Although this motion séemed onelie to increase loue and continuall

amitie betwéene the princes; yet the Frenchmen, hauing in their

perfect remembrance the innumerable damages and hurts, which they of

late daies had susteined by the English nation (whereby continuall

hatred increased against them in France) thought by policie and

wisedome, with faire words and friendlie countenance, to put by

this request, and to motion them rather to depart homeward, than to

pricke them forward to Paris; where peraduenture they might be so

interteined at this time, that they would at another come thither, both

vndesired and vnwelcomed. This peace was said to be made onelie by the

Holie-ghost, bicause that on the daie of méeting, a white dooue sat on

the top of the king of Englands tent: whether she sate there to drie

hir, or came thither as a token giuen by God, I referre it to your

iudgment. At this treatie and méeting was not the duke of Glocester,

nor other lords which were not content with this truce, but the duke

came afterwards to Amiens, with diuerse other lords of England, to the

French king, which both highlie feasted them, and also presented them

with plate and horsses well garnished.

King Lewes, considering what gaine the Englishmen had gotten by

making warre in France; and what miserie, what calamitie, and what

pouertie the French nation had suffered, and manie yeares susteined,

by reason of the said warres; determined clearelie rather to pacifie

and interteine the English nation by faire words and great rewards

(although it were to his great charge) than by too much hardinesse to

put himselfe, his nobilitie & realme in hazard, by giuing them battell,

as his predecessors had vnwiselie doone at Poitiers, and at Agincourt.

Wherefore to buie peace, he granted king Edward for a yearelie tribute

fiftie thousand crownes, to be paied at London; which, accounting

a crowne at foure shillings, amounteth to ten thousand pounds. And

to haue the fauour and good will of his chiefe councellors, he gaue

great pensions, amounting to the summe of sixteene thousand crownes a

yeere, that is to saie: to his chancellor, to the lord Hastings his

chiefe chamberleine, a man of no lesse wit than vertue, and of great

authoritie with his maister, and that not without cause; for he had as

well in time of aduersitie, as in the faire flattering world, well and

trulie serued him: and to the lord Howard, to sir Thomas Montgomerie,

to sir Thomas Sentleger, to sir Iohn Cheinie maister of the kings

horsses, to the marques Dorsset, sonne to the queene, and diuerse

other, he gaue great and liberall rewards, to the intent to keepe

himselfe in amitie with England, while he wan and obteined his purpose

and desire in other places.

These persons had giuen to them great gifts, beside yearelie pensions.

For Argenton his councellor affirmed of his owne knowledge, that the

lord Howard had in lesse than the tearme of two yeares, for reward

in monie and plate, foure and twentie thousand crownes; & at the

time of this méeting, he gaue to the lord Hastings the kings chiefe

chamberleine, (as the Frenchmen write) an hundred markes of siluer,

made in plate, whereof euerie marke is eight ounces sterling. But the

English writers affirme, that he gaue the lord Hastings foure and

twentie doozen bolles, that is to saie, twelue doozen gilt, & twelue

doozen vngilt, euerie cup weieng seuentéene nobles: which gift, either

betokened in him a great liberall nature, or else a great and especiall

confidence that he had reposed in the said lord chamberleine. Beside

this, he gaue him yearelie two thousand crownes pension, the which

summe he sent to him by Piers Cleret, one of the maisters of his

house, giuing him in charge to receiue of him an acquittance for the

receipt of the same pension, to the intent that it should appeare in

time to come, that the chancelor, chamberleine, admerall, maisters of

the horsses to the king of England, and manie other of his councell,

had bin in fée and pensionaries of the French king, whose yearelie

acquittances (the lord Hastings onelie excepted) remaine of record to

be shewed in the chamber of accounts in the palace of Paris.

When Piers Cleret had paied the pension to the lord Hastings, he

gentlie demanded of him an acquittance for his discharge. Which request

when he denied, he then onlie asked of him a bill of thrée lines to

be directed to the king, testifieng the receipt of the pension: to the

intent that the king your maister should not thinke the pension to be

imbeselled. The lord Hastings, although he knew that Piers demanded

nothing but reason, answered him: "Sir this gift commeth onelie of the

liberall pleasure of the king his maister, and not of my request: if

it be his determinat will that I shall haue it, then put you it into

my sléeue; and if not, I praie you render to him his gift againe: for

neither he nor you shall haue either letter, acquittance, or scroll

signed with my hand of the receipt of anie pension, to the intent to

brag another daie, that the kings chamberleine of England hath béene

pensionarie with the French king, & shew his acquittance in the chamber

of accounts, to his dishonor." Piers left his monie behind, and made

relation of all things to his maister: which although that he had not

his will, yet he much more praised the wisdome and policie of the lord

Hastings, than of the other pensionaries, c[=o]mmanding him yearlie to

be paied, without anie discharge demanding.

[Sidenote: K. Edward returneth into England.]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall fol._ Ccxxxvj.]

[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall fol._ Ccxxxvj.]

When the king of England had receiued his monie, and his nobilitie

their rewards, he trussed vp his tents, laded his baggage, and departed

towards Calis. [But yer he came there, he remembring the craftie

dissimulation, and the vntrue dealing of Lewes earle of saint Paule,

high constable of France, intending to declare him to the French king

in his verie true likenesse and portrature, sent vnto him two letters

of credence, written by the said constable, with the true report of

all such words and messages as had béene to him sent, and declared by

the said constable and his amdassadours. Which letters the French king

gladlie receiued, and thankefullie accepted, as the cheefe instrument

to bring the constable to his death; which he escaped no long season

after, such is the end of dissemblers.] When king Edward was come to

Calis, and had set all things in an order, he tooke ship, and sailed

with a prosperous wind into England, and was roiallie receiued vpon

Blackheath by the maior of London and the magistrates, and fiue hundred

commoners apparrelled in murrie, the eight and twentith daie of

September, and so conueied through the citie of Westminster, where for

a while (after his long labour) he reposed himselfe [euerie daie almost

talking with the queene his wife of the marriage of his daughter,

whome he caused to be called Dolphinesse: thinking nothing surer than

that mariage to take effect, according to the treatie. The hope of

which marriage caused him to dissemble, and doo things which afterward

chanced greatlie to the French kings profit, & smallie to his.]

[Sidenote: Sir Thomas M[=o]tgomerie.]

About the same season, the French king, to compasse his purpose for

the getting of the constable into his hands, tooke truce with the duke

of Burgognie for nine yeares as a contractor in the league, and not

comprehended as an other princes alie. The king of England aduertised

hereof, sent ouer sir Thomas Montgomerie to the French king, offering

to passe the seas againe the next summer in his aid, to make warres on

the duke Burgognie; so that the French king should paie to him fiftie

thousand crownes for the losse which he should susteine in his custome,

by reason that the woolles at Calis (bicause of the warres) could haue

no vent, and also paie halfe the charges and halfe the wages of his

souldiers and men of warre. The French king thanked the king of England

for his gentle offer, but he alledged that the truce was alreadie

concluded, so that he could not then attempt anie thing against the

same without reproch to his honour.

[Sidenote: 1475.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]

[Sidenote: Henrie earle of Richmond.]

But the truth was, the French king neither loued the sight nor liked

the companie of the king of England on that side the sea; but when he

was here at home, he both loued him as his brother, and tooke him as

his freend. Sir Thomas Montgomerie was with plate richlie rewarded, and

so dispatched. There returned with him the lord Howard and sir Iohn

Cheinie, which were hostages with the French king, till the English

armie were returned into England. King Edward, hauing established all

things in good order, as men might iudge, both within his realme and

without, was yet troubled in his mind, for that Henrie the earle of

Richmond (one of the bloud of king Henrie the sixt) was aliue, and

at libertie in Britaine: therefore to attempt eftsoones the mind of

Francis duke of Britaine, he sent ouer vnto the said duke, one doctor

Stillington, and two other his ambassadors laden with no small summe of

gold.

[Sidenote: Ambassadors into Britaine.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Richmond taketh sanctuarie.]

These ambassadors, declaring their message, affirmed that the king

their maister willed to haue the earle of Richmond onelie for this

purpose, to ioine with him in aliance by marriage, and so to plucke vp

all the leauings or discord betwéene him and the contrarie faction. The

duke gentlie heard the orators. And though at the first he by excuses

denied their request, yet at the length, beléeuing that king Edward

would giue to the earle his eldest daughter, the ladie Elizabeth in

marriage, he consented to deliuer him, and receiued of the English

orators a great summe of monie. But yer they were imbarked with their

preie, the duke being aduertised, that the earle of Richmond was not

so earnestlie sought for, to be coupled in mariage with king Edwards

daughter; but rather that his head might be chopped off with an

hatchet, caused his treasuror Peter Landoise to conueie the said earle

of Richmond into a sanctuarie at S. Malo, where the English ambassadors

then laie, onelie staieng for a conuenient wind: who complained, that

they were euill vsed, to be spoiled both of their monie and merchandize.

