¶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.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 King Richard perceiuing this, put the table from him, & steping to the formost man, wrung the bill out of his hands, & so valiantlie defended himselfe, that he slue foure of those that thus came to assaile him. Sir Piers being halfe dismaied herewith,The desperat manhood of king Richard lept into the chaire where king Richard was woont to sit, while the other foure persons fought with him, and chased him about the chamber. And in conclusion, as king Ri|chard trauersed his ground, from one side of the chamber to an other, & comming by the chaire, where sir Piers stood, he was felled with a stroke of a pollar which sir Piers gaue him vpon the head,K. Richard murthered. and there|wi [...]h rid him out of life, without giuing him respit once to call to God for mercie of his passed offenses. It is said, that sir Piers of Exton, after he had thus slaine him, wept right bitterlie, as one striken with the pricke of a giltie conscience, for murthering him, whome he had so long time obeied as king. After he was thus dead, his bodie was imbalmed, and séered, and couered with lead, all saue the face, to the intent that all men might sée him, and perceiue that he was departed this life: for as the corps was con|ueied from Pomfret to London, in all the townes and places where those that had the conueiance of it did staie with it all night, they caused dirige to be soong in the euening, and masse of Requiem in the morning; and as well after the one seruice as the o|ther, his face discouered, was shewed to all that coue|ted to behold it.