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Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 3 of 6, slice 4 of 9: England, 1462-1483, Edward IV

by Raphael Holinshed · English · Gutenberg #45593 · 381,911 chars · public domain (US)

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 3 of 6, slice 4 of 9: England, 1462-1483, Edward IV
    
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Title: Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 3 of 6, slice 4 of 9: England, 1462-1483, Edward IV

Author: Raphael Holinshed


        
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Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES, VOL. 3 OF 6, SLICE 4 OF 9: ENGLAND, 1462-1483, EDWARD IV ***

EDWARD THE FOURTH, EARLE OF MARCH,

sonne and heire to Richard duke of Yorke.


[Sidenote: An. Reg. 1.]

[Sidenote: The earle of March taketh vpon him as king.]

[Sidenote: His title declared.]

After that this prince Edward earle of March had taken vpon him the
gouernement of this realme of England (as before ye haue heard) the
morow next insuing, being the fourth of March, he rode to the church
of saint Paule, and there offered: and after Te Deum soong, with great
solemnitie he was conueied to Westminster, and there set in the hall
with the scepter roiall in his hand, whereto people in great numbers
assembled. His claime to the crowne was declared to be by two maner of
waies, the first, as sonne and heire to duke Richard his father, right
inheritor to the same; the second, by authoritie of parlement, and
forfeiture committed by king Henrie. Wherevpon it was againe demanded
of the commons, if they would admit and take the said erle as their
prince and souereigne lord, which all with one voice cried; yea, yea.

[Sidenote: He is proclamed king.]

This part thus plaied, he entered into Westminster church vnder a
canopie with solemne procession, and there as king offered; and
herewith taking the homages of all the nobles there present, he
returned by water to London, and was lodged in the bishops palace; and
on the morrow after, he was proclamed king by the name of Edward the
fourth, throughout the citie. This was in the yeare of the world 5427,
and after the birth of our Saviour 1461 after our accompt, beginning
the yeare at Christmasse; but after the vsuall accompt of the church of
England 1460, the twentith of emperour Frederike the third; the nine
and thirtith and last of Charles the seuenth French king; and first
yeare of the reigne of Iames the third king of Scots.

Whilest these things were adooing in the southparts, king Henrie being
in the north countrie, assembled a great armie, trusting (for all this)
to subdue his enimies; namelie, sith their chiefe ringleader the duke
of Yorke was dispatched out of the waie. But he was deceiued: for out
of the ded stocke sprang a branch more mightie than the stem; this
Edward the fourth, a prince so highlie fauoured of the people, for his
great liberalitie, clemencie, vpright dealing, and courage, that aboue
all other, he with them stood in grace alone: by reason whereof, men of
all ages and degrees to him dailie repaired, some offering themselues
and their men to ieopard their liues with him, and other plentiouslie
gaue monie to support his charges, and to mainteine his right.

By which meanes, he gathered togither a puissant armie, to the intent
by battell (sithens none other waies would serue) at once to make an
end of all. So, his armie and all things prepared, he departed out
of London the twelfe daie of March, and by easie iournies came to
the castell of Pomfret, where he rested, appointing the lord Fitz
Walter to kéepe the passage at Ferribridge with a good number of tall
men. King Henrie on the other part, hauing his armie in readinesse,
committed the gouernance thereof to the duke of Summerset, the earle of
Northumberland, and the lord Clifford, as men desiring to reuenge the
death of their parents, slaine at the first battell at saint Albons.
These capteins leauing king Henrie, his wife, and sonne, for the most
safegard within the citie of Yorke, passed the riuer of Wharfe with
all their power, intending to stop king Edward of his passage ouer the
riuer of Aire.

[Sidenote: The lord Fitzwater slaine.]

And the better to bring that to passe, the lord Clifford determined to
make a charge vpon them that kept the passage of Ferribridge; and so he
departed with his light horssemen from the great armie on the saturdaie
before Plamesundaie; and earelie yer his enimies were aware, slue the
kéepers and wan the bridge. The lord Fitz Walter hearing the noise,
suddenlie rose out of his bed, and vnarmed with a pollax in hand,
thinking that it had béene but a fraie amongst his men, came downe to
appease the same; but yer he knew what the matter meant was slaine, and
with him the bastard of Salisburie brother to the earle of Warwike, a
valiant yoong gentleman, and of great audacitie.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike.]

[Sidenote: A proclamation.]

When the earle of Warwike was informed hereof, like a man desperat,
he mounted on his hacknie, and hasted puffing and blowing to king
Edward, saieng; "Sir, I praie God haue mercie of their soules, which
in the beginning of your enterprise haue lost their liues. And bicause
I sée no succors of the world but in God, I remit the vengeance to
him our creator and redéemer." With that he alighted downe, and slue
his horse with his sword, saieng; Let him flée that will, for suerlie
I will tarrie with him that will tarrie with me: and kissed the
crosse of his sword as it were for a vow to the promise. King Edward,
perceiuing the courage of his trustie friend the earle of Warwike, made
proclamation, that all men which were afraid to fight, should depart:
and to all those that tarried the battell, he promised great rewards,
with addition that anie souldier which voluntarilie would abide, and
afterwards, either in or before the fight should seeme to flée or turne
his backe, then he that could kill him, should haue a great reward and
double wages.

[Sidenote: The lord Clifford slain.]

[Sidenote: Dintingdale.]

[Sidenote: Crueltie paid with sudden mischiefe.]

After this proclamation ended, the lord Fauconbridge, sir Walter Blunt,
Robert Horne with the fore-ward passed the riuer at Castelford, three
miles from Ferribridge, intending to haue inuironed the lord Clifford
and his companie, but they being therof aduertised, departed in great
hast toward king Henries armie; yet they met with some that they looked
not for, & were so trapt yer they were aware. For the lord Clifford,
either for heat or paine, putting off his gorget, suddenlie with an
arrow (as some saie) without an head, was striken into the throte, and
immediatlie rendred his spirit; and the earle of Westmerlands brother
and all his companie almost were there slaine, at a place called
Dintingdale, not far from Towton. This end had the lord Clifford,
which slue the earle of Rutland knéeling on his knees, whose yoong
sonne Thomas Clifford was brought vp with a sheepheard in poore habit,
euer in feare to be knowne, till king Henrie the seuenth obteined the
crowne, by whom he was restored to his name and possessions.

[Sidenote: The lord Faucounbridge.]

[Sidenote: Saxton.]

[Sidenote: _Whethamsted_ saith, that K. H[=e]ries power excéeded in
number king Edwards by twentie thousand men.]

[Sidenote: An heauie proclamai[=o].]

[Sidenote: Palmesundaie field.]

When this conflict was ended at Ferribridge, the lord Fauconbridge,
hauing the fore-ward, bicause the duke of Norffolke was fallen sicke,
valiantlie vpon Palmesundaie in the twilight set foorth his armie and
came to Saxton, where he might apparantlie behold the host of his
aduersaries, which were accompted thréescore thousand men, and thereof
aduertised king Edward, whose whole armie amounted to eight and fortie
thousand six hundred and thréescore persons: which incontinentlie with
the earle of Warwike set forward, leauing the rere-ward vnder the
gouernance of sir Iohn Wenlocke, sir Iohn Dinham, and other. And first
of all, he made proclamation, that no prisoner should be taken. So the
same daie about nine of the clocke, which was the nine and twentith
daie of March, being Palmesundaie, both the hostes approched in a faire
plaine field, betwéene Towton and Saxton.

When ech part perceiued other, they made a great shout; and at the same
instant there fell a small sléete or snow, which by violence of the
wind that blew against them, was driuen into the faces of king Henries
armies, so that their sight was somewhat dimmed. The lord Fauconbridge,
leading K. Edwards fore-ward, caused euerie archer vnder his standard
to shoot one flight (which before he caused them to prouide) and then
made them to stand still. The northerne men feeling the shot, but by
reason of the sléet, not well viewing the distance betwéene them and
their enimies, like forward men shot their sheafe arrowes as fast as
they might: but all to losse, for they came short of the southerne men
by thréescore yards.

[Sidenote: The earle of Northumberland.]

[Sidenote: The obstinate minds of both parts.]

So their shot almost spent, the lord Fauconbridge marched forward
with his archers, which not onelie shot their whole sheafes, but also
gathered the arrowes of their enimies, and let a great part flie
against their first owners, and suffered a great sort of them to stand,
which sore troubled the legs of the northerne men, when the battell
ioined. The earle of Northumberland and Andrew Trollop, chiefe capteins
of king Henries vawward, séeing their shot not to preuaile, hasted to
ioine with their enimies, and the other part slacked not their pase.
This battell was sore foughten, for hope of life was set aside on
either part, & taking of prisoners proclamed a great offense, so euerie
man determined to vanquish or die in the field.

[Sidenote: King Henries part discomfited.]

[Sidenote: Cocke or riuer.]

This deadlie conflict continued ten houres in doubtfull state of
victorie, vncerteinlie heauing and setting on both sides; but in the
end, king Edward so couragiouslie comforted his men, that the other
part was discomfited and ouercome, who like men amazed, fled toward
Tadcaster bridge to saue themselues, where in the mid waie is a little
brooke called Cocke, not verie broad, but of a great déepenesse, in
which, what for hast to escape, and what for feare of their followers,
a great number was drowned there. It was reported, that men aliue
passed the riuer vpon dead carcasses, and that the great riuer of
Wharfe whereinto that brooke dooth run, and of all the water comming
from Towton, was coloured with bloud.

[Sidenote: The number slaine in battell of Saxt[=o], otherwise called
Palmesundaie field.]

The chase continued all night, and the most part of the next daie, and
euer the northerne men (as they saw anie aduantage) returned againe,
and fought with their enimies, to the great losse of both parts. For
in these two daies were slaine (as they that knew it wrote) on both
parts six and thirtie thousand seuen hundred thréescore & sixteene
persons, all Englishmen and of one nation, whereof the chiefe were the
earles of Northumberland and Westmerland, the lord Dacres, and the lord
Welles, sir Iohn Neuill, Andrew Trollop, Robert Horne, and manie other
knights and esquiers, and the earle of Deuonshire was taken prisoner,
but the dukes of Summerset and Excester fled from the field and saued
themselues.

[Sidenote: King Henrie withdraweth to Berwike, & from thence into
Scotland.]

After this great victorie, king Edward rode to Yorke, where he was
with all solemnitie receiued; and first he caused the heads of his
father, the earle of Salisburie, and other his freends, to be taken
from the gates, and to be buried with their bodies: and there he
caused the earle of Deuonshire, and thrée other to be beheaded, and
set their heads in the same place. King Henrie, after he heard of the
irrecouerable losse of his armie, departed incontinentlie with his wife
and sonne to the towne of Berwike, and leauing the duke of Summerset
there, went into Scotland, and comming to the king of Scots, required
of him and his councell, aid, and comfort.

[Sidenote: Quéene Margaret with hir sonne goeth into France.]

The yoong king of Scots, lamenting the miserable state of king Henrie,
comforted him with faire words and friendlie promises, and assigned to
him a competent pension to liue on, during his abode in Scotland. King
Henrie, in recompense of this courtesie and friendship, deliuered to
the king of Scots the towne of Berwike, whereof he had got possession.
He faithfullie supported the part of king Henrie, and concluded a
mariage betwixt his sister, and the yoong prince of Wales, but the
same was neuer consummate, as after ye shall heare. When king Henrie
was somwhat setled in the relme of Scotland, he sent his wife and
sonne into France to king Reiner hir father, trusting by his aid and
succour to assemble an armie, and once againe to recouer his right and
dignitie: but he in the meane time made his aboad in Scotland, to see
what waie his friends in England would studie for his restitution.

The quéene being in France, did obteine of the yoong French king then
Lewes the eleuenth, that all hir husbands friends, and those of the
Lancastriall band, might safelie and suerlie haue resort into anie part
of the realme of France, prohibiting all other of the contrarie faction
anie accesse, or repair into that countrie. ¶ Thus ye haue heard, how
king Henrie the sixt, after he had reigned eight and thirtie yeares &
od moneths, was driuen out of this realme. But now leauing him with
the princes of his part, consulting togither in Scotland, and queene
Margaret his wife gathering of men in France, I will returne where I
left, to proceed with the dooings of king Edward.

This yoong prince, hauing with prosperous success obteined so
glorious a victorie in the mortall battell at Towton, and chased all
his aduersaries out of the realme, or at the least waies put them
to silence, returned after the maner and fashion of a triumphant
conquerour, with great pompe vnto London; where according to the old
custome of the realme, he called a great assemblie of persons of all
degrees, and the nine & twentith daie of Iune was at Westminster with
solemnitie crowned and annointed king. ¶ In which yeare, this king
Edward called his high court of parlement at Westminster, in the which,
the state of the realme was greatlie reformed, and all the statutes
made in Henrie the sixt his time (which touched either his title or
profit) were reuoked.

In the same parlement, the earle of Oxford far striken in age, and
his sonne and heire the lord Awbreie Véer, either through malice of
their enimies, or for that they had offended the king, were both, with
diuerse of their councellors, attainted, and put to execution; which
caused Iohn earle of Oxford euer after to rebell. There were also
beheaded the same time, sir Thomas Tudenham knight, William Tirell, and
Iohn Montgomerie esquiers, and after them diuerse others. Also after
this, he created his two yoonger brethren dukes, that is to saie, lord
George duke of Clarence, lord Richard duke of Glocester; and the lord
Iohn Neuill, brother to Richard earle of Warwike, he first made lord
Montacute, and afterwards created him marques Montacute.

Beside this, Henrie Bourchier brother to Thomas archbishop of
Canturburie, was created earle of Essex; and William lord Fauconbridge
was made earle of Kent. To this Henrie lord Bourchier, a man highlie
renowmed in martiall feats, Richard duke of Yorke long before this
time, had giuen his sister Elizabeth in mariage, of whome he begat
foure sonnes, William, Thomas, Iohn and Henrie: the which William being
a man of great industrie, wit, and prouidence in graue and weightie
matters, maried the ladie Anne Wooduile, decended of high parentage,
whose mother Iaquet was daughter to Peter of Lutzenburgh earle of
saint Paule, by the which Anne he had lord Henrie earle of Essex, one
daughter named Cicile, maried to Water lord Ferrers of Chartleie and an
other called Isabell, which died vnmaried.

[Sidenote: 1462.]

[Sidenote: _Iohn Stow._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 2.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset & other, submit them to king Edward.]

The earle of Kent was appointed about this time to kéepe the seas,
being accompanied with the lord Audelie, the lord Clinton, sir Iohn
Howard, sir Richard Walgraue, and others, to the number of ten
thousand, who landing in Britaine, wan the towne of Conquet, and the
Isle of Reth, and after returned. When all things were brought in
order, and framed as king Edward in maner could wish, Henrie duke of
Summerset, sir Rafe Persie, and diuerse other, being in despaire of
all good chance to happen vnto king Henrie, came humblie, & submitted
themselues vnto king Edward, whome he gentlie receiued. Which clemencie
notwithstanding, both the one and the other (when time serued) reuolted
from king Edward, and betooke themselues to take part with Henrie,
vnto whom they had béene adherents before: bicause they grew in hope
that in the end the confederats, to whom they so closelie did cleaue
both in effection and seriousnesse of labour (though they pretended a
temporall renunciation of all dutie and seruice for their securitie
sake) should haue the honor of victorie against their gainstanders.
But as commonlie the euents of enterprises fall out flat contrarie to
mens expectation and hope; so came it to passe with these, whose hope
though it were gréene and flourie in the prosecuting of their affaires,
yet in the knitting vp of the matter and vnluckie successe thereof, it
fell out in triall to be a flattering, a false, and a fruitlesse hope:
and therefore that is a true and a wise sentence of the comicall poet &
well seruing the purpose:

[Sidenote: _Plaut. in Mostel._]

    Insperata accidunt magis sæpè quàm quæ speres.

[Sidenote: 1463.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 3.]

[Sidenote: The Quéene returneth foorth of France.]

All this season was king Henrie in Scotland, and quéene Margaret
(being in France) found such friendship at the French kings hands,
that she obteined a crue of fiue hundred Frenchmen, with the which she
arriued in Scotland. And after that she had reposed hir selfe a time,
she sailed with hir gallant band of those ruffling Frenchmen toward
Newcastell, and landed at Tinmouth. But whether she were afraid of hir
owne shadow, or that the Frenchmen cast too manie doubts; the truth is,
that the whole armie returned to their ships, and a tempest rose so
suddenlie, that if she had not taken a small carauell, and that with
good spéed arriued at Berwike, she had beene taken at that present time
by hir aduersaries.

And although fortune was so fauourable to hir, yet hir companie with
stormie blasts was driuen on the shore before Banburgh castell, where
they set their ships on fire, and fled to an Iland called holie Iland,
where they were so assailed by the bastard Ogle, and an esquier called
Iohn Manners, with other of king Edwards freends, that manie of them
were slaine, and almost foure hundred taken prisoners: but their
coronell Peter Bressie, otherwise called monsieur de Varenne, happened
vpon a fisherman, and so came to Berwike vnto queene Margaret, who made
him capteine of the castell of Alnewike, which he with his Frenchmen
kept, till they were rescued.

[Sidenote: Banburgh castell.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset reuolteth.]

Shortlie after quéene Margaret obteined a great companie of Scots,
and other of hir friends, and so bringing hir husband with hir, and
leauing hir sonne called prince Edward in the towne of Berwike, entered
Northumberland, tooke the castell of Banburgh, and stuffed it with
Scotishmen, and made thereof capteine sir Rafe Greie, and came forward
toward the bishoprike of Durham. When the duke of Summerset heard
these newes, he without delaie reuolted from king Edward, and fled to
king Henrie. So likewise did sir Rafe Persie, and manie other of the
kings friends. But manie mo followed king Henrie, in hope to get by
the spoile: for his armie spoiled and burned townes, and destroied
fields whersoeuer he came. King Edward aduertised of all these things,
prepared an armie both by sea and land.

Some of his ships were rigged and vittelled at Lin, and some at Hull,
and well furnished with souldiers were herewith set foorth to the sea.
Also the lord Montacute was sent into Northumberland, there to raise
the people to withstand his enimies. And after this, the king in his
proper person, accompanied with his brethren, and a great part of the
nobilitie of his realme, came to the citie of Yorke, furnished with
a mightie armie, sending a great part thereof to the aid of the lord
Montacute, least peraduenture he giuing too much confidence to the men
of the bishoprike and Northumberland, might through them be deceiued.

[Sidenote: The lord Montacute.]

[Sidenote: Hegelie moore.]

[Sidenote: Sir Rafe Persie.]

The lord Montacute then hauing such with him as he might trust, marched
foorth towards his enimies, and by the waie was incountered with the
lord Hungerford, the lord Roos, sir Rafe Persie, and diuerse other,
at a place called Hegelie moore, where suddenlie the said lords, in
maner without stroke strikeng, fled; and onelie sir Rafe Percie abode,
and was there manfullie slaine, with diuerse other, saieng when he was
dieng; I haue saued the bird in my bosome: meaning that he had kept his
promise and oth made to king Henrie: forgetting (belike) that he in
king Henries most necessitie abandoned him, and submitted him to king
Edward, as before you haue heard.

[Sidenote: Exham field.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset taken.]

The lord Montacute séeing fortune thus prosperouslie leading his saile,
aduanced forward; & learning by espials, that king Henrie with his host
was incamped in a faire plaine called Liuels, on the water of Dowill in
Examshire, hasted thither, and manfullie set on his enimies in their
owne campe, which like desperate persons with no small courage receiued
him. There was a sore foughten field, and long yer either part could
haue anie aduantage of the other: but at length the victorie fell
to the lord Montacute, who by fine force entered the battell of his
enimies, and constreined them to flie, as despairing of all succours.
In which flight, and chase were taken Henrie duke of Summerset, which
before was reconciled to king Edward, the lord Roos, the lord Molins,
the lord Hungerford, sir Thomas Wentworth, sir Thomas Husseie, sir Iohn
Finderne, and manie other.

[Sidenote: King Henrie fled.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset beheaded.]

King Henrie was a good horsseman that day, for he rode so fast awaie
that no man might ouertake him; and yet he was so neere pursued, that
certeine of his henchmen were taken, their horsses trapped in blue
veluet, and one of them had on his head the said king Henries helmet,
or rather (as may be thought, & as some say) his high cap of estate,
called Abacot, garnished with two rich crownes, which was presented to
king Edward at Yorke the fourth day of Maie. The duke of Summerset was
incontinentlie beheaded at Exham; the other lords and knights were had
to Newcastell, and there (after a little respit) were likewise put to
death. Beside these, diuerse other, to the number of fiue and twentie,
were executed at Yorke, and in other places.

[Sidenote: The earle of Kime, otherwise Angus, beheaded.]

Sir Humfrie Neuill, and William Tailbois, calling himselfe earle of
Kime, sir Rafe Greie, and Richard Tunstall, with diuerse other, which
escaped from this battell, hid themselues in secret places: but yet
they kept not themselues so close, but that they were espied and
taken. The earle of Kime was apprehended in Riddesdale, and brought
to Newcastell, and there beheaded. Sir Humfrie Neuill was taken in
Holdernesse, and at Yorke lost his head. After this battell called
Exham field, king Edward came to the citie of Durham, and sent from
thence into Northumberland the earle of Warwike, the lord Montacute,
the lords Fauconbridge & Scroope, to recouer such castels as his
enimies there held, and with force defended.

[Sidenote: Alnewike castell besieged.]

