1.17. ¶The hiſtorie of king Edward the fifth, and king Richard the third
vnfiniſhed, written by Maiſter Thomas Moore then one of the vnder She|riffes
of London, about the yeare of our lorde .1513. according to a Copie of his
owne hande: Printed among his other woorkes.
EEBO page image 1356
¶The hiſtorie of king Edward the fifth, and king Richard the third
vnfiniſhed, written by Maiſter Thomas Moore then one of the vnder She|riffes
of London, about the yeare of our lorde .1513. according to a Copie of his
owne hande: Printed among his other woorkes.
[figure appears here on page 1356]
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1
Edward the .v._KIng Edward of that name the fourth, af|ter that hee had liued fiftie and
three yeres,1483 ſe|uen monethes, and ſixe dayes,
and therof rai|gned twoo and twentie years, one Monethe, and eyght dayes,
died at Weſt|minſter the ninth day of
Aprill, the yeare of our redemption, a thouſande foure hundreth foure ſcore
and three, leauyng muche fayre iſſue, that is to witte, Edwarde the Prince,
a thirteene yeare of age: Richarde Duke of Yorke, twoo yeare yonger:
Elizabeth, whoſe fortune and grace was after to bee Queene, wyfe vnto Kyng
Henry the ſeuenth, and mother vnto the eyght: Cicelie not ſo fortunate as
faire: Bri|get, whyche repreſentyng the vertue of hyr, whoſe name ſhee bare, profeſſed and obſerued a religious
life in Dertforde, an houſe of cloſe Nunnes: Anne, that was after
honourablye married vnto Thomas, then Lorde Hawarde and after Earle of
Surrey: And Katherine, which long time toſſed in either fortune, ſom|time in
wealth, ofte in aduerſitie, at the laſte, if this be the laſte, for yet ſhee
liuethe, is by the benignitye of hir Nephewe King Henry the eyghte, in very
proſperous eſtate, and worthy hir birthe
and vertue.
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2 This noble Prince
deceaſſed at his Palaice of Weſtminſter, and wyth greate funerall ho|nour
and heauineſſe of his people from thence conueyed,The
loue of the people. was enterred at Windſor. A King of ſuch
gouernaunce and behauiour, in time of peace (for in warre eche parte muſte
needes bee others enimye) that there was neuer any Prince of this lande,
attainyng the Crowne by battaile ſo hartelye beeleued wyth the [...]|ſtaunce of the people: nor he hymſelfe ſo ſpeci|allye in anye parte
of hys life, as at the time of hys deathe. Whiche fauour and affection, yet
after hys deceaſſe by the crueltie, miſchiefe, and trouble of the
tempeſtuous worlde that follo|wed, highelye towarde him more increaſed. At
ſuche tyme as he died, the diſpleaſure of thoſe that bare hym grudge, for
Kyng Henryes ſake the ſixte, whome he depoſed, was well [...]|ged, and in effect quenched, in that, that ma|ny of them were deade
in more than twentye yeares of hys raigne, a greate parte of a long life:
And many of them in the meane ſeaſon growen into his fauour, of whiche he
was ne|uer ſtrange. He was a goodlye perſonage,Deſcription of Edvvarde the fourthe. and Princely to beholde, of
harte couragious, pol|litique in counſell, in aduerſitie nothyng a|baſhed,
in proſperitie rather ioyfull than proud, in peace iuſte and mercifull, in
warre ſharpe and fierce, in the fielde bolde and hardye, and natheleſſe no
further than wiſedome woulde aduenturous, whoſe warres who ſo wel conſi|der,
hee ſhall no leſſe commende hys wiſedome where hee voyded, than his manhoode
where he vanquiſhed. Hee was of viſage lonelye, of bo|dy mightye, ſtrong,
and cleane made: How|beit in his latter dayes wyth ouer liberall dyer,
ſomewhat corpulent and boorely, and [...]atheles not vncomely, hee was of youth greately gi|uen to fleſhely
wantonneſſe: from which health of body in great proſperity and fortune,
with|out a ſpeciall grace hardely refraineth.
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3 Thys faulte not greately greeued the peo|ple: for neyther coulde
anye one mans plea|ſure, ſtretche and extende to the diſpleaſure of verye
manye, and was wythout violence, and ouer that in hys latter dayes leſſed
and well lefte. In, whiche time of his latter dayes, this Realme was in
quiet and proſperous eſtate, no feare of outwarde enemyes, no warre in hand,
nor none towarde, but ſuche as no man looked for, the people towarde the
Prince, not in a conſtrained feare, but in a willyng and lo|uyng obedience:
among themſelues, the com|mons in good peace. The Lordes whome hee knewe at
variaunce, hymſelfe in his deathe bed appeaſed: hee hadde lefte all
gathering of mo|ney (whiche is the onely thing that withdraw|eth the hartes
of Engliſhemen fro the Prince) nor any thing intended he to take in hande,
by whyche hee ſhoulde bee driuen thereto, for hys tribute
EEBO page image 1357 tribute,
[...]
out of Fraunce, he hadde before obyened. And the yeare foregoing his
deathe, he hadde obteyned Barwicke. And albeit that all the time of his
raigne hee was wyth his people, so benigne, courteous, and so familiar, that
no part of his vertues was more estemed: yet yt
condition, in the ende of his dayes (in whyche many Princes by a long
continued soueraintie, decline into a proude porte from debonair behauiour
of their beginnyng) meruellouslye in hym
grewe and increased: so farre forth, that in Sommer the laste that euer hee
sawe, hys highnesse being at Windsor in hunting, sente for the Maior and
Aldermen of London to hym for none other errande, but to haue them hunt and
bee merye with hym, where hee made them not so stately, but so friendely and
so familiar cheare, and sente venson from thence freely into the Citie, that
no one thyng in many dayes before, gate hym eyther mo heartes or more heartye fauour amongest the common people,
whiche oftentimes more esteeme and take for greater kindnes, a little
courtesie, than a great benefite. So deceassed (as I haue sayde) this noble
King, in that time, in whiche his life was moste desired. Whose loue of hys
people, and their entier affection towarde him, hadde bene to hys noble
children (hauyng in themselues also as manye gifts of nature, as many
Princely vertues, asmuche goodlye towardnesse as their age could receyue) a maruellouse fortresse and
sure armour, if diuision & dissention of their friendes had not
vnarmed them, and left them destitute, and the execrable desire of
souerainty, prouoked hym to their destruction, whiche if eyther kinde or
kindnesse hadde houlden place, muste needes haue bene their chiefe defence.
For Richarde the Duke of Gloucester, by nature their vncle, by office their
protectour, to their father behoulden, to themselfe by othe and allegiaunce bounden, all the bandes broken
that binden man and man togyther, wythout anye respecte of God or the
worlde, vnnaturally contriued to bereue them, not only their dignitie, but
also their liues.
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1 But for aſmuche as this
Dukes demeanor miniſtreth in effect all the whole matter where|of this booke
ſhall intreate, it is therefore con|uenient, ſomewhat to ſhewe you ere wee
far|ther goe, what manner of man thys was, that coulde finde in his harte ſo
muche miſchiefe to conceiue.
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Richarde Duke of Yorke.Richarde duke of Yorke, a
noble man and a mightie, beganne not by warre, but by lawe, to chalendge the
Crowne, puttyng hys claime into the Parliament, where his cauſe was ey|ther
for righte or fauour ſo farre forthe auaun|ced, that King Henry his bloude
(albeit he has a goodly Prince) vtterly reiected, the Crowne was by
aucthoritie of parliament entailed vn|to the Duke of Yorke and his iſſue
male in re|mainder, immediatly after the deathe of Kyng Henry. But the Duke
not induryng ſo long to carry but entendyng vnder pretexte of diſ|ſention
and debate ariſing in the Realme to preuent his time, and to take vppon hym
the rule in Kyng Henry his life, was with many nobles of the Realme at
Wakefielde ſlaine, leauing three ſonnes, Edwarde, George and Richard, All
three as they were greate ſtates of birth, ſo were they great and ſtately of
ſtomack, greedy and ambitious of auctoritie,Edvvarde. and impa|tient of partners. Edwarde reuenging his
fa|thers deathe, depriued Kyng Henry,George Duke of
Clarence. and attai|ned the Crowne. George Duke of Clarence was a
goodly noble prince & at all points for|tunate, if either his owne
ambition had not let him againſte hys brother or the enuy of his e|nimies
his brother againſte hym. For were it by the Queene and lordes of hir bloude
whiche highly maligned the kings ki [...]red (as women commonly not of malice, but of nature hate them whom
their huſbands loue, (or were it a proude appetite of the duke hymſelf,
intending to be king at the leaſt wiſe heinous treſon was there layde to his
charge, and finally were hee faultie, were he faultleſſe, [...]taynted was he by Parlyamente, and iudged to the deathe, and there
vpon haſhly drowned in a hutte of Mal|meſey, whoſe death kyng Ewarde (albeit
hee commaunded it) when he wyſt it was done pi|teouſly bewayled, and
ſorowfully repented.
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1 Richarde the thirde
ſonne,The diſcription Richard the thirde. of
whome wee nowe intreate, was in witte and courage [...]|gall with either of them, in bodie and prowes farre vnder them both,
little of ſtature, yll fea|tured of limmes, crooke backed, his left ſhoulder
muche hygher than hys ryght, harde fauoured of viſage, and ſuche as is in
ſtates called war|lye, in other men otherwyſe, he was malicious, wrathfull,
enuious, and from afore his byrth e|uer frowards. It is for truth reported,
that the Ducheſſe his mother hadde ſo much adoe in hir trauaile, that ſhe
could not be deliuered of hym vncut, and that he cam into the world with the
feete forward, as mẽ be borne outward, and (as the fame runneth) alſo not
vntoothed, whether men of hatred report aboue the truth, or elſe that nature
chaunged hir courſe in his beginning, which in the courſe of his life many
things vn|naturally committed.
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2 None euill captain was he
in the warre, as to which his diſpoſition was more metely than for peace.
Sundry victories had he, and ſom|times ouerthrewes, but neuer in default as
for his owne perſon, eyther of hardineſſe or politike EEBO page image 1358
order, free was he called of diſpence: and ſome|what aboue hys power
liberall, wyth lardge giftes hee gate hym vnſtedfaſte friendeſhippe, for
whiche he was faine to pill and ſpoile in o|ther places, and gette hym
ſtedfaſte hatred. Hee was cloſe and ſecrete, a deepe diſſimuler, lowly of
countenaunce, arrogant of harte, out|wardelye coumpinable w [...]ere hee inwardelye hated, not lettyng to kiſſe whome hee thought to
kill: diſpitions and cruell, not for euill will alwaye, but offer for ambition, and eyther for the ſurety
or increaſe of hys eſtate. Frend and foe was muche what indifferent, where
his ad|vauntage grewe, hee ſpared no mans deathe, whoſe life wythſtoode his
purpoſe. Hee flewe wyth his owne handes Kyng Henry the ſixte,The deathe of Kyng Henry the ſixte. being priſoner in
the Tower, as men conſtant|ly ſaide, and that wythout commaundement or
knowledge of the Kyng, which woulde vn|doubtedlye, if hee hadde intended that thyng, haue appointed that
butcherly office to ſome o|ther, than his owne borne brother.
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3 Some wiſe men alſo weene
that his drifte couertly conueyed, lacked not in helpyng forth his brother
of Clarence to his deathe: whiche hee reſiſted openly, howdeit ſomewhat (as
men deemed) more faintly than hee that were harte|lye minded to hys wealthe.
And they that thus deeme, thinke that hee long time in King Ed|wards
life, foreſt ought to be King in caſe
that the King his brother (whoſe life hee looked that euill diet ſhoulde
ſhorten) ſhoulde happen to deceaſſe (as in deede hee did) while his children
were yong. And they deeme, that for this in|tent hee was gladde of his
brothers deathe the duke of Clarence, whoſe life muſt needes haue hindered
hym ſo intending, wheather the ſame Duke of Clarence hadde kepte hym true to
his Nephewe the yong Kyng, or enterpriſed to be King himſelfe. But of all
this pointe, is there no certaintie, and
who ſo deuineth vppon con|iectures, may aſwell ſhoote to farre as to ſhorte.
Howebeit this haue I by credible enformation learned, that the ſelfe nyght,
in whyche Kyng Edward dyed, one Miſtlebrooke long ere mor|ning, came in
greate haſte to the houſe of one Pottier dwellyng in Redecroſſtreete wythout
Creeplegate: and when hee was wyth haſtye rappyng quicklye letten in, hee
ſhewed vnto Pottier that King Edwarde was departed.
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1 By my truth man quod
Pottier, then will my Maiſter the Duke of Glouceſter bee King. What cauſe
hee had ſo to thinke harde it is to ſaye, whether hee beeing towarde hym,
anye thyng knewe that hee ſuche thing purpoſed, or otherwiſe hadde any
inkeling thereof: for he was not likelye to ſpeake it of nought.
