sailed from Dubline towards England, and landed at the red bank néere
to the citie of Chester, with no small companie: and from Chester by
long iournies he came to the citie of London, which he entred the
fridaie before the feast of S. Edward, the Confessor, with a sword
borne naked before him, with trumpets also sounding, and accompanied
with a great traine of men of armes, and other of his fréends and
seruants. At his comming to Westminster he entred the palace, and
passing foorth directlie through the great hall, staied not till he
came to the chamber, where the king and lords vsed to sit in the
parlement time, commonlie called the vpper house, or chamber of the
péeres, and being there entred, stept vp vnto the throne roiall, and
there laieng his hand vpon the cloth of estate, séemed as if he meant
to take possession of that which was his right (for he held his hand so
vpon that cloth a good pretie while) and after withdrawing his hand,
turned his face towards the people, beholding their preassing togither,
and marking what countenance they made.
[Sidenote: His bold spéech.]
Whilest he thus stood and beheld the people, supposing they reioiced
to sée his presence, the archbishop of Canturburie (Thomas Bourcher)
came to him, & after due salutations, asked him if he would come and
sée the king. With which demand he séeming to take disdaine, answered
bréefelie, and in few words thus: I remember not that I know anie
within this realme, but that it beséemeth him rather to come and sée my
person, than I to go and sée his. The archbishop hearing his answer,
went backe to the king, and declared what answer he had receiued of
the dukes owne mouth. After the archbishop was departed to the king
that laie in the quéenes lodging, the duke also departed, and went to
the most principall lodging that the king had within all his palace,
breaking vp the lockes and doores, and so lodged himselfe therein, more
like to a king than a duke, continuing in the same lodging for a time
to the great indignation of manie, that could not in aniewise like of
such presumptuous attempts made by the duke, to thrust himselfe in
possession of the crowne, and to depose king Henrie, who had reigned
ouer them so long a time.
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall. in Hen. 6. fol._ clxxvij, &c.]
Maister Edward Hall in his chronicle maketh mention of an oration,
which the duke of Yorke vttered, sitting in the regall seat there in
the chamber of the péeres, either at this his first comming in amongst
them, or else at some one time after, the which we haue thought good
also to set downe: though Iohn Whethamsted the abbat of saint Albons,
who liued in those daies, and by all likelihood was there present at
the parlement, maketh no further recitall of anie words, which the
duke should vtter at that time in that his booke of records, where he
intreateth of this matter. But for the oration (as maister Hall hath
written thereof) we find as followeth. ¶ During the time (saith he)
of this parlement, the duke of Yorke with a bold countenance entered
into the chamber of the péeres, and sat downe in the throne roiall,
vnder the cloth of estate (which is the kings peculiar seat) and in the
presence of the nobilitie, as well spirituall as temporall (after a
pause made) he began to declare his title to the crowne, in this forme
and order as insueth.
The duke of Yorks oration made to the lords of the parlement.
My singular good lords, maruell not that I approch vnto this throne:
for I sit here as in the place to me by verie iustice lawfullie
belonging; & here I rest, as to whom this chaire of right apperteineth,
not as he which requireth of you fauour, parcialitie, or bearing, but
equall right, friendlie indifferencie, and true administration of
iustice. For I béeing the partie gréeued, and complainant, can not
minister to my selfe the medicine that should helpe me (as expert
léeches & cunning surgians maie) except you be to me both faithfull
aiders & also true councellors. Nor yet this noble realme and our
naturall countrie shall neuer be vnbuckled from hir dailie feuer,
except I (as the principall physician, and you as the true and trustie
apothecaries) consult togither in making of the potion, and trie out
the cleane and pure stuffe from the corrupt and putrified drugs.
For vndoubtedlie, the root and bottome of this long festured canker is
not yet extirpate, nor the féeble foundation of this fallible building
is not yet espied, which hath béene and is the dailie destruction of
the nobilitie, and the continuall confusion of the poore communaltie
of this realme and kingdome. For all you know (or should know) that
the high and mightie prince king Richard the second, was the true and
vndoubted heire to the valiant conqueror and renowmed prince king
Edward the third, as sonne & heire to the hardie knight and couragious
capteine Edward prince of Wales, duke of Aquitaine and Cornewall,
eldest sonne to the said king Edward the third: which king was not
onelie in déed, but also of all men reputed and taken for the true and
infallible heire to the wise and politike prince king Henrie the third,
as sonne and heire to king Edward the second, sonne and heire to king
Edward the first, the very heire and first begotten sonne of the said
noble and vertuous prince king Henrie the third.
