The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Henry the sixte.

[illustration]

[ 10]

* 1.1AFter that Death had bereft the worlde of that noble Prince King Henry the fyfth, his on∣ly sonne Prince Henry, beyng of the age of nyne moneths, or thereaboute, wyth the sounde of Trumpettes,* 1.2 was openly proclaimed kyng of England and of Fraunce the thirtie daye of [ 20] August, by the name of Henrye the sixte, in the yeare of the worlde Fyue thousande, three hun∣dred eightie and nyne, after the birth of our Sa∣uiour .1422. about the twelfth yeare of the em∣perour Fredericke the thirde, the fortie and two and laste of Charles the sixte, and the firste of Iames the thirde king of Scotlande.

The custodie of this young prince was ap∣poynted to Thomas duke of Excester, and to [ 30] Henry Beauforde Bishoppe of Winchester, the duke of Bedford was deputed Regent of France and the Duke of Gloucester was ordeyned pro∣tectour of Englande, whiche takyng vpon him that office, called to hym wyse and graue coun∣sellours, by whose aduice he prouided and tooke order as well for the good gouernemente of the Realme of Englande, and the subiectes of the same at home, as also for the mayntenaunce of the warres abroade, and further conqueste to be made in Fraunce, appoynting valyant and ex∣pert [ 40] capitaynes, whiche shoulde be ready, when neede required.

Beside this, he gathered great summes of mo∣ney to maynteyne men of warre, and left no∣thing forgotten that might aduance his purpo∣sed enterprises.

Whyle these things were a doing in Eng∣lande, the duke of Bedforde Regent of France, studyed moste earnestly, not onely to keepe and well to order the countreys by king Henry late [ 50] conquered, but also determyned not to leaue off from dayly warre and continuall trauayle, tyll the tyme that Charles the Dolphin (which was nowe a flote bycause king Charles his father in the Moneth of October in thys presente yeare was departed to God) shoulde eyther bee sub∣dued, or brought to due obeysance.

And surely the death of this Kyng Charles, caused many alterations in the realm of Fraunce, For a great manie of the nobilitie, whiche before eyther for feare of the English puissaunce, or for the loue of this king Charles (whose authoritie they followed) helde on the Englishe part, didde nowe reuolt to the Dolphyn, endeuoring them∣selues to driue the Englishe nation oute of the Frenche territories.

The Duke of Bedforde being greately mo∣ued wyth these sodaine chaunges, fortified hys Townes bothe with garnisons of men and mu∣nitions of armour, weapon and victuals. He as∣sembled also a great armie of Englishmen and Normans, and so effectuously exhorted them to continue faithfull vnto their liege and lawfull lorde yong king Henry, that the hearts of ma∣ny of the Frenche capitains willingly sware to kyng Henry fealtie and obedience, by whose ex∣ample the comminaltie did the same.

Thus al the people being quieted, and the state of the countrey established in an order within the realme of France, nothyng was mynded but warre, and nothing spoken of but conquest.

The Dolphyn whiche laye the same tyme in the citie of Poictiers, after his fathers decesse cau∣sed hymselfe to be proclaymed kyng of Fraunce, by the name of Charles the seuenth: And then beeyng in good hope to recouer his patrimonie, with an hault courage prepared warre, and as∣sembled a greate armie: and firste the warre be∣ganne by light skirmishes,* 1.3 but it proceeded into mayne battayles. The Dolphyn thinking not to surceasse any occasions of well doyng,* 1.4 sente the Lorde Grauile to the town of Pont Meu∣lan, standyng on the riuer of Seyne,* 1.5 who com∣ming to the same vppon the sodaine, the .xiiij. of Ianuarie, tooke it, and slewe a greate number of Englishe souldiors, whiche he found within it.

When the Duke of Bedford, otherwyse cle∣ped the Regente of Fraunce was aduertised of thys sodayn enterpryse, he appoynted the Lor•…•…e Thomas Montacute earle of Salisbury (a man both for his great policie and hault corage, fitter to be cōpared to the olde Romans than to mē of his days, accōpanied with the erle of Suffolk, the L. Scales, the yong L. Poinings, sir Io. Fastolf maister of the houshold with y^e said L. Regent, & diuers other, to besiege y^e said town of Pōt Meu∣lan, which after .ij. months siege was rēdred to y^e said erle, & the L. Grauile sware to be true to the K. of England euer after that daye, but shortly after, he forgetting his othe, returned to his olde master again. The erle of Salisbury apointed sir Hēry Mortimer, & sir Ric Vernō captains of y^e town: And frō thēce went into Chāpaigne, and there besieged the towne of Sens, tooke it, & sir Will. Marin the captaine within it, and slewe all the Souldiors that kepte that Towne, and

made capitains there sir Hugh Gedding, and sir Richarde Aubermonde. In this season Humfrey duke of Gloucester, either blinded with ambition or doting for loue, maryed the Ladye Iaquet or Iaquelyn, daughter and sole heire to William of Bauiere duke of Hollande, which was lauful wife to Iohn duke of Brabant then liuing, who afterwards what by force and what by spiritual compulsaries (as after ye shall heare) recouered hir out of the duke of Gloucesters handes. [ 10]

The chances thus hapning as you before haue heard, Iohn Duke of Bedforde, Philippe duke of Bourgoigne, and Iohn Duke of Britayne made an assemble and frendly enteruiew in the citie of Amiens, where they renued the old league and aunciente amitie made betweene the noble Prince king Henry the fifth and them, addyng thereto these conditions and agreements, eche of them to be to the other friend and ayder, and the enimie of the one to be enimie to the other, and al [ 20] they to be both frends and ayders to the King of England, and welwilling to his welwillers and aduersarie to his aduersaries.* 1.6 And (bicause that affinitie is an embracer of amitie) ther was con∣cluded a mariage betwene the duke of Bedford, and the Lady Anne sister to the Duke of Bur∣goigne. This mariage was after solemnised ac∣cording to the conclusion at Troys in Cham∣paigne, in the presence of the duke of Burgoigne brother to the bryde, and of hir vncle the duke of [ 30] Brabant, the Erles of Salisbury and Suffolk, and of .ix.C. lordes, knights, and Esquiers, with such feast and triumph, as before that tyme had not bin seene of the Burgoignions.

Whylest these matters were in hand, the Pa∣risians thinking to blynd the eyes of the duke of Bedford, wrote to hym how dyuers castels and fortresses lying about their territories, were re∣plenished with theyr enimies, dayely stopping their passages, and robbing their merchants, to [ 40] their vtter vndoing, if they by his helpe were not relieued. But this was but a glose of the Pari∣siās, meaning to cause him to go about the win∣ning of some strong hold, whilest they in his ab∣sence might bring into the citie Charles y^e Dol∣phyn,* 1.7 y^t then called himself French K. for so had they apointed, assigning to him the day of his cō¦ming, & the post of his entrie. But their practise being discouered to the duke of Bedford, he with a great power entred into Paris, one day before [ 50] the fayre was appointed, & .ij. nightes before he was looked for of his enimies being vnprouided, and sodeinly caused the conspirators within the Citie to bee apprehended, and openly to be putte to execution.

Thys done, putting a mystrust in the Pari∣sians, he caused the Castels and fortresses neere and adioyning to the Citie, to be furnished with Englishemen. And to auoyde all nyght wat∣chers about Paris, and the cōfines therof, he first tooke into his possession either by assault or com∣position, the towne of Traynelle and Bray vp∣on Seyne: and bicause two castels, the one cal∣led Pacy, and the other Coursay were also euyll neyghbours to the Parisians, he sente sir Iohn Fastolfe greate mayster of his housholde wyth a notable armie to win the same castels, whiche he didde, and with praye and prisoners, returned backe agayne to his maister, the Regent.

In this verye season, the Dolphyn sente the Lorde William Stewarde, Earle of Buch∣quhane that was Connestable of Fraunce, and the Erle of Ventadoure in Auuergne, and ma∣nye other noble mē of his part, to lay siege to the towne of Cravaunt in the Countie of Auxerre, within the parts of Burgoigne, wherof hearing the Lorde Regent, and the Duke of Burgoigne they assembled a great armie, and appoynted the Earle of Salisbury to haue the guidyng therof, who with his Captains and men of warre, En∣glish and Burgoignions came in good array to giue battayle to the besiegers of the Towne of Cravaunt: and bicause the riuer of Yonne, whi∣che runneth by the sayd towne, was betwene the Englishe armie, and their aduersaries, they could not well assayle their enimies, whiche defended the bankes and passages verie strongly: yet not∣withstanding, both horsmen and footmen of the English parte couragiously put themselfes into the riuer, and with fine force recouered the bank,* 1.8 whom the Burgonions incontinently followed. When they were all gotten into the playne, the Archers shorte, the bill men strake, and long was the fyghte in doubtefull vallaunce. But in con∣clusion the Frenchmen, not able to resist the force of the Englyshe Nation, were dyscomfited, slayne, and chased leauyng a glorious victorye to the Englishmen and Burgoignions. There were slayn of the Frenchmen an .xviij.C. knigh∣tes and esquyers, besyde commons: of Scottes mere hand .iij. thousand. Amongst the Frenche∣men these were the chiefest that were slayn: The Erle of Lestrake, the earle of Comygens: The erle of Ton•…•…oire: the lord Coquar•…•…de Comeron, the bastarde of Armynac, the Vicount of Tou∣raye, the basta•…•…de of Forrestes, the Lorde de Port, and the Lord Memorancy▪ Of Scottes the Lorde of Saint Iohns towne, sir Iohn of Balgary, sir Iohn Tarnbul, sir Iohn Holibur∣ton, sir Robert Lisley, sir William Conyng∣ham, sir Will. Douglas, sir Alexander Hume, sir Williā Lisle, sir Io. Rotherford, sir Wil. Cray∣ford, sir Tho. Seton, sir Will. Hamilton, & his sonne, Iohn Pillot. There were taken the Erle of Buchquhane constable of France, whiche lost his eye, the earle of Vantadour, sir Alexander

Meldryne, sir Lewes Ferigny, & .xxij.C. gentle∣men of the Frenche part. Of Englishmen there were slaine Sir Iohn Grey, sir William Hall, sir Gilberte Halsall, one of the Marshalles of the field, Richard ap Madocke, and .xxj.C. souldi∣ours and men of warre.

After this fortunate victorie was the Earle of Salisbury made by the lord Regent,* 1.9 Lieutenant and vicegerēt for the king and the sayd lord Re∣gent in the countreys of France, Bry, and Chā∣paigne: and sir Iohn Fastolf was substituted de∣putie vnder the lord Regent within the duchie [ 10] of Normandie on this syde the riuer of Seyne, and withall he was also made gouernour of the countreyes of Aniou and Mayne. The earle of Salisbury after .v. moneths siege, wanne by sur∣render, the towne and Castel of Montaguillon in Bry, the capitaines whereof, the one named Pregent of Cotynye, and Guille Bourgoys Brytons, sware neuer to beare armure againste the Englishmen on this syde the riuer of Loyre.

In the meane tyme of that siege, the Erle of [ 20] Suffolke tooke by force the Castell of Couey, and the strong Castell of la Roche in Mascon∣noys, he got by appoyntment.

In this second yeare of king Henry the sixte, Iames K. of Scotland, agreeing to take to wife the Ladie Iane, daughter to Io. erle of Somer∣set decessed,* 1.10 and sister to Iohn then duke of So∣merset, and also cousin germain remoued to K. Henry, and neece to the Cardinall of Winche∣ster, [ 30] and to the duke of Excester, was set at li∣bertie, couenaunting to pay a small portion of money more than was allowed to hym for hys wynes marriage moneye, and lefte hostages for the same. But before his departure oute of the realme,* 1.11 he did his homage to the yong kyng of Englād, Henry the .vj. at the castel of Wind∣sore, before iij dukes .ij. Archbishops .xij. Erles, ten Bishops, twentie barons, and .ij.C. knights▪ and Esquiers, beside others, according to the te∣nour hereafter folowing. [ 40]

I Iames Steward, king of Scottes, shall be true and faithfull vnto you, Lord Henrye by the grace of God king of England & France, the noble and superior Lorde of the kingdome of Scotlande, and to you I make my fidelitie for the same kingdome of Scotlande, which I holde and clayme of you, and I shall beare you my [ 50] my fayth and fidelitie of life and lim and world∣ly honour against all men: and faithfully I shall knowledge and shal do to you seruice due for the kyngdome of Scotlande aforesayde. So God helpe me, and these holy Euangelistes.

But notwithstanding this hys othe, and the great, bounteous liberalitie of the mother, and vncles of his wife, in bestowing on him great a∣bundance of plate and riche clothes of arras, af∣ter he had once taken the aire of Scotlande, and smelt the sente of the Scottish soyle, he became lyke to his fraudulent progenitours, newly •…•…ly∣ing hymselfe with the Frenche nation and she∣wing himself a verie enimie to the realm of En∣gland,* 1.12 wherin he had bin most princely brought vp both in learning, knowledge & good nurture, highly to his aduancement and commendation, if his vnthankfulnesse had not defaced his other vertues.

But now to leaue the Scottish king amongst his countreymen in Scotlande, and returne to the doings of England. I find that the duke of Gloucester, beeing protector and gouernour of the realme, prepared an armie of .x.M. men of warre, and sent them ouer to his brother the re∣gent into France, the whiche comming into the territorie of Paris, were ioyfully of him recey∣ued. About the same time the Frenchemen got by stelth diuers townes out of the Englishmens hands,* 1.13 and amongst other the faire town of Cō∣piegne was one, and the pretie towne of Croto•…•… an other. When the duke of Bedforde was ad∣uertised hereof, he determined not to let the mat∣ter passe in suche sorte, but with all conueniente speed, sent forth his people to recouer those sow∣nes agayn. And first the Erle of Suffolke accō∣panied with the Erle of Ligny, and diuers other capitaines of the Englishemen, wente to besiege Compiegne, and lodged on the one side of the ne¦uer of Sohame, as the Lorde Lisle Adham sir Thomas Rampston, and the prouost of Paris, lay on the other side. The Frenchmē within the towne being wel furnished with good souldiours munition and victualls, couragiously defend to themselues against the assaylantes.

The Englishemen remēbring that Guilliant Remonde, otherwise called Mariolayne had bin the leader of the souldiors within y^e towne, which Mariolayn before at Pacy was takē prisoner by sir Io. Fastolf, caused him to be brought frō Pa∣ris vnto the campe, & set him in a chariot with an halter about his neck, and conueyd him to the •…•…¦bet without the town, sending word to thē with∣in, that if they woulde not without delay render the towne, their captain should incontinently be strangled afore their faces: wich moued the sol∣diors so muche, by reason of the loue they •…•…re to their old captain & gouernor, that for the deliue∣rāce of him and safegard of themselues, they yel∣ded the town, so that both he and they might de∣parte with horse and harneis, only in sure 〈…〉〈…〉 & safetie: yet long ere this towne of Com•…•…gne was deliuered, sir Philip Hall which was sent to Crotoye by the Lord Regent with .viij.C. men to besiege it, gotte it sodeynly by assault, ere the Frenchmen had eyther disposes their garrison, or appointed their lodgings.

About the same time sir Iohn de la Poole bro∣ther to the duke of Suffolk, being captain of Ar∣ranches in Normandie, assembled all the gar∣risons of the base marches of the coūtrey of An∣iou, and came before the citie of Angiers, brente the suburbes, spoiled & destroyed the whole coun∣trey, and hauing as many prisoners as his men myghte goe awaye with, he was encountred by the Earle of Aumale, the vicount of Narbonne, [ 10] and .vj.M. Frenchmen, whiche finding the En∣glishmen out of araye, encombred with carriage of their great spoyle, sodeynly set on them, gaue them the ouerthrow, slew .iij.C. and tooke many prisoners, as the said sir Iohn de la Poole, sir Io. Basset, Iohn Aufort, lieutenant of Faleyse, Io. Clifton, Henry Mortimer, & other to the number of .vj.C. But though the Frenchemen got here in this place, they went not away with like gain in an other: For the Bastard de la Baulme, and the lord Craignar capitains of Courallon with [ 20] a great bande made a roade into Masconnoys, whom by chaunce Mathewe Gough, and other Englishemen, whiche were also abroade in the countrey, met and encountred. There was a sore fyght betwene the parties, being of courage and number in maner equall, but after long conflicte, the Frenchmen almost all were slain and taken, and the bastard being wel horsed, fled, after whō folowed vpon the spurres, Mathew Gough cha∣sing him euen to his castell gate, and there tooke [ 30] him, for the which acte he was muche praysed of the Earle of Salisbury (to whome he presented the sayd bastard) and had not onely the rightes giuen him that belonged to the prisoner, but also was rewarded with a goodly courser at the erles hands. About this season Arthur brother to Io. Duke of Britayne, commonly called the Earle of Richemond, hauyng neyther profite of the name, nor of the countrey, notwithstanding that king Henrye the fifthe hadde created hym Earle [ 40] of Yvry in Normandie, and gaue him not on∣ly a great pencion, but also the whole profites of the same towne of Yvry, yet nowe bycause that the Duke his brother was retourned to the parte of the Dolphyn, he lykewise reuolting from the Englishe obeysaunce, came to the Dolphyn to Poyctiers, and there offred himself to serue him, whome the Dolphyn gladly accepted, reioycing more therof, than if he hadde gayned an hundred thousand crownes: for the Britons within the [ 50] towne of Yvry, hearyng that theyr maister was ioyned wyth the Dolphyn, kept both the towne and Castell against the Duke of Bedforde, fur∣nishing it dayly with new mē, & munitiōs. The Lord Regent aduertised hereof, reysed an army of Englishmen and Normans to the number of xviij.C. men of armes, and .viij.M. archers and other. He hadde in his companye the Earles of Salisbury and Suffolke, the Lordes Scales, Willoughby, and Poynyngs, Syr Reginalds Grey, sir Iohn Fastolfe, Sir Iohn Saluayne, sir Lancelot Lisle, sir Philippe Hall, Sir Iohn Pasheley, Sir Iohn Gray, sir Thomas Blunt, Sir Robert Harling, Sir William Oldhal, and many other both knightes, and Esquyers, with whome he came before the town of Yvry, which was wel defended til they within perceiued thē∣selues in daunger, by reason of a myne whyche the Englishmen made, wherevppon they yelded the Towne, but the Capitaynes of the Castell would not presently re•…•…dce the place, howebeit they promised to deliuer it, if the same were not reskued at a day assigned, by the Dolphin, or his power. Vpon which promise, hostages were de∣liuered into the possession of the Lorde Regent, by whose licence an Heraulte was sente to the Dolphyn, to aduertise him of the time determi∣ned, who vnderstanding the distresse of his fren∣des, incontinently sent Iohn Duke of Alanson, as his lieutenant generall, the Earle Douglas, whome at their setting foorth, hee made duke of Tourayne, and the Erle Buchquhane, as then Conestable of Fraunce, the Erles of Aumale, Vantadoute, Tonnere, Mavlievrice, & Forests, the Vicountes of Narbonne, and Touars, the lordes of Grauile, Gaules, Malicorn, Manny, Ballay, Fountayns, Mountforte, and many o∣ther noble knights and esquiers, to the number of fiftene thousand Frenchmen and Britons, besy∣des .v. thousand Scots, whome the Earle Dou∣glas had lately transported out of Scotlande.

This royall Armye approched wythin two myles of Yvry, but when the Duke of Alanson vnderstode by suche as hee hadde sente to viewe the conduit of the Englishmen, that hee coulde not get any aduauntage by assayling them (al∣though the Dolphyn had giuen him straight cō∣maundement to fight with the Regent) he rety∣red backe with his whole armie to the towne of Vernueil in Perche, that belonged to the Kyng of England, sending woorde to the garison, that he had discomfited the Englishe armye, and that the Regent wyth a small number wyth hym by swiftnesse of his horse, had saued himselfe.

The inhabitants of Vernueil,* 1.14 giuing to light credite herevnto receyued the Duke of Ala•…•…nson with all his armie into the towne. In the meane tyme came the day of the rescous of Yvry, whi∣che for want therof was deliuered to the duke of Bedforde by the Capitaine cleped Gerarde de la Pallier, who presenting vnto the D. of Bedford the keyes of the castell, shewed him a letter, also signed and sealed wyth the handes and seales of eyghteene greate Lordes, whyche the daye be∣fore promised by the tenour of the same letter to gyue the Duke battaile, and to reyse the siege.

Well (sayd the Duke) if their heartes would haue serued, their puissance was sufficient once to haue proffred, or to haue performed this faith∣full promyse: but sith they disdayne to seeke me, God and Sainte George willyng, I shall not desist to follow the tract of theyr horsses till one part of vs be by battayle ouerthrown. And here∣with he sente foorth the Earle of Suffolke wyth vj.C. horsmen to espy the doings of the French∣men, & where they were ldged. The erle riding [ 10] forth passed by Dampvile, & came to Bretueill, where he heard certain newes where the French∣menne hadde gotten Verneueil, and remayned there still.

These newes he sent by poast vnto the Duke of Bedforde, the which in continently vpon that aduertisement, sette forewarde in great haste to∣wardes his enimies. The Frenchemen hearing of his comming, sette their people in araye, and made all one mayne battaile without fore ward [ 20] or rereward, and appoynted foure hundred hors∣menne Lombardes,* 1.15 and other to breake the ar∣raye of the Englishmen, either behynd, or at the sides, of the whiche was captaine sir Stephan de Vinoylles, called the hyre. The D. of Bedford lykewise made one entier battayle, and suffered no man to be on horsebacke, and set the archers (euery one hauing a sharp stake) both on the frōt of the battayl, and also on the sides, like wings. And behynde were al their horsses tyed together, eyther by y^e reines, or by the tayles, with the •…•…∣tes and cariages, to the defence wherof, wer two thousand archers apointed. Herewith either part being come almost to the ioining, the duke of A∣lanson, on the one syde, exhorted hys people to play the men, declaring vnto them, that the con∣clusion of this battaile, shuld eyther deliuer them out of vile seruitude, or place them in the vale of bondage. On the other side, y^e duke of Bedforde to encorage his mē willed them to remēber how oft they hadde subdued those theyr aduersaries in battaile (with whom they should nowe c•…•…p•…•…) for the moste part, euer being the lesse number a∣gainst y^e greater. Agayn, he declared how neces∣sarie it was to tame y^e hold attempts of the pre∣sumptuous Dolphyn now in the beginning, lest if the fyre were suffred still to flame, as it had be∣gon, they should scant haue water to quenche it.

Many wordes he vttered, to put them in hope of good successe and victorie. But skarce had be ended his exhortation, when the Englishmenne rushed foorth, and boldly set on their enimies, cry∣ing Saint George Bedford, and the Frenchmen lykewyse cryed Montioy Saint Denys. Then

[illustration]

began the battaile right fierce on both sides con∣tinuing for the space of .iij. houres in doubtfull balance,* 1.16 Fortune shewing hir selfe so equal, that no herault coulde determine to whether part she [ 50] was more fauourable: but at lengthe after that those foure hundred horsemen, whiche were ap∣poynted, as ye haue heard, to breake the arraye of the Englishmen, had passed thorough on the one syde vnto the place where the caryages and horses stood, and coulde not passe further, by rea∣son of the fierce shot of the English bowes, they falling to the spoyle made a hande, and therwith departed. Those Archers then that were appoin∣ted to keepe the cariages, being nowe at libertie, came forwarde, and so fiercely shot at the thic∣kest prease of theyr enimies fyghting on foote, that in the ende they were not able longer to en∣dure, but were borne downe by fyne force, and so vanquished.

Thys battayle was foughte the eyght and twentieth of Auguste in the yeare of our Lorde a thousande foure hundred twentie and foure, in the which battaile were slayn of the Frenchmen the erles of Aumarle, Ventadour, Forest, Mary,

the Lords Grauile, Gaules, Fountaines, Aue∣bois, Tonars, Mounteny, Combreste, Bru∣nell, Tumble, and Poisy, beside .iij.C. knights Also the Vicount Narbonne, whose body was hanged on a gibbet, bycause he was one of the murtherers of the duke of Burgoin. Of Scots also were slaine, Archibald earle Douglas, that was made as before is mētioned duke of Tou∣raine, Iames Douglas son to the saide Archi∣bald earle of Wigton, Iohn earle of Boughen [ 10] newly made Conestable of Fraunce, sir Alex∣ander Meldrin, sir Henry Batglauie, sir Iohn Sterling, William of Homelsoon, sir Iames Gray, sir Roberte Kanden, sir Alexander Lin∣faye, sir Robert Stewarde, sir Robert Swin∣ton, and .xxvij.C. Scots of name and armes, beside other: so that in this battaile were slaine by report of Montioy king at armes in Frāce, and the Englishe Herraultes there present, of Frenchemen,* 1.17 and Scottes .ix.M. & .vij.C. and [ 20] of Englishemen .xxj.C. but no man of name, sauing .v. yong Esquiers. And there were ta∣ken prisoners, Iohn duke of Alanson, the ba∣starde of Alanson, the Lorde of Faicit, the L. of Hormit, sir Piers Harison, sir Lois de Gau∣courte,* 1.18 sir Roberte Brusset, sir Iohn Turne∣bull a Scot, and .ij.C. gentlemenne. beside cō∣mon souldiore. The frenchemen within Ver∣noil, seeing the Dolphines armye thus ouer∣throwen, deliuered the towne to the Regent, [ 30] their liues saued. Then was sir Phillip Hall, appointed capitaine there and the Lorde Re∣gent retourned, and came to Roan, and after to Paris.

The Dolphin that called himselfe Kyng of Fraunce, was sore amased with the ouerthrow of his army, and no meruaile: for he was dri∣uen out of all the countries in manner, that ap∣perteined to the crowne of Fraunce and might resort to none except to Bourbonois, Alurrgn, [ 40] Berry, Poictow, Touraine, a parte of A•…•…ow, and Languedoc: yet to shewe himselfe as king, he erected his court of Parliament, his chance∣rie and al other courts in the citie of Poictiets, and there established hys great seale, wyth all due circumstaunces thereto aperteyning: whi∣che there continued the space of .xiiij. yeares to∣gither, and then was remoued to Paris, after that he had got possession of that citie, and ex∣pulsed the Englishemen, as after shall apeare. [ 50] The Duke of Bedforde lying at Paris, sente the Lorde Scales,* 1.19 sir Iohn Montgomerie, sir Io. Fastolf, with two thousand mē to conquer the countries of Aniow, & Maine, vnto whom were rendered without assaulte, the strong ca∣stels of Beaumont le Vicount, Teune, Silly, Osce, Courceriers, Roussy, Vasse, Coueteme∣nant, and twentye other, whyche I doe heere passe ouer.

Suche was then the opinion conceyued of the Englishe puissaunce, so ofte tried, proued, and assayed, that the frenchemen thought that the Englishmen woulde and shoulde haue all things, whyche they eyther wished or enter∣prised.

The Earle of Salisbury, with the sayde Lorde Scales, and the other capitaines before named, were appointed wyth an army of ten thousande men, to besiege the riche and strong citie of Mans, the chief citie of al y^e country of Maine. The Englishemenne comming before that Citie, made their approches, and planted their battery to the walles, so that with the shot of their greate peeces (whyche kinde of engi•…•… beefore that time had not bene muche seene nor hearde off in Fraunce) the Citie was within a fewe dayes, dispoiled of all hir Towers and outwarde defences.

The Citizens of Mans,* 1.20 and the souldiours within, perceyning in what daunger they stood and knewe not how to remedy the matter, offe∣red the Towne vppon this condition, that all persons which woulde tary within the towne might abide, and all that woulde departe with horse and harnesse only, shoulde be permitted: whiche offers were accepted, and the Toans rendred, whereof the Earle made capitaine the Earle of Suffolke, and his lieuetenaunt Syr Iohn Fastolfe.

After this, the Earle of Salisburye besieged the faire Towne of Saint Susan, whereof was capitaine one Ambrose de Lore, a right valiant chiefetain. The Erle caused the towne to bee assaulted at his firste comming to it, but he loste more than he gained, and therefore lefte off his assaults, and caused a trenche to be caste aboute the Towne, and so planted his battery, by force whereof hee ouerthrewe the walles in suche sorte that the captaine offered for himselfe and his souldiors .20 0000. crownes, so that they might departe in their do abiettes onely, whiche •…•…nnye bycause winter approched was accepted, and the towne yelded.

Of this Towne Sir Iohn Popham was made Capitaine. Then the Earle wente to Maine •…•…a Iubez, which towne after due w•…•…hes siege was yelded, and appointed to the keeping of sir Iohn Montgomerye knighte. After the feaste of the Purification of our Lady, the erle of Salisbury besieged the castel de la Fert. Bar¦narde, during whiche siege a sale was made of the towne of Alanson being in the english∣mens possession by a Gascoigne that was one of the garison there, but this sale being opened to the Erle of Salisbury by the same Gascoine at the daye appointed, the Lorde Wistoughby

and sir Iohn Fastolfe, with .ij.M. men were sent to encounter with the buiers of that town, so that when Charles de Villiers chiefe mar∣chāt of this enterprise, came early in a morning with .ij.C. horsemen, and .iij.C. footemen, and approched the town, abiding for the Gas∣coigne, ere he was aware, the Englishmen had cōpassed him and his company rounde aboute, and setting vpon the frenchmen, slew and tooke all the whole number of them, saue Peter Dā∣thenazie [ 10] and .xxv. other, which by the swiftnes of their horses, saued themselues. After this cō∣flicte ended, the lord Willoughby retourned to the erle of Salisbury, lying still at siege before the towne de le Fert Bernarde, which shortly after was rendred vp into the Earle of Salis∣buries handes, to whom the lord Regent gaue it, to enioy to him and his heires for euer. Be∣side this, the said earle partly by assault, partly [ 20] by composition tooke diuers other, as S. Kales, where he made captaine Richarde Gethin es∣quier: Thanceaux Lermitage, where he made gouernour Mathewe Goughe: Guerlande, of y^e which he assigned ruler Iohn Banaster: Ma∣licorne, wherof he made captaine Wil. Glas∣dale esquier: Lisle Soubz Boulton, whereof was made captain sir Lancelot Lisle knight: Lonpelland, wherof was made captain Henry Brāche: Montseur, of y^e which was made cap∣taine sir Wil. Oldehall knight: la Suze, was [ 30] assigned to y^e keping of Iohn Suffolk esquier. And beside this, aboue .xl. castels & piles were ouerthrowen & destroyed. The newes herof re∣ported in Englande, caused great reioysing a∣mong the people, not only for the conquest of so many towns & fortresses, but also for that it had plesed god to giue thē victory in a pitched field:* 1.21 wherfore general processions were apointed to render vnto god humble thankes, for his fauor so bestowed vpon thē. This yere after Easter, [ 40] the king called his highe court of parliament at Westminster, by aduise of the peeres, and com∣ming to the parliament house himselfe, he was conueyd through the citie vpon a great courser, with great triumphe, the people flocking into y^e streetes to beholde the childe, whom they iud∣ged to haue the liuely Image, purtrature, and countenaūce of his father, & like to suceede him, & be his heire in all princely qualities, martiall policies, and morall vertues, aswell as his vn∣doubted [ 50] inheritor in his realms, signiories and dominions.* 1.22 In this parliamēt was granted to the K. a subsidy of .xij d. the pound, towards y^e maintenaūce of his warres, of al marchandise, cōming in or going out of the realme, aswell of englishmen as strāgers.* 1.23 During which parlia∣ment came to Londō, Peter duke of Quimb•…•…e sonne to the K. of Portingale, cousin germain remoued to the K. which of y^e duke of Exceter & y^e bishop of Winchester his vncles was highly feasted, he was also elected into the order of the garter. During y^e same season Edmūd Mor∣timer, the laste earle of Marche, of that name (which long time had bin restreined frō his li∣bertie, & finally waxed lame) deceassed without issue, whose inheritaunce descended to the lorde Richard Plantagenet, sonne and heire to Ri∣chard erle of Cambridge, beheaded, as before ye haue hearde at the towne of Southampton. In the time of this parliament, also was sir Iohn Mortimer, cousin to y^e same erle, either for de∣serte or malice, attainted of treson, & put to exe∣cution, of whose deathe no small slaunder arose amongst y^e cōmon people. After al these things done in England & in Fraunce, Humfrey duke of Gloucester (who had married the Lady Ia∣quet, or Iaqueline of Bauiere, coūtesse of Hey∣nault, Holland, & Zelād: notwithstanding she was coupled in marriage afore to the Duke of Brabāt, as yet liuing, and had continued with him a long space) passed nowe y^e sea with y^e said lady, & went to Mons or Bergen in Heinault, where the more part of the people of that coun∣try, came and submitted themselues vnto him, as vnto their soueraine lord, in right of his said wife, the lady Iaquet or Iaquelin: with which doing Iohn duke of Brabant hir former husbād was greatly moued, and likewise the Duke of Burgoign, being great frend to the same duke of Brabant, was muche offended: but first by∣cause of olde familiaritie, he wrote louingly to the duke of Glocester, requiring him to reform himselfe according to reason, and to forsake his vngodly life, bothe in keping of an other mans wife, and also in seeking to vsurpe other mens right and titles. Hervpon went letters betwixt them for a time, but at length whē the Duke of Burgoine perceiued that the duke of Glocester ment to pursue his quarrell, & to make war a∣gainst the duke of Brabant, he tooke part wyth y^e duke of Brabant so ernestly that he consented to fight with the duke of Glocester body to bo∣dy within listes in defence of the duke of Bra∣bantes quarell, & further aided the duke of Bra∣bant in his warres against y^e duke of Glocester, with all his puissance, in so muche that in y^e end (after the duke of Glocesters return into Eng∣land) y^e duke of Brabāt recouered all the towne in Heynault, whiche the Lady Iaquet or Ia∣quelin held against him: & further the same lady was by composition deliuered by them of the towne of Mons vnto the duke of Burgoigne, who caused hir to be conueied vnto Gant, from whence she made shift to escape into Hollande, where she was obeied as countesse of y^e coūtry, & then made warre in hir own defence agaynst

the Dukes of Burgoigne & Brabant, the which sought to spoile hir of al hir townes and landes: & further procured Pope Martine the .v. before whome the matter was brought, to giue sentēce that the first matrimony with the duke of Bra∣bant was good & effectuall, and the seconde es∣pousels celebrated with the duke of Gloucester, to be vnlawfull. But in the meane time, the L. Fitz Walter being sent ouer to the aide of the lady Iaquet or Iaquelin, with a power of en∣glishemen, [ 10] landed in Zelande, neere vnto the town of Zerixe, against whome came the duke of Burgoign, and encountring with them and other such Hollanders and Zelanders, as were ioyned with them nere to a place called Brew∣ers hauen, there discomfited them, so that of en∣glishmen Holanders and Zelanders that were with the said lorde Fitz Walter, there were slaine .vij. or .viij. hundred, and the residue chā∣sed to the water. [ 20]

* 1.24At length, when the duke of Gloucester vn∣derstoode the sentence pronounced against hym by the Pope, he beganne to waxe weary of hys wife the saide Lady Iaquet, by whom he neuer had profit, but losse, and tooke to his wife by a seconde marriage Eleanor Cobham, daughter to the lorde Cobham of Sterberow, which be∣fore (as the fame went) was his soueraine La∣dye and paramoure, to his greate slaunder and reproche. [ 30]

A little beefore thys tyme, Syr Thomas Rampston, sir Phillippe Branthe, sir Nicho∣las Burdet, and other englishmen to the num∣ber of .v.C. men of war, repaired and fortified the towne of saint Iames de Bevvron,* 1.25 situate on the fronters of Normandie towardes Bri∣taine, within half a league of the duke of Bri∣taines grounde〈◊〉〈◊〉 with whome as then they had open warre, and so began to do many displea∣sures to his people. Wherevpon Arthur Earle [ 40] of Richemont and Ivry, brother to the sayde duke, & lately before created constable of Frāce, assembled an huge power of men to the number of .xl.M. as some haue writtē,* 1.26 & with the same came before the sayd towne of saint Iames de Bevvron, and planted his siege very stronglye about it, enforcing with his greate ordinaunce to ouerthrow the walles. And one day amongst other, he determined to giue the assault▪ and so did, the whiche continued a long space very hot [ 50] and earnest. The Bretons Bret•…•…nantes were come downe into a lowe bottome, where there was a little ponde or fishe poole, and they muste nedes passe by a streite way to come to the wal∣les in greate danger. On that side of the town was a little Bouleue•…•…t whiche Syr Nicholas Burdet kept,* 1.27 hauing with hym a .lx. or .lxxx. fighting men, and ouer against the same Boul∣uert there was a gate well furnished also wyth Englishe souldiors, so that the Bretons which came downe into the ditches in greate number to giue the assault, heard on either side them, the Englishemen (within the saide Bouluert, and gate) make a great noise, in crying Salisbury, and Suffolke, with the which cry, the Bretons being maruellously astonied, began to reculle in greate disorder. And therewith the said sir Ni∣cholas Bourdet issued foorth vppon them,* 1.28 and pursuing them ryghte valiantly, slewe them downe wythout fynding any greate defence, so that there died of them what by the sworde, and what by drowning in the saide poole, aboute a vij. or .viij.C. and to the number of .l. were taken prisoners. And beside this, those english∣men gained an .xviij. slander•…•…s and one baner. Incontinently the newes hereof were reported to the constable of France, who was busy at the assault on the other side of the towne, whereof he was sore displeased, and no lesse amazed, so that hee caused the retreit to bee sounded, for all the siege on that side towarde the poole, was al∣ready raysed. After this, vpon counsell taken a∣mongst the frenchmen, it was determined that they shoulde dislodge: And so aboute the mid∣dest of the nexte night, the Constable and al the residue of his people departed towarde Fougi∣eres, leauing behind them greate plentie of Ar∣tillerie bothe greate and small, with victualles, and all their other prouisions, as .xiiij. greate gunnes and .xl. barells of pouder .iij.C. pypes of wine .ij.C. pipes of disket and flower .ij.C. frailes of figs and reasyns, and .v.C. barelles of herring. Somewhat before this season fell a great deuision in the realm of England, which of a sparell was like to haue growen so a great •…•…e: For whether the Bishop of Winchester called Henry Beaufort,* 1.29 sonne to Iohn duke of Lancaster by his thirde wife, enuied the autho∣ritie of Humfrey duke of Gloucester, protector of the Realme, or whether the Duke disdained at the riches and pompous estate of the Bishop, sure it is that the whole Realme was troubled with them and their partners: so that the citi∣zens of London were faine to keepe daily and nightly watches, and to shut vp their shops for feare of that which was doubted to haue ensued of their assembling of people and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them. The archebishoppe of Canterbury and the Duke of Quimbre, called the prince of Po•…•…tinga•…•…, rode eight times in one daye betweene the two par∣ties, and to the ma•…•…e was staied for a time. But the Byshoppe of Winchester to cleare himselfe of blame so farrre as bee myght, and to chardge hys nephew the Lorde protect our with all the fault, wrote a letter to the Regent of Fraunce, the tenor whereof ensueth.

RIght high and mightie Prince, & my right noble, & after one, lieuest lorde, I recōmende me vnto you with all my hart. And as you de∣sire the welfare of the king our soueraigne lord and of his realmes of Englande and Fraunce, your owne healthe, and ours also, so haste you hither. For by my truthe if you tarrie, we shall put this lande in aduenture with a fielde, suche a brother you haue here, God make him a good man. For youre wisedome knoweth, that the [ 10] profit of Frāce standeth in the welfare of Eng∣land .&c. Written in great hast on Allhallown euen. By your true seruaunt to my liues end. Henry Winchester.

The duke of Bedford being sore greeued and vnquieted with these newes, constituted the erle of Warwicke, whyche was lately come into Fraunce with .vj.M. men, hys lieutenaunt in the Frenche dominions, and in the Duchie of Normandie, and so with a small companie, he [ 20] with the Duchesse his wife, returned againe o∣uer the seas into Englande, and the .x. daye of Ianuary, he was with all solemnitie receyued into London, to whome the Cityzens gaue a paire of Basins of Syluer and gylte, and a thousand markes in money. And from Londō hee roade to Westminster, and was lodged in the Kings pallace. The .xxv. day of Marche after his comming to London,* 1.30 a Parliament beganne at the towne of Leicester: where the [ 30] duke of Bedforde openly rebuked the lordes in generall, bicause that they in the time of warre through their priuie malice and inward grudge hadde almoste moued the people to warre, and commotion, in whiche time all men oughte or shoulde be of one mind, harte and consent: re∣quiring them to defende, serue and dreade their soueraigne Lord Kyng Henry, in performing his conquest in Fraunce, whiche was in man∣ner brought to conclusion. In this parliament [ 40] the Duke of Gloucester laide certaine articles to the bishop of Winchesters chardge, the whi∣che with the aunswers hereafter doe ensue.

The Articles of accusation and accorde be∣tweene the lorde of Gloucester, and the lorde of VVinchester.

* 2.1HEre ensueth the Articles, as the Kynges counsaile hathe conceyued, the whiche the [ 50] high and mighty prince my Lord of Gloucester hathe surmised vpon my Lorde of Winchester Chauncellour of Englande with the answere to the same.

Fyrst, wheras he being protectour, and de∣fendour of this land, desired, the Tower to bee opened to him, and to lodge him therein, Ri∣charde Wooduile Esquier hauing at that time the chardge of the keping of the Tower, refu∣sed his desire, & kept the same Tower againste hym vnduely and againste reason, by the com∣maundement of my sayd lorde of Winchester: and afterwarde in aprouing of the said refuse, hee receiued the sayd Wooduile, and cherished hym against the state and worship of the kyng, and of my saide Lorde of Gloucester.

2 Item, my said lord of Winchester with∣out the aduise and assent of my saide Lorde of Gloucester, or of the Kings counsaile, purpo∣sed and disposed hym to set hand on the Kings persone, & to haue remoued him from Eitham, the place that hee was in, to Windsore, to the intent to put him in gouernaunce as him liste.

3 Item, that where my said Lord of Glou∣cester, to whome of all persones, that shoulde be in the lande, by the way of nature and birth, it belongeth to see the gouernance of the kings person, informed of the saide vndue purpose of my said L. of Winchester, declared in the arti∣cle next abouesaid, and in letting therof deter∣mining to haue gone to Eitham vnto the king to haue prouided as the cause required. My said Lorde of Winchester vntruely and against the kings peace, to the intent to trouble my saide Lorde of Gloucester going to the king, purpo∣sing his deathe, in case that hee hadde gone that way, set men of armes and archers at the ende of London Bridge nexte Southwarke: and in forbarring of the kings high way, let drawe the chaine of the stoupes there, and set vp pipes and hurdles in manner and forme of Bulwarkes: and set men in Chambers, Cellers, and Win∣dows with bowes and arrowes and other we∣pons, to the intent to bring to finall destruction my saide Lorde of Gloucesters person, aswell as of those that then shoulde come wyth hym.

4 Item, my said Lord of Gloucester saith and affirmeth, that our soueraigne Lorde hys brother that was king Henry the fift, tolde him on a time, when our soueraigne Lorde being prince was lodged in the pallace of Westmin∣ster in the greate chamber, by the noise of a spa∣niell, there was on a night a man spied and ta∣ken behinde a tapet of the sayde Chamber, the whyche man was delyuered to the Earle of A∣rundell to bee examined vppon the cause of his being there at that time, the which so examined, at that time confessed that hee was there by the stirring vp and precuring of my saide Lorde of Winchester, ordeined to haue slaine the saide Prince there in his bedde: Wherefore the saide Earle of Arundell let sacke him forthwith, and drowned him in the Thames.

5 Item, our soueraigne Lorde that was, Kyng Henry the fift saide vnto my sayd Lord of Gloucester, that his father Kyng Henry the

fourth liuing, and visited then greately wyth sicknesse of the hand of God, my saide Lord of Winchester saide vnto the king (Henry the fift then being prince) that the king his father so vi∣sited with sicknesse was not personable, and therefore not disposed to come in conuersation and gouernance of the people, and for so much, counsailed him to take the gouernance & crown of this lande vpon hym. [ 10]

The aunswere of the Bishop.

HEre ensue the aunswers to the accusations made by my Lorde of Winchester Chaun∣cellour of Englande, vnto the causes and mat∣ters of heauinesse, declared in the Articles a∣gainst him by my Lorde of Gloucester.

1 Fyrst as of the refuse made vnto my lord of Gloucester, of opening the Tower to him, of his lodging therein, by the commaundement of my saide lorde of Winchester, he aunswereth, [ 20] that in the presence of my saide Lord of Glou∣cester before his comming out of his country of Heinault, for causes suche as were thought re∣sonable, it seemeth lawfull that the Tower shoulde haue bin notably stored and kepte with victuall, howbeit it was not forthwith execu∣ted, and that in likewise after that my said lord of Gloucester, was gone into his said countrey of Heinault, for seditious and odious villes and languages, caste & vsed in the citie of Lon∣don, [ 30] sounding of insurrection and rebellion a∣gainste the kings peace, and destruction aswell of diuers estates of this lande as strangers be∣ing vnder the defence, in so muche that in doubt thereof, straungers in greate number fledde the lande: And for the more sure keping of the said Tower, Richarde Wooduile esquier so trusted with our soueraigne lord the king that deade is (as well ye knowe) and also chamberlaine and counsellor vnto my Lorde of Bedforde, wyth [ 40] a certaine number of defensible persons assig∣ned vnto hym, was made deputie there by the assent of the kings counsell, being that time at London, for to abide therein, for the safegarde thereof, and straightlie chardged by the saide counsell, that during that tyme of his sayde chardge, he shoulde not suffer any man to be in the Tower stronger than hymselfe, without speciall charge or commaundement of the king by the aduise of his counsell. [ 50]

2 Item, that after, soone vppon the com∣ming of my laid Lord of Gloucester into this lande from his countrey of Heinault, the saide lords of the kings counsell were informed, that my said Lorde of Gloucester, grudged with the saide manner of enforcing the Tower, and let say to them of London, that hee had well vn∣derstande that they had bin heauily threatned for the time of his absence, and otherwise than they should haue bin, if he had bin in this land. Wherfore hee was right euill contented, and especially of the said forcing of the Tower, set vpon them in manner of a chast villayne, con∣sideryng the good equitie and truthe that they had alwayes kepte vnto the king, offering them therevpon remedy if they woulde.

3 Item, that after this, Richard Scot lieue∣tenaunt of the Tower by the commaundement of my saide Lorde of Gloucester broughte vn∣to him Frier Randolphe, the whiche he had long before confessed treason done by hym againste the Kings person that deade is, for the whiche knowledge, he was put to bee kept in the sayde Tower, and straightly commaunded vnder greate paine giuen vnto the said Scot, to kepe him straightly, and surely, and not to lette him out of the saide Tower wythout commaunde∣ment of the Kyng by the aduise of his counsell. The whiche Frier Randolphe, my saide Lord of Gloucester kept then with himself (not wit∣ting to the saide Scot) as he declared vnto my sayde Lorde of Winchester, soone after that he had broughte the saide Frier Randolph vn∣to my Lorde of Gloucester, saying vnto my Lorde of Winchester, that he was vndone but hee helped hym, and expressed, as for cause of the withhoulding of Frier Randolphe: And saying moreouer, that when hee desired of my saide Lorde of Gloucester,* 3.1 the deliueraunce of the saide Frier Randolphe, to leade him againe vnto the Tower, or sufficient warrant for hys dischardge, my saide Lorde of Gloucester aun∣swered him, that his commaūdement was suf∣ficient warrant and discharge for hym. In the whiche thing abouesaid, it was thought to my lord of Winchester, that my said lord of Glou∣cester, tooke vpon hym further than his auctori∣tie stretched vnto, and caused him to doubt and dreade leaste that he would haue proceeded fur∣ther. And at suche time as the saide Wooduile came vnto hym, to aske his aduise & counsell, of lodging my said L. of Gloucester in y^e Tower, he aduised and charged him, that before he suf∣fred my saide lord of Gloucester, or any person lodge therein stronger than himselfe he shoulde puruey him a sufficiēt warrant therof, of the K. by the aduise of his counsell.

4 Item, as to the said article of the foresaide causes of heauinesse, my said lord chauncellour answereth, that hee neuer purposed to set hande on the kings persō, nor to remoue him, or that he shoulde be remoued, or put in any manner of gouernaūce, but by the aduise of the kings coū∣sell. For hee coulde not perceyue any manner of goodnes or of aduātage y^e might haue growne to him therof, but rather great perill & charge,

and herof my saide lord of Winchester, is rea∣dy to make proofe, in time and place conueniēt.

5 Item, as to the .iij. article of the foresaid causes and heauines, my saide lorde Chauncelor answereth, y^t he was ofte & diuers times war∣ned, by diuers credible persōs, aswell at the time of the kings last parliamēt, holdē at Westmin∣ster, as before & sith, y^t my said L. of Gloucester, purposed him bodily harm, & was warned ther of, and counselled by the said persons, & that di∣uers [ 10] times, to abstaine hym from comming to Westminster, as my said L. of Winchester de∣clared vnto my said lorde of Gloucester.

6 Item, that in y^t time of y^e said parliament, diuers persons of low estate of the citie of Lō∣don in great number, assēbled on a day vpon y^e Wharfe, at the Crane of the Vintrie, & wished & desired that they had there y^e person of my L. of Winchester, saying, that they would haue throwen him into the Thames, to haue taught [ 20] him to swimme with wings. Wherof billes & language of slaūder and threatnings were cast and spoken in the said citie by my saide L. the Chauncellor, which caused him to suppose that they that so said and did, willed and desired his destruction, although they had no cause.

7 Item, that after y^e cōming to Lōdon of sir Rafe Botiller, & maister Lewes, sēt frō my L. of Bedford, to y^e rest of y^e lords of the counsell, they being informed, that my said L. of Glou∣cester [ 30] did beare displeasure to my saide lorde of Winchester, they came to the said L. of Glou∣cester to his Inne, y^t secōd Sonday next before Alha•…•…onday, & ther opened vnto him, y^t they had knowledge and vnderstāding of y^e said disple∣sure, praying him to let them knowe if hee bare such displeasure against my saide L. of Win∣chester, and also the causes therof. At the which time (as my said L. of Winchester was after∣wards informed) my said Lorde of Gloucester [ 40] affirmed that he was heauy towarde hym, and not without causes that peraduenture he wold put in writing.

8 Item, that after the Monday nexte before Allhallon day laste paste in the nyght, the peo∣ple of the said citie of Londō by the cōmaunde∣ment of my said lorde of Gloucester, as it was said: For what cause my lord the Chauncelor, wis•…•…e not, assembled in the citie, armed & arrai∣ed, and so continued all the night. Amongst di∣uers [ 50] of the which (the same night by what exci∣tation, my said L. the Chauncellor wist not) se∣ditious & heauy language was vsed and in es∣peciall against y^e persō of my said L the Chan∣cellor. And so y^e same Monday at night my said lord of Gloucester sent vnto y^e Innes of Court at London, charging thē of the Courte dwel∣ling in the same, to be with him vpon the mor∣rowe at eighte of the clocke in their best array.

9. Item, that on the morrowe being •…•…uis∣daie next folowing, early my said L. of Glou∣cester, sent vnto the Maior and Alde•…•… of the said citie of London to ordaine hym to the nū∣ber of .iij, C. persons on horse backe, to accom∣pany hym to such place as hee disposed hym to ride, whiche (as it was said) was vnto the king, to the intēt to haue his person & to remoue him from the place that he was in without assent or aduise of the Kings counsell, the whiche thing was thought vnto my said lord the Chauncel∣lor that hee ought in no wise to haue done, nor had not bin sene so before.

10 Item, that my said Lord the Chancellor, considering the things abouesaid, and do•…•…ing therfore of perills that might haue ensued ther∣of, intending to puruey theragainst, & namely for his owne surety and defence, according to y^e lawe of nature, ordeined to let that no force of people shuld come on the bridge of Lōdon to∣wards him, by the whiche he or his might haue bin endaungered or noyed, not intending in a∣ny wise bodily harme, vnto my saide Lorde of Gloucester, nor to any other person, but only his owne defēce, in eschuing y^e perill aboue said.

11 Item, as toward the fourthe & fifte of the said articles, my L. the Chauncellor auswereth that he was euer true to all those that were his soueraigne lords and raigned vpon him, and y^t he neuer purposed treason or vntruthe againste any of their persons, and in especiall against the person of our said soueraigne Lord Henry the fift. The whiche considering the great wisdom, truthe, & manhoode that all men knewe in hym, hee woulde not for the time that he was kyng, haue set on my said lord the Chaūcelor so greate trust as he did, if he had foūd or thought in him such vntruthe. The which thing my said lord y^e Chaūcellor offered to declare & shewe, as it be∣longeth to a man of his estate to doe, requiring therevpon my lord of Bedford and all y^e lords spirituall and temporall in this parliament, that it might be seene that there were Iudges con∣uenient in this case, that they woulde doe hym ryght, or else that hee might haue leaue of the king by their aduise to goe •…•…ue his right, before him that ought to be his Iudge.

And as toward the letter sent by my lord of Winchester vnto my lorde of Bedforde, of the which the tenor is before rehersed, of the which my Lorde of Gloucester complained him of the malicious and vntrue purpose of my said lorde of Winchester, as toward the assembling of the people, and gathering of a fielde in the Kin∣ges land, in troubling thereof, and against the kings peace: my said lorde of Winchester an∣swereth, that it his said letters duely vnder∣stande,

and in such wise as he vnderstood & ment in the writing of them, it may not reasonably he gathered and takē, y^t my said lord of Winchest•…•… entended to gather any field, or assemble people, in troubling of the kings land, & against y^e kings peace, but rather purposed to acquite him to the K. in his truth, & to kepe the rest and peace in the kings land, & to eschue rebelliō, disobediēce & all trouble. For by that that in the beginning of the sayde letter, he calleth my sayd Lord of Bedford [ 10] his lieuest Lord after one, that is the king, whom he ought to accept of dutie of his truth, the which he hath euer kept, and will keepe.

13 Moreouer, in the said letter he desireth y^e cō∣ming home of my L. of Bed. for y^t welfare of the K. & of his realms of Engl. & of France, whiche stāde principally in keping of his rest & peace, & praieth my said L. of Bedf. to speed his cōming into Engl. in eschuing of ieopardie of the land, & of a field which he dread him, might haue fo∣lowed, [ 20] if he had lōg taried: As toward those wor¦des, and ye tarie, we shal put this land in aduen∣ture w^t a field, such a brother ye haue here &c. My said L. of Winchester saith, the sooth is: before or he wrote y^e said letter by the occasion of certaine ordināces made by y^e Maior & Aldermen of Lō∣don against the excessiue taking of masons, Car∣penters, tylers, plasterers, and other laborers for their dayly iorneys, and approued by the kynges deuice & counsel, there were cast many heuinesses [ 30] & seditious billes vnder the names of such labou∣rers, threming rising with many thousands, and menacing of estates of the land, and likewise se∣ditions and euil language sowen & so cōtinued & likely to haue ensued, of purpose & intēt of disobe∣dience & rebellion. To the redressing of which, it semed to my lord y^e Chācellor, y^t my said lord of Gloucest. did not his indeuor nor diligence y^t he might haue shewed: for lack of which diligence, they that were disposed to do disobeysance were [ 40] encouraged and emboldned, so that it was lyke, that they shoulde haue made a gathering, and that the King and his true subiects shoulde haue bin compelled to haue made a field to haue with∣stand them, the which field making, had bin ad∣uenturing of this lande, and in tokening that it was neuer my said Lorde Chancellors intente, to gather no field, but as truth most stirred hym against such as riotously woulde make such as∣semblie againste our soueraigne Lorde, and the [ 50] weale of this lande, hee desired so hastely the cō∣ming of my sayde L. of Bedford, the whiche hee woulde in no wise haue so greately desired, if hee woulde haue purposed him vnto anye vnlawfull making of a field, for he wist well, that my sayd Lord of Bedford would most sharply haue cha∣stised, and punished all those that so woulde anye riotous assemble make.