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2 But nowe to retourne to the course of this hystorye, were it that
the Duke of Gloucester hadde of olde foreminded this conclusion, or was nowe
at erste therevnto moued, and putte in hope by the occasion of the tender
age of the yong Princes, his Nephewes (as oportunitie and likelyhoode of
speede putteth a man in courage of that hee neuer intended) certaine is it that
hee contriued their destruction, wyth the vsusrpation of the regall dignitie
vpon himself. And forasmuche as he well wiste and holpe to maintaine, a long
continued grudge and harte brenning beetweene the Queenes kinred and the
Kings bloud, eyther partie enuying others authoritie, hee nowe thoughte that
their deuision shoulde bee (as it was indeede) a furtherly beginnyng to the
pursuite of hys intent, and a sure grounde, for the foundation of all hys
buildyng, if hee might firste vnder the pretexte of revenging of an olde
displeasure, abuse the anger and ignorance of the tone partie, to the
destruction of the tother: and then winne to his purpose as many as he
could, & those that could not bee wonne, myght bee loste ere they
looked therefore: For of one thyng was hee certayne, that if hys intent were
perceyued he shoulde soone haue made peace betwene the bothe parties with
hys owne bloude.
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6 Kyng Edwarde in hys life,
alheit that this diſſention betweene his friendes ſomewhat in| [...]d hym: yet in his good healthe he ſomewhat the leſſe regarded it,
bycauſe hee thought what|ſoeuer buſines ſhould a fall betwene the [...], him|ſelfe ſhoulde always bee able to [...]ule [...]othe the parties. But in his laſt ſicknes, when hee per|ceyued his
naturall ſtrengthe ſo ſore enfeebled, that hee diſpaired all recouerie, then
hee conſi|deryng the youth of his children, alheit he po|thyng leſſe
miſtruſted than that that happened, yet well foreſeeing that many harmes
myghte growe by their debate, while the youthe of hys children ſhoulde lacke
diſcretion of them ſelfe, and good counſaile of their friendes, of whiche
eyther partie ſhoulde counſaile for their owne commoditie and rather by
pleaſaunt aduiſe to wynne themſelfe fauoure, than by profitable
aduertiſement to doo the children good hee cal|led ſome of them before hym
that were at vani|aunce, and in eſpeciall the Lorde Marques Dorſet the
Queenes ſonne by his firſte huſ|band, and William the Lord Haſtings a noble
man then Lorde Chamberlaine, againe whom the Queene ſpecially grudged, for
ye great fa|uour the King bare hym:
[...]
and alſo for that ſhe thought hym ſecretely familiar with the Kyng
in wanton company. Hir kinred alſo bare him ſore, aſwell for that the Kyng
hadde made hym Capytayne of Caleys, whyche Office the Lorde Riuers brother
to the Queene claymed EEBO page image 1359 of the kings former, promiſſe, no
for di [...] other great gifts which he receiued yt they looked for. When theſe
Lorden wyth diuers other of ho [...]the the parties were come [...] fences, the Kyngs lifting vp himſelfe and vnderſet to [...] as it is [...]porte [...] and his wife ſaide vnto them My Lordes,The
Oration of the King in to death bed. my deare kin [...] and [...], in what plight I lye you ſee, and I [...]erle By which the leſſe while I [...]ooke to liue wyth y [...] the more deepely am I [...] care in what caſe Alcou [...] you for ſuche [...] you ſuch hee my children like to [...]. Which [...] they ſhoulde, what God [...] finde you at [...] might ba [...] to felth [...]ſe was at warre, [...]re their diſcretion woulde ſerue to ſet you at peace, yee [...]et their youth, of whyche I recken the only ſuretye to reſte in your
concorde. For it ſuffiſeth not that all you loue them, if eche of you bare
other if they were men your faithful|neſſe happily woulde ſuffi [...]. But childehoode muſte be
maintained by mens aucthoritie, and ſlipper youthe vnder [...]ped with elder coun|ſell, whiche neyther they can haue, but yee giue
it, nor yee giue it, if yee gree not. For what a eche laboureth to breake
that the other maketh and for hatred of eche of others perſon, im [...]|neth eche others counſaile, there muſte at [...]edes bee long e [...]a [...]ye good concluſion go forward: And alſo while eyther partye
laboure [...] to bee chiefe [...]ttene ſhal haue more place than plaine and faythfull aduiſe, of whiche mu [...]e needes inſue the euill bringing vp of the Prince, whoſe minde it
tender youthe infecte, ſhall redily fall to miſchiefe and riot, and drawe
downe wyth his noble Realme to ruine, but if grace [...]urne hym ſo wiſedome: whyche if god ſende, then they that by euill
meanes before pleaſed hym beſte, ſhall after fall fartheſt out of fauoure,
ſo that euer at length euill drifts draw to nought, and good plaine wayes
proſper. Greate vari|aunce hathe there
long bene betweene you, not alwaye for greate cauſes. Sometime a thyng right
well intended, our miſconſtruction tour|neth vnto worſe, or a ſmall
diſpleaſure done vs, eyther our owne affection or euill tonges aga [...]|neth. But this woe I well yee neuer hadde ſo greate cauſe of hatred,
as ye haue of loue. That wee bee all men, that wee bee Chriſtenmen, this
ſhall I leaue for preachers to tell you (and yet I wol [...]are whether any preachers words
ought more to moue you, thã his that is by and by going to the place that
they all preache of).
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1
2 But this ſhall I deſire
you to remember, that the one parte of you is of my bloude, the other of
mine alies, and eche of you wyth o|ther eyther of kinred affinitie, whyche
ſpi|rituall kinred of affinitie, if the Sacramentes of Chriſtes Churche,
hears that weyght wyth vs, that woulde God they didde, ſhoulde no leſſe moue
vs to Charitie, than the reſpecte of fleſhely conſanguinitye. Our Lorde
forbidde, that you loue togyther the worſe for the ſelfe cauſe yt you ought
to loue the better. And yet that happeneth, and no where find we ſo dead|ly
debate [...]oad, among them, whyche by nature and, [...]owe [...]ſt ought to agree togither. Suche a peſtian Serpent is ambition,Ambition. and deſire of vaine glorie and ſoue [...]intie, whiche among ſtates where hee once entreth, creepeth forth ſo
farre, till with diuiſion and variaunce he tur|neth all to miſchiefe. Firſt
longyng to banext the heſte afterwarde [...]all wyth the beſte, and at laſte [...]fe and aboue the beſte. Of whiche immoderate appetite of worſhippe and
thereby of debate and diſſention, what loſſe, what ſor|rowe, what trouble
hathe within theſe fewe yeares growne in this Realme, I pray God aſwell
forget as wee well remember.
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4 Which things if I could
aſwell haue fore|ſeene [...] I haue with my more paine then plea|ſure proued, by Goddes bleſſed
Ladye (that was [...]er his othe). I woulde neuer haue won the [...]ſ [...]e of mens knees, wyth the loſſe of ſo many heades. But ſithen thinges
paſſed cannot hee gayne called, muche oughte wee the more beware, by what
occaſion we haue taken ſo greate hurte afore, that we eftſoones fall not in
that occaſion agayne. Now hee thoſe griefs paſſed, and all is (God be
thanked quiet) and likely, right well to proſper in wealthfull peace vnder
your couſins my children, if God ſende them life and you loue. Of whiche two
things, the leſſe loſſe were they by whome, thoughe God did his pleaſure,
yet ſhoulde the Realme alway finde Kings, and peraduenture as good Kings.
But if you among your ſelfe in a childs raigne fall at debate, many a good
man ſhall periſhe and haplye hee to, and yee to, ere this lande, finde peace
againe. Wherefore in theſe laſte wordes that euer I looke to ſpeake wyth
you. I exhorte you and require you all, for the loue that you haue euer
borne to mee: for the loue that I haue euer borne vnto you: for the loue
that our Lord beareth to vs all, from this time forwarde all griefs
forgotten eche of you loue other. Whiche I verely [...]ruſte you will, if yee any thing earthly regarde, eyther God or your
King, affinitie or kinred, this realme, your owne counter, or your own
fuertie: And therewithall the King [...]o longer induryng to ſ [...]tte vp, laid him downe on his righte ſide, hys face towarde them: and
none was there pre|ſent that coulde refraine from weepyng. But the Lordes
recomfortyng him wyth as good wordes as they coulde, and aunſweryng for the
time as they thought [...] ſtand [...] with hys EEBO page image 1360 pleaſure, there in hys preſence, as by
theyr wordes appeared, eche forgaue other, and ioy|ned theyr handes
togyther, when (as it after appeared by theyr deedes) their hartes, were
farre aſunder. As ſoone as the King was de|parted, the noble Prynce his
ſonne drewe to|warde London, whiche at the time of hys de|ceaſſe, kepte hys
houſholde at Ludlowe in Wales, whiche countrey beeing farre [...]rom the lawe and recourſe to Iuſtice, was begon to be far out of good wil, and waxen wyld rob|bers
& reuers, walkyng at libertie vncorrected.
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2 And for thys ench [...]on the Prince was in the life of hys father ſente thither, to the ende
that the aucthoritie of his preſence, ſhoulde re|fraine euill diſpoſed
perſons fro the boldeneſſe of their former outrages. To the gouernaunce and
orderyng of this yong Prince at hys ſen|dyng thither, was there appoynted
Sir An|thony Wooduile lord Riuers, and
brother vn|to the Queene,Lorde Riuers. a right
honourable man, as va| [...]ant of hand as politike in counſel. Adioyned wer there vnto him other
of ye ſame partie, & in effect euery one as he was nereſt of [...]n vnto the Quene, ſo was planted next about ye Prince.
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1
2
3 That drifte by the Queene not vnwiſely deuiſed, whereby hir
bloude mighte of yo [...]he bee rooted in the Princes fauoure, the Duke of Glouceſter tourned
vnto their deſtruction, and vppon that
grounde ſette the foundation of all his vnhappye buildyng. For whomſoeuer he
perceyued, eyther at variaunce wyth them, or bearing hymſelfe theyr fauoure,
hee brake vnto them, ſome by mouthe, ſome by writyng and ſecret meſſengers,
that it neyther was reaſon nor in any wiſe to bee ſuffered, that the yong
Kyng their Maiſter and kinſman, ſhoulde bee in the handes and cuſtodye of
his mothers kin|red, ſequeſtred in manner from their company and
attendaunce, of whiche euery one oughte
hym as faithfull ſeruice as they, and manye of them farre more honourable
parte of kinne than his mothers ſide. Whoſe bloude (quod hee) ſa|uing the
Kings pleaſure, was full vnmeetelye to bee matched wyth his: whiche nowe to
bee as who ſaye remoued from the Kyng and the leſſe noble to bee left aboute
hym, is (quod he) neyther honourable to his Maieſtie nor vnto vs, and alſo
to his grace no ſuretie to haue the mightleſt of his friendes from hym, and
vnto vs no little ieoperdye, to ſuffer our
well pro| [...]ed euill willers to growe in ouer great aucto|ritie with the prince in
youth, namely whiche is lighte of beleefe and ſoone perſwaded. Yee remember
I trowe King Edwarde hymselfe, albeit he was a man of age and of discretion,
yet was he in many things ruled by the bende, more than stoode either with
his honour, or our profit, or wt the com(m)oditie of any
ma(n) els except only the immoderate aduancement of the(m)selfe. Which
whether they sorer thirsted after their own weale, or our wo, it were hard I
wene to gesse. And if some folkes friendshippe had not houlden better place
wyth the Kyng, than any respect of kinred, they myght peraduenture easilye
haue betrapped and broughte to confusion some of vs ere this. Why not as
easilye as they haue done some other already, as neere of his royall bloude
as wee? But our Lorde hathe wroughte his will, and thanke bee to his grace
that perill is paste. Howebeit as greate is growing, if we suffer this yong
king in our enimies hande, whiche wythout his wittyng myght abuse the name
of hys commaundement, to any of our vndooyng, whiche thyng God and good
prouision forbidde.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Of whiche good prouision none of vs hath any thing the lesse
neede, for the late made atonement, in which the kings plesure had more
place than the parties willes. Nor none of vs, I beleeue is so vnwise,
ouersoone to truste a newe friende made of an olde foe, or to thinke that an
hourely kindenesse, sodainely contracte in one houre, continued yet scante a
fortnyght, shoulde bee deeper settled in their stomackes: than a long
accustomed malice many yeres rooted. Wyth these wordes and writyngs and
suche other, the Duke of Gloucester soone set a fire, them that wer of
themself ethe to kindle, & in especiall twayn, Edward duke of
Buckingham, & William Lord Hastyngs & Chamberlain, both men
of honour and of great power.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The tone by long
ſucceſſion from his aun|ceſtrie: the tother by his office, and the Kyngs
fauoure. Theſe twoo not bearing ethe to other ſo muche loue as hatred bothe
vnto the Quenes part: in this poynt accorded togyther wyth the Duke of
Glouceſter, that they woulde vtterly amoue from the kings companye, all hys
mo|thers frends, vnder the name of theyr enemies.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Vppon this concluded, the
Duke of Glou|ceſter vnderſtandyng that the Lordes whiche at that time were
aboute the King, entended to bring him vp to his coronation accompanied with
ſuche power of their friends, that it ſhuld bee harde for hym to bring his
purpoſe to paſſe, without the gathering & great aſſẽble of people
& in maner of open warre, wherof ye [...]nd he wiſt was doubtfull, & in which the K. being on their
ſide, his parte ſhuld haue the face and name of a rebellion: he ſecretly
therfore, by diuers meanes cauſed the Queene to bee perſwaded &
brought in the minde, that it neyther were neede, & [...]ſo ſhoulde bee ieopardous, the Kyng to co [...]p ſtrong. For whereas nowe euerye Lorde lo|ued other, and none other
thyng [...] vpon EEBO page image 1361 but about the Coronation and honour of the
King: if ye Lordes of hir kindred ſhould aſſemble in the Kings name muche
people, they ſhoulde g [...]e the Lordes atwixte whome and them had [...]in ſometime debate, to feare and ſuſpect, leaſte they ſhould gather
thys people, not for ye Kings ſafegard, whome no man impugned, but for
theyr deſtruction, hauing more regarde to theyr olde variance, than theyr
new attonement. For whiche cauſe they ſhoulde aſſemble on the other
partie muche people agayne for theyr
defence, whoſe power the wiſt well farre ſtretched. And thus ſhould all the
Realme fall on a core. And of all the hurt that thereof ſhould enſue, which
was likely not to bee little, and the moſt harme there like to fall where
ſhe leaſt would, all the worlde would put hir and hir kindred in the wight,
and ſay that they hadde vnwiſely and vntruely alſo broken the amitie and
peace, that the Kyng hir huſband ſo prudently made, betweene his kinne
and hirs in his deathe bed, and whiche
the other partie faithfully obſerued.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 The Queene beeing in this
wiſe perſwaded, ſuch word ſent vnto hir ſonne, and vnto hir bro|ther beeing
about the King, and ouer that the Duke of Glouceſter himſelfe and other
Lordes the chiefe of his bende, wrote vnto the King ſo reuerently, and to
the Queenes friendes there ſo louingly, that they nothing earthly
miſtru|ſting brought the King vp in great haſt, not in good ſpeede, with a ſober companye. Now was the King in
his way to London gone frõ Nor|thampton, when theſe Dukes of Glouceſter and
Buckingham came thither, where remayned behinde the Lord Riuers the Kings
Vncle, in|tending on the morrowe to followe the Kyng, [...]he with him at Stome Stratford, myles thence earely or he departed. So
was there made that night muche friendly cheere betweene theſe Dukes and the
Lorde Riuers a greate whyle. But
incontinente, after that they were openly with great curteſie departed, and
the Lorde Ri|uers lodged, the Dukes ſecretely with a fewe of [...] moſt priuie friends, ſet them downe in coũ|ſayle, wherein they
ſpente a greate parte of the [...]ight. And at their riſing in the dawning of the day, they ſente about
priuily to their ſe [...]untes in their Innes and lodgings about, giuing them commandement, to
make themſelfe ſhortly rea|die, for their Lordes were to horſebacke warde.
