the aldermen men to ride from the Guildhall vnto the water side, when
he went to Westminster to be presented in the excheker. He also caused
the kitchens and other houses of office to be bullded at the Guildhall,
where since that time the maiors feasts haue béene kept, which before
had béene in the grosers or tailors hall. About Easter, all the Greie
friers in England changed their habit, for whereas of long time before
they had vsed to weare browne russet of foure shillings, six shillings,
and eight shillings the yard; now they were compelled to weare russet
of two shillings the yard and not aboue, which was brought to passe by
the Friers of Gréenewich. This yeare, the dike called Turnemill brooke,
with all the course of Fléet dike, were so scowred downe to the Thames,
that boates with fish and fewell were rowed vp to Holborne bridge, as
they of old time had béene accustomed: which was a great commoditie to
all the inhabitants in that part of London. Also the tower néere to the
Blacke friers was taken downe by the commandement of the maior. Also
this yeare were brought vnto the king thrée men taken in the new found
ilands, by Sebastian Gabato, before named in Anno 1498. These men were
clothed in beasts skins, and eat raw flesh, but spake such a language
as no man could vnderstand them, of the which thrée men, two of them
were séene in the kings court at Westminster two yeares after, clothed
like Englishmen, and could not be discerned from Englishmen.
[Sidenote: Edmund erle of Suffolke flieth into Flanders.]
A few moneths before the mariage of prince Arthur, Edmund de la Poole
earle of Suffolke, sonne to Iohn duke of Suffolke, and ladie Elizabeth
sister to king Edward the fourth, being bold and rash withall, was
indicted of murther, for sleaing of a meane person in his rage & furie.
And although the king pardoned him whome he might iustlie haue put to
death for that offense; yet bicause he was brought to the barre before
the kings Bench, and arraigned (which fact he tooke as a great blemish
to his honour) shortlie after vpon that displeasure he fled into
Flanders vnto his aunt the ladie Margaret, the king not being priuie
to his going ouer. Neuerthelesse, whether he was persuaded by his
fréends therevnto, whom the king had willed to deale with him therein;
or whether vpon trust of his innocencie: true it is that he returned
againe, and excused himselfe to the king, so that he thought him to be
giltlesse of anie crime that might be obiected against him.
[Sidenote: The discontented mind of the earle of Suffolke.]
But when the mariage betwixt the prince & the ladie Katharine of
Spaine was kept at London, this erle either for that he had passed his
compasse in excessiue charges and sumptuousnesse at that great triumph
and solemnitie, and by reason thereof was farre run into debt; either
else through the procurement of his aunt the foresaid ladie Margaret;
or pricked with some priuie enuie, which could not patientlie with open
eies behold king Henrie (being of the aduerse faction to his linage) so
long to reigne in wealth and felicitie: in conclusion with his brother
Richard fled againe into Flanders. This departure of the earle sore
vexed the king, doubting, of some new trouble to insue thereof.
[Sidenote: The kings woonted policie now againe practised.]
But yet to vnderstand the full meaning of the said earle, the king vsed
his old fetch: for immediatlie after the earle was fled, he appointed
sir Robert Curson, whome he had aduanced to the order of knighthood,
and made capteine of Hammes castell, a valiant man and a circumspect,
to dissemble himselfe one of that conspiracie; who went into Flanders,
to espie what was doone there by the ladie Margaret, and hir nephue the
earle of Suffolke. After that the said sir Robert Curson was thus gone
into Flanders, the king, to put him out of all suspicion with the said
ladie Margaret and the earle, caused the said earle, and sir Robert
Curson, and fiue persons more to be accurssed at Paules crosse, the
first sundaie of Nouember, as enimies to him and his realme.
[Sidenote: Tirrell and Windham beheaded.]
To be bréefe, the king by his meanes, and other such diligent
inquisition as he made, tried out such as he suspected, partlie to be
deuisers of mischéefe against him, and partlie to beare no sincere
affection towards his person, so that he could readilie name them:
whereof a great part were within few daies apprehended and taken. And
amongst them William lord Courtneie, sonne to the earle of Deuonshire,
which maried the ladie Katharine, daughter to king Edward the fourth;
lord William de la Poole, brother to the foresaid earle of Suffolke,
sir Iames Tirrell, and sir Iohn Windham. Both the Williams were
rather taken of suspicion, bicause they were so néere of kin to the
conspirator, than for anie prooued matter. But sir Iames Tirrell and
Iohn Windham, bicause they were traitors, and so attainted, the sixt
daie of Maie after their apprehension, they were on the Tower hill
beheaded.
