hauen, and in what danger he stood by reason of the Easterlings)
commanded them not to be so hardie as once to meddle with anie
Englishmen, being both the dukes fréends and alies. Then did king
Edward & all his companie come on land. Who after they had beene well
refreshed & gentlie comforted by the lord Gronture, they were by him
brought to the Hagh, a rich towne in Holland, where they remained a
while, hauing all things necessarie ministred to them by order of
the duke of Burgognie, sent vnto the lord Gronture, immediatlie vpon
certificat from the said lord Gronture of king Edwards arriuall. [Héere
we sée in what perplexities king Edward and his retinue were, partlie
by enimies at home in his owne countrie, whose hands he was constreined
to flée from by the helpe of the sea; partlie also by aduersaries
abroad, seeking opportunitie to offer him not the incounter onelie,
but the ouerthrow. And suerly, had not good fortune fauoured him, in
preparing readie meanes for him to auoid those imminent dangers; he
had doubtlesse fallen among the weapons of his owne countrimen, and
so neuer haue feared forren force: but in escaping both the one and
the other, euen with shift of so spéedie expedition, it is a note (if
it be well looked into) of happinesse, if anie happinesse may be in
preseruation from ruine and reproch.]
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall. fol._ ccix.]
Now let all Englishmen (saith Edward Hall) consider (as before is
rehearsed) what profit, what commoditie, and what helpe in distresse,
the mariage of the ladie Margaret, king Edwards sister to the duke
Charles, did to him in his extreame necessitie; and but by that meane
vncurable extremitie: for his alies and confederats in Castile and
Arragon were too far from him, either speedilie to flie to, or shortlie
to come fro with anie aid or armie. The French king was his extreme
enimie, and freend to king Henrie, for whose cause in the king of Scots
(for all the leage betwéene them) he did put little confidence and
lesse trust. The states and all Eastland were with him at open war, and
yet by this marriage, God prouided him a place to flie to, both for
refuge and reléefe.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]
[But for the further and cleerer explanation of these stratagems, or
rather ciuill tumults, it shall not be amisse to insert in this place
(sith I cannot hit vpon one more conuenient) a verie good note or
addition receiued from the hands of maister Iohn Hooker chamberlaine of
Excester; the contents whereof are of such qualitie, that they cannot
stand in concurrence with anie matter introduced within the compasse of
the ninth yeare of this kings reigne (as he had quoted it) and therfore
I thought it méet to transfer the same to this tenth yeare; considering
that some part of the matter by him largelie touched, is briefelie in
the premisses alreadie remembred.]
[Sidenote: _Iohn Hooker, alias Vowell._]
[Sidenote: Lord Dinh[=a], and baron Carew, with their power come to
Excester.]
¶ This yeare (saith he) was verie troublesome, and full of ciuill wars
and great discords. For after that king Edward the fourth was escaped
out of prison, at Wolneie besides Warwike, he mustered and prepared a
new armie. Wherevpon the earle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence,
mistrusting themselues, prepared to passe the seas ouer to Calis, and
first of all sent awaie the duches of Clarence daughter to the said
earle, who was then great with child, and she being accompanied with
the lord Fitz Warren, the lord Dinham, and the baron of Carew, and a
thousand fighting men came to this citie of Excester the eightéenth
daie of March, and was lodged in the bishops palace. Sir Hugh, or (as
some saie) sir William Courtneie, who then fauoured the partie of
king Edward the fourth, assembled a great troope and armie of all the
fréends he could make, and inuironing the citie, besieged the same; he
pulled downe all the bridges, rampered vp all the waies, and stopped
all the passages, so that no vittels at all could be brought to this
citie for twelue daies togither, which being doone vpon a sudden and
vnlooked for, vittels waxed short and scant within the citie, and by
reason of so great a multitude within the same, the people for want of
food began to murmur and mutter.
The duches and the lords of hir companie, mistrusting what might
and would be the sequele hereof, began to deale with the maior, and
required to haue the keies of the gates to be deliuered into their
hands and that they would vndertake the safe custodie of the citie.
Likewise sir William Courtneie did send his messenger to the maior,
and required the gates to be opened and to giue him entrance: or els
he would with sword and fier destroie the same. The maior and his
brethren being in great perplexities, and hauing to answer not onelie
the lords within and the knight without, but most of all doubting the
common people within, who being impatient of penurie, were deafe to all
persuasions and listen to any counsels: did so order and handle the
matter, as that by good spéeches and courteous vsages, euerie partie
was stopped and staied, vntill by means and mediations of certeine good
and godlie men, an intreatie was made, the matter was compounded and
the siege raised, and euerie man set at libertie.
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike soiorne at
Excester, and are pursued of the king.]
The next daie after which conclusion, the gates being opened, to wit,
the third of Aprill 1470, the earle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence
came to this citie, and here rested, and soiorned themselues vntill
sufficient shipping was prouided for their passage ouer the seas, and
then they all imbarked themselues, and passed ouer to Calis. The king
in this meane time mustered his armie, and prepared with all spéed all
things necessarie to follow and pursue his said aduersaries, and came
to this citie, thinking to find them here the fourtéenth of Aprill
being saturdaie 1470, with fortie thousand fighting men: but the
birds were fled awaie before his comming. Neuerthelesse the king came
and entred into the citie, being accompanied with sundrie noble men;
namelie, the bishop of Elie then lord treasuror, the duke of Norffolke
earle marshall, the duke of Suffolke, the earle of Arundell, the earle
of Wilshire sonne to the duke of Buckingham, the earle of Worcester
constable of England, the earle of Shrewesburie, the earle Riuers, the
lord Hastings, the lord Graie of Codnor, the lord Audelie, the lord
Saie, the lord Sturton, the lord Dacres, the lord Montioie, the lord
Stanlei, the lord Ferris, and the baron of Dudlei.
[Sidenote: The king is receiued verie honorablie into the citie of
Excester.]
[Sidenote: The citizens beneuolence to the king.]
Before whose comming, the maior being aduertised thereof, tooke order,
and gaue commandement to euerie citizen and inhabitant, being of
abilitie, to prouide and prepare for himselfe a gowne of the cities
liuerie, which was then red colour, and to be in a readinesse for
receiuing of the king, which was accordinglie doone. And when the
king was come neere to the citie, the maior being verie well attended
with foure hundred persons well and séemelie apparelled in the cities
liuerie, went to the south gate, and without the same attended the
kings comming. Who when he was come, the maior did his most humble
obeisance, and therewith Thomas Dowrish then recorder of the citie
made vnto his grace an humble oration, congratulating his comming to
the citie: which ended, the maior deliuered vnto the king the keies of
the gates and the maces of his office, and therewith a pursse of one
hundred nobles in gold, which his grace tooke verie thankfullie. The
monie he kept, but the keies and the maces he deliuered backe to the
maior; and then the maior tooke the mace and did beare it through the
citie bare-headed before the king, vntill he came to his lodging.
[Sidenote: How long the king continued in the citie.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and the earle of Warwike arriue on the
English coasts.]