Vppon whiche meſſages, manye of theyr
folke were attendaunce, when many of the Lord Ri|uers ſeruauntis were
vnready. Nowe had theſe Dukes taken alſo into their cuſtodie the keyes of
the Inne, that none ſhoulde paſſe foorth with|out the [...] licence.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 And ouer this, in the
high way toward Sto|nie Stratford, where the King lay, they had be|ſtowed
certaine of their folke, that ſhoulde ſende backe agayne, and compell to
returne, any man that were goten out of Northampton; towarde Stonie
Strafforde, till they ſhoulde giue other licence. For as much as the Dukes
themſelfe intended for the ſhewe of theyr diligence, to bee the firſte that
ſhoulde that daye attende vpon the Kings highneſſe out of that Towne: thus
bare they folke in hand. But when the Lorde Riuers vnderſtoode the gates
cloſed, and the wayes on euery ſide beſet, neyther his ſeruauntes nor
hym|ſelfe ſuffered to gone out, perceyuing well ſo great a thing without his
knowledge not begun for naughte, comparing this manner preſente, with this
laſt nightes cheere, in ſo fewe houres ſo great a change, maruellouſly
miſliked. How|beit, ſith he could not get away, and keepe hym|ſelfe cloſe he
woulde not, leaſt hee ſhoulde ſeeme to hyde hymſelfe for ſome ſecrete feare
of hys owne faulte, whereof hee ſawe no ſuche cauſe in himſelfe. He
determined vpon the ſuretie of hys owne conſcience, to goe boldly to them,
and in|quire what this matter myghte meant, whome [...] as they ſawe, they began to quarrel with him and ſay, that he
intended to ſet diſtaunce be|tweene the King and them, and to bring them to
re [...]ſion, but it ſhould not lie in his power. And when he began (as he was
a very well ſpo|ken in all) in goodly wiſe to excuſe himſelfe, they tarried
not the ende of his aunſwere,The Lorde Riuers put in
warde. but ſhortly tooke hym, and put him in ward, and that done,
forthwith wente to Horſebacke, and tooke the way to Stony Stratforde, where
they founde the King with hys companie, readie to leape on Horſebacke, and
departe forwarde to leaue that lodging for them, bycauſe it was to ſtraight
for both companyes. And aſſoone as they came in his preſence, they lighte
adowne with all theyr companie about them. To whome the Duke of Buckingham
ſayde, goe afore Gentlemen, and yeomen keepe your twines.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 And thus in a goodly
aray, they came to the King, and on their knees in very humble will, ſalued
his grace, whiche receyued them in verye ioyous and amiable manner, nothing
earthly knowing nor miſtruſting as yet. But euen by and by in his preſence,
they piked a quarrell to the Lorde Richarde Grey,The
Lorde Grey. the Kings other bro|ther by his mother, ſaying, that
he with ye Lorde Marques his brother, and the Lord Riuers hys Vncle, had
compaſſed to [...] the King and the Realme, and to ſet variance among the ſtates and to
ſubdue and deſtroy the noble proud of the Realme. Towarde the accompliſhing
where|of they ſayd that the Lord Marques had entred into the Tower of
London, and thence taken out the Kings treaſure, and ſente menne to the
Sea.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
EEBO page image 1362All which things theſe Dukes wiſt wel were done for good
purpoſes & neceſſarie by the whole counſayle at London, ſauing that
ſomewhat they muſt ſay. Vnto whiche wordes the Kyng aunſwered. What my
brother Marques hathe done I cannot ſay: But in good faithe I dare well
aunſwere for mine vncle Riuers and my brother heere, that they be innocent
of anye ſuch matter. Yea my liege quoth the Duke of Buc|kingham, they haue
kept theyr dealing in theſe matters farre
fro the knowledge of youre good grace. And forthwith they areſted the Lord
Ri|chard and Sir Thomas Vaughan Knighte, in the Kings preſence, and brought
the King and all backe vnto Northampton, where they tooke againe further
Counſell. And there they ſente away from the Kyng, whome it pleaſed them,
and ſet new ſeruauntes about hym, ſuche as ly|ked better them than him. At
whiche dealing hee wepte, and was nothing contente, but it booted not. And at dinner, the Duke of Glouceſter ſent a
diſh from his owne table to the Lord Riuers, praying him to bee of good
cheere, all ſhoulde bee well ynough. And hee thanked the Du e, and prayed
the meſſenger to beare it to his nephewe the Lord Richard with the ſame
meſſage for his comfort, who bee thoughte hadde more neede of comforte, as
one to whome ſuch aduerſitie was ſtrange. But hymſelfe hadde bin all hys
dayes in vre therewith, and therefore could beare it the better. But for all thys comfortable curteſie of the Duke
of Glouceſter, hee ſente the Lorde Riuers,The death of
the L. Riuers and other. and the Lorde Richarde, with ſir Tho|mas
Vaughan into the North Countrey, into dyuers places to priſon, and
afterwarde all to Pomfraite, where they were in concluſion beheaded.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 In this wiſe, the Duke of
Glouceſter tooke vpon hymſelfe the order and gouernaunce of the yong Kyng,
whome with much honor & hum|ble
reuerence, hee conueyed vpwarde towarde the Citie. But anone, the tidyngs of
thys matter came haſtily to the Queene a little before the midnighte
following, and that in ye ſoreſt wiſe, that the King hir ſonne was taken,
hir brother, hir ſonne, and hir other friendes arreſted, and ſent no man
wiſt whither, to bee done with GOD wot what. With whyche tydyngs, the Queene
in greate flighte and heauineſſe, bewayling hyr childes raigne, hir friendes
miſchance, and hyr owne infortune, damning
the tyme that euer ſhe diſſwaded the gathering of power about the King, gate
hir ſelfe in all the haſt poſſible with hir yonger ſonne and hir daughters,
out of the palace of Weſtminſter, in which ſhe then lay, into the
Sanctuarie,The Q taketh Sanctuary. lodging hir
ſelfe and hir cõ|panie there in the Abbots place.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Nowe came there one in
likewiſe not long after midnight fro the Lord Chamberlayne, [...] to the Archbyſhoppe of Yorke, then Chancellor of England, to his
place not farre from Weſt|minſter. And for that hee ſhewed his ſeruauntes
that he hadde tidings of ſo greate importaunce, that his maiſter gaue him in
charge, not to for|beare his reſt, they letted not to wake hym, nor hee to
admitte this meſſenger into his beds [...] Of whome hee hearde that theſe Dukes were gone backe with the Kings
grace from Stonie Stratford vnto Northampton. Notwithſtan|ding Sir (quoth
hee) my Lorde ſendeth youre Lordſhippe worde, that there is no feare: for
[...]ee aſſureth you that all ſhall bee well. I aſſure him quoth the
Archebyſhoppe, be it as well as it vpõ it will neuer be ſo well as we haue
ſeene it. And therevpon, by and by after, the meſſenger depar|ted, he cauſed
in all the haſt all his ſeruauntes to bee called vp, and ſo with hys owne
houſeho [...] a|bout hym, and euerye man weaponed, he tooke the greate ſeale with
hym, and came yet before day vnto the Queene. About whome he founde muche
heauineſſe, rumble, haſt and buſineſſe, ca|riage and conueyance of hir
ſtuffe into San|ctuarie, cheſtes, coffers, packes, fardels, truſſed all on
mens backes, no man vnoccupyed, ſome la|ding, ſome going, ſome diſcharging,
ſome com|ming for more, ſome breaking downe the walles to bring in the nexte
way, and ſome yet d [...] to them that holp to carrrie a wrong way.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The Queene hir ſelfe ſate
alone [...] on the ruſhes all deſolate and diſmayde, whome the Archbyſhop
comforted in the beſt manner hee coulde, ſhewyng hir that hee truſted, the
matter was nothyng ſo ſore as ſhe tooke it for. And that hee was putte in
good hope and out of feare by the meſſage ſent hym from the Lord
Cham|berlayne. Ah wo worth him (quoth ſhe) for he is one of them that
laboureth to deſtroy [...] my bloud.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 Madame (quoth he) be yee
of good cheers, for I aſſure you, if they Crowne anye other [...] than youre ſonne, whome they nowe [...] with them, wee ſhall on the morrowe Crowne hys brother, whome you
haue heere with [...]. And heere is the greate ſcale, whiche in lykewiſe as that noble
Prince youre huſband deliuered it vnto me, ſo heere I deliuer, it vnto you,
to ye vſe and behoofe of your ſonne, and therewith hee be|tooke hir ye
greate ſeale, & departed home againe, yet in ye dawning of the day.