When the earle of Suffolke heard what fortune thus happened to his
fréends, as one in vtter despaire to haue anie good successe in his
pretensed enterprise, wandred about all Germanic and France, to
purchase some aid and succour, if by anie means he might. But when he
perceiued no stedfast ground to catch anchor hold vpon, he submitted
himselfe vnder the protection of Philip archduke of Austrich. But his
brother Richard, being a politike man, so wiselie ordered himselfe in
this stormie tempest, that he was not intrapped either with net or
snare. The king not yet out of all doubt of ciuill sedition, bicause a
great number of euill disposed persons partakers of this conspiracie,
were fled into sundrie sanctuaries, deuised to haue all the gates of
sanctuaries and places priuileged shut and locked vp, so that none
should issue out from thence to perturbe and disquiet him.
[Sidenote: Sanctuaries restrained.]
And for that intent he wrote vnto pope Alexander, desiring him by his
authoritie to adiudge all Englishmen, being fled to sanctuarie for the
offense of treason as enimies to the christian faith, interdicting and
prohibiting the refuge and priuilege of sanctuarie to all such, as once
had enioied the libertie and protection of the same, and after that
fled out, and eftsoones returned againe. Which thing after that the
pope had granted, turned to the great quietnesse of the king and his
realme. For manie that had offended, for feare to fall into danger,
returned to the due subiection of their prince; and other that were yet
frée from perill, durst not hazard themselues so boldlie as they durst
haue doone before, vpon hope of such starting holes.
[Sidenote: The death of Arthur prince of Wales.]
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall in Hen. 7 fol._ lv.]
When the king had thus setled things to his owne contentation and
pleasure, there suddenlie happened to him a lamentable chance. For that
noble prince Arthur, the kings first begotten sonne, after he had béene
maried to the ladie Katharine his wife, the space of fiue moneths,
departed out of this transitorie life, in his castell of Ludlow and
with great funerall obsequie was buried in the cathedrall church of
Worcester. His brother the duke of Yorke was staied from the title of
Prince by the space of a moneth, till to women it might appeare whether
the ladie Katharine wife to the said prince Arthur was conceiued with
child or not. [It is reported that this ladie Katharine thought and
feared such dolorous chance to come: for when she had imbraced hir
father, and taken hir leaue of hir noble and prudent mother, and sailed
towards England, she was continuallie so tossed and tumbled hither and
thither with boisterous winds, that what for the rage of the water, and
contrarietie of the winds, hir ship was prohibited diuerse times to
approach the shore and take land.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]
[Sidenote: 1503.]
[Sidenote: King Henrie the seauenths chapell at Westminster first
builded.]
In this eightéenth yeare, the twentie fourth daie of Ianuarie, a
quarter of an houre before thrée of the clocke at after noone of the
same daie, the first stone of our ladie chapell within the monasterie
of Westminster was laid, by the hands of Iohn Islip abbat of the same
monasterie, sir Reginald Braie knight of the garter, doctor Barnes
maister of the rolles, doctor Wall chapleine to the kings maiestie,
maister Hugh Oldham chapleine to the countesse of Derbie and Richmond
the kings mother, sir Edmund Stanhope knight, and diuerse others. Vpon
the same stone was this scripture ingrauen: Illustrissimus Henricus
septimus rex Angliæ & Franciæ, & dominus Hiberniæ, posuit hanc petram
in honore beatæ virginis Mariæ, 24 die Ianuarij; anno Domini 1502. Et
anno dicti regis Henrici septimi, decimo octauo. The charges whereof
amounted (as some report, vpon credible information as they saie) to
fouretéene thousand pounds.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 876._]
[Sidenote: Six kings of England brethren with the tailors companie in
London, before they were intituled merchant tailors.]
[Sidenote: Prior of Shene murthered.]
[Sidenote: A drie summer.]
Quéene Elizabeth lieng within the Tower of London, was brought a bed of
a faire daughter on Candlemasse daie, which was there christened and
named Katharine; and the eleuenth of the same moneth the said quéene
there deceased, and was buried at Westminster, whose daughter also
liued but a small season after hir mother. [King Henrie the seauenth
being himselfe a brother of the tailors companie in London, as diuerse
other his predecessors kings before him had béene (to wéet Richard the
third, Edward the fourth, Henrie the sixt, Henrie the fift, Henrie the
fourth, and Richard the second; also of dukes eleuen, earles eight and
twentie, and lords eight and fortie) he now gaue to them the name and
title of merchant tailors, as a name of worship to indure for euer.
