King Edward the fourth.

An. reg. 1. Edward the .iiij. AFTER that thys noble Prince Edward Erle of March had conſented to take vpō him y^e gouernemente of thys Kingdome of Englande, through perſwaſion of the Prelates, and other of the nobilitie, as before ye haue hearde: the morow next enſuing, being the fourth of March, he rode to the Church of Saint Paule,The Earle of Marche taketh vpon him as King. and there offered: and after Te Deum ſong, with greate ſolemnitie hee was conueyd to Weſtminſter, and there ſet in the hall, with the Scepter royal in his hand, where to all the people there in great number aſſembled,His title declared. his title and clayme to the Crowne of England, was declared two maner of wayes, the firſt, as ſonne and heire to Duke Richard hys father, right inheritor to the ſame: the ſecond, by authoritie of Parliament, and forfeiture committed by King Henry. Wherevpon, it was agayne demaunded of the commons, if they woulde admitte, and take the ſayde Earle, as their Prince, and ſoueraigne Lord, whiche all with one voyce cryed, yea, yea.

This agreement then being thus concluded, he entred into Weſtminſter Churche vnder a Canapie, with ſolemne proceſſion, and there as king offered, and herewith, taking the homages of all the nobles there preſent, hee returned by water to London,He is proclaymed King. and was lodged in the Biſhops palais, and on the morrow after, he was proclaymed K. by the name of Edwarde the fourth, throughout the Citie.

This was in the yeare of the world .5427. and after the birth of our ſauiour .1461. after our accompt, beginning the yeare at Chriſtmas, but after the vſuall accompt of the Church of England 1460. about the twentith of the Emperor Frederike the thirde, the nine and thirtith and laſt of Charles the ſeuenth King of Fraunce, and fyrſte yeare of the raigne of Iames the thirde, King of Scottes.

Whileſt theſe things wer adoing in y^e South partes, King Henry beeing in the North Countrey, aſſembled a great armie, truſting with little payne and ſmall loſſe to ſubdue the reſidue of hys enimies, namely, ſith their chiefe [...]leader the Duke of Yorke was ſlaine, and diſpatched out of the way, but he was deceyued: for out of the [...] ſtocke ſprang ſo mightie a branche, that [...] no meanes the ſame myght bee broken off whiche was this Edwarde the fourthe, beeing ſo highly fauoured of the people, for hys greate liberalitie, clemencie, vpright dealing, and courage, that aboue all other, hee was commended and praiſed to the very heauens: By reaſon whereof, men of all ages, and of euery degree, to hym dayly repaired, ſome offering themſelues, and their men to ieopard their liues with him, and other plentuouſly gaue him money to ſupporte his charges, and to mayneteine his warre: by which meanes, he gathered togither a puiſſant army, to the intente to deliuer battell to his enimies, and in one day to make an ende of all hys troubles.

When his army was ready, and all thinges prepared, he departed out of London the twelfth daye of Marche, and by eaſie iourneys, came to the Caſtell of Pomfret, wher he reſted, appointing the Lorde Fitz Walter to keepe the paſſage at Ferribridge, wyth a greate number of talle perſonages.

King Henry on the other parte, hauyng hys army in a readineſſe, committed the gouernaunce of the army to the Duke of Somerſet, the Earle of Northumberlande, and the Lorde Clifforde, as men deſiring to reuenge the death of their parentes, ſlayne at the fyrſte battayle of Sainct Albons.

Theſe Capitaines, leauing King Henry, hys wife, and ſon, for their moſte ſafegard within the Citie of Yorke, paſſed the riuer of Wharfe wyth all their power, intending to ſtop kyng Edward of his paſſage ouer the riuer of Ayre.

And for the better and more eaſye exploite of their purpoſe, the Lorde Clifforde determined to make an aſſaye to ſuche as kepte the paſſage of Ferribridge, and ſo hee departed wyth hys light horſemen from the great army on the Saterday before Palmeſonday, and earely ere his enemies wer aware, gat the bridge, and flewe the keepers of the ſame, and all ſuche as woulde withſtande hym.

The Lord Fitz Walter hearing the noiſe, ſodainely roſe out of his bedde, and vnarmed, with a pollaxe in his hande, thinking that it had bin a fraye amongſt his men, came downe to appeaſe y^e ſame, but ere he eyther began his tale,The Lord [...] Water ſ[...] or knew what the matter ment, he was ſlaine, and with him the baſtard of Saliſbury, brother to the erle of Warwike, a valiant yong Gentleman, and of greate audacitie.

When the Earle of Warwicke was enformed hereof, like a man deſperate, hee mounted on his [...] and [...] paſſing and blowing to king Edward ſaying, Sir I pray God haue mercie of their ſoules, which in the beginning of your enterpriſe, haue loſt their liues, and bicauſe I [...]e no ſuccours of the world, I remit the vengeance and puniſhment to God, our creator and re[...]enne, and with that alighted downe, [...] flewe his horſe with his ſworde, ſaying, lette him flee that will,The Earle of VVarwike. for ſurely I will tarrie with him that will tarrie with me, and kiſſed the croſſe of hys ſword.

King Edward perceyuing the courage of his truſtie friend the Earle of Warwike, made proclamation, that all men which were afrayde to fight, ſhould departe, and to all thoſe that tarried the battell,A proclamation. he promiſed great rewards, with addition, that anye Soldiour whiche voluntarily woulde abyde, and afterwardes, either in, or before the fighte ſhould flee or turne his backe, that then hee that could kyl hym, ſhould haue a great rewarde, and double wages.

After thys proclamation ended, the Lorde Fawcombridge, Sir Walter Blont, Roberte Home with the fore ward, paſſed y^e riuer at Caſtelford, three miles from Feribridge, intendyng to haue enuironed the Lord Clifford and his cō panie, but they being thereof aduertiſed, departed in great haſt towarde King Henries armie, but they met with ſome that they looked not for, and were attrapped ere they were aware, for the Lord Clifford, either for heate or paine, putting off his gorget, ſuddainely with an arrow (as ſome ſay) without an head,The Lorde Clifford ſlaine was ſtriken into the throte, and immediately rendred his ſprite, and the Erle of Weſtmerlands brother, and all his companye almoſt, [...]gdale. were there ſlayne, at a place called Dintingdale, not farre from Towton.

This ende had the Lord Clifford, which ſlew the Earle of Rutlande kneeling on his knees, whoſe yong ſon Thomas Clifford, was brought vp with a Sheppard in poore habite, and diſſimuled behauiour, euer in feare to publiſhe hys lignage and degree, till King Henry the ſeuenth obteyned the Crowne, by whome he was reſtored to his name and poſſeſſions.

When this conflict was ended at Ferſbridge, the Lord Fawcombridge hauing the fore ward,The Lorde Fawcombridge bycauſe the Duke of Northfolke was fallen ſicke, valiantly vpon Palmeſonday in the twylight, [...]n. W[...]hamſted [...], that K. [...]ies power [...]ded in [...]ember King Edwards a [...], men. ſet forth his army, and came to Saxton, where hee mighte apparantly behold the hoſt of his aduerſaries, which wer accompted threeſcore thouſand men, and thereof aduertiſed King Edward, whoſe whole armie amounted to eyghte and fortie thouſande ſixe hundred and threſcore perſons, which in continently with the Earle of Warwike ſette forwarde, leauing the re[...]warde vnder the gouernaunce of Sir Iohn Wenlocee,An he[...]e proclamation. Sir Iohn Dinham, and other, and firſt of all, he made proclamation, that no priſoner fl[...] bee taken, nor one enimie ſaued.

So the ſerue daye, about nine of the clocke, which was the nine and twentith day of March,Palme gunday fielde. being Palmeſonday, both the hoſtes approched in a faire playne fielde, betweene Towton, and Saxton.

When each parte perceyued other, theyr made a great [...]ont, and at the ſame inſtant, there [...]ell a ſmall fleete or ſnowe, whiche by violence of the winde that blewe againſt them, was driuen into the faces of them whiche were of King Henries part, ſo that their ſighte was ſomewhat blemiſhed, and dimmed.

The Lorde Fewcombridge leadyng the fore warde (as is ſayde before) of Kyng Edwardes parte, cauſed euery archer vnder hys Standerte to ſhoo[...]e one [...]ight (whiche before hee cauſed them to prouide) and then made them to ſtande ſtill.

The Northerne menne [...]ng the ſhotte, [...]t by reaſon of the ſnowe, not well viewing the diſtaunce betweene them and their [...]myes, ly[...] hard[...]e menne, [...]lle their ſhe[...] arrowes as faſt as they myghte, [...]ut all theyr ſhotte was loſt, for they co[...] [...] the Southe[...] men by threeſcore Taylors [...]aides.

When theyr ſhotte was almoſt ſpente, the Lorde Fawcombridge marched forwarde with his archers, whiche not onely ſhotte theyr whole ſheafes, but alſo gathered the arrowes of theyr enimies, and lette a greate parte [...]e agaynſte theyr fyrſte owners, and ſuffered a great ſorte of them to ſtande, which ſore troubled the legges of the Northerne menne, when the battell ioyned.

The Earle of Northumberlande and Andrew Trollop,The Earle of Northumberlande. which were chiefe Captaynes of Kyng Henries vawwarde, ſeeyng theyr ſhotte not to preuaile, haſted forwarde to ioyne with theyr enimies, and the other part ſlacked not, to accompliſh their deſire.

This battell was ſore foughten, for hope of life was ſet aſide on eyther parte, and takyng of priſoners proclaymed a great offence,The obſtinamyndes of both partes. by reaſon euery man determined to conquere, or to dye in the field. This deadly battell and bloudy conflict, continued tenne houres in doubtfull victorie, the one parte ſometime flowing, and ſometime ebbing: but in concluſion, King Edwarde ſo couragiouſly comforted his men, that the other part was diſcomfited, and ouercome,Kyng Henries parte diſcomfited. & like to men amazed, fled towarde Tadcaſter bridge to ſaue them ſelues, but in the meane way, there is a little booke called Cocke, not very broade,Cock or riuer. but of a greate deepeneſſe, in whiche, what for haſt to eſcape, and what for feare of followers, a greate number [...] me[...]ht and [...] ned.

It was reported, that men aliue paſſed the riuer vpon dead carcaſſes, and that the greate riuer of Wharfe, whiche is the great ſewer of that brooke, and of all the water comming frō Towton, was couloured with bloud.

The chaſe continued all night, and the moſt parte of the nexte daye, and euer the Northerne men, as they ſawe anye aduantage, returned againe, and fought with their enimies, to y^e greate loſſe of both partes.The number ſlayne in battayle, of Saxton, otherwiſe called Palme ſunday fielde. For in theſe two dayes were ſlaine (as they that knew it wrote) on both parts ſixe and thirtie thouſand ſeauen hundred threeſcore and ſixteene perſons, all Engliſhmen, and of one nation, whereof the chiefe were the Erles of Northumberlād and Weſtmerland, and the Lord Dakers, the Lord Welles, Sir Iohn Neuill, Andrew Trolop, Robert Horne, and many other Knightes and Eſquiers, and the Earle of Deuenſhire was taken priſoner, but the Dukes of Somerſet and Exceſter fledde from the field, and ſaued themſelues.

After this great victorie, King Edward rode to Yorke, where hee was with all ſolemnitie receiued, and firſt he cauſed the heads of his father, the Earle of Saliſburie, and other his friends, to bee taken from the gates, and to be buried with their bodies, and there hee cauſed the Earle of Deuonſhire, and three other, to be beheaded, and ſet their heads in the ſame place.

King Hēry, after he heard of the irrecouerable loſſe of his armye,King Henrye withdraweth to Berwike, & from thēce into Scotland. departed incontinently with his wife and ſonne, to the Towne of Berwike, and leauing the Duke of Somerſet there, wente into Scotlande, and comming to the King of Scottes, required of him and his counſell, ayde, ſuccour, reliefe, and comfort.

The yong King of Scottes, lamenting the miſerable ſtate of King Henry, comfortedly [...] with faire words and friendly promiſes, and aſſigned to him a competente pencion to liue on, during his abode in Scotland.

Kyng Henry in recompence of this [...] and frendſhip ſhewed to him by the K. of Scottes, deliuered to the ſayd king the towne of Berwike.

After that the Scottiſhe king had giue poſſeſſion of this towne, hee faythefully ſupported the parte of king Henrye, and concluded a mariage betwixt his ſiſter, and the yong Prince of Wa[...]es, but yet the ſame mariage was [...] conſummate, as after ye ſhall heare.

When king Henry was ſomewhat ſettled in the realme of Scotlande,Queene Margaret with his ſonne goeth into France. he ſente his wyfe and his ſonne into France to K. Reigner hir father, truſting by hys ayde and ſuccour to aſſemble [...] armie, and once agayne to poſſeſſe his Realme and former dignitie, and hee in the meane tyme determined to make his aboade in Scotlande, to ſee what waye his friendes in Englande would ſtudie for his reſtitution.

The Queene beyng in Fraunce, did obteyne of the young Frenche king then Lewes the .xj. that all hir huſbandes friendes, and thoſe of the Lancaſtriall band, might ſafely and ſurely haue reforte into any parte of the Realme of France, prohibityng all other of the contrarie faction any acceſſe, or repaire into that countrey.

Thus yee haue hearde, how King Henry the ſixth, after he had raigned eight and thirtie yeres and odde monethes, was expulſed and driuen out of this Realme, and now leauing him with the Princes of his faction, conſulting togither in Scotlande, and Queene Margaret his wife gathering of menne in Fraunce, I will returne where I left, to proceede with the doings of king Edwarde.

This yong Prince hauing with proſperous ſucceſſe obteyned ſo glorious a victorie in the mortall battell at Towton, and chaſed all hys aduerſaries out of the Realme, or at the leaſt wayes put them to ſilence, returned, after y^e maner and faſhion of a triumphant conqueror, with great pomp vnto London, where according to the olde cuſtome of the Realme, he called a great aſſemblie of perſons of all degrees, and the nyne and twentith daye of Iune, was at Weſtminſter with al ſolemnitie, crowned, & anoynted K.

In the which yeare, this King Edwarde called his high courte of Parliament at Weſtminſter, in the whiche, the ſtate of the Realme was greatly reformed, and all the Statutes made in Henry the ſixt his time (whiche touched eyther his title or profite) were reuoked.

In the ſame Paliament, the Erle of Oxford, farre ſtriken in age, and his ſonne and heire, the Lord Aworey Veer, eyther through malice of theyr enimies, or for that they had offended the King, were both, with diuers of theyr counſellors, atteinted, and put to execution, which cauſed Iohn Earle of Oxforde, euer after to rebell.

There were alſo beheaded the ſame time, Sir Thomas Tudenham Knyghte, William Tirell, and Iohn Mongomerie Eſquiers, and after them diuers others.

Alſo after this, hee created his two yonger breethren Dukes, that is to ſaye, Lorde George Duke of Clarence, Lorde Richarde, Duke of Glouceſter, and the Lord Iohn Neuill, brother to Richarde Earle of Warwike, hee firſte made Lord Montacute, and afterwardes created hym Marques Montacute.

Beſide this, Henrye Bourchier, brother to Thomas Archbyſhoppe of Caunterburie, was created Earle of Eſſex, and William Lorde Fawconbridge, was made Earle of Kent.

To this Henrye Lorde Bourchier, a man highly renowmed in martiall feates, Richarde Duke of Yorke, long before this time, had gyuen his ſiſter Elizabeth in marriage, of whome hee begate foure ſonnes, William, Thomas, Iohn, and Henrye, the whiche William, beeing a man of great induſtrie, witte, and prouidence, in graue and weightie matters, married the Lady Anne Wooduile, diſcended of high parentage, whoſe mother Iaquet, was daughter to Peter of L[...]renburgh, Earle of Sainte Paule, by the whyche Anne, hee had Lord Henry Earle of Eſſex, one Daughter, named Cicile, maried to Water Lord Ferrers of Chartley, and an other called Iſabell, which dyed vnmaried.

[...]int.The Earle of Kente was appoynted about this time to keepe the Seas,1462 being accompanyed with the Lord Audeley, the Lord Clinton, Sir Iohn Howard, Sir Richard Walgraue, and other, to the number of tenne thouſand, who landing in Britayne, wanne the Towne of Conquet, and the Iſle of Keth, and after returned.

When all things were brought in order, An. reg. 2. The Duke of Somerſet and other, ſubmit them to King Edwarde. and framed as Kyng Edwarde in manner coulde wiſhe, Henrye Duke of Somerſet, Sir Raufe Percye, and diuers other, being in deſpaite of all good chance to happen vnto King Henrye, came humbly, and ſubmitted themſelues vnto Kyng Edward, whome he gently receyued.

All this ſeaſon,1493
An. reg. 3. was King Henry in Scotland, and Queene Margaret being in Fraunce, found ſuch friendſhip at the French kings hands, that ſhe obteined a crew of fiue hundred Frenchmen, with whiche ſhee armed in Scotlande,The Queene retourneth forthe of Fraunce and after that ſhe hadde repoſed hir ſelfe a time, ſhee ſayled with hir gallante bande of thoſe ruffling Frenchmen, toward Newcaſtell, and landed at Tinmouth, but whether ſhee were afraid of hir owne ſhadowe, or that the Frenchmen caſt too many doubtes, the troth is, that the whole army returned to their Shippes, and a tempeſt roſe ſo ſuddaynely, that if ſhee had not taken a ſmall caruelle, and that with good ſpeede arriued at Berwike, ſhee hadde bin taken at that preſente tyme by hir aduerſaries. And although Fortune was ſo fauourable to hir, yet hir company with ſtormy blaſtes, was driuen on the ſhore before Banborough Caſtell, where they ſet their ſhips on fyre, and fledde to an Iſlelande c[...] holy Iſleand, where they were ſo aſſailed by the baſterd Ogle, and an Eſquer, called Iohn Manners, with other of K. Edwardes friendes, that many of them were ſlayne, and almoſt fo[...] hū dred taken priſoners: but their Coronell Peter Breſſie, otherwiſe called Monſ. de Varenne, happened vpon a fiſherman, and ſo came to Berwike vnto O. Margaret, who made him Captaine of the Caſtell of Al[...]wike, which he with his frenchmen kept, till they were reſcued.

Shortly after, Queene Margaret obteyned a great company of Scottes, & other of hir friēds, and ſo bringing hir huſbande with hir, and leauing hir ſonne, called Prince Edward, in the towne of Berwike,Banborough Caſtell. entred Northumberlande, tooke the Caſtell of Banborough, and ſtuffed it with Scottiſhmen, and made thereof Captaine, Sir Raufe Grey, and came forwarde, towarde the Biſhopricke of Durham. When the Duke of Somerſet heard theſe newes,The Duke of Somerſet reuolteth. hee without delay reuolted from King Edwarde, and fledde to King Henry. So likewiſe did Sir Raufe Percie, and many other of the kings friēds, but many moe followed King Henrye, in hope to get by the ſpoyle, for his army ſpoyled and brenned townes, & deſtroyed fields whereſoeuer he came. King Edwarde aduertiſed of all theſe things, prepared an army, both by ſea and land. Some of hys Shippes were rigged and vittailed at Linue, and ſome at Hull, and well furniſhed with ſoldiers, herewith were ſet forth to the ſea.

Alſo, the Lorde Montacute, was ſent into Northumberlande, there to reyſe the people, to withſtand his enimies. And after this, the King in his proper perſon, acompanyed with his breethren, and a greate parte of the nobilitie of hys Realme, came to the Citie of Yorke, furniſhed with a mightie army, ſending a great part therof, to the ayde of the Lord Montacute, leaſt peraduenture, he giuing too much confidence to the men of the Biſhopricke and Northumberlande, might through them be deceyued.The Lorde Montacute. The Lorde Montacute then hauing ſuche with him as hee might truſt, marched forth towards his enimies, and by the way, was encountred with the Lorde Hungerford, the Lord Roos, Sir Raufe Percy, and diuers other,Hegely More. at a place called Hegely more, where ſuddaynely, the ſaide Lordes in manner without ſtroke ſtriking, fled, and only ſir Raufe Percy abode, and was there manfully ſlayne,Sir Raufe Percyeſlaine. with diuers other, ſaying, when he was dying, I haue ſaued the bird in my boſome, meaning, that he had kept his promiſe and oth made to K. Hē ry, forgetting belike, that hee in King Henries moſt neceſſitie abandoned hym, and ſubmitted him to king Edward, as before you haue heard.

The Lorde Montacute ſeeing fortune thus proſperouſly leading his ſayle, aduanced forward, and learning by eſpials, that King Henry with his hoſt was encamped in a faire playne called Lyuels, on the water of Dowill in Exhamſhire, haſted thither, and manfully ſet on hys enimies in their owne campe, whiche like deſperate perſons, with no ſmal courage receiued him. There was a ſore foughten fielde,Exham fielde. and long ere eyther parte could haue any aduātage of y^e other, but at length, the victorie fell to the Lord Montacute, who by fine force, entred the battell of his enimies, and conſtreyned them to flee,The Duke of Somerſet taken. as deſpairing of all ſuccours. In whiche flighte and chaſe were taken Henrye Duke of Somerſet, whyche before was reconciled to Kyng Edwarde, the Lord Roos, the Lorde Molins, the Lord Hungerford, Sir Thomas Wentworth, Sir Thomas Huſey, Sir Iohn Finderne, and manye other.King Henry fledde. King Henrie was a good horſeman that day, for he rode ſo faſt away, that no man might ouertake him, and yet hee was ſo neere purſued, that certaine of his Henxmen were taken, theyr horſes trapped in blew veluet, and one of them hadde on his head the ſayde Kyng Henries helmette, or rather (as maye bee thought) and as ſome ſaye, his highe cappe of eſtate, called Abococke, garniſhed with two riche crownes, which was preſented to king Edward at Yorke, the fourthe daye of May.The Duke of Somerſet beheaded. The Duke of Somerſette was incontinentlye beheaded at Exham, the other Lordes and Knyghtes were had to Newcaſtell, and there after a little deſpite, were likewiſe put to death.

Beſide theſe, diuers other, to the number of fiue and twentie, were executed at Yorke, and in other places.

Sir Humfrey Neuill, and William Taylvoys, calling hymſelfe Earle of Kyme, Sir Raufe Grey, and Richard Tunſtall, with dyuers other, which eſcaped from this battel, hidde themſelues in ſecrete places, but yet they kepte not themſelues ſo cloſe, but that they were eſpyed,The earle of Kyme, otherwiſe Angus, beheaded. and taken. The Earle of Kyme was apprehended in Riddeſdale, and brought to Newcaſtell, and there beheaded. Sir Humfrey Neuill was taken in Holdernes, and at Yorke loſt his head. After this battell called Exam field, Kyng Edwarde came to the Citie of Dureſme, and ſent from thence into Northumberland, y^e Erle of Warwike, the Lord Montacute, the Lordes Fawconbridge, and Scrope, to recouer ſuche Caſtels, as his enimies there held, and with force defended.

[...]e Caſtel beſieged.They firſt beſieged the Caſtell of Alnowike, whiche Sir Peers Breſſe, and the Frenchmen kepte,Eight thouſād hath [...]ar dyng. and in no wiſe woulde yeelde, ſending for ayde to the Scottes, wherevppon Sir George Douglas earle of Angus, wyth thirteene thouſande choſen men, in the daye tyme, 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 theyr men, than to leeſe both the Caſtell, and theyr men, conſidering the greate power of Scottes, and their owne ſmall number, and ſo they entred the Caſtell, and manned it.

After this, they wanne the Caſtell of Dunſtanborough by force, and likewiſe the Caſtel of Bamborough.

Iohn Goys, ſeruant to the Duke of Somerſet, being taken within Dunſtanbourough, was brought to Yorke, and there beheaded, and Syr Raufe Grey beeing taken in Bamborough, 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 ſpurres, rē ting his coate of armes, and breaking his ſword ouer his head: and finally, he was there beheaded for his manifeſt periurie. After this, King Edwarde returned to Yorke, where in deſpite of the Earle of Northumberlande, whiche then kepte himſelfe in the Realme of Scotland, he created Sir Iohn Neuill, Lorde Montacute, Earle of Northumberlande, and in reproofe of Iaſper Earle of Pembroke, he created William Lorde Herbert, Earle of the ſame place, but after when by mediation of friends the Earle of Northumberland was reconciled to his fauoure, hee reſtored him to his poſſeſſions, name, and dignitie, and preferred the Lord Montacute,1464 to the title of Marques Montacute, ſo that in degree, he was aboue his elder brother the Earle of Warwike, but in power, policie, and poſſeſſiōs, far meaner.

King Edwarde,An. reg. 4. though all things myghte ſeeme nowe to reſt in good caſe, yet hee was not negligent, in making neceſſarie prouiſiō, againſt all attemptes of his aduerſarie King Henrye, and his partakers, and therefore reyſed Bulwarkes, and buylded fortreſſes on eache ſide of his Realme, where anye daunger was ſuſpected for the landing of any armie.

He cauſed alſo eſpials to be laide vpon y^e marches, fore aneinſt Scotlande, that no perſon ſhoulde goe out of the Realme to King Henrie and his companie, whiche then ſoiourned in Scotland. But all the doubtes of trouble that might enſue by the meanes of K. Henries being at libertie, were ſhortly taken away and ended, for he himſelfe, whether he was paſt all feare, or that he was not wel eſtabliſhed in his w[...]s and perfect minde, or for that he could not long keepe himſelfe ſecret in a diſguiſed apparell, boldly entred into England. He was no ſooner entred,King Henry taken. but he was knowen and taken of one Cantlow, and brought toward the King, whome the Earle of Warwike mette on the way by the kings commandement, & brought him through London to the Tower, and there he was layde in ſure hold.

Queene Margaret his wife, hearing of the captiuitie of hir huſband, miſtruſting the chance of hir ſonne; al deſolate and comfortleſſe departed out of Scotland, & ſailed into France where ſhe remayned with hir father Duke Reigner, tyll ſhe returned into Englande to hir harme, as after ye ſhal heare. The new D. of Somerſet, and his brother Iohn, ſailed into France, where they alſo liued in greate miſerie, till Duke Charles, bycauſe he was of their kinne, as diſcended of the houſe of Lancaſter by his mother, ſuccoured thē with a ſmall penſion, which was to thē a greate comfort. The Earle of Pembroke went from countrey to countrey,The earle of Pembrooke. not alwayes at his hartes eaſe, nor in ſafetie of life.

King Edward being thus in more ſuretie of his life than before, diſtributed the poſſeſſions of ſuch as tooke part with King Henry the ſixt, to his ſouldiers and Captaines, whiche he thought had well deſerued: and beſide this, he lefte no other point of liberalitie vnſhewed, by the which he might allure to him the beneuolente mindes, and louing hartes of his people. And moreouer, to haue the loue of all men, hee ſhewed himſelfe more familiar both with the nobilitie, and communaltie than (as ſome men thought) was conueniente either for his eſtate, or for his honor, notwithſtanding the ſame liberalitie he euer after vſed.

The lawes of the Realme in parte hee reformed, and in part he newly augmented.

New coyne ſtamped.The coyne both of golde and of ſiluer, whych yet at this day is, he newly deuiſed, and deuided, for the golde hee named royols and nobles, and the ſiluer he called grotes and halfe grotes.

After this, hee made Proclamation, that all perſons, which were adherēts to his aduerſaries parte, and woulde leaue their armour, and ſubmitte themſelues wholly to hys grace and mercie, ſhoulde bee cleerely pardoned and forgyuen.

By this kind of courteous dealing, he wanne him ſuch fauour of the people, that euer after, in all his warres, hee was through their aide and ſupport, a victor and conquerour.

When his Realme was thus brought into a good quiet eſtate, it was thought meete by hym and thoſe of his counſell, that a marriage were prouided for him in ſome couenient place, and therefore was the Earle of Warwike ſente ouer into Fraunce, to demaunde the Lady Bona, daughter to Lewes Duke of Sauoy, and ſiſter to the Ladye Carlote, then Queene of France, which Bona was then in the French Courte.

The Earle of Warwike ſent into Fraunce about a mariage.The Earle of Warwike commyng to the Frenche King, as then lying at Tours, was of him honorably receyued, and righte courteouſly enterteyned. His meſſage was ſo well liked, and his requeſt thoughte ſo honorable for the advancemente of the Lady Bona, that hir ſiſter Queene Carlote obteyned both the good will of the Kyng hyr huſbande, and alſo of hir ſiſter the foreſayde Lady, ſo that the matrimonie on that ſide was cleerely aſſented to, and the Earle of Dampmartine, appoynted with other, to ſayle into Englande, for the full finiſhyng of the ſame.