By which tyme [...] might in his chamber window, ſee al ye [...] full of boates of the D. of Glo [...]eſters ſeru [...], watching that no man ſhould goe to Sanctua|rie, nor none could paſſe
vnſearched. Then was there great commotion and murmure, as well EEBO page image 1363 in other places about, as ſpecially in the Citie, the
people diuerſly diuining vpon thys dealing. And ſome Lordes, Knyghtes, and
Gentlemen, eyther for fauoure of the Queene, or for feare of themſelues,
aſſembled in ſundrye companyes, and wente flockemele in harneys and many
al|ſo, for that they reckoned this demeanoure attẽp|ted, not ſo ſpecially
againſte the other Lordes, as againſt the King hymſelfe in the diſturbance
of his Coronation. But then by and by ye Lords aſſembled togither at [...] Towarde whyche meeting, the Archebyſhoppe of Yorke fearing that it
woulde bee aſcribed (as it was in|deede) to hys ouermuche lightneſſe, that
hee ſo ſuddaynely hadde yeelded vp the greate ſeale to the Queene, to whome
the cuſtodie thereof no|thing perteyned, without eſpeciall commaunde|ment of
the Kyng, ſecretely ſent for the ſeale a|gayne, and brought it with him
after the cuſto|mable manner. And at thys meetyng the Lorde Haſting, whoſe trouth toward the king, no man
doubted nor needed to doubte, perſwaded the Lordes to beleeue, that the Duke
of Glouceſter was ſure and faſtly faythfull to his Prince, and that the
Lorde Riuers and Lord Richard with the other Knightes were for matters
attempted by them againſte the Dukes of Glouceſter and Buckingham, put vnder
areſt for their ſuretie, not for the Kings ieoperdie: and that they were
alſo in ſafegarde, and there no longer ſhoulde re|mayne, than til the matter were, not by ye Dukes only, but alſo
by al the other Lordes of the kings counſayle indifferently examined, and by
other diſcretions ordered and eyther iudged or appea|ſed.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But one thing he aduiſed
them beware, that they iudged not the matter too farre foorthe, ere they
knewe the trueth, nor turning theyr priuate grudges into the common hurte,
yrriting and prouokyng men vnto anger, and diſturbing the Kings Coronation, towarde whych the Dukes were commyng
vp, that they myght peraduen|ture bryng the matter ſo farre out of ioyne,
that it ſhoulde neuer bee broughte in frame agayne. Which ſtrife if it
ſhould happe, as it were likely to come to a fielde though both parties were
in all other things egall, yet ſhoulde the authoritie be on that ſyde where
the King is himſelfe, with theſe perſwaſions of the Lorde Haſtings, wher|of
parte hymſelfe beleeued, of parte hee wiſt the contrarie, theſe commotions were ſomewhat appeaſed. But
ſpeciallie by that that the Dukes of Glouceſter and Buckingham were ſo neere
and came ſo ſhortly on with the Kyng, in none other manner, with none other
voyce or ſem|blaunce than to hys coronation, cauſing the fame to be blowen
about, that theſe Lordes and Knyghtes which were taken, had contriued the
deſtruction of the Dukes of Glouceſter and Buckyngham, and of other the
noble bloud of the Realme, to the ende that themſelfe woulde alone, demeane
and gouerne the Kyng at theyr pleaſure.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And for the coulourable
proofe thereof, ſuche of the Dukes ſeruauntes as rode with the cartes of
theyr ſtuffe that were taken (among whyche ſtuffe, no maruell though ſome
were harneys, whyche at the breaking vppe of that houſholde, muſt needes
eyther bee broughte away, or caſt away) they ſhewed vnto the people al the
wayes as they wente: loe heere bee the barrels of har|neys that theſe
Traytors hadde priuily con|ueyde in theyr carriage to deſtroye the noble
Lordes withall.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Thys deuiſe albeit that
it made the matter to wiſe menne more vnlykely, well perceyuing that the
intendours of ſuche a purpoſe woulde rather haue hadde theyr harneys on
theyr backes than to haue bounde them vppe in barrels, yet muche parte of
the common people were there|with verye well ſatiſfyed, and ſayde it were
al|moyſe to hang them.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 When the King approched
neere to the Ci|tie, Edmonde Shaa goldeſmith, then Maior, with William
White, and Iohn Mathewe Sheriffes, and all the other Aldermen in Scar|lette,
with fyue hundred Horſe of the Citizens in violet receyued hym reuerently at
Harneſey: and riding from thence accompanyed hym in|to the Citie,The Kings comming to London. whyche hee entred the
fourth daye of Maye, the fyrſte and laſte yeare of hys raigne.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But the Duke of
Glouceſter bare hym in open ſyght ſo reuerently to the Prince, with all
ſemblaunce of lowlyneſſe, that from the greate obloquie in whych he was ſo
late before, he was ſuddaynely fallen in ſo greate truſt, that at the
Counſayle nexte aſſembled, hee was made the onely man choſe and thought moſt
meete,The protec|tour made. to be Protector of
the King and hys Realme, ſo (that were it deſtenie or were it follie) the
lambe was betaken to the wolfe to keepe. At whych Coun|ſayle alſo, the
Archebyſhoppe of Yorke Chaun|cellour of Englande whyche hadde deliuered by
the greate ſeale to the Queene, was thereof greately reprooued, and the
Seale taken from hym, and deliuered to Doctor Ruſſell By|ſhoppe of Lincolne,
a wiſe men and a good,The Biſhop of Lincolne made Lorde
Chancellour. and of muche experience, and one of the beſte learned
menne vndoubtedly that England had in hys tyme. Diuers Lordes and Knyghtes
were appoynted vnto diuers roomes. The Lord Chamberlayne and ſome other
kepte ſtill theyr offices that they had before.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4
5
6
EEBO page image 1364Now all were it ſo that the Protector ſo ſore thirſted
for the furniſhing of that hee hadde be|gunne, that thoughte euerye daye a
yeare, till it were atchieued, yet durſt he no further attempte, as long as
hee hadde but halfe his pray in hys hande: well witting, that if he depoſed
the one brother, all the Realme woulde fall to the to|ther, if hee eyther
remayned in Sanctuarie, or ſhoulde happely bee ſhortlye conueyd to hys
fa|thers libertie. Wherefore incontinent at the next meeting of the Lordes at the Counſaile, he pro|poſed vnto
them, that it was a haynous deede of the Queene,The
protec|tors orations. and proceeding of great malice towarde the
Kings Counſailers, that ſhe ſhould keepe in Sanctuarie the kings brother
frõ hym, whoſe ſpeciall pleaſure and comforte were to haue his brother with
him. And that by hir done to none other intente, but to bring all the Lords
in obloquie, and murmure of the people. As though they were not to be
truſted with ye kings brother, that by
the aſſente of the Nobles of the land, were appoynted as the kings neereſt
friẽds, to the tuition of his owne royall perſon. The proſperitie whereof
ſtandeth (quoth he) not all in keeping from enimies, or ill vyande, but
partlye alſo in recreation, and moderate pleaſure: which hee cannot in this
tender youth, take in the com|panie of auncient perſons, but in the familiar
cõ|uerſacion of thoſe that be neyther farre vnder, nor farre aboue his age.
And naytheleſſe of eſtate cõ|uenient to
accompanie his noble maieſtie, wher|fore with whome rather, than with hys
owne brother? And if any man thinke this conſidera|tion (whiche I thinke no
man thinketh that lo|ueth the King) let him conſider, that ſometyme without
ſmall thinges, greater cannot ſtande. And verily, it redoundeth greately to
the diſho|nor both of the Kinges highneſſe, and of all vs that bene about
his grace, to haue it runne in e|uery mans mouth, not in this Realme only,
but alſo in other lands (as euill wordes
walke farre) that the kings brother ſhoulde bee fayne to keepe Sanctuarie.
For euery man will weene, that no man will ſo do for naught. And ſuch euil
opini|on once faſtned in mens heartes, harde it is to wraſt out, and may
growe to more griefe than any man can heere deuine. Wherefore me thyn|keth
it were not worſt to ſende vnto ye Queene, for the redreſſe of this matter,
ſome honorable truſtie man, ſuche as both tendereth the Kynges wealt, and the honour of his counſayle, and is
alſo in fauoure and credence with hir. For all whiche conſiderations, none
ſeemeth mee more meetely, than our reuerende father heere preſent, my Lorde
Cardinall, who maye in this matter doe moſt good of any man, if it pleaſe
him to take the payne, whiche I doubte not of hys goodneſſe he will not
refuſe for the Kyngs ſake and ours, and wealth of the yong Duke himſelf, the
kings moſt honorable brother, and after my ſouerai [...] Lorde hymſelfe, my moſte deere nephewe, con|ſidered that thereby
ſhall be ceaſſed the ſlaunde|rous rumor and obloquie nowe goyng, and the
hurtes auoyded that thereof myghte enſue, and muche reſt and quiete growe to
all the Realme. And if ſhe bee percaſe ſo obſtinate, and ſo preciſelie ſette
vppon hir owne will, that ney|ther hys wiſe and faythfull aduertiſemente,
can+not moue hir, nor anye mans reaſon contente hir: then ſhall we by myne
aduice, by the kyngs authoritie, fetche hym out of that priſon, and bryng
him to his noble preſence, in whoſe con|tinuall companie, hee ſhall be ſo
well cheriſhed and ſo honorablie intreated, that all the worlde ſhall to our
honor and hir reproche perceyue, that it was only malice, frowardneſſe, or
follie, that cauſed hir to keepe him there: this is my mynde in this matter
for this time, except any of youre Lordſhippes any thing perceyue to the
contraiſe, for neuer ſhall I by Goddes grace ſo wedde my ſelfe to myne owne
will, but that I ſhall be rea|die to change it vpon your better aduiſes.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4 When the Protector hadde
ſayde, all the Counſayle affirmed, that the motion was good and reaſonable,
and to the King and the Duke his brother, honorable, and a thing that
ſhoulde ceaſſe great murmure in the Realme, if ye mo|ther mighte be by good
meanes enduced to dely|uer him. Which thing the Archbiſhop of Yorke, whome
they all agreed alſo to bee thereto moſt conueniente, tooke vppon hym to
moue hir, and therein to doe his vttermoſt deuoire. Howbeit, if ſhe could be
in no wiſe intreated with hir good will to deliuer him, then thought he, and
ſuch o|ther as were of the Spiritualtie preſente, that it were not in anye
wiſe to bee attempted to take him out againſt hir wil. For it would be a
thing that ſhould turne to the great grudge of all men,Sanctuary. and high diſpleaſure of God, if the priuiledge of that
holy place ſhoulde nowe be broken, whyche had ſo manie yeares be kept,
whiche both Kings and Popes ſo good had graunted, ſo many hadde confirmed,
and whiche holy grounde was more than fyue hundred yeares agoe by S. Peter
in his owne perſon in ſpirite accompanyed, with great multitude of Angels by
nighte, ſo ſpecial|ly halowed, and dedicate to God (for the pri [...]t whereof, they haue yet in the Abbey Saynt Pe|ters Cope to ſhew) that
from that time hy [...]|ward, was there neuer ſo vndeuout a King, that durſt that ſacred
place violate, or ſo holy a By|ſhop, that durſt it preſume to conſecrate.
And therefore (quoth the Archebyſhop of Yorke) God forbid that any man ſhuld
for any thing earth|ly enterpriſe to breake the immunitie and libertie of
ye ſacred Sanctuarie, that hath bin ye ſafegard EEBO page image 1365 of ſo
many a good mans life and I will (quoth hee) with Goddes grace, wee ſhall
not neede it. But for any manner neede, I would not we ſhoulde doe it. I
truſt that ſhee ſhall bee with reaſon contented, and all thynges in good
ma|ner obteyned. And if it happen that I bryng it not ſo to paſſe, yet ſhall
I towarde it ſo farre|foorth doe my beſt, that yee ſhall all well per|ceyue,
that no lacke of my deuoire, but the mo|thers dread and womaniſhe feare,
ſhall bee the lette. Womaniſhe feare, naye
womaniſhe fro|wardeneſſe (quoth the Duke of Buckyngham) For I dare take it
vpon my ſoule, ſhe well kno|weth ſhee needeth no ſuche thyng to feare,
ey|ther for hir ſonne or for hir ſelfe. For as for hir, heere is no man that
will be at warre with wo|men. Woulde God ſome of the men of hir kinne, were
women too, and then ſhoulde all be ſonne in reſt. Howheit, there is none of
hir kynne the leſſe loued, for that they hee hir kynne, but for there owne euill deſeruing. And natheleſſe, if we
loued neither hir nor hir kinne, yet were there no cauſe to thynke that we
ſhould hate the kings noble brother, to whoſe Grace, we once ſelfe bee of
kynne. Whoſe honoure, if ſhe as muche deſi|red as our diſhonoure, and as
muche regarde tooke to hys wealthe, as to hir owne will, ſhee woulde hee as
loth to ſuffer hym from the King, as any of vs he. For yf yee haue anye
witte, (as woulde God ſhee had as good will as ſhee hathe ſhrewde witte) ſhe reckoneth his ſelfe no wiſer, than
ſhee thynketh ſome that be heere, of whoſe faythfull mynde, ſhee nothyng
doubteth, but verily beleeueth and knoweth, that they would bee as ſorie of
hys harme as hir ſelfe, and yet woulde haue hym from hir if ſhee hyde there:
And we all I thynke) content, that both he with hir, if ſhee come thence and
byde in ſuche place where they may with theyr honour be.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Nowe then if ſhee refuſe
in the deliueraunce of him, to followe the
reconſaile of them, whoſe wiſedome ſhee knoweth, whoſe trueth ſhe well
truſteth is ethe to perceyue, that frowardneſſe letteth hir, and not feare.
But go to ſuppoſe that ſhe feare (as who may lette hir to feare hir owne
ſhadowe) the more ſhee feareth to deliuer hym, the more ought we feare to
leaue him in hir [...]ãd [...] For if ſhee caſt ſuch fond doubtes, that ſhe feare his hurt: then
will ſhe feare that he ſhall bee ſette thence. For ſhe will ſoone thynke,
that if menne were ſette (whych God forbidde) vpon ſo greate a miſchiefe, the Sainctuarie woulde little lette
them: which good menne myghte as me thyn|keth, without ſinne, ſomewhat leſſe
regard than they doe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Nowe then, if she doubte, least hee myghte be fetched from hir,
is it not lykely ynough that she shal send hym some where out of the realme?
