was holden a great and valiant iusting within the kings palace of
Shine, now named Richmond, the which indured by the space of a moneth,
sometime within the said palace and sometime without, vpon the gréene
before the gate of the said palace. In which iustes sir Iames Parker
knight, running against a gentleman named Hugh Vauhan, by casualtie
was so sore hurt and brused, that he died thereof. This yeare also two
pardoners were set on the pillorie in Cornehill thrée market daies,
for forging of false pardons, wherewith they had deceiued the people,
& got much monie. And for that one of them had feined himselfe to be a
priest, hée was sent to Newgate, where he died: the other was driuen
out of London with shame enough. ¶ Also this yere was Robert Fabian
shiriffe of London & alderman, who made a chronicle of England & of
France, beginning at the creation of the world, and ending in the
third yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the eight, which booke is now
imprinted to the end of Richard the third.
Maximilian king of Romans, intending to be reuenged on the Frenchmen
for the manie iniuries doone to him of late (and especiallie for that
king Charles had forsaken his daughter ladie Margaret, and purposed to
take to wife the ladie Anne of Britaine) bicause he was not rich enough
to mainteine the warre of himselfe, he sent his ambassadour, one Iames
Contibald, a man of great wisedome, to require the king of England to
take his part against the French king, making diuers great offers on
his owne behalfe, if it should please him so to doo.
[Sidenote: King Henrie and Maximilian agrée to plague the Frenchmen.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]
King Henrie no lesse desirous than Maximilian to put the French king to
trouble, and chieflie to aid the Britains in the extremitie of their
businesse, gladlie consented to the request of Maximilian; and promised
to prepare an armie with all spéed, and in time conuenient to passe the
seas with the same, and inuade the French territories. In this verie
season, Charles the French king receiued the ladie Anne of Britaine,
as his pupill into his hands, and with great solemnitie hir espoused,
hauing with hir in dower, the whole duchie of Britaine.
[Sidenote: The cause of Maximilians malice against Charles of France.]
Now was Maximilian in great chafe toward the French king, not onelie
for that he had refused his daughter, but also had beréeued him of
his assured wife the said ladie Anne, contrarie to all right and
conscience. Wherefore he sent vnto king Henrie, desiring him with all
spéed to passe the seas with his armie, that they might pursue the
warre against their aduersarie, with fire, sword and bloud. King Henrie
hearing this, and hauing no mistrust in the promise of Maximilian, with
all spéed leuied an armie, and rigged his nauie of ships. And when all
things were readie he sent his almoner Christopher Urswike, and sir
Iohn Riselie knight vnto Maximilian, to certifie him, that the king was
in a readinesse, and would arriue at Calis, as soone as he should be
aduertised that Maximilian and his men were readie to ioine with him.
[Sidenote: Maximilian dealeth dishonestlie with the king of England to
his great vexation.]
These ambassadors comming into Flanders perceiued that Maximilian was
neither purueied of men, monie, nor armor, nor of any other thing
neccessarie for the setting foorth of warre; sauing onlie that his will
was good, although his power was small. King Henrie being aduertised
hereof by letters sent to him from his said ambassadors, was sore
disquieted in his mind, and was almost brought to his wits end, to
consider how his companions in arms should thus faile him at néed; but
taking aduise of his counsell, at length he determined not to stay his
prepensed iournie, and therfore he so increased his numbers before he
tooke ship, that he with his owne power might be able to match with his
aduersaries. When he had thus gathered and assembled his armie, hée
sailed to Calis the sixt day of October, and there incamped himselfe
for a space, to sée all his men and prouision in such readinesse, as
nothing should be wanting.
[Sidenote: Maximilian king of Romans breaketh promise with king Henrie
in ioining with him to inuade France.]
[Sidenote: The dissimulation of the French king.]
In this place all the armie had knowledge by the ambassadours (which
were newlie returned out of Flanders) that Maximilian could not set
foorth anie armie, for lacke of monie: and therefore there was no
succour to be looked for at his hand. But the Englishmen were nothing
dismaid therewith, as they that iudged themselues able enough to match
the Frenchmen without the helpe of anie other nation. In the meane
season, although the French king had an armie togither, both for number
and furniture able to trie in battell with the Englishmen: yet he made
semblance as though he desired nothing more than peace, as the thing
much more profitable to him than warre: the minds of the Britains were
not wholie setled.
