Notes of the Chronicle historie.

IN the Cretean Labyrinth a monster was inclosed, called a Mino­taur, the history wherof is well knowne, but the Labyrinth was framed by Daedalus, w so many intricate waies, y being entred, one could either hardly or neuer return, being in maner of a maze, saue [Page] that it was larger, the waies being walld in on euery side, out of the which Theseus by Ariadnes help (lending him a clue of thred) esca­ped. Some report that it was a house, hauing one halfe beneath the ground, another aboue, the chamber doores therein so deceit­fully enwrapped, & made to open so many sundry wayes, that it was held a matter almost impossible to returne.

Some haue held it to haue been an Allegorie of mans life, true it is, that the comparison will hold, for what liker to a Labyrinth then the maze of life? But it is affirmed by antiquitie that there was indeede such a building, though Daedalus beeing a name ap­plied to the workmans excellencie, make it suspected; for Daedalus is nothing els but ingenious, or artificiall. Heereupon it is vsed a­mong the auncient Poets for any thing curiously wrought.

Rosamonds Labyrinth, whose ruins together with her well being paued with square stone in the bottom, and also her towre from which the [...] did run, (are yet remaining,) was altogether vnder ground, being vanlts arched and waled with brick & stone, almost inextricably wound one within another, by which if at a­ny time her lodging were layd about by the Queene, she might ea­sily auoyde perrill imminent, & if neede be, by secrete issues take the ayre abroad, many furlongs round about Wodstocke in Ox­fordshire, wherein it was situated. Thus much for Rosamands La­byrinth.

Maeander is a riuer in Lycia, a Prouince of Natolia or Asia minor, famous for the sinuositie and often turning thereof, rifing frō cer­taine hills in Maeonia, heereupon are intricate turnings by a trans­sumptiue and Metonimicall kind of speech, called Maeanders, sor this riuer did so strangely path it selfe, that the foote seemed to touch the head.

It might be reported, how at Godstow where this Rose of the world was sumptuously interred, a certaine Bishop in the visitati­on of his diocese, caused the monument which had been erected to [...] honour, vtterly to be demolished, but be that seuere chastise­ment of Rosamond then dead at this time also ouerpassed, least she should seeme to be the Shame of the world.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

RObert Earle of Leicester, who tooke part with young king Hen­ry, entred into England with an Army of 3. thousand Flem­mings, and spoyled the Countryes of Norfolke and Suffolke, bee­ing succoured by many of the Kings priuate enemies.

King Henry the second, the first Plantaginet, accused for the death of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, slaine in the Cathedrall Church, was accursed by Pope Alexander, although he [Page] vrgd sufficient proofe of his innocencie in the same, and offered to take vpon him any pennance, so he might escape the curse & in­terdiction of the Realme.

Henry the young King, whom King Henry had caused to bee crowned in his life, (as he hoped) both for his owne good & the good of his subiects, which indeede turned to his owne sorrowe, and the trouble of the whole Realme, for he rebelled against him, and raysing a power, by the meanes of Lewes King of Fraunce, & William King of Scots who tooke part with him, inuaded [...].

Neuer King more infortunate then King Henry in the disobedi­ence of his chyldren; first Henry, then Geffery, then Richard, then Iohn, all at one time or other, first or last, vnnaturally rebelled a­gainst him; then the iealoufie of Ellinor his Queene, who suspec­ted his loue to Rosamond: which grecuous troubles, the deuout of those times, attrybuted to happen vnto him iustly, for refusing to take vpon him the gouernment of Ierusalem, offered vnto him by the Patriarck there, which Countrey was mightily afflicted by the Souldane.

This Vahan was a Knight whom the King exceedingly loued, who kept the Pallace at Woodstocke, and much of the Kinges iewels and treasure, to whom the King committed many of his secrets, and in whom hee reposed such trust, that hee durst com­mit his loue into his charge.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

THis Epistle of K, Iohn to Matilda, is much more poetical then historicall, making no mention at all of the occurrents of the time, or state, touching only his loue to her, & the extremity of his passions forced by his desires, rightly fashioning the humo of this King as it hath been truly noted by the best & most autenti­call Writers, whose nature and disposition, is truliest discerned in the course of his loue; first resting at the ceremonies of the ser­uices of those tymes, then going about by all strong and pro­bable arguments, to reduce her to pleasures and delights, next with promises of honour, which he thinketh to be last and grea­test meane, and to haue greatest power in her sexe; with promise of calling home of her friends, which he thought might be a great inducement to his desires.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

THis Epistle, containeth no particuler poynts of historie, more then the generallity of the argument layeth open, for after the banishment of the Lord Robert Fitzwater, and that [...] was become a Recluse at Dunmowe, (from whence this reply is ima­gined to bee written,) the King still earnestly persisting in his sute, [Page] Matilda with this chast & constant deniall, hopeth yet at length to find some comfortable remedy, and to rid herselfe of doubts, by taking vpon her this monasticke habite, and to shew that shee still beareth in minde his former crueltie, bred by the impatience of his lust, she remembreth him of her fathers banishment, & the lawlesse exile of her alies and friends.

Then complayning of her distresse, that flying thether, thinking there to finde releefe, she sees herselfe most assayld where she ho­ped to haue found most safetie.

After againe, standing vpon the precise poynts of conscience, not to cast off this habite she had taken,

And at last laying open more particulerly the miseries sustained by her Father in England, the burning of his Castles and houses, which she proueth to be for her sake: as respecting onely her ho­nour, more then his natiue country and his owne fortunes.

Knitting vp her Epistle with a great and constant resolution,

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

MOrtimer beeing in the Tower, and ordayning a feast, in honour of his birth-day, as he pretended: and inuiting there-vnto Sir Stephen Segraue Constable of the Tower, with the rest of the offi­cers belonging to the same, hee gaue them a sleepie drinke, proui­ded him by the Queene, by which meanes hee got libertie for his escape.