Verily I looke for none other. And I doubte not, but shee nowe as sore
myndeth it, as we the lette thereof. And if shee mighte happen to bryng that
to passe, (as it were no greate maistrie, wee letting hir alone) all the
worlde woulde saye that we were a wise sorte of Counsailers aboute a Kyng,
that lette his brother be cast away vnder our noses. And therefore, I ensure
you faythfully for my mynde, I will rather maugre hir minde, fetch him away,
then leaue him there, till hir frowardnesse and fonde feare conuay him away.
And yet will I breake no Sainctuarie therefore. For verily, sith the
priueleges of that place and other lyke, haue bene of long continued, I am
not hee that woulde be about to breake them. And in good fayth, if they were
now to beginne, I woulde not be he that shoulde be about to make them.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Yet will I not say naye, Of
Sãctuarles. but that it is a deede of pitie, that such menne as
the Sea, or their euill dettours haue broughte in pouertie, shoulde haue
some place of libertie, to keepe theyr cruell creditours.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And also, if the Crowne happen (as it hathe done) to come in
question, whyle eyther parte taketh other as Traytors, I will well there be
come places of refuge for both.
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1 But as for theeues, of whyche, these places bee full, and whyche
neuer fall from the crafte, after they once fall thereto, it is pitie the
Sanctuarie shoulde serue them. And much more, ma(n)quellers, whome GOD bade
to take from the Aulter and kyll them, if theyr murther were wilfull. And
where it is otherwise, there neede wee not the Sanctuaries that God
appoynted in the olde lawe. For if eyther necessitie, hys owne defence, or
misfortune draweth hym to that deede, a pardon serueth, whiche eyther the
lawe graunteth of course, or the King of pittie maye.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then looke me nowe howe fewe Sanctuarie me(n) there be, whom any
fauourable necessitie co(m)pelled to goe thyther. And then see on the tother
syde, what a sort, there be commonly therein of them, whome wilfull
vnthriftinesse hathe brought to naught.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 What a rabble of theeues, murtherers, and malitious heynous
Traytors, and that in two places specially. The tone at the elbowe of the
Citie, the tother in the verye bowelles. I dare well auowe it, way the good
that they doe, Weſtminſter and Saint Mertina. with
the hurte that commeth of them, and yee shall fynde it muche better to lacke
both, than haue bothe. And thys I saye, although they were not abused as
they nowe bee, and so long haue bee, that I feare me euer they will bee,
whyle menne be afrayde to sette their hands to the
EEBO page image 1366 the mendmente, as though God and Saincte Peter, were the
patrones of vngratious lyuing.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
The abuſe of Sanctuaries.Nowe vnthriftes riote,
and runne in debte, vpon the boldneſſe of theſe places, yea, and rich men
runne thither with poore mens goodes, there they buylde, there they ſpende,
and blode theyr creditors goe whiſtle them.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Mens wines runne thyther
with theyr huſ|bandes plate, and ſaye, they dare not abyde with theyr huſbands for beating.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Theeues bring thither
theyr ſtollen goodes, and there lyue thereon.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 There deuiſe they newe
robberies, nightelie they ſteale out, they robbe, and rea [...]e, and kyll, and come in agayne, as though thoſe places gaue them not
onely a ſauegarde for the harme they haue done, but a licence alſo to doe
more. Howbeit, much of thys miſchiefe if wiſe menne would ſette theyr handes
to it, might be amen|ded, with great
thankes of God, and no breathe of the priuiledge.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The reſidue, ſith ſo long
agoe I wore neere what Pope, and what Prince more piteous than politike,
hathe graunted it, and other men, ſince of a certayne religious feare, haue
not broken it, [...]ete vs take a payne therewith, and lette it a Goddes name ſt [...]de in force, as farre forthe as reaſon will, whych is not fully ſo
farre forthe, as maye ſerue to lette vs of the fetching forthe of thys noble man, to hys honor and wealthe, out of
that place, in whyche hee neyther is, nor can be a Sanctuarie man.
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1 A Sanctuarie ſerueth
alway to defende the bodye of that man that ſtandeth in daunger a|broade,
not of greate hurte onely, but alſo of lawfull hurte, for agaynſte vnlawfull
harmes, neuer Pope nor Kyng intended to priuiledge any one place, for that
priuiledge hathe euerye place: knoweth anye man, anye place, where|in
it is lawefull one manne to doe another
wrong?
Compare 1587 edition:
1 That no man vnlawfully
take hurte, that lybertie, the Kyng, the lawe, and verye na|ture, forbyddeth
in euery place, and maketh to that regarde, for euery man euery place a
San|ctuarie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But where a man is by
lawfull meanes in perill, there needeth he the tuicion of ſome ſpeciall
priuiledge, whyche is the onely grounde and cauſe of all Sanctuaries: from whyche neceſſi|tie, thys noble Prince is
farre, whoſe loue to hys Kyng, nature and kindred proueth, whoſe innocencie
to all the worlde, his tender youth proueth, and ſo Sanctuarie, as for hym,
ney|ther none he needeth, nor alſo none can haue.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Men come not to
Sanctuarie, as they come to Baptiſme, to require it by theyr Godfathers, he
muſt aſke it himſelfe, that muſt haue it, [...] reaſon, ſith no man hathe cauſe to haue it, but whoſe conſcience of
his owne fault maketh him fayne, neede to require it, what will then [...] yonder babe? whyche and if hee hadde diſcre|tion to require it, if
neede were, I dare ſaye woulde nowe bee ryght angrie with them that keepe
hym there: and I would thynke without anye ſcruple of conſcience, withoute
any brea [...] of priuiledge, to bee ſomewhat more hounly with them that be there
Sanctuarie menne in|deede.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 For if one goe to
Sanctuarie with [...]|ther mans goodes, why ſhoulde not the Kyng, leauing his bodye at
libertie, ſatiſfie the partie of hys goodes, euen within the Sanctuarie for
neyther Kyng nor Pope can gyue any place ſuche a priuiledge, that it ſhall
diſcharge a man of his debtes, beeyng able to pay: and with that, dyuers of
the Cleargie that were preſente, whyther they ſayde it for hys plea [...]e, or as they thought, agreed playnelye, thirty the lawe of God and of
the Churche, the goodes of a Sanctuarie man ſhoulde be deſyue|red in
paymente of hys debtes, and [...] goodes to the owner, and onely lybertie teſ [...]|ued hym to gette hys liuing with the laboure of hys handes, verilye
(quoth the Duke) I thynke you ſay very trueth, and what if a mans wife will
take Sanctuarie, bycauſe ſhee [...] to runne from hir huſbande, I woulde w [...] if ſhee coulde alledge none other cauſe, hee maye lawfully, withoute
anye diſpleaſure to [...] Peter, take hir out of Sainte Peters [...] by the arme.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And if no bodye maye bee
taken out of San|ctuarie, that ſayeth hee will byde there, then if a childe
will take Sanctuarie, bycauſe he feareth to goe to Schole, hys maiſter muſt
lette him alone.
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1 And as ſimple as that
ſample is, yet is there leſſe reaſon in our caſe than in that, for there|in,
though it bee a childiſhe feare, yet is there, at the leaſtwiſe ſome feare,
and heerein to there none at all. And verily, I haue often hearde of
Sanctuarie menne, but I neuce hearde earle of Sanctuarie children.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And therefore, as for the
concluſion of my mynde, who ſo maye haue deſerued to neede if, if they
thynke it for theyr ſuretie, let them keepe it.
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1 But hee can bee no
Sanctuarie man, that neyther hathe wiſedome to deſire it, nor malice to
deſerue it, whoſe life or libertie, can by no lawfull proceſſe ſtande in
ieoperdie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And hee that taketh one
out of Sanctuarie to doe hym good, I ſaye playnely, that hee breaketh no
Sanctuarie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
EEBO page image 1367When the Duke hadde done, the Tempo|rall menne whole, and
a good parte of the ſpi|rituall alſo, thynkyng no hurte earthely, meant
towarde the yong babe, condiſcended in effect, that if hee were not
delyuered, hee ſhoulde bet fetched.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Howbeit, they thoughte it
all beſt, in the a|uoydyng of all manner of rumor, that the Lord Cardinall
ſhoulde fyrſte aſſay to gette hym with hir good will.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And therevppon, all the
Counſayle came vnto the Starre Chamber at Weſtminſter, and the Lorde
Cardinall, leauing the Pro|tector with the Counſayle in the Starre Chamber,
departed into the Sanctuarie to the Queene, with dyuers other Lordes with
hym, were it for the reſpect of hys honoure, or that ſhee ſhoulde by
preſence of ſo manye perceyue, that thys errande was not one mans mynde: or
were it, for that the protect or in|tended
not in thys matter, to truſt anye one manne alone, or elſe, that if ſhee
finallye were determined to keepe hym, ſome of that com|panie hadde happily
ſecrete inſtruction incon|tinente, mangre hir mynde, to take hym, and to
leaue hir no reſpite to conuey hym, whyche ſhe was lykelye to mynde after
thys matter, bro|ken to hir, if hir time woulde in any wiſe ſerue hir.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 When the Queene, and
theſe Lordes were come togyther in
preſence, the Lorde Cardinall ſhewed vnto hir, that it was thou|ghte vnto
the protector, and vnto the whole Counſayle, that hir keepyng of the Kynges
brother in that place, was the thyng, whyche highlye ſounded, not onely to
the greate ru|mour of the people and theyr obloquie, but alſo to the
importable griefe and diſpleaſure of the Kynges royall maieſtie, to whoſe
grace it were as ſingular comforte, to haue hys naturall brother in companye, as it was their bothe
diſhonoure, and all theyrs and hirs alſo, to ſuffer hym in Sanctuarie, as
though the one brother ſtoode in daunger and perill of the tother.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And hee ſhewed hir, that
the Counſayle therefore hadde ſente hym vnto hir, to require hir the
deliuerie of hym, that hee myghte be broughte vnto the Kynges preſence at
hys ly|bertie, out of that place, whyche they recko|ned as a priſon, and there ſhoulde hee bee de|meaned,
accordyng to hys eſtate, and ſhee in thys doyng, ſhoulde both doe greate
good to the Realme, pleaſure to the Counſayle, and profite to hir ſelfe,
ſuccoure to hir friendes that were in diſtreſſe, and ouer that (whyche hee
wiſt well ſhee ſpecially tendered,) not one|ly greate comforte and honor to
the Kyng, but alſo to the yong Duke hymſelfe, whoſe both greate wealthe it
were to bee together, as well for many greater cauſes, as alſo for theyr
both diſporte, and decreation: whyche thyng, the Lorde eſteemed no
ſlighte,Protector. though it ſeeme lyghte, well
pondering that their youth without recreation and playe, cannot endure, nor
anye ſtraunger, for the conuenience of their both ages and eſtates, ſo
meerely in that pointe for any of them, as eyther of them for o|ther.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 My Lorde (quoth the
Queene) I ſaye not naye, but that it were very conueniente,The Queenes aunſwere. that thys Gentleman whome yee
require were in companye of the Kyng hys brother: and in good faythe, mee
thynketh it were as greate commoditie to them bothe, as for yet awhile, to
beene in the cuſtodie of theyr mother, the tender age conſidered of the
elder of them both, but ſpecially, the yonger, which beſydes hys infancie,
that alſo needeth good lookyng to [...], hathe awhyle beene ſo ſore diſeaſed, vexed wyth ſickneſſe, and is ſo
newly rather a little amended, than well recouered, that I dare putte no
perſone earthely in truſt wyth hys keepyng, but my ſelfe onely, conſideryng
that there is (as Phiſitians ſaye) and as wee alſo fynde, double the perill
in the recidina|tion, that was in the fyrſte ſickneſſe, with whyche diſeaſe,
Nature beeyng ſore labou|red, foreweeried and weakened, war [...] the leſſe able to beare out & ſuſteine a newe
ſur|fette.