When this aunswere was made, the Duke caused this writing follo∣wing, openly to be proclaymed.

BE it knowen to all folkes, that it is the intent of my Lorde of Bedforde, and all the Lordes spirituall and temporall, assembled in this pre∣sent Parliamente, to acquite him & them, and to proceede truely, iustly, & indifferently, without a∣ny parcialitie in any maner of master or quarel•…•… moued or to be moued between my L. of Glou∣cester, on that one partie, and my Lord of Win∣chester, Chancellor of Englande, on that other partie. And for sure keping of the kings peace, it is acorded by my said L. of Bedford, and by my sayd Lordes, spirituall and temporall, an othe to be made in forme as followeth, that is to say.

The oth of the Lordes.

THat my sayd Lord of Bedford, and my sayd Lords, spiritual and temporal, & each of them shal as farre forth as their cunnyngs and discre∣tions suffisen, truely, iustlys, and indifferentely counsell and aduise the K. and also proceede and acquit themselues in all the sayd matters, & qua∣rels, without that they or any of them shall pri∣uily and apertly make or shewe himselfe to bee partie or partiall therein, not leauyng or eschu∣ing so to doe for affection, loue, neede, doubte, or dreade of any person or persons. And that they shall in all wise kepe secret al that shall be cōmo∣ned by way of counsell in the matters and quar∣rels abouesayd, in the sayd parliament, without that they or any of them shall by worde, writing of the king, or in anie wise open or discouer it to anie of the saide parties, or to any other person that is not of the saide counsaile: But if he haue a speciall Comaundement or leaue therevnto of the K. or of my sayd lord of Bedf. And that eche of thē shall with all his might and power, assiste by way of counsell, or else shew it vnto the king, my lord of Bedford, & to the rest of my said lor∣des to put the said parties to reason, and not to suffer that any of the said parties by them, or by their assistance, proceede or attempt by waye of fight against the kings peace: nor helpe, assist or comfort any of them therto: but lette them with al their might and power, withstande them, and assist vnto the king, and my said Lorde of Bed∣forde, in keeping of the Kinges peace, and re∣dressing all suche maner of proceedyng by waye of fight or force.

• The Dukes.
  • THe Duke of Bedforde.
  • The Duke of Norffolke.
  • The duke of Excester.
• Bishoppes.
  • The Archebishop of Canterbury.
  • The Bishop of Carlile.
  • The Bishoppe of Bathe.
  • The Bishoppe of Landaffe.
  • ...

• ...
  • The Bishop of Rochester
  • The Bishop of Chichester.
  • The Bishop of Worcester.
  • The Bishop of Saint Dauids.
  • The Bishop of London.
  • The Bishop of Duresme.
• Earles.
  • The Earle of Northumberlande.
  • The Earle of Stafforde.
  • The Earle of Oxforde. [ 10]
• Lordes.
  • The Lorde Hungerforde.
  • The Lorde Tiptoste.
  • The Lorde Poynings.
  • The Lorde Cromewell.
  • The Lorde Boroughe.
  • The Lorde Louell.
  • The Lorde Botreux.
  • The Lorde Clinton.
  • The Lorde Zouche. [ 20]
  • The Lorde Audeley.
  • The Lorde Ferreis of Grouby.
  • The Lorde Talbot.
  • The Lorde Roos.
  • The Lorde Grey.
  • The Lord Grey of Ruthen.
  • The Lorde Fitz Waiter.
  • The Lorde Barkeley.
• Abbotes.
  • The Abbot of Waltham. [ 30]
  • The Abbot Glastinbury.
  • The Abbot of S. Augustines in Canterbury.
  • The Abbot of Westminster.
  • The Abbot of saint Maries in Yorke.
  • The Abbot of saint Albones not sworne bicause he was not present.

Whiche othe in manner and fourme aboue rehearsed, as the lords aswell spirituall as tem∣porall, beeing in this Parliament at Leycester assembled, the fourth day of Marche, promised [ 40] vpon their faith dutye and allegiaunce, which they owe to the king their souerain Lord, truly to obserue and kepe, acording to the true mea∣ning and purporte of the same.

The Arbitrement.

IN the name of God Amen, we Henry Arch∣bishop of Canterbury, Thomas duke of Ex∣cester, Iohn duke of Norffolke, Tho. Bishop of Duresme, Philip bishop of Worcester, Iohn bishop of Bathe, Hūfry erle of Stafford Will. [ 50] Alnwick keper of y^e kings priuy seale, Rafe L. Cromwell, Arbitrators in al maner of causes, matters & quarrelles of heauinesses & grenāces with all incidents, circūstāces, dependēts, or cō∣nexes being & hanging betwene y^e high & wor∣thy prince Hūfry duke of Gloucester on the one party, and the worshipfull father in god Henry bishop of Winchester & chaūcelor of Englande on y^e other party, by either of thē, for y^e peasin•…•… of the saide quarrels & debates taken & chosē in maner & fourme as it is contained more plain•…•…y in a compromise made thervpon, of the whiche the tenor ensueth in this fourme.

Memorandū y^e .vij. day of Harth in y^e fourth yere of our souerain L. the king Henry y^e 〈◊〉〈◊〉, y^e high and mighty prince Hūfrey duke of •…•…∣cester at y^e reuerence of god, & for the good at the king our soueraine lord in this land, & namely at y^e reuerence & especially at y^e request & 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of the mighty and high prince my lord of Bed∣ford his brother, agreed him to put, & putteth al maner matters and quarrells indeede, with all their incidēts, circūstaūces, dependēts & cōn•…•…res that touchen him & his persō, that he hath in any wise do, or feeleth himselfe greeued or heauy a∣gainst my lord his vncle, my Lord of Winche∣ster. Or else that my lord of Winchester findeth him greeued against him, in as muche as they touche him or his person fro y^e beginning of the worlde vnto this day, In y^e aduise, ordinaūce & arbitrement of y^e worthy father in god, Henry Archb. of Canterbury, y^e high and noble prince Thomas duke of Excester, and Iohn Duke of Norffolke, the worshipfull father in god Tho. bishop of Duresm Philip bishop of Worceter, Iohn bishop of Bathe, the noble lord Humfrey earle of Stafforde, y^e worshipfull persons ma∣ster Wylliā Alnewicke keper of the kings pri∣uy seale, and Rafe lord Cromwell, promissing and belighting by y^e faith of his body, and word of his princehood and kings son, to do, kep•…•…, ob∣serue, and fulfill for him and his behalf, all that shall be declared, ordeined, & arbitred, by y^e for∣said Archb. dukes bishops, erle, keper of y^e priuy seale & lord Cromwell in all matters & quarels abouesaid. Graūting also and promising ouer that, to be cōprehended in the foresaid arbitre∣ment, as toward putting away all heauinesses & displeasures, in any wise conteined, by my L. of Gloucester against all those that haue in any wise, assisted, coūselled, or fauored vnto his said vncle of Winchester, and as toward any mat∣ters that bee touching my Lorde of Gloucester remitteth it, and the gouernaunce thereof vnto the King and his counsell, they to deeme it by the aduise of his counsaile, as hym thinketh it to be done. In witnesse of the whiche thing to this presēt compromise my said L. of Glocester hath subscribed his name with his owne hand: Humfry Gloucester.* 5.1 And in like forme my lord of Winch. in an other cōpromise hath subscri∣bed with his owne hand vnder the word of his priesthoode to stand at the aduise, ordināce, arbi∣trement of the persōs abousaid mutatis mutātis.

The causes aforesaid and quarrels by vs sene, heard & diligētly examined & decreed, by the as∣sent

of the sa•…•… •…•…i•…•…, 〈…〉〈…〉 woulde, that my Lords of Gloucester, •…•… Winchester, for any thing done or 〈…〉〈…〉, by that •…•…x•…•…tie agaynst that other, or by an•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…ye other person or persones, afor•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 day of this present Moneths of 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…ter take causes, quarels, disp•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…ses, that one agaynst the other, notwithstanding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 al•…•… the Counsailers adherents or 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…her, for any thing or things 〈…〉〈…〉 to •…•…hat [ 10] my sayde Lorde of Gloust•…•…, 〈…〉〈…〉 to my sayde Lorde of Wy•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 in loue and affection as his 〈…〉〈…〉. And that my sayde Lorde of Wynchester 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my sayde Lorde of Gloucester, our and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 loue and affection, do, and his 〈…〉〈…〉 to him suche seruice as apperteyne•…•… of 〈…〉〈…〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sayde Lorde of Wynchester and his 〈…〉〈…〉. And that eche of them be g•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 ad∣herents, country 〈…〉〈…〉 and to 〈…〉〈…〉 o∣ther, [ 20] and shew them at al •…•…yuses fauourable loue and affection, as for any thing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or sayde before the seuenth day of March.

And we decree, ordeyne, and vnto, thi•…•… my sayd Lord of Winchester, in 〈…〉〈…〉 the King our soueraigne Lord, my Lorde of Bed∣ford, and my Lord of Gloucester, and the residue of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and ad∣mons being in this present Parliament, say and declare in manner and forme that foloweth. [ 30]

My soueraigne Lord, I haue wel vnder 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that I am nolled amōg the states of your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, how that the King our soueraigne Lorde •…•…hat was that time, beeing Prince and •…•…oged in the great chamber at Westminster, by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a spanyel•…•…, there was on a night taken, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a tapet in the same chambee, a man, that shoulde haue confessed, that he was thereby mine exci•…•…∣tion, and procuring to haue slaine the foresayde Prince there in his bedde, whereuppon hee was [ 40] sacked, and forthwith drowned in the Thames.

And furthermore, I am ac•…•…used, howe that I should haue stirred the K. that last dyes, the time also that hee was Prince, to haue taken the go∣uernance of this Realm, & the Crowne vpō him, liuing his father y^e same time, being K. Through which language and noising. I feele my name & same greatly enblemished in diuers mens opini∣ons, wherevpon, I take first God to my witnes, and after all the worlde, that I haue beene at all [ 50] times, & am true louer, and true man, to you my soueraigne Lord, and shall be al my life. And al∣so, I haue bin to my soueraigne L. y^t was youre father, all time of his raigne, true man, and for such he tooke me, trusted me, and cherished me to his liues end, and as I trust, no man wil affirme the contrarie, nor neuer in my life proc•…•…ng nor imagining death nor destructiō of his person, tie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meane suche thi•…•… or like therto, y^t th•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was •…•…cor Pris•…•… that herin other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 to Kyng Henry the fourthe al th•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was my fo∣•…•…es•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and raigned vpon •…•…. In whiche ma•…•…te•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉, that it liketh to y•…•… •…•…ng 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on•…•… Lorde, 〈…〉〈…〉 making m•…•… I am mo•…•… •…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 further•…•…, where, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and when of shall •…•…ady one the yo•…•…∣•…•…ice of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fai•…•…, •…•…tog•…•…ence, wherfore I be•…•… tha•…•… my saint ag•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hu•…•…ribly I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ousidering that their is•…•… ground•…•… prin∣cesse, by the whiche •…•…uring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lawfully of these mat•…•…s •…•…saide, has on •…•…est, blessed be •…•…od, to 〈…〉〈…〉 me by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of al y^e lordes, spiritual •…•…poral, beeing with •…•… present 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 than to you 〈…〉〈…〉 giue Lordes, & f•…•…it•…•…ll 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stat•…•…usly lou•…•… againe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^e were you w^t all wage•…•… and further 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man sl•…•… to man•…•… here a•…•… all •…•…iches 〈…〉〈…〉 further was∣•…•…easths 〈…〉〈…〉 rise manye there•…•…, the •…•…di•…•… vnder and 〈…〉〈…〉 nothwithstanding, and this same declaration, to be enacted in that your sa•…•… pre•…•…al 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The Whic•…•… worde dest•…•… maner an it is chancs•…•… it sie•…•…ueth to •…•…y sold Lords the a•…•…be∣•…•…ators, that •…•…ges were s•…•… there my saide Lorde of Winchester, drew here apare, and in the meane time, the lords being present bee singularly exa∣mined othervpon, & say three aduice. And if it hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…hy them, in •…•…ner as my said Lorde of Winchester desireth, let him be called again and that then my Lord of Bedford haue these words in effect that followe.

Faire Vncle, the King my Lord by y^e aduice of his •…•…ounsaile, hath commaunded me to saye to you, that he hath well vnderstand and considered, all the matters whiche yet haue heere openly de∣clared in his presence, and therevppon, ye desire a petition, that hee will declare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and by the ad∣uice and assent of the Lordes spiritual and tempo∣ral, being in this present Parliamēt, he declareth you a true •…•…an to him, and that ye haue so bi•…•… to my Lorde his father, & Grandfather, also it he man to my lord his father, while he was prince, or else in any other estate, the fold distand•…•… and noi•…•…ng notwithstanding, and will that the fa•…•… declaration be so enacted in this present Parlia∣mēt. After the which wor•…•… thus (said as before is declared) it was de•…•…teth also by the sayde Lords arbitrators, that y^e saidlord of Winche∣ster shoulde haue these wor•…•… that followeth to my said Lord of Gloucester.

My Lord of Gloucester, I ha•…•…ie conceyued to my great heauinesse, than yet should, haue teety∣ued by diuers reportes, that I shoulde haue pur∣posed and imagined against your person, •…•…or, and estate, in diuers maners, for the whiche, yee

haue taken against me great displeasure, Sir, I take God to my witnesse, that what reportes so euer haue bin to you of me, per•…•…e, of such as haue had no great affection to me, God for∣giue it them, I neuer imagined, ne purposed any thing that mighte bee hindering or preiudice to youre person, honor, or estate. And therefore I pray you, that yee be vnto me good L. from this time forthe, for by my will, I gaue neuer other occasiō, nor purpose not to doe hereafter by gods [ 10] grace. The which wordes so by him said, it was decreed by the same arbitrators, that my Lorde of Gloucester should aunswere and say:

Faire Vncle, sith ye declare you such a man, as yee saye, I am right glad that it is so, and for suche a man I take you. And when this was done, it was decreede by the said arbitrators, that euery eache of my L. of Gloucester, & Winche∣ster, should take either other by y^e hand, in y^e pre∣sence of the K. and al the Parliament, in signe & [ 20] token of good loue and accorde, the whiche was done, and the Parliament was adiorned til after Easter.

When the greate fier of this contention, be∣tweene these two noble personages, was thus by the arbitrators, to their knowlege and iudge∣ment, vtterly quēched out, and layd vnder hoord, all other controuersies, betweene other Lordes, taking part with the one party or the other, were soone appeased, and brought to concord, for •…•…ye [ 30] whereof, the King caused a solemne feast to bee kept on Whitsonday, on the which day, he crea∣ted Richard Plantagenet, sonne and heire to the Earle of Cābridge (whom his father at South∣hāpton had put to death, as before ye haue hard) Duke of Yorke, not foreseeing that this pre∣ferment shoulde bee his destruction, nor that hys seede shoulde of his generation bee the extreame ende, and finall confusion. He the same day also, promoted Iohn Lord Mowbray, & Erle Mar∣shall, [ 40] sonne and heire to Thomas D. of North∣folke, by King Richard the seconde, exiled thys Realme, to the title, name, and stile, of the Duke of Northfolke, during whiche feast, the Duke of Bedford adorned the King with the high order of Knighthood, whiche on the same day, dubbed w^t the sword these knights, whose names ensue.

• Richard Duke of Yorke.
• Iohn Duke of Norffolke.
• The Earle of Westmerlande. [ 50]
• Henry Lord Percy.
• Iohn Lorde Butler, son to the Earle of Or∣mond.
• The Lord Rosse,
• The Lord Matrauers.
• The Lord Welles.
• The Lord Barkeley.
• Sir Iames Butler.
• Sir 〈…〉〈…〉.
• Sir Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Sir 〈…〉〈…〉
• Sir Robert •…•…qua
• Sir 〈…〉〈…〉
• Sir E•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Sir 〈…〉〈…〉
• Sir Iohn Butl•…•…,
• Sir Regina•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Sir Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Sir 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…astell.
• Sir Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Sir Raufe L•…•…ngfire.
• Sir William 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Sir William •…•…p Thomas.
• Sir Richard C•…•…nell.
• Sir Richard •…•…e.
• Sir Iohn S•…•….
• Sir Nicholas 〈◊〉〈◊〉,
• Sir William Ch•…•…y I•…•…
• Sir William B•…•…ton.
• Sir Raufe Butler.
• Sir Robert Beauchampe.
• Sir Edmond •…•…rafford.
• Sir Iohn Ieme, chiefe Baron, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other.

After this solemne feast ended, a greate 〈…〉〈…〉 subsedie was granted, for the continuance of the conquest in France, & so therevpon, 〈…〉〈…〉 gathered, and men were prepared in euery Citie 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & countrey, during which busines,* 5.2 Tho∣mas Duke of Exeter, great vncle to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a right s•…•…ge & discrete counsellor, departed out of this mortall life, at his manor of Grenewiche, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with all funerall pompe, was conueyghed tho∣rough London to Berrie, and there buried.

The same yeere also dyed the Lady Eliza∣beth, halfe sister to the same duke, and of y^e whole bloud with King Henry the fourth, maried first to the Lorde Iohn Holland, Duke of Excester, and after to the lord Fanhope, buried of y^e bla•…•… Friers of London.

While these things were thus a doing in Englande, the Earle of Warwike, Lieutenant for the Regent in Fraunce, entred into the Coū∣trey of Maine, and besieged the Towne of Cha∣teau de Loyre, the whiche shortly to him was rendered, whereof he made Captaine, Mathe•…•… Gough, Esquier.

After this, he tooke by assaulte the Castell of Maiet, and gaue it for his valiantnesse to Iohn Winter esquier, and after that he conquered the castell of Lude, and made there Captayn Wil∣liam Gladisdale Gentleman.

Here he was informed, that the Frenchmenne were assembled in the coūtry of Beausse, wher∣vppon hee hasted thy her wardes to haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them battaile, but they hauing knowledge of

his approche, durst not abide to trie the matter with him by a pight fielde, but fledde before hee came neere them.

The Earle in his returne, wanne the Castell of Montdublean by surrender,* 5.3 where he left the valiant Lorde Willoughby, and then returned to Paris. During whiche season, he was ordey∣ned by the three estates of the Realme of Eng∣lande, to bee gouernour of the yong King, in the place of the Duke of Excester deceassed: howbe∣it, [ 10] hee dyd not as yet returne into Englande, but remayned in Fraunce for a season, and at∣chieued many worthy enterprises.

* 5.4Whilest the Lorde regent of Fraunce was thus in Englād, meanes was made by y^e Duke of Burgoigne, for the deliuerie of the Duke of Alanson, taken at the battell of Vernoyle, and nowe for the summe of two hundred thousande crownes, hee was set at libertie, but neyther for releasse of all, or abatement of parte of his raun∣some, [ 20] woulde hee by any meanes acknowledge the King of Englande, to be his liege and soue∣raigne Lorde.

* 5.5After that the Duke of Bedford hadde set all things in good order in England, hee tooke leaue of the King, and togither with his wife, retur∣ned into Fraunce, first landing at Calais, where the Bishoppe of Winchester (that also passed the Seas with him) receyued the habite, hatte, and dignitie of a Cardinall, with all ceremonies to it [ 30] apperteyning.

The late Kyng Henry the fifth, had forbid∣den him, eyther to sue for, or to receyue that dig∣nitie, bicause he would not that Cardinals hats shoulde in anye wise presume to bee equall with regall crownes, whyche hee doubted woulde come to passe in thys man, if hee myghte once atteyne to the honor of wearing one of those hattes, suche an haultie stomacke, and loftie courage hee euer noted to bee in him, from hys [ 40] youth vpwards.

But nowe the Kyng beeyng yong, and the regent hys friend, he obteyned his purpose, to his great profite, and the empouerishing of the spiri∣tualtie of thys Realme: for by a Bull legantine which hee purchased from Rome, he gathered so muche treasure, that no man in manner hadde money, but hee, so that he was called the ryche Cardinall of Winchester.

After that the Lorde Regent was ariued in [ 50] Fraunce, the Lorde of Rustinian, marshall of Britaigne, assembled a greate company of the Britishe nation, whiche fortifyed and repared the Towne of Pontorson, and after, the sayde Marshall, with a thousande men, entred into the Countrey of Constantine, and commyng before the Towne of Auranches, was encountred by the Englishmen of that garrison, and after long fighte, hys people were putte to the worse, cha∣sed, and discomfited, and hee hymselfe taken pri∣soner in the fielde.

The Duke of Bedford hearing that y^e towne of Pontorson, scituate within two leagues of Mont Saint Mighell, was newly fortified, and strongly defended, sent thither the Erle of War∣wike, accompanyed with the Lord Scales, and other valiant Captaynes and Souldiers, to the number of seauen thousande then, to besiege the Towne, who so enuironed it on euery syde, that neyther any man coulde steale in or out.

The siege thus long continuing, vittailes be∣gan to waxe scant in the English army: where∣fore, the Lorde Scales, hauing in hys company Sir Iohn Harpley Baylife of Constantine, Sir William Brearton Ba•…•…fe of Caan, Sir Raufe Tesson, Sir Iohn Carbonell, and three thousande good men of warre, departed from the siege, to get vittayle, pouder, and other things necessary for their purpose.

And as they were returning with their caria∣ges by the Sea coast, neere to Saint Michaels Mount, they suddaynely were encountred by theyr enimies, whereof were chiefe, the Baron of Coloses, the Lorde Dausebost, Captayne of the sayde Mount, the Lord Mountabon, the Lorde Montburchier, the Lorde of Chateaugiron, the Lord of Tintignate, the Lord of Chateaubrian, with sixe thousand men of warre.

The Lord Scales and his company, percey∣uing themselues beset on the one syde with the Sea, and on the other with theyr enimies, alight from their horses, & like coragious persons, there in an vnspeakable furie, set on their enimies.

The fight was fierce and cruell, the English∣men kept themselues close togither,* 5.6 so that their enimies could get no aduantage of them. At the last, the Lord Scales cried S. George they flee, wherevpon, the Englishmen toke such courage, and the Frenchmen that fought before, were so dismayd, that they began to flee indeede: the En∣lishmen leaped then againe on horsebacke,* 5.7 and followed them so, that they flew & toke aboue e∣leuen C. persons, among y^e which wer taken, the Baron of Coloses, y^e Vicount of Roan, & other. The L. of Chateaugiron,* 5.8 with a Scottish Cap∣tayne, and diuers other mē of name were slaine.

After this victorie, the Lord Scales, with his vitailes, prouision and prisoners, returned to the siege, where he was of the Erle, and other noble men ioyously receyued.

Whilest the siege thus continued before Pon∣torson, Christopher Hanson, and other souldiers of the garrison of Saint Susan, made a roade into y^e Countrey of Aniou, and came to a Castel called Ramffort, whiche Castell was so priuily scaled, that y^e Captaine within, & his company,

were taken or slayne, before they knewe of theyr enimies approching.

When knowledge heereof was giuen to the Frenchmen whiche were assembled, to the num∣ber of of twentie thousand, to reyse the siege that lay before Pontorson, they left that enterprise, and went, to recouer the said Castell of Ramf∣fort, and so comming before it, plāted their siege so on each side of it, that at length by compositi∣on, the Englishmen within, doubting to be ta∣ken [ 10] by force, rendred vp the Castell, hauing li∣bertie to depart with bagge and baggage.

Shortly after, the Lorde of Raux, callyng hymselfe Lieutenant generall for the Dolphin, entred into Mayne, with an armie of three M. men, and by force tooke y^e Castell of Malicorne, whereof was Captayne, an Englishman, one Oliuer Osbatersby.

In like manner, they tooke the little Castell of Lude, and therein William Blackborne, [ 20] Lieutenant for William Glasdale Esquier.

After this, the frenchmen returned backe to y^e Dolphin, and kept not on that iourney to Pon∣torson, for that they vnderstoode by espials, that the Earle of Warwike, and the Englishmenne there, determined to gyue them battell, if they once attempted to reyse the siege.

They within the Towne, beeing straightly besieged, perceiuing no likelyhoode of succours, & seeing the Englishe armye dayly encrease, fell to [ 30] treatie,* 5.9 for doubt to be taken by force, and so ren∣dred the towne vpon cōdition, y^t they myght de∣part with horse and harnes only, whiche beeyng granted to thē, the Erle like a valiant Captaine entred into the towne, & there appointed for go∣uernors, the Lorde Ros, & the L. Talbot, & lea∣uing there a conuenient garrison, returned to the Lord Regent. After the taking of this towne of Pontorson, there was a league, & a treatie con∣cluded, betweene the Regent, and the D. of Bri∣taigne, [ 40] by y^e articles of which agremēt, y^e townes of Pōtorson, & S. Iames de Bewron, were bea∣ten downe to the ground, and rased.

After the Lord of Rays was departed out of Mayne as ye haue heard, Christopher Hanson, Phillip Gough, Martin Godfrey, called y^e Sca∣ler, tooke by stelth the Castell of S. Laurence de Mortiers. At the same time, whē the Captaine, & the most part of his company, were gone forth to heare Masse, in a Churche ouer againste the [ 50] same Castell and keeping themselues close, tyll the Capitaine returned, tooke him as he was en∣tred within the first gate, and so was this Castel stuffed with Englishemen, and Captaine therof appointed sir William Oldhaule.

The same season, sir Iohn Fastolfe, gouer∣nour of the Countreys of Aniou, and Maine, assembled a great puissance of men of warre, and layde siege before the Castell of Saint Q•…•… Distays, besyde the Towne of Lauall, and after he had layne there tenne dayes, the Castell was deliuered, they within departing with their •…•…ines and armour only to them graunted, by the tenor of the composition, which they tooke with y^e same sir Iohn Fastolfe.

After the winning of this Castell, the Eng∣lishmen remoued to the strong Castell of Gra∣uile, and after twelue dayes, they within offered to yeelde the Castell by a daye, if they were not succoured by the Dolphin or his power the offer was taken, and pledges deliuered.

Then Sir Iohn Fastolfe returned in post to the Regent, aduertising him of this composition and agreement, wherefore, the said Regent rey∣sed a great power to fighte with the Frenchmen at the day appoynted, and in his company, were the Earles of Mortaigne and Warwike, the Lords Ros and Talbot, Sir Iohn Fastolfe, sir Iohn Aubemond, sir Iohn Ratcliffe, and diners other, to the number of twentie thousande men, and so marched forwardes, in hope to meete and ioyne battel with their aduersaries, but y^e french power, beeing not farre off from the place, durst not approche, wherefore, the Regent sent to Sir Iohn Fastolfe incontinently, to receyue y^e Ca∣stell, but they within (contrary to promise and appointmente) had newly vitailed and manned the place, and so forsaking the pledges, and theyr fellowes in armes, refused to render the fortresse, wherefore, the pledges were brought before their sighte, and there before the Castell openly put to death.

After this, the Lorde Talbot was made go∣uernour of Aniou and Maine, and sir Iohn Fa∣stolfe was assigned to another place,* 5.10 which Lord Talbot, being both of noble birth, and of haultie courage, after his comming into Fraunce, ob∣teyned so manye glorious victories of his eni∣mies, that his only name was, and yet is dread∣full to the French nation, and much renowmed amongst all other people.

This lustie and most valiant Captaine, en∣tred into Mayne, where he slew men, destroyed Castels, brent Townes, and in conclusion, sud∣daynely tooke the Towne of Lauall. The Lord Loghac, and diuers other, withdrew into y^e Ca∣stell, in the whiche, they were so streightly besie∣ged, that in the ende, they agreed to pay to the Lord Talbot, an hundred thousand Crownes, for licence to departe, with all theyr bagge and baggage.

Then was this Castel deliuered, to y^e keeping of Gilbert Halfall, which after was slaine at the siege of Orleanns, in whose place, Mathewe Gough was made Captayne there, who beeyng at the iourney of Senlis, by treason

of a Miller that kepte a Mille adioyning to the wall, the Frenchmen entred into the towne, and brought it againe into their subiection.

The Duke of Bedford hearing that y^e towne of Montargis, in the territorie of Orleauns, was but slenderly kept, and not throughly fur∣nished, sent the Earle of Suffolke, with his bro∣ther Sir Iohn Poole, and Sir Henry Bisset, ha∣uing in their company a sixe thousande men to assault that towne, but when they came thither, [ 10] and found the Towne, both well manned, and strongly fortified, contrary to their expectation, they surceassed from giuing the assault, and on∣ly layd theyr siege round about it.

The Earle of Warwike was appoynted to lye with a greate number of men of warre, at Sainte Mathelines de Archempe, to encounter the Frenchmen, if they would attempte to ayde or vittaile those within the towne.

The situation of this towne was suche, that [ 20] by reason of waters and marishes, the Englishe army must needes seuer it selfe into three parts, so that the one coulde not easely help the other, but eyther by boates or bridges.

This siege continued aboue two monethes, so that in the meane time, the Frenchmenne had leysure to prouide for the succour thereof, and so it came to passe, that the Connestable of Frāce Arthur of Britaigne, the Lorde Boysac one of the Marshals, Stephen la Hire, Pothon de [ 30] Saintreiles, the lord Grauille, and diuers other, to the number of three thousande horsemē, were sente forthe by the Dolphin, the which priuily in the night season, came on that side, where Sir Iohn de la Poole, and Sir Henrye Bisset laye, whome they found so out of order,* 5.11 and without good watche, that the Frenchmenne entred into theyr lodgings, slewe manye in theyr beddes, and spared none, for theyr resistance was but small.

Sir Iohn de la Poole, with his Horse saued hymself, and sir Henry Bisset escaped by a boate, and eight other with him.

The residue fleeing in plumpes, and striuing to passe by a bridge of timber, the whiche beeyng pestered with preasse of the multitude, brake, and so there were a greate number drowned, in so muche, that there were slayne by the enimes sword, and drowned in the water, a fifteene hun∣dred men.

The Earle of Warwike hearing of this mis∣fortune, departed from Saint Mathelines with all speede, and commyng before Montargis, of∣fered battell to the Frenche Captaynes, whyche aunswered, that they had manned and vittelled the towne, and intended to doe no more at that time.

The Englishmen seeing it would be no bet∣ter, came softly backe againe with all their or∣dinance to the Duke of Bedford.

It seemed, that Fortune would not permitte the Frenchmen long to enioy in this season any good successe, without enterlacing y^e same with some displeasure, for at thys very tyme,* 5.12 Sir Nicholas Burdet, appoynted by the Duke of Somerset to endomage hys enimies in the coastes of Britaigne, sente horsemen into eue∣rie parte, working all the displeasure to the people that myghte be deuised, the Countrey, through which he passed, was wasted, y^e townes

[illustration]

were brent, the houses spoyled, and greate num∣ber of prisoners taken, the small villages were destroyed, and the walled Townes raunsom∣med, and so without hurte or domage, the sayde Sir Nicholas Burdet returned into Normandye.

These newes being signified to the Conne∣stable, and other the french Captaines, aswaged their greate mirth and triumphant ioy, concey∣ued for the victorie of Montargis, that loth they were to attempt any further enterprises agaynst the English nation. But the Duke of Alanson, whiche as yee haue hearde, was lately deliuered out of captiuitie, reuiued againe the dulled spi∣rites of the Dolphin, and somewhat aduaunced, in hope of good speede, the fainting hartes of hys [ 10] Captaines, so that vppon occasion offered, they determined to atchieue a notable feate as they tooke it, against the Englishmen, which was the recouerie of the Citie of Mans out of theyr hands: for so it happened, that diuers of y^e chiefe rulers in that Citie, and namely, diuers spiritual persons, meaning to reuolt to the Dolphins side, aduertised him by letters of their whole mindes, whiche letters were conueyed vnto him by cer∣taine Friers. [ 20]

The Dolphin glad of those newes, appointed the Lordes de la Breth, and Faiet, Marshals of France, accōpanyed with the Lords of Mount Iehan, of Buel, Doruall, Torsie, Beaumanor, the Hire, and his brother Guilliam, with fyue hundred other valiant Captaines and souldiers, to the accomplishing of this enterprise, the whi∣che comming thither at the day assigned, in the night season approched towards the walles, ma∣king a little fire on an hill, in sight of the towne, [ 30] to signifie their comming, whiche beeing percey∣ued by the Citizens that nere to the great church were watching for the same, a burning cresset was shewed out of the steeple, whiche suddainely was put out and quenched. What nedeth many words.

The Captaines on Horsebacke came to the gate, and the traitors within flewe the porters & watchmen, and let in their friends, the footemen entred firste, and the men of armes waited at the [ 40] barriers,* 5.13 to the intent, that if muche neede requi∣red, they might fight in the open fielde.

In the meane season, manye Englishmenne were slayne, and a greate crie and noyse reysed through the Town, as in such surprises is wont and accustomed.

The cause heereof was not knowen to anye, but only to the conspirators, for the remnant of the Citizens being no partakers, imagined, that the Englishmen had made hauocke in y^e towne, [ 50] and put all to the sworde.

The Englishmen on the other side iudged, that the Citizens hadde begunne some new Re∣bellion against them, or else had striuen amongst themselues.

The Earle of Suffolke, whiche was gouer∣nour of the Towne, hauing perfect knowledge by such as escaped frō the walles, howe the mat∣ter went, withdrew without any tar•…•…ance, vnto the Castell, which standeth at the gate of Sainte Vincent, wherof was Constable, Tho. Gower esquier, whither also fled so many Englishmen, that the place was pestered, and there if they were not the sooner rescued, likely to be famished: and surely, they were sore assaulted by their eni∣mies, so that they could not haue endured long, if they hadde not priuily sente a messenger to the Lorde Talbot, whiche then lay at Alan∣son, certifying hym in what a wofull case they were.

The Lord Talbot hearing these newes, nei∣ther slept, nor banquetted, but in all hast assem∣bled togither about seauen hundred men, and in the euening departed from Alanson, and in the morning came to a Castell called Guyerch, a two miles frō Mans, and there stayed a while, till he had sente out Mathew Gough, as an es∣piall, to vnderstand how the Frenchmen demea∣ned themselues.

Mathew Gough so well spedde hys busines, that priuily in the night he came into the Castel, where hee learned, that the Frenchmen verye negligently vsed themselues, without takyng heede to theyr watch, as though they had beene out of all daunger.

When thys Mathewe hadde knowen all the certaintie, he returned againe, and within a mile of the Citie, met the Lorde Talbot, and y^e Lorde Scales, and opened vnto them all things, accor∣ding to his credence.

The Lordes then to make hast in the mat∣ter, bycause the daye approched, with all speede possible, came to the posterne gate, and alighting from theyr horses about sixe of the clocke in the morning, they issued out of the Castell, crying Saint George Talbot.

The Frenchmen beeing thus suddainely ta∣ken, were sore amased, in so much, that some of them, beyng not out of theyr beddes,* 5.14 gote vp in their shirtes, and lept ouer y^e walles. Other ranne naked out of the gates to saue their liues, leauing all theyr apparell, horses, armour, and riches behynde them, none was hurt, but suche as resi∣sted. To bee shorte, there were slayne and taken, to the number of foure hundred Gentlemen, the priuate soldiers were frankely let goe.

After this, was inquisition made of the au∣thors of the treason, and there were accused thir∣tie Citizens, twentie Priestes,* 5.15 and fifteene Fri∣ers, whiche according to their demerites, were put to execution.

The Citie of Mans beeing thus recouered,* 5.16 the Lord Talbot returned to Alanson, & shortly after, the Earle of Warwike departed into En∣glande, to bee gouernoure of the yong Kyng, in steede of Thomas Duke of Excester, lately

departed to God,* 5.17 and then was the Lord Tho∣mas Montacute Earle of Salisburie, sente into Fraunce, to supplye the roomth of the sayd Earle of Warwike, who landed at Calaice with fiue thousand mē, and so came to the D. of Bedford, as thē lying in Paris, where they fel in counsell togither, concerning the affaires of France, and namely, the Earle of Salisburie began maruel∣lously to phantesie the gayning of the Citie and Countrey of Orleans. [ 10]

This Earle was the man at that time, by whose witte, strength, and policie, the Englishe name was much feareful and terrible to y^e french nation, which of himselfe, mighte both appoynt, commaund, and do all things in manner at hys pleasure,* 5.18 in whose power (as it appeared after his death) a greate part of the conquest consisted: for surely, he was a man both paynefull, diligente, & readie to withstande all daungerous chaunces that were at hande, prompte in counsell, and of [ 20] courage inuincible, so that in no one man, men put more trust, nor any singular person wanne the hearts so much of all men.

Heerevppon, after this great enterprise hadde long beene debated in the priuie counsell, the Erle of Salisburies deuice therein was of them all graunted and allowed, so that he beeyng re∣plenished with good hope of victorie, and furni∣shed with artillerie and munitions apperteining to so great a siege, accompanyed with the Earle [ 30] of Suffolke, and the Lorde Talbot, and with a valiaunte armye, to the number of tenne thou∣sande menne, departed from Paris, and passed through the countrey of Beausse. There he tooke by assault, the Towne of Genuille, and within fiue dayes after, had the Castell deliuered vnto hym, by them that were fledde into it for theyr safegarde.

He also tooke the towne of Baugencie, suffe∣ring euery man which woulde become subiect to [ 40] the Kyng of England, to enioy theyr lands and goodes.

The Townes of Meun vppon Loyre, and Iargeaulx, hearing of these doings, presented to them the keyes of theyr Townes vppon lyke a∣greement.

* 5.19After this, in the moneth of September, hee came before the Citie of Orleans, and planted hys siege on the one syde of the ryuer of Loyre, but before hys comming, the Basterd of Orle∣ans, [ 50] the Byshop of the Citie, and a greate num∣ber of Scottes, hearing of the Earles intente, made dyuers fortifications about the Towne, and destroyed the suburbes, in the whyche, were twelue parishe Churches, and foure orders of Friers.

They cutte also downe all the vynes, trees, and bushes, within fyue leagues of the Citie, so that the Englishmen shoulde haue neyther com∣fort, refuge, nor succour.

After the siege hadde continued three weekes full, the basterd of Orleans issued out of the gate of the bridge, and fought with the Englishmen, but they receyued hym with so fierce and terrible strokes, that he was with all his company com∣pelled to retire and flee backe into the Citie, but the Englishmen followed so fast, in killing and taking of theyr enimies, that they entred with them: the Bulwarke of the bridge, whiche with a great tower standing at the ende of the same, was taken incontinentlye by the Englishe∣menne.

In this conflict, many Frenchmen were ta∣ken, but mor were slayne, and the keeping of the Tower and Bulwarke was cōmitted to Willi∣am Glasdale Esquier.

By the taking of this bridge, the passage was stopped, that neyther men nor vittaile, could goe or come by that way.

After this, the Earle caused certaine Bul∣warkes to be made rounde about the towne, ca∣sting trenches betweene the one and the other, laying ordynance in euery place where he sawe that any batterie might be deuised.

When they within saw that they were enui∣roned with fortresses and ordinance, they layde gunne againste gunne, and fortified towers a∣gainst Bulwarkes, and within, cast newe ram∣piers, and fortified themselues as strongly as mighte bee deuised, against the violence of their enimies bat•…•…ie and assaultes.

The Basterd of Orleans, and the Hire, were appoynted to see the walles and watches kepte, and the Byshop saw that the inhabitants with∣in the Citie were put in good order, and that vit∣taile were not wantonly consumed, or vaynely spent.

In the Tower that was taken at the bridge ende (as before you haue hearde) there was an high chamber, hauing a grate full of barres of yron, by the which, a man myghte looke all the length of the bridge into the Citie, at whiche grate, many of the chiefe Captaynes stoode ma∣ny times, viewing the Citie, and deuising in what place it was best to giue the assault. They within the Citie well perceyued thys tooting hole, & layde a peece of ordināce directly against the windowe.

It so chanced, that the .59. day after the siege was layd, the Erle of Salisburie, Sir Thomas Gargrane, and William Glasdale, with diuers other, went into the said tower, & so into the high chamber, & looked out at the grate, and within a short space, the sonne of the master gunner, per∣ceiuing mē looking out at the window, tooke his match, as his father had taught him, who was

gone downe to dinner, and fired the gunne, the shot whereof brake, and sheeuered the iron barres of the grate,* 5.20 so that one of the same barres strake the Earle so violently on the head, that it stroke awaye one of hys eyes, and the syde of hys cheeke.

Sir Thomas Gargrane was likewise stri∣ken, and dyed within two dayes.

The Earle was conueyghed to Meun, on Loire, where after eight dayes, he likewise depar∣ted [ 10] this worlde, whose body was conueyed into Englande with all funerall pomp, and buried at Bissam by his progenitors, leauing behind him an only daughter named Alice, married to Ri∣charde Neuill, sonne to Raufe Earle of West∣merlande, of whome, more shall bee sayd heere∣after.

The domage that the Realme of Englande receyued by the losse of thys noble man, mani∣festly appeared, in that immediately after hys [ 20] death, the prosperous good lucke whiche had fol∣lowed the English nation, began to decline, and the glory of their victories gotten in the parties beyond the Sea, fell in decay.

Though al men were sorowful for his death, yet the Duke of Bedford was most striken with heauinesse, as he that had lost his only right hād, and chiefe ayde in time of necessitie. But sith that dead men cannot helpe the chances of men that be liuing, he like a prudent gouernour, ap∣pointed [ 30] the Earle of Suffolke to be his Lieute∣nante and Captaine of the siege, and ioyned with him the Lord Scales, the Lord Talbot, sir Iohn Fasto•…•…, & diuers other right valiant Cap∣taines.

These persons caused •…•…astilles to bee made rounde about the Citie, and left nothing vn∣attempted, whiche mighte aduaunce their pur∣pose.

* 5.21In the Lent season, vittaile and artillerie be∣gan [ 40] to waxe seant in the English camp, where∣fore the Earle of Suffolke appoynted Sir Iohn Fastolfe, sir Thomas Rampston, and sir Phil∣lip Hall, with their retinues, to ride to Paris, to the Lord Regent, to enforme him of their lacke, who incontinently vpon that information, pro∣uided victuall, artillerie and munitions necessi∣tie, and loded there with many chariots, carte•…•…, & horsses: and for the sure conueying of the same, hee appointed Sir Simon Morhier, prouost of Paris, with the guard of the Citie, and diuers of his owne houshold seruants to accompany Sir Iohn Fastolfe and his complices, to the armie lying at the siege of Orleans.

They were in all,* 5.22 to the number of fifteene hundred men, of the which, there were not past a fiue or sixe hundred Englishmen, the whiche de∣parting in good order of battell out of Paris, came to Genuille in Beausse, and in a morning carely, in a great frost, they departed from thēce towarde the siege, and when they came to a Towne called Rowray, in the lāds of Beausse, they perceyued their enimies comming towards them, beeing to the number of nine or tenne thousand of Frenchmen, and Scottes, of whom were Captaines Charles of Cleremont, sonne to the Duke of Bourbon, then being prisoner in England, Sir William Steward Connestable of Scotland, a little before deliuered out of capti∣uitie, the Earle of Perdriacke, the Lorde Iohn Vandosme, y^e Vidame of Chartres, the Lorde of Toures, the Lord of Lohar, the Lord of Eglere, the Lorde of Beaniew, the basterd Tremoile, and manye other valiant Captaines: wherefore sir Iohn Fastolfe set all hys companye in good order of battell, and pitched stakes before e∣uery archer, to breake the force of the horsemen.

At their backes they sette all the wagons and carriages, and within them they tyed all their horses.

In this manner stoode they still, abiding the assault of their enimies.

The Frnchmen, by reason of their greate nū∣ber, thinking themselues sure of the victory, egre∣ly sette on the Englishmen, whiche with greate force, them receiued, and manfully defended thē∣selues as it stoode them vpon, considering the in∣equalitie of their number. At length, after long and cruell fyghte,* 5.23 the Englishmenne droue backe, and vanquished the proude Frenche∣menne,

[illustration]

and compelled them to flee.

In this conflict were slaine the Lorde Wil∣liam Steward Connestable of Scotland, & his brother the L. Dorualle, the L. Chateaubriā, sir

Iohn Basgot, and other Frenchmen and Scots, to the number of .xxv. hundred, and aboue .xj.C. taken prisoners, although the French wryters af∣firme the number lesse.

After this fortunate victorie, sir Iohn Fastolfe and his companie, hauing lost no one man of any reputation, wyth all theyr caryages, vytaile, and prysoners, marched forth and came to the Eng∣lish campe before Orleans, where they were ioy∣fully receyued, and highly commended for theyr [ 10] valiauncie and worthie prowes shewed in the battaile,* 5.24 the which bycause most part of the cary∣age was Herring, and Lenton stuffe, the French men call it the battaile of Herrings.

The Earle of Suffolke being thus vytayled, continued the siege, and euery day almost skirmi∣shed with the Frenchmen within, who (at length being in dispayre of all succours) offred to treate, and in conclusion, to saue themselues, and the Citie from captiuitie of theyr enimyes, they deui∣sed [ 20] to submit the Citie, themselues, and all theirs vnder the obeysance of Philip duke of Burgoign, bycause he was extract out of the stock and bloud royall of the auncient kings of Fraunce, thinking by this means (as they did in deed) to break or di∣minish the great amitie betwene the Englishmen and him.

This offer was signifyed by them vnto the Duke of Burgoigne, who with thankes certified them againe, that he would gladly receyue them, [ 30] if the Lord Regent woulde therewith be conten∣ted. Herevpon he dispatched Messengers to the Duke of Bedforde, who though some counselled that it should be verie good and necessarie for him to agree to that maner of yeelding, yet hee and o∣ther thought it neither cōuenient nor honourable, that a Citie so long besieged by the king of Eng∣land his power, shuld be deliuered vnto any other foreyne prince or potentate, than to him, or to hys Regent, and that bycause the example mighte [ 40] prouoke other townes hereafter to seeke the lyke agreement.

Herevpon the Regent answered the Burgo∣nian Ambassadors, that sith the king of England had beene at all the charges aboute the besieging and winning of the Citie, it was not consonant to reason that the Duke shoulde enioy the fruites of an other mans labour.

Hereof folowed a double mischief to the Eng∣lish proceedings in the realme of France, for both [ 50] the Duke of Burgoigne conceyued an inwarde grudge agaynst the Englishmen, for that hee su∣spected them to enuy his glory and aduancement, and againe the Englishmen left the siege of Or∣leans, which by this treatie they might haue re∣couered out of theyr enimies hands, and put their friendes in possession of it. But mortall men can not foresee all things, and therefore are guided by fortune which ruleth the destinie of man, and turneth hir wheele as shee lysteth.

While this treatie was in hand, the Dolphin studied dayly how to prouide remedie by the de∣liuerie of his friendes in Orleans out of present danger. And euē at the same time, that mōstrous womā named Ioan la Pucell de Dieu,* 5.25 was pre∣sented vnto him at Chinon, where as then hee so∣iourned, of whiche woman yee maye finde more written in the French historie, touching hir birth, estate, and qualitie. But briefly to speake of hir doings, so much credite was giuen to hir, that she was honoured as a Saint, and so she handled the matter, that she was thought to be sent from god to the ayde of the Dolphyn, otherwise called the French king. Charles the seuenth of that name, as an Instrument to deliuer Fraunce out of the Englishmens handes, and to establish him in the kingdome.

Herevpon she being armed at all poyntes lyke a iolye Captaine, roade from Poictiers to Bloys, and there founde men of warre, vytaile and mu∣nitions readie to be conueyed to Orleans.

Here was it known that the English men kept not so diligent watch as they had beene accusto∣med to doe, and therefore this Mayde with other Frenche Captaynes comming forwarde in the deade tyme of the nyghte, and in a greate rayne & thunder, they entred into the Citie with all their vytaile artillerie and other necessarie prhu•…•…sions.

The next day the English men boldly assaul∣ted the Towne, but the Frenchmen defended the walles so, as no greate feat worthie of memorie chanced that day betwixt thē, though the French men were amased at the valiaunt attempt of the English men, wherevpon the Bastarde of Orle∣ans gaue knowledge to the Duke of Alanson, in what daunger the towne stoode without his pre∣sent helpe, who comming within two leagues of the Citie, gaue knowledge to them within, that they shoulde bee readie the nexte daye to receyue him. Which accordingly was accomplished: for the Englishmen willingly suffered him and hys armie also to enter, supposing that it should be for their aduauntage to haue so great a multitude to enter the Citie, whereby theyr vytayles (whereof they within had great scarcitie) might the sooner be consumed.

On the next day in the morning, the French∣men altogither issued out of the towne, and wan by assaulte the Bastile of Saint L•…•…n, and set it on fire. And after they likewise assaulted the Tower at the bridge foote, which was manfully defended, but the Frēchmen being more in num∣ber, at length tooke it ere the Lorde Talbot could come to the succours, in the which Wil Gladdes∣dale the captain was slaine, with the Lord Moo•…•…∣lins, and the Lord Poynings also.

The Frenche men puffed vp with thys good lucke, fetched a compasse about, & in good order of battaile marched toward the Bastile, which was in the keeping of the Lord Talbot, the which vp∣on the enimies approche, lyke a Captaine with∣out all feare or dread of that great multitude, is∣sued forth agaynst them, and gaue them so sharpe an encounter, that they not able to withstand his puyssaunce, fled (like sheepe before the Woolfe) a∣gaine into the Citie, with great losse of men and [ 10] small artillerie. Of Englishmen were lost in the two Bastiles, to the number of sixe hundred per∣sons, or thereabout, though the Frenche wryters multiplie this number of hundred, to thousandes as theyr manner is in theyr gloryous Hysto∣ryes.

The Earle of Suffolke, the Lorde Talbot, the Lorde Scales and other Captaynes assem∣bled togyther in Counsaile, and after causes shewed to and fro, it was amongest them deter∣mined [ 20] to leaue theyr fortresses and Bastiles, and to assemble in the plaine field, and there to abyde all the day, to see if the Frenchmen woulde issue forth to fight with them.

This conclusion taken was accordingly exe∣cuted: but when the Frenchmen durst not once come forth to shew their heades, the Englishmen set fire in theyr lodgings,* 5.26 and departed in good or∣der of battell from Orleans.

The next day, which was the .viij. day of May [ 30] the Erle of Suffolk rode to Iargeaux with foure hundred Englishmen, and the Lord Talbot with an other companie returned to Meun. And after he had fortifyed that towne, he went to the towne of Lauall, and wan it, togither with the Castell, sore punishing the townesmen for theyr cancred obstinacie agaynst them.

Thus when the Englishmen had seuered themselues into garnisons, the Duke of Alanson, the bastard of Orleans, Ioan la Pucelle, the lord [ 40] Gawcourt, and diuerse other Captaines of the Frenchmen, came the .xij. day of Iune, before the towne of Iargeaux, where the Earle of Suf∣folke and his two brethren soiourned, and gaue to the towne so fierce an assault on three partes▪ that Poyton de Sentrailes perceyuing an other part voyde of defendants, sealed the walles on that side, and wythout difficultie tooke the towne, and slue sir Alexander Poole, brother to the Erle, and many other to the number of two hundred, [ 50] but the Frenchmen gayned not much thereby, for they lost three .C. good men and more. Of the English men .xl. were taken, with the Earle and his other brother named Iohn.

The Frenchmen as they returned to Orle∣ans, fell at variance for their prisoners, and slue them all, sauing the Earle and his brother.

Shortly after, the same Frenche armie came to Mehun, where they tooke the Tower at the bridge foote, and put therein a garnison.

From thence they remoued to Baugency, and constrayned them that were within the towne to yeelde, vpon condition they might depart wyth bagge and baggage.

At the same place there came to the duke of A∣lanson, the new Conestable Arthure of Brytain, and with him was the Lord Dalbret, and other.

Also after this the Earle of Vandosme came to them, so that by the dayly repayre of such as as∣sembled togither to strengthen the Frenche p•…•…t, they were in all to the number betweene .xx. and xxiij. thousand men,* 5.27 the whiche beeing once ioy∣ned in one armie, shortly after fought with the Lord Talbot (who had with him not past six .M. men) nere to a village in Beause called Pa•…•…ay, at which battail the charge was giuen by the Frich so vpon a sodaine, that the Englishmen had not leysure to put themselues in aray, after they had pight vp their stakes before their Archers, so that there was no remedie but to fight at aduenture.

This battaile continued by the space of three long houres: for the English men though they were ouerpressed with multitude of their enimies, yet they neuer fled backe one foote, tyl theyr Cap∣tayne the Lorde Talbot was sore wounded at the backe, and so taken. Then theyr heartes be∣gan to faint, and they fledde,* 5.28 in which flight were slaine aboue twelue hundred, and fortie taken, of whome the Lorde Talbot, the Lorde Scales, the Lord Hungerforde, and sir Thomas Ramp∣ston were chiefe.

Diuerse archers after they had shot all theyr arrowes, hauing onely their swordes, defended themselues, and with helpe of some of their horse∣men came safe to Mehun.

This ouerthrew, and specially the taking of the Lorde Talbot, did not so muche reioyce the Frenchmen, but it did as much abesh the Eng∣lishmen, so that immediatly thervpon the townes of Ienuile, Mehun, Fort, and diuers other, retur∣ned from the English part, and became French.

From this battail departed without any stroke striken sir Iohn Fastolfe, the same yeare for hys valiantnesse elected into the order of the Garter, for which cause the Duke of Bedforde tooke from him the Image of Saint George, and his Gar∣ter, though afterward by meane of friendes, & ap∣paraunt causes of good excuse, the same were to him againe deliuered agaynst the mynde of the Lorde Talbot.

Charles the Dolphin y^t called himselfe French K. perceiuing fortune to smile thus vpō him, assē∣bled a great power, & determined to conquere the Citie of Reimes, that hee might be there sacred, crowned, & annoynted, according to the custome of his progenitors, that all men might iudge that

he was by al lawes and decrees a lust and a law∣full king.

In his way thitherwardes he besieged the ci∣tie of Auxerre, the Citizens whereof compounded with him to yeelde, if they were not reskued with∣in certaine dayes.

From thence he came before Troys, and af∣ter .xij. dayes siege had that Citie deliuered vnto him, by composition, that the Captaine sir Philip Hall, with his people, and moueables myght de∣part [ 10] in safetie.

