15.1. Words in writing by the duke of Yorke to the king.

Words in writing by the duke of Yorke to the king.

_PLease it vnto your excellent grace, Ri|chard duke of Yorke, to take him as your true liege man and humble subiect; and to consider and tender at the reue|rence of God, and in the waie of charitie, the true in|tent of my comming, and to be good and gratious souereigne vnto me, & all other your true liege men, which, that with all their power and might will be rea|die to liue and die with you in your right, and to doo all things as shall like your maiestie roiall to com|mand vs, if it be to the worship of the crowne of En|gland, and the welfare of this your noble realme. Moreouer, gratious lord, please it vnto your maiestie roiall, of your great goodnesse and rightwisenesse, to incline your will to heare & féele the rightwise part of vs your true subiects and liege men. First, prai|eng and beséeching to our souereigne, Christ Iesus, of his high and mightie power, to giue you vertue of prudence, and that through the praier of the glorious martyr S. Albon giue you verie knowledge of our truths, and to know the intent of our assembling at this time: for God that is in heauen knoweth, our intent is rightfull and true. And therefore we praie vnto that mightie Lord in these words: Domine sis cly|peus defensionis nostrae. Wherfore gratious lord, please it your maiestie roiall, to deliuer such as we will ac|cuse, and they to haue like as they haue deserued: and this doone, you to be honorablie worshipped as most rightfull king and our true gouernour. And if we should now at this time be promised, as afore this time (is not vnknowen) haue béene promises broken which haue béene full faithfullie promised, and there|vpon great othes sworne, we will not now ceasse for no such promises, nor oth, till we haue them which haue deserued death, or else we to die therefore.

15.1. The answer by the king to the duke of Yorke.

The answer by the king to the duke of Yorke.

_I King Henrie charge and command, that no manner person, of what degrée, estate or what condition soeuer he be, abide not; but that they auoid the field, and not be so hardie to make resistance against me in my owne realme. For I shall know what traitour dare be so bold to raise anie people in mine owne land, where|through I am in great disease and heauines. By the faith I owe vnto S. Edward, and vnto the crowne of England, I shall destroie them euerie mothers sonne, and eke they to be hanged, drawne, and quar|tered, that may be taken afterward of them, in exam|ple to make all such traitors to beware for to make anie rising of people within mine owne land, and so traitorouslie to abide their king and gouernour. And for a conclusion, rather than they shall haue anie lord, that here is with me at this time, I shall this day for their sake in this quarell my selfe liue and die.

15.1. The words of the duke of Yorke to all gentlemen and other assem|bled with him.

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The words of the duke of Yorke to all gentlemen and other assem|bled with him.

_SIrs, the king our souereigne lord will not be reformed at our beseeching ne prai|er, nor will not in no wise vnderstand the intent wherfore we be here assembled and gathered at this time, but onelie is in full purpose to destroie vs all. And thervpon a great oth hath made, that there is none other waie, but that he with all his power will pursue vs; and if we be taken, to giue vs a shamefull death, léesing our liuelod and goods, and also our heires shamed for euer. Therefore sirs, now sith it will none otherwise be, but that we shall vtter|lie die; better it is for vs to die in the field, than co|wardlie to be put to an vtter rebuke and shamefull death, for the right of England standeth in vs. Con|sidering also in what perill it standeth at this time, and for to redresse the mischéefe thereof, let euerie man helpe to his power this daie, and in that quarell to quite vs like men, to the crowne of England; prai|eng and beséeching vnto that Lord, the which is eter|nall, th [...]t reigneth in the glorious kingdome celesti|all, to kéepe and saue vs this daie in our right, and through the gifts of his holie grace we may be made strong to withstand the great, abhominable, and hor|rible malice of them that purpose to destroie vs and the realme of England, and put vs to a shamefull death. Praie we therefore to the Lord to be our com|fort and our defendour, saieng these words, Domine sis clypeus defensionis nostrae.]