The next daie following, being Palmesundaie, the king in most princelie
and roiall maner came to the cathedrall church of saint Peters, to
heare the diuine seruice, where he followed and went in procession
after the maner as was then vsed, round about the churchyard, to the
great ioy and comfort of all the people: he continued in the citie
thrée daies vntill the tuesdaie then following; who when he had dined
tooke his horsse and departed backe towards London, and gaue to the
maior great good thanks for his interteinement. About foure moneths
after this, in August, the duke of Clarence and the erle of Warwike
returned againe from Calis, with all their retinue, & landed some at
Plimmouth, some at Dartmouth, and some at Exmouth: but all met in this
citie, and from hence they all passed towards London, and at euerie
place they proclamed king Henrie the sixt, which when king Edward
heard, he was very much troubled therewith: and not able then to
withstand their force, he passed the seas to his brother in law the
duke of Burgognie.
[Sidenote: The practise of a knight being chiefe iustice at the law to
rid himselfe of life.]
This yeare also, being verie troublesome, and the gouernement
vncerteine, men were in great perplexities, & wist not what to doo.
And among manie there was one speciallie to be remembred, who to rid
himselfe out of these troubles, did deuise this practise: his name was
sir William Haukesford knight, a man verie well learned in the lawes
of the realme, and one of the chiefe iustices at the law: he dwelled
at Annorie in Deuonshire, a gentleman of great possessions, and hauing
neuer a sonne, the lord Fitz Warren, sir Iohn Sentleger, & sir William
Bulleine, who maried his daughters, were his heires. This man being
one of the chiefest lawiers in the land, was dailie sought to and his
councell asked: and he considering that when the sword ruled, law had a
small course, and finding by experience what fruits insue such counsell
as dooth not best like the parties, was verie heauie, sorrowfull, and
in great agonies.
[Sidenote: An vniust or surmised charge of the knight against the
kéeper of his parke.]
Herevpon suddenlie he called vnto him the keeper of his parke, with
whom he fell out and quareled, bicause (as he said) he was slothfull
and careles, and did not walke in the nights about the parke, but
suffered his game to be spoiled and his deere to be stolen, wherefore
he willed him to be more vigilant and carefull of his charge, and also
commanded him that if he met anie man in his circuit and walke in the
night time, and would not stand nor speake vnto him, he should not
spare to kill him what so euer he were. This knight, hauing laid this
foundation, and minding to performe what he had purposed for the ending
of his dolefull daies, did in a certeine darke night secretlie conueie
himselfe out of his house, and walked alone in his parke. Then the
kéeper in his night walke hearing one stirring and comming towards him,
asked who was there? but no answer was made at all.
[Sidenote: The kéeper killeth his maister the knight with an arrow.]
Then the keeper willed him to stand, which when he would not doo, the
kéeper nocked his arrow and shot vnto him, and killed him; who when he
perceiued that it was his maister, then he called to remembrance his
maisters former commandement. And so this knight, otherwise learned
and wise, being affraid to displease man, did displease God, and verie
disorderlie ended his life. It is inrolled amongst the records of this
citie, of a commission directed to Iohn earle of Deuonshire, & from him
sent to the maior of the citie of Excester to be proclamed. The words
be these: Decimoquarto die Aprilis, vz. in vigilia Paschæ, An. 49.
Hen. 6. commissio domini regis directa Iohanni comiti Deuon. missa est
maiori vt proclamaretur. And likewise in an other place: Quatuor marcæ
sunt solutæ Iohanni comiti Deuon. ex assensu maioris.
Howbeit, certeine it is there was no such earle of that name, onelie
there was Iohn Holland then liuing duke of Excester, wherefore
something is mistaken herein.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Flem._]
But was this a practise (thinke you) beséeming a man of worship,
learning, and iudgement, to make awaie himselfe, bicause he saw a
temporall interruption of his prosperitie? Suerlie how much learning
so euer he had in the lawes of the land, litle at all or none (as
appeareth) had he in suffering the forces of aduersitie, whom the feare
of it did so terrifie, that it droue him to his end. Wise therefore
is the counsel of the comedie-writer, and worthie of imitation, that
a man, when he is in best case and highest degrée of welfare, should
euen then meditate with himselfe how to awaie with hardnesse, with
penurie, perils, losse, banishment, and other afflictions: for so shall
he prepare himselfe to beare them with patience when they happen: as
souldiers trained vp in militarie exercises at home, are so much the
forwarder for the field, & fitter to incounter their foes (with lesse
dread of danger) when they come abroad to be tried: and therefore it is
wiselie (& to the purpose) said of Virgil:
[Sidenote: _Aeneid. 5._]
----superando omnis fortuna ferendo est.
[Sidenote: K. Edwards fréends take sanctuarie.]
[Sidenote: Quéene Elizabeth deliuered of a prince.]
[Sidenote: _Ab. Flem._]
But to returne to the princes affaires. When the fame was once spred
abroad that K. Edward was fled the relme, an innumerable number of
people resorted to the earle of Warwike to take his part, but all K.
Edwards trustie fréends went to diuerse sanctuaries, and amongst other
his wife quéene Elizabeth tooke sanctuarie at Westminster, and there
in great penurie forsaken of all hir friends, was deliuered of a faire
son called Edward, which was with small pompe like a poore mans child
christened, the godfathers being the abbat and prior of Westminster,
and the godmother the ladie Scroope. [But what might be the heauinesse
of this ladies hart (thinke we) vpon consideration of so manie
counterblasts of vnhappinesse inwardlie conceiued? Hir husband had
taken flight, his adherents and hir fréends sought to shroud themselues
vnder the couert of a new protector, she driuen in distresse forsooke
not that simple refuge which hir hard hap forced vpon hir; and (a kings
wife) wanted in hir necessitie such things as meane mens wiues had
in superfluitie, & (a corosiue to a noble mind) a prince of renowmed
parentage was (by constreint of vnkind fortune) not vouchsafed the
solemnitie of christendome due and decent for so honorable a personage.]
[Sidenote: The Kentishmen make an hurlie burlie.]
[Sidenote: King Henrie fetched out of the Tower & restored to his
kinglie gouernement.]
The Kentishmen in this seson (whose minds be euer moueable at the
change of princes) came to the subvrbs of London, spoiled mansions,
robbed béerehouses, and by the counsell of sir Geffrie Gates and other
sanctuarie men, they brake vp the kings Bench and deliuered prisoners,
and fell at Ratcliffe, Limehouse, & S. Katharins, to burning of houses,
slaughter of people, and rauishing of women. Which small sparkle had
growne to a greater flame, if the earle of Warwike with a great power
had not suddenlie quenched it, and punished the offendors: which
benefit by him doone, caused him much more to be estéemed and liked
amongst the commons than he was before. When he had settled all things
at his pleasure, vpon the twelfe daie of October he rode to the Tower
of London, and there deliuered king Henrie out of the ward, where he
before was kept, and brought him to the kings lodging, where he was
serued according to his degrée.
