as your true liege man and humble subiect; and to consider and tender
at the reuerence of God, and in the waie of charitie, the true intent
of my comming, and to be good and gratious souereigne vnto me, & all
other your true liege men, which, that with all their power and might
will be readie to liue and die with you in your right, and to doo all
things as shall like your maiestie roiall to command vs, if it be to
the worship of the crowne of England, and the welfare of this your
noble realme. Moreouer, gratious lord, please it vnto your maiestie
roiall, of your great goodnesse and rightwisenesse, to incline your
will to heare & féele the rightwise part of vs your true subiects
and liege men. First, praieng and beséeching to your souereigne,
Christ Iesus, of his high and mightie power, to giue you vertue of
prudence, and that through the praier of the glorious martyr S. Albon
giue you verie knowledge of our truths, and to know the intent of our
assembling at this time: for God that is in heauen knoweth, our intent
is rightfull and true. And therefore we praie vnto that mightie Lord in
these words: Domine sis clypeus defensionis nostræ. Wherfore gratious
lord, please it your maiestie roiall, to deliuer such as we will
accuse, and they to haue like as they haue deserued: and this doone,
you to be honorablie worshipped as most rightfull king and our true
gouernour. And if we should now at this time be promised, as afore this
time (is not vnknowen) haue béene promises broken which haue béene full
faithfullie promised, and therevpon great othes sworne, we will not
now ceasse for no such promises, nor oth, till we haue them which haue
deserued death, or else we to die therefore.
The answer by the king to the duke of Yorke.
I King Henrie charge and command, that no manner of person, of what
degrée, estate or what condition soeuer he be, abide not; but that they
auoid the field, and not be so hardie to make resistance against me in
my owne realme. For I shall know what traitour dare be so bold to raise
anie people in mine owne land, wherethrough I am in great disease and
heauines. By the faith I owe vnto S. Edward, and vnto the crowne of
England, I shall destroie them euerie mothers sonne, and eke they to be
hanged, drawne, and quartered, that may be taken afterward of them, in
example to make all such traitors to beware for to make anie rising of
people within mine owne land, and so traitorouslie to abide their king
and gouernour. And for a conclusion, rather than they shall haue anie
lord, that here is with me at this time, I shall this day for their
sake in this quarell my selfe liue and die.
The words of the duke of Yorke to all gentlemen and other assembled
with him.
Sirs, the king our souereigne lord will not be reformed at our
beséeching ne praier, nor will not in no wise vnderstand the intent
wherfore we be here assembled and gathered at this time, but onelie
is in full purpose to destroie vs all. And therevpon a great oth hath
made, that is none other waie, but that he with all his power will
pursue vs; and if we be taken, to giue vs a shamefull death, léesing
our liuelod and goods, and also our heires shamed for euer. Therefore
sirs, now sith it will none otherwise be, but that we shall vtterlie
die; better it is for vs to die in the field, than cowardlie to be
put to an vtter rebuke and shamefull death, for the right of England
standeth in vs. Considering also in what perill it standeth at this
time, and for to redresse the mischéefe thereof, let euerie man helpe
to his power this daie, and in that quarell to quite vs like men, to
the crowne of England; praieng and beséeching vnto that Lord, the which
is eternall, that reigneth in the glorious kingdome celestiall, to
kéepe and saue vs this daie in our right, and through the gifts of his
holie grace we may be made strong to withstand the great, abhominable,
and horrible malice of them that purpose to destroie vs and the realme
of England, and put vs to a shamefull death. Praie we therefore to the
Lord to be our comfort and our defendour, saieng these words, Domine
sis clypeus defensionis nostræ.]
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[Sidenote: The duke of Buckingham sent to the duke of Yorke.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset burdened with all things that had
happened amisse.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
But another historie-writer saith, that the king, when first he heard
of the duke of Yorks approch, sent to him messengers, the duke of
Buckingham, and others to vnderstand what he meant by his comming thus
in maner of warre. The duke of Buckingham to his message was answered
by the duke of Yorke and his complices, that they were all of them
the kings faithfull liege subiects, and intended no harme to him at
all: but the cause of our comming (saie they) is not in meaning anie
hurt to his person. But let that wicked and naughtie man the duke of
Summerset be deliuered vnto vs, who hath lost Normandie, and taken no
regard to the preseruation of Gascoigne; and furthermore, hath brought
the realme vnto this miserable estate; that where it was the floure
of nations, and the princesse of prouinces [now is it haled into
desolation & spoile, not so dreadfull by malice of forren enimie, that
indéed vtterlie (as yée know) séeketh our ruine, as by the intollerable
outrages of him that so long ago & euen still appeares to haue sworne
the confusion of our king and realme.] If it therefore please the king
to deliuer that bad man into our hands, we are readie without trouble
or breach of peace, to returne into our countrie. But if the king be
not minded so to do, bicause he cannot misse him; let him vnderstand,
that we will rather die in the field, than suffer such a mischéefe
vnredressed.