Mortimer being gotte out of the Tower, swamme the riuer of Thames into Kent, whereof shee hauing intelligence, doubteth of his strength to escape, by reason of his long imprisonment, being almost the space of three yeeres.

Edward Carnaruan, the first prince of Wales of the English blood, married Isabell, daughter of Phillip the faire, at Bulloyne, in the presence of the Kings of Almaine, Nauarre, and Cicile, with the chiefe Nobilitie of Fraunce and Englande, which marriage vvas there solemnized with exceeding pompe and magnificence.

Noting the effeminacie and luxurious wantonnes of Gaueston the Kings Minion; his behauiour and attire euer so womanlike, to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince.

It was vrged by the Queene and the Nobilitie, in the disgrace of Piers Gaueston, that his mother was conuicted of witchcraft, and burned for the same, and that Piers had bewitched the King.

Albania, Scotland so called of Albanact, the seconde sonne of Brutus, and Cambria, Wales, so called of Camber the third sonne, the foure [...] and Countries, brought in subiection by Ed­ward Longshanks.

A complaynt of the prodigalitie of King Edward, giuing vnto Gaueston the iewells & treasure which was left him by the aun­cient Kings of England; and enriching him with the goodly Ma­nor of Wallingforde, assigned as parcell of the dower, to the Queenes of this famous Ile.

Edward the second, gaue to Piers Gaueston in marriage, the daughter of Gilbert Clare, Earle of Glocester, begot of the Kinges sister, Ioane of Acres, married to the said Earle of Gloster.

King Edward offered his right in Fraunce to Charles his brother in law, and his right in Scotland to Robert Bruse, to bee ayded a­gainst the Barrons, in the quarrell of Piers Gaueston.

Edward Longshanks on his death-bed at Carlile, commaunded young Edward his sonne on his blessing, not to call backe Gaue­ston, which (for the misguiding of the Princes youth) was be­fore banished by the whole counsell of the land.

Thomas, Earle of Lancaster, Guy, Earle of VVarwicke, & Henry Earle of Lincolne, who had taken theyr oathes before the deceas­sed King at his death, to withstand his sonne Edward if he should call Gaueston from exile, beeing a thing which hee much feared: now seeing Edward to violate his Fathers commaundement, rise in Armes against the King, which was the cause of the ciuile war, and the ruine of so many Princes.

The two Hugh Spensers, the Father & the sonne, after the death of Gaueston, became the great fauorites of the King, the sonne be­ing created by him Lord Chamberlaine, and the Father Earle of Winchester.

Edward Longshanks, did homage for those Citties and territories to the French King, which Edward the second neglecting, moued the French King, by the subbornation of Mortimer, to ceaze those Countries into his hands.

Wigmore in the marches of Wales, was the ancient house of the Mortimers, that noble and couragious familie.

The Queene remembreth the great ouerthrowe giuen to the Barrons, by Andrew Herckley, Earle of Carlill, at Borrough bridge, after the battaile at Burton.

Thys was Adam Torlton, bishop of Herford, that great polititi­an, who so highly fauoured the faction of the Queene and Morti­mer, whose euill counsell afterward wrought the destruction of the King.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

ROger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, had stood publiquely con­demned, for his insurrection with Thomas Earle of Lancaster, [Page] and Bohun Earle of Herford, by the space of three months; and as the report went, the day of his execution was determined to haue beene shortly after, which he preuented by his escape.

At what time the two Mortimers, this Roger Lord of Wigmore, and his vncle Roger Mortimer the elder, were apprehended in the West, the Qeene (by meanes of Torlton Bishop of Herford, and Becke Bishop of Duresme and Patriarck of Ierusalem, beeing then both mightie in the state, vpon the submission of the Mortimers, somewhat pacified the King, and nowe secondly shee wrought meanes for his escape.

With strong ladders made of cordes prouided him for the pur­pose, he escaped out of the Tower, which when the same vvere found fastened to the walls, in such a desperate attempt they bred astonishment to the beholders.

The two Hugh Spensers, the Father and the sonne, then beeing so highly fauoured of the King, knew that theyr greatest safety came by his exile, whose high and turbulent spirit, could neuer brooke any corriuall in greatnes.

Roger Mortimer, called the great Lorde Mortimer, Grandfather to this Roger, which was afterward the first Earle of March, ree­rected againe the Round-table at Kenelworth, after the auncient order of King Arthurs table, with the retinue of a hundred knights and a hundred Ladies in his house, for the entertaining of such aduentures as came thether from all parts of Christendome.

Edward Longshanks willed at his death, that his body should bee boyled the flesh from the bones, & that the bones should be borne to the warres in Scotlande, which hee was perswaded vnto by a prophecie, which told that the English should still be fortunate in conquest, so long as his bones were carried in the field.

In the great voyage Edward the second made against the Scots, at the battell at Striueling, neere vnto the riuer of Banocksburne, [Page 25] in Scotland, where there was in the English Campe such banquet­ting & excesse, such riot and misorder, that the Scots, (who in the meane time laboured for aduantage) gaue to the English a great and fearefull ouerthrowe.

Mortimer so called of Mare Mortuum, & in French, Mort mer: in English the Dead sea, which is sayd to be, where Sodome and Gomorra once were, before they were destroyed by fire frō hea­uen.

Gaustelinus and Lucas, two Cardinalls, sent into England from Pope Clement, to appease the auncient hate betweene the King & Thomas Earle of Lancaster, to whose Embassie the King seemed to yeeld vnto, but after theyr departure he went backe from his promises, for which he was accursed at Rome.

