A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 8 · Letter
THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH.
THere had beene a Race of Princes, of which for three generations together, it might be rightly sayd; Pulcherrima proles; Magnanimi Heroes nati melioribus Annis. For King Edward the Third had many Sons, not inferior in valour to the many Sons of King Pri…s, not excepting his valiant Son Hector, having so equall a match for him, as Edward the blacke Prince, who wanted but an Homer, to have been an Achilles. Then Iohn of G…un… likewise had divers Sons, men as valorous as any that Age afforded. Then Henry the Fourth had foure Sons, o… so heroicall disposition all, that you might know them all to be his Sons, only King He…ry the Fifth to be his eldest. And now that in him the heroicall nature was come to the height, it degenerated againe in King Henry the Sixth, which must needs be attributed to the mothers side; who though in her selfe she were a Princesse of a noble spirit, yet being the issue of a crazie father, what marvell, if she proved the mother of a crazie issue! and yet even this issue of hers, a Prince no doubt, of excellent parts in their kinde, though not of parts kindly for a Princ…; in a private man praise-worthy enough, but the sword of a King required a harder mettall than the soft temper of King Henry the sixth was made of: and in him we may see the fulfilling of the Text; Vae genti cujus Rex est puer; Woe to that Nation whose King is a Childe; for he was not above eight moneths old, when he succeeded his father in the Kingdome; although that Text perhaps is not meant so much of a child in years, for which there may be helps by good Protectors; as of a childe in abilities of ruling, whereof, though possibly there may, yet probably there can be no sufficient supply, of which, in this King we have a pregnant example; for as long as he continued a childe in yeares, so long his Kingdomes were kept flourishing by the Providence of his carefull Uncles; but assoone as he left being a Childe in years, and yet continued a childe in ability of Ruling, then presently began all things I… pejus ruere, & retro sublapsa referri, all things went to wracke both in France and England. And thus much was necessary to be sayd by way of a Preface to that great fall as it were of Nilus, in King Henry the Sixth.
Henry called of Windsor, because borne there, the only childe of King Henry the Fifth, as yet scarce nine moneths old, succeeded his Father, and was Proclaimed King of England on the last of August, in the yeare 1422; by reason of whose infancie, King Henry his Father had before by his Will appointed, and now the Lords by their consent confirmed, the Regency of France to Iohn Duke of Bedford, the Government of England, to Humphry Duke of Glocester, the Guard of his Person to Thomas Duke of Exeter, and H…nry Beauford Bishop of Winchester, and Lord Chancellor, wherein it was wisely provided that one man should not rule all, lest it should prove a spurre to aspiring; and withall stay them from envying one another, when many were alike placed in the highest forme of authori…y: and indeed they all carried themselves so uprightly and carefully in their places, that it well appeared the trust reposed in them by the dying King, had made a strong impression of love and loyalty towards his Son.
The Duke of Bedford Regent of France, was to keepe that by the sword, which King Henry the Fifth by his sword had gotten, wherein he had many and great assistants, specially the two terrours of France, Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury, and Iohn Lord Talbot; and amongst the French themselves, the Duke of Burgoigne, a friend no lesse powerfull, than firme unto him. The Dolphin also (now crowned king at Poytiers, and called Charles the seventh of France, his father being newly dead, within little more than a monethmonth after king Henry) had likewise great assistants, the Duke of Alanson, and many other Peers of France, and of the Sco…s many, and some perhaps of the English that tooke part with him; by meanes whereof, the game of Fortune was a long time played betweene them with great variety. The first act of the Duke of Bedfords Regency, was an Oration which he made to the French in Paris, which wrought this good effect; that king Henry is Proclaimed king of England and of France, and such French Lords as were present did their Homages, and tooke their oathes to be true unto him. The first act of hostility was performed by the new king of France, who sends the Lord Granvile to Pont Meulan, who surprized it, putting all the English Souldiers to the sword; but the Regent sending thither Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury, so strongly beleaguered it, that the Lord Granvile not only surrendred it, but swore allegiance (though he kept it not) to the king of England, From thence the Earle marched to Seyne, which hee tooke by assault, and put all the Souldiers (except the Captain Sir William Maryn) to the sword.
At this time the Regent, the Duke of Burgoigne, Iohn Duke of Brittaine, and his brother in law the Earle of R…chmond, (who revolted afterward to the new king of France, and was by him made Constable of France) met at Amyens; and there not only renewed the old League, but further enlarged it; to be offensive and defensive respectively: and to make the friendship the more firme, the Regent married Anne the Sister of the Duke of Burgoigne at Troys. In this meane time the Parisians taking advantage of the Regents absence, conspired to have let in the new king into Paris; but the day before the night appointed for his admission, the Regent with his power entred, apprehended the Conspirators, and put them to publicke execution. That done, he furnished all the Forts and places of strength with Englishmen, and sent Sir Iohn Falstaffe, who tooke in Pacye, and Coursay, two strong Castles; whil'st himselfe with his forces tooke in Tray…els, and Br…y upon Seyne.
The Constable of France the meane while with the new kings forces, layd siege to Cravant in Burgoigne; but the Regent sent thither the Earle of Salisbury, who set upon the French, and after a long fight, putting them to flight, slew about 1800 knights and gentlemen of note… and three thousand common Souldiers, Scots, and French, tooke prisoners the Constable himselfe, the Earle of Ventadour, Sir Alex…der Alerdyn, Sir Lewis Ferignye, and two and twenty hundred Gentlemen. Of the English part, were slaine Sir Iohn Gray, Sir William Hall, Sir Gilbert Halsall, Richard …p Maddocke, and one and twenty hundred Souldiers. From thence the E…rle led his forces to Montaguillon, and sate downe before it, which after five moneths Siege he took, whil'st the Duke of Suffolke took in the two strong Castles of Cowcye, and le Roche.
Whil'st these things are done in France; in England the Protectour Ransomed and inlarged the young king of Scots, Iames the first; (who by the space of eighteene yeares had been kept a Prisoner) which he did out of opinion, th…t he might withdraw the Scots out of France, taking Hom…ge and fealty of him for the Crown of Scotland, in these words; I …ames S…eward, King of Scot…, shall be true and faithfull to you Lord Henry, King of England and France, the Superiour Lord of Scotland… and to you I make my fidelitie for the sayd Kingdome, which I hold and claime of you, and shall do you service for the same, so God me helpe, and these holy Evangelists; and therewithall, with consent of all the Nobility, the Protector gave him to Wife, Iane Daughter to the deceased Duke of Somerset, and Cosen Germane to the King, with a large Dowry, and married them at St. Mary-Overys in Southwarke; yet all this curtesie could not keep him afterward from being unfaithfull, and unthankfull.
And now the Protector sent over to the Regent ten thousand wel furnished Souldiers, with which fresh succour he wonne many Townes and places of strength; which the French seeing, and finding themselves too weak by plaine force to withstand the English, they sought by subtilty to compasse their ends; and first, they worke upon the inconstancie of the Duke of Brittaine, and his brother Arthur, by King Henry the fifth created Earle of Yewry, whom by gifts and promises they suborned, perfidiously to deliver over into their possession, the Castles of Crotoye, and Yerney; but the English before the French Garrisons were setled, fell upon Crotoye and recovered it; and that done, the Regent besieged Yerney, and by secret mining, and violent Batteries so shooke the Walls, that they agreed to yeild it up, if not relieved by a certaine time: whereupon the Duke of Ala…son, with sixteene thousand French came to the rescue, but perceiving the English to be prepared to receive them, he wheeled about to Ver…oyle, and swore to the Townsmen that hee had put the Regent to flight, and rescued Yerney; which they believing, rendr…d up Vernoyle to him: but the Regent followed him thither, when by the encouragement of some fresh Companies of Scots come to his succour, he came to a battell in the field, where the English, with the losse of two thousand one hundred common Souldiers, and two of the Nobility, the Lord Dudley, and the Lord Charleton; got the honor of the day, and slew of their enemies, five Earles, two Viscounts, twenty Barons, and above seven thousand other of the French, besides two thousand seven hundred Scots lately arrived, and tooke Prisoners the Duke of Alanson himselfe, the Lord of Her…ys, and divers other French, and Sir Iohn Tour…ull, and two hundred Gentlemen, besides common Souldiers. This battell was fought the eight and twentieth day of August, in the yeare 14…4, and thereupon Vernoyle was presently redelivered. After this, the Earle of Salisbury with ten thousand men, taketh in the strong Towne of M…ts, the Towne of St. Susan, the Fort S…. Bernard, and others; from thence he went to A…jou, where he performed such heroicke Acts, that his very name grew terrible in all France; as for instance, the new High-Constable perfidious Richmond, with forty thousand men layd Siege to the good Town of St. Iames in Benyo…, the Garrison whereof consisted but of six hundred English, who being driven to some extremity, sallied forth, crying Sa…nt George, a Salisbury; which word of Salisbury so frighted the French, thinking hee had been come to rescue them, that casting away their weapons, they ran all away, saving some few that yielded themselves prisoners, leaving all their Tents, fourteen Peeces of Ordnance, forty Barrels of Powder, three hundred Pipes of Wine, much Armour, and some treasure behinde them. After which, other Castles, as that of Beam…t, of Vicount, Tenney, Gilly, Osce, Rusey, Vasicke, and many more were taken in by Sir Iohn Mon…gomery, and Sir Iohn Falstaffe; so as once againe the French are glad to betake themselves to their old course of fraud; they compounded with a Gascoigne Captaine for delivery of Al…son to them; whereof the Regent having notice, he sent the Lord Willoughby, and Sir Iohn Falstaffe to prevent it, who encountering with Charles de Villiers, that with two hundred horse, and three hundred foot, was come to the place appointed for entry, tooke and slew them all, except some few horse, which saved themselves by flying. After which, the Earle of Salisbury tooke in and demolished above forty Castles and strong Piles, for which there was publique thanksgiving to God in London.
Whil'st these things were done in France, an unkinde variance fell out betweene the Protector, and his brother the Bishop of Winchester, Lord Chancellor: for appeasing whereof, the Regent having substituted the Earle of Warwick Lievtenant Generall in his absence, came into England, where in a Parliament he compounded all differences between them: in honour whereof, king Henry kept a solemne feast; at which time the Regent dubbed the King knight, not yet above foure yeares old; and then the King presently invested with that dignity many of his servants: and Edmund Mortimer the last Earle of March, at this time dying, his Inheritance descended to Richard Plantagenet sonne and heire to Richard Earle of Cambridge beheaded at Southampton, who was now created Duke of York, & was afterward father to king Edward the fou…h: and at this time also, Iohn Mowbray sonne and heire to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, banished before by king Richard the second, was restored to the Title of Duke of Norfolk. And now, all things peaceably setled in England, the Regent, with the Bishop of Winchester, returned into France; where, at the intercession of the Duke of Burgoigne, the Duke of Alanson was ransomed, for two hundred thousand Crownes: and the Bishop of Winchester returned to Callice, where he was invested with the dignity and Hat of a Cardinall, which his brother the Regent put upon his head.
About this time, the Duke of Glocester, Protector, tooke some blemish in his honour, by marying another mans wife, I…queline Countesse of Haynoult, Holland and Zealand, who was maried before to Iohn Duke of Brabant yet living, and had lived with him ten moneths as his lawfull wife, but at that time upon some discontent gone from him, intending to be divorced: at which injury offered to the Duke of Braba…t, the Duke of Burgoigne, being his Cosin, tooke so great offence, that first by friendly letters he admonished the Duke of Glocester of it, and that not prevailing, they grew to termes of challenge, and a Combat between them was appointed; but in the meane time, the Lady betrayed, was caried to the Duke of Burgoigne, who conveyed her to Gaunt; from whence, by friendship of a Burgonian knight, in mans apparell she escaped into Holland, and there made a defensive warre against her husband the Duke of Brabant, and the Duke of Burgoigne. To her ayd, the Duke of Glocester sent the Lord Fitzwater, with a Power of a thousand men: but she being discomfited by the Duke of Brabant, and the Pope also pronouncing the first mariage legall, the Duke of Glocester deserted her, and then tooke for a second wife Eleanor daughter of the Lord Cobham of Sterborough, his old mistresse: and the Lady Iaqueline, after the death of Iohn Duke of Brabant, maried a meane Gentleman; whom the Duke of Burgoigne imprisoned, and brought herselfe to live in much trouble.