On the fiue and twentith day of the said moneth, the duke of Clarence
accompanied with the earles of Warwike and Shrewesburie, the lord
Strange, and other lords and gentlemen, some for feare, and some
for loue, and some onelie to gaze at the wauering world, went to the
Tower, and from thense brought king Henrie apparelled in a long gowne
of blew veluet, through London to the church of saint Paule, the
people on euerie side the stréets reioising and crieng; God saue the
king: as though ech thing had succéeded as they would haue had it:
and when he had offered (as kings vse to doo) he was conueied to the
bishops palace, where he kept his houshold like a king. [Thus was the
principalitie posted ouer somtimes to Henrie, sometimes to Edward;
according to the swaie of the partie preuailing: ambition and disdaine
still casting fagots on the fire, whereby the heat of hatred gathered
the greater force to the consumption of the péeres and the destruction
of the people. In the meane time, neither part could securelie possesse
the regalitie, when they obteined it; which highmindednesse was in the
end the ouerthrow of both principals and accessaries, according to the
nature thereof noted in this distichon by the poet:
Fastus habet lites, offensis fastus abundat,
Fastus ad interitum præcipitare solet.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward adiudged an vsurper.]
When king Henrie had thus readepted and eftsoons gotten his regall
power and authoritie, he called his high court of parlement to begin
the six and twentith day of Nouember at Westminster; in the which king
Edward was adiudged a traitor to the countrie, and an vsurper of the
realme. His goods were confiscat and forfeited. The like sentence was
giuen against all his partakers and freends. And besides this it was
inacted, that such as for his sake were apprehended, and were either
in captiuitie or at large vpon suerties, should be extremelie punished
according to their demerits, amongst whome was the lord Tiptoft earle
of Worcester lieutenant for king Edward in Ireland, exercising there
more extreme crueltie than princelie pietie, and namelie on two infants
being sonnes to the earle of Desmond.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 725._]
[Sidenote: The earle Tiptoft beheaded.]
[Sidenote: The crowne intailed.]
[This earle of Worcester, being found in the top of an high trée, in
the forest of Waibridge, in the countie of Huntington, was brought
to London, and either for treason to him laid, or malice against
him conceiued, was atteinted, and beheaded at the Tower hill, and
after buried at the Blacke friers.] Moreouer, all statutes made by
king Edward were clearlie reuoked, and the crownes of the realmes of
England and France were by authoritie of the same parlement intailed
to king Henrie the sixt, and to his heires male; and for default of
such heires, to remaine to George duke of Clarence, & to his heires
male: and further, the said duke was inabled to be next heire to his
father Richard duke of Yorke, and to take from him all his landes and
dignities, as though he had béene his eldest sonne at the time of his
death. Iasper earle of Penbroke, and Iohn earle of Oxford, with diuerse
other by king Edward atteinted, were restored to their old names,
possessions, and ancient dignities.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 722, 723._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike his housekéeping.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike instituted gouernour of the realme.]
Beside this, the earle of Warwike, as one to whom the common-wealth
was much bounden [and euer had in great fauour of the commons of this
land, by reason of the exceeding houshold which he dailie kept in all
countries where euer he soiourned or laie: and when he came to London,
he held such an house, that six oxen were eaten at a breakefast, and
euerie tauerne was full of his meat, for who that had anie acquaintance
in that house, he should haue had as much sod and rost as he might
carrie vpon a long dagger] he (I saie) was made gouernour of the
realme, with whom as fellow was associat George duke of Clarence. And
thus was the state of the realme quite altered. To this parlement came
the marquesse Montacute, excusing himselfe, that for feare of death he
declined to take king Edwards part, which excuse was accepted. When
quéene Margaret vnderstood by hir husbands letters, that the victorie
was gotten by their fréends, she with hir sonne prince Edward and hir
traine entered their ships, to take their voiage into England: but
the winter was so sharpe, the weather so stormie, and the wind so
contrarie, that she was faine to take land againe, and to deferre hir
iournie till another season.
[Sidenote: Iasper earle of Penbroke.]
[Sidenote: Margaret countesse of Richmond and Derbie.]
About the same season, Iasper earle of Penbroke went into Wales, to
visit his lands in Penbrokeshire, where he found lord Henrie sonne to
his brother Edmund earle of Richmond, hauing not full ten yeares of
age; he being kept in maner like a captiue, but honorablie brought
vp by the ladie Herbert, late wife to William earle of Penbroke,
beheaded at Banburie (as ye before haue heard.) This Henrie was borne
of Margaret the onelie daughter and heire of Iohn the first duke of
Summerset, then not being full ten yeares of age, the which ladie
though she were after ioined in mariage with lord Henrie sonne to
Humfreie duke of Buckingham, and after to Thomas Stanleie earle of
Derbie, both being yoong and apt for generation, yet she had neuer anie
more children, as though she had doone hir part to bring foorth a man
child, and the same to be a king (as he after was indéed) intituled by
the name of Henrie the seuenth (as after ye shall heare.)
[Sidenote: The saieng of king Henrie the sixt, of Henrie of Richmond
after king Henrie the seuenth.]
[Sidenote: _Ab. Flem._]
The earle of Penbroke tooke this child, being his nephue, out of the
custodie of the ladie Herbert, and at his returne brought the child
with him to London to king Henrie the sixt, whome when the king had
a good while beheld, he said to such princes as were with him: Lo,
suerlie this is he, to whom both we and our aduersaries leauing the
possession of all things shall hereafter giue roome and place. So
this holie man shewed before the chance that should happen, that this
earle Henrie so ordeined by God, should in time to come (as he did
indéed) haue and inioy the kingdome and whole rule of this realme of
England. ¶ So that it might seeme probable by the coherence of holie
Henries predictions with the issue falling out in truth with the
same; that for the time he was indued with a propheticall spirit. And
suerlie the epithet or title of holie is not for naught attributed
vnto him, for it is to be read in writers, that he was by nature
giuen to peaceablenesse, abhorring bloud and slaughter, detesting
ciuill tumults, addicted to deuotion, verie frequent in praier, and
not estéeming so highlie of courtlie gallantnesse as stood with the
dignitie of a prince. In consideration wherof, he procured against
himselfe an apostasie of his people both natiue and forren; who
reuolted and fell from fealtie. And whie? The reason is rendred by the
same writer, namelie:
Quòd tales homines populus sceleratior odit,
Fastidit, detestatur: non conuenit inter
Virtutem & vitium, lucem fugêre tenebræ.
[Sidenote: The ragged staffe.]
The earle of Warwike, vnderstanding that his enimie the duke of
Burgognie had receiued king Edward, and meant to aid him for recouerie
of the kingdome, he first sent ouer to Calis foure hundred archers on
horssebacke to make warre on the dukes countries; and further, prepared
foure thousand valiant men to go ouer shortlie, that the duke might
haue his hands euen full of trouble at home. And where ye haue heard
that the erle of Warwike was kept out of Calis at his fléeing out of
England into France, ye shall note that within a quarter of an houre
after it was knowne that he was returned into England; and had chased
king Edward out of the realme; not onelie monsieur de Vaucléere, but
also all other of the garrison & towne shewed themselues to be his
fréends; so that the ragged staffe was taken vp and worne in euerie
mans cap, some ware it of gold enameled, some of siluer; and he that
could haue it neither of gold nor siluer, had it of whitish silke or
cloth: such wauering minds haue the common people, bending like a reed
with euerie wind that bloweth.
[Sidenote: The duke of Burgognie sendeth ambassadors to Calis.]