A Colonie is a sort or number of people, that came to inhabite a place before not inhabited, whereby he seemeth here to prophe­cie of the subuersion of the Lande; the Pope ioyning with the power of other Princes, against Edward for the breach of his pro­mise.

Charles the French King, mooued by the wrong done vnto his sister, ceazeth the Prouinces which belonged to the King of Eng­land, into his hands, stirred the rather thereto by Mortimer, who solicited her cause in Fraunce, as is expressed before in the other Epistle, in the Glosse vpon this poynt.

After the death of Thomas Earle of Lancaster at Pomfret, the the people imagined great miracles to be done by his reliques: as they did of the body of Bohun Earle of Herford, slaine at Borough bridge.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

POmfret Castle euer a fatall place to the Princes of England, & most ominous to the blood of Plantaginet.

When Bullenbrooke returned to England from the West, bring­ing Richard a prisoner with him, the Queene, who little knewe of her husbands hard successe, stayd to behold his comming in, little thinking to haue seene her husband thus led in triumph by his foe, and now seeming to hate her eyes, that so much had graced her mortall enemie.

She remembreth the meeting of the two Dukes, of Herford and Norfolke at Couentry, vrging the iustnes of Mowbrayes quarrell against the Duke of Herforde, and the faithfull assurance of his victory.

Charles the French King her father, receiued the Duke of Her­ford [Page] into his Court, and releeu'd him in Fraunce, being so neerly alied, as Cosin german to King Richard his sonne in Lawe, which hee did simply, little thinking that hee shoulde after returne into England, and dispossesse King Richard of the crowne.

King Richard made a voyage with his Armie into Ireland, a­gainst Onell and Mackemur which rebelled, at what time Henry en­tred heere at home, and rob'd him of all kingly dignitie.

William Wickham, in the great quarrell betwixt Iohn of Gaunt & the Clergie, of meere spight and mallice (as it should seeme) re­ported that the Queene confessed to him on her death-bed, being then her Confessor, that Iohn of Gaunt was the sonne of a Flem­ming, & that she was brought to bed of a woman child at Gaunt, which was smothered in the cradle by mischance, and that shee obtained this child of a poore woman, making the King beleeue it was her owne, greatly fearing his displeasure. Fox. ex Chron. Albani.

Shewing the true and indubitate birth of Richard, his right vnto the Crowne of England, as carrying the Armes without blot or difference.

Edmond Mortimer Earle of March, sonne of Earle Roger Morti­mer, which was sonne to Lady Phillip daughter to Lionell Duke of Clarence, the third sonne to King Edward the third, which Ed­mond, (King Richard going into Ireland) was proclaimed heyre apparant to the Crowne, whose Aunt called Ellinor, this Lorde Percie had married.

Richard the second, his first wife was Anne, daughter to the K. of Beame, which liued not long with him, and after, hee married this Isabell, daughter to Charles, King of Fraunce. This Princesse was very young, and not marriageable when shee came first into England.

The Abbot of Westminster had plotted the death of King Henry, to haue beene doone at a Tylt at Oxford; of which con­fedracie there was, Iohn Holland, Duke of Excester, Thomas Hol­land, Duke of Surry, the Duke of Aumerle, Mountacute, Earle of Salisbury, Spenser Earle of Gloster, the Bishop of Carlile, Sir Tho­mas Blunt, these all had bound themselues one to another by In­denture to performe it, but were all betrayd by the Duke of Au­merle.

Henry going towards the Castle of Flint, where King Richard was, caused Scroope, Greene, and Bushie, to be executed at Bristow' as vile persons, which had seduced this King to this lasciuious & wicked life.

After Henries exile, at his returne into England, hee tooke his oth at Doncaster vpon the Sacrament, not to clayme the crowne, or kingdome of England, but onely the dukedome of Lancaster, his owne proper right, and the right of his wife.

This was the braue couragious Henry Hote-spurre, that obtay­ned so many victories against the Scots, which after falling out right with the curse of Queene Isabell, was slaine by Henry, at the battaile at Shrewsburie.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

RIchard the second, at the resignation of the Crowne to his Co­sin Henry in the Tower of London, at the deliuery of the same [Page] with his owne hand, confessed himselfe to be vnable to gouerne, denounced all kingly dignitie; so that hee might onely haue his life.

Before the Princesse Isabell was married to Richard the second, Lewes Duke of Burbon sued to haue had her in marriage, which it was thought he had obtained, if this motion had not [...] out in the meane time; this Duke of Burbon sued againe to haue re­ceiued her at her comming into Fraunce, after the imprisonment of King Richard, but King Charles her Father then crost him as be­fore, and gaue her to Charles, sonne to the Duke of Orleance.

Henry the eldest sonne of Iohn of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, which at the first was Earle of Darbie, then created Duke of Her­ford, but after the death of Iohn of Gaunt his Father, was Duke of Lancaster, and Herford, Earle of Darby, Leicester, and Lincolne, and after he had obtained the Crowne, was called by the name of Henry of Bullenbrooke, which is a towne in Lincolne shiere, as vsually all the Kings of England bare the name of the places where they were borne.

Remembring the famous victory Edward the third their Grand­father obtained at Cressy, where were almost slaine all the Nobili­tie of Fraunce, where the Frenchmen lost all their ancient glory.

Edward the third, by the conquest of Fraunce, ioyned the Lil­lies or Flower-delices, which is the Armes of Fraunce, with the Lyons, the Armes of England, which coate first came from Nor­mandie by the Conquerer, remaining in the right of his possession.

Edward the third had seauen sonnes, his eldest Edward Prince of Wales, after called the blacke Prince, William of Hatfielde his second, Lionell Duke of Clarence the third, Iohn of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster the fourth, Edmond of Langley, Duke of Yorke the fift, Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Gloster the sixt, and William [Page 34] of Windsore the seauenth.