And now in France, the Constable with forty thousand men besieged the Town of S. Iames de Benuron; and having made a breach fit for assault, whilst his Captaines stood streining of courtesie, which of them should first enter, Sir Nicolas Burdet with all his forces sallied forth, crying aloud, A Salisbury, a Suffolk; whose names struck such a terrour into the besiegers, that they stood like men amazed, of whom six hundred were slaine, two hundred drowned in the ditches, fifty taken prisoners, with eighteen Standards, and the Constable was glad to quit the place, and give over the Siege.
At the same time also, the Earle of Warwick and the L. Scales, with seven thousand besieged Ponterson many weekes together; but Pov…sion waxing scant, the Lord Scales with three thousand men went a forraging into the Enemies Country; and in his returne with plenty of provision, was encountred with six thousand French, of whom he slew many hundreds, tooke above a thousand prisoners, and then returned safe into the Campe.
About this time also, Sir Iohn Falstaffe besieged the strong Towne of Gravile, which after twelve dayes, offered to render it selfe by a day, if it were not relieved. The offer was taken, and Pledges delivered: but before the day came, they within …he Towne had victualled and manned the place, and thereupon neglecting their Pledges, refused to render the Castle according to agreement: whereupon the Pledges were brought before the sight of them within the Castle, and there openly put to death.
And now a conspiracy of the Clergie and Magistrates in Maunts so prevailed, that the Marshals of France with five hundred men, about midnight came to the Townwalls; where the Guard of the English, by those that seemed their friends, were suddenly massac…ed, and setting open the Gates, made way for the Enemy to enter: whereupon, the Alarum given, the Earle of Suffolk with the surviving English withdrew to the Castle, wherein they were sharply assayled by the French, who yet had more minde to ransack houses, and to make good cheere: whereof the Lord T…lbot having intelligence by Captaine Goffe, whom he had sent to discover the state of the French, he secretly gave notice to the Earle of Suffolk, who thereupon sallied forth of the Castle at a time when the Lord T…lbot was ready with his Troopes, and on both sides crying, St. George, a T…lbot, they fell upon the carelesse French, who lost foure hundred of their best men, the rest were all taken, the Town re-gained, and the Conspiratours, thirty Citizens, twenty Priests, and fifteen Friers, condemned and put to execution.
Whilst these things went on prosperously in France, a great disaster fell out in England; for the right Noble Thomas Beauford (sonne of Iohn of G…u…t, and Katherine Swi…ford) Duke of Exeter, and Guardian of the King, makes king Henry his heire, and at East-Greenwich in Kent ended his life; whose place was presently supplyed by the Earle of Warwick, and the Earles place in France, by the Earle of Salisbury; who thereupon with five thousand men came to Orlea…ce, and besieged the City, and won from the French the great fort. But here happened another great disaster: for from an high tower in this fort, the Besiegers observed the passages of the Townsmen; when the Noble Earle of Salisbury, intending to informe himselfe of the state of the Towne, unfortunately looking out at a window of the fort, with Sir Th… G…rgrave; a great shot from the Town striking the barres of the window, the splinters thereof were driven into his head and face; of which wounds, within eight dayes he died. This was now a second weakning to the English party: but in his place the Earle of Suffolk succeeded; to whom the Regent sendeth Sir Iohn Fals… with fresh supplies, whom the Lord de la Brets, nine thousand strong, endeavours to intercept: but Sir Iohn resolving to abide the charge, placeth his cariages behind, the horse next, and the foot before, lining his bowes with bill-men, and pitching stakes behind the Archers, who having discharged their first volley, retired behind the stakes: on which the French, forgetting their former defeats by that course, ran and goared their horses; by which their Vaward being disordered, the Battaile made a stand: which Sir Iohn perceiving, cryeth out, St. George! They…ie! at which words they fled indeed, and lost two thousand five hundred of their men, with the Lords de la Brets, and William Steward; eleven hundred were taken Prisoners: with whom, and a rich booty, they came to the Campe before Orleance. Hereof the besieged having notice, they offered to submit themselves to the Duke of Burg…igne, who was contented to receive them, so as the Regent would consent: But the Regent consented not; and therefore in the meane time, the besieged made meanes to the Duke of Al…so…, who furnished the Towne with fresh Forces and Provision; which put such spirits into the Citizens, that they made a sally out, slew six hundred English, and adventured upon the Bastile, where the Lord T…lbot commanded, who repelled them with great slaughter of their men; but yet the next day the Earle of Suffolk gave over his siege, and dispersed his Army into their Garrisons.
And now the wheele of Fortune began to turn to the French against the English, which once set a going, was not easie to be stayed. And first, the Duke of Al…so… tooke by assault the Towne of Iargeux, and in it the Earle of Suffolk and one of his brothers, and slew Sir Alexander Pole another of his brothers, and many other Prisoners in cold blood, by reason of a contention amongst the French, to whom the Prisoners should belong. Presently upon this, …nother great blow was given the English: for the Lords Talbot, Scale…, and Hungerford, going to fo…tifie the Town of S. Meu…, were encountred by the said Duke of Al…son, and Arthur of Britaine, with three and twenty thousand men: with whom the English Lords interchanged some blowes; but oppressed with multitude, were all three taken prisoners, all sore wounded, twelve hundred of their company slaine, and the rest hardly escaping to Me…, where they fortified themselves the best they could against future assaults.
These were great blowes given to the English fortune in France; Salisbury slaine, and now Talbot taken prisoner: which though they made her a little to totter, yet there must be greater blowes given before she will fall. And indeed, these disasters were seconded by the perfidous surrender of many Townes and strong Holds to the French king; who now encouraged by these successes, marcheth into Champaigne, where by composition he tooke Troyes the chiefe City of that Province; Chalto…s rebelleth, and enforceth their Captaine to yield it up: by whose example the Citizens of Rhemes doe the like, where the French king is anew Proclaimed, and with accustomed ceremonies Anointed and Crowned; whereupon many Townes submit themselves to him, and revolt from the English. Upon this, the Duke of Bedford (to make the French know, that all the English strength consisted not in onelyonly Salisbury and Talbot) with ten thousand English, besides Normans, marched out of Pa…is, and sent letters of defiance to the French king, affirming, that deceitfully and by unjust meanes he had stolne many Cities and places of importance belonging to the Crown of England; which he was come to justifie by battell, if he would appoint a time and place. To which the King of France making a slight answer, the Regent marcheth apace towards him, and as fast the King of France marcheth away: The Regent followed him, but could not overtake him, till he came neere Se…lys: there both the Armies encamped and embattelled, yet only some light skirmishes p…ed between them; and a night or two after, the French king fled with his Army to Br…y: which the Duke thinking to be but a plot to draw him further off from Paris, of whose fidelity he had no great assurance, followed him no further, but returned thither. At which time, the Regents brother the Cardinall, having prepared forces to assist Pope Martin in Bohemia, the Regent borrowed them of him for a present expedition, and with them marched into Champaigne, where he found the French king encamped upon the Mount Pihall; whose number being twice as many as the Regents, yet by no provocations could he be drawn to battell, but secretly fled to Crispis; whereupon the Regent also returned to Paris.
Whil…st these things are done in France, In England, upon St. Leonards day the 6. of November 1429, King Henry not yet eight yeers old, was with great solemnity Crowned at Westminster: at whose Coronation were made six and thirty Knights of the Bathe, and after the solemnity, a feast; and if any man desire to know so much Cookery, hee may read in Fabian, all the dishes of meate that were served at that feast.
About this time, in France, a strange Impostor ariseth; a maid called la Pucelle, taking upon her to be sent from God, for the good of France, and to expell the English: and some good indeed she did; for by her subtle working, the King was received into Champaigne, and many Townes were rendred to him; whil'st the Lord L…nguevile tooke by surprize the Castle of Aumarle, and slew all the English that were in it. But all these were but petty acquests to the king of France: there is a knot of friendship between the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoigne, which must be broken, or he will never be able to compasse his designes. He therefore labours by all meanes possible to disunite them; wherein he so little prevailed, that the Duke of Burg…ig…e acquaints the Regent with all the practises; who thereupon, with many thanks, exhorteth him to continue fi…me, of which he should never have cause to repent him: And because Normandy was a principall part of the English strength in France, he goeth thither, and by many reasons perswades them, as their Ancestors had alwayes been, to be faithfull to the Crown of England.
In this time of the Regents absence from Paris, the King of France drew all his forces thither, using all meanes possible, by Escalado, Battery, and burning the gates, to enter the City; but was so withstood by the vigilancy of the Citizens, that he was glad to sound Retreat, leaving his slaine and maimed souldiers behind him, all but the Pucelle, who being hurt in the legge, and almost stifled with myre in the ditch, was by a servant of the Duke of Alanson drawne up, and conveyed after the King to Berry, who by the way received the submission of the Inhabitants of L…ig…ye. Some other services were performed on both sides, by the Duke of Suffolk and Sir Thomas Kyriell, for the English; by the Bastard of Orleance and Sir Stephe… le Hye, for the French; but of no great importance: till at last, the Pucelle (who a little before had caused an English Captaines head to be cut off, because he would not humble himselfe to her upon his knee) was by Sir Iohn of Lu…zemburgh taken, and presented to the Duke of Burgoigne, who sent her to the Regent, and he to the Bishop of the Diocesse, who judicially proceeding against her as a Sorceresse, and deceiver of the King and his subjects, she was (after many delayes of promise to discover secret practises, and lastly of her feigning to bee with childe) publickly burnt at Roan.
And now, the Regent finding how much the Crowning of the French king had furthered his designes, he made account the like effect would follow the Crowning of King Henry in France: whereupon he is sent for to come over; and comming to Paris, was, by his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall of Eusebius, not yet above nine yeares old, with all usuall ceremonies Crowned King of France, receiving the oaths of Homage and Fealty of all the French Nobility that were present, and of all the Inhabitants of Paris, and of the places adjacent. Upon this, Pope Eugenius laboured a Reconcilement between the two Kings, but could effect nothing, but onelyonly a Truce for six yeeres: which agreed upon, King Henry re…urn… into England, and landeth at Dover, the eleventh of February. But the six-yeares… Truce was scarce openly Proclaimed, when the French had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles and places of strength, justifying their actions, affirming… That what was politickly obtained without blowes, was no infringement of the Truce: and afterwards they perfidiously conveyed two hundred men into the Castle of Roan, with intent to have surprized it; but being discovered, they were all taken, and either ransomed, or put to execution. Upon this, the Regent (whose wife, the Sister of the Duke of Burgoig…e, being lately dead, and he maried againe to Iaquelin… the Earle of S. Pauls daughter, with whom he went over into England) returned againe to Paris; to whom the Lord Talbot, having now paid his ransome, commeth, bringing with him seven hundred tryed souldiers; and with them the Regent takes the field, where the French Army lay; but the French slun… away in the dark, as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell.
About this time, the Duke of Bourbon, taken at the battell of Agincourt, after eighteen yeares imprisonment, paying eighteen thousand pounds for his Ransome, the same day he was enlarged, dyed at London.
And now a very great effect was produced out of a very small cause: There had been sparks of unkindnesse between the two great Dukes of Bedford and Burgoig…, which brake out into a flame upon this occasion: A time and place was appointed, where they should meet to compound some differences that were between them; The place agreed upon, was St. Omers, a Town in Burgoigne: When the time came, they stood upon this nice point, Which of them should first come to the place; as thinking that he which did so, should thereby acknowledge himselfe to be the meaner person. The Duke of Bedford thought he had no reason to doe it, seeing he was Regent of France, and therefore superiour to any subject in the Kingdome: And the Duke of Burgoigne thought he had no reason to doe it, seeing it was to be done in his own Dominions, where he was himselfe the Soveraigne Lord. Upon this nice point they parted without meeting; and the unkindnesse grew afterward to so great hatred, that the Duke of Burgoigne chose rather to be friends with him th…t had murthered his father, than ever to have any more commerce with the Duke of Bedford. Thus was one great branch of assistance lopt off from the English, which had been a great meanes before to make it flourish: and it was not so much, that the assista…ce was taken from the English, as that it was added to the French; for after this, the Duke of Burgoig…e brought more assistance to the new king of France, than ever he had done before to the King of England. By which we may see, when the Divine Providence hath a worke to effect, what slight occasions it oftentimes takes to effect the worke.
