and parentage; but no bountie, nor benefits could change a treacherous disposition, for (as you haue heard before) he conspired to murther his benefactor King Henry the fifth, as the Duke of Yorke (his true progenie) labo∣red to depose this King Henrie his aduancer. The humors of the popular body, were, in the last com∣motion, not obscurely discouered. The Common weale had perhaps some few enormities, through the abuse of Magistrates and men in place, but yet such, as the maladie was infinitely lesse pernicious then the remedy. Vpon this intelligence the Duke comes sodeinely out of Ireland, and to begin his v∣surped censureship and dictature, apprehends Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley, Reignald Abbot of Saint Peters, at Glastenbury, and another, whom he imprisoneth within his Castle of Ludlow. Intollerable beginnings of more intollerable sequele. Edmund Duke of Som∣merset was the man, who (after Suffolks death) most supported the Kings side by his vigilancie, caresdan∣gers, and good Counsels, endeuouring by all meanes to cleare the Realme from factions, and to preserue the King and state in quiet.
(55) Yorke seeing this, doth find that Suffolke perished in vaine, if Sommerset held like grace; against whose person he had a particular pretence of quar∣rell, for that the City of Caen in Normandy, which was the Duke of Yorkes charge, was rendred vp to the French by him, when the English affaires grew despe∣rate in those parts; Sir Dauid Hall Knight, being at that time Captaine there for his Lord and Master the Duke of Yorke, and not allowing it, although the renowned Talbot himselfe was present at the render, and became an hostage for performance of the Ca∣pitulations. Yorke hereupon consults with his spe∣ciall friends, Richard Earle of Salisbury, and Richard his son, (who was afterward that most seditious & great fighting Earle of Warwicke,) Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire, Edmund Brooke Lord Cobham, and others, how Yorke might get the Crowne of England, and for that cause how to ruine or fret out the Duke of Sommer∣set, who standing, they were to looke for strong op∣position. In the end, they conclude to take armes, but yet to smother the mention of the Duke of Yorkes ti∣tle, giuing out to the world for the reason of their doings, that they meant all honour and obedience to King Henry, and only to remoue certaine bad men from about his per∣son, who afflicted the people, and made a pray of the Com∣mon-wealth: which, to gaine the more credit, and to blind the good King, the subtile Duke declares by Proclamation; wherein, thus speaketh that Ambiti∣ous Hypocrite. God knoweth from whom no thing is hid, I am, haue beene, and euer will be his true liege man; &c. And to the very proofe it is so, I offer my selfe to sweare that on the blessed Sacrament, and receiue it, the which I hope shall be my saluation, at the day of doome. &c. In that it was the euill hap of the Duke of Som∣merset, that Normandy was lost during his Regencie, his enemies had the more commoditie to incommo∣date him with the people, who forbare not at his re∣turne to offer to him sundry dishonours and iniu∣ries, till vpon paine of death they were restrained, for breach of which Proclamation, one had his head cut off in West Cheap London.
(56) The King (notwithstanding all his Cosens arts and dissimulations) seeing the hooke through the baite, and the snake through the grasse, by the aduise of his trusty friends, chiefly of Edmund Duke of Sommerset, thinkes not fit to relie vpon his enemies good nature, but hauing a strong power, and store of honorable men to conduct them, he marcheth to∣ward Wales against the Duke. The King did here∣in wisely, but not so much as the cause required. Yorke hauing notice of the Kings approach turnes a∣side, and with all speed marcheth toward London. That City, (the vaine hope of all Rebellions,) would not harken; Thereupon he slides with his people into Kent, the nest of his hopes, and at Brent-heath neere Dertford (a towne about twelue miles from London) encampeth, meaning to fight. The King is not slow, but leauing his march toward Wales, pitcheth vp his roiall pauilion vpon Black-Heath, with a purpose to teach his cosen of Yorke more duty. Behold the fortune of England. God puts an excellent opportunity into the Kings hands of tearing vp the danger of his house by the rootes, for the Duke was farre inferiour in numbers. Such therefore as secretly fauoured him, fearing his ouer∣throw, were willing to aduise a reconcilement. Mes∣sengers goe betweene the hosts. The Duke, in his wonted manner, pretends loialtie and particular iniu∣ries, as that the Kings seruants, Sir Iohn I albot at Holt Castell, Sir Thomas Stanley in Cheshire, and others in o∣ther places, were set to harken vpon him. That by two of the Norrices, Bulkeley, Grust, Bould (and other Gentle∣men) he was forbidden to land at Bewmaris, or to haue any refreshment, affirming that he (the Duke of Yorke) was against the Kings intent and as a Traitour. The King stoupes so much as to answere the letter, letting him to knowe: That the suspition vniuersally conceiued of his behauiours moued those effects: neuer thelesse, in re∣gard of the humble obedience which was now protested, he, for the easing of the Dukes heart, doth declare, repute and admit him as a true, and faithfull subiect, and as his wel∣beloued Cosen. The Duke then aduanceth his pra∣ctise one step further, and writes to the King, that Iustice might be done vpon all persons of what de∣gree soeuer, which were guilty, or noised to be guiltie of treason: aiming at the Duke of Sommerset, whom he doubted not to ouerwhelme with sleights and ca∣lumnics, as hee and his had done the Duke of Suffolke.
(57 The King is contented (such weake or treacherous counsels he relied vpon) that Sommerset (for his satisfaction) should be commanded Prisoner to his owne house, and Yorke (hauing first dissolued his armie) should come in person, and put himselfe into the Kings hand. When he was come, he exhibites a great complaint against the pride and auarice of the Duke of Sommerset, and cunningly accusing none but him, he seekes the good-will of all others. A cunning drift as any, considering that hereby he deriued vp∣on his enemie all the enuie of the people, and left him single to withstand the effects. Sommerset (a Prince of great spirit and wit) not thinking it reasonable, as well in regard of his owne honour as the Com∣monwealthes interest, to endure such indignity, pre∣sents himselfe to the King against his accuser, and resoluing not to be tender-mouthed in the so appa∣rent perill of the King and Realme, whose quiet was vndermined, answeres Yorke face to face, and, in plaine termes accuseth him of highest treason, as hauing conspired to depose the King, and take vpon himselfe the Soueraignty: vehemently vrging: That the Duke of Yorke might be committed and arraigned, to the intent that by his deserued death, and the disenablement of his sonnes, Ciuill warre might be extinguished, praying finally that God would not suffer the enemie of the Kingdome to escape the hand of iustice.
(58) This had in likelihood beene done, but that the publike faith seemed to stand engaged for the Dukes indemnitie, he hauing come in vpon the Kings word, and also for that the hearts of men were not well assured to the King, which by executing Yorke would perhaps haue beene more vnsetled, be∣cause (not looking into the depth of the Kings perill) it would haue beene thought that he had beene de∣stroied to gratifie Sommerset, and not to secure the Realme. There was hope likewise to recouer A∣quitain, for that Burdeaux had offered to returne: Lastly, the Dukes sonne and heire, Edward Earle of March (afterward King) was reported to be ready with a great force of Welshmen to succour his father. Vpon these and other reasons, the Duke is no lon∣ger restrained, as vpon Sommersets most weighty ac∣cusations he had beene, and to assure the gentle and indulgent King, of his allegiance, he makes his sub∣mission, and solemnely TAKES HIS OATH to bee true, faithfull and obedient subiect. This was done