After that Troyes was yeelded, the commu∣naltie of Chaalons rebelled agaynst Sir Iohn Awbemonde theyr Captaine, and constreyned him to deliuer the towne vpon lyke composition.

In semblable maner did they of Reimes, desi∣ring him to giue safeconduct to all the Englishe men safely to depart.

When Reimes was thus become French, the foresayde Charles the Dolphin in the presence of [ 20] the Dukes of Lorrainne and Barre, and of all the noble men of his faction, was sacred there King of Fraunce by the name of Charles the sixt,* 5.29 with all rytes and ceremonies thereto belonging.

They of Auxerre, when the terme of their ap∣pointment was expired, submytted themselues to him, and so likewise did all the Citie and townes adioyning.

The Duke of Bedford aduertised of all these doings, assembled his power about him, and ha∣uing [ 30] togither ten thousand good Englishmen (be∣side Normans) departed oute of Paris in War∣like fashion, and passing through Brie to Mon∣streau fault Yōne, sent by his Herault Bedford, letters to the Frenche King, signifying to hym, that where hee had contrarie to the finall conclu∣sion accorded betweene his noble brother King Henrie the fifth, and king Charles the sixte, father to him the vsurper, by allurement of a diuelishe witche, taken vpon him the name, tytle and dig∣nitie [ 40] of the king of Fraunce, and further had by murther, stealing, craft, and deceytfull meanes, violently gotten, and wrongfully kept diuerse ci∣ties and townes belonging to the king of Eng∣lande his nephewe, for proufe whereof hee was come downe from Paris with his armie, into the Countrey of Brie, by dynt of sworde, and stroke of battaile to proue his wryting and cause true, willing his enimie to choose the place, and in the same he would giue him battaile. [ 50]

The new French king being come frō Ryems to Dampmartyne, studying howe to compasse them of Paris, was halfe abashed at this message, But yet to set a good countenance on the matter, hee answered the Herault, that hee woulde sooner seeke his maister, than his maister should need to pursue him.

The Duke of Bedforde hearing this answere marched towarde the king, and pitched his fielde in a strong place.

The French king though at the first he ment to haue abydden battaile, yet when he vnderst•…•…d that the Duke was equall to him in number of people, he chaunged his purpose, and turned with his armie a little out of the way. The Duke of Bedford perceyuing his faynt courage, followed him by hilles and dales, till hee came to a towne not farre from Senlis, where he found the French king and his armie lodged, wherefore hee ordred his battailes like an expert chieftaine in martiall science, setting the Archers before, and himselfe with the Noble men in the maine battaile, and put the Normans on both sides for wings. The Frenche king also ordred his battailes with the aduise of his captaines.

Thus these two armies lay two dayes and two nightes eyther in sight of other, without any great doing, except a few skirmishes, wherein the Dukes light horsemen did verie valiauntly. At length in the deade of the nighte (as priuily as myght he) the French king brake vp his campe, and fled to Bray. The Duke of Bedford had much ado to stay his people in the morning from pursuyte of the Frenche armie: but for that hee mistrusted the Parisians, hee woulde not depart farre from that Citie, and so returned thyther a∣gaine.

In this season, Pope Martine the fifth of that name, meaning to subdue the Bohemers that dissented from the Church of Rome in matters of Religion, appoynted Henrie Beaufort Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall of Saint Eusibie, to be his Legate in an armie that shoulde inuade the Kingdome of Beame, and to bring a power of men with him out of Englande.* 5.30 And bycause the warre touched religion, he licenced the Cardinal to take the tenth part of euerie spirituall dignity, benefice, and promotion.

This matter was opened in the Parliament house, and assented to: wherevpon the Bishoppe gathered the money, and assembled foure thou∣sand men and aboue, not without greate grudge of the people, which dayly were with tallages and aydes weryed and sore burdened.

As this Bishop was come to Douer readie to passe the seats ouer into Flaunders, the Duke of Gloucester hauing receyued letters from the Duke of Bedford, conteyning an earnest request to relieue him with some speedie ayde of men of warre, was constreyned to write vnto the Bi∣shop of Winchester, willing him in time of suche neede, when all stoode vpon losse or gaine, to passe with all his armie toward the Duke of Bedford, to assyst him agaynst his aduersaries, which thing done, and to his honour atchiued, he might per∣fourme his iourney agaynste the vngracious

Bohemers.

The Cardinall (though not well contented with this countermaunde) yet least he should run into the note of Infamie, if he refused to ayde the Regent of Fraunce in so great a cause, passed o∣uer with his power, brought the same vnto hys cousin to the Citie of Paris.

About the same season, the French king in hope to bee receyued into the townes of Com∣peigne and Beauvois (by reason of the fauor and [ 10] good will which the Inhabitantes bare towardes him) was come with an armie towardes Com∣piegne, whereof the Duke of Bedforde being ad∣uertised, and hauing nowe his hoste augmented with the newe supply, which the Cardinall had of late brought vnto him, marched forward with great speede towarde the place where hee vnder∣stoode the French king was lodged. And cōming 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Senlis, he perceiued how his enimies were en∣camped vpon the Mount Pilioll, betweene Sen∣lis [ 20] and Compiegne.

Here might eyther armie beholde the other: wherevpon for the aduoyding of daungers that myght ensue, the campes were trenched, and the battayles pitched, and the fields ordred as though they should haue tryed the matter by battaile, but nothing was done except with skirmishes, in the which the Normans sore vexed the Frenchmen, and therfore receyued great commendations and prayses of the Lorde Regent, who vndoubtedly determined to haue giuen battaile to his enimies, if they woulde haue abydden it.

But after the armies had thus lyen eyther in sight of other, for the space of two dayes togither, the Frenche King determining not to aduen∣ture in an open battaile the whole chaunce of the game, least he might thereby receyue a perpetuall checkmate, in the night seasō remoued his campe, and fled to Crespy, though his number was dou∣ble to the English armie.

The Duke of Bedford seeing that the French king was thus Cowardly reculed with all hys power and armie returned again to Paris,* 5.31 euer suspecting the deceytfull fayth of the Parisians.

The Bishoppe of Wynchester, after that the Frenche king was retreated backe, went into Beame, and there did somewhat,* 5.32 though shortly after without anye great prayse or gaine hee re∣turned into Englande, more glad of his com∣ming backe than of hys aduauncing forwarde. Anon after the Pope vnlegated him, and sette an other in hys place, where with he was nothing contented.

On the sixth day of Nouember, being the day of Saint Leonarde, King Henrie in the eyght yeare of his raigne, was at Westminster with all pompe and honour crowned king of this realme of England.

[illustration]

The same yeare the Frenche King was re∣ceyued into the towne of Compiegne, and short∣ly [ 50] after were the townes of Senlis, and Beau∣voys rendred to him. And the Lorde Longue∣ual tooke by stealth the Castell of Aumarle, and slue all the Englishmen within it.

* 5.33Also about the same tyme, the Frenchmen re∣couered Castell Galiarde forth of the Englishe mens handes, where the Lorde Barbason was found in a dungeon, enclosed within a great grate of Iron like to a little Chamber, and forthwyth they brake open the grate, but Barbason woulde not come forth, bycause he had gyuen his fayth and promise to one Kingston that was captaine of that Fortresse for the king of Englande, to bee true prisoner, vntil the Frenchmen had sent to the same Kingstone (that was departed vpon suche couenants as they were agreed vpon at the dely∣uerie of that fortresse) willing him to come backe againe vpon safeconduct, which at theyr earnest

request he did, and withall discharged the Lorde Barbason of his othe, and so then he came foorth and remayned at his libertie, to the greate reioy∣sing of the Frenchmen, which iudged that he had bene rather deade than aliue all that time of his imprisonment.

About the same time also the French K. sought by all meanes possible to breake the amitie be∣twixt the realme of Englande, and the house of Burgoigne, whereof the Duke of Bedforde ha∣uing [ 10] intelligence, thought it stoode him vpon the more earnestly to looke to his charge, and namely as it were for an ancreholde, hee determined to to prouide that hee might defende and safely kepe the duchie of Normandie, and therefore appoyn∣ting the Bishop of Terrowen, and Ely, named Lewes of Lutzenburgh, Chancellor for King Henrie, of the realme of Fraunce, to remayne at Paris vpon the defence of that Citie, with a con∣uenient number of Englishmen, he departed into [ 20] Normandie, and comming to Roan, called a Parliament there of the three estates of the Du∣chie,* 5.34 in the which he declared many things vnto them, touching the happy life, and great freedome which they might be assured to enioy, so long as they continued vnder the English obeysance, and therefore he exhorted them to abyde constant in theyr allegiaunce, fayth and promyse made and sworne to his noble brother King Henrie the fifth. [ 30]

Whylest the Duke of Bedforde was busie to retaine the Normans in theyr due obedience, the French king departed from Senlis, and cōming to the towne of Saint Denys, found it in maner desolate, so that he entred there without resistance, and lodged his armie at Mount Martyr, and Abberuilliers neare vnto the Citie of Paris. And from thence sent Iohn Duke of Alanson, and his forceresse Ioan la Pucelle, with three thousande [ 40] light horsemen to assault the Citie, and followed himselfe, in hope to get it, eyther by force or trea∣tie, But the English Captaynes euery one kee∣ping his warde and place assigned, so manfullye defended themselues, their walles and towers, with the assystance of the Parisians, that they re∣pulsed the Frenchmen, and threwe downe Ioan theyr great Goddesse into the bottom of the town ditche, where she lay behinde the backe of an Asse sore hurt, till the tyme that shee (all filthie wyth myre and durt) was drawne out by Guyscharde [ 50] of Thienbrone, seruant to the Duke of Alanson.

The French king perceyuing that he coulde not preuaile in this enterprise, left the dead bodies behinde him, and taking with him the wounded Captaine, returned into Berrie. But in the meane way, the inhabitants of Laignie submyt∣ted themselues vnto him.

The Duke of Bedford being in Normandie, hearing of this sodain attempt, with all hast pos∣sible came to Paris, where he gaue many greate thankes, with highe commendations vnto the Captaynes, souldiers and Citizens for theyr as∣sured fidelitie, great hardinesse, and manly doing, which his gentle words so encouraged the hearts of the Parisians, that they sware promised and concluded, to bee friendes for euer to the king of Englande, and his friends, and enimies alwayes to his foes and aduersaries, making proclama∣tion by this style, friendes to king Henrie, friends to the Parisians, enimies to England, enimies to Paris. Marie whether this was vttered from the bottome of theyr hearts, it is heard to so say, but the sequele of their acts would seeme to proue the contrarie.

Soone after these doings, came to Paris with a great companie, Philip Duke of Bur∣goigne, and then vpon long consultation had for the recouerie of theyr losses, it was agreed that the Duke of Bedford shoulde rayse an armie, and that the Duke of Burgoigne shoulde be his De∣putie, and tarie at Paris for the defence of the Citie.

The Duke of Bedforde then withoute anye great resistance recouered againe the towne of Saint Denys with dyuerse other fortresses.

And after this hee sent the Bastarde of Cla∣reuce to laye siege to the Castell of Torsie, the which (notwythstanding the great strength ther∣of) after six monethes siege, was rendred vp into his handes.

During the siege of this Castell sir Thomas Kiriell knight, with foure. C. Englishmen de∣parted from Gourney in Normandie, and rode by Beauvoys, spoyling and robbing the Coun∣trey to the Suburbes of Cleremount, whereof the Earle of that towne hauing aduertisement, assembled all the men of warre of the garnisons adioyning, and wyth the same set forwarde to fight wyth the Englishmen whom he found in a strayte place neare to Beauvoys.

The Earle of Cleremonte perceyuing that hee coulde not hurte them wyth hys men of Ar∣mes by reason of the strength, came downe on foote wyth all hys companye, and fiercely sette on the Englishmenne: but by the terrible shotte of the Englishe Archers, the Frenchemenne in the ende were constrayned to flee, and the Eng∣lish menne perceyuing the matter, streyght leapt on Horsebacke and followed the chase. In the whiche were taken two hundred Prisoners, and thrice as many slaine. The Earle escaped by the swiftnesse of his horse.

At the same season the Earle of Suffolke be∣sieging the Towne of Aumarie (whereof was Captayne the Lorde of Rambures) after .xxiiij. greate assaultes gyuen to that Fortresse, had the

towne and Castell simplye to hym rendred. Thus by lyttle and lyttle the Englishe menne recouered many Townes which before they had lost.

But yet aboute the same tyme, the Frenche mē stale the towne of Laual, by treason wrought by a Myller, which keeping a Myll that ioyned to the Wall, suffred the Frenche to passe through his Myll into the towne.

Shortly after also sir Steuē de Vignoilles sur∣named [ 10] la Hyre, tooke by scaling, the towne at Lo∣uiers in Normandie.

* 5.35The Englishe men in the colde Moneth of December besieged the towne of Laigny in the whiche was the Pus•…•…lle, and diuerse other good Captaynes. The weather was so cold, and the raine so great and continuall, that the Englishe menne by that vntemperauncie of the ayre, and not by the enimyes, were constreyned to rayse theyr siege. [ 20]

* 5.36After this the Duke of Burgoigne accompa∣nied with the Earles of Arundell, and Suffolke, and the Lorde Iohn of Lutzenburgh,* 5.37 besieged the towne of Compiegne with a great puyssance.

This towne was well walled, manned, and vitayled, so that the besiegers were constrayned to caste trenches, and make mynes, for otherwise they sawe not howe to compasse their purpose.

In the meane time it happened in the night of the Ascention of our Lord, that Poyton de Sain∣treyles, [ 30] Ioan la Puselle, and fiue or sixe hundred men of armes issued oute by the bridge towarde Mondedier, intending to set fire in the tentes and lodgings of the Lorde Bawdo de Noyelle.

At the same verie tyme, sir Iohn de Luxen∣burgh, with eight other Gentlemen, chaunced to be nere vnto the lodgings of the sayd lord Baw∣do, where they espyed the Frenchmen which be∣ganne to cut downe Tents, ouerthrow Pauili∣ons, and kill men in theyr beddes, wherevppon [ 40] they with all speede assembled a great number of men, as well English as Burgonions, and cou∣ragiously set on the Frenchmen, and in the ende beate them backe into the towne, so that they fled so faste that one letted another, as they woulde haue entred.

* 5.38In the chase and pursute was the Puselle ta∣ken with diuerse other, besydes those that were slaine, which were no small number.

Diuerse were hurte also on both partes. A∣mong [ 50] the Englishmen, sir Iohn Montgomerie, had hys arme broken, and Sir Iohn Stewarde was shotte into the thigh with a quarell.

* 5.39The same Puselle was afterwardes sent vnto Roan, where being presented vnto the Duke of Bedforde, she was long tyme kept in pryson, and at length by due processe of the lawes condemned for a Sorceresse. But at the first abiuring hir er∣rours and great wickednesse, it was thought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shoulde haue escaped death. But when it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after proued agaynste hir,* 5.40 that shee fell into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 relaps, protesting the same vppon a wy••••full 〈◊〉〈◊〉 obstinate minde, shee was committed to the •…•…¦lar power,* 5.41 and by force thereof finally burns to Ashes.

After the taking of the sayd Ioan la 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the siege still continued before Compiegne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Duke of Bedforde sent to the Duke of Bur∣goigne lying at the siege, the Earle of Hunting∣don, and sir Iohn Robesert, with a thousand ar∣chers which dayly skirmished w^t thē within, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made suche Bastiles and Fortresses, that the Towne had beene rendred into theyr handes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Duke of Burgoigne departed from the siege to goe into Brabante, to receyue the pos∣session of that Duchie, by the death of his cousin Philip the Duke of that Countrey, as then de∣parted this worlde.

Sir Iohn de Lutzenburg was lefte by the duke of Burgoigne as generall of the siege before Compiegne,* 5.42 the which he raysed within a shorte space after, contrarie to the myndes of the Eng∣lishe menne, whiche were verie desirous to haue lyen there tyll the Towne hadde beene render•…•…, whiche if the siege had beene continued but eight dayes longer, muste needes haue come to passe, by reason that pestilence and famine hadde al∣moste consumed all the Souldiers wythin the Towne, so that it remayned in maner withoute defence.

After the breaking vppe of this siege,* 5.43 Iohn Duke of Norffolke tooke agayne the townes of Dampmartine, and the Chasse Mougay wyth diuerse other townes.

Also the Earle of Stafforde tooke the towne of Bryn Countie Robert, and from thence sor∣raged all the Countrey to Sens, and after tooke Quesnoy in Brie, Grand Puys, and Ra•…•…∣pellon.

During which tyme, the French men on the other side, tooke Louiers, and Villeneuf.

Then also did the Towne of Melun rebell, and had suche ayde of other townes adioyning, that the English Souldiers were faine to leaue Melun, Morret, and Corbell. Thus did things wauer in doubtfull ballance, betwixt the two na∣tions English and French.

But bycause the Englishe sore mystrusted further daunger, it was concluded, that King Henrie in his royall person wyth a newe armie, shoulde come into Fraunce, partly to visite and comfort his owne subiectes there, and partly ey∣ther by feare or fauour (bycause a childe of hys age and beautie doth commonly procure them loue of elder persons,) to moue the Frenchmen to continue theyr due obeysaunce towardes hym.

Wherefore after a great host conuenient for that purpose assembled, and money for maine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the warre readie gathered,* 5.44 and the realme fr•…•…̄ in an order vnder the gouernment of the Duke of Gloucester Protector▪ whiche during the Kings absence appeased dyuerse or pottes, and purnished the •…•…ders the king with a great power tooke shipping at Douer, on Saint Georges 〈◊〉〈◊〉 within night, and landed at Calays on the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉,* 5.45 •…•…ing Saint Georges day, and Sunday, by [ 10] seuen of the clocke in the morning. He remayned in Calays a good space, and from thence hee re∣•…•…ued to Roa•…•…,* 5.46 beeing there receyued wyth all nym•…•…phe. Hee taryed at that Citie a long 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Nobles dayly consulting on their great •…•…∣nesse and weightie affayres.

* 5.47In the Moneth of Nouember, hee remoued from Roan to P•…•…ntoyse, and so to Saint De∣nyse, to the intent to make his entrie into Paris and there to be sacred king of Fraunce. [ 20]

There were in his companie of his owne Na∣tion, his vncle the Cardinall of Winchester, the Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke, the Dukes of Bedforde, Yorke, and Norffolke, the Earles of Warwicke, Salisburie, Oxforde, Huntingdon, Ormonde, Mortaine, and Suffolke. Of Gas∣coignes, there were the Earles of Longuille, and Marche, beside many other noble men of Eng∣lande, Guienne, and Normandie. And the chiefe of the French Nation, were the Dukes of [ 30] Burgoigne, and Lewes of Luxenburg, Cardinal and Chauncellour of Fraunce for king Henrie: the Bishoppes of Beauoys, and Noyoune, both Peeres of Fraunce, besyde the Bishoppe of Paris, and dyuerse other Byshoppes, the Earle of Vaudemount and other Noble menne, whose names were superfluous to rehearse. And hee had in a garde aboute his person three thousande price Archers, some on horsebacke, and part on foote. [ 40]

To speake with what honour he was recey∣ued into the Citie of Paris, what Pageauntes were prepared, and how richly the gates, streetes, and bridges on euerie syde were hanged wyth costly clothes of Arras and tapesserie, it would be too long a processe, and therefore I doe here passe it ouer with silence.

* 5.48On the .xvij. day of December, he was crow∣ned king of France, in our Ladie Church of Pa∣ris, by the Cardinall of Winchester, the Bishop [ 50] of Paris not being contented that the Cardinall should doe such an high ceremonie in his Church and iurisdiction.

After all the ceremonies were finished, the K. returned toward the Palace, hauing one crowne on his head, and another borne before him, & one scepter in his hande, and the second borne before him.

This high and ioy and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 passed not wyth∣out 〈…〉〈…〉 of displeasure amongst the English nobilitie for the Cardinall of Winchester, which at this time would he 〈…〉〈…〉 all w•…•…th kind commaunded the Duke of Bedford to leaue off the name of Regent, during the time that the king was in France, affirming the chiefe ruler be∣ing in presence, the authoritie of the substitute to be elect vnder•…•…gate, according to the cōmon say∣ing, In y^e presence of the higher power, the •…•…∣ler giueth place.

The Duke of Bedford tooke such a secrete dis∣pleasure with the doing that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after fa•…•…∣•…•…d them 〈…〉〈…〉 but stoode by •…•…ste him in all thinges he woulde haue forwarde.

This was the 〈…〉〈…〉 same haue thought of that diuision amongest the Englishe Nobilitie, where through theyr glorie within the realme of France began first to decline.

The nexte daye after the solemne feast of the kings coronation, were kept 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iustes and iourneys, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Erle of Arumpell, and the bashed of S. Poll, by the iudgement of the Ladies wan the price.

The King kept open house the space of xx. dayes to all commers, and after bycause the ayre of Paris secured contrary to his pure 〈…〉〈…〉, by the adui•••• of his counsail he remoued to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where he kept his Christmasse. But before his de∣parture from Paris, the noble men as well of Fraunce and Normandie did to him homage, & the common people sware to him feaultie.

In this meane time, sir Frances called the A∣ragoignois, a noble captaine of the English part in Normandie, tooke by force and policie, the towne of Montargis,* 5.49 with a great pray of trea∣sure and prisoners, and put therin a garnison, lea∣uing it wel furnished with vitails and munition.

About the same time, the Earle of Arundel be∣ing truly enformed that the Lord Bousac Mar∣shall of Fraunce was come to Beauuoys enten∣ding to do some feate in Normandie, assēbled the number of .xxiij. hundred mē, and comming nere to the sayde towne of Beauvays, sent a greate number of lighte horsemen to runne before the towne, to trayne out the Frenchmen within, the whiche issuing out and following the Englishe horsemen vnto their stale, were so enclosed and fought with, that in maner al the number of them saue a fewe which fledde backe into the Towne wyth the Marshall, were slaine or taken.

Amongest other of the chiefest prisoners, that valiaunt Captaine Ponton de Santrailles was one, and without delay was exchaunged for the Lorde Talbot, before taken prisoner at the bat∣taile of Patay.

There was also taken one called the shepherd,* 5.50 a simple man, and a sillie soule, but yet of suche

reputation for his supposed holynesse amongest the French men, that if hee touched the Wall of any of theyr aduersaryes townes, •…•…y •…•…elee•…•… it would incontinently fall downe.

This chaunce succeeded not fortunately alone vnto the Englishe nation, for Richarde Beau∣champe Earle of Warwicke had a great skyr∣mishe before the towne of Gourney, where hee discomfited and repulsed his enimies: and besyde those that were slaine, he tooke .lx. horsmen, all be∣ing [ 10] gentlemen of name and armes.

Like chaunce happened to the friendes of king Charles,* 5.51 toward the marches of Lorraine, where Reigner Duke of Bar besieged the Towne of Vaudemont perteining to the Erle therof •…•…med Anthonie, cousin to the same duke Reigner. This Erle before the dukes approching, left a conueni∣ent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 within the towne to defende it, and with all speede rode to the Dukes of 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…¦gotga•…•…, being then, at the fores•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 at Paris, where as purchased such 〈…〉〈…〉 ha•…•…s, bycause hee ha•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 that not onely sir Iohn •…•…a•…•…e w•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 to groweth ha•…•…, •…•…g•…•… his 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…d •…•…chers, bu•…•… also doe Duke of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Marshall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Anthonie To•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…∣panied with .xv. C•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉

When the duke of 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…¦mies were thus comming towardes 〈…〉〈…〉 harde captaine, he raysed his siege, 〈…〉〈…〉 fare with the erle and 〈…〉〈…〉 was •…•…uell and morta•…•… The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the F•…•…ch side endured long, but of 〈…〉〈…〉 English archers so galled their 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…∣ded the men, that the Bar•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 of duke Reigners side were •…•…se 〈…〉〈…〉

[illustration]

* 5.52In the chase was taken the Duke of Bar the Bishop of Mitz, the lord of Roquedemaque, sir Euerard of Sal•…•…eburg, the Viconte Darcie, [ 40] and two hundred other, beside three thousande which were slaine.

In this luckie time also, no lesse occasion of victorie was offred to the English men in an o∣ther part, if they could haue vsed it with such cer∣cumspect warinesse as had beene expedient: for Robert Lord Willoughby, & Mathew Gough, a valiant Welchman, with .xv. hundred English men,* 5.53 laid siege to a town in Anion called S. Se∣uerine, whereof Charles the Frenche king beeing [ 50] aduertised, sent with all speede the Lord Ambrose de Lore, with many noble men to the succors of them within the towne, whereof the same Lorde Ambrose was captaine, and therefore made the more hast to relieue his deputie, and the other be∣ing straytly besieged, but yet stayed at the towne of Beaumont, till his whole power might come to him. The Englishmen aduertised of this in∣cent of the captaine, came vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ight, and found the Frenchmēs watch 〈…〉〈…〉 that a. M. men were entred into the campe helpe they were espied, by reason whereof the Englishe men found small resistance. But when the day began to appeare, and that the Sa•…•… sette forth his bright beames a bronde, that y•…•… thing•…•… might be seene, the Englishmen giuen •…•…y to spoyle, followed not their enimies 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but being contented with their pray and gaine began to retreyt toward the siege againe, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Willoughbie still mainteyned wyth depart of the armie.

But see the chaunce, the Frenchmen whiche were comming after, heard by the noyst of the people that some fray was in hande, put spu•…•… to their horses, and set on the English men peste∣red with bagge and baggages of the spoyle and pray which they had gotten in the French cam•…•….

The other of the Frenchmen which before had fled, returned againe, and ayded their fellowes, so

that the Englishmen beeing taken oute of order, were compelled to flee, of whō Mathew Gough and diuerse other were taken prisoners, and yet of the other part many were slaine, and a great nū∣ber taken: amongst whome was the L. de Lore, who for all that the French men coulde doe was kept & not deliuered. The L. Wi•…•…oughby hea∣ring of this mishap, raysed his siege and departed verie fore displeased in his minde, but coulde not remedie it. [ 10]

About this season, Nicholas the Cardinall of the holy Crosse,* 5.54 was sent into France as a Le∣gate from Eugeny the fourth as then Bishoppe of Rome, to treate a peace betweene the Englishe men and Frenchmen, but when after greate in∣stance and labour made betwene the parties, hee sawe their obstinate and frowarde myndes, no∣thing enclined to any agreement, he wan so much at theyr handes by earnest sute,* 5.55 that a truce was graunted to endure for six yeares to come: but as [ 20] the same was hardly graunted, so was it of the Frenchmen soone and lightly broken. For the ba∣stard of Orleans newly made Erle of Dunoys, tooke by treason the towne of Chartres from the English men,* 5.56 affyrming by the lawe of armes, that stealing or buying a towne withoute inua∣sion or assault was no breach of league, amitie, or truce. In which towne he slue the Bishop, by∣cause he was a Burgonian. Hereby did new ma∣lice [ 30] encrease, and mortal warre beganne eftsoones to be put in vre.

Whilest these things were doing in France, the Cardinal of Winchester was come backe a∣gaine into Englande, to appease certaine com∣motions and sturres attempted by certaine per∣sons vnder colour of religion: but after that Wil∣liam Maundeuille, and Iohn Sharpe the chiefe authors therof were apprehēded and executed by the gouernour and the kings Iustices, the residue [ 40] yeelded and confessed their offences, whereof two articles were these (as some write) that Priestes should haue no possessions, and that all things by the order of charitie among christian people shuld be in common.

Other ther be, that haue thought how their o∣pinions were not so farre disagreeing from the scripture, as to mainteyne any suche errors, but that their enimies contriued to spread abrode such rumors of them, to make them more odious to the people. [ 50]

After that their conspiracie was thus by dili∣gent inquirie therof had,* 5.57 clearly quenched, a Par∣liament was called by the Duke of Gloucester, in the which money was assigned to be leuied, and men appoynted, whiche shoulde passe ouer into Fraunce to the ayde of the Duke of Bedford, for the better maintenance of the warres, bycause it was suspected that the truce woulde not long continue.

During this Parliament,* 5.58 Iames the king of Scots sent Ambassadors to cōclude a peace with the Duke of Gloucester, who (bycause the King was absēt) referred thē matter to y^e three estates. After long consultation, not without great argu∣mentes, a peace was concluded.

When the Parliament was ended, the Car∣dinall well furnished with men and money, de∣parted out of England, and came to Roan to the king, to whom also resorted the duke of Bedford from Paris, to consult of things not vnlikely to follow. Herevpon a great counsaile was kept in the Castell of Roan, and many doubtes moued, and few weightie things out of hande concluded. At length after great disputation, with many ar∣guments ended, the dukes of Bedford and York, and Edmond late Erle of Motaigne, and nowe by y^e death of Iohn Duke of Sommerset (which dyed wythout heyre Male, leauing behinde him a sole daughter called Margaret after Countesse of Rich•…•…onde) receyued to the name and tytle of Duke of Sommersetie, lyked and appro∣ued the Argument and reason of those that helde how it was expedient to haue an a•…•…i•…•…e in a rea∣dinesse for defence, least the Frenchmen sodain∣ly shoulde attempt any enterpryse to the daun∣ger of the Englishmen and losse of those townes and Countreys which were vnder their rule and dominion.

When all things were agreed, King Henry departed to Calays, and from thence to Douer,* 5.59 * 5.60 and so by easie iourneyes hee came the .xxj. day of Februarie to the Citie of London, where he was both triumphantly receiued, and richly presented, as in the Chronicle of Robert Fabian it maye at large appeare.

After that the King was departed forth of Fraunce into Englande, the Duke of Bedforde Regent of Fraunce, and Captaine of Calays, taryed behynde in the Marches of Pichardie, where hee was enfourmed that certaine Souldi∣ours of Calays grudging at the restraynte of Woolles, beganne to murmure agaynst the king and his Counsaile, so that the towne was like to haue stand in scopardie.

The Duke therefore foreseeing the mischiefe that might ensue, and thinking it wisedome to withstande the first motion, caused the chiefe do∣ers to be apprehended, and vpon due examination had, diuerse were put to death, and many banished that towne and marches for euer.

In the meane tyme, the Ladie Anne Du∣chesse of Bedforde departed thys lyfe at Pa∣ris,* 5.61 by whose death the assured loue and fayth∣full friendship betwixt the Duke of Bedford and his brother in law the duke of Burgoigne, began to decay.

Shortly after, to wit, about the beginning of the next yeare .1433. the sayde Duke of Bedforde being thus a wydower, through the perswasion of the Lorde Lewes of Lutzenbourgh Bishop of Tyrwinne and Ely, and Chancellor of France for king Henrie,* 5.62 agreed to marry the Lady Ia∣quet, daughter to Peter Earle of Saint Pol, and neede to the sayde Bishoppe, and to the Lorde Iohn of Lutzenbourgh.

The maryage was solemnized at Tyrwinne [ 10] with greate triumph. After which solemne feast ended, the Duke of Bedforde returned wyth hys newe spouse (being aboute the age of .xvij. yeres) vnto Calays, and so into Englande, where hee remayned vntill August next, and then returned againe to Paris.

The Duke of Burgoigne was nothing plea∣sed with this new alliance contracted by the duke of Bedford, with the house of Lutzenbourgh, but the mariage was consummate ere he coulde finde [ 20] any remedie to binder it.

Whilest these things were a doing, in other places the French souldiers lacking wages began priuilye (as the tyme serued) to take both Eng∣lishmenne and Burgonians, raunsoming and spoyling them at theyr pleasure.

The Englishmen herewith moued to displea∣sure, prepared for warre after sixe Monethes that the truce had beene taken. So by suche meanes was the warre againe renued. [ 30]

* 5.63The Frenchmen as open trucebreakers, ray∣sed a crew of men, & sodenly tooke the town of S. Valerie standing in Normandie, neare to the mouth of the Riuer of Somme, and an other ar∣my vnder the leading of Sir Ambrose de Lore, wasted and destroyed al the country about Caen. The Duke of Bedforde not mynding to bee ydle on his part, sent the Earle of Arundell, the Earle of Warwikes sonne, the Lord Lisle Adam mar∣shall of Fraunce for king Henrie, and .xij.C. [ 40] men of warre with ordinance and munitions to besiege the towne of Laigny vpon the Riuer of Marne.* 5.64 The Earle with shot of Canon brake the arche of the bridge, and got from the Frenche men theyr Bulwarke, and set it on fire. Diuerse assaultes were attempted, but the towne was wel defended, for there were within it an .viij. hundred men of armes, beside other meane souldiers.

The Duke of Bedforde hereof aduertised ga∣thered an armie of sixe thousande men, whereof [ 50] were Captaynes Robert Lorde Willoughbie, sir Andrew Ogard Chamberlaine to the Duke, sir Iohn Saluaine baylyf of Roan, sir Iohn Mont∣gomerie baylife of Caux, sir Philip Hall baylife of Vernoille, sir Richarde Ratcliffe Deputie of Calays, sir Raufe Neuill, sir Raufe Standish, sir Iohn Hanforde, sir Richarde Euthyn, sir Richard Harington Baylife of Eureux, sir Wil∣liam Fulthorpe, sir Thomas Griffin of Ireland Dauie Hall, Tho. Stranguish, Leonard, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stone esquiers, and Thomas Gerard.

The Duke of Bedforde furnished with this armie and companie of worthie Captaines come to the siege before Laigny, where he made a bridge of Boates, and brought his ordinaunce so neare the towns, that to all people it seemed not long able to resist. But the Earle of Dunoys other∣wise called the Bastarde of Orleans, with diuers hardie Captaynes as valiauntly defraded as the English men assaulted. At length the Frenche King perceyuing thys Towne to bee the three corner Key betweene the territories Burgon•…•…, English and French, and the losse thereof should turne him to irrecouerable domage, sent the Lord of Rieux, Poyton, the Hyre, the Lord Gaw•…•…nt and sixe thousande men, with great plentie of vp∣taile, to the intent eyther to rayse the siege, or else to vytaile the towne.

The French men made a bragge as though they woulde haue assayled the English men in theyr campe, but when they perceyued the cou∣rage of the Lorde Regent, and the desire whiche he had to fight, they framed themselues so in or∣der of battaile, as though they could do al things and yet in effect did nothing, but that whylest parte of them mainteyned a skyrmishe, a forte of rude and rusticall persons were appoynted to conuey into the towne thirtie Oxen, and other small vytayle: but thys sweete gayne was dearelye payed for, if the losse wyth the gayne bee pondered in equall Ballaunce: for hauing regarde to thirtie leane Oxen, in the skirmishe were slaine the Lorde Sayntreiles brother to that valiaunt Captayne Poyton de Sayn∣treylles, also Captayne Iohn brother to the Lord Gawcourt, and fiftie other noble and valiaunt personages.

The Frenchmen perceyuing they coulde not atchieue theyr entrepryce as then to theyr aduan∣tage, considering not onely how the Englishmen were planted in a place not easie to be woon, and again the vnspeakable heate which sore trayuay∣led theyr people, being in the begynning of Au∣gust, they remoued and went vnto Fort vnder Yerre, where by a bridge of tunnes they passed in∣to the Isle of Fraunce.

The Duke of Bedforde (like a wise Prince) not mynding to lease the more for the lesse,* 5.65 nor the accident for the substance, reysed his siege & re∣turned to Paris, nothing more minding than to trie his quarell with dint of sworde against hys enimies, if they would thereto agree. And herevp∣on he sent Bedford his Herauld to the L. Gaw∣court and other captayns of the French army, of∣fring them battail & a pitched field within a con∣uenient time, and where they would appoynt.

* 5.66The French Captaynes answered the Eng∣lish Herault, that there was both tyme to gaine, and time to lose, of the whiche they doubted not to espie the one, eyther to theyr greate gayne or apparant losse.

* 5.67Shortly after, Peers Audebeufe Conestable of the Castell of Roan, corrupted with money, suffred the Marshall of Fraunce, with two hun∣dred other, as persons disguised to enter the place by stealth, but they were soone espyed, and driuen [ 10] to the dungeon, where they were constrayned to yeeld themselues prisoners, of the whiche some were hanged, some headed, and some raunsomed, at the pleasure of the Regent.

This pageant thus played and ended, the lord Regent sent the Earle of Saint P•…•…le, and Ro∣bert Lord Willoughbie, with a competent num∣bert of men to besiege y^e towne of Saint Valerie whiche the Frenchmen a little •…•…ore had taken. This siege continued the space of three Weekes, [ 20] at the ende whereof the Frenchmen within yeel∣ded the towne and departed with theyr horse and harnesse onely saued. The Earle putte there in garnison freshe and valiaunt Souldiours, and appoynted Captayne there, Sir Iohn Aube∣mounde.

In the same towne (whether by infection of ayre, or by corrupt vitaile, which the townesmen did eate) a great Pestilence shortly after happened which consumed within a small time two partes [ 30] of the people.

The Earle of Saint Paule, and the Lorde Willoughby returning back to the Regent, were ioyfully receyued, and within a while after, the Earle departed from Paris to laye siege to the Castell of Mouchas, but being encamped neare to y^e town of Blangy, he by a sodain maladie de∣parted this life, y^e last of August, leauing hys seig∣niories to Lewes de Lutzenburg his son & heyre.

Bycause this dead Earle was father in lawe to the Regent,* 5.68 solemne obsequies were kepte for him both in Paris and in London.

In the meane season the French men entring into high Burgoigne, burnt tooke, and destroyed, diuerse townes, wherevpon the Burgonions as∣sēbled a great armie, both to reuēge their quarels, and to recouer theyr townes taken from them, to whome as to hys friendes the Duke of Bed∣forde sente the Lorde Wylloughbie, and Sir Thomas Kiriell with a conuenient number of Souldiers, whiche entring into the landes of Laonnoys, were encountered with a greate power of theyr enimyes: But after long fyghte, the Frenche menne were ouerthrowne, and of them lefte deade in the fyelde an hun∣dred and sixtie Horsemen, besyde prisoners, which after in a furie were all kylled and putte to de∣struction.

Whilest these things happened thus in France,* 5.69 Iohn Lorde Talbot gathered togither a crewe of chosen men of warre in England, to the num∣ber of .viij. hundred, and sayled into Normandie, and passed by Roan to Paris.

In this waye hee tooke the strong Castell of Ioing betwene Beauuays and Gysours, and caused all the Frenchmen within to bee taken and hanged, and after rased and defaced the Castell.

[illustration]

After he had rested himselfe a whyle at Pa∣ris, and taken aduice with the Counsaile there, what way it should be best for him to take, with∣out prolonging tyme, he with the Lorde de Lisle Adam and others, departed from thence, ha∣uing in theyr retinues .xvj. hundred men of war, and comming to the castell of Beaumont vpon Oyse, wherof was captain sir Amadour de Vig∣noilles brother to the Hire, they foūd it abādoned by thē y^t had it in keping, who were withdrawne

to the towne of Creil, whither the Lorde Talbot followed them, and sleaing in a skirmish the said Amadour, he wan at length the sayd Towne of Creil, & after the townes of Pont S. Maxence, Neufville in Esmay, la Rouge Maison, Crespy en Valoys, and Cleremont in Beauvosis, & after with great ryches and good prisoners returned to Paris: neither had the Lorde Talbot such good & prosperous successe alone, but the Erle of Arundel also at the verie same season tooke the Castell of [ 10] Bomeline, and razed it to the grounde, and after got by force the castell of Dorle, and from thence came to S. Selerine, where the Lord Ambrose de Lore, beeing Captayne, issued oute and fought with the English men so egerly, that hee droue them backe an arrowe shoote by fine force: but the Earle so encouraged his men, that they gaue a freshe onset vppon the French menne, and fol∣lowed it so fiercely, that they slue a greate num∣ber of them, and droue the residue into the [ 20] towne.

* 5.70After this victorie, he besieged Louiers, wher∣of was Capitayne the Hyre and hys brother, which rendred the towne without assault.

Then the Earle assembling togither a greate armie, returned againe to Saint Selerine, and enuyroned the towne with a strong siege. When hee had lyen there almost three monethes, euerye day attempting or doing somewhat, hee finally gaue so fierce an assault, that by force he entred [ 30] the Towne, and slue Iohn Allemaigne, and Guilliam Saint Albine, the chiefe Captaynes, and eight hundred other men of warre. The chil∣dren of le Seigneur de Lore were taken pryso∣ners. The Earle put newe men of warre into the towne, and made Captaine there Sir Iohn Cor•…•…wall.

After this hee came before the strong Towne of Sillye, and there pytched hys Campe. The Inhabitauntes dismayed with the chaunce that [ 40] had happened to them of Saint Selerine, deliue∣red to hym pledges, vppon thys condition, that if they were not reskued wythin thirtie dayes next ensuing, then they (theyr lyues saued) should ren∣der the towne into his possession: which offer was receyued.

The French King being aduertised hereof by a post, appoynted (as some say) Arthure Earle of Richmont, (or as other wryte, Iohn Duke of Alanson) with a great companie of men of warre [ 50] to goe to the reskue of this towne, but whether it was the Earle or the Duke, certaine it is at hys approching to the siege, he encamped himselfe by a brooke side, ouer the whiche a man might haue stryden, and perceyueng how strongly the Eng∣lishmen were encamped agaynst him, he thought it not for his profit to gyue battayle, and so in the night season caysed and went his way wythoute further attempt.

When they within the towne knew that their succours fayled, they rendred themselues to the mercie of the Earle of Arundell, who gently re∣ceyued them, and leauing a garnison in the town, departed to Mans, and in his way tooke the Ca∣stelles of Mellay and S. Laurence.

About this time the Lorde Willoughbie and sir Thomas Kiriell, returning with great victo∣rie oute of Burgoigne, passing by the towne of Louiers lately reduced to the English obeisance, furnished it both with men and munition.

Amongst so many good chaunces, some euill are accustomed to happen,* 5.71 or else the gayners woulde not knowe themselues. And so at thys tyme it happened, that a great number of the common and rusticall people in Normandye dwelling by the Sea coast, eyther prouoked by the Frenche King, or desyrous of alteration and chaunge (which thing the commons much couet and desire) made an insurrection, put on harneis, and by force expulsed certaine Englishe garni∣sons oute of theyr holdes, publyshing and pro∣clayming openly, that theyr onelye purpose and intent was to expell and banishe the whole Eng∣lishe Nation out of theyr Countreys and Cou∣tes. Wherefore it may euidently appeare, that the blacke Morian will sooner chaunge hys co∣lour, than the vniuersall people bredde in France, will heartily loue or inwardly fauour an English borne childe.

Herevpon this vngracious people, forgetting theyr dutie and allegiance vnto theyr soueraigne Lorde and King, frantikely assembled themsel∣ues togither, and with all speede marched toward Caen, to the intent there both to encrease theyr number, and also to consult what way they shuld follow in their new begun enterprise.

But the Dukes of Yorke and Sommerset, whiche then were lying in Normandie, hauing perfect knowledge of all the doing of these rebel•…•…, immediately without delay sent forth the Earle of Arundell, and the Lorde Willoughbye with sixe thousande Archers, and .xiij. C. light horse∣men to stay and keepe them from making anye further progresse. The Earle of Arundell ap∣poynted the Lorde Willoughbie, with two thou∣sande Archers, and a certaine number of Horse∣men to goe afore hym, and to lie in a stale with∣in some couert place. This done, the Earle fol∣lowed, and enclosing the ragged multitude at the backe, droue them before him, as they hadde beene Deare into a Buckestale, and when the ignoraunt multitude approched nere to the place of the stale, the Earle made a token, and shotte a Gunne for a signe. Therewyth the Lorde Wylloughbie sette on them before, and the Earle behynde, shooting so fiercely, that the da∣starde

people, wounded and galled with the shot of arrowes, threwe away theyr harnesse, desiring nothing but death.

The Earle of Arundell mooued with com∣passion, caused his souldiers to staye from further slaughter, & apprehending those which he thought to be the leaders & chiefe styrrers of the people, let the other returne home without any further do∣mage: but yet ere the souldiers coulde bee brought backe vnder their standarts, there were aboue a [ 10] thousand of the rebels slaine.

After this commotion was thus appeased, vp∣on inquirie had of the principall offenders, such as were found guiltie were put to terrible executions as they had well deserued.

During which rebellion, Peter Rokeforde, and his companie, gat by treason the Towne of Deepe, and dyuerse other holdes thereto adioy∣ning.

After the Earle of Arundell had obteyned so [ 20] many conquestes, and notable victories (as part∣ly ye haue hearde) hee attempted another, whiche was the last worke and finall labour of his ly∣uing dayes. For the Duke of Bedford being in∣fourmed that his aduersaryes hadde gotten the Towne of Rue, and therein putte a garnison, whiche sore vexed the Countreyes of Ponthieu, Arthois, and Bolennoys, sent worde to the Erle that he without delay shuld besiege y^e said towne. The Erle obeying his commaundement assem∣bled [ 30] his people, and came to Gourney, where hee heard tell how there was a Castel neare to Bea∣uays called Gerberoy, the which being fallen in decay, Charles the French King had appoynted sir Stephen de Veignoilles, commonly called the Hyre, to repayre and newly to fortifie, bycause it stoode commodiously to serue as a countergar∣nison agaynst the English townes and fortresses on those frontiers.

The Erle aduertised hereof, and perceyuing [ 40] that this new building would be greatly preiudi∣diciall to the Englishe men, determined first to dispossesse his enimies of that place, supposing to finde small resistaunce, but he was deceyued, for there was the sayde Hyre, and a three thousand men of warre with him. The Erle cōming thi∣ther, encamped himselfe with fiue. C. horsemen in a little close not farre from the Castell.

The Frenchmen perceyuing that the Earle and his horses were wearie, and that his archers [ 50] were not yet come, determined to set vpon him before the comming of his footemen, the which they knewe to be little more than a mile behinde. Wherefore for a policie, they set forth fiftie horse∣men as though there had beene no mo within the Castell. The Erle perceyuing this, sent forth sir Randolfe Standish to encounter them, hauing with him an hundred horses.

The Frenchmen tought couragiously a while, and sodainly came out all the remnant, and slue sir Randolfe Standish, and all his companie, and boldly set on the Erle and his hande, which man∣fully resisted the French men, till at length the Hyre caused three Culuerings to be shotte off a∣mongst the Englishmen, whereof one strake the Earle on the ancle, and so brake his legge, that for payne he fell from his horse. Then the French menne entered amongest the Englishenne, tooke the Earle lying on the grounde, wyth Sir Ry∣charde Wooduile, and sixe score moe, and there were slaine almoste two hundred. The residue saued themselues as well as they might.

The Earle was caryed to Beauays, where of his hurt he shortly dyed, and was buried in the Frier Minors.

He was a man of syngular vertue, constancy, and grauitie, whose death in so troublous a sea∣son did sore appall the heartes of the Englishe people.

Thus did mightie Mars oftentymes chaunge his variable countenaunce, so that one tyme the English menne got by assault, and yeelding dy∣uerse strong Townes, Castelles, and Pyles, and at another season the Frenche people, somtime by bargaine, sometyme by assault obteyned, the same againe, or other in their steede.

Aboute the Moneth of Iune in this twelfth yeare, Iohn Duke of Bourbon and Auuergne, taken prisoner at the battayle of Agineourt .xviij. yeares past (as before ye haue heard) nowe pay∣ing his raunsome, whiche was eightene thou∣sande pounde sterling, was taken with a moste sore and grieuous Feuer, the which made an and of his lyfe in the Citie of London,* 5.72 the same daye that was appoynted for his departure towarde Fraunce, whose corps was enterred in the gray Friers of the same Citie. So thus maye euerye creature see, howe man purposeth,* 5.73 and God dis∣poseth.

This yeare also about the latter end of May▪ was an enteruiew appoynted to be had at Saint Omers betwixt the Dukes of Bedford & Bur∣goigne, for the qualifying of certaine displeasures and grudges betwixt them kindled and maintey∣ned by some flattering taletellers, which feyning things of reproche touching highly theyr honors, bredde suche grudges, that all loue betwixte them ceassed, all affynitye was forgotten, and all olde familiaritie was drawned through disdayne in the bottomlesse caue of Obliuyon. Suche a pestilent breathe hath flatterye, and suche myschiefe ensueth of Princes lyght cre∣dence.

These two Dukes being come to the towne of S. Omers, the duke of Bedford being Regent of France, and sonne, brother, and vncle to kings,

thought that the Duke of Burgoigne shoulde haue come and visited him in hys lodging.

The Duke of Burgoigne on the other parte, being Lorde and soueraigne of the Towne, iud∣ged it not meete to goe to hym where hee was lodged, but was content by intreatie of friendes to meete him in a place indifferente betweene both theyr lodgings, which offer was not accep∣ted, and so both parties departed discontent, and neuer after sawe nor communed togither. [ 10]

Thus by the prowde disdeyne and enuious discorde of these two highe stomacked Princes, Bedforde not mynding to haue any Peere, and Burgoigne not willing to abyde any superiour, shortly after Englande loste, and Burgoigne gayned not long, as by the sequele maye ap∣peare.

* 5.74The Bastarde of Orleans called the Earle of Dunoys, the Lorde Rochforde Marshall of Fraunce, with other, in the beginning of thys [ 20] thirtenth yeare, tooke the Towne of Saint De∣nys by treason, skyrmished with them of Paris, and leauing behynde them a great garnison, tooke the Towne of Howdone, and Pont S. Maxence by composition.

And at the same tyme was the towne of Pont Meulan taken by the sodaine sealing of two fy∣shermen which entred vp at a cōmon priuie stan∣ding in the wall.

Thus as yee maye perceyue, the warre was [ 30] continually pursued betwixte these two mightye Nations, Englishe and Frenche, within the Realme of Fraunce, beeing as it were the lystes within the which they had appoynted to trye the game, so that no Countrey in the worlde was thought more miserable than the same. And though the poore people and Inhabitantes of the good Townes and Villages, susteyned most losse in theyr substaunce,* 5.75 yet the menne of warre of∣tentymes payed deare for theyr chieuance, being [ 40] dayly slaine, wounded, and taken prisoners, and that on both partes, as the chaunce of warre accustomably falleth out.

At length when sacietie of slaughter, aboun∣daunce of murders, remembraunce of losse of goodes and expences had somewhat softened the stonie bea•…•…tes of these loftie stomacked people, so that eyther parte was desirous of peace, yet the one disdained openly to offer it, and the other pri∣uately to receyue it. [ 50]

The crye and noyse of this detestable warre was blasted throughe Christendome, but speci∣ally the bruyte thereof was greate at Basile, where the generall Councell was as then hol∣den, the Emperour Albert, and all the Princes of Christendome beeing present there, eyther in persone or by theyr procuratours, for the abho∣lishing of the Scisme that then continued in the Churche of Rome for this indubitate Pope.

Wherefore the Emperour and the temporall Princes,* 5.76 supposing the exhortation of spirituall Fathers shoulde muche profite to the quieting of the stryfe betwixt the Realmes of England and Fraunce, desyred Eugenie then Pope, to bee a mediatour betwixt them.

And one thing put them in good hope of some good conclusion, bycause the Duke of Bour∣goigne was wylling (so that it were not of hys owne suyte) to returne & reconcile himselfe, with the French King his mortall enimie and aunci∣ent aduersarie.

Herevpon by authoritie of this generall Coun∣cell, two discrete persons,* 5.77 the Cardinals of the holy Crosse, and Cypres, came to the towne of Arras in Arthoys, whither were sent from the King of Englande, Henrie Beauforde Cardi∣nal of Winchester, Henrie Archbishop of Yorke, William de la Poole Earle of Suffolke, and Iohn Hollande Earle of Huntingdon, with dy∣uerse other Knights and Esquiers. And for the French king were there present Charles Duke of Bourbon, Lewes Earle of Vandosme, Arthure of Brytayne Conestable of Fraunce, the Archbi∣shop of Reimes, and sir Philip Harecourt.

The duke of Burgoigne was there in proper person, accompanied with the duke of Guelders, and the Erles of Estampes, Lygny, S. Paule, Vandemont, Neures, and Daniel sonne to the Prince of Orange, with a great gard and a gal∣lant companie.

Vpon the day of the first session, the Cardinal of S. Crosse, declared to the three parties the in∣numerable mischiefes, that had followed to the whole state of the christen cōmon welth by theyr continual dissention and dayly discord, exhorting them for the honour of God, and for the loue which they ought to beare towards the aduance∣ment of his fayth and true religion, to conforme themselues to reason, and to lay aside all rancor, malice & displeasure, so that in concluding a god∣ly peace, they might receyue profit and quietnesse here in this worlde, and of God an euerlasting re∣warde in heauen.

After this admonition thus to them giuen, & after diuerse dayes of communication, euery part brought in their demaunds, which were most cō∣trarie, and farre from any likelyhood of comming to a good conclusion.

The Englishmen required that K. Charles should haue nothing but what it pleased the king of England, & that not as dutie, but as a benefite by him of his mere liberalitie giuen and distribu∣ted. The Frenchmen on the other part woulde that king Charles shoulde haue the Kingdome frankly and freely, and that the king of England shoulde leaue the name, armes and tytle of the

King of Fraunce, and to bee contente with the Dukedomes of Aquitaine and Normandie, and to forsake Paris, and all the townes whiche they possessed in France, betwene the ryuers of Some and Loyr, being no percel of the Duchie of Nor∣mandie. To bee briefe, the pride of the one part, and the ambition of the other, hindered concorde, peace, and quietnesse.

The Cardinals seeing them so farre in sun∣der, mynded not to dispute theyr tytles, but of∣fred [ 10] them reasonable conditions of truce and peace for a season, which notwithstanding either of frowardnesse, or of disdeyne vpon both partes, were openly refused. Insomuch that the Eng∣lishmen in great displeasure, departed to Calays, and so into England.

One Writer affyrmeth, that they being war∣ned of a secrete conspiracie moued agaynst them, sodainly departed frō Arras, and so returned into their Countrey. [ 20]

Whiles this treatie of peace was in hande, the Lorde Talbot, the Lorde Willoughbie, the Lorde Scales, with the Lorde Lisle Adam, and fiue thousande men of warre, besieged the towne of Saint Denys with a strong hand. The Erle of Dunoys hearing thereof, accompanied wyth the Lorde Lohac, and the Lorde Bueill, wyth a great companie of horsemen hasted thitherwards to rayse the siege, and by the waye encountred with sir Thomas Kiriell, and Mathew Gough, [ 30] ryding also towarde Saint Denys, betweene whom was a great conflict, and many slaine on both partes, but sodainly came to the ayde of the Frenchmē, the garnison of Pont Meulan, which caused the Englishmen to returne withoute any greate harme or domage, sauing that Mathewe Gough by foundering of his horse was taken, and caryed to Pont Meulan.

* 5.78In the meane time was the towne of Saint Denise rendred to the Englishmen, the which ra∣zed [ 40] the walles & fortifications, sauing the walles of the Abbey, and of the tower called Venin.

Shortly after the towne of Pontoyse, where sir Iohn Ruppelley was captaine, rebelled, and by force the Englishe menne were expulsed, the Inhabitantes yeelding themselues to the French King. This towne was small, but the losse was greate, bycause it was the Key that ope∣ned the passage betwixt the Cities of Paris and Roan. [ 50]

But nowe to returne to the communication at Arras, which after the departure of the Eng∣lish Commissioners held betwixt the Frenchmen and Burgonians, till at length a peace was con∣cluded, accorded, and sworne betwixt K Charles and Duke Philippe of Burgoine, vpon certaine cōditions, as in the French hystories more plain∣ly appeareth.