Great blowes had been given before in France, to the English fortune by the enemie, but now a blow was given to it by Destiny, which made the Enemyes blowes the more incurable; for now the wise, valiant, faithfull Regent of France, Duke of …ford, Anjou, and Alans…n, Earle of Mayne, Harcourt, Drieux, Richmond, and Carlile, and Viscount Be…mont; upon the fourteenth of September 1435, ended his life at P…ris, which was in a manner the ending the life of the English fortune in France: all former blowes had beene upon inferior members, but this was a blow upon the head, and therefore mortall, and indeed the English fortune in France, never … li…ed up its head, but very weakely. He was buried in our Ladies Church at …, whereat the Nobility of Normandy much repined, who would have had thei… owne Territory honored with his Sepulchre: yet see the levity of these men, who a few years after, in the Reigne of Lewis the Son of Charles, would have had his Monument to have beene demolished, as being dishonorable, such an Arch enemie to France, should be Interred in the Metropolitan Citie of that Province: But … answered, God forbid, I should give way to so dishonorable an act, to disquiet his dead bones, who living would have disquieted us all, and it savours of too much basenesse to insult upon a dead Lyon.
But yet in these disasters, there might have beene some reparation by a good Succe…or, had not Envy and Ambition bred disturbance; the Duke of Somerset desired the Succession, but the Duke of Yorke obtained it; which bred such an envy in the Duke of Somerset towards him, that he laboured nothing so much as to crosse his designes, and was a means to hinder the Duke of Yorkes going to his charge so long, th… the P…risians had time to thinke of freeing themselves from the English servi…de; and thereupon the Citie after it had remained seventeen yeares in the posses… o… the English, yeilds to the Constable, and upon composition expels all the English; and which was worse, many other Towns followed this example of Paris, for what Town would not willingly do as Paris did, the epitome as it were of all France? and which they stick not to call Le Monde de Paris, as though there were upon earth no o…h…r world but Paris. Even the Normans, who had alwaies been most firm to the English, y… had run the …ame course, if the Lord Talbot had not kept them in awe, with the …laughter of five thousand of them that way inclined. And now after thes… great losses, we must be content to play smaller game, cast at Castles and Forts, and some small Towns, like the strugling of dying men, doing acts of life, till there be no more life remaining; And this was now our case in France. The new Regent with eight thousand Souldiers arrived at Harfl…w, and from thence marcheth to …, where he wonne the reputation of justice and uprightnesse, notwithstanding all the calumniations of the Duke of Somerset: when the revolted Duke of … pretending title to the Town of Callis, approacheth it with an Army of forty thousand men, takes the poore …stile of Oy…, and slaughters and hangs many of the …fendants. The …xards besieged the Castle of St. Mark…, tooke it, and demolished it… from thence they begirt Callis with a …iege, but were repelled: Then the Duke of B…rgoig…e sent the Lord Croy to besiege the Castle of Guysnes … but were repelled th…r… also: In the meane time Pembroke the Herald brought a defiance to the Duke of …urgoigne from the Duke of Glocester the Protector, that he would give him battell if he would abide it; to whom the Duke of Burgoigne answered, he should be … to finde him where he now was: Whereupon he calleth a Councell, and whilst they are debating what is best to be done, the Calliciens make a sallye, take the Ba… which they had builded, by force, and slew eight score of the Burgoig…ians, which so terrified them, that they upbraid the Duke of Burgoigne, and make both him, …nd the Lord Croy to quit their quarters, and in such haste to be gone, that they left … …reat part of their best Ordnance, and all their Provision for the reliefe and helpe of the besieged; and it seemes they had reason so to do, for the next day being the s…ven and twentieth of Iuly, the Duke of Glocester landed at Callis, with five and twenty thousand good fighting men, who finding the enemy recolled, forraged all the Countrey thereabout, and for the space of sixe weekes …arrowed all th… parts of Fl…ders, Arthol…, and Hainault; and then returning by St. Omers, Arde, and G…s…es, arrived at Callis.
And now we must look a little home, for the D. of Yorke returning into… E…gl…n… findes the Castle of Roksborough be…ieged by the King of Scots, with thirty th…usand men; but he hearing of the Earle of Northumberlands app…o…ch, and the Dukes returne, incontinently fled. And now againe to France, where the Towne of H…rflew was sold to the French, but the Duke of Somerset, and the Lord Talbot besetting it both by sea and land; though the Earle of Ewe, and the Bastard of Orleance and Bourbon, wi…h foure thousand men came to relieve it, yet upon composition, it was surrendred.
And here we may have leave to speake of a private matter; for about this time the Dutchesse of Bedford married Sir Richard Woodvile, a gallant young Gentleman, but of small meanes, which though it offended her friends, yet it seems offended not God, who made her mother of many children by him; and amongst the rest, of the Lady Elizabeth, afterwards married to King Edward the fourth. Also about this time Iames King of Scots, who before had beene eighteene years Prisoner in England, and afterward released, with a wife of a noble house, a great Dowre, and many honorable Presents, yet proved ungratefull, was murthered in his bed-chamber by night, whose murtherers being found out, were cruelly tortured. And now againe to France; when the Duke of Burgoigne could neither by force nor policie take C…llice, he attempted a ridiculous practise, to cut a ditch that should drow… both the Town and Country; but after much labour and expence, his designe like a vapour vanished into ayre. The Lord Talbot besieged Tankervile, and after foure moneths siege, hath it rendred to him: In revenge whereof, the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstreau; which whil'st the Duke of Yorke was providing to rescue, he was discharged of his office, done of purpose by his enemies, to lay a blot upon him: A lamentable thing in a State, when private envy shall be suffered to undermine the publique safety; and by this meanes Sir Thomas G…rard had the more opportunity to sell the Towne, for which, if he were a gainer in money, he was yet a loser in reputation, and hated both of French and English, in much discontent dyed. Arthur Constable of France, and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranc…es, but were with dishonor repelled by the Lord Talbot: After this, Le Hyre sent Letters to them, that he had a promise from divers Burgers of Ro… to let them in at any time appointed, against which time they came to R…ze, within foure leagues of Roan; but the Lord Talbot having notice hereof, marched covertly to Roa…, and from thence before day to Ryze, where he surprizeth the French, takes the Lord Fountaines, Sir Allan Geron, and many others, and with a rich booty returneth to Roan. The sixt day of November, in the sixteenth year of the Kings Reign, the Earle of Warwicke having oftentimes been aboord, and still beaten back by tempest, landed at Harfl…w with a thousand fresh Souldiers, and from thence came to Roa… ; but in the meane time the Duke of Burgoigne seeing no new Regent yet come, besieg…th the Towne of Cro…y, to the reliefe whereof, the new Regent now come, sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men, whose approach the Duke not enduring, retired to Ab…evyle, leaving onelyonly foure hundred, with whom hee had manned the …style by him there erected, which was soone gained, and all the souldiers either taken or slaine. And here the valiant Talbot sent word to the Duke, that if he would save his Countrey from vastation, he should come to a battell; but the Duke not liking the match, conveighs himselfe to A…ye…s: Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbo… with fire and sword passe through Piccardie, and Artho…s without opposition, and then returned: Sir Th…m… Kyriell seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance; and having left in Crotoy victuall enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare, he brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke. And now Henry Earle of Mortaig…e, Son to Edmund Duke of Somerset, arrived with two hundred Archers, and three hundred Spears, took the Castle of St. A…yo…, wherein were three hundred Scots and French; the Scots he flew all, and hanged the French, because they had sworn fealty to England, and broke it; he tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche, and by means of an ambush, taketh the Lord Camerois, comming to the rescue thereof. On the other side, the Towns of Neux in Brye, and Susan were sold and delivered to the French by the treacherous Burgers. In Iune, the Earle of Huntingt… with two thousand Archers, and foure thousand Speares was sent into Gascoigne, whither the Earle of Danois was lately come to buy Towns and Castles, but the Earle of Huntington upon his comming thither, changed all the Captains and Officers, whereby he prevented all such bargains; and so farre had bribery spread it selfe at this time, that even in Normandy, the English Captaines …ad but small confidence in the Natives, and not much in some of their owne Nation; whereupon Sir Richard Wo…dvile, Sir William Chamberlaine, and sir William Pe…o were sent thither to stop the current of that corruption.
At this time, the Councell of France procured a reconcilement between the king and the Dolphin, who had beene long in jealousies and dissention; which if …t had not beene done, the kingdome had beene torne with Factions, and never beene able to subsist.
And now in a great frost and snow, the English under the conduct of Sir Iohn Clifford, having covered their Armour with white shirts, and their heads with white Alm… skulls, came to Ponthois by night, and undiscovered past the ditches, scaled the walls, slew the Guards, and tooke the Towne; but this good lucke was accompanied with a bad of more importance, for presently upon it, the Earle of Warwicke dyed in the Castle of Roan, and conveyed into England, was buried in his Castle of W…rwicke. To reduce Pont…ois, the French King in person layeth siege unto it; when Richard Duke of Yorke being the second time made Regent, having with him the Earle of Oxford, aud the Earle of Ewe, levyes a power to raise the Siege; and arriving there, sends word to the King, that the next morning he would give him battell; but the King liked not his bidding, but leaving his Ordnance, at midnight stole away to Poyssy; thither also the Regent followes him, but with no provocations could draw him to fight.
About this time, a treaty for Peace between the two Kings is appointed to be held at Callis, by the mediation of the Dutchesse of Burgoigne, a Portugall Lady; Commissioners meet of both sides, but nothing concluded, only the Duke of Orleance who had been prisoner to the English five and twenty years, is by the Dutchesse med…ation, ransomed with three hundred thousand Crowns of the Duke of Burgoignes money. The Lord Willoughby besiegeth Deepe, which the Dolphin with sixteene thousand men commeth to raise; and there young Talbot is taken prisoner, with Sir Ioh… Peto, and sir Iohn Repley, but are shortly after redeemed by exchange. And now another weakning happened to the English party, the Earle of St. Paul forsakes them, and is reconciled to the King of France. The English lay siege to Tartus, for the raysing whereof, the French King marcheth thither with 60000 men, relieveth the Towne, and then marcheth to Saveryne, which he taketh in, and in it, Sir Iohn Rampston; after which, he tooke in Arques, but then the English cutting off all convoyes of victualls from comming to him, he is forced to returne; after whose departure, the English recover all that he had taken; and to boot, take his Lie…tenant prisoner, slaying or hanging all his Souldiers. In this meane while the Lord Talbot taketh in Conquet, and driveth the Bastard of Orleance from the siege of Gagli…rd… ; but the French in the Castle of Cornhill detained many English prisoners… for redeeming of whom, Sir Francis the Aragonist used this stratagem; he apparelled halfe a dozen lusty fellowes like Peasants… carrying baskets with corne and victualls, and sends them to the Castle, while he with his company lyes in ambush, in a Valley neere the Castle; the six unsuspected are admitted, and comming to the Captaines chamber, seize upon him, and withall give the signe to the ambush, who comming readily on, entred the Castle, put the Souldiers to the sword, set the prisoners at liberty, burnt downe the Castle, and with the booty and Captaine of the Castle, returned to Roan.