But heere conſider the olde prouerbe to bee true, whyche ſayeth, that mariage goeth by deſtinie.

For during the tyme that the Earle of Warwike was thus in Fraunce, and according to his inſtructions, brought the effect of his commiſſion to paſſe, the king beyng on huntyng in y^e Forreſt [...] Wychwood beſide Stony Stratford, came for his recreation to the Manor of Grafton, where the Ducheſſe of Bedforde then ſoiorned, wyfe to ſir Richard Wooduile Lord Riuers, on whome was then attendaunt a daughter of hirs, called the Lady Elizabeth Gray,The Lady Elizabeth Grey. widowe of ſir Iohn Gray knyght, ſlayne at the laſt batayle of Saint Albons, as before you haue heard.

Thys widdowe hauing a ſuite to the Kyng for ſuche landes as hir huſbande had giuen hir in ioynture, ſo kindled the Kings affection towards hir, that he not only fauoured hir ſuite, but more hir perſon, for ſhe was a woman of a more [...] mall countenance than of excellent beautie, and yet both of ſuche beautie and fauor, that with hir ſober demeanour, ſweete lookes, and comely ſmyling, (neither too wanton, nor to baſhfull) beſide hir pleaſant tongue and trimme wit, [...] ſo allured and made ſubiect vnto hir the hearte of that great Prince, that after ſhe had denyed hym to be his paramour, with ſo good maner, and wordes ſo well ſet as the better coulde not be deuiſed, hee finally reſolued with himſelfe to marrie hee, not aſking counſell of any man, till they might perceyue it was no boote to aduiſe him to the cōtrarie of that his concluded purpoſe: But yet the Ducheſſe of Yorke his mother letted it as much as in hir laye: and when all woulde not ſerue, ſhee cauſed a precontracte to bee alledged, made by hym wyth the Ladie Elizabeth Lucye. But all doubtes reſolued, all things made cleere, and all cauillations auoyded, priuily in a morning, he marryed the ſayde Ladye Elizabeth Graye at Grafton aforeſayde, where hee firſte beganne to fanſye hir.

And in the next yere after ſhe was with great ſolemnitie crowned Queene at Weſtminſter.1465
An. reg. 5. Hir father alſo was created Earle Riuers, and [...]ade high Coneſtable of Englande: hir brother Lorde Anthonie was marryed to the ſole heyre of Thomas lorde Scales: Sir Thomas Graye ſonne to ſir Iohn Greye the Queenes firſte huſbande, was created Marques Dorſet, and married to Cicelie heire to the Lorde Bonuille.

The Frenche king was not well pleaſed to be thus dalyed with, but hee ſhortely to appeaſe the grief of his wyfe and hir ſiſter the Ladye Bona, maried the ſaid lady Bona to the Duke of Millane.

Now when the erle of Warwike had knowledge by letters ſent to him out of England from his truſtie friends, that king Edward had gotten him a new wyfe, he was not a little troubled in his mynde, for that as hee tooke it,The Earle of Warwike offended with the kings maieſtie. his credence thereby was greatly miniſhed, and his honour much ſtayned, namely in the courte of Fraunce, for that it myght be iudged, he came rather lyke an eſpyall, to moue a thyng neuer mynded, and to treat a mariage determined before not to take effect. Surely he thought hymſelf euill vſed, that when he had brought the matter to his purpoſed intente and wiſhed concluſion, then to haue it quayle on his parte, ſo as all men mighte thinke at the leaſte wyſe, that his Prince made ſmall accompte of hym, to ſend him on ſuch a flee[...] leſſe errand.

All men for the moſte parte, agree that this mariage was the onely cauſe, why the Earle of Warwike conceyued an hatred agaynſte Kyng Edwarde, whome hee ſo muche before fauoured.

Other affirme other cauſes, and one ſpecially, for that King Edwarde did attempte a thing once in the Earles houſe, whiche was muche againſt the Earles honeſtie (whether hee woulde haue defloured his daughter or his neece, the certayntie was not for both their honors openly reuealed) for ſurely, ſuche a thing was attempted by King Edwarde, whyche loued well, both to beholde, and to feele faire Damoſels: but whether the iniurie that the Earle thought hee receyued at the Kings hands, or the diſdeyne of authoritie that the Earle had vnder the King, was the cauſe of the breach of amitie betwixt them: troth it is, that the priuie intentions of their heartes, brake into ſo many ſmall peeces, that England, Fraunce, and Flaunders, could neuer ioyne them againe, during their naturall lyues. But though the Earle of Warwike was earneſtly inflamed againſt the King, for that hee had thus married himſelfe without his knowledge, hauing regard onely to the ſatiſfying of his wanton appetite, more than to his honor,The Earle of Franke kepe[...] his gre[...]e [...]e. or ſuretie of his eſtate, he did yet ſo diſſimule the matter at his returne into Englande, as though hee had not vnderſtoode any thing thereof, but only declared what he had done, with ſuch reuerence, and ſhewe of friendly countenance, as hee hadde bin accuſtomed: and when hee hadde tarried in the Court a certayne ſpace, he obteyned licence of the King, to depart to his Caſtell of Warwike, meaning whē time ſerued, to vtter to the worlde, that whych he then kept ſecrete, that is to ſaye, hys inward grudge, whiche hee bare towardes the Kyng, with deſire of reuenge, to the vttermoſt of hys power.

Neuertheleſſe, at that tyme hee departed to the outewarde ſhewe, ſo farre in the Kynges fauoure, that manye Gentlemen of the Courte for honour ſake gladly accompanyed hym into his countrey.1466

This yere alſo, the kings daughter, the Lady Elizabeth,An[...]. re. 6. after wife to Kyng the ſeauenth was borne, Kyng Edwarde concluded an ametie and league with Henrye King of Caſtill, and Iohn King of Aragon,C[...]teſholde [...]ex tranſ [...]ed into [...] at the concluding wherof, hee graunted licence for certayne Cotteſolde Sheepe, to be tranſported into the Countrey of Spayne (as people reporte) whych haue there ſo multiplyed and increaſed, that it hath turned the commoditie of England, much to the Spaniſhe profite.

Beſide thys, to haue an amitie with his next neighbor the King of Scottes, hee winked at the loſſe of Berwike, [...] wyth [...] and was contented to take a truce for fifteene yeares.

Thus King Edwarde, though for refuſall of the Frenche Kings ſiſter in law, wanne him enimies in Fraunce, yet in other places hee procured him friends, but thoſe friendes had ſtande hym in ſmall ſteede, if Fortune hadde not holpe hym to an other, euen at hys elbowe.

This was Charles Earle of Charoloys, ſonne and heire apparant vnto Philippe Duke of Burgongue, whiche Charles beeyng then a widdower, was counſelled to bee a ſuter vnto Kyng Edwarde, for to haue in marriage the Lady Margaret, ſiſter to the ſame Kyng, a Lady of excellent beautie, and endowed with ſo many worthy giftes of nature, grace, and fortune, that ſhee was thought not vnworthy, to matche with the greateſt Prince of the worlde.

The Lorde Anthonie baſterde,1467 brother to the ſayde Earle Charoloys, commonly called the baſterd of Burgoigne, a man of great wit, An. reg. 7. The baſterd of Burgoigne ambaſſador into Englande. courage, and valiantneſſe, was appoynted by hys father Duke Phillip, to goe into Englande in Ambaſſade, about this ſute, who being furniſhed of plate and apparell, neceſſarie for his eſtate, hauing in his companie Gentlemen, and other expert in al feates of cheualrie and martiall proweſſe, to the number of foure hundred horſes, tooke hys Shippe, and arriued in Englande, where he was of the King and nobles honorably receyued.

Thys meſſage beeyng declared, yee maye be ſure the ſame was ioyfully hearde of the Kyng and hys counſayle, the whiche by that affinitie, ſawe howe they myghte bee aſſured of a buckler agaynſte Fraunce: but yet the Earle of Warwike, bearyng hys hartie fauoure vnto the french King, did as muche as in hym lay by euill reportes, to hynder thys marriage: but this notwithſtandyng, at length, the Kyng graunted to the baſterdes requeſt, and the ſayde baſterde openly in the Kyngs greate chamber contracted the ſayde Ladye Margaret, for, and in the name of hys brother the ſayde Earle of Charroloys.

After thys marriage thus concluded,Iuſtes betwixt the baſtarde of Burgongne & the lord Scales the baſterde chalenged the Lorde Scales, brother to the Queene, a man both egall in hart and valiantneſſe with the baſterde, to fighte with hym both on horſebacke, and on foote, whyche demaunde, the Lorde Scales gladlye accepted.

The Kyng cauſing lyftes to bee prepared in Weſt Smythfielde for theſe champions, and very faire and coſtly galeries for the Ladyes, was preſente at thys martiall enterpriſe hymſelfe.

The firſte daye, they ranne togyther diuers courſes with ſharp ſpeares, and departed with egall honour.

The nexte daye, they tourneyd on horſebacke.

The Lorde Seales horſe had on his chafron a long ſharp pike of ſteele, and as the two champions coaped togither, the ſame horſe (whether through cuſtome or by chance) thruſt his pike into the noſethrilles of the baſterdes horſe, ſo that for very payne, he mounted ſo high, that hee fell on the one ſide with his maiſter, and thē Lorde Seales rode roūd about him, w^t his ſword in his hand, till the King commaunded the Marſhall to help vp the baſterd, which openly ſaid, I cannot hold me by the clowdes, for though my horſe faileth me, ſurely I will not faile my contercompanyon. The Kyng would not ſuffer them to do any more that day.

The morowe after, the two noble men came into the fielde on foote, with two poleaxes, and fought valiantly, but at the laſt, the poynte of the Poleaxe of the Lorde Scales, happened to enter into the ſight of the baſterds healme, and by fine force, mighte haue plucked him on his knees: the King ſuddaynely caſt downe his warder, and then the Marſhals them ſeuered.

The baſterde not content with this chaunce, and truſting on the connyng whiche hee had at the Poleaxe, required the King of iuſtice, that he might performe his enterpriſe. The lord Scales refuſed it not, but the Kyng ſayd, he would aſke counſell, and ſo calling to him the Conneſtable, and the Marſhall, with the officers of armes, after conſultation had, and the lawes of armes rehearſed, it was declared for a ſentence difinitiue, by the Duke of Clarence, then Conneſtable of Englande,The law of armes. and the Duke of Northfolke, then Marſhall, that if he would goe forward with his attempted chalenge, he muſt by y^e law of armes, bee deliuered to hys aduerſarie, in the ſame ſtate and like condition, as he ſtoode, when he was taken from him.

The baſterd hearing thys iudgemente, doubted the ſequeale of the matter, and ſo relinquiſhed his chalenge. Other chalenges were done, & valiantly atchieued by the Engliſhmen, whiche I paſſe ouer.

The death of the Duke of Burgoigne.Shortly after, came ſorowfull tidings to the baſterd, that his father Duke Phillip was dead, and therevppon, taking his leaue of King Edwarde, and his ſiſter the newe Duches of Burgoigne, liberally rewarded with plate & iewels, with all ſpeede he returned to his brother y^e new Duke, who was not a litle glad, of the contract made for him with the ſaid Lady, as after it wel appeared.

In this ſame yeare, Kyng Edward, more for the loue of the Marques Montacute, than for any fauour hee bare to the Earle of Warwike, promoted George Neuill their brother,George Neuil Archbiſhop of Yorke.
1468 to the Archbiſhoprike of Yorke.

Charles Duke of Burgoigne, reioycing that he had ſo well ſpedde, for concluſion of mariage with King Edwardes ſiſter,An. reg. 8. was very deſirous to ſee hir, of whome he had heard ſo great prayſe, wrote to King Edward, requiring him to ſende his ſiſter ouer vnto him, according to the couenants paſſed betwixt them.

King Edward being not flacke in this matter, appoynted the Dukes of Exceſter and Suffolke, and theyr wiues, beeing both ſiſters to the Lady Margaret, to attende hir, till ſhee came to hir huſband. And ſo after that Shippes, and all other neceſſarie prouiſions were ready, they beeing accompanyed with a greate ſorte of Lordes and Ladyes, and other, to the number of fyue hundred horſe, in the beginning of Iune,The Lady Margaret, ſiſter to King Edward, ſent ouer to the Duke of Burgoigne. departed out of London to Douer, and ſo ſayled to Sluſe, and from thence, was conueyd to Bruges, where the mariage was ſolemnized betwixt the Duke and hir, with great triumph, & princely feaſtings.

In this meane time, the Earle of Warwike, bearing a continuall grudge in his hart toward king Edward, ſith his laſt returne out of Frāce, perſwaded ſo with his two breethren, the Archbyſhoppe, and the Marques, that they agreed to ioyne with him in any attempt which he ſhould take in hande againſt the ſaid Kyng.

The Archebyſhoppe was eaſily allured to the Earles purpoſe, but the Marques coulde by no meanes bee reduced, to take any part agaynſte King Edward of a long tyme, til the Earle had both promiſed hym great rewards, and promotions, and alſo aſſured him of the ayde and power, of the greateſt Princes of the Realme.

And euen as the Marques was loth to conſente to thys vnhappie conſpiracie, ſo with a faynte harte, hee ſhewed himſelfe an enemie vnto King Edwarde, whyche double diſſimulation, was both the deſtruction of hym, and hys breethren.

Beſide this, the Earle of Warwike, beeyng a farre caſting prince, perceyued ſomewhat in the Duke of Clarence, whereby hee iudged, that hee bare no greate good will towards the King hys brother, and therevpon, feelyng hys mynde, by ſuch talke as he of purpoſe miniſtred, vnderſtoode how hee was bente, and ſo wanne hym to hys purpoſe, and for better aſſuraunce of hys faythfull friendſhippe, he offered him his eldeſt daughter in marriage, with the whole halfe deale of his wiues inheritance.

And heerevppon, after conſultation hadde of theyr weightie buſineſſe and daungerous affayres, they ſayl[...] ouer to Calaice, of the whiche towne the Earle was capitayne, where his wyfe & two daughters then ſoiorned, whome the duke (being in loue with hir perſon) had great deſire to viſite.

But the Earle hauing in continuall remembrance his purpoſed enterpriſe, apointed his brethren, the Archbiſhop & the Marques, that they ſhoulde by ſome meane in his abſence ſtirre vp ſome new rebellion in the Countie of York, and other places adioyning, ſo that thys ciuile warre ſhould ſeeme to all men to haue bin begun without his aſſent or knowledge, he being on the further ſide the Seas.

1469
Anno. re. 9.The Duke of Clarence beeing come to Calais with the Earle of Warwike, after he hadde ſworne on the Sacrament to keepe his promiſe and pact made with the ſaide Earle whole and inuiolate, hee married the Lady Iſabell, eldeſt daughter to y^e Earle, in our Lady Church there.

Shortly after, according as had bin aforehād deuiſed, a commotion was begunne in Yorkeſhire, to the great diſquieting of that Countrey. The ſame chanced by this meanes.

Saint Leonardes Hoſpitall in Yorke.There was in the Citie of Yorke, an old and rich Hoſpitall, dedicated to Sainct Leonard, for the harbourrough and relieuing of poore people, Certaine euill diſpoſed perſons, of the Earle of Warwikes faction, intending to ſet a broyle in the Countrey, perſwaded the huſbandmen to refuſe to giue any thing to the ſaide 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 Prieſtes, whereby they grew to be riche, and the poore people wanted their due ſuccoure and reliefe: and not contente with theſe ſayings, they fell to doings: for when the proctors of the Hoſpitall, according to their vſage, went about the Countrey to gather the accuſtomed corne, they were ſore beaten, wounded, and euill intreated.

A Rebellion.Shortly 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 ready bent, to ſet on the Citie of Yorke, but the Lord Marques Montacute, gouernour and preſidente of that countrey for the King, taking ſpeedie counſaile in the matter, with a ſmall number of men, but well choſen, encountred the rebels before the gates of Yorke, where after a long conflict, he tooke Robert Huldorne their Captayne,Roberte Huidorne Capitaine of the rebelles, taken and beheaded. and before them, commaunded hys head to bee ſtriken off, and then, (bycauſe it was a darke euening) he cauſed hys Souldiers to enter into Yorke, and there to refreſh them. Heere manye men haue maruelled, why the Marques thus put to deathe the Captayne of thoſe people, whiche he had procured to this their rebellious enterpriſe. Some ſay, he did it, to the intent to ſeeme innocent and faultleſſe of his brothers doings. 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 Edwarde, with whome (as it ſhall after appeare) he in ſmall ſpace entred into grace and fauour.

The Rebels being nothing diſmayd with the death of their Captain, but rather the more bent on miſchiefe, by faire meanes, and craftie perſwaſions, gote to them Henry, ſonne to the Lord Fitz Hugh, and Sir Henry Neuill, ſonne and heyre to the Lorde Latimer, the one beeing nephew, and the other couſin germayne to the Erle of Warwike.

Although theſe yong Gentlemen bare the names of Captaynes, yet they had a gouernour that was Sir Iohn Conyers,Sir Iohn Coniers. a man of ſuche courage and valiantneſſe, as fewe were to bee found in his dayes within the Northpartes.

After they ſaw that they could not get Yorke bycauſe they wanted ordinance, they determined with all ſpeede to marche toward London, intending to rayſe ſuche a toy in the peoples myndes, that they ſhoulde thinke King Edward neyther to bee a lawfull Prince, nor yet profitable to the common wealth.

King Edwarde hauing perfect knowledge of all the doyngs of the Earle of Warwike, and of his brother the Duke of Clarence, was by diuers letters certified, of the greate armie of the Northerne men, with all ſpeede commyng towarde London, and therefore in greate haſt,The Earle of Pembroke. hee ſente to William Lord Herbert (whome as yee haue heard, hee had created Earle of Pembroke) requiring hym withoute delay, to reyſe hys power, and encounter with the Northerne men.

The Earle of Pembroke, commonly called the Lorde Herberte, both ready to obey y^e kings commaundemente, accordyng to hys duetie, and alſo deſirous to reuenge the malice whyche he bare to the Earle of Warwike, for that hee knewe howe hee hadde beene the onely let why he obteyned not the wardſhip of the Lord Bonneuilles daughter and heire for his eldeſt ſonne, accompanyed with hys brother Sir Richarde Herberte, a valiaunt Knyghte, and aboue ſyxe or ſeauen thouſande Welchmenne, well furniſhed, marched forwarde to encounter with the Northernemē. And to aſſiſt him w^t archers, was apointed Humfrey L. Stafford of Southwike,The Lorde Stafforde. named, but not created Earle of Deuonſhire by the King, in hope that he would ſerue valiantly in that iourney: he had with him eight hundred archers.

When theſe two Lordes wer met at Cotteſholde, they hearde how the Northerne men were going toward Northampton, wherevppon, the Lorde Stafforde, and Sir Richarde Herberte, with two thouſande well horſed Welchmenne, rode forth afore the maine armye, to ſee the demeanor of the Northerne men, and at length, vnder a woods ſide, they couertly eſpyed them, paſſing forward, and ſuddainely ſet on the rereward: but the Northerne mē with ſuch nimbleneſſe turned about,The Welchmen diſcomfited. that in a moment, y^e Welche menne were diſcomfited, and many taken, the remnaunte returned to the armye with ſmall gayne.

The Northernemen well cooled with thys ſmall victorie, went no further Southward, but tooke their way towards Warwike, looking for aide of the Earle, whiche was lately come from Calais, with his ſonne in lawe the Duke of Clarence, and was rayſing menne to aide hys friends and kinſfolke.

The King likewiſe aſſembled people to ayde the Earle of Pembroke, but before eyther parte receyued ſuccoure from his friende or partaker, both the armies met by chance in a fayre playne, neere to a Towne called Hedgecote,Hedgecote. Banbury field. foure miles diſtante from Banburie, where there are three hilles, not in equall diſtance, nor yet in equall quantitie, but lying in manner (although not fully) triangle.

The Welchmen gote firſt the Weſt hill, hoping to haue recouered the Eaſt hill alſo, which if they might haue obteyned, the victorie had bin theirs, as their fooliſh propheciers tolde them before.

Theſe Northerne menne encamped on the South hill, the Earle of Pembroke, and the Lord Stafford of Southwike, were lodged in Banburie, the day before the fielde, whiche was Saint Iames day, and there the Erle of Pembroke put the Lorde Stafforde out of an Inne,Diſcord what i[...] breedeth. wherein he delighted much to be, for the loue of a Damoſell that dwelled in the houſe: and yet it was agreed betwixt them, that which of them ſo euer obteyned firſt a lodging, ſhoulde not be diſplaced.

The Lord Stafford in great deſpite, departed with his whole bande of archers, leauing the Earle of Pembroke almoſt deſolate in y^e towne, who with all diligence returned to his hoſt, lying in the fielde vnpurueyd of Archers.

Sir Henry Neuill, ſonne to the Lord Latimer, tooke with him certaine light horſemenne, and ſhi[...]ſhed with the Welchmen in the euening, iuſt before their camp, where doing ryghte valiantly, but alittle too hardilie aduenturing himſelfe, was taken and yelded, and yet cruelly ſlayne, whiche vnmercifull acte, the Welchmen ſore rewed the next day ere night: for the Northerne men ſore diſpleaſed for the deathe of thys noble man, in the nexte morning, valiantly ſit on the Welchmen, and by force of archers, c[...] ſed them quickly to diſcend the hill, into the valley, where both the hoſtes fought.

The Earle of Pembroke did right valiantly,The valiant manhoode of Sir Richard Herbert. and ſo likewiſe did hys brother Sir Richarde Herbert, in ſo muche, that with his Polcare in hys hande, hee twice by fyne force paſſed thorough the battell of his aduerſaries, and without anye hurte, or mortall wounde returned.

But ſee the happe, euen as the Welchmenne were at poynte to haue obteyned the victorie, Iohn Clappam Eſquier,Iohn Clappam ſeruaunte to the Erle of Warwike, mounted vp the ſyde of the Eaſt hill, accompanyed onely with fyue hundred menne, gathered of the raſcals of the Towne of Northampton, and other villages aboute, hauyng borne before them the ſtandert of y^e Earle of Warwike, with the white beare, crying, a Warwike a Warwike.

The Welchmenne thynking that the Earle of Warwike hadde come on them with all hys puiſſance, ſuddaynely as menne amaſed, fledde: the Northren men them purſued,The Welchmen ſlayne. and flewe without mercie, ſo that there dyed of the Welchmen that day, aboue fiue thouſande, beſyde them that fledde and were taken.

The Earle of Pembroke, and his brother Sir Richard Herbert, with diuers Gentlemen, were taken and brought to Banberie, where the Erle with hys brother, and other Gentlemen, to the number of tenne, that were lykewiſe taken, loſt their heads, but greate mone was made,Sir Richard Herbert be [...]d. for that noble and hardie Gentleman, Sir Richard Herberte, beeyng able for his goodly perſonage and high valiancie, to haue ſerued the greateſt Prince in Chriſtendome.

The Northamptonſhire men, with dyuers of the Northerne mē, by thē procured in this furie, made them a captaine, called Robert Hilliard, but they named him Robin of Reddeſdale, and ſodainly came to Grafton,Io[...]yn of [...]de[...]dal. The E. Riuers and his ſonne beheaded. where they tooke the Earle Riuers, father to the Queene, and hys ſonne ſir Iohn Wooduile, whom they brought to Northamton, and ther beheaded them both without iudgemente.

The King aduertiſed of theſe miſchaunces, wrote to y^e Sherifs of Somerſetſhire, & Deuonſhire, that if they might by any meanes take the Lord Stafford of Southwike, they ſhould without delay put him to death. Herevpon ſearch was made for him,The L. Scafford a Southwike [...]ded. till at lēgth he was found in a village within Brentmarch, and after brought to Bridgewater was there beheaded.

After the battaile thus fought at Hedgecote commonly called Banburie fielde, the Northren men reſorted toward Warwike, where the Earle had gathered a great multitude of people, whiche Earle receyued the Northrenmen with greate gladneſſe, thanking ſir Iohn Coniers, and other theyr Capitaynes for theyr paynes taken in hys cauſe.

The king in this meane time had aſſembled his power, and was comming toward the Erle, who being aduertiſed thereof, ſent to the Duke of Clarence, requiring him to come and ioyne with him. The Duke being not farre off, with all ſpeede repared to the Earle, and ſo they ioyned theyr powers togither, and vpon ſecret knowledge had, that y^e king, bycauſe they were entred into termes by waye of comunication to haue a peace) tooke ſmall heede to himſelfe, nothing doubting anye outward attēpt of his enimies the Erle of Warwike intending not to leeſe ſuch oportunity of aduantage, in the deade of the night, with an elect companie of men of warre (as ſecretely as was poſſible) ſet on the kings fielde, killing them that kept the watche, and ere the king was ware (for he thought of nothing leſſe than of that which thē happened) at a place called Wolney, foure myles from Warwike, [...]g Edward [...] petioner he was taken priſoner & brought to the Caſtell of Warwike.

And to the intent his friendes ſhoulde not knowe what was become of him, the Earle cauſed him by ſecrete iourneys in the night to be conueyed to Myddleham Caſtell in Yorkſhire, [...] and there to be kept vnder the cuſtodie of the Archbiſhoppe of Yorke and other his friendes in thoſe parties.

King Edwarde being thus in captiuitie, ſpake euer faire to the Archbiſhop, and to his other keepers, ſo that he had libertie diuerſe dayes to goe on hunting. And one day vpon a playne when hee was thus abrode, [...] William [...]ley. there mette with him ſir William Stanley, ſir Thomas a Borough, and dyuerſe other of his friends, with ſuch a great bande of menne, that neither his keepers woulde, nor once durſte moue hym to returne vnto Pryſ[...] againe.King Edward is deliuered out of Captiuitie.

Some haue thoughte that his keepers were corrupted with money, or fayre promiſes, and therefore ſuffered him thus to eſcape oute of daunger.

After that he was once at libertie, hee came to Yorke, where he was ioyfully receyued, and taryed there two dayes: but when he perceyued he coulde get no armie togither in that Countrey to attende him to London,He commeth to London. he turned from Yo[...]e to Lancaſter, where he founde his Chamberleyn the Lorde Haſtings well accompanied, by whoſe ayde and ſuche others as drewe to hym, beeyng well furniſhed, hee came ſafely to the Citie of London.

When the Earle of Warwike, and the Duke of Clarence had knowledge how king Edwarde by the treaſon or negligence of them whom they had put in truſt) was eſcaped their handes, they were in a wonderfull chaufe: but ſith the chaunce was paſt, they began eftſoones to prouide for the warre, which they ſawe was like to enſue, and found muche comfort, in that a great number of men, delyting more in diſcorde than in concorde, offred themſelues to ayde theyr ſide. But other good menne deſirous of common gui[...]e, and lamenting the miſerable ſtate of the realme, to redreſſe ſuch miſchiefe as appeared to be at hand, by theſe tumultes, tooke paine and road betweene the King, the Erle, and the Duke, to reconcile them eche to other.

Theyr charitable motion and cauſes alledged, bycauſe they were of the chiefeſt of the Nobilitie, and therefore caried both credite and authoritye with them, ſo aſſwaged the woodes both of the king, the Duke and the Erle, that eche gaue faith to other to come and goe ſafely without ieopardy. In which promiſe both the Duke and Erle p[...] ting perf[...] confidence, come 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 ſuche great wordes vpon rehearſal of olde matters, that in gret furie without any concluſion they depart, the king to Canterburye, and the Duke and the Earle to Warwike, where the Earle procured a newe armie to be rayſed in Lincolnſhire, & made Captaine therof, ſir Robert Welles ſonne to Richard Lorde Welles, a man of greate experience in warre.

The King aduertiſed hereof,1470 without delaye prepared on armie, and our of hand he ſent to Richard Lorde Welles, willing him vpon the fighte of his letters, to repayre vnto him: whiche to doe he had oftentymes refuſed, excuſing himſelfe by ſickneſſe and feebleneſſe of bodie. But when that excuſe ſerued not, he thinking to pourge himſelfe ſufficiētly, of all offence & blame before the kings preſence,Sir Thomas Dymmock. tooke with him ſir Thomas Dimmocke who had maryed his ſiſter, & ſo came to London, and when he was come vp, being admoniſhed by his friendes that the king was greatly with him diſpleaſed, hee with his brother in law tooke the Sanctuarie at Weſtminſter: but king Edwarde truſting to pacifie all this buſie tumult wythoute any further bloudſhed, promiſed both thoſe perſōs their pardons, cauſing them vpon his promiſe to come out of ſanctuarie to his preſence, and calling to him the Lorde Welles, willed him to write to his ſonne to leaue off the warre, and in the meane ſeaſon he with his armie went forwarde, hauing with him the Lord Welles,An. reg. 10. & ſir Thomas Dimmocke, and being not paſt two dayes iourney frō Stamforde, where his enimies had pitched theyr field, and hearing that ſir Robert Welles, not regarding his fathers letters, kept his campe ſtill,The L. Wels and Thomas Dimmock beheaded. be cauſed the Lord Welles father to the ſaid ſir Robert, and ſir Thomas Dimmocke to be beheaded contrarie to his promiſe.