Yet bicause the matter was so handled, that it séemed the earle

escaped into the sanctuarie through their owne negligence, after they

had receiued him into their hands; they were soone answered: but yet

promise was made, that the earle should be safelie kept, either in the

sanctuarie, or else as prisoner in the dukes house, that they should

not néed to feare him more than his shadow. And thus the king of

England purchased for his monie the kéeping of his enimie, the space

onelie of three daies and no more. King Edward was somewhat displeased

with this chance, but yet trusting that the duke of Britaine would

(according to promise) see the earle of Richmond safelie kept from

dooing anie gréeuance to him or his subiects, put all doubts therof

out of his mind, and began to studie how to kéepe a liberall princelie

house, and therevpon storing his chests with monie, he imploied no

small portion in good housekéeping.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall fol._ Ccxxxvij.]

¶ But hauing spoken thus much of the earle of Richmond, whome Edward

Hall compareth to a shéepe betraied into the téeth and clawes of

the woolfe, you shall vnderstand, that at such time as his troubles

were set fresh abroach, and he knowing that he was going towards his

death, for verie pensifenesse and inward thought, fell into a feruent

and sore ague. In which verie season, one Iohn Cheulet, so estéemed

among the princes of Britaine as few were in all the countrie, and in

much credit, and well accepted with the duke, was (when these things

were thus concluded) for his solace in the countrie. Who being hereof

certified, was chafed with the abhomination of the fact, resorted to

the court, and familiarlie came to the dukes presence, where he stood

so sadlie and so palie, without anie word speaking, that the duke

was much abashed, and suddenlie maruelled at his sad and frowning

countenance, and demanded of him what should signifie that dumpishnesse

of mind, and inward sighing, the which by his countenance manifestlie

appeared and was euident? He modestlie answered; "Most noble and

redoubted lord, this palenesse of visage and deadlie looke dooth

prognosticate the time of my death to approach and be at hand, which

if it had chanced to me before this daie, I assure you, it had much

lesse hurt me. For then had I not beene reserued to féele the dolorous

pangs and sorowfull sighings, which a fact by you doone (that I thought

impossible to be obteined) hath printed in my stomach and in my heart

deeplie grauen: so that I well perceiue, that either I shall lose my

life, or else liue in perpetuall distresse and continuall miserie.

"For you my singular good lord, by your vertuous acts and noble feats,

haue gotten to you in manner an immortall fame, which in euerie mans

mouth is extolled & aduanced aboue the high clouds. But alas me séemeth

(I praie you pardon me my rudenesse) that now that you haue obteined

so high praise and glorie, you nothing lesse regard than to kéepe and

preserue the same inuiolate, considering that you, forgetting your

faith and faithfull promise made to Henrie earle of Richmond, haue

deliuered the most innocent yoong gentleman to the cruell tormentors,

to be afflicted, rent in péeces, and slaine. Wherefore all such as loue

you, of the which number I am one, cannot choose but lament & be sorie,

when they sée openlie the fame and glorie of your most renowmed name,

by such a disloialtie and vntruth against promise, to be both blotted

and stained with a perpetuall note of slander and infamie." "Peace mine

owne good Iohn (quoth the duke) I praie thée, beléeue me there is no

such thing like to happen to the earle of Richmond: for king Edward

hath sent for him, to make of him, being his suspected enimie, his good

and faire sonne in law."

"Well well (quoth Iohn) my redoubted lord, giue credence vnto me: the

earle Henrie is at the verie brinke to perish, whome if you permit

once to set but one foot out of your power and dominion, there is no

mortall creature able héereafter to deliuer him from death." The duke

being mooued with the persuasions of Iohn Cheulet, which either little

beléeued, or smallie suspected king Edward, to desire the earle for

anie fraud or deceipt, or else seduced by blind auarice and loue of

monie, more than honestie, fidelitie, or wisedome would require, did

not consider what he vnaduisedlie did, or what he aduisedlie should

haue doone. Wherefore, with all diligence he sent foorth Peter Landoise

his chéefe treasuror, commanding him to intercept and slaie the earle

of Richmond, in all hast possible, as before you haue heard.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex. I. S. pag. 752._]

[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Crosbie his gift to the citie.]

¶ In this yeare deceassed sir Iohn Crosbie knight, (not long before

this, maior of London) and was buried in the parish church of saint

Helen in Bishops gate stréet, vnto the reparing of which parish church

he gaue fiue hundred marks, and thirtie pounds to be distributed to

poore housholders in the ward of Bishops gate: to the reparing of the

parish church at Heneworth in Middlesex fortie pounds: to the repairing

of London wall one hundred pounds: toward the making of a new tower

of stone at the southend of London bridge, if the same were begun by

the maior and communaltie within ten yeares next after his deceasse,

one hundred pounds: to the reparations of Rochester bridge ten pounds:

to euerie the prisons in and about London liberallie. Also he gaue to

the wardens and communaltie of the grocers in London two large pots of

siluer chased halfe guilt, weieng thirtéene pounds and fiue ounces of

Troie weight, to be occupied in their common hall, and elsewhere, at

their discretions.

[Sidenote: _I. S. pag._ 745.]

[Sidenote: Knights made by the king.]

[Sidenote: Litilton]

In this yeare were inhanced to the honour of knighthood, after the

custome of England, in the time of peace the kings eldest son Edward

prince of Wales, duke of Cornewall, and earle of Chester, his second

sonne the duke of Yorke, and with them the earle of Lincolnes sonne

and heire, the duke of Suffolke, the lord Thomas Greie, the quéenes

sonne, and Richard his brother, the earle of Shrewesburie, the earle of

Wilshire, master Edward Wooduile, the lord Neuill, the lord Barkleis

sonne and heire, the lord Audelies sonne and heire, the lord saint

Amand, the lord Stanleis sonne and heire, the lord Suttons sonne and

heire, the lord Hastings sonne and heire, the lord Ferrers of Charleis

sonne and heire, master Herbert brother to the earle of Penbroke,

master Vaughan Brian chiefe iudge, Litilton one of the iudges of the

common plées, master Bodringham, master Brian Stapleton, Kneuit,

Pilkinton, Ludlow, Charleton &c. The same daie the king created the

lord Thomas marquesse Dorset before dinner, and so in the habit of

a marquesse aboue the habit of his knighthood he began the table of

knights in saint Edwards chamber. At that time he ordeined that the

kings chamberleine should go with the ancient and well nurtered knight,

to aduertise and teach the order of knighthood to the esquiers, being

in the baine. The king himselfe came in person and did honour to all

the companie with his noble councell.

[Sidenote: 1476]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16.]

[Sidenote: The death of the duke of Burgognie.]

This yeare the duke of Burgognie was slaine by the Switzers, before

the towne of Nancie in Lorraine, after whose death the French king wan

all the townes which the said duke held in Picardie and Artois. And

bicause that the towne of Bullen and countie of Bullenois apperteined

by right of inheritance vnto the lord Berthram de la Toure, earle of

Auuergne, the French king bought of him his right and title in the

same, and recompensed him with other lands in the countie of Forests,

and in other places. And bicause the forenamed towne and countie were

holden of the earledome of Artois he changed the tenure, and auowed to

hold the same towne & countie of our ladie of Bolongne and therof did

homage to the image in the great church of Bolongne, offering there an

hart of gold, weieng two thousand crownes; ordeining further, that his

heires and successors at their entrie into their estates, by themselues

or their deputies should offer an hart of like weight and value, as a

reliefe and homage for the same towne and countie.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 745._]

[Sidenote: Agnes Daintie on the pillorie.]

¶ This yeare was Robert Basset maior of London, who did sharpe

correction vpon bakers, for making of light bread, he caused diuerse of

them to be set on the pillorie in Cornehill. And also one Agnes Daintie

a butterwife for selling of butter new and old mingled togither, being

first trapped with butter dishes, was then set on the pillorie. ¶

The countesse of Oxford deceassed and was buried at Windsore. ¶ Also

this yeare Richard Rawson one of the shiriffes of London, caused to

be builded one house in the church yard of S. Marie hospitall without

Bishops gate of London, where the maior of that citie and his brethren

the aldermen vse to sit and heare the sermons in the Easter holiedaies,

as in times past appeared by an inscription on the front of the same

house, now by wethering defaced, which I haue read in these words:

Praie for the soules of Richard Rawson late Mercer and alderman of

London, and Isabell his wife, of whose goods this worke was made and

founded. Anno Dom. 1488.

[Sidenote: 1477]

[Sidenote: Part of L[=o]don wall new builded.]

[Sidenote: _Iohn Rouse._]

[Sidenote: Bishops gate new builded.]