Whil'st these alternations passed in France, a more unnaturall passed in Eng…and, the Uncle riseth against the Nephew, the Nephew against the Uncle; The Duke of Glocester Articles against the Cardinall, charging him with affecting Preheminence, to the derogation of the Kings Prerogative, and contempt of his Lawes; which Articles are delivered to the King, and by him to his Councell, who being most of the Clergie, durst not meddle in them, for offending …he Cardinall. On the other side, the Cardinall finding nothing whereof directly to accuse the Duke of Glocester himselfe, accuseth his or her selfe, the Lady Eleanor Cotham …he Dukes wife, of Treason, for attempting by sorcery and witchcraft the death of the King, and advancement of her husband to the Crown: for which, though acqui…ed of the Treason, she is adjudged to open Penance, namely, to goe with a wax taper in her hand, hoodlesse (save a kerchiffe) through London, divers dayes together, and after to remaine in perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man. The crime objected against her, was procuring Thomas Southwell, Iohn Hunne Priests, Roger Bollingbrock… a supposed Necromancer, and Margery Iourdan called the Witch of Eye in Suffolke … to devise a picture of waxe in proportion of the king, in such sort by sorcery, that as the picture consumed, so the kings body should consume: for which they were all condemned; the witch was burnt in Smithfield; Bollingbrooke was hanged, constantly affirming upon his death, that neither the Dutchesse, nor any other from her did ever require more of him, than onelyonly to know by his art, how long the king should live: Iohn Hunne had his pardon; and Southwell dyed the night before he shou…d have been executed.
About this time, the Countesse of Cominges being dead, the king of France and the Earle of Arminiack are Competitors for the Inheritance: The Earle takes possession; but fearing the King of France his greatnesse, makes offer of his daughter in mariage to the King of England, with a large portion in money, and besides, to deliver full possession of all such Townes and Castles as were by him or his Ancestors detained in Aquitaine, and had been formerly by the Progenitors of the King of England, conquered. The Ambassadors for this businesse, were by King Henry graciously heard, and honorably returned: after whom were sent Sir Edward Hall, Sir Robert Rose and others, to conclude all things, and the young Lady is by Proxy affianced to king Henry. But the king of France not liking the proceeding of the match, sende…h the Dolphin with a puissant Army, who tooke the Earle, with his youngest sonne, and both his daughters, aud gained the Counties of Arminiack, Louverne, Rouergue, Moulessenois, with the Cities of Sever…e and Cadeack, chasing the Bastard of Arminiack out of …he Country; by meanes whereof, the mariage was then deferred, and left in suspense.
In this distraction of Christendome, many Princes, the kings of Spaine, Denmark, and Hungary, became Mediators for a Peace between the two kings of France and England: Ambassadors of both sides are sent, many meetings were had, many motions made, but in conclusion, onelyonly a Truce for eighteen moneths is agreed upon. In the meane time, the Earle of Suffolk one of the Commissioners for the Peace, takes upon him beyond his Commssion, and without acquainting his fellowes, to treat of a mariage between the king of England, and a kinswoman of the king of France, Neece to the French Queene, daughter to Rayn…r Duke of Anjou, stiling him…elfe king of Sicilie and Naples: In which businesse he was so intentive, that it brought an aspersion upon him of being bribed: but howsoever, an Enterview betwixt the two kings is appointed, without any warrant of king Henries part, to be between Charter… and Roan. The Commissioners returne; the Earle of Suffolk sets forth the beauty of the proposed Bride, and the great benefits that would redound to the kingdome by this match. The king was easily induced to credit the relation; but divers of the kings Councell, especially the Duke of Glocester, opposed it; partly for the meannesse of the match, her father being onelyonly a Titular Prince, and withall but poore, unable to give any portion at all; and partly, for the wrong which should hereby be offered to the Duke of Arminiacks daughter, to whom the king had been in solemne manner publickly affianced. But Reasons could not prevaile against favour: the Earle of Suffolks affirmation must not be undervalued. And hereupon, a new creation of Lords first made; (Iohn Beaufort Earle of Somerset, made Duke of Somerset; Iohn Lord Talbot made Earle of Shrewsbury; Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington, made Duke of Exeter; Humfry Earle of Stafford, made Duke of Buckingham; Henry … Earle of Warwick, made Duke of Warwick; Edmund Beaufo…t Earle of Dorset, made Marquesse Dorset; and William de la Poole Earle of Suffolke, made Marquesse of Suffolke:) this new Marquesse honorably accompanied, is sent into Fra…ce to fetch the Lady Margaret the proposed Bride; who shortly after is maried at Southwick in Hampshire, and crowned Queen of England at Westminster, on the 30 day of May 1444, in the three and twentieth yeare of king Henries Reigne. And now in stead of benefits by this mariage, there presently followed great inconveniences: for first, in exchange of her person, the Dutchy of Anjou, the City of …, with the whole County of Mayne, (the best props of the Dutchy of Normandy) are agreed to be surrendred into the hands of the French: and then the Duke of Arminiack, to revenge the injury offred to his daughter, is a meanes to expell the English …ut of all Aquitaine.
At this time, the Duke of Somersets spleen against the Duke of Yorke, not onelyonly is revived, but is growne stronger; for the Duke of Yorke, who was now after the death of the Earle of Warwick, made the second time Regent of France, is so undermined by him, through assistance of the new Marquesse of Suffolke, who bore now all the sway with the King and Queen; that not onelyonly he supplanted him in his place, but planted himselfe in it, to the great heart-burning of the Duke of York and his friends; but he wisely dissembled his anger, and for the present passed it ove…. And now is no man in grace, but the new Marquesse of Suffolk; all favours from the King and Queene must passe by him, and the extent of his power over-r…acheth all the Councell: He gets of the King the wardship of the body and lands of the Countesse of Warwick, and of the Lady Margaret, sole daughter and heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset, afterward mother to king Henry the seventh. And now, the kings weaknesse in judgement growes every day more apparent then other, whil'st governed by no counsell, but of his Queen; and she by no counsell but her owne will, and the new Marquesse of Suffolke. King Henry is himself the least part of the king, and serves but to countenance the devices of others, whereof he little understands the drifts; and which, proving ill, the blame must be his; if well, the benefit and honour, others. For by instigation of the Queene, he suffers the Duke of Glocester, for his care of the Common-wealth called the good Duke, to be excluded not onelyonly from Command, but from the Counsell-Table; and permits Informers, s…t on by the Marquesse of Suffolke, the Duke of Buckingham, the Cardinall Bishop of Winchester, and the Archbishop of Yorke, to come aganst him; who lay to his charge, that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to Law: wherein though he justified himselfe, yet no justification would be heard; but to avoyd tumultuary part-taking, it was concluded, he should be privately convicted and condemned: and to this end, a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies, unwitting to the king, is called at Bury; to which the Duke of Glocester resorting, is, on the second day of the Session, by the Lord Beamont L. High Constable (abetted by the Duke of Buckingham) arrested and put in Ward, all his followers sequestred from him, whereof two and thirty are committed to severall prisons; and the next day after his imprisonment, he is found in his bed, murthered; yet shewed the same day, as though he had dyed of an Imposthume; though all that saw his body, saw plainly that he dyed of a violent and unnaturall cause: some say, strangled; some, that a hot spit was put up at his fundament; and some, that he was stifled between two featherbeds. His corps the same day was conveyed to St. Albans, and there buried. Five of his meniall servants, Sir Roger Chamberlaine knight, Middleton, Herbert, Arizis, Esquires, and Iohn Needham Gentleman, were condemned to be hanged, drawne, and quartered; and hanged they were at Tiburne, let downe quick, stript naked, marked with a knife to be quartered; but then the Marquesse of Suffolk, to make a shew as though he had no hand in the businesse, brought their Pardon, and delivered it at the place of Execution, and so their lives were saved. It is no unmemorable thing which Sir Thomas Moore writes of the pregnancy of this Duke of Glocester: It happened, the King comming one time in Progresse to St. Albans, a Begger borne blinde, as he said, at the Shrine of St. Alban obtained his sight: which miracle being noised in the Towne, the Duke of Glocester being there with the King, d… sired to see him, whom being brought unto him, he asked if he were borne blinde, who told him, yes truly; and can you now see (saith the Earle) yes I thanke God, and St. Albon, saith the begger; then tell me saith the Earl, what colour is my gown? the begger readily told him the colour; and what colour saith the Earle is such a mans gown? the begger likewise told him presently, and so of divers others. Then saith the Earle, go you counterfeit knave, if you had been borne blinde, and could never see till now, how come you so suddenly to know this difference of colours? and thereupon, instead of an Almes, caused him to be set in the Stocks. But in the death of this Duke, the Queene who had a speciall hand in it, was either not so intelligent, or no… so provident as she might have beene; for as long as he had lived, his Primogeniture would have kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crown, being but discended from the fifth Sonne of Edward the third, where this Duke Humphrey was discended from the fourth. And here were the first seeds sowne betweene the two houses of La…caster, whose badge was the Red-rose, and Yorke, whose badge was the White-rose. And now upon the death of this Duke of Glocester, the Duke of York began amongst his familiars privily to whisper his right and title to the Crown; but so politickly carried his intent, that all things were provided to further his project, before his purpose was any whit discovered.
And in this time the rich Cardinall and Bishop of Winchester dyes, who lying on his death bed, as Doctor Iohn Baker his privie Counsellor and his Chaplain writeth, used such like words; why should I dye, saith he, having so much riches? If the whole Realme would save my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by money to buy it: Fie, will not death be hired? will money do nothing? and other words to such purpose. But he being dead, there succeeded in his Bishopricke a more deserving Prelate; William Wa…le…e, called so of the place in Lincolneshire where he was borne, though his name was Patterne, of the worshipfull family whereof hee was descended. And now to the end the Marquesse of Suffolke might not come behinde them in dignity, whom he went before in power, he is about this time made Duke of Suffolke.
In France about this time a victory was gotten, which proved no better than an overthrow; Before the Truce was expired, Sir Francis Sur…ens an Aragonois, a man thought worthy to be admitted into the honorable Order of the …arter; taking advantage of the security of the French Garrisons, suddenly surprizeth a Frontier Towne called Fougiers, belonging to the Duke of Brittaine; the Duke advertiseth the French King thereof, who by his Ambassadors complaines both to the King of England, and to the Duke of Somerset then Regent in France: Answer was made, it was the fault of the Aragonois, who did it without warrant from either the King, or the Councell; neverthelesse Commissioners are appointed to meet at Louviers, to treate of some course for satisfaction; but in the time of the Treaty, newes is brought to the Regent, that the French by a stratagem of a Carter that with a load of Hey comming over the Draw-bridge, caused the Axletree to breake; and whil'st the Porter was ready to helpe the Carter, the Porters braines were beaten out, the Towne of Ardes surprized, and the Lord Fawco…bridg… Captaine thereof was taken prisoner. Restitution being required by the English, answer is made them in their owne language, it was done without warrant from either the French King, or any of his Councell, so it was but one for another; and from thence forward the Truce is broken of both sides, and all things grow worse and worse. The French King by composition taketh Louviers, Gerbury, and Ver…oyle, whil'st the Regent stands demurring what were best to be done; If he command, not obeyed, If he counsell, not followed, as it happens to men once blemished in Reputation, to have an ill construction made of all their actions; by which means the French go on without resistance, get Con…ce, Guisard, Gatiard, St. Loe, Festampe, and many other pieces in Normandy; upon notice whereof, Maulesson in Guyen surrenders to the Earle of Foi…, and by their example the City of Ro…n it selfe takes composition to surrender, where the E. of Shr…wsbury, and the Lord Butler, heire to the E. of Ormond, were kept pledges till it was performed. It is true, succours were provided to be sent out of England, under the conduct of the Duke of Yorke; but a Rebellion happening in Ireland, which was thought of more importance to be speedily suppressed, diverted him and his forces thither, where not only he suppressed the Rebels, but so wonne the hearts of that people, that it was no small furtherance to his proceedings afterward. A fresh supply indeed of fif…eene hundred men, under the command of sir Thom…s Kyriell is sent over; but what could a handfull of men do against such multitudes as opposed them? for he marching with the rest of the Army towards Baugeux, was encountred by the Earle of Clermont, with seven thousand French and Scots, whom yet at first he made to recoyle, till the Constable of France with foure hundred men at Armes, and eight hundred Archers came to the rescue, and then fresh men comming upon them that were already tyred, the English lost three thousand and above seven hundred, besides divers that were taken prisoners. After this losse of men, followes presently a losse of Towns; Harflew is assaulted, and though valiantly for a while defended by Sir Robert Curson, yet surrendred at last upon composition: Then the French King with an Army royall besiegeth Caen in Normandy, a Towne belonging to the Duke of Yorke, defended in his absence by his Lievtenant Sir David Hall; but the Duke of Somerset being Regent, in commiseration of his Dutchesse being in the Towne, notwithstanding the s…out opposition of Sir David Hall, surrenders it upon composition to the French; whereof Sir David giving notice to the Duke of Yorke, it bred such a deadly quarrell between the two Dukes, that they were never after throughly reconciled. And thus is all Normandy recovered from the English, after it had been in their possession a hundred years; and finally, all France is reduced to the obedience of Charles the French King.
