The vnion of the two noble and illustre famelies of Lancastre [and] Yorke, beeyng long in continual discension for the croune of this noble realme with all the actes done in bothe the tymes of the princes, bothe of the one linage and of the other, beginnyng at the tyme of kyng Henry the fowerth, the first aucthor of this deuision, and so successiuely proceadyng to the reigne of the high and prudent prince kyng Henry the eight, the vndubitate flower and very heire of both the sayd linages.

The tragical doynges of Kyng Richard the thirde.

LOthe I am to remembre, but more I abhore to write, the miserable tragedy of this infortunate prince, which by fraude entered, by tyrannye proceded, and by sodayn deathe ended his infortunate life: But yf I should not declare the flagicious factes of the euyll princes, as well as I haue done the notable actes of verteous kinges, I shoulde neither animate, nor incou∣rage rulers of royalmes▪ Countreyes and Seigniories to folowe the step∣pes of their profitable progenitors, for to atteyne to the type of honour and wordly fame: neither yet aduertise princes being proane to vice and wickednes, to aduoyde and expell all synne and mischiefe, for dread of obloquy and worldly shame: for contrary set to contrary is more appa∣raunt, as whyte ioyned with black, maketh the fayrer shewe: Wherfore, I will procede in his actes after my accustomed vsage.

RICHARD the third of that name, vsurped y^• croune of Englād & openly toke vpon hym to bee kyng, the nyntene daie of Iune, in the yere of our lord, a thousand foure hundred lxxxiii. and in the .xxv. yere of Le∣wes the leuenth then beeyng French kyng: and the morow after, he was proclaymed kyng and with great solempnite rode to Westminster, and there sate in the seate roial, and called before him the iudges of y^• realme straightely commaundynge theim to execute the lawe with out fauoure or delaie, with many good exhortaciōs (of the which he folowed not one) and then he departed towarde the Abbaye▪ and at the churche doore he was mett with procession, and by the abbot to hym was deliuered the scepter of faincte Edwarde, and so went and offered to saincte Edwarde his shrine, while the Monkes sang Te deum with a faint courage, and from the churche he returned to the palice, where he lodged till the co∣ronacion. And to be sure of all enemies (as he thoughte) he sent for fiue thousand men of the North against his coronaciō, whiche came vp eiuil appareled and worse harneissed, in rusty harneys, neither defensable nor skoured to the sale, whiche mustered in Finesbury felde, to the great dis∣dain of all the lookers on.

The fourth daie of Iuly he came to the tower by water with his wife, and the fifth daie he created Edward his onely begotten sonne, a childe of .x. yere olde, prince of wales, and Ihon haward, a man of great know∣lege and vertue (aswell in counsaill as in battaill) he created duke of

Norffolke, and sir Thomas Hawarde his sonne he created erle of Surrey, and Willyam lorde Barkeley was then created erle of Notin∣gham, and Fraunces lorde Louell was then made Uicount Louel, and the kynge his chamberlain, and the lorde Stanley was deliuered oute of warde for feare of his sonne the lorde Straunge, whiche was then in Lancasshire gatherynge menne (as menne saied) and the sayed lorde was made Stauarde of the kynge his housholde, likewyse the Archebi∣shop of Yorke was deliuered: but Morton bishop of Ely, was deliue∣red to the duke of Buckyngham to kepe inwarde, whiche sente hym to his manoure of Brecknoke in Wales, from whence he escaped to kyng Richarde his confusion, The same nighte the kynge made seuentene knightes of the Bath. The nexte daie he roade through London with greate pompe, and in especiall the duke of Buckyngham was richely appareled and his horse trapped in blew beluet enbroudered with the naues of cartes burnyng of gold: which trapper was borne by fotemen from the grounde, with suche solemne fassion that all menne muche re∣garded it.

On the morowe beeyng the sixt dare of Iuly, the kynge came toward his coronacion into Westminster hall, where his chapell and all the pre∣lates mitred receiued him. And so they in ordre of procession passed for∣warde: After the procession folowed therle of Northumberlande with a poinctelesse sword naked, and the lorde Stanley bare the Mace of y^• cō∣stableshippe. Therle of Kente bare the seconde sword on the righte hand of the kyng naked. The lorde Louell bare an other sworde on the lefte hand. Then folowed the duke of Suffolke with the scepter, and the erle of Lyncolne with the ball and crosse. After theim folowed the newe erle of Surrey with the sword of estate in a riche skabard. On the right side of hym wente the duke of Norfolke bearynge the crowne: then folo∣wed kynge Richarde in a Circot and robe of purple veluet vnder a ca∣nabie borne by the barones of the fyue portes, gooynge betwene the bishoppes of Bathe and Duresme. The duke of Buckingham with the rod of the high stuarde of Englande bare the kyng his train. After hym folowed therle of Huntyngdon, berynge the quenes scepter, and the Ui∣count lisle, bearyng the rod with the doue, And the erle of Wilshire bare the quenes croune. Then folowed quene Anne daughter to Richard erle of Warwike in robes like to the king, betwene two bishoppes, and a ca∣nabie ouer her hed, borne by the Barones of the portes. On her hed a riche coronall sette with stone and pearle. After her folowed the coūtes∣se of Richemond heire to the duke of Somerset, whiche bare vp the que∣nes trayne. After folowed the duchesse of Suffolke and Norfolke with countesses, baronesses, ladies, and many faire gentlewomen: in this or∣dre they passed throughe the palayce, and entred the Abbaye at the Weste ende, and so came to their seates of estate. And after diuerse songes solemply songe, they bothe discended to the highe altare and

were shifted from their robes, and had diuerse places open from the middle vpward, in whiche places thei were anointed. Then bothe the kyng and the quene chaunged theim into clothe of golde and ascended to their seates, where the cardinall of Cauntorbury and other bishoppes theim crowned accordynge to the olde custome of the realme, geuynge hym the scepter in the lefte hand and the balle with the crosse in the right hande, and the quene had the scepter in her right hande, and the rod with the doue in the lefte hande: On euery side of the kyng stoode a duke, and before him stoode the erle of Surrey with the sweard in his handes. And on euery side of the quene standynge a bishoppe and a lady knelynge. The Cardinall song the masse, and after paxe, the kynge and the quene discended, and before the high altare they were bothe houseled with one hoste deuided betwene theim. After masse finished, they bothe offered at saincte Edward his shrine and there the kyng lefte the crowne of saincte Edward, and putte on his owne crowne. And so in ordre as they came, they departed to Westminster hal, and so to their chambres for a ceason, duryng which tyme the duke of Norffolke came into the hall his horse trapped to the grounde in clothe of gold as high marshall, and voyded the hall.

Aboute foure of the clocke the kyng and quene entred the hal, and the kyng satte in the midle, and the quene on the lefte hand of the table, and on euery side of her floode a countesse holdynge a clothe of pleasaunce, when she liste to drynke. And of the right hande of the kyng satte the bi∣shop of Countorbury, the ladies satte all on one side in the middle of the hall, and at the table againste them satte the Chauncelloure and all the lordes. At the table next the cupborde satte the Maire of London. And at the table behinde the lordes, satte the Barones of the portes. And at the other bordes satte noble and worshipful personages. When all persones were sette, the duke of Norfolke erle Marshall, the erle of Surrey constable for that daie, the lorde Stanly lorde Stewarde, syr William Hopton treasourer, and sir Thomas Percy comptroller came in and serued the kyng solemply with one dishe of golde and another of siluer. And the quene all in gylte vessell, and the bishop all in siluer. At the seconde course came into the hall, sir Robert Democke the kynge his champion, makynge a proclamacion, that whosoeuer woulde saie that kynge Richard was not lawefully kynge, he woulde fighte with hym at the vtteraunce and threwe downe his gauntlet: and then al the hal cried kynge Richarde. And so he did in three partes of the hall, and then one brought hym a cup with wine couered, & when he had dronke he cast out the drynke, and departed with the cup. After that, the herauldes cried a largesse thrise in the hall, and so went vp to their staige. At the ende of diner, the Maire of Londō serued the kyng and quene with swete wyne, and had of eche of theim a cuppe of golde with a couer of golde. And by that tyme that all was dooen, it was darkenight: And so the king retur∣ned to his chambre, and euery manne to his lodgyng. When this feaste

was thus fineshed, the kynge sente home all the lordes into their countrees that woulde departe, excepte the lorde Stanley, whom he re∣teyned till he harde what his sonne the lorde straunge wente aboute. And to suche as wente home, he gaue straighte charge and commaun∣demente to see their countrees well ordred, and that no wronge nor ex∣torcion shoulde bee doen to his subiectes. And thus he taughte other to execute iustice and equitee, the contrarye whereof he daily exercised: he also with greate rewardes geuen to the Northrenmen whiche he sent for to his coronacion, sente them home to their countree with greate thankes. Whereof diuerse of theim, (as they all be of nature very gredy of autoritee, and specially when they thynke to haue any comforte or fauoure.) tooke on theim so highly and wroughte suche mastries, that the kynge was faine to ride thether in his firste yere, and to putte some in execucion, and staie the countree, or els no small mischiefe had en∣sued

Incontinente after this, he sente a solempne Ambassade to Lewes the Frenche kynge, to conclude a league and amitie with hym, tru∣stynge also to obtayne the tribute whiche kynge Edwarde his brother had before out of Fraunce, but the Frenche kyng so abhorred hym and his crueltie, that he would neither se nor heare his Ambassadors, an so in vayne they returned.