By the diligence of Ralph Iosseline maior of London the wall about

London was new made betwixt Algate and Creplegate: he caused the Moore

field to be searched for claie, and bricke to be made and burnt there:

he also caused chalke to be brought out of Kent, and in the same Moore

field to be burnt into lime, for the furtherance of that worke. The

maior with his companie of the drapers made all that part betwixt

Bishops gate and Alhalowes church in the same wall. Bishops gate it

selfe was new built by the merchants Almans of the Stilliard, and

from Alhalowes church toward Moore gate a great part of the same was

builded of the goods, & by the executors of sir Iohn Crosbie somtimes

an alderman of London, as may appeare by his armes in two places fixed.

The companie of Skinners made that part of the wall betweene Algate

and Buries markes towards Bishops gate, as may appeare by their armes

in thrée places fixed: the other companies of the citie made the other

deale of the said wall, which was a great worke to be doone in one

yeare.

[Sidenote: Burdet for a word spoken beheaded.]

[Sidenote: _Enguerant._]

[Sidenote: Register of the Greie friers.]

Also this yeare Thomas Burdet an esquier of Arrow in Warwikeshire,

sonne to sir Nicholas Burdet (who was great butler of Normandie in

Henrie the sixt daies) was beheaded for a word spoken in this sort.

King Edward in his progresse hunted in Thomas Burdets parke at Arrow,

and slue manie of his deere, amongst the which was a white bucke,

whereof Thomas Burdet made great account. And therefore when he

vnderstood thereof, he wished the buckes head in his bellie that mooued

the king to kill it. Which tale being told to the king, Burdet was

apprehended and accused of treason, for wishing the buckes head (hornes

and all) in the kings bellie: he was condemned, drawne from the Tower

of London to Tiburne, and there beheaded, and then buried in the Greie

friers church at London. Wherefore it is good counsell that the wiseman

giueth, saieng: Kéepe thy toong & kéepe thy life, for manie times we

sée, that spéech offendeth & procureth mischéefe, where silence is

author neither of the one nor the other, as it is trulie and in praise

of silence spoken by the poet:

----nulli tacuisse nocet, nocet esse loquutum.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]

[Sidenote: George duke of Clarence drowned in a butt of malmesie.]

About this season, through great mishap, the sparke of priuie malice

was newlie kindled betwixt the king and his brother the duke of

Clarence, insomuch that where one of the dukes seruants was suddenlie

accused (I can not saie whether of truth, or vntrulie suspected by

the dukes enimies) of poisoning, sorcerie or inchantment, and thereof

condemned, and put to execution for the same; the duke which might not

suffer the wrongfull condemnation of his man (as he in his conscience

iudged) nor yet forbeare but to murmur and reproue the dooing thereof,

mooued the king with his dailie exclamation to take such displeasure

with him, that finallie the duke was cast into the Tower, and therewith

adiudged for a traitor, and priuilie drowned in a butt of malmesie,

the eleuenth of March, in the beginning of the seuententh yeare of the

kings reigne.

[Sidenote: Prophesies diuelish fantasies.]

Some haue reported, that the cause of this noble mans death rose of a

foolish prophesie, which was, that after K. Edward one should reigne,

whose first letter of his name should be a G. Wherewith the king and

quéene were sore troubled and began to conceiue a gréeuous grudge

against this duke, and could not be in quiet till they had brought him

to his end. And as the diuell is woont to incumber the minds of men

which delite in such diuelish fantasies, they said afterward, that

that prophesie lost not his effect, when after king Edward, Glocester

vsurped his kingdome. Other alledged, that the cause of his death was

for that the duke, being destitute of a wife, by the meanes of his

sister the ladie Margaret, duchesse of Burgognie, procured to haue the

ladie Marie, daughter and heire to hir husband duke Charles.

Which marriage king Edward (enuieng the prosperitie of his brother)

both gaine said and disturbed, and thereby old malice reuiued betwixt

them: which the quéene and hir bloud (euer mistrusting, and priuilie

barking at the kings linage) ceassed not to increase. But sure it

is, that although king Edward were consenting to his death; yet he

much did both lament his infortunate chance, & repent his sudden

execution: insomuch that when anie person sued to him for the pardon of

malefactors condemned to death, he would accustomablie saie, & openlie

speake: "Oh infortunate brother, for whose life not one would make

sute." Openlie and apparantlie meaning by such words that by the meanes

of some of the nobilitie he was deceiued and brought to confusion.

[Sidenote: Edward erle of Warwike sonne & heire to George duke of

Clarence.]

[Sidenote: Margaret duchesse of Salisburie.]

This duke left behind him two yoong infants begot of the bodie of his

wife, the daughter of Richard late earle of Warwike: which children by

destinie as it were, or by their owne merits, following the steps of

their ancestors, succéeded them in like misfortune and semblable euill

chance. For Edward his heire, whome king Edward had created earle of

Warwike was thrée and twentie yeares after, in the time of Henrie the

seauenth, atteinted of treason, and on the Tower hill lost his head.

Margaret his sole daughter maried to sir Richard Pole knight, and by

Henrie the eight restored to the name, title, & possessions of the

earldome of Salisburie, was at length for treason committed against

the said Henrie the eight atteinted in open parlement; and sixtie two

yeares after hir father had suffered death in the Tower, she on the

gréene within the same place was beheaded. In whose person died the

verie surname of Plantagenet, which from Geffrie Plantagenet so long in

the bloud roiall of this realme had florished and continued.

[Sidenote: A great pestilence.]

After the death of this duke, by reason of great heat and distemperance

of aire, happened so fierce & quicke a pestilence, that fiftéene

yeares warre past consumed not the third part of the people, that

onelie foure moneths miserablie and pitifullie dispatched & brought

to their graues. So that if the number had béene kept by multiplieng

of vnities, & out of them to haue raised a complet number, it would

haue mooued matter of verie great admiration. But it should séeme that

they were infinit, if consideration he had of the comparison, inferred

for the more effectuall setting foorth of that cruell and ceaselesse

contagion. And suerlie it soundeth to reason, that the pestilence

should fetch awaie so manie thousands, as in iudgement by proportion

of fiftéene yeares warre one maie gather; and manie more too. For

euerie man knoweth that in warres, time, place, persons, and meanes are

limited: time of warre begun and ended; place circumscribed; persons

imbattelled, and weapons also whereby the fight is tried: so that all

these haue their limitations, beyond which they haue no extent. But the

pestilence, being a generall infection of the aire, an element ordeined

to mainteine life, though it haue a limitation in respect of the totall

compasse of the world; yet whole climats maie be poisoned: and it

were not absurd to saie, that all and euerie part of the aire maie be

pestilentlie corrupted; and so consequentlie not limited: wherefore

full well it maie be said of the pestilence (procuring so great a

depopulation) as one saith of surfetting:

[Sidenote: _Auson._]

Ense cadunt multi, perimit sed crapula plures.

[Sidenote: 1478]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]

The councellors of the yoong duchesse of Burgognie sent to K. Edward

for aid against the French king. About the same time had the queene

of England sent to the ladie Margaret duchesse of Burgognie, for the

preferrement of hir brother Anthonie erle Riuers to the yoong damsell.

But the councell of Flanders, considering that he was but an earle of

meane estate, and she the greatest inheritrice of all christendome at

that time, gaue but deafe eare to so vnméet a request. To which desire,

if the Flemings had but giuen a liking eare by outward semblance, and

with gentle words delaied the sute, she had beene both succoured and

defended. Whether king Edward was not contented with this refusall, or

that he was loth to breake with the French king, he would in no wise

consent to send an armie into Flanders against the French king: but yet

he sent ambassadours to him with louing and gentle letters, requiring

him to grow to some reasonable order & agréement with the yoong

duchesse of Burgognie, or at the least to take a truce with hir at his

request.

The ambassadours of England were highlie receiued, bountifullie

feasted, and liberallie rewarded, but answer to their desire had

they none; sauing that shortlie after, the French king would send

ambassadours, hostages, and pledges to the king of England their

maister, for the perfecting and concluding of all things depending

betweene them two; so that their souereigne lord & they should haue

cause to be contented and pleased. These faire words were onelie

delaies to driue time, vntill he might haue space to spoile the yoong

damsell of hir townes and countries. And beside this, to staie king

Edward from taking part with hir, he wrote to him, that if he would

ioine with him in aid, he should haue and inioie to him and his heires

the whole countie & countrie of Flanders, discharged of homage,

superioritie and resort, to be claimed by the French king, or his

successors.

[Sidenote: Large offers made to the king of England by the French king.]

