The chronicle of Ihon Hardyng in metre, fro[m] the first begynnyng of Engla[n]de, vnto ye reigne of Edwarde ye fourth where he made an end of his chronicle. And from yt time is added with a co[n]tinuacion of the storie in prose to this our tyme, now first emprinted, gathered out of diuerse and sondrie autours of moste certain knowelage [et] substanciall credit, yt either in latin orels in our mother toungue haue writen of ye affaires of Englande.

¶ Rychard the third.

RYCHARD THE THIRDE of that name, vsurped the croune of England, and opē∣ly tooke vpō hym to be kyng the .xix. daye of Iune, in the yere of our Lord, a thousand foure hundreth and. lxxxiii, & in the .xxv. yere of Lewes the xi. then beyng Frenche kyng, and with greate so∣lempnitee rode to Westmynster, and there sate in the seate royall, and called before hym the iudges of the realme, streyghtly commaundynge theim to execute the lawe without fauoure or delaye, with many good exhortacions (of the which he folowed not one) and then he departed towarde the abbaye and at the churche doore he was met with proces∣sion, and by the abbot to hym was delyuered the sceptre of saint Edward, & so went & offred to sant Edwardes shryne, whyle y^e monkes sange Te deum with a faynt courage, and from the churche he re∣tourned to the palayce, where he lodged tyll the coronacion. And to bee sure of all enemyes (as he thought) he sent for .v. thousande menne of y^e north against his coronacion, whiche came vp euell ap∣parelled and worsse harneyssed, in rustie harneys, neyther defensable nor scoured to the sale, whiche mustered in fynesoury felde, to the great disdayne of all the lokers on.

The fourth daye of Iuly he came to y^e towre by

water with his wife, and the fyfte daye he created Thomas Lorde Haward, duke of Norffolke & syr Thomas Haward his soonne he created Earle of Surrey, and Willyam lorde Barkeley was then created erle of Notyngham, and Fraunces lorde Louell was then made Vicount Louell and the kynges chaumberlayne, and the lorde Stanley was deliuered out of warde for feare of his sonne the lorde Straunge, whiche was then in Lancas∣shyre gatheryng menne (as menne saied) and the saied lorde was made Stuard of the kynges hou sholde, like wyse the archbyshoppe of Yorke was deliuered, but Morton bishop of Ely was deliue∣red to the duke of Buckingham to kepe in warde whiche sent hym to his manoure of Brecknoke in Wales, from whence he escaped to kyng Richar∣des confusyon. The same nighte the kyng made .xvii. knightes of the bathe. The nexte day he rode throughe Londō with great pompe, & in especiall the duke of Buckinghā was richely appareled & his horse trapped in blewe veluet enbroudered w^t y^e naues of cartes burning of golde, whiche trap¦per was borne by footemē frō y^e grounde, w^t suche asolēpne fassyon y^t all menne muche regarded it.

On y^e morowe being the .vi. day of Iuly y^e kyng came toward his coronaciō into Westminster hal where his chapell & all the prelates mytred recea∣ued hym. And so they in ordre of processyon passed forward. After y^e procession folowed therle of Nor thumberlād with a pointlesse sweard naked, & the lorde Stanley bare the Mace of y^e constableship, The erle of Kent bare the second swerd on y^e right hand of the kyng naked. The lord Louell bare an

other swerd on y^e lefte hand. Then folowed y^e duke of Suffolke with the Sceptre, and therle of Lin∣colne with y^e balle and crosse. After theim folowed the newe Erle of. Surrey with the swerd of estate in a riche skabard. On the ryght side of hym went the duke of Norffolke bearing y^e croune, then folo¦wed kyng Richard in a Circot and robe of purple veluet vnder a canable borne by the barones of y^t fyue portes, going betwene y^e bishoppes of Bathe and Duresme. The duke of Buckingham with y^e rod of the high stuard of Englande bare the kyn∣ges traine. After hym folowed the erle of Hunting don, bearing the quenes sceptre, and the Vicount Li••••e, bearing the rod with the doue. And the erle of Wilshere bare the quenes croune. Then folow¦ed quene Anne doughter to Richard erle of War wike in robes lyke to the kyng, betwene two bys∣shoppes, and a canabie ouer her hed, borne by the Barones of the portes. On her hed a rich coronal set with stones and pearle. After her folowed the countesse of Richmond heire to y^e duke of Somer∣set, whiche bare vp y^e quenes traine. After folowed the duchesse of Suffolke and Norffolke with coū¦tesses baronesses, ladies, & many faire gentilwemē in this ordre they passed thorough the palaice & en¦tred y^e abbay at the west end, & so came to their sea¦tes of estate. And after diuerse sōges sol••ply song they both discended to the high altare & were shif∣ted from their robes, & had diuerse places open frō the middle vpward, in whiche places they were a∣nointed. Then both the kyng & the quene chaun∣ged theim into cloth of gold & ascended to their sea¦tes, where the cardinal of Cauntourburie & other

byshoppes theim crouned according to y^e custome of the realme, geuing hym y^e scepter in the left hād and the balle w^t the crosse in the ryght hand, & the quene had y^e sceptre in her right hand, & the rod w^t the doue in the left hand. On euery side of y^e kyng stode a duke, & before hym stode therle of Surrey with the swerd in his handes. And on euery side of the quene stāding a bishop & a ladie kneling. The Cardinal song masse, & after paxe, the kyng & the quene discended, & before the high altare they wer bothe houseled w^t one hoste, deuyded betwene thē After masse finished, they bothe offred at saint Ed¦wardes shrine, & there the kyng lefte the croune of saint Edward, and put on his owne crowne. And so in ordre as they came, they departed to westmin¦ster hal, & so to their chambres for a ceasō, duryng which time the duke of Norffolke came into y^e hal his horse traped to the ground in cloth of gold as high mershall, and voided the hall.

About .iiii. of y^e clocke the kyng & quene entred the halle, and the kyng sate in the middle, and the quene on the left hand of the table, & on euery side of her stoode a countesse holding a clothe of plea∣saunce, when she list to drinke. And on y^e right hād of the kyng sat the byshop of Cauntourbury, the ladies sat all on one side in the middle of the hall. And at the table againste theim sat the Chauncel∣loure and all the lordes. At the table next the cup∣borde sate the Maire of London. And at the table behinde the lordes, sate the Barones of the portes And at the other bordes sate noble and worshyp∣full personages. When all persones wer sette, the the duke of Norffolke, earle Mershal, the earle of

Surrey constale for that daye, the lorde Stanley lorde Steward, Sir willyam Hopton treasourer, and sir Thomas Percie comptroller came in and serued the kyng solemplye with one dishe of golde and another of syluer. And the quene all in gylte vessell, and the bishop all in siluer. At the seconde course came into y^t hall, sir Robert Democke the kynges champion, making a proclamacion, that whosoeuer woulde saye that kyng Richarde was not lawfullye kyng, he woulde fight with hym at the vtteraunce, and threwe downe his gauntlet, & thē all the hall cried kyng Richard. And so he did in thre partes of the halle, and then one broughte hym a cup of wyne couered, & when he had dronke he caste oute the drinke, & departed with the cuppe After that the herauldes cryed alargesse thryse in the halle, & so went vp to their staige. At the ende of diner, the Mayre of London serued the kyng & quene with swete wyne, and had of eche of theim a cuppe of golde with a couer of gold. And by that tyme that all was done, it was darkenight. And so the kyng retourned to his chaumbre, and euery man to his lodging. When this feaste was thus fyneshed, the kyng sente home all the lordes into their countrees that woulde departe, excepte the lorde Stanley, whome he reteyned tyll he hearde what his soonne the lorde straunge wente aboute And to suche as wente home, he gaue streyghte charge and cōmaundement to see their countryes well ordred, and y^t no wronge nor extorcion should bee done to his subiectes. And thus he taught o∣ther to execute iustice & equite, the contrary wher∣of he daylye exercysed, he also with greate rewar∣des

geuen to the Northrenmenne whyche he sent for to hys coronation, sente theim home to theyre country wyth greate thanckes. Whereof dyuerse of theim, (as they all be of nature verye gredye of authoryte, and specyally whē they thynke to haue any conforte or fauoure,) tooke on them so hygh∣ly and wroughte such mastreis, that y^e kyng was fayne to ryde thether in hys fyrste yere, and to put some in execution, and staye the countrye, or elles no small myschechefe had ensued.

Nowe after thys tryumphante coronation, there fell myschiefes thycke & thicke, as the thing euell gotten is neuer well kepte, so through al the tyme of hys vsurped reygne, neuer ceased theyre quel, murder, death & slaughter tyll his owne de¦struccion ended it. But as he fynished w^t the best deathe and mooste ryghtwyse, that is to saye hys owne, so beganne he wyth the moost pyteous and wycked, I meane the lamentable murther of his innocente nephewes, the yonge kynge and hys tender brother, whose death and fortune hath ne∣uerthelesse so farre come in questyon that some re¦mayned long in doubte whether they were in his dayes destroyed or not. For y^t Parkin Warbek by many folkes malyce, & mo folkes folye so long space abusynge the worlde, was aswell w^t prnceis as w^t poore people reputed & taken for the youn∣ger of these two. But for that also that all thyn∣ges were so couertly demeaned, one thynge pretē∣ted and another mente, that there was nothynge so playne and openly proued, but that yet for the common custome of close and couert dealyng, mē

had it euer inwardly suspect, as many well coun∣trefet iewelles make the true mistrusted. Howbeit concernyng that opinion menne maye see the con∣ueighaunce therof in the lyfe of the noble prynce kyng Henry the seuēth, in the processe of Parkyn. But in the meane ceason, for this present matter I shall reherse to you the dolorous ende of these two babes, not after euery way that I haue heard but after that waye that I haue so heard by suche menne and suche meanes as me thynketh it to be heard but it should be true.

Kyng Rychard after his coranacion, takynge his waye to Gloucestre, to visyte in his newe ho∣noure the toune, of whiche he bare the name of olde, deuysed as he roade to fulfyll that thynge which he before had intended. And forasmuche as his mynde gaue hym that his nephewes lyuyng, men woulde not recon that he coulde haue right to the realme, he thought therfore without delaye to ryd theim, as though the kyllyng of his kyns∣men might ende his cause, and make hym kynde∣ly kyng. Wherupon he sent Iohn Grene, whome he specially trusted, to syr Roberte Brakenburye constable of the towre, with a lettre and credence also, that the same Syr Robert in any wise should put the two chyldren to death. This Iohn Grene dyd his errand to Syr Robert Brakenbury kne∣lyng before our ladye in the towre, who playnelye aūswered that he would neuer put theim to death to dye therfore. With the whiche aunswer Grene returned, recountyng the same to kynge Rycharde at Warwike yet on his iourneye, wherewith he toke suche displeasure & thought, y^t the same night

he sayed to a secrete page of his. Ah, whome shall a manne truste? they that I haue broughte vp my selfe, they that I went would haue moste surely ser¦ued me, euen those fayle me, and at my cōmaunde¦ment wyll doo nothing for me. Syr {quod} the page, there lyeth one in y^e palet chaumbre without, that I dare well saye, to dooe youre grace pleasure, the thing were ryght heard that he would refuse, mea¦ning this by Iames Tirell, whiche was a manne of goodly personage, and for the gyftes of nature worthie to haue serued a muche better prince, if he had well serued God, and by grace obteyned to haue asmuche treweth and good wyll, as he had strengthe and wyll.

