The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

The Reign of King EDWARD the Fifth.

KING Edward the Fourth being Dead, and leaving the Crown to Edward his Son, being about Twelve Years of Age, who kept his Court at Ludlow in the Marches of Wales, the better to Ingratiate himself with the Welsh, and continue them firm to the English Inte∣rest: That Prince upon notice of his Fathers Death, prepared for his Journey to London, in order to be Crowned; being then under the tuition of Anthony Earl Rivers, the Queens Brother; but whilst great pre∣parations were making in order to his Reception, Richard Duke of Gloucester was contriving how he might defraud his Nephew, and place the Crown on his own Head, drawing into his Confederacy Edward Duke of Buckingham, Richard Lord Hastings, and others: And having laid the Project, in the next place they proceed∣ed to remove all Obstructions; and hearing that the Lords of the Queens Blood intended to bring the King up with an Armed Power, the Duke of Gloucester wrote dissembling Letters to the Queen, putting her in mind of the Friendship the deceased King her Husband had made between those of his own Blood and hers, on his Death-bed; Intreating her she would not give any cause of distrust in that matter; and desired she would

Write to the Lords to dismiss those Forces, for saving Charges, and quieting the Peoples minds, who might draw conjectures from it that there was Misunderstan∣dings among the Nobles, tending to another Civil War: That as for himself, he Protested and Swore, That his humble Duty to his Soveraign, his unfeigned Love to her, her Children and Kinsfolks, had incited him thus seriously to Counsel and Advise her and them in so weighty a matter, as might be for the good of them all, with much more to the same purpose; which prevailed with her to believe it Sincere; that she Writ to her Brother and Son, who were principally the Young Kings Conductors, to dismiss their Armed Attendants and come to London by easie Journies, with a small Number of his select Friends: This however they had some scruple to do, before Gloucester wrote to them very obliging Letters, protesting an Eternal friendship and kindness: So in an unlucky hour, contrary to the minds of many with them, and of the Young King him∣self, the Guards was sent every Man to his Habitation, and with a slender Train they kept on their Journey.

The Duke of Gloucester having gained this main Point, delayed not to hasten his meeting the King, taking with him the Duke of Buckingham and a strong Guard, and by this time the Earl Rivers had brought the King to Stoney-Stratford; but because that little Town could not accommodate his Train, the Earl took up his Quar∣ters at Northampton, about ten Miles from thence; where unlooked-for, the Dukes of Buckingham and Gloucester came into their Inn, and courteously saluted them; but the Scene was soon changed; for they were no sooner in their Beds, but the two Dukes seized on the Keys of the Inn, causing the Ways between the two Towns to be stopped, and strongly Guarded; pretending for excuse, that no Man before them should

in the Morning pay his humble Duty to the King: Earl Rivers having notice of this, perceived he was over-reached and insnared by Gloucester's Policy; and resolving to make the best of it, dissembling his fears, came to the two Dukes, and demanded in a forced Jocose way, Why they had so done? But in stead of giving any satisfactory Answer, they fell into a need∣less Quarrel with him; and causing him to be Arrested, and put under strict Ward, hastned early the next Morning to Stoney-Stratford, and in a submissive manner presented their humble Duty to the King, who received them with much kindness and affection, as being igno∣rant of what had passed: But this Scene was likewise changed, upon their Arresting the Lord Richard Grey, the Kings half Brother, and Sir Thomas Vaughan in his presence; of which usage when he complained, they told him all should be well; and what they did, was for the best; protesting abundance of Love and Loyalty. However, they sent the Lords and Knights to Pomfret Castle in the North, under a strong Guard, out of which they came not Alive: Then they removed from the King all his Officers, and placed Creatures of their own about him, giving out that those of the Queens Blood intended to destroy all the Kings nearest Relations, and to Rule both Him and the Kingdom at their pleasure.