He also wrote that he should haue the whole duchie of Brabant, whereof

the French king offered at his owne cost and charge to conquer foure

of the chiefest and strongest townes within the said duchie, & them in

quiet possession to deliuer to the king of England: granting further

to paie him ten thousand angels toward his charges, with munitions

of warre and artillerie, which he promised to lend him, with men and

carriage for the conueiance of the same. The king of England refused

to make anie warres against those countries that were thus offered to

him: but if the French king would make him partner of his conquest

in Picardie, rendering to him part of the townes alreadie gotten, as

Bologne, Monsterell, and Abuile, then he would suerlie take his part,

and aid him with men at his owne costs and charges.

[Sidenote: 1479]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 19]

Thus passed faire words and golden promises betwéene these two princes:

and in the meane time the yoong duchesse of Burgognie was spoiled of

hir townes, castels & territories, till at length for maintenance

she condescended to marrie with Maximilian sonne to the emperour

Frederike, that he might kéepe the woolfe from the fold. King Edward

in the ninetéenth yeare of his reigne began (more than he was before

accustomed) to serch the forfeiture of penall lawes and statutes,

as well of the chéefe of his nobilitie as of other gentlemen, being

proprietaries of great possessions, or abundantlie furnished with

goods; likewise of merchants, and other inferior persons. By reason

whereof, it was of all men iudged that he would proue hereafter a sore

and a rigorous prince among his subiects. But this his new inuented

practise and couetous meaning (by reason of forreine aifaires and

abridgement of his dales in this transitorie life, which were within

two yeares after consumed) tooke some (but not great) effect.

[Sidenote: _Abr. fl. ex I.S. pag. 747, 748._]

[Sidenote: Pestilence.]

[Sidenote: Vnaduised & vnséemelie demeanor punished with a fine.]

[Sidenote: Conduit in Cheape builded.]

¶ In this yeare was great mortalitie and death by the pestilence, not

onelie in London, but in diuerse parts of the realme, which began

in the latter end of September in the yeare last before passed, and

continued all this yeare till the beginning of Nouember, which was

about fourtéene moneths: in the which space died innumerable of

people in the said citie & elsewhere. ¶ This yeare also the maior of

London being in Paules, knéeling in his deuotions at saint Erkenwalds

shrine, Robert Bifield one of the shiriffes vnaduisedlie knéeled downe

nigh vnto the maior: whereof afterward the maior charged him to haue

doone more than becomed him. But the shiriffe answering rudelie and

stubbornlie, would not acknowledge to haue commited anie offense: for

the which he was afterward by a court of aldermen fined at fiftie

pounds to be paid toward the reparations of the conduits in London,

which was trulie paid. ¶ This yeare Thomas Ilam one of the shirifs of

London newlie builded the great conduit in Cheape, of his owne charges.

¶ This yeare also king Edward began his Christmasse at Waking, and at

fiue daies end remooued to Gréenewich, where he kept out the other part

of his Christmasse with great roialtie.

[Sidenote: 1480]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 20.]

Ambassadours were sent to and fro betwixt the king of England and

France, and still the French king fed the king of England with faire

words, putting him in hope to match his sonne and heire the Dolphin

with the ladie Elizabeth daughter to the king of England, according to

the conclusions of agréement had and made at Picquenie betwixt them,

although in verie déed he meant nothing lesse. His ambassadours euer

made excuses if anie thing were amisse, and he vsed to send change of

ambassadours; so that if those which had béene here before, and were

returned, had said or promised anie thing (though they were authorised

so to doo) which might turne to their masters hinderance, the other

that came after, might excuse themselues by ignorance of that matter;

affirming that they wanted commission once to talke or meddle with that

matter: or if he perceiued that anie thing was like to be concluded

contrarie to his mind, for a shift he would call his ambassadours home

in great hast, and after send an other with new instructions nothing

depending on the old.

[Sidenote: The French king féedeth the king of England with faire words

and promises.]

Thus the French king vsed to dallie with king Edward in the case of

this mariage, onelie to kéepe him still in amitie. And certeinelie

the king of England, being a man of no suspicious nature, thought

sooner that the sunne should haue fallen from his circle, than that

the French king would haue dissembled or broken promise with him.

But there is none so soone beguiled, as he that least mistrusteth;

nor anie so able to decieue, as he to whome most credence is giuen.

But as in mistrusting nothing, is great lightnesse; so in too much

trusting, is to much follie: which well appeared in this matter. For

the French king, by cloking his inward determinate purpose with great

dissimulation and large promises, kept him still in fréendship with

the king of England, till he had wrought a great part of his will

against the yoong duchesse of Burgognie. Which king Edward would not

haue suffered, if he had put anie great doubt in the French kings faire

promises, considering that the crowne of France was in this meane time

so much increased in dominions, to the great re-enforcement of that

realme.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 746, 749._]

[Sidenote: Fiue théeues for sacrilege seuerelie executed.]

¶ On the two and twentith of Februarie were fiue notable théeues put

to death, for robbing the church called saint Martins le grand in

London, and other places; thrée of them were drawne to the Tower hill,

hanged & burnt, the other two were pressed to death. A sore and seuere

kind of execution no doubt, but yet thought by iustice meritorious

in the malefactors, for their offences of sacrelege. Heinous enough

had it beene to spoile a priuat man of his goods, and by law of

nations punishable with death; but much more horrible, that prophane

persons with polluted hands should priuilie or openlie so touch holie

& consecrated things, as to take them out of a sacred place, whereto

(for holy vses) they were dedicated, & applie them to the satisfieng of

the corrupt concupiscences of their owne hearts, the bottomlesse gulfe

whereof bicause no booties nor spoiles could satisfie; it stood with

the high praise of iustice that they and their ceaselesse desires were

seuered by deserued death; wherefore it is wiselie said by the comicall

poet of such gréedie guts:

[Sidenote: _Plaut. in Rud._]

Quam quis auidus poscit escam auariter,

Decipitur in transenna perítque auaritia.

[Sidenote: _Scala temporum._]

In this yeare king Edward required great sums of monie to be lent him.

The citizens of London granted him fiue thousand marks, which were

seized of the fiue and twentie wards: which fiue thousand marks was

trulie repaid againe in the next yeare following. ¶ Also this yeare on

Whitsundaie K. Edward the fourth created the lord Berkleie, vicount

Berkeleie, at Gréenewich. ¶ In this yeare also an house on London

bridge called the common siege, or priuie, fell downe into the Thames,

where thorough it fiue persons were drowned. ¶ This yeare the king with

his quéene kept a roiall Christmas at Windsor.

[Sidenote: The king feasteth the maior and aldermen.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian pag. 512._]

Also this yéere was one Richard Chawrie maior of London, whome king

Edward so greatlie fauoured, that he tooke him (with certeine of his

brethren the aldermen, & commons of the citie of London) into the

forrest of Waltham, where was ordeined for them a pleasant lodge of

gréene boughs, in which lodge they dined with great chéere; & the king

would not go to dinner vntill he saw them serued. Moreouer he caused

the lord chamberlaine, with other lords, to cheere the said maior and

his companie sundrie times whilest they were at dinner. After dinner

they went a hunting with the king, and slue manie deare, as well red

as fallow, whereof the king gaue vnto the maior and his companie good

plentie, and sent vnto the ladie mairesse and hir sisters the aldermens

wiues, two harts, six bucks, and a tun of wine to make them merrie

with, which was eaten in the drapers hall. The cause of which bountie

thus shewed by the king, was (as most men did take) for that the

maior was a merchant of woonderous aduentures into manie and sundrie

countries. By reason whereof, the king had yearelie of him notable

summes of monie for his customes, beside other pleasures that he had

shewed vnto the king before times. ¶ This yéere the Scots began to

stir, against whom the king sent the duke of Glocester & manie others,

which returned againe without any notable battell.

[Sidenote: Ambassadors foorth of Scotland.]

In this verie season Iames the third of that name king of Scots sent

into England a solemne ambassage for to haue the ladie Cicilie, king

Edwards second daughter, to be married to his eldest sonne Iames,

prince of Scotland, duke of Rothsaie, and earle of Caricke. King

Edward and his councell, perceiuing that this affinitie should be both

honourable and profitable to the realme, did not onelie grant to his

desire; but also before hand disbursed certeine summes of monie, to the

onelie intent that the marriage hereafter should neither be hindered

nor broken. With this condition, that if the said mariage by anie

accidentall meane should in time to come take none effect; or that king

Edward would notifie to the king of Scots, or his councell, that his

pleasure was determined to haue the said marriage dissolued: then the

prouost and merchants of the towne of Edenburgh, should be bound for

repaiment of the said summes againe. All which things were with great

deliberation concluded, passed, and sealed, in hope of continuall peace

and indissoluble amitie.