The duke of Burgognie, hauing an armie readie at the same time to
inuade the frontiers of France, to recouer the townes of saint
Quintines and Amiens, latelie by the French king taken from him,
doubted to be hindered greatlie by the Englishmen, if he should be
constreined to haue warre with them: for the duke of Burgognie held
not onlie at that season Flanders, but also Bulleine, and Bullennois,
and all Artois, so that he was thereby in danger to receiue harme out
of Calis on ech side. Therefore he sent ambassadors thither, which did
so much with the councell there, that the league was newlie confirmed
betwixt the realme of England and the dukes countries; onelie the name
of Henrie put in the writing in stéed of Edward. This matter hindered
sore the sute of king Edward, dailie suing to the duke for aid at his
hands, the more earnestlie indéed, bicause of such promises as by
letters were made vnto him out of England, from his assured fréends
there.
[Sidenote: 1471.]
[Sidenote: He aideth K. Edward vnder hand.]
But duke Charles would not consent openlie to aid king Edward; but yet
secretlie vnder hand by others he lent vnto him fiftie thousand florens
of the crosse of S. Andrew, and further caused foure great ships to be
appointed for him in the hauen of de Véere, otherwise called Camphire
in Zeland, which in those daies was free for all men to come vnto,
and the duke hired for him fouretéene ships of the Easterlings well
appointed, & for the more suertie tooke a bond of them to serue him
trulie, till he were landed in England, and fifteene daies after.
The Easterlings were glad of this iournie, trusting if he got againe
the possession of England, they should the sooner come to a peace,
and obteine restitution of their liberties and franchises, which
they claimed of former time to haue within this realme. The duke of
Burgognie cared not much on whose side the victorie fell, sauing for
paiment of his monie: for he would oft saie, that he was fréend to both
parties, and either part was fréendlie to him.
[Sidenote: _W. Fleetwood._]
[Sidenote: He arriueth on the coast of Norffolke.]
In déed, as he was brother in law to the one, so was he of kin to the
other, as by his grandmother being daughter to Iohn of Gant duke of
Lancaster. When therefore all king Edwards furniture and prouision for
his iournie were once readie, hauing now with him about two thousand
able men of warre, beside mariners, he entered into the ships with
them, in the hauen before Flishing in Zeland, vpon the second day of
March: and bicause the wind fell not good for his purpose, he taried
still aboord for the space of nine daies, before it turned méet for
his iournie. But after that the wind once came about (as he wisht)
the sails were hoissed vp on the 11 of March being monday, & forward
they sailed, directing their course streight ouer towards the coast of
Norffolke. On the next day being tuesday, & the twelfe of March, toward
the euening, they road before Cromer, where the king sent to land sir
Robert Chamberleine, with sir Gilbert Debenham knights, and diuerse
other, to the end they might discouer the countrie, and vnderstand how
the people within the land were bent towards him, especiallie those
countries there next adioining.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Oxford.]
Vpon their returne, he vnderstood that there was no suertie for him
to land in those parties, by reason of the good order which the earle
of Warwike, and the earle of Oxford especiallie had taken in that
countrie to resist him: for not onelie the duke of Norffolke, but all
other the gentlemen (whome the earle of Warwike had in anie suspicion)
were by letters of priuie seale sent for, and either committed to safe
kéeping about London, or else inforced to find suertie for their loiall
demeanor towards king Henrie: yet those knights and other that were
thus sent foorth to make inquirie, were well receiued of their frends,
and had good cheare. But after the king perceiued by their report, how
things stood thereabouts, he caused his ships to make course towards
the north parts.
[Sidenote: He arriueth at the head of Humber.]
[Sidenote: He landeth at Rauenspurgh.]
The same night folowing, a great storme of winds and weather rose,
sore troubling the seas, and continued till the fourtéenth day of that
moneth being thursday, on the which day with greater danger, by reason
of the tempestuous rage and torment of the troubled seas, he arriued at
the head of Humber, where the other ships were scattered from him, each
one seuered from other; so that of necessitie they were driuen to land
in sunder where they best might, for doubt to be cast awaie in that
perillous tempest. The king with the lord Hastings his chamberleine,
and other to the number of fiue hundred men being in one ship, landed
within Humber on Holdernesse side, at a place called Rauenspurgh, euen
in the same place where Henrie erle of Derbie, after called king Henrie
the fourth landed, when he came to depriue king Richard the second of
the crowne, and to vsurpe it to himselfe.
Richard duke of Glocester, and three hundred men in his companie,
tooke land in another place foure miles distant from thence, where
his brother king Edward did land. The earle Riuers, and with him two
hundred men, landed at a place called Pole, fourtéene miles from the
hauen where the king came on land. The residue of his people landed
some here some there, in place where for their suerties they thought
best. On the morrow, being the fiftéenth of March, now that the tempest
ceased, and euerie man being got to land, they drew from euerie of
their landing places towards the king, who for the first night was
lodged in a poore village, two miles from the place where he first set
foot on land. [As for his traine, though the season of the yeere was
naturallie cold, & therfore required competent refection by warmth, it
is to be supposed, that all their lodgings were hard inough, sith the
principals prouision was sorie inough. But what of that? Better (in
cases of extremitie) an hard shift than none at all.]
Touching the folks of the countrie, there came few or none to him. For
by the incensing of such as had bin sent into those parts from the
erle of Warwike, and other his aduersaries, the people were shrewdlie
induced to stand against him. But yet, in respect of the good will
that manie of them had borne to his father, they could haue béene
content, that he should haue inioied his right to his due inheritance
of the duchie of Yorke, but in no wise to the title of the crowne.
And herevpon they suffered him to passe, not seeking to annoie him,
till they might vnderstand more of his purposed meaning. The king,
perceiuing how the people were bent, noised abroad that hée came to
make none other chalenge but to his inheritance of the duchie of Yorke:
and withall ment to passe first into the citie of Yorke, and so forward
towards London, to incounter with his aduersaries that were in the
south parts.
For although his néerest waie had béene through Lincolneshire: yet
bicause in taking that waie hée must haue gone againe to the water, in
passing ouer Humber; he doubted least it would haue bin thought that he
had withdrawne himselfe to the sea for feare. And to auoid the rumors
that might haue beene spred thereof, to the hinderance of his whole
cause, he refused that waie, and tooke this other, still bruting it (as
before we said) that his comming was not to chalenge the crowne, but
onelie to be restored vnto his fathers right and inheritance of the
duchie of Yorke, which was descended to him from his father. And here
it séemed that the colour of iustice hath euer such a force in it selfe
amongst all men, that where before few or none of the commons could be
found that would offer themselues to take his part: yet now that he did
(as they thought) claime nothing but that which was his right, they
began streight to haue a liking of his cause.
[Sidenote: Martine de la Mare or Martine of the sea.]
[Sidenote: He passeth toward Yorke.]
And where there were gathered to the number of six or seuen thousand
men in diuerse places, vnder the leading chieflie of a priest and of
a gentleman called Martine de la Mare, in purpose to haue stopped his
passage: now the same persons tooke occasion to assist him. And when
he perceiued mens minds to bée well qualified with this feined deuise,
he marched foorth till he came to Beuerleie, which stood in his direct
waie as he passed toward Yorke. He sent also to Kingston vpon Hull,
distant from thence six miles, willing that he might be there receiued:
but the inhabitants, who had bene laboured by his aduersaries, refused
in anie wise to grant therevnto.