The Queen who lay at Westminster, hearing this un∣expected News, greatly grieved that she had been over-reached by Gloucester's cunning to Write to the Lords to dismiss their Strength; and fearing the worst, re∣tired with her Son Richard Duke of York, and her five Daughters, into the Sanctuary. In the mean while they brought the much discontented King to London, where he was received by the Lord Mayor and 500 Citizens in their Formalities: In whose presence Glou∣cester, plaid his part so cunningly, that not only they

but the Nobility were won to believe him sincere; and thereupon he was appointed Protector of the Kings Person and Kingdom: Which Trust he most passio∣nately desired, to further his main Design, which now he questioned not to bring about, if he could get the Duke of York into his possession; and in order to it, calling a Council of Nobles and Prelates, he laid be∣fore them how disgraceful it was that the Queen in her perversness should keep an Innocent Prince in Sanctuary, which was looked on as a place suitable to protect the Guilty; that it would cause them to be spoke evil of abroad, and therefore desired them to ad∣vise how they might get him out of her hands, to solace and sport in the company of the King his Brother, who was Melancholy for his absence, and passionately de∣sired to see him.

This, and much more to the same effect, made them think the Dukes words Reasonable, and thereupon agree to send such as had greatest Interest with the Queen, to perswade her to deliver him; of whom the Arch Bishop of Canterbury was to be Spokesman, who laid many Reasons before her of the Necessity at that juncture which required her consent: But with Sighs and Tears she Replied, That the Duke being Sickly and Weak, none was more fit than his own Mother to look to him; that Brothers (when together) rarely so well agreed as with those that were not so near a kin. But the main is, said she, my Lord, it is dangerous that these Princes, as Affairs stand, should be together; since asunder they are each others safety. And if the one of them do well, the other cannot be in Peril or Danger; and there is nothing more hazardous than to keep them in one place; since the Life of the one separate, is maintained in the Body of the other.

But for all these Reasons, perceiving he would be

forced from her, if she consented not willingly to de∣liver him, after many tender Kisses and falling Tears, praying Almighty God to preserve and defend him from all dangers, she delivered him; bitterly Weeping to the Arch Bishop, saying, That before the High Ma∣jesty of Heaven, she should require that poor Innocent Infant at his Hands.

The Protector, who with many Nobles waited in the Star-Chamber, was over-joyed when he saw the Arch-Bishop return with what he so passionately de∣sired, and taking the Young Duke in his Arms, he kissed him, and said, Welcom, my Lord, with all my Heart: Protesting so great a love to him, that most believed it real.

Thus having gotten the Prize he aimed at, the bet∣ter to secure it, he conveyed both him and the King in great State through the City of London to the Tower, in order as he pretended to the Coronation when things were setled; tho' indeed there was nothing out of frame but what himself had disordered; where having placed them under such as he confided in, he began more openly to tamper with the Duke of Buc∣kingham whom he knew was Popular and Powerful, offering to Marry his Son to his Daughter, and give him the Earldom of Hartford (which the Duke claimed in King Edward's time as his Right, but could not ob∣tain) if he would to the utmost endeavour to place the Crown on his Head; and by this means he won him entirely to his Interest, tho' it afterward proved to his destruction: For Gloucester being made King, perfor∣med nothing of his promise.

The next thing he had to do, was to gaine the Lord Hastings, who had been in high favour with Edward the Fourth, and was now Lord Chamberlain to the Young King; but fearing to disclose his mind openly

to him, for great Rewards he procured one Catesby, a Favourite of Hastings, secretly with dark discourse to sound him: This Man, tho' he had been maintained by that Lord, and had his Fortunes raised to what he was by him, proved so Treacherous, that having done what he could, and finding that Lord no ways inclin∣able to favour Gloucester's design, he not only told him of it, but encouraged him to remove him out of the World, if he intended to compass his desires: Which being Resolved on, he called a Grand Council of Lords at the Tower, to consider of suitable preparations for the Coronation; and when they had sat a considerable time, he came in and took his Chair, Jesting with some of them, after he had excused his too long stay, request∣ing of Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely some Strawberries that grew in his Garden at Holbourn; which he imme∣diatly sent for, and took it as a favour that the Prote∣ctor was so kind to him, as to put it in his power to oblige him in any thing; for there had been formerly no good understanding between them. Then making excuse for a short Absence, he desired them to proceed in the method proposed; when about an hour after, coming in, he took his Chair, frowning, biting his ••ip, and rubbing his Fist; which tokens o•• displeasure strangely amazed them, so that they kept a profound silence; which the Protector perceiving, demanded what punishment they deserved who had wickedly procured his destruction, he being Unkle and Protector of the King? This amused them more than before; but knowing themselves Innocent of any such intention, the Lord Hastings, who by reason of the antient Friend∣ship that had been between them, thinking he might make bold, Replied, My Lord, such as have so trans∣gressed, deserve the severest Punishment the Law can inflict: To which the other Lords Assented: Then, said he,