Nowe after this triumphante coronacion, there fell mischifes thicke and thicke, and as the thynge eiuill gotten is neuer well kepte, so throughe all the tyme of his vsurped reigne, neuer ceased there cruell murther, death and slaughter, til his awne destruction ended it. But as he finished with the best deathe and mooste rightewyse, that is to saie his awne, so beganne he with the mooste piteous and wicked, I meane the lamentable murther of his innocente nephewes, the younge kynge and his tendre brother, whose deathe and finall fortune hath neuerthe∣lesse so far come in question that some remained longe in doubte whe∣ther they were in his daies destroied or no. Not for that that Parkin warbek by many folkes malice, and mo folkes folly so longe space abu∣synge the worlde, was aswell with princes as with poore people repu∣ted and taken for the younger of these twoo: But for that also that all thynges were so couertely demeaned, one thynge pretented and another mente, that there was nothynge so plaine and openly proued, but that yet for the common custome o•• close and couerte dealynge, menne had it euer inwardly suspecte, as many well counterfet iewelles make the true mistrusted. Hobeit, concernynge that opinion, menne maie se the con∣ueighaunce thereof in the lyfe of the noble prince kynge Henrye the .vii. in the processe of Parkyn. But in the meane ceason, for this presente matter I shall reherse to you the dolorous ende of these two babes, not after euery waie that I haue harde, but after that waie that I haue so hard by suche menne and suche meanes as me thinketh it to be hard but it shoulde be true.

Kyng Richard after his coronacion, takyng his waie to Gloucester,* 1.1 to visite in his newe honour the towne, of which he bare the name of old, deuised as he roade to fulfill that thyng whiche he before had intended. And forasmuch as his mynd gaue hym that his nephewes liuynge, men woulde not recon that he coulde haue righte to the realme. he thoughte therefore without delaie to rid theim, as thoug the killynge of his kyns∣men mighte ende his cause, and make hym kyndely kyng. Where vpon he sent Ihon Grene, whom he specially trusted, vnto sir Robert Brakē∣bury constable of the tower, with a letter and credēce also, that the same sir Roberte in any wyse should put the two childrē to death. This Iohn Grene dyd his errand to Brakenbury, knelynge before oure lady in the Towre, who plainly answered that he woulde neuer put them to deathe to dye therefore. With the which answere Grene returned, recomptyng the same to kynge Richard at Warwyke yet on his iourney, wherewith he toke suche displeasure and thoughte that the same nighte he sayde to a secrete page of his: Ah, whom shall a man truste? they that I haue brought vp my selfe, they that I went woulde haue moost surely serued me, euen those fayle me, and at my commaundemente wyll do nothynge for me. Syr quod the page, there lieth one in the palet chambre with out that I dare wel say, to do your grace pleasure the thing were right hard that he would refuse, meanyng this by Iames Tirel, whiche was a man a goodly personage, and for the giftes of nature worthy to haue serued a muche better prince, yf he had well serued God▪ and by grace obteyned to haue as muche trueth and good wyll, as he had strength and wytt.

The man had an high harte and sore longed vpwarde, not risyng yet so fast as he had hoped, beynge hindered and kepte vnder by sir Richarde Ratcliffe and sir Willyam Catesbye, which longyng for no more parte∣ners of the Princes fauour, namely not for him, whose pride thei knewe woulde beare no pere, kept him by secrete driftes out of al secrete trust: whiche thynge this page had well marked and knowen: wherefore, this occasion offered of very speciall frendship spied his tyme to set him for∣warde, and suche wyse to do hym good, that all the enemies that he had (except the deuil) could neuer haue done him so muche hurte and shame, for vpon the pages woordes, kyng Richard arose (for this communica∣cion had he sittyng on a drafte, a conuenient carpet for suche a counsail) and came out into the palet chambre, where he dyd fynde in bed the sayd Iames Tyrell and sir Thomas Tyrell of persone like and brethren of bloud, but nothyng of kynne in condicions. Then sayd the kyng merely to them, what syrs, be you in bed so sone? and called vp Iames Tyrell, & brake to him secretely his mynd in this mischeuous ma••••er, in the which he found him nothing straunge. Wherfore on the morowe he sent him to Brakynbury with a letter by the which he was commaunded to delyuer to the sayd Iames all the keyes of the Towre for a night, to thende that he might there accomplishe the kynges pleasure in suche thynges as he there had geuen him in commaundement. After which lettre d••liuered &

the keyes receyued, Iames appoincted y^• next night ensuyng to destroye them, deuisyng before and preparyng the meanes.

The prince assone as the Protectour toke vpon hym to be kynge, and left the name of protectoure, was thereof aduertised and shewed, that he should not reigne, but his vncle should haue the croune. At which word the prince sore abashed beganne to sighe and sayd: Alas I would myne v••cle would let me haue my life although I lese my kyngedome. Then he that tolde hym the tale vsed him with good woordes and put hym in the best conforte that he coulde, but furthewith he and his brother were bothe shut vp, and all other remoued from them, one called blacke Wyl, or Willyam Slaughter onely except, which wer sette to serue them, and iiii. other to see them sure. After whiche tyme, the prince neuer tyed his pointes, nor any thyng roughte of hym selfe, but with that young babe his brother lyngered in thoughte and heuines, tyll this trayterous dede deliuered them of that wretchednes.

For Iames Tirrell deuised that they shoulde be murthered in their beddes, and no bloud shed: to the execution wherof, he appoincted My∣les Forest one of the foure that before kepte them, a felowe fleshe bred in murther before tyme: and to him he ioyned one Iohn Dighton his awne horsekeper, a bygge broade square and strong knaue. Then al the other beyng remoued from them, this Miles Forest and Iohn Dighton ab∣oute mydnight,* 1.2 the sely children liyng in their beddes, came into y^• chaū∣bre and sodenli lapped them vp amongest the clothes and so bewrapped them and entangled them, kepyng doune by force the fetherbed and pil∣lowes harde vnto their mouthes, that within a while thei smored & ••••yf∣led them, and their breathes failyng, they gaue vp to God their innocēt solles into the ioyes of heauen, leauyng to the tourmētours their bodies dead in the bed, whiche after the wretches perceyued, firste by the strug∣glyng, with the panges of death, and after long liyng styl to be through¦ly dead, they layd the bodies out vpon the bed, and fetched Iames Tir∣r••ll to see them, whiche when he sawe them perfightly dead, he caused the murtherers to burye them at the stayre foote, metely deepe in the groūde vnder a great heape of stones.

Then rode Iames Tirrel in great hast to kyng Richard, and shewed him all the maner of the murther, who gaue him great thankes, and as menne saye, there made hym knighte, but he allowed not their buriall in so vile a corner, sa••yng that he would haue them buried in a better place because they were a kynges sonnes: Lo y^• honorable courage of a kyng, for he would recompēce a detestable murther with a solempne obsequy. Wherupon a priest of sir Robert Break••nburies toke them vp & buried them in such a place secretely as by the occasion of his death (which was very shortely after) whiche onely knewe it the very trueth coulde neuer yet be very wel and perfightly knowen. For some saye that kynge Ri∣chard caused the priest to take them vp and close them in lead and to put them in a coffyne full of holes hoked at the endes with .ii. hokes of yro••,