[Sidenote: Sée before page 277.]
The earle of Warwike aduertised by messengers of king Edwards arriuall,
and of his turning toward Yorke, with all hast wrote to his brother the
marquesse Montacute, who had laine at the castell of Pomfret all the
last winter with a great number of souldiers, willing him to consider
in what case their affaires stood, and therevpon with all spéed to
set vpon king Edward, or else to keepe the passages, and to staie him
from comming anie further forward, till he himselfe as then being in
Warwikeshire busie to assemble an armie, might come to his aid with the
same. [Thus laboured the earle of Warwike by policie and puissance, as
well of his owne as others power, to further his owne purpose, hauing
sworne in heart a due performance of that, which he had solemnlie vowed
and promised before.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward without interruption passeth forward to Yorke.]
But this notwithstanding, although there were great companies of people
of the countries there abouts assembled, yet they came not in sight of
the king, but suffered him quietlie to passe; either bicause they were
persuaded that he ment (as he in outward words pretended) not to claime
anie title to the crowne, but onelie his right to the duchie of Yorke;
or else for that they doubted to set vpon him, although his number were
farre vnequall to theirs; knowing that not onelie he himselfe, but also
his companie were minded to sell their liues dearlie, before they would
shrinke an inch from anie that was to incounter them. It maie be that
diuerse of the capteins also were corrupted: and although outwardlie
they shewed to be against him, yet in heart they bare him right good
will, and in no wise minded to hinder him. So forward he marched, till
he came to Yorke, on a monday being the eightéenth day of March.
[Sidenote: Thomas Coniers recorder of Yorke.]
Before he came to the citie by the space of thrée miles, the recorder
of Yorke, whose name was Thomas Coniers (one knowne in déed not to
beare him anie faithfull good will) came vnto him; & gaue him to
vnderstand, that it stood in no wise with his suertie, to presume to
approch the citie: for either hée should be kept out by force, or if
he did enter, he shuld be in danger to be cast away by his aduersaries
that were within. King Edward neuerthelesse, sith he was come thus
farre forward, knew well inough there was no going backe for him, but
manfullie to procéed forward with his begun iournie, and therefore kept
on his way. And shortlie after there came to him out of the citie,
Robert Clifford, and Richard Burgh, who assured him that in the quarell
which he pretended to pursue, to wit, for the obteining of his right to
the duchie of Yorke, he should not faile but be receiued into the citie.
[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Yorke.]
[Sidenote: He receiueth an oth.]
But immediatlie after came the said Coniers againe, with the like tale
and information as he had brought before. And thus king Edward one
while put in comfort, and another while discouraged, marched foorth
till he came to the gates of the citie, where his people staied;
whilest he and about sixtéene or seuentéene other such as he thought
méetest, went forth and entred the citie with the said Clifford &
Burgh. And (as some write) there was a priest readie to saie masse,
in which masse time the king receiued the sacrament of the communion,
& there solemnlie sware to kéepe and obserue two speciall articles:
although it was farre vnlike that he minded to obserue either of
them: the one was that he should vse the citizens after a gentle
and courteous maner: and the other, that he should be faithfull and
obedient vnto king Henries commandements.
For this wilfull periurie (as hath béene thought) the issue of this
king suffered (for the fathers offense the depriuation not onelie of
lands and worldlie possessions, but also of their naturall liues,)
by their cruell vncle K. Richard the third. [And it may well be.]
For it is not likelie that God, in whose hands is the bestowing of
all souereigntie, will suffer such an indignatie to be doone to his
sacred maiestie, and will suffer the same to passe with impunitie. And
suerlie, if an oth among priuate men is religiouslie to be kept, sith
in the same is an exact triall of faith and honestie; doubtlesse of
princes it is verie nicelie and preciselie to be obserued: yea they
should rather susteine a blemish and disgrace in their roialtie, than
presume to go against their oth and promise, speciallie if the same
stand vpon conditions of equitie: otherwise they prooue themselues to
be impugners of fidelitie, which is a iewell surpassing gold in price
and estimation, as the poet prudentlie saith:
Charior est auro non simulata fides.
[Sidenote: The marques Montacute suffereth king Edward to passe by him.]
When king Edward had thus gotten into the citie of Yorke, he made such
meanes among the citizens, that he got of them a certeine summe of
monie; and leauing a garison within the citie contrarie to his oth, for
fear least the citizens after his departure, might happilie mooue some
rebellion against him, he set forward the next day toward Todcaster, a
towne ten miles from thence, belonging to the earle of Northumberland.
The next day he tooke his waie toward Wakefield and Sendall, a castell
and lordship belonging to the inheritance of the dukes of Yorke,
leauing the castell of Pomfret vpon his left hand, where the marques
Montacute with his armie laie, and did not once offer to stop him.
Whether the marques suffered him to passe by so, with his good will or
no, diuerse haue diuerslie coniectured. Some thinke that it lay not in
the power of the marques greatlie to annoie him, both for that the king
was well beloued in those parties; & againe, all the lords & commons
there for the most part were towards the earle of Northumberland, and
without him or his commandement they were not willing to stirre. And
therefore the earle in sitting still and not moouing to and fro, was
thought to doo king Edward as good seruice as if he had come to him,
and raised people to assist him; for diuerse happilie that should haue
come with him, remembring displeasures past, would not haue béene so
faithfull as the earle himselfe, if it had come to the iumpe of anie
hazard of battell.
[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Northampt[=o].]
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]
About Wakefield and the parts there adioining, some companie of his
freends came to him, whereby his power was increased; but nothing in
such numbers as he looked for. From Wakefield he crossed on the left
hand, so to come againe into the high waie, and came to Doncaster, and
from thence vnto Notingham. Here came to him sir William Parre, and sir
Iames Harrington, with six hundred men well armed and appointed also
there came to him sir Thomas Burgh, & sir Thomas Montgomerie with their
aids, which caused him at their first comming to make proclamation in
his owne name, to wit, of K. Edward the fourth, boldlie affirming to
him, that they would serue no man but a king.
[Sidenote: The duke of Excester with a power at Newarke.]
Whilest he remained at Notingham, and also before he came there, he
sent abroad diuerse of his auaunt courrers to discouer the countrie,
and to vnderstand if there were anie power gathered against him. Some
of them that were thus sent, approached to Newarke, and vnderstood that
within the towne there, the duke of Excester, the earle of Oxenford,
the lord Bardolfe, and other were lodged with a great power to the
number of foure thousand men, which they had assembled in Essex,
Norffolke, Suffolke, and in the shires of Cambridge, Huntington, and
Lincolne. The duke of Excester, and the earle of Oxenford, with other
the chéefe capteins, aduertised that king Edwards foreriders had béene
afore the towne in the euening, supposed verelie that he and his whole
armie were comming towards them.