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1 And albeeit there myghte
bee founden other that woulde happely doe theyr beſte vnto hym, yet is there
none that eyther knoweth better howe to order hym, than I that ſo long haue
kepte hym: or is more tenderlye lyke to che|ryſhe hym, than hys owne mother
that bare hym.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 No manne denyeth, good
Madame, (quod the Cardinall) but that youre grace were of all folke moſte
neceſſary aboute your chyldren and ſo woulde all the Counſell not onely bee
con|tente, but gladde that ye were, if it myghte ſtande wyth youre pleaſure
to bee in ſuche place as myghte ſtande wyth theyr honoure. But yf you doe
appoynte youre ſelfe to tarry heere, then thynke they it more conuenyente
that the Duke of Yorke were wyth the King honourably at hys lybertye to the
coumforte of them bothe: then heere as a Sanctuarye manne, to their bothe
diſhonour and obloquie, ſithe there is not alwaye ſo greate neceſſy|tie to
haue the Chylde to bee with the Mother: but that occaſion maye ſometime be
ſuche, that EEBO page image 1367 it ſhoulde be more expediente to keepe hym
elſe where, whyche in thys well appeareth, that at ſuche time as youre
deereſt ſonne then Prince, and nowe Kyng, ſhoulde for hys honor, and good
order of the Countrey, keepe houſholde in Wales, farre out of your company:
youre grace was well contente therewith youre ſelfe. Not very well contente
quoth the Queene: And yet the caſe is not lyke, for the tone was then in
healthe, and the tother is nowe ſicke: In whi|che caſe, I maruell greately, that my Lord pro|tector is ſo
deſirous to haue hym in his keeping, where if the childe in hys ſickneſſe
miſcarried by nature, yet myghte hee runne into flaunder and ſuſpition of
fraude. And where they call it a thing ſo ſore agaynſte my childes honor,
and theyrs alſo, that he bydeth in this place: it is all theyr honors there
to ſuffer hym byde, where no man doubteth he ſhall bee beſt kepte, and that
is heere, whyle I am heere, which as yet intende not to come forth, and ieobarde my ſelfe after o|ther of
my friendes, whiche woulde God were rather heere in ſuretie with me, than I
were there in ieoperdie with them. Why Madame (quoth another Lorde) knowe
you anye thyng why they ſhoulde be in ieoperdie? Nay verily ſir quoth ſhee,
nor why they ſhoulde bee in priſon neyther, as they nowe bee. But it is I
trow, no greate maruell though I feare, leaſt thoſe that haue not letted to
put them in dureſſe withoute couloure,
will let as little to procure theyr de|ſtruction without cauſe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 The Cardinall made a
countenaunce to the other Lorde, that hee ſhoulde harp no more vpon that
ſtring, and then ſaid he to the Quene, that he nothyng doubted, but that
thoſe Lordes of hir honorable kynne, whyche as yet remay|ned vnder arreſt,
ſhoulde vppon the matter exa|mined, doe well ynough: and as towarde hir
no|ble perſon, neyther was, nor could be any man|ner ieoperdy. Whereby ſhoulde I truſt that (quoth the Queene)
in that I am giltleſſe? as though they were giltie, in that I am with theyr
enimies better loued than they? when they hate them for my ſake, in that I
am ſo neere of kynne to the King? and howe farre they be of, if that would
helpe, as God ſende grace it hurt not, and therefore as for me, I purpoſe
not as yet, to de|part hence. And as for thys Gentleman my ſonne, I mynde
that hee ſhall bee where I am, tyll I ſee
further: for I aſſure you, for that I ſee ſome menne ſo greedie, without any
ſubſtan|tiall cauſe to haue hym, thys maketh me much the more fearder to
delyuer hym. Truely madame, quoth hee, and the fearder that you bee ſo
deliuer hym, the fearder bin other menne to ſuffer you to keepe him, leaſt
your cauſeleſſe feare myghte cauſe you farther to conuey him, and many bee
there that thynke he can haue no pri|uiledge in thys place, whiche neyther
[...] will to aſke it, nor malice to deſerue it, and therefore, they recken
no priuiledge broken, though they fetche hym out, whyche if yet f [...]+nally refuſe to delyuer hym, I verily thynke they will. So muche
dread hathe my Lorde hys Vncle, for the tender loue hee beareth him, leaſt
your grace ſhould hap to ſend him away.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 A Syr (quod the Queene)
hath the Protector ſo tender zeale,The Queene.
that hee feareth nothyng but leaſte, hee ſhoulde eſcape hym? Thy [...]keth hee that I woulde ſende hym hence, whyche neyther is in the
plyghte to ſende oute and [...] what place coulde I recken hym ſure, if hee [...] not ſure in thys Sanctuarie? whereof was [...] neuer Tyraunt yet ſo diuellyſhe that durſte pre|ſume to breake. And I
truſte God is as ſtrong nowe to withſtande hys aduerſaries, as euer he
was.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But my foure can deſerue
no Sanctua|rye, and therefore he can not haue it. For [...] hee hathe founden a goodlye gloſe, by whyche that place that may:
defende a Theefe, maye not ſaue an Innocente. But hee is in no ieo|padye,
nor hathe no neede, thereof, wolde God hee hadde not. Troweth the Protecture
(I praye GOD hee maye proue a Protectoure) troweth hee that I perceyue not
where vnto hys paynted proceſſe draweth? It is not honoura|ble that the Duke
byde heere: It were comfor|table for them both, that hee were wyth hys
bro|ther, bycauſe the Kyng lacketh a play fellowe bee ye ſure. I praye God
ſende them bothe bet|ter playfellowes than hym, that maketh ſo [...] a matter vppon ſuche a tryfelyng proceede: [...] thoughe there coulde none bee founden to playe wyth the Kyng, but if
hys brother that hath [...] luſte to playe for ſickeneſſe, come out of ſanctua|rye out of hys
ſafegarde to playe with hym: As though princes as yõg as they be, could not
play but with their peeres, or children coulde not play but with their
kinred, with whom for the more parte they agree much woorſe than
withſtran|gers.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But the chylde can not
requyre the priui|ledge, who told him ſo, he ſhal heare him aſk it,
& he wil. Howbeit this is a gay matter, ſuppoſe he coulde not aſke
it, ſuppoſe he woulde not aſke it, ſuppoſe he woulde aſke to goe oute, if I
ſay he ſhall not, if I aſke the priuiledge but for my ſelfe, I ſay he that
agaynſt my will taketh him oute, breaketh the Sanctuarie. Serueth this
libertie for my perſon onely, or for my goodes [...] Ye may not hence take my horſe fro me: and maye you take my childe
fro me? He is alſo my ward: EEBO page image 1369 for as my learned counſaile
ſheweth me, ſithe hee hath nothing by diſſent holden by knightes ſer|uice,
the lawe maketh his mother his gardaine. Then may no man I ſuppoſe take my
warde fro me out of Sanctuarie, without the breache of the Sanctuarie. And
if my priuiledge coulde not ſerue him, nor be aſke it for himſelfe, yet ſith
the lawe committeth to me the cuſtodie of him, I may require it for him,
except the law giue a child a gardaine onely for his goodes and landes,
diſ|charging him of the cure and
ſafekeeping of hys bodie, for whiche onely both landes and goodes ſerue.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
[...] that is [...] betwene [...] marke * [...]d it is marke [...] wit| [...] by him in [...]gliſh but is [...]ed out [...] this Hiſtory which he [...]
[...]a [...]en.And if examples be ſufficient to obteyne pri|uiledge for
my childe, I neede not farre to ſeeke. For in this place in which we now be
(and which is nowe in queſtion whether my childe may take benefite of it)
mine other ſonne nowe king was borne, and kept in his Cradle, and preſerued
to a more proſperous fortune, which I pray God lõg to continue. And as all you know, this is not the firſt
time that I haue taken Sanctuarie. For when my Lord my huſbande was
baniſhed, and thruſt out of hys kingdome, I fled hither, beeing great with
childe, and here I bare the Prince. And when my Lorde my huſbande returned
ſafe againe, and had the victorie, then went I hence to welcome him home,
& from hence I brought my babe the Prince vnto his father, when he
firſt tooke him in his armes. And I pray God that my ſonnes palace may bee as great ſauegarde vnto him now
raigning, as this place was ſometyme to the kings enimie. In which place I
intende to keepe his brother ſithe. &c. Wherefore here intende I to
keepe him, ſince mans law ſerueth the gardaine to keepe the infant. The law
of na|ture will the mother keepe hir childe, Gods lawe priuiledgeth the
Sanctuarie, and the Sanctuarie my ſonne, ſithe I feare to put him in the
Protec|tors handes that hath his brother alreadie, and were (if both fayled) inheritor to the crowne. The cauſe
of my feare hath no man to do to examine. And yet feare I no farther than
the lawe feareth, which as learned men tell me, forbiddeth euerye man the
cuſtodie of them, by whoſe death he may inherite leſſe lande than a
kingdome. I can no more, but whoſoeuer he be that breaketh this ho|ly
Sanctuarie, I pray God ſhortly ſende him neede of Sanctuarie, when hee may
not come to it. For taken out of Sanctuarie would I not my mortall enimie were.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The Lorde Cardinall
perceyuing that the Queene waxed euer the longer the farther off, and alſo
that ſhe began to kindle and chafe, and ſpake more byting wordes agaynſt the
Protec|tor, and ſuch as he neither beleeued, and was alſo loth to heare, he
ſayd to hir for a finall concluſion, that he would no longer diſpute the
matter: but if ſhe were content to deliuer the duke to him, and to the other
Lordes preſent, he durſt lay his owne bodie and ſoule both in pledge, not
onely for hys ſuretie but alſo for his [...]ſtate. And if ſhe woulde giue [...]
[...]re anſwere to the contrarie, hee woulde forthwith depart therewithall,
and ſhyfte who ſo woulde with this buſineſſe afterwardes, for hee neuer
intended more to moue hir in that matter, in which ſhe thought that he and
al other alſo ſaue hirſelfe lacked eyther wit or truth. Wit if they were ſo
bull that they coulde nothing per|ceyue what the Protector intended: truth
if they ſhould procure hee ſonne to be deliuered into hys handes, in whom
they ſhoulde perceyue towarde the childe any euill intended.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4 The Queene with theſe
wordes ſtood a good while in a greate ſtudie. And foraſmuche as hir ſeemed
the Cardinall more readie to depart than ſome of the remnant, and the
Protector himſelfe readie at hande, ſo that ſhee verily thought ſhee coulde
not keepe him there, but that he ſhould in|continent bee taken thence: and
to conuey hym elſe where, neyther had ſhe time to ſerue hir, nor place
determined, nor perſõs appointed, al things vnredie, this meſſage came on
hir ſo ſodainly, no|thing leſſe looking for, than to haue him ſet out of
Sancturie, which ſhe thought to be now beſet in ſuch places about, that he
could not be conueyed out vntaken, and partly as ſhee thought it myght
fortune, hir feare to bee falſe, ſo well ſhe wyſſe it was eyther needleſſe
or bootleſſe: wherefore if ſhe ſhould needes go from him, ſhe deemed it beſt
to deliuer him. And ouer that, of the Cardinalles fayth ſhee nothing
doubted, nor of ſome other Lordes neyther, whom ſhe there ſawe. Whiche as
ſhe feared leaſt they might be deceyued: ſo was ſhe well aſſured they woulde
not bee corrupted: then thought ſhee it ſhoulde yet make them the more
warely to looke to him, and the more cir|cumſpectly to ſee to his ſurety, if
ſhe with hir own handes betooke him to them of truſt. And at the laſt ſhe
tooke the yong duke by the hande, & ſayde vnto the Lordes: My Lordes
(quoth ſhee) and all my Lordes, I neyther am ſo vnwyſe to myſtruſte youre
wyttes, nor ſo ſuſpitious to myſtruſt your truthes: Of which thing I
pur|poſe to make you ſuche a proofe, as if eyther of both lacked in you,
myghte turne bothe mee to greate ſorowe, the Realme to muche harme, and you
to great reproch. For we, heere is (quoth ſhe) thys Gentleman, whome I doubt
not, but I coulde heere keepe ſafe, if I woulde, whatſoe|uer anye man ſaye:
and I doubte not alſo, but there bee ſome abrode ſo deadly enimies vnto my
bloud, that if they wyſt where any of it laye in theyr owne bodie, they
would let it out. Wee haue alſo experience that the deſire of a kingdom
knoweth no kindred. The brother hath beene the EEBO page image 1370 brothers
bane: and may the nephewes be ſure of theyr vncle? Eche of theſe children is
the others defence while they be aſunder, and eche of theyr liues lieth in
the others bodie. Keepe one ſafe and both be ſure, and nothing for them both
more pe|rillous, than to be both in one place. For what wiſe Marchant
aduentureth all his goodes in one ſhip? All this notwithſtanding, here I
deliuer him, and his brother in him, to keepe, into youre handes, of whom I
ſhall aſke thẽ both afore god and the
world. Faythfull ye be that wore I well, and I know well you be wiſe. Power
& ſtrength to kepe him if you liſt, neither lack ye of your ſelf,
nor can lacke helpe in this cauſe. And if ye can|not elſe where, then may
you leaue him here. But only one thing I beſeech you, for the truſt which
his father put in you euer, & for ye truſt that I put in you nowe,
that as farre as yee thinke that I feare too muche, be you well ware that
you feare not as farre too little. And therewithall ſhe ſayde vnto the childe, fare well mine owne ſweete ſon,
God ſend you good keeping: let me kiſſe you yet once ere you goe, for God
knoweth when wee ſhall kiſſe togither agayne. And therwith ſhe kiſ|ſed him,
and bleſſed him, turned hir backe & wept, and went hir way, leauing
the childe weeping as faſte.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 When the Lorde Cardinall,
and theſe other Lordes with him, had receyued this yong duke, they brought
him into the ſtarre Chamber, where the
Protector tooke him in his armes, and kiſſed him,O
diſsimula|tion. with theſe wordes: now welcome my Lord euen with
all my very heart. And he ſayd in that of likelyhoode as he thought.