After that the same peace was agreed, the duke of Burgoigne, to set a vayle before the King of Englandes eyes, sent Thoison Dore his King at Armes to King Henrie with letters, excusing

[illustration]

the matter by way of information, that hee was constrayned to enter into this league with King Charles, by the dayly outcryes, complaintes, and lamentations of his people, alledging agaynste hym that hee was the onelye cause of the long continuance of the warres, to the vtter empoue∣rishing of his owne people, and of the whole na∣tion of Fraunce: Therefore sith hee coulde not otherwise doe, but partlye to content his owne people, and chiefely to satisfie the request of the whole generall counsayle, was in maner com∣pelled for his part to growe to a peace and ami∣tie wyth King Charles: he likewyse wished that King Henrie vppon reasonable and honest con∣ditions of agreement offered, should in no wyse refuse the same, whereby the long continued warre at length myght ceasse and take ende, to the pleasure of almightye God, whiche is the Authour of peace and vnitie: and hereto hee pro∣mysed hym his ayde and furtherance, wyth ma∣ny fayre and pleasant flattering words, which I passe ouer.

The superscription of this letter was thus.

To the high and mightie prince, Henrie by the grace of God King of Englande, his welbeloued cousin.

Neither naming him king of Fraunce, nor his soueraigne Lorde, according as (euer be∣fore that time) he was accustomed to do.

This Letter was much marueyled at, of the Counsayle, after they had throughly considered and pondered all and singular the contentes therof, and as reason moued them, they could not but be muche disquieted therewith, so farre forth that dyuerse of them stomaked so muche the vn∣truth of the Duke, that they coulde not temper theyr passions, nor brydle their tongues, but o∣penly called him traytor.

But when the rumor of the Dukes reuolting was published amōgst the people, they left words and fell to bestowing of strypes: for being pricked with this euill tidings, they ranne in great out∣rage vppon all the Flemings, Hollanders, and Burgonions which thē inhabited within y^e Citie of London, and the Suburbes of the same, and slue and hurt a great nūber of them before they, by the kings proclamation, coulde be stayed from such iniurious doing, for the king nothing more [ 10] mynded than to saue innocent bloud, and to de∣fend them that had not offended.

The officer at armes was willed to tell hys maister, that it stoode not with his honor to bee e∣nimye to the Englishe Nation, and that his dutie was (all things considered) to keepe hys auncient truth and olde allegiance, rather than to bee the occasion of newe warre. And further it was not the point of a wise man to leaue the cer∣taine for the vncertaine, and trust vpon the vn∣stedfast [ 20] holde of a newe reconciled enimie.

When the Messenger with thys aunswere was dispatched and sent awaye, the King of Englande and his Counsayle purposed to worke the Duke of Burgoigne some displeasure, and therevpon by rewardes, corrupted certaine rulers of Cityes and Townes within his Dominions to moue some rebellion agaynst hym, which in∣deede sore troubled the Dukes wittes and a great while disquieted his minde by their disobedyent [ 30] conspiracie.

* 5.79This yeare the .xiiij. day of September dyed Iohn Duke of Bedforde Regent of Fraunce, a man as politike in peace, as hardie in warre, and yet no more hardie than mercifull, when hee had the victorie, whose bodie was with all fu∣nerall pompe, and solemne Exequies buryed in the Cathedral Church of our Lady in Rouen, on the North syde of the highe Aulter, vnder a sumptuous and costlye monument, whiche [ 40] Tombe when King Lewis the eleuenth by cer∣tayne vndiscreete persones was counsayled to deface, affyrming that it was a greate dysho∣nour, both to the King and to the Realme, to see the enimye of hys father and theyrs to haue so solemne and riche memoriall:* 5.80 He aunswered saying, what honour shall it bee to vs, or to you, to breake this monument, and to pull out of the grounde the deade bones of him, whome in hys lyfe tyme neyther my father nor your progeni∣tours, [ 50] wyth all theyr power, puissaunce, and friendes were once able to make flee one foote backewarde, but by hys strength, wytte, and policie, kept them all oute of the principall Do∣minions of the Realme of Fraunce, and out of thys Noble and famous Duchie of Norman∣die: Wherefore I say, fyrst, God haue his soule, and let hys bodie nowe lye in rest, whiche when hee was alyue, woulde haue disquieted the prowdest of vs all: and as for the Tombe, I assure you, is not so decent nor conuenient, as his honour and actes deserued, although it were much rycher, and more beautifull.

The frost was so extreme thys yeare begyn∣ning about y^e .xxv. daye of Nouember,* 5.81 and con∣tinuing tyll the tenth of Februarie, that the Shippes wyth Marchandice arryuing at the Thames mouth, coulde not come vppe the Ri∣uer, by reason it was so frozen, and so their la∣ding being there discharged, was brought to the Citie by lande.

After the death of that Noble Prince the Duke of Bedforde, the bright Sunne that in Fraunce commonly shone moste fayre and beau∣tyfull vppon the Englishe menne, beganne to be clowdie, and daylye to waxe more darke, for the Frenchmenne beganne not onely to wythdrawe theyr obedyence whiche they had by oth promy∣sed to the King of England, but also tooke sword in hande and openly defyed the Englishmenne: but yet coulde not all these mishappes any thing abashe the valiaunt courages of the Englishe people: for they hauing no mystrust in God and good fortune, sette vppe a newe sayle,* 5.82 beganne the warre agayne afreshe, and appoynted for Re∣gent in Fraunce, Richard Duke of Yorke, sonne to Richard Erle of Cambridge.

Although the Duke of Yorke was worthye both for byrth and courage of this honor and pre∣ferment, yet hee was so disdeyned of Edmonde Duke of Sommerset being cousin to the King, that by all meanes possible hee sought hys hyn∣deraunce, as one glad of hys losse, and sorye of his well doing: by reason whereof, ere the Duke of Yorke coulde gette hys dispatche, he was con∣strayned to lynger, tyll Paris and dyuerse other of the chiefest places in Fraunce were gotten by the French king.

The Duke of Yorke perceyuing his euil wil, openly dissembled that, which he inwardly myn∣ded, and thus eyther of them wrought things to the others displeasure, till through canered ma∣lice, and pestiferous diuision, continuing in the heartes of these two Princes, at length by mortall warre they were both consumed, wyth almost all theyr whole lynes and offsprings.

The Normans of the Countrey of Caux, beeyng heartened by the death of the Duke of Bedforde, beganne a new rebellion, fiue diuerse Englishmen, robbed many Townes that were vnder y^e English obeysaunce, and tooke the towne of Herflew by assault, and dyuerse other townes. But the Lorde Regent beeing aduertised, sente forth the Lorde Scales, sir Thomas Kiriel, and the Lorde Hoo, whiche so afflicted those rebels of Caux, y^t they slue aboue .v.M. persōs, & burnt all

the Townes and villages in the Countrey, not being walled, so that in that parte, was neyther habitation nor tillage, for all the people fled into Britaine, and all the beasts of the Countrey were broughte to Caudebecke, where a good sheepe was solde for an English peny, & a Cow for twelue pence. Dayly was skirmishing and fighting in euery part, in so much, that the Lord Scales discomfited at the Rye beside Roan, the Hire, and fifteene hundred valiant Frenchmen, of the whiche, aboue three hundred, were taken prisoners, beside seauen goodly faire coursers.

[illustration]

Amongst other of the prisoners, were sir Ri∣chard Reignold de Fountaynes, sir Alayne Ge∣rond, Alayn de Monsay, and Geoffrey Grame, capitayne of the Scottes. But yet this victorie and others the lyke, stayed not the Frenchemen [ 30] from working treason dayly, in somuche, that diuers townes turned to the part of K. Charles, and some were taken by practise, as Dieppe, Boys de Vincennes, and other.

Heere is one chiefe pointe to be noted, that ey∣ther the disdeyne among the chiefe peeres of the realme of England (as ye haue heard) or the ne∣gligence of the Kings counsell (whiche did not foresee daungers to come) was the losse of the whole dominion of France, betweene the ryuers [ 40] of Soane and Marne, and in especiall, of y^e noble Citie of Paris. For where before, there were sent ouer thousands for defence of the holdes and for∣tresses, now were sent hundreds, yea and scores, some rascalles, and some not able to drawe a bowe, or carrie a bill: for the Lord Willoughby, and the Bishop of Terrouanne, whiche had the gouernaunce of the great Citie of Paris,* 5.83 had in their company, not two thousand Englishmen, which weakenesse, King Charles wel perceiued, [ 50] and therefore he appointed the Connestable, Ar∣thur of Britaigne, the Earle of Dunoys, the Lords de la Roche, and Lisle Adam, with other valiant Captaines and men of warre, as well Burgonions as Frenche, to goe before Paris, trusting by fauoure of certaine Citizens, with whome he had intelligence, shortly to bee Lorde of the Citie, without great losse or battell. So these Captaines came before the Citie of Paris but perceiuing y^t all things succeeded not, accor∣ding to their expectatiō, they returned to Mont Martir, and the next day, suddainely set on the Towne of Saint Denis, and constreyned the Englishmen that kept it, to flee into the Abbey, and into the tower Venin.

In this conflict, two hundred Englishmen were slayne, and the residue vppon a reasonable composition, rendred vp the place, and departed to Paris.

Thomas Lorde Beaumonte, whiche of late was come to Paris with eight hundred men, is∣sued foorth of the citie with .vj.C. souldiors on∣ly intending to view the doings and number of the Frenche armie, but he was sodeynly espyed and compassed aboute, so that within a small space he was discomfited and taken, and wyth him .lxxx. prisoners, beside .ij.C. which wer slain in y^e field, & the remnant chased to the very gates of the citie. The Parisians, & especially y^e master of y^e Halles, and some of the Vniuersitie, & Mi∣chael Lallier, and many notable burgesses of the Citie (which euer with an Englishe countenāce couered a French heart) perceiuing the weaknes of the Englishmen, and the force of the French∣men, signified to the Frenche Capitaynes their myndes and intentes, willing them with all di∣ligence to come, that they myght receyue so riche a pray to them without any difficultie, ready to be giuen and deliuered into their handes.

The Constable delaying no time, came with his power, and lodged by the Charter house, and

the Lord Lisle Adam, approching to the walles, shewed to the Citizens a Charter, sealed with the great seale of King Charles, by the whiche he had pardoned them their offences, and graunted to them all their olde liberties,* 5.84 and auntient pri∣uiledges, so that they would heereafter be to him true and obedyente: whiche thing to them decla∣red, they ranne aboute the towne, crying Saynt Denis, liue King Charles. The Englishmen perceyuing this, determined to keepe the gate S. [ 10] Denis, but they were deceiued, for the cheynes were drawen in euery streete, and women and children cast downe stones & scalding water on the Englishmens heads, and the Citizens in ar∣mour fought with them, and chased them from streete to streete, and from lane to lane, and slew and hurt diuers and many of them. The Bishop of Tyrwine, Chancellor there for King Henry, the Lord Willoughby, and Sir Simon Mor∣uiher, tooke great payne to appease the people, but [ 20] when they saw that all auailed not, they with∣drewe into the Bastell of Saint Anthony, whi∣che fortresse, they had well vittailed, and furni∣shed with men and munitions.

Whilest this rumor was in the Towne, the Earle of Dunois, and other, scaled the walles, and some passed the riuer by boates, and opened the gate of Saint Iames,* 5.85 by the which, y^e Con∣nestable, with his banner displayde, entred, at whose entrie, the Parisians made great ioy. The [ 30] Byshop and the Lord Willoughby, with theyr small companye, defended their fortresse tenne dayes looking for ayde, but when they saw that no comfort appeared, they yeelded their fortresse, so that they and theirs, with certaine baggage, might peaceablye returne to Roan.

Thus was the Citie of Paris broughte into the possession of Charles the French King, tho∣rough the vntrue demeanor of the Citizens, the which contrarie to their othes, and promised al∣legiance, [ 40] like wauering and inconstant mynded people, reuolted from the Englishmē, when they sawe them at the weakest.

After this glorious gayne, the Frenchmen besieged the towne of Crayle vpon Oyse, wher∣of Sir William Chamberlaine was Captaine, the which with fiue hundred Englishmen, issued out of the Towne, and after long fight, discom∣fited his enimies, and slew two hundred, & tooke a greate number prisoners: the remnant not ly∣king [ 50] the market, departed to Compeigne, and o∣ther townes adioyning. During whiche season, twelue Burgesses of the Towne of Gisors sold it for money, vnto Poyton de Xantrailes, but be had not the Castell deliuered, and therefore with all his power, he besieged the same, whereof, the Lord Talbot being aduertised, sent for the lord Scales, and they both with eighteene hundred men, rescued the Castell, tooke the Towne, and discomfited their enimies, and slewe of them a∣boue four hundred persons. Nowe according to the olde prouerbe (when the steede is stollen, shut the stable dore) the Duke of Yorke appointed at the last Parliament, to be regent of Fraunce (af∣ter that Paris, Saint Denis, Saint Germaines in Lay, and diuers other Townes in Fraunce were taken and betrayed for lacke of conuenient succours) was sente ouer into Normandie with eight thousande men, and in his company, the Earles of Salisburie, and Suffolke, and the Lord Fawconbridge, and dyuers other valiante Captaynes.

When he was landed, the Earle of Salisbu∣rie besieged the Castell of Chamboys, whyche shortly was to him rendred.

Then the Duke remoued to Roan, where hee set good orders, and did great iustice in the coun∣trey, wherefore the Normans in theyr Chro∣nicle, highly extoll him for that point. Howbeit, they say, that he gate by long siege, the Towne and Abbey of Fecamp, and did none other no∣table acte, during the time of his rule and gouer∣nement.

In this fourtenth yeare, the Duke of Bur∣goigne determined by the aduice of his counsell,* 5.86 to attempte the winning of Calais. The proui∣sion was wonderous great which was made for the atchieuing of this enterprise: whereof, Sir Iohn Ratclife, deputie of the Towne of Ca∣lais, hauing perfect intelligence, aduertised king Henrye, and his counsell, whiche incontinently sente thither the Earle of Mortaigne, sonne to the Duke of Somerset, and the Lord Cameys, with fifteene hundred men, and greate foyson of vittailes, whiche issued out of Calais, and came before Grauelin, where they were encountred with a great number of Flemings, whych were shortly discomfited, and four hundred of them slaine, and sixe score taken prisoners. And with∣in two dayes after, the Englishmen draue by fine force, the Lords of Warren and Bado, to the barriers of Ard, and discomfited their compa∣nie, to the number of fifteene hundred, and slewe seauen valiant Captaynes, & tooke many Gētle∣men prisoners.

The Duke of Burgoigne remayning stil in his former purpose, assembled togither, of Fle∣mings, Picards, Hollanders, and Henneweyes, a great army, to the number of fortie thousand, so well armed, so well vittailed, so well furnished with ordinaunce, and so well garnished in all things, that they thought in their harts, and bla∣sted amongst themselues, that the Calisians woulde leaue their towne desolate, and flee for their safegard, hearing onely of the Dukes ap∣proch: but they reconed before their host, and so

payde more than the shot came to.

When this mightie army was past the wa∣ter of Graueline, the Duke intending to begin his great conquest, assaulted the little poore Ca∣stell of Oye, which hauing in it but fiftie souldi∣ers, of the which, twelue solde their liues deere∣ly, the remnant compelled by necessitie, yeelded themselues to the dukes mercie, which to please the Gantoyse, beeing of number most puissante in all the armye, liberally gaue to them, both the [ 10] Castel, and prisoners, the which rude and beast∣ly people, nothing expert in the lawes of armes, not only rased the Castell, but also hanged nine and twentie of the captiues, and hadde so done with the residue, if the Duke, disdeyning theyr crueltie, had not intreated for the rest.

After this victorie, the Picardes besieged the Castell of Marke, and gaue three assaultes to it. The Englishmen within, being in number two hundred, and sixe, vnder the gouernemente of their Captayne Sir Iohn Gedding, valiauntly defended the place, till at length, despairing of succours, they yeelded themselues, their liues and limmes saued. The Castel of Marke being thus deliuered, was rased to the ground.

After this, the Duke of Burgoigne, accom∣panyed with the Duke of Cleues, the Earle of Estampes, the Lords of Dantoing, Croy, Cris∣quy, Humiers, and many other valiant Barons and Knightes, with his great army,* 5.87 came before the towne of Calais, and placed his siege about the same, most to his aduantage: hee gaue three

[illustration]

assaultes to the Towne, but his people gayned nothing at the same, so that they were constrey∣ned to absteyne, from further approching to the walles.

At the first assault, the Hyre which was come [ 40] to see the Duke of Burgoigne, was sore woun∣ded and hurte.

Beside this, one thing troubled the Dukes eyes, bycause that at euery tyde, Shippes arriued in the Hauen out of England, openly before his face, laden with vittailes, munitions and men.

The Duke one day roade about to view and behold the situation of the towne, to the intente to take his most aduantage, eyther by assaulte or otherwise: hee was quickly espyed, and with [ 50] the shotte of a canon, a Trumpetter, which rode next before him, and three horsses in his compa∣nie were slayne out of hand.

The Lorde of Croy, and a conuenient num∣ber with him, was appoynted to besiege the Ca∣stell of Guisnes, where he gote little profite, and did lesse harme. Moreouer, for y^e better aduācing of his enterprice, the Duke minded to stoppe vp the Hauē, so that no succours should enter there. Heerevpon, he caused foure greate Hulkes to bee fraught with great square stones, cimented and ioyned togither with leade, to the intente they shoulde lie still lyke a Mount, and not to seuer in sunder. These Shippes, with the residue of the Dukes nauie, were conueyd into the mouth of Calais Hauen, and at a full Sea, by craft and policie, were sonke downe to y^e ground, but whe∣ther God woulde not that the Hauen shoulde be destroyed, eyther the conueyghers of the Hulkes knewe not the very channel, these foure greate Shippes, at the low water, lay openly vppon the sands, without hurting the roade or Channell, whiche when the soldiers perceyued, they issued out of the towne, brake the Shippes, and caried both the stones, and timber into the Towne.

Another deuice yet was accomplished by the Duke, whiche was the building of a strong ba∣stell, set on a little Mountayne, furnished with foure hundred men, and much artillerie, whyche fortresse did impeach the Englishmen from issu∣ing forth of the Towne, to their high displeasure.

Whiles these things were adding, there arri∣ued in the Dukes armie an Herrault of Eng∣land, called Penbroke, belonging to the Duke of Gloucester, which declared to the Duke of Bur∣goigne, that the protector of Englande his mai∣ster (if God woulde send him wind and weather) woulde giue battell to him, and to his whole pu∣issance, either there, or in any other place within his owne Countrey, where he would appoynte, but the daye he could not assigne, bycause of the [ 10] inconstancie of the winde. The Duke (lyke a noble man) aunswered the Herrault, Sir, say to your maister, that his request is both honorable, and reasonable: howbeeit, hee shall not neede to take the paines to seeke me in mine owne coun∣trey, for (God willing) he shall finde me here, till I haue my will of the Towne, readye to abyde hym, and all the power he can make.

After the Herrault had receyued this answer, hee was highly feasted, and had a cuppe, and an [ 20] hundred guildens to him giuen in rewarde, and so he returned to Calaice.

After whose departure, the Duke called a Counsell in the chiefe pauilion of the Gantois, about this message of the Englishe Herrault, where it was determined with greate courage, that they would abide the battell, if the Duke of Gloucester came to offer it.

Whilest this great matter was in consulta∣tion, the Calisians not wel contented with y^e ba∣still [ 30] which the Duke hadde newly builded, issued out of the Towne in greate number, parte on horsebacke and part on foote.

The footemen ranne to assault the bastill, and the horsemen went betweene the army, and the assailantes to stoppe the ayde and succours that might come.

Vppon the sounding of the alarme, the Duke himselfe in person was comming on foote, to re∣lieue his men, but beeing kepte backe a space by [ 40] the English horsemen, in that delay of time, the bastill was wonne by fine force, and eyght score persons of those that kept it slayne, beside the re∣sidue whiche were taken prisoners, and ledde to Calaice, with all the ordinance and artillerie, to the high displeasure of the Duke, and hys coun∣sayle.

The nexte day after, there sprang a rumor in the armye (no man could tell how) that y^e Duke of Gloucester with a great puissance was alrea∣die [ 50] embarqued, and woulde arriue at the nexte tide. What was the very cause, I cannot true∣ly write, but surely the same nyghte, the Duke fledde away, and sente in all hast to the Lorde of Croy,* 5.88 to reyse his siege before Euisnes, whyche tidings were to him very ioyous, for he neither got nor saued, so these two Captaines departed, leauing behynd thē, both ordinance, vittailes, & great riches.

The French writers to saue the honor of the Duke of Burgoigne saye, that there was a cer∣taine discord & comotion amōgst the Flemings & Duche nation, affirming, that the great lords and the Picards whom y^e frenchmē greatly ex∣tolle) woulde betray and sell the Flemings, and their frendes, & that for the same cause, in a great furie they cried, home, home, and would not tar∣rie for anye request that the Duke coulde make, and so by their misgouernaunce, the Duke was enforced to reyse his siege, and to depart.

The Flemmish authors affirme the contra∣rie, saying, that they were readie to abide y^e com∣ming of the Duke of Gloucester: but the Duke of Burgoigne fearing to be entrapped betweene the Englishe armye without, and the garrison within the Towne of Calaice, fled away in the nighte, giuing to them no warning thereof be∣fore, so that for lacke of time, and conueniente space to lade and carrie their stuffe, and beeyng commaunded vpō the suddaine, to dislodge with all speede, they left behinde them their vittailes, tents, and other things, to their greate losse and detriment. Howsoeuer the matter was, the froth is, that he fled the six and twentith day of Iuly, in the nighte, and the next day in the morning, the Duke of Gloucester landed in Calaice ha∣uen, and streight went into the camp, where hys enimies the night before were lodged, and there he founde manye faire peeces of ordinance, and especially, one called Dygeon, so named, after the chiefe Towne of Burgoigne, beside pauili∣ons, wine, beere, meale, and innumerable vittell.

The Duke of Gloucester, seing his enimies reculed, hauing in his company fiue and twen∣tie thousand men, entred into Flanders,* 5.89 burning houses, killing such as made resistāce, destroying the Countrey on euery parte, setting fire in the Townes of Poperinch, Bailleul, and other.

Also, they wasted the suburbes of diuers clo∣sed Townes, and after passed by Neweastell, Rimesture, and Valon Chapell, and then en∣tring into Arthois, they came to Arques and Blandesques, setting fire in euery part wher they came.

Thus they passed by Saint Omers, and fi∣nally by Arde, returned to Guisnes, and so to Calaice at sixe weekes ende, with greate booties of Cattell, and other riches.

In all this their iourney, they had but small store of bread, whiche caused much faintnesse, and diuers diseases in the armie, whereof a grea∣ter number dyed, than did of the enimies sworde: and yet the Flemings write,* 5.90 that they of Bru∣ges distressed, to the nūber of two M. English∣men in this iourney howbeit,* 5.91 the french writers affirme, that the Englishmen lost moe of theyr

company in the marches about Arde, than they did in all other places where they had bin before, hauing passed through the parties of Flaunders, without encounter, or anye domage done to thē by the enimies.

After that the Duke of Gloucester was retur∣ned into Englād, he was aduertised, that Iames King of Scottes hadde besieged the Castell of Rockesbourrough, with thirtie thousand menne, but the Captayne therof, Sir Raufe Grey, de∣fended [ 10] it so manfully, for the space of twentie dayes, that King Iames being then aduertised, that the Earle of Northumberlande was com∣ming to fight with him, fledde, with no lesse losse than dishonor, home to his towne of Eden∣burgh.

* 5.92Shortly after that the Duke of Burgoigne had bin before Calais, as in the last yere is men∣tioned, by meane of friendes, and at the desire of Princes, a truce or abstinence of warre for a [ 20] time was moued, betweene the King of Eng∣lande, and the said Duke, for the whiche cause, were sente to Graueline for the King of Eng∣lande, Henry Beauford, Cardinall of Winche∣ster, Iohn Lorde Moumbray Duke of North∣folke, Humfrey Earle of Stafforde, and dyuers other, well learned, and honorable personages. And for the Duke of Burgoigne, there appeared the Duchesse his wife, the Byshop of Arras, the Lord of Croy, and diuers other. [ 30]

* 5.93At this treatie, a truce was taken for a small time, and for a lesse space obserued, which absti∣nence of warre was concluded, betweene the King of Englande, and the Duchesse of Bur∣goigne (enterlessing the Duke, and his name.)

Some thinke, that the King of Englande woulde neuer enter in league with him, bycause he had broken his promise, oth, and writing, sea∣led to him, and to his father.

Other imagined this to bee done of a cautell, [ 40] to cast a mist before the Frenche Kings eyes, to the intent hee should beleeue, that this feate was wroughte by the Duchesse, without assente or knowledge of the Duke or his counsell.

Thus may yee see, that Princes sometyme, with suche vayne gloses, and scornefull expositi∣ons, will hide theyr doyngs, and cloke their pur∣poses, to the intent, they woulde not eyther be e∣spyed, or else that they maye plucke their heads out of the coller, at their pleasure. [ 50]

* 5.94About this season, Queene Catherin mother to the king of England, departed out of this life, and was buried by hir husband in the minster of Westminster.

* 5.95This woman, after the death of kyng Henry the fifth hir husband, beyng yong and lustie, fol∣lowing more hir owne wanton appetite than friendly counsel, and regarding more priuate af∣fection than hir princelyke honour, tooke to hus∣band priuily a goodly Gentleman, and a ryght beautyfull person, endued with manye goodlye giftes bothe of nature and grace, called Owen Tenther, a man descended and come of the no∣ble lynage and auncient lyne of Cadwallader last king of the Britons, by whom she concey∣ued and brought forth three goodly sonnes, Ed∣mund, Iasper, & an other, which was a Monke in Westminster, and liued a small time: also a daughter, which in hir youth departed out of this transitorie life.

King Henrye, after the death of his mother, bycause, they were his breethren of one wombe descended, created Edmond Earle of Richmōd, and Iasper Earle of Pembroke, which Edmōd engendred of Margaret daughter and sole heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset, Henry, which after was King of this Realme, called Henry the sea∣uenth, of whome yee shall heare more in place conuenient. This Owen, after the death of the Queene his wife, was apprehended, and com∣mitted to warde, bycause that contrarie to the statute made in the sixte yeare of this King, hee presumptuously had married the Queene, with∣out the Kings especiall assent, out of whiche pri∣son, he escaped, •…•…d let out other with him, and was againe apprehended, and after escaped a∣gayne.

Likewise, the Duchesse of Bedforde, sister to Lewes Earle of Saint Paule, minding also to marrie rather for pleasure than for honor, with∣out counsel of hir friends, maried a lusty knight, called Sir Richarde Woduile, to the great dis∣pleasure of hir Vncle the Bishop of Tyrwine, and the Earle hir brother.

This Sir Richarde, was made Baron of Riuers, and after Earle, and had by this Lady many noble sonnes, and faire daughters, of the which, one was y^e Lady Elizabeth, after Quene of Englande, by reason shee was married vnto Edward the fourth, as heereafter shall appeare.

Whilest this marriage was a celebratyng, Iane late Queene of England, and before Du∣chesse of Britaine, daughter to the King of Na∣uerre, and wife to King Henrie the fourth, dyed at the manor of Hauering, and was buryed by hir husband at Canterburie.

And about the same time, deceassed also the Countesse of Warwike, and Henrie Archby∣shop of Yorke.

In this yeare also, the Duke of Somerset, accompanyed with y^e Lords of Fancombridge, Talbot, Sir Francis Surien the Arragonnois, Mathewe Gough, Thomas Paulet, Thomas Harington, Walter Limbrike, Iohn Gedding, William Watton Esquiers, and Thomas Hilton, Bailife of Roane, with a great cōpanie

of the Englishe partie,* 5.96 besieged the Towne of Harflew (lately before gotten by the Frenchmē) both by water and lande: the Captayne within the towne, was one Sir Iohn d'Estouteuille, hauing his brother Robert with him, and a fixe hundred good fighting men.

The assailants cast trenches, and so fortifyed themselues in their campe and lodgings, that when the Earles of Ewe and Dunois▪ the va∣liant basterd of Bourbon, the Lord Gawcourt, [ 10] and other famous Captaines, with a four thou∣sand mē, sent to the rescue of them within, came before the Towne, they coulde not succour theyr frendes, nor annoy their enimies by any meanes they could deuise, and so for feare to lose honour they returned backe again, with much trauaile, and little profite. The Capitaines within the towne perceiuing they could not bee ayded, did shortly after render the town to the duke of So∣merset, who after cōmitted it to the keepyng of [ 20] Thomas Paulet, William Lymbrik, Christo∣for Barker, and George saint George, whiche many yeres (til the deuision began in England) manfully and valiantly defended both the town and hauen. But afterward, when this Duke of Somerset was Regent and gouernour of Nor∣mandie, he not only lost this towne of Harflew, but also the citie of Roan, and the whole duchie of Normandie, where as nowe being but a de∣putie, he got it to his high prayse and glorie. [ 30]

* 5.97In this yeare was Iames kyng of Scottes murthered by certaine traitours of his own sub∣iectes.

The Lord Talbot besieged Tankerville, and after four moneths, had it simply to him rēdred.

This towne was no great gayne to the En∣glishmen, for in the meane season, the Frenche king in his own person besieged the strong town of Monstreau on fault Yōne, whereof Thomas Gerarde being capitayne, more for desire of re∣ward, [ 40] than for feare of enimies, sold the Towne to the French King, and had of him great gifts, and good cheere, as afterwards was opēly kno∣wen.

This Towne had bin rescued or the Frenche King fought withall, if one chance had not hap∣pened, for the Duke of Yorke about that tyme, was discharged of his office,* 5.98 and the Earle of Warwike preferred to the same, so that the duke of Yorke, lying as then at Roan, woulde haue [ 50] gladly rescued the Towne, if his authoritie had not surceassed, & the Erle of Warwike could not come in time, for y^e wind was contrarie to him.

This presente yeare, was a Parliament hol∣den at Westminster, in the whiche, manye good and profitable actes for the preseruation of con∣cord at home, and defence against the enimies a∣broade, were ordeyned and deuised.

Arthur of Britaigne, Connestable of France, and Iohn Duke of Alanson, were sente by the Frenche King into Normandie, with a greate army, to besiege the towne of Auranches, stan∣ding vpon the knoppe of an hill, where after they had layen a certayne space, without gayne, the Lord Talbot with a valiant company of men, came thither, and offered the enimies battaile, which when they, at all hands refused, the Lorde Talbot perceyuing theyr faint harts, reysed his field, and in the open sight of them all, entred in∣to the Towne, and the next day, issued out, and finding the Frenchmen riding abroade to de∣stroy the playne Countrey, he compassed them about, and slewe many of them, and tooke diuers prisoners.

Although the Frenchmen gote neyther honor nor profit by this iourney, yet they enterprised a greater matter, as the winning of Roan, in so much, that Pothon de Santreiles, and the Hire, with manye other notable Captaines, hauyng promise of certaine burgesses of that Citie, to haue entrie made thē, secretly in the night, came forwarde to a Towne called Rise or Riz, not past a foure leagues frō Roan, and there lodged.

The Lord Talbot, the Lorde Scales, and sir Thomas Kiriel, hearing of their approche, sette out of Roan at midnight, and with great paine, came to Rise in the morning so couertly, that y^e Frenchmen beeing suddainely surprised, and set vpon like men, all amased ranne away, & fledde.

In the chase were taken, the Lorde of Foū∣taines, Sir Aleine Geron, SIr Lewes de Balle, and threscore Knightes and Esquiers, beside o∣ther, and there wer slaine two hundred and moe.

The Hire escaped very narrowly, by swift∣nesse of his horse, though not vnwounded.

The Englishmen returned to the Towne of Rise, and founde there greate number of horses, and other baggages, which they ioyously brou∣ght with them to Roan.

On the sixth day of Nouember,* 5.99 this present yeare, the Earle of Warwike, as Regente of France, passed the Sea, after hee had bin seauen times shipped and vnshipped, & landed at Hom∣flew, with a thousande fresh Soldiers, and came to Roan, and then the Duke of Yorke returned into England.

Betweene y^e change of these two Captaines, the Duke of Burgoigne (whiche sore enuied the glorie of the Englishmen) besieged the Towne of Croytoy, with tenne thousand men and moe,* 5.100 hauing with him greate plentie of gunnes, and goodly ordinance.

The Earle of Warwike aduertised heereof, sente the Lorde Fawcombridge, Sir Thomas Kiriell, sir Iohn Montgomerie, Thomas Lim∣brike, Thomas Chandos, Dauie Hall, and dy∣uers

other Knightes and Esquiers, and manye tall yeomen, to the number of fiue thousand mē, which passed y^e riuer of Somme, beside y^e towne of Saint Valerie, wading in the water vp to y^e chinne, so glad were they to rescue their felowes.

* 5.101When the Duke of Burgoigne was enfor∣med of the approching of the Lorde Talbot, hee with all his power, sauing four hundred (whych were left in a bastill by him there newly builded) fled to Abuille, the bastill was soone gained by y^e [ 10] Englishmen, and those within eyther slayne or taken.

After this, the Lord Talbot sent to the Duke of Burgoigne, signifying to hym, that except he would come forth, & giue him battell, he woulde vtterly wast his Countrey of Picardie, and ac∣cording to his promise, he brent Townes, spoy∣led and slewe many people in Picardie: but for all those his doings, the Duke of Burgoigne ap∣peared not, but got him from Abuile to Amiens, [ 20] so that the Lorde Talbot abode twentie dayes fall in Picardie and Arthois, destroying al afore him, and after returned without impeachment.

And in the meane season, Sir Thoms Kiri∣ell had gotten all the Dukes cariages and ordi∣nance, and left as much vittaile in the towne of Croytoy, as would serue sixe hundred menne a whole yeare, and conueyed the residue to the Earle of Warwike, who highly praysed them for their hardie doings. [ 30]

* 5.102After this enterprice atchieued, Henry Earle of Mortaigne, son to Edmond Duke of Som∣merset, arriued at Chierburg with foure hundred archers, and three hundred speares, and passed through Normandie, till he came into the coun∣tie of Maine, where he besieged a Castell called Saint Anyan, in the which, were three hundred Scottes, beside Frenchmen. This Castel he toke by assaulte, slewe the Scottes, and hanged the Frenchmenne, bycause they were once sworne [ 40] English.

After this, hee got also an other Castell, two miles from Sainte Iulians, called Alegerche, which was shortly after recouered, and the Lord Camewis, which came to the rescue of y^e same, in the meane way was entrapped, and taken.

Thus flowed the victorie, sometime on the one partie, and sometime on the other. For a∣bout the same time also, the Townes of Meaux in Brie, and Saint Susan, were solde and dely∣uered [ 50] to the French parte, by the vntrueth of the burgesses, and inhabitants of the same townes, about the latter ende of this sixteenth yeare.

* 5.103This yeare, by reason of great tempests, vn∣measurable windes, and rayne, there rose suche scarcitie, that wheate was solde at three shil∣lings foure pence the busshell, wine at twelue pence the gallon, baysalt at fourteene pence the busshell, and malt, at thirteene shillings foure pence the quarter, and all other graynes were solde at an excessiue price, aboue the olde rate.

In the moneth of Iune, the Earle of Hun∣tington (as Stewarde of Guien) with two M. archers, and four hundred speares, was sent into Gascoigne, as a supply to the Countrey, and commons of the same: for the K. of Englande and his counsaile were enformed, that the Erle of Dunois lay in the frontiers of Tholouse se∣cretly, by rewards and faire promises practising to procure diuers townes in Guiēne, to become French, wherefore this Erle (like a politike war∣rior) altered not onely the Captaines in euerye Towne and Citie, but also remoued the magi∣strates, and changed the officers from towne to towne, & roome to roome, so that by this meanes, the Earle of Du•…•…oys at y^e time, lost both trauel and cost. In the same moneth also, Sir Richard Wooduile, sir William Chamberlaine, sir Wil. Peito, and sir Wil. Stor•…•…e, with a M. men, were sent to stuffe the Townes in Normandie, which at that time, had thereof great neede, for y^e En∣glish Captaines had small cōfidēce in the Nor∣mans, & not too much in some of their owne na∣tion, for that harlot briberie, with hir fellowe co∣uetousnesse,* 5.104 ranne faste abroade with Frenche Crownes, that vnneth anye creature (without speciall grace) coulde holde either hande close, or purse shut. In this yere, the Dolphin of France, alied with Iohn Duke of Alanson, and Iohn Duke of Burgoigne, rebelled against his father King Charles, but in the end, by wise perswasi∣ons, and wittie handling of the matter, y^e knotte of that seditious faction was dissolued, and the King with his sonne, and the other confederates openly and apparantly pacified.

The Englishmen whiche euer sought theyr aduantage) hearing of this domesticall deuision in France, reised and armie, and recouered againe diuers townes, whiche were stollen from them before, and prepared also to haue recouered y^e Ci∣tie of Paris, til they heard of the agremēt made betwixte the father and the sonne, for then they left off that enterprice, and wente no further a∣bout it.

In the moneth of Nouember in this presente yere, there was such a great frost, & after that,* 5.105 so deepe a snow, y^t al the ground was couered thee∣with, & al y^e diches frosen, which weather, put the Englishmen in hope to recouer againe y^e towne of Ponthoise,* 5.106 by the French King gotten before by corrupting with money diuers burgesses of y^e Towne, wherefore the Englishmen, being clo∣thed all in white, w^t Iohn L. Clifford their Cap∣tain, came in y^e night to y^e diches, and passed thē without danger, by reason of the frost, scaled the walles, slew the watch, & tooke the towne, with

many profitable prisoners.

After the regaining of the Towne of Pon∣thoyse, the Lord Richarde Beauchamp, Erle of Warwike, dyed in the Castell of Roan, and was conueyed into England, and with solemne Ceremonies, buryed in his Colledge of War∣wike, in a very faire and sumptuous sepulture.

* 5.107About the beginning of Lente, the Duke of Somerset, and the Lorde Talbot, with other Captaines and men of warre, to the number of [ 10] two thousand, whiche they had assembled in the marches of Normandie, towards Rouen, mar∣ching forward towards Picardie, passed ouer the Riuer of Somme, and through the Towne of Monteruel, came before the fortresse of Folleuil∣le, whiche the Duke besieged, whilest the Lorde Talbot entred further into the Countrey.

After that the Duke had mounted his greate artillerie,* 5.108 and began to batter the holde, the Cap∣tayne within chanced to be slaine, with a shotte [ 20] of the same artillerie, and shortly after, the bate∣rie being still continued, the rest of the menne of warre that serued vnder him, yeelded the place, in which, the Duke left a competent garison of sol∣diers, whiche afterwardes, sore endomaged the Countrey.

This done, the Duke followed the Lorde Talbot, who was alreadye entred a good way within the Countrey of Santhois, and nowe ioyning their powers togither, they came to a [ 30] fortresse called Lyhons, in Santhois, whyche was also rendred vnto them, after they hadde brent the church which the Coūtrey people kept againste them, and woulde not yeelde it, till they were fiered out, and brent and slayne, to the nū∣ber of three hundred.

After the fortresse was deliuered into theyr handes by composition, the Duke with his po∣wer lay there about tenne dayes, sending diuers troupes of his menne of warre abroade into the [ 40] Countrey, whiche spoyled the same, tooke y^e for∣tresse of Herbonneres, and the Lord therof with∣in it, who for his raunsome, and to haue his sub∣iects and house saued from spoyle and fire, com∣pounded with his takers for a thousand Saluz of golde, which he paid to them.

Finally, after the Duke of Somerset, and the Lord Talbot with their power, had layne in Lyhons about tenne dayes, they departed from thence, and returned into Normandie, without [ 50] any empeachment.

After the death of the Earle of Warwike, the Duke of Yorke was againe made Regente of Fraunce,* 5.109 which accompanyed with the Earle of Oxforde, the Lorde Bourchier called Earle of Ewe, Sir Iames of Ormond, the Lord Clin∣ton, Sir Richarde Wooduille, and diuers other noble men, sayled into Normandie, before whose ariuall, the Frenche King sore greeued w•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taking of the Towne of Ponthoise, assem•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greate armie,* 5.110 and besieged the said towne •…•…∣selfe in person, enuironing it with bastilles, •…•…∣ches, and ditches, beating the walles and B•…•…∣warkes with shot of great ordinance, and giuing therevnto diuers greate and fierce assaultes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iohn Lorde Clifford, like a valiant Captayne, defended the Towne so manfully, that y^e frenche men rather lost than wanne.

The Duke of Yorke at his landing receyued true aduertisement of this siege, wherevppon, hee sent for the Lord Talbot, and a great number of Soldiers, and so came neere to the Towne of Ponthoise, and there encamped himselfe, and therewith, sente worde to the French King, that thither hee was come to giue him battell, if hee woulde come out of his strength and bastilles, but the Frenche King, by aduice of his councell, determined not to venture his person, with men of so base degree, but meant to keepe his groun•…•…, bidding the Lorde Regente to enter at his pe•…•…, and in the meane season, did what hee coulde to stoppe the passage of the riuer of Oyse, so that no vittaile should be brought to the English ar∣mie by that way, in hope so to cause them to re∣cule backe.

The Duke of Yorke, perceyuing that y^e •…•…ch King minded not to fighte, purposed to passe o∣uer the riuer of Oyse, and so to fighte with hym in his lodging, whervpon, he remoued his camp, and appointed the Lorde Talbot, and other, to make a countenaunce, as they woulde passe the riuer by force at the port of Beaumont, and ap∣poynted an other companye in boates of timbet and leather, and bridges made of cordes & ropes (whereof he had great plentie caried with hym in Chariots) to passe ouer beneath the Abbey.

While the Lorde Talbot made a crie, as though he would assault the gate, certaine En∣glishmen passed the water in boates, and drew a bridge of cordes ouer, so that a greate number of them were gote to the other side, ere the French∣men were aduised what had happened. When they saw the chance, they ranne like madde mē, to haue stopped the passage, but it was too late, for the most parte of the Englishmen were gote ouer, in so muche, that they chased theyr enimies backe, and slewe Sir Guilliam de Chastell,* 5.111 ne∣phew to the Lorde Taneguy du Chastell, and diuers other.

The Frenchmen seeing their euill happe irre∣couerable, returned to the French King, and told to him, what had chanced, wherevpon, he doub∣ting to be assailed to his disaduantage, thoughte not good longer to tarrie, but with all speede, re∣mouing his ordinance into the bastill of Sainte Martin, whiche hee had newly made, dislodged

in the nyghte from Maubuysson, and wente to Poyssy, leauyng the Lorde de Cotigny admi∣rall of Fraunce, with .iij.M. men to keepe the bastile. If he had taried stil at Maubuysson, the Lord Talbot which had passed the riuer of Oyse in two small leather boates, had eyther taken or slayne hym the same night.* 5.112

The Englishmen the next daye in good order of battayle came before the town of Ponthoyse, thinkyng there to haue founde the French king, [ 10] but he was gone, and in his lodging they found great riches, and muche stuffe whiche he coulde not haue space to carie away for feare of the so∣dayn inuasion. Then the Duke with his power entred into the towne, and sent for new victual, and repaired the towers and bulwarkes aboute the Towne, and diuers tymes assaulted the ba∣stile of the Frenchmen, of the whiche hee made no great accompte, bycause they were not of po∣wer eyther to assaulte or stoppe the victuals or [ 20] succours from the towne.

After this, the Duke intendyng once agayne to offer the Frenche king battaile, left behind him at Ponthoyse for captain there, sir Geruais Clif∣ton, sir Nicholas Burdet, Henry Chandos, and a thousande souldiors, and therewith remouing with his whole armie, came before Poyssy, where he set himselfe and his men in good order of bat∣tayle ready to fighte. There issued out some of the Frenche Gentlemen to skirmishe with the [ 30] Englishemen, but to their losse: for dyuers of them were slain, and foure valiant horsemen ta∣ken prisoners. The Duke perceyuing the faynte hearts of the Frenchmē, and that they durst not encounter in field with the Englishe power, dis∣lodged from Poyssi, and came to Maunte, and soone after to Roan.

* 5.113When the Regent and the lord Talbot were returned agayne into Normandie, the Frenche K. considering howe muche it shoulde redounde [ 40] to his dishonor to let rest the town of Ponthoyse in his enimies hāds,* 5.114 sith he had bin at such char∣ges and trauaile aboute the winnyng therof, hee eftsoones assembled all his puissance, and retour∣ning sodeinly again vnto Ponthoyse, he firste by assault gat the church, and after the whole town, toke the captain, and diuers other Englishmen, and slewe to the number of .iiij.C. whiche solde their lyues dearely: for one French writer affir∣meth, [ 50] that the French king lost there .iij.M. men and the whole garnison of the Englishmen was but only a thousand.* 5.115 Among other that were slayne here of the defendants, was sir Nicholas Burdet knight, chief Butler of Normandie.

After this hotte tempeste, the weather began somewhat to waxe more calme: for king Hen∣ry and kyng Charles, agreed to sende Ambas∣sadours to commen of some good conclusion of peace: So that King Henry sente the Cardi∣nall of Wynchester, wyth dyuers other noble personages of his counsel to Caleys, with whom was also sent Charles duke of Orleans yet pri∣soner in England, to the intent that he might be both author of the peace, and also procurer of his owne deliueraunce.

The French king sent the Archbishop of Rei∣mes, and the Erle of Dunoys: and the Duke of Burgongne sent the Lord de Creuecueur, & dy∣uers other. All these mette at Caleys, where the Duke of Orleans curteously receiue the Earle of Dunoys (his bastarde brother) thanking him greatly for his paynes taking in gouerning hys landes and countrey, during the time of his cap∣tiuitie and absence. Diuers cōmunications wer had, as well for the deliueraunce of the Duke, as for a fynall peace, but nothyng was conclu∣ded, sauyng that an other meetyng was ap∣poynted, so that in the meane season the de∣maundes of eyther partie mighte be declared to their Soueraigne Lordes and Maisters And herevpon the Commissioners brake vp their as∣semble, and returned into their countreys.

The Englishmen as the Frenche writers re∣corde, required not only to possesse peaceably the two Duchies of Aquitayne and Normandie, discharged of al resort, superioritie, and souerain∣tie againste the Realme of Fraunce, the Kings and gouernors of the same, but also to be resto∣red to al the towns, cities, and places, which they within .30. yeres nexte before gone and past, had conquered in the realme of Frauce. Whiche re∣quest the Frenchmen thought very vnresonable, and so both parts minding rather to gain or saue than to lose, departed for y^t time, as ye haue heed.

After this meting thus proroged, Philip D. of Burgogne, partly moued in conscience to make amends to Charles duke of Orleans as yet pri∣soner in Englād for the death of duke Lewes his father, whom duke Iohn, father to this D. Phi∣lip, cruelly murthered in the Citie of Paris, and partly intending the aduancement of his neece, y^e Lady Marie, daughter to Adolfe duke of Cleue, (by the which aliāce, he trusted, that al old rā•…•… shuld ceasse) contriued ways to haue the sayd D. of Orleans set at libertie, vpon promise by hym made to take y^e said lady Mary vnto wife. This Duke had bin prisoner in Englande euer sith the bataile foughten at Agincourt, vpon the daye of Crispyne and Crispynian in the yere: 1415. and was set now at libertie in the moneth of No∣uember, in the yeare .1440. paying for his raun∣some .iiij.C. thousand crowns, though other say but .iij. hundred thousande. The cause that he was deteined so long in captiuitie, was to plea∣sure thereby the Duke of Bourgongne: For so long as the Duke of Burgongne continued

faithfull to the King of Englande, it was not thought necessarie to suffer the duke of Orleans to be caunsomed, least vpon his deliuerance hee would not ceasse to seeke meanes to be reuenged vpon the duke of Burgongne, for the old grudge and displeasure betwixt their two families, and therfore suche ransome was demaunded for him as he was neuer able to paye: but after that the duke of Burgongne had broken his promise, and was turned to the French part, the counsell of the [ 10] king of England deuised how to deliuer the duke of Orleans, that thereby they might displeasure the duke of Burgoygne: Whych thing the duke of Burgogne perceyuing, doubted what mighte followe if he were deliuered without his know∣ledge, and therfore to hys greate coste practised his deliuerance, payde his raunsome, and ioyned w^t him amitie & aliance by mariage of his niece.

* 5.116This Duke being nowe deliuered, and spea∣king better English than Frenche, after his ar∣riuall [ 20] in France, repaired to the Duke of Bur∣gogne, and according to hys promise and con∣uention, maryed the Ladie Mary of Cleue, in the towne of Saint Omers, on whome he be∣gat a sonne, whiche after was Frenche Kyng, and called Lewes the twelfth.

Yet here is to be noted, that olde rancour so∣dainly appeased, cōmonly springeth out againe, for although the vnhappie deuision betwixte the two families of Orleans & Burgogne, were by [ 30] benefyte of this mariage for a tyme stayed and put in forgetfulnesse, for the space of twenty ye∣res and more, yet at length it brake out betwene their children and Cousins, to the great vnquie∣tyng of the more parte of the Christian world, specially in the tymes of Kyng Frauncis the fyrste, and hys sonne Henry the seconde, very heyres of the house of Orleans: For Iohn erle of Angolesme, vncle to this Duke Charles, be∣gatte Charles, father to the sayde King Fran∣cis, [ 40] whyche Earle Iohn had bene as pledge in England for the debt of Lewes Duke of Orle∣ans, sith the last yere of K. Henry the fourth, till that nowe his nephewe beyng deliuered, made shifte for money, and raunsomed hym also, and at length restored him to his countrey,

In the begynnyng of thys twentieth yeare, Richarde Duke of Yorke, Regent of Fraunce, and gouernour of Normandie, determined to inuade the territoryes of his enimyes both by sundrye Armyes, and in seuerall places, and [ 50] there vppon without delaying of tyme, he sente the Lord of Willoughby wyth a great crew of Souldiours to destroye the countrey of Amy∣ens, and Iohn Lorde Talbot was appoynted to besiege the Towne of Dieppe, and the Re∣gent hym selfe accompanyed wyth Edmunde Duke of Somerset, set forward into the Duchy of Aniow. The Lorde Willoughdy•…•… accor∣dyng to hys Commissyon entred into the coun∣trey of hys enimyes in suche wyse vppon the sodayife, that a great numbre of people were ta∣ken ete they coulde withdrawe into any place of safegarde or foreclet.

The Frenchemenne in the garnysons adioy∣ning, astonyed wyth the clamoure and crye of the poore people, issued out in good order, and manfully foughte wyth the Englyshmen, but in the end, the Frenchmen seyng theyr fellowes in the forfront slayn down, & kyld without mer∣cie, tourned their backes, and fled: the English∣men followed, and slewe manye in the chase, and suche as escaped the sworde, were robbed by the Earle of Saynte Pol, whyche was com∣myng to ayde the Englyshmen.

In thys conflicte were slayne aboue six hun∣dred men of armes, and a great number taken.

The Dukes of Yorke and Somerset lyke∣wyse entred into Aniow and Mayne, and there destroyed Townes, and spoyled the people, and wyth great prayes and Prisoners, repayred a∣gayne into Normandie, whether also the lorde Willoughby withdrewe after his valyaunt en∣terprise atchieued (as before ye haue heard) with ryche spoyle and good prisoners.

The Duke of Somerset not satisfyed wyth hys former gayne,* 5.117 entred into the marches of Britayne, and tooke by fierce assaulte, a towne named la Gerche, appertayning to the Duke of Alanson, spoyling and burning the same.

This done, he went to Ponzay, where he so∣iorned two Moneths, sendyng foorth dayly his men of warre to destroy the countreys of Aniou Traonnoys, & Chatragonnoys. The Frenche Kyng sente the Marshall Loyach with .iiij.M. men to resist the inuasiōs of the duke of Somer∣set, whiche Marshall intended to haue set on the Duke in his lodgyngs in the deade tyme of the night: but this enterprise was reueled to the D. who marched forward, and met the Frenchmen halfe the way, and after long fighte, discomfited them, slewe an hundred of the Marshals men, and toke .lxij. prisoners, wherof the chiefe were the Lord Dausigny, sir Lewes de Burst, and al the other (almost) were knightes and Esquiers.

After this encounter, the duke toke the towne of Beaumont le vicount, & manned all the for∣tresses on the frontiers of his enimies, and wyth riche booties and prisoners, returned again to the duke of York. In this meane time y^e L. Talbot besieging the town of Dieppe, enuironed it with deepe trenches and terrible rampiers, buyldyng also vppon the mount Poulet, a strong and de∣fensyble Bastyle, but at lengthe perceyuyng the Towne to be strongly defended, and that he lac∣ked such furniture of men, victuals, & ordinance

as was necessarie for the winning of it, he dely∣uered the custodie of the hastile, with the gouer∣naunce of the siege to his bastarde sonne, a valy∣aunt yong man, and departed to Roan for aide, money and munition. The Frenche king aduer∣tised hereof, sente his sonne the Dolphyn of Vy∣enne wyth the Earle of Dunoys,* 5.118 and a fifteene thousande men to reyse the siege from Dieppe. Three dayes they assayled the Bastyle, in the which .vj.C. Englishmen were enclosed, and at [ 10] length bicause pouder & weapon failed thē with∣in, the Frenchmen wan it, and tooke the bastard Talbot prysoner, with sir William Peytowe, and sir Iohn Repley, whiche shortly after were redemed. The other Englishe souldiours seyng the bastyle wonne by the Frenchemen, stood all a day in good order of battaile, and in the nyghte followyng, politikely returned to Roan, with∣out losse or damage. In the assaulting of the ba∣stile, the Frenchemen saye, they slewe two hun∣dred [ 20] Englishmen, and denye not but that they lost fiue hundred of their owne men, beside those that were hurte.

Whyles these thinges were a doing, Philippe Duke of Burgongne made suche sharpe warre agaynst the Earle of Saint Pol, in taking from him his townes and Castels,* 5.119 that hee was con∣strayned to renounce his allegiaunce sworne and promised to the King of Englande, and re∣turned to the Frenche parte. [ 30]

* 5.120 The Englishe capitaynes in Guyenne besie∣ged the strong towne of Tartas, belongyng to the Lord Dalbreth theyr olde and auncient ene∣mie. The capitains wythin the town perceiuing that they were not able to resiste the force of the Englishmen any long time, tooke this appoint∣ment, that the Towne should remayne Neuter, and for the assuraunce thereof, they delyuered Cadet the sonne of the Lorde de la Brethe in pledge, vpon this condition, that if the said lorde [ 40] de la Breth would not assent to the agreement, then he shoulde signifye his refusall to the En∣glishe Capitaines within three monethes nexte ensuing, and be to haue his pledge, and they to do their best. The French K. at the request of the lords of Guyenne, caused the lord de la Breth to signifye his disagreement vnto the Erle of Hun∣tington, as then lieutenāt to the K. of England in the duchie of Aquitayne: and therw^t to gratifie the Lords of Guyenne, he assembled an armie of [ 50] lx.M. men, & came to Tholouse, and so to Tar∣tas, to whom the chieftains of the town, seing no succors cōming from the K. of Englād, rendred the towne, and Cadet de la Breth, whiche was left there as a pledge, was also deliuered.