Héerevpon, they not thinking it good to abide longer there, determined
with all spéed to dislodge, and so about two of the clocke after
midnight they departed from Newarke, leauing some of their people
behind, which either stale awaie from them, and taried of purpose, or
could not get awaie so soone as their fellowes. In déed the foreriders
that so discouered them within the towne of Newarke, aduertised the
king thereof in all post hast, who incontinentlie assembled his people,
and foorthwith marched towards them: but before he came within thrée
miles of the towne, he had knowledge that they were fled and gone from
Newarke. Whervpon he returned againe to Notingham, intending to kéepe
on his néerest waie towards the earle of Warwike, whome he vnderstood
to be departed from London, and to be come into Warwikeshire, where &
in the countries adioining he was busied in leuieng an armie, with the
which he purposed to distresse him.
[Sidenote: K. Edward commeth to Leicester.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike in Couentrie.]
The king then from Notingham came to Leicester, where three thousand
able men, and well furnished for the warre came vnto him. These were
such as he knew would liue and die in his quarrell, the most part of
them belonging vnto the lord Hastings, the kings chamberlaine. And
thus he, being more stronglie accompanied than before, departed from
Leicester, and came before the wals of the citie of Couentrie, the nine
and twentith daie of March. The earle of Warwike was withdrawne into
this citie, kéeping himselfe inclosed therein with his people, being
in number six or seauen thousand men. The king sent to him, and willed
him to come foorth into the field, and there to make an end of the
quarell in plaine battell: but the earle at that present refused so to
doo.
[Sidenote: K. Edward prouoketh the earle of Warwike to fight.]
[Sidenote: He c[=o]meth to Warwike.]
For although, vnder pretense of king Henries authoritie, he was reputed
the kings generall lieutenant of the whole realme, whereby he had got
such power togither, as was thought able inough to match with the king
for number; yet bicause he doubted how they were bent in his fauour, he
durst not commit the matter vnto the doubtfull chance of battell, till
he had more of his trustie fréends about him. The king therefore thrée
daies togither prouoked him to come foorth, but when he saw it would
not be, he remooued to Warwike an eight miles from Couentrie, where
he was receiued as king, and so made his proclamations from that time
foorth in all places where he came vnder his accustomed name and title
of king.
[Sidenote: A treatie for peace.]
He lodged héere at Warwike, the rather (as was thought) to prouoke the
earle to issue foorth of Couentrie to giue him battell, howbeit that
deuise nothing auailed. But yet there came dailie diuerse persons on
the earls behalfe to treat with the king about a peace, that some good
composition might haue béene concluded; & the king for the aduancement
of peace and tranquillitie within the realme, offered large conditions;
as a frée pardon of life to the earle, and all his people, with manie
other beneficiall articles on their behalfes, which to manie seemed
verie reasonable, considering their heinous offenses. But the earle
would not accept anie offers, except he might haue compounded so as it
pleased himselfe, & as was thought in no wise to stand with the king
honour, and suertie of his estate.
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence.]
In this meane while, the earle of Warwike still looked for the duke
of Clarence, who by the said earls appointment had assembled a power
of men of war about London: but when the earle perceiued that the
duke lingered foorth the time, and did not vse such diligence as was
requisit, as one that had béene in doubt of warre or peace, he began
to suspect that the duke was of his brother corrupted, and therein he
was nothing deceiued. For true it is, that whilest the king was as yet
beyond the seas, in the dominion of the duke of Burgognie, the duke
of Clarence began to weie with himselfe the great inconuenience into
the which as well his brother king Edward as himselfe and his yoonger
brother the duke of Glocester were fallen, through the dissention
betwixt them: (which had beene compassed and brought to passe by the
politike working of the earle of Warwike and his complices.)
As first the disheriting of them all from their rightfull title to
the crowne; secondlie the mortall and detestable war that could not
but insue betwixt them, to such mischéefe, that to whether part the
victorie inclined, the victor should remaine in no more suertie of
his owne person or estate after the vpper hand got, than before;
and thirdlie he well perceiued alreadie, that he was had in great
suspicion, and not heartilie belooued of anie the lords and rulers that
were assured partakers with king Henrie and the Lancastrian faction:
insomuch they sticked not dailie to go about to breake and make void
the appointments, articles, and couenants, made and promised to him,
and of likelihood would dailie more and more intend thereto: for in
truth he saw, that they purposed nothing so much as the destruction
both of him and all his bloud.
[Sidenote: Préests vsed for priuie messengers.]
All which things throughlie considered, with manie other as they were
laid afore him by right wise and circumspect persons, which in this
behalfe had conference with him, he consented that by some secret waies
and meanes a reconciliation might be had betwixt him and his brethren,
the king and the duke of Glocester. The which to bring to some good
and full effect, these honorable personages following became dealers
therein. First of all the duches of Yorke their mother, the duches of
Excester and the duches of Suffolke their sisters; the lord cardinall
of Canturburie, the bishop of Bath, the earle of Essex; but most
speciallie the duches of Burgognie their sister also, and diuerse other
right wise and prudent personages, who wrought by mediation of certeine
preests, and others, such as they vsed for messengers betwixt them.
[Sidenote: K. Edward and his brother of Clarence reconciled vnwitting
to the earle of Warwike.]
Finallie, by the earnest trauell and diligence shewed by the said
duches of Burgognie (who incessantlie sent to and fro such hir trustie
messengers now to the king being on that side the seas, and then to
the duke remaining héere in England) at length they were made fréends,
and a perfect agréement concluded and ratified, with assurance betwixt
them so stronglie as might be. To the furthering whereof the kings
chamberlaine the lord Hastings failed not to doo his best, so as by
his good diligence, it was thought the king was the sooner induced
to with to ioine eftsoones in true fréendship with his said brother
of Clarence. And as it well appeared, the duke of Clarence acquitted
himselfe faithfullie therein.
[Sidenote: The dissimulation of the duke of Clarence.]
For hearing now that his brother king Edward was landed and comming
forward towards London, he gathered his people, outwardlie pretending
to passe with them to the aid of the earle of Warwike against his
brother: although inwardlie he meant the contrarie, and so accompanied
with aboue foure thousand men, he marched foorth towards the place
where he thought to find his brother. King Edward being then at
Warwike, and vnderstanding that his brother of Clarence approched, in
an afternoone issued foorth of that towne with all his forces, and
passed on till he came into a faire large field thrée miles distant
from Warwike towards Banburie, where he might behold his brother of
Clarence in good arraie of battell, comming towards him.
[Sidenote: The brethren méet louinglie togither.]
When they were now within halfe a mile approched togither, the king
placed his people in order of battell vnder their baners, and so
left them standing still, and appointed them to kéepe their ground,
whilest he taking with him his brother of Glocester, the lord Riuers,
the lord Hastings, & a few other, went foorth to méet his brother of
Clarence: and in like sort the duke of Clarence tooke with him a few
of the nobilitie that were about him, and leauing his armie in good
order, departed from them to meet the king, and so they met betwixt
both the hosts, with so swéet salutations, louing demeanor, and good
countenances, as better might not be deuised betwixt brethren of so
high and noble estate. O what a hearts ioy was this to the people, to
sée such an accord and mutuall attonement betweene these péeres! It was
the onelie pleasure in the world, to the which all other compared are
but counterfet, and that dooth the psalmist testifie,
[Sidenote: _Buchan. in psal. 133._]
Nil charitate mutua fratrum, nihil
Iucundius concordia.