The manne had an hyghe hearte and sore lon∣ged vpwarde, not risyng yet so faste as he had ho¦ped, beynge hyndred and kepte vnder by syr Ry∣charde Ratcliffe and sir willyam Catesbye, which longing for nō more parteners of the Princes fa∣uoure, namely not for him, whose pride they knew woulde beare no pere, kept hym by secrete driftes oute of all secrete trust, which thing this page had well marked and knowen, wherfore, this occasion offred, of verye speciall frendshippe se his tyme to set hym forwarde, and by suche wyse to dooe hym good, that all the enemies that he had (excepte the deuell) coulde neuer haue dooen hym so muche hurte and shame, for vpon the pages woordes kynge Rycharde aroose, for this communicacy∣on had he sytting on a drafte, a conuenyente car∣pet for suche a counsaile, and came oute into the palette chaumbre, where he dyd fynde in bedde

the sayd Iames Tyrell and syr Thomas Tyrell of persone like and brethren of blood, but nothyng of kynne in condicions. Then sayde y^e kyng mere∣ly to theim, what syrs, be you in bed so sone? & cal∣led vp Iames Tyrrell, and brake to hym secretely his mynde in this myscheuous matter, in y^e which he foūde hym nothyng straunge. Wherfore on the morowe he sent hym to Brakenburye with a lettre by the whiche he was commaunded to delyuer to the sayde Iames all the keyes of the towre for a night, to thende that he might there accomplyshe the kynges pleasure in suche thynges as he there had geuen hym in commaundement. After which lettre delyuered and the keyes receaued, Iames appoynted the nexte nyght ensuynge to destroye theim, deuysyng before & preparyng the meanes.

The prince assone as the protectoure tooke vpō hym to bee kyng, and left the name of protectoure, was therof aduertised and shewed, that he should not reygne but his vncle should haue the croune At whiche woorde the prynce sore abashed be∣ganne to sighe and sayed: Alas I woulde myne vncle woulde lette my haue me lyfe althoughe I lese my kyngdome. Then he that tolde hym the tale vsed hym with good woordes and put hym in the best conforte that he coulde, but foorthwith he and his brother were both shut vp, and all other remoued from theim, one called blacke Wyll, and wyllyam slaughter only excepte, whiche were sette to serue theim, and .iiii. other to see theim sure. Af∣ter whiche tyme, the prince neuer tyed his poyntes nor any thyng rought of hym selfe, but with that young babe his brother lyngered in thought and

heueuysse, till these trayterous death deliuered theim of that wretchednesse.

For Iames Tirrell deuised that thei should be murthered in their beddes, and no bloode shed, to thexecuciō wherof he apoincted Myles Forest one of the foure that before kepte theim, a feloe fleshe bred in murther before tyme: and to him he ioyned one Ihon Dighton his awne horskeper, a bygge broade square & strong knaue. Then all the other beyng remoued from theim, this Myles Forest & Ihon Dighton aboute mydnight the children be∣yng in their beddes, came into the chaumbre and sodenly lapped theim vp emongest the clothes & so bewrapped theim and entangled theim, kepyng downe by force the fetherbed and pyllowes heard vnto their mouthes, y^t within awhile thei smored and styfled theim, and their brethes faylyng thei gaue vp to God their innocent soules into y^e ioyes of heauen, leauyng to the tourmētoures their bo∣dyes dedde in the bed, whiche after y^e wretches per¦ceaued, first by y^t strugglyng, with y^e panges of dea the, & after long liyng still to be throughly dedde, thei laied the bodyes out vpon y^e bed, and fetched Iames Tirrell to se theim, whiche when he sawe theim perfightly ded, he caused the murtherers to burie theim at the stayre foote metely depe in the grounde vnder a greate heape of stones.

Thē rode Iames Tirrell in great hast to kyng Rychard and shewed hym all the maner of y^e mur∣ther, who gaue hym greate thankes, and as mēne saye, there made hym knight, but he alowed not their buriall in so vyle a corner, saiyng y^t he would haue theim buryed in a better place, because thei

were a kynges soonnes. Lo the honourable cou∣rage of a kyng, for he would recompence a detesta¦ble murther with a solempne obsequy. Wherupō a preest of sir Robert Brakenburyes tooke theim vp and buried theim in suche a place secretly as by the occasion of his death (whiche was verie short∣lye after) whiche onely knewe it, the very truthe could neuer yet bee very well & perfighly knowen For some saie that kyng Rychard caused y^t preest to take theim vp & close theim in lead & put theim in a coffine full of holes hoked at y^e endes with .ii. hokes of yron, & so to caste them into a place called y^e Blacke depes at y^e thamis mouth, so y^t thei shuld neuer rise vp nor bee seen again. This was y^e very truth vnknowē by reason that y^e said preste dyed so shortly & disclosed it neuer to any persone y^e would vtter it. And for a truthe, when sir Iames Tirrell was in the towre for treason committed to kyng Hēry the seuenth: bothe he and Dighton were exa¦mined together of this poynte, & bothe thei confes∣sed the murther to bee dooen in thesame maner as you haue hearde, whether y^e bodies were remoued thei bothe affirmed thei neuer knewe. And thus as I haue learned of theim y^t muche knewe and litle cause had to lye, wer these .ii. noble princes, these in¦nocēt tēdre childrē, borne of y^e moste royall blood & brought vp ī great welth, likely lōge to liue, to rei¦gne & rule in y^t realme, by treyterous tirāny taken & depriued of their estate, shortly shut vp in prison & priuely slain & murderd by y^e cruell ambicion of their vnnaturall vncle & dispiteous tourmētours whiche thynges on euery part well pōdered, God gaue this worlde neuer a more notable exsample,

either ī what vnsurety stādeth this worldes weale or what mischief worketh y^e proud entreprise of an high hearte, or finally what wretched ende ensueth suche dispiteous crueltie? For first to begynne w^t y^e ministres, Miles Forest, at s. Martines le graūd by peace meale miserablye rotted awaye, Ihon Dightō liued at Caleys long after, no lesse disdei∣ned & hated then poynted at, & there dyed in great misery. But sir Iames Tirrell was behedded at the towre hill for treason. And kyng Richard hym¦self was slain in y^e feelde hacked and hewed of his enemies handes, haried on a horsbacke naked be∣yng ded, his heare in dispite torne & tugged like a curre dogge. And the mischeif y^t he toke w^t in lesse then thre yeres, of the mischief y^t he did in thre mo∣nethes be not comperable, & yet all y^e meane tyme spēt in much trouble & pein outward, & much feare dread & anguish w^t in. For I haue heard by credible persons of suche as were secret w^t his chaūberers y^t after this abhominable dede dooē he neuer was quiet in his minde, he neuer thought hymself sure where he wēt abrode, his bodie preuely feinted, his eyen wherled about, his hand euer on his dagger his countenaunce & maner like alwayes to stryke again, he toke eiuill rest on nightes, laye long wa∣kyng & musyng, forweried with care & watche, ra∣ther slōbred thē slept, troubled w^t fearfull dreames sodeinly some tyme stert vp, leapt out of his bed & and looked aboute the chambres, so was his rest∣lesse hearte contynually tossed and tou〈…〉〈…〉bled with the tedious inpression & stormy remēbraūce of his abhomynable murther and exreable tirannie.

And shortely after he was vnquieted by a con∣spiracie,

or rather a confederacie betwene the duke of Buckynghm̄ & many other gentlemen against hym, as ye shall here the next yere. But the occasiō why the duke and the kyng fell oute, is of dyuerse folke dyuerse wyse pretended. This duke as you haue hearde before, assone as the duke of Glouce∣ster after the death of kyng Edward was come to Yorke, & there had solempne funerall seruice dooen for kyng Edward, sent to hym a secrete seruaunt of his called Persall, with suche messages as you haue hearde before. And after y^e duke of Buckyng¦ham came with thre hundred horsse to Northamp∣ton and still continued with hym, as partener and chief organe of all his deuices till after his coro∣nacion, thei departed to all semyng verye frendes at Gloucestre. From whence assone as the duke came home, he so highly turned from hym and so highly conspired against hym, that a māne would meruell wherof y^e chaūge grewe in so shorte space. Some saie this occasyon was, y^t a litle before y^t co¦ronacion, y^e duke required the kyng emōgest other thrnges to bee restored to the Erle of Herffordes lāoes. And forasmuche as the title whiche he clay∣med by inherytaunce, was somewhat interlaced with the title of Lancaster, whiche house made a title to the croune, and enioyed thesame three dys∣centes, as all menne knewe, till the house of Yorke depryued the third kyng, whiche was Henry the sixte. Kyng Rychard somewhat mistrusted & con∣ceaued suche an indignacion that he reiected the dukes request, with many spitefull and minotary woordes, whiche so wounded the dukes hearte w^t hatred and mistrust, that he could neuer after en∣dure

to looke ryght on kyng Rychard, but euer feared his owne lyfe, so farrefoorth that when the protectoure should ryde to his coronacion, feig∣ned hymselfe sycke, because he would dooe hym no honoure. And the other takyng it in euell parte sente hym woorde to ryse and ryde or he would make hym to be caryed. Wherupō gorgeously ap∣parelled and sumpteously trapped with burnyng carte naues of golde embrodered, he roade before the kyng through London with an euell wyll and woorsse heart. And y^t notwithstandyng, he roase y^e daye of the coronacion from the feaste, feignyng hym selfe sycke, whiche kyng Richarde sayde was dooē in hate and spight of hym. And therfore men sayd that eche of theim euer after lyued cōtynual∣ly in suche hatred and dystrust of other, that the duke looked verelye to haue bene murthered at Gloucestre, frō whiche he in fayre maner departed but surely suche as were right secrete with bothe, affyrme all this to be vntrue, and other wyse mēne thynke it vnlykely, the depe dyssymulyng nature of bothe these menne well consydered. And what nede in that grene world the protectoure hadde of the duke, and in what perell the duke stoode yf he fell once in suspycion of that tyraunte, that other y^e protectoure would geue the duke occasyon of dys∣pleasure, or the duke the protectoure occasyon of mystrust. And surely menne thynke, that if kyng Rychard hadde any suche opynyon conceaued in hym, he would neuer haue suffred hym to aduoyd his handes or escape his power, but verye true it is, that the duke of Buckyngham was an high mynded man, & euell could beare the glorye of an∣other,

so that I haue hearde of some that sawe it y^t he at suche tyme that the croune was set vpon the protectoures hedde, his yie could neuer abyde the sight therof, but wryed his hed another waye, but men sayde he was not well at ease, and that was both to kyng Richard well knowen and well takē nor any demaunde of the dukes request vncurte∣ously reiected, but gentelye deferred, but bothe he with greate giftes and high behestes in moste lo∣uyng and trustie maner departed from the kyng to Gloucester. But sone after his commyng home to Brecknocke, hauyng there by kyng Richardes commaundemēt doctour Moorton byshop of Ely who before as you haue hearde was taken at the councell at the towre, waxed with hym very famy∣lyer, whose onlye wysedome abused his pryde to his owne delyueraunce & the dukes dystruccion. The byshop was a man of great natural wyt, ve∣rye well learned and of honourable behaueoure, lackyng no wyse wayes to wynne fauour. He was fyrst vpon the parte of kyng Henry, whyle y^t parte was in wealth, and neyther left it nor forsoke it in no woo, but fled the realme with the quene and the prince. And while kyng Edward had kyng Henry in pryson, he neuer retourned but to the felde at Barner. After whiche felde loste & vtterly subdued & al parte takynges extynguished, kyng Edward for his fast faythe and wysedome, was not onelye cōtent to receaue hym but also wooed hym to come and had hym frō thensforth both in secrete trust & specyall fauoure, whom he nothyng deceaued. For he beyng after kyng Edwardes death fyrst taken by the tyraunt for his truthe to the kynge, founde

