els he would persecute them with fire, bloud and sworde. To whō thei proudly answered, that none thei receiued of hym, nor none thei would deliuer, except by fyne force thei wer therunto cōpelled. And to declare thēselfes valiant capitaines & hardy men of war, there issued out of the toune a great band of men of armes & encoūtred fiercely with thēglishmen, 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 spede and proude aunswer of the Frenche capitaines, returned to the kyng to whom was rendred alitle before y^• toune of Louiers, whiche he gaue to his said brother the duke of Clarence, whi­che made there his deputie sir Ihon Godard knight. The duke of Ex­cester also had newly taken the citee of Eurcux and made capitain ther [Page] sir Gilbert Halsall knight. When the duke of Excester was returned to Pont [...]arch as you haue heard, the capitaines of Roan set fire on the suburbes, bet doune Churches, cut doune trees, shrede the bu [...]shes, de­stroyed the vines round about the citee, to thentent that thenglishmen should haue no relief nor comfort ether of lodgyng or fewell.

VVHEN the kyng heard of [...] dispitefull doynges, [...] he with his whole army remoued from Pont [...]rche, and the last daie of Iuly came before the citee of Roan and compassed it rounde aboute with a strong siege and a fearfull assaute. The kyng laie with a greate puissaunce at the hous of Charitee on the East side of the citee, & the duke of Cla­rence lodged b [...]fore 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 appoyncted 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 Northrenmē euen before the port saint Hillarij. Therles of Mortaint and Salsbery wer assigned about the Abbey of saint Kathermes. 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 riuer of Sayne, and to hym was ioyned a valiaunt esquire called Ienico, 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 Umfreuile 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 Pōtlarche and sette on piles from the one side of the water to the other, and beside that chayne he sette vp a new forced bridge, sufficient bothe for cariage and passage. At whiche therle of Warwicke whiche had gotten Damp [...]rōt was sent to the toune of Cawdebeck standyng on the riuerside betwen the sea and the citee of Roan, whiche toune he so hardly assaulted, that the capitaines offered to suffre the Englishe nauy to passe by their toune without hurte or detriment to the citee of Roan: And also if Ro­an yelded, thei promised to rendre their toune without any fayle or far­ther delaie. And this composicion thei sealed, and for performaunce of thesame thei deliuered pledges. This appoynctment the Englishe nauy to the numbre of .C. sailes passed by Cawdebeck and came before Roan and besieged it on the water side. To this siege came the duke of Gloucester with therle of Suffolke and the lorde of Burgainy whiche had taken the toune of Chierburgh and wer lodged before the porte of Sainct Hillarij nerer their enemies by fortie roddes then any other persones of the armie.

[Page lx] DVRYNG this siege arriued at Harflew the lorde of Kylmaine in Ireland with a band of .xvi. hundreth Ireshmen armed in mayle with dartes and skaynes after the maner of their countrey, all talle, quicke and deliuer persons, whiche came and presented them selues before the kyng liyng styl at the siege: of whom they were not onely gentely entertained, but also (because that the kyng was informed that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn would shortly come, and either rayse the siege or vitaile or mā the toune at the North gate) thei wer appoin­ted to kepe the Northsyde of the army, and in especial the way that cō ­meth 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 quicknes & swiftnes did more preiudice to their enemies, thē their great barded horses did hurt or damage the nimble Irishmē.

THVS was the fayre cytie of Roan compassed about with enemies besieged by princes, and belet about both by water and lande, hauyng neither comfort nor ai [...]e of kyng nor dolphyn. 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 occasiō to erre from the trueth, there were at the time of the siege within the ci­tie, of christen people CC. and ten thousand persons. 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 saued: 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, sware eche to other neuer to render or deliuer the toune while they might either hold sworde in hand or put spere in rest. The kyng of England beyng aduertised of their haute courages and high stomackes, determined to conquere them by famyne whiche would not be tamed by weapon.

Wherfore he stopped all the passages both by water and land that no vitaile could be cōueighed to the cytie, he cast treaches rounde about the walles and set them ful of stakes and defended thē with archers, so that thei 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 tidynges wer fayned that the Frenche kyng approched with al his power to raise the siege & reskew the cytie: Wherfore kyng Hēry cōmaunded al men to lye in their harneys lest they might by some sub­tile cautel be surprised vnware and taken vnprouided. But the Frēche kyng neither came nor sent, to the great wonder of thenglishmen.

This siege thus continuyng from Lammas almost to Christmas, di­uers enterprises were attempted and diuers polices were deuised how euery part might damage and hurte his aduersary and enemy, but no part muche reioysed of their gaine. Duryng whiche tyme, vitayle be­gan [Page] sore to faile within the toune, so that only vineger & water serued for drinke. If I should reherse 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 dayly for faute of foode, and how yong infātes lay suckyng in the stretes on their mothers bre­stes liyng dead, staruen for hunger, you would more abhorre the loth­some doynges then reioyse at their miserable mischāce. The riche men within the toune put out at the gates the pore and indigent creatures whiche 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 dispised of their owne nacion and housholde felowes, be­twene the walles of their cytie and the trēches of their enemies lay styl criyng for helpe and relief, for lacke wherof innumerable sely solles dayly died and hourely starued. Yet kyng Henry moued with pitie & stirred with cōpassion in the honor of Christes natiuitie on Christmas day refreshed al the poore 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. This miserable famyne dayly more and more encreasyng so daunted the heartes of the bold capitaynes, & so abated the courages of the riche burgesses, and so turmēted the bo­dies of the poore citezens, that the stout souldiour for faintnes could ska [...]e welde his weapon, nor the riche marchaunt for money could not bye a sheuer of bread: so that the cōminaltie cried to the captaines, and the nedy people besought the lordes to haue compassion on them, and to inuent some way for their succor and comfort. The gouernou [...]s of the toune, 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 vpō Newyeres euen ther came to the walles at the gate of the bridge diuers cōmissioners appoincted by the capitaines, whi­che made a signe to thenglishemen liyng without to speake with some gentleman or other person of authoritie. The earle of Huntyngdon whiche kept that part sent to them sir Gilbert Umfreuile, to whō they declared that if they might haue a guyde or a safeconduite they would gladly speake with the kyng. Syr Gilbert promised not onely to do theyr message, but also to certifie thē of the kinges pleasure & purpose. Whiche cōmunicacion ended, he repaired to the duke of Clarence and other of the kynges counsail, aduertisyng thē of the request of the ci­tezens, whiche incōtinent assembled thē selues in the kynges lodgyng, where sir Gilbert Umfreuile wysely and soberly declared to the kyng the myndes and intentes of the citezens. The kyng like a graue prince [Page lxi] consideryng that a thyng gotten without effusion of Christen bloud is both honorable and profitable, and sawe that the haute corages of the braggyng Frenchmen wer now by his hard besiegyngsore abated and almost tamed, thought it conuenient to heare their lowly peticion and humble request, and so willed sir Gilbert to aduertise them that he was content to heare .xii. of them whiche should be safely cōueighed 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 mornyng appointed .iiii. knightes .iiii. lernedmen and .iiii. sage burgesses al clothed in blacke to go to the kyng of Englād. These .xii. persons wer receiued at the port sainct Hillarij by sir Gilbert Umfre­uile accompanied with diuers gentlemen and yomen of the kynges houshold, comonly called yomen of the croune, and conueighed to the kynges lodgyng, whō 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 messēgers and passe [...] by them into his chambre. After him in­continently the .xii. ambassadours wer conueighed, amongest whō 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 [...]elfe diligently cō sider wherin consisteth the glory of voctorye and the triumph of a con­querour, you shall plainly perceiue, that the type of honor is in the ta­myng of proud men, ouercōmyng of valiant souldiors and subduyng of strong cyties and populus regions, and not in [...]laiyng christen peo­ple by hunger thirst and famine, in whiche con [...]teth neither manhod, wit nor pollicy, 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 sha [...] you obtayne in killyng of wretches by famyne, whiche death of all deathes is most to be dispised and abhorred. If you wyl shew your [...] charitable before God, or merciful before men, let al our poore pe [...]p [...]e 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 conquere it. And if your enterprise succede [...]ortunately (as a thing that is very doubtful) in this doyng you shal not onely obtaine worldly glory and terrestrial victory for ouercommyng the strong and puissant men of armes and the riche [...]cytie, but also merite much before God for deliueryng and hauyng compassion of the poore nedy 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 c [...]tel and fraudu­lent inuencion of the Frenche messengers, he with a [...]erse countenance and a hold spirit made to them this answer saiyng: Thynke you O fā ­tastical Frenchmen that I am so ignorant and so brutal that I cannot [Page] perceiue your double dealyng and crafty conueighaunce? Iudge you me so simple that I know not wherin the glory of a cōqueror cōsisteth? 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 truand as to forgette so good a lesson. And if these thinges be to you blynd and obscure I wyl declare and open them to you. [...], the Goddesse of battaile. The goddesse of warre called Bellona (which is the correctrice of princes for right witholdyng or iniurie do­yng, and the plage of God for euil liuyng and vntrue demeanor amongest subiectes) hath these .iii. handmaides euer of necessitie 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 turment and afflict a proud prince: and they al ioyned together are of puissance to destroy the most populous countrey 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 (whiche is one poinct 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 makest maide of the thre damosels to aff [...]lict 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 al thinges most profitable and cōmodious. Now to answer to your demaundes, as touching the pore people liyng in the ditches, I assure you I more lament your lacke of charitie toward your christen brethrē ye and your owne nacion of one language and one countrey, then I reioyce at the vndoyng of so many creatures and castyng away of so many enemies. You like tirantes put thē out of the toune to thentent that I should slay them, and yet I haue saued their liues. 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 euil 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 shal 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 [Page lxii] my pleasure & not at yours. And with that the kyng with a frownyng countenaunce departed frō them to his chambre and cōmaunded them to dine with his officers.

VVHEN 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 graūted, 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 distruction, after good deliberacion taken, graūted to them their askyng, with the whiche answere they ioyously returned.

AFTER their departure wer appointed and set vp .iii. riche tentes, the one for the lordes of England to consult together, the second for the commissioners of the cytie, and third for both partes to argue and de­bate the matter. The cōmissioners for the Englishe part wer the erles of Warwike & Salsbury, the lord Fitzhugh, sir water Hungerford, sir Gilbert Umfreuile, sir Ihon Robsert & Ihon be Uasques de Almada. And for the French part wer apointed sir Guy de Butteler & .vi. other.

DVRYNG this truce, euery day the cōmissioners met, the English­men accused and the Frenchmen excused, the Englishmen demaunded muche, and the Frenchmen profered lytle. Thus with arguyng & rea­sonyng the .viii. day came and nothyng was done, nor one article con­cluded. Wherfore the Englishmen toke doune the tentes & the French men 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, soden­ly in al the toune sprong a rumour that the truce was expired and no­thyng determined. Then the poore people ranne about the stretes like frantike persons, shoutyng and criyng and callyng the captaines and gouernors murtherers and manquellers, saiyng that for their pride & styffe stomacke al this misery was happened in the toune, threatenyng to slay them if they would not agre to the kyng of Englādes 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 cōmons was to yelde, yeld, rather then starue. Then the Frenchmen in the euenyng came to the tent of sir Ihon Rob­sert, requiryng him of gētlenes to moue the kyng that the truce might be prolonged for .iiii. daies. The kyng therunto agreed and appoin­ted tharchbishop of Cantorbury and the other .vii. 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 on the fourth day by the helpe of God, the treaty was [Page] concluded and finished to the great reioysyng of the poore citezens, the copy wherof foloweth worde by worde.

¶The seuenth yere.The .vii. yere

WHEN the gettyng of Roan and the deliuery of the other tounes wer blased and blowen 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 thei sawe by the diuision of the nobilitee like shortely to fal on their heddes: and the more sorowyng their euil chance be­cause thei 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 desease at one only tyme. 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 he knewe that he was nether free from dis [...]ain nor yet deliuered from the scope of malice. And therfore he imagined that all mischiefes and calamities whiche chaunced in the com­mon wealth should bee imputed and assigned to his vnpolitike doyng or to his negligent permission: wherfore he ymagined it proffitable to the realme and to hymself moste auaylable, if he by any meanes possi­ble could deuise, practise or inuent any waie or meane by the whiche he might reconcile and ioyne in amitee the twoo greate and mightie kyn­ges of Englande and of Fraunce. Whiche thyng once obteigned and beyng deliuered from al feare of exterior hostilitee, he determined first to reuenge his quarell against Charles the Dolphyn, and after to re­presse [Page] all causes of grudge or disdain, and to recouer again bothe the fauor of the commonaltee and also to put awaie al causes of suspicion or imagined infamy against hym and his procedynges. And intēdyng to buyld vpon this fraile foundacion, sent letters and Ambassadors to the kyng of Englande, aduertisyng hym that if he would personally come to a communicacion 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 commers, and sat hymself in greate estate. On whiche daie ether for good seruice before by them dooen, or for good expectacion of thynges to come, he created Gascon de Foys a valiaunt Gascoyn erle of Longeuile, and sir Ihon Grey was likewise made erle of Tankeruile, and the Lorde Burshier Erle of Ewe. After this solempne feast ended, the place of the enteruiewe and metyng was apoynted to be beside Melaus on the riuer of Seyne, in a faire playne euery parte was by commissioners appoynted 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 tent of blewe veluet and grene richely embrodered with two deuises, the one was an Antlop drawyng in an horse mill, the other was an Antlop sittyng in an high stage with a braunche of Olife in his mouthe: And the tente was replenished and decked with this poysie. After busie laboure commeth victorious reste, and on the top and heigth of thesame was set a greate Egle of golde, whose iyes wer of suche orient Diamondes that thei 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 thesame was set a white Harte fliyng, made all of fyne siluer with win­ges enameled. Betwene these two Campes or enclosers was apoynted a tent of purple veluet for the coūsailers to mete in and euery part had an egall nombre to watch on the night and to se good ordre on the day.

VVHEN the daie of apoinctment approched, the kyng of England acco [...]paignied with the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his bre­thren, and the duke of Excester his vncle, and Henry Beauford Clerke his other vncle whiche after was bishop of Winchester and Cardinall and the erles of Marche, Salsbury and other to the numbre of a thou­sand men of warre, entered into his parke and toke his lodgyng. Likewise for the Frenche part, thether came Isabell the Frenche Quene be­cause the kyng her husband was fallen into his old frenaticall desease hauyng in her compaigny the duke of Burgoyn and therle of Sainct Paule, and she had attendyng on her the faire lady Katheryn her dou­ghter and .xxvi. ladies and damoselles, and had also for her furniture [Page lxvi] a thousande men of warre.

AFTER these estates had reposed themselfes one night in their tentes, the next day al suche as were appointed repaired toward the paui­lion ordained for the consultacion. Where the kyng of England, like a prince of great stomacke and no lesse good behauor receiued humbly the Frenche quene and her daughter and them honorably embraced & familierly kyssed. The duke of Burgoyn made lowe curtesy and bo­wed to the kyng, whom the kyng louyngly toke by the hand and hono­rably entertained. After salutacions 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 cōmissioners 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 kyng Henry returned 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 beholdyng 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 agre to a gentle peace & louyng composicion. This company met together .viii. seueral tymes, some­tyme the one parte was more, and sometyme the other. And notwith­standyng that the Englishmen and Frenchmen were lodged no great distance a sunder, 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 thinges required and few offered, many argumentes made and no cō ­clusion taken. Some authors write that the dolphyn on let this treatie sent to the duke of Burgoyne sir Tauegny du Chastel, declaryng to him that if he would let this agrement, he would cōmon with him and take suche an ordre, that not only they but the whole realme of Fraūce 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 cōmunicacion came to none ende, Wherfore he mistrustyng the duke of Burgoyn to be the very let and stop of his desires and reque­stes, sayd vnto him before his departyng: fayre cosin, we wil haue your kynges daughter and al thinges that we damaund 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, [Page] roade to the toune of Melune wher the dolphyn then soiorned where in the plaine feldes they .ii. like frendes cōmoned together & cō ­cluded apparantly an open amitie & sure frendship, which was written by notaries and signed with their handes and sealed with their great s [...]ales of armes, but as the sequele sheweth, heart thought not that tong talked, nor mynde meant that hand wrote. This treaty was con­cluded the .vi. day of Iuly in the yere of our lord 1419 and was proclaymed in Paris, Amience and Ponthoyse.

THIS newe alience notified shortely to the kyng of England liyng at Maunt, whiche therwith was sore displeased, and not without cau [...]e For he perceiued that the force of these two princes were muche stron­ger now beyng vnited in one, then they were before beyng seperated & deuided. Yet notwithstandyng this great sworne and sealed amitie, he nothyng more minded then to set forward his intented enterprise with the ayde of God to performe his conquest maugre and euil wyll and puissaunce 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 sodainly and so shortely set vp their skalyng ladders to the wal, 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 nombre of .viii. thousand fled. For the Englishmen durst not because their nombre was smal ones deuide them selues or fal to pilfryng, til about prime the duke of Clarence came to their ayde with .v. thousand men, and by the way he encoūtred diuers burgesses of the toune fliyng with al their substance toward Beauuoys whō 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 whiche they had great plenty and foyson. Then the duke with a great pu­issaunce came before Paris and lay before the cytie two daies and two nightes without any proffre either of issue by his enemies or of defēce if he had the same assauted, whiche he could not wel do because it was long and ample, and his nōbre smal, and for so great an enterprise not furnished: Wherfore seyng that his enemies durst not ones loke on him, he returned againe to Ponthoyse, for the takyng of whiche toune, the countrey of Fraunce, & in especial the Parisienswer sore dismayed and astonied, for there was no fortresse hable to resist or withstand. In so muche 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 [Page lxvii] vpō them, and cary yong children before them and sel them to the En­glishmen for slaues: Whiche straung doynges so feared the Frenche­men within the territory of Paris and the coūtrey about, that the rude persons fled out of the villages withal their stuffe to the cytie of Paris

THE Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn liyng at S. Denise hearyng of al these doynges, departed in al the hast with the quene and her daughter to Troys in Champaigne, there takyng great delibera­cion 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 al the tounes of Nor­mandy shortely after were either taken by force or rendred, except the Mount [...]aint Michel, whiche because the gayne therof was very lytle and the losse in assautyng semed to be very muche, and also it could do smal 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 [...]rō 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 coū ­trey and the misery of their people sawe and perceiued that they had puissance ynough to defende their enemies if they were at a perfite cō ­cord amongest them selues. For they apparantly sawe that although there wer a peace openly concluded betwene the dolphyn and the duke of Burgoyn, yet thei imagined that no good fruit succeded of thesame for the duke either for secret displeasure that he bare to the dolphyn, or for the doubt that he had of thenglishmē, 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 cōmunicacion 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 smal brooke called Yonne runneth there to the riuer of Sein ouer whiche riuer was made a bridge, with diuers barres ouerthwart so that the princes openyng the barres might eche embrace and touche 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 al ciuile discord should by this cōmunicacion be cleare forgotten, or at the least should be suspen­ded tyl the enemies were vanquished and driuen out of their coūtries 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.

[Page] VVHEN the day & place of the solempne enteruiewe was agreed & assigned, Tauagny du Chastel, a mā prompt and prone to al mischief, called to his remembraunce the shamefull murder of Lewes duke 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 & prouoked by the dolphyn (and not vnlike) 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 fraude or reproche of vntruth or vilany. Wel the day came, whiche 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 frēdesmonicion as a mā that could not auoide the stroke for him prouided, and so opened the barres and closure and came to the dolphyns presence, whiche was cleane armed, and kneled doune on 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 cōmunicacion 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 hād backe to plucke his sworde forwarde: what ꝙ 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 speake, 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 condempned (but not apprehended) by Parliament the president of Prouynce, the vicount of Narbone, Guylliam Batte­lier, Tauagny du Chastel, Robert Loyre and .iiii. other. This was the ende of Ihon called the proude duke of Burgoyne, whiche more regarded ciuile warre and intestine dissencion, then his owne life & welfare. And this sodein death as I thinke came to him not without desert, for shamefully murtheryng Lewes duke of Orleance the French kynges brother. Suche is the iustice of God, that bloud for the most part is recompensed with bloud, & vnnatural homicide is requited with shame­ful death or soden destruction.

AFTER this heynous murder thus committed, I might reherse how the dolphyns seruauntes despoyled the duke of all his garmētes to his sherte, and couered his face with his hosen. I could declare how the dolphyn sent his letters to Paris and other cyties and tounes, pu­blishyng vntruely diuers opprobrious wordes spoken, & diuers great [Page lxviii] and outragious offences done by the duke against the kyng and the whole realme. I could further declare howe the wisemen of Fraunce detested and abhorred this abhominable act, perceiuyng the ende 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 partie neither to the facte nor to the counsel, I wyl declare what the kyng of Englande did after this notorious dede done and committed.

¶The .viii. yere.The .viii yere

WHen Philip erle Charoloys sōne and heyre to this duke Ihon, and now by this murther and death of his father duke of Burgoyn and earle of Flaūders was enformed liyng at Gaunt of this misfortune and final ende of his noble parent and louyng father, he toke the mater as he had cause, greuously and heauily, insomuche that no mā of his coūsel 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 receiued to his fauor and company the fayre duches his louyng wife, and after sent diuers not able ambassadours to the king of England liyng at Roan to treate and conclude a peace betwene them both for a certaine space: To whiche request in hope of a better chaunce kyng Henry agreed. After that knot knit, he kept a solempne obsequy for his father at saint Uaas in Arras where were .xxiii. prelates with crosses: Duryng whiche tyme the earle of saint Paule and the Parisiens sent to him ambassadours to knowe 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 wer departed to make relacion to the Magistrates and go­uernors of the cytie of Paris, he after long cōsultacion 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 whiche the duke of Burgoyn offred to him for ve­ry loue as he sayd. The kyng of England consideryng with him selfe that the duke of Burgoyn was a cōuenient organe and a necessary in­strument to conueigh his desires to his purpose, louyngly receiued & honorably entertained the dukes ambassadours, declaryng vnto them that he would without prolongyng of tyme send to him his Ambassa­dours, whiche should open his lawful requestes & reasonable desires. With this answere, the dukes messengers departed towarde Arras. and incontinent after their departure, kyng Henry sent the earle of [Page] Warwike and the bishop of Rochestre with many knightes & esquiers to the duke of Burgoyn, whiche to him declared the effect and purpose of their ambassade and cōmyng: he gently heard their requestes, and some he alowed and some he augmented, and some he altred and disa­lowed, but in cōclusion, by often sendyng betwene the kyng & the duke they were agreed, so the kyng and his cōmons would assent. Now was the Frenche kyng and the quene and his daughter Katherin at Troys in Champaigne, gouerned and ordred by them whiche would rather x. tymes spurre forward the purpose & ententes of the duke of 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 determined, so that the kyng of Englād shuld send in the cōpany of the duke of Burgoyn his Ambassadors to Troy in Chāpaigne sufficiently authorised to cōclud so great a matter The kyng of England beyng in good hope that al his affaires should prosperously succede and go forward, sent to the duke of Burgoyn his vncle the duke of Exceter, the earle of Salsbury, the bishop of Ely, the lord Fanhope and lord Fitzhugh, sir Ihon Robsert and sir Philip Hal with diuers doctors to the nombre of .CCCCC. horse, whiche in the cō pany of the duke of Burgoyn came to the cytie of Troys the .xxi. daye of Marche. The kyng, the quene and the lady Katherin them receiued and heartely welcōmed, shewyng great signes and tokens of loue and amitie. After a fewe daies they fel to counsel, in the whiche it was cō ­cluded 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 natural life with many other articles whiche hereafter in a place more conue­nient you shal heare reher [...]ed.

VVHEN all these thynges were done and concluded, the Ambassa­dors or England departed toward their kyng, leuyng behynde thē sir Ihon Robsert 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, lōgyng for the sight of his darlyng the fayre lady Katherin. And althoughe he reioysed that all thynges succeded more luckely to his purpose then he before imagined, yet he trusted not somuche to the glosyng wordes and golden promises of the Frenche nacion beyng his auncient enemies, that he would rashely a­uenture 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 earles of Warwike, Sals­bury, Huntyngdon, Ewe, Tankeruile and Lōguile and .xv. thousand [Page lxix] men of warre, 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 accompaignied with many noble men receiued hym two leagues without the toune and cōueighed hym to his lodgyng and his princes with hym, and all his armie was lodged in small villages theraboute. And after he had reposed himself, he went to visete the kyng, the quene and the Lady Katheryn, whom he founde in Sainct Peters Churche, where was a ioyous metyng, honourable 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 Iune nexte folowyng, thei were with all solempnite espoused and maried in thesame Churche. At whi­che mariage the Englishmen made suche triumphes, pompes and pa­giauntes as though the kyng of all the worlde had been present. In so muche (as three Frenche writers affirme) that the nobles of Fraunce more merueled at the honor and glory of the Englishmen, then thei disdeigned or maligned at their owne fortune.

AND when these solempne ceremonies wer honorably finished and the mariage consummate, the twoo kynges and their counsaill assem­bled together diuerse daies, wherin the former league and treatie was in diuerse poyntes altred and brought to a certaintie by the deuice 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 Burgoyne and a great nombre of princes and nobles whiche were presente, and that the soner because thei marueiled before at his noble Actes dooen by kyng Henry, of whom thei had knowledge only by report, and now thei more marueled when thei sawe and beheld the honor, estate & wisedom of his persone. But whether thei sware with outwarde countenaunce and in­wardly thought the contrary, let them whiche knowe the Frenche con­stancy iudge and tell truthe. But assuredly thei perceiued hym to bee prudent bothe in askyng and geuyng counsaill. Thei sawe hym expert and apt to marciall feates, and nymble in all thynges apperteignyng to warre. Thei thought hym strong against all perelles and imagined hym fortunate in all chaunces and doynges, wherfore as I saied, thei muche marueled at hym, and more regarded his persone. Then was he named and proclaimed heire & Regent of Fraunce. And as the French kyng sent the copie of this treaty to euery toune in Fraūce, so the kyng of Englande sent thesame in Englishe to euery citee and market toune to bee published and deuulged, the very copie whereof as it was then written, woorde by woorde ensueth.

¶The nynth yere.The .ix. yere.

WHile these thynges were thus dooyng in Englande, the duke of Clarence brother to the kyng and his lieuetenāt generall in Fraunce and Normandy, assembled together all the Garrisons of Normandy at the toune of Bernay, and from thēce departed into the countrie of Mayne, and at Pount de gene 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 saie, sir William Rosse, sir Henry Godard, sir Rowlād Rider, sir Thomas Beaufforde called the bastard of Clarence and di­uerse other, and after that he had forraid, brent, and spoyled the coūtrie 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 Bangie, that is to saie, the duke of Alanson callyng hymself leuetenant generall for the Dolphyn

• Therle of Marche in Auerne.
• Therle of Merle.
• Therle of Ponthiure.
• The Uicount Thomars.
• The Uicount Chasteaulerat.
• The Uicount Damboyse.
• The Lorde of Egle
• The Bastard of Alanson.
• The Bastard de la Marche
• The Bastard of Uandosme
• The Lorde Champaine.
• Sir Anthony of Champayne.
• The Lorde of Fountayes.
• The Lorde of Bellay.
• The Lorde Dauerton.
• The Lorde Rambures
• The Lorde Tanagny de Chastell.
• Sir Ihon Turmyn
• The Lorde Dasse
• The Lorde Buell
• The Lorde Gaules.
• The Lorde of Graueney.
• The Lorde dela Brete.
• The Lorde de la Faiet Marshall to the Dolphyn.
• The Baron of Coluces.
• The Lorde Danzebost.
• The Lorde Uipond Diagosales. capitain of the Spaniardes
• And of the Scottes whiche were late come out of Scotlande to serue the Dolphyn
• Ihon erle of Boghan and Robert his brother, sonnes to the go­uer nor of Scotlande.
• Archibald Dowglas erle of wigtō
• Alexāder Lynsay brother to therle of Crayford.
• Sir Thomas Swynton.
• Sir William Stuard.
• Sir Willyam Doglas
• Sir Ihon Turnebull.
• Sir Robert Lisle
• Sir William Connyngham
• [Page] Sir Alexander Meldryne.
• Sir Alexander Hume
• Sir Ihon Balglauie.
• Sir Willyam Lisle.
• Sir Ihon Haliburton
• Sir Ihon Crawforth.
• Sir William Candey
• Sir Ihon Grey.
• Sir Ihon Commyn
• Sir Rober Boence
• Sir Archibalt Forbosse.
• sir Dūcane Comine & many other.

THE duke of Clarence had a Lomberd resortyng to hym called An­drewe Forgusa was retained with the part aduerse, of whom the duke inquired the nūbre of his enemies, to whō 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, warrātyng hym a famous victory and a faire daie. The duke geuyng to muche credite to this traytor, like a valiant and coragious prince assembled together al the horssemen of his army and lefte the Archers behynde hym vnder the ordre of the Bastarde of Clarence and two Portyngales capitaines of Fresnye le Uicount, sai­yng that he onely and the nobles would haue the honor of that iorney. When the duke was passed a straight and a narowe passage, he espied his enemies ranged in good ordre of battaill by the monicion of the Lombard whiche had sold hym to his enemies, and thesaid aduersaies had laied suche bushementes at the straightes that the duke by no wa­yes without battaill could ether retire or [...]lie. The Englishemen seyng no remedy valiauntly set on their enemies whiche wer foure to one, the battail was [...]ierce and the fight dedly, neuer wer so fewe men seen more coragiously to defend theimselfes then did the Englishemen that daie thei fought and defēded, the slewe and felled, but it auailed not, for thei wer repressed with a multitude and brought to confusion. There were slain the duke of Clarence, therle of Tankeruile, the Lorde Rosse, Sir Gilbert U [...]ffreuile erle of Kent, and sir Ihon Lumley, sir Robert Ue­rend and almoste two thousande Englishmen, and therles of Somer­set Suffolke and Perche, the Lorde Fitizwater, sir Ihon Barkeley, sir Rauffe Neuell, sir Henry Iuglos, sir Willyam Bowes, sir Willyam Longton, 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 thei gained not muche. 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 thei came to late, for the Frenchmen hearyng of the approchyng of the Archers fled with their prisoners with all the hast thei could, leuyng behynde theim the bodie of thesaid duke and the ded carions. When the archers came and sawe their enemies gone: Lorde how thei 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 Cantorbury beside his father. After this the Englishemen brente and spoyled the [Page lxxvii] 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 thousande .CCCC.xxj.

I lament the foly and foolishenes of this duke and I maruell at his vnwitty doyng and rashe enterprise, that he would aduenture his life and hazarde his compaignie leuyng behynde 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 whiche saieth: If shepe ronne wilfully emongest Wolues thei 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 [...]omerset into Normandy, ge­uyng to hym like authoritee & preheminence as his brother the late de­ceassed duke of Clarence had or enioyed. After that he called his highe courte of Parliamente, in the whiche he declared so wisely, so seriously and with so greate a grauitie the actes that wer dooen in the realme of Fraūce, the estate of the tyme presente and what thynges wer necessary for the tyme to come (if thei would looke to haue that Iewell and high kyngdō for the whiche thei had so long labored and sought for) that the comonaltie gladly graunted a fiftene, and the Clergy beniuolently of­fred a do [...]le disme, and because no delay should be in the kynges affai­res for lacke of paiment, the bishoppe of Wynchester his vncle lent to hym .xx.M. pounde, to be receiued of thesame 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 Maie passed the seas and arriued there in greate triūphe, where to hym was shewed that the Dolphyn with .vij.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 departed in good ordre of battaill toward Paris, and at Mōstreull there receiued hym the duke of Burgoin, whiche frō that place attended on the kyng to Dowast in Ponthiew and so came to Abbeuile, and after the Kyng tooke a toune of sir Iaques of Herecort called a Ferte, and there the duke departed from the kyng for a sixe daies promisyng on his honor by that daie to returne, the kyng of Englande passed forwarde by Be­auuoys Gisors, and from thence came to Boys de Uincens where he founde the Frenche kyng and his Quene, whom he louyngly saluted and thei him again honorably receiued and highly feasted, and thether 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 Dolphyn, hauyng perfight know­ledge [Page] 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 alitle reioysed, but or thei from thence departed, thei had knowledge and 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 Iaques Harcort whiche daily inferred war and caused wast & destrucciō in thesame coūtrie, but also apointed Ia­mes kyng of Scottes to laie siege to the toune of Driex, whiche so sore by sworde and engins enforced the inhabitantes that after sixe wekes passed, thei deliuered thesame to the kyng of Scottes, to the behofe of Kyng Henry his souereigne Lorde whiche made there of capitain the exle of Worcester and baily there, sir Henry Mortimer. The king him self remoued from Naūt and passed ouer the riuer of Leyre, folowyng the Dolphyn toward Tours: but he mistrustyng his power and put­tyng diffidēce 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 fidelitie 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 Iest he was comonly called the kyng of Burges and of Berries. The kyng of Englande 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 proffitable and auailable to the defender, then to hym that should make the assaute, wherfore he willyng to saue his people from famyne whom he knewe to be from the dent 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 replenished with enemies, in the middest of his new gotten sub­iectes determined to take awaie the open scruple whiche might poyson and infecte the membres dwellyng hard by, wherfore he with these no­bles folowyng besieged thesaid citee of Meaux.

• Therle of Worcester.
• Therle of Yury
• Therle of Brayon.
• The Lorde Clifford
• The Lorde Forniuall
• The Lorde Louell
• The Lorde Iwdeley
• The Lorde Seynt Mawre
• [Page lxxviii] The Lorde Deyncort
• The Lorde Zouche.
• The Lorde Morley
• The lorde Fanhope and his sonne whiche died there.
• The Lorde Ferreis of Chartley
• The Lorde Botreux
• The Lorde Clynton.
• The Lorde Harryngton
• The Lorde Willoughby
• The Lorde Fitzhewe, the Kynges Chamberlaine
• Sir Ihon Germayn.
• Sir Ihon Fastolffe
• Sir Lewes Robsert
• Sir Willyam Gascoyn
• Sir Robert Harlyng.
• Sir williā 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 with out his greate losse and detriment. Wherfore he determined not to de­part til he had ether gained or subuerted the toune. Duryng this siege was borne at Wynsore on the daie of. S. Nicholas in Nouember the kynges sonne called Henry, whose Godfathers wer Ihon duke of Bedford and Henry bishop of Wynchester, and Iaquet Duches of Holād was Godmother, wherof the kyng of Englande was certefied liyng at this siege of Meaux. Whē 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 whiche 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 iudged of his sōnes fortune, he sayd to the lord Fitzheugh his trusty Chamberlein these wordes. My lorde, I Henry borne at Monmoth shall small tyme reigne & muche get, & Hēry borne at Wyndsore shall long reigne and al lese, but as God will so be it. After the quene of Englande was thus deliuered of her faire sonne she returned into Fraunce first 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.

¶The tenth yere.

OUryng the tyme of this siege, sir Oliuer Manye a valiant man of warre of the Dolphyns part, whiche before was ca­pitain of the Castle of Faloys and yeldyng it by composi­cion, sware neuer to bere Armure against the kyng of En­glande, assembled a greate numbre of men of warre aswell of Britons as Frenchemen, that is to saie: The lorde Mountburchier, the lorde of Coynon, the lorde of Chastelgiron, the lorde Tyntignace, the lorde Dela Howssay and diuerse other whiche entered into the coū ­tree of Constantine 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 [Page] Willyam Halle, sir Ihon Banaster and many other out of the Erri­sons within that territory, whiche encountered with their enemies at a place called le Parke Leuecque in Englishe the bishops Parke, ther was a sore and a long fight, many a propre feate of Armes was dooen 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 cōclusion the Frenchmen beyng not able to withstand the charge that was laied to them began to flie, in whiche conflict and flight wer slain, the lorde Coynon, the lorde of Castell Giron, and three hundred other and there wer taken prisoners, the lorde Dela Howsay and sir Oliuer Manny and .lx. 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 aūcient 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 owne abilitie thei bee nether able to send an army ouer the sea, nor yet of substaunce to beare a continuall 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 Iames the Scottishe kyng and in the presence of his coūsaill declared to hym what humanite, what fa­uor and what synguler affeccion kyng Henry his father bare duryng his naturall life toward thesaid kyng of Scottes: Puttyng hym in re­membraunce of the greate loue and manifold gratuites whiche he him self sithe the beginnyng of his reigne had exhibited and shewed to the same kyng Iames, that nether he nor his father had any thyng negli­gently omitted whiche ether might apperteigne to the office of a frend or to the dutie of a tutor whiche should loue and cherishe his Orphane or pupile, promisyng hym libertie with a greate rewarde if he would cause the Scottes whiche wer adherentes to the Dolphin to returne a gain into their countree and natiue region. To the whiche request the kyng of Scottes with a very freshe herte answered saiyng: what your noble father hath dooen 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 recompence your dooynges with like kyndnes. But of your request I maruell not alitle, firste consideryng that I am a prisoner and haue no possession of [Page lxxix] my realme, secōdarely that I am as yet nether sworne to my subiectes, nor thei by no oth of allegeance are boūd to obey my cōmaundemētes: wherfore I desyre you no more to moue me inthis thyng which now I cānot do, & yet if I might I would fyrst forese whether it wer to me ho­norable or to my realme honest to leue our old frend in his extreme ne­cessitie without ayd or cōfort. With this answer the kyng of England was not cōtent (as the Scottes say), but after kyng Iames departing fro his presence, kyng Henry saied, happy shall they bee whiche shalbe subiectes to suche a kyng that is endued with suche wit and wisedome at these yong yeres of age.

THE kyng of England liyng styl before the toune of Meux in Brye as you haue heard sore bet the walles with ordinance & cast doune bul­warkes and rampeyres on euery syde of the toune, and sore oppressed them within the toune, wherof hearyng the lord of Offemond, with a cōpany of chosen persons sēt by the dolphyn, came priuely in the night to the walies and set vp a ladder and diuers of his company mounted vp and entred into the toune, and as he passed ouer a plancke to come to the walles he fel into a deepe ditche, the Englishemen hearyng this noyse ranne to the ditche where they toke the lord of Ofmount & slewe diuers of his company whiche stode at defence. The capitaine within the toune perceiuyng 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 wel fortefied. The kyng of England beyng therof ad­uertised, cōmaunded 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 Hungerford to cōmen with them & in conclusicion a treaty was taken, and so the toune and Mar­ketplace with all the goodes, were deliuered into the kyng of Englan­des handes the .x. day of May, in the yere of our lord M.CCCC.xxii.

VVHEN the deliuery of the strong toune of Meaux was publi­shed thorough the countrey, al the tounes and fortresses in the Isle of Fraunce, in Lannoys, in Brye, and in Champaine yelded them selues to the kyng of England, which appointed in them valeant capitaines and hardy souldiers.

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 Uyncennes where he founde the Frenche kyng & the quene & his wife whiche 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 Englād lodged in the castle of Loure, and [Page] [...] [Page lxxix] [...] [Page] and that onely by reason of bodely labour & vnquietnes of mynde, frō the whiche no smal noyse coulde awake him, insomuche that when his souldiers either sang in the nightes or their minstreles played that all the campe soūded of their noyse, he then slept most soūdly. His courage was so constant and his heart so vnmutable that he cast away al feare, and dread frō him was banished. If any alarum wer made by his ene­mies, he was fyrst in armure and the fyrst that would set forwarde. In the time of war he gat knowledge, not onely what his enemiesdid, but what thei sayd and entended, so that al thynges to him were knowen, & of his deuices few persons before the thing was at the point to be done should be made priuie. He had suche knowledge in orderyng and guy­dyng an armye and suche a grace in encouragyng his people, that the Frenchmen sayd he could not be vāquished in battel. He 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 chaunces that might happen: and when the end was concluded, he with all diligence and courage set his purpose forward. Marueile it is to heare howe he beyng a prince of honor, a prince of youth, a prince of riches, did conti­nually abstain frō lasciuious liuyng & blynd auarice, yea, & in the time of losse he was no more sad then in the time of victory, whiche constācy few men haue or can vse: Suche a stable stomacke had he and suche a grauitie was geuen in the bottome 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 speake of his bountefulnes and liberalitie no man could be more gentle, more liberal nor more free in geuyng re­wardes to al persons accordyng to their desertes: Saiyng that he had leuer dye thē to be subiect to auarice, 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 frēdes, 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 apparant lanterne in his daies, he was the myrror of Christendome & the glory of his countrey, 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 lorde more bounteous, No prince had lesse of his subiectes and neuer kyng cōquered more: whose fame by his death as liuely flo­risheth as his actes in his lifewer sene and remēbred. When his death was published among the cōmen people, incōtinent their heartes wer appalled and their courages abated, their dolor so muche 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 a iewel, so noble an ornament & [Page lxxxii] so sure a defence: for no doubt as muche hope as was taken awaye frō the Englishmen, for the gettyng of Fraunce by his sodaine death, so muche trust was encreased in the stomackes of the Frenche nacion, ho­pyng to recouer their aūcient libertie and olde 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 crāpe. 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 his chāberlain affirmeth that he died of a Plurisis whiche at that tyme was so rare a sickenes and so straūg a disease that the name was to the most part of mē vnknowen & phisicions wer acquainted as lytle with any remedy for the same, and therfore euery mā 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. monethes and .xxiii. dayes & liued not ful .xxxviii. yeres: he was of sta­ture more then the cōmen sort, of body lene, wel mēbred & strōgly made a face beautiful somwhat long necked, blacke heered, stout of stomake eloquent of tong, in marcial affaires a very doctor, & of al chiualry the very Paragone, His body was enbaumed & closed in lede & layde in a charet royal richely apparaled with cloth of gold, vpon the corps was layd a representacion of his person adorned with robes, diademe, scepter & bal like a kyng, the which charet was drawē with .vi. horses richely trapped with seueral 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 Fraunce onely, and the sixt with the armes of England and Fraunce, On this Charet gaue attendance Iames kyng of Scottes the 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 Edmonde Beausford, the lord Fitzhugh Henry, the lord Hungerford Water, sir Lewes Robsert Burchier, sir Ihon Corne­wale lord Fāhope, and the lord Crumwel wer the other morners. The lord Louel, the lord Audeley, the lord Morley, the lord Souche bare the baners of saintes and the Baron of Dudley bare the standerd & therle of Longuile bare the baner. The Hachementes wer borne onely by ca­pitaines to the nōbre of .xii. and roūd about the charet rode .CCCCC. mē of armes al in blacke harnes & their horses barded blacke with the but of their speres vpward. The cōduit & ordre of al this dolorous dole was cōmaūded to sir Williā Philip treasorer of the kynges houshold and to sir Wylliā Porter his chief caruer 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 conueighed from Boys de Uyncens to Paris and so to Roan, to Abbeuile, to Caleys, to Douer and so thorough London to West­minster, where he was buried with suche solempne ceremonies, suche [Page] mournyng of lordes, suche praier of priestes, suche lamentyng of com­mons 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 estate with the yong kyng her sōne. 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 daies achiued so high aduentures and made so great a conquest.

¶The seconde yere.The .ii. yere.

THese chaūces thus happenyng as you haue heard, Ihon duke of Bedford, Philip duke of Burgoyn, & Ihon duke of Britayn, made an assemble & frendly enteruiewe in the citee of Amias, where thei renewed the olde league and auncient amitie made betwene the noble prince kyng Hē ­ry the fifth, and them, before concluded: addyng therto these cōdicions and agrementes, eche of them to be to other bothe frend and aider, and the enemy of the one to bee enemy to the other, and all thei to bee bothe frendes and aiders to the kyng of Englande, and well willyng to his wel willers, and auengers of his aduersaries. And because that affini­tie is an embracer of amitie, there was concluded a mariage betwene the duke of Bedford, and the lady Anne sister to the duke of Burgoyn. When these agrementes wer finished, the Regent departed to Troys in Chāpain, whether with high pompe was conueighed the lady Anne of Burgoyn, whiche in the presence of her brother and her Uncle duke of Brabant, and of therles of Salisbury and Suffolke, and of .ix.C. Lordes knightes and esquires, she was maried to Ihon duke of Bed­ford with suche solempnitie, feste and triūphe, as before that tyme had not been seen of the Burgonions.

DVRYNG this triumphe, the Parisiās thinkyng to blind the iyes of the duke of Bedford wrote to hym, how diuerse Castles & fortresses liyng rounde about their territory, wer replenished with his enemies, daily stoppyng their passages, and robbyng their marchantes, to their vtter vndoyng, if thei 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 beryng the yoke and subieccion of the English nacion perceiuyng the duke of Bedforde and the principall capitaines of the [Page lxxxv] Englishmen to be farre from Paris, emploiyng themselfes to ioy and solace for the honor of this high mariage, conspired to bryng into the citee Charles the Dolphyn callyng hymself Frenche kyng, duryng the tyme of his absence. And to thentent that their inuēted purpose should succede, thei therof aduertised the Dolphyn and his counsaill appoyn­tyng the daie of his comyng and the post of his entre. But no treason is commonly hiden 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 facciō, wher­fore he meanyng not to lose in short tyme, that whiche in no smal space was gayned, put spurres to the horsse, and with a greate power entred into Paris one daie before the faire was apoinced, and two nightes before the lokyng for of his enemies, whō beyng vnprouided he sodainly caused to be apprehended and taken, and openly put to execucion. Af­ter this ieoperdy thus escaped, he putte diffidence in all the Parisians trustyng litle the nobles and geuyng lesse credite to the comons, determined to fortifie the Garrisons of his owne nacion and all the Castles nere and adioynyng 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 toke into his pos­session ether by assaute or composicion 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 sente sir Ihon Fastolffe great Master of his houshold, with a notable army to besiege the Castle of Pacy, whiche takyng vpon hym that enterprise so handled his enemies that the capitain named Guyllam Reymon es­quire & all the garrison yelded them symply to his mercy and discreciō whom he sent as prisoners to the citee of Paris, and after besieged the Castle of Coursay whiche to hym was shortly rendered vpon like ap­poyntmēt, and so with praie and prisoners he returned to the lorde Re­gent his master. In this very season the Dolphyn sent lorde Willyam Stuard Constable of Scotland, and therle of Uentadore in Auergne and many other nobles of his part to laie siege to the toune of Crauāt in the coūtie of Auxerre within the partes of Burgoyn, wherof heryng the lorde Regent and the duke of Burgoyn thei assembled a greate ar­mie, the erle of Salisbury was ordeined capitain of the whiche with these valeant parsonages.

• The lorde Willoughby.
• The lorde Pownynges.
• The lorde Molyns.
• Sir Thomas Rampston.
• Sir William Oldhaule.
• Sir Ihon Passheley.
• Sir Thomas Flemyng.
• Sir Edmond He [...]on.
• Sir Ihon Grey
• Sir Reignold Grey.
• Sir Ihon Arthur
• Sir Henry Bisset
• Sir William Peytow.
• Sir Richard Leke.
• Sir Gilbert Haliall.
• Sir Lancelot Lisle.
• [Page] Thomas Aborough.
• William Glasdale.
• Mathew Gough.
• Didon Amore
• Richard Ap Madocke.
• Dauy Loyd.

• The lorde Sent George,
• The erle of Ionignye
• The erle of Brayne.
• The lord of Castelyn Marshal of Burgoyne.
• The lorde of Uergier his bastard.
• The lorde of Chastelon.
• The lorde of Crouy.
• The lorde Lisle Adam.
• The lorde of Pesmes
• The Bastard of Thyan.
• Sir Frances le Arragonoys.
• Ihon de Gyngie.

AND many other to the numbre (aswell of Englishemen as Burgo­nions) of .xv.M. men of warre, whiche came in good array to geue battaill to the besiegers of the toune of Crauant, and because the Riuer of Youne whiche renneth by thesaid toune was betwene the Englishe ar­my and their aduersaries, thei could not wel assaile their enemies whi­che defended the bankes and passages very strongly, yet notwithstan­dyng bothe horsmen and fotemen of the Englishe part coragiously put themself into the riuer and with fyne force recouered the banke, whom the Burgonions incontinent folowed. When thei wer all gotten into the plain, the Archers shot and the bilmen strake, & long was the fight in indifferent iudgement, but in conclusion the Frenchmen not able to resist the force and abyde the puissance of the English nacion, wer takē ether slain or discomfited, for in the mortall battaill were slain and ta­ken to the numbre of .viii.M. men, where of the names of the chief ca­pitaines here shall apere.

• Therle of Lestrake.
• Therle of Comygens.
• Therle of Tunier
• The lorde Coquart de Cameron.
• The Bastard of Arnynacke
• The Uicont of Towraye.
• The Bastard of Forest.
• The lorde de Port
• The lorde Memorācie. And xviii. hundred knightes and esquiers beside comons.

• The Constable of Scotlande whiche lost his iye.
• Therle of Uantadore.
• Sir Alexander Meldryne.
• Sir Lewes Ferigny.
• And .xxii.C. gentlemenne of the Frenche nacion taken.

• The lorde of sent Ihons toune
• Sir Ihon of Balgrarie
• Sir Ihon Turnebull.
• Sir Ihon Holiburton.
• Sir Robert Lile.
• Sir William Conyngham.
• Sir William Douglas
• Sir Alexander Hune.
• Sir Willyam Lisle
• Sir Ihon Rocherforde.
• Sir William Cawford
• Sir Thomas Seton
• Sir William Hāmolton and his sonne Ihon Pillot. And .iii.M. Scottes slain.

• Sir Ihon Grey.
• [Page lxxxvi] Sir Wylliam Halle.
• Sir Gilbert Halsel.
• Richard ap Madocke.
• and .xxi.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 praisyng the doynges 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 were ioy­ously 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 Chāpaigne, & sir Ihon Fastolf he substitu­ted deputie vnder him in the duchy of Normādy on this syde the riuer of Seyne, & with that he deputed him gouernor of the coūtreys of An­iow & Mayne, and assigned able capitaines in euery holde & fortresse. Therle of Salsbury whiche could not slepe in his great office of trust, layde siege to the toune & castle of Moūtaguillon in Bry, wherof were capitaines Pregent of Cotyny & Guille Bourgoys Britons whiche valiantly defēded the castle by y^• space of v. monethes, but incōclusion the assailantes wer so fierse that they within for safegard of their liues rendred the hold, & the capitaines sware neuer to bere armure against the Englishmen on this side the riuer of Leyre: duryng which siege the erle of Suffolke toke by force the castle of Coucy: and the strong castle de la roche he gat by appointment in Mosconoys.

NOVVE muste I go backe to put you in memorye howe Iames kyng of Scottes beyng bothe prisoner in the tyme of kyng Henry the fourth and also as subiect to kyng Henry the fift his sōne, seruyng him in his warres in Fraunce tyl he departed out of this transsitory life at Boys de Uyncens and so as chief morner attended on the corps of the sayd deceassed vnto his burial, and after at Westminster wasreleased of his captiuitie and restored to his realme and possession. For the true knowledge therof you shal vnderstande that Englande demaunded a smal 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 coūsel of the realme of England grauously ponde­red and wisely considered that if by coniunction of mariage, England and Scotland were perfectly knit in one, that the indissoluble band of amitie betwene the Frenche and Scottishe nacions should be shortly broken and dissolued. Wherfore the protector of the realme of Englād by the consent of the whole baronage of the same gaue to him in mari­age the Lady Iane doughter to Ihon earle of Sommerset desceased, not onely sister to Ihon then duke of Sommerset but also cosyn 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 fayre Lady, but muche more desiryng his deliuerance and libertie, put in hostages for the residue of his raunsome because a great part therof was demi­nished [Page] and abated for the money allowed to hym for his mariage, & so was deliuered to depart at his pleasure. Alacke, the old prouerbes bee to true: an Ape although she bee clothed in purple, will be but an Ape, and a Scotte neuer so gentely enterteined 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 feates 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 discen­ded. All these kyndnesses suffised not, nor all these gratuities auailed not to make this kyng Iames 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 present 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 foloyng.

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 wife liberally geuen and frendly deliuered (of whiche sorte of ri­ches fewe or none before that daie wer euer seen in the coūtrey of Scotlande) like a dogge whiche hath cast vp his stomacke and returneth to his vomet, or like a snake whiche after his engenderyng with a Lam­pray taketh again his old poyson: After he had once taken the ayre and smelled the sent of the Scottishe soyle became like his falce fraudulēt forfathers, an vntrue prince and like his proude pratyng progenitors toke the ymage of a braggyng and bostyng Scot, newly alied hymself with the Frenche nacion. And yet what soeuer he did, his nacion bothe write and testifie, that by the learnyng whiche he by the greate benifite of the kynges of Englande duryng his captiuitee in this realme had obteigned, replenished his countrey with good litterature, and by the nurture the whiche he was brought vp in Englād, he brought his peo­ple to ciuilitee: So that his captiuitee was to his nacion the greatest libertie that euer thei could haue, deliueryng them from blynde igno­rance to Angelicke knowledge, reducyng theim from bestiall maners to honest behauor, and in conclusion causyng theim to knowe vertue from vice, pollicie from rudenes, and humain honestie from sauage li­uyng. [Page lxxxvii] This was the deliuerance and the doynges of Iames the fyrst of that name kyng of Scottes, whiche neither reigned verye quietly, nor yet euer fauored Englishemen before the Frenche people: sauyng that he hauyng with him into his countrey a yong gentleman of Nor­thumberland called Andrew Gray (whiche duryng his captiuitie was his companion) promoted him to the mariage of the heyre of the lorde of Foules in Anguis, of the whiche the lord Gray of Scotland at this day do descend.

¶The .iii. yere.The .iii. yere.

NOw leue I the doynges of Scotland, and returne to the affaires of England. The duke of Gloucester beyng pro­tector and gouernor of the realme, cōsideryng that wood must be ministred to kepe fyre, and men ought to be sēt to set forwarde war, called to him the pieres and nobilitie of the realme, and by their agrementes & deuises, sent into Fraūce to the regent his brother .x.M. men of warre, whiche were of the same regent in the coūtrey 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 cōquered tounes and castles with open warre and appa­rant conquest: so the Frenchmen fraudulently stale & couertely obtai­ned diuers fortresses and holdes appertainyng to thenglish faccion, & in especial the fayre toune of Compaigne, & the prety toune of Crotoy.

VVHEN the duke of Bedford was aduertised of these craftye tric­kes and sodaine inuented trames, he sent furth an army, fyrst to Com­paigne, wherof was capitaine the erle of Suffolke 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 laye the lord Lisle Adain, sir Thomas Raupstone, & the prouost of Paris. The Frechmen beyng strongly furnished and wel vitailed, coragiously de­fended the toune against the assailātes. The Englishmen perceiuyng that Guylliā Remond otherwise called Mariolayn, had bene the leder of the souldiers within the toune, whiche before at Pacy was takē pri­soner by sir Ihon Fastolf, 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 cōueighed him to the gibbet without the toune, sending worde to the garison within the toune, that if they would not without delay rēdre the toune & fortresse, thei would incōtinent strāgle their old capitaine and chief conductor. The souldiors within the toune percei­uyng that if Guylliā Raymond the onely trust of their relefe, and the aūcient frend in their necessitie, shuld 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 themselues, yelded the toune: so that both he & they might depart with horse [Page] and harnes onely, in sure conduite and safetye: yet long or the toune of Compaigne was deliuered, sir Philip Hal whiche was sent to Crotoy 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 al 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 Englishmen, write and say that these tounes were yelded to the Burgonyons, whiche neither had the kepyng of them nor were souldi­ers to any other person but to the kyng of England. While these thin­ges were thus doyng in Fraunce, sir Ihon de la Pole brother to therle of Suffolke capitaine of Auranches in Normandy, assembled all the garrisons of the base Marches of the coūtrey of Aniow, & came before the cytie of Angiers and brent the subbarbes, spoyled and destroyed the whole countrey, and hauyng as many prayes and prisoners as his men might cary, he was encountred by the earle of Aubemerle, the vi­count Narbone and .vi. thousand Frenchmen: whiche findyng the En­glishmen out of arraye because of the cariage of their great spoyle, so­dainly set on thē and slewe .CCC. persons and toke prisoners the sayd sir Ihon Delapole, sir Ihon Basset, Ihon Auford leuetenaunt of Fa­loys, Ihon Clyfton, Henry Mortymer and .vi.C. other. Although the Frenchmen gat this day in one place, yet thei wēt not victorious away in another, for the bastard de la Baulme and the lorde Craignar capi­taines of Courrallon with a great band, made a roade into Mascon­noys, with whom by chance met Mathew Gough and other Englishe­men whiche were scouryng the countrey to se and heare newes of their enemies, there was a sore conflict and an hard encountre, the partes in maner beyng of corage & nombre egal, but after long fight, the French men almost al wer slaine & taken, and the bastard beyng wel horsed fled after whom folowed with the fiersnes of his spurres Mathew Gough and chased him to his castle gate and there toke him as he would haue hid him in the diche & presēted him to the earle of Salsbury, returnyng from Compaigne to Paris, whiche not onely gaue to him the rightes belōging to the prisoner, but also rewarded him with a goodly courser and highly exalted his name and manhode.

ABOVTE this season, Arthur brother to Ihon duke of Britaine cōmonly called the earle of Richemond, hauyng neither profite of the name nor of the countrey, notwithstādyng that king Henry the .v. had created him carle of Yury in Normandy & gaue him not onely a great pencion but thesame toune of Yury: yet because his brother the duke of Brytaine fearyng the Englishmen nowe hauyng Normandye would smel and desire to tast the swete soyle of Britaine, was late (contrary to his leage and othe) returned to the part of Charles the dolphyn, he like wise returned and craftly without cause fled into Flaunders & so came to the dolphyn to Poytiers, whiche was more glad of his cōmyng then [Page lxxxviii] 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 with the dol­phyn bothe kepte the castle against the duke of Bedford, furnishyng it dayly with new people & municons, 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, assēbled a great army both of Englishmen and Normans, enten­dyng to serche the dolphin in euery part, to thētent to geue him battail in a pitched feld and so to make a final ende of his entended conquest. So hauyng in his companye therle of Salsbury, therle of Suffolke, the lord Scales, the lord Wylloughby, the lord pounyng, sir Reynold Gray, sir Ihon Fastolf, sir Ihon Saluayne, Lanslot Lisle, sir Philip 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 wel defended: but the Englishemen began to vnder­mine the walles, so that they within were glad to rendre the toune vpō 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 sufficiēt to raise the siege, & vpon this promise hostages 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 & [...]ren­des 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 Fraunce (whiche office he enioyed not fully an hundreth houres) and therles of Aumarle, Uātadoure, Connerre, Maulieurier Forest, the vicountes of Narbon and Thouars, the lordes of Grauile, Gaules, Malycorne, Manny, Ballay, Fountaines, Mountfort, & ma­ny other noble knightes and esquiers to the nombre of .xv.M. Frēche men & Britons and .v.M. Scottes whom the erles Doglas had tran­sported late out of Scotland more for nede then for loue.

THIS army royal approched within .ii. miles of Yury and sent .xl. light horsmen to view and espy both the nomber and cōduit of the En­glishmen. These spyes came very nere to the siege and wer espied and chased to their cōpanions 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 geuen hym in straight cōmaundement 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 army to the toune of Uer­noyle in Perche whiche belonged to the kyng of England, & sent word [Page] to the garison of that toune that they had discōfited & slaine al the En­glishe army and that the regent with a small nōber by swyftnes of his horse had saued him selfe. The inhabitantes of Uernoyle geuyng to light credit to the Frenche fablers, receiued the duke of Alāson with al his army into the toune & submitted thē selues to him. Whiche toune he desyred to haue of the gift of the dolphyn as his owne inheritance & lawful patrimony. Now approched the day of rescous of Yury, which was the day of our Lady the Assumpcion, at which day no rescous ap­peared to sir Gerrard de la Pallier captain of the castle, whiche beyng in dispayre of all ayde and comforte, presented the keys to the duke of Bedford & shewed him a letter signed & sealed with the hādes of .xviii. great lordesh whiche the day before promised to geue the duke battaile and to desolue 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 faithful 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 vs be by battail ouerthrowen: and so he gaue a safeconduyte 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 flatteryng 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 incō tinent 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 heard newes that the Frenchmen had taken Uernoile in Perche & were there yet abidyng, wherof with al 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 Frēch­men hearyng of his cōmyng set their people in array and made all one maine battile without forward or rereward, & appointed certaine Lū ­bardes and horsmen to breake the array of the Englishemen either be­hynd or at the sides, wherof was capitaine sir Stephyn Uenoyles cal­led the hire. The duke of Bedford not ignoraunt howe to ordre his men, made likewise one entier battaile & suffered no man to be on horse backe, and set the archers (euery one hauyng a sharpe stake) both in the front of the battaile and on the sydes like wynges, and behynd the bat­taile were the pages with the chariottes and cariages, 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 cariages wer appointed two thousand archers. The Frenchmen at the fyrst light re­membryng how often tymes in piched feldes they had bene ouercome and vanquished of the Englishe nacion, began somewhat to feare, but when they sawe no remedy but to fight, they toke good courage to thē [Page lxxxir] and set softely forwarde. In whiche marchyng the Duke of Alaunson, sittyng on horsebacke saied to his capitaines.

[...]OVYNG compainions,O [...]acion of the duke of Alaunson. and hardy souldiers, call to your remem­braunce, how the Englishemen haue not onely gotten from vs the no­ble isle of Fraunce, the duchies of Normandy and Aniow, but also sith their enterprise and conquest hath bothe slain our parentes and killed our frendes, yea, and hath driuen our naturall Prince, and very soue­raigne Lorde from his chief habitacion and surest chaumber, the faire citee of Paris: whiche act neuer Pagan durst attēpt 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 nothyng more then the deposicion or the destruccion of our kyng and his nobilitie, and in fi­nall cōclusion to bryng to extreme bondage all vs, our wiues and chil­dren, and al the people of this so long renoumed region, by many hun­dred yeres called the realme of Fraunce, whiche is as muche to saie, as a fre countrey, or a franke lande. Alas, shall your kyng now be made a subiecte, shall your peres and nobilitee bee made vassals, and you also slaues & bondmen to a forrain nacion? Where is the liberty of Fraūce and where is the auncient fredome? When you defended your fraun­chises, and when your hartes serued you: your Kyng ruled kynges, your princis 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 excellente wit, long in gettyng and shortly lesyng? Will you now suffre 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 bee caried from their natiue countrey to the bondage of Babilon, where thei 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 backe 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 the Turkishe bondage, and to be a free man in Fraūce vnder the Englishe libertie. Of this poynt you be sure: if thei 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 thei bee rulers, fare well the franke and Frenche li­bertie: If thei be lordes, welcome Englishe seruitude. So that now we stande 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 [Page] must onely withstand this mischief, and hartie corage must driue backe this imminēt plage. This is the daie either of our deliueraunce out of vile seruitude, 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 almoste without recouery, cōsidryng, that here be the best men, & wisest capitaines vnder our kyng: And if we get the vpper hande, our heddes shalbe free and out of the Englishe yoke. And although the duke of Bedforde hath here with hym, all the power that he can gather on this side the sea, yet I assure you, (God willyng) I will not turne one fote backeward for feare of hym, or his picked ar­mie. Therefore I exhorte you to remembre, your wifes, your children and your selfes. Fight 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 vs shall 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, gaine or losse, let euery man take harte and corage to hym, litle regardyng, or caryng, either for death, or the force of his enemies, and with a manly countenaunce marche furth toward our foes.

THE Englishemen perceiuyng their greate nombre, and knowyng that the chief strength consisted in the Scottes, began somwhat to stay and consult, what was moste expedient to bee doen. The duke of Bed­ford sittyng on a baye courser in the middes of the battaill vnder a bā ­ner euriously beten with his Armes, not content with their whisperyn­ges and protractyng of tyme, saied vnto theim with an audible voyce.

YOV valiaunt capitaines and hardie souldiers,The orarion of the Duke of Bedforde. my louyng com­paynins in armes, and frendly felowes. If you cōsidre with your self what daie this is: What honor and what profite 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 runne on your fete, you would, if you had winges, flie as faste, as euer did Hauke 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 remembre, that nothyng is wel doen, if it growe not to a good conclusion: and thyng were as good neuer to be begon, as neuer ended. My brother our late soueraigne lord, (whose soule God pardon) hath entred into this coun­trey, as into his awne lawfull inheritaunce: and first conquered Nor­mandy, and after by agremēt of kyng Charles the vsurper, he was by assent of the nobilitee, agrement of the Clergie, & speciall request of the commonaltie, restored to his rightfull inheritaunce, and lawful patri­trimony, whiche by his death is returned and come to my nephewe our [Page xc] moste redoubted souereigne. The beginnyng 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 suffre Charles the dolphyn, whi­che now vsurpeth the name, and estate royall of this realme of Fraūce, to proceade farther in his purpose, or to gather more puyssaunce, or al­lure more people, I cannot tell then what feates flattryng 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 thesame. 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: distomfite hym now and bryng our conquest to a conclusion: let hym alone now, and we shalbe new to begin. Therfore I say, it is wise­dome to take occasion, when the hery side and not the balde side is pro­fered. If wee feare the multitude, remembre our awne victories, whiche we haue euer obteined by lesse nombre, and not by the greater. If we feare death, remembre 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 reuēge 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 hardly, for our enemies be at hād.

HE had skace ended his exhortacion, but the Englishmen beyng in­couraged with his prudent persuasion, sette on their enemies, criyng, Sainct George, Bedford. And the Frenchemen likewise cried, Moūt­ioye, 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 battaill, with so indifferent iudgement 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 iudgement, the battaill continued aboute three houres. The duke of Alaū son in the meane season neuer ceased to exhorte and praie his people manly to fight, and not to suffre 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 armie, refreshyng the weake with freshe men, and encoragyng his people with moste ple­saunt wordes: But at the last, when he perceiued the Frenchmen, 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 [Page] with al his strength set incontinent on them with suche a violence, that thei bare theim doune to the ground by fine force. The Frenche horse­mē that daie did litle seruice: for the archers so galled their horses, that thei desired not muche to approche their presence. This battaill was fought the .xxvij. daie of August, in the yere of our Lorde .M.CCCC.xxv. in the whiche battaill wer slain.

• The erle of Aumerle.
• The erle of Uentadore.
• The erle of Forestes.
• The erle of Mary.
• The lorde Grauile.
• The lorde Gaules.
• The lorde Fountaynes.
• The lorde of Amboys
• The Uicount Thouars.
• The lorde Mounteney
• The lorde of Combreste
• The lorde of Brunell.
• The lorde Tumblet.
• The lorde of Poysy. And thre hun­dred knightes beside.
• The Uicount Nerbon whose body was hāged on a gibbet, because he was one of the murtherars, of the duke of Burgoyne.

• Archibald erle Douglas made duke of Toroyne.
• Iames Douglas his sonne erle of Nigton.
• Ihon the erle of Boughem newly made Constable of Fraunce.
• Sir Alexandre Meldryne
• Sir Henry Balglauie
• Sir Ihon Sterlyng.
• Sir William of Homelsdone
• Sir Iames Graye.
• Sir Robert Kanden.
• Sir Alexander Lynsaie.
• Sir Robert Stewarde.
• Sir Robert Swinton, and .xxvij. hundred 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 presente, of Frenchemen and Scottes .ix. thousand and seuen hundred, and of the Englishmen xxj. hundred, but no man of name. sauyng .v. yong esquiers. And there wer taken prisoners, Ihon duke of Alaunson, the bastard of Alaunson, the lorde of Fayect, the lorde of Hormit, sir Piers Harison, sir Loys de Uancort, Sir Robert Brusset, sir Ihon Turnebull a Scot, and twoo hundred gentlemen besides common souldiours.

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 thankes, not without effusion of teares. Then he commaunded all the Frenchemen within the toune of Uernoile, to go out and depart, or els to abide their aduēture. Thei perceiuyng the euil successe of their bostyng enterprise, and seyng no meane, wherby in so lowe an ebbe, thei might bee ayded, deliuered vp the toune, and went furthe out of thesame, their lifes sa­ued. Of whiche 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 ioyously receiued and honorably fea­sted. And after all thynges there set in an ordre, he remoued to Paris.

[Page xcj] HERE you maie see what succeded of the spirite of false Prophecie. For the duke of Alaunson thinkyng it to be predestinate by the bodies aboue, that he should ouercome, and conquere the duke of Bedford, bosted (as you haue heard) to the Burgesses of Uernoile, that he had di­scōfited 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, appoynted, not onely all his puyssaunce to be vanqui­shed before Uernoile, 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 twyse, and he that fisheth before the net, maie lese, but nothyng gain. When this vi­ctory was published through Fraunce, how the common peope lamen­ted their miserable destiny, how the nobilitie mistrusted their awne e­state, and how the Dolphyn was abashed, yea, more then abashed, wō ­derfull 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 coūtreis, except to Burbonoys, Aluerne, Berry, Poyctou, Towrayn, a part of Aniow and Barrayn, & Longnedoe. And because diuerse of his frendes, whiche were aduocates in Paris, exiled thēselfes frō the parliament of Paris, whiche was with al rightes, and iurisoiccions there vnto belongyng, kepte, 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 seale, 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 obeysaunce Charles the dolphyn, or els to driue hym out of his litle cony holdes, and small countries, sēt the lorde Scales, sir Ihon Montgomerey, sir Ihon Fastolfe, with two thousand men, to conquere the countries of Aniow and Mayn, whiche without assaulte had rendred to thē the strong castles of Beamount le Uicōt, Teune, Silly, Oste, Courceriers, Roussy, Uasse, Couetemenāt and twenty other, whiche for prolixitie of tyme, I thynke necessary to bee omitted. For surely the Englishe puyssaunce was so tried, proued, assaied, and spred abrode throughout all Fraunce, that the Frenche mē thought that in conclusion the Englishe men would haue, or should haue al thinges, whiche thei either wisshed or enterprised. The duke of Bedford yet thirstyng after more good fortune, sente the erle of Salis­bury, with a greate armie accompained with the lorde Scales, and o­ther approued capitaines, (whose names you haue heard before) into the countrees of Aniow & Mayn, whiche wer euil neighbors to the du­chy of Normandy: in whiche army wer x.M. men of war or ther about. These lusty capitaines entered firste into the countrey of Mayne, and beseged the riche and strong citee of Mauns, the chief toune & emperie [Page] of all that country and region. And although the citezens, aswel for the sodain accesse of their enemies, as for the feare of the name of therie 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 de Goos, studied and muented all waies possible how to defend themselfes, and do damage and harme to their enemies: and surely, thei had within the toune a crewe and a compainei of war­like and practised souldiors. The Englishemen approched as nigh to the walles as thei might without their losse and detriment, and shot a­gainst their walles great stones out of great gonnes (whiche kynd of engines before y^t tyme, was very litle seen or heard of in Fraunce,) the strokes wh [...]rof 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 orgaynes, bothe seyng their destrucciō 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 departe with horsse and harnessse onely, should be permitted: whiche offers were accepted, and the toune rendred, wherof the erle made capitain therle of Suffolke, and his liuetenaunt sir Ihon Fastolfe. After this the said erle of Salis [...]ury besieged the faire toune of sainct Susan, whereof was capitain, Ambrose de Lore, a mā of no lesse audacitie then pollicy, accompainied with a greate nombre of hardy men of warre. When the the erle of Salisbury had bothe viewed and seen the situacion and na­ture of the place, he determined to assaulte it in that place whiche was moste weake and worne: and so the trompettes blew to the assault, an [...] scalyng ladders were raised to the walles, and the Englishemen with greate noyse began to clime and ascende. The souldiors whiche durste not come out of the toune to encountre with the Englishe armie, man­fully ranne to the walles to resiste and defende the assaylantes. And so all that daie the assault with many aduenturrs still continued, and al­though the inhabitauntes and citezens were sore wounded, thei neuer lette of bothe to defende theimselfes, and to anoye and hurte their ene­mies. When therle perceiued that by this light assault and slight skir­mishe he lost somewhat, and gained nothyng, he made a wall and cast a trenche round about y^• toune: & caused his great ordynance to be shotte at that part of the wall whiche was moste teble 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 wal was persed and cast doune to the ground. When the capitain perceiued these newe feates, he began to entreate, and offered for hymself and his souldiors, twoo thousand crounes, so that thei might departe in their doublettes onely▪ so their liues were saued, whiche some because winter aproched, was taken, and the toune yelded. Of the whiche toune he made capi­tain, [Page xcij] sir Ihon Popham, a valiaunt and a circūspect knight. After that the said erle besieged the toune and castle of Mayon la Iuhez, wherein was capitain the lorde of Escotaiz: whiche toune after the space of fiue wekes was yelded (the lifes of the defendors onely saued.) To the ke­pyng whereof he appointed sir Ihon Montgomery knight. And after the feast of the purificacion of our lady, he besieged the castle de lafort Barnard: duryng which siege, a sale was made of the toune of Alansō, beyng in the Englishmens possession by a Gascoyn & one of the garisō there, for .iiii.C. crounes, to Charles de Uilliers, Peter le Beuffe, and other Frenche capitaines. When the daie was apointed of the deliue­raunce bothe of the toune and the money, the Gascoigne opened and discouered the whole agrement to the erle of Salisbury: whiche ordei­ned the lorde Willoughby and sir Ihon Fastolfe with two thousande Englishemen to encountre with the byers of the kynges toune of Alā ­son. At the daie apointed and tyme assigned, Charles de Uilliers 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 tri­umphantly to entre into the toune: but it happened otherwise. For or thei wer ware, or suspected any rescues, thei wer enuironed with the Englishe armie, and slain & taken euery creature, saue Peter Danthenazy and .xxv. other, whiche by the swiftnes of their horsses saued thē selfes.

AFTER this conflict ended, the lorde Willoughby with his cōpany returned to therle of Salisbury, before the toune 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 thei were not long able to abide the harde assaultes of the English nacion, rendered the toune and castle, reseruyng to them their horsse and harneis onely, whiche toune therle receiued to the vse of the kyng: But the regent for the valiaunt seruice doen by the erle, gaue thesame toune to hym and to his heires for euer. Beside this therle partely by assaulte, partely by composicion, toke diuerse other tounes, as sainct Kales, wher he made capitain, Richard Gethyne Esquier, Thanceaux Lermitage, where he made gouernor, Matthewe gough, Guerlande, of the whiche he assi­gned ruler, Ihon Banaster, Malicorne, wherof he made capitain, William Glasdale esquier, Lisle soubz Boultō, wherof was made capitain, sir Lancelot Lisle knight, Lowpellande, whereof was made capitain, Henry Braunche, Mountseur, of the whiche was made Constable, sir Williā Oldhall knight, la Suke, was assigned to the kepyng of Ihō Suffolk esquier, and beside this, aboue .xl. castles and piles wer ouer­throwen and destroyed. When the fame and report of these newes wer blowen through Fraunce, some f [...]ated, 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 sente theim [Page] victory 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, nad not by power of man, these no­table victories wer gotten and achiued.

IT is not cōuenient, that I should talke so muche of Fraunce, & omit al thynges doen in England. Wherfore, you shall vnderstand, y^e about easter this yere, y^• kyng called his high court of parliamēt, at his toune of Westminster, & cōmyng to the parliament hous he was conueighed through the citee vpon a great courser with great triūph, whiche child was iudged of al men, not only to haue the very ymage, y^• liuely portra ture, and louely countenaunce of his noble parent and famous father, but also like to succede, and be his heire in all morall vertues, marcial Pollicies, 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 maintei­naunce of the warres, of all marchaundise commyng into this realme, or goyng out of thesame, besides other somes sette on euery tonne of li­quor and on euery sacke of woolle, aswel of Englishe men, as of straū ­gers. Duryng whiche Parliamente came to London, Peter Duke of Quymber, sonne to the kyng of Portyngale, and cosin germain remo­ued to the kyng, which of the duke of Excester and the bishop of Win­chester his vncles, was highly fested, and liberally rewarded, and was elected into the noble ordre of the Garter. Duryng whiche season, Ed­monde Mortimer, the last Erle 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 Richarde Plantagenet, sonne and heire to Richard erle of Cambridge, beheded, as you haue heard before, at the toune of Southhāpton. Whiche Ri­chard within lesse then .xxx. yeres, as heire to this erle Edmond, in opē parliament claimed the croune and scepter of this realme, as herafter shall more manifestly appere. In the tyme of whiche Parliament also, whether it were, either for deserte or malice, or to auoyde thynges that might chaunce, accordyng to a prouerbe, whiche saith, a dead man doth no harme: Sir Ihon Mortimer cosin to the said erle was attainted of treason and put to execucion: of whose deathe no small slaunder arose emongest the common people.

AFTER all these actes doen in Englande, and in Fraunce, Hum­frey duke of Gloucester, with the lady Iaquet his supposed wife, pas­sed the sea, and came to Mons in Henawde, and there by force toke all suche landes, as Ihon duke of Brabant her first husbande had in pos­session of the said lady Iaquet, whiche doyng, Philippe duke of Bur­goyne, beyng greate frende to the duke of Brabant, muche disdained and more frouned at, and thought for the olde loue and familiaritie, that he hare to the duke of Gloucester, that he would by frendly moni­cion, turne hym from his vnhonest and vngodly life, to a reasonable [Page xciij] reformacion, and brotherly conformitie. Wherefore he wrote louyn­gly to hym, that he should vtterly leaue of, any further to folowe the newe attempted enterprise, aduertisyng hym, and protestyng openly, that the vsurpyng and wrongfully withholdyng of another mannes possession, was not so vile and slaunderous, as the defilyng of a pure & cleane bedde, and adulteriously kepyng the wife of his christē brother. The duke of Gloucester beyng in this case very wilfull, 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 aduerti [...]ement of the duke of Burgoyn, sware that he would not leaue of to make farther war, till he had expulsed the duke of Bra­bant, out of his wifes seigniories, territories & dominions. Wherfore, the duke of Burgoyn assembled together a greate armie to make war on the duke of Gloucester, in the cause & quarel of the duke of Brabant his frend and cosyn. The duke of Gloucester, partly for great affaires, that then wer imminent in the realme of England, and partly to assemble more people, to resist and withstād the power of the dukes of Bur­goyn and Brabant, left his wife at Mons in Henaude, with the lordes of the toune, whiche sware to hym, to defende and kepe her against all men, till the tyme of his returne. Wherefore he leauyng with her twoo thousande Englishmen, departed to Calice, and so into Englande.

VVHEN he was gone, the duke of Burgoyn so threatened, so vexed, yea, and almost so famished them within the toune of Mons, that thei deliuered into his possession the lady Iaquet or Iacomyne: whiche in­cōtinent sent her to Gaunt, wher she disguised her self in a mannes ap­parel, and so escaped into a toune of her awne in Zelande, called Zirice, and frō thence she was conueighed to a toune in Hollande called Tre­gowe, where she was honorably receiued, & there made herself strong to withstande her enemies: And for her succor the Duke of Gloucester sent to her fiue hundred mē. The dukes of Burgoyn and Brabant left her not all in quiet, but brent her tounes 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 Rome: 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 lawfull to the duke of Glou­cester, to mary again with the lady Iaquet. The duke of Gloucester o­beiyng to this sentence, beganne to waxe lothe of his supposed wife, by whō he neuer had profite but losse: for whose cause his frendes became his enemies, & for whose sake he was openly slaundered. Wherfore he, by wanton affeccion blinded, toke to his wife Elianor Cobham doughter to the lord Cobham, of Sterberow, whiche before (as the fame wēt) was his soueraigne lady and paramour, to his great slaunder and re­proche. And if he wer vnquieted with his other pretensed wife, truly he [Page] was tenne tymes more vexed, by occasion of this woman, as you shall herafter plainly perceiue: so that he began his mariage with euill, and ended it with worse. The Lady Iaquet after the death of Ihon duke of Brabant, maried a gentleman of meane estate, called Frāke of Bursellen, for the whiche cause the duke of Burgoyn imprisoned her hous­bande, and left her in greate trouble: suche was the ende of these twoo mariages.

¶The fourth yere.The .iii [...]. yere.

A Litle before this tyme, sir Thomas Rampstone, sir Phi­lip Branche, sir Nicholas Burdeit, and other Englishemen to the nombre of .v. hundred men, repaired and for­tified the toune of sainct Iames de Leitron, on the fron­tiers of Normandy, adioynyng to Britayn. Arthure erle of Richemond and Iury brother to the duke of Britayn, whiche like an vntrue gentleman, sworne and forsworne to the kyng of England, sodainly fled to Charles the Dolphyn: whiche muche reioy­syng of his fauor and amity, gaue to hym the Constableship of Fraūce whiche therle of Boughan slain before at Uernoyl, a small tyme occu­pied, and lesse space enioyed. This newe Constable not a litle ioyful of his high office, thought to do some pleasure to y^• dolphyn his master, & to aduaūce his name at the first entry into his authoritie, he imagined no enterprise to be to hym more honorable, nor to his prince more acce­ptable, then to auoyde and driue out of the toune of sainct Iames de Beueon, al the Englishe nacion. So in hope of victory gathered toge­ther aboue .xl.M. men, of Britons, Frenchemen and Scottes, and en­uironed the toune of sainct Iames, or sainct Iaques de Beuron, with a strong siege. The Englishemen within, whiche in nombre passed not vj.C. men, manfully defended the daily assaultes of the fierce Frenche men. 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 assaulte, towardes the euenyng the Englishemen came out of the toune, one parte by the posterne of the Castle, and ano­ther part by the gate of the toune, criyng saincte George, Salisburye: and set on their enemies bothe before and behind. The Frenchemen se­yng the corage of the Englishemen, and hearyng their crie, thynkyng that therle of Salisbury was come to raise the siege, ranne awaie like shepe, and there wer taken, slain and drouned in the water, of them .iiii. thousand men and mo. Besides this, these ioly gallantes left behynde theim for hast, all their tentes .xiiii. greate gonnes, and .xl. barrelles of pouder .CCC. pipes of wine, CC. pipes of bisket and floure, CC. frai­les of Figges and resons, and .v.C. barrelles of heryng.

THE Frenchmen (beyng thus vanquished) fel in diuision emongest theimselfes: the one laiyng to the charge of the other, the losse of their [Page xciiij] men and the cause of their fliyng. Suche is euer the chaūce 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 Constable 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 shamfull 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 doen, his malice was quēched, & his old grief (as he thought) victoriously reuenged.

IN this season fell a greate diuision in the realme of England, whi­che, of a sparcle was like to growe to a greate flame: For whether the bishop of Winchester called Henry Beaufort, sonne to Ihon Duke of Lancastre, by his third wife, enuied the authoritee of Humfrey duke of Gloucester Protector of the realme, or whether the duke had taken dis­dain at the riches and pompous estate of the bishop, sure it is that the whole realme was troubled with them and their partakers: so that the citezens of London fearyng that that should insue vpon the matter, wer faine to kepe daily and nightly, watches, as though their enemies were at hande, to besiege and destroye theim: In so muche that all the shoppes within the cite of London wer shut in for feare of the fauorers of those two greate personages, for eche parte had assembled no small nombre of people. For pacifiyng whereof, the Archebishop of Cantor­bury, and the duke of Quymber called the prince of Portyngale, 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, seute a letter to the Regente of Fraunce, the tenor wherof insueth.

THE duke of Bedford beyng sore greued and vnquieted with these newes, constituted the erle of Warwicke, whiche was lately come into Fraunce, with sixe thousande men his liuetenaunte 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 Englād and the tenth daie of Ianuary, he was with all solemnitie receiued in­to London, to whom the citezens gaue a paire of basynnes, and a thou­sande [Page] marke in money, and from London he rode to Westminster, and was lodged in the kynges palaice. The, xxv. daie of Marche after his cōmyng to London, a parliamēt began at the toune of Leicester, where the Duke of Bedford openly rebuked the Lordes in generall, because that thei in the tyme of warre, through their priuie malice and inwarde grudge, had almoste moued the people to warre and commocion, in whiche tyme all men, ought or should be of one mynde, harte and con­sent: requiryng them to defend, serue and drede their soueraigne [...]orde 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 bishoppe of Wynchesters charge, the whiche with the answeres herafter do ensue.

¶The fifth yere.The .v. yere.

THE Regent of Fraunce thus beeyng in Englande, meanes was made by the Duke of Burgoyne, for the deliuery of the Duke of Alanson, whiche was taken prisoner at the battaill of Uernoyle the 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 bee his liege and so­uereigne Lorde: Suche affeccion bare he to the Dolphyn, and suche trouth shewed he to his natural countrey. 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 of warre, 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 whō also passed the seas, Hen­ry bishop of Winchester, whiche in thesaied toune was inuested with the Habite, 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 mynde of the man, prohibited hym on his allegeaunce once, either to sue for or to take, meanyng that Cardi­nalles Hattes should not presume to bee egall with Princes. But now the kyng beyng young and the Regent his frende, he obteined that di­gnitie, to his greate profite, and to the empouerishyng of the spiritual­tie. For by a Bull legatyue, whiche he purchased at Rome, he gathe­red so muche treasure, that no man in maner had money but he, and so was he surnamed the riche Cardinall of Winchester, and nether called learned bishop, nor verteous priest.

AFTER that, the duke of Bedford was returned into Fraunce, the lorde of Rustinan Marshall of Britayn, assembled a greate company of the Britishe nacion, whiche fortefied & repaired the toune of Poun­torson, [Page Ci] 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 Rustynan taken, and the moste parte of his people slaine. The Duke of Bedforde hearyng that the toune of Pountorson was newly fortified and strongly defen­ded, sent thither the erle of Warwicke, accōpanied with the lorde Sca­les, and diuerse other valiaunt capitaines and souldiers, to the nom­bre of .vij. thousande 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 continuyng, vitaill began to waxe scant in the En­glishe armie, wherefore the Lorde Scales hauyng in his company, sir Ihon Harpeley Bayly of Constantine, sir William Brearton Bayly of Caen, sir Raufe Tesson, sir Ihon Carbonell and .iii. thousand good men of war, departed frō the siege to get vitail, pouder and other thyn­ges necessary for their purpose and enterprise. And as thei were retur­nyng with their cariage on the sea cost, nere to. S. Michaels Moūt, thei sodainly wer encountred with their enemies, wherof the chief wer, the Baron of Coloses, the lorde Dausebost capitain of thesaid Mount the lorde Mountabon, 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 (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 meane waie to escape of flie, discended from their horsses and like gredy Lions, together in an vnpeaceable fury, set on their enemies. 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, thei flie, with that thenglishmen toke suche a corage, & the Frenchmen that fought before, were so dismaied that thei began to flie. The Englishmen leped again on horssebacke, and folowed theim, and slewe and toke aboue .xi.C. persones, emongest whō 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, returned to the siege, where he was of the Erle and other noble men, ioyously receiued and for this notable facte, highly magnified and preysed. While the siege thus continued before Poun­torson, Christopher Hanson and other souldiers of the garrison of. S. Susan, made a rode into the countrey of Anioy, & came to a Castle cal­led Ramffort, which castle was so priuely scaled, that the capitain with in & his company, wer taken or slain before thei knewe of their enemies approchyng. When knowledge of this feate was made open to the Frenchemen, whiche were assembled to the nombre of .xx.M. to reyse the siege, and breake vp the campe, liyng before the toune of Poun­torson, [Page] thei lefte that iourney for a tyme, and returned to the Castle of Ramffort, and besieged thesame by the space of tenne daies.

THE Englishemen consideryng the multitude of the enemies, and the farre absence of their frendes, began to treate with the Frenchmen and so vpon condicion to departe with bagge and baggage, horse and harnes, thei rendered vp the castle, and departed with more riches then thei brought, whiche castle thus possessed by the Frenchemen, thei for­gat the reskew of Poūtorson, and brake vp their army. But sone after, the lorde of Raix, callyng himself liuetenaunt general for the dolphin, accompanyed with the lorde Mount Iehan, the Lorde Beaumanoire, and the lord Tussye, and other to the nōbre of thre thousande persones, entered into the countrey of Mayn, & laied siege to the castle of Maly­corne, wherof was capitain an Englishmā, called Oliuer Osbaters [...]y, which castle with the capitain, was by force taken and obteined: in like maner thei toke the litle castle of Lude, and there in William Blacke­borne leuetenaunt for Williā Glasdale esquire, & put hym to raūsome, and slewe al his souldiers. After this victory, in the whiche thei 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, reculed backe again to the dolphyn with litle gain and small honor. The Frenchmen and Britons beyng straightly besieged within the toune of Pountorson, perceiuyng no likelyhod of succors to come, and seyng the Englishe army daily did increase, fearyng the se­quele therof, if thei by violence should bee taken and vanquished, thei offered the toune, so that thei might departe with horse and harnes onely: whiche request (after long sute and peticion) to theim was hardely graunted. The Erle like a valiaunt capitain, entred into the toune and there appoynted for gouernors, the lorde 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. Iames de Beuron wer beaten doune to the ground & clery defaced. After the lord of Rais was departed out of the territory of Mayne as you haue heard, Chri­stopher Hanson, Phillip Gough, Martyn Godffrey called the scaler, and diuerse other of the garrison of. S. Susan, to the nombre of .xxx. archars, went out in a mornyng to seke their aduētures, and came nere to the Castle of sainct Laurence de Mortiers (at thesame very season) whē sir Iames de Sepeaulx 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, thenglishmen entered by subtiltie into the gate & so gat the dongeon. And when sir Iames returned from Masse, as he entered into the gate he was taken, and his men fled, and [Page Cij] so was the castle furnished with Englishmen, and capitain therof was appoynted, sir William Oldhaule.

THE same season, sir Ihon Fastolfe, gouernor of the countries of Aniow and Maine, assembled a great puissaunce of men of warre, and laied a siege before the castle of sainct Owen Destays, beside the toune of Lauall, wherof was capitain sir Guillam Orenge, whiche, after ten daies besiegyng, rendred the castle, their liues and armure only except: howbeit one railyng and slaunderous persone was put to terrible exe­cucion. And from thence, thesaid sir Ihon remoued to the strōg castle of Grauile, & after .xii. daies, thei within offred to yeld the castle by a daie if thei wer not succored by y^• dolphin or his power. The offre was taken & pledges deliuered, which wer Guillā Cordouen, & Ihon de Maisierie esquiers. After these pledges deliuered, sir Ihon Fastolffe returned in post to the regent, aduertisyng him of this composicion and agrement: wherfore thesaid lorde, reised a greate power, to fight with the Frenche men at the daie appoynted, and in his company, wer the erles of Mor­ [...]aigne and Warwicke, and the lordes Roos, and Talbot, sir Ihon Fa­stolffe, sir Ihon Aubemond, sir Ihon Ratelife, and diuerse other, to the nombre of twentie thousande men, and so marched forwarde in hope to mete and ioyne battail with their enemies. But their aduersaries, whi­che wer not farre of, durste not approche, wherefore the Regent sent sir Ihon Falstolffe incontinent to receiue the castle: but thei within (cōtra­ry to their promesse and appointment) had newly vitailed and manned the place, and so forsaking their pledges and felowes in armes, refused to render the fortres accordyng to the appointment: wherfore the pled­ges were brought before the sight of theim within the castle, and there openly put to death. After this, the lorde 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, and haute co­rage, after his comming into Fraunce, obteined so many glorious vic­tories of his enemies, that his only name was, and yet is dredful to the Frenche nacion, and muche renoumed emongest al other people. This ioly capitain, and sonne of the valiant Mars, entered into Mayn and slewe men, destroyed castles, and brent tounes, and in conclusion, soda­inly toke the toune of Lauall: but the lorde Loghac, and diuerse other, retrayted theim selfes into the Castle, and there remained eight daies. Duryng which tyme, it was agreed, that al capitaines, Burgesses, and men of warre, whiche wer within the Castle, should depart with bagge and baggages, paiyng to the lord Talbot for al thynges, one hundred thousand Crounes. And the Castle so beyng deliuered, was committed to the kepyng of Gilbert Halsall, whiche after, was slain at the siege of Orleance, for whom was made capitain Matthew Gough, whiche 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 subieccion and obeysaunce.

[Page] THE duke of Bedford, was aduertised by his espials, that the toune of Montarges, whiche was in the territory of Orleance, was but slen­derly kept and smally furnished, and that it might bee taken with litle pain and no losse. The Regent glad of these newes, sent therle of Suf­folke, sir Ihon Pole his brother, & sir Henry Bisset, with sixe .M. men to assaute the toune, but when thei came thether and founde the toune better manned and more strongly defenced, then their expectacion ima­gined, thei gaue no assaute but laied siege aboute the toune, and therle of Warwicke was appoynted to lye with a greate nomber of menne of warre, at sainct Mathelines de Archamp, to encountre the Frenchmen if thei 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 helpe the other, but either by boates or bridges, so the toune was besieged by the space of two monethes and more. In the meane season, Arthur of Britayne, Constable for the dolphyn, sent the­ther in all hast, the lorde Boisac Marshall of Fraūce, Stephin le Hire, Ponton de Sentrayles, the lorde Grauile, and diuerse other valiaunt horssemen, to the nomber of thre thousand and aboue, whiche priuily in the night, came on that side where sir Ihon de la Pole and sir Henry Bisset laye, whom thei founde out of al ordre and without any watche. So the Frenchemen entered into their lodges and slewe many in their beddes, thei spared no man, for the resistance was smal. Sir Ihō Delapole with his horsse saued hymself, and fled ouer the water to his bro­ther, & sir Henry Bisset escaped by a boate and eight with hym. The re­sidue whiche would haue passed the bridge and ioyned with the erle of Suffolke, fled in suche plumpes ouer the bridge, that the tymber brake and a great nombre was drouned so, y^e there wer slain & drouned .xv.C men. The erle of Warwicke hearyng of this chaunce, departed from sainct Mathelyn with all diligent spede, and came before Montarges offeryng battaill to the Frenche capitaines, whiche answered that thei had manned and vitailed the toune, and entēded to do nomore at that time. Thenglishmen seyng that their trauaile should bee in vain, came backe softely again with all their ordinaunce to the duke of Bedforde.

IT should seme that fortune at this time would not, that the Frēche men should haue one ioyfull daie, but thesame also should be myngled with dolor or displeasure. For at this very tyme, sir Nicholas Bur­dett appoynted by the duke of Somerset, to vexe and trouble his ene­mies in the costes of Britayne, sent light horssemen into euery part, ve­xyng the people and wastyng the coūtrey. All tounes that he passed by were brente, al and buildynges spoyled & robbed, prisoners and praies wer aboundantly taken, smal villages wer destroyed and, greate tou­nes wer raunsomed, & so without hurt or damage, thesaid sir Nicholas returned into Normandy. This mischance beyng declared to the Con­stable of Fraunce and the other capitaines, cut their combes and pluc­ked [Page Ciij] doune their hartes, whiche were set on so mery a pynne, for the vic­tory of Montarges, that thei were in maner, like desperate persones, lothe to attempte any fa [...]ther enterprise against the Englishe nacion, saiyng: that God was turned Englishe, and the deuill would not helpe Fraunce.

THE duke of Alaūson, whiche as you haue hard, was late deliuered out of Englande, reuiued again the dull spirites of the Dolphyn, and the fainte hartes of his capitaines, promisyng to theim greate victory with litle trauail, and muche gain with smal labor, wherfore in hope of good lucke, he determined to do some notable feate against thenglishe men. Then happened a chaunce vnloked for, or vnthought of, euen as thei would haue whisshed 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 Frenche partie, began sore to mourne and lament that thei wer subiec­tes and vassals to the yoke and power of the Englishemen. Wherfore thei determined and fully concluded, to aduertise of their myndes and determinacions, the capitaines of Charles y^• dolphyn, (of thē called the Frenche kyng) and so by certain false Friers, therof wrote humble and louing letters. These newes pleased muche the French capitaines, but no lesse you maie bee sure the Dolphyn hymself, as a thyng discended from heauen, of theim vnsought, vnimagined and not deuised. Wher­fore to take oportunitie when time serued, and not to lese so great a be­nefite so honestly offred, the lordes Delabreth and Fayet, Marshals of Fraunce, accompanied with the lordes of Monte Ihan, of Bu [...]l Dor­uall, Torsye and Beaumamoyre the Heire, and Gullyam his brother, and fiue hundred other hardy capitaines and valiaunt souldiers, toke vpon theim this enterprise, sendyng greate thankes and laudes to the Clergie and citezens, for their assured ridelitie to their soueraigne lord, promysyng theim to bee there at the daie appoynted, not doubtyng to find them redy accordyng to their promes, gladly to receiue them.

VVHEN the daie assigned and the night appoynted was come, the Frenche capitaines priuely approched the toune, makyng a litle fire on an hill in the sight of the toune, to signifie their cōmyng and appro­chyng. The citezēs, whiche by the great church wer loking for their ap­proch, shewed a burnyng Cresset out of the steple, whiche sodainly was put out & quenched. What should I saie, the capitaines in horssebacke came to the gate, and the traytors within slewe the porters and watche men, and let in their frendes, the footemen entered firste, and the men of armes waited at the barriers, to the intent that if muche nede required or necessitie cōpelled, their might fight in the opē feld. And in the meane season many Englishmen wer slain, and a greate claymor and a houge noyse 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 beginnyng of the noyse, fewe except the confederates, ether [Page] knewe or perceiued. For the remnaunt of the citezens beyng no parta­kers in this faccion, imagined that the Englshmen had made hauocke in the toune and put all to the sweard. The Englishemen on the other­syde, iudged that the citezens had begonne some new rebellion against theim, or els had striuen emongest theimselfes. The erle of Suffolke, whiche was gouernour of the toune, hearyng the clamor and noyse of the people, hauyng perfect knowledge of suche as escaped frō the wal­les, in what case the citee stode in, without any tariyng or prolongyng of tyme, entered into the Castle whiche standeth at the gate of Sainct Uincent, wherof was Constable Thomas G [...]wer esquier: whether al­so fled so many Englishemen, that the place was pestured, and there if thei wer not rescued, likely to be famished: but surely thei were sore as­sauted and marueilously hurte, with the shot of the alablasters & crosse bowes, but thei defended theimselfes so manfully, that their enemies gat small aduauntage at their handes. But all their hardines had not serued, nor all their pollicy had not defended theim, if thei had not pri­uely sent a messenger to the lorde Talbot, whiche then laie at Alanson, certefiyng hym in what case thei stoode, for vitaill had thei none, mu­niciōs failed, and the Castle was almoste vndermined, so that yeldyng must folowe, and resistaunce could not preuaile. The lorde Talbot he­ryng these newes, neither stept nor banquetted, 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 Guyerche twoo myles from Mauns, and from thence sent as an espial Matthew Gough, to espie the gouernance of the ene­mies, and if he might to shewe to his countreymen that he was at hāde to be their aide & rescowes. Matthew Gough so well sped, that priuely in the night he came into the castle, where he knew how that the French men beyng lordes of the citee, and now castyng no perels nor fearyng any creature, began to waxe wanton and fell to riote, as though their enemies could do to them no damage: thynkyng that the Englishemen whiche wer shutte vp in the Castle, studied nothyng but how to escape and be deliuered. Whē 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, and within a mile of the citee met with the lorde Talbot and the Lorde Scales, and made open to theim al thyng according to his credence, whiche to spede the matter, because the daie 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 whiche wer scace vp, and thought of nothyng lesse then of this so­dain approchment, some rose out of their beddes in their shertes, and lepte ouer the walles, other ranne naked out of the gates for sauyng of their liues, leuyng behynde theim all their apparell, horsses, armure [Page Ciiij] and riches, none was hurt but suche, whiche ether resisted or would not yelde, wherof some were slain and cast in prisone. There were slain and taken foure hundred gētlemen and the villaines frankely let go. After this, inquisicion was made of the authors of this vngracious coniuracion, and there wer accused thirtie citezens, twenty priestes and fiftene Friers, whiche accordyng to their desertes were put in execucion.

¶The sixt yere.The .vi. yere.

THE citee of Mauns thus beyng reduced into the En­glishe mennes handes, the Lorde Talbot departed to the toune of Alanson. After whiche marciall feat manly acheued, the erle of Warwicke departed into En­lande, to bee gouernor of the young kyng, in steade of Thomas duke of Excester, late departed to God. In whose stede was sent into Fraunce, the lorde Thomas Mountacute erle of Salisbury with fiue thousande men, whiche lan­ded at Calice and so came to the Duke of Bedford in Paris. Where he consultyng with the duke of Bedforde, concernyng the affaires of the realme of Fraunce: seyng all thynges prosperously succede on the En­glishe part, began meruailously to phantelic the citee and countrey of Orliance, stādyng on the riuer of Loyre. But because the cite was well fortified bothe by the nature of the situaciō of the place, and by the pol­licie of man, he imagined it not the woorke of one daie, nor the study of one houre. Wherfore he remitted it to a farther deliberaciō, yet he was the man at that tyme, by whose wit, strength and pollicie, the Englishe name was muche fearfull and terrible to the French nacion, whiche of hymself might bothe appoynt, commaunde and do all thynges, in ma­ner at his pleasure, in whose power, (as it appeared after his deathe) a greate part of the conquest consisted and was estemed, because he was a man bothe painful and diligent, redy to withstand thynges perilous 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 deuise, (although it semed harde and straunge to all other, and to hym as it wer a thyng predestinate very easie) was graunted and allowed, whiche enterprise was the final conclusion of his naturall destiny; as you shall shortely perceiue. Thus he replenished with good hope of victory, & furnished with artilery, and municions 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 the toune of Yainuile, but the Frenchmen fled into the Castle, and there continued fiue daies, at the ende wherof thei rendered themselfes sym­ply: [Page] of thesaid nombre, some wer put to death for certain causes, & some were taken to mercie. He tooke also the toune of Bawgency, sufferyng euery man, whiche would become vassaile and subiecte to the Kyng of England, to enherite their landes and enioy their goodes. The tounes of Meun vpon Loyre & Iargenan, hearyng of these treatise, presented to hym the keyes of the toune, vpon like agrement & egall condicions.

AFTER this in the moneth of Septembre, 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 citee and a great nombre of Scottes, hearyng of therles intent, made diuerse fortificacions about the toune and destroyed the suburbes, in the whiche wer twelfe parishe churches and foure ordres of Friers. Thei 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 citee, but also after, by Charles the sixt made erle of Dunoys, and in greate au­thoritie in Fraunce, and extreme enemie to the Englishe nacion, 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 murthered in Paris, by Ihon duke of Burgoyne, as you before haue harde, was owner of the Castle of Concy, 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 prety 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 Cawny ended their li­ues. The next of kynne to the lord Cawny 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 contenciō 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 sonne he was: his frēdes of his mothers side aduertised hym to require a day, to be aduised of so great an answer, whiche he asked, & to hym it was graūted. In y^• meane [...]eason his said frendes persuaded hym to claime his inheritaunce, as sonne to the Lorde of Cawny, whiche was an honorable liuyng, and an aunciēt patrimony, affirming that if he said contrary, he not only slaū ­dered his mother, shamed hymself, & stained his bloud, but also should haue no liuyng nor any thing to take to. The scholemaster thinkyng y^• his disciple had wel learned his lesson, and would reherse it accordyng to his instrucciō, brought hym before the Iudges at the daie assigned, [Page Cv] and when the question was repeted to hym again, he boldly answered, my harte geueth me, & my noble corage telleth me, that I am the sonne of the noble Duke of Orleaunce, more glad to be his Bastrde, with a meane liuyng, then the lawfull sonne of that coward cuckolde Cauny, with his foure thousande crounes. The Iustices muche merueiled at his bolde answere, and his mothers cosyns detested hym for shamyng of his mother, and his fathers supposed kinne reioysed in gainyng the patrimony and possessions. Charles duke of Orleance heryng of this iudgement, toke hym into his family & gaue hym greate offices & fees, whiche he well deserued, for (duryng his captiuitie) he defēded his lā ­des, expulsed thenglishmen, & in conclusion procured his deliueraunce.

THIS coragious Bastard, after the siege had continued thre wekes ful, issued out of the gate of the bridge, and fought with the Englishe­men, but thei receiued hym with so [...]ierce and terrible strokes, that he was with all his company compelled to retire and flie backe into the citee: but the Englishemen folowed theim so faste, in killyng and ta­kyng of their enemies, that thei entred with them the Bulwarke of the bridge, whiche with a greate toure, standing at thende of thesame, was taken incontinent by thenglishmen. In whiche conflict many Frenche men were taken, but mo were slain, and the kepyng of the toure and Bulwerke was cōmitted to William Glasdale esquier. When he had gotten this Bulwarke, he was sure that, by that waie neither man nor vitaill could passe or come. After that, he made certayne Bulwarkes roūde about the citee, castyng trenches betwene the one and the other, laiyng ordinaunce in euery part, where he saw that any battery might be deuised. When thei within perceiued that thei were enuironed with fortresses and ordinance, thei laied gonne against gonne, and fortefied toures against bulwarkes, and within made new rampires, and buyl­ded newe mudwalles to auoyde crackes and breches, whiche might by violent shot sodainly insue. Thei appoynted the Bastard of Orleance, and Stephin Ueignold called the Heire, to se the walles and watches kept, & the bishop sawe y^• thinhabitātes 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 al the length of the bridge into the cite at which, grate many of the chief capitaines stode diuerse times, vieu­yng the cite & deuisyng in what place it was best assautable. Thei with in 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 chābre, 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, tooke his matche, as his father had taught hym, [Page] whiche was gone doune to dinner, and fired the gonne, whiche brake & sheuered y^e yron barres of the grate, wherof, one strake therle so strōgly on the hed, 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 conueyed to Meum vpon Loyre, where he laie beyng wounded .viij. daies, duryng whiche tyme, he receiued deuoutly the holy Sacramentes, and so commended his soule to almighty God, whose body was conueyed into England, with al funerall and pompe, and buried at Bissam by his progenitors, leuyng behind hym, an one­ly daughter named Alice, maried to Richarde Neuell, sonne to Raufe erle of Westmerland, of whom hereafter shalbe made mencion. What detriment, what damage, what losse succeded to the Englishe publique wealthe, by the sodain death of this valiaunt capitain, not long after his departure, manifestly apered. For high prosperttie, and great glo­ry of the Englishe nacion in the parties beyond the sea, began shortely to fall, and litle and litle to vanishe awaie: whiche thyng, although the Englishe people like a valiant & strong body, at the firste tyme did not perceiue, yet after y^e thei felt it grow like a pestilēt humor, which succes­ciuely alitle and litle corrupteth all the membres, and destroyeth the body. For, after the death of this noble man, fortune of warre began to change, and triumphant victory began to be darckened. Although the death of therle wer dolorous to all Englishmē, yet surely it was moste dolorous to the duke of Bedford, regent of Fraunce, as he whiche had loste his right hande or lacked his weapon, when he should fight with his enemie. But seyng that dedde men cannot with sorowe be called a­gain, nor lamentacion for dedde bodies cannot remedy the chaunces of men liuyng: he (like a prudent gouernor & a pollitique patron,) appointed therle of Suffolke to be his leuetenaunt, and capitain of the siege, and ioyned with hym the lorde Scales, the lorde Talbot, sir Ihon Fa­stolfe, and diuerse other valiaunt knightes and esquiers. These lordes caused bastiles to be made rounde about the citee, with the whiche thei troubled their enemies and assauted the walles, and left nothyng vn­attempted, whiche might bee 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, wherfore therle of Suffolke appoynted sir Ihon Fa­stolfe, sir Thomas Rampstō, and sir Phillip Hal with their retinewes, to ride to Paris to the lorde Regent, to informe hym of their scarsenes 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 [...]ure cōduite, and sauegard of the same, he appoynted sir Simon Morhier Prouost of Paris, with the gard of the citee & diuerse of his awne houshold seruauntes, to accom­pany sir Ihon Fastolfe and his cōplices, to the army liyng at the siege [Page Cvj] or Orleaunce. The whiche departed in good ordre, to the nombre of .v. hundred men of warre, beside wagoners out of Paris, and came to Ya­ynuile in Beausse, and in a mornyng early in a greate frost thei depar­ted, from the place toward the siege, and when thei came to a toune cal­led Ronuray, in the laūdes of Beausse, thei perceiued their enemies cō ­myng against them, to the nombre of .ix. or .x.M. Frenchemen & Scot­tes: the capitaines wherof was Charles of Cleremōt, sonne to the duke of Burbon, then beyng prisoner in Englande, sir William Stewarde Constable of Scotlande, alitle before deliuered out of captiuitie, the erle of Pedriacke, the lorde Ihon Uandosme, Uidane of Charters, 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 companions, 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 thei set all their wagōs and cariages, and within theim thei tied all their horsses, so that their enemies could nether assaile them on the backeside, nor yet spoile them of their horsses, and in this maner thei stode stil, abidyng the assaute of their aduersaries. The Frenchemen (by reason of their greate nombre) thinkyng the victory to be in their handes, egerly like Lions set on the Englishemen, whiche with greate force, theim receiued and manfully defended: for it stoode 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 conflicte 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 Frenchemen & Scot­tes, to the nomber of .xxv.C. and aboue .xj. hundred taken prisoners, although some Frenche 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 prisoners, to the siege before Orleance, where thei wer ioyously receiued & welcomed of all the soul­diors. This conflict (because the most part of the cariage was heryng & leuten stuffe,) the Frenchmen cal, the vnfortunate battail of herynges.

THE Erle of Suffolke, beeyng thus vitailed, continued his siege, and euery daie almoste, skirmished with his enemies, whiche, be­yng in dispaire of all succors, began to cōmen emongest theimself, how thei might rendre the toune, to their moste honoure and profite. After muche reasonyng, and long debatyng emongest the capitaines, and the magistrates of the toune, what way was best to be folowed: Some affirmed it not onely to be shamefull and dishonorable, but also vnna­turall and vnreasonable, to yelde the toune to the Englishemen, beyng neither frendes nor fauorers of the Frenche nacion: other, fearyng the victory of the Englishmen, imagined, that if thei by force possessed the [Page] citee, thei would do to them as tyrantes be accustomed to serue, wilfull and obstinate people, and therefore thei thought it a greate folye and a notable lightnes, not to beware the one, as to deny or refuse the other. But when thei saw, that their glory must nedes decline to a shame & re­proche, thei thought to find a meane waye to saue themselfes, and their cite frō the captiuitie of their enemies, and deuised to submit their citee thēselfes, & 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, thei made open & sent to the duke al their deuises and intentes, whiche certified thē that he would gladly receiue their offre, so that the Regent of Fraunce would therto agre & cō ­sent. And therupō dispatched certain ambassadors to the duke of Bed­ford, to whom these newes wer straunge and not very pleasaunt, vpon whiche poynt, he assembled a great counsaill. Some thought that ma­ner of yeldyng to be bothe honorable and profitable to the king of En­glande, by reason wherof, so greate a citee, & so riche a countrey, should be brought out of the possessiō of their enemies, into the hādes of their trusty frendes, without farther cost or bloudshed. The Duke of Bed­ford & other, wer of a contrary opinion, thinkyng it bothe dishonorable and vnprofitable to the realme of England, 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 yelded to any other forē prince or potestate, and not to hym or his Regent, the exāple wherof might prouoke other tounes herfater to do the [...]ame. This reason toke place, and the Regent answered the dukes ambassadors, that it was not honorable nor yet cō sonaunte to reason, that the kyng of Englande should beate the bushe and the duke of Burgoyne 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 yelded to no other person, but to hym or to his vse and profite. By this litle chance, succeded a great change in thenglishe affaires, for a double mischief of this answere rose and prangout. For first the duke of Burgoyne, began to conceiue a certain priuye grudge against thenglishmen for this cause: thynkyng thē to enuy & beare ma­lice against his glory and profite, for the whiche in continuance of time he became their enemy, and [...]leued to the Frenche Kyng. Secondly, the Englishemen lefte the siege of Orleaunce, whiche by this treaty thei might haue had to frend, or to haue continued neutre, till their Lorde the duke of Orleaunce, or the erle of Angulosie his brother wer deliue red out of the captiuitie of the English people. But if men wer angels and for [...]aw thynges to come, thei like beastes would not ronne to their confusion: but fortune whiche gideth the destiny of man, will turne her whele as she listeth, who soeuer saith nay.

VVHILE this treaty of the Orleaunces was in hand, Charles the [Page Cvij] dolphin, daily studied and hourly labored, to plucke the fauor and hartes of the nobilitie 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 citie of Orleaūce. While he was studiyng and com­passyng this matter, there happened to hym, a straunge chaunce, of the whiche I will write alitle, because some of the Frenche aucthours, and especially, Ihon Bouchet, of it writeth to muche.

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 Ione, borne in Burgoyne in a toune called Droymy beside Uancolour, which was a greate space a cham [...]erleyn in a commen hostrey, and was a rampe of suche boldnesse, that she would course horses 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 maydenhed, and preserued her virginitie. She (as a monster) was sent to the Dolphin, by sir Robert Bandrencort capitain of Uan­colour, to whō she declared, that she was sent frō God, bothe to aide the miserable citee of Orleaunce, and also to remit hym, to the possession of his realme, out of the whiche, he was expulsed and ouercomed: reher­syng to hym, visions, traūses, and fables, full of blasphemy, supersticiō and hypocrisy, that I maruell muche that wise men did beleue her, and lerned clarkes would write suche phantasies. What should I reherse, how thei saie, she knewe and called hym her kyng, whom she neuer saw before. What should I speake how she had by reuelacion a swerde, to her appoynted in the churche of saincte Katheryn, of Fierboys in To­rayne where she neuer had been. What should I write, how she decla­red suche priuy messasges from God, our lady, and other sainctes, to the dolphyn, that she made the teres ronne doune frō his iyes. So was he deluded, so was he blynded, & so was he deceiued by the deuils meanes whiche suffred her to begynne her race, and inconclusion rewarded her with a shamefull fal. But in the meane season suche credite was geuen to her, that she was honoured as a sainct, 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 municions, redy to be conueyed to Orleaūce. The English­men perceiuyng that thei within could not long continue, for faute of vitaile & pouder, kepte not their watche so diligently as thei wer accu­stomed, nor scoured not the coūtrey enuironed, as thei before had ordained; whiche negligence, the citezens shut in perceiuing, sent worde ther­of to the Frenche capitaines, whiche with Pucelle in the dedde tyme of the night, and in a greate rayne and thundre, with all their vitaile and artilery entered into the citee, if thei were welcomed marueill not. For folkes in greate trouble, be ioyous of a litle comfort. And the next daie the Englishemen boldely assauted the toune, promisyng to theim that [Page] best scaled the walles great rewardes. Then men mounted on ladders coragiously, and with gonnes, arrowes and pikes, bette their enemies from the walles.

THE Frenchemen, although thei marueiled at the fierce fightyng of the English people, yet thei wer not amased, but thei defended theim selfes to the darke night, on whiche 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 Alaunson, aduerti­syng hym in what case the toune then stoode, and that it could not long continue without his hasty spede, and quicke diligence. Whiche delai­yng no tyme nor deferryng no space, came with al his army within two leagues of the citee, and sent woorde to the capitaines, that on the next morowe thei should be redy to receiue theim. Whiche thyng, the nexte daie thei accomplished, for the Englishemen 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 Frenchemen alt [...]gether issued out of the toune, and assauted the fortresse or Bastile, called the Bastyle of sainct Loure, the whiche with great force and no litle losse thei toke and set it on fire, and after assau­ted the toure at the bridge foote, whiche was manfully defended. But the Frenchemen beyng more in nombre, so fiersely assauted it, that thei toke it or the Lorde Talbot could come to succors: in the whiche Wil­lyam Gladdisdale the capitain was slain, and the Lorde Morlyns, and the lorde Pownynges also.

THE Frenchemen puffed vp with this good lucke, seyng the strong fortres was vngotten, whiche was vnder the defence of the lorde Tal­bot, fetched a compasse aboute, and in good ordre of battaile marched thether ward. The lorde Talbot like a capitain, without feare or dred of so great a multitude, issued out of his Bastile, and so fier [...]y fought with the Frenchemen, that thei not able to withstande his puyssaunce, fled (like shepe 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 Suffolke, the Lorde Tolbot, 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 & conueninet. And to the intent that thei should not seme either to flie or to bee driuen from the siege by their enemies, thei determined to leaue their fortresses and Bastyles, and to assemble in the plain feld and there to abyde all the daie, abidyng the outcommyng and battaile of their enemies. This conclusion taken, was accordyngly executed. The Frenchemen, weried with the last bickeryng, held in their heddes and durste not once appere: and so thei set fire in their lodgynges, and departed in good ordre of battail from Orleaunce. The next daie whi­che [Page Cviij] was the .viij. daie of Maie, the Erle of Suffolke, ridyng to Iar­geaux with .CCCC. Englishemen, and the lorde Talbot with another cōpany returned to Meum. Whiche toune, after that he had fortified, he incontinent, assauted and wan the toune of Lauall and the Castle, sore vexyng and punishyng the tounes men, for their hard hartes, and cancard obstinacie: and leauyng there a garrison, reculed to Meum.

AFTER this siege thus broken vp, to tel you, what triumphes wer made in the citee of Orleaunce, what wood was spente in fiers, what wyne was dronke in houses, what songes wer song in the stretes, what melody was made in Tauernes, what roundes were daunced in large and brode places, what lightes wer set vp in the churches, what anthe­mes, wer song in Chapelles, and what ioye was shewed in euery place, it were a long woorke and yet no necessary cause. For thei did, as we in like case would haue dooen, and we beeyng in like estate, would haue doen as thei did. After that the Englishmen, wer thus retired from the siege of Orleaunce, and seuered themselfes in diuerse tounes & fortres­ses, holdyng on their part: The duke of Alaunson, the Bastard of Or­leaunce, Ione the puzell, the lorde of Gancort, & diuerse other Frenche men, came before the toune of Iargeaux, where the Erle of Suffolke and his twoo brethren soiorned the .xij. daie of Iune, and gaue to the toune a great and a terrible assaut, whiche the Englishmen, (beyng but a handfull) manfully defended on three partes of thesame. Poyton of Sentrailes, perceiuyng one part of the toune to be vndefended, scaled the walles on that part: and without any difficulte toke the toune, and slewe sir Alexander Pole brother to therle, and many other, to the nom­bre of two hundred: but thei not muche gayned, for thei lost .iii.C. good men and more. Of thenglishmen wer taken .xl. beside his brother Ihō. After this gain and good lucke, the Frenchemen returnyng towarde Orleaunce, fell in contencion and debate, for their captiues and priso­ners, and slewe them all, sauyng the erle and his brother.

¶The seuenth yere.The .vii. yere.

AFter the gaynyng of the toune of Iargeaux, thesame army cam to Meum, and toke the toure at the bridge, and put there in a garrison, and frō thence remoued to Bangency. Whiche garrison, beyng not vitailed ren­dered the toune, so that thei might departe with bagge and baggage, frankely and frely: whiche desire to thē was graunted. At this toune of Bangency, met with the duke of Alaunson, Arthur of Britayne the false forsworne gentle­man to the kyng of Englande, newly made Constable of Fraunce (as you haue heard,) with whom was the lorde Delabret with .xij.C. men: to whom daily repaired freshe aide out of euery parte, as the Erle of Uandosme, and other, to the nombre of .xx. or .xxiij.M. men. All these men of warre, determined to go to Meum, and to take the toune, but [Page] thei wer informed, that the Englishemen, had lefte the toune desolate, and wer returned to the lord Talbot to Ieneuile. Then thei concluded to passe towarde that toune. But, as thei marched forwarde vpon a Saterdaie, thei had perfite knowledge, that the lorde Talbot with .v. thousand men, was commyng to Meum. Wherfore, thei intendyng to stop hym a tyde, conueyed their company to a small village called Pa­tay, whiche way, thei knewe that the Englishmen must nedes passe by. And first thei appoynted their horsemen, whiche were well and richely furnished, to go before, and sodainly to set on the Englishemen, or thei wer, either ware or set in ordre. The Englishmen commyng forwarde, perceiued the horsemen, and, unaginyng to deceiue their enemies, com­maunded the fotemen, to enuirone & enclose thēselfes 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, cōtinued by the space of thre long houres. And, although thenglishmen wer ouerpressed, with the nombre of their aduersaries, yet thei neuer fledde backe one foote, til their capitain the lorde Talbot, was sore wounded at the backe, and so taken. Then their hartes began to faint, & thei fled, in whiche flight, there wer slain aboue xii.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 thēself, & with the help of some of the horsmen, cā safe to Meū.

VVHEN the fame was blowen abrode, that the Lorde Talbot was taken, al the Frenchmen not alitle reioysed, thinkyng surely, that now the rule of the Englishmen, should shortly assuage and waxe faint: for feare wherof, the tounes of Ieneuile, Meū, Fort, and diuerse other, re­turned from the Englishe part, and became Frenche, to the greate dis­pleasure of the Regent. Frō this battaill▪ departed without any stroke striken, sir Ihon Fastolffe, thesame 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 hymself 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 a [...] length: so that the Erle of Salisbury beyng dedde, and the lorde Tal­bot liuing in captiuitie, (which wer y^• glory of his enemies) he thought to enterprise great and waighty thynges, wher before he medeled with smal and litle doynges. For fulfillyng 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 [Page Cix] accustomed Ceremonies, be sacred and anoynted kyng with the holy ampulle, that all men might se and perceiue, that he was, by all lawes and decrees, a iust and a lawfull kyng. Wherfore he assemblyng to ge­ther a great army, & hauyng in his company Ione the Puzel, whom he vsed as an oracle and a southsaier, passed through Champaigne, by the toune of Anxer. Thei within, sent to him messēgers, praiyng him of cer­tain daies of abstinēce of war, in the whiche (if thei wer not rescued) thei promised to rendre the toune. He not willing to recompence with ingra­titude, the louyng hartes of the citezens, graunted gently to their peti­cion, and leuyng there certain persons, to se that thei should not iugle with hym, departed from thence to Troys, beyng the chief citie of Chā ­paigne, whiche he besieged .xii. daies. Sir Phillip Hal capitain there, vnprouided bothe of vitaill and men, mistrustyng, that aide would not come in tyme, vpon cōposicion rendered the toune, so that he & his, with all their moucables might in sauetie depart the citee: whiche demaund was agreed to. After that Troys was yelded, the commonaltie of Cha­lons, rebelled against sir Ihon Awbemōd their capitain, and constrai­ned hym to deliuer the toune vpon like cōposicion, whiche against his wil, he was fain to do: and likewise did the citezens of Reyns, desiryng hym to geue saueconduite to all Englishemen, safely to departe.

VVHEN he had thus conquered Reyns, he in the presence of all the noblemen of his faccion, and the dukes of Lorayne and Barre, was sacred kyng of Fraūce, by the names of Charles the .vi. with all rites and ceremonies therto apperteinyng. Thei of Anxer which wer not rescued within the tyme appoynted, brought the kayes to hym, and submitted theimselfes to his obeysaunce: likewise did all the citees and tounes adioynyng, geuyng thankes to almightie God, whiche hauyng com­passion of their misery, had restored them to libertie and fredome. 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 al their hardy chieftaines and valiaūt men of warre, espied and euidently per­ceiued, that the laste and vettermoste 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 companions. Wherfore, he hauyng together .x.M. good En­glishemen, (beside Normans) departed out of Paris, in warlike fashiō 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 finall conclusion, taken, concorded, and agreed betwene his noble bro­ther [Page] kyng, Henry the fifth, and kyng Charles, the .v. father to thesaid nowe v [...]urper, leuyng all humayne reason and honest communicacion, (whiche sometyme appeaseth debates and pacifieth strifes) onely allu­red and intised by a deuilishe wytche, and a sathanicall enchaunterese, had not onely falsely and craftely, taken vpon hym, the name, title and dignitie of the kyng of Fraūce: But 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 moste best beloued lorde, and moste derest nephew. For pro [...]e wherof, he was come doune 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 enemie to chose the place, and he in thesame, would geue hym battayle.

THE newe Frenche kyng, departyng from his solempne Ceremo­nies at Reins, and remouyng from thence to Dampmartine, studiyng how to compasse the Parisians, ether with money, or with promes, was somewhat troubled with this message, howbeit, he made a freshe coun­tenaūce, & a Frenche brag, answeryng to the herault: that he would so­ner seke his Master, and the Duke should pursewe hym. The duke of Bedford hearyng his aunswer, marched toward hym, and pitched his feld in a strong place, and sent out diuerse of his raungers, to prouoke the Frenchmen to come forward. The Frenche kyng was in maner de­termined to abyde the bettaill, but when he hard saie by his espialles, that the power and nombre of the Englishemen, wer to his army equal in power, he determined that it was more for his profite, to abstain frō battaill without daūger, then to entre into the conflicte with ieopardy: fearyng, least that with a rashe corage, he might ouerthrowe al his af­faires whiche so effecteously proceded. And so well aduised, he turned with his army, alitle out of the waie. The duke of Bedford perceiuyng his faint corage, folowed hym by mountaines and dales, till he came to a toune in Barre, not farre from Senlys, where he found the Frēch 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 capitaines. Thus, these twoo armies without any greate doyng, (except a fewe skirmishes, in the whiche the dukes light horsmen did very valiauntly) laye eche in sight of other, by the space of twoo daies and twoo nightes. But when the 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 chaūce: 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 [Page Cx] in the mornyng, the Regent could scace refrain his people, from folow­yng the Frenche army, callyng them, cowardes, dastardes, and loutes, and therfore, he perceiuing that by no meanes, he could allure the new Frenche kyng to abide battaill, mistrustyng the Parisiās, and geuyng no great credite to their faire, swete, and flatteryng 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 authoritie of the bishop of Rome) began to rebell against his sea, which, (as Eneas Siluius doth report) wer fallē 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 thei, (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 inuade y^• realme of Beame, as the denne of heretikes, and caue of deuilishe doctryne. Besyde this, he appoynted Henry bishop of Winchester, and Cardinall of. S. Eu­sebie, a mā very wel borne, (as you haue hard) but no better borne then high stomacked, and yet no higher stomacked, then abundantly enri­ched, to be his legate in this greate iorney, and to bryng out men from the realme of Englande, into the countrey of Beame. And because the warre touched religion, he licenced thesaid Cardinall, to take the tenth part of euery spirituall dignitie, benefice, and promociō. This matter, was declared in open Parliament 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, whiche daily were with tallages and aides weried, and sore burde­ned. And when men, municions, and money wer ready for his high en­terprise, he with all his people came to the sea stronde at Douer, ready to passe ouer the sea into Flaunders.