Therevpon forth|with they brought him vnto the king his brother, into the
Biſhoppes Palace at Poules, and from thence throughe the Citie honourably
into the Tower, out of the which after that day they ne|uer came abrode.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
This that is heere betwene this marke * and t [...]s marke * was not writ|ten by him in engliſh b [...]t is tranſlated out of this Hiſtory which he wrot in Latten.
When the Protector had both the children
in his handes, he opened himſelfe more boldely, both to certaine other men,
and alſo chiefly to the duke of Buckingham. Although I knowe that many
thought that this duke was priuy to al the Protectors counſaile, euen from
the beginning, and ſome of the Protectors friends ſayde, that the duke was
the firſt mouer of the Protector to this matter, ſending a priuie meſſenger
vnto hym, ſtreight after king Edwards death. But other a|gaine which knew
better the ſubtil wit of the pro|tector,
denie that he euer opened his enterpriſe to the duke, vntill he had brought
to paſſe the things before rehearſed. But when hee had impryſoned the
Queenes kinſfolkes, and gotten both hir ſonnes into his owne handes, then he
opened the reſt of his purpoſe with leſſe feare to them whõ he thought meet
for the matter, and ſpecially to the duke, who being woon to his purpoſe, he
thought his ſtrength more than halfe [...].
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 The matter was broken
vnto the duke [...] till folkes, and ſuch as were their craftmaiſt [...] in the handling of ſuch wicked deuiſes [...] who de|clared vnto him that the yong king was [...] with him for hys kinſfolkes ſake and if hee [...] euer able he would [...]nge them. Who w [...]t pricke him forwarde therevnto if they [...] they would remember their impriſonmẽt) or [...] if they were put to death, without doubt the yong king woulde bee
carefull for their deathes, whoſe impriſonment was grieuous vnto him. And
that with repenting the duke ſhoulde nothing auaile, for there was no way
left to redeeme his offence by benefites, but he ſhoulde ſooner deſtroy
hym|ſelfe than ſaue the king, who with his brother and his kinſfolkes he
ſawe in ſuch places impriſones, as the Protectour myghte wyth a backe
deſtroye them all: and that it were no doubt but he would doe it in deede,
if there were any newe enterpriſe attempted.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And that it was likely,
that as the Protec|tour had prouided priuie garde for himſelfe, ſo hadde hee
ſpyalles for the Duke, and traynes to catche him, if hee ſhoulde be agaynſte
hym, and that peraduenture from them, whome hee leaſte ſuſpected. For the
ſtate of things and the diſpo|ſitions of men were then ſuch, that a man
coulde not well tell whom he might truſt, or whome he might feare.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Theſe things and ſuch
like, beyng beaten in|to the Dukes mynde, brought him to that point that
where hee had repented the way that he had entred, yet woulde he goe forth
in the ſame, and ſince he had once begoonne, he would ſtoutely go through.
And therefore to this wicked enterpriſe which he beleeued coulde not be
voyded, he bent himſelfe, and went through and determined, that ſince the
common miſchiefe coulde not be amen|ded, he would turne it as much as he
might to his owne commoditie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then it was agreed, that
the Protector ſhould haue the Dukes ayde to make him king, and that the
Protectors onely lawfull ſonne ſhould mary the Dukes daughter, and that the
Protectour ſhould graunt him the quiet poſſeſſion of the erle|dome of
Hertford, which he claymed as his inhe|ritaunce, and could neuer obteyne it
in king Ed|wardes tyme.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Beſides theſe requeſtes
of the Duke, the Pro|tector of his owne minde promiſed him a greate
quantitie of the kings treaſure, and of his houſe|holde ſtuffe. And when
they were thus at a point betwene themſelues, they went about to prepare for
the coronation of the yong king as they wold haue it ſeme. And that they
might turne both the eies & minds of men frõ perceyuing of their
drifts otherwhere, the lords being ſent for frõ all partes EEBO page image 1371 of the Realme, came thicke to that ſolemnitie. But the
Protectour and the Duke af [...] that, that they had ſent the Lorde Cardinal, the Arch|biſhop of Yorke
then Lorde Chauncellour, the Biſhop of Elie, the Lorde Stanley, and the lord
Haſtings then Lorde Chamberlaine, with ma|ny other noble men to common and
deuiſe aboute the coronation in one place, as faſt were they in another
place, contriuing the con|trarie, and to make the Protector King. To
which Councell, albeit there were
adhibited very few, and they were ſecrete: yet began there here and there
aboute, ſome maner of muttering a|mong the people, as though all ſhould not
long he well, though they neyther wyſte what they feared, nor whefore, were
it that before ſuch great things mens hearts of a ſecrete inſtinct of nature
miſgiue them.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 As the ſea without wind
ſwelleth of himſelf ſometime before a tempeſt: or were it that ſome
one man happily ſomewhat perceyuing
filled many men with ſuſpition, though hee ſhewed fewe men what hee knew.
Howheit ſomewhat the dealing it ſelf made men to muſe on the mat|ter, though
the Councell were cloſe. For by little and little, all folke withdrewe from
the Tower, and drewe to Croſbies in Biſhops gates ſtreet, where the
Protector kept his houſhold. The pro|tectour had the reſort, the King in
manner de|ſolate.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 While ſome for theyr
buſineſſe made ſute to them that had the doing, ſome were by theyr friendes
ſecretely wanted, that it might happily turne them to no good, to bee too
much atten|dante about the King wythout the Protectors appoyntment, whiche
remoued alſo diuerſe of the princes olde ſeruants from him, and ſet new
about him.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Thus many things comming
togyther, part|ly by chance, partly of purpoſe, cauſed at length not common people onely, that wound with the
winde, but wiſe men alſo, and ſome Lordes [...]e to marke the matter, and muſe there [...] ſo farre forth, that the Lorde Stanley that was after Earle of Darby,
wiſely miſtruſted it, and ſayde vnto the Lorde Haſtings, that he muche
miſly|ked theſe two ſeuerall Councels. For while wee [...]oth hee) talke of one matter in the [...]a place, little wote wee, whereof they talke in the tother place. My
Lorde, (quoth the Lorde Haſt [...]gs) on my life neuer doubt you: for
while one man is there, which is neuer thence, ne [...]er can there he thing once moued, that ſhoulde ſounde amiſſe towarde
me, but it ſhoulde hee in na [...]e euery ere it were well out of their mouthes.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
Ca [...]by.This ment he by Cateſby, which was of hys neare ſecrete
counſaile, and whome he verie fa|miliarly vſed, and in his moſt weightie [...] matters put no man in ſo ſpecial truſt, riche thing himſelfe to no
man ſo liefe, fithe hee well wyſt there was no man ſo muche to him beholden
as was thys Cateſbie, which was a man well learned in the lawes of this
lande, and by the ſpeciall honour of the Lorde Chamberlayne, in good
authoritie, and much rule bare in all the Countie of Leyceſter, where the
Lorde Chamberleynes power chiefely laye.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But ſurely greate pitie
was it, yt hee had not had eyther more truth or leſſe wit. For his
diſſi|mulation onely, kept all that miſchiefe vp. In whome if the Lorde
Haſtings, hadde not put ſo ſpeciall truſt, the Lorde Stanley and he had
de|parted with dyuerſe other Lordes, and broken all the daunce, for many yll
ſignes that he ſawe, which he nowe conſtrues all to the beſt. So ſure|ly
thought he, that there coulde be none ha [...]e to|ward him in that Councell intended, where Ca|teſhie was.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 And of truth the
Protectour, and the Duke of Buthingham, made verie good ſemblaunce vnto the
Lord Haſtings, and kept him much in companie. And vndoubtedly, the Protector
loued him well, and loth was to haue loſt him, ſauing for feare leaſt his
lyfe ſhoulde haue quayled their purpoſe. For which cauſe he mooued Cateſbie
to proue with ſome words caſt out a farre off, whe|ther he coulde thinke it
poſſible to win the Lorde Haſtings vnto their part. But Cateſbie whether he
aſſayed him, or aſſayed him not, reported vn|to them, that he found him ſo
faſt, and heard him ſpeake ſo terrible wordes, that hee dueſt no fur|ther
breake.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And of truth the Lorde
Chamberlaine of ve|rie truſt ſhewed vnto Cateſbie the diſtruſt that o|ther
beganne to haue in the matter. And therfore hee fearing leaſt theyr motion
mighte with the Lorde Haſtings [...]niſhe his credence, where vn|to onely all the matter leaned, procured
the Pro|tector haſtily to rid him. And muche the rather, for that he truſted
by his death to obteyne muche of the rule that the Lorde Haſtinges ha [...] in his Countrey the onely deſire whereof was the allectiue that
induced hym to bee partner and one ſpeciall contriuer of all thys horrible
treaſon.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Wherevpon ſoone
after,Thirtenth of Iune. that is to wit on the
Fryday the [...] day of [...] many Lordes aſſembled in the Tower, and their ſ [...]te in Coun|cell, d [...]uiſhing the honourable ſolemnitie of the Kings Coronation, of which
the tyme appoyn|ted then to neare approached, that the pa [...]antes and ſubtiltyes to ere [...] king, daye and night at Weſtminſter, and much vytayle killed
there|fore, that afterwarde was caſt away.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Theſe Lordes ſo ſitting
togither co [...]ning of this matter, the Protector came in amongſt EEBO page image 1372
them, firſt about .ix. of the clocke, ſaluting them courteouſly, and
excuſing himſelfe that hee had beene from them ſo long, ſaying merily [...] had bene a ſleeper that day.
[figure appears here on page 1372]
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And after a little
talking with them, he ſayde vnto the Biſhop of Elie: My Lorde you haue very
good Strawberies at your Garden in Hol|borne, I require you let vs haue a
meſſe of them. Gladly my Lorde (quoth he) woulde God I had ſome better thing
as readie to youre pleaſure as that. And therewith in all the haſte hee ſent
hys ſeruant for a meſſe of Strawberies.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 The Protectour ſet the
Lordes faſt in com|muning, and therevpon
praying them to ſpare him for a little while, departed thence. And ſoone
after one houre, betweene tenne and eleuen he re|turned into the Chamber
among them al, chan|ged with a wonderful ſoure angrie countenance, knitting
the browes, frowning and fretting, and gnawyng on his lyppes, and ſo ſatte
hym downe in his place, all the Lordes muche diſ|mayde and ſore marueyling
of this maner of ſo|daine chaunge, and what thing ſhould him ayle.
Then, when he had ſitten ſtill a while,
thus he be|ganne: What were they worthie to haue that compaſſe and ymagine
the deſtruction of me, be|ing ſo nere of bloud vnto the king, and Protector
of his royal perſon and his realme? At this queſti|on, al the Lordes ſat
ſore aſtonied, muſing much by whom this queſtion ſhould be ment, of whiche
euery man wyſt himſelfe cleare.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then the Lorde
Chamberlaine as he that for the loue betwene them thought he might bee
bol|deſt with him, aunſwered and ſayde,
that they were worthie to be puniſhed as heynous traitors, whatſoeuer they
were. And all the other affyr|med the ſame. That is quoth he yonder
ſorcereſſe my brothers wife, and other with hir, meaning the Queene.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 At theſe wordes manye of
the other Lordes were greatly abaſhed, that fauoured hir, But the Lord
Haſtings was in his minde [...] content, yt it was moued by hir, thã by any other whõ he loued
better: Albeit his heart ſo [...]w [...] grudged, that he was not afore made of [...] in this matter, as he was of the taking of hir [...]|red, and of their putting to death, which were by his aſſent before,
deuiſed to be beheaded at Pon [...]|fret this ſelfe ſame day, in which he was not ware that it was by
other deuiſed, that himſelfe ſh [...] be beheaded the ſame day at London. Then ſayd the Protector, ye ſhall
all ſee in what wiſe t [...] ſorcereſſe, and that other Witche of hir cou [...] Shores wife with their affinitie, haue by theyr ſor [...]erſe and witchcraft waſted my bodie. [...]ad therewith he plucked vp his dubled ſleeue to hys elbow vpõ his
left arme, where he ſhewed a [...]|riſh withered arme, and ſmall, as it was neuer o|ther. And therevpon
euery mans minde ſore miſ|gaue them, well perceyuing that this [...] was but a quarell. For they well wy [...]
[...] Queene was too wiſe to goe aboute anye [...] folly. And alſo if ſhee woulde, yet woulde [...]e [...] of all folke leaſt, make Shores wiſe of [...]o [...]u [...], whome of all women ſhee moſte hated, [...] Concubine whom the king hir huſband had [...] loued.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And alſo, no man was
there preſent but well knewe that his arme was euer ſuche ſince hys byrth.
Naytheleſſe the Lorde Cha [...]
[...] (whiche fro the death of King Edwarde [...] Shores wyfe, on whome hee ſomewhat [...] in the Kings lyfe, ſauing (as it is ſayd) he, [...]ha [...] while forbare hir of reuerence Edwarde the [...] or elſe of a certayne kynd of fidelitie to his [...]) aunſwered and ſayde: certainlye my Lorde, if they haue ſo heynouſly
done, they be worthie [...]|nous puniſhment.