Sir Robert Welles baring that the king approched, and that his father and ſir Thomas Dimocke were beheaded, though he was ſomewhat doubtfull to fight, before the Earle of Warwike were with his power aſſembled, hauing yet a yōg and luſtie courage, manfully ſet on his enimies. The battaile was ſore fought on both ſides, and many a man ſlaine, till ſir Robert perceyuing his people at poynt to flie, was buſily in hand to exhort them to tarie, and in the meane time being compaſſed about with his enimies was there taken, and with him ſir Thomas de Laund knight, and many mo.

After the taking of their Captain, the Lincolnſhire men amaſed, threw away there coates the lighter to runne away, and fled amaine, and therefore this battaile is called there yet vnto this day, Loſecote fielde.Loſecote field.

The king reioyſing at this victorie, cauſed ſir Robert Welles and diuers other to be put to execution in the ſame place. The fame went that at this battaile was ſlaine ten M. men at the leaſt.

The Earle of Warwike lay at the ſame time at his Caſtell of Warwike, and ment to haue ſet forwarde the next day towarde his armie in Lincolnſhire, but when he heard that the ſame was ouerthrowne, he tooke newe counſaile, and wyth al diligence ymagined how to compaſſe Thomas Lorde Stanley, which had maryed his ſiſter, that he might be one of the conſpiracie:The faithfulneſſe of the L. Stanley. whiche thing when hee could not bring to paſſe (for the Lorde Stanley had anſwered him, that he woulde neuer make warre agaynſt king Edwarde) be thought no longer to ſpende time in waſt, and miſtruſting hee was not able to meete with his enimies, he with his ſonne in lawe the Duke of Clarence, departed to Exceter,The Duke o[...] Clarence [...] the erle of [...] wicke take [...] ſ[...], and there tarying a fewe dayes determined to ſayle into Fraunce, to purchaſe ayde of King Lewes. And reſting vppon this poynte, hee hyred Shippes at Dartmouth, and when the ſame were readie trimmed and decked, the Duke and the Earle wyth theyr wyues, and a greate number of ſeruauntes embarqued themſelues, and fyrſt tooke theyr courſe towardes Calays, whereof the Earle was Captayne, thinking there to haue lefte hys wyfe, and daughters, till hee had returned out of Fraunce.

But when they were come before the towne of Calays, they coulde not be ſuffered to enter, for the Lord Vauclere a Gaſcoigne, being the Erles Deputie in that towne, whether hee did it by diſſimulation or hearing good will to King Edwarde,The erle of Warwik[...] [...] out at Ca[...] (as by the ſequele it may be doubted whether hee did or no) in ſteade of receyuing his maſter wyth tryumph, hee bent and diſcharged agaynſt him diuerſe peeces of ordinaunce, ſending him worde, he ſhould not there take lande. This Nauie lying thus before Calays at an anker, the Ducheſſe of Clarence was there delyuered of a fayre ſonne, whiche childe the Earles Deputie would vneth ſuffer to bee Chriſtened within the towne, nor without great intreatie would permit two Flagons of wine to bee conueyed abourde to the Ladies lying in the Hauen.

The king of England aduertiſed of the refuſall made, by Monſeur de Vawclere to the Erle of Warwike, [...]ock[...]r de [...]ac[...]e made [...] of Calays. was ſo much pleaſed therwith, that incontinently he made him chiefe captaine of the towne of Calays by his letters patents, which he ſent to him out of hand, and therof diſcharged the Erle as a traytor and a rebell.

The Duke of Burgoigne (vnto whom King Edward had written, that in no wiſe he ſhoulde receyue the Earle of Warwike, nor any of hys friendes within hys Countreyes) was ſo well pleaſed with y^e doings of Monſeur de Vawclere, that he ſent to him his ſeruaunt Philip de Commynes, and gaue to him yearely a thouſande Crownes in pencion, praying and requiring him to continue in truth and fidelitie towarde King Edwarde, as he had ſhewed and begonne. But though Monſeur de Vawclere ſware in the ſayd Philippes preſence, truly to take king Edwards part,The double dealing of Monſeur Va[...]e. yet hee ſente priuily to the Earle of Warwike lying at Wytſandbay, that if he landed, he ſhoulde be taken and loſt, for all Englande (as he ſayde) tooke part agaynſt him, the Duke of Burgoigne,The Lord Duras was a Gaſ [...]ſo. and al the inhabitants of the towne, with the Lord Duras the kings marſhal, and all the minne of the garniſon were his enimies.

The Erle hauing this aduertiſement from his feyned enimie, with his nauie ſayled towardes Normandie, and by the way ſpoyled and tooke many ſhippes of the Duke of Burgoignes ſubiects, and at the laſt with all his nauie and ſpoile, hee tooke land at Dieppe in Normandie,The erle of Henrie landed at Dieppe. where the gouernour of the Countrey friendly welcomed hym, and aduertiſed King Lewes of hys arriuall.

The French king deſirous of nothing more than to haue occaſion to pleaſure the Earle of Warwike, of whom the high renowme cauſed al mē to haue him in admiration, ſent vnto him, requiring both him and his ſonne in lawe the duke of Clarence, [...]. to come vnto his Caſtel of Amboys where be then ſoiourned.

The Duke of Burgoigne hearing that the Duke and Earle were thus receyued in France, ſent a poſt with letters to the king Lewes, partly by way of requeſt, and partly by way of menacing, to diſſwade him from ayding of his aduerſaries, the ſaid duke and erle. But the French K. little regarded this ſute of the duke of Burgoigne and therefore anſwered that he might & woulde ſuccour his friends, and yet breake no league with him at all.

In the meane time king Edwarde made inquirie for ſuch as were knowne to bee ayders of the Erle of Warwike within his realme, of whō ſome he apprehended as guiltie, and ſome doubting themſelues fledde to Sanctuarie, and other truſting to the kings pardon,Iohn Marques Montacute. ſubmitted themſelues, as Iohn Marques Montacute whome hee courteouſly receyued.

When Queen Margaret that ſoiourned with duke Reigner hir father heard tell that the Earle of Warwik was come to the French court, with all diligence came to Amboys to ſee him with hir onely ſonne prince Edward. And with hir came Iaſper Earle of Pembroke,The erles of Pembrok and Oxford. and Iohn Earle of Oxford, which after diuerſe impriſonments lately eſcaped, fled out of England into France, and came by fortune to this aſſemble.

Theſe perſones after intreatie had of their affayres, determined by meane of the French king to conclude a league and amitie betweene them.A league. And firſt to begin withall for the ſure foundation of their newe treatie,Edward Prince of wales maried. Edward prince of Wales wedded Anne ſeconde doughter to the Earle of Warwike, which Ladie came with hir mother into Fraunce.

After which mariage, the Duke & the Erles tooke a ſolemne othe, that they ſhoulde neuer leaue the warre, till eyther king Henrie the ſixt, or hys ſonne Prince Edwarde were reſtored to the Crowne, and that the Queene and the Prince ſhoulde depute and appoynt the Duke and the Erle to be gouernours and conſeruators of the common wealth, til time the prince were come to eſtate. Many other conditions were agreed as both reaſon and the weightineſſe of ſo great a buſineſſe required.

Whileſt theſe things were thus a doing in the Frenche Court, there landed a Damſell belonging to the Ducheſſe of Clarence (as ſhe ſaid) which made Monſeur de Vawclere beleeue, that ſhe was ſent from king Edward to the Duke of Clarence, & the Erle of Warwike with a plaine ouerture and declaration of peace. Of the which tydings, Vawclere was very glad for the Erles ſake: but this damoſell comming to the duke, perſwaded him ſo much to leaue off the purſute of his conceyued diſpleaſure towardes his brother king Edward,The promiſe of the Duke of Clarence. that he promiſed at his returne into England, not to be ſo extreme enimie againſt his brother as he was taken for, and this promiſe afterward he did keepe.

With this anſwere the Damoſell returned into England, the Erle of Warwike thereof being clearely ignorant.

The French King lent both Shippes, men and money vnto Queene Margaret, and to hir partakers, and appoynted the Baſterd of Bourbon, Admyrall of Fraunce with a great nauie to defende them agaynſt the nauie of the Duke of Burgoigne, whiche hee layde at the mouth of of y^e riuer Saine readie to encounter them being of greater force than both the Frenche nauy and the Engliſh Fleet: and yet king Reigner did alſo helpe his daughter with men and munitions of warre. When their ſhips and men were come togither to Harflue, the Erle of Warwike thought not to linger time, bycauſe he was certified by letters from his friends out of England, that aſſone as he had taken lande, there would be readie many thouſandes to do him what ſeruice and pleaſure they coulde or might.

And beſide this, diuerſe noble men wrote that they would helpe him with men, armour money, and all things neceſſarie for the warre, and further to aduenture their owne bodies in his quarel.

The loue which the people bare to the erle of Warwike.Surely his preſence was ſo muche deſired of all the people, that almoſt all men were readie in armour, loking for his arriuall: for they iudged that the very Sunne was taken from the worlde, when he was abſent.

When hee had receyued ſuche letters of comfort, he determined with the Duke, and the Erles of Oxforde and Pembroke (bycauſe Queene Margaret and hir ſonne were not fully yet furniſhed for the iourney) to go before with part of the nauie, and part of the armie.

And euen as fortune would, the nauie of the Duke of Burgoigne at the ſame time by a tempeſt was ſcattered and dryuen beſide the coaſt of Normandie, ſo that the Earle of Warwike in hope of a bone voiage, cauſed ſayles to be halfed vp, and with good ſpeede landed at Dartmouth in Deuonſhyre, from whence almoſte ſixe Monethes paſſed he tooke his iorney toward France, (as before ye he haue heard.)

When the Earle had taken lande, [...]atiō he made a Proclamation in the name of King Henrie the ſixt, vpon high paynes commaunding and charging all men able to beare armour, to prepare themſelues to fight agaynſt Edwarde Duke of Yorke, which contrarie to ryght had vſurped the Crowne.

It is almoſt not to be beleeued, howe manye thouſandes of men of warre at the firſt things of the Earles landing reſorted vnto him.

King Edwarde wakened with the newes of the Erles landing, and the great repayre of peopl that came flocking in vnto him, ſent forth letters into all parts of his realme to rayſe an anny, but of them that were ſent for, few came, and yet of thoſe fewe the more part came with no greate good willes: which when he perceyued, hee began to doubt the matter, and therefore being accompanied with the Duke of Glouceſter hys brother, the Lorde Haftings hys Chamberlaine, whiche had maryed the Earles Syſter, and yet was euer true to the King his maiſter, and the Lorde Scales brother to the Queene, hee departed into Lyncolnſhyre, and bycauſe hee vnderſtoode that all the Realme was vp agaynſt hym, and ſome parte of the Earle of Warwickes power, was within halfe a dayes iourney of him, following the aduice of hys Counſayle, with all haſt poſſible hee paſſed the Waſhes in greate leopardie, and comming to Lynne,King Edw[...] cometh to Lynne and [...] keth ſhipp[...] paſſe ouer [...] founde there an Engliſh Shippe, and two Hulkes of Hollande readie (as fortune woulde) to make ſayle, wherevpon hee with his brother the Duke of Glouceſter, the Lorde Scales, and dyuerſe other hys truſtie friendes, entred into the ſhip.The L. Haſtings. The Lorde Haſtings taryed a whyle after, exhorting all hys acquaintaunce, that of neceſſitie ſhoulde tary behinde, to ſhewe themſelues openly as friendes to king Henrie, for theyr owne ſafegarde, but heartily requiring them in ſecret, to continue faythfull to king Edward.

This perſwaſion declared, he entred the ſhip with the other, and ſo they departed, being in nū ber in that one ſhippe and two Hulkes,The [...] that paſ[...]ed [...] uer with king Edwarde. about ſeuen or eight hundred perſons, hauing no furniture of apparell or other neceſſarie things with them, ſauing apparell for warre.

As king Edward with ſayle and oare was thus making courſe towardes the duke of Burgoignes Countrey (whither he determined at the firſt to go) it chanced that ſeuen or eight gallant ſhips of Eaſterlings, then open enimies both to England and Fraunce, were abroade on thoſe Seas, and eſpying the Kings veſſels, beganne to chaſe him. The kings ſhip was good of ſayle,King Edw[...] arriued at [...]are. and ſo much gat of the Eaſterlings, that he cauſe on the coaſt of Holland, & ſo diſcended lower before a towne in y^e country called Alkmare, & there caſt ancre as nere the towne as was poſſible, bycauſe they could not enter the hauē at an ebbing water.

The Eaſterlings alſo approched the Engliſh ſhip as neare as their great ſhips could come at the lowe water, intending at the floud to haue their pray as they were verie like to haue atteined it in deede,The Lord C[...]late. if the Lorde Gronture, gouernour of that Countrey for the Duke of Burgoigne, had not by chaunce beene at the ſame tyme in that Towne, and vpon knowledge had of King Edwardes arriuall there in the Hauen, and in what daunger he ſtoode, by reaſon of the Eaſterlings, commaunded them not to bee ſo hardie as once to meddle with any Engliſh men, being both the Dukes friendes and allies.He commeth abade. And then did King Edwarde and all his companye come a lande after they had beene well refreſhed and gentlye comforted by the Lorde Grouture, they were by hym brought to the Haghe, a riche Towne in Hollande, where they remayned a while, hauing all things neceſſarie miniſtred vnto them by order of the Duke of Burgoigne, ſente vnto the Lorde Gronture, immediately vpon certificate ſent from the ſayd Lorde Gronture of king Edwardes arriuall.

When the ſame was once ſpred abroade that King Edwarde was fledde the Realme, an innumerable number of people reſorted vnto the Earle of Warwike to take hys part, but all king Edwardes truſtie friends went to diuerſe Saintuaries,King Edwards [...]iend[...] take Sanctuary. and amongſt other his wife Queene Elizabeth tooke Saintuarie at Weſtminſter, and there in great penurie forſaken of all hir friendes, was deliuered of a fayre ſonne called Edwarde,Queene Elizabeth deliuered of a Prince. whiche was with ſmal pompe lyke a poore mans chylde Chriſtened, the Godfathers beeing the Abbot and Priour of Weſtminſter, and the Godmother the Ladie Scrope.

The kentiſhmen make an [...]y bu[...]ley.The Kentiſhmen this ſeaſon (whoſe myndes be euer moueable at the change of Princes) came to the Suburbs of London, ſpoyled manſions, robbed beerehouſes, and by the counſaile of Sir Giffray Gates and other Saintuarie men, they brake vp the kings Benche, and deliuered priſoners, and fell at Radcliffe, Lunchouſe, & Saint Katherines, to burning of houſes, ſlaughter of people, and rauiſhing of women, whiche ſmall ſparckle had growne to a greater flame, if the Erle of Warwike with a greate power had not ſodainly quenched it, and puniſhed the offenders, which benefite by him done, cauſed him muche more to be eſteemed and lyked amongſt the commons than he was before.

When he had ſetled al things at his pleaſure, vpon the .xij. day of October, [...]ng Henry [...]ed out of [...] and [...]a[...]e to his [...]g[...] gouern [...]. he rode to the tower of London, and there deliuered king Henrie oute of the warde, where hee before was kept, and brought him to the kings lodging, where he was ſerued according to his degree. And the .xxv. day of the ſayde Moneth, the Duke of Clarence accompanied with the Earles of Warwike and Shreweſburie, the Lorde Straunge, and other Lordes & Gentlemen, ſome for feare, and ſome for loue, and ſome onely to gaſe at the wauering worlde, went to the Tower, and from thence brought king Henrie apparelled in a long gowne of blew Veluet, through London to the Church of Saint Paule, the people on euerye ſyde the ſtreetes reioyſing and crying, God ſaue the king, as though ich thing had ſucceeded as they would haue had it: and when he had offred as kings vſe to do, he was conueyed to the Biſhops Palais, where he kept his houſhold like a king. When K. Henry had thus readep[...]ed and e[...]ſoones gottē his Regal power & authoritie,A parliament. he called hys highe Court of Parliament to begin the .xxvj. day of Nouember, at Weſtm. in the which K. Edward was adiudged a traytor to the countrey,King Edward ad[...]udged an vſurper. and an vſurper of the Realme. His goodes were confiſcate and forfeyted. The like ſentence was giuen againſt all his partakers & friends. And beſide this it was enacted, that ſuch as for his ſake were apprehended, and were either in captiuitie or at large vpon ſureties, ſhould be extreemely puniſhed according to theſe demerites, amongſt whō was the L. Iohn Tiptoft Erle of Worceſter lieutenāt for king Edwarde in Irelande, exerciſing there more extreme crueltie than princely pitie, and namely on two infants being ſonnes to the Erle of Deſmond. This Erle of Worceſter was eyther for treaſon to him layde,The E. of Worceter Tiptofe beheaded. or for malice againſt him conceyued, atteynted and beheaded.

Moreouer, all ſtatutes made by king Edward were clearely reuoked, and the Crownes of the realmes of Englande and Fraunce,The Crowne entailed. were by authoritie of the ſame Parliament entayled to king Henrie the ſixth, and to his heyres Males, and for default of ſuch heyres, to remaine to George Duke of Clarence, and to his heyres male: and further the ſayd Duke was enabled to bee nexte heyre to his father Richard Duke of Yorke, and to take from him all his landes and dignities, as though he had beene his eldeſt ſonne at the tyme of his death. Iaſper Erle of Pembroke, and Iohn Earle of Oxford, and diuerſe other by king Edward attainted, were reſtored to their old names, poſſeſſions, and ancient dignities.

Beſide this, the Earle of Warwike (as one to whom the common welth was much bounde[...]) was made gouernor of the realme,The Erle of Warwicke inſtituted gouernour of the realme. with whome as fellow was aſſociated George Duke of Clarence. And thus was the ſtate of the realme quite altered. To this Parliament came the Murques Montacute, excuſing himſelfe that for feare of death he declined to take king Edwardes part, which excuſe was accepted.

When Queene Margaret vnderſtoode by hir huſbands letters that the victorie was gotten by their friendes, ſhe with hir ſon Prince Edwarde and hir traine entred their ſhips, to take their voiage into England: but the winter was ſo ſharpe, the weather ſo ſtormie, and the winde ſo contrarie, that ſhe was faine to take lande againe, and to deferre hir iourney till another ſeaſon.

Iaſper Erle of Pembroke.About the ſame ſeaſon, Iaſper Erle of Pembroke went into Wales to viſite his landes there in Pembrokeſhire, where he found Lorde Henry ſon to his brother Edmond Erle of Richmond, hauing not full ten yeares of age, he being kept in maner like a captine, but honorably brought vp by the Lady Herbert, late wife to William Erle of Pembroke, beheaded at Banburie (as ye before haue heard.Margaret coū teſſe of Richmond and Darbie.) This Henrie was borne of Margaret the onely daughter and heire of Iohn the firſt duke of Somerſet, then not being full ten yeares of age, the which Ladie though ſhe were after ioined in mariage with Lorde Henrie ſon to Humfrey duke of Buckingham, and after to Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby, both being yong and apt for generation, yet ſhe had neuer any mo children; as though ſhee had done hir part to bring forth a man childe, and the ſame to be a king (as hee after was in deede, entituled by the name of Henrie the ſeuenth as after ye ſhall heare.)

The Erle of Pembroke toke this childe being his nephew, out of the cuſtodie of the Ladie Herbert, and at his returne brought the childe wyth him to London to king Henrie the ſixte, whome when the king had a good while behelde,The ſaying of king Henry the ſixte, of Henry of Richmont after k. Henry the ſeuenth. he ſayde to ſuch princes as were with him: Lo ſurely this is he to whom both we and our aduerſaries leauing the poſſeſſion of all things ſhall hereafter giue rowme and place.

So this holy man ſhewed before the chaunce that ſhould happen, that this Erle Henrie ſo ordeyned by God, ſhould in tyme to come (as he did in deed) haue and enioy the kingdome, and whole rule of this realme of England.

The Erle of Warwike vnderſtanding, that his enimie the Duke of Burgoigne had receyued king Edward, and ment to ayde him for recouerie of the kingdome, hee firſt ſent ouer to Calais foure .C. Archers on horſbacke to make warre on the Dukes countreys, and further prepared foure M. valiant men to go ouer very ſhortly, that the Duke might haue his handes euen full of trouble at home. And where ye haue heard that the Erle of Warwike was kept out of Calais at his fleeing out of Englande into Fraunce, ye ſhall note that within a quarter of an houre after it was known that he was returned into England, and had chaſed King Edwarde oute of the Realme, not onely Monſeur de Vawclere, but alſo all other of the garniſon & towne,The ragged ſtaffe. ſhewed themſelues to be his friends, ſo that the ragged ſtaffe was taken vp and worne in euery mans cap, ſome ware it of golde enameled, ſome of ſiluer, and hee that could haue it neither of golde nor ſiluer, [...] it of whytiſh ſilke or cloth: ſuche wauering myndes haue the common people, bending like a reed with euery winde that bloweth.

The Duke of Burgoigne hauing an armye readie at the ſame time to inuade the frontiers of Fraunce, to recouer the townes of Saint Quintines and Amiens, lately by the French king taken from him, doubted to be hindered greatly by the Engliſh men, if he ſhould bee conſtrayned to haue war with them: for the duke of Burgoigne helde not onely at that ſeaſon Flaunders, but alſo Bulleyne, and Bullennoys, and all Artoys, ſo that hee was thereby in daunger to receyue harme out of Calais on eche ſide.The D. of Burgoigne ſendeth Ambaſsadors to Calays. Therefore he ſent Ambaſſadours thither, which did ſo muche with the Counſayle there, that the league was newly confirmed betwixt the Realme of Englande and the Dukes Countreys, only the name of Henrie put in the wryting in ſteade of Edwarde.

This matter hyndered ſore the ſute of King Edwarde, dayly ſuing to the Duke for ayde at hys handes, the more earneſtly in deede, bycauſe of ſuche promiſes as by letters were made vnto him oute of Englande, from hys aſſured friends there.

But Duke Charles woulde not conſent openly to ayde King Edwarde,1471
He aydeth k. Edward [...] hand. but ye ſecretely vnder hande by others, he lent to him fiftie thouſande Florens of the Croſſe of Saint Andrew, and further cauſed foure great Shippes to be appoynted for him in the hauē of de Vere, otherwiſe called Camphire in Zealād, which in thoſe dayes was free for all men to come vnto, and the Duke hyred for him fourtene ſhips of the Eaſterlings well appoynted, and for the more ſuretie tooke bonde of them to ſerue him truely till hee were landed in Englande, and fyftene dayes after.

The Eaſterlings were glad of this iourney, truſting if he got agayne the poſſeſſion of Englande, they ſhoulde the ſooner come to a peace, and obteyne reſtitution of theyr lyberiges and franchiſes whiche they claymed of former tyme to haue wythin this realme.

The Duke of Burgoigne cared not muche, on whoſe ſide the victorie fell, ſauing for payment of his money: For he would oft ſay, that he was friende to bothe partyes, and eyther parte was friendly to him.

Indeede as hee was brother in lawe to the one, ſo was hee of kynne to the other, as by hys Grandmother being daughter to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaſter.

When therefore all King Edwardes furniture and prouiſion for his iourney were once readie,VV. Fleetr[...] hauing nowe with him about two thouſand able menne of warre, beſyde Mariners, hee entred into the Shippes wyth them in the Hauen before Fiſhing in Zealande, vppon the ſeconde day of Marche: and bycauſe the winde fell not good for hys purpoſe, hee taryed ſtill abourde for the ſpace of nine dayes, before it turned meete for his iourney.

An. reg. 11. But after that the wind once came about as he wiſhed, the ſayles were hoyſſed vpon the .xj. of March being Monday, and forward they ſayled, [...]arineth on the coaſt of Norfolke. directing their courſe ſtreight ouer towardes the coaſt of Norffolke.

On the next day being Tueſday, and the .xij. of March, towardes the Euening they roade before Cromer, where the king ſent a lande ſir Robert Chamberlaine, with ſir Gylbert Debenham knights, and diuerſe other, to the ende they might diſcouer the Countrey, and vnderſtand howe the people within the lande were bent towardes him, eſpecially thoſe countreys there next adioyning.

Vpon their returne, he vnderſtoode that there was no ſuretie for him to lande in thoſe partyes.The Erle of Oxford. by reaſon of the good order whiche the Earle of Warwike, and the Erle of Oxford eſpecially had taken in that countrey to reſiſt him: for not only the duke of Norffolk, but all other the gentlemen (whom the Erle of Warwike had in any ſuſpition) were by letters of priuy ſeale ſent for, and eyther committed to ſafe keeping about London, or elſe enforced to finde ſuretie for their loyall demeanour towards king Henrie: yet thoſe knights and other that were thus ſente forth to make inquirie, were well receyued of their friendes, and had good cheare. But after the king perceyued by theyr report, how things ſtood thereaboutes, hee cauſed his Shippes to make courſe towardes the north partes.

The ſame night following, a great ſtorme of windes and weather roſe, ſore troubling the ſeas, and continued till the .xiiij. day of that moneth being Thurſday, on the whiche daye with great daunger, [...] arriueth [...] the head of [...]ber. 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, eche one ſeuered frō other, ſo that of neceſſitie they were driuen to land in ſunder where they beſt might, for doubt to be caſt away in that perillous tempeſt,

[...]e hadeth at [...]eaſpurre.The king with the Lord Haſtings his chamberlaine, and other to the number of fiue hundred men being in one ſhip, landed within Humber on Holderneſſe ſide, at a place called Rauenſpurre, euen in the ſame place where Henrie Erle of Darbie, after called k. Henrie the fourth, landed, when hee came to depriue king Richarde the ſecond of the crowne, and to vſurpe it to himſelfe.

Richarde Duke of Glouceſter, and three hundred men in his companie, toke land in an other 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, fourtene miles from the hauē where the king came a land. The reſidue of his people landed ſome here ſome there in places where for theyr ſuretyes they thought beſt.

On the morow being the .xv. of March, nowe that the tempeſt ceaſed, and euery man being got to land, they drewe from euerye of their landing places towardes the king, who for the firſt nyght was lodged in a poore village two miles frō the place where he firſt ſet foote on land.

As touching the folkes of the Countrey, there came few or none to him, for by the incenſing of ſuch as had bene ſent into thoſe parties from the Erle of Warwike and other his aduerſaries, the people were ſhrewdly induced to ſtande agaynſte him. But yet in reſpect of the good will that many of them had borne to hys father, they coulde haue beene content, that hee ſhoulde haue enioyed his ryght to his dewe enheritaunce of the Duchie of Yorke, but in no wyſe to the tytle of the Crowne. And herevppon they ſuffered hym to paſſe, not ſeeking to annoy him, till they myght vnderſtande more of his purpoſed meaning.

The king perceyuing howe the people were bent, noyſed it abroade that hee came to make none other chalenge, but to hys inheritaunce of the Duchie of Yorke, and withall ment to paſſe firſt vnto the Citie of Yorke, and ſo forward towardes London, to encounter with hys aduerſaryes, that were in the South partes: For although his neareſt way had beene through Lincolnſhyre, yet bycauſe in taking that waye hee muſte haue gane agayne to the water, in paſſing ouer Humber, be doubted leaſte it woulde haue beene thought, that he had withdrawne himſelfe to the ſea for feare, and ſo to auoyde the rumours that might haue beene ſpredde therof, to the hynderaunce of his whole cauſe, he refuſed that way and tooke this other, ſtill broyting it (as before we ſayde) that his comming was not to chalenge the Crowne, but onely to bee reſtored vnto hys lawfull right and inheritaunce of the Duchie of Yorke, which was diſcended to him from his father: and here it ſeemed that the colour of iuſtice hath euer ſuche a force in it ſelfe, amongeſt all men, that where before fewe or none of the commons coulde be founde that woulde offer themſelues to take his parte, yet nowe that hee did (as they thought) clayme nothing but that which was his right, they began ſtreyght to haue a lyking of his cauſe. And where there were gathered to the number of ſix or ſeuen thouſande men in dyuerſe places, vnder the leading chiefely of a Prieſt, and of a Gentleman called Martine de la Mare,Martyn de la Mare or Martyne of the ſea in purpoſe to haue ſtopped his paſſage: now the ſame perſons tooke occaſion to aſſiſt him, and when hee perceyued mens myndes to bee well qualifyed wyth this feyned deuice, he marched forth till hee came to Beuerley, whiche ſtoode in his direct way as hee paſſed towardes Yorke.He paſſeth towardes Yorke. He ſent alſo to Kingſtone vpon Hull, diſtant from thence a ſixe myle, willing that hee might be there receyued, but the inhabitants who had beene laboured by his aduerſaries, refuſed in any wiſe to graunt therevnto.