meane to sette the duke in his toppe, and ioyned gentlemen together in ayde of the erle of Riche∣mounde, whiche after was named kyng Henrye the seuenth. Fyrst deuysyng the maryage betwene the ladye Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourthe, by the whiche, his faythfull & true ser∣uyce declared to both his masters at once, was, w^t infinite benefite to y^e realme, by the coniunccion of the bloddes of Lancastre and Yorke, whose fune∣rall tytles had longe inquyeted the realme. This manne afterwarde escaped from the duke and 〈…〉〈…〉d the realme, and went to Rome, neuer myndyng to medle with the worlde, tyl kyng henry the seuenth sent for hym, and after made hym archebyshop of Cauntorbury and chauncelour of Englande and after was made cardinall, and lyued well to all mennes iudgementes and dyed well. But to re∣tourne to y^e former purpose, he by the long & often alternate proffe, aswel of prosperytee as aduerse of fortune, had gotten by great experience the verey mother & mastresse of wysedome, a depe insight in pollytike worldlye driftes, whereby perceauynge nowe y^e duke to cōmen with hym, fed hym w^t fayre woordes and many pleasaunt prayses, and percea¦uyng by the grefe of their communicacions the dukes pryde nowe and then to balke oute a lytle brayde of enuye towarde the glorye of the kynge, and thereby feelynge hym easye to fall oute yf the matter were well handled, he craftely soughte the wayes to prycke hym forwarde, takynge alwayes the occasyon of hys commynge, and also keepynge hymselfe cloose wythin hys ban∣des, that he rather semed to folowe hym then to

leade hym. For when the duke beganne fyrste to prayse and boaste the kyng and shewe how muche profite the realme should take by his reigne. By∣shoppe Morton aunswered, surely my lorde, folye it were for me to lye, for I am sure yf I woulde swere the contrarye ye would not once beleue me, but yf the worlde would haue begone as I would haue wyshed, that kyng Henryes soonne had had the croune and not kynge Edwarde, then woulde I haue bene his true and faythfull subiecte, but after that God had ordeyned hym to lose it, and kyng Edwarde to reigne, I was neuer so madde with a dead manne to stryue agaynst the quycke, so was I euer to kynge Edwarde a faythfull and true chapeleyn, and gladde would haue bene that his chyldren shoulde haue succeded hym, howbeit yf the secrete iudgemente of God haue otherwyse prouyded, I purpose not to spurne agaynste the prycke, nor laboure to set vp that God pulleth downe. And as for the late protectoure and nowe kyng, and with that woorde he left, sauynge that he saide that he hadde alreadye medled to muche with the worlde, and would from that daye medle with his booke and bedes, and no ferther. Then longed the duke sore to heare what he woulde haue sayde, because he ended with the kynge, and there so sodeynlye stopped, and exhorted hym fa∣mylyerly, betwene theim bothe to bee bolde and to saye whatsoeuer he thought, whereof he fayth∣fullye promysed there shoulde neuer come hurte, and paraduenture more good then he woulde were. And that he hym selfe entended to vse hys faythfull secrete aduyce and counsayle, which

he sayed was the onlye cause for the whyche he procured of the kynge to haue hym in hys custo∣dye, where he myghte recon hym selfe at home, or elles he hadde bene putte in the handes of theim wyth whome he shoulde not haue founde lyke fauoure. The bishoppe right humblye than∣ked hym and sayed, in good faythe my lorde, I loue not muche to talke of prynces as of a thynge not all oute of perell, althoughe the woorde bee without faute, but as it pleaseth the prince to con¦strue it. And euer I thynke on Isopes tale, that when the Lyon had proclaymed that on payne of deathe there shoulde no horned beastes come into the wood, one beaste that had a bonche of fleshe growing oute of his hedde, fledde a greate pace: y^e Foxe that sawe hym flye with all the haste, asked hym whether he fledde? In fayth {quod} he, I neither wote ne recke so I were once hence, because of the proclamacyon made agaynste horned beastes.

What foole {quod} the foxe, the Lyon neuer ment it by the, for that whiche thou haste is no horne in thy hedde. No mary {quod} he, I wote that well ynoughe, but yf he saye it is a horne, where am I then? The duke laughed merely at the tale & saied, my lorde I warraunte you, neither the Lyon nor the bore shall pycke any matter at any thyng here spoken, for it shall neuer come nere their cares. In good faythe syr saied the Byshoppe, yf it dyd, the thyng that I was aboute to saye taken aswell as before God I mente, it coulde deserue but thanke, and yet taken as I wene it would, myghte happen to turne me to lytle good and you to lesse.

Then longed the duke muche more to were what

it was, wherupon the byshop saied. In good faith my lord, as for the late protectoure, ••ith he is now kyng in possessyon I purpose not to dispute his ti¦tle, but for the welthe of this realme, whereof his grace hathe nowe the gouernaunce, and wherof I my selfe am a poore membre, I was aboute to wysh that to those good habilitees wherof he hath already righte many, litle nedyng my prayse, yet mighte it haue pleased God for the better store to haue geuen hym some of suche other excellent ver¦tues mete for the rule of the realme, as oure Lord hath planted in the persone of your grace, & there lefte of againe. Of whiche woordes the duke per∣ceauyng that the byshop bare vnto hym his good hearte and fauoure, mystrusted not to entre more plaine cōmunicacion with hym, so farre, that at y^e laste the byshoppe declared hym selfe to bee one of theim that would gladly helpe that Richard who then vsurped the croune mighte bee deposed, if he had knowen howe it myghte conuenientely bee broughte to passe y^e suche a persone as had true ti∣tle of inheritaunce vnto the same, might bee resto¦red therunto. Vpon this the saied duke, knowing the bishoppe to bee a manne of prudence and fide∣litee opened to hym all his whole hart and entent saying, my lorde I haue deuised y^e waye howe the bloodde both of kyng Edward and of kyng Hen∣ry the syxte, that is lefte, beyng coupled by mary∣age and affinitee maye bee restored vnto y^e croune being by iuste and true title due vnto theim both, (for kyng Richard he called not y^e brother of kyng Edwarde the fourth, but his enemye and mortall fooe). The waye that the Duke had deuysed was

this, that they shoulde with all spede and celery∣tee fynde meanes to sende for Henry earle of Rich mounte (whome the rumoure wente immediatlye vpon knowledge of kynge Edwardes deathe to haue bene deliuered oute of prysone with Fraun∣ces Duke of Brytaine) & the same Henry to helpe with all their power and strength, so that the saied Henry woulde fyrste by his feithfull othe, promise that ymmediatly vpon obteigning the croune, he woulde mary and take to wyfe Elyzabeth the el∣der doughter of Edward the fourth. The byshop of Ely ryghte well alowed bothe the deuyce and purpose of the duke, and also the maner and waye howe the matter shoulde bee broughte to effecte, and founde meanes that Reynold Breye seruaūr with Margarete mother of the saied Henry, then maried to Thomas Stanley, came to the duke in to Wales, and the dukes mynde throughlye per∣ceaued and knowen, with greate spede retourned to the saied Margarete, aduertisyng the same of all thinges which betwene the duke and hym con¦cerning aswell the cōmon weale of the realme, as also the aduauncemente of her and her bloodde had been debated.

Nowe it came so to passe that the duke of Buc¦kyngham and the ladye Margaret mother to the saied Henrye, had bene in communicacyon of the same matter before, and that the saied lady Mar∣garete had deuised the same meane and waye for the deposycion of kynge Rycharde and bringyng in of Henry her sonne, the whiche the Duke nowe brake vnto the byshop of Ely, wherupon the••e re∣sted no more, forasmuche as she perceaued y^e duke

nowe willyng to prosecute and further the sayed deuice, but that she should fynde the meanes that this matter myghte bee broken vnto Quene Eli∣zabeth the wyfe of kyng Edwade the fourthe then beynge in the Sanctuarye. And hereupon she caused one Lewes that was her physicyan in his owne name, and as thoughe it came of hym selfe to breake this matter vnto the quene, saying, that yf she would consent and agree therunto, a meane might bee founde howe to restore agayne y^e blood of kyng Edwarde and kyng Henrye the syxte vn∣to the croune, and to bee aduenged of kynge Ry∣charde for the murther of kyng Edwardes chyl∣dren, and then declared that there was beyonde y^t see Henry Earle of Richemounte, whiche was of the blood of Henry the sixte, whome yf she woulde be content y^t he marye Elizabeth her eldest dough¦ter, there shoulde of his syde bee made righte ma∣ny frendes, and she for her parte myghte helpe in lyke maner, wherby no doubte it shoulde come to passe that he shoulde possesse the croune by moost rightfull inheritaunce. Whiche matter when she heard it, it liked her excedingly well, in so much as she counceled the saied phisicyan to breake y^e same vnto his maistresse the ladye Margaret & knowe her mynde therein, promisyng vpon her woorde that she would make all the frendes of kyng Ed∣warde to take parte with the sayed Henrye yf he woulde be sworne that when he came to the pos∣sessyon of the croune, he woulde immediately take in maryage Elyzabeth her eldest doughter, or el∣les yf she lyued not that tyme, that then he would take Cicile her yongest doughter

Whereupon the sayde Lewes retourned vnto the ladye Margarete hys maystresse declarynge vnto her the whole mynd and entent of the quene So that thē it was shortly agreed betwene these two wemen, that wyth al spede thys matter shold be set forwarde, in so much that the lady Marga∣rete brake thys matter vnto Reynolde Bray wyl¦lynge hym to moue and set forwarde the same w^t all suche as he shoulde perceaue eyther hable to doo good or wyllynge thereunto. Then had the quene deuysed, that one Chrystopher (whome the foresayde Lewes the Physicyan had promoted into her seruyce) shoulde bee sente into Brytayne to Henrye to geue hym knowledge of theyr myn∣des here, and that he shoulde prepare and apoynt hym selfe redye and to come into Wales, where he shoulde fynde ayde and helpe ynonghe readye to receaue hym.