And now hereafter there will be little to do abroad, but there will be the more to do at home, and more bloud will be shed in England by civill dissentions, then was shed before in all the Wars of France. This losse of Normandy and other parts in France, is imputed much to the Duke of Somerset, at that time Regent; but the Duke of Suffolke must beare a great part of the blame, partly for having beene the cause of the surrender of Anjou and Mayne, and the chiefe procurer of the Duke of Glocesters death, and partly for having wilfully wasted the Kings treasure, and been a meanes to remove the ablest men from the Councell Boord; of all which aspersions the Queen takes notice, and knowing how far they trenched upon the Dukes destruction, and her own; She so wrought, that the Parliament assembled at the Black-Friers, is adjourned to Leicester, and from thence to Westminster; but though all means were used to stop these accusations against the Duke, yet the lower House would not be taken off, but exhibited their Bill of Grievances against him: That he had traiterously incited the Bastard of Orleance, the Lord Presigny and others to levy warre against the King, to the end that thereby the King might be destroyed; and his Son Iohn, who had married Margaret Daughter and sole Heire of Io…n Duke of So…set, whose title to the Crowne the sayd Duke had often declared, in case king Henry should dye without issue, might come to be King; That through his treachery the French King had gotten possession of the Dutchie of Normandy, and had taken prisoners the valiant Earle of Shrewsbury, the Lord Fawc…bridge and others: but to these accus…tions, he peremptorily affirmed himselfe not guilty, so much as in thought. Then were further allegations made against him, that being with others sent Ambassador into France, he had transcended his Commission, and without privity of his fellow Commissioners, had presumed to promise the surrender of Anjou, and the delivery of the County of Mau…ts to Duke Rayner, which accordingly was …erformed, to the great dishonour of the King, and detriment of the Crowne; That he had traiterously acquainted the French King with all the affaires of State, and passages of secrecie, by which the enemy, was throughly instructed in all the designes of the King and Councell: That he had received rewards from the French king, to divert and disappoint all succours sent to the kings friends in France. Upon these and divers other accusations brought against him, to bleare the peop…es eyes, he is committed to the Tower; but the Parliament was no sooner dissolved, but he was set at liberty; which so incensed the common people, that they made an Insurrection; and under the leading of a desperate fellow, styling himselfe Blewbeard, they committed many outrages; but by the diligence of the Gentlemen of the Country, the Captain was apprehended, and the Rebellion ceased. And now another Parl…ament is called, where great care is taken in chusing of Burgesses, presuming thereby to stop any further proceeding against the Duke of Suffolke; but his personall appearance at the Parliament gave such a generall distaste to the House, though he came in the company of the king and Queene, that they forbore not to begin the Assembly, with Petitioning the king, for punishment to be inflicted upon such as had plotted or consented to the resignation of A…jo…, and Mayne, whereof by name they instanced in the Duke of Suffolke, Iohn Bishop of Salisbury, Sir Iame… Fynes, Lord Say and others. This Petition was seconded by the Lords of the upper House: whereupon, to give some satisfaction to the Houses, the Lord Say Lord Treasurer, is sequestred from his place, the Dukes Officers are all discarded, and himselfe formally banished for five yeares, but with an intent after the multitude had put out of minde their hatred against him, to have revoked him: but God did otherwise dispose of him, for when he was shipped in Suffolke, with intent to have passed over into France; he was met by an Englishman of War, taken and carried to Dover sands, and there had his head chopt off, on the side of the long-boate, which together with the body was left there on the sands, as a pledge of some satisfaction for the death of Duke H…phry.
Whil…st these things are done in England, the Duke of Yorke in Ireland began to make his way to the Crowne, as descended from Philippe daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence, elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt, great Grandfather to the present king Henry the sixth. And for a beginning, it is privately whispered, that king H…nry was of a weake capacity, and easily abused; the Queene of a malignant spirit, and bloudily ambitious, the Privie Councell, if wise enough, yet not honest enough, regarding more their private profit, then the publique good, that through their delinquencies all Fr…ce was lost, and that God would not blesse the usurped possession of king He…ry: with these suggestions the Kentishmen seemed to be taken; which being observed by an instrument of the Duke of Yorke, called Mortimer, he takes his time, and tells the multitude, that if they will be ruled by him, he will put them in a course to worke a generall Reformation, and free them for ever from those insupportable burthens of taxations, so often, upon every slight occasion obtruded upon them. These promises of Reformation and freedome from impositions, so wrought with the people, that they drew to a head; and make Mortimer, otherwise Iacke Cade their leader, who stiling himselfe Captaine Mend-all, marcheth with no great number, but those well ordered, to Bl…ck-heath, where betweene Eltha… and Greenwich, he lay by the space of a monethmonth, exercising his men, and sending for whom he pleased, and for what he pleased: Then he presents to the Parliament the complaints of the Common…: That the Queenes favorites share amongst them the Revenews of the Crowne, whereby the king is enforced for the supportation of his present estate to taxe and burthen the Commons, to their utter undoing, and to the generall impoverishment of the kingdome: That the Commons have their commodities daily taken from them, for the purveyance of the kings Houshold, for which they are not payd, nor any assurance for payment thereof given, but onelyonly Court promises: That upon the apprehension of any man for treason or felony, the kings meniall servants, before conviction, b…gge the goods and lands of the impeached; whereupon indirect and unlawfull proceedings are used by subornation of witnesses, embracery of jurors, and great mens letters to the Judges; whereby Justice is perverted, and the innocent after attainted, if not executed, yet at least imprisoned to their undoing: That the Commons have no legall proceedings in their Law-suits, so as the rightfull owners of Inheritance, dare not (if opposed by any Courtier) maintaine their Titles, or attempt the recovery of their interest, how just so ever: That the kings Collectors and other Accomptants are much troubled in passing their Accompts, by new extorted Fees, and by being enforced to procure a late invented Writ of Quorum nomina for allowance of the Barons of the Cinque-Ports, and their suing out their Quietu… at their own charge, without allowance from the King: That the Bayliffs of Sheriffes under colour of the green waxe out of the Exchequer, doe levy greater summes than are by the Record justifiable, yet maintained; That they cannot have the freedome of electing knights and Burgesses for the Parliament; but by letters from the Favorites of the Court, to their friends and Retainers, the Knights and Burgesses are commonly chosen: That they are too much troubled with too often comming to attend the generall Sessions, being enforced in many places to make five dayes journey to the place where they are kept. These and some other, were the complaints of the Commons; but the Captaine for his owne particular (after protestation made to live and dye in the quarrell of the King) required, that his Majesty would be pleased to receive again into favor, the truly noble Prince the Duke of Yorke, and with him the Right Honorable the Dukes of Exeter, Buckingham, and Norfolke, and the ancient Noblemen of the Realm; by the undue practises of Suffolke, and his complices, commanded from his presence, and that all their opposites might be banished the Court, and put from their Offices: That there might be a generall amotion of corrupt Officers, an abolition of the Greene waxe, and other instruments of Extortion out of the Exchequer; a qualification of the rigour of proceeding in the Kings-Bench; an inhibition of unequall purveyance of provision for the Kings houshold, and a present execution of the Promoters, Slegge, Cr…mer, Isell, and East, whom he pretended by wrongfull information to have abused the king, and wronged his Subjects. These Petitions are sent from the Lower-House to the Upper, and from thence committed to the Lords of the Kings Privy Councell, who having examined the particulars, explode them as frivilous, and the Authors thereof to be presumptuous Rebels. Whereupon the king is solicited by his Privy Councell, to prosecute them by force rather than intreary; which advise is seconded by the Queene as conceiving they secretly aymed at her: and hereupon the king drawes his Forces to Greenwich, and appointeth divers Lords to assaile the Rebels; but the Lords could get no followers to fight against them who sought only for reformation of abuses; and for punishment of such Traitors as the Lord Say the kings Chamberlane was: whereupon the Lord Say is presently committed to the Tower, the king and Queene retire to London, from whence within two dayes, the king being now fifteen thousand strong, marche…h in Person towards Captain Mend-all, who politickly withdraweth his forces into Seven…ake wood; upon notice wherof, the king retireth again to London, but the Queen longing for dispatch, send… the two Staffords, Sir Humphrey, and William, with many hot-spurs of the Court to follow the Rebels, who were soone cooled; for they found Captain Mend-all in good order, ready to receive them, and in the first encounter, slew Sir Humphry, and afterwards his brother, and put all the rest to flight; the k. Forces being at Black…eath, could neither by threats nor intreaties be gotten to go to the rescue, but rather wished the Queen and her favorites in the Staffords case, or that the Duke of Yorke were in England, to ayd his Cosen Mortimer, (now first acknowledged to be of his kindred) and many of them stole away to the Rebels, whose number from Sussex and Surrey daily encreased, whom yet their Captain restraineth from forraging or taking away any thing by force, and so returneth againe to Black…eath, where the kings Army lay the night before, but was now fallen down to Greenwich. And now the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Duke of Buckingham are sent to expostulate with the Rebels about their demands; to whom Iacke Cade gave very good language, but directly affirming no cessation from Arms, unlesse the king in Person would heare the grievances of the Subject, and passe his Princely word for reformation of their wrongs. This resolution of his made known to the king, who was not sure of his own Souldiers faith, made him march presently away to Killingworth Castle in Warwickeshire, where he fortified himselfe, as expecting a siege, having left the Lord Scales onelyonly to Guard the Tower. Iacke Cade taking advantage of the kings departure, commeth to South…rke, where hee quarters his men, streightly charging them to commit no outrage, nor do wrong …o any; which was duly ob…erved. The next morning …e marcheth to London-bridge, where he caused his men to cut the ropes of the Drawbridge, no resistance being made against him; and so in good order marcheth up by Londonstone, upon which he strooke his sword, saying, Now is Mortimer Lord of London. The Major of London, Sir Thomas Chalton, standing upon the threshold of his doore bade him take heed he attempted nothing against the quiet of the City: To whom …e made answer, Let the world take notice of our honest intention by our actions. And indeed this orderly cariage of himselfe and his company, wonne him a good opinion amongst the common sort of people: And now ass…ming to himselfe the place of Chiefe, he sendeth o… his letters of safe…conduct, to such whom he pleased to make use of: amongst other, he wrote this letter to Thomas Co…k Draper of London.
By this our writing ensealed, we grant, that Thomas Cock of London Draper, shall safely come into our presence, and avoyd from us againe at his pleasure, with all other persons comming in his company. Subscribed thus:
His Majesties loyall Subject, Iohn Mortimer, Captaine Mend-all.