But king Iames was knowne to be a man so wedded to his owne opinion,

that he could not abide them that would speake contrarie to his fansie:

by meanes whereof, he was altogither led by the counsell and aduise

of men of base linage, whome for their flatterie he had promoted vnto

great dignities and honourable offices. By which persons diuerse of

the nobilitie of his realme were greatlie misused and put to trouble,

both with imprisonment, exactions, & death; insomuch that some of them

went into voluntarie exile. Amongst whome Alexander duke of Albanie,

brother to king Iames, being exiled into France, & passing through

England, taried with K. Edward: and vpon occasion mooued him to make

warre against his brother, the said king Iames, for that he forgetting

his oth, promise, and affinitie concluded with king Edward, caused his

subiects to make roads and forraies into the English borders, spoiling,

burning, and killing king Edwards liege people.

[Sidenote: Preparations for warre against Scotland.]

[Sidenote: 1482]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 22.]

[Sidenote: An armie sent into Scotland.]

King Edward, not a little displeased with this vnprincelie dooing,

prouoked and set on also by the duke of Albanie, determined to inuade

Scotland with an armie, as well to reuenge his owne injuries receiued

at the hands of King Iames, as to helpe to restore the duke of Albanie

vnto his countrie and possessions againe. Herevpon all the Winter

season he mustered his men, prepared his ordinance, rigged his ships,

and left nothing vnprouided for such a iournie: so that in the begining

of the yeare, all things appertaining to the warre, and necessarie for

his voiage, were in a readinesse. To be the cheefteine of his hoast,

and lieutenant generall, Richard duke of Glocester was appointed by his

brother king Edward; and with him were adioined as associats, Henrie

the fourth earle of Northumberland, Thomas lord Stanleie lord steward

of the kings house, the lord Louell, the lord Greiestocke, and diuerse

other noblemen and worthie knights.

These valiant capteins came to Alnewike in Northumberland, about the

beginning of Iulie, where they first incamped themselues, & marshalled

their hoast. The fore-ward was led by the earle of Northumberland,

vnder whose standard were the lord Scroope of Bolton, sir Iohn

Middleton, sir Iohn Dichfield, and diuerse other knights, esquiers, &

souldiers, to the number of six thousand and seauen hundred. In the

midle-ward was the duke of Glocester, and with him the duke of Albanie,

the lord Louell, the lord Greiestocke, sir Edward Wooduile, and other,

to the number of fiue thousand & eight hundred men. The lord Neuill was

appointed to follow, accompanied with thrée thousand. The lord Stanleie

led the wing on the right hand of the dukes battell with foure thousand

men of Lancashire & Cheshire. The lord Fitz Hugh, sir William a Parre,

sir Iames Harrington, with the number of two thosand souldiers, guided

the left wing. And beside all these, there were one thousand appointed

to giue their attendance on the ordinance.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 749._]

[Sidenote: Creplegate builded.]

[Sidenote: _Records._]

¶ In this yeare Edmund Shaw goldsmith and maior of London newlie

builded Creplegate from the foundation, which gate in old time had bene

a prison, wherevnto such citizens and other as were arrested for debt

(or like trespasses) were committed, as they be now to the counters,

as maie appear by a writ of king Edward the second, in these words:

Rex vic' London salutem. Ex graui querela capti & detenti in prisona

nostra de Creplegate, prox. li. quas coram Radulpho Sandwico, tunc

custode ciuitatis nostræ London, & I. de Blackewell custode recognit.

debitorum, &c. King Edward held his Christmas at Eltham, and kept his

estate all the whole feast in his great chamber; and the quéene in hir

chamber, where were dailie more than two thousand persons. The same

yeare on Candlemas day, he with his quéene went on procession from

saint Stephans chappell into Westminster hall, accompanied with the

earle of Angus, the lord Greie, & sir Iames Liddall, ambassadors from

Scotland. And at his procéeding out of his chamber he made sir Iohn

Wood vnder-treasuror of England, & sir William Catesbie one of the

iustices of the c[=o]mon plées, knights.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 23.]

[Sidenote: 1483.]

[Sidenote: Berwike woone by the Englishmen.]

But to returne to the kings affaires concerning Scotland. The roiall

armie aforesaid not intending to lose time, came suddenlie by the water

side to the towne of Berwike, and there (what with force, and what

with feare of so great an armie) tooke and entered the towne: but the

earle of Bothwell, being capteine of the castell, would in no wise

deliuer it; wherfore the capteines, vpon good and deliberate aduise,

planted a strong siege round about it. When this siege was laid, the

two dukes and all the other souldiers (except the lord Stanleie, sir

Iohn Eldrington treasurer of the kings house, sir William a Parre, and

foure thousand men that were left behind to keepe the siege before

the castell) departed from Berwike toward Edenburgh; and in marching

thitherward, they burnt and destroied manie townes and bastiles. King

Iames hauing small confidence in his communaltie, and lesse trust in

his nobilitie, kept himselfe within the castell of Edenburgh.

The duke of Glocester entered into the towne, and at the especiall

desire of the duke of Albanie saued the towne, and the inhabitants

from fire, bloud, and spoile, taking onelie of the merchants, such

presents as they gentlie offered to him and his capteins, causing

Gartier principall king at armes to make a publike proclamation at the

high crosse in the market place of Edenburgh; by the which he warned

and admonished king Iames, to kéepe, obserue, and performe, all such

promises, compacts, couenants, and agréements, as he had concluded and

sealed with the king of England, and also to make sufficient recompense

vnto his subiects, for the tyrannic, spoile, and crueltie which he and

his people had committed and doone, contrarie to the league, within the

marches of his realme of England, before the first daie of August next

insuing: and further without delaie to restore his brother the duke of

Albanie to his estate, & all his possessions, offices, and authorities,

in as large maner as he occupied & inioied the same before. Or else

the duke of Glocester, lieutenant generall for the king of England,

was readie at hand to destroie him, his people, and countries, with

slaughter, flame, and famine.

King Iames would make no answer, neither by word nor writing, but kept

himselfe close within the castell. But the lords of Scotland lieng at

Hadington with a great puissance, determined first to practise with

the duke of Glocester for a peace, and after by some meanes to allure

the duke of Albanie from the English amitie. And vpon this motion, the

second daie of August they wrote to the duke of Glocester, requiring

that the mariage betwéene the prince of Scotland, and king Edwards

daughter might be accomplished, according to the couenants: and

further, that a peace from thencefoorth might be louinglie concluded

betwéene both the realmes. The duke of Glocester answered againe vnto

these demands; that for the article of the mariage, he knew not the

king his brothers determinate pleasure, either for the affirmance or

deniall of the same; but neuerthelesse he desired full restitution of

all the sums of monie prested out in lone vpon the same mariage. And

as for peace, he assured them that he wold agrée to none, except the

castell of Berwike might be to him deliuered; or at the least wise,

that he should vndertake that the siege lieng afore the same should not

be troubled by the king of Scots, nor by anie of his subiects, nor by

his or their procurement or meanes.

[Sidenote: The bishiop elect of Murreie sent to the duke of Glocester.]

The Scotish lords, vpon this answer and demands of the duke of

Glocester, sent to him the elect of Murreie, and the lord Dernleie,

which excused the matter touching the repaiment of the monie: for that

the time of the lawfull contract of the said marriage was not yet come,

and no daie appointed for the monie to be paied before the contract

begun. But for further assurance either for the contract to be made,

or for the paiment of the monie, they promised therevnto accordinglie

(as reason should require) to agrée. Secondarilie, as touching the

castell of Berwike, they alledged, that it apperteined to the realme of

Scotland, as the old inheritance of the same.

The duke, notwithstanding all that they could saie, would agrée to no

peace, except the castell of Berwike might be deliuered to the K. of

England. And so the messengers departed. The same daie the archbishop

of S. Andrews, the bishop of Dunkeld, Colin earle of Argile, lord

Campbell, and lord Andrew lord of Anandale chancellor of Scotland,

wrote to the duke of Albanie, a solemne and an autenticall instrument,

signed and sealed with their hands and seales, concerning a generall

pardon to him and his servants, vpon certeine conditions to be

granted; which conditions seemed to be so reasonable, that the duke of

Albanie, desirous to be restored to his old estate, possessions, and

natiue countrie, willinglie accepted the same.

[Sidenote: The duke of Albanie restored home.]

[Sidenote: He is created great lieutenant of Scotland.]

But before he departed from the duke of Glocester, he promised both

by word and writing of his owne hand, to doo and performe all such

things, as he before that time had sworne and promised to king Edward:

notwithstanding anie agréement now made, or after to be made with

the lords of Scotland. And for performance of the effect hereof, he

againe tooke a corporall oth, and sealed the writing before the duke

of Glocester, in the English campe at Leuington besides Hadington,

the third daie of August, in the yeare 1482. After he was restored,

the lords of Scotland proclamed him great lieutenant of Scotland; and

in the kings name made proclamation, that all men within eight daies

should be readie at Craushaus, both to raise the siege before the

castell, and for the recouering againe of the towne of Berwike.