Which king Richard of that name the second, was lawfullie & iustlie
possessed of the crowne and diadem of this realme and region, till
Henrie of Derbie duke of Lancaster and Hereford, sonne to Iohn of Gant
duke of Lancaster, the fourth begotten sonne to the said king Edward
the third, and yoonger brother to my noble ancestor Lionell duke of
Clarence, the third begotten sonne of the said king Edward, by force
and violence, contrarie both to the dutie of his allegiance, and also
to his homage to him both doone and sworne, raised warre and battell
at the castle of Flint in Northwales, against the said king Richard,
and him apprehended, and imprisoned within the Tower of London: during
whose life and captiuitie, he wrongfullie vsurped and intruded vpon the
roiall power, and high estate of this realme and region, taking vpon
him the name, stile, and authoritie of king and gouernour of the same.
And not therewith satisfied, and contented, compassed and accomplished
the death and destruction of his naturall prince, and most worthie
souereigne lord, not as a common homicide and butcherlie murtherer,
but as a regicide, and destroier of his king. After whose pitious
death, and execrable murther, the right and title of the crowne, and
superioritie of this realme was lawfullie reuerted & returned to Roger
Mortimer earle of March, sonne and heire to ladie Philip the onelie
child of the aboue rehearsed Lionell duke of Clarence, vnto which
Rogers daughter called Anne, my most déerest and welbeloued moother,
I am the verie true and lineall heire, which descent all you can not
iustlie gainesay, nor yet trulie denie. Then remember this, if the
title be mine, why am I put from it? If I be true heire to the crowne
(as I am in déed) why is my right withholden? If my claime be good,
why haue I not iustice? For suerlie, learned men of great science and
knowledge say and affirme, that lineall descent, nor vsurped possession
can nothing preuaile, if continuall claime be lawfullie made, or
openlie published.
For the auoiding of which scruple and ambiguitie: Edmund earle of March
my most welbeloued vncle, in the time of the first vsurper, in déed but
not by right called king Henrie the fourth, by his coosines the earle
of Northumberland, & the lord Persie, he being then in captiuitie with
Owen Glendouer the rebell in Wales, made his title & righteous claime
to the destruction of both the noble persons. Likewise my most déerest
lord and father, so farre set foorth that right and title, that he lost
his life & worldlie ioy at the towne of Southampton, more by power
than indifferent iustice. Since whose death, I comming to my full age,
haue neuer desisted to pursue my title, and require my right, which by
meanes of sinister counsell and vniust detention, I can neither obteine
nor recouer. So that of fine force I am compelled to vse power in stéed
of praier, and force in stéed of request; not (as I said before) for
my priuat emolument and peculiar profit: but to restore peace, loue,
and quietnesse to this our naturall region, which euer since the first
vngodlie vsurpation of the aforenamed Henrie, vntrulie called king
Henrie the fourth, hath béene cléerelie banished, and out of the same
vniustlie exiled.
What murthers and manslaughters haue béene perpetrated and committed
within this countrie, since the beginning of that vngratious
vsurpation? What number of noble men haue béene slaine, destroied,
& executed since that unfortunate daie? It is too lamentable and
manifest. For although Henrie of Lancaster earle of Derbie tooke vpon
him the scepter and the crowne, and wrongfullie bare the name and stile
of a king; and was not much tickled with mine vncle the earle of March,
at that time being within age: yet was he neuer in suertie of himselfe,
nor had or inioied any profit & quietnesse either in mind or in bodie.
"For suerlie, a corrupt conscience neuer féeleth rest, but looketh
when the sword of vengeage will descend and strike." His sonne also
called king Henrie the fift, obteined notable victories, and immortal
praises for his noble acts doone in the realme of France: yet God (for
the offense of his vntrue parent) suddenlie touched him, vnbodieng his
soule in the flower of his youth, and in the glorie of his conquest.