They first besieged the castell of Alnewike, which sir Peter Bressie
and the Frenchmen kept, and in no wise would yéeld, sending for aid to
the Scots. Whervpon sir George Dowglas erle of Angus, with thirtéene
thousand chosen men, in the day time came and rescued the Frenchmen out
of the castell; the Englishmen looking on, which thought it much better
to haue the castell without losse of their men, than to léese both
the castell and their men, considering the great power of the Scots,
& their owne small number; and so they entered the castell and manned
it. After this, they woone the castell of Dunstanburgh by force, and
likewise the castell of Banburgh. Iohn Gois, seruant to the duke of
Summerset, being taken within Dunstanburgh, was brought to Yorke, and
there beheaded.

Sir Rafe Greie being taken in Banburgh, for that he had sworne to be
true to king Edward, was disgraded of the high order of knighthood at
Doncaster, by cutting off his gilt spurs, renting his cote of armes,
and breaking his sword ouer his head: and finallie, he was there
beheaded for his manifest periurie. After this, king Edward returned to
Yorke, where (in despite of the earle of Northumberland, who then kept
himselfe in the realme of Scotland) he created sir Iohn Neuill, lord
Montacute earle of Northumberland; and in reproofe of Iasper earle of
Penbrooke he created William lord Herbert earle of the same place. But
after, when by mediation of friends, the earle of Northumberland was
reconciled to his fauour, he restored him to his possessions, name,
and dignitie; and preferred the lord Montacute to the title of marques
Montacute: so that in degree, he was aboue his elder brother the earle
of Warwike; but in power, policie, & possessions, far mener.

[Sidenote: 1464.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 4.]

King Edward, though all things might séeme now to rest in good case,
yet he was not negligent in making necessarie prouision against
all attempts of his aduersarie king Henrie, and his partakers; and
therefore raised bulworks, and builded fortresses on ech side of his
realme, where anie danger was suspected for the landing of anie armie.
He caused also espials to be laid vpon the marches, fore against
Scotland, that no person should go out of the realme to king Henrie
and his companie, which then soiourned in Scotland. But all the doubts
of trouble that might insue by the means of king Henries being at
libertie, were shortlie taken away and ended: for he himselfe, whether
he was past all fear; or that hée was not well established in his wits
and perfect mind; or for that he could not long kéepe himselfe secret,
in disguised atire boldlie entred into England.

[Sidenote: King Henrie taken.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 717._]

He was no sooner entred, but he was knowne and taken of one Cantlow,
and brought toward the king, whom the earle of Warwike met on the way
by the kings commandement, and brought him through London to the Tower,
& there he was laid in sure hold. ¶ But it is woorthie the noting,
which I haue obserued in a late chronographers report touching this
matter; namelie, that king Henrie was taken in Cletherwood, beside
Bungerleie Hippingstons in Lancashire, by Thomas Talbot sonne and
heire to sir Edward Talbot of Basshall, and Iohn Talbot his cosin of
Colebrie, which deceiued him being at his dinner at Wadington Hall, and
brought him toward London, with his legs bound to the stirrups, where
he was met by the earle of Warwike, and arested at Esildon; doctor
Manning deane of Windsor, doctor Bedle, and yoong Ellerton being in his
companie, with their feet bound vnder the horse bellies were brought
also to the Tower of London.

[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke.]

[Sidenote: _Ab. Flem._]

Quéene Margaret hearing of the captiuitie of hir husband, mistrusting
the chance of hir sonne, all desolate and comfortlesse departed out of
Scotland, and passed into France, where she remained with hir father
duke Reiner, till she returned into England to hir harme, as after ye
shall heare. The new duke of Summerset, and his brother Iohn, sailed
into France, where they also liued in great miserie; till duke Charles,
bicause he was of their kin, as descended of the house of Lancaster by
his mother, succoured them with a small pension, which was to them a
great comfort. The earle of Penbroke went from countrie to countrie,
not alwaies at his hearts ease, nor in safetie of life. [As for his
dignitie and reputation, it was the more obscured, for that he had
lost the title of his honor, and left at his wits end, doubtfull
and vncerteine in contrarie factions (as manie more) what to say or
doo for his best securitie. Neuerthelesse he concealed his inward
discontentment, and as oportunitie of time ministred matter, so he
grew in courage, and fell to practises of force (with other complices)
therby to accomplish the cloudie conceits of his troubled mind, being
persuaded, that temporall misfortunes are, if not vtterlie auoidable,
yet manfullie to be withstood, or at least with audacitie & courage to
be suffered, as the poet properlie saith:

[Sidenote: _Vir. Aen. 6._]

    Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.]

[Sidenote: New coine stamped.]

King Edward being thus in more suertie of his life than before,
distributed the possessions of such as tooke part with king Henrie
the sixt, to his souldiers and capteins, which he thought had well
deserued: and besides this, he left no other point of liberalitie
vnshewed, whereby he might allure to him the beneuolent minds and
louing hearts of his people. And moreouer to haue the loue of all
men, he shewed himselfe more familiar both with the nobilitie and
commonaltie, than (as some men thought) was conuenient, either for his
estate, or for his honor: notwithstanding the same liberalitie be euer
after vsed. The lawes of the realme, in part he reformed, and in part
he newlie augmented. The coine both gold and siluer (which yet at this
day is) he newlie deuised, and diuided; for the gold he named roials
and nobles, and the siluer he called grotes and halfe grotes.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 716._]

[Sidenote: Sergeants feast.]

[Sidenote: _Register of maiors._]

[Sidenote: The maior of London departeth from the sergeants feast.]

¶ In Michaelmasse terme were made sergeants at law, Thomas Yoong,
Nicholas Geneie, Richard Neale, Thomas Brian, Richard Pigot, Iohn
Greenfield, Iohn Catesbie, and Gwie Fairfax, which held their feast in
the bishop of Elies place in Holborne. To the which feast the maior of
London, with the aldermen, shiriffes, and commons of diuerse crafts
being bidden, repaired. But when the maior looked to be set to keepe
the state in the hall, as it beene vsed in all places of the citie
and liberties, out of the kings presence (vnknowne to the sergeants
and against their wils, as they said) the lord Graie of Ruthen then
treasuror of England was there placed. Wherevpon the maior, aldermen,
and commons departed home, and the maior made all the aldermen to dine
with him. Howbeit he and all the citizens were greatlie displeased
that he was so dealt with, and the new sergeants and others were right
sorie therefore, and had rather than much good it had not so happened.
This was then (as my record reporteth more at large) registred to be a
president in time to come.

After that king Edward had reduced the state of the publike affaires
vnto his liking; to purchase himselfe a good opinion, and fauourable
iudgement among the commons, he made proclamations, that all persons,
which were adherents to his aduersaries part, & would leaue their
armour, and submit themselues wholie to his grace and mercie, should be
cléerelie pardoned and forgiuen. By this kind of courteous dealing he
wan him such fauour of the people, that euer after, in all his warres,
he was (thorough their aid and support) a victor and conquerour. When
his realme was thus brought into a good and quiet estate, it was
thought méet by him and those of his councell, that a marriage were
prouided for him in some conuenient place; and therefore was the earle
of Warwike sent ouer into France, to demand the ladie Bona, daughter to
Lewes duke of Sauoie, and sister to the ladie Carlot, then quéene of
France; which Bona was at that time in the French court.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike sent into France about a marriage.]

[Sidenote: The ladie Elizabeth Graie.]

The earle of Warwike, comming to the French king, then lieng at Tours,
was of him honourablie receiued, and right courteouslie interteined.
His message was so well liked, and his request thought so honourable
for the aduancement of the ladie Bona, that hir sister quéene Carlot
obteined both the good will of the king hir husband, and also of hir
sister the foresaid ladie: so that the matrimonie on that side was
cleerelie assented to, and the erle of Dampmartine appointed (with
others) to saile into England, for the full finishing of the same. But
here consider the old prouerbe to be true, which saith, that mariage
goeth by destinie. For, during the time that the earle of Warwike was
thus in France, and (according to his instructions) brought the effect
of his commission to passe, the king being on hunting in the forest of
Wichwood besides Stonistratford, came for his recreation to the manor
of Grafton, where the duchesse of Bedford then soiourned, wife to sir
Richard Wooduile lord Riuers, on whome was then attendant a daughter of
hirs, called the ladie Elizabeth Graie, widow of sir Iohn Graie knight,
slaine at the last battell of saint Albons, as before ye haue heard.

This widow, hauing a sute to the king for such lands as hir husband had
giuen hir in iointure, so kindled the kings affection towards hir, that
he not onelie fauoured hir sute, but more hir person; for she was a
woman of a more formall countenance than of excellent beautie; and yet
both of such beautie and fauour, that with hir sober demeanour, swéete
looks, and comelie smiling (neither too wanton, nor too bashfull)
besides hir pleasant toong and trim wit, she so alured and made subiect
unto hir the heart of that great prince, that after she had denied him
to be his paramour, with so good maner, and words so well set as better
could not be deuised; he finallie resolued with himselfe to marrie hir,
not asking counsell of anie man, till they might perceiue it was no
bootie to aduise him to the contrarie of that his concluded purpose;
sith he was so farre gone that he was not reuocable, and therefore
had fixed his heart vpon the last resolution: namelie, to applie an
holesome, honest, and honourable remedie to his affections fiered with
the flames of loue, and not to permit his heart to the thraldome of
vnlawful lust; which purpose was both princelie and profitable; as the
poet saith:

[Sidenote: _Ouid. de rem. am. lib. 1._]

    Vtile propositum est sæuas extinguere flammas,
      Nec seruum vitijs pectus habere suum.

[Sidenote: 1465.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 5.]

But yet the duchesse of Yorke his moother letted this match as much
as in hir laie: & when all would not serue, she caused a precontract
to be alleged, made by him with ladie Elizabeth Lucie. But all doubts
resolued, all things made cléere, and all cauillations auoided,
priuilie in a morning he married the said ladie Elizabeth Graie at
Grafton beforesaid, where he first began to fansie hir. And in the
next yere after she was with great solemnitie crowned quéene at
Westminster. Hir father also was created earle Riuers, and made high
constable of England: hir brother lord Anthonie was married to the sole
heire of Thomas lord Scales: sir Thomas Graie sonne to sir Iohn Graie
the quéenes first husband, was created marques Dorset, and married
to Cicelie heire to the lord Bonuille. The French king was not well
pleased to be thus dallied with; but he shortlie (to appease the gréefe
of his wife and hir sister the ladie Bona) married the said ladie Bona
to the duke of Millan.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike offended with the kings mariage.]

Now when the earle of Warwike had knowledge by letters sent to him
out of England from his trustie friends, that king Edward had gotten
him a new wife, he was not a little troubled in his mind, for that he
tooke it his credence thereby was greatlie minished, and his honour
much stained, namelie in the court of France: for that it might be
iudged he came rather like an espiall, to mooue a thing neuer minded,
and to treat a marriage determined before not to take effect. Suerlie
he thought himselfe euill vsed, that when he had brought the matter to
his purposed intent and wished conclusion, then to haue it quaile on
his part; so as all men might thinke at the least wise, that his prince
made small account of him, to send him on such a sléuelesse errand.

All men for the most part agrée, that this marriage was the onlie
cause, why the earle of Warwike conceiued an hatred against king
Edward, whome he so much before fauoured. Other affirme other causes;
and one speciallie, for that king Edward did attempt a thing once in
the earles house, which was much against the earles honestie (whether
he would haue defloured his daughter or his néece, the certeintie was
not for both their honours openlie reuealed) for suerlie, such a thing
was attempted by king Edward; which loued well both to behold and also
to féele faire damsels. But whether the iniurie that the earle thought
he receiued at the kings hands, or the disdaine of authoritie that the
earle had vnder the king, was the cause of the breach of amitie betwixt
them: truth it is, that the priuie intentions of their harts brake into
so many small pieces, that England, France, and Flanders, could neuer
ioine them againe, during their naturall liues.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike keepeth his gréefe secret.]

But though the earle of Warwike was earnestlie inflamed against the
king, for that he had thus married himselfe without his knowledge,
hauing regard onelie to the satisfieng of his wanton appetite, more
than to his honour or suertie of his estate; yet did he so much
dissemble the matter at his returne into England, as though he had not
vnderstood anie thing thereof: but onelie declared what he had doone,
with such reuerence, and shew of fréendlie countenance, as he had béene
accustomed. And when he had taried in the court a certeine space,
he obteined licence of the king to depart to his castell of Warwike,
meaning (when time serued) to vtter to the world, that which he then
kept secret, that is to saie, his inward grudge, which he bare towards
the king, with desire of reuenge, to the vttermost of his power.
Neuerthelesse, at that time he departed (to the outward shew) so farre
in the kings fauour, that manie gentlemen of the court for honours sake
gladlie accompanied him into his countrie.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 717._]

[Sidenote: Long piked shooes forbidden.]

¶ This yéere it was proclamed in England, that the beakes or pikes of
shooes and boots should not passe two inches, vpon paine of cursing by
the cleargie, and forfeiting twentie shillings, to be paid one noble
to the king, and other to the cordwainers of London, and the third to
the chamber of London; and for other cities and townes the like order
was taken. Before this time, and since the yeare of our Lord 1382, the
pikes of shooes and boots were of such length, that they were faine to
be tied vp vnto the knees with chaines of siluer and gilt, or at the
least with silken laces.

[Sidenote: 1466.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 6.]

[Sidenote: Cotteshold shéepe transported into Spaine.]

[Sidenote: Truce with Scots.]

In this yeare also, the kings daughter, the ladie Elizabeth, after wife
to king Henrie the seauenth, was borne; king Edward concluded an amitie
and league with Henrie king of Castile, and Iohn king of Aragon; at the
concluding whereof, he granted licence for certeine Cotteshold shéepe,
to be transported into the countrie of Spaine (as people report)
which haue there so multiplied and increased, that it hath turned the
commoditie of England much to the Spanish profit. Beside this, to haue
an amitie with his next neighbour the king of Scots, he winked at
the losse of Berwike, and was contented to take a truce for fiftéene
yeares. Thus king Edward, though for refusall of the French kings
sister in law he wan him enimies in France; yet in other places he
procured him fréends: but those fréends had stood him in small stéed,
if fortune had not holpe him to an other, euen at his elbow.

[Sidenote: 1467.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]

[Sidenote: The bastard of Burgognie ambassadour into England.]

This was Charles earle of Charolois, the sonne and heire apparant
vnto Philip duke of Burgognie, which Charles being then a widower,
was councelled to be suter vnto king Edward, for to haue in mariage
the ladie Margaret, sister to the said king, a ladie of excellent
beautie, and indued with so manie worthie gifts of nature, grace, and
fortune, that she was thought not vnworthie to match with the greatest
prince of the world. The lord Anthonie bastard brother to the said
earle Charolois, commonlie called the bastard of Burgognie, a man of
great wit, courage, and valiantnesse, was appointed by his father duke
Philip, to go into England in ambassage, about this sute; who being
furnished of plate and apparell, necessarie for his estate, hauing in
his companie gentlemen, and other expert in all feats of chiualrie
and martiall prowesse, to the number of foure hundred horsses, tooke
his ship, and arriued in England, where he was of the king & nobles
honourablie receiued.

[Sidenote: Iusts betwixt the bastard of Burgognie & the lord Scales.]

This message being declared, ye may be sure the same was ioifullie
heard of the king and his councell; the which by that affinitie, saw
how they might be assured of a buckler against France. But yet the
earle of Warwike, bearing his heartie fauour vnto the French king,
did as much as in him laie by euill reports to hinder this marriage:
but this notwithstanding, at length, the king granted to the bastards
request; and the said bastard openlie in the kings great chamber
contracted the said ladie Margaret, for, and in the name of his brother
the said earle of Charolois. After this marriage thus concluded, the
bastard challenged the lord Scales, brother to the queene, a man both
equall in hart and valiantnesse with the bastard, to fight with him
both on horssebacke, and on foot: which demand the lord Scales gladlie
accepted.

The king causing lists to be prepared in West-smithfield for these
champions, and verie faire and costlie galleries for the ladies, was
present at this martiall enterprise himselfe. The first daie they ran
togither diuerse courses with sharpe speares, and departed with equall
honor. The next day they turneied on horssebacke. The lord Scales
horsse had on his chafron a long sharpe pike of steele, and as the two
champions coped togither, the same horsse (whether thorough custome
or by chance) thrust his pike into the nosethrils of the bastards
horsse; so that for verie paine he mounted so high, that he fell on
the one side with his maister, and the lord Scales rode round about
him with his sword in his hand, vntill the king commanded the marshall
to helpe vp the bastard, which openlie said; "I can not hold me by the
clouds, for though my horsse faileth me, surelie I will not faile my
contercompanion." The king would not suffer them to doo anie more that
daie.

[Sidenote: The law of armes.]

The morow after, the two noblemen came into the field on foot, with two
polaxes, and fought valiantlie: but at the last, the point of the polax
of the lord Scales happened to enter into the sight of the bastards
helme, and by fine force might haue plucked him on his knees: the king
suddenlie cast downe his warder, and then the marshals them seuered.
The bastard not content with this chance, and trusting on the cunning
which he had at the polax, required the king of iustice, that he might
performe his enterprise. The lord Scales refused it not, but the king
said, he would aske councell: and so calling to him the constable,
and the marshall, with the officers of armes, after consultation had,
and the lawes of armes rehearsed, it was declared for a sentence
definitiue, by the duke of Clarence, then constable of England, and the
duke of Norffolke, then marshall; that if he would go forward with his
attempted challenge, he must by the law of armes be deliuered to his
aduersarie, in the same state and like condition as he stood when he
was taken from him.

[Sidenote: The death of the duke of Burgognie.]

[Sidenote: George Neuill archbishop of Yorke.]

The bastard hearing this iudgement, doubted the sequele of the matter;
and so relinquished his challenge. Other challenges were doone, and
valiantlie atchiued by the Englishmen, which I passe ouer. Shortlie
after came sorowfull tidings to the bastard, that his father duke
Philip was dead, who therevpon taking his leaue of king Edward, and
of his sister the new duchesse of Burgognie, liberallie rewarded with
plate and iewels, with all spéed returned to his brother the new duke,
who was not a little glad of the contract made for him with the said
ladie, as after well appeared. In this same yeare, king Edward, more
for the loue of the marques Montacute, than for anie fauour he bare
to the earle of Warwike, promoted George Neuill their brother to the
archbishoprike of Yorke.

[Sidenote: 1468.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 8.]

[Sidenote: The ladie Margaret sister to king Edward, sent ouer to the
duke of Burgognie.]

Charles duke of Burgognie reioising that he had so well sped, for
conclusion of marriage with king Edwards sister, was verie desirous
to sée hir, of whome he had heard so great praise, & wrote to king
Edward, requiring him to send his sister ouer vnto him, according to
the couenants passed betwixt them. King Edward being not slacke in this
matter, appointed the dukes of Excester and Suffolke, with their wiues,
being both sisters to the ladie Margaret, to attend hir, till she came
to hir husband. And so after that ships, and all other necessarie
prouisions were readie, they being accompanied with a great sort of
lords and ladies, and others, to the number of fiue hundred horsse, in
the beginning of Iune departed out of London to Douer, and so sailed to
Sluis, and from thense was conueied to Bruges, where the marriage was
solemnized betwixt the duke and hir, with great triumphs, and princelie
feastings. Touching the pompe had and vsed at the setting forward of
this ladie on hir voiage it is a note worth the reading; and therefore
necessarilie here interlaced for honours sake.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 719, 720. in Quart._]

On the eightéenth of Iune, Margaret sister to K. Edward the fourth
began hir iornie from the Wardrobe in London, toward hir marriage with
Charles duke of Burgognie: first she offered in the church of saint
Paule, and then rode thorough the citie, the earle of Warwike riding
before hir, with earles and barons a great number; the duchesse of
Norffolke, with other ladies and gentlewomen in great number. And
at hir entrie into Cheape, the maior of London and his brethren the
aldermen presented hir with a paire of rich basons, & in them an
hundred pounds of gold and that night she lodged at the abbeie of
Stratford, where the king then laie: from thense she tooke hir iournie
to Canturburie.

The king riding after to sée hir shipping, on the first of Iulie,
she tooke the sea at Margate, and there tooke leaue of the king hir
brother, and departed. There returned backe againe with the king,
the duke of Clarence, the duke of Glocester, the earles of Warwike,
Shrewesburie, and Northumberland. And there abode with hir in the ship,
the lord Scales, the lord Dacres, hir chamberlaine, sir Iohn Wooduile,
sir Iohn Howard, and manie other famous knights and esquiers. She
was shipped in the new Ellen of London, and in hir nauie the Iohn of
Newcastell, the Marie of Salisburie, and manie other roiall ships, and
on the morrow landed at Sluis in Flanders. Now as soone as hir ship &
companie of ships were entered into the hauen, there receiued hir sir
Simon de Lelein and the water bailiffe, in diuerse boats and barks
apparelled readie for hir landing.

The first estate that receiued hir was the bishop of Utright well
accompanied, and the countesse of Shorne bastard daughter to duke
Philip of Burgognie, and with hir manie ladies and gentlewomen; and so
procéeding in at the gate of the towne, the same towne was presented to
hir, she to be souereigne ladie thereof: also they gaue to hir twelue
marks of gold Troie weight, the which was two hundred pounds of English
monie: and so procéeded thorough the towne to hir lodging, euerie
housholder standing in the street with a torch in his hand burning. On
the morow the old duchesse of Burgognie came to hir, accompanied with
manie great estates. On the third of Iulie came the duke of Burgognie
to Sluis, with twentie persons secretlie, and was there openlie
affianced to the ladie Margaret, by the bishop of Salisburie and the
lord Scales, in presence of the lord Dacres, the duchesse of Norffolke,
the ladie Scales, and all the knights & esquiers, gentlewomen
inuironing the chamber.