The Earle of Warwike aduertiſed by Meſſengers of king Edwardes arriuall, and of his turning toward Yorke, with all haſt wrote to his brother the Marques Montacute, who hadde layne at the Caſtell of Pomfret all the laſte Winter, wyth a greate number of Souldiers, willing hym to conſider in what caſe theyr affayres ſtoode, and therevpon with all ſpeede to ſette vppon King Edwarde, or elſe to keepe the paſſages, and to ſtay him from comming any further forwarde, tyll hee himſelfe as then being in Warwikeſhyre buſie to aſſemble an armye, myght come to hys ayde with the ſame.

But this notwythſtanding, although there were greate companies of people of the Countreyes thereaboutes aſſembled, they came not yet in ſight of the King, but ſuffred hym quietly to paſſe, eyther bycauſe they were perſwaded that hee ment (as hee in outwarde wordes pretended) not to clayme any tytle to the Crowne, but onely his ryght to the Duchie of Yorke, or elſe for that they doubted to ſette vppon hym, although his number were farre vnequall to theirs, knowing that not onely he himſelfe, but alſo hys companie were mynded to ſell theyr liues dearelye before they woulde ſhrynke an ynche from any that was to encounter them. It maye bee that dyuerſe of the Captaynes alſo were corrupted: and although outwardly they ſhewed to bee agaynſt him, yet in heart they bare him good wil, and in no wiſe minded to hinder him.

K. Edward with out interruption paſſeth forward to YorkeSo, forwarde hee marched, tyll bee came to Yorke, on a Monday beyng the eightenth day of Marche.

Before hee came to the Citie by the ſpace of three Myles, the Recorder of Yorke, whoſe name was Thomas Coniers (one knowne in deede not to beare hym any faythfull good will) came to hym,Th. Conyers recorder of Yorke and gaue him to vnderſtande, that it ſtoode in no wiſe with his ſuretie, to preſume to approche the Citie, for eyther hee ſhould bee kept oute by force, or if he did enter, hee ſhoulde bee in daunger to be caſt awaye by hys aduerſaries that were within.

King Edwarde neuertheleſſe ſithe hee was come thus farre forwarde, knewe well ynoughe there was no going backe for him, but manfully to proceede forwarde with hys begunne [...] and therefore kepte on hys waye, and ſho[...] after there came to him out of the Citie, Robert Clyfforde, and Rycharde Bourgh, who affirm him that in the quarell whiche hee pretended to purſue, to witte, for the obteyning of hys right to the Duchie of Yorke, he ſhoulde not ſayle, but be receyued into the Citie: but immediately after came the ſayde Coniers agayne with the like tale and information as hee had brought before, and thus King Edwarde one while put in comforte, and an other while diſcouraged, marched forth till he came to the gates of the Citie, where his people ſtayed whyleſt hee and aboute .xvj. or xvij. other ſuch as hee thoughte meeteſt,King Edw[...] commeth [...] to Yorke. w[...]e forth, and entred the Citie wyth the ſayde Clifforde and Bourgh, and (as ſome wryte) there was a prieſt ready to ſay Maſſe, in which Maſſe tyme the King receyued the Sacrament of the Communion,He receiued an othe. and there ſolemnly ſware to keepe and obſerue two ſpeciall Articles: although it was far vnlyke that he mynded to obſerue eyther of them: the one was that hee ſhoulde vſe the Citizens after a gentle and courteous maner: and the other, that hee ſhoulde bee faythfull and obedient vnto King Henries commaundementes. For this wilfull periurie (as hath beene thought) the iſſue of this king ſuffered for theyr fathers offence, the depriuation not onelye of landes and worldlye poſſeſſions, but alſo of theyr naturall lyues by theyr cruell Vncle king Richarde the thirde.

When king Edwarde had thus gotten into the Citie of Yorke, he made ſuch meanes among the Citizens, that he got of them a certaine ſum of money, and leauing a garniſon within the citie contrarie to his othe, for feare leaſt the Citizens after his departure, might happily moue ſome rebellion aginſt him, he ſette forwarde the next day towards Tadcaſter, a towne .x. miles from thence, belonging to the Erle of Northumberland. The next day he tooke his way towards Wakefielde, and Sendall, a Caſtell and Lordſhip belonging to the inheritaunce of the Dukes of Yorke, leauing the Caſtell of Pomfret vpon his left hande,The Ma[...] Monta[...] feeth king E[...] ward to p[...] by hym. where the Marques Mon[...]e with his armie lay, and did not once offer to ſtop him. Whether the Marques ſuffred him ſo paſſe by ſo, with his good will or no, diuerſe haue dyuerſly coniectured. Some thinke that it lay not in the power of the Marques greatly to annoy him, doth for that the king was wel beloued in thoſe parties, and againe all the Nobles and common there for the moſt part were towardes the Earle of Northumberlande, and wythoute him or his commaundement they were not willing to ſturre. And therefore the Erle in ſitting ſtill & not mouing to or fro, was thought to do K. Edward as good ſeruice as if he had come to him, and rayſed people to aſſyſt him, for diuerſe happilye that ſhoulde haue come with him, remembring diſpleaſures paſte, woulde not haue beene ſo faythful as the Erle himſelfe, if it had come to the iumpe of any hazarde of battaile.

About Wake fielde and the partes there adioyning, ſome companie of his friendes came to him, whereby his power was encreaſed, but nothing in ſuch numbers as he looked for. From Wakefielde he croſſed on the left hand, ſo to come againe into the high way, [...] Edwarde [...] to [...]on. and came to Doncaſter, and frō thence vnto Notingham. Here came to him ſir William Parre, and ſir Iames Harrington, with ſix hundred men well armed and appoynted: alſo there came to him ſir Thomas a Bourgh, [...]d. and ſir Thomas Montgomerie with their aydes, which cauſed him at theyr firſt comming to make Proclamation in his owne name, to witte, of King Edwarde the fourth, boldely affyrming to him, that they would ſerue no mā but a king.

Whileſt he remayned at Notingham, and alſo before he came there, hee ſent abrode diuerſe of his auaunt courrers to diſcouer the countrey, and to vnderſtande if there were anye power gathered agaynſt him. Some of them that were thus ſent aproched to Newarke, and vnderſtoode that within the towne there, the duke of Exceter, the erle of Oxford,The Duke of [...] with a [...]er at [...]ke. the lord Bardolfe, & other were lodged with a great power to the number of four M. men, whiche they had aſſembled in Eſſex, Norffolke, Suffolke, and in the ſhires of Cambridge, Huntington, and Lincolne.

The duke of Exceter and the Erle of Oxford, and other the chiefe chaptains aduertiſed that K. Edwards foreriders had bene afore the towne in the Euening, ſuppoſed verily that hee and his whole armie were comming towards thē, whervpon they, not thinking it good to abide longer there, determined with al ſpeed to diſlodge, and ſo about two of the clocke after midnight they departed from Newarke, leauing ſome of theyr people behinde, which either ſtate away from thē, and taried of purpoſe, or could not get away ſo ſoone as their fellowes. In deede the for[...]riders that ſo diſcouered them within the towne of Newarke aduertiſed the king thereof in al poſt haſt, who incontinently aſſembled his people, and forthwith marched towards them: but before hee came within three miles of the towne, hee had knowledge that they were fl[...]dde and gone from Newarke, wherevpon be returned again to Notingham, intending to keepe on his neareſt waye towardes the Earle of Warwike, whom he vnderſtood to be departed from London, and to bee come into Warwikeſhyre, where and in the Countreys adioyning he was buſied in lenying an army, with the which he purpoſed to diſtreſſe him.

The King then from Notingham came to Leyceſter, where three thouſande able men,King Edwarde commeth to Leyceſter. and well furniſhed for the warre came vnto him. Theſe were ſuch as he knewe would liue and die in his quarell, the moſt parte of them belonging vnto the Lorde Haſtings the kings Chamberlaine. And thus he being more ſtrongly accompanied than before, departed from Leyceſter,The earle of Warwick in Couentry. and came before the walles of the Citie of Couentrie the, xxix. day of March.

The Earle of Warwike was withdrawne into this Citie, keeping himſelfe encloſed therein with his people, beeing in number ſixe or ſeuen thouſande men.

The king ſent to him, and willed him to come forth into the fielde, and there to make an ende of the quarell in plaine battaile: but the Erle at that preſent refuſed ſo to do.King Edwarde prouoketh the erle of Warwicke to fight. For although vnder pretence of king Henries authoritie, he was reputed the kings generall lieutenant of the whole realm, whereby he had got ſuch power togither, as was thought able ynough to matche with the King for number, yet bycauſe hee doubted howe they were bent in his fauour, hee durſt not commytte the matter vnto the doubtfull chaunce of a battayle, till he had more of hys truſtie friendes about him.

The king therefore three dayes togither prouoked him to come forth,Hee cometh to Warwicke. but when hee ſawe it would not be he remoued to Warwike an eight myles from Couentrie, where hee was receyued as king, and ſo made his Proclamations from that tyme forth in all places where he came, vnder his accuſtomed name and tytle of king. Hee lodged here at Warwicke, the rather (as was thought) to prouoke the Earle to iſſue forth of Couentrie to giue him battaile, howbeit that deuiſe nothing auayled: but yet there came dayly dyuerſe perſons on the Earles behalfe to treate with the king about a peace,A [...]reaty for peace. that ſome good compoſition might haue bene concluded, and the king for the aduauncement of peace and tranquilitie within the realme, offred large conditions, as a free pardon of life to the Erle and all his people, with many other beneficiall Articles on their behalfes, which to manye ſeemed verie reaſonable, conſidering their heynous offences. But the Erle would not accept anye offers, except hee might haue compounded ſo as it pleaſed himſelfe, and as was thought in no wiſe to ſtande with the kings honour, and ſuretie of his eſtate.

In this meane while, the Earle of Warwike ſtill looked for the Duke of Clarence,The Duke of Clarence. who by the ſayde Earles appoyntment had aſſembled a power of men of warre about London: but whē the Erle perceyued that the Duke lingered forth the tyme, and did not vſe ſuch diligence as was requiſite, as one that had bene in doubt of warre or peace, he began to ſuſpect that the Duke was of his brother corrupted, and therin he was nothing deceyued: for true it is, that whileſt the king was as yet beyond the ſeas, in the Dominion of the duke of Burgongne, the duke of Clarence began to wey with himſefe the greate inconuenience into the which aſwell his brother King Edwarde, as himſelfe and his yonger brother the Duke of Glouceſter were fallen, through the diſſention betwixt them (which had bene compaſſed & brought to paſſe by the politique working of the Earle of Warwicke and hys complices) as fyrſt the diſinheriting of them all from theyr rightfull tytle to the Crowne, ſecondlye the mortall and deteſtable warre, that coulde not but enſue betwixt them to ſuche miſchiefe, that to whether part the victorie enclyned, the victorer ſhould remaine in no more ſuretie of his owne perſon or eſtate after the vpper hande gotte, than before: and thirdly he well perceyued alreadie, that hee was had in great ſuſpition, and not heartily beloued of anye the Lordes and Rulers that were aſſured partakers with king Henry and the Lancaſtrian faction, inſomuch they ſticked not dayly to goe about to breake and make voyde the appoyntments, articles, and couenants, made and promiſed to him, and of likelyhoode would dayly more and more intende thereto, for in truth hee ſawe that they purpoſed nothing ſo much as the deſtruction both of him and of all his bloud, all which things throughly conſidered, with many other as they were layde afore him, by right wiſe and circumſpect perſons, which in this behalf had cōference with him, he conſented that by ſome ſecret wayes and meanes a recōciliation might be had betwixt him and his brethren, the king & the duke of Glouceſter, the whiche to bring to ſome good and full effect, theſe honourable perſonages following became dealers therein. Firſt of all the duches of Yorke their mother, the duches of Exceter, and the duches of Suffolke their ſiſters, the Lorde Cardinall of Canterburie, the Biſhop of Bathe, the Earle of Eſſex, but moſt eſpeciallye the Duches of Burgongne their ſiſter alſo, and diuerſe other right wiſe and prudent perſonages,Prieſts vſed for priuy meſſengers. who wrought by mediation of certaine Prieſtes, and other ſuche as they vſed for meſſengers betwixt them.

Finally by the earneſt trauaile and diligence ſhewed by the ſayd Duches of Burgongne (who inceſſantly ſent to & fro ſuch hir truſtie Meſſengers now to the king being on that ſide the ſeas,King Edward and his brother of Clarēce reconciled vnwitting to the erle of Warwike. and then to the Duke remayning here in Englande) at length they were made friendes, and a perfect agreement concluded and ratifyed, wyth aſſurance betwixt them ſo ſtrongly as might be, to the furthering whereof the Kings Chamberlaine the Lorde Haſtings fayled not to doe hys beſt, ſo as by his good diligence, it was thought the king was the ſooner induced to wiſhe to ioyne eſtſoones in true friendſhip with his ſayde brother of Clarence.

And as it well appeared the Duke of Clarence acquit himſelfe faythfully therein: for hearing now that his brother king Edwarde was landed and cōming forwards towards London, he gathered his people,The dili[...] lation of th[...] D. of Clare[...] outwardly pretending to paſſe with them to the ayde of the Erle of Warwike agaynſt his brother, although impartly hee ment the contrarie, and ſo accompanied wyth aboue foure thouſande men, he marched forth towardes the place, where he thought to finde hys brother.

King Edwarde being then at Warwike, and vnderſtanding that his brother of Clarence approched, in an after noone iſſued forth of that towne with all his forces, and paſſed on till hee came into a fayre large fielde three myles diſtant from Warwike towards Banburie, where hee might beholde his brother of Clarence in good array of battayle, comming towards him.

When they were now within halfe a mile approched togither, the king placed his people in order of battaile, vnder their banners, and ſo left the ſtanding ſtill, and appoynted them to keepe their grounde, whileſt he taking with him hys brother of Glouceſter, the Lorde Riuers, the Lorde Haſtings, and a fewe other, went forth to meete hys brother of Clarence: and in like ſort the Duke of Clarence tooke with him a fewe of the Nobilitie that were about him, and leauing his armye in good order departed from them to meet the king, & ſo they met betwixt both the hoſts with ſo ſweete ſalutations, louing demeanor,The breth[...] meete louingly together. & good countenances, as better might not bee deuiſed betwyxt brethren of ſo highe and noble eſtate: and beſydes that, the lyke friendly entertainment, and courteous demeanour appeared in the ſalutings of the other Noble men, that were on them abundant, whereof al ſuch as ſawe it, and loued them, greatly reioyced, gyuing God thankes for that ioyfull meeting, vnitie, and concorde, appearing thus manyfeſtly betwixte them, and herewyth the Trumpettes and other Inſtrumentes ſounded, and the King withall brought the d[...]e vnto his armie, whom he ſaluting in moſt courteous wyſe, welcomed them into the lande, and they humbly thanking him, did to him ſuch reuerence as apperteyned.

This done, the K. leauing his hoſt again keeping their ground w^t the ſame few perſons which he toke with him before, went with his brother of Clarence vnto his armie, and ſaluting thē with ſweete & courteous words, was ioyfully of them welcomed, and ſo after this, they all came togyther ioyning in one, and either part ſhewing thē ſelues glad thus to meete as friends with the other, they went louingly togither vnto Warwik with the king, where and in the countrey thereaboutes they lodged as they thought ſtoode moſt with their caſe and ſafeties.

Herewith the Duke of Clarence deſyrous aboue all things to procure ſome good and perfite accorde, betwixte hys brother the King, and the Erle of Warwike (which ſhould bring great quietneſſe to the lande, and delyuer the common wealth of many daungers that myght enſue by reaſon of ſuche numbers of partakers, as well Lordes as other that were confederate with the Earle) the ſayde Duke treated with the Kyng preſent,The Duke of C[...]ce ſee [...] make peace betwixt [...]he Land the E[...] Warwik. and ſent meſſengers vnto Couentrie to the Earle, moouing as well the one as the other moſt inſtantly to frame theyr mindes 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 woulde haue accepted them: but the Earle whether vtterly diſpayring of his owne ſafetie, if hee ſhoulde agree to any peace, or elſe happily for that he thought it ſtoode with his honour to ſtand vnto ſuch promiſes and couenaunts as hee had made with the French King, and with Queene Margaret, & hir ſon prince, Edward, vnto whom he was bounde by othe not to ſhrinke or ſwarue from the ſame, he refuſed all maner of ſuche conditions as were offred.

Inſomuch that when the Duke had ſent to him, both to excuſe himſelfe of the act whiche he had done, and alſo to require him to take ſome good waye wyth King Edwarde, nowe while he myght, the Erle after hee had paciently hearde the Dukes meſſage, hee ſeemed greatlye to abhorre his vnfaythfull dealing, in turning thus from hys confederates and alies, contrarie to his othe and fidelitie.

To the meſſengers (as ſome write,) hee gaue none other anſwere but this,The erle of Warwicks an [...]re to the Duke of Cla [...]ce meſſage that he had leuer bee like himſelfe, than like a falſe and periured Duke, and that he was fully determined neuer to leaue warre, till he had either loſt his own life, or vtterly ſubdued his enimies.

As it was thought, the Erle of Oxfords perſwaſion wanted not, to make him the more ſtifly to hold out, and rather to trie the vttermoſt hazard of war, than to agree to acknowledge K. Edward for his lawfull ſoueraigne lord & king. Whervpon no appoyntment nor any agreement at all could be brought to paſſe, & ſo al that treaty which the duke of Clarence had procured, brake off and tooke none effect.

There came to the Erle of Warwike whileſt he lay thus at Couentrie, beſide the Erle of Oxford, the duke of Exceter, & the Lorde Marques Montacute, by whoſe comming that ſide was greatly ſtrengthned, & the nūber much encreaſed.

The K. vpon conſideration hereof, and perceiuing he could not get the Earle to come forth of Couentrie, departed from Warwike, and eſtſoones ſhewing himſelf with his people before the Citie of Couentrie, deſired the erle and his power to come forth into the fields, that they might end their quarel by battel: which the erle and the other lords with him vtterly refuſed as thē to do. This was y^e .v. of April being Friday.King Edwarde paſſeth towards Londō. An. reg. 11. The K. herevpō was reſolued to march towards London, where his principall aduerſarie king Henry remayned, vſing his kingly authoritie by diuerſe ſuch of the nobilitie as were about him, wherby K. Edward was barred and diſappoynted of many aydes & aſſiſtants, which he was ſure to haue, if he coulde once breake that force of the royal authoritie, that was ſtill thus exerciſed agaynſt him in K. Henries name. Wherefore (by the [...] of his brethren and other of his counſaile) accordingly as it had bene ordeined before this his laſt [...]ting forth frō Warwik, he kept on his way towards Londō, cōming to Dātrie on the Saterday at night, and on the morow being Palmſonday, he hearde ſeruice in y^e church there, & after[...]d vnto Northāpton, where he was ioyfully receyued. Frō thence he toke the next way towardes London, leauing continually behind him as he paſſed forth a competēt band of ſpeares & archers, to be at back [...] of y^e erle of Warwiks people, as peraduenture be might ſend abrode to trouble him & his army by the waye. In this meane while, that things paſſed in maner as before ye haue heard, Ed[...]d duke of Somerſet, & his brother Iohn Marques Dorſet, Tho. Courtney erle of Deuonſhire, & other being at London, had knowledge by aduertiſemēts out of France, that Q. Margaret with hir ſon prince Edward, the coūteſſe of Warwik, the prior of S. Iohns, the L. Wenlocke, & diuerſe other their adherents and partakers, with al that they might make, were ready at y^e ſea ſide, purpoſing with al ſpeede to ſaile ouer into England, & to arriue in the weſt coūtrey wherevpon they departed forth of London, and with al haſt poſſible drew weſtwarde, there to raiſe what forces they could, to ioine with thoſe their friends immediatly after they ſhould ouer come to land, & ſo to aſſiſt thē againſt K. Edward & his partakers.

True it is, that the Queene with hir ſon, and the other perſones before mentioned, tooke theyr ſhippes, the .xxiiij. daye of Marche, continuyng on the Seas before they coulde lande (throughe tempeſtes and contrary windes) by the ſpace of twentie dayes, that is tyll the thirtenth of Aprill, on which day, or rather on the fourtenth they landed at Weymouth, as after ſhall appeare: but now touching king Edwardes proceeding forward on his iourney towards London, yet haue to vnderſtand, that vpon the Tueſday the .ix. of Aprill he came to Saint Albons, from whence he ſent comfortable aduertiſements to the Queene his wife, remayning within the Sanctuarie at Weſtminſter, & to other his faythfull friendes in and about Lōdon, to vnderſtand by co[...]ext meanes how to deale to obteyne the fauor of the Citizens, ſo as he might be of them receyued. The Erle of Warwike vnderſtanding all his doings and purpoſes, wrote to the Londoners, willing & charging them in any wife to kepe king Edward out of their citie, & in no condition to permit him to enter:The Archbi. of Yorke. and withall he ſent to his brother the Archb. of Yorke, willing him by al meanes poſſible to perſwade the Lōdoners not to receiue him, but to defend the Citie agaynſt him for y^e ſpace of two or three dayes at the leaſt, promiſing not to faile but to come after him, & to be readie to aſſaile him on the back, not doubting but wholy to diſtreſſe his power, & to bring him to vtter confuſion. The Archb. herevpon the .ix. of Aprill, called vnto him at Paules, all ſuch Lords, knights, and gentlemen, & other that were partakers on y^e ſide, to the number in all of ſix or ſeuen thouſand men in armor, and herewith cauſed king Henrie to mount on horſebacke, and to ride from Paules through Cheepe down to Walbroke,King Henry ſheweth his ſelfe to the Londoners. & ſo to fetch a compaſſe as the cuſtome was when they made their general Proceſſions, returning backe againe to Paules vnto the Biſhoppes Palace, where at that time he was lodged.

The Archbiſhop ſuppoſed that ſhewing the king thus riding through the ſtreetes, hee ſhoulde haue allured the Citizens to aſſyſt his part. True it is that the Maior and Aldermen had cauſed the gates to be kept with watch and warde: but now they well perceyued that king Henries power was to weake, as by that ſhewe it had well appeared, to make full reſiſtance againſt K. Edwarde, and ſo not for them to truſt vnto, if King Edward came forward, & ſhould attempt to enter the Citie by force: for it was not vnknowne vnto them, that many of the worſhipfull Citizens, and other of the Commons in great numbers, were fully bent to ayde king Edward, in all that they might, as occaſion ſerued.

Thus what through loue that many bare to King Edwarde, and what through feare that diuerſe ſtoode in, leaſt the Citie beeing taken by force myght happily haue beene put to the ſacke, with the loſſe of many an innocent mannes life, the Maior,The Londoners reſolue to receyue K. Edwarde. Aldermen, and other the worſhipfull of the Citie fell at a poynt among themſelues, to keepe the Citie to king Edwardes vſe, ſo as hee might haue free paſſage and entrie into the ſame at his pleaſure.

The Archbiſhop of Yorke perceyuing the affections of the people,The Archbi. of Yorke. and howe the moſt part of them were now bent in fauour of king Edwarde vppon the ſayde Kings approche towardes the Citie, he ſent forth ſecretely a Meſſenger to him, beſeeching hym to receyue him againe into hys fauour, promyſing to bee faythfull to hym in tyme to come, and to acquitte this good turne hereafter wyth ſome ſingular benefite and pleaſure.

The king vpon good cauſes and conſiderations therevnto him mouing, was contented to receyue him againe into his fauour. The Archb. hereof aſſured, reioyced greatly, and well & truely acquit 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.The to[...] [...] couered to [...] Edwards vſe. And on the morrow being Thurſday, and the .xj. of Aprill, king Edward quietly made his entrie into the Citie with his power,King Edw[...] entreth into London. hauing fiue .C. ſmokie gunners marching foremoſt being ſtrangers, of ſuch as he had brought ouer with him. He firſt rode to Paules Church, and from thence he went to the Biſhops Palace, where the Archb. of York preſented himſelf vnto him, and hauing K. Hērie by the hand, deliuered him vnto king Edwarde,King Henry [...] deliuered [...] him. who being ſeaſed of his perſon, and diuerſe other his aduerſaries, he went from Paules to Weſtmynſter, where he made his deuout prayers, gyuing God moſt hearty thanks for his ſafe returne thither againe.

This done, he went to the Queene to comfort hir, who with greate pacience had abidden there a long time, as a Sanctuarie woman, for doubt of hir enimies, and in the mean ſeaſon was deliuered of a yong Prince, which ſhee nowe preſented vnto him, to his great heartes reioycing and comfort. From Weſtminſter the king returned that night vnto London againe, hauing the Queene with him, and lodged in the houſe of the Duches his mother.

On the morrow being good Fryday, he tooke aduiſe with the Lordes of his bloud, and other of his counſayle, for ſuch buſineſſe as he had in ha[...], namely howe to ſubdue ſuche his enimies as ſought his deſtruction.

The Earle of Warwike calling himſelfe lieutenant of England vnder the pretenſed authoritie of king Henrie, hoping that King Edwarde ſhoulde haue much a doe to enter into London, marched forth from Couentrie with all his puiſſance, following the king by Northāton,The earle of Warwike [...] loweth the [...] in hope to haue ſome great aduantage to aſſaile him, ſpecially if the Londoners kept him out of their city, as he truſted they would, for then hee accounted himſelf ſure of the vpper hand, or if he were of thē receyued, yet hee hoped to find him vnprouided in celebrating the feaſt of Eaſter, and ſo by ſetting vppon him on the ſodaine, hee doubted not by that meanes to diſtreſſe him: but K. Edward hauing intelligence of the Earles intention, prouided all things neceſſarie for battaile, & hearing that the Erle of Warwike was now come vnto Saint Albons with his armie, he determined to marche forth to encounter him before hee ſhoulde approche neare the Citie.

[...] The Earle of Warwike, accompanied with Iohn Duke of Exceter, Edmond Duke of Somerſet, Iohn Earle of Oxford, and Iohn Neuill Marques Montacute his brother, vnderſtanding that king Edward was not onely receyued into London, but alſo had got king Henrie into his hands, perceyued that the tryall of the matter muſt needes bee committed to the hazard of battell, and therefore being come to the towne of S. Albons, he reſted there a while, partly to refreſhe his ſouldiers, and partly to take counſaile how to proceed in his enterprice. At length, although he knew that his brother the Marques Montacute was not fully wel perſwaded w^t himſelf, to like of this quarell which they had in hand, yet the brotherly affection betwixt them tooke away all ſuſpition from the Earle, and ſo he vtterly reſolued to giue battaile, and thervpon remoued towards Bernet, a towne ſtanding in the midway betwixt London and Saint Albons aloft on a hill, at the ende whereof towardes Saint Albones there is a fayre plaine for two armyes to meete vpon,Gladmore [...]th. named Gladmoore heath. On the further ſide of which plaine towardes Saint Albons the Erle pight his campe.

King Edwarde on the other part being furniſhed with a mightie army (hauing ioyned to that power which he brought with him certaine new ſupplies) vpon Eaſter euen the .xiij. of April in the after noone marched forth, hauing his ſayd army deuided into foure battailes.The ordering [...] the kings [...]y. He tooke with hym king Henrie, and came that euening vnto Bernet, tenne ſmall myles diſtant from London, in which towne his foreryders finding certaine of the Erle of Warwikes foreryders, bet them out, and chaſed them ſomewhat further than halfe a myle from the Towne, where by an Hedge ſide they founde readie aſſembled a great number of the Earle of Warwikes people.

The King after this comming to Bernet, woulde not ſuffer a manne to remayne in the Towne (that were of his hoſte) but commaunded them all to the fielde, and with them drewe towardes hys enimyes, and lodged wyth hys armye more nearer to them than hee was aware of, [...]ng Edward [...] [...]tore [...]les. by reaſon it was darke, ſo as hee coulde not well deſcerne where they were encamped, fortifying the fielde the beſt hee coulde for feare of ſome ſodaine inuaſion.

