bicause he knew perfectlie, that the duke of Yorke dailie imagined with
himselfe, how to get the crowne, and to depose and destroie both the
king and him. But destinie cannot by anie mans deuise be letted, and
manie things (to appearance) declared the duke of Yorkes innocencie in
this case. First, his frée and voluntarie comming to the king, without
constreint, when he was partlie of puissance able to haue incountred
with the kings whole power. Secondlie, his humble submission, and
reasonable requests, as well on his owne behalfe, as for the poore
commons: which might argue that he sought for no souereigntie.
[Sidenote: 1452]
[Sidenote: Occasion that set the duke of Yorke frée.]
Whilest the councell treated of sauing or dispatching of this duke
of Yorke, a rumor sprang through London, that Edward earle of March,
sonne and heire apparent to the saide duke, with a great armie of
Marchmen, was comming toward London: which tidings sore appalled the
quéene and the whole councell. Beside this, the verie same daie came
ambassadours from the chéefe citizens and magistrats of the citie
of Burdeaux: whereof the chéefe were, the earle of Kendale, and the
lord de Lesparre; which signified to the councell, that if they would
send an armie into Gascoigne, the people of the countrie would reuolt
from the French part, and eftsoones become English. These two things
sore troubled the heads of the councell, which, least inward sedition
might hinder outward conquests, set the duke of Yorke at libertie, and
permitted him to go to his castell of Wigmore, in the marches of Wales,
by whose absence the duke of Summerset rose in such high fauour, both
with the king and quéene, that his word onelie ruled, and his voice
alone was heard.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 671, 672, in Quart._]
¶ Neuerthelesse the said duke of Yorke had first made his submission,
and tooke his oth to be true, faithfull, and obedient subiect to king
Henrie the sixt king of England, in saint Pauls church at London,
there being present the king, and most of his nobilitie, that is to
saie, the dukes of Buckingham, Northampton, and Summerset: the earls
of Warwike, Arundell, Salisburie, Shropshire, Deuonshire, Wiltshire,
Northumberland, Stafford and Dorset, vicounts of Beaumont and Welles:
barons, Fitz Warren, Sainmound, Cobham, Dowglas, and others: bishops,
the cardinall, archbishop of Yorke and Canturburie, Winchester, Elie,
and London, in these words following.
The tenor of the duke of Yorks submission to king Henrie, vnder his oth.
I Richard duke of Yorke confesse and beknow, that I am & ought to be
humble subiect and liegeman to you my souereigne lord king Henrie
the sixt, and owe therefore to beare you faith and truth, as to my
souereigne liege lord, and shall doo all daies vnto my liues end; and
shall not at anie time will or assent, that any thing attempted or
doone against your most noble person: but where so euer I shall haue
knowledge of anie such thing imagined or purposed, I shall with all
spéed and diligence possible to me, make that your highnesse shall haue
knowledge thereof: and ouer that, doo all that shall be possible to me,
to the withstanding and let thereof, to the vttermost of my life. I
shall not anie thing take vpon against your roiall estate or obeisance
that is due thereto, nor suffer anie other man to doo, as farre foorth
as it shall be in my power to let it: and also shall come at your
commandement when so euer I shall be called by the same, in humble and
obeisant wise: but if I be letted by anie sickenesse or impotence of my
person, or by such other cause as shall be thought by you my souereigne
lord reasonable. I shall neuer hereafter take vpon me to gather
anie rout, nor to make anie assemblie of your people, without your
commandement or licence, or in my lawfull defense. In interpretation or
declaration of the which my lawful defence, I shall report me at all
times to your highnesse, and if the case require, to my péeres; nor any
thing attempt against anie of your subjects, of what estate, degrée,
or condition that they be. But when so euer I find my selfe wronged
and agréeued, I shall sue humblie for remedie to your highnesse: and
procéed after the course of your lawes, and in none otherwise: sauing
in mine owne lawfull defense in maner aboue said, and otherwise haue to
your highnesse as an humble and true subiect ought to haue him to his
souereigne lord.
All these things aboue said I promise you trulie to obserue and kéepe,
by the holie euangelists conteined in the booke that I laie my hand
herevpon, and by the holie crosse I here touch, and by the blessed
sacrament of our Lords bodie, that I shall now with his mercie receiue.