BVT in the meane season, the Duke of Bedforde consideryng, how tounes daily wer gotten, and countries hourely wonne in the realme of Fraunce, for lacke of sufficient defence and nombre of men of warre, wrote to his brother the duke of Gloucester, to releue him with aide, in that tempestious tyme 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 sodainly reyse a newe armye. But because the matter was of suche importaunce, and might neither be, frō 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 nede of men and assistaūce, consideryng that now, all stoode 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 this [Page] countermaunde, 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, whiche went round about the countrey, to intise and sollicite tounes and citees, to returne from the Englishe part, and become Frenche, that the inhabitātes 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 hym their gates, so that thei should not therby, be in ieoperdy of their lifes and losse of their goodes, with all hast & diligēce remoued towarde Champeigne. The duke of Bedford beyng aduer­tised of his progresse, and hauyng his armie augmented, with the new aide, whiche the cardinal had of late conducted, marched forward with greate spede to encountre and geue battaill, to his mortall enemy the Frenche kyng. When the duke was come to Senlys, the Frenchemen wer lodged on the Mountpilioll. betwene Senlis and Champiegne. Euery army knew of other, and euery hoste might behold other. Then the cāpes wer trenched, and the battailes pitched, and the feldes orde­red. Thus, these great armies lay two daies, nothyng doyng but with skirmishes, in the whiche the Normans sore vexed the Frenchemen. Wherefore the lorde Regent, gaue to them many high laudes and prai­synges, and determined surely the next daie, to set on the Frenche kyng in his cāpe, 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 chaūce of a smal thyng, might do 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 cōflict, 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 thenglishe libertie, and aspiryng to the French bondage and natiue seruitude, (accordyng to the nature of Asses, whi­che the more thei be charged with, the more thei desire) would, (whē thei sawe their tyme) not onely rebell and returne to his faccion and parte, but also were ready to aide and assiste hym, in recouery of his desired realme and auncient dominion, in expellyng 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 ouercome, the game had, for the Englishemen been clerely gotten, & to the Frenchemen, a perpetuall checkemate. Wherfore he de­termined neuer, (except very necessitie compelled or constrained him) to fight in open battaill with the Englishmen, nor by a feld to aduenture his realme with thē, of whom his predecessors so often tymes had been [Page Cxj] vanquished. Wherfore, like a carpet capitain, he in the night, remoued his campe and fled to Crespy, and yet his nōbre was double to the En­glishe army. The duke of Bedforde, seyng that 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 deceiptfull faith of the pollitique Parisians. The bishop of Winchester, after the Frenche kynges flight, went into Beame, and there did somewhat, but what it was, authors kepe silence, 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 aduaūsyng forwarde. Sone after, the bishop of Rome without his agrement, vnlegated hym, and set another in his stede & authoritie, with which doyng, he was neither cōtent nor pleased.

¶The eight yere.The .viii. yere

ON the vi. day of Nouembre, being the day of sainct Leonard, kyng Henry, in the eight yere of his reigne, was, at Westminster with all pompe and honor, crouned kyng of this realme of England. At whiche coronacion, to reherse the costly faire, 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 Lordes, the beauties of Ladies, the riches of apparell, the curious deuises, the solempne banquettes, it would aske a long tyme, and wery you: Wherfore leauyng the pleasaunt pastyme in England, I will re­turne to the troubleous warres 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 Ualoys, 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 persone, but also caused the toune, to turne from thenglishmen, to the part of kyng Charles 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 countrey from the possession of the Englishemen, except he vnknitted the knotte and league, betwene 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, [Page] nor more detestable, then, for his awne peculiar cause, & priuate displeasure, to ioyne with his auncient enemies, and perpetual aduer­saries, against his natiue countrey and naturall nacion: not onely re­quiryng hym, of concord, peace, and amitie, but also promisyng golden mountaines, 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, thereof was plainly infor­med. Whiche, beyng sore troubled, and vnquieted in his mind, because he sawe the power of thenglishe nacion, daily waxe lesse, he, of al 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 tuicion or de­fence: yet for an ankerhold, he determined to kepe, possesse, and defende, the Duchie of Normandy, the olde inheritaunce and aunciente patri­mony, of the kynges of Englande, and frō them onely, by force and not by iustice, by violence and not by right, sithe the tyme of Kyng Henry the thirde, (the deuilishe deuision then reignyng in the realme) wrong­fully deteined, and iniuriously vsurped. Wherefore, he diligently pro­uidyng, for thynges that might chaunce, appoynted gouernor of the citee 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 birthe, leuyng with hym, a conuenient nombre of En­glishemen to defende bothe the citee and territory of Paris, & the isle of Fraūce then beyng in the Englishmens possession and gouernaunce.

THESE thynges thus ordered, he departed from Paris, into Nor­mandy, and called at Roan a parliament, of the thre estates of the du­chie, in the whiche he declared vnto them, the great liberties, the mani­folde priueleges, the innumerable benefites, whiche thei had receiued of the kynges of Englande, duryng the tyme, that thei wer possessors and lordes of thesame duchie, not puttyng in obliuion, the misery, bon­dage, and calamitie, whiche thei 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 remem­braunce, how the kynges of England, wer not only brought furth and discēded, of the Normans bloud & progeny, but wer the very true & vn­doubtfull 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 liue in loue and amitie emongest theim self, to be true and obedient, to the kyng their souerai­gne Lorde, and to kepe their othe and promes, made and sworne to his noble brother, kyng Henry the .v. promisyng to them, Englishe libertie and priueleges royall. While the duke of Bedford was thus, intertai­nyng and encoragyng the Normans, Charles the newe Frenche kyng, beyng of his departure aduertised, longyng and thrystyng for to ob­tain Paris, the chief citee & principall place of resort, within the whole [Page Cxij] realme of Fraunce, departed from the toune of Senlis well accompa­nied, and came to the toune of sainct Denise, whiche he found desolate, and abandoned of all garrison, and good gouernaūce. Wherfore, with out force and small damage, he entered into the voyed toune, and lod­ged his armie at Mountmartyr, and Abberuilliers, nere adioynyng, and liyng to the citee of Paris. And from thence, sent, Ihon duke of A­launson, and his sorceresse Ione, (called the mayde, sent from God) in whom, his whole affiaunce then consisted, with thre thousande light horsmen, to get again the citie of Paris, either by force, or by faire flat­teryng, or reasonable treatie, and after them, he without delaie or defer ryng of tyme, with all his power, came betwene Moūtmartyr and Pa­ris, and sodainly, appproched the gate of sainct Honore, setting vp lad­ders to the walles, and castyng faggottes into the diches, as though, he would with a French bragge, sodainly haue gottē the faire cite. But thenglishe capitaines, euery one kepyng his ward and place assigned, so manfully and fiersly, with a noble corage, defended themselfes, their walles and toures, with the assistence of the Parisians, that thei rebut­ted and draue awaie the Frenchmen, & threwe doune Ione, their greate goddesse, into the botome of the toune ditche, where she laie behynd the backe of an Asse, sore hurte, till the tyme, that she all filthy with mire and durte, was drawen out, by Guyschard of Thienbrone, seruaunt to the duke of Alaunson. The Frenche Kyng, seyng the greate losse, that he had susteined at this assaut, and accompted, his pretensed conquest, in maner impossible, leuyng the dedde bodies behind hym, and takyng with hym, the wounded capitaines, whiche wer of no small nombre, re­turned into Berry. But in the meane waie, the citezens of Laignie, be­came his subiectes, and made to hym an othe, promisyng to continewe from thence furth to hym, bothe true and obedient.

THE Duke of Bedford, beyng in Normandy, and hearyng of this sodain attempt, lost no tyme, nor spared no trauaile, till he came to Pa­ris. Where he, not only thanked the capitaines, and praised the citezēs for their assured fidelitie and good will, towarde their kyng and soue­reigne lorde, but also extolled their hardines, & manly doynges, aboue the Starres, and high elementes: promisyng to them, honor, fame, and greate aduauncementes. Whiche gentle exhortacion, so incoraged and inflamed the hartes of the Parisians, that thei sware, promised, and cō ­cluded, to be frendes euer to the kyng of Englande and his frendes, and enemies alwaies to his foes and aduersaries, makyng proclama­cion by this stile. Frendes to Kyng Henry, frendes to the Parisians, enemies to England, enemies to Paris. But if thei spake it with their hartes, either for feare, that Charles the Frenche kyng, should not pu­nishe them, if he once obteined the superioritie, ouer their citee, & toune, or that thei flattred thenglishmen, to put themselfes in credite with the chief capitaines, you shal plainly perceiue, by the sequele of their actes

SONE after these doynges, came to Paris with a greate company, [Page] Phillip duke of Burgoyn, whiche was of the Regent, and the lady his wife, honorably receiued, and highly feasted. And after long consulta­cion had, for recoueryng of the tounes, lately by the Frenche kyng stol­len and taken, it was agreed, that the duke of Bedford, should rayle an armie, for the recouery of thesaid fortresses, and that the duke of Bur­goyne, should be his deputie, and tary at Paris, for the defence of the same. After this greate bu [...]inesse, thus concluded, and appoynted, the Duke of Bedforde hymself, without any greate resistaunce, recouered again the toune of sainct Denise, and diuerse other Castles. And after that doen, he sent the Bastard of Clarence, to laye siege to the Castle of Toursie, beyng bothe by the naturall situacion, and mannes pollicie, very strong, and in maner vnable to be beaten doune. The siege conti­nued sixe monethes, but in conclusion, the capitain discomfited of al re­leue and succor, rendered the fortresse, the life of hym and his souldiers only saued. Whiche offre was taken, & the castle raised, and cast doune to the grounde. Duryng this siege, sir Thomas Kiriell knight, with foure hundred Englishemen, departed from Gourney in Normandy, and rode by Beauoys, spoylyng, robbyng, and wastyng the countrey, to the suburbes of Cleremount. Wherof, hearyng the Erle of thesame toune, assembled all the men of warre, of the garrisons adioynyng, to fight with thenglishmen: and so the Frenchemen with all diligence [...]et forward, & found their enemies in a straight place, nere vnto Beauois. The erle of Cleremount seyng, that he could not hurte theim, with his men of armes, by reason of the straight, came doune on fote with al his company, and fiersly set on the Englishmen. The fight was fierse, and the aduauntage doubtful. But in conclusion, the archers shot so terri­blie, that the Frenchmen, not able to abide the smart, and gaules of the arrowes, fled a pace, and the Englishmen leuyng the straight, leped on horsebacke, and folowed the chase. In the whiche wer taken twoo hun­dred prisoners, and thrise as many slain. The Erle, by the swiftnesse of his horsse, escaped his enemies, and came to the toune of Beauoys: and so sir Thomas Kiriell, with plentie of spoyle and prisoners, retur­ned to Goruay, renderyng to GOD his hartie thankes, for that good chaunce and happie victory.

YET Fortune sent not this good lucke alone, for therle of Suffolk at thesame very season, 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. Wherefore, he caused .xxx. of the tounes men, for their vntruthe, to be hanged on the walles, and al the rest he raunsomed, and sent the capitain into En­glande, where he remained sixe yeres continually, & after by excaunge was deliuered. After this, the erle fortified the toune, with men, muni­cions and vitaile, and so by a litle and litle, the Englishmen recouered again many tounes, whiche before thei had loste, without any greate losse of their people. Whiche thyng, the Frenchemen well consideryng, [Page Cxiij] imagined by what meanes, how to get again the toune of Laual, whi­che y^• lorde Talbot (before as you haue hard) gat, by scalyng in a night. Wherfore, to possesse their desired prey, thei with money, and gay pro­mises, first corrupted a Miller, that kept a Mil adioynyng to the wal, so that the Miller, suffered the lorde Homet with thre hundred other, to passe through his Mill into the toune, in a very darke night. When thei were entered, thei slewe the kepers of the gate, and let in the Lorde Bertrand be la Ferrier, with fiue hundred men of armes: whiche either slewe or toke prisoners, all thenglishemen within the toune. And short­ly after, sir Stephin de Uignoles called the Heire, toke by scalyng, th [...] toune of Lonuiers in Normādy, and did muche damage, to all the tou­nes adioynyng.

¶The nynth yere.The ix. yere.

WHile these chaunces happened, betwene the Englishmen and Frenchemen, Phillip duke of Burgoyne, maried the Lady Isabell, daughter to Ihon, Kyng of Portyngall, and greate aunte to the kyng of En­glande. In honor of whiche mariage, 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 ordinaunces, of the noble ordre of the Garter begonne in En­glande, almoste an hundred yeres before the inuencion, of this frater­nitie and frēdship. On the whiche wife, he begat, the hardy duke Char­les, father to Marie, after maried to Maximiliā kyng of the Romans, as (when place requireth) shalbe hereafter to you declared.

IN this very season, the Englishemen 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 continuall, that thei, of force cōpelled, not by their ene­mies, but by intemperate season, reised their siege: and in their returne, Puzell and all the garrison within the toune, issued out and fought with thenglishmen, where, (after lōg fightyng) bothe parties departed without either greate gain or losse. After this enterprise doen, the duke of Burgoyne, accompanied with the erles of Arundell and Suffolke, and the lorde 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 theim within the toune. So thei caste trenches, and made moynes, and studied al the waies that thei could deuise, how to compasse their cōquest and enterprise. And it happened in the night of the Assencion of our lorde, that Pothon of Xentraxles, Ione the Pu­zell, and fiue or sixe hundred men of armes, issued out of Chāpeigne, by the gate of the bridge towarde Mowntdedier, intendyng to set fire in [Page] the tentes and lodgynges of the lord of Baudo, whiche was then gone to Marigny, for the Duke of Burgoyns affaires. At whiche tyme, sir Ihon of Luxenborough, with eight other gentlemen (whiche had riden aboute the toune to serche and vieue, in what place the toune might be moste aptly and conueniently assauted or scaled) were come nere to the lodges of the lorde of Baudo, where thei espied the Frenchmen, whiche began to cut doune tentes, ouerthrowe pauilions, and kil men in their beddes. Wherefore, shortely thei assembled a greate nombre of men, as well Englishe as Burgonions, and coragiously set on the Frenchmen. Sore was the fight and greate was the slaughter, in so muche that the Frenchemen, not able lenger to indure, fled into the toune so faste, that one letted the other to entre. In whiche chace was taken, Ione the Puzell, and diuerse other: whiche Ione was sent to the duke of Bedford to Roan, wher, (after lōg examinaciō) she was brent to ashes. This wytch or manly woman, (called the maide of GOD) the Frenchemen greatly glorified and highly extolled, alledgyng that by her Orleaūce was vi­tailed: by her, kyng Charles was sacred at Reynes, and that by her, the Englishemen wer often tymes put backe and ouerthrowen. O Lorde, what dispraise is this to the nobilitie of Fraunce? What blotte is this to the Frenche nacion? What more rebuke can be imputed to a renou­med region, then to affirme, write & confesse, that all notable victories, and honorable conquestes, which neither the kyng with his power, nor the nobilitie with their valiauntnesse, nor the counsaill with their wit, nor the cōmonaltie with their strenght, could compasse or obtain, were gotten and achiued by a shepherdes daughter, a chamberlein in an ho­strie, and a beggers brat: whiche blindyng the wittes of the French na­cion, by reuelacions, dreames & phantasticall visions, made thē beleue thynges not to be supposed, and to geue faithe to thynges impossible. For surely, if credite maie be geuen to the actes of the Clergie, openly doen, and cōmonly shewed, this woman was not inspired with the ho­ly ghoste, nor sent from God, (as the Frenchemen beleue) but an enchā ­teresse, an orgayne of the deuill, sent from Sathan, to blind the people and bryng them in vnbelife: as by this letter, sent frō the kyng of En­glande, to the duke of Burgoyn, to you euidently shall appere.

THIS letter, the kyng of Englande, sente not onely to the Duke of Burgoyne, and other Princes, to declare the veritie of the matter, and the administracion of Iustice, but to admonishe all rude and ignorant persones, in all other countries, to refraine, from the credite and belefe of the saiynges, of suche prophane prophesies, and craftie imageners, as this peuishe painted Puzel was. Yet notwithstandyng, this lawful processe, this due examinacion and publike sentence, Thō Buchet, and diuerse Frenche writers affirme her to be a saincte in heauen. But be­cause, it is no poynt of our faith, no man is bound to beleue his iudge­ment, although he were an Archedeken. But Paulus Emilius, a fa­mous writer, rehersyng 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 merueiled and greately won­dered at her actes and doynges. With whiche saiyng, I can very well agree, that she was more to be marueiled at, as a false prophetisse, and seducer of the people: 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 [Page] auncient writers, aswell deuine, as prophane, alledge these three thyn­ges, beside diuerse other, to apparteine to a good woman. First, shame­fastnesse,Thre proper­ties that ap­pertayne to a good womā. whiche the Romain Ladies [...]o kept, that seldome or neuer thei wer seen openly talkyng with a man: whiche vertue, at this day emon­gest the Turkes, is highly estemed. The seconde, is pitie: whiche in a womans harte, abhorteth the spillyng of the bloud of a poore beast, or a sely birde. The third, is womanly behauor, aduoydyng the occasion of euill iudgement, and causes of slaundre. If these qualities, be of ne­cessitie, incident to a good woman, where was her shamefastnes, when she daily and nightly, was conuersant with comen souldiors, and men of warre, amongest whom, is small honestie, lesse vertue, and shamefastnesse, least of all excercised or vsed? Where was her womanly pitie, whē she takyng to her, the harte of a cruell beaste, flewe, man, woman, and childe, where she might haue the vpper hand? Where was her woman­ly behauor, when she cladde her self in a mannes clothyng, and was cō ­uersaunt with euery losell, geuyng occasion to all men to iudge, and speake euill of her, and her doynges. Then these thynges, beyng thus plainly true, all men must nedes confesse, that the cause ceasyng, the ef­fect also ceaseth: so y^•, if these morall vertues lackyng, she was no good womā, then it must nedes, consequently folowe, that she was no sainct.

NOVV leuyng this woman, consumed to asshes, lette vs returne agayne, to the siege of Compeigne, whiche still continewed. Duryng whiche tyme, the Regent sente to the Duke of Burgoyne, liyng at the siege, the erle of Huntyngdon, sir Ihon Robsert, with a thousande Archers, whiche daily skirmished, with theim of the toune, and made suche Bastiles and fortresses, that the toune must nedes be rendered, or els thei within, famished. But se the chaunce, when victory was at hād Tidynges wer brought to the duke of Burgoyn, that Phillip duke of Brabante, was departed out of this worlde, leuyng behynde hym, no heire of his bodie: To whom, thesaied duke pretended to be next heire. Wherfore, he takyng with hym, his best capitaines, of the recouery of [...]o greate a duchy, departed from the siege, leuyng his poore people be­hynd hym, and ordeined in his place, for his leuetenaunt, sir Ihon Lu­xenborough, whiche beyng, of small strength and lesse corage, after the dukes departyng, aduised the Englishmen, to depart for that tyme, till the next sommer: whiche therto at the first, would in nowise agree. But there was no remedy, for he was capitain generall, and had the ordy­naunce vnder his rule, so that without that, thei could nothyng doo: Wherfore, in greate displeasure, thei returned into Normandy. After whose departure, the capitain set fire in all the bastiles, and secretly de­parted, leuyng behynde hym, 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 fa­myne, had almoste consumed all the souldiors, and left the toune, with [Page Cxvj] out sauegard or defence.

AFTER this siege broken vp, Ihon duke of Norffolke, toke again the tounes of Dāpmartyn, and the Chasse Mongay, and diuerse other tounes. And therle of Stafford, toke the toune of Brie, in Countie Robert, and from thense, forraged al the countrey to Sens, and after toke Quesnoy in Brie, Grand Puys, and Rampellon, with many prisoners as sir Iaques de Milly, and sir Ihon de la Hay. Duryng whiche tyme the Frenchemen toke Louiers, & Uilluense. And then the toune of Me­lune rebelled, and had suche ayde, of other tounes adioynyng, that the Englishe souldiors, wer fayne to leaue Melune, Morret, and Gorbell. Thus, accordyng to the chaunce of war, the one part gat, and the other lost. Thus the Englishe affaires (as you 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 thei sawe likely to folowe: and another sort, adiudged that present time, to be moste ieoperdus, and moste repleted with peril­les: Because thei sawe, the power of their enemies, now increased, and their awne strēgth rather decaied, then cōserued. And so euery man stu­diyng on this 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, tha it was moste apte and mete, for the tyme presente, that kyng Henry in his royall person, with a new army, should come doune into Fraunce, partly to comfort and visite his awne subiectes ther: partly, either by feare or fauor, (because a childe, of his age and beautie, dooth commonly allure to hym, the hartes of elder persones,) to cause the Frenchemen to continue, in their due obeysaunce towarde hym. Wherfore, after a gret hoste, conuenient for that purpose, assembled, and money for the maintenaūce of the warre, redy gathered, and the re­alme sette in an ordre, and the Duke of Gloucester, appoynted gouer­nor (whiche duryng the kynges absence, appeased diuerse riottes, and punished many offenders,) the kyng with a greate power, tooke ship­pyng at Douer, and landed at Calice, and there taried a good space▪ and from thence, he remoued to Roan, where, with al triumphe, he was receiued, and there soiorned, till the middest of August, his nobles dai­ly consultyng, on their greate busines, and waightie affaires.

¶The tenth yere.The .x. yere.

IN the moneth of Nouembre, he remoued from Roan to Ponthoise, and so to saincte Denice, to the intent to make his entrie, into the citee of Paris, and there to be sacred kyng of Fraunce, and to receiue, the sceptre and Croune of the realme and countrey.

THERE wer in his company, of his awne naciō, his vncle the Car­dinall [Page] of Winchester,The coronaci [...]n of kyng Henry the vi. in Paris. the Cardinall and Archebishoppe of Yorke, the Dukes of Bedforde, Yorke, and Norffolke, the Erles of Warwicke, Salis [...]ury, Oxford, Huntyngdon, Ormond, Mortayn, Suffolke, and of Gascoynes, the Erle of Longuile, and Marche, beside many noble men of England, Guyan, and Normandy. And the chief of the Frenche nacion, wer the dukes of Burgoyn, and Lewes of Luxenbrogh Cardi­nall and Chauncellor of Fraunce for kyng Henry, the bishops of Bea­uoys and Neyon, bothe peres of Fraunce, beside the bishopp of Paris, and diuerse other bishoppes, therle of Uaudemount, & 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 archers, some on horse­backe, and parte on fote. And as he was commyng, betwene sainct De­nice and Paris, he was met at the Chapell, in the meane waie, by Sir Simon Moruer prouost of Paris, with a greate company, all clothed in redde Satin, with blewe whoddes, whiche 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. After thei had doen their reuerence, there approched to the kyng, the .ix. wor­thies, [...]ittyng richely on horsebacke, armed with the armes to them ap­perteinyng. Next after them, came the knight of the watche, for the pro­uost Marchauntes, and with him, all the officers of the courte, appare­led in 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 folowed the Lordes of the Cham­ber of accomptes, and of the finaunce, the Masters of the Requestes, the secretaries, and Regesters, and euery cōpany, 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, with flower of delices gold, and bare thesame ouer hym, through the toune, whiche on euery side, was hanged with riche clothes of Arras and Tapissrie. And at euery porte and bridge where he passed was set a pageaunt, of greate shewe and small coste, whiche, because thei were but trifles, I ouer passe, and speke but of one deuise, made before the gate of the Chastelet, wherev­pon a stage stode, a goodly childe, clothed with habite royall, set full of flower delices, hauyng two Crounes on his hed, representyng the yong kyng, and on his right hande, stoode twoo noble personages, in the ar­mes of Burgoyne and Flaunders: and on the lefte side of hym, stoode three personages, clothed in the Armes, of Bedforde, Salisbury, and Warwicke, whiche to hym deliuerd, the swerde of Englande. This pa­giaunt was well regarded, and highly praised. From thence he depar­ted to the palace, and offered in the Chapell, and from thence he depar­ted, to the hous of Tournelles, and there toke his repast. And after din- [Page Cxvij] Isabell, late wife to kyng Charles, his grandfather, long before disceased. And the next daie he was conueyed, to Boys de Uyncennes, where, he reposed hymself, till the .xv. day of Decēbre: on whiche 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 churche of Paris: where, with al solempnitie, 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 custome of Fraūce is. When the deuine seruise was finished, and all Ceremonies due, to that high estate were accōplished, 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 before hym. What should I speake, of the honorable seruice, the daintie dishes, the pleasant conceiptes, the costly wines, the swete Armony, the Musical instrumentes, whiche wer sene and shewed at that feast, sithe 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 the Cardinall of Wynchester, whiche at this tyme, would haue no man to hym egall, commaunded the duke of Bedforde, to leaue of the name of Regent, duryng the tyme that the kyng was in Fraunce: affirmyng the chief ruler beyng in pre­sēce, the authoritie of the substitute, was clerely derogate: accordyng to the cōmon saiyng: in the presence of the high power, the smal authoritie geueth place. The duke of Bedford, toke suche a secret dispeasure with this dooyng, that he neuer after fauored the Cardinall, but repugned and disdained at all thynges that he did or deuised. And so because the Cardinall 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 thenglshemen within the realme of Fraunce, began first to decaye, and vade awaie in Fraunce.

THE next daie after this solempne feast, wer kept triumphant Iu­stes and Turneis, in the whiche, the Erle of Arundell, and the Bastard of Sent Polle, by the iudgement 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 presidētz of the parliament, the prouostes of the citee and of the Marchauntes, and the chief burgesses of the toune and citee, and al the doctors of the vniuer­sitie, to be assembled in his presence: to whom the duke of Bedford said in this maner.

IT is not vnknowen to you all my lordes,An Oracion of the duke of Bedforde, made to the Parisians. aswell spirituall as tem­porall, how this noble region and famous countrey, of antiquitie cal­led [Page] Gaule, and now Fraunce, sithe the tyme of Charles, surnamed the Greate, beyng bothe Emperor of Rome, and kyng of this realme, hath been accompted, reputed, and renoumed, the moste christen region, and famous seigniory, within the circle of al christendō, yea, and within the whole part of Europe, and not vndeseruyngly, for .iij. causes. First, for your sincere faithe and obedient loue, toward your sauior and redemer Iesu Christ. The second, for obseruyng your fidelitie & due obeysaūce, to your kynges and soueraigne Lordes. Thirdly, for kepyng and per­formyng 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 con­tinewyng without reproche or blotte: I thinke, yea, and doubt not, but you wil 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 dearest and welbeloued brother, was the very true inheritor, and the vndoubt full successor, to the croune of this realme of Fraūce, as cosin and heire to Lady Isabell, 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, I well knowe, and some of you haue felte, as a greate scourge to your nacion, onely prouided by God, to afflicte and punishe theim: 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 goodnes & gentlenes, willed the holy ghost, to shed and poure, into the hart of the noble prince, kyng Charles, your late welbeloued and most drad soueraigne lord, the knowledge of the lawfull line, and of the true pathe of the inheritaunce, of the croune & scepter of this realme. Whi­che 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 cōposicion) to restore the lawful inheritaūce to the true heire and to rendre his title to the right lignage, & vndoubted lyne. Whiche treatie and final composicion, was nether wantonly ouerloked, nor vn­wisely ouersene. For al the noble peres, of this realme, bothe spiritual & temporall, yea, & the moste part of the nobilitie, (except a certain wilde and wilfull persones) with the whole cōmunaltie, (in whō the very base and burden of the realme doth consist) not onely by worde, but by aun­cient writyng, signed with their handes, and strengthened with the sea­les of their armes, here redy to be shewed, haue frankly and frely, with out scruple or contradiccion, agreed, and affirmed thesame. By whiche [Page Cxviij] 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 deathe seperatyng his body from his soule, long before the expectacion of his people, suffered hym 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 remayne bareyn without budde or flower, hath sent to hym, and frō him to you a florishing child, a godly prince of bothe the noble houses, of England & Fraunce, indifferently discended: 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 Frenche Englishman. Whiche noble prince, and your soueraigne Lorde, you maie with glad hartes, and louyng countenaunces, se, heare, and behold. And as for his hono­rable behauor, & princely maiestie: fewe princes of full & ripe age, be to hym comparable, or equipollent. As for his beautie and other giftes of nature, scace Absalon can be to hym assembled. But, hauyng respect to the vertuous disposicion, 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 blasyng Starre, and the vnmatched Pa­ragon. This precious stone and noble Iuell, is not onely come out of his naturall countrey, and nourishyng Region, to receiue the Croune and possession, of this his realme and dominion, but also, (like a good shepeherde) to vieue, se, and knowe you, as his welbeloued flocke, and moste desired subiectes: and you likewise, (as louyng and obediēt vas­sals) to behold, and knowe your soueraigne lorde 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 him, 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, whi­che, neither craft nor engyne can either consume, or remoue. And al 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, whiche is in stubburnesse and obstinacie toward his prince, is disobedient towarde God. For the Prince in yearth, is the Uicar of GOD, and hedde and shepherde of Christes flocke: to whō bothe spirituall 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 arrogancy, haue takē part, and entered into amitie with Charles de Ualoys, vntruly callyng himself the Frenche kyng: yet the verie true and vndoubtfull prince, and our souereigne Lorde, here be­yng present, is resolued and content, to remit and pardon their offences and crimes, so that thei within twelfe daies, returne to the true folde, [Page] 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 lettyng of tyme, di­ligētly study, and busely take pain, bothe to kepe his louyng subiectes in good ordre, and due obeysaunce towarde hym, and also to se theim liue in mutuall amitic and brotherly concord, betwene theim selfes: not forgettyng, that the olde prouerbe, whiche saieth: inward discord, bryn­geth realmes to ruyne. Whiche honorable requestes, if you accōplishe and performe, (as of your very bounden duety, you be bound in deede) you shall deserue so muche fauor, of your kyng and soueraigne Lorde, that to al your honest requestes, his eares shalbe open, & to al your rea­sonable desires, his mouthe shall not be stopped. And thus he wissheth you, healthe in bodies, increase in your substaunce, and to your soules, [...]oye and felicitie without ende perpetually.

VVHEN the duke had finished and ended this his oracion, the peo­ple beyng glad and reioysyng at his saiynges, cried; liue kyng Henry▪ liue Kyng Henry. After whiche crie passed, the noble men, aswell of Fraunce and Normandy, did to hym homage, and the common people▪ sware to hym feaultie: to whom, (although he wer a child) he gaue both pleasaunt and faire wordes, with hartie thankes, and many gratifica­cions, to the greate admiracion of the Frenche people.

AFTER he had feasted, the nobles and commons of Fraunce, with­in the citee of Paris, he with a greate 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 Ceremonies wer thus in doyng, in the citee of Paris, sondery chaūces, diuersly hap­ned in seueral 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 toune of Mountarges, 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 Erle of Arundell, beyng truely informed, that the lorde Bousac, Marshall of Fraunce, was come to Beauoys, intendyng to do some feate in Normādy, assembled the nombre of thre and twentie hundred men, and laied hymself priuelie, in a close place, nor farre from thesaied toune, and sent a great nombre of light horsse­men, to ronne to the barriers of the citee. The Frenchmen, like valiaūt men of warre, issued out, and manfully fought with the Englishemen: whiche sodainly fled, toward the stale. The Frenchmen, coragiously fo­lowed, thinkyng the game gotten on their side: but when thei wer ente­red, into the straight, therle set freshely on them, so that after long figh­tyng, there wer slain and taken, in maner al the Frenchmen, saue a few, whiche fled into the toune, with the Marshall. Emōgest the capitaines was founde prisoner, the valiaunt capitain, called Poynton of Sanc­trailes, [Page Cxix] (whiche without delay,) was exchaunged for the lorde Talbot, before taken prisoner, at the battaill of Patay. There was also taken one, called the shepherd, a simple mā, and a sely soule, whom, the Frēch­men 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 phantasticall fainers, were at that tyme muche regarded, and no lesse beleued in Fraunce.

THIS chaunce succeded not, fortunatly alone: for Richard Beau­champe Erle of Warwicke, had a greate skirmishe, before the toune of Gourney, where he discōfited and repulsed his enemies, and beside the carions, whiche wer left dedde on the ground, he tooke prisoners, three score horssemen, all gentlemen of name and armes. Like chaunce of in­fortune, happened at thesame tyme, to Renate or Reyne duke of Barr, a greate frend to Charles the French kyng, bothe in lendyng hym mo­ney, and also in ministeryng to hym aide and succors. This Duke bea­ryng displeasure, to Anthony Erle of Uaudemont, his cosyn and kyns­man, gathered together a greate armie, and besieged the toune of Uaudemont. Therle, before the dukes approchyng, to thentent y^• he would not be enclosed and compassed about by his enemies within a wal, lea­uyng behynde hym, a conuenient crue of men of warre, to defende the toune for a tyme, with al diligēce rode to the dukes of Bedford & Bur­goyne, beyng then at the greate triumphe at Paris, whose part he had euertaken, After long consultacion, it was agreed that sir Ihon Fa­stolffe, should go with hym, hauyng in his company sixe hundred Ar­chers, and the duke of Burgoyne sent to hym, his Marshall, called sir Anthony Doulongon, with .xv. hundred men. The elre of Uaudemont thus beyng accompanied, marched toward his enemies. Duke Reine, hearyng of his commyng towarde hym, was somewhat dismayed, fea­ryng, least if his enemies should approche to the walles, and be espied by the garrison within the toune, that, at one tyme he should be assailed before, by them that would issue out of the toune, and behind, by therle and his armie. Wherfore, like a hardy capitain, he brake vp his siege, and met face to face, with therle and his company: betwene whom, was a cruell and a mortall battaill. The horsemen indured long, but in con­clusion, the Englishe Archers, so galled the horses and so wounded the men, that the Barroys and their frendes, wer cōpelled to flie: in whiche chace was taken, thesaied duke of Barr, the bishop of Myes, the lorde of Rodemaque, sir Euerard of Saseabery, the Uicoūt Darcy, and two hundred other, beside thre thousande men, whiche were slaine. In this lucky tyme also, no lesse occasion of victory, was offred to the English­men, beyng in another parte, if, wh [...]n the pigge had been profered, thei had opened the poke: for Robert, Lorde Willoughby, and Mathew Gough 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 [Page] it not so coragiously, but thei within, with egall audacitie, boldely made defence: so that fortune semed, to waie bothe the parties in egall balaūce. Charles the French kyng, beyng thereof aduertised, sent with all spede, the lorde Ambrose de Lore, with many noble and valiaūt 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 greate spied: but fearyng to be sodainly 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 Englishemen, by their espialles, were assertened and aduerti­sed, what progresse their enemies made, and what thei intended▪ Wher­fore, thei pollitiquely prouided, to fight with the one parte, before the whole puyssaunce wer ioyned. And so a greate parte of theim, 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 sodain feare, and vnlooked chaunce, so greately abashed, that no man in maner, either could h [...]are his felow or hymself, or could make signe to expulse and driue out their enemies out of their campe. But when the day beganne to appere, and the sonne had setfurth his bright beames, that all thyng might be sene and perceiued, the Englishmen, geuen to couetuousnes of spoyle, and desire of Rauyne, neither chaced, nor folowed their enemies, but beyng content with their prey and gayne, began to retraite toward the siege again. But se the chaunce: the Frenchmen whiche wer commyng after, heard by the noyce of the people, that some fraie was then in hand, put the spurres to the horse, and [...]et on their enemies, beyng laded with bagges and wallettes, of preys and spoiles. The other part, whiche before fled, returned again, and assailed their enemies. The Frenchmen eger­ly assailed, and the Englishemen manfully defended, whiche beyng out of ordre, 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, whi­che, for all the battaile, was kept and not deliuered.

THE lorde Willoughby, hearyng of this chaunce, reysed the siege & departed, verie sore displeased. Therefore, let euery capitain take good hede of victorie, the whiche as she is harde to obtain, so she is quicke to flie awaie: for it is daily sene, that he, whiche thynketh suerly, that he hath her in his handes, before he can catche her, is deceiued, & ronneth into a great losse and daūger: and on the otherside, when she is gotten, (except good watche be hourely 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 thei had [Page Cxx] in their handes. While the Englishe and Frenche nacions, thus stroue and contended, for preeminence, principalitie, yea, & for the superior po­wer of life, by the vnreasonable rage of warre in Fraunce, the rich men were spoyled of their goodes, the spirituall persones, were taxed and brought low, the cōmon people wer slain, murdred, and trode vnder the foote, women wer defiled, virgyns wer rauished, tounes wer destroied and wasted, toune dwellers and citezens, wer robbed and exiled, beau­tiful buyldynges, wer cruelly brent, nothyng was spared, by the cruel­tie of Mars: whiche by fire, bloud, or famyne, might be catched or de­stroied, beside a hūdred more calamities, that daily vexed and troubled the miserable French nacion. Although Fraūce, wer at this tyme, thus miserablie aflicted: yet Englande, was not without doloure and trou­ble: for daily Englishmen, aswel noble as meane personages, wer slain taken, wounded, or hurte, their substaunce was cōtinually exacted, and cōsumed for maintenaunce of the warres, so that mischief and calami­tie was indifferent to bothe the nacions, and quietnes and gayne, were expulsed & banished from them both: in so muche that the lamentacion and dolor of bothe the coūtries, wer heard through the whole west part of the worlde, and of their continual discencion, al Europe and Affrike, had their eares and mouthes ful, so that all men, not onely marueiled, that Fraūce could so muche trouble so long time sustain, but more wō ­dered, that the realme of Englande, beyng but an Isle, was able so to scourge, plague and trouble, the large French region, for whiche cause Euginye the fourth, beyng bishopp of Rome, intendyng to bryng this cruel warre, to a frendly peace, sent his Legate, called Nicolas, Cardi­nall of the holy crosse, into Fraunce, to thentent to make an amitie, and a concord betwene the two Princes and their realmes. This wise Car­dinall, came first to the Frenche kyng, and after to the duke of Bedford beyng at Paris: exhortyng concord, and persuadyng vnitie, shewyng, declaryng, and arguyng, peace to be moste honorable, and more profi­table to Christian princes, then mortall warre, or vncharitable discen­cion. Which gouernors of Christes people, ought to haue an iye, to the profite of their people, to se Iustice duly ministred, to rule thēselfes by reason and not by wil, and to abstain frō malice, and abhorre al wrong and iniury, to whiche thynges, warre is euer enemie & cleane contrary.

VVHEN the Legate had thus persuaded the princes on euery part, bothe, gently aunswered, that thei wer content to come, to a reasonable ende. But when the first communicacion was moued, and by cōmissio­ners treated, their dooynges wer so farre disagreable, from their wor­des, that not onely reasonable and honest condicions of peace, could be neither heard nor accepted, but more frowardnes, pertinacie, & malice, was kindeled and sprong in their stomackes, then before that time had been sene. The Cardinal beyng in vtter dispaire, of cōcludyng a peace betwene the twoo realmes, (least he should seme to departe empty of all thynges, for the whiche he had taken so muche trauaill) desired a truce [Page] for sixe yeres to come, which request, as it was to him, by bothe parties hardly graunted, so was it of the Frenchmen, sone and lightly broken, after his returne: For the Bastarde of Orleaunce, newly made Erle 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 inuasiō, or assaute, was no breach of league, amitie, nor truce. In the whiche toune, he slewe the bishop, because he was a Burgonyō, through whiche occasion, newe malice increased, and mortal warre be­gan again, to rise and spryng.

VVHILE these thynges wer doyng in Fraunce, Henry Beaufforde Cardinall of Winchester, was sailed again into Englande, to appea [...]e and represse certain diuisions and commocions, sprong 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 Williā Maundeuile and Ihō Sharpe wer taken, and executed by the gouernor and the kynges Iustices, the remnaunt yelded, and cōfessed 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 Chri­sten people, should be incommon. After this sedicious coniuracion, by diligent enquirie, was thus quēched out, the Cardinall began to com­men with the duke of Gloucester, concernyng the affaires and busines of Fraunce: and suspecting that the truce would not long continue be­twene bothe y^• 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 maintenaūce of the warres, and resistence of their enemies. Wherupon the Duke of Gloucester, called a Parlia­ment, in the whiche, money was assigned, and men wer appointed. Du­ryng whiche Parliament, Iames the kyng of Scottes, sent Ambassa­dors, to conclude a peace, with the duke of Gloucester, whiche, (because the kyng was abs [...]nte) referred the matter to the iij. estates. After long consultacion, (not without greate argumentes) a peace was graunted and concluded, whiche all men iudged, long to continue, because kyng Iames, was then vexed, with ciuil warre and intestine discencion, and also the Frenchemen had taken truce, (as you haue hard) for .vi. yeres.

VVHEN the parliament was finished, the cardinall wel garnished with men and money, departed out of Englande, and came to Roan to the kyng, to whom also resorted from Paris, Iohn, Duke of Bedford, to debate and consult of thynges, not vnlikely to happen and chaunce. Wherfore, a greate counsail was celebrate, within the Castle of Roan, and many doubtes wer moued, and fewe waighty thynges out of hand concluded. Some imagined, that their enemies, would not long kepe promise, nor yet obserue the truce, by them solemply graunted: conside­ryng, that the Frenche hartes brente, and their iyes were very sore, to se the riche Duchie of Normandy, the faire citee of Paris, and the plea­saunt [Page Cxxj] Isle of Fraunce, to be brought and reduced, vnder the obeysaūce and subieccion, of thenglish nacion. Wherfore, thei would not omit, or ouerse one thyng, that soūded to defence, least the Frenchmen sodainly, (not keping their promes, & brekyng the truce,) might cause thenglish­men to be in greate & perilous ieoperdy, not knowyng what coūsaill to take, nor sodainly to prouide a remedy for a mischief, bothe for lacke of men and substaunce. Other wer of opinion, that nombres of men, could not long be maintained and kepte together, without breache of truce, and violatyng of peace: knowyng that the handes of men, be properly geuen to spoyle, and euer redy to gain, and moste especially, when thei be daily redy in harneis, prone and quicke to set on their enemies. And therfore, thei would the walled tounes, to be wel manned and defēded, 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 argumētes ended, the dukes of Bedford and Yorke, and Edmond late erle of Mortayn, and now by the death of Ihon duke of Somerset, (whiche died without heire male, leauing behind hym, a sole doughter called Margaret, after, countesse of Richemōd) 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 disburssed, and to aduoyde all doubtes, 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 torneis 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 at the restraint 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 apprehended, and after due examinacion had, diuerse were put to death, and many bani­shed & exiled the Marches for euer. After that he had purged the toune 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 harte would not serue hym: for sith his depar­ture, 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 partely you haue hard) the sure loue, and approued fi­delitie, betwene the duke of Burgoyn, his brother in lawe and hym, be­gan [Page] to waxe fainte and colde. For whiche cause, he, beyng persuaded by the lorde Lewes of Luxenborough, bishoppe of Tyrwine and Ely, and Chauncellor of Fraunce for kyng Henry, agreed to marye the Lady Iaquet, doughter to Peter, Erle of sainct Paule, and nicce to the saied bishop, and to lorde Ihon of Luxenborough: to the intent, that by this newe affinitie, the olde acquaintaunce and familiaritie, whiche he had with that noble familie of Luxēborough, should be reneued and infor­ced, and with a more surer knot, knit and confirmed. Wherupon, he de­parted from Calice to Tirwyne, where, he was highly receiued of the Erle of sainct Paule, and of his brethren, and there he maried, the faire and freashe lady Iaquet, of the age of .xvii. yeres, with all triumphe and nup [...]iall solempnitie. After whiche Ceremony ended, he returned with his newe spouse to Calice, and so into Englande, where, he with his wife remained, vntil August next, and then returned again to Pa­ris. The duke of Burgoyne, (whose mynde began to incline, a litle and litle, toward kyng Charles) was sore greued and angry, that the duke of Bedforde, was ioyned in affinitie, with the noble and famous hous of Luxēborough: by the whiche he sawe, that the power of the English­men, should be greatly aduaunced. But the mariage was fully ended, and he could finde no remedy.

¶The eleuenth yere.The .xi. yere.

WHile these thynges were doyng thus, in other places the French souldiors lackyng wages, (and emōgest theim, a greate nombre, whiche in hope of prey, and desire of spoile, 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 theim, at their pleasures. And although, thei were prohibited thus to do, (duryng the time of truce & peace) yet inconclusion, thei spared not, openly to robbe, spoyle, and burne: yea, & to steale tounes, whiche thei affirmed to be no breache of truce. The Englishemen, pricked and vexed, with these open wronges, and manifest iniuries, prepared for warre, after the sixe mo­neth, that the truce was taken and concluded. And by this meanes, the war was reneued and begonne again. The vntrue Frenchemen, brea­kers of peace, and not kepers of truce, reysed a crewe of men, and soda­inly tooke the toune of sainct Ualerie, standyng in Normandy, on the Riuer of Soame: and another army, vnder the cōduict of sir Ambrose, lorde of Lore, wasted and destroyed all the countrey aboute Caen. The Duke of Bedford, not myndyng to lie still in ydlenesse, sent the Erle of Arundell, the Erle 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. Wh [...]che Erle, with the shot of a Canon, brake the arche of the bridge, [Page Cxxij] and gat from the Frenchmen, their bulwarke, and set it on fire. Diuerse assautes were attempted, but the toune was well defended: for within, wer shut vp, eight hūdred men of armes, beside other meane souldiors.

THE duke of Bedford, beyng therof aduertised, gathered an armie of sixe thousande men of warre, whereof wer capitaines, Robert, Lorde Willoughby, sir Andrewe Ogard, Chamberlein to the duke, sir Ihon Saluaine, Baylife of Roan, sir Ihon Montgomerie, Bailife of Caux, sir Phillip Halle, Baylife of Uernoyle, sir Richard Ratclife, deputie of Calice, sir Raufe Neuell, sir Raufe Standishe, sir Ihon Hanforde, sir Richard Euthin, sir Richard Harryngton, Bailife of Eurenx, sir Wil­liam Fulthorpe, sir Thomas Griffyne of Irelande; Dauy Halle, Tho­mas Stranguish, Leonard Ornestō, Esquiers, and Thomas Gerard, whiche solde the toune of Mounstrean Faultyon, to the Frenchemen: and with all thynges necessarye, came to the siege before Laigny. He, there, made a bridge of boates, and brought his ordinaunce so nere the toune, that to all people, it semed not long able to resist. But the Erle of Dumoys Bastard of Orleaunce, with diuer [...]e hardy capitaines, as valiauntly repulsed, as the Englishemen assauted. This siege conty­neued, as fire against flame, and sometyme flame against fire. For al­though the Englishemen slewe more nombre, yet thei gat neither prey, nor boty: and although the Frenchemen, kepte valeauntly the walles, and defended the loupes, yet thei loste bothe men and capitaines, and wer long secluded from their aide and succors, til Charles the Frenche kyng, perceiuyng this toune, to be the thre corner key, betwene the ter­ritories of the Englishemen, the Burgonyons, and his awne, and that the losse therof, should turne hym to innumerable damages, and incre­dible hurtes, sent the lorde of Rieux, Poyton, the Heire, the lorde Gan­cort, and sixe thousand men, with great plentie of vitailes, to thentent, either to reise the siege, or to vitaile the toune. The French capitaines, made a bragge, as though thei would fight with thenglishemen, with­in their felde and Campe. The Englishemen would not issue out, but kept themselfes in good ordre, euer lokyng for, their entrie and inuasiō. The Regent perceiuyng, that thei approched not, sente to theim an he­rault of Armes, declaryng his intent, and the corage of his company, whiche nothyng more desired, then battaill. And to shewe hymself as a capitain, meanyng that, which he offred, & not dissimulyng that, whiche he spake: he incontinent, diuided his men into three battailes, no more wisely ordered, the pollitiquely gouerned: as who would saie, come on Frencheman, if thy harte will serue. But his aduersaries, more craftie 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 feates) thei did nothyng. For, while thei made a proude bragge, and a stoute skirmishe with the Englishemen, thei ap­poynted diuerse rude and rusticall persones, to conueye into the toune, xxx. oxē and other small vitaill, but this swete gain, was sowerly paied [Page] 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, besid other common people, whiche bought that bargayne, about the price of the common Markette. The Frenchemen, perceiuyng their infortunate chaunce, and not only consyderyng, the vnspekeable heate, whiche then weried their people, beyng in the beginnyng, of the hote 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 daūgerous 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, thei 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 Gamcort, and other chieftaines of his army, offeryng hym battail, and a pitched 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 battaill thei feared not, nor the Englishe puys­saunce, thei not muche regarded, but thei saied: that tyme was to gain, and tyme was to 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 Lore, with .vii.C. horsemen, to robbe and spoyle the poore people, commyng to the faier, on the day of sai [...]ct Mi­chaell the Archangell, kepte in the suburbes of the toune of Cae [...]. But whē Dauy Halle Esquier, capitain of the toune, for the duke of Yorke, issued out to fight with hym, 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 yelded: wherof some wer hanged, some hedded, and some raunsomed at the pleasure of the Regent: and suche ende had the tray­tors, whiche would by treason, rather then by battaill, obtained their prey and desired purpose.

THIS pageaunt plaied, the Regent sent Peter of Luxenborough Erle of sainct Paule, and Robert, lorde Willoughby, with a competēt [Page Cxxiij] crue of men, to besige the toune of Sainct Ualerie, whiche the Frenche men 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 Uancort, sir Phillippe de la Toure, and sir Reignold de Uerseilles, capitaines, with three hundred good fightyng men, which by the space of iii. wekes, manfully defended thesame. But at the .xxi. daie, thei perceiuyng the fiersenes of thenglishemen, and the weakenes of themself [...]s, (hauyng no hope of relief, nor confidence in a­ny aide) rendered the toune, their horsse and harneis onely saued. The Erle put, in the garrison of the toune, freashe and valeaunt souldiors, and appoynted capitain there, sir Ihon Awbemorid: in whiche toune sodainly, (whether it wer by infecciō of the ayre, or by corrupt vitail by long liyng, whiche the tounes men did eate,) a great pestilence sprang, in the infortunate coūtrey. 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 of the people, within shorte space, wer destroyed and consumed.

AFTER this toune gotten, the Erle of sainct Paule, and the Lorde Willoughby, returned to the Regent, where, thei wer well welcomed. And after, thesaid Erle departed from Paris, to laie siege to the Castle of Monchas, but beyng encamped, nere to the toune of Blangy, he, by a sodain maladie, finished his daies, and departed the worlde, leauyng his seigniories, to Lewes his sonne and heire. For whiche dedde Erle, wer solempne obsequies kepte, bothe in Paris and in London, because he was father in lawe to the Regent. In the meane season, the Frenche­men entered into the costes of high Burgoyne, and brent, toke, and de­stroyed tounes: for whiche cause, the Burgonyons beyng sore displea­sed, assembled a greate army, bothe to reuenge their querels, and also to recouer again the tounes, from theim iniustely taken: to whom, (as to his frendes) the duke of Bedforde, sent Robert Lorde Willoughby, and sir Thomas Kiriel, with a conuenient company of souldiors, whi­che enteryng into the laundes of La [...]noys, wer encoūtred with a great nōbre of their enemies: but by whose force, (after long fight) the French men wer slain and dispersed: wherof wer left dedde in the feld, an hun­dred and sixtie horsemen, beside prisoners, whiche after in a fury, wer al killed and put to destruccion.

¶The .xii. yere.The .xii. yere.

WHile these chaunces thus happened in Fraunce, Ihō lord Talbot, gathered together, a crue of chosen men of war in England, to the nombre of viii.C, & sailed into Norman­dy, and passed by Roan toward Paris, and in his way, he toke the strong Castle of Ioing, betwene Beauoys and Gisors, and caused all the Frenchmen within, to be hanged on the wal­les, [Page] and after, raised and defaced the Castle, and came to the Duke of Bedford, to Paris. The presence of which renoumed capitain, (a mar­uelous thyng it is to se) so incoraged the hartes of the English nacion, that thei thought, nothyng able to resist their puyssaunce, and so disco­raged the hartes of the Frenchemen, that thei wer in doubt, whether it wer better to fight, or to flie. And this was not without a cause: for su­rely, he was a chosen capitain, & in marcial feates, a man fully instruc­ted, and his corage and practise in warre, was fearfull to the Frenche nacion, and to his awne coūtremen, an especial hope and a sure defence. When this hardy Baron, had commoned with the Regent, and agreed what waie he should take, without long delay or prolongyng of tyme, he departed from Paris with his army, and desieged the Castle of Be­aumont vpon Oise, wherof was capitain, sir Amadour de Uignolles, brother to the Heire. Whiche castle was sone rendered, vpon condiciō. After that, he regained without long siege, the tounes of Creile, the bridge of sainct Maxens, the new toune in Esinoy, Crespy in Ualoys, and Cleremoūt in Beauoys: and so with greate riches, and fatte priso­ners, he returned again to Paris. Thus, prosperous successe happe­ned, not to the lorde Talbot alone: but also thesame very season, therle of Arundell, toke the Castle of Bomelyne, and raised it to the ground, and after, tooke by force the Castle of Dorle, and from thence came to sainct Seleryne, where the lorde Ambrose of Lore, was capitain, whi­che issued out, and fought with the Englishemen so egerly at the firste, that he droue theim backe an arowe shot by fine force. But the Erle so incoraged his men, that thei toke newe corages to them, and set to fiers­ly on the Frenchemen, that thei slewe a greate nombre, and droue the remnaunt into the toune.

AFTER this victory, he besieged Louiers, wherof was capitain, the Heire, and his brother, whiche rendered the toune, without stroke or as­saute. For all this good lucke, therle forgat not to returne, to the toune of S. Seleryne, but assembled a great army, and enuironed the toune about with a strong siege. Whē he had lien there almoste .iij. monethes euery daie attemptyng or dooyng somewhat, for the performaunce of his enterprise, in conclusion at the thre monethes ende, he gaue so fierce an assault, that by force he entred the toune, and slewe Ihon Allemagne and Gulliam sent Aubyne, the chief capitaines, and .viij.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, and municiōs, and made there capitain, sir Ihon Cornwale. Whiche act 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, deliuered to him pledges, vpon this condicion: that if thei wer not rescued, within .xxx. daies nexte insuyng, then thei, (their lifes saued) should rendre the toune, into his possession: whiche offre was taken. [Page Cxxiiij] The capitaines within the toune, sent a post to the French kyng, to ad­uertise hym of their hard chaunce, whiche incontinent sent to them, Ar­thur, Erle of Richemond, (but after some writers, Ihon, duke of Alaun son) 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 Erle, (take whiche you list) liying by a brooke side, whiche a man might stride ouer, seyng the Englishemen, so warlike and strongly em­battailed, thought it not for his profite, to geue battaill, or to sette for­ward: but in the dedde time of the night, cowardly fled, and with shame returned: although some Frēche writers affirme, that he loked that the erle of Arundell, should haue geuen hym battaill, and because he pro­fered not forward, therfore the Frenchmen departed. This appereth to be an apparaunt lye, and a Frenche bragge: for if thei came to rescewe the toune, why did not thei geue battaill, & so driue away thenglishmen from the toune? If thei came to fight, why departed thei without any stroke striken? But it semeth that thei came, to make a French 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 toune knew, that their succors failed, thei rendred themselfes, to the mercy of therle of Arundel, which gently receiued thē, & leauyng a gar­rison in the toune, departed to Mauns, and in the meane waie, toke the Castles, of Mellay and sainct Laurēce. About this tyme, the lord Wil­loughby, and sir Thomas Kiriell, returnyng with great victories out of the parties of Burgoyne, tooke in their waie, the toune of Louiers, and furnished it, bothe with men, and municions.

EMONGEST so many good chaunces, some euill are accustomed to fall and happen, or els the gayners, will not knowe themselfes. So it happened, that a greate nōbre, of rude and rustical persones in Nor­mādy, dwellyng by y^• sea coast, either prouoked, or intised therunto, by the Frenche kyng, or desirous of alteracion and chaūge, (whiche thyng the commen people muche couete and desire) made an insurreccion, and put on harneis, & by force expulsed certain garrisōs, out of their houl­des, and toke certain tounes: publishyng and proclaimyng opēly, that their onely purpose and intent was, to expel and banish, the whole En­glishe nacion, out of their coūtreys and coastes. Wherfore, it maie eui­dently appere, that the blacke Ethyopian, or the blacke coloured rauē, wil soner turne their colours, that the vniuersal people, bred in Fraūce will hartely loue, or inwardly fauor, an Englishe borne child. And yet, the Normans of long tyme, louyngly and gentely, haue obeyed to the subieccion of Englande, and haue of the Englishe nacion, been wel ac­cepted and regarded, but now thei, forgettyng their duetie, and remē ­bryng their hurtes, did not doubt, to rebell against their prince and so­ueraigne Lorde.

[Page] THIS mischeuous cōpany, thus frantiquely gathred together, with all spede marched toward Caen, to the intent there, bothe to assemble a greater nombre of people, and also to consult, what way thei should fo­low in their newe begon attēptate. But the dukes of Yorke & Somer­set, whiche then wer liyng in Normandy, hearyng of this vngracious faccion & troubelous cōmocion, & hauyng knowledge by their espials what iorney thei intended to take: incōtinent without delay, sent therle of Arundell, and the lorde Willoughby, with .vj.M. archers, and .xiij. hundred light horsses, to staie and kepe them, either for settyng furthe, or makyng 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, whē thei should approch. The lorde Willoughby, couertly couered hymself and his company, sendyng worde to the Erle, 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 buckestalle, or the sely coneis into the secrete hay. When the ignoraunt multitude, approched nere to the place of the stale, the Erle made a to­ken, and shot a gonne for a signe. Then the Lorde Willoughby, set on them before, and the Erle 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 nothing but death. Therle of Arundel, (moued with compassiō) caused his souldiors to leaue of & staye, from farther murther or bloud sheding, & 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 commocion appeaced, and the sodain rage in the be­ginnyng staied and brideled, diligēt inquirie was made of the malefa­ctors, and suche as wer found gilty, by diuerse terrible execucions, (ac­cordyng to their desertes,) miserably ended their traiterous lifes. Du­ryng whiche rebellion, Peter Rokefort and his cōpany, gat by treason the toune of Deape, & diuerse other houldes, therunto adioynyng. Af­ter the Erle 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 Bed ford, beyng informed, that his aduersaries, had sodainly surprised & takē the toune of Rue, and therin had put a garrison, which sore vexed the coūtreis of Ponthiew, Arthoys, and Bolenoys, sent word to therle, that he, without delaye, should besiege thesaid toune. Therle obeyed to his cōmaundement, and incontinent, sente for all the people vnder his [Page Cxxv] gouernaunce, & in his marchyng forward, came to Gourney, where he heard tel, how y^• there was a certain Castle, nere Beauoys, called Ger­borye, whiche 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 countrey of Beauoys: Charles the Frēche kyng commaunded sir Stephen de Ueignolles, commonly called the Heire, to se the castle reedefied and fortified. Thesaid sir Stephen with a greate company, came to the grounde, and lackyng 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 preiudicial to the Englishe part, determined first to take the Castle, supposyng litle or no resistence, therein to be shutte vp, but he was deceiued, for there was the Heire, with many good and valeaunte capitaines. The Erle with fiue hundred horsmen, encamped hymself in a litle close, nor farre from the Castle: the Frenchemen, whiche wer thre thousande men, perceiuyng that the Erle and his horses wer wery, and that his archars wer not yet come, determined for their aduauntage to set on him, before the cōmyng of his footemen, whiche thei knewe to be litle more, then a mile behynd the Erle. Wherfore, for a pollicie, thei set furthe fiftie horssemen, as though there were no mo in the Castle. The Erle 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 remnaunte, and slewe sir Randolfe Standishe, and all his company, and boldly set on the Erle and his bande, whiche manfully defended them, so that the Frenchmen gat litle aduauntage, for al their great nombre. The Heire perceiuyng the hartes, corage and defence of the Englishe people, cau­sed thre Culuerynes to be shot emongest theim, whereof, one strake the Erle on the ancle, and so brake his legge, that for pain he fell from his horsse, then the Frenche men entered emongest the Englishe army, and tooke the erle, beyng on the grounde, prisoner, and sir Richard Wood­uile, and sixe score more, and there wer slain almoste twoo C. The rem­naunt saued them selfes aswell as thei might. The Erle was caried to Beauoys, wher, of this hurte he shortly died, and was buried in the fri­ers Minors. He was a man of a singuler vertue, constancie and graui­tie, whose death in so troubelous a worlde, did sore appall the hartes of his nacion. By this infortune, Rue was not besieged, nor Gerborie ta­ken, suche is the chaunce of warre, thus Lady Fortune daily turneth her whiele, and mightie Mars, often varied his countenaunce, so that one tyme the Englishemen gat by assaut and yeildyng, 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 sted. Whiche daily attemptes, Io­mit [Page] and ouer passe, because in thē, no notable acte, nor greate Warlike feate was doen or committed. For small thynges, require litle writyng, and t [...]we actes, require lesse speakyng. For I assure you, that he, which should write the negligent losses, and the pollitique gaines, of euery 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 notable 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 again to other thynges acci­dentall whiche chaunced in this .xii. yere.

ABOVT the moneth of Iune, Ihon duke of Burbon and Auerne, taken prisoner at the battaill of Agyncourte, xviii. yeres paste, (as you before haue heard) now paiyng his raunsome, whiche was .xviii.M.l. sterlyng, and hauyng ready prepared all thynges necessary, for his tri­umphaunt returne into his countrey, was taken with a moste sore and greuous [...]euer, whiche sh [...]rtely vnbodied his soule, in the citee of Lon­don, on the daie appoynted, for his departure into Fraūce: whos [...] corps was enterred, in the Grey Friers of thesaied citee. So by this, euery creature maie se: that man purposeth & God disposeth. I maie not for­get a chaunce whiche happened this yere, to thexample of princes, and a spectacle of gouernors. For the deuill hymself, to set farther diuision betwene the Englishe and Frenche nacion did apparell certain catche­poules, and Parasites, cōmonly called titiuils and tale tellers, to sowe discord and dissencion, betwene the dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne, not fainyng trifles nor phātasies, but thynges of reproche, repugnaūt to bothe their honors, estates, and dignities, with the whiche, eache 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 obliuiō. Suche a pestilent breath hath Flattery, and suche mischief ensueth, of Princes light credence. This grudge was perceiued, by their mutuall frendes, whiche by charitable exhortacion 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 Oners, beyng the duke of Burgoyns toune, and thither, accordyng to his appoyntment, he in honorable estate, came and resor­ted, 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 & souereigne of the toune, iudged it not 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 [Page Cxxvj] was not accepted, & so, bothe parties departed discontent, & 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 proude disdain, and enuious discord, shortly Englande lost, and Bur­goyne gayned not long, as you shall perceiue, in this history ensuyng.

¶The .xiii. yere.The .xiii. yere.

THe Bastard of Orleaunce, called the erle of Duinoys, the lorde Rocheford Marshal of Fraunce, with other in the beginnyng of this .xiii. yere, tooke the toune of saincte Denise by treason, and skirmished with theim of Paris, and leauyng behynd hym a greate garrison, tooke the toune of Howdone, and the bridge of saincte Maxence by composicion, and at that time was taken the toune, of Pount Meulane, by sodain scalyng of twoo fisshermen: whiche entered vp at a common priuie, standyng on the walle. Thus tounes vnwalled, wer preys to rauenous men of war, so that the poore inhabitauntes within theim, (not beyng able to kepe 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 thei beyng nedy and innocente people, should be vexed and turmented, with the vnreasonable men of warre: So that in all Christendome, no Region was more vnquiete, more vexed, more poore, nor more to be pitied, then the coūtrey of Fraūce. And although the rude and poore people, suffered many plagues and aduersities: yet the souldiors, prospered not in all thynges. For although prey & spoyle sometyme refreshed their mindes, and did comfort their stomackes, yet sometyme thei wer slain, taken, and licked vp, or thei were ware. For e­uery prince studied, and circumspectly compassed, how to kepe, defende and releue, the citees and tounes, of their seuerall faccion, and pri­uate fidelitie. Wherfore, when sacietie of slaughters, and aboundaunce of murthers, had replenished the stomackes, of bothe the nacions, and that bothe in generall, perceiued their hurtes, pondered their losses, and considered their ruynes, and daily affliccions: although their sto­mackes wer haute, and their hartes stony, yet thei waxed softe, priuely inclinyng to peace, and wisshyng concord, and not without an vrgente cause: For all thynges necessary to mannes liuyng, penurie shewed her self furth, and aboundaūce was hidden in a caue. The corne feldes laie vntilled, the meddowes were ouer troden, the woodes were spoyled, so that all men went to harneis, and no man to the plough. The churches were seldome vsed for deuocion, but many tyemes spoyled, for desire of gayne. These, and suche innumerable mischiefes, caused bothe the peo­ple, beyng enemies, to desire peace, and yet the one part, disdained opē ­ly to offre it, or the other priuatly to receiue it.

THE crie and noyes of this perillous and insaciable warre, was [Page] blasted through Europe, detested through Christendom, and especial­ly, at the Counsaill of Basill, where then themperor Alberte, and al the princes and potestates of Christendome, or their deputies, were assem­bled, for the vniō of the vngracious scisme, in the vsurped sea of Rome vntruly, and against all scripture, called sainct Peters sea. Wherfore, the Emperor and the temporall princeis, supposyng the exhortacion of Spirituall fathers, should more profite emongest the twoo high sto­macked, and proude encoraged nacions, of Englande and of Fraunce, desirered Eugeny then bishop of Rome, to be the author and arbitrer, of that great strife and contencion: so that by his meanes, counsail and exhortacion, 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 muche were their hartes hardened, and so princely were their stomackes. And one thyng, muche put them in hope, of some good con­clusiō, because the duke of Burgoyn was willyng, (so that it wer not of his awne suite,) to returne and reconcile himself, to Charles, his mortal enemie and auncient aduersary. Wherfore, by authoritie of this gene­rall Counsaill, two discreite persones, called the Cardinalles of sainct Crosse, & Cypres, came to the toune of Arras in Arthoys, whither, were sente for the kyng of Englande, Henry Beaufford, Cardinall of Wyn­chester, Henry, Archebishop of Yorke, Williā de la Pole Erle of Suf­folke, and Ihon Hollande Erle of Huntyngdon, with diuerse other knightes and Esquiers: and for the Frenche kyng, were there present, Charles Duke of Burbon, Lewes Erle of Uandosme, Arthur of Bry­tayne Constable of Fraunce, the Archebishop of Reyns, and sir Phil­lip Harcort. There, was the duke of Burgoyne, in proper persone, ac­companied with the duke of Gelders, and the Erles of Estampes, Ly­gnye, sainct Paule, Uaudemont, 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 thre parties, the innumerable mischiefes, the multitude of incōueniencies, whiche had succeded, through al Christendom, by their daily discord and continuall discencion: exhortyng and requiryng thē, for the honor of God, for the loue that thei bare to the settyng furthe of Christes religion, and for the aduaūcement, of the publique wealth of all Christendō, that thei would laye all rancor apart, represse all wrath and anger, and conforme themselfes to reason, and to Godly concorde, by the whiche, thei should receiue, honor, profite, and continuall quiet­nesse, in the worlde, and of God, a reward euerlastyng. After whiche ad­monicion, thus to them geuen, and after diuerse daies of communica­cion, euery part brought in their demaund, whiche wer moste contrary, and harde to come to a good conclusion. The Englishemen required, that kyng Charles should haue nothyng, but at the hande of the kyng of Englande, and that not as duetie, but as a benefite, by hym of his [Page Cxxvij] mere liberalitie geuen, and distributed, to whiche the Frenchmen aun­swered, that kyng Charles would haue the kyngdom, frākely & frely, without begging it, of another man: requiryng the kyng of England, to leaue the name, Armes, and title of the Kyng of Fraunce, and to be content with the dukedoms of Aquitain and Normādy, and to forsake Paris, and all the tounes, whiche thei possessed in Fraunce, betwene the Riuers of Loyre and Soame, beyng no percell of the Du [...]hie of Normandy. The Englishemen, loth to lease so good a boty as Paris, did not esteme and allowe, the demaundes of the French Ambassadors and thei on the otherside, couetyng and desiryng, to obtein 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 other, letted concord, peace, and quietnes. The Cardinals, seyng the frostie hartes, and hardened myn­des of bothe parties, determined not, to despute the titles, but offered to them, honest and reasonable condicions, of truce and peace, for a sea­son: whiche articles bothe parties, either for frowardnes, or for disdain openly refused: In so muche as, the Englishmen in greate displeasure, departed to Calice, and so into Englande. One writer affirmeth, that thei beyng warned of a secrete conspiracie moued against theim, soda­inly remoued from Arras, and so sailed into their countrey.

VVHILES this treatie of peace, was thus in cōmunicacion at Ar­ras, the Lorde Talbot, the Lorde Willoughby, the lorde Scales, with the Lorde Lisle Adame, and fiue thousande men, besieged the toune of S. Denise, with a strong bande. The Erle of Dumoys hearyng ther­of, accompanied with the Lorde Lohac, and the lorde Bueill, & a great company of horsemen, haisted thitherward, to rayse the siege, and in the meane waie, thei encountered with sir Thomas Ki [...]iell, and Matthew Gouthe, ridyng also toward. S. Denise, betwene whom, was a great conflict, and many slain on bothe parties: but sodainly came to the aide of the Frenchmen, the garrison of Poūt Melance, whiche caused then­glishemen to returne, without any great arme or damage, sauyng that Matthew Gouth, by founderyng of his horsse, was taken and caried to Pount Melance. Duryng whiche fight, the toune of sainct Denise, was rendered to the lorde Talbot, and the other lordes, whiche caused al the walles to be raised, and abated doune to the ground, sauyng the walles of the Abbay, and a Toure called Uenyn. After this toune got­ten, the Lorde Willoughby, left sir Ihon Ruppelley at Pounthoyse, & departed to gouerne Paris, whiche then began to smoke, and sone af­ter, brast out in flame, (as you shall shortly, apparaūtly perceiue). After whose departure, thenhabitaines of Pounthoyse rebelled, & droue out thenglishmen 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 Normandy, so that now the gate betwene them bothe, was set open and the passage at large.

[Page] LET vs now again, returne to the counsail at Arras. After the En­glishe Ambassadors wer departed, the Frenchemen and the Burgony­ons, began familiarly to common of a peace, and talke of an amitie, to the whiche mocion, Phillip duke of Burgoyne, was neither deiffe nor straunge: for he in the beginnyng of his rule, beyng 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 thenglishe power, and to serue the kyng of Englād 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 happened, contrary to his expectacion, that the kyng of Englande, by the right course of inheritaunce, tooke vpon hym the whole rule and gouernaunce, within the realme of Fraunce, and ordered by the aduise of his coūsaill, al causes, iudgementes, war­res, and cōcordes, & that the duke iudged, 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 Orleaunce, 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 him self in condicions 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 doen homage, leage, and sworne fealtie. Now this Counsaill, was to hym a cloke for the rayne, as who should say, that he sought not amitie, of the Frēche kyng, (whi­che thyng in his harte, he moste coueted and desired) but was therunto persuaded, by the generall counsaill, and by the bishop of Rome, whom it was reason, in all honest requestes, 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 condiciōs: that he should haue to hym de­liuered, the counteis of Arthoys, Ponthiew, and Bullonoys, and the tounes of Amience, Corby, Mondidier, Peron, 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 be redeliuered 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, whiche 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 [Page Cxxviij] condicions, (consideryng the state of the tyme, and the occasion of concorde, moste apparauntly offered to hym,) ought neither to be re­fused nor cast awaie, the whiche chaunce, was to hym luckey and fortu­nate: for surely, y^• thyng foresene and loked for, succeded 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 cōmunicaciō) standing vp vpō his fete, said to him these wordes.

DVKE Phillipp cosin, and pere of Fraunce,The oracion of the French Kyng to the du [...]e of Burgoyne. with all my harte wel­come, and at your comming, my harte is fulfilled with ioy, and my spi­rites be refreshed with solace, for now, all doubte of the recouery, of my lande and seigniory, is clerely banished, and fully abandoned: conside­ryng that I haue now, ioyned and vnited to me, the principall yere, the moste noble prince, (nexte to the Croune) and the moste valeaunt capi­tain, that hath been, or is, in our daies, sene, or knowen, whom the nobi­litie honor, the chiualrie fauor, and the poore commons 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 limite. For surely, this text was euer beaten much in my hedde: that euery realme, deuided emongest theimselfe, should turne to desolaciō, and that all discord, should bryng pouertie, and that of al discencion, should succeade misery: which intollerable calamities, I euer iudged 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 rootes, and put out, all the Englishe nacion, out of our realmes, territories, and dominions. And if you helpe vs, (as you maie) and if you aide vs, (as you be able) we here promise you, in the worde 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 nothing, that appertayned to his duetie, nor forget any poynt, whiche might turne to his dishonor.

VVHEN this league was sworne, and this knot was knit, the duke of Burgoyne, to lette a vayle, before the kyng of Englandes iyes, sent Thoison Dor, his kyng at Armes, to kyng Henry with letters: that he, beyng not only waxed faint, and wetled, 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, affirmyng, 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 [Page] forward, and that he more diligētly studied, and intentiuely toke pain, bothe to kepe, and maintein thenglishmen in Fraunce, and also to ad­uaūce and promote their desires, & intentes, rather then to restore kyng Charles his cosyn, to his rightful inheritaunce, & paternal possession: by reason of which thynges, and many other, he was in maner compel­led and const [...]ained, 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 thē, and to make an ende of the war, whiche so long had continued, to the decay of bothe the realmes, and to the effusion of Christen bloud, beside the great dis­pleasure of almightie God, whiche is the author of peace and vnitie: promisyng hym his aide, and furtheraunce in that behalfe, with many glosyng and flatteryng wordes, whiche I passe ouer.

HERE is to be noted, that the Duke of Burgoyne, whiche thought hymself by this concord, in maner dishonored, and spotted with infamy sente his letters to the Kyng of Englande, rather to purge and excuse hymselfe, of his vntruth and infidelitie, (yea of periury, if a poore man maie vse that terme, of so greate a prince) to thentent that it should ap­pere, that he, by cōpulsion, and not by voluntarie affeccion, 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 [...]ally regarded of the kyng of England, and his sage coū ­saill: not onely for the waightines of the matter, but also for the sodain chaunge of the man, & for the straūge superscripcion of the letter, which was: To the high and mightie Prince, Henry, by the grace of GOD Kyng of Englande, his vvelbeloued cosyn: Neither namyng hym kyng of Fraunce, nor his souereigne lorde, accordyng as, (euer before that tyme) he was accustomed to do. Wherfore al thei, whiche wer present, beyng sore mo­ued with the craftie deede, & vntrue demeanor of the duke, (whom thei so muche trusted) could neither temper their passions, nor moderate their yre, nor yet bridle their toungues; but openly called hym traytor, deceiuer, and moste inconstant prince. But when the rumor of the Du­kes returnyng, was published emongest the common people, thei lefte woordes and went to stripes: for thei beyng moued and pricked, with this vnhappie tidynges, ran fiersly vpon all the Flemynges, Hollan­ders, and Burgonyons, whiche then inhabited within the citee of Lon­don, and the suburbes of thesame, and slewe and hurte, agreate nom­bre of them, before thei, by the kynges proclamacion, could be prohibi­ted, to leaue of and abstain, from suche violence, and iniurious doyng: for the kyng nothyng more mynded, then to saue innocent bloud, and defende them, whiche had not offended.

AFTER the letter twise redde, and wisely brooked, he willed the of­ficer at Armes, to tell his master, that it was not conuenient, nor hono­rable for hym, to be enemie to the Englishe nacion, without cause or occasion geuen, but his duetie, (all thynges consydered) was to haue [Page Cxxix] kept his auncient truthe and oulde allegeaūce, rather then to be the oc­casion, of newe warre and freashe discencion: aduertisyng hym farther, that it was not the poynt of a wisemā, to leaue and let passe, the certain for the vncertain, admonishyng hym also, not to myngle 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 and his counsaill, thought and determined, to worke some displeasure to the duke, and to set some conspiracie, against hym in his awne coūtrey. Wherfore by rewardes, thei did su [...]or [...]e and cor­rupt certain gouernors and rulers, of tounes and cities, within the du­kes countreis and dominiōs, (which nacions surely, be euer proc [...]ue & ready, to commocion and rebellion.) But 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 English­men, was not long like to continue, within the realme of Fraūce, more for feare, then loue of their Duke, sat still and moued not, but let other tounes alone, whiche sore troubled the Dukes wittes, and a greate while, did disquiet and vexe his senses.

THIS yere the .xiiij. daie of September, died Ihon Duke of Bed­ford, Regent of Fraunce, a man, as pollitique in peace, as hardy in war and yet no more hardy in warre, then mercifull, when he had victory, whose bodye was, with greate funerall solempnitie, buried in the Cathedrall churche of our Lady, in Roan, on the Northside of the high aulter, vnder 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 noble men 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 feldes: affirmyng, 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 be to vs, or to you, to breake this monumēt, and to pull out of the ground and take vp, the deed bones of hym, whō in his life, neither my father, nor your progenitors, with all their po­wer, puyssaūce, and frēdes, wer once able, to make flie one foote backe­ward, but by his strength, witte, and pollicie, kepte theim all out of the principall 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 liue, 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 muche richer, and more beautifull.

¶The .xiiii. yere.The xiiii. yere.

[Page] AFter the death of this noble prince, and valeaunt capi­tain, the bright sunne, that commonly shone in Fraūce faire and beautifully vpon the Englishmen, began to be c [...]oudie, and daily to waxe darker: for the Frēchmen seyng the chief capitain taken awaie, began not onely to refuse their obedience, and loyaltie, whiche thei had sworne, and promised to the kyng of Englande, but ta­kyng swearde in hande, rebelled, persecuted, and openly defied the En­glishmen, yet all these mischaunces, not one poynt abated, the valeaūt corages of the Englishe people: for thei nothyng 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 corage, 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 deede, gaped and loked for) that by al waies and meanes possible, he bothe hindered and detracted hym, glad of his losse, and sory of his well dooryng, cau­syng hym 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, whiche he inwardly thought priuely, eche workyng thynges, to the others disple­sure. This cancard malice, and pestiferous diuision, so long continued, in the hartes of these twoo princes, till mortall warre consumed theim bothe, and almoste all their lynes and ofsprynges, as within few yeres you shall perceiue and se.

THE Normans of the countrey of Caux, beyng somewhat harte­ned, by the death of the duke of Bedforde, began a newe rebellion, and slewe diuerse Englishmen, and robbed many praty tounes, whiche wer of kyng Hēries faccion & part, & toke the toune of Harflew by assaute, and diuerse other tounes. The lorde Talbot beyng aduertised, of this rebellion, sent for the Lorde Scales, sir Thomas Kiriell, and the lorde Hoo, whiche afflicted and plagued the people of Caux, that thei 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 tillage, for all the people fled into Britayne, and all the bea­stes of the countrey, wer brought to Cawdebe [...], 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 muche that the Lorde Scales with foure hundred Englishemen, discomfited at the Rye beside Roan, the Heire and fiftene hundred valeaunt Frenchemen, and sir Richarde Reignold de Fountaynes, sir Aleyne Gerond, Alayne de Monsay, and Geffrey Grame capitain of the Scottes, and thre hundred, and mo wer taken prisoners, beside seuen faire and pleasaūt coursers. But this vic­torie staied not the hartes of the Frenche nacion, for their myndes were [Page Cxxx] 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 Depe, Boys de Uyncennes, and other.

HERE is one especiall poynte to be noted, that either the dis­dayne emongest 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, betwene the riuers of Soame and Marne, and in 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 English nacion, thou­sandes of men, apte and mete for the warre, and defence: now were sent into Fraunce, hundredes, yea scores, some rascall, and some not able to drawe a bowe, or cary a bill. For the lorde Willoughby, and the bishop of Tyrwyne, whiche had the gouernaunce, of the greate and large citie of Paris, had in their company, not two thousande Englishmen. Whi­che weakenes kyng Charles well perceiued. Wherefore he appoynted Arthur of Britayne, the Erle of Dumoys Bastarde of Orleaunce, the Lordes de la Roche, and Lisle Adame, and other valeaunt capitaines, aswell Burgonyons as Frenche, to go before Paris, trustyng by the fauor of certain citezens, 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 capitay­nes came before the citee of Paris, but perceiuyng, that all thynges succeded not, accordyng to their expectaciō, 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 multitude, thei wer compelled to flie into the Abbaye, and into the Toure of Uenyn, for succor and refuge: in whiche conflicte twoo hundred Englishemen wer slain, and the rest, vpon a reasonable composicion, rendered the toune, and departed to Paris.

THOMAS Lorde Beaumond, whiche of late was come to Paris with eight hundred men, issued out of Paris, with sixe hundred souldi­ors, onely intendyng to se, and vieue the doynges and nombre of the Frenche armye, but he was sodainly espied, and compassed aboute: so, that within a small space, he was discomfited and taken, and with hym foure score prisoners, beside twoo hundred whiche 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 Uniuersitie, and Michael Laillier, and many notable burgesses of the toune, (whi­che, euer with an Englishe countenaunce, couered a Frenche harte) per­ceiuyng the weakenes of the Englishemen, and the force and strengthe of the Frenchemen, signifiyng to the Frenche capitaines, their mindes and intentes, willed them to come with all diligence, to receiue so riche [Page] a prey to them, without any difficultie, offred and geuen. The Consta­ble delaiyng no tyme, cam with his power, and lodged by the Charter­hous: and the lorde Lisle Adame, approchyng the walles, shewed to the citezens, a charter, sealed with the greate seale of kyng Charles, by the whiche he had pardoned them their offences, and graunted to them all the old liberties and auncient priuileges, so thei would hereafter be to hym, obedient, true, and seruiceable. Whiche thyng to theim declared, thei ranne aboute the toune, criyng: sainct Denise, liue kyng Charles. The Englishemen perceiuyng this, determined to kepe the gate of. S Denise, but thei were deceiued, for the cheynes were drawen in euery streate, and women and children cast doune stones, and scaldyng water on the Englishemennes heddes, and the citezens persecuted them, from streate to streate, and from lane to lane, and slewe and 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 appeace the people, and represse their furie: but when thei saw, that all auailed not, thei withdrue theimselfes, to the Bastell of sainct Anthony, whiche fortresse, thei had well vitailed and furnished, with men and municions.

VVHILES 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 Iames, 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 cōpany, defended their fortresse, tenne daies, lokyng for aide, but when thei sawe that no comforte appered, thei yeilded their fortresse, so that thei & theirs, with certain baggage, might peaceably returne to Roan, whiche desire was to them graunted. Then as thei departed, the Pari­sians rayled, mocked, and taunted the Englishmen, with the moste spi­tefull wordes, and shameful termes, that could be inuented or deuised: so that all men maie apparauntly perceiue, that their hartes neuer thought, as their toungues vttered. For notwithstandyng their obey­saunce and fidelitie, sworne to Kyng Henry, and nothyng regardyng the finall composicion, to the whiche thei had sette their common seale, when thei sawe thenglishmen at the weakest, thei 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, ther alte­red officers, and ordained lawes, at his pleasure, for the surety & safe­garde of hym, his realme, and people.

AFTER this glorious gain, the Frenche kyng besieged the toune of Crayle, vpon Oyse, wherof sir William Chāberlayn, was capitain, whiche, with fiue hundred Englishmen, issued out of the toune, and af­ter long fight, discomfited his enemies, and slewe twoo hundred, and toke a greate nombre prisoners: the remnaunt not likyng their mar­ket, [Page Cxxxj] departed to Champeigne, and other tounes adioynyng. Duryng whiche season, xii. Burgesses of the toune of Gysors, solde it for 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 Scales, and thei bothe with .xviii. hundred men, rescued the Castle, toke the toune, and discomfited their enemies, and slewe of theim aboue foure hundred persones. Now was the old prouerbes verefied, that he that commeth a daie after the faire, commeth to late, and when the s [...]ede is stollen, it is no bote to shutte the stable dore. For when Paris, sainct Denise, sainct Germayns in Lay, and many other tounes in Fraunce, were taken and betrayed, for lacke of succors and sufficient 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 sente into Normandy, with eight thousande men, and in his com­pany, the Erles of Salisbury, and Suffolke, and the Lorde Fawcon­bridge, and diuerse valeaunt capitaines. When he was landed at Har­ [...]lewe, the Erle 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 Iustice in the countrey, wherfore the Normans in their Chronicle, highly extoll and muche magnifie hym, for that poynte: howbeit, thei saie, that he gat by long siege, the toune and Abbay of Fecāpe, 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 promise with the kyng of England, imagened with hymself, that the Englishemen were like shortely, to be expulsed out of al the tounes on that side the sea, and that thei had no certain refuge nor place to resorte to, out of ieoperdy, but onely the toune of Calice. Wherfore, he assembled his counsaill, and the heddes of the citees and tounes of Flaunders, Brabant, Hollande, and Zelande, in the toune of Gaunt, wher 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 pa­trimony, belongyng to his inheritaunce: she wyng farther, that thesaid toune was the golffe, and swallower vp, of all the golde & siluer of his countreis and dominions, for asmuche as ther, was the staple of wool­les, tynne, leade, and other marchaundise, for the whiche, the Englishe­men would take no common currant money, but onely gold and siluer, to the greate impouerishment of his seigniories, and Regions: saiyng farther, that Calice 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 detrimentes considered, he determined, (if thei would assent) shortly to recouer and conquer, that toune and the countie of Guisnes. To this purpose all the counsaill, and cōmon people, not onely agreed, [Page] 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 thei would haue it, within thre daies at the moste: thynkyng verely, that the toune of Calice, could no more resist their puyssaunce, then a potte of double beere, when thei fall to quaffyng.

TO tel you what ordenaūce was new cast, what pouder was bought what engynes were deuised, what harneis was prouided, what vitale was purueyed for this greate enterprise: I will not comber you, in re­hersyng euery thyng perticularly, because the Flemynges write, that the prouision was more then toung could speake, or harte could thinke yet you maie beleue as you list. These doynges were not so priuie, but sir Ihon Radcliffe deputie of the toune of Calice, was therof enformed and shortly of thesame, aduertised kyng Henry, and his counsaill, whi­che incontinent sent thither, the Erle of Mortayne sonne to the Duke of Somersette, and the Lorde Cammeys with .xv.C. men, and greate foyson of vitaille, whiche tissued out of Calice, and came before Graue­lyne, where thei wer encountered, with a greate nombre of Flemynges, whiche were shortly discomfited, and foure hundred of theim slain, and sixe score taken prisoners, and caried to Calice. And within twoo daies after, the Englishmen draue by fine force, the lordes of Waurayn and Bado, to the barriers of Arde, & discomfited the company, to the nōber of .xv.C. and slewe vij. valeaunt capitaines, and toke many gentlemen prisoners. Phillip duke of Burgoyne, abidyng still in his high & war­like enterprise, assēbled together of Flemynges, Pycardes, Hollāders, and Henowiers a great army, to the nombre of .xl.M. so well armed, so wel vitailed, so wel furnished with ordenaunce, & so wel garnished in al thynges, that thei thought in their hartes, and blasted emongest theim selfes, that the Calicians, would leaue the toune desolate, & flie for their sauegard, hearyng 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 intendyng to begin his greate conquest, besieged and assauted the litle and poore Castle of Oye, whiche hauyng in it but .L. souldiors, of the whiche .xii. sold their liues derely, the remnaunt compelled by necessity yeilded themselfes symplie to the duke, which to please the Gauntoys, beyng of the moste puissaunt cōpany in his army, liberally gaue to thē bothe the Castle and the prisoners, as a signe and token of good lucke, and fortunate victory. Whiche rude & beastly persons, nothyng expert in warre, or lawes of Armes, not only rased and abated the Castle, but also hanged .xxix. of the captiues, & had so doen with all the remnaunt if the duke (disdainyng their crueltie) had not intreated for 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 [Page Cxxxij] 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, myndyng not to lese the more for the lesse, nor the substaunce for the accident, wisshed them good lucke, and good fortune without any aide sēdyng. 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 theimselfes to the duke vpon condicion: that their lifes and lymmes should be saued, and so thei wer conueyed in suer custody, to the toune 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 Erle of Estampes, the Lordes of Dantoyng, Croy, Cresquy, Humyers, and many other valeaunt 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 most dis­pleasure of his enemies. He gaue thre great assautes to the toune, but his people wer not so fierce to assaut, but thenglishemen wer as quicke to defend: so that he, gainyng so litle at these iii. enterprises, was contēt to abstain frō farther approching toward the walles. At the first assaut the Heire, 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 arriued in the hauen, out of England, openly before his face, laden with vitail, municiōs, and men and also the Calicians would for the nonce, putte out cattaill into the marish, vnder the toune walles, the thentent to prouoke the Flemynges to come within their catchyng, and daungier, whiche beyng couetous of prey, and gayne, often aduentured, and seldome returned again: for many by this meanes wer taken prisoners, but many mo slain with or­denaunce. The duke one day rode about, to vieue and behold the situ­acion, and the walles of the toune, to thentent to take his moste aduaū ­tage, either by assaute or shot of ordenaunce. He was quickely espied, and with the stroke of a Canon, a trōpeter whiche rode next before him and thre horses in his company, wer slain out of hande. When he sawe that all thynges succeded not to his purpose, he firste set the Lorde of Croy, and a conuenient nombre, to besiege the castle of Guysnes, wher thesaied capitain gat litle profite, and did lesse harme: And after deui­sed how to stoppe the hauen, so that no succors should entre there, and also, to prohibite thē within the toune, to make any egresse or rode out­ward, and so by this meanes, to famishe and compell them to yeild, and rendre the toune. This deuise was set forward, and nothyng slepte: for iiii. great hulkes wer laden, with great square stones, semented & ioy­ned together with lead, to thentent that thei should lye still, like a moūt and not to seuer a sunder. These shippes with the rēnaunt of the dukes nauie, wer cōueyed into the mouth of Calice hauen, and in a full sea by craft and pollicie, were sounke doune to the ground; but whether God [Page] would not that the hauen should be destroyed, either the conueyers of the huikes, knewe not the very channell, these foure greate shippes at the lowe water, laie openly vpon the sandes, without any hurte doyng to the rode or chānel, which whē the souldiors had perceiued, thei issued out of the toune, and brake the shippes, and caried both the stones and the tymbre into the toune, whiche serued them well, to their fortificaci­ons. The seconde deuise was also accomplished, whiche was a strong bastell, set on a litle mountayne, furnished with .iiii.C. men and muche artilarie, whiche fortresse, did let thenglishemen to issue out, when thei would, to their greate displeasure and disturbaunce.

VVHILES these thynges wer in doyng, there ariued into the dukes army, an herault of England called Pembroke, belongyng to the duke of Gloucester, whiche declared to the duke of Burgoyne, that the Pro­tector of England his master, (if God would send hym wynde and we­ther) would geue battail to hym and his whole puyssaūce, either there, or in any other place, within his awne countrey, where he would ap­poynt: but the daie he could not assigne, because of the inconstancie of the wind, and mutabilitie of the aire. The duke (like a noble man) aun­swered the herault: sir saie to your master, that his request is bothe ho­norable and reasonable, howbeit, he shall not nede to take pain, to seke me in myne awne countrey, for (GOD willyng) he shal finde 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 reward, and so returned to Calice. After whose departure, the duke called a greate counsaill, in the chief pauilion of the Gauntoys, and there declared bothe the heraultes message and his aunswere, de­siryng them to regard 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. Lorde how the Flemynges threatened, how the Pycardes craked, and how the Hollanders sware, that thenglishmē should be killed and slain, promisyng 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 assailaūtes, to stop the ayde and succors whiche might come. The alarmy was sounded, in somuch that the Duke in proper persone, was commyng on foote to releue his people, but by the meanes of the horsmen, he was staied and kept backe a space, in the whiche delaye of tyme, the Englishmen by fine force gat the place, and slewe .Clx. persones, the remnaunt wer taken prisoners, and defaced the fortresse, and set it on fire: cariyng with them, al the or­dinaūce and artilerie, into the toune of Calice, to the great displeasure, [Page Cxxxiij] of the Duke and his counsaill. The nexte daie 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 next tyde, and come doune before Calice, and raise the siege. What was the very cause, I cannot truly write: but surely, thesame night the Duke fled awaie, and sent in all hast to the Lorde of Croye, to reise his siege before Guysnes, whiche tidynges were to hym very ioyous, for he neither got nor saued: so these twoo capitaines de­parted, leauyng behynde, bothe ordinaunce, vitaill, and greate riches. The Frenche writers, 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 betraye and sell the Fleminges, and their frendes, & that, for thesame cause, in a greate fury thei cried, home, home, & would not tary, for no request the Duke could make, nor no exhortaciō that could be giuen: and so by their misgouer­naunce, the Duke was enforced to raise his siege and to departe. The Flemishe authors affirme the contrary, saiyng: that thei were ready to abide the cōmyng 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 escape by no waie, fled awaie in the night, geuyng to theim no warnyng before. So that for lacke of tyme, and cōuenient space, to lade and cary their stuffe, and beyng com [...]aunded to retire with all spede and diligence, thei were compelled to lose, and leaue behynde theim, their vitaill, and tentes, to their great losse and detriment. Now it is at your liberties, (gentle re­ders) whether you will geue credite to the Frenchmen, (whiche wer ab­sent, and no d [...]ers in the 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 Iuly in the night, and the next daie in the mornyng, the duke of Gloucester, landed in Calice hauen, and straight went into the Campe, where his enemies, the night before were lodged, and there he founde many goodly peaces of ordenaūce, and inespecially one, cal­led Dygeon, named after the chief toune of Burgony, beside pauiliōs, wine, beere, meale, and innumerable vitaill.

THE Duke of Gl [...]cester, 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 [...] 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 appete, to defende the countrey. After, thei passed by Newe Castle▪ and destroyed Ryme [...]ure, and Uallō Chappell, and then entered into Arthoys, to Arques, & Blandesques, settyng fire in euery [...] where thei came. Thus thei passed by sainct Omers, to Guysnes, and [...] at sixe weekes ende, where thei were well refreasshed: [Page] for in all this iorney, thei had litle plentie 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 settyng there all thynges in good ordre, returned in to Englande, where he was aduertised, how Iames kyng of Scottes, contrary to his othe, league, and promise, had besieged the Castle of Rokesborough, with thirtie thousande men, whereof sir Raufe Graye was capitain, whiche manfully defended it .xx. daies, but the Scottish kyng beyng aduertised, that the Erle of Northumberlande, was com­myng to fight with hym, fledde with no lesse losse, then dishonor, to his toune of Edenbrough.

¶The .xv. yere.The .xv. yere.

AFter this daūgerous 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 of Wynche­ster Henry Beaufford, Ihon Lorde Moubrey Duke of Norffolke, Humffrey Erle of Stafford, and diuerse other well lear­ned and honorable personages: and for the duke, there appe [...]ed the du­ches his wife, the bishop of Arras, the lorde of Croy, and diuerse other. At whiche treatie, a [...] was taken for a small tyme, and for a lesse 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 Englande, would neuer entre in league with hym, because he had broken his promise, writyng, and fidelitie, written, sealed, and sworne to hym, and to his fa­ther. Other imagened, this to be doen by a cautell, to cast a myst before the Frenche kynges iyes, 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 accomplishe, any acte or thyng doen in his wifes treatie. Thus you maie se, that princies some­tyme, with suche vain gloses, and scornefull exposicions, wil hide their doynges and cloke their purposes, to thentent that thei would not, ei­ther be espied, or plucke their hedde out of the coller, at their pleasure. But, (as the common prouerbe saieth) he, whiche is a promise breaker, escapeth not alwaie free: for it is well sene▪ that daily it chaunceth, bothe to princes and meane persones, that for breakyng of faithe, and not kepyng of promise, many displeasures arise, and innumerable in­conueniences ensue.

ABOVT this season, Katheryne quene and mother to the kyng of England, departed out of this transitory life, & was buried by her hus­band, [Page Cxxxiiij] in the mynster of Westmynster. This woman, after the death of kyng Henry the fifth her husbande, beyng young and lusty, folowyng more her awne appetite, then frendely counsaill, and regardyng more her priuate affeccion, then her open honour, toke to husband priuily, a goodly gentilman, & a beautyful person, garnished with many Godly gyftes, both of nature & of grace, called Owen Teuther, a mā brought furth and come of the noble lignage, and aūcient lyne of Cadwaleder, the laste kyng of the Brytons, by whome she conceyued and broughte forthe .iii. goodly sonnes, Edmond, Iasper, and another, whiche was a monke in Westmynster, and lyued a smal tyme, and a doughter, which in her youth departed out of this transitorie lyfe: After whose deathe kynge Henry, because they were his bretherne of one wombe descēded, created Edmonde, erle of Rychemonde, and Iasper, erle of Pembroke, whiche Edmond engendered of Margaret, doughter and sole heyre to Ihon, duke of Somerset, Hēry, which after was kyng of this realme, called king Henry the seuenth, of whom you shal heare more hereafter. Thys Owen, after the death of the Quene his wife, was apprehended and cōmitted to ward, because that contrary to the statute made in the vi. yere of this kyng, he presumptuously had maried the Quene, with­out the kynges especiall assent, and agrement, out of which pryson he escaped, and let out other with hym, 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 coū ­sayl 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 chaūce was cast and passed. This sir Richard, was made Barō of Riuers, 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.)

VVHILES this mariage was celebratyng, Iane late Quene of Englande, and before Duchesse of Britayne, doughter to the Kyng of Nauer, & wife to kyng Henry the iiij. died at the mannor of Haueryng, and was buried by her husbande at Canterbury, in whiche tyme disce­ased the Countesse of Warwicke, and Henry Archebishop of Yorke.

I thought here to omit and ouerpasse, the regainyng and conquest of the strong toune of Harflew, once Englishe and after, (by craft) turned to the Frenche part, except the Frenche writers, more then the English auth [...]rs, had made mencion and remembraunce, of the reduccion of the same. For thei saie and affirme, that the Duke of Somerset, accompa­nied with the Lordes of Fauconbridge, Talbot, sir Franceis Surrien Arragonoys, Mathew Gough, Thomas Paulet, Thomas Haringtō Walter Limbrike, Ihon Geddyng, William Watton, Esquieres, and Thomas Hylton Bailife of Roan, with a great puissaunce of the En­glish [Page] partie, compassed about and besieged the toune of Harflew, bothe by water, and by land. The capitaine within the toune, was called sir Ihon Desto [...]teuile, and sir Robert his brother, with other, to the nom­bre of sixe hundred good fightyng men. The assailauntes lost no tyme, but made trenches, and cast diches, bothe to assaute the toune, and also to let the Frenche succors, that thei should neither approche, nor ayde the citezens shut in & besieged. Diuerse assautes wer geuen, which wer manfully resisted: but more to the losse of the defenders, then the assau­ters. Beside this, the Englishemen laied greate ordinaunce, before the gate of the toune, whiche continually vexed the inhabitaūtes, and ouer threwe buyldynges, and destroyed mancions: so that neither hous, nor high waie was sure, or refuge to the tounes men. This siege endured long, to the greate discomfiture of the people: whereof thei aduertised the Frenche kyng and his counsaill, whiche sent thither the erle of ewe, therle of Dumoys, called the Bastard of Orleaunre, the valeaunt Ba­stard of Burbon, the lorde Gaucort, sir Giles of sent Symon, and the chief capitaines of all his realme, with foure thousand men, bothe pol­litique and proued. This valeaunt armie passed the Riuer of Soame betwene Amyas and Corby, not mistrustyng to gette that, whiche thei lost and left behynd theim, and so thei came before the toune, and diui­ded thēselfes 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 muche labor, and litle profit. The capitaines of the toune seyng theire pillers borken, and their chief ayders discomfited▪ rendered the toune to the duke of Somerset, whiche made there capi­taines, Thomas Paulet, William Lymbrike, Cristopher Barker, and George sent George, whiche many yeres, (till the deuision beganne in Englande) manfully & valeauntly defended the toune, and hauen: but afterward, when the saied duke was Regent, and gouernor of Normā ­dy, he not onely loste the toune, but also the citee of Roan, the Empeire and chief iuell of thesaied Duchie, with many other citees and fortres­ses, whiche he, more by entreatyng, then threatenyng, might still haue holden vnder his subiecciō. But all men haue not wit alike, nor all ru­lers be not of one condicion and pollicie. For this duke Edmond, gatte this toune, with great glory, when he was but a deputie, vnder the Re­gent, and after, beyng gouernor himself, lost thesame, and al the whole duchie, to his greate slaunder 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: seyng God disp [...]seth that man purposeth, and that all worldely deuises, and mannes cogi­tacions, be vncertain and euer vnperfite.

ALTHOVGH I haue long talked of Fraunce, yet I may not for­get the double dealyng, & craftie demeanor, of Iames Kyng of Scot­tes: whiche beyng, (as you haue heard) late prisoner in Englande, not [Page Cxxxv] onely was garnished with learnyng and Ciuilitie, (whiche thynges, wer rare and straunge before that time, within the realme of Scotlād) but also set at libertie, and honorably sent home. And to the intent that his amitie might be perpetuall, and that loue might continually suc­ceade betwene bothe the realmes, by his meane and accord: firste, his greate raunsome was abbridged, and diminished, and after, he was ioyned in mariage, with one of the bloud royal, to thentent that he, and his heires, should be vnited and knit, to the progeny of England, with an indissoluble knot, like the twisted tree, whiche cannot seuer, and like the hard flinte, whiche will not waxe soft: yet this vngentle prince, and forgetfull frend, puttyng in obliuion, bothe the dutie of his obeysaūce, toward his souereigne and liege lorde, and the oth and promise, that he made to kyng Henry, when he did to hym homage, and liege at the Ca­stle of Wyndesore, (as before you haue heard) turned his backe to his frend and kynsman, and loked to y^• French part, whiche neuer did hym honor nor profite, not onely sendyng into Fraunce daily, aide & succors against the Englishe nacion, but also by newe alliaunce, sought and practised waies and meanes, how to ioyne himself with forein princes, to greue and hurte his neighbors and adioynauntes, of the realme 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 fe [...]le foundacion, he concluded .ii. mariages, the one with Lewes the dolphin sonne to Charles the Frenche kyng, and the other with Fraunces duke of Britayn. Whiche mariages, were not desired for loue or riches, but onely for ayde, to resist and driue out the Englishmen out of Fraunce. For the Lady Margeret maried to the dolphyn, was of suche nasty cō ­plexion and euill sauored breathe, that he abhorred her company, as a cleane creature, dooth a carion: whereupon she conceiued suche an in­ward grief, that within fewe daies after, she ended her daies. Although this lady had suche impedimentes, (as you haue heard) yet her sister I­sabell, maried to Fraunces duke of Britayne, lacked, neither excedyng beautie, nor pleasaunt breathe: but as for wit, womanhod, and Ciuile behauor, she neuer had, nor excercised. Wherfore, when the duke before his mariage, was by his counsaill admonished, to refuse and forsake so innocent a creature, he, more moued with her faire face, then her womā ­ly wisedome, aunswered: that it was ynough for a woman, to iudge the difference betwene the shurte and the dublet of her husbande, and to knowe hym in the darke, from another man.

FOR these mariages, kyng Iames demaunded of his commons, a greate subsidye or tallage, whiche was sore grudged at, and in maner denied: so that he maried theim, with faire promises, and ayde and suc­cor against thenglishemen, rather then with bagges of money, or che­stes of plate. This forein alliaunce litle profited, or auayled the realme of Scotland, nor this new amitie, defended not kyng Iames: for Walter [Page] Steward erle of Athole, (whiche pretended a title to the Croune, by reason that he was begotten of kyng Robert the seconde, by his firste wife, and by whose occasion, Robert duke of Albany, murdered Dauid duke of Rothesay, elder brother to this kyng Iames, as in the story of kyng Henry the fourth, you haue heard declared) after the coronaciō of kyng Iames the first in Scotlande, earnestly sollicited hym to putt to death, duke Murdo, and all the ofspryng of Robert first duke of Al­bany, trustyng, that after he had destroyed that line, (which was a stop in his waie) to inuent some meane how to destroy the kyng and his children, and so to obtain the croune and preeminence of the realme. Wherfore, he perswaded Robert Steward his nephiew, and Robert Grame his cosyn, and diuerse other, to murther and sley the kyng their soue­reigne Lorde, whiche therto by deuilishe instigacion incensed and pro­cured, came to the toune of Pertho, (commonly called S. Ihōs toune) and there entred into the kynges priuy chambre, and slewe 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 traytors. When this vngracious deede was blowen about the toune, the people rose in greate plumpes, and found out the princequellers, and theim brought to straight prisone, whiche afterward, (accordyng to their desertes) wer with most terrible tormen­tes, put to death and executed.

AFTER Iames the first, succeded Iames the seconde, his eldest sonne, whiche fearyng sedicion and ciuile discord, vexed more his awne nacion, then the Englishe people.

NOVV leauyng Scotland, let vs returne to the busines of Fraūce. 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 Monstreaue Faultyou, whereof Thomas Gerard was capitain: whiche, more for desire of rewarde, then for feare of enemies, sold the toune to the Frenche Kyng, and had of hym greate giftes, and good chere, whiche afterwarde was well knowen, to his shame and re­proche. This toune had been rescued, or the Frenche Kyng foughten with all, if one chaunce had not happened: for the duke of Yorke was discharged of the office of Regent, and the erle of Warwicke preferred to thesame, so that the duke of Yorke liyng at Roan, would haue glad­ly rescued the toune, if his authoritie had not surceased, and the Erle of Warwicke could not, for the wind was so cleane cōtray to hym, that he and his army, taried for the winde aboue tenne wekes. And so betwene the discharge of the one, and the charge of the other, this toune of Mō ­streau, was deliuered and solde.

THIS presente yere, was a parliament kepte at Westminster, in the [Page Cxxxvj] whiche wer diuerse notable conclusions ordained and taken, aswell for the preseruacion of peace and concord at home, as for the maintenaūce of warre, and hostilitie in outward regions: in the whiche parliament, (who so will loke on the actes) shall perceiue that one act made, for by­yng & sellyng by straūgers, 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 negligēce of y^• gouernors, or by the insolencie & pride of the people.)

NOVV must we speake somewhat of Charles the Frenche Kyng: whiche after he had gained again the citee of Paris, and diuerse other tounes, was so puffed vp with pride, that he thought it but a trifle, to conquere Normandy, and expulse all the Englishe nacion, out of his countreys and seigniories. Wherfore, he sent Arthur of Britayn, Con­stable of Fraunce, & Ihō duke of Alāson, into Normandy with a great army, whiche besieged the toune of Auraūches, standyng vpō the knop of an hill, nere to the Britishe sea, bothe well walled and well manned. While thei laie there long, litle gettyng and muche spendyng, the lorde Talbot with a valeaunt company of men, approched nere the Frenche men, and encamped themselfes, in the face of their enemies, to prouoke and entise them to battail and fight. The Frenchmen refusyng this of­fre, kept theimselfes within their trenches, daily fortifiyng and repai­ryng their campe. The Englishemen perceiuyng their doynges, remo­ued their army halfe a mile farther, geuyng their enemies come to is­sue out and to fight, but all this litle auailed: for the Frenchemen laye still and stirred 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 Frēchemen gat neither honor nor profite by this iorney▪ yet thei enterprised a greater matter: for Ponthon of Sentrayles and the Heire, with diuerse other capitaines, and a great nombre of Frenchmen, hauyng promise of cer­tain Burgesses of Roan, 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 Rise in the mornyng so couertly, that the Frenchemen, beyng sodainly surprised and set on, like men madd and amased, ran away, & fled: in the chase wer taken the lord of Fontaynes, sir Alleyne Geron, sir Lewes de Balle, & .lx. knigh­tes and esquires, beside other, and ther wer flain, two hundred and mo: the Heire beyng sore wounded, by the swiftnes of his horsse, escaped ve­ry narowly. The Englishmen returned to the toune of Rise, and found there a greate nombre of horsses, and other baggages, whiche thei ioy­ously brought with them to Roan.

¶The .xvi. yere.

[Page] ON the sixt daie of Nouembre,The xvi. yere this present yere, the erle of Warwicke, as regent of Fraunce, passed the sea, af­ter he had been seuen tymes 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 aduauncement, and enuied his promociō: yet, (like a wise man) he kept his toung close, whatsoeuer his harte thought. Betwene the chaunge of these twoo capitaines, the duke of Burgoyne, (whiche sore enuied the glory of thenglishmen) besieged the Castle of Croytoy, with tenne thousande men and mo, hauyng with hym greate plentie of gonnes, and goodly ordenaunce. The Erle of Warwicke hearyng of this feate, sent the lorde Talbot, the lorde Fawconbridge, sir Thomas Kiriell, sir Ihon Mountgomery, Thomas Limbricke, Thomas Chā ­dos, Dauy Halle, and diuerse other knightes and esquiers, and many tall yeomen, to the nombre of fiue thousand men, whiche passed the Ri­uer of Soame, beside the toune of S. Ualery: for the passage of Blāch Taque, was very daūgerous to go through, because the duke of Bur­goyne had laied there ordinaunce, and other engyns, 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 Burgoyn was enformed of the approchyng of the lorde Talbot and other, he with all his power, sauyng foure hundred, 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 Burgoyn, that he would vtterly wast and destroy the coūtrey of Pycardy, except he, (like a valeaunt prince) would geue him battail. And accordyng to his promise, he brent tounes, spoyled, and slewe ma­ny people in Pycardy, but for all his doynges, the duke would not ap­pere, but stale awaie from Abbeuile, and fled to Amyas. So the Lorde Talbot was .xx. daies full, in the countreis of Pycardy, and Arthoyse, destroiyng and burnyng, all that thei could se or come to, and after de­parted. And in the meane season, sir Thomas Kiriell had gotten all the dukes cariages, and ordenaunce, and left asmuche vitaile in the toune of Croytoy, as would serue sixe hundred men a whole yere, and conue­yed the remnaunt in safetie, to the erle of Warwicke, whiche not onely, receiued the capitaines, with good semblaunce, and louing cheare, but also highly magnified their actes, and muche praised their hardinesse.

AFTER this enterprise achiued, Henry Erle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond duke of Somerset, arriued at Chierbuege, with foure hun­dred archers, and thre hundred speres, and passed through Normandy, till he came into the Countie of Mayne, where, he besieged a castle, cal­led [Page Cxxxvij] 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 Frenchmen, because thei wer once sworne English, and af­ter, brake their othe: and after he gatte also another Castle, twoo miles from sainct Iulians, called Alegerche, which was shortly after recoue­red, and the Lorde Cameuys, whiche came to the rescue of thesame, in the meane waie was trapped and taken. Thus the victory flowed some tyme 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 inhabitaūtes of the tounes, of Meaux in Brie, and. S. Susanne, thesame wer, sold and deliuered to the Frenche parte, in the ende of this sixtene yere.

¶The .xvii. yere.The .xvii. yere.

WHat should I reherse the great tempestes, the sharpe blastes, the sodain piries, the vnmesurable wyndes, the continuall raynes, whiche fell and chaunced this yere in England: sithe suche tormentes be bothe na­turall, and of God, at his pleasure diuersly ordered and altred. Of these vntemperate stormes, rose suche a scacety, that wheat was sold at .iii.s.iiii.d. the bus­shell, wine at .xii.d. the gallon, Bay salt at .xiiij.d. the busshel, and malt at xiij.s.iiij.d. the quarter, and all other graynes, wer sold of an exces­siue price, aboue the olde custome.

IN the moneth of Iune, the Erle of Huntyngdone, (as Stewarde of Guyen) with twoo .M. archers, and foure hundred speres, was sente into Gascoyne, as a suppliment to the countrey, and the commons of thesame. For the kyng of England and his coūsaill, 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 naciō. Wherfore, this erle (like a pollitique warrior) altered not onely the capitaines, in euery toune & cite, but also remoued the magistrates, and chaunged the officers, from toune to toune, and from rowme to rowme, so that by this meanes at that tyme, the erle of Dumoys, lost bothe trauaile and cost. In thesame moneth also, sir Richard Wooduile, six William Chāberlain, sir Wil­liam Peyto, and sir William Story, with a .M. men, wer lent to stuffe the tounes in Normandy, whiche surely at that tyme, had therof greate nede: for thenglish capitaines, had smal confidence in the Normās, and not to much, in some of their awne nacion. For that harlot bribery, and her felowe couetuousnes, ran so fast abrode with French crounes, that vnneth any creature, (without an especial grace) could hold either hād, close, or pursse shut, suche a strong percer is money, and suche a gredie glotton is auarice. You haue heard before, howe that Kyng Charles [Page] harte by gettyng of Paris, was set vpon a merie pynne, and thought daily that all thynges more and more, would bothe applie to his pur­pose, and folowe his appetite. Whiche inuented imaginacion, soda­inly bothe deceiued hym, and also appalled his haut corage, and aba­te [...] hym somewhat of his proude stomacke. For [...]odainly there rose a straunge storme, and a quicke pirie, so mischeuous and so pernicious, that nothyng more execrable, or more to be abhorred, could happen in any Christian Region. Whiche sedicious tempest, if wise counsail had not with al spede repressed, no doubt, but kyng Charles, and the whole publique wealthe of Fraunce, had been turned vp, and cleane ouer­throwen. For Lewes Dolphyn of Uyen, 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 suche as wer of his nature and condicions, began to conspire against his father, and soue­reigne lorde. The chief of this vngracious faccion with hym, wer Ihō Duke of Alaunson, 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 authoritie, but after his awne wil, affeccion, and phantasie. When kyng Charles his father, had knowledge of this vn­naturall disobedience, and insolent and proude doynges, he was (& no maruel) greatly moued with this sodain commociō: thinkyng hymself borne, & predestinate to trouble, remēbryng, that it was no smal thyng, in his awne countrey so many yeres, both with straungers, & with his awne naciō, to fight and striue for rule and dignitie, but now to be cō ­strained, to contend & make war, with his awne sonne and welbeloued child, for the Croune and regiment, of his realme & dominion. Yet these thynges did not bryng hym, beyng a man of greate wit, and counsaill, daily troubled and vnquieted with calamities and displeasures, into vtter despaire, or extreme wanhope: but like a pollitique prince, deter­minyng to withstand and resist, the smoke at the beginnyng, before the fire & flame [...]rast out abrode, called together all suche, as he had either in greate confidence, or especiall fauor, communicatyng to them, al his inward thoughtes, and priuie cogitacions. After long consultacion had, it was agreed by the moste parte, that this sore was more mete to be cured, by pollitique and wittie handelyng, rather then by force, and [...]ent of sweard. Wherfore, letters wer written, and postes 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 al offences doen in that confederacie, wer by open proclamacion, frely for geuen and remitted. And beside this, diuerse graue and sage persones, wer sent to the dolphyn, and his alies, to common and cōclude a peace, and reconciliacion, betwene the Frenche kyng and theim, declaryng to them, that their ciuile war, and inward discencion, was the very meane [Page Cxxviij] to cause their enemies, vtterly to plague and destroy their natiue coun­trey, whiche was almoste desolate, and brought into subieccion, by the continual warre practised before. By whiche meanes and perswasions, the knot of this sedicious facciō, was losed and dissolued: and the kyng with his sonne, and other confederates, openly agreed and apparaūtly pacified. And so the spryng of these mischiuous secte, was stopped and repulsed, or the flodde had any thyng encreased, or flowen farther.

THE Englishmen (whiche euer sought their aduauntage) hearyng of this domesticall diuision in the realme of Fraunce, raised an armye, and recouered again diuerse tounes, whiche wer stollen 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 kyng, thei left of from that enterprise, and reuoked their purpose.

¶The .xviii. yere.The .xviii. yere.

IN the moneth of Nouembre this presente yere, there was suche a great Frost, and after that, so depe a Snowe, that all the ground was couered with white, and al the diches hardened and frosen, whiche weather put the Englishe­men in comfort, to recouer again the toune of Ponthoise, by the Frenche kyng gotten before, by corruptyng with money, diuerse Burgesses of the toune. Wherfore, the Englishemen beyng clothed all in white, with Ihon lorde Clifforde their capitain, came in the night to the diches, and passed theim without daungier, by reason of the Froste, and sodainly scaled the walles, slewe the watche, and tooke the toune, with many profitable prisoners. When this toune was thus gotten, lorde Richard Beauchampe erle of Warwicke and Regent of Fraūce, died in the Castle of Roan, and was conueyed into England, and with solempne Ceremonies, was buried in his College of Warwicke, in [...] verie solempne and sumptuous sepulture.

THEN was the duke of Yorke again, made regent of Fraunce, whi­che accompanied with therle of Oxford, the lorde Bourchier, called erle of Ewe, Sir Iames of Ormond, the Lorde Clinton, and diuerse other noble men, sailed into Normandy: Before whose arriuall, the Frenche kyng beyng sore greued with the takyng of the toune of Pounthoyse, assembled a great army, and besieged thesaid toune hymself, and made round about it, bastiles, trenches, & diches, and daily shot ordenaunce, and gaue therunto diuerse greate and fierce assautes. But Ihon lorde Clifford, like a valeaunt capit [...]in, defended the toune with suche vale­auntnes, that the Frenchemen rather lost then gayned. The Duke of Yorke at his landyng, hauing true knowledge of this siege, sent for the lorde Talbot, and a great nombre of souldiors, and so came nere to the toune of Pounthoyse, and there encamped hymself, and sent woorde to the Frenche Kyng, that he was there, ready to geue hym battaill, if he [Page] would come out of his campe and Bastiles. Kyng Charles was ruled by his counsaill, whiche in no wise would suffre hym to aduenture his persone, with men of so lowe and base degree: biddyng hym remem­bre, what losses he and his auncesters had susteined, by geuyng to the Englishemen battaill: whiche thyng thei principally desire, willyng hym to kepe his ground still, and to bid th [...]im entre at their perell, and in the meane season, to stoppe the passage of the Riuer of Oy [...]e, so that no vitaile could be brought to the Englishe army by that way, by whi­che meanes, he should not onely obtein his purpose, but also cause the Englishemen to recule backe again, for lacke of vitaile and succors. The Duke of Yorke perceiuyng, that the Frenche kyng was nothyng mynded to [...]ight, determined to passe ouer the Riuer of Oyse, and so to fight with hym in his lodgyng, wherupon he remoued his campe, and appoynted the lord Talbot and other, to make a countenaunce, as thei would passe the Riuer by force at the gate of Beaumont, and appoyn­ted another cōpany with boates, of tymbre & ledder, and bridges made of cordes and ropes, (whereof he had greate plentie, caried with hym in Chariottes) to passe ouer the Riuer by neth the Abbay. While the lord Talbot made a crye, as though he would assaile the gate, certain En­glishmen passed the water ouer in boates, and drew the bridge ouer, so that a greate nombre wer comen ouer, or the Frenchemen them espied. When thei sawe the chaunce, thei ran like mad men, to stoppe the pas­sage, but their labor was loste, and all their pain to no purpose: for the moste parte of thenglishe people wer sodainly transported, in so muche that thei chased their enemies, by fine force into the toune 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 chaūce & vnluckey fortune, which therwith was not a litle displea­saūt: and wel perceiuyng, that if he taried the cōmyng of thenglishmen he was like to be either in greate ieoperdy, or sure to sustein muche dis­honor and greate damage. Wherefore he remouid his ordinaunce in­to the bastile of. S. Martyn, whiche he had newly made, and leauyng behynd hym the lorde of Cotigny, [...]dmirall 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 still in that place, the lorde Talbot with certain of his trustie souldiors, whiche passed the riuer of Oyse in ii. smal lether boates, had either slain or taken hym, in his lodgyng, the same night. The Englishemen the next daie in good ordre of battaill, came before the toune of Pounthoise, thinkyng there to haue founde the Frenche kyng, but he was gone, and in his lodgyng, thei founde greate riches, and muche stuffe, whiche he could not haue space, to con­uey, for feare of the sodain inuasion. Then the Duke of Yorke with his company, entered into the toune, and sent for newe vitaill, and repaired the toures and bulwerkes about the toune, and diuerse tymes assailed [Page Cxxxix] the Bastile of the Frenchemen, of the whiche he passed not greatly, be­cause thei were not of power, either to assaut, or stoppe the vitailes or succors from the toune. The Duke liyng thus in the toune of Pon­thoise, was aduertised, that the Frenche kyng and the dolphyn, with all the nobilitie of Fraunce, wer lodged in Poissye, wherfore he intendyng once again to offre hym battaill, left behynd hym there, for capitain, sir Geruays Clifton, with a thousande souldiors, and remoued his army and came before Poysye, and set hymself and his men in good ordre of battaill, redy to fight. There issued out diuerse gentlemen, to skirmish with the Englishemen, but thei were sone discomfited, and foure vale­aunt horssemen wer taken prisoners, and diuerse slain. The Englishe­men perceiuyng the faynte hartes, and colde corage of their enemies, whiche nothyng lesse desired, then to encountre with the Englishnaci­on in open felde, dislodged from Poysye, and came to Mante, and sone after to Roan.

VVHEN the Regent and the lorde Talbot, wer returned again in­to Normandy, the Frenche 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 makyng basty­les, trenches, and other deuises: and after remembred, that his people, and especially the Parisians (to whō this toune was an euil neighbor) would rayle and saie, that he was not able, or lacked corage, to gette so small a toune, or to discomfite halfe a hādfull of amased people. Wher­fore these thynges set in ordre, he assembled all his puyssaunce, and re­turned sodainly 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 affirmeth, 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 thei gat no gr [...]ate boty of men. When the fame of this victory was blowen abrode, the hartes of the tounes men, began 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 gyuen.

AFTER these hote rages, the wether began to waxe more temperate for kyng Hēry and kyng Charles, wer agreed, to send Ambassadors, to common and treate some good peace & conclusiō, betwene them, & their realmes. So the kyng of England, sent the Cardinall of Wynchester, with diuers [...] 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 both the author of y^• peace, and pro­curer of his deliueraunce. The Frenche kyng, sent the Archebishop of Reyns, and the Erle of Dumoys: and the Duke of Burgoyne, sent the lorde Cre [...]ecuer, and diuerse other, because that the duke of Orleaunce [Page] was passed the sea with the Englishe Ambassadors, thei 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 receiued therle of Dumoys (his bastard brother) thankyng him hartely for his pain taken, in gouernyng his coūtrey 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 somuche, that after muche consultyng, and litle doyng, another tyme was appoynted for a newe assembly, and euery parte to declare to their souereigne, the request and desire of the other. So these Ambassadors toke their leaue and departed, and thenglishe commissioners conueyed again the duke of Orleaunce into England, whiche had nothyng then to paie his raū some, & yet he could not be deliuered, without paiment. The cause why these cōmissioners did not agre, was, (as the Frenche writers saie) that the Englishemen demaunded, not onely to haue and possesse peaceably the ii. Duchies of Aquitayn and Normandy, to their kynges & princes discharged of all resort, superioritie, and souereigntie, frākly and frely, against the realme of Fraūce, the kynges and gouernors of thesame for euer: but also required to be restored to al the tounes, citees, and posses­sions, whiche thei, within .xxx. yeres next before gone and past, had con­quered in the realme of Fraunce. The Englishemen, thought that thei demaunded but right and reason: and the Frenchemen, thought their request to be most hurtfull to their realme, and aūcient glory. So both parties, rather myndyng to gain or saue, then to lose, departed for that tyme, (as you haue heard). After which diet proroged for a tyme, Phil­lip Duke of Burgoyn, partly moued in cōscience, to make some amen­des & recompence to Charles duke of Oleaunce (then being 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 entendyng the aduauncement of his niece, lady Marie doughter to Adolphe, Duke of Cleue, by the whiche aliaunce, he trusted surely to knit, such a firme knot and frendly amitie with the Duke of Orleaunce, that all olde rancor should cease, and all discorde should be forgotten: and in their places, concorde should be stablished, and perpetuall loue embraced) sente messengers into Englande, to the saied duke, declaryng to hym his good will, deuise, and entent. Thinke not but this message, was ioyous to a captiue, beyng out of his natiue countrey, and naturall seigniorie, by the space of .xxv. yeres? Suppose you that he, which nothyng more coueted and desired, then libertie and discharge, wold refuse so honorable an offre? Imagin you that a prince of a bloud royal, brought into thraldome, restrained frō liberty and li­uyng, farre from kyn and father, & farther from frēdes, would not geue his diligent eare to that mocion, by the whiche he might be restored, bothe to his auncient preheminence, possession and seigniory? Yes, yes, [Page Cxl] you maie be sure, he neither cōsulted on the matter, nor deferred the aū ­swere, but therunto gently agreed. What should I saie more? As some writers affirme, foure hundred thousande Crounes were paied for his deliueraunce, although other saie, but thre hundred thousande: and so he was deliuered 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 especiall frend, grati­fiyng and thankyng hym of his libertie and deliueraunce: and accor­dyng to his promes and cōuencion, 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 forgat not his vncle Ihon Erle of Angolesme, whiche had been as a 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 hym at libertie, and brought hym into his countrey. This Ihon, en­gendered Charles, father to Fraunces, the firste of that name, whiche after the death of Lewes the .xij, obteined the Croune of Fraunce.

HERE is to be noted, that olde rauncor newly appeaced, will com­monly spryng out again: for although the vnhappie deuision, betwene the two noble families, of Orleaunce and Burgoyn, wer by this great benefite and mariage, for a tyme geuen ouer and put in Obliuion, and so continued by the space of .xx. yeres and more, yet their children and cosyns, within, not many yeres after, fell so far at square, that the hous of Burgoyne, was spoyled of the fairest flower of his garland, (as you shall here afterwarde, at large declared) and in especiall, in the tyme of kyng Fraunces the firste, the verie heire of the hous of Orleaunce, whiche not onely continually vexed with mortall warre, Charles the fift Emperor of that name, lineall successor to Phillip Duke of Bur­goyne: but also did asmuche as in hym laye, to depriue thesaid Charles of his honor, and possessions, (as men writyng their lifes, wil hereafter declare). The Frenche writers affirme, that this Duke of Orleaunce, was deteined thus long in captiuitie, by reason that the Englishemen, gayned yerely by hym, greate somes of money, by reason of his greate and liberall 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 spende his goodes frely, in the lande of his enemie, whiche maie by pinchyng and bearyng a lowe saile, waxe riche and be set at li­bertie? Or who is so proude to wast & consume his substaūce, in liuyng prodigally, that maie with the sparyng of thesame, be deliuered out of captiuitie and bōdage? But surely it is apparaunt, that the reuenewes of his seigniories, wer neither able to raunsome hym, nor to mainteyne hym in pōpeous estate: partly, because thenglishmen possessed diuerse tounes, belongyng to his Duchy: and partly, by reason that the rentes [Page] wer scace able to defende his possessions, against the inuasions of the Englishe nacion, and Burgonions. But the very cause of his long de­teinyng wer 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 murthered in the citee of Paris: for the whiche murder, al the alies and frendes to the Duke of Orleaunce, had enuie against the hous and familie of Burgoyne, in somuche that thesaied Duke Ihon, b [...]yng measured with thesame measure, that he met with all, was like­wise tyrannou [...]ly murdered on the bridge of Mounstreau 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 thesaid 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 Lorde: for whiche cause, the Englishe­men entendyng to kepe the duke of Burgoyn, as a trusty treasure, and sure Iuell, perceiued, that if thei deliuered the duke of Orleaunce, and set hym at libertie, he would not cease to vexe and trouble the duke of Burgoyne, in reuengyng the detestable murder, committed by his fa­ther against his parent: wherfore, bothe for the surety and sauegard of the duke of Burgoyne, and also to do hym pleasure, thei kepte 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 Englande, studied and deui­sed, how to deliuer the duke of Orleaunce, to do displeasure to the duke of Burgoyn. Duke Phillip perceiuyng, what mischief was like to rise if he wer redemed, and set at libertie without his knowledge, to preuēte the matter, to his greate coste and charge, practised his deliueraunce, paied his raūsome, and ioyned with him, amitie and alliance, by mari­age 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 daie of sainctes, Crispin [...] & Crispinian, in the yere of our Lorde .M.CCCC.xv. to the monethe of Nouembre, in the yere, a thousand foure hundred and fourtie.

¶The .xix. yere.The .xix. yere.