Besides this the like fréendlie intertainment, and courteous
demeanour appeared in the salutings of other noble men that were on
them attendant; wherof all such as saw it, and loued them, greatlie
reioised; giuing God thankes for that ioifull méeting, vnitie, and
concord, appearing thus manifestlie betwixt them: and herewith the
trumpets and other instruments sounded, & the king withall brought the
duke vnto his armie, whome he saluting in most courteous wise, welcomed
them into the land; and they humblie thanking him, did to him such
reuerence as apperteined to the honour of such a worthie personage.
This was a goodlie and a gratious reconcilement, beneficiall to the
princes, profitable to the péeres, and pleasurable to the people, whose
part had beene déepest in dangers and losse, if discord had not beene
discontinued.
This doone, the king leauing his hoast againe, keeping their ground
with the same few persons which he tooke with him before, went with
his brother of Clarence vnto his armie, and saluting them with swéete
and courteous words, was ioifullie of them welcomed: and so after
this, they all came togither ioining in one. And either part shewing
themselues glad thus to méet as fréends with the other, they went
louinglie togither vnto Warwike with the king, where and in the
countrie thereabouts they lodged, as they thought stood most with their
ease and safeties. Herewith the duke of Clarence desired aboue all
things to procure some good and perfect accord betwixt his brother the
king, and the earle of Warwike.
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence séeketh to make peace betwixt the king
and the earle of Warwike.]
In this was he the more studious, bicause he saw that such an
accord should bring great quietnesse to the land, and deliuer the
common-wealth of manie dangers that might insue by reason of such
numbers of partakers, as well lords as other that were confederat
with the earle. The said duke treated with the king present, and sent
messengers vnto Couentrie to the earle, moouing as well the one as
the other most instantlie to frame their minds vnto a pacification.
The king at the instance of his brother was contented to offer large
conditions, and verie beneficiall for the earle and his partakers, if
they would haue accepted them.
But the earle, whether vtterlie despairing of his owne safetie, if he
should agrée to anie peace; or else happilie for that he thought it
stood with his honour to stand vnto such promises and couenants as he
had made with the French king, and with the quéene Margaret, and hir
sonne prince Edward (to whome he was bound by oth not to shrinke or
swarue from the same) he refused all maner of such conditions as were
offered. Insomuch that when the duke had sent to him, both to excuse
himselfe of the act which he had doone, and also to require him to
take some good waie with king Edward, now while he might, the earle
(after he had patientlie heard the dukes message) he séemed greatlie to
abhorre his vnfaithfull dealing, in turning thus from his confederats
and alies contrarie to his oth and fidelitie.
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwiks answer to the duke of Clarence message.]
To the messengers (as some write) he gaue none other answer but this,
that he had rather be like himselfe, than like a false and periured
duke; and that he was fullie determined neuer to leaue warre, till he
had either lost his owne life, or vtterlie subdued his enimies. At it
was thought, the earle of Oxenfords persuasion wanted not, to make him
the more stiflie to hold out; and rather to trie the vttermost hazard
of warre, than to agrée to acknowledge king Edward for his lawfull
souereigne lord and king. Whervpon no appointment nor anie agréement at
all could be brought to passe; and so all that treatie, which the duke
of Clarence had procured, brake off & tooke none effect. There came
to the earle of Warwike, whilest he laie thus at Couentrie (besides
the earle of Oxenford) the duke of Excester, and the lord marquesse
Montacute, by whose comming that side was greatlie strengthened, and
the number much increased.
[Sidenote: K. Edward passeth London.]
The king, vpon consideration hereof and perceiuing he could not get the
earle to come foorth of Couentrie, departed from Warwike, and eftsoones
shewing himselfe with his people before the citie of Couentrie, desired
the earle and his power to come foorth into the fields, that they might
end their quarrell by battell: which the earle and the other lords
with him vtterlie refused as then to doo. This was the fift of Aprill
being fridaie. The king herevpon was resolued to march towards London,
where his principall aduersarie king Henrie remained, vsing his kinglie
authoritie by diuerse such of the nobilitie as were about him, whereby
king Edward was barred and disappointed of manie aids and assistants,
which he was sure to haue, if he could once breake that force of the
roiall authoritie, that was still thus exercised against him in king
Henries name.
Wherefore (by the aduise of his brethren and others of his councell)
accordinglie as it had beene ordeined before this his last setting
foorth from Warwike, he kept on his waie towards London, comming to
Dantrie on the saturdaie at night: & on the morow being Palmesundaie,
he heard seruice in the church there, & after rode to Northhampton,
where he was ioifullie receiued. From thense he tooke the next way
towards London, leauing continuallie behind him (as he passed foorth) a
competent band of speares and archers, to beat backe such of the earle
of Warwiks people, as peraduenture he might send abroad to trouble
him and his armie by the waie. Which prouidence and foresight it not
vnnecessarie to vse; for that he knew well enough, that the heart of
an enimie, frieng in the fire of hatefull hostilitie, will pretermit
no opportunitie either of time or place to laie in wait for his
destruction, against whom he beareth an inward grudge, with a desire of
vengeance to the death.
In this meane while, that things passed in maner (as before ye haue
hard) Edmund duke of Summerset, & his brother Iohn marquesse Dorset,
Thomas Courtneie earle of Deuonshire, and others being at London,
had knowledge by aduertisements out of France, that quéene Margaret
with hir sonne prince Edward, the countesse of Warwike, the prior of
S. Iohns, the lord Wenlocke, and diuerse others their adherents and
partakers, with all that they might make, were readie at the sea side,
purposing with all spéed to saile ouer into England, and to arriue
in the west countrie. Wherevpon they departed foorth of London, and
with all hast possible drew westward, there to raise what forces they
could, to ioine with those their fréends, immediatlie after they should
once come on land, and so to assist them against king Edward and his
partakers.
True it is, that the quéene with hir sonne, and the other persons
before mentioned, tooke their ships, the foure and twentith daie of
March, continuing on the seas before they could land (thorough tempests
and contrarie winds) by the space of twentie daies, that is, till the
thirtéenth of Aprill: on which daie, or rather on the fourtéenth, they
landed at Weimouth, as after shall appeare. But now touching king
Edwards procéeding forward on his iournie toward London, ye haue to
vnderstand, that vpon the tuesdaie the ninth of Aprill he came to saint
Albons, from whense he sent comfortable aduertisements to the queene
his wife remaining within the sanctuarie at Westminster, and to others
his faithfull fréends in and about London, to vnderstand by couert
meanes how to deale to obteine the fauour of the citizens, so as he
might be of them receiued.
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke.]
The earle of Warwike, vnderstanding all his dooings and purposes, wrote
to the Londoners, willing & charging them in anie wise to keepe king
Edward out of their citie, and in no condition to permit him to enter:
and withall he sent to his brother the archbishop of Yorke, willing
him by all meanes possible to persuade the Londoners not to receiue
him; but to defend the citie against him for the space of two or thrée
daies at the least: promising not to faile but to come after him, and
to be readie to assaile him on the backe, not doubting but wholie to
distresse his power and to bring him to vtter confusion. The archbishop
herevpon, on the ninth of Aprill, called vnto him at Paules, all such
lords, knights, and gentlemen, with others that were partakers on that
side, to the number in all of six or seauen thousand men in armour.