On the 8 of Iulie (being saturdaie) by the duke of Burgognies
appointment, the lady Margaret remoued by water to the Dame. And on
the sunday in the morning betwixt fiue and six of the clocke, the
mariage was solemnized betwixt them, by the bishops of Salisburie
and of Turneie; there being present the old duches of Burgognie, the
lord Scales, the lord Dacres, with the knights, esquiers, ladies and
gentlewomen that came out of England. The great triumphs, feastings,
shewes of pageants, with other strange deuises, and iustings, were such
as I haue not read the like, and would be ouer long in this place to
set downe.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]

¶ Of this aliance with other more mention is honorablie made in the
[1]declaration of the causes that moued the Quéene of England to giue
aid to the defense of the people afflicted & oppressed in the low
countries by the Spaniards, namelie for the maintenance of perpetuall
amitie. Which declaration is so set foorth in this booke, as the same
in the seuen and twentith yeare of hir maiesties reigne was published:
vnto which yeare I remit the reader (for the further search thereof)
for that it conteineth much memorable matter, touching the manifest
causes of concord to be continued betwéene them of the low countries
and vs English.

[1] Giuen at Richmont on the first of October. _An. Dom. 1585. & An.
Reg. 27._

[Sidenote: _Fabian. 497._]

[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Cooke.]

Sir Thomas Cooke late maior of London, was by one named Hawkins
appeached of treason, for the which he was sent to the Tower, and
his place within London seized by the lord Riuers, and his wife and
seruants cleerelie put out therof. The cause was this. The forenamed
Hawkins came vpon a season vnto the said sir Thomas, requesting him to
lend a thousand markes vpon good suertie, wherevnto he answered, that
first he would know for whome it should be and for what intent.

At length, vnderstanding it should be for the vse of queene Margaret,
he answered he had no currant wares whereof anie shifts might be made
without too much losse: and therefore required Hawkins to mooue him no
further in that matter, for he intended not to deale withall: yet the
said Hawkins exhorted him to remember, what benefits he had receiued
by hir when she was in prosperitie, as by making him hir wardrober, and
customer of Hampton, &c.

But by no meanes the said Cooke would grant goods nor monie, although
at last the said Hawkins required but an hundred pounds, he was faine
to depart without the value of a penie, and neuer came againe to mooue
him, which so rested two or three years after, till the said Hawkins
was cast in the Tower, and at length brought to the brake, called the
duke of Excesters daughter, by meanes of which paine he shewed manie
things, amongst the which the motion was one that he had made to sir
Thomas Cooke, and accused himselfe so farre, that he was put to death.

By meane of which confession, the said sir Thomas was troubled (as
before is shewed) when the said sir Thomas had laine in the Tower from
Whitsuntide till about Michaelmas, in the which season manie inquiries
were made to find him guiltie, and euer quit, till one iurie (by meanes
of sir Iohn Fog) indicted him of treason, after which an oier and
terminer was kept at the Guildhall, in which sat with the maior the
duke of Clarence, the earle of Warwike, the lord Riuers, sir Iohn Fog,
with other of the kings councell.

To the which place the said Thomas was brought, and there arreigned
vpon life and death, where he was acquited of the said indictement, and
had to the counter in Bread street, and from thence to the kings bench.
After a certeine time that he was thus acquited, his wife got againe
the possession of hir house, the which she found in an euill plight;
for such seruants of the lord Riuers and sir Iohn Fog, as were assigned
to kéepe it, made hauocke of what they listed.

Also at his place in Essex named Giddihall, were set an other sort
to kéepe that place, the which destroied his déere in his parke, his
conies, and his fish without reason, and spared not brasse, pewter,
bedding, & all that they might carie, for the which might neuer one
penie be gotten in recompense, yet could not sir Thomas Cooke be
deliuered, till he had paied eight thousand pounds to the king, and
eight hundred pounds to the quéene.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall. in Edw. 4. fol._ cxcviij, &c.]

In this meane time, the earle of Warwike bearing a continuall grudge
in his hart toward king Edward, since his last returne out of France,
persuaded so with his two brethren, the archbishop, and the marques,
that they agreed to ioine with him in anie attempt which he should take
in hand against the said king. The archbishop was easilie allured to
the earles purpose, but the marques could by no meanes be reduced to
take anie part against king Edward of a long time, till the earle had
both promised him great rewards and promotions, and also assured him
of the aid and power of the greatest princes of the realme. And euen
as the marques was loth to consent to his vnhappie conspiracie, so
with a faint hart he shewed himselfe an enimie vnto king Edward which
double dissimulation was both the destruction of him and his brethren.
¶ And that they were persuasions of no small force, which the earle of
Warwike vsed to the archbishop and marques, I haue thought good here to
interlace, as I find remembred by Edward Hall in forme following.


The persuasions of the earle of Warwike vnto his two brethren against
king Edward the fourth.

My deere and welbeloued brethren, the incredible faithfulnesse, the
secret sobernesse, and the politike prudence that I haue euer by
long continuance of time experimented in you both, dooth not onelie
incourage my heart, yea and setteth me in great hope of obteining my
purpose, but also putteth me out of all dread and mistrust, firmelie
beléeuing, and suetlie iudging, that you both will with tooth and
naile endeuour your selues, to the vttermost of your power, to bring
to effect and purpose the thing that I now shall declare vnto you.
Suerlie, I would in no wise that you should thinke, that that which
I shall speake to you of king Edward and king Henrie, should rise of
any lightnesse or phantasie of my mind, or anie trifeling toie latelie
fallen into my imagination; but the true experience and iust iudgement
that I haue of them both, their qualities and conditions, in manner
compell and constraine me to saie as I say and to doo as I doo.

For suerlie, king Henrie is a godlie, good, and a vertuous person,
neither forgetting his freends, nor putting in obliuion anie benefit
by him of a meane person receiued, nor yet anie paine for his causes
susteined hath he left vnrewarded: to whome God hath sent a sonne,
called prince Edward, borne to be of great worthinesse and praise, of
much bountifulnesse and liberalitie, of whome men may manie laudable
things coniecture, considering the paine, labour, and trauell, that
he taketh to helpe his father out of captiuitie and thraldome. King
Edward on the contrarie side, is a man contumelious, opprobrious,
and an iniurious person; to them that deserue kindnesse he sheweth
vnkindnesse, and them that loue him he deadlie hateth, now detesting to
take anie paine for the preferment or maintenance of the publike wealth
of this realme, but all giuen to pastime, pleasure, and daliance;
sooner preferring to high estate men descended of low bloud and base
degree, than men of old and vndefiled houses, which haue both supported
him and the common-wealth of his realme.

So that I now perceiue, that it is euen come to this point, that he
will destroie all the nobilitie; or else the nobilitie must shortlie
of verie necessitie destroie and confound him. But reason would, that
we that were first hurt, should first reuenge our cause: for it is not
vnknowen to you both, how that he, immediatlie after he had obteined
the crowne, began first secretlie, and then openlie to enuie, disdaine,
and impugne the fame, glorie, and renowme of our house and familie; as
who said, that all the honor, preferment, and authoritie that we haue,
we had onelie receiued at his hands, and that we had neither obteined
dignitie nor rule by our great labour, aid and trauell. Which to all
men may seeme vntrue, that consider that our name, chiefe title, and
principall authoritie, was to vs giuen by king Henrie the sixt, and
not by him. But if euery man will remember, who first toke part with
his father, when hee claimed the crowne (who at that time, for that
cause was in great ieopardie, and almost slaine by the kings meniall
seruants, and who neuer left this man in prosperitie nor aduersitie,
till he had the garland, and the realme in quietnesse) shall
manifestlie perceiue, that we and our bloud haue shewed our selues more
like fathers to him, than he like a freend to vs.

If we haue receiued any benefits of him, suerlie they be not so much
as we haue deserued, nor so much as we looked for; and yet they be
much more than he would we shuld inioy, as ye both well perceiue and
know. Let these things ouerpasse, and speake of the vngentle, vntrue,
and vnprincelie handling of me in the last ambassage, being sent to
the French king for to treat a mariage for him, hauing full authoritie
to bind and to lose, to contract and conclude. Which thing when I had
finished & accomplished: how lightlie his mind changed, how priuilie
he vowed, and how secretlie he maried, both you know better than I. So
that by this meanes, I was almost out of all credence in the court of
France, both with the king and queene, as though I had come thither
like an espiall, to moue a thing neuer minded; or to treat of a mariage
determined before neuer to take effect. Whereby the fame of all our
estimation, which all kings and princes haue conceiued in vs (partlie
obteined by the vertue & prowesse of our noble ancestors, and partlie
atchiued by our owne paines & forward acts) shall now be obfuscate,
vtterlie extinguished, and nothing set by.

What worme is touched, and will not once turne againe? What beast is
striken, that will not rore or sound? What innocent child is hurt that
will not crie? If the poore and vnreasonable beasts, if the selie babes
that doo lacke discretion, grone against harme to them proffered; how
ought an honest man to be angrie, when things that touch his honestie
be dailie against him attempted? But if a meane person in that case
be angrie: how much more ought a noble man to fume & stirre coales,
when the high type of his honour is touched, his fame in maner brought
to infamie, and his honour almost blemished & appalled, without his
offense or desert? All this brethren you know to be true, the dishonor
of one is the dishonor of vs all, and the hurt of one is the hurt of
all: wherefore, rather than I will liue vnreuenged, or suffer him to
reigne, which hath sought my decaie and dishonor, I will suerlie spend
my life, lands, and goods, in setting vp that iust and good man king
Henrie the sixt: and in deposing this vntrue, vnfaithful, and vnkind
prince (by our onelie means) called king Edward the fourth.

       *       *       *       *       *

Beside all this, the earle of Warwike, being a far casting prince,
perceiued somewhat in the duke of Clarence, whereby he iudged
that he bare no great good will towards the king his brother; and
therevpon, feeling his mind by such talke as he of purpose ministred,
vnderstood how he was bent, and so wan him to his purpose: and for
better assurance of his faithful friendship, he offered him his
eldest daughter in mariage, with the whole halfe deale of his wiues
inheritance. And herevpon, after consultation had of their weightie
businesse and dangerous affaires, they sailed ouer to Calis, of the
which towne the earle was capteine, where his wife & two daughters then
soiourned, whome the duke (being in loue with hir person) had great
desire to visit.

[Sidenote: 1469.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.]

[Sidenote: A commotion in Yorkeshire.]

But the earle, hauing in continuall remembrance his purposed
enterprise, appointed his brethren, the archbishop and the marquesse,
that they should by some meanes in his absence stir vp some new
rebellion in the countie of Yorke, and other places adioining, so that
this ciuill warre should séeme to all men to haue béene begun without
his assent or knowlege, being on the further side of the seas. The duke
of Clarence being come to Calis with the earle of Warwike, after he had
sworne on the sacrament to kéepe his promise and pact made with the
said earle whole and inuiolate, he married the ladie Isabell, eldest
daughter to the earle, in our ladies church there. Shortlie after,
according as he had béene aforehand deuised, a commotion was begun in
Yorkeshire, to the great disquieting of that countrie. The same chanced
by this means.

[Sidenote: Saint Leonards hospital in Yorke.]

There was in the citie of Yorke an old and rich hospitall, dedicated
to saint Leonard, for the harbourough and reléeuing of poore people.
Certeine euill disposed persons of the earle of Warwikes faction,
intending to set a broile in the countrie, persuaded the husbandmen to
refuse to giue anie thing to the said hospitall, affirming that the
corne giuen to that good intent, came not to the vse of the poore; but
was conuerted to the behoofe of the maister of the hospitall, and the
preests, whereby they grew to be rich, and the poore people wanted
their due succour and reléefe. And not content with these saiengs, they
fell to dooings: for when the proctors of the hospitall, according to
their vsage, went about the countrie to gather the accustomed corne,
they were sore beaten, wounded, and euill intreated.

[Sidenote: A rebellion.]

[Sidenote: Robert Huldorne capteine of the rebels taken and beheaded.]

Shortlie after, the conspiracie of the euill disposed people grew to
an open rebellion, so that there assembled to the number of fifteene
thousand men, euen readie bent to set on the citie of Yorke. But the
lord marquesse Montacute, gouernour and president of that countrie for
the king, taking spéedie counsell in the matter, with a small number of
men, but well chosen, incountered the rebels before the gates of Yorke:
where (after a long conflict) he tooke Robert Huldorne their capteine,
and before them commanded his head to be striken off, and then (bicause
it was a darke euening) he caused his souldiers to enter into Yorke,
and there to refresh them. Héere manie men haue maruelled, whie the
marquesse thus put to death the capteine of those people, which had
procured this their rebellious enterprise.

[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Coniers.]

Some saie he did it, to the intent to séeme innocent and faultlesse
of his brothers dooings. But other iudge, that he did it, for that
contrarie to his promise made to his brother, he was determined to
take part with king Edward, with whome (as it shall after appeare) he
in small space entered into grace and fauour. The rebels being nothing
dismaied with the death of their capteine, but rather the more bent on
mischéefe, by faire meanes and craftie persuasions got to them Henrie,
sonne to the lord Fitz Hugh, and sir Henrie Neuill sonne and heire to
the lord Latimer, the one being nephue and the other cousine germane to
the erle of Warwike. Although these yoong gentlemen bare the names of
capteins, yet they had a gouernour that was sir Iohn Coniers, a man of
such courage & valiantnesse, as few are to be found in his daies within
the north parts.

[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke.]

After they saw that they could not get Yorke, bicause they wanted
ordinance, they determined with all speed to march toward London,
intending to raise such a toie in the peoples minds, that they should
thinke king Edward neither to be a lawfull prince, nor yet profitable
to the common-wealth. King Edward hauing perfect knowledge of all
the dooings of the earle of Warwike, and of his brother the duke of
Clarence, was by diuerse letters certified of the great armie of the
northerne men, with all spéed comming toward London; and therefore in
great hast he sent to William lord Herbert, whom (as yée haue heard) he
had created earle of Penbroke; requiring him without delaie to raise
his power, and incounter with the northerne men.

[Sidenote: The lord Stafford.]

The earle of Penbroke, commonlie called the lord Herbert, both readie
to obeie the kings commandement, according to his dutie, and also
desirous to reuenge the malice which he bare to the earle of Warwike,
for that he knew how he had béene the onelie let whie he obteined not
the wardship of the lord Bonneuilles daughter and heire for his eldest
sonne, accompanied with his brother sir Richard Herbert, a valiant
knight, and aboue six or seauen thousand Welshmen, well furnished,
marched forward to incounter with the northerne men. And to assist him
with archers, was appointed Humfrie lord Stafford of Southwike, named
but not created earle of Deuonshire by the king, in hope that he would
serue valiantlie in that iournie: he had with him eight hundred archers.

[Sidenote: The Welshmen discomfited.]

When these two lords were met at Cotteshold, they heard how the
northerne men were going toward Northampton: wherevpon the lord
Stafford, and sir Richard Herbert, with two thousand well horsed
Welshmen, rode foorth afore the maine armie, to sée the demeanour of
the northerne men: and at length, vnder a woods side, they couertlie
espied them passing forward, and suddenlie set on the rere-ward: but
the northerne men with such nimblenesse turned about, that in a moment
the Welshmen were discomfited, and manie taken, the remnant returned
to the armie with small gaine. The northerne men well cooled with this
small victorie, went no further southwards, but tooke their waie toward
Warwike, looking for aid of the earle, which was latelie come from
Calis, with his sonne in law the duke of Clarence, and was raising men
to aid his freends and kinsfolke.

[Sidenote: Hedgecote. B[=a]berie field.]

[Sidenote: Discord what it breedeth.]

The king likewise assembled people to aid the erle of Penbroke, but
before either part receiued succour from his fréend or partaker, both
the armies met by chance in a faire plaine, néere to a towne called
Hedgecote, foure miles distant from Banberie, where there are thrée
hilles, not in equall quantitie, but lieng in maner (although not
fullie) triangle. The Welshmen got first the west hill, hoping to
haue recouered the east hill also, which if they might haue obteined,
the victorie had beene theirs, as their foolish prophesiers told them
before. These northerne men incamped on the south hill; the earle of
Penbroke and the lord Stafford of Southwike were lodged in Banberie,
the daie before the field, which was saint Iames daie, and there the
earle of Penbroke put the lord Stafford out of an Inne, wherein he
delighted much to be, for the loue of a damosell that dwelled in the
house: and yet it was agréed betwixt them, that which of them soeuer
obteined first a lodging, should not be displaced.

The lord Stafford in great despite departed with his whole band of
archers, leauing the earle of Penbroke almost desolate in the towne,
who with all diligence returned to his host, lieng in the field
vnpurveied of archers. Sir Henrie Neuill, sonne to the lord Latimer,
tooke with him certeine light horssemen, and skirmished with the
Welshmen in the euening, iust before their campe, where dooing right
valiantlie, but a little too hardilie aduenturing himselfe, was
taken and yeelded, and yet cruellie slaine. Which vnmercifull act
the Welshmen sore rued the next day yer night: for the northerne men
sore displeased for the death of this nobleman, in the next morning
valiantlie set on the Welshmen, and by force of archers caused them
quicklie to descend the hill, into the vallie, where both the hoasts
fought.

[Sidenote: The valiant manhood of sir Richard Herbert.]

[Sidenote: Iohn Clappam.]

The earle of Penbroke did right valiantlie, and so likewise did his
brother sir Richard Herbert, in so much that with his polax in his
hand, he twise by fine force passed thorough the battell of his
aduersaries, and without anie hurt or mortall wound returned. But
sée the hap, euen as the Welshmen were at point to haue obteined the
victorie, Iohn Clappam esquier, seruant to the earle of Warwike,
mounted vp the side of the east hill, accompanied onelie with fiue
hundred men, gathered of the rascals of the towne of Northampton, and
other villages about, hauing borne before them the standard of the
earle of Warwike, with the white beare, crieng; A Warwike, a Warwike.

[Sidenote: The Welshmen slaine.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

The Welshmen, thinking that the earle of Warwike had come on them
with all his puissance, suddenlie as men amazed, fled: the northerne
men them pursued, and slue without mercie, so that there died of the
Welshmen that daie, aboue fiue thousand, besides them that fled and
were taken. The earle of Penbroke, and his brother sir Richard Herbert,
with diuerse gentlemen, were taken and brought to Banberie, where the
earle with his brother, and other gentlemen, to the number of ten, that
were likewise taken, lost their heads. But great mone was made for that
noble and hardie gentleman, sir Richard Herbert, being able for his
goodlie personage and high valiancie to haue serued the greatest prince
in christendome. [But what policie or puissance can either preuent or
impugne the force of fate, whose law as it standeth vpon an ineuitable
necessitie; so was it not to be dispensed withall; and therfore
destinie hauing preordeined the maner of his deth, it was patientlie to
be suffered, sith puissantlie it could not be auoided, nor politikelie
preuented, nor violentlie resisted: for

    ----sua quenq; dies ad funera raptat.]

[Sidenote: Robin of Reddesdale.]

[Sidenote: The erle Riuers and his sonne beheaded.]

[Sidenote: The lord Stafford of Southwike beheaded.]

The Northamptonshire men, with diuerse of the northerne men by them
procured, in this furie made them a capteine, called Robert Hilliard,
but they named him Robin of Reddesdale, and suddenlie came to Grafton,
where they tooke the earle Riuers, father to the quéene, and his
son sir Iohn Wooduile, whome they brought to Northampton, and there
beheaded them both without iudgement. The king aduertised of these
mischances, wrote to the shiriffes of Summersetshire, and Deuonshire,
that if they might by anie meanes take the lord Stafford of Southwike,
they should without delaie put him to death. Herevpon search was made
for him, till at length he was found in a village within Brentmarch,
and after brought to Bridgewater where he was beheaded.

After the battell was thus fought at Hedgecote commonlie called
Banberie field, the northerne men resorted toward Warwike, where the
earle had gathered a great multitude of people, which earle receiued
the northerne men with great gladnes, thanking sir Iohn Coniers, and
other their capteins for their paines taken in his cause. The king in
this meane time had assembled his power, and was comming toward the
earle, who being aduertised thereof, sent to the duke of Clarence,
requiring him to come and ioine with him. The duke being not farre off,
with all speed repaired to the earle, and so they ioined their powers
togither, and vpon secret knowledge had, that the king (bicause they
were entered into termes by waie of communication to haue a peace)
tooke small héed to himselfe, nothing doubting anie outward attempt of
his enimies.

[Sidenote: King Edward taken prisoner.]