and so to cast them into a place called the Blacke depes at the Themes mouth, so that they should neuer rise vp nor be sene agayn. This was y^• very trueth vnknowē by reason that y^e sayd priest died so shortly & dis∣closed it neuer to any person that would vtter it. And for a trueth, when sir Iames Tirrell was in the Towre for treason committed to kynge Henrye the seuenthe: bothe he and Dighton were examined together of this poincte, and both they confessed the murther to be done in the same maner as you haue hard, but whether the bodies were remoued, they bo∣the affirmed thei neuer knewe. And thus as I haue learned of them that muche knewe and litle cause had to lye, where these two noble princes, these innocente tendre children, borne of the mooste royall bloude and brought vp in greate wealthe, likely longe to liue, to reigne and rule in the realme, by trayterous tirannye taken and depriued of their estate, shortely shut vp in prison and priuely ••••aine and murthered by the cruel ambicion of their vnnaturall vncle and his dispiteous tourmentours: whiche thynges on euery parte well pondered, God gaue this world ne∣uer a more notable example, either in what vnsurety standeth this worl∣des weale, or what mischiefe workethe the proude enterprise of an highe harte, or finally, what wretched ende ensueth suche dispiteous crueltie. For fyrste to begynne with the ministers, Myles Forest▪* 1.3 at sainct Mar∣••yns le graunde by pece meale miserably rotted awaye, Iohn Dighton lyued at Caleys longe after, no lesse disdayned and hated then poincted at, and there dyed in great misery: But sir Iames Tyrrel was beheaded at the Towre hyll for treason: And kynge Richarde him selfe was slaine in felde hacked and hewen of his enemies handes, haried on a horsbacke naked beynge dead, his heere in dispite torne and tugged lyke a curre dogge. And the mischiefe that he toke with in lesse then thre yeres, of the mischiefe that he dyd in thre monethes be not comparable, and yet al the meane tyme spente in muche trouble and payne outwarde, and much feare, dread and anguishe within. For I haue harde by credible reporte of suche as were secrete with his chamberers that after this abhomi∣nable deed done, he neuer was quiet in his mynde, he neuer thought him selfe sure where he wente abroade, his body priuely feinted, his eyen wherled aboute, his hande euer on his dagger, his countenaunce and maner lyke alwaies to stricke againe, he toke euill reste on rightes, laye long wakyng and musyng, forweried with care and watche, rather from bred then slept, troubled with fearefull dreames,* 1.4 sodeinly somtyme stert vp, leap•••• out of his bed and loked about the chambre, so was his re∣stlesse harte continually tossed and tombled with the tedious impression and stormy remembraunce of his abhominable murther and execrable tyrannye.

KYNG Richard by this abommable mischyef & scelerous act▪ thin∣kyng hym self well releuyd bothe of feare and thought, would not haue it kept counsaill, but with in a few daies caused it to ronne in a common rumor that y^• .ii. chyldren were sodanlie dead, and to this entent as it is to

be demyd that now, none heyre male beynge a liue of kynge Edwardes body lawfully begotten, y^• people would be content with the more paciēt hart, & quiet mynd, to obey hym & suffer his rule and gouernaunce: but when y^• fame of this detestable facte was reueled, & devulged through y^• hole realme, ther fell generally, such a dolor & inwardsorow in to the har¦tes of all the people, that all feare of his crueltie set a syde, they in euery towne, streate, and place openlie wept, and pitiou••••ye sobbyd. And when their sorowe was sumwhat mitigate, ther inwarde grudge could not re∣frayne but crye out in plates publike, and also priuate furiously saieng, what creature of all creatures ys so malicious and so obstinate an ene∣mye either to God, or to christian religion, or to humayne nature, whiche woulde not haue abhorred, or at the lest absteyned from so miserable a murther of so execrable a tirānye. To murther a man is much odious, to kyll a woman, is in manner vnnaturall, but to slaie and destroye inno∣cent babes, & young enfantes, the whole world abhorreth, and the bloud from the earth crieth, for vengaunce to all mightie God. If the common people cried out, I assure you the frendes of the quene, and her children made no lesse exclamacion and complainte with loude voyce lamenta∣ble comme crieng and sayenge a las what will he do to other that thus shamefully murdereth his awne bloud with out cause or desert: whom, wyll he saue when he slaith the poore lambes committed to him in trust? now we se and behold y^• the most cruel tyranny hath inuadyd the cōmon wealth, now we se that in him is neither hope of iustice nor trust of mer∣cie but abundance of crueltie and thrust of innocente bloude. But when these newes wer first brought to the infortunate mother of the dead chil∣dren yet being in sanctuary, no doubte but it strake to her harte, like the sharpe darte of death: for when she was first enformed of the murther of her .ii. sonnes, she was so sodainly amasyd with the greatnes of y^• cruel∣tie that for feare she sounded and fell doune to the groūd. And there lay in a great agonye like to a deade corps. And after that she came to her memory and was reuyued agayne, she wept and sobbyd and with pite∣full scriches she repleneshyd the hole mancion, her breste she puncted, her fayre here she ••are and pulled in peces & being ouercome with sorowe & penciuenes rather desyred death then life callyng by name diuers tymes her swete babes, accomptyng her self more then madde that she deluded by wyle and fraudulente promyses delyuered her younger sonne out of the sanctuarie to his enemye to the put to death thinkynge that nexte the othe made to God brokē, & the dewtie of allegiaunce toward her childrē violated, she of all creatures in that poyncte was most seduced and dis∣ceaued. After longe lamentacion, when she sawe no hope of reuengynge otherwyse, she knelyd downe and cried on God to take vengeaunce for the disceaytfull periurie, as who saide tha she nothyng mystrusted but once he would remember it. What ys he liuyng that if he remember and beholde these .ii. noble enfantes with out deseruing, so shamefully mur∣thered, that wil not abhorre the fact, ye & be moued & tormented with pi∣tie

and mercie. And yet the worlde is so frayle and our nature so blynde that fewe be sturred with suche examples, obliuiouslie forgettynge, and littell consyderyng, that oftentimes for the offences by the parentes per∣petrate and committed, that synne is punished in there lyne and posteri∣te. This chaunce might so happen to this innocēt children, because king Edward ther father and parent offended in staynyng his conscience: he made his solempne othe before y^• gate of the citie of Yorke (as you haue harde before) and promised and sware one thing by his worde thinkyng cleane contrarie in his harte as after dyd appere. And afterward by the death of the duke of Clarence his brother, he incurred (of likelyehod) the great displeasure toward God. After this murther this perpetrated and that he had visited his towne of Gloucester which he for his old dignitie bothe loued and with ample liberties and priuileges endewed and deco∣rated, he toke his iorney towarde the countie of Yorke, where the people abusyng his lawfull fauoure (as he bothe fauoured and trusted them in his hart) had of late presumed to attempte diuers routes and riottes cō∣trarie to his lawes and enfryngyng of his peace, and vpon hope of his mayntenaunce, were so elated that no lord were he neuer of so great po∣wer could either pacifie or rule them tyll the kyng hym selfe came perso∣nally thether to set a concorde and an vnitie in that countree and to bri∣dell and rule the rude rusticall and blusterynge bolde people of that re∣gion, and so he by long iourneyinge came to the citie of Yorke where the citezens receyued hym with great pompe and triumphe, accordyng to y^• qualities of their educacion and quantitie of there substaunce and habi∣litie, and made diuers daies playes and pageātes in token of ioy and so∣lace. Wherefore kyng Richard magnified and applauded of the northē nacion, & also to shewe hym self apparantlie before them in habyte roy••l with scepter in hande and diademe on his hed, made proclamacion that all persones should resorte to Yorke on the daie of the assencion of oure lorde where all men shoulde bothe beholde and se hym his quene and prince in there high estates and degrees and also for their good wylles, shoulde receyue many thankes, large benefites and muni••icente rewar∣des. At the daye appoincted the hole clergie assembled in copes richely reuested and so with a reuerente ceremonie went aboute the citie in pro∣cession, after whome folowed the king with his croune and scepter appa∣reilled in his circot robe royall accompaignied with no small nomber of y^e nobilitie of his realme: after whome marched in order quene Anne his wife likewyse crouned ledinge on her lefte hande Prynce Edwarde her sonne hauing on his hed a demy crowne appoyncted for the degree of a prince. The kynge was had in that triumphe in suche honour and y^• com∣mon people of the northe so reioysed that they extolled and praysed hym far aboue the starres. After this solempne feaste and glorious pompe he kepte greate counsailles there, as well for the orderynge of the countree in tyme to come, as for the brydellynge and punyshinge of suche as there had mysgouerned them selfes: and farther of the