[Sidenote: King Henrie sheweth himselfe to the Londoners.]
Herewith also he caused king Henrie to mount on horssebacke, and to
ride from Paules thorough Cheape downe to Walbroke, & so to fetch a
compasse (as the custome was when they made their generall processions)
returning backe againe to Paules vnto the bishops palace, where at that
time he was lodged. The archbishop supposed, that shewing the king thus
riding thorough the stréets, he should haue allured the citizens to
assist his part. True it is, the maior & aldermen had caused the gates
to be kept with watch and ward: but now they well perceiued that king
Henries power was too weake, as by that shew it had well appeared, to
make full resistance against king Edward, and so not for them to trust
vnto, if king Edward came forward, and should attempt to enter the
citie by force: for it was not vnknowne vnto them, that manie of the
worshipfull citizens, and others of the commons in great numbers, were
fullie bent to aid king Edward, in all that they might, as occasion
serued.
[Sidenote: The Londoners resolue to receiue king Edward.]
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke.]
Thus, what thorough loue that manie bare to king Edward, and what
thorough feare that diuerse stood in, least the citie being taken
by force might happilie haue beene put to the sacke, with the losse
of manie an innocent mans life; the maior, aldermen, and others the
worshipfull of the citie fell at a point among themselues, to kéepe the
citie to K. Edwards vse, so as he might haue free passage and entrie
into the same at his pleasure. The archbishop of Yorke, perceiuing the
affections of the people, and how the most part of them were now bent
in fauour of king Edward vpon the said kings approch towards the citie,
he sent foorth secretlie a messenger to him, beséeching him to receiue
him againe into his fauour, promising to be faithfull to him in time
to come, and to acquit this good turne hereafter with some singular
benefit and pleasure.
[Sidenote: The Tower recouered to king Edwards vse.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward entereth into London.]
[Sidenote: King Henrie is deliuered to him.]
The king, vpon good causes and considerations therevnto him moouing,
was contented to receiue him againe into his fauour. The archbishop
hereof assured, reioised greatlie, well & truelie acquiting him
concerning his promise made to the king in that behalfe. The same night
following was the Tower of London recouered to king Edwards vse. And
on the morow being thursdaie, and the eleuenth of Aprill, king Edward
quietlie made his entrie into the citie with his power, hauing fiue
hundred smokie gunners marching foremost, being strangers, of such
as he had brought ouer with him. He first rode vnto Paules church, &
from thense he went to the bishops palace, where the archbishop of
Yorke presented himselfe vnto him, and hauing king Henrie by the hand,
deliuered him vnto king Edward, who being seized of his person, and
diuerse other his aduersaries, he went from Paules to Westminster,
where he made his deuout praiers, giuing God most heartie thanks for
his safe returne thither againe.
This doone, he went to the quéene to comfort hir, who with great
patience had abidden there a long time, as a sanctuarie woman, for
doubt of hir enimies; and in the meane season was deliuered of a
yoong prince, whom she now presented vnto him, to his great hearts
reioising & comfort. From Westminster the king returned that night vnto
London againe, hauing the quéene with him, and lodged in the house of
the duchesse his moother. On the morow being good fridaie, he tooke
aduise with the lords of his bloud, and other of his councell, for
such businesse as he had in hand; namelie, how to subdue his enimies
as sought his destruction. Thus with consultation preuenting his
actions, he obteined fortunate successe, wherwith his hart was the more
aduanced to ioine issue with his aduersaries, whome (rather than they
should triumph ouer him) he was resolutelie minded to vanquish, if his
procéedings might proue prosperous as his present good lucke.
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike followeth the king.]
The earle of Warwike, calling himselfe lieutenant of England, vnder the
pretensed authoritie of King Henrie, hoping that king Edward should
haue much a doo to enter into London, marched foorth from Couentrie
with all his puissance, following the king by Northhampton, in hope to
haue some great aduantage to assaile him, speciallie if the Londoners
kept him out of their citie, as he trusted they would; for then he
accounted himselfe sure of the vpper hand: or if he were of them
receiued, yet he hoped to find him vnprouided in celebrating the feast
of Easter; and so by setting vpon him on the sudden, he doubted not by
that meanes to distresse him. But king Edward, hauing intelligence of
the earles intention, prouided all things necessarie for battell; &
hearing that the earle of Warwike was now come vnto S. Albons with his
armie, he determined to march foorth to incounter him before he should
approch neere the citie.
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]
The earle of Warwike accompanied with Iohn duke of Excester, Edmund
duke of Summerset, Iohn earle of Oxford, and Iohn Neuill marquesse
Montacute his brother, vnderstanding that king Edward was not onelie
receiued into London, but also had got king Henrie into his hands,
perceiued that the triall of the matter must néeds be committed to
the hazard of battell; and therefore being come to the towne of saint
Albons, he rested there a while, partlie to refresh his souldiers, and
partlie to take counsell how to procéed in his enterprise. At length,
although he knew that his brother the marquesse Montacute was not
fullie well persuaded with himselfe, to like of this quarell which they
had in hand; yet the brotherlie affection betwixt them tooke awaie all
suspicion from the earle, and so he vtterlie resolued to giue battell,
meaning to trie whereto all this tumult would grow; and counting it a
blemish to his honor, not to prosequute that with the sword, which he
had solemnelie vowed to doo on his word.
[Sidenote: Gladmore heath.]
[Sidenote: The ordering of the kings armie.]
Hervpon remoued they towards Barnet, a towne standing in the midwaie
betwixt London and saint Albons aloft on a hill; at the end whereof
towards saint Albons there is a faire plaine for two armies to meet
vpon, named Gladmore heath. On the further side of which plaine towards
saint Albons the earle pight his campe. king Edward on the other part,
being furnished with a mightie armie (hauing ioined to that power
which he brought with him certeine new supplies) upon Easter euen the
thirtéenth of Aprill in the after noone marched foorth, hauing his said
armie diuided into foure battels. He tooke with him king Henrie, and
came that euening vnto Barnet, ten small miles distant from London; in
which towne his foreriders finding certeine of the earle of Warwikes
foreriders, beat them out, & chased them somewhat further than halfe
a mile from the towne, where, by an hedge side they found readie
assembled a great number of the earle of Warwiks people.
[Sidenote: K. Edward lodged before his enimies.]
The king after this comming to Barnet, would not suffer a man to
remaine in the towne (that were of his host) but commanded them all to
the field, and with them drew toward his enimies, and lodged with his
armie more neere to them than he was aware of, by reason it was darke,
so as he could not well discerne where they were incamped, fortifieng
the field the best he could for feare of some sudden inuasion. He tooke
his ground not so euen afore them as he would haue doone, if he might
haue discouered the place where they had lien; and by reason thereof
he incamped somewhat aside slips of them, causing his people to kéepe
as much silence as was possible, [least making anie noise with the
busseling of their armour and weapons or otherwise with their toongs,
the enimie might haue come to some knowledge of the kings priuie
purpose, and so by preuention haue disappointed his policie by some
prouident deuise; which bicause they wanted for the present time, it
turned to their disaduantage; after the old prouerbe: