the archbishop of Canturburie Iohn Morton so commended him to the king,
that he made him first bishop of Hereford, and shortlie after, that
resigned and giuen ouer, he promoted him to the bishoprike of Bath
and Welles. And after that with these honors he was returned to Rome,
he was aduanced by all the degrées of spirituall dignities into the
college of the cardinals. And worthie sure he was of great preferment,
for by his meanes, learned men were mooued to séeke out the vse of
eloquent writing and speaking in the Latine toong, he being the first
in the time of our fathers that taught the trade to choose and vse apt
words and fit termes.
[Sidenote: 1490.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 6.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors from the Fr[=e]ch king to the king of England.]
In the sixt yeare of king Henries reigne there came ambassadors to
him from the French king the lord Francis of Lutzenburgh, Charles
Marignane, and Robert Gaguine minister of the Bonnehommes of the
trinitie. The effect of their comming was to haue concluded a peace
with king Henrie, and that with good will the French king might dispose
of the mariage of the yoong duchesse of Britaine, as he should thinke
good; and to make void the contract and former mariage, which by proxie
the deputie of Maximilian king of Romans had before time contracted &
made with hir. But thereto would not king Henrie gaue his consent, euer
harping on this string, that the maiden being once lawfullie combined
in matrimonie with Maximilian, ought not to be compelled against hir
will and promise (yea and contrarie to all law, right and equitie) to
take anie other person than him to hir spouse and husband.
[Sidenote: K. Henrie is loth that the French king should marrie the
duchess of Britaine.]
In déed king Henrie was loth that the French king should marrie the
duchesse of Britaine himselfe (as he perceiued his meaning was) and so
ioine the duchie of Britaine to the crowne of France: and therefore
he did what he could to hinder that bargaine. Yet at length it was
agréed that a forme of a league should be drawen with conditions,
clauses, and couenants. And for full concluding of the same, it was
thought expedient, that the king of England should send ambassadors
to the French king to finish all matters betwixt them. Wherevpon the
French ambassadors being dismissed with great rewards, streightwaies
Thomas erle of Ormond, and Thomas Goldenston prior of Christes church
in Canturburie, were appointed by the king to follow them into France,
instructed fullie in althings that he would haue on his behalfe either
moued or determined.
[Sidenote: Lionell bishop of Concordia sent from the pope to the French
king.]
In this meane space, Lionell the bishop of Concordia was sent as
oratour from pope Alexander the sixt to the French king for certeine
matters: and amongst other things, he had in charge to conclude a peace
and vnitie betwixt the French king and the king of England. He moouing
this matter to the French king, found him nothing strange to incline to
his motion. Wherevpon the bishop of Concordia conceiuing good hope, and
therewith desirous (as became him best bearing that title) to set an
attonement betwixt those two kings, tooke his iournie towards England,
to the intent he might mooue king Henrie to be agréeable therevnto,
and so comming to Calis, found the English ambassadors there, being
so farre on their waie towards the French king; and being honorablie
receiued of them into that towne, after they had communed togither, the
bishop tooke the sea, and was transported ouer into England, and the
ambassadors departed towards the French king.
[Sidenote: The duchesse of Britaine maried to K. Charles.]
After the bishop of Concordia had talked with king Henrie, and
perceiued that (vpon reasonable conditions) he could be content to
conclude a peace with all christian princes, and to liue in rest after
so manie troubles afore time susteined, the said bishop returned backe
into France to sollicit this purpose to some perfect conclusion. But
the Frenchmen so handled the matter, that whilest they outwardlie
shewed how they desired nothing but fréendship and amitie, they allured
the yoong dutchesse of Britaine to submit hirselfe wholie to their
discretion, so that shortlie after she was maried to king Charles. Now
the English ambassadors, after they perceiued which waie the wind would
blow, returned againe to their countrie, and nothing doone or agréed
vpon in their matter.
[Sidenote: A parlement wherin king Henrie openeth the iust cause of
making warres against France.]
King Henrie sore troubled in his mind therwith, determining no
more with peaceable messages, but with open warre to determine all
controuersies betwixt him and the French king, called his high court of
parlement, and there declared the cause why hée was iustlie prouoked
to make warre against the Frenchmen: and therefore desired them of
their beneuolent aid of men and monie toward the maintenance therof.
The cause was so iust, that euerie man allowed it; and to the setting
foorth of the war taken in hand for so necessarie an occasion, euerie
man promised his helping hand. The king commended them for their
true and faithfull hearts. And to the intent that he might spare the
poorer sort of the commons (whome he euer desired to kéepe in fauor)
he thought good first to exact monie of the richest sort by waie of a
beneuolence.
[Sidenote: Who first deuised the execution of monie called a
beneuolence.]
[Sidenote: Sée pag. 331.]
Which kind of leuieng monie was first deuised by king Edward the
fourth, as it appeareth before in his historie. King Henrie following
the like example, published abroad, that by their open gifts he would
measure and search their beneuolent hearts and good minds toward him;
so that he that gaue most, should be iudged to be his most louing
fréend; and he that gaue little, to be estéemed according to his gift.
By this it appeareth, that whatsoeuer is practised for the princes
profit, and brought to a president by matter of record, maie be turned
to the great preiudice of the people, if rulers in authoritie will so
adiudge and determine it. But by this means king Henrie got innumerable
great summes of monie, with some grudge of the people, for the
extremitie shewed by the commissioners in diuers places.
[Sidenote: 1491.]
[Sidenote: Albert the duke of Saxonies policie to get the towne of Dam.]
Ye haue heard before, how the lord of Rauenstein, by the aid of Bruges
& Gant, had taken the towne and two castels of Sluis, which he kept
against his souereigne lord Maximilian, and getting into the hauen
certeine ships and barks, robbed, spoiled, & tooke prisoners the
ships and vessels of all nations that passed alongest by that coast,
towards the mart at Antwerpe, or into anie part of Brabant, Zeland,
or Friseland, and was euer sufficientlie vittelled out of France and
Picardie. There was a little towne also two miles from Bruges towards
the sea, called Dam, which was a bulworke to Bruges, and an hedspring
to Sluis. The king of Romans had attempted the wining of this towne
diuerse times, but missed his purpose; till at length Albert duke of
Saxonie, a great fréend to the king of Romans, by policie found meanes
to get it.
This duke feining himselfe as a neuter betwixt the king of Romans,
and the rebels of Flanders, required of the lords of Bruges, that he
might enter peaceablie into their towne according to his estate, with
a certeine number of men of armes, to communicate with them diuerse
matters of great weight, and sent before his cariages and herbengers
to make prouision. They of Bruges were in no doubt of him, so that his
men of warre entered into the citie in good order, and he followed.
They that went before, inquired for innes and lodgings, as though they
would haue rested there all the night, and so went foorth still in
order asking after lodgings, till they came at the gate that leadeth
directlie toward Dam, distant from Bruges a Flemish mile, which is
called the bulworke of Bruges.
[Sidenote: The duke of Saxonie sendeth for aid to king Henrie to win
Sluis.]
The capteins and inhabitants of Dam suspecting no harme to come out of
Bruges, thought their fréends (knowing some danger towards) had sent
them aid, and so nothing mistrusting those that approched their towne,
suffered them to enter, and so was the towne of Dam taken by sleight,
which could not be woone by open force. This chance sore displeased
them of Bruges, for now could they haue no recourse to the sea; so
that they must néeds fall into ruine and decaie. The duke of Saxonie
thus hauing woone the towne of Dam, sent to the king of England, that
if it would please him to minister anie aid by sea, hée would besiege
Sluis by land. Wherevpon the king of England, vpon due consideration
of the dukes motion (as he was wise enough in all his enterprises, and
no lesse fortunate in the issue of the same) would conclude nothing
vpon the sudden, but (as he did alwaies) ruled his affaires by good
counsell, like to the wise man commended in the holie scripture:
[Sidenote: _Gu. Ha. in Tob. 4._]
Consilio sapiens semper sua facta gubernat.
[Sidenote: Sir Edward Poinings a valiant capteine sent into Flanders
with an armie.]
[Sidenote: One Vere brother to the earle of Oxford slaine.]