gentilmen of that contrie, he augmented the nomber of hys domesticall ministers & seruauntes, in the which persones he put hys whole trust & affiaunce. When all thynges were thus discretely ordered, he returned by Nothynghā, and after came to London: whome more for dread then for loue, the Cytezens receaued in greate compaygnies. Thus kynge Richard by a new inuented crueltie and late practised tyrannye obtey∣ned and grewe to high prayse and honoure, and then by the admira∣cion and iudgemente of the common multitude, he was moost estemed to be exalted in to heauen, when he couertly had intelligēce, that he was like to lose his estate and could by no meanes haue long contynuaunce in his v••urped power: for assuredly after the death of kynge Edwards chyldren when any blusteringe wynde per••lous thunder or terrible tempest, chansed or were apparantly like to happen: Sodainly the peo∣ple hauinge in there freshe memorie the facinorous acte of there kynge and prince, woulde openly crye and make vocyferacion that God dyd take vengaunce and punishe the pore Englishemen, for the cryme and offence of there vngracious kynge, whome they blamed, accursed and wysshed to haue extreme tortures. Although kynge Richard harde oftē of this slaunderous wordes and malicious sa••ynges and knewe wel by what persones they were spokē, yet he dirst not with strong hande be on the fyrste inuentours reuenged, knowinge that some tyme it is no wise∣dome to refuse or disdaigne them that tell a ruler his deutie or declare to hym his mysbehauour toward the common wealthe, or counsaill hym to amende and chaunge his yll life. After this great felicitie, he fell again in to a great feare and penciuenes of mynde, and because he coulde by no meanes either correct or amend thinges that were passed, he determi∣ned by doyng his deutie in al thinges to his commons, to obliterate and put oute of memorie that note of infamie with the whiche his fame was iustely spotted and slayned, and to cause the people to co••ceyue so good an opinion in him, that from thēce forth no calamyte nor trouble should be adiudged to happen to the commō wealth, either by his negligence or by his mysgouernaunce (althoughe it is difficile and strange shortelie to tourne and plucke out suche qualities and vsages as haue of longe tyme ben encorporate in a mans mynde and rooted in his maners and condicions.) Therfore whether it was for the performaunce of his for∣mer entent of amendement or (as the common fame slew a brode) that he toke repentaunce of his myscheuous actes and scelerate doynges, he tourned ouer the leffe, and began an order of a new life, and pretended to haue the name of a good and vertuous man, bi the reason that he she∣wed hym selfe more iuste, more meker, more familiar, more liberall (espe∣cially a mongest the poore people) then before he had accustomed to do, and so by this meanes he firmelye trusted fyrst to obteyne of god forge∣uenes of his offences and crymes, and after to leuie and take a waie the enemye and inwarde grudge that the common people bare in their myn∣des towarde hym, and in conclusion, to obteigne their frendelye loue

and assured fauour. He farthermore began and enterprised diuers thin∣ges aswel publike as priuate, the which he beyng preuented by sodayne deathe dyd neither accomplishe nor bryng to conclusion, for he begon to founde a college of a hundreth prestes, which foundacion with the foun∣der shortelye toke an ende. To please the common people also, he in his high courte of parliamente enacted dyuers and sondrie good lawes and profitable estatutes and in especiall one againste strangers and foren wrought wares, not to be transported in to this realme, whiche commo∣dius acte for the common wealthe yf he had lyued he fullye purposed to haue auaunsed & fet forwarde & put in execucion. But afterwarde eui∣dentlie to all persones it appeared, that onely feare (whiche is not a mai∣ster longe in office and in continuall aucthoritie) and not iustice, caused kynge Rycharde at that verie tyme to waxe better and amende his syn∣nefull life, for shortelie the goodnes of the man whiche was but paync∣ted and fraudulent, sodainlie wexed coulde and vanished awaie. And from thence forth not onely all his counsailles, doynges and proce∣dynges, sodainlye decayed and sorted to none effecte: But also fortune beganne to froune and turne her whele douneward from him, in so much that he lost his onely begotten sonne called Edwarde in the .iii. moneth, after he had created hym prince of Wales.

¶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 a∣gainst, him as ye shall heare: But y^e occasion why the duke and the kynge fell out, is of diuerse folke diuer∣sely 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 Per∣sall, with suche messages as you haue harde before. And after the duke of Buckyngham came with .CCC. horse to Northampton and still con∣tinued with hym, as partener and chiefe organe of his deuices tyll af∣ter his coronacion, they departed to all semyng very frendes at Glou∣cester. From whence assone as the duke came home, he so highly turned from him and so highly conspired against him, that a man woulde mar∣ueill wherof the chaunge grewe in so shorte space. Some say this occa∣syon 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

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, gor∣geously apparelled, and sumpteously trapped with burnynge carte na∣ues 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 murthe∣red at Gloucester, from whiche he in fayre maner departed: but sure∣ly 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 occa∣sion 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 ne∣uer 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 kno∣wen 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 com¦maundemēt doctor Mortō bishop of Ely, who before as you haue haue harde was taken at the counsaill at the towre, waxed with hym very fa∣milier, 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 ta∣kynges extynguished, kyng Edwarde for his fast fayth and wysedome▪

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 Hen∣ry 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 be∣nefite 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 retur∣ned, 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 com∣mon with hym, ••ed hym with fayre woordes and many pleasaunte pray∣ses, and perceiuynge by the grefe of their communicacions the dukes pryde nowe and then to balke out a litle brayde of enuy toward the glo∣ry 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 wy∣shed, that kynge Henries sonne had had the crowne and not kynge Ed∣warde, 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 se∣cret iudgemēt of God haue otherwyse prouided, I purpose not to spur∣ne 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, sa∣uynge 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 fur∣ther. Then longed the duke sore to heare, what he would haue sayde, be∣cause he ended with the kyng, and there so sodaynly stopped, and exhor∣ted

hym familierly, betwene them bothe to be bolde and to saye whatsoe∣uer 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 coun∣sayle, 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 pro¦clamacion 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 ge∣uen 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 pau∣ses 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 whi∣che 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

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 ho∣noure 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••e∣ned 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 con∣clusion 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 capti∣uitee, whiche beynge in your graces custodie I maye rather call it a li∣berall libertie more them a straight emprysonmente, in a voydynge ydel∣nes 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 in∣stincte 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 for∣gotten nor yet to be put in obliuion, whiche saiynge causeth me to con∣sider 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 plaine∣ly 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 perso∣nage, 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 e∣loquence, whiche so muche dothe abounde in the persone of youre grace, I muste nedes thynke this realme fortunate, ye twyse more then for∣tunate, whiche hath suche a prynce in store, mete and apte, to be a go∣uernoure

in whose persone beynge endued with so many princelye qua∣lities 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 so∣dainlye (in maner by a metamorphosis) transformed from politike ciui∣litie, 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 re∣alme mete to be gouerned by suche a tyraunte: Was not his firste inter∣prise to obtaine the crowne begonne and incepted by the murther of dy∣uers noble valiaunt trewe and vertuous personages: O a holy begyn∣nyng 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 auou∣trey, yet not whith all this contente. After that he had obteyned the gar∣lande 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 ba∣bes 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 goo∣des 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 per∣sones: and in especiall of noble and wealthy personages hauynge greate possessions and riches: Suche a lorde is Lucifer when he is en∣tred 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 ly∣nage, or youre natyue contrye, your muste yower selfe take vpon you the Crowne and Diademe of this noble empyre, bothe for the maynte∣nauns 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 captiui∣tie 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

selfe woulde take vppon hym the regiment here and the crowne, the com¦mons 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 kno∣wing 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 quiet∣nies should be set forth and embrased. When the bishoppe had thus en∣ded 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 en∣tent, as the duke longed the daye before to knowe his opinion and mea∣nyng. 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 communi∣cacion 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 thin∣ges 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 re∣alme. 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

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 natu∣rall countreyman: for whiche kyndnes for my parte, I moste louinglye render to you my hartye thankes nowe with wordes: hereafter tru∣styng 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 lit∣tel touched the auauncemēt of the .ii. noble famelyes of Yorke & Lāca∣ster: I shall likewyse not onely declare and manifeste vnto you, all my open actes, attemptes and doynges, but also my preuie ententes, and se∣crete cogitacions. To the entent that as you haue vnbuckeled your bo∣gett 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 hu∣manitie, 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 mys∣chyefe 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 neces∣sarie 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 with¦oute crueltie, as nowe I knowe hym perfectely to be a dissembler with∣oute 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

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 pri∣uelie 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 ma∣ture and sufficiente kynge: Whiche thynge when he sawe me somewhat stycke at, both for the straungenes of the example (because no such pre∣sidente had bene sene) and also because we remembred that men once as∣cended to the highest type of honour and aucthoritee wil not gladlie dis∣cende agayn, he then brought in instrumētes, autentike doctours, proc∣toures, and notaries of the lawe, with deposicions of diuers wytnes∣ses, 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 thin∣ges▪ 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 attayn∣der 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 fa∣uour, he of a protectour was made a kyng, and of a subiecte made a go∣uernour, 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 pro∣uerbe, 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 Ed∣warde wrongefully de••eyned and with helde from me, and also required to haue the office of the highe constable shyppe of Englande, as di∣uers of my noble anunceters before this tyme haue had, and in longe discente continued. In thys my fyrst suyte shewynge his good myn∣de towarde me, he dyd not onely fyrste delaye me, and afterwarde de∣nay me, but gaue me suche vnkynde woordes, with suche tauntes and