The duke of Albanie wrote all this preparation to the duke of

Glocester, requiring him to haue no mistrust in his dealings. The duke

of Glocester wrote to him againe his mind verie roundlie, promising

that he with his armie would defend the besiegers from all enimies

that should attempt to trouble them, or else die in the quarell. To

be briefe, when the lords of Scotland saw that it booted them not to

assaie the raising of the siege, except they should make account to be

fought withall, they determined to deliuer the castell of Berwike to

the Englishmen, so that therevpon there might be an abstinence of warre

taken for a season.

And herewith they sent to the duke of Glocester a charter indented,

which was dated the foure and twentith daie of August, in the said

yeare 1482 contracted betwéene the duke of Glocester lieutenant

generall for the king of England, & Alexander duke of Albanie

lieutenant for Iames king of Scots; that an especiall abstinence of

warre should be kept betwixt the realmes of England and Scotland, as

well by sea as by land, to begin the eighth daie of September next

comming, & to indure till the fourth daie of Nouember next following.

And in the same season, the towne & castell of Berwike to be occupied

and remaine in the reall possession of such, as by the king of Englands

deputie should be appointed.

[Sidenote: The castell of Berwike deliuered.]

Herevnto the duke of Glocester agreed, and so then was the castell of

Berwike deliuered to the lord Stanleie, and other thereto appointed;

who therein put both Englishmen and artillerie, sufficient to defend it

against all Scotland, for six months. The duke of Albanie also caused

the prouost and burgesses of Edenburgh, to make a sufficient instrument

obligatorie to king Edward, for the true satisfaction and contentation

of the same monie, which he also sent by the said prouost to the duke

of Glocester to Alnewike; the verie copie whereof hereafter followeth.

The true copie of the said instrument obligatorie.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall. fol._ Ccxlvj.]

Be it knowne to all men by these present letters, vs Walter Bertraham,

prouost of the towne of Edenburgh in Scotland, and the whole

fellowship, merchants, burgesses, & communaltie of the same towne, to

be bound and obliged by these presents, vnto the most excellent, and

most mightie prince Edward, by the grace of God king of England. That

where it was communed and agreed betweene his excellencie on the one

part, and the right high & mightie prince our souereigne lord, Iames

king of Scots on the other part, that mariage and matrimonie should

haue beene solemnized and had betwixt a mightie and excellent prince

Iames the first begotten sonne and heire apparent to our souereigne

lord aforesaid, & the right noble princesse Cicilie, daughter to the

said Edward K. of England; and for the said mariage to haue beene

performed, certeine and diuerse great summes of monie bene paid and

contented by the most excellent prince, vnto our souereigne lord

aforesaid, as by certeine writings betwixt the said princes therevpon

made more at large plainlie appeares.

That if it be the pleasure of the said Edward king of England, to

haue the said mariage to be performed and completed, according to

the said communication in writing, that then it shall be well and

trulie, without fraud, deceipt, or collusion obserued, kept, and

accomplished on the partie of our souereigne lord aforesaid, & the

nobles spirituall and temporall of the realme of Scotland. And if it be

not the pleasure of the said excellent prince Edward king of England,

to haue the said mariage performed and completed; that then we Walter,

prouost, burgesses, merchants, and commons of the aboue named towne of

Edenburgh, or anie of vs, shall paie and content to the king of England

aforesaid, all the summes of monie that was paied for the said mariage,

at such like termes & daies immediatlie insuing after the refusall of

the said mariage, and in such like maner & forme as the said summes

were afore deliuered, contented and paied; that then this obligation

and bond to be void, and of no strength. Prouided alwaies, that the

said Edward king of England, shall giue knowledge of his pleasure and

election in the premisses in taking or refusing of the said mariage, or

of repaiment of the said sums of monie, to our said souereigne lord, or

lords of his councell, or to vs the said prouost, merchants, or any of

vs, within the realme of Scotland, being for the time, betwixt this &

the feast of Alhalowes next to come.

To the which paiment well and trulie to be made, we bind and oblige vs,

& euerie of vs, our heires, successors, executors, and all our goods,

merchandizes, & things what soeuer they be, where soeuer, or in what

place, by water or by land, on this side the sea or beyond, we shall

happen to be found, anie league, anie truce or safegard made or to be

made, notwithstanding. In witnesse whereof to this our present writing,

and letters of bond, we, the said prouost, burgesses, merchants, and

communitie, haue set our common seale of the said towne of Edenburgh,

the fourth daie of Aueust, the yeare of our Lord God, 1482. Giuen in

the presence of the right miehtie prince Richard duke of Glocester,

Alexander duke of Albanie, the reuerend father in God Iames bishop of

Dunkeld, & the right noble lord Henrie earle of Northumberland, Colin

earle of Argile, Thomas lord Stanleie, maister Alexander English, and

others, &c.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Gartier king of armes is sent into Scotland.]

So that you see it was conteined in the said instrument or writing,

that king Edward should intimate his pleasure vnto the said prouost and

burgesses of Edenburgh, before the feast of Alsaints next following,

whether he would the mariage should take place, or that he would haue

the paiment of the monie. According to which article, king Edward

sent Gartier his principall king of armes, and Northumberland herald,

to declare his refusall of the mariage, and the election and choise

of the repaiment of the monie. They came to Edenburgh eight daies

before the feast of Alsaints, where (according to their commission and

instructions) Gartier declared the pleasure of the king his maister

vnto the prouost and burgesses of Edenburgh, to whom he openlie said as

followeth.

The intimation of Gartier king of armes to the Edenburghers.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall. fol._ Ccxlvij.]

I Gartier king of armes, seruant, proctour and messenger vnto the most

high and mightie prince, my most dread souereigne lord Edward, by the

grace of God king of England and of France, and lord of Ireland, by

vertue of certeine letters of procuracie here readie to be shewed to

me, by my said souereigne lord made and giuen, make notice and giue

knowledge vnto you prouost, burgesses, merchants and communaltie

of the towne of Edenburgh in Scotland, that whereas it was sometime

communed and agreed betweene my said souereigne lord on the one partie,

and the right high & mightie prince Iames king of Scots on the other

partie, that mariage and matrimonie should haue beene solemnized, and

had betweene Iames the first begotten sonne of the said king of Scots,

and ladie Cicilie, daughter to my said souereigne lord the king of

England.

And for the said mariage to haue been performed, certeine and diuers

great sums of monie beene paied and contented by my said souereigne

lord, which summes of monie, in case of refusall of the said mariage,

by my said souereigne lord to be made and declared, yée the said

prouost, burgesses, merchants, and communaltie, and euerie one of you

are bound and obliged by your letters, vnder your common seale of your

towne of Edenburgh, to repaie vnto his highness vnder like forme, & at

such termes as they were first paied. So that the king my souereigne

lord would make notice and knowledge of his pleasure and election in

taking or refusing of the said mariage, of the repaiment of the said

sums of monie, before the feast of Alhalowes next to come; like as in

your said letters, bearing date at Edenburgh the fourth daie of August

last past, it was conteined all at large.

The pleasure and election of my said souereigne lord, for diuerse

causes and considerations him moouing, is to refuse the accomplishment

of the said mariage, and to haue the repaiment of all such summes of

monie, as (by occasion of the said betrusted mariage) his highnesse

had paied. The said repaiment to be had of you prouost, burgesses,

merchants, and communaltie, and euerie of you, your heires and

successours, according to your bond and obligation afore rehearsed.

And therefore I giue you notice & knowledge by this writing, which I

deliuer vnto you, within the terme in your said letters limited and

expressed, to all intents and effects, which thereof may insue.

* * * * *

When Gartier had thus declared all things giuen to him in charge, the

prouost and other burgesses made answer, that they now knowing the

kings determinat pleasure, would (according to their bond) prepare for

the repaiment of the said summes; and gentlie interteining Gartier

conueied him to Berwike, from whence he departed to Newcastell, to the

duke of Glocester, making relation to him of all his dooings: which

duke with all speed returned to Shrithuton, and there abode. Shortlie

after Gartiers departing, the duke of Albanie, thinking to obteine

againe the high fauour of the king his brother, deliuered him out

of captiuitie and prison, wherin he had a certeine space continued

(not without the dukes assent, which besieged him in the castell of

Edenburgh a little before) and set him at large, of whome outwardlie he

receiued great thanks, when inwardlie nothing but reuenging & confusion

was in the kings stomach fullie setled. So that shortlie after in the

kings presence he was in ieopardie of his life, and all vnprouided

for dread of death, constrained to take a small balinger, and to

saile into France, where shortlie after riding by the men of armes,

which incountered at the tilt, by Lewes then duke of Orleance, after

French king, he was with mischarging of a speare by fortunes peruerse

countenance pitifullie slaine and brought to death, leauing after him

one onelie son named Iohn, which being banished Scotland, inhabited and

maried in France, and there died.