that Sorceress (meaning the Queen) and Shoars Wife, having Conspired by Witchcraft to destroy me: So draw∣ing up his Sleeve, he shewed his Arm, which had been wasted from his Infancy, as they all knew, as a Testi∣mony of what he had said; biding them behold how their Charms had begun already to take effect on him. Hereupon the Lord Hastings, who had taken Jane Shoar to his Bed, upon the Death of King Edward, thinking to excuse her, said, My Lord, if they have done so, they deserve punishment: Thou Traytor, Replyed the Protector, Servest thou me with Iffs and Ands? I tell thee they have done it; and that I will make good upon thy Body: And so striking his Fist upon the Table, the Room was presently filled with Armed Men, one of which struck at the Lord Standley, and as nimble as he was to sink under the Table, grievously Wounded him in the Head, and himself Arrested the Lord Hastings; biding him make hast to shrive himself; For by St. Paul (which was his usual Oath) he would neither Eat nor Drink till his Head was off: And accordingly he was Beheaded on a Log on the Green within the Tower; and the same day by the Protectors order, the Lords, and Sir Thomas Vaughan were Beheaded at Pomfret; to whose Death this Lord had consented, as appears by his own Story to one Hastings a Priest, whom he met on Tower-Hill, as he was going to the Council, viz. That he should soon hear that Snare they had laid for him in Edward the Fourths time, which caused him much trouble, would now take themselves.

One thing more is remarkable, The Lord Stanley, the Night preceding, Dreamed That he and Hastings were Wounded by a Boar, that the Blood run about his Ears; and seeing the Protector had the White Boar for his Cognizance, he truly Interpreted it, desiring he would accompany him in Flying, ere they could be

missed, out of his reach; but he made slight of it, de∣siring the Messenger to tell his Lord, That Dreams were Fables and Fancies; yet at his Death he repented he had not taken this warning as sent from Heaven.

The Protector having Imprisoned the Lord Stanley, Arch-Bishop of York, Cardinal, Bishop of Ely, and se∣veral others, put himself and the Duke of Buckingham into old Armour, as if first come to hand, in some great danger; and sending for the Lord Mayor, and many of the chief Citizens, movingly told them, That himself and the Duke of Buckingham were by Conspiracy of Hastings and his Accomplices to have been Murthered at the Council Table, had he not by force prevented it; desi∣ring them to make that report to their Neighbours; and that this was all that had occasioned the Disturbance and Exe∣cution in the Tower: Nor had Hastings been dead above two Hours ere a large Proclamation, with the Broad Seal to it, was read in divers parts of the City by a Herauld at Arms; so that it was plain to the People, that this matter was not suddain, but premeditated.

These Advances coming near the Throne, the Citizens were Assembled at Guild-Hall, and the matter openly proposed to them by the Duke of Buckingham, who used many Arguments to induce their consent to the Proclaiming Richard Duke of Gloucester King, and lay aside King Edwards Line; but they appeared little inclinable to it. However Dr. Shaw, Brother to the Lord Mayor, in a Sermon at St. Paul's Magnified him as a Prince of the greatest Magnanimity and Virtue imaginable; labouring to Bastardize Edward the Fourth, and all the other Sons of Richard Duke of York, except this Richard, who he said was his own Picture, and the true imitator of his Valour and Virtues: Which was taken for such a piece of Dissimulation and Flattery, that he being afterwards very evilly spoken of, he was ashamed ever after to appear in a Pulpit.

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This weighty matter being now brought to a home push, the Duke of Buckingham, to finish the work he had begun, carried divers Citizens of the meaner sort to Baynards Castle, where the Protector kept his Court; where he made them seem to impose the Crown on him; with threats, if he refused it, to place it on the Head of some Nobleman not of the Family of the Plan∣tagenets, for they would not have any of Edward the Fourth's Line to Rule over them: This and much more to the like purpose, the Duke spoke for them, which with a faint shout of God save King Richard, made him with great unwillingness (as appeared to them) accept what he had so hard laboured for, and passionately desired: And thus an end was put to Edward the Fifth's Reign, if I may so terme it, two Months and thirteen Days after his Fathers Death; and was afterward, together with his Brother, Mur∣thered in the Tower; as will appear in the next Reign.