At last he well remembring that Sluis was a rousenest, and a verie den
of théeues to them that trauersed the seas towards the east parts,
incontinentlie dispatched sir Edward Poinings a right valiant knight
and hardie capteine, with twelue ships well furnished with bold
souldiers and sufficient artillerie. Which sir Edward sailed into the
hauen, and kept the lord of Rauenstein from starting by sea. The Duke
of Saxonie besieged one of the castels, lieng in a church ouer against
it: and the Englishmen assaulted the lesse castell, and issued out of
their ships at the ebbe, neuer suffering their enimies to rest in quiet
one day togither, for the space of twentie daies, and euerie day slue
some of their aduersaries; and on the English part were slaine one
Vere, brother to the earle of Oxford, and fiftie more.
The lord of Rauenstein had made a bridge of botes betwéene both the
castels, to passe from the one to the other; which bridge one night the
Englishmen did set on fire. Then he, perceiuing that he must lose his
castels by force, and that the Flemings could not aid him, yéelded the
castels to sir Edward Poinings, and the towne to the duke of Saxonie,
vpon certeine conditions. Sir Edward Poinings kept the castels a while,
of whom the Almains demanded their wages, bicause the duke had nothing
to paie. Then these two capteins so handled them of Bruges, that they
not onelie submitted themselues to their lord Maximilian; but also were
contented to paie and dispatch the Almains. And so sir Edward Poinings
taried there a long space, and at length returned to the king before
Bullogne.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 866._]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hull, in Hen. 7._ _fo._ xxiij. _&c._]
[Sidenote: Granado woone from the Turks or Saracens.]
The sixt day of Aprill this present yeare, the nobles of the realme
assembled in the cathedrall church of S. Paule in London, where the
maior of the same citie, his brethren the aldermen, and the craftesmen
in their liueries also assembled: to whome doctor Morton chancellor
made an oration, declaring how the king of Spaine had woone the great
and rich citie & countrie of Granado from the Turks: for ioy whereof Te
Deum was soong with great solemnitie. ¶ But bicause it is requisite and
necessarie in this ample volume, to set downe the report of accidents
as they are to be found at large in our owne English writers: you shall
heare for the furtherance of your knowledge in this matter concerning
Granado, what Ed. Hall hath left noted in his chronicle. Which although
it conteine diuerse actions of superstition, and popish trumperie: yet
should it not offend the reader, considering that a people estranged
from the true knowledge of God and sincere religion put the same in
practise, as supposing principall holinesse to consist in that blind
deuotion.
On the sixt of Aprill (saith he) this yéere, the king commanded all
the nobilitie of his realme to assemble at the cathedrall church of S.
Paule in London, where (after Te Deum solemnlie soong) the cardinall
of Canturburie, standing on the steps before the quier doore, declared
to the people, how the famous citie of Granado, which manie yeares
had béene possessed of the Moores or Mauritane nation, being infidels
& vnchristened people, was now of late besieged a great time by Don
Ferdinando and Elizabeth his wife, king and quéene of Spaine, Arragon,
and Castile. And the said infidels, by reason of siege brought to
great penurie and miserie, for lacke of vittels & necessarie viands,
perceiuing that all succours were clerelie stopped and excluded from
them, and so brought into vtter despaire of aid, or comfort, after long
consultation had amongst them, determined to render themselues and
their citie to the said king vpon diuerse couenants and conditions, and
therevpon sent to him diuerse senators of the citie fullie instructed
of their mind and purpose.
[Sidenote: The citie of Granado conteined an hundred and fiftie
thousand houses, besides cotages & small dwellings.]
The king of Spaine and his councell, considering and sagelie pondering
that winter approched & was at hand, and that the christian host had
long lied in the fieldes in sore tempests and gréeuous stormes (which
they gladlie suffered for Christes sake, in whose cause and quarell
they made that present warre) remembring also that the citie was of
such riches, fame, and estimation, that it conteined an hundred and
fiftie thousand houses of name, beside other small houses and cotages;
& that it was replenished with people innumerable, and furnished
with thrée score and ten thousand good fighting men; and finallie,
perceiuing that he might inioy now the possession of the same, without
assault or effusion of christian bloud, by the aduice of his councell,
he accepted, accorded, and agréed to their offers the twentie and fift
of Nouember, in the yeare of Christes incarnation 1491, then being the
daie of saint Katharine.