IN the beginnyng of this .xix. yere, Richard duke of Yorke Regent of Fraunce, and gouernor of Normandy, remem­bryng the greate charge, and weightie office to hym deli­uered and committed, determined, (after long consultaci­on) to inuade the territories of his enemies, bothe by son­dery armies, and in diuerse places, to thentent that the Frenche people [Page Cxlj] being vexed within their awne coūtrey, and peculiar dominion, should make no rodes nor enterynges, into the Duchie of Normandy, the re­turnyng whereof, was somewhat suspicious. This deuise for that sea­son, semed bothe 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 commission, entered in the countrey to hym appoynted, and to thentent that his commission should not be espied nor knowen, he straightly for­bad and inhibited, al maner fire, & of burnyng of tounes, whiche is the moste open and plain token of war and inuasion. By reason wherof, the pore paysaūtes & rustical people goyng abrode, without feare or suspi­cion of euill, wer ouer ronne or taken with the horssemen, or thei could attain to any toune, or forcelet: so that innumerable people wer slain, & taken, or thei heard any tydynges of their enemies approchyng. The Frenchmen in the garrisōs adioynyng, astonnied 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 in­conclusiō, the Frenchmen seyng their people in the forefront of the bat­taill, to be killed without mercie, like men desperate, turned their ba [...] ­kes and fearfully fled, the Englishmen folowed, and slewe many in the chace, and suche as escaped the sweard, wer robbed and spoyled, by Le­wes Erle of sainct Paule, whiche was commyng to ayde the Englishe nacion. In this conflicte were slain, aboue sixe .C. men of armes, and a greater nombre taken: So the Lorde Willoughby, like a victorious capitain, with riche spoyle and good prisoners, returned again to the citee of Roan. The dukes of Yorke and Somerset, likewise entered in­to the Duchie of Aniow, and Countie of Mayne, destroiyng tounes, spoylyng y^• people, and with great prey and profite, 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 toune of Gerche, apperteinyng to the Duke of Alaunson, and spoyled and brent thesame, and after that, departed to Ponzay, wher he soiour­ned two monethes, frō whence he sent daily men of war, whiche destro­yed & wasted the countreys of Aniow, Traonnoys & Chatragonnoys.

THE Frenche 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 reueled 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 .lxii, whereof the chief wer the lorde Dausigny, sir Lewes de Buell, and all the other almoste, [Page] were Knightes and esquires. After this encountre, the Duke tooke the toune of Beaumot Le Uicount, 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 & māly 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 Englishemen be­yng a small nōbre, had to them deliuered with faire wordes, and fainte strokes, the castle of Charlemesnyll, and diuerse other fortresses, adioy­nyng to the toune. Duryng the siege, many encounters were had, and many great assautes geuen, thenglishemen sometyme saued, and som­tyme gained, but the moste losse lighted on the Frenchemen for awhile. But of iii. captaines sent furth at one tyme, (as you before haue heard) all cannot returne with egall honor, and euen botie. For the lorde Tal­bot perceiuyng the toune of Deape, to be strongly defended, both with men, vitaile, and ordenaunce, and that he lacked all thesaid furnitures for the accomplisshyng of his stoute enterprise, deliuered the custody of the Bastile, with the gouernaunce of the [...]iege, to his Bastarde sonne, a valeaunt young man, and departed to Roan, for ayde, money, and mu­nicions. 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 dolphyn of Uyen, accompan [...]ed with the Bastarde of Orleaunce, 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 backe, but poulder failed in the fortresse, and weapon wherwith to 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 redemed: The other Englishe souldi­ors seyng the Bastile gayned, stoode all daie in good ordre of battaill, and in the night, pollitiquely returned to Roan, without losse or da­mage. At this assaute, the Frenchemen say, that thei slewe two hundred Englishemen, and deny not, but thei lost fiue hundred persones, and by this meanes, the one nacion loste the Bastile, and the other saued the toune, to the greate displeasure of the Lorde Talbot: Whose presence would asmuche auailed at this attempte, as his absence was losse and detrement to his frendes, and felowes in war and chiualrie. But gain is not alwaies perdurable, nor losse alwaies continuall.

VVHILE these thynges wer a doyng, Phillip Duke of Burgoyn, hauyng an enuious hart, at the glory and fortunate successe of the En­glishe [Page Cxlij] people, intending to bereue them of one of their assured frendes, called Lewes of Luxenborough erle of sainct Poule, made sharpe war vpon his countreis, and toke diuerse tounes, 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 his brother in law and turned to the Frenche parte, and became a luke warme enemie to the realme of England. The losse of this frend and necessary neighbor, not alitle greued Kyng Henry and his counsaill: Howbeit, thei made suche purueiaunce and prouision, by descrete counsail, that if he of euil will, would do theim litle good, yet he of malice should doo to theim no greate hurte or damage.

THE Englishe capitaines beyng in Guyen, hauyng knowledge of the valeaūt doynges of their countreymen in the realme of Fraūce, de­termined to do some notable and noble enterprise, on the French costes adioynyng to Aquitayn: & so, thei besieged the strong toune of Tartas belongyng to the lorde Delabreth, their old and auncient enemie. The capitaines and gouernors of the toune, consideryng their weakenesse, and the force of the Englishemen, toke this appoyntment with the En­glishe capitaines, that the toune should remain neuter, and for the as­suraunce therof, thei deliuered Cadet the sonne of the lorde Delabreth in pledge, vpon this condicion: that if the lorde Delabrethe, would not assent to their agrement, then he should signifie his refusall, to the En­glishe capitaines, within three monethes next ensuyng: and he to haue his pledge, and thei to do their beste. The Frenche kyng, at the request of the lordes of Guyen, whiche wer not able to defende themselfes, toke this matter in hand, and caused the lord Delabreth, to certifie his disa­grement to the Erle of Huntyngdon, lieuetenaunt for the kyng of En­glande, in the Duchie of Aquitayne. And to please the great Lordes of Guyen, he assembled .lx.M. men, and came to Tholose, and so to Tar­tas: to whom the chieftaines of the toune, seyng no succors commyng, rendered the toune, and Cadet Delabrethe, whiche was lefte there as a pledge, was deliuered. The French kyng after the yeldyng of Tartas, remoued to sainct Seuere, a strong toune in Gascoyn, but smally peo­pled with men of warre, whiche he toke by force, and slewe thre hundred persones, and toke sir Thomas Rampstone prisoner. After this toune gained, he with all his power besieged the citie of Arques, and toke the Bulwarke of thesame, whiche was smally defended, and sone gotten. The inhabitauntes of the toune, began sore to be afraied, and came to the lorde Mountferrant, capitain for the kyng of England, requiryng hym to haue mercie vpon them, and to rendre the toune to the Frenche kyng, vpon some honest couenaunt or cōposicion. The capitain percei­uyng the faint hartes of the Gascoyns, & knowyng that without their ayde, he was not able to resist the puyssaunce of the Frenche kyng, toke an agrement and departed with all the Englishe crue to Burdeaux, where he found the erle of Longuile, Capdaw of Bueffe, and sir Tho­mas [Page] Rampstone, whiche was alitle before deliuered.

AFTER this, the fortresses of Ryoll and Mermandie, yelded them to the Frenche kyng. Although these tounes thus submitted theim to hym, yet he had them not long, nor made muche tariyng in the Duchie of Guyen, for the Englishemen not onely prohibited the Gascoynes, to minister to his armie, viandre and sustenaunce, but also gat into their handes and toke suche vitailes, as wer conueyed to him, from Tholo [...]e 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 recouered again the citee of Acques, and the other tounes by the French kyng gained, and toke prisoner his lie­uetenaunt, called Reignault Guillam the Burgonyō, and many other gentlemen, and all the meane souldiors, wer either slain or hanged.

VVHILE the Frenche kyng was in Guyen, the lorde Talbot toke the toune of Couchete, and after marched toward Gayllardon, whiche was besieged by the Bastarde of Orleaunce Erle of Dumoys: whiche Erle hearyng of the Englishmennes approchyng, reysed his siege and saued hymself. Alitle before this enterprise, the Frenchemen had taken the toune of Eureux, by treason of a fisher. Sir Fraunces Arragonoys hearyng of that chaunce, apparreled sixe strong men, like rustical peo­ple with sackes and baskettes, 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, laye in a valey nye to the fortresse. These sixe companions entered into the Castle, vnsuspected and not mistrusted, and straight came to the cham­bre of the capitain, & laied handes vpō hym, 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 thyng doen, thei set all the castle on fire, and departed with great spoyle to the cit [...]e of Roan. Thus the lady victory, somtyme smi­led on the Englishe part, and sometyme on the Frenche side. Thus one gayned this daie, and loste on the nexte. Thus Fortune chaunged, and thus chaunce happened, accordyng to the old prouerbe, saiyng: in war is nothyng certain, and victory is euer doubtfull.

¶The .xx. yere.The .xx. yere.

NOw let vs leaue the marciall feactes, the mortal strokes, and daily skirmishes, practised betwene the English and Frenche nacion in the 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 Glouce­ster sore grudged at the proude doynges of the Cardinall of Wynche­ster, and howe the Cardinall likewise, sore enuied and disdayned at the rule of the Duke of Gloucester, and how by the meanes of the duke [Page Cxliij] of Bedforde, their malice was appeaced, and eche was reconciled to o­ther, in perfite loue and amitie, to all mens outward iudgementes. Af­ter whiche concord made, the Cardinall and the Archebishop of Yorke, did many thynges without the consent of the kyng or the duke, beyng (duryng the minoritie of the prince) gouernor & protector of the realme, wherwith the duke, (like a true harted prince) was neither contente nor pleased: And so declared in writyng to the kyng, certain articles, wher­in the Cardinal and the Archebishop, had offended bothe the kyng and his lawes, the true tenor, here after ensueth.

¶The . [...] .yere. [...]

THE counsaill of Englande, forgat not the late enter­prise of the Frēche kyng, doen in the duchie of Guyen, wherefore, to for [...]ifie the countrey, least he peraduen­ture, would attempt again alike [...]orney, thei sent the­ther sir William Wooduile, with .viii. hundred men, to fortifie the frontiers, till a greater armie might be assembled: And farther made publique proclamacion, that all men whiche would transporte, or cary any corne, chese, or other vitaile, into the parties of Acquitayn, should pay no maner of custome or tallage, whiche lice [...]ce 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 Erle 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 businesse, but daily labored & 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 Erle of Arminacke, pretended to be heire, insomuche, that the Erle entered into al 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 doughter in mariage, not onely promisyng hym siluer hilles, and golden mountai­nes with her, but also would be bound, to deliuer into the kyng of En­glandes handes, all suche Castles and tounes, as he or his auncestors deteined from hym, within the whole duchie of Acquitayn or Guyen, either by conquest of his progenitors, or by gyfte or deliuery of any Frēche kyng: offryng farther, to aide thesame 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) thei departed into their countrey: after whom wer sent for the conclusion 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 Cronographiers affirme) bothe concluded the mariage, and by proxie aff [...]ed the young Lady. The Frenche kyng was not ignoraunt, of all these conclusions, wherfore disdainyng, that the Erle of Arminacke, should bothe vsurpe against hym, 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 Uyen, into [Page Cxliiij] rouergne with a puissaunt army, whiche sodainly toke the Erle of Ar­minacke, at the Isle in Iordayne, and his yongest sonne, and bothe his doughters, and by force obteined the countreis of Arminacke, Lonuergne, Rouergne and Moullesson, beside the citees of Seuerac and Ca­denac, and chased the Bastarde of Arminacke out of his countrey, and cōstituted gouernor of all those seigniories, sir Theobald de Walper­gne, bailif of Lyon. So by reason of this infortunate chaūce, the ma­riage concluded was differred, yea, and so long differred, that it neuer toke effect, as you shall heare more plainly declared.

¶The .xxii. yere.The .xxii. yere.

THus, while Englande was vnquieted, and Fraunce sore vexed, by spoyle, slaughter, and burnyng, all christendom lamented the continuall destruccion of so noble a realme, and the effusion of so muche Christen bloud, wherfore, to appeace the mortall warre, so long contineuyng betwene these twoo puyssaunt kynges, all the princes of Christendom, so muche labored and trauailed, by their orators and Ambassadors, that the fro­stie hartes of bothe the parties, wer somewhat mollified, and their in­durate stomackes, greatly asswaged. So there was a greate diete ap­poynted, to be kepte at the citee of Tours in Tourayne, where, for the kyng of Englande appered, William de la Pole erle of Suffolke, doc­tor Adame Molyns, keper of the kynges priuie seale, and Robert lorde Roos, and diuerse other: And for the Frenche Kyng were appoynted, Charles Duke of Orleaūce, Lewes de Burbon erle of Uandos [...]e, 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 Denmarke, and frō 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 poynt and highest prike. Many metynges wer had, & many thynges moued to come to a finall peace, and mutuall concord. But inconclusion, for many doubtes 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 cōmissioners, for .xviij. monethes, whiche afterward, againe was prolonged, to the yere of our Lorde .M.iiii.C.xlix. if in the meane season it had not been violated & broken, as here after shalbe declared.

IN the treatyng of this truce, the Erle of Suffolke, extendyng his cōmission to the vttermoste, 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 kynges kynsewoman, and kyng Henry his souereigne: & because the Frenche kyng had no doughter [Page] of ripe age, to be coupled in matrimony with the kyng his Ma­ster, he desired to haue the Lady Margaret, cosyn to the Frenche kyng, and doughter to Reyner duke of Aniow, callyng hymself kyng of Sci­cile, Naples, and Hierusalem, hauyng onely the name and stile of the same, without any peny profite, or fote of possessiō. This mariage was made straunge to therle a good space, in somuche that he repented hym of the first mociō, but yet like a bold man, entendyng not to take afoile in so greate a matter, desisted not still, daily to sollicite and aduaunce forward his cause. The wily Frenchemen, perceiuyng the ardent affec­cion of the erle, toward the conclusion of mariage, declared to hym that this mariage, was not like to come to conclusion, as he desired, because the kyng his Master, occupied a greate parte of the Duchie of Aniow, and the citee of Mauns, and the whole Countey of Mayne, appertey­nyng (as thei saied) to kyng Reyner, father to the damosell.

THE erle of Suffolke (I cannot saie) either corrupted with bribes, or to muche affeccionate to this vnprofitable mariage, condiscended and agreed to their mocion, that the Duchie of Aniow, and the countie of Mayne, should be released and deliuered, to the kyng her father, de­maundyng for her mariage, neither peny nor farthyng: (as who would saie) that this newe affinitie, excelled riches, and surmounted gold and precious stone. And to thentent that of this truce, might ensue a finall concorde, a daie of enteruie [...]e or metyng was appoynted, betwene the two kynges, in a place cōuenient, betwene Charters and Roan. When these thynges wer concluded, the Erle of Suffolke with his company, thinkyng to haue brought ioyfull tidynges, to the whole realme of Englande, departed from Toures, and so by long iorneis, arriued at Do­uer, and came to the kyng to Westminster, and there openly before the kyng and his counsail, declared how he had taken an honorable truce, for the sauegard 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 shortely proceade and growe out. And muche the soner, for that honorable mariage, that inuincible alliaunce, that God­ly affinitie, whiche he had concluded: omittyng nothyng, whiche might extoll & setfurth, the personage of the Ladie, nor forgettyng any thyng, of the nobilitie of her kinne, nor of her fathers high stile: as who would saie, that she was of suche an excellent beautie, and of so high a paren­tage, that almoste no king or Emperor, was worthy to be her make. Al­though this mariage, pleased well the Kyng, and diuerse of his coun­saill, and especially suche as wer adherentes, and fautors to the erle of Suffolke, yet Humfrey Duke of Gloucester, Protector of the realme, repugned and resisted as muche as in hym laie, this new alliaunce and contriued matrimonie: alledgyng that it was neither consonaunt to the lawe of GOD nor man, nor honorable to a prince, to infrynge and breake a promise or contracte, by hym made and concluded, for the vti­litie and profite of his realme and people, declaryng, that the kyng, by [Page Cxlviij] his Ambassadors, sufficiently instructed and authorised, had cōcluded and cōtracted, a mariage betwene his highnes, & the doughter of therle of Arminacke, vpon condicions, bothe to hym and his realme, asmuche profitable as honorable. Whiche offers and cōdicions, thesaid erle sith his commyng out of his captiuitie and thraldome, is redy to yelde and performe, saiyng: that it was more conueniente for a Prince, to marie a wife with riches and frendes, then to take a make with nothyng, and disherite hymself and his realme of olde rightes and auncient seignio­ries. The duke was not heard, but the Erles doynges, were condiscen­ded vnto, and allowed. Whiche facte engendered suche a flame, that is neuer wente out, till bothe the parties with many other wer consumed and slain, to the great vnquietnes of the kyng and his realme. And for the performaunce of these conclusions, the Frenche Kyng sent the Erle of Uandos [...]e, greate Master of his hous, & the Archebishop of Reyns, first pere of Fraunce, and diuerse other into England, whiche wer ioy­ously receiued, and frendly entertayned. Which Ambassadors, after in­strumentes on bothe parties, sealed and deliuered, (not vnteward [...]d) returned into their countrey. When these thynges were thus doen, the kyng, bothe for the honor of his realme, and to assure to hymself, more speciall frendes, he created Lorde Ihon Holand Erle of Huntyngdon, Duke of Excester, as his father was, and Humfrey Erle of Stafford, was made duke of Buckyngham, and Henry Erle of Warwicke, was erected to the title of Duke of Warwicke, and the Erle of Suffolke, made Marques of Suffolke, whiche Marques with his wife, & many honorable personages of men and women, richely adorned, bothe with apparell and Iuels, hauyng with them many costly chariottes, & gor­gious horselitters, sailed into Fraunce, for the conueyaunce of the no­minated Quene, into the realme of England. For kyng Reyner her fa­ther, for al his long stile, had to short a purse, to send [...] his doughter ho­norably, to the kyng her spouse.

¶The .xxiii. yereThe .xxiii. yere.

THIS noble company, came to the citee of Toures in Tourayne, where thei were honorably receiued, bothe of the Frēch kyng, and of the kyng of Scicile. Wher the Marques of Suffolke, as procurator to Kyng Henry, espoused thesaid Ladie, in the churche of sainct 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 quene also, whiche was awnte to the wife. There wer also, the dukes of Orleaunce, of Ca­laber, of Alaunson, and of Britayn, vii. Erles, xii. Barons .xx. Bishop­pes, beside kinghtes and gentlemen. There wer triumphaunt Iustes, costly feastes, and delicate banquettes, but all pleasure hath an ende, and euery ioye is not continuall. So that after these high solempnities [Page] finished, and these honorable ceremonies ended, the Marques had the Ladie Margaret to hym deliuered, whiche in greate estate, he cōueyed through Normandy to Deape, and so transported her into Englande, where she landed at Portesmouthe, in the mone [...]he 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 her arriuall, she was conueyed to the toune of Southwike in Hamshire, 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, vpō the .xxx. daie of May, she, with al solempnitie ther­vnto apperteinyng, was Crouned 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 straūge pagiauntes, the behauior of the Lordes, the beautie of the Ladies, the sumptuous feast, the delicate viander, the marcial iustes, the fierce tur­nais, the lustie daunces, & the miniō sōges, which wer shewed, setfurth and practised at her coronacion, let hym loke in the Chronicles of Lon­don, & of Robert Fabian, and there he shal finde thē set furth at the ful.

THIS mariage semed to many, bothe infortunate, and vnprofita­ble to the realme of England, and that for many causes. First the kyng with her had not one peny, and for the fetchyng of her, the Marques of Suffolke, demaunded a whole fiftene, in open parliament: also for her mariage, the Duchie of Aniow, the citee of Mauns, and the whole coū ­tie of Mayne, were deliuered and released to Kyng Reyner her father, whiche countreis wer the very stayes, and backestandes to the Duchy of Normandy. Furthermore for this mariage, the Erle of Arminacke, toke suche great displeasure, that he became vtter enemy to the realme of Englande, and was the chief cause, that the Englishmen, wer expul­sed out of the whole duchie of Acquitayne, and lost bothe the countreis of Gascoyn and Guyen. But moste of all it should seme, that God with this matrimony was not content. For after this spousage, the Kynges frendes fell from hym, bothe in Englande and in Fraunce, the Lordes of his realme, fell in diuision emongest themselfes, the commons rebel­led against their souereigne Lorde, and naturall Prince, feldes were foughten, many thousandes slain, and finally, the kyng deposed, and his sonne slain, and this Quene sent home again, with asmuche misery and sorowe, as she was receiued with pompe and triumphe, suche is worldly vnstablenes, and so waueryng is false flatteryng fortune.

DVRYNG the tyme of this truce, Richard Duke of Yorke, and di­uerse other capitaines, repaired into England, bothe to visite their wi­fes, children, and Frendes, and also to consulte, what should be doen, if the truce ended.

¶The .xxiiii. yere.

[Page Cxlix] FOR the whiche cause,The .xxiiii. yere. the Kyng called his high court of Par­liament, in the whiche aboue all thynges, 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 graunted, men wer appoynted, and a great armie 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 al, it was enacted, y^t whē whete was sold for .vi.s.viii. d. the quartr and Rye for .iiii.s. and Barly for .iii.s. it should be lawfull to euery mā 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 cōcludyng the mariage betwene theim twoo, somewhat infected with the sede of vainglory, and thinkyng that his procedynges and dooynges in Fraunce, (duryng the tyme of his legacion) had aswell pleased all men, as thei pleased hymself, the second daie of Iune, in the first session of this parliament, before all the lordes spirituall & temporall, in the higher house assembled, opē ­ly, [...]loquently and boldely, declared his pain, trauaile and diligēce, 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 Kyng 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 fors [...]e all thynges necessarie, for the warre (as though no concorde should suc­cede, nor agrement could take place) least the Frenchemen perceiuyng theim vnprouided, would take their aduauntage, and agree neither to reason nor amitie: saiyng vnto theim, that sithe he had admonished the kyng, and them, accordyng to his duetie and allegeaunce, if any thyng quailed, or if daunger ensued, he was thereof innocent and gilteles, and had acquited hymself like a louyng subiecte, and a faithfull counsailor, praiyng the lordes to haue it in their remembraunce. Likewise the mo­rowe after, he with certain lordes, discended into the cōmon house, where he declared again all thesaied matters, to the Knightes, Citezens and Burgesses, omittyng nothyng, that might sounde to his glory, nor ope­nyng any thing, whiche might redound to his dispraise: praiyng the cō ­mons for his discharge, that aswell all his doynges and procedynges in the kynges affaires beyond the sea, as also his aduertisement & coun­saill, [Page] opened to the lordes and commons now together assembled, might be, by the Kyng and theim, enacted and enrolled in 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, sittyng in his trone, emongest his lordes in the parlia­ment chamber, where thesaied William Burley, by the counsaill of the commons (whether thei did it more for feare then for loue, or wer there­vnto entised by the Marques frendes, as some men doubted) moste hū ­blie commended to the kynges highnes, the foresaid Marques of Suf­ [...]olke▪ and all his actes and notable woorkes, whiche he had doen, 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 tyme of truce, least to muche trustyng of peace, might encorage the Frenchemen, the soner to begyn warre and inuasiō: besechyng the kynges highnes, in the name of the commons, to imprint in his harte and remēbraunce, thesaid Marques, and all his labors and actes, to his honor and renoume, whiche should be an exāple to al 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 temporall, that thei for the consideracions before rehersed, would vouchesaue to make like peticiō to the kynges ma [...]e [...]rie, and that all the actes and demeanor of thesaied Marques, might by aucthoritie of parliamēt, be, to his honor, & perpe­tuall fame, in the rolles of thesame Parliament, recorded and substan­cially regestered. At whiche humble intercession, the lordes, aswell spiri­tuall as temporal, rose from their seates, and on their knees, made to the kyng like request and peticion, as thei of the commons before wer desi­red: wherupon, the kyng by the mouthe of the Archebishop of Canter­bury his Chancellor, made answere, that their requestes wer so reasona­ble and so honorable, that he in no wise could, but louyngly accept and gently alowe thesame, saiyng also: that their desires, wer to him a singu­ler pleasure, and an especiall comforte, and that he would from thence­furthe 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 Realme, to the intent, that al 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 peticions) 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 thesame par­liament, whiche was so doen. This Marques thus gotten vp, into for­tunes trone, not content with his degree, by the meanes of the Quene, [Page Cl] 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 Coūtesse 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 Ihō 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 [...]endall at this daie haue, and enioye.

HERE a man maie beholde, what securitie is in worldly, glory, and what constancie is in fortunes smilyng: for this Duke of Suffolke, in open Parliament of the Lordes praised, of the commons thanked, and into the kynges fauor, entierly receiued, within foure yeres after, was in thesame place, by the commons of the Realme, accused of many trea­sons, mispricions and offences, doen 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 hym, 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 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 suruaunt 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 muche, 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 personage, ouerladed with hote drynkes, was vanqueshed of his seruaunte, beyng but a cowarde and a wretche, whose body was drawen to Tiborne, & there hanged and behedded. In whiche yere was a greate insurreccion 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 appea [...]e the matter: but in conclusion, thei opened the gates, and submitted theimselfes. The chief offenders, wer (accordyng to their desertes) straightly punished, and e­xecuted, and the Maire was discharged of his office, and sir Ihon Clif­ton [Page] 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 the 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 thei erred and wente out of the pathe, thei were by punishemente brought again to a very straight trade and the right waie.

¶The .xxv. yere.The .xxv. yere

DUryng the tyme of this truce or abstinence of warre, while there was nothyng to vexe or trouble the myn­des 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 symple witte, preferryng peace before warre, reste before businesse, honestie before profite, and quietnesse before laboure. And to the intent that all men might perceiue, that there could be none, more chaste, more meke, 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 [...]acient maner, as though thei had chaunced 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 este­med to bee the greate [...] wisedome, and the losse thereof, the extremest fo­lie that could [...] But on the other parte, the Quene 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 businesse, she was not vnexperte: but yet she had one poynt of a very woman: for often tyme, when she was vehemēt and ful­ly bente in a matter, she was sodainly like a wethercocke, mutable, and turnyng. This woman perceiuyng that her husbande did not franke­ly rule as he would, but did all thyng by thaduise and counsaill of Hū ­frey duke of Gloucester, and that he passed not muche on the aucthority 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 protector of the realme: least men shoud saie & report, y^t she had nei­ther wit nor stomacke, whiche would permit & suffre her husband, beyng of perfect age & mās estate, like a yong scholer or innocent pupille, to be [Page Clj] gouerned by the disposicion of another man. This manly woman, this coragious quene, ceased not to prosecute furthwith, her inuented ima­ginacion and prepēsed purpose, but practised daily the furtheraunce of thesame. And although this inuēciō came first of her awne high mynd▪ 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 vntruth as you before haue heard. Whiche venemous serpentes, and malicious Tygers, perswaded, 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 perceiue, that the Duke of Gloucester, had not so muche aduaunced & preferred the commō wealth and publique vtilitie, as his awne priuate thinges & peculiar estate. Beside this, Reyner 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, like yong wardes and desolate orphanes. The quene perswaded and encoraged by these meanes, toke vpō her and her husbande, y^e high power and aucthoritie ouer the people and subiectes. And although 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, whē he is yoked in 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 permissiō, and fauor, diuerse noble men conspired against hym, of the whiche, diuerse writers affirme, the Marques of Suffolke, and the duke of Buckyngham to bee 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 ordered or assigned: for surely the duke beyng very well learned in the lawe [...]iuill, detestyng malefactors, and punishyng their offences, gat great malice and hatred of suche, 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 wisedom 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 and vndoo hym, or he thereof should haue knowledge or war­nyng. So for the furtheraūce of their purpose, a parliament was somo­ned to be kept at Bery, whether resorted all the peres of the realme, and [Page] [...]mongest them, the duke of Gloucester, whiche on the second daie of the session, was by the lorde Beamond, then high Constable of Englande, accompanied with the duke of Buckynghā, and other, arrested, appre­hended, and put in warde, and all his seruauntes sequestered from hym, and .xxxii. o [...] the chief of his retinue, were sent to diuerse prisons, to the greate admiracion of the common people. The duke the night after his emprisonement, 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 violēt force: some iudged hym to be strangled: some affirme, that a hote spitte was put in at his foundement: other write, that he was stiffeled or smoldered betwene twoo fetherbeddes. After whose deathe, none of his seruauntes (although thei wer arraigned and attainted) wer put to death: for the Marques of Suffolk, when thei 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 this 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 caste by his enemies, choked and brought to his fatall fine, and last ende. So al men maie openly se, that to men in aucthorit [...]e, no place no not the courte the cheif refuge of all, nor the dwellyng house, nor yet a mannes priuate Castle, or his bed ordeined for his quietnes, is out of daunger of deathes dart. It semeth to many men▪ that the name and title of Gloucester, hath been vnfortunate and vnluckie to diuerse, whiche for their honor, haue been erected by creacion of princes, to that si [...]le and dignitie, as Hugh Spenser, Thomas of Woodstocke, sonne to kyng Edward the third, and this duke Humfrey, whiche thre persons, by mi­serable death [...]inished their daies, and after them kyng Richard the .iij. also▪ duke of Gloucester, in ciuill warre was slain and confounded: so y^• this name of Gloucester, is takē for an vnhappie and vnfortunate stile, as the prouerbe speaketh of Seianes horse, whose rider was euer vn­horsed, and whose possessor was euer brought to miserie. When the ru­mor of the dukes death, was blowen through the realme, many mē wer sodainly appalled and amased for feare: many abhorred and detested y^• faict, but all men reputed it an abhominable crueltie, and a shameful 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 waight and burden of the realme, rested and depēded vpō him, as the experience afterward did declare. For after his death▪ good & sage men fearyng thē selfes, fled out of y^• flatteryng court, into whose places entered suche, as desiryng their awne promocion, set open the gates to new faccions, whiche could neuer be extinct, til all the [Page Clij] seignories beyōd the sea (except Caleice & the marches) were lost, & kyng Hēry in conclusion spoyled of hys Realme & lyfe. There is an olde sayd saw, that a man entēding to auoide the smoke, falleth into the fyre: So here, the Quene mynding to preserue her husbād in honor, & her selfe in aucthoritie, 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, whiche 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 cōmōs had not rebelled: if this Duke had lyued, the house of Lācaster had not been defaced and destroyed, which thynges hapned all contrary by the destrucciō of this good man. This is the worldly iudgemēt, but God knoweth, what he had predestinate, & what he had ordeined before, againste whose ordinaunce preuayleth no counsaill, and against whose will auayleth no stryuinge.

¶The .xxvi. yere.The .xxvi. yere

IN this .xxvi. yere of the reign [...] of this Kynge, But in the first yere of the rule of the 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 Suffolke, whiche dignitie he shorte tyme enioied & which degre, he but a briefe seasō possessed. For after the depo­sicion or rather the destruccion of the good duke of Gloucester, and the exaltacion and aduauncement of this glorious man: Rychard duke of Yorke, beyng greatly alied by his wyfe, to the chefe peres and potenta­tes of the Realme, ouer and besyde hys awne progenye and greate con­sanguinitie, perceyuing the Kyng to be a ruler not Ruling, & the whole burden of the Realme, to depend in the ordinaūces of the Quene & the duke of Suffolke, began secretly to allure to hys frendes of the nobili­tie, and priuatly declared to thē, hys title and right to the Crowne, and lykewyse dyd he to certain wyse and saige Gouernors and Rulers of dyuers cities and townes: which priuie attēpt was so politiquely han­deled and so secretly kept, that hys prouisiō 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 Beaufford, bishop of Winche­ster, and called the ryche Cardinall, departed out of this world, and was buryed at Wynchester. This man was sonne to Ihon of Gaunte duke of Lancaster, discēded of an honorable lignage, but borne in Ba­ste, more noble of blodd, then notable in learning, haut in stomacke, and hygh in coūtenaunce, ryche aboue measure of all men, & to fewe liberal, [Page] disdaynfull to hys kynne and dreadfull to his louers▪ preferrynge mo­ney before frendshippe, many thinges beginning, and nothing perfour­myng. Hys couetous insaciable, and hope of long lyfe, made hym both to forget God, hys Prynce and hym selfe, in hys latter daies: for doctor Ihon Baker hys pryuie counsailler, and his chappelleyn, wrote, that he lyeng on his death bed, sayd these wordes. ‘Why should I dye, hauīg so muche ryches, if the whole Realme wolde saue my lyfe, I am able either by pollicie to get it, or by ryches to bye it. Fye, will not death be hyered, nor will money do nothyng? when my nephew of Bedford died, I thou­ght my selfe halfe vp 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 spiritual bryberie I wil not speake: but the kepinge of them for his ambycious purpose, aspiryng to ascend to the papisticall sea, was bothe great losse to his naturall Prince, and natyue countrey: for his hiddē ryches might haue wel holpen the King, and his secrete treasure migth haue releued the cōmonaltie, whē money was scante and importunate charges, were dayly imminent. After the death of this prelate, which was a great stay to the Kyng & the realme, the affayres in Fraunce, were neither well loked to, nor the gouernours of the countrey were well aduised. For an Englishe capitayn, called syr Franceys Surrien the Arragonoys, a man for his witt and actiuitie admitted to the ordre of the Gartier, toke by scalynge 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 inha­bitaūtes to the great distruccion 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 his allye and vassal was cōprehen­dyd) 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, & Ihon Cosynet one of the masters of his requestes to the kyng of England: & to the duke of So­merset, he dispatched Peter de Fountaynes Esquyer, & one of the cheife of his stable, to whome by both the Princes, it was aunswered, that the facte and enterprise was bothe 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 appoynted to be kept at the town of Louiers. At the time appointed bothe the parties assembled: the Frenche parte demaunded amendes, with no litle recompense: The Englishe orators aunswered, that without offēce, no thing by iustice, ought to be satisfied: affirming the doynge of syr Francyes Surrien, to be his onely acte, withoute the [Page Cliij] consent or counsail, either of the kynge of England, or the duke of So­merset his lieuetenāt and regent. Duringe this dayly communicaciō & longe delaye, certain Frenchemen, frendes to the duke of Britayn, de­syring to be reuenged of the iniurie done to him at Fongiers, and also imagening, how to do some new displeasure to the Englishmē, were ad­uertised by a wagoner of Louiers, y^t the town of Poūtelarche, was but meanly manned and slenderly furnished, and the watche was but neg­ligently loked to: with whiche saiynges the Frenchemen beynge som­what encouraged, deuised a waye, howe by pollicie to take the towne: So the wagoner laded his wagon, and passed forward, hauinge in his company .i [...]. stronge varlettes clad lyke carpenters, with greate axes in their neckes. And for the furtherāce of their purpose, the lord of Bressy, with a chosen company of men of armes, lodged him selfe in a busshe­ment nere to the gate of sainct Andrewe. And capitayn Floquet, accom­panied with syr Iames of Cleremoūt, and another great company, pri­uilie lurked vnder 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 Roen, and returne agayne the same night. The porter (whiche wel knew the voice of his customer) toke litle hede to the other .ij. cōpaignions, & so opened the on [...] gate, and sent another felow of his, to opē the [...]ormost gate. Whē y^e Chariotte was on the draw bridge, betwene both y^e gates, the Chariottemaster gaue the porter money, and for the nones, let one pece fal to the grounde, & whyle the porter stoped to take it vp, the wagoner with his dagger stroke him in at his throte, so that he cried for no healpe, and the .ij. greate lubbers slewe the other porters, and with their axes cutte the aexletre of the wa­gone, so that the drawe 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 [...]lew 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 praty cautele and [...]lyghte imposture, was the towne of Poūtelarche takē and surprised, which towne was the kay and passage ouer the ryuer of Soame, frō Fraūce to Normandy, beyng distant frō Roen, onely .iiii. leages. Thus wrong was added to wrong, & iniurie heped to iniurie, wherby y^• terme of truce was violated, & mor­tal warre was reuiued. But because y^• taking of this fortresse, had a cer­tain colour of brekīg of truce. The duke of Somerset by ambassadors, & not by force of armes, deuised to recouer again this pratye town, & sēt for y^e restituciō of thesame, diuerse ambassadors to y^e Frēch kyng & his coūsail, which made aūswere agayn, y^t if the Englishmen restored to the duke of Brytayn, the town of Fōgiers with cōdigne amēdes, for the da­mages done & cōmitted within the same▪ the town of Poūtlarche should agayne be rendered and deliuered: for the Frenche kynge and his coun­saill [Page] beganne 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 beganne to sprynge and ryse: By reason whereof, they thoughte that Normandye might sone [...]e conquered and recouered, and that the Englishe nacion out of that region might easely be expulsed and driuē out: wherfore they determined to take the good occasion to them openly offered, & to lose no tyme in so good a bargayne. Wherupō kyng Char­les diuided his armye in to .iij. partes, not doubting of victory, by rea­son that the fame of the cōquest of Pountelarche, was blowen & spread abrode ouer al y^• coūtrey. So after diuers assautes (not without losse of diuers of his men) he had rendered to him by cōposicion, the townes of Louiers and Gerborie, whereof Williā Harper was capitayn. Thus prosperous victorie dayly succedinge to the Frenche kynges armye, he augmenting his hooste, determined to get the town of Uernoyle in perche, & gyrd it round about with a strōg seage. The inhabitaūtes wher­of, although with the sodayne chaunce they were somwhat 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 lenger, then they either thought or desired, they were compelled to com­pound and pact with their enemyes, vpon this condicion: that if the seage were not reysed within .xx. dayes, that then they shoulde departe with bagge and baggage, whiche condiciō 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 agre, that the Frenchemen obteyned it. Thus was warre reuiued before the full terme of the truce expyred, whiche 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 & vnquieted, what with appeasing dayly rumors within townes, and what with studye how to recouer Ca­stels lost and taken, that they scace wyste, what waye to take: for while they studied, how to kepe and defēde 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 turnīg was this: It was blowen throughout all Fraunce, that the realme of Englande, after the death of the duke of Gloucester, by the seueral facciōs 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 sheild and defence of the poore cōmonaltie, and that the forenamed du­ke of Suffolke, onely 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 conquestes, but all theire studie was, how [Page Cliiij] to driue backe and defend domesticall iniuries, & dayly wronges done at home: by reason whereof men of warre were vnpayed, and no armye for resistēce was either gathered or assēbled together: which mischiefes (while the Kyng, as thinges of the worlde, and of no great moment, did neglect and omit, as he which preferred & extolled godly thinges▪ aboue all worldly affaires and mortal cures, and thought thē most to be phā ­tasied and labored: And while quene Margarete his wyfe, in whom the whole rule of the realme consisted, beyng a woman of to muche credēce geuyng, to euil & flattering cōsallors them litle regarded) dayly so much encreased, that by no meanes after they coulde 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 & encouraged their hartes, and daūted & appalled the courages of the Normains 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.

¶The .xxvii. yere.The .xxvii. yere.

IT was not e [...]ough, the realme of Englād this season thus to be vexed and vnquieted with the busines of Normādy, but also a new rebellion beganne in Irelande, to the great displeasure of the Kynge and his counsaill: for repressinge whereof, Richard duke of Yorke, with a conuenient nūber 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 inhabi­taūtes, that their syncere loue and frēdly affeccion coulde neuer be sepe­rated frō him and his lygnage, as in the sequele of this story, you shall more plainly perceyue. The Frenchemen hauing perfyte vnderstāding 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, Manleō argē ­ton, Lisiaux argenton, and diuers other townes in Normandy: Lyke­wise in Guyen was the town of Maulissone rēdered to y^• Erle 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 greate flāme of the Englishe force was extinct and consumid, rose against the Capi­taines, and other 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 Erle of Shrowesburye, 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 [Page] citie, the inhabitaūtes not onely sought ways & inuented fraudes, how to betray the same, but also put on harnes and rebelled against their ca­pitaynes, manacinge to the death & destruccion al the English people. The capitaines perceyuing their vntrought, & trayterous demeanour retrayted them selfes into the Castell or Palaice, where they a certaine space with arrowes and handgonnes, sore molested and vexed the vn­trew citizens. But when they cō [...]idered the great puyssaūce of the Frēch kyng, and that they were in dispayre of all ayde or relefe, and that their victayle and artillarye began sore to minishe, they thoughte it better to compounde and agree with their enemies, rather then wilfully to be de­stroyed or dye for [...]amy [...]: and so vpon condicion that all they should sa­fely departe of Caen with al their goodes and armure, and that certain townes should be deliuered by a daye, they were permitted to departe: leauing behynd them for hostages, till the sayd townes (whiche were a­greed to be rendered) should be deliuered, the Erle of Shreuesbury and the lorde Butler, sonne to the Erle of Ormonde, which were sent to the Castell of Eureux, because they sore feared the malice of the citizens of Roen. The Frenchemen folowyng still the steppes of victorie, & elated with the brute and fame of gettinge of Roen, determined either 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, brougth from Roen, was therewith nothinge 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 deuised dayly, howe to batter and breake the wal­les & fortificaciōs. This seage long continued to the great losse of both parties. When syr Thomas sawe smal lykelihod of ayde or gayne, but muche apparaunce of losse and ieopardy, he toke a conuencion with his enemyes, and so departed with all his goodes.

¶The .xxviii. yere.The .xxviii. yere.

AFTER whiche towne rendered, the fortresse of Hunflew, vpon the same composicion was yeilded. 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 diuers 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 Kyriel: a man of great stomacke, if 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 in him lacked neither good will nor courage, for with his small num­bre, he recouered agayn the townes of Lyseaux and Ualongnes. After [Page Clv] whiche feate, he ioyned hymself with sir Hēry Norbery, sir Robert Ueere, Matthew Gough, and other capitaines, so that thei were aboue fiue thousande men▪ of valiaunt hartes and haute courages. After long consultacion, thei determined to fight with the Frenchemen, whiche wer gooyng to the siege of Caen, but in their iourney, thei were encounte­red at a place called Formigny, 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 En­glishemen a greate season. Duryng whiche s [...]irmishe, there arriued Ar­thur erle of Richemond, high Constable of Fraunce, Iames of Luxen­borough, erle of Lauall, with a greate numbre of horsemen and freshe fotemen. After his commyng, he and all the Frenchmen set on thenglishmen, beyng faint and wery with the long skirmishe. This battaill was sore fought, but in conclusiō, the Englishemen wer discomfited, and put to flight, and of theim slain aboue iiij.M, and .viii.C. taken prisoners, where of, sir Thomas Kiriell, sir Henry Norbery, & sir Thomas Dreue wer the chief, sir Robert Uere and Matthewe Gough saued themselfes. This was the first foughten feld, that the Frenchemen gatte on the En­glishemen in many yeres, wherfore, I blame theim not, though thei of a litle, make muche, and set furthe all, and hide nothyng, that maie sounde to their glory. Thei declare what nūbre 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 toune of Caen, thought that he had no­thyng doen, if he permitted the duke, still to tary in Normandy, whiche by newe 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 preuent thynges, imminent & at hande, assembled an armie royall, & in his awne persone, hauyng in his campe Reyner, called kyng of Scicile, father to the Quene of Englande, the dukes of Calaber and Alaunson, the erles of Cleremont, Richemond, Mayne, Dumoys, Sent Polle, and Dampemartyne, beside many noble Barons and valiaunte knightes, when all thynges were ready, as opportunitie of tyme ser­ued: He caused the Toune to bee enuironed on euery side, assignyng to his capitaines seuerall places of the toune to bee assauted, and there to proue their manhod. The erle of Dumoys, with more losse then gain entered into a bulwerke and was beaten backe. Thenglishemen with­in the toune kept silence, as though thei knewe not of their enemies ap­prochyng, but euery man kept his loupe, and euery capitain well ouer­loked his ward. The Frenchemen with quarrelles, morispikes, slynges, and other engynes, began to assaut the walles: but of the Englishemen within, some shot fiercely withlong bowes, other cast dartes, and rolled doune greate stones and barres of Iron: other cast doune Iauelyns, [Page] firebrādes, hote leade, and blockes with pitche and brymstone, like bur­nyng [...]ire flamyng: some cast doune and ouerthrewe the scalyng ladders and slewe suche as clymed vp the walles: neither courage lacked in the assault, nor manhode, nor pollecie in the def [...]nce: for on the embatelmē ­tes of the walles wer 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 ordinaūce 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 harme 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 capitain generall, sir Dauy Halle, and of the castle, sir Rober Ueer, and of the dongeon, sir Henry Radford. 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 children, whiche, beyng ama­sed with this chaunce, praied on her knees her husbande, to haue mercy and compassion of his small enfantes, and that thei might bee deliuered out of y^e 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 and puyssaunce of the Frenche kyng, and their debilitie and weakenes, per­swadyng theim rather to yeld and rendre vpon honest condicions, then obstinatly to resist, 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 my 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 helpe of almightie God, I shall well defende, bothe against the Frenche kyng and all his puyssaunce, till the duke my master come to succor me: for of men, money and municions, I trust I haue sufficient. Why saied the duke, am not I here the kynges deputie, representyng his persone, & maie commaunde all thynges accordyng to my discrecion? Yea, said the capitain, so that you geue away no mānes right, but his, whose auctho­ritie you haue for thesame: 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 toune, and the poorest people of thesame, [Page Clvj] declaryng to them, that their lifes and goodes, wer in the Frenche kyn­ges handes, and if thei looked not shortely to their sauegard, of death thei 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 souldiours. 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 awaie 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^• composiciō. Then the duke partely to pleace the tounes men, but more desirous to pleace 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 goodes and substaunce: whiche offre, the Frenche Kyng gladly accepted and allowed, knowyng that by force, he might lenger haue longed for the strong toune, then to haue possessed thesame so sone. After this conclusion taken, sir Dauie Halle, with diuerse other of his trustie frēdes, departed to Chierburge, and from thense sailed into Ire­lande, to the duke of Yorke, makyng relacion to hym of all these dooyn­ges: whiche thyng kyndeled so greate 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.

AFTER the obteinyng of this strong toune of [...]aen, therle of Cle­remont besieged the citie of Lyseux, whereof was capitain Matthewe Gough, with thre hundren Englishmen. The capitain perceiuyng that when Caen was not rescewed, that poore Liseux, was in dispaire of all succor, agreed to abandon and deliuer the citee, so that he and his peo­ple, might departe to Chierburge, hauyng no yron weapon nor armure, but onely their goodes, and white stafes in their handes. After the de­liueraunce of this toune, the Frenchemen 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, Andrewe Trollop, and Thomas Cotton esquires, whiche beyng despe­rate of succors, and consideryng the puissaunce of their enemies, agreed to deliuer the toune vpon twoo condicions. The one was, that the Erle their master, whiche remained in pledge for certain condicions, agreed to bee perfourmed at the deliueraunce of Roen, (as you haue heard be­fore) should be dismissed & set at libertie. The other, that if thei wer not rescued within twelfe daies, that then, thei and theirs, to depart with ar­mure, and all their godes moueable, whether it pleaced them. After this agrement at the daie prefixed, no rescues came, and so the toune was rē ­dered, [Page] and incontinent after, the fortresse of Dampforde was deliuered vpon like agrement. For the Frenchemen bragged, that thei regarded neither golde nor siluer, but desired rule, glory, and fame: With whiche lightne [...]e the other tounes of Normandy beyng perswaded, voluntari­ly rendered themselfes, vassalles and subiectes to the Frenche nacion.

NOVV rested English, onely the toune of Chierburge, wherof was capitain, Thomas Gonuile, which surely, valiaūtly 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 composiciō, 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^t whiche had continued in thenglishmennes possession .xxx. yeres by the cōquest 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 thesame was one Archebishopricke, and sixe bishoprickes. Some saie, that the Englishe­men wer not of puyssaunce, either to man the tounes as thei should bee­or to inhabite the countrey, whiche was the cause, that thei could not, kepe it: accordyng to the Frenchemennes Adage, whiche saieth: A man cannot long hold that, whiche he cannot gripe. Other say, that the duke o [...] Somerset, for his awne peculier profite, kept not halfe his nombre of [...]ouldiors, and put their wages in his purse. These be mennes imagina­cions and coniectures, but surely the losse of it, was the domesticall di­uision within the realme euery greate man desiryng, rather to be reuen­ged on his foo at home, then on his outward enemie, as you now shall manifestly se and perceiue.

¶The .xxviii. yere.The .xxviii. yere.

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 Realme (aswell of the nobilitie, as of the meane sorte) in a ciuill warre and intestine diuision: For emong the high Princes and peeres, reigned inward grudge: emong the Cleargie, adulacion, & emong the commonaltie, disdain of lasciuious souereigntie whiche the Quene with her minions, and vnprofitable counsailers dai­ly toke and vsurped vpō them. Wherfore thei (not myndyng to be more charged, then their backes would beare, and perceiuyng that by the ne­gligent prouision, and improuident pollicie of the wit wantyng gouer­nors within the realme, the affaires and businesse in the partes beyonde the sea, daily decaied and more wer like to do, if other pollitique rulers were put in aucthoritie, and the negligent officers, sequestered and de­posed,) began to make exclamacion against the Duke of Suffolke, af­firming [Page Clvij] him, to be the onely cause of the deliuery of Angeow & Mayne, the chief procurer of the death, of the good duke of Gloucester, the verie occasion of the losse of Normandy, the moste swallower vp and consu­mer of the Kynges treasure, (by reason whereof, the warres in Fraunce wer not mainteined,) the expeller frō the kyng, of al good and verteous counsailors, and the brynger in and auauncer of vicious persones, common enemies and apparaunt aduersaries 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 punishement. By reason of this exclamaciō, the Quene 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 adiorned to Leicester, thinkyng there, by force and rigor of y^e 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, hereafter ensueth.

FIRST thei alleged, that he had traiterously excited, prouoked,1 and counsailed, Ihon erle of Dumoys Bastard of Orleaūce, Bertrame Lorde Presigny▪ Willyam Cosynet, enemies to the kyng, and frendes and Ambassadors to Charles, callyng [...]imself 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 Ihō duke of Somerset, pretendyng and declaryng 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 coū ­saill,2 allured by greate rewardes, and faire promises, made by the fore­saied Erle of Dumoys, caused the kyng to deliuer and [...]ette 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 thesaied duke of Orleaunce, the 3 forenamed Duke 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 Erle of Shrewesbury, the Lorde Fauconbridge, and many other vale­aunt capitaines.

[Page] These three articles, hedenied either for fact or thought.

4 FARTHER it was alledged, that he beyng Ambassador [...]or the Kyng of Englande, to Charles callyng hymself the Frenche Kyng, pro­mise [...] to Reyner kyng of Scicile, and to Charles Dangiers his bro­ther, enemies to the kyng, the relese of Angeow, with the deliueraunce of the Countie of Mayne, and the citie of Maunt or Mauns, without the knowledge of the other Ambassadors, whiche him accompanied: whiche promise, after his returne, he caused to bee performed, to the kynges di­senheritance, and losse irrecuperable, and to the s [...]rength of his enemies and feblishement of the Duchy of Normandie.

To this article he answered, that his commission was to conclude, and doo all thynges accordyng to his discresion, for the obteinyng of a peace, and because without deliuery of those coūtreys, he perceiued that truce could not be obteined, he agreed, to the relese and deliueraunce of theim.

5 ALSO thei surmised, that thesaied duke, beyng in Fraunce in the kynges seruice, and one of 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, purueiaunce of his armies, 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, thesaid duke declared to the Erle of Dumoys, to the Lorde Presigny, and Willyam Cosynet, Ambassadors for the Frēche kyng, li­yng in London, the priuities of the kynges counsaill, bothe for the pro­uision of farther warre, and also for defence of the Duchy of Norman­dy: by the disclosyng wherof, the Frenchmen knowyng the kinges secre­tes, preuented 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 commyng to the Frenche courte, certified kyng Charles of their commission, aucthoritie, and Instructions, by reason wherof, nei­ther peace nor amitie succeded, and the Kynges enheritaūce lost, and by hys enemyes possessed.

8 ITEM thesame Duke sayde openly in the starre chamber, before the lordes of the Counsail, that he had as highe a place in the coūsail 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.

9 ITEM when armyes haue been prepared, & souldyers redy waged, to passe ouer the sea, to resist the Kynges enemyes: Thesayd Duke cor­rupted by rewardes of the Frenche Kynge, hath restreyned and stayed the sayde armyes to passe any farther.

10 ITEM the sayde Duke beynge Ambassadour for the Kyng, compri­sed [Page Clviij] 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 thesame: 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. Diuers other crymes were layde to his charge, as, enry­chyng hymselfe with the Kynges goodes and landes, gatheryng toge­ther, and makyng a money polde of offices, fees, wardes, and fermes, by reason wherof, the Kynges estate was greatly mynished and decayed, and he and his kyn highly exalted, and enriched, with many other poin­tes, whiche, by cause they be not notable, nor of no great force or strēgth I omitte and ouerpasse. The Quene, whiche entierly loued the Duke, fearyng that some cōmocion and trouble myght ryse, if he were let goo vnpunished, caused him 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 fauour and grace, as muche as euer he was before that tyme. But this doynge incensed the furye of the mutable cōmons, muche more then before: openly de­mouncyng, and saiyng, that it was a shame to al the Realme, 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 displeasure, whiche had growen to greate mischiefe, if pollitique prouision had not, with all celeritie resisted the fyrst fury: for the com­mons in sundry places of the realme assembled together, gathered great companyes, and elected a Capitayn, whome they called, blew berd: but or they had attempted any enterpryse, their headdes were apprehended and so the membres sodainly were dispersed, without any hurte cōmit­ted, or perpetrated.

AFTER this litle rage was asswaged, the Parliament was adior­nied to Leycester, whither came the Kyng and the Quene in great estate and with them the Duke of Suffolke, as chefe counsailor. The cōmōs of the lower house, not forgettyng their olde grudge: beseched the king, 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 Iames Fynies, lord Say, & diuers other. When kyng Henry perceiued, that the cōmons wer thus stomac­ked 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 cōmons: Wherefore to begyn a shorte pacificacion in so long a broyle. Firste he [Page] sequestred the lord Say, beynge threasorer of Englande, and other the Dukes adherentes, from there offices, and authoritie, and after bani­shed and put in exile the duke of Suffolke, as the abhorred tode, and cōmon noysaunce of the Realme of Englande, for the terme of .v. yeres: meaning by this exile, to appeace the furious rage of y^e outragious people, and that pacified, to reuocate him into his olde estate, as the Que­nes chefe frēde & counsailer. But fortune wold not, that this flagitious person, shoulde so escape: for when he shipped in Suffolke, entendynge to be transported into Fraūce, he was encōtered with a shippe of warre apperteynyng to the duke of Excester,William de la poole, duke o [...] Suffolke behedded. the Constable of the Towre of London, called the Nicholas of the Towre. The capitayne of thesame barke with small fight, entered into the dukes shyppe, and perceyuyng his person present, brought him to Douer Rode, & there on the one syde of a cocke bote▪ caused his head to be stryken of, and left hys body with the heade 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 Williā de la pole, first duke of Suf­folke, as men iudge, by Gods punyshmēt: for aboue all thinges he was noted to be the very organ, engine, and diuiser of the destruccion of Hū frey the good duke of Gloucester, and so the bloudde of the Innocente mā 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 Realmes is more pestiferous and noysome, then outward warre, dayly famyne, or extreme pestilēce. For allthough Ry­chard duke of Yorke, was in pryson, (as the kynges deputie) in y^e realm of Irelande, continually resyaunt there, yet his breath puffed, and hys wynde blew dayly, in many partes of the Realme. For many of the no­bilitie, and more of the meane estate, wisely ponderynge the estate and condicion of the Realme, perceyuynge more losse then encrease, more ruyne then auancement, dayly to ensue: Remembryng also that Fraūce was conquered, and Normandy was gayned, by the Frenche people in shorte space, thought with them selfes and imagened, that the faulte 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. Upon this coniecture the frendes, kins­men and alyes of the duke of Yorke, which were of no small nūber, be­gan to practise the gouernaūce of his title: Infusyng and puttyng into mens heades secretely his right to y^e crown, his pollitique gouernaūce, his gentle behauior, to all the Iryshe nacion, affirming, that he whiche had brought that rude and sauage nacion, to ciuile fashion, and En­glishe vrbanitie, wolde, (if he once ruled in the Realme of England) de­pose euil counsaillers, correct euil iudges, & reforme al matters amisse, and vnamēded. And to set opē the fludde gates of these deuises, it was [Page Clix] thought necessary, to cause some great com [...]ociō 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. The, ouerture of this matter was put furthe fyrste in Kent, and to thentent that it should not be knowen, that the duke of Yorke or his frēdes were the cause of the sodayne rising: A certayn yongmā of a goodely stature, and pregnaunt wit, was entised 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, the lyne and lynage of the assi­stente house of the erle of Marche, which were no small number, should be to hym both adherent, and fauorable. This capitayn not onely sub­orned by techers, but also enforced by pryuye scholemasters, assembled together a great company of talle personages: assuring them, that their attēpt 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 Quene, & other their counsaillers, in to their handes and gouernaūce, that they woulde honorabl [...]e entreate the kyng, and so sharply handle his counsaillers, that neither fiftenes should hereafter be demaūded, 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 conformitte) so animated the Kentishe peo­ple, that they with their capitayne aboue named, in good order of bat­tell (not in great number) came to the playne of Blackehethe, betwene Eldham and Grenewyche. And to the entent that the cause of this glo­rious capitaines comyng thither, might be shadowed from the kyng and his counsaill, he sent to hym an humble supplicacion, with louyng woordes, but with malicious entent: affirmyng his cōmyng, not to be agaynst him, but agaynst diuers of his co [...]nsail, louers of them selfes, and oppressers of the pore commonaltie, 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 indifferencie, nothing doyng. This proude byll, was both of the kyng, and his counsaill, disdainfully taken, and thereupon great consultacion had, and after long debating, 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 king assembled a great army, and marched toward thē, whiche had lyen on Blackeheath, by the space of .vij. dayes. The sub­till capitayn named Iack Cade, entendyng to bryng the kyng farther, within the compasse of his net, brake vp his Campe, and retyred back­warde to the towne of Seuenocke in Kent, and there exspectynge hys pray, encamped him selfe, and made his abode. The Quene, which bare [Page] the rule, beyng of his retrayte well aduertised, sent syr Humfrey Staf­ford knyght, and William his brother with many other gentelmen, to folow the chace of the Kentishmen, thinkynge that they had fledde, but verely, they were desceyued: for at the fyrst skyrmish, both the Staffor­des were slayne, and all their companye shamfully discomfited. The kynges armye, beyng at this tyme come to Blackeheathe, hearynge of this discomfiture, began to grudge and murmure emongest them selfe: some wisshing the duke of Yorke at home, to ayde the capitayne his co­syne: some desiryng the ouerthrow of the kyng and his counsaill: other openly cryeng out on the Quene, and her complices. This rumor opēly spoken, & cōmoly published, caused the kyng, & certayn of his counsaill, not ledde by fauor, nor corrupted by rewardes (to the entent to appeace the furious rage of the inconstant multitude) to commit the lord Say, Threasorer of England, to the Towre of London: and if other, against whome, lyke displeasure was borne had been presente, thei had likewise ben serued. But it was necessary that one should suffer, rather then all the nobilitie then should perish. When the Kentish capitayn, or y^e co­uetous Cade, had thus obteyned victory, and slayne the two valeaunt Staffordes, he apparreled hym selfe in their rych armure, and soo 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 nūber. Thus this glorious Capitayn, compassed about, and enuironed with a multitude of euil rude and rusticall persones, came agayn to the playn of Blackeheath, and there strōgly encamped him selfe: to whome were sent by the kynge, the Archebishop of Canterbury, and Humfrey duke of Buckyngham, to cōmon with him of hys greues and requestes. These lordes found him sober in communicacion, wyse in disputyng, arrogant in hart, and styfe in 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 thinges, which he should requyre. These lordes, perceyuyng the wilful pertinacy, and manifest contumacie of this rebellious Iauelyn, depar­ted to the kyng, declaring to hym, his temerarious and rasshe wordes, and presumptuous requestes. The kyng somwhat hearyng, and more markyng the saiynges of thys outragious losel, and hauyng dayly re­porte of the concurse and accesse of people, which cōtinually resorted to him, doubtyng asmuch his familiar seruauntes, as his vnknowē sub­iectes (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, leauing only behynd him y^e lord Sca­les, to kepe the Towre of London. The capitayn beynge aduertised of the kynges absence, came first into Southwarke, and there lodged at the white hart, prohibity [...]g to all men, Murder, Rape, or Robbery: by whiche colour he allured to him the hartes of the common people. But after that he entered into Londō, and cut the ropes of the draw bridge, [Page Clx] strykyng his sworde on London stone, saiyng: now is Mortymer lorde of this citie, and rode in euery strete lyke a lordly Capitayn. And after a flatteryng declaracion made to the Mayre of the citie of his thither commyng, he departed agayn in to Southwarke. And vpon the thyrde daye of Iulij, he caused syr Iames Fynes lord Say, and Threasorer of Englande, to be brought to the Gylde halle of London, and there to be arrayned: whiche beyng before the kynges iustices put to aunswere, desired to be tryed by his peeres, for the lenger delay of his life.The lorde Say, threasorer of Eng­lande, behed­ded at the stā ­dard in [...]h [...]ape. The Capitayne perceiuyng his dilatorie ple, by force toke him from the of­ficers, and brought him to the standard in Cheape, and there before his confession ended, caused his head to be cut of, and pitched it on a highe poole, which was opēly borne before hym through the stretes. And this cruell tyraunt not content with the murder of the lorde Say, wente to Myle ende, and there apprehended syr Iames Cromer, then shreue of Kent, and sonne in law to the sayd lord Say, & hym without confession or excuse heard, caused there likewyse to be hedded, 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 to gether, 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 especiall in the house of Philip Malpas, Alderman of London, and diuers other: ouer & besyde raunsonyng, & fynyng of diuers notable marchauntes, for the tuyciō and securitie of their lyfes and goodes, as Robert Horne alder­man, which payed .v.C. markes, and yet neither he, nor no other person was either of lyfe or substance in a suertie or sauegard. He also put to execucion in Southwarke diuers persons, some for infryngyng his rules and preceptes, bycause he wolde be sene indifferent, other he tormē ­ted 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 Londō, Kent, and Essex. The wise Mayre, and sage magistrates of the citie of London, perceyuyng thē selfes, nei­ther to be sure of goodes nor of lyfe well warranted, determined with feare to repel and expulse this mischeuous head, and hys vngracious cōpany. And because the lord Scales was ordeyned keper of y^e Towre 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 entent and enterprise. The lord Scales promised thē hys ayde, with shoting 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 noysed. So y^• Capitaynes of the citie appointed, toke vpon them in the night to kepe the bridge of London, prohibiting the Kentishmē, either to passe or ap­proche. The rebelles, which neuer soundly slepte, for feare of sodayne [Page] chaunces, hearing the brydge to be kept and manned, ran with greate haste to open that passage, where betwene bothe partes was a ferce and cruell encounter. Mathew Gough, more experte in marcial feates, then the other cheuetaynes of the citie, perceiuyng the Kentishmen, better to stande to their taclyng, then his imaginacion expected, aduised his cō ­pany no further to procede, toward Southwarke, till the day appered: to the entent, that the citezens hearing where the place of the ieopardye rested, might occurre their enemies, and releue their frendes and com­panions. But this counsail came to small effect: for the multitude of y^e rebelles draue the citezens from the stoulpes at the bridge foote, to the drawe bridge, and began to set fyre in diuers houses. Alas what sorow it was to beholde that miserable chaunce: for some desyringe 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 smoldered. 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 [...]ew 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 beyōd the sea (as before ye haue hearde). But it is often sene, that he, whiche many tymes hath vanqueshed his enemies in straūg countreys, and re­turned agayn as a conqueror, hath of his awne nacion afterward been shamfully murdered, and brought to confusion. This hard and sore cō ­flict endured on the bridge, til .ix. of the clocke in the morninge, in dout­full chaunce, and fortunes balaunce: for some tyme the Lōdoners were bet back to the stulpes at sainct Magnes corner, and sodaynly agayne the rebelles were repulsed and driuen backe, 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 condicion: y^• neither Londoners should passe into Southwarke, nor the Kentishmē 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 of gallātes, both mete 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 ryuer of Thamyse from the Towre, into Souht­warke, bringing with them vnder the kynges great seale, a general pardon vnto all the offendors: which they caused to be openly proclamed & [Page Clxj] published. Lorde how glad the poore people were of this Pardone (ye more then of the great Iubile 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 strikē with feare. But Ihon Cade desperate of succors, whi­che by the frendes of the duke of Yorke wer to hym promised, and seyng his cōpany thus without his knowledge sodainly depart, mistrustyng the sequele of y^e matter, departed secretly in habite disguysed, into Sus­sex: but all his metamorphosis or transfiguracion, litle preuailed. For after a Proclamacion made, that whosoeuer could apprehende thesaied Iac Cade, should haue for his pain, a.M. markes, many sought for him, but few espied hym, til one Alexander Iden, esquire of Kent, found hym in a garden, and there in his defence, manfully slewe the cai [...]ife Cade, &The misera­ble ende of Iac [...]e cade. brought his ded body to London, whose hed was set on Londō 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 cō ­meth to his pretensed porte.

AFTER this commocion, the kyng hymself came into Kent, & there sat in iudgement vpō the offendors, 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 execucion: but he cōsidered, bothe their fra­gilitie and innocencie, and how thei with peruerse people, were seduced and deceiued: and so punished the stubburne heddes, and deliuered the ignorāt & miserable people, to the greate reioysyng of all his subiectes.

DVRYNG this commocion aboute London, Raufe bishop of Sa­lisbury, was by his awne tenantes, & seruaūtes, murdered at Edyngton, and so from thensefurth daily succeded, murder, slaughter, & discencion.

¶The .xxix. yere

THese variable chaunces in Englande,The .xxix. yere were not vnknowen to the Frenche kyng, wherfore, he makyng foundacion vpon the English discord, determined to get into his possession, the du­chie of Acquitayne, while the princes of Englande, wer in cō ­trouersie, 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 vpō the riuer of Dordone, of whiche toune was capitain, Ihō Ged­dyng, whiche hearyng of the yeldyng of Roen, and conquest of Nor­mandy, consideryng the puyssaunce of the Frenche army, vpon reasona­ble condiciōs, rendered the toune: yet all this notwithstandyng, the lord Cameyse, sir George Seymour, sir Ihon Arundell, and other valiaunt 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, sendyng daily letters to the [Page] kyng of Englande and his counsaill, declaryng to him the weakenes of his subiectes, and the strength of his enemies, assertenyng hym for a su­ertie, that without spedy aide, and redy succors, the whole countrey were like to be gotten frō his possessiō. Many letters wer sent, and many faire aunswers wer brought, but relief neither appered, nor one man of warre was thether shipped. By reason wherof, the Gascoyns perceiuyng 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, goodes, and corne: neglectyng defence, and fearful of assaultes, least by small resistence, thei might receiue more detriment, then after thei could recouer again, either with great force, or muche la­bor. But thenglishmen, (whose natures are not to be faint harted, euen at the very ieoperdy 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 litle preuailed in cōclusion, because suc­cors failed, and force wanted: For afther the Frenchemen, had the toune of Bergerac to them rendered, the fortresses of Io [...]sac, of Bonefoy, and diuerse other places, willyngly & frely, yelded themselfes to the Frenche subieccion. Duryng whiche tyme, [...] lorde Doruall, third sonne to the lorde Delabreth, with a greate numbre of men, aswel on horssebacke as on foote, departed from Basas, to conquere and destroy the isle of Ma­doce: wherof hearyng the Maire of Burdeaux, 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 battaill: but the Frenchemen, more with multitude, then with force, vanquished thenglishemen, and killed and toke prisoners, aboue .vj.C. Englishmen and Gascoynes, but of the Frenchemen, whiche 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 Englishe people would again returne. This slaughter of the Englishe parte, the Frenche wri­ters set furthe with the moste, but of their awne losse, thei speake not one worde. Suche indifferency, is in their Chronographiers. This discom­fiture so amased the wittes, & appalled the hartes of the meane Gascons that thei offered many tounes to the French part, before thesame wer of them demaunded.

AFTER this, the Bastard of Orleaunce, erle of Dumoys, and Lō ­guile, lieuetenant generall 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 keye of the porte of Burdeaux, 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 re­sistence, [Page Clxij] conquered and gayned. The bastard of Kendall capitain of the Castle, seyng the toune lost, vpon certain condicions, deliuered his [...]or­tresse, into the possession of the lord lieuetenant. After this toune gained the fortresses of Bourge and Liburne yelded, not without fiue Wekes besiegyng. The wittie capitaines perc [...]iuyng 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 succor of their people: thei appoynted foure armies, to make war in foure seuerall partes. The lorde Charles Del­lebreth, accompainied with Ihon lorde of Tartas and Aymon, lorde of Doruall his sonnes, and therle of Foys, and the Uiscount Lawtrec his brother, and many noble men of Guyen, laied siege to the toune of Ac­ques, in the whiche be diuerse ho [...]e 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) [...]esi­ged with a greate puyssaunce, the strong toune of Ryon. Therle o [...] Pō ­thyeure, with many noble barons, besieged the toune of Chastis [...]on in Perigot, and the erle of Dumoys, enuironed with a great puyssance the toune of Fronsacke. Thenglishemen within this toune, perceiuyng the greate ordinaunce on the Frenche part, and the small prouision on their side, couenanted with thesaid erle, that if the toune wer not succored, and the Frenchemen foughten with all, before the feast of the natiuitie, of .s. Ihō Baptist next ensuyng, that then the toune of Fronsacke should be yelded to them, whiche was the strōgest fortresse of all the countrey, and the very key of Guyen, and chief chamber of Burdeaux: and for per [...]or­mans hereof, pledges wer deliuered, and writynges autentique sealed. This agrement once blowen through the countrey, the citie of Burde­aux, and al other tounes, (except Bayon) made like agrement, and deli­uered pledges. So did al the noble men and gētlemen, whiche wer sub­iectes and vassals to the croune of Englande. Alacke alacke, euery daie was lokyng for relief, and euery houre was gapyng for cōfort, but wis­shyng serued not, nor hopyng nothyng helped: for the pestiferous diui­sion, whiche reigned in Englande, so [...]ueglid the braines of the noble men there, that the honor of the realme 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 Acquitayne (except Bayon) deliuered their keyes, and became vassals to the Frenche nacion, yet the citezens of Burdeaux hopyng of rescous, offered themselfes to fight with the Frenchmen, and desired a daie of battaill to be appoynted, whiche request was to theim graunted. But at the daie assigned, thei beyng in dispa [...]re of all refuge and succor, rendered themselfes and the toune, to their aduersaries, their lifes and goodes reserued, with licence and saf [...]conduyte to all persons whiche would depart and saile into Englāde. When the cities and tou­nes of Gascoyne wer set in good ordre, the Erle of Dumoys and Foys, [Page] with greate preparacion of vitaill, municion and men, came before the cite 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 thei deliuered the toune, and their capi­tain as a prisoner, offred a great some of money for the safegard of their lifes and goodes. Beside these agrementes taken with tounes, diuerse noble men made seuerall 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 Englād, 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^e garter, should enioy all their landes in Acquitayne, geuen to them by the kynges of Englande, or by the Dukes of Acquitayn. And because their intent was still to serue the Kyng of Englande, their souereigne Lorde, thei agreed, to deliuer into the custody of therle of Foys, their cosyn, the sonne and heire of thesaied erle of Kendale, beyng of the age of three yeres, to the intent, that if he at his full age, denied to become subiect and vassaill to the Frenche kyng, or before that tyme disceased, that then, after the death of his father and graundfather, all thesaid landes should wholy 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 Lorde Duras whiche was Marshall there, and Monsire Uanclere, 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, hauyng 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. yere.

YOU haue heard before,The .xxx. yer [...]. how the duke of Yorke, as heire to Lionell Duke of Clarence, pretended priuily, a title to the Croune, and how his frendes commoned secretly, with di­uerse persones of that matter, and excited theim to set for­ward, and auaunce that parte to the vttermoste: and howe thesaied duke was sent into Ireland, where he was daily aduertised by his assured frendes, of all thynges doen in Englande, and by thē knewe in what estate he stode, bothe with the nobilitie, and cōmonaltie. Wher­fore, he mindyng no lēger to dreame in his waightie matter, nor to kepe secrete his right and title, returned out of Irelande, and came to Londō in the parliamēt tyme, where he deliberately consulted, with his especial frendes: as Ihon Duke of Norffolke, Richard Erle of Salisbury, and Lorde Richard his sonne, whiche after was Erle of Warwicke, Tho­mas Courtney, erle of Deuonshire, and Edward Broke, lord Cobham a man of a greate witte and muche experience: requiryng them, bothe of [Page Clxiij] aduise and counsaill, how he might without spot of treason, or colour of vsurpacion, set furth his title, and obtein his right.

AFTER long consultacion, it was thought expedient, first to seke some occasion and picke some querell, to the duke of Somerset, whiche ruled the kyng, ordered the realme, and moste might do with the quene: Whom, the commons, for the losse of Normandy, worse then a Tode or Scorpion, hated, disdained and execrated, in so muche that diuerse euill ruled persones, brake his house, & spoyled his goodes, within the blacke Friers of the citie of Londō: whiche malefactors, accordyng to their de­sertes, wer iustly executed & punished. For wel knewe the duke of Yorke and his adherentes, 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 repell thesame, to thextreme point of death, and to their vtter confusion. Wherfore to abbridge his power, and to minishe his aucthoritie, thei 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 furth of their feate, thei, what with rewardes and faire promises, & what with declaracion of great enormities, committed by the kinges counsailors, gainst the common wealth, allected & allured to them, lu [...]ty 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 reforme diuerse rulers about the kyng, which daily cōtrary to right and equitie, vexed & pilled thenglish people, without reason or measure: so y^e no man was in suretie, either of his awne goodes, or suer of his pro­per lādes or possessiōs. These great enormities, thei caused to be publi­shed, to thintent y^e their chief purpose should not be espied, or perceiued.

VVHEN the duke of Yorke had thus framed thentery into his lōg intended iorney, he with helpe of his frendes, assembled a great army in the Marches of Wales, publishyng openly, that the cause of his mociō was for the publique wealth of the realme, and greate profite of the cō ­mons: whiche faire told tale, allured to hym muche people, aswell of the chiualry as of the meane sort. The kyng muche astonnied with this so­dain commocion, by the aduise of his counsail, raised a great hoste, and marched forward toward the duke: but he beyng of his approche, credi­bly aduertised, by his espials, diuerted from the kynges waies, and toke his iorney toward London: and hauyng 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 furth toward Kent, where he knewe that he had bothe frendes and good willers, and there, on brente Heath, a mile from Dertford, and .x. miles from Londō, he embattailed himself, and encamped his army very strongly, bothe with trenches and artilery. The king being therof aduertised, with great diligēce, brought his army to blacke Heath, & there pight his tētes. While both tharmies [Page] lay thus embattailed, the kyng by thaduise of his counsaill, sent the bi­shoppes of Winchester and E [...]ie to the duke▪ bothe to knowe, what was the cause of so greate a tumult and commocion, and also to make a con­cord, if the requestes of the duke and his company, semed to them conso­nant to reason, or profitable to the people. The duke hearyng y^e message of the two bishops, either doubtyng the variable chaunce of mortal battaill, or lokyng for a better occasiō, or a more luckey daie, aunswered the prelates, that his commyng was neither to dampnifie the kyng, neither in honor, nor in persone, nor yet any good man, but his intent was to re­moue frō hym, certain euil disposed persons of his counsaill, whiche wer the bludsuckers of the nobilitie, the pollers of the cleargie, and oppres­sors of the poore people: emongest whō he chiefly named, Edmond duke of Somerset, whom if the kyng would commit to warde, to aunswere to suche articles, as against hym should in open parliament, be bothe pro­poned and proued, he promised not onely to dissolue his army and dis­patche his people, but also offered hymself, like an obedient subiecte, to come to the kynges presence, and to do hym true and faithful seruice, ac­cordyng to his truth & boūden duetie. When the messengers wer retur­ned with this reasonable aunswere: 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 cōmon people, beyng once set on fire, except he folowed their mindes, and graūted 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 were somewhat 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 expectaciō, and cōtrary 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 treasō, toward 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 Lōdon, and the duke of Yorke as a prisoner, rode before hym, & so was kept a while. The kyng assembled together a greate counsail at Westminster, to here the accusaciōs of the ij. dukes, the one obiectyng to the other, facinorous actes, & detestable crimes. But the duke of Somerset, whiche now conceiued in his mynd the thyng that shortely folowed, incessantly exhorted the counsaill, that the Duke of Yorke, by compulsion, or otherwise, might bee compelled to confesse his offence, and so beyng attainted of treason, to be put to execu­cion, and his children to bee 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: [Page Clxiiij] besechyng almightie God, that so greate an enemy to the kyng and his bloud, might neuer escape punishment, nor continewe long in life. The duke of Somerset set [...]rth this matter the more vehemently, be­cause he knew perfitely, that the duke of Yorke dayly studyed, howe to get the crowne, and obteyn the gouernaunce, and to depose and destroy both the kyng and hym. But the necessitie of destineye, can not by any mans deuise, be either letted or interrupted: for many thynges (to com­mon iudgementes) declared the duke of Yorkes trought and innocēcye in this case. First his free and voluntary coming to the kyng, when he with his power was able to encoūter with the kynges puyssance, which was an open token▪ and manifest argument, that he neither meāte trea­son, nor yet fraude. Secondarily, his humble submission, his reasona­ble requestes, and profitable peticions, for the pore commons, were iudged no pointes of a man, that desired souereignetie, or rule aboue other which thinges he did onely for a cautele, (as afterward openly appea­red). While the coūsail 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 with and much stomacke, accompanied with a stronge armye of Marchemen, was comyng toward London, which tidinges sore appal­led the Quene 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, which signified to the counsaill, that if thei woulde sende an ar­mye into Gascoyne, the Gascoyns wolde reuerte & turne agayne to the English part: aduertising them, that there was [...] those partes no puis­saunce or garrison of Frenche men, to withstand them, & therefore there was no doubte of the regay [...]ing or recōquest: requyring thē w^t all diligēt celeritie, to take so fayre a prey so opēly to them offered, & to mynd nothing before 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 fayre Castel of Wignore, in the Marches of Wales, where he studied, both how to displease his enemies, & to obteyn his purpose: And so by meanes of y^e absēce of y^e duke of Yorke, which was in maner banished y^e court & y^• kinges presēce, y^e duke of Somerset rose vp in high fauor w^t y^• king & y^e quene, & his worde only ruled, & his voyce was only hearde.

¶The .xxxi. yere.

THe counsaill of Englande, not forgettinge the offer of the Gascons,The .xxxi. yere. and that thei might now haue the citie of Bur­deaux with the coūtrey round about, by offer and request, whiche 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, [Page] to be chefetayn of the armye, which should in all haste be trans­ported and conucyed into Acquitayn. The lordes of Gascoyn, both well pleased and glad of their aunswere, returned into their countrey, in as secret maner, as they from thense departed, declaringe to their nacion, the Capitaines, & the powre, that was to thē coming: exhorting euery man to be firme and stable to the kyng of England and his heyrs, vn­der whose libertie and fredom, thei had prospered & reioysed, aboue .iii.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 cōuey into the duchie of Acquitayn, Lord, how busy he was in mustering, howe diligēt in set­ting forward, and how ientelly he entertayned his men of warre, as though he went first to warre, and neuer had takē 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 ene­mies 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. Whē all thinges were shipped, and wynd and wether serued he toke his chaunce, and sayled into Gascoyn, where without resistēce, he peaceabl [...] arriued in y^e Isle of Madre, where he reposed his army, be­yng scant .iij.M. men, and destroyed all the countrey, betwene Burde­aux and Blay, and toke the strōg towne and castel of Fronsac, and di­uers other townes and fortresses. The inhabitaūtes of Burdeaux, hea­ring of the erles Arriual, sent to him messengers in the darke night, thā ­king and congratulating him for his thither comming, and also requi­ryng him to accelerate, and spede his iorney towarde their citie, enfor­myng him, that now the time was propice for his purpose: and tyme not taken, was labor mispent. This aunciēt Fox, and pollitique Capi­tayne lost not one houre, nor spared one mynet, till he came before the citie of Burdeaux. The citezens glad of his commynge, made not the French capitayns, which had the gouernaunce of the towne, either par­ties or priuies of their entent: yet some of them wolde, that the French­men, in securitie both of lifes and goodes, should departe out of y^• town but their will was no wil: for the multitude, abhorryng the French ser­uitude and embracing the English libertie, which they and their aūce­stors of many yeres and tasted, opened one gate, and let in a great parte of the Englishmen army. The French Capitaynes entending to escape secretely, by a posterne, were slayne and taken by the lorde Lespar, and other of the English army. After the regaynyng of Burdeaux, arriued [Page Clxv] at Blay, the bastard of Somerset, syr Ihon Talbot, lord Lisle, by hys wyfe sonne to the sayd erle of Shrewesbury, the lord Molyns, the lor­des Haryngton and Cameus, syr Ihon Haward, syr Ihon Montgo­merye, syr Ihon Uernon with .xxii.C. mē with vitailes and municiōs. Whē the erle of Shrewesbury was thus accordyng to his entent of all thinges furnished and adorned: firste he fortified Burdeaux with En­glishmen & victayle: after that, he rode into the countrey abrode, where he obteined cities, and gat townes without stroke or dēt of swourde▪ for the poore and nedy people beyng fatigate, and wery with the oppressio of their new landlordes rendered their townes before thei were of them requyred, and beside this the townes & cities farre distauncte frō Bur­deaux sent messengers to the erle, promisyng to him both seruice & obey­saunce. And emonge other the towne and castell of Chastillon in Pe­rigotte, was to him deliuered by the Frenchmen vpon cōposicion, that they might with their lifes sauely departe: which town, the erle strōgly 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 enteringe 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 Gascoyn, and with fayre 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 Burdon, 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 Capitayn 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 Fraūce with .xviii.C men of armes, beside archers, to besege the towne of Chastylon in Peri­got, and in goyng thither, thei gat a fortresse, whiche they manned, and so departed to Chastilone, which they enuyroned with a strong seage, & cast highe trenches, and made depe dytches on euery syde: and in a place where their enemyes must come, thei 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 perceiuing that he must of necessitie encoūter, and fight with two armies, determined w^t him selfe, first to assay the least power and weeker puyssaunce: wherfore without longer procrastinacion, he assembled togither .viii.C. horsemē, wherof the lord Lis [...]e his sonne, the lord Molyns, the lord Cameus, syr Edward Hull, syr Ihon Haward, & syr Ihon Uernō were chefe, and so marched forward toward Chastylon, appoyntyng .v.M. fote men vn­der the conduyte of the erle of Kendalle, and the lord Lespar to folowe [Page] hym with all spede. In hys way he assauted y^• Towre, which the Frēch­men had taken, and by force entered, and slew all that he founde within and by the way he met [...] .v.C. Frenchmen, goyng a forragyng, of whom he slew the greatest parte, and chaced the other to the campe. The Frēch men knowyng by these good rūners away of y^e erles approchyng, with al diligēce left the seage, and retired in good order, into the place which they had trēched, dytched, and fortefied with ordenaunce. Thei 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 fo [...]emē 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 Mar­shals and great Master of France, the erle of Pōthyeure, the Senescal of Poythiew, the lord Bessire, and many valeant Barons and Knigh­tes. When the Englishmen were come to the place where the Frenchmē 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 a litle hakeney, and fought fiercely with the Frēchmē, & gat then­tre of their campe, and by fyne force entered into thesame. This cōflicte continued in doutfull iudgement of victory .ii. longe houres: durynge which fight, the lordes of Montamban and Humadayre, with a great companye of Frenchmen entered the battayle, and began a new felde, & sodaynly the Gonners 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 labirynth, in the which he and hys people were enclosed and illaqueate, despicynge his awne sauegarde, and desiryng the life of his entierly and welbeloued sonne the lord Lisle, willed, aduertised, and counsailled hym to departe out of the felde, and to saue hym selfe. But whē the sonne had aūswered 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 Frēch people so many ye­res, which hath subuerted so many townes, and profligate and discom­fited so many of them in open battayle, and marcial conflict, neither cā here dye, for the honor of my countrey, without great laude and perpe­tuall fame, nor flye or departe without perpetuall shame and cōtinualle infamy. But because this is thy first iourney and enterprise, neither thy flyeng shall redounde to thy shame, nor thy death to thy glory: for as hardy a man wisely flieth, as a temerarious person folishely abidethe, [Page Clxvj] therfore y^• fleyng of me shalbe y^e dishonor, not only of me & my progenie, but also a discomfiture of all my company: thy departure shall saue thy lyfe, 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 frō his natural father: Who cōsideryng the constancy of his chyld, and the great daunger that they stode in, comforted his souldiours, cheared his Capitayns, and valeaūtly set on his enemies, and slew of them more in number then he had in his cō ­pany. But his enemies hauing a greater company of men, & more abū ­daunce of ordinaunce then before had bene sene in a battayle, fyrst shot him through the thyghe with a hādgōne, and slew his horse, & cowardly killed him, lyenge on the grounde, whome thei neuer durste loke in the face, whyle he stode on his fete, and with him, there dyed manfully hys sonne the lord Lis [...]e, his bastard sonne Henry 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 .lx. 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, fought the .xiij. day of Iulij, in this yere, ended his lyfe Ihon lord Talbot, and of his progenie y^e fyrst erle of Shrewesbury, after that he with muche fame, more glory, and moste victorie had for his prince and coūtrey, by the space of .xxiiij. yeres and more, valeantly made warre, and serued the kyng in the partes beyond the sea, whose corps was left on the ground, & after was found by hys frendes, & cōueyed to Whitchurch in Shropshyre, 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 fearfull, and terrible to his ad­uersaries present: so his name and fame was spitefull and dreadfull to the common people absent, in so muche that women in Fraunce to feare their yong childrē, would crye, the Talbot commeth, the Talbot com­meth. After this discomfiture, diuers lordes fled to Burdeaux, but the erle of Kendall, the lordes of Montferrant, of Rosayne, and of Dangladas, entered into the Castel of Chastillon, which they by the space of .x. dayes manfully defended, but in conclusion beyng desperate of all suc­cors, rēdered 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 thē selfes to the Frē ­che obeysaunce, Burdeaux onely except. The which citie beyng the last refuge, and onely consolacion of the Englishe people in Gascoyne, the French kyng in person with all his puissaunce, strōgly beseged & dayly assauted, in the which he more lost then gayned: beside this, the English men issued out, and coragiously fought with their enemies: likewise did the citizens, which lokyng for no fauor at the French kynges hand, be­cause of their late coniuracion againste him, manfully defended them [Page] selfes, and sore noyed and hurt their enemies. But in conclusion bothe garrisons and the inhabitātes, oppressed with much penurye & extreme tamyne were coacted to render 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 citezēs should hereafter be imputed, or leyd to the charge of any of them. Also that all Englishmen and Gascons myght safely departe into Englande or to Caleys with al 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, dis­guysed 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 Englād, in the moneth of October this present yere. Thus was the duchye of Acquytayn, which had cōtynued in the English pos­session, from the yere of our Lord .M.lv. which is .iii.C. & od yeres, by y^e mariage of Alienor, doughter and heyr to William duke of Aequitayn 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 Englande, but both pleasant and profitable: for by the soueraingtie of that countrey, yonge gentelmen learned the experiēce of warre, and expert mē were promoted to many riche offices, & great, liuinges within thesame. For within that onely Duchye, be .iiij.A declaration of the digni­ [...]ies in the D [...] chye of Acquitay [...]. Archebishoppes .xxxiiij. Bishoppes .xv. erledōs ii.C. and .ii. Baron [...]es, and aboue a .M. Capitaynshippes and bayly­wyckes. All though this great losse 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 besea­ged the citie of Constātynople in Grece, with an innumerable nūber of Turkes, and fiftye dayes togither gaue to it a continuall assaut, and on the .iiii. day of Iune,The w [...]nnig of Constantinople by the great Turke. toke it perforce, sleyng man, woman and chyl­dren, except the Emperour Palialogus, and diuers other of the blode Royal, whome he toke prisoners, and after caused them to be behedded. If I should write the detestable murder of men, the abhominable and cruel slaughter of chyldren, the shameful rauishmēt of women and vir­gyns, which were perpetrate and done by the vnmercifull pagans and cruel Turkes, I assure you that your eares woulde abhorre y^• hearing and our eyes woulde not abyde the readynge, and therfore I passe thē ouer.The byrth of prince Ed­warde, sonne to kyng Hēry the .vi. In this trobleous season on y^• .xiii. daye of October, was y^e quene deliuered at Westmynster of a fayre sonne, which was Christened & na­med Edward, and after grew to a goodely & perfight man, as after you shall heare: whose mother susteyned not a litle slaunder and obloquye of the commō people, saiyng that the kyng was not able to get a chyld, and that this was not his sonne, with many slaunderous woordes, to [Page Clxvij] the quenes dishonor, which here nede not to be rehersed. After the birthe of this child,The Kynges two brethren created erles. the Kyng highly auaunced his twoo brethren, on his mo­thers side. For Edmond he created erle of Richemōd, which was father to kyng Henry the .vij. and Iasper he created erle of Penbroke, whiche died without issue.

¶The .xxxii. yere.

WHen foren warre and outward battailes,The .xxxii. yere. were brought to an ende and finall conclusion: domesticall discord and ci­uill discencion began again to renew and arise, within the realme 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 preemine [...]ce, sodainly sprang out so farre, that the whole Realme was diuided into twoo seuerall faccions, and priuate partes. For kyng Henry, discended of the house of Lancastre, claymyng the croune from kyng Henry the .iiii. his graund father, first aucthor of this diuision: and Richard duke of Yorke, as heire to Lionell, the third sonne to kyng Edward the third: wresteled for the game, and stroue for the wager. By reason wherof, the nobles aswell as the common people, were into partes diuided, to the destruccion of many a man, and to the great ruyne and decay of this region. For while the one part studied to vanquishe and suppresse the other, all commō wealth was set a side, and iustice and equitie was clerely exiled. For the duke of Yorke, which sore gaped and more thirsted for the superioritie and preeminence, studied, diuised, and practised al waies & meanes, by the whiche he might attein to his pretēsed purpose, and long hoped desire. And emongest all imagi­naciōs, 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. Wherfore, 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 thesame, whom he named and called, an vniust man, a mischeuous persone, a tyrannicall gouernor, and a coueteous coūsailor: 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 thinke 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 thei liked not the worlde, as it then wauered, nor approued thactes of the kyng or his coūsail. And because, that ambicion and auarice, was newly entered into their hartes, thei studied, sodainly to change al thyn­ges, [Page] and to turne the worlde vpsetdoune. When the duke sawe mēnes appetites, and felt well their 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, & thesaid Richard was espou­sed to Lady Alice, the only child and sole heire of Thomas Montacute erle of Salisbury, slain at the siege of Orleaunce, (as before I haue de­clared) of whiche woman he engēdered, Richard, Ihon, and George. Ri­charde the eldest sonne espoused Anne, the suster and heire of the entire bloud, to lorde Henry Beauchamp Erle, and after duke of Warwicke, in whose right and title, he was created and named Erle of Warwicke, and not by his awne progeny or parentage. This Richard was not onely a man of maruelous 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 emong all sortes of people, he obteined greate loue, muche fauor, and more credence: whiche thynges daily more increased, by his abundant liberalitie, and plentifull house kepynge, then by his riches, aucthoritie, or high parentage: by reason of whiche doynges, he was in suche fauor and estimacion, emongest the common people, that thei iudged hym able to do all thynges, and that without hym, nothyng to be well doen. For which causes his 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.

¶The .xxxiii. yere.

WHē the duke of Yorke had fastened his chaine,The .xxxiii. yere. betwene these twoo strong and robustious pillers, he with his frendes, so seriously wrought, and so pollitiquely handled his busines, 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 dol [...]full Christmas: against whom in open parliament, wer laied diuerse and heinous articles of high treasō, 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 proce­ded, in this greate and waightie cause, but it was put in suspence, til the next assemble of the high court of parliament. Duryng whiche tyme, the kyng either of his awne mynde, or by the Quenes procurement, caused the duke of Somerset, to be set at libertie: by whiche doyng, grew great enuy and displeasure, betwene the king and diuerse of his lordes, and in especiall betwene the duke of Yorke, and the kynges linage. And to ag­grauate 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 [Page Clxbiij] 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 Normādy, & so would he do Calice. The duke of Yorke and his adherentes perceiuyng, that neither exhortacion serued, nor ac­cusemēt preuailed against the duke of Somerset, determined to reuēge their querell, and obtein their purpose, by open warre 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 Salisbury and Warwicke, the lorde Cobhā, and other, assembled an army, and gathered a greate power, and like warlike persones, marched toward Londō. The Londoners, hearyng of so great a multitude, com­myng toward their citie, wer greatly astonnied and muche abashed: for euery persone considered his awne part, that either with holdyng with the one side, or beyng contrariant to the other, or medelyng with no part he should incurre indignacion or displeasure. The king beyng credebly informed, of the greate army commyng toward 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 Wilshire, with the lorde Clifford, and diuerse other barōs, departed out of Westminster, the .xx. daie of May, toward the tonne 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 thesame toune, the third daie next ensuyng. The kyng hearyng of their approchyng, sent to hym messengers, straightly chargyng and commaundyng hym, as an obedi­ent subiect, to kepe the peace, and not as an enemy to his naturall coun­trey, to murdre and slay his awne countremen and propre naciō. While kyng Henry, more desirous of peace then of warre, was sendyng furthe his orators, at the one ende of the toune: the erle of Warwicke with the Marchemen,The first ba [...] taill at [...]ain [...]. Albons. entered at the other ende of the toune, and fiersly set on the kynges foreward, and theim shortly dicomfited. Then came the duke of Somerset, & all the oth [...]r lordes 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 freshemen, to succor the wery, & put new men in the places of the hurt persons, by whiche onely pollicie, the kyn­ges armie was profligate and dispersed, & all the chieftaines of the feld almoste slain and brought to confusion. For there died vnder the signe of the Castle, Edmond duke of Somerset, who long before was warned to eschew all Castles, and beside hym, lay Henry the second erle of Nor­thumberlande, Hūfrey erle of Stafforde, sonne to the duke of Buckyn­gham, Ihon lorde Clifford, and .viij.M. men and more. Humfrey duke of Buckyngham, beyng wounded, & Iames Butler erle of Wilshire & Ormond, seyng fortunes loweryng chaunce, left the kyng poste a lone & with a great numbre fled away. This was thend of the first battaill at [...]. [Page] Albons, whiche was fought on the Thursdaie, before the feast of Pen­tecost, 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. This Edmond duke of Somerset, left behynde hym three sonnes, Henry, Edmonde, 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 tymes 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 cōmodious estate, and a better cōdicion. Wherfore, he vsyng all lenitie, mercy, and bounteous­nes, would not once touche or apprehend the body of kyng Henry, whō he might bothe haue slain, & vtterly destroyed, consideryng, that he had hym in his ward and gouernaunce. But with greate honor and due re­uerence, conueyed hym to London, & so to Westminster, to whiche place was somoned and appoynted, a great assemble of the thre estates, com­monly called a Parliamēt, whiche began the .ix. day of Iuly, 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 Yorke 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 Calice, and the territories of thesame. As this deuise was pollitiquely inuented, so was the sequele thereof to the firste aucthors, bothe honorable and profitable, if fortunes ship had sailed al one way. For by this practise, the whole rule and regiment of the whole Realme, 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 kyng Hen­ry should still reigne, in name and dignitie, but neither in deede, nor in aucthoritie: not myndyng either to depose or destroy thesaid kyng, least thei might sodainly prouoke and stirre the fury and ire of the common people against theim: whiche for his holines of life, and abundant cle­mencie, was of the simple sort, muche fauored, and highly estemed. After whiche aucthoritie geuen, these three persones ruled the realme, and did all thynges after their awne discrecions, (whiche without battaill or manslaughter, might haue easely depriued thesaied Kyng, bothe of life and lande). And firste thei amoued from the priuie counsaill, all suche [Page Clxix] persones as the kyng loued, or the quene 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 al their rule, I finde no mencion made, of differryng Iustice, or of their pollyng, or their bribery, as was openly proued by such as gouer­ned before their tyme: Sauyng that thei tooke out of the sainctuary of Westminster, Ihon Holland, duke of Excester, beyng repugnant to the ordre 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 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, duryng his Protectorship, or of his counsaill.

¶The .xxxiiii. yere.

BUT that vene [...]ous worme,The .xxxiiii. yere. that dreadfull dragon, called disdain of superioritie, whiche hath consumed the bloud of so many noble princes, and destroyed the linage of so ma­ny gouernors, in all Realmes and kyngdomes, as well pa­gan as Christian, could not abstein frō incensyng the har­tes of lorde Hanry Beauford, 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 sonne and heire named Humfrey, erle of Stafford, tasted thesame cuppe, at the forenamed con­flict) and of other lordes and mē of aucthoritie, fauoryng and folowyng the 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 gētlenes, and subornate fashiō of the duke of Yorke, tended and crept vp: but also thought it necessarie and conueniēt, to puruey for a remedy, or the mischief happened. Wher­fore with open mouthes and fierce corages, thei came to Quene Mar­garet, informyng her, that it was not honorable, but a reproche and in­famy to the Kyng, to haue one to bee a Protector and gouernor of hym and his Realme, as who would saie: that he was either a childe, whiche had nede of norice, to fede him with pappe, or an innocent creature, whi­che muste 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 therfore 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 Quene ha­uyng a wit, more then the common 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 aucthoritie, out [Page] 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: whiche malicious mutacion emongest the nobilitie, caused sodain alteracions and sedicious commocions, to spryng and arise in the com­monaltie, and in especiall, within the citee of London.

FOR a young Marchaunt, whiche before tyme had been in diuerse citees within the countrey of Italy, and there prohibited by the Magi­strates and rulers, to vse or weare any weapon, either inuasiue or de [...]en siue, chalenged an Italian in Chepe side, for wearyng of a dagger, con­futyng hym with the lawes of his awne countrey, whiche, like a Cole­ricke knaue and presumpteous persone, so disdainfully and with suche taūtes and checkes, aunswered the marchant, that he not willing to suf­fre to opē a reporche, in so publique a strete, and that of so proude a vil­lain, toke by force from him his dagger, and with thesame, a litle cut his croune, and cracked his pate. This Italian in greate hast, complained to the Mayer, of this offence, 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, commaūded hym to ward, whereof diuerse other light marchantes within the citee, sore abhorryng the Italian na­cion, for lickyng the fat from their beardes, and taking from them their accustomed liuyng, by reason that thesaid estraūgers imported & trans­ported, into and out of this realme, all suche marchandises, commodi­ties, and necessaries, as thenglishemen onely wer accustomed to do, as­sembled together in greate plumpes, and by force compelled the Maire to deliuer the prisoner out of newgate: and yet this multitude, with this doyng nothing saciate nor appeased, like madde persons and frantique fooles, ranne to the seuerall houses, of diuerse Uenecians, Lucases, and Florentynes, and theim spoyled, robbed and riffled, without reason or measure. The Maire perceiuyng this greate enormitie, assēbled a great numbre of substanciall and graue citezens, whiche, not without greate bloudshed, and maymyng of sundery persones, finally appeased their rage, and caused the people to departe to their houses. The beginner of this temerarious commocion, and sodain vprore, either perswaded by his frendes, or fearyng his chaunce, whiche for his first facte might so­dainly insue, departed to Westminster, and there Registered hymself as a sāctuary man. The Quene whiche ruled all thynges, hearyng of this greate riote and vnlawfull misdemeanour, sent the Dukes of Excester and Buckyngham, accompanied with many other noble men, to Lon­don, with a commission of oyer and determiner, for the punishement of this outragious offence & sedicious crime. When the Maire of the citee the two dukes, and the two chief iustices, 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 witted, and lesse brained [Page Clxx] persons of y^e citie, priuely armed thē, & by y^e ringing of bow bel thought to asse [...]ble together a great multitude of their mīd & opiniō, & so by force & might to take frō the kepers, all such prisoners, as were before apprehended, for y^• late cōmitted robbery & riot, as they were goynge to their trial or arreigmēt. But this great tumult & sodain fury, was by discrete and sage citizens, a litle and litle appeased and finally quenched, but in the meane season, the dukes and other commissioners, beynge vntrewly aduertised, y^e they were in ieopardy of their lifes, sodaynly departed frō 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^e nūber was .j.C.iiij. score & od persons, & by auctoritie of thesame or­deyned, that all Wardeins of misteries, should assemble their felowship in their particular hawles, wher thei should▪ exhort thē to y^e obseruacion of the kynges peace, and kepyng of good order within the citie: & if thei espied any man, either prone or redy to reyse a rumour or desirous of y^e delyueraunce of suche as were accused, & in captiue custodie, that their names shoulde be secretly written, and couertly deliuered to the lorde Mayre: which pollitique doyng, finally ended the entragious doing of the insolent people, after which appeasyng y^e cōmissioners returned to y^• Guyldhaule, where many of the robbers were attainted, and after cōdi­gnely put to execucion, besyde diuers great fynes and raūsomes payd, which were set vpon many merchauntes, for winkyng at these doynges or assentyng to thesame.

¶The .xxxv. yere.

THE French nacion, hearyng of this domesticall diuision and ciuile dissencion,the .xxxv. yere. within the Realme of Englād, 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 capitayn of y^e one army, was Williā lord Pomiers, and of the other, syr Piers Bressy, a great ruler in Normandy. These two Capi­tayns, when opportunitie of wether serued, sett vp their sayles at the mouthe of Sayme, and there seuered them selfs, the one Westward, and the other Eastward, which was syr Peter de Bressy. This lusty Capitaī saylyng 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 neither peopled nor fortefied, because that a litle before, the chefe rulers of the towne were from thēce departed, for to auoyde the pestilenciall plage, which sore there infected and slew the people, entered the hauen, spoyled the towne, and after such pore stuffe as he ther founde, ryfflyde and taken, he fearinge an assem­ble of the cōtrey, shortly returned. The lord Pomiers likewise toke his course Westward, and by night brēt certayn houses in founay, & with a litle pillage retired into Britayn. These two aduentures and fortunate [Page] chaunces, which to them in cōparison of their great expēses, in their ior­neys were scant worthe one pore myte, or single farthyng: The Frenche writers dylate, setfurth and paynt with pēne, as though they had gottē Cresus riches, and Alexanders kyngdoms: forgettyng how many hun­dred thousande poundes, they had lost in few yeres before precedynge, as to all menne, beyng indifferent readers of this Historie, plainly ap­pereth. But verily some bread is better to the hungry person, then no bread, and a smal gayn of him, which desireth recouerie, is a great plea­sure, and therfore the French aucthors make of a litle much, & yet their much (all thynges considered) is in effect nothyng at all. The Scottes also not degeneratyng frō their olde mutabilitie, nor alteryng their aū ­cient condicions from their accustomed perfidie and vsuall vntreught entered into Northūberland, kyng Iames the second, then beyng 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 thē, with a great army, with much payne, & no gayn, in all haste reuerred to their countrey. Let vs passe ouer for a tyme all outward inuasions, and returne to our awn domestical debate, & dayly discord. First not forgettyng, that whyle forē enemies inuaded the out­warde partes, and extreme confynes of this trobleous realme, a great conflict was attempted betwene the lord Egremond, and the sonnes of the erles of Salisbury: in the which fray, many persons were slayn, and a greater number hurt. The lord Egremōd, in this great tumult could not escape, but by force was taken and brought before the kynges coū ­saill, and there the kyng and the quene to shew them selfs to al persons indifferent, adiudged him to pay to y^• erle of Salysbury a great summe of money, and for his heynous offence, done against the kynges lawes, he was committed to the gayle of Newgate, within the citie of London out of the which pryson, by helpe of his fautors, he secretly escaped, and sodaynly departed, to the great vexacion of the shryfes of London, at y^• tune beyng. In which season, the craft of Printyng was first inuented in the citie of Mens in Germanie,Whē & where the moste ex­cellente sciēce of Printinge was first in­uented. to the great furtheraunce of all per­sons, desiryng knowledge or thyrstyng for litterature. Quene Marga­rete, whose breath ruled, and whose worde was obeyed aboue the kyng and his counsail, within this Realme of Englande, entendyng the de­struccion of the duke of Yorke and his frendes, which deuise she thou­ght not mete to be practised nere to the citie of London, because she wel perceyued the duke of Yorke to be had in more estimacion emonge the citezens & cōmunaltie, then the kyng her husbād or her awn person: caused the kyng to make a progresse into Warwyckeshyre, for his health & recreacion, and so with Hawkyng and Huntynge came to the citie of Couētrey, where were diuers ways studied priuely, to bryng the quene to her hartes ease, and long expectate desire: which was the death & de­strucciō of the duke of Yorke, the erles of Salesbury and Warwycke, And for the furniture of this matter, al these .iii. noble mē were sent for [Page Clxxj] to Couētre, by the kynges letters vnder his priuie seale, to which place the foresayd lordes, suspectyng no treason, nor puttyng diffidēce in any creature, obediently resorted: but the serpent lurked vnder the grasse, & vnder sugered speache, was hide pestiferous poyson, so that if these no­ble men admonished by their frendes, had not sodaynly departed, their lyfes threde had bene broken, and their mortall fate had them ensued, but by secrete admonicion of their good willers (to whome no earthly treasure is comparable) they auoided this net, and narowly 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 fayre Castell of Middelham in the Northcoun­crye, and the erle of Warwyke sayled to the town of Caleys. Although the bodyes of these noble personages, were by this sedicious and frau­dulēt meanes a sonder seperated as ye haue heard: yet their hartes were knitte and coupled in one, neuer forgettyng, but dayly studyeng, bothe how to be reuenged of the olde dispites and malicious attēptes, against them committed and imagened, and also how to compasse their purpo­ses, and to get the superioritie and ouerhand aboue their euilwillers, & apparant enemies: for which causes, their letters neuer ceased, their messengers neuer slept, nor their pursses were at no tyme shut, what for en­entert ayning 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.

¶The .xxxvi.

BEcause you haue been long troubled with readyng of di­uers diuisions,The .xxxvi. yere. sedicions, operacions, & great disturbance within the Realme, emong the temporaltie, I will now a litle digresse from my cōtinued purpose, to declare to you an ouerthwarte iudgement gyuen emong y^e fathers of the spiritualtie, against Reynold Pecocke, then bishop of Chichester. This man, somwhat learned, but better stomacked, began to moue questions, not priuatly, but opēly in the Uniuersities, cōcerning the annates, peterpens, and other iurisorcciōs and aucthorities, apper­teyning to the sea of Rome,Reynold Pe­cocke, bishop of Chichester ab [...]ured at Paul [...]scrosse and not onely put forth the questions, but declared his mynd and opinion in thesame: wherefore he was for this cause abiured at Paules crosse, and all his bokes brent, and he him self kept in his awne house, duryng his naturall lyfe. Some say that hys opinion was, that spirituall persons, by Gods law, oughte to haue no temporall possessiōs. Other writ that he saied, that personal tithes were not 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 apparance, of assemble or commociō, returned to London, and there called a great coūsaill, openly declaring, how the French kyng perceiuing the realme [Page] of England implicate, and troubled with ciuile dissencion, and mu­tual discord was not afeard to sende his admirals on the costes of Kēt, and Deuonshyre, and there 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 na [...]ions were set continually to greue and vex this hys realme of Eng­lande, tyll they perceiued a perfite concord, and an vnfayned amitie to be concluded and knitte together, betwene him and his cōsanguinitie, & the other sorte of the contrary parte, and confederacie. And to the entent that he woulde be the chefe aucthor of peace, and principall styrrer of this vertuous concorde, he promised so gentelly to entertayne the duke of Yorke, and his fautors, y^• all olde grudges beyng not only inwardly forgotten, but also outwardly forgyuen, shoulde be the cause of perpe­tuall loue, betwene them and their frendes: of which concord should en­sue, familiaritie emong the lordes, & cōcord emong the cōmons, whiche to all vtter enemies should be an inward grudge,The de [...]ise▪ for the [...] and vnitie of the Realme. and to this realme a great glorie and profite. This deuise was of al men presente wel taken and adiudged, both honorable to the kyng, & profitable to his realme. Wherupō diuers graue and sad persons were sent to the duke of Yorke and all other the great estates of the realme, which sins the battayle of sainct Albons neuer met, came, nor cōmoned together, commaundynge them for reasonable causes, and great consideracions, to resorte to the kynges palayce, without procrastinaciō or delay. At this commaunde­ment came to London, Richard duke of Yorke, and Richarde, erle of Salisbury, accōpanyed with a great number of meigniall seruaūtes & frendes, lest peraduenture they for lacke of ayde, myghte haue bene be­trapped, or they had knowledge, or were warnyd. After thē came frō Caleys to London, the erle of Warwycke, whose seruituers were apparre­led in rede cotes, embroudered with white ragged stafes. These .iij. lor­des were lodged within the citie: the duke at Baynardes castel, the erle of Salis [...]ury, at the Herber, and the erle of Warwyke at his place, be­side the Graye friers. About thesame season, with no lesse cōpany of mē came to the citie, the yong duke of Somerset, the erle of Northumber­land, & the lord Clyfford, whose fathers were slayn at sainct Albōs: and after them resorted the dukes of Excester, and Buckingham, the lorde Egremond, and moste all the nobilitie of this realme. The duke of Yorke and his mates, were lodged within the citie, and the duke of Somerset,The mortal hatered be­twene y^• .ii. li­gnages of Lā caster [...] Yorke and all his frendes, soiourned without Templebarre, Holborne and other places of the suburbes: as who sayd, that as the Iewes dis­dayned the company of the Samaritans, so the Lancastriās abhorred the familiaritie of Yorkysh lynage. After the commynge of these lordes to the citie, the Kyng, the Quene with all their familie, shortly folowed, and were lodged in the Bishoppes palayce of London. These lordes had such great companyes, attendyng on them (for one had .v.C. other [Page Clxiij] v.C. and diuers .iiii.C. persones in a band) that continuall watche was kept by the Mayre and senate of London, aswell by day as by nyghte, for the preseruaciō of the peace, and cōtinuaūce of good order. The lor­des, which lodged within the citie, kept a dayly counsail at the Blacke friers, within the citie. The other parte soiornyng without y^e walles, as­sembled likewise in the chapter house of Westminster. Thus euery part both studied his awn profitte and aduaūcement, and also how to reuēg 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 pa [...]ties (although a great while they wre nei­ther heard, nor regarded) that in cōclusion, thei brought them to a com­municacion, where after long altercacion, aswell of olde Iniuries, and of new displeasures, by the one faccion, agaynst the other committed, y^e feare of outward hostilitie, and foren inuasion, so mollified their indu­cate hartes, that they outwardly promising, to forget all olde rancors, & auncient displeasures, sealed and signed writinges, the one euer after to [...] be frend to the other, and all together to be obedient to the Kynge, & fa­uorers to his frēdes & enemies to his enemies. This cōcord was so ioy­full to the superiors, and so embraced of the common people (who euer beare the burden, whē princes be at controuersie) that for the open ap­paraunce, and demonstracion of this godly concorde, publique proces­sions were appointed,A general procession at Paules, by y^• kyng, and the peres of the Realme. to be solēpnely celebrate, within the Cathedrall church of sainct Paule in the citie of London, on the day of the Concepcion of our Lady, in the moneth of March. At which solempne feast, the Kyng in habite royal, and his dyademe on his 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^e erle of Warwyke, and so on of the one faccion, and another of the other sect, and behynd the kyng the duke of yorke ledde the Quene with great familiaritie to all mens sightes: but wo worth dissimulacion, and false flatteryng contenaunce: 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 confusion of a great number of trew meanyng, and faithfull persons. But the Wiseman, which saieth: w [...] be thow that hast a doble hart, meant, that diss [...]ulaciō once espied should be the arrow wherwith the dissembler should be wounded. As by thys cloked pageant, and diss [...]nuling procession, hereafter shall playnly be declared. For their bodyes were ioyned by hand in hand▪ whose hartes were farre a sonder: their mouthes louingly smiled, whose corages were inflāmed with malice: their toungues spake lyke suger, and their thou­ghtes were all inuenemed: but all these diss [...]ulinge persons, tasted the vessel of woo, as the Wyseman sayde: and few or none of this company were vnblotted, or vndest [...]oied by this [...]lorous drink of diss [...]ulaciō. But this cancard worme, and pestife [...]us [...] ▪ not onely at thys [Page] tym [...] reigned in Englande, but also dyd muche harme in the courte of Fraūce: for Ihon duke of Alāson, whiche 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 w^t al, & whom he had greatly pro­moted, and highly exalted, accused of highe treason, as enemye to his kyng, and traytor to his countrey, alledgyng that he lōge before y^• tyme had conspired with the Englishmen, to cause them once agayn to reco­uer the duchye of Normandy: wherupō by the order of the law, he there suffered death very vniustly,Ihon duke of Alanson, exe­cuted ī Frāce. 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 Englande.

¶The .xxxvii. yere.

AS fier beyng enclosed in a strayte place,The .xxxvii. yere. wil by force vt­ter his flāme, and as the course of water astricted & letted will flow and brust out in continuaunce of tyme: so thys cācard crocodryle, and subtile serpēt, could not lōg lurke in malicious hartes, nor venemous stomackes, but in cō clusion she must (according to her nature) appere & shewe her self. For after this apparant cōcord, and intrinsecall discord, accor­dyng to the very nature of dissimulacion, diuers noble men of byrthe, but not stable of worde, putting from them honor, trought and honestie forgat their othe, and brake their promisse, & aduaunced forth the ban­ner of displeasure, and the flagge of malice. So a man may set, hat such persons, regard neither their awne peculiar profite, nor the publique wealth of their natiue countrey, nor yet passe of an othe, or promise bre­kyng, to whom discord is pleasant, and discension is delectable. For not long after this dissimuled amitie, a certayn fray, either by chaunce, or of a thyng prepensed, was made vpon a yoman of the erles of Warwyke, by a seruiteur of the kynges, in the which the Assaylant was sore hurte, but y^e erles mā [...]led. The kynges meigniall seruaūtes, seyng their felow hurt, and the offendor 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 Blacke gard, with spittes and fyre forkes. After lōg fight, and many of the erles men maymemed and woūded, by helpe of his frendes, he toke a wherry, and so escaped to London: whome the Quene incontinent commaunded to be apprehen­ded, & as a captiue & prisoner, to be sent to the Towre of Lōdō, where (if he had bene then taken) he had shortly ended his dayes, and made hys end. By this vnhappy fraye, and sodayn chaūche of malice, there arose such dayly and [...]errible warre, that euery man was in trouble, and no [Page Clxxiij] 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 diligēce, toke his iorney to Warwicke, and after into Yorke­shire, where he [...]ounde the duke of Yorke, and the erle of Salisbury, de­claryng to them, the assaute of the kynges seruauntes, and the pretensed purpose of the fraudulent Quene. After whiche complaint made, he fea­ryng lest by long absence, he might be deposed or defrauded of his capi­tainship of Calice, with greate spede embarked hymself, & sailed thither, daily expectyng and lokyng, what waie the duke of Yorke would take, for acheuyng his long intēded purpose. After whose departure, the duke of Yorke and therle of Salisbury, somwhat exasperate and moued with this doble dealyng, began to grudge and murmure: affirmyng that in the Quene rested nothyng, but fraude and femmyne malice▪ whiche ru­lyng the kyng at her pleasure and wil, studied nothyng so muche, as the destruccion 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 sōne, and also of the vnkynd breach, of the sworne ami­tie and late agremēt, in whiche suite, if he did preuail, he then should not omit the occasion to hym geuen, in reuengyng the displeasures to hym doen, by the quene 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 Middelham castle, accō ­painied 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 ruled, by the dukes of Somerset and Buckynghā ▪ hauyng the vigilant iye and circumspect brayne, of a pollitique gouer­nor: 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 Yorke in the siege royall, and high throne of the realme: For whiche causes, she beyng a woman of no smal wit, nor litle pollecie, con­ceiuyng in her opinion, that it was no bote to make any farther concord or league with her aduersaries, & hearyng of therle of Salisburies set­yng forward, with acōpany of armed of men & archers: assēbled together a greate counsaill, to puruey a remedy, for that imminent mischief, and (as in a multitude often times it happeth, so many heddes so many wit­tes) so diuerse wer in opinion, that neither people nor weapon should be stirred, till the erle approched: doubtyng, whether he came to demaunde warre or peace, or to aske Iustice, & reforme wrong. Other, otherwise thought, and wer of a contrary opinion, makyng the foundaciō of their argument, that the raisyng of people, and assemble of souldiors by hym, could signifie no peace, nor treatie of concord: except a man should saie, that intreatyng for fauor with naked sworde in hande, were in 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 greate po­wer, [Page] 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 Iames Twichet lorde Awdeley, because his seignorie and power laie in those partes, where the erle should passe, was appoynted to mete with hym, and to geue hym battaill, if he sawe cause or place conuenient, and the quene folowed after. The lord Aude­ley, accordyng to his commission, assembled aboue x.M. men, and knowyng by his espials whiche waie 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 [...]o a­bide the aduenture, 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 flightes, towarde the Lorde Awdeleyes company, whiche laie on the otherside of thesaied 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 commaundement, (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 pollecies of war­like affaires, sodainly returned, and shortly encountred with the Lorde Awdeley and his chief Capitaines, or the residewe of his armie could passe the water. The fight was sore and dreadfull. Therle desiryng the [...]auyng of his life, and his aduersaries couetyng his destruccion, fought sore for the obteinyng of their purpose, 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 .xxiiii.C. persōs▪ 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 Uenables. But ther­les twoo sonnes, the one called sir Ihon Neuell, and the other sir Tho­mas, wer sore woūded, whiche soberly iorniyng into the Northcountrey thinkyng there to repose them selfes, wer in their iorney apprehēded, by the quenes frendes, and conueyed to Chester: but their kepers deliuered them shortly, or els the Marche men had destroyed the Gayles. Suche 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 frendes.

¶The .xxxviii. yere

[Page Clxxiiij] AFter this battail, the duke of Yorke not only perceiuing that the destruccion of hym & his frendes,The .xxxviii. yere. was intended (as by this last conflict, was apparantly declared) but also remembryng, that all his counsailes & priuy intētes, wer now opened to the kyng and y^• quene whiche studied to diuert and turne from thē, all michief or infortunitie, whiche might chaunce either to theim or their frendes, thought it mete neither lenger to dissimule, nor farther to kepe his bill vnder wyng: and therfore with a coragious harte, aswell for the obteinyng of the croune, as for the tuiciō and safegard of hym and his frendes, he determined no lenger to slepe in his den, but with all diligence, to set furthe his busines and auaunce his banner. And therefore sendyng for therle of Salisbury his felow and compere in all his doynges, counsailes, and fortunes (af­ter long communicacion had, of the Quenes misgouernaunce, 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 I saie, men were assembled, frendes wer sent for, and a puissaunt armie was gathered, bothe of Northren men and Wel­shemen, whiche in good ordre came into the Marches of Wales, adioy­nyng to Shropshire, where thei 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 intēt: wherfore to resist the mischief at the beginnyng, he caused commissiōs to be made and sent into euery part of the realme, where he suspected either to haue assured frendes, or indifferēt fauorers, for men and money. By reason of whiche commaundemēt, a great numbre was assembled. Many for the loue thei bare to the kyng, but more for the feare y^• thei had of the quene, whose countenaunce ws 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 accō panied with the dukes of Somerset & Excester, and other of the line of Lancastre, determined clerely, to set ont he duke of Yorke & his confede­rates, and thē by force either vtterly to vanquish, or by pollecy to attrap and bryng to confusion: wherupon in hope of good lucke, the kyng with his army by long marchyng, 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 Erle of Warwicke, with a greate numbre of expert men in marciall feates, whom he had brought with hym from Calice, wher­of twoo were menne of approued pollecye, in the warres of Normandy and Guyen, the one called Andrew Trowlop, & the other Ihō Blount. These armies thus liyng, the one in the conspect and vewe of the other studied all meanes and pollecies, how to take aduauntage eche of other and how with lesse ieoperdye, the one might set on the other. The Duke perceiuyng by reason of his experte Capitaines, a waye howe he might easely dampnifie and discomfite his enemies, though no lenger to slepe [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] his purpose, but manfully to geue the onset, & so with his secrete frendes and capitaines, determined the next mornyng 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 effect. For Andrewe Trolop and other the Calicians, whiche wer men of great knowledge and muche ex­periēce, and had liued by the kynges wages, more then a few yeres, per­ceiuyng now, that thei should fight against their souereigne lorde hym­self (whose frend thei estemed before that tyme, therle of Warwicke euer to haue been taken and ruputed, and not his enemy or destroyer) in the dedde of the night, before the daie of battaill, secretly departed from the dukes campe, and submitted themselfes to the kyng, admonishyng hym of all thynges prepared and deuised, for his losse & destruccion. I [...] these auncient capitaines wer welcome to the kyng, or if he ioyously them re­ceiued, I referre that to all men, whiche haue relief in their distresse, or haua a sodain good chaunce, when thei thinke 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 sai [...]: For he first consi­dered the power and aucthoritie of the Kyng, and sawe that Andrewe Troloppe, of his frend was sodainly transformed, into the image of his extreme enemy, whose force and pollecie, asmuche now discōforted hym, as by the truste whiche he put in hym, he was before incouraged: wher­fore he euidently perceiuyng, that all his counsaill and purpose, was by the forenamed Andrew, reueled and disclosed, thought it better for hym and his, to departe in suretie, them to abide the chaunce, of mutable For­tune, 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 the forsaid duke, accompanied with therles of Salisbury, and Warwicke, and sir Ihon Wenlocke, stale away thesame night, & came into Deuonshire: wher by the meanes of Ihon Dinham 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, at Exmouth, & sailed to Gernsay, and after cam to Calice, & wer let in at the posterne, & ioyfully welcomed of their frendes.

THE next daie in the mornyng, the kyng beyng aduertised of the de­partyng of the Duke of Yorke and his partakers, caused al his horsse­men to folowe theim by euery passage, but thei wer neither seen nor espi­ed, as thei 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 remoued to Ludlowe, and there dispat­ched his hoste, and spoyled the toune and the Castle, and sent the Du­ches of Yorke, with her two yonger sonnes, to be kept in ward, with the [Page Clxxv] duches of Buckyngham 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: confiscatyng al their landes, goo­des, and offices, committyng the gouernaunce of the Northe partes, to the Erle of Northumberlande, and the Lorde Clifford, as to his trustie and moste faithfull frendes: 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, hurted and harmed the Kyng and his sequele. For if he at the beginnyng, had dis­possessed his aduersaries of that refuge and holde, no doubte but he had either tamed or vanquished theim, with litle labour and small daunger.

THE Duke of Somerset, reioysyng muche in his newe office, elec­ted diuerse hardy and valiaunt souldiours, 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 sufferyng there a sore repulse, was [...]ain to land at whit­sandbay, and sent woorde to the capitaines of the toune, to receiue hym, as the Kynges 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 skirmishyng with the garrison of Calice, more to his losse then gain. After his arriuall, as is aforesaied, diuerse of the mariners, owyng more good will, to therle of Warwicke, then to this young duke, conueyed their shippes into the Hauen of Calice, and in theim diuerse of the Erle of Warwickes ene­mies, as Ianyn Fendill, Ihon Felowe, and diuerse other, and presented theim to thesaied Erle, whiche incontinent, caused their heddes to bee striken of. This daily conflicte, still continuyng betwene the Lordes, whiche soiorned at Calice, and the Duke of Somerset, liyng at Guys­nes, no small numbre of the commonaltie, daily resorted to the Erle of Marche and his confederates: by reason whereof, all though thei 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 myndyng, then for lacke of ayde to be expelled from the great office and renoumed aucthoritie, whiche the kyng had to hym geuen, in the partes beyonde the sea, sent letters to the kyng, and messengers to the Quene, desiryng of them aide and succor, in defence of the querell, and lawfull assistence. His postes were 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 appoynted to passe the seas, and to be coadiutors to the Duke of Somerset. These marciall capitaynes endeuouryng theim selfes to the poynt, for the whiche thei wer assigned, came to the Porte of Sandwyche, and there abode the Wynde and the [Page] wether, whiche obeyeth neither Kyng, nor serueth Emperoure.

THE Erles of Marche and Warwicke, and other beyng at Calice, had knowledge of all these doynges, and secrete conuenticles: wherfore to anticipate and preuent the Dukes purpose, thei sent Ihon Dinham the valiaunt esquire, with a small numbre of men, but with a multitude of couragious hartes, to the toune of Sandwyche, whiche sodainly en­tered thesame, and tooke the Lorde Riuers in his bedde, and his sonne also: robbyng houses, & spoylyng shippes of great riches and marchan­dise, and beside this, thei tooke the principall shippes, of the kynges na­uie, then liyng at the Port, well furnished with ordinaunce and artilla­rie, 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 after 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 Erle of Marche, not knowyng then, that the Lorde Riuers doughter should bee the Erles wife, whiche then had an husbande leuyng, nor thinkyng that her father for her sake, should af­ter be destroyed. But who can knowe the secretes of GOD, or without hym, declare the chaunce that after shall insue.