Truely boasting himselfe, to bee the eldest sonne of the eldest Brother, which was Edward the blacke Prince.

By this disabling Henry Bullenbrooke, beeing the sonne but of a fourth brother, William & Lionell being both before Iohn of Gaunt.

Noting the courage of his Father, which set Petro the King of Castile in his kingdome, when hee was expulsed by his bastard brother.

The blacke Prince tooke King Iohn of Fraunce prysoner, at the battaile of Poycters, and brought him into England, where hee dyed at the Sauoy.

By this reprouing his owne weakenes and cowardize, who had suffered himselfe to be expulsed his kingdome by a subiect, and one so much inferior to himselfe in greatnes.

In the first parliament that Henry called after Richard had resig­ned the Crowne, hee anihilated all the lawes that were made in the parliament called the wicked parliament, held in the 20. yeere of King Richards raigne.

When the Combat shoulde haue beene at Couentry, betwixt Henry Duke of Herford, and Mowbray Duke of Norfolke, the Cō ­mons mourned exceedingly, after they heard that Herford was adiuged by the King to be banished for tenne yeeres, so greatlie was he alwaies fauoured of the people.

When Henry Duke of Herford came to Eltham to take his leaue of King Richard, the King (to please the Commons rather then for any loue he bare to Herford,) plucked backe foure yeeres of his banishment.

Thomas of Woodstocke, Duke of Gloster, the Kings vnckle, who had oftr reproued this youthfull Kings insolence, was put to death at Callice, by the commaundement of this Richard, his vn­naturall kinsman.

A prophecie of Richard Crookebacke the Tyrant, which after was the onely scourge and plague of both the houses of Yorke & Lan­caster, and the death of many great Princes.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

HEnry the [...] making clayme vnto the Crowne of Fraunce, first sought by Armes to subdue the French, and after sought by marriage to confirme what he got by conquest, the heate and fu­rie of which inuasion, is aluded to the fiction of Semele in Ouid: which by the craftie perswasion of Iuno, requested Ioue to come vnto her as he was wont to come vnto his wife Iuno, who at her request he yeelding vnto, destroyed her in a tempest.

Neere vnto Melans, vpon the riuer of Seyne, was the appoin­ted place of parley between the two Kings of England, & Fraunce, to which place, Isabell the Queene of Fraunce, and the Duke of Burgoyne, brought the young Princesse Katherine, where King Henry first saw her.

Henry the fift, and Queene Katherine, were taken as King and Queene of Fraunce; & during the life of Charles the French king, Henry was called King of England, and heire of Fraunce, and af­ter the death of Henry the fift, Henry the sixt his sonne, then beeing very young, was crowned at Paris, as true and lawfull King of England and Fraunce.

Troy in Champayne, was the place where that victorious king Henry the fift married the Princesse Katherine, in the presence of the chiefe Nobilitie of the Realmes of England and of Fraunce.

Fewe Queenes of England, or Fraunce, were euer more prince­ly alied then this Queene, as it hath beene noted by Historiogra­phers.

Noting the descent of Henry her husband, from Iohn Duke of Lancaster, the fourth sonne of Edward the third, which Duke Iolm was surnamed Gaunt, of the Cittie of Gaunt in Flaunders, where he was borne.

Aluding the greatnes of the English line, to Phoebus and Phoebe, fained to be the children of Latona, whose heauenly kinde might scorne to be ioyned with any earthly progenie; yet withall, boa­sting the blood of Fraunce, as not inferior to theirs. And with this allusion followeth on the history of the strife betwixt Iuno & the race of Cadmus, whose issue was afflicted by the wrath of heauen. The chyldren of Niohe slaine, for which the wofull mother be­came a Rocke, gushing forth continually a fountaine of teares.

Lhewellin, or Leolin ap Iorwerth, marryed Ioan, daughter to King Iohn, a most beautifull Lady. Some Authors affirme shee was base borne. Lhewellin ap Gryfith maried Ellinor, daughter to Simon Mont­fort Earle of Leicester, and Cosin to Edward Longshankes, both which Lhewellins were Princes of Wales.

Camilot, the auncient Pallace of King Arthur, to which place all the Knights of that famous order yeerely repayred at Penticost, according to the law of the Table, & most of the famous home­borne Knights were of that Country, as to this day is perceaued by theyr auncient monuments.

Noting the ill successe which that William Rufus had in two voi­ages he made into Wales, in which a number of his chiefe Nobi­litie were slaine.

Noting the diuers sundry incursians that the Welchmen made into England, in the time of Rufus, Iohn, Henry the second, and Longshanks.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

THe Armes of Tudor was the Helmes, or mens heads, whereof he speaketh as a thing prophetically fore-told of Merlin.

Owen Tudor, beeing a courtly and actiue Gentleman, cōmaun­ded once to daunce before the Queene, in a turne (not beeing a­ble to recouer himselfe) fell into her lap, as shee sate vpon a little stoole, with many of her Ladies about her.

This Berdh, as they call it in the Brittish tongue, or as we more properly say Bard, or Bardus be theyr Poets, which keepe the re­cords of Pedigrees and descents, and sing in oades and measures to theyr Harps, after the old manner of the Lirick Poets.

Cadwallader the last King of the Brittaines, descended of the no­ble and auncient race of the Troyans, to whom an Angell appea­red, commaunding him to goe to Rome to Pope Sergius, where he ended his life.

Cair-Septon, now called Shaftsbury, at whose building it was sayd an Eagle prophecied (or rather one named Aquilla) of the fame of that place, and of the recouery of the Ile by the Brittains bringing backe with them the bones of Cadwallader from Rome.