[Sidenote: Middleham castell.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

The earle of Warwike, intending not to léese such opportunitie of
aduantage, in the dead of the night, with an elect companie of men of
warre (as secretlie as was possible) set on the kings field, killing
them that kept the watch, and yer the king was ware (for he thought
of nothing lesse than of that which then hapned) at a place called
Wolnie, foure miles from Warwike, he was taken prisoner and brought to
the castell of Warwike. And to the intent his friends should not know
what was become of him, the earle caused him by secret iournies in the
night to be conueied to Middleham castell in Yorkeshire, and there to
be kept vnder the custodie of the archbishop of Yorke, and other his
freends in those parties. King Edward being thus in captiuitie, spake
euer faire to the archbishop, and to his other kéepers, so that he had
leaue diuerse daies to go hunt. [Which exercise he vsed, as it should
séeme not so much for regard of his recreation, as for the recouerie of
his libertie: which men estéeme better than gold, and being counted a
diuine thing, dooth passe all the wealth, pleasure, and treasure of the
world; according to the old saieng:

    Non bene profuluo libertas venditur auro,
    Hoc coeleste bonum præterit orbis opes.]

[Sidenote: Sir William Stanleie.]

[Sidenote: K. Edward is deliuered out of captiuitie.]

[Sidenote: He commeth to London.]

Now on a daie vpon a plaine when he was thus abrode, there met with
him sir William Stanleie, sir Thomas a Borough, and diuerse other of
his friends, with such a great band of men, that neither his kéepers
would, nor once durst moue him to returne vnto prison againe. Some
haue thought that his kéepers were corrupted with monie, or faire
promises, and therefore suffred him thus to scape out of danger. After
that he was once at libertie, he came to Yorke, where he was ioifullie
receiued, and taried there two daies: but when he perceiued he could
get no armie togither in that countrie to attend him to London, he
turned from Yorke to Lancaster, where he found his chamberleine the
lord Hastings well accompanied, by whose aid and such others as drew to
him, being well furnished, he came safelie to the citie of London.

When the earle of Warwike, and the duke of Clarence had knowledge how
king Edward by the treason or negligence of them (whome they had put
in trust) was escaped their hands, they were in a wonderfull chafe:
but sith the chance was past, they began eftsoones to prouide for the
warre, which they saw was like to insue; and found much comfort, in
that a great number of men, deliting more in discord than in concord,
offered themselues to aid their side. But other good men desirous of
common quiet, and lamenting the miserable state of the realme, to
redresse such mischiefe as appeared to be at hand by these tumults,
tooke paine, and road betweene the king, the earle, and the duke, to
reconcile them ech to other.

Their charitable motion and causes alledged, bicause they were of
the chiefest of the nobilitie, and therfore caried both credit and
authoritie with them, so asswaged the moods both of the king, the duke,
and the earle, that ech gaue faith to other to come and go safelie
without ieopardie. In which promise both the duke and earle putting
perfect confidence, came both to London. At Westminster, the king, the
duke, and the earle, had long communication togither for to haue come
to an agreement: but they fell at such great words vpon rehersall of
old matters, that in great furie without any conclusion they departed,
the king to Canturburie, and the duke and the earle to Warwike, where
the earle procured a new armie to be raised in Lincolneshire, and made
capteine thereof sir Robert Welles, sonne to Richard lord Welles, a man
of great experience in warre.

[Sidenote: 1470.]

[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Dimmocke.]

The king aduertised hereof without delaie prepared an armie, and out of
hand he sent to Richard lord Welles, willing him vpon the sight of his
letters, to repaire vnto him: which to doo he had oftentimes refused,
excusing himselfe by sickenesse and feeblenesse of bodie. But when that
excuse serued not, he thinking to purge himselfe sufficientlie of all
offense and blame before the kings presence, tooke with him sir Thomas
Dimmocke, who had maried his sister, and so came to London. And when he
was come vp, being admonished by his fréends that the king was greatlie
with him displeased, he with his brother in law tooke the sanctuarie at
Westminster.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 10.]

[Sidenote: The lord Welles and Thomas Dimmocke beheaded.]

But king Edward, trusting to pacifie all this busie tumult without anie
further bloudshed, promised both those persons their pardons, causing
them vpon his promise to come out of sanctuarie to his presence, and
calling to him the lord Welles, willed him to write to his sonne to
leaue off the warre, and in the meane season he with his armie went
forward, hauing with him the lord Welles, and sir Thomas Dimmocke. And
being not past two daies iournie from Stamford, where his enimies had
pitched their field, and hearing that sir Robert Welles, not regarding
his fathers letters, kept his campe still, he caused the lord Welles,
father to the said sir Robert, and sir Thomas Dimmocke to be beheaded,
contrarie to his promise.

[Sidenote: Losecote field.]

Sir Robert Welles, hearing that the king approched, and that his father
and sir Thomas Dimmocke were beheaded, though he was somewhat doubtfull
to fight, before the earle of Warwike were with his power assembled,
yet hauing a yoong and lustie courage, manfullie set on his enimies.
The battell was sore fought on both sides, and manie a man slaine;
till sir Robert, perceiuing his people at point to flie, was busilie
in hand to exhort them to tarie, and in the meane time compassed about
with enimies was there taken, & with him sir Thomas de Land knight,
and manie more. After the taking of their capteine, the Lincolneshire
men amazed, threw awaie their coats the lighter to run awaie, and fled
amaine, and therefore this battell is called there yet vnto this daie,
Losecote field.

[Sidenote: The faithfulnesse of the lord Stanleie.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike take the sea.]

The king reioising at this victorie, caused sir Robert Welles, and
diuerse other to be put to execution in the same place. The fame went
at this battell were slaine ten thousand men at the least. The earle of
Warwike laie at the same time at his castell of Warwike, and meant to
haue set forward the next daie toward his armie in Lincolnshire. But
when he heard that the same was ouerthrowne, he tooke new counsell,
and with all diligence imagined how to compasse Thomas lord Stanleie,
which had maried his sister, that he might be one of the conspiracie.
Which thing when he could not bring to passe (for the lord Stanleie
had answered him, that he would neuer make warre against king Edward)
he thought no longer to spend time in wast; and mistrusting he was
not able to méet with his enimies, he with his sonne in law the duke
of Clarence departed to Excester, and there tarieng a few daies,
determined to saile into France, to purchase aid of king Lewes.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike kept out of Calis.]

Now resting vpon this point, he hired ships at Dartmouth: and when
the same were readie trimmed and decked, the duke and the earle with
their wiues, and a great number of seruants imbarked themselues,
and first tooke their course towards Calis, whereof the earle was
capteine, thinking there to haue left his wife and daughters, till he
had returned out of France. But when they were come before the towne
of Calis, they could not be suffered to enter: for the lord Vauclere a
Gascoigne, being the earles deputie in that towne, whether he did it by
dissimulation, or bearing good will to king Edward (as by the sequele
it may be doubted whether he did or no) insteed of receiuing his master
with triumph, he bent and discharged against him diuerse peeces of
ordinance, sending him word he should not there take land.

[Sidenote: Monsieur de Vauclere made deputie of Calis.]

This nauie lieng thus before Calis at anchor, the duchesse of Clarence
was there deliuered of a faire sonne, which child the earles deputie
would scarse suffer to be christened within the towne; nor without
great intreatie would permit two flagons of wine to be conueied aboord
to the ladies lieng in the hauen. The king of England aduertised of the
refusall made by monsieur de Vauclere to the earle of Warwike, was so
much pleased therewith, that incontinentlie he made him chiefe capteine
of the towne of Calis by his letters patents, which he sent to him out
of hand, and thereof discharged the earle as a traitor and rebell. Thus
was the one in respect of his accepted seruice honorablie aduanced; and
the other, in regard of his disloialtie shamefullie disgraced: whereof
as the one tooke occasion of inward delight; so the othe could not be
void of grudging conceipts.

[Sidenote: The double dealing of monsieur de Vauclere.]

[Sidenote: The lord Duras was a Gascoigne also.]

The duke of Burgognie (vnto whome king Edward had written, that in no
wise he should receiue the earle of Warwike, nor anie of his friends
within his countries) was so well pleased with the dooings of monsieur
de Vauclere, that he sent to him his seruant Philip de Cumins, and gaue
him yéerelie a thousand crownes in pension, praieng and requiring him
to continue in truth and fidelitie toward king Edward, as he had shewed
and begun. But although monsieur de Vauclere sware in the said Philips
presence, trulie to take king Edwards part; yet he sent priuilie to the
earle of Warwike lieng at Whitsanbaie, that if he landed, hee should be
taken and lost: for all England (as he said) tooke part against him;
the duke of Burgognie, and all the inhabitants of the towne, with the
lord Duras the kings marshall, and all the retinue of the garrison were
his enimies.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike landed at Diepe.]

[Sidenote: Ambois.]

The earle, hauing this aduertisement from his feigned enimie, with
his nauie sailed toward Normandie, and by the waie spoiled and tooke
manie ships of the duke of Burgognies subiects, and at the last (with
all his nauie and spoiles) he tooke land at Diepe in Normandie, where
the gouernor of the countrie friendlie welcomed him, and aduertised
king Lewes of his arriuall. The French king, desirous of nothing
more than to haue occasion to pleasure the erle of Warwike, of whom
the hie renowme caused all men to haue him in admiration, sent vnto
him, requiring both him and his sonne in law the duke of Clarence, to
come vnto his castell of Ambois, where he then soiourned. The duke
of Burgognie, hearing that the duke and earle were thus receiued in
France, sent a post with letters vnto king Lewes, partlie by waie of
request, and partlie by way of menacing, to dissuade him from aiding of
his aduersaries, the said duke and earle.

[Sidenote: Iohn marques Montacute.]

But the French king little regarded this sute of the duke of Burgognie,
and therefore answered, that he might and would succour his friends,
and yet breake no leage with him at all. In the meane time, K. Edward
made inquirie for such as were knowne to be aiders of the earle of
Warwike within his realme, of whom some he apprehended as guiltie, and
some (doubting themselues) fled to sanctuarie, and other trusting to
the kings pardon, submitted themselues, as Iohn marques Montacute, whom
he courteouslie receiued. When quéene Margaret that soiourned with duke
Reiner hir father, heard tell that the earle of Warwike was come to the
French court, with all diligence shee came to Ambois to sée him, with
hir onelie sonne prince Edward.

[Sidenote: The earles of Penbroke & Oxford.]

[Sidenote: A league.]

[Sidenote: Edward prince of Wales maried.]

With hir also came Iasper earle of Penbroke, and Iohn earle of Oxford,
which after diuerse imprisonments latelie escaped, fled out of England
into France, and came by fortune to this assemblie. These persons,
after intreatie had of their affaires, determined by meanes of the
French king to conclude a league and amitie betweene them. And first to
begin withall, for the sure foundation of their new intreatie, Edward
prince of Wales wedded Anne second daughter to the earle of Warwike,
which ladie came with hir mother into France. After which mariage,
the duke and the earles tooke a solemne oth, that they should neuer
leaue the warre, till either king Henrie the sixt, or his sonne prince
Edward, were restored to the crowne: and that the quéene and the prince
should depute and appoint the duke and the earle to be gouernors &
conseruators of the common-wealth, till time the prince were come to
estate. Manie other conditions were agréed, as both reason & the
weightinesse of so great businesse required.

[Sidenote: The promise of the duke of Clarence.]

Whilest these things were thus in dooing in the French court, there
landed a damsell, belonging to the duchesse of Clarence; as she said:
which made monsieur de Vaucléere beleeue, that she was sent from king
Edward to the duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike with a plaine
ouerture and declaration of peace. Of the which tidings Vaucléere
was verie glad for the earles sake. But this damsell comming to the
duke, persuaded him so much to leaue off the pursute of his conceiued
displeasure towards his brother king Edward, that he promised at his
returne into England, not to be so extreme enimie against his brother
as he was taken to be: and this promise afterward he did kéepe. With
this answer the damsell returned into England, the earle of Warwike
being thereof clearelie ignorant.

The French king lent both ships, men, and monie vnto quéene Margaret,
and to hir partakers, and appointed the bastard of Burbon, admerall of
France, with a great nauie to defend them against the nauie of the duke
of Burgognie, which he laid at the mouth of the riuer Saine, readie to
incounter them, being of greater force than both the French nauie and
the English fléet. And yet king Reiner did also helpe his daughter with
men and munition of warre. When their ships and men were come togither
to Harflue, the erle of Warwike thought not to linger time: bicause he
was certified by letters from his friends out of England, that assoone
as he had taken land, there would be readie manie thousands to doo him
what seruice and pleasure they could or might. And beside this, diuerse
noble men wrote that they would helpe him with men, armor, monie, and
all things necessarie for the warre, and further to aduenture their
owne bodies in his quarell.

[Sidenote: The loue which the people bare to the earle of Warwike.]

[Sidenote: A proclamation.]

Suerlie his presence was so much desired of all the people, that
almost all men were readie in armour, looking for his arriuall: for
they iudged that the verie sunne was taken from the world when hée was
absent. When he had receiued such letters of comfort, he determined
with the duke, and the earles of Oxford and Pembroke (bicause quéene
Margaret and hir sonne were not yet fullie furnished for the iournie)
to go before with part of the nauie, and part of the armie. And euen
as fortune would, the nauie of the duke of Burgognie at the same time
by a tempest was scattered, & driuen beside the coast of Normandie: so
that the earle of Warwike in hope of a bonne voiage, caused sailes to
be halsed vp, and with good spéed landed at Darmouth in Deuonshire,
from whence almost six moneths passed he tooke his iournie toward
France (as before ye haue heard.) When the earle had taken land, he
made proclamation in the name of king Henrie the sixt, vpon high
paines commanding and charging all men able to beare armor, to prepare
themselues to fight against Edward duke of Yorke, which contrarie to
right had vsurped the crowne. It is almost not to be beléeued, how
manie thousands men of warre at the first tidings of the earles landing
resorted vnto him.

[Sidenote: King Edward c[=o]meth to Lin and taketh ship to passe ouer
sees.]

King Edward wakened with the newes of the earles landing, and the
great repaire of people that came flocking in vnto him, sent foorth
letters into all parts of his realme to raise an armie: but of them
that were sent for, few came, and yet of those few the more part came
with no great good willes. Which when he perceiued, he began to doubt
the matter, and therefore being accompanied with the duke of Glocester
his brother, the lord Hastings his chamberlaine, which had maried the
earles sister, and yet was euer true to the king his maister, and the
lord Scales brother to the quéene, he departed into Lincolnshire. And
bicause he vnderstood that all the realme was vp against him, and some
part of the earle of Warwiks power was within halfe a daies iournie of
him, following the aduise of his counsell, with all hast possible he
passed the Washes in great ieopardie, & comming to Lin found there an
English ship, and two hulkes of Holland readie (as fortune would) to
make saile.

[Sidenote: The lord Hastings.]

[Sidenote: The number that passed ouer with king Edward.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]

Wherevpon he with his brother the duke of Glocester, the lord Scales,
and diuerse other his trustie friends, entered into the ship. The lord
Hastings taried a while after, exhorting all his acquaintance, that of
necessitie should tarie behind, to shew themselues openlie as friends
to king Henrie for their owne safegard, but hartilie required them in
secret to continue faithfull to king Edward. This persuasion declared,
he entered the ship with the other, and so they departed, being in
number in that one ship and two hulkes, about seuen or eight hundred
persons, hauing no furniture of apparell, or other necessarie things
with them, sauing apparell for warre. [For it was no taking of leasure
to prouide their corporall necessaries (though the want of them could
hardlie be borne) in a case of present danger; considering that they
were made against by the contrarie faction with such swift pursute.
And it had bene a point of extreme follie, to be carefull for the
accidents, permitting in the meane time the substance vnto the spoile.]

[Sidenote: King Edward arriued at Alquemare.]

[Sidenote: The lord Gronture.]

As king Edward with saile and ore was thus making course towards the
duke of Burgognies countrie (whither he determined at the first to
go) it chanced that seuen or eight gallant ships of Easterlings, open
enimies both to England and France, were abrode on those seas, and
espieng the kings vessels, began to chase him. The kings ship was
good of saile, and so much gat of the Easterlings, that he came on
the coast of Holland, and so descended lower before a towne in the
countrie called Alquemare, and there cast anchor as néere the towne
as was possible, bicause they could not enter the hauen at an ebbing
water. The Easterlings also approched the English ship, as néere as
their great ships should come at the low water, intending at the floud
to haue their preie: as they were verie like to haue atteined it in
déed, if the lord Gronture, gouernor of that countrie for the duke of
Burgognie, had not by chance béene at the same time in that towne.

This lord (vpon knowledge had of king Edwards arriuall there in the
hauen, and in what danger he stood by reason of the Easterlings)
commanded them not to be so hardie as once to meddle with anie
Englishmen, being both the dukes fréends and alies. Then did king
Edward & all his companie come on land. Who after they had beene well
refreshed & gentlie comforted by the lord Gronture, they were by him
brought to the Hagh, a rich towne in Holland, where they remained a
while, hauing all things necessarie ministred to them by order of
the duke of Burgognie, sent vnto the lord Gronture, immediatlie vpon
certificat from the said lord Gronture of king Edwards arriuall. [Héere
we sée in what perplexities king Edward and his retinue were, partlie
by enimies at home in his owne countrie, whose hands he was constreined
to flée from by the helpe of the sea; partlie also by aduersaries
abroad, seeking opportunitie to offer him not the incounter onelie,
but the ouerthrow. And suerly, had not good fortune fauoured him, in
preparing readie meanes for him to auoid those imminent dangers; he
had doubtlesse fallen among the weapons of his owne countrimen, and
so neuer haue feared forren force: but in escaping both the one and
the other, euen with shift of so spéedie expedition, it is a note (if
it be well looked into) of happinesse, if anie happinesse may be in
preseruation from ruine and reproch.]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall. fol._ ccix.]

Now let all Englishmen (saith Edward Hall) consider (as before is
rehearsed) what profit, what commoditie, and what helpe in distresse,
the mariage of the ladie Margaret, king Edwards sister to the duke
Charles, did to him in his extreame necessitie; and but by that meane
vncurable extremitie: for his alies and confederats in Castile and
Arragon were too far from him, either speedilie to flie to, or shortlie
to come fro with anie aid or armie. The French king was his extreme
enimie, and freend to king Henrie, for whose cause in the king of Scots
(for all the leage betwéene them) he did put little confidence and
lesse trust. The states and all Eastland were with him at open war, and
yet by this marriage, God prouided him a place to flie to, both for
refuge and reléefe.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

[But for the further and cleerer explanation of these stratagems, or
rather ciuill tumults, it shall not be amisse to insert in this place
(sith I cannot hit vpon one more conuenient) a verie good note or
addition receiued from the hands of maister Iohn Hooker chamberlaine of
Excester; the contents whereof are of such qualitie, that they cannot
stand in concurrence with anie matter introduced within the compasse of
the ninth yeare of this kings reigne (as he had quoted it) and therfore
I thought it méet to transfer the same to this tenth yeare; considering
that some part of the matter by him largelie touched, is briefelie in
the premisses alreadie remembred.]

[Sidenote: _Iohn Hooker, alias Vowell._]

[Sidenote: Lord Dinh[=a], and baron Carew, with their power come to
Excester.]

¶ This yeare (saith he) was verie troublesome, and full of ciuill wars
and great discords. For after that king Edward the fourth was escaped
out of prison, at Wolneie besides Warwike, he mustered and prepared a
new armie. Wherevpon the earle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence,
mistrusting themselues, prepared to passe the seas ouer to Calis, and
first of all sent awaie the duches of Clarence daughter to the said
earle, who was then great with child, and she being accompanied with
the lord Fitz Warren, the lord Dinham, and the baron of Carew, and a
thousand fighting men came to this citie of Excester the eightéenth
daie of March, and was lodged in the bishops palace. Sir Hugh, or (as
some saie) sir William Courtneie, who then fauoured the partie of
king Edward the fourth, assembled a great troope and armie of all the
fréends he could make, and inuironing the citie, besieged the same; he
pulled downe all the bridges, rampered vp all the waies, and stopped
all the passages, so that no vittels at all could be brought to this
citie for twelue daies togither, which being doone vpon a sudden and
vnlooked for, vittels waxed short and scant within the citie, and by
reason of so great a multitude within the same, the people for want of
food began to murmur and mutter.

The duches and the lords of hir companie, mistrusting what might
and would be the sequele hereof, began to deale with the maior, and
required to haue the keies of the gates to be deliuered into their
hands and that they would vndertake the safe custodie of the citie.
Likewise sir William Courtneie did send his messenger to the maior,
and required the gates to be opened and to giue him entrance: or els
he would with sword and fier destroie the same. The maior and his
brethren being in great perplexities, and hauing to answer not onelie
the lords within and the knight without, but most of all doubting the
common people within, who being impatient of penurie, were deafe to all
persuasions and listen to any counsels: did so order and handle the
matter, as that by good spéeches and courteous vsages, euerie partie
was stopped and staied, vntill by means and mediations of certeine good
and godlie men, an intreatie was made, the matter was compounded and
the siege raised, and euerie man set at libertie.

[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike soiorne at
Excester, and are pursued of the king.]

The next daie after which conclusion, the gates being opened, to wit,
the third of Aprill 1470, the earle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence
came to this citie, and here rested, and soiorned themselues vntill
sufficient shipping was prouided for their passage ouer the seas, and
then they all imbarked themselues, and passed ouer to Calis. The king
in this meane time mustered his armie, and prepared with all spéed all
things necessarie to follow and pursue his said aduersaries, and came
to this citie, thinking to find them here the fourtéenth of Aprill
being saturdaie 1470, with fortie thousand fighting men: but the
birds were fled awaie before his comming. Neuerthelesse the king came
and entred into the citie, being accompanied with sundrie noble men;
namelie, the bishop of Elie then lord treasuror, the duke of Norffolke
earle marshall, the duke of Suffolke, the earle of Arundell, the earle
of Wilshire sonne to the duke of Buckingham, the earle of Worcester
constable of England, the earle of Shrewesburie, the earle Riuers, the
lord Hastings, the lord Graie of Codnor, the lord Audelie, the lord
Saie, the lord Sturton, the lord Dacres, the lord Montioie, the lord
Stanlei, the lord Ferris, and the baron of Dudlei.