This yeare, about the later end of March, the prior of the Charterhouse
of Shene was murthered in a cell of his owne house, by meanes of one
Goodwine, a monke of the same cloister, and his adherents artificers of
London. A drie summer, hauing no notable raine from Whitsuntide to the
later ladie daie in haruest.
[Sidenote: Sir Reginald Braie his death.]
[Sidenote: Iust comendations of Morton archbishop of Canturburie and
sir Reginald Braie.]
The eightéenth of Februarie, the king at his palace of Westminster
created his onelie sonne Henrie prince of Wales, earle of Chester,
&c: who afterward succéeded his father in possession of the regall
crowne of this realme. Moreouer, this yeare also, after the deceass
of that noble quéene, for hir vertue commonlie called good quéene
Elizabeth, departed out of this world also sir Reginald Braie knight
of the garter, a verie father of his countrie, for his high wisedome
and singular loue to justice well worthie to beare that title. If
anie thing had béene doone amisse contrarie to law and equitie, he
would after an humble sort plainelie blame the king, and giue him good
aduertisement, that he should not onelie reforme the same, but also be
more circumspect in anie any other the like case. Of the same vertue
and faithfull plainnesse was Iohn Morton archbishop of Canturburie,
which died (as is shewed aboue) two yeares before.
[Sidenote: Cassimire ambassadour from the emperour Maximilian.]
So these two persons were refrainers of the kings vnbrideled libertie;
whereas the common people (ignorant altogither of the truth in such
matters) iudged and reported, that the counsell of those two worthie
personages corrupted the kings cleane and immaculate conscience,
contrarie to his princelie disposition and naturall inclination;
such is euer the errour of the common people. ¶ About this time died
Henrie the archbishop of Canturburie, whose roome doctor William
Warram bishop of London supplied. And to the sée of London William
Barnes was appointed, and after his death succéeded one Richard Fitz
Iames. This yeare also the lord Cassimire marquesse of Brandenburgh,
accompanied with an earle, a bishop, and a great number of gentlemen
well apparrelled, came in ambassage from the emperor Maximilian, and
were triumphantlie receiued into London, and lodged at Crosbies place.
Their message was for thrée causes, one to comfort the king in his time
of heauinesse for the losse of his wife. The second for the renewing
of amitie, and the old league. The third (which was not apparant)
was to mooue the king to marie the emperours daughter, the ladie
Margaret, duchesse Dowager of Sauoie. The two first tooke effect: for
the king vpon Passion sundaie road to Paules in great triumph, the
said marquesse riding on his left hand. And there the bishop made to
the king an excellent consolatorie oration concerning the death of
the quéene. And there also the king openlie sware to kéepe the new
reuiued league and amitie during their two liues. But the third request
(whether the let was on the mans side, or on the womans) neuer sorted
to anie conclusion.
[Sidenote: The sumptuous araie of the earle of Northumberland.]
The ladie Margaret the kings daughter, affied (as yée haue heard) to
the king of Scots, was appointed to be conueied into Scotland, by
the earle of Surrie: and the earle of Northumberland, as warden of
the marches, was commanded to deliuer hir at the confines of both
the realmes. And so héerevpon, after hir comming to Berwike, she was
conueied to Lamberton kirke in Scotland, where the king of Scots, with
the flower of all the nobles and gentlemen of Scotland, was readie to
receiue hir: to whome the earle of Northumberland (according to his
commission) deliuered hir. The said earle of Northumberland that daie,
what for the riches of his coat being goldsmithes worke, garnished with
pearle and stone, and what for the gallant apparell of his Henchmen,
and braue trappers of his horsse, beside foure hundred tall men well
horssed and apparelled in his colours, was estéemed both of the Scots
and Englishmen more like a prince than a subiect.
[Sidenote: The mariage betwéene the K. of Scots & ladie Margaret king
Henries eldest daughter.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 19.]