This Eneon was slaine by the Rebells of Gwentsland, he was a noble and worthy Gentleman, who in his life did many noble acts, and was father to Theodor, or Tudor Maur, of whom descen­ded the Princes of South-wales.

Guenellian the daughter of Rees ap Griffeth, ap Theodor, Prince of South-wales, maried to Edniuet Vahan, auncestor to Owen Tudor.

This is that Lewhelin, called Leolinus magnus, Prince of North­wales.

In the voyage that Henry the second made against the Welch­men, as his souldiers passed Offas ditch at Croggen Castell, they were ouerthrowne by the Welchmen, which word Croggen, hath since been vsed to the Welchmens disgrace, which was at first be­gun with theyr honour.

Caer Merdin, or Merlins Towne, so called of Merlins beeing sound there; This was Ambrose Merlin, whose prophecies vvee haue. There was another of that name, called Merlin Siluestris, borne in Scotland, surnamed Calidonius, of the Forrest Calidon, where he prophecied.

The Welchmen be those auncient Brittaines, which when the Picks, Danes, and Saxons inuaded heere, were first driuen into those parts, where they haue kept theyr language euer since the first, without commixtion with any other language.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

HE alludes in these verses to the Faulcon, which was the aunci­ent deuice of the Poles, comparing the greatnes and haughti­nes of his spirit, to the nature of this byrd.

The Commons, at this Parliament, through Warwickes meanes, accused Suffolke of treason, & vrged the accusation so vehemently that the King was forced to exile him for fiue yeeres.

The Duke of Suffolke beeing sent into Fraunce to conclude a peace, chose Duke Rayners daughter, the Lady Margaret, whom he espoused for Henry the sixt, deliuering for her to her Father, the Countries of Aniou and Maine, & the Cittie of Mauns. Where­vpon the Earle of Arminack (whose daughter was before promi­sed to the King) seeing himselfe to be mocked, caused all the Eng­lish men to be expulsed out of Aquitaine, Gascoyne, & Guyne.

This Richard that was called the great Earle of Warwick, when Duke Humfrey was dead, grewe into exceeding great fauour with the Commons.

Richard Plantaginet, Duke of Yorke, in the the time of Henrie the sixt, claymed the Crowne, (beeing assisted by this Richard Ne­uell Earle of Salisburie, and Father to the great Earle of Warwicke, who fauoured exceedingly the house of Yorke) in open parlia­ment, as heyre to Lionell Duke of Clarence, the third sonne of Ed­ward the third, making his title by Anne his mother, wife to Ri­chard Earle of Cambridge, sonne to Edmond of Langley, Duke of Yorke; which Anne, was Daughter to Roger Mortimer Earle of March, which Roger, was sonne and heyre to Edmond Mortimer, [Page] [...] married the Lady Phillip, Daughter and heire to Lionell Duke of Clarence, the third sonne of King Edward, to whō the crowne after Richard the seconds death lineally discended he dying with­out issue. And not to the heires of the Duke of Lancaster, that was younger Brother to the Duke of Clarence. Hall cap. 1. Tit. [...] or. & Lanc.

Humfrey Duke of Glocester, and Lorde Protectour, in the [...]. yeare of Hen. 6. was by the meanes of the Queene, and the Duke of Suffolk was atested by y^e Lord Beumond at the Parliament [...] at Berry, and the same night after murthered in his bed.

In these verses her iests at the Protectours wife, who being [...] and conuicted of treason, because with Iohn Hun a Priest, Roger Bollingbrooke a Negromancer, and Margery Iordane called the Witch of Ely, shee had consulted and agreed by Sorcery to kill [...] King, was adiudged to perpetuall pryson in the Ile of Man, and [...] doo penaunce openly in three publique places in London.

In the 6. yeare of Hen. the 6. the Duke of Bedford being decea­sed then Lieutenant generall, and Regent of Fraunce: this Duke of Suffolke was promoted to that dignity, hauing the L. Talbot, [...]. Scales, and the Lord Mountacute to assist him.

This was Charles the seauenth, that after the death of Henry the [...] obtained the crowne of Fraunce, & recouered againe much of that his Father had lost. Bastard Orleance was sonne to the Duke of Orleance, begotten of the L. Cawnies wife, preferred highly to many notable offices, because he being a most valiant Captaine, was continuall enemy to the Englishmen, daylie infesting them with diuers incursions.

Vernoyle is that noted place in Fraunce, where the great battell was fought in the beginning of Hen. 6. his raigne, where the most of the French cheualry were ouercome by the Duke of Bedford.

Aumearle is that strong defenced towne in Fraunce, which the Duke of Suffolke got after 24. great assaults giuen vnto it.

Towers is a Citty in Fraunce, built by Brutus as he came into Britaine, where in the 21. of Henry the 6, was appoynted a great dyet to bee kept, whether came th'Embassadours of th'Empire, Spaine, Hungary, and Denmarke to intreate for a perpetuall peace, to be made betweene the two Kings of England, and Fraunce.

Rayner Duke of Aniou, Father to Queene Margarit, call'd him selfe King of Naples, Cicily, and Ierusalem, hauing the title alone of King of those Countries.

The Duke of Suffolke after the marriage concluded twixt King Henry, and Margarit Daughter to Duke Rayner, asked in open Parliament a whole fifeteenth to fetch her into England.

Deepe is a Towne in Fraunce, bordering vpon the Sea where the Duke of Suffolke with Queene Margarit tooke shippe for Eng­land.

Porchester a Hauen Towne in the South-west part of England, where the King taried expecting the Queenes ariuall, whom from thence he conueyed to South-hampton.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

PHillip Duke of Burgoyn and his sonne were alwaies great fauo­rites of the house of Lancaster: howbeit they often dissembled both with Lancaster and Yorke.