[Sidenote: Hostages deliuered to the K. of Spaine for his securitie.]
By the which composition, the roiall citie of Granado, with all the
holds and fortresses of the realme, and the towers and castels of
Alpussarare was rendered into the hands of the said king of Spaine; and
that the king of Granado should become subiect and vassall to the king
of Spaine, and to relinquish and forsake the vsurped name of a king
foreuer: and that all the men of warre should frankelie depart out of
the citie, and none there to remaine, but artificers and merchants:
and all these things to be doone before the fiue and twentith day of
Ianuarie. But the time was preuented, for the moores on the first day
of Ianuarie sent six hundred notable personages out of the citie with
their children for hostages into the campe of the king of Spaine,
to the intent that he should put no diffidence nor mistrust in the
citizens, but that he might peaceablie and quietlie with his people
enter into the citie, and take possession of the same. The which
hostages were distributed and lodged in the tents and pauillions of the
Spanish armie.
[Sidenote: The vanquished people humblie submit th[=e]selues to the
kings vicegerent, & deliuer vp the keies of the citie.]
The third of Ianuarie, the lord of Guitterins Cardenes, great master &
gouernor of Lion, of the order of S. Iames, departed from the armie,
noblie and triumphantlie accompanied with fiue hundred horsmen, and
thrée thousand footmen toward the citie. And as he approched néere to
the suburbs, there issued out diuers noble and valiant capteins of the
Moores, making to him humble obeisance, and conducted him to a palace
adioining to the citie, called the palace of Anaxaras, and from thence
conueied him to the palace roiall of the same citie called Alhambra,
whereof hée tooke quiet and peaceable possession, to the behoofe of the
king of Spaine, whome the Moores promised and confessed to take and
obeie as their king and souereigne lord. And in signe and token that
they thought in their hearts, that which they promised by mouth; they
prostrated and humbled themselues before the said great master, and
with dolorous lamentation and salt teares deliuered to him the keies of
the said palace.
When he had the keies, and was also possessed of that strong and
magnificent place, he first of all dispatched the house of all the
Moores and pagans, and appointed a garrison of valiant and noble
christians, to kéepe and defend the same: and the same day caused a
masse solemnlie to be celebrate in a place of the same palace called
Melchita; which done and finished, he tooke possession of all the
fortresses, towers, and holds to the said citie and towne of Granado
belonging or appertaining. And then he caused to be erected and set vp
on the highest tower of the palace (where it might best be séene) the
signe and token of the crosse, whereon Christ for vs sinners suffered
his bitter passion. At the raising whereof were present an archbishop
and thrée bishops, with other prelats, which deuoutlie sang this
antheme: O crux, aue spes vnica.
[Sidenote: The maner of the Spanish kings giuing of thanks for
victorie.]
The said crosse was thrée times deuoutlie lifted, and at euerie
exaltation, the Moores being within the citie, rored, howled, & cried,
prostrating themselues, groueling on the ground, & making dolorous
noise and pitifull outcries. The armie incamped without the citie,
séeing these things, humbled themselues méekelie before the crosse,
rendering to almightie God their most humble and heartie thankes. The
king of Spaine, being mounted on horssebacke, perceiuing the erection
of the crosse, descended from his genet, and knéeled downe on the bare
ground; and rendered to God, laud, honour, and praise; for that noble
and triumphant victorie. And after that the crosse was thus set vp on
the high tower, the banner of saint Iames, and the kings banners were
pitched and fixed vpon the turrets and pinacles of the citie: an herald
standing in the top of the high tower, proclaming and publishing these
words following.
[Sidenote: The Spaniards reiosing & triumphing after the conquest of
the Moores.]
"Saint Iames, saint Iames, saint Iames; Castile, Castile, Castile;
Granado, Granado, Granado. By high and mightie power, lord Ferdinando
and Elizabeth, king and quéene of Spaine, haue woone from the infidels
and Moores the citie and realme of Granado, through the helpe of our
Lord God, & the most glorious virgin his mother, and the vertuous
apostle S. Iames and the holie father Innocent the eight, togither
with the aids and succours of the great prelats, knights, and other
gentlemen borne, and commons of their realmes and countries." When the
herald had finished, the artillerie sounded, the minstrels blew, the
people applauded and clapped their hands, for gladnesse, that the earth
séemed to tremble and quake vnderneath them.