[Sidenote: The first battell of saint Albons.]
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]
The king aduertised of this answer, more wilfull than tollerable,
appointed him rather to trie battell, than deliuer the duke of
Summerset to his enimies. Whereof they ascerteined made no longer
staie, but streightwaie sounded the trumpet to battell: or rather (as
Hall saith) while king Henrie sent foorth his ambassadours to treat
of peace at the one end of the towne, the earle of Warwike with his
Marchmen entred at the other end, and fiercelie setting on the kings
fore-ward, within a small time discomfited the same. The place where
they first brake into the towne, was about the middle of saint Peters
stréet. The fight for a time was right sharpe and cruell, for the duke
of Summerset, with the other lords, comming to the succours of their
companions that were put to the woorse, did what they could to beat
backe the enimies: but the duke of Yorke sent euer fresh men to succour
the wearie, and to supplie the places of them that were hurt, whereby
the kings armie was finallie brought low, and all the chéefteins of the
field slaine and beaten downe.
[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset slaine.]
[Sidenote: Thomas lord Clifford, saith _Whethamsted_.]
For there died vnder the signe of the castell, Edmund duke of
Summerset, who (as hath béene reported) was warned long before to auoid
all castels: and beside him laie Henrie the second of that name earle
of Northumberland, Humfrie earle of Stafford sonne to the duke of
Buckingham, Iohn lord Clifford, sir Barthram Antwisell knight, a Norman
borne (who forsaking his natiue countrie to continue in his loiall
obedience to king Henrie, came ouer to dwell here in England when
Normandie was lost) William Zouch, Iohn Boutreux, Rafe Bapthorp, with
his sonne William Corwin, William Cotton, Gilbert Faldinger, Reginald
Griffon, Iohn Dawes, Elice Wood, Iohn Eith, Rafe Woodward, Gilbert
Sharlock, and Rafe Willoughbie esquiers, with manie other, in all to
the number of eight thousand, as Edward Hall saith in his chronicle:
if there escaped not a fault in the impression, as 8000 for 800, sith
hundreds in verie déed would better agrée with the number of the kings
whole power, which he brought with him to that battell, being not manie
aboue two thousand, as by writers appeareth.
[Sidenote: The kings part vanquished.]
Humfrie duke of Buckingham, being wounded, and Iames Butler earle
of Ormond and Wilshire, and Thomas Thorp lord chéefe baron of the
escheker, séeing fortune thus against them, left the king alone, and
with a number fled awaie. Those that thus fled, made the best shift
they could to get awaie through gardens and backesides, through shrubs,
hedges and woods, séeking places where to hide themselues, vntill
that dangerous tempest of the battell were ouerblowne. Diuerse of the
kings house also that could better skill to plaie the courtiers than
warriors, fled with the first; and those of the east parts of the
realme were likewise noted of too much lacke of courage, for their
spéedie withdrawing themselues, and leauing the king in danger of his
aduersaries: who perceiuing his men thus fled from him, withdrew into a
poore mans house to saue himselfe from the shot of arrowes, that flue
about him as thicke as snow.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 678, 679, in Quart._]
¶ This doone, saith one historien, the duke of Yorke, the earles of
Warwike, and Salisburie, came vnto the king where he was, and besought
him on their knées of grace and forgiuenesse for that they had doone
in his presence, and besought him of his highnesse to take them to
grace, and as his true liege men. The king desiring them to cease their
people, that there should be no more hurt doone, and to obeie his
commandement, did cause to be proclamed in the kings name, that all
manner of people should cease off their malice, and not to smite one
stroke more, and so ceassed the battell. And vpon the day next after,
the king and the duke of Yorke, the earles of Warwike & Salisburie,
came all to London; and were lodged in the bishops palace of London,
where they kept their Whitsuntide with great ioy and solemnitie,
concluding there to hold a parlement, the same to begin on the ninth
daie of Iulie next following.