The chiefe Lords of the North-parts in the time of Henry the 6. withstoode the Duke of Yorke, at his rysing, giuing him two great ouerthrowes.

The Duke of Yorke at the death of Henry the fifth, and at this Kings coronation, tooke his oath to be true subiect to him, and his heires for euer: but afterward dispensing there-with, claimed the Crowne as his rightfull and proper inheritance.

The Duke of Yorke had foure Sonnes, Edward Earle of March, that afterward was Duke of Yorke, and King of England, when he had deposed Henry the 6. and Edmond Earle of Rutland, slaine by the Lord Clifford at the battell at Wakefield: and George Duke of Clarence that was murthered in the Tower: and Richard Duke of Glocester who was (after he had murthered his Brothers sons) King by the name of Richard the third.

This Richard (whom ironiacally shee heere calls Dicke) that by treason after his Nephewes murthered, obtained the Crowne, was a man lowe of stature, crooke-back'd, the left shoulder much higher then the right, and of a very crabbed and sower counte­nance: his Mother could not be deliuered of him vncut, and he was borne toothed, and with his feete forward contrary to the course of nature.

The red Rose was the badge of the house of Lancaster, and the white Rose of Yorke, which by the marriage of Henry the seauenth, with Elizabeth indubitate heire of the house of Yorke, was conioy­ned and vnited.

The Earle of Warwicke, the setter vp and puller downe of Kings, gaue for his Armes the white Beare rampant, and the Rag­ged staffe.

Agincourt is a Teritory in Fraunce, where King Henry the fifth discomfited the whole French puissance beeing 60000. horsemen, [Page 52] besides foote-men and Pages, and slewe at the same battell 8000, of their Nobility, Knights, and Gentlemen. And almost all the Princes of Fraunce, besides such as were taken prisoners.

Caen is a meruailous strong Towne of Normandy, which after long famine and extreame misery, was yeelded vp to King Henry the fifth, who fortified the Towne and Castle to the vse of the English.

The Daysie in French is called Margarit, which was Queene Margarits badge, where-with all the Nobility and chiualry of the Land at the first ariuall were so delighted, that they wore it in their Hats in token of honour.

The ragged or bearded staffe was a part of the Armes belong­ing to the Earldome of VVarwicke.

Rayner Duke of Aniou, called himselfe King of Naples, Cicile, and Ierusalem, hauing neither inheritance nor tribute from those parts, and was not able at the marriage of the Queene of his owne charges to send her into England though he gaue no dower with her: which by the Dutches of Glocester was often in disgrace cast in her teeth.

This was Iack Cade which caused the Kentish-men to rebell in the 28. yeare of Henry the 6.

This Iack Cade instructed by the Duke of Yorke, pretended to be decended from Mortimer which married Lady Phillip, Daugh­ter to the Duke of Clarence.

The Duke of Yorke beeing made Deputy of Ireland, first there began to practise his long pretended purpose, strengthning him­selfe by all meanes possible that he might at his returne into Eng­land [Page] by open warre, to claime that which so long he had priuily gone about to obtaine.

Henry Beuford Bishop and Cardinall of Winchester, Sonne to Iohn of Gaunt, begot in his age, was a proud and ambitious Prelat, fauouring mightily the Queene, and the Duke of Suffolke, conti­nually heaping vp innumerable treasure, in hope to haue beene Pope, as himselfe on his death-bed confessed.

Edmond Duke of Somerset, in the 24. of Henry the 6 was made Regent of Fraunce, and sent into Normandy to defend the Eng­lish Territories against the French inuasions, but in short time he lost all that King Henry the fifth wone, for which cause the Nobles and the Commons cuer after hated him.

Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, was a great fauorite of the Queenes Faction, in the time of Henry the 6.

The Witch of Eye receaued aunswer by her spirit, that the Duke of Suffolke should take heede of water; which the Queene for­warnes him of, as remembring the Witches prophecie, which af­terward came to passe.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

THis Epistle of Edward to Shores wife, and of hers to him be­ing of vnlawfull affection, ministreth small occasion of histori­call Notes, for had he mentioned the many battailes betwixt the Lancastrian faction and him, or other warlike dangers, it had been more like to Plautus boasting Souldiour then a kingly Courtier. Notwithstanding it shall not be amisse to annexe a line or two.

Edward the fourth was by nature very chiualrous and very a­morous, applying his sweet and amiable aspect to attaine his wan­ton appetite the rather, which was so well knowne to Lewes the French King, who at their interuiew inuited him to Paris, that as Cominaeus reports, being taken at his word, he notwithstanding brake off the matter, fearing the Parisian dames with their witry conuersation, would detaine him longer then should be for his be­nefit, by [...] meanes Edward was disapointed of his iourney: and albeit Princes whilst they liue haue nothing in them but what is admirable, yet we neede not mistrust the flattery of the Court in those times, for certaine it is that his shape was excellent, his haire drew neere to a blacke, making his faces fauour seeme more delectable. Though the smalenes of his eyes full of a shining moi­sture, as it tooke away some comlines, so it argued much sharp­nes of vnderstanding, and cruelty mingled therewith. And in deede [...] Buchanan (that imperious Scot) chargeth him and other Princes of those times, with affection of tiranny as Richard the third manifestly did.

Edwards intemperate desires, with which he was wholy ouer­come, [Page 57] how tragically they in his ofspring were punished, is vni­uersally knowne. A mirrour representing their ouer-sight, that rather leaue their children what to possesle, then what to imitate.