And ouer I agrée me and will, that if I anie time hereafter, as by the
grace of our Lord God I neuer shall, anie thing attempt by waie of feat
or otherwise against your roiall maiestie, and obeisance that I owe
therto, or anie thing take vpon me otherwise than is aboue expressed,
I from that time foorth be vnabled, held, and taken as an vntrue and
openlie forsworne man, and vnable to all maner of worship, estate,
and degrée, be it such as I now occupie, or anie other that might in
anie wise grow vnto me hereafter. And this I haue here promised and
sworne, procéedeth of mine owne desire and frée voluntée, and by no
constraining or coaction. In witnesse of all the which things aboue
written, I Richard duke of Yorke (aboue named) subscribe with mine owne
hand and seale.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: An Reg. 21.]
[Sidenote: 1453.]
The councell not forgetting the offer of the Gascoignes, and that they
might now haue the citie of Burdeaux, with the countrie round about, by
request of the inhabitants, appointed the valiant capteine Iohn lord
Talbot earle of Shrewesburie, to go thither with an armie: who arriuing
in the Isle of Madre, passed foorth with his power, being scant thrée
thousand men, and tooke the strong towne of Fronsacke, and diuerse
other townes & fortresses. The inhabitants of Burdeaux, hearing of the
earles arriual, sent to him messengers in the darke night, requiring
him with all spéed to come and receiue the citie. The earle lost
not one houre, but hasted foorth, & came before that citie, yer the
Frenchmen within vnderstood anie thing of the citizens purpose. When
they were aduertised that there was a gate set open for the Englishmen
to enter, they thought to haue escaped secretlie by a posterne: but
they were pursued, slaine, and taken by the lord de Lespar, and other
of the English armie.
[Sidenote: The French people soone wearie of the French gouernment.]
After the regaining of Burdeaux, there arriued at Blaie the bastard of
Summerset, sir Iohn Talbot, lord Lisle by his wife, sonne to the said
erle of Shrewesburie, the lord Molins, the lord Harington, the lord
Camois, sir Iohn Howard, sir Iohn Montgomerie, sir Iohn Vernon, with
two and twentie hundred men, with vittels and munitions. When the earle
was thus (according to his intent) of all things furnished, first he
fortified Burdeaux with Englishmen, and store of vittels; and after
that he rode into the countrie abroad, where he obteined cities, and
got townes without stroke or dint of sword, for the people alreadie
wearied of the French seruitude, and longing sore to return to the
English libertie, séemed to desire nothing more than to haue the earle
to receiue them into the English obeisance. Amongst other townes, the
towne and castell of Chastillon in Perigort was to him deliuered, the
which he fortified with men and ordinance verie stronglie.
In the meane time, the French king, being aduertised of all these
dooings, raised an armie to resist this inuasion made by the erle of
Shrewesburie. And first he appointed his capteins to besiege the towne
of Chastillon, to the rescue whereof the earle hasted forward, hauing
in his companie eight hundred horssemen, vnder the leading of his sonne
the lord Lisle, the lord Molins, the lord Camois, sir Edward Hull,
sir Iohn Howard, and sir Iohn Vernon. He appointed also fiue thousand
footmen, vnder the conduct of the earle of Kendall, and the lord de
Lespar, to follow him with all spéed. In his waie, he tooke by fine
force a tower which the Frenchmen had taken, and slue all that he found
within it. And after by the waie, he met fiue hundred Frenchmen going a
foraging, of whome he slue the more part, and chased the other to the
campe.
[Sidenote: The valiant earle of Shrewesburie and his son manfullie
slaine.]
The Frenchmen that laie at the siege, perceiuing by those good runners
away that the earle approched, left the siege, and retired in good
order into the place which they had trenched, diched, and fortified
with ordinance. The earle aduertised how the siege was remoued, hasted
forward towards his enimies, doubting most, least they would haue
béene quite fled and gone before his comming. But they fearing the
displeasure of the French king (who was not far off) if they should
haue fled, abode the earles comming, and so receiued him: who though he
first with manfull courage, and sore fighting wan the entrie of their
campe; yet at length they compassed him about, and shooting him through
the thigh with an handgun, slue his horsse, and finally killed him
lieng on the ground, whome they durst neuer looke in the face, while he
stood on his féet.