He tooke his grounde not ſo euen afore them as hee woulde haue done, it be might, haue diſcouered the place, where they had lyne, and by reaſon thereof he encamped ſomewhat aſyde [...]e of them, cauſing his people to keepe as much ſilence as was poſſible.

They had great artillerie on both partes,Artillerie. but the Earle was better furniſhed therewith than the king and therefore in the nighte ti[...] th[...] ſhotte off from his camp[...] in ma[...] continuedly, but doing [...] hurt to the kings [...] ſhooting them by reaſon they lay muche meane than the Erle or any of his men [...] eſteeme, and ſuche ſilence was kept in the Kings campe, that no noyſe bewrayed them w[...]te they lay for to the ende it ſhoulde not bee knowne to the enimyes, howe near the King wyth his armie was lodged vnto them,A good pollicy the King woulde not ſuffer any of hys Gunnes in all that nyght to bee ſhot off, leaſt thereby they myghte haue geſſ[...] the ground, and ſo leuelled theyr Artillarie to his a[...] noyance.

Earely on the nexte morning betwixt foure and fiue of the Clocke, notwithſtanding there was a greate myſte that letted the fight of bothe partes to diſcouer the fieldes, the king aduaunced hys Banners, & cauſed his Trumpettes to ſounde to the battaile.

On the other part, the Erle of Warwike at the verie breake of the day,Hall. had likewiſe ſet hys men in order of battaile in this maner:

In the right wing hee placed the Marques Montacute,The order of the battel of both ſides. and the Earle of Oxforde with certaine horſemen, and he with the Duke of Exceter tooke the left wing, and in the myddeſt betwene both, he ſet Archers, appoynting the duke of Somerſet to guide them as their chieftaine.

King Edwarde had ſet the duke of Glouceſter in the foreward, the middleward he himſelfe with the duke of Clarence, hauing with them King Henrie, did rule and gouerne. The Lorde Haſtings led the rerewarde, and beſide theſe three battails he kept a companie of freſh men in ſtore, which did him greate pleaſure before the ende of the battaile.

Here is to be remembred, that aſwell the king on his parte, as the Earle of Warwike on hys, vſed many cōfortable wordes to encourage their people, not forgetting to ſet forth theyr quarels as iuſt and lawfull, the king naming his aduerſaries traytours and rebels, and the Erle accounting him a tyrant, and a torcious vſurper. But when the tyme came that they once got ſight eyther of other, the battel began very ſharpe & cruel, firſt wyth ſhotte, and after by ioyning at hande blowes. At the fyrſt yet they ioyned not front to frōt, as they ſhould haue done, by reaſon of the myſt that tooke away the ſight of eyther armye, and ſuffred the one not to diſcerne perfectlye the order of the other, inſomuche that the one ende of the Earle of Warwikes armie ouerraught the contrarie ende of the Kings battaile whiche ſtoode Weſtward and by reaſon thereof through the valiancie of the Earle of Oxforde that ledde the Earles vowarde,The valiancie of the erle of Oxforde. the Kings people on that part were ouermatched, ſo that manye of them fled towardes Barnet, and ſo to London, bringing newes that the Earle of Warwike hadde wonne the fielde.

The Earles men in deede followed freely in chaſe of thoſe, that were thus put to the worſe, and ſlue many of them, but the reſidue of thoſe that fought in other partes coulde not perceyue this diſtreſſe of the Kings people, bycauſe the thicke myſte woulde not ſuffer them to ſee anye ſpace, farre off, but onelye at hande, and ſo the kings battaile that ſaw not any thing what was done beſide them, was nothing diſcouraged. For a few excepted, that ſtoode next to that part, there was not any one that wyſt of that diſcomfiture, and the other of the Erle of Warwikes men, that fought in other places ſomewhat diſtant from them,The manfull courage of the Erle of Warwike were nothing the more encouraged by this proſperous ſucceſſe of theyr fellowes, for they perceyued it not. And in like caſe as at the Weſt ende the Earles battaile ouerreached the Kings, ſo at the Eaſt ende the Kings ouerreached the Earles, and with like ſucceſſe put the Erles people in that place to the worſe. At length after ſore fight, and great ſlaughter made on both ſides king Edwarde hauing the greater number of men (as ſome write, though other affyrme the contracie) beganne ſomewhat to preuaile: but the Earle on the other ſyde remembring his ancient fame and renowme, manfully ſtucke to it, and encouraged his people ſtill ſupplying wyth newe ſuccours in places where hee ſawe expedient, and ſo the ſight renued more cruel, fierce, and bloudie than before, inſomuche that the victorie remayned ſtill doubtfull, though they had fought from morning till it was now farre in the day.

K. Edward therefore willing to make an ende of ſo long a conflict, cauſed a new power of freſh men (which he had for this purpoſe kept in ſtore) to ſet on his enimies. The Erle of Warwicke was nothing abaſhed herewith, but vnderſtanding that this was all the reſidue of King Edwardes power, comforted his men to beare oute this laſt brunt, and in ſo doing the victorie was ſure on their ſide, and the battayle at an ende: but King Edwarde ſo manfully and valiauntly aſſayled hys aduerſaryes, in the myddle and ſtrongeſt part of theyr battayle, that with great violence he bare downe all that ſtoode in his way, for hee was followed and aſſyſted by a number of moſte hardye and faythfull menne of warre, that ſhewed notable proufe of tried manhoode in that inſtant neceſſitie.

The Earle of Warwike, (when his ſouldiers awearyed with long fight, and ſore weakened wyth woundes and hurtes receyued in the battaile) gaue little heede to his wordes, (beeing a man of an inuincible ſtomacke) ruſhed into the middeſt of his enimies, whereas he (aduenturing ſo farre from his companie, to kill and ſlea his aduerſaryes,The Earle of Warwicke ſlaine. that hee coulde not bee reſkued) was amongeſt the preaſſe of his enimyes ſtriken downe and ſlaine.

The Marques Montacute thinking to ſuccour his brother,The Marques Montacute ſlayne. was likewiſe ouerthrowne and ſlain, with many other of good calling, as knights and Eſquiers, beſide other Gentlemen.

Some write that this battaile was ſo driuen to the vttermoſt point, that king Edward himſelfe was conſtrained to fight in his own perſon, and that the Erle of Warwike which was wont euer to ride on horſbacke from place to place, and from ranke to ranke, comforting his men, was now aduiſed by y^e Marques his brother, to leaue his horſe, and to trie the extremitie by hand, ſtrokes.The number ſlaine at Ber [...]ld. On both parties were ſlaine (as Hall hath) ten thouſande at the leaſt, where Fabian ſayth but .xv.C. and ſomewhat aboue. Other wryte that there dyed in all about three thouſand.

Vpon the kings part were ſlaine, the Lorde Crumwell, the Lord Say, the Lorde Montioys ſonne and heyre, ſir Humfrey Bourchier ſonne to the L. Berners, & diuerſe other knights, eſquiers, and gentlemen. The battaile dured the ſpace of three houres very doubtfull by reaſon of the miſt, & in ſkirmiſhing and fighting, now in this place now in that, but finally the victorie fell on the Kings ſide, and yet it could not bee eſteemed that his whole armie paſſed nine thouſande fighting men, (as ſome wryte) where his aduerſaryes (as by the ſame wryters appeareth) were farre aboue that number. But bycauſe thoſe that ſo wryte, ſeeme altogyther to fauour King Edwarde, we may beleue as we liſt.

The Duke of Somerſet, and the Earle of Oxforde fledde in companie of certaine Northren menne, whiche hadde beene at the battayle,The Duke of Sommerſet & the Erle of Oxford. and as ſome wryte, the Earle of Oxford kepte forth wyth them, and retyred after into Scotlande, but yet as well the Duke of Somerſet, as the ſayd Erle of Oxforde in fleeing towarde Scotlande, [...]hal. changed their purpoſe vpon the way, and turned into Wales to Iaſper Earle of Pembroke.

The Duke of Exceter being ſtryken downe and ſore wounded,The Duke of Exceter. was left, for deade in the field, amongſt other the dead bodies, bycauſe hee was not knowne, and by reaſon thereof comming to himſelfe, got vp, and in greate daunger eſcaped vnto Weſtminſter, and there tooke Sanctuarie.

[...]d.King Edwarde hauing got this victorie, refreſhing himſelfe and his people a while at Bernet, returned the ſame day vnto London, lyke a tryumphaunt Conquerour, [...]ading wyth hym King Henrie as a captiue priſoner, and ſom[...] king a ſolemne entrie at the church of S. Paule offred his ſtande[...].

The deade bodyes of the Earle and Marques, were brought to London in a Coff[...] and before they were buryed in by the ſ[...] of three dayes, lay open vyſaged in the Cathedral church of Saint Paule, to the inte[...] that all menne might eaſily receyue, that they [...]rydedly were deade.

The common brayde raunce that the King was not ſo ioyous of the Earles death as ſorrowfull for the loſſe of the Marques▪ whom hee full well knewe, (and no leſſe was it euident to other,) to be his faythfull friende and well wyller, for whoſe onely ſake, hee cauſed both theyr bodies to bee buried wyth theyr aunceſters at the Priorie of Biſſam.

On the Tueſday in Eaſter Weeke, came knowledge to King Edwarde, that Queene Margaret the wyfe of King Henrie,Queene Margaret landeth with a power out of France wyth hir ſonne Prince Edwarde was landed vpon Eaſter day at Weymouth in Dorcetſhire, accompanyed with Iohn Longſcrother Priour of Sainte Iohns, commonly called Lorde Treaſorer of Englande, who went ouer into Fraunce to fetche them: Alſo the Lorde Wenlocke, a man made onely by king Edwarde, beſyde dyuerſe other Knightes and Eſquires, of whome part had beene long foorth of the Realme, and part newly gone ouer thyther to them in companie of the Lorde Treaſorer.

They tooke theyr Shippes at Hunflue, the xxiiij. of Marche (as before you haue heard) but through contrarie wyndes and tempeſtes, they were driuen backe, and conſtrayned to abide for conuenient winde, whiche although it came ſometyme about fitte for theyr purpoſe, it continued not long in that ende, ſo as if therevppon they tooke the Sea, at any tyme, they were forced to returne backe againe to land ere they could paſſe halfe the way ouer: and thus being diuerſe tymes vnder ſay[...]e, in hope to paſſe the Seas hyther into Englande, they were ſtyll driuen backe againe, till the thirtenth of Aprill beeing Eaſter euen, on which day the winde comming fauourably about, they tooke the Seas, and ſayled forward towards this land. The Coūteſſe of Warwike hauing a ſhip of aduauntage, arriued before the other at Porteſmouth, & from thence ſhe went to Southāpton meaning to haue gone to Weymouth, where ſhe vnderſtood that y^e Queene was landed: but here had ſhe knowledge of the loſſe of Bernet field, & that hir huſband was there ſlain. Wherevpon ſhee went no further towardes the Q. but ſecretely gotte hirouer the water into the newe Forreſt,The counteſſe of Warwik taketh Sanctuary. and tooke Sanctuarie within the Abbay of Beaulieu.

Queene Margaret, & hir ſonne Prince Edward with the other that landed at Weymouth,The Duke of Sommerſet & the erle of Deuonſhire cō fort Queene Margaret. [...] from thence to an Abbey neare by called [...]. Thither came vnto them Edmond duke of Somerſet, and Thomas Courtney Earle of D[...]ſhi[...] with other, and welcomed thē into England, cōforting the Queene in the beſt maner they [...]ulde and willed hir not to deſpayre of good ſucceſſe, for albeit they had loſt one fielde, (whereof the Queene had knowledge the ſame daye beeing Monday in Eaſter Weeke, the fiftenth of Apryll, and was therefore ryght ſorrowfull) yet they doubted not but to aſſemble ſuche a puyſſance, and that very ſhortly, forth of diuerſe partes of the Realme, as beeing faythfull and wholy bent to ſpende theyr lyues and ſhed the beſt bloud in theyr bodyes for hir ſake, and hir ſonnes, it ſhoulde be harde for King Edwarde to reſiſt them with all the power hee had or coulde make.

Hall.The preſence of theſe noble men greatly comfort [...] hir, and relieued hir of the ſorrowes, that in maner ouerwhelmed hir penſiue hearte, for ſhee doubted ſore the ende of all theſe proceedings, the which they concluded vpon to follow, for the aduancement of hir and hirs, ſpecially it miſgaue hir,The ſeat[...] whiche Queene Margaret had for l[...] ſonu[...]. that ſome euill ſhoulde chaunce to hir ſonne prince Edward, for ſhe greatly weyed not of hir owne perill (as ſhe hirſelf confeſſed, & therefore ſhe would gladly haue had them either to haue deferred the battell till a more conuenient time, or elſe that hir ſon might haue bene conueyed ouer into France againe, there to haue remayned in ſafetie, till the chance of the next battell were tried: but they being of a contrarie minde, and namely the duke of Somerſet, ſhe at let length conſented to that which they were reſolued vpon.

Thus euery man being bent to battaile, gathered his power by himſelfe, firſt in Somerſetſhire, Dorſetſhire, and part of Wilſhyre, and after in Deuonſhire and Cornwall, for the better encouraging of which Countreys to ioyne with them in theyr quarell, they repayred to Exceter. Here they ſent for ſir Iohn Arundell, and ſir Hugh Courtney, and many other, in whome they had any confidence.

To be ſhort, they wrought ſo, that they rayſed the whole powers of Cornwall and Deuonſhire, and with a great army departing forth of Exceter, they tooke the right way to Glaſtenburie, and from thence to Bathe, rayſing the people in all partes, where they came: for thoſe Countreyes had beene ſo laboured, firſt by the Earle of Warwike, and after by the duke of Somerſet, and the Erle of Deuonſhire (which two noble men were recoued as olde inheritors of the ſame countreys) that the people ſeemed there greatly enclyned in the fauour of king Henrie.

King Edward being at London, was dayly aduertiſed by faythfull eſpials of all the doings of his aduerſaries, and was in no ſmall agonie, bycauſe he coulde not learne what way his enimies ment to take, for be purpoſed to encounter them in one place or other, before they ſhould approche nere to London. And vpon ſuch reſolution with ſuch an army as he had got about London,King Edwards ſetteth forward his enemies. furniſhed with all artillerie and other prouiſions neceſſarie, hee ſet forward the .xix. of Aprill, & came to Windſore, where hee ſtayed a ſeaſon, as well to celebrate the feaſt of Saint George, as to abide the comming of ſuche bandes as he had appoynted to repayre thither vnto him, making there his generall aſſemble.

The enimies to maſker him the more, ſent forth their foreryders vnto ſundrie townes, both as well to rayſe people in the Countreys aboute, as to make the King to belieue, that their purpoſe was to paſſe thoſe wayes, where neuertheleſſe they ment not once to come: and herevpon when they departed from Exceter, they ſent firſt theyr foreryders ſtreyght to Shafteſburie, and after to Saliſburie, and then they tooke the ſtreight way vnto Taunton, to Glaſtenburie, and after to Welles, where houering about in the Countrey, they ſente another time their foreryders vnto a towne called Yuell, and to Bruton, as if theyr meaning had bene to drawe towardes Reading and ſo through Barkſhire, and Oxfordſhire, to haue marched ſtreight to London, or elſe to haue ſet vpon the king at ſome aduauntage, if it were offered.

But king Edwarde conſidering aduiſedly of the matter, perceyued well that they being in an angle of the Realme, if they ment to go to London, they muſt eyther holde the ſtreight waye forth by Saliſburie, or elſe drawing vp to the ſea ſide, paſſe alongſt through Hamſhyre, Suſſex, and Kent, or happily if they miſtruſted theyr owne ſtrengthes, as not able to matche wyth his puyſſaunce, they woulde then ſlyppe on the left hande, and drawe towardes Cheſſhire, and Lancaſhyre, there to encreaſe theyr forces, and peraduenture by the waye to ioyne wyth a power of Welche menne, vnder the leading of Iaſper Earle of Pembrooke, who hadde beene ſente into Wales long afore, to frame and putte in a readineſſe the people there to aſſyſte King Henryes friendes, at theyr commyng thytherwardes. And ſuche was theyr purpoſe in deed, for they had great confidence in ſuch ayde as they truſted to haue of the Cheſſhire and Lancaſhire men.

King Edwarde meaning to approche nearer vnto them, that hee mighte the [...]er make way to ſtoppe them of theyr paſſage, on whiche hande ſoeuer they drewe, departed from Windſore the morrowe after Saint Georges day, beyng the .xx[...]ij. day of Apryll, keeping [...] iourneye tyll on Saterdaye the .x[...]vij. of [...] pryſſhe[...] came to Abing[...]o[...], where hee lay Sunday all day.

On Monday hee marche of [...]e to C[...] cheſter, wh[...] hee hadde ſure ad[...], [...] they intended to bee at Bathe the ſame daye beeyng Tueſdaye, and on Wedneſdaye to come forwarde to gyue him battaile: Wherevpon king Edwarde deſirous to ſet his people in order of battayle, drewe with them forth of the towne, and i[...]ped in the field three miles dy[...] [...] from thence.

On the morrowe, hearing no certayntie of their cōming forward, hee marched to Malmeſburie, ſtil ſeeking to encounter them: but here hee had knowledge, that they hauing changed theyr purpoſe, meante not to gyue hym battaile, and therefore were turned aſide, and gone to Briſtowe, where they were receyued, relieued, and well refreſhed, by ſuche as fauoured theyr cauſe▪ as well with vittayles, men, and money, as good ſtore of artillerie: wherevppon, they were ſo encouraged, that the Thurſeday after, they tooke the fielde agayne, purpoſing to giue King Edwarde battell indeede, and for the ſame intente, had ſente theyr foreriders to a Towne, diſtaunt from Briſtowe nyne myles, called Sudburie, appoynting a grounde for theyr fielde, a myle off the ſame Towne,Sudbury hill. towardes the Kings campe, called Sudburie hill.

The King hereof aduertiſed, y^e ſame Thurſeday, being the firſt of May, with hys army fayre raunged in order of battaile, came towards the place, by them appoynted for their field: but they came not there, for hearing that King Edwarde did thus approche, vpon a new change of reſolution, they left that way: albeit, ſome of theyr herbengers were come as farre as Sudburie towne, and there ſurpriſed fiue or ſixe of the Kings partie, that were raſhly entred that Towne, attending onely to prouide lodgings for theyr mayſters.

The Lordes thus hauing eftſoones chaunged theyr purpoſe, not meaning as yet to fight with the King, directed their way ſtraight towardes Berkeley, trauelling all that night. Frō Barkeley, they marched forwarde towardes Glouceſter.

The King in the meane time, on the Thurſeday after noone, came to the ſame ground, called Sudburie hill, and there ſtayed, ſendyng [...]che ſ[...]ow[...]ire[...], to hearken what they mighte vnderſtand of the enimies, whome he tooke to be ſomewhere at hand: but when hee coulde not heare any certaynetie of them, he aduaunced forwarde, lodging hys van[...]garde in a valley beyond[...] the hill, towardes the Towne of Sudburie, and lay hymſelfe with the reſidue of hys people at y^e [...] place, called Sudburie hill.

About three of the clocke after midnight, hee was aduertiſed, that his enimies hadde taken theyr way by Barkely, towardes Glouceſter. Heerevpon, taking aduice of hys counſell, what was beſt to doe, he was coūſelled to ſend ſome of hys ſeruauntes with all ſpeede vnto Glouceſter, to Richarde Beauchamp, ſonne and he[...] [...] Lorde Beauchamp of P[...], to whome [...] hadde before thys preſente, committed the rule and cuſtodie of the Towne [...] Caſtel of Glouceſter.

The Kyng ſente therefore with all ſpeede vnto him, commaundyng hym to doe hys [...]t, to defend the Towne and Caſtell agaynſte hys enimies, if they came to aſſayle the ſame, as [...] was ſuppoſed they intended, and if they ſ[...]dy, hee promiſed to come with hys whole armie preſently to the reſcue.

The meſſengers dyd theyr diligence, and ſo beeyng ioyfully receyued into Glouceſter, [...] Towne and Caſtell, by the vigilant, regarde of the ſayde Richard Beauchamp, was put in [...] keeping.

And this meſſage was done in good tyme, for true it is, there were diuers in the Towne, that could haue bin well contented, that the Queene, and the Lordes with hir, ſhoulde haue bin receyued there, and woulde haue aduentured to haue broughte it to paſſe, if they had not bin thus preuented: and the Queene and the Lordes with hir, hadde good intelligence with dyuers in the Towne, ſo as they were putte in greate hope, to haue entred the ſame: wherevpon, they trauelled theyr people ryghte ſore all that night and morning, comming before the Towne of Glouceſter, vppon the Friday, about tenne of the clocke. And when they perceyued that they were diſappoynted of theyr purpoſe, and theyr entrie [...]tly denyed, they were highly therewith diſpleaſed, for they knew very well, that dyuers within the Towne bare theyr good willes towardes them but after they hadde vſed certayne menacyng braueries, and made a ſhewe as if they hadde meane to aſſault y^e gates, and walles ſo to haue entred by force, they departed theyr wayes marching with all ſpeede towardes T[...]w[...] rie.

It myght he ma[...]elled at, why they a[...] ted not the winning of Glouceſter indeede,Glouceſter, why it was not aſſaulted. conſidering the friendes whiche they knewe they hadde within it: but the cauſe whyche [...]ed them chiefly to for heare, was [...] that as well they without, as the other within the Towne, knewe that King Edward approched at [...]a[...]de, and was [...]ady to ſet vppon [...] the ha[...] if they hadde once begunne to [...]ue [...]ſſaulted the Towne and ſo neyther, they within th[...] Towne, that [...], [...]e [...] ted the enimies forces, [...] the [...] durſt attempte anye ſuche, en[...] [...]ſte them.

About foure of the clocke in the after [...] they came to T[...]ſburie,A long march. [...]uing [...] [...]lled that nighte [...] [...]ſt, and that [...]ay [...] and [...] tie long myles, in a [...]oule Countrey, all in [...] and ſtonie wayes, betwixt w[...]des, with[...] [...] good refreſhing, ſo that [...] they [...] as the horſes [...] [...]ght [...] where the more part[...] of theyr [...] [...]ed of f[...] men, the Captaynes coulde not haue gone any further, excepte they woulde haue left theyr footemenne behynde them, and ſo of neceſſitie, they were driuen to ſtaye there, determinyng to abide the aduenture that God woulde ſende them, for well they knewe that the Kyng followed thē very neere at hande, ſo as if they ſhoulde haue gone further, and lefte the moſt parte of theyr companie behynde, as it coulde not otherwiſe haue chanced, he would haue bene readye to haue taken the aduauntage whollye, ſo to diſtreſſe them.

The place where the Lords encamped.Herevpon, they pight theyr fielde in a cloſe, euen harde at the Townes ende, hauyng the Towne and the Abbey at theyr backes, and directly before them, and vpon eache ſyde of them, they were defended with comberſome lanes, deepe ditches, and manye hedges, beſide hylles and bales, ſo as the place ſeemed as noyſome as myght bee, to approche vnto.

The Kyng thys Friday, verye earely in the mornyng, aduaunced hys Standertes, and in good order of battell, hauing deuided his armye into three wardes, marched thorough y^e playnes of Cotteſwolde, the daye was very hotte, and hauyng in hys armye aboue three thouſande footemenne, hee trauelled with them and the reſidue a thirtie myles and more, by all whyche way,The painefull march of king Edward with his armye. they could fynde neyther Horſemeate, nor mans meate, no not ſo muche as water for theyr Horſes, excepte one little brooke, of the whiche, they receyued no greate reliefe, for what with the Horſes and carriages that paſſed thorough it, the water meane ſo troubled, that it ſerued them to no vſe: and ſtill all that daye, Kyng Edwarde with hys armye, was within fyue or ſyxe myles of hys enimies, hee in the playne Countrey, and they among the wooddes.

Kyng Edwarde had euer good eſp[...]als, to adueriſſe hym ſtill what his enimies did, and which way they tooke.

At length, he came with all hys armye, vnto a diſlage called Chiltenham,Chiltenham. lyke a fyue myles diſtant from Tewkeſburie, where he hadde certayne knowledge, that hys enimies were alreadye come to [...]ew[...]eſburie, and were encamped there purpoſing to abyde hym in that place, and to d[...]yuer hym battell.

Kyng Edwarde therevppon, made no long delay but tooke a little reflection hymſelfe, and cauſed hys people to doe the lyke, with ſuch prouiſion of vittayles as he had appoynted to decomi[...]yed forth with hym, for the reliefe of hymſelfe and hys armie.

Thys done, hee ſee forwarde towardes hys enimies, and lodged that nyghtes in a fielde, not paſt three myles diſtaunce from there.

On the morrowe beeyng Saterday, and fourth of May, hee drewe towardes hys enimies, and marſhalled his armye,The ordering of King Edwards b[...] deuided into three battailes in thys ſort. He putte hys brother the Duke of Glouceſter in the fore warde, and hymſelfe in the middle ward. The Lorde Marques, and the Lorde Haſtings ledde the rereward. Heerewith, hee approched the enimies camp, whyche was righte harde to be aſſailed, by reaſon of the deepe ditches, hedges, trees, buſſhes, and comberſome lanes, wherewith the ſame was fenced, both a frount, and on the ſydes, ſo as the King coulde not well approche them to any aduauntage: and to be the better in a readineſſe, to beate backe the Kyngs power, when hee ſhoulde come to aſſaulte them, they were embattelled in thys order:The ordering of the [...] hoſt. the Duke of Somerſet, and hys brother the Lorde Iohn of Somerſette ledde the foreward: The middle warde was gouerned by the Prince, vnder thē conduct of the Lorde of Saint Iohannes, and the Lorde Wenlocke (whome King Edwarde hadde aduanced to the degree of a Barone) The rereward was appoynted to the rule of the Erle of Deuonſhire.

Thus may ye perceyue, that King Edwarde was put to hys ſhiftes, howe (to any aduantage) to aſſault hys enimies. Neuertheleſſe, he beeyng well furniſhed with greate artillerie, the ſame was aptly lodged, to annoy the enimies, that they receyued great domage thereby,The Duke of Glouceſter. and the Duke of Glouceſter, who lacked no policie, galled them greeuouſly with the ſhotte of arrowes, and they rewarded theyr aduerſaries haue agayne, with lyke paymente, both with ſhotte of arrowes, and greate artillerie,Tewkes[...]er[...] fielde. although they hadde not the lyke plentie of gunnes a[...] the king hadde.

The paſſages were ſo comberſome, that it was not poſſible to come vpon any euen hande, to ioyne at hand blowes.

The Duke of Glouceſter vppon a politike purpoſe (as ſome haue written) reouted [...]uche with all his companie, which when the Duke of Somerſet perceyued, eyther moued therewith, [...] bicauſe he was too fore annoyed with the ſhotte in that place where he with his fore wa[...]h,The Duke of Somerſet. [...] lyke a Knyght more couragious than [...]ireu[...]d [...] came out of his ſtrength with hys would vaſell, and aduaunced hymſelfe, ſomewhat aly[...] ſhippes the Kings [...] and by certayne paſſages afore an[...]e, and for that purpoſe prouided (to the Kings parte, although [...] on) hee paſſed a lane, and came into a [...] right afore the K. where he was einbaefel[...], not doubting, but the Prince, eche [...], with the middle wa[...], [...] followed iuſt at his back, but whether y^e L. Wlēlocke diſſimuled the matter for king Edwardes ſake, or whether his hart ſerued him not, ſtill he ſtode, and gaue the looking on.

[...]all.The king, or as other haue, the duke of Glouceſter, taking the aduantage that he adue[...] [...]ood for turned againe face to face to the duke of Somerſet his battayle, and winning the hedge and ditche of hym, entred the cloſe, and with greate violence put hym and his people vp towards the hill from whence they were deſcended.

Here is to bee noted, that when the king was come before hys enimies, ere he gaue the onſe[...]te hee perceyued that vppon the ryghte hande of theyr Campe, there was a Parke, and muche ſtore of woodde growyng therein, and doubtyng leaſt hys aduerſaries hadde layde any ambuſhe within that woodde,The politike foreſight of the King. he choſe foorth of his companies two hundred ſpeares, commandyng them to keepe a ſtale, lyke a quarter of a myle from the fielde, to attende vpon that corner of the woodde, out of the whiche the ambuſhe, if any were, was to iſſue, and to encounter with them, as occaſion ſerued: but if they perceyued that there was no ambuſhe at all, then to imploye their ſeruice as they ſhoulde ſee it expediente and behouefull for the tyme.