The French king after the yelding of Tartas remoued to S. Severe, which towne he toke by force, slew .iij.C. persons, and toke sir Thomas Rampston prisoner. After this, he came to the ci∣tie of Arques, toke a bulwarke by force, and had the Towne yelded to him by composition.

The capitayn which was the Lord of Mont∣ferrant departed with all the Englishe crewe to Burdeaux, where he founde the Earle of Long∣ville, the Capdaw be Buefft. & sir Tho Ramp∣ston, whiche was a little before deliuered. After this, the fortresses of the Ri•…•… & Mermandie, wer also yelded to y^e French K. who notwithstanding at lēgth was cōstrained for lack of victuals (whi∣che wer•…•… of by the Englishmen, y^t lay abrode in diuers fortre•…•…s for y^e purpose, to break vp his armie, and to retire into France.* 5.121 And then after his departure, the englishmē recouered again the citie of Arques, & the other t•…•…ons by the Frenche king gayned, & toke prisoner his •…•…atenant called Reignal•…•… Ge•…•… the Burgonion, & many o∣ther Gentlemen, & al the meane souldiors were ei∣ther slaine or hanged.

While the Frenche Kyng was in Gay∣enne,* 5.122 the Lorde Talbot toke thē towne of Co•…•…∣chete, and after matched towarde Gail•…•…on, which was besieged by the bastarde of Orleans, otherwise called the Erle of Dunoys, which erle hearing of the Lord Talbots approche,* 5.123 wised his siege, & faued himself. The Frenchmen a little be∣fore this season, had taken the towne of Enreu•…•… by treason of a Fisher. Sir Francis the Arrago∣noys hearing of that chance, apparelled .vj. strōg felows, like men of the countrey, with sacks and baskets, as cariers of corne & victual, & sent the to the castel of Cornyl, in the which diuers english men wer kept as prisoners, & he with an ambush of Englishmen lay in a valey nye to y^e fortresse. The six counterfait husbandinē entred the castel vnsuspected, and streight came to the chāber of y^e captain, & laying hands on him, gaue knowledge to them that lay in ambush to come to their ayd the which sodeinly made forth, and entred y^e ca∣stell, slewe and tooke all the Frenchmen, & set the Englishmen at libertie: which thing done, they set fire in the castell, and departed to Roan with their bootie and prisoners.

Thus maye ye see, that in warre nothyng is certain, and victorie is euer doubtfull, whiche sometyme smyled on the Englishe parte, and sometime on the Frenche side, according to hir variable nature. But nowe to speake somwhat of the doings in England in the meane tyme.

Whylest the men of war were thus occupied in martiall feates, and dayly •…•…irmishes within the Realme of Fraunce, ye shall vnderstande that after the Cardinall of Winchester, and the Duke of Gloucester, were to the outward appa∣raunce of the worlde, reconciled eyther to other. the Cardinall, and the Archebyshop of Yorke ceassed not to do many things without the con∣sent

of the King or of the Duke,* 5.124 being during the minoritie of the K. gouernour and protector of the Realme, wherfore the sayde Duke lyke a true hearted Prince, was nothyng pleased, and therevppon in wrytyng declared to the Kyng wherein the Cardinall and the Archebyshoppe hadde offended both his Maiestie and the lawes of the realme.

This complaynt of the Duke of Gloucester was conteyned in foure and twentie articles, as [ 10] in the Chronicle of Maister Hall ye may reade at full, the whyche for breefenesse I here omitte.

But the chefest point rested, in that it was ap∣parant howe the Cardinall hadde from tyme to tyme through the ambitious desyre to surmount all others in high degrees of honour and digni∣tie, sought to e•…•…che himselfe to the great & appa∣rant hynderaunce of the king, as in defraudyng hym not onely of his treasure, but also in doing and practising thyngs greatly preiudiciall to his [ 20] affaires in Fraunce, and namely by settyng at libertie the Kyng of Scottes, vpon so easy con∣ditions, as the Kynges Maiestie greately loste thereby.

When the Kyng hadde hearde the accusati∣ons thus layde by the Duke of Gloucester a∣gaynste the Cardinall, he commytted the exa∣mination thereof to his Counsell, whereof the more parte were spirituall persons, so that what for feare, and what for fauoure, the matter was [ 30] winked at, and nothyng sayde to it: onely faire countenance was made to the Duke, as though •…•…o malice hadde beene conceyued agaynst hym: but venym wyll breake out, and inwarde grudge wyll soone appeare, whiche was thys yeare to all men apparant: for dyu•…•…rs secrete attemptes were aduaunced forwarde thys season agaynst thys noble man Humfrey Duke of Gloucester a farre off, whiche in conclusyon came so neere, that they bere•…•…te hym bothe of lyfe and lande, as [ 40] shall hereafter more playnly appeare.

For fyrst this yeare, Dame Eleanore Cob∣ham, wyfe to the sayde Duke, was accused of treason, for that shee by sorcerie and enchaunte∣ment entended to destroy the kyng, to the intent to aduaunce hir husbande to the Crowne.

Vppon thys, shee was examined in Sayncte Stephens Chappell before the Byshop of Can∣terbury, and there by examination conuicte and iudged to doe open penaunce in three open pla∣ces wythin the Citie of London, and after that [ 50] adiudged to perpetual imprisonmēt in the ysle of Man, vnder y^e keping of sir Io. Stanley knight.

At the same season were arrested, arrayned, and adiudged gyltie, as ayders to the Duchesse, Thomas Southwell Prieste, and Chanon of Saynte Stephens at Westminster, Iohn Hun priest,* 5.125 Roger Bolyngbrooke, a cunning Necro∣mancer as it was said, and Margerie Iordayn, surnamed, the Witche of Eye.

The matter layde against them, was for that they, at the requeste of the sayde Duchesse, had deuysed an Image of waxe, representyng the Kyng, whiche by their sorcerie by little and lit∣tle consumed, entendyng thereby in conclusion, to waste and destroye the Kyngs persone.

Margerie Iordayne was brente in Smysh∣fielde, and Roger Bolyngbrooke was drawne to Tyborne, and hanged and quartered, taking vpon his death, that there was neuer any suche thing by them imagined. Iohn Hun hadde his pardon, and Southwell dyed in the Tower before execution.

The Duke of Gloucester bare all these thin∣ges paciently, and sayd little.

Edward son to the duke of Yorke was borne this yeare the .xxix. of Aprill at Roan,* 5.126 his father being the Kings lieutenant of Normandie.* 5.127

The Counsell of Englande forgat not the late enterprise of the Frenche king,* 5.128 atchieued in the Duchie of Guyenne, and therfore doubting some other the lyke attempte, they sente thyther Syr Wyllyam Wooduile wyth eyght hundred menne to fortifye the frontiers, and farther, set foorth a proclamation, that all men which wold transporte anye Corne, Cheese, or other victu∣all thyther, shoulde pay no maner of custome or tallage: whyche licence caused the Countrey of Aquitayne to bee well furnyshed of all thynges necessarye.

Aboute this season Iohn the valiaunt Lorde Talbot for his approued prowes and tried va∣liancie shewed in the Frenche warres,* 5.129 was crea∣ted Earle of Shrewesbury, and with a compa∣nie of three thousande menne sente agayne into Normandie, for the better defence of the same.

In this yeare dyed in Guyenne the Coun∣tesse of Comynges,* 5.130 to whome the French king and also the Earle of Arminacke pretended to be heyre, insomuche that the Earle entred into all the landes of the sayde Ladie, and bycause hee knewe the Frenche Kyng woulde not take the matter well, to haue a Roulande agaynste an Olyuer, he sente solemne ambassadours to the king of Englande, offeryng him his daughter in mariage, wyth promyse to be bounde (beside greate summes of money, whyche hee woulde giue wyth hir) to deliuer into the Kyng of En∣lands handes, all suche Castelles and Townes as he or his auncesters deteyned from him with∣in any part of the Duchie of Acquitayne, eyther by conquest of his progenitors, or by gifte or de∣liuerie of any Frenche king, and further to ayde the same Kyng, wyth money for the recoue∣rye of other Cityes wythin the same Duchye by the Frenche Kyng, or by any other persone

from hym vniustly kept, and wrongfully with∣holden.

Thys offer seemed so profytable and also ho∣norable to King Henry and to the realme, that the Ambassadours were well hearde, honourably receyued, and wyth rewardes sente home into theyr countrey.

After whome were sente for the conclusion of the marriage into Guyenne, sir Edwarde Hull, sir Robert Ros, and Iohn Gra•…•…ton deane of S. [ 10] Seuerines, the whyche (as all the Chronogra∣phers agree) both concluded the marryage, and by proxie affyed the yong Ladye.

The Frenche kyng not a little offended here∣wyth, sent his eldest sonne Lewes the Dolphyn of Vyenne into Rouergue wyth a puissant ar∣mye, whyche tooke the Earle and hys youngest sonne, with both his daughters, and by force ob∣teyned the countreyes of Arminack, Lovuergne, Rouergue, and Moulessonoys, beside the cities [ 20] Seuetac, Cadeac, and chased the bastarde of Ar∣minack out of his countreyes, and so by reason hereof, the concluded mariage was deferred, and that so long that it neuer tooke effect, as hereafter it may appeare.

Thus whylest England was vnquieted, and Fraunce by spoyle,* 5.131 slaughter, and brenning sore defaced: all Christendome lamented the conti∣nuall destruction of so noble a realme, and the ef∣fusion of so muche christen bloud, wherfore to a∣gree [ 30] the two puissant Kings, all the Princes of Christendome trauayled so effectuously by their oratours and Ambassadors,* 5.132 that a dyet was ap∣poynted to be kept at the citie of Tours in Tou∣rayne, where for the king of Englande appeared William de la Poole Earle of Suffolke, doctour Adam Molyns keeper of the Kings priuie seale, also Sir Robert Ros, and diuers other. And for the French king were appointed Charles duke of Orleans, Lewes de Bourbon earle of Van∣dosme, [ 40] greate Maister of the Frenche Kynges householde, Piers de Bresse Stewarde of Poy∣ctowe, and Bertram Beaunau Lorde of Pre∣cigny.

There were also sente thyther Ambassadours from the Empire, from Spayne, from Den∣marke, and from Hungarie, to bee mediatours betwixte the two Princes.

The assemble was greate, but the coste was muche greater, insomuche that euerye parte for [ 50] the honour of theyr Prince and prayse of theyr countrey, sette foorth themselues, as well in fare as apparell, to the vttermoste.

Many meetings were had, and many things moued to come to a fynall peace: but in conclu∣sion by reason of many doubtes whyche rose on both parties, no finall concorde coulde be agreed vppon, but in hope to come to a peace, a certayn truce as well by sea as by lande,* 5.133 was concluded by the Commissioners for eyghteen Moneths,* 5.134 whyche afterwarde agayne was prolonged to the yeare of our Lord .1449. if in the mean time it had not bene broken.

In the treatyng of this truce, the Earle of Suffolke extending his commission to the vtter∣most, without the assent of his associates, ima∣gined in his fantasie, that the next way to come to a perfecte peace, was to moue some marriage betwene the Frenche Kinges kinsewoman the Ladye Margarete daughter to Reynet Duke of Aniou, and hys Soueraygne Lorde Kyng Henrye.

This Reyner duke of Aniou named himselfe king of Sicile, Naples, and Ierusalem, hauing only the name and stile of those realmes, with∣out any penie profite, or foote of possession.

This mariage was made straunge to the erle at the first, and one thyng seemed to bee a greate hinderaunce to it, whiche was, bicause the kyng of Englande occupyed a greate parte of the Duchye of Aniowe, and the whole Countie of Mayne, apperteyning (as was alledged) to king Reyner.

The Earle of Suffolke (I can not saye) eyther corrupted with brides, or too muche af∣fectioned to thys vnprofytable mariage, condes∣cended and agreed, that the Duchie of Aniowe and the Countie of Mayne should be deliuered to the King the brydes father, demaunding for hir marriage, neyther pennye nor farthyng, as who woulde say, that this newe affinitie passed all riches, and excelled bothe golde and precious stone. And to the intent that of this truce might ensue a finall concorde, a daye of enterview was appointed betwene the two kings in a place con∣uenient betwene Chartres and Roan.

When these thyngs were concluded, the earle of Suffolke wyth his companie retourned into Englande, where he forgat not to declare what an honourable truce he hadde taken, out of the whyche there was a greate hope that a fynall peace myght growe the sooner for that honou∣rable marryage, whyche hee hadde concluded, emittyng nothyng that myght extoll and •…•…te foorth the personage of the Ladye, or the nobi∣litie of her kinne.

But although this mariage pleased the kyng and dyuers of hys Counsell, yet Humfrey duke of Gloucester protector of the realme was much agaynste it, alledging that it should be both con∣trarie to the lawes of God, and dishonorable to the Prince, if he shoulde breake that promise and contract of mariage made by ambassadors suffi∣ciētly therto instructed, with the daughter of the Erle of Arminack, vpon conditions both to him and his realme, as much profitable as honorable.

But the Dukes wordes coulde not be heard, for the Earles doings were only liked and allowed. So that for performance of the conclusions, the Frenche king sent the Erle of Vandosme, great maister of his house, and the Archebishop of Re∣mes fyrst peere of Fraunce, and diuers other into Englande, where they were honorably receyued and after that the instrumentes were once sealed and deliuered on both partes, the sayd ambassa∣dors retourned into their countreys with greate [ 10] giftes and rewardes.

When these things were done, the king both for honour of his Realme,* 5.135 and to assure to him∣selfe mo frends, he created Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington Duke of Excester as his father was, and Humfrey Erle of Stafford was made duke of Buckingham: & Henry erle of Warwike was erected to the title of duke of Warwike, to whom the K. also gaue the castell of Bristowe, with y^e Isle of Iernesey, and Garnesey. Also the [ 20] erle of Suffolk was made Marques of Suffolk, which Marques with his wife and many hono∣rable personages of men and women richely ad∣orned both with apparell & iewels, hauing with them many costly chariots & gorgeous horslit∣ters, sailed into France for the conueyance of the nominated Queene into the realm of England. For king Reigner hir father, for all his long stile had too short a purse to send his daughter hono∣rably to the King hir spowse.

This noble copany came to the citie of Tours in Tourayne,* 5.136 where they were honorably recei∣ued both of the French K. and of the K▪ of Sieil.

The Marques of Suffolke as procurator to K. Henry, espoused the sayd Lady in the churche of S. Martins.

At the whiche mariage were presente the fa∣ther and mother of the bryde, the Frenche Kyng himself, which was vncle to the husband, and the French Queene also, whiche was Aunt to the wyfe. There were also the Dukes of Or∣leans, of Calabre, of Alanson, and of Britayne, vij. Erles .xij. barons, xx. Bishops, beside knigh∣tes and Gentlemen.

When the feast, triumph, bankets and iustes were ended, the Lady was deliuered to the Mar∣ques, which in great estate he conueyed through Normandie vnto Diepe, and so trāsported hir into Englande, where shee landed at Portes∣mouth in the moneth of Aprill.

This woman excelled al other, aswel in beau∣tie and fauor, as in wit and policie, and was of stomacke and courage more lyke to a man, than a woman.

Shortly after hir arriuall, shee was conueyed to the towne of Southwike in Hamshire, where

[illustration]

she with all nuptiall ceremonies was coupled in matrimonie to King Henrye the sixte of that [ 50] name,* 5.137 and vpon the thirtie of Maye nexte fol∣lowyng, shee was Crowned Queene of thys realme of Englande at Westminster, with all the solemnitie thereto appertayning. This ma∣riage seemed to many both infortunate and vn∣profitable to the realme of Englande, and that for many causes. Fyrste, the King had not one penye with hir, and for the fetchyng of hir, the Marques of Suffolke demaunded a whole fif∣tenth in open parliamente. And also, there was deliuered for hir the duchye of Aniou, the Citie of Mans, and the whole Countie of Mayne, whiche Countreys were the verye stayes and backestandes to the Duchie of Normandie.

And furthermore, the Earle of Arminacke tooke suche displeasure with the Kyng of En∣glande for thys marryage, that hee became vt∣ter enemye to the Crowne of Englande,

and was the chiefe cause that the Englyshemen were expulsed oute of the whole Duchie of A∣quitayne.

But moste of all it shoulde seeme, that God was displeased wyth this marriage: For after the confirmation thereof, the Kings friends fell from hym, bothe in Englande and in Fraunce, the Lordes of his Realme fell at diuision, and the commons rebelled in suche sorte, that fynally af∣ter many fieldes foughten, and many thousands [ 10] of men slayn, the Kyng at length was deposed, and his sonne slayn, and his Queene sent home agayne, with as muche myserie and sorrowe as she was receyued with pompe and triumph: such is the instabilitie of worldly felicitie, and so wa∣uering is false flattering fortune.

This yere after the deceasse of Henry Chiche∣ley Archbishop of Canterbury, succeeded Iohn Stafford in gouernment of that sea, being tran∣slated from Bathe and Welles. He was the .lxj. [ 20] Archbishop, as Polydore noteth.

During the tyme of the truce, Richard duke of Yorke and dyuers other capitaines, repaired into Englande, both to visite their wyues, chil∣dren and frendes, and also to consult what shuld be done, if the truce ended.

For the whiche cause a Parliament was cal∣led,* 5.138 in the which it was especially cōcluded, that by good foresight Normandie mighte be so fur∣nished for defence before the ende of the Truce,* 5.139 [ 30] that the Frenche king should take no aduantage through wante of tymely prouision: for it was knowne, that if a peace were not concluded, the Frenche kyng did prepare to imploye his whole puissance to make open warre. Herevppon mo∣ney was graunted,* 5.140 an armye leuyed, and the Duke of Somerset appoynted to be Regent of Normandie, and the Duke of Yorke therof dis∣charged.

I haue seene in a Register booke belongyng [ 40] somtime to the Abbey of S. Albons, that the D. of Yorke was established Regent of France af∣ter the decease of the duke of Bedford, to continue in that office for the terme of .v. yeres, which be∣ing expired, he returned home, and was ioyfully receiued of the king with thanks for his good ser∣uice, as he had full well deserued in tyme of that his gouernement: and further, that now when a newe Regent was to be chosen & sent ouer to a∣bide vpon safegard of the countreys beyond the [ 50] seas as yet subiect to the English dominion, the said duke of Yorke was estsoones (as a man most mete to supplie that roomth) appointed to go ouer again as Regent of Fraunce with all his former allowances.

But the Duke of Somersette still malig∣ning the Duke of Yorkes aduauncement, as hee had soughte to hinder his dispatche at the firste when he was sent ouer to be regent, as before ye haue heard: he likewyse nowe wrought so, that the king reuoked his graunt made to the duke of Yorke for enioying of that office the terme of o∣ther fiue yeares, and with helpe of Williā Mar∣ques of Suffolke obteyned that graunt for him selfe: Whiche malicious dealing the Duke of Yorke mighte so euill heare, that in the ende the heate of displeasure burst out into suche a flame, as consumed at length not only bothe those two noble personages, but also many thousandes of others, though in dyuers tymes & seasons, as in places hereafter as occasion serueth, it shal more euidently appeare. But nowe to returne to the Parliament.

The Marques of Suffolke supposing that all men had as well lyked his doinges (duryng the tyme of hys Legation in Fraunce) as the same pleased himselfe,* 5.141 the seconde daye of Iune in the fyrst Session of this Parliamente, before all the Lordes bothe Spirituall and Temporall in the hygher house assembled, openly, eloquently, and boldly declared his payne, trauaile, and diligence susteyned in his sayde Legation, as well for the takyng and concluding an abstinence of warre, as in the making of the marriage, opening also to them, that the sayd truce expired the firste of Aprill next comming, except a small peace, or a farther truce were concluded in the meane sea∣son: and therfore he aduised them to prouide and forsee things necessarie for the warre (as though no concorde shoulde succede) least happly the Frenchemen perceyuing them vnprouided, wold take theyr aduantage, and agree neyther to peace nor amitie, saying vnto them, that syth hee hadde admonyshed the Kyng and them ac∣cordyng to hys duetie, if anye thyng happened otherwyse than well, hee was therof innocente and guyltlesse, and hadde acquyted hymselfe like a true and louyng subiecte, and a faythfull coun∣sayloure, praying the Lordes to haue it in re∣membraunce.

Lykewyse on the morrowe after, he descen∣ded into the common house, accompanyed with certain Lordes, and there declared the same mat∣ter to the Knyghtes, Citizens, and Burgeses, praying the Commons for hys discharge, that as well all hys dooyngs and proceedyngs in the Kyngs affaires beyonde the sea, as also his ad∣uertisemente and counsell opened to the Lords and Commons nowe together assembled, might bee by the Kyng and them enacted and enrol∣led in the Recordes of the Parliament.

Wherevppon the morrow after, the Speaker William Burleye, and the company of the lo∣wer house, repayred vnto the Kyngs presence, then syttyng amongst the Lordes of the vp∣per house, and there humblye required that the

request of the Marques myght be graunted, and so likewise the Lords made the like petition kne∣ling on their knees, in so muche that the Kyng condescended to their desires: and so the labors, demeanors, diligences, and declarations of the sayde Marques, together wyth the desyres not only of the Lordes, but also of the commons, as wel for the honor of him, and his posteritie, as for his acquitall & discharge, were enacted & enrolled in the records of the Parliament. By y^e Quenes [ 10] meanes shortly after also, was the said Marques aduaunced so in authoritie, that hee ruled the Kyng at his pleasure, and to his hyghe prefer∣ment, obteyned the wardships both of the bodye and landes of the Countesse of Warwike, and of the Ladie Margaret sole heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset, whiche Ladie was after mother to King Henry the seuenth: and beside that, cau∣sed the kyng to create Iohn de Foys, sonne to Gaston de Foys, Earle of Longvile, and the [ 20] Captaw de Bueff Earle of Kendall, whiche Iohn had maryed his neece, and by his procure∣ment the king elected to the order of the garter, the sayde Gaston, and Iohn his sonne, giuyng to the sonne towards the mayntenaunce of hys degree, landes and castelles, amounting to the summe of one thousande poundes, whiche lan∣des, name, and style, the issue and lyne of the sayde Earle of Kendale at this daye haue and enioye. [ 30]

These things being thus in doing, the French king seeyng that the Towne of Mans was not deliuered accordyng to the appoyntement taken by force of the mariage, raysed an armie for to recouer the same. Wherof the king of England beeing aduertised (least the breache of the truce should come by him) caused the towne to be deli∣uered without any force.

* 5.142This yeare was a great commotion in Nor∣wiche agaynst the Prior of the place. At length [ 40] the Citizens opened the gates to the Duke of Norffolke whiche came thyther to appease the matter, though at the fyrst they woulde not suf∣fer hym to enter.

The chiefe offenders were accordyng to their demerites,* 5.143 greuously punished and executed, and the Mayre was discharged of hys office, & Sir Iohn Clyfton was made Gouernour there, till the Kyng hadde restored the Citizens to theyr auncient liberties. [ 50]

This commotion was begonne for certayne newe exactions whyche the Pryour claymed and tooke of the Citizens,* 5.144 contrarye to theyr auncient freedome: But thys was not the way to come to their right, and therefore they were worthily corrected.

Whylest the warres ceassed by occasion of the truce,* 5.145 the myndes of men were not so quiet but that such as were bent to malicious reuenge, soughte to compasse their prepensed purpose, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agaynst forreyn foes and enemies of their coun∣trey, but againste their owne countrey menne, and those that hadde deserued verye well of the common wealthe: and this specially for lacke of stoutnesse in the Kyng, who by his autho∣ritie myghte haue ruled bothe partes,* 5.146 and orde∣red all differences betwixte them, as might haue stande wyth Reason: but where as hee was of suche pacience and integritie of lyfe, as nothing seemed to hym woorthie to be regarded, but that apperteyned vnto Heauenly matters and health of hys soule, the sauyng whereof, hee esteemed to bee the greatest wysedome, and the losse ther∣of the extremest folly that might be.

The Queene contrary wyse, was a woman of a greate witte, and no lesse courage,* 5.147 desy∣rous of honoure, and furnyshed wyth the gif∣tes of reason, policye and wysedome, but yet to shew hir selfe not altogether a man, but in some one poynte a verie woman, oftentymes when she was vehemente and fully bente on a matter, she was sodeynly lyke a Weathercocke, mu∣table and tournyng.

Thys woman disdaynyng that hir husband should be ruled rather than rule, could not abyde that the Duke of Gloucester shoulde do all thin∣ges concernyng the order of weyghtye affay∣res, least it myghte bee sayde, that she had ney∣ther wytte nor stomacke, whyche woulde per∣mitte and suffer hir husbande beeyng of perfecte age, lyke a young pupill to bee gouerned by the disposition of an other manne. Althoughe thys toye entred fyrste into hir brayne thorough hir owne imagination, yet was shee pricked for∣warde to reforme the matter both by suche of hir husbandes counsell, as of long tyme had borne malice to the Duke for his playnenesse vsed in declaryng theyr vntrouth, as partely yee haue hearde, and also by the aduertisement giuen to hir from Kyng Reygner hir father, aduysyng hir, that shee and hir husbande shoulde in anye wyse take vppon them the rule and gouernance of the Realme, and not to bee kepte vnder, as wardes and desolate Orphanes.

What needeth many wordes?* 5.148 the Queene persuaded by these meanes, firste of all excluded the Duke of Gloucester from all rule and gouer∣naunce, not prohibiting suche as shee knewe to bee hys mortall foes to inuente and imagine causes and griefes agaynst hym and hys, in so much that by hir procurement, diuers noble men cōspired against him, of the which diuers writers affirme the Marques of Suffolk, and the duke of Buck. to be the chief, not vnprocured by y^e Car∣dinall of Winchest. & the Archbishop of Yorke. Dyuers Articles were layde agaynste hym in

open counsel and in especially one, that he had caused menne adiudged to dye, to bee put to o∣ther execution, than the lawe of the land assig∣ned: for surely the duke being very wel learned in the lawe ciuill, detesting malefactors, & pu∣nishing offences, gat greate malice and hatred of suche as feared condigne rewarde for their wicked dooings. Althoughe the duke sufficiently aunswered to all things against him obiected: yet bicause his death was determined, his wis∣dome [ 10] little helped, nor his innocencie nothing auailed.

But to auoyde the daunger of some tu∣multe that might be reysed, if a Prince so well beloued of the people shuld be openly executed, they determined to worke their feats and bring him to destruction, ere he shuld haue ani know∣ledge or warning thereof. So for the furthe∣rance of their purpose,* 5.149 a parliament was sum∣moned to be kepte at Berry, wheather resorted [ 20] all the peeres of the realme, and amongst them the duke of Glocester, which on the second day of the session was by the lorde Beaumond, then high conestable of England, acompanied with the duke of Buckingham, and others, arrested, apprehended, and put in warde, and all his ser∣uauntes sequestred from him, and .xxxij. of the chief of his retinew wer sent to diuers prisons, to the greate admiratiō of the people. The duke the night after he was thus committed to pri∣son,* 5.150 [ 30] beeing the .xxiiij. of February was founde deade in his bedde, and his body shewed to the lordes and commons, as though hee had dyed of a palsey, or of an impostume: but all indiffe∣rent persons (as saithe Hall) well knewe, that hee dyed of some violent deathe: some iudged him to be strangled, some affirme that an hotte spit was put in at his fundement: other write that he was smouldered betwene .ij. fetherbeds, and some haue affirmed that hee dyed of verye [ 40] griefe, for that he might not come openly to his answere. His deade corps was conueied to S. Albons, and there buried. After his death none of his seruāts suffred, although •…•…ue of them, to wit, sir Roger Chāberlain knight, Middle•…•…on, Herbert, Arteise esquiers, and Richard Nedhā gentleman, were arreigned, condempned and drawen to Tiborne, where they were hanged, let downe quick, & striped to haue bin bowelled and quartered, but the Marques of Suffolke [ 50] cōming at that instant brought their pardons, shewed the same openlye, and so theyr lyues were saued.* 5.151

Some thinke that the name and title of Gloucester, hathe bene vnluckye to diuerse, whiche for their honoures haue bene erected by creation of princes, to that stile and dignitie, as Hughe Spenser, Thomas of Woodstocke, son to Kyng Edwarde the thirde, and this Duke Humfrey: Whiche .iij. persons by miserable deathe •…•…ished their dayes, and after them king Richarde the thirde also, Duke of Gloucester, in ciuill war was slaine and brought to death: so that this name of Gloucester is taken for an vnhappy stile, as the prouerbe speaketh of Se∣ians horse, whose rider was euer vnhorsed, and whose possessor was euer brought to misery.

But surely, by the vnworthy deathe of this noble Duke and politike gouernor, the publike wealthe of the Realme of Englande came to greate ruyne, as by the sequele of this pam∣phlet may more at lardge appeare.

There is an olde said saw, that a man in∣tendyng to auoyde the smoke, falleth into the fyre: So heree, the Queene mindyng to pre∣serue hir husbande in honoure, and hirselfe in auctority, consented to the deathe of this noble man, whose only deathe brought that to passe, whyche shee hadde moste cause to haue feared, whyche was, the deposing of hyr husbande, the decay of the house of Lancaster, whyche of likelyh•…•… hadde not chaunced if this Duke hadde liued: for then durste not the Duke of Yorke haue attempted to set forthe his title to the Crowne, as hee afterwardes didde, to the greate disquieting of the Realme, and destruc∣tion of Kyng Henry and of many other noble men beside.

This is the opinion of menne, but gods iudgementes are vnsearcheable, against whose decree and ordinaunce preuaileth no humaine counsaile.

But to conclude with this noble Duke: he was no doubt a right mirrour of an vpright and politike gouernour, bending all his ende∣uoures to the aduauncement of the common wealth, no lesse louing to the poore commons, than beloued of them again. Learned he was, and wise, full of curtesie, and voide of all pride and ambition, a vertue rare in personages of suche high estate, albeit where the same chaun∣ceth, most commendable.

But sithe the praise of this noble man de∣serueth a large discourse, and meete for suche as haue cunning howe to handle the same, I referre the readers vnto Maister Fores booke of Actes, and Monumentes, fyrste Volume Page 833.

In this sixe and twentieth yere of the raign of this King,* 5.152 but in the firste of the rule of the Queene, I finde nothing done worthye of re∣hearsall within the Realme of Englande, but that the Marques of Suffolke, by greate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Kyng, and more desire of the Queene, was erected to the title and name of Duke of Suffolke whiche dignitie hee shorte time in∣ioyed:

for Richard duke of Yorke being great∣ly alyed by hys wife to the chiefe Peeres and Potentates of the Real•…•…e, ouer and beside hys own progeny, perceiuing the king to be a ruler not ruling, and the whole burthen of the realm to reste in the ordinaunces of the Queene, and the Duke of Suffolke, began secretly to allure his friendes of the Nobilitie, and priuily de∣clared vnto them hys tytle and ryghte to the crowne, and likewise didde he to certaine wise [ 10] and sage gouernours and rulers of diuers Ci∣ties and Townes: whych priuy attempt was so pollitickely handled, and so secretly kepte that his prouision was ready before his purpose was openly published, and his friendes opened themselues ere the contrary parte coulde them espie: for in conclusion, time reueled truthe, and olde hidde hatred soddainely sprong out, as yee maye hereafter both learne and heare.

During these doings, Henry Beauford Bi∣shop [ 20] of Winchester,* 5.153 and called the riche Car∣dinall, departed out of this worlde, and was buried at Winchester.* 5.154 This man was sonne to Iohn Duke of Lancaster, dese•…•…ded of an honourable linnage, but borne in baste, more noble in bloud than notable in learning, hault of stomacke, and highe of countenaunce, riche aboue measure, but not very liberall, dysdain∣full to his kinne, and dreadefull to hys louers, preferring money before friendeshippe, manye [ 30] things beginning and fewe performing: hys couetous insaciabilitie, and hope of long lyfe, made hym bothe to forgette God, his Prince, and hymselfe: of the getting of his goodes both by power Legantine, and spirituall bribery, I will not speake, but the keeping of them for his ambitious purpose was bothe greate losse to hys naturall Prince and natiue countrey: for hys hydden riches might haue well holpen the King, and his secret treasure might haue relie∣ued [ 40] the communaltie, when money was se•…•…nte and importunate chardges were dayly imme∣nent.

* 5.155After the deathe of this Prelate, the affaires in Fraunce were neither well looked to, nor the gouernors of the countrey wel aduised:* 5.156 for an english capitain called sir Frācis Suriennes, surnamed the Aregonois, of the countrey wher he was borne, a man for his wit and actiuitie admitted into the order of the Garter tooke by [ 50] skaling soddainely in the nyght of the euen of our Lady day in Lent,* 5.157 a Town on the Fron∣ters of Normandy, belonging to the Duke of Britaine called Fougiers, spoylyng the same and killing the inhabitantes.

The Duke of Britaigne beeing hereof ad∣uertised, sent worde by the bishop of Remines to the Frenche Kyng, beseching him of his aid and counsaile in the matter.

The French King foorthwith sent his •…•…∣uer Iohn Hauart, and Iohn Cosinet one of the Maisters of his requestes to the King of Eng∣lande: and to the Duke of Somerset, he dis∣patched Peter de Fontaines the Maister of his horse, to the whiche messengers aunswere was made aswell by the Kyng as the duke, that the fact was done without their knowledge. And for the truce to be kepte, and not onely restitu∣tion, but also amends to be made to the Duke of Britayne, a daye of dyet was appoynted to be kepte at Louniers, where the commissio∣ners on both partes being assembled, the french∣men demaunded amendes, wyth no small re∣compence. The Englishemen aunswered that without offence, nothing by Iustice ought to be satisfied, affirming the doing of Sir Fraun∣cis Sureinnes to be only his act without con∣sent eyther of the Kyng of Englande, or of the Duke of Somerset hys lieuetenaunt and Re∣gent.

But whiles wyth long delay, they talked of this matter at Louniers, certain Frenchmen by aduertisement of a wagoner of Louniers,* 5.158 vnderstāding that the town of Pont de Larche was but slenderly manned. The wagoner la∣ded his wagon, and passed forward hauing in his companye twoo strong Varlettes clad like Carpenters, wyth greate axes on their shoul∣ders, and hereto le Seigneur de Breze wyth a chosen company of men of armes, lodged him∣selfe in a bushement neare to the gate of Saint Andrewe, and Capitayne Floquet accompa∣nied wyth sir Iames de Cleremont, and ano∣ther greate companye priuily lurked vnder a woode towarde Louniers.

When all things were appointed for the purpose, earely one morning about the begin∣ning of the moneth of October, deuised to take the same town on this maner: The wagoner came to the gate, and called the porter by name, praying hym to open the gate, that hee myghte passe to Roan, and retourne agayne the same nyght.

The Porter (whiche well knewe the voyce of hys customer) tooke little heede to the other twoo companions, and so opened the one gate and sent another fellowe of hys to open the for∣moste gate. When the Chariot was on the drawe bridge betwene both the gates, the cha∣riot Maister gaue the Porter money, and for the nonce let one peece fall on the grounde, and while the Porter stouped to take it vp, the wa∣goner wyth hys dagger stroke hym in at hys throate, so that he cried for no helpe, and the .ij. great lubbers slewe the other porters, and with their axes cut the axeltree of the wagon, so that

the drawe bridge coulde not be shortly drawen vppe. This done they made a signe to Capi∣taine Floquet, whyche wyth all speede entred the Towne, slewe and tooke all the Englishe∣menne: and amongest other, the Lorde Fau∣conbridge Capitaine of the saide Towne was taken prisoner. The losse of this place was of no small importance, being the very kay & pas∣sage ouer the riuer of Seyne, from France into Normandy, beeing distant from Roan onely [ 10] foure leagues.

When request was made to haue it resto∣red againe to the Englishemen, aunswere was made, that if they woulde restore to the Duke of Britayne, the Towne of Fougieres wyth condigne amends for the domages done there, the Towne of Pont Larche shoulde then bee againe deliuered, or else not.

And shortely after, in hope of good speede the Frenche King assembled an army, and de∣uiding [ 20] the same into three parts, gotte by sur∣render after sundry assaults, and losse of diuers of his men, the townes of Lovuiers, and Ger∣borye, whereof Wyllyam Harper was Capi∣tayne. Also the Towne, Castell, and greate Tower of Verneueil in Perche were rendred into the Frenche Kyngs handes, after twenty dayes of respite graunted, to see if rescues wold haue come.

The Frenche wryters affirme the Towne [ 30] to be taken by assault. Thus was the warre re∣nued, before the terme of the truce was fullye expired, and the Englishe Capitaines were brought to their wittes end, what with appea∣sing dayly rumors wythin the Townes, and what wyth studie howe to recouer castels loste and taken, for while they studied how to keepe and defende one place, foure or fiue other fo∣lowing fortunes chaunce tourned to the french parte. The chiefe cause of whyche reuoltyng [ 40] was, for that it was blowen abroade throughe France, how the realm of England, after the death of the duke of Gloucester by the seuerall factions of princes was deuided in two parts, and that Wyllyam de la Poole lately created Duke of Suffolke, and diuerse other whythe were the occasion of the saide Duke of Glou∣cesters deathe, vexed and oppressed the poore people, so that mennes mindes were, not inten∣tiue to outwarde affaires: but all their studye [ 50] giuen to keepe off wrongs offered at home, the Kyng lyttle regardyng the matter, and the Quene ledde by euill counsell, rather further•…•…d suche mischiefes, as dayly beganne to growe, by ciuill discorde, than sought to reforme them, so that the Normans and Gascoignes vnder∣standing in what state thynges stoode tourned to the Frenche parte, as he, reafter it maye ap∣peare.

Aboute the same time also, beganne a newe rebellion in Irelande,* 5.159 but Richarde Duke of Yorke beeing sent thither to appease the same, so asswaged the fury of the wilde and sauage people there, that he wanne hym suche fauoure amongest them, as coulde neuer bee separated from hym, and hys lynnage, whiche in the se∣quele of thys historye maye more plainely ap∣peare.

The Frenchemenne hauing perfect vnder∣standyng of the vnreadinesse of the Realme of England, displayd their banners,* 5.160 and set forth theyr armyes, and in shorte space gat by yel∣ding, Constance, Gysors, Castell Galliarde, Ponteau de Mere, saint Lo, Festampe, New∣castell, Touque, Mauleon, Argenton, Lisieux, and diuers other Townes and places within the countrey of Normandy.

Lykewise in Guienne was the Towne of Maulisson rendred to the Erle of Fois. These Townes were not yelded voluntarily by the Englishe souldiors: but they were compelled thereto by the inhabitants of the townes, which hauyng intelligence of the feeble estate of the Realme of Englande, rose againste the Capi∣taynes, opened the gates to the ennemyes, or constreined them to render vpon composition. By whyche enforcement, was the riche Citie of Roan deliuered:* 5.161 for surely the Duke of So∣merset and the Earle of Shrewsbury had well kepte that Citie, if they had bin no more vexed with the Citizens, than they were wyth theyr ennemies. For after that the Frenche Kyng had giuen summonaunce to the Citie, the in∣habitantes streyght wayes didde not only de∣uie which way they might betray the citie, but also put on armor, and rebelled openly against their Capitaines, the whiche perceyuing theyr vntruthe, retired into the Castell or Pallaice, where for a certayne space,* 5.162 wyth arrowes and handegunnes, they sore molested the vntrue ci∣tizens, but at lengthe vnderstanding the great puissaunce of the Frenche King, and dispairing of all aide and succoure, they yelded vpon con∣dition, that wyth all their goodes and armoure they shoulde safely departe to Caen, and that certayne Townes shoulde bee deliuered by a daye. And till the same Towns were rendred, the Earle of Shrewsbury, and the Lord But∣ler sonne to the Earle of Ormonde, were lefte behinde as pledges, whiche were sent to the ca∣stell of Evreux, bycause they sore feared the malice of the citizens of Roan.

The Frenchemenne followyng the victorye came to Harflewe, and fiercely assaulted the walles, but by the highe prowes and vndaun∣ted valiauncy of the Capitayne, Syr Thomas

Curson they were to their great losse manfully by him repulsed, and beaten backe. The french∣men learning witte by this greate perist, lefte their skaling, and deuised dayly howe to batter and break the walles, make the breaches reaso∣nable for them to enter. This siege long conti∣nued to the greate losse of bothe parties. When Sir Thomas Curson sawe no likelyhoode of gaine,* 5.163 but great apparance of present losse, hee fell at composition with the enimies, and so de∣parted [ 10] wyth all his goodes.

* 5.164After which Towne rendred, the fortresse of Hunflewe was vppon like composition also yelded. Thus maye you see howe fortune is e∣uer wythout measure, eyther too muche fauou∣ring, or too much hating: for beside these towns surrendred in Normandye, the Duke of Bri∣tain recouered againe Fougieres, saint Iames de Beuuron, and diuers other.

* 5.165In the meane season the King of Englande [ 20] sente into Normandye (with a newe supply of a thousande fiue hundreth men) a right valiant Capitayne called Sir Thomas Kiriell,* 5.166 who ioygning hymselfe wyth other Englishe capi∣taines recouered the Townes of Lisieux, and Valongnes, and hauing wyth him power suf∣ficient, as he tooke it, to keepe the fieldes, he de∣parted the twelfth of April from Valongnes, meaning to passe towardes Baieux, and after to Caen, but on the eyghteenth day of the same [ 30] Moneth, hee was encountred at a place called Formigny betwixt Carenten and Baieux, by the Earle of Cleremont, and other Frenche∣men with Scottes. At the first onset, the En∣glishemen receyued their enemies wyth suche manhoode, that the Frenchemen were driuen back, and the Englishmen took from them two Culuerines, albeit in the ende, by the comming of the Conestable of Fraunce, Arthur de Bri∣taine Earle of Richmont, who broughte with [ 40] hym twoo hundreth or twelue score menne of armes,* 5.167 and an eyght hundred archers or demy∣launces, the Englishemenne were discomfited, put to flight, and slaine to the number of three thousande seuen hundred three score & thirteen, as Enguerāt noteth, beside prisoners, of whom there were diuers personages of accompte, as the saide Sir Thomas Kiriell hymselfe. Syr Henry Norbery, Sir Thomas Drewe, Syr Thomas Kirkly, Christofer Anberton, Arpell, [ 50] Helice, Alengour, Iennequin, Vacquier, Go∣barte, Caleuille, and sundry other.

Sir Robert Veer, and sir Mathew Gough that valiant Welchmā, and many other esca∣ped so wel as they might some to Baieux some to Caen, and other to other places as seemed to stand best with their safeties.

After thys victorye obteyned, the Frenche Kyng assembled an army royal,* 5.168 and cōming before Caen, besieged it on all sides, and after makyng hys approches fiercelye assaulted the walles, but the Duke of Somerset, and the o∣ther Capitaines within the Towne, manfully withstoode their enemies, shewyng both force and greate pollicye in defendyng and beatyng backe the assailants. The Frenche Kyng per∣ceyuing hee coulde not preuaile that way, sent for all his greate ordinaunce to Paris, whiche beeing brought, he dayly shotte at the walles, and did some hurte, but to the Castell whych stoode on a rocke, and in it a Dungeon vnable to be beaten downe, hee didde no harme at all. Though the duke of Somerset was the kings lieuetenaunt, yet Syr Dauy Hall as captain of thys Towne, for hys Mayster the Duke of Yorke owner therof, tooke vpon hym the chiefe chardge. Sir Roberte Veer was Captaine of the Castell, and Sir Henry Radforde Cap∣taine of the Dungeon. Dayly the shotte was greate, but more terrible than hurtfull, sauing one daye a stone shot into the Towne, fest be∣tweene the Duchesse of Somerset, and hir chil∣dren, whiche being amazed with this chaunce, besought hir husband kneeling on hir knees, to haue mercy and compassion of his smalle in∣fantes, and that they might bee deliuered oute of the Towne in safegarde.

The Duke more pityfull than hardy, mo∣ued wyth the sorrowe of hys wife, and loue of his children, rendred the Towne agaynste the minde of Sir Dauy Hall, (whose counsell and faithefull diligence in acquyting himselfe to aunswere the truste committed to hym by hys Maister,) if other hadde followed, the Frenche had sustayned more trauaile and losse, ere they shoulde haue so easely atteined their purpose. The conclusion of the surrender was, that the Duke of Somersette and his, might departe in safegarde with all their goodes and substa•…•…e: sir Dauy Hall with diuers of his trusty frinds departed to Chierburghe, and from thence sai∣led into Ireland to the duke of Yorke, making relation to hym of all these dooings, whyche thing kindled so great a rancour in the Dukes harte and stomacke, that hee neuer lefte perse∣cuting of the Duke of Somersette, till hee had broughte hym to hys fatall ende, and confu∣sion.

After the obteyning of this strong towne of Caen, the Earle of Cleremonte besieged the Citie of Lisieux, whereof was Capitaine Ma∣thewe Goughe wyth three hundred Englishe men, who in the ende, deliuered that towne, vppon condition, that he and his people might departe to Chierburghe. Then was Falaise beesieged, whereof were Capitaynes, for the

Erle of Shrewsbury that was the owner, An∣drew Trollop, and Thomas Cotton esquiers, which being in dyspaire of all succours, agreed to deliuer it vpon twoo conditions:

The one was, that the erle their Master whi∣che remayned in pledge, for performaunce of certaine appointmentes, concluded at the deli∣uerye of Roan (as yee haue hearde) shoulde be set at libertie. The other, that if they were not rescued within .xij. dais, that then they & theirs [ 10] shoulde departe wyth armoure, and all their goodes moueable, whither it pleased them. At the day appoynted, the Towne was rendred, and so likewise was the Towne of Damfront vppon the semblable agreement. Nowe rested onely Englishe the Towne of Chierburghe, wherof was captayne one Thomas Gonville, whyche surely as long as victuall and muniti∣on serued, defended the Town right manfully, but when these twoo handes were consumed, [ 20] hee beeing destitute of all comforte and ayde, vppon a reasonable composition, yelded the Towne, and went to Callais, where the Duke of Somersette, and many other Englishemen then soiorned. Thus was Normandye loste clerely out of the Englishemennes hands,* 5.169 af∣ter it had continued in their possession the space of .xxx. yeares by the conqueste of Henry the •…•…e. In the whiche Duchte were an hundred strong Townes and fortresses, able to be kepte [ 30] and holden, beside them whiche were destroyed by the warres, and in the same is one Arche∣bishoppricke, and sixe Bishopprickes. Some saye that the Englishemenne were not of pu∣issaunce eyther to manne the Townes, as they shoulde haue bene, or to inhabite the countrey, whiche was the cause that they could not keepe it. Other saye, that the Duke of Somersette, for his owne peculiar aduauntage, kepte not halfe the number of souldiours whiche he was [ 40] appoynted and allowed, but put the wages in his purse, but the chiefe, and onely cause vn∣doubtedly, was the deuision within the realm, euery great man desiring rather to be reuenged on his foe at home, than on the common eni∣mie abroade, as by that whiche followeth, you may plainely perceiue.

* 5.170For whilest the Frenche made these con∣quests in the Duchie of Normandie, three mis∣chieuous Capitaynes, sette the people of thys [ 50] realme (aswell those of the nobilitie, as of the meaner sorte) in ciuill warre and sedition: for among the highe Princes and Peeres reigned inwarde grudge, among the Clergie flattery and adulation, and among the communaltye disdaine of lasciuious soueraigntie, whyche the Queene wyth hir mynions and vnprofitable counsellors daily tooke and vsurped vpon them. Wherefore they (not minding to bee charged further than their backes were able to beare, and herewyth perceiuing how throughe want of prouydent wisedome in the gouernoure all things went to wracke, aswell within the realm as without) beganne to make exclamation a∣gainst the Duke of Suffolk,* 5.171 affirming him to bee the onely cause of the deliuerie of Aniow, and Maine, the chief procurour of the Duke of Gloucesters death, the very occasion of the losse of Normandy, the swallower vp of the kyngs treasure, the remoouer of good and vertuous counsellours from aboute the Prince, and the aduauncers of vicious persons, and of suche, as by their dooings shewed themselues apparant aduersaries to the common wealthe.

The Quene doubting not only the dukes destruction, but also hir owne confusion, cau∣sed the Parliament beefore begon at the blacke Friers, to be adiourned to Leicester,* 5.172 thynking there by force, and rigor of lawe, to suppresse and subdue all the malice and euill wil conces∣ned againste the Duke and hir, at whiche place fewe of the Nobilitie would appeare: where∣fore it was againe adiourned to Westminster, where was a full apparaunce.

In the whiche session the commons of the nether house, put vp to the kyng and the lords many articles of treason, misprision, and euill demeanor, againste the Duke of Suffolke, the effect whereof wyth hys aunsweres here ensu∣eth, as we finde the same recorded in the Chro∣nicles of Maister Edwarde Hall,

1 Fyrste they alledged that hee hadde trai∣terouslye excited, prouoked,* 5.173 and counsayled Iohn Earle of Dunois bastarde of Orleans, Bertram Lorde Presigny, Willyam Cosinet, ennemies to the King, and friendes and Am∣bassadours to Charles, calling himself French Kyng, to enter into this Realme, and to lea∣uie warre againste the King and his people, to the intent to destroy the K. and his frendes, and to make Iohn his son King of this realm, marying him to Margaret, sole heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset, pretending and declaring hir, to be nexte heire inheritable to the crowne, for lack of issue, of the kings body laufully be∣gotten.

2 Item, the saide Duke being of the Kings priuie and neare counsaile, allured by greate rewards and faire promisses, made by the for∣said Earle of Dunois, caused the King to de∣lyuer and sette at libertye, Charles Duke of Orleans, ennemy to the King, and the Kings noble father, whiche delyueraunce was prohi∣bited by expresse words, in the laste will of the kings moste victorious father.

3 Item, that beefore the departure of the

saide Duke of Orleans, the aforenamed Duke of Suffolke trayterouslye faste cleauyng to Charles called the Frenche King, counsailed, prouoked, and entised the saide Duke of Orle∣ans, to moue the same Kyng to make warre againste England, both in Fraunce and Nor∣mandie: according to which procurement and counsayle, the saide Frenche King hathe reco∣uered the whole Realme of Fraunce, and all the Duchie of Normandie, and taken prisoners [ 10] the Earle of Shrewesoury, the Lorde Faucon∣bridge, and many other valiant Capitaines.

These three Articles aforenamed he denyed, eyther for facte or thought.

4 Farther it was alledged, that he beeyng ambassador for the K. of England, to Charles calling hymselfe Frenche King, promysed to Reyner king of Sicile, and to Charles Dan∣giers his brother, ennemies to the king, the re∣lease of Aniow, wyth the deliueraunce of the [ 20] Countie of Maine, and the citie of Mawnt or Mauns, wythout the knowledge of the other Ambassadours, which him accompanied, which promise after his return, he caused to be perfor∣med, to the kings disinheritance and losse irre∣cuperable, and to the strengthe of his enemies, and feeblishement of the Duchie of Norman∣die. To this article he answered, that his com∣mission was to conclude, and doo all thinges accordyng to his discretion, for the obteynyng [ 30] of a peace, and bycause wythout deliuerye of those countreys, hee perceyued that truce coulde not bee obteyned, he agreed to the release and deliueraunce of them.

5 Also they surmised, that the saide Duke beeing in Fraunce in the Kings seruice, and one of the priuiesie of his counsaile there, trai∣terouslye declared and opened to the Capitains and Conduiters of warre, apperteyning to the Kinges enemies, the Kinges counsaile, pur∣ueyance [ 40] of his armies, furniture of his towns, and all other ordynaunces, whereby the Kings enemies (enformed by hys trayterouse infor∣mation) haue gotten Townes and fortresses, and the king by that meane depriued of his in∣herytaunce.

6 Item, the sayde Duke declared to the Earle of Dunoys, to the Lord Presigny, and Wyllyam Cosinet ambassadors for the french [ 50] king lying in Londō, the priuities of the kings counsaile, bothe for the prouision of further warre, and also for defence of the Duchie of Normandye, by the disclosing whereof, the Frenchemenne knowing the Kinges secretes, preuented the tyme, and obteyned theyr pur∣pose.

7 Item, that the saide Duke at suche time as the King sent Ambassadours to the French King, for the intreating of peace, tr•…•…cou•…•…y beefore their comming to the Frenche Courte certified king Charles of their commission, au∣thoritie and instructions, by reason whereof, neither peace nor amitie succeded, & the kings inheritaunce loste, and by hys enemyes pos∣sessed.

8 Item, the same Duke sayde openly in the starre chamber before the lords of the coun∣saile, that hee had as highe a place in the coun∣saile house of the French king, as hee had there, and was aswell truffed there as here, and could remoue from the French king, the p•…•…iest man of his counsaile, if hee would.

9 Item, when armies haue bene p•…•…ared, and souldiours readie waged to passe on•…•… the Sea, to resiste the Kings enemies: the sayde duke corrupted by rewards of the french king, hathe restrayned and stayed the saide armies, to passe any farther.

10 Item, the said Duke being Ambassador for the King, comprised not in the league as the kings alies, neyther the king of Arragon, ney∣ther the Duke of Britaigne, but suffred them to bee comprised on the contrarie parte, by rea∣son wherof, the olde amitie of the king of Ar∣ragon, is estranged from this Realme, and the Duke of Britaine became enemie to the same: Giles his brother the Kinges sure freinde, caste in strong prison, and there like to ende and fi∣nishe his dayes.

All these obiections hee vtterly denyed, or faintly auoided, but none fully excused. Diuers other crimes were layde to hys charge, as en∣riching hymselfe with the Kynges goodes and lands, gathering togither, and making a Mo∣nopolie of offices, fees, wardes, and Farmes, by reason wherof, the Kings estate was great∣ly minished and decayed, and he and his kinne highely exalted and enriched, with many other pointes, which bycause they be not notable nor of greate force or strengthe, I omitte and o∣uerpasse.

The Quene which entierly loued the duke, doubting some commotion and troudle to a∣rise, if hee were let go vnpunished,* 5.174 caused him to be committed to the tower; where he remai∣ned not paste a Moneth, but was agayne de∣liuered and restored to the Kynges fauour, as muche as euer hee was beefore. This dooing so much displeased the people, that if politike pro∣uision hadde not bin, greate mischiefe had im∣medyatly ensued: for the commons in sundry places of the Realme assembled togyther in greate companyes, and chose to them a Capi∣taine, whome they called Blewberde,* 5.175 but ere they hadde attempted any enterprise their lea∣ders were apprehended, and so the matter paci∣fied

without any hurte committed.