But then shortly after yt came vnto her know¦ledge that the Duke of Buckingham had of him¦selfe afore entended the same matter, whereupon she thoughte yt should be mete to sende some mes¦senger of more reputacyon and credyte then was thys Chrystopher, and so kepte hym at home, and then sente Hughe Conewaye wyth a greate some of monye, wyllynge hym to declare vnto Henrye all thynges, and that he should hast hym to come and to lande in Wales as is aforesayde. And af∣ter hym one Rycharde Guilforde oute of Kente sente one Thomas Ramey wyth the same mes∣sage, the whyche two messengers came in maner bothe at one tyme into Brytayn to the Earle Hen¦rye, and declared vnto hym all theyr commyssiōs

The whiche message when Henry had perceaued and throughly heard, it reioysed his harte, and he gaue thankes vnto God fully purposyng with al conuenyente spede to take his iourney towardes England, desiryng the aide and helpe of the duke of Brytayne, with promise of thanckfull recom∣pence when God should sende hym to come to his ryghte. The duke of Britayne notwithstanding that he had not longe after been required by Tho¦mas Hutton purposely sent to hym from kyng Ri¦chard in message with monye efte sones to impri∣sone the saied Henry erle of Richemoūt, and there continually to kepe and holde the same frome cō∣minge into Englande, yet with all gladnesse and fauoure inclined to the desyre of Henry and aided hym as he might with menne, monye, shypes and other necessaryes. But Henry whyle he might ac∣cordynglye appoynte and furnyshe hym selfe, re∣mayned in Brytayne sendyng afore the foresayde Hughe Coneway and Thomas Ramney, whiche two were to hym very trewe and faithful to beare tidynges into Englande vnto his frendes of his commynge, to the ende that they myghte prouy∣dentlye ordre all thynges aswell for the commo∣dyous receauynge of hym at his comminge, as also foreseynge suche daungers as myghte be∣falle, and aduoydinge suche trappes and snares as by Rycharde the thyrde and hys complyces myght bee sette for hym and for all his other com¦pany that he should bryng with hym.

In the meane tyme, the frendes of Henrye with all care, studye, and dilygence wroughte all thynges vnto their purpose belongynge.

And thoughe all this were as secretlye wrought and conueyed as emonge so greate a nombre was possible to be, yet pryuye knowledge therof came to the eares of kyng Rychard, who althoughe he were at the firste hearynge muche abasshed, yet thought best to dyssemble the matter as thoughe he had no knowledge therof, whyle he myghte se∣cretly gather vnto hym power and strengthe, and by secrete spyall emonge the people get more per∣fyght knowledge of the whole matters and chiefe autoures & contryuers of the same. And because he knewe be chiefe & princypal of theim, as vnto whō his owne conscience knewe that he hadde geuen moste iust causes of enemytee, he thought it neces∣sary first of all to dyspatche the same duke oute of the waye. Wherfore, vnto the duke he addressed letters enfarced and replenyshed with all huma∣nytee, frendshippe, famylyaritee and swetenesse of woordes, wyllyng and desyryng the same to come vnto hym with all conuenyent spede. And ferther gaue in commaundemente to the messenger that caryed the letters that he shoulde in his behalfe make many high and gaye promyses vnto y^e duke & by all gentle meanes persuade the same to come vnto hym. But y^e duke mystrustyng y^e fayre woor¦des & promyses so sodenly offred of hym, of whose wylye craftes and meanes he knewe sondrye ex∣samples afore practised, desyred y^e kynges perdon, excusyng him self that he was deseased & sicke, and that he might be asserteined y^e if it possyble wer for hym to come, he would not absent hym self frō his grace. Thys excuse the kyng would not admitte, but eftsones directed vnto y^e duke other letters of

a more roughe sorte, not wythoute manacynge and threatenynge onlesse he woulde accordynge to hys dutye repayer vnto hym at hys callynge whereunto the duke plainely made aunswer that he woulde not come vnto him whom he knewe to be hys enemye. And immedyatelye the duke pre∣pared hym selfe to make warre agaynst hym, and perswaded all hys complyces and partakers of hys intente wyth all possyble expedycion some in one place and some in another to sturre agaynste kynge Rycharde. And by thys meanes in ma∣ner at one tyme and houre, Thomas Marques of Dorcester reysed an armye wythin the country of Yorke, beyng hym selfe late come forthe of sāc∣tuarye and by the meanes and helpe of Thomas Rowell preserued and saued frome perel of death Also in Deuonshyre, Edwarde Courtenay wyth hys brother Peter byshoppe of Excetter reysed in lyke maner an armye, and in Kent Rychard Guyl ford accompanied wyth certayn other gentylmen caysed vp the people as is a foresayde, & all thys was done in maner in one moment. But the king who had in y^e meane tyme gathered together gret power & strēgth thynkyng yt not to be best by pur¦suyng euery one of hys enemyes to dysparkle hys cōpaygnie in smal flokes, determyned to let passe all the others, & withal his whole puisaunce to set vpon the chiefe heade, that is to saye the Duke of Buckynghm̄, so takyng his iourneye from Londō he went towardes Salisbury to thentent that he might sette vpon y^e said duke in case he might haue perfight knowledge that y^e same laye in any felde embatailed. And nowe was the kyng within twoo

dayes iourney of Salisbury when y^e duke attemp¦ted to mete hym, beyng accompaignied with great strength of Welshmen, whom he had therunto en forced & coherted, more by lordly commaundement then by lyberall wages and hyre, whiche thyng in deede was y^e cause that thei fell from hym and for∣sooke hym. Wherfore beyng sodenly forsaken of his menne, he was of necessite constrained to flee in whiche dooyng, as a manne cast in sodeine, and therfore greate feare, of this the sodeine chaunge of fortune, & by reason of thesame feare, not know∣yng where to become, nor where to hyde his hed nor what in suche case best to dooe, he secretly con∣ueighed hym self into the hous of Homffraye Ba∣nastar, in whom he had conceaued a sure hope and confidence to finde faithfull and trustie vnto hym because thesame had been & thē was his seruaunt, entendyng there to remayne in secrete, vntill he might either reise a newe armie or els by some me∣anes cōueigh hym self into Brytein to Henry erle of Rychemount. But assone as theothers whiche had attempted thesame entrepryse against y^e kyng had knowledge that the duke was forsaken of his compaignie and fled and could not bee foūde, thei beyng stryken with sodein feare, made euery māne for hym self suche shift as he might, and beyng in vtter despayre of their health and life, either gotte theim to sāctuaryes or deserte places or els assaied to escape ouer sea, & many of theim in deede arry∣ued sauely in Britain, emong whom were these whose names ensue. Peter Curteney bishop of Exceter with his brother Edward erle of Deuon∣shire, Thomas marques of Dorcestre with his

soonne Thomas beyng a verye yoūg chylde, Ihō Bourshere, Ihon Welshe, Edward Wooduyle a stoute manne of armes and brother to Elizabeth the quene, Robert Willoughby, Gyles Dawbe∣neye, Thomas Harondell, Ihon Cheiny with his twoo brethren, Wyllyam Berkeley, Wyllyam Brandō with Thomas his brother, Rychard Ed∣gecome, and all these for the moste parte knightes Also Ihon Halwell, Edwarde Poyntz an excellēt good capitain & Christopher Vrswicke, but Ihon Moorton bishop of Ely at theself same tyme to∣gether with sondrye of the nobles and gentlemen sailed into Flaundres.

But Richard the kyng, who was nowe come to Salisbury and had gotten perfight knowledge that all these parties sought to slie the realme, with all dyligence and hast that might bee, sent to all y^e porte tounes theraboute to make sure steye that none of theim might passe vntaken, and made pro¦clamacion y^t whosoeuer would bryng hym know∣ledge where the duke of Buckynghm were to bee had, should haue for his rewarde, if he were a bō∣deman, his frebome, and if he were fre, his pardon and besydes that, a thousand pounde of moneye.

Furthermore because he vnderstode by Tho∣mas Hutton newely retourned oute of Britein, of whom afore is mencioned, that Fraunces duke of Brytain, would not onelye holde Henry Erle of Rychmount in prisone for his sake, but also was readie to helpe thesame Henry with menne, money and shippes in all that he might against hym, he sette dyuerse and sondry shippes in places conue∣nyent by all the seacostes to Brytain ward, that if

Henry should come that waye, he might either bee taken before his arriuall or els might bee kept frō landyng in any coaste of England. And further∣more in euerie coaste and corner of y^e realme, laied wondrefull wayte and watche to take partely any other of his enemies, and specially thesaid duke of Buckynghm̄. Wherupon thesaid Homffrey Ba∣naster (were it for mede or for losyng his life and goodes,) disclosed. hym vnto the kynges inquysy∣••ours, who ymediatly tooke hym and foorthwith all, brought hym to Salisbury where kyng Ry∣chard was. The duke beyng dylygently examined vttred without any maner refusall or styckyng all suche thynges as he knewe, trustyng that for his plain confession he should haue lybertee to speake with the kyng, whiche he made moste instaūt and humble peticion that he might dooe. But assone as he had cōfessed his offence towardes kyng Ry∣chard, he was oute of hande behedded. And this death y^e duke receaued at the handes of kyng Ry∣chard whom he had before holpen in his affayrs and purposes beyonde all Gods forbode.

Whyle these thynges wer in hand in England Henry Erle of Richmount made readye his hoste and strength to the nombre of fiue thousand Bry∣tones and fiftene shippes, y^e daye apoynted of his departure beyng nowe come, whiche was y^e twelfe daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our lorde God a thousand foure hundred .lxxxiiii. and the seconde yere of y^e reigne of kyng Richard and hauyng a fayre wynde, hoysed vp the sayles & setforwarde, but towarde the night came suche a tempest that thei were dispersed one from another

some into Britain and some into Normandy. But the ship in whiche Henry was with one other ship; tossed all the night with the waues of the sea and tempest, when the mornyng came, it waxed some∣what calme and faire weder, and thei were come toward the South parte of England by a hauen or porte called Poole, where thesaid Henry sawe all the shores or bankes sette full of harnessedmen whiche were souldyours apoynted there to wayte, by kyng Rychard as we haue saied before, for the comyng & landyng of the erle. While Henry there abode he gaue commaundement, that no manne should land before y^t comyng of the other shippes. And in the meane tyme that he wayted for theim, he sent a litle bote with a fewe in it a lād to knowe what thei were that stoode on the shore, his frēdes or enemies. To whom those souldyours beeyng before taught what thei should saie, aunswered that thei were the frendes of Henry and were ap∣poynted by y^e duke of Buckynghm̄ there to abide his commyng and to conducte hym to those castel∣les and holdes where his tentes, pauylyons and ar••••llary for the warre laie, and where remayned for hym a greate power that entended nowe with all spede to set vpon kyng Rychard while he was nowe sle•• for feare and cleane without prouision, and therfore besought hym to come alande.

Henry suspectyng this to bee but fraude, after that he saw none of his shippes apered, hoysed vp the satles, hauyng a meruelous good wynde euen apoynted hym of God to delyuer hym from that great ieopardy, and sayled backe agayn into Nor mandy. And after his landyng there, he and his

compaignie after their laboures, arested theim for the space of .iii. dayes, determynyng to go from thence afoote into Brytayne, & in the meane while sent messengers vnto Charles the Frenche kynge the sonne of Lewes that a lytle before departed, be sechyng hym of lybertee and lycence to passe tho∣rough Normādy into Brytayn. The young kyng Charles beeyng sory for his fortune, was not on∣lye ready and well pleased to graunt his passage, but also sent hym moneye to helpe hym foorthe in his iourneye. But Henry before that he knewe the kynges mynde (not doubtyng of his great huma∣nytee and gentlenes) had sent awaye his shippes towardes Britayne and had set hym selfe forwar∣des in his iourneye, but made no greate haste tyll the messengers retourned, whiche greate gentle∣nes when he receaued from the kyng, reioysed his hearte and with a lustye stomacke and good hope set forwarde into Brytayne, there to take ferther counsayle of his affayres.