Upon Cocks admission, he had private conference with three other that came with him; to whom, at their departure, he gave these instructions in writing: You shall charge all Lombards and Merchant-strangers, Genona's, Venetians, Florentines, and others, this day to draw themselves together, and to ordaine for us the Captain, twelve Harnesse compleat of the best fashion, foure and twenty Brigandi…es, twelve Battell-axes, twelve Glaves, sixe horses with saddle and bridle compleatly furnished, and a thousand ma…ks in ready money: and if they shall faile herein, we shall strike off the heads of as many as we can get. But they failed not, but sent him what he had demanded: who thereupon the next morning, being the third of Iuly, returnes to London; and presently sends to the Lord Scales, to bring his Prisoner the Lord Say to the Guildhall, whither he had called the Lord Major with his brethren; before whom he caused the Lord Say to be arraigned, who craving to be tryed by his Peeres, was forthwith taken from his keeper, caried to the Standard in Cheap, and there had his head chopt off, which being pitched upon a Pike, was borne before him to Mile-end, whither he went to have conference with the Rebels of Essex; and by the way meeting with Sir Iames Cromer High-sheriffe of Kent, who had lately maried the Lord Sayes daughter, he caused his head also to be strucken off, and caried likewise before him in de…ision. The next morning he came againe to London; where, after publick execution done upon some of his fellowes, and particularly upon a petty Cap…aine of his, named Paris, that had done things contrary to his Proclamation; upon a displeasure taken against Alderman Malpas, he sent and seized upon all his wares and goods, and fined Alderman Horne in five hundred marks: whereupon, the Citizens finding him to grow every day more insolent than other, they send to the Lord Scales for assistance, who sendeth Matthew Gough an old souldier to them, with some forces and furnitures out of the Tower; who presently make a stand at the Bridge, where Cade notwithstanding forceth his passage, and then began to set fire on houses where many aged and impotent people miserably perished; Captaine Bough Alderman, Sutton and Robert Hayson, valiantly fighting, were slaine: yet upon a fresh supply, the Londoners recovered the bridge againe, and drove the Rebels beyond the Stoope in South-warke; at which time, both sides being weary, agreed of a Truce, till the next day. After the Retreat, Cade finding he had lost many of his best men, was driven for supply, to set at liberty all the Prisoners in Southwarke, aswell Felons as Debtors: when now his company entring into consideration of their danger, and of the desperate services their Captaine had brought them to, began to discover by their countenances their willingnesse to leave this course: whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury having notice, he with the Bishop of Winchester came from the Tower by water to Southwarke, and there shewed the Kings Generall-Pardon under the Great Seal of England; which was so welcome to the Rebells, that without taking leave of their Captaine, they withdrew themselves that night to their severall habitations. Iack Cade with some few followers bent his journey to Quinborough Castle, where being denyed entrance, he disguised himselfe, and privily fled: but upon Proclamation, with promise of a thousand markes to any that should bring him dead or alive; he was afterward, by one Alexander Eden Gentleman, attached; and making resistance, in a Garden at Hothfield in Sussex, was there slaine; his body was brought to London, beheaded and quartered, his head set upon London bridge, his quarters dispersed in divers places in Kent. Upon the news whereof, the King sends Commissioners into Kent, to enquire of the abettours of this Rebellion: whither he followeth himselfe in person, and though five hundred were found guilty, yet eight onelyonly were executed. Though London were the chiefe stage of this Rebelion, yet other Countries were not free; especially Wil…shire, for the Rebels there, upon the nine and twentieth day of June, drew William Askot Bishop of Salisbury, from the High Altar, where he was saying Masse in Edington Church, to the top of the hill; and there in his Priestly roabes, most inhumanely murthered him.
This Insurrection was not unknown to the King of France, who taking advantage thereof, seizeth upon all places which the English had in France, leaving them nothing but only Callice, and the Castles of Hames and Guisnes; and this was the issue of the Duke of Somersets Regency in France: whereupon comming into England, at a P…liament holden at Westminster, the sixth of November, in the nine and twentieth yeer of the Kings r…igne, he was put under Arrest; upon notice whereof, the Commons of London despoiled his house at Blackfriers, and ceased not, till Proclamation was made to inhibite them: for disobeying whereof, there was one man beheaded, at the Standard in Cheape.
At this time, the Duke of Yorke, under pretence of comming to the Parliament, comes out of Ireland; and at London had private conference with Iohn Duke of Norfolk, Richard Earle of Salisbury, the Earle of Devonshire and other his assured friends; where it was resolved, to keep the chiefe purpose, (the claime to the Crown) secret; and onelyonly to make shew, that his endeavours were but to remove ill Counsellours from the King; of whom they instanced in the Duke of Somerset as chiefe; and hereof, the Duke sent divers letters to the King, complaining of the wrongs the Duke of Somerset had done him, but withall making Protestation of his own loyalty. To which the King maketh answer, that he would take his complaints into consideration; but somewhat blames him for the death of the Bishop of Chester, by his means suspected to be slaughtered, and for dangerous speeches uttered by his servants, tending to Rebellion: concluding, that notwithstanding any thing said or done to the contrary, he took and esteemed him a faithfull subject, and a loving kinsman. But the Duke of York, not herewith satisfied, departeth into Wales, and there levi…h men, making his colour for the good of the Common wealth: and the reremoving of bad Counsellours. The King advertised hereof, presently raiseth an Army; and with the Duke of Somerset (now enlarged) marcheth towards Wales: while the Duke of Yorke, having notice which way the King came, by another way marcheth toward London; but being told, the Londoners would not admit him entrance; he passed the river Thames at Knightbridge, marched into Kent, and encamped at Burnt-heath. The King in his pursuite, came to Blacke-heathe, and there pitched his Tents, from whence he sent the Bishops of Winchester and Ely, the Lord Rivers, and Richard Andrews Keeper of the Privy Seale, to know the cause of this commotion, and to make offer of reconcilement, if the Dukes Demands were not unreasonable. The Duke made Answer, that nothing was intended against the Kings person, his Crown or Dignity: All that was sought, was to remove ill Counsellours from about the King, but especially Edmund Duke of Somerset; whom if the King would be pleased to commit toward, till his legall tryall might be had in Parliament, he would then not onelyonly dismisse his army, but come unto his presence as a loyall subject. Hereupon the Duke of Somerset is committed to prison: The Duke of Yorke dismisseth his army, and commeth in person to the King: in whose presence, (contrary to his expectation) he found the Duke of Somerset, which so moved him, that he could not hold, but presently charged him with Treason: which the Duke of Somerset, not onelyonly denieth, but … a…re the Duke of Yorke, to have conspired …he kings death, and the usu…pation of the Crown: whereupon, the king removeth to London, the Duke o… Yorke as a prisoner ryding before him, and the Duke of Somerset at liberty, which was not a little mervailed at by many. And now the king calleth a Councell at Westminster, where the two Dukes are earnest in accusing each other; but while the Counsell are debating of the matter, there comes a flash of lightning out of France, which diverted them; for the Earl of Kendall, and the L'Espar, c…me Embassadours from Burdeaux, offering their obedience to the Crown of England, if they might but be assured to be defended by it: but withall, at the same time there came a report, that Edward Earle of March, sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke, with a great power was marching towards London. Here was matter for a double consultation: and for this latter, it was resolved on, that the Duke of York, should in the presence of the king and his Nobility, at the high Altar in Paul…, take his Oath of submission and Allegiance to king Henry: which he accordingly did, and then had liberty to depart to his Castle of Wigmore. And for the former, the Earle of Shrewsbury with about three thousand men was sent into Gascoigne, who ariving in the Isle of Madre, passed forth with his power, and took Fro…sack and other pieces, but having received in the night instructions from Burdeaux of certaine conspiratours, he makes all the speed he can thither; and was entred the Town before the French had notice of his comming: so that many of them were slaine by the Lord L'Espar in their beds. Shortly after there arrived, the Earle of Shrewsbury's sonne, Sir Ioh… Talbot, with the bastard of Somerset, and two and twenty hundred men, by whose means Burdeaux is well manned with English: in which time the Earle was not idle, but went from place to place, to receive the offered submission of all places where he came: and having taken Chatillo…, he strongly fortified it, whereupon the Fre…ch king raiseth an army, and besiegeth Chatillon, to the rescue whereof, the Earle maketh all possible speed with eight hundred horse, appointing the Earle of Kendall, and the Lord L'Espar to follow with the foot: In his way he surprized a Tower the French had taken, and put all within it to the sword; and meeting five hundred French men, that had been forraging; many of them he slew, and the rest he chased to their Campe. Upon whose approach, the French left the siege, and retyred to a place which they had formerly fortified; whither the Earle followeth them, and resolutely chargeth them so home, that he got the entry of the Campe: where being shot through the thigh with an Harquebuse, and his horse slaine under him; his sonne desirous to relieve his father, lost his own life, and therein was accompanied with his bastard brother Henry Talbot, Sir Edward Hall, and thirty other Gentlemen of name. The Lord Nolius with threesco… other were taken prisoners, the rest fled to Burdeaux, but in the way a thousand of them were slaine. And thus on the last day of July, in the yeer 1453. at Chatillo…, the most valourous Earle of Shrewsbury, the first of that name; after foure and twenty yeers service beyond the seas, ended his life, and was buried at Roa… in Normandie; with this Inscription upon his Tombe: Here lyeth the right Noble knight Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury, Weshford, Waterford, and Valence, Lord Talbot of Goodrich and Orchenfield, Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdon of Acto…, Lord Cromwell of Winkfield, Lord Lovet…ft of Worsoppe, Lord Furnivall of Sh…ffield, knight of the Noble Orders of St. George, St. Michael, and the golden fleece, great Marshall to King Henry the sixth, of his Realme of France. The Earle of Kendall, the Lords Montserat, Rosaine and D…gledas entred the Castle of Chatillon, and made it good against the French the space of ten dayes; but then having no hope of succour, they delivered it, upon composition to have liberty to depart to Burdeaux: and now the Gascoig…s were as ready to open their gates to the French, as they were before to the English; by means whereof, in short time, the French recovered againe all Gascoig…e except Burdeaux, and that also at length, upon condition that both garrisons and inhabitants with all their substance, might safely depart for England or Callice, and that the Lords L'Espar and Durant, with thirty others, upon paine of death should never after be found in the Territories of France.
At this time upon St. Bartholomews day, an ancient custome being, that the Major of London, and the Sheriffs should be present in giving prizes to the best wrestlers; It h…ppened that at the wrestling place neere Moore-fields, the Prior of S. Iohns was there to see the sports, when a servant of his, not brooking the disgrace to be foyled before his Master, against the custome of the place would have wrestled againe, which the Major denyed, whereupon the Prior fetcht Bowmen from Clark…ell, to resist the Major, and some slaughter was committed; the Majors Cap was shot through with an Arrow, he neverthelesse would have had the spo…t goe on, bu… no wrestlers came, yet the Major Sr. Iohn Norman told his brethren, he would stay awhile, to make tryall of the Citizens respect towards him: which he had no sooner said, but the Citizens with Banners displayed came in great numbers to him, and fetcht him home in great triumph. Upon the neck of this, began the quarrell in Holborne, between the Gentlemen of the Inns of Chancery and some Citizens, in appeasing whereof, the Queens Atturney and three more were slaine.
And now the Duke of Yorke, by all means laboureth to stirre up the hatred of the Commons against the Duke of Somerset, repeating often, what dishonour England sustained by Somersets giving up the strong Towns of Normandy, and how he abuseth the Kings and Queens favour to his own gaine, and the Commons grievance, then he addresseth himselfe to those of the Nobility that could not well brook his too much commanding over the Kings and Queens affection: amongst others he fasteneth upon the two Nevils, both Richards, the father and the sonne, the one Earle of Salisbury, the other of Warwick; with whom he deales so effectually, that an indissoluble knot of friendship is knit betwixt them; by whose assistance, (the King lying dangerously sick at Claringdon) the Duke of Somerset is arrested in the Queens great Chamber, and sent to the Tower; and in a Parliament now convoked, appe…ched of Treason, and many heynous crymes objected against him: whereupon, the King though weake is brought to London, of purpose to dissolve the Parliament, and that di…solved, the Duke of Somerset is presently set at liberty againe, and not only so, but is made Captaine of Callice and Guysnes, the onelyonly remainder the English had in France. Upon this, the Duke of Yorke and his party, with a great power march towards London: against whom, the King attended with the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Buckingham and his sonne, both named Humfry, Henry Earle of Northumberland, Iames Earle of Wiltshire, Iasper Earle of Pembrooke, and two thous…nd men, marcheth forwards; at S. Albans both armies meet: the Duke in the morning send… a letter to the King, protesting his fidelity and synderity; onelyonly he desires, the Duke of Somerset may be delivered, to stand or fall by the Judgement of his Peers; and this he would have, or dye in the pursuite. The King for answer, Commands him to disband, and submit to his mercy; and not expect, that he will deliver any in his Army, who have shewed their loves in standing to him. Herewith the Duke acquaints his friends, who hereupon fall every one to his quarter: The Earle of Warwick fell upon the Lord Cliffords quarter, where the Duke of Somerset, h…sting to the rescue, was slaine, and with him the Earle of Northumberland, Humfry Earle of Stafford, the Lord Clifford, and about five thousand others, besides many that were hurt; the King himselfe shot in the neck with an arrow; the Duke of B…ckingham and the Lord Scales, in the faces; the Earle of Dorset so hurt, that he was faine to be carryed home in a Cart: The Kings army had been increased after his comming forth, to eight thousand; but now they are all dispersed or slaine, and the King unguarded, is left in a poore thatcht house; whither, to be freed from the danger of arrows, he had withdrawn himselfe. The Duke of Yorke having notice where the King was, goes with Wa…wick and Salisbury, who all three upon their knees present themselves before him, making humble petition to him, for pardon of what was past: and now, seeing the common Enemy was slaine, they had what they aymed at. To whom the King throughly affrighted, said: Let there be no more killing then, and I will doe what you will have me. This first battell of S. Albans was fought upon the three & twentieth day of May, in the three & thirtieth year of King Henries raigne. The bodies of the Duke of Somerset, the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Glifford, were buried in the Chappell there. And now the Duke of York, in the kings name, commands a surcease from …rther hostility: and in all reverent manner conveyeth the king to London; where they keep the feast of Pentecost together; at which time, a Parliament is summoned to begin at Westminster, the ninth day of July; and therein it is enacted, that the Duke of Glo…cester should be decl…red publikely a loyall Subject, and that none should misreport or dispute the actions of the Duke of Yorke, or of any in his company; and moreover, the Duke of Yorke is m…de Protector of the kings Person, and of the Realme, the Earle of Sali… bury is made Lord Chancellor, and the Earle of Warwicke Captain of Callis, wherein they all carried themselves with unblameable demeanour.