How dolorous, how sorrowfull is it to write, and much more painefull

to remember the chances and infortunities that happened within two

yeares in England and Scotland, betwéene naturall brethren. For king

Edward, set on by such as enuied the estate of the duke of Clarence,

forgetting nature and brotherlie amitie, consented to the death of

his said brother. Iames king of Scots, putting in obliuion that

Alexander his brother was the onelie organ and instrument, by whome he

obteined libertie & fréedome, seduced and led by vile and malicious

persons, which maligned at the glorie and indifferent iustice of the

duke of Albanie, imagined and compassed his death, and exiled him for

euer. What a pernicious serpent, what a venemous toade, and what a

pestiferous scorpion is that diuelish whelpe, called priuie enuie.

Against it no fortresse can defend, no caue can hide, no wood can

shadow, no fowle can escape, nor no beast can auoid. Hir poison is so

strong, that neuer man in authoritie could escape from the biting of

hir téeth, scratching of hir pawes, blasting of hir breth, & filth of

hir taile. Notable therefore is the Gréeke epigram in this behalfe,

touching enuie of this kind, which saith, that a worsse thing than

enuie there is not in the world, and yet hath it some goodnesse in it:

for it consumeth the eies and the hart of the enuious. The words in

their owne toong sententiouslie sound thus:

®ho phthonos esi kakiston, echei de ti kalon en autô,

têka gar phthondrôn ommata kai kradian®

Although king Edward reioised that his businesse came to so good

a conclusion with the Scots, yet he was about the same time sore

disquieted in his mind towards the French king, whome he now perceiued

to haue dallied with him, as touching the agreement of the mariage

to be had betwixt the Dolphin and his daughter the ladie Elizabeth.

For the lord Howard, being as then returned out of France, certified

the king (of his owne knowledge) how that he being present, saw the

ladie Margaret of Austrich daughter to duke Maximilian, sonne to the

emperor Frederike, receiued into France with great pompe and roialtie,

and at Ambois to the Dolphin contracted and espoused. King Edward

highlie displeased with such double and vniust dealing of the French

king, called his nobles togither, and opened to them his gréefes; who

promised him for redresse thereof, to be readie with all their powers

to make warres in France at his pleasure and appointment.

But whilest he was busie in hand to make his purueiance for warres

thus against France, whether it was with melancholie and anger, which

he tooke with the French kings dooings and vncourteous vsage; or were

it by any superfluous surfet (to the which he was verie much giuen) he

suddenlie fell sicke, and was so gréeuouslie taken, that in the end

he perceiued his naturall strength in such wise to decaie, that there

was little hope of recouerie in the cunning of his physicians, whome

he perceiued onlie to prolong his life for a small time. Wherefore he

began to make readie for his passage into another world, not forgetting

(as after shall appeare) to exhort the nobles of his realme (aboue all

things) to an vnitie among themselues. And hauing (as he tooke it) made

an attonement betwixt the parties that were knowne to be scant freends,

he commended vnto their graue wisedoms the gouernment of his sonne the

prince, and of his brother the duke of Yorke, during the time of their

tender yeares. But it shall not be amisse to adde in this place the

words which he is said to haue spoken on his death-bed, which were in

effect as followeth.

The words of king Edward vttered by him on his death-bed.

[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Edw. Hall. fol._ Ccxlviij. Ccxlix.]

My welbeloued and no lesse betrusted fréends, councellors, and alies,

if we mortall men would dailie and hourlie with our selues reuolue,

and intentiuelie in our hearts ingraue, or in our minds seriouslie

ponder, the fraile and fading imbecillitie of our humane nature, and

the vnstablenesse of the same: we should apparantlie perceiue, that we

being called reasonable creatures, and in that predicament compared

and ioined with angels, be more worthie to be named and déemed persons

vnreasonable, and rather to be associate in that name with brute beasts

called vnreasonable (of whose life and death no creature speaketh)

rather than in that point to be resembled to the angelicall societie

and reasonable companie.

For while health in vs florisheth, or prosperitie aboundeth, or the

glosing world laugheth, which is he, so reasonable of vs all, that

can saie (if he will not er from the truth) that he once in a wéeke

remembreth his fatall end, or the prescribed terme of his induring; or

once prouided by labour, studie, or otherwise, to set a stedfast and

sure order for the securitie, profit, and continuance either of his

possessions & dominions, or of his sequele and posteritie which after

him shall naturallie succéed. Such is the blindnesse of our fraile

and weake nature, euer giuen to carnall concupiscence and worldlie

delectations, dailie darkened and seduced with that lithargious and

deceiuable serpent called hope of long life, that all we put in

obliuion our duetie present, and lesse remember the politike purueiance

for things to come: for blindlie we walke in this fraile life, till we

fall groueling, with our eies suddenlie vpon death.

The vanities of this world be to vs so agreeable, that when we begin

to liue, we estéeme our life a whole world; which once ouerpassed, it

sheweth no better but dust driuen awaie with a puffe of wind. I speake

this to you of my selfe, and for your selues to you; sore lamenting

and inwardlie bewailing, that I did not performe & finallie consummate

such politike deuises, & good and godlie ordinances, in my long life

and peaceable prosperitie, which then I fullie determined to haue

begun, set forward, and completlie to haue finished. Which now for the

extreame paines and tortures of my angrie maladie, and for the small

terme of my naturall life, I can neither perform, neither yet liue to

sée either to take effect, or to sort to anie good conclusion.

For God I call to record, my heart was fullie set, and my mind

deliberative determined, so to haue adorned this realme with wholesome

lawes, statutes and ordinances; so to haue trained and brought vp mine

infants and children in vertue, learning, actiuitie, and policie,

that, what with their roiall puissance, & your fréendlie assistance,

the proudest prince of Europe durst not once attempt to mooue anie

hostilitie, against them, you, or this realme. But oh Lord, all things

that I of long time haue in my mind reuolued and imagined, that

stealing théefe death goeth about to subuert, and in the moment of

an houre cléerelie to ouertred. Wherefore (as men saie) I now being

driuen to the verie hard wall, haue perfect confidence and sure hope

in the approued fidelitie, and constant integritie, which I haue euer

experimented and knowne to be rooted and planted in the hearts of your

louing bodies, towards me and mine.

So that I may saie and auouch, that neuer prince bearing scepter and

crowne ouer realmes and regions, hath found or prooued more faithfull

councellors, nor truer subiects, than I haue doone of you; nor neuer

potentate nor gouernour put more affiance and trust in his vassals and

seruants, than I, since the adeption of the crowne, firmelie haue fixed

in your circumspect wisedoms and sober discretions. And now of very

force compelled, lieng in a doutfull hope, betwéene liuing and dieng,

betweene remembrance and obliuion, I doo require you, and instantlie

mooue you, that as I haue found you faithfull, obedient, and to all

my requests and desires (while I was here in health conuersant with

you) diligent and intentiue: so after my death, my hope is with a sure

anchor grounded, & mine inward conceipt vndoubtedlie resolued, that the

especiall confidence and inward fidelitie, which so loag hath continued

betwéene vs, bieing together liuing, shall not wholie by my death be

extinct and vanished like smoke.

For what auaileth fréendship in life, when trust deceiueth after

death? What profiteth amitie in apparent presence, when confidence is

fraudulentlie beguiled in absence? What loue groweth by coniunction of

matrimonie, if the ofspring after doo not agree and accord? Or what

profiteth princes to aduance and promote their subiects, if after

their death, the bountifulnesse by them shewed, be of the receiuers

of the same and their sequele neither regarded nor yet remembred?

The parents make the marriage for an indissoluble amitie. Princes

promote sometime for fauour, sometime for desert, & sometime for

pleasure: yet (if you will consider) the verie scope, to the which

all gifts of promotions doo finallie tend, is to haue loue, fauour,

faithfull counsell, and diligent seruice, of such as be by them

promoted and exalted, not onelie in their owne liues, being but bréefe

and transitorie: but also that they and their progenie, calling to

remembrance the fauor, estimation, and aduancement, which they of so

liberall and munificent a prince had receiued and obteined, should with

speare and shield, toong and wit, hand and pen, continuallie studie to

defend, councell and preferre, not onelie him during his life, but also

to serue, assist, and mainteine his sequele and lineall succession,

as the verie images and carnall portratures of his stirpe, line, and

stemme, naturallie descended.

In this case am I, whome you know, not without vnspeakable trouble &

most dangerous war to haue obteined the scepter and diademe of this

realme and empire. During which reigne, I haue had either litle peace,

or small tranquillitie: and now when I thought my selfe sure of a

quiet life, and worldlie rest, death hath blowne his terrible trumpet,

calling and summoning me (as I trust) to perpetuall tranqaillitie and

eternall quietnesse. Therefore now, for the perfect and vnmoueable

confidence that I haue euer had in you, and for the vnfeined loue

that you haue euer shewed vnto me, I commend and deliuer into your

gouernance, both this noble realme, and my naturall children, and your

kinsmen. My children by your diligent ouersight and politike prouision

to be taught, informed, and instructed, not onelie in the sciences

liberall, vertues morall, and good literature: but also to be practised

in trickes of martiall actiuitie, and diligent exercise of prudent

policie. For I haue heard clarkes saie, although I am vnlettered, that

fortunate is that realme where philosophers reigne, or where kings be

philosophers and louers of wisedome.