After this little rage thus asswaged, the par∣liament was adiourned to Leicester, whyther came the King and Queene in great estate, and wyth them, the Duke of Suffolke as chiefe counsellors. The commons of the lower house not forgetting their olde grudge, besought the King, that suche persons as assented to the re∣lease of Aniow, and delyueraunes of Mayne might bee duely punished, and to bee priuie to [ 10] that sake they accused as principall, the Duke of Suffolke, with Iohn Bishop of Salisbury, and Sir Iames Fines, Lord Day, and diuers other. When the king perceiued that there was •…•…o remedy to appease the peoples fury by any dissembling wayes, to beginne a shorte way to pacifie so long an hatred, hee fyste sequestred the Lorde Saye being Threasourer of Eng∣land, and other the Dukes adherems from their offices, and toomthes, and after banished the [ 20] Duke of Suffolke as the abhorred tode, and common noysaunce of the realme for the terme office yeares, meaning by this exile to appease the furious rage of the people, and after when the matter was forgotten, to reuolte hym home againe: but fortune woulde not that to vngra∣cious a person shoulde so escape, for when hee shipped in Suffolke, intending to transporte ouer into Fraunce, hee was encountred with a shippe of warre, apperteyning to the Duke of [ 30] Exceter, Connestable of the Tower of Lon∣don, called the Nicholas of the Tower. The Capitayne of that Barke wyth small fight en∣tred into the Dukes ship, and perceyuing hys person present, brought hym to Douer Rode, and there on the one side of a cocke boate,* 5.176 cau∣sed his heade to be striken off, and left his body with the heade lying there on the sands, which corps beyng there founde by a chaplein of his, was conueyed to Wingfield colledge in Suf∣folke, [ 40] and there buried. This end had Willi∣am de la Poole Duke of Suffolke, as meane iudge by Gods prouidence, for that he hadde procured the deathe of that good duke of Glou∣cester, as before is partly touched.

But the deathe of this Duke broughte not the Realme in quiet, for those that fauoured the Duke of Yorke, and wished the Crowne vppon his heade, for that (as they iudged) hee hadde more right therto, than he that ware it, [ 50] procured a commotion in Kent on this man∣ner.

* 5.177A certain yong man of a goodly statu•…•…e and right pregnaunt of witte, was enticed to take vppon hym the name of Iohn Mortimer (all∣thoughe his name was Iohn Cade) and not for a small pollicie, thinking by that surname, that those which fauored the house of the Earle of Marche woulde be assistaunce to hym.

This Captaine assembled a greate compa∣nye of tall personages, assuring them, that the enterprise whiche he tooke in hande, was bothe honorable to God and the kyng, and profitable to the whole Realme, for it eyther by force or pollicye they might gette the King and Quene into their hands, that he woulde cause them to bee honourablye vsed, and take suche order for the punishing and reforming of the misdemea∣nors of their counsellours, that neither fifteenes shoulde hereafter be demaunded, nor once any impositions or taxes shoulde bee spoken of.

The Kentyshe people prouoked with these perswasions and other faire promisses of liber∣ty (which they most desire) in good order of bat∣taile, thoughe not in great number, came with their saide Capitaine vnto the plaine of Black heath, betwene Eltham and •…•…newiche.

And to the intent the cause of this glorious Capitaines comming thither, might bee sha∣dowed from the King and his counsaile, vnder a cloked veile of good meaning, thoughe his in∣tent was malicious, he sent vnto hym an hum∣ble supplication, affirming that his comming was not against his grace, but against suche of his counsellours, as were louers of themselues, and oppressors of the poore communaltye: flat∣terers of the King, and enemies to his honor: suckers of his purse, & robbers of his subiectes: parciall to their friendes, and extreeme to their enemies: through bribes corrupted, and for in∣differency dooing nothing.

This proude bill was of the King and hys counsaile disdainfully taken, and vppon con∣sultation hadde, it was concluded, that suche proude Rebelles shoulde rather bee brought down by force and violence, than pacified with faire wordes, and gentle aunswers: Where∣vppon the King assembled a greate army, and marched towarde them, whiche hadde lyen on Blacke heathe by the space of eight dayes.

The subtill Capitain Iacke Cade, inten∣ding to bring the King •…•…lker within the com∣passe of his nette, brake vp his Campe,* 5.178 and re∣tired backe to the town of Seu•…•…nocke in Kent. The Queene whiche bart the rule being of his retraite well aduertysed, sente Syr Hamfery Stafford Knighte, and William hys, brother, with many other gentlemenne, to followe the chase of the Kentishemenne, thinking that they hadde fledde, but they were deceyued, for at the first skirmishe bothe the Staffords were staine, and all their company shamefully discomfited.

The Kings army being at this time come to Blacke heath, hearing of this discomsiture, beganne to grudge and marmure amongest themselues, some wishing the Duke of Yorke

at home to ayde the captaine hys cousin: some desiring the ouerthrowe of the Kyng and hys counsayle: other openlye crying oute on the Queene and hyr complices.

This rumor published abroade, caused the King and certaine of his counsaile (to appease the furious rage of the multitude) to commit the Lorde Say Threasourer of England, vn∣to the Tower of London, and if other againste whome like displeasure was borne, hadde bene [ 10] present, they had ben likewise cōmitted. When Iacke Cade had obteyned the victorie againste the Staffordes, hee apparrelled hymselfe in sir Humfreys brigandins set full of guilt nailes, and so wyth pompe and glorye, retourned a∣gaine toward London, diuers idle and vaga∣rande persons resortyng to hym from Suffex, and Surrey, and other places, and from other parties to a greate number. Thus this glori∣ous Capitaine enuironed wyth a multitude of [ 20] euill, rude and rusticall people, came againe to the plaine of Blacke heathe, and there strongly encamped hymselfe, to whome were sent from the Kyng, the Archebishoppe of Canterburye, and Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, to com∣mon with hym of his greeues and requestes.

These lords founde hym sober in talke, wise in reasoning, arrogant in hart, & stiffe in opi∣nion, for by no meanes he would graūt to dis∣solue his army, except the king in person wold [ 30] come to him, and assent to all things he would require. The king after he had vnderstoode the presumptuous aunswers and requestes of this villanous rebell, beganne asmuche to doubt his owne familiar seruauntes, as hys vnknowen subiectes, (which spared not to speake, that the Capitaynes cause was profitable for the com∣mon wealthe) departed in all haste to the Ca∣stell of Killingworthe in Warwickeshire, lea∣ning only behind him the lord Scales to keepe [ 40] the tower of London. The Kentishe captaine beeing aduertised of the Kings absence, came firste into Southwark, and there lodged at the white harte, prohibiting to all his retinue mur∣der, rape, and robbery, by which coloure of well meanyng, hee allured to hym the hartes of the common people. But after this, hee entred into the Citie of London, and cutte the ropes of the drawe bridge, strikyng hys sworde on London stone, saying now is Mortimer lord of this ci∣tie. [ 50] And after a flattering declaration made to the Maior of his thither comming, he departed againe into Southwarke, and vpon the thirde day of Iuly bee caused sir Iames Fines Lorde Say and threasorer of England, to be brought to the Guyld hall, & there to be arreined, which being before the kings Iustices, put to answer, desired to be tried by his Peeres, for the lenger delay of his life. The captaine perceyuing his dila•…•…orie plea,* 5.179 by force tooke hym from the offi∣cers, & brought hym to the standerd in Cheaps▪ and there before his confession ended, caused his heade to bee striken off, and pitched it vpon a•…•… highe pole, which was openly borne before him throughe the streetes. And not content herwith hee went to Mileend, and there apprehended 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iames Cromer then sheriffe of Kent, and son in lawe to the saide Lorde Say, causing like∣wise hym without confession or excuse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to bee beheaded, and his heade to bee •…•…ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pole, and with these .ij. heades this blondy •…•…∣cher entred into the citie againe, and in despite caused them in euery streete to kisse togither, to the great detestation of all the beholders. After this, succeeded open rapine, and manifest robbe∣ry in diuers houses within the citie, and especi∣ally in the house of Philip Malpas Ad•…•…rmā of London, & diuers other, ouer and beside raun∣soming and fining of diuers notable merchāt•…•…, for the suertye of their liues, and goods, as Ro∣berte Horne Alderman, whyche p•…•…yde .•…•….C. marks: he also put to execution in Southwarke diuers persones, some for breakyng hys ordy∣naunce, other being of his olde acquaintaunce, lost they shoulde bewraye his base linnage dis∣paraging him for his vsurped surname of Mor∣timer. The Maior and other the Magistrates of London, perceyuing themselues neyther to bee sure of goodes, nor of life well warranted, determined to repulse and keepe out of their ci∣tie suche a mischieuous t•…•…raunt and his wicked company, and to be the better able so to do, they made the lorde Scales and that renoumed cap∣taine Mathewe Goughe priuye bothe of their intent and enterprise, beseeching them of their helpe and furtherance therin. The Lord Scales promised them his aide with shoting off the ar∣tillery in the tower, and Mathew Gough was by hym apointed to assiste the Maior & Londo∣ners in all that he might, and so he & other cap∣taines appointed for defence of the Citie, tooke vpon them in the night to keepe the brydge, and woulde not suffer the Kentishmen once to ap∣proche. The rebelles which neuer soundly slept for feare of sodaine chaunces, hearing that the bridge was thus kept, ran with greate haste to open that passage, where betwene bothe parties was a fience and cruell encounter. Mathew Goughe perceuing the rebelles to stand to their tackling more manfully than hee thought they woulde haue done, aduised his company, not to aduance any further towarde Southwarke, till the day appeared that they •…•…ght see where the place of icoperdy rested, and so to prouide for the same: But thys little auailed. For the re∣belles wyth theyr huge multitude draue backe

the Citizens frō the stoulpes at the bridge foote, to the drawe bridge, and began to set Arc in dy∣uers houses: greate ruth it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to beholde that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like chance, for 〈…〉〈…〉 to eschu•…•… the fire, fell vp•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their enimies we•…•…pon, and so died: 〈…〉〈…〉, with children in their armes a•…•… •…•…a•…•… die past good remembrāce, •…•…ept into y^e riuer, other doubting how to haue themselues, betwene fire, water, & sword, were in their houses 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hered. Yet y^e Captaines nothing regar∣ding [ 10] these vauntes, soughte on the bridge all the night valiantly, but in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, y^e rebels ga•…•… the draw bridges drowned many, & slew Iohn Sotton Alderman, & Robert Heysand, a hardye Citizen, w^t many other, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mathew Gough, a man of great wit, & much experience in feares of chiualry, y^t which in cōtinual warres, had spēt his time in seruice of the King and his father.

This fore conflict endured in doubtfull wise on the bridge, till nine of the clocke in the mor∣ning, [ 20] for sometime, the Londoners were beaten backe to S. Magnus corner: and suddaynely a∣gaine, the Rebels were repulsed to y^e stoulpes in Southwarke, so that both parts being faint and weerie, agreed to leaue off from fighting till the next day, vppon condition, that neyther Londo∣ners should passe into Southwarke, nor y^e Ken∣tishmen into London.

After this abstinence of warre taken, thys rakehell Captaine hoping vppon more friendes, [ 30] brake vp the gasles of the Kings benche, and the Marshalsey, and set at libertie a swarme of ga∣launtes, both meete for his seruice, and apt for his enterprise.

The Archbishop of Canterburie being Chā∣cellor of Englande, and as then for his suretie lying within the Tower, called to him the By∣shop of Winchester, who likewise for feare, lur∣ked at Halywell: these two Prelates, seeing the furie of the Kentishe people, by reason of theyr [ 40] late repulse and beating backe, to bee somewhat aswaged, passed the riuer of Thames, from the Tower into Southwarke, bringing with them vnder the kings great seale,* 5.180 a general pardon vn∣to all the offendors, and caused the same to be o∣penly published. The poore people were so glad of this pardon, and so readye to receiue it, that without bidding farewell to their Captayne, they withdrew thēselues y^e same night, euery mā towardes his owne home, as men amazed, and [ 50] striken with feare, but Iacke Cade, despayring of all succours, and fearing nowe the sequeale of his lewde dealings, departed secretely in habite disguised into Sussex, hoping so to escape, but after that proclamation was made, that who so euer could apprehēd the said Iacke Cade, shuld haue in rewarde a M. markes for hys paynes, many sought for him, but few espied him, tyll at length, one Alexander I•…•…, a valiant Esquier of Ke•…•…e, founde him one in a garden, and hym there in his defence, manfully flew,* 5.181 and brought his dead body to London, whose head was pit∣ched on a polle, and set vpon London bridge.

After this, the King himselfe came into Kent, and there 〈…〉〈…〉 vpon the offendors: and if he had not mingled his lust 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with used▪ as, more than fiue hundred by 〈…〉〈…〉, had •…•…iuistly put to 〈…〉〈…〉 punishing on∣ly the stubbornie heads, and disordred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…∣ders, deliuered and pardoned 〈…〉〈…〉 persons, to the great 〈…〉〈…〉.

During the commo•…•… ad•…•… London, Raufe Bi•…•…e Salisburie, was by 〈…〉〈…〉 namito•…•…, and 〈…〉〈…〉, and so from thenceforth, dayly followed mur∣ther, slaughter, and d•…•…struction.

The French King vnderstanding all this ci∣uill discord, and rebellious stories in England, made thereof his foundations, •…•…ping to get vnto his handes and possession, the Duchie of Aqui∣taine, and therevpon, sent y^e Erles of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Perigort, to lay siege to the towne of B•…•…r∣gerat, situate vppon the riuer of Douerdo•…•…ne, of whiche towne was Captaine, Iohn Ge•…•…, who vppon reasonable conditions, rendred the Towne: but yet the Lorde Ca•…•…, sir George Seymor, and sir Iohn Atu•…•…der, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diuers o∣ther valiant Captaines, hauing the gouernance of the Countrey, manned Townes, gathered people, and recomforted the fa•…•…ing harts of the Gascoignes in all that they could, & withall, sent letters ouer into England, certifying to y^e kings maiestie, that without speedie aide, & ready suc∣cours, the whole countrey was like to bee con∣quered & won out of the Englishmens possessiō.

Many letters were sente, & manye faire aun∣sweres were brought, but reliefe neyther appea∣red, nor one man of warre was thither shipped, by reason whereof, the frenchmen pursuing the victorie, gote the fortresses of Iansacke, and S. Foye, with diuers other peeces of importaunce thereaboutes. Also, about y^e same time, the L. Doruall, third sonne to the L. de la Breth, with a great number of men, as wel on horsebacke as on foote, departed from Ba•…•…as, to conquere and destroy y^e Ile of Medor, wherevpon, the Maior of Burdeaux issuing out, & encountring with his enimies, was vāquished, losing sixe C. English∣men & Gascoignes: albeit, the frenchmen gained not this victorie with cleere hands, for ther were slaine of them to the nūber of eight C. persons.

After this, the bastarde of Orleans, with hys brother Iohn Earle of Angolesme,* 5.182 whiche had bin long prisoner in England, and many other valiant Captaynes, besieged y^e Castell of Mōt∣guyon, which to them was rēdered. Afterward,

they besieged the Towne of Blay, standing on the riuer of Garōne, the which in conclusion by very force, was cōquered and won. The basterd of Kendall, Captaine of the Castell, seeing the towne lost, vpon certaine reasonable conditions, deliuered his fortresse to the basterd of Orleans, the french kings Lieutenāt. After this, y^e townes of Burge and Liborne, after fiue weekes siege, were likewise yelded to the frenchmē. Thē was y^e Citie of Acques besieged by the Erle of Foys, [ 10] and the Vicont de Lawtree his brother, and o∣ther noble men. So likewise also was the strong towne of Rion by the Earle of Arminacke, ex∣treame enimie to y^e realm of Englād, for breach of y^e mariage cōcluded betweene K. Henrye and his daughter. The Earle of Ponthieuvre layde siege to Chatillon in Perigort, and the Earle of Dunoys enuironned with greate puissaunce the towne of Fronsacke. The Englishmen per∣ceiuing in what state they stood within y^e towne, [ 20] couenanted with the said Earle, y^t if the Towne were not succoured, and the Frenchmen fought with before the feast of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next ensuing, y^e then the towne of Frō∣sack should be yeelded to them, whiche was the strongest fortresse in all that Countrey, and the very key of Guyenne. Hereof wer pledges dely∣uered, & writings made and sealed, which agree∣ment once blowen through the countrey, the ci∣tie of Burdeaux, and all other townes (excepte [ 30] Bayonne) made the like agreement. So did al y^e noble men and Gentlemen whiche were subiects and vassals to the Crowne of Englande. Euery day was looking for ayde, but none came, for the diuelishe deuision that raigned in Englande, so encombred the heads of the noble men there, that the honor of the Realme was cleerely forgot∣ten, so that (to conclude) the day appointed came, but succour looked for came not, by reason wher∣of, all y^e townes in Aquitaine (except Bayonne) [ 40] deliuered their keyes, and became vassales to the french nation, yet the Citizens of Burdeaux, in hope of rescues, required a longer daye of battell, which was graunted, but at the day appoynted, when no reliefe came, they rendred themselues and the Citie to their aduersaries, their liues and goodes saued, with licence and safeconduit to all persons which would depart and saile into En∣gland. Then finally was the Citie of Bayon besieged, and with mines and baterie constrey∣ned [ 50] to yeeld it selfe into the Frenchmens handes.

Beside the agreements taken and made with the townes, diuers noble mē made seuerall com∣positiōs, as Gaston de Foys, Capdaw de Buef, whome King Henrie the fifth made Earle of Longeuile, and Knight of the garter, whose an∣cestors were euer true to Englande, whiche a∣greed, that he and his son Iohn de Foys, whom King Henrie the sixth made Earle of •…•…ten•…•… and also Knight of the garter, shoulde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all their landes in Aquitaine, giuen to them by the kings of Englande, or by the Dukes of •…•…∣taine, and bycause their intente was 〈…〉〈…〉 y^e king of England, they agreed to deliuer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 custodie of the Erle of Foys, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the saide Earle of Krudale, beeing of the age of three yeares, to the intent, that if he at his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 age denyed to become subiect to the French King, or before that time deceassed, that thē after y^e death of his father and grandfather, all the saide landes should wholly remaine to the next heire of theyr bloud, either male or female, being vnder the o∣beysance of the French King or his heires. Ma∣ny other noble men, whose harts were good En∣glish, made like compositiōs, and some came in∣to England, and others wente to Calais, & dare great offices there, as the L. Duras, whiche was Marshall of that Towne, and Mons. Vauchere, which was deputie there, vnder y^e Erle of War∣wike. Thus were the Englishmen cleerely displaced, and lost the possessiō of al y^e coūtreys, townes, Castels, and places within the Realme of France, so y^e only Calais, Hāmes, & Guines, w^t the marches therof, remained in their hāds, of al those their dominiōs & seigniories which they sometime held in the parties of beyond the seas.

The Duke of Yorke pretending (as yee haue heard) a right to the Crowne,* 5.183 as heire to Lionel Duke of Clarence, came this yere out of Irelād vnto London, in the Parliament time, there to consult with his especial friends, as Iohn Duke of Northfolke, Richarde Earle of Salisburie, and the Lorde Richarde his sonne, whiche after was Earle of Warwike, Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire, and Edward Brooke lord Cobham.

After long deliberation, & aduice takē, it was thought expediente, to keepe their chiefe purpose secret, and that the Duke should reyse an armye of mē, vnder a protext to remoue diuers Coun∣sellors about the King, and to reuenge the ma∣nifest iniuries done to the common wealthe by y^e same rulers, of the which as principall, the D. of Somerset was namely accused, both for that he was greatly hated of the commons for y^e losse of Normandie, and for that it was wel knowē; that he would be altogither against the Duke of Yorke in his chalenge to bee made (when tyme serued) to the Crowne.

Therfore, when the Duke of Yorke had thus by aduice of his speciall friends, framed the foun∣dation of his long intended enterprise,* 5.184 he assem∣bled a greate host, to the number of ten M. able men, in y^e marches of Wales, publishing opēly, that y^e cause of this his gathering of people, was for the publike wealth of the Realme.

The King muche astonyed at the matter, by aduice of his counsell, reysed a great power, and marched forward toward the Duke, but he be∣ing thereof aduertised, turned out of that way, whiche by espials he vnderstoode that the King held, and made streighte towarde London, and hauing knowledge that he might not be suffered to passe through the Citie, hee crossed ouer the Thames at Kingston bridge, and so kept on to∣wards Kent, where he knewe that he hadde both friendes and good willers, and there on Brent heath, a mile frō Dertforde, and twelue miles frō London, he embatelled, and encamped hymselfe very strongly, enuironing his field with artillerie

[illustration]

and trenches.

The King hereof aduertised, brought his ar∣my with all diligence vnto blacke heathe, and there pight his tents.

* 5.185Whilest both these armies lay thus embatel∣led, [ 30] the King sente the Byshop of Winchester, and Thomas Boucher, Bishoppe of Elie, Ri∣chard Wooduille, Lord Riuers, & Richard An∣drew, the keeper of his priuie seale, to the Duke, both to know the cause of so great a com•…•…, & also to make a concord, if y^e requests of the D. and his companye seemed consonant to reason.

The Duke hearing the message of the By∣shops, aunswered, that his comming was ney∣ther to damnifie the K. in honor, nor person, nei∣ther [ 40] yet any good man, but his intente was, to remoue from him certaine euill disposed persons of his counsayle, bloudsuccors of the nobilitie, pollers of the Cleargie, and oppressors of y^e poore people, amongst whome, he chiefly named Ed∣mond Duke of Somerset, whome if the Kyng would commit to warde, to aunswere suche ar∣ticles as against him in open Parliament shuld bee both proponed and proued, hee promised not only to dissolue his army, but also offered hym∣selfe [ 50] like an obediēt subiect, to come to the kings presence, and do to him true and faithfull seruice, according to his loyall and bounden duetie.

When the Bishops & the others, were retur∣ned with this aunswere, for the auoiding of bloudshed, & pacifying of y^e D. and his people, the D. of Somerset was committed to warde, as some say, or else commanded to keepe himselfe priuie in his owne house, as other write, till the furie of the people were somewhat qualified.

But it shuld seeme by that whiche some haue writē,* 5.186 y^e the D. of Yorke was deceiued of y^e hope whiche he had, to be aided of the Kentishmen, in so much, y^e whē he saw himselfe ouermatched by y^e K. in number of people, who had got togither thrice as many men as y^e D. had there w^t him, y^e D. was y^e more easie to deale with, & so cōming to y^e K. and submitting himselfe, by mediatiō of certaine of y^e nobilitie, he obteined pardon of that his former presumptuous enterprise, & within a few dayes after his cōming to London with the K. he openly in the Church of S. Paule (the K. being present) receiued a solemne oth, that from thenceforth, he should no more commit any such offence, nor attempt any thing, either against the K. or any other of his liege people, contrarie to y^e order of law and iustice. Howsoeuer the matter wente, troth it is, that the D. of Yorke, the firste day of March, dissolued his army, & brake vp his camp, & came to y^e kings tent, where contrary to his expectatiō, & against promise, made by y^e K. as other write, he found the D. of Somerset go∣ing at large, & set at libertie,* 5.187 whom the Duke of Yorke boldly accused of treason, briberie, oppres∣sion, and many other crimes.

The Duke of Somerset not only made an∣swere to the Dukes obiections, but also accused him of high treason, affirming, that he with hys fautors and complices, had consulted togither, how to obteine the scepter & regal crowne of this realm: by mean of which words, the K. remoued

streight to London, and the Duke of Yorke as prisoner, rode before him, & so was kepte awhile.

The King assembled togither a great Coun∣saile at Westminster, to heare the accusations of the two Dukes, the one obiecting to the other many haynous and greeuous crimes.

But the Duke of Somersette, whiche nowe conceyued in his minde the thing that shortly followed, incessantly exhorted the Counsayle, that the Duke of Yorke, by cōpulnon or other∣wise, [ 10] might be driuen to confesse his offence, that so being atteinted of treason, he might suffer ex∣ecution, and his children to be taken as aduersa∣ries to their natiue countrey, to the intente, that by the losse of this only Prince, and his sequeale, all ciuill war, and inward deuision might ceasse and be repressed, besieching almightie God, that so greate an enimie to the King and his bloud, might neuer escape punishmente, nor continue long in life. [ 20]

The Duke of Somerset sette forth this mat∣ter the more vehemently, bycause hee knewe per∣fectly, that the Duke of Yorke dayly imagined with himselfe, howe to get the Crowne, and to depose and destroy both the King and him,* 5.188 but the necessitie of destenie cannot by any mannes deuise, bee either letted or interrupted, for many things (to common iudgement) declared the D. of Yorkes innocencie in this case. First, his free and voluntarie comming to the King, without [ 30] constreynt, when he was partly of puissance able to haue encoūtred with the kings whole power. Secondly, his humble submissiō, and reasonable requests, as well on his owne behalfe, as for the poore commons, whiche argued, that hee fought for no soueraignetie, but these things he vsed for a cautele, to dasle mens eyes withall.

* 5.189While the counsayle treated of sauing or dis∣patching of this dolorous D. of Yorke, a rumor sprang through London, that Edward Erle of [ 40] Marche, son & heire apparant to the said D. ac∣cōpanyed with a great army of Marchmē, was comming towarde London, which tidings sore appalled the Queene, and the whole counsayle.

Beside this, the very same day, came Ambas∣sadors frō the chiefe Citizens & magistrates of y^e Citie of Burdeaux, whereof the chiefe were, the Erle of Kendale, and the L. de Lesparre, which signified to y^e Counsaile, that if they would sende an armie into Gascoigne, the people of y^e coun∣trey [ 50] would reuolt from the frēch part, & eftsones become Englishe. These two things sore trou∣bled the heads of the Counsaile, which least in∣ward fedition might binder outward conquests, set the D. of Yorke at libertie, & permitted him to goe to his Castell of Wigmore, in the marches of Wales, by whose absence, the D. of Somer∣set rose in such high fauour, both with the King and Queene, that his word only ruled, and hys voice alone was heard.

The Counsaile not forgetting the offer of y^e Gascoignes,* 5.190 & that they might now haue y^e Ci∣tie of Burdeaux, with the country round about, by request of the inhabitants, appointed the vali∣ant Captaine Iohn A. Talbot, Earle of Shre∣wesburie, to goe thither with an armie, who ar∣riuing in the Isle of Madre, passed forthe with his power, being scant three thousand men, and tooke the strong towne of Fronsacke, and dyuers other townes and fortresses. The inhabitantes of Burdeaux, hearing of the Earles arriual, sent to him messengers in the darke night, requiring him with all speede, to come and receiue the Ci∣tie. The Earle lost not one houre, but hasted forth, and came before that Citie, eare the french men within vnderstood any thing of the Citizēs purpose. When they were aduertised that there was a gate set open for the Englishmen to en∣ter, they thought to haue escaped secretly by a posterne, but they were pursued, slayne, and ta∣ken, by the L. de Lesparre, and other of the En∣glish armie.

After the regaining of Burdeaux, there arri∣ued at Blay the basterde of Somerset, sir Iohn Talbot, L. Lisle by his wife, sonne to the sayde Earle of Shrewesburie, the L. Molius, the L. Harington, the Lorde Cameis, Sir Iohn Ho∣ward, Sir Iohn Montgomerie, sir Iohn Ver∣non, with .22. hundred men, with vittailes and munitions.

When the Erle was thus, according to hys in•…•…te, of all things furnished, firste he fortifyed B•…•…aux with Englishmen, and store of vit∣tayle, and after that, he rode into the Countrey abroade, where hee obteyned Cities, and gote Townes, without stroke, or dint of sworde, for the people already aweeryed of the French serui∣tude, and longing sore to returne to the English libertie, seemed to desire nothing more than to haue the Earle to receyue them into the Eng∣lish obeysance. Amongst other townes, y^e towne and Castell of Chastillon in Perigort, was to him deliuered, the which he fortified with men, and ordinance very strongly.

In the meane time, the Frenche King beeyng aduertised of all these doings, reysed an army to resist this inuasion made by the Earle of Shre∣wesburie, and firste he appointed his Captaynes to besiege the Towne of Chastillon, to the res∣cue whereof, the Earle hasled forward, hauyng in his company eight hundred horsemen, vnder the leading of his sonne the Lord Lisle, the Lord Molins, the Lord Cameys, Sir Edward Hu•…•…, Sir Iohn Howard, and Sir Iohn Vernon.

Hee appointed also fiue thousande footemen, vnder the conduit of the Earle of Rendalle, and

the L. de Lesparre, to follow him with al speede.

In his way, hee tooke by fine force a tower, whiche the Frenchmen had taken, and slewe all that he found within it, and after by the way, he met fiue hundred frenchmen, going a foraging, of whome he slew the more part, and cha•…•…d the other to the campe.

The Frenchmen that lay at the siege, percey∣uing by those good runners away, that the Erle approched, left y^e siege, & retired in good order into [ 10] the place whiche they hadde trenched, diched and fortified with ordinance.

The Earle aduertised how the siege was re∣moued, hasted forwarde towardes his enimies, doubting most, least they woulde haue bin quite fledde and gone before his comming: but they fearing the displeasure of the French King (who was not farre off) if they should haue fled, abode the Earles comming, and so receiued him, that though he firste with manfull courage, and sore [ 20] fighting wanne the entrie of their camp,* 5.191 yet at length, they compassed him about, and shooting him through the thigh with an handgunnue, slew his horse, and finally killed hym, lying on the ground, whome they durst neuer looke in the face, while he stoode on his feete.

It was said, that after he perceyued there was no remedie, but presente losse of the battell, hee counselled his sonne the Lord Lisle, to saue him∣selfe by flight, sith the same could not redounde, [ 30] to any great reproch in him, this being the firste iourney in which he had bin present. Manye wordes hee vsed to perswade him to haue saued his life, but nature so wrought in the sonne, that neither desire of life, nor feare of death, coulde ei∣ther cause him to shrinke, or conneigh hymselfe out of the daunger, and so there manfully ended his life with his said father.

There died also the Erles basterd sonne, Hē∣ry Talbot, and Sir Edwarde Hull, elect to the [ 40] order of the garter, and thirtie other menne of name, and right valiant personages of the En∣glish nation.

The Lord Molines was taken prisoner with lx. others. The residue of the English people fled to Burdeaux, and other places, of whom in the flight were slayne aboue a thousand persons.

Thus at this battaile of Chatillon fought the xiij. day of Iuly in this yere, ended his life Iohn Lord Talbot, and of his progenie the first Erle [ 50] of Shrewsbury, after that he with muche fame and moste victorie, had valiantly made warre, and serued his Prince and countrey by the space of .xxiiij. yeares, in the parties of beyond the sea, whose corps was left on grounde, and after was founde by his frendes, and conueyed to Whit∣church in Shropshire, where it was enterred.

After thys discomfiture dyuers Lordes fledde to Burdeaux, but the Earle of Candall, the lordes of Montferrant, of Rosayn, and of Dan∣gladas entred into the Castell of Chastillon, whiche by y^e space of ten days they defended, but in the ende, dispayring of all succours, rendred the fortresse, and came safe to Burdeaux.

After this, the townes of Saint Million, Li∣borne, and all other whiche the Earle of Shre∣wesburie had conquered, rendred themselues to the Frenchmen, Burdeaux only except, the whi∣che Citie beeing the last refuge of the Englishe people, the French King in person besieged with all his puissance, and in conclusion, constreyned both the garnisons and inhabitants to yeelde,* 5.192 so that the Englishmen and Gascoignes myghte safely depart into England or to Calaice, with all their substance, and that the Lordes de Les∣parre, Duras, and thirtie other, should neuer vp∣pon paine of death, be founde within any of the French Kings dominions, which Lord de Les∣parre being after taken in Gascoigne disguised, was made shorter by the head.

[illustration]

When this composition was agreed and sea∣led, the Englishmen were shortly transported ouer into Englande, in the moneth of October this present yeare.

Thus was the Duchie of Aquitaine, whyche had continued in the Englishe possession, from the yeare of our Lorde .1155. vnto this presente yeare, which is neere hands three hundred yeres, by the mariage of Alienor, daughter and heyre to William Duke of Aquitaine, wife to Kyng Henry the second, finally reduced and broughte againe to the Frenche obedience and seruitude.

Within that only Duchie, be foure Archby∣shops, foure and twentie Bishops, fifteene Erle∣domes, two hundred and two Baronies, and aboue a thousand Captaineshippes and Balife∣wikes, whereby yee maye consider, what a losse this was to the Realme of England.

The thirtenth day of October this yeare, was the Q. deliuered at Westmin. of a faire sonne,

which was christened,* 5.193 and named Edward.

His mother susteyned not a little slander and obloquie of the common people, who had an o∣pinion, that the King was not able to get a childe, and therefore sticked not to say, that thys was not hys sonne, with manye slaunderous words, greatly sounding to the Queenes disho∣nor, which neede not heere to be rehearsed.

After the birth of this childe, he highly aduan∣ced his brethren on his mothers side, for Edmōd [ 10] he made Earle of Richmond, which was father to King Henry the seuenth, and Iasper he crea∣ted Erle of Pembroke, which died without issue.

This yeare, Iohn Stafford, Archbyshoppe of Caunterburie departed this life, & Iohn Kemp, Archbishoppe of Yorke, was remoued from that

[illustration]

[ 20] [ 30] Sea, to succeede in place of the said Stafford, be∣ing the .62. Archbyshoppe there, and Iohn Both Byshop of Couentrie and Liechfield, was tran∣slated to Yorke, beeing the .51. Archbyshoppe of that Churche.

When the warres were ended in forayne par∣ties,* 5.194 ciuil dissention began againe to renne with∣in the Realme, beeing deuided into two seuerall [ 40] factions,* 5.195 for King Henry discended of the house of Lancaster, clayming the Crowne from hys grandfather King Henry the fourth (first author of this deuision) and Richard Duke of Yorke, as heire to Lyonell Duke of Clarence, third sonne to King Edward the third, wrestled for y^e game, and stroue for the wager, by reason whereof, the nobles as well as the common people, were into partes deuided, to the vtter destruction of many a man, and to the great ruyne & decay of this re∣gion: [ 50] for while the one partie studyed to destroy the other, all care of the common wealth was set aside, and iustice and equitie cleerely exiled.

* 5.196The Duke of Yorke aboue all things, firste sought meanes how to prouoke the malice of the people against the Duke of Sommerset, imagi∣ning, y^t he being made away, his purpose should shortly come to a good conclusion.

He also practised to bring the King into the hatred of the people, for that hee was not a man apt to the gouernemente of a Realme, wanting both witte, and stomacke, sufficient to supply the roomth which he held.

Many of the high estates, not liking y^e world, and disalowing the actes and doings both of the King and his counsaile, determined to pra∣ctise howe things might come to some altera∣tion.

When the Duke vnderstoode their mindes, he chiefly entertayned, and wanne the fauour of two Neuilles, and both named Richarde,* 5.197 the one Earle of Salisburie, and the other Earle of Warwike, the first being the father, and y^e second the sonne.

This Earle of Salisburie, was second sonne to Raufe Neuill Earle of Westmerland, whose daughter the Duke of Yorke had married,* 5.198 and the sayde Richard was espoused to Lady Alice, the only childe and sole heire of Thomas Mon∣tacute Earle of Salisburie, slayne at the siege of Orleans (as before is declared) of which woman, he begate Richarde, Iohn and George: Richard the eldest sonne, espoused Anne, the sister & heyre of the entire bloud, to Lord Henry Beauchamp Earle, and after Duke of Warwike, in whose right and title he was created, and named Erle of Warwike.

This man through a certaine naturall incli∣nation and practise, did so set forward a sort•…•… good qualities whiche rested in him, with wittie and gentle demeanor towards all maner of per∣sons, both of high and lowe degree, that he grew into suche fauoure and estimation amongst the common people,* 5.199 that they iudged him able to do all things, & that without hym nothing could be well done. For whiche causes his authoritie so farfoorth increased, that whiche way he bowed, that way ranne the streame, and what parte hee tooke, that sayde got the game.

When the Duke of Yorke hadde fastened hys chaine betwene these two strong pillers,* 5.200 he with his frendes wrought so effectuously, and handled his businesse so politikely,* 5.201 that the Duke of So∣merset was arrested in the Quenes great cham∣ber, and sente to the Towre of London, where he kept his Christmasse without great solemni∣tie, against whome, in open Parliamente were layd diuers and heynous articles of high treason,* 5.202 as wel for the losse of Normandie, as for the late mischance which happened in Guyenne.

The king at y^e time was sicke at Clarendon, and conueyed to London, by reason whereof, no fynall determination proceeded in thys weightie cause, but all was put in suspence, tyll the next assemblie of the high Court of Parlia∣mente.

* 5.203Wee finde in some Writers, that whilest the K. was sicke, the D. of Yorke bare all the rule, & gouerned as Regent or Viceroy, by authoritie committed to him by the Lords of the Realme, then assembled in counsell, to see to the preserua∣tion, and good gouernemente of the common wealth,* 5.204 during the time of that y^e kings sicknes, which was so greeuous, that hee lay senselesse, and was not able for a time, either to goe or stande. [ 10]

The Duke of Yorke therefore hauing ob∣teyned an absolution of the Pope, to discharge him of his oth before taken, did now discouer the sparkes of his hatred, hid vnder the ashes of dissi∣mulation, against the D. of Somerset: but yet when the K. had recouered strength againe, and resumed to hym hys former princely gouerne∣mente, eyther of hys owne mynde, or by the Queenes procurement,* 5.205 hee caused the Duke of Somerset to be set at libertie, by whiche doyng, [ 20] great enuie & displeasure grew. And to aggrauat more the malice of the D. of Yorke, & his friēds, the Queene whiche then bare the chiefe rule, caused the Duke of Somerset to be preferred to the Captaineshippe of Calaice,* 5.206 wherewith not only the commons, but also many of the nobili∣tie were greately greeued and offended, saying, that he had lost Normandie, and so would he do Calaice.

The Duke of Yorke and his adherentes, per∣ceyuing [ 30] that neither exhortation serued, nor ac∣cusatiō preuailed against the Duke of Somer∣set, determined to reuenge their quarrell, and ob∣teyne their purpose by open warre: and so he be∣ing in the marches of Wales,* 5.207 accompanyed with his speciall friends, the Earles of Salisbu∣rie, and Warwike, the Lorde Cobham, and o∣thers, assembled a power, and like warlike per∣sons, marched toward London.

The King enformed heereof, assembled lyke∣wise [ 40] a great host, & meaning to meete with the Duke, rather in the North parts than about London, where it was thought he had too many friends, with great speede, and small lucke, being accompanied with the Dukes of Somerset, and Buckingham, the Earles of Pembroke, Staf∣ford,* 5.208 Northumberlande, Deuonshire, Dorset, & Wilshire, the Lords Clifford, Sudley, Berneis, Roos, and others, beeing in all aboue two thou∣sande men of warre, departed from Westmin∣ster [ 50] the twentith, or as some haue, the one and twentith of May, and laye the firste nighte at Wadford. Of whose doings, the Duke of Yorke by espials hauing still aduertisement, with al his power, beeing not past three thousande men (as some write) coasted the Countrey, and came to the said Towne of Saint Albons, the third day next ensuing.

The King had pight his Standert in a place called Goselowe, otherwise Sandiford, in Saint Peeters streete: the Lord Clifforde kept the bar∣riers of the Towne, to stoppe that the D. being assēbled in Keye fielde, shuld not enter y^e towne.

But the King, whē he heard first of y^e Dukes approche, sente to him messengers, as the Duke of Buckingham, and others, to vnderstād what he meant by his comming,* 5.209 thus furnished after the manner of warre.

The Duke of Buckingham, doing his mes∣sage as hee had in commaundement,* 5.210 was aun∣swered by the Duke of Yorke and his compli∣ces, that they were all of them the Kings faith∣full liege subiects, and intended no harme to him at all: and the cause of our comming hither (say they) is not to doe anye hurt to his person, but let that wicked and naughtie man the Duke of Somerset bee deliuered vnto vs, who hathe lost Normandie,* 5.211 and taken no regard to the preser∣uation of Gascoigne, yea, and furthermore, hath brought this Realme of England vnto this mi∣serable estate, that where it was the floure of na∣tions, and the Princesse of all prouinces, now doth it sitte as a widowe forsaken, not hauyng any louing sonnes, but suche whome that euill man seeketh to destroy, and to deuoure both thē and their substance: if it therefore please the kyng to deliuer him into our handes, wee are readye without trouble or breach of peace, to returne in quiet home into our Countrey, but if the Kyng be not minded so to doe, but denye our request, bycause he will by no meanes misse him, let hym vnderstand, that we will rather dye in the fielde, than now to returne without our hoped pray.

The King aduertised of this the aunswere and purposed intention, more wilfull than rea∣sonable, chose rather to trie the hazard of battell, than to deliuer the Duke of Somerset into the handes of his enimies, whiche they perceyuyng, straightway sounded the trumpet to battell, or rather as Hall hath, while king Henry sent forth his Ambassadors to treate of peace, at the one end of y^e towne, the Erle of Warwike,* 5.212 with his Marchmen entred at the other end, & fiercely set∣ting on y^e kings foreward, within a small tyme discomfited the same. The place where they first brake into y^e towne, was about the middle of S. Peters streete. The fight for a time was ryghte sharp & cruell, for y^e D. of Somerset, w^t the other lords, cōming to y^e succours of their companiōs that were put to y^e worse, did what they could, to boate backe y^e enimies, but the D. of Yorke,* 5.213 sent euer fresh men to succour the weerie, & to supplye the places of them that were hurt, by which poli∣cie, the Kings army was finally brought to cō∣fusion, and all the chiefetaines of the fielde slaine and beaten downe, for there dyed vnder y^e signe

of the Castell, Edmond Duke of Sommerset, who as hath bin reported, was warned long be∣fore to auoyde all Castels: and beside hym laye Henry the seconde of that name, Earle of Nor∣thumberland,* 5.214 Humfrey Erle of Stafford, sonne to the Duke of Buckingham, Iohn Lord Clif∣ford, Sir Barthram Antwisell Knight, a Nor∣man borne (who forsaking his natiue Countrey to continue in his loyal obedience to King Hen∣rie, came ouer to dwell heere in Englande when [ 10] Normandie was lost,) William Zouche, Iohn Boutreux, Raufe Bapthorp, with his sonne W. Corwyn. W. Cotton, Gilbert Faldinger, Raynold Griffon, Iohn Dawes, Elice Wood, Io. Eithe, Ra. Woodwarde, Gilbert Skarlock, and Rafe Willoughby Esquiers, with manye other, in all to the number of .viij. thousande, as Edwarde Hall sayth in his Chronicle, if there escaped not a fault in the Impression, as .8000. for .800. sith hundreds in very deede, would bet∣ter [ 20] agree with the number of the Kings whole power, whiche he brought with him to that bat∣tell, beeyng not many aboue two thousande, as by writers it appeareth.

Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, being woū∣ded, and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Wilshire, and Thomas Thorp, Lord chief Ba∣ron of the Eschequer, seeing fortune thus to bee against them, left the King post alone, and with a great number fledde away. [ 30]

Those that thus fledde, made the best shifte they coulde to get away, through gardens, and backesides, through shrubbes, hedges, & woddes, seeking places where to hide themselues, til that daungerous tempest of the battell were ouer∣blowen.

* 5.215Diuers of the Kings house also that coulde better skill to play the Courtiers than warriors, fledde with the first, and those of the East partes of the Realme, were likewise noted of too much [ 40] lacke of courage, for their speedie withdrawing themselues, and leauing the King in danger of his aduersaries, who perceyuing hys men thus fledde from him, withdrewe into a poore mans house to saue himselfe from the shot of arrowes, that flewe about his eares as thicke as snowe, falling from the skye,

The Duke of Yorke aduertised of the place, into the whiche the King was withdrawen, ha∣sted thither with all speede, and comforted hym [ 50] in the best wise he could, assuring him, that now that the common enimie of the Realme was dispatched, to witte, the Duke of Sommerset, he had cause rather to reioyce, than to bee sorie, sith his destruction was the Kings preseruation, and for himselfe and all his adherents, he vndertooke that they were and would remayne duryng life, his most faithfull liege people, ready in al points to serue hym, as his trustie and obediente sub∣iectes.

After he hadde vsed suche words to him as he thought best to comforte him with, he broughte him forth of that simple house (into the which he was crept) withe all due reuerence, shewed towarde hym, fyrste to the Shrine, and after to his chamber.

Whilest the Duke of Yorke was about thus to comfort the King, the Souldiers that had the victorie nowe in their hands, applyed the spoyle, namely, the Northerne men, stripping not only those that had borne armour against them, but also the Townesmen and other, with whome they might meete, so that it was thoughte, if the King had taken vp his lodging at his first com∣ming thither, within the Abbey, as hee did not, but in the middes of the Towne (to prouide the better to resist his enimies) the Abbey had beene spoyled also.

This was the ende of the firste battell at S. Albons, whiche was foughte on a Thurseday, next before the feast of Penthecost, being y^e three and twentith daye of May, in thys three & thir∣tith yeare of the kings raigne.

The bodies of the noble men, were buried in the monasterie in our Ladies Chappell, and the meane people, in other places.

This Edmond Duke of Sommerset, left be∣hinde him three sonnes, Henrye, Edmonde,* 5.216 and Iohn, which to the extremitie of death, tooke part with the line of King Henry.

The Duke of Yorke hauing got this victo∣rie, remembred well, that hee hadde published a∣broade howe the onely cause of this warre was, for the aduancemente of the common wealthe, and therefore vsing al courtesie, would not touch the Kings person, after anye violente sorte, but with all honor, and due reuerence, conueyed him to London, and so to Westminster, to whiche place, was summoned a Parliamente,* 5.217 whyche began the ninth daye of Iuly, in the whiche ses∣siō, the late Duke of Gloucester was openly de∣clared a true subiect, both to the King, and to the Realme.

Beside this, it was enacted, that no person shoulde either iudge or report any poynt of vn∣troth of the Duke of Yorke, the Earles of Sa∣lisburie and Warwike, or of anye Knighte, Es∣quier, archer, or other, for comming in warlike aray against the King, at Saint Albons, consi∣dering theyr enterprice was only, to see y^e kings person in safegard.

But all the blame was put vpon the Duke of Sommerset, Thomas Thorp,* 5.218 Baron of the Eschequer, & Wil. Iosep Esquier, y^e kings col∣lateral companion, bicause that they vpō a mali∣tious purpose, kept a certain letter from y^e kyngs

knowledge, and would in no wise suffer it to be deliuered vnto him, notwithstāding y^e same made to the aduancement of some good assured peace, if it had beene throughly and aduisedly read, weyed, and considered, in which letter they declared, that as faythfull and humble subiectes, they requyred onely that it would please the king (whose honor, health, suretie and preseruation, they chiefly wy∣shed) not to giue credence to theyr aduersaries malicious suggestions, till theyr comming to his [ 10] presence, vnto the which they hūbly besought him that they might be admitted as his faythfull liege people, to shewe the intent and purpose of their commings, which was to none other ende, than to enlarge theyr fidelitie and allegiance towards his most dread person, intending to put themsel∣ues with as much diligence, industrie, and tra∣uaile in all things that might preferre & aduaunce his honour, health, suretie, and safegarde, as anye subiect he had liuing. [ 20]

The keeping back of this letter from the kings sight and knowledge, did minister matter suffici∣ent ynough to the Parliament to colour and in∣stifie for well done all transgressions committed in the late battayle and chase at Saint Al∣bons.* 5.219

In this Parliament also, the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of the realme,* 5.220 and the Erle of Salisburie was appoynted to be Lord Chan∣cellor, and had the great seale to him deliuered, [ 30] and the Earle of Warwike was elected to the of∣fice of the captainship of Calays, and the territo∣ries of the same, and thus the rule of the Realme rested in the orders of the Duke and Chancellor, and all warlike affayres remayned principally in the Erle of Warwike. And so amongst them it was agreed, that king Henry should still raigne in name and dignitie, but neyther in deede nor in authoritie, not mynding to destroy him least they [ 40] might sodainly prouoke the furie of the common people agaynst them, bycause that of the symple sort of people hee was for hys holynesse of lyfe, and aboundant clemencye muche fauoured and highly esteemed.

* 5.221In this Parliament also it was enacted, that the king shoulde resume, take into his handes a∣gaine, haue and retaine in his possession, all ho∣nours, Castels, Lordships, townes, villages, manours, landes, tenements, wastes, forests, cha∣ses, rentes, reuersions, fees, fermes, seruices, issues, [ 50] profites, counties, aduousons of Priories, Chur∣ches, hospitals, and free Chapels, and all other reuenues with theyr appurtenances, the whiche had passed from him sith the first day of his raigne vnto that present, eyther by his letters patents or authoritie of Parliament, and any other meanes, whether by graunt, confirmation, or release from him made in fee simple, or fee taile for tearme of life or yeares, to anye maner of person and per∣sons in Englande, Wales, Scotlande, or the Marches, in Irelande, or in the townes of Ca∣lays, and Guisnes, and the marches there, and likewise all grauntes made of suche things as is aboue mentioned, being parcell of the Duchie of Lancaster, and further all graunts of offices, rowmeths, fees, wages, or commodities, not ac∣customed to belong to any office or charge before the sayde first day of the kings raigne, were like∣wise reuoked.

Diuerse other things were also conteyned with∣in this reuocation, and generall resumption of things into the kings hands, with certaine excep∣tions yet and prouisoes had, as were thought cō∣uenient, and as by the same act it doth and may more plainly appeare.

Moreouer nowe that the Duke of Yorke and his adherēts had wrasted the whole rule and go∣uernment into their handes.

All suche persons as the king eyther loued, or the Queene fauoured, were put beside the priuie counsaile, and suche put in their places, as was knowne to fauor the house of Yorke.

Also the officers were chaunged,* 5.222 throughout the realme at the will and disposition of the Pro∣tector, Chancellor, and captain of Calays, so that they cōstituted as it were a triumuirate, ruling all things at their owne discretion. And yet in all theyr rule I finde not that any mention is made of theyr deferring of iustice, or of any polling or bryberie as was openly proued by such as gouer∣ned before their time. Onelye they were noted with an execrable and damnable offence of diuerse spirituall persons, and namely of the Abbot of Westminster and his Munkes, for that they toke oute of the Sanctuarie at Westminster Iohn Hollande Duke of Exeter, being repugnant to the order taken in the last Parliament, and con∣ueyed him to the Castell of Pomfret.

But that venemous worme, that dreadfull Dragō called disdaine of superioritie, which hath consumed the bloud of so manye noble Princes, and destroyed the lygnage of so many gouernors in all realmes and kingdomes, as well Pagan as Christian, coulde not but incense the heartes of the Lord Henrie Beauforde,* 5.223 newly inuested duke of Somerset by the death of Duke Edmond hys father, which at the battaile of Saint Albons (as aboue is rehearsed) lost his life, and of Humfrey Duke of Buckingham (who had lost his sonne and heyre at the same battaile) and of other lordes and men of authoritie fauouring the part of king Henrie, whiche bewayled the vnsure state of the same king, bycause they perceyued wherevnto the cloked courtesie and dissembling maner of the Duke of Yorke did drawe, and therefore thought it necessarie to puruey for a remedie ere the mis∣chiefe

happened. Herevpon they consulted with the Queene, and by hir aduice was a great coū∣sail called at Greenwich,* 5.224 where the duke of York was discharged of his protectorshippe, and the Earle of Salisburie depriued also of his office: whiche malicious chaunge amongest the Nobi∣litie caused sodaine alterations, and seditious at∣temptes to spring and aryse in the communal∣tie, and in especiall wythin the Citie of Lon∣don. For a yong Marchaunt which before time [ 10] hadde beene in dyuerse Cities within the Coun∣trey of Italy,* 5.225 and there forbydden by the Magi∣strates to weare anye weapon, chalenged an Italian in Cheapeside for wearing a Dagger, alledging agaynste hym the lawes of hys owne Countrey: and bycause the Italian aunswered somewhat disdainefully, the Marchaunt not wylling to suffer so open a reproche in a streete so fraught with people, tooke by force from him his Dagger and with the same brake his pate. [ 20]

This Italian in greate hast complayned to the Maior of thys offence, so that at the nexte Court holden at the Guilde hall, the Marchant was sent for, and his offence beeing declared vn∣to him, he was commaunded to warde, wherevp∣on dyuerse other light persons within the Citie, assembled togyther in great plumps,* 5.226 and by force constrayned the Maior to delyuer the prysoner out of Newgate, and not so satisfied, like madde men ran to the seuerall houses of dyuerse Vene∣tians,* 5.227 [ 30] Lucases, and Florentines, and them spoy∣led, robbed, and rifled wythout reason or measure.

The Maior perceiuing this enormious doing, assembled a greate number of substantiall and graue Citizens, which not without great bloud∣shed and mayming of sundrie persons finally ap∣peased the rage, and caused the misruled people to depart to their houses.

The begynner of this outragious vprore got him to Westminster, and there registred him for [ 40] a Sanctuarie man.

The Queene whiche now againe ruled all things, aduertised of this vnlawful misdemeanor sent the dukes of Exceter and Buckingham, ac∣companied with other noble men, to Lōdon with a commission of Oyer and Determiner, for the punishment of so seditious an offence: But when the Maior, the two Dukes, and the two chiefe iu∣stices were set in the Guild hall for performance of theyr Commission, vppon intelligence that a [ 50] number of lyght wytted Citizens, were mynded in armour to reskue the prisoners that had beene apprehended for the late committed robberie and ryot as as they shoulde goe to their triall and ar∣raigment: the two Dukes and the other commis∣sioners sodenly departed from the Guildehal & left their inquirie for that daye, though in deede they were in no such daunger as they doubted: for cer∣taine discreete and sage Citizens so handled the matter, that no misorder followed of that great tumult and sodaine furie of the people.

The Maior on the next day called a common counsaile,* 5.228 whereof the number was an hundred fourescore and odde persons, & by authoritie of the same, ordeyned that all wardens of mysteryes should assemble their mysteries in their common halles, where they shoulde exhort them to the ob∣seruation of peace, and if they spyed any man ey∣ther readie to styrre a rumor, or desirous of the deliuerance of such as were accused and in prison, that their names shoulde be secretly written, and couertly deliuered to the Lord Maior: which po∣litike doing finally ended the outragious attemp∣tates of the vnruly people. And so the commissio∣ners returned to the Guildehall, where many of the robbers were attainted and put to execution, beside diuerse greate fines and raunsomes payed, which were set vpon the heades of dyuerse Mar∣chants for winking at the matter.

This yeare Iohn Kempe Archebishoppe of Canterburie departed this lyfe, and Thomas Burstlyer Byshoppe of Elye was remoued to succeede in his place, beeing the threescore and three Archbishop that sat in the sea of that Arch∣bishops sea.

The French nation hearing of the ciuill dis∣sention within the Realme of England,* 5.229 thought to worke some domage to the Englishe people, in reuenge of olde iniuries.

Herevpon were two Nauies appoynted to inuade the townes standing vppon the rynage of the Sea. The Captaynes of the one Fleete, was William Lorde Pomyers, and of the o∣ther Sir Peers Bressy, a great ruler in Nor∣mandie.