And when he was in Brytayn, he receaued frō his frendes out of Englande knowledge that the duke of Buckyngham was behedded, and that the Marques of Dorcestre with a greate nombre of y^e noble men of Englande had bene there a lytle be∣fore to seke hym, and that they wer now in Veneti a cytie in Brytayne. The whiche thynges beynge knowen to the erle, he on the one parte did greate∣ly lament the death and euel chaunce of his chiefe and princypall frende, but yet on the other parte he greatlye reioysed in that he had so many & no∣ble menne to take his parte in the battayll. And therfore conceauynge a good hope and opinion

that his purpose shoulde well frame and come to passe, determyned with hym selfe with all expedy∣cion to set foorth warde, and therupon wente to a place in Brytayn called Rhedon, and from thence sent to the Marques with all the other noble men that they should come vnto hym. Then when they hearde that Henrye was safe returned into Bry∣tayne reioysed not a lytle, for thei had thought he had landed in Englande, and so fallen into the handes of kyng Richarde, and they made not a lytle haste tyll they wer come vnto hym. The whi∣che when they met, after greatloye and gladnesse aswell of their parte as of his, they began to talke of their prepensed matters, and nowe was Christ∣masse come, on the whiche daye they altogether as∣sembled in the churche and there sware fayth and truthe one to another. And Henry sware first, pro∣mysyng that assone as he should possesse y^e croune of England, that he woulde marye Elyzabeth the doughter of Edward the .iiii. and after warde they sware feaultie & homage vnto hym euē as though he had already bene kyng, and so from that tyme foorthe dyd take hym, promysyng hym that thei would spende bothe their lyfes and goodes with hym, & that Richard should no lēger reigne ouer theim. When this was dooen, Henry declared all these thynges to the duke of Britayne, praiynge & desyryng hym nowe of helpe, and that he woulde ayde hym with a greater nombre of menne, & also to lende hym a frendly & honest somme of moneye that he might nowe recouer his right and enheri∣taunce of the croune of England, vnto y^t which he was called & desyred by al the lordes & nobilitee of

the realme, & whiche (God wyllyng) he was moste assured to possesse, and after his possessiō he would moste faythfully restore the same again. The duke promysed hym ayde, vpon the truste wherof, he be∣ganne to make redye his shippes that they might with all expedicion bee redy to sayle that no tyme should be loste. In the whiche tyme kyng Richard was agayn retourned to London, & had taken dy∣uerse of theim y^t wer of this conspyracy, y^t is to say George Browne, Roger Clyfforde, Thomas Se∣lenger, knyghtes. Also Thomas Ramme, Robert Clyfford and dyuerse other whom he caused to be put to death.

After this he called a parliament wherin was deereed, that all those that were fled oute of the lande should be reputed and taken as enemyes to the realme, and all their landes and goodes to bee forfayte and confiscate. And not content with that preade which was no smal thyng, he caused also a great taxe and some of monye to be leuyed of the people. For y^e large giftes and lyberalytee that he first vsed to buye the fauoures & frendshippes of many, had now brought him in nede. But nothing was more like then y^t Thomas Stanley shoulde haue bene reputed & takē for one of those enemies because of the woorkyng of Margarete his wife which was mother vnto Henry erle of Richemoūt the which was noted for y^e chiefe hed & worker of this cōspyracy. But for asmuch as it was thought that it was to small purpose that wemen coulde dooe: Thomas beynge nothyng fauty was dely∣••ed and cōmaūded that he should not suffre Mar∣garete his wyfe to haue any seruaūtes about her,

neither y^t she should not go abroad but be shut vp and y^t from thence foorth she should sende no mes∣sage neyther to her soonne nor to any of her other frendes, wherby any hurte mighte be wrought a∣gaynst the kyng, the whiche commaundemēt was accomplyshed. And by the authoryte of the same perliament, a peace was concluded with the Scot¦tes, whiche a lytle before had skyrmyshed with the borderers. Which thyng brought to passe, y^e kyng supposed all conspiracye to bee clene auoyded, for asmuche as the duke with other of his compaig∣nie were put to death, and also certen other ban∣nyshed. Yet for all this, kyng Richard was day∣lye vexed and troubled, partelye mystrustynge his owne strength, and partely fearyng the com∣myng of Henrye with his compaignye, so that he lyued but in a myserable case. And because that he would not so continue any lenger, he determyned with hym selfe to put awaye the cause of this his feare and busynesse, either by pollecye or elles by strength. And after that he hadde thus purposed with hym selfe, he thought nothyng better then to tempte the duke of Britayn yet once again eyther with money, prayer or some other speciall rewarde because y^t he had in kepyng the erle Henry, & moste chiefly, because he knewe y^t it was only he y^t might delyuer hym from all his trouble by delyueryng or imprisoning the sayed Henry. Wherfore incon∣tmentlye he sente vnto the duke certein Ambassa∣doures, the whiche should promesse vnto hym be∣syde other greate rewardes that they broughte with theim, to geue hym yerely all the reuenues of all the landes of Henry and of all the other lordes

there beyng with hym, yf he woulde after the re∣ceyte of the ambassadoures put theim in prysone. The Ambassadoures beynge departed and come where the duke laye could not haue communica∣cion with hym, for asmuch as by extreme sicknesse his wyttes were feble and weake. Wherfore one Peter Landose his Treasourer a manne bothe of pregnaunte wytte and of greate authoritee, tooke this matter in hand. For whiche cause he was af∣terwarde hated of all the lordes of Britain. With this Peter the Englishe ambassadoures had com¦municacion, & declaring to hym the kynges mes∣sage desyred hym instantlye, for asmuche as they knewe that he might bring theyr purpose to passe that he woulde graunt vnto kyng Richardes re∣quest, and he shoulde haue the yerely reuenues of all the landes of the sayed lordes. Peter conside∣ring that he was greatly hated of y^e lordes of his owne nacion, thoughte that yf he myght bring to passe thoroughe kyng Richarde to haue all these greate possessyons and yerely reuenues, he should then bee hable to matche with theim well ynough and not to care a rushe for theim, whereupon he aunswered the ambassadoures that he would doo that Richard dyd desire, yf he brake not promesse with hym. And this did he not for any hatred that he bare vnto Henry, for he hated hym not, for not longe before he saued his lyfe where the earle Hen¦ry was in greate ••eoperdye. But suche was the good fortune of Englande, that this craftye com∣pacte tooke no place, for whyle the letters and mes¦sengers ranne betwene Peter and kyng Kichard, Iohn Bishoppe of Ely beinge then in Flaundres

was certifyed by a preest whiche came oute of En¦gland whose name was Christopher Vrswicke of all the whole circumstaunce of this deuyce & pur∣pose. Wherupon with all spede the sayed byshop caused the saied preest the same daye to cary know ledge therof into Britayn to Henry erle of Riche∣mounte willing hym with all the other noble men to dyspatche theim selues w^t all possible haste into Fraunce, Henry was then in Veneti whē he heard of this fraud, without tariaunce sent Christopher vnto Charles the Frenche kyng desiring lycence that Henry with the other noble men myght safe∣ly come into Fraunce, the which thing being sone obteigned, the messenger retourned with spede to his lorde and Prince.

Then the earle Henry setting all his businesse in as good staye & ordre as he mighte, talked lytle and made fewe a counsail herof, & for the more ex∣pedicyon hereof, he caused therle of Penbrucke se¦cretly to cause all the noble men to take their hor∣ses, dissembling to ride vnto the duke of Bretain, but when they came to the vttermost partes ther∣of, they should forsake the waye that led theim to∣ward the duke, and to make into Fraunce with all that euer they might. Then they dooing in euery thing as they were biddē loste no tyme but so sped theim that shortely they obteygned and gate into the coūtie of Angeou. Henry then within .ii. dayes folowyng, being then styll at Veneti tooke .iiii. or fyue of his seruauntes with hym, and feigned as thoughe he woulde haue ryden therby to visyte a frende of his, and forasmuche as there were many Englishmenne lefte there in the toune, no manne

suspected any thynge, but after that he had kepte the ryghte waye for the space of fyue myles, he forsooke that and turned streyghte into a woode that was thereby, and tooke vpon hym his ser∣uauntes apparell, and putte his apparell vpon hys seruaunte, and so tooke but one of theym with hym, on whome he waited as thoughe he had bene the seruaunte and the other the maister. And with all conuenyente and spedy haste so sette forthe on theyr iourney that no tyme was loste, and made no more tariaunce by the way then one¦lye the baitynge of theyr horses, so that shortly he recouered the coastes of Angeou where all his o∣ther companye was.

But within foure dayes after that the Earle was thus escaped. Peter receaued from kyng Ri∣chard the confirmacion of the graunte and promi¦ses made for the betreiyng of Henry and the other nobles. Wherfore the saide Peter sente oute after hym horses and menne with suche expedicion and spede to haue taken hym, that scacely the erle was entred Fraunce one houre but they were at his he¦les. The Englyshe menne then beyng aboue the noumbre of thre hundreth at Veneti, hearing that the Earle and all the nobles were fled so sodeinly and withoute any of their knowledge, were asto∣nyed and in maner despaired of theyr lyues.

But it happened contrary to theyr exspectacyon for the duke of Britaine taking the matter so vn∣kyndely that Henry should bee so vsed with hym that for feare he shoulde bee compelled to flee his lande, was not a lytle vexed with Peter, to whom (althoughe that he was ignoraunte of the fraude

and crafte that had been wrought by hym) yet he layed the whole faute in hym, and therfore called vnto hym Edward Poyninges & Edward Wood vile, deliuering vnto theim the foresayde monye y^e Henrye before had desyred the Duke to lende hym towarde the charge of his iourney, and commaun¦ded theim to conuey and conducte all the English menne his seruauntes vnto hym paying theyr ex∣penses, and to deliuer the sayde some of monye vn to the earle. When the earle sawe his menne come and hearde this comfortable newes, he not a lytle reioysed, desiring the messengers that returned to shewe vnto the duke, that he trusted ere long time to shewe him selfe not to bee vnthankeful for this greate kyndnesse that he nowe shewed vnto hym. And within fewe dayes after, the earle went vnto Charles the French kyng, to whome after he had rendred thankes for the great benefites and kind nesse that he had receaued of hym, the cause of his comming fyrste declared, then he besought him of his helpe and ayde, whiche shoulde bee an immor tall benefite to hym and his lordes, of whome ge∣nerallye he was called vnto the kyngdome, foras∣much as they so abhorred the tiranny of kyng Ry¦chard. Charles promised hym helpe and bade him to be of good chere & to take no care, for he would gladly declare vnto hym his beneuolence. And the same tyme Charles remoued and tooke with hym Henry and all the other noble menne.

Whyle Henry remained there, Iohn Earle of Oxenford (of whome is before spoken) which was put in prisone by Edward the fourth in the castell of Hammes with also Iames Blounte Capteine

of that castell, and Iohn Forskewe knyghte Por∣ter of the towne of Caleies, came vnto hym. But Iames the capitain, because he lefte his wife in y^e castell, dyd furnyshe the same with a good gari∣son of men before his departure.