AFTER this bootie gotten, and good lucke obteined, diuerse of the beste shippes, taken in the Hauen of Sandwiche, wer well vitailed and manned, and with theim the Erle of Warwicke, transfreted and sayled into Irelande, to common with the Duke of Yorke, of his greate affay­res and businesse. The wether was so faire, and the Wynd so fauorable to the Erles purpose, that within lesse then .xxx. daies, 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 erle of Warwicke had come to short home, to tel these tidynges, if the duke of Excester, whiche, beyng Admirall of the sea, laye 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 hym, gladde to heare of the Erle of Warwickes good successe, by whiche occasion, he neither would nor durst one 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 prohibite their landyng in all partes, hauen tounes were watched, and the sea costes were garnished with bekens. And sir Simon Mondford with a great crew, was appoynted to kepe the dou­nes, and the fiue Portes, and all menne passyng into Flaunders, were vpon payne of death, prohibited to passe by Calice, lest the lordes there, [Page Clxxvj] should borow of them any money, as they did prest of the marchantes of the staple .xviii.M. [...]. late before, which was a great displeasure to y^e kyng, & a more carasey to the quene. The lordes lyēg at Caleys, wer not ignorant of all these doynges & prouisions, but dayly were asserteyned what was done in the kynges priuie chamber: wherfore firste they sent a company to Sandwyche, which conquered the towne, and apprehen­ded syr Symon Moūtford, and brought him with all his mates to the hauen of Caleys, where incontinēt, he with .xii. of his chefe felowes, lost their heddes on the sandes, before Rysebanke. After the kynges nauye gayned, and his capitayns on the arriual of the sea takē and destroied, the lordes, lyenge at Caleys, hoping in their frendes within the realme determined to passe the sea, and to land in England. And after thei had put the castel and towne of Caleys, in sure and safe custodye to their onely vse, they passed the sea, and landed at Sandwych. And so passyng through Kent, there came to them the lord Cobham, Ihon Guldefford, William Peche, Robert Horne, and many other gentelmen, which con­ueyed them to the citie of London. But the fame of their landyng once knowen, gentelmen repaired, and yomē 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, accompanyed with the erle of Kendale, a Gascoyn, and the lord Louel, resorted to London, with a great company of armed men: declaring to the Mayre of the citie, that their repayre onely was to defend, and kepe the citie from the spoyle & robbery of such traytors, as the kyng was crediblie enformed, woulde thither make accesse: to whom the Mayre aunswered, that he wel 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 cōmitted in charge. With which aun­swere, the lord Scales and his associates not a litle displeased, entered into the Towre of London, dayly with new inuentions, doyng displea­sures and domages to the citezens of the citie, whome they sore suspec­ted, rather to fauour then to hate, the erles of Marche, & Warwycke, & other of their band and affinitie. Whiche erles with a great army came shortly to London, and were of the Mayre and citezens ioyously recey­ued, to whome resorted the Archebishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Ely and Excester, 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 Franciscane within the citie. And after longe debatinge, and secrete consul­tacion hadde, it was agreed, that they with their whoole puy [...]sa [...]n­ce shoulde marche forwarde, towarde the kynge: determining eith [...]r by force or fayre meanes, to bring their purpose to a conclusion. Whē [...] his counsaill was dissolued, the erles of March and Warwycke, Thomas lord Faucōbridge, Hēry lord Borchier, called erle of Eue, with a great number of men, which came out of Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex, to [Page] 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 parte, the erle of Salisbury, the lord Cobham, and syr Ihon Wenlocke: which lord Cobhā ▪ with certayn Alder­men of the citie, so kept the West side agaynst 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 ignorāt of all these doynges, assembled a great army, and accompanied 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 facciō came to the towne of Northampton, where the Quene encouraged her frendes, and promised great rewardes to her helpers: for the kyng stu­died nothing but of peace, quyet and solitarie life. When y^e kinges host was assembled, and that the Quene perceyued that her power was able to matche with 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 emparked 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 campe toward Northampton, and in marchyng forward set hys men in good order of battayl, wherof the vawegard was cōducted by the erle of Warwycke, which, either by strenght or stealth maugre y^• lord Beamond, which kept a strayt, goyng toward the Kynges campe, entered freshly, and began the battayle aboute .vij. of the clocke, the .ix. daye of Iulij. After whome folowed the erle of Marche, with the bāner of his father. This fight contynued in doutfull iudgemente, till the houre of nyne, at which tyme the kynges army was profligat, and dis­comfited, and of thesame slayn, and drouned in the ryuer, few lesse then x.M. talle Englishmē, & 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 valeant person, and not de generating frō his noble parent: Thomas lord Egremond, Ihon vis­cont Beaumond, and syr William Lucy, which made great hast to co­me to parte of the fight, and at his first approche was strikē in the hed w^t an axe. Diuers other gētilmē 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, & discēded to fight on fote. The duke of Somerset [Page Clxxvij] and other, which narowly escaped, fled with the Quene and prince Ed­ward, into the Bishoprycke of Durhame, in whiche place they determi­ned to congregate, and gather a new armye and power, and if no hoope were of recouery, them they agreed to flye into Scotland: there to expect better lucke, and happier chaunce, by fortunes fauour. The erles beyng victorious in this blody battayle, conueyed the Kyng that night again to the towne of Northampton, and the next day with great solempnitie and small comfort, they set forward the king, & by easy iorneys brought him to London the .xvi. day of Iulij, where he was fayntly receyue [...], & febly welcomed, and was lodged in the Bishops palace. After whose commyng to the citie, the Towre of London was deliuered to the erle of Marche, vpon a certayn composicion. But the lord Scales, suspec­tyng the sequele of the deliuery of thesame, toke a wherry priuily, entendyng to haue fled to the Quene. But he was espyed by diuers watermē belongyng to the erle of Warwycke, whiche wayted for his forthcom­myng on the Thamse, and sodaynly takē, 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 adioynyng. Then were diuers persons apprehended, and endited of treason, whero [...] some were pardoned, and some executed: but Thomas Thorpe, second Barō of thexchequer, great frend to the house of Lancaster, and extreme ene­mie to the familie of Yorke, was taken disguysed 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^• moneth of October next folowyng. Before which tyme, Richarde duke of Yorke, beyng in Irelād, by swyft currers, and flieng postes, was ad­uertised [...]f the great victorie, gayned by hys parte, at the feld of North­hampton, and also knew that the kynge was now in case to be kepte, & ordered at his pleasure and wil: wherfore losyng no tyme, nor s [...]uggyng one houre, he sayled from Deuelyne to Chester with no small company, and by longe iourneys, came to the citie of London, which he entered the Friday next before the feast of sainct Edwa [...]de the confessor, with a swourd borne naked before him, and toke his lodgynge in the kynges awne palayce, wherupon the cōmon people babbeled, that he should be Kyng, & that kyng Henry should no lōger reigne. Durynge the tyme of this Parliamente, the duke of Yorke, with a bolde contenaunce, ente­red into the chamber of the peres, and sat downe in the trone royall, vn­der the clothe of estate (which is the kynges peculiar seate) & in the pre­sence aswel of the nobilitie, as of y^• spiritualtie (after a pause made) saide these wordes in effect.

‘My singuler good lordes,The duke of Yorkes ora­tion made [...]o all the lor [...]er of the Par­liament. and very indifferēt frē des, in whose power and aucthoritie consisteth the peyse and the stay of this noble Realme of England, the which aswell before the tyme, that Christe our sauiour and redemer, toke vpon him our fraile fleshe, and humayn nature, as euer synce, hath ben a Realme renoumed, a kingdom [Page] famous, & a region (aswell emongest Paganes as Christians) greatly bruted, beloued and feared. I no lesse requyre, then frendly exhort you now, beyng together as louers of God, and frendes to your countrey, neither yet to iudge, or once suspect, that I either enflāmed with amby­ciō 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 Royalle, except you heare the cause, and digest wel the truthe. For without these two poyntes knowen, and vnderstanded your iudgemen­tes may be voyde, and your cogitacions friuolous. Therfore I declare and publysh to you, that here I sit, as in the place to me 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 administracion of iustice: for I beyng the partye greued, and complaynaūt, can not mini­ster to my self the Medecine, that should helpe me (as experte leches and Chyrurgians may) except you be to me both faithfull ayders, and also trew counsaylors. Nor yet this noble realme and our naturall countrey shall neuer be vnbuckeled from her quotidiā feuer, except I (as the principall Physician & you, as trew and trusty Appotecaries) consult toge­ther, in makyng of the pocion, and trye out the clene and pure stuffe, frō the old, corrupt, and putrified dregges. For vndoutedly, the rote & bo­tome of this long festured cākar, is not yet extirpat, nor the feble foūdacion of this fallible buildyng, is not yet espied, which hath bene, and is the dayly des [...]uccion of the nobilitie, and the quotidian confusion of y^e pore communaltie of this realme and kyngdom, For all you know (or should know) that the high and mightie prince kynge Richarde the .ii. was the trew and indubita [...]e heyre, to the valeant Conquerour, and renoumed prince kynge Edwarde the .iij. as sonne and heyre to the hardy knyght, and couragious capitayn, Edward prynce of Wales, duke of Acquitayn and Cornewall, eldest sonne to the said kyng Edward the .iii which kyng was not onely in dead, but also of all men, reputed and ta­ken, as y^e very trew and infallible heyre, to the wys [...] & pollitique prince, kyng Henry the .iij. as sonne & heyre to kyng 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 Hēry the .iii. Which kyng Richard, of that name the second, was lawfully and iustly posses­sed of the croune, and diademe of this Realme and region, tyll Henry of Derby, duke of Lancaster and Herdford, sonne to Ihon duke of Lan­caster, 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 duety of his allegiaūce, and also to his homage, to him both done and sworne, raysed warre and battayle, at the caste of Flynt, in Northwales, agaynst the sayd kyng Richard, and him apprehended & imprisoned within the Towre of Lōdō. Duryng whose life & captiuitie [Page Clxxviij] he wrongfully vsurped and entruded vpon the royall power and high estate of this Realme and region, takyng on him y^e 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 most worthy souereigne lord, not as a common ho­micyde, and bocherly murder, but as a regicide & destroyer of his kyng. After whose piteous death, and execrable murder (alas my harte pan­tethe to remember the abhominable facte) the right & title of the croune, and superiorite of this Realme, was lawfully reuerted and returned to Rogier Mortimer, erle of Marche, sonne and heyre to lady Philippe, the onely chyld of the aboue rehersed Lyonel, duke of Clarēce, to which Rogiers doughter called Anne, my most derest and welbeloued mother, I am the very trew and lyneall heyre, which discent, all you can not iu­stely agayn say, nor yet truly deny. Then remember this, if the title be myne, why am I put from it: if I be trew 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 litterature, saye & affirme, that lyneall discent, nor vsurped possession, can nothynge pre­uayle, if continuall clayme be lawfully made, or openly published. For auoyding of which scruple 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 Hēry the .iiij. by his cosyns, the erle of North­humberlād, and the lord Percy, he beyng then in captiuitie, with Owen glendore, the rebell in Wales, made his title, and righteous clayme, to the destruccion of both the noble persons. Likewise my most derest lord & father, so farre setfurth that right and title, that he loste his life, and worldly ioy, at the towne of Southampton, more by power, then indif­ferent iustice. Sythe whose death, I commyng to my full age, haue ne­uer desisted to pursew 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 as I sayde before) for my priuate emolumēt, and peculiar profite, but to restore peace, loue, and quietnes to this our naturall regiō: which euer sythe the fyrste vngodly vsurpa­cion of the forenamed Henry, vntruely called kyng Henry the .iiij. hath ben clerely banished, and out of thesame iniustly exiled. What murders and manslaughtes hath bene perpetrated, and committed within thys countrey, sythe the beginnyng of that vngracious vsurpacion: what number of noble men haue ben slayne, destroyed and executed, sith that vnfortunate day: what manyfest iniquitie hath ben openly borne, and maynteyned in euery countrey and citie, sith the dolefull death of kyng Richard: or what person darre sue for his right at this dai, cōtrary to y^• will of the counsailors, which now beare the swyng and rule the roste. Wel, wel, although almighty God slackely & slowely do y^• procede, to y^• punishment of synners: yet the differryng of his scorge, is recompensed [Page] with y^e greater payn, when his rod striketh, yea, and oftentymes he lea­ueth the very malefactors, apparantly vnpunished, and scorgeth their bloud, and punisheth thē in their heyres, by worldly aduersitie. Suche is his mercy when it pleaseth him to shew it, and so sharpe is his whyp when he lyst to strike. For although, Henry of Lancaster, erle of Derby toke vpon him the scepter, and the croune, and wrongfully bare the na­me and stile of a king, and was not much tyckeled with myne Uncle, the erle of Marche, at y^t time beyng within age: Yet was he neuer in suerty of him self, nor had any, or enioyed any perfyt quietnes, either in mynd or in body: for surely a corrupte 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 immortall prayses, for his noble actes, done in the realme of Fraunce: yet God for the offence of his vntrew parente, sodaynly touched him, vnbodiynge his soule, in the flower of his yought, and in the glory of his conquest. And although, he had a fayre sonne, and a yong apparāt heyre: yet was this Orphan such a one, as Preachers say, that god threatened to send for a punishmēt, to his vnruely and vngracious people: saiyng by hys prophet Esay: I shal gyue you chyldren 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 mā can iustly reproue or deface) succeded his sonne whome all we haue called our natural prince, & obeyed, as his heyre: in whose tyme, and wrongfull reigne, I require you diligently to cōsider, with what great tormentes & affliccions God hath 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 of rebellious murders and oppressiōs, which of late had ben done, and exercised here emong vs: but I will de­clare and manifest to you, how the croune and glorie of this realme, is by the negligence of this silly man, and his vnwise counsaill, minished, defaced, and dishonored. Is not Normandy, whiche his father gat, re­gayned, and conquered agayn, by the insolencie of him, and his coue­teous counsail? Is not the whole duchye of Acquitayn by .ii.C. and od yeres, peaceable possessed by the kynges of this realme, in one yere and a litle more, gotten out of ower handes and seignorie? What should I speake of Angeow and mayne or the losse, of the Isle of Fraūce, 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 coūtrey, hath of late susteined. But as Prea­chers say: euill gotten gooddes, do not long continue, nor vsurped po­wer, hath no prosperous successe. I will not molest you, with the reher­syng of the calamitie, whiche fell emōgest the Israelites, when Athalia slew all the bloud Royal, except litle Ioas, and tyrānously vsurped the croune: nor troble you with the cōtinual warre, which happened emōge [Page Clxxxj] the Romaines, when Iulius 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 Godwyn erle of Kent, and Stephē of Bloys, erle of Bulleyn, the one beyng the cause of the conquest of this realme, and the other the occasion of infinite tro­bles, and domesticall discencion within thesame: yet all these vexacions and scorges, be but a shadowe or counterfeit light, in comparison of the great calamities and miseries, whiche all we here present, haue seen and experimented. Yet in the middes of this afflicciō, 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 kyngdō, to his auncient fame & old renoume. 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 diuine ayde, and the assistence of you, the peeres of this Realme, I shall decore and maintein thesame, to the glory of hym, honor of my bloud, and to the publique wealth, aswell of you all here present, as of all the poore commons 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 dōme Gods, neither whisperyng nor spekyng, as though their mouthes had been so­wed vp. The duke perceiuyng none aunswer, to be made to his declared purpose, not well content with their sobre silence, and taciturnitie, adui­sed them well, to digest and pondre the effect of his oracion and saiyng, and so neither fully displeased, nor all pleased, departed to his lodgyng in the Kynges palace.

VVHILE he was thus declaryng his title, in the chambre of the pe­res, there happened a straunge chaunce, in the very same tyme, emongest the cōmons in the nether house, then there assembled: for a Croune whi­che did hang in the middell of thesame, to garnishe a branche, 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 Realme should bee diuided and changed, from one line to another. This was the iudgement of the cōmon people, whiche wer nei­ther of Gods priuitie, nor yet of his priuie counsaill, and yet thei wil say their opinions, whosoeuer saie 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 diuerse lordes, aswell spiritual as temporall, with many graue and sage persones of the commonaltie, daily assembled at the Blacke 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 [Page] 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 subiect to no man, but onely to God, and he was his lord and superior, and none other. I wil alitle space leue the lordes consultyng together, and speake of outward attemptes & foren doynges

THIS ciuill discension within the realme of Englande, did muche animate and incorage Iames the secōd of that name, kyng of Scottes to make warre on the Englishe nacion, partly for the displeasure which he conceiued, for the death of Edmond duke of Somerset, his mothers brother, and partly to shew hymself emōgest his people, to be bothe va­liaunt and coragious. This kyng Iames from his [...]irste rule, began to entre into suspicion with William Erle Douglas, a man both of great kynne and more power, euer mistrustyng, that he nothyng more desired, then to depriue hym 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 Kyng sendyng for the Erle, (whiche trustyng on his awne innocencie, humbly came to his pres [...]nce) caused hym shamefully to be slain and murdered with whiche iniury, his twoo brethren, Archibald Erle of Murrey, and Hugh Erle of Ormount, not alitle pricked and incoraged, with the Erles of Angus and Morthon [...], beeyng all of one line and surname, made open warre on thesaied kyng Iames: but inconclusiō he preuailed, and 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 Bombarde, 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 the fragmentes slewe the kyng,Kyng Iames of Scotlande [...]layne with a pece of a gōne standyng emongest a greate company of his people, and wounded the erle of Angus. The Scottes not dismaied with the death of their kyng, seyng 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 Iames, of quene Mary his wife left three sonnes, Iames whiche succeded hym, Alexan­der duke of Albany, and Ihon. This young kyng Iames, was put vn­der the tuicion of Iames Kenede, bishoppe of sainct Andrewes, whiche duryng his noneage, ruled the realme to the Kynges greate honor, but more to his awne profite and peculier gaine: For he made sumpteous houses, and buylded Colleges, whiche his young pupill kyng Iames, neither could nor was hable to do.

ABOVTE this very season, and duryng this vnnaturall cōtrouer­sy within the Realme of Englande, Charles the Frenche kyng, whiche only by trouble and calamitie, gat to hym a perpetual name, and emon­gest his nacion aboue the sterres exalted, ended the poynt of his fatall fine, whiche Prince in his youth, neuer regarded wanton pastyme, nor [Page Clxxxij] la [...]ous dalliaūce, for his wittes were set, and his industrie onely ap­plied▪ to recouer again his paternall patrimony, and Princely inheri­taunce: So that more plainly then in a mirror, all menne maie perceiue that pain often profiteth, and labor commōly auaileth, but idlenesse sil­dome and dalliaunce, neuer. To this Charles, succeded kyng Lewes, of that name the .xi. of whose dooynges you shal heare after: & shal both studie and marueill, for the straungenes of his demeanour, & the craftie pollecie of his secrete compasses. Now I will returne to the great coun­saill of the lordes, celebrate about Lōdō, for the duke of Yorkes claime.

¶The .xxxix. yere.The xxxix. yere.

AFter long argumentes made, & deliberate cōsultaciō had emong the peeres, prelates, 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 .xxxviij. 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 for feted thesame, for infringyng 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,Articles of a­grement be­twene Kyng Henry the vi. and Richarde duke of York should be Protector and Re­gent of the lande. Prouided allwaie, that if the kyng did closely or a­pertly, studie or go aboute to breake or alter this agrement, or to com­pesse or imagine the death or destruccion, of the saiede Duke or his bloud, then he to forfet the croun, and the duke of Yorke to take it. These articles with many other, were not onely written, sealed, and sworne by the twoo parties: but also wer enacted, in the high court of Parliament. For ioye whereof, the Kynge hauyng in his company thesaied Duke, rode to the Cathedrall Churche of sainct Paule, within the citee of Lō ­don, and there on the daie of all Sainctes, went solēpnely 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 Saturdaie next insuyng, Richard Duke of Yorke, was by the sounde of a trumpet, solempnely proclaimed heire apparāt to the Croune of Englande, and Protector of the realme.

AFTER this, the Parliamēt kept at Couentre the last yere, was de­clared to be a deuilishe counsaill, and onely celebrate for the destrucciō 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 a­uauncement of the publique wealthe, and common profite. When these agrementes wer doen and enacted, the kyng dissolued his Parliament, whiche was the laste Parliamente that euer he ended. Suche was the [Page] pleasure of almightie 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 per­ [...]ite 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 spurne and impugne the conclusions 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 assem­bled together a great army, intendng to take the kyng by fine force, out of the lordes handes, and to set theim to a new skoole. The Protector li­yng in Londō, hauyng perfite knowledge of all these doynges: assigned the Duke of Norffolke and the Erle of Warwicke, his trustie frendes, to be about the Kyng, and he with therles of Salisbury, and Rutlande: with a conuenient company, departed out of London, the second daie of Decembre Northward, and sent to the Erle of Marche his eldest sonne to folowe hym with all his power. The Duke by small iorneis, came to his Castle of Sandall, beside Wakefelde, on Christmas eue, and there began to assemble his tenauntes and frendes. The quene 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 Erle of Deuonshire, the Lorde Clifford, the Lorde Rosse, and in effecte all the Lordes of the Northe parte, with eightene thousande men, or as some write, twentie and twoo thousande, marched from Yorke to Wakefelde, and bad base to the Duke, euen before his Castle he hauyng with hym not fully fiue thousande persones, determined intontinent to issue out, and to fight with his enemies, and all though sir Dauy Halle, his old sernaunt and chief counsailer, auised hym to kepe his Castle, and to defende thesame with his smal numbre, till his sonne the Erle 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 scoldyng 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 creatures maie of me report dishonor, that a woman hath made me a dastarst, whō no man euer to this daie could yet proue a coward: [Page Clxxxiij] And surely my mind is, rather to die with honor, then to liue with shame for of honor commeth fame, and of dishonor riseth 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, wil either flie or take my part: therfore auaunce my banner, in the name of God and sainct George, for surely I wil fight with thē, though I should fight a lone. Therle of Salisbury and other his frendes, seing his corage, resolued thēselfes 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 quenes part, knowyng perfitly, that if the Duke gat the victory, their daies wer minished, 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 moste aduauntage, and so appointed the lorde Clifford, to lye in the one stale, and the Erle 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 plain ground betwene his Castle and the toune of Wakefelde,The battaill at Wakefeld he was enuironed on euery side, like a fishe in a net, or a deere in a buckestall: so that he man­fully fightyng, was within halfe an houre slain and ded,The duke of Yorke [...]lain. and his whole army discomfited, & with hym died of his trusty frēdes, his two bastard vncles, sir Ihon, & sir Hugh Mortimers, sir Dauy Halle his chief coū ­sailor, sir Hugh Hastynges, sir Thomas Neuel, William and Thomas Aparre, bothe brethren, and twoo thousande and eight hundred other, wherof many wer young gentlemen, and heires of greate parentage in the Southe parte, whose linages reuenged their deathes, within foure Monethes, next and immediatly insuyng. In this conflicte was woun­ded and taken prisoner, Richarde Erle of Salisbury, sir Richard Lym­brike, Raufe Stanley, Ihō Harow, Capitain Hauson, and diuerse other While this battaill was in fightyng, a 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 gētlemā, and a maydenlike person, perceiuyng y^• flight was more sauegard, then [...]ariyng, bothe 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 espied, folowed, and taken, and by reson of his apparell, demaunded what he was. The yōg gentelman dismaied, had not a word to speake, but kneled on his knees imploryng mercy, and desiryng grace, both with holding vp his hādes and making dolorous countinance, for his speache was gone for feare. Saue him sayde 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^e hart [Page] with his dagger, and bad his Chappeleyn bere the erles mother & bro­ther worde what he had done, and sayde. In this acte the lord Clyfford 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 withstande 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 farre from the felde, in great despite, and much derision, saiyng: Madame, 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 mēs deaths, not knowing that their awne were nere at hande, as the lord Clifford, and other.

But surely, mans nature is so frayle, that thinges passed be sone for­gotten, and mischiefes to come, be not forsene. After this victory by y^e 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, ouer 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 wonderfully amased, but after cōfort giuē to him, by his faithful louers and assured alyes, he remoued to Shrewsbury, and other townes vpon the ryuer of Seuerne, declaryng to them the murder of his father, the ieopardye of hym selfe, and the vnstable state and ruyne of the 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 instantly requyred, or hartely desired, soo that he had a puyssant army, to the number of .xxiij.M. redy to go agaynst the quene, and the murderers of his father. But when he was settyng for­ward, newes were brought to him, that Iaspar erle of Penbroke, halfe brother to kyng Hēry, and Iames 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 [Page Clxxxiiij] time the sunne (as some write) appered to the erle of March, like .iii. sun­nes, and sodainly ioined al together in one, and that vpō the sight ther­of, he toke suche courage, y^• he fiercely set on his enemies, & thē shortly discōfited: for which cause, men imagined, that he gaue the sunne in his full brightnes for his cognisaūce or badge. Of his enemies were lefte dead on the ground .iii.M. & .viii.C: The erles of Penbroke and Wil­shyre fled, and syr Owen Tewther, father to the sayd erle of Penbroke, which Owen had maried kyng Henries mother (as you haue heard be­fore) with Dauid floyde, Morgan ap reuther, & diuers other were takē and behedded at the citie of Herford. During this season, y^e quene was greatly encouraged with the victory, obteined 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 countrey to ad­here and cleue to her parte and factiō: wherfore with a great multitude of Northrē people, she marched toward London, of whose approche the Londoners were nothing glad: for some affirmed, that she brought that rusty company, to spoile and robbe the citie: other saide, that she would be reuenged, of suche as fauored the duke of Yorke. So the pore citezēs hangyng betwene the water and the fyre, were much amased, but y^e ma­gistrates and gouernors caused great watches to be kept, and good or­der to be obserued. The Quene, still came forwarde with her Northrē people entendyng to subuerte and defaict all conclusions and agremē ­tes, enacted and assented to, in the last Parliamēt. And so after her long iorney, she came to the town of sainct Albons: wherof y^• duke of North­folke, y^e erle of Warwycke, and other, whom y^• duke of Yorke had lefte to gouerne the kyng in his absence, beyng aduertised, by the assent of y^e kyng, gathered together a great hoste, and set forward towarde saincte Albons, hauyng the kyng in their company, as the head and chefetayn of the warre, and so not mynding to differre the time any farther, vpon shrouetuesday early 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 accompanied 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 de­ceiued. 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 remēbred, saue syr Ihon Gray, which thesame day was made knight, with .xii. other, at y^e village of Colney. Happy was the quene in her two battayls, but vnfortunate [...] was the kyng in all his enterprises, for where his person was presente, ther victory fled euer from him to the other parte, & he cōmōly was sub­dued & vanqueshed. Whē quene Margaret had thus wel sped, first she caused the kyng, to dubbe prince Edward his sonne, knyght, with .xxx other persons, which in the morning fought on the quenes side, against [Page] his parte. After she sent to the Mayre of London, commaundinge him without delay, to sende certain Cartes, laded with lenten victayle, for y^• refreashing of her and her army. The Mayre, incontinent made proui­sio, laded cartes, and sent them toward the quene. But the moueable cō ­mōs, which fauored not the quenes parte, stopped y^e cartes at Crepulgate and boldely sayde, that their enemies, which came to spoyle and robbe y^• citizens, should neither be releued, nor victayled by them. And notwith­standing 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 permittinge the cariages, to passe or go for­ward. During which cōtrouersie, diuers of the Northen horsemē, 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: wherupon 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 melācolie, which she had conceiued against the citie. At this humble request, the quene and her counsail appointed certayn lordes and knyghtes, with .iii.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 disposeth: for all these deuises were shortly trāsmuted into another forme, because trew report was brought, not onely to the citie but also to the quene, that 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 Cottesood, and that they with both their powers were cominge to­ward London. These trew tales turned the quenes purpose, and altered all her long deuised ententes, in so muche that she litle trustinge Essex, and lesse Kent, but London least of all, with her husband and sonne, de­parted from sainct Albons, into the 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, cōtrary to y^• mynd and promise of her husbād, but emōgest men of warre, faith or othe, syl­dome is perfourmed.

THE 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 citie of Wtrechte in Almayn: where they were of Philippe, duke of Bourgoyne, wel receyued and fested, and so there thei remayned, till their brother Edwarde had obteyned the Realme, and gottē the regiment. Duringe which time diuers merchantes mistrusting the mutacion of the world, fled out of y^• [Page Clxxxv] Realme, emōgest whom, one Philippe Malpas, a man of greate riches, sayling into Flaunders, was taken by Ihon Columme, a French man and payed .iiii.M. markes for his raunsone. The erles of Marche and Warwycke, hauyng perfite knowledge, that the kyng and quene with their adherentes, were departed from sainct Albons, determined first to ryde to London, as the chefe key, and common spectacle to the whole Realme, thinking there to assure them selfs of the East and West parte of the Kingdome, as king Henry and his faction nesteled and strēgthēd hun and his alyes, in the North regions and boreal plage: meaninge to haue a buckelar against a swourd, and a southerne byl, to cōteruayle a Northren bas [...]ard. And so these two great lordes, resoluinge them selfs vpon this purpose, accompanied with a great number of men of warre, entered the citie of London, in the first weke of Lēt. What should I de­clare how the Kentishmen resorted: how the people of Essex swarmed, & how the counties adioyning to Londō, dayly repaired to se, ayd, & com­fort, this lustly prince and flower of chiualry, as he in whome the hope, of their ioy, and the trust of their quietnes onely then consisted. Thys wise and prudent noble man, perceiuing the most parte of the Realme, to be to him frendly and adherent, mynoing to take time when time serued, called a great counsaill, both of lordes spirituall and temporall, & to them repeted the title, and right that he had to the Realme, & dignitie royall: rehersing the articles of the agrement, not onely concluded be­twene kyng Henry, & his noble father, Richard duke of Yorke, by theyr writinges signed and sealed: but also corroborated, & cōfirmed by auc­thoritie of the high court of Parliament: the breaches whereof, he nei­ther forgat, nor omitted vndeclared. After the lordes had considered, & weyghed his title and declaracion, thei determined by authoritie of the sayd counsaill, for as much as kyng Henry, contrary to his othe, honor and agrement, had violated and intringed, 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 publique profite of the pore people, he was therfore by the aforesayd authoritie, depriued and detected 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 as [...]embled, named, elected, & ad­mitted, for kyng and gouernour of the realme: on which day, the people of the erles parte, beyng in their muster in sain [...]t Ihons felde, & a great number of the substanciall citezens there assembled, to behold their or­der: sodaynly the lord Fawcōbridge, which toke the musters, wisely de­clared to the multitude, the offences and breaches of the late agremente done and perpetrated by kyng Hēry the .vi. and demaunded of the peo­ple, whether thei woulde haue the sayd kyng Henry to rule and reigne any lenger ouer them: To whome they, with a whole voyce, aunswered nay, nay. Then he asked thē, if thei would ser [...]e, loue, and obey the erle of March as their earthly prince and souereign lord. To which questiō [Page] they aunswered, yea, yea, crieng, king Edward, 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 wil had giuen, wherupon incontinent, they all with a conueniēt 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 insufficiencie for so greate a roome and weyghty burden, as lacke of knowledge, want of experiēce & diuers other qualities, to a go­uernour apperteyninge: yet in conclusion he beynge perswaded by the Archebishop of Cāterbury, the bishop of Excester and other lordes, thē beyng present, graunted to their peticion, and toke vpō him the charge and vpon the next day, beyng the .iiii. day of Marche, he as kyng, rode to the church of sainct Paule, and there offered. And after Te deum song, with great solempnitie, he was conueyed to Westmynster, and there set in the hawle, with the scopter royall in his hand, where, to al the people which there in great number were assembled, his title and clayme to the croune of England, was declared by .ii. maner of wayes: the firste, as sonne and heyre to duke Richard his father, right enheritor to thesame: the second, by aucthoritie of Parliament and forfeiture committed by, kyng Henry. Wherupō 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 agremēt cōcluded, He entered into Westmynster church vnder a canapy, with solēpne procession,Kyng Ed­ward the .iiii. proclamed king of Eng­lande. and there as kyng offered, and after the homages taken of al the nobles there present, he returned by water to London, and was lodged in the bishops palace: Dayly makyng prouision to go Northwarde a­gainst his aduerse faccion and open enemies, and on the morow he was proclaymed kyng, by the name of kyng Edward the .iiii. throughout y^• citie. While these thinges were in doyng in the Southpart, king Hēry 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, whom 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 .iii. whiche was so beloued and fauoured of the people, that no man was spokē of, no person was remē bred, but only he: for he was so much estemed, bothe of the nobilitie and commonaltie, for his liberalitie, clemencie, integritie, and corage, that aboue all other, he was extolled and praysed to the very heauē. By rea­son [Page Clxxxvj] whereof men of al ages & of al degrees to him dayly repaired, some 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 puissant 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 troble. When his army was redy, and al thinges prepared, he departed out of London the .xii. day of Marche, & by easy iourneys came to the castell of Pomfret, where he rested, appointyng the lorde Fitzwater, to kepe y^• passage at Ferybridge, with a great number of talle personages. Let no man thinke or yet imagine, that either the counsaill of kynge Henry, or his vigilant quene, either neglected or forgat to know or searche what their enemies did, but that they prepared to their power all y^• men, that they either could perswade or allure to their purpose to take their part. And thus thinking them selfs furnished, committed the gouernaūce of the armye to the duke of Somerset, the erle of Northumberland, and y^e lord Clifford, as men desiring to reuenge y^e death of their parētes slayn at the first battayle of sainct Albons. These noble [...]apitaynes, 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 expedicion and exployt of their purpose (after many comparisons made betwene the erle of Northumberland, and the lord Clifford, bothe beynge in lusty yought, & of franke corage) the lorde Clifforde deter­mined with his light horsemen, to make an assaye to suche as kepte the passage of Ferybridge, and so departed 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 hearing the noyse, sodainly rose out of his bed, and vnarmed, with a pollax in his hande, thinking y^e it had byn a fray emōgest his mē, came doune to appeace thesame, but or he either began his tale, or knew what the matter meāt, he was slayne, and with him the bastard of Salisbury, brother to the erle of Warwycke, a va­leaunt young gentelman, and of great audacitie. When the erle of War­wycke was enformed of this feate, he like a man desperate, moūted on his Hackeney, and came blowyng to kyng Edward saiyng: syr I praye God haue mercy of their soules, which in the beginnyng of your enter­prise, hath 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 swourde, saiyng: let him flie that wil, for surely I wil [...]ary with him that wil ta [...]y with me, and kissed the crosse of his swourde.

THE lusty kyng Edward, perceiuing the courage of histrusty frēd the erle of Warwycke, made proclamacion that all men, whiche were afrayde to fighte, shoulde incontinent departe, and to all mē that tar­ried [Page] the battell, he promised great rewardes with this addicion, that if any souldiour, which volūtariely would abide, and in, or before the conflict flye, or turne his backe, that then he that could kil him, should haue a great remuneraciō and doble wages. After thys proclamaciō ended the lord Fawconbridge, syr Water Blout, Robert Horne with for­ward, passed the ryuer at Castelford .iij. myles from Ferebridge, enten­ding to haue enuironed and enclosed the lord Clyfford and his cōpany, but they beyng therof aduertised, departed in great haste toward kyng Henries army,The conflict at Ferebridge but thei mete with some that thei loked not for, and were attrapped or thei were ware. For the lord Clifforde, either for heat or payne, putting of his gorget, sodainly w^t 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 his company al­most were there slayn, at a place called Dintingdale, not farr frō Tow­ton. This ende had he, which slew the yong erle of Rutland, kneling on his knees: whose yong sonne Thomas Clifford was brought vp w^t a shepperd, in poore habite, & dissimuled behauior euer in feare, to pub­lish his lignage or degre, till kyng Henry the .vij. obteyned the croune, and gat the diademe: by whome he was restored to his name and pos­sessions. When this conflict was ended at Ferebridge, the lord Fawcō ­bridge, hauyng the foreward, because the duke of Northfolk was fallen sycke, valeaūtly vpon Palmsunday in the twylight, set furth his army, and came to Saxton, where he might apparantly perceyue the hoste of his aduersaries, which were accompted .lx.M. men, and therof aduerti­sed kyng Edward, whose whole army, thei that knew it, and payed the wages, affirme to .xlviii.M.vi.C. & .lx. persons, which incōtinēt with y^• erle of Warwycke set forward, leuyng the rereward vnder y^e gouernāce of syr Ihon Wenlocke, and syr Ihon Dynham and other. And first of all he made proclamacion, that no prisoner should be takē, nor one ene­mie saued. So thesame day about .ix. of the clocke, which was the .xxix. day of Marche, beyng Palmsundaye,The conflict at Sa [...]tō vpō Palmsundai both [...] the hostes approched in a playn felde, betwene Towton and Saxtō. When eche parte perceyued other, thei made a great shoute, and at thesame instante time, their fell a small snyt or snow, which by violence of the wynd was driuen into the faces of them, which were of kyng Hēries parte, so that their sight was somwhat blemeshed and minished. The lord Fawnconbridge, which led the forward of kyng Edwardes battail (as before is rehersed) 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 prouide) and then made them to stād still. The Northrē mē, feling the shoot, but by reason of y^• snow, not wel vewyng y^• distaūce betwene them and their enemies, like hardy men shot their schiefe arro­wes as fast as thei might, but al their shot was lost, & their labor vayn for they came not nere the Southermē, be, xl. ta [...]lors yerdes. Whē their shot was almost spent, the lord Fawconbridge [...]arched forwarde with [Page Clxxxvij] his archers, which not onely shot their awne whol [...] sheues, but also ga­thered the arrowes of their enemies, and let a great parte of them [...]ye agaynst their awne masters, and another part thei let stand on y^• groūd which sore noyed the legges of the owners, when the battayle ioyned. The erle of Northumberlād, and Andrew Trolope, which were chefe­tayns of kyng Hēries vawgard, seynge their shot not to preuayle, ha­sted forward to ioine with their enemies: you may besure the other part nothing re [...]arded, but valeauntly foughte with their enemies. This battayl was sore foughtē, for hope of life was set on side on euery parte and takynge of prisoners was proclaymed as a great offence, by reason wherof euery man determined, either to conquere or to dye in the felde. This deadly battayle and bloudy conflic [...]e, continued .x. houres in doubtfull victorie. The one parte some time flowyng, and sometime eb­byng, but in conclusiō, kyng Edward so coragiously comforted his mē, refreshyng the wery, and helping the wounded, that the other part was discomfited and ouercome, and lyke mē amased, fledde toward Tad [...]a­ster bridge to saue thē selfes: but in the meane way there is a litle broke called Cocke, not very broade, but of a greate deapnes, in the whiche, what for hast of escapyng, and what for feare of folowers, a great num­ [...]er were drent and drowned, in so much that the common people there affirme, that men alyue passed the ryuer vpon dead car [...]asis, and that the great ryuer of Wharfe, which is the great sewer of y^t 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 aduantage, returned again and fought with their enemies, to the great losse of both partes. For in this .iij. dayes were slayn (as they that knewe it wrote) on both partes xxxvi.M.vij.C.lx. and .xvi. persons,A gre [...]t slau­ght [...]r of En­glishmen. all Englishmen and of one naciō, wherof the chefe were the erles of Northumberland, and Westmerland and the lord Dakers, the lord Welles, syr Ihon Neuel, Andrew trolop, Robert Horne, 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 them selfes. This conflict was in maner vnnaturall, for in it the sonne fought against the [...]ather, the brother a­gainst the brother, the nephew against the vncle, and the tenaūt against his lord, which slaughter did not onely sore debilitate and much wekē the puyssance of this realme, considering that these dedde men, whē thei were liuyng had force ynough to resist the greatest princes power of al Europe: But also gaue a courage to outward enemies and foren potē ­tates, to i [...]ade and make warre in this realme, which thinge was not vnlikely to haue en [...]ued, if either Lewes the French kynge had bene at this time quiet in his realme, or Iames kynge of Scottes had bene of age and master of him selfe, yet thanked be God, for although the gate of a con [...]uest were opened, yet it was shut agayn, or it was espied.

After this great victorie, kyng Edward rode to Yorke, where he was [Page] 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. [...]fter that, he sent out men on light horses, to espye in what parte kyng Henry lurked, which hearinge 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, requiring of him and his counsaill, ayde succor, relief & cōfort. The yong kyng hauing compassiō on the misera­ble fateand great mischaunce of this sorowful man, not onely cōforted him with fayre woordes and frendly promises, but also assigned to him a compedent pencion to liue on, during the tyme of his abode [...] within the realme of Scotland. Kyng Henry considering the great humaniti [...], shewed to him by the Scottis [...] kyng, in whome onely now consisted the whole hope and especiall trust of his ayde and succor, thought to bynd and oblige the sayd king, with some great benefite to his parte, and for that cause, deliuered to him the towne of Barwycke [...]inge Henry the .vi. deliue­red the towne of Barwic [...] ▪ into the han [...]des of Iames king of Scotlande. vpon twede: which towne the Scottes many yeres had desired, but yet thei neither by force nor fayre promises, could obteyne their desire or purpose before y^• time, Some writers affirme, that he not voluntarily, but coacted by nece [...]i­tie, rendered thesame towne, or els he could not be permitted once to en­ter, or haue any succor in the realme of Scotlande. But whatsoeuer the cause was: after kyng Iames had taken possession of the towne, he frendly enterteyned and faithfully supported the parte and faccion of kyng Henry, and concluded a mariage betwene his syster and the yong prince of Wales, which mariage, Philippe duke of Bourgoyne, enemy to quene Margaretes father, labored much to infringe and interrupte: but by the consent of both the frēdes, the matrimony was agreed, but it was neuer solempnised, as after you shall heare. When kynge Henry was somwhat setteled in the realme of Scotlande, he sent his wy [...]e and hys sonne into Fraunce, to kynge Rene her father trustyng by his ayde and succor, to assemble a greate army, and once agayne to possesse hys Realme and dignitie, and he in the meane season determined to make hys abode in Scotland, to se and espye, what way hys frendes in Eng­lande woulde study or inuent, for his restitucion and aduauncement. But whether it were his destinye or his folye, he so imprudētly demea­ned hym selfe, that within shorte space, he came into the handes of hys mortal enemies. Quene Margaret thus beyng in Fraūce, did obteyn & impetrate of the yong Frenche kynge, that all fautors and louers of her hus [...]ande and the Lancastreall band, might safely and surely haue resorte into any parte of the realme of Fraūce, prohibiting all other of the contrary faccion, any accesse or repaire into that countrey.

THVS you haue hearde the variable chaunce and tragedicall hystory of kynge Henry the sixthe, whiche had reigned ouer this realme [Page Clxxxviij] eight and thirtie yeres and odde monethes, whiche the tenthe yere after h [...]s deposicion, was agayne erected to hys throne and estate royall, as after shalbe declared. Nowe leuynge kynge Henry with the prynces of hys faccion consultynge to­gether in Scotlande, and Quene Margarete hys wyfe gatherynge men together in Fraunce, I wyll returne to the actes of kyng Edwarde.

¶The seconde yere.Th [...] .ii. yere.

WHen al these chaūces, 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 diuerse 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 interteined, 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 Scottishe 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, valiauntly conquered thesame. This same season also, quene Margaret beyng in Fraunce, by the mea­nes of her father and frendes, found suche frendship at the French kyn­ges handes, that she obteined a crewe of fiue hundred Frenchemen, whi­che was but a small numbre, for her purpose, and yet a greater number then her husbande or she, were able to intertein in wages, of their awne [...]offers. She thus beyng accompanied, with these bostyng Frenchmen, of whom sir Piers Bracy, a Bryton knight was Capitain, a man more fierce in the house▪ then in the feld, and yet more fierce in fliyng from the [...]eld to the house, then hardy to set foreward from the house to the feld, set vp her sailes, and with a prosperous wind, arriued in Scotland. If she and her company, wer welcome to her husbande and sonne, I report me to suche as languish, and would haue succor, and to suche as lacke aide, [Page Cxc] and would be comforted. The Quene and her company,Quene Mar­garete wi [...]h her company arriueth at Tynmouth. thought to doo some greate enrterprise, (as the nature of the Frenchemen is, to bee more busy then bold) sailed with her gallant band, toward Newe Castle, and landed at Tynmouthe. But whether she wer a fraied of her awne sha­dow, or that the Frenchemen cast to many doubtes, the truth is, that the whole army returned to their shippes, and a tēpest rose so sodainly, that if she had not taken a small Caruell, and that with good spede, 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 wretchednes, and callamitie, as she did, leasyng bothe her husbande, her sonne, her Realme, and her honor. And although fortune was so fauo­rable to her, yet her company were with stormy blastes, driuen on the shore before Bāborough castle, where thei set their shippes on fire, and cowardly fled to an Island, called holy Island, wher thei wer so assailed by the bastard Ogle, an Esquire called Ihon Manners, with other of kyng Edwardes retinue, that many of them wer slain, and almoste .iiii.C. taken prisoners, and put to raunsome. But the capitain Bracy more coward then coragious, happened by chaunce of a fishar man, & so came to Barwicke, to Quene Margaret his mastres: whether she gaue hym thankes or no, I doubte, but sure I am, he none deserued, yet she made hym capitain of Alnewike Castle, whiche he with his freshe men kepte till thei wer rescowed. This chaunce litle amased the Quene, nor in any thyng abated her haute corage. For incontinently she obteined a greate company of Scottes, and other of her frendes, and so bringyng her hus­band with her, and leauyng her sōne called prince Edward, in the toune of Barwicke, entered Northumberlande, and toke the castle of Bambo­rough, and stuffed it with Scottes, 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 Edward, and rode in poste to his kynsman, kyng Henry the sixte: verefiyng the old prouerbe: kynne will [...]repe, where it maie no go: Refu­syng the surety of his estate, whiche kyng Edward did promise hym, for the vncertain gain whiche he hoped to get, by supportyng kyng Henry. With hym fled also sir Raufe Percy, and many other of the kynges frē ­des, 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 as muche 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 cam. Kyng Edward (as you could not blame hym) was with these dooynges nothyng content, wherefore like a wise prince, intendyng to stop the gut of kyng Henries power, or it made any farther issue: Prepared al municions, conuenient for the warre, rigged and apparreled, a great nauie of shippes, of which some were vitailed at Lyn, and some at Hull, and thei were furnished with souldiors. When his army by the sea, was thus warlikely set for­ward: [Page] he sent the lorde Montacute, (whom bothe for his hardinesse and sage conduyte 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 greate part of the nobilitie of his realme, not without a great and puyssaunt armie, marched toward his enemies, and came to the citee of Yorke, sendyng a greate quantitie of his faithfull subiectes, to the ayde of the lorde Montacute, least paraduenture he geuyng to muche confi­dence, to the men of the Bisshopprike and Northumberlande, might by theim be deceiued and surprised. The Lorde Montacute, forgat not the office of a good capitain; nor beeyng well furnished with suche as he knewe would neither flie backeward, nor stande still lookyng, and not fightyng, thought no lēger to tract the tyme, but with a valiant corage, marched forward toward his enemies, and in his iorney, he was incountered, with the lorde Hungerford, the Lorde Roos, sir Raufe Percy, and diuerse other, at a place called Hegely More. Where sodainly thesaied lordes, in maner without stroke strikyng, fled, and onely sir Raufe Per­cy abode, and was there manfully slain, with diuerse other, saiyng▪ when he was diyng: I haue 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 necessitie, abandoned him, and submitted hym to kyng Edward, (as you before haue heard.) The lord Mōtacute seyng fortune thus prosperously leadyng his saile, was auaunced with hardy corage toward his enemies, & then in passyng forward, he had by his espialles perfite intelligence, that kyng Henry with all his power, was incamped in a faire plain called Lyuels, on the water of Dowill in Exham shire.The battaile at Li [...]els, on the Water of D [...]wil in Exham shire. It was no neede to bid hym hast hast, as he that thought not to lese the occasion, to hym so manifestly geuen, & to leaue the good porte of fortune, to hym opened and vnclosed: and therefore, in good or­dre of battail, he manfully set on his enemies, in their awne cāpe, whiche like desperate persones, with no small corage receiued hym. There was a sore fought feld, and no partie by a long tract, could get any aduaun­tage of the other, till at the last, the lorde Montacute, criyng on his men to do valiauntly, entered by plain force, the battaill of his enemies, and brake their array, whiche like men amased, 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 Lorde Hungerford, sir Thomas Went­worth, sir Thomas Huse, sir Ihon Fynderne, & many other. Kyng Hen­ry was this daie, 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 henxmen or folowers wer taken, their horses beyng trap­ped in blew veluet: wherof one of thē had on his hed, shesaid kyng Hen­ries healmet. Some say his high cap of estate, called abococket, garni­shed with twoo riche Crounes, whiche was presented to kyng Edward, [Page Cxcj] at Yorke the fourth daie of Maie. The Duke of Somerset, was incon­tinently, for his greate mutabilitie and lightnes, behedded at Exam, the other lordes and knightes, wer had to New Castle, and there after alitle respite, wer likewise put in execucion. Beside these persons, 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 al victory, consideryng that their capitaines, had hopped hedles. Frō this battaill escaped kyng Henry the .vj. sir Humfrey Neuell, Williā Tayl­boys, callyng hymself erle of Keme, sir Raufe Gray, and Richard Tun­stall, and diuerse other, whiche beyng in feare of takyng, hid themselfes and lurked in dēnes and wholes secretly. Thei wer not so closly hid, but thei were espied: for the erle of Keme was taken in a close place in Rid­desdale▪ and brought to New Castle, and there with an axe lost his life, Sir Humfrey Neuel, after long lurkyng 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 cō ­clusion, death for their reward and guardone.

AFTER this battaill called Exham feld, kyng Edward came to the citie of Duresme, to the intent to bee more nerer to his enemies, if thei would make any farther attempte: and sent from thence into Nor­thumberlande, the Erle 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 defēded. 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 .xiii.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 mē, 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 hachet 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 high ordre of knighthode at Dancastre,The disgra­dynge of a knight. by cuttyng of his gylt sporres, rētyng his cote of armes, and breakyng his sword ouer his hed: and finally, there his body was shorted, by the lēgth of his hed, and had no more harme, thus was he rewarded for his doble deceipt, and manifest periurie.

AFTER this victory, kyng Edward returned to Yorke, where, in despite of therle of Northumberlande, whiche then lurked, in the realme [Page] of Scotland, he created sir Ihon Neuel, lorde Montacute, erle of Nor­thumberlande, & in reprofe of Iaspar erle of Penbroke, he created Wil­liam lord Herbert, erle of thesame place: but after when by mediacion of frendes, therle of Northumberlande, was reconciled to his fauor, he re­stored hym fully to his possessiōs, name and dignitie: and not intendyng therby, to diminishe the honor of his frend, he preferred sir Ihon Neuel, 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, pollecie, and possessions, farre baser and lower.

¶The thirde yere.The .iii yere.

ALthough that Kyng Edward might now thynke, all thynges to be in a good case, & hymself also to be of puyssance sufficient against al his enemies, (for y^t he had obteined so 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 perswasions of theim, and especially with old frendes & alies, might alter and change the mindes, & also wyn the hartes of the mutable cōmonaltie. Wherfore he edified bulwarkes, and buylded fortresses on euery side & parte of his realme, where might be any place propice 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 thei 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 offendors should be takē 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 perill might bee construed or demed, to haue insued by the meanes of kyng Henry: all suche doubtes, were now shortly resolued and determi­ned, and all feare of his doynges, wer clerely put vnder and extinct. For he hymself, whether he wer past all feare, or was not well stablished in his perfite mynde, or could not long kepe hymself secrete, in a disguysed apparell, boldely entered into Englande. He was no soner entered, but he was knowen and taken of one Cantlowe, and brought towarde the kyng, whom the erle of Warwicke met on the waie, by the kynges com­maundement,Kyng Henry the .vi. taken, and cōmitted to the Toure of London. and brought hym through London, to the toure, and there he was laied in sure holde. Quene Margarete his wife, hearyng of the captiuitie of her husbande, mistrustyng the chaunce of her sonne, all desolate and comfortles, 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 sōne, and also all her wealth, honor, and worldly felicitie. The newe Duke of Somerset and his brother Ihon, sailed into Flaunders, [Page Cxcij] where thei 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 wēt from countrey to countrey, not alwaies at his hartes ease, nor in securitie of life, or suretie of liuing. Such an vnstable and blind goddes is fortune: for whē he that sitteth highest on the whele falleth to the groūd, all that be vnderneth fall also, and can neither haue aide nor helpe of her, nor yet of theimselfes.

AFTER the takyng of kyng Hēry the .vj. and the departyng of his wife, this realme was in more quietnes & tranquilitie, because that men of the contrary part and faccion, durst not once attēpt 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, beyng clerely out of doubt, of all hostilitie and danger, set all his mynd the whole foure yeres folowyng, for bothe amendyng thynges preiudi­ciall to the common wealthe, and also for stablishyng of thynges, mete and necessary, for the people of his Realme and dominion. And firste of al, folowyng the old auncient adage whiche saith, that the hus [...]andman ought first to tast of the new growē frute: he distributed the possessions, of suche as toke parte with kyng Henry the .vi. to his souldiors and ca­pitai [...]es, whiche he thought had well deserued it. And beside, he lefte no poynt of liberalitie vnshewed, by the whiche he might 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^t 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 mē thought) was conuenient, either for his estate, or for his honor: whiche gentilnes and frendly familiaritie, he euer after vsed. The lawes of the realme,Kyng Ed­ward the iiii. deuised the names of the Coynes. in part he reformed, and in part he newly augmented. The coyne bothe of golde and of siluer, whiche yet at this daie is curraunt, he newly deuised and diuided: for the gold he named royals and nobles, and the siluer he cal­led grotes and halfe grotes. After this, he caused open Proclamacion to be diuulged, that all persones whiche were adherent to his aduersaries part, & would leaue their armure, & submit thēselfes wholy to his grace and mercye, should bee clerely remitted, pardoned, and relessed: and thei that obstinatly would so refuse, should haue such paines, as by the law, to suche transgressors, was assigned and appoynted. What profite this gentle interteinyng of his people brought hym to: What good wil and fixed hartes of the people, he obteined by this kynd and frendly hande­lyng, all mē 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 perceiue. When he had brought his Realme into this estate, he surely [Page] thynkyng, and no lesse trustyng, but that he was set in the sure stall, sta [...]ble throne, and vnmoueable chaire, of the croune of his realme and kyn­gdom, was not only desirous of hymself, beyng a prince of haut corage▪ young, lusty, and sanguyne of complexion, to haue a wife, but was also daily [...]ollicited, 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 securitie & establishment, of the royall succession and continuaunce of his progeny, in his newe possessed coun­trey, and late recouered kingdom. Wherupon, like a wis [...] and a circum­specte Prince, very desirous of a Quene, but more thirstyng for suche a make, by the aide of whose parentes, alies and confederates: he beyng ioyned with theim in perfite affinitie, might litle or nothyng doubte the attemptes of his aduersarie kyng Henry, nor yet the malice of his secret frendes and priuy fautors. This matter (as it was of great waight and importance) hangyng long in consultacion: Emongest other it was mo­ued, to send to Iames 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, refuge, succor, and com­fort: but whether it wer for a priuie sickenes, or an open impediment, 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 farther 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 Fernādo, kyng of Arragon) was a mariage 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 one of the indubitate heires, as doughter to Done Peter, late kyng of Castell, (by the valiaunt 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 puyssance sufficient to inuade, and likely to recouer the du­chy of Guyen, yea, and whole Acquitain, beyng his awne true and lawe­full inheritance, with the ayde onely of the Castilians▪ puttyng the En­glishement 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: Consideryng first, the high parē ­tage of the woman, and secondly, the indubitate expectacion o [...] thinhe­ritance, of the realmes of Castell and Lion. And this mariage agred v­pon, (whiche semeth more likely to be intreated of, then cōcluded as the tale tellers saie). The erle of Warwicke was sent into Spain, well in­structed, and no lesse accompanied, for the conclusiō of thesaid mariage. But who so will diligently consider, and in egall balaunce ponder, the youth and appetite of kyng Edward, and the tendre age and minoritie [Page Cxciij] 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 liue sole and vnmaried without a wife, till she were of age, mete & conueniēt for his bed. For it appereth on her goodly sepulture, in the cite of Gra­nado (where she is buried) and also diuerse famous and notable Histo­riographers, bothe 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 report she should be borne, in the yere of our lorde .M.iiii.C.lvi. And when therle 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.lxiii, so that then she was sixe and not fully .vii. yeres, at whiche tyme kyng Edward had fully accōplished .xxiiii. yeres and more. The treatie of whiche mariage although it be not vnpossible, yet for y^e causes aforsaied, it semeth not a­litle vnlikely. But admit that this mariage was moued, as it peraduē ­ture 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 cam to kyng Lewes the .xi. then beyng Frenche kyng, liyng at Tours, and with greate honor was there receiued, and honorably interteined: of whō,The treaty [...] of a mariage for kyng Ed­ward th [...] .iiii. for kyng Edward his ma­ster, he demaunded to haue in mariage the lady Bona, doughter to Le­wes duke of Sauoy, and suster to the lady Carlot, then French Quene, beyng then in the Frenche court. This mariage semeth pollitiquely de­uised, and of an high imaginacion to be inuented, if you will well 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 Ierusalem, hauing as muche profites 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 profites of thesame▪ and would make no accōpt therof to duke Reiner). Kyng Edward 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 womē do) yet he of a certain especiall humilitie, was more content to haue her fauor & folowe her desire, (for wedded men oftē tymes doubt stormes) rather then to haue a lowryng countenaunce, and a ringing peale, whē he should go to his rest and quietnes: trusting that by this mariage, 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, profites, nor dominions) should [Page] haue no aide, succor, nor any cōfort of y^• Frēch kīg, nor of none of his frē des nor alies, wherfore quene Carlot much desirous to aduāce her blod & progenie, & especially to so great a prince as kyng Edward was, ob­teyned both the good will of the kyng her husband, & also of her syster, so that the matrimony on that syde was clerely assented to, & the erle of Dampmartine appoīted with other,The mariage cōcluded for kīg Edward the .iiii. to sayle into Englād, for the clerely finishyng of thesame. After these thinges thus concluded, the erle 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 Fraūce, that when he fled out of Englād, he was there honorably receiued, frendly maynteined, and louingly succored, as you shall perceyue hereafter.

BVT now consider the olde prouerbe to be true y^• saieth: that maria­ge is destinie. For duryng y^e 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 Wychwod besyde Stonnystratforde, came for his recreacion to the mannor of Grafton, where the duches of Bed­ford soiorned, then wyfe to syr Richard Woduile, lord Ryuers, on whō then was attendyng a doughter 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 suyt to y^• kyng, either to be restored by hym to some thyng taken from her, or re­quyring hym of pitie, to haue some augmentacion to her liuyng, founde such grace in the kynges eyes, that he not onely fauored her suyte, but muche more phantasied her person,Kyng Ed­ward falleth in loue with the buches of Bedfo [...]des doughter, [...] after marieth her. for she was a womā more of formal countenaunce, then of excellent beautie, but yet of such beautie & fauor, that with her sober demeanure, louely lokyng, and femynyne smylyng, (neither to wanton nor to humble) besyde her toungue so eloquent, and her wit so pregnant, she was able to rauishe the mynde of a meane per­son, whē she allured, and made subiect to her, y^• hart of so great a king. After that kyng Edward had well considered all the linyamētes of her body, and the wise and womanly demeanure that he saw in her, he deter­mined first to attēpt, if he might prouoke her to be his souereigne lady, promisyng her many gyftes and fayre rewardes, affirmynge farther, y^• if she woulde therunto condiscēd, she myght 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, affirmynge that as she was for his honor farre vnable 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 deliberacion, he determined with him felfe clerely to marye with her, after that askyng counsaill of them, whiche he kenwe neither [Page Cxcv] would nor once durst impugne his concluded purpose.

BVT the duches of Yorke hys mother letted it as much as in her lay alledgyng a precontract made by hym with the lady Lucye, and diuers other lettes: al which doubtes were resolued, & all thinges made clere & all cauillacions auoyded. And so, priuilie in a mornyng he maried her at Grafton, where he first phantasied her visage.

¶The .iiii. yere.The iiii. yer [...]

ANd in the next yere after, she was with great solempnitie crou­ned quene at Westmynster. Her father also was created erle Ryuers, and made high Constable of Englande: her brother lorde Anthony, was maried to y^• sole heyre of Thomas lord Scales, & by [...]er 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 [...]ord Bonuile. Albeit this mariage, at the first appa­raunce was very pleasaunt to the king, but more ioyous to the quene & profitable to her bloud, which were so highly exalted▪ yea, & so sodainly promoted, that all the nobilitie more maruayled then allowed this so­dayne risyng and swift eleuacion: Yet who so wil marke the sequele of this story, shal manifestly perceyue, what murther, what miserie, & what troble ensued by reason of this mariage: for it can not be denied, but for this mariage kyng Edward was expulsed the Realm, & durst not abide, And for this mariage was therle of Warwycke & his brother miserable slain.I [...]commodi­ [...] y^• [...] of [...]yng Ed­wardes mar­riage. By this mariage were kyng Edwardes .ii. sonnes declared bas [...]ardes, & it cōclusion priued of their lifes. And finally by this mariage, the quenes bloud was confounded, and vtterly in maner destroyed. So y^• men did afterward diuyne, that either God was not contented, nor yet pleased with this matrimony, or els that he punished kyng Edward in his posteritie, for the diepe dissimulynge and couert clokynge, with hys faithfull frende the erle of Warwycke. But such cōiectures for y^• most part, be rather more of mens phātasies, then of diuine reuelacion. Whē this mariage was once blowen abrode, forren kynges and prynces maruayled and musyd at it: noble men detested and dis [...]ained it: the commō people grudged and murmured at it, and al with one voyce sayde, that hys vnaduised wowyng, hasty louyng, and to spedy mariage, were n [...]i­ther meete for him beyng a kyng, nor consonant to the honor 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 syster, first demaūded and then graunted, and in conclusion reiected, and apparantly mocked, without any cause reasonable. Wherfore shortly to appeseher dolor, thei maried her to Ihon Galēce, 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 cō ioynyng of this new affinitie, was both frustrate & vayn, he was earne­stly [Page] moued and sore chafed with the chaunce, and thought it necessarye that king Edward should be deposed from his croune and royal digni­tie, as an inconstant prince, not worthy of such a kyngly office. All men for the most parte agre, that this mariage was the only cause, why the erle of Warwycke bare grudge, and made warre on kynge Edwarde. Other affirme that th [...]re wer other causes, which added to this, made y^• fyre to flāme, which before was but a litell smoke. For after that kyng Edward had obteyned his kyngdome (as it was then thoughte) by the onely helpe and meane of the erle of Warwycke, he begā to suspect▪ yea, and to doubt him, fearyng, lest he beyng in such aucthoritie and estima­cion of the people, as he well might worke him pleasure or displeasure, when he therunto were mynded, wherfore he thought it cōueniēt a litle 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 chaū ­ceth, that frendes for one good turne will not render another, nor yet re­member a great gratuite and benefite in time of necessitie, to thē shewed and exhibited: But for kyndnes they shew vnkindnes, & for great bene­fites receyued, with great displeasure they do recompense. Of thys the erle of Warwycke was nothyng ignorāt, 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 the kyng without strēgth, and then to imbrayd him with the pleasure that he had done for him.The displea­sure betwene kīg Edward the .iiii. & the erle of Warwycke. And farther it erreth not from y^• treuth that kynge Edward did attempt a thyng once in the erles house which was much agaynste the erles ho [...]estie (whether he woulde haue deflowred hys doughter or his nece, y^• certayntie was not for both their honors openly knowen) for surely such a thyng was attempted by king Edward, which loued well both to loke and to fele fayre dammosels. But whether the iniury that the erle thought he had taken at king Ed­wardes handes, or the disdayne of aucthoritie that the erle had vnder the king, was the cause of dissolucion of their amitie and league, trueth it is that the priuie intencions in their hartes brake into so many smal peces, that England, Fraunce, and Flaunders, could neuer ioyne them agayn, duryng their naturall lyfes.

THE erle of Warwycke beyng thus moued, inflāmed, & 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 might spye a tyme conueniēt, & a world after hys awn appetite, for the setting furth of his enterprise, and accompilshyng of his purpose: wherupon he sayled into England, and with reuerence saluted the kyng as he was wont to do, & declared his Ambassade and thexployt of thesame, without any spot of [Page Cxcvi] grudge to be perceyued, as though he were ignorant of the new matri­mony. And when he had taryed in the c [...]urte 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 hys legacion, then for any great affeccion that he bare, either to the kyng or the quene, he ob­teyned licence of the kyng, to depart to hys Castel of Warwycke, both for hys health and recreacion, whither with great honour he was accō ­panied with diuers of the kynges familier seruitors, as thoughe none inward grudge or couert dissimulacion had ben hydden betwene them, where he remayned tyll all hys priuie imaginacions 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, whiche afterward was wyfe to the noble prince kynge Henry the vij. and mother to kyng Henry the .viij,

¶The v yere.The ▪v. yere.

WHen 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 frēdshippe, he euer was superior, & had the vpper hande of hys enemies: He dayly studied and in­tentyuely applied his whole mynd with al labor and dili­gence to obtayne the loue, fauor and amitie of outward princes & foren potentates. First to haue a Rowlad for an Olyuer, for the Frēch king whome he knew not to be hys frendes, by reason of the refusall of hys quenes syster, he procured an amitie with Henry, kynge of Castell, and Ihon kyng of Arragon. At the concludyng of whiche amitie he graun­ted lycence and liberte for certayn cottesolde shepe to be transported into the countie of SpayneKynge Ed­ward lycēced a [...]tayne number of shepe to be transported into Spayne. (as people report) which haue so there multi­plied and encreased, that it hath turned y^• comoditie of England, moche to the Spanysh profit, & to no small hynderance of the lucre and gayne whiche was beforetymes in England, raysed 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 contēt to take a truce for xv. yeres.

BVT Lord what happy chaūce and good lucke had kyng Edward for besyde these new frendes and conferates (of the whiche, some were more farther of, then he coulde cal to for helpe with a whistel, when he stode in moost daunger and distresse) Fortune besyde all his expectatiō prouided hym euen at hys elbowe, A brother in lawe, a perpetual allye and frendly neyghboure: whiche offered allyaunce and new amitie, if he had either refused or myssed, surely of al hys other putatyue (I dare not say fayned) frendes, for all their leage, in hys extr [...]me necessitie, 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 Flaunders, Brabant and Zelādt, and other the lowe contreis, [Page] thereaboute, Philippe duke of Burgoyne, a man as he was of greate age and yeres, so was he had in muche honor, great estimacion & hygh reuerēce emongest all kynges and prynces in hys dayes: which duke as you harde before, was enemye mortall to kynge Henrye the sixte This duke had onely one sonne legitimate, called Charles erle of Charol [...]ys, a man of suche haute corage, of so hygh enterprice and vntime­rous audacite (euen lyke the sonne of Mars) as fewe or none was sene in hys tyme: For how he discomfited kyng Loys the .xi. then the Frēch kyng at the battayle of Montleherrye, the Frenchemen hathe not yet forgotten. The lāde of Luke also hath in recent memorie his sore scorge and cruell plage. Thys erle Charles was at thys tyme a wydower, ha­uyng onely a sole doughter, and no sonne, wherfore both by hys father and hym selfe and the companions of the order of the golde [...] flece, being of their coūsail, it was thought not onely expedient but much more ne­cessary, that he should take a wyfe, ye and in such a place as they might by that matrimony haue both aliance and ayde agaynste all their out­warde enemies, and especially agaynst the Frenche kyng, whome they knew dayly to wayte & watche lyke a serpente, how he by fraude might swalow or catche them or their possessions: vpon which cōmunicaciō it was declared by certayne, there beynge present, that kynge Edward of Englande had a fayre virgyn to hys syster, called lady Margarete, a lady of excellent beautie, and yet more of womanhod then beautie, and more of vertue then womanhode, whose innumerable good qualities, beside the giftes of nature, grace and fortune, were so seriously setfurth to duke Philip, and the erle of Charoloys hys sonne, that bothe the fa­ther & the child iudged that mariage to be the moste metest matrimony in Christendom, not onely for the excellent qualities and manifold vertues emprinted in the person of the noble virgyn, but also for the great profite, allyance and continuall frendship that shoulde growe and ryse betwene the realme of Englande, and the dukes landes.

The vi. yere.

AFter that thys poynte was clerely resolued on,The vi. yere. the Duke appoynted hys bastard sonne lorde Anthony, commonly called the bastarde of Bourgoyne, chefe Ambassadoure for this purpose: a man of great witte, corage, valiantnes and liberalitie, whiche beyng richely furnished of plate & apparel, necessary for his estate, hauing in his cōpany gētelmen & other expert in all feates of chiualry, and merciall prowes, to y^• nūber of .cccc. horses (as the Brabanders write) toke hys ship, and with prosperous wynde arryued in Englande, where he was of the nobilitie receyued & and with al honorable entertainment, conueyed to the kynges presence which like a prince, that knew what apperteined to his degre, louingly welcomed, and familiarly embrased the bastard & other nobles y^• came with hym. And after hys commission seene, and hys message declared, [Page Cxcvij] the Kynge gaue to hym a gentell answere for that tyme, and so the ambassadours departed to their lodgynge, where they kept a greate hous­holde, and made triumphāt chere. You may thinke that kyng Edward was not so vnwyse, nor yet so vnpurueyed of counsail, to forsake thys beneficiall alliaūce, amicable consanguinitie and louynge frendshyp, thus frankely to hym profered and graunted, but that he and all hys counsaill with fote and hande endeuoured theym selfes to brynge too passe, and fynally to conclude thesame, the Erle of Warwycke onely excepte, whiche berynge hys harty fauoure too the Frenche kynge by yll reportes, dyd asmuche as in hym laye to hynder thys mariage and affinitie, of whose good will duke Charles was well informed.

But for all hys opinion at a ce [...]tayne daye, the kynge sente for the Ambassadours, and there declared to [...] 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 duryng his life frend to the frēdes of the Duke and the Erle, and ennemies to their ad­uersaries and ennemies, which wordes not a littel pl [...]ased the Burgō ­nyons. After this he caused the lady Margaret his syste [...] to be sent for which beyng richely appareled, accompanied with a great multitude of ladyes and gentelwomen, entred into the kynges great chāber, with so sober demeanure, so faire a visage, so louyng a coūtenaunce & so princely a port, that she was estemed for her personage and qualities, bothe of the Burgonnyons and other, not to be vnw [...]rthy to matche in matrimony, with the greatest prynce of the worlde. And after the kynge, she & the ambassadours had cōmoned a good tract of tyme, the lord Antho­ny [...] 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 Erle his brother, he presented to y^• lady Margaret a ryche and a costly Iuell, whiche she ioyouslye recey­ued with great thankes and many gratulations geuen, b [...]th to her fa­ther in lawe and her new contracted husband.

After thys mariage, was thus concluded and contracted to speke what bankettes, festes, disguisynges, pastymes & pleasures were made and shewed to the ambassadours, it were to longe to write the matter, b [...]yng no more serious, & much more tedious to here: But one thīg was v [...]ry honorable, and not mete to be put in obliuiō. The bastard of Burgoyne, a man of a haute corage, chalengedA chaleng [...]. Anthony lord Scales, bro­th [...]r to the Quene, a man bothe egall in hart, and valyantnes with the bastard to fight with hym bothe on fote & on horsbacke, the lord Sca­les gladly receyued hys demaunde and promised hym on the othe of a gentelman, to aunswere hym in the felde, at the day appoynted: lyke chalenges were made by other Borgonyons, to the gentelmen of Eng­lande, which you maye surely beleue were not refused. The kyng entē ­dyng to see this marciall sport and valiant chalenge performed, cau­sed lystes royall for the champio [...]s, and costely galleries for Ladies [Page] to loke on, to be newly erected and edefied in West Smythfelde in Lō don. And at the day by the kyng assigned, the .ii. Lordes entered with­in the listes, well mounted, richely trapped, and curiouslye 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 courser, beinge somwhat dymme of sight, and the lord Scales had a gray courser, on whose s [...]haffrō was a long and a sharpe pyke of stele. Whē these .ij. valeāt persones coped together at the tornay, the lord Scales horse by chaūce or by custome, thrust hys pyke into the nostrelles of the horse of the bastarde, so that for very payne he moūted so hygh, that he fell on the one syde wyth hys master, & the lord Scales roade roūd about him with his sworde sha­kyng in hys hand, [...]yll the kyng cōmaunded 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 coūtercōpaigni­ons. And when he was remounted, he made a countenāce to assayle his [...], but the kyng either▪ fauoryng his brothers honor then got­te [...] mistrustyng the shame, whiche mighte come to the bastarde, if he were agayne foyled, caused the Heraldes to cry, a lostell, and euery man to departe. The morow after, the two noble men came in to the felde on [...], with two Poleaxes, and there fought valiantly lyke two coragi­ous [...]hamp [...]ons, but at the laste, the point of the axe of the lord Scales happened to e [...]ter into the [...]ight of the healme of the bastard, & by fyne [...]orce might haue plucked hym on his knees, the kynge sodaynlye caste doun [...] his [...]arder, and then the Marshalls them seuered. The bastard not content with this chaunce, very desirous to be reuenged, trustinge on his cunning at the Poleaxe (the whiche feate he had greatly excercy­sed, & there in had a great exper [...]ent) required the kyng of iustice, that he might performe his enterprise: the lord Scales, not refused it. The king sayd he wolde aske counsail, & so calling to hym the Cōstable and Marshall with the officers of armes, after longe consultacion had, and lawes of armes rehersed, it was declared to the bastarde for a sentence diffinitiue by the duke of Clarence, then Constable of Englande, and the duke of Northfolke Erle Marshall, that if he woulde prosecute farther his attempted chalenge, he muste by the lawe of armes, be deli­uered to his aduersarye in thesame case and like condicion, as he was when he was taken from hym, that is to 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 iudgemt, doughted muche the sequele, if he so should procede agayne, wherefore he was content to relinquyshe hys chalenge, rather then to abyde the hasarde of hys dis­honour: Other chalenges were done, & valiaūtly achened by the En­glishmen, which I passe ouer. When all these corragious actes were thus with ioy accomplished, sorowfull tidinges were broughte to the bastard, that duke Philip his father was passed this transitory lyfe, of [Page Cxcviij] whiche tidinges he was not a littell sorowfull, and therevpon takynge his leue of kynge Edwarde and his syster, the newe Duches of Bur­goyne, liberally rewarded with plate and Iuels, with all celeritie he returned to the new duke Charles his nephew, accōpting 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 thereof most hartely thanked the lady for her consent, as for the thynge that he most desired, not forgettynge to gratefie kynge Ed­wardes for his preferment and furtherance in his louinge request.

This contract was made, and duke Philip dyed in the yere of our sal­uacion .M.CCCC.LXUII. and in the .vj. yere of kynge Edwarde the .iiij. in whiche yere kyng Edward more for the Marques Monta­gewes loue, then for any fauour he bare to the erle of Warwycke, pro­moted George Neuel their brother, to the Archebishoperyke of Yorke.

The ,vii, yere,The .vii: ye [...]

NOw to returne to Charles duke of Burgoyne, whiche was with greate victory, and victorious triumphe returned from the conquest of the lande of Luke of Bruseles, he not forgetting the contract, which his bastard brother the lord Anthony had made in his name, with the noble princesse lady Margaret, syster to Edward kyng of Englande, deu [...]sed alwayes how he might with all honor and royaltie, haue her receyued into his countrey. And first he wrote to the kyng of England, to sende her ouer the sea with all diligence, accordinge to the pact and leage be­twene them concluded, which beynge nothinge slacke, and especially in suche a cause, as so highly magnified his bloude, prepared shippes and all thinges necessary, for the honorable conduyte of her and her cōpany and so accompanied with the [...]ukes of Exceter and Southfolke and their wyfes, beynge bothe her systers, and a great companye of lordes and ladies and other, to the number of .CCCCC. horsses, in the begin­ninge of Iune departed out of Londō to Douer, & so sayled to S [...]uys, how she and her companye were there receyued, and from thence con­ueyed to Bruges, where the mariage was celebrate and solempniezd, what abundaūt fare and Delicate vian [...] was serued at the feast, with how riche hanginges the house was garnished and trimmed, with how many Cupperdes of golde & siluer the palace was adourned, with how many garnyshe of siluer vessell the companyes were serued, what Iu­stes, what Tourneys, what bankettes, and what disportes were at this Nup [...]iall feast▪ I neither dare nor wil write, accordinge to the Brabā ­der Cronicle, lest perauenture 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 y^e 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 abrode, that all the .iij. yeres folowing the whole [Page] Realme was continually infected with thesame, whiche infeccion, ne­uer ceased till the ayre was purified with the bloudde and deathe of him selfe at Barnet felde: for if you call to youre remembraunce the depe dissimulinge of the Erle of Warwycke at his retorne from be­yonde the sea, and the continuall grudge that lurked in his stōmack, toward kyng Edwarde syth y^• tyme, ye must thynke that of very neces­sitie it wolde at length either burste the vessell, and by some meanes is­sue out, as it did now euen at this tyme: he beyng at his towne of Warwycke, accompanyed with his two bretherne the Marques Mounta­cute, and the Archebishop of Yorke, framed communicacion too make them merye and to passe furth the time two or thre dayes, and at the last hauynge an occasiō to speake of the kyng & his doynges and procedin­ges, he then first moued and excited them by al waies possible to helpe and ayde, & to restore kyng Hēry the sixte, to the Croune and royal dig­nitie agayne,The persua­sion of y^• erle of Warwyke vnto his two brethrē agaīst king Edward the fourth. saiyng to thē after this wise. My dere & welbeloued bre­therne, the incredible faythefulnes, the secrete sobernes, and the poly­tique prudence that I haue euer by long cōtinuāce of tyme experimen­ted in you both, doth not onely encourage my harte, yea and setteth me in great hope of obteynynge my purpose, but also putteth me out of all dreade & mistrust, fermely beleuyng, & surely iudging, y^t you both wyl with tothe and nayle endeuer your selfe, to the vttermost of your power to bryng to effect & purpose y^• thing that I now shal declare vnto you. Surely, I woulde in no wise that you shoulde thynke that, that whiche I shall speake to you, of kyng Edward and kyng Henry, should rise of any lightnes or phantasie of my mynd, or any triffelyng toye, lately fal­len into my imaginacion, but the true experience and iuste iudgement, that I haue of them bothe, their qualities and condicions, in maner cō ­pell and constraine me to saie as I saie, and to doe as I doo. For surely Kyng Henry is, a Godly, good, and a verteous persone, neither forget­tyng his frendes, nor puttyng in obliuion any benefite by hym, of a meane persone receiued, nor yet any paine for his causes susteined, he hath lefte vnrewarded: To whom God hath sent a sonne, called Prince Edward, borne to bee of great worthynes and prayse, of muche bounte­fulnes and liberalitie, of whom men maie, many laudable thynges con­iecture, consideryng the pein, labor, and trauaill, that he taketh to helpe his father out of captiuitie and thraldome. Kyng Edward on the con­trary side, is a man, cōtumelious, opprobrious, & an iniurious person, to them that deserue kyndnes, he sheweth vnkyndnes, and to theim that loue him, he dedly hateth, now detestyng to take any pein, for the prefer­ment or maintenaunce, of the publique wealth of this realme, but al ge­uen to pastime, pleasure, and daliance. Soner preferryng to high estate, men discended of lowe bloud, and basse degree, then men of old and vn­defiled houses, whiche hath bothe supported hym, & the common wealth of his realme: So that now I perceiue, that it is euē come to this poynt that he will destroye all the nobilitie, or els the nobilitie must shortly, of [Page Cxcix] very necessitie destroye and confounde hym. But reason would, that we that wer first hurt, should first reuēge our cause: for it is not vnknowen to you bothe, how that he, immediatly after he had obteined the croune, began first secretly, and then openly, to enuie, disdain, and impugne the fame, glory, and renoune, of our house and familie, 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. Whiche to a [...]l men maie seme vn­true, whiche consider that our name, chief title, and principall aucthori­tie, was to vs geuen by kyng Henry the sixte, and not by hym. But 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 garlande, and the realme in quietnes, shall manifestly perceiue, that wee 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 wee haue deserued, nor so muche as we looked for, and yet thei bee muche more, then he would wee should inioye, as ye bothe well perceiue and knowe. Let these thynges ouerpasse, and speake of the vn­gentle, vntrue, and vnprincely handelyng of me, in the laste ambassade, beyng sent to the French kyng, for to treate a mariage 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 almoste out of all credence, in the Courte of Fraunce, both with the kyng and quene as though I had come thether like an espiall, to moue a thyng neuer mynded, or to treat of a mariage determined before, neuer to take effect. Whereby the fame of all our estimacion, whiche all kynges and Prin­ces haue conceiued in vs, partly obteined by the vertue and prowesse of our noble auncestors, and partly acheued by oure awne peines and for­ward actes: shall now bee obfuscate, vtterly extinguished, and nothyng set by. What worme is touched, and will not once turne again? What beast is striken, that will not rore or sound? What innocēt child is hurt that will not crye? If the poore and vnreasonable beastes: If the sely babes that lacketh discresion, grone against harme to theim proffered, How ought an honest man to be angery, when thynges that touche his honestie, be daily against him attempted? But if a meane person in that case bee angery: how muche more ought a noble man, to fume and stirre coales, when the high tipe of his honor is touched, his fame in maner brought to infamy, and his honor almost 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: Wherefore, rather then I will liue vnreuenged, or suffre hym to [Page] reigne, whiche hath sought my decaye and dishonor, I will surely spend my life, lande, and goodes, in settyng vp that iuste and good man kyng Henry the sixte: and in deposyng this vntrue, vnfaithfull, and vnkynde Prince (by our onely meanes) called kyng Edward the fourthe.

These faire wordes allured the Archbishop shortly, to his intent and purpose, but the Lorde Marques could by no meanes bee reduced, to take any parte against kyng Edwarde, till the erl [...] had bothe promised hym great rewardes and high promocions, and also assured hym of the aide and power, of the greatest princes of the realme. Euē as the Mar­ques vnwillyngly, and in maner coacted gaue his consent, to this vn­happy coniuracion, at the intisement and procurement of therle, so with a fainte harte and lesse courage, he alwaies shewed hymself enemie to Kyng Edwarde▪ excepte in his laste daie: whiche lukewarme harte, and double dissimulacion, wer bothe the destruccion of him and his brethrē. The erle of Warwicke beeyng a man of a greate wit, farre castyng, and many thynges vigilantly foreseyng, either perceiued by other, or had perfect knowlege of hymself, that the duke of Clarence, bare not the best will to kyng Edward his brother (as he did not in deede) 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 imaginacions of his stomacke: thynkyng that if he might by pollicie or promise, allure the duke to his partie, that kyng Edward should be destitute, 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 doublenes of kyng Edward, saiyng: that he had neither hand­led hym like a frende, nor kepte promise with hym, accordyng as the estate of a Prince required. The erle had not halfe tolde his tale, but the duke in a greate fury answered, why my lorde, thynke you to haue hym kynd to you, that is vnkynd, yea, and vnnatural to me beyng his awne brother, thynke you that frendship will make hym kepe promise, where neither nature nor kynred, in any wise can prouoke or moue hym, to fa­uor his awne bloud? Thynke you that he will exalte and promote his cosin or alie, whiche litle careth for the fall or confusiō, of his awne line and lignage: This you knowe well enough, that the heire of the Lorde Scales he hath maried to his wifes brother, the heire also of the lorde Bonuile and Haryngton, he hath geuen to his wifes sonne, and theire of the lorde Hungerford, he hath graunted to the lorde Hastynges: thre mariages more meter for his twoo brethren and kynne, then for suche newe foundlynges, as he hath bestowed theim on: But by swete saincte George I sweare, if my brother of Gloucester would ioyne with me, we would make hym knowe, that wee were all three one mannes sonnes, of one mother and one lignage discended, whiche should be more preferred and promoted, then straungers 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 [Page CC] disclose to the Duke, his intent and purpose euen at the full, requiryng hym to take parte with hym, and to bee one of the attempted confede­racie. And least the duke might thynke, that the matter was lightly, and vncircumspectly begon, he declared to hym, how warely, howe secretly, how spedily all thynges concernyng this purpose, had been compassed, studied, and forsene, requiryng hym in so greate and vrgente a cause, bothe to take pein & trauaill, and also to studie with all circumspeccion and forseyng, how these thynges thus begon might be brought to a certaintie and a finall conclusion. And the rather to wynne the dukes hart the erle beside diuerse and many faire promises made to the duke, offe­red hym his eldest daughter (beeyng o [...] ripe age and elegant stature) in mariage, with the whole halfedele of his wifes 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 consulted, concernyng their straunge and dange­rous affaires: thei first determined to saile to Caleis, of the which toune the erle was chief capitain, where his wife and twoo doughters then so­iorned, whom to visite, the duke of Clarence beyng in amours, had no small affeccion. 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 vnquieted the realme of Englande) before his departure, wherefore he appoynted his brethren, the Archebishop and the Marques, that thei should by some meane in his absence, stirre vp newe commocion or rebellion, in the Countie of Yorke and other places adiacente: so that this ciuill warre should seme to all men, to haue been begon without his assent or knowlege (he be­yng in the partes of beyond the sea).

The eight yere:The .viii: yere

WHen all these thynges wer thus determined, and in graue counsaill allowed, the erle and the duke sailed directly to Caleis: where thei were solempnely receiued, and ioyously interteined of the Countesse and of her twoo daughters. And after that the duke had sworne on the Sacrament to kepe his promise and pacte inuiolate made and concluded with the erle of Warwicke, he maried the Lady Isabell, eldest daughter to thesaied erle, in our Lady Churche at Cal [...]is, with greate pompe and solempni­tie. After whiche mariage so solempnized, the duke and therle consulted sadly together, by what meanes thei should continue the warre (whiche as it was by theim appoynted) was recently and within fewe daies be­gonne in Yorke shire, not without great rumore and disturbaunce, of all quietnes in that countrey.

The mother of this pernicious commocion, was vncharitie, or very impietie, for there was in the citee of Yorke, an olde and riche Hospitall, dedicated to Saincte Leonarde, in the whiche Almosehouse [Page] the poore and indigente people were harbored and refreshed, and the sicke and impotente persones were comforted and healed. For this good purpose and char [...]table intent, all the whole Prouince of Yorke, gaue yerely to this Hospitall certain measures of corne: in maner as an oblacion of the first fruites of their newe grayne, thynkyng their gyfte geuen 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, intendyng to set a bruill in the coun­trey, perswaded a greate nombre of husbande men, to refuse and deny to geue any thyng to thesaied Hospitall, affirmyng and saiyng: that the corne that was geuen to that good intent, was not expended on the pore people, but the Master of the Hospitall wexed riche with suche almose and his priestes wexed fat, and the poore people laie leane without suc­cour of comfort. And not content with these saiynges, thei fell to dooyn­ges, for when the Proctors of the Hospitall, acc [...]rdyng to their vsage, went aboute the countrey, to gather the accustomed corne, thei 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 thei kept secrete conuenticles, and priuie commu­nicaciōs, in so muche, that within fewe daies, thei had made suche a con­federacie together, that thei wer assembled to the nombre of .xv. thousād men, euen ready prest to set on the citie of Yorke. When the fame of this commocion and great assemble, came to the eares of the citizēs of Yorke thei were firste greatly astonied: but leauyng feare aside, thei 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. But the Lorde Marques Montacute, gouer­nor and presedent of that countrey for the kyng, did shortly put the citi­zens out of all feare and suspicion of inuasion, for he takyng spedy coū ­saill, and consideryng 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 Robert Huldurne their capi­tain, and before theim commaunded his hed there to bee striken of, and then he caused all his souldiours (because it was darke, to entre into the citie of Yorke) and after their long labor to refreshe them.

Here is to be marueiled, why the Marques thus put to death the ca­pitain and ruler of the people, stirred and reised vp by hym, and the fe­lowes of his coniuracion and conspiracie: Some saie he did it to the in­tent, that he would seme faultes and innocent, of all his brothers doyn­ges, and priuie imaginacions: But other affirme and saie, that he for all his promise 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 [Page CCi] eger and fierse, 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 germain to therle of Warwicke. Although that these young gentlemen, bare the names of capitaines, yet thei had a tutor & gouernor called sir Ihon Conyers, a man of suche courage & valiauntnes, as fewe was in his daies, in the Northe partes. And firste consideryng that thei could not get Yorke, for want of ordinaunce and artilery, whiche thei did lacke in dede, thei determined with all [...]pede to marche toward Londō, intendyng by the waie to reise suche a phantesie in the peoples hartes, y^t thei should thynke that kyng Edward was nei­ther a iust prince to God, nor profitable to the cōmon welth of y^• realme.

When kyng Edwarde (to whom all the dooynges of the Erle of Warwicke, and the Duke his brother, were manifest and ouerte, and were come to that poynt, that he expected and loked for) was by diuerse letters sent to hym, certified that the greate armie of the Northren men, wer with all spe [...]e commyng toward London. Therefore in greate hast he sent to Wyllyam lorde Herbert, whom, within twoo yeres before, he had created erle of Penbroke, that he should without delaye encountre with the Northren men, with the extremitie of al 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. Whervpon he accompaignie [...] 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) Erle of Deuonshire, by the Kyng, in hope that he valiauntly would serue hym in that iorney, and with hym he had eight hundred archers. When these twoo Lordes wer met at Cottishold, thei made diligent inquiry, to here where the Northren menne wer, and so by their explorators thei were asserteined, that thei were passyng towarde Northampton, whervpon the lorde Stafford, and sir Richard Harbert with twoo thousande well horsed Welshmen, saied: thei would go vewe and se the demeanor and nombre of the Northern men, and so vnder a w [...]oddes side, thei couertly espied thē 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 armie with small gain.

Kyng Edwarde beeyng nothyng abasshed of this small chaunce, sente good woordes to the Erle of Pembroke, animatyng and [Page] byddyng hym to bee of a good courage, promisyng 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 Clarēce his sonne in lawe, and was gatheryng and reisyng of men, to succor his frendes and kyns [...]olke. 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,Banbery feld wherin be three hilles, not in equal distaunce, nor yet in equall quantitie, but liyng in maner although not fully triangle: the 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 thē before. The Northren men incamped 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 Iames daie, and there the erle of Pem­broke, putte the Lorde Stafforde out of an Inne, wherein he delighted muche to be, for the loue of a damosell that dwelled in the house: contra­ry to their mutuall agrement by them taken, whiche was, that whosoe­uer obteined first a lodgyng, should not be deceiued nor remoued. After many greate woordes and crakes, had betwene these twoo capitaines, the lorde Stafford of Southwyke, in greate dispite departed with his whole compaignie and band of Archers, leauyng the erle of Pembroke 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 ruied the next daie or night. For the Northren men beyng 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, had doen but halfe thactes, whiche he that daie by his noble prowes ach [...]ued, the Northrēmen had obteined neither sauetie nor victory.

[Page CCiij]Beside this, beholde the mu [...]abilitie of fortune, when the Welshemē were at the very poynt, to haue obteyned the victory (the Northernmē [...]eyng in manner discōfited) Ihon Clappam Esquier, seruaunte to the Erle of Warwycke, moūted vp the syde of y^e east hyl, accōpanied 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 Erle, with the white Bere, Cryenge a Warwycke a War­wycke. The Welshmen thinkyng that y^• Erle of Warwycke had come on them with all hys puyssance, sodaynlye as men amased fledde: the Northernmē, them pursued and slew without mercy, for y^e cruelty that they had shewed to the lord Latymers sonne. So that of the Welshmē there were slayne aboue .v.M,A greate slau­ghter of Welshemen. besyde them that were fled and taken.

The erle of Penbroke, syr Rychard Herbert his brother, and diuers 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 feldes the day of the battayll, in so muche that his brother the Erle, when he should laye doune his hed on the blocke to suffer, said to syr Ihon Co­nyers and Clappam, Masters let me dye for I am olde, but saue my brother, whiche is yonge, lusty and hardye, mete and apte to serue the greatest prince of Christendom. But syr Ihon Conyers and Clappain, remembryng the death of the yonge knyght syr Henry Neuel, Cosyn to the erle of Warwycke, could not here on that syde, but caused the erle & hys brother with diuers other gentelmē, to the number of .x. to be there behedded. The Northamptonshire men, with diuers of y^• Northernmē by them procured, in this fury made them a capitayne, and called hym Robyn of Riddisdale,Robin of Riddesdale. and sodaynly came to the manner of Grafton, where the erle Ryuers father to the Quene then lay, whome they loued not, and there by force toke the sayde erle and syr Ihon his sonne, and brought them to Northampton, and there without iudgement stroke of their heddes, whose bodyes were solemply enterred in the Blacke­freers at Northampton. When kynge Edward was aduertised of thys vnfortunate chaūces, he wrote in al hast to the Shiriefes of Somerset shyre and Deuenshyre, that if they coulde by any meane take the lorde Stafford of Southwyke, that they vpon payne of their lyues, should without delay put hym in execucion, whiche accordingly to the kynges commaundement, after longe 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,Hegecote feld commonly called Banbery [...] felde. manner and ende of Hegecot felde, comēly called Banberie felde, foughten the morow after sainct Iames daye, in the .viij. yere of kynge Ed­warde the .iiii, the whiche battaile euer synce hath bene, and yet is a cō ­tinuall grudge betwene the Northernmen and the Welshemen. After thys battayle the Northernmē resorted towarde Warwycke, where the [Page] erle had gathered a greate multitude of people, whiche erle gaue hygh commēdacions to syr Ihon Conyers and other capitaynes of y^• North, much reioysing, that they had obteyned so glorious victory, requiring them to continew as they had begon. The kyng likewyse sore thrusting to recouer hys losse late susteyned, and desirous to bee reuenged of the deathes and murders of hys lordes and frēdes, marched toward War­wycke with a greate armye, and euer as he wente forwarde, his com­pany increased, because he commaunded it to be noysed and published to the common people, that his onely entent was to destroy, and vtterly to confounde the vnhappy stocke and yll graffed generacion, of suche pernicious persons, as wolde disturbe and bring in thraldome, y^e quiet cōmons and peaseable people. The erle of Warwycke had by his espi­alles perfyt, knowlege how the kyng with his armye was bent toward hym, & sent in all hast possible to the duke of Clarēce (which was not far from hym with a great power) requyringe hym that bothe their hostes myghte ioyne in one for as farre as he coulde 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 frēdes, a meane was founde how to cōmon of peace, for the whiche, letters were writtē from eche parte to other, declaring their griefes and the very bottoms of their stommackes: Herauldes spared no horseflesh in riding betwene the kyng and the erle, nor in retornynge from the Erle to the kynge: the kynge conceyuinge a certayne hope of peace in hys awne imaginacion, toke bothe lesse hede to him selfe, and also lesse fered the outward attēp­tes of hys ennemyes, thinkyng and trustynge truely that all thynges were at a good poynt, and should be well pacified. All the kynges do­ynges were by espials declared to the erle of Warwycke, which lyke a wyse and politique Capitayne entendyng not to lese so great an auan­tage to hym geuen, but trustyng to brynge all hys purposes to a fynall ende and determinacion, by onely obteyning this enterprise: in the dead of the nyght, with an elect company of men of warre, as secretly as was possible set on the kynges felde, kylling them that kept the watche, and or the kynge were ware (for he thoughte of nothynge lesse then of that chaunce that happened) at a place called Wolney .iiii. myle from War­wycke,Kyng Ed­ward the .iiii. taken priso­ner, by y^• erle of Warwike he was takē prysoner, and brought to the Castell of Warwicke. And to the entent that the kynges frendes myghte not know where he was, nor what was chaunced of hym, he caused hym by secret iorneys in the nyght to be conueyed to Myddelham Castell in Yorkeshyre, & there to be kept vnder the custody of the Archebishop of Yorke his brother, and other hys trusty frendes, which entertayned the kyng, like his estate, and serued hym lyke a prynce. But there was no place so farre of but that the taking of the kyng was shortly knowē there with y^• wynde which newes made many men to feare, and greatly to dread, and many to wonder and lament the chaūce. Kyng Edward beyng thus in capti­uitie, [Page CCiii] spake euer fayre to the Archebishop and to the other kepers, (but whether he corrupted them with money or fayre promises) he had liber­tie diuers dayes to go on huntynge,Kyng Ed­ward escaped out of prison. and one day on a playne there met with hym syr William Stanley, syr Thomas of Borogh, and dyuers other of hys frēdes, with suche a great bend of men, that neither his ke­pers woulde, nor once durst moue him to retorne to prison agayn.

Thus as you haue harde was kyng Edward deliuered: Some saye that he was set at large by the erles consent and commaundemente, as who sayd, I had hym in my kepyng, and myght haue destroyed hym, I had hym in captiuitie, and so might haue deteyned him, but yet of myne awne frewill & gentelnes, without pacte or raunsom I am contented to set him at libertie & to deliuer him. Thys doyng might seme to be some countenaunce of treuth, if the erle after this had desisted from perse­cutyng the warre by hym newly begonne: But for a treuth this good chaunce happed to kynge Edward, by the yll lucke of kynge Henry, for surely by this yll fortune a man may playnly cōiecture, 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 instrumēt scraped away (wel such was Goddes pleasure) for if you consider how that the erle of Warwycke and his frendes, onely to then­tent to ayde, conserue and defende kynge Henry the .vi. haue dispended their substances, aduentured their lyues, and taken paynes intollera­ble, hauyng a sure determinacion, fixed in their myndes, that as long as kyng Edward lyued, that kyng Henryes faction should neuer prosper & yet when he was by the Erle taken prisoner, & in captiuitie, he by for­tune escaped, or was wilfully deliuered. By thys you may playnly 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 notyng this, that when thinges contriued & Ima­gened come to an vnlucky successe, all the senses of our bodyes be there by anger, feare or madnes, rauyshed, and in maner 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 Citiezens, and there taried two dayes to prepare some small army, to accompany hym in hys iorney, but whē he perceyued that he coulde haue no hoste mete and conuenient to passe to London, thorough the middes of his enemies (as he was appoynted to do) he turned from Yorke to Lancaster, where he founde the lord Ha­stynges hys Chamberlayne, well accompanyed. He then with y^• 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 & y^e duke of Clarēce, had knowlege how the kyng by treason of them y^t they put in trust, was escaped their han­des, & that in one moment of tyme, all their long studyes and forcastes [Page] were brought to none effect or conclusion, they wexed angrye, & chafed without measure, & by and by callynge together all their chief frendes began to consult agayn, of new, & to enquire the estate of their enemies, to the entent that they might make a beginnyng of a new warre, which they coniectured to haue taken an ende when the kyng was brought in to captiuitie. The myndes of these Prynces were much satisfied, & their corage greatly kindeled, by reason that a great number of men hauing more pleasure in discord then in concord, louyng better stryfe then vni­tie, offered them selfes to beginne newe warre of their awne desire & re­quest. Kyng Edward toke euen lyke study for the warres as his enne­myes 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 affinitie, to the entent y^e ▪ all men might lede a more quiet lyfe, & lyue in more securitie & rest: for by the sedicious rebellinge of these persons, the state of the Realme was broughte 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 Cownes were made desolate and languished with famyn & 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 vexed and troubled many, but in especial y^• nobilitie muche lamented and pitied the state of the comminaltie which with all diligence rode betwene the kyng, the Erle and the Duke to re­consile thē eche to other, and to cōclude a perfect peace & amitie, requi­ring them rather more to remēber the benefites, that euerye of thē haue receyued of other, then to sette forth the vngratitude or iniury, whiche one hath done to the other, which is rather the occasion of discord, then the meane to come to amitie. Further, they exhorted theym rather to de­serue the loue of all men, by keping of peace & v [...]e, then by fightinge and intestine warre to destroy the Realme, and wynne the hatred & ma­lice of all the nacion: for as he is vnkynd and vnnaturall, that will not cherishe hys natural parentes and procreators, much more vnnatural and wicked are they, which will suffer their natyue coūtrey, beyng their common father and mother, by their contencion & stryfe to be brought to decay and vtter perdicion. The aucthoritie first of the nobilitie of the Realme, and secondarely their charitable mocion, so mytigated 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 & Erle, hauing perfight trust and cōfidēce, came both to Lō ­don, accompanied with to small a number of men, in comparison to the great dangier that they were in. And at Westmynster, the kyng, the Duke and the Erle had a longe communicacion together, [...]or 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 [Page CCiiij] or of olde ingratitudes receiued, that in a great furye, without any cō ­clusion they departed, the kyng to Canterbury, and the Duke and the Erle to Warwycke, where the Erle of Warwycke prepared a new host to ryse in Lyncolnshire, and made there of capitayne 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 feruētly hoped, that his aduersaryes wolde rather come to some honest condiciōs of cōcorde, then so temerariously and so sodaynly renouate the warre. And the more rumor y^t was sprede (contrary to his expectacion) of this new begonne battayll, the soner he gathered together an host for the resistence 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 vnto hym, which oftentymes he had excu­sed by syckenes and debilitie of his body. But when that excuse serued not, he thynkyng to purge him selfe sufficiently before the kynges pre­sence, toke with hym syr Thomas Dymocke, which had maried his sy­ster, and so together came to Londō. When he was come vp, his frēdes certefied hym that the kynge was with hym not a littell displeased, but highly discontented. Wherfore for verye feare, he with hys brother in law toke the sentuarie at Westmynster, entendynge there to abyde tyll the prynces Ire were somwhat asswaged and mitygate. Kyng Edward which thought to pacifie all thys besy tumulte, withoute anye farther bloudshed, promisyng 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 syr Robert hys sonne to leaue of the warre, and not to take the Erles parte. And in the meane season, he wyth hys army went forward towarde hys enemyes, hauynge with hym the lorde Welles, and syr Thomas Dymocke, and beynge not past two dayes iorney from Stāford, where hys enemyes had pytched their felde, had perfyt 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 reuenged in parte, cōtrary 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 of other, which shal put their confidēce in the promise of a prince. Whē 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 bothe perilous and doughtfull to fight with so great an armye, 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 [Page] 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 hys 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 runne away, and fled, and therfore this battayl is yet there called Losecote felde. [...] The kyng, glad of this victory, commaunded out of hand syr Robert Welles and diuers other, to be put to execuciō in the­same place. The fame was, that at this 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 houge host 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 ouerthrowen and vanquyshed: Although he might now be disco­raged, yet he thought it necessary to dissimule the cace, because oftenty­mes in battayles, vayn thinges be regarded before trew, and to thentēt to comfort certayn of his company (beyng in dispayre, and redy to flee) both in woorde and 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 coniuracion: whyche thynge when he coulde not bryng to passe, for the lord Stanley hadde aunswered him plainly, that he woulde neuer make warre against kīg Edwarde, he thought to spende no lenger tyme in waste, and mistru­styng that he was not able to mete with hys enemyes, he with the Du­ke of Clarence hys sonne in lawe, departed to Exceter, and there tary­enge a few dayes, and perceyuynge that all thynges lacked, whiche were apt and necessary for the warre, determined to sayle to kyng Loys the French kyng, to renew the familier acquayntaunce, whiche he had with hym when he was there of Ambassade, for the mariage of kynge Edward as you haue hard, hauyng a sure cōfidence and hope, either to haue a great ayde of the Frenche kyng, or els to incense hym earnestly to make battayll agaynst kyng Edwarde. And restyng vpon this opinion, they hyred shippes at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre, well ar­med, and at all poyntes trymmed and decked. And when wynde and wether serued theym, the Duke and the Erle with their wyues, and a great number of seruauntes, plucked vp the sayles, & toke their waye 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.

[Page CCv] WHen the erle of Warwicke thus fled out of England,The .ix. yere▪ the yere of our Lorde was iust .1470. and the yere of Kyng Edwardes reigne was then .ix. This sodain departyng of kyng Edwardes aduersaries, 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 hym, and presētly to behold his personage. For thei iudged that the Sunne was clerely taken from the worlde, when he was absent: In suche high estimaciō emongest the people, was his name, that neither no one manne, thei had in so muche honor, neither no one persone, thei so muche praised, or to the Cloudes so highly extol­led. What shall I saie? His onely name sounded, in euery song, in the mouthe of the common people, and his persone was represented with greate reuerence, when publique plaies, or open triumphes should bee [...]hewed, or set furthe abrode in the stretes: whiche hartie fauor, was the apparant occasion why his faccion and compaignie, within a fewe da­yes, merueilously increased and augmented. For the whiche cause, the kyng was vexed with a double mischief, for he doubted muche, whom he should moste feare of twoo, either the familier enemies abidyng at home, or the extrauagant fooes, lyngeryng beyonde the sea: But chiefly he prouided, but very [...]lackly, to withstande the erle of Warwickes lan­dyng. And first he wrote to Charles duke of Burgoyn, whiche had ma­ried the lady Margaret his suster, to helpe that therle nor his compai­gnie, should haue neither aide nor refuge, in any part of his, nor his frē ­des territories or dominions. These tidynges were ioyfull to the duke of Burgoyne, as to hym whiche (accordyng to the olde prouerbe) hated the erle of Warwicke, worse then the curre dogge, or serpent: partly, be­cause he was the ouerthrower and confounder, of the house of Lanca­stre, of the whiche, the erle was linially discended, by the duches his mo­ther partly because therle had suche high offices, and was so renoumed 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 his power and might, the conclusion of the mariage, be­twene the kynges suster and thesaid duke. But the chief rancor was, be­cause the erle of Warwicke, fauored the Frenche kyng, whom the duke loued not, for at his last beeyng in Fraunce, he promised the Frenche kyng to be frende to his frendes, and vtter enemie to his fooes and ad­uersaries. This roted hatered, and cankarde malice, whiche the Duke bare to the Erle, caused hym to attempte mo displeasures, and to inuent mo mischiefes against therle, then either kyng Edward could imagyn, or was of the Duke required (as you shall plainly perceiue, by the se­quele of this historie.

[Page]Now let vs speake of the erle of Warwickes doynges, whiche muste nedes plaie a pagtaunt in this enterlude, or els the plaie wer at apoynt. The erle as you haue hard before, sailed from Dartmouth toward Ca­leis▪ where he was capitain generall, and with a prosperous wynd came before the toune, in whiche fortresse was deputie for the erle, the Lorde Uaw [...]lere a Gascoyne, beside diuerse of therle of Warwickes seruaun­tes, whiche bare great offices and aucthorities in the toune. This Uaw clere, whether he did it by dissimulacion, or bearyng his good mynde to kyng Edward (as by the sequele hereof, I doubte whether he did or no) In stede of receiuyng of his master with triumphe, he bent and dischar­ged against hym, diuerse peces of ordinaunce, sendyng hym worde, that he should there take no lande. This nauie liyng thus before Caleis at ancre,The Duches of Clarēce de­liuered of a soonne vpon the sea, before the toune of Caleis. the duches of Clarence, was there deliuered of a faire sonne, whi­che child, therles deputie vnneth would suffre to be christened within y^e toune, nor without greate intreatie, would permit twoo flagons of wine to bee conueighed aborde, to the ladies liyng in the hauen. This was a greate rigor and extremitie, for the seruaunt to vse against the Master, or the inferior to vse against the superior, wherefore the erle hoped, and nothyng lesse mistrusted, then to be assured and purueyed in that place, whiche is the 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 of aide, of any of his seruauntes. The Kyng of Englande was quickely aduertised, of the refusall that Mōsire de Uaw [...]lere, made to his capitain therle of Warwicke, whiche manful doyng, so muche pleased the kyng, that incōtinent he made hym [...]hier capitain of the toune 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 (whiche would nedes haue an ower, in the erle of Warwickes boate) beyng ad­uertised also, of Monsire de Uawcleres refusall made of his Master, sent to hym his trustie seruaunt, Philip de Commines (whiche wrote al these doynges in a Chronicle) and gaue to hym yerely a thousand crou­nes in pencion, (a small reward God wotte, for so high a seruice, as vn­truly to kepe his Master from his office) praiyng and requiryng hym, to continue in truth and fidelitie, toward kyng Edward, as he had she­wed and begonne. The messenger founde hym so towarde and of suche conformitie, 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 thesaied Phillip de Commines sore mistrusted Monsire de Uawclere, 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 thinhabitantes of the toune, wer his enemies, the Lorde Duras the kynges Marshall, and all the retinue of the gar­rison wer his aduersaries: so that for a finall conclusion, his onely saue­garde [Page CCvi] and comforte, were to withdrawe hym and his compaignie into Fraunce, where he knewe he should bee highly receiued & better welco­med, & as for the toune of Calice, he should take no thought, for thesaid Monsire de Uawclere, promised thereof to make hym a good reconyng, when tyme and opportunitie should serue. This counsaill was profita­ble to the erle of Warwicke, but not to the kyng of Englande, and lesse pleasant to the duke of Burgoyn: which princes might very well thynk bothe the office of the Capitainship of Caleis, and the pēcion of the .M crounes (if it wer paied) on suche a depe dissimuler, 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 Uawclere, 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 netteled the duke, and cau­sed hym to prepare a strong and a greate armie on the sea, to take therle prisoner, as he returned homeward) & at the last with all his nauie and 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 kyng Lewes of his landyng and arriuall.

Kyng Lewes a greate ceason before, had so muche merueiled at the publique fame and common renoume, of the noble actes and high prowes, of the Erle of Warwike, that he thought nothyng might more pleasauntly happe, or chaunce towarde hym, then to haue a cause or occasion to hym ministered, wherby he might do the Erle some profite or pleasure. Whiche long lust accordyng to his desire, was now likely to take effecte, to his contentacion, and the erles greate commodi­tie: wherefore beyng ioyous of his landyng in France, he sent vnto hym certain Princes, whiche declared to hym on the Kynges behalf, that as the kyng had long tyme sought waies and meanes, how to do hym ple­sure, aide and comfort: So seyng that now the tyme was come, that the Erle had necessitie of all those thynges, he assured hym that he would neither forget hym, nor yet desist to do for him any thyng, whiche might be consonaunt to his louyng request, or frendly desire: requiryng hym with the duke his sonne in law, to take pein to come to his castle of Am­boys, set on the Riuer of Leyre: affirmyng y^•thei should neither lose their labor, nor thynke their iorney to haue euill successe in the conclusion.

When Duke Charles knewe that therle was landed in Normandie, he sent in all hast a Poste to Kyng 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 Clarēce, open enemies to kyng Ed­warde, his felowe, frende, and brother in lawe, and his perpetuall alye and trustie confederate, addyng therto sharpe woordes and minatorie saiynges, if he would in any case, be to them a refuge or succor.

The Frenche kyng did not onely contempne his proude wordes, and laughed at his manacyng and blode braggyng, but soberly answered, [Page] that without enfringyng of any league or treatie, he lawfully might & would helpe his frendes, and in especiall suche, whiche by their desertes, bee aboue other renoumed and extolled: Of whiche nombre, he affirmed therle of Warwicke to be one, whiche thyng if 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 certified 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 enemis: and of their coniuracion (which was the occasion that many fearyng themselfes, fled vnto San­ctuary) and many trustyng the kynges pardon, submitted and yelded theimself 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 hym, 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. Whē 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 delectacion, with the presence of his frende as he was accustomed to reioyse and bee ioyous, when he harde either laude or praise of hym in his absence: promised hym his power, his riches, and all thynges that he might or could doo, to helpe hym in his trouble, and to refreshe hym in his aduersitie.

When Quene Margarete, whiche soiorned with Duke Reyner her father, called kyng of Scicile. &c. Harde tell that the erle of Warwicke and the Duke of Clarence, had abandoned Englande, and wer come to the Frenche Courte: hopyng of newe comfort, with all diligence came to Amboyse, with her onely sonne Prince Edward. And with her came Ia­sper erle of Penbroke, and Ihon erle of Oxenford, whiche after diuerse long imprisonmentes lately escaped, fled out of Englande into Fraunce and came by fortune to this assemble. After that thei hadlong cōmoned, and debated diuerse matters, concernyng their suretie and wealthe, thei determined by meane of the Frenche kyng, to conclude a league and a treatie betwene 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 Warwicke, whiche Lady came with her mo­ther [Page CCvii] into Fraunce. This mariage semed very staunge to wise men, con­sideryng that 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 Clarence before had maried, which was euer extreme enemie to the house of Lancastre: wherevpon thei d [...]ned that the ma­riage of the Prince, should euer be a blot in the Dukes iye, or the mari­age of the Duke, a mote in the iye of the Prince, eche of them lokyng to be exalted, when therle on hym smiled: and eche of them again thinkyng to be ouer throwen, when the erle of hym lowred. After this mariage, the duke and therles toke a solempne othe, that thei 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 be gouernors and conseruators, of the publique wealthe, till suche tyme as the Prince were come to mannes estate, and of habilitie meete and conuenient, to take vpon hym so high a charge, and so greate a burden. There were many other condicions concluded, whiche bothe reason, & the weightines of so great a busines, required to be setforward

While these Lordes wer thus in the Frenche Courte, there landed at Caleis a damosell, belongyng to the Duches of Clarence (as she saied) whiche made Monsire de Uawclere beleue, that she was sent from kyng Edward to the erle of Warwicke, with a plain ouerture and declaraciō of peace. Of the whiche tidynges, Uawclere was very glad for the erles sake, whom he thought (by this peace) to bee restored to all his old pos­sessions, romes and dignities. But he was sore by this damosel deceiued for her message (as it after proued) was the beginnyng 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 discended) and to set vp a­gain the house of Lancastre, whiche lignage of the house of Yorke, was not only by the whole Parliament of the realme, declared to be the very and indubitate heires of the Kyngdome: but also kyng Henry the sixte and his bloud affirmed thesame, and therevpon made a composicion, whiche of record 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 extingishe all the house of Yorke, of whom the duke hymself was one, and next heire to the croune, after his eldest brother and his children. These reasons, and the ma­riage of the Prince to the Erles daughter, so sancke in the Dukes sto­macke, that he promised at his returne, 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 dampsell 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 [Page] the surer saile into Englande, he appoynted the Bastard of Burgoyn, Admirall of Fraunce with a greate nauie, to defende the [...] against the armie of the Duke of Burgoyne, whiche was stronger then bathe the Frenche kynges nauie, or the Englishe flete. Kyng Reyner also did help his daughter, to his smal power, with menne, and muni [...]ions of warre. When this armie (whiche was not small) was conscribed and come to­gether to Harflete, at the mouthe of the riuer of Seyne, expectyng wind and wether. The Erle of Warwicke receiued letters out of Englande, that men so muche daily and hourely, desired and wished so sore his ar­riuall and returne, that almoste all men were in harnesse, lokyng for his landyng: wherefore he was required to make 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 doo hym what seruice or pleasure, thei could or might: all this was the offer of the cōmon people. Beside this, diuerse noble men wrote, to help hym with mē, 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 suche an offre, and so many greate benefites to hym, euen at hande apparauntly proffered, fully de­termined with the Duke, and th [...] e [...]les of Oxenford and Penbroke (be­cause Quene Margaret and her sonne, were not fully yet furnished for suche a iorney) to go before with part of the nauie, and part of tharmie, and to attempt the first brunte of fortune and chaunce, whiche if it well succeded, then should Quene Margerete and her soonne, with the resi­due of the nauie and people followe into Englande. The Erle of War­wicke thynkyng this weightie matter, not worthy to be ly [...]gered, but to be accelerate with al diligence possible, takyng his leue of the Frēche kyng Lewes, geuyng hym no small thankes, bothe on the behal [...]e of kyng Henry, and also for his awne parte, and so beyng dismissed, came where his nauie laye at Anker, commaundyng his men to go on shippe borde myndyng to take his course toward Englande.

The Duke of Burgoyn whiche was not content, that therle of War­wicke and his compaignie, was succored and aided of the French kyng against his brother in lawe kyng Edward of Englande, to withstande that armie, and to take therle o [...] Warwicke 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 fight with therle of Warwicke, when he should set out of his harborowe.

Se the worke of God, thesame night before therle departed, ther rose suche a sodain wynde and a terrible tempest, that the dukes shippes wer scatered one from another, some drouned, some wether driuen into Scotlande, so that two of them wer not in compaignie together, in one place, In the mornyng next folowyng, the wether wexed faire, and the wynde [Page CCviij] prosperous, wherupō in hope of a bone voiage, the Erle and his com­pany halsed vp their sayles, and with good spede lāded at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre, from which place he passed into Fraūce, almost the .vj. monethe, last passed.

Before this tyme the duke of Burgoyne Charles, which more hated the Erle of Warwycke, 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 hys armye and power, and also certefied hym by hys trusty seruaūtes of the place, where the Erle 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 Erle from landyng, either to encoūtre wyth hym at the first arryuall, to the e [...]tent that his frēdes should not draw in hepes to hym for hys strength left all purueiance for defēce alone, & rode on huntyng, Hawkyng, and vsing all maner of pastimes, with Ladyes and Damosels, for his disport and solace that coulde be image­ned or inuented. When the erle of Warwycke had taken lāde, he made a Proclamation in the name of kyng Henry the .vi. vpon high paynes, commaunding and charging all men apt, or able to bere armour, to prepare them selfs to fight against Edward duke of Yorke, which contra­rye to al right, Iustice and law, had vntrewly vsurped the Croune and Imperial dignite of this realme. It is almost incredible to thinke how sone the fame of the erles landyng was blowen ouer, and thorow al the whole Realme, and how many thousand men of warre, at the very first tidinges 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 toke his way towarde London, where he iudged and faythfully beleued, to fynde more open frendes then priuie enemies, or cancard hartes.

When kyng Edward knew of the Erles landynge, and of the great repayre 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 hym to haue a vigylant eye to the sea, and so to se the stremes kept and scoured with his nauie, that the Erle 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 al his enemies and rebelles, within his awne Realme and countrey. This saiyng littel or nothing pleased the duke of Burgoynes messengers, 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 [Page] 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 fornyture 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 circūuent or trappe the erle of Warwycke, knowing perfitly 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 Warwycke, king Edward was much abashed with these new tidynges, and more and more his especials and explorators decla­red and accōpted to hym, that all the Realme was vp, and by open Proclamacion cōmaunded to make warre agaynst hym, as enemy to kynge Henry and the Realme, wherfore hys nere frendes aduised and admo­nished hym to flye ouer 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 knowlege, that some of the erles of Warwyckes power was within a halfe dayes iorney, and lesse of hys 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 & .ij. Hulkes of Hollād 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 shyp, without bagge or bagage, without clothe sacke, or male, and per­chaunce with a great purse, & littel treasure, for he nor his had no leyser to prouyde, according to their degrees & estates. The lord Chamber­layne taryed a whyle after exhortyng all hys acquayntance, that of ne­cessitie should tarye behynde, to shew them self openly as frēdes, to the parte aduerse for their awne sauegard, but hartely requiryng them pri­uelie to cōtinew 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 [Page CCix] .M.v.C.lxx. & in the .ix. yere of kynge Edward: When he with one smal shyp of hys awn, & .ii. Hulkes, & .vij. or .viij.C. persones, with him hauyng no rayment, but apparel for warre, & smal store of money, say­led toward Holland. At which tyme the Easterlynges were mortal ene­myes, aswell to the Englishmen as to the Frenche nacion, & had done y^e last yeres past much preiudice & domage to the Englishe marchantes, bothe in takyng and spoylyng of shyppes.

And as the kyng with sayle and ower was makynge his course as fast as coulde be possible the Easterlyuges, whiche had many shippes of warre on the sea, hym espied (accordyng to the olde prouerbe) one yll commeth neuer alone, and with .vii. or .viii. gallant shyppes, began to chace the kyng & his cōpany. 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 Alquemare, and there cast Ancker as nere the towne as was possible, because they coulde not enter the Hauen at an ebbyng water. The Easterlyn­ges also approched the Englishe shippe as nere as their great shyppes coulde come at the lowe water, entendynge 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 bene personally present in those parties.

O what a miserable chaunce & straūge lucke was this to happen so sodaynly to a kyng, and in especiall to such a kyng, as by his owne va­lyantnesse & prowes had ouercome his foes, & destroyed his enemyes in more then .v. or .vi. great & mortal battayles. Fyrst to be persecuted, exi­led, & expulsed hys awne Realme & kyngdom, by hys awne seruantes, subiectes and kynsmen. Secondarely, beyng destitute of all helpe and consolacion, flyeng to his onely frende & 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 dignitie royall) or els he had dyed prisoner in greate wretchednes & misery. These soure sauces he tasted as a penaunce for hys wanton liuyng, & negligent ouersey [...]g of thinges that he mighte well haue forsene & preuented, but his mynd was so geuen to pastyme, dalyaunce, & 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 thyng if he either had wel remēbred, 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 feare of the Easterlin­ges, was by good chaunce cōforted, & of his great perplexite releued, or [Page] 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, & also of the great ieopardy that he was in, prohibited firste the Easterlinges in no wyse on payne of death, to intermit or medle with any Englishmē which were both the dukes frendes & alies: which commaundement so vexed and troubled the Easterlinges, makyng sure reconynge to haue had for their pray & pryse, a Kyng, a Duke, diuers Barons & ryche gē ­telmen, that they cryed out of God, rayled & cursed the duke & hys offi­cer, and in a rage halsed vp theyr sailes, & without any more expectatiō 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 lād, offering hī his seruice with al pleasures that he coulde do or imagine to be done. The kynge hym hartely thanked, & was wel reuiued & cōforted with his wordes, & so he with al hys company were set on lande, & wel refreshed. The lord Gront [...]re, lyke a noble man, cōsideryng in what poore, estate & necessitie the kyng & his people were in, ministred to them habundantly all thinges conue­nient & necessary, accordyng to euery mans estate and degree, at the du­kes charge & cost. And after they had bene well refreshed & newly ap­parreyled, 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 Gronture, of all this aduenture wrote to the duke hys master, which there at, was at the fyrst so abasshed & amased to se y^• erle of Warwyke, whome he hated more then a Cocodrylle, to haue the vp­perhande of hys brother, that he had rather haue harde of kynge Ed­wardes death, then of hys discomfiture, & especially by the erle of Warwycke, whome he more feared & disdayned, then any one man liuynge, yet he willed the lord Gronture to se hym & hys company, wel entertey­ned at the Hage, 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, dyd to hym in hys extreme necessitie: & but by that meane vncurable extremitie, for his alyes & cōferates in Castell & Arragon, were to farre from hym, either spedely to flye to, or shortely to come fro with any ayde or armye. The French kyng was hys extreme enemye, and frende to kynge Henry, for whose cause in the kyng of Scottes (for all the leage betwene them) he did put littell confidence & lesse truste. The stedes & all Eastland were with hym at open warre, & yet by thys mariage, God prouided hym a place to flye to, bothe for refuge & for releue.

When the fame was spred of kynge Edwardes flyenge, innumera­ble people resorted to the erle of Warwycke to take his parte, but all kyng Edwardes trusty frendes went to diuers sentuaries, dayly lo­kyng, & howerly harkening, to heare of his health, & prosperous ret [...]r [...]e [Page CCx] who afterward serued hym manfully & truly. Emongest other, Quene Elizabeth hys wyfe, all moste desperate of all comfort, toke sentuarye at Westmynster, & their in great penurie forsakē of all her frendes,Kynge Ed­ward the .v. borne in sanc­tuary. was deliuered of a fayre sonne called Edwarde, which was with small pōpe lyke a pore mans chyld Christened & Baptised, the Godfathers beyng the Abbot & Pryor of Westmynster, & the godmother the lady Scrope.

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 counsayll of syr Geffray Gates, & other sentuary men, they brake vp the kynges Benche, & deliuered prisoners, which fell at Radclefe, Lymehouse, & sainct Katherynes to burnynge of houses, flaughter 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, & punyshed the offendors: whiche benefite by hym done, caused hym much more to be praysed & accepted emonges the commons then he was before. When he had setteled & put an order in all thinges, according as he thought most conuenient, Upō the .xij. daye of October he rode to the towre of London, whiche was to him without resistence deliuered, & there toke kyng Henry the vi. out of the warde, where he before was kept, & was brought to the kynges lod­gyng & there serued, accordyng to his degre. And the .xxv. daye of the 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 gase 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 veluet, through the hygh streates of London, too the cathedrall church of sainct Paule, the people on the right hand and on the left hand, reioysing & cryeng God saue the Kynge, as though all thyng had succeded as they would haue it, and when he had offered as k [...]nges vse to do, he was conueyed to the palleys of the bishop of Lon­don, and there kept hys housholde lyke a kynge.

Kyng Henry the .vi. thus readepted (by the meanes,Kyng Henry the .vi. agayne restored to his kyngly es [...]ate. onely of y^• erle of Warwycke) hys croune & dignitie Royall, in the yere of oure Lorde 1471. newly, after so many ouerthrowes beginnynge to reygne, lykely within short space to fall agayn, & to taste more of his accustomed cap­tiuitie & vsuall misery. This yll chaūce & misfortune, by many mēs opiniōs happened to hym, because he was a man of no great wit, suche as men comonly call an Innocent man, neither a foole, neither very wyse, whose study always was more to excell, other in Godly liuynge & ver­tuous example, then in worldly regiment, or temporall dominion, in so much, that in cōparison to the study & delectacion that he had to vertue and godlines, he littel regarded, but in manner despised al worldly po­wer & temporal authoritie, which syldome folow or seke after such per­sons, as frō them flye or disdayne to take them. But hys enemies ascri­bed [Page] 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 cōmon people allow and marueyll at, is often taken of them for a mad & vndiscrete person, but notwithstandyng the vulgare opiniō, he that foloweth, loueth and embraseth the contrary, doth proue bothe sad and wyse (verifieng 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, afferming that the kyngdome, whiche Henry the .iiij. hys grandfather wrongfully gat, and vniustly possessed agaynst kyng Ry­chard the .ii. & his heyres could not by very diuyne iustice, longe conty­new in that iniurious 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 hygh court of Parliament to begyn y^• xxvi. day of Nouember at Westmynster, in the whiche kyng Edwarde was declared a traytor to hys coūtrey, & vsurpor of y^• Realme, because he had vniustly taken on hym, the Croune & Scepter, & all hys good­des were cōfiscate & adiudged, forfayted: & lyke sentence was geuen a­gaynst all hys partakers & frēdes. 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 either in capti­uitie, or went at large vpon trust of their suerties, emongest whom lord Ihon Typtoft, erle of Worcester lieuetenant, for king Edward in Ire­land excercisinge there more extreme crueltie (as the fame wēt) then princely pitie, or charitable cōpassion & in especial on .ii. enfantes, being sonnes to the erle of Desmōd, was either for treason to him layed or malice agaynst hym conceyued, atteynted & behedded. Besyde this, all estatu­tes made by kyng Edward, were clerely reuoked, abrogated, and made frustrate. The Crounes of the realmes of England & Fraūce, 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 y^• sayd Crounes & dignities were entayled to George duke of Clarence, & to theyres males of hys bodye lawfully engendred, and farther the sayd Duke was by authoritie afo­resayd enabled to be next heyre to hys father, Richard duke of Yorke, & to take by discent from hym all hys landes, dignities & preheminences as though he had ben hys eldest sonne & heyre, at the tyme of his death. Iasper erle of Penbroke, and Ihon erle of Oxenford, and diuers other by kyng Edward attaynted, 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 commō 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 [Page CCxi] of the realme, and the publique wealth of thesame, wer newly altred and chaunged, yea, and in maner clerely trans [...]igured and transmuted. To this Parliament came the lorde Marques Montacute, excusyng hym­self that onely for feare of death, he declined to kyng Edwardes patte, whiche excuse was so accepted, that he obteined his pardon, whiche, af­ter was the destruccion, of hym and his brother: For if he had manfully and appartly taken kyng Edwardes parte, surely he beyng an open e­nemie, had muche 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 before knowen, do vs any hurt or preiudice.

Quene Margaret, after that the erle of Warwicke was sailed into Englande, euer forcastyng 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 husbandes 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, and the wynde so contrariant, that she was fain to take lande again, and defer her iorney till another season. Her e­nemies saied, that it was Goddes iuste prouision, that she whiche had been the occasion of so many battailes, and of so muche manslaughter in Englande, 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 Necromanciers: thus as mennes im­maginacions ranne, their toungues clacked.

In this season Iasper erle of Penbroke, went into Wales, to visite his Countie of Penbroke, where he found lorde Henry, sonne to his brother Edmond Erle of Richmond, hauyng not fully ten yeres of his age complete, whiche was kept in maner like a captiue: but well and hono­rably educated, and in all kynde of Ciuilitie brought vp, by the Lady Harbert, late wife to Willyam Erle of Penbroke, beheded at Banbery, as you before haue hard. This lorde Henry was he, that after kyng Ri­charde, brother to kyng Edwarde, was vanquished and ouerthrowen, obteined the Croune and regalitie of this Realme, whom wee ought to beleue, to bee sent from God, and of hym onely to bee prouided a kyng, for to extinguishe bothe the faccions and partes, of kyng Henry the .vi. and of kyng Edwarde the .iiii. (whiche had almoste brought the nobili­tie of this realme, to a finall destruccion and an vtter decaye) conside­ryng, that he once exalted to that dignitie, nothyng 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 mariage, with Lorde Henry sonne to Humfrey Duke of Buckyngham, and after to Thomas Stā ­ley erle of Darby, bothe beyng lustie, and of age mete for generaciō: yet afterward she brought furthe no more fruite, as though she had dooen [Page] her part sufficiently, for to haue borne one man child, and thesame to be a kyng. Iasper 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 London, to kyng Henry the sixte, whom, when the kyng had a good space by hymself, secretly beholden and marked, bothe his wit and his likely towardnes, he saied to suche princes, as were then with hym: Lo,This was Kyng Henry the seuent [...]. surely this is he, to whom bothe wee and our aduersaris leuyng the possession of all thynges, shall hereafter geue rome and place. So this holy man shewed before, the chaunce that should happen, that this erle Henry so ordeined by God, should in tyme to come (as he did in deede) haue and enioye the kyngdome and the whole rule of the realme.