And although he had a faire sonne and a yoong heire apparant: yet
was this orphan such a one (as preachers say) that God threatned to
send for a punishment to his vnrulie and vngratious people, saieng
by his prophet Esaie; "I shall giue you children to be your princes,
and infants without wisedome shall haue the gouernance of you." The
prophet lied not, if you note all things in an order: for after this
Henrie the fift (whose fame no man can iustlie reprooue or deface)
succéeded his sonne, whom all we haue called our naturall prince, and
obeied as his heire. In whose time and wrongfull reigne, I require you
diligentlie to consider, with what great torments and afflictions God
hath whipped & scourged this miserable Ile: yea with such and so manie
scourges and plagues, as no nation (the Ægyptians onelie excepted) were
euer tormented or afflicted withall. I will not speake of rebellious
murthers and oppressions, which of late haue béene doone and exercised
héere among vs. But I will declare & manifest to you, how the crowne
and glorie of this realme is by the negligence of this sillie man, and
his vnwise councell minished, defaced, and also dishonoured.
Is not Normandie, which his father gat, regained & conquered againe, by
the insolencie of him & his couetous councell? Is not the whole duchie
of Aquitaine, by two hundred and od yeares peaceablie possessed by the
kings of this realme, in one yeare and a little more, gotten out of
our hands & seigniorie? What should I speak of Aniou & Maine, or the
losse of the Ile of France, with the rich citie of Paris. Alas it is
too apparant. Neither will I molest you with the recitall of all the
particulars thereof. But now in the middest of this affliction, and
to make an end of the same: God of his ineffable goodnesse, looking
on this countrie with his eies of pitie & mercie, hath sent me in the
truth, to restore againe this decaid kingdome to his ancient fame and
old renowme whereof héere in open parlement, according to my iust &
true title, I haue and doo take possession of this roiall throne: not
putting diffidence, but firme hope in Gods grace, that by his diuine
aid, and assistance of you the péeres of this realme, I shall beautifie
& mainteine the same to the glorie of him, honour of my bloud, and to
the publike wealth as well of you all héere present, as of all the
poore commons and subiects of this kingdome and regiment.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Prodigious tokens.]
When the duke had made an end of his oration, the lords sat still
as men striken into a certeine amazednesse, neither whispering nor
speaking foorth a word, as though their mouthes had béene sowed vp.
The duke not verie well content with their silence, aduised them to
consider throughlie, and ponder the whole effect of his words and
saiengs: and so neither fullie displeased, nor yet altogither content,
departed to his lodging in the kings palace. While he was declaring
thus his title in the higher house among the péeres, there happened a
strange chance in the verie same instant amongest the commons in the
nether house. A crowne which did hang in the middle of the same, to
garnish a branch to set lights vpon, without touch of man, or blast of
wind, suddenlie fell downe. About the same time also fell downe the
crowne which stood on the top of Douer castell. Which chances where
construed to be signes, that the crowne of the realme should some waie
haue a fall.
[Sidenote: The castell of Roxburgh besieged.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots thorough misfortune slaine.]
The lords forgot not the dukes demand, and to take some direction
therein, diuerse of them as spirituall and temporall, with manie
graue and sage persons of the commonaltie dailie assembled at the
Blackefriers, and other places, to treat of this matter, being of so
great importance. During which time the duke of Yorke, although he
and the king were both lodged in the palace of Westminster; yet would
he not for anie praiers or requests once visit the king, till some
conclusion were taken in this matter: saieng, that he was subiect to no
man, but only to God, vnder whose mercie none here superiour but he. ¶
The king of Scots, partlie incouraged thorough the ciuill discord here
in England, and partlie for the displeasure which he had conceiued for
the death of Edmund duke of Summerset his moothers brother, this yeare
besieged the castell of Roxburgh: and by the breaking of a bombard, as
the same was shot off against the castell, he chanced to be slaine. Yet
the Scots left not off their enterprise, assaulting the castell till
they gat it, and then defended it a long time after, till Richard duke
of Glocester wan it againe, and raced it.
[Sidenote: The determination of the parlement c[=o]cerning the
intailing of crowne.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 700, 701, &c. in Quart._]
After long debating of the matter and deliberate consultation amongest
the péeres, prelats, and commons, vpon the vigill of all saints, it was
condescended: for so much as king Henrie had béene taken as king by the
space of thirtie and eight yeares and more, that he should inioy the
name and title of king, and haue possession of the realme during his
naturall life. And if he either died, or resigned, or forfeited the
same, by breaking or going against anie point of this concord, then the
said crowne & authoritie roiall should immediatlie be deuoluted and
come to the duke of Yorke, if he then liued; or else to the next heire
of his linage. And that the duke of Yorke from thense foorth should
be protector and regent of the land. ¶ This was the determination of
the parlement to & fro, tending to peace betwéene the king & the duke
(which was ratified accordinglie) as by the articles insuing dooth
appeare.