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1
2
EEBO page image 1373What (quoth the Protectour) thou ſerueſt me I wene wyth
iffes and wyth andes, I tell thee they haue ſo done, and that I will make
good on thy bodie traytour: and therewith as in a greate anger, he clapped
his fyſt vpon the bourd a great rappe. At which token giuen, one cried
treaſon withoute the Chamber. Therewith a doore clapped, and in come there
ruſhing men in harneſſe, as many as the chamber myght holde. And anone the
Protectour ſayd to the Lord Ha|ſtings: I
arreſt thee Traytour: What mee my Lorde? (quoth he) yea thee traytour quoth
the Protector. And another let flie at the Lorde Stanley,The Lord Stã| [...]
[...]eded. whiche ſhrunke at the ſtroke, and fell vnder the
Table, or elſe his heade had beene cleft to the teeth: for as ſhortly as he
ſhranke, yet came the bloud about his eares. Then were they all quickly
beſtowed in diuerſe Chambers, except the Lorde Chamberlaine, whome the
Protectour hade ſpeede and ſhrine him apace, for by Saint Paule (quoth hee) I will not to dinner till I ſee thy
head off.
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1 It booted him not to aſke
why, but heauily tooke a prieſt at auenture, and made a ſhort ſhrift for a
longer would not be ſuffered, the Protector made ſo much haſt to dinner,
which hee myghte not goe to, till this were done, for ſauing of hys othe. So
was hee brought forth into the greene beſide the Chappell within the Tower,
and hys heade layd downe vpon a long logge of tymber, and there ſtryken off, and afterwarde his bodie with the
heade enterred at Windſore beſyde the bodie of king Edwarde, whoſe both
ſoules oure Lorde pardon.
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1
2 A marueylous caſe is it
to heare eyther the warnings of that he ſhoulde haue voyded, or the tokens
of that hee coulde not voyde, for the ſelfe night next before his death, the
Lorde Stanley ſent a truſtie ſecrete Meſſenger vnto him at mid|night in all
the haſt, requyring him to riſe and ryde
away with hym, for hee was diſpoſed vtter|lye no longer to byde, hee hadde
ſo fearefull a dreame,
[...] Lorde [...]deyt [...]e. in whiche him thought that a Boare with his tuſkes ſo
raſed them both by the heades, that the bloud ranne about both theyr
ſhoulders. And foraſmuch as the Protector gaue the Boare for his
cogniſaunce, this dreame made ſo feare|full an impreſſion in his heart, ye
he was through|ly determined no lõger to tarie, but had his horſe readie,
if the Lorde Haſtings would go with him to
ride yet ſo farre the ſame night, that they ſhuld be out of daunger ere day.
Ha good Lorde (quoth ye Lord Haſtings to this meſſenger) leaneth my Lorde
thy maiſter ſo much to ſuch tryfles, and hath ſuch fayth in dreames, whiche
eyther hys owne feare fantaſteth, or doe ryſe in the nyghtes reſt by reaſon
of his day thoughtes? Tell hym it is plaine witchcraft to beleue in ſuch
dreames, whiche if they were tokens of things to come, why thinketh he not
that we might bee as lykely to make them true by our goyng, if wee were
caughte and brought backe (as friends fayle fleers) for then had the Boare a
cauſe likely to race vs wyth hys Tuſkes, as folke that [...]de for ſome falſehoode, wherefore eyther is there no perill, nor none
there is in deede: or if any bee, it is rather in going than byding. And if
wee ſhould needes coſt fall in perill one way or other, yet hadde I lieffer
that manne ſhoulde ſee that it were by other mennes falſehoode, than thinke
it were eyther by our owne faulte, or faynt heart. And therefore go to thy
maiſter man, and com|mende mee to him, and pray him be merie and haue no
feare: for I enſure him I am as ſure of the man that he woteth of, as I am
of mine own hande. God ſend grace ſir, quoth the meſſenger, and went his
way.
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1 Certaine is it alſo, that
in ryding towardes the Tower the ſame morning in which he was beheaded, hys
Horſe twiſe or thriſe ſtumbled wyth him, almoſt to the falling, which thing
al|beit eche man wote wel dayly happeneth to them to whome no ſuch
myſchaunce is towarde, yet hath it beene of an olde ryte and cuſtome,
obſer|ued as a token oftentymes notably foregoyng ſome great miſfortune.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Nowe this that followeth
was no warning but an enuious ſkorne.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The ſame morning ere hee
was vp, came a knight vnto him, as it were of courteſie, to ac|companie him
to the Councell, but of truth ſent by the Protectour to haſt him
thitherwards, with whom he was of ſecret confederacie in that purpoſe, a
meane man at that time, and nowe of great authoritie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 This knight when it
happed the Lord Chã|berlayne by the way to ſtay his horſe, and com|mane a
while wyth a Prieſt whome he mette in the Tower ſtreete, brake his tale, and
ſayde me|rily to him, what my Lord I pray you come on, whereto talke you ſo
long wyth that Prieſt, you haue no neede of a Prieſt yet: and therewyth hee
laughed vpon him, as though he would ſay, ye ſhall haue ſoone. But ſo little
wyſt the to|ther what he ment, and ſo little miſtruſted, that he was neuer
mery [...]r, nor neuer ſo [...]ll of good hope in his lyfe, which ſelfe thing is [...] a ſigne of chaunge. But I ſhall rather ſet anye thing paſſe me, than
the vaine ſuretie of mannes minde ſo neare his death.
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1
2 Vpon the verie Tower
Wharfe, ſo neare the place where his head was off ſoone after, there met he
with one Haſtings a P [...]rſeuaunt of his owne name. And of theyr meeting in that place, hee was
put in remembraunce of another tyme, in whiche it had happened them before
to meete in EEBO page image 1374 like maner togither in the ſame place. At
which other time the Lorde chamberlaine had beene ac|cuſed vnto King Edwarde
by the Lorde Ry|uers the Queenes brother, in ſuche wiſe as hee was for the
while (but it laſted not long) farre fallen into the kings indignation, and
ſtoode in great feare of himſelfe. And foraſmuche as hee now met this
Purſeuaunt in the ſame place that ieopardie ſo well paſſed, it gaue him
great plea|ſure to talke with him thereof, wyth whome he hadde before talked thereof in the ſame place, while he
was therein. And therefore he ſayd: Ah Haſtings art thou remembred when I
met thee here once with an heauie heart? Yea my Lorde, (quoth he) that
remember I well, and thanked bee God, they gat no good, nor you no harme
thereby. Thou wouldeſt ſay ſo (quoth hee) if thou kneweſt as much as I
knowe, which few know elſe as yet, and mo ſhall ſhortly. That ment hee by
the Lordes of the Queenes kyndred that were taken before, and ſhould that day be beheaded at Pomfret: which he well
wyſt, but nothing ware that the Axe hung ouer his owne heade. In fayth man
(quoth he) I was neuer ſo ſorie, nor neuer ſtoode in ſo greate dreade in my
lyfe, as I did when thou and I mette here. And lo howe the worlde is turned,
nowe ſtand mine enimyes in the daunger (as thou mayeſt happe to heare more
hereafter) and I neuer in my lyfe ſo mery, nor neuer in ſo great ſuretie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 O good God the blindneſſe
of our mortal na|ture, when he moſt feared, he was in good ſuretie, when hee
reckened himſelfe ſureſt he loſt his life, and that within two houres
after.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
The diſcriptiõ of the Lord HaſtingsThus ended
this honourable man, a good Knight and a gentle, of greate authoritie wyth
his Prince, of lyuing ſomewhat diſſolute, plaine and open to his enimie, and
ſecrete to hys friend, eaſie to beguile, as he that of good heart and
cou|rage foreſtudied no perilles, a louyng man and paſſing well beloued: verie faythfull and truſtie ynough,
truſting too much.
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1 Nowe flewe the fame of
this Lordes death ſwiftly through the Citie, and ſo foorth further a|bout
like a wynde in euerie mans eare.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But the Protector
immediately after dinner, entending to ſette ſome colour vpon the matter,
ſent in all the haſt for many ſubſtantiall men out of the Citie into the
Tower. And at theyr com|ming, himſelfe with the Duke of Buckingham,
ſtoode harneſſed in olde yll faring
Bryganders, ſuche as no man ſhoulde wene that they woulde vouchſafe to haue
put vpon theyr backes, except that ſome ſodaine neceſſitie had conſtrayned
thẽ.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And then the Protector
ſhewed them, that the Lorde Chamberlayne and other of his con|ſpiracie had
contriued to haue ſodainly deſtroyed him, and the Duke there the ſame day in
the coũ|cell. And what they intended further was as yet not well knowne. Of
whiche their treaſon hee neuer had knowledge before tenne of the clocke the
ſame forenoone, whiche ſodaine feare dra [...] them to put on for theyr defence ſuch harneſſe as came next to hande.
And ſo had God holpen thẽ, that the miſchiefe turned vpon them that would
haue done it. And this hee requyred them to re|port.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Euery man aunſwered him
fayre, as though no man miſtruſted the matter, which of troth no man
beleeued. Yet for the further appeaſing of|the peoples mynde, hee ſent
immediately after dinner in all the haſte, one Heraulte of Armes,The protec [...] Procla [...]
with a Proclamation to be made through the ci|tie in the kings name,
conteyning that the Lord Haſtings with diuers other of his traiterous
pur|poſe, had before conſpired the ſame day, to haue ſlaine the Lorde
Protectour, and the Duke of Buckingham, ſitting in the Councell, and after
to haue taken vpon them to rule the king, and the Realme at theyr pleaſure,
and thereby to pill and ſpoyle whome they lyſte vncontrolled. And much
matter there was in that proclamation, de|uiſed to the ſlaunder of the Lorde
Chamberlain, as that hee was an euill Counſailer to the kings father,
intiſing him to manye things highly re|dounding to the miniſhing of his
honour, and to the vniuerſall hurt of his realme by his euil com|pany,
ſiniſter procuring, & vngracious enſample, as well in many other
things, as in the vicious liuing and inordinate abuſion of his bodie, both
with many other, & alſo ſpecially with Shores wife, which was one
alſo of his moſt ſecret coun|ſaile of this heynous treaſon, with whome he
lay nightly, and namely the night laſt paſt next be|fore his death, ſo that
it was the leſſe maruaile, if vngracious liuing brought him to an vnhappie
ending, which he was now put vnto, by the moſt dread commaundement of the
kings highneſſe, and of his honourable and faythfull counſayle, both for his
demerits being ſo openly taken in his falſly conceyued treaſon, and alſo
leaſt the delay|ing of his extention, myght haue encouraged o|ther
miſchieuous perſons partners of his conſpi|racie, to gather and aſſemble
themſelues togither, in making ſome greate commotion for his dely|uerance:
whoſe hope now being by his well de|ſerued death, politikely repreſſed, all
the realme ſhould by Gods grace, reſt in good quiet & peace.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Now was this Proclamation
made within two houres after that he was beheaded, & it was ſo
curiouſly indited, and ſo faire written in par [...]h|ment, in ſo wel a ſet hand, & therwith of it ſelfe ſo long a
proces, yt euery childe might well perceiue that it was prepared before.
For all the tyme be|twene his death & the proclayming, could ſcant
haue ſufficed vnto the hare writing alone, all had EEBO page image 1375 it
bene but in Paper, and ſcribled forth in haſte at aduenture. So that vpon
the proclayming there|of, one that was ſchoolmaiſter of Pauls of [...]a [...]e ſtanding by, and comparing the ſhortneſſe of the time with the
length of the matter, ſayd vnto them yt ſtood about him, here is a gay
goodly eaſt, foule caſt away for haſte: and a marchant aun|ſwered him, that
it was written by prophecie. Now then by and by, as it were for anger, not
for couetiſe, the Protectour ſent into the houſe of Shores wife (for hir huſbande dwelled not with hir) and
ſpoyled hir of all that euer ſhe had, aboue the value of two or three
thouſand mark, and ſent hir bodie to priſon. And when he had a while layd
vnto hir (for the maner ſake) that ſhe went about to bewitch him, and that
ſhe was of coũſaile with the Lorde Chamberlaine to deſtroy him: in
con|cluſion when that no colour coulde faſten vpon theſe matters, then hee
layde heynouſly to hir charge, that thing that hir ſelfe coulde not denie,
that all the world wyſt was true, and
that nay|theleſſe euerie man laughed at, to heare it then ſo ſodainly, ſo
highly taken, that ſhe was naught of hir bodie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And for this cauſe (as a
goodlye continent prince, cleane and faultleſſe of himſelfe, ſent oute of
heauen into this vicious world for the amend|ment of mens maners) he cauſed
the Biſhop of London to put hir to open penance, going before the Croſſe in
Proceſſion, vpon a Sunday wyth a Taper in
hir hande. In whiche ſhee went in countenaunce and pace demure ſo womanlye,
and albeit ſhe were out of all array ſaue hir kyr|tle onely, yet went ſhe ſo