As I haue shewed to you before, what thynges wer doen in Englāde after that kyng Henry had obteined the newe possession, of his old kyn­gdome, thynkyng surely to haue possessed, and enioyed thesame lenger season then either he did, or could by his aduersaries, bee permitted or suffered to do: so must I of congruent necessitie declare vnto you, what greate perplexitie, what sodain trouble, what multiplicitie of immagi­nacions, the landyng of kyng Edward in Friseland, brought to and en­combered with all, Charles Duke of Burgoyn: and how fraudulently for his awne auauntage he dissimuled, first with kyng Edward, and af­ter with his partie aduerse, and how that he openly denied aide to kyng Edwarde, 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 Uawclere, as he list hymself to be called, either chief Capitain of Caleis or els deputie Capitain, to the erle of Warwicke, whiche had promised to hym by the Duke, a pencion yerely of a thousande Crounes, to the in­tent to stande still true to kyng 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 the othe and promise of Mōsire de Uawclere: thought it necessary to knowe, in what case Caleis stode, and what mutaciōs wer there, because 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 kyng Edward or spake with hym) he sent his trustie counsailer Phillip de Commines, accompaignied with twoo gentle men to Caleis, whiche twoo gentlemē fauoredmore the partie of Lancastre then of Yorke. The lorde of Argē ­ton met with the people of the countrey of Bullenois, fliyng from euery parte like wylde dere. For the erle of Warwicke, had now lately sent to Caleis, foure hūdred archers on horsebacke, whiche forraied and spoy­led all the countrey of Bullenoys. The Dukes messengers, whiche had not sene so soda [...] mutacion of worldly thynges, durst not kepe on their iorney, but thesame night taried at Turnoham, and sent to Monsire de [Page CCxij] Uawclere for a saueconduite, and also wrote to the Duke, of the feare that thei were in. The Duke sent woorde to Phillip de Commes, that he and his with all spede, should passe toward Caleis, and if thei there wer taken, he would shortly for a raunsom, bye or redeme theim again. For he passed litle, either of the pein of his seruaūt, or of his charge and expence, so that his purpose might bee serued. When this woorde was brought to the messengers at Turnehan, at thesame tyme thei receiued a letter, from Monsire de Uawclere, with louyng wordes and gracious termes, declaryng that thei might safely come, and frely departe, as be­fore thei wer liberally accustomed: so that sir Phillip and his compai­gnions came to Caleis, without any meting or solempne entertainment contrary to tholde fashion that he had sene. Whē thei entered the toune thei might perceiue euery man, did were therle of Warwickes badge, & on euery dore wer set white Crosses, and ragged staues, with times and poyses, whiche purported the Frenche kyng, and the erle of Warwicke wer al one. These thynges semed very straunge, and nothyng pleasaunt to the Burgonions. The lorde Uawclere 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 came out of En­gland: suche is the mutacion of the cōmon people, like a rede with euery wind is agitable & flexible. While these Burgoniōs laie thus in Caleis thei had knowlege that therle of Warwicke had prepared .iiii.M. vali­aunt men to make frontier warre on the Dukes countreis, whereof by poste thei 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 Frenche kyng, whiche had taken from him certain tounes: and if he suc­coured kyng Edward, he was sure that with the Erle of Warwicke, he should haue no p [...]e: and if he lefte kyng Edward his confederate and alie, in the tyme of his tribulacion, discon [...]olate, and destitute of aid and succo [...]r, all the worlde of hym might speake shame, vnfaithfulnesse and dishonor. When the duke had well aduised this matter, he wrote to his messengers, that thei should require to haue the league made, betwene the twoo realmes, kept and obserued, with diuerse other priuie instruc­cions Phillip de Comines, beyng wise and well learned, declared to the counsaill of Cal [...]s, that the Duke his Master not alitle marueiled why the Englishemen should ouer runne, and destroye his Countreis, hauyng aleague in sure, so strong, and with so many wordes of efficacie enfor [...]ed, lately made betwene the twoo countreis, their territories and dominions, affermyng that the mutacion of the Prince, is no dissoluciō of the league: For although the Princes be named, as chief contractors in euery treatie and amitie concluded, yet the Countreis are bounden, and the subiectes shall make recompence, if any thynge bee altered [Page] wrongfully out of his course. And the rather to obtein their desire, thei caused all the merchauntes gooddes of Englande, beyng in the Dukes Countreis, to be attached for the redresse of the spoyle, that the English men had dooen in the Dukes Countrey. Whiche sore greued the Mer­chauntes, and muche hindered their voyages: beside this, the Merchā ­tes of the Staple of Caleis, wrote to the kyng, and to the erle of War­wicke: how, if their Wolle and fell at Caleis, were not sold and vttered, as it was wont to be (the greatest part wherof, was bought by the Du­kes subiectes and vassals for redy money) the souldiers of the garrison, should lacke their wages, the king should not be paied his custome, and the Merchaunt in conclusion should stande in aduenture, bothe of losse of stocke and credence. These perswasions mollified therle of Warwic­kes mynde, and especially, because the kyng had no greate store of mo­ney▪ to furnishe Caleis with al, which store if he had had, surely the duke of Burgoyne for all the league, had been a litle disturbed, and geuously molested. But consideryng that all thynges were not, correspondent at this tyme to therles appetite: he was content that it should be thus con­descended and agreed, that the alyaunce made betwene the Realme of Englande and the Dukes dominions, should still remain muiolated, sauyng in the stede of Edwarde, should bee put for the kyng, this name Henry. This conclusion thus brought to an ende, came (euen as a man would wishe) to passe, for the Duke of Burgoyns purpose, 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 bothe with Fraūce and England, he had been likely to haue been shor­tely a poore Duke, and els vtterly vndoen and brought to destruccion. And to pacifie and please the Erle of Warwicke, whom he neuer loued and lesse fauored: he wrote louyngly to hym, declaryng that as he was lineally descended, and naturally procreated, of the noble stocke and fa­milie of Lancaster, by his graund mother, beyng daughter to the high and mightie Prince Ihon of Gaunt, Duke of Lancastre: so was he by nature obliged, and by aliance enforsed to support, honor, maintein, and defend, thesaid noble house and lignage, duryng his life, as euer he hath doen, bothe in worde and deede, against all maner of persones and esta­tes: further more, promisyng to beare his good harte, louyng mind, and frendly fauor, 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 Duke hymself inwardly mynded, nor yet the erle outwardly beleued.

Now to returne to kyng Edward, beyng in the Duke of Burgoyns lande, whiche, although he wer 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 [Page CCxiii] messages of men of his faccion in Englande, to returne with all spede, promisyng hym compaignie and comforte. Many other there wer, whi­che either for feare of the rigor of the lawe, whiche thei had offended, or els disdainyng that the worlde was so altered: or els beyng brought in to kyng Edwardes fauor, had hope to excercise their pollyng romes, as thei did before his fliyng out of Englande, daily came to him from En­glande, and prouoked hym more and more, to take his iorney homward Kyng Edward in maner rauished with their golden promises, came to the Duke of Burgoyn, to the toune of Sent Poll, and there declared to hym what greate intelligence he had in the realme of Englad, and what assured frēdes he had in thesame, requiryng hym to aide hym with spede as his onely truste, and sole hope of relife was in hym, beyng not onely his brother in law, but eche beyng compaignion of others order: for the kyng ware the golden Flees, and the duke ware the Gartier. The duke of Somerset, whiche 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, affirmyng that it was both vngodly, vnprincely, and vnnaturall, to exalte and set vp a straunger, hauyng no right, and to depose and depriue his naturall kynsman, ha­uyng a iuste title discended to hym, from the kyng his father, & the kyng his grandfather, from his scepter and regalitie. Duke Charles was in a greate perplexitie, not knowyng well what to say, whether consangui­nitie should preuaile more, or affinitie, or nature before fauor, not wil­lyng if he might, to displease any of bothe the parties. But because the warre was ouert at his very nose, with the Frenche kyng: he concluded openly (but intendyng another thyng secretly) to aide the Duke of So­merset, and other that were with hym, takyng of them certain promises, for thynges to be doen against the erle of Warwicke: when thei should espie their time, moste propice and conuenient: The Duke of Somerset ioyous of these newes, sailed into Englande, and made report to Kyng Henry. Kyng Edward was presente, and heard all this determinacion, whiche brought hym into a great heauines, and a depe perplexitie: how beit, he was priuely aduertised by a frende, that these cloked dissimula­cions, were onely for this cause, that Duke Charles would in nowise, haue warre with bothe the realmes at once, and further, if thesaid duke were put to the worse, or vanquished by the Frenche kyng, then he were not able, neither to aide, nor to succor king Edward. Wherfore to blind with al the Frenche kyng, whiche sore desired, that the duke might haue warre with Englande: for then he knewe that his enterprise, were more then halfe gotten. The Duke declared openly, that he would in nowyse minister any succors to kyng Edward, streightly chargyng & commaū ­dyng, vpon pein of the harte, that no man should once passe the sea with hym, or in his armie. But al this proclamacion notwithstandyng when the duke saw that kyng Edward, vpō hope of his frendes, would nedes [Page] repaire into Englande again (he hauyng cōpassion of his vnfortunate chaunce, caused priuily to be deliuered to hym fiftie M. Florence, of the crosse of sainct Andrewe, and further caused foure greate shippes to bee appoynted for hym, in the hauen of Uere in Zelande, whiche is fre for al men to come to, and the Duke hired farther for hym .xiiii. shippes of the Esterlynges, well appoynted, and for the more suretie, toke bonde of thē to serue them truly, till he wer landed in Englande, and .xv. daies after. Of whiche returnyng, the Esterlynges were glad▪ trustyng that by that meane, if he obteined again the pos [...]ession of the realme, thei shoud the soner come to a concord and a peace, and to the rest [...]cion of their liber­ties and franchises, whiche thei claimed to haue within Englande. The Duke of Burgoyn as men reported, cared not muche on whose side the victory fell, sauyng for paim [...]t of his money. For he would oft saie, that he was frend to bothe partes, and eche parte was trendly to hym.

The .x. yere.The .x. yere.

KYng Edwarde beeyng thus furnished, thought nothyng more peinfull & wretched, then the tariyng of one daie len­ger, nor nothyng more to bee desired, then with all celerite to saile toward his countrey: whervpon hauyng with hym onely .ii.M. men of warre, beside mariners, in the spryng of the yere. In the yere of our Lorde .1461. at thesame very season, that the Duke of Burgoyn, went to fight with the Frenche kyng at Amias. He sailed into Englande,Kyng Ed­wardes lan­dyng. and came on the cost of Yorke shire, to a place called Rauenspurt, and there settyng all his men on lande, he consulted with his Capitaines, to knowe to what place, thei should first for succor resort vnto: for he imagined that no waie could be for hym sure, hauyng so small a compaignie of souldiours.

After long debatyng, it was concluded, that diuerse persones hauyng light horses, should skoure the countrey on euery side, to se if by any per­swasions, thei might allure the hartes of the rusticall and vplandishe people to take kyng Edwardes part, aud to were harnes in his querel: whiche, with all diligence, folowed their cōmission. It semeth somewhat to leane to the truthe, that kyng Edward beyng a wise and a circūspecte Prince▪ would not haue been so foolishe hardy, as to enter Englande with halfe a handfull of men of warre, excepte he had been sure of spedy succor, and faithfull frendship: In whiche argument is no doubte, but that the Duke of Clarence and he, were secretly agreed before, and that the Marques Montacute, had secretly procured his fauor, of whiche priuie signes and cloked workynges, open tokens, & manifest doynges, afterward appered. The light horsemen whiche were sent aboute, after thei had felte the myndes and ententes, of the rude people (as muche as thei might) thei returned to kyng Edward the nexte daie, makyng rela­cion that all the tounes rounde aboute, wer permanent and stiffe on the parte of kyng Henry, and could not bee remoued: and that it was but a [Page CCxv] folye farther to solicite or attempt them, considerynge that when they were moued and exhorted too bee trew too kynge Edwarde, not one man durste speke for feare of the Erle of Warwycke.

Which aunswere, when kynge Edwarde had perfitly digested, of very necessitie he chaunged hys purpose: for where before his clayme was to be restored to the croune and kyngdome of England, nowe he caused it to be published that he onely claymed the Duchie of Yorke, to y^e entent that in requyryng nothyng, but that which was bothe trew and honest, he might obtayne the more fauor of the common people. It was almost incredible to se what effect this new imaginacion (all thoughe it were but fayned) sorted and toke immediatly vpon the fyrst opening (Such a power hath Iustice euer emōgest all men) whē it was blowen abrode that kyng Edwardes desyre was farther from nothyng, then from the couetyng or desyre of the kyngdome and royall dominion, and that he no erthelye promocion desyred before hys iust patrimony, and lyn [...]all enheritance: All men moued with mercye and compassion, began out of hande either to fauor hym or els not to resist him, so that he mighte ob­teyne hys duchye of Yorke, when he had founde these meanes to pacifie 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 goyng toward Yorke, with all hast wrote to the Marques Montacute hys brother, whiche had lyen at the Castell of Pom­fret all the laste wynter, with a great company of Souldears, geuynge hym warnyng, and aduertesyng him in what perill their whole affay­res flode in, if their enemy should obtayne the possessiō, or entre into the citie of Yorke, willyng and commaunding him to set on kyng Edward with all expedicion, & byd him 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 take their iorney, he wrote to all the townes of Yorkeshyre, and to the citie also, commaundyng all men on the kynges behalfe, to be redy 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 commynge, when the citiezens were certefied, without delay they armed them selfe, and came to defende the gates, sendyng to hym two of the chiefest Aldermen of the citie, whiche ernestly admonished hym on their behalfe to come not one foote nerar, nor temerariouslye to enter in to so great a [...]eopardy, considering that they were fully determined, and bent to cōpell hym to retract with dēt of swourd, kyng Edward markyng well their message, was not a littell trobled and vnquieted in hys mynde, and driuen to seke the furthest poynt of hys wit, for he had both two mischeuous and perilous chaun­ces, euen before hys eyes, which were hard to be euaded or refelled, one [Page] was if he should go backe agayn, he feared lest the rurall and commen people for coueteousnes of pray, and spoyle, would fall on hym, as one that fled away for feare & [...]reade. The other was, if he shoulde procede any farther in hys iorney, then myght the citiezens of [...]orke issue out with all their power, and sodaynly circūuent hym and take hym, wher­fore 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^• citiezens, that he 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 recouer, he woulde neuer let passe out of hys memorie so great a benifite, and so frendly a gratui­tie to hym exhibited. And so with fayre wordes and flatterynge speche he dismissed the messengers, and with good spede he and hys folowed so quickly after, that they were almost at y^e gates as sone as the Ambassadors. The citiezens heryng hys good answere, that he ment, nor enten­dyng nothynge preiudiciall to kynge Henry, nor his royall 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 especialy to suche as were Aldermen, whome he called worshipfull, and by their proper names them saluted, after many fayre promises to them made, exhorted and desyred them that by their fauorable frendshyp, & frendly permissiō he might enter in to his awne towne, of the which he had both his name and title. Al the whole daye was consumed in doutfull communicacion and erne [...]t interlocution. The citiezens partely wōne by hys fayre wor­des, and partly by hope of hys large promises, fell to this pact & conuē ­cion, that if kyng Edward woulde swere to entertayne hys citiezens of Yorke after a gentell sorte & fa [...], yon, and here after to be obedient, and faythfull to all kyng Henryes commaundementes and preceptes, that then they woulde receyue hym in to their citie, & ayde and cōfort hym with money. Kyng Edward (whome the citiezens called onely duke of Yorke) beyng glad of this fortunate chaunce,Kyng Edwardes othe of o­bedience to kyng Henry [...] .vi. in the next mornyng, at y^• gate where he should enter, a Priest beyng redy to say masse, in y^• masse tyme receyuyng the body of our blessed Sauior, solemply swearyng to kepe and obserue the two Articles aboue mencioned, and agreed vpon, when it was far vnlike, that he either entended or purposed to obserue any of them, which plainly afterward was to all men manifest, euidētly perceyuyng, that he toke nomore studye or diligēce for any one earthly thyng▪ then he dyd to persecute king Henry, & to spoile him of his king­dome. So it is dayly sene that aswel princes, as men of lesser reputatiō led by blynd auarice and deuelish ambicion, forgettynge the scruple of conscience, & the ende of all honestie, vse, to take an othe by y^• immortal God, which they know perfitly, shalbe brokē & violate hereafter, before [Page CCxv] the othe be fyrst made or sworne: yet these persons (as examples thereof be not very straunge to fynde) at one tyme or other be worthely scorged for their periurie, in so much often tymes that the blot of suche offence of the parentes is punished in the sequele & posteritie: of this thynge I may fortune to speke more in the lyfe of Rycharde the .iij. as the cause shall arise where it may euidētly appeare, that the progeny of kyng Ed­ward scaped not vntouched for this open periurie.

When kyng Edward had appesed the citiezens, and that their fury was past, he entred in to the citie, & clerely forgettinge his othe, he first set a garrison of souldiers in the towne, to the entent y^• nothyng should be moued agaynst hym by the citezens, & after he gathered a great host, by reason of his money. Whē all thing was redy, according as he desy­red, because 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 Mō ­tagew with his army lay, and toke the way on the right hand, not fully iiii. myle from the cāpe of his enemyes. And whē he saw that they made no stirryng, nor once shewed thē selfe in sight, he returned in to y^• cōmen hygh way agayne, a littel beyonde their campe, and came sauely to the towne of Notingham, where came to him syr William Parre, syr Tho­mas a Borogh, syr Thomas Montgomerie, and diuers other of hys assured frendes with their aydes, which caused hym at the fyrst cōming to make Proclamacion in hys owne name, kyng Edward the .iiii. 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 apparently perceyue, that they were fraudulently seduced, and for their good wil vnhonestly (if it might be sayde) deluded and mocked. But when the fame was blowen abrode, y^• kyng Edward, without any detriment, was in sauetyme come to No­tyngham, Princes and noble men on all sydes began to fall to hym, fermely beleuyng, that either the Marques Montacute, beryng fauor too kyng Edwarde, woulde not once with hym encounter, or that he was a frayde to set ouer or to geue battayl, knowynge not to what parte hys souldiers would enclyne. But what soeuer the occasion was, the moste parte thought it more for their securitie and auantage of theim selfs, to take parte and ioyne with kyng Edward, beyng at all poyntes furnis­shed with men of warre, rather then to cleue to kyng Hēry, and to be al­wayes in ieopardy, both of lyfe and lande. Kyng Edward (as you can not 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 politiquely imagening to preuent their inuē cion, determined in great haste to remoue his whole army, hopyng su­rely, [Page] either to geue them battayle, either 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 peraduenture he should be by them, illaquiated & cōpased, knowinge that the duke was in nothyng constant, nor in one mynd long permanent.

In this very season to tell you how the erle of Warwycke 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 viguantlye prouided & politiquely forsene, for all thinges, y^e Marques neuerthelesse where the power 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 battayle to passe by: wherfore the erle consideryng that kyng Edward did dayly encrease hys power (as a runnyng ryuer by goyng more & more augmenteth) thought it moste necessary for hym, to geue him battayle with spede, and therupon accer­sed & called together hys army, and in all hast sent for the duke of Cla­rence, to ioyne with hym which had conscribed, & assembled together a great host about London. But when he perceiued that the duke lynge­red, & dyd all thinges negligētly, as though he were in doubt of warre or peace, he then began somwhat to suspect, that the duke was of hys bretherne corrupted & lately chaūged, and therfore without delay mar­ched forward toward Couentry, to thentent to set on hys enemyes. In the meane season, kyng Edward came to Warwycke, where he founde all the people departed, and from thence with al diligence auaūced 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 valiātly bad the erle battayle: which mis­trustyng that he should be deceaued by the duke of Clarēce (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, kyng Edward beynge also therof enformed, raysed hys campe, & made toward the duke. And lest that there might be thought some frau­de to be cloked betwene them, the kyng set hys battayles in an order as though he would fight without any lēger delay, the duke did likewise. Whē 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 fraternall amitie was conclu­ded and proclaymed, and then leuyng all armye and weapō a syde, both the bretherne louyngly embraced, and familierly commoned together. It was no meruayll that the duke of Clarēce, with so small persuasion and lesse exhortynge, turned from the erle of Warwyckes parte, for as you haue hard before, thys marchandyse was labored, conduyted and [Page CCxvi] concluded by a damsell, when the duke was in the French court, to the erles vtter 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 not withstandyng, it semeth that God dyd neither forgeue nor forget to punishe the duke with condigne pu­nishment, for violatyng and brekyng hys othe solempnely, and aduy­sedly taken and made to the erle of Warwycke, for God not many ye­res after, suffered hym lyke a periured person to dye a cruell & a straū ­ge death.

Then was it concluded emongest the .iij. brethern to attempte therle of Warwycke, if by any fayre meanes he might be recōsiled or any pro­mise allured to their parte: To whom the duke of Clarence sent diuers of hys secret frendes, first to excuse hym of the acte that he had done, se­condarely to requyre hym to take some good ende now, whyle he might with kyng Edward.

When the erle had hard paciently the dukes message, lord, howe he detested & accursed him, cryenge out on him, that he cōtrary to his othe promise & fidelitie, had shamfully turned his face from his confedera­tes & alies: But to the dukes messengers he gaue none other aunswere but this, that he had leuer be always lyke hym selfe, then lyke a false & a periured duk [...], and that he was fully determined neuer to leue warre tyll either he had lost hys awne naturall lyfe, or vtterly extinguished & put vnder his foes and enemyes.

From thence kyng Edward thus beyng furnished of a strong host, went without any maner of diffidēce or mistrust toward Lōdon (where after that it was knowen that the duke of Clarence was cōme to hys brethern, & that all they came together in one knot to the citie, suche a feare rose sodaynly emongest the citiezens, that they were dryuē to their wittes ende, not knowing either what to do or to say, but at y^• last very feare compelled them to take kyng Edwardes parte. The selfe same season, the erle of Warwycke sent letters to kyng Henry, to the duke of Somerset, tharchebishop of Yorke, & other of hys counsayll, that they should kepe the citie from their enemies handes, by the space of .ii. or .iii dayes after the comming of their enemies, and that he shortely woulde be at hande, with a puyssant armye. They as they were cōmaunded de­fended the citie strongly, but it was to small purpose, for the citiezens in thesame tyme began maturely to consult, what parte they should fo­low for their most indempnite: and in conclusion when they considered that kyng Henry was such an innocent person, as of hym self was not most apte to moderate and gouerne the publique wealth of the realme. And that on the other syde, kyng Edward by no other mens document, but onely by hys awne pollicie and wyt was wont to order the Realme and gouerne the kyngdome. And farther that kyng Edward was such a person as was able bothe to defende hym selfe and also all hys, from [Page] iniurie and hostilitie, wherupon all men were glad to leane to hym, and to take hys parte. They concluded to take hys parte & to recryue hym in to the citie: which determinacion beyng blowē abrode (as the nature of the people is euer to delyte in nouelties) the communaltie coulde not be compelled by no commaundement to tarye at home, but ranne in he­pes out of the citie, to mete hym, and saluted hym as their kyng and so­uereygne lord. When the duke of Somerset and other of kynge Hen­ryes frēdes, saw the world thus sodaynly chaunged, euery man fledde, and in hast shyfted for hym selfe, leuyng kyng Henry alone, as an host that should be sacrificed, in the Bishops palace of London, adioyning to Poules churche,Kyng [...] Henry the .vi. agayne taken and cō ­mitted to pry­son. not knowing of whom, nor what counsayll to aske, as he which with troble and aduersitie was clerely dulled and appal­led, in which place he was by kynge Edward taken, and agayne com­mitted to prison and captiuitie.

Thys was a sodayne chaunge, for thesame day, the Archebishop of Yorke to the entent that the people myght more fermely stycke on hys syde, caused hym to ryde about London, appareled in a gowne of blewe veluet, with a great company cryeng kyng Henry, kyng Henry (whiche sight asmuch pleased the citiezens as a fier paynted on the wall, war­med the olde woman) not knowynge that or nyght, hys tryumphynge shoulde be iorned to trymblynge, and hys solempnitie conuerted in to mournyng, such chaūce was to hym prouided. Kyng Edward returned to London agayn the .xi. daye of April, sixe monethes after that he had sayled in to Flaunders: and fyrste callynge before hym a greate assem­ble of people, hyghly commēded the fidelitie of the citiezens, which they constantly bare unto hym, rendryng to the Aldermen, most harty than­kes for that, that they had kept, and cuased the people to continew, and be permanent in their good myndes and loyaltie toward hym, blaming farther and rebukynge as well Marchaunt straungers, as Englishe­men, whome he knew to haue prested, and lente money to kynge Henry for the arrayenge and settynge forth of a new armye agaynst hym. But when he had greuously wyth terrible wordes declared to them theyr se­dicious cryme & trayterous offence, he had them be of good comforte, & to expell all feare, for he released to them bothe the punyshment of theyr bodyes, and losse of gooddes, and graunted to theim Pardon for theyr faultes and offences, by whiche gentell meane and easy indulgencie, he reconciled to hym the hartes of the whole multitude, obteyning that, by fayre and louynge wordes, whiche he coulde not haue acheued with sharpe strokes, and blody woundes.

Therle of Warwicke ponderyng, that the gain of the whole battaill stode in makyng haste, with all diligence, followed hisenemies, hopyng (that if thei wer let neuer so litle, with any stop or tariyng by the way) to fight with thē before thei should come to Lōdon: the which he thought, should be muche to his auauntage, cōsideryng that he perfightly knew the citee to bee destitute of men of warre for defence, and to haue no ma­ner [Page CCxvii] of municions, to set on the walles or towers, so that thei wer no able to abide a siege, and for that cause, euer thei inclined to the victorious and stronger parte. But when he followyng his enemies, had passed 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 depely considered, he sawe that al cauil­lacions of necessitie, wer now brought to this ende, that thei must be cō ­mitted to thasard and chaunce of one battaill, wherefore, he rested with his army, at the toune of sainct Albons, partly, to refreshe his souldiers and partly, to take counsaill what was best to dooe. In the erles armie wer Ihon Duke of Excester, Edmond Erle of Somerset, Ihon Erle of Oxenford, and Ihon Marques Montacute, whom the erle his brother well knewe, not to bee well mynded (but sore against his stomacke) to take parte with these Lordes, and therefore stode in a doubt, whether he at this tyme, might trust hym or no, but the fraternall loue betwene thē, washed awaie and diminished all suspicion: But what so euer opinion therle conceiued of hym or any other, the erle as a man past all feare, de­termined coragiously to sette on his enemies. And from sainct Albones, he remoued to a village in the meane waie, betwene London and sainct Albones called Barnet,Barnet felde 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 Erle of Warwicke pitched his feld, tariyng for his enemies. The rumor of the erles commyng, was spred in an instant ouer all London, whiche quic­kened kyng Edward not a litle, wherefore with all spede he adioyned 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 hym: Harnesse, weapons, horse, and all other engines, instrumentes mete for the warre, he neither forgatte, nor slackly furnished. What shall I saie more, he determined clerely to spende all his riches, yea, and all that he could imagyn vpon the chaunce of this battaill: Firmely beleuyng, that this conflict, should knit vp the knot of all his labor, and bryng hym to quietnes. So with a puyssaunt armie, he marched forwarde, and to put his people in vre, that thei might bee the more ready to fight, when so euer thei should en­coūter with their enemies, he deuided theim in foure partes. He brought with hym also kyng Henry the sixte, of all likelyhod for this intent, that either his aduersaries, seyng their kyng stande as a prisoner in captiui­tie, should bee abashed and discomfited by hym, or els if the fortune of the battaill should turne against hym, that then kyng Henry should be to hym, bothe a sauegard and a protecciō. On Easter eue at after noone he came to Barnet, and there not farre from his enemies, he encamped his army, and least his enemies should compel hym to fight that night, he enuironed his campe, with newe fortificacions and trenches: For ta­riyng that night, was to hym a synguler profite, and to his enemies a [Page] greate detriment: Consideryng the lenger he taried, the more people came to his aide, the more stronger was his power, and the stronger that his power was, so muche weaker was the part of 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 whiche, what for neighyng 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 sette his men in a raie, in this maner: In the right wyng, he set the Marques Montacute, and the Erle of Oxenford, 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 bee capitain. And when he had set his men in an order, he encoraged his men to fight, with many comfortable wor­des, willyng theim to strike with a good and a fierce corage, and to re­membre that thei fight, not onely for the libertie of the countrey, against a tiraunte, whiche wrongfully and against all right, had inuaded and subdued this realme, but thei fight in the querell of a true, and vndubi­tate kyng, against a cruell man, and a torcious vsurper, in the cause of a Godly, and a pitifull Prince, against an abhominable māqueller, and blou [...]y butcher: In the title of a gentle, liberall, and bountifull kyng, a­gainst an extreme nigard, and a coueteous extorcioner. In whiche cause being so good, so godly & so iust, God of very iustice must bedes be their shelde and defence. Kyng Edward likewise ordred his battailes. In the forward he set the duke of Gloucester, the middle ward, he hymself with the Duke of Clarence▪ hauyng with them kyng Henry, did rule and go­uerne, the lorde Hastynges led the rereward, and besides these three bat­tales, he kept a compaignie of freshe men in store, whiche did hym great pleasure, and this dooen, he encoraged his men, saiyng: that their aduer­saries wer onely traitors to the realme, spoylers of the pore commonal­tie, and people destitute of al grace, good fortune, & good liuyng. Whi­che mischeuous persones, if thei should preuaile through the faintnesse of your hartes, all you gentlemen and richmen, wer in ieoperdy of your lifes, all meane men in dounbt of robbyng and spoylyng: and all inferior persones, in hasard of perpetuall bondage andseruitude.

When the daie began to spryng, the trompettes blewe vp coragious­ly, and the battaill fiersly began, Archers firste shot, and bill men theim folowed▪ Kyng Edward hauyng the greater nomber of men, valiauntly set on his enemies. The erle on the otherside, remembryng his auncient fame and renoume, manfully withstode hym. This battaill on bothe si­des was sore fought & many slain, in whose romes succeded euer freshe and freshemen. In the meane season while all men were together by the cares, euer lokyng to whiche waie fortune would encline. The Erle of Warwicke after long fight, wisely did perceiue his men to be ouer pres­sed, with the multitude of his aduersaries: wherfore he caused newe men [Page CCxviij] to relief theim, that fought in the forward, by reason of whiche succors, kyng Edwardes parte gaue a litle backe (whiche was the cause that some lokers on, and no fighters, galoped to London, saiyng: that therle had wonne the feld) whiche thyng when kyng Edward did perceiue, he with all diligence, sent freshe men to their succors.

If the battaill wer fierce and dedly before, now it was crueller, more bloudy, more feruent and firie, and yet thei had fought from mornyng almoste to noone, without any part gettyng auauntage of other. Kyng Edward beyng wery of so long a conflict, and willyng to se an end, cau­sed a greate crewe of freshe men (whiche he had for this onely pollicie, kepte all daie in store) to set on their enemies, in maner beyng wery and fatigate: but although the erle sawe these newe succors, of freshe & newe men to netre the battaill, beyng nothyng afraied, but hopyng of the vi­ctory (knowyng perfitly that there was all kyng Edwardes power) cō ­forted his men beyng wery, sharpely quicknyng, and earnestly desiryng them with hardy stomackes, to bere out this last and finall brunt of the battaill, 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 regard to his wordes, he beyng a manne of a mynde inuincible, rushed into the middest of his enemies, where as he (auentured so farre from his awne compaignie, to kil and sley his aduersaries, that he could not be rescued) was in the middes of his enemies, strikē doune and slain. The marques Montacute, thynkyng to succor his brother, whiche he sawe was in greate ieoperdy, and yet in hope to obtein the victory, was likewise ouer throwen and slain. After the erle was ded, his parte fled and many were taken, but not one man of name, nor of nobilitie.

Some aucthors write, that this battaill was fought so nere hande, that kyng Edward was constrained to fight his awne person, & 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 ranke comfortyng his men, was now aduised by the Marques his bro­ther, to relynquishe his horse, and trie the extremitie by hande strokes, which if he had been on his horsebacke, might fortune to haue escaped.

This ende had Richard Neuell erle of Warwicke,The death of therle of war­wicke. whose stoutesto­macke, and inuincible corage, after so many straunge fortunes, and pe­rilous chaunces by hym 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 affeccions: but death did one thyng, that life could not do, for by death he had rest, peace, quietnes, and tranquillitie, whiche his life euer abhorred, and could not suffre nor abide. On bothe partes wer slain at this battaill, more then tenne .M. men. Of prisoners the nomber could not be certainly knowen: on the kynges part wer slain sir Humfrey Burchier, soonne to the Lorde Barnes, els no man of esti­macion. The occasion of this greate slaughter was, because that where kyng Edward was wont, after the battaill obteined, to crie: saue the cō ­mons, [Page] and kill the capitaines, now he spared theim not, because thei not onely so highly fauored therle of Warwicke, but also because thei came with the erle▪ against hym in battaill. After this feld ended, the Duke of Somerset, with Ihon erle of Oxenford, wer in all poste hast, fliyng to­warde Scotlande, but feryng the ieoperdies, that might chaunce in so long a iorney, altered their purpose, and turned into Wales, to Iasper erle of Penbroke: euery man fled whether his mynde serued hym. The duke of Excester with muche difficultie, escaped into Westminster dis­guised, and there toke Sanctuary. Kyng Edward after this victory, al though he wanne it not without greate effusion of bloud, aswell on his awne parte, as the parte of his enemies, was greatly reioysed and com­forted a [...]ter the maner of a victorious conqueroure, leadyng with hym kyng Henry like a captiue, in moste triumphant maner, on Easter daie at after noone, made his entery solempnly, into the citie of London, and at the Churche of sainct Paule, he offered his standerd, and rendered to almightie God for his greate victory, moste hūble and hartie thankes. The ded bodies of the erle and the Marques, were 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 thintēt that all men might euidently perceiue, that thei vnfainedly were dedde least perauēture 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 destruccion of therle, but he was more sorow [...]ull and do­lorus, for the death of the Marques, whom bothe he knewe and it appe­red to other, to be inwardly his faithfull frend: For whose onely sake he caused bothe their bodies, to bee with their auncesters, solempnly enter­red at the Priory of Bissain. In the meane season, quene Margaret ha­uyng knowlege, that all thynges in Englande, were now altered and brought into trouble and broyle, by reason of kyng Edwardes late re­turne into the realme: gathered together no small compaignie, of hardy and valiaunt souldiours, determined with all hast 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 muche 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 Erle of Warwicke 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 chaūce and the tyme, that in many yeres before, had been red or sene. When she harde all these miserable chaunces and misfortu­nes, so sodainly one in anothers necke, to haue taken their effect, she like [Page CCxix] a woman all dismaied for feare, fell to the ground, her harte was perced with sorowe, her speache was in maner passed, all her spirites were tor­mented with Malencoly. The calamitie and misery of her tyme, she de­tested and abhorred, her vnstable and contrariant fortune, 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 husbande, whiche 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 liue, and perauenture for this cause, that her interior iye sawe priuily, and gaue to her a secrete monicion of the greate calamities and aduersities, whi­che 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 and prouo­ker, yet she greately offended in that she concented thereto, and did not saue his life, when she rulyng all other, might conueniently haue staied and letted it. For surely he beyng a liue, and hauyng the moderaciō and gouernaunce of the common wealth, kyng Henry had neuer wauered 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 eleuate in aucthoritie, dooe mete and measure, Iustice and iniury, right and wrong, by high power, blynd aucthoritie, and vnbridled will.

But nowe to the purpose, when Quene Margarete sawe, that to bid battail was to no purpose, and in maner in dispaire, of the wealth of her self and her sonne: she with the Prince and her compaignie, departed to a Sainctuary there by, called Beauliew in Hamshire (where was a monastary of Monkes, of the ordre of Cisterciens) and registered her self and hers, as persones there priuileged. When it was knowen that she was landed, Edmond Duke of Somerset, with lorde Ihon his brother Thomas Courtney erle of Deuonshire, the whiche before euer toke the contrary part, whose sodain chaungyng, shortly turned to his awne confusion, Iasper Erle of Penbroke, Ihon Lorde Wenlocke (a man made onely by kyng Edward) and Ihon Longstrother, Prior of sainct Iho­nes in Englande, came in greate hast to Beaulew, and presented theim­selfes to the Quene: Although that she wer almoste drouned in sorowe, and plunged in pein, yet when she sawe and beheld, these noble and princely personages, to resort vnto her presence, she was somewhat comfor­ted, and greatly reuiued again.

And first, lest it should bee laied to her charge, that she had dooen any thyng misauisedly: she declared and shewed the cause, why she could not [Page] come to them in time, as she gladly would haue doen, and for what pur­pose and intent, she had then taken the i [...]unitie of Sanctuary: Bese­chyng them all to studie, and prouide with all diligence, for the wealthe and conseruacion, of her onely iuell the Prince her sonne, and where for this tyme, she dispaired to doo any thyng by force of armes, that might bee to her profite, she thought it moste conuenient for her (if the tyme of yere and her enemies, did not let or stop her) to saile 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 this vnfortunate quene: Thesaid Duke began with a long processe, to enter communicacion of warre to be renewed, and with all hast possible, and extreme diligence, least their com­paignie by tariyng might bee diminished, and kyng Edwardes power encreased and augmented, consideryng that all this tyme, he had no ar­mie gathered together, for so muche, that at the laste battaill, the very strength of his chief souldiours, was weaked and appalled: And that notwithstandyng, that fortune shone on hym, in obteinyng the vi­ctory against therle of Warwicke, yet now she might turne her saile on the otherside, causyng hym to tast eger vineger, as she before had geuen hym to drynke dilicate Ypocrace, when all men se daily, that of warlike affaires at the poynt, there happeneth not seldome tyme, sodain commu­tacions and vnloked variaunce: affirmyng farther, that the more nom­ber of the nobilitie, bare towarde kyng Henry her husbande, their good myndes and fixed hartes, and would help hym bothe with men and mo­ney. And of his awne free will, if she would take vpon her, the name of capitain agai [...]st her enemies, as she before that often tymes had enter­prised: he offered a greate power of able men, at his awne expence and charge, promisyng that the twoo erles, should assure her of a farre grea­ter nomber, of valiant and expert warriers, then she would esteme. And when he had shewed that, the victory was now (if thei liste) in their han­des, he merily required theim all, to bee of hardy harte and good chere, and because the matter, required great expedicion, he thought it not ne­cessary, farther to reason the cause of battaill, but determine out of hand how the battaill should be geuen and ordered.

The Quene whose mynde gaue her, that this mocion, should come to no good conclusion; answered: that she could well allowe this sentence, if she thought that there might happen, no greater losse to some other, 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 perell and ieoperdie: and therfore, she either thought it necessarie, to defer the battaill till another time, or ele to con­ueigh her sonne into Fraunce again, there to lye sure and secrete, till the [Page CCxx] chaunce of the first battayle were tried and assayed. And no marueyll, although the naturall mother, much mynded and studied for the saue­garde and tuycion of the lyfe of her sonne, ponderyng that next her hus­band, whome she reputed for clene vndone and vtterly coste awaye, she had nothyng more to be belo [...]ed, nothyng more derer, nor nothynge to be made more of.

Thus this prudent and politique Quene requyred the cheuetaynes expert in marciall feates, that they shoulde before hande premeditate with them selfes, maturely and deliberatly these thynges by her moued and after that done, if they thoughte it conuenient to 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 nede to waste anye more woordes for all they were determyned (while their lyues lasted) styll to kepe warre agaynste their enemyes, & therfore that thynge whiche with greate counsayll and deliberacion is cōcluded, ought to be auaunced and set forward with a whole consent and agrement.

Thus euery man together clerely bent and encouraged to y^e battayle gathered hys power by hym selfe. The duke thorough all hys domini­ons, raysed a chosen companye of men of warre: lykewise did the erle of Deuōshyre. The erle of Pēbroke wēt into Wales to his erledō to pre­pare hys people with all diligence. The quene, at the last was brought in to this hope of good fortune that she sayd, well be it, & so as the duke had aduised her, she with her 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 knowlege, mistrustyng left her consayl 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 dispatched certayn cu [...]rers on [...]ight horses, in to euery parte to se what number hys enemyes were, & what way they entended to take. The explorators, according to theyr instruccions, serched and soughte the partes by West, and made [...]elacion di­ligently at their retorne, what they had knowen and sent. The kynge beyng in a great agony, because he knewe not what waye his enemyes toke, determined, surely to encounter thē at some, one place before they came to London. And vpon this conclusion, with such an armye as he had gotten about London, he set forward into Oxford shyre, and there sekynge a place apt and mete to pytche hys tentes, was conducted to Abyndon, where he encamped hym selfe, cōmaunding all men appoyn­ted for the warre, with all celeritie to folow hym to that place. All the hynges 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 augmēt and encreace their nū ­ber [Page] of such, as dayly to them dyd resort, wherfore the kyng without de­lay remoued strayght to Marleborough, beyng distāt from Bathe .xv. miles, making haste and great diligence, if by any possibilitie he might to geue theim battayle before they diuerted in to Wales, whether he thought (as they entended in deed) that they would take their iorney to ioyne them 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 Ryuer Seuerne by Gloucester into Wales, whether she determined fyrst to go to augment her armye, and then without any de­lay with spere and shelde, coragiously to set on her enemyes, where so­euer they would abyde. They that were sent, retorned to, her agayn, de­claryng that the towne of Gloucester was vnder the obeisaunce of Ry­chard, duke of Gloucester the kynges brother, and that although they had sollicited the lord Beauchampe of Powike, which lay there in the Castell, and had the rule of the Towne, and the townesmen fyrst by re­wardesafter 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 cōfortably to the messengers. Whē she hard these newes, she shortly departed from Bristow with her army, to a pro­per towne on seuerne syde, called Tewkesburye, leuing Gloucester vn­assauted, lest peraduēture she might their spēd her tyme w^t much losse & littel gayne, but in her passage towarde Tewkesbury, the lord Beau­chāpe toke from her rereward, more ordinance then she might haue wel spared, which did to her no small preiudice. Whē the Quene was come to Tewkesbury, and knewe that kynge Edward folowed her with hys horsemen at the very backe, she was sore abashed, and wōderfully ama­sed and determined in her selfe, to flye in to Wales to Iasper erle of Pē broke: But the duke of Somerset, willyng in nowyse to flye backward for doughtes that he casted might chaūce by the way, determined there to tarye, to take such fortune as God should sende, beynge in his awne munde, and so fixed in a fayre parke, adioy [...]ynge to the towne, he pyt­ched hys 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 chaunce folowed. The duke of Somerset 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 battayle, determined there to se y^e final ende of his good or yl chaūce, 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 Prynce vnder [Page CCxxi] the cōduyte of the lord of sainct Ihons, & 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.

When all these battayles were thus ord [...]red and placyd,The battayll of Tewkesbury [...]. the Quene and her sonne prince Edward rode about the felde, encouragyng theyr souldiers, promising to them (if they did shew thē selfs valyāt against their enemyes) greate rewardes and hyghe promocions, innumerable gayn 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 come within a myle of Tewkesbury, put hys brother the duke of Gloucester in the forward, and hym selfe in the middelward, the lord Marques and the lord hastynges led the reregarde. The duke of Gloucester, which lacked no policye, valyantly with hys battayle assauted the trēche of the Quenes campe, whome the duke of Somerset with no lesse courage defended, the duke of Gloucester for a very politique purpose, with all hys men reculed backe. The duke of Somerset, perceiuing that: lyke a knight, more couragious then circū ­spect came out of his trenche, with his whole battayle, and folowed the chace, not doubtynge but the prince and the lorde Wenlocke, with the middelward had folowed iust at hys backe. But whether the lord Wē ­locke dissimuled the matter for kynge Edwardes sake, or whether hys harte serued hym not, still he stode lokyng on. The duke of Gloucester takynge the auantage that he auentured for, turned agayn face to face to the duke of Somersets battayl, which (nothynge lesse thinkyng on, then of the returne) were within a smal season, shamefully discomfited. The duke of Somerset, seyng hys vnfortunate chaunce returned to y^e middelward, where he seyng the lord Wenloke standynge still, after he had reuyled hym, and called him traytor, with his axe he strake y^e bray­nes out of his hedde. The duke of Glocester entered the trenche,A terrible stroke. & after hym the kyng, where after no lōg conflict, the Quenes part went almost all to wrecke, for the most parte were slayne. Some sledde for succor in the thyck of the parke, some in to y^e monastery, some in to other places. The Quene was foūde in her Chariot al most dead for sorow, y^e prince was apprehended and kepte close by syr Rychard Croftes: the duke of Somerset and the lord Prior of sainct Ihons, were by force taken pri­soners, and many other also. In the felde & chace were slaine lord Ihon of Somerset, the erle of Deuonshyre, syr Ihon Delues, syr Edwarde Hampden, syr Robert Wytyngham, and syr Ihon Lewkenor, and .iii. thousande other.

After the felde ended, kyng Edward made a Proclamatiō, that who so euer could bring prince Edward to hym alyue or dead, shoulde haue an annuitie of an .C.l. duryng his lyfe, and the Princes life to be saued, Syr Richard Croftes, a wyse and a valyaut knyght, nothing mistrus­ting the kynges former promyse, brought furth his prisoner prince Edward, beynge a goodly femenine & a well feautered yonge gentelman, [Page] when kynge Edward had well aduised, he demaunded of hym, howe he durst so presumptuously enter in to his Realme with banner displayed. The prince, beyng bold of stomacke & of a good courage, answered say­inge, to recouer my fathers kyngdome & enheritage, from his father & grandfather to [...]ym, and from him, after him, to me lyneally diuoluted. At which wordes kyng Edward sayd nothyng, but with his hād thrust hym from hym (or as some say, stroke him with his gauntlet) whom in­continent, they that stode about, whiche were George duke of Clarence Rychard duke of Gloucester, Thomas Marques Dorset, and Williā lord Hastynges, sodaynly murthered, & pitiously manquelled. The bit ternesse of which murder, some of the actors, after in their latter dayes t [...]sted and assayed by the very rod of Iustice 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 battayl that was 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.lxxi. then beyng Saterday. And on the Mon­day next ensuyng was Edmond duke of Somerset, Ihon Longstro­ther, Prior of sainct Ihons, syr Garuays Clyfton, syr Thomas Tres­sham, and, xii. other knyghtes and gentelmen behedded in the market place at Tewkes [...]ury.

Quene Margaret lyke a prisoner was brought to Londō,Quene Mar­garet brought prisoner too London. where she remayned tyll kyng Remer her father raūsomed her with money, which summe (as the Frenche wryters afferme) he borowed of kyng Lewes y^• xi. and because he was not of power nor abilitie to repaye so greate a dutie▪ he solde to the Frenche king & his heyres, the kyngdomes of Na­ples, and 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 Napels. After the raunsom payed, she was conueyed in to Fraunce with small honor, which with so great triumphe and honorable enter­teynmēt was w^t pōpe aboue al pryde, receyued into this Realme .xxviii yeres before. And where in the beginnynge of her tyme, she lyued like a Quene, in the middel she ruled like an empresse, toward thende she was vexed with troble, neuer quyet nor in peace, & in her very extreme age she passed her dayes in Fraunce, more lyke a death then a lyfe, languis­shyng and mornyng in continuall sorowe, not so much for her selfe and her husbande, whose ages were almost consumed and worne, but for the losse of prince Edward her sonne (whome she and her husband thought to leue, bothe ouerlyuer of their progenye, and also of their kyngdome) to whome in this lyfe nothyng coulde be either more displeasant or greuous.

After this battayl, kyng Edward rendered to God hys most hūble thākes, & caused publique processions to be with all deuout reuerence solemply, kept thre dayes together in euery Towne and Parishe. And when he had visited the townes and places, where hys enemyes assem­bled [Page CCxxij] 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 Faucōbridg the valyant capitayne, a man of no lesse corage then audacitie (who for his euell condiciōs 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 cōmocion. This bastard was before this tyme appoynted by the erle of Warwycke, to be Uice­admyrall of the sea, and had in charge so to kepe the passage betwene Douer and Caleys, that none which either fauored kynge Edward or hys frendes should escape, vntaken or vndrouned. And when by the death of the erle of Warwycke, he was broughte into pouertie, he rob­bed both on the sea & the lande, aswel hys enemyes as also his frendes: By reason wherof he gat together a great nauy of shippes, and spoiled on euery shyp, and at laste 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 wormes in their heddes, ioined them with him, saiyng that their commyng and quarell was to deliuer out of captiuitie Kyng Henry y^• vi. and to bryng hym to hys 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 Algate with the Essex mē, 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 backe the rebelles, and [...]lew and wounded a great number of them, and draue the bastard from al hys pray to his shyppes, lyeng at Radcleffe, which hauyng a good & prosperous wynde, 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 he at sondry and seuerall tymes (and not all a [...] one tyme) was persecuted & inuaded of his enemyes: for surely, at the tyme when the erle of Warwycke with his pytched armye was comyng toward London, if quene Margarete with her companye had takē lande (which enterprice she thryse in great ieopardy coragiously attempted) Then if she had set on behynd, whyle the erle of Warwycke gaue the onset before bothe at one moment, or if Edmond duke of Somerset had not geuen battayle at Tewkesburye, before Iasper erle of Penbroke was come with his trayne, or if bastard Fawconbridge had vexed the Londeners euen at y^• tyme: One or the o­ther of these .ij. thynges should consequently haue folowed, that kynge Edwarde muste of necessitie once agayne flye out of the Realme, or els [Page] 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 Faucōbridge, waueryng hither & thither in the doubfull surges of the sea, as sure of his lyfe on the water as on the lande, which either thynking that no man woulde se hym, or that al men were blynd, and coulde not espie hym (and especially in so secret a place) came into the open hauen of Southampton, and there toke lāde where he was not long vntaken, but shortlier behedded.

When Iasper erle of Pēbroke 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 warre as he was, bringyng to his cō ­federates, returned backe 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 conclusiō, not only destroyed and brought to nought al kyng Heryes estate, riches and preheminēce, but further had left all his frendes redy to tosse the waues of fortune, & to seke their lyuyng where thy might sauely get them, began to thinke and prouide what way was best to take.

Kyng Edward at this season, not beynge out of feare of the erle of Penbroke▪ sente priuely in too Wales, Roger Uaughan, 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 certayne frendes, how that watche was priuilie leyd for him, sodain­ly in thesame towne, toke Roger Uaughan, and without delay stroke of hys hed, so Thomas Uaughan, by Gods prouidēce, receyued the death hymselfe, which he by deceipt prepared for the other.

The erle in good hast departed thence to Penbroke, whome inconti­nent Morgan Thomas, by kyng Edwardes cōmaundemēt so strōgly beseged hym, and so enuyroned his Castell with a diche and a trenche, that he coulde not lightly flye or escape thence: but he was after eyghte dayes deliuered, and the seage raysed by hys faythfull and trusty fren­des Dauid Thomas, brother to the foresayd Morgan, and from thēce conueyed to Tynbye, a hauen towne in wales, where he getting conue­nient shyppes, for to transport hym and hys ouer the sea into Fraunce with hys nephew lord Henry erle of Rychemonde, and a few of hys fa­miliers toke shyp, and by fortunes leadyng, landed in Brytayne.

After hys arryuall, he fyrst went to duke Fraūces of Brytayne, and hym reuerently saluted, expoundyng to hym the cause, the cace, and the necessitie of their thether commyng, committyng the lyfes, the goodes and all the chaunces both of hym and hys nephew, whole to the dukes discrecion and ordinaunce. The duke receyued bothe the erles, with all benignitie, and shewed to thē no lesse honor, fauor and humanitie, with [Page CCxxiii] suche entertainment, then if thei had been his naturall brethren, and ge­uyng to theim his faithe, seriously made promise that beyng with hym, thei should sustein no maner of wrong, nor no iniurie should be to them by any creature offred: assuryng them, that thei might within his domi­nions, at all tymes, and in all places, go in safe and good suretie.

When Kyng Edwarde had appeased, by the meanes afore rehersed, his kyngdome and people, to the intent that there should insurge here­after, no newe commocion within the realme again: he made a iorney in­to Kente, and there sat in iudgement on suche, as in the last tumulteous busines, toke part with bastard Fauconbrige, where many wer (not vn­worthy) streightly punished & raunsomed, whiche busines once perfo [...] ­med, to thintent that all men might se apparantly, 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 Imperiall Croune, was now in the Tower of London,Kyng Henry the [...] in the [...]ower spoyled of his life, and all worldly felicitie, by Richard duke of Gloucester (as the constant fame ranne) whiche, to thintent that kyng Edward his brother, should be clere out of all secret suspicion of sodain inuasion, murthered thesaid kyng with a dagger. But whosoeuer was the manqueller of this holy man, it shall appere, that bothe the murthe­rer and the consenter, had condigne and not vndeserued punishement, for their bloudy stroke, and butcherly acte: and because thei had now no enemies risen, on whom thei might reuenge themself, as you shall here­after perceiue, thei exercised their crueltie, against their awne selfes: and with their proper bloud, embrued and polluted their awne handes and membres.

The ded corps of kyng Henry, with billes and gleues pompeously (if you call that a funerall pompe) was conueighed from the tower, to the Churche of saincte Paule, and there laied o [...] a beree, where it laie the space of one whole daie: and the nexte daie, without Prieste or Clarke, Torche or Taper, syngyng or saiyng, it was conueighed to the Mona­sterie of Chertesey, beyng distant from London .xv. mile, and there was buried, but after he was remoued to Winsore, and there in a new vawte newly 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 sonne, called Edwarde Prince of Wales.

Kyng Henry was of stature goodly,The discrip­ci [...]n of Kyng Henr [...] [...] of body slēder, to whiche propor­cion, al other mēbers wer correspondent: his face beautifull, in the whi­che continually was resident, the [...]ountie of mynde, with whiche, he was inwardly endued. He did abhorre of his awne 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 knower of euill, and a keper of all goodnes: a dispiser of all thynges, whiche bee wonte to cause, the myndes of mortall menne to slide, fall, or appaire. Beside this, pacience [Page] was so [...]adicate in his harte, that of all the iniuries to hym committed, (whiche wer no small nombre) he neuer asked vengeaunce nor punishe­ment, but for that, rendered to almightie God, his creator, hartie than­kes, thynkyng that by this trouble, and aduersitie, his synnes were to hym forgotten and forgeuen. What shal I saie, that this good, this gē ­tle, this meke, this sober, and wisman, did declare and affirme, that those mischiefes and miseries, partly, came to hym for his awne offence, and partly, for the hepyng of synne vpon sinne, wretchedly by his aunceters and forfathers: wherefore he litle or nothyng estemed, or in anywise did turment or macerate hymself, what so euer dignitie, what honor, what state of life, what child, what frend he had lost, or missed, but if it did but sound an offence toward God, he loked on that, and not without repen­taunce, both mourned and sorowed for it: these and other like offices of holynes, caused God to worke miracles for hym, in his life tyme, (as old menne saied). By reason whereof, kyng Henry the seuenth, not without cause, s [...]ed to Iuly Bushop of Rome, to haue hym canonized, as other sainctes be: but the fees of canonizyng of a Kyng, [...] wer of so great a quā ­titie at Rome (more then the canonisyng of a Bushoppe or a prelate, al­though he satte in sain [...]te Peters Cheire) that thesaied kyng thought it more necessary, to kepe his money at home, for the profite of his realme and countrey, rather then to empouetishe his kingdom, for the gainyng of a newe holy daie of sainct Henry: remittyng to God, the iudgement of his will and intent. This kyng Henry, was of a liberall mynde, and es­pecially, to suche as loued good learnyng, and them whom he sawe pro­fite, in any verteous science, he hartely fauored and embraced, wherfore [...] holpe his awne young scholers, to attein 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 [...]rankely and frely taught, the eruditamētes and rules of Grammer. Beside this, be edefied a Princely Colege, in the Uniuersitie of Cambrige, called the kynges Colege, for the further erudicion, of suche as wer brought vp in Eton, whiche, at this daie to florisheth, in all kyndes, as well of littera­ture, as of toungues, that aboue all other, it is worthy to bee called, the Prince of Coleges.

The .xi. yere.The .xi. yere.

NOw to returne to Kyng Edwarde, whiche was releued of [...]he moste part, of his prickyng feare, and inward suspiciō, 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 leuynges, of his enemies parte, intendyng to represse, and vtterly to extinguishe theim. And first to begyn with all, he sent George Neuell, brother to the erle of Warwicke, and Archbushoppe of Yorke, vnder strong conduite, to the [Page CCxxiiii] Castle of Guysnes, there to be kept in extreme captiuitie, where he 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 hym Thomas Rotheram, in the sea of Yorke, did ordi­narily succede. Beside this, Ihon Erle of Oxenford, whiche after Bar­net feld, bothe manfully gat, and valiantly kept, sainct Mighels Moūt in Cornewal: either for lacke of aide, or perswaded by his frendes, gaue vp the Mount, and yelded hymself to kyng Edward, (his life onely sa­ued) whiche to hym was graunted: but to 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 litle or nothyng suspected: wer either committed to prison, or greuosly 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 Iames the .iii. kyng of Scot­tes, for the terme of .xx. yeres. And yet, whatsoeuer he thought in his I­maginacion, for all his besy diuises, and pollitique forcastynges: his mynd and phantesie, wer not clere exonerate and dispatched, of all feare and inward trouble: For tidynges wer brought to hym, that the erles of Penbroke and Richemond, were arriued in Britayne: and there of the Duke, highly cherished, well fostered and entertained.

¶The .xii. yere.The .xii. yere.

THis thyng nipped kyng Edwarde hardly at the verie sto­macke, as though his mynd, castyng some euill to come af­ter: did signifie before, that the Erle of Richemond, should once attein to the Croune and diademe of the realme: whi­che mischief, when he had wel disgested, he secretly sent wise and close messengers, to the Duke of Brytayne, the whiche 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 possession. 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 entertain 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 whom, he was bounde and obliged, by his faithe and promise: but this he promised to dooe for the kynges pleasure, that thei should be kept, and with suche vigilant persones, continually wat­ched, that the kyng should haue no maner of cause, once to thynke, that thei could or should attempt any thyng, that might sounde, either to his displeasure or preiudice. When the messengers sawe, that thei could not obtein, that whiche thei desired, like wisemen held themselfes contented with that, whiche by the duke was offered, & so returned into England. [Page] The kyng wrote to the Duke of Britayne, louyngly requiryng hym, to accomplishe with all spede, that, whiche he of his awne mocion offered, promisyng hym not onely, menne and greate rewardes, but yerely to re­warde hym, with a full hande, and a well stuffed purse. The Duke per­ceiuyng the swete gain, whiche rose to hym, by the abode of the two En­glishe Erles▪ in his Countrey: least thei for any cause, should abandon his dominions, and seke succors in some other forrein Region, caused the one, to be segregated from the other: and remoued from theim suche Englishemen, as wer daily on them attendant and came with theim in­to Britayn, and in their places appoynted Britons, to be their seruitors to minister, and continually to attend and waite on theim.

When kyng Edward had thus pollitiquely, as he thought, compas­sed the Duke of Britayne: he thynkyng nothyng lesse, then to take a da­mage at the Duke of Burgoynes hand, yea, and suche a damage, as by all [...]imil [...]tude, was bothe like, continually to greue and vexe the realme of Englande: and farther to be an occasion, of a common s [...]op, and put­tyng backe of the commodities, growen within this realme, to be trans­ported into outward partes North Estward, was yet eft sones, brought into a newe doubte and perplexitie. For the declaracion whereof, you muste vnderitande, that Lewes the Frenche kyng, had a brother called Charles, whiche was not the wisest, nor yet a man of the greatest experi­ence: and of a certain curtesie, loued better to haue other menne to rule hym, then he to take vpō hym to rule other. And although that the kyng at this tyme, had no soonne, nor other brother, but hym, his open heire apparant: he litle fauored, and [...]esse loued hym, nothyng geuyng hym of his good will, for his part and porciō, of his fathers landes, but that, to the whiche he was cōpelled 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 seruauntes, 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 geuē, on y^• partie of yong Charles. And when thesaid Charles, had afterward departed, with the coun­treys of Brye & Champaigne, by a fraudulent feate: kyng Lewes cau­sed hym to [...]elinquishe thesame, & to take for his parētage, the duchie of Guyen, & so was called & named the duke of Guyen. This euil entrea­ting of the duke of Guyen, by the Frēch 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 Burgoyn, Fraun­ces duke of Britayn, & Lewes Erle of sent Poll, Con [...]able of Fraunce. This Duke of Guyen, by the sollicityng of his adherentes, sore labored to haue in mariage, the sole daughter and onely heire, of Charles duke of Burgoyne, by whom he hoped to be lorde and souereigne, of all duke Charles inheritauuce. To the furtheraunce of this mariage, holpe with all his power, the Duke of Britayn, as who saied, that it should be one­ly [Page CCxxv] his acte. 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 Frenche kyng 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 he sawe well inough, that the Duke of Guyen, beyng ioyned with the Duke of Britayne, should bee strong inough, or at the least of puyssaunce inough, to encomber the Frenche kyng and his children. But kyng Edwarde of Englande, sore smoked, when he hard tell first of this mariage, and not without a cause: For he considered, that the Frēche kyng had no heire maile, but one weake boy and that the Duke of Guyen, was likely to were the Croune of Fraūce, after his brother or nephewe. And if this ma [...]age should procede, all Burgoyn, Brabant, Holand, Zeland, Flaunders, and all the lowe coun­treys, where the Englishe men, for the moste parte, made their martes, and vttered their their merchaundise, should be vnited and annexed, to the Croune of Fraunce, and in the handes of the old, and auncient ene­mies of the realme: For so had poore England, and litle Caleis, been cō ­tinually in the daunger of their enemes, almoste with theim enui [...]oned rounde aboute. These thinges considered, kyng Edward and his coun­saill, tooke the matter in greate earnest, and seriously wrote to Duke Charles, that if he would conculde, any mariage in Fraunce, to the hurt and preiudice, of the realme of Englande▪ that he should knowe that he had, not onely broken his league and amitie, but also finde, 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 nowise would geue credite thereto: euer surmising that the mariage should take [...]ffect. And certainly at this sea­son, the Englishemen had rather haue taken part, with the French kyng 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, & incōclusion himself. He promised his daughter, to Nicholas Duke of Calaber, with whō, he had rather haue had her buried, then [...]edded. Duke Philbert of Sauoy, had an out­ward answere assuredly, when nothyng was so mynded inwardly. Ma­ximilian Duke of Austrice, and after kyng of Romaines, soonne to the Emperor Fredericke, could neuer obtein, duryng the life of duke Char­les, but onely glosyng and painted promises: but all wordes, writynges and promises, what so euer thei wer, clerely set a side, he was surely fixed and determined (as Argēton his counsailer doth write) that no mariage as long as he liued, should sort to any effecte, at the least by his consent.

Now lette vs leue the Duke of Burgoyne, aboute his affaires for a [Page] while, and returne to kyng Edward: which, in the .xiii. yere of his reigne called his high Courte of Parliament, at his Palace of [...] in the whiche, alt lawes and ordinaunces, made by hym [...] that daie were corroberated and confirmed: and suche Lawes made [...] hym, as kyng Henry the [...], had caused to be abrogated and an [...] he a­gain reuiued and renouated. He made farther lawes, [...] the con­fiscacion of the goodes of the rebelles, to his persone, as [...] for resto­ryng of suche▪ as fled out of the realme, for his quere [...] occasiō: whi­che, by his aduersaries, as traitors to their Kyng and Countr [...]y, a litle before, wer of high [...]reason attainted, and to death cōdemp [...] Toward his charges of late suste [...]ed, a competent some of money was demaun­ded, and frankely graunted: and inconclusion, all inward g [...]dges and open discordes, the whiche had of long continued, in the hartes of the nobilitie, whiche, now wer very fewe (the more parte beyng consumed in the warres) he clerely extirped, and brought to vnitie and cōcorde. Kyng Edwarde holpe to this agrement, as muche as in hym laie: And to the intent that other men, should forget iniu [...]ies to theim dooen, and put a­waie all rancor and malice: followyng his good and Godly example, he clerely pardoned almoste all offences, and all menne then beyng within the Realme, he frankely discharged, although thei had taken parte with his aduersaries against hym, of all high treasons and crimes.

¶The .x [...]ii. yere.The .xiii. yere.

WHile kyng Edwarde was thus settyng an ordre, and pa­cifiyng all thynges, whiche were out of square: Charles duke of Burgoyn, whose spirite was neuer in quiet, whose ambicious mynde, was neuer satisfied, whose haute and high stomacke, could neuer be tamed, (till death it swaged and abated) desiryng aswell to amplify, and enlarge his territories and dominiōs, 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 aboue all thynges, couetyng to haue the Frēche kyng, to haue some greate 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 of Englande, by his ambassadors, to make warre v­pon thesaied kyng and his countrey: for the recoueryng of his old right and auncient title in thesame, by the Frenche kyng & his father, against all right and equitie, with holden and deteig [...]ed. Kyng Edward began a litle to harken on that side, not so muche 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 Erle of Warwicke and his complices, against hym: secondarely, for the long mainteinyng, and fosteryng of Quene Margarete, and her soonne [Page CCxxvi] prince Edwarde (whome for a farther affinitie, he had made Godfather to hys sonne Charles the Doulphyn) within his coūtreys & dominiōs. 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 Fraūce, either for hope of great spoy­le and gayne, or of a certayne priuie canker engendered in the hartes of their forefathers, in tyme long past, and after by lyneall succession des­cended in to the stomackes of their nephewes) he aunswered the Dukes messenger, that in the beginnyng of the yere, he would lande at Caleys with such a puissant 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 thys season there was mortal warre betwene king Lewes and the duke of Borgoyne. And more likely to fal betwene him and other, for kyng Lewes, of nature was hard of speche, and chorlish in answere, froward and vngentell aswel to hys frendes as to his foes. By reason whereof many great men within the realme of Fraunce, not content with his grosse rudenesse, and rude diss [...]ulaciō began to haue intelligens, and to cleue to the duke of Borgoyn, 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, clere altered from his olde qualities, or els should be in ieopardye, bothe of losse of lyue & realme, for it was determined that Fraunce shoulde bee set on assaulted, bothe with outward enemyes, and inward diss [...]ulers. All these thynges the duke of Borgoyne with kyng Edward, dyd communicate to the entent the soner to allure and prouoke hym, 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 expedicion prepared all thynges necessarie, bothe 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 hym auaunced by the realme, was consumed in hys houshold, and other necessarye af­fayres, he conceyued a new deuice in hys imaginacion, by the which en­gine he might couertly perswade and entice hys ryche frendes, to geue and graunt him some conuenient summe of money, toward his ine [...]able charges, and incredible costes, which thing, if they did not willingly as­sent to, he then would impute to thē greater ingratitude, and more vn­kyndnes, wherupon he caused hys officers to bryng to him the most ry­che persons one after another. And to them he explaned the cause, & the purpose, and the necessitie of the warre begon, and the fayntnesse & leue­nesse of hys treasure, and the great & importion lacke of money, hartely requyring them for their loue and affeccion, that always they had born to hym, beyng their natural Prince, of their awne gratuitie and frewill [Page] to geue to hym some ayde or money, for mayntenance of his warre and army: what should I say more: This inuencion came to this effect, that some calling to their remembraūce, the benefites of hym receyued, some with shame, some with feare moued and encouraged, gaue to hym libe­rally bothe of their substaūce and treasure, whiche without grudge he coulde not haue otherwise obteyned. But here I wil not let passe a pre­ty conceyt, that happened in this gathering, in the which you shall not onely note the humilitie of a kynge, but more the fantasie of woman. Kyng Edward had called before hym a wydow, muche aboundynge in substance, and no lesse growen in yeres, of whome he merely demaunded what she gladly woulde geue him towarde his greate charges? By my treuth quod she, for thy louely countenance thou shalt haue euen .xx.l. the kyng lokyng scace for the halfe of that summe, thanked her, and lo­uingly kyst her, whether the flauor of his brethe did so cōfort her stom­macke, or she estemed the kysse of a kynge, so precious a iuell, she swore incontinently, that he should haue .xx.l. more, whiche she with the same will payed that she offered it. The kyng willing to shew that this bene­fite was to hym much acceptable, and not worthy to be put in obliuion called this graunt of money a beneuolence, not withstāding that many with grudge & maleuolēce gaue great summes toward that new foūde beneuolence: But the vsing of such gētill 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 x [...]iii yere.The [...] yere

WHen all thynges conuenient for suche an enterprise were in a redynesse. Kynge Edwarde with his army remoued to Douer, where he founde .v.C. shyppes and Hoyes, redy to transport hym & hys army ouer the sea: And so he hym selfe w^t his nobilitie warlikely accōpaignied, passed ouer betwene Douer & Caleys, the .iiij. daye of Iuly, and landed at Caleys wyth great triumphe, hys army, horses and munycons of warre, scace passed ouer in .xx. dayes (whome the Frenchmen bragged, should haue ben ta­ken, if they had wel considered the chaūce 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 degre, to be ordered & lodged. This armye, by the wrytinge of Argenton, was the fayrest and the strongest armye that passed out of Englande in too Fraunce many yeres before, for the men were so well armed, and so su­rely in all thynges appoynted & prouided, that the Frenche naciō were not onely amased to behold them, but much more praysed them & there oder. In thys 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 [Page CCxxvii] 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 vp Tentes and Pauilions (where of the Englishmē 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 kyng of England was at his arryuall highly displeased wyth the duke of Borgoyn, which in the worde of a Prince, promised hym to mete him at his landing with .ij.M. men of armes & light horsemē, be­syde a great number of Lanceknightes & Halberders, & that he would haue begonne the warre .iii. monethes before the kynges transportyng, the more to vex and greaue the Frēch kyng, & to cause him seke his wit­tes. The duke of Borgoyn at this season, lay at seage before the strōge towne of Nuyce, with a puissant army, agaynst whome ware assembled the Emperor Frederike, and almost the whole Empire for to rescow of the towne, to whome the kyng of England sent the lord Scales in post, requyring hym 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, whome we wil leue, rydinge toward Nuyce for a whyle.

O Fraunce Fraūce, how much art thou bounde to laude & prayse the Sauior for the deliuerance, in the tyme of thy afflicciō. For i [...] God had not permitted the cancard hart of the duke, to be indurate, nor his weke brayne to be vexed, nor yet his ambicious affeccion 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 wauering Goddes, had prouided for her punishment. Before 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 neuer geuen 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 Frēch king to render to the king of Eng­lande, the realme of Fraunce to him of right, & by lyneall enheritaunce aperteyning & belonging, to thentēt that he might put agayn y^• church, the nobilitie, and the commons into their auncient estates, & liberties, & to disburdē & exonerate 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 & maner, that in suche a case is requise and accustumed to be done. Kyng Lewes red the letter secretly to him selfe, & after all alone in a great study withdrew him self [Page] into hys warderobe, & sending for the English Herault, sayd to h [...]m, syr I know, and wel wot, y^• the kyng of Englād your master, is neither des­cended in these partes of his awne fre mocion, nor yet of vs requyred, but onely entised & prouoked by the duke of Burgoyn, and somewhat enforced by the cōmons of his Realme. But now you may se that y^• sea­son of the yere passeth, & the duke of Burgoyn is in poore estate, retur­ning from Nuyce all most discōforted. The Cōstable also, with whome the kyng your souereygne lord, I am sure hath some intelligence, for fauor that your master hath maried his nece, is not so sure a [...]rende 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 mē for his awn profit. And although y^• kyng your master, be vnsure of all hys other promises, yet of one thing he shall be sure, that is, he shal be euer dissimuled with all, & therfore I say to you, and not to your master, y^• he were better haue a peace with an olde enemye, then the promises and familiaritie of a new dissimuling frede, which peace most pleaseth God, and is the thinge that I most do desyre. When he had sayd, he gaue to the Herault .iii.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 duetie 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 Edward were once landed) to send to him an Herault, to fetche a saue conduyte & pasport, for such as should labor & trauayle in that treatie. And that the sayd Herault should first resort to the lord Stanley, or to the lord Haward, for the cōducting of him to the kinges presence, when the Herault should depart, the kynge gaue him a pece of of Crymosen Ueluet of .xxx. yardes long, commaundinge & strayghtly chargyng, that no man should be so hardy once to cōmen with him, but to let hym passe in all gentel fashiō. When the Herault was gone, king Lewes callyng to him .vii. or .viii. of his familiers, caused the letter too be red, of the whiche he was but a littel afrayd & lesse abashed, conside­ring the English Herault had shewed him playnly, how to enter into y^• port of the treatie, & in maner how to gayne & conquere the fortresse, of which enformacion he was not a littel ioyous, & wisely and secretly ac­cording to thesame, 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 hym his message, as he was commaunded. The duke of Burgoyn, beyng so sore set to cōquere 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 hys seage, but he hoped shortly to gayne the towne, and then with triumphāt victory, to come to ayde kyng Edward with his whole [Page CCxxviii] army: with thys answere y^• lord S [...]ales 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 impregnable, euen at thesame tyme 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 compasse tyll this season, and also all thinges beyng well disposed for hys purpose, both in Brytayn and in other places, ex­cept he more regarded to conquere a new towne, then to defende all hys olde possessions and seigniories. But shortly after by the Bishoppe of Romes authoritie, he left Nuyce vnconquered, but lesyng a great nū ber of his people, and the remnaūt he sent into Lorayne and Barroys, there to lye and trouble duke Reyner of Lorayn, whiche a littel before had defied hym, lyeng before Nuyce. And he him self with a small com­pany, came to kyng Edward before Caleys, with whom kyng Edward at the fyrst comming, began somwhat to be greued, laiyng to his charg 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 wyth 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 beginnynge with a small companye, a great enterprice myght be gayned. In profe wher­of he deliuered to the kynge, letters of credence, sent frome the Consta­ble of Fraunce, which willed the kyng 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 rēder 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 deliuerāce. Wherfore he exhorted the kyng to set forward, and to display hys banner, and set furth hys standard. And so by hys mocion, 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 enemyes then frendes to be entertey­ned, for at the gates entered but a few that were apoynted, 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 [Page] the Constable ment all treuthe, and the soner enduced to that credence because the Constable was great Uncle to the Quene his wyfe, where in very dede, he nothing lesse mynded then trouthe, remoued his campe from Peron, the Duke of Borgoyn, beyng in hys army, and marched toward saynct Quintynes: certayne Englishmen ran before the toune, agaynst whose commyng they thought that the belles should haue benrong, and the gates set open. But whē they aproched the toune, the ar­tillarie beganne to shote, and they of the toune came out bothe 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 yestardayes promise, and two dayes doyng. The duke woulde not that the kyng should desist from hys 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 papere that he did it by verye conpulsion and force: and therefore, if the kynge woulde make but semblance to besege the toune, he wou [...]d war­rant, that incontinent it should be rendered. The kynge of Englande, perceyuyng that he was deluded in his first enterprice, thought it more surer to heare the fayre wordes of the Constable, and the duke, then to geue credit to theyr vntrew and disceatfull doynges. The Englishe­men returned to theyr campe, very yl 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 shy­nyng, swetely spoken, and sowerly performed, or els he saw that he hym selfe lacked men or money, to procede farther with kyng Edward in his iorney: toke hys leaue sodaynly of the kyng of Englande, saiynge that he must nedes visite, and se hys armye in Berroys, promisinge shortly with all puissance to returne agayne to the great auantage and cōmo­ditie 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 per­fitly knewe the force, the agilitie and the maner of the Frenche nacion) had passed the seas, raysed his standard, and by dukes procurement en­tered into the lande of hys enemyes, and nowe to be left alone withoute guyde or leder, without ayde or succor in the middell of hys foes, he coulde 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 Edward, both to thynke that he neuer thought, and to do that he neuer entēded to do. [Page CCxxix] The Englishe men sore murmured against the Constable, and no lesse against the duke, sauyng thei determined, neuer to geue confidēce to the Constables wordes, and greatly doubted, whether thei might geue any credite to the dukes promise. Thus laie thenglishmen in the feldes whē the cold nightes begā to waxe long, without any gain of cōquest, which caused the common people, which be not alwaies content with hardnes rather to desire to returne homewarde, then to procede any daies iorney forward. The French kyng whiche was bothe wily & wittie (and especi­ally for his awne purpose) knewe by his espials, 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 folowe the coun­saill of the Englishe Herault, in sendyng for a saueconduite, for metyng of Ambassadors, to common of a treatie, if it might bee well compassed. But yet to auoyde all doubtes, 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 theim, 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 hymself taried still at Senlis. The Frenche kyng be­yng thus priuilie desirous of peace, although he outwardly shewed the countenaunce of Mars: meanyng quietnes, and settyng furthe warre, caused a varlet to be subornated, in a cote armure of Fraūce (whiche for hast, was made of a trūpet banner) because king Lewes was not muche desirous, nor greatly passed on honor, and seldome had in his Courte, either officer of Armes or Trompet: whiche varlet was well animated, and no lesse instructed, how to do his message (whiche was deliuered to hym in writyng) bothe with a bolde countenaunce, and a sober demea­nure. This coūterfeight Herault, although he was but a verlet in dede, was bothe 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 hym, and enquired of hym▪ whether his iorney laie: he sadly an­swered, that his message was from the French kyng, to the kyng of En­glande. Then was he conueighed to the tent, where the Lorde Haward, and the Lorde Stanley, with other wer 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 wisedō did pe [...]fectly knowe, or your high knowlege did apparantly perceiue: what inward affeccion, and feruent desire, the kyng my Master hath alwaies had, to haue a perfecte peace, [Page] a sure vnitie, and a fraternall concord, betwene your noble persone, and your Realme, and his honorable personage, and his Dominions, you would (and for 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 fauour of his paramor, then he hath soughte, to haue with you, a perpet [...]all frendship, amitie, and alliance: to the intent that the subiectes of bothe the realmes, quietly liuyng vnder twoo prin­ces, confederate and combined together, in an indissoluble confederaci [...] and league, maie mutually embrace eche other in their hartes, maie per­sonally haue resor [...], and frequent eche others princes territories and do­minions, with their Merchaundises and wares: And finally, the one to liue with the other, as frende with frende, brother with brother, compai­gnion with compaignion, in continall loue, reste, and tranquilitie. And for his parte he dooth affirme and saie, that sithe he receiued firste 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 Erle 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 enemie▪ 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 and sollicited 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 bee to his onely profite, and neither to your honor, nor yet to your gain. For if he and suche other, as daily flatered hym for their peculier profites (as he had many in deede, that daily sucked at his elbowe) had once obteined the thyng, that thei breathed for, all your affaires wer put in obliuion, and lefte at large for them, or their assistence, 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 armi [...], and incōclusion, 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 cōtinue, shall neither be profitable to you, nor yet your nobilitie, nor yet pleasaunte, but painfull to your commonaltie: And finally to bothe the realmes, and especially to Merchaunt menne, shall bryng bothe misery, pōuertie, and calamitie. Came the Duke of Burgoyne from Nu [...]e to Caleis, onely to visite you? Rode he all that poste haste, onely to blynde you? Returned he backe into Lorayne again for any cause, but onely to leue you desolate and to abandon you? Did he or the Constabl [...]kepe a­ny one promise with you? Why do you then beleue, & yet still trust them in whom, you neuer founde faithe nor fidelitie? But if God will it so or­dain that you and my master, maie ioyne in a league and amitie, I dare bothe saie and swere, that the fine stele neuer cleued faster to the Ada­mant [Page CCxxx] stone, then he will sticke and claspe with you, bothe in wealthe and and woo, in prosperitie and aduersitie: And if it shall please you, to har­ken to any reasonable treatie, I beyng a poore man, shall on ieoperdie of my life (whiche is my chief treasure) vndertake, that this communi­cacion shall sorte, and come to suche an effecte, that bothe you and your nob [...]litie, shalbe glad and reioyse, and your commons, shalbe contented and pleased, and thei that haue deceiued you, shalbe bothe abashed and ashamed: Moste humbly besechyng your highnes, if your pleasure shal encline this waie, that I maie haue a sure saufe conduite, for one hun­dred horses, for suche personages, as the kyng my Master, shall send to you, with farther intimacion of his mynd and purpose. And if your plea­sure shalbe, to haue the communicaciō in any place, indifferent betwene bothe tharmies, then I shal warraunt you, a like saueconduite for your men, as you do sende for oures. 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 hym in reward, a faire gylte cuppe, with a hundred angelles: deliueryng hym a saueconduite, accordyng to his request and demaunde, with the whiche, he with spede departed, hauyng with hym an English herault, to bryng a like sauecōduite, from the Frenche kyng. After bothe the Princes had maturely consulted on this matter, and that the saueconduites, wer de­liuered on bothe partes: The ambassadors mette, at a village beside A­mias, where were sent by the kyng of Englande, the Lorde Haward, sir Thomas Sentliger, Doctor Morton, after Chaunceler of Englande. For the Frenche kyng were sent, the Bastarde of Burbon, Admirall of Fraunce, the Lorde of sainct Pierre, the Bushop of Enreux called He­verge. It maie of some be not a litle marueiled at, why the French kyng 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 Fraūce 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: Thei 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 conclusiō 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 Englande, should haue any parte, or parcell of lande, within the realme of Fraunce: but rather fully determined, to put hymself and his whole realme, in hazard and auenture: so lothe, ye more aferde, then lothe, he was to haue the Englishemen, to be his next neigh­bors. [Page] The commissioners at the next metyng, concluded and agreed ce [...] ­tain articles, whiche were by bothe the Princes, accepted and allowed. It was first couenaūted and a greed, that the French kyng should paie to the kyng of England without delaie, lxxv.M. Crounes of the sunne, and yerely .l.M. crounes, to be paied at London, duryng kyng Edwar­des life. And farther it was agreed, y^• Charles the Dolphin 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 .l.M. crounes, yerely to bee persolued & paied within the toure of London, by the space of .ix. yeres: and at the ende of thesaied terme. The dolphin & his dolphines, peaceably to enioy 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 great a purpose: & after their metyng, eche of thē to take a corporal othe [...] presence of thother. This peace to endure .ix. yeres betwene bothe the realmes, inuiolate to obserue & kepe al thynges, cōcluded, agreed, & ap­poynted & on the kyng of Englandes part, wer cōprised as allies in the league, the dukes of Burgoyn & Britain, if thei would assent. And y^• af­ter y^• whole some aforsaid, was to king Edward paied: he should league in hostage the lorde Haward, & sir Ihō Cheyny Master of his horses, til he with all his army, was passed ouer the sea. This peace much reioysed the French kyng▪ to whō, nothing could be either more plesaunt, or more exceptable, then to haue thenglishmē in short space (how shortly he cared not) clerely auoyded, & transported out of his realme: immaginyng euer that by their tariyng, thei would so like the holesome & sweteaire of his fruitfull country, that a great nomber would be cōtinually sicke & vexed till thei returned, & sought for their health in thesame delicious climate again, wherfore, to rid thē with al hastie spede, he borowed y^•said some of lxxv.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 encoraged, because he was renomed for y^• famous actes▪ by hym before tyme perpetrated, & brought to passe, in so many battai [...]es. Desiryng also, rather to haue war, with the Frēch nacion beyng the old & auncient enemie, to thenglishe name & bloud, yet when he called to his remembraunce, that the ciuill warre, had so exhan­sted 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 bee so voyde and faint, that it was not able, long to wage his souldiers, thought it bothe rea­sonable and profitable, to obeye to necessitie, and to abstein from battail seyng bothe honorable offers, to hym obleted and agrementes of auan­tage to hym [...]ocioned. Consideryng chiefly beside all this, that neither the Duke of Burgoyne, nor the Constable of Fraunce, did, nor would [Page CCxxxi] obserue or performe the promises by them made and sworne. Wherupō he and the moste of his counsaill, (and specially suche, as loued better peace then warre, & their wifes soft beddes, better then hard harnesse, or a stony lodgyng) agreed to this conclusion and concord. But the Duke of Gloucester and other, to whom the Frenche nacion, was more odious then a tode, whose swordes thrusted for Frenche bloud detested, abhor­red, and cried out on this peace, saiyng: that all their trauaill, pain, and expences, were to their shame loste and employed, and nothyng gamed but a continuall mocke, and daily derision of the Frenche king, & al his minions, this immaginacion tooke effecte without delaie. For a gentle manne of the Frenche kynges chamber, after the peace was concluded, did demaunde of an Englisheman, 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 ꝙ he, smilyng: How many hath he loste, 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 balāce, 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 Englande hath and doth, surmount the force of Fraunce: but the enge­nious witte of the Frenche men, excell 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 sel­ses, with the losse in treaties, for the spoyle that you gatte, in warres and battailes. This cōmunicacion was reported to the Frenche kyng, whi­che priuily sent for the Englisheman to supper, and not onely made him good chere, but also gaue hym a thousande Crounes, to praise the peace and to helpe to maintain thesame: yet neuerthelesse, he beyng not a litle moued with these bragges, declared all the communicacion, to the duke of Gloucester, whiche sware, that he would neuer haue sette foote out of Englande, if he had not thought, to haue made the Frenchemen once to assaied the strength and puyssaunce, of the Englishemen: but whatsoe­uer he thought, all thynges wer transmuted, into another kynde, then he could immagin. The Duke of Burgoyne beyng enformed, that there was a peace entreatyng, betwene the two kynges: came in no small hast from Luxenborough, onely accompaignied with sixtene horses, into the kyng of Englādes 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 hym the cause, of his so sodain commyng. The Duke sharply answered, to knowe whether he had, either entered into any communicaciō, or onely had absolutely con­cluded a peace, betwene the Frenche kyng and hym. 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 commoditie, and the quietnes of their realmes, he [Page] and the French kyng, had concluded a peace and amitie, for terme of .ix. yeres, in the whiche were comprised, as felowes and frendes, bothe he and the Duke of Britayne, requiryng hym to condiscende, and agree to thesame. Oh Lorde, Oh sainct George, ꝙ the Duke of Burgoyne, haue you thus doen [...] deede: Haue you passed the seas, entered into Fraunce and without killyng of a poore [...]ie, or burnyng of a sely shepe cote, and haue taken a shame [...]ull truce: Did your noble auncester, kyng Edward the thirde, euer make armie into Fraunce (as he made many) in the whi­che, he did not either gain victory in battaill, or profite in conqueryng, cities, tounes, and countreys. That victorious Prince, as nere kinne to me, as you to kyng Henry the fifth, I meane whose bloud you haue▪ ei­ther rightefully or wrongfully, God knoweth, [...]xstirpate and destroyed, with a small puyssaunce entered into Fraūce, conquered whole Normā ­dy, and not alonely cōquered it, but peaceably kepte it, 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 apparāt and you without any thyng dooyng, or any honor or profite gainyng, haue condiscended to a pace, bothe as honorable, and as profitable to you, as a Pesec [...]de, and not so wholesome as a Pomegranate: thynke you that I either moued you, or once entised you, to take this iorney for my peculier aduauntage, or cōmoditie (whiche of my power am able, to reuenge mine awne causes, without help of other) but onely to haue you recouer, your old rightes & possessions, which wer [...]rō you bothe 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 staied and saied: Brother Charles, sith you haue spoken at leaser, what you would, you muste and shall, heare again, what you would not: And first, as concernyng our entery into Fraunce, no manne liuyng knoweth that occasion, neither so well, nor hath cause halfe so well, to remembre it as you: For if you haue not fully, put your greatest thynges, to bee had in memorie, in your boxe of obliuion, you bee not yet out of mynde, how the Frenche kyng▪ for all your power, tooke from you the faire [...]oune of Amias, and the strong Pile of. S. Quintynes, with diuerse other [...]ou­nes, whiche you neither durst, nor yet were able, either to rescowe or de­fende. Sith whiche tyme, how he hath plagued you, how he hath taken from you your frendes, yea, of your priuie chamber, and secrete counsail (by whom all youre secretes, bee to hym reueled and made open) you knowe or haue better cause to remembre, and not to forget theim. And when you determined, to besege the toune of Nuce, you thought youre self, in a greate doubte, whether you should lease more at home, by your absence, (the Frenche kyng dremyng, and waityng like a Foxe for his praie) or els gain more in Germany, by your power and presence, and [Page CCxxxii] to kepe the wolfe from the folde, that is the Frenche kynge, from your Castels and dominions, was the chiefe and principall cause, why you so fayre prayed me, so sore laboured and entyced me to passe ouer the sea, promysynge mountaynes of golde, w [...]hiche turned into snowe, and wasted to water, boastynge and crakynge to sende horsemen and fotemen, and yet shewynge 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 youre commynge? If the aduenture hadde bene for to haue recouered our ryghte, imagyn you y^• we woulde haue passed the sea so slenderly, as we did lokynge for your ayde? Nay nay, you should haue well knowen, if we had entended 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, cor­cupted by the multitude of dead carcases of our slayne enemyes, youre countreys of Flaunders and Brabant should haue had causes inough to wonder at, trustyng that, that which we had gotten, we woulde haue kept aswell as any of our auncetours haue done: but because the very occasion of the warre was yours, and that you wilfully (I will not saye cowardly) did not prosecute thesame, the Frenche kynge, whiche neuer offended me nor my subiectes (except in maynteininge 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 ouertures of peace, which offers I was in maner enforced, by very reason to enclyne to and to accept, & so haue concluded a truce, whiche God willyng I will bothe kepe & obserue. God sende you ioy quod the duke, & sodaynly toke his horse & rode agayn to Luxenborough. 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, when he hard how this peace was in communicaciō much more angry was the Constable of Fraunce, fearynge lest, that by that conclusion he might be reputed of the French kyng v [...]trew, as [...]e had wel deserued it. Wherfore he sent hys confessor to kynge Edward, with letters of credēce, requyryng hym hartely littell to regard y^• Frēch kynges woordes, and lesse to trust to his promise, affermynge that the Frenche kynge woulde no lenger kepe promise, then kynge Edwarde were on that syde of the sea: and rather then he shoulde agre with the Frenche kyng, for a small summe of money, he offered to lende hym .l. thousand crounes, with many other fayre profers. The kynge of Eng­lande made answere that the truce was concluded, and that he woulde nothing chaunge, concernyng the matter, & that if he had kept promyse with hym, he would not haue made that apoyntement nor agrement.

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 [...]ale tolde or fayned agaynste him, without hea­ryng his answere, affirmynge that the kynge had always knowen hys [Page] treuth and fidelitie, towarde the croune of Fraunce, and so shoulde he still fynde hym till his dyeng day, promising & warranting him, if that it should stand with his pleasure, that he woulde so cōpasse the duke of Burgoyn, that they two should vtterly destroy the kyng of Englande and his army or they returned.

The counsaylers of the French kyng made answere, that their Ma­ster and the kyng of England were ioyned and confedered in a sure a­mitie, wherfore they would in no wise know nor condiscēd to any thing that might be either preiudiciall, or once sounde to the detriment of the Englishmen: But they sayd, that the kyng their master much trusted y^• Constable, and that for hys sake he would talke with them in his priuy chaumber. The French kyng, before their entry into his chamber, cau­sed the lord of Countay seruaunt to the duke of Burgoyn, accōpanied 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 what soeuer were purposed to hym, they standing behynd the clothe, might [...]asely se, & facile heare the same. Lewes de creuell and his felow entered into the kynges chamber of nothinge thinkinge lesse then of the sprytes enclosed: 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 England, which duke they founde in suche a rage and fury a­gaynst 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 retor­nyng. And in spekyng these wordes (thinking surely much to please the kyng) the sayd Lewes conterfeyted the fashion and gesture of the duke of Burgoyn▪ & began to stāpe with his fote on the groūd, and bete with hys fyste on the table, sweryng by sainct George that the kyng of Eng­lande was not 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 kyng onely by his ayde, reprouyng and reuilyng hym with suche yll wordes, and so shamful termes, that al the herers abhor­red it. The Frēch kyng fayning that he was thycke of hearyng, caused him to reiterate his saiyng agayn, which so cōterfeited the very gesture of the dukes angry contenaunce & roryng voyce, that no man hathe sene a better coūterfaytor or player in any Comedie or Tragedie. The lord or Cōtay was sore displeased to se hys master made a iestingstocke but he kepte all these thinges secret, tyll his retorne to his master.

When the pagiaunt was played, the kyng bad the messengers of y^• Cō ­stable, to haue him cōmended to his brother their master, and to declare to him that as newes rose and grew, he would therof aduertise hym, & so gaue them licence to depart to their master, who thoughte him selfe now to be in great suertye of hys estate, when in dede he was neuer so nere his falle and perdicion: Estemyng the duke of Burgoyn to be his [Page CCxxxiii] assured frende, whiche hated hym more then a Panym, or a Turke, ac­comptyng also the French kyng to haue no yll 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, suche frute springeth of double dealyng & crafty cōueyeng: for if either y^• Cō ­stable had bene faithfull to the kyng his master, as of bounden duetye & allegeaunce he ought to be, or els had kept his promes, made to y^• king of England & duke of Burgoyn, and not dalied & dissimuled with thē, he had surely in his extremitie bene ayded, succored & cōforted of one of these thre at the lest, where now he was of al thre forsakē, & yet not forsa­ken, but sought for, loked for, & watched for, not for his profit or promocion, but for hys vndoyng and destrucciō: Now let vs leaue of the Cō ­stable, and returne to the cōclusion of the peace. When all thinges were apoynted, wryten & established, the peace was proclaymed in bothe the campes, and the kyng of England, the soner to consumate the amit [...]e by othe as it was agreed, came within halfe a leage of Amyas, where the French kyng was, which to thentent to obteyne the more fauor of Thē ­glishmen, sent into their army a .C. Cartes, loden with wyne, y^• best that might be gotten. And farther, because the Englishmen resorted to the town of Amyas, bothe for their pastime & busines, he ordeined at y^• very entri [...] of the gate of the town two great & long tables, to be set on euery syde of the streat, where the Englishmen should passe, & euery table was abundantly furnished with all sortes of delicate viand, & especially of such as would prouoke an appetide 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 entertayne the English naciō at euery table were apoynted .v. or .vj. gentelmen, of the beste compaig­nions of the whole coūtray, not onely to se them serued without lacking 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 in maner [...]nforced to drynke, wheresoeuer 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.M. Englishmen, wel armed, so that no Frēchman durst once forbid them to entre, their occa­sion of enteryng into the toune was onely to refreshe them, and to bye thinges necessary for their businesses and affayres. When the Frenche kyng was therof enformed, he was somwhat vexed & more amased, fea­ryng either the losse of his toune, or hurt of his people: He sent to Then­glish capitaynes, requiring them to withdraw their souldiers to theyr Campe, the capitaynes performed the kynges desyre, as much as in thē lay, but if they sent out .xx, ten came backe agayne, and brought more cō pany with them. The French kyng sent Monsier de Guye, Marshall of Fraūce, & other into the toune to se the Englishmēs behaueour, they founde some drinkyng, some singing, & some slepyng, so that they might [Page] perceyue, that they ment neither disceat nor vntreuth: yet the Frenche kyng, which of his nature was very suspicious, & especially toward the Englishmen, came to the gate of Amyas, strongly accōpaignied, & cau­sed .iij.C.men of armes to be kept secretly in their capitaynes houses, & other cōpaigny he set on the portall, where y^• Englishmē entered, a smal number God wot, to haue resisted the great company of Englishmen if they had either entēded any thing toward y^• French kyng or his toune. The kyng of Englād was priuilie enformed of y^• Frēch kinges, doubt­full imaginacion, & vntrew suspiciō, wherfore he sent word to him that he should make a Proclamacion, that no Englishmā should entre into the toune vpon a peyne. The Frēch kyng made answere, that it neither stode with his honor, nor yet with any princely humanitie, y^• he shoulde forbid his frendes (as he called them) to take their pleasure in his toune but if it might please the kyng of Englād, to apoint certain of the yomē of hys Croune, to stand at the gate, & to apoynt, not onely who shoulde enter, but also the number of theim, he thoughte that this moderacion should be both suerty & pleasure to both the parties. Which request the kyng of England with quicke spede, caused to be performed to y^• great quietnes of the French kyng & his coūsaill, casting farther periles then reason then required. You, haue still in your remēbrāce, how an article of the treaty was, that the two Princes shoulde enteruiew, & mete in a place by both parties to be appoynted. The kyng of England appoyn­ted the lord Haward, & syr Thomas Sentliger, & a Herault: for y^• Frēch kyng were assigned the lord Bonchace, & the lord of Argentō. Whē thei 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 Ryuer passeth thorough. On that syde y^• the French kyng should come, the coūtrey fayre & open, and so likewise the other parte was very pleasaunt: but towarde the Ryuer, ther was a Cawsey of .ii. arow shout in lēgth, which was enuyroned with marshes surely it was a daungerous passage to conueye a Prince in a straunge Realme, by such a strayte, if the Frenche men had ment any fraude, but verely the kyng of England had so great trust & confidēce in the honor & promise of the French kyng & his nobilitie, that he woulde vpon their assurance aduentured farther then this, if his will might haue ben per­formed. Then it was cōcluded by these .iiii. commissioners, that a large bridge should be made ouer the Ryuer of Some, in y^• middel of which bridge was made a great strōg grate of tymber▪ like to the grate where the Lyons be kept▪ 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 bordes, onely to kepe of the wether, so that vnder the couerture, there might stand .xii. persons on euery sude of the grate which 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 [Page CCxxxiiii] the Ryuer was onely one fery bote. When the bridge & all other thyn­ges necessary were ended & performed for so great a purpose, and well & diligently vewed on both the sydes, there were appointed .xii. noble per­sonages, to be attendant on euery Prince to the barres, & .iiii. English­men were assigned to stand with the Frēch men on the bridge, to se their doyng and behauoure, & likewyse .iiii. Frenchmē were limitted to y^• En­glishmen for that same cause and policie. At the day appoyn [...]ted, 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 & write, that the army of the Englishmen, was greater and muche fayrer then their battayll, 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 alow their excuse if it please you. When the token of meting by the shot of the Artelerie was kno­wen, the French kyng with .xii. noble men entered the bridge, & came to the closure, with whome was Ihon duke of Burbon, and the Cardinall 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 Frēch 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 accōpaignied, that he se­med well to be a kyng, & with him was hys brother the duke of Clarēce the erle of Northumberland, the bishop of Elye hys Chanceler, the lord Hastynges his Chamberlayn, & .viij. other lordes. Kyng Edward, & .iiii other were appareled in clothe of golde frised, hauynge on hys bonet of of blacke weluet a floure delyce of golde, set with very ryche and orient stones, 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 solempne obeysance: the French kyng made to hym an humble reuerence, but after hys fashion somwhat homely.

Kyng Lewes embrased kyng Edward thorough the barriers saiynge: Cosyn you be right hartely welcome into these parties, assuringe you y^• there is no man in the world y^• I haue more desyred to se & speke wyth, thē with you, & now lauded be almighty God, we be here mette together for a good & Godly purpose, whereof I doubte not, but y^• we shal haue cause to reioyce. The kyng of England hym thanked and answered to hys wordes so soberly, so grauelye, and so princely, that the Frenchmē their at not a littell mused.

The Chanceler of England made there a solempne oracion, in laude & prayse of peace, concluding on a prophe [...]ie, y^• sayd that at Pycquegny should be concluded a peace, bothe honorable & profitable to the Real­mes of Englād & Fraūce. Then the Chāceler opened the letters of both their agremētes to the treatie, demādyng of thē if they there with were contented, they answered ye, then eche Prince layed his right hand on y^• Missal, & his left hand on the holy Crosse, & toke there a solēpne othe, to [Page] obserue and kepe the treatie of the truce for .ix. yeres cōcluded betwene them, with all their confederates and alies cōprised, mencioned and specefied in thesame, and farther to accōplishe the mariage of their chyl­derne, with all thinges theron depending, according as it was agreed & concluded betwene their Ambassadors, whē the othe was takē & sworne, the French kyng sayd merily to kyng Edward, brother, if you will take peyn to come to Parys, you shall be feasted and entertayned with La­dies, & I shall apoynt you the Cardinal 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 French kyng, entendynge to shew hym selfe lyke a Master emonngest hys seruauntes, made all hys compaigny to draw backe from hym, meanyng to comon wyth the kyng of England secretly, the Englishmen with drew them without any commaundemēt, then the two kynges commoned alone secretly, I thynke not to the pro­fite of the Constable of Fraunce. The Frenche kyng demaunded of of kyng Edward, whether the duke of Burgoyn would accept the trē ­ce, Kynge Edwarde answered that he woulde 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 speke of the duke of Britayn, whome he would fayne haue excepted 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 founde a more frendlye sure and stedfast louer then he.

Then kyng Lewes called his cōpaignye agayne, & with most lowly & amiable commendacions, toke his leue of the kyng of Englād, speking certayn frendly wordes to euery Englishmā. Kyng Edward doyng ly­kewise to the Frēchmē, then both at one tyme departed frō the barriers & mounted on horsebacke, and departed the French kyng to Amyas, & kyng Edward to hys army, to whome was sent out of the French kyn­ges house all thynges necessarie for a Prince, in so much y^• neither Tor­ches nor Torchettes lacked vnsent. When the French king was depar­ted from Picquegny, he called to hym the lord of Argentō sayeng, by y^• peace of God, the kyyg of England is an amorous & a fayre prince, he at the fyrst becke woulde gladly se Parys, where he mighte fortune to fynde such pleasaunt or talkatyue Dames, which with fayre woordes, and pleasaunt pastymes myght so allure hym to theyr fantasies, that it myght brede an occasion in hym to come ouer the sea agayne, whiche I woulde not gladly se, for hys progenitors haue ben to longe and too often bothe in Parys and Normandye (on thys syde the sea) loue nei­ther hys syght nor hys cōpaginye, but when he is at home, I loue hym as my brother, and take hym as my frende.

[Page CCxxxv] The Frenche kyng after this departyng, sore desirous to make warre on the Duke of Britayne, whiche he could not do, except he wer lift out of the treatie, wherfore he sent the lorde of Bouchage, and the lord of. S. Pierre, to the kyng of Englande, entreatyng hym by all waies and mo­cions possible, to leaue the duke of Britayn for his alie, and not to haue hym comprehended in the league: the kyng of Englande hearyng thē so seriously and so feruently, speake against the Duke of Britayn, with an earnest cou [...]tenaunce answered, saiyng: My Lordes 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 thē 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 claue to the Duke of Britaynes partie. But thei knew not (or els at the least remembred not) that Henry Erle of Richemonde, was within the power and dominion, of the Duke of Britayne, whom kyng Edwardes phanteasie euer gaue hym, would make once a title to the Croune of Englande, as next heire to the house of Lancastre: For he knewe well, that if the Duke of Britayne, would transporte hym into England, where he had bothe kyns [...]olke and frendes, with neuer so smal an aide (yea, although it wer but a shadowe of an army) then wer he en­forced, newly to begin again a conquest, as though he had neuer wonne the Croune, nor obteigned the possession of the Realme, whiche was the verie cause, why he stacke so sore, on the Duke of Britaynes part. The­same night the lordes returned to Amias, and reported to their Master kyng Edwardes answere, whiche 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 Englādes counsaill, whiche had been coadiutors toward the peace, to the Frenche kyng to supper. The lorde Haward said to the Frenche kyng, secretly in his eare, that if it stoode with his pleasure▪ he could perswade the kyng of Englande, to come to Amias, yea, p [...]tauen­ture as farre as Paris, familierly and frendly, to solate hymself with hym, as his trustie frende and faithfull brother. The Frenche kyng, to whom this mocion 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 pollitiquely brake their communicacion, saiyng: that the kyng with all celeritie, must marche forward, against the duke of Bur­goyn. Although this mocion semed, onely for to encrease loue, and con­tinuall amitie betwene the Princes, yet the Frenchmen hauyng, in their perfecte remembraunce, the innumerable damages and huttes, whiche thei of late daies, had susteined by the Englishe nacion: whereby, conti­nual hatred encreased, against them in Fraunce, thought by pollicy and wisedom, with faire woordes, and frendly countinaunce, to put by this [Page] request, and to mocion them rather, to departe homeward, then to pricke them forward to Paris, where peraduenture, thei might so bee entertai­ned at this tyme, that thei would at another come thether, bothe vndesi­red and vnwelcomed. 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 [...]hether 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, whiche 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 gai [...] the Englishemen had gotten, by makyng warre in Fraunce, an [...] what miserie, what calamitie, and what pouertie, the Frenche naciō had suffered, and many yeres susteined, by reason of thesaid warres, de­termined clerely, rather to pacifie and entertain the Englishe nacion▪ by [...] wordes, and great rewardes (although it wer to his great charge) then by to muche hardines, to put hymself, his nobilitie and realme, in a hasard by geuyng them battaill, as his predecessors, had vnwisely doen at Po [...]ers, and at Agyncort, wherfore, to bye peace, he graūted to kyng Edwarde, for a yerely tribute .L.M. Crounes, to bee paied at London, whiche▪ accoumptyng a croune at .iiii. s. amounteth to .x.M. l. And to haue the fauor and good will, of his chief counsailers, he gaue greate pencions, amountyng to the some of .xvi.M. Crounes a yere, that is to saie: to his Chauncello [...], to the Lorde Hastynges, his chief Chamber­lein, a man of no lesse witte then vertue, and of greate aucthoritie with his Master, and that not without a cause: for he had aswell in tyme of adu [...]rsitie, as in the faire flateryng worlde, well and truely serued hym, and to the Lorde Hawarde, to sir Thomas Mountgomerie, to sir Tho­mas Sētliger, to sir Ihon Cheiney, Master of the kynges horses, to the Marques Dorset, sonne to the Quene, and diuerse other, he gaue great & liberal rewardes, to thintent to kepe hymself, in amitie with England while he wanne and obteined his purpose and desire in other places.

These persones had geuen to them greate giftes, beside yerely penci­ons: For Argenton his counsailer, affirmeth of his awne knowlege, that the lorde Haward, had in lesse then the terme of twoo yeres, for rewarde in money and plate .xxiiii.M. Crounes, and at the tyme of this metyng, he gaue to the Lorde Hastynges, the kynges chief Chamberlain, as the Frenchmen write, a hundered markes of siluer, made in plate, wherof e­uery marke is .viii. ounces sterlyng, but thenglish writers affirme, that he gaue thesaid Lorde Hastynges .xxiiii. doosen boulles, that is to saie, [...]ii. dosen gilte, and .xii. dosen vngilte, euery cuppe waiyng .xvii. nobles, whiche g [...]ite, either betokened in hym, a greate liberall nature, or els a greate and especiall confidence, that he had in thesaid Lorde Chamber­lain. Beside this, he gaue hym yerely, twoo thousande Crounes penciō, [Page CCxxxvi] the whiche some he sent to hym, by Piers Cle [...]et, one of the Masters of his house, geuyng hym in charge, to receiue of hym an acquitaunce, for the receipt of thesame 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 Frenche kyng, whose yerely acqui­taunces (the lorde Hastynges onely except) remain of recorde to bee she­wed, in the Chamber of accomptes, in the palaice of Paris. Whē Piers Cleret had paied the pencion, to the lorde Hastynges, he gently demaū ­ded of hym an acquitaunce, for his discharge, whiche request when he denied, he then onely required of hym, a letter of three lines, to bee dire­cted to the kyng, [...]estifiyng the receipte of the pencion, to the intent that the kyng your Master, should not thinke, the pēciō to be imbesiled. The lorde Hastynges although he knewe, that Piers demaunded nothyng but reason, answered him: sir this gift cōmeth onely, of the liberall plea­sure of the kyng his 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 hym his gifte again: For neither he nor you, shall haue either letter, acqui [...]aunce, or scrowe, signed with my hande, of the receipte of any pencion, to thintent to bragge another day, that the kyn­ges Chamberlain of Englande, hath been pencionary, with the Frenche kyng, and shewe his acquitaunce, in the Chamber of accomptes, to his dishonor. Piers lefte his money behynd, and made relacion of all thyn­ges to his Master, whiche, although that he had not his will, yet he muche more praised the wisedom, and pollicie of the Lorde Hastynges, then of the other pencionaries, commaundyng hym yerely to bee paied, without any discharge demaundyng.

When the kyng of Englande, had rec [...]iued his tribute, and his nobi­litie their rewardes, of the Frenche kyng: he trussed vp his tentes, and laded all his bagage, and departed toward Caleis, but or he came there, he rememberyng the craftie dissimulacion, and the vntrue dealyng, of Lewes Erle of. S. Pole, high Constable of Fraunce, entendyng to de­clare hym, to the French kyng, in his verie true likenes and portarture: sent vnto hym twoo letters of c [...]edence, written by thesaied Constable, with the true report, of all suche woordes and messages, as had been to hym sente, and declared by thesaied Constable and his Ambassadours, whiche letters, the Frenche kyng gladly receiued, and thankfully acce­pted▪ 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 al 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. cōmoners, appareled in Murrey, the .xxviii daie of Septembre, in the .xiiii. yere of his reigne, vpon Blacke Heathe, and so conueighed with greate triumph, through the citie of Westmin­ster, [Page] 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 effecte, accordyng to the treatie. The hope of whiche mariage, caused hym to dissimule, and do thynges, whiche after­ward chaunsed, greatly to the Frenche kynges profite, & smally to his.

When kyng Edwarde was arriued in Englande, the Frenche Kyng 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, to saue the Duke from periurie, whiche had sworne, neuer to conclude a peace, till the kyng of Englande had been three monethes in his realme, after his returne from Caleis. The kyng of Englande, 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 the Frenche kyng, be­yng then at Uernyns, concludyng with the duke of Burgoyns Ambas­sadors, requiryng hym, to take none other truce, with Duke Charles, then that, whiche was by theim concluded, desiryng hym farther, in no wise to departe with sainct Quintines to the duke: Offeryng 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 Sommer: so that the Frenche kyng, should paie to hym fiftie thousand crounes, 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, moste hartely thanked, the kyng of Englande, 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 comprehēded 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, whiche wer hostages with the Frenche kyng, til kyng Edwarde were returned into Englande. The Frenche kyng marueiled not a litle, at kyng Edwardes offres, and thought it perilous to cause the Englishemenne to passe the sea again, and to ioyne with the Frenche menne, whom thei neuer loued: coniecturyng farther, that the Englishe menne 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.

[Page CCxxxvii] WHen Kyng Edwarde had after this maner established,The .xv. yer. 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 suche, 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 bee farre from his purpose, 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, Fraūces Duke of Britayne, either for giftes, promises or praiers, to deliuer the Erle into his handes, whō 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 appere more honest, in the open face of the world, he willed them to declare to the Duke, that their request, to haue the Erle deliuered to them, was onely for this purpose, to ioyne with him aliance by mariage and so to extirpate and plucke vp, all the dregees 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 hard 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 prai­ers requiryng, and monnyes, sollicityng▪ the Duke beyng weried and o­uercome, deliuered the erle to the Ambassadors, whom, in his letters he highly commended, to kyng Edwarde, 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 mariage to him lady Elizabeth his eldest daughter, whom in deede he maried▪ after her fathers death, as you herafter shall heare. Whē thambassadors had the praie, that thei so muche desired, thei departed to the toune of. S. Ma­lo, standyng on the sea side, where, thei rekened to haue taken shippyng, and so to haue sailed into Englande. The erle of Richemond knowyng, that he was goyng toward his death, for very pensiuenes, and inwarde thought, fell into a feruent & a sore agewe. In this very season, one Ihō Cheulet, so estemed emong the Princes of Britayne, as fewe were in all the countrey, and in muche credite, and wel accepted 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: resorted to the Courte, and familierly came to the Dukes presence, and there stode so sadly, and so paly, without any worde speakyng, that [Page] the Duke was muche abashed, and sodainly marueiled, at his sad and frownyng coūtenaunce, & demaunded of him what should [...]ignifie, that dumpishenes 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 approche & be at hand, whiche i [...] it had chaunced to me, before this day, I assure you, it had muche lesse hurted me. For thē had I not been preserued, to fele the dolorous pāg [...]s and sorow [...]ul 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 either I shall lese my life, or els liue in perpetuall distresse and continuall misery. For you my syn­guler good lorde, by your verteous actes, and noble feates haue gotten to you, in maner an immortall fame: whiche in eue [...]y mannes mouthe, is extolled and eleuated, aboue the high Cloudes, but alas me semeth (I praie you pardon me my reudenes) that now that you haue obteined, so high a laude and glory, you nothyng lesse regarde then to kepe and pre [...]erue thesame inuiolate, consideryng, that you forgettyng your faith a [...]d faithfull promise, made to Henry Erle of Richemōd, hath deliuered the moste innocent young gentleman, to the cruell tu [...]menters, 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, whē thei se openly, the fame and glory, of your moste renoumed name, by suche a dis [...]o [...]altie, and vntruthe against promise to be both blotted and s [...]a [...]ed with a perpetuall note, of [...]aunder and in [...]amie. Peace myne awne good Ihon, ꝙ the Duke, I praie thee, beleue me there is no suche thyng like to happen to therle o [...] Richemond: for kyng Edward hath sent for hym, to make of hym beyng his suspect enemie, his good & faire sone in lawe. Well, we [...]l, ꝙ Ihon, my redoubted lorde, geue credence to me: therle Hē ­ry 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 [...]raude 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 vnaduised­ly did, or what he aduisedly, should haue doen. Wh [...]rfore, with all dili­gence▪ he sent furthe Peter Landoyse, his chief Threasorer, commaun­dyng hym to intercept and staie, the Erle of Richemond, in all hast pos­sible. Peter not sluggyng, nor dreamyng his busines: came to the En­glishe Ambassadors to. S. Malos, there abidyng the wynde. And firste he inuented a cause of his commyng, and kepte with theim a long com­municacion, to pertracte the tyme, till his men in the meane season, had conu [...]ighed th [...]rle (almoste halfe ded) into a sure Sanctuary, within the toune, whiche in nowise might bee violated: where he beyng deliuered, [Page CCxxxviij] from the continual feare of dredful 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 fauor of the good Prince, was preserued, saued and deliuered. God graunt that such examplesmay be a doctrine and [...]yrror to such as be rulers aboue other, lackyng coun­saylers to monish & warne them of their duetie and office. That thei re­membryng thys good acte, may learne to take into the counsayl and [...]a­milie, such as will well and truly admonishe and warne them, and they likewise with good mynde and glad entent to be folowers of thesame.

The English oratours complayned and murmured that they were both spoyled of their money & marchandise, requyring Peter Landoyse that they in no wise should returne, so deluded without pray or penney. The Treasorer effectuously promised them, that the Erle 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 in 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 belongyng to know what ef­fect hys Ambassade toke with the duke of Britayne, and therefore was euery houre trobled and vnquieted with harkenyng & lokynge, was at the last certefied from thence, howe the erle of Rychemond was deliue­red, and at a poynt to be brought home to hym as a prisoner in captiui­tie: but that he escaped first, he lamented hys purpose, not to haue more prosperously succeded, but after beyng somwhat molified and apeased, when he hard that he should be sauelykept in prison, determined clerely hereafter to banishe that care out of hys mynd and fantasye, and to em­ploye all hys whole study and diligence for the kepynge of hys house, after a more beutyfull fashion and liberall proporcion, then before was accustomed. And when he had sufficiently stored hys cheste with trea­sure, remembryng hys honor, lest, he peraduenture should be noted with the spot of Nygardshyp, he shewed hym selfe lyke a liberall and benefi­ciall Prince to hys commons, and lyke a good and a profitable kynge to the cōmon wealth, & the poore people of hys Realme and dominion.

The .xvi yere.The .xvi. y [...]r [...].

EUen as kyng Edward sought, inuented and studied dayly and howerly to bryng hym selfe 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 pay­nes in warres were to hym pleasure, and especially [Page] 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 malice cōbined with auarice, kyn­deled▪ prouoked and excited so hys courage thys yere (whose bragging audacitie had more nede of a brydell to be refrayned, then of a spurre to be pricked forward) that he partly to be reuenged of y^• duke of Lorayne and y^• Swytchers, and partly for y^• couetous desyre that he had to cer­tayn lādes, lyeng betwene hys lowe countreys of Brabant & Flaūders and hys Duchie of haut Burgoyn, assembled a great army & a mighty puyssance, and beseged a towne called Granson in Lorayn, which when he had receyued, without mercy, lyke a tyrant he caused all the Inhabi­tātes cruelly to be put to death, wherof heryng the Switchers māfully encoūtered with hym, and disconfited 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 Iuels, and so many, & of suche high price and value. And after not cōtent with these chaūces, but euer in hope of reuēging he fought with the Switchers agayne at Morrat, wherof .xviii.M. good mē of warre, he lost .x.M. besyde them that were wounded and hurt: yet this fierce & couragious Capitayne, more cora­gious then circūspect, gathered agayn a new army, and contrary to the myndes of hys whole counsaill, in the depe of Wynter, beseged y^• toune of Nancy, belongyng to the duke of Lorayn, where he was encoūtered with the sayd duke and the Switchers, and there by thē agayne ouer­come, disconfited, and slayne.

Thus in one yere he lost .iii. great battayles, the fyrste at Grantson, where he lost honor, and all hys ryches: The second at Morrat, where he lost honor, & almost all hys men: The thyrd at Nancy, where he loste lyfe, honor, ryches, men, and all worldely felicitie, on the Uigile of the Epiphany, in the yere of our lord, after some writers .M.cccc.lxxvi. and after other .M.cccc.lxxvij.

Thys ende had the valiant hart, and stout courage of duke Charles of Burgoyn, who in hys tyme could neuer agre with peace and cōcord, tyll death more puyssant then lyfe maye resiste, broughte hys bodye to quietnes and perpetual tranquilite, which body is entered in y^• Church of sainct George in Nancy, leuyng behynd him one sole doughter, law­fully begotten to be his heyre, which afterward was maryed to Maxi­miliaen Arch [...]duke 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 were sory of the duke of Burgoyns death you may be sure that he was not so inwardly sory, as the Frenche kyng was in hart ioyous and glad: For now hauyng peace with Eng­lande, he knew no creature that was able to matche with hym in earnest or in game, & because he would lese no tyme, he vnder couler that womē [Page CCxxxix] be not able to enioy any thyng, that is or hath ben, aperteynynge to the Croune of Fraunce, toke of the yong Damosel of Burgoyn the tounes of Moundedier, Perone, Abbeuyle, Monstreul Roy, and all the tounes on the ryuer of Some: Besyde thys, he with no great payne obteyned Hesdyng, Arras, and the toune of Bulleyn, with the countye of Bullo­noys, whiche kynge Charles hys father had before engaged, and em­pledged to duke Philip of Burgoyn, as before is mencioned. But thys wyly and wytty kyng Lewes, comyng to the toune of Bulleyn, percey­ued that if it were fortefied with a garrison, it should not onely be an yl neyghbor to the tounes of Caleys and Guysnes, but also a port necessa­ [...]ie and conuenient for all hys subiectes, when they should be, either by enemies assayled, or by stormy tempestious wether driuē on the narrow seas, wherfore to cast a sure Ancker, knowynge the lord Bartrame de la Toure, erle of Auluerie, to be the very trew and vndubytate 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 vpō Englād, 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 [...]rledom of Artoys, he chaunged the [...]e­nure, and solemply auowed to holde thesame toune & coūtie 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 hys 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 kyng to haue edefied such a couert nest, so nere his toune of Caleis, and the territories of thesame, except hys leage had bound hym, or that he had to much af­fyance in the French kyng, whose hart was doble, & whose wit euer in­cōstāt, but surely the hope of the prefermēt of his daughter, both brou­ght hym to blyndnes and dotage. Let these doynges ouer passe & se how politikely the French kyng wrought for his aduantage. Duryng these gaynes in the lowe partes, he caused the duke of Lorayn to enter into hygh Burgoyn with a great army, whiche by policie & promises brou­ght the whole Duchie vnder obedience of the French kyng, which then claymed to haue the order and mariage of the yonge lady, as a pupille, ward and orphane, aperteyning to the croune of Fraunce, for the which title after rose no smal mischief, and troble in Flaunders, and the coū ­treys thereaboute. Let vs leaue a whyle to speke of outward busines, and retourne to our awne.

¶The xvii. yer [...].The [...] yere

[Page] IN y^• .xvii. yere of kyng Edward, there fel a sparcle of priuy malice, betwene the kyng & his brother the duke of Clarēce whether it rose of olde grudges before tyme passed, or were it newly kyndled and set a fyre by the Quene or her bloud which were euer mistrustyng and priuely barkynge at the kynges lignage, or were he desirous to reigne after hys brother: to men that haue thereof made large inquisicion, of suche as were of no small authoritie in those dayes, the certayntie therof was hyd, and coulde not truely be disclosed, but by coniectures, which as often d [...]c [...]yue the ima­ginacions of fantastical folke, as declare treuth to them in their conclusion. The fame was that the kyng or the Quene, or bothe, sore troubled with a folysh Prophesye, and by reason therof begā to stomacke & gre­uously to grudge agaynst the duke. The effect of whi [...]h was, after king Edward should reigne, one whose first letter of hys name shoulde be a G. and because the deuel is wōt 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 vsurped hys kyngdome.

Other allege this to be the cause o [...] his death: That of late, y^• olde rācor betwene them beyng newly reuiued (The which betwene no crea­tures can be more vehement then betwene bretherne, especially when it is f [...]rmely 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 husbande, to bee geuen to hym in matrimony: which mariage kynge Edward (enuyenge the felicitie of hys brother) bothe agayne sayed and disturbed. Thys priuy displeasure was openly appeased, but not inwardly forgottē nor outwardly 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 enemyes) of poysonyng, sorcery, or inchauntment, & ther­of condempned, and put to taste the paynes of death. The duke, whiche myght not suffer the wrongfull condemnacion of hys man (as he in his conscience adiudged) nor yet forbere, nor paciently suffer the vniust hā ­delyng of hys trusty seruaunt, dayly dyd oppugne, and wyth yll woor­des murmur at the doyng thereof. The king muche greued and troub­led with hys brothers dayly querimonye, and contynuall exclamacion, caused hym to be aprehended, and cast into the Towre, where he beyng taken, adiudged for a Traytor, was priuely drouned in a But of Maluesey.G [...]orge duke of Cl [...]rence, d [...]oun [...]d in a But of [...] in the Tow [...].

But sure it is, that although kyng Edward were consentyng to his death and destruccion, yet he muche dyd bothe lamente hys infortunate chaunce, and repent hys sodayne execucion. In asmuche, that when any person sued to hym for Pardon or remission, of any malefactor con­dempned to the punyshment of death, he woulde accustomably saye, & openly speke, O infortu [...]ate brother, for whose lyfe not one creatoure [Page CCxl] woulde make [...] openly spekyng▪ and apparantly meanynge, that by the meanes of [...] of the nobilitie, he was [...], and brought to hys confusion.

Thys duke left behynd [...] yonge infantes, [...]ngendered of the body of the daughter to Rychard▪ late erle of Warwy [...]ke, whiche chyl­derne by [...], or by their awne merites, [...]olowynge the steppes of theyr a [...]cetours▪ succeded [...] misfortune, and [...]emblable yll chaūce. 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 .vii. attaynted of [...]reason, and on Towre hyl behedded. Mar­garete hys sole daughter was maryed to syr Rycharde Pole knyghte, beyng mu [...]h bounde to kynge Henry the .vii. for her auauncemente in mariage▪ besyde manifolde [...] by her of hym receyued: But most of all obliged to that excellent prince kynge [...] the eight, for resto­ryng her aswell to the [...]ame and title of countesse of Salisbury, as too the possessions of thesame: she forgetting y^• miserable chaunce of her fa­ther, and lesse remembryng the kynd [...]es and kyndred o [...] her sayd soue­reygne lord comm [...]ed agaynst hys Maiestye▪ and hys Realme, abho­minable and de [...]estable treason, for the whiche she was in open Par [...]ia­ment, adiudged and attaynted, and two and sixty yeres a [...]ter her father was put to death in the Towre, she on the grene within thesame place, with an Axe suffered execucion. In whose person died the very surname of Plantagene [...], which from Geofrey plātagenet so longe in the bloud Royall of thys realme, had florished and contynued. After the death of thys duke, by reason of great [...] and vntemperate ayer, happened soo fierce and so quycke a Pestilence, that .xv. yeres warre paste, consumed not the thyrd parte of the people, that onely foure monethes miserably and [...] dispatched, and brought to th [...] sepulture.

The .xviii. yere.the .xviii. yere.

YOu haue harde not longe before, how the Frenche kynge not onely claymed the [...]ule, gouernaunce, and mariage of the yonge Princes and Damosell of Burgoyn [...], but also how he, what wyth policie, and what with [...]orce had pluc­ked from her the [...]ayrest feathers of her tayle, that is too meane whole haut Burgoyne, and the stronge tounes of Pycardye which in tyme to come myght (as they were very lyke) happen to proue yll neyghbours to the English nacion. All these thynges were polliti­kely pondered, & maturely digest [...]d by the wi [...]e coūsaylers 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 & excercised m [...]tually and frendly betwene the subiectes, and all nacions hauynge [Page] resort to either of the sayd countreys, saw it open before their eyes, that if the Frenche kynge, either by force or by [...] of mariage 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 seignories and dominions, that then [...] ensue to the whole Realme of Englande, bothe for vtterynge of their commodities in those partes, and also for the impedyment or st [...]ppe 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, tokynge Edwarde to helpe, and ayde the yonge ladye and Pry [...] ­ces of Burgoyne, allegynge that as fa [...]re as they coulde [...]er [...]eyue, the mariage of hys doughter with the Dolphyne, was but dissimuled and fayned for in y^• treaty cōcluded at Pycquegnye, betwene hym and kyng Lewes, it was apoynted, agreed, and openly [...], that the Frenche kynge, within a yere folowynge, shoulde sende for the Ladye Elizabeth, entiteled Dolphynesse of Uyen, 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 thys season too the lady Ma [...]garet, Duchesse of Burgoyne, for the prefermente of her bro­ther Anthony erle Ryuers, to the mariage of the yonge Damosell, 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 but geuen good eare to, or wyth gentell wor­des delayed the suyte, she had bothe bene succored and defended with a good number, and not susteyned soo greate losse as she dyd. Whether kynge Edwarde were not content wyth thys refusall, or that he trusted more the Frenche kynges promyse, then all hys counsayll coulde se cause, or that he was lothe to lese hys yerely tribute 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 louynge 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 Ambassadors of Englande, wer highly receiued, bountefully fe­sted, and liberally rewarded: But answere to their desire, had thei none, but y^• shortely the Frenche kyng would sende Ambassadors, hostages, & pledges, to the kyng of England, their Master, for the concludyng and per [...]ormaunce 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 tyme, and in the meane season, to wynne tounes and coūtreys, from the damo­sell, or any aide or succor, could be to to her administred.

[Page CCxli] And beside this, to staie kyng Edwarde, from takyng parte with her. He wrote to hym, that if he would ioyne with hym 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 and his heires▪ the whole Countie and Countrey of Flaunders,A greate offer made by the Frenche king to Kyng Ed­ward the .iiii. discharged of all homage, superioritie, and resorte to be claimed by the Frenche kyng, and his h [...]i­res and successors: and farther, he should haue the whole duchie of Bra­bant, whereof the Frenche kyng offered, at his awne charge and co [...]e, to conquere foure, the chief and strongest tounes, within thesaied 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, whiche he promised to lende hym, with men and cariage, for the conueighaunce of thesame.