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 vn∣gratitudes and vndeserued vnkyndnes I bare closlye & suffered pacien∣telie and couertly remembred, owtwardely dissimulynge that I inwar∣delie 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 contra∣rie to his faith and promyse, to the whiche God be my iudge I neuer a∣greed nor condiscended. O lord, how my veynes panted, howe my body trembled, and my harte inwardely grudged, in so much that I so abhor∣red 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 re∣turned 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 vnnatu∣ral vncle, and bloudy butcher, from his royall seate, and princely digni∣tie. Fyrst I fantesyed that yf I list to take vpon me the croune, and im∣periall 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 ef∣fecte and conclusion. For I sawe he was disdaigned of the lordes tem∣porall execrate and accursed of the lordes spiritual, detested of all gen∣tilmen, 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 cōue∣niēt to take vpō me as a cōquerour, for then I knewe that all mē & espe∣cially 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 Ed∣mond 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

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 hey∣re, of the house of Lancaster, and there vpon concluded, to make my fyrst foundacion, and crecte my newe buyldinge. But whyther God so or∣deyned, 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 af∣ter, 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 tur∣ned euen to a tittyl not so good as, estamen. Estsones I imagened why∣ther 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 ache∣ued and broughte to passe. Thus romblynge and tossynge, in the waues ambiguitie, betwene the stone and sacrafice, I considered fyr••••e the of∣fice, 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 pilgry∣mage) I was nether assuered nor credible asserteyned (suche is the worl∣des 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 iniu∣rie 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 Ryche∣monde, 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••

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 a∣gainst me, then were I suerly mated and the game gotten. Wherefore I haue clerely determined, and with my selfe cōcluded, vtterly to relinqui∣she all suche fantasticall imaginacions concernynge the obteynynge of the croune. But al such plagues, calamities and troubles (which I fea∣red 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 re∣bounde 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 Ed∣wardes 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 prefer∣mente of her childe and the destruction and finall confusion of the com∣mon 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 bat∣tayle) 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 bo∣the 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 conty∣nued to the paring of many mēs crownes, and this realme shalbe redu∣ced agayne to quietnes renoune and glorie. This inuencion of the duke many men thought after, that it was more imagened for the inward ha∣tred

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 fa¦uored 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 in∣cōparable wysedome and pollicie, this noble coniunction is fyrs••e mo∣ued, nowe is it conueniente, ye and nece••••arie to consider, what persona∣ges 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 be∣gyn 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 pre∣sage 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 Eli∣zabeth, & also of her eldest daughter bearing y^• same name: & after secretl•• to send to her sonne into Britaine to declare what high honour was pre∣pared 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

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 plea¦saunt 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 de∣parte, 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 com∣paignie 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 soda∣nie ouerthrowe as they that knewe it dyd reporte.

When Reignold Bray had declared his message, and preuie instruc∣tion 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

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 pro∣pice & 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^• ••••gh∣teous 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 de∣gree 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 ma∣trimony, no doubte but the vsurper of the realme should be shortely de∣posed, 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 de∣uyser 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 cor∣porall othe after the kyngedome obteyned, to espouse and take to wife the ladye Elizabeth her daughter, or els lady Cecile, yf theldest daugh∣••er

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 be∣twene the .ii. mothers, and because he was a phisician and oute of al sus∣picion and mysdemynge, he was the common 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and daylye messen∣ger betwene theim, aidynge and settynge foorth the inuented conspira∣cye 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 secret∣ly 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 Eli∣zabeth was as vigilaunte on the other syde and made frendes and ap∣poyncted councelers to set forwarde and auaunce her busynes. In the meane ceason the countesse of Richemond toke into her seruice Christo∣pher 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 & coun∣cell, 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 stu∣dious 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 de∣monster 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, de∣termined 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 franke∣ly offred and liberally exhibited to him, willyng & aduisynge him not to neglecte so good an occasion apparantly offred, but with al spede & dili∣gence to addicte & settle his mynde and full entencion howe to retourne home againe into England where he was bothe wished & looked for, ge∣uynge him farther monicion & councell to take land & arriual in y^e prin∣cipalite of Wales, where he should not doubte to fynde bothe aide, com∣forte 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

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 thyn∣ges as he with busy mynde and laborious entente had wished and desy∣red, coulde neuer haue taken any effecte withoute the helpe and prefer∣mente 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, aduer∣tisynge hym that he was entred into a sure and stedfaste hope to ob∣teyne and get the crowne and kyngedome of the realme of England▪ de∣syrynge him bothe of his good will and frendely helpe toward the ache∣uynge of his offred entreprise, promysynge hym when he came to his en∣tended 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 proui∣ded, 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 distur∣baūce 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 En∣glande began together many entreprises: Some in conueniente for∣tresses put strong garrisons: Some kepte armed men preuely, to then∣tente 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

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 aston∣ned. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 because he had no host ready prepared and conscribed. Se∣condarely 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 explora∣tours and espialles to inuestigate and search oute all the councelles, de∣terminacions▪ ententes and compasses of his close aduersaries, or elles by craftie pollecie to intercepte and take some person of thesame coniu∣racion, 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 fei∣ned 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 neces∣sary 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 cogi∣tacion and preuy meanynge was full of malice, rancor and poyson: ge∣uyng 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 sodayu∣ly withoute any cau••e offered, knowynge the craftie castes of kynge Ri∣chardes bowe, whiche in diuerse affayres be••ore tyme he had sene practi∣sed 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 let∣t••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 mor∣tall 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 diligen∣ce ••••yse vp the people and make a commocion. And by this meanes al∣moo••••e in one momente Thomas Marques dorcet came oute of sanc∣tuarye where he sith the begynnynge of Richardes daies had conty∣nued, whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the onely helpe of sir Thomas louell e••quyer was

preserued from all daungier and perell in this troubleous worlde, ga∣thered together a greate bande of men in Yorkeshire. Sir Edwarde Courtney and Peter his brother bishop of Exsetter, reised another ar∣my in deuoushire and cornewall. In kente, Richarde Guylforde and other gentlemen, collected a great companye of souldyoures and open∣ly 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 con∣iuracion by hym selfe, determined all other beynge set asyde, with hys whole puyssaunce to set on the chiefe hed whiche was the duke of Buc∣kyngham. 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 en∣forced and compelled by lordely and streite commaundemente then by liberall wayges and gentle reteynoure, whiche thinge was the verie oc∣casion 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 ioy∣ned in army with the courtneys and other Westernmen of his confide∣racy 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 drow∣ned 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. da∣yes, 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 pro∣myses, 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 coun∣cell he shoulde take and what waie he shoulde folowe, like a man in dis∣peire not knowynge what to do, of verie truste and confidence conuey∣ghed hym selfe into the house of Homfrey Banaster his seruaunt beside

shrewsburie, whome he had tendrely broughte vp, & whome he aboue all men loued, fauoured and trusted, nowe not doughtynge but that in hys extreme necessite, he shoulde fynde hym faythefull, secrete and trusty, en∣tendynge there couertely to lurke till either he mighte reise agayne a newe armye, or elles shortely to saile into Britayne to the Earle of Ri∣chemond.

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 Ex∣ce••••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 Edg∣combe, all these for the moost parte beynge knyghtes, and Ihon Hal∣well, Edwarde Pownynges a pollytike capitayne. At this verie cea∣son Ihon Morton bishop of Ely and Christopher Urswike priest and another companye of noble men soiourned in Flaunders, and by let∣ters and messengers procured manye ennemyes agaynste kynge Ry∣charde, whyche vsynge a vigilaunte iye and a quycke remembraunce, beynge newely come to Salsburye, hauyng perfight notice and know∣lege 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, be∣cause he vnderstoode by Thomas Hutton, whiche as you haue harde was newely retourned oute of Britayne, that Fraunces duke of Bry∣tayne 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 suc∣coure thesaide Earle with menne, money and all thinges necessarye for his transportyng into England. Wherfore he rigged and sent out ship∣pes 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

yf the erle of Richemond woulde auenture to faile toward England, ei∣ther 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 Buckyn∣gham or of any of his confederacyon, adherentes, fautoures or parta∣kers.

While this Busy searche was diligentely applied and put in execu∣cion, Homfrey Banaster (were it more for feare of losse of lyfe and goo∣des, or attracted and prouoked by the auaricious desire of the thou∣sande 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 Sals∣burie where kynge Richarde then kepte his housholde.