[Sidenote: The king is receiued verie honorablie into the citie of
Excester.]

[Sidenote: The citizens beneuolence to the king.]

Before whose comming, the maior being aduertised thereof, tooke order,
and gaue commandement to euerie citizen and inhabitant, being of
abilitie, to prouide and prepare for himselfe a gowne of the cities
liuerie, which was then red colour, and to be in a readinesse for
receiuing of the king, which was accordinglie doone. And when the
king was come neere to the citie, the maior being verie well attended
with foure hundred persons well and séemelie apparelled in the cities
liuerie, went to the south gate, and without the same attended the
kings comming. Who when he was come, the maior did his most humble
obeisance, and therewith Thomas Dowrish then recorder of the citie
made vnto his grace an humble oration, congratulating his comming to
the citie: which ended, the maior deliuered vnto the king the keies of
the gates and the maces of his office, and therewith a pursse of one
hundred nobles in gold, which his grace tooke verie thankfullie. The
monie he kept, but the keies and the maces he deliuered backe to the
maior; and then the maior tooke the mace and did beare it through the
citie bare-headed before the king, vntill he came to his lodging.

[Sidenote: How long the king continued in the citie.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike arriue on the
English coasts.]

The next daie following, being Palmesundaie, the king in most princelie
and roiall maner came to the cathedrall church of saint Peters, to
heare the diuine seruice, where he followed and went in procession
after the maner as was then vsed, round about the churchyard, to the
great ioy and comfort of all the people: he continued in the citie
thrée daies vntill the tuesdaie then following; who when he had dined
tooke his horsse and departed backe towards London, and gaue to the
maior great good thanks for his interteinement. About foure moneths
after this, in August, the duke of Clarence and the erle of Warwike
returned againe from Calis, with all their retinue, & landed some at
Plimmouth, some at Dartmouth, and some at Exmouth: but all met in this
citie, and from hence they all passed towards London, and at euerie
place they proclamed king Henrie the sixt, which when king Edward
heard, he was very much troubled therewith: and not able then to
withstand their force, he passed the seas to his brother in law the
duke of Burgognie.

[Sidenote: The practise of a knight being chiefe iustice at the law to
rid himselfe of life.]

This yeare also, being verie troublesome, and the gouernement
vncerteine, men were in great perplexities, & wist not what to doo.
And among manie there was one speciallie to be remembred, who to rid
himselfe out of these troubles, did deuise this practise: his name was
sir William Haukesford knight, a man verie well learned in the lawes
of the realme, and one of the chiefe iustices at the law: he dwelled
at Annorie in Deuonshire, a gentleman of great possessions, and hauing
neuer a sonne, the lord Fitz Warren, sir Iohn Sentleger, & sir William
Bulleine, who maried his daughters, were his heires. This man being
one of the chiefest lawiers in the land, was dailie sought to and his
councell asked: and he considering that when the sword ruled, law had a
small course, and finding by experience what fruits insue such counsell
as dooth not best like the parties, was verie heauie, sorrowfull, and
in great agonies.

[Sidenote: An vniust or surmised charge of the knight against the
kéeper of his parke.]

Herevpon suddenlie he called vnto him the keeper of his parke, with
whom he fell out and quareled, bicause (as he said) he was slothfull
and careles, and did not walke in the nights about the parke, but
suffered his game to be spoiled and his deere to be stolen, wherefore
he willed him to be more vigilant and carefull of his charge, and also
commanded him that if he met anie man in his circuit and walke in the
night time, and would not stand nor speake vnto him, he should not
spare to kill him what so euer he were. This knight, hauing laid this
foundation, and minding to performe what he had purposed for the ending
of his dolefull daies, did in a certeine darke night secretlie conueie
himselfe out of his house, and walked alone in his parke. Then the
kéeper in his night walke hearing one stirring and comming towards him,
asked who was there? but no answer was made at all.

[Sidenote: The kéeper killeth his maister the knight with an arrow.]

Then the keeper willed him to stand, which when he would not doo, the
kéeper nocked his arrow and shot vnto him, and killed him; who when he
perceiued that it was his maister, then he called to remembrance his
maisters former commandement. And so this knight, otherwise learned
and wise, being affraid to displease man, did displease God, and verie
disorderlie ended his life. It is inrolled amongst the records of this
citie, of a commission directed to Iohn earle of Deuonshire, & from him
sent to the maior of the citie of Excester to be proclamed. The words
be these: Decimoquarto die Aprilis, vz. in vigilia Paschæ, An. 49.
Hen. 6. commissio domini regis directa Iohanni comiti Deuon. missa est
maiori vt proclamaretur. And likewise in an other place: Quatuor marcæ
sunt solutæ Iohanni comiti Deuon. ex assensu maioris.

Howbeit, certeine it is there was no such earle of that name, onelie
there was Iohn Holland then liuing duke of Excester, wherefore
something is mistaken herein.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

But was this a practise (thinke you) beséeming a man of worship,
learning, and iudgement, to make awaie himselfe, bicause he saw a
temporall interruption of his prosperitie? Suerlie how much learning
so euer he had in the lawes of the land, litle at all or none (as
appeareth) had he in suffering the forces of aduersitie, whom the feare
of it did so terrifie, that it droue him to his end. Wise therefore
is the counsel of the comedie-writer, and worthie of imitation, that
a man, when he is in best case and highest degrée of welfare, should
euen then meditate with himselfe how to awaie with hardnesse, with
penurie, perils, losse, banishment, and other afflictions: for so shall
he prepare himselfe to beare them with patience when they happen: as
souldiers trained vp in militarie exercises at home, are so much the
forwarder for the field, & fitter to incounter their foes (with lesse
dread of danger) when they come abroad to be tried: and therefore it is
wiselie (& to the purpose) said of Virgil:

[Sidenote: _Aeneid. 5._]

    ----superando omnis fortuna ferendo est.

[Sidenote: K. Edwards fréends take sanctuarie.]

[Sidenote: Quéene Elizabeth deliuered of a prince.]

[Sidenote: _Ab. Flem._]

But to returne to the princes affaires. When the fame was once spred
abroad that K. Edward was fled the relme, an innumerable number of
people resorted to the earle of Warwike to take his part, but all K.
Edwards trustie fréends went to diuerse sanctuaries, and amongst other
his wife quéene Elizabeth tooke sanctuarie at Westminster, and there
in great penurie forsaken of all hir friends, was deliuered of a faire
son called Edward, which was with small pompe like a poore mans child
christened, the godfathers being the abbat and prior of Westminster,
and the godmother the ladie Scroope. [But what might be the heauinesse
of this ladies hart (thinke we) vpon consideration of so manie
counterblasts of vnhappinesse inwardlie conceiued? Hir husband had
taken flight, his adherents and hir fréends sought to shroud themselues
vnder the couert of a new protector, she driuen in distresse forsooke
not that simple refuge which hir hard hap forced vpon hir; and (a kings
wife) wanted in hir necessitie such things as meane mens wiues had
in superfluitie, & (a corosiue to a noble mind) a prince of renowmed
parentage was (by constreint of vnkind fortune) not vouchsafed the
solemnitie of christendome due and decent for so honorable a personage.]

[Sidenote: The Kentishmen make an hurlie burlie.]

[Sidenote: King Henrie fetched out of the Tower & restored to his
kinglie gouernement.]

The Kentishmen in this seson (whose minds be euer moueable at the
change of princes) came to the subvrbs of London, spoiled mansions,
robbed béerehouses, and by the counsell of sir Geffrie Gates and other
sanctuarie men, they brake vp the kings Bench and deliuered prisoners,
and fell at Ratcliffe, Limehouse, & S. Katharins, to burning of houses,
slaughter of people, and rauishing of women. Which small sparkle had
growne to a greater flame, if the earle of Warwike with a great power
had not suddenlie quenched it, and punished the offendors: which
benefit by him doone, caused him much more to be estéemed and liked
amongst the commons than he was before. When he had settled all things
at his pleasure, vpon the twelfe daie of October he rode to the Tower
of London, and there deliuered king Henrie out of the ward, where he
before was kept, and brought him to the kings lodging, where he was
serued according to his degrée.

On the fiue and twentith day of the said moneth, the duke of Clarence
accompanied with the earles of Warwike and Shrewesburie, the lord
Strange, and other lords and gentlemen, some for feare, and some
for loue, and some onelie to gaze at the wauering world, went to the
Tower, and from thense brought king Henrie apparelled in a long gowne
of blew veluet, through London to the church of saint Paule, the
people on euerie side the stréets reioising and crieng; God saue the
king: as though ech thing had succéeded as they would haue had it:
and when he had offered (as kings vse to doo) he was conueied to the
bishops palace, where he kept his houshold like a king. [Thus was the
principalitie posted ouer somtimes to Henrie, sometimes to Edward;
according to the swaie of the partie preuailing: ambition and disdaine
still casting fagots on the fire, whereby the heat of hatred gathered
the greater force to the consumption of the péeres and the destruction
of the people. In the meane time, neither part could securelie possesse
the regalitie, when they obteined it; which highmindednesse was in the
end the ouerthrow of both principals and accessaries, according to the
nature thereof noted in this distichon by the poet:

    Fastus habet lites, offensis fastus abundat,
    Fastus ad interitum præcipitare solet.]

[Sidenote: A parlement.]

[Sidenote: K. Edward adiudged an vsurper.]

When king Henrie had thus readepted and eftsoons gotten his regall
power and authoritie, he called his high court of parlement to begin
the six and twentith day of Nouember at Westminster; in the which king
Edward was adiudged a traitor to the countrie, and an vsurper of the
realme. His goods were confiscat and forfeited. The like sentence was
giuen against all his partakers and freends. And besides this it was
inacted, that such as for his sake were apprehended, and were either
in captiuitie or at large vpon suerties, should be extremelie punished
according to their demerits, amongst whome was the lord Tiptoft earle
of Worcester lieutenant for king Edward in Ireland, exercising there
more extreme crueltie than princelie pietie, and namelie on two infants
being sonnes to the earle of Desmond.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 725._]

[Sidenote: The earle Tiptoft beheaded.]

[Sidenote: The crowne intailed.]

[This earle of Worcester, being found in the top of an high trée, in
the forest of Waibridge, in the countie of Huntington, was brought
to London, and either for treason to him laid, or malice against
him conceiued, was atteinted, and beheaded at the Tower hill, and
after buried at the Blacke friers.] Moreouer, all statutes made by
king Edward were clearlie reuoked, and the crownes of the realmes of
England and France were by authoritie of the same parlement intailed
to king Henrie the sixt, and to his heires male; and for default of
such heires, to remaine to George duke of Clarence, & to his heires
male: and further, the said duke was inabled to be next heire to his
father Richard duke of Yorke, and to take from him all his landes and
dignities, as though he had béene his eldest sonne at the time of his
death. Iasper earle of Penbroke, and Iohn earle of Oxford, with diuerse
other by king Edward atteinted, were restored to their old names,
possessions, and ancient dignities.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 722, 723._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike his housekéeping.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike instituted gouernour of the realme.]

Beside this, the earle of Warwike, as one to whom the common-wealth
was much bounden [and euer had in great fauour of the commons of this
land, by reason of the exceeding houshold which he dailie kept in all
countries where euer he soiourned or laie: and when he came to London,
he held such an house, that six oxen were eaten at a breakefast, and
euerie tauerne was full of his meat, for who that had anie acquaintance
in that house, he should haue had as much sod and rost as he might
carrie vpon a long dagger] he (I saie) was made gouernour of the
realme, with whom as fellow was associat George duke of Clarence. And
thus was the state of the realme quite altered. To this parlement came
the marquesse Montacute, excusing himselfe, that for feare of death he
declined to take king Edwards part, which excuse was accepted. When
quéene Margaret vnderstood by hir husbands letters, that the victorie
was gotten by their fréends, she with hir sonne prince Edward and hir
traine entered their ships, to take their voiage into England: but
the winter was so sharpe, the weather so stormie, and the wind so
contrarie, that she was faine to take land againe, and to deferre hir
iournie till another season.

[Sidenote: Iasper earle of Penbroke.]

[Sidenote: Margaret countesse of Richmond and Derbie.]

About the same season, Iasper earle of Penbroke went into Wales, to
visit his lands in Penbrokeshire, where he found lord Henrie sonne to
his brother Edmund earle of Richmond, hauing not full ten yeares of
age; he being kept in maner like a captiue, but honorablie brought
vp by the ladie Herbert, late wife to William earle of Penbroke,
beheaded at Banburie (as ye before haue heard.) This Henrie was borne
of Margaret the onelie daughter and heire of Iohn the first duke of
Summerset, then not being full ten yeares of age, the which ladie
though she were after ioined in mariage with lord Henrie sonne to
Humfreie duke of Buckingham, and after to Thomas Stanleie earle of
Derbie, both being yoong and apt for generation, yet she had neuer anie
more children, as though she had doone hir part to bring foorth a man
child, and the same to be a king (as he after was indéed) intituled by
the name of Henrie the seuenth (as after ye shall heare.)

[Sidenote: The saieng of king Henrie the sixt, of Henrie of Richmond
after king Henrie the seuenth.]

[Sidenote: _Ab. Flem._]

The earle of Penbroke tooke this child, being his nephue, out of the
custodie of the ladie Herbert, and at his returne brought the child
with him to London to king Henrie the sixt, whome when the king had
a good while beheld, he said to such princes as were with him: Lo,
suerlie this is he, to whom both we and our aduersaries leauing the
possession of all things shall hereafter giue roome and place. So
this holie man shewed before the chance that should happen, that this
earle Henrie so ordeined by God, should in time to come (as he did
indéed) haue and inioy the kingdome and whole rule of this realme of
England. ¶ So that it might seeme probable by the coherence of holie
Henries predictions with the issue falling out in truth with the
same; that for the time he was indued with a propheticall spirit. And
suerlie the epithet or title of holie is not for naught attributed
vnto him, for it is to be read in writers, that he was by nature
giuen to peaceablenesse, abhorring bloud and slaughter, detesting
ciuill tumults, addicted to deuotion, verie frequent in praier, and
not estéeming so highlie of courtlie gallantnesse as stood with the
dignitie of a prince. In consideration wherof, he procured against
himselfe an apostasie of his people both natiue and forren; who
reuolted and fell from fealtie. And whie? The reason is rendred by the
same writer, namelie:

    Quòd tales homines populus sceleratior odit,
    Fastidit, detestatur: non conuenit inter
    Virtutem & vitium, lucem fugêre tenebræ.

[Sidenote: The ragged staffe.]

The earle of Warwike, vnderstanding that his enimie the duke of
Burgognie had receiued king Edward, and meant to aid him for recouerie
of the kingdome, he first sent ouer to Calis foure hundred archers on
horssebacke to make warre on the dukes countries; and further, prepared
foure thousand valiant men to go ouer shortlie, that the duke might
haue his hands euen full of trouble at home. And where ye haue heard
that the erle of Warwike was kept out of Calis at his fléeing out of
England into France, ye shall note that within a quarter of an houre
after it was knowne that he was returned into England; and had chased
king Edward out of the realme; not onelie monsieur de Vaucléere, but
also all other of the garrison & towne shewed themselues to be his
fréends; so that the ragged staffe was taken vp and worne in euerie
mans cap, some ware it of gold enameled, some of siluer; and he that
could haue it neither of gold nor siluer, had it of whitish silke or
cloth: such wauering minds haue the common people, bending like a reed
with euerie wind that bloweth.

[Sidenote: The duke of Burgognie sendeth ambassadors to Calis.]

The duke of Burgognie, hauing an armie readie at the same time to
inuade the frontiers of France, to recouer the townes of saint
Quintines and Amiens, latelie by the French king taken from him,
doubted to be hindered greatlie by the Englishmen, if he should be
constreined to haue warre with them: for the duke of Burgognie held
not onlie at that season Flanders, but also Bulleine, and Bullennois,
and all Artois, so that he was thereby in danger to receiue harme out
of Calis on ech side. Therefore he sent ambassadors thither, which did
so much with the councell there, that the league was newlie confirmed
betwixt the realme of England and the dukes countries; onelie the name
of Henrie put in the writing in stéed of Edward. This matter hindered
sore the sute of king Edward, dailie suing to the duke for aid at his
hands, the more earnestlie indéed, bicause of such promises as by
letters were made vnto him out of England, from his assured fréends
there.

[Sidenote: 1471.]

[Sidenote: He aideth K. Edward vnder hand.]

But duke Charles would not consent openlie to aid king Edward; but yet
secretlie vnder hand by others he lent vnto him fiftie thousand florens
of the crosse of S. Andrew, and further caused foure great ships to be
appointed for him in the hauen of de Véere, otherwise called Camphire
in Zeland, which in those daies was free for all men to come vnto,
and the duke hired for him fouretéene ships of the Easterlings well
appointed, & for the more suertie tooke a bond of them to serue him
trulie, till he were landed in England, and fifteene daies after.
The Easterlings were glad of this iournie, trusting if he got againe
the possession of England, they should the sooner come to a peace,
and obteine restitution of their liberties and franchises, which
they claimed of former time to haue within this realme. The duke of
Burgognie cared not much on whose side the victorie fell, sauing for
paiment of his monie: for he would oft saie, that he was fréend to both
parties, and either part was fréendlie to him.

[Sidenote: _W. Fleetwood._]

[Sidenote: He arriueth on the coast of Norffolke.]

In déed, as he was brother in law to the one, so was he of kin to the
other, as by his grandmother being daughter to Iohn of Gant duke of
Lancaster. When therefore all king Edwards furniture and prouision for
his iournie were once readie, hauing now with him about two thousand
able men of warre, beside mariners, he entered into the ships with
them, in the hauen before Flishing in Zeland, vpon the second day of
March: and bicause the wind fell not good for his purpose, he taried
still aboord for the space of nine daies, before it turned méet for
his iournie. But after that the wind once came about (as he wisht)
the sails were hoissed vp on the 11 of March being monday, & forward
they sailed, directing their course streight ouer towards the coast of
Norffolke. On the next day being tuesday, & the twelfe of March, toward
the euening, they road before Cromer, where the king sent to land sir
Robert Chamberleine, with sir Gilbert Debenham knights, and diuerse
other, to the end they might discouer the countrie, and vnderstand how
the people within the land were bent towards him, especiallie those
countries there next adioining.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Oxford.]

Vpon their returne, he vnderstood that there was no suertie for him
to land in those parties, by reason of the good order which the earle
of Warwike, and the earle of Oxford especiallie had taken in that
countrie to resist him: for not onelie the duke of Norffolke, but all
other the gentlemen (whome the earle of Warwike had in anie suspicion)
were by letters of priuie seale sent for, and either committed to safe
kéeping about London, or else inforced to find suertie for their loiall
demeanor towards king Henrie: yet those knights and other that were
thus sent foorth to make inquirie, were well receiued of their frends,
and had good cheare. But after the king perceiued by their report, how
things stood thereabouts, he caused his ships to make course towards
the north parts.

[Sidenote: He arriueth at the head of Humber.]

[Sidenote: He landeth at Rauenspurgh.]

The same night folowing, a great storme of winds and weather rose,
sore troubling the seas, and continued till the fourtéenth day of that
moneth being thursday, on the which day with greater danger, by reason
of the tempestuous rage and torment of the troubled seas, he arriued at
the head of Humber, where the other ships were scattered from him, each
one seuered from other; so that of necessitie they were driuen to land
in sunder where they best might, for doubt to be cast awaie in that
perillous tempest. The king with the lord Hastings his chamberleine,
and other to the number of fiue hundred men being in one ship, landed
within Humber on Holdernesse side, at a place called Rauenspurgh, euen
in the same place where Henrie erle of Derbie, after called king Henrie
the fourth landed, when he came to depriue king Richard the second of
the crowne, and to vsurpe it to himselfe.

Richard duke of Glocester, and three hundred men in his companie,
tooke land in another place foure miles distant from thence, where
his brother king Edward did land. The earle Riuers, and with him two
hundred men, landed at a place called Pole, fourtéene miles from the
hauen where the king came on land. The residue of his people landed
some here some there, in place where for their suerties they thought
best. On the morrow, being the fiftéenth of March, now that the tempest
ceased, and euerie man being got to land, they drew from euerie of
their landing places towards the king, who for the first night was
lodged in a poore village, two miles from the place where he first set
foot on land. [As for his traine, though the season of the yeere was
naturallie cold, & therfore required competent refection by warmth, it
is to be supposed, that all their lodgings were hard inough, sith the
principals prouision was sorie inough. But what of that? Better (in
cases of extremitie) an hard shift than none at all.]

Touching the folks of the countrie, there came few or none to him. For
by the incensing of such as had bin sent into those parts from the
erle of Warwike, and other his aduersaries, the people were shrewdlie
induced to stand against him. But yet, in respect of the good will
that manie of them had borne to his father, they could haue béene
content, that he should haue inioied his right to his due inheritance
of the duchie of Yorke, but in no wise to the title of the crowne.
And herevpon they suffered him to passe, not seeking to annoie him,
till they might vnderstand more of his purposed meaning. The king,
perceiuing how the people were bent, noised abroad that hée came to
make none other chalenge but to his inheritance of the duchie of Yorke:
and withall ment to passe first into the citie of Yorke, and so forward
towards London, to incounter with his aduersaries that were in the
south parts.