It was said, that after he perceiued there was no remedie, but present
losse of the battell, he counselled his sonne the lord Lisle, to saue
himselfe by flight, sith the same could not redound to anie great
reproch in him, this being the first iournie in which he had béene
present. Manie words he vsed to persuade him to haue saued his life:
but nature so wrought in the son, that neither desire of life, nor
feare of death, could either cause him to shrinke, or conueie himselfe
out of the danger, and so there manfullie ended his life with his said
father. There died also the earles bastard sonne Henrie Talbot, and
sir Edward Hull elect to the order of the garter, and thirtie other
men of name and right valiant personages of the English nation. The
lord Molins was taken prisoner with thréescore others. The residue of
the English people fled to Burdeaux and other places, of whome in the
flight were slaine aboue a thousand persons.
Thus at this battell of Chatillon, fought the thirtéenth daie of Iulie
in this yeare, ended his life Iohn lord Talbot, and of his progenie
the first earle of Shrewesburie: after that he with much fame and
most victorie, had valiantlie made warre, and serued his prince and
countrie by the space of foure and twentie yeares, in the parties
beyond the seas, whose corps was left on ground, and after was found
by his fréends, and conueied to Whitchurch in Shropshire where it was
interred. After this discomfiture diuerse lords fled to Burdeaux,
but the earle of Candall, the lords of Montferrant, of Rosaine, & of
Dangladas entered into the castell of Chatillon, which by the space of
ten daies they defended: but in the end despairing of all succours,
they rendred the fortresse, and came safe to Burdeaux.
[Sidenote: Burdeaux yielded againe to the French.]
After this, the townes of saint Million, Liborne, and all other, which
the erle of Shrewesburie had conquered, rendred themselues to the
Frenchmen, Burdeaux onelie excepted. Which citie, being the last refuge
of the English people, the French king in person besieged with all
his puissance; and in conclusion constreined both the garrisons and
inhabitants to yéeld, so that the Englishmen & Gascoignes might safelie
depart into England or into Calis, with all their substance; and that
the lords de Lesparre, Duras, and thirtie others, should neuer (vpon
paine of death) be found within anie of the French kings dominions,
which lord de Lesparre being after taken in Gascoigne disguised, was
made shorter by the head. When this composition was agréed and sealed,
the Englishmen were shortlie transported ouer into England, in the
moneth of October this present yeare.
[Sidenote: Aquitaine lost.]
[Sidenote: The dignitie and state of that dukedome.]
[Sidenote: The quéene deliuered of hir son prince Edward.]
Thus was the duchie of Aquitaine, which had continued in the English
possession, from the yeare of our Lord 1155, vnto this present yeare,
which is néere hand thrée hundred yeares, by the mariage of Elenor
daughter and heire to William duke of Aquitaine, wife to king Henrie
the second, finallie reduced and brought againe to the French obedience
and seruitude. Within that onlie duchie be foure archbishops, foure and
twentie bishops, fiftéene earledomes, two hundred and two baronies,
and aboue a thousand capteinships and baliffewikes: whereby ye may
consider, what a losse this was to the realme of England. On the
thirtéenth daie of October this yeare, was the quéene deliuered at
Westminster of a faire sonne, who was christened, and named Edward.
His mother susteined not a little slander and obloquie of the common
people, who had an opinion that the king was not able to get a child;
and therefore sticked not to saie, that this was not his sonne, with
manie slanderous words, greatlie sounding to the quéenes dishonour;
much part perchance vntrulie. After the birth of this child, he highlie
aduanced his brethren on his mothers side; for Edmund he made earle of
Richmond, which was father to king Henrie the seuenth, and Iasper he
created erle of Penbroke, which died without issue. ¶ This yeare, Iohn
Stafford archbishop of Canturburie departed this life, and Iohn Kempe
archbishop of Yorke was remoued from that sée, to succéed in place of
the said Stafford, being the thrée score and second archbishop there,
& Iohn Booth bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield was translated to Yorke,
being the one and fiftith archbishop of that church.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. St. pag. 673._]
[Sidenote: The maior, shiriffes and aldermen, resisted and abused in a
fraie néere Clerkenwell.]