[Sidenote: A motion on the French part for a treatie of peace with the
English.]
And againe, he was called into Italie to make warre against the king
of Naples, whose kingdome he pretended to apperteine to him by lawfull
succession from his father king Lewes, to whome Reine duke of Aniou
last king of Sicill, of the house of Aniou, had transferred his right
to that kingdome (as partlie before ye haue heard) wrongfullie and
without cause disinheriting his coosine, godsonne and heire, Reine duke
of Loraine and Bar. The lord Chordes hauing commission from his maister
the French king to make some entrie into a treatie for peace with the
king of England, wrote letters to him before he passed ouer to Calis,
signifieng to him that if it might stand with his pleasure to send some
of his councellors to the borders of the English pale adioining to
France, there should be so reasonable conditions of peace proffered,
that he doubted not but his grace might with great honour breake vp his
campe, and retire his armie home againe.
[Sidenote: Commissioners sent ouer to Calis about the said peace.]
[Sidenote: Bullogne besieged by the Englishmen the king himselfe
present.]
The king of England considering that Britaine was cléerelie lost, and
past recouerie, and that Maximilian for lacke of monie, and mistrust
which he had in his owne subiects, laie still like a dormouse dooing
nothing; and herewith weieng that it should be honorable to him,
and profitable to his people to determine this great warre without
bloudshed, appointed the bishop of Excester, and Giles lord Daubenie
to passe the seas to Calis, and so to commun with the lord Chordes
of articles of peace, which tooke effect as after ye shall perceiue.
In the meane time, whilest the commissioners were communing of peace
on the marches of France, the king of England (as ye haue heard) was
arriued at Calis: from whense after all things were prepared for such
a iournie, he remooued in foure battells forward, till he came néere
to the towne of Bullogne, & there pitched his tents before it in a
conuenient place for his purpose, meaning to assaile the towne with his
whole force & puissance.
But there was such a strong garison of warlike souldiers within that
fortresse, and such plentie of artillerie, and necessarie munitions
of warre, that the losse of Englishmen assaulting the towne (as was
doubted) should be greater damage to the realme of England, than the
gaining thereof should be profit. Howbeit the dailie shot of the kings
battering péeces brake the wals, and sore defaced them. But when
euerie man was readie to giue the assault, a sudden rumor rose in the
armie that peace was concluded: which brute as it was pleasant to the
Frenchmen, so was it displesant to the Englishmen, bicause they were
prest and readie at all times to set on their enimies, and brought
into great hope to haue béene inriched by the spoile and game to haue
fallen to their lots of their enimies goods, beside the glorious fame
of renowmed victorie.
[Sidenote: Why the English preferred warre before peace.]
And therefore to be defrauded hereof by an vnprofitable peace, they
were in great fume, and verie angrie: and namelie, for that diuerse of
the capteins to set themselues and their bands the more gorgeouslie
forward, had borrowed large summes of monie, and for the repaiment
had morgaged their lands and possessions, and some happilie had made
through sale thereof, trusting to recouer all againe by the gaines of
this iournie. Wherefore offended with this sudden conclusion of peace,
they spake euill, both of the king and his councell. But the king like
a wise prince asswaged their displeasure in part with excusing the
matter, alledging what losse and bloudshed was like to insue both of
capteins and souldiers, if the assault should haue béene giuen to the
vtterance, especiallie sith the towne was so well furnished with men
and munitions. When he had somewhat appeased their minds with these and
manie other reasons, he returned backe againe to Calis.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Sauage slaine at this siege.]
[Sidenote: Richard Pl[=a]tagenet a counterfeit of ladie Margarets
imagining.]
There were not manie of the English armie lost at this siege of
Bullogne, & few or no men of name, sauing that valiant capteine sir
Iohn Sauage knight, the which, as he and sir Iohn Riselie rode about
the wals of the towne, to view in what place it might be easiliest
assaulted, was compassed about by certeine Frenchmen that were issued
out of the towne, and there slaine standing at defense and vtterlie
refusing to yéeld himselfe as prisoner. But sir Iohn Riselie escaped
by flieng awaie. When the K. was thus returned to Calis, he began
to smell a certeine secret smoke, which was like to turne to a great
flame, without wise foresight, and good looking to. For by the craftie
inuention, and diuelish imagination of the ladie Margaret duchesse of
Burgognie, a new idoll was set vp in Flanders, and by a forged name
called Richard Plantagenet second sonne to king Edward the fourth, as
though he had béene raised from death to life.