For although his néerest waie had béene through Lincolneshire: yet
bicause in taking that waie hée must haue gone againe to the water, in
passing ouer Humber; he doubted least it would haue bin thought that he
had withdrawne himselfe to the sea for feare. And to auoid the rumors
that might haue beene spred thereof, to the hinderance of his whole
cause, he refused that waie, and tooke this other, still bruting it (as
before we said) that his comming was not to chalenge the crowne, but
onelie to be restored vnto his fathers right and inheritance of the
duchie of Yorke, which was descended to him from his father. And here
it séemed that the colour of iustice hath euer such a force in it selfe
amongst all men, that where before few or none of the commons could be
found that would offer themselues to take his part: yet now that he did
(as they thought) claime nothing but that which was his right, they
began streight to haue a liking of his cause.

[Sidenote: Martine de la Mare or Martine of the sea.]

[Sidenote: He passeth toward Yorke.]

And where there were gathered to the number of six or seuen thousand
men in diuerse places, vnder the leading chieflie of a priest and of
a gentleman called Martine de la Mare, in purpose to haue stopped his
passage: now the same persons tooke occasion to assist him. And when
he perceiued mens minds to bée well qualified with this feined deuise,
he marched foorth till he came to Beuerleie, which stood in his direct
waie as he passed toward Yorke. He sent also to Kingston vpon Hull,
distant from thence six miles, willing that he might be there receiued:
but the inhabitants, who had bene laboured by his aduersaries, refused
in anie wise to grant therevnto.

[Sidenote: Sée before page 277.]

The earle of Warwike aduertised by messengers of king Edwards arriuall,
and of his turning toward Yorke, with all hast wrote to his brother the
marquesse Montacute, who had laine at the castell of Pomfret all the
last winter with a great number of souldiers, willing him to consider
in what case their affaires stood, and therevpon with all spéed to
set vpon king Edward, or else to keepe the passages, and to staie him
from comming anie further forward, till he himselfe as then being in
Warwikeshire busie to assemble an armie, might come to his aid with the
same. [Thus laboured the earle of Warwike by policie and puissance, as
well of his owne as others power, to further his owne purpose, hauing
sworne in heart a due performance of that, which he had solemnlie vowed
and promised before.]

[Sidenote: K. Edward without interruption passeth forward to Yorke.]

But this notwithstanding, although there were great companies of people
of the countries there abouts assembled, yet they came not in sight of
the king, but suffered him quietlie to passe; either bicause they were
persuaded that he ment (as he in outward words pretended) not to claime
anie title to the crowne, but onelie his right to the duchie of Yorke;
or else for that they doubted to set vpon him, although his number were
farre vnequall to theirs; knowing that not onelie he himselfe, but also
his companie were minded to sell their liues dearlie, before they would
shrinke an inch from anie that was to incounter them. It maie be that
diuerse of the capteins also were corrupted: and although outwardlie
they shewed to be against him, yet in heart they bare him right good
will, and in no wise minded to hinder him. So forward he marched, till
he came to Yorke, on a monday being the eightéenth day of March.

[Sidenote: Thomas Coniers recorder of Yorke.]

Before he came to the citie by the space of thrée miles, the recorder
of Yorke, whose name was Thomas Coniers (one knowne in déed not to
beare him anie faithfull good will) came vnto him; & gaue him to
vnderstand, that it stood in no wise with his suertie, to presume to
approch the citie: for either hée should be kept out by force, or if
he did enter, he shuld be in danger to be cast away by his aduersaries
that were within. King Edward neuerthelesse, sith he was come thus
farre forward, knew well inough there was no going backe for him, but
manfullie to procéed forward with his begun iournie, and therefore kept
on his way. And shortlie after there came to him out of the citie,
Robert Clifford, and Richard Burgh, who assured him that in the quarell
which he pretended to pursue, to wit, for the obteining of his right to
the duchie of Yorke, he should not faile but be receiued into the citie.

[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Yorke.]

[Sidenote: He receiueth an oth.]

But immediatlie after came the said Coniers againe, with the like tale
and information as he had brought before. And thus king Edward one
while put in comfort, and another while discouraged, marched foorth
till he came to the gates of the citie, where his people staied;
whilest he and about sixtéene or seuentéene other such as he thought
méetest, went forth and entred the citie with the said Clifford &
Burgh. And (as some write) there was a priest readie to saie masse,
in which masse time the king receiued the sacrament of the communion,
& there solemnlie sware to kéepe and obserue two speciall articles:
although it was farre vnlike that he minded to obserue either of
them: the one was that he should vse the citizens after a gentle
and courteous maner: and the other, that he should be faithfull and
obedient vnto king Henries commandements.

For this wilfull periurie (as hath béene thought) the issue of this
king suffered (for the fathers offense the depriuation not onelie of
lands and worldlie possessions, but also of their naturall liues,)
by their cruell vncle K. Richard the third. [And it may well be.]
For it is not likelie that God, in whose hands is the bestowing of
all souereigntie, will suffer such an indignatie to be doone to his
sacred maiestie, and will suffer the same to passe with impunitie. And
suerlie, if an oth among priuate men is religiouslie to be kept, sith
in the same is an exact triall of faith and honestie; doubtlesse of
princes it is verie nicelie and preciselie to be obserued: yea they
should rather susteine a blemish and disgrace in their roialtie, than
presume to go against their oth and promise, speciallie if the same
stand vpon conditions of equitie: otherwise they prooue themselues to
be impugners of fidelitie, which is a iewell surpassing gold in price
and estimation, as the poet prudentlie saith:

    Charior est auro non simulata fides.

[Sidenote: The marques Montacute suffereth king Edward to passe by him.]

When king Edward had thus gotten into the citie of Yorke, he made such
meanes among the citizens, that he got of them a certeine summe of
monie; and leauing a garison within the citie contrarie to his oth, for
fear least the citizens after his departure, might happilie mooue some
rebellion against him, he set forward the next day toward Todcaster, a
towne ten miles from thence, belonging to the earle of Northumberland.
The next day he tooke his waie toward Wakefield and Sendall, a castell
and lordship belonging to the inheritance of the dukes of Yorke,
leauing the castell of Pomfret vpon his left hand, where the marques
Montacute with his armie laie, and did not once offer to stop him.

Whether the marques suffered him to passe by so, with his good will or
no, diuerse haue diuerslie coniectured. Some thinke that it lay not in
the power of the marques greatlie to annoie him, both for that the king
was well beloued in those parties; & againe, all the lords & commons
there for the most part were towards the earle of Northumberland, and
without him or his commandement they were not willing to stirre. And
therefore the earle in sitting still and not moouing to and fro, was
thought to doo king Edward as good seruice as if he had come to him,
and raised people to assist him; for diuerse happilie that should haue
come with him, remembring displeasures past, would not haue béene so
faithfull as the earle himselfe, if it had come to the iumpe of anie
hazard of battell.

[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Northampt[=o].]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

About Wakefield and the parts there adioining, some companie of his
freends came to him, whereby his power was increased; but nothing in
such numbers as he looked for. From Wakefield he crossed on the left
hand, so to come againe into the high waie, and came to Doncaster, and
from thence vnto Notingham. Here came to him sir William Parre, and sir
Iames Harrington, with six hundred men well armed and appointed also
there came to him sir Thomas Burgh, & sir Thomas Montgomerie with their
aids, which caused him at their first comming to make proclamation in
his owne name, to wit, of K. Edward the fourth, boldlie affirming to
him, that they would serue no man but a king.

[Sidenote: The duke of Excester with a power at Newarke.]

Whilest he remained at Notingham, and also before he came there, he
sent abroad diuerse of his auaunt courrers to discouer the countrie,
and to vnderstand if there were anie power gathered against him. Some
of them that were thus sent, approached to Newarke, and vnderstood that
within the towne there, the duke of Excester, the earle of Oxenford,
the lord Bardolfe, and other were lodged with a great power to the
number of foure thousand men, which they had assembled in Essex,
Norffolke, Suffolke, and in the shires of Cambridge, Huntington, and
Lincolne. The duke of Excester, and the earle of Oxenford, with other
the chéefe capteins, aduertised that king Edwards foreriders had béene
afore the towne in the euening, supposed verelie that he and his whole
armie were comming towards them.

Héerevpon, they not thinking it good to abide longer there, determined
with all spéed to dislodge, and so about two of the clocke after
midnight they departed from Newarke, leauing some of their people
behind, which either stale awaie from them, and taried of purpose, or
could not get awaie so soone as their fellowes. In déed the foreriders
that so discouered them within the towne of Newarke, aduertised the
king thereof in all post hast, who incontinentlie assembled his people,
and foorthwith marched towards them: but before he came within thrée
miles of the towne, he had knowledge that they were fled and gone from
Newarke. Whervpon he returned againe to Notingham, intending to kéepe
on his néerest waie towards the earle of Warwike, whome he vnderstood
to be departed from London, and to be come into Warwikeshire, where &
in the countries adioining he was busied in leuieng an armie, with the
which he purposed to distresse him.

[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Leicester.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike in Couentrie.]

The king then from Notingham came to Leicester, where three thousand
able men, and well furnished for the warre came vnto him. These were
such as he knew would liue and die in his quarrell, the most part of
them belonging vnto the lord Hastings, the kings chamberlaine. And
thus he, being more stronglie accompanied than before, departed from
Leicester, and came before the wals of the citie of Couentrie, the nine
and twentith daie of March. The earle of Warwike was withdrawne into
this citie, kéeping himselfe inclosed therein with his people, being
in number six or seauen thousand men. The king sent to him, and willed
him to come foorth into the field, and there to make an end of the
quarell in plaine battell: but the earle at that present refused so to
doo.

[Sidenote: K. Edward prouoketh the earle of Warwike to fight.]

[Sidenote: He c[=o]meth to Warwike.]

For although, vnder pretense of king Henries authoritie, he was reputed
the kings generall lieutenant of the whole realme, whereby he had got
such power togither, as was thought able inough to match with the king
for number; yet bicause he doubted how they were bent in his fauour, he
durst not commit the matter vnto the doubtfull chance of battell, till
he had more of his trustie fréends about him. The king therefore thrée
daies togither prouoked him to come foorth, but when he saw it would
not be, he remooued to Warwike an eight miles from Couentrie, where
he was receiued as king, and so made his proclamations from that time
foorth in all places where he came vnder his accustomed name and title
of king.

[Sidenote: A treatie for peace.]

He lodged héere at Warwike, the rather (as was thought) to prouoke the
earle to issue foorth of Couentrie to giue him battell, howbeit that
deuise nothing auailed. But yet there came dailie diuerse persons on
the earls behalfe to treat with the king about a peace, that some good
composition might haue béene concluded; & the king for the aduancement
of peace and tranquillitie within the realme, offered large conditions;
as a frée pardon of life to the earle, and all his people, with manie
other beneficiall articles on their behalfes, which to manie seemed
verie reasonable, considering their heinous offenses. But the earle
would not accept anie offers, except he might haue compounded so as it
pleased himselfe, & as was thought in no wise to stand with the king
honour, and suertie of his estate.

[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence.]

In this meane while, the earle of Warwike still looked for the duke
of Clarence, who by the said earls appointment had assembled a power
of men of war about London: but when the earle perceiued that the
duke lingered foorth the time, and did not vse such diligence as was
requisit, as one that had béene in doubt of warre or peace, he began
to suspect that the duke was of his brother corrupted, and therein he
was nothing deceiued. For true it is, that whilest the king was as yet
beyond the seas, in the dominion of the duke of Burgognie, the duke
of Clarence began to weie with himselfe the great inconuenience into
the which as well his brother king Edward as himselfe and his yoonger
brother the duke of Glocester were fallen, through the dissention
betwixt them: (which had beene compassed and brought to passe by the
politike working of the earle of Warwike and his complices.)

As first the disheriting of them all from their rightfull title to
the crowne; secondlie the mortall and detestable war that could not
but insue betwixt them, to such mischéefe, that to whether part the
victorie inclined, the victor should remaine in no more suertie of
his owne person or estate after the vpper hand got, than before;
and thirdlie he well perceiued alreadie, that he was had in great
suspicion, and not heartilie belooued of anie the lords and rulers that
were assured partakers with king Henrie and the Lancastrian faction:
insomuch they sticked not dailie to go about to breake and make void
the appointments, articles, and couenants, made and promised to him,
and of likelihood would dailie more and more intend thereto: for in
truth he saw, that they purposed nothing so much as the destruction
both of him and all his bloud.

[Sidenote: Préests vsed for priuie messengers.]

All which things throughlie considered, with manie other as they were
laid afore him by right wise and circumspect persons, which in this
behalfe had conference with him, he consented that by some secret waies
and meanes a reconciliation might be had betwixt him and his brethren,
the king and the duke of Glocester. The which to bring to some good
and full effect, these honorable personages following became dealers
therein. First of all the duches of Yorke their mother, the duches of
Excester and the duches of Suffolke their sisters; the lord cardinall
of Canturburie, the bishop of Bath, the earle of Essex; but most
speciallie the duches of Burgognie their sister also, and diuerse other
right wise and prudent personages, who wrought by mediation of certeine
preests, and others, such as they vsed for messengers betwixt them.

[Sidenote: K. Edward and his brother of Clarence reconciled vnwitting
to the earle of Warwike.]

Finallie, by the earnest trauell and diligence shewed by the said
duches of Burgognie (who incessantlie sent to and fro such hir trustie
messengers now to the king being on that side the seas, and then to
the duke remaining héere in England) at length they were made fréends,
and a perfect agréement concluded and ratified, with assurance betwixt
them so stronglie as might be. To the furthering whereof the kings
chamberlaine the lord Hastings failed not to doo his best, so as by
his good diligence, it was thought the king was the sooner induced
to with to ioine eftsoones in true fréendship with his said brother
of Clarence. And as it well appeared, the duke of Clarence acquitted
himselfe faithfullie therein.

[Sidenote: The dissimulation of the duke of Clarence.]

For hearing now that his brother king Edward was landed and comming
forward towards London, he gathered his people, outwardlie pretending
to passe with them to the aid of the earle of Warwike against his
brother: although inwardlie he meant the contrarie, and so accompanied
with aboue foure thousand men, he marched foorth towards the place
where he thought to find his brother. King Edward being then at
Warwike, and vnderstanding that his brother of Clarence approched, in
an afternoone issued foorth of that towne with all his forces, and
passed on till he came into a faire large field thrée miles distant
from Warwike towards Banburie, where he might behold his brother of
Clarence in good arraie of battell, comming towards him.

[Sidenote: The brethren méet louinglie togither.]

When they were now within halfe a mile approched togither, the king
placed his people in order of battell vnder their baners, and so
left them standing still, and appointed them to kéepe their ground,
whilest he taking with him his brother of Glocester, the lord Riuers,
the lord Hastings, & a few other, went foorth to méet his brother of
Clarence: and in like sort the duke of Clarence tooke with him a few
of the nobilitie that were about him, and leauing his armie in good
order, departed from them to meet the king, and so they met betwixt
both the hosts, with so swéet salutations, louing demeanor, and good
countenances, as better might not be deuised betwixt brethren of so
high and noble estate. O what a hearts ioy was this to the people, to
sée such an accord and mutuall attonement betweene these péeres! It was
the onelie pleasure in the world, to the which all other compared are
but counterfet, and that dooth the psalmist testifie,

[Sidenote: _Buchan. in psal. 133._]

    Nil charitate mutua fratrum, nihil
    Iucundius concordia.

Besides this the like fréendlie intertainment, and courteous
demeanour appeared in the salutings of other noble men that were on
them attendant; wherof all such as saw it, and loued them, greatlie
reioised; giuing God thankes for that ioifull méeting, vnitie, and
concord, appearing thus manifestlie betwixt them: and herewith the
trumpets and other instruments sounded, & the king withall brought the
duke vnto his armie, whome he saluting in most courteous wise, welcomed
them into the land; and they humblie thanking him, did to him such
reuerence as apperteined to the honour of such a worthie personage.
This was a goodlie and a gratious reconcilement, beneficiall to the
princes, profitable to the péeres, and pleasurable to the people, whose
part had beene déepest in dangers and losse, if discord had not beene
discontinued.

This doone, the king leauing his hoast againe, keeping their ground
with the same few persons which he tooke with him before, went with
his brother of Clarence vnto his armie, and saluting them with swéete
and courteous words, was ioifullie of them welcomed: and so after
this, they all came togither ioining in one. And either part shewing
themselues glad thus to méet as fréends with the other, they went
louinglie togither vnto Warwike with the king, where and in the
countrie thereabouts they lodged, as they thought stood most with their
ease and safeties. Herewith the duke of Clarence desired aboue all
things to procure some good and perfect accord betwixt his brother the
king, and the earle of Warwike.

[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence séeketh to make peace betwixt the king
and the earle of Warwike.]

In this was he the more studious, bicause he saw that such an
accord should bring great quietnesse to the land, and deliuer the
common-wealth of manie dangers that might insue by reason of such
numbers of partakers, as well lords as other that were confederat
with the earle. The said duke treated with the king present, and sent
messengers vnto Couentrie to the earle, moouing as well the one as
the other most instantlie to frame their minds vnto a pacification.
The king at the instance of his brother was contented to offer large
conditions, and verie beneficiall for the earle and his partakers, if
they would haue accepted them.

But the earle, whether vtterlie despairing of his owne safetie, if he
should agrée to anie peace; or else happilie for that he thought it
stood with his honour to stand vnto such promises and couenants as he
had made with the French king, and with the quéene Margaret, and hir
sonne prince Edward (to whome he was bound by oth not to shrinke or
swarue from the same) he refused all maner of such conditions as were
offered. Insomuch that when the duke had sent to him, both to excuse
himselfe of the act which he had doone, and also to require him to
take some good waie with king Edward, now while he might, the earle
(after he had patientlie heard the dukes message) he séemed greatlie to
abhorre his vnfaithfull dealing, in turning thus from his confederats
and alies contrarie to his oth and fidelitie.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwiks answer to the duke of Clarence message.]

To the messengers (as some write) he gaue none other answer but this,
that he had rather be like himselfe, than like a false and periured
duke; and that he was fullie determined neuer to leaue warre, till he
had either lost his owne life, or vtterlie subdued his enimies. At it
was thought, the earle of Oxenfords persuasion wanted not, to make him
the more stiflie to hold out; and rather to trie the vttermost hazard
of warre, than to agrée to acknowledge king Edward for his lawfull
souereigne lord and king. Whervpon no appointment nor anie agréement at
all could be brought to passe; and so all that treatie, which the duke
of Clarence had procured, brake off & tooke none effect. There came
to the earle of Warwike, whilest he laie thus at Couentrie (besides
the earle of Oxenford) the duke of Excester, and the lord marquesse
Montacute, by whose comming that side was greatlie strengthened, and
the number much increased.

[Sidenote: K. Edward passeth London.]

The king, vpon consideration hereof and perceiuing he could not get the
earle to come foorth of Couentrie, departed from Warwike, and eftsoones
shewing himselfe with his people before the citie of Couentrie, desired
the earle and his power to come foorth into the fields, that they might
end their quarrell by battell: which the earle and the other lords
with him vtterlie refused as then to doo. This was the fift of Aprill
being fridaie. The king herevpon was resolued to march towards London,
where his principall aduersarie king Henrie remained, vsing his kinglie
authoritie by diuerse such of the nobilitie as were about him, whereby
king Edward was barred and disappointed of manie aids and assistants,
which he was sure to haue, if he could once breake that force of the
roiall authoritie, that was still thus exercised against him in king
Henries name.

Wherefore (by the aduise of his brethren and others of his councell)
accordinglie as it had beene ordeined before this his last setting
foorth from Warwike, he kept on his waie towards London, comming to
Dantrie on the saturdaie at night: & on the morow being Palmesundaie,
he heard seruice in the church there, & after rode to Northhampton,
where he was ioifullie receiued. From thense he tooke the next way
towards London, leauing continuallie behind him (as he passed foorth) a
competent band of speares and archers, to beat backe such of the earle
of Warwiks people, as peraduenture he might send abroad to trouble
him and his armie by the waie. Which prouidence and foresight it not
vnnecessarie to vse; for that he knew well enough, that the heart of
an enimie, frieng in the fire of hatefull hostilitie, will pretermit
no opportunitie either of time or place to laie in wait for his
destruction, against whom he beareth an inward grudge, with a desire of
vengeance to the death.

In this meane while, that things passed in maner (as before ye haue
hard) Edmund duke of Summerset, & his brother Iohn marquesse Dorset,
Thomas Courtneie earle of Deuonshire, and others being at London,
had knowledge by aduertisements out of France, that quéene Margaret
with hir sonne prince Edward, the countesse of Warwike, the prior of
S. Iohns, the lord Wenlocke, and diuerse others their adherents and
partakers, with all that they might make, were readie at the sea side,
purposing with all spéed to saile ouer into England, and to arriue
in the west countrie. Wherevpon they departed foorth of London, and
with all hast possible drew westward, there to raise what forces they
could, to ioine with those their fréends, immediatlie after they should
once come on land, and so to assist them against king Edward and his
partakers.