In this tender age, you may writh and turne them into euerie forme

and fashion. If you bring them vp in vertue, you shall haue vertuous

princes. If you set them to learning, your gouernours shall be men

of knowledge. If you teach them actiuitie, you shall haue valiant

capteins. If they practise policie, you shall haue both politike and

prudent rulers. On the other side, if by your negligence they fall

to vice (as youth is to all euill prone and readie) not onelie their

honor, but also your honestie shall be spotted and appalled. If they

be sluggards and giuen to slouth, the publike wealth of this realme

must shortlie decaie. If they be vnlearned, they may by flatterie

soone be blinded, and by adulation often deceiued. If they lacke

actiuitie, euerie creature (be he neuer so base of birth) shall foile

and ouerthrow them like dum beasts and beastlie dastards. Therefore

I desire you, and in Gods name adiure you, rather to studie to make

them rich in godlie knowledge, and vertuous qualities; than to take

paine to glorifie them with abundance of worldlie treasure, and mundane

superfluitie.

And certeinlie, when they come to ripenesse of age, and shall

peraduenture consider, that by your omission and negligent education,

they haue not such graces, nor are indued with such notable qualities

as they might haue béene, if you had performed the trust to you by me

committed: they shall not onelie deplore and lament their vngarnished

estate, and naked condition; but also it may fortune, that they shall

conceiue inwardlie against you such a negligent vntruth, that the

sequele thereof may rather turne to displeasure than thanks, and sooner

to an ingratitude than to a reward. My kingdome also I leaue in your

gouernance, during the minoritie of my children, charging you (on your

honors oths and fidelitie made and sworne to me) so indifferentlie

to order and gouerne the subjects of the same, both with iustice and

mercie, that the wils of malefactors haue not too large a scope,

nor the harts of the good people by too much extremitie be neither

sorowfulle daunted, nor vnkindlie kept vnder. Oh I am so sléepie,

that I must make an end. And now before you all I commend my soule to

almightie God my sauiour and redéemer, my bodie to the wormes of the

earth, my kingdome to the prince my sonne: and to you my louing fréends

my heart, my trust, and my whole confidence. [And euen with that he

fell on sléepe.]

* * * * *

Hauing thus spoken, and set things in good staie, as might be supposed,

he shortlie after departed this life at Westminster the ninth of

Aprill, in the yeare 1483, after he had reigned two and twentie yeares,

one moneth, and eight daies. His bodie was with funerall pompe conueied

to Windsore, and there buried. He left behind him issue by the quéene

his wife two sonnes, Edward and Richard, with fiue daughters; Elizabeth

that was after quéene married to Henrie the seauenth; Cicilie married

to the vicount Welles; Briget a nunne professed in Sion or Dertford,

as sir Thomas More saith; Anne married to the lord Thomas Howard,

after earle of Surrie, and duke of Norffolke; Katherine wedded to the

lord William Courtenie sonne to the earle of Deuonshire. Beside these

he left behind him likewise a base sonne named Arthur, that was after

vicount Lisle. For the description of his person & qualities I will

referre you to that which sir Thomas More hath written of him in that

historie, which he wrote and left vnfinished of his sonne Edward the

fift and of his brother king Richard the third: which we shall (God

willing) hereafter make you partaker of, as we find the same recorded

among his other workes, word for word; when first we haue (according to

our begun order) rehersed such writers of our nation as liued in his

daies.

As first, Nicholas Kenton borne in Suffolke a Carmelit frier in

Gippeswich, prouinciall of his order through England; Henrie Parker a

Carmelit frier of Doncaster, preached against the pride of prelats,

and for such doctrine as he set foorth, was imprisoned with his fellow

Thomas Holden, and a certeine blacke frier also for the like cause;

Parker was forced to recant thrée speciall articles, as Bale noteth

out of Leland; Iohn Harding an esquier borne in the north parts, wrote

a chronicle in English verse, and among other speciall points therein

touched, he gathered all the submissions and homages had and made by

the Scotish kings, euen from the daies of king Athelstan [whereby

it euidentlie may appeare, how the Scotish kingdome euen in manner

from the first establishing thereof here in Britaine, hath beene

apperteining vnto the kings of England, and holden of them as their

chéefe, & superior lords.]

William Iue a doctor of diuinitie and prebendarie of saint Paules in

London; Thomas Wilton a diuine, and deane of the said church of Paules

in London; Iulian Bemes, a gentlewoman indued with excellent gifts both

of bodie and mind, wrote certeine treatises of hawking and hunting,

delighting greatlie hir selfe in those exercises and pastimes; she

wrote also a booke of the lawes of armes, and knowledge apperteining

to heralds; Iohn Stamberie borne in the west parts of this realme, a

Carmelit frier, and confessor to king Henrie the sixt, he was also

maister of Eaton colledge, and after was made bishop of Bangor, and

remooued from thence to the sée of Hereford; Iohn Slueleie an Augustine

frier, prouinciall of his order; Iohn Fortescue a iudge and chancellor

of England, wrote diuerse treatises concerning the law and politike

gouernement.

Rochus a Chaterhouse moonke borne in London, of honest parents, and

studied in the vniuersitie of Paris, he wrote diuerse epigrams; Iohn

Phreas borne also in London was fellow of Balioll colledge in Oxenford,

and after went into Italie, where he heard Guarinus that excellent

philosopher read in Ferrara, he prooued an excellent physician and a

skilfull lawier, there was not in Italie (whilest he remained there)

that passed him in eloquence & knowledge of both the toongs, Gréeke

and Latine; Walter Hunt a Carmelit frier, a great diuine, and for his

excellencie in learning sent from the whole bodie of this realme, vnto

the generall councell holden first at Ferrara, and after at Florence

by pope Eugenius the fourth, where he disputed among other with the

Gréekes, in defense of the order and ceremonies of the Latine church;

Thomas Wighenhall a moonke of the order called Premoristratensis in the

abbeie of Durham in Norffolke.

Iohn Gunthorpe went into Italie, where he heard that eloquent learned

man Guarinus read in Ferrara, after his comming home into England he

was deane of Welles, and kéeper of the priuie scale; Iohn Hambois an

excellent musician, and for his notable cunning therein made doctor of

musicke; William Caxton wrote a chronicle called Fructus temporum, and

an appendix ynto Treuisa, beside diuerse other bookes and translations;

Iohn Miluerton a Carmelit frier of Bristow, and prouinciall of his

order through England, Ireland, and Scotland, at length (bicause he

defended such of his order as preached against endowments of the church

with temporall possessions) he was brought into trouble, committed to

prison in castell S. Angelo in Rome, where he continued thrée yeares,

and at length was deliuered through certeine of the cardinals that were

appointed his iudges; Dauid Morgan a Welsh man, treasurer of the church

of Landaffe, wrote of the antiquities of Wales, & a description of the

countrie.

Iohn Tiptoft, a noble man borne, a great traueller, excellentlie

learned, and wrote diuerse treatises, and finallie lost his head in

the yeare 1471, in time of the ciuill warre betwixt the houses of

Yorke and Lancaster; Iohn Shirwood bishop of Durham; Thomas Kent an

excellent philosopher; Robert Huggon borne in Norffolke in a towne

called Hardingham, wrote certeine veine prophesies; Iohn Maxfield a

learned physician; William Gréene a Carmelit frier; Thomas Norton borne

in Bristow an alcumist; Iohn Meare a moonke of Norwich; Richard Porland

borne in Norffolke a Franciscane frier, and a doctor of diuinitie;

Thomas Milling a moonke of Westminster, a doctor of diuinitie and

preferred to the bishoprike of Hereford; Scogan a learned gentleman

and student for a time in Oxford, of a plesant wit, and bent to meirie

deuises, in respect whereof he was called into the court, where giuing

himselfe to his naturall inclination of mirth & pleasant pastime, he

plaied manie sporting parts, although not in such vnciuill maner as

hath beene of him reported:

Thus farre the prosperous reigne of Edward the fourth, sonne and

heire to Richard duke of Yorke.

Transcriber's Notes:

Punctuation normalized.

Anachronistic, non-standard, and inconsistent spellings retained as

printed.

Italics markup is enclosed in _underscores_.

Greek text is transliterated and enclosed in ®registered signs®.

Characters with a macron are indicated as [=x] where "x" is the

character with a macron.

While the Greek accentuation is clearly defective, it has been

retained as found.