This politik prouiſion for danger that might haue enſued, (although there was none that way for to) ſerued yet before the[...]end of the battayle, to greate good purpoſe. For when thoſe ſpares perfectly vnderſtoode that there was no ambuſhe within the wood, and withall ſa[...] conueniente tyme to employe themſelues, other cares and brake with full rand[...] vppon the Duke of Somerſette and hys [...], in ſo violent wyſe vppon the ſodayne, that where they hadde before ynough to doe with thoſe wyth whome they were firſte matched,The van[...]gard of the Lords diſtreſſed. [...] with this newe charge giuen vppon them, by thoſe two hundred ſpeares, they were not a little diſmayed, and to conclude, ſo diſcouraged, that ſtreightwayes they tooke them to flyght, ſome fledde into the Parke, other into the meadowe there at hande, ſome into the lanes, and ſome hidde them in dykes, eche one makyng what ſhift he could, by the whyche he hoped beſte to eſcape: but many neuertheleſſe were beaten downe, ſlayne, and taken priſoners.

The Duke of Somerſet ſeyng this vnfortunate chance, as ſome write, tourned to the middle warde, and there finding the Lord Wenlock ſtanding ſtill,A[...]em[...]ble ſtroke. after he had reuiled him, and called him traytour, with his axe he ſtroke the braynes out of his head.

The Duke of Glouceſter purſuing after them, that fledde with the Duke of Somerſette to theyr camp, wher the reſt of their armie ſtode, entred the trench, and after him the king, where he bare himſelfe ſo knightely, that therevpon the Queenes parte wente to wracke, and was put to flight, the king and other falling in chaſe after them, ſo that many were ſlayne, but eſpecially at a mylne in the medow faſt by the towne, a great ſorte were drowned, many ran towards the towne, ſome to the churche, and diuers to the Abbey, & other to other places, wher they thought beſt to ſaue themſelues.

In the winning of the campe, Hall. Prince Edward taken. ſuche as ſtoode to it were ſlayne out of hande. Prince Edward was taken as he fled towardes the towne, by ſir Richarde Croftes, and kept cloſe.

In the fielde and chaſe were ſtayne,Nobles ſlaine. the Lord Iohn of Somerſet, called Marques Dorſet, Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonſhire, Sir Iohn Delues, Sir Edwarde Hampden, Sir Roberte Whitingham, and Sir Iohn Leukener, with three thouſand other.

After the fielde was ended, proclamation was made, that whoſoeuer could bring foorth Prince Edwarde alyue or deade, ſhoulde haue one Annuitie of a hundred pounde during hys lyfe, and the Princes lyfe to be ſaued, if he were broughte foorth alyue. Sir Richarde Croftes nothing miſtruſtyng the kings promiſe,Sir Richard Croftes deliuereth the prince in hope that his life ſhould haue bin ſaued broughte foorth hys pryſoner Prince Edwarde, beeyng a fayre and wel proportioned yong Gentleman, whom when kyng Edwarde hadde well aduyſ[...]d, hee demaundeed of hym, howe he durſt ſo preſumptuouſly enter into his Realme with banner diſplayed? wherevnto the Prince boldly anſwered, ſaying, to recouer my fathers Kingdome & heritage from his father and graundfather to him, and from him after hym, to me[...]liueally deſcended. At whyche woordes, kyng Edwarde ſayde nothyng, but with hys hande thruſte him from hym,Prince Edward murthered. or as ſome ſay, ſtroke him with his gantlette, whome incontinentely, George Duke of Clarence, Richarde Duke of Glouceſter, Thomas Grey Marques Dorcet, and Wylliam Lorde Haſtings that ſtoode by, ſodeynely murthered: For the which cruell acte, the more part of the dooers in theyr latter dayes dranke of the lyke Cuppe, by the ryghtuous Iuſtice and due puniſhment of God. His body was homely ente[...]ed w^t the other ſimple corpſes, in y^e church of y^e Monaſterie of blacke Monks in Teukeſbury.

Thys was the laſte ciuill battayle that was foughte in King Edward the fourths days, whiche chaunced thys fourth daye of Maye, beyng Saterdaye, in the eleuenth yeare of his reygne, and in the yeare of our Lorde, 1471.

After the victo[...] was thus archieued, the [...] repayred to the Abbey Churche there, [...]o gy[...] God thankes for th[...] good ſucceſſe, whyche it hadde pleaſed hym to [...]ſſe him with: and [...] findyng a greate number of his enemyes, [...] were fledde thyther to ſaue themſelues, he gaue them all hys free pardon: Al[...]t there was no franchyſe there for rebelles: but that he myghte haue commaunded them to haue bene drawen foorth without breache of any liberties of that Churche. Hee graunted alſo that the deade bodies, as well of the Lordes as other, ſtayne in that battel, myght be buried in the ſame church, or els where it pleaſed their frendes or ſeruants, without any quartering or headyng, or ſetting vp the heades or quarters in any publike places.

There were found in the abbey and other places of the towne, Edmunde duke of Somerſet, Iohn Lonſtrother, Lorde Prior of S. Iohannes, Sir Thomas Treſſham, Sir Gerneys Clifton, and diuers other Knightes and Eſquiers, whiche were apprehended, and all of them being broughte before the D. of Glouceſter▪ ſitting as Conneſtable of England, and the Duke of Northfolke, as Marſhall in the middeſt of the Towne, they were arreigned, condemned, and iudged to die, and ſo vpō the Teweſday, being y^e ſeauenth of May, the ſaid D. and the L. Prior, w^t the two forenamed Knightes,The Duke of Somerſet and other beheaded. and twelue other knightes, were on a ſcaffold ſet vp in y^e middle of the towne for that purpoſe, beheaded, and permitted to bee buried, without anye other diſmēbring, or ſetting vp of their heads, in any one place or other. The ſame Teweſday the K. departed from Tewkeſburie towards Worceſ[...]er, and by the way had knowledge,Queene Margaret taken. that D. Margaret was found in a pore houſe of religion, not far frō thence, into y^e which ſhe was withdrawē, for ſafegard of hir ſelfe, the Saterday in the morning, beeing the day of the battell. She was after brought to London as priſoner, and ſo kept, till hir father ranſomed on with greate ſummes of money, whyche bee borowed of L[...]wes the eleuenth, Kyng of Fraunce, and bycauſe hee was not able to make repaymente 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 forth of the North partes, that the people there, [...] were about to aſſemble in armour againſt him, in fauour of King Henry, wherevpon, he left the right way to London, and rode to Couētrie, meaning to encreaſe the number of his people, and ſo with a puiſſant army, to goe Northwards. Herevpon, comming to Couentrie, the eleuenth of May, and remayning there a three dayes, he well refreſhed ſuch as had bin with him at Tewkeſburie fielde. Hither was broughte to him Queene Margaret, from whence ſhe was conueyd to London, there to remain in ſafekeeping (as before ye haue heard.)

Whileſt hee was buſie in ſending abroade to his friends to leauie an armie, he was aduertiſed that the commotion in the North was pacified, for after that it was knowen abroade, howe hee had obteyned the victorie, as well at Tewkeſburie, as at Barnet, and in manner, ſubdued al his enimies, the Captaynes that had ſtirred the people to that Rebellion, began to quayle, and forſaking their companies, dyuers of them made ſute to the Earle of Northumberlande, that it mighte pleaſe him to be a mediator to the King for their pardon, [...] in [...] M[...]he [...]d. ſo that now, there was no Rebellion in all the North partes, but that as well, the Citie of Yorke, as all other places, were at the Kings commaundement, readie in al things to obey him, [...] [...]le of [...]ber [...] as true and loyall ſubiects. And this was confirmed by the Earle of Northumberlands owne mouth, who on the fourteenth of May, came to the King, as yet remayning at Couentrie, by reaſon wherof, it was not thought needefull, that the King ſhoulde trauell any further Northwarde at that time, either about the pacifying of the people, or to ſee execution done vpon the offendors, ſith all was there in good tranquilitie and quiet.

But now when al things ſeemed to be at reſt, and no Rebellion after ſo happie victories doubted, newes came to him before his commyng to Couentrie, [...] Ne [...]erde [...]idge. from the Lords of his bloud, abiding at London, that one Thomas Neuill, baſterde ſonne to that valiant Captayne the Lord Thomas Fawconbridge (who had lately before bene ſente to the Sea, by the Earle of Warwike, and after fallen to practiſe piracie) had ſpoyled dyuers Merchante Shyppes, Portingalles, and others, in breache of the auncient amitie that long had continued betwixte the Realmes of England and Portingale: and furthermore, had now got to him a greate number of Marriners, out of all parts of the lande, and manye traitors and miſgouerned people, from each quarter of the Realme, beſyde dyuers alſo forth of other countreys, that delighted in theft and robberies, meaning to worke ſome exployte againſte the King: and verily, his puiſſance increaſed dayly, for hauing bin at Calais, and broughte from thence into Kente many euill diſpoſed perſons, he began to gather his power in that Countrey, meaning (as was thoughte) to attempte ſome great and wicked enterpriſe.

After the Kings comming to Couentrie,The baſe[...]de Fauconbridge before London wyth an army. hee receiued aduertiſementes, that this baſterd was come before London, with many thouſandes of men by lande, and alſo in Shippes by water, purpoſing to robbe and ſpoyle the Citie. Many Kentiſhmen were willing to aſſiſt hym in thys miſcheuous enterpriſe, and other were forced againſte their willes, to goe with him, or elſe to ayde hym with their ſubſtance and money, in ſo much, that within a ſhort time, he had got togyther ſixteene or ſeauenteene thouſande men, as they accompted thēſelues, with whome he came before the Citie of London the twelfth of May, in the quarrell (as he pretended) of King Henry, whome hee alſo meant to haue out of the tower, and to reſtore him againe vnto his Crowne and royall dignitie, and for that intente, he required to enter the Citie with his people, that receyuing King Henrye forth of the Tower, they myghte paſſe with him thorough the Citie, and ſo to march ſtraight towards King Edward, whoſe deſtruction they vowed to purſue, with all theyr vttermoſt indeuors. But the Maior and Aldermen of the Citie, woulde not in any wiſe agree to ſatiſfie theyr requeſt heerein, vtterly refuſing to receyue him, or any of his company, into the Citie. King Edwarde from tyme to time by poſtes was enformed of all theſe doyngs, and by aduiſe of counſell, the fourteenth of May, ſent to the ſuccoures of the Maior and Aldermen,Succours ſent to the Citie of London. a fifteene hundred of the choyſeſt ſoldiers he hadde about him, that they myghte help to reſiſt the enimies, till hee had got ſuch an armie togyther, as was thoughte neceſſarie, meaning with all conuenient ſpeede, to come therewith to the reſcue of the Citie, and preſeruation of the Quene, Prince, and his daughters, that were within the Tower, not in very good ſafegard, conſidering the euill diſpoſitions of many within the Citie of London, that for the fauour they had borne to the Earle of Warwike, and deſire to bee partakers of the ſpoyle, cared not if the baſterd myghte haue atteyned to his full purpoſe, and wiſhed intente.

The ſixtenth of May, King Edwarde ſette forth of Couentrie, towardes London. But here yee haue to vnderſtand, that when the baſterde coulde not be receiued into the Citie, neyther by gentle perſwaſions, nor greeuous threatnings, he made ſemblaunce, to paſſe ouer the Thaymes at Kingſton bridge, a tenne miles from Londō, and thitherwards hee drewe with his whole power by lande, leauing hys Shippes afore Saint Katherines and thereaboutes.

The baſterdes purpoſe to ſpoile the ſuburbs of London.His pretēce was, to ſpoyle and deſtroy Weſtminſter, and the ſuburbes of the Citie on that ſide, and after, to aſſault the Citie it ſelfe, to trie if he might enter by force, and ſo to bee reuenged of the Citizens, that had refuſed to receyue hym: but as he was onwards vppon this iourney, hee was aduertiſed, that Kyng Edward was preparing to come forwardes agaynſt hym, aſſiſted in manner,The baſterd altereth his purpoſe. with al the great Lords of y^e realme, and others in great number, more than he hadde bin at any time before, by reaſon whereof, doubting what myghte followe, if paſſing the ryuer, he ſhoulde fortune ſo to be encloſed, that he ſhuld be driuen thereby to encounter with the Kyngs power at ſuch oddes, hee thought it beſt to alter his purpoſe, and ſo returning, came backe agayne before London, and muſtered hys people in Saint Georges field, araunged and placed in one entier battaile, and to the intent they might worke theyr purpoſed feate, before the Kinges comming to the reſcue, they reſolued with all theyr forces to aſſault the Citie, and to enter it if they could by playne ſtrength, that putting it to the ſacke, they mighte conuey the riches to theyr Shyppes, whyche lay in the Riuer, betwixte Sainte Katherins and Blacke wall, neere to Ratcliffe: heerevpon, hauing broughte certayne peeces of artillerie forth of theyr Ships, they planted the ſame alongſt the water ſyde, ryghte ouer agaynſte the Citie, and ſhotte off luſtely to annoy them within, ſo muche as was poſſible: but the Citizens on the other ſide, lodged their great artillerie againſte their aduerſaries, and with violente ſhotte thereof▪ ſo galled them, that they durſt not abide in anye place alongſt the water ſyde, but were driuen euen from theyr owne ordinance.

The baſterd yet meanyng not to leaue anye way vnaſſayed that myghte aduance hys purpoſe,The baſterde meaneth to enter the City by force. appoynted a greate number of hys retinue, to ſet fire on the bridge, ſo to open the paſſage, and to enter into the Citie that way forth, and withall, hee cauſed aboue three thouſande other to paſſe by Shyppes ouer the Thaymes, giuing order, that when they were gote ouer, they ſhuld deuide themſelues into two battailes, the one to aſſault Aldgate,Aldgate, and Biſhopſgate aſſaulted. and the other Byſhoppes gate, whiche order accordyngly was executed, they doyng theyr beſt at both places to force y^e gates, not ſparing to bende and diſcharge ſuch gunnes as they hadde broughte with them againſte the ſame, nor ceaſſing with arrowes, to annoy thoſe that there ſtoode at defence, whereby much hurte was done, as well at the one place as the other, fire beeyng ſet on both the gates, in purpoſe to haue brent them vp, and ſo to haue entred.

The fire which they had kindled on y^e bridge, little auayled them (although they brente there,Houſes [...] on the bridg[...] to the number of a threeſcore houſes) for the Citizens hadde layde ſuche peeces of ordinance directly in their way, that although the paſſage hadde bin wholly open, they ſhoulde haue hadde harde entring that way forth.

The Maior, Aldermen, and other worſhipfull Citizens, were in good aray, and eache man appoynted and beſtowed where was thoughte needefull.

The Earle of Eſſex, and manye Knyghtes, Eſquiers, and Gentlemen, with theyr friendes and ſeruauntes, came to ayde the Citizens, takyng great payne to place them in order, for defence of the gates and walles: and furthermore, deuiſed howe and in what ſorte they myghte make a ſally ferth vppon the enimies to diſtreſſe them: and ſurely, by the intermingling of ſuche Gentlemen and Lordes ſeruauntes in euerye parte with the Citizens, they were greatly encouraged to withſtand theyr enimies. The Rebels yet, vnder the leading of one Spiſing, bare themſelues ſo ſtoutely at Aldgate, that they wan the bulwarkes there, and droue the Citizens backe, within the portculice, and entred with them, to the number of ſixe or eyghte, but ſome of them were ſlayne with the fall of the portculice that was let downe vpon them, to keepe the reſidue out, and thoſe that were entred within the gate, were ſoone diſpatched. Heerewith, they laſſhed freelie, the one parte at the other, with gunnes and bowes, although no great hurt was done with ſhotte,The vall[...] of Roberte Baſſet Alderman. till at length Roberte Baſſet Alderman (that was appoynted to the keeping of this gate, with the moſt part of the Citizens) and the Recorder, named Vrſewike, either of them bring well armed in ſtrong Iackes, commaunded the portculice to bee drawen vp, and mayntenauntly ruſhed forth vpon their enimies, putting them backe vnto Sainte Bothulphes Church.

At the ſame inſtante, the Earle Riuers, hauing gote togyther a foure or fiue hundred men, well choſen, and apparelled for the warre, iſſued forthe at the poſterne, by the Tower, and aſſayling the Kentiſhmen, euen vppon the poynte as they were thus put backe, mightely layde vppon them, firſte with arrowes, and after ioyning with them at handſtrokes, ſlewe and tooke manie of them priſoners, ſo that the Rebels were fully putte to flighte, and followed firſte to Mile ende, and from thence, ſome vnto Popelar, ſome to Stretforde, and Stepnith, and in manner, eache way forth, aboute that parte of the Citie, the chaſe beeyng followed for the ſpace of two miles in lengthe, many of them were of Eſſex, and ſo made their courſe homewardes, but the more parte of them fledde to the waterſide, and getting to their ſhippes, paſſed ouer the Thames to the reſte of their companye. The other likewiſe that were buſie to aſſault Byſhopſgate, when they vnderſtoode that their fellowes were diſcomfited and fled from Aldgate, they likewiſe ſlipped away, and made the beſt ſhifte they could to ſaue themſelues. There were a ſeuen hundred of them that fledde from Aldgate, and other places, ſlaine out right, beſide the priſoners. And yet there were fiers brennyng all at once at Aldgate, Byſhopſgate, and on the bridge, and many houſes conſumed wyth the ſame fiers. But now the baſterde, vnder whom that company was directed, that had ſet fier on the bridge, when he ſawe that hee myght not preuaile, and vnderſtoode the euill ſucceſſe of thoſe whiche he had ſette ouer the Thaymes, hee withdrewe alſo, and lefte the bridge.

[...] Ioſſe [...].Here the hardy manhoode of Raufe Ioſſelin Alderman is not to bee paſſed wyth ſilence, who after hee hadde valiantly reſiſted the baſterde and his hande that aſſaulted the bridge, vpon their retire, ſallied foorthe vppon them, and followyng them in chaſe a long the water ſide, till they came beyonde Ratcliffe, ſlewe and tooke verye many of them.

The baſterde notwithſtanding gathered his companyes togyther,The baſtered [...]peth on [...]lacke heath. and wyth ſuche as were willyng to remayne wyth hym, encamped on Blacke heathe, by the ſpace of three dayes next enſuyng, to witte, the ſixteenth, ſeuenteenth, and eighteenth of May, vtterly deſpayryng of hys wiſhed praye, ſith hee hadde beene thus repulſed from London, to hys vtter confuſion.

And nowe to conclude, hearyng that Kyng Edwarde was commyng wyth a ryghte puiſſaunt armye, the ſayde baſterde and hys people durſte no longer abide, but brake vp and diſperſed themſelues, ſome one way, and ſome an other. They of Calais gotte them thither agayne wyth all ſpeede, and ſuche as were of other Countryes, repayred likewiſe to theyr homes, and many of the Kentiſhemen went alſo to their houſes.

The baſterde wyth hys Mariners and ſuche riotous rebelles, robbers, and wicked perſons as ſoughte nothyng but ſpoile, gotte them to ſhippeborde, and wyth all their veſſelles drewe downe to the coaſte.

King Edward hauyng aſſembled an armie of thirtie thouſande men (as ſome write) and accompanied in manner wyth all the greate Lordes of Englande, came to London the one and twentye of May, beeing Tueſday, where hee was honourablye receyued by the Mayor, Aldermen, and other worſhippefull Citizens, where euen vppon their fyrſte meetyng wyth hym, hee dubbed diuers of them Knightes, as the Maior, the Recorder, and other Aldermen, and worſhippefull Commoners of the Citie, whyche hadde manfullye and valiauntlye acquite themſelues againſte the baſterde Fauconbridge and hys wicked companye of Rebelles.

Moreouer, heere is to bee remembred, that poore Kyng Henrye the ſixth, a little before depriued (as yee haue hearde) of hys Realme and imperiall Crowne, was nowe in the Tower ſpoyled of hys lyfe, Hall. King Henry the ſixth murthered in the Tower. by Rycharde Duke of Glouceſter, (as the conſtante fame ranne) who to the intente that hys brother Kyng Edwarde myghte raygne in more ſuretie, murthered the ſaide King Henry with a dagger, althoughe ſome writers of that time fauouryng altogyther the houſe of Yorke, haue recorded, that after hee vnderſtoode what loſſes hadde chaunced to hys friendes, and howe not only his ſon, but alſo all other hys chief partakers were dead and diſpatched, he tooke it ſo to harte, that of pure diſpleaſure, indignation, and melancolie, hee dyed the three and twentith of May.

The dead corps on the Aſcention euen,The nine and twentith of May. was conueyed with bylles and gleaues pompouſly (if you wyll call that a funerall pompe) from the Tower, to the Churche of Sainte Paule, and there layde on a beere, where it reſted the ſpace of one whole daye, and on the nexte daye after, it was conueyd without Prieſt or Clearke, torche or taper, ſinging or ſaying, vnto the Monaſterie of Cherteſey, diſtant from London fifteene miles, and there was it firſt buryed, but after, it was remoued to Windeſore, and there in a newe vawte, newly intumulate. Hee raigned eyght and thirtie yeares, ſixe monethes & odde dayes, & after his readēption of y^e Crowne ſixe monethes. He lyued two and fiftie yeares, hauyng by hys wife one onely ſonne, called Edwarde, Prince of Wales. He was of a ſeemely ſtature, of body ſlender, to whiche proportion, all other members were aunſwerable, hys face beautifull, in the whiche continually was reſidente, the bountie of minde, with the whiche hee was inwardlye indewed. Of hys owne natural inclination, he abhorred all the vices, as well of the body as of the ſoule. His pacience was ſuche, that of all the iniuries to hym done (whyche were innumerable) hee neuer aſked vengeaunce, thinkyng, that for ſuche aduerſitie that chaunced to hym, hys ſynnes ſhoulde bee forgotten and forgyuen. What loſſes ſo euer happened vnto hym, hee neuer eſteemed, nor made anye accompt thereof, but if any thyng were done, that myghte ſounde as an offence towards GOD, hee ſore lamented, and with great repentaunce ſorowed for it, ſo that full vnlyke it is, that hee dyed of anye wrath, indignation, and diſpleaſure, bycauſe hys buſineſſe about the keeping of the Crowne on hys head, tooke no better ſucceſſe, excepte peraduenture yee will ſaye, that it greeued hym, for that ſuch ſlaughters and miſchieues as hadde chaunced within thys lande, came to paſſe onely through hys folly and defaulte in gouernemente, or that more is, for hys fathers, his Grandfathers, and hys owne vniuſt vſurping, and deteyning of the Crowne. But howſoeuer it was, for theſe before remembred, and other the lyke properties of reputed holyneſſe, whych was ſayde to reſt in hym, it pleaſed God to worke miracles for hym in hys lyfe tyme, as menne haue lyſted to report, by reaſon whereof,Canonizing of kings, deere King Henrye the ſeauenth ſewed to Pope Iulio the ſeconde, to haue hym canonized a Sainct, but for that the canonizing of a King, ſeemed to bee more coſtly than of a Byſhoppe, the ſayde Kyng left off hys ſute in that behalfe, thynkyng better to ſaue his money, than to purchaſſe a newe holy day of Sainte Henrye, with ſo great a price, remitting to God the iudgemente of hys will and intent.

Eaton colledge.Thys Henrye the ſixte, amongſt other good deedes, buylte the Schoole of Eton by Windeſor, and alſo the Kings Colledge in the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge,Kinges colledge in Cambridge. whereof hys liberal mind towardes the mayntenance of good learning, may euidently be coniectured.

But nowe to returne to King Edward. Ye ſhall vnderſtande, that after hys commyng to London, hee reſted there but one day, or two at the moſt, takyng hys iourney forthrighte into Kente with all hys armie, following the [...]aſterd, and other his complices, to ſuppreſſe them, if they were in anye place aſſembled agayn[...] to reſiſt him, but after they were once diſ[...]ed, they durſt not ſhewe themſelues agayne [...] armour, thoſe onely excepted, that were wi[...] [...]awen vnto Sandwiche with the baſterde,S[...]dwich [...] by the rebe[...] whiche for the more parte were marriners, an eyght or nine hundred, beſyde certayne other euill diſpoſed perſons, that accompanyed hym, as hys ſoldiers, and men of warre, with whoſe aſſiſtance, the Baſterde kepte that Towne by ſtrength, hauing in the hauen a ſeauen and fortie Shyppes, greate and ſmall vnder his gouernaunce,The rebelle[...] ſue for par[...] but vppon the Kings approching neere vnto thoſe parties, they ſente to hym for pardon, promiſing, that vpon a reaſonable appoyntment, for y^e ſafegard of their liues, and other indempnities to bee hadde for their benefite, they woulde become hys faithfull ſubiectes, & deliuer into his hands all the Shippes. Their offer the K. vppon great conſiderations, & by good deliberate aduice of counſell, thought beſt to accept, & there vpon, being at that time in Canterburie, he graunted to theyr petitions, and ſent immediately vnto Sādwich hys brother Richard Duke of Glouceſter, to receyue them to mercie, togither with all the Shippes, which according to their promiſe, they deliuered into his handes. But notwithſtanding that (as ſome write) the Baſterde Fauconbridge, and other of hys companie that were gote to Sandwiche, had thus theyr pardons by compoſition at the Kyngs hande, we finde neuertheleſſe, that the ſayde Baſterd, beeing afterwards at Sea (a rouing belyke,The baſterd[...] of Fauconbridge be[...] ded. as hee hadde vſed before) came at length into the open hauen at Southhampton, and there, taking lande, was apprehended, and ſhortly after beheaded.

This chanced (as ſhould appeare by Fabian) about the latter end of October More ouer Roger Vaughan that had bin ſent by K. Edwarde into Wales, [...] V[...]ghā [...] anon after Towneſbury field (being a man of great power in that countrey) [...] and furn[...] by ſome [...]e[...]or[...] [...]eight the Earle of Pembrooke, the ſayd erle being therof [...] tooke the ſ[...]me Roger, and without delay [...]roke off his head. After this, was the erle beſieged [...]e the towne of Pembrooke by Morgan Thomas, b[...]he ſiege was reiſed by Dauid Thomas or other to the ſayd Morgan, [...] Tho[...]s a faithfull frende to the Erle, and then the erle by his help was cou[...]yed to Tynby where he got ſhips, and with his nephew the Lord Henry erle of [...]hemond ſayled into Britain, [...]e earle of Pembrooke [...] his Ne [...]re, the erle [...]nde [...] euer into [...] where of the Duke they were curteouſly intertayned, with aſſurance made, that no creature ſhould do them any wrong or iniurie within his dominions.

King Edward viſiting diuers places in Kent ſatte in iudgement on ſuch as had ayded the ba[...] ſtard in the laſt cōmotion, of whom diuers were condemned and executed, as Spiſing one of the captains that aſſaulted Algate, whoſe head was ſet vp ouer the ſame gate: [...]tion. and ſo likewiſe was the head of one Quintine, a butcher, that was an other captaine amongſt them, and chief of thoſe that aſſaulted Biſhops gate, as ſome write.

Moreouer, at Canterbury, the Maior of that citie was executed, and diuers other at Rocheſter, Maydſtone, and Blackheath: for the Lord Marſhal and other Iudges beeing appointed to hold their Oyer and determiner in that countrey of Kent, there were aboue an hundred indited & condemned: Diuers alſo of the Eſſex men that had bin partakers in this rebellion with the baſtard, and holpe to ſet fire on Biſhops gate & Algate, were hanged betwixt Stratford & London. Manie of the welthy cōmons in Kent were put to grienous fines, and when the king had made an end of his buſineſſe in that countrey, he returned to London, comming thither againe vppon Whitſon euen,Fabian. being the firſte of Iune, and hauing thus within the ſpace of .xj. weekes, recouered in maner the whole poſſeſſion of his realme, being relieued of the moſt part of all his doubtfull feare, he ment to remoue al ſtops out of the way, and therfore ſent the Archebiſhop of Yorke brother to the Erle of Warwike,The archi [...] of Yorke. and to the Marques Montacute ouer to Guyſnes, therto be kept in ſafe cuſtodie within the caſtel, where he continued a long ſeſon, til at length he was by friendſhip deliuered, and ſhortly after through very anguiſh of mind, departed this life, whom Lau[...]e Bathe, and after him Thomas Rothe[...]an in the ſea of Yorke, did ordinarily ſucceede.

Beſyde this, Iohn Earle of Oxford, whiche after Barnet field,The Earle of [...]rde. bothe [...]fully a[...] d[...]y kept Sainct Michaels mount in Corn wall, if th[...] for[...]e [...] of ayde, or perſwaded by his [...], g[...]ue vp the M[...], and yelded himſelfe to king Edward (his [...]f[...] only [...]) w[...] [...] was graunted,1472 [...] of [...] [...] maginations, King Edward alſo ſente hym [...] [...]ch[...] [...] Whereby the ſpace of [...] he was in ſtrong priſon tha[...] vp and wardly [...].