True it is, that the quéene with hir sonne, and the other persons
before mentioned, tooke their ships, the foure and twentith daie of
March, continuing on the seas before they could land (thorough tempests
and contrarie winds) by the space of twentie daies, that is, till the
thirtéenth of Aprill: on which daie, or rather on the fourtéenth, they
landed at Weimouth, as after shall appeare. But now touching king
Edwards procéeding forward on his iournie toward London, ye haue to
vnderstand, that vpon the tuesdaie the ninth of Aprill he came to saint
Albons, from whense he sent comfortable aduertisements to the queene
his wife remaining within the sanctuarie at Westminster, and to others
his faithfull fréends in and about London, to vnderstand by couert
meanes how to deale to obteine the fauour of the citizens, so as he
might be of them receiued.

[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke.]

The earle of Warwike, vnderstanding all his dooings and purposes, wrote
to the Londoners, willing & charging them in anie wise to keepe king
Edward out of their citie, and in no condition to permit him to enter:
and withall he sent to his brother the archbishop of Yorke, willing
him by all meanes possible to persuade the Londoners not to receiue
him; but to defend the citie against him for the space of two or thrée
daies at the least: promising not to faile but to come after him, and
to be readie to assaile him on the backe, not doubting but wholie to
distresse his power and to bring him to vtter confusion. The archbishop
herevpon, on the ninth of Aprill, called vnto him at Paules, all such
lords, knights, and gentlemen, with others that were partakers on that
side, to the number in all of six or seauen thousand men in armour.

[Sidenote: King Henrie sheweth himselfe to the Londoners.]

Herewith also he caused king Henrie to mount on horssebacke, and to
ride from Paules thorough Cheape downe to Walbroke, & so to fetch a
compasse (as the custome was when they made their generall processions)
returning backe againe to Paules vnto the bishops palace, where at that
time he was lodged. The archbishop supposed, that shewing the king thus
riding thorough the stréets, he should haue allured the citizens to
assist his part. True it is, the maior & aldermen had caused the gates
to be kept with watch and ward: but now they well perceiued that king
Henries power was too weake, as by that shew it had well appeared, to
make full resistance against king Edward, and so not for them to trust
vnto, if king Edward came forward, and should attempt to enter the
citie by force: for it was not vnknowne vnto them, that manie of the
worshipfull citizens, and others of the commons in great numbers, were
fullie bent to aid king Edward, in all that they might, as occasion
serued.

[Sidenote: The Londoners resolue to receiue king Edward.]

[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke.]

Thus, what thorough loue that manie bare to king Edward, and what
thorough feare that diuerse stood in, least the citie being taken
by force might happilie haue beene put to the sacke, with the losse
of manie an innocent mans life; the maior, aldermen, and others the
worshipfull of the citie fell at a point among themselues, to kéepe the
citie to K. Edwards vse, so as he might haue free passage and entrie
into the same at his pleasure. The archbishop of Yorke, perceiuing the
affections of the people, and how the most part of them were now bent
in fauour of king Edward vpon the said kings approch towards the citie,
he sent foorth secretlie a messenger to him, beséeching him to receiue
him againe into his fauour, promising to be faithfull to him in time
to come, and to acquit this good turne hereafter with some singular
benefit and pleasure.

[Sidenote: The Tower recouered to king Edwards vse.]

[Sidenote: K. Edward entereth into London.]

[Sidenote: King Henrie is deliuered to him.]

The king, vpon good causes and considerations therevnto him moouing,
was contented to receiue him againe into his fauour. The archbishop
hereof assured, reioised greatlie, well & truelie acquiting him
concerning his promise made to the king in that behalfe. The same night
following was the Tower of London recouered to king Edwards vse. And
on the morow being thursdaie, and the eleuenth of Aprill, king Edward
quietlie made his entrie into the citie with his power, hauing fiue
hundred smokie gunners marching foremost, being strangers, of such
as he had brought ouer with him. He first rode vnto Paules church, &
from thense he went to the bishops palace, where the archbishop of
Yorke presented himselfe vnto him, and hauing king Henrie by the hand,
deliuered him vnto king Edward, who being seized of his person, and
diuerse other his aduersaries, he went from Paules to Westminster,
where he made his deuout praiers, giuing God most heartie thanks for
his safe returne thither againe.

This doone, he went to the quéene to comfort hir, who with great
patience had abidden there a long time, as a sanctuarie woman, for
doubt of hir enimies; and in the meane season was deliuered of a
yoong prince, whom she now presented vnto him, to his great hearts
reioising & comfort. From Westminster the king returned that night vnto
London againe, hauing the quéene with him, and lodged in the house of
the duchesse his moother. On the morow being good fridaie, he tooke
aduise with the lords of his bloud, and other of his councell, for
such businesse as he had in hand; namelie, how to subdue his enimies
as sought his destruction. Thus with consultation preuenting his
actions, he obteined fortunate successe, wherwith his hart was the more
aduanced to ioine issue with his aduersaries, whome (rather than they
should triumph ouer him) he was resolutelie minded to vanquish, if his
procéedings might proue prosperous as his present good lucke.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike followeth the king.]

The earle of Warwike, calling himselfe lieutenant of England, vnder the
pretensed authoritie of King Henrie, hoping that king Edward should
haue much a doo to enter into London, marched foorth from Couentrie
with all his puissance, following the king by Northhampton, in hope to
haue some great aduantage to assaile him, speciallie if the Londoners
kept him out of their citie, as he trusted they would; for then he
accounted himselfe sure of the vpper hand: or if he were of them
receiued, yet he hoped to find him vnprouided in celebrating the feast
of Easter; and so by setting vpon him on the sudden, he doubted not by
that meanes to distresse him. But king Edward, hauing intelligence of
the earles intention, prouided all things necessarie for battell; &
hearing that the earle of Warwike was now come vnto S. Albons with his
armie, he determined to march foorth to incounter him before he should
approch neere the citie.

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

The earle of Warwike accompanied with Iohn duke of Excester, Edmund
duke of Summerset, Iohn earle of Oxford, and Iohn Neuill marquesse
Montacute his brother, vnderstanding that king Edward was not onelie
receiued into London, but also had got king Henrie into his hands,
perceiued that the triall of the matter must néeds be committed to
the hazard of battell; and therefore being come to the towne of saint
Albons, he rested there a while, partlie to refresh his souldiers, and
partlie to take counsell how to procéed in his enterprise. At length,
although he knew that his brother the marquesse Montacute was not
fullie well persuaded with himselfe, to like of this quarell which they
had in hand; yet the brotherlie affection betwixt them tooke awaie all
suspicion from the earle, and so he vtterlie resolued to giue battell,
meaning to trie whereto all this tumult would grow; and counting it a
blemish to his honor, not to prosequute that with the sword, which he
had solemnelie vowed to doo on his word.

[Sidenote: Gladmore heath.]

[Sidenote: The ordering of the kings armie.]

Hervpon remoued they towards Barnet, a towne standing in the midwaie
betwixt London and saint Albons aloft on a hill; at the end whereof
towards saint Albons there is a faire plaine for two armies to meet
vpon, named Gladmore heath. On the further side of which plaine towards
saint Albons the earle pight his campe. king Edward on the other part,
being furnished with a mightie armie (hauing ioined to that power
which he brought with him certeine new supplies) upon Easter euen the
thirtéenth of Aprill in the after noone marched foorth, hauing his said
armie diuided into foure battels. He tooke with him king Henrie, and
came that euening vnto Barnet, ten small miles distant from London; in
which towne his foreriders finding certeine of the earle of Warwikes
foreriders, beat them out, & chased them somewhat further than halfe
a mile from the towne, where, by an hedge side they found readie
assembled a great number of the earle of Warwiks people.

[Sidenote: K. Edward lodged before his enimies.]

The king after this comming to Barnet, would not suffer a man to
remaine in the towne (that were of his host) but commanded them all to
the field, and with them drew toward his enimies, and lodged with his
armie more neere to them than he was aware of, by reason it was darke,
so as he could not well discerne where they were incamped, fortifieng
the field the best he could for feare of some sudden inuasion. He tooke
his ground not so euen afore them as he would haue doone, if he might
haue discouered the place where they had lien; and by reason thereof
he incamped somewhat aside slips of them, causing his people to kéepe
as much silence as was possible, [least making anie noise with the
busseling of their armour and weapons or otherwise with their toongs,
the enimie might haue come to some knowledge of the kings priuie
purpose, and so by preuention haue disappointed his policie by some
prouident deuise; which bicause they wanted for the present time, it
turned to their disaduantage; after the old prouerbe:

    Nescit prodesse qui nescit prouidus esse.]

[Sidenote: Artillerie.]

[Sidenote: A good policie.]

They had great artillerie on both parts, but the earle was better
furnished therewith than the king, and therefore in the night time
they shot off from his campe in maner continuallie; but dooing little
hurt to the kings people, still ouershooting them, by reason they laie
much néerer than the earle or anie or his men did estéeme. And such
silence was kept in the kings campe, that no noise bewraied them where
they laie. For to the end it should not be knowne to the enimies, how
neere the king with his armie was lodged vnto them, the king, would
not suffer anie of his gunnes in all that night to be shot off, least
thereby they might haue gessed the ground, and so leuelled their
artillerie to his annoiance.

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall_.]

[Sidenote: The order of battell of both sides.]

Earelie on the next morning betwixt foure and fiue of the clocke,
notwithstanding there was a great mist that letted the sight of both
parts to discouer the fields, the king aduanced his banners, and caused
his trumpets to sound to the battell. On the other part, the earle of
Warwike, at the verie breake of the daie, had likewise set his men
in order of battell in this maner. In the right wing he placed the
marquesse Montacute, and the earle of Oxford with certeine horssemen,
and he with the duke of Excester tooke the left wing. And in the
middest betweene both, he set archers, appointing the duke of Summerset
to guide them as their chiefteine. King Edward had set the duke of
Glocester in the fore-ward. The middle-ward he himselfe with the duke
of Clarence, hauing with them king Henrie, did rule & gouerne. The lord
Hastings led the rere-ward, and beside these thrée battels, he kept a
companie of fresh men in store, which did him great pleasure before the
end of the battell.

[Sidenote: The valiancie of the earle of Oxford.]

Here is to be remembered, that aswell the king on his part, as the
earle of Warwike on his, vsed manie comfortable words to incourage
their people, not forgetting to set foorth their quarels as iust and
lawfull; the king naming his aduersaries traitors and rebels, & the
earle accounting him a tyrant, & an iniurious vsurper. But when the
time came that they once got sight either of other, the battell began
verie sharpe and cruell, first with shot, and after by ioining at
hand blowes. Yet at the first they ioined not front to front, as they
should haue doone, by reason of the mist that tooke awaie the sight
of either armie, and suffered the one not to discerne perfectlie the
order of the other; insomuch that the one end of the earle of Warwikes
armie ouer-raught the contrarie end of the kings battell which stood
westward, and by reason thereof (through the valiancie of the earle
of Oxford that led the earles voward) the kings people on that part
were ouermatched, so that manie of them fled towards Barnet, and so to
London, bringing newes that the erle of Warwike had woone the field.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 727._]

[Which report happilie might haue béene iustified and fallen out to
be true, had not preposterous fortune happened to the earle of Oxford
and his men, who had a starre with streames on their liueries; as king
Edwards men had the sunne with streames on their liueries: wherevpon
the earle of Warwiks men, by reason of the mist not well discerning the
badges so like, shot at the earle of Oxfords men that were on their
owne part, and then the earle of Oxford and his men cried treason, and
fled with eight hundred men.]

But touching the kings people which were pursued in the chase as they
fled, and were put to the worst, manie were wounded, and manie slaine
outright. But the residue of those that fought in other parts could not
perceiue this distresse of the kings people, bicause the thicke mist
would not suffer them to sée anie space farre off, but onelie at hand:
and so the kings battell that saw not anie thing what was doone beside
them, was nothing discouraged. For (a few excepted that stood next to
that part) there was not anie one that wist of that discomfiture; and
the other of the earle of Warwikes men, that fought in other places
somewhat distant from them, were nothing the more incouraged by this
prosperous successe of their fellowes, for they perceiued it not. And
in like case as at the west end the earles battell ouer-reached the
kings, so at the east end the kings ouer-reached the earls, and with
like successe put the earls people in that place to the worse.

[Sidenote: The manfull courage of the earle of Warwike.]

At length after sore fight, and greater slaughter made on both sides,
king Edward hauing the greater number of men (as some write, though
other affirme the contrarie) began somewhat to preuaile: but the earle
on the other side remembring his ancient fame and renowme, manfullie
stucke to it, and incouraged his people, still supplieng with new
succors in places where he saw expedient, and so the fight renewed
more cruell, fierce, & bloudie than before, insomuch that the victorie
remained still doubtfull, though they had fought from morning till it
was now far in the daie. K. Edward therefore willing to make an end of
so long a conflict, caused new power of fresh men (which he had for
this purpose kept in store) to set on his enimies.

[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike slaine.]

The earle of Warwike was nothing abashed herewith, but vnderstanding
that this was all the residue of king Edwards power, comforted his men
to beare out this last brunt, and in so dooing the victorie was sure
on their side, and the battell at an end: but king Edward so manfullie
and valiantlie assailed his aduersaries, in the middle and strongest
part of their battell, that with great violence he bare downe all that
stood in his waie; for he was followed and assisted by a number of most
hardie and faithfull men of warre, that shewed notable proofe of tried
manhood in that instant necessitie. The earle of Warwike (when his
souldiers all wearied with long fight, and sore weakened with woundes
and hurts receiued in the battell) gaue little héed to his words (being
a man of an inuincible stomach) rushed into the middest of his enimies,
whereas he (aduenturing so farre from his companie, to kill and slea
his aduersaries, that he could not be rescued) was amongst the preasse
of his enimies striken downe and slaine.

[Sidenote: The marquesse Montacute slaine.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 727._]

The marquesse Montacute, thinking to succour his brother, was likewise
ouerthrowne and slaine, with manie other of good calling, as knights
and esquiers, beside other gentlemen. [But some saie that the said
marquesse, hauing agreed priuilie with king Edward, did weare his
liuerie, whome one of his brother the earle of Warwiks men espieng,
fell vpon him and killed him outright.] Some write that this battell
was so driuen to the vttermost point, that king Edward was constreined
to fight in his owne person, and that the earle of Warwike, which
was wont euer to ride on horse-backe from place to place, and from
ranke to ranke, comforting, his men, was now aduised by the marquesse
his brother, to leaue his horsse, and to trie the extremitie by hand
strokes, [which may be probable & likelie. But by the report of some
it séemeth that he was not slaine in the heat of the conflict, among
the rout of the fighting men, but afterwards in this sort. For when he
saw the kings power preuaile and his owne sore impaired and past hope
of good speed, with the slaughter of his adherents (gentlemen of name)
and himselfe in the verie mouth of the enimie in possibilitie to be
deuoured, he lept vpon a horsse to flie, and comming into a wood where
was no passage, one of king Edwards men came to him, killed him, and
spoiled him to the naked skin. Sir William Tirrell knight was killed on
the earle of Warwikes part.]

[Sidenote: The number slaine at Barnet field.]

On both parties were slaine (as Ed. Hall saith) ten thousand at the
least, where Fabian saith but fifteene hundred and somewhat aboue.
Other write that there died in all about three thousand. Vpon the kings
part were slaine, the lord Crumwell, the lord Saie, the lord Montiois
sonne and heire, sir Humfrie Bourchier sonne to the lord Berners, and
diuerse other knights, esquiers, and gentlemen. The battell indured
the space of thrée hours verie doubtfull by reason of the mist, and in
skirmishing and fighting, now in this place, now in that, but finallie
the victorie fell on the kings side; and yet it could not be estéemed
that his whole armie passed nine thousand fighting men (as some write)
where his aduersaries (as by the same writers appeareth) were farre
aboue that number. But bicause those that so write, séeme altogither to
fauor king Edward, we maie beléeue as we list.

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset and the earle of Oxford.]

[Sidenote: _Hall._]

[Sidenote: The duke of Excester.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

The duke of Summerset, and the earle of Oxford fled in companie of
certeine northerne men, which had béene at the battell; and (as some
write) the earle of Oxford kept foorth with them, and retired after
into Scotland. But yet as well the duke of Summerset, as the said earle
of Oxford, in fléeing toward Scotland, changed their purpose vpon the
waie, and turned into Wales to Iasper earle of Penbroke. The duke of
Excester being striken downe and sore wounded, was left for dead in
the field, amongst other the dead bodies, bicause he was not knowne,
and by reason thereof comming to himselfe, got vp, and in great danger
escaped vnto Westminster, and there tooke sanctuarie. [But some say,
that after hée had lien in the field, spoiled, wounded, and (to sée
to) void of life, from seuen of the clocke in the morning, till foure
at after noone, he was caried to a seruants house of his there by
(named Ruthland) where (after his wounds were searched and dressed by a
surgian) he was conueied into Westminster sanctuarie.]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

King Edward hauing got this victorie, refreshing himselfe and his
people a while at Barnet, returned the same daie vnto London, like
a triumphant conqueror, leading with him king Henrie as a captiue
prisoner: & so making a solemne entrie at the church of saint Paule,
offred his standard. The dead bodies of the earle and marques were
brought to London in a coffin, & before they were buried, by the
space of thrée daies laie open visaged in the cathedrall church of S.
Paule, to the intent that all men might easilie perceiue, that they
vnfeinedlie were dead. The common brute ran, that the king was not so
ioious of the erles death, as sorowfull for the losse of the marques,
whom he full well knew (and no lesse was euident to other) to be his
faithfull friend and well-willer; for whose onelie sake, he caused
both their bodies to be buried with their ancestors in the priorie of
Bissam.

[Sidenote: Quéene Margaret landeth with a power out of France.]

On the tuesdaie in Easter wéeke came knowledge to king Edward, that
quéene Margaret the wife of king Henrie, with hir sonne prince Edward
was landed vpon Easter day at Weimouth in Dorsetshire, accompanied
with Iohn Longstrother prior of saint Iohns, commonlie called lord
treasuror of England, who went ouer into France to fetch them; also
the lord Wenlocke, a man made onelie by king Edward, beside diuerse
other knights and esquiers, of whome part had béene long foorth of
the realme, and part newlie gone ouer thither to them, in companie of
the lord treasuror. They tooke their ships at Hunflue, the foure and
twentith of March (as before you haue heard) but through contrarie
winds and tempests, they were driuen backe, and constreined to abide
for conuenient wind.

[Sidenote: The countesse of Warwike taketh sanctuarie.]

Now, although it came sometimes about fit for their purpose, yet it
continued not long in that end; so as if therevpon they tooke the sea
at anie time, they were forced to returne backe againe to land yer they
could passe halfe the way ouer. And thus being diuerse times vnder
saile, in hope to passe the seas hither into England, they were still
driuen backe againe, till the thirtéenth of Aprill being Easter éeuen;
on which day the wind comming fauorablie about, they tooke the seas,
and sailed forward towards this land. The countesse of Warwike, hauing
a ship of aduantage, arriued before the other at Portesmouth, and from
thence she went to Southampton, meaning to haue gone to Weimouth, where
she vnderstood that the quéene was landed: but here had shee knowledge
of the losse of Barnet field, and that hir husband was there slaine.
Wherevpon she went no further towards the quéene, but secretlie got hir
ouer the water into the new forest, and tooke sanctuarie within the
abbeie of Beaulieu.

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset, and the earle of Deuonshire c[=o]fort
quéene Margaret.]

Quéene Margaret, and hir sonne prince Edward, with the other that
landed at Weimouth, went from thence to an abbeie néere by called
Ceerne. Thither came vnto them Edmund duke of Summerset, and Thomas
Courtneie earle of Deuonshire, with others, and welcommed them into
England, comforting the quéene in the best maner they could, and willed
hir not to despaire of good successe; for albeit they had lost one
field (whereof the queene had knowledge the same day being mondaie
in easter wéeke, the fiftéenth of Aprill, and was therefore right
sorrowfull) yet they doubted not but to assemble such a puissance (and
that verie shortlie) foorth of diuerse parts of the realme, as being
faithfull, and wholie bent to spend their liues, and shed the best
bloud in their bodies for hir sake, & hir sonnes, it should be hard for
king Edward to resist them with all the power he had or could make.

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

[Sidenote: The feare which quéene Margaret had for hir sonne.]

The presence of these noble men greatlie comforted hir, and relieued
hir of the sorrowes that in maner ouerwhelmed hir pensiue heart: for
she doubted sore the end of all these procéedings, the which they
concluded to follow vpon the aduancement of hir and hirs. Speciallie
it misgaue hir, that some euill should chance to hir sonne prince
Edward for shee greatlie weied not of hir owne perill (as she hir selfe
confessed) and therefore she would gladlie haue had them either to haue
deferred the battell till a more conuenient time: or else that hir
sonne might haue béene conueied ouer into France againe, there to haue
remained in safetie, till the chance of the next battell were tried:
but they being of a contrarie mind, and namelie the duke of Summerset,
she at length consented vnto that which they were resolued vpon.

Thus euerie man being bent to battell, gathered his power by himselfe,
first in Summersetshire, Dorsetshire, and part of Wiltshire, and
after in Deuonshire and Cornewall. For the better incouraging of
which countries to ioine with them in their quarrell, they repaired
to Excester. Here they sent for sir Iohn Arundell, and sir Hugh
Courtenie, and manie other in whom they had anie confidence. To be
short, they wrought so, that they raised the whole powers of Cornewall
and Deuonshire, and with a great armie departing foorth of Excester,
they tooke the right waie to Glastenburie, and from thence to Bath,
raising the people in all parts where they came: for those countries
had bene so laboured, first by the earle of Warwike, and after by the
duke of Summerset, and the earle of Deuonshire (which two noble men
were reckoned as old inheritors of the same countries) that the people
séemed there greatlie inclined to the fauor of king Henrie.