From Lamberton, the foresaid ladie was conueied to Edenburgh, and
there the daie after, king Iames the fourth, in the presence of all
his nobilitie espoused hir, and feasted the English lords, and shewed
iusts and other pastimes verie honourable, after the fashion of that
countrie. And after all things were finished according to their
commission, the erle of Surrie with all the English lords and ladies
returned into their countrie. In this yeare the king kept his high
court of parlement, in the which diuerse acts estéemed necessarie for
the preseruation of the common-wealth were established: and amongst
other, it was enacted, that théeues and murtherers duelie conuicted by
the law to die, and yet saued by their books, should be committed to
the bishops custodie. After this, a subsidie was granted, both of the
temporaltie, and spiritualtie, and so that parlement ended.
[Sidenote: The king couetous in his old age.]
[Sidenote: 1504.]
[Sidenote: Richard Empson & Edmund Dudleie.]
But the king now drawing into age, and willing to fill his chest with
abundance of treasure, was not satisfied with this onelie subsidie,
but deuised an other meane how to inrich himselfe, as thus. He
considered that the Englishmen little regarded the kéeping of penall
lawes, and pecuniall statutes, deuised for the good preseruation of
the common-wealth. Whereof he caused inquisition to be made of those
that has transgressed anie of the same lawes, so that there were but
few noble men, merchants, farmers, husbandmen, grasiers, or occupiers,
that could cléerlie prooue themseiues faultlesse, but had offended in
some one or other of the same lawes. At the first, they that were found
giltie were easilie fined. But after, there were appointed two maisters
and surueiors of his forfeits, the one sir Richard Empson, and the
other Edmund Dudleie.
[Sidenote: Promoters.]
These two were learned in the lawes of the realme, who meaning to
satisfie their princes pleasure, and to sée their commission executed
to the vttermost, séemed little to respect the perill that might insue.
Wherevpon they being furnished with a sort of accusers, commonlie
called promoters, or (as they themselues will be named) informers,
troubled manie a man, whereby they wan them great hatred, and the king
(by such rigorous procéedings) lost the loue and fauour which the
people before time had borne towards him; so that he for setting them
a worke, and they for executing of it in such extreame wise, ran into
obloquie with the subiects of this realme.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 876._]
[Sidenote: Sergeants feast whereat were the king and all his nobles at
dinner.]
[Sidenote: Fire on London bridge.]
[Sidenote: Fire.]
[Sidenote: Parlement.]
¶ On the thirtéenth of Nouember was holden within the palace of the
archbishop of Canturburie, at Lambeth, the sergeants feast, where dined
the king and all his nobles. And vpon the same day, Thomas Granger,
newlie chosen shiriffe of London was presented before the barons of
the kings exchequer, there to take his oth, and after went with the
maior vnto the same feast, which saued him monie in his pursse; for
if that day that feast had not béene kept, he must haue feasted the
maior, aldermen, and others, woorshipfull of the citie. This feast was
kept at the charge of ten learned men, newlie admitted to bée sergeants
to the kings law, whose names were, Robert Bridnell, William Greuill,
Thomas Marow, George Edgore, Iohn Moore, Iohn Cutler, Thomas Eliot,
Lewes Pollard, Guie Palmis, William Fairefax. On the one and twentith
of Nouember at night, began a perillous fier at the signe of the panier
vpon London bridge, néere to saint Magnus church; where six tenements
were burned yer the same could be quenched. On the seuenth of Ianuarie,
were certeine houses consumed with fire against saint Butolphes
church in Thames stréet. On the fiue and twentith of Ianuarie began a
parlement at Westminster, of which was chosen speaker for the commons,
maister Edmund Dudleie.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 20.]
[Sidenote: Alum déere.]
[Sidenote: Cages and stockes ordeined.]
[Sidenote: Hunsditch paued.]
[Sidenote: Prisoners of the Marshalseie brake out.]
A new coine of siluer was ordeined of grotes and halfe grotes, which
bare but halfe faces; and some péeces of the value of twelue pense
were then stamped, though very few of that sort came abroad. In this
yeare, alum, which manie yeares had bene sold for six shillings an
hundred, and lower, arose to fiue nobles an hundred, and after to foure
marks, &c. Sir William Capell, who for this yeare was maior, caused in
euerie ward of London a cage with a paire of stocks, therein to punish
vagabunds. Also he caused all Hunsditch to be ouerpaued, which manie
yeares before lay full noiouslie and perillouslie for all trauellers
that way. About Christmasse, the more part of the prisoners of the
Marshalseie in Southwarke brake out, and manie of them being shortlie
after taken, were put to execution, speciallie those which had laine
for felonie or treason. On the fiftéenth of Aprill, a monie maker, one
of the coiners of the Tower, was drawne to Tiburne and there hanged.