Henry when he sawe therle, was out of measure glad y^e so noble a man and of greate experience in battayl, and so valiaunt & hardie a knight, whom he thought to bee moste feithfull and sure, for so∣muche as he had in the time of Edward y^e fourth, continuall battail with hym in defending of Hen¦ry the syxte, thought that nowe he was so well a∣pointed that he coulde not desire to bee better, and therfore cōmunicated vnto hym all his whole af∣faires, to bee ordred and ruled only by hym. Not longe after Charles the Frenche kyng remoued again to Paris, whome Henry folowed, and there againe moued and besoughte the kyng as he had moste fauourably & kindely entreteigned hym all this time, not only in wordes, but also in dedes y^t it would lykewise please hym yet so much further to extend his fauoure & beneuolence vnto hym that nowe he woulde ayde and helpe hym forwarde in his iourney, y^t not onely he, but also all the lordes and nobilytee of Englande myghte iustely haue cause to knowlage and confesse that by the meane of his fauoure and goodnesse they were restored againe to the possessyon of their enherytaunces, whiche withoute hym they coulde not well bryng to passe.

In the meane while, his fortune was suche, y^e many Englyshe menne came ouerdaylye oute of Englande vnto him, and many whiche then were

in Paris, amonge whome were diuerfe studentēs that fell vnto his parte bothe more and lesse, and specially there was one, whose name was Richard Foxe a Preest, beyng a manne of a synguler good wytte and learning, whome Henry streyght waye reteigned and cōmitted all his secretes vnto hym and whome also afterward he promoted to many hyghe promocyons, and at the laste he made hym bishop of Winchester.

Richarde then hearyng of all this conspiracye and of the greate ayde that dayly wente ouer vn∣to Henry, thought yet for all this, that if he might bring to passe that Henry should not couple in ma¦ryage with the blood of king Edwarde, that then he shoulde dooe well ynoughe with hym and kept hym from the possessyon of the croune. Then de∣uysed he with hym selfe all the wayes and mea∣nes that myghte bee howe to bryng this to passe. And fyrste he thoughte it to bee beste with fayre woordes & large promesses to attempte the quene whose fauoure obteygned, he doubted not but shortelye to fynde the meanes to haue bothe her doughters oute of her handes into his owne, and then rested nothynge but yf he hym selfe myghte fynde the meanes after warde to marye one of the same doughters, whereby he thought he shoulde make all sure and safe to the vtter disapoyntinge of Henrye. Wherupon he sente vnto the Quene then beynge in the Sanctuarye dyuerse and son∣drye messengers that shoulde excuse and pourge hym of his facte afore dooen towardes her, set∣tynge forthe the matter with plesaunte woordes and hye promyses bothe to her and also her sonne

Thomas lorde Marques of Dorset, of all thyn∣ges that coulde be desyred. These messengers be∣yng men of grauitee, handled the quene so e••••ftly that anone she beganne to bee alured and to her∣ken vnto theim fauourably, so that in conclusion she promysed to be obedient to the kyng in his re∣quest (forgettyng the iniuries he had dooen to her before, and on the other parte not remembryng y^e promesse that she made to Maigarete Henryes mother.) And first she delyuered both her dough∣ters into the handes of kyng Rychard, then after she sent preuely for the Lorde Marques her sonne beyng then at Parys w^t Henry (as ye haue heard) wyllyng hym to forsake Henrye with whome he was, and spedely to returne into Englande for all thynges was perdoned and forgeuen, & she again in fauoure and frendship of y^e kyng, and it should be highly for his aduauncement and honoure.

Kyng Richard (whē quene Elizabeth was thus brought into a fooles paradyce) after he had recea¦ued al his brothers doughters from the sanctuary into his palayce, thought there nowe remayned nothyng to be dooen, but only the castyng awaye and destroiyng of his owne wife, whiche thynge he had wholy purposed and decreed within hym selfe. And there was nothyng that feared hym so much from this mooste cruell & detestable murder as the losyng of the good opynion y^e he thought the people had conceyued of hym, for as ye haue heard before, he faigned hym selfe to be a good mā and thought the people had estemed hym euen so. Notwithstandyng shortly after, his foresaide vn∣gracious purpose, ouercame al this honest feare.

And first of all, he absteyned from beddyng or ly∣yng with her: and also found him self greued with the barrēnesse of his wife, that she was vnfruteful and brought hym forth no chyldren, complamyng therof very greuously vnto y^e nobles of his realme and chieflye aboue other vnto Thomas Rothe∣rame then archebishoppe of Yorke (whome he had delyuered a lytle afore oute of pryson) the whiche byshop did gather of this, that the quene should be rid out of the waye, ere it were long after (suche experience had he of kyng Richardes complexciō who had practised many lyke thynges not longe before) & thesame tyme also he made dyuerse of his secrete frendes preuy of thesame his coniecture.

After this, he caused a rumoure to ronne amōg the commen people (but he woulde not haue y^e au¦toure knowen) y^t the quene was dead, to thentent y^t she hearyng this meruelous rumour, should take so greueous a conceyt that anone after she should fall into some great disease, so that he would assay that waye, in case it should chaunce her afterward to be sicke, dead or otherwyse murdred, that then y^e people might impute her death vnto y^e thought she tooke or els to y^e sickenesse. But whē the quene heard of so horryble a rumour of her death sprōge abroade among the commen people, she suspected the matter and supposed the worlde to be at an ende with her, and incontinently, she wente to the kyng with a lamentable countenaunce, and with wepyng teares asked hym, whether she had dooen any thyng whereby he might iudge her worthy to suffer death. The kyng made aunswere with a smi¦lyng and dissimulyng countenaūce and with flat∣teryng

woordes, byddyng her to bee of good com∣forte and to plucke vp her heart for there was no suche thyng toward her that he knewe. But howe so euer it fortuned, either by sorowe or els by poy∣sonyng, within fewe daies after, the quene was dedde and afterwarde was buryed in the abbay of Westminster. This is the same Anne, one of Ry∣chard the earle of Warwikes doughters whiche once was cōtracted to prince Edwarde kyng Hē∣ry the sixt his soonne.

The kyng beyng thus delyuered of his wife fantasied a pace ladye Elizabeth his nice, desiryng in any wise to mary with her: but because that all menne, yee and the mayden her self abhorred this vnlawfull desire, as a thyng mooste detestable, he determined with hym self to make no greate hast in the matter, chiefly for that he was in a pecke of troubles, fearyng least y^t of the noble menne some would forsake hym & runne vnto Henry his part, the other at the leste would fauoure the secrete con¦spiracy made again hym, so that of his ende there was almoost no doubte. Also the more parte of the commen people were in so greate dispeare, that many of theim had rather to bee accompted in the noumbre of his enemies, then to put theim selfes in ieopardy bothe of losse of body and goodes in takyng of his parte.

And emongest those noble menne whom he fea∣red, first was Thomas Standley and Wyllyam his brother, Gylbert Talbote, & of other a greate noūbre, of whose purpose▪ though kyng Rychard was ignoraunt, neuerthelesse he trusted not one of theim, and lest of all Thomas Standley, because

he had maryed Henryesanother, as it maye well appeare by this that fol oweth. For when the sayd Thomas woulde haue departed from the courte vnto his owne mansion for his recreacion (as he saide) but y^e truthe was, because he woulde bee in a readynesse to receaue Henry and ayde hym at his commyng into the realme. But the kyng did let hym, and would not suffer hym to departe, vn∣tyll suche tyme he had left in the courte behynde hym George Strange his soonne and heyre for a pledge. And whyle kynge Richarde was thus wrapped in feare and care of y^e tumulte that was to come, lo, euen then tydynges came that Hen∣rye was entred into the lande, and that the castell of Hammes was prepared to receiue Henry, by the meanes of the erle of Oxenforde whiche then was fled with Iames Blunte keper of the castell vnto Henry.

Then kyng Rychard, thynkyng at the begyn∣nyng to stey all this matter, sent forth with all hast ••he greater parte that were then at Calyce to re∣couer the said castell again. Those that were in the castell, when thei sawe their aduersaries make towardes theim, spedely thei armed theim selfes to defence and in al hast sent messengers to Hēry, desyryng hym of ayde. Henry forthwith sent the erle of Oxenforde with a chosen sorte of menne to assist theim, and at their first commyng they laid siege not farre from the castell. And whyle kyng Rychardes menne turned backe hauyng an yie towardes theim: Thomas Brandon with thirty valeaunt menne of the otherside gate ouer a wa∣ter in to the castell, to strength theim that were

within. Then thei that were within laid heard to their charge that were without, on y^e otherside, the erle of Oxenford so valiantly assayled them of the backeside that thei were glad to make proclama∣ciō to theim that were within, that if thei would be content to geue ouer the castell, thei should haue free liberte to departe with all that euer thei had. The erle of Oxenforde hearyng this, whiche came onely to saue his frendes from hurte, and namely Iames Bluntes wife, was contented with this condicion and departed in saufgarde with all his frendes returning backe to Henry, whiche was at Paris. After this, kyng Rychard was informed y^t the Frenche kyng was wery of Henry & his com∣paignie, and would doo nothyng for hym, wherby Henry was nowe not hable in maner to helpe him self, so that it was not possible y^t he shuld preuaile or goo forwarde in thenterprise that he thoughte to haue taken in hande agaynst kynge Rycharde.

Kynge Rycharde beeyng brought thus into a false paradice, thought hym selfe to bee out of all feare, and that there was no cause why he should beynge so sure, ones to wake oute of hys slepe or trouble hym selfe any furder, and therefore cal∣led backe hys nauye of shyppes that then was redy vpon the sea, whyche was fullye furnyshed to haue scoured the seas. But yet for the more su∣retie least he should bee sodenly oppressed, he gaue commaundemente to the greatte men dwellynge by the sea syde (and specyally the Welshemen) to watche nyghte and daye, leaste his aduersaries shuld haue eny oportunitee to entre into the lande. As the fashyon is in time of warre that those that

dwell by the sees side should make bekyns in the highest places there about, whiche might bee sene afarre of, so that when it should chaunce their ene∣myes to aryue towarde the lande, by and by they should fyre theyr bekyns and rayse the countreye, to thentent that quickely from place to place they might be ascerteyned of all the whole matter and also to arme theim selfes spedelye agaynste theyr enemies.

And so to come to our purpose agayn, kyng Ri∣chard thorough the aforesaide tydynges, beganne to bee more carelesse and rechelesse, as who saye, he had no power to withstand the desteny that honge ouer his hedde. Suche is the prouydent iustyce of God, that a manne dooeth leste knowe, prouyde & beware when the vengeaunce of God is euen at hande for his offences. And to go forth, at y^e tyme when Henry the earle of Richemounte remayned in Fraunce entretyng and suyng for ayde & helpe of the Frenche men, many of the chiefe noble men, which had the realme in gouernaunce (because of the young age of Charles the kyng) fel somewhat at dissencion, of the whiche variaunce, Lewes the prynce of Orlyaunce was the chiefe and hedde, whiche because he had maryed Iohanne the kyn∣ges syster looked to haue bene chiefe gouernoure of all the realme. By the which meanes it came to passe, that no one man had the princypall gouer∣naunce of the realme. And therefore Henry the erle was constraigned to sue vnto all the nobles seue∣rallye one after another desyrynge and praiynge theim of aide and helpe in his purpose, and thus the matter was prolonged. In the meane tyme

Thomas the Marques of Dorcet (of whome we spake afore) was preuely sent for to come home by his mother, partely mystrustynge that Henrye should not preuayle, and partly for the greate and large promesses that kyng Richard had made to her for hym before. Whiche letters when the sayd Marques had receaued, he beleuyng all thynges that his mother wrote vnto hym, and also thyn∣kyng that Henry should neuer preuayle, and that the Frenchemen did but mocke and daylye with hym: he sodeynly in the night tyme conueyed hym selfe out of Parys and with great spede made to∣wardes Flaūders. The whiche thyng when y^e erle and other of the Englishe lordes heard of, thei wer sore astonned & amased, & with all spede purcha∣sed of Charles the kyng a lycence and commaun∣dement that the Marques might by steyed wher∣soeuer he wer found w^t in the dominion of Fraūce chiefly for that he was secrete of their councel and knewe all there purpose. The cōmaundemēt was quickly obteyned & postes made forth euery waye, emōgest whom one Humfrey Cheyncy plaiyng y^e parte of a good blooddehounde so truely, smelled out and folowed the trace, that by and by he found out and toke the Marques: and so handled & per∣suaded hym with gentle and good woordes, that shortely after he was content to retourne.