[Sidenote: K. Edward setteth forward against his enimies.]

King Edward, being at London, was dailie aduertised by faithfull
espials of all the dooings of his aduersaries, and was in no small
agonie, bicause he could not learne what waie his enimies ment to take;
for he purposed to incounter them in one place or other before they
should approch neere to London. And vpon such resolution, with such an
armie as he had got about London, furnished with all artillerie and
other prouisions necessarie, he set forward the nintéenth of Aprill,
and came to Windsor, where he staied a season, as well to celebrate
the feast of saint George, as to abide the comming of such bands as he
had appointed to repaire thither vnto him, making there his generall
assemblie.

The enimies to masker him the more, sent foorth their foreriders vnto
sundrie townes, both aswell to raise people in the countries about, as
to make the king beléeue that their purpose was to passe those waies,
where they ment not once to come. And herevpon when they departed from
Excester, they sent first their foreriders streight to Shaftesburie,
and after to Salisburie, and then they tooke the streight waie to
Taunton, Glastenburie, and after to Wels, where houering about in
the countrie, they sent another time their foreriders to a towne
called Yuell, and to Bruton, as if their meaning had béene to draw
towards Reading, and so through Barkeshire, and Oxfordshire to haue
marched streight to London, or else to haue set vpon the king at some
aduantage, if it were offered.

But king Edward, considering aduisedlie of the matter, perceiued well
that they being in an angle of the realme, if they ment to go to
London, they must either hold the streight waie foorth by Salisburie,
or else drawing vp to the sea side, passe alongst through Hampshire,
Sussex and Kent; or happilie if they mistrusted their owne strengths,
as not able to match with his puissance, they would then slip on
the left hand, and draw towards Chesshire, and Lancashire, there to
increase their forces, and peraduenture by the waie to ioine with a
power of Welshmen, vnder the leading of Iasper earle of Penbroke, who
had béene sent into Wales long afore, to frame and put in a readines
the people there to asist king Henries friends at their comming
thitherwards. And such was their purpose in deed, for they had great
confidence in such aid, as they trusted to haue of the Chesshire and
Lancashire men.

King Edward, meaning to approch néerer vnto them, that he might the
sooner make waie to stop them of their passage, on which hand soeuer
they drew, departed from Windesore the morrow after saint Georges
day, being the foure and twentith day of Aprill, kéeping foorth his
iournie, till on saturdaie the twentie and seuenth of Aprill he came to
Abington, where he laie sundaie all daie. On mondaie he marched forward
to Chichester, where he had sure aduertisement, that they intended to
be at Bath the next daie being tuesdaie, and on wednesdaie to come
forward to giue him battell. Wherevpon king Edward, desirous to sée his
people in order of battell, drew them foorth of the towne, and incamped
in the field three miles distant from thence, still busieng himselfe
about his necessarie affaires affording no time to idlenesse or
loitering: for he knew that there was no waie more expedite and readie
to tire him in trauell, than to be giuen to negligence and slouth, the
two weariers of well dooing, as the old saieng is:

    Desidia pressus erit in studio citó fessus.

[Sidenote: Sudburie. hill.]

On the morrow, hearing no certeintie of their comming forward, he
marched to Malmesburie, still seeking to incounter them: but héere
he had knowledge, that they hauing changed their purpose, meant not
to giue him battell; and therefore were turned aside, and gone to
Bristow, where they were receiued, reléeued and well refreshed by
such as fauoured their cause, as well with vittels, men, and monie,
as good store of artillerie. Wherevpon they were so incouraged,
that the thursdaie after they tooke the field againe, purposing to
giue king Edward battell indéed; and for the same intent had sent
their foreriders to a towne, distant from Bristow nine miles, called
Sudburie, appointing a ground for their field, a mile from the same
towne, toward the kings campe, called Sudburie hill.

The king heereof aduertised, the same thursdaie, being the first of
Maie, with his armie faire ranged in order of battell, came towards
the place by them appointed for their field: but they came not there.
For hearing that king Edward did thus approach vpon a new change of
resolution, they left that waie: albeit some of their herbingers were
come as farre as Sudburie towne, and there surprised fiue or six of the
kings partie, which were rashlie entred that towne, attending onelie to
prouide lodgings for their maisters. The lords thus hauing eftsoones
changed their purpose, not meaning as yet to fight with the king,
directed their waie streight towards Berkelie, trauelling all that
night. From Berkelie they marched forward towards Glocester.

The king in the meane time, on the thursdaie in the afternoone, came
to the same ground called Sudburie hill, and there staied a certeine
space, sending foorth scowriers, to hearken what they might vnderstand
of the enimies, whome he tooke to be somewhere at hand. But when he
could not heare anie certeintie of them, he aduanced forward, lodging
his vant-gard in a vallie beyond the hill, towards the towne of
Sudburie, and laie himselfe (with the residue of his people) at the
same place, called Sudburie hill. About thrée of the clocke after
midnight, he was aduertised, that his enimies had taken their waie by
Berkeleie, towards Glocester. Héerevpon, taking aduise of his councell
what was best to doo, he was counselled to send some of his seruants
with all spéed vnto Glocester, to Richard Beauchampe, sonne and heire
to the lord Beauchampe of Powike, to whome he had (before this present)
committed the rule and custodie of the towne and castell of Glocester.

The king sent therefore with all spéed vnto him, commanding him to
doo his best to defend the towne and castell against his enimies, if
they came to assaile the same, as it was supposed they intended: and
if they so did, he promised to come with his whole armie presentlie to
the rescue. The messengers did their diligence, and so being ioifullie
receiued into Glocester, the towne and castell, by the vigilant regard
of the said Richard Beauchampe, was put in safe keeping. And this
message was doone in good time, for true it is, there were diuerse in
the towne, that could haue béene well contented that the quéene, and
the lords with hir, should haue béene receiued there, and would haue
aduentured to haue brought it to passe, if they had not béene thus
preuented.

Againe, the quéene and the lords with hir had good intelligence, with
diuerse in the towne, so as they were put in great hope to haue entred
the same: wherevpon they trauelled their people right sore all that
night and morning, comming before the towne of Glocester vpon the
fridaie about ten of the clocke. And when they perceiued that they
were disappointed of their purpose, and their entrie flatlie denied,
they were highlie therewith displeased; for they knew verie well, that
diuerse within the towne bare their good willes towards them: but after
they had vsed certeine menacing braueries, and made a shew as if they
had meant to assalt the gates and walles, & so to haue entred by force,
they departed their waies, marching with all speed possible towards
Teukesburie.

[Sidenote: Glocester whie it was not assaulted.]

[Sidenote: A long march.]

It might be maruelled at, whie they attempted not the winning of
Glocester indéed, considering the freends which they knew they had
within it. But the cause which mooued them cheeflie to forbeare, was,
for that as well they without, as the other within the towne, knew
that king Edward approached at hand, and was readie to set vpon them
on the backes, if they had once begun to haue assaulted the towne; and
so, neither they within the towne that were the kings freends doubted
the enimies forces, nor the enimie indéed durst attempt anie such
enterprise against them. About foure of the clocke in the afternoone,
they came to Teukesburie, hauing trauelled that night last past, and
that daie, six and thirtie long miles, in a foule countrie, all in
lanes and stonie waies, betwixt woods, without anie good refreshing, so
that as well the men as the horsses were right wearie.

[Sidenote: The place where the lords incamped.]

And where the more part of their armie consisted of footmen, the
capteins could not haue gone anie further, except they would haue left
their footmen behind them, and so of necessitie they were driuen to
staie there, determining to abide the aduenture that God would send
them. For well they knew that the king followed them verie néere at
hand, so as if they should haue gone further, and left the most part
of their companie behind, as it could not otherwise haue chanced, he
would haue béene readie to haue taken the aduantage wholie, so to
distresse them. Héerevpon they pight their field in a close, euen hard
at the townes end, hauing the towne and the abbeie at their backes; and
directlie before them, and vpon each side of them, they were defended
with cumbersome lanes, déepe ditches, and manie hedges, beside hils and
dales, so as the place séemed as noisome as might be to approach vnto.

[Sidenote: The painfull march of king Edward with his armie.]

The king on this fridaie, verie erlie in the morning, aduanced his
standards and in good order of battell hauing diuided his armie into
thrée wards, marched through the plaines of Cotteswold. The daie was
verie hot, and hauing in his armie aboue thrée thousand footmen, he
trauelled with them and the residue thirtie miles and more. By all
which waie, they could find neither horssemeat, nor mans meat, no not
so much as water for their horsses, except one little brooke, of the
which they receiued no great reléefe; for what with the horsses and
carriages that passed thorough it, the water became so troubled, that
it serued them to no vse: and still all that daie king Edward with his
armie was within fiue or six miles of his enimies, he in the plaine
countrie, and they among the woods.

[Sidenote: Chiltenham.]

King Edward had euer good espials, to aduertise him still what his
enimies did, and which waie they tooke. At length he came with all
his armie vnto a village called Chiltenham, like a fiue miles distant
from Teukesburie, where he had certeine knowledge that his enimies
were alreadie come to Teukesburie, and were incamped there, purposing
to abide him in that place, and to deliuer him battell. King Edward
therevpon made no long delaie, but tooke a little refection himselfe,
and caused his people to doo the like, with such prouision of vittels
as he had appointed to be conueied foorth with him for the reléefe of
himselfe and his armie. This doone, he set forward towards his enimies,
and lodged that night in a field not past thrée miles distant from them.

[Sidenote: The ordering of king Edwards battell.]

On the morrow being saturdaie, and fourth of Maie, he drew towards his
enimies, and marshalled his armie, diuided into thrée battels in this
sort. He put his brother the duke of Glocester in the fore-ward, and
himselfe in the midle-ward. The lord Marques, and the lord Hastings
led the rere-ward. Heerwith he approached the enimies campe, which was
right hard to be assailed, by reason of the déepe ditches, hedges,
trées, bushes, and cumbersome lanes, wherewith the same was fensed,
both a front, and on the sides, so as the king could not well approach
them to anie aduantage: and to be the better in a readinesse to beat
backe the kings power, when he should come to assault them, they were
imbattelled in this order.

[Sidenote: The ordering of the lords hoast.]

[Sidenote: The duke of Glocester.]

[Sidenote: Teukesburie field.]

The duke of Summerset, and his brother the lord Iohn of Summerset
led the fore-ward. The middle-ward was gouerned by the prince, vnder
the conduct of the lord of saint Iohn, and the lord Wenlocke (whome
king Edward had aduanced to the degrée of a baron.) The rere-ward
was appointed to the rule of the earle of Deuonshire. Thus may yée
perceiue, that king Edward was put to his shifts, how (to anie
aduantage) to assault his enimies. Neuerthelesse, he being well
furnished with great artillerie, the same was aptlie lodged to annoie
the enimies, that they receiued great damage thereby; and the duke of
Glocester, who lacked no policie, galled them gréeuouslie with the shot
of arrowes: and they rewarded their aduersaries home againe with like
paiment, both with shot of arrowes, and great artillerie, although they
had not the like plentie of guns as the king had. The passages were so
cumbersome, that it was not possible to come vpon anie euen hand, to
ioine at handblowes.

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset.]

The duke of Glocester, vpon a politike purpose (as some haue written)
reculed backe with all his companie, which when the duke of Summerset
perceiued, either mooued therewith, or else bicause he was too sore
annoied with the shot in that place where he and his fore-ward stood,
like a knight more couragious than circumspect, came out of his
strength with his whole battell, and aduanced himselfe somewhat aside
slips the kings voward, and by certeine passages aforehand, and for
that purpose prouided (to the kings part, although vnknowne) he passed
a lane, and came into a faire open close right before the king, where
he was imbattelled, not doubting but the prince and the lord Wenlocke,
with the midle-ward, had followed iust at his backe. But whether the
lord Wenlocke dissembled the matter for king Edwards sake, or whether
his hart serued him not, still he stood, and gaue the looking on.

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

[Sidenote: The politike foresight of the king.]

The king, or (as other haue) the duke of Glocester, taking the
aduantage that he aduentured for, turned againe face to face vnto the
duke of Summerset his battell, and winning the hedge and ditch of
him, entred the close, and with great violence put him and his people
vp towards the hill from whence they were decended. Héere is to be
noted, that when the king was come before his enimies, yer he gaue the
onset, he perceiued that vpon the right hand of their campe there was a
parke, and much store of wood growing therein; and doubting least his
aduersaries had laid an ambush within that wood, he chose foorth of
his companies two hundred speares, commanding them to kéepe a stale,
like a quarter of a mile from the field, to attend vpon that corner
of the wood out of the which the ambush, if anie were, was to issue,
and to incounter with them, as occasion serued: but if they perceiued
that there was no ambush at all, then to imploie their seruice as they
should see it expedient and behouefull for the time.

[Sidenote: The v[=a]tgard of the lords distressed.]

This politike prouision for danger that might haue insued (although
there was none that waie foorth) serued yet before the end of the
battell, to great good purpose. For when those speares perfectlie
vnderstood that there was no ambush within the wood, and withall saw
conuenient time to imploie themselues, they came and brake with full
randon vpon the duke of Summerset and his voward a flanke, in so
violent wise vpon the sudden, that where they had before inough to doo
with those with whom they were first matched, now with this new charge
giuen on them by those two hundred speares, they were not a little
dismaied; and to conclude, so discouraged, that streightwaie they tooke
them to flight. Some fled into the parke, other into the meadow there
at hand, some into the lanes, & some hid them in ditches, each one
making what shift he could, by the which he hoped best to escape: but
manie neuerthelesse were beaten downe, slaine, and taken prisoners.

[Sidenote: A terrible stroke.]

[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]

The duke of Summerset séeing this vnfortunate chance, as some write,
turned to the midle-ward, and there finding the lord Wenlocke standing
still, after he had reuiled him, and called him traitor, with his ax
he stroke the braines out of his head. The duke of Glocester pursuing
after them that fled with the duke of Summerset to their campe, where
the rest of their armie stood, entred the trench, and after him the
king, where he bare himselfe so knightlie, that therevpon the quéenes
part went to wracke, and was put to flight; the king and other falling
in chase after them, so that manie were slaine, but especiallie at a
mill in the meadow fast by the towne a great sort were drowned. Manie
ran towards the towne, some to the church, and diuerse to the abbeie,
and other to other places, where they thought best to saue themselues.
[This was the last fought field or pight battell tried betwéene the
potentats of this land in king Edward the fourths daies (which chanced
on the fourth of Maie, being saturdaie, in the eleauenth yeare of his
reigne, and in the year of Lord, 1471) as Anglorum prælia affirmeth,
saieng:

    Vltima postremæ locus est Teuxburia pugnæ.]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]

[Sidenote: Prince Edward taken.]

[Sidenote: Nobles slaine.]

[Sidenote: Sir Richard Crofts deliuereth the prince in hope that his
life should haue beene saued.]

In the winning of the campe, such as stood to it were slaine out of
hand. Prince was taken as he fled towards the towne, by sir Richard
Crofts, and kept close. In the field and chase were slaine, the lord
Iohn of Summerset, called marquesse Dorset, Thomas Courtenie earle of
Deuonshire, sir Iohn Delues, sir Edward Hampden, sir Robert Whitingham,
and sir Iohn Leukener, with thrée thousand others. After the field
was ended, proclamation was made, that whosoeuer could bring foorth
prince Edward aliue or dead, should haue an annuitie of a hundred
pounds during his life, and the princes life to be saued, if he were
brought foorth aliue. Sir Richard Crofts, nothing mistrusting the kings
promise, brought foorth his prisoner prince Edward, being a faire and
well proportioned yoong gentleman; whom when king Edward had well
aduised, he demanded of him, how he durst so presumptuouslie enter into
his realme with banner displaied.

[Sidenote: Prince Edward murthered.]

Wherevnto the prince boldlie answered, saieng; "To recouer my fathers
kingdome & heritage, from his father and grandfather to him and from
him after him to me lineallie desended." At which words king Edward
said nothing, but with his hand thrust him from him, or (as some saie)
stroke him with his gantlet; whome incontinentlie, George duke of
Clarence, Richard duke of Glocester, Thomas Greie marquesse Dorcet, and
William lord Hastings that stood by, suddenlie murthered: for the which
cruell act, the more part of the dooers in their latter daies dranke of
the like cup, by the righteous iustice and due punishment of God. His
bodie was homelie interred with the other simple corpses, in the church
of the monasterie of blacke monks in Teukesburie.

After the victorie was thus atchiued, the king repaired to the abbeie
church there, to giue God thanks for that good successe, which it had
pleased him to blesse him with: and there finding a great number of his
enimies, that were fled thither to saue themselues, he gaue them all
his free pardon; albeit there was no franchise there for rebels, but
that he might haue commanded them to haue béene drawen foorth without
breach of anie liberties of that church. He granted also that the dead
bodies, as well of the lords as other, slaine in that battell, might
be buried in the same church, or else where it pleased their friends
or seruants, without anie quartering & heading, or setting vp heads
or quarters in any publike places. O the patience and clemencie of
this good king, who (besides the putting vp of wrongs doone to him by
violence of foes without vengeance) fréelie forgaue the offenders, and
did so honorablie temper his affections!

[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset & others beheaded.]

There were found in the abbeie and other places of the towne, Edmund
duke of Summerset, Iohn Lonstrother lord prior of S. Iohn, sir Thomas
Tressham, sir Gerueis Clifton, and diuerse other knights and esquiers,
which were apprehended, and all of them being brought before the
duke of Glocester, sitting as constable of England, and the duke
of Norffolke, as marshall in the middest of the towne, they were
arreigned, condemned, and iudged to die; and so vpon the tuesdaie,
being the seuenth of Maie, the said duke and the lord prior, with the
two forenamed knights, and twelue other knights, were on a scaffold,
set vp in the middle of the towne for that purpose, beheaded, and
permitted to be buried, without anie other dismembring, or setting vp
of their heads in anie one place or other.

[Sidenote: Quéene Margaret taken.]

The same tuesdaie, the king departed from Teukesburie towards
Worcester, and by the waie had knowledge that quéene Margaret was found
in a poore house of religion, not far from thence, into the which she
was withdrawen for safegard of hir selfe, on saturdaie in the morning,
being the daie of the battell. She was after brought to London as
prisoner, and so kept, till hir father ransomed hir with great summes
of monie, which he borowed of Lewes the eleuenth king of France. And
bicause he was not able to make repaiment thereof, he sold vnto the
said Lewes (as the French writers affirme) the kingdomes of Naples,
and both the Sicils, with the countie of Prouance. King Edward being
at Worcester, had aduertisements brought foorth of the north parts,
that the people there were about to assemble in armour against him, in
fauour of king Henrie: wherevpon he left the right way to London, and
rode to Couentrie, meaning to increase the number of his people, and so
with a puissant armie to go northwards.

Herevpon, comming to Couentrie the eleuenth of Maie, and remaining
there thrée daies, he well refreshed such as had béene with him at
Teukesburie field. Hither was brought to him queene Margaret, from
whence she was conueied to London, there to remaine in safe keeping (as
before you haue hard.) Whilest he was busie in sending abroad vnto his
friends to leauie an armie, he was aduertised that the commotion in the
north was pacified. For after it was knowen abroad, how he obteined the
victorie, as well at Teukesburie, as at Barnet, and in manner subdued
all his enimies, the capteins that had stirred the people to that
rebellion, began to quaile, and forsooke their companies.

[Sidenote: Rebellion in the north pacified.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Northumberland.]

Diuerse of them made sute to the earle of Northumberland, that it might
please him to be a mediator to the king for their pardon; so that now,
there was no rebellion in all the north parts, but that as well the
citie of Yorke, as all other places, were at the kings commandement,
readie in all things to obei him as true and loiall subiects. And this
was confirmed by the earle of Northumberlands owne mouth, who on the
fouretéenth of Maie came to the king, as yet remaining at Couentrie:
by reason whereof it was not thought néedfull, that the king should
trauell anie further northward at that time, either about the pacifieng
of the people, or to see execution doone vpon the offendors, sith all
was there in good tranquillitie and quiet.

[Sidenote: Thomas Nevill bastard Fauconbridge.]

But now when all things séemed to be at rest, and no rebellion after
so happie victories doubted, newes came to him before his c[=o]ming to
Couentrie, from the lords of his bloud, abiding at London, that one
Thomas Neuill, bastard sonne to that valiant capteine the lord Thomas
Fauconbridge (who had latelie before beene sent to the sea by the earle
of Warwike, and after fallen to practise pirasie) had spoiled diuerse
merchants ships, Portingals and others, in breach of the ancient amitie
that long had continued betwixt the realms of England and Portingale;
and furthermore, had now got to him a great number of mariners, out
of all parts of the land, and manie traitors and misgouerned people
from each quarter of the realme, beside diuerse also foorth of other
countries that delighted in theft and robberies, meaning to worke some
exploit against the king.

[Sidenote: The bastard Fauconbridge before London with an armie.]

And verelie, his puissance increased dailie, for hauing béene at Calis,
and brought from thence into Kent manie euill disposed persons, he
began to gather his power in that countrie, meaning (as was thought)
to attempt some great and wicked enterprise. After the kings comming
to Couentrie, he receiued aduertisements, that this bastard was come
before London, with manie thousands of men by l

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