Alluding to their opinions, who imagine Christall to be a kind of Ice, and therefore it is likely they who come from the frozen parts, should bring great store of that transparent stone, which is thought to be congealed with extreame cold. Whether Christall be Ice or some other liquor, I omit to dispute, yet by the exam­ples of Amber and Corall there may be such an induration, for Solinus out of Pliny mentioneth, that in the Northerly Regions a yellow ielly is taken vp out of the Sea at low tides, which he calls Succinum, wee Amber, so likewise out of the Ligustick deepe, a part of the Mediterrin Sea, a greenish stalke is gathered, which hardned in the ayre becomes to be Corall either white or red. Am­ber notwithstanding is thought to drop out of trees, as appeares by Martials Epigram.

To behold a Bee inclosde in Electrum, is not so rare as that a Boyes throat should be cut with the fall of an Icesickle, the which Epigram is excellent, the 18, lib. 4. He calls it Phaethontis gutta, because of that fable which Ouid rehearseth, concerning the Helia­des, or Phaetons Sisters metamorphozed into those trees, whose gum is Amber, where Flies alighting, are often times tralucently imprisoned.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

TWo or three poems written by sundry men, haue magnified this womans beauty: whom that ornament of England and Londons more particuler glory, Sir Thomas Moore very highly hath praysed for her beauty, she beeing aliue in his time, though being poore and aged. Her stature was meane, her haire of a darke yellow, her face round and full, her eye gray, delicate [...] being betwixt each parts proportion, & each proportions [...], her body fat, white, and smooth, her countenance cheerefull, and like to her condition. That picture which I haue seene of [...], was such as she rose out of her bed in the morning, hauing no­thing on but a ritch Mantle cast [...] one [...] her shoul­der, and sitting in a chaire on which her naked arme did lye. What her Fathers name was, or where shee was borne is not certainly knowne: but Shore a young man of right good person, wealth, and behauiour, abandond her bed after the King had made her his Concubine. Richard the third causing her to doe open penance in Paules Churchyard, [...] that no man should releeue her, which the tyrant did not so much for his hatted to sinne, but that by making his Brothers life odious, he might couer his hor­rible treason the more cunningly.

Rumney is that famous Marsh in Kent, at whose side [...] an Hauen-towne dooth stand. Heereof the excellent English Anti­quarie Maister Camden, and Maister Lumbert in his perambulation doe make mention and Marishes are commonly called those low grounds, which abut vpon the Sea, and from the Latine word are so denominated. Isis heere is vsed for Thamesis by a Senec­dochicall kinde of speech, or by a poeticall liberty in vsing one for another, for it is sayd that Thamesis is compounded of Tame; and Isis, making when they are met, that renowned water running by London, a Citty much more renowned [...] that water: which being plentifull of fish, is the cause also why all things else are plentifull therein. Moreouer I am perswaded that there is no Ri­uer in the world beholds more stately buildings on eyther side cleane through, then the Thames. Much is reported of the Graund Canale in Venice, for that the Fronts on eyther side are so gorgeous.

[...] Mantuan a pastorall Poet, in one of his Eglogs bitterly enueieth against woman-kinde, some of the which by way of an Appendex, might be heere inserted, seeing the fantastick and insolent humors of many of that sexe deserue much sharper phisick, were it not that they are grown wiser, then to amend, for such an idle Poets speech as Mantuan, yeh, or for Euripides himselfe, or Senecas inflexible [...].

[...] a most fit Author for so dissolute a Sectarie, calls that place [...], for though Shores wife wantonly plead for liberty, which is the true humor of a Curtizan, yet much more is the prayse of modesty then of such liberty. Howbeit the Vestall Nuns had seats assigned them in the Roman Theater, whereby it should appeare, it was counted no impeachment to modestie, though they offending therein were buried quicke: a sharpe lawe for them, who may say as Shores wife dooth,

KIng Henry the 8. with the Queene and Nobles, in the 6. yeare of his raigne, in the month of September, brought this Lady to Douer, where she tooke shipping sor Fraunce.

It was agreed and concluded twixt Hen. the 7, and Phillip King of Castile, Sonne to Maximilian the Emperour, that Charles eldest Sonne of the said Phillip, should marry the Lady Mary, Daughter to King Henry, when they came to age: which agreement was af­terward in the 8. yeare of Hen. the 8. annihilated.

Henry the 8. after the long seege of Turnay, which was deliue­red to him vpon composition, entred the Citty in tryumph, vn­der a Canapy of cloth of gold, borne by foure of the cheefe and most noble Cittizens: the King himselfe mounted vppon a gal­lant Courser barded with the Arms of England, Fraunce, and Ire­land.

The King beeing at Turnay: there came to him the Prince of Castile, and the Lady Margarit Dutches of Sauoy his Sister, to whom King Hen. gaue great entertainment.

At this time there was speech of a marriage to be concluded, betweene Charles Brandon then L. Lisle, & the Dutches of Sauoy, the L. Lisle being highly fauored, and exceedingly beloued of the Dutches.

The King caused a ritch Tent of cloth of gold to be erected, where he feasted the Prince of Castile, and the Dutches: and en­tertayned them with sumptuous maskes and banquets during their aboade.

The Emperour Maximilian with all his Souldiours, which ser­ued vnder King Henry, wore the crosse of Saint George, with the Rose on their breasts.

The blacke Eagle is the badge imperiall, which heere is vsed for the displaying of his ensigne or standard.

Henry the 8, at his warres in Fraunce, retayned the Emperour and all his Souldiours in wages, which serued vnder him during those warres.

Thomas Woolsey, the Kings Almoner, then Bishop of Lincolne, a man of great aucthority with the King, and afterward Cardinall, was the cheese cause that the Lady Mary was married to the old French King, with whom the French King had dealt vnder hand to befriend him in that match.