Another historien saith, that the duke of Yorke, aduertised of the
place into the which the king was withdrawne for the safetie of
himselfe, and taking him into his power, comforted him in the best
wise he could; assuring him, that now that the common enimie of the
realme was dispatched, to wit, the duke of Summerset, he had cause
rather to reioise, than to be sorie, sith his destruction was the kings
preseruation. And for himselfe and all his adherents he vndertooke,
that they were and would remaine, during life, his most faithfull
liege people, readie in all points to serue him, as his trustie and
obedient subiects. After he had vsed such words, as wherewith best to
comfort him, he brought the king foorth of that simple house with all
due reuerence shewed toward him first to the shrine, and after to his
chamber.
[Sidenote: Battell of S. Albons on thursday the 23 of Maie.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 33.]
[Sidenote: Foure of th[=e] to wit, the duke of S[=u]merset, the earle
of Northumberland, and the lord Clifford, were buried in our ladie
chapell.]
[Sidenote: _Iohn Hooker alias Vowell._]
Whilest the duke of Yorke was about thus to comfort the king, the
soldiers that had the victorie now in their hands, applied the spoile,
namelie, the Northerne men, stripping not onelie those that had borne
armor against them, but also the townsmen and other, with whom they
might méet. So that it was thought, if the king had taken vp his
lodging at his first comming thither, within the abbeie, as he did not
(but in the middest of the towne, to prouide the better to resist his
enimies) the abbeie had béene spoiled also. This was the end of the
first battell at saint Albons, which was fought vpon the thursdaie next
before the feast of Penthecost, being the thrée and twentith day of
Maie, in this thrée and thirtith yeare of the kings reigne. The bodies
of the noble men were buried in the monasterie in our ladies chappell,
and the meane people in other places. This Edmund duke of Summerset
left behind him thrée sonnes, Henrie, Edmund and Iohn, which to the
extremitie of death tooke part with the line of king Henrie.
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[There was this yeare a great fight & fraie vpon Clift heath, distant
about two miles from Excester, betwéene Thomas Courtneie earle of
Deuonshire, against William lord Bonuile of Shut, and sundrie men of
both parts were slaine. But yet the lord Bonuile preuailed & had the
victorie, who foorthwith came to this citie, and the gates before being
shut, were opened and he receiued; which thing so gréeued the earle,
that he continuallie sought thencefoorth to be reuenged. But not long
after in the quarell betwéen king Henrie the sixt, and king Edward the
fourth, he ended his daies, and was beheaded at Yorke, and was the last
of that line.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
The duke of Yorke, hauing gotten the victorie, remembred well, that he
had published abroad how the onelie cause of this warre was, for the
aduancement of the common-wealth, and therefore vsing all courtesie,
would not touch the kings person after anie violent sort; but with all
honour and due reuerence conueied him to London and so to Westminster.
To which place was summoned a parlement, which began the ninth daie of
Iulie, in the which session, the late duke of Glocester was openlie
declared a true subiect, both to the king and to the realme. Beside
this, it was enacted, that no person should either iudge or report
anie point of vntruth of the duke of Yorke, the earles of Salisburie
and Warwike, or of anie knight, esquier, archer, or other, for comming
in warlike araie against the king, at saint Albons; considering their
enterprise was onelie to sée the kings person in safegard.
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[Sidenote: Collaterall.]
[Sidenote: A letter kept from the king of purpose.]
But all the blame was put vpon the duke of Summerset, Thomas Thorp,
baron of the escheker, and William Iosep esquier, the kings collaterall
companion; bicause that they, vpon malicious purpose, kept a certeine
letter from the kings knowledge, and would in no wise suffer it to be
deliuered vnto him, notwithstanding the same made to the aduancement
of some good peace, had it béene throughlie and aduisedlie read, weied
& considered. In which letter they declared, that as faithfull and
humble subiects, they required onelie, that it would please the king
(whose honor, health, suertie, and preseruation, they chéefelie wished)
not to giue credence to their aduersaries malicious suggestions, till
their comming to his presence, vnto the which they humblie besought
him that they might be admitted as his faithfull liege people, to shew
the intent and purpose of their commings; which was to none other end,
than to declare their fidelitie and allegiance towards his most roiall
person, intending to put themselues with as much diligence and trauell
in all things that might aduance his honour, health, and safegard, as
any subiect he had liuing.