The kyng of Englande answered, that the tounes of Flanders, were of no small strengthe, nor of no litle quantie, verie vneasie to bee kepte, when thei wer conquered: and of no lesse force was the Duchie of Bra­bant, with whom, his subiectes were bothe lothe, and not verie willyng to haue warre there, consideryng▪ that theth [...]r was one of their common trafficques and ventes, of all their Merchaundice: But if the Frenche kyng would make hym partener, of his conquest in Picardy, renderyng to hym parte of the tounes, all ready gotten and gained, as Boleigne Mounstrell, 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 answeryng, and repliyng again, the Frenche kyng spoyled the young Princes, oftounes 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 first yere of her mariage, a faire lady called Margaret, whom kyng Le­wes so phantesied, either to haue a publique peace, with Maximiliā her father, by the whiche, he might staie all warre, and hostilitie betwene thē and so by that meane, peaceably to enioy the countryes 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, therunto apperteinyng, to the croune of Fraunce, (as he had no fewe tymes, before attempted and assaied). That he clere­ly forgettyng, his promes made, written, and sworne to the kyng of En­glande, for the mariage of his daughter, solicited priuily the Lordes of Flanders, to haue thesaied lady Margarete, to bee 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.

¶The .xix. yere.The .xix. yere.

KYng Edward in the .xix. yere of his reigne, forgettyng as­well all exterior inuasions, as ciuill warre, and intestine trouble: whiche before that tyme, he had aboundantly ta­sted and more then he was willyng, had bothe 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 greate possessions, or aboundantly furnished in goodes, beside merchauntes, and other inferior persones. By the reason wherof, 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 exstreme Prince, emongest his subiectes, and this immaginacion in especiall, 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 doubte 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 mischief, and as vnquiet a profite, to the possessioners of riches, and suche as haue the fruicion or thesame: 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.

¶The .xx. yereThe .xx. yere.

AFter this, kyng Edward hauyng all thynges brought to that effect, whiche he had long desired, except the ma [...]age of his daughter, with Charles the dolphyn muche studied and no lesse desired to haue this affinit [...], accordyng to the appoyntmēt made and concluded, to be accomplished and solempnized, 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 mariage 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 greate 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 realme, accordyng to her estate and degree: promisyng faithfully, shortly to sende for her, and [Page CCxlii] to conueigh her with suche a pompe and royall traine, that it should bee to bothe their honors and laudes, and to the high contentacion, of the Kyng of Englande and his Quene, whiche, no lesse then her husbande desired, & sore longed to se the conclusion, of thesaid mariage take effect.

These Ambassadors were well feasted, and likewise rewarded, and so toke their leaue: And within a conuenient season after, he sent other O­rators, whiche, were neuer in Englande before, to the intent that if their predecessors beyng Ambassadors, had saied or concluded any thyng, (although 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 ignoraunce, of that matter: affirmyng that thei had no commissiō to common, or els once to enterprise, to medle 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 Ambassador, in greate haste, and after sende another with newe instruccions, nothyng depen­dyng on the olde.

This fashion kyng Lewes, vsed with all Princes, to whom he sente any Ambassadors, by the whiche he cōpassed many thynges, to his pur­pose, and to their losse: But moste of all, he thus dalied with the kyng of Englande, concernyng this mariage, onely to the intent, to kepe hym still in amitie, aboue all other Princes. And for a truthe the Kyng of Englande, beyng of no suspicious nature, so muche trusted, and gaue to hym so muche 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 begiled, as he that least mistrusteth, and who soner falleth, then he that casteth no perill, but as in nothyng mi­strustyng, is no smal lightnes, so into muche trustyng, is to muche foly: wherefore, if kyng Edward had either not to muche trusted, or mistru­sted the Frenche Kynges faire promises (as I would he had dooen in deede) the croune of Fraunce, had not so increased in possessions and do­minions, to the greate 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 chaunce, she beyng destitute of frendes, and without comforte of defenders, by pacience perforce, was compelled to suffre and sustein.

This is the profite that all nacions get, by the faire promises, of the Frēchmen. Thus is the league made with Lewes the Frēch kyng, frau­dulently glosed and dissimuled. Thus is the oth made, and sworne vpō the holy Euangelistes violated, and contrary to the woorde, and honor of a Prince, broken and falcefied: by whiche vntrue dealyng, and couert dissimulyng, with his especiall and trustie frend, all men maie facilie se, and more apparauntly then in a myrror perceiue, that the verie natural [Page] condicion of the Frenche nacion, is pleasuntly 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 frend­ship continueth, nor yet humanitie and kyndnes before shewed, is once regarded, or of them remembred: wherefore, myne aduise is, let all men trust them, as thei fynde them.

The .xxi. yere.The .xxi. yere.

IN this verie season, Iames the .iii. of that name, kyng of Scottes, sent into England a solempne Ambassage, for to haue the Lady Cicile, kyng Edwardes .ii. daughter, to be maried to his eldest sonne, Iames Prince of Scotlande, Duke of Rothesay, & erle of Caricke. Kyng Edward & his counsaill, thinkyng that this affinitie, should bee aswell honorable, as profitable to the realme, did not onely graunt, to his desire and demaūd but also before hande disbursed, certain sommes of money, to the onely intent, that the mariage should herafter, neither be interrupted nor bro­ken, vpon this condicion, that thesaied Matrimony, by any accedentall meane, should in tyme to come, take no successe nor perfeccion: or that kyng Edward would notifie, to the kyng of Scottes, or his counsaill, that his pleasure was determined, to haue thesaid mariage, to be infrin­ge [...] and dissolued: Then the Prouost and merchauntes, of the toune of Edenborough, should bee bounde for the repaiment, of thesaied some a­gain. Al which thynges wer, with great deliberacion concluded & sealed, in hope of cōtinual peace, and infringible amitie. But this kyng Iames beyng a man of a sharpe wit, more wedded to his awne opiniō then rea­son would scace bere, would neither here nor geue credite to theim, that spake contrary to his awne phantesie, or this imagined opinion: And to thintēt that no man should find fault, with his doynges, or reprehēd his actes, he promoted and made counsailers, menne of basse lignage, and lowe bloud and in especiall, Cochrane and his compaignie, by whose e­uill aduise, and mischeuous instigacion, he so punished and greued his nobilitie, bothe with emprisonment, exaccions, and death, that some of their voluntarie 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 Iames, was exiled into Fraunce but passyng through Englande, he taried with kyng Edward as you shall heare. Ther [...]e of Mar, a wise pollitique counsailer, was in Edenborough bee hedded: And beside this, he forgettyng his othe, pro­mise, and affinitie, concluded with kyng Edward, caused armies to bee made, into Englande, spoylyng, burnyng, and killyng, the kynges faith full subiectes: at the whiche vnprincely dooyng, the kyng of Englande beyng, not a litle moued and chafed, determined to be reuenged on hym by battaill, and dent of sworde. Yet notwithstandyng, because kyng Ia­mes [Page CCxliii] craftely excusyng hymself, alleging the mischief late cōmitted, to be attempted, doen, & perpetrated, without his concent, knowlege▪ or coun­sail, this matter had been lightly pacified, and blowen ouer, [...] the Duke of Albanie, beyng with kyng Edward, had not incēsed, entised, and pro­uoked hym, to make warre on the Scottishe kyng, his brother, bothe to reuenge the iniuries of late, to thesaid kyng doen, contrary to all lawes of armes, and Princely demeanure, and also, to helpe to restore thesaied duke, to his possessiōs, and dominions again: out of the whiche, he was by the kyng his brother, dispossessed, 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, was somwhat agreable to this, but the inward remembraunce how that kyng Iames, had supported against hym, with men and mo­ney, his olde enemie kyng Henry the sixt: and also trustyng, that if Ale­xander duke of Albanie, by his adie 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 the countrey of Scotlande, and make the kyng to knowe, that he had nei­ther honorably, 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 wer pre­pared, and nothyng was missed.

The .xxii. yere.The .xxii. yere.

WHen all thynges apperteignyng, to the furniture of suche an enterprise, were put in a readines, and ready to bee sette forward: kyng Edward appoynted, to be cheuetain of his hooste, and Lieuetenaunt generall, his brother Richarde Duke of Gloucester, and to hym associated, Henry, the .iiij Erle of Northumberlande, Thomas Lorde Stanley, Lorde Steward of his houshold, the lorde Louell, and the lorde Greystocke, and diuerse other noble men and knightes. These valiaūt capitaines, set forward in Maie, and made suche diligence, with pollitique cōueighaunce of their souldiers: beside the troubelous cariage, of their ordinaunce, that thei came to the toune of Alnewike, in Northumberlande, aboute the begin­nyng of Iuly, where thei firste encamped theimselfes, and Marshalled their hoste. The forward was led, by therle of Northumberlande, vnder whose standerd were, the lorde Scrope of Bolton, sir Ihon Middelton, sir Ihon Dichfeld, and diuerse other Knightes, Esquiers and souldiers to the nombre of sixe thousande, and seuen .C. men. In the middell ward was the Duke of Gloucester, and with hym the Duke of Albany, the lorde Louell the lorde Greystocke, sir Edwarde Woduile and other, to the nombre of fiue thousande, and eight .C. menne. The Lorde Neuell [Page] was appoynted to folowe, accompaignied with .iii.M. men. The lorde Stanley, led the wyng on the right hande, of the Dukes battaill, with iiii.M. men, of Lancashire and Chesshire: The lefte wyng was guyded by the lorde Fitz Hewe, sir Willyam a Parte, sir Iames Harryngton, with the nombre of .ii.M. men, and beside all these, there was a thousād men appoynted, to geue attendance on the ordinaunce. This royall ar­mie, not intendyng to slepe, but to geue the Scottes knowlege, of their arriuall in those parties, came sodainly by the water side, to the toune of Berwicke, and there, what with force, and what with feare of so greate an armie, toke and entered the toune: but therle Bothwell, beyng Capi­tain of the Castle, would in nowise deliuer it, neither for flatteryng wor­des, nor for manacyng bragges, wherefore, the capitaines deliberately consultyng together, planted a strong siege, and enuironed it rounde a­boute. When this siege was thus laied the twoo Dukes, and all the o­ther souldiers, except the lorde Stanley, sir Ihon Elryngton, threasorer of the kynges house, sir Willyam a Parre, and .iiii.M. men, that were lefte behinde, to kepe the siege before the Castle▪ departed frō Berwicke, toward Edenborough: And in marchyng thetherward, he brent and de­stroyed these tounes folowyng.

• Edryngton.
• Paxton. Fishewike.
• Brandike. ❧
• Hooton.
• Heton Hall.
• Mordyngton and the Bastile.
• Plome Horne and the toune.
• Bhroweshed and the Steple.
• Brome hill and the Bastile.
• Edram.
• Estrusbet.
• Blakater and the Branke won.
• Kallow, and Kamorgan.
• Whitsonelawes.
• Brynlenyn and Ryselaw.
• Elbanke.
• Hockas.
• Betroside.
• Erneslaw and the Bastill won.
• Hilton and Whitsome.
• Mykyll Swynton and the Bastile.
• Litle Swynton and the bastill.
• Somprone and Harden.
• Croffirge and Whitside.
• Edyngham. Whitmere.
• Newtowne.
• Duryng whiche tyme, the erle of Northūberland, brent these tounes
• Yatham, and Yatham.
• Brymsed and the Bastell.
• Low houses and the bastell.
• Cheritrees and Hoyepe.
• Cliffton, Coto, and Hawmon.
• Hawmon Grawnge and Hawdon.
• Marbotell and the bastile.
• Lynton with the Bastile.
• Part of Cawarden brent.
• Chedworthe and Craylam and the Bastill.
• Neskot, Neskett, and olde Rokes­borough.
• Ednam, and the bastill wonne.
• Ednam isle, Benlaw.
• Ousnam, Long Puolo deliuered.
• Croke, Ashewes, Mydpropes and the Bastell.
• Cossemaynes and the bastell won.
• Weddon and the bastell.

While these thynges were in doyng, kyng Iames of Scotlande, ha­uyng small cōfidence in his commonaltie, and lesse trust in his nobilitie, [Page CCxliiii] did voluntarely incarcerate & enclose hym selfe in the strong Castell of Maydens in Edenborough, perfitly trustyng there to be out of all do­ubtes & daunger, except famyn or treason, caused hym violently to opē the portes or gates, whereof the duke of Glocester entered into the toune and at the especial request & desire of the duke of Albany, saued y^• toune and thenhabitantes of thesame, from fier, bloud & spoyle, takynge onely such presentes as the merchātes gentelly offered him & his capitaynes: Causing Gartier, principal kyng at armes, to make a publique Proclamacion at the high Crosse in the market place of Edenboroughe, in the which he warned & admonished, Iames kyng of Scottes, to kepe, ob­serue & performe all such promises, cōpactes, 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 cō ­digne and sufficient recompence to his subiectes, for the great tyrannye spoyle and crueltye, that he and his people had perpetrate & committed cōtrary to his league, within the marches and territories of his realme of Englande, before the firste daye of August nexte ensuynge.

And farther without delay to restore the high and mighty prince Alex­ander, duke of Albanie, his naturall 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, leuetenaunt generall, and chiefetayne for y^• kyng of England, was redy at hand to destroy him, his people and coū trey with slaughter, flame & famyn.

Kyng Iames would make no aunswere, neither by woorde nor by writing, knowing that his 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 Hadyngton with a great puyssaunce, hearyng the kynge of Englandes reasonable desyre, de­termined firste to practise wyth the Duke of Glocester for a peace, and so to haue the Castell of Berwycke to their parte, and after by some meanes to allure the duke of Albanye, from the English amitie, & vpon this mocion, the .ii. day of August they wrote to the duke of Glocester, that the mariage betwene the prince of England shoulde be accomplis­shed in all poyntes, according to the couenantes agreed, and the instru­mentes therof engrosed, rquyryng farther that a peace from thens [...]urth might be louyngly concluded betwene bothe the Realmes. The duke of Glocester wisely and circumspectly certefied thē agayn, that as tou­chyng the article of mariage, 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 affirmaunce or deniāce of thesame but he desyred full restitucion of all such summes of money, as for the sayd mariage before time had ben disbursed, or prested out in loue. And where the sayd lordes desyred to haue a peace, concluded from thens­furth, betwene both the sayd realmes. He fyrst required to haue the Ca­stell [Page] of Barwyke 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^e king of Scottes, nor none of his subiectes, nor any other by his procurement or pro­uoking, should ayde, comfort or assist with victayle, ordinaūce, or other wise the Capitayne, Constable, or souldiers of the sayd Castel, durynge the siege.

The Lordes, Prelates, Barons, and estates of the realme of Scot­lande, perceyuing & wel pondering, bothe the answer & the demaundes of the duke of Glocester, sent to him sufficiently enstructed with these conclusions, the reuerend father Andrew, elect of Murray, and the lord Ihon De [...]nele, which thus answered, that where the sayd duke desyred repayment of y^e summes of money, delyuered in part of payment, for the contract of mariage, to be made betwene the prince of Scotland and y^• kynges daughter of England: the tyme of lawfull contract of mariage is not yet come, because of the minoritie of the said prince and princesse. And the faute hereof is, that no day was apoynted for the money, to be payed before the contract began. And if the king your brother woulde demaunde farther assurance, either for the contract to be made, or for y^• payment of the money, they promised therunto, accordinge to reason to agre. Secondarely, as touching the Castel of Berwike, they sayd al we know wel ynough, that it is the olde enheritance of the croune of Scotlande, 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 standeth in Scotland, & ouer the Scottish ground. The duke, not withstandinge their saiyn­ges, would cōdiscend to no peace, without the Castel of Barwyke were rendered to the kyng of England, and so y^• messengers departed, and on thesame day the Archebishop of sainct Andrewes, the bishop of Dūkelle Colyn, erle of Argyle, lord Cambell and lorde Andrew, lord Auandale, Chaunceler of Scotlande, wrote vnto the duke of Albanye a solempne and autenticall instrumēt, signed and sealed with their seales, binding their bodies, landes and goodes to the sayd duke, that if he would here­after be obedient to the kyng of Scottes, and kepe & obserue his fayth 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 be ra­ [...]fied & approued by the kyng and 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 was truly 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. [Page CCxlv] And promised bothe by word & by writing of his awne hande to do & performe all such thinges, as he before that tyme had sworne & promised to kyng Edwarde, notwithstanding any agremēt, 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 othe before y^e duke of Glocester, and sealed the writyng the thyrd day of August in y^e English Cāpe 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 lieuetenaūt of Scotland, & in the kynges name made Proclamacion, y^• all mē shoulde be redy, vpon peyne of death within .viii. dayes 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 this preparaciō to the duke of Glocester, hūbly requiring 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 honorable nor commendable in hym, too helpe, to reise the siege, at the layeng whereof he was counsayler & partener, nor yet to reward y^e king of England, with such a displeasure for his kyndnes costes and expēses to hym in hys extreme necessitie, louingly shewed and liberally 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^e Castell of Barwyke, that he hym selfe with hys armye woulde defende the besegiers, or els dye in the quarell.

The counsayl of Scotlande sagely & poletiquely sawe before, that if they shoulde come to reyse the siege, that the duke of Glocester woulde with them shortly encoūter, and then if they lost the felde, both y^• strēgth of the Realme was brought to an imbecilitie, the nobles sore minished, and the castell lost and taken. And on the other side, if they obtayned victorie, nothyng was gotten but the pore towne of Barwyke, and thei were likely sone to be inuaded with a greater power shortly agaī, wher­fore they sent Lyon kyng at Armes to the duke of Glocester, offering to hym as they thought, two offers very reasonable, the one was, that if he would promise on his honor to subuerte and cast doune the toune wal­les of Barwyke, they would likewise race, and clerely deface the walles Towres and portes of the Castell, 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 thesame. And farther the forsayd Lyon desired an abstinēce of warre to be takē, tyll the two dukes might haue cōmunicacion of grauous matters, con­cernyng the welthes of bothe the Realmes. The duke of Glocester refu­sed bothe the offers saiyng, that he had long mainteined the siege before the Castell of Barwyke, to no small waste and exhaustyng of hys bro­thers treasure and ryches, and to the great trauayle and payne of the Lordes, Gentilmen, and men of warre, that continuallye made there [Page] abode and dayly residens at the sayd seige: wherfore he sayd, that he in this poynt was fermely resolued, not to departe tyll 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: wherfore he would by no meane harken 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 whiche answere the Herault departed, and thereof made relacion to the lordes and counseyll of Scot­land. Whē the dukes answere was of them well digested, they euidētly perceyuing that the castell of Barwyke was the onely maker of y^e 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 there shoulde be truce or absti­nence of warre taken and concluded for a determinate season. And ther­vpō they sent to the duke of Glocester a league indēted, 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, lieutenaūt general for the kyng of Englande, and Alexander duke of Albanye, lieuetenaūt for Iames kyng of Scottes, that an especial ab­stinence of warre should be kept and obserued betwixte the Realmes of England and Scotland, and the people of thesame, aswell by sea as by lāde, to begyn the .viii. day of September next ensuyng, and to endure tyll the .iiii. day of Nouember next folowyng. And in the meane season, the towne and castel of Barwyke, to be occupyed, and be in y^e reall pos­session of suche as by the kyng of Englandes deputie, should be apoin­ted and assigned with all and singuler such boundes, limites and terri­tories as the English uacion, last vsed and possessed, when the castell & towne were in the subieccion of the Englishmen. And all other marches and boundes, beyng in difference betwene the sayd Realmes, to stande and to be holden in lyke case and condicion, as they were before the last truce concluded. The duke of Glocester, which well perceyued that the Scottes more graunted to hys demaūdes, for relieue of their awne ne­cessitie, then to gratefie hym or the kyng hys brother in any poynt: like a wyse counseyler, toke hys aduantage when it was offered, and espe­cially because these thynges made for hys longe desyred purpose.

Fyrst 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 dependyng in variance betwene the Realmes (comenly 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 [Page CCxlvi] lordes pleasure and counsaill, meanynge thereby euer to kepe them as sueters to hym, & he no farther to seke on theim, and in the meane season to let that matter be in suspence. Whē he had sealed to the fyrst two Ar­ticles, and that they were sent agayne to the lordes of Scotlande, they them gladly receyued, and with good will embrased, and likewyse truly performed thesame: for the castell of Barwyke was incontinent deliue­red to the lord Stanley, and other thereto appoynted, whiche therein put bothe Englishe men 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 Hēry 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 auance hys fyrst requestes and demaundes, made and requyred of the lordes of Scotland, 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 & disbur­sed 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 and contentaciō of thesame money, which he also sent by thesaied Prouost to the Duke of Glocester to Alnewyke: The very Copy hereafter foloweth.

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 kyng Edward hys brother, whiche muche cōmended bothe hys valiaunt manhode, and also hys prudent pollicie, in conueyng hys busines, bothe to hys awne 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 mencioned mariage, to take effect, and procede to a conclusion, or els to requyre a repaymēt, and redelyuery of the summes of money, apprompted and layde out for thesame purpose. After long consultacion had, and it was considered in what case the realme & y^e kyng of Scottes stode in, for it was wel kno­wen that he and hys nobilitie were at great discord as you before haue hearde: it was considered farther, that if the nobilitie preuayled, and gat the souerayntie, the lyne and succession of Iames the thyrde, were likely to be totally extirpate, & disinherited for euer: it was also alleged [Page CCxlvij] that the prince of Scotlande, neuer condiscended nor as he hymselfe sayd, woulde agre to thys mocioned mariage. These thynges thus de­bated, the kyng by great aduice, 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 summes of money, as for the occasion of the sayde betrusted mariage was payd, and before hand contented & deliuered. And accordynge to the woordes of obligacion, made by the towne of Edenborough, he sent Gartier, hys principal kyng of Armes and Northumberland Herault, to declare and intimate to the Prouost and burgesses of Edenborough, the determinate refusall of the future matrimony, and the eleccion and choyse of the repayment of the money [...]nd duety. And for the farther ouerture of the whole conclusion. Gar­tier was instructed by writyng, what he should saye and declare: and so by conuenient iorneys came to the towne of Edenborough .viii. dayes before the feast of all sayntes, where he openly sayde as foloweth:

I gartier kynge of armes seruaunt, proctour and messenger vnto the most hygh and mighty prince, my most dread soueraygne lord Edward by the grace of God, kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, and lorde of Ireland, by vertue of certain letters of procuracie here redy to be she­wed to me, by my sayd souereygne lord made and geuen, make notyce and geue knowlege vnto you Prouost, Burgesses, marchauntes and communaltie of the towne of Edenborough in Scotlande, that where as it was sometyme commoned and agreed, betwene my sayde soue­raygne lorde on the one partie, and the righte hygh and mighty prince Iames kyng of Scottes, on the other partie, y^e mariage & matrimony should haue been solempnised, and had betwene Iames 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 ben performed▪ certayne and dyuers greate summes of money, ben payed and contented by my sayde souereygne lord, whiche summes of money, in cace of refusall of the sayde mariage, by my sayde soue­reygne lorde to be made 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 seale of your toune of Edē ­borough, to repaye vnto hys hyghnes vnder lyke forme, and at suche termes as they were fyrst payed. So that the kyng my souereygne lord woulde make notice and knowlege of hys pleasure, and eleccion in tal­kyng or refusynge of the sayde mariage, of the repayment of the sayde summes of money, before the feast of Alhalowes nexte to come, lyke as in your sayde letters, bearynge date at Edenboroughe the fourthe day of August last past, it was conteyned all at large. The pleasure and eleccion of my sayd souereygne lord, for dyuers causes and consideracions hym mouynge, is to refuse the accomplishement 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 [Page] repaymente to be had of you Prouoste, Burgesses, merchauntes and communaltie, and euery of you, youre heyres and successours, accor­dynge to your bonde and obligacion afore rehersed. And therefore I geue you notice and knowlege 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 maye ensue.

When Gartier had thus declared al thinges, geuen to him in char­ge, the Prouost or other Burgesses made aunswere, that they now kno­wynge the kynges determinate pleasure, woulde accordynge to theyr bonde, prepare for the repayment of the sayde summes, and gentelly en­terteynyng Gartier cōueyghed hym to Barwyke, from whēce he depar­ted to new Castell, to the ouke of Glocester, makyng relacion to hym of all hys 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 hym out of captiuitie and pryson, wherin he had a certaine space continued (not without the dukes assente, whiche besie­ged hym in the Castell of Edenborough a littell before) & set him at lar­ge, of whome vtwardly he receyued great thankes, when inwardly no­thynge but reuengyng and confusion was in the kynges stomacke in­corporate, so that shortly after in the kynges presence, he was in icopar­dye of hys lyfe, and all improuided for dread of death, coacted to take a small balynger, and to sayle into Fraunce, where shortly after tydynge by the men of armes, which encontered at the tylt, by Lewes then duke of Orliaunce, after Frenche kyng he was with mischarging of a speare by fortunes peruerce countenaunce pytyfullye slayne and broughte to death, leauyng after hym one onely sonne, named Ihon, whiche beynge banished Scotland, enhabited and maried in Fraunce, and there died. How dolorous, how sorowfull is it to wryte, and muche more pencifull to remember the chaunces, & infortunites that happened within twoo yere in Englande and Scotlande, betwene naturall bretherne. For kyng Edward set on by suche as enuied the estate of the duke of Cla­rence, forgettyng nature, and fraternall amitie, consented to the deathe of hys sayde brother. Iames kynge of Scottes, puttynge in obliuion that Alexander hys brother was the onely Organe and instrument, by whome he obteyned libertie and fredome, seduced and led by Uyle and malicious persons, whiche maligned at the glorie and indifferent iu­stice of the duke of Albanye, imagened and compassed hys deathe, and exiled him for euer? what a pernicious serpent, what a venemous tode, & what a pestiferous Scorpion is that deuelishe whelpe, called priuye enuye? Agaynst it no fortres can defend, no caue can hyde, no wood can shadow, no foule 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, scrachyng of her pawes, blastyng of her breath, defoulynge of her tayle.

[Page CCxlviij]Wherefore, let euery indifferent persone, serche Histories, rede Chro­nicles, looke on aucthores, aswell holy as prophane, and thei shall ap­parauntly perceiue, that neither open warre, daily famyne, or accusto­med mortalitie, is not so muche an enemie, nor so greate a malle to de­stroye, and suppeditate high power and nobilitie, as is roted malice, inwarde grudge, and dissimuled 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 whiche 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 dispaire, sometyme hote, sometyme colde, that the Matrimonie of his daughter, and Charles the dolphin, should come to the solempnizacion, accordyng to the leage, betwene him and the Frēche kyng, concluded at Picquegnie: Now was he cast into an indissoluble Melancoly, and a continuall cold: For the lorde Hawarde, whiche was returned out of Fraunce, with many faire wordes, and painted promises but without tribute, or conclusiō of the marige, certified the kyng of his awne knowlege: 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 Burbon, the lorde Dalbret, 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 his dissimulyng woordes, neither meanyng as he saied, nor shewyng what he meante: Determined with hymself, no longer to suffre so apparaunt wrong, nor so intollerable 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 paiment of the tribute, as also, in refusyng the accomplishmēt of the mariage of his daughter, accordyng as in the treatie was concluded. Requiryng them therfore 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 thei so oftē times had vanquished, & profligated in battail, and that for the dignitie, and fame of their Conntrey, thei would let no­thyng be vnatempted, 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, thei be prohibited to weare armure) to aide hym with money, for mainteinaunce of his warres, and suppressyng of his enemies.

The .xxiii. yere.The .xxiii. yere.

BEholde, while he was intentiue, and amployed his whole labor, diligence, and industrie, 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 vntruthe and vnkyndnes, or were it by any superfluous surfet (to the whiche he was muche geuen) he sodainly fell sicke, and was with a gr [...]uous maledy ta­ken, yea, so greuously taken, that his vitaill spirites, began to faile and waxe feble, whiche debilitie when he perceiued, he called together all his nobles, whiche, that tyme wer aboute 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 frendes, counsailers, and alies, if wee mortall men would daily and hourely, with our self reuolue, and intēti­uely in our hartes engraue, or in our mindes grauously pōder, the fraile and fadyng imbecilitie, of our humain natur▪ and the caduke fragilitie of thesame: wee should apparauntly perceiue, that we beyng called rea­sonable creatures, and in that predicament, compared and ioyned with Angelles, bee more worthy to be numcupate, and de [...]ed persones vnre­sonable, and rather to bee associate in that name with brute beastes, cal­led vnreasonable (of wohse life and death, no creature speaketh) rather then in that poynt, to bee tesembled 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 remēbred his fatall 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 profite, continuanuce 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 ob [...]uscate and seduced, with that lothargious, and deceiable serpent, called hope of long life, that all wee 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, we 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 samentyng▪ and inwardly bewailyng, that I did not performe and finally cōsumate, suche pollitique diuises, and good and Godly or­dinaunces, 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 naturall life, I can neither per­forme, [Page CCxlix] neither yet liue to see, either to take effecte, or to short to take any conclusion. For God I call to record, my harte was fully sette, and my mynde 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 puyssaunce, and your frendly assistence, the proudest Prince of Europe, durste not once attempte, 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 immagi­ned, that stelyng thief death, goeth about to subuerte, and in the momēt of an houre, clerely to suppeditate, wherefore (as men saie) I now beyng driuen to the verie hard wall: hauyng perfect confidence, and sure hope in the approbate fidelitie, and constaunt integritie, whiche I haue euer experimented, and knowen to bee radicate and planted, in the hartes of your louyng bodies, toward me and myne. So that I maie saie and ad­uowe, that neuer Prince bearyng scepter and Croune, ouer realmes and regions, hath found or proued, more faithfuller counsailers, nor trewer subiectes, then I haue doen of you, nor neuer 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 wi­sedomes, and sober discresions. Am 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, faithfull, obediēt, and to all my requestes and desires, (while I was here in healthe, conuersant with you) diligent and intentiue: So after my death, my hope is with a sure anchor grounded, and myne in­warde conceipte vndubitatly resolued, that the especiall confidence, and inwarde fidelitie, whiche, so long hath continued betwene vs, beyng to gether liuyng, 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 Matrimonie, if the ofspryng after dooe not agree and con­corde? Or what profiteth Princes, to auaunce and promote their subie­ctes, if after their death, the bountifulnes by theim shewed, be of the re­ceiuers of thesame and their sequele, neither regarded nor yet remembe­red? The parētes make the mariage, for an indissoluble amitie, Princes promote sometyme for fauoure, sometyme for deserte, and sometyme for pleasure: yet (if you will consider) the verie pricke, to the whiche all gif­tes of promocions, do finally tend it, is to haue loue, fauor, faithful coū ­saill, and diligent seruice, 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 remembraunce, the fauor, estima­cion, and auauncement, which, thei of so liberal and munificent a prince had receiued and obteined: should with spere and shelde, toungue and [Page] wit, hande and penne, continually studie to defende, counsaill and prefer not onely hym duryng his life, but also to serue, assist, and maintein his sequ [...]le, and lineall succession, as the verie Images, and carnall portra­tures, of his stirpe, line, and stemne, naturally discēded. In this case am I, whom you knowe, not without ineffable trouble, and moste daunge­rous wart, to haue obteined the scepter, and diademe of this realme and Empire, duryng whiche reigne, I haue had either litle peace, or small tranquilitie: And now when I thought my self, sure of a quiet life, and worldly rest, death hath blowen his terrible trompet, callyng and somo­nyng me (as I truste) to perpetuall tranquilitie, and eternall quietnes: therefore now for the perfecte, and vnmoueable confidence, that I haue euer had in you, and for the vnfained loue, that you haue euer shewed vnto me, I commende and deliuer into your gouernaūce, 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 sciēces liberall, verteous morall and good literature: but also to be practised in trickes of marciall acti­uitie, and diligent exercise of prudent 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 maie writhe and turne theim, into euery forme and fashiō: If you bryng them vp in vertue, you shall haue verteous Princes: if you set them to learnyng, your gouernors shalbee men of knowlege, 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 teady) not onely their honor, but al­so your honestie, shalbe spotted and appalled: If thei bee slogardes and geuen to slothe, the publique wealth of this realme, must shortly decaye. If thei be vnlearned, thei maie by flattery sone bee blinded, & by adula­cion often deceiued. If thei lacke actiuitie, euery creature be he neuer so base of birthe, shall foyle and ouerthrowe theim, like domme beastes and beastly dastardes. Therfore I desire you, and in Goddes name ad­iure you, rather to studie to make theim riche, in Godly knowlege, and verteous qualities, then to take pain to glorifie theim, with abundance of worldely treasure, and mundain superfluitie. And certainly, whē thei come to maturitie of age, and shall peraduenture considre, that by your omission and negligent educaciō, thei haue not suche graces, nor are en­dued with suche notable qualities, as thei might haue been, if you had performed the truste to you, by me committed: Thei shall not onely de­plore, and lament their vngarnished estate, and naked condicion, but also 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 kyngdom also, I leue in your gouernaunce, duryng the minori­tie [Page CClx] of my children, chargyng you on your honors, othes, and fidelitie, made and sworne to me, so indifferently to ordre and gouerne, the subie­ctes of thesame, bothe with iustice and mercie, that the willes of malefa­ctors, haue 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, that I muste make an ende, and now before you al I commende my soule to almightie God, my sauior and redemer: my body to the wormes of the yearth, my kyngdom 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 maladie sodainly encreased, and grewe to so painfull an extremitie, that short death was soner of him required, then longer life desired, wishyng rather departyng out of this worlde, then to abide the painfull smarte, of his dolorous pangues. Wherfore Attrapos hauyng compassion, of his continuall languishyng, and dai­ly agony, dirupted and brake the threde, of his naturall life, the .ix. daie of Aprill, in the yere of our Lorde, M.CCCC.lxxxiii. and in the fiftie yere of his bodily age, when he had reigned ouer this Realme, more in trouble then perfecte quietnes .xxii. yeres, one monethe and eight daies: whose corps was with funerall 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 asmuchelamented of his subiectes, as his life desired. He begat of the Quene Elizabeth his wife, tenne children, whereof he left liuyng twoo soonnes, Edward Prince of Wales, and Richard duke of Yorke, and a bastard sonne called Arthur, whiche, after was Uicount Lisle, and came to good profe: beside these he left fiue daughters, Elizabeth, Cicilie, Anne, Katherine, and Briget: all these wer maried, except lady Briget, whiche was a Nonne professed.

This kyng 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 brested, 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 st [...]e and bold, & of courage 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 bountifull 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 humanitie and lowlines, that in hym was by nature moste abundauntly engendered, he vsed himself emong meane persones, more [Page] 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 liberalitie, was towarde his latter ende, geuen to auarice and loue of money. And although he founde his kyngdome, greatly impouerished, 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 abundaunt. The spiritu­all promocions, he gaue euer to the moste fa­mous and excellent Clerkes, and men of the best liuing: Other of meane qualities, whom he muche fauored, he did not pre­ferre to greate di­gnitie and high promociōs but with money re­warded theim, whiche thyng many Princes (regar­dyng not their honors) do not con­sider nor obserue: with all whiche nota­ble vertues, he ioyned to hym so surely the hartes of his people, that after his death, his life again was daily wisshed, and effecteously e­mong his Subiectes desired, but wis­shyng serued not, nor yet their de­sire tooke none effecte.

¶The .ii. yere.

ANd shortely after, The .ii. yere he was vnquieted by a conspiracye, or rather a confederacye betwene the duke of Buckyngham and many other gentlemen a­gainst, him as ye shall heare: But y^e occasion why the duke and the kynge fell out, is of diuerse folke diuer­sely pretended. This duke as you haue harde before, assone as y^• duke of Gloucester after y^• 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 suche messages as you haue harde before. And after the duke of Buckyngham came with .CCC. horse to Northampton 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 woulde mar­ueill wherof the chaunge grewe 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 al men knewe, tyll the house of Yorke depriued the third kynge, whiche was Henry the sixte▪ Kynge Richarde somewhat mistrusted and conceiued suche an [Page] indignacion, that he reiected the dukes request, with many spitefull, and minotary wordes, whiche so wounded the dukes harte with hatred and mistrust, that he could neuer after endure to loke right on king Richard but euer feared his awne lyfe, so farre foorth, that when the Protectoure should ryde to his coronaciō, he feigned hym self sycke, because he would do hym no honoure. And the other takyng 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 golde embrodered, he roade before the kyng through Londō with an euill will and woorse 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 that eche of them euer after lyued continually in suche hatred and dystrust of other, that the duke looked verely to haue bene murthe­red at Gloucester, from whiche he in fayre maner departed: but sure­ly suche as were righte secrete with bothe, affirme all this to be vntrue and other wyse men thynke it vnlykely, the deepe dissymulyng nature of bothe these menne well considered. And what nede in that grene worlde the protectoure 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 protectour occa­sion of mystruste. And surely men thynke, that yf kyng Richard had any suche opinion conceyued 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 Buckyngham 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 tyme as the corune was set vpon the protectours hed, his eye could ne­uer abyde the sight therof, but wryed his hed 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 demaūde of the dukes request vncurteously reiected, but gently deferred, but bothe he with great giftes and high be hestes in mooste louynge and trustye maner departed from the kynge to Gloucester. Thus euery man iudged as he thought, but soone after his commyng home to Breckenocke, hauyng there by kyng Richardes commaundemēt doctor Mortō bishop of Ely, who before as you haue haue harde was taken at the counsaill at the towre, waxed with hym very fa­milier, whose onely wysedome abused his pride, to his owne deliueraūce and the dukes distruction. The byshop was a man of greate naturall witte, very well learned and of honourable behaueour, lackyng no wyse wayes to wynne fauoure. He was fyrst vpon the parte of kyng Henrye, whyle that parte was in wealthe, and neither lefte it nor forsoke it in no woo, but fled the realme with the quene and the prynce. And whyle king Edward had kynge Henry in prison, he neuer returned but to the felde at Barnet: After whiche felde lost and vtterly subdued and all parte ta­kynges extynguished, kyng Edwarde for his fast fayth and wysedome▪ [Page xxx] as not onely contente to receyue hym, but also wooed him to come and had hym from thensforthe bothe in secrete truste and speciall fauoure, whom he nothynge deceyued. For the 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 deuisyng the mariage betwene the lady Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourth, by the whiche his faithfull and true seruice declared to bothe his maisters at once, was an infinitie be­nefite to the realme, by the coniunction of the bloudes of Lancaster and Yorke, whose funerall titles had longe iniquieted the realme. This man afterwarde escaped from the duke and fled the realme, and neuer retur­ned, and wente to Rome, neuer myndynge to medle with the worlde, tyll kynge Henry the seuenth sent for him, and after made hym Archebishop of Cauntorbury and Chaunceloure of Englande, and after was made Cardinall, and liued well to all mens iudgementes and died well. But to retourne to the former purpose, he by the longe and often alternate proofe, as well of prosperitee as aduerse fortune, had gotten by greate experience the very mother and mastres of wisedome, and depe insighte in pollitike & worldly driftes, wherby perceiuyng now the duke to com­mon with hym, [...]ed hym with fayre woordes and many pleasaunte pray­ses, and perceiuynge by the grefe of their communicacions the dukes pryde nowe and then to balke out a litle brayde of enuy toward the glo­ry of the kynge, and thereby felynge hym easye to fal out yf the matter were well handeled, he craftely sought the wayes to prycke hym forward takynge alwayes the occasyon of his commyng, and also kepynge hym selfe close within his bandes that he rather semed to folowe hym then to leade hym. For when the duke beganne fyrst to prayse and boast the kynge and shewe howe muche profite the realme shoulde take by his reigne: Byshop Morton answered, surely my lorde, folye it were for me to lye, for I am sure yf I woulde swere the contrarie ye woulde not once beleue me but yf the worlde woulde haue begone as I would haue wy­shed, that kynge Henries sonne had had the crowne and not kynge Ed­warde, then would I haue bene his true and faithfull [...]ubiecte, 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 succeded him howbeit yf the se­cret iudgemēt of God haue otherwyse prouided, I purpose not to spur­ne against the pricke, nor labour to set vp that God pulleth doune. And as for the late protector and nowe kyng: and with that worde he lefte, sa­uynge that he sayd that he had already medled to muche with the world and would from that day medle with his booke and beades, and no fur­ther. Then longed the duke sore to heare, what he would haue sayde, be­cause he ended with the kyng, and there so sodaynly stopped, and exhor­ted [Page] hym familierly, betwene them bothe 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 entended to vse his faithefull secrete aduice and coun­sayle, whiche he sayd was the onely cause for the whiche he procured of the kynge to haue hym in his custodye, where he might recon hym felf at home, or els he had bene put in the handes of them with whom he should not haue founde like fauour. 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 the word be without faute, but yet it must be as it pleaseth y^• prince to construe it. And euer I thinke on 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 growyng out of his heade, fled a greate pace: the Foxe that sawe hym flye with all the hast, asked hym whether he fled? In faith quod he, I neither wote ne recke, so I were once hence, because of the proclamacion made against horned beastes. What foole quod the foxe, the Lyon neuer ment it by the, for that whiche thou haste is no horne in thy heade. No mary quod he, I wote that well ynough, but yf he say it is a horne, where am I then? The duke laughed merely at the tale and said, my lorde I warraunte you, neither the Lyon nor the bore shall 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 purpose not to dispute his title, but for y^• wealthe of this realme, whereof his grace hath nowe the gouernaunce, and whereof 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 youre grace, and there lefte of agayne. The duke somewhat maruelynge at his sodaine pau­ses as though thei were but parentheses, with a high coūtenaunce saied: my lorde I euidentelye perceyue and no lesse note your often breathyng and sodayne stoppynge in your cōmunicacion, so that to my intelligence your wordes neither come to any dyrect or perfect sentence in conclusiō, wherby either I myght perceyue and haue knowlege what your inward entent is now toward the kyng, or what affection you beare toward me. For the comparyson of good qualities ascribed to vs bothe (for the whi­che 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 [Page xxxij] thynkynge 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, whiche 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 somewhat boulder, consyderynge the dukes promyse, but moste of all ammated 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 Richarde, was nowe bol [...]e­ned to open his stomacke euē to the very bottome, entendyng thereby to compasse howe to destroye and vtterly confounde kynge Richarde, 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 bee safe and escape out of all daunger and perell, whiche 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 maye rather call it a li­berall libertie more them a straight emprysonmente, in a voydynge ydel­nes mother and norissher of all vices, in redynge bookes and aunciente pamphlettes I haue found this sentence wrytten, that no man is borne fre and in libertie of hym selfe onely, for one parte 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, demaūdeth 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 assueraunce 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 encorporate in my breaste, that is, when I consider and in my mynde do diligentely remember, and dayly beholde youre noble perso­nage, your iustice▪ and indifference, your [...]eruente zele and ardente loue towarde your natural contrey, and in lyke maner y^• loue of your contrie towarde you, the greate learnynge, pregnaunte witte and goodly e­loquence, whiche so muche dothe abounde in the persone of youre 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 [Page] in whose persone beynge endued with so many princelye 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 tyrannie, so thaunged, & altered by vsurped aucthoritee, so clouded and shadowed by blynde and infaciable ambicion, ye and so so­dainlye (in maner by a metamorphosis) transformed from politike ciui­litie, to detestable tyrannie: I must nedes saie and iustlie affirme, that he is neither mete to be a kynge of so noble a realme, nor so famous a re­alme mete to be gouerned by suche a tyraunte: Was not his firste inter­prise to obtaine the crowne begonne and incepted by the murther of dy­uers noble valiaunt trewe and vertuous personages: O a holy begyn­nyng to come to a myscheuous endyng, dyd he not secondarelie procede contrarie to al lawes of honestie, shamefully agaynst his awne naturall mother, beyng a womā of much honour, and more vertew, declaryng her openlie to be a woman geuen to carnall affection, and dissolute liuinge (whiche thynge yf it had bene trewe as it was not in dede, [...]uery good and naturall childe would haue rather mummed at, then to haue blasted a broade and especially she beyng a lyue.) Declarynge farthermore hys ii. brethren and his .ii. nephewes to be bastardes & to be borne in auou­trey, yet not whith all this contente. After that he had obteyned the gar­lande for the whiche he so longe thristed, he caused the two poore innocēs his nephewes committed to hym, for especiall truste, to be murthered and shamefully to be kylled. The bloud of whiche sely and lyttel ba­bes dayly crye to God, from the earthe for vengaunce. Alas my harte sobbith, to remember this bloudy boutcher and cruel monster, what suretie shall be in this realme to any person, other for life or goo­des vnder suche a cruell prynce, whyche regardeth not the destruction of his awne bloude, and then lesse the losse of other. And most especially as oftentymes it chaunceth, 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 especiall of noble and wealthy personages hauynge greate possessions and riches: Suche a lorde is Lucifer when he is en­tred into the harte of a proude prynce, geuen to couetousnes and crueltie. But nowe my Lorde to conclude what I meane towarde your noble persone, I saye and affirme, yf you loue God, your ly­nage, or youre natyue contrye, your muste yower selfe take vpon you the Crowne and Diademe of this noble empyre, 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 arrogante oppressor. For thus I dare saye, yf any foren prynce or potentate, ye the Turcke hym [Page xxxiij] 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 subiectes mete to lyue vnder suche a gouernour: dispise not, nor forsake not so manifeste occasion so louingly offered. And yf you your self kno­wing the payne and trauaill that apperteyneth 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 adiure you by y^e faithe that you owe to God, by youre honoure and by your othe made to Saincte George patron of the noble ordre 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 discrecion 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^e 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 vp again the linage of Lancaster or auaunce the eldest doughter of kynge Edward to some highe and puyssaunte prince, not onely the newe crowned kynge shall smal tyme enioy the glorie of his dignitie, but also al ciuile warr should cease, all domesticall discorde should slepe, and peace, profite and quiet­nies should be set forth and embrased. When the bishoppe had thus en­ded his saiyng, y^e duke sighed and spake not of a greate while, which sore abashed the bishop and made hym chaunge couler: which thing when the duke apperceiued, he saide, be not afrayde my lorde, all promyses shall be kept, to morow we wyl cōmon more: let vs go to supper, so that night they commoned no more, not a litle to the iniquietacion of the bishoppe, whiche nowe was enen as desirous to knowe the dukes mynde and en­tent, as the duke longed the daye before to knowe his opinion and mea­nyng. So the nexte daie, the duke sente for the byshoppe and rehersed to hym in maner (for he was bothe wyttie and eloquente) all the communi­cacion 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 all thin­ges howe muche is this realme of Englande and the people of the same bounden to thy goodnes, for where we now be in vexacion and trouble with greate stormes oppressed sayling and tossyng in a desperate shippe without good maister or gouernour: but by thy healp good lord I trust or long tyme passe that we shall prouyde for such a ruler as shalbe both to thy pleasure, and also to the securite and sauegarde of this noble re­alme. And then he put on his bonett saiyng to the byshoppe, my lord of Ely whose trewe harte and syncere affeccion towarde me at all tymes, I haue euidentlie perceyued and knowen, and nowe moste of all in our last preuie cōmunicacion and secrete deuisynge, I must nedes in hart thinke [Page] and with mouthe confesse and saie; that you be a sure frende, a trustye counsailour, a vigilante foresear, a very louer of your countrey, a natu­rall countreyman: for whiche kyndnes for my parte, I moste louinglye render to you my hartye thankes nowe with wordes: hereafter tru­styng to recompence and remunerate you with dedes, yf life and power shall serue. And sithe at oure last communicacion, you haue disclosed, and opened, the very secretes and priuities of your stomacke, touchinge the duke of Gloucester nowe vsurper of the crowne, and also haue a lit­tel touched the auauncemēt of the .ii. noble famelyes of Yorke & Lāca­ster: I shall likewyse not onely declare and manifeste vnto you, all my open actes, attemptes and doynges, but also my preuie ententes, and se­crete cogitacions. To the entent that as you haue vnbuckeled your bo­gett of your preuie meanynges, 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 disseaced, to whome I thought my selfe littell or nothynge beholden, (all thoughe we .ii. had maried two systers) because, he neither promoted nor preferred me, as I thoughte I was worthy & had deserued, nether fauored nor regarded me, accordynge to 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 chyldren, because I founde small hu­manitie, or none in there par [...]nte. I then beganne to studie, and with mature, deliberacion, to ponder and consyder, howe & in what maner this re [...]lme shoulde be ruled and gouerned. And fyrste I remembred an olde prouerbe worthy of memorye, that often ruithe the realme, where chyldren rule, and women gouerne. This olde adage so sanke, and settelled in my heade, that I thought it a great errour, and extreme mys­chyefe to the hole realme, either to suffer the younge kynge to rule, or the qu [...]ne his mother to be a gouernour ouer hym, consyderynge that her brethrene, and her fyrst chyldren (all thoughe they were not extracte of highe and noble lynage) toke more vpon them, and more exalted them selues by reason of the quene, then dyd the kynges brethrene, or any duke in his realme: Which in conclusion turned to there confusion. Thē I beinge persuaded whith my self in this poyncte, thought it neces­sarie bothe for the publique and profitable welthe of this realme, and also for myne awne commoditie and emolumente, to take parte with thee duke of Eloucester: Whome I assure you I thoughte to be as cl [...]ane withoute dissimulacion, as tractable withoute iniurie, as mercifull withoute crueltie, as nowe I knowe hym perfectely to be a dissembler with­oute veritie, a tyraunte withoute petie, yea, and worse then the tyraunte phaleres, destitute of all trutghe and clemencie: And so by my 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 [Page xxxiiij] realme, whiche aucthorite once gotten, and the two chyldren partelie by policie broughte vnder his gouernaunce, he beynge moued with that gnawynge and couetous serpēt, desyered to reigne and neuer ceased pri­uelie to exhorte and require (yea & some tymes with minatorie termes) to persuade me and other lordes aswell spirituall as temporall, that he myghte take vpon hym the crowne, tyll the prynce came to the age of foure and twenty yeres, and were able to gouerne the realme, as a ma­ture and sufficiente kynge: Whiche thynge when he sawe me somewhat stycke at, both for the straungenes of the example (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 gladlie dis­cende agayn, he then brought in instrumētes, autentike doctours, proc­toures, and notaries of the lawe, with deposicions of diuers wytnes­ses, testifieng kyng Edwards children to be bastardes, which deposiciōs then I thought to be as trewe, as now I knowe them to be fayned, and testifyed by persones with rewardes vntruelye subornate. When the saide deposicions were before vs redde and diligently harde, he stoode vp bare hedded saiyng: Wel my lordes, euen as I & you sage & discrete counsailers woulde that my nephewe shoulde haue no wronge: So I praie you do me nothynge but righte. For these witnesses and saiynges of famous doctors being trew▪ I am onely the vndubitate heire to lord Richard plantagenet duke of Yorke, adiudged to be the very heire to the crowne of this realme by aucthoritee of parliamente, whiche thin­ges▪ so by learned men to vs for 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 attayn­der of his father was disabled to inherite, and also y^• duke hym self was named to be a bastarde, as I my selfe haue harde spoken, and that vpon greate presumpcions more tymes then one: so agayn by my ayde and fa­uour, he of a protectour was made a kyng, and of a subiecte made a go­uernour, at which tyme he promysed me on his fidelite, laiyng his hand in myne at Baynarde Castel, that the .ii. young princes should lyue, and that he would so prouide for them and so mayntaine them in honorable estate▪ y^e 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 cōdicions as y^• adder doeth her skynne, verefieng y^• old pro­uerbe, honoures chaunge maners, as the parishe prest remembreth that he was neuer parishe clerck. For when I my self sued to him for my part of the Earle of Ha [...]fordes landes whiche his brother kynge Ed­warde wrongefully de [...]eyned and with helde from me, and also required to haue the office of the highe constable shyppe of Englande, as di­uers of my noble anunceters before this tyme haue had, and in longe discente continued. In thys my fyrst suyte shewynge his good myn­de towarde me, he dyd not onely fyrste delaye me, and afterwarde de­nay me, but gaue me suche vnkynde woordes, with suche tauntes and [Page] retauntes ye in maner checke and checke mate to the vttermooste profe of my pacience. As though I had neuer furthered him but hyndered him as though I had put hym downe and not sett hym vp: yet all these vn­gratitudes and vndeserued vnkyndnes I bare closlye & suffered pacien­telie and couertly remembred, owtwardely dissimulynge that I inwar­delie thoughte, and so with a payncted countenaunce I passed the laste summer in his last compaignie, not withoute many faier promyses, but withoute any good dedes. But when I was credibly enformed of the death of the .ii. younge innocentes, his awne natural nephewes contra­rie to his faith and promyse, to the whiche God be my iudge I neuer a­greed nor condiscended. O lord, how my veynes panted, howe my body trembled, and my harte inwardely grudged, in so much that I so abhor­red the sighte and muche more the compaignie of hym, that I coulde no lenger abyde in his courte, excepte I shoulde be openly reuenged. The ende wherof was doutfull, and so I fayned a cause to departe, and with a mery countenaunce and a dispiteful harte I toke my leaue humbly of hym (he thinkyng nothynge lesse then that I was displeased) and so re­turned to Brecknock to you. But in y^• iourney as I returned whyther it were by the inspiracion of the holy ghost, or by Melancolous disposiciō, I had diuers and sundrie imaginacions howe to depriue this vnnatu­ral vncle, and bloudy butcher, from his royall seate, and princely digni­tie. Fyrst I fantesyed that yf I list to take vpon me the croune, and im­periall scepter of the realme, now was the tyme propice and conuenient. For nowe was the waie made plaine, and the gate opened, and occasiō geuen▪ whiche now neglected, should paraduenture neuer take suche ef­fecte and conclusion. For I sawe he was disdaigned of the lordes tem­porall execrate and accursed of the lordes spiritual, detested of all gen­tilmen, and despised of all the communaltie: So that I saw my chaunce as perfectely as I sawe my awne Image in a glasse, that there was no person (y [...] [...] had ben gredy to attempte the enterprise) could nor should haue wone the ryng, or gott the gole before me. And on this poyncte I rested in imaginacion secretely w^t my self .ii. daies at Tewkesberie. And from thence so iornyeng I mused & thought y^• it was not best nor cōue­niēt to take vpō me as a cōquerour, for then I knewe that all mē & espe­cially the nobilitee, would with all their power with stande me, bothe for rescuyng of possessions & tenours, as also for subuertyng of y^e hole estat lawes and customes of the realme: Suche a power hathe a conquerour as you knowe well ynough my lord. But at the last, in all is doutfull case ther sprange a new braunche out of my hed, which suerly I thought should haue broughte forthe [...]ayer flowers, but the sonne was so hotte that they turned to drye wedes, for I sodainly remembred that lord Ed­mond duke of Somersett my grandfather was with kynge Henrye the sixte in the .ii. and .iii. degrees from Ihon duke of Lancaster lawefully begotten: So that I thought sure my mother being eldest doughter to duke Edmonde, that I was nexte heyre to kynge Henry the syxte of the [Page xxxv] house of Lancaster. This title pleased well suche as I made priuye of my counsaill, but muche more it encorraged my foulishe desyer, and eleuated my ambicious entente, in so muche that clerely iudged, and in myne awne mynd was determynath resolued, y^e I was indubitate hey­re, of the house of Lancaster, and there vpon concluded, to make my fyrst foundacion, and crecte my newe buyldinge. But whyther God so or­deyned, or by fortune it so chaunced, while I was in a ma [...]e, other to co [...] ­clude sodaynlie on this title, and so sett it open a mongeste the common people, or to kepe it secrete a while, se the chaunce: as I ro [...]e betwene worceter and brigenorthe, I encountered with the ladye Maxgariete, countesse of Richemonde, nowe wyfe to the lorde Stanley, whiche is the very daughter and sole heyre, to lorde Ihon duke o [...] Somersett my grandfathers elder brother: Whiche was as cleane out of my mynde as thoughe I had neuer sene her, so that she and her sonne the Earle of Richemonde be bothe bulwarcke and portecolice betwene, and the gate, to entre into the maies [...]ie royall and gettynge of the crowne. And when we had commoned a litle concernyng her sonne, as I shal shewe you af­ter, and were departed, she to oure ladie of worceter, and I towarde Shrewsberie: I then newe chaunged and in maner amased, began to dispute with my selfe, title considerynge that thus my earnest was tur­ned euen to a tittyl not so good as, estamen. Estsones I imagened why­ther I were beste to take vpon me, by the elec [...]ion of the nobilitie and commonaltie, 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, whiche standeth in fortunes chaunce and difficle to be ache­ued and broughte to passe. Thus romblynge and tossynge, in the waues ambiguitie, betwene the stone and sacrafice, I considered fyr [...]e the of­fice, deutie and payne of a kyng, whiche suely thinke that no mortal man can iustely, and truely obserue, excepte he be called elected and [...]pecially appoyncted by God as kynge Dauid and diuers other haue been.

But farther I remembred that yf I once toke on me the [...]cepter, and the gouernaunce of the realme: That of two extreme enemies I was dayly sure, but of one trusty [...]rend (which nowe a daies begone a pilgry­mage) I was nether assuered nor credible asserteyned (suche is the worl­des mutacion) for I manifestely perceiued that the daughters of kynge Edwarde and there alies, and frendes, whiche be no small nomber, beynge bothe, for his sake muche beloued, and also for the greate iniu­rie and manifeste tyrannye done to them, by the newe vsurper, muche lamented, and pitied, woulde neuer cease to barcke yf they cannot byte at the one 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 ru [...]e, shoulde euer hange by a heare, neuer in quiete, but euer in doubte of death [...] [Page] 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 cōcluded, vtterly to relinqui­she all suche fantasticall imaginacions concernynge the obteynynge of the croune. But al such plagues, calamities and 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 cōmen enemye that calleth hym selfe kynge, th [...]t the beste stopper that he hath at tenyce shall not well stoppe without a faulte: for as I tolde your before, the countesse of Richemonde in my returne from the newe named kyng metyng me in the high way, praied me fyr [...]e for kinred sake, secondarily for the loue that I bare to my grādfather duke Humfrey, whiche was sworne brother to her father, to moue the kynge to be good to her sonne Henry erle of Richemōd, 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, whiche request I so [...]e 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 adiudged y^e the holy ghoste caused her to moue a thynge (the ende wherof she coulde not consider) bothe for the securitie of the realme as also for the prefer­mente of her childe and the destruction and finall confusion of the com­mon enemye kyng Richarde. Whiche thing, she neither then thought I am sure as I by her wordes coulde make coniecture, 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 the which I am both bent and sette, my mynde is and my power and purse shall helpe, that y^• erle of Richemond very heyre of the house of Lancaster (in the querell of the which linage, both my father and grand father lost ther lyues in bat­tayle) shal take to wi [...]e lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to kyng Edward by the whiche mariage bothe the houses of the Yorke and Lancaster maye be obteyned and vnite in one, to the clere stablyshement of the title to the crowne of this noble realme. To which conclusion yf the mothers of bo­the parties, and especially the erle hym selfe, and the ladye wyll agre, I doubte not but the braggynge bore, which with his tuskes raiseth euery mans skyn, shall not onely be brought to confusion as he hath deserued but that this empire shall euer be certaine of an vndubitate heyre, and then shall all ciuile and intestyne war cease, whiche so longe hath conty­nued to the paring of many mēs 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 [Page xxxvj] 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 entended, this deuice once opened to kyng Rychard was the very occasion, y^e he was rounded shorter by the whole head, without attaynder or iudgement. When the duke had sayd, the bishop, which fauored euer the house of Lancaster, was wonderous ioyfull, and muche reioysed to here this deuice, for nowe came the wynde about euen as he would haue it, for all hys imaginaciō tēded to this effect to haue kyng Richard subdued, & to haue y^• lynes of king Edward, & kyng Hēry y^e .vi. again raysed and auaunsed. But lord how he reioysed to thynke how y^e by this mariage the linages of Yorke & Lancaster should be conioyned in one, to the very stedfa [...]nes of the publique wealthe of this realme. And lest the dukes courage should swage, or hys mynd should agayne alter, as it did oftē before, as you may easely perceiue by hys awne tale. He thought to set vp all the sayles that he had, to the entent that y^e ship of hys pre [...]ensed purpose myghte come shortly to some suer port: And sayd to the duke, my lord, sigh by Gods hygh prouision and youre in­cōparable wysedome and pollicie, this noble coniunction is fyrs [...]e mo­ued, nowe is it conueniente, ye and nece [...]arie to consider, what persona­ges and what frendes we shall fyrste make preuie of this high deuice and polliticke conclusion. By my truthe quod the duke we wyll begyne with my ladye of Rychemonde therles mother whiche knowethe where he is, either in captiuitie or at large in Brytaine. For I harde [...]aie that y^• duke of Brytaine restored him to libertie immediately after the death of kyng Edward, by whose meanes he was restrayned. Syth yow wyl be­gyn that way (said y^• byshop) I haue an old frend with y^e countesse, a mā sobre, secrete, & well wytted, called Reignold Bray whose prudēt pollicie I haue knowē to haue cōpassed thīges of great importaūce, for whom I shall secretly send yf it be your pleasure, & I doubt not he wyll gladly come, & y^• with a good wyll. So with a lyttel diligence, the byshop wrote a letter to Reignold Bray requyrynge hym to come to Brecknocke wit [...] spede for great and vrgente causes touchynge his maistresse: & no other thing was declared in the letter. So the messenger rode into Lancashire where Bray was with the coūtesse & lord Thomas Stanley her husbād, & deliuered the letter, which when he had red, [...]e toke it as a signe or pre­sage of some good fortune to come, & so with y^• messenger he came to the Castel [...]f 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 Richemond sonne to his lady & maistresse: Wyllyng her fyrst to cōpasse how to obteyne y^• good wyll of quene Eli­zabeth, & also of her eldest daughter bearing y^• same name: & after secretl [...] to send to her sonne into Britaine to declare what high honour was pre­pared for hym if he would sweare to mary y^• lady Elizabeth assone as he was kyng & in royal possession of the realme. Reignold Bray w^t a glad [Page] hast for gettyng nothing geuen to hym in charge in great hast and with good sped retourned to the countesse his lady and mastresse. Whē Bray was departed & this great doutfull vessell once sett a broche, the bishop thrustyng for nothing more then for lybertie: whē he sawe the duke pleasaunt and well mynded, towarde hym tolde the duke that yf he were in his yle of Elye he coulde make many frendes to ferther ther enterpryse, and yf he were ther and had but .iiii. daies warnyng he lyttell regarded the malice of kyng Richard, his country was so strong. The duke knew well all this to be trew, but yet lothe he was that the byshop shoulde de­parte, for he knewe well that as longe as the bishoppe, was with him, he was sure of politique aduise, sage counsayl, and circumspect proceding. And so he gaue the byshop fayre wordes, saiyng that he should shortely departe and that well accompaigned for feare of enemyes. The byshop beiyng as wyttye as the duke was wylie, dyd not tarie tyl 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 founde monye and frendes and so sailed into Flaunders, where he dyd the earle of Richemonde good seruice and neuer retourned agayne tyll the earle of Richemoude after beyinge, kyng sent for hym, and shortely promoted hym to the see of Cauntorbury. Thus the bishoppe wound hym self frō the duke when he had moste nede of his ayde, for yf he had taried still y^• duke had not made so many blabbes of his counsaill, nor put so muche confidens in the Welshemen, nor yet so temerariously set forwarde with oute knowlege of his frendes as he dyd, whiche thynges were his soda­nie ouerthrowe as they that knewe it dyd reporte.

When Reignold Bray had declared his message, and preuie instruc­tion to the countesse of Richemonde his maftres, no meruell though she were ioyous and glad, both of the good newes and also for y^• obteynyng of suche a high frende in her sonnes cause as the duke was, wherfore she wyllyng not to slepe this matter, but to farther it to the vttermost of her power & abilitie, deuised a meanes howe to breake is matter to quen [...] Elizabeth then being in sanctnarie at Westminster. And there vpon she hauynge in her familie, at that tyme for the preseruacion of her healthe a certayne Welsheman called Lewes learned in phisicke, whiche for his grauitie and experiens, was well knowen and muche estemed amongest great estates of the realme: with whome she vsed somtyme liberally and familiarlye to talke, nowe hauynge opportunitie and occasion to breake her mynde vnto him of this weightie matter, declared that the tyme was come that her sonne shoulde be ioyned in mariage with lady Elizabeth daughter & heyre to kyng Edward, and that king Richard beyng takē & reputed of all men for the cōmon enemye of the realme, shoulde out of all honour and estate be deiected, and of his rule and kyngedome be clerely spoyled & expulsed: and required hym to goo to quene 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 [Page xxxvij] should require to make her preuie of this deuise, not as a thīg cōcluded, but as a purpose by him imagened. This phisician dyd not long lynger to accomplishe her desyre, but with good diligens repaired to the quene being still 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 childrē, I am so bold to vttre vnto you a secrete & preuie cōceite that I haue cast & compassed in my fantasticall brayne. When I well remembre and no lesse considre the greate losse and dammage that you haue su [...]eyned by the deathe of your noble and louyng husband, and the great dolour and sorowe th [...]t you h [...]ue suffred and tollerated by the cruell murther of your innocente chil [...]ren: I can no lesse do both of bounden deutie and christian charite, then daily to studie and hourely ymagen not onely howe to bryng your harte to com [...]orte and gladnes but also deuyse howe to reuenge y^• [...]gh­teous quarel of you and your children on that bloudy blood [...]pper and cruell tyraunte kyng Richarde. And firste considre, what battaile, what mans [...]aughter, what mis [...]hie [...]e hath risen in this realme by the dissencion betwene the .ii. noble houses to Yorke and Lancaster, whiche .ii. families (as I haue contryued) if they ma [...] be ioyned in one, I thinke, ye & doubt not but your line shalbe agayne restored to the pristmate estate and de­gree to your great ioye and comforte, and to the vttre confusion o [...] your mortall enemie the vsurper kynge. You knowe very well madame that of the house of Lancaster, the er [...]e or Richemond is next of blood, which is lyuynge and a iusty 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 Ric [...]emōd in ma­trimony, no doubte but the vsurper of the realme should be shortely de­posed, and your heire againe to her right restored.

When the quene had heard this frendely mocion (which was as farre from her thought as the man that the rude people saie is in the moone) lorde howe her spirites reuyued, and how her heart lept in her body for ioye and gladnes. And firste geuynge lawde to almightie God as the chiefe aucthore of her comforte, secondarely to maister lewes as the de­uyser of the good newes and tydinges, instantely besought him that as he had bene the [...]rst inuēter of so good an entreprise, that now he would not relinquishe nor desiste to folowe thesame: requirynge hym farther (because he was apperteynynge to the countesse of Richemonde mother to the erle Henry) that he woul [...]e with all diligente celerite resorte to her then lodgyng in her husbandes place within the cyte of London, and to d [...]clare on the Quenes behalfe to the countesse, that all the frendes and fautoures of kyng Edward her husbande, should [...] and t [...]ke parte with the earle of Richemonde her sonne, so that he woulde take a cor­porall othe after the kyngedome obteyned, to espouse and take to wife the ladye Elizabeth her daughter, or els lady Cecile, yf theldest daugh­ [...]er [Page] were not then lyuynge.

Master Lewes with all dexteritee so sped his busynes that he made and concluded a finall ende and determinacion of this entreprise be­twene the .ii. mothers, and because he was a phisician and oute of al sus­picion and mysdemynge, he was the common [...] and daylye messen­ger betwene theim, aidynge and settynge foorth the inuented conspira­cye againste kynge Richarde. So the ladye Margarete countesse of Richemonde broughte into a good hope of the prefermente of her sonne made Reygnolde Braie her moost faithefull seruaunte chiefe soliciter and preuie procu [...]er of this conspiracie, geuynge hym in charge secret­ly to enuegle and attracte suche personnes of nobilite to ioyne with her and take her parte as he knewe to be ingenious, faythefull, diligente and of actiuitie. is Reygnolde Breie within fewe daies broughte vnto his lure (firste of all takynge of euery person a solempne othe to be true and secrete) sir Gyles Daubenei, sir Ihon Cheiney knight, Richard Guylforde and Thomas Rame esquyers and diuerse other. The coun­ [...]esse of Richemonde was not so diligente for her parte, but Quene Eli­zabeth was as vigilaunte on the other syde and made frendes and ap­poyncted councelers to set forwarde and auaunce her busynes. In the meane ceason the countesse of Richemond toke into her seruice Christo­pher Urswike an honeste and a wise priest, and after an othe of hym for to be secrete taken and sworne, she vttred to hym all her mynde & coun­cell, adhibityng to him the more confidence and truthe that he al his life had fauoured and taken part with kyng Henry the .vi. and as a special [...]uell put to her seruice by sir Lewes her physician. So the mother stu­dious for y^e prosperite of her sonne appointed this Christopher Urswike to saile into Britayne to the erle of Richemond and to declare and to de­monster to him all pactes & agrementes betwene her & the quene agreed & concluded: But sodainly she remēbryng that the duke of Buckynghā was one of the first [...]uēters and a secrete founder of this entreprise, de­termined to sende some personage of more estimaciō then her chapelain, and so elected for a messenger Hugh Conwey esquier and sent hym into Britayne with a great some of monei to her sonne, geuing him in charge to declare to y^• erle the great loue & especiall fauour y^• the moost parte of the nobilite of the realme bare toward him, the louing hartes & beneuo­ [...]ent myndes which the whole comminaltie of their awne frewill franke­ly offred and liberally exhibited to him, willyng & aduisynge him not to neglecte so good an occasion apparantly offred, but with al spede & dili­gence to addicte & settle his mynde and full entencion howe to retourne home againe into England where he was bothe wished & looked for, ge­uynge him farther monicion & councell to take land & arriual in y^e prin­cipalite of Wales, where he should not doubte to fynde bothe aide, com­forte and frēdes. Richard Guylford least Hugh Conwey might fortune to be takē or stopped at plimmoth, where he entēded to take his nauiga­ [...]ion, sent oute of kent Thomas Rame with thesame instrucciōs: & bothe [Page xxxviij] made such diligence and had such wynde and wether, y^• one by land from Caleys, and the other by water from plimmoth, that within lesse then an houre bothe arriued in the duke of Britaynes courte and spake with the erle of Richemond, which from the deathe of kyng Edward went at his pleasure and libertie, and to hym counted and manifested the cause and effecte of their message and ambassade. When the earle had rec [...]aued this ioyefull message, whiche was the more pleasaunte because y [...] was vnloked for, he rendred to Iesu his sauiour his mooste humble and hearty thankes, beynge in ferme credence and beleue that suche thyn­ges as he with busy mynde and laborious entente had wished and desy­red, coulde neuer haue taken any effecte withoute the helpe and prefer­mente of almightie God. And nowe beynge put in comforte of his long longynge he dyd communicate and breake to the duke of Britayne all his secretes aud preuy messages whiche were to hym declared, aduer­tisynge hym that he was entred into a sure and stedfaste hope to ob­teyne and get the crowne and kyngedome of the realme of England▪ de­syrynge him bothe of his good will and frendely helpe toward the ache­uynge of his offred entreprise, promysynge hym when he came to his en­tended purpose, to rendre to hym agayne equall kyndenes and condigne gratulacion.

Although the duke before that daie by Thomas Hutton ambassador from kyng Richard had bothe by money & praiers bene solicite & moued to put agayne into safe custody the erle of Richemonde, he neuerthelesse promysed faithfully to ayde him, and his promes he truely performed.

¶The .iii. yere.

WHerupon the erle w^t 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, and that all thynges doubtfull shoulde of his frendes be prudently forseen, in aduoydyng al engins and snares which kyng Richard had or might haue set in distur­baūce of his purpose, and he in the meane ceason would make his abode still in Brytayne, 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 kepte armed men preuely, to then­tente when they should haue knowlege of the erles landynge, thei would begynne to sturre vp the warre: Other dyd secretely moue and sollicite the people to rise and make an insurrecion: Other (emongeste whome Ihon Morton bishop of Ely then beynge in Flaunders was chefe) by peruie letters and cloked messengers, dyd sturre and inuite to this newe coniuracion, al such which they certeynely knewe to haue a roted hatred [Page] or to beare a cankard malice toward kyng 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 therof came to the eares of kynge Richard, whiche with the [...]odayne chaunce was not a lyttel moued and aston­ned. [...] because he had no host ready prepared and conscribed. Se­condarely yf he shoulde reyse and army so sodaynely he knewe not where to [...] and mete his enemies or whether to goo or where to [...]arie. Wherefore he determined to dissimule the matter as though he knewe nothynge till he had assembled his hoste, and in the meane ceason either by the rumour of the common people or by the diligence of his explora­tours and espialles to inuestigate and search oute all the councelles, de­terminacions▪ ententes and compasses of his close aduersaries, or elles by craftie pollecie to intercepte and take some person of thesame coniu­racion, con [...]erynge that there is no more secrete nor hyd espyall then that whiche lurketh in dissimulacion of knowlege and intelligence, or is hidden in the name and sha [...]owe of countre [...]i [...]te humanite and fei­ned kyndenes. And because he knewe the duke of Buckyngham to be the chiefe h [...]d and ayde of the con [...]uracion, he thoughte yt moost neces­sary to plucke hym from that parte either by fayre promyses or open warre. Whereupon he addressed his louynge letters to the duke, as full of [...] woordes, humanite and familiarite as the in [...]erior cogi­tacion and preuy meanynge was full of malice, rancor and poyson: ge­uyng farther in charge to the messenger that caryed the letter to promes to the duke on his beh [...]lfe golden hilles and syluer ryuers, and with all gentle and pl [...]asaunte meanes to persuade and exhorte the duke to come to the courte. But the duke as wylie as the kynge, mystrustyng the f [...]yre flatteryng woordes and the gaye promyses to hym so sodayu­ly withoute any cau [...]e offered, knowynge the craftie castes of kynge Ri­chardes bowe, whiche in diuerse affayres be [...]ore tyme he had sene practi­sed requyred the kynge to perdon hym, exculynge hym selfe that he was so deseased in his stomacke at skante he coulde take either refeccion or rest▪ Kynge Ri [...]harde not beynge contente with this excuse woulde in no wise a [...]mytte thesame but incontinente directed to the duke other let­t [...]rs of a more rough [...]t and hawter sorte, not without minatorie termes and checkynge woordes, commaundynge hym all excuses set aperte to repaire without any delaie to his royall presence. The [...]uke made to the messenger a determynate aunswere that he woulde not come to his mor­tall ennemye, whome he neither loued nor [...]auoured: and ymmediately prepared open warre agaynste hym, and perswaded all his complices and partak [...]s that euery man shoulde in his quarter with all diligen­ce [...]yse vp the people and make a commocion. And by this meanes al­moo [...]e in one momente Thomas Marques dorcet came oute of sanc­tuarye where he sith the begynnynge of Richardes daies had conty­nued, whose [...] by the onely helpe of sir Thomas louell e [...]quyer was [Page xxxix] 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 Exsetter, reised another ar­my in deuoushire and cornewall. In kente, Richarde Guylforde and other gentlemen, collected a great companye of souldyoures and open­ly beganne warre. But kynge Richarde whiche in the meane tyme had gotten together a greate strengthe and puissaunce, thynkynge 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, determined all other beynge set asyde, with hys whole puyssaunce to set on the chiefe hed whiche was the duke of Buc­kyngham. And so remouynge from London, he tooke his iourney towarde Salsburie, to thentente that in his iourney he mighte set on the dukes army yf he myghte knowe hym in any place encamped or in ordre of bataylle araied. The kynge was skace .ii. daies iourney from Salsburie when the duke of Buckyngham accompanyed with a greate power of wilde Weleshmen, whome he beynge a man of that courage and sharpe speche in maner agaynste their willes had rather therto en­forced and compelled by lordely and streite commaundemente then by liberall wayges and gentle reteynoure, whiche thinge was the verie oc­casion why they lefte hym desolate and cowardely forsooke hym. The duke with all his power mershed through the forest o [...] deane entendyng to haue passed the riuer of Seuerne a [...] Gloucester, and therto haue ioy­ned in army with the courtneys and other Westernmen of his confide­racy and affinite, which if he had done, no doubt but kyng Richard had bene in greate ieopardie either of priuacion of his realme or losse of his life or both. But se the chaūce, before he could attayne to Seuerne side, by force of continuall rayne and moysture, the ryuer rose so high that yt ouerflowed all the countrey adioyning, in somuch that men were drow­ned in their beddes, howses with the extreme violence were ouerturned, childrē were caried aboute the feldes, swymmynge in cradelles, beastes were drowned on hilles, whiche rage of water lasted continually .x. da­yes, in somuche that in the countrey adioynyng they call yt to this daie, the greate water, or the duke of Buckynghams greate water. By this innudacion the passages were so closed that neither the duke could come ouer Seuerne to his complices, nor they to hym, durynge the whiche tyme, the Welshemen lyngerynge ydely and without money, vitayle, or wages, sodaynely scaled and departed: and for all the dukes faire pro­myses, manaces and enforcementes, they woulde in no wise neither goo farther nor abide. The duke thus abandoned and left almost post alone was of necessite cōpelled to flye, and in his flight was with this sodeyne oif 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 hym selfe into the house of Homfrey Banaster his seruaunt beside [Page] shrewsburie, whome he had tendrely broughte vp, & whome he aboue all men loued, fauoured and trusted, nowe not doughtynge but that in hys extreme necessite, he shoulde fynde hym faythefull, secrete and trusty, en­tendynge there couertely to lurke till either he mighte reise agayne a newe armye, or elles shortely to saile into Britayne to the Earle of Ri­chemond.

But when y [...] was knowen to his adherentes whyche were readye to geue battayle, that his hoste was scaled and hd lefte hym almoost alone, and was fled and coulde not be founde, they were sodaynely amased and striken with a soden feare, that euery man like persones desperate 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 Ex­ce [...]re and sir Edmonde Courtney his brother, by kynge Henrye the vii. after created Earle of Denoushire, Thomas Marques dorcet, Ihon lorde Welles, Sir Ihon Burchier, Sir Edmonde Wooduile a valyaunte man in armes brother to quene Elyzabeth, Sir Roberte Willoughby, 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 Edg­combe, all these for the moost parte beynge knyghtes, and Ihon Hal­well, Edwarde Pownynges a pollytike capitayne. At this verie cea­son Ihon Morton bishop of Ely and Christopher Urswike priest and another companye of noble men soiourned in Flaunders, and by let­ters and messengers procured manye ennemyes agaynste kynge Ry­charde, whyche vsynge a vigilaunte iye and a quycke remembraunce, 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 sente 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 assente and knowlege. Secondarely, he made proclamacion, that what person coulde shewe and reuele where the duke of Buckyngham was shoulde be highely rewarded, 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 harde was newely retourned oute 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 furnished and decked with mē and artillary, to skoure and kepe that part of the see that lieth agaynst Britayne, to thentēt that [Page xl] yf the erle of Richemond woulde auenture to faile toward England, ei­ther he shoulde be taken captyue or be profligate and dryuen from the coast of Englande. And moreouer, to thentent that euery coste, waye, passage, and corner shoulde 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 diligentely 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 thou­sande 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 lytle 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 Richarde then kepte his housholde.

Whether this Banaster bewreyed the duke more for feare then coue­tous many men do doubt: but sure it is, that shortlie after he had betra­yed y^e 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 leperye, his seconde sonne very meruelously defor­med of his limnes and made decrepite, his younger sonne in a small pud­del was strāgled & drouned, & he beyng of extreme age arraigned & foūd gyltie of a murther and by his clergye saued. And as for is thousande pounde 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 y^e he had a smal office or a ferme to stoppe his mouthe with al. The duke beyng by certayne of the kynges councel diligently vpon in­terrogatories examined what thynges he knewe preiudicial to y^e kynges person, opened and declared frankely and frely all the coniuracion with out dissimulynge or glosynge, trustynge because he had truely & playn­ly reueled and confessed all thinges that were of hym required, that he should haue lycēce to speake to y^e kyng which (whether it were to sue for perdon and grace, or whether he beynge brought to his presence would haue sticked hym with a dagger as men then iudged) he sore desyred and requyred. But when he had confessed the whole facte and conspi­racye vpon Allsoulen daie withoute arreignemente or iudgemente he was at Salsburye in the open merker place on a newe skaffolde behed­ded and put to deathe. This deathe (as a reward) the duke of Buckyn­gham receaued at the handes of kyng Richard, whome he before in hys affaires, purposes and entreprises had holdē susteyned and set forward aboue all Godes forbode.

By thys all men maye easelye perceaue that he not onley loseth bothe his laboure, traueyle and industire, an ferther steynethe and [Page] spotteth his ligne with a perpetuall ignomony and reproche, whiche in euyll and mishiefe assisteth and aydeth an euyll disposed person, con­siderynge for the moost parte that he for his frendely fauoure shoulde receaue some greate displeasure or infortunate chaunce. Beside that God of his iustice in conclusion appoyneteth to hym a condigne peyne and affliccion for his merites and desertes. While these thynges were thus hādeled and ordred in Englande, Henry Earle of Richemond pre­pared and armye of fyue thousande manly Brytons, and fortie well furnyshed shippes. When all thinges were prepared in aredynes and the daye of departynge and settynge forwarde was appoynted, whiche was the .xii. daye of the moneth of October, in the yere of the incar­nacion of oure redemer .M.CCCC.xlviii. and in the seconde yere of kynge Richardes reigne, the whole armye wente on shipboorde and halsed vp their sailes, and with a prosperous wynde tooke the see: but towarde nyghte the wynde chaunged and the wether tourned, and so houge and terrible a tempeste sodaynely roase, that with the verie po­wer and strengthe of the storme, the shippes were disparcled, seuered and seperate a sondre: some by force were dryuen into Normandye, some were compelled to retourne agayne into Britayne. The shippe wherein the Earle of Rychemonde was, associate onely with one other barcke was all nyghte tossed and turmoyled. In the mornynge after when the rage of the furious tempeste was assuaged, and the Ire of the blusterynge wynde was some deale appeased, aboute the houre of none thesame daye, the Earle approched to the southe parte of the realme of Englande euen at the mouthe of the hauen of pole in the countie of dorcet, where he mighte playnely perceaue all these bankes and shores garnisshed and furnyshed with men of warre and souldioners appoyn­ted and deputed there to defende his arryuall and landynge as be­fore is mencioned. Wherefore he gaue streyghte charge and sore commaundemente, that no person shoulde once presume to take lande and goo too the shore, vntill suche tyme as the whole nauye were as­sembled and congregate. And while he exspected and lyngered ta­riyenge for that purpose, he sente oute a shippe bote towarde the lande side to knowe, whyther they whiche stoode there in suche a nombre and so well furnysshed in apparell defensyue were hys capitall foes and ennemyes or elles his frendes fautoures and comforters. They that were sente in exploracion and message were instantely desyred of the men of warre kepynge these 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 Rychemond, and to conduicte sa­uely to the campe where the duke not ferre of laye encāped with a popu­lous armye and an host of great strength and vigor, to thentent that the duke and the erle ioynynge in puyssaunces and forces together, mighte prosecute and chace kyng Richard beyng destitute of men, and in maner [Page xlj] desperate and fugityue, and so by that meanes and their awne laboures and industrie to obteine the ende of their entreprise whiche they had be­fore begonne.

The erle of Richemonde suspectynge their flatterynge requeste to be but a fraude (as yt was in dede) after that he perceaued none of his shippes to apere in sight, he we [...]ed vp his ancors and halsed vp his say­les hauynge a prosperous and strenable wynde and a freshe gale sente euen by God to delyuer hym from that perell and ieopardie, arryued safe and in securitie in the duchy of Normandye, where he to re [...]teshe 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 frenche kynge called Charles the .viii. whiche ne­wely succeded his father kynge Lewes the .xi. not longe before depar­ted to God, requirynge hym of a safe conduicte and licence to passe throughe his countrey of Normandye into Brytayne. The younge kynge hauynge compassion of the misfortune and vnfortunate chaunce of the earle of Richemonde, not onely gently graunted and assigned to hym a pasporte, but also liberally disbursed and departed to hym a con­uehtente some of money for his conduicte and expenses necessary in hys longe iourney and passage. But the erle trustynge 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, mer­shed towarde Britayne with al diligent celerite entendyng there to con­sulte farther with his louers and frēdes of his affaires and entreprises. When he was retorned agayn into Britayne he was certified by credi­ble informaciō 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 Uānes. When he had heard these newes thus reported, he first sorowed, & dolorously lamented the first attempte and settyng forward of his frendes, and in especiall of the nobilyte not to haue more fortunatly succeded. Secondarely, he reioysed on theother parte that God had sent hym so many valiaunte and prudent captaines to be his compaignions in his mertiall entreprises, trustynge surely and nothinge doubtynge in his awne opinion, but that all his busynes shoulde be wisely compassed and brought to a good cōclusion. Wherfore he determinyng with al di­ligēce to accelerate & set forward his newe begonne busynes departed to Renes & sent certayne of his preuie seruitours to conducte and bryng y^e Marques and then other noble men to his presence. When they knewe that he was sauely retorned into Britayne, lord howe they reioysed and applauded, for before that tyme they myssed hym and knewe not in what parte of the worlde to make inuestigacion or searche for hym. [Page] For thei doubted and no lesse feared least he had taken land in Englād, and fallen in the handes of kynge Richarde, 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 smal thankes and gratificacions ge­uen and rendred on bothe partes, they consulted and aduisedely deba­ted and commoned of their great busines and weightie entreprise, in the whiche ceason the solempne feaste of the natiuite of oute sauiour Christ happened, on whiche daie al thenglishe lordes went with great solemp­nyte to the chiefe churche of the citee, and there eache gaue faythe and promyse to other. The erle hym selfe fyrste tooke a corporall othe, and on his honoure promysynge that incontynente after he should be posses­sed of the crowne and dignytie of the realme iof Englande, he woulde be conioyned in matrymonye with the ladye Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourthe. Then all the companye sware to hym fealtie, and did to hym homage as though he had bene that tyme the crowned kynge and anoynted prynce, promisynge faythefully and fer­mely assurynge that they woulde not onely lese their wordely sub­staunce, but also be priuated of their lyues and worldely 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 Rychemonde declared and communicated all these doynges to Fraun­ces duke of Britayne, desirynge and mooste hartely requyrynge hym to ayde hym with a greater armye 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 desy­ced whiche (with goddes ayde and the dukes comforte) he doubted not in shorte tyme to obteyne, requirynge hym farther to prest to hym a con­ueniente some of money, affirmynge that all such somes of money which he had receaued of hys especiall frendes, were spente and exhausted in the preparacion of the laste iourney made towarde Englande, whyche somes of money after his entreprise once acheued, he in the woorde of a prynce faythefully promysed to repaye and restore agayne. The duke promysed hym ayde and helpe, vpon confidence whereof the rigged his shippes, and set foorth his nauy well decked with ordynaunce, and warlykely furnyshed with al thinges necessary, to thentente to saile for­warde shortely, and to se no conuenient tyme slackely ouerpassed nor be pretermitted.

In the meane ceason, kynge Richarde apprehended in dyuerse par­tes of the realme certeyne gentylmen of the earle of Rychemondes fac­cion and confederacion, whiche either entended to saile into Britayne towarde hym, or els at his landynge to assiste and ayde hym. Emon­geste whome, sir George Browne, sit Roger Clyfforde and .iiii. other were put to execucion at London, and sir Thomas Sentliger whiche had maried the duches of Exceter the kyngs awne suster, and Thomas [Page xlij] 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 whiche he attaynted the erle of Richemond & al other persones whiche were fled out of the realme for feare or any other cause, as enemies to hym and to their naturall countrey, and all their landes, goodes and possessions were con [...]iscate and seased to y^e kynges vse. And yet not contente with this praye whiche no doubte was of no small va­lour and moment, he laied on the peoples neckes a greate taxe and tal­lage, and surely necessite to that acte in manet him compelled. For what with purgyng and declaryng his innocencie concernyng the murther of his nephewes towarde the world, and what with coste 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 nowe bothe he lacked and skace wist honestely howe to borowe. In this troubleous ceason, nothinge was 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 Richemonde, but forasmuche as the entreprise of a woman was of hym reputed of no regarde or estimacion, and that the lord Tho­mas her husbande had purged hym selfe sufficientely to be innocente of all doynges and attemptes by her perpetrated and committed, yt was geuen him in charge to kepe her in some lecrete place at home, withoute hauynge enie seruaunte or companye, so that from thence foorthe she shoulde neuer sende letter nor messenger to her sonne nor nay of his frendes or confederates, by the whyche the kynge myghte be molested or troubled, or any hurte or preiudice mighte be attempted againste his realme and comminaltie. Whiche commaundemente was a while put in execucion and accomplished accordynge to his dreadfull commaunde­mente. Yet the wilde worme of vengaunce wauerynge in his hed coulde not be contented with the deathe of diuerse gentlemen suspected of trea­son, but also he muste extende his bloudy furye agaynste a poore gentle­man called Collyngborne for makynge a small ryme of thre of his vn­fortunate councelers, which were the lord louell, sir Richarde Radelyffe his myscheuous mynion, and sir Wylliam Catesbey his secrete seducer, whiche metre was.

Meanynge by the hogge, the dreadfull wilde bore whiche was the kyn­ges cognisaunce, but because the fyrste lyne ended in dogge, then me­trician coulde not obseruynge the regimentes of metre ende the seconde verse in Bore, but called the bore an hogge. This poeticall schoole­mayster corrector of breues and longes, caused Collyngborne to be abbreuiate shorter by the hed, and too bee deuyded into foure quar­ters.

[Page]Kynge Richarde beynge thus turmented and tossed in his awne con­cepte and imaginacion, called to his remembraunce that consideracions amiti [...]s, and other honeste bondes and pa [...]tes, made, conc [...]uded and ap­pointed betwene princes and politique gouernours are the cause efficiēt and esp [...]cia [...]l introduction that their re [...]lmes and countries are [...]orti­fied and munited with a double power, that is to saie, with their awne strength and the ayde of their frendes deuysed with him selfe to prac [...]se a league and amitie with the kynge of Scottes, which not longe before had made diuerse incursions and roodes into the realme of Englande, where although he garte lyttel, yet surly he lo [...] not much▪ and thereupō sued to haue a treuce or peace concluded, whiche [...]me euen as kyng Ri­charde had wished it. Wherefore commissioners were assigned for bothe partes to mete at Nothyngham the .vii. daye next ensuynge, at why [...]he tyme came thether for the kynge of England Ihon bishop of Lyncolne chaunceller of Englande, Richarde bishop of saincte Asse, Ihon duke of Norffolke, Henrye erle of Northumberlande▪ Thomas lorde Stanley, George Stanley lorde straunge, Ihon Gray lord powes Richard lord Fyt [...]hughe, Ihon Gunthorpe keper of the kynges preuie [...], Tho­mas Barowe master of the rolles, sir Thomas Bryane chie [...]e iusti [...]e o [...] the common place, sir Richard Ratelyffe knyght, William Catesbey and Richard Salkeld esquiers. And for the kynge of Scottes were de­puted Colyn erle of Ergile lord Camplell & lorde chaunceller of Scot­lande, Willi [...]m bishop of Aberdene, Robert lorde Lyle L [...]urence lorde Olyphant, Ihon Drummond of Stobhall, Arch balo Qwhitelator [...]r­chedeacon of Lawdene and secretorie to kynge Iames. Lyon kynge of Armes and Duncane dundas. These councellers [...]yuerse tymes mette, and after longe debatynge, demaundynge, and denyenge in the ende of September they fully concluded, and made a determinacion the effecte whereof foloweth in articles.

i Firste it was appoynted and concluded that a perfight an [...]itie and an mu [...]olable peace shoulde be had and kepte betwene the realmes o [...] En­glande and Scotlande for the space of .iii. yeres to begynne at the sonne risyng the .xxix. daie of september in the yere o [...] our lord .M.cccc.lxxxiiii. and to endure to the settynge o [...] the sonne the .xxix. daye of september in the yere of christes incarnacion M.cccc.lxxxvii.

ii Item that duryng the said yeres, none of bothe the prynces, nor their mynisters shall make warre or inuade y^e realme or dominion of the other by se or by land, or vexe, perturbe, or molest the subiectes or vas [...]a [...]es of either of them▪ nor shall geue councell excite, or moue any other persone to make warre or inuasion on the territories of any of thesaid princes.

iii Item that the toune and castell of Berwike with all such boundes as thereto were belongynge, which were in the Englishe mennes handes at the deliueraunce of thesame toune by kyng Henry the .vi. to the kyng of Scottes, shall so peaceably remayne in the possession of the kyng of En­gland durynge thesai [...]e truce.

[Page xliij]Item that all other castelles, holdes and fortresses, shall peaceably iiii remayn in the handes of y^e possessor and owner without chalenge or de­maunde durynge thesaide truce, the castell of dumbarre onely excepte, (whiche was delyuered into thenglishe mennes handes by the apoynte­ment of the duke of Albany when he fled into Fraunce.)

Item yf the kynge of Scottes do intymate and declare to the kynge v of England, within the space of .xl. daies next ensuyng y^e date herof, that he will not suffre 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, shal do any hurte, preiudice or dammage to any of thesaide parties thesayde terme contynuynge.

Item yf after thesayde .vi. monethes any variaunce or warre shal a­rise vi betwene thesaide twoo prynces, either for the recouerynge or defen­dynge thesayde castell of Dumbarre, yet thesayde truce, league & amitie for all other rightes and possessions, shal stande in force and be effec­tuall, and that it shalbe leful to eache 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 vii durynge thesaide truce, none of bothe the princes aforsaide, shal receaue into his realme, territories, or dominions, any treytoure or rebel of theo­ther prynce, nor shall maintayne, fauoure, a [...]de or comforte any rebell or treytour which is already fled, or herafter shall flye into either of thesaid princes dominions, nor there suffre him or theim to tarye or make their abode.

Item yf any suche rebell or treytoure shall fortune herafter to arryue viii in the realme or territorie of any of thesayde princes, that then thesayde prince, in whose dominiou thesaide treytour or rebel is so arryued, at y^e instance & reques of theother prynce to whome y^e offence and cryme was committed, shalbe bound incontinently to delyuer thesaid rebel or trey­tour to thesaide demaunder without fraude or male engyne.

Item that all scottyshmen nowe inhabityng in Englande, & sworne ix to the kyng of Englande, shal & maye there inhabite and tarye, so that their names within .xl. daies after the date of this league be certefied to the kyng of Scottes, or to his Chauncelour, by the kyng of Englād, or the warden of the marches.

Item yf duryng thesaide amitie and peace, it shall fortune any of the x wardeyns of thesaid princes without commaundement, assent to know­lege of his souereigne lord and master, to inuade and reise an armeye in the dominion of theother prince, and there to sley, burne or spoile: y^e then thesaide prince, to whome thesaide wardeyn is or shalbe subiect & vas­salle, shal within .vi. dayes next after the facte done & perpetrate, declare [Page] thesaide wardeyn a treytour and rebell, and therof shal make certificate to the other prince to whom the iniurie was committed within .xii. daies after thesaide declaracion made and denounced.

xi Item that in euery saueconduyete to be graunted by either of thesaid prynces, this clause to be added: Prouided alweies that the obteyner of this saueconduyte be no treytour nor rebell to his prince.

xii Item yf durynge this amitie and truce, any of the subiectes of either prince do presume or attempt to aide, helpe, mainteine or serue ani other prince againste any of thesaide contractoures: Then yt shalbe leful to y^e prince and his subiectes against whome he shewed hym selfe enemy and aduersary to apprehende and attache thesaide subiecte, goynge, cōmyng or taryeng any acte, article or clause in this league to the contrary com­prehended notwithstandynge.

xiii Item it is agreed, apointed and accorded that in this treatie and amitie shalbe comprehended the frendes obliged and confederates of bothe the princes yf they lift to entre and accepte the league, and thereupon to declare their pleasures within .vi. monethes next ensuinge, 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 Porsyngall, The Archeduke of Austryche and Burgoyne and the dyuke of Britaine. On the part of the kyng of Scottes were named for cōfederates, Char­les the French kyng, Ihon kyng of Denmarke and Norwey & the duke of G [...]ldres and Britayne.

xiiii Item yt is agreed and concluded betwene the parties aforesaide that the lordship of Lorne in the realme of Scotland, nor the Iland of Lon­day liynge in the ryuer of Seuerne in the realme of Euglande, shal not be taken nor comprised within this league, but to stand at large as they did before.

xv Item that this concorde, peace and amitie shalbe published, proclay­med and deuulged the first daie of October next ensuynge in the moost notable and famous cities and tounes of bothe the realmes & regions. And conseruators were apoynted for the sure obseruaciō of this league and amitie on bothe partes, whose names folowe.

• Ihon erle of Lyncolne
• Henry erle of Northumberland
• Raufe lord Neuell
• Raufe lorde Greystocke
• Richard lorde Fitz Hugh
• Ihon lord Scrope
• Thomas lorde Scrope of Massam
• Sir Christopher Moresby
• William Clapton, esquier
• Homfrey lord Daker
• Sir Richard Ratcliffe
• Sir Ihon Conyers
• Sir Edmond Hastynges
• Sir Robert Donstable
• Sir Hugh Hastynges
• Sir William Euers
• Sir Ihon Huldeston
• William Musgraue, esquier
• Richard Salkeld, esquier.

• [Page xliiij]Dauid earle of Crafford and lorde lynsey
• George Earle of Huntley, lorde Gorden and Badzenath.
• Ihon lorde Dorneley
• Ihon lorde Kynedy
• Roberte lorde Lile
• Patricke lorde Hales
• Lawrence lorde Oliphaunt
• Willam lorde Borthwike
• Sir Ihon Rosse of Halkehed
• Sir Gilbert Ihonson of El­phynston
• Sir Ihon Lundy
• Sir Iames Ogilly of Arly
• Sir Robert Hamiltō of fingaltō
• Sir Williā Balze of Lamyngtō
• Sir Ihon Kynedy of Blarqhon
• Sir Ihon wemes
• Sir William Rochewen
• Edward Crochton of kirke paty
• Ihon dundas
• Ihon Rosse of Montgrenane
• these .iii. last were esquyers.

Item yt is farther condiscended and agreed that these commissioners xvi whose names ensue shal mete at Loughmabāstane the .xviii. day of No­uember next ensuynge aswell for redresse to be had of certayne offences done on the westmerches as also for declaryng and publishynge of the peace and amitie.

• The lorde Dacre
• The lorde Fitz Hugh
• Sir Richard Radclyffe
• Sir Christopher Moresby
• Sir Richard Salkeld
• or thre of theim.

• The lorde kenedy
• The lorde Mountgomory
• The lorde lile
• Ihon Maxwell stuarde of Annerdale.
• Robert Crechton of sanquhane or thre of theim.

Item like commissioners were assigned to mete at Roydon borne for xvii the East marches the fyrste daie of December and also mete at haldane­stanke the .iiii. daie of the sayde moneth for the middle marches.

• The erle of Northum­berlande
• The lorde Greystorcke
• The lord Scrope of Massam
• Sir William Gastoyn
• Sir Robert Conestable

• The erle of Huntley
• The erle of Angus
• The erle of Ergile
• Chaunceller of Scotland
• The lorde wandale
• The lorde Seton
• The lorde Olyphaunt
• Te lorde Stobhill

Item yt is agreed that y^e commissioners aforsaid shal depute and as­signe xviii certeyne persones to viewe and declare the boundes and lymites apperteignyng to the toune of Berwike according to the true meanyng of the league.

[Page] xix Item it is agreed and apoynted that no person of England or Scot­land shal duryng thesaid truce, build, eare or sowe any landes or groūd beynge within the boundes of the batable ground, but no suffre thesame to continewe in the same condicion that it nowe remayneth.

When this league and amitie was thus concluded, finished and sea­led with all dewe circumstaunces thereunto requyred. Although kynge Richard iudged and demed hym selfe somewhat the more stronger and quyeter by force of this newe amitie and concluded confederacie, yet to augemnte more the familiarite begonne betwene the kynge of Scottes and hym, 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 whiche he might auaunce her offprynge and lignage, did not onely procure and seke meanes howe to make her daughter a pryncesse, and consequentely a Quene, but also after the deathe of his sonne, he pro­claymed Ihon erle of Lyncolne his nephew and her sonne, heyre appa­raunt to y^e crowne of England, dishenetityng 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 coniuncion of amitie, perfighte­ly remembrynge that emongest all bondes and obligacions of loue and amitie, that there is neither a surer nor a more perfighter locke, then the knote of coniuncion in the sacramente of Matrimonye, whiche was in the very begynnynge of the firste 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 prynces, maye norishe peace concorde and vnite, aswage and breake the furyous rage of truculente Mars and terrible battayle, and encreace loue, fauoure and familiarite. Wherfore thesayde prynces sente their ambassadours and councelours agayne to the toune of Nottyngham, where thesayde mariage was by writinges and instrumentes couenaūted, cōdiscended and agreed, and affiances made and taken by procters and deputies on bothe par [...]es, and she ymediately called pryncesse of Rothsay, whiche name she shortely loste by the shorte life of kynge Richarde her louyng vncle. Here maye well be noted the vnnaturall loue and disordered affeccion whiche this kynde kynseman shewed to his blood: For he [Page xlv] 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, bothe in takynge from theim their dignyte, possessions and lyuynge, thoughte yt shoulde redounde greately to his honoure and fame, yf he promoted his susters chylde (to whome he was no­thynge bounde in conscience to make restitucion) to the dignyte of a Quene, rather then to preferre his brothers daughter whome 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 large conscience towardes his brothers children.

After this league and mariage thus concluded and agreed, the kyng of Scottes disdeignynge that the stronge castell of Dumbarre should remayne in thenglish mennes handes and possession, wrote a gentle let­ter to kyng Richard, delcaryng to hym that where in the league conclu­ded betwene theim, yt was agreed and appoyncted that he should with­in .xl. dayes nexte ensuynge, expresse and declare his opynion and mea­nynge concernynge the castell of Dumbarre, whether the sayde castell shoulde be occupyed and stande still in the handes of thenglishemen durynge the whole tyme of the truce, or elles for the terme of sixe mo­nethes onely. He nowe certefyed kynge Rycharde by his letters, that he was contente that he and his shoulde enioye the possessyon of the­sayde castell quyetely and peaceably durynge thesayde truce and ami­tie. Neuerthelesse he requyred hym for the loue and familiarite that nowe bothe by treatie and alyaunce was spronge and knyt betwene theim, that he woulde redelyuer thesayde castell into his handes, whiche was vntruely possessed of thenglishe nacion by delyuerye 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 Scottes, that he neuer had Dumbarre dely­uered while kynge Richarde lyued, after whose deathe, whether yt were by treason or by apoyntemente, the castell was rendred to the kynge of Scottes to his greate contentacion and reioysyng. Albeit this league & amitie thus couenaunted and concluded, it mighte manifestely seme to all persons, that all coniuracions and confederacies agaynst kynge Ri­chard were extinct and put scylence, and in especial considerynge that y^e duke of Buckyngham and his alyes were made oute of his waye, some by death, and some by banyshment and exilynge into farre countreies & regions. Yet kyng Richard more doubtyng then trustyng to his awne people and frendes was contynually vexed, tossed and vnquyeted with feare of the retourne of the erle of Richemond and his complices & fau­roures, 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 imaginacion alleuyated, determyned clerely to extirpate and plucke al the mater and [Page] grounde of his feare and doubtes. Wherefore after longe and deli­berate consu [...]tacion had, nothinge was for his purpose and entente thought either more necessary or expedient then once agayne with price, praier and rewardes, to attempt y^e duke of Britaine in whose territorie y^• erle of Richemond then abode, to deliuer thesaide erle into his hādes, by whiche onely meanes he shoulde be discharged of all feare of perel, and brought ot rest and quietnes bothe of body & mynd. Wherfore inconty­nent he sent certeine ambassadoures to y^• duke of Britayne, which tooke vpon theim (beside the great and ample rewardes y^e they brought with theim into Britayne) that kyng Richard should yerely paie & aunswer the duke of al the reuenues, rentes and profites, of the seignories, lādes & possessions aswell belonging & apperteigning to the erle of Richmōd, as to any other noble or gentleman whiche then were in the erles com­pany, yf he after that tyme would kepe theim in continuall pryson and restreine theim from libertie.

The Oratoures furnished with these and other instruccions, arriued in Britayne and came to the dukes house, where with hym they coulde haue no maner of communicacion concernynge their weightie 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 treasouter, a man bothe or pregnaunt wit and great authorite, ruled and adiuged al thin­ges at his p [...]easure and commaundemēt, 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^e 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 cōfusion. Then­glishe ambassadoures moued their message and request to Peter Lan­doyse, and to hym declared their masters commaundemente, instantely requiringe, and humbly disirynge him (in whose powre it laie to do all thing in Britayne) that he woulde fren [...]ely assent to the request of kyng Richard offering to him the same rewardes and landes, that thei should haue offered to the duke.

This Peter whiche was no lesse disdeyned then hated almost of all the people of Britayne▪ thoughte that yf he dyd assent and satisfie kyng Richardes petycion and desyre, he shoulde be of powre and habilite suf­ficiente to withstande and re [...]ell the malicious attemptes and disdeyn­full inuencions of his enuious aduersaries. Wherefore he feithefully promysed to accomplishe kyng Richardes request and desyre, so that he kepte promise with him, that he might be hable to withstande y^• cancard m [...]lice of his secrete enemies. This acte that he promised to do, was not for nay grudge or malice that he bate to the earle of Richemonde▪ for as you haue heard before, he delyuered him from perell of deathe at saynct Malos when he was in great doubte of life and ieopardie but as cause riseth we euer offende, and that cursed, hungre of golde and execrable [Page xlvj] thirst of lucre, and inward feare of losse of aucthorite, driueth the blynde myndes of couetous men and ambicious persones to euilles and mis­ch [...]es innumerable, not remembryng losse of name, obloquy of the peo­ple, nor in conclusion the punyshement of God for their merites and de­sertes. But fortune was so fauourable to the publicke wealth of the re­alme of Englande that this deadly and dolorous compact tooke none effect or place. For while postes ranne, and letters were sent to and frotor y^e finisshyng of this great entreprise betwene kyng Richard & Peter Landoyse, Ihon Morton bishop of Ely soiornynge then in Flaunders, was of al this craftie cōueighaunce certified by his secret & sure frēdes: wherfore he sent Christopher Urswike (whiche at that verie ceason was come out of Britayne into Flaunders) to declare to the erle of Richmōd howe al the deceipte & craftie working was conueighed and compassed, geuyng him in charge to councell and aduise y^e erle in al hast possible w^t al his cōpany to retire out of Britayne into Fraūce. When these newes were brought to the erle he then kept house in Uannes, and incontinent dispatched agayne Christopher Urswike to Charles the French kynge, requyring him that he and his might sauely passe into Fraunce, whiche desyre, impetrated and obteyned, the messenger shortely returned to his lorde and prince. The erle well perceauynge that it was expediente and necessarie with al spede and diligence, to loke to this weightie mat­tre, callynge verie fewe to councell, he made exploracion and searche of all secret and by weyes, and sent before all his noble men, as though for a certayne familiaritee and kyndenes they should visite and comforte y^e duke▪ which then for recreacion and chaunge of ayre, laie on the borders and confynes of Fraunce. And secretely he gaue charge to the Earle of pembrooke which was the leader and conducter of his compaigny, that when they approched the marches and lymites of Britayne, they should dyuerte and take the next weye into Fraunce. The noble men somewhat suspicious of thinges newely imagened, without any tariyng or by the iorney ga [...]ynge, scouryng the weies as fast as there horse would ronne, or as they conuenientely might beare & susteyne, came oute of the duchy of Britayne into y^• duchy of Angeou in the dominion of Fraunce, where they exspected the earles commynge, which .ii. daies after departed oute of Uannes onely accompaignied with .v. seruytoures, as though he had gone secretely to visite a familier frende of his in a small village adioynynge. No man suspected that he woulde departe, considerynge that a greate 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 thei by wayes vnknowen nowe this waie, nowe [Page] turnynge that waye, came to their company abidyng theim in angiers.

The fourthe daye after the earle of Richemonde was thus departed, that craftie marchaunte Peter landoyse, trustynge still after his praye promised by kyng Richard, was ready to set forwarde his crew of soul­dyours, whiche he preuely had consigned with certayne trustye capitey­nes for that onely purpose appoynted and elected, to performe & acheue his pretensed entreprise, dissymulynge and feignynge theim to be con­ducted and hyred by hym to serue the Earle of Richemond, and hym to conduyte in his retourne towarde his natiue countrey, meanynge none other thynge but to apprehende hym and theother noble men in his re­tynue, whiche no suche fraude suspectynge, nor yet any treason ymage­nynge, vnware and vnprouided and destitute of all ayde, and theim to cast and detrude sodaynly into continual captiuite and bondage▪ to thē ­tente that by this facinorous and naughtie acte, he mighte 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 departed (thynkynge that to be trewe that he ymagened) lorde howe currioures rane into euery coaste, howe lighte horsemen galloped to euery streyt to folowe and deteyne hym, yf by any possibilite he coulde be subsecuted and ouertaken, and hym to incarce­rate and brynge captyue into the citee of Uannes. The horsemen made suche diligence, and with such celerite set forward their iorney, that no­thing was more likely them thei to haue obteined, ye & seazed their praie. 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 re [...]ourned. At whiche season were left at Uannes aboute the nombre of .iii. Englishemen, which not beynge called to councell and vnware of this entreprice, but knowynge of the erles sodeyne departure were so in­continently 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 somewh [...]t recouered, was sore displeased, and nothinge contented that the erle o [...] Richmonde was in his dominion so vncurteously tracted and entreated, that he should be by fraud and vn­truthe compelled to leaue and flye oute of his duchye and countrey con­trary to his honoure. Wherfore he tooke greate displeasure with Peter Landoyse his treasourer, to whom (although he knewe 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 valiaunte esquyers of England, and delyue­red vnto theim monye sufficiente for their conduyte, wyllynge theim to conuey the rest of thenglishmen beynge in Brytayne, to the earle of Ri­chemondes presence. When the Earle was thus furnyshed & apoynted [Page xlvij] with his trusty company, and was escaped all y^• daūgerous labirinthes and snares [...] were set for him, no meruel though he were io [...]unde and glad of y^e prosperous successe that happened in his affaires. Wherefore, lest he should seme to be blotted with the note of ingratitude, he sent dy­uerse of his gentlemē to the duke of Britaine, the which should publishe & declare to hym on the behalfe of the erle, that he and his, were onely by his benefite and fauoure conserued and delyuered from the imminente daunger y^• they were like to be trapped in. Wherfore at that time he rendred to hym his moost hartie thankes in woordes, trustyng & not doub­tyng but in tyme to come liberally to recōpence him with actes & dedes.

After this, the erle tooke his iourney to Charles y^• French kyng, lyeng then at Langes vpō the riuer of leyre, to whome after great thankes ge­uen for manifolde gratuytes by him to the erle shewed, he disclosed and manifested y^• cause & occasiō of his accesse & repaire to his person. After that he requyred of hym helpe▪ and succour, to thentente that by his im­mortall benefite to him at that tyme shewed, he might sauely retourne to the nobilite o [...] 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 promysed 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 Moūtargis, leadyng with him the erle ofn Richemond, and al the noble perso­nages of his retynue and faccion.

While the erle was thus attendaunte in the French court, Ihon vere erle of Oxforde (which as you haue heard before was by kyng Edward kepte in prison within the castell of hammes) so persuaded Ihon blount capitayne of thes [...]e fortresse, and six Ihon Fortescewe porter of the toune of Caleys [...]hat he hym selfe was not onely dismyssed and set at libertie, but the [...]lso abandonynge and leauynge their fruitefull offi­ces, condiscen [...] goo with him into Fraunce to the Earle of Rych­monde and to [...] parte. But Iames Blount like a wise capiteyne, because he [...] wyfe remaynynge in the castell before his depar­ture, he forte [...] thesame bothe with newe inuencions and newe soul­dyours. [...] the Earle of Richemonde sawe the Erle of Oxforde, he was rauy [...]ed with an incredibile gladnes, that he beyng a man of so highe nobil [...]e, of suche knowlege and practise in feates of warre, and so constante, trusty and assured (whiche alweie had studied for the mainte­naunce and preferment of the house of Lancaster) was nowe by goddes prouision delyuered out of captiuite & imprisonmēt, & in time so necessa­ty & cōuenient come to his aide, succour & auauncement, in whome more surer then any other he mighte put his truste & confidente, and take lesse peyne and trauayle in his awne person. For it was not hid frō hym that such as had euer takē part w^t kyng Edward before this time, came to do hī seruice either for malice y^• thei bare to kyng Richard, or elles for feare [Page] to tyme vnder his truculent rule and tempestious gouernaunce. But this man which so often tymes had personally fought in mortal battay­le in the querell of kynge Henry the .vi. he iudged by deuyne powre and heauenly inspiracion to be delyuered oute of captiuite, & emprisonment for this onely purpose, that he shoulde haue a man of his awne faccion and schoole▪ to whome he might surely and faithfully communicate and credite all thinges as to his awne propre person, and therfore beyng en­ [...]amed with all immortall ioye for the earles commynge he beganne to haue a good hope of the happie successe of all his pretensed entreprises.

Not longe after, the Frenche kyng retorned agayn to Paris, whome the erle of Richmond folowed, entending there to solicite his mattre to y^• conclusion. Whereupon he besought kyng 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 wealthe, victorye and auauncement to haue flowed and bud­ded foorthe of his bountyfulnes and liberalite, whiche they would God wyllyng shortely reacquyte. In the meane ceason diuerse Englishemen whiche either fled out of Englande for feare, or were at Parys to learne and studie good litterature and verteous doctrine c [...]me voluntarely and submitted 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 briefe tyme erected & auaun­ced him to high dignitees and promocions, and in conclusion he made him bishop of Wynchester.

In the meane ceason kyng Richard was crediblye aduertised what promyses and othes the erle and his cōfederates ha [...] made and sworne together at Renes, and how by the erles meanes a [...]henglishmē were passed oute of Britayne into Fraunce. Wherfore be [...]ge sore dysmaied and in maner desperate, because his craftie cheuesa [...] tooke none ef­fect in Brytayne, ymagened and deuysed howe to [...] and disturbe the erles purpose by another meane, so that by the [...] of lady Eli­zabeth his nece he should pretende no clayne nor tytl [...] [...] croune. For he thought if that mariage fayled, the erles chiefe com [...]ad bene clerly cut. And because that he beynge blynded with the amb [...]ns desyre of rule before this tyme, in obteynynge the kyngdome, had p [...]petrate and done many flagicious actes and detestable tyrannies, ye [...] a [...]rdynge to the olde prouerbe, let him take the bul that stale away y^e calfe▪ [...] thought all factes by hym committed in tymes passed to be but of sma [...]l 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 muche more cruell and abhominable to be put in execucion. For when he reuolued in his wauerynge mynde howe greate a founteyne of mischiefe towarde hym shoulde sprynge, yf the [Page xlviij] erle of Richmond shoulde be auaunced to the mariage of his nece, which thinge he hearde saye by the rumour of the people that no small nombre of wise and wittye personages entreprised to compasse & brynge to con­clusion. He clerely determined to reconcile to his fauoure his brothers wife quene Elizabeth either by faire woordes or liberall promises, fir­mely beleuynge her fauoure once obteined that she woulde not sticke to commite and louyngly credite to him the rule and gouernaunce both of her and her daughters, and so by that meanes the erle of Richemonde of the affinite of his nece shoulde be vtterly defrauded and beguyled. And yf no ingenyous remedye coulde be otherwise inuented to saue the in­numerable mischiefes whiche were euen at hand and like to falle, yf yt 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 sanctuarie diuerse and often messen­gers, whiche first shoulde excuse and purge him of all thinges before a­gainste her attempted or procured, and after shoulde so largely promes promocions innumerable and benefites, not onely to her but also to her sonne lord Thomas Marques Dorcett, that they should brynge her yf yt were possible into some wanhope, or as men saie into a fooles para­dise. The messengers beynge men bothe of wit and grauitie so persua­ded the quene with great & pregnaunte reasons, then with fayre & large promises, that she began somewhat to relent & to geue to theim no deffe eare, in somuche that she faithfully promised to submyt & yelde her selfe fully and frankely to the kynges will and pleasure. And so she putting in obliuion the murther of her innocente children, the infamy and disho­noure spoken by the kynge her husbande, the lyuynge in auoutrie leyed to her charge, the bastardyng of her daughters, forgettyng also y^• feith­full promes & open othe made to the countesse of Richmon [...] mother to y^• erle Henry, blynded by auaricious affeccion and seduced by flatterynge wordes, first deliuered into kyng Richards hādes her .v. daughters, as Lambes once agayn committed to the custody of the rauenous wolfe. After she sente letters to the Marques her sonne beynge then at Parys with the earle of Richmonde, willynge him in any wise to leaue the earle and without delaie to repaire into Englande, where, for hym were pro­uided greate honoures and honorable promocions, asserteignynge hym ferther, that all offences on bothe parties were forgotten and forgeuen, and bothe he and she highely incorporate in the kynges hearte. Su­rely the inconstancie of this woman were muche to be merueled a [...], yf all women had bene founde constante, but let men speake, yet wemen of the verie bonde of nature will folowe their awne kynde. After that kynge Rycharde had thus with glorious promyses and flatterynge woordes pleased and appeased the mutable mynde of quene Elyzabeth [Page] which knewe nothing lesse then that he moost entended, he caused al his brothers daughters to be conueighed into his paleys with solempne re­ceauyng, as though with his newe familier and louyng entreteinement they shoulde forget, and in their myndes 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, whiche thynge he in anywise adiuged necessary to be done. But there was one thyng that so muche feared and dragged hym from commyttynge this abhominable murther, because as you haue hearde before he beganne to countrefaycte the ymage of a good and wel disposed person, and therfore he was afeard leaste y^• sodeine and imma­ture death of his wife once openly knowen, he should lese the good and credible opinion whiche the people had of him, without deserte concea­ued and reported. But in conclusion, euyll councell preuailed in a witt lately mynded to mischiefe, 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 infortunate sterilite and barennes of his wife, because she brought foorth non fruyte and generacion of her bodye. And in especiall he accompted to Thomas Rotheram archebishop of Yorke (whome la­tely he had delyuered oute of warde and captiuite) these impedymentes of is quene and dyuerse other, thinkyng that he woulde enucleate and open to her all these thinges, trustynge the sequele herof to take his ef­fecte, that she herynge this grudge of her husband, and takyng therfore 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 ded, to thentent that she takyng some cōceipte of this straung fame, should fall into some soday­ne sicknes or greuous maladye, & to proue [...] a [...]terward she should for­tune by y^• or any other waies to lese her li [...]e, whyther y^• people would im­pute her death to the thought or sicknes, or therof would laie y^• blame to him. Whē y^• quene heard tell that so horrible a rumour of her death was sprong emongest the comminaltie, she sore suspected and iuged y^e world to be almost at an ende with her, and in that sorofull agony, she with la­mentable countenaunce and soroful chere, repaired to the presence of the kyng her husband, demaundynge of hym, what yt should meane that he had iuged her worthy to dye. The kyng aunswered her with fare woor­des, and with dissimulynge blandimentes and flatteryng lesynges com­forted her, biddynge her to be of good comforte, for to his knowlege she shoulde haue none other cause. But howsoeuer y^• it fortuned, either by inward thought and pensyuenes of hearte, or by intoxicacion of poyson [Page xlix] (which is affirmed to be moost lik [...]ly) within a few daies after, the quene departed oute of this transitorie lyfe, and was with dewe solemp [...]ite buried in the churche of s [...]int Peter at Westminster. This is thesame An­ne one of the daughters 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 (accordyng to his long desire) losed oute of the bōdes 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: But because all men, and the mayden her selfe moost of al, de­tested and abhorred this vnlawfull and in maner vnnaturall copula­cion, he determined to prolonge and deferre the matter till he were in a more quietnes. For all that verie reason he was oppressed with great, weightie and vrgent causes and busynesses on euery side, considerynge that dailye parte of the nobilite sailed into Fraunce to the erle of Rich­mond: Other preuely fauoured & aided certeine of the coniuracion, so &of his shorte ende, fewe or none were in doubte. And y^e common people for the moost part were brought to such desperaciō, y^• many of theim had rather be reputed & taken of him in y^e nōbre of his enemies, then to abide the chaunce and hazard to haue their goodes taken as a spoile of victo­rie by his enemies. Emongest the noble men whome he moost mystru­sted, these were the principall, Thomas lorde Stanley, Sir William Stanley his brother, Eylbert Talbot and .vi. hundred other, of whose purposes although kyng Richard were ignoraunt, yet he gaue neyther confidence nor credence to any one of theim, and least of all to the Lorde Stanley, because he was ioyned in matrimony with the lady Marga­rete mother to the erle of Richmond as afterward apparauntly ye maie perceaue. For when thesayde lorde Stanley woulde haue departed into his countrey to visite his familie, and to recreate and refreshe his spiri­tes (as he openly sayde) but the truth was to thentent to be in a persight readines to receaue the erle of Richmōd at his first arriual in Englād: the kyng in no wise woulde suffre hym to departe before that he had left as an hostage in the courte George Stanley lorde straung his first be­gotten sonne and heire. While kynge Richard was thus troubled and vexed with ymaginacions of the tumulteous time that was lyke to co­me: Lo [...], euen sodeinly he herde newes that fyer was sprong oute of the smoke and the warre, recently begonne, and that the castell of ham­mes was deliuered into the handes of the earle of Rychmonde by the meanes of the earle of Oxenforde and that not only he but also Iames Blount capiteine of the castel, were fled into Fraunce to aide the Earle Henry. Wherfore he thynkynge yt great pollicie to withstand the fyrst brunt sent the moost part of the garrison of Caleis, to recouer again by force the castell of Hammes. They whiche were in the castell perceauing their aduersaries to approche, prepared municions and engins for their defence, and sente also to the Earle of Richemonde, to aduertise hym of [Page] the [...] sodeine obsession, requirynge hym of hasty ayde and spedy suc­coure. The erle [...]epynge not this first begonne as [...]au [...]e, sent the earle of Oxe [...]forde with an elected company of souldioures to reise the siege & re [...]kewe the castel: Whiche 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 ad­ua [...]ntage of theim that la [...]e on that side of the Castell. Thomas Bran­don with .xxx. approued men of warre by a marishe whiche laie on the­other syde entred into the castell. The souldioures within greately ani­mated and muche comforted by this newe succour and aide, greued the­nemies by shortyng frō 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 vnquiet [...]d theim on theother parte, whiche was the occasion that kyng Richardes men offred of their awne mere mocion licence to all beynge within the castell to departe in sauetie with bagge and baggage nothinge excepted: whiche condicion the earle of Oxenforde commynge only for that purpose to delyuer his louynge frendes oute of all pe [...]ell and daunger▪ & chiefely of all, his olde hostesse Iane Blount wife to Iames Blount the capteine, would in no wise re­pudiate or refuse. And so leauynge the Castell bare and vngarnysshed bothe of vitaile and artillary, came safe to the erle of Richmond soiour­nyng in Parys. Duryng this tyme, kynge Richard was credebly infor­med of his explorators & espialles y^• y^• erle of Richmond was w^t longe suyte in the courte of Fraunce sore fatigate & weried, & desyryng greate a [...]de, coulde obteine small releue. In so muche y^• 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 ground. Kynge Richarde eyther beynge to light of credence, or seduced and deluded by hys craftie taletellers, grea [...]ly reioysed as though he had obteyned the ouerhand of his ene­myes with triumph and victorie, and thought hym selfe neuer so surely delyuered of all reare and dreadfull ymaginacions, so that he neded nowe no more once for that cause eyther to wake of breake his golden slepe. Wherefore he called home againe his 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 sodeinly trapped he streightly charged and gaue in commaundemēt to all noble men and in especiall suche as inhabited nere to the see coaste and on the frontiers of wales, that accordyng to the vsage of the coun­trey, thei should kepe diligent watche & stronge warde, to y^e entent y^e his aduersaries in no wise should haue any place apte or oportune easely to t [...]ke lande withoute defence or rebuttynge back. For the custome of the countreyes adioynyng nere to y^• see is (especially in the tyme or warr) on euery hill or high place to erect a bekon w^t a greate lāterne in the toppe, [Page xl] which maie 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 frō toune to toune and from village to village. Some ronne in post frō place to place ad­monisshyng the people to be ready to resist the ieopardy, and defende the perell. And by this pollecy y^• fame is sone blowen to euery citee & toune, in somuche that aswell 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 accustoned pensiuenes, beganne to be somewhat more merier & toke lesse thought and care for outwarde enemies then he was woont to do, as who saie, that he with polletique prouision shoulde withstand the de­steny whiche hong ouer his hed, and was ordened in briefe tyme sodein­ly to fall. Suche is the force and puissaunce of deuyne iustice▪ that euery man shal lesse regarde, lesse prouide, lesse be in doubte of al things, when he is moost nerest punishment, and next to his mischaunce for his offen­ces and crymes.

Aboute this ceason, while the erle of Richmonde was desirynge 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 theim selfes were not of one opinion. Of whiche dissencion, Lewes duke of Orlyaunce was the chiefe sturrer, which because he had maryed lady Iohanne suster to the Frenche kynge, tooke vpon him aboue other the rule and administracion of the whole realme. By reason of whyche controuersie, no one manne only was suffred to rule al, wherfore the erle of Rychemond was compelled to make suyte to euery one of the councel seuerally one after another, requiringe and desirynge theim of aide and releue in his weightie busynes, and so his cause was prolonged and de­ferred. Durynge whiche [...]ime, Thomas Marques Dorsett which was as you haue heard entised by his mother to retorne againe into Englād partely despayring in the good successe of the erle of Richmōd & partely onerate and vanquesshed with the faire glosynge promises of kyng Ri­chard: secretly in the night ceason stale oute of Parys, and with all dili­gent expedicion tooke his iourney toward Flaunders. When relaciō of his departure was made to the erle of Richmond & theother noble men, no maruell though they were astonnyed & greatly amased. Yet y^• not w^t ­stādyng thei requyred of the Frēch kyng thast yt might be lefull to theim in his name and by his commaundement to take and steye their cōpaig­nion, confederate, and partaker of all their councel, in what place within his realme and territorye so euer they coulde fynde hym. Which peticiō once obteined, thei sent oute curriers into euery parte, emongest whome Homfrey Cheiny pl [...]iyng the parte of a good blood hounde, foloed the tract of y^• flyer so euen by y^e sent▪ that he ouertooke and apprehēded hym not farre from Cōpeign & so what with reason & what w^t fa [...]re promises beyng persuaded, he retourned againe to his cōpaignions. The earle of [Page] Richmond vnburdened of this misauenture, least by procrastinacion of daies & prolongyng of time, he might lese y^• great oportunitee of things to him offred and ministred: also least he shoulde ferther wounde or molest the myndes of his feithfull and assured frendes which daily did as­pect & tarie for his cōmyng, determined no lenger to protract & deferre y^• tune, but with al diligence & scelerite to attempte his begonne entreprice and so obteinyng of kyng Charles a small crewe of men, and borowyng certeyn sommes of money of him & of diuerse other his pryuate 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 courte & came to the citee of Roan. While he taryed there makyng prouisiō at harflete in the mouth of the ryuer of Seyne for all thinges necessary for his nauy and naui­gacion, tydynges were brought to hym that kynge Richard beynge w^t ­out children and now wydower, entended shorte [...]y to mary with Ladye Elizabeth his brothers daughter, and to preferre the ladye Cicile her suster to a man founde in a cloude and of an vnknowen lignage and fa­milie. He tooke these newes as a matter of no small momente (and so all thynges considered, yt was of no lesse importaunce then he tooke yt for. For this thyng only tooke aweie from all his compaignions the­ir hope and courage that they had to obteine an happie enterprice. And therfore no maruell though it nypped hym at the verie stomacke when he thought that by no possibilite he might attayne the mariage of any of kynge Edwardes daughters, whiche was the strongest foūdacion of his buyldyng, by reason whereof he iudged that all his frendes in En­gland woulde abandon and shrynke from hym. Wherefore makynge not many of his councell, after dyuerse consultacions he determined not yet to set forwarde, but to tarye and attempte howe to get more ay­de, more frendes and more stronger succoures. And emongest al other, yt was thought moost expedient to allure by affinite in his ayde as a compaignion in armes Sir Walter Herbert a man of an aunciente stocke and greate powre emongest the Welshemen, whyche had wyth 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 secretely sent to Henry Eearle of Northumbreland (whiche had before maried another suster of Sir Walter Herbertes) gto 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 proceded 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 temporall lawe, whiche declared that Ryce ap Thomas, a man of no lesse valyauntnes then actyuitee, and Ihon Sauage an approued Capteyne, woulde with all their powre be partakers of his quarell.