These two captaines taking their course oute of the mouth of Saine, seuered themselues, the one Westwarde, and the other Eastward, which was sir Peter de Bressy. This lustie Captaine sayling alongst all the coastes of Sussex & Kent, durst not once take lande, till hee arryued in the Downes, and there hauing by a certaine espyall perfite notice that the Towne of Sandwiche was neyther peopled nor fortified,* 5.230 bycause that a lyttle before, the chiefe Rulers of the Towne were from thence departed, for to auoyde the pe∣stilenciall plague, whiche sore there afflicted and slue the people, entred the Hauen, spoyled the towne, and after such poore stuffe as he there foūd rifled and taken, hee fearing an assemble of the Countrey, shortly returned.

The Lorde Pomyers likewyse tooke hys course Westwarde,* 5.231 and by nyght burnt certaine houses in Foulnay, and with a little pyllage re∣tyred into Brytaine.

The Scots also not forgetting their old prāks,

entred into Northumberlande,* 5.232 king Iames the seconde being there in person) and burned certain poore houses, and little cottages: but in the verie middest of theyr great enterprise, they hearing of the duke of Yorkes marching toward them with a great armie, with much paine and no gaine, in all hast returned to their countrey.

But nowe to passe ouer outwarde inuasions and to returne to the dayly disorder put in bre a∣mongest the Nobles at home, a greate conflict [ 10] chaunced betwene the Lord Egremonde, and the sonnes of the Earle of Salisburie, in the whiche fray, many persons were slaine, and a great num∣ber hurt.

The Lorde Egremond could not escape, but by force was taken and brought before the kings counsaile, & there the King & the Queene to shew themselues to all persons indifferent, adiudged him to paye to the Earle of Salisburie a greate summe of money,* 5.233 and for his heynous offence [ 20] committed agaynst the Kings lawes, hee was committed to the gaile of Newgate within the Citie of London, oute of the whiche by helpe of friendes hee escaped,* 5.234 to the great vexation of the Sherifes of London at that tyme being.

The Queene secretely thyrsting for the de∣struction of the Duke of Yorke and his friendes, perceyued that she could attempt nothing against him neare to the Citie of London, bycause the Duke was had in more estimation there among [ 30] the Citizens and communaltie, than eyther the King hir husbande, or hirselfe, and therefore shee caused the King to make a progresse into War∣wikshire for his health and recreation, and so with hawking and hunting came to the Citie of Co∣uentree, where dyuerse wayes were studied to cō∣passe the Queenes long wished desire: for the ac∣complishing whereof, the Duke of Yorke, the Earles of Salisburie,* 5.235 and Warwike (whose de∣struction was chiefly sought) were sent for to Co∣uentrie [ 40] by the Kings letters, vnder his priuie seal, to which place the sayd Lordes without suspition of euill, obediently resorted, but beeing admoni∣shed by secrete friendes, what was intended a∣gaynst them, they auoyded that daunger, where as otherwise their lyues had beene lost without al remedie. And so not saying farewell, they depar∣parted from the Court, the Duke vnto Wyg∣moore in the marches of Wales, the Erle of Sa∣lisburie to his faire Castell of Middleham in the [ 50] North countrey, and the Erle of Warwike say∣led to the towne of Calays.

But nowe although the bodies of these three noble personages were thus separated, yet theyr heartes were knitte and coupled in one, and styll went messengers with letters betwixt them, to communicate theyr deuises, and to giue signifi∣cation of theyr mindes and purposes from one to another.

In this yeare Reginald Peacocke Bishop of Chichester, abiured at Paules Crosse,* 5.236 and all his bokes were burnt, & he himself cōmaunded to kepe his owne house during his naturall life, bycause y^t he being very wel learned, & better stomacked, be∣ganne to moue questions, not priuily but openly, in the Vniuersities, concerning the annates, Pe∣ter pens, and other iurisdictions and authorities apperteyning to the Bishop of Rome, and not onely put forth such questions, but declared hys minde and opinion in the same.

Some say he held, that spirituall persons by Gods lawe ought to haue no temporall posses∣sions.

Other wryte that he sayde that personall ty∣thes were not due by Gods law.* 5.237 And as some haue recorded, hee helde that it was not needefull to belieue that Christ after his passion did descend into hell, neither yet to beleeue in the Catholike Church, nor the communion of Saints.

Also that he held howe the vniuersall Church might erre in matters of fayth. And that it is not of necessitie to beleue, that that which is allowed, ordeyned, and determined in fauour of fayth, and the health of mans soule, by a generall Counsaile or by the vniuersall Church, ought to be allowed and holden of all christian people.

Moreouer he helde, that it was lawfull to e∣uerie man to vnderstande the scriptures in the li∣terall sense, and that none is bounde to cleane vnto any other sense, vpon anye necessitie of saluation.

King Henrie and his adherentes perceyuing that the Duke of Yorke lay still and styrred not, returned to London, and there called a great coū∣saile, openly declaring that the French and Scots enboldned by the ciuill discorde within this realm would attempt to annoy the same, as of late they had shewed apparant tokens of theyr euill mali∣cious meaning, and would not ceasse vpon occa∣sions to doe further displeasures, tyll they percey∣ued a perfite concorde and an vnfeyned amitie to be concluded betwene him and his friendes, and those of the contrarie part and confederacie.

And to the intent that he woulde be the chiefe Author of peace, hee promised so to entertaine the Duke of Yorke and his sautors, that al old g•…•…ue∣ges being not onely inwardly forgotten, but also outwardly forgiuen, should be the cause of perpe∣tuall loue and assured amitie.

This deuise was of all men present will ta∣ken, and adiudged for the best. Wherevpon dy∣uerse graue persons were sente to the Duke of Yorke, and al other the great estates of the realm, whiche since the battaile of Saint Albons neuer met nor communed togither, commaunding thē for great causes and reasonable considerations, to

resort to the kings Palace without delay.

At his cōmaundement came to London Ry∣chard Duke of Yorke, with foure. C. men, and was lodged at Baynards castell being his owne house,* 5.238 and after him came the Erle of Salisburie with fiue hundred men, and was likewise lodged at his owne house called the Herber. Then came the Dukes of Exceter, and Somerset with .viij. hundred men, and were lodged without Temple Barre, and the Earle of Northumberlande, the [ 10] Lorde Egremonde, and the Lord Clifforde came with .xv. C. men, and lodged withoute the Citie. The Erle of Warwicke also came from Calais with six hundred men in red Iackets, embrodered with white ragged staues behind and before, and was lodged at the gray Friers.

Thus were all those of the one faction lodged within the citie, and those of the other without in Holborne, towarde Westmynster, and in other places of the Suburbs, as who sayd y^t as the Ie∣wes [ 20] disdeined the companie of the Samaritains, so the Lancastrians abhorred the familiaritie of the Yorkish lynage.

After y^e these Lords were thus come vnto Lō∣don, the King and the Queene shortly followed, comming thither the .xvij. day of Marche, and lodged in the Bishops Palace.

Bicause no riotous attempt or bickering shuld be begon betweene any of the parties, or their re∣tinues, the Maior and Aldermenne of the Citie [ 30] kept great watch, as well by day as by night, ry∣ding about the citie by Holborne, and Fleetstreet, with fiue thousand men well armed & arrayed, to see good order and peace on all sides kept.

The Lordes which lodged within the city held a dayly counsaile at the black Friers. The other parte soiourning without the walles, assembled lykewise in the Chapiter house at Westminster. At length by the diligent trauaile, good exhorta∣tion, and prudent aduice of the Archb. of Cant. & [ 40] other vertuous Prelates, both parties were per∣swaded to come to a communication, and so did, where after long debating of their grieuaunces, they were accorded, promising to forget all olde rancors,* 5.239 and to be friendes eche to other, and o∣bedient to the King, whereof writings were sea∣led, signed and deliuered. The principall poyntes whereof the king beeing named and reputed as whole arbitratour consisted herein.* 5.240

First, that at the costs, charges, and expences, [ 50] of the Duke of Yorke,* 5.241 the Erles of Warwik, and Salisburie, xlv. poundes of yearely rent, shoulde be lawfully assigned, giuen and assured by waye of a mortizement for euer, vnto the Monasterie of Saint Albones, for Suffrages and Obites to be kept, and almes to bee employed for the soules of Edmond late duke of Somerset, Henry late Erle of Northumberland, and Thomas late L. Clif∣ford, which being slaine in the late battaile of S. Albones, were buried there in the Abbey Church, and also for the soules of all other slaine in the same battaile. The saide Duke of Somerset, the Earle of Northumberlande, and L. Clifforde, by vertue of the same award, were declared for true and faithfull liegemen to the king, & so to be holdē and reputed in the day of their deathes, aswel as y^e said duke of York, the erles of Warwik & Salish.

Moreouer it was decreed, that the D. of York should giue to Elenore Duchesse of Somerset, & to Henrie Duke of Somerset hir son, the summe of fiue thousand Markes of good assignments of debts which the K. ought to him for his wages due, during the time of his seruice in Irelād, to be diuided as the K. should think cōuenient betwixt the brethren & sisters of the sayd D. of Somerset.

Also that the Erle of Warwick should giue to the Lorde Clifforde, the summe of a thousande Markes, in good and sufficient assignmentes of debts which the king ought to him to be destribu∣ted betwixt the said L. Clifford his brethren and sisters. Also where Thomas Percie knight,* 5.242 L. Egremond, & Richard Percy his brother, sonnes of the Lady Elenor Countesse of Northumber∣land, had bin in a Sessions holdē within y^e coun∣tie of Yorke before Richard Bingham, & •…•…ause Pole the kings Iustices & other cōmissioners, cō∣demned vnto the Erle of Salisburie in the sum of viij. M. marks, & to the same erle, and to his wyfe Alice in the sum of fiue. M. marks. & to Tho. Ne∣uil knight, sonne to the said Erle of Salisburie, in the summe of a. M. marks, & to the said Thomas & Mawd his wife, in the sum of two. M. markes, and to Iohn Neuil knight, son to the said Erle of Salisburie, in the summe of .viij. C. markes for transgressions & trespasses there found to bee done by the said L. Egremond, & Richard his brother, vnto the said erle of Salisb. Alice, Thom. Neuil, Mawd & Iohn Neuil, as by the record appeared. It was ordeyned that the saide Erle & his sonnes should release all the said summes of money, & the executions thereof, and likewise release vnto Rau•…•… Verney, & Iohn Steward late Sherifes of Lon∣don, vnto whose custodie the saide L. Egremond had bin for the same cōdemnations cōmitted, and from thē escaped, al actions which they or any of thē might haue against the saide Verney & Ste∣ward for the same escape. But yet it was decreed by this award, that the sayd Lorde Egremonde should be bound by recognisance in the Chancerie to keepe the peace against the sayde Earle and his wife, their children, seruants and tenants.

Also where diuerse knights, Esquiers and o∣ther seruaunts and tenaunts to the sayd Earle of Northumberland, & to the sayd lord Egremond, were by their seuerall Obligations bound, by oc∣casion of the sayde debates vnto the sayde Duke

of Yorke, Earle of Salisburie, or any of theyr children, to stande to theyr order and gouerne∣ment, it was ordeyned that the same obligations shoulde be deliuered to them that so stoode bound, before the feaste of Saint Peter ad Vincula nexte ensuing, at the Citie of Yorke, or else that the parties so bounde, shoulde haue sufficient ac∣quittances in discharge of the same obligations.

It was further awarded, that all variaunce, discord debates, controuersies, appeales & actions [ 10] personels that were or had beene betwixt any of the persons aforesayde, or anye of theyr seruants or tenants, should be for euer determined and en∣ded, sauing to euerie one his title, action & right, which he had by any euidēce of arrerages of rents or seruices, accompts, detinues, or debtes due by reason of anye lawfull contract or deede had and made for any reasonable considerations, other thā the variance before sayd.

And for the more assurance of both parties, it [ 20] was ordeyned that eyther should release to other all maner of actions, that were mere personals and appeales, whiche anye of them mighte haue against the other, by reason of the variaunces and discordes afore mentioned.

Also it was decreed, that if any action, suyte or quarell, chaunced betwixt any of the seruantes or tenants of any of the parties, for matter or ty∣tle supposed to be had, occasioned or moued before this time, that from thenceforth, none of the sayd [ 30] partyes should maintaine, support, or ayde any of them that will so sue and moue strife and de∣bate, but should rather so deale as the matter may be brought to peace and quietnesse.

It was further awarded, that if any man cō∣playned, pretended or surmised, that this awarde was not kept, but in some poynt broken by anye of the parties, for y^t which breach he would haue a Scire facias, or some other action prosecuted in the kings name vpon any recognisance made to the [ 40] king for the performāce of this award, yet should not the same Scire facias or action be prosecuted till the kings counsaile might be throughly cer∣tified of the matter by the complaynant, and vpon consideration see iust cause, why the same Scire facias or action ought to be had & prosecuted in the kings name. And if any variaunce rose betwixt the counsayle of both the partyes in making of the recognisaunces, releases, acquittaunces or other wrytings, the same variaunce shoulde bee deter∣ned [ 50] by the two Lords chiefe Iustices that should be fully instructed of the kings intention in thys behalfe.

And besydes this, it was notifyed and decla∣red by the same awarde that the parties being se∣uerally bounde in the Chauncerie in great sums to obey and performe this awarde, ordinance and iudgement made by the King, it was the Kings will and pleasure, that the same recognisaunces should stand in force, and no parcels of the sums therein conteyned to bee pardoned in anye wise, withoute the agrement and consent of the partie, for whose assurance the same recognisaunce was taken. And if any of the sayde summes, or anye parcell thereof shoulde bee recouered by action or execution taken & prosecuted in the kings name, vpon any of the sayde recognisaunces, the partie to whose hynderaunce the awarde was broken, shoulde haue the one halfe of the money so reco∣uered, and the other moitie shoulde be assigned to the Treasorer of the kings house, towardes the charges and expences of the same house.

This ordinance, award and agreement, was giuen vp vnder the kings great seale, at the kings Palace of Westminster, the .xxiiij. day of March in the .xxxvj. yeare of his raigne.

For the outwarde publishing of this ioyfull agreement,* 5.243 there was vpon our Ladie daye in Marche a solemne Procession celebrate within the Cathedrall Churche of Saint Paule in the Citie of London, at the which the king was pre∣sent in his habite royall, with his Crowne on his heade. Before him went hand in hande the duke of Somerset, the Earle of Salisburie, to Duke of Exceter, and the Erle of Warwike, and so one of the one faction, and another of the other: and behinde the King the Duke of Yorke, and the Queene with greate familiaritie to all mennes sightes, though their heartes were as farre in sun∣der, as their bodies were then nere ioyned by that their mutuall leading hande in hande. For not∣withstanding this cloaked pageant, and dissem∣bling Procession, it shortly after appeared, that theyr thoughtes were all inuenomed, and full of ranke poyson, though their tongues and flat∣tering countenaunces vttered the taste of moste sweete and pleasant sugred confections.

But as fire inclosed in a strayte place,* 5.244 will by force vtter his flame, and as the water beeing stopped will in processe of time burst out and win passage, so this canered Crocodrile, coulde not long lurke in malicious myndes, but in conclu∣sion according to hir nature shee shewed hirselfe. For after this apparant concord, and inward dis∣corde, according to the verie propertie of dissimu∣lation, diuerse noble men of byrth finally regar∣ding theyr honours, forgot theyr othe, and brake theyr promise.

For not long after this dissimuled amitie,* 5.245 a certaine fray eyther by chaunce, or of a pretenced purpose, was made vpon a yeoman of the Erles of Warwike, by one of the kings seruants, in the which the assaylant was sore hurt, but the erles man fled.

The kings meniall seruauntes seeing theyr fellow hurt, and the offender escaped, assembled

togither and watched the Earle, when hee retur∣ned from the counsaile chamber towardes hys Barge,* 5.246 and sodainly set on him, the yeomen with swordes, and the blacke garde with spittes and fireforkes. After long fight, and many of the Earles men maymed and hurt, by helpe of hys friendes hee tooke a Wherry, and so escaped to London.

* 5.247The Queene aduertised hereof, incontinent∣ly commaunded that he shoulde bee apprehended [ 10] and committed to the tower, where (if he had bin taken) he had shortly ended his dayes.

By this vnhappy fray, there arose anon after such trouble and terrible warre, that the whole Realme was thereby disquieted. For after thys displeasure done to the Earle, and the Queenes good minde towardes him, by his secrete friendes reuealed, he with all diligence tooke his iourney to Warwicke, and after into Yorkshire, where he found the Duke of Yorke, and the Erle of Sa∣lisburie, [ 20] declaring vnto them the assault made vp∣on him by the kings seruants, and the pretensed euill purpose of the Queene. After whiche com∣plaint made, he fearing to be dispossessed of hys roumth at Calays, with great speed embarqued himselfe and sayled thither.

He was not onely Deputie or Lieutenant of Calais, but also high Admiral of the Seas,* 5.248 which office was to him confirmed for the space of fiue yeares, wherevpon whether before hys arryuall now at Calais, or shortly after, I cannot saye, but this yeare aboute the myddest of Sommer, the sayde Earle hauing with him a .xiiij. well appoynted shippes, sayled abroade to skoure the Seas, and by chaunce mette wyth fiue greate shippes, whereof three were Carakes of Genoa, and the other two were of Spaine, bigger in heigth and length than the Carakes.

The Earle thoughe hee was vneth able to deale agaynst them, yet he valiantly encountring them, there was a right sore and long continued battaile fought betwixt them, for it lasted al∣moste the space of two dayes. In the ende yet the victorie fell to the Englishe, so that two of

[illustration]

those shippes being forced to saue themselues by flight, the other three were taken, which the Erle brought vnto Calais, with all the Marchandice abourde in the same,* 5.249 the value whereof in Wine, Oyle, Waxe, Iron, cloth of Golde, and other ry∣ches, was esteemed to the summe of ten thousand pound and aboue, by reason whereof, that was solde nowe for .xij. pens, which woulde not haue beene bought before for two shillings. [ 50]

There were taken a greate number of priso∣ners, beside a thousand persons of the enimies that were slaine in the fight. Of the Erles part there were fiftie slaine.

The Earles fame hereby encreased not a lit∣tle, and many a blessing hee had for this peece of seruice.

* 5.250But now to the former purpose. After that the sayde Erle was departed the realme, and gone o∣uer to Calais, the Duke of Yorke, and the Erle of Salisburie falling in consultation togither, it was at length agreed betwixt them, with aduice of theyr friendes, that the sayde Earle of Salis∣burie with a warlike companie should march to∣ward the king, and signifie to him by way of cō∣plaint, both the manifest iniurie done to his son, and also the vncurteous breach of the sworne a∣mitie and late agreement, in which sute if he pre∣uayled, hee shoulde not then let passe the occasion giuē for reuenge of displeasures to him done,* 5.251 both by the Queene and hir sinister counsaylers.

After conclusion of this deuise, the Erle of Salis∣burie remoued from Middleham Castell,* 5.252 accom∣panied with foure or fiue thousand men, and toke his way through Lancashire, to passe that waye

towardes London.

In the meane season, the Queene which was assysted and ruled by the dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, hauing a vigilant eie to all hir bu∣sinesse, ymagined that the Erle of Warwike had kindled this fire, to the intent to set the Crown on the Duke of Yorkes head:* 5.253 wherefore she appoin∣ted Iames Twichet Lorde Audley (bycause his power laye in those partyes by the whiche the Earle of Salisburie muste passe) to rayse an [ 10] host of men wyth all speede, and to giue battaile to the same Earle, if he lawe cause and place con∣uenient.

* 5.254Shee had deuised a cognisaunce of the whyte Swanne, which she willed all such as shee knew to beare fauour vnto hir sonne to weare, for a sig∣nification of their good mindes and heartie loue towardes him, whiche cognisaunce she had giuen to many Gentlemenne of Chesshire, and other countreyes thereaboute. [ 20]

She hirselfe lay the same time at Ecclesale in Staffordeshire, but the King, remayned at Col∣leshill in Warwikeshire, whither the Earle of Salisburie ment to come, as he pretended to haue communed with him for a reformation of mat∣ters depending in controuersie betwixt him and of the Duke Yorke and others. But the Queene construing that they ment no good, neither to hir, nor hir husbande, requested the Lorde Awde∣ley to apprehende hym, if by anye meanes hee [ 30] might.

* 5.255The Lorde Awdeley according to hys com∣mission, assembled aboue tenne thousande men of Chesshire and Salo•…•…shire, and knowing by hys espialles, which way the Earle kept,* 5.256 approched neare to him, vpon a fayre playne called Blore∣heathe, wythin a myle of a towne called Dray∣ton in Sh•…•…shyre. The Earle perceyuing in what it •…•…ardie he, stoode determined to abyde the aduenture, with fame and honour, rather than to flie with losse and reproch, and so encamped him∣selfe all the night on the side of a little brooke; not verie brode but somewhat deepe.

In the morning early being the day of Saint Tacle, hee caused his souldiours,* 5.257 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 theyr flightes towards the Lorde Awdeleyes compa∣nie, whiche lay on the other side of the sayde wa∣ter, and then hee and all his people made a signe of retreyt. The Lorde Awdeley supposing hys aduersaries had fledde in deed, caused his Trum∣pettes quickly to blowe vp, and setting forth hys vowarde, speedily passed the water.* 5.258 The Earle of Salisburie which knewe the sleightes of warlike policie, sodainly returned and set vpon the Lorde Awdeley and his chiefe Captaynes, ere the re∣sidue of his armye coulde passe the water. The fight was sore and dreadfull. The Earle desy∣ring the sauing of hys lyfe, and hys aduersaryes coueting his destruction, fought sore for the ob∣teyning of theyr purpose: but in conclusion the Earles armie, as men not looking for other s•…•…∣cours nor meane to escape, but by theyr owne manhood, so egrely assaulted theyr foes,* 5.259 that they slue the Lord Awdeley, and all his Captaynes,

[illustration]

and discomfited all the remnant of his people.

* 5.260In this battaile was slaine .xxiiij. hundred persons, but the greatest losse fell on the Chesshire men, bycause one halfe of the shire was on the one part, and the other halfe on the other, of which number were sir Tho. Dutton, sir Iohn Doune, and sir Hugh Venables, sir Richarde Molineux, sir William Trowtberke, sir Iohn Legh of the Both, and sir Iohn Egerton, knightes, Iohn Done, and Iohn Dutton Esquiers.

But the Earles two sonnes, the one called sir Iohn Neuill, & the other sir Thomas Neuill,* 5.261 were sore woūded, y^e which soberly iorneying into y^e north cuntry, were apprehēded by y^e Q. friends,

and togither with sir Thomas Harington that was likewise taken, were conueyed to Chester, but their keepers delyuered them shortly after, or else had the Marche menne destroyed the Gay∣les. Such fauour had the Commons of Wales to the Duke of Yorke his hande, that they could not suffer any wrong to be offred, or euill worde to be spoken agaynst him or his friends.

After this battell fought at Blower heath (as before ye haue heard) the Duke of Yorke percey∣uing [ 10] that the destruction of him and his friendes was intended, and that his priuie intentes were alreadie disclosed to the king and the Queene, hee thought nowe no longer to lynger his businesse, but with all diligence to display and aduance his banner. And therefore sending for his chiefe mate the Earle of Salisburie, after long communica∣tion had of theyr weightie affayres, they determi∣ned to rayse an armie,* 5.262 and by fine force eyther to die, or to winne theyr purpose. [ 20]

Herevpon were men forthwith assembled, friendes sent for, and a puissaunt armie was ga∣thered, both of Northren men and Welchmen, whiche in good order came into the marches of Wales adioyning to Shropshire, determining there to abide their enimies, or to meete them if occasion serued.

There came to him from Calais the Earle of Warwike, bringing with him from that towne a great number of expert men in martiall feates, [ 30] whereof two were Captaines knowne for men of great experience and approued policie, as they had well declared the same in the warres of Nor∣mandie and Guyenne, the one called Andrewe Trollop,* 5.263 and the other Iohn Blont.

The king hauing aduertisment of all the dukes doings,* 5.264 purposes, and whole intent, sent foorth Commissioners to leuie a power in all partes of the realme, where he thought to haue any fayth∣full friendes or fauourers, by reason whereof a [ 40] great number of men of warre was assembled.

Many for the loue they bare to the king resor∣ted to his side, but mo for the feare conceyued of the Queenes displeasure, whose frowning coun∣tenaunce was their vndoing, and hir indignation their death.

To be briefe, the king accompanied with the Dukes of Somerset, and Exceter, and other of the lyne of Lancaster, determined eyther by force or by policie, to bring the duke of Yorke to con∣fusion, [ 50] and therevppon marching forwarde they came vnto Worcester, where as well to refreshe his people, as to take further aduice what was best to be done,* 5.265 be stayed for a time, and at length it was determined, that the king should first send vnto the aduersaries, a messenger of good accoūt, as the Bi. of Salisbury, Richard Beauchampe, to offer vnto them a cleare and rece generall par∣don, of all trespasses, offences, and transgressions whatsoeuer, if they woulde giue ouer theyr enter∣price, and become true and obedient subiects.

When the Bishop was come vnto them, and hadde declared his message, they first withdrewe themselues apart, and fest togither in countesse, and after they gaue aunswere by the mouth of the Earle of Warwike, whiche consisted of three poymes: Fyrst,* 5.266 that as concerning the par•…•… they durst not trust vnto it, considering they ha•…•… dyuerse pardons before, and the same confyrmed by Parliament, and yet nothing anaylable to their assurance.

Secondly, that notwithstanding suche par∣dons, those that were about the king were pre∣sumptuous and vnruly, that they cared not at in to breake the kings commaundements, nor were any thing abashed to be noted for y^e breach shewe.

Thirdly, although by law of the lance, and right of the statute, euery Lorde by vertue of the knigs writ, being called to the Parliamēt, ought safely to come, safely there to remaine, and safely to depart and returne home, this notwithstāding, the sayd erle of Warwike himselfe, at a certaine counsail holden at Westminster, by vertue of the kings writ of priuie seale beeing there in person, & labouring to his knowledge to giue good aduice & counsaile for the profit of the cōmon wealth, was yet in danger of death, if the Lorde aboue had not the better prouided for his escape, more than anye humaine power or force of the kings pardon: for the whiche cause (quoth he) sith the kings pardon may be likned in these days to a buckler of glasse, or to a staffe of reed, in the which is no trust, wee dare not commit our selues vnto the defence of a∣ny such pardons. But if any other way might be deuised for their sureties, wherevnto they might safely trust (he sayde) they were readie to come to his grace, and to sue for his fauour.

The King receyuing suche aunswere in these words, or other to the like effect, was nothing cō∣tented therewith, and so commaunded his stan∣dartes eftsoones to aduaunce, but yet before hee came neare to the place where they were encam∣ped, the sayde Lordes wrote to him a letter in theyr owne excuse, protesting they meante no harme in the worlde agaynst hys person, as by theyr demeanours and proceedings it might well appeare, who had euer fled and withdrawing thē∣selues from place to place, from towne to towne, from village to village, and from Countie to Countie, which might serue for an euident token that they sought for nothing but onely theyr owne safegardes and quietnesse of the Realme, with so much fauour, as in good and safe suretie they might come to his presence, to declare cer∣taine things which in their opinions might turne to the welth of the realm: and further to make an∣swere

all things, that had be•…•… obiected agaynst them, and nowe (sayde they) we are here remay∣ning in the vttermost partes and confines of the lande, that is in the Marches towardes Wales, not farre from Ludlow, not vpō any presumptu∣ous meaning, but •…•…ther in all •…•…ūble to wtinesse of mind & bodie, to abide his graces cōming, which they be sought of God might be in some peaceable maner and fauourable in their behalfes.

The king hauing receyued this letter, and con∣iecturing [ 10] that venome lay hid vnder so sweet and soft speeche, commaunded his armie againe to marche forth, and comming within halfe a mile of the aduersaries campe, pight downe his field, and forthwith caused proclamation to bee made,* 5.267 that whosoeuer of his aduersaries would giue o∣uer his iewde begon enterprice, and repayre to his presence to sue for mercie, he would pardon him of all offences.

This Proclamation comming to the vnder∣stāding [ 20] of them in the duke of Yorks host, caused a great number that were there with him agaynst the king, to get away and come to the kings side.

Moreouer, there rose among the residue greate murmuring, so as they seemed very lyke to grow to a grieuous mutinie. Amongst other of those that came to the kings campe, Andrew Trollop was chiefe,* 5.268 who with y^e other Galisiās which had long serued the king, and liued a long time by his wages, perceyuing now that they should fight a∣gaynst [ 30] theyr soueraigne Lorde himselfe (whose friend they esteemed before that time the Erle of Warwike euer to haue bene, and in no wise hys enimie) in the dead of the night before the daye of the battell tary secretly departed from the Dukes campe, and submitted themselues to the king, ad∣monishing him of all things diuised for his losse and destruction. For the Duke of Yorke percey∣uing by his expert Captaynes,* 5.269 a way how to set vppon his enimies, and easily to discomfit them, [ 40] thought to take the occasion, and so on the nexte morning ment to haue assayled the king and hys people ere they could haue bene readie, or ware of his determination: but nowe by the going away thus of his captaynes and people, no effect follo∣wed of that his ymagination.* 5.270 For being aduerti∣sed that Andrew Trollop was thus departed, hee was now as much discomforted therby, as before by the trust which he put in him he was encoura∣ged, and therewith perceyuing that all his coun∣sayle [ 50] and purpose was by the forenamed Andrew reuealed and disclosed, thought it better for him and his to depart in suretie, than to abide y^e •…•…ce of mutable fortune:* 5.271 whervpon he with his yonger sonne Edmond Erle of Rutland, secretly fled in∣to Wales, and so passed into Ireland, where hee was with all ioy and honour gladly receyued, all the Irish offring to die and liue with him.

The Erle of Marche sonne and heire apparant to the said duke, accompanied with the Earles of Salisburie and Warwicke, and sir Iohn Wen∣locke, stale of waye the same might, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came into Deuon•…•… wh•…•…, by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Iohn Dyn∣ham esquier 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after was highe Treasorer of England•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the days of king Henrie the seuenth) they bought a ship whiche cast, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Markes at Exmoath, and sayled into Geruesey, and after came to Calais, and were let le•…•… at the post•…•…, and ioyfully welcomed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 friendes, namely of sir William Neuil Lord Fouronbridge, that was the Erle of Warwikes vncle, and brother to the Erle of Salisburie, who had the towne & Ca∣stel in keeping.

But now to returne to the king when in the morning he was aduertised that the duke of York and his partakers wer fled•…•… gone, he caused al his horsmen to folow them, although in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for they were got farre ynoughe out of daunger (as before ye haue heard.)

The king pardoned all the poore souldiours sauing certaine ring leaders of the which some he punished and fired, and some he hanged and quar∣tered.

After th•…•… he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ouer to Ladlow, and there brake vp his host, and spoyled the towne and Ca∣stell, and sent the Duches of Yorke with hir two yong sonnes to be kept in Warre with the Du∣ches of Buckingham hir 〈◊〉〈◊〉. This done, he pro∣clamed these Lordes, trayedore to him, enimies to their countrey, and rebels to the crowne, con∣fiscating their lands, goods, and offices, and com∣mitted the gouernaunce of the north partes to the Erle of Northumberland,* 5.272 and to the Lord Clif∣ford, as to his trustie and moste faithfull friendes, and of his towne of Calais, her made Captaine Henrie the new duke of Somerset. Thys duke reioysing much in his new office, chose forth dy∣uerse valiant and hardie souldiers, and with great pompt shortly after tooke the seas, and sayled to∣wards Calais, but when he thought to haue en∣tred the hauen, the artillery shut so hotly, both out of the town, and from Rise •…•…ane, that he suffring there a sororepulse, was faine to lande at Whit∣sandbay, and sent worde to the Captaines of the towne to receyue him as the kings lieutenant, shewing to them his letters patents, but neither he nor his writing was once regarded, & so of neces∣sitie hee resorted to the Castell of Guisnes, dayly skirmishing with the garnison of Calais, more to his losse than gaine.

Diuers of the mariners of those ships that wēt ouer with him, after his arriuall owing more good will to the Earle of Warwike than to this yong duke, conneyd their ships into the hauē of Calais, and in them diuerse of the erle of Warwikes eni∣mies, as Iamin Findyll, Iohn Felow, & diuerse

other, the which being presented vnto the Earle of Warwike, hee caused their heades to bee stry∣ken off.

Shortly after Rycharde Lorde Ryuers, and sir Anthonie•…•… Wooduile his valiaunt sonne that was after Lorde Scales, accompanied with foure hundred warlike persons, were appointed to passe ouer to Guisnes, to ayde the Duke of S•…•…erset agaynst his aduersaries, which lay in Calais, but as they soiourned at Sandwich abiding for wind [ 10] and weather to transport them ouer, the Erles of Marche and Warwike had knowledge thereof,* 5.273 and sent Iohn Dynham with a small number of men (but a multitude of valiant heartes) vnto the towne of Sandwich, which sodainly entred the same,* 5.274 and took the Lorde Riuers in his bed, and his sonne also, robbing houses, and spoiling ships, and beside this, they tooke the principall shippes of the kings nauie, and had them away with them to Calais, and there presented them to the Earle [ 20] of March, of whom he was ioyfully receyued, for though in the fight hee was fore hurte and may∣med in the legge, so as he halted euer after, yet hee bare himselfe so worthtly in that enterprice, that hys prayse was great amongst all men.

After this good fortune thus chaunced to the Lordes, dyuerse of the best shippes taken in the Hauen of Sandwiche, were well vitayled and manned, and with them the Earle of Warwike sayled into Irelande, to common with the Duke [ 30] of Yorke of his great affayres and businesse.

The weather and wind were so fauourable to the Earles purpose, that within lesse than thirtie dayes hee passed and repassed from Calais to Dubline, and backe againe.

The Duke of Exceter being chiefe Admirall of the Sea, lay in the West Countrey, and durste not once meddle with the Earle of Warwikes name, as he came by, by reasō of y^e mistrust which hee had in the Captaines and Mariners of hys [ 40] own nany, who by their murmuring wel shewed that they wished y^e erle of Warwiks good succes.

During this time, the king called a Parlia∣ment in the Citie of Couentrie,* 5.275 which began the xx. of September, in the whiche the Duke of Yorke and his confederates were attaynted of highe treason.* 5.276 But yet when the King shoulde come to giue his consent vnto the actes passed in the same Parliament, and that the Clerke of the Parliament had read that statute of the attainder [ 50] of those Lordes, such was the kings modestie and great zeale vnto mercie,* 5.277 that he caused a prouiso to be had in and added vnto the same statute, that it might be lawfull vnto him at all tymes fully without authoritie of any other Parliament, to pardon the same noble men, and restore them a∣gaine to their former estates, degrees, and digni∣ties in all things, so that they would come in vn∣to him, and in the spirite of him 〈…〉〈…〉 him of grace and fauor•…•….

Herewith also or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was taken for 〈…〉〈…〉 of the hauens and landing places alongst 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coastes.

Sir Simond Mountforde with a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of men was appoynted to kepe the Dutch 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fiue Portes,* 5.278 and all men passing 〈…〉〈…〉 •…•…∣ders were vpon paine of death prohibited to passe bee Calais, least the Lordes there 〈…〉〈…〉 some of them any money, as they did prest lately be∣fore of the Marchants of the Staple 〈…〉〈…〉 xviij.M. pound. The Lords were of ignorant of all the kings prouisions made agaynst them, but were ascerteyned dayly what was 〈…〉〈…〉 in the kings priuie Chamber,* 5.279 wherefore first they sent a company to Sandwiche vnder the gouer∣nance of the Lord Fauconbridge, whiche tooke the town, and sir Simon or Osbert Moūtford with∣in it, and sent him with all his mates to Calais, where incontinently he with twelues of his chiefe fellowes lost their heades on the Sandes before Risebanke.

After the kings name guyned, and his Cap∣taynes, on the arriange of the sea taken, and de∣stroyed, the Lords lying at Calais, being aduerti∣sed frō the Lord Fauconbridge, who after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king of Mountfōrt lay still in Kent, that the peo∣ple of that Countrey and other partes were alto∣gither bent in their fauour, they conceyued there∣vpon so great hope in their friendes within the Realme, that they determined to passe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and therewith entring their shippes, with a strife hundred men landed with them at Sandwich.

And from thence came to Canterburie and to passing throughe Kent,* 5.280 there came to them the Lord Cobham, Iohn Guilford, William Peche, Robert Horne, and many other Gentlemen, so that before they approched to London, their num∣ber was estemed aboue .xl. thousand fightnigmē, for the fame of their landing being oure knowne, Gentlemen repayred, and yeomen resorted out of all the South partes of the realme, vpon whiche rumor, Thomas Lorde Scales, a man in greate fauor with the King and Queene, accompanied with the Earle of Kendall a Gascoigne, and the Lorde Louell, resorted to London with a greate companie of armed men, declaring to the Maior that their repayre onely was to defende and keepe the Citie, from spoyle of such traytors as the king was credibly informed did thither resort, to whō the Maior answered, that hee needed no fellowe helper, either to defend or gouerne the citie to him committed in charge. With which aunswere the lord Scales and his associates nothing cōtented, entred into the tower, dayly deuising way•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to grieue the Citizens, whō he perceyued to fauor rather the duke of Yorkes part, than the kings.

But shortly after the Earles of Marche and Warwicke, and other of their affinitie, came to London, and were of the Maior and Citizens ioyously receyued, to whom resorted the Archbi∣shop of Canterburie, the Bishops of London, Lyncolne, Salisburie, Ely, and Exceter, with many other Prelates, and religious persons.

Vpon good deliberation and aduise had and taken amongst these Lordes how to go forwarde with their weightie enterprice, the Earles of [ 10] Marche and Warwike, William Lorde Fau∣conbridge, Henrie Lorde Bourchier, called Erle of Eu, with a great number of men whiche came out of Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex, to the number (as some wryters affyrme) of .xxv. M. persons, departed from London toward the king lying at Couentrie, then called the Queenes se∣crete herbour,* 5.281 leauing behinde them to keepe the Londoners in theyr promised obeysance, the Erle of Salisburie, the Lorde Cobham, and sir Iohn [ 20] Wenlocke, which tooke such order and watched the gates and entries on eche side so diligently, that no succours might come to the Lord Scales lodging in the Tower, who tooke therewith such displeasure, that he shot out his great ordinaunce agaynst them within the Citie, and they likewise shot at him againe, to the hurt and no pleasure of both partes.

The king hauing knowledge of all these do∣ings, assembled a great armie, and accompanied [ 30] with the duke of Somerset (lately come frō Guis∣nes) & the duke of Buckingham, and diuerse other great Lordes that tooke his parte, came to Nor∣thamton, where the Queene perceyuing hee pu∣issance to be able to matche in sight with the ad∣uersaries, tooke vpon hir to encourage hir friends and well willers: for the King studied of nothing but of peace, quietnesse, and solitarie life. When the whole host of the kings part was assembled, the same issued forth of the towne, and passing o∣uer [ 40] the riuer of Nine, lodged in the new fielde betweene Harsington and Sandifford, strong∣ly fencing themselues about with high banks, and deepe trenches.

* 5.282On the other part, the Lords being herewyth aduaunced verie neare the place where the kings people lay without Northāton, the Bishops that were there with them, by the aduice and consent of the said Lordes, sent vnto the king the Bishop of Salisburie to vnderstand his mind, & to moue [ 50] him vnto some treatie of peace, and to admitte the Archbishop of Canterburie, and the other bishops there present, to be mediatours in the matter, that some good accord might be concluded betwixt the parties, so as an vniuersall peace might bee resto∣red in all parts through the whole realme.

The Bishop of Salisburie doing this message not so circumspectly as had beene conuenient, re∣turned without bringing any towardly answere, but rather wardes of high despite and vtter dist∣ance. For the Lordes that were about the king trusting in their warlike engines and strength of place in whiche they were enrāped, though other∣wise inferior in number of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, purposed to ab•…•…e the brunt of battel, & so led with the spirite of rash∣nesse, sent none other answere back againe by the bishop, but continuelious words sounding great∣ly to the reproch of theyr aduersaries, who beeing sore offended therewith, determined to seeke re∣uenge with dynt of sworde.

The Erle of Marche as thē being in the flour•…•… of his lustie and most couragious youth, lying be∣tweene Toucetor and Northampton, determi∣ned to set on the kings armie without longer de∣lay: and therevpon in the night season remoued his campe toward Northampton, & in marching forwarde set his men in order of battaile, whereof the vātwarde was led by the Erle of Warwick, whiche eyther by strength, or stealth,* 5.283 wanne a streyte which the Lorde Beaumont kept, going toward the kings campe, and herewith entring freshly wyth his people, beganne the battayle a∣boute seuen of the clocke the ninth day of Iulye. After him followed the Earle of Marche with the banner of his father. Other write,* 5.284 that the Earle of Marche led the forewarde, the Earle of War∣wicke the middleward, and the lord Faucōbridge the •…•…erewarde.

Moreouer that Edmond Lord Grey of Ru∣thin, who was on the kings side,* 5.285 fayled in y^e trust committed to him: for where the enimies coulde not (without great daunger to be beaten downe and slaine) enter vpon the Kings campe, by rea∣son of a mightie trench and rampyre pight full of pyles, and sharpe stakes, wherewith the campe was compassed about, the sayd Lord Gray came with his men, and with helping handes pulled the enimies vp, & receyued them into the field, where the battaile was begonne with greate force and violence, for being now entred the field, they sette vpon the Kings people so fiercely, that it seemed they mente eyther to obteyne the victorie, or to dye for it, euen all the whole number of them.

The fight continued ryght fierce and cruell,* 5.286 wyth vncertayne victorie, till the houre of nine, at whiche tyme the Kings armie was discomfi∣ted, and of the same slaine and drowned in the Riuer, few lesse than ten thousande tall English men,* 5.287 and the king himselfe left comfortlesse alone was taken by the aduersaries, as a man predesti∣nate to miserie.

At this battaile were slaine Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie, a valiaunt personne, and not de∣generating from his noble parentes, Thomas lord Egremond, Iohn Viscont Beaumont, & sir

William Lucie which made great haste to come to part of the fight, and at his fyrst approche was stryken in the heade wyth an Axe.

Beside these that were slaine, many were ta∣ken prysoners, bycause they left theyr horses, a∣lighting to fight on foote. The Duke of Somer∣set, and other, whiche narrowly escaped, fled with the Queene & prince into the bishoprike of Dur∣ham. The Erles hauing got the victorie in thys bloudie battaile, conueyed the king to London, & [ 10] lodged him in the Bishops Palace.

* 5.288After whose comming to the Citie, the tower was deliuered to the Erle of Marche, vpon a cer∣taine composition, but the Lord Scales suspec∣ting the sequele of the deliuerie thereof, tooke a wherrie priuilye, intending to haue fledde to the Queene, but hee was espyed by dyuerse water∣men belonging to the Earle of Warwike (whiche wayted for his forth comming on the Thames) and sodenly taken,* 5.289 and shortly slaine with many [ 20] dartes and daggers, and his bodie left naked & all bloudie at the gate of the Clink, which after was buried in the Churche adioyning. Then were di∣uerse persons apprehended, and indyted of treason, whereof some were pardoned, & some executed.

* 5.290Thomas Thorpe seconde Baron of the Es∣chequer, was committed to the Tower, where he remayned long after, for that he was knowne to be great friend to the house of Lancaster.

* 5.291During this trouble, a Parliament was sum∣moned [ 30] to begin at Westminster, in the month of October next following.

In the meane time the Duke of Yorke aduer∣tised of all these things,* 5.292 sayled from Dubline to∣wardes Englande, and landed at the redde banke neare to the Citie of Chester, with no smal com∣panie, and from Chester by long iourneys, hee came to the Ci•…•… of London, which he entred the Fryday before the feast of S. Edward the Con∣fessor,* 5.293 with a sword borne naked befor him, with [ 40] trumpets also sounding, and accompanied with a great traine of men of armes, and other of hys friends & seruants. At his cōming to Westm. he entred the palace, & passing forth directly through the great hall, stayed not till he came to the cham∣ber, wher the King and Lordes vsed to sit in the Parliament time,* 5.294 cōmonly called the vpper house or chamber of the Peeres, and being there entred, stept vp vnto the throne royall, & theyr laying his hande vppon the cloth of estate, seemed as if hee [ 50] ment to take possession of that whiche was hys ryght, for hee helde his hande so vpon that cloth a good pretie while, and after withdrawing hys hande, turned hys face towardes the people, be∣holding theyr preassing togither, and marking what countenance they made.

Whilest he thus stoode and behelde the people, supposing they reioyced to see his presence, the Archbishop of Canterburie Thomas Bourcher, came vnto him, and after due salutations, asked him if he would come and see the King. Wyth which demaunde he seeming to take disdaine, an∣swered briefely, and in fewe wordes thus:* 5.295 I re∣member not that I know any within this realm, but that it beseemeth him rather to come and see my person, than I to goe and to see his. The Archbishop hearing his answere, went backe to the King, and declared what answere he hadde receyued of the Dukes owne mouth.

After the Archbishop was departed to the king that lay in the Queenes lodging, the Duke also departed, and wente to the moste principall lod∣ging that the king hadde within all his Palace, breaking vp the lockes and doores, and so lodged himselfe therein, more lyke to a King than a Duke, continuing in the same lodging for a time to the great indignation of many, that could not in any wise lyke of such presumptuous attempts, made by the sayde Duke, to thrust himselfe in possession of the Crowne, and to depose King Henrie, who had raigned ouer them so long a time.

Maister Edwarde Hall in his Chronicle maketh mention of an Oration which the Duke of Yorke vttered sitting in the regall seate there in the Chamber of the Peeres, eyther at this hys first comming in amongst them, or else at some one tyme after, the which we haue thought good also to set downe, although Iohn Whethamsted the Abbot of Saint Albones, who liued in those dayes, and by all likelyhoode was there present at the Parliament, maketh no further recytall of a∣ny wordes, which the Duke shoulde vtter at that time in that his booke of Recordes, where hee en∣treateth of this matter. But for the Oration (as maister Hall hath written thereof) wee finde as followeth.

During the time (sayth he) of this Parliament, the Duke of Yorke with a bolde countenance en∣tred into the chamber of the Peeres, and sat down in the throne roial, vnder the cloth of estate (which is the kings peculiar seate) and in the presence of the nobilitie, as well spirituall as temporall, (after a pause made) he began to declare his title to the Crowne, in this forme and order as ensueth.

MY singular good Lordes,* 5.296 maruayle not that I approche vnto this throne: for I sit here as in the place to mee by very iustice lawfully be∣longing, and here I rest, as to whō this chaire of right apperteineth, not as hee which requyreth of you fauour, parcialitie, or bearing, but egal right, friendlye indifferencie, and true administration of Iustice: For I beeing the partie grieued, and complaynant, cannot minister to my self the me∣dicine that should helpe me (as expert Leches and chirurgiās may) except you be to me both faithful

ayders and also true Counsaylers. Nor yet this noble Realme and our naturall Countrey shall neuer be vnbu•…•…led from hir dayly Feuer, except I as the principall Phisition, and you as the true and trustie Apothecharies) consult togither, in making of the potion, and trie out the cleane and pine stuffe, frō the corrupt and putrifyed drugges. For vndoubtedly the root and bottom of this long festured canker, is not yet extyrpate, nor the feeble foundation of this fallible buylding, is not yet e∣spied, [ 10] which hath been, and is the daylie destructiō of the nobilitie, and the continual confusion of the poore comunaltie of this realme & kingdome. For all you know (or should know) that the high and mightie prince K. Richarde the seconde, was the true & vndoubted heire to the valiant conqueror & renowmed prince K. Edward the third, as son & beire to the hardie knight & couragious captaine Edward prince of Wales, duke of Aquitaine and Cornwal, eldest sonne to the said K. Edward the [ 20] third, which king was not onely in deed, but also of all men reputed & taken for the true and infal∣lible heire to the wise and politique prince king Henrie the third, as son & heire to king Edwarde the seconde, sonne and heire to king Edwarde, the first, the verie heyre and first begotten sonne of the sayd noble and vertuous prince king Henrie the thirde. Whiche king Richarde of that name the second, was lawfully and iustly possessed of the Crown and Diademe of this realme and region, [ 30] till Henrie of Darbie Duke of Lancaster and Hereforde, sonne to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, the fourth begotten sonne to the sayde king Edward the thirde, & yonger brother to my noble auncester Lionel duke of Clarence, the third begotten sonne of the sayd king Edward, by force and violence, contrarie both to the dutie of his al∣legiance, and also to his homage to him both done and sworne, raysed warre and battayle at the ca∣stell of Flinte in Northwales, agaynst the sayde [ 40] king Richarde, and him apprehended, and impri∣soned within the tower of London, during whose life and captiuitie, he wrongfully vsurped and in∣truded vpon the royall power, and high estate of this realm and region, taking vpon him the name stile, and authoritie of king and gouernour of the same. And not therewith satisfyed, and contented, cōpassed and accomplished the death and destruc∣tion of his naturall Prince, and moste worthie soueraigne Lord, not as a common homicide and [ 50] butcherly murtherer, but as a regicide, & destroyer of his king. After whose piteous death, & execra∣ble murther, the right and title of the Crowne, and superioritie of this Realme was lawfully reuer∣ted and returned to Roger Mortimer Earle of Marche, sonne and heyre to Ladie Philippe the onely childe of the aboue rehearsed Lionell Duke of Clarence, to whiche Rogers daughter called Anne, my most dearest and welbeloued mother, I am the verie true and lineall heyre, whiche dis∣cent all you cannot iustly gainsay, nor yet truely denie. Then remember this, if the tytle be mine, why am I put from it? If I bee true heyre to the Crowne (as I am in deede) why is my ryght withholden? If my clayme bee good, why haue I not iustice? For surely learned men of great science and knowledge, saye and affyrme, that lineall discent, nor vsurped possession can nothing preuayle, if continuall clayme bee lawfullye made, or openly published. For the auoyding of which scruple and ambiguitie: Edmonde Earle of Marche my moste welbeloued Vncle in the tyme of the firste Vsurper in deede, but not by right called King Henrie the fourth, by hys cou∣sins the Earle of Northumberlande, and the Lorde Percie, he beeing then in captiuitie wyth Owen Glendor, the Rebell in Wales, made hys tytle and righteous clayme to the destruction of both the noble persons. Likewise my most deerest Lorde and father, so farre set forth that right and tytle, that hee lost his life and worldly ioy at the towne of Southhampton, more by power than indifferent Iustice. Sithe whose death, I com∣ming to my full age, haue neuer desysted to pur∣sue my tytle, and requyre my right, whiche by meanes of sinyster counsayle and iniust detenti∣on, I can neyther obteyne nor recouer. So that of fine force, I am compelled to vse power in steade of prayer, and force in steade of request (not as I sayde before) for my priuate emolument, and peculiar profite, but to restore peace, loue, and quietnesse to thys oure naturall Region, which euer sith the first vngodly vsurpation of the aforenamed Henrie, vntruly called king Henrie the fourth, hath beene clearely banished, and oute of the same iniustlye exyled. What murthers and manslaughters hathe beene perpetrated and committed wythin thys Countrey, sithe the be∣gynning of that vngracious vsurpation? what number of noble men haue beene slaine, destroyed, and executed sithe that infortunate day? It is to lamentable and manifest. For although Henrie of Lancaster Earle of Darbye tooke vpon hym the Scepter and the Crowne, and wrongfullye bare the name and style of a King, and was not muche tickled wyth myne Vncle the Earle of Marche, at that tyme being wythin age: yet was he neuer in suretie of himselfe, nor had or en∣ioyed any profite, quietnesse, either in minde or in bodie: For surely, a corrupt, conscience neuer feeleth rest, but looketh when the sworde of ven∣geance wil discende and strike: his son also called king Henrie the fifth, obteyned notable victories, & immortal praises for his noble actes done in the realm of Frāce: yet God for y^e offēce of his vntrue parent: sodenly touched him, vnbodying his soule

in the flower of his youth, and in the glorie of hys conquest. And although he had a fayre sonne and a yong, apparant heyre, yet was this orphan such a one, as preachers saye, that God threatned to sende for a punishment to his vnruly & vngraci∣ous people, saying by his Prophet Esay, I shal giue you children to be your Princes, and infants without wisdome, shall haue the gouernaunce of you. The Prophet lied not, if you note all things in an order: for after this Henrie the fift (whose [ 10] fame no man can iustly reproue or deface) succe∣ded his sonne, whom all we haue called our natu∣rall Prince, and obeyed as his heyre, in whose time & wrongfull raigne, I require you diligent∣ly to consider, with what great torments and af∣flictions God hath whipped and scourged this miserable Isle, yea with such and so many scour∣ges and plagnes, as no nation (the Egiptians on∣ly except) were euer tormented or afflicted withal. I wil not speake of rebellious murthers, & oppres∣sions, [ 20] which of late haue beene done and exercised here among vs: But I will declare & manifest to you, how the crown and glory of this realm is by the negligence of this silly man, and his vnwyse counsail minished, defaced and dishonored. Is not Normandie which his father gate regained & cō∣quered again, by y^e insolencie of him and his coue∣tous counsaile? Is not the whole duchie of Aqui∣taine, by two .C. and odde yeares peaceably pos∣sessed [ 30] by the kings of this realme, in one yere and a little more, gottē out of our hands & seigniory? What shoulde I speake of Aniou and Maine, or the losse of the Isle of France, with the rich Citie of Paris. Alas it is too apparaunt, neither will I molest you with the recitall of all the particulers thereof: But now in the middest of this affliction and to make an ende of the same, God of his inef∣fable goodnesse looking on this countrey, with hys eies of pitie and mercie, hath sent me in the truth, to restore againe his decayed kingdome, to hys [ 40] ancient fame and olde renowne, whereof here in open Parliament according to my iust and true title, I haue and do take possession of this royall throne, not putting diffidence, but firme hope in Gods grace, that by his diuine ayd and assistance of you the Peeres of this realme, I shall beautifie and mainteyne the same to the glorie of him, ho∣nour of my bloud, and to the publique wealth as well of you all here present, as of all the poore Commons and subiectes of this kingdome and [ 50] regiment.

When the Duke had made an ende of hys Oration, the Lordes sate styll as men stryken into a certayne amasednesse, neyther whispering nor speaking forth a worde, as thoughe theyr mouthes had bene sowed vp.

The Duke not verie well content with their strange silence, aduised them to consider through∣ly, and ponder the whole effect of his wordes and sayings, and so neyther fully displeased, nor yet altogither pleased, departed to his lodging in the kings Palace.

While he was declaring thus his tytle in the chamber of the Peeres, there happened a straunge chaunce in the verie same instaunt amongest the Commons in the neather house then there assem∣bled:* 5.297 for a Crowne whiche did hang in the mid∣dle of the same to garnishe a braunch to see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vppon, without touche of any man, or rygour of wind, sodainly fell downe. And at the same time also fell downe the Crowne which stoode on the toppe of the Castell of Douer, whiche chaunces were interpreted by the common people, to be as signes that the Crowne of the Realme shoulde bee deuided and chaunged from one lyne to an other.