[Sidenote: The conclusion of peace betwéene the English and French.]
The newes hereof somewhat troubled him, so that he was with better
will content to receiue the honorable conditions of peace offered of
his enimie: bicause he should not be constreined at one time to make
warre both at home, and also in a forren region. The conclusion of this
agréement made with the Frenchmen, was this: That this peace should
continue both their liues; and that the French king should pay to the
king of England a certeine summe of monie in hand, according as the
commissioners should appoint for his charges susteined in this iournie.
Which (as the king certified the maior of London by his letters the
ninth of Nouember) amounted to the summe of seuen hundred fortie and
fiue thousand duckats: the which is of sterling monie, one hundred
foure score and six thousand, two hundred and fiftie pounds. It was
also concluded that he should yearelie (for a certeine space) paie or
cause to be paid, for the monie that the K. had spent & expended in the
defense of the Britains fiue & twentie thousand crowns.
[Sidenote: Alph[=o]se duke of Calabre made knight of the garter.]
Which yearelie tribute the French king (afterwards continuallie
occupied in the wars of Italie) yearelie satisfied & paid so long as
K. Henrie liued, who after he had taried a conuenient space at Calis,
tooke the sea, and arriued at Douer, and so came to his manour of
Gréenewich. Immediatlie after his returne thus into England, he elected
into the fellowship of saint George, commonlie called the order of
the garter, Alphonse duke of Calabre, sonne and heire to Ferdinando
king of Naples, Christopher Urswike the kings almoner was sent to him
vnto Naples with the garter, collar, mantell, and other habilments
apperteining to the companions of that noble order. The which was
reuerentlie receiued of the said duke, who in a solemne presence
reuested himselfe with that habit, supposing by the countenance of that
apparell to be able to resist his aduersarie the French king, sith he
was now made a fréend and companion in order with the king of England:
but that little auailed him, as after it was right apparant. [And here,
bicause in sundrie actions we haue séene and obserued the French kings
subtilties, his inconstancie, lacke of truth, honestie, and kinglie
modestie; we maie be bold to set downe the description of his person,
as we find the same readie drawne to hand; that by a view thereof we
maie conclude that his properties were proportioned to his person.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. Guic. pag. 43._]
[Sidenote: The French king described.]
It is verie certeine (saith mine author) that king Charles from his
infancie was of complexion verie delicate and of bodie vnsound and
diseased, of small stature, and of face (if the aspect and dignitie
of his eies had béene taken awaie) fowle and deformed, his other
members bearing such equall proportion, that he séemed more a monster
than a man: he was not onelie without all knowledge of good sciences,
but scarselie he knew the distinct characters of letters: his mind
desirous to command, but more proper to anie other thing, for that
being inuironed alwaies with his familiars and fauourits, he reteined
with them no maiestie or authoritie: he reiected all affaires and
businesse, and yet if he did debate and consider in anie, he shewed a
weake discretion and iudgement. And if he had any thing in him that
caried apparance of merit or praise, yet being thoroughlie weied and
sounded, it was found further off from vertue than from vice: he had
an inclination to glorie, but it was tempered more with rashnesse
and furie than with moderation and counsell: his liberalities were
without discretion, measure or distinction: immooueable oftentimes
in his purposes, but that was rather an ill grounded obstinacie
than constancie. And that which manie call bountie, deserued more
reasonablie in him the name of coldnesse & slackenesse of spirit.]
[Sidenote: The birth of Henrie duke of Yorke, after crowned king by the
name of Henrie the eight.]
[Sidenote: 1492.]
[Sidenote: The malice of the duchesse of Burgognie to the line of
Lancaster.]
This yeare the two and twentith of Iune, was borne at Gréenewich the
lord Henrie second sonne to this king Henrie the seuenth, which was
created duke of Yorke, & after prince of Wales, and in conclusion
succéeded his father in gouernance of this realme, by the name of
Henrie the eight, father to our gratious souereigne quéene Elizabeth.