Whether this Banaster bewreyed the duke more for feare then coue∣tous many men do doubt: but sure it is, that shortlie after he had betra∣yed 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 stry∣ken with a foule leperye, his seconde sonne very meruelously defor∣med of his limnes and made decrepite, his younger sonne in a small pud∣del 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 in∣terrogatories 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 & playn∣ly 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 conspi∣racye vpon Allsoulen daie withoute arreignemente or iudgemente he was at Salsburye in the open merker place on a newe skaffolde behed∣ded and put to deathe. This deathe (as a reward) the duke of Buckyn∣gham 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

spotteth his ligne with a perpetuall ignomony and reproche, whiche in euyll and mishiefe assisteth and aydeth an euyll disposed person, con∣siderynge 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 pre∣pared 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 incar∣nacion 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 po∣wer 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 appoyn∣ted and deputed there to defende his arryuall and landynge as be∣fore 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 as∣sembled and congregate. And while he exspected and lyngered ta∣riyenge 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 sa∣uely to the campe where the duke not ferre of laye encāped with a popu∣lous 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

desperate and fugityue, and so by that meanes and their awne laboures and industrie to obteine the ende of their entreprise whiche they had be∣fore 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 say∣les 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 ne∣wely succeded his father kynge Lewes the .xi. not longe before depar∣ted 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 con∣uehtente some of money for his conduicte and expenses necessary in hys longe iourney and passage. But the erle trustynge on the Frenche kyn∣ges humanitee auentured to send his shippes home into Britayne, and to set forwarde hym selfe by lande on his iourney makynge no greate hast till his messengers were retourned, whiche beynge with the benefite so comforted, and with hope of prosperous successe so encouraged, mer∣shed towarde Britayne with al diligent celerite entendyng there to con∣sulte farther with his louers and frēdes of his affaires and entreprises. When he was retorned agayn into Britayne he was certified by credi∣ble 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 retour∣ned to Uānes. When he had heard these newes thus reported, he first so¦rowed, & 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 di∣ligēce 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.

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 ge∣uen and rendred on bothe partes, they consulted and aduisedely deba∣ted 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 solemp∣nyte 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 posses∣sed 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 fer∣mely assurynge that they woulde not onely lese their wordely sub∣staunce, but also be priuated of their lyues and worldely felicitee, ra∣ther then to suffre kynge Rycharde that tyraunt lenger to rule and reig∣ne ouer theim. Whiche solempne othes made and taken, the Earle of Rychemonde declared and communicated all these doynges to Fraun∣ces 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 desy∣ced whiche (with goddes ayde and the dukes comforte) he doubted not in shorte tyme to obteyne, requirynge hym farther to prest to hym a con∣ueniente 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 for∣warde shortely, and to se no conuenient tyme slackely ouerpassed nor be pretermitted.

In the meane ceason, kynge Richarde apprehended in dyuerse par∣tes of the realme certeyne gentylmen of the earle of Rychemondes fac∣cion and confederacion, whiche either entended to saile into Britayne towarde hym, or els at his landynge to assiste and ayde hym. Emon∣geste 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

Rame and diuerse other were executed at exceter. Beside these persones, diuerse of his houshold seruauntes whome either he suspected or doub∣ted, 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 va∣lour and moment, he laied on the peoples neckes a greate taxe and tal∣lage, 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 Tho∣mas 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 commaunde∣mente. Yet the wilde worme of vengaunce wauerynge in his hed coulde not be contented with the deathe of diuerse gentlemen suspected of trea∣son, but also he muste extende his bloudy furye agaynste a poore gentle∣man called Collyngborne for makynge a small ryme of thre of his vn∣fortunate councelers, which were the lord louell, sir Richarde Radelyffe his myscheuous mynion, and sir Wylliam Catesbey his secrete seducer, whiche metre was.

The Rat, the Catte and Louell our dogge Rule all Englande vnder the hogge.

Meanynge by the hogge, the dreadfull wilde bore whiche was the kyn∣ges cognisaunce, but because the fyrste lyne ended in dogge, then me∣trician coulde not obseruynge the regimentes of metre ende the seconde verse in Bore, but called the bore an hogge. This poeticall schoole∣mayster corrector of breues and longes, caused Collyngborne to be abbreuiate shorter by the hed, and too bee deuyded into foure quar∣ters.

Kynge Richarde beynge thus turmented and tossed in his awne con∣cepte and imaginacion, called to his remembraunce that consideracions amiti••s, and other honeste bondes and pa••tes, made, conc••uded and ap∣pointed betwene princes and politique gouernours are the cause efficiēt and esp••••cia••l introduction that their re••lmes and countries are ••orti∣fied 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 Ri∣charde 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 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Tho∣mas 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 de∣puted Colyn erle of Ergile lord Camplell & lorde chaunceller of Scot∣lande, Willi••m bishop of Aberdene, Robert lorde Lyle L••urence lorde Olyphant, Ihon Drummond of Stobhall, Arch balo Qwhitelator ••r∣chedeacon 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•• En∣glande 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 En∣gland durynge thesai••e truce.

Item that all other castelles, holdes and fortresses, shall peaceably [ iiii] remayn in the handes of y^e possessor and owner without chalenge or de∣maunde durynge thesaide truce, the castell of dumbarre onely excepte, (whiche was delyuered into thenglishe mennes handes by the apoynte∣ment 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 then∣glishe 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 a∣rise [ vi] betwene thesaide twoo prynces, either for the recouerynge or defen∣dynge thesayde castell of Dumbarre, yet thesayde truce, league & amitie for all other rightes and possessions, shal stande in force and be effec∣tuall, 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 not∣withstandynge.

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 theo∣ther 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 trey∣tour 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 know∣lege 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 & vas∣salle, shal within .vi. dayes next after the facte done & perpetrate, declare

thesaide wardeyn a treytour and rebell, and therof shal make certificate to the other prince to whom the iniurie was 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 com∣prehended notwithstandynge.

[ xiii] Item it is agreed, apointed and accorded that in this treatie and ami¦tie 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, Char∣les 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 Lon∣day 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, proclay∣med 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.

For the kynge of Englande.

• 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.

For the kyng of Scottes.

• 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 El∣phynston
• 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 No∣uember 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.

Commissioners of the En∣glishe parte.

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

Commissioners for the Scottishe part.

• 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 haldane∣stanke the .iiii. daie of the sayde moneth for the middle marches.

Commissioners for the kyng of Englande.

• The erle of Northum∣berlande
• The lorde Greystorcke
• The lord Scrope of Massam
• Sir William Gastoyn
• Sir Robert Conestable

Commissioners for the kyng of Scottes.

• 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 as∣signe [ 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.

[ xix] Item it is agreed and apoynted that no person of England or Scot∣land 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 sea∣led 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 daugh∣ter 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 pro∣claymed Ihon erle of Lyncolne his nephew and her sonne, heyre appa∣raunt to y^e crowne of England, dishenetityng kynge Edwardes daugh∣ters, whose brethren before you haue heard he shamefully killed & mur∣thered.

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 vnnatu∣rall homicide, but also for the vsurpacion of the crowne beynge of all the realme detested and disdayned, gladly accepted and ioyousely con∣cented to kynge Richardes deuyce and coniuncion of amitie, perfighte∣ly 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, stabli∣shed 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

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 no∣thynge 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 let∣ter to kyng Richard, delcaryng to hym that where in the league conclu∣ded betwene theim, yt was agreed and appoyncted that he should with∣in .xl. dayes nexte ensuynge, expresse and declare his opynion and mea∣nynge 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 mo∣nethes onely. He nowe certefyed kynge Rycharde by his letters, that he was contente that he and his shoulde enioye the possessyon of the∣sayde castell quyetely and peaceably durynge thesayde truce and ami∣tie. 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 Ri∣charde dalyed with pleasaunte letters and fayre woordes, and so fo∣ded foorth the kynge of Scottes, that he neuer had Dumbarre dely∣uered 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 Ri∣chard 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 & fau∣roures, which dailye dread and hourely agony, caused him to lyue in do∣lefull 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

grounde of his feare and doubtes. Wherefore after longe and deli∣berate 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 inconty∣nent 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 com∣pany, 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 in∣firmitie, beganne a lytle to waxe ydle and weake in his wyt and remem∣braunce. For which cause Peter Landoyse his chiefe treasouter, a man bothe or pregnaunt wit and great authorite, ruled and adiuged al thin∣ges 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. Then∣glishe ambassadoures moued their message and request to Peter Lan∣doyse, 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 suf∣ficiente to withstande and re••ell the malicious attemptes and disdeyn∣full 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

thirst of lucre, and inward feare of losse of aucthorite, driueth the blynde myndes of couetous men and ambicious persones to euilles and mis∣ch••••es innumerable, not remembryng losse of name, obloquy of the peo∣ple, nor in conclusion the punyshement of God for their merites and de∣sertes. But fortune was so fauourable to the publicke wealth of the re∣alme of Englande that this deadly and dolorous compact tooke none effect or place. For while postes ranne, and letters were sent to and fro¦tor 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 mat∣tre, 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 so∣daynly 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 go∣uernoure, neuer restynge nor theim selues refreshynge excepte the bay∣tyng of their horses till thei by wayes vnknowen nowe this waie, nowe