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorkes comming against the king iustified.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke made protector of the realme.]
[Sidenote: The king to reigne in name but not in authoritie.]
The kéeping backe of this letter from the kings sight and knowledge,
did minister matter sufficient vnto the parlement, to colour and
iustifie for well doone all transgressions committed in the late
battell and chase at saint Albons. In this parlement also, the duke of
Yorke was made protector of the realme, and the earle of Salisburie
was appointed to be lord chancellour, and had the great seale to
him deliuered, and the earle of Warwike was elected to the office
of the capteineship of Calis, and the territories of the same; and
thus the rule of the realme rested in the orders of the duke and
chancellour, and all warlike affaires remained, principallie in the
earle of Warwike. And so amongest them it was agréed, that king Henrie
should reigne still in name and dignitie, but neither in déed nor in
authoritie; not minding to destroie him, least they might suddenlie
prouoke the furie of the common people against them, bicause that
of the simple sort of people he was for his holinesse of life, and
abundant clemencie, much fauoured and highlie estéemed.
[Sidenote: _Whethamsted._]
[Sidenote: An act for the K. to reuoke certeine grants.]
In this parlement also it was enacted, that the king should resume,
take into his hands againe, haue and reteine into his possession,
all honours, castels, lordships, townes, villages, manours, lands,
tenements, wasts, forests, chases, rents, reuersions, fées, farmes,
seruices, issues, profits, counties, aduousons of priories, churches,
hospitals, and frée chapels, and all other reuenues with their
appurtenances, the which had passed from him since the first daie
of his reigne vnto that present; either by his letters patents, or
authoritie of parlement, and manie other meanes, whether by grant,
confirmation, or release from him made in fée simple, or fée taile,
for tearme of life or yeares, to anie maner of person and persons in
England, Wales, Scotland, or the marches; in Ireland, or in the townes
of Calis, & Guisnes, & the marches there. And likewise all grants made
of such things as are aboue mentioned, being parcell of the duchie of
Lancaster; and further all grants of offices, roomes, fées, wages, or
commodities, not accustomed to belong to anie office or charge before
the said first daie of the kings reigne, were likewise reuoked.
[Sidenote: Shifting of officers.]
Diuerse other things were also conteined within this reuocation and
generall resumption; with certeine exceptions yet and prouisoes had,
as were thought conuenient, and as by the same act it dooth appeare.
Moreouer, now that the duke of Yorke and his adherents had wrested the
whole rule & gouernement into their hands; all such persons as the
king either loued, or the quéene fauoured, were put beside the priuie
councell; and such put in their places, as were knowne to fauour the
house of Yorke. Also the officers were changed thoroughout the realme,
at the will and disposition of the protector, chancellour, and capteine
of Calis; so that they constituted as it were a triumuirat, ruling all
things at discretion of these thrée. And yet in all their rule I find
not that anie mention is made of their deferring of iustice, or of anie
polling or briberie: as was openlie prooued by such as gouerned before
their time. Onelie they were noted of diuerse spirituall persons,
and namelie of the abbat of Westminster and his moonks, for a great
offense: bicause they tooke out of the sanctuarie at Westminster, Iohn
Holland duke of Excester, all against the order taken in the last
parlement, and sent him to the castell of Pomfret.
[Sidenote: Henrie duke of Summerset.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke discharged of his office.]
[Sidenote: 1456]
But now the lord Henrie Beauford, newlie duke of Summerset by the death
of duke Edmund his father, slaine at the battell of saint Albons (as
aboue is rehearsed) and Humfrie duke of Buckingham (who then & there
lost his sonne and heire) and other of estate taking the part of king
Henrie, whose case they did much bewaile & doubt, as perceiuing whereto
the courtesie of the duke of Yorke did draw: they therefore thinking
it necessarie to purueie for a remedie yer the mischéefe happened,
consulted with the quéene. By whose aduise was a great councell
called at Gréenewich, where the duke of Yorke was discharged of his
protectorship, & the earle of Salisburie depriued also of his office.
¶ This sudden change amongst the nobilitie caused alterations, and
seditious attempts in the commonaltie, and in especiall within London:
whereof this was one. A yoong merchant, which before time had béene
in diuerse cities of Italie, and there forbidden by the magistrats
(as the law and maner is) to weare anie weapon, now challenged an
Italian in Cheapside for wearing a dagger, telling him it was against
his owne countrie lawes: wherto bicause the Italian answered somewhat
disdainefullie, the merchant not onelie tooke by force from him his
dagger, but also with the same brake his pate.