[Sidenote: _Iohn Hooker, alias Vowell._]
[Sidenote: A beneuolence put into the kings head to be leuied ouer the
whole land.]
¶ In this twentith yeare (saith one of Excester) the king (hauing some
néed of monie) was by his councell aduised (by way, of beneuolence) to
leuie the same vpon the whole realme, as well of the cleargie as of the
laitie. And for the same, commissioners were assigned accordinglie.
For the cleargie, Richard Fox, sometime bishop of Excester, but now of
Winchester, a verie wise, graue, and trustie councellor, was appointed
chiefe commissioner, and had the chiefest dealing therein. He at daies
and times appointed, assembled the cleargie before him, and (according
to the trust committed vnto him) he persuaded them by all the meanes
he could, to be liberall contributors to the king, considering his
present néed, and who (for their causes, & the safetie of all the
common-wealth) was now to vse and imploie some monie.
[Sidenote: The cleargie of two sorts, and both desirous to spare their
pursses.]
The cleargie was of two sorts, the one shewing themselues as they were
wealthie, séemelie, & comelie; the other pretending that which was not,
pouertie, barenesse, and scarsitie: but both were of one mind, and
deuised all the waies they could to saue their pursses. The first being
called, alledged that they were dailie at great charges and expenses
in kéeping of hospitalitie, in mainteining themselues, their house and
familie; besides extraordinaries which dailie did grow and increase
vpon them: and by that meanes they were but bare and poore, and praied
that they might be borne withall, and pardoned for that time.
[Sidenote: The wisdome of bishop Fox in procuring these cleargie men to
be contributors to this beneuolence.]
The other sort alledged, that their liuings were but small and slender,
and scarse able to mainteine themselues withall, which compelled them
to go bare, and to liue a hard and a poore life, and therefore (they
hauing nothing) praied that they might be excused. The bishop when he
had heard them at full, and well considered thereof, verie wittilie,
and with a prettie dilemma answered them both, saieng to the first:
"It is true, you are at great charges, and are well beséene in your
apparell, well mounted vpon your faire palfreies, and haue your men
waiting vpon you in good order; your hospitalitie is good, and your
dailie expenses are large, and you are for the same well reported
amongst your neighbours; all which are plaine demonstrations of your
wealth and abilitie, otherwise you would not be at such voluntarie
charges.
[Sidenote: They are persuaded to contribute.]
"Now hauing store to spend in such order, there is no reason, but that
to your prince you should much more be well willing & readie to yéeld
your selues contributorie and dutifull, and therefore you must paie."
To the other sort he said: "Albeit your liuings be not of the best, yet
good, sufficient, and able to mainteine you in better estate than you
doo imploie it; but it appeareth that you are frugall and thriftie men;
and what others doo voluntarilie spend in apparell, house, and familie,
you warilie doo kéepe, and haue it to lie by you; and therefore it is
good reason that of your store you should spare with a good will and
contribute to your prince; wherefore be contented, for you shall paie."
And so by this prettie dilemma he reduced them to yéeld a good paiment
to the king.
[Sidenote: 1505.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. I. S. pag. 878._]
[Sidenote: Conduit at Bishops gate builded.]
[Sidenote: Richmond on fire.]
The king after he had gotten a great masse of monie togither, hauing
pitie on the people, which oppressed with the sharpe procéedings of
his gréedie officers, cried daily to God for vengeance, ment to haue
depriued them of their offices (as some write) & that suph monie as
had béene violentlie exacted, should haue béene restored and deliuered
againe, if he had not bene preuented by death. And yet by his last
will he commanded that it should be dulie and trulie performed, but in
the meane season many mens coffers were emptied. [¶ Thomas Kneisworth
maior of London for this yeare, of his owne goods, builded the conduit
at Bishopsgate. He gaue to the fishmongers certeine tenements, for
the which they be bound to find foure scholers that studie art; two
at Oxford, and two at Cambridge, euerie of them foure pounds the
yeare. They be bound also to giue to twelue aged poore people of their
companie, to euerie one of them at Bartholomew tide a winter garment
for euer. Also to giue to the prisoners of Ludgate and Newgate euerie
yeare fortie shillings, &c. The first of Ianuarie in the night, the
kings chamber was fired at Richmond, the which might not be quenched,
till manie curteins, carpets, rich beds, and much stuffe was consumed.