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 soul∣dyours, whiche he preuely had consigned with certayne trustye capitey∣nes for that onely purpose appoynted and elected, to performe & acheue his pretensed entreprise, dissymulynge and feignynge theim to be con∣ducted 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 re∣tynue, whiche no suche fraude suspectynge, nor yet any treason ymage∣nynge, 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 dis∣symuler 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 incarce∣rate and brynge captyue into the citee of Uannes. The horsemen made suche diligence, and with such celerite set forward their iorney, that no∣thing 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 soroful∣ly 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 in∣continently 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 vn∣truthe compelled to leaue and flye oute of his duchye and countrey con∣trary to his honoure. Wherfore he tooke greate displeasure with Peter Landoyse his treasourer, to whom (although he knewe not & was ygno∣raunte 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 delyue∣red vnto theim monye sufficiente for their conduyte, wyllynge theim to conuey the rest of thenglishmen beynge in Brytayne, to the earle of Ri∣chemondes presence. When the Earle was thus furnyshed & apoynted

with his trusty 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 dy∣uerse 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 ren¦dred to hym his moost hartie thankes in woordes, trustyng & not doub∣tyng 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 ge∣uen 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 im∣mortall 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 v∣pon him the croune and scepter of the realme▪ they so muche hated & ab∣horred 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 perso∣nages 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 offi∣ces, condiscen•••••• goo with him into Fraunce to the Earle of Rych∣monde and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 parte. But Iames Blount like a wise capiteyne, because he 〈…〉〈…〉 wyfe remaynynge in the castell before his depar∣ture, he forte•••• thesame bothe with newe inuencions and newe soul∣dyours. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 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 mainte∣naunce and preferment of the house of Lancaster) was nowe by goddes prouision delyuered out of captiuite & imprisonmēt, & in time so necessa∣ty & 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

to tyme vnder his truculent rule and tempestious gouernaunce. But this man which so often tymes had personally fought in mortal battay∣le 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 com∣paigny beynge by his meanes ayded and comforted, shoulde confesse & saye, their wealthe, victorye and auauncement to haue flowed and bud∣ded 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 incon∣tinent receaued into secret familiarite & in briefe tyme erected & auaun∣ced 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 ef∣fect in Brytayne, ymagened and deuysed howe to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and disturbe the erles purpose by another meane, so that by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of lady Eli∣zabeth 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

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 con∣clusion. He clerely determined to reconcile to his fauoure his brothers wife quene Elizabeth either by faire woordes or liberall promises, fir∣mely 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 in∣numerable 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 dig∣nite, the ruyne of the realme must nedes shortely ensue & folowe. Wher∣fore he sent to the quene beynge in sanctuarie diuerse and often messen∣gers, whiche first shoulde excuse and purge him of all thinges before a∣gainste 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 para∣dise. The messengers beynge men bothe of wit and grauitie so persua∣ded 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 disho∣noure spoken by the kynge her husbande, the lyuynge in auoutrie leyed to her charge, the bastardyng of her daughters, forgettyng also y^• feith∣full 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 pro∣uided 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. Su∣rely 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

which knewe nothing lesse then that he moost entended, he caused al his brothers daughters to be conueighed into his paleys with solempne re∣ceauyng, 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 imma∣ture death of his wife once openly knowen, he should lese the good and credible opinion whiche the people had of him, without deserte concea∣ued 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 la∣tely 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 ef∣fecte, 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 soday∣ne sicknes or greuous maladye, & to proue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a••terward she should for∣tune by y^• or any other waies to lese her li••e, whyther y^• people would im∣pute 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 la∣mentable 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 woor∣des, and with dissimulynge blandimentes and flatteryng lesynges com∣forted 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

(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 bu¦ried in the churche of s••int Peter at Westminster. This is thesame An∣ne 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 Ed∣ward 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 ma∣trimony: But because all men, and the mayden her selfe moost of al, de∣tested and abhorred this vnlawfull and in maner vnnaturall copula∣cion, 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 Rich∣mond: 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 victo∣rie by his enemies. Emongest the noble men whome he moost mystru∣sted, 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 Marga∣rete 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 spiri∣tes (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 be∣gotten sonne and heire. While kynge Richard was thus troubled and vexed with ymaginacions of the tumulteous time that was lyke to co∣me: Lo••, euen sodeinly he herde newes that fyer was sprong oute of the smoke and the warre, recently begonne, and that the castell of ham∣mes 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

the•••• sodeine obsession, requirynge hym of hasty ayde and spedy suc∣coure. 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 vi∣gilaunt iye, weytynge least the Earle of Oxforde shoulde take any ad∣ua••ntage of theim that la••e on that side of the Castell. Thomas Bran∣don with .xxx. approued men of warre by a marishe whiche laie on the∣other syde entred into the castell. The souldioures within greately ani∣mated and muche comforted by this newe succour and aide, greued the∣nemies 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 re∣pudiate or refuse. And so leauynge the Castell bare and vngarnysshed bothe of vitaile and artillary, came safe to the erle of Richmond soiour∣nyng in Parys. Duryng this tyme, kynge Richard was credebly infor∣med 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 das∣shed 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 ene∣myes 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 passa∣ges 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 coun∣trey, 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,

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 ad∣monisshyng 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 de∣steny whiche hong ouer his hed, and was ordened in briefe tyme sodein∣ly 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 offen∣ces 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 emon∣gest 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 de∣ferred. 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 Ri∣chard: secretly in the night ceason stale oute of Parys, and with all dili∣gent 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 cōpaig∣nion, 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

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 mo¦lest the myndes of his feithfull and assured frendes which daily did as∣pect & 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 naui∣gacion, 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 fa∣milie. 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 the∣ir 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 En∣gland 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 ay∣de, 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

men of warre: admonisshynge him also to make quicke expedicion and to take his course directely into Wales. The Earle of Richmonde be∣cause 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 profita∣ble 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 prospe∣rous wynde and sure passage in his iourney, but also effecteously desy∣rynge his goodnes of aide & comforte in his necessite and victorie & su∣premitie 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 pros∣perous 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 remo∣ued 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 the∣same 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 trim∣mynge 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

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 Mor∣gan 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 then∣tent his frendes shoulde knowe wyth what dexterite his attempted en∣treprice 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 o∣ther his trustie frendes, declarynge to theim, that he succoured and hol∣pen with the ayde and releue of his frendes entended to passe ouer y^• ry∣uer 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 & admo∣nicions, he marched forward toward Shrewsbury, and in his passynge there met & saluted him Rice ap Thomas with a goodly bād of Welsh∣men, 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 Wa∣les, whiche parte as he feithfully promised and graunted, so after that he had obteyned and possessed the realme and diademe, he liberally per∣formed 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

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 iour∣ney and came to a litle towne called Newporte and pitchynge his cam∣pe 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 Stan∣ley accompaignied with a fewe persones, and after that the Earle and he had communed no longe tyme together, he reuerted to his souldiou∣res 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 mar∣shynge thetherward, gaue to hym place, dislodgynge hym and hys, and repaired to a towne called Adrestone, there abydynge the com∣mynge of the Earle, and this wilye foxe did this acte to aduoyde al sus∣picion, beynge afraied least yf he shoulde be sene openly to bee a fau∣toure or ayder to the Earle his sonne in lawe before the daie of the bat∣tayll, that kynge Richarde whiche yet dyd not vtterly put in him dif∣fidence 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 then∣tent that the lorde Stanley his father shoulde attempte nothing preiu∣diciall 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 arry∣ued in Wales, and that all thynges necessarie to his entreprice we∣re vnprouided, vnpurueyed and verie weake, nothynge mete to with∣stande 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 re∣garde to this so small a sparcle, declarynge the Earle to be innocente and vnwyse because that he temerariously attempted suche a great en∣treprice 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 shor∣tely done by Sir Walter Harbert and Rice ap Thomas, whiche then

ruled Wales with egall powre and lyke aucthoritee. But yet he re∣uoluynge and castynge in hys mynde that a small warre begonne and wynked at and not regarded, maye tourne to a greate broyle and tu∣multeous 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 Nor∣folke, 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 mu∣stre 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. Al∣so he wrote to Robert Brakenbury Lieutenaunt of the towre, com∣maundynge 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, ty∣dynges 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 deter∣mined hym selfe oute of hand thesame daye to occurre and resyste hys aduersaries. And in all hast sente oute explorators to viewe and es∣pie 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 per∣fighte knowlege where the Earle with his armye was soiournynge, he hauynge continuall repaire of his subiectes to hym, beganne in con∣tynently withoute delaie to marshall and collocate in order his battai∣les (lyke a valyaunt capteine and polletique leader) and firste he made his battayles to set forward foure and foure in a ranke, marchynge to∣warde that waie where his enemyes as was to hym reported entended to passe. In the myddle parte of the armye he appoynted the traf∣ficke and cariage apperteignynge to the armye. Then he (enuironed with his satellytes and yomen of the crowne (with a frownynge coun∣tenaunce and truculente aspect mounted on a greate whyte courser, fo∣lowed with his footemen, the wynges of horsemen coastynge and ran∣gynge on euery syde: And kepyng this araye, he with greate pompe entred the toune of Lecester after the sonne set. The Earle of Rych∣monde reised his campe and departed from Lychefelde to the towne of Tomwoorth therto nere adioynynge, and in the myd waie passynge,