King Edwarde was not a [...] diſq[...] his [...]inde,An. reg. 12. for that the Earles [...] and Rich[...]mont were not on[...] eſcaped ou[...] of the Realme, but alſo will receyued and entertained of the D[...] of Britaine,Meſſengers ſent to the duke of Britaine. hee ſente therefore in ſecrete wiſe graue and cloſe meſſengers to the ſayde Duke, the whyche ſhould not [...] promiſſe the Duke greate and [...] [...]des, ſo that hee would deliuer doth the Earles into their handes and poſſeſſion.

The Du[...] after hee hadde hearde th[...] that were ſente, made thys aunſwere, that hee could not with his [...]t deliuer them to whom hee hadde gy[...] his [...] to [...]ee them preſerued from all iniurie, but this (hee [...]aide) he woulde do for the King of Englande that they ſhoulde bee ſo loo[...] vnto, as he needed [...]ot to doubt of anye attempt to bee (made again[...] hym by them or by theyr meanes. The Kyng receyuyng this aunſwere, wrote [...]ingly to the Duke of Britaine that hee woulde conſider his friendeſhippe, wyth conuenient rewardes, if it ſhoulde pleaſe him to bee as good as hys promiſſe. The Duke perceiuyng game commyng by the abode of the twoo Engliſh earles in his country, cauſed them to be ſeperated in ſunder, and all their ſeruaunts being Engliſhmen to be ſequeſtred frō them, & in their places appointed Britons to attend them.

In the thirteenthe yeare of his raigne King Edwarde called his highe courte of Parliament at his Pallaice of Weſtminſter,1473
An. reg. 13. in the whiche all lawes and ordinaunces made by hym before that day were confirmed,A Parliament. and thoſe that King Henry had abrogated after his readeption of the Crowne were againe reuiued. Alſo lawes were made for the confiſcation of traytors goodes, and for the reſtoring of them that were for his ſake, fled the realme, whiche of his aduerſaries hadde ben attaynted of high treaſon, and condemned to dye▪ Moreouer towards his charges of late ſuſteyned, a competent ſumme of money was demaunded and freely graunted.A Subſidie. There was alſo a pardon granted almoſt for all offences, and all men then being within the Realme,A pardon. were releaſed and diſcharged of all high treaſons & crimes, although they had taken part with his aduerſaries againſt him. In this ſeaſon the D. of Burgongne had ſore warres with the French K. & to be the more ſpedily reuēged on his aduerſarie,Ambaſſadours from the duke of Burgongne. he ſent Ambaſſadors into Englande, to perſwade kyng Edward to make war alſo on the French Kyng, for the recouerie of his auncient right in the Realme of Fraunce, by the ſame Frenche Kyng agaynſte all equitie, withholden and deteyned.

King Edward not ſo much for y^e lou[...]he hare to the duke of Burgongne, as for deſire to be reuenged on the Frenche king, whome he tooke to be his enimie for ayding the Earle of Warwike, Queene Margaret, and hir ſonne Prince Edwarde and their compli[...]es, gaue good eare to the duke of Burgongne his meſſengers, and finally after he had taken aduice of his counſell, the ſaid Meſſengeres were anſwered, that K. Edwarde in the beginning of the next yeare would land at Caleys with a puiſſaunt armie, both to reuenge ſuche iniuries as hee had receiued at the Frenche kings handes,Oportunitie not to bee neglected. and alſo to recouer his right, whiche he wrongfully deteyned from him.

In deed the tyme ſerued verie well for y^e Engliſhmē to atchieue ſom high enterpriſe in Frāce at that preſent, for not onely the Duke of Burgongne as then made warre againſt the French K. but alſo many great men within the realm of France,The Earle of Sainct Pol. miſlyking the maners of their king began to haue ſecret intelligēce with the ſaid duke, and namely Lewes of Lutzenburgh earle of S. Paule Coneſtable of France was ſecretly confederate with the duke of Burgongne, intendyng verily to bring the French kyng to ſome greate hinderance, the better to haue his purpoſe accompliſhed in certain weightie matters.

King Edward vnderſtanding all theſe thinges was greatly encoraged to make a iorney into France, & therevpon with all diligence prepared all things ready for the ſame, and bicauſe he wanted money, and coulde not well charge hys cōmons with a newe ſubſidie, for that he had receyued the laſt yeare great ſums of money granted to him by Parliament,A shift to recouer money. he deuiſed this ſhift to call afore him a great number of the wealthyeſt ſort of people of his realme, and to them declaring his neede, and the requiſite cauſes therof, he demaunded of euerye of them ſome portion of money, which they ſticked not to giue, and therfore the K, willing to ſhew y^t this their liberalitie was very acceptable to him, he called this grant of money a Beneuolence, notwithſtanding that many with grudge gaue great ſummes toward that newe found ayde, which of them might bee called a Maleuolence: but the K. vſed ſuche gentle faſhions toward them, with frendly prayer of their aſſiſtance in his neceſſitie, that they coulde not other wyſe doe but frankely and freelye yeelde and giue hym a reaſonable and competent ſumme.

1474
An. reg .14. When all things conuenient for ſuche an enterpriſe were in a redineſſe, the king came to Douer, where he founde .v.C. ſhippes and dayes readie to tranſpore hym and his armie.The king [...] an army [...] ouer into Fraunce. And ſo the fourth day of Iuly he paſſed ones, and la[...]de[...] at Caleys with great triumph, but his armie, horſes, and munitions of warre ſcared paſſed ouer in [...] dayes.

In thys Armye (beeing one of the hoſte appoynted that had paſſed oute of Englande into Fraunce in many yeares before) were fifteene hundred men of armes well horſes of the which the moſt parte were harded and riches [...]pped, and many of them trimmed in one [...]te. There were alſo .xv.M. Archers with bowes and arrows, of the which a great number we[...] on horſbacke: there were alſo a great companie of other fighting men, and of ſuche as ſerued to ſ[...]e, vp Tentes and pauilions, to attende the artillerye and to encloſe their campe, and otherwiſe to laboure, and to bee employed in ſeruice. In all this armye was there not one Page. The King of Englande was at his arriuall highly diſpleaſed wyth the Duke of Burgongne, whiche in the worde of a Prince hadde, promiſſed to meete hym at hys landyng wyth twoo thouſande men of armes and lyghte horſemenne, [...]de a great number of Launſquenetz, and Halberdices, and that hee woulde haue begonne the warre three monethes before the Kings tranſporting whereas contrarily,The ſiege of Nuſſe. the duke lay lingeryng at the ſiege of Nuſſe, and let paſſe the occaſion of atchieuing a more profitable enterpriſe. Kyng Edward incontinently diſpatched the Lord Scales in poſte vnto the Duke,The Lorde Scales. to put hym in remembraunce of his promiſe, and to aduiſe him to come and ioyn wyth hym before the Sommer were ſpente.

Before King Edwarde departed from D[...] uer,A defyaunce ſent to the Frenche King hee ſente an officer of armes vnto the french King wyth a defyaunce. The Frenche Kyng receyuyng the King of Englandes letters at the meſſengers hande, redde the ſame, and after he hadde conſidered thereof at leaſure, hee called the Engliſhe Harrault aſide, and to hym declared the little truſte that was to bee putte in the Duke of Burgongne, and the Coneſtable, by whoſe procurement hee knewe that King Edwarde was procured to come at that ſeaſon into Fraunce, and therefore it ſhoulde hee better for hym to haue peace wyth an old enemy, than to ſtaye vppon the promiſſes and familiaritie of a newe diſſimulyng friende, whyche peace bothe moſt pleaſed God, & was the thyng that he moſt deſyred: when hee hadde ſayde, he gaue to the Herrauld three hundred Crownes, promyſyng him a thouſande Crownes if any good appointment came to paſſe.

Thys Herrauld was borne in Normandie,The office of as H[...]. & being more couetous of the crowns thā ſecrete according as of duetie by his office hee ought to haue bin, promiſed to do all things that in him lay, and further ſhewed ways by the whiche the French king myght enter into the port of treatie for peace, the whiche he doubted not but would ſorie to a good concluſion. The Frenche kyng glad to heare theſe thinges, gaue to the Hyrauld when he ſhould depart, beſyde the other cowarde, a peece of crim[...] veluet of .xxx. yards long. The Lo Scales cōming to y^e duke of Burgongne, before Nuſſe, could not perſwade him to [...]tyſe his fielde,The Duke of Burgongne commeth to king Edvvard. & as it ſtoode him vpon, to come and ioyne with K. Edward, til at length conſtrained therto by other means, he left Nuſſe vnconquered, ſending the moſte parte of his armie into Lorrain, came with a ſmall company to K. Edward lying before Caleys. King Edwarde at the firſte cōming of the duke vnto him, ſemed much to reproue his vnwyſe dealing, in makyng ſo ſlowe haſt to ioyne with him at thys tyme, ſith for his ſake, and at his ſute, he had paſſed the ſeas with his army, to the intent to make warres in Frāce in reuenge of both their iniuries, the time ſeruing their turnes ſo well as they could wiſh or deſire, the oportunitie wherof, could neuer happely bee recouered agayn. The Duke after he had knew fed himſelfe, with alledging the diſhonour that ſhould haue redounded to him if he had [...]efte the ſiege of Nuſſe, without meane of ſome ſhew of compoſition, encoraged K. Edward to aduance forward with many golden promiſes, aſw[...]ll of his owne parte, as of the Coneſtable, the King agreed to y^e dukes perſwaſion, & ſo ſet forwarde: but yet when he was entred into the dukes coū treys, y^e Engliſhmē wer not ſo frendly entertained as they loked to haue bin: for at their cōming to Peronne, there were but a fewe ſuffred to enter the gates, the remnant were driuen to lodge in the fieldes, better puru[...]yed of their owne, than of the dukes prouiſion. And at their cōming before S. Quintines (which town the Co[...]eſtable had promiſed to deliuer into the hands of y^e duke of Burgongne) the artillerie ſhot off,The Conſtable of Fraunce a deepe diſſaſter. and they of the town came foorth both on horſeback & foot to ſkirmiſh with them y^e approched, of y^e whiche .ij. or .iij. were ſlaine. This entertaynment ſeemed ſtrange to K. Edw. pondering the laſt daye promiſe, & this dayes doing. But y^e duke excuſed the matter, & woulde haue perſwaded him to make coūtenāce to beſiege the town, y^t the Coneſtable might haue a color to render it into his hands, as though he did it by cōſtrainte. But the K. remē bring what had bin tolde to hys Herralde by the French K. how he ſhuld be diſſimuled w^t, perceiued the Fren̄ch kings words to be too true, & therfore thought it more ſurer to heat the fair words of the Coneſtable, & the duke, than to giue credite to their vntrue & diſceytfull doings. The engliſh men returned to their campe in a great chafe towards the Coneſtable, & the next day to increaſe their diſpleaſure, on other co[...] was miniſtred that ſmarted force:The Duke of Burgongne departeth. for duke Charles of Burgongne toke hi[...]lton ſodenly of [...] Edward, alledging that he muſt needes [...] his armie [...] Barroys, promiſing ſhortly, [...]aith all his puiſſaunce to returne agayne to the greate commoditie of them both. This departing muche troubles the king of England, bicauſe he looked for no ſuche thing, but thought [...]ther y^t he ſhoulde haue had the duke his continual felow in armes: & therfore this diffi[...]ling and vnſted [...]aſt working, cauſed the king to thinke, that he neuer thought, & to doe that he neuer intended. The Frenche K. in thys meanwhile had aſſembled a mighty power, once the whiche he had made captaine Monſ. Roh. de Eſtoutvile, whome he ſent into Arthoys, to defend the fro[...]iers there againſte he kyng of Englandes entrie, and hee hymſelfe tarried ſtill at S[...]ults to But though hee ſhewed countenaunce thus of warre, yet inwardly deſirous of peace, according to the aduice giuen him by the engliſhe Herraulde, hee cauſed a varlet or yeoman, as I may cal him, to be put in a c[...]te armor of Frāce, which for haſt was made of a trumpet baner for K. Lewes was a man nothyng preciſe in outward ſhewes of hande, oftentymes hauing neyther officed of armes nor trumpet in his courte.

This counterfaite Herraulde being throughly inſtructed in his barge,A meſſenger ſent to the K. of Englande. was ſente to the K. of England, & ſo paſſing f[...]rth when be approched the Engliſhe campe, hee put as his [...]e of Armes, [...] being [...] of the [...]ders, was brought to k[...] where the Lord Howarde, and the Lorde [...]t[...]ley wer[...] at diner o[...] whome he was curteouſly [...]ued, and by them conueyed to y^e kings pro[...]nge, vnto whom he declared his meſſage ſo wittily, that in the [...]nd he obteined a ſafe conduct[...] [...]or one hunderd horſſes, for ſuche perſons as his maiſter ſhould appoint to meete, as many to be aſſigned by K. Edward in ſome indifferent place betweene bothe enimies, to haue at lyke ſafe con[...] from hys ſaid maiſter, as he receiued from him.

After that the ſafe conducts were deliuered on both patres, the Ambaſſadors m[...]tte at a village beſide Ami[...]s: withe kyng of Englandes ſide, the Lorde Howarde, Sir Thomas Sentloger, doctor Morton after biſhop of Ely,Commiſſioners appointed to treate of peace. and Chancellour of England, were chiefe. For the French K. the baſtard of Bourbon Admirall of France. the Lorde of Sainte Pierre, the Byſhoppe of Evreux called Heberge, were apointed as principall. The Engliſhmenne demaunded the whole Realme of Fraunce, or at the leaſt Normandye and whole Acquitayne, the allegations were proued by the Englyſhmen; and politikely defended by the Frenchmen, ſo that with argumentes, without concluſion, the daye paſſed, and the commiſſioners departed, and made relation to then maiſters. The Frenche K. & his counſel wold not conſent y^t the Engliſhmē ſhuld haue one foot of land [...] Fraunce, but rather determined to put himſelf & the whole realme in hazard & aduenture. At the next me[...]ng y^e cōmiſſioners agreed vpon certain articles, which were of doth y^e princes accepted & allowed. It was ſ[...] accorded y^t the French K. ſhuld pay to y^e king of Englād without delay. 75000. crowns of y^e ſun, & yerely .l.M. crowns to be payd at London,Articles of agrement betvvene kyng Edvvarde and the french king. during K. Edwards lift. And further it was agreed, y^t Charles the Dolphyn ſhould mary the lady Elizabeth, eldeſt daughter to K. Edward, & they two to haue for y^e maintenāce of their eſtates, the whole duchy of Guyinne, or elſe l.M. crownes yerely, to be payd within y^e toure of Lōdon by y^e ſpace of .ix. yeres, & at the end of y^e terme the Dolphyn & his wife to haue y^e whole duchye of Guyenne, & of y^e charge the French K. to be clerely acquit. And it was alſo cōcluded, that the .ij. princes ſhuld come to an enterview, & ther take a corporal othe for the performance of thys peace,VVant of money procureth peace. eyther in ſight of other. On the K. of Englands pac[...] wer cōpriſed as alyes (if they wold therto aſſ[...]t) y^e dukes of Burgogne & Britanie. It was alſo couenāted, y^t after the whole ſum aforeſayd of 75000. crowns were payde to K. Edw. he ſhuld leaue in hoſtage the L. Haward, & ſir Io. Cheyny maiſter of his horſe, til he w^t al his army was paſſed the ſeas. This agrement was very acceptable to y^e French K. for he ſaw himſelf and hys realme therby deliuered out of great peril y^t was at hand: for not only he ſhuld haue bin aſſailed, if this peace had not takē place, both by y^e power of Englād & Burgongne, but alſo by the duke of Britain, & diuers of his own people, as y^e Comſtable & others. The K. of England alſo vnderſtanding his own ſtate, for wante of moneye, to maynteyne the warres,The duke of [...] ſ[...] enimie to peace if they ſhalbe long continue (though otherwiſe he deſired to haue, attēptes ſome high enterpriſe againſt the Frenchmē was the more eaſily induced to agree by thoſe of his counſel, y^t loued peace better thā war, & their wyues ſoft beds better thā hard armor & a ſtony lodging. But the D. of Glouceſter & other, whoſe ſwords thirſted for Frenche bloud, cried out on this peace, ſaying w^t al their trauell pain & expences wer to their ſhame, loſt and caſt away, & nothing gayned but a continual mocke.The Duke of Burgongne cō meth [...] haſte to the King of Englande. When the duke of Burgogne heard y^t there was a peace in hand betwixt K. Edward & the French king, he came in no ſmall haſt from Lutzenburgh, only accōpanied with [...]up horſes into the K. of Englandes lodging, and began as one in a greate chafe ſore to blame his doings, declaring in plain termes how diſhonorable this peace ſhuld be vnto him, hauing atchiued and thing of that a[...]ed the which he came. The K. of England after [...] had giuen him leaue to ſp[...] his fancie, anſwered him ſomwhat [...]ountly againe, openly reprouing him for his promiſe de [...]inge [...] dealing with him; wherefor his cauſe, chiefly he had paſſed the [...]eas, & now found in [...] touch greatly one point which he had couenāted. The duke being in a great rage,He departeth from the King in a rage. had the king of England for wel, & ſodainly toke his horſe [...]od[...] again to Lutzenburgh, promiſing not to [...] into any league with the Frenche King, till [...]ng Edward was paſſed the ſeas again into Englād & had bin there .iij. months: but this promiſe [...] not perfourmed, for v[...]ceſſitie bee tooke a wiſer why & agreed with the French K. vpon [...] immediatly after the departure of the Engliſhe armie oute of his countreye.The Coneſtable of Fraunce his offer to King Edvvard. The Conſtable of France alſo, doubting y^t his vntrouthe would be diſcloſed to his deſtraction, by meane of this agreeu[...] betwene y^e kings of England & France, as ſoon as he heare they were entred into ch[...] [...]tion therof, ſent to king Edw. requiring him not to credite the French kings prouiſions, which he[...] no lōger ab[...]e, thā vntil he ſhuld vnto vnderſtand, that he was on the other ſide of the ſea: & rather than he ſhuld agree, for want [...] [...] ney, he offered to bend him .l.M. crowns. But the king of England, ſith the accord was pa[...] & agreeth, wold not charge any thing for the promiſes of ſo ſlipper a merchāt as he knew the [...] ſtable to be. After y^t the peace was concluded, the Engliſhmen were permitted to enter into the town of Amiens, and there to buy ſuch neceſſarie things as they wanted, & had plentie of wine and good cheere made them of the French kings coſt, for at the entrie of euery gate, there were .ij. long tables ſet on euery ſide of the ſtreete where they ſhould paſſe, & at euery table fi[...]e at gentlemen of the beſt companions of all the countrey were appointed to enterteyn the engliſhmen as they entred, and to ſee them ſerued withoute looking. This chere laſted .iij. or .iiij. dayes not only to the Frenche kings coſte, but alſo to hys vnquietnes at length, doubting to haue but diſpoſſeſſed of his towne: For one day ſhote entred the number of .ix.M. engliſhmen well armed in ſundry companies, ſo that no frenchman durſ[...] [...]e forbid them to enter, but finally order was takē by the king of England, who ment no deceit, that no greater nūber ſhuld enter, than was conuenient, & the other were called backe, ſo that the French king & his counſel were well qui[...], & rid of caſting further perils thā nede required.

After this,The entervievv betvvixt King Edvvard the fourthe, and the French King. bothe the Kynges enterviewed togither at Picqueny on the water of Some .iij. leagues aboue Amiens, ſhewyng greate curteſie eyther to other. The letters of both their agreements were opened & red, and then either Prince layd his right hand on the miſſal, & his left hande on y^e holy Croſſe (as it was tearmed) & toke there a ſolemne othe to obſerue and kepe the treatie for ix. yeares concluded betweene them with al their confederates and alies, compriſed, mēcioned and ſpecified in the ſame, and further to accompliſhe the marriage of their children. There was wyth either prince .xij. noble mē at this meeting, which was vpō a bridge caſt ouer the water of Some, a geate beyng ſet a trauerſe the ſame in the mids, ſo from ſide to ſide, that the one Prince could not come vnto the other, but only to imbrace eche other, in putting their armes through the holes of the grate. There were four Engliſhmen appointed to ſtand with the Frenchmen on the bridge to ſee their demeanor, and likewiſe .iiij. Frenchmen were appointed to the Engliſhmen for the ſame purpoſe. There were with the king of England his brother the duke of Clarence, the erle of Northumberland, the biſhop of Elie his chācellor, the lord Haſtings his chamberlain, and .viij. others. They hadde louing and very familiar talke togither a good ſpace, bothe afore their company, and ſecretly alone, whileſt their company of curteſy withdrew ſomewhat backe. Finally, when theſe Princes had ended their communication, they toke leaue eyther of other in moſt louyng & amiable wiſe, & then mounting on horſback, they departed, the French king to Amiens, and Kyng Edward to his armie.The Frenche kings liberaliti. The Frenche king gaue to dyuers of the Engliſh Lords great rewards, as to the L. Chancellor, to the L. Haſtings, to y^e L. Haward, to ſir Thomas Montgomery, to ſir Thomas Sentleger, to ſir Iohn Cheyny, to the Marques Dorſet, and to diuers other. And beſide the extraordinarie rewards, which he beſtowed amongſt them to haue their ſtedfaſt fauour and good willes, he gaue to them great pēcions, amounting to the ſumme of .xvj. thouſand crounes a yere. When the king of England had receiued his money,King Edvvard rewardeth into Englande. & his nobilitie their rewardes, he truſſed vp his tents, and laded his baggage, & departed towards Caleys, where at his cōming thither, he toke ſhip, and ſailed with a proſperous winde into Englande, and was royally receyued vpon Blackheath by the Mayre of London and the Magiſtrates, & .v.C. comoners apparelled in Murrey, the .28. daye of September, and ſo cōueyed thorough y^e citie of Weſtmin. where for a while after his long labor, he repoſed himſelfe. About the ſame ſeaſon, the French king to compaſſe his purpoſe for the getting of the Conneſtable into his hands, toke truce with the duke of Burgongne for .ix. yeres, as a cōtractor in the league, and not comprehended as an other princes alye.Sir Thomas Montgomery. The K. of England aduertiſed hereof, ſente ouer Sir Thomas Montgomerye to the French king, offring to paſſe the ſeas agayn the next ſommer in his ayde to make warres on the duke of Burgongne, ſo that the French K. ſhuld pay to him fiftie thouſand crownes for the loſſe whiche hee ſhould ſuſtein in his cuſtome, by reaſon that the woolles at Caleys bycauſe of the warres could haue no vent, and alſo pay half the charges, and half the wages of his ſouldiors and men of warre. The Frenche K. thanked the K. of England for his gentle offer, but hee alledged that the truce was already concluded, ſo that he coulde not then attempte any thing againſt the ſame without reproche to his honour. But the trouth was, the French K. neither loued the ſight not [...]ed the companie of the King of England on y^e ſide the ſea, but when he was here at home, he both loued him as his brother, and tooke hym as his frende. Syr Thomas Montgomery was with plate richly rewarded, and ſo diſpatched.

There returned with him the Lord Hawarde and ſir Iohn Chey[...]y,1475 whiche were hoſtages with the French king till the Engliſh army were returned into Englande.

K. Edw. hauing eſtabliſhed al things in good order, as mē might iudge,An. reg. 15. both within his realme & without, was yet troubled in his mind,Henry earle of Richmonde. for that Hēry the erle of Richmond, one of y^e bloud of K. Henry y^e vj. was aliue, & at libertie in Britaine: therfore to attēpt eftſoons the mind of Frauncis D. of Britain, he ſent ouer vnto y^e ſaid duke, one doctor Stillington & two other his ambaſſadors laden with no ſmal ſum of gold.Ambaſſadours into Britaine. Theſe ambaſſadors declaring their meſſage, affirmed y^t the K. their maſter willed to haue the erle of Richmōd, only for this purpoſe, to ioyn with him in alyāce by marriage, & ſo to plucke vp al the leauings of diſcord betwixt him & the contrary faction. The duke gently heard the Orators, & thoughe at the firſt he by excuſes denied their requeſt, yet at the length beleuing that K. Edw. wold giue to the erle his eldeſt daughter, y^e lady Elizabeth in mariage, he conſented to deliuer him, & receyued of y^e engliſh Orators a great ſumme of mony: but ere they were embarked with their pray, the D. being aduertiſed, that the erle of Richmond was not ſo earneſtly fought for, to be coupled in mariage with K. Edward his daughter, but rather that his head might be chopped off with an hatchet,The Earle of Richmonde taketh Sanctuarie. cauſed his treaſorer Peter Landoyſe to cō uey the ſayd Erle of Richmond into a ſanctuarie at S. Malo, wher the Engliſh ambaſſadors then lay, only ſtaying for a cōuenyēt wind: who complayned, that they were euill vſed to bee ſpoyled both of their moneye and merchandiſe, yet bycauſe the matter was ſo handeled, that it ſeemed the Earle eſcaped into the Sanctuarie thoroughe theyr owne negligence, after they hadde receyued hym into their handes, they were ſoone aunſwered, but yet promiſe was made that the Erle ſhould be ſafely kept, either in the Sanctuarie, or elſe as priſoner in the Dukes houſe, that they ſhuld not need to feare him more than his ſhadow. And thus the K. of Englande purchaſed for his money, the keeping of his enimie, the ſpace onely of .iij. dayes, and no more.

King Edw. was ſomwhat diſpleaſed wyth this chance, but yet truſting that the D. of Britayn wold according to promiſe, ſee the Erle of Richmont ſafely kept from doing any greuance to him or his ſubiects, put all doubtes therof out his mynd, & began to ſtudy how to kepe a liberal princely houſe, and thervpon ſtoryng his cheſts with money, hee imployed no ſmall portion in good houſe keepyng.

1476
An. reg. 16. The deathe of the Duke of Burgongne.This yere the duke of Burgongne was ſlain by the Swytzers, before the towne of Nancy in Lorrayne, after whoſe death the French K. wan all the townes which the ſayd Duke held in Picardie and Arthoys, and bycauſe that the towne of Bolongne and countie of Bolongnoys, appertayned by right of inheritance vnto the Lord Berthram de la Toure, Earle of Auuergne, the Frenche king bought of him his righte and title in the ſame, and recompenced hym wyth other lands in the countie of Foreſts, and in other places. And bicauſe the forenamed town and countye were holden of the Erledome of Arthoys, he chāged the tenure, and auowed to hold the ſame towne and countye of our Lady of Bolongne, and therof did homage to the image in the great churche of Bolongne, offering there an Heart of gold, weying two thouſand crowns, ordeyning further that his heires and ſucceſſors at their entrie into their eſtates, by them ſelues or their deputies, ſhuld offer an hart of like weight & value as a reliefe & homage for y^e ſame town & coūtye.

1477About this ſeaſon through great miſhap, the ſparke of priuie malice was newly kindeled betwixt the K. and his brother the D. of Clarēce, inſomuch that where one of the dukes ſeruantes was ſodeinly accuſed (I can not ſay whether of truth, or vntruly ſuſpected by the dukes enimies) of poyſoning, ſorcerie or inchauntmente, and therof cōdemned, & put to executiō for the ſame, the Duke whiche might not ſuffer the wrongfull condemnation of his man (as he in his conſcience iudged) nor yet forbeare but to murmure and reproue the doyng therof, moued the Kyng with his dayely exclamation to take ſuche diſpleaſure with hym, that finally the Duke was caſt into the Tower, An. reg. 17. George Duke of Clarence drovvned in a butte of Malmcy. and therwith adiudged for a traytour, and priuilye drowned in a butte of Malmeſey, the .xj. of Marche, in the beginning of the .xvij. yeare of the kings reigne.