After this ioy ended, there issued out of the citie in maner of
procession, seuen hundred and mo christians, as well men, as women
and children, which had bin there prisoners and liued in bonds,
seruitude, and miserable captiuitie, whereof the most part were naked,
wounded, and in maner famished for hunger. To whome the king (of his
great liberalitie) gaue both apparell, viands and monie. These poore
prisoners comming out of the citie sang this psalme; Benedictus Dominus
Deus Israel, qui visitauit & fecit redemptionem pledis suæ; Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel, which hath visited and redéemed his people.
And so singing foorth the psalme, went to the church of saint Faith,
which the king Ferdinando had caused to bée most sumptuouslie edified
during the time of the siege, being distant from Granado two or thrée
miles.
[Sidenote: The lord Euerus de M[=e]doza made capteine of the house
roiall.]
Now as this poore procession passed by the host, one espied his
sonne, and another saw his brother; and the son perceiued the father,
and the father found the daughter, which were now deliuered out of
miserable seruitude and bondage. But they could not refraine nor bridle
themselues from distilling of teares and sobbing, séeing their parents
and kinsfolke restored to libertie & fréedome. And when these people
had said their orisons in the church of saint Faith, and were come to
the armie, they knéeled before the king, kissed his féet, crieng with
one voice; God grant to the king of Spaine euerlasting life. The next
daie after the lord Euerus de Mendoza, earle of Tendiglie, was by the
king made capteine of the house roiall and principall tower of the
citie of Granado, called Alhambra, hauing to him appointed and assigned
one thousand men of armes, and two thousand footmen. Vnto the which
earle, the great master deliuered the keies of the said palace and
tower, and other ports and fortresses.
[Sidenote: A great number of states with their traine enter
triumphantlie into Granado to take reall possession.]
On Saturday the eight daie of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Lord 1492,
Ferdinando, K. of Spaine & Granado, the quéene, & their eldest son Don
Iohn prince of Spaine, the lord Peter of Mendoza, the archbish. of
Toledo, the patriarch of Alexandria, the cardinall of Spaine, the lord
Peter prince of Lion, the duke of Gaditan, the marques of Villena &
Moia, the erle of Capre, the earle of Vienna of Cifnentes, and manie
other earles, barons and nobles, whereof some were Englishmen (whose
names I haue not) with ten thousand horssemen, and fiftie thousand
footmen, with great triumph and roialtie entered into the citie of
Granado, and thereof tooke reall possession & seazine, and caused
masse to be soong in a great place called Melchita, where hée caused
a solemne church to be builded in the honour of God and his mother.
When masse was ended, the king and quéene repaired to the palace roiall
of Alhambra, the which was woonderfull, both in qualitie & sumptuous
building, which house was adorned with rich arras and tapestrie in
euerie chamber.
The earle of Tendiglie capteine of the palace, feasted the king and
quéene, and all the nobilitie at his owne costes and charges. So the
king of Spaine there remained till the countrie was reduced into a good
conformitie and order, and diuerse fortresses and castels were made
for the safegard and tuition of the realme. And bicause this victorie
obteined, was to the glorie of God, and to the publike wealth of all
christianitie, the [1]said cardinall of Canturburie declared to the
people, that the king had sent him and the other nobles thither that
day, not onelie to notifie and declare to them the veritie of the fact;
but also to exhort them to giue lauds and praisings to almightie God,
for deliuering so goodlie a citie, so plentifull a countrie, and so
notable a region out of the hands of his enimies, and persecutors of
his faith and religion. Which declaration ended the archbishop with
the cleargie & the nobles with the communaltie, in most deuout maner
went in generall procession, rendering to God for this great atchiued
enterprise, glorie, honour, and most reuerent thanks.
[1] Namelie doctor Morton, of whom menti[=o] is made in the beginning
of this historie.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 866._]
[Sidenote: Sir Iames Parker by casualtie at iustes mortallie wounded.]
[Sidenote: Two pardoners set on the pillorie.]
[Sidenote: Robert Fabian.]