But now to returne to the new found sonne of king Edward coniured by
mens policies from death to life: ye shall vnderstand that the duchesse
of Burgognie euer desiring to cast a scorpion in the bosome of king
Henrie, not for anie displeasure by him towards hir wrought or doone;
but onelie bicause he was descended of the house of Lancaster, being an
enimie to hir line, began to spin a new web, like a spider that dailie
weaueth when his kall is torne: for after that the earle of Lincolne,
which was by hir set foorth, had missed the cushin, and lost both
horsse and spurres, she could not be quiet, vntill she had practised a
new deuise to put king Henrie to trouble. And as the diuell prouideth
venemous sauce to corrupt stomachs, so for hir purpose she espied a
certeine yoong man of visage beautifull, of countenance demure, and of
wit craftie and subtill.
[Sidenote: Perkin Warbecke the counterfeit duke of Yorke.]
This youths name was Peter Warbecke, one for his faintnesse of stomach
of the Englishmen in derision, called Perkin Warbecke, according to the
dutch phrase, which change the name of Peter to Perkin, of yoonglings
and little boies, which for want of age, lacke of strength, and
manlike courage, are not thought worthie of the name of a man. This
yoong man trauelling many countries, could speake English and diuerse
other languages; & for his basenesse of birth and stocke, was almost
vnknowne of all men; and driuen to séeke liuing from his childhood, was
constreined to go and trauell thorough manie countries. The duchesse
glad to haue got so méet an organ for the conueieng of hir inuented
purpose, as one not vnlike to be taken and reputed for the duke of
Yorke, sonne to hir brother king Edward, which was called Richard, kept
him a certeine space with hir priuilie.
[Sidenote: The readie wit of Perkin to learne all that made for his
preferment to honor.]
[Sidenote: The emulati[=o] of the dukes of Yokre.]
Besides that, she with such diligence instructed him both in the
secrets and common affaires of the realme of England, and of the
linage, descent and order of the house of Yorke, that like a good
scholer, not forgetting his lesson, he could tell all that was taught
him promptlie without anie stackering or staie in his words. And
besides that, he kept such a princelie countenance, and so counterfeit
a maiestie roiall, that all men in manner did firmelie beléeue, that
he was extracted of the noble house and familie of the dukes of Yorke.
For suerlie, it was a gift giuen to that noble progenie, as of nature
planted in the root, that all the sequels of that line and stocke did
studie and deuise how to be equiualent in honour and fame with their
forefathers and noble predecessors.
[Sidenote: Perkin Warbecke arriueth in Ireland.]
When the duches had framed hir cloath méet for the market, she was
informed that king Henrie prepared to make warre against Charles
the French king. Wherefore she, thinking that the time serued well
for the setting foorth of hir malicious indention, sent this Perkin
hir new inuented mawmet, first into Portingale, and so craftilie
into the countrie of Ireland; to the intent that he, being both
wittie and wilie, might inuegle the rude Irishmen (being at those
daies more inclined to rebellion than to reasonable order) to a new
seditious commotion. Shortlie after his arriuall in Ireland, whether
by his shrewd wit, or the malicious exhortation of the sauage Irish
gouernours, he entred so farre in credit with the people of that Ile,
that his words were taken to be as true, as he vntruelie with false
demonstrations set foorth and published them.
[Sidenote: Perkin saileth into France all aflant.]
The French king aduertised hereof, then being in displeasure with
king Henrie, sent into Ireland for Perkin, to the intent to send him
against king Henrie, which was then inuading France (as yée before haue
heard.) Perkin thought himselfe aloft, now that he was called to the
familiaritie of kings, and therefore with all diligence sailed into
France, and comming to the kings presence, was of him roiallie receiued
and after a princelie fashion interteined, and had a gard to him
assigned, whereof was gouernour the lord Congreshall: and to him being
at Paris, resorted sir George Neuill bastard, sir Iohn Tailor, Rowland
Robinson, and an hundred English rebels. Now, after that a peace (as
before is said) was concluded betwixt the French king, and the king of
England, the French king dismissed Perkin, and would no longer kéepe
him.
[Sidenote: Perkin returneth to the ladie Margaret his first founder.]
But some haue said (which were there attending on him) that Perkin,
fearing least the French king should deliuer him to the king of
England, beguiled the lord Congreshall, and fled from Paris by night.