Some haue reported, that the cauſe of thys noble mans death roſe of a fooliſh propheſie whiche was, that after king Edwarde ſhould [...]gne one, whoſe firſt letter of his name ſhould be [...] wherwith the K. and the Quene wee [...] troubled, & began to conceiue a grea[...] [...] againſt this duke, and could not be [...] had brought him to his end. And as the [...] wōt to encōber the mynds of men [...] in ſuche diueliſh fa[...], they ſaid afterward[...] that propheſie loſt [...] his effect,Prophecies deuil[...] f[...]. when after [...]ing Edward, Glouceſter vſurped his kingdom Other alledged, that the cauſe of his death [...] that the duke being deſtitute of a wife by y^e meanes of his ſiſter the lady Margarete, Du[...] of Burgongne, procured to haue the Lady [...]y daughter & heire to hir huſband [...] Which mariage K. Edward (enuying the proſperitie of his brother) both again ſayd and di[...]rbed, and therby olde malice reuiued victori[...] whiche the Queene and hir bloud (euer [...]truſting, and priuily barking at the kyngs Ha[...]ge,) ceaſſed not to encreaſe. But ſure it is y^e although king Edward were conſenting to his drath, yet he much did both lament his infortunate chance, and repent his ſodeyn execution. Inſomuch that when any perſon ſuch to hym for the pardon of malefactors condemned to death, he woulde accuſtomably ſaye, and openly ſpeake: O[...] fortunate brother, for whoſe life not our wold make ſuite, openly and apparantly meanyng by ſuche words that by the meanes of ſome of the nobilitie he was deceyued & brought to his cōfuſion.

This duke left behynd him two yong infants begot of the body of his wife, the daughter of Richard late erle of Warwike, whiche children by deſtinie as it were, or by their owne merits, folowing the ſteps of their anceſtors, ſucceded them in like miſfortune and ſemblable euill chaunce. For Edward his heire whome K. Edward had created earle of Warwike was .xxiij. yeares after in the tyme of Henry the ſeuenth,Edvva[...] of VVa[...] ſonne [...] to Geo[...] duke of [...]rence. attaynted of treaſon, and on the Tower hill loſt his head. Margarete his ſole daughter maryed to ſir Richard Pole knight, and by Henry the .viij. reſtored to the name, title and poſſeſſiōs of the earledom of Saliſbury,Marga[...] [...]reſſe of [...]bury. was at length for treaſon cō mitted againſt the ſayd Henry the .viij. atteynted in open parliamēt, & ſixtie two yeres after hir father had ſuffred death in the tower, ſhe on the greene within the ſame place was beheaded. In whoſe perſon dyed the very ſurname of Plantagenet, whiche from Geoffrey Plantagenet ſo long in the bloud royall of this realme had floriſhed & continued. After y^e death of this D. by reaſon of great heat & intemperancie of aire, hapned ſo fierce and quicke a peſtilence,A greate peſtilence. that fifteene yeares warre paſte conſumed not the third parte of the people, that only foure moneths myſerably & pitifully diſpatched & brought to their granes.

1478
An. reg. 18.The counſellors of the yong Duches of Burgongne ſent to King Edwarde for ayde againſt the French king, & aboute the ſame time had the Quene of Engl. ſente to the lady Margaret duches of Burgongne for y^e preferremēt of hir brother Anthonie erle Riuers to y^e yong damſel: but the counſel of Flanders cōſidering y^t he was but an Earle of meane eſtate, & ſhe the greateſt inheritr[...] of all Chriſtendom at that time, gaue but deafe care to ſo vnmeet a requeſt. To which deſire, if the Flemings had but giuen a lyking [...] dy outwarde ſemblance, and with gentle wordes delayed the ſuit, ſhe had bin both ſucco[...]d & defended. Whether K. Edw. was not contented with this refuſall, or y^t he was loth to breake with the Frenche K. he wold in no wiſe conſent to ſend an armie into Flāders againſt y^e French king, but yet he ſent Ambaſſadors to hym with louing & gentle letters, requiring hym to growe to ſome reſonable order and agreement with the yong Ducheſſe of Burgongne, or at the leaſt to take a truce with hir at his requeſt.

The ambaſſadors of Englād wer highly receiued, bountifully feaſted, & liberally rewarded, but anſwer to their deſire had they none, but that ſhortly after, the French K. wold ſend Ambaſſadors, hoſtages, and pledges to the K. of Englād their maiſter, for the perfecting and concludyng of all things depending betwene thē two, ſo that their ſouetaine lorde and they, ſhould haue cauſe to be contented and pleaſed. Theſe faire words were only delayes to driue tyme till hee mighte haue ſpace to ſpoyle the young Damoſell of hir townes and countreys. And beſide thys, to ſtay king Edwarde from taking parte with hir, hee wrote to him that if he would ioyne with him in ayde, he ſhould haue and [...]nioye [...] him and hys heyres the whole countie and countrey of Flanders, diſcharged of homage, ſuperioritie and reſort to be claimed by the French K. or his ſucceſſors:Large offers made to the K. [...] Englande by the French K. and further he ſhould haue the whole duchy of Brabant, wherof the French king offered at his owne coſt & charge to conquer .iiij. the chiefeſt and ſtrongeſt townes within the ſayd Duchye, and them in quiet poſſeſſion to deliuer to the K. of Englande, graunting further to pay to hym x.M. angels toward his charges, with munitions of warre and artillerie, whiche he promyſed to lende him, with men and cariage for the conueyance of the ſame. The king of England refuſed to make any warres agaynſte thoſe countreyes that were thus offered to him: but if the Frenche King would make him partener of hys cōqueſts in Picardie, rendring to him part of the towns alredie gotten, as Bolongne, Monſterel, and Abuile, then he wold ſurly take his part, and ayde him with men at his owne coſts & charges.

Thus paſſed faire wordes and golden promiſes betwene th[...]ſe two pri[...], and in the meane time the yong ducheſſe of Burgongne was ſpoiled of hir townes, caſtels and territories, tyll at length for maintinance, ſhe condeſcēded to marie w^t Mar[...]ian fonne to y^e [...]ror Fred[...], that he might kepe the Wolfe from the folde.

King Edward in the [...]yere of his reign began more thā he was before accuſtomed to ſe[...]th the forfeiture of [...] all lawes [...] ſtatutes,1479
An. reg. 19. aſwel of the [...] of his no[...]litie as of other gentlemen being [...] of great poſſeſſions, or abu[...] de [...]ye furniſhed with goodes, likewyſe of merchāts, & other inferior perſons: by reaſon wherof, it was of all men iudged y^t he wold proue hereafter a ſore and a rigorous Prince among his ſubiects: but this his new inuēted practiſe and couetous meaning, (by reaſon of foreyn affaires and abridgement of his dayes in this tranſitorie lyfe, which were within two yeares after conſumed) tooke ſome but not great effecte.

Ambaſſadors were ſent to and fro betwixt the K. of England & France,1480
An. reg. 20. and ſtil the french king fed the K. of England with faire words, putting him in hope to match his ſon and heire the Dolphyn with the lady Elizabeth daughter to the K. of England, according to the concluſions of agreemēt had & made at Pyqu[...]y betwixt them, althoughe in very deede he meante nothing leſſe. His ambaſſadors euer made excuſes if anything were amiſſe, & he vſed to ſend chaunge of ambaſſadors, ſo y^t if thoſe which had bin here afore, and were returned, had ſayde or promiſed any thing (though they were authoriſed ſo to doe) whyche might turne to their maſters hindrance, the other that came after mighte excuſe themſelues by ignorance of y^e mater, affirming that they wanted cōmiſſion once to talk or meddle with that matter, or if he perceiued that any thing was lyke to be concluded contrary to his mynde, for a ſhifte he would call his Ambaſſadours home in greate haſte, and after ſend an other with new inſtructions nothing depending on the olde.

Thus the French king vſed to dally with K. Edward in the caſe of this mariage, only to kepe hym ſtil in amitie: And certainly the king of Engand being a mā of no ſuſpicious nature,The French k. fedeth the king of Englande vvith faire vvordes and promiſes. thought ſooner that the Sun ſhould haue fallen from his circle, than that the French king would haue diſſimuled or broken promiſe with him: but there is none ſo ſoone beguyled, as he that leaſte myſtruſteth, nor anye ſo able to deceyue as hee to whom moſt credence is giuen: but as in myſtruſting nothing is great lightneſſe, ſo in too much truſtyng is to muche folly, whiche well appeared in this matter: for the Frenche king by cloakyng his inwarde determinate purpoſe, wyth greate dyſſimulation and large promyſſes, kept hym ſtil in frendſhip with the king of England, till he had wrought a greate parte of his will againſt the yong Ducheſſe of Burgongne, which king Edward would not haue ſuffered, if he had put any great doubt in the french kings fair promiſes, conſidering that the crown of France was in this mean time ſo much encreaſed in dominions, to the great reinforcement of that realme.

1481
An. reg. 21.In this very ſeaſon Iames the thirde of that name K. of Scots ſent into England a ſolemne ambaſſade for to haue the ladie Cicelie,Ambaſſadours foorth of Scotlande. K. Edwards ſecond daughter to be maried to his eldeſt ſonne Iames, prince of Scotland, duke of Rothſay, and earle of Carick. King Edward and his coūſel, perceiuing that this affinitie ſhuld be both honorable and profitable to the Realme, did not only graunt to his deſire, but alſo beforehand diſburſed certain ſummes of money, to the only intent that the mariage ſhould hereafter neyther be hindred nor broken, with this condition, that if y^e ſaid mariage by any accidentall meane ſhould in tyme to come take none effecte, or that K. Edw. wold notifie to the K. of Scots, or his counſell, that his pleaſure was determined to haue y^e ſayd mariage diſſolued: Then y^e Prouoſt & merchāts of the town of Edenburgh, ſhuld be bound for repayment of the ſaid ſum again. Al which things were with great deliberatiō cōcluded, paſſed and ſealed, in hope of cōtinuall peace & indiſſoluble amitie. But K. Iames was known to be a man ſo wedded to his own opinion, y^t he could not abide thē that wold ſpeake cōtrary to his fantaſy, by meanes whereof, he was altogither led by the counſel and aduice of men of baſe linage, whom for their flaterie, he had promoted vnto great dignities & honorable offices, by which perſons, diuers of the nobilitie of his realme were greately miſuſed & put to trouble both with impriſonmēt exactions & death, inſomuche that ſome of them went into voluntarie exile. Amongſt whome Alexander duke of Albany, brother to K. Iames, being exiled into France, & paſſing through England, taried with king Edward, & vpon occaſion moued him to make war againſt his brother, y^e ſaid K. Iames, for that he forgetting his other promiſe, and affinity cōcluded with [...] Edwarde cauſed his ſubiects to make roades & forrayne into the Engliſh borders, ſpoyling, bre[...]ning & h[...]lling king Edwards liege people. King Edward not a little diſpleaſed with this vnprincely doing prouoked & ſet on alſo by the D. of Albanye, determined to inuade Scotland with an armie, a[...] wel to reuenge his owne iniuries receyued at the hands of king Iames, as to helpe to reſtore the D. of Albany vnto his countrey and poſſeſſions again. Herevpon al the winter ſeaſon, he muſtred his men, prepared his ordinance, rigged his ſhips,Preparation for vvarre againſt Scotlād. and left nothing vnprouided for ſuch a iorney, to that in the beginning of the yeare, all things apperteyning to the warre, and neceſſarie for hys voyage, were in a readineſſe.

To be his chieftayn of his hoſt,1482
An. reg. 22. and lieutenant general, Rich. duke of Glouceſter was apoynted by his brother king Edward, and with him wer adioyned as aſſociates,An army ſcene into Scotlande. Henry the fourth earle of Northumberland, Tho. L. Stanley lorde Steward of the kings houſe, the L. Lonell, the lorde Greyſtocke, and diuers other noble men, [...] w[...]rthie knights. Theſe valiant captaine came to Alnewik in Northumberland, about the beginning of Iuly, where they firſt encāped thēſelues, & marſhalled their hoſt: The forewarde was led by the erle of Northūberland, vnder whoſe ſtanderd were the L. Scrope of Bolton, ſir Io. Middleton, ſir Io. Dichfielde, & diuers other knights, eſquiers and ſouldiors, to the number of .vj.M. & .vij.C. In the middle warde was the Duke of Glouceſter, and wyth hym the Duke of Albany, the lorde Louell, the lorde Greyſtock, ſir Edward Wooduile, and other to the number of fiue thouſand and eight hundred men. The L. Neuile was appoynted to folow, accompanied with iij.M. The Lorde Stanley led the wing on the right hand of the dukes battail with .iiij.M. mē of Laneaſhire & Cheſhire. The Lord Fitz Hugh, ſir Williā a Parre, ſir Iames Harrington, with the number of two thouſande ſouldiors, guyded the left wing: And beſide all theſe, there were one thouſand appointed to giue their attendaunce on the ordinance. This royall armie not intending to loſe tyme, came ſodeynly by the water ſide to the town of Barwike, and there what with force and what with feare of ſo great an army,Barvvik vvon by the Engliſhmen. [...] & entred the towne: but the erle of Bothwel being captain of the caſtell, wold in no wiſe deliuerie: wherfore the capitains vpon good and deliberate aduice, plāted a ſtrong ſiege roūd about it. Whē this ſiege was laid, the ij. dukes & al the other ſoldiors (except y^e L. Stāley, ſir Io. Eltingtō treaſorer of y^e kings houſe, ſir Will. a Parre, & 400[...] men that were lefte behinde to keepe the ſiege before the caſtell (departed from Berwicke toward Edinborough, and in marching thitherward, they brent and deſtroyed many townes and haſti[...]es. King Iames hou[...]ig ſmall confidence in his communaltie, and leſſe truſt in his nobilitie, kept himſelfe within the caſtell of Edenboroughe. The Duke of Glouceſter entred into the town, & at the eſpecial deſire of the duke of Albany, ſaued the town, and the inhabitants from fyer, bloude, and ſpoile, taking only of the marchauntes, ſuche preſents as they genti[...]y offered to hym and his captains, cauſing Gartier principal king of armes, to make a publike proclamation at the high croſſe in the market place of Edenboraughe, by the which he warned and admoniſhed king Iames, to keepe, obſerue, and performe, all ſuche promiſſes, compactes, couenauntes, and agreements, as he had concluded and ſealed to, with the king of Englande, and alſo to make ſufficiēt recompēce to his ſubiects, for the tyranny, ſpoile, and crueltie, which hee and his people had committed and don, contrary to y^e league, within the marches of his realm of England, before the firſt day of Auguſt next enſuing. And further without delay to reſtore his brother the duke of Albany to his eſtate, and all his poſſeſſions, offices, and aucthorities, in as large maner as he occupied and enioyed the ſame before: or elſe the duke of Gloceſter lieutenaunt generall for the king of England, was ready at hande to deſtroy hym, his people, and countreys, with ſlaughter, [...]ame, and famine. King Iames woulde make no anſwer neyther by worde nor writyng, but kepte hymſelfe cloſe within the caſtell: but the lords of Scotland lying at Habington with a great puiſſaūce, determined firſt to practiſe with y^e duke of Glouceſter for a peace, and after by ſome meanes to allure the duke of Albany from the Engliſhe amitie, & vpon this motion, the .ij. day of Auguſte they wrote to the duke of Glouceſter, requiring that the mariage betwene the prince of Scotland, & king Edwards daughter might be accompliſhed, according to the couenants, and further that a peace from thenceforth might bee louingly concluded betwene both realms. The duke of Glouceſter anſwered again to theſe demaundes, that for the article of the mariage, he knewe not the King his brothers determinate pleaſure, either for the affirmaunce, or denyall of the ſame, but neuertheleſſe he deſired full reſtitution of all y^e ſums of money preſted out in lone vppon the ſame mariage, and as for peace he aſſured them he would agree to none, except the caſtel of Berwik might be to him deliuered, or at the leaſte wiſe that they ſhoulde vndertake y^t the ſiege lying afore y^e ſame ſhuld not be troubled by the K. of Scots, nor by any of his ſubiects, nor by his or their procuremēt or meanes. The Scottiſh lords vpon thys anſwer and demaundes of the duke of Glouceſter,The Bishoppe elected of Murray ſent to the Duke of Glouceſter. ſent to hym the elect of M[...]rray, & the lord Dernley, which excuſed the [...]alter, touching the repayment of the mony, for that the time of the lawfull contracte of the ſaide mariage, was not yet come, & no day apointed for the money to be paide before the contract beganne. But for further aſſuraunce, either for the contract to be made, or for the paiment of the money, they promyſed thervnto accordingly (as reaſon ſhould require) to agree. Secōd[...]ly as touching y^e caſſel of Berwicke, they alledged that it apperteined to the realme of Scotland, as the olde [...]ūce of the ſame. The duke notwithſtanding, all that they could ſya, wold agree [...] peace, except y^e Caſtell of Berwicke might be deliuered to the king of England, and ſo the meſſengers departed. The ſame day the archbiſhop of ſainct Andrewes, the Biſhop of Dunhill, Colin earle of Argyle, lord Cambell, and lord Andrewe lord of Avandale chauncellor of Scotland, wrote to the duke of Albany a ſolemne and an autenticall inſtrument, ſigned & ſealed with their hāds and ſeales, concerning a generall pardō to him and his ſeruaunts, vpon certaine conditions to be graunted, which conditions ſeemed to reaſonable, that y^e duke of Albany deſirous to be reſtored to his olde eſtate, poſſeſſions, and natiue countrey, willingly accepted the ſame: but before he departed from the duke of Glouceſter, he promyſed bothe by worde and writyng of his owne hand, to do & performe all ſuche things, as he before that time had ſworne and promiſed to king Edward, notwithſtāding any agreemēt nowe made, or after to be made, with the lords of Scotland: and for performaunce of the effect hereof, he againe tooke a corporall othe, & ſealed the writyng before the D.The Duke of Albanie reſtored home. of Glouceſter in the engliſhe campe at Leuington beſides Hadington, the thirde day of Auguſt in the yere .1482. After he was reſtored,He[...]s created greate lieutenaunt of Scotlande. the Lords of Scotlande proclaimed him great lieutenaunt of Scotland and in the kings name made proclamatiō, that all men within .viij. dayes ſhoulde be ready at Crauſhaus, both to reiſe the ſiege before the caſtell, and for the recouering againe of the town of Berwicke. The Duke of Albany wrote all this preparation to the Duke of Glouceſter, requiryng hym to haue no miſtruſte in hys dealings. The duke of Glouceſter wrote to him againe his minde very roundely, promiſing that be with his army woulde defende the beſiegers frō all enemies that ſhould attempt to trouble them, or elſe die in the quarrell. To be briefe, when the lordes of Scotland ſawe that it booted them not to aſſay the reiſing of the ſiege, except they ſhoulde make accompt to bee fought wythall, they determined to deliuer the Caſtell of Berwicke to the engliſhmē, ſo that therevpon there might be an abſtinence of warre taken for a ſeaſon. And herewith they ſent to the duke of Gloceſter a charter indented whych was dated the .xxiiij. day of Auguſte, in the ſaide yeare 1482. contracted betwene the duke of Gloceſter liuetenant general for the king of Englād, and Alexander duke of Albany lieutenāt for Iames king of Scottes, that an eſpeciall abſtinence of warre ſhuld be kept betwixt y^e realms of England and Scotland, aſwell by ſea, as by lande, to begin the .viij. day of Septēber nexte comming, to endure till the .iiij. day of Nouember nexte following. And in y^e ſame ſeaſō, the town and caſtell of Berwicke, to be occupied and remaine in the reall poſſeſſion of ſuche as by the king of Englands deputie ſhulde be appointed. Hervnto the duke of Glouceſter agreed,The Caſtell of Berwicke deliuered. and ſo then was the caſtell of Berwicke deliuered to the lord Stanley, and other thereto appointed, which therein put both engliſhmen and artillery ſufficient to defend it againſt all Scotlande, for .vj. moneths. The duke of Albany alſo cauſed the prouoſt and burgeſſes of Edenborough, to make a ſufficient inſtrument obligatorye, to king Edward, for the true ſatiſfaction, and cō tentation of the ſame mony, which he alſo ſent by the ſaide prouoſte, to the duke of Gloceſter to Alnewike. It was conteined in the ſaid inſtrument or writing, that king Edward ſhuld intimate his pleaſure vnto the ſaide prouoſt & burgeſſes of Edenboroughe, before the feaſt of Allſaintes nexte following, whether he would the mariage ſhoulde take place, or that he woulde haue the payment of the money, accordyng to which article,Gartier king of armes is ſent into Scotland. K. Edward ſēt Gartier his principall king of armes, & Northumberland Herrauld, to declare his refuſall of the mariage and the election & choiſe of the repaiment of the mony. They came to Edenbourgh .8. days before y^e feaſt of Alſaints, where according to their cō miſſion and inſtructions, Gartier declared the pleaſure of the king his maiſter, vnto y^e prouoſt & burgeſſes of Edenboroughe, who made anſwer y^t now knowing his determination therin, they wold accordyng to their bond, prepare for repaiment of the mony, Gartier and his fellowe were gentilly enterteined, and in ſafetie conueyed backe to Berwicke, and ſo cōming to Newecaſtell, where the duke of Gloceſter than lay, made relation to him of all their doings, & then the duke with all ſpeede returned to Shrinehuton and there abode.1483 Althoughe king Edward reioyced that his buſines came to ſo good concluſion with the Scots, yet he was aboute the ſame time ſore diſquieted in his minde towards the frenche king, whome he now p[...] ued to haue datied with him as touching the agreement of the mariage, to be had der[...] the Dolphin and his daughter the lady Elizabethe for the lord Haward being as then [...] out of Frāce, certified the king of his [...] [...] ledge, how that he being preſent, [...]dy Margaret of A[...] daug[...] to [...] [...] imilian, ſon to the emperor F[...] [...] into Frāce with great pompe a[...]e and at Ambois to the Dolphin contructed, and [...] ſed King Edward highly diſpleaſed with [...] double & vniuſt dealing of the french king, called his nobles togither, & opened vnto them his griefes, who promiſed him for [...]ſſe[...] therof, to be ready with [...] their powers to [...]ke warres in France at his pleaſure and appointment.

But whileſt hee was buſie in hande to make his purueiaūce for warres th[...]s againſt Frāce whether it was with melancolye a anger, whiche he took with the french kings [...]gs & vncurteous vſage, or were it by any ſuperf[...] ſurfet (to the which he was much giuen) y^t ſodainely fell ſicke, and was ſo gree[...]y taken, that in the end he perceued his natural ſtrength in ſuch wiſe to decay, that there was liſte hope of recouerie in the cūning of his phiſitiōs, whiche hee perceyued only to prolong hys life for[...] ſmall time, wherefore he began to make readye for his paſſage into an other world, not forgetting as after ſhal appeare, to exhorte the nobles of his realme aboue all thinges, to an vnitie among themſelues, & hauing as he tooke if, made an attonement betwixte the parties that were knowen to be frant friends, he cōmended vnto their graue wiſedoms the gouernmēt of his ſon the prince, & of his brother the Duke of Yorke, during the time of their tēder yeres. And thus hauing ſet things in good ſtay as might be ſuppoſed, hee ſhortely after departed this life at Weſtminſter the .ix. of April in the yere .1483. After he had reigned .xxij. yeres, one moneth, & viij. dayes, his body was with funerall pompe conueyed to Windſor & there buried, he left behinde him iſſue by the Quene his wife ij. ſons, Edward and Richard, with .v. daughters, Elizabeth that was after Quene maried to Henry the .vij. Cicilie maried to the vicount Welles, Briget a Nunne profeſſed in Sion or Dertfort as ſir Tho. More hath: Anne maried to the L. Thomas Howarde, after erle of Surrey, and duke of Norffolke: Katherin wedded to the L. Williā Courtney ſon to the earle of Deuonſhire: beſide theſe he left behinde him likewiſe, a baſe ſon named Arthur that was after vicoūt Liſle: for the deſcription of his perſon & quallities I will referre you to that whiche ſir Tho. More hath written of him in that hiſtorie which he wrote and left vnfiniſhed of his ſon Edward the fift, & of his brother king Richard the third, which we ſhall god willing hereafter make, you partaker of, as wee finde the ſame recorded among his other workes, word for word, when firſte we haue according to our beg[...] mor[...] rehearſed ſuche writers of our nation as [...]ed in his dayes. As firſt, Nicholas Hent[...] borne an Suffolke a Carmelit Frier in Gipp[...]wich pr[...] uinciall of his order throughe Englande: Henry Parker a carmelite Frier of Doucaſter preached againſte the pride of prelates, and for ſuche doctrine as he ſet forthe, was impriſoned wyth his fellowe Tho. Holden, and a certaine blacke Frier alſo for the like cauſe. Parker was forced to recant .iij. ſpeciall articles, as Balenoteth out of Lelande: Iohn Harding an eſquier borne in the Northe partes, wrote a Chronicle in Engliſh verſe, & among other ſpeciall points therein touched he gathered all the ſubmiſſions and homages had and made by the Scottiſhe kings euen from the dayes of King Athelſtons Whereby it euidently may appeare, howe the Scottiſhe Kingdome euen in maner from the firſte eſtabliſhing thereof here in Britaine, hath bene apperteining vnto the kings of England, and houlden of them, as their chiefe and ſuperior Lordes: William Ive a doctor of Diuinitie and prehendarie of Sainct Poules in London: Thomas Wilton a diuine, and Deane of the ſayde Churche of Poules in London: Iulian Pemes, a gentlewoman endued with excellent giftes bothe of body and minde, wrote certaine treatiſes of hauking and hunting, delighting greatly hirſelfe in thoſe exerciſes and paſtimes: ſhe wrote alſo a booke of the lawe of armes, and knowledge apperteyning to Harolds: Iohn Stambery borne in the Weaſte partes of this Realme, a Carmelite Frier, and confeſſor to King Henry the ſixte, hee was alſo Maiſter of Gaton Colledge, and after was made Biſhop of Bangor, and remoued from thence to the See of Hereforde: Iohn Slueley an Auguſtine Frier prouinciall of hys order: Iohn Forteſkew a Iudge and Chauncellor of England, wrote diuers treatiſes concerning the lawe, and pollitike gouernement: Rochus a Charterhouſe Monke borne in London, of honeſte parentes, and ſtudied in the Vniuerſitie of Paris, he wrote diuers epigrammes: Iohn Phreas borne alſo in London was fellowe of Bailioll Colledge in Oxforde, and after wente into Italy, where hee hearde Guarinus that excellent Philoſopher read in Ferrara: he proued an excellent phiſition and a ſkilfull lawier, There was not in Italy whileſt hee remained there, that paſſed hym in eloquence and knowledge of bothe the tongues, Greeke and Latin▪ Walter Hunt a Carmelite Frier, a greate deuine, and for his excellency in lerning ſent from the whole body of this realme, vnto the generall counſell houlden firſte at Ferrara, and after at Florence by Pope Eugenius the .iiij. where he diſputed among other wyth the Greekes in defence of the other and ceremonies of the latine Churche: Thomas Wighenhall a Monke of the order called Premonſtratenſis in the Abbey of Derā in Nortfolke: Iohn Gunthorpe went into Italy, where he hearde that eloquent learned man Guarinus read in Farrara. After his commyng home into England, he was Deane of Welles, and keeper of the priuy ſeale: Iohn Hamvoys an excellent Muſicion, and for hys notable cunnyng therein, made doctor of Muſicke: Williā Caxton wrote a Chronicle called Fru[...] [...]porum, & an appendix vnto Treuiſa, beſide diuers other bookes & tranſlations: Iohn Mi[...]ton a carmelite Frier of Briſtow and prouintiall of his order through England, Irelande and Scotland, at lengthe bycauſe he defended ſuch of his order as preached againſt endowments of the church with temporall poſſeſſions he was brought into trouble, committed to priſon in caſtell ſaint Angelo in Rome, where he continued .iij. yeares, and at length was deliuered throughe certaine of the Cardinalles that were appointed hys Iudges: Dauid Morgan a Welcheman, Threaſourer of the church of Landaffe, wrote of the antiquities of Wales, and a diſcriptiō of the country: Iohn Tiptot, a noble man borne, a greate trauailer, excellently learned, and wrote diuers treatiſes, & finally loſt his head in the yero .1471. in time of the ciuill warre betwixt the houſes of Yorke & Lancaſter: Iohn Shirwood biſhop of Durham: Thomas Kent an excellent philoſopher, Roberte Huggon borne in Norffolk in a town called Hardingham, wrote certayne vayne prophecies: Iohn Maxfielde a learned phiſition: William Greene a carmelite Frier: Thomas Norton borne in Briſtow an Alcumiſte: Iohn Meare a Monke of Norwich: Richarde Porlande borne in Norffolke a Franciſcan Frier, and a doctor of diuinitie: Thomas Milling a Monke of Weſtminſter, a Doctor of diuinitie and preferred to the Biſhopricke of Hereforde: Skogan a learned Gentleman and ſtudent for a time in Oxforde, of a pleaſaunte witte, and bent to mery deuiſes, in reſpect whereof he was called into the Courte, where giuing himſelfe to his naturall inclination of mirthe and pleaſaunt paſtime, he plaied many ſporting parts, althoughe not in ſuche vnciuill maner as hath bene of hym reported.