Frauncis Duke of Valoys, and Dolphin of Fraunce, at the ma­riage of the Lady Mary, in honour thereof proclaimed a Iusts, where he chose the Duke of Suffolke, and the Marques Dorset for his aydes, at all Martiall exercises.

This County Galeas at the Iusts ranne a course with a Speare, which was at the head 5. inches square on euery side, and at the But 9. inches square, whereby hee shewed his wonderous force and strength. This Bounarme, a Gentleman of Fraunce, at the same time came into the field armed at all poynts with 10. Speares [...] him: in each [...], 3, vnder each thigh one, one vnder his left arme, and one in his hand, and putting his horse to the carere, neuer stopped him till he had broken euery staffe. Hall.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

THE Duke of Longauile which was prisoner in England, vpon the peace to be concluded betweene England and Fraunce, was [Page 69] deliuered, and married the Princesse Mary for Lewes the French King his Maister.

As the Queene sayled for Fraunce, a mighty storme arose at Sea, so that the Nauy was in great danger, and was seuered, some driuen vpon the Coast of Flaunders, some on Britaine: the ship wherein the Queene was, was driuen into the Hauen at Bullen with very great danger.

King Lewes met her by Abuile, neere to the Forrest of Arders, and brought her into Abuile with great solemnity.

Expressing the sumptuous attire of the Queene and her traine: attended by the cheefe of the Nobility of Kngland, with 36. La­dies all in cloath of siluer, theyr Horses trapped with Crimson veluet.

King Lewes, was a man of great yeares, troubled much with the goute, so that he had had of long time before little vse of his legs.

The Duke of Suffolke, when the proclaimation came into Eng­land, of Iusts to be holden in Fraunce at Paris: he for the Queenes sake his Mistres obtayned of the King to goe thether: with whom went the Marques Dorset and his foure Brothers, the Lord Clyn­ton, Sir Edward Neuill, Sir Gyles Capell, Tho. Cheyney: which went all ouer with the Duke as his assistants.

A true discription of the Queenes entring into Paris, after her [...] performd at Saint Denis.

The Dukes, of Alansoon, Burbon, Vadome, Longauile, Suf­folke, with fiue Cardinalls.

Frauncis Valoys, the Dolphin of Fraunce [...] the glory, that the English-men had obtayned at the tilt, brought in an Almayne secretly, a man thought almost of incomparable strength, which incountred Charles Brandon at Barriers, but the Duke [...] [Page] with him, so beate him about the head with the pomell of his sword, that the blood came out of the sight of his Caske.

Sir William Brandon standerd-bearer to the Earle of Richmond, (after Henry the 7,) at Bosworth field, a braue and gallant Gentle­man: who was slaine by Richard there, this was Father to this Charles Brandon, after Duke of Suffolke.

Notes of the Chronicle history.

SHewing the ambition of the two Dukes their Fathers, whose pride was the cause of the vtter ouerthrow of their children.

The Lord Gilford Dudley, fourth Sonne to Iohn Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, married the Lady Iane Gray, Daughter to the Duke of Suffolke at Durham house in the Strand.

Presently vpon the death of King Edward, the Lady Iane was taken as Queene, conueyed by water to the Tower of London for her safety, and after proclaimed in diuers parts of the Realme: as so ordayned by King Edwards Letters-pattents, and his will.

Henry Gray, Duke of Suffolke, married Frauncis the eldest daugh­ter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke, by the French Queene, by which Frauncis hee had this Lady Iane: this Mary the French Queene was Daughter to King Henry the seauenth, by Elizabeth his Queene, which happy marriage conioyned the two Noble families of Lancaster and Yorke.

Noting the distrust that King Henry the eight euer had in the Princesse Mary his Daughter, fearing she should alter the state of Religion in the Land, by matching with a Stranger, confessing the right that King Henries issue had to the Crowne.

A Prophecie of Queene Maries barrennes, & of the happy and glorious raigne of Queene Elizabeth: her restoring of Religion, the abollishing of the Romish seruitude, and casting aside the yoake of Spaine.

Notes of the Chronicle historie.

I Ohn Duke of Northumberland, when before he was Earle of VVarwicke, in his expedition against Ket, ouerthrew the Re­bels of Norfolke and Suffolke, encamp'd at Mount Surrey in Nor­folke.

Gilford Dudley as remembring in this place the towardnes of his Brothers, which were all likely in deede to haue raysed that house of the Dudleys, of which he was a fourth Brother, if not suppressed by their Fathers ouerthrow.

Noting in this place the alliance of the Lady Iane Gray, by her Mother, which was Frauncis the Daughter of Charles Brandon, by Mary the French Queene, Daughter to Henry the seauenth, and Sister to Henry the eight.

Sildome hath it euer beene knowne of any woman endued with such wonderfull gifts, as was this Lady, both for her wisedome [Page 77] and learning, of whose skill in the tongues one reporteth by this Epigram.

The Duke of Northumberland prepared his power at London, for his expedition against the Rebels in Norfolk, and making hast away, appoynted the rest of his forces to meete him at Newmar­ket Heath: of whom this saying is reported, that passing through Shorditch, the Lord Gray in his company seeing the people in great numbers came to see him, he sayd, The people presse to see vs, but none bid God speede vs.

Iohn Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, when he went out a­gainst Queene Mary, had his Commission sealed for the general­ship of the Army, by the consent of the whole Counsell of the Land, in so much that passing through the Counsell Chamber at his departure: the Earle of Arondell wished that hee might haue gone with him in that expedition, and to spend his blood in the quarrell.

The Suffolke men were the first, that euer resorted to Queene Mary in her distres, repayring to her succours, whilst she remained both at Keningall, and at Fremingham Castell, still encreasing her aydes, vntill the Duke of Northumberland, was left forsaken at Cambridge.