Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus haue yee heard what writers haue recorded of this matter, with some difference betwixt them that write, how the king should haue béene made a|waie at a iusts; and other that testifie, how it should haue béene at a maske or mummerie: but whether they meant to haue dispatched hi [...] [...]t a mumming, or at a iusts, their purpose being reuealed by the earle of Rutland, they were brought to confusion (as be|fore yée haue heard.) And immediatlie after, king Henrie, to rid himselfe of anie such like danger to be attempted against him thereafter, caused king Ri|chard to die of a violent death, that no man should afterward faine himselfe to represent his person, though some haue said, he was not priuie to that wic|ked offense. The common fame is, that he was eue|rie daie serued at the table with costlie meat,The sundrie reports of K. Richar. death like a king, to the intent that no creature should suspect a|nie thing doone contrarie to the order taken in the parlement; and when the meat was set before him, he was forbidden once to touch it; yea, he was not permitted so much as to smell to it, and so he died of forced famine.
¶But Thomas Walsingham is so farre from impu|ting his death to compulsorie famine, Abr. Fl. out of Thom. Wal [...]. pag. 4 [...], 4 [...]5. that he refer|reth it altogither to voluntarie pining of himselfe. For when he heard that the complots and attempts of such his fauourers, as sought his restitution, and their owne aduancement, adnihilated; and the chéefe agents shamefullie executed; [...]e tooke such a conceit at these misfortunes (for so Thomas Walsingham termeth them) and was so beaten out of bart, that wilfullie he starued himselfe, and so died in Pomfret EEBO page image 517 castell on S. Ualentines daie: a happie daie to him, for it was the beginning of his ease, and the ending of his paine: so that death was to him daintie and swéet, as the poet saith, and that verie well in bréefe,
Dulce mori miseris,C [...]n. Gall.Neque est melius morte in malis rebus.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 One writer, which seemeth to haue great know|ledge of king Richards dooings, Thom Walsin. Sir Piers de Exton a mur|therer of king Richard. saith, that king Henrie, sitting on a daie at his table, sore sighing, said;
Haue I no faithfull fréend which will deliuer me of him, whose life will be my death, and whose death will be the preseruation of my life?This saieng was much noted of them which were present, and especial|lie of one called sir Piers of Exton. This knight in|continentlie departed from the court, with eight strong persons in his companie, and came to Pom|fret, commanding the esquier that was accustomed to sew and take the assaie before king Richard, to doo so no more, saieng;
Let him eat now, for he shall not long eat.King Richard sat downe to dinner, and was serued without courtesie or assaie, wherevpon much maruelling at the sudden change, he demanded of the esquier whie he did not his dutie;
Sir (said he) I am otherwise commanded by sir Piers of Exton, which is newlie come from K. Henrie.When king Richard heard that word, he tooke the keruing knife in his hand, and strake the esquier on the head, saieng The diuell take Henrie of Lancaster and thée togi|ther. And with that word, sir Piers entred the cham|ber, well armed, with eight tall men likewise armed, euerie of them hauing a bill in his hand.