¶On Bartholomew daie at the wrestling néere vnto Clerkenwell, a
gentleman belonging to the prior of saint Iohns, made a rumor or
tumult, for the which (by the commandement of the maior) he was
arested by Richard Allie one of the shiriffes, and deliuered to Paris
a sergeant. But such resistance was made by parts taking, that the
shiriffe was faine to craue helpe of the maior, who with his brethren
the aldermen arose from the game, and strengthened the shiriffes. And
for the rescue of the said gentleman, one named Calis, came out of
saint Iohns with a great strength of archers, to resist the maior, in
the which fraie a yeoman of saint Iohns was slaine, and manie other
sore hurt. The maior himselfe escaped hardlie, for his cap was smitten
from his head with an arrow: but the maior with his citizens put the
other to flight, sent the principall of them to Newgate, and then tooke
his place againe till the games were ended: by which time the citizens
had gathered themselues in great number, and fetched him home, neuer
maior so stronglie nor so honorablie.
[Sidenote: _Fr. Thin._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 32.]
[Sidenote: 1454]
[24]This yeare was Thomas Bourchier bishop of Elie (sonne to the
countesse of Stafford, and brother to Henrie Bourchier earle of Essex)
remooued to the sée of Canterburie; who in the yeare after the word
became flesh and appeared in humane shape 1443, first obteined the
sée of Elie (although once before he was by the king put backe from
thence after his election of the couent therevnto, and confirmation
of the pope) being translated from Worcester to the said sée of Elie,
the twelfth daie of March in the said yeare 1443. This man (after that
he had remained at Elie ten yeares, thrée and twentie wéekes, and
fiue daies) was (as is before said) in this yeare 1454 remooued to
Canturburie by Nicholas the fift then bishop of Rome. After this he
was made chancellor, which office he obteined the seauenth of March,
in the yeare 1455, being the thrée and thirtith yeare of king Henrie
the sixts reigne. Lastlie he was aduanced to the dignitie of cardinall
by pope Paule the second, in the yeare of our Lord 1465, of whome is
made a more liberall discourse in a [24]tretise of the liues of the
chancellors of England: a place of no small authoritie and reputation.
[24] In a tretise hereafter following.
After the warres foulie ended in forren parties, ciuill dissention
began againe at home, diuided speciallie into two factions. As K.
Henrie descended of the house of Lancaster possessed the crowne from
his grandfather king Henrie the fourth (first author of that title)
so Richard duke of Yorke, as heire to Lionell duke of Clarence, third
sonne to king Edward the third, inforced. By reason whereof, the nobles
as well as the common people were into parts diuided, to the vtter
destruction of manie a man, and to the great ruine and decaie of this
region: for while the one partie sought to destroie the other, all care
of the common-wealth was set aside, and iustice and equitie clearelie
exiled.
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke séeks the destruci[=o] of the duke of
Sommerset.]
[Sidenote: He banded himselfe with the Neuils.]
The duke of Yorke (aboue all things) first sought means how to stir
vp the malice of the people against the duke of Summerset, imagining
that he being made awaie, his purpose should the sooner take effect.
He also practised to bring the king into the hatred of the people, as
that he should not be a man apt to the gouernment of a realme, wanting
both wit and stomach sufficient to supplie such a roome. Manie of the
high estates, not liking the world, and disalowing the dooings both of
the king and his councell, were faine inough of some alteration. Which
thing the duke well vnderstanding, chiefelie sought the fauour of the
two Neuils, both named Richard, one earle of Salisburie, the other
earle of Warwike, the first being the father, and the second the sonne.