The articles betwixt king Henrie and the duke of Yorke.
Blessed be Iesu, in whose hands and bountie resteth and is the peace
and vnitie betwixt princes, and the weale of euerie realme: by whose
direction (I know) agréed it is, appointed, and accorded as followeth,
betwixt the most high and most mightie prince king Henrie the sixt,
king of England and of France, and lord of Ireland, on the one partie,
and the right high & mightie prince Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke
on the other partie: vpon certeine matters of variance mooued betwixt
them, and especiallie vpon the claime and title vnto the crownes
of England and of France, and roiall power, estate and dignitie
apperteining to the same, and lordship of Ireland, opened, shewed,
and declared by the said duke, before all the lords spirituall and
temporall, being in this present parlement.
First, where the said Richard duke of Yorke hath declared and opened
(as his aboue said) title & claime in maner as followeth.
That the right noble and woorthie prince, Henrie king of England the
third had issue, and lawfullie got Edward the first begotten sonne,
borne at Westminster, the fiftéenth kalends of Iulie, in the yeare of
our Lord 1239, & Edmund his second sonne which was borne on S. Marcels
daie, the yere 1245, the which Edward, after the death of king Henrie
his father, intituled & called king Edward the first, had issue, Edward
his first begotten sonne, called (after the deceasse of his father)
king Edward the second, the which had issue, Edward the third; which
Edward the third had issue, Edward prince of Wales; William of Hatfield
his second sonne; Lionell the third, duke of Clarence; Iohn of Gant,
fourth duke of Lancaster; Edmund of Langlie fift, duke of Yorke; Thomas
of Woodstoke sixt, duke of Glocester; and William of Windsor seauenth.
The said Edward prince of Wales, which died in the life time of his
father, had issue Richard, which succéeded Edward the third his
grandsire; Richard died without issue; William of Hatfield the second
sonne of Edward the third, died without issue; Lionell the third sonne
of Edward the third, duke of Clarence, had issue Philip his daughter
and heire, which was coupled in matrimonie vnto Edmund Mortimer earle
of March, and had issue Roger Mortimer earle of March hir sonne and
heire; which Roger had issue of Edmund erle of March, Roger Mortimer,
Anne, Elianor; which Edmund, Roger, and Elianor died without issue.
And the said Anne coupled in matrimonie to Richard earle of Cambridge,
the sonne of Edmund of Langleie, the fift sonne of Henrie the third,
and had issue Richard Plantagenet, commonlie called duke of Yorke; Iohn
of Gant, the fourth sonne of Edward and the yoonger brother of the said
Lionell, had issue Henrie earle of Derbie, who incontinentlie after
that king Richard resigned the crownes of the realmes and lordship of
Ireland, vnrighteouslie entered vpon the same, then being aliue Edmund
Mortimer earle of March, sonne to Roger Mortimer earle of March, sonne
and heire of the said Philip, daughter and heire of the said Lionell,
the third sonne of the said king Edward the third, to the which Edmund
the right and title of the said crownes and lordship by law and custome
belonged. To the which Richard duke of Yorke, as sonne to Anne daughter
to Roger Mortimer earle of March, sonne and heire of the said Philip,
daughter and heire of the said Lionell, the third sonne of king Edward
the third, the right, title, dignitie roiall, and estate of the crownes
of the realmes of England and France, and the lordship of Ireland
perteineth and belongeth afore anie issue of the said Iohn of Gant, the
fourth sonne of the same king Edward.
The said title notwithstanding, and without preiudice of the said
Richard duke of Yorke, tenderlie desiring the wealth, rest, and
prosperitie of this land, and to set apart all that might be trouble to
the same, and considering the possession of the said king Henrie the
sixt, and that he hath for his time béene named, taken, and reputed
for king of England and of France, and lord of Ireland, is contented,
agréed, and consenteth, that he be had, reputed, and taken for king of
England and France, with the roiall estate, dignitie, and preheminence
belonging therevnto, and lord of Ireland during his naturall life.
And for that time, the said duke, without hurt or preiudice of his
said right, and title, shall take, worship, and honour him for his
souereigne lord.