In this meane time, the Queene not well pleased with these proceedings, s…ekes all me…ns to incite the Lords of her party, and they as much seeke to incite her to make opposition; she puts the Duke of Buckingham in minde that these Traitours had slaine his hopefull Son at S. Albans; she tells the now Duke of Somerset, that by them his deare Father lost his life: And they againe put the Queen in minde of the unsufferable indignity done to her, in making her Husband only a king in name, setting a Tutor over him, as though he were a childe, whil'st the Duke of Yorke and his complices manage all: Upon which incitation, all the enemies of the Yorkshire Faction are assembled by the Queene at Greenwich; where it is debated of some course to be taken for restoring the king to his former liber…y and Government; at length it is concluded, that the duke of Yorke should be comma…ded to give over his place of Protectorship, for that the king was of yeares and discretion sufficient to Rule of himselfe without a Guardian, and the Earle of Salisbury to surrender his place of being Lord Chancellor, for that the great Seal was never delivered him, seeing that which was now used, was made since the kings restraint, and therefore not sufficient; to which conclusion of theirs, the king easie to be wrought upon, yields his co…sent, and thereupon they are both discharged from their Offices, and summoned to appeare at the Councell Table at Gr…enwich; but the Lords were wiser than to put themselves into their hands, and therefore make answer, that none had power to displace them, nor to command their appearance in any place, but in Parliament, and so they continued about Lond…n, placing and displacing whom they pleased, …nd by their triumvirat authority, tooke Iohn Holland Earle of Exeter out of Sanctuary, and sent him prisoner to Po…f…et Castle. These proceedings gave occasion to the licentious multitude to raise commotions, and the Prentices of London upon a very slight occasion, fall upon out-landish Merchants, rifle and robbe their houses; and the Major assembling a company of substantiall Citizens to suppresse them, the Ring-leader of the disorder flyes to Sanctuary; Commissioners are sent to enquire and punish the offence, but when the Major and Commissioners were set, tydings came that the Commons were up in Arms; whereupon the Commissioners left the busines to be proceeded in by the Major, who so discreetly ordered the matter, that many of the offenders were punished, some by death, others by fine, and all things were quieted and appeased.
At this time the French having little to do against the English in France, would needs be doing something against them in England: They set out two Fleets, one under the conduct of William Lord Pomyers, the other of Sir Peter Bressy; the Lord fell …pon Fulney in the West-Country, the knight upon S…dwich in Kent, where some hurt they did, but not of importance to countervaile their Voyage.
And now the Queen finding the little respect the Londoners bore to her party or the kings, perswades the king, as for his health and recreation, to make a Progresse into Warwickeshire, which he did, by the way hunting and hawking, and the Queen making show of minding nothing but pastimes; and this she did, with a purpose the easier to entrap the three Lords, of Yorke, Salisbury, and Warwicke, to whom shee writ most loving letters, earnestly inviting them to be at Coventry by an houre appointed; which they, not doubting any fraud, intended to have done, but hearing by the way of the mischiefe plotted against them, they caused their Retinue to goe on-ward the way to the Court, as though themselves were comming after; but they provided otherwise for their safety, the duke of Yorke with a Groome and a Page getting him to Wigmore Castle, the Ea…le of Salisbury to his Castle of Middleham in the North, and the Earle of Warwicke to the Sea side, and so to Callis; but before they parted, they agreed upon an Alphabet, by which they might have entercourse of letters, yet their intentions kept undiscovered.
The king unwitting of this mischiefe intended against the duke of Yorke and his friends, returneth to London, where he calleth a Councell; and therein of his owne accord desireth that some course might be invented for a perfect reconcilement of all parties; promising upon his salvation (an asseveration not usu…ll with him) so to entertaine the duke of Yorke and his friend…, that all discontents should be removed, and a perfect amity on all parts …stablished: to which end messengers are dispatched to the duke of Yorke, and all other of his party, commanding them upon urgent affairs of the Realm, and upon Royall promise of safe conduct, to repaire to his Court at London, at a day appointed. The duke of Yorke accordingly came, and with 400 men well apparelled, lodged at his house called Baynards Castle; T…e Earle of S… lisbury with 500 men, lodged likewise at his house called the Herbour; The duke of Exeter (lately released) and the Duke of Somerset with 800 men, were lodged within Temple-Barre; The Earle of Northumberland, the Lord Egremont, and the Lord Clifford, with 1500 men, were lodged in Holborne; The Earle of Warwicke with 600 in red jackets with ragged staves embroydered behinde and before, were lodged at the Gray Friers in London. Upon the seventeenth of March the King and the Queen came to London, and were lodged at the Bishops Pallace; the Major having five hundred well appointed men in readinesse, rode with a competent number all day long round the Citie, for preservation of the Kings Peace: The Lords lodging within the Citie, held their Councell at Black-Friers; the other, at the Chapterhouse at Westminster: Between both, the Reverend Archbishop of Canterb…ry, the Son of Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex, with some other of the most able Prelates interceded so, that by their mediation it was at last concluded, that all wrongs and misdemeanours on every side should …e forgotten and forgiven, that each side should be friends to the other, and both be obedient to the commands of the king. Besides this in generall, there were some particular Articles to be performed by the Duke of Yorke, the Earles of Salisbury, and Warwicke, which afterward was ratified under the great Seale of England, the 24 day of March, in the 36 yeare of the Reigne of king Henry the Sixth. Upon the publication whereof, a solemne Procession was made in Pauls Church, at which the king was present with his Cr…wn on his head; before him, hand in hand went the Duke of Somerset, and the Earle of Salisbury, the Duke of Exeter, and the Earle of Warwicke, and so one of the one, and another of the other part, till they were all Marshalled; behinde the king came the Queen, the Duke of Yorke leading her by the hand, who in going made shew of favorable countenance towards him: Divine Service ended, they returne to the Court, in all outward appearance truly reconciled; but all was dissembled, as will presently appeare; for presently upon this, an affray fell out betweene a servant of the Earle of Warwicke, and a Courtier, who in the encounter is dangerously wounded, the Earles man flyeth; the kings servants seeing their fellow hurt, and the offender escaped, watch the Earles comming from the Councell Table, and assaile him; many are hurt, but the Earle getteth a Wherry, and so escapes to London; the Queen incontinently commands the Earle to be committed to the Tower, but hee foreseeing the danger, posts to Yorkshire, where he acquaints the Duke of Yorke, and his father the Earle of Salisbury of all the occurrence, with the palpable discovery of the Queens canker'd disposition, advising them to stand upon their Guard, and to provide against the approaching storme. Himselfe speeds to Callis, and being then Lord Admirall, takes with him all the kings ships that were in readinesse, and scouring the Seas, meets with five great Carricks, three of Geno…a, and two of Spaine; and after two dayes fight, takes two of them, with which hee returned to Callis where he unloaded their fraight, and found it worth ten thousand pounds in Staple commodities, besides the Ships and Prisoners.
In the meane time, the Earle of Salisbury with about five thousand men marcheth through Lanc…shire, to passe that way to the king, with a purpose to acquaint him with the affront offered to his Son, and the inveterate malice discovered in the Queen against him: The Queene with the Dukes of Buckingham and Som…rset, hearing of his comming, gave order to the Lord Audley to use means to apprehend him; who thereupon levyeth ten thousand men in Cheshire and Shropshire, and with them about a mile from Drayton, in a plaine called Bloreheath he attended the Earle, there being but a small brooke of no great depth between them. Early in the morning the Earle made a seeming Retreat, which the Lord Talbot observing, presently causeth his Troops to passe the River, but before they could be reduced againe into order, the Earle with his whole strength falls upon them, and with the slaughter of the Lord Audley, and most of them that had passed the River, he discomfited the rest, and slew about 24. hundred of them; Sir Iohn and sir Thomas Nevill knights the Earl… Sons were sorely wounded, who with Sir Thomas Harrington travelling into the North Country, were apprehended and sent as Prisoners towards Chester, but upon a message from the Marchmen were presently released.
And now the Duke of Yorke thinking fit no longer to conceale his designe, make… preparation to take the Field, the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick do the like; and amongst others of approved valour, whom the Earle of Warwicke had brought from Callis with him, were two principall noted men, Iohn Blunt, and Andrew Trolloppe. Likewise the King, with the Dukes of Somerset, and Exeter, drawes his Forces to Worcester, from whence Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury, is sent to offer the Yorkists a full and generall Pardon, if they would lay down Arms, and become loyall Subjects. Whereunto they answered, that there was no trust to the Kings Pardons, as long as the Queen had a Predominant power; but if they might have assurance of safety, they would expresse their loyalty, and humbly render themselves at his service. Hereupon the King advanceth neerer, and approaching the Lords Armie, caused Proclamation to be made, that whosoever would abandon the Duke of Yorke, should be received to mercy, and have Pardon. Upon this, the night following, Andrew Trolloppe, with all the Callicians submit to the King, and by him are all the counsells of the Duke of Yorke discovered; which so much discouraged him, that he with his young Son, the Earle of Rutland, fled first into Wales, and then into Ireland: The Earles of March, Salisbury, and Warwicke got into Devonshire, where by the means of Iohn Dynh…m Esquire (the same man that afterward by king Henry the Seventh was made Lord Treasurer of England) they were shipt from Exmouth, to Gernsey, and so to Callis. All the common souldiers the king Pardons, onelyonly makes exemplary punishment of some few Captains, sends the Dutchesse of Yorke, and her two younger children, to the Dutchesse of Buckingham her Sister to be …afely kept; and then having spoiled the Town and Castle of Ludlow, he dismist his Armie. And now a Parliament is called at Coventry, wherein the Duke of Yorke, Edward Earle of March his Son, Richard Earle of Salisbury, Richard …arle of Warwicke… Iohn Lord Clifford, and many other the confederates of the Duke of York, are convict of Treason, and all their lands and goods seized on to the kings use. Henry D. of Somerset by the Queens means is made Captain of Callis, whither comming to take possession, he was, by reason of Ordnance shot at him from Rice-banke forced to Retire; which the Queen hearing, was so incensed, that in great passion she gave order to make ready all the kings Ships lying at Sandwich, to give assistance to the Duke of Somerset: but the forementioned Iohn Dynham, out of love to the Earle of March, boorded those ships in the harbour, and tooke the Lord Rivers designed Admirall for that service, and carried both him and the Ships to Callice, from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland, to the Duke of Yorke, who having conferred and concluded what course to take, he returned to Callice, the new Admirall the Duke of Exeter not daring to stop his course. Sir Simon Montford was appointed …o guard the Cinque Ports, having divers ships under his command to barre the Earle of Warwick…s entrance; but the Earle by his espyalls having perfect intelligence of all passages, fell sodainly upon Sir Simon before his ships were ready, tooke him prisoner, ransackt the Town of Sandwich, & carried his prisoner and the ships to Callice: By the way he understood how much the kentishmen desired his return and longed for his comming; whereupon he came the second time to Sandwich, to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and very many Gentlemen of the Country: so as now his army was five and twenty thousand strong; with which he marched towards London, against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to goe, and with some convenient troopes to assure London: but the Major directly refused to admit him; whereupon he resorted to the Tower, from whence afterwards he did the Londoners no small displeasure. The Earle of Warwick having notice, that his father the Earle of Salisbury was upon march to meet him: passeth over his men; and without impeachment, joyned with him and his friends neer Exeter.