The Lordes of the Realme forgotte not the Dukes demaunde, and therfore to take some good direction therein, dyuerse of them, as well of Spirituall Lordes, as Temporall, wyth many graue and sage persons of the Communaltie daylye assembled at the blacke Friers and other places, to treat and commen of this matter, being of so great importance.

During which time the Duke of Yorke, al∣though he and the King were both lodged in the Palace of Westmynster, yet would hee not for any prayers or request made vnto him, once by∣site or see the King, tyll some perfect conclusion were taken in thys greate and weightie matter, saying and affyrming, that he was subiect to no man, but onely to God, and hee was Lorde and superiour and none other.

The King of Scottes partlye encouraged through the ciuill discorde here in England, and partly for the displeasure which he had conceyued for the death of Edmonde Duke of Somerset his mothers brother,* 5.298 this yere besieged the Castell of Roxbourgh, and by the breaking of a Bom∣barde, as the same was shotte off agaynste the Castell, hee chaunced to bee slaine. Yet the Scottes lefte not off theyr enterpryse assaulting the Castell, tyll they gatte it, and then defended it a long tyme after, tyll Rycharde Duke of Glo∣cester it conquered and destroyed.

After long debating of the matter, with ma∣ny arguments made, and deliberate consultation had amongest the Peeres, Prelates, and Com∣mons of the realme, vpon the vigill of all Saints, it was condiscended and agreed by the three e∣states,* 5.299 for so much as King Henrie had beene ta∣ken as King by the space of .xxxviij. yeares and more, that he should enioy the name and title of King, and haue possession of the Realme during his naturall lyfe.

And if he eyther dyed, or resigned, or forfey∣ted

the same for breaking or going agaynst any poynt of thys concorde, then the sayde Crowne and authoritie royall should immediately bee de∣uoluted, and come to the Duke of Yorke, if hee then lyued, or else to the next heyre of his lynage. And that the D. of York from thenceforth should bee Protectour and Regent of the lande.

This agreement beeing put in Articles, was engrossed, sealed, and sworne by the two parties, and also enacted in the highe Court of Parlia∣ment. [ 10] For ioy whereof the King hauing in hys companie, the Duke of Yorke, roade to the Ca∣thredrall Churche of Saint Paule within the Citie of London, and there on the daye of all Saintes with the Crowne on hys heade, wente solemnly in Procession, and was lodged a good space after in the Bishops Palace, neare to the sayde Church.

* 5.300And vpon the Saterday next ensuyng, Ry∣charde Duke of Yorke was by sound of Trum∣pet [ 20] solemnely proclaymed heyre apparaunt to the Crowne of Englande, and Protector of the Realme.

* 5.301After this, the Parliament kept at Couen∣trie the last yeare, was declared to bee a diuelishe counsaile, and onely celebrate for the destruction of the Nobilitie, and no lawfull Parliament, by∣cause they which were returned, were neuer elec∣ted according to the due order of the lawe, but secretely named by them, which desyred rather the [ 30] destruction than the aduauncement of the com∣mon wealth.

When those agreementes were done and enacted, the King dissolued his Parliament, whiche was the laste Parliament that euer hee ended.

The Duke of Yorke well knowing that the Queene woulde spurne agaynst the conclusions agreed vpon in this Parliament, caused both hir∣selfe and hir sonne to be sent for by the King. But [ 40] she being a stout Dame, vsing to rule, and not to be ruled, and thereto counsayled by the Dukes, of Exceter, and Somerset, not only denyed to come, but also assembled a greate army, entending to take the King by fine force oute of the Lordes handes.

The Protector being in London, and hauing perfite knowledge of all these doings, assigned the Duke of Norffolke, and the Earle of Warwike his trustie friendes to be about the King, and hee with the Earles of Salisburie and Rutlande, and a conuenient number of men, departed out of Lō∣don the seconde day of December northward, and sent to the Earle of Marche his eldest sonne to followe him with all hys power. The Duke came to his Castell of Sandall beside Wakefield on Christmasse euen, and there beganne to as∣semble his tenaunts and friendes. The Queene being therof ascerteyned, determined to cope with him ere his succour were come. And so hauing in hir companie the Prince hir sonne, the Dukes of Exceter, and Somerset, the Earle of Deuon∣shire, the Lorde Clifforde, the Lorde Ros, and in effect all the Lordes of the North partes, wyth xviij. thousande men (or as some write .xxij. thou∣sande) marched from Yorke to Wakefielde, and had base to the Duke, euen before his Castell Gates. He hauing with him not fully fiue thou∣sande persones, contrarie to the myndes of hys faythful Counsailers, would needes issue forth to fight with his enimies.

The Duke of Somerset and other of the Queenes part, deuised how to take theyr moste aduauntage, and so appoynted the Lord Clifford to lie in one stale, and the Earle of Wilshire in another, and the Duke with other kept the main battaile.

The Duke of Yorke wyth his people discen∣ded downe the hill in good order and army, & was suffred to passe on towarde the maine battail:* 5.302 but when he was in the plaine •…•…ld betwene his castel and the town of Wakefield, he was enuironed on euery side, like a fishe in a net,* 5.303 so that he manfully fighting was within halfe an houre slaine & dead

[illustration]

and his whole armie discomfited: and with hym dyed of his trustie friends, his two bastarde Vn∣cles, sir Iohn, and sir Hugh Mortimers, sir Dauy Hall,* 5.304 sir Hugh Hastings, sir Thomas Neuill, William, and Thomas Aparre, both brethren, and two thousande and eyght hundred other, whereof many were yong Gentlemen, and heires of greate parentage in the South partes, whose lynages reuenged theyr deathes wythin foure Monethes next and immediately ensuing, as af∣ter [ 10] shall appeare.

In this conflict was wounded and taken priso∣ner, Richarde Earle of Salisburie, sir Richarde Lymbricke, Raufe Stanley, Iohn Harow, cap∣taine Hanson, & diuerse other. The Lord Clifford perceyuing where the Earle of Rutland was cō∣ueyed out of the fielde by one of his fathers chap∣leyns, and scholemaister to the same Earle, follo∣wed him, and ouertaking him, and vnderstan∣ding what he was, stabbed him to the heart with [ 20] a dagger as he kneeled afore him.

This Earle was but a childe at that time of xij. yeares of age, but neither his tender yeares, nor his dolorous countenance which he shewed in holding vp both his handes, and crauing mercie and grace with his lamentable gesture (for hys speache was gone for feare) coulde not plie the cruel heart of the Clifford to take pitie vpon him,* 5.305 so that hee was noted with great infamie, for that his vnmerciful act and murther made of that [ 30] yong gentleman.

But the same Lorde Clifforde not satisfied herewith, came to the place where the dead corpse of the Duke of Yorke lay, and caused his heade to be striken off, and set on it a Crowne of Pa∣per, and so fixed it on a Poil, and presented it to the Queene, not lying farre from the fielde, in greate dispite and muche deresion, at which pre∣sent muche ioy, and great reioysing was shewed: but they laughed then, that shortly after lamen∣ted, [ 40] and were glad then of other mennes deathes, that knewe not theyr owne to bee so neare at hande.

* 5.306Some write that the Duke was taken aliue, and in decision caused to stande vpon a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on whose heade they put •…•…arlande in steade of a Crowne which they had fashioned and shade of Segges, or Bulrushes, and hauing so crowned him with that Garlande, they kneeled downe •…•…∣fore him as the Iewes did to Cho•…•…e in scorns, [ 50] saying to him, haue King withoute 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hayle King without heritage, hayle Duke and Prince without people or possessions. And at length ha∣uing thus scorned him with these and dyuerse o∣ther the lyke despitefull wordes they stroke off his heade, whiche (as yee haue heard) they presented to the Queene.

Many deemed that this miserable end chaun∣ced to the Duke of Yorke, as a due punishment for breaking his othe of allegiance to his soue∣raigne Lord king Henry but other helde him dis∣charged thereof,* 5.307 bycause he obteyned a dispensati∣on from the Pope, by such suggestion as his pro∣curators made vnto him, whereby the same othe was adiudged voyd, as that which was receyued vnaduisedly, to the preiudice of himselfe, and dis∣inheriting of all his posteritie.

After this victorie obteyned thus by the N. and hir part, the Earle of Salisburie and all the prisoners were sent to Pomfret,* 5.308 and there behea∣ded, whose heades togyther with the Duke of Yorkes head, were conueyed to Yorke, and their set on Polles ouer the gate of the Citie, in despite of them and their lynage.

The Erle of Marche so commonly called, but now after the death of his father, in deede and in ryght verie Duke of Yorke, lying at Gloucester was wonderfully amazed, when the sorowfull newes of these mishappes came vnto hym: but after comfort gyuen to him by hys faythfull lo∣uers and assured allyes, hee remooued to Shrews∣burie, declaring to the Inhabitauntes of that towne, and to them of the other townes in those partyes, the murther of his father, the ieopardie of himself, and the present ruine of the cōmon welth.

The people on the Marches of Wales, for the fauour which they bare to the Mortimers linage, more gladly offred him their ayde and assystance than he could desire the same, so that hee had in∣continently a puissaunt armye, to the number of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thousand, ready to go against the Queene, and the murtherers of his father.

But when hee was setting forwarde,* 5.309 newes was brought to him, that Iasper Earle of Pem∣broke, halfe brother to King Henrie, and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Wilshire, had as∣sembled togither a greate number of Welche and Irishe people, sodainely to take and surprise him: he being here with quickened, retyred backe and mette with his enimies in a fayre 〈◊〉〈◊〉, neare to Mortimers Crosse, not farre from Hereford cast,* 5.310 on Candlemasse day in the morning, at whiche tyme the sonne (as some wryte) appeared to the Earle of March like three Sunnes, and sodainly ioyned altogither in one, vppon whiche sight hee tooke suche courage, that he fiercely setting on his enimyes, put them to flight: and for this cause, menne ymagined, that he gaue the Sunne in his 〈…〉〈…〉 for his Badge or cognisaunce. Of his enimies were left dead on the groūd three thousand and .viij. hundred. The Erles of Pem∣broke and 〈…〉〈…〉, but sir Owen Eruther, father to the sayd erle of Pembroke, which Owē had maried K. Hennes mother as ye haue hearde before) with Dauid Floid,* 5.311 Morg•…•… & diuerse other wer take, and beheaded at Hereford.

During this season, the Queene encouraged with hir late gayned victorie, with a great mul∣titude of Northerne people, marched towarde London, intending to vndoe all that which had bin ordeyned in the last Parliament.

* 5.312These Northerne people, after they were once passed ouer the riuer of Trent, spoyled and wa∣sted the Countrey afore them, in maner as if they had bin in the land of forayne enimies. At length, they approched to Saint Albons, & hea∣ring [ 10] that the Duke of Northfolke, and the Erle of Warwike, with other, whome the Duke of Yorke had left to gouerne the King in hys ab∣sence, had by the Kings assent, assembled a great host,* 5.313 and were encamped neere to that Towne. Those Northerne Lordes and other that were with the Queene, made forwarde, and entring into Saint Albons, meante to passe through the Towne, and so to coape with their enimies, but finding a sorte of archers raunged neere to the [ 20] greate crosse in the market place, to defend their passage, they were receyued with suche a storme of arrowes which came flying about their eares as thicke as hayle, that they were quickly repul∣sed backe, and with losse, driuen to retire vnto the West ende of the Towne, where by a lane that leadeth Northwards vp to Saint Peters strete, they made their entrie, and had there also a sharp encounter, against certayne hands of the kings people,* 5.314 but yet after greate slaughter on both [ 30] partes, they gote through, and vppon the heathe that lyeth at the North ende of the towne, cal∣led Barnard heath, they had a farre greater con∣flict with foure or fiue thousande of the Kyngs armie, that seemed as they had bin anaunt cour∣rers, whiche gaue tho onset so fiercely at the be∣ginning,* 5.315 that the victorie rested doubtfull a cer∣taine time, so that if y^e Easterne and Southerne men had continued as they began, the field had bin theirs, but after they had stoode to it a pretie [ 40] while, and perceyued none of their fellowes from the great armie to come and assist them, they be∣gan to faint, and turning their backes, fledde a∣maine,* 5.316 ouer hedge and ditch, through thicke and thinne, wooddes and bushes, seeking so to escape the handes of their cruell enimies, that followed them with egre minds, to make slaughter vpon them, namely, the Northerne prickes, nowe in the chace pursued most hotely, and bare downe, many, and more had done, if the night comming [ 50] vppon, had not stayed the execution of their vn∣mercifull willes.

When the daye was nowe closed and darke∣ned with the shadow of night, those that were a∣bout the King, being in number a twentie thou∣sande persons, hearing howe euill their fellowes had sped, began vtterly to despaire of the victorie, and so fell without anye long tar•…•…ance, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 run∣ning away, by reason whereof, the nobles that were about the King, perceyuing how the game went, and withall saw no comfort in the King, but rather a good will and affection towards the contrarie part, they withdrew also, leauing the King accompanyed with the Lord Bonneuil∣le, and Sir Thomas Kiriell at Kent, which vp∣pon assurance of the Kings promise, tarried still with him, and fled not, but their trust deceyued them, for at the Queenes departing from Saint Albons, they were both beheaded, though con∣trarie to the minde and promise of hir husbande. Sir Thomas Thorp, Baron of the Escherke•…•…, was also beheaded the same day, at Highgate, by the commons of Kent.

Such was the fortune of this seconde battell foughte at Sainte Albons, vppon Shroue Tewesday, beeing the seuententh of Februarie, in which were slayne three and twentie hundred men, and not aboue, of whome,* 5.317 no noble man is remembred, saue Sir Iohn Grey, whiche the same day was made knight, with twelue other, at the village of Colney.

Now after that the noble men and other wee fled, and the king lefte in man•…•… alone without any power of men to garde his person, hee was counfelled by an esquyer called Th•…•…s Hoo, a man wel languāged, and well serue in the laws, to send some conuenient messengere to the Nor∣thern lordes, aduertising them that he wold a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gladly come vnto them (whome •…•…s •…•…new to bee his verie frendes, and had assembled themselues togyther for his seruice, to the ende he might re∣maine with them, as before he had remained vn∣der the gouernment of the Southern lords. Ac∣cording to the aduice and counsel of this esquier, the king thought it good so to sende vnto them, and withall appointed the •…•…ame esqui•…•…r to beare the message,* 5.318 who firste went & declared the same vnto the Erle of Northumberlande, and retur∣ning backe to the king, brought certayne lordes with him, who conueyed the King first vnto the Lorde Cliffords tent, that stoode next to y^e place where the Kings people had encamped.

This done, they went and brought y^e Quene and hir sonne Prince Edwarde vnto his pre∣sente, whome hee ioyfully receiued, embracing and kissing them in most louing wise, and yeel∣ding hartie thankes to almightie God, whome it hadde pleased thus to strengthen the forces of the Northerne men, to restore his der•…•…ely belo∣ued and onely sonne againe into his possession.

Thus was the Queene fortunate in hir two battailes,* 5.319 but vnfortunate was the King in all his enterprises: for where his person was present, the victorie still fledde from him to the contrary part.

The Queene caused the King, to dubbe hir

son prince Edward Knight,* 5.320 with .30. other per∣sons, which the day before, fought on hir side a∣gainst his part.

This don, they went to y^e abbey, where of the abbot & Monks they were receiued, w^t hymnes & songs, & so brought to the high Altare, & after to the Shryne, & so to the chamber in which the K. was wont to lodge. The Abbot made suite y^t or∣der might be taken to restrain the Northern men frō spoiling y^e town, & proclamation in deed was [ 10] made to y^t effect, but it auailed not: for they main∣teined, y^t the spoile of things was granted thē by couenāt, after they were once passed ouer y^e riuer of Trent: & so not regarding any proclamation or other cōmandement,* 5.321 they spared nothing that they could lay hāds vpon, if the same were mete for thē to carie & beare away. The Queene ha∣uing thus got the victorie, sēt to y^e Maior of Lō∣don, cōmanding him without delay to send cer∣tain carts laded with Lenton victuals for the re∣freshing [ 20] of hir & hir army. The Maior incōtinēt∣ly caused carts to be laded, & wold haue sent thē forward, but the cōmons of the citie would not suffer them to passe, but stayed them at Criple∣gate, notwithstanding, the Maior did what hee could by gentle perswasions to quiet them.

During which controuersie, diuers of y^e Nor∣therne horsemen, came & robbed in the suhurbes of y^e Citie, & would haue entred at Criplegate, but they were repulsed by y^e comoners, and three [ 30] of thē slaine, whervpō the Maior sent y^e Recor∣der to Barnet to y^e kings counsel there, to excuse the matter, & the Duchesse of Bedford, the Lady Scales w^t diuers fathers of y^e spiritualtie, wēt to y^e Q. to aswage hir displeasure cōceiued against y^e Citie. The Q. at their hūble request by aduice of hir counsell, appointed certaine Lordes and knights, with four C. tall persons, to ride to the citie, & there to view & see the demeanor & dispo∣sition of y^e people: & diuers Aldermē were apoin∣ted to meete thē at Barnet, & to conuty them to London. But what man purposeth, God dispo∣seth, for al these deuises were shortly altered into an other forme, bicause true report came not on∣ly to the Q. but also to the Citie, that the Earle of Marche, hauing vanquished the Erles of Pē∣broke & Wilshire, had met w^t the Erle of War∣wike (after this last battell at Sainte Albons) at Chipping Norton by Cotsold, and that they w^t both their powers, wer cōming toward Londō. The Q. hauing little trust in Essex,* 5.322 and lesse in Kente, but least of all in London, with hir hus∣band & son, departed frō S. Albōs, into y^e North countrey, where the roote and foundation of hir aide and refuge only consisted.

The Duches of Yorke, seeing hir husbande and sonne slaine, and not knowing what should succeede of hir eldest sonnes chance, sent hir two yonger sonnes, George and Richard, once y^e sea, to the Citie of Vtrecht in Almayne, where they were of Phillip Duke of Burgoine well recey∣ued, and so remayned there, till their brother Edward had gote the Crowne, and gouernemēt of the Realme.

The Earles of Marche and Warwike, ha∣uing perfect knowledge that the King and Q. with their adherents, were departed from Sainct Albons, rode straight to London, entring there with a great number of men of warre, the firste weeke of Lent, whose comming thither was no sooner knowen, but that the people resorted out of Kent, Essex, and other the counties adioy∣ning, in great numbers, to see, aide, and comfort this lustie Prince, and flower of chiualrie, in whome, the hope of their ioy, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of theyr quietnesse only consisted.

This prudent yong Prince, minding to take time when time serued, called a great Counsell,

[illustration]

both of the Lords spirituall and temporall, and to them repeased the title and right that hee had to the Crowne, rehearsing also the articles con∣cluded betwixte King Henrie and his father, by their writings signed and sealed, and also con•…•…e∣med by a•…•…e of Parliament, the breaches where∣of, he neither forgate, nor left vndeclared.

After the Lordes had considered of this mat∣ter, they determined by authoritie of the sayde Counsell, that bycause King Henry hadde done [ 10] contrarie to the ordinances in the last Parlia∣ment concluded, and was insufficient of hym∣selfe to rule the Realme, hee was therefore depri∣ued of all kingly honor, and regall soueraignetis, & incontinently, was Edward Earle of March, sonne and heire to Richarde Duke of Yorke, by the Lords in the said Counsel assembled, named, elected,* 5.323 and admitted for King and gouernoure of the Realme, on whiche day, the people of the Earles parte, beeing in their muster in Sainte [ 20] Iohns field, and a great number of the substan∣ciall Citizens there assembled, to beholde theyr order,* 5.324 suddainely the Lorde Fawcombridge, whiche tooke the musters, wisely declared to the people, y^e offenes and breaches of the late agree∣mente, committed, suffered, and done, by Kyng Henrye the sixth, and demaunded of the people, whether they would haue the said King Henry, to rule & reigne any longer ouer them, to whome they with whole voice aunswered, nay, nay. [ 30] Then he asked them, if they woulde serue, loue, honor, and obey the Earle of Marche, as theyr earthly prince and soueraigne Lorde, to whyche question they aunswered, yea, yea, crying Kyng Edwarde, with manye greate shoutes and clap∣ping of hands.

The Lordes were shortly aduertised of the louing consente whiche the commons frankely and freely of their owne free willes had gyuen, wherevpon incontinently, they all with a con∣uenient [ 40] number of the most substanciall com∣mons, repayred to Baynards Castell, makyng iust and true reporte of their election and admis∣sion, and the louing assent of the commons.

The Earle after long pausing, first thanked God of his greate grace, and benefite then to∣wards him shewed, and the Lords and cōmons also for their hartie fauoure, and assured fidelitie: notwithstanding, like a wise Prince, he alledged his insufficiencie for so great a roomth, & weigh∣tie [ 50] burthen, as lacke of knowledge, want of ex∣perience, and diuers other qualities to a gouer∣nour apperteining, but yet in conclusion, beyng perswaded by the Archbyshop of Caunterburie, the Byshoppe of Exeter, and other Lordes then presente,* 5.325 hee agreed to their petition, and tooke vpon him the charge of the Kingdome, as for∣feited to him by breache of couenauntes, establi∣shed in Parliamente, on the behalfe of Kyng Henry.

But now before we proceede any further, sith the raigne of King Henrye may seeme heere to take ende, we will specifie some such learned mē as liued in his time. Iohn Leland, surnamed the rider (in respect of the other Iohn Leland, that paynefull antiquarie of our time) wrote dyuers treatises, for the instruction of Grammarians: Iohn Haynton, a Carmelite or white Friet (as they called them) of Lincolne: Roberte Colman, a Frantiscane Frier of Norwich, and Chancel∣lor of the Vniuersitie of Oxford: Williā White a Priest of Kent, professing y^e doctrine of Wick∣life, and forsaking the order of the Romayne Churche, married a wife, but continued his of∣fice of Preaching, till at length, in the yeare. 1428. he was apprehended, and by William, B. of Norwiche, and the Doctors of the Friers Mendicantes, charged with thirtie articles, which he maynteyned, contrarie to the doctrine of the Romane Church then in vse, and in Sep∣tember, the same yeare, suffered death by fire: A∣lexander Carpenter, a learned man, set forthe a Booke called Destructorium Vitiorum, wherin he enueygheth against the Prelates of the Churche of that time, for their crueltie vsed, in persecuting the poore and godly Christians: Richarde Ken∣dale, an excellente Gramarian: Iohn Bate, Warden of the white Friers in Yorke, but borne in the bordures of Wales, an excellent Philoso∣pher, and a diuine, he was also seene in y^e Greeke tong, a thing rare in those dayes: Peter Basset, Esquier of the priuie chamber to King Henrye the fifth, whose life he wrote: Iohn Pole a priest, that wrote the life of S. Walburgh, daughter to one Richard, a noble man of this Realme of Englande, whiche Walburg as hee affirmeth, builded our Lady Churche in Andwerp: Tho∣mas Ismaelite, a Monke of Sion: Walter Hil∣ton, a Chartreaux Monke also of Sheene, ey∣ther of these wrote certaine treatises full of su∣perstition, as Iohn Bale noteth: Tho. Walden so called of the Towne where he was borne, but his fathers surname was Netter, a white Frier of London, and the three and twentith prouin∣ciall gouernour of his order, a man vndoubtedly learned, and throughly furnished with cunning of the Scholes, but a sore enimie to them y^t pro∣fessed the doctrine of Wicklife, writing sundrye greate volumes and treatises againste them: hee dyed at Rouen in Normandie, the seconde of Nouember, in the yere .1430. Richard Vllerston, borne in Lancashire, wrote diuers treatises of Diuinitie: Peter Clearke, a student in Oxforde, and a defender of Wicklifes doctrine, wherevpō, when he feared persecution heere in England, he fled into Bohenie, but yet at length, he was ap∣prehended

by the Imperialistes, and dyed for it, as some write,* 5.326 but in what order, is not expres∣sed: Roberte Hownde slow, a religious man of an house in Howndeslow beside London, wher∣of he tooke his surname: Thomas Walsinghā, borne in Northfolke, in a Towne there of the same name, but professed a Monke in the Abbey of Sainte Albons, a diligente historici•…•…ie: Iohn Tilney, a white Frier of Yermouths, but a stu∣dent in Cambridge, and proued an excellent di∣uine: [ 10] Richarde Fleming, a Doctor of diuinitie, professed in Oxford, and by the King aduanced to the gouernement of the Bishopricke of Lin∣colne: he founded Lincolne colledge in Oxford, in which Vniuersitie, he had bin studente: Iohn Lowe, borne in Worcestershire, an Augustine Frier, a Doctor of diuinitie, and prouinciall in England of his order, and by King Henry the sixth, made firste Bishop of Saint Assaph, and after remoued from thence to Rochester: Tho∣mas [ 20] Ringstede the yonger, not the same y^t was Byshop, but a doctor of the lawe, and Vicar of Mildenhall in Suffolke, a notable preacher, and wrote diuers treatises: Iohn Felton, a doctor of Diuinitie of Magdalene Colledge in Oxforde: Nicholas Botlesham, a Carmelite Frier borne in Cambridgeshire, and student firste in the V∣niuersitie of Cambridge, and after in Paris, where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie: Tho∣mas Rudburne, a Monke of Winchester, and [ 30] an Historiographer: Iohn Holbroke, borne in Surrey, a greate Philosopher, and well seene in the Mathematikes: Peter Paine, an earnest pro∣fessor of Wiclifes doctrine, and fearing persecu∣tion heere in England, fled into Boheme, where he remained in great estimation for his greate learning and no lesse wisedome: Nicholas Vp∣ton, a Ciuilian, wrote of Heraldry, of colours in armorie, and of the duetie of chiualrie: Wil∣liam Beckley, a Carmelite Frier of Sandwich, [ 40] and warden of the house there, a diuine, and pro∣fessed degree of Schole in Cambridge: Iohn Torp, a Carmelite Frier of Norwiche: Iohn Capgraue, borne in Kent, an Augustine Frier, proceeded Doctor of diuinitie in Oxforde, was admitted prouinciall of his order, and proued without controuersie, the best learned of anye of that order of Friers heere in England, as Iohn Bale affirmeth: hee wrote manye notable vo∣lumes, and finally, departed this life at Lynne [ 50] in Northfolke, the twelfth of August, in the yere 1464. which was in the fourth yeare of K. Ed∣ward the fourth: Humfrey Duke of Gloucester, Earle of Pembroke, and Lorde Chamberlaine of Englande, also protector of the Realme, du∣ring the minoritie of his nephew King Henrye the sixth, was both a greate fauourer of learned men, and also very well learned himselfe, name∣ly in Astrologie, whereof beside other things, hee wrote a speciall treatise, entituled, Tabula dire∣ctionum: Iohn Whethamsted, otherwise called Frumentarius, was Abbot of Sainte Albo•…•…s, and highly in fauoure with the good Duke of Gloucester last remēbred; hee wrote diuers trea∣tises, and among other, a booke as it were of re∣cords of things, chancing whilest he was Abbot, whiche booke I haue seene, and partly in some parcell of this Kings time, haue also followed: Roger Onley, borne in the West countrey (as Bale thinketh) was acensed of treason, for pra∣ctising with the Ladye Eleanor Cobham, by sorcerie, to make the King away, and was ther∣of condemned, and dyed for it, though he were innocent therof, as some haue thought, he wrote a treatise, entituled, Contra vulgi supers•…•…iones, also an other De sua innocentia: Nicholas Cant∣low, a Welchman borne, discended of an aunti∣ent family in Southwales, as by Bale it should appeare, became a Frier Carmelite in Bristow: Henry Wichinghā, a Carmelite Frier of Nor∣wiche, a notable diuine, a greate Preacher, and wrote also sundrie treatises of diuinitie: Iohn Lidgate, a Monke of Burie, an excellente Poet, and chiefe in his time in that facultie, of al other that practised the same within this land, he tra∣uelled through Fraunce and Italy to learne the languages and sciences, how greatly he profited in atteyning to knowledge, the workes whyche he wrote, doe sufficiently testifie: Nicholas Ho∣stresham, an excellent Phisition: Iohn Black∣ney, a religious man, of the order of the Trini∣tie, entituled, De redemptione captiuorum, and Prior of an house of the same order, at Ingham in Northfolke, he was surnamed Blackney, of the towne where he was borne: Thomas Bec∣kington, Bishop of Bathe, wrote againste the lawe Salique, whereby the Frenchmen woulde seclude the Princes of this Realme, from theyr title to the Crowne of Fraunce: Iohn Baring∣hā, a Carmelite Frier of Ippeswich or Gippes∣wiche, in Suffolke: Dauid Boys, borne in Wales, and a Frier Carmelite, professed in Gloucester, a doctor of diuinitie: Iohn Brome, an Augustine Frier: Michael Trigurie, a Cor∣nishe man borne, whome for his excellencie in learning, K. Henry the fifth appointed to be ma∣ster or gouernoure, whether ye list to call him, of that schole or Vniuersitie, which he instituted in the Citie of Caen in Normandie, after hee had broughte it vnder his subiection: Iohn Amun∣disham, a Monke of Sainte Albons: Oswalde Anglicus, a Monke of y^e Chartreux order: Iohn Keningale, a Carmelite Frier of Norwiche: Peter de Sancta fide. that is, of Sainte Faith, a Carmelite also of Norwiche: Reginalde Pe∣cocke, Bishop of Chichester, of whome yee haue

heard before, he was borne in Wales, and Stu∣dent in Oriall Colledge in Oxforde, where hee proceeded doctor of Diuinitie, hee wrote manye treatises touching the Christian religion: Iohn •…•…named B•…•…ie of the towne where hee was borne, an Augustine Frier in the Towne of Clare in Suffolke: Robert Fleming Thomas Gascoigne, borne at Hun•…•…te in Yorkshire, of that worshipfull familie of y^e Gascoignes there, a Doctor of Diuinitie, and Chancellor of the [ 10] Vniuersitie of Oxforde William Stapilhart, borne in •…•…ente, but by profession, a white Frier in London: Robert Funinghā borne in North∣folke, a Franciscane Frier in Norwich: Nicho∣las Mo•…•…ute an Historiographer: Iohn Chād∣ler, Chancellor of Welles: William Botoner, discended of a good house, a Knight by degree, and borne in Bristowe, very studious in anti∣quities, and other sciences: Iohn Stowe, a Monke of Norwiche, but Student in Oxeford, [ 20] where he proceeded doctor of Diuinitie: Tho∣mas Langley, a Monke of Hulme: Nicholas Bingey, borne in a Towne of Northfolke of that name, wrote an historie, called Adunatio∣nes chronicorum. Henrye Beauford Bishoppe of Winchester, base sonne to Iohn Duke of Lan∣caster, of whome before we haue made sufficient mention: hee was aduanced to the dignitie of Cardinall, by Pope Martine the fourth, in the yeare .1426. Adam Homlington, a Carmelite [ 30] Frier: William Coppinger, master of the Vni∣uersitie of Oxford: Thomas Stacie, an experte Mathematicien, and no lesse skilfull in Astrono∣mie: Iohn Talaugerne, a Monke of Worce∣ster: William Sutton, an Astrologicien: Robert Balsacke, wrote a booke entitled De re militari, that is to saye, of warre or cheualrie, so that as is thoughte, hee was both a good souldier, and a painefull student of good letters: Thomas Dā∣do, a Carmelite Frier of Marleburg, hee wrote the life of Alphred Kyng of West Saxons: William Grey, borne of the noble house of the Greys of Codnor: hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 attayne to some excellencie of learning into Italy, where hee hearde that noble Clea•…•…e Guarinus Vero∣nensis reede in Ferrar•…•…: hee was pre•…•…erred to the Bishopricke of Elie, in the yeare .1454. by Pope Nicholas the fifth, when Thomas Bur∣chier was translated from thence to Caunter∣burie: Iohn Kemp, Archbishop of York, and af∣ter remoued from thence to Caunterbury, as be∣fore yee haue heard: hee was made Cardinall of Saint Albine, by Pope Eugene the fourth: A∣dam Molins or Milner (as Bale calleth hym) keeper of the Kinges prittie Seale, excellently learned, in time of the ciuill warre betwixt King Henry, and the Duke of Yorke, lost his head as many other did, in time of those helli•…•…e tra∣gedies, God deliuer euerye Christian Realme from the like: Thomas Chillenden, a Doctor, both of the lawe Ciuill and Canon, became at length a Monke in Canterburie: Roberte Bale, surnamed the elder, excellently learned in the lawes of the Realme, was aduanced to the of∣fice of Recorder of London, gathered as it were a Chronicle of the customes, lawes, foundatiōs, changes, restoring Magistrates, offices, orders, and publique assemblies of the Citie of London, with other matters, touching the perfect descrip∣tion of the same Citie: he wrote other works al∣so touching the state of the same citie, and the actes of King Edwarde the thirde, hee departed this life in the yeare of our Lorde .1461. euen a∣bout the beginning of the raigne of King Ed∣ward the fourth, vnto whome we will nowe a∣gayne returne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1422

  Henry the .6.
• * 1.2

  Anno. reg. 1.
• * 1.3

  P•…•… M•…•… surprised by the Frenche.
• * 1.4

  1423
• * 1.5

  Eng•…•…e•…•…
• * 1.6

  A•…•…ie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 en∣•…•…er of •…•…hippe.
• * 1.7

  The Parisians p•…•…ted of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 practises.
• * 1.8

  The englishe armye entreth the riuer, and vvinneth the banke.
• * 1.9

  An. reg. 2.
• * 1.10

  1424
• * 1.11

  Homage done by the King of Scotlande to King Henry the sixt.
• * 1.12

  Ha•…•….
• * 1.13

  Compleyne s•…•… ad•…•… the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by a po•…•…e.
• * 1.14

  Verneueil got∣ten from the Englishemen by crediting a dye.
• * 1.15

  The ordering of their bat∣tayles.
• * 1.16

  The battayle of Vernoyle.
• * 1.17

  Fier thousande •…•…the Aemili∣us, but Nicho∣•…•… Giles saieth there died but •…•…ere thousand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both parts.
• * 1.18

  Dedley and Canleton tvvo of the en∣glishe nobilitie vvere slaine at this battaile, as Iac•…•…b Ma•…•…rc 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  The Lorde •…•…sient to •…•…cie An∣•…•… & Maine
• * 1.20

  Mans deliue∣red to the En∣glishemen.
• * 1.21

  General pro∣cessions after victorie.
• * 1.22

  A subsidie.
• * 1.23

  The prince of Portingale cō∣ming to Lon∣don.
• * 1.24

  Anno re. 4.
• * 1.25

  A•…•… B•…•…vviō.
• * 1.26

  XX.M. hathe 〈…〉〈…〉 Iames de Bevvron be∣sieged.
• * 1.27

  Sir Nicholas 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.28

  Enguerant de Monf•…•…rel∣let.
• * 1.29

  Discention be∣tvvixt the duke of Gloucester and the Byshop of VVinche∣ster.
• * 1.30

  A parliament holden at Leicester.
• * 2.1

  Articles sette forthe by the Duke of Glou∣cester, againste Henrye Bishop of VVinche∣ster.
• * 3.1

  Fryer Ran∣dolph.
• * 5.1

  A dec•…•…te •…•…r order taken by the kings coun∣sell or the pa∣c•…•…ying of the quarrells and var•…•…cesta•…•… vver be•…•… the duke of G•…•…nced•…•… the Bishop•…•… VV•…•….
• * 5.2

  The Duke of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 d•…•….
• * 5.3

  The Earle of Warwicke •…•…de gouer∣•…•… o•…•… the •…•…g king.
• * 5.4

  An. reg. 5.
• * 5.5

  1427
• * 5.6

  A botte akle∣mishe.
• * 5.7

  On the Ce•…•… thursday.
• * 5.8

  Enguerrant.
• * 5.9

  Pontorson rendred to the Englishmen.
• * 5.10

  The Lord Talbot, a valiant Cap∣taine.
• * 5.11

  A gret slaugh∣ter by negli∣gence of the watche.
• * 5.12

  Sur Nicholas Burdet. Polidor.
• * 5.13

  Mauns lost by treason of the Citizens.
• * 5.14

  Mauns •…•…¦uered.
• * 5.15

  Traytors e•…•…∣cuted.
• * 5.16

  An. reg. 6.
• * 5.17

  1428
• * 5.18

  Mo•…•…ne Erle of Salisburie a politike and valiant man.
• * 5.19

  Anno. reg. 7. Orleans besie∣ged. Bast•…•…rd of Or∣•…•….
• * 5.20

  The Earle of Salisbury slain
• * 5.21

  1429
• * 5.22

  Enguer•…•…t.
• * 5.23

  A •…•…otable vic∣tory of the en¦glishmen.
• * 5.24

  The battel of the herrings.
• * 5.25

  Ione la Pucell de Dieu.
• * 5.26

  •…•…siege of •…•…s bro∣•…•…
• * 5.27

  Nichol Giles. Fiue thousand hath Hall.
• * 5.28

  Creat loste on the english f•…•… The Lords Talbot. Scales and Hurger∣ford takes.
• * 5.29

  The French K. •…•…ed.
• * 5.30

  Boheme.
• * 5.31

  An. reg. •…•…
• * 5.32

  Boheme.
• * 5.33

  Tho. VVals.
• * 5.34

  A parliament •…•… Roan called by the Duke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ord.
• * 5.35

  Laygny besie∣ged by the en∣glishmen.
• * 5.36

  1430
• * 5.37

  Compeigne besieged.
• * 5.38

  Saint Albons.
• * 5.39

  Ioan the Pusel taken.
• * 5.40

  Eug•…•….
• * 5.41

  The 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 5.42

  An. reg. 9.
• * 5.43

  1431
• * 5.44

  King Henry 〈…〉〈…〉 in per∣•…•… goeth with 〈…〉〈…〉 into 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 5.45

  •…•…e Albons.
• * 5.46

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 5.47

  An. reg. 10.
• * 5.48

  King Henry ••••e sixe crow∣•…•… in Paris.
• * 5.49

  Montargis re∣couered by the Englishmen.
• * 5.50

  The holy shep¦pard.
• * 5.51

  Vaudemount besieged.
• * 5.52

  The Duke of Bar taken.
• * 5.53

  Saint Seuerine besieged,
• * 5.54

  •…•…egate from Rome sent to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of peace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the English and •…•…nch.
• * 5.55

  〈…〉〈…〉 for vl. •…•…es,
• * 5.56

  •…•…es takē •…•…y treason.
• * 5.57

  •…•…ene •…•…ed by the of Glouces∣•…•… the k. being France.
• * 5.58

  A peace con∣cluded with the Scots.
• * 5.59

  1432
• * 5.60

  K. Henry re∣turneth out of France into England.
• * 5.61

  The Duches of Bedford sister to the Duke of Burgoigne deceased.
• * 5.62

  The Duke of Bedford mary¦eth with the Erle of Saint Pol his daugh¦ter.
• * 5.63

  The Frenchmē breake the truce and take the towne of Saint Valerie.
• * 5.64

  Laigny besie∣ged.
• * 5.65

  An. reg. •…•….
• * 5.66

  H•…•…le
• * 5.67

  1433

  The Castle of Roan likely to be taken by treason of the Captayne.
• * 5.68

  An. reg. 12.
• * 5.69

  1434

  The Lord Tal∣bot fayleth in∣to Fraunce.
• * 5.70

  Loueits besie∣ged.
• * 5.71

  An in•…•… in Normandy
• * 5.72

  The Duke of Bourbon dy∣eth at Londō.
• * 5.73

  Continuatio•…•… Chro. of Flau.
• * 5.74

  An. reg. 13.
• * 5.75

  The fruites of warre.
• * 5.76

  1435
• * 5.77

  A solempe trea¦tie of peace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arras.
• * 5.78

  Saint Denise taken by the Englishemen.
• * 5.79

  An. reg. 14. The death of the Duke of Bedford Re∣gent of France.
• * 5.80

  A worthy say∣ing of a wise Prince.
• * 5.81

  Great frost.
• * 5.82

  The Duke of Yorke made Regent of France.
• * 5.83

  1436
• * 5.84

  The treason of the Parisians.
• * 5.85

  Paris yelded to the frenche King.
• * 5.86

  The Duke of Burgoyne pre∣pareth an ar∣my against Calaya.
• * 5.87

  Caleys besie∣ged by the duke of Bur∣goigne.
• * 5.88

  The Duke of Burgoigne breaketh vp the siege be∣fore Calais, and fleeth.
• * 5.89

  The Duke of Gloucester spoileth Flan∣ders.
• * 5.90

  Earland.
• * 5.91

  Engue•…•…t.
• * 5.92

  An. reg. 15.
• * 5.93

  A truce taken betweene the king of Eng∣land and the duchesse of Burgoigne.
• * 5.94

  1437
• * 5.95

  Catherin mo∣ther to Kyng Henry, maried Owen Ten∣•…•….
• * 5.96

  Harflew be∣sieged & won by the En∣glishmen.
• * 5.97

  Iames king of Scottes mur∣thered.
• * 5.98

  The Earle of Warw•…•…k made Regent of Fraunce.
• * 5.99

  An. reg. 16.
• * 5.100

  Crotoy be•…•…¦gedly 〈…〉〈…〉 of Burgoig•…•…
• * 5.101

  Crotoy res∣•…•…ed.
• * 5.102

  1438
• * 5.103

  An. reg. 17. Dearth of victuals.

  1439
• * 5.104

  Two shrewd•…•… perswaders.
• * 5.105

  Anno. re. 18.
• * 5.106

  Ponthoise re∣couered by the English.
• * 5.107

  Anno. re. 19.
• * 5.108

  Enguerrant.
• * 5.109

  1441

  The Duke of Yorke againe made regent of France.
• * 5.110

  P•…•…e be∣sieged by the french King.
• * 5.111

  Eng•…•… d•…•… Mo•…•….
• * 5.112

  Hall.
• * 5.113

  An. reg. 20.
• * 5.114

  Po•…•…thoyse got¦ten by the Frenche.
• * 5.115

  Enguerant Sir Nicholas Burdet flayne.
• * 5.116

  The Duke of Orleans deli∣uered.
• * 5.117

  This •…•…oulde be as Enga•…•…∣rant note the tvvo yeares af∣ter this present yeare xx. 10 to vv•…•…te. An. 1443.
• * 5.118

  Hl. M. hath hi•…•…oli•…•… Giles.
• * 5.119

  The Earle of saint Poll re∣•…•…o•…•…eth to the Frenche
• * 5.120

  1442

  •…•…art•…•… bee∣sieged.
• * 5.121

  The chaunce of vvarre.
• * 5.122

  The Lorde Talbot.
• * 5.123

  The Ka•…•… of Duno•…•….
• * 5.124

  A nevv breach •…•…etvveene the Duke of Glou∣•…•…ster, and the •…•…ishoppe of •…•…Vinchester.
• * 5.125

  •…•…s Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 5.126

  King Edvvard the fourthe borne.
• * 5.127

  1442
• * 5.128

  An. reg. 21.
• * 5.129

  Iohn Lorde Talbot cre•…•… Earle of Shrevvebury.
• * 5.130

  1443
• * 5.131

  An. reg. 22.
• * 5.132

  The dyet at To•…•… or a peace to bee •…•…d betvvene Englande and Fraunce.
• * 5.133

  A truce for .18. moneths.
• * 5.134

  1444
• * 5.135

  Creations of estates.
• * 5.136

  An. reg. 23.

  1445
• * 5.137

  Margaret daughter to Reiner king of Sicill and Ieru∣salem maried to Henry the sixt.
• * 5.138

  An. reg. 24.
• * 5.139

  1446
• * 5.140

  The Duke of Somerset made Regent of Nor¦madie.
• * 5.141

  The Marques of Suffolkes re¦questes.
• * 5.142

  A commotion in Norvviche.
• * 5.143

  The liberties of Norvviche seased into the kings handes.
• * 5.144

  Indirect meanes sought to re∣forme vvrongs.
• * 5.145

  An. reg. 25.
• * 5.146

  The descri•…•… of Kyng Henry the •…•…e.
• * 5.147

  Description of the Queene.
• * 5.148

  The Queene taketh vppon hir the gouern∣ment, and dis∣chardgeth the Duke of Glou∣cester.
• * 5.149

  1447

  A parliament 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ed∣•…•…desbury.
• * 5.150

  The Duke of Gloucester so∣•…•…ly •…•…rthe∣•…•…ed.
• * 5.151

  Dukes of Glo∣cester vnfor∣•…•….
• * 5.152

  An. reg. 26.
• * 5.153

  1448
• * 5.154

  The deathe of the Bishoppe of •…•…Vinchester & •…•…s description.
• * 5.155

  An. reg. 27.
• * 5.156

  Sir Frauncis Suriennes.
• * 5.157

  Fongieres.
• * 5.158

  Pont de Larc•…•… taken by the Frenchmen by a sube•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 5.159

  A rebellion in in Irelande.
• * 5.160

  The Englishe losse all in Fraunce.
• * 5.161

  Roan yelded to the Frenche∣menne.
• * 5.162

  Harflevve be•…•…∣seged. Sir Thomas Curson.
• * 5.163

  Harflevve yel∣ded to the Frenche.
• * 5.164

  An. reg. 28.
• * 5.165

  1450
• * 5.166

  Sir Thomas Kiriell.
• * 5.167

  The Englishe∣men ouer∣throvven at •…•…o•…•…gny.
• * 5.168

  Caen besieged and yelded to the Frenche.
• * 5.169

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Normandy 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 5.170

  An. reg. 29.
• * 5.171

  The commons exclame a∣gainst the duke of Suffolke.
• * 5.172

  The Parliamēt adiourned from London to Leicester, and from thence to VVestminster.
• * 5.173

  Articles propo∣ned by the Commons a∣gainst the duke of Suffolke
• * 5.174

  The Duke of Suffolke com∣mitted to the Tovver.
• * 5.175

  Blevvberde Capitaine of the Rebe•…•…
• * 5.176

  The death•…•… of the Duke of •…•….
• * 5.177

  •…•…ke Cades •…•…on in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 5.178

  The Staffordes slaine at Seue∣nock by Iacke Cade.
• * 5.179

  The Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be•…•…ded as the S•…•…anderd in Cheaps
• * 5.180

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 e•…•…emities •…•…metimes politie doth more than •…•…ength.
• * 5.181

  Iacke Cade, a desperate Re∣bell slayne.
• * 5.182

  145•…•…
• * 5.183

  An. reg. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The Duke of Yorke ma•…•… clayme to the Crowne▪
• * 5.184

  VVheth•…•… The Duke of Yorke raysed a great pow•…•… for recoue•…•… of his right of the Crowne.
• * 5.185

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.186

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.187

  The Duke of Yorke accu∣seth the D. of Somerset.
• * 5.188

  Destenie, or rather Gods prouidence cannot be auoyded.
• * 5.189

  1452
• * 5.190

  An. reg. •••• 1453
• * 5.191

  The valiant Earle of Shre∣•…•…esbury and his sonne mā∣nely slayne.
• * 5.192

  Burdeaux yel∣ded againe to the Frenche.
• * 5.193

  The Queene deliuered of hir son Prince Edward.
• * 5.194

  An. reg. 32.
• * 5.195

  1454
• * 5.196

  The duke of Yorke imagi∣neth the de∣structiō of the Duke of So∣merset.
• * 5.197

  He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hymself with the Neuilles.
• * 5.198

  The sister of Rich. Neuille erle of Salis∣bury.
• * 5.199

  The descrip∣tiō of the erle of Warwike.
• * 5.200

  An. reg. .33.
• * 5.201

  The duke of Somerset ar∣rested.
• * 5.202

  1455
• * 5.203

  VVe•…•…amsted
• * 5.204

  The king sick
• * 5.205

  The duke of Somerset sette at libertie.
• * 5.206

  He is made de •…•…ie of Caleis
• * 5.207

  The duke of Yorke assem∣bled an army.
• * 5.208

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.209

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.210

  The duke of Buckingham sent to the D. of Yorke.
• * 5.211

  The Duke of Somerset bur∣dened with all thinges that had happened amisse.
• * 5.212

  The first bat∣taile at Sainte Albons. VVhethāsted
• * 5.213

  Hall.
• * 5.214

  Thomas Lord Cliffords hath Whethamsted
• * 5.215

  The kinges part vanqui∣shed.
• * 5.216

  Foure of th•…•… to wit, the D•…•… of Somerset, the earle of Northumber∣land, & the •…•…. Clifford, wo•…•… buried in o•…•… Ladies chapel. VVethamst•…•…
• * 5.217

  A parliament.
• * 5.218

  VVetham•…•… Collaterall. A letter kep•…•… from the king of purpose.
• * 5.219

  The Duke of Yorkes com∣ming againste the k. iustified
• * 5.220

  The D. of York •…•…de protec∣•…•… of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 5.221

  VVhethom. •…•…e acte for the •…•…ng to reuoke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grants.
• * 5.222

  Shifting of officers.
• * 5.223

  Henry D. of Sommerse•…•…
• * 5.224

  The Duke of York dischar∣ged of his office.
• * 5.225

  1456
• * 5.226

  An vptote in the citie of London.
• * 5.227

  A foule disor∣der.
• * 5.228

  A common counsel 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 5.229

  An. reg. 35. 1457
• * 5.230

  Sandwich sp•…•…∣led by the French.
• * 5.231

  Foulnay.
• * 5.232

  The Scots in∣uade England.
• * 5.233

  The Lord E∣gremond com¦mitted to new gate.
• * 5.234

  He made an escape.
• * 5.235

  A practise to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…pped the Duke of Yorke.
• * 5.236

  An. reg. 39. 1458
• * 5.237

  VVhetham.
• * 5.238

  The peeres of the Realme called to a treatie.
• * 5.239

  The Lords are brought to agree.
• * 5.240

  VVhetham. The awarde.
• * 5.241

  The cleergy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 resure in those dayes to lose nothing by these con∣tentions howe so euer the world went.
• * 5.242

  The Lord Egr•…•…mond
• * 5.243

  A solem•…•…ne procession at Paules.
• * 5.244

  An. reg. 37.
• * 5.245

  The frule of dissimulation 1459
• * 5.246

  The Erle of Warwicke as∣saulted.
• * 5.247

  The queenes purpose.
• * 5.248

  VVhetha•…•… The Erle of warwicke l•…•… Admiral.
• * 5.249

  A riche Prise.
• * 5.250

  An. reg. 38.
• * 5.251

  The Erle of Salisbury.
• * 5.252

  Three th•…•… hath Whe•…•…∣hamsted.
• * 5.253

  •…•…l. Andley
• * 5.254

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 vetusto •…•…ce.
• * 5.255

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.256

  Blore heath.
• * 5.257

  The xxiii of September.
• * 5.258

  Polecle often times ouerc•…•…¦meth force.
• * 5.259

  The L. Audley slayne.
• * 5.260

  •…•…e •…•…ember •…•…ae in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of •…•…er •…•…eath.
• * 5.261

  The Erle of So¦lisburies sonne apprehended.
• * 5.262

  The Duke of Yorke assem∣bleth an army
• * 5.263

  Andrew Trol¦lop, Iohn Blūt
• * 5.264

  The king rai∣seth an army.
• * 5.265

  VVhetham. The Bishop of Salisbury sent to the Duke of Yorke and o∣thers.
• * 5.266

  Their answe•…•…
• * 5.267

  A proclamatiō
• * 5.268

  Andrew Trol¦lop forsaketh the Lords.
• * 5.269

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.270

  The estimatiō of Andrew Trollop.
• * 5.271

  The Duke of Yorke his cō∣plices flee.
• * 5.272

  The Duke of Somerset made Captaine of Caleys.
• * 5.273

  Iohn Dynham
• * 5.274

  The Lord Ri∣uers taken.
• * 5.275

  A parliamente at Couentry
• * 5.276

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.277

  The kings inclination to me•…•…y.
• * 5.278

  Osbert Ment∣forde esquire hath Whethi∣steed, who should also haue goe c•…•… to Guynes with v.C. soul∣diers, to the ayde of the Duke of •…•…o∣merlet.
• * 5.279

  The Lord Fauconbridge was chiefe of this co•…•…e saith Wher∣hmasteed.
• * 5.280

  VV•…•…ed

  1466
• * 5.281

  Couentry the Queenes se∣cret Harbor.
• * 5.282

  VVhethāsted
• * 5.283

  The battel of Northampton.
• * 5.284

  VVhethāsted
• * 5.285

  The L. Grey of Ruthen.
• * 5.286

  Hall. The kings part discom∣fited.
• * 5.287

  The k. taken.
• * 5.288

  The tower de liuered to the Erle of March.
• * 5.289

  The L. Scales slayne.
• * 5.290

  Tho. Thorpe
• * 5.291

  An. reg. 39.
• * 5.292

  VVhethāsted The Duke of Yorke com∣meth forth of Ireland.
• * 5.293

  VVhethāsted
• * 5.294

  A strange de∣meanor of the D. of Yorke.
• * 5.295

  His bold spee•…•…
• * 5.296

  The Duke of Yorkes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made to the Lords of the Parliament.
• * 5.297

  Prodigious •…•…∣kens.
• * 5.298

  The Castel of Roxburh •…•…∣sieged. The k. of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 through mis∣fortune 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 5.299

  The deter•…•…∣nation of the parliament •…•…∣cerning the •…•…¦tailing of th•…•… Crowne.
• * 5.300

  The Duke of Yorke proclay¦med heire ap∣peare and pro¦•…•… of the •…•…ne.
• * 5.301

  The parliamēt at Couentrye •…•…e frustrate
• * 5.302

  The battaile of Wakfielde.
• * 5.303

  The Duke of Yorke slayne
• * 5.304

  Only s•…•…uen C. Southern men saith Whethā∣•…•…ted.
• * 5.305

  The cruel mur¦der of the yong Erle of Ruclād
• * 5.306

  VVheshāsted.
• * 5.307

  Mark the Pope dispensation.
• * 5.308

  The prison•…•… be headed.

  1491
• * 5.309

  The erle of Pē¦broke.
• * 5.310

  The Bare•…•… Mortimers crosse.
• * 5.311

  Owen Ten 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and be headed.
• * 5.312

  VVhethāsted.
• * 5.313

  The Not∣•…•…e men ouer into Saint Albons.
• * 5.314

  They passe through it.
• * 5.315

  The second •…•…ell at •…•…nt Albons.
• * 5.316

  The Kings part fleet•…•….
• * 5.317

  1916. as Iohn Stow noteth. Sir Iohn Grey slayne.
• * 5.318

  Thomas Ho•…•… Esquier, sent to the Nor∣therne Lorde.
• * 5.319

  Hall.
• * 5.320

  Prince Edward made knight.
• * 5.321

  The Northren men spoile the Towne of S. Albons. The Queene sendeth to the Maior of Lon∣don for vit∣tailes.
• * 5.322

  The Queene returneth Northward.
• * 5.323

  The Earle of Marche elec∣ted K•…•…ng.
• * 5.324

  The Lord Fau∣combridge.
• * 5.325

  The Earle of Marche ta∣keth vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as King.
• * 5.326

  Fabian and Caxton.