Item, the said Richard duke of Yorke, shall promit and bind him by his
solemne oth, in maner and forme as followeth.
[Sidenote: The oth of Richard duke of Yorke.]
In the name of God Amen: I Richard duke of Yorke, promise and sweare
by the faith and truth that I owe to almightie God, that I shall neuer
consent, procure, or stirre, directlie or indirectlie, in priuie
or apert, neither (as much as in me is) shall suffer to be doone,
consented, procured, or stirred, anie thing that may sound to the
abridgement of the naturall life of king Henrie the sixt, or to the
hurt or diminishing of his reigne or dignitie roiall, by violence, or
anie other waie, against his fréedome or libertie: but if any person or
persons would doo or presume anie thing to the contrarie, I shall with
all my might and power withstand it, and make it to be withstood, as
far as my power will stretch therevnto, so helpe me God and his holie
euangelists.
Item, Edward earle of March, and Edmund earle of Rutland, sonnes of the
said duke of Yorke, shall make like oth.
Item, it is accorded, appointed, and agréed that the said Richard duke
of Yorke, shall be called and reputed from hencefoorth, verie and
rightfull heire to the crownes, roiall estate, dignitie and lordship
aboue said; and after the deceasse of the said king Henrie, or when he
will laie from him the said crownes, estate, dignitie, and lordship,
the said duke and his heires shall immediatlie succéed to the said
crownes, roiall estate, dignitie and lordship.
Item, the said Richard duke of Yorke, shall haue by authoritie of this
present parlement, castels, manors, lands, and tenements, with the
wards, marriages, reliefes, seruices, fines, amercements, offices,
aduousons, fées, and other appurtenances to them belonging, what soeuer
they be, to the yearelie value of ten thousand marks, ouer all charges
and reprises; whereof fiue thousand marks shall be to his owne state,
thrée thousand fiue hundred marks to Edward his first begotten sonne
earle of March for his estate, and one thousand pounds to Edmund earle
of Rutland his second sonne for his yearlie sustentation, in such
consideration and such intent as shall be declared by the lords of the
kings councell.
Item, if anie person or persons imagine or compasse the death of the
said duke, and thereof probablie be attainted of open déed doone by
folkes of other condition, that it be déemed & adiuged high treason.
Item, for the more establishing of the said accord, it is appointed
and consented, that the lords spirituall and temporall, being in
this present parlement, shall make oths, to accept, take, worship,
and repute the said Richard duke of Yorke and his heires, as aboue
is rehearsed, and kéepe, obserue, and strengthen (in as much as
apperteineth vnto them) all the things abouesaid, and resist to their
power, all them that would presume the contrarie, according to their
estates and degrées.
Item, the said Richard duke of Yorke, earles of March, and Rutland,
shall permit and make other to helpe, aid, and defend the said lords,
and euerie of them against all those that will quarell, or anie thing
attempt against the said lords, or anie of them, by occasion of
agréement or consenting to the said accord, or assistance giuing to the
duke and earles, or anie of them.
Item, it is agréed and appointed, that this accord, and euerie article
thereof, be opened and notified by the kings letters patents, or
otherwise, at such times and places, and in maner as it shall be
thought expedient to the said Richard duke of Yorke, with the aduise
of the lords of the kings councell. The king vnderstandeth certeinelie
the said title of the said Richard duke of Yorke, iust, lawfull,
and sufficient, by the aduise and assent of the lords spirituall
and temporall, and the commons in this parlement assembled; and by
authoritie of the same parlement declareth, approoueth, ratifieth,
confirmeth, and accepteth the said title, iust, good, lawfull, and
true, and therevnto giueth his assent and agréement of his frée will
and libertie.
And ouer that, by the said aduise and authoritie declareth, intituleth,
calleth, establisheth, affirmeth, & reputeth the said Richard duke of
Yorke, verie true and rightfull heire to the crownes, roiall estate,
and dignitie of the realmes of England and of France, and of the
lordship of Ireland aforesaid; and that according to the worship and
reuerence that thereto belongeth, he be taken, accepted and reputed, in
worship & reuerence, by all the states of the said realme of England,
and of all his subiects thereof; sauing and ordeining by the same
authoritie, the king to haue the said crownes, realme, roiall estate,
dignitie, and preheminence of the same, and the said lordship of
Ireland during his life naturall.