But whether the French king knew of his departure or not, the truth is,
that he being in maner in despaire, returned to his first founder the
ladie Margaret, of whome he was so welcomed to all outward appearance,
that it séemed she could not haue reioised at anie earthlie thing more,
than she did at his presence, and (as she could well dissemble) she
made semblance as though she had neuer séene him before that time. Now
as she had sore longed to know not once, but diuerse times in open
audience, and in solemne presence, she willed him to declare and shew
by what means he was preserued from death and destruction, and in what
countries he had wandered and sought fréendship; and finallie, by what
chance of fortune he came to hir court.
[Sidenote: Perkin named by the dutches of Burgognie the white rose of
England.]
[Sidenote: 1493.]
This did shée, to the intent that by the open declaration of these
fained phantasies, the people might be persuaded to giue credit, and
beléeue that he was the true begotten sonne of hir brother king Edward.
And after this, shée assigned to him a gard of thirtie persons in
murrie and blew, and highlie honoured him as a great estate, and called
him the white rose of England. The nobilitie of Flanders did to him all
reuerence. [All which port and pompe exhibited in most solemne sort,
he was well content to take vpon him, forgetting the basenesse of his
birth, and glorieng in the counterfeit title of honour: much like the
iay that would be called a swan, or like the crow that trimming hir
selfe with the stolne feathers of a pecocke, would séeme Iunos bird; as
the poet saith:
[Sidenote: _M. Pul. in virg._]
----mentito nomine cygnum
Graculus appellat sese, cornicula plumas
Pauonis furata cupit pauo ipsa videri.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. I. S. pag. 865._]
[Sidenote: Stratford bridge vpon Auen builded.]
¶ In this yeare was one Hugh Clopton maior of London, and of the
staple, a gentleman, borne at Clopton village, halfe a mile from
Stratford vpon Auen by north, who continued (during his life) a
bacheler: he builded the great and sumptuous bridge of Stratford vpon
Auen, at the east end of the towne. This bridge hath fouretéene great
arches, and a long cawsie with smaller arches, all made of stone, new
walled on each side. At the west end of the bridge, he builded a faire
large chappell. Toward the south end of that towne, & néere vnto the
same a pretie house of bricke and timber, where he laie, and ended his
life. He glased the chancell of the parish church in that towne, and
made a waie of foure miles long, thrée miles from Alesburie towards
London, and one mile beyond Alesburie.]
[Sidenote: Such long and looked for alteration of states.]
[Sidenote: False rumors occasions of great disquietnes.]
But to returne to Perkin: the brute of whome in England, blowne
throughout the realme, sore disquieted the people, insomuch that not
onelie the meaner sort, but also manie of the nobles and worshipfull
personages beléeued and published it abroad, that all was true which
was reported of him. And not onelie they that were in sanctuaries but
also manie other that were fallen in debt, assembled in a companie, and
passed ouer the seas into Flanders, to their counterfeit duke of Yorke,
otherwise rightlie named Perkin Warbecke. Truelie the realme of England
was in maner diuided (with the rumor and vaine fable spred abroad of
this twise borne duke) into partakings and contrarie factions. And some
of the noble men conspired togither, purposing to aid the foresaid
Perkin, as the man whome they reputed to be the verie sonne of king
Edward; and that the matter was not feigned, but altogether true, iust,
and not imagined of any malicious pretense or euill purpose.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 8.]
[Sidenote: Perkin counterfeiteth the duke of Yorke verie cunninglie.]
And bicause the thing was weightie, and required great aid and
assistance, therefore they determined to send messengers vnto the ladie
Margaret, to know when Richard duke of Yorke might conuenientlie come
into England; to the intent that they being thereof certified, might
be in a readinesse to helpe and succour him at his arriuall. So by
the common consent of the conspirators, sir Robert Clifford knight,
and William Barleie, were sent into Flanders, which discouered to
the duches all the secret intents and priuie meanings of the fréends
and fautors of the new found duke. The duches gladlie receiued this
message, and after shée had heard their errand, shée brought the
messenger to the sight of Perkin, who so well counterfeited the
gesture, countenance, and maner of Richard duke of Yorke, that sir
Robert Clifford beléeued verelie, that he was the second sonne of king
Edward; and therefore wrote a letter of credit into England to his
complices: and to put them out of doubt, he affirmed that he knew him
to be king Edwards sonne by his face, and other lineaments of his bodie.
[Sidenote: Perkins true linage.]