there saluted hym Sir Walter Hungerforde and Sir Thomas Bur∣chier 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 vncer∣teine 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 Rich∣mond 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 ney∣ther 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 aggra∣uate his melancoly pensyuenes, yt was shewed hym that kynge Ry∣charde 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 darck∣nes 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 dyuer∣ted 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 in∣fortunate 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 retour∣ned, and by the conduyte of good fortune espied and came to his ar∣mie, excusynge hym selfe, not to haue gone oute of hys waye by igno∣raunce, 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

brother with their bandes were abidynge. There the Earle came firste to his fatherinlawe in a lytle close, where he saluted hym and Sir Wil∣liam his brother, and after diuerse congratulacions and many frendely embracynges, eache reioysed of the state of other, and sodeinly were sur∣prised 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 me∣rites and myscheueous desertes) marshed to a place mete for twoo bat∣tayles to encountre by a village called Bosworth, not farre from Ley∣cester▪ and there he pitched his felde, refreshed his souldioures and toke his rest. The fame went that he had thesame night a dreadfull & a ter∣rible dreame,* 1.5 for yt semed to hym beynge a slepe y^• he sawe diuerse yma∣ges lyke terrible deuelles whiche pulled and haled hym, not sufferyn∣ge 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 pronosti∣cated before the doubtfull chaunce of the battaile to come, not vsynge the alacrite and myrth of mynde and of countenaunce as he was accu∣stomed 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 drea∣me. But I thynke this was no dreame, but a punccion and pricke of hys synfull conscyence, for the conscience is so muche more char∣ged 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 faul∣tes 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 &

footmen to thentēt to emprynte in y^• hartes of thē y^• loked a farre of, a so∣deine 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 cau∣sed 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, con∣siderynge 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 in∣structed & 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. thou∣sande were in the felde vnder the stādard of sir William Stanley: The kynges nomber was doble as muche & more.* 1.6 When bothe these ar∣mies were thus ordered & al men redy to set forward kyng Richard cal∣led his Cheuetains together & to thē sayde. Most faithfull & assured fe∣lowes, 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 & sub∣iectes, 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 fide∣lite & 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

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 deplo∣re 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 al∣legians obliged the vassall to loue and serue his naturall souereigne lorde, or yf any obligation of dewtie bounde any prynce to aide and de∣fende 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 ke∣pyng. 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 prehe∣minence & possession which by your prudent deuises I haue gotten and obteyned. I doubt not but you knowe, howe the deuell continuall ene∣mie 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 French∣men 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 ap∣parant 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 ar∣mie, 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

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 mar∣cie. And as for the Frenshmē & Brytons▪ there valiātnes ys suche, y^• our noble progenitors & your valiaunt parētes, haue them oftener vāqui∣shed & ouercome in one moneth, then thei in y^• beginny••g imagened pos∣sible to cōpasse & fynishe in a hole yere. What wil you make of thē, brag¦gers w^tout audacite dronkards w^tout discrescion, rybaudes w^tout rea∣son, cowardes w^tout resistyng & in conclusion y^• most effeminate & lasci∣uious 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 wis∣dome nor puissaunce. Euery one gyue but one suer stripe, & suerly y^• ior∣ney 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 renou∣ne, which do not as much preferre & exaltey^• perpetual honor of their na∣tiue 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, & pu∣nishe 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 war∣dely hated other sware outwardely to take part with suche, whose death thei secretely compassed and inwardly imagened, other promysed to in∣uade the kynges enemies, whiche fled and fought with fyrce courage a∣gainst 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 vnna∣turall 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,

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 for∣med 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?* 1.7 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, suppres∣synge 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 ene∣myes, 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 van∣quished and profligate by suche as neyther feare hym nor his lawes, nor yet regarde iustice or honestie. Our cause is so iuste that no enter∣price 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, consy∣der 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 patrymo∣nye 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 ma∣tes and frendes occupie your landes cutt downe your woddes and de∣stroy 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

with the pricke of ther corrupt consciences cowardely to flye and not a∣byde the battaill: besyde this I assure you that there be yonder in that great battaill, men brought thyther for feare and not for loue, souldi∣ours 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 ma∣lice of the souldiours towarde there captain, or the feare of hym concey∣ued 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 Ci∣tee for euer: yet was not his fault so detestable as the facte of cruel Ne∣ro, 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 wo∣manly 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 pre∣tence 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, tos∣syng 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 for∣tune. 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

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 Bry∣taine 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 circumcep∣ted and cōpassed betwene our enemies and our doubtful frendes. The∣refore 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 la∣bour 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^• vi∣ctorie 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 fre∣tyng 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 vn∣timerous Tigers & banish all feare like rāping lions. And now auaūce torward trew men against traytors pitifull persones against murthe∣rers, 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,* 1.8 but the one armye espyed the o∣ther, lord how hastely the souldioures ••uckled their healmes, how quik∣ly 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 vic∣torie 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

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 show∣ted 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^• mul∣titude 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 Ox∣forde bryngyng all his bend togither on the one parte, set on his enne∣mies freshly, agayne, the aduersaries perceiuyng that, placed ther men slender and thyne before and thicke and brode behynde, begynnynge a∣gaine 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 per∣sonage 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 pro∣ferred to encountre with hym body to body and man to man. Kyng Ry∣chard sett on so sharpely at the first Broūt y^• he ouerthrew therles stan∣darde, 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 Stan∣ley, whiche came to succours with .iii. thousande tall men, at whiche ve∣ry instant kynge Richardes men were dryuen backe and fledde, and he him selfe manfully fyghtynge in the mydell of his enemies was slayne

and brought to his death as he 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 ha∣uyng 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 perso∣nes: 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.

Iack of Norffolke be not to bolde For Dykon thy maister is bought and solde.

Yet all this notwithstandynge he regarded more his othe, his honour and promyse made to kynge Richarde, lyke a gentleman and a faythe∣full 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 coun∣sailers to the late kynge, with diuers other were ▪ii. daies after behedded at Leycester. Amongest them that ranne awaie were Sir Fraunces Ui¦cou••t louell and Humfrey Stafforde and Thomas Stafford his bro∣ther 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 vnar∣mynge hym selfe and castynge a waye his abilimentes of warre, mekely submitted them selfes to the obeyssaunce and rule of therle of Riche∣mond: of the whiche the more parte had gladly so done in the begin∣nynge 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 Hen∣ry the .iiii. erle of Northumberlande, whiche whither it was by the com∣maundement 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

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 coura∣giously 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 began∣ne to suspect fraude and to smell treason, and not only exhorted but de∣terminatly 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 igno∣rant 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 sto∣make 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 depry∣ued of the same, with which to much hardines he beyng ouercome haste∣ly closed his helmett, and entered fiercely in to the hard battail, to then∣tent 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, v∣se, and embrace, mischiefe, tiranny, and vnthriftines. Suerly these be ex∣amples 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 ene∣mie, 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 cōmit∣ted & assigned: Which praier finyshed, he replenyshed w^t incomperable gladnes, ascended vp to the topp of a littell mountaine, where he not on∣ly 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

people he toke the crowne of kynge Richard whiche was founde amon∣gest 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 remem∣braunce 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 Ry∣charde was come to Boswoorth, he sent a purseuaūt to the lord Stan∣ley, 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 di∣ned. 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 com∣maunded 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 of∣fence, perswaded the kynge that it was now tyme to fight and not tyme to execucion, aduisynge hym to kepe the Lorde Straunge as a priso∣ner 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 ten∣tes 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 ca∣me 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 gorgious∣ly the daye before with pompe and pryde departed owte of thesame towne. For his bodye was naked and despoyled to the skyne, and no∣thynge 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

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 nephi∣wes 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 de∣formed, the one shoulder higher then the other,* 1.9 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 sto∣macke, the whiche accompaignied him to his death, whiche he rather de∣syrynge 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 pu∣nishement 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 re∣alme 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 re∣mitte the punyshment of his offences com∣mitted in his lyfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The destruc∣tion of kynge Edward•• chyldren.
• * 1.2

  King Edwar¦des chyldren ••urthered.
• * 1.3

  The end of y^• murtherers of kynge Ed∣wards chyl∣dren.
• * 1.4

  From the be∣ginnynge of King Edvvard the fifte: he∣therto, is of sir Thomas Mores 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  The dreame of kyng Ri∣chard the .iii.
• * 1.6

  The oraciō of kyng Richard the .iii.
• * 1.7

  The oraciō of kyng Henry the .vii.
• * 1.8

  The battaile betwene kyng Richard and kyng Henry the .vii.
• * 1.9

  The discrip∣cion of kyng Richard y^• .iii.