And that Reignolde Breye had collected and gotten together no small some of money for the payment of the wages to the souldioures and [Page lj] men of warre: admonisshynge him also to make quicke expedicion and to take his course directely into Wales. The Earle of Richmonde be­cause he woulde no lenger lynger and weery hys frendes lyuynge continually betwene hope and feare, determyned in all conueniente hast to se [...]f forwarde, and caried to his shippes armoure, weapons, vitayl [...] 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 accidentes and ieopardies or warre, whiche requyreth preparaciō of many instrumētes and thinges chargeable.

After that the erle had made his humble peticion and deuoute praier to allmightie God, besechynge hym not only to sende him moost prospe­rous wynde and sure passage in his iourney, but also effecteously desy­rynge his goodnes of aide & comforte in his necessite and victorie & su­premitie ouer his enemies, only accompaignied with .ii. thousand menne and a small nombre of shippes, weyed vp his ancres and halsed vp his failes and in the calendes of August he sailed from harflet with so pros­perous a wynde that the .vii. daye after his departure he arryued in Wales in the euenyng at a porte called Mylford Hauen, and in cōtinēt tooke land and came to a place called Dalle, where he heard saye that a certeine company of 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 myle, where he was applauded and receaued of the people with greate ioye, and he arryued there so sodeinly that he was come and entred the toune at the­same tyme when the cytezens had but knowlege of his commynge.

Here he heard newes whiche were as vntrue as thei truly were reported to hym in Normandie, that Rice ap Thomas and Ihon sauage wyth body and goodes were determined to aide kyng Richard. While he and his compaignie were somewhat appalled of these newe tydynges, there came such message from thinhabitauntes of the toune of Pembrooke 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 Iasper erle of Penbrooke. The erle of Richmond hauyng his armie thus encreased, departed from Herforde west to the toune of Cardygan beyng .v. myle distant from thence. While the souldioures were refresshyng and trim­mynge theim selues in their campe, straunge tydynges spronge emonge theim w^toute any certeine authour, y^• sir Walter Herberd which laie w^t a greate crewe of menne at Carmarden▪ was nowe with a greate armye ready to approche and hyd theim battaile. With which newes the armie was sore troubled, and euery man assaied his armure and proued hys weapon and were prest to defende their enemies. And as they were in [Page] this timerous doubte, certeine horsemen which the erle had sent to make exploracion and searche, retourned and reported all the countrey to bee quiete and no let nor impedimente to be laied or cast in their iourney.

And euen at that same tyme the whole armye was greately recomforted by reason that the commynge of Rycharde Gryffyth, a man of greate nobilite, the whiche notwithstandynge that he was conferate wyth Sir Walter Harbert and Richarde app Thomas, yet at that verie instant he came to the Earle of Richemund with all his compaignie, whyche were of no great nomber. After hym, thesame daie came Ihon Mor­gan wyth his men. Then the Earle auaunced forwarde in good hast, makynge no repose or abode in any one place. And to thentent to passe forwarde with sure and short expedicion, he assauted e [...]ery place where his ennemies had set any men of warre, whiche with small force and lesse difficultie he briefely dyd expugne and vanquishe. And sodeynly he was by his espialles asserteyned that Sir Walter Harbert and Rice app Thomas were in harnes before hym ready to encountre wyth hys atmye and to stoppe their passage. Wherefore lyke a valyaunt capteyn he firste determyned to sett on theim and eyther to destroye or to take theim into his fauoure, and after with all his powre and puyssaunce to geue battaile to his mortall 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 hys mother, to the Lorde Stanley and his brother, to Talbote and to o­ther his trustie frendes, declarynge to theim, that he succoured and hol­pen with the ayde and releue of his frendes entended to passe ouer y^• ry­uer of Seuerne at Shrewsburie, 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 woulde occurre & mete hym by the waye 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 weightie busynes. Whē the messengers were disparcled with these commaundementes & admo­nicions, he marched forward toward Shrewsbury, and in his passynge there met & saluted him Rice ap Thomas with a goodly bād of Welsh­men, whiche makyng an othe and promyse to the erle, submitted himself whole to his ordre and commaundement. For the erle of Richemond .ii. daies before made to him promes y^• if he woulde sweare to take his part and be obedient to hym, he woulde make hym chiefe gouernour of Wa­les, whiche parte as he feithfully promised and graunted, so after that he had obteyned and possessed the realme and diademe, he liberally per­formed and accomplished the same. In the meane tyme, the messenge [...]s 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 thesame daye that he entred into Shrewsburie, and made relacion [Page lij] to hym that his frendes were ready in all poyntes to do all thynges for him which either thei ought or might do. The erle Hēry brought in good hope with his pleasaunt message continued foorth his entended iour­ney and came to a litle towne called Newporte and pitchynge his cam­pe on a lytle hill adioynynge, reposed hym selfe there that nyghte. In the euenynge, thesame daie came to hym Sir George Talbott wyth the whole powre of the younge Earle of Shrewsburye then beynge in warde, whiche were accompted to the nombre of twoo thousande men. And thus his powre encreasynge he arryued at the towne of Stafforde 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, he reuerted to his souldiou­res whiche he had congregate together to serue the Earle, whiche from thence departed to Lichefelde and laie withoute the walles in his camp 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 hauynge in hys bande almoste fyue thousande men, lodged in thesame towne, but herynge that the Earle of Richemonde was mar­shynge thetherward, gaue to hym place, dislodgynge hym and hys, and repaired to a towne called Adrestone, there abydynge the com­mynge of the Earle, and this wilye foxe did this acte to aduoyde al sus­picion, beynge afraied least yf he shoulde be 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 mystruste woulde put to some cruell deathe his sonne and heire apparaunt George Lorde Straunge whome kynge Rycharde as you haue heard before kept with hym as a pledge or hostage 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 infourmed that the Earle of Richemond with such bannysshed men as fled oute of Englande to hym were nowe arry­ued in Wales, and that all thynges necessarie to his entreprice we­re vnprouided, vnpurueyed and verie weake, nothynge mete to with­stande the powre of suche as the kyng had apoynted to resiste him. This rumour so enflated his minde, that in maner disdeignyng to here speake of so poore a compaignye, determined at the first to take lytle or no re­garde to this so small a sparcle, declarynge the Earle to be innocente and vnwyse because that he temerariously attempted suche a great en­treprice with so small and thynne a nombre 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 apprehended a lyue, or elles by all likelyhode he shoulde of necessite come to a shamefull confusion, and that he trusted to be shor­tely done by Sir Walter Harbert and Rice ap Thomas, whiche then [Page] ruled Wales with egall powre and lyke aucthoritee. But yet he re­uoluynge and castynge 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 yftwas prudente pollecie not to asperne and disdeyne the lytle small powre and weakenes of the ennemye, be yt neuer so small, thought yt 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 iudged muche more to preferre and esteme his wealthe and honoure then their awne riches and priuate commodite, willynge theim to mu­stre and viewe al their seruauntes and tenentes, and to elect and choose the moost courageous and actiue persones of the 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 armes Sir Thomas Butchier and sir Walter Hungerforde and diuerse other knightes and esquiers in whome he had cast no small suspicion. While he was thus ordrynge his affaires, ty­dynges came that the Earle of Richemond was passed Seuerne and come to Shrewsbury withoute any detrymente or encombreaunce. At whiche message he was sore moued and broyled wyth Melancolye and doloure, and cried out, askynge vengeaunce of theim that contrarye to their othe and promes had fraudulently deceaued hym. For whyche cause he beganne to haue diffidence in other, in so muche that he deter­mined hym selfe oute of hand thesame daye to occurre and resyste hys aduersaries. And in all hast 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 knowlege where the Earle with his armye was soiournynge, he hauynge continuall repaire of his subiectes to hym, beganne in con­tynently withoute delaie to marshall and collocate in order his battai­les (lyke a valyaunt capteine and polletique 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 hym 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 whyte courser, fo­lowed with his footemen, the wynges of horsemen coastynge and ran­gynge on euery syde: And kepyng this araye, he with greate pompe entred the toune of Lecester after the sonne set. The Earle of Rych­monde reised his campe and departed from Lychefelde to the towne of Tomwoorth therto nere adioynynge, and in the myd waie passynge, [Page liij] there saluted hym Sir Walter Hungerforde and Sir Thomas Bur­chier knightes and dyuerse other whiche yelded and submitted theim selfes to his pleasure. For they beynge aduertised that kynge Rycharde had theim in suspicion and gealosye, a lytle beyonde stony stratforde left and forsooke prcuely their Capteyne Robert Brakenbury, and by nocturnall wandryng, and in maner by vnknowen p [...]thes and vncer­teine waies searchyng, at the last came to the earle Henry. Diuerse other noble p [...]rsonages whiche inwardely hated kynge Richard worsse then a toade or a serpent, lykewyse resorted to hym 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 hau [...]e 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 coulde be assured of his father inlawe Thomas Lorde Stanley, whiche for feare of the destruction 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 Rychard, his sonne had shortely been executed. Wherefore syth the Earles feare sprange not of nothynge, he accompaignyed with twenty lyght horsemen lyngered in his iourney as a man disconsolate, musyng and ymagenynge what was best to be done. And the more to aggra­uate his melancoly pensyuenes, yt was shewed hym 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 coulde not perceaue the steppes of theim that passed on before, and had wandred hether and thether, sekynge after his compaygnie and yet not once herynge any noyse or whysperynge of theim, he dyuer­ted to a very lytle village beynge aboute .iii. myles from his armye, takynge greate thought and muche fearynge least he shoulde 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 beynge no more amased wyth the ieopardye and perell that was passed, then wyth thys presente chaunce, sore feared that it shoulde bee a pronosticacion or prodygall sygne of some in­fortunate plague afterward to succede. As he was not mery beynge absent from hys compaignie, lykewyse his armie muche marueled and no lesse mourned for his sodeyne and intempestious 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 deuysed for the nones he went from his campe to receau [...] some glad message from ecrteyne of hys preuy frendes and secret alies. This excuse made, he preuely departed agayn from his host to the toune of Aderstone, where the lorde Stanley and sir William his [Page] brother with their bandes were abidynge. There the Earle came firste to his fatherinlawe in a lytle close, where he saluted hym and Sir Wil­liam his brother, and after diuerse congratulacions and many frendely embracynges, eache reioysed of the state of other, and sodeinly were sur­prised with great ioye, comfort and hope of fortunate successe in all their affaires and doynges. Afterward they consulted together howe to geue battaile to kynge Richarde yf he woulde abide, whome they knewe not to be farre of with an houge army. In the euenynge of thesame daye sir Ihon Sauage, Sir Bryan Sanforde, Sir Symon Digby and many other leuyng kyng Richarde, turned and came to the parte 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 encreace 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 last laboure by the very deuyne iustice and prouidence of God, whiche called him to condigne punyshemente for his scelerate me­rites and myscheueous desertes) marshed to a place mete for twoo bat­tayles to encountre by a village called Bosworth, not farre from Ley­cester▪ and there he pitched his felde, refreshed his souldioures and toke his rest. The fame went that he had thesame night a dreadfull & a ter­rible dreame,The dreame of kyng Ri­chard the .iii. for yt semed to hym beynge a slepe y^• he sawe diuerse yma­ges lyke terrible deuelles whiche 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 sodeyne feare but it stuffed his hed and troubled his mynde with many dreadfull and busy Imaginacions.

For incontynent after, his heart beynge almost damped, he pronosti­cated 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 battaile. 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 famylyer frendes in the morenynge hys wonderfull visyon and terrible drea­me. But I thynke this was no dreame, but a punccion and pricke of hys synfull conscyence, for the conscience is so muche more char­ged and aggrauate as the offence is greater & more heynous in degree, whiche prycke of conscience allthough it strike not all waye, yet at the last daie of extreme life it is wonte to shew and represent to vs our faul­tes and offences and the paynes and punishementes whiche hand ouer our heddes for the cōmittyng of thesame, to thentent that at y^• instant we for our desertes being penitent & repentaūt may bee cōpelled lamētyng & bewalyng our sinnes like forsakers of this worlde, iocund to departe out of this miserable life. Now to retorne againe to oure purpose, y^• next daie after▪ kyng Richard beyng furnished w^t men & all abilimētes of warr, bringyng al his men out of there camp into y^• plaine, ordered his forward in a marueylous lēgth, in which he appointed both horsemen & [Page liiij] footmen to thentēt to emprynte in y^• hartes of thē y^• loked a farre of, a so­deine terror & deadlie feare, for y^• great multitude of y^• armed soldiours: & in the fore Frount he placed y^• archers like a strong fortifi [...]d trench or bulwarke: ouer this battaile was captain Ihon duke of Norfolke with whome was Thomas erle of Surrey his sonne. After this lōg vātgard folowed king Richard hī self, w^t a strōg cōpaigny of chosen & approued mē of warr hauyng horsmen for wynges on both y^• sides of his battail.

After y^• therle of Richmond was departed from y^• cōmunicaciō of his frends as you haue harde before, he began to be of a better stomake & of a more valiant courage, & w^t al diligēs pitchid his feld iuste by y^• cāp of his enemies, & there he lodgid y^• night. In the mornyng [...]e tyme he cau­sed his men to put on there armure & appareyl thē selfes redy to fight & geue battaill, & sent to y^• lord Stanley (which was now come w^t his bāde in a place indifferently betwene both y^• armes) requiryng him w^t his mē to approche nere to his army & to help to set y^• souldiours in array, he an swered y^• therle should set his awne mē in a good order of battaile while he would array his cōpaigny & cōme to him in time conuenient. Which answere made otherwi [...]e then therle thought or would haue ruoged, con­siderynge y^• oportunite of the time & the waite of y^• busynes, & although he was there w^t all, a litle vexed, beganne somewhat to hang y^• hedde, yet he w^tout any time delaiyng compelled by necessite, after this maner in­structed & ordered his men. He made his forward somewhat syngle and slender▪ accordyng to y^• small nōber of his people In y^• Frouut he placed the archers, of whome he made captain Ihō erle of Oxford: to the right wyng of y^• battaill he appoynted, sir Gylbert Talbott to be y^• leder: to y^• left wing he assigned sir Ihon Sauage, & he w^t y^• aide of y^• lord Stāley accompaignied with therle of Penbroke hauyng a good compaignie of horsmen and a small nomber of footmen: For all his hole nōber exceded not v. thousaide men beside the powr of the Stanleys, wherof .iii. thou­sande were in the felde vnder the stādard of sir William Stanley: The kynges nomber was doble as muche & more.The oraciō of kyng Richard the .iii. When bothe these ar­mies were thus ordered & al men redy to set forward kyng Richard cal­led his Cheuetains together & to thē sayde. Most faithfull & assured fe­lowes, most trusty & welbeloued frendes and elected captains, by whose wysedome & policie, I haue obteyned the crowne & type of this famous realme & noble regiō: by whose puissaūce & valiauntnes I haue enioied & possessed thestate roial & dignite of y^•same, maugre y^• yl wil & sedicious attemptes of all my cancarde enemies & insidius aduersaries, by whose prudēt & politike coūsaill I haue so gouerned my realme, people & sub­iectes, y^• I haue omitted nothing appertainig to y^• office of a iuste prīce, nor you haue pretermitted nothing belōgyng to y^• dewtie of wise & sage counsailers. So y^• I may saie & truely affirme, that your approued fide­lite & tried constancye, maketh me to beleue firmely & thinke, y^• I am an vndoubted kyng & an indubitate prince. And although in y^• adepcion & obteinyng of y^• Garlāde, I being seduced & prouoked by sinister coūsail [Page] and diabolical temptaciō did commyt a facynerous and detestable acte. Yet I haue with strayte penaunce and salt teryes (as I trust) expiated and clerely purged thesame offence, which abhominable cryme I require you of frendship as clerely to forget, as I dayly do remember to deplo­re and lament thesame. If you wil now diligently cal to remembraunce in what case and perplexitie we now stand, and in what doubtful perell we be now intricked? I doubt not but you in hart will thinke and wyth mouth confesse, that yf euer amitie and faythe preuailed betwene prynce and subiectes or betwene subiecte and subiecte: or yf euer bond of al­legians obliged the vassall to loue and serue his naturall souereigne lorde, or yf any obligation of dewtie bounde any prynce to aide and de­fende his subiectes? All these loues, bondes and deuties of necessite are this daie to be experimented, shewed and put in experiēce. For yf wyse men saie trew, there his some pollycie in gettyng, but muche 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 defende with force, that prehe­minence & possession which by your prudent deuises I haue gotten and obteyned. I doubt not but you knowe, howe the deuell continuall ene­mie to humane nature, disturber of concorde and sower of sedicion, hath entered into the harte of an vnknowen welshman, (whose father I neuer knew nor hym personally sawe) excitynge hym to aspire and couet oure realme, crowne and dignitie, and thereof clerely to depryue and spoyle vs and our posterite: y [...] se farther how a compaigny of traytors, thefes, outlawes and ronneagates of our awne nacion be ayders & partakers of his feate and enterprise, redy at hand to ouercomme and oppresse vs: You se also, what a nōber of beggerly Britons & faynt harted French­men be with hym arriued to distroy vs our wyfes and children. Which Imminent mischifes & apparaunt incōueniences, if we wil withstond & refel, we must liue to gether like brethern, fight together like liōs, & feare not to dye together lyke men. And obseruyng and kepyng this rule and precept, beleue me, the fearefull hare neuer fledde faster before the gredy greyhoūd, nor y^• sylye larke before y^• sparowhauke, nor the symple shepe before the rauenous wolfe, then your proud bragging aduersaries astō ned & amased with y^• only sight of your manly visages, wil flee, ronne & skyr out of the felde. For yf yow consider and wisely ponder althings in your mynde, you shall perceyue that we haue manifest causes, and ap­parant tokens of triumph and victorie. And to begyn with the earle of Richmond Captaine of this rebellion, he is a Welsh mylkesoppe, a mā of small courage and of lesse experience in marcyall actes and feates of warr, brought vp by my brother meanes and myne like a captiue in a close cage in the court of Fraunces duke of Britaine, and neuer saw ar­mie, nor was exercised in marcial affaires, by reason whereof he neyther can nor is able on his awne wit or experience to guyde or rule an hoste. For in the wyt and pollecie of the capitaine, consisteth the chefe adeption [Page lv] of the victorie and ouerture of the enemyes. Secondarely feare not and put a waie all doubtes, for when y^• traitors & runagates of our realme, shall see vs w^t banner displaied come against them, remēbryng there oth promise & fidelitie made vnto vs, as to ther souereigne lord & anoynted kyng, thei shal be so pricked & stimulate in y^• botome of there scrupulous consciences y^• thei for very remorce & dread of y^• diuine plage will ethe [...] shamefully flye, or humbly submitte them selfes to out grace and mar­cie. And as for the Frenshmē & Brytons▪ there valiātnes ys suche, y^• our noble progenitors & your valiaunt parētes, haue them oftener vāqui­shed & ouercome in one moneth, then thei in y^• beginny [...]g imagened pos­sible to cōpasse & fynishe in a hole yere. What wil you make of thē, braggers w^tout audacite dronkards w^tout discrescion, rybaudes w^tout rea­son, cowardes w^tout resistyng & in conclusion y^• most effeminate & lasci­uious people, y^• euer 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 auaūtages, expell out of your thoughts al doutes & avoide out of your mindes al feare, & like valiaunt chāpions auaūce furth your standards, & assaye whither your enemies can decide & trie y^• title of battaile by dent of swerde, auaunce (I say againe) forward my captains, in whome lacketh neither pollicie wis­dome nor puissaunce. Euery one gyue but one suer stripe, & suerly y^• ior­ney is ours. What preuayleth a hādfull to a hole realme? desiryng you for y^• loue y^• you beare to me, & y^• affeccion y^• you haue to your natiue and naturall coūtrey, & to y^• sauegard of your prince & your selfe, y^• you wyll this day take to you your accustumed corage, & couragious spirites for y^• defence & sauegard of vs all. And as for me, I assure you, this daye I wil triūphe by glorious victorie, or suffer death for immortal fame. For thei be ma [...]h [...]eed & out of y^• palice of fame disgraded diēg w^tout renou­ne, which do not as much preferre & exaltey^• perpetual honor of their na­tiue coūtrey, as ther awne mortal & transitorie life. Now sent George to borowe, let vs set forwarde, & remēber wel y^• I am he which shal w^t high auauncementes, rewarde & preferre y^• valiaunt & hardy chāpions, & pu­nishe and turment the shameful cowardes & dreadfull dastardes. This exhortacion encouraged all such as faroured hym, but suche as were present more for dreade then loue, kyssed thē openly, whome thei in war­dely hated other sware outwardely to take part with suche, whose death thei secretely compassed and inwardly imagened, other promysed to in­uade the kynges enemies, whiche fled and fought with fyrce courage a­gainst the kyng: other stode stil & loked on, entendynge to take parte w^t the victors and ouercommers: So was his people to hym vnsure and vnfaithfull at his ende▪ as he was to his nephewes vntrew and vnna­turall in his beginnyng.

When therle of Richmond knewe by his forriders that the kyng was so nere embattayled, he rode about his armye, from ranke to ranke, [Page] from wyng so wyng, geuyng comfortable wordes to all men, and that finyshed (heynge armed at all peces sauyng his helmet) mounted on a lytell hyll so that all his people myght se and beholde hym perfitly to there great reioysyng: For he was a man of no great stature, but so for­med and decorated with all gyftes and lyniamentes of nature that he semed more an angelicall creature then a terrestriall personage, his coū ­tenaunce and aspecte was cherefull and couragious, his heare yelow lyke the burnished golde, his eyes gray shynynge and quicke, prompte and redye in aunswerynge, but of suche sobrietie that it coulde neuer be iudged whyther he ware more dull then quicke in speakynge (suche 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 fyghtynge in a iust quarell?The oraciō of kyng Henry the .vii. or yf he euer ayded suche as made warre for the welthe and tuycyon of ther awne naturall and nutritiue countrey? or if he euer succoured them whyche aduentured there lyues for the relefe of innocentes, suppres­synge of malefactores and apparaunt offenders? No doubt my felowes and frendes, but he of hys bountefull goodnes wyll this daye fende vs triumphaunt victorye and a luckey iourney ouer our prowde ene­myes, and arrogant aduersaries: for yf you remember and consider the very cause of our iust quarell, you shall apparantlye perceyue the same to be trewe, Godly, and vertuous. In the whiche I doubte 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 iustice or honestie. Our cause is so iuste that no enter­price can be of more vertue, bothe by the lawes diuine and [...]iuile, for what can be a more honest, goodly, or Godly quarell then to fight agaynste a Capitayne, beynge an homicide and mutderer 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? beyde hym, consy­der who be of his bande and compaignye, suche as by murther and vntreuthe committed agaynste there awne kynne and lynage, ye agaynste theyr Prynce and souereygne Lorde haue disheryted me and you and wrongefully deteyne and vsurpe ouer lawefull patrymo­nye and lyneall inherytaunce. For he that calleth hym selfe kynge, kepeth from me the Crowne and regymente of this noble realme and countrey contrarye to all iustice and equitie. Lykewyse, hys ma­tes and frendes occupie your landes cutt downe your woddes and de­stroy your manners, lettynge your wifes and children range a brode for ther liuyng: which persones for ther penaunce and punishment I doute 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 [Page lvj] with the pricke of ther corrupt consciences cowardely to flye and not a­byde the battaill: besyde this I assure you that there be yonder in that great battaill, men brought thyther for feare and not for loue, souldi­ours by force compelled and not w^t good will assembled: persons which desyer rather the destruccion then saluacion of ther master and captayn: And fynally a multitude: wherof the most parte will be our frendes and the lest parte our enemies. For truely I dout whiche is greater the ma­lice of the souldiours towarde there captain, or the feare of hym concey­ued of his people: for suerly this rule ys infallible, that as il men daily couyte to destroy the good, so God appoynteth the good to confounde the yll, and of all worldly goodes the greatest ys, to suppresse tirauntes, and releue innocences, wherof the one is euer as muche hated as y^• other ys beloued. If this be trewe (as clerkes preche) who will spare younder tyraunt Richard duke of Gloucester vntrewely callyng hym self kyng, consideryng that he hath violated, and broken bothe the lawe of God & man, what vertue is in hym whiche was the confusion of hys brother and murtherer of his nephewes? what mercy is in hym that sleythe hys trustie frendes aswell as his extreme enemyes? Who can haue confidēs in him which putteth diffidens in all mē? Yf you haue not redde, I haue hard of clerckes saie, y^• Tarquyne y^• proude for the vice of the body lost the kyngdome of Rome, and the name of Tarquyne bannyshed the Ci­tee for euer: yet was not his fault so detestable as the facte of cruel Ne­ro, whiche s [...]ew his awne mother and opened her entrayles to be holde the place of his conception. Beholde younder Richarde whiche is bothe Tarquine and Nero: Ye a tyraūt more then Nero, for he hath not only murdered his nephewe beyng his kyng and souereigne lorde, bastarded his noble brethern and defamed the wombe of his verteous and wo­manly mother, but also compased all the meanes and waies y^• he coulde inuent how to stupra [...]e and carnally know his awne nece vnder the pre­tence of a cloked matrimony, whiche lady I haue sworne and promysed 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 Christe) escaped y^• secrete treasons in Brytaine, and auoyded the subtyll snares of our fraudulēt 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 whiche we so much desyred, 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, tos­syng oure shippes in daungerous stormes: let vs not now dread to set vp our sailes in fayre wether hauyng with vs bothe hym and good for­tune. If we had come to conquer Wales and had acheued yt, our praise had bene great, and our gayne more? but yf we wyn this battaill y^• hole riche realme of England with the lordes and rulers of the same shall be [Page] oures, the profit shall be oures 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 welthe or welfare, now is the tyme come to gett abundaunce of riches and copie of profit which is the rewarde of your seruice and merite of your payne. And this remē ­ber with your selues, that before vs be our ennemies, and on ether syde of vs be suche as I nether suerly trust, nor greatly beleue, backwarde we cannot fly: So that here we stande like shepe in a folde circumcep­ted and cōpassed 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 daie shalbe thende of our trauayle and the gaine of our la­bour eyther by honorable death or famous victory: And as I trust, the battaill shall not be so sowre as y^• profyt shalbe swete. Remember y^• vi­ctorie is not gotten with the multitude 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 cancarding obliuiō shal be able to obfuscate or race out of the boke of fame ether our names or our Godly attempte. 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 carion vppon the coold grounde▪ then a fre prisoner on a carpett in a laydes chamber. Let vs therfore fight like inuincible gyantes, & set on our enemies like vn­timerous Tigers & banish all feare like rāping lions. And now auaūce torward trew men against traytors pitifull persones against murthe­rers, trew inheritors against vsurpers, y^• skorges of God against tiraū ­tes, display my banner with a good courage, marche furth like stronge & robustious champions, & begyn y^• battaill like hardy conquerers, the battaill is at hande, & y^• victorie approcheth, & yf we shamfully recule or cowardly flye, we and all our sequele be destroyd & dishonored for euer. This is y^• daie of gayne, & this is y^• time of losse, get this daie victorie & be cōquerers, & lese this daies battail & be villains & therfore in y^• name of god & saīct George let euery mā coragiosly auaūce forth his stādard.

These cherefull wordes he sett forthe with suche gesture of his body and smylyng coūtenaunce, as though all redye he had vanquyshed hys enemies and gotten the spoyle.

He had scantly finyshed his saienge,The battaile betwene kyng Richard and kyng Henry the .vii. but the one armye espyed the o­ther, lord how hastely the souldioures [...]uckled their healmes, how quik­ly the archers bent ther bowes and frushed theire feathers, how redely y^• byllmen shoke there bylles and proued there staues, redy to approche & ioyne when the terrible trompet should sownde the bluddy blast to vic­torie or deathe. Betwene bothe armies ther was a great marrysse which therle of Richemond left on his right hand, for this entent that it should be on that syde a defence for his parte, and in so doyng he had the sonne [Page lvij] at his backe and in the faces of his enemies. When kynge Richard saw the earles 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 couragious [...]y let fly there arrowes, the erles bowmē stode not still but paied thē 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 cō ­paignie was fightyng, thei should be compassed & circūuented w^t y^• mul­titude of his enemies, gaue cōmaūdemēt in euery ranke y^• no mā should be so hardy as go aboue .x. fote from y^• standard, whiche cōmanndement ons knowen, thei knyte thē selfes together, & ceased a littel frō 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 leuer haue had the kyng destroyed then saued, and therfore thei fought very faintlye or stode stil. Therle of Ox­forde bryngyng all his bend togither on the one parte, set on his enne­mies 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^e other, Kyng Richard was admonished by his explorators and espialles, y^• therle of Richmōd accompaignied with a small nomber of men of armes was not farre of, & as he approched and marched toward him, he perfitely knew his per­sonage by certaine demonstracions & tokens whiche he had learned and knowen of other. And being inflamed with ire and vexed w^t outragious malice, he put his spurres to his horse & rode out of the syde of y^• range of his battaile, leuyng the auantgardes fightyng, & lyke a hungery lion ran with spere in rest toward hym. Therle of Richmonde perceyued wel the kyng furiusly commyng towarde him, and by cause the hole hope of his welth and purpose was to be determined by battaill, he gladlye pro­ferred to encountre with hym body to body and man to man. Kyng Ry­chard sett on so sharpely at the first Broūt y^• he ouerthrew therles stan­darde, and slew Sir William Brandon his standarde bearer (whiche was father to sir Charles Brandon by kynge Hēry y^• .viii. created duke of Suffolke) and matched hand to hand w^t sir Ihon Cheinye, a man of great force & strength which would haue resisted hym, & the saied Ihon was by hym manfully ouerthrowen, and so he makyng open passage by dent of swerde as he went forwarde, therle of Richmond with stode his violence and kept hym at the swerdes poincte without auantage longer then his compaignions other though or iudged, which beyng almost in dispaire of victorie, were sodainly recomforted by Sir William Stan­ley, whiche came to succours with .iii. thousande 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 [Page] and brought to his death as he worthely had deserued.

In the meane season therle of Oxforde with the aide of the Lorde Stanley, after no long fight disconfited the forward of kyng 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, gaue neuer a stroke, and ha­uyng no harme nor domage sauely departed, whiche came not thyther in hope to se the kynge prosper 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 dyuers to refrayne from the felde, in so muche that the nyghte before he shoulde set forwarde towarde the kynge, one wrote on his gate.

Yet all this notwithstandynge he regarded more his othe, his honour and promyse made to kynge Richarde, lyke a gentleman and a faythe­full subiecte to his prynce absented not hym 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 hym 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 kynge, with diuers other were ▪ii. daies after behedded at Leycester. Amongest them that ranne awaie were Sir Fraunces Uicou [...]t louell and Humfrey Stafforde 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 deathe 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 selfes 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 Richardes espialles, whiche hauynge as clere eyes as lynx and as open eares as Mydas rāged and serched in euery quarter. Amongest these was Hen­ry the .iiii. erle of Northumberlande, whiche whither it was by the com­maundement of kyng Rycharde puttynge diffidens in hym, 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 coūsailer & he greatly familiar with kyng Richard, but cōmitted to the Tower of Londō, where he long remained & in conclusion deliuered, & for his treuth and fidelity after promoted to [Page lviij] high honors offices & dignites. On therle of Richmōds part were slain [...] 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.lxxxvi. the hole conflicte endured lyttell aboue twoo howres. Kyng Richard as the fame wente might haue escaped and gotten sauegarde by fliynge. For when thei whiche were next about his person saw and perceyued at the first ioynyng of the battaill the [...]ouldiours fayntly and nothyng coura­giously to set on their enemies, and not only that, but also that some w^t drewe them selfes pryuely out of the prease and departed. They began­ne 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 battayle was imminent and apparante, they brought to hym a swyfte and a lyght horse to conuey hym awaie. He which was not igno­rant of y^• grudge & yll will y^• the cōmō people bare towarde him, casting awaye all hope of fortunate successe & happy chaūce to come, answered (as men saye) that on that daye he woulde make an ende of all battailes or els ther finyshe his lyfe. Suche a great audacitie & such a s [...]owte 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 kyngdom duryng his lyfe, or els vtterly for go & be depry­ued of the same, with which to much hardines he beyng ouercome 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 finyshe there his vnquiet life & vnfortunate gouernaūce. And so this miser at y^• same very poinct had like chaunce & fortune, as happeneth to suche whiche in place of right iustice & honestie folowyng ther sensuall appetite, loue, v­se, and embrace, mischiefe, tiranny, and vnthriftines. Suerly these be ex­amples of more vehemencye then mans tonge can expresse, to feare and astūne suche yuell persones as wil not lyue one houre vacant frō doyng and exercisyng crueltie myschiefe or outragious liuyng.

When therle had thus obteigned victorie and slaine his mortal ene­mie, he kneled doune and rendred to almighie God his harty thākes w^t deuoute & Godly orisons, besechyng his goodnes to sende hym grace to auaunce & defende the catholike fayth & to mayntaine iustice & cōcorde amōgest his subiectes & people, by God now to his gouernaūce cōmit­ted & assigned: Which praier finyshed, he replenyshed w^t incomperable gladnes, ascended vp to the topp of a littell mountaine, where he not on­ly praysed & lawded his valiaunt souldiours, but also gaue vnto theim his harty thankes, w^t promyse of cōdigne recompen [...]e for their fidelite & valiaūt factes, willyng & commaundyng al the hurt & woūded persones to be cured, and the dead carcases to be deliuered to y^• sepulture. Then y^• people reioysed & clapped hādes criyng vp to heauen, king Henry, king Henry. When the lord Stanley sawe the good will and gratuite of the [Page] people he toke the crowne of kynge Richard whiche was founde amon­gest the spoyle in the felde, and sett it on therles hed, as though he had byne elected kyng by the voyce of the people as in auncient tymes past in diuers realmes it hath been accustomed, and this was the first signe and token of his good lucke and felicite. I must put you here in remem­braunce howe that kynge Richarde puttynge some diffidence in the lord Stanley, which had w^t hym as an hostage, the lorde straunge his eldest sonne, which lord Stanley as you haue 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 Ry­charde was come to Boswoorth, he sent a purseuaūt 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 com­maunded the lorde Straunge incontinent to be behedded, whiche was at that very same season when bothe the armyes had sight eche of other. The counsaillers of kyng Rycharde ponderyng the time and the cause, knowynge also the Lorde Straunge to be innocente of his fathers of­fence, perswaded the kynge that it was now tyme to fight and not tyme to execucion, aduisynge hym to kepe the Lorde Straunge as a priso­ner tyll the battayll were ended, and then at Leyser his pleasure myght be accomplished. So as God woulde kynge Rycharde enfrynged hys holy othe, and the Lorde was deliuered to the kepers of the kynges ten­tes to be kept as a prisoner, whyche when the felde was done and their master slayne and proclamacion made to knowe where the childe was, thei, submitted them selfes as prysoners to the Lord Straunge, and he gently receyued them and brought them to the newe proclamed kyng, where of hym and of his Father he was receyued with greate ioye and gladnes. After this the hole campe remoued wyth bagg and baggage 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 preparynge all thynges necessarie for hys iourney towarde London, he rested and reposed hym selfe twoo dayes. In the meane season the deade corps of kynge Rycharde was as shamefully caryed to the towne of Leycester, as he gorgious­ly the daye before with pompe and pryde departed owte of thesame towne. For his bodye was naked and despoyled to the skyne, and no­thynge left aboue hym not so muche as a clowte to couer hys pryue members, and was trussed behynde a pursiuaunt 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 wyth myre and bloude, was [Page lix] brought to the graye fryers church within the toune, and there laie lyke a miserable spectacle: but suerly consyderyng his mischeuous actes and Facinorous doynges, men maye worthely wonder at such a caytiue, and in the sayde church he was with no lesse funeral pompe, and solempnitie enterred, 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 knowē, few lamented, & many reioysed, y^• 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 grraiely de­formed, the one shoulder higher then the other,The discrip­cion of kyng Richard y^• .iii. his face small but his cō ­tenaunce was cruel, and such, that a man at the first aspect would iudge it to sauor and smel of malice, fraude, and deceite: when he stode musyng he woulde byte and chaw besely his nether lippe, as who sayd, that hys fyerce nature in his cruell bodye alwaies cha [...]ed, sturred and was euer vnquiete: beside that, the dagger that he ware he would when he studied with his hand plucke vpp and downe in the shethe to the middes, neuer drawing it fully out, his wit was pregnaunt, quicke and redy, wyly to fayne and apte to dissimule, he had a proude mynde and an arrogāt 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 cowarde flight preserue and saue his vncertaine liffe: Whiche by malice, sickenes or condigne pu­nishement might chaunce shortly after to comme to confusion.

Thus ended this prynce 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 hower of his deathe I re­mitte the punyshment of his offences com­mitted in his lyfe.

¶The thirde yere.

IN the myddest of August entrynge into the .iij. yere of his troubelous reigne, he by iorneiyng arryued at New [...]astell vpō Tyne, a very propre towne [...]ituate on the heth [...]r part of Northumberland, where he taryed the remnaunt of the somer, and beynge there, sent in Ambassade into Scotland to kyng Iames the thyrde kyng of Scottes, Richard Foxe whiche not longe before was made bishoppe of Excettre, and with him syr Richard Edgecombe kynght comptroller of hys house.The summarye of their commyssion was to conclude a truce for a tyme, or a longe league and an amytie. For kyng Henry estemed it bothe honorable and proffytable yf he myght haue pertyght peace and assured amytie with prynces ad­ioynyng and his next neighboures. And before all other with kyng Ia­mes of Scotlande, to thentent that his subiectes hauynge knowlege of the amytie and despairyng vtterly to haue any refuge, comforte or suc­coure of the Scottes, or other their neighboures circumuosyn & adioy­nyng cōtrary to their olde vsage, trust and expectacion, might the be [...]tre be cōtinued in the faithe, duetie & loyaltie towardes their prynce and so­uereigne lorde. The Ambassadours whē they were come into Scotland to the kyng, were of him both gently entreteined & after the most louyng fassyō receaued & fully harde. To whom at the fyrst he shewed his good hart, his true mynde, tendrez [...]le, and fraternall affecciō, that the hym selfe contynually bare, and yet dyd entende to shewe towardes kyng Henry, although his subiectes were of a contrary mynde and opinyon, playnly protestyng & declaryng to them his vasselles to be bothe by nature and wylfull disposicion, diuerse and cōtrary euer to the English nature and English naciō: thinkyng surely that they for the most part, would neuer cōsent & longe agree with the Englishmen, accordyng to their olde vaf­frous varietie: wherfore least y^e he should offend or ministre cause of oc­casiō to them (as in dede all mē were not his frendes in Scotlād at that tyme) he desired y^• Ambassadours to cōsent w^t truce & abstinēce of warre [Page] for s [...]uen yeres, not onely in open audience, but on his honor he promy­s [...] [...]mely in secret communicacion (as secret as a concession made to a priest) that he for his parte would kepe contynuall peace with the kyng of England durynge their lyues, but apparauntly he promysed that or these .vii. yeres should be passed and fully fyneshed that he would re [...]ue agayne the truce for other .vii. yere, so that kynge Henry & he should be and lyue in peace, concorde, and moste assured amitye, duryng their na­turall lyues. And this dyd kyng Iames conclude with kyng Henry, be­cause that he knewe hym selfe, his actes, yea and hys name to be had in suche despyte and hatred of the more parte of hys dysloyall people, that nothynge (whatsoeuer he dyd) was estemed, regarded, well spoken of or had in anye pryce: Suche was the malicious hartburnynge of the Scottes agaynst their naturall lorde. The Ambassadours perceauyng the hartye mynde and faithful beneuolence of this kyng towardes their master kyng Henry, accepted and assented to his offre, and ratefyed the­same: And returnyng home shewed the kyng all the matter in ordre as yt was pro [...]oned, assented and concluded. With whiche tydynges, he perccauynge the kyng of Scottes good mynde towardes hym, and ap­parauntly perceauyng that as that tempestyous and stormy ceason re­quyred, yt was not to hys small commoditie and proffyte, reioysed mer­uelously that hys Ambassade came to so good an effecte: and shortely after reculed backe agayne from Newcastell to Yorke, and so towarde his cytie of London. And in the waye beynge at Leycestre, dyuerse Am­bassadours sent from Charles the Frenche kyng came to hys presence, whiche declared and shewed to hym that theyr kyng Charles had reco­uered manye Tounes, Cyties and garrysons whiche before that tyme were possessed and holden of Maximilian kynge of Romanes and Ar­cheduke of Austryce, and that he nowe moued battaile agaynst Fraun­ces duke of Briteyne, because he kepte, ayded and succoured in his ter­ritorie and dominion diuerse noble prynces and high personages of the realme of Fraunce, whiche were treytoures and rebelles agaynste hym, his realme and seigniory, of thewhich the chiefe leader was Lewes duke of Orlyaunce: And therfore he desyred hym for the olde frendshyp and familiarite practysed betwene them▪ that he would either aide, assyst and helpe hym, or elles stand neuter betwene both parties, neither helpynge nor hurtyng any of bothe partes, lyke a cypher in algorisme that is ioy­ned to no figure but onely occupieth a place.

Kynge Henry well remembryng that although he had founde muche frendshyp at the Frenche kynges hand in his necessitie and that by hym partely and his he obteyned his kyngdome, 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 whiche sawe as farre in the Frenche kynges brest as hys Phis [...]cion dyd in his vryne, knewe perfightly that he had neyther occasyon by any iust tytle to inuade the duchy of Briteyne, nor yet any displeasure mynistred [Page xii] to hym, by reason whereof he might iustly haue any shadowe to make a quarell to the duke of Briteyne, but onely to delate, amplifye and pro­pagate farther his aucthoritie, 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 liure and subiecciō, and so with­oute grounde, without cause or reasonable demonstracion, vncompel­led, he intymated and made open warre against the duke and Brytani­call nacion. Kyng Henry perceauynge that this newe attempted enter­price nothyng sounded to his proffit or emolumēt, callyng to mynd and consyderynge that yf the Duchy of Briteyne and the people of the same whiche had been euer frendly & louyng to Thenglishe nacion, and was alwaies for their entrecourse to his realme both necessary and proffyta­ble, should come vndre the thraldome & subieccion of the Frenche kyng that dammage more then poffite were likely to ensue and folowe, deter­myned with him selfe to aide and take parte with the duke, perceauyng well that all his affaires was nowe in perell and set in a broyle and ha­sard. The occasion that moued him therunto was, the kyndelyng of the paternall loue and tendre affeccion whiche the duke euer shewed hym, sith his fyrst arriuall and entryng into Briteyne, and his fidelite to him alwaye apparauntly shewed durynge the tyme of hys there abydynge and resydence. On the other parte, when he remembred the greate bene­fyte that he had accepted and receaued at the Frenche kynges hand by his bountyfull and pryncely liberalitie, 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 doubtfull and so full of ambyguities that the kyng in longe consultacion lefte no questyon nor doubte vnasked nor vndiscussed, and yet no aunswere nor no con­clusyon coulde satisfye or please hys doubtfull mynde and gentle harte, lothe to offende anye of theim, of whome he had receaued eyther bene­fite or frendship: But in conclusion, he fell to this ful determacion, that y [...] battaile should nedes succede and folowe, then he of very duetie was bounde and obliged not to denye nor to forsake the duke of Briteyne, to whom he was so much beholdyng but to aide, assist & comfort him with all his powre, and openly to kepe from hym all wronges and iniuries, and to defende & resiste all his aduersaries & enemyes. Yet in the meane season, least he should of the other parte make his high frend his exstre­me enemy, his aunswere was to the Ambassadoures that he would take trauayle & study both to his great peyne & cost, that betwene the Fren­che kyng their souereigne lorde & the duke of Briteyne, both beyng hys [Page] indifferent frendes, some gentle pacificacion or amicable accorde might be concluded and accepted. And so assone as the kynges Ambassadours were dimyssed, he sent on message Christopher Urswike to Charles the Frenche kynge: First to gratulate in his behalfe the victory that he had obteyned vpon Maximilian kyng of Romanes. Secondarely and af­ter to declare what tumulte and insu [...]reccion was here in England, and howe by mere force and manhood he had vanquyshed and repressed the rebelles and traytours, and eyther dystroyed or brought to subieccion, the whole rablem̄t and nombre. Thyrdly, offryng him sefle 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 withoute delaye resorte to the duke of Briteyne and desyre him to be contented at his 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 wyllyng shortely to compasse and brynge to con­clusion. Whyle Christopher Urswicke was traueylynge in thys cōmis­syon, kyng Henry returned with great tryumphe to his cytie and cham­bre of London, hauynge the victory and ouerhand of hys enemyes and rebellious aduersari [...]s, whereof the cytezens were very glad & reioysed hartely, consideryng that such dāmages, such oppression, such perel and losse as they thought to haue susteyned, was by the death of such distur­bers of peace & trāquillitie, as the kyng had late ouercome, cleane takē away, auoyded & suppressed. Also the kyng hym self trustyng faithfully that all the brādes 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 possessiōs, liuynges and substaunce, but also their lyues and bodyes in his defense and quarell. And not longe after, he delyuered 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 argumētes and assaies, In which pastyme, the kyng for the perfyght loue and syncere affeccion that he bar [...] his quene and wyfe lady Elizabeth, caused her to be crouned and enoynted quene on saynt Fatherynes daye in Nouembre withall solempnytie to suche a high esate & degree apperteignyng. In the meane ceason Chri­stopher Urswike was come to the Frenche kyng liyng at Tholouse, & of him after the most louyng and frendely fassyon that coulde be, receaued and entreteined. And affone as he had shewed and declared his message, the Frenche kyng shewed hym selfe outwardly, althoughe 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 [Page xiii] indifferent betwene the duke and him. This answere made, the English Ambassadour tooke his iorney streyght thēce as he was cōmaūded into Briteyne, and shewed the duke vpon hys Masters behalfe all thynges geuen him in charge and cōmissyon: But the duke (because him self had bene longe sycke and therby his memory and wyt was decayed and ap­paired) he appoynted to heare the message with other of hys councelers, Lewes duke of Orleaūce whiche was fled thether out of Fraūce. When this duke had hearde the Ambassadours declare their message, percea­uynge that it touched a peace whiche he thought sounded neither to hys proffyt nor pleasure, wherfore he beyng somwhat tyckeled with the mes­sage answered and sayed, that it was more me [...]e & 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, helpe the duke of Briteyne beyng by the Frenchemē inuaded with yron▪ fyre and bloude, then to attempt or procure any fry­uelous or vayne composycion or cōcorde. Yea and although he had nei­ther receaued nor remembred any benefyte 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 the Frenche nacion, then were his continuall enemyes next to the gate of his realme, whiche thyng he would not suffre if he remēbred the Prouerbe that sayth, when thy neighboures house is a fyer, thy staffe stādeth nexte the dore. Thus muche was the duke of Orlyaunce beyng of the French bloud, an ene­my to hys naturall countrey, because that he beynge next of the bloud royal to the croune of Fraunce, was repulsed from the chiefe estate and gouernaunce of the realme, and the kynges suster put in highest autho­ritie, durynge the minorite of the kynge, he abandoned his awne natiue countrey, and hauynge onely refuge in the duchy of Brytayne for hys awne sauegarde, profyt and emolumēt, spake these woordes that he de­clared and opened. For wel he knew, that kyng Henry was not therof all ignorant, that it was neither profitable nor cōmodious [...]or y^• realme of England, to haue the duchy of Briteyne possessed of the Gaul [...]s, con­sidering the sea costes of bothe the countreys, to lye directelye one a­gaynst the other. Then returned this Christopher agayne into Fraūce, 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 Frēche kyng beseged with a great puissaunce the stronge citie of Nauntes in Briteyne. And the 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^e kyng of England with letters, writynges and blandymētes, by sondrie and diuers messengers, for to treate and conclude a peace, vnytie & con­corde betwixt the duke of Briteine and hym, fearing least when he had almost wonne hys race, kynge Henry woulde put hym beside his sadle, [Page] whome he did halfe suspect to be a backe frende of hys, and prone and ready to take the Brytones parte.

Wherfore he sent in Ambassade Bernarde a Scotte borne, caled y^• lord Daubeney, in all the hast to kyng Henry, to desire hym in any wise to make some ende whatsoeuer it were, of this warre and controuersy. And therupon the kyng beyng desirous of thesame, whiche had rather al 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 naciō, elected emong all other .iii. oratours. The first was Ihon sainct Abbot of Abyndon, Ihon Lilye borne in Luke, the bishop of Romes collector, doctor of lawe, and Rychard Edgecōbe knyght, both for age and prudent fagacitie, fatherly, a wyse & a graue personage, which for renuyng of the olde amitie, 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 proceded 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 busynes, for whome was elected and choosen Christopher Urswike▪ and so they .iii. sayled into Fraunce (as thei were cōmaunded) 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 Urswike, departed streight to the duke of Bri­teine, thinkinge ye and nothing doubting, but they there shoulde knyt vp the knot, and finall conclusiō 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 deliberacion, consiantly repudiated and refused euery condicion by them offred or demaūded. Which thin­ges, when they succeded not accordyng to their exspectacion, 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, detrauded and spoyled of their entent and purpose, and there to hym declared what was their aunswer and finall 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 hādes, lyr Edward, lord Wooduile vncle to the Quene, a valyaunt Capitayne, and a bolde Chāpion, either abhorryng ease and ydlenes, or inflamed with ardent loue and affecciō toward the duke of Britayne, desyred very earnestly of kynge Henry, y^t if it were hys will and pleasure, that he with a conuenient number of good men of warre woulde transport hym selfe into Briteine, for y^e aide and defence of duke Fraunces, the kynges assured and proued frende. And least it should sowe or kyndle any dissenciō or ingratitude betwene the Frenche kyng and him, he sayde that he woulde steale priuely ouer, and without any licence or pasporte, as though no man shoulde thinke or doubte but he were fled, & abandoned the realme without any fraude [Page xiiij] or male engyn. But the kyng, which had a firme confidence, that peace should be made by the polletique prouision and wyse muencion of hys elected Ambassadours, woulde in nowise geue the brydle to hys hote, hasty and wilde desire, but streyghtly prohibited hym to attempte anye suche strategeme or enterprice, thinkynge that it [...]ode not with hys ho­nor to offende the Frenche kyng, to whome he woulde shewe as muche amitie and humanitie as he might, for suche a matter that coulde nei­ther greatly profite the Brytonnes, nor yet cause hym to surceas [...]e of his appoynted inuasion and pretensed enterprice. Yet this lord Wooduise hauyng playne repulse and denyall of the kynge, coulde not thus rest, determined to worke hys busynes secretly without any knowlege of y^• kyng, and went streyght into the Isle of wight, wherof he was made ruler and capitayne, and there gathered together a c [...]ewe of tall & hardye personages, to the number of .iiii.C. and with prosperous wynde and wether arryued in Briteyne, and ioyned hym selfe with the Brytons a­g [...]yn [...]t the Frenche power and nacion. The rumor of thys doyng was sone blowen into the courte of Fraūce, whiche made the Ambassadours of Englande not smally abashed, which knowing perfightly y^e 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 commō peo­ple coulde not withoolde their hādes from quer [...]ling or fraiyng. Albeit the lawe of armēs, and the treuth it selfe did defende and preserue them from iniury. But whiles the oratoures were in this perplexite and fear o [...] daungier, and whiles the Frenchmen suspected this facte to be done by a cau [...]ell 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 euident tokens & ap­par [...] argumentes) that the lord Wooduile without his knowlege or consent, was sayled ouer into Britayne with so small a number of men, which smal handful, neither it becōmed a prince to sende or set forward, neither yet coulde do to the Brytaynes 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 Frēch nature) with a flat­teryng countenaunce. So the Ambassadours renuynge a leagueand a­mitie betwene their kyng and hym for .xii. monethes, returned into Englande againe, and shewed the kyng al such thinges that they had either heard or sene there. The kyng of England well perceyued by the report of hys newly returned Oratoures, taht the Frenche kynge wrought all hys factes by subtyll craft and cloked collusion, treatyng and mocio­nynge peace and concorde, when he desyred nothing so much as discord and warre, and that purpose he auaunced and set forwarde with sayle & ower, to the vttermost poynt of his habilite. Wherfore kyng Henry be­yng assured of all the French kynges actes and cogitaciōs, determined now with all celerite to set forth out of hand al such thinges as here be­fore [Page] had cōcluded, cōcerning the warre of Britayne, as you haue heard. Wherfore he called his high courte of Parliament, and there fyrst con­sulted with the peres and cōmynaltie of hys realme, for the aidyng of y^• duke of Britayne. Then for the maintenaunce of y^• warres, diuers sum­mes of money were graūted 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 in certayne places of hys realme, and souldiours 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 certefye the Frenche kynge, that of late he hadde kepte a solempne Parliamente, in the whiche it was condis­cended and agreed by the lordes temporall and spirituall, and knygh­tes of couuties, and magistrates of cities, and boroughes of his realme not onely consideryng the relief, comforte, and aide that he had receyued at the dukes hande, bothe for the sauegard of his lyfe, and for the reco­ueryng of hys enheritaunce 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 sedicion, to aide, comforte and assist the Brytishe nacion with all their strength, might and habilite againste all their enemyes, frendly admo­nishyng hym that he should either desist from hys warre in Brytayne newly incepted, or els not be greued if he did agre (as reason woulde) to the myndes, iudgement and determinacion of the princes and prelates of hys realme, assuryng hym in the woorde of a kynge, that hys armye should onely discende in the duchy of Britayne, not to inuade or make warre in the Frenche kynges realme or territoryes, but onely to defend the duchy of Britayne, and to profligate and expell all the intrudors & inuasours of the French nacion, whiche miustly occupied and muaded the Brytannicall tytles and seignories. With these commaundemētes the English Ambassadours departed, and declared to the Frenche king all the mynde and will of their kyng and souereigne lord. Whiche mes­sage he dissimuled as litle to regarde as the bytyng of a flee, as thoughe the Englishmen in the battaile, whiche he 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 puissaunt 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 Englād had not yet sent any army thether for the dukes succour, iudged surely that hys army woulde do some gyeat exployte (as they did in dede) before either the duke shoulde be purueyed or any aide ministred. And as he imagened so it folowed, for the Frenchmen so sore oppressed the countrey of Britayne, and brent and distroyed cities, and beseged the toune of Fōgeres, so that the duke [Page xv] of Britayne was encouraged by the duke of Orliaunce, and other rebelles of the Frenche kyng, manfully to fight and geue battaile to y^e Frēch army. And so the .xxv. daye of Iuly they set forward, & came to a toune whiche the Frenchmen had gotten, called sainct Aulbyne. The French­men were not ignoraunt of their commyng, but put theim selfes in a re­dynes. Of whiche armye was Capitaynes, The lorde Lewes of Tre­ [...]oyle, vyscount of Thonars a Gascoyn, Adryan lorde of Mountfal­coysse. On the Brytones parte were cheueteynes, 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 nede flye.

Wherfore they discended on fote, and the duke and the prynce put thē selfes in the battaile of the Almaynes: The Marshal of Rieux was ap­poynted to the vauntgarde. The middle 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 (notwithstandynge there were but foure hundreth with the lorde Wooduile) they appareled a thousand and seuen 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 dammaged 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 Frēchmen in the forward, were fayne to recule to the battaile where their horsemen were. The rereward of the French men, seyng thys fyrst discōsiture began to flye, but the Capitaynes reti­red their men together agayn, & the horsemē set fiercely on y^e Brytaines, and slewe the moost parte of the fotemē. When the forward of the Bry­tones perceaued that their horsemē nor the Almaines came not forward they prouided for thē selfes & fled, some here, and some there, where they thought to haue refuge or succour. So that in conclusiō the Frenchmē obteyned the victory, & slew all such as ware red crosses, supposyng thē all to be Englishmē. In thys cōflict were slayn almost all the English­men, & six. M. Brytones, Emōgest whome were sounde dead the lorde Wooduile, & the lord Iames Galeas borne in Napels. And of y^• Bry­tones there were slayne the lord of Leon, the lorde Mountsort, the lorde Pontlabbe & many noble & notable persones of the British nacion. Of the French naciō were slayne .xii.C. persones. The prynce of Orenge, & the duke of Orliaunce were taken prysoners, which duke (although he were next heyre apparaūt to the croune of Fraūce) should haue lost hys head, if lady Iane hys wyfe which was syster to Charles y^• Frēch king, had not obteined pardō & remissiō of his trespasse & offence. Howbeit he was lōg after kept prysoner in the great Toure at Bourges in Berry. This infortunate metyng chaūced to y^e Britaynes on a mōday, beynge the .xxvii. day of Iuly, in y^e yere of our redēpciō .M.cccc.lxxxviii, & in y^e iii. yere of kyng Henry the .vii.

[Page] When these newes were brought into Englande, the kynge vigi­lantly forseyng what was like to chaunce, thought it necessary to acce­lerate the mattre before concluded, wherefore with all spede he sent Ro­bert Lord broke Syr Ihon Cheyny, syr Ihon Middelton, syr Raufe Hilton, syr Rychard Corbet, syr Thomas Leighton, syr Richard Laton and syr Edmond Cornewall, all lusty and courageous capitaynes with viii. 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 Britayne 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 iourney, they puttynge thē 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, whome they knew by no small expe­rience (and especially so long as they were freshe and lusty) to be in ma­ner inuincible. And so at the beginnyng they were all blanke, & for feare kept them selfes craftely and polletikly within their campe. And after that, they sent forth a smal company of lighte horsemen, the whiche to wery and fa [...]gate the stoute stomackes and haute courages of the En­glish army▪ made in diuers places of the army, skyrmisshes, outeryes & alaromes. So for a certayne space they vsed thys kynde of daliyng w^t the Englishmen, but euer the losse turned to the Frenchmen, & they bare the woorse away, by reason of the archers y^• so sore galled thē and theyr horsses with arowes, that their braggyng incursions were sone left and done. But beholde the mutacion of this worlde, whyle this warre was thus set forward, Fraunces duke of Britayne 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 sturred with desire of deuision and cōtro­uersie, fell into deuision emonge them selfes, so that they semed not to tenore the defence and proteccion of their naturall countre, but rather mynded the distruccion and vttre confusion of thesame. Whiche deui­sion the Englishmen perceauyng, and also consideryng that it was in y^e 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, perceauyng that Maximilian kyng of Romanes la­boured to haue in mariage, Anne sole heire to Fraūces duke of Britain for her younger suster was late dead, whiche he thoughte was neither for hys profyte 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 repudiatynge the mariage of y^e lady Margaret, daughter to the forsayd kyng of Romanes, espoused y^• lady [Page xvi] 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.

¶The iiii yere.

NOwe 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 assessed 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 to paye, either thinking thē selfes ouerchar­ged with the greatnes of thesame, and therewith greued, or excited and procured through the euell counsayll and sedicious pe [...]asion of cer­tayne persones, whiche preuely conspired agaynst the kynge, to put him to new trouble and busines. Therfore suche as were by the kynges cō ­maundement made Collectoures and gatherers of the summe taxed, after that they coulde not get the money, accordynge to the extractes to them by the commissioners deliuered, made their complaint preuely to Henry the .iiii, Erle of Northumberland, chiefe ruler of the Northepar­ties. And he immediatly vpō the knowlege therof, signefied the kynges grace by hys letters, that the people greatly grudged and murmured, makynge open Proclamacion 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 demaunde, 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 discrecion, to exacte the money of the people, and by cōpul­sion to enforce suche to payment as whyned moost at it, least y^t it might appere that the decrees, actes and 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 vnad­uised people, hearynge this aunswer of the kynge, by and by, violently set vpon the erle by the procurement of a symple felowe called Ihon of Chambre, whome the erle intreated with fayre woordes to come to rea­son, but they laiyng to hys charge that he was the chiefe author & prin­cipall causer of thys taxe and tribute paiynge, both hym and diuers of hys housholde seruauntes, furiously and shamefully murthered & kyl­led. Diuers afferme that the Northenmen bare agaynst thys erle conti­nuall grudge, sith the death of kyng Rychard, whome they entirely lo­ued and highly fauoured, whiche secret serpēt caused their fury to wade farther then reason coulde retract or restreyne. Althoughe thys offence [Page] were great and heynous, yet ther succeded after a more mischief and a greater inconuenience. For incontinent the Northenmē to cloke the ho­micide and manslaughter, by a violence put on their armure and assembled in [...]ockes, and elected to theim a capitayne called syr Ihon Egre­monde knyght, a person no lesse sedicious then faccious and desirous of trouble, and ordred them selfes lyke men of warre, and passynge by the countreys, they published and declared that thei would byd battail to the kynge, onely for the tuicion and defence of their common libertye and fredome, whiche he woulde plucke, and by hys extreme power take & bereue frō thē. But when their cause should be discided with blowes & handstrokes, their fury was asswaged & refrigerate, their hartes were in their heeles, & theyr stomackes as coulde as any stone, & euery one wished y^t this tumult were retracted & quēched which was now al ready not smokynge but enflamed: And in cōclusion, euery man tanne awaye, some this way, & some that way, as men amased when they lacke coun­sail, skatered & dispersed in diuers places. When euery mā was retur­ned, the mattre was ended as they imagened, but while they diligently laboured to saue their lifes by flight, thei sought their awne destrucciō. For the moost parte of thē were punyshed by death or by imprysoment for thesame offence. For the kyng heryng of this tumulteous busynes, sent forth Thomas erle of Surrey, whome not lōg after he had deliue­red out of y^e Toure, & receaued to his grace & especial fauour (as he was both for his wit & fidelite wel worthy) with a cōpetent crewe of mē into the North partes, which skyrmished w^t a certayne cōpany & discōfited thē, & toke a lyue Ihon a chābre the first beginner of this rebelliō. The kyng hym self roade after the erle into Yorkeshire, of whose cōming the slaues & sturdy rebelles were so abashed & afrayed, that thei fled more & lesse, which afterwarde were apprel, ended & greuously punished, accor­dyng to their demerites & deseruyng. Yet the kyng of hys magnificent mynde, [...]er [...]oned the innocent & rural people, & pl [...]ged & executed y^e in­uenters of the mischief, & the furtherers of thesame. For Ihon a chābre was hanged at Yorke, vpon a gybbet set vpon a square paire of gallo­wes, lyke an archetraytoure, & hys complices & lewde disciples were hā ged on the lower gallowes roūde about their mayster, to the terrible ex­ample of all other. But syr Ihon Egremōd, whome these sedicious per­sons preferred to be their Capitayn, fled into Flaūders to y^e lady Mar­garet duches of Butgoyne, whiche euer enuied the prosperite of kynge Henry.

When this folishe enterprice was thus quenched, the kyng gaue cō ­mission & charge to syr Rychard Tunstall knyght, a man of great wyt, pollecie & discrecion, to gather and receaue the subsidie to hym dewe of the people, and he hym selfe returned shortely to London, leauynge the erle of Surrey to rule the Northpartes, perceauynge well the English­men, not so muche to grudge at the paymente of the taxe or tribute, as they did grone at the excessyue and importable some vpon thē assessed, [Page xivi] remembryng the olde prouerbe, loue me litle and loue me longe. And thys was the yere of our Lorde .M.cccc.xc. and the fourth yere of thys kynges reigne.

Before this tyme, Maximiliaen kynge of Romanes, whiche as you haue heard in the tyme of kynge Edwarde the .iiii. had contrary to the mynde and will of the French kyng espoused lady Marie, daughter & heyre to Lewes the Frenche kynge, and by her had issue, a sonne called Philip, and Margaret whiche was affied to Charles the .vii. Frenche kyng and by hym repudiate and forsaken, was sore offended & greatly greued with the Flemynges, but moost of all with the Eauntoys 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 natural father and lawful parent. Wherfore the king Maximiliaen 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 Fleminges sent to the Frenche kynge for aide & suc­cour, whiche beyng glad of that request, s [...]nt Philip de Creuecure lorde Desquerdes, commonly called the lorde Cordes into 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^e yong enfaunt duke Philip, and the whole countrey of Flaunders. Wherfore Maximilian entending to allure the Flemynges from the Frenchmen, beganne first to practise with them of Bruges, of whiche 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 Scult called Peter Longoll with diuers other, to aduertise hym that at hys cō ­mynge thither, he should fynde hym conformable to hys will, pleasure and request. Upon trust wherof he entred into the toune finally accom­panyed, and came before the toune, thinkyng that the lordes and senate woulde ioyously haue receaued and welcōmed hym. But the whole tur­ned cleane contrary, for the light witted persons, 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 enprysonement, 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 Gaūt were sent for, which taried not longe. When they had the praye that they es­pected, fyrst diuers citezens whiche they thought fauourable to Maxi­miliaen they beheaded. Mathew Spert, one of hys chief counsailours and trusty frendes, was sent to Gaunt, and there put to death. Iames Dudenezell, & Iames of here .ii. wyse burgeses, notwithstandynge that [Page] all the priestes and religious of the toune made intercession for theim, were at Bruges executed. Then Ihon Capenoll a busy merchaunt, woulde in all ha [...]e haue rydden to induct the French kyng as their so­uereigne lorde, to wh [...]me the moest parte woulde in nowyse a stipulate nor consent nor yet entended to disheneryt the yonge duke Philippe of hys graundfathers inheritaunce.

When e [...]ecucion was done of the wyse and sad counsaylers, y^e newe made [...]lers caused theyr prynce kynge Maximilian to be broughte to the toune house, and there they layed to hys charge, that he had not ob­serued the treatie, which they of Gaunt and Bruges had concluded w^t the French kyng. Secondarely, they alledged that he put high Almay­nes in officies and great authoritie, whiche without their assent woulde haue chaunged and inhaunced their coyne and money to their greate preiudice and detrument. Many other ridiculous articles they layde to hym, whiche the cares of euery honest creature knowynge the duetie of the subie [...] to hys prynce, woulde abhorre and floccipend, to the whiche he so wisely and boldely aunswered, that in parte he asswaged their ma­lice, and mitigated their rage. In so much that he was more gentler en­treated then he was before. For if hys aunswer had been to the displea­s [...]unt, or [...] he had menaced them but one woorde, I thinke in their fury they woulde haue dispatched him out of hys lyie and lande. The Gaū ­toys woulde haue deliuered hym to the Frenche king, but the Brugiās woulde not assent. They of Gaunt desyred to haue him in their custody in Gaunt, but y^e citezens of Bruges vtterly denied hys deliuery. Wher­fore the Eauntoyes in great displeasure departed. After whose depar­ture the Brugians were content to set hym at libertie, so that he and diuers o [...]ys nobilitie should sweare on the holy Sacrament, not onely to re [...]t, pardon and forgeue all offences p [...]petrated and committed by them of Flaunders, but also shoulde sweare and promes, neither to [...]me [...]bre nor reuēge thesame. Thys othe he sware in the great Church of Bruges, and the lord of Raues [...]on called Philip Mounseur, and the lord of Beners and diuers other sware thesame, addyng therunto, that if he did attempt any thynge cōtrary to hys othe and promes, then they sware to t [...]ke parte with the good tounes of Flaunders agaynste hym and hys adherentes. And vpon thys promes he was deliuered, & fra [...]kly set at libertie.

But Frederick the Emperour coulde not forget the reproche & des­pite that was shewed to hym in hys sonne, and the great iniury & wrōg that was done to hys sonne partely to hys dishonour, scourged Flaun­ders with sharpe warre and mortall affliccions (Maximilian liyng in quyet and nothyng attemptynge) but Philip Mounseur, lorde of Ra­ [...]ton, 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 [Page xviij] 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 confederacy. This lord Cordes, which vntruly reuolted from duke Charles of Burgoyne, beyng hys brynger vp and chief preferrer to Lewes the Frēch kyng (as you haue heard be­fore) was 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 folowynge hys deuice, beseged a litle walled toune, called Dipenew, to whome came .iiii.M. Flemynges with vitayle and artil­lary, sent from Philip Mounseur. They layed siege on the Northsyde of the toune in a marishe groūde then beyng drye, and so depely dyched their campe, and so highly trenched it, on which 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 doynges, whiche nothing lesse desyred then to haue the Euglish pale and territory enuyroned with French fortresses. For he perceaued well that if the Frēchemē gate Dipenewe, they would afterward assaile Newport and Grauelynge, and cōsequently, what w^t force and what with corrupcion of rewardes, their purpose was to haue the possession of duke Philip and all Flaunders, whiche shoulde not be to the profite of hym nor hys subiectes. Wherfore this .v. yere, sodeinly with great expedicion he sent ouer to the lord Dawbeney to Caleys, the lord Morley with a Crewe of valiaunt archers and souldiours, to the number of a .M. men, with preuy instruccions what they shoulde do.

When they were lāded, they published and sayed that they came to de­fende the English pale, if the Frenchemen or Flemynges would attēpt any mastryes there: But their enterprice was all otherwise. For on a Tuesdaye at the shuttyng of the gates at nyghte, the lorde Dawbeney chefetayne of the army, the lorde Morley, Syr Iames Tyrrell, Capy­tayne of Guysnes, Syr Henry Willoughby, Syr Gylbert Talbot, syr Homfrey Talbot, Marshall of Caleys, and diuers other knightes and Esquyers, and other of the garrison of Hammes, 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 Homfrey▪ Tal­bot with .vi. skore archers, and came to Newporte, where they founde y^e soueraygne of Flaūders with .vi.C. Almaynes, and there they commo­ned and paused that nyght.

On the next day as they came secretly toward Dipinew (se y^e chaūce) at a place of execucion, nere the high waye was a Gaūtoys (which was [Page] come out of the army for a spye, and apprehēded by them of Dipenew) led to hangyng, which emongest the Englishmē knew syr Iames Tyr­rell, and called to hym for comfort and succoure, promisynge hym 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 would 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 next daye in y^e 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 secretly came to the ende of the campe of their enemyes and there paused. The lorde Daubeney commaunded al men to sende their horses & wagons backe, but the lord Morley sayde he woulde ryde tyll he came to handstrokes (but he was deceaued) so they passed on tyll they came to a lowe bancke and no depe dyche, where their ordinaunce laye, and there the archers shote altogether euery man an arrowe, and so fell prostrate to y^e groūd, their enemyes discharged their ordinaunce all atones, and ouershot thē The archers roase and shot agayn, and bet them from their ordinaūce. The Almaynes lept ouer the dyche with their morishe pykes, the En­glishmen in the forefront waded the dyche, and were holpen vp by the Almaynes, and set on their enemies, and slew and toke many prisoners. The other Englishmen hasted by the cawsey to entre in at the North­gate of the campe, where the lrod Morley being on horsoacke in a ryche coate was slayne with a gonne. When hys death was knowen, euery man kylled hys prysoner, and flew all such as did withstād them to the number of .viii.M. men, in somuch that of .ii.M. that came out of Bru­ges (as the Flemysh chronicle reporteth) 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 Morley, and not an hundred moo. The Englishmen toke their ordinaunce and sent it to Newport with al their spoyle and great hors­ses. And by the waye, hearyng certayne Frenchmē to be at Ostend, they made thetherward, but the Frenchmen fled, and so they burned parte of the toune, and came agayne to Newport, where the lord Dawbeney left all the Englishmen that were hurt or wounded, and caryed with hym the dead corpus of the lorde Morley, and buryed it honorably at Ca­leys. Thys felde was profitable to the Englishmen, for they that went forth in clothe, came home in sylke, and they that wēt 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 ouerthrowe, wherfore he thynkyng to be reuenged, came and beseged the toune of Newport strōgely (the which capitayne, Mō ­seur de Merwede, before capitayne of Dipenew, and all the gentelmen of Westflaunders, and the thre principall cities of Flaunders, viteyled [Page xxv] the Frenche hoost so wel that all thinges was to good chepe) they with­out shot at the walles, and brake thē in many places, and they within sore greued them without with their artillary. But the Englishmen y^• were hurt at Dixmewe felde before, and might eyther stand or drawe a bowe, neuer came from the walles. One daye the Frenchmen gaue a great assaute to a Towre, 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 .lxxx. fresh Englishe archers, which came streight to the Towre. The womē of the toune, perceiuinge the Englishmen come, cryed with lamentable and loude voyces, helpe Englishmen, helpe Englishmen, shote 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 stomackes and diligency of the women, which as fast as the En­glishmen strake doune the enemyes, the women were ready to cut theyr throtes, they wanne agayne the Towre, and slewe the Frenchmen, & rēt the banner of the lorde Cordes, and set vp the penon of saynct George. Then the Frenchmē, supposyng a great aide of Englishemen, to haue bene come to the toune by sea, left the assaulte. And the night folowyng the coueteous lord Cordes (which so sore lōged for Caleys, y^t he would commonly saye that he woulde gladly lye .vii. yeres in hell, so y^t Caleys were in the possession of the Frenchmen) brake vp hys siege and shame­fully returned to Hesdyng. And the Englishmen glad of this victory returned agayne to Caleys.

This yere also, the realme of Scotlād suffered an infeccious & mor­tall plage, because the name of Iames the thyrd kyng of Scottes was so odyous, so hated and disdayned of the whole nobilitie of the realme of Scotlande, chiefly because they perceaued that he set more by vile borne vileyns and light persones, then by the princes and nobles of hys realme, as I haue declared to you in the history of kyng Edward the .iiii. which mischiefe and vngrate discommoditie, after thei had tol­lerated and paciently suffred no smal tyme to their great grudge & dis­pleasour. They now thought it most expediēt for their purpose & wel­fare, euen by force of armes to recouer their pristinate libertie and aun­cient freedome. Therefore makyng preuely a coniuraciō and cōspiracy together agaynst their prynce and soueraigne lorde, cōpassed his death and destruccion. Yet that it mighte not be thoughte that they did intende the destruccion of their natyue countrey, they made the kyn­ges sonne named after hys father Iames, prince of Rothsay (a chylde borne to goodnes and vertue) their Capitayne, in maner agaynste hys will, openly protesting, that they purposed the confusion, affliccion and deposyng of an euell kynge and wretched prynce, and not the subuer­sion & destrucciō of their coūtrey: by which craftie ymagened inuēcion they might eyther cloke or propulse from thē all suspicion, of their pur­posed vntruthe and shamefull disloyaltye. Wherof the kynge beynge [Page] credibly informed, was pensyfe, sorie, carefull, vexed and sore formēted in his mynd for thys cause in especiall, that he should haue cyuile dis­sencion with hys awne subiects and natiue country men, yee & agaynst his awne sonne beynge made Capyteyne of that vntrewe and peruerse company, whome next to him selfe he loued, fauoured and honoured, ymagenynge with him selfe that this cōmocyon sounded to none other effect but that the hed should fight and stryue wyth the other mēbres and partes of the naturall body: and yet on the other syde, not to resyst shortly theyr newe incepted entreprice might easely encourage & infla­me the malicious heartes of his domesticall enemyes with more bolde­nes & audacite to attēpt farther mischef & incōueniēce. Therfore to thē ­tent to make a plaster for both these sores to be healed: Fyrst to apease and assuage the fury and rumour of the people, beyng this in a rage, he prepared an army of mē. After that he sent Ambassadours to his sonne and the nobilitee assembled with him, for a loue, peace, concorde, quiet [...]nes and vnitee to be concluded emongest them. Also he sent letters to y^e kynge of Englande and the French kynge, requyringe 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, which 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 Innocēt for thesame matter, in the which he earnestly obtested, desyred & prayed him that he would of his goodnes, fayth & charite sende some one legate to these rebelles of his nobilitie to charge and commaunde, that they settynge aside all warre and hostilite, embrace quietnes, rest and vnitee.

This miserable decrepite and aged kyng, thinkynge that bothe de­laiynge and continuaunce of time, and also the entreating and hartye prayers of hys frendes and alies would quenche and mollefie their in­ordinate wildenes and furious rage, and persuade thē to sobriete and good conformite, had rather with these, and other sembleable medecy­nes remedie this yonge springyng sore, then he woulde haue it experi­mented, and tryed with cyuyle battaile and intestine destruccion▪ which he thought to be a thing bothe vngodly, vnnatural and execrable. For all this, no medecyne, no coūsail, 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 messengers sent from him to thē beyng their soueraygne lorde, they made this vnreasonable and vnho­nest aunswer, that is: yf he would resigne the tytle of his croune & realm and depose him selfe of hys royall dignite, then they would cōmen with hym of a peace, or els their eares were stopped from heryng of any en­treatie or perswasion. Thesame aunswer broughte the Ambassadour of Englande and Fraunce to their princes, whiche sore lamented and de­plored the peruerse fortune and mischaunce of their frēde the Scottish [Page xx] kynge, as though they had bene partakers of hys afflicciō: But Adriā the bishop of Romes legate, of whome 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 feclde, where after great slaughter of many men, the poore sely kynge fled into a Myll for succoure, whether he was folo­wed and prosecuted, and there shamefully murthered, 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 the olde displeasures to theim done and committed by kyng Iames the thirde) set vp in the trone and estate royall, the prince hys sonne, and named hym Iames the .iiii. of that name.

Before this tyme, as you haue heard, Innocēt bishop of Rome had sent in legacy Adryan of Castella, a man of hetouria, borne in y^• toune of Cornere, called in the olde tyme Newcastel, which should haue gone to Scotlande, too haue pacefied by hys authoritie and commaunde­ment thys troublesome busynes, moued and sturred betwene the kyng and hys subiectes. Yet this man, although he made many great iourneys, when he came to England, was enformed of the kynge, to whome he hadde certayne commaundementes and messages to saye from the Romyshe Bishop, that he came to late for too accomplysh the commis­sion of hys 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, wehre he was not past twoo dayes, but that he was playnly certefied by the Bishops of Scotlande of the kynges death. This Adryan taryed certayne monethes after this in Englād and was made muche 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 looked vpon, and mete to do the kynge pleasure, muche phantasied and more fauoured this legate Adryan, in somuche as he was Oratour and solicited his cause, bothe to Innocēt 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 Bis­shop of Herford, and shortely after, that resigned & 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 all the degrees of spiritual dignitees into the Colledge and societee of Cardinalles. For Innocent fyrste made him his Collectour in England, and also one of .vii. Protho­notaries. [Page] After this Alexander the .vi. had hym as one of hys priuye counsayll, and promoted him to the degree of a Cardinall: But who is that I praye you that will meruell at this, which aswell maye be geuē to fooles and dyzerdes as to wise and well learned men? There is ano­ther prayse of this Adrian, and thesame in maner eternall: The manne was of profounde learninge and knowlege, not vulgare, but straunge, newe and difficile, and in especial he was a manne or a ripe iudgement in electinge and chosynge concinnate termes, and apte and eloquente woordes, whiche firste of our tyme, after that golden worlde of Tully, moued men with hys writynge to imitate and foloe the moost appro­bate, and allowed authours that were of eloquēcte, and taught y^• trade and phrase to speake fyne, pure, freshe and cleane latyn, soo that by hys example and documēt, eloquēce flourisheth at this houre in all places of Christendome, wherfore after my iudgemēt he is not woorthie to be put in obliuion: but now to my purpose.

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 [...]uite to Fraūces duke of Briteyne, to haue in mariage the lady Anne hys daughter, to the whiche request the duke gentely condiscended.

And one, whiche by proxie wooed for him: too the entent that the lady shoulde performe that she promysed on her fayth and honour, he vsed a new inuenciō and tricke, after this maner: When the lady did take her chambre, the night after the affiaunce, she was layed naked in the bridebed, in the presence of diuerse noble matrones and Prynces, called the­ther as witnesses. The procuratour or Deputie for the husbande whiche represented his person, was layde in the place of her husbande, and put one of hys legges into she bed vp to the harde knee, in the sight and compaigny of many noble personages, as who said that the virgin had bene carnally knowen, and so the matrimouy perfighte and con­summate, and they two as man & wyfe. But thys fonde new founde ce­remony was little regarded and lesse estemed, of hym that onely stu­dyed and watched, howe to surrept and steale thys turtle oute of her mewe and lodgynge. For Charles the Frenche kynge (as no mā can blame hym) was desyrous and gredy too be coupled in mariage, wyth so great an inheritoure, 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 Brytōnes, to thentent he might bothe haue the lady and her dominions also at hys will and pleasure. But he imagined that the kynge of Englande woulde caste a trumpe [Page xxi] in hys waye, and be an impediment to hys purpose by sendynge into Britayne a newe army of Englishemen, for he had intelligence by his preuy fautours.

Kynge Henry and Ferdinando kyng of Spaygne, were fully de­creed to aide, assist and defende the duches and duchie of Briteyn, in al ieopardies and aduentures, to thentent that they agaynst their wil 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 thys manifest wronge and apparant iniurie. Wher­fore he sent in all post hast the lord Fraūces of Luxenborough, Char­les Marignane, aud Robert Gagime, ministre of the bone homes of the Trinitee, to kyng Henry for a peace to be confirmed & had, which whē they came before the kynges presence, were accepted and entreteyned after the best maner. And when thei were demaunded of theffect of their legacion, their request was that kyng Charles, as chiefe and supreme lorde ouer the seignorie & duchye of Briteyne, might without any spot of ingratitude to be imagined or conceaued by kynge Henry, lawfully ordre and dispose at his wil and pleasure the mariage of lady Anne of Briteyne, as hys ward & orphan, without any let and disturbaunce of the kynge of Englād, or any of his alies and confederates. Kyng Hēry thereto would not condiscende, but still harped on thys stryng, that the virgyn, whiche was lawfully combyned in matrymony with Maximi­lian kynge of Romans, shoulde nto 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 lyngred the tyme, and consumed many dayes in vayne argu­mentes and superfluous reasons, without any of their rquestes 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 efficacie or purpose, a forme of a league and amitie shoulde be drawen with condicions, clauses and couenauntes. And for the farther furtheraunce of that purpose, it was thoughte ne­cessary and expedient that the kynge of Englande shoulde sende 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 begonne. Whereupon kynge Henry dismissed the Frenche Ambassadours laden with ample & 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 Orators and Ambassadours, to Charles the French kyng, instructing them fully of all thinges that we would haue either moued or deter­mined.

[Page] In this meane space, Alexander bishop of Rome y^e .vi. of that name whiche succeded after Innocent, a man full of diligēce and of wit preg­nant, sent Lyonell bishop of Concorde legate, to the Frenche kyng for certaine matters, and emong other thinges, gaue him in charge to con­clude a peace and vinitie betwene king Charles and king Henry. Whē he had declared his message to the French kynge fully, and had easely obteyned all thinges that he requyred, then he beganne to moue vnto the French kyng and hys nobles, with a longe and prolixe exhortacion to make and conclude a perpetuall peace, betwene him and the kyng of Englande. And when he perceaued the Frenchemen to make no greate denyall to hys request, he determyned to attempt and moue kyng Hēry to concente and agree too thesame desyre and peticion: and toke hys iourney towardes England, and at Caleys he encountred the Ambas­sadours, bothe of Englande and of Fraunce, which receaued hym into the toune of Caleys, with many ceremonies and great reuerēce. Where after they had communed the matter a certayn space, as cōcerning their affaires and busynes, they departed toward the Frēch kyng, & the Bis­shop was transported into England. The kyng honorably receaued & gentely entret [...]yned this Orator Lyonell, and gaue good eare to hys [...]uculent & eloquent oracion, wherin he persuaded him with many flat­teryng and glosinge woordes, to entre into a league and amitie with kyng Charles of Fraunce, and the Frenche nacion. To the whiche re­quest the kyng made aunswer that he woulde be glad and ioyous, if it might be compassed and brought aboute, after lōge trouble and perni­cious dissencion to lyue in peace and mutual amite with all christēmē. Bishop Lyonel perceauyng the kynges mynde and intent, reculed a­gayn to Fraunce with all spede and diligence (and as it was mete and decent for the bishop of Concord) he determined to extirpate and dryue oute 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 beynge 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 pollitiquely and artificially proponed and oppugned. The Englishe Ambassadours, to thentent that they might assente and obtayne of 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 condicions, and were sore angry and moued with their great requestes and high demaundes. And in the meane ceason, trustyng more to their coffers then to their cheualry, as the maner of theyr countrey is, for to obteyn their purpose▪ they spare not to disburse and launche out treasure, giftes and rewardes innumerable, whiche is the very cause that they conquere more with crounes of gold, then with [Page xxij] speare and shylde, or dynt of swerde in battaile. So that shortely after the Frenche kyng, sent to y^e noble men of Briteyn great & many rewar­des, solicityng▪ exhortyng and praiyng them al to become his subiectes and vassals. And in especiall he allured and enticed with moost flatre­rynge woordes and trappynge termes, the lady Anne by such honora­ble matrones and ladies, as had the gouernaunce and educacion of her to confirme her self true to him in due obedience and loue, and not dis­deyne to be coupled in such a noble mariage, with so high and mightie a prynce, as kyng Charles was. And least perauenture the Damosell fearyng the rigour of the Ecclesiasticall lawes woulde not consent too hym for offending her conscience and infringyng her promes: To ad­uoyde that scruple, he caused diuerse to inculcate and put in her hed & tyttle in her eare, that the mariage made with Maximilian was of no strēgth and lesse efficacy, considrynge that it was concluded and made without the consent, agrement and 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 ma­riage with Maximilian was neuer 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 Frēch kyng had long kept with hym the lady Margaret, daughter to Maximilian and her solemply espoused at Amboys, he sayde that that mariage might be lawfully dissolued agayne, because the lady was of that age, that she coulde neither be geuen nor yet taken in mariage, for whiche cause he might lawfully repudiate and honestly put her from him.

By this crafte and perswasion they led and entised the fayre maydē, suspectyng none euell, and brought her to thys poynt, that in conclu­sion, she beyng proclaymed by diuers, Prynces of Briteyne, subornate and corrupted with mede contrary to their duetie and allegeaūce, was content to condissende and agree to that the Frenchmen demaunded, & not onely to submit her selfe to the French kyng, but also to take him to her make and husband, by the reason whereof the warre mighte ceasse, whiche with violencie and impression of thesame, had infested and af­flicted all her whole countrey. To this mariage agreed all the nobilitie of Briteyne, which helde of the French parte, thinkinge it verily for the auauncement of the common weale and their ease, because to trust to y^• power of Maximilian, which vas of no puyssaūce, they thought it vey­ne and of no efficacy. And when the Frēch kyng had composed and or­dred hys matters of this fassion, preuely with the lady Anne, he accele­rated the mariage with all the expedicion and diligence that was pos­sible: So that the English Ambassadours returned agayn to their coū trey, and nothing doen or agreed vpon their matter.

Kyng Henry, still paciently forbearynge and suffryng till such time that he perceaued more playnly what way the worlde went: and vnder­standyng before the returne of hys Ambassadours, that the Frenchmen [Page] me [...]ned none other but playne guyle, fraude and deceipte, determined no more with peaseable legacions, but with opē warre to finish and de­termyn all 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 agai [...]st the Frenche 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 louynge hartes, too thentent he might not aggraute the common people, with paiynge of great taxes and summes of money, whome his mynde was euer to kepe in fauour, woulde fyrst exacte money by a litle & a litle of y^• beneuolent mynde of the ryche sorte, and this kynde of exaccion was first excogi­ [...]ated by kyng Edward the .iiii. as it apereth before in his story. Ther­fore he consulted with his frendes, [...] to inuent howe to gather together a great summe of money, and published abrode that by their open giftes he woulde measure and searche their beneuolent hartes & louing myn­des towarde hym, so that he that gaue mooste shoulde be iudged to be mooste louyng 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 prynce, and broughte too a president by matter of recorde, maye be turned to the great preiudice of the people, if rulers in autho­ritie 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 commissioners in dyuerse pla­ces.

You haue heard before how Philip Mounsure, lord of Raueston by the aide of Bruges & Gaunt had taken the toune & .ii. castels of Sluys and was become aduersarie to Maximilian, by reason of the .iii. chiefe cytyes of Flaunders: Now ye shall vnderstand that he did not onely so fortefie as wel with municions as men, both the toune and .ii. Castels, but also gat into the hauen diuerse shippes and barkes, & by this mea­nes he spoyled and toke prysoners 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 losse of 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. Nowe was here a litle toune two [Page xxiij] myle from Bruges, toward the sea calle Damme, whiche was a Bul­werke to Bruges, and a hedsprynge to Sluys. The kynge of Roma­nes did oftentymes attempt the apprehendinge of this toune, to the en­tent that the Brugians should haue no recourse to the hauē 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 vpper Saxony, a greate frende to the kyng of Romanes, whiche made hym selfe Neuter, and neuer in­termitted wyth the affayres of Flaūders, a man of no lesse pollecy then valyaunt hardynes. This duke requyred of the lordes of Bruges, that he might enter peaceably into their toune, accordynge to his estate with a certayne numbre of menne of armes to communicate with them dyuerse matters of great weyght and no small importaunce, and sent before hys 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 numbre were duplicate, and especially, because they harde saye that he woulde lodge in the toune all night, wherefore no man thought of that craftie stratageme that he had inuented. Hys elected and warlike company entred into the cytie in good ordre, and he folowed, they that went before inquyred after ynnes and lodgynges as though they woulde 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 towarde the forsayde toune of Dam, distant from Bru­ges a Flemysh myle, which is called the Bulwerke of Bruges. The Capitaynes and inhabitauntes of the toune of Damme, suspecting no harme to come out of Bruges, thinkinge that their frendes knowynge some sodeyn chaunce comming to haue sent to them aide and succours, and so nothinge mistrustinge, did let them entre, and take the toune of Damme, and so that toune, whiche coulde not be wonne 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 continuyng, no doubte, but the toune of Bruges must nedes fall in ruyne and vtter exterminion.

When duke Albert of Saxony had gotten Dam, he certefied y^e king of England y^e he would besege Sluyse by lād, if it pleased his maiestie to ministre any aide by the sea. King Hēry which was wise, & forcasting in all his affaires, remēbryng that Sluyse was the denne of theues to thē y^• trauerse y^• seas toward the East parties, incontinēt dispatched syr Edward Pownīges, (a valiaūt knight & hardy Capitayn) w^t .xii. ship­pes wel furnished w^t bolde souldiours & strōg artillary. Which syr Edward sayled īto y^e hauē, & kept Philip moūsure frō stertīg by y^e sea. The duke of Saxō beseged y^e one castel, liyng in a church ouer agaīst it, & y^e Englishmē assauted y^• lesse castel dayly, & issued out of y^e shippes at the [Page] and although they stode in the water to the knees, yet they neuer gaue their enemies one daye to repose or playe by the space of .xx. dayes, and euery daye slewe some of their aduersaries, and on the Englishe parte were slayne. Uerte brother to the Erle of Oxforde & fifty moo.

The lorde Philip of Rauestone, had made a bridge of boates be­twene both the Castels, by the which one might succour y^e other, Which bridge the Englishmen in a night set on fyer. Then, he perceauinge 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 certayne condicions. When the duke and the English capitayne met in 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 hādled them of Bruges that they were content not onely, to submit thē selues to the lord Maxi­milian, but also to paye & dispatche the Almaynes. And so syr Edward Pownynges taried there a longe 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 conformyte and ordre.

The .vi. daye of Aprill this present yere, the kynge commaunded all the nobilite of hys 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 hys wyfe, kynge and quene of Spayne, Arragon and Castell. And thesayde infideles, by reason of this siege brought to great penurye and miserie, for lacke of viteile and necessary viand, perceauyng that all succours were clerely estopped and propul­sed from them, and so brought into vtter despaire of aide or comforte: after longe consultacion had emongest them, determyned to rendre thē selues and their citie, to thesayde kyng, vpon diuerse couenauntes and condicions, and therupon sent to hym diuerse Senatours of the citie, fully ins [...]ructed of their mynd and purpose. The kyng of Spayne and his counsail, considering and sagely ponderinge that wynter appro­ched and was at hande, and that the Christen hoost had long lyen in y^• feeldes in sore tempestes and greuous stormes (which they gladly suf­fred for Christes sake, in whose cause and quarel thei 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 replenis­shed with people innumerable, and furnished with .lxx. thousand good fightyng men. And finally, perceauyng that he might enioye nowe the [Page xxiiij] possession of thesame, without assaulte or effusion of Christen blood, by the aduyse of hys 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 Katheryn. By the which compo­sicion, the royall 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 subiect and vassall to the kyng of Speygne, and to relinquishe and forsake the vsurped name of a kyng for euer. And y^• all men of 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 Ianuary, but the tyme was anticipate, for y^• Moores on the first daye of Ianuarij, sent .vi.C. notable personages out of the citie with their chyldren for hostages into the campe of the kynge of Spayne, to thentent that he should put no diffidēce nor mis­trust in the citezens, but that he might peaceably and quietly with hys people entre into the cytie, and take possession or thesame. The whiche hostages were distributed and lodged in the tentes and pauylions of the Spanyshe armye.

The third daye of Ianuary, the lorde of Gutterins Cardenes, greate Master and gouernour of Lyon, of the ordre of sainct Iames, departed frome the armye, nobly and triumphātly 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 hym humble obeysaunce, and conducting him to a palace, adioyning to the citie, called the palace of Anaxaras, and from thence conueyghed hym to the palace royall of thesame cytie called Alhābra, wherof he toke quiet and peacesable possession, to the behoue of y^• 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 thei thought in their har­tes, that which they promysed by mouth, they prostrated and humbled them selues before thesayde great Master, and with dolorous lamentacion and salt teares, deliuered to him the keyes of thesayd palace. Whē he had the keyes, & was also possessed of that stronge and magnificent place, he first of all dispatched the house of all the Moores and paga­nes, and appoynted a garrison of valyaunt and noble christiās to kepe and defende thesame. And thesame daye caused a masse solemply too be celebrate in a place of thesame palace called Melchita, which done and finished, he toke possession of all the fortresses. Towres and holdes too thesayd citie and toune of Granado, belonginge or apperteyning. And then he caused to be eleuated and exalted vpon the highest to wre of the palace (where it might best be sene) the signe & token of the crosse, wher­on Christe for vs synners suffred his bitter passiō. At the reysing wher­of, were present an Archebishop, and thre Bishops and other prelates, [Page] whiche deuoutely sange this antheme: Ocrux, aue spes vnica. Thesayde crosse was .iii. tymes deuoutly eleuate, and at euery exaltacion, y^e Moo­res beyng within the cytie, roared, howled and cryed, prosternyng them selfes grouelynge on the grounde, making dolorous noyes and piteful outcryes. The army encamped without the citye, seynge these thynges, humbled them selfes mekely before the crosse, rendrynge too almightie God their moost humble and hartie thankes. The kyng of Spayne, beyng mounted on horsoacke, perceauynge the ereccion of the crosse, discended from his Genet, and kneled doune on the bare grounde, and rendred to God, laude, honour and praysing for that noble and trium­phant victory. And after that the crosse was thus set vppon the high Towre, the banner of sainct Iames 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, proclaimed and published these woordes folowynge.

When the Herault had finished, the artillary sounded, the mynstrel­les blewe, the people applauded and clapped their handes for gladnes, that the earth semed to trymble and quake vndreneth them. After thys ioye ended, there issued out of the citie in maner 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 capt [...]re, wher of the moost 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 redem prionem plebis sue. Blessed be the lord God of Israel, which hath visited and redemed his people, and so singynge foorth the whole Psalme, went to the churche of sainct Feith, which the kyng Ferdinando had caused to be moost sumpteously edefied during the tyme of the siege, beynge distant from Granado twoo or three myle. And as this poore procession passed by the hoost, one espied hys sonne, and another sawe hys 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 whē these people had sayde their Orysons in the churche of saynct Feith, & were [Page xxv] come to the army, they kneling before the kyng kyssed his fote, criynge with one voyce, God graunt to the kyng of Speygne euerlasting lyfe.

The next daye after the lord Euerus de Mendosa, Erle of Tediglie was by the kyng made Capitayn of the house royal, & principal Towre of the citie of Granado, called Alhambra, hauynge to hym appoynted and assigned one thousand men of armes, and twoo thousand fotemen. Unto the whiche Erle, the great Master delyuered the keyes of thesaid palace and Towre, and other portes and fortresses. On Saturdaye the .viii. daye of Ianuary, in the yere of our Lorde .M.cccc.xcii. Ferdi­nand kyng of Speyne & Granado, the quene & their eldest sonne done Ihon prince of Speyne, the lord Peter of Mēdosa, archebishop of To­leto, the patriarche of Alexandry, the Cardinal of Speyne, the lord Peter Prynce of Lyon, duke of Gaditane, the Marques of Uillena and Moya. The erle of Capre, the erle of Uinenna of Cifnentes, and many other Erles, Barones and nobles, whereof some were Englishemen, whose names I haue not, wih .x. thousand horsemē, and fifty thousand footemen, wyth greate tryumphe and royaltie entred into the cytye of Granado, and thereof tooke reall possessiō and season, and caused masse to be songe in a great place called Meschita, where he caused a solēp­ne churche to be buylded in the honoure of God and hys mother. Whē 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 ryche Arras and Tapestry in euery chambre. The Erle of Tendiglie Capitaine of the palace, feasted the kynge and Quene, and all the nobilitie at hys awne costes and charges. So the kynge of Speygne there remay­ned tyll the countrey was reduced too a good confromytye and ordre, and dyuerse Castelles and fortresses were made for the sauegarde and tuycion of the realme. And because thys victory obteyned, was to the glory of God, and to the publique wealth of all Christianite, thesayde Cardinall of Caunterbury▪ declared to▪ the people that the kyng had sent hym and the other nobles thether that daye, not onely to notefye and declare to them the verite of the fact, but also to exhorte thē to geue laudes and praysinges to almighty God, for deliuering so goodly a cy­tye, so plentiful a countrey, & so notable a regiō out of the hades of his enemies & persecutours of his faith & religiō. Which declaraciō ended the Archebishop with the clergie, the nobles with y^e cōminaltie in moost deuout maner wēt in general processiō, rēdring to God for this greate acheued enterprice, glory, honour & moost reuerēt & harty thankes.

Aboute this ceason, Maximilian kyng of Romanes hauyng the vp­per hāde of the Fleminges, by aide of the kyng of Englād (as you haue hearde before) entended to reuēge him self of y^e Frēch king, for y^• he had repudiate his daughter lady Margaret, & sent her home to him, entēdīg as he thought to take to his wife y^e lady Anne of Briteyn. But because he was not of sufficiēt habilite of him self to susteyne & furnish y^• warre, [Page] he determined to desyre kyng Henry to take parte with hym. Where­upon he sent Iames Contibald Ambassadoure, a man of great graui­tie to exhorte and requyre the kyng of England, to entre his company and societee in armes, faythfully promising on hys honoure y^• he would in sembleable matters of his, take parte 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 kyng Hēryes hart to bea­re with him. And as he was mynded before this time as you haue hard before, to aide and assist the Britones in the extremetie of their perill, 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 thentēt to restore agayne the Britishe nacion to their auncient libertie, 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 him selfe so earnestly set and bent toward that enter­price, and therfore he made this aunswere to Iames the Ambassadour, y^• he woulde be ashamed to be foūde slacke or vnprouided at any tyme of Maximilian his felow & compaigniō in armes. And so these matters well brought to effect on both parties, the kyng dimissed the Ambassa­doure from hys presence.

The .vii. yere.

IN thys very ceason Charles the Frēch kyng, receaued lady Anne as his pupille into his hādes, & with great solempnite her espoused, hauing with her for her dower the whole coun­trey of Briteyne. And so by this meane the Brytones became subiect to the French kyng. Maximiliā beyng certefied of this, fell into a great rage and agony, for y^• he was not cōtent with the forsaking and refusing of his daughter lady Margaret, but also had takē & rauished away from hym his assured wife lady Anne duches of Britayne. And calling vpon God for vengeaunce & ponishmēt for such an heynous & execrable facte, cryed out & rayled on hym, wishynge him a thousande deathes. Yet after that he was pacefied, and came to hym selfe agayne, and had gathered hys wyttes together, he thought it was moost expe­dient to vindicate and reuenge hys honour and dignitee so 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 French 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 lōge grudge agaynst the French kyng, caused a muster to be made in all the [Page xxvi] partes of hys realme, and put hys men of warre in a redynes armed & weaponed accordyng to their feates: beside this he rygged, māned and vyteiled his nauy ready to set forward euery houre, and sent curryers into euery shyre to accelerate, and hast the souldiours 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, harnyssed and armed to battaile, partely glad to helpe their prīce and to do him seruice, and partely to buckle with the Frenchmen, with whome the Englishmen very willingly desyre to cope and fight in opē battaill. And immediately, as monicion was geuen, euery man with hys bande of souldioures repayred to London.

After that, all this army was arrayed and euen readie to set forward wherof were cheuetaynes and leaders. Iasper duke of Bedford, & Ihō erle of Oxforde beside other, the kynge sent Christopher Urswike hys aulmoner, and syr Ihon Ryseley knight to Maximiliā, to certefie him that the kyng was all in a redines, and woulde shortely arryue in the continent land, assone as 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 prynce coulde be more vn­prouyded or more destitute of men and armure, no more lackynge all thynges, apperteignynge to warre, then was Maximilian, and that he laye lurkyng in a corner, sore sicke of the fluxe of y^e pursse, so that he had neyther men, horses, municions, armure nor money, neuerthelesse his mynd & will was good, if his power and habilitee had been correspōdēt & therfore there was no trust to be put in his aide or puissaunce. Their letters bothe appalled, and made sorowfull the kyng of Englād, which like a prudent prynce 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 mē might call hym cowarde and recreant prynce. Beside this, he thoughte that his awne nacion woulde not take his tariyng at home in good nor fauourable parte, cōsideryng y^e syth they had geuen so large money for the preparaciō of all thinges necessary and conueniēt for thesame, they might conceaue in their heddes & ymagen, that vnder coloure & pretēce of a dissimuled warre, he had exacted of thē notable summes of money, & now the treasure was once payed, then y^e warre was done, & his cofers well enryched, & the commōs enpouerisshed. So that at thys tyme he doubted & cast perels on euery side & parte, & beside this, he was not a litle sory y^• Maximiliā authour of this warre did absent him selfe, & de­fraude him of his societe & assistēce. And while he studied & mused what counsaill he shoulde best take in suche a doubtfull and sodeyne case, he like a graue prynce, remembring the saiyng of the wiseman, woorke by [Page] counsayll & thou shalt not repēt the, assembled together all his lordes and other of hys priuate counsayl, by whose myndes it was concluded and determined, that he shoulde manfully and couragiously perceauer and procede in thys broched and begonne enterprice, recordynge well with them selfes, and affirming playnely that all cheualry and marsial prowesses, the more di [...]icile 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 Iudas [...]y Maximilian had deceaued hym, least that they knowynge the whole fact, shoulde not be so courageous to go towarde that battaile and procede forward on their iorney. And therfore to prouide and forse all perels and daungiers that might accidently ensue, he so strengthened, multiplied and augmented his army in such numbre before he toke ship, that he with his awne powre might discourage and ouercome the whole puissaūce of his aduersaries.

When he had thus gathered and assembled his armye, he sayled to Caleys the .vi. daye of October, & there encāped him selfe, tariyng there a certaine space to se his men harnessed & appareled, that neither weapō nor any engyne necessary for his iourney should be neglected. At which place all the army had knowlege by the Ambassadours, whiche were newly returned out of Flaunders (for they did not knowe of it before) y^• Maximilian coulde make no preparaciō 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, trusting so muche to their awne puissaūce & cōpany: but yet they meruayled and wondered greatly y^• heard it related, y^• Maximilian receauyng such great vilany not lōge 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 Englishmē, now setting vpon his dayly enemyes & deadly aduersaries. Albeit Maximiliā lacked no hart & good will to be reuen­ged, yet he lacked substaūce to cōtinew warre, for he could neither haue money nor men of the dronkē Fleminges, nor yet of the crakyng Bra­banders, so vngrate people were they to their souereigne lorde

In the meane ceason, although the Frenche kynge was as well with courage replenished as with men furnished mete to trye a battaile, yet al this notwithstāding he made semblaūce, asthough he desired nothīg more then peace, beyng not ignorāt that peace to be obteined was of no smal valure & price, & yet he determined to make more expēce in getting of peace, then in settinge foorth of warre and hostilitee, and regarded so muche the lesse the treasure too be dispensed for the acquyrynge of vnitee and concord, for asmuche as he was afrayed that he beyng dili­gent to resist the inuasion of the Englishmen, that the Britones wherof the moost parte bare the yoke of his subiecciō contrary to their hartes [Page xxvij] and myndes, woulde sodeynly rebell and set them selfes at libertie, and plucke out their heddes out of hys colour, and set vp another duke & gouernour. And at thesame very tyme he was inuited and desired of Lewes Sforcia duke of Millayn, to warre agaynst Ferdinand 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 kyngdome he pretended to be dewe to hym by succession, and entended long before to acquyre and cōquere it by force of armes, as hys very right and inheritaūce. 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 & dominiōs, Lewes the .xi. father to y^• .iii. kyng Charles, to thentēt that he should deliuer quene Margaret his daughter, out of the hādes of kyng Edward the .iii. as you haue wel before perceaued, wrōgfully and without cause disheneriting hys cosyn, Godsonne, and heyre, Rene duke of Lorayne & Barre. For the which cause he did the more busily procure & labour for y^• amitie, fauor & frēdship of his neighbours roūd about hym, y^• whē al thīges were appeased & set in good slaye at home he might the better employe his whole force & puissaūce on his warre in Italy. Wherfore beyng much desirous to haue all thinges pacefied & set in a perfite cōcorde and securitee, he sent Philip Creueceur lord Cor­des his chiefe counsailer and diligēt officer to entreate, 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 ferme land, by the which he notefied to hym, y^t he of his boūdē duetie & obseruaūce, which he ought to the kyng hys master, & to the proffite of his realme, woulde take payne to inuent & excogitate some mean & waye, y^• his highnes & kyng Charles his master beyng disseuered in amitie, & made exstreme enemyes, onely for the the cause of Maximilian newly elected kynge of Romanes, should be reducted & brought agaī into their pristyne estate & consuete familiaritee, doubting not to bring his ship to the porte de­sired, if it might stand with his pleasure to sende some of his coūsailers to the confynes & borders of the English pale, adioyninge to Fraunce, there to here what reasonable offres should be demonstrated and prof­fered: whiche condicions of peace should be so reasonable and so ample that he doubted not, but that he might with hys great honoure breake vp hys campe, and retire hys army backe agayne into hys owne seig­nory 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, whyche 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 hys awne subiectes, laye styll lyke a dormouse nothynge doynge, perceauynge also that it [Page] should be bothe to hys people profitable, and to hym greate honour to determyn this great warre without losse or bloodshed, appoynted for commissioners the bishop of Exceter, & Gyles lord Dawbeney to passe the seas to Caleys, to cōmen 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 for such a iorney. And from thence he remoued in .iiii. battailes,Boleyn bese­ged. nere to the toune of Boleyne, and there pytched hys tentes before the toune, in a place propice and cō ueniēt and determined to geue a great assaute to the toune. In y^• which fortresse was suche a garrison of Warlike souldiours, that valiauntly defended the toune, and thesame so replenyshed with artillary and mu­nicious of warre, that the losse of the Englishmen assautyng the toune, should be greater dammage to the realme of England, then the cōque­ryng and gaynyng of thesame should be emolument or proffite. How­beit the kynges daily shot, rased & defaced the walles of thesaide toune: but when euery man was prest and ready to geue the assaute, a sodeyne 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 Frēchmē, so it was to the English naciō bitter, sowre & dolorous because they were prest and 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 murmuringe emongest them selfes, that the occa­sion of so glorious a victory to them manifestly offred, was by certayn 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 spurres, whiche for to set them selfes and their band the more gorgeously forward had mutuate, and borowed dyuerse and sondry summes of money, and for the repay­ment of thesame, had morgaged and impignorate their landes & pos­sessions, sore grudged and lamented this sodeyne peace, and returne of them vnthought of, and spake largely agaynste the kynges doynges, saiynge and affirmyng, that he as a man fearyng and dreading y^• force and puissaunce of his enemyes, had concluded an inconuenient peace without cause or reason: But the kynge as a wise man and moost pru­dent prynce to assuage the indignacion and pacefie the murmoure of y^• people, declared what dammage and detryment, what losse & perdiciō [Page xxviij] of many noble Capitaynes and stronge souldiours must of necessitee happen and ensue at the assaute of a toune, and especially when it is soo well fortefied with men and municious, as the toune of Boleyn at that present tyme was: protestyng farther, that he might be iustly accused & 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 cōsolate and appeased the myndes of hys mē of warre, he returned backe again w^t his whole army, to y^e toun of Caleys, where he beganne to smell certayn secret smoke, whiche was lyke to turne to a great flame, without it were well watched and polle­tiquely sene to. For by the craftie inuencion and deuelishe ymaginaciō of that pesteferus serpent lady Margaret, duches of Burgoyne, a new ydoll was set vp in Flaunders, and called Richard Plantagenet, secōd sonne to kyng Edward the .iiii. as though he had bene resulcitate from death to lyfe, whiche sodeyne newes more stacke and fretted in his sto­mack, then the battaile which now was, set late forward & more payne he had (not without great ieopardie of hym selfe) to appeache & quēche this newe spronge conspiracy, then in makynge peace with the Frenche kyng his enemy. And so he was content to accept and receaue (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, bothe at home in his owne countrey, and also in foreyne and externe nacions. Wher­fore kynge Henry forseynge all these thinges before (and not without great counsayll) concluded with the French kyng, to thentēt that he be­yng deliuered of al outward enuytie mighte the more quickly prouide for the ciuyle and domestical cōmocions, which he perceaued wel to be buddyng out. The conclusion of the peace was thus, y^• the peace should continue bothe their lyues, and that the Frenche kynge shoulde paye to kynge Henry a certayne summe of money in hand, accordyng as the cō missioners 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 Nouembre) amounted to the summe of .vii.C.xlv.M. ducates, whiche is in sterlynge money .i.C.lxxxvi.M.ii.C.l.l, 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 exspended in the tuyciō & aide of the Britones .xxv.M. crounes, which yerely tribute, y^• Frēch 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 cōseruacion 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^e .vii. yere of his troubleous reigne. Also in this soiournynge and besegynge [Page] of Boleyne (whiche we spake of before) there was fewe or none kylled, sauyng onely Ihon Sauage knyght, which goyng preuely out of hys pauylion with syr Ihon Riseley, roade about the walles to viewe and se their strength, was sodeynly intercepted and taken of hys enemies.

And he beyng inflamed with yre, although he were captyue, of hys high courage disdeyned to be taken of suche vileynes, defended his life to y^• vttermost and was manfully (I will not saye wilfully) slayne and op­pressed, albeit syr Ihon Riseley fled frō 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, Alphōse duke of Calabres sonne, accordyng to his desire whiche Alphonse was sonne and heyre to Ferdinand kyng of Napels, & after kyng of thesame realme, til he was ouercome by kyng Charles. And after, the kyng sent Christopher Ursewike, Ambassadour wyth y^• gartier, coller, mantell, and other habiliamentes apperteyninge to the companyons of thesayde noble ordre. Which Ambassadoure arryuing at Napels, deliuered to the duke the whole habite, with all the ceremo­nies and dewe circumstaunces therunto belonging. Whiche duke ve­ry reuerently receaued it, and with more reuerence reuested him selfe w^t thesame in a solempne presence, thinkyng that by this apparell and in­uestiture, he was made a frende and compaygnion in ordre with y^• 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 moūtaynes and make warre on hym. But this custome of assistēce in ordres was, eyther neuer begonne, or before clerely abholished: For in oure tyme there haue bene many noble men of Italy, compaigniōs as well of the golden Flese in Burgoyne, 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 souereygne nor cō ­panyons 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 thys Charles, the Frenche kyng 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 communi­cacion and treatie with Maximilian kyng of Romanes, and to cōclude a peace with hym for a season, to the entēt that he might without disturbaunce of hys neyghboures adioyninge, prosperously & safely make warre on Ferdynand kyng of Napels, & on all Italy, as he before had mynded and excogitated.

[Page xxix] 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 his victory: in hys returne beynge assailed with the Ue­nicians at the toune of Fornouoe, he had a great daungerous victory. And so lyke a conquerour, with great triūphe 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 agayn the realme of Napels, whiche Frederyck the sonne of kyng Alphonse, not longe before had gotten from the French nacion: & after that he subdued and conquered the whole duchy of Millayn. Al­bei [...] [...]ot long after (fortune turnynge her whele) he lost bothe the 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 cōquestes, then their parentes and predecessours here­tofore haue ben accustomed. For vndoubtedly, as many places as thei 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 recompēce little profited and lesse releued, such as before were robbed and spoyled of all their goodes, substaunce and ryches.

After thys the Spanyardes arryued in 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, wāne certayn tounes there, which they possesse and enioye at this present tyme.

In this warre and tumulteous busynes in Italy, which was y^• most terrible and sorest plague, that any man can remembre of that nacion, there was no person, no place, no priuate house, no noble familye, no capitayne or prynce, but he was oppressed either with the heapes of the dead carcasses, or with the bloud of hys frendes or subiectes, or els suf­fred some affliccion Iniurie or detryment. And insome wise at one tyme or another, euery man did tast and suffre all the mischeues that apper­teyned to the victory gotten by their enemyes. The which defacynge & blottyng of the beutye of that countrey, sometyme called the quene of y^• earth, and floure of the worlde, chaunced not of her awne selfe or her awne cause or desert, but the Italians her awne suckyng chyldren ope­ned the gappe, and made the waye of her destruccion. For at that tyme thus it chaunced, that when the potētates and seignories of Italy per­ceaued, that all thinge vnder them succeded, euen as they woulde desire and wishe, to their great exultacion and reioysinge: by reason whereof they sate still at home lyke sloggardes (as women be accustomed to do) skoldynge and brawlyng, exercisyng and practisyng preuy displeasure and malice, not agayn their enemyes as they were accustomed, but e­mong them selfes one against another, castinge out of memory & drow­nynge [Page] their auncient renoune, glory and honoure with desyre of rule and appetite to be reuenged, and so destroyed the common weale, and subue [...]ted the olde monumentes and actes of their forfathers and pre­decessors. And because some of them, thinkynge them selfes, not of force and puissaūce 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 foreyne nacions to their aide and assistence. The other seynge them so desirous to haue their helpe, partely moued with their giftes, partely with desyre of rule, spoyles & prayes, gathered together a great company and entred into Italy, and there distroyed, spoyled and possessed 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 coū ­trey, beynge of nature enclosed and mu [...]yte 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 daunger, if they had bene their awne frēdes, and loued their awne wealth and commodite. Therfore I maye saye: O progeny, aswell wic­ked as vngodly, hath discorde and dissencion pleased the so much that thou wouldest vtterly extinguishe and confoūde the glory and honour or thy natiue countrey? And in conclusion, thou thy selfe 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 leaue 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 [...]ys 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 Calabre, and after kyng of Napels, grudgynge that this duke Ihon his sonne in lawe, should be de [...]rauded of his su­periorite and dominiō, threatened sore this Lewes Sforcia. Where he fearyng to be put from his authoritee, solicited and by great entreatie procured Charles the French kyng▪ to inuade the realme of Napels.

By reason of whiche procurement, Alphonse duke of Calabre, whiche succeded his father Ferdinand in the kingdome of Napels (which also as you haue heard, was made knight [...]f the garter) was first depryued of his kingdome by thesaide kynge Charles, and shortely after of his lyfe. But Lewes Sforce had no longe ioye after the deathe of hys ennemy, for he was betrayed and taken by the Swytzers, 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 whome a slaundre begynneth. Thys mischiefe began­ne at that tyme when Charles came thether, and contynueth yet, [Page xxx] which is the yere of oure Lord .M.D.xliii. for an example to other, y^• straungers inuited to a prosperous countrey 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 created duke of Yorke, and after prynce of Wales, and in conclusion succeded his father in croune and dignitee. Nowe let vs returne to the newe founde sonne of kynge Edwarde, coniured by mennes policies from death to lyfe.

And first to declare hys lignage and beginning, you must vnderstād that the duches of Burgoyne so norished and broughte vp in the sedi­cious and scelerate faccions of false contryuers & founders of discorde coulde neuer cease nor be in quyet (lyke a vyper that is ready to burste with superfluyte of poyson) except he should infest and vnquyet y^• king of England, for no desert or displeasure by hym to her committed, but onely because he was propagate and descēded of the house of Lācastre, euer beyng aduerse & enemy to her lyne & lynage. For which only cause she compassed, ymagened and inuented how to cast a scorpiō in his bo­some, and to infect his whole realme with a pesliferous 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 auaūce and preferre some darlyng of her faccion to his Empire, rule and dignitee. And principally remembring taht the erle of Lyncoln, which was by her set foorth and al his cōpany 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 webbe, lyke a spy­der that dayly weueth when hys calle is torne. And as the deuell pro­uydeth venemous 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 pregnaūt, called Peter Warbecke. And for his dastard cowardnes of the Englishmen, in derision called Per­kyn Warbeck, accordyng to the duche phrase, whiche chaūge the name of Peter to Perkyn, to yōgelinges of no strength nor courage for their timerous hartes and pusillanimitee: Whiche younge man traueylyng many countreys, coulde speake English and many other languages, & for his basenes of stocke and birthe was knowen of none almoost, and only for the gayne of hys lyuyng from his childehoode was of necessi­tee, compelled to seke and frequēt dyuerse realmes and regions. Ther­fore the duches thinkyng to haue gotten God by the foote, whē she had the deuell by the tayle, & adiudging this yoūg man to be a mete organe to conuey her purpose, and one not vnlike to be y^e duke of Yorke, sonne to her brother kyng Edward, whiche was called Richarde, kept hym a certayne space with her preuely, and hym with such diligēce instructed, bothe of the secretes and common affaires of the realme of England, & of the lignage, dissent and ordre of the house of Yorke, that he like a [Page] 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 such a pryncely countenaunce, and so coūtrefeare a ma­ [...]stie royall, that all men in maner did fermely beleue 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 roote pla­ted that all the sequele of that lyne and stock did study and deuyse 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^e mar­ket, and ymagened that all thinges was ready and prepared for the cō [...]usion of kyng Henry, sodeynly she was enformed that thesayde kynge of England prepared a puissant army agaynste Charles the Frenche kyng. Then she considering the oportunitie of the tyme, as who would s [...]ye, a tyme wished and a daye desyred to acheue and brynge too passe her [...] malicious and cancarde muencions, 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 realme 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 enclyned 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 saluage 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 prynces of the coūtry, adhibited such faith and credite to his woordes, as that thing had bene true indede, whiche he vntruly with false demonstracions setfoorth and diuulged. And as though he had bene the very sonne of kynge Edwarde, they honoured, exalted and applauded hym with all reuerence and dewe honoure, pro­misyng to hym aide, comforte and assistence of all thinges to the feat of warre, necessary and apperteynyng.

In the meane [...]eason these newes were related to Charles the Frēch kyng, then beyng in displeasure with kyng Henry, which without delay sent for Perkyn into Irelande, to the entent to sende hym agaynste like kynge of England, whiche was inuadyng Fraūce (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 acquayntaunce 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 hym royally accepted, and after a princely fassion entreteyned, & had a garde to him assigned, wherof was gouernour y^• lord Cōgreshal. [Page xxxi] And to hym at Parys resorted syr George Neuell bastard, Syr Ihon Tayler, Rouland Robynson and an hundred Englishe rebelles. But after that a peace, as before is sayde was appointed and concluded be­twixt him and the kynge of England, thesayde kynge Charles dismis­sed the younge man, and woulde no l [...]nger 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 lorde Congreshall, and fledde awaye from Parys by nyght. But whe­ther he departed without the Frenche kynges consent or disassent, he deceaued in his expectacion, 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 effecteously desiring to knowe whiche waye lady Fortune turned her whele, herynge hym to be repudiate and abiected oute of the Frenche courte, was in a greate agony and muche amased and more appalled: But when she was asserteyned of hys arryuall in Flaunders, she no lesse reuiued, then he that hathe in steade of the sworde of execucion, 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 reioysyng and suche comforte (as in dede she coulde dissem­ble alone aboue all other) as though she had neuer sene nor knowē him before, or as he were newly cropen oute of hys mothers lappe agayne, that what in trust to preferre hym 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 might be notified and made apparaunt to 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 destruccion, and in what countreys he had wan­dered and soughte frendshippe: And finally, by what chaunce of for­tune he came to her courte and presence. To the entent that by the open declaracion of these feyned phantasies, the people myghte be per­suaded to geue credite and belefe, that he was the true begotten 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 great estate and called 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 [Page] many one thought hym to be preserued, onely by the will and mightie powre of almightie God, and to be conueyghed at the fyrste daungier by some faythfull frende of kyng Edward his father into some straūge country, and so escaped the violēt tyranny of hys vncle kyng Rychard, whiche vndubitately hereafter should recouer his fathers possessions & kingdome. The fame & bruyte of this iuggled myracle was almoost in one momēt blowē ouer all the coūtry of Flaūders, & the territories therabouts. But in England it was blased in euery place soner then a man could thinke or deuise it: In which coūtrey more then in other places it was receaued for an infallible veritie & moost sure truthe, & that not onely of the cōmon people, but also of diuerse noble & worshipfull men, of no small estimaciō, which sware & affirmed it to be true, and no coment or fable phantastically ymagened. After this deuulgaciō y^• Rychard sonne to kyng Edward was yet liuyng, & had in great honour e­mongest the Flēminges, there began sedicion to springe on euery syde, none otherwise then in y^e pleasaūt time of vere, trees are wōte to budde or blossome. For not onely they y^• were in sanctuaryes, for great & hey­nous offences by them committed, but also many other y^• were fallē in debte, and doubtyng to be brought to captiuitie & bondage, assembled together in a cōpany, and were passed ouer the sea into Flaunders to their coūtre [...]cate Richard sonne to kynge Edwarde, otherwise named Perkyn Warbeke. After this many of the noble mē conspired together some through rashnes & temerite induced therunto, some beyng so ear­nestly perswaded in their awn cōceipt, as though they knew perfightly that this Perkyn was y^• vndubitate sonne of king Edward the .iiij. so­licited, sturred & allured to their opinion al such as were frēdes & fau­ [...]oures of the house of Yorke. Other through indignaciō, enuye & aua­ [...]e, euer grudginge & thinkynge they were not condignly rewarded for their paynes and partes taken in the kynges behalfe and quarell. Other whome it greued and vexed too 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 cō ­iuracion.

This rumour and vayne fable of this twise borne duke Richard, de­uyded all Englād and brewe the realme into Partakynges & seuerall faccions, so that the myndes of all men were vexed either with hope of gayne 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 intelligēce, pōdering & weiyng in egal balaūce, the incōmoditie & daun­gier that might hereof ensue, and the gayne & commoditie that by the­same might be obteyned & gottē. Albeit the kyng, & hys coūsayl & other hys faythfull frendes, not a litle mer [...]ayled that any person (beynge in hys ryght wyt) coulde induce in hys mynde or fynde in hys hart falsely to thynke and fraudulentlye too ymagen, suche a pernicious fable [Page xxxij] and ficcion, beyng not onely straūge and marueylous, but also prodi­gious and vnnaturall, to teyne a dead man to be renated and newely borne agayne. By the whiche open [...]allax and vntrue surmyse setfoorth and palliated with the vesture and garment of a professed veritee.

Many of the noble men (as he well then perceued) toke and reputed it, whiche was folishely and maliciously setfoorth 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 hys 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 beleuinge no fraude nor deceate to be hid or cloked vndre this golden tale. But whatsoeuer the fame was and the voice that ranne abrode, that they reputed, syncere, true, and as an opē playne thing, thinking that to redounde both to their aduauntage, cō ­moditee and hygh preferment and honoure, whiche thinge did greatly animate and encourage them to set vp the sayles, and lanchefoorth the ower 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 dnke of Yorke might come conueniently into England to thentent that they beyng thereof certefied might be in a redynes to helpe and succoure hym at hys first arryuall.

The .viii. yere.

SO by the common consent and agrement of the coniured confederates, syr Robert Clifford knight, & William Barley were sent into Flaunders, which enucleated to the du­ches all the secrete ententes and preuy counsayles of y^• frē ­des and fautoures of the new founde duke. The duches thys message did gladly accept and louyngly embrace, and of their ty­dinges was not a litle ioyous, easely by her persuasion inducynge to their heddes, that all thinges that were spoken of duke Rycharde were true & vnfeyned. And afterwarde brought them to the sight of Perkyn, the which countrefeated the coūtenaunce and the maner and fassion of Rychard duke of Yorke, praising his vertues & qualitees, with y^• which he was endued aboue the mone. Thesayde syr Robert Clifford, when he had sene & w [...]l aduised the yoūg man, beleued surely that he was extra­cted of the blood royall, and the very sonne of kyng Edward the .iiii. & therof he wrote a lettre of credite & confidence into England to his cō ­pany & felowes of his cōspiracy, & to put them out of all doubte he af­firmed y^t he knew him to be kinge Edwardes sonne by his face & other lyniamentes of his body. And when these lettres came to England, the [Page] [...]heuetaynes of this busynes, to the entent to styrre the people to some newe commocion and tumult, and to set foorth some cause of mattre apparaunt, caused it opēly 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 mā coulde tell who was the authoure and founder of that rumoure.

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 remedy to re­presse this Immynent mischaunce, not a litle suspectynge, that some conspiracy had bene concluded and agreed, because that syr Robert [...]lyfforde had late fled preuely into Flaunders. Wherefore he sent certayne knyghtes that wre chosen and picked men of warre, with a bonde of sou [...]dioures into euery parte to kepe the shores & the sea costes surely, that no man might passe ouer into any foreyn lande bey ōd y^e sea nor repasse into thys realme without serche, or pasporte or saue cōduyte 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 so thentent that many men, beyng both of England & other places for very malyce by this new inuencion enflamed and indurate, shoulde no farther ronne in their freneticall madnes, he secretly sent wise espial­les to all the cytyes of the Gaule Belgique or lowe countrey within the Archedukes dominion, and the confynes of thesame, to searche & pryeou [...]e of what progeny thys misnamed Rycharde was dissended and propagate, promysynge highly too rewarde and thanke suche per­sones, whiche woulde 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 them selfes euery man into a lymyte and prouynce. And when cer­tayne of them repayred to the toune of Turnay, they were there certe­fied by the testimony of many honest persons, that this feigned duke came but of a lowe stocke, and of a base parentage, & was named there Peter Warbecke. And so shortely after the kynges inquisitoures returned into Englande, reportynge to the kynge what they had kno­wen and hearde: Of whiche thynge the kynge was also more plainly certefyed by hys trusty and faythefull frendes, both by letters and tru­sty messengers.