Then Henry beyng delyuered of this chaunce, thought it best to prolonge the matter no farther least he should loose both the present oportunytee and also wery his frendes that looked for hym in Englande. Wherfore he made haste and set fore∣warde with a small army obteyned of the Frenche

kyng, of whom he also borowed some money, and some of other of his frendes, for the whiche he left the Marques and Ihon Burchere behynde for a pledge. And so setting forward came to Roan, and whyle he taryed there and prepared shippyng at y^e hauen of Seyne, tydynges cam to hym y^e kyng: Ri∣chardes wyfe was deade, & purposed to mary with the lady Elysabeth, kyng Edwardes eldest dough¦ter being his nice, & that he had maried Cycile her syster to a mannes sonne of the lāde far vnderneth her degre. At the whiche thyng, Henry was sore a∣mased and troubled, thynkyng that by this mea∣nes al his purpose was dashed, for that there was no other waye for hym to come to the kyngdome but only by the maryage of one of kyng Edwar∣des doughters. And by this menes also, he feared least his frendes in Englande would shrynke frō hym for lacke of an honest title. But after thei had consulted vpon the matter, thei thought it best to cary a lytle to proue if they might gette more helpe and make mo frendes. And among all other, they thought it best to adioyne the lord Harbarte vnto theim, whiche was a mā of great power in Wales and y^t should be brought to passe by this meanes, for that the lorde Harbarte had a syster maryable, whō Henry would be content to mary, if he would take their part. And to brīg al this matter to passe messengers were sent to Henry the erle of North∣humberlande, whiche had maryed the other syster so that he should bryng this matter about, but the wayes were so beset that the messengers could not come to hym.

And in the meane season, came veray good ty∣dynges

from Ihon ap Morgan a temporall law∣yer, whiche signified vnto theim that syr Ryce ap Thomas a noble and valiaunt man and Ihon Sauage, fauoured his parte earnestlye and also syr Reynolde Braye had prepared a greate summe of mony to wage battayl on his parte and to helpe hym, and therfore he woulde they should make hast with all that euer they could, and make towarde Wales.

Then Henry spedely prepared hym selfe because he would lynger his frendes no lenger. And after that he had made his prayer vnto almightye God that he might haue good successe in his iourney, only with two thousande menne and a fewe shyp∣pes in the calendes of August he sayled from the hauen of Seyne, and the seuēth daye after whiche was the .xxii. daye of August, he aryued in Wales aboute sonne set & lāded at Wilforde hauen, & in y^e parte whiche is called the Dale, where he hearde y^t there was dyuerse layde in wayte for hym, to kepe hym backe. From thence, in the mornyng betymes he remoued towarde a towne called Harford with in tēne myle of the Dale, where he was very ioy∣fully receyued. Here he had contrarye tydynges brought to that he hearde in Normādy afore, that syr Ryce ap Thomas and Ihon Sauage wythal that euer they coulde make, were of kyng Richar∣des parte.

Notwithstandynge, they had suche tydynges sent theim frō the menne of Pembruche by a vali∣aūt gentlemā, whose name was Arnold Butteler, that it reioysed all their heartes, whiche was, that

yf all former offences might bee remitted, they woold bee in a redynesse to sticke vnto there owne Gespare the erle. Then Henryes company by this meanes beeyng encreased, departed frō Harforde fyue myle towarde Cardygane, and then while he refreshed his menne, sodenly came a rumoure vn∣to hym that the lorde Harbarte whiche dwelled at Carmerdyne was nye at hande with a greate ar∣mye of menne. At the whiche rumoure there was a greate sturre amongeste theim, euerye manne tooke hym selfe to his weapon and made theim selfes redye if nede were, to fight, and a lytle while they were all afrayed, tyl such tyme as Hen∣rye had sent out horsemen to trye y^e truthe, whiche when thei came agayn, declared that all thynges was quiet and that ther was no suche thyng. But moste of all master Gryffythes a verye noble man did conforte theim and gladden their heartes, whiche although before he had ioyned hym self to the lorde Harberte, at that very tyme he cleued to Henry with suche companye as he had, although they were but fewe, and thesame tyme came Ihon ap Morgā vnto hym. Henry went styll forward & caried almoste in no place, because he would make suer woorke and the better spede, he inuaded suche places afore that thei were armed against hym, y^e whiche places he bette downe w^t very litle strēgth But afterward hauyng knowlage by his spyes y^e the lorde Harbert & syr Ryce were in a redynes to geue hym battail he determyned to set vpō theim, & either to put theim to flight orels to make theim sweare homage and feaultee vnto hym, & to take theim w^t hym in his hoste against kyng Richard.

And because he woulde ascertayne his frendes in Englande howe all the matter went forwad with hym, he sent of his moost trustye frendes to ladye Margarete his mother, to Standely, to Talbot, and to other of his most especial frendes with cer∣tain commaundementes. The effecte of the com∣maundementes were, that he intended with the helpe of hys frendes to passe ouer Seuerne and by Shrewesbury to make toward London. Ther fore he desyred theim with those that were of their councell in tyme & place conuenient to mete hym. So the messaungers going forth with these com∣missyons: Henry went forward toward Shrewes∣bury, and in the waye mette with syr Rice ap Tho¦mas with a great noumber of menne which came vnto hym and was of his parte. For two dayes a∣fore Henry promysed hym to bee chiefe ruler of all Wales as soone as he came to the croune (yf he would come vnto hym) which afterward he gaue to hym in dede. In the meane time the messengers executing the message, diligētly returned back a∣gayne with large rewardes of theim, to whome they were sent and came to Henry the same day he entred into Shrewesburye and shewed howe all his frendes were in a redynesse to dooe the vtter∣moste that laye in theim. This tidynges put Hen¦ry in suche greate hope, that he went forth with a courage and came to the towne of Newporte and there set vp his tentes vpon a lytle hyll, and there laye all night. That night came to hym syr Gyl∣berte Talbot with aboue two hundreth menne.

After that they went forthe to Stafforde & whyle they were there, Willyam Standley came to hym

with a fewe after hym, and when he had talked a litle with him, retourned backe again to his hoste whiche he had prepared. From thence he went to Lichfelde, and that nyght laye without the toune, but in y^e morning betime he entred into y^e citee and was receiued honourably. A daye or .ii. afore, Tho¦mas Standley was there with fyue. M. men ar∣med, whiche when he knewe of Henries cōming, forthwith went afore to a village called Aderstone there to tarye tyll Henrye came. This he dyd to a∣uoide suspicion, beyng afraid least kyng Richard knowing his intent would haue put his soonne to deathe, whiche as I telled you before was lefte w^t hym as a pledge for his father. But kynge Ry∣chard in the meane tyme, which then was at Not∣tingham, hearing that Henry with a fewe more of banished men was entred into Wales, so lightly regarded the matter, that he thoughte it was not muche to bee paste vpon, for that he came in with so fewe in noumbre, and that the lorde Harbart & sir Rice, which wer rulers of all Wales, would o∣ther kyll hym, or elles take hym and bring hym a∣liue. But afterward, when he remembred him self that oftentimes a smal matter in batel if it bee not looked vnto betymes, would make at the laste a great sturre: he thought it best to remedy the mat¦ter betimes and commaunded Henrye the earle of Northumberlande with other of the nobles of the realme (whome he thoughte had set more by hym then by their owne goodes) to rayse vp an army & to come to hym with speede. Also he sente dyuers messengers with letters to Robert Brakenburye keper of the Towre of London, commaundynge

hym to come vnto hym in all haste, and to brynge with hym as felowes in battell, Thomas Bur∣schere, Walter Hungerforde and dyuerse other knyghtes, whome he dyd not a litell suspecte.

In this tyme it was shewed that Henrye was come to Shrewisburye without any hurte. With the which tidinges, y^e kyng beganne to rage and made exclamacion againste theim, that contrary to their faithes they had vtterly deceiued hym, & then he beganne to mistrust all menne, and wiste not whome he mighte truste, so that he thoughte it best to sette forthe hym selfe ageinst his aduer∣saryes. And forthwith he sent out spies to knowe which waye Henry did take. They when they had dooen their diligence retourned backe again and shewed hym howe that Henry was come to Lich∣feld. The which thing after he knew, because now there was a greate noumbre of souldyours come together, by and by his menne set in araye, he com¦maunded theim forwarde, and to gooe foure and foure together, and by that waye which they kept they hearde saye, their enemies were commynge. The suspecte persones he putte in the myddes, he hym selfe with those he trusted came behind, with winges of horsemen running on euery syde. And thus keping their order, aboute sonne sette came vnto Leicestre.

When Henrye in the meane season had remo∣ued from Lichefelde vnto the nexte village called Tamworth, in the mydwaye he mette with Wal∣ter Hungerforde, Thomas Burschier and many other more which had promised to aide hym afore And forbecause they perceyued that they were sus¦spected

of Richard, & least they should be brought violentlye vnto hym beyng their enemye they for∣sooke Robert Brakenbury their capitaine, and in the nyghte tyme stale priuely awaye and wente to Henry. Vnto whome there chaunced by the waye that was worthy to bee marked, whiche was that Henry, althoughe he was a manne of noble cou∣rage and also his companye dyd dailye encrease, yet for all that he stoode in great feare because he was vncertayne of Thomas Standly whiche as I telled you before, for the feare of puttynge his soonne to deathe, inclyned as yet vnto no parte, & that the matter was not so slēder of kyng Richard as reporte was made to hym of his frendes.