[Sidenote: The issue of Richard earle Salisburie.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
This earle of Salisburie was second son to Rafe Neuill earle of
Westmerland, whose daughter the duke of Yorke had maried, and the
said Richard was espoused to ladie Alice, the onelie child and sole
heire of Thomas Montacute earle of Salisburie, slaine at the siege
of Orleance (as before is declared) of which woman he begat Richard,
Iohn, and George: Richard the eldest sonne espoused Anne, the sister
and heire of the entire bloud of lord Henrie Beauchamp earle and after
duke of Warwike, in whose right and title he was created and named
earle of Warwike. [Full fraught was this nobleman with good qualities
right excellent and manie, all which a certeine naturall grace did
vnto all estates so farfoorth recommend, that with high and low he was
in singular fauour and good liking so as (vnsought for) it séemed, in
authoritie among them, he grew able to command all alone.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 33.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset arrested.]
[Sidenote: 1455]
[Sidenote: The king sicke.]
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
When the duke of Yorke had fastened his chaine betwéene these two
strong pillers, he with his fréends wrought so effectuouslie, and
handled his businesse so politikelie, that the duke of Summerset was
arested in the quéenes great chamber, and sent to the Tower of London,
where he kept his Christmasse without great solemnitie. Against whom,
soone after in open parlement were laid diuerse and heinous articles
of high treason, as well for the losse of Normandie, as for the late
mischance which happened in Guien. The king at that time was sicke
at Clarendon, and conueied to London, by reason whereof no finall
determination procéeded in this weightie cause; but all was put in
suspense, till the next assemblie of the high court of parlement. Some
doo write, that whilest the king was sicke, the duke of Yorke bare all
the rule, and gouerned as regent or viceroie, by authoritie committed
to him by the lords of the realme, then assembled in councell; he to
sée to the preseruation and good gouernement of the common-wealth,
during the kings sicknesse, which was so gréeuous (as it was said) that
he laie senselesse, and was not able for a time either to go or stand.
[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset set at libertie.]
[Sidenote: Made deputie of Calis.]
The duke of Yorke hauing aforehand obteined an absolution of the pope,
in discharge of his oth before taken, did now discouer his stomach
against the duke of Summerset. But when the king was amended againe,
and resumed to him his former gouernement, either of his owne mind, or
by the quéenes procurement, the duke of Summerset was set at libertie;
by which doing, great enuie and displeasure grew. That notwithstanding,
the quéene (which then bare the chiefe rule) caused the duke of
Summerset to be preferred to the capteineship of Calis, wherwith not
onlie the commons, but also manie of the nobilitie were greatlie
gréeued and offended, saieng, that he had lost Normandie, and so would
he doo Calis.
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke assembled an armie.]
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[Sidenote: The king with two thousand.]
The duke of Yorke and his adherents, perceiuing that neither
exhortation nor charging him with his crimes preuailed against the
duke of Summerset, they meant to mend the matter by open war: & soone
after he being in the marches of Wales, accompanied with his speciall
friends, the earles of Salisburie, and Warwike, the lord Cobham, and
others, assembled a power, and in warlike maner marched toward London.
The king informed hereof, assembled likewise a great host, and meaning
to méet with the duke, rather in the north parts than about London,
where it was thought he had too manie friends, he accompanied with the
dukes of Summerset and Buckingham, the earles of Penbroke, Stafford,
Northumberland, Deuonshire, Dorset, and Wilshire, the lords Clifford,
Sudlie, Berneis, Roos, and others, being in all aboue two thousand men
of warre, departed from Westminster the twentith, or (as some haue) the
one and twentith of Maie, and laie the first night at Wadford.
[Sidenote: The duke with thrée thousand.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 675, 676, 677, in Quart._]
Of whose dooings the duke of Yorke by espials hauing still
aduertisement, with all his power, being not past thrée thousand men
(as some write) coasted the countrie, and came to saint Albons the
third daie next insuing. The king there had pight his standard in a
place called Goselow, otherwise Sandiford, in saint Peters stréet: the
lord Clifford kept the barriers of the towne, to stop, that the duke
being assembled in Keie field, should not enter the towne. ¶ The duke
of Yorke (saith one moderne chronographer) knowing the strength made
against him, abiding in the field aforesaid, from seuen of the clocke
in the morning vntill it was almost ten of the clocke without anie
stroke smitten on either part, by the aduise of his councell sent vnto
the king vnder these words following.
Words in writing by the duke of Yorke to the king.