Wherupon seyng that nowe the fraude was openly and apparaūtly manifested & espied, he determined to haue it published & declared w^t all diligent celerite, both in the realme of Englande & also in all partes beyonde the sea, in the prouynces of Foreyn prynces and straunge po­tētates. And for thesame cause he sent to Philip archeduke of Burgoyn and to hys counsayl [...]ers (because that he was not yet of mature age, [Page xxxiii] apte and conuenient to take the regimēt of hys countreys and [...]ignio­ries) Syr Edward Pownynges a valyaūt knight, and syr William Warram doctour of the lawes, a man of great modestie, learnyng and grauite, y^• they should opēly to thē declare, that y^• yōge man, beyng with the lady Margaret was discended of a bsse and obscure parentage, and that he had falsely and vntruly vsurped the name of Richard duke of Yroke, whiche long before was murthered with hys brother Ed­warde in the Towre o [...] London, by the commaundement of kynge Ry­chard their vncle, as many men lyuynge can testefie. 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 an inuincible reason and an argument infallible, that kyng Rycharde their naturall vncle, in dispatching and destroiyng prynce Edward the eldest sonne of kyng Edward his brother, was in no suertie of his real­me or vsurped dominion, if he had permitted Richard the yoūger sonne to lyue and continew: For then might he as next heyre to hys brother haue lawfully and by iust title claymed the sceptre and diademe royal, whiche was hys fathers, and after diuoluted to hys elder brother. And therfore they shoulde desyre the Archeduke and the prynces of his coū ­sayl, that it woulde please them to geue no credite, nor them selfes suf­fre 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 merchaūt, whiche had falsely feigned hys name and stocke, and in especially against him, which in few yeres passed, had succoured and releued 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 awne subiectes and vassals. With these commaunde­mentes the Ambassadoures [...]ayled into Flaunders, and there gētely re­ceaued and louingely enterteyned of the Archeduke Philip and his coūsayll, And after that they were commaunded to declare the entent of their legacion, docter William Warram priest, made before theym a pleasaunt and a luculent oracion, shewyng therin discretely the mynde entent and desyre of the kynge hys master: And in the later ende of hys oracion, he a litle rebuked the lady Margaret and hyt her of the thombes, saiynge that she nowe in her olde age, within fewe yeres had produced and brought foorth two detestable monsters, that is to saye Lambert (of whome rehersal was made before) and the other Per­kyn Warbeck, And beynge conceyued of these two greate babes, was not of them delyuered in eight or nyne monethes as nature dothe re­quyre and as all other women commonly do, but in the hundreth and lxxx. monethes, she brought them foorth out of her wombe: for bothe these at the least were fittene yeres of age before that she woulde be broughte in bedde of them, and shewe them openly.

[Page] And when they were newly crept out of her wombe, they were no infaū ­tes, nor suckyng chyldren, but lusty yongelinges, and of age sufficient to byd battaile to kynges. Although these taūtes and Iestes did angre and trouble the lady Margaret, yet Perkyn was more vexed and en­combered with the thinges declared in thys oracion, and in especial be­cause his 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 whote Sulpher to the newe kyndled fyre, determyned cle­rely to arme and fetforward prety Perkyn agaynst the kyng of Enge­land 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 Enge­lande assuredly after that tyme, the Archeduke nor they woulde neither aide nor assist Perkyn nor hys complyces in any cause or quarell.

Yet notwythstandinge, if the lady Margaret persistynge and conty­nuynge 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 awne wyll and pleasure without contradiccion of any other gouernour.

The .ix. yere.

WHen 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 cō ­sidred that of one busynes riseth another, and of one small sparcle com­meth a great flame. And therefore straight he sent foorth certayne espi­alles into Flaunders, which shoulde [...]eigne 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 procede 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 promocions, 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 [Page xxxiiii] conspiratours agaynst the kyng. After they persuaded syr Robert Clif­ford to leaue of that foolishe opinion, whiche had no sure grounde nor foundacion to staye it selfe vpon. Albeit William Barley coulde not be deduced from hys begonne enterprice, but that he woulde go for­warde hedlynge with thesame, whiche taryed not longe in that deuelish opinion. For within two yeres after thys, he repentynge hym of hys foly, beyng reclaymed, and hauinge perdone geuen hym of the kyng, repaired home to his natiue coūtrey, detesting hi & hys foolish blindnes. Whē the espialles had sped their purpose, one after another stale away preuely from the feyned duke, and returned into Englande, bringynge with them the names of certayne, which were chiefe of that conspiracy. Other taryed still behynd to accompany syr Robert Clifforde, when he returned agayne into England, whose tariynge meruelously debilita­ted and appalled the courages, & hartes, of the coniuratours. For thei perceaued dayly that their enterprice more and more feynted, and that they were by a little & little dampnified and hurted. And yet they saw no man whome they might perfightly put diffidēce 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 thē all to be apprehended and brought to London before his presence. Of the which the chief were Ihon Ratclyffe lord Fitzwater, syr Symonde Moūforde, syr Thomas Twhaytz knightes, Williā Dawbeney, Ro­bert Ratclyffe, Thomas Cressenor, and Thomas Astwood. Also certain priestes and religious men, as syr William Richeforde doctor of deui­nitee, and syr Thomas Poynes, bothe freers of sainct Dominikes or­der, docter William Sutton▪ syr William Worsely deane 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 condempned al of treason, of the which there was hedded syr Symond Mounforde, syr Robert Ratclyffe, & Williā Dawbeney, as aucthoures and chiefe Ca­pitaynes of this busynes. The other were perdoned, and the Priestes also for their ordre sake that they had taken, but fewe of them liued lōg after. Also syr Ihon Ratclyfe, lord Fitzwater was pardoned of his life, but after that he came to Caleys, and there layde in holde, he was behedded, because he corrupted the kepers with many promises to haue esca­ped out of thesame, entēding as was thought to haue gone to Perkyn.

Kyng Henry of England, partely greued 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 Flē ­mynges, but principally with the lady Margaret, for kepyng and set­tyng forward Perkyn Warbeck, not onely banished all Flēmyshe wa­res, and marchaundises, out of hys realme and dominions, but also re­streyned all English merchaūtes, from their repaire and traffique, into any of the landes & territories, of the kynge of Romanes, or the Arche­duke [Page] hys sonne, causynge the marte of merchaundises and commodi­tees of this realme to be kept at hys toune of Caleys.The marte [...] Wherfore the sayde kynge and hys sonne banyshed oute of their landes and seignio­ries all Englishe clothes, yarne, tynne, leade and other commodities vpon great forfeytures and penalities. The restreint made by the king sore greued and hindred the merchauntes, beynge aduenturers: For they by force of thys cōmaundement had no occupiynge to beare their charges and supporte their contynuaunce and credyte. And yet one thinge sore nypped their hartes, for the Easterlynges whiche were at libertie, brought into the realme such wares as they were wont and ac­customed to do, and so serued their customers throughe oute the whole realme: By reason whereof the masters beynge destitute of sale and commutacion, neither reteyned so many couenaūt seruauntes and ap­prentices as they before were accustomed, & in especiall, Mercers, Ha­berdasshe [...]s and Clothewoorkers, nor yet gaue to their seruauntes so great s [...]ipende and salarie, as before that restreynte they vsed to do.

For whiche cause thesayde seruauntes entendyng to woorke their ma­lice on the Easterlynges, the Tuesdaye before sayn [...]t Edwardes daye came to the Styl [...]ard in London, [...] made vpon the Ea­sterlinges. and beganne to rifle and spoyle such chambres and warehouses as they could get into: So that the Easter­lynges had muche a do to withstande and repulse theym oute of their gates. And whē their gates were fermed and closed, the multitude rus­shed and bete at the gates with clubbes and leuers to haue entred, but the Easterlynges by the helpe of Carpenters 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 London hearynge of thys ryot, assembled y^e Ma­gestrates and officiers of the citie together, and so beynge furnisshed bothe with mē and weapon, set forward towarde the Stylyard. Assone as the cōmynge of y^e Mayre was intymate and knowen to the ryotous persones, they fledde awaye lyke a flocke of shepe: howebeit he appre­hended diuerse of the malefactours and committed theim too seuerall prysons. And vpon the inquiry before the kynges commissioners, there were founde gyltie aboue .lxxx. seruauntes and apprentices (and not one housholder) whyche were confederate together to make this attēpt and sworne in no wyse to discouer or reuele thesame: Whereof, some that were the cheueteynes and beginners of this mischeuous riot, were sent to the Towre, and there longe continued. But in conclusion, because 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.

¶The .x. yere.

[Page xxxv] SHortely after, syr Robert Clyfford, partely trusting on the kynges promes, & partely mistrustyng the thing, because he knewe that diuerse that were accused to be partakers of that faccion and conspiracy were put in execucion: & 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 cōming, went streight to the Towre of London the morow after the daye of Epiphany, and there taryed til suche tyme that syr Robert Clyfford was there presented to hys person, which thinge he vsed vnder this pretence, that if syr Robert Clifforde had accused any of the nobili­tie to be partakers of this vngracious fraternitie & diabolical comura­ciō, 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 wil 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 woulde not haue so sone re­ceaued him into his grace and fauour agayn: Neuerthelesse this is not like to be true by diuerse reasons and apparaūt argumentes, firste, af­ter that attempt begonne by syr Robert, he was in no smal daūgier himselfe, 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 fauoure to the house of Yorke en­tendynge in the beginning to administer displeasure to kyng Hēry, 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 humblye, beseched hym of grace and pardone, whiche he shortely ob­teyned. And after that beynge requyred of the maner and ordre of the comuracion, and what was done in Flaunders, he opened euery pointe to his knowlege, 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 hys chiefe cham­berleyn, and one of hys preuy counsayll. When he had so sayde, y^e kyng was greatly dismayed and greued, that he shoulde be partaker in that greueous offence, considerynge first that he had the gouernaunce of his chambre, and the charge and comptrolment of all suche as were next to hys bodye, and also callynge to remembraunce the manifolde gratui­ties, whiche he had receaued at hys hande, but in especiall not forget­tynge that benefite aboue all other, that onely by his aide and succou­re, he had vanquished and ouerthrowen his mortall enemy kynge Ry­charde. Wherefore, at the begynnynge he coulde in no wyse be induced [Page] nor persuaded to beleue that he was such a preuy conspiratoure or ma­licio [...]s offender, but when the cryme was openly proued and probably affirmed, then the king caused hym to be restrayned from his libertie in his awne chambre within the quadrate towre. And there appoynted hym by his preuy counsayll to be examined. In whiche examinacion he nothinge denyed, 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 communicaciō was had betwene hym, and this syr Robert Clifforde, as cōcerning Perkyn whiche falsely vsurped the name of kyng Edwardes sonne, syr Williā 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 .iiii. Thys poynte argueth and proueth hym at that tyme, beynge moued with melancholy, to beare no great good will to kyng Henry, wherof suspicion first grewe, and after this ensued the accusacion of syr Robert Clyfforde.

Then the kyng doubtinge what to do with him, did cōsulte & breath with hym selfe of this sodeyne chaunce. For he feared least that his bro­ther lorde Thomas Stanley, in whome he had founde great frendship, woulde take this mattre greueously. And if he should remit that fault, or abusynge his lenyte and mercy, would be the more bolder to offende and treaspace more highly. Albeit at the last, seueritee tooke place, and mercy was put backe, and so he was arreigned at Westmynster, and adiudged to dye, and accordinge to that iudgemente was broughte to the towre hill the .xvi. daye of February, and there had hys head [...]rykē of. What was the occasion and cause why the syncere and faythfull mynde that syr William allways before bare to kyng Henry, was tur­ned into cancarde hatred and dispite, and why the especiall fauoure that the kynge bare towarde hym was transmuted into disdeyne and displeasure, dyuersemen alledge dyuerse 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 Rycharde bothe of hys life and hys kyngdom, beynge associate and accompanied but with a small numbre, and circū ­uented by kynge Richardes army, & in great ieopardy of his lyfe, thys syr William beynge, sent from the 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 succours of kynge Henry, and saued hym from destruccion, and ouer­threwe kynge Rychard as before you haue heard. Surely thys was a benefite aboue all benefites to be remembred, by the which kyng Hēry was not onely preserued alyue, but also obteyned the croune & kingdo­me, which great benefite, after the kingdome once obteyned, he did nei­ther forget nor yet left vnrewarded. For the lord Thomas Stanley he [Page xxxvi] inuested with the swoorde of the countie of Darby & beside other great giftes & officies geuen to Williā Stanley, he made him his chiefe chā ­berleyn. This syr William, although he were in great fauoure with the kyng, & had in great and high estimacion, more remēbring the benefite done 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 frēd: and one thing encoraged him much, which was the riches & treasure of kīg Richard, which he onely possessed at y^e conflict of Boswoorth: By reason of which haboundance of ryches & greate powre of people, he set nau­ght by y^e kyng his souereign lord & Mastre. When the king perceaued that his stomack began to canker & waxe rusty, he was with him not a litle displeased, and so when bothe their hartes were enflamed with me­lancoly, bothe loste the fruite of their longe cōtmued amitie & fauoure. And so it often chaunceth, that when men do not cōsider nor yet regard the great benefites to them exhibited, they rendre agayne hatred for li­beralitee, and for breade geuen, they yelde agayne a scorpion. Nowe to returne to the matter.

At thys tyme the kyng thought it best, ye & very necessary, not onely to take hede about him, but also to vse some sharpe punyshmēt and correcciō of the offences of his subiectes, to thētent 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 takē such courage & audacitie to them, that they feared not to speake euell of their kyng & souereign lord, with moost spiteful & contumelious wordes, as though thei neither feared nor woulde obey him, or his preceptes & cōmaunde­mentes, expecting dayly and hourely the arryuall & landing of the fey­ned Rychard duke of Yorke, now lately rysen from death to lyfe. But when knowlege of the slaunderous and opprobrious woordes were brought to the kynges eares, he caused dyuerse persones to suffre con­digne punyshmēt for their heynous offences, wherby their cōplices wel perceauyng y^• their entreprice had no prosperous successe nor toke any good effect, & especially such as temerariously began to make mastries and farther seyng what preparacion was made and prouyded agaynst theyr tumulteous commocion & frantique enterprice, they of their awne swynge pacefied them selfes, and beganne to turne to their kynge and naturall liege lorde.

The .xi. yere.

AFter the death of syr William Stanley, Gyles lord Da­beney, a man of Great fidelitie and circumspeccion was elected and made the kynges chiefe chamberleyne. When the kynge had thus polletiquely weded out the euell & corrupt hartes of his English subiectes, and had pacefied & [Page] brought all his realme to a monacorde and a quyet lyfe. Then he per­ceaued that it was necessary also to purge & clense his realme of Irelād to thentent y^• the venemous sede sowen & planted .ii. yeres past emōgest the wilde & la [...]age Irish persons by Perkyn Warbeck might be cleane cradicated & plucked vp. Wherfore he sent syr Hēry Deane late Abbot of Langtonye, a man of great wyt and diligēce (whome he made chaū ­celour of the Is [...]e) 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 of hys affinitee or faccion, then he would they should be punished with al extremitie 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 coū ­sayll, where they beyng assembled all together, the Chauncelour with a gentle exhortacion requyred them first to persist in due obedyence 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, lusteyned and aided Perkyn with harneys, menne or money. Euery man promysed openly to helpe with all their powre 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 they loued the English nacion more with their outward coū ­tenaunce, then in their inwarde hartes & myndes. But when they heard that syr Edward Pownynges was come to persecute al suche as were fautoures and frendes to Perkyn Warbeck, there was no man, altho­ugh he were but a litle contamynate wyth that [...]edicious infeccion, but he fled oute of hand into woodes and marises for the defence and saue­garde of them selfes, there consultyng together, after the maner of their countrey, in what places they might best lye in wayte to infest and skyr­myshe with the Englishmen, or els if nede shoulde so requyre to 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 marchaundise. But be­cause the moost resorte thether is of the English nacion, the Irish men folow & coūtrefeate their ciuile maners & honest cōdiciōs. And by rea­son of y^e cōmō trade and entrecourse betwene thē, they haue learned y^e English toūg, & can both speake & vnderstād it. And all this kynde of people is vnder y^• subiecciō & dominiō of y^e kyng of Englād. The other kynde is cleane cōtrary frō this, for they be wilde, rustical, folish, fierce, & for their vnmanerly behauior & rude fassiōs, are called wild [...] & saua­ge Irishmen. And these men haue many gouernours & seuetall rulers, whiche kepe continual battaile, and dayly warre emongest them selfes. [Page xxxvij] for y^• which cause thei be more fierce, more bolde & hardy then theother Irishmē, and thei be very desyrous of newe thinges & straunge sightes and gasynges, & after robbery, theft & rapyne, in nothyng so much dely­tyng as with tumulteous 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 falsely fayned and countrefeated.

Wherfore Sir Edward pownynges accordynge to his commission, entending to punishe suche as haue bene aiders and auauncers of Per­kyns foolishe enterprice, with his whole army, marched forward against this wilde Irishmen, because y^t all other beynge culpable of that offence fled and resorted to theim for succoure and defence, to thentent that they bothe together might be hable to resist & defye their enemies. But when he sawe that his purpose succeded not as he wisshed it, bothe because the Irysh lordes sent hym no succour accordynge to their promises, and al­so considerynge that his nombre was not sufficiente to set on the wilde people beynge dispersed emongest woodes, mounteyns and marishes, was of necessitee, compelled to recule and returne, frettyng and vexed in his stomacke, because he suspected y^e Geralde erle of Kyldare beyng then the kynges deputie, was the cause & occasion y^t 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 apprehended, and as a prisoner brought hym in his company into England: Where, when he was examined and certeine matters of treason layed to his charge, he auoyded theim all, and clerely (suche was his wytt and inno­cencye) quit hym selfe and layed the burden in other mennes 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 hym from vsynge of any seueritie 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 emōgest the I­ryshe nacion: Also the condicion and state of the tyme, wherin he fauou­red some sedicion to bee in brewyng: And chiefely of all the assured hope and affiaunce that he conceaued in him.

So that nowe the kyng beyng oute of all feare of battaile, dyd take his progresse into Lancasshire the .xxv. daie of Iuyn, there to recreate his spirites and solace him selfe with his mother the Lady Margarete wife to the Earle 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 conueighaunce was espied and openly knowen, and also that kyng Henry had afflicted and punished diuerse of his confede­rates and alyes, and therby in despaire of all the ayde and succour that was to hym promysed and appoyncted: Yet he determined not to leaue [Page] the hope and trust that he had conceaued in his mad head to obteyne the crowne and realme of Englande, and so gatherynge a greate ar­mye of valyaunt Capiteyns of all nacions, some banqueroutes, some false Englyshe sanctuary men, some theues, robbers and vacaboun­des, whiche leauynge their bodely laboure desyrynge only to lyue of robbery and rapine, came to be his seruauntes and souldioures. And so beynge furnyshed with this rablemente of knaues, tooke suche shippes as hys frendes had prouyded for hym, and departed oute of Flaun­ders, entendynge to arryue in Englande whersoeuer the winde brought hym. And by chaunce 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 furnyshed of all thinges mete and cōuenyēt for his entreprice, that there was no doubte 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 tymerous nor afraide of their awne mynde in troubleous seasons to moue warre againste theyr prynces. The Kentyshmen hearynge that this feyned duke was come, and had heard that he was but a peinted ymage, doubtyng a space what to doo, whether to helpe him or to resist his powre, at the last remēbryng what euell chaunces their forefathers had, and howe smal a profite such as haue rebelled haue gayned, thought yt neither expedient nor profita­ble for theim to aide & assyst hym that came rather to spoyle, destroye & wast the countrey, then to conquere it for their wealthe & cōmoditee. And this thei firmely coniectured 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 not as their natyue countrey. Wherfore thei fearyng the sequele, determy­ned st [...]ll to abide trewe to their kyng and prince, & to fall vpon suche as were newe come to land out of their shippes. Andwhile thei were assem­blyng of theim selues together, other should by fayre promises & frēdly woordes allure & calle vnto theim the great nombre out of the shippes, and so geue theim battaill. And so vsyng this guyle and imposture, thei promised all to folowe him and to fight vndre his banner: Howbeit the prolongyng of time draue Perkyn into a suspicion, which wel remēbred y^• a comminaltie is not accustomed sagely to cōsult, but sodeinly & teme­rariously to ronne hedlyng euer into rebellion & newe flirred cōmocion. Wherfore Perkyn determined not once to set foote oute of his ship tyll he sawe al thing sure w^tout any scruple or ambiguitee. And although he mynded not to take land him selfe, yet he permitted certeyne of his soul­diours to go on land, which persones beyng a prety waye frō their ship­pes, were sodeinly circūuented & compassed by the Kentyshmen, & at one stroke vanquyshed and dryuen backe to their shippes, & ther were takē prisoners an hundred and .lx. persons, whereof .v. were named capticins [Page xxxviij] Mountfōrde, Corbet, white belt, quyntine or otherwyse Genyn. Whiche rebelles were brought by sir Ihon Pechy shreue of kēt, to Londō 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 purpo [...]e fled back into Flaunders 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 veri [...] ceason departed to God Cicile Duches of Yorke, mo­ther to kyng Edward y^e 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 his progresse & purposed to returne to London again, but beyng certified y^e next daie after of y^e lucky spede & fortunate chaūce continued and wēt foorth of his progresse, sendyng to theim sir Richard Gylforde, bothe to praise the [...]idelite & manhoode of the people, and also to rendre to theim his moost harty thankes for their good seruice to him done, w^t faithfull promes not to forget theim herafter in their sutes, re­questes & peticions. Also that thei might not haue any successe herafter into those partes, the kyng cōmaunded the watches to be kept all alōge the see coastes, and bekons to be erected accordyng to the aunciēt vsage and custome of the countrey.

Peter and his capiteins takyng coūcel together in Flaundres, were of one assent resolued to this poinct, y^• there was nothynge more surer to theim, then to procede quickly w^t all celerite in their incepted entreprice. And when thei perceaued y^• there was neither people toune nor coūtrey in England y^• would associate theim in their phantas [...]ical 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^t souldiours & men of warre, which thinge thei heard saye y^t he nei­ther forgate nor fors [...]owed, & beside y^t he was not a litle afeard y^t his lōge tariyng should appalle & discōforte his preuy frendes w^tin y^• realme of England. Wherfore he gathered together his vngracious cōpany, & de­termined first to sayle into Ireland, there to augmēt his nōber. And frō thence if yt were possible to saile into y^• west partes of England. And yf there were any let or obstacle in that place, then he determined to saile streight into Scotlād, knowyng y^• seldome or neuer is perfight cōcorde & amitie betwene y^e Scottes & y^e English naciō. When this gētle coūcel was dissolued, & wynd and wether serued, he set vp his sayles, & hauyng a prosperous gale after his phantasy, sayled into Ireland, where he re­posed hym selfe a space. And remembryng y^t the hope of victory cōsisted not whole in the Irysh nacion, which beynge naked men w^tout harneys or armure were not hable to cōbate with the Englishmē wherfore when the wynde serued hym he departed frō Corffe and arryued in Scotlād, [Page] and commyng to the kyngs presence, with great solempnite, framed his tale after the forme and fassion folowyng.

I thinke yt is not vnknowen to you, moost noble kyng and puissaūt prince, into what ruyne the stock, house and familie of Edward y^e fourth of that name kyng of England, is nowe of late brought to and fallē in, eyther by Goddes permission or by deuine punishement, whose vndubi­tate sonne (yf you knowe not all ready) I am, & by the powre of almigh­tie God, preserued a [...]yue to this houre from the mighty hād of a tyraūt. For my father kyng Edward when he dyed, appoyncted his brother Ri­chard duke of Gloucester to be oure gouernour, protectour & defendor, whome y^• more that he loued & studied to auaunce and promote, y^• better he thought y^• he would loue, fauoure, and tendre his chyldren. 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 blynded and glutted with the cupiditie of rulynge and souereigntie commaunded Edward my brother and me to be slaine and dispatched oute 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 cō ­myt yt. And so waueryng in mynde & dubious what to doo, at the lēgth, willynge in parte to saciate the blody thrust of the vnnatural tyraunt, and in parte to absteyne from so facinerous and detestable homicide, destroyed my brother and preserued me, lyke the good Prieste Iosada which saued lytle Ioas when all the children of the blude, 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 mischeueously gotten by the dispatchynge 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 wel what I was, but after long wanderyng from countrey to countrey, and frō citee to citee, I perceaued and learned a lytle & litle what was my [...]state and degree, and so in conclusion came to mine awne anute the lady Margaret liyng in Flaundres, whiche was sometyme maried to Charles 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 forasmuche as she beyng only dowager of y^e du­chy of Bourgoine, and hauyng nothing but her dowre propre vnto her self, was not of powre to helpe me w^t men & munimētes of warre as she [Page xxxix] woulde gladly haue done for the recouery of my fathers realme & right­full inheritaunce, I therefore am dryuen to seke farther ayde and suc­coure. And therefore by her councell and aduertisement, with this small handfull of men of warre and souldioures, I am repayred to your pre­sence for succours, of whome (as the publike fame is spred ouer y^• 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 I my selfe from myne infancie haue bene) whose request was frustrate and repulsed at your hand. Therefore by the maieitie of your realme and countrey I desyre, and heartly with prayer as I can, I beseche and exhorte you to helpe and releue me now in my extreme necessite. And yf yt chaunce me by your ayde and succour to recouer and possede my fathers realme & dignitie, not only I, but all the kyngs of our lynage which her after shall obteyne thesame, shalbe so muche obliged and bounde vnto you, that they must nedes thynke that doynge to you al the pleasure and benefites that thei 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 seuerally, what they sayde, of these thynges whych perkyn had both enucleated and requyred, or whe­ther they woulde take any farther deliberacion to aduyse theim selfes what to do in so great and weyghtie a matter. They that were of grea­test experience and of the mysest sorte did proue by many apparaunt ar­gumentes that his saiynges were but dreames and fantesies and of no force or truthe and therefore they thought yt not conuenient to encom­bre theim selfes with any lengre consultation. Another sorte, which was not very great, neyther of wyt nor experiēce, but greater in nomber, este­med this matter very profitable to the common wealthe, consideryng yt ministred to theim occasion to make warre in Englande. And although thei had knowlege what good successe Perkyn had enioyed in al his former attemptes, yet they estemed that nowe all thynges shoulde succede accordynge to their expectacion, yf his cause (although yt were as lyght as a fether) were assumed and taken in hand to be defended, consideryng that when the warre was once intimate and begonne, and yf perkyn did preuayle, he woulde 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 Iames shoulde take parte with his aduersary and mortall ennemye.

When this councell was geuen by the more nomber, yt was well accep­ted, 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 [Page] more apparaunt to the people y^• he was so in dede, he caused lady Kathe­ryn daughter to Alexandre erle of Hūtley, 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^t he might extenuate y^e euell will & malice which was lyke to succede of this matter, for that it might be notoriously blasted and knowen abroade y^t he had peace & amity w^t y^• king of Englād, & partly least he might be accused of to much light credē ce it Perkī were foūd & proued to be another mā then he was reported.

When all thyngs were prepared, ordred and apoyncted for y^• warre. This Perkyn swellyng 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 his entreprice, & to encourage 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 & lesse trust in his wordes, yet puttyng their hope more in y^e gayne of spoyle then in y^• gainyng of the victory by battayle, armed theim selfes in all y^• hast & marched toward the confines and borders of [...]. Albeit the Scottish kyng myndyng not to be to rashe, mystru­ [...] y^• the Englishmen knowyng Perkyn to be arryued in Scotlād had [...] some army for y^e defence of y^• frontiers, sent out certeine light hors­men to espie & searche yf the husbandmen of the coūtrey were assembled [...] armure to defende their enemies. The horsmē rangyng ouer y^• feldes & playnes belongyng to their enemies, seyng all thinges quiet, returned to their kyng and certified him that now was the tyme moost apte & cō ­ [...]ent to inuade the realme & set on the English nacion. Then y^e Scot­t [...] kyng marchyng toward England with all his puyssaūce, first pro­ [...]med openly that al suche should only be pardoned that would take parte and submit theim selfes to Rychard duke of Yorke, and fight in his cause and quarell. And to thentent to appalle and danute the hartes of the poore commons, so that for very feare thei should be enforced and [...] to submit theim selfes to this newe founde Mawmet, they [...] so [...]uell and deadly warre, that not lyke men, whose nature is to [...] with the sla [...]ghter of men, and to be mercifull to the impo­tent and sycke persons, brent tounes, spoyled houses and kylled mē and children, and allected with the swetnes of spoyle & prayes, wasted al the countrey of Northumberlād, and had gone foorth farther, but that they perceaued no aide or succoure to come oute of England to attende vpon this newe duke. And the souldiours beynge fully laden with blood and spoyle, refused to go one foote farther at that tyme, & the countrey roase on euery parte, whiche made the kynge suspecte some army to approche. Wherfore he determined rather to retourne with his assured gaine, then to tary the nuncupatiue dukes vnsure and vncerteine victory, and so he rec [...]led again into Scotland.

It is a worlde to remember in this place of a certein kynde of ridicu­lous [Page xl] mercy and foolish cōpassion, 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 inhabitaūtes on the borders of Northūberland, so y^• nothing was heard but torynge, wepyng and lamentyng. This newe muented duke beyng returned into Scotland, euen lyke hym selfe, which wrought all thynge w^t fraude and deceyte, perceauyng that no concurse nor resorte of En­glishmen shewed theim selfes in opē apparaunce to ministre to him aide or succour, and fearyng not a lytle that the boxe of his crafty dealyng, & bagge of his secrete coūtrefeatyng should be elucydate & set in an open glasse by reason wherof he should be floccipended and had in cōtempt & disdeyg [...]e of the Scottish people, as though he had bene therūto 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 w^t the losse and slaughter of so many of thyne awne naturall subiectes & vassales. And at that glorious sighynge, he beseched the Scottish kyng that frō thēce foorth he woulde not afflicte and p [...]age 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 ouercome w^t the perfight loue of his natiue region, beganne nowe to haue compassion and to la­ment the cruell destruccion of thesame. The Scottish kynge whiche be­ganne to perceaue whiche waye the wynde blewe answere him againe, Sir me thinketh you take much peyne, and very much imagen howe to preserue the realme of another prince which is not youres (but I thinke you would gladly haue it) but my mynd geueth me that you be as farre 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 mā, neither gentle man nor yoman will once shewe hym selfe to aide or assist you in y^e warre begonne for your cause & in your name w^tin your realme to the which you be bothe (as you saye) inheritoure, and by your people accereited and vocated vnto. And so the kyng reproued the lightnes of this younge fond foundelyng, and euery daie more and more neglected and lesse phantesied and gaue credite to him, nothyng well and wisely y^• neyther his woordes, with his deedes, not the sequele of factes with hys promises were neither agreable nor consonant.

The nobles inhabitynge in the north partes herynge the clamour of the commen people, and perceauynge that thei fled to aduoyde the cruel­tie of y^• Scottes, were sodeinly abasshed and fortefied their holdes and manned their fortresses ready to defende their enemies, laiyng embushe­mentes in y^e waies, where thei imagened y^t there enemies would resorte. And w^tout delay certified the kyng of y^• Scottes inuasion & entreprice. The kyng was not a litle abashed at this sodeyne chaūce, & pricked also w^t his awn domestical busines, not alonely fearīg his outward enemies [Page] but also his awne nobles & naturall subiectes least any of theim would steppe from him to theother parte, and put hym to farther trouble & ve­xacion. Wherefore, assone as he heard these newes, considering the mat­ter to be [...] no small importaunce and mete to be vigilantly forsene, with all diligence prepared oportune remedies to resist and withstand y^e 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 agayne or thenglishmē coulde assem­ble together.

¶The xii yere.

WHen the king was truly certified y^t 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 the malicious inuasions of the Scot­tishe kynge. And yet fearynge least his enemies shoulde be encouraged and indated with this great gaine of spoyles and prayes, he determined by [...]ent of sworde and mortall warre to reuenge and reforme the mani­fest iniurie and apparaunt wrong to hym by kyng Iames and his peo­ple done and committed. Wherefore he assemblynge his courte 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 reasons inuincible, that it shoulde be for the profite and vtilite of the publique and common wealthe to prosecute and folowe y^• 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 thesame, a certeine subsedy and taxe of money was with one assent by the whole parliament liberally & frely geuen & graunted: Whiche pay­ment although it was but easy and small, yet many of the cōmon peo­ple which euer abhorre such taxes and exaccions, grudged sore to paye thes [...]me.

At this parliament also and conuocacion, ther was certeyne lawes, a [...]ts and statutes confirmed & made, as were thought moost necessary and expedient for the publique weale of the realme. And thus the kyng dissoluynge his courte 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 harme, with no lesse diligence gathered an hoost & puys­sant army, that either he might withstand and resist the English powre inuadyng his realme & countrey, or els of freshe entre vpō the bordres: and goyng foorth, spoyle, robbe and make hauoke ageyne. And so these [Page xlj] twoo valiaunt princes mynded nothyng lesse the one to hurt and preiu­dice theother, But the kyng of England sore prycked and woūded with the iniurie to him committed, was so sore moued against the Scottysh kyng, that he would not procrastinate nor deferre one houre tyl he were reuenged. And so prepared a puissaunt and vigorious army to inuade Scotland, and therof ordeyned for cheuetayne Gyles lord Dawbeney his chiefe chamberleyn, a man of no lesse wytt then pollecy & of no lesse pollecy then hardines.

When the lord Dawbeney had his army assembled together and was in his iourney forward into Scotlande, he sodeinly was stayed and re­uoked agayne, by reason of a newe sedicion and tumult begonne within the realme of England for the subsedy whiche was graunted at the last parliament for the defence of the Scottes with all diligence and cele­ritee, whiche of the moost parte was truely satisfied and payde. But the Cornyshe men inhabityng the least parte of the realme, and thesame ste­rile and without all fecunditee, compleyned and grudged greatly affir­myng that they were not hable to paye suche a greate somme as was of theim demaunded. And so, what with angre, and what with sorowe, for­gettynge 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 coūsayll was the cause of this pollyng and shauyng. And so beyng in this rage menaced to death the aucthou­res (as thei 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^e one called Thomas Flamocke gentleman, learned in the lawes of the realme, and theother Mighell Ioseph a smyth, mē of high courages & stoute stomackes, toke vpon theim to be captaynes of this vngracious flocke and sedicious company. And although thei per­ceaued their cōpany to be accensed & inflamed w^t fury & malice ynough, yet to augmēt & encreace their madnes, thei cast oyle & pitche into a fyre & ceased not to prouoke & prick theim forward like frantique persons to more mischiefe cryenge out openly & pronouncynge y^• it was shame (for a smal cōmocion made of y^• Scottes, which was asswaged & ended in a moment (for they thought poore folishe and ignoraunt fooles, y^e al thin­ges was ended and asswaged whē it was euē at the whottest & most fer­uent) thei should be exacted and polled, and suche great exaccions layed vpon their necks, and especially on y^e Cornyshmen, which thei affirmed to bee but poore men, and beyng in a sterile & vnfruitefull countrey gate their lyuyng hardly by minynge and diggyng tynne and metall oute of the grounde bothe daye and night labouryng and turmoylyng. And therefore they had rather dye and suffre extreme 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, coū ­sayll. Suche rewardes haue thei that be in great aucthorite w^t kyngs & [Page] princes. For yf any thinge succede well accordinge to the mynd & plea­sure of the commynaltie that is euer referred & gratified to the kyng or gouernour. But contra [...]iwise, yf any thing be done, either by chaune or by councell that soundeth not well in theyr 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 theyr myndes what is the re­ward and guerdone, fewe would laboure & affectcously de [...]yre to moūte so high, or aspyre to that place of dignitee. But now to the mattre.

These capiteynes exhorted the common people to put on harneys, & not to be a [...]earde to folowe theim in this quarell, promisyng theim that they shoulde do no damage to any creature, but only to se ponyshement and correcciō done to such persons which were the aucthours & causers that the people were molested and vexed with such vnreasonable exac­cions and demaūdes. And yf they perceaued any person (as they espied many in dede) which dyd impugne and reproue theyr mad, vnreasona­ble and sedicious councell, affirmynge that it was the hyghest poynct of madnes for a mā to put his life in hasard for that thing, which he ought mekely and humbly to requyre and desyre of hys prince and souereigne lorde, then they called theim dastardes fooles, & cowardes, & taunted & rebuked theim with moost shamefull reproches & contumelious inu [...]c­cions. So these vnhappy capiteynes nothinge more desyred then to bringe theyr flocke & theim 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 multytude woulde agree and appoynct. Then the capiteynes preysinge muche the hardynes of the people, when all thinges were prepared mete for theyr vnfortunate iourney, set forwarde with theyr army, & came to Tawnton, where they s [...]ewe the prouost of peryn whiche was one of the commissioners of the subsedy, & from thence came to welles, & so enten­dynge 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 astōned, & especi­ally because at that one tyme he was enuyrored with double warre, both externe and intestyne. And because perell dyd depende on bothe, he was in great doubte which of both he should moost regarde. And as he was musynge of this mattre, he was asserteyned that [...]ames Twichet lorde Awdeley and diuerse other of the nobilitee were associate with the Cor­nishemen, and were in great hast and no good spede marchyng towarde London. The kyng pe [...]ceauyng the cyuile warre to approche & drawe nerer & nerer, almost to hys very gates, determined wyth all his whole powre to resyst and represse thesame. And after that tumult appeased & suppeditate he would w^t all expedicion set vpon Scotlād. 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 [Page xlij] multiplied with many pycked and freshe warryers, that he might y^• bet­ter, and with lesse laboure ouercome these rebelles. Also mystrustynge that the Scottes myght nowe (hauynge good oportunitie seynge him troubled with this ciuile discorde) inuade the realme agayne, and so spoyle, robbe, violate and destroye the borderers, he appoincted 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 twoo yeres next after was made high treasourer of Englande after the deathe of Ihon Lorde Dynham) to gather abonde of men in the countye palantine of Durham, and they with the aide and helpe of the inhabitauntes adioy­nynge and the borderers, 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 easye to be done) he might sende to theim the forsaide lorde Dawbeney again w^t all his powre & army. When the nobles of the realme heard of this tu­mul [...]eous busynes & terrible cōmocion, they came to London euery mā with as many mē of warre as thei could put in aredines to aide y^• kyng yf nede should bee: 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^t he had at Napels, sent ambassadoures to enforme the kyng of the prosperous successe and victorye that he had obteyned in Italye, and gaue to theim in charge to desyre of the kyng of England nothinge so muche as the contynuaunce of his amitie and fauoure towarde their master and souereigne lord. For the French kyng sore desyred to conty­nue in perfight peace & amitie w^t the kyng of England. And not without a cause, for he had so vexed and combred him selfe and his people with such Italian snares & craftie engynes, 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^• kyng was enformed y^• kyng Charles orators were come to Calys, he sent certeine of his nobilitie, honorably to receaue theim, & so to cōueigh theim to Douer, & there for a polleey 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 nowe y^• Cornyshmen departyng frō Welles (where thei receaued their chiefe capiteyne, Iames lord Audeleigh) went to Salsbury, & from thence to Winchester, and so to kēt, where thei looked for helpe, but thei were deceaued in their expectacion. For the erle of Kent, George lord of Burgemy, Ihon brooke 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 [Page] determined to fight and combate with suche as woulde not be obedient to their naturall souereigne lord, and to his lawes and preceptes. Also y^• kentysh men theim selues, partely remembryng that other commocions haue bene to their dammage and great hindreaunce, and partely beyng vnder the defence of their nobilitee, as vnder the Erle and other, would not so much as come nere to the rebelles, nor yet either make coūtenaūce 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 Cornyshmen (whiche seynge theim selues deceaued and defrauded of their chiefe hope and succours, and fearynge the euell chaunce that might happen to theim) that thei to saue theim sel­fes fled preuely in the night from their awne company and cōpaigniōs. The capitaynes of the rebelles perceauyng they coulde haue no aide of y^• Kentysh people, puttyng their only hope to their awne powre and for­titude (for surely they were men of great strength, & of no lesse force then valiaunt courage) brought theim to Black hethe .iiii. myles frō Londō, and there in a playne vpon the toppe of an hill they ordred their battai­les, eyther ready to fight with the kyng if he woulde assayle theim, or el­les to assaulte and beate the citee of London: For they thought ve­rely y^• the kyng was so afraied of their puissaunce, y^• he minded nothinge lesse then to encountre with their armie. And therefore beyng enflamed with arrogancy, nothyng mystrustyng, but fermely beleuynge y^• the vic­tory was sure in their handes, thei determyned to entre into the cytee of London and to assaute the towre, wherin the kyng (as thei thought) had pr [...]uely enclosed hym 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 tedyous iourney weried and tyred, and that their furye were somewhat assuaged and fell to repen­taunce of their mad commocion and frantike progressiō, [...]lack heth [...]. then he woulde in some place conuenient for his purpose, circumuent & enuyron theim to his auauntage and their destruccion as he dyd in dede afterward. In the meane ceason there was great feare thorough the citee & cryes were made, euery man to harneys, to harneys, some ranne to the gates, other mounted on the walles, so that no parte was vndefended, and continual watche was kept by the magestrates of the citee least the rebelles beyng poore and nedy woulde dissende from their campe and inuade the cytee and spoyle, and robbe the riches and substaūce of the marchaūtes. But the kyng deliuered and purged their hartes out of this feare, for after y^• he perceaued that the Cornyshmen were all the daye ready to fight and [...] vpon the hill, he sent streight Ihon Earle of Oxforde, Henry Bur­ [...] Erle of Essex. Edmond de la Poole earle of Suffolke, and sir Ryes app Thomas, and Sir Homfrey Stanley noble warryers with a great [Page xliij] company of archers and horsmen to enuyron the hill on the right syde & on the left, to thentent y^e all hywayes beyng stopped & forclosed, all hope of flight should be taken from theim: And incontinent, he beyng as well encouraged with manly stomacke & desire to fight as furnished w^t a po­pulous army & copie of artillery, set forward out of the cytee & encāped hym selfe in Sainet 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 arowes as is reported were in length a full yarde. While the erles set on theim on euery syde, the lorde Dawbeney came into the felde with his cōpany, & w^tout longe fightyng the Cornyshmen were ouercome, but first thei tooke the lord Dawbeney prisoner, & whether it were for feare or for hope of fauoure, they let hym go at libre [...]y w^tout any hurt or detriment. There were slain of y^• rebelles whicht fough & resisted .ii. thousand mē & moo & takē prisoners an infi­nite nōbre, & emōgest theim y^• black smyth & chiefe capiteins which shor­tely after were put to death. This Mighell Ioseph, surnamed y^• black smyth one of y^e capiteins 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 permanēt and immortal. So (you may perceaue) that desire and ambicious cupidite of vaine glorie and fame, enflameth, and en­courageth aswel poore and meane persones, as y^• heartes of great lords and puyssaunt princes to trauayle & aspire to thesame. Some affirme y^• the kynge appoyncted to fight with the rebelles on the Monday, and anticipatyng the tyme by pollecie set on theim vpon the Saturday be­fore, beinge 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 mischiefe, to whome he would neither shewe mercy nor leuyty. For he caused the lord Audeleigh to be drawē from Newgate to the Towre hil in a cote of his awne armes peinted vpon paper, reuersed and al to torne, & there to be behedded y^e .xxviii. day of Iuyn. And Tho­mas Flamock and Myghell Ioseph he commaunded after the fassyō of treytours to be drawen, hāged and quartred, & their quarters to be pyt­ched on stakes & set vp in diuerse places of Cornewale, y^t their sore pu­nyshemētes and terrible execucions for their treytorous attemptes and foolish hardy entreprices, might be a warnyng for other herafter to ab­steyne from committyng lyke cryme & offence. But because he was certi­fied that their countrey men beynge at home in Cornewale were by this [Page] skourge litle mollefied or quieted, & were ready to moue againe and be­gynne newe commocions and conspiracies, yf any vngracious or euell mynded person would eyther moue or pricke theim forwarde, he turned his purpose and caused theim to be set vp in London and other places, least that by suche meanes he should wrappe him self in more trouble at that time when he went aboute with all his witt and councell to represse and assuage all domesticall and ciuile sedicion, to thentēt that he might the more seriously and intentifely set forward a puissaunt army agaynst the braggyng and vnfeithful Scottes, beyng content at that tune, that fortune had so smyled on his syde.

¶The xiii yere.

WHile this busines was thus handled in England, the kyng of Scottes beynge certefied of it by his espialles, and that there was none army reysed in England either to withstād his powre or destroye his countrey, and herynge also that kyng Henry and his nobles were vexed and sore troubled with the commocion of the Cornyshemen, and in a ciuile discorde and d [...]ssencion emongest theim selfes: Wherfore he thought [...] necessary to anticipate the warre before hand. For wel he knewe that assone as kyng Henry had subdued and ouerturned his aduersaries, that he woulde with his whole puissaunce inuade his realme and dominions: And ther­fore he inuaded the frontiers of the realme of Englande wastynge the countrey, burnyng the tounes and murtheryng the people, sparyng nei­ther place nor person. And while his light horsemen were ridyng to for­rage and destroye the byshoprick of Dutham and there burned all a­bout, he with another company went aboute 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 that the Scottish kyng (assone as he knewe that there was ciuile discorde and vnnatural warre moued w^tin the realme of England,) would with all his powre inuade and harrythe borders and coūtreyes adioynyng to his land, This Richard Foxe was before called bishop of Excetter, and 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 tyme aduertised y^• kyng of all thinges that there chaunced (which then was at Londō) and sent in al pos [...] hast to the Earle of Surrey to come to re [...]ewe, which was then in Yorkeshire and had collected a greate army and a warlike compaigny. When the earle heard of these newes he perceauyng that all thinges were not voyde of reopardy, made no longe ta [...]iyng but w^t all diligence marched forward and after him folowed other noble mē oute of all quarters of y^• Northe, euery one bringyng as many as they coulde gather for the defence [Page xliiij] of their naturall countrey and region. Emōgest whome the chiefe rulers and leaders were these whose names ensue▪

• Thomas lord Dacres.
• Raufe lord Neuell.
• George lord Straunge.
• Richard lord Latyner.
• George lord Lumley.
• Ihon lord Scrope.
• Henry lord Clifford.
• George lord Ogle.
• William lord Conyers.
• Thomas lord Darcy.

• Thomas Baron of Hylton.
• Sir William Percy.
• Sir William Boulmer.
• Sir William Gascoyne.
• Sir Raufe Bygod.
• Sir Raufe Bowes.
• Sir Thomas a Parr.
• Sir Raufe Elerker.
• Sir Ihon Constable.
• Sir Ihon Ratclyffe.
• Sir Ihon Sauell.
• Sir Thomas Strangueys.

with many other well proued and warlike men, whiche although in de­gree they were not peregall with these great lordes and knyghtes, yet in manhoode and pollecyes of warre and valiaunte courage, they were to theim in all feactes equiualent. The nōbre was lytle lesse then .xx. thou­sand men, besyde the nauie, wherof the lord 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 coulde make no batrye to entre into thesame, they determined of theyr awne minde to reyse their siege and returne, and that so muche the soner because they heard saye that the Earle of Surrey was within .ii. dayes iourney of theim with a great puissaūce. Wherfore king Iamy thought yt to small purpose to tary any lenger in besegyng the castell, rcysed his siege and returned into his awne realme: When the Earle knewe of the kynges retourne, he folowed after w^t all hast possible, trustyng surely to ouertake him and to geue hym battayle.

When the erle was entred Scotlande, he prostrated and defaced the castell of Cawdrestenes. The towre of Hetenhall, The towre of Eding­ton, The towre of Fuldē: and he sent Norrey kyng at armes to the capi­teine of Hayton Castell, whiche was one of the strongest places betwene Berwyke and Edynborough, to delyuer him the castell, which he denied to do, affirming that he was sure of spedy succours and swift aide. The erle perceauyng the denial, layed his ordinaunce 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 saued. 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 yt and sawe the smoke and yet would not once set a foote forwarde to saue or reskewe his castel. And while the Erle laye at Hayton, the kyng of Scottes sent to him Marchemount & another heraulde, desyryng hym at his eleccion eyther to fight w^t whole [Page] puissaunce againste puissaunce, or elles they .ii. to fight person to person and hand to hand, requyring that if the victory should falle to y^• Scot­tish kyng, that then the erle shoulde delyuer for his raunsome the towne of Berwyke, with the Fyshegarthes of thesame. The erle ioyously, lyke a courageous capiteyne receaued this message and made answere, that he was ready in the playne felde to abyde the battayle with hys whole army, praiyng him to come forward with his puissaunce, and after that he thanked him hartely of the honoure that he offred hym, for surely he thought hym selfe much honoured that so noble a prince would vouche­faue to admit so poore an erle to fight w^t him body to body, asserteining hym ferther, y^t y^• toune of Berwyke was the kyng his masters & not hys y^• which he neyther ought nor woulde laye to pledge nor gagewithout y^• kings assent, but he would put his body in pledge which was more pre­cious to him then al y^e tounes of y^• world, promisyng on his honour that if he toke the kyng prisoner in y^e singuler combate, y^• he would release to hym all his parte of his fyne and raunsome, and yf it chaunced the kyng to vanquishe & apprehende hym, he would pay gladly such a raunsome as was mete & conuenient for the degree of an erle. And when he had re­warded & dismissed the herauldes, he set his army in a redines abiding y^• commyng of y^e kyng of Scottes and so stoode all daye. But the Scot­tysh kyng not regardyng his offres, nor performyng his great crakes & boastes, beyng afraied to cope w^t the Englishe nacion, shamefully & so­deinly fled in y^e night ceason with all his powre & company. When y^• erle knewe y^t the kyng was reculed, & had bene in Scotland .vi. or .vii. daies beyng dayly and nightly vexed with continual wynde & vnmeasurable teyne, coulde not cause his people to contynue in that tempestious vn­fertile & barayne region, with good aduise retreated agayn w^t his whole army to the toune of Berwyke, & there dispersed his army euery mā in­to his countrey, tariyng there him selfe tyll he knewe the pleasure of the kyng in furtherynge or protractyng the warres of Scotland: But in y^• meane ceason one Peter Hyalas, a man of no lesse learnyng then prudēt witt and pregnant pollecy, was sent Ambassadour frō 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 coniunccion of mariage betwene Arthure prynce of Wales heyre apparaunt to kyng Henry, & lady Katheryn the daughter of kyng Fer­dynand and quene Elizabeth a newe affinitee & aliaunce might be knyt and begonne betwene the realme of England and countrey of Speine. And also he fauoured somewhat the kyng of Scottes, for whiche cause he offred him selfe as a meane and mediatour of a peace betwene bothe the prynces, their territoires and dominions.

This Peter Hyalas sollicited and moued by all honest meanes & de­uyces kyng Iames to assent to a vnitee & concorde, and when w^t longe [Page xlv] solicityng he conceaued some good hope to growe in his weighty busy­nes, he wrote vnto the kyng of Englād, that it would please him to send one of his nobilitie or councel to be associate with him in concludyng w^t the Scottysh kyng. The kyng of England which euer (so yt were not to his dishonour, hurte or detriment) was not only a louer of peace, but al­so a norisher and a furtherer of amity and quietnes, & specially at this tyme when he was vexed with the ciuile sedicion of his awne propre shepe and flocke, cōmitted the charge of this weighty matter to Richard Foxe Bishop of Durham, whiche laye on Thenglish borders in his ca­stell of Norham. The bisshop accordynge to the kynges appoyntement went honorably into Scotland, where he and Peter Hyalas at y^• towne of Iedwoorth reasoned with the Scottish commissioners as cōcernyng this peace to be had. Sixe hundred cōdicions were purposed on the one parte and theother, but after lōge protractyng of tyme & much debating and arguyng, not one was accepted nor allowed, And one thinge aboue all other dashed the whole treatie: For kynge Henry instantly requyred to haue Perkyn Warbeck the founteyne and chiefe cause of all this tu­mult and vnquietnes the perturber of him and his whole realme: But the kyng of Scottes fermely denyed to cōsent to any article that might sounde to his reproche or dishonour. And also he nowe beganne to smel and sauour the iuggelyng & false countrefeatyng of his newe gest Per­kyn Warbeck. Yet because that Perkyn was alied to him by the holy sacrament of matrimony, he thought yt bothe vnhonest, vnreasonable & vnnaturall to betrey his alye & deliuer him to death & cōfusiō. Wher­fore when they had reasoned y^• matter & diuerse other vrgent & weighty causes by diuerse daies of metyng, & y^t for y^• contrarietie of opinions, no ferme peace could be cōcluded. In steade of peace, a truce was cōcluded for certeine yeres vpon condiciō y^• Iames kyng of Scottes should con­uey Perkyn Warbeck out of his realme, seigniories and dominions.

While these thinges were reasoned & at y^e last cōcluded in the cōfines of England & Scotlād, kyng Hēry caused y^• ambassadoures of y^• Frēch kyng, to be brought to his presence, & he theim receaued w^t al benignitee which as [...]t is shewed before were stopped at Douer of their iourney vntyll such time y^• the insurreccion of the Cornish men were suppressed and extinguished. And with lyke entreteinement he embraced at y^• very cea­son y^• lord of Camphire and other Orators of Philip archeduke of Au­strich & duke of Burgoyne, cōming to him for y^• conclusiō & cōtinuaūce of an amitie & to haue the English marchaūtes to resorte to their coun­trey agayn, which frō thence before were prohibited & forbyddē. Which request being verie agreable to y^• quietnes & tranquilitee of his realme, & especially at y^• time, he dyd fauourably graunte & benyngly assent vn­to. And so beyng confederate & alied by treatie & league w^t al his neigh­bours marchynge on euery side of his realmes & regions, he gratefied w^t [...] moost hartie thankes kyng Ferdinand & the quene his wife, for y^• thei were the mediators, organes & instrumentes by the which the truce [Page] was concluded betwene the Scottishe kynge and hym, and rewarded Peter the ambassadoure moost liberally and bountefully.

So the Englishmen resorted agayne into the Archedukes dominiōs and were receaued into Andwarp with generall procession,The English merchauntes [...] into Andw [...]rp w^t generall pro­ [...]ssion. so glad was the toune of thei [...] returnyng, whiche was by their absence sore hindered and empouerished at the time that this vnitie and concorde was made, whiche was y^e yere of our lorde a thousand .iiii.C.lxxxxviii. & y^• .xiii. yere of kyng Henryes reigne.

Iames the kyng of Scottes seynge that he nowe perc [...]aued howe he was by Perkyn manifestly deluded, accordyng as he had feithfully promised, so he nowe duly performed it. For he callynge to his presence the­forsayde Perkyn Warbecke, declaryng to hym what benefites & cōmo­dities he had receaued of his princely liberalitie & gentlenes, gentely re­quiring him to departe oute of y^• realme into some other countrey where he might make his abode more surely and more quietly, vntil such tyme as fortune woulde prouyde a more prosperous winde to set forwarde y^• sayles of his purpose & desyre, declaryng vnto him y^• he cōpelled in ma­ner by necessitee had cōcluded a league & cōcorde w^t y^• kyng of Englād, & by y^• treatie, the refuge that he should haue had of him and his coūtrey was not only 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 England, which warre he gladly tooke in hand for Perkins sake, hauyng sure confidēce & perfight trust to haue bene aided and assisted w^t Perkyns frendes in England. But when he perceaued y^• al was in vayne & y^t all his wordes were but wynd, he exhorted him not to be displeased to departe, least his [...]ariyng might be to him a detrimēt and a breakyng of y^e 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 amased, seyng there was no helpe to be loked for herafter in Scotland. Alb [...]it remēbryng the great benefites which he had recea­ued hertofore of the Scottysh kyng, which he thought him self neuer ha­ble to requyte 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 Irelād with his wife & family, there determynyng w^t him selfe either to sayle into Flaunders to y^• duches of Burgoyne, or to ioyne and take parte with the Cornyshmen. But howe so euer it was, while he laye in Ireland doubtyng what to do, he had in­telligence by certeyne messengers that the Cornyshmen for all their dis­confiture and plage not to be appeased, but sore to grudge and mur­moure against kynge Henry, and that thei were prone and ready to re­nue the warre agayne the kynge and the prynce: Where he not enten­dyng to forsake so faire an occasion so manifestly offred, he hauing with him .iiii. smal shippes & not aboue .vi. skore men, sayled into Cornewale and there landed in the moneth of September and came to a toune cal­led [Page xlvj] Bodman, and there dyd so sollicite, prouoke and stirre the mutable & wa [...]eryng people, what with fayre woordes and large promises that he gathered to hym aboue thre thousand persones whyche immediately called hym their capiteyne, and sayde that thei would take his part and folowe hym to the death, and in al thinges obey his preceptes and com­maundementes.

Then Perkyn was well encouraged and made proclamacions in the name of kyng Richard the .iiii. as sonne to kyng Edward that last died. And by the aduise of his .iii. councellers. Ihon Heron mercer a banque­rupt, Richard Scelton a tayler and Ihon Asteley a Skreuener, men of more dishonestie then of honest estimacion, determyned first of all to assaulte and beate all walled and stronge townes and fortresses, and theim to receaue into his possession and seignyorie for his farther secu­ritee and defence: And that entreprice acheued, then he woulde augmēt his hoost and marche forwarde against all persones that durst once of­fre theim selfes to withstand hym.

When he and his imprudent counsayll were fully resolued on this poincte and conclusion, they in good ordre went streight to Excetrer, which was the next citee that he coulde approche to, and beseged yt, and because he lacked ordinaūce to make a battrye to rase & deface y^• walles he studied all the weyes possible how to breake and infrynge the gates, and what with castyng of stones, heuyng with yron barres & kyndeling of fier vnder the gates, he omitted nothyng y^t could be deuised for y^• fur­theraunce of his vngracious purpose. The cytezens perceauynge their towne to be [...]nuyronned with enemies and lyke to be enflamed, beganne at y^• first to be sore abashed, and let certeyn messengers by cordes downe ouer the walle which should certefie y^• kyng of al their necessitee & trou­ble. But after that, takyng to theim lusty heartes and manly courages thei determined to repulse fyer by fier, & caused faggottes to be brought to y^• inward part of the portes and posternes and set theim all on fier, to thentent y^• the fier beyng enflamed on both the sydes of the gates, might aswel exclude their enemies from entryng, as include y^• citezens frō ron­nyng or fliyng out, and y^• thei in the meane ceason might make trenches and rāpayres to defende their enemies in stede of gates and Bulwerkes Thus all the doynges and attemptes of the rebellious people had euell successe in their first entreprice: And thus by fyer the citee was preserued from flame and burnynge. Then Perkyn beyng of very necessitee com­pelled to leaue the gates, assaulted y^• toune in diuerse weake and vnfor­tefied places, and set vp laders, attempting to clime ouer the walles and to take the cytee, thinkyng suerly to compell the cytezens either by feare or lacke of succoure to rendre theim selfes and yelde the toune. But the cytezens nothing so mynded, so courageously lyke valaūt chāpions 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 [Page] shewed their instruccions, he hasted with his hoost towarde Excetter w^t asmuch hast as the grauitie of the cause did requyre & expostulate. And sent the lord Daw [...]eney with light horsmen before to certefie all men of his commyng at hand▪ But in the meane ceason lord Edward Corteney [...]rle of deuou [...]hire & lord William his sonne, a man of great force & va­liantnes, accompanied with Sir Edmond Carewe, sir Thomas Tren­chard, sir William Courteney, sir Thomas Fulforde, sir Ihon Halewel, sir Ihō Croker, Water Courteney, Peter Egecōbe, Williā Sētuaure, with all spede came into the cytee of Excetter and holpe the citezens, and at the last assaute the Erle was hurte in 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 fortefied bothe with men and municions, and of theim in maner impregnable, fearynge the sequele of this matter, departed from Excetter with his lowsy army to the next great toune called Tawnton, and there the .xx. daye of September he mustered his men as though he were ready to fight, but his nōber was sore minished. For when the [...]ore and nedy people sawe the great defence whiche was made at Excetter, & that no men of honour nor yet of honestie drewe to hym, contrary to the promes and assuraunce made by hym and his coūcelers to theim at the begynnyng, they with drewe theim selfes by sondry secret compaignyes from him, in prouidyng their awne sauegarde. Which thinge when Perkyn perceaued, he put small trust and lesse confidence in the remnant of his army, as afterward dyd appere, because the moost parte of his soul­dioures were harnessed on the right arme and naked all the body, and neuer exercised in warre nor marciall feates but only with the spade and shouell.

When the kynge heard he was gone to Tawnton, he hastened after him with al spede. Thether came to the kyng Edward duke of Buckyn­gham, a younge prince of a greate courage and of a synguler good witt, and him folowed a great compaignie of noble men, knightes & Esquy­ers, prepared and redy with all thinges necessary for the felde and bat­tayle. Emongest which nomber was sir Alexāder Baynam, Sir Maw­rice Berkeley, Sir Robert Tame, Sir Ihon Guyse, Sir Robert Po­yntz, sir Hēry Uernon, Sir Ihon Mortimer, Sir Thomas Tremayle, Sir Edward Sutton, Sir Amise Pawlett, Sir Ihon Byckenel, Sir Ihon Sapcotes, Sir Hugh Lutterell, Sir Fraunces Cheyney and many other knyghtes, esquyers and valyaunte personages. When the kynge approched nere to the toune of Tawnton, whether the woulde not de [...]erre and put of the battayle, or whether he doubtynge the turne of fortunes whele, sent before hym Robert lord Brooke lord Stuarde of his house, Gyles lord Dawbeney his chiefe chamberlayn, and Sir Rice app Thomas, to set on his enemies and begynne the battaile, & he with his powre folowed, to thentent that when the armies couped & ioy­ned together, he either should w^t newe succours refreshe his awne army [Page xlvij] or elles set on the backe of his enemies or they coulde espie hym. Albey [...] the kyng had no great nede to vse suche pollecy yf he had knowen what sequele had ensued. For assone as Perkyn was enformed y^• his enemies were ready to geue him battayle, he that nothynge lesse mynded then to fight in open felde with the kynges puissaunce, dissimuled all y^• day time w^t his company▪ as though nothyng coulde make him afeard, & aboute mydnight beyng accompanyed with .lx. horsmen departed frō Tawnton in poste to a sanctuary toune besyde Southhampton called Beaud [...]ley, & there he & Ihon Heron & other registred theim selfes as persones pri­uileged. But whether Perkyn dyd this for feare, least his men shoulde forsake hym, or for the cowardenes of his awne tymorous courage, it is asmuch vncerteyne, as it is probable & sure that the kynge tooke by hys flight greate commoditee & quietnes, by reason y^• he was not enforced to fight with y^• Cornysh men, whose hart [...]s and courages were so encreased & inflamed by deadly desperacion that they earnestly determined & were stedfastly bent either to winne victory & ouercome their enemies or [...]lles 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^t .v.C. horsmē toward y^• see side to intercept him before he should come there. But Perkin whome y^• matter touched at y^• 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 tydynges of him, before he regestred and disclosed hym self in the sanc [...]uarye. But hys chiefe Capiteines whiche fled, coulde not so crafte­ly escape, for the moost parte of theim were apprehended, & as capitues and wretches, miserably presented to the kynge. When the resydewe of the common people could neyther see Perkyn nor yet the standards nor guyd [...]homes of their capiteynes, not knowynge where he was become, doubtyng whether he were fraudulently slayn or fearfully fled, wist not what councell to aske or what waye was moost surest to folowe & take. But when thei were asserteined of his moost shamefull flight, euery per­son oppressed with this common mischiefe, common feare, and common perell, castyng awaye their armure, submitted theim selfes to the kyng, holdyng vp their handes in askyng mercy, offeryng & promisynge hym, faythe, loyaltie and obeysaunce. To whome the kynge of moost gentle heart and leuytee, not only graunted perdon but receaued theim to hys fauoure. And so the kynge b [...]ynge a conquerour withoute manslaugh­ter or effusion christen of blood roade triumphantly into the cytee of Excetter, and there not only lauded & preised the cytezēs of Excetter, but also rēdred to theim his moost hartie thākes, aswell for their duety done as for their valiauntnes. And there also he afflicted and put in execusyō diuerse Cornishmen which were the aucthoures and sturrers vp of this newe insurreccion and false conspiracy.

The horsmen y^t were sent, w^tout any stoppe or obstacle in shorte space came to saint Mighelles mounte, & there (as chaunce was) founde lady [Page] Katheryn Gorden wife to Perkyn and brought her streight lyke a bon­dewoman & captyue to the kyng. And the kyng wonderyng at her beau­tie and amyable countenaunce thought her a praye more mete for the chiefe capitaine then for the meane souldioures, beganne then a lytle to phantasie her person and sent her incontinently accompanied w^t a good­ly sorte of sad [...]atrones and gentlewomē (because she was but a yoūge woman) to London to the quene as a true and vndoubted token of hys triumphe & victory. And while he reposed hym selfe at Excetter, he iud­ged that he had nothyng wonne, nor yet plucked vp by the roote of this sedicious rebellion, excepte he coulde get into his possession the chiefe h [...]d and type of this pestiferous faccion and busynes. Wherfore he en­uyroned the sanctuary whiche Perkyn was in, rounde aboute with .ii. compaignies of light horsemen, well wytted and vigelant persons, to thentent to bereue and plucke from Perkyn all hope of flight and [...]ca­pynge awaye. And after that, he attempted this younge foundelyng by trusty and polletique messengers, yf he hauyng perdon and remission of all mischeuous and heinous offences by him done against the kyng and his realme, woulde gladly 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 fly into any countrey for succour, and also he was in vttre despayre to haue herafter any pros­perous chaunce or fortunate successe in his enterprice, because he had so often attempted and so many times had been defoyled and vanquished, wherefore he hauyng his perdon to hym offred, and trustynge to the opē promes of mē, of his awne will franckly and frely departed out of sanc­tuary and committed hym selfe to the kynges pleasure, & of by this meanes this great heate was quenched and appeased.

Then was the kyng verey glad that this warre was ended, and toke his iourney imediatly towarde London, not withoute a great concurse of people metynge hym oute of euery quarter to see this Perkyn as he were a Monstre, because he beynge an alien of no abilitee by his poore parentes (although yt was other wise talked and dissimuled) durst once inuade so noble a realme, and yt to infecte with suche lyes and lesyn­ges, and chiefly of al that he by his crafty subornacions had persuaded diuerse aswell noble as ignoble (not without the cōfusion and vndoyng of many of theim) to beleue and saye that he was thesame verey person that he feigned and peynted hym selfe to bee. But when the kynge was come to London, he appoyncted certeyne kepers to attende on him whi­che shoulde not (the breadth of a nayle) go from his person, to thentent that he mighte neyther conueigh hym selfe oute of the land, nor flye any whether, nor yet prouoked and procured by other shoulde be hable to so we agayne no newe sedicion nor sedicious tumult within his realme & countreyes.

[Page xlviij]When these tidynges came to the lady Margarete in Flaūders that Perkin her dere darlyng had no good lucke but losse, bothe of his entre­price and her great studious furtheraunce, and was brought into capti­uitee, she was not well pleased with theim, but wepte and lamented hys vnlucky spede, 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 mischiefe geuen to y^• vulgare people, then to haue a sure hope and trust that thei maye offende w^tout any pu­nishment or corr [...]ccion: Wherfore to thentēt herafter to obserue his peo­ple in a dewe obeysaunce & filiall subieccion, he shortly caused inquyries to be made of diuerse offences. Wherupon diuerse persones aswel in so merset shire as deuonshire were accused and presented y^• they had aided both w^t mē & mony y^• Cornysh treytours, not only after their dis [...]ōfiture in returnyng homeward, but also in their marchyng forward entēdyng to make battaile against y^• kyng beyng their souereigne & liege lord. All which offēders he determined to plague & skourge according to y^• quā ­titee of their crime & offēce w^t great fines & sore assesmētes. And therfore he cōmitted this charge to Thomas lord Dar [...]y, to Amis Paulet knight and Robert Sherborne Deane of Paules afte [...] bishop of Chechester.

These cōmissioners like a whirlewynde tossed & perced y^• cofers & sub­staūce of althe inhabitauntes of both the countres, to thentent y^• no per­son beyng embrued or spotted w^t y^• ynk [...] of y^• abhominable crime, shoul­de escape y^• peyne whiche he worthly had deserued: but they were gentle & remisse to a great nōbre, & specially to such as offended by cohercion & feare, rather then of malicious heart or [...]uio [...]s mynde. Yet were thei to none so fauourable but thei were thought for their defaultes worthy of some punishmēt, so that equite therin was very wel and ius [...]ly executed.

¶The .xiiii. yere.

IN this yere a sod [...]yne chaunce, ye a thinge of no moment nor worthy to be regarded had almost so kyndeled agayne y^• olde displea [...]ure and grudge betwene kyng Henry & kyng Iames of S [...]etlād, y^• thei could scace kepe their hādes & bridle their courages from warre & fightynge. The first mocion of this displeasure was thus: Certeine young men of y^• Scottes came armed vnto Norhā castel & behelde it wōderous circumspectly▪ as though thei had bene de­syrous to knowe what was done there w^tin: But when y^• kepers of y^• ca­stel could not perceaue any hos [...]ilitee or dammage towardes him or his, & seyng theim departe of their awne accorde determined it not cōueniēt to mo [...]e any questiō to theim nor once to stirre oute. But whē thei came agayn y^• next daye & viewed it likewyse, the kepers of thesaide castel sus­pectynge some fraude to lurcke in their lookynge, demaunded of theim what was their entent, & why they vewed and aduised so the castel. The Scottes euen like theim selfes, aunswered theim proudly and rustically [Page] with many disdeynfull woordes. Insomuch that after their blusteryng and blowyng aunswers made, Thenglishmen beyng vexed and moued ther with al, replied to theim with hard & manly strokes, and after many a sore blowe geuen and taken on both partes, & diuerse Scottes woun­ded & some slayne, the Scottes oppressed w^t the multitude of Thenglish people, fled as fast as their horses would carye theim. When they came home and certified the kyng of thesame, he was therewith sore moued & & angry, and sware by swete sainct Ninyan y^• there was nothyng to him more inconstant and vnstedfast then the obseruyng of the league by the kyng of England, and sent woorde there of to king Henry in all hast by Marchemount his heraulde.

The kyng of England which nothynge more embraced and desyred then quyet tranquilitee and perfighte loue and amitie with all prynces beynge his neyghboures and borderers, to thentent that he might lyue in his later dayes in an honest and quyet lyfe after so many labou [...]es 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, requyrynge him for that cause not to thinke the league in­fringed, promisyng in the woorde of a kyng to enquyer of the truth and who were the malefactoures. And if y^• offence were founde to be begōne on the partie of the kepers of the castell, he assured hym that they should for no mede or fauoure eskape peyne & punishement. This aunswere al­though it were more then reasonable, could not mittigate or assuage the the Scottes angre and outrageousnes, for the which cause, Rycharde bishop of Durham, which was more heauy then all other because that this discorde was renued agayne betwene these twoo prynces by occa­sion of Castell kepers, he therfore thought yt 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 by writynge 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 therfore requyred hym to take peyne to come into his countrey, trustyng that he should thynke his labour well bestowed. The byshop was very glad and sent woorde to the kynge his master, of kyng Iames desyre, who estemed the request and cause bothe iust and reasonable, and therfore willed hym to accomplishe y^e Scottish kynges honest desyre.

When he came into Scotland, he was receaued 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 countenaunce had complay­ned muche of the crueltie and s [...]aughter that was vsed towardes hys men late at Norham, he [...]asely remitted the offence and perdoned [Page xlix] it, and began secretly to cōmen without any witnesses or arbitters nere hand with the bishop alone. And first declared to him what olde & [...]uste causes haue moued him before this, to seke al [...]aūce & amitie with kyng Henry, whiche now he desyred muche more to haue confirmed & cor [...]o­borate for the farther mayntenaunce of loue and encrease of frendship, which thing he doubted not, but shoulde sorte to a [...]ortunate effect and good cōclusion, if y^e kyng of England would vouchsafe to geue to him in matrimony his first begottē daughter y^• lady Margaret, vpō which point he determined not lōg agone to sende his Amba [...]sadors into En­glād, which thing he would the soner do if he knew this bishops mynd & entēt ready to further his louing purpose. The bishop aūswered but fewe wordes, sauing y^• when he were returned to the king his master, he would do the best in y^e matter y^t laye in his powre. Which wordes ani­mated much the kyng, & put him in good hope to sende his oratours to the kyng of England to sue for thesaide matrimony to be concluded.

When the bishop had taken his leaue, & was come to the king▪ he declared to him in ordre all the cōmunicaciō betwene king Iames & him. This request pleased the king very much, to whome peace was euer a souereygn cordiall, and determined su [...]ely to minister o [...]casiō of warre to no man, nor woulde haue any prynce to prouoke hym to thesame.

Now began the fatall daye of the death of Perkyn Warbeck, & Ed­ward erle of Warwicke to approche: For after this facte done & cōmit­ted, one fierce & strōg waue deuoured & swalowed both their lyues not long asonder, as you shal heare by y^e cōtinuaci [...] of this story. Perkyn, whether it greued him to be kept inwarde, or els that he was ins [...]igated & en [...]ised by some of his olde frēdes to sturre more coles, & begin some new sedicious facciō, 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 occasiō to bring al thi [...]ges wel to passe, if he could cōueigh him selfe once out of the Englishmens handes. And although he were not ignoraūt, that he neither coulde do nor ymagyn any thing but the kyng woulde bothe heare of it and knowe it: Yet he seduced w^t hope of euasion and skapyng, whiche was the chiefe cōforte of his cap­tiuitie, had leuer put all thinges in a profe & hasarde, rather then lēger to tollerate and suffre the present calamyte and dayly misery. And so deceauyng his kepers toke him to his heeles, by y^• which he brought him selfe into a streyghter custody and pryson, and wrapped him selfe into tortures and punyshmentes: For when he came to the sea coastes, and had gone but a litle forwarde on his iourney, when the rumour of his flight was spreade abroade, euery byway and lane was set abroade with the kinges garde, which had y^• custody of his body. Wherefore he beyng sore abashed w^tthe clamour of them that searched and made in­quyrie for him, & beyng in maner destitute of wit & counsail, altered of necessite frō his pretensed iourney, & came to the house of Bethlem, cal­led y^e priory of Shene beside Rychemōd in Southrey, & cōmitted him [Page] sel [...]e to the pryor of y^e monastery, requyring him for Godssake to aske and desire his life and perdō of the kynges maiestie. The pryor, which for hys verteous qualities was had in great estimacion, moued with y^• calamytie and infortunate state of thys man, came to the kynge & she­wed hym of this Perkyn, whose perdon he 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 was caryed thorough Lon­don, & set vpon a lyke skaffolde in Chepe by the stādard, with like gyn­nes and stockes as he occupyed the daye before, and there stode al daye and red openly his awne confession written with hys awne hande, the very copy wherof hereafter ensueth.

First it is to be knowen, that I was borne in the toune of Turney in Flaunders, & my fathers name is Ihon Os [...]eck, which sayd Ihon Os­beck was cōptroller of thesayde 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 graunt­mother was maryed vnto the withinnamed Peter flāme, y^• was recea­uer of the forenamed toune of Turney, & Deane of the botemen y^• towe vpon the water or Ryuer, called Leschelde. And my graūtsire vpon my mothers side was Peter de Faro, whiche had in hys kepyng y^e keyes of the gate of sainct Ihons w^tin thesame toune of Turney. Also I had an vncle called master Ihon Stalyn, dwelling in y^• parish of sainct Pyas within thesame toune, which had maried my fathers suster, whose name was Ione or Iane, with whome I dwelled a certain ceasō. And after­ward I was led by my mother to Andwerp for to learne Flēmishe, in a house of a cousyn of myne, an officier of thesaid toune, called Ihō Stiē beck, w^t whom I was y^• space of halfe a yere. And after y^• I returned a­gayn to Turney, by reason of y^• warres y^• were in Flaūders. And w^tin a yere folowing I was sent w^t a merchaūt of y^• sayd toune of Turney named Berlo, and his Masters name Alexāder, to the marte of Andwarpe where I fell sycke, whiche sickenes contynued vpon fyue monethes.

And thesayde Barlo set me to boorde in a skynners house that dwelled besyde the house of the Englishe nacion. And by hym I was from thence caryed to Barowe marte, and I lodged at the signe of the olde man, where I abode the space of twoo monethes. And after this the sayde Barlo set me with a merchaunt of Middelboroughe too seruyce, for to learne the language, whose name was Ihon Strewe, with whom I dwelled frome Christmas tyll Easter, and then I went into Por­tyngale, in the companye of Syr Edwarde Bramptones wyfe, in a shyppe whyche was called the quenes shippe. And when I was come thether, then I was put in seruyce to a knyghte that dwelled in Lushborne, whiche was called Peter Ua [...]z de cogna, with whome I [Page l] I dwelled an whole yere, whiche sayde knyght had but one eye. And because I desyred to see other countryes, I toke lycence of hym, & then I put my selfe in seruice with a Bryton, called Pregent Meno, y^• which brought me with him into Ireland, and when we were there arriued in the toune of Corke, they of y^• toune, because I was arayed with some clothes of sylke of my sayde maistres, came vnto me & threped vpō me y^• I should be y^e duke of Clarēce sonne y^• was before tyme at Deuelyn. And forasmuch as I denied it, there was brought vnto me y^e holy euā ­gelist & the Crosse by y^e Mayre of the toune, which was called Ihon le Wellen, & there in y^e presence of him & other I toke myne othe as y^e truth was, y^• I was not the foresaid dukes sonne, nor none of hys blood. And after this came vnto me an Englisheman, whose name was Stephen Poytron, w^t one Ihon water, & laide to me in swearing great othes that they knew wel y^• I was kynge Rychardes bastard sonne: To whom I aūswered with like othes y^• I was not. And then they aduysed me not to be a fearde, but y^• I should take it vpō me boldely, and if I woulde so do, they would aide & assist me w^t all their powre against the kyng of England, & not only they, but they were assured well y^• the erles of Des­mōd & Kyldare should do thesame. For thei forced not what party thei toke, so y^t they might be reuēged vpō the kyng of Englād, & so against my will made me to learne English, & taught me what I shoulde do & saye. And after this they called me duke of Yorke, secōd sonne of kynge Edward y^• .iiij. because king Rychardes bastard sonne was in y^e hādes of the king of Englād. And vpō this y^e said Ihō water, Stephyn Poy­tron, Ihon Tyler, Hughbert Burghe with many other, as the forsayd Erles, entred into this false quarell. And within shorte tyme after, the French kyng sent an Ambassadour into Ireland, whose name was loy­te Lucas, & master Stephyn Fryā, to aduertise me to come into Fraūce. And thēce I wēt into Fraūce, & frō thēce into Flaūders, & frō Flaūders into Ireland, & from Ireland into Scotland, and so into England.

When night of thesame daye, which was the .xv. day of Iuyne was come (partely because the kyng had perdoned him his life, & partely be­cause he should no more ronne awaye, and put the king in doubt of any mistrust or misfortune to come) he was cōmitted to the Towre of Lōdō, where hys wickednes boylinge so hoate within hys cancarde stomacke woulde not suffre hym to escape the punishment & vengeaunce of God, but shortely after was moost iustly and worthely put to death, as here­after shalbe shewed.

The xv. yere.

EDward Plantagenet erle of Warwike, of whome ye haue heard before, beyng kept in the Towre almost frō his ten­der age, that is to saye, frō his first yere of the kyng to thys xv. yere, out of al cōpany of mē & sight of beastes, ī so much that he coulde not decerne a Goose from a Capon. And [Page] where as he by cōmen reason & open apparaūce, could not by his awne doynges seke his death & destrucciō, yet by y^• dryft & offence of another man, he was brought to his ende & cōfusiō. For a freer Augustyn on y^• border of Suffolke called Patricke, to thentent to bring this erle into dis [...]ayn & hatred, had a certain skoler called Raufe Wiltord, whome he greatly fauoured, & in whose hed he euer distilled & enfused this folishe & fātastical cōceipte, y^• if he would folow his coūsail & aduise, he would casely cōuey him to y^• kingdome of Englād. The skoler like a good disciple, did not denye to folow his masters discipline & coūsail, but more & more desired & put his master in remēbraūce to performe & accōplish w^t all spede, y^• thing which of his awn liberalite, he before had to him both promised & assured, saiyng, what Mecocke or dastard is so sore afearde of trāsgressing y^e law, or tymerous of punishmēt, y^• which for to obteine a kingdō wil not attēpt to do, & suffre all thinges y^• be possible to be as­sayed & tasted? So y^• whē thei betwene thē selfes secretly had takē a cra­fty deliberaciō & coūsailed of their enterprice, & had deuised in their fo­lish wittes, how it should be brought to passe, they wēt both together in to Kent (which countrey in auncient tyme hath not bene dul in settinge foorth of newe phantastical 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 Towre, by y^• helpe of thys freer Patricke. To the whiche saiynges when the freer perceaued hope to be geuen, he declared it openly in the pulpet, and desyred all men of helpe.

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 attaynted. Of the whiche twoo, the skoler was hanged on Shrouetuesdaye, at sayncte Thomas waterynges, and the freer was condempned to perpetuall pryson and captiuitie. For at that tyme here in Englande, so muche reuerence was attributed to the holy orders, that to a priest, althoughe he had committed hygh treason agaynste hys souereygne lorde and 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 Bis­shoppes 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. Furthermore, what shoulde a man saye, it was also vsed that he that coulde but onely reade (ye althoughe he vnderstode not what he redde) howe heynous or detestable a cryme soo euer he had committed (treason onely except) shoulde likewise as affines and alyes to the holy orders be saued, and committed to the Bishoppes pryson.

[Page l]And to thentent that if they should escape, and be agayne taken, cōmit­ting 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 thesame place w^t this lettre T, So y^t if they, which were once signed w^t any of these markes or tokens did reiterate like cryme & offence again. should suffre the paynes & punishmentes, which they had both merited and deserued. Which deuise was enacted & established in y^e Parliamēt kept in the .ii. yere of this kynges reigne, & taken as I cōiecture of the Frenche naciō, 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 spiritualtie, with a penalitee set vpon thē if any such prisoner do afterward escape. The whiche acte & priuilege did norish & encreace aboūdantly the [...] & swarme of theues & murthe­rers, for after y^• tyme there were an hūdred wayes practised & inuented how at one time or another, to deliuer or conuey thē out of pryson and captiuite, by makīg their purgaciō (by what sleight & meanes thei care not) of such offences as before they were conuinced and founde gyltye, if no man be present to laye excepcions to thesame. For if the partie of­fended and hurte be absent at the day of the purgaciō making, the thefe or murderer truly founde gilty from the beginning, shall be both excu­sed & set at libertie. And oftentymes the soner, because the bishop would not lese so great a summe as an hūdred poūde, 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 cōfusiō of other that had associate thē selfes with him, but begā now to study which wai to flye & escape. For he by false persuasions and liberall promises, cor­rupted Strangweyes, Blewet, Astwood and long Rogier hys kepers, beynge seruauntes to syr Ihon Dygby lieutenaunt. In so muche that they (as it was at their araynmēt openly proued) entēded to haue slayn thesayde 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 hys destruccion assented,

But this craftie deuice and subtil imaginacion, beyng opened and dis­closed, sorted to none effect, and so he beyng repulsed and put backe frō all hope and good lucke wyth all hys complices and confederates, and Ihon Awater, sometyme Mayre of Corffe in Irelande, one of hys foū ­ders, and hys sonne, were the sixten daye of Nouembre arreyned and condempned at Westmynster. And on the three & twenty daye of thesame moneth, Perkyn and Ihon Awater were drawen to Tyborne, and there Perkyn standyng on a litle skaffolde, redde hys confession, [Page] whiche before you haue heard, and toke it on hys death to be true, and so he and Ihon Awater asked the kyng forgeuenes and dyed paciētly. [...] This was the rewarde of the pernicius Alye and coment 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 thesame sorte to their not vndeserued ponyshment. And emōgest other Edward erle of War­wicke, whiche as the fame went, consented to breake pryson, and to de­parte out of the realme with Perkyn (which in prysoners is high trea­son) was the .xxi. daye of thesayde moneth arreygned at Westmynster before the erle of Oxforde, then high Constable of England, of thesaide [...]reason▪ whiche whether it were by the enticemēt of other or of his awne frewill (many men doubte, because of hys innocency) confessed the fact and submitted hym selfe to the kynges mercy. And vpon hys confession he had his indgement▪ and accordyng therunto, the .xxviii. daye of No­uembre .M.cccc.xcix. was brought to the skaffolde on the Towre hill, and there behedded. The fame after hys death sprange abroade, y^• Fer­dinand kyng of Spayne woulde neuer make full conclusiō of the ma­trimony to be had betwene prynce Arthur and the lady Katheryn hys daughter, nor sende her into England aslonge as this erle lyued. For he imagened that as longe as any erle of Warwicke lyued, that Eng­land should neuer be clensed or purged of Cyuyle warre and preuy se­dicion, so muche was the name of Warwyke in other regions, had in feare and gealousy.

The next yere after there was a great plague,A great death whereof men dyed in many places very sore, but specially and moost of all in the citie of Lō ­don, where dyed in that yere thirty thousand. Also in this yere was bur­ned a place of the kynges called the maner of Shene Situate, & liynge nygh the Thamys side, which he after buylded agayne sumpteously & co [...]ly▪ and chaunged the name of Shene, and called it Rychemond, be­cause hys father and he were erles of Richemonde. The kynge per­ceauynge this plague and contagious disease, rather to encrease then diserease, whether it was to aduoyde the occasion of the sicknes, or to allure the archeduke Philip of Burgoyne to commē with hym, he per­sonally toke his ship at Douer, in the beginninge of May, and sayled to Caleys, to thentent to prouide and see the watches, whiche haue bene accustomed to be diligently kepte and maynteyned agaynst the incur­siōs of his aduersaries, & there he made polletique ordinaūces & streyte lawes. While the kyng laye thus at Caleys, the archeduke Philip sent to him diuerse notable personages, not alonely to gratefie and welcome hym into those partes, but also to declare that thesayde Archeduke of­fred to repaire personally to his presence, with suche a numbre as the kynge shoulde appoynt, so that it were within no walled toune or for­tresse. For he had before diuerse tynnes made denyall to the Frenche kyng to entre into any of his walled tounes, & if he should as he gladly [Page lij] woulde come to the toune of Caleys, it might be a president to y^e Frēch kynge to desyre like meting, what chaunce therof might fall, euery mā coulde not iudge. The kynge gentely entreteyned the Ambassadours, but more thankefully accepted the Archedukes offre, and so appoynted the place at sainct Peters churche without Caleys. Upon the Tuesday in Pentecost weke, the Archeduke came thether with a conuenient cō ­pany. The kyng and the quene with many a lusty lorde and lady rode thether to welcome hym. And when the kynge approched, the duke at his lightnynge offred to holde his styrope, whiche the kyng in no wise would suffre to be done. When the kyng was dissended from his horsse he and the Archeduke embraced eache other with moost princely fami­liaritie, and then the quene and all the nobles saluted hym. What ban­quettynge, what myrthe and what passe tyme there was I passe ouer. But to conclude, there was communicacion of mariages, treatynge of farther corroboracion of leagues, requestes of tolles in Flaunders to be mynished, with many other thinges, touchynge 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 gouernoure 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 rewardes departed.

¶The .xvi. yere.

SOne after when this plague was slaked, the kyng retur­ned agayn to England, about the ende of Iune: And be­ynge come into England, sone after there came to him one Gasper Pous a Spanyard (bothe for learning and good behaueour very excellent) sent from Alexander bishop of Rome,A yere of Iubile. whiche should shewe the Englishmen the right waye to heauen. Therfore that yere was called the yere of Iubile, whiche was the yere of our Lorde a thousand fyue hundred. And to thentēt that the people of farre countries might be cased of their laboure and traueyle in com­myng thether, the charitable father sent hys legates into euery country to destribute the heauenly grace (as he called it) to all Christen people, whiche either letted by warre, enemyes, infirmitie, weaknes or tedious­nes of the longe iourney, were not hable to performe their iourney to y^• holy cytie of Rome. But thys beneuolent liberlitie was not francke & frely geuen: For the holy bishop Alexander, with helping and lokynge to the health of mennes soules, thought somewhat to do for hys awne priuate commoditie and singuler wealth, and therfore he limitted and set a certayne pryce of this hys grace & pardon: & to thende that y^• king should not hyndre nor let hys purpose, he offred parte of this his gayn [Page] vnto the kyng. And that the people might the soner mynishe their pur­ses, and enryche hys chestes, he promysed that he woulde in the begyn­nyng of the yere make warre in all the hast agaynst the great Turcke. By thys meanes and pollecy, thys Alexander gat, accumulated & hea­ped vp a great summe of money, and yet no battayle begonne agayne the Turcke, which in the meane ceason had takē, cōquered & destroyed many regions, cities and tounes belonging to Christen men, but God amend all that is amisse.

Aboute thys tune dyed .iii. Bishops in England, Ihon Morton bis­shop of Caunterbury, Thomas Langtō bishop of Winchester, & Tho­mas Rotheram bishop of Yorke. After hym succeded Thomas sauage bishop of London, in whose place succeded doctor Williā Warham of whome we made menciō before. And Hēry deane bishop of Salisbury was made archebishop of Caūterbury. Also Rycharde Foxe bishop of Durhā, was prefected to the bishoprike of Winchestre. Also this yere two notable mariages were cōcluded & agreed vpō, but neither solēp­nised now, nor cōsummate as you shal here afterwarde. For king Hēry graunted his daughter ladye Margaret to Iames the .iiii. kynge of Scottes. And Ferdinād kyng of Spayne gaue his daughter lady Katheryn to Arthur prynce of Wales, sonne & heyre apparaunt to y^• king of England. And it is to be considred y^• kyng Henry did not ioyne this affinitie with the kyng of Scottes without cause: For he desiringe no­thing more, then to passe ouer the remanant of his life in peace, rest and tranquilitee, ymagened in him selfe y^• by this coniunccion & couplemēt of matrimony, no warre or hostilitee hereafter should be attempted ei­ther agaynst hym or hys dominions by the Scottishe kyng or hys na­cion, hauyng sure trust that none other of hys enemyes or of hys rebel­les should hereafter be receaued or maynteyned in the dominions and territories of hys sonne in lawe. And emongest all other articles thys was concluded and appoynted, that no Englishmen should entre into Scotland, without letters cōmendatorie of their awne souereign lord, or saueconduyte of his wardeyn of the marches, and that prohibicion was in lyke maner geuen to the Scottes.

The .xvii. yere.

YOu haue heard before, how that the mariage was agreed betwene prynce Arthur of England, & the lady Katheryne of Spayne, & how the kyng her father promysed to sende her with great honoure into England: He nowe this yere accordyng to hys promes conueyghed her w^t 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 arryual, incōtinēt he sent both for prīce Arthur his sonne into Wales to repaire to Londō, & sent diuerse great lordes and knyghtes to cōuey her with triūphe toward her spouse & husband. And [Page liii] vpon the .xii. daye of Nouembre, she was conueyed frō Lambeth tho­rough London with all triūphe and honoure that coulde be deuised or ymagened, to the Bishops paleys, by the cathedrall churche of s. Pau­les. And because I will not be tedious to you, I passe ouer the wyse de­uises, the prudent speches, the costly woorkes, the conninge portratu­res practised and set foorth in .vii. goodly beutiful pageauntes erected & set vp in diuerse places of the citie. I leaue also y^• goodly ballades, y^• swete armony, the Musicall instrumentes, which sounded with heauēly noyes on euery side of the strete. I omit farther, the costly apparel both of goldsmythes woorke and embraudery, the ryche iewelles, the massy cheynes, the s [...] rynge horsses, the beautifull bardes and the glitteryng trappers, bothe with belles and spangles of golde. I pretermit also the ryche apparell of the pryncesse, the straunge fasshion of the Spanyshe nacion, the beautie of the Englishe ladyes, the goodly demeanure of of the yoūg damosels, the amorous countenaūce of the lusty bachelers. I passe ouer also the fyne engrayned clothes, the costly furres of the ci­tezens, standynge on skaffoldes, rayled from Gracechurche to Paules. What should I speke of the oderiferous skarlettes, the fyne veluet, y^• pleasaunt, furres, the massye chaynes, which the Mayre of Londō with the senate sitting on horsebacke at the litle conduyte in Chepe, ware on their bodyes, & about their neckes. I will not molest you w^t rehersyng the ryche arras, the costly tapestry, the fyne clothes bothe of gold & sil­uer, the curious veluettes, the beautiful sattens, nor the pleasaunte syl­kes, which did hange in euery strete where she passed, the wyne y^t ranne continually out of the conduytes, the graueling and rayling of y^• stre­tes nedeth not to be remembred.

While this princes soiorned for her recreaciō in the Bishops paleys of Londō, not without visitaciō 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 the quere, whiche was sixe foote from the grounde. On thesayde bridge or staige, euen directly before the consistory of the churche was eleuate a place lyke a mounte, for eyghte persons to stande vpon, cōpassed rounde about with steppes to assende and dissende, whiche was couered with fyne redde 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 thei apoynted. On the Southside of thesame mount stoode the Mayre and the Magistrates of London. When all preparacion was made, and al thinges set in an ordre. Upon the daye of saynct Erkenwalde, then be­ynge Sundaye, thesayde lady was ledde to thesame mount, and there prynce Arthur openly espoused her, bothe beynge cladde in whyte, both lusty and amorous, 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 stayge. After the matrymonye celebrate, the [Page] prince & his wife went vp into the quere, & there herde a solēpne masse song by the Archebishop of Cauntourbury, associate with .xix. prelates mytred. And after the masse fynished, the bryde was led homeward to to y^• Bishops palace, by y^• duke of Yorke, beyng then a goodly yoūge prince & the legate of Spayne. Next after folowed the lady Cicile suster to y^• quene, supporting the treyne of the spouse. After whome folowed aboue an .C. ladyes & gētlewomē gorgeously appareyled & richely adourned. There was kept that day a sumpteous feast, and yet not so sumpteous as populous, nor yet so populous as d [...]licate, nor so delicate as of all thinges aboūdaūt. For if I should reherse to you the valew of .iiii. cup­bordes that day shewed & set foorth beside the plate that was occupied, or declare the ryches of the hanginges, canapies or clothe of estate, or set foorth the numbre of disshes serued at the .iiii. courses & banquettes the deliuer daunsinge and costly disguisinges, I assure your y^• I should soner fayle then copye of mattre or haboundaunce of honoure. But euery daye endeth, and nyght ensueth, so when night was come, this lu­sty prince and his beautifull bryde were brought and ioyned together in one bed naked, and there dyd that acte, whiche to the performaunce & full consummacion of matrimony was most requysite and expedient. In so muche that his familier seruitours, which had then neither cause nor rewarde to lye or fayne, declared openly that in the mornynge h [...] called for drynke, whiche he before tymes was not accustomed to do.

At whiche thinge one of hys chambrelaynes meruaylynge, requyred the cause of hys drouth. To whome he aūswered merely saiyng, I haue thys nyght bene in the middest of Spayne, whiche is a hote region, & that iourney maketh me so drye, and if thou haddest bene vnder that hote 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 & comminaltye of London, in Barges garnished with standardes, stre­mers and penons of their deuice, gaue their attendaunce. And there in the paleys were suche marciall feates, suche valiaunt iustes, suche vy­gorus turneys, suche fierce fight at the barreyers, and before that tyme was of no man had in remembraunce. Of thys royall triumphe lorde Edwarde duke of Buckyngham was chiefe chalengeour, and lorde Thomas Grey Marques dorcet was chief defendoure whiche wyth their aydes and compaygnions, bare theim selfes so valyauntly that they obteyned great laude and honoure, bothe of the Spanyardes and of their countrymen.

Durynge the tyme of these iustes and triumphe, were receaued into London an Erle, a Byshop, and dyuerse noble personages, sent from the kynge of Scottes into England, for the conclusion of the mariage betwene the laqdy Margaret the kynges daughter and hym. Whiche Erle by porxie in the name of kynge Iames hys master, affied & con­tracted the sayd fayre lady. Which assuraūce was published at Paules [Page liiii] Crosse, the daye of the conuersion of saynct Paule, in reioysynge wher­of Te deum was songe, and great fyers made through the citie of Lon­don. Whiche thinges as you haue hearde, beynge [...]ully fynished and accomplished the Ambassadours aswell of Spayne as of Scotlande, 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 reputacion of the prynce hys sonne, furnis­shed hym with men and money largely, and sent hym agayne into Wa­les, where he was before, to kepe liberall hospitalitee, and to mynystre to the rude Welshemen indifferent iustice. And least by reason of lacke of experience he might erre, he appoynted to hym wyse and expert coū ­saylers, as syr Rychard Poole hys kynsman, which was hys chief chā ­berlayne, with whome were associate syr Henry Uernon, Syr Rychard Croftes, Syr Dauy Philip, Syr Williā Udale, Syr Thomas En­glefelde, Syr Peter Newton knyghtes. Ihon Waleston, Henry Ma­ [...]yon, and docter William Smyth, was President of hys counsail, and docter Charles, bothe were with hym associate, the one was afterwarde 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 mariage, consideryng the chaunce that shortely af­ter su [...]ded.

A fewe monethes before the maryage of prynce Arthur, Edmonde Poole Erle of Southfolfe, sonne to Ihon duke of Southfolke, and lady Elizabeth suster to kyng Edward the .iiii. beyng stoute and bolde of courage, and of wyt rashe and hedy, was endited of homicide & mur­ther, for sleyng of a meane person in his rage and fury. And although the kynge perdoned him whome he might iustly haue condempned for that offence, yet because he was brought to the kynges Benche barre and arrey [...]ed (which facte he reputed to be a great mayme and blemysh to hys honoure) tooke it seriously, and shortely after for thys displea­sure sledde to slaunders, without any lycence or saueconduyte geuen hym of the kynge, to the lady Margaret hys awnt on the mothers side. Neuerthelesse, whether he was s [...]urred by hys preuy frendes thereunto moued by the kynge, or whether he trustynge on hys 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 cryme that coulde be obiected to hym, and therefore he was permytted too go frankely at hys libertie and pleasure.

But when thys mariage of prince Arthyr was kept at London with great pompe and solempnitie, and that all the nobilitie were set on pleasure and solace, and the Kynge hym selfe was pryncipally ge­uen too ioye and reioysynge. This Edmond▪ either for that he had ben at great and excessyue charges at thesame tryumphe and solempnytie, [Page] and by reason therof sore charged with debte. Either sollicited, allured and prouoked by that olde venemous serpent the duches of Burgoyn, euer beyng the sower of Sedicion and begynner of rebellion 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 o [...] y^• aduerse lyne to his lignage, so longe to reigne in wealthe and felicite, in conclusion with hys brother Rycharde fledde agayne into Flaunders. Thys sad chaunce (I thinke) happened emonge the great ioyes and so­laces of kynge Henry, least that he mighte not by ouermuche gladnes sod [...]ynly forget hym selfe: Whiche displeasure at another tyme before to haue chaunced, it is manifest 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, mistru [...] ­tynge that some newe tumulteous busynes shoulde be begonne agayn, and chiefly therfore blamed hym selfe of folishe folye that he had geuē 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 hys coniuracion, the whiche he perceaued nowe to be [...]urely attempted and begonne, assone as Edmonde de la poole erle of Suffolke was fled agayne into Flaūders. Syr Robert Curson, whome the kynge had promoted to the ordre of knyghthod, & made capitayne of [...]ammes castel, as valeaunt and a circumspect man, dissimulyng hym selfe to be one of that conspiracy went into Flaūders, doubtlesse to espye what was done there by the lady Margaret agai [...]st kynge Henry. Thys opynion was setteled in euery mannes head at the fyrst brochynge of the matter, and so yet contynu [...]th, groundyng vpon thys prynciple, that he neyther vexed nor molested wyth any poynte of displeasure or iniurie by hys prynce or any other fled to the kynges ene­myes. And after all thynges were knowē, opened, pacefied and suppres­sed, he willyngely returned and was receaued into hygh fauoure with y^• kynge hys master and souereygne lorde. Howebeit, the kynge lyke a wylye foxe, knowynge the faythfyll entent of thys syr Robert, and entē ­dynge to put hym oute of all gealousy and suspiciō 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 Sondaye of Nouember, as enemyes and rebelles to him and hys realme. But howsoeuer it chaunced, whether it were for the easing of hys hart, or for some preuy pollecye, the kynge after the mariage of hys sonne prynce Arthyr, was so vigilant, so circumspect and so inten­tyue, that he espyed and tryed oute suche as he knewe, partely to be the mu [...]nters of mischiefe agaynst hym, and partely to beare no good wyll or sincere affeccion towarde his person, that he coulde redely name and reherse their names and surnames, wherof a great parte were with in fewe dayes after apprehended and taken. And [...]monge them, lorde [Page lv] William Courtney, sonne to Edwarde erle of Deuonshyre, a man of great nobilite, estimacion and vertue, whiche maryed lady Katheryne, daughter to kyng Edward, lorde William brother to Edmond, erle of Southfolke, Syr Iames Tyrrell, Syr Ihon Wyndham. Both these Williams before rehersed were rather taken of suspicion & gelousy, be­cause they were nere of blood to the coniurators, then for any proued offence or cryme. Wherfore the lorde William sonne to the erle of Deuonshire, 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 estimacion, but shortely after, when he beganne to exercise him selfe in marciali feates and warlike studye, he syckened of a disease, called Plur [...]sis, of whiche malady, because it was straūge 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 Edmonde the erle of Southfolke had also greater fauoure shewed in pryson, then he had before. And syr Iames Tyrrell, and Ihon Wyndham, because they w [...]re traytours, & so attaynted the .vi. daye of Maye, they were on the Towre hyll behed­ded. But when the erle of Southfolke heard that some of his frendes were put to execution, and some other committed to perpetuall pryson and captiuitie, he was in a great agony and feare of hym selfe. And so beig clerely desperate to haue any fortunate successe in his pretēsed en­terprice, wandred about all Germany and Fraunce for aide & succoure, prouynge if he coulde fynde any aide or succoure at their handes. But when he perceaued no stedfast groūd to catche a [...]chor holde vpon (to thentent that in conclusion he might vnderstāde that a shameful death dewe to a man for his offences and crymes cannot by mannes helpe or mannes reason, be either eschewed or diuerted from hym) he submitted him selfe vnder the obeysaūce and defence of Philip Archeduke of Au­stricke and Burgoyn, and erle of Flaūders. But Rychard hys brother beyng an experte and polletique man, so craftely cōueyed, and so wisely ordred hym selfe in thys stormy tempest, that he was not attrapped ey­ther with net or snare.

The kyng, not yet beynge out of doubte of all domestical sedicion & ciuile discorde, studyed busely howe to restreyne and kepe in a streyte closure diuerse malefactours, which beyng partakers of this cōspiracy fled to sondry sanctuaries, tariyng there till a fayre day came to auaūce foorthward their enterprice. Wherupon 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 vnquyet 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 scismatiques too [Page] Christen religion, and as commen perturbers of the quyet people, and capitaynes and prouokers of trayterous rufflinges, intreditynge and prohibityng the refuge and priuilege of sanctuary to all suche persons as once had enioyed the immunitie and liberte of thesame, and after had fled out, and ef [...]sones returned agayne. Whiche thinge after that the Bishop had graunted, it was greatly to the quyetnes and comforte of kyng Hēry, and many through the feare of that reproche and ignomo­ny, conuerted them selues to goodnes and dewe subiecciō of their prīce: Other also that were in securite, and out of all perel and daunger, durst not hasard them selues for feare of galtroppes or slippynge into y^• fyer.

When the kyng by his high pollecy had compassed and framed his affaires thus to hys purpose, sodeynly happened a lamentable chaūce and lachrimable losse to the kynge, quene and all the people. For that noble prince Arthur, the kynges [...]yrst begotten sonne, after that he had bene maryed to the lady Katheryn hys wyfe .v. monethes, departed out of this transitory lyfe, in hys castel of Ludlowe, and with a great fune­rall obseq [...]y was buryed in the cathedrall 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 creacion oughte to be called, except some cause apparaunt were the let and obstacle of thesame. Howbeit, the sayde duke vpon suspicion of hys brothers wyfe to be with chylde, and that doubtfully thoughte by the expert and sage men of the prynces counsayl, was by a moneth and more delayed from hys title, name and preheminence, in the which season the truthe might to womē easely apere. It is reported that this lady Katheryn thought and feared suche dolorous chaūce to come: For when she had e [...]braced her father, and taken her leaue of her noble and prudent mother, & say­led towardes England, she was continually so tossed and trumbled hy­ther and thether with boysterous wyndes, that what for the rage of the water and contraritie of the wyndes, 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 Lōdō, was brought a bed of a [...]ayre daugh­ter on Candelmas daye, whcihe was there christened and named Katheryn, and the .xi. daye of thesame mo­neth, thesayde moost verteous princes and gracious quene there desessed, and was with all funerall pompe caryed thorough the cytye of London to Westmynster and there intimulate, whose daughter also taried but a small ceason af­ter her mother.

After the death of this noble princes which for her great vertue was commenly called good quene Elizabeth, departed syr Re [...]gnold Breye knight of y^• gartier, a very father of his coūtry, a sage & a graue person [Page lvi] and a feruent louer of iustice. In so muche that if any thinge had bene done against good law or equitie, he would after an hūble fassiō pla [...]y reprehende the king, and geue him good aduertisement how to re [...]orme that offence▪ and to be more circūspect in another lyke case. Of thesame vertue and honest playnnes was Ihon Mortō archebishop of Ca [...] ̄ter­bury, whiche bishop dyed (as it is shewed aboue) two yeres before. So these .ii. persons were euer cohibetors and refre [...]ers of the kinges wil­full skope & vnbrideled libertie, where as the rude and ignoraunt people saye and affirme, that the [...]e counsayll infected & corrupted the kyn­ges clene and immaculate conscience, contrary to hys pryncely disposi­cion & naturall inclinacion. Suche is euer the errour of the cōmon people: but surely as long as the kyng would here and obeye such as war­ned hym of hys office royall and kyngely duetie, he coulde in no wyse erre or swar [...]e aside. About this tyme also dyed Henry archebishop of Cauntourbury, whose rowme doctor Williā Warram bishop of Lon­don supplyed. And to the bishoptick of London was elected William Barnes, after whose death succeded Rycharde Fitziames, a man of a good lignage & great learnyng & vertue. In which yere the .xviii. daye of February, the kyng at his palace of Westmynster, with all solēpnite created hys onely sonne Hēry prīce of Wales, erle of Chestre .&c. which noble yōgling succeded his father, not only in y^• inheritaūce & regalite, but also was to him equypolēt in honour, fame, learnyng & pollecye.

Maximilian the Emperour, hearinge that quene Elizabeth was de­ceased, sent into England a solempne Ambassade, of the which lord Ca­ [...]imire, Marques of Brandenburgh hys cosyn, accōpanyed with a bis­shop, an erle & a great nūber of gentlemē well appareyled, was princi­pall ambassadour, which were triūphantly receaued into Londō ▪ & was lodged at Crosbyes place. This Ambassade was sent for .iii. causes, one to visite & comforte the kyng, beyng sorowful & sad for the death of so good a quene & spouse. The .ii. for the renouacion of the olde league and amitie. The .iii. which was not apparaunt, was to moue the kynge to mary the Emperours daughter y^• lady Margaret, duches dowager of Sauoye. The first .ii. toke effect, for the kyng vpon Passion sunday roade to Paules in great triūphe, the said Marques [...]iding on his left­hand. And there the bishop made to the king an excellēt cōsolatorie oraciō, cōcerning the death of y^e quene. And there also y^e kyng opēly sware to kepe the new renouate league & amitie, during their .ii. lyues. But y^e third request, whether y^e let was on the mās parte or womās syde▪ neuer sorted to any effect or conclusion. And so these thinges done, the Ambas­sadours returned sumpteously and honorably rewarded.

All this wynter was preparaciō made for the conueya [...] ̄ce of the lady Margaret, affied to the kyng of Scottes into Scotland. And whē all thynges were ready and prest, the kyng remoued the last daye of Iuyn from Rychemond, hauyng in hys cōpany hys sayde daughter, & came to Colyweston, where the co [...] ̄tesse or Rychemond his motherthen laye. [Page] And after certayne dayes of solace ended, the kynge gaue her hys bles­synge with a fatherly exhortacion, and committed the cōueighaunce of her to the kynge her husbandes presence, to the erle of Surrey: and the erle of Northumberland was apoynted as Wardeyn of the marches to deliuer her at the confynes of both the marches. Thus this fayre lady was conueyghed with a great company of lordes, ladyes, knyghtes, es­quyers and gentlemen, tyl she came to Berwicke, and from thence to a village called Lambreton kyrke in Scotland, wherethe kyng with the floure of Scotlād 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 Iewels and massy chaynes: But aboue other the erle of Northumberland, what for the ryches of hys cote, beyng Goldsmy­thes worke, garnyshed with perle and stone, and what for the costly ap­parel of hys henxmen and galaunt trappers of their horsses, besides iiii. hundred tall men, well horssed and appareled in hys coolers, that he was estemed bothe of the Scottes & Englishmen, more lyke a prince then a subiect. Then was this lady conueyed to the toune of Edenbo­roughe, and there the daye after, kynge Iames the .iiii. in the presence of all hys nobilitie espoused thesayde faire princes, and feasted the En­glish lordes, and shewed to them Iustes and other pastymes, very ho­nourably, after the fassion of his rude countrey. When al thinges were done and finished, accordynge to their commission, the erle of Surrey with all the Englishe lordes and ladyes returned into their countrey. geuynge more prayse to the manhoode, then to the good maner & nur­ture of Scotlande.

The .xix. yere.

IN thys yere the kynge kepte his hygh courte of Parlia­ment, in the whiche diuerse actes were concluded, whyche were thought necessary and expedient for the preseruaciō of the publique weale. And emonge other thinges, it was determined that theues and murderers duely cōuicted by the lawe to dye, should be burned in the hand, and cōmitted to the Bis­shops custody as I haue before declared. After this, certayne money was graunted to the kynge, by the whole Parliament, and the goodes of men outlawed were forfeyted and confisqued. There was also called (as the maner is) a congregacion of the clergie, to thentent, that they w^t their treasure and money might auaūce and preferre the cōmon wealth of the realme.

Hetherto we haue shewed you rough and sharpe battailes, pernici­ous & sedicious, strife, tumulte, and the death of many noble & meane persons: Nowe therfore let vs here rehearse, the contencion of familier thinges, the g [...]awynge at the hartes, and the freating of myndes & vo­wes, [Page lvii] 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 commocion, in so muche that he more detested & abhorred intestine and priuate warre, then death or any thynge more terrible. Wherfore he determyned so pollitiquely to prouyde that all y^• causes of suche vnquyetnes and mischief to come, shoulde be eradicate and ext [...]rped: which ymaginacion and purpose he doubted not to com­passe and brynge to effect. If he made lowe and abated the courage of hys subiectes and vassalles, and especially of the rychest sorte, remem­brynge the olde prouerbe, that men throughe aboundaunce of ryches waxe more insolent, hedstronge and robustius, and that nothynge is more to men acceptable or desyrous, then aboūdaunce of treasure and plentye of money, whiche people either for feare of lo [...]ynge, or hope of gaynynge of worldly ryches▪ desyre euer either 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 wrongfully polle and exact money of hys subiectes, he deuysed wyth hym selfe by what honest meane he myght 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 pecuniall statutes, made and enacted for the preseruacion of the commen vtilitee and wealthe. And therefore, if in­quisicion were had of suche penall statutes, there should be fewe noble men, merchauntes, fermers, 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 thei that were founde offenders, were easely at the beginnynge 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 mastres 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 offendours, 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 doynges and cruell extremitie, accordyng to the Adage, the extremitie of iustice, is extreme iniurie.

¶The .xx. yere▪

[Page] THe kynge, after that he had gottē a large and ample sūme o [...] money, hauyng pitie of the people, whiche crye [...] to [...]od dayly for an ende of their pilf [...]ynge, of his [...] and gracious goodnes towardes his ende thought it [...], and thus determyned, that these two extreme [...] [...]h [...]ul [...]e be depryued of that office, and the money from whome it was vniu [...]ly [...]acted and extorted to be wholy restored and deliuered agayn: [...]hich beyng preuented with death, commaunded it by his last will and testa­ment to be duely and truly performed, but in the meane [...]eason many mens co [...]ers were emptied.

The xxi. yere▪

IN this very ceason, and the yere of our lord a. M.D. & .vi Elizabeth quene of Cas [...]e [...]l, wyfe to Ferdinande kynge of Arragon dyed without any issue ma [...]e, by reason whereof th [...]heritaunce of Castel (because that kyngdomes be not partible) discended to lady Iane her eldest daughter by [...] Ferdinando, the whiche was maryed to Philip archeduke 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 ye [...]e folowynge, aboute the .vi. daye of Ianuary, hauyng 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 tempe [...]t, by reason of contra [...]ete 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 separated 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 realme to the porte of Weymouth in Dorset shyre. Then kynge Philip which was not expert▪ and had not frequented the seas before, beynge fati­gate and vnquyeted bothe in mynde and body, entryng the ship boate to refreshe and repose hym selfe a litle, came a lande contrarye to the mynde of hys counsayll and capitaynes, whiche forsawe and knewe well that thesame landynge shoulde bee the occasion of lenger tariynge there. When it was knowen that straunge shyppes were arryued, there came thether a greate number aswell o [...] 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 chiefe of that company went to Philip kynge of Castell with all humanytie and lowlynes, inuytynge and desyrynge hym (if he woulde so vouchesaufe) to vysyte hys maner and mancion, whyche was euen nygh at hand, trustyng therby to haue great thākes of the kynge hys master, if he coulde protract and cause hym to tarye [Page lviii] there, vntyll suche tyme as kyng Henry were certefied of hys arryual, to whome with all diligent celerite, he sent dyuerse postes too notefie to hys grace of kynge Philippes landynge. This rumour beynge farther blowen abr [...]ade 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 Tren­chard entreated the kyng of Castell, not to depart vntill suche tyme as he had spoken with kyng Henry hys louinge and faythfull frende and allye, assuryng hym y^• he woulde repayre thether within .ii. or .iii. dayes at the most. King Philip excused him selfe by the necessitie of his weightie enterprice & importunate cause, affermyng that lōg tariyng in mat­ters of grauytie and dubious, ought to be excluded: wherefore he al­ledged that protractynge of tyme myght turne hym to great preiudice, denyenge at the first to exspect and tarye the commynge of the kyng of England. But yet beyng perswaded by reason in hym selfe, y^• he might be let and interrupted, if he woulde proffre once to go aborde too hys shyppes agayne, at their gentle desyre and louinge contemplacion, as­sented to their humble peticion and request.

When kynge Henry was informed of hys landynge, he was reple­nyshed with an exc [...]dynge gladnes, partely for to renew the olde fa­miliaritie and acquayntaunce, whiche they vsed at their last metynge, and partely for that he trusted that hys landynge in England should turne to hys proffite and commoditie. Therefore first he wrote many and diuers letters to syr Ihon Carew, and syr Thomas Trenchard, wyllinge and warnynge them withall kyndenes of humanitie to enter­teyne the kyng of Castel, tyll he in person approched in some place mete and conuenyent [...]or the entreuiewynge and entreteignynge of so noble a personage. Beside this he sent the erle of Arundell with many lordes and knyghtes to accompany and attende vpon hym. Whiche erle, ac­cordynge to the kynges letters receaued hym with .iii.C. horsses all by torche light to the great admiracion of all the straungiers.

Kynge Philip seyng no remedy, but that he must nedes tarie & abide, woulde no lenger gase after kynge Henryes commynge, but tooke hys iourney towardes Wynsore Castell where the kynge laye. And fyue myle from Wynsore, the prynce of Wales accōpanyed with fyue erles and dyuerse lordes and knyghtes, and other to the numbre of fyue hū ­dred persons, moost gorgeously appareled and richely mounted, recea­ued him after the moost honorablest fassion of entreteinmēt. And with­in halfe a myle of Wyndsore, the kynge accompanyed with the duke of Buckyngham, and a great parte of the nobilitie of hys realme, saluted and welcommed hym, and so conueyed hym to the castell of Wynsore, where besyde many triumphs and pastymes shewed, he was made cō ­paignion of the noble ordre of the Gartier. After hym came to Wyn­sore hys wyfe quene Iane, suster to the prynces dowager, late wyfe to [Page] pryn [...] Arthur. And after they two had concluded and renouate their olde league, a [...]d made a perpetuall peace and continuall amitie toge­ther: Kynge Henry desyred hym to haue Edmōd de la poole e [...]le 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 dominion, and therfore it laye not in his powre to rendre or deliuer him. Although he considred it to be a heynous & great offēce to be the occasiō & authour of the death of his g [...]st, which came to him [...]or succour, & was receaued vnder his proteccion and defence, yet when he perceaued that neither excuse, nor yet reasonoble argumente coulde be accepted or allowed of kyng He [...]ry (which promised faithfully of hys awne offre to pardon, Edmond de la poole, of all paynes and execuciōs o [...] death) he promysed and graunted to do and accomplishe all kynge Henryes desyre & request: And so incont [...]ent caused thesayde Edmōd secretly to be sent for. After this kyng Henry entending to protract the tyme till he might possesse his praye, which he sore desyr [...]d, cōueyed the kyng of Castell vnto the citie o [...] London, that he might see the hed citie o [...] hys 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 wonderfull peale of gunnes oute of the Towre, into the whiche he would not [...]ntre, because (as you haue heard before) he had auowed not to [...]ntre the fortresse of any for [...]yn prince, in y^• which a garison was maynteyned: And there tariynge a litle space, returned backe with him. Then [...]rom London the kyng brought him to Riche­mond, where were many notable [...]eates of armes proued bothe at the tylt and at the tourney and at the barriers.

In the meane ceason, Edmond de la poole whiche euer feared & mi­s [...]ru [...]ed, that the arriuyng in England of kyng Philip shoulde be hys [...] and finall▪ de [...]ruccion, perceauinge well that there was no fart [...]er hope to be had in foreyn princes and potentates, and trustynge that [...] his life to hym once graūted, that kyng Henry would briefly set hym at his libertie and [...]redome was in maner content to returne a­gayne into hys natiue countrey, castynge in hys mynde farther, that if his hope and trust were defrauded and refelled yet at the last he was sure to ende hys li [...]e, and be buryed in the countrey where he first en­tred into this variable worlde.

When all pa [...]tes and couenauntes betwene the kinges of England and Castell were appoynted, couenaunted and agreed: Kynge Philip toke hys leaue of kyng Henry, rendryng to hym moost hartie thankes for his high chere and princely entreteynmēt. And beyng accompanied with diuerse lordes of England, came to the citie of Excettre, and so to Fulmouth in Cornewale, and there tooke his shippe and sayled into Sp [...]yne▪ where he shortly beynge taken with a sodeyn disease, depar­ted oute of this transitorie life, beynge then but .xxx. yeres of age. He had by hys wyfe and quene Iane .vi. children, two men childrē Charles [Page lix] and Ferdinand, and foure daughters, Eleanor, Isabel, Mary and Ka­therin. He was a man of stature conuenient, of countenaunce amiable and louely,The descrip­cion of kynge Philip. of body somewhat crasse and corpulēt, quycke wytted, bold and hardy stomaked. This tempest that the kyng of Castell had, was wonderfull straunge to many men, because the violencie of the wynde had blowen doune an Egle of brasse, beynge set to shewe and manifest on which parte y^• wynd blew, frō 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 Chepeside. And here vpō, mē that were studious of straunge tokens and monstreous wonders▪ dyd take an opinion that the Emperour Maximilian, whiche at that tyme gaue an Egle in his armes, should haue a great losse, whyche so happe­ned in dede: For he lost hys onely begotten sonne Philip, newly called to the kyngdome of Castell.

Also, shortely after the departynge of kyng Philip, the king of Eng­lande beganne to suspect Syr George Neuell lorde of Burgeyny, and syr Thomas Grene, of Grenes Norton knyght, that they were con [...]e­dered fautours and partakers, in the beginnynge with Edmond de la poole, and so vpon thys suspicion, thei were cōmaunded to the Towre. But shortly after when they had ben tryed and purged of that suspiciō and cryme, he commaunded theim bothe to be set at libertie. But syr Thomas Grene fell sycke before, and contynued 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, faythfull and co [...]stant, was of hys souereigne lorde more estemed, fauoured and re­garded then he was before.

¶The .xxii. yere.

AFt [...]r this, the kynge hauynge peace aswell with foreyne pr [...]ces▪ for the terme of .iij. yeres, as d [...]burdened and purified of all domesticall sedicion, beganne to be disea [...]ed with a certayne infirmitie and wekenes of body, whiche thryse in the yere▪ but especially in the sprynge tyme sore vexed & tormented hym. And because for the most parte, the harme and euell that chaunceth to the prynce, is parted and com­municat [...] to hys subiectes and people, the olde sweatynge whereof you heard before emongest the commons of the realme, came agayne. How­beit by the reason of the remedy that was inuēted by the death of many a creature in the beginnynge, it dyd lesse hurte and displeasure to the people at this tyme then it did before. But nowe the thyrde plague egall with the pestilence ensued by the woorkynge of the masters of the for [...]aytures by the kynge appoynted as I shewed you before.

[Page] By whose meanes many a ryche and welthy person, by the exstremyte of the lawes of the realme, were condempned and brought to misery.

The mattre is as wonderfull to be heard, as pitefull and miserable to be done, and yet it is called the law, where as it is rather peruerse abuse and disordre of a lawe, polletiquely at the beginnyng inuented to cause the people, the soner to conforme them selues to such as demaund their right of them, but craftely practised to the vtter confusion of many by vntrue officiers. For if a man put his aduersary in suyte before y^• Iud­ges, of whiche cōplaynt or acciō he neither thinketh nor hath knowlege if he appere not at the last callyng 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 frō that place) then doeth he forfet all hys substaunce and mouables, and hys body to cap­tiuitie as an enemy, and rebel to the lawes of hys countrey. And yet the prynce shall enioye the goodes so confiscate▪ and the party cōpleynaūt or playntife that is wronged recouereth not one myte, and yet loseth bothe hys payne and costes. And all suche persons that be so condemp­ned and adiudged, be called outlawes, that is depryued of all lawes of the lande to the whiche he was by the custome of the countrey inherita­ble. These out [...]aries, 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, hauinge 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 to clere and gyltles, in conclusion durst auenture a tryall, [...]eynge the experience o [...] them that pass [...]d before. For these two [...] wolues had suche a garde of false periured persons apperteig [...]ynge to them, which were by their commaundemēt empanyeled on eu [...]ry quest, that the king was sure to wynne whosoeuer lost. Learned men in the lawe, when they were requyred of their aduice▪ would saye, to agree is the best counsayll that I can geue you. By this vndewe [...]anes, these couetous persones [...]il­led the kynges cofers▪ and enryched thē selues. And at this vnreasona­ble and extorte doynge, noble men grudged, meane men kycked, poore men lamented preachers openly at Paules crosse and other pla [...]es ex­clamed, rebuked and detested, but yet they would neuer amende. Howe­beit the good kynge in his last dayes cōserued and pardoned his poore subiectes of such vncharitable yokes and ponderous burdens as they were laden withall.

In this season Alexāder bishop of Rome departed out of this world, and for hym was elected Fraūces borne Senes, 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 beyng glad of his high promocion and dignitie, sent syr Eylbert Tal­bot knyght, Rychard Bere Abbot of Glalc [...]nbury, and doctor Robert [Page lx] Sherborne d [...]ane of Paules, to declare to him what gladnes [...]ntred into the kynges hart, when he hearde tell of his hygh pre [...]erment and honour. But this bishop Pius did not espect and tary the gratulaciōs of these Ambassadours, for within a moneth a [...]ter that he was [...] he rendred hys debt to nature, hauyng small pleasure of his promo [...]iō. At this same tyme also dyed Gyles, lorde Dawbeney, the kynges chiefe chamberleyn, whose office Charles bastard sonne of Henry la [...] d [...]ke of Somerset occupied and enioyed, a man of a good wyt and great expe­rience.

The .xxiii. yere.

SOne after, y^• kyng caused Guy Ubald duke of Urbyne to be elected, knyght of the ordre of the gartier, a noble war­riour, and in the Greke & Latyn tounges excellently lea [...] ­ned. And this honour and high dignitie, this duke desired instantly to haue, y^• he might be equyualent in all degrees of honour and nobilitie with his father, duke Frederick a prince in his tyme of high renoune and estimacion, whiche was receaued & chosen into that ordre by kyng Edward the .iiii. And because it was noysed that Iuly the seconde, a Ianuway borne, was after the death of Pius, elected to be bishop of Rome. The kyng entendinge to stoppe two gap­pes with one bushe, sent syr Gylbert Talbot and the other two Ambas­sadours, principally to bishop Iuly, and by theim sent also to the duke of Urbyne, the whole habite and coller of the noble ordre of the gar­ [...]ier. When duke of Guy was reuested with the habit, and had taken his othe, accordinge to the statutes of the ordre: He sent syr Balthaser de Castellio knyght a Mantuane borne, his Oratour to kynge Henry, whiche was for him enstalled, according to the ordinaunces of that fa­mous ordre.

While these thinges were in doynge, Lewes the Frenche kynge mi­strus [...]ing that he should neuer haue manchilde, maried his eldest dau­ghter lady Claude to Fraūces de Ualoys, dolphyn of Uyen and duke of Angulesme: Whiche lady was promised a litle before to Charles the kyng of Castell. When kynge Henry knew of this, he thought best to mary his daughter lady Mary to this Charles kynge of Castel, beyng almost bothe of one age, and therefore Ambassadours we [...]e sent to and [...]ro, and at the last, the mariage was concluded and confirmed by the meanes of the bishop of Wynchester, chiefe Ambassadoure for the king at C [...]l [...]ys, and so the lady Mary beyng of the age of .x. yeres, was pro­mysed to kyng Charles. For conclusion of whiche mariage, the lord of Barow, and diuerse great Ambassadours were sent into England frō the Emperour Maximilian, which had great rewardes and returned.

¶The .xxiiii. yere.

[Page] NOwe approched the ende & terme of the .iii. yeres of peace that I spake of before, at whiche tyme kyng Henry thou­ght his fatal daye to be at hand: For his sickenes encrea­sed daily more and more, so that he might easely perceaue that death was not farre of tariyng hys praye: Therfore lyke a good prynce, desiring to exhibite some gratuitie to hys people y^• he might be had in memory after his disease, graūted of his great libe­ralite a general pardon to all men, for all offences done, & perpetrate a­gaynst hys lawes and statutes. But because murtherers & theues were not onely offenders to him, but also to other, he excepted them & some o­ther out of his pardō. He paide also the fees of all prisoners in y^e gayles in and aboute Londō, abyding their only for that duety. He payde also the debtes of al such persons as laye in the counters of Londō, or Lud­gate for .xl.s & vnder, & some he releued that were condempned in .x.l.