[Sidenote: An vprore in the citie of London.]
[Sidenote: A foule disorder.]
This Italian in great hast complained to the maior, so that at the next
court holden at the Guildhall, the merchant was sent for, and vpon
charge of his offense, he was commanded to ward. Wherevpon diuerse
other light persons within the citie, assembled togither in great
plumps, by force constreined the maior to deliuer the prisoner out
of Newgate: and not so satisfied, like mad men ran to the seuerall
houses of diuerse Venetians, Lucases, and Florentins, and them spoiled,
robbed, and rifled without reason or measure. The maior, perceiuing
this enormious dooing, assembled a number of substantiall and graue
citizens; who (not without bloudshed and maiming of sundrie) appeased
the rage, and caused the misruled people to depart to their houses. The
beginner of this vprore got him to Westminster, and there registred
himselfe for a sanctuarie man.
The quéene, which now againe ruled all, being aduertised of this
vnlawfull misdemeanour, sent the dukes of Excester and Buckingham,
with other noble men to London, with a commission oier and terminer,
for the inquirie and punishment of so seditious an offense. But when
the maior, the two dukes, and the two chéefe iustices were set in the
Guildhall vpon their commission, intelligence was giuen, that a number
of light persons were approching in armor to rescue the prisoners
apprehended for the late robberie and riot, as they were caried to
their arraignement. The two dukes and the other commissioners quickelie
thense departed, and left their inquirie for that daie, though in déed
in no such danger as they doubted: for certeine discréet and sage
citizens so handled the matter, that no misorder followed of that furie.
[Sidenote: A common councell called.]
The maior on the next daie called a common councell, whereof the
number was an hundred fourescore and od, who ordeined that all wardens
of mysteries should assemble their companies in their halles, where
exhortation should be to the obseruation of peace; and if they spied
any man either readie to stirre a rumor, or make to the deliuerance of
such as were in prison, their names should be secretlie written, and
so deliuered to the maior: which policie well appeased this outrage.
Wherevpon after the commissioners sat in Guildhall, where manie of the
robbers were attainted & put to execution, beside diuerse great fines
set on the heads of diuerse merchants, & paid, for winking at the
matter. ¶ This yeare Iohn Kempe archbishop of Canturburie departed this
life, & Thomas Burstlier bishop of Elie remooued to his place, being
the thréescore and third archbishop of that sée.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S._ 681.]
[Sidenote: 1457.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
¶ In the moneth of Nouember, in the Ile of Portland not farre from the
towne of Weimouth, was séene a cocke comming out of the sea, hauing a
great crest vpon his head, and a great red beard, and legs of halfe a
yard long: he stood on the water & crowed foure times, and euerie time
turned him about, and beckened with his head, toward the north, the
south, and the west, and was of colour like a fesant, & when he had
crowed thrée times, he vanished awaie. And shortlie after were taken at
Erith within twelue miles of London, foure great and woonderfull fishes
whereof one was called Mors marina, the second a sword fish, the other
two were whales.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 35.]
[Sidenote: Sandwich spoiled by the French.]
The French nation, hearing of the ciuall dissention within the realme
here, and for an old grudge séeking our annoie, two nauies appointed
they to inuade the townes standing vpon the riuage of the sea. The
capteins of the one fléet was William lord Pomiers, and of the other
sir Peter Bressie, a great ruler in Normandie. These two capteins,
taking their course out of the mouth of Saine, seuered themselues the
one westward; and the other eastward, which was sir Peter Bressie,
who sailing alongst the coasts of Sussex and Kent, durst not yet take
land, but staid in the Downes: and there hauing by espiall perfect
notice that Sandwich was neither peopled nor fortified (because that a
little before, the rulers of the towne were from thense departed, for
to auoid the plague, which sore there afflicted and slue the people) he
entered the hauen, spoiled the towne, and after such poore stuffe as he
there found rifled and taken, he fearing an assemblie of the countrie,
shortlie gat him awaie.
[Sidenote: Fulnaie.]
[Sidenote: The Scots inuade England.]
[Sidenote: The lord Egremond committed to Newgate.]
[Sidenote: He made an escape.]