Wherfore, as all afrayde withoute a cause, he tooke onely twenty menne with him, and stey∣ed in his iourney as a manne in dispaire and halfe musynge with hym selfe what was beste to bee dooen, and to aggrauate the matter, tidinges was broughte hym that kyng Richard was comming nere to mete hym with a great and houge hoste of menne. And while he thus lyngered for feare be∣hinde, his hoste came afore to the toune of Tham worth, and because it was then darke night, he lost bothe his company and also his waye, then wan∣dryng frome place to place, at laste came to a lytle village .iii. myle from his hoste being full of feare and leste he should fall into the daunger of scoute watche he durste not aske a questyon of any man, and partly for the feare that was presente, partely for that was to come he laye there that nyght and tooke this for a sygne or a pronosticacyon of some greate plage that was to come, and of the other

parte his hoste was no lesse abashed seyng his ab∣sence for that tyme. When in the morning Henry came to theim in the light of the daye he excused y^e matter that he was not absent because he had lost his waye but rather of purpose, because he would commen w^t his preuy frendes which would not be sene in the daye. After y^t he went priuely to Ader∣stone where Thomas Standley & Willyam his brother dyd dwell. Here Henry, Thomas, & Wil∣lyam mette and tooke other by the hande with lo∣uing salutacions and were glad one of an other. Then after, they counceled together of their me∣tyng with kyng Richard whome they perceyued then not to bee farre from theim. That day when it drewe toward night, in the euening Ihon Sa∣uage Brytanne Sanforde, Simon Digby with many other had forsaken, kyng Richarde & came to Henry w^t a great power of men, whiche thyng both with power and strengthe sate Henry alofte again. In the meane season kyng Richard which purposed to go•• thorow thicke and thinne in this mater came to Bosworthe alitell beyond Leicestre where the place of batell should bee (as a manne would saye the hye iustice of God, whiche coulde not bee auoided hanging ouer his hed, had called hym to a place where he should suffer worthy pu∣nyshemente for his detestable offenees) and there he sette vp his tentes and rested that night. Afore he went to bed he made an oration to his compa∣nye with greate vehemence, perswading & exhor∣ting manfully to fight. And afterward, as it was saied he had a terrible dreame in his slepe seming that he sawe horrible deuilles appere vnto hym &

pulling and haling of hym that he coulde take no rest, which visyon fylled hym full of feare & also of heuy care when he waked. For by and by after, be∣ing sore greued in his minde, he did prognosticate of this dreame the euill luke & heuy chaunce that after came to hym, and he came not with so cher∣ful a countenaunce vnto his company as he was wonte to dooe. Then leest they should thinke that he had this heauinesse for the feare of his enemies he stoode vp & rehersed vnto theim all his dreame. But I thinke that this was not a dreame, but ra∣ther his conscience pricked with the sharpe stynge of his mischeuous offences, which although they dooe not pricke alwaye, yet most cōmenly they wil byte moste towarde the latter daye, representyng vnto vs not onely them selfe, but also the terry∣ble punyshement that is ordeined for the same, as the syghte of the deuill tearyng and haling vs, so that therby (if we haue grace) we may take an oc∣casyon to bee penitēt, or elles for lacke of the same dye in desperacyon. Nowe to come to my purpose again, the nexte daye after, kyng Richard hauing all thynges in a redynesse went for the with the ar∣my oute of his tentes, & beganne to sette his men in araye: fyrst the forward set forth with a merue∣lous lengthe bothe of horsemen and also of foote∣men, a veray terrible companye to theim y^t should see theim a farre of: and in the formost parte of all he ordered the bowmen as a stronge fortresse for theim that came after, and ouer this Iohn y^e duke of Norffolke was hedde capitaine. After hym fo∣lowed the kyng with a mightye sorte of menne. And in this while, Henry beyng departed from y^e

communicacion of his frendes without any tari∣yng pytched his tentes nere his enemies and laye there all nighte and cōmaunded his men to bee in a redinesse, in the morninge he sente also to Tho∣mas Standley being then in the middes, betwixt bothe hostes that he should come nere with his ar¦mye. He sent hym woorde again that he should set his menne in an ordre tyll he came, with the which answer otherwise then he had thought or then the mater dyd require, he was not alitel abashed and stoode as it were in doubte. Yet for all y^t he taryed not but with all spede set his menne in an ordre, y^e forward was but slender, because his noūber was but fewe, the archers were set in the formost parte Ouer theim Iohn the earle of Oxford was hedde capitain. In the ryght wing he sette Gilbert Tal∣bot. In y^e lefte he put Iohn Sauage. And he him selfe with y^e helpe of Thomas Standley folowed with one companye of horsemen and a fewe foote∣men, for all his whole company were scāt fyue. M besides y^e bothe Stanleys with their company, of the which Willyam Standley had thre. M. The kinges army was double to all this. And so when bothe armyes were all in a redinesse and beganne for to come within the sight of other they bragged forth theim selfes of bothe parties, looking onely for the sygne and token of striking together. Be∣twyxte bothe hostes, there was a marresse whiche Henrye lefte on his ryghte hande purposelye as a defence of his menne, he found the meanes also to haue the bryght sunne on his backe, that it myght dasyll the eyes of his enemyes.

But the Kyng when the sawe Henry passe ouer

the marras cōmaunded his men with all violence to set vpon theim. They by and by with a sodein clamour lette arrowes flee at theim. On the o∣ther syde they paied theim home manfully again with the same. But when they came nere together they laied on valeauntly with swerdes. The earle of Oxforde fearing least in the meane time kyng Richardes multytude should haue compassed in his menne whiche wer but a fewe, he cōmaunded theim by fyues they should not moue forwarde paste ten fote the whiche cōmaundement knowen when they knitte theim selfes together and seased not in fyghting: their aduersaries beyng afrayed suspected som crafte or guyle & began to breake of and many of the same parte wer not much greued therwith, because they wer as glad y^e king should be loste as saued, & therfore they fought with lesse courage. Then the erle of Oxford with his menne thicke together stroke on more freshlyer. The o∣ther of the other parte dyd likwyse the same. And while the firste wardes of the batell had fought so manfully. Richard perceiued by his spies Henry a farre of with a fewe companye of armed menne. Afterward, cōming nere, Richard knewe hym by sygnes and tokens, then being inflamed with an∣ger, furiouslye stroke the horse with the spurres and ranne out of the one syde of the hoste, and like a Lyon ranne at hym. On the other syde, Henry perceiuing hym commyng, was very desyrouse to mete hym. Richard at the fyrste setting forth, kyl∣led diuers that stode, again he threwe doune Hen∣ry his banner and Willyam Brandon the bearer also, he ranne at Cheyny a manne of great mighte

whiche came for to mete hym, and with greate vi∣olēce ouerthrewe hym to the grounde, and this he made hymself awaie through theim, for to come to Henry. But Henry kept better tacke with hym thē his men would haue thought, whiche thē was all∣moste in despayre of the victory. And euē at y^e tyme lo there came Wyllyam Stanley to aide theim w^t .iii. M. mēne, and euen at the verie same tyme the residue of kyng Richardes men were put to flight Thē Richard fightyng alone in the middest of all his enemies was ouerthrowne & slain. In y^e meane tyme therle of Oxēford in y^e foreward after he had fought māfully a litle while, put y^e residue to flight of whō he slewe a greate nōbre. But agreate nom∣bre more whiche folowed Richard more for feare then for loue, helde their handes from fightyng & went awaie without hurte, for that thei loked not for his safegard, but rather for his destruccion. There were slain at this conflicte not many more then one thousand, of the whiche these were noble menne. Ihon duke of Norffolke Walter Feris Robert Brachyngbury, Richard Radcliffe and many other more. And within twoo daies after Wyllyam Catisby lawyer with certain other of his felowes was put to death at Leicestre, and e∣monges those y^e ranne awaie, was Fraunces Lo∣uell, Humfray Stafford, with Thomas his bro∣ther and other more that ranne into sanctuary at Colchestre in Essex. There was of the captiues a greate nombre, because that when Richard was slain, euery manne cast doune his wepon and yeld hymself to Henry, of y^e whiche y^e more parte would haue dooen so at the begynnyng, if it had not been

for feare of kyng Richardes spies, whiche thē wā∣dered in euery place. And emongest these the no∣bles, were the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Surrey of the whiche therle of Surrey was put in prisone, this other as a frend was receiued in to fauour. Henry at that felde loste not aboue an hū∣dred menne, emongest whom the chief was Wyl∣lyam Brādone whiche bare Henryes bāner. This battaill was fought in the .xxii. day of the moneth of Auguste, inthe yere of oure Lorde a thousand cccc .lxxxvi. y^e conflict indured more then .ii. howres Richard might (as the fame went) asaued hymself if he would afled awaie, for those that were about hym when thei sawe his menne from the begyn∣nyng fight but faintly and that some were ronne awaie vnto the other parte, suspected treason and willed hym to flie and when the mater was mani∣fest that all hope of victory was past, thei brought hym a swi••te horse. He puttyng a sied all hope and trust that was in fleiyng, made (as it was saied) this aunswere that this daie he would haue ether an ende of battaill orels of his life, suche was his greate audacite and manfulnes whiche because he did se certainly that in this daie he should ob∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 the kyngdome quietely all daies of his life or ••••s lose bothe for euer he entred in emōgest theim as it was declared before intendyng vtterly ether to lose all orels to wynne all. And so the wretehe dyed hauyng the ende that all suche were wont to haue whiche in the stede of lawe, honestie, and all godlynes folowe their owne appetite vyllanye and all wyckednes. And plainly this is an exam∣ple whiche cannot be expressed, to feare theim whi∣che

will not suffer one howre to bee otherwyse spēt then in cruelte mischief and all deuillishe fasshiōs Henry when he had thus obtained the victorye he fell downe on his knees and with many praiers & thankes, referred all to the goodnes of God. Thē after he stode vp beyng wounderfully replenished with ioye, & went vp vpō alitle hill and there gaue two greate comendacions to his souldyours com∣maundyng theim that were hurte to be heled and the dede to bee buryed, afterward he gaue immor∣tall thankes to his noble capitains promisyng theim that he would neuer forgette their benifite The multitude in y^e meane tyme with one voyce & one mynd proclaimed hym kyng. Whē Thomas Stanley sawe y^e, he toke kyng Richardes croune whiche was founde emongest the spoyle, and by & by putte it vpon his head as though he had been then created kyng by the eleccion of the people as it was wonte to bee in the olde tyme, and this was the first token of his felicite. After this, kyng Hēry with his compaignie and carriage went to Lece∣stre toward night to bed, whether after he had re∣fresshed his compaignie well for the space of twoo daies, that thei might the better goo toward Lon∣don: Kyng Richardes bodye was brought naked ouer a horse backe, the hed and the armes hāgyng on the one side and the legges on y^e other, & caried in to the grey freres of Lecester, and surely it was but a myserable sight to loke vpō, yet it was good inough cōsideryng his wretched leuyng, and there without any solempnite was buryed twoo dayes after. He raygned twoo yeres twoo monethes & one daie, he was but of a small stature hauyng

but a deformed bodie, y^e one shoulder was higher then the other, he had a shorte face & a cruell looke whiche did betoken malice, guyle and deceite. And while he did muse vpō any thing stāding, he would byte his vnder lippe continually, whereby a māne might perceiue his cruell nature within his wre∣ched bodie striued and chaffed alwaie with in hym self, also the dagger whiche he bare aboute hym, he would alwaies bee choppyng of it in and out he had a sharpe and pregnaunt witt, subtill and to dessimule and fayne verie mete. He had also a proude and cruell mynde, whiche neuer went from him to the houre of his death, whi∣che he had rather suffer by y^e cruell sworde, though all his com∣paignie did forsake hym then by shamefull flight he would fauoure his life, whiche after might for∣tune by sickenes or o∣ther condynge ponyshe∣mēt shortely to perishe.

Notes

• Howe and after what maner the two sōnes of king Ed¦ward were destroyed.
• The mur¦therynge of kynge Edward his chyl∣dren.