The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them, and neer to the Town of Northampton both Armies meet: The Earle of March with the advice of the Earle of Warwick prepares for the fight: The Queen (the King more intentive to devotion then fighting) did the like, the fight continued about two houres, wherein were slaine of both sides above …en thousand men; but upon the fall of Humfry Duke of Buckingham, the Kings side was discomfited, and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury, Thomas L. Egremont, Iohn L. Beaumont and some other of account were slaine: The Queen with the Duke of Somers…t, taking with them the young Prince, fled to the Bishoprick of Durham: The King himselfe was taken, and as a prisoner conveyed to London: where the Tower is yeelded to the Earle of Warwick; The Lord Scales in disguised apparell endeavouring to escape, is taken by the water-men, and by them beheaded, and his Corpes carelesly left upon the sands. Thomas Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer, in the habit of a Monke, his Crown shorne, purposing to flie to the Queen, is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower, and after by the Commons beheaded at Highgate. The Duke of Yorke being advertised of this good successe, leaveth Ireland and posts to London, where in the kings name he summoneth a Parliament, which being assembled, he in the presence of the Lords in the upper House, placeth himselfe in the Imperiall Seate, and with great boldnesse layes open his rightfull claime to the Crowne of England, as being the Sonne and heire of Anne daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March, Sonne and heire of Philip the sole daughter and heire of Lyonel Duke of Clarence, the third sonne of Edward the third, and elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, Father of the usurper Henry the Fourth, Grandfather to Henry the Fifth, who was Father to him that at this time untruly stileth himselfe king Henry the sixth. And after relating the many miseries that had befallen the Realme since the time of this Usurpation, he concluded, that he would not expect nor desire possession of the Crown, except his discent were undisputable, and his title without exception. This being a businesse of importance, required deliberation: but in conclusion, the Duke having before hand prepared the Lords Spirituall; and few of the Nobility being present, that were not of his part, the Burgesses were easily perswaded: and it was generally resolved, and enacted accordingly, that king Henry during his life, should reteine the name and honour of a king; that the Duke of Yorke should be Proclaimed heire apparent to the Crown, and Protectour of the kings Person, his lands and dominions; and that if at any time, any of king Henries friends, allies or favourites, in his behalfe should attempt the disa…lling of this Act, that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crown. It is not unworthy the noting, that while the Earle of March was declaring his title in the upper house, it happened in the nether house, that a Crowne which hung in the middle of the house, to garnish a branch to set lights upon, without touch or winde, fell suddenly down: as likewise at the same time, fell down the Crown which stood on the top of Dover Castle: a signe as some thought, that the Crowne of the Realme should be changed. Assoone as the Parliament was dissolved; the Duke dispatcheth letters into Scotland; requiring in the kings name, the Queen, the Dukes of Somerset and Exeter, and all other of the Nobility, that remained in that kingdome, with all speed to repaire to his presence in London: but they had other worke in hand; for having goten together of English and Scots, to the number of eighteen thousand, they came ma…ching into England … against whom went the Duke of Yorke, with his younger sonne the Earle of Rutland, and the Earle of Salisbury, (leaving the king in the custody of the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Warwick;) and approaching neer the Que…ns A…my, he was certified by his sc…uts, that the Enemie farre exceeded his power, both in number and in all warlike preparation, (he not having in his Army above five thousand men) and thereupon the Earle of Salisbury advised him to rety…e, and to attend the comming of the Earle of March, who was gone into Wales to raise the March men; but the pride of his former victory made him deale to all Counsell of declining the battell; and so hastened on by his destiny, from S…nd…ll Castle he marched on to Wakefield greene; where the Lord Clifford on the one side, and the Earle of Wiltshire on the other were placed in ambuscado; The Duke of Yorke supposing that the Duke of Somerset who led the battell, had no more forces then what were with him, undauntedly marcheth towards him: but being entred within their danger, the ambushes on both sides brake out upon him, and slew him, with three thousand of his men, the rest fled; the Earle of Salisbury is taken prisoner; and harmlesse Rutland, not above twelve yeers old, who came thither but to see fashions, is made a sacrifice for his Fathers transgression, who kneeling upon his knees, with tears begging life, is unmercifully stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford, in part of revenge (as he swore) of his Fathers death; and the Queen most unwomanly in cold blood, caused the Earle of Salisbury, and as many as were taken prisoners, to be beheaded at P…mfret Castle, and to have their heads placed on poles about the walls of Yorke. Thus dyed Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke, who had taken to wife Cicely daughter of Ralph Nevyll, the first Earle of Westmerland, by whom he had issue, eight sonnes and foure daughters; his eldest sonne Henry dyed young, his second son Edward was afterward king of England; his third Edmund Earle of Rutland, was slaine with his father… Iohn, Thomas and William died young, his seventh sonne George, was after Duke of Clarence, his youngest sonne Richard, sirnamed Crouchb…ck, w…s after king of England. Anne his eldest daughter was married to Henry Holland Duke of Exeter, his second daughter Elizabeth was married to Iohn de la P…ole Earle of Suffolk, his third Margaret to Charles Duke of Burgoigne, his fourth Vrsula dyed young. This Duke being dead, had his head crowned with a paper Crown, together with many circumstances of disgracing him: but this act of spight was fully afterwards recompensed upon their heads that did it.
The Earle of March hearing of his fathers death, laboured now so much the more earnestly, in that he laboured for himselfe; and parting from Shrewsbury, whose Inhabitants were most firme unto him, he increased his army to the number of three and twenty thousand, and presently took the field; and having advertisment, that Iasper Earle of Pembrooke, with the Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire followed after him with a great power of Welsh and Irish: he suddenly marcheth back againe, and in a plaine neer Mortimers Crosse, on Candlemas day in the morning gave them battell, wherewith the slaughter of three thousand and eight hundred, he put the Earles to flight. Owen Tewther who had married Queen Catherine, Mother to king Henry the sixth, and divers Welsh Gentlemen were taken, and at Hereford beheaded. Before the battell, it is said, the Sunne appeared to the Earle of March like three sunnes, and suddenly it joyned all together in one; for which cause, some imagine, that he gave the sunne in its full brightnes, for his badge or Cognisance.
The Queen in the mean time encouraged by the death of the Duke of Yorke, with a power of Northern men marcheth towards London: but when her souldiers were once South of Trent, as if that river were the utmost limit of their good behaviour, they fell to forrage the Country in most babarous manner: Approaching S. Albans, they were advertised that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Warwick were ready to give them battell; whereupon the Queens Vaward hasteth to passe through St. Alb…s; but being not suffered to passe, they encountred with their Enemies in the field called Barnard heath; who perceiving the maine battaile to stand still, and not to move; which was done by the treachery of Lovelace, who with the kentish men had the leading of it; they soone made the Southerne men to turne their backs and f…y; upon whose flight, the rest in doubt of each others well meaning, shifted away; and the Lords about the King perceiving the danger, withdrew themselves: Only the Lord B…nvile com…ing in a complementall manner to the King, and saying it grieved him to leave his Majesty, but that necessity for safeguard of his life, enforced it… was importuned, and Sir Tho…as Kyriell a knight of Kent likewise, by the king to stay; he passing his Royall word, that their stay should bee no danger to them; upon which promise they stayed, but to their cost: for the Queen hearing that the Commo…s had beheaded Baron Tho…pe at High-gate; …he in revenge thereof, caused both their heads to be stricken off at S. Alb…s: so as there were slaughtered at this battaile the full number of three and twenty hundred, but no man of name, but onelyonly Sir Iohn Grey, who the same day was made knight, with twelve other at the village of Colney.
And now the King was advised, to send one Thom…s Hoe, (tha… had been a Barrister) to the Victors, to tell them; that he would gladly come to them, if with conveyance it might be done: whereupon the Earle of Northumberland, appointed divers Lords to attend him to the L. Cl…ffords Tent, where the Queen and the young Prince met to their great joy: but it was now observed, as it were in the destiny of King He…ry, that although he were a most Piousman, yet no enterprise of warre did ever prosper, where he was present; that we may know the prosperity of the world to be no inseparable companion to men of Piety. At the Queens request, the king honored with knighthood thirty gentlemen, who the day before had fought against the part where he was; the Prince likewise was by him dubbed knight, and then they went to the Abby, where they were received with Anthems, and withall an humble petition, to be protected from the outrage of the loose souldiers… which was promised, and Proclamation made to that purpose, but to small purpose; for the Northern men said, It was their bargaine to have all the spoyle in every place, after they had passed Trent: and so they robbed and spoiled whatsoever they could come at. The Lond…ners hearing of this disorder, were resolved, seeing there was no more assurance in the Kings promise, to keep the Northern men out of their gates; insomuch that when they were sent to, to send over to the Campe certaine Cartloads of Lenton provision; which the Major accordingly provided: the Commons rose about Cripplegate, and by strong hand kept the Carts from going out of the City. Hereupon, the Major sends the Recorder to the Kings Counsell… and withall intreats the Dutchesse of Bedford, and the Lady Scole…, to intercede for h…m to the Queen; and to excuse his not using force, considering how dangerous it might be in these doubtfull times, to stirre their fury, that would not easily be a…layed. It was well advised to send women to intreate a woman, for by this means they prevailed, that some of the Lords of the Counsell, with a guard of foure hundred good souldiers, were appointed to goe for London, to enquire and certifie of these things: when suddenly news was brought, that the Earle of March with a great Ar…y was marching towards them: for the Earle of VVarwicke having gathered together his scattered troops, and joyned with the Earle of March, they hasted towards Lo…don, and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of February, and upon Sunday, the second of March, the Earle of Warwick mustred all his army in S. Iohn's field, and having cast them into a ring, read unto them the agreement of the last P…liament, and then demanded, whether they would have King Henry to raign still who all cryed, no, no: then he asked them, whether they would have the Earle of March eldest sonne of the Duke of Yorke (by that Parliament proclaimed King) to raigne over them? who with a great clamor cryed, yea, yea… Then went there certaine Captaines, and others of the Citty, to the Earle of March at Baynards Castle, to acquaint him with w…at was passed; who at first seemed to excuse himselfe, a… unable to exec…e so grea… a charge: but animated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, and Exeter, and the Earle of VVarwick, he at last consented to take it upon him; and thereupon, the next morning he wept in Procession at Pauls, and offered there, and after Te Deum sung, he was in great state conveyed to VVestminster, and there in the great Hall, seated in the Kings seat, with the Scepter of St. Edw…d in his hand; and then again the people, of whom there was a great concourse, were aloud demanded, if they would acknowledge him to be their King? to which with great willingnesse they all cried, yea, yea. Then taking homage of divers Noblemen there present, he was with Procession and great solemnity conveyed to the Abbey, and placed in the Qui…e as King, whil'st Te Deum was singing: That done, he offered at St. Ed…ards Shrine, and then returned by water to Pauls, and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace, and upon the fou…th of March he was generally Proclaimed King, by the name of Edward the Fo…r…h. And here in the course of all Writers, ends the Reigne of King He…ry the Sixth; that it may be truly sayd, never any came to be King so soone …fter his birth, nor left to be King so long before his death; for he came to be King at eight mon…ths old, and he left to be King, living twelve years after. There was indeed in that space of time, a certaine Vicissitude, sometimes a King, and sometimes no King; the passages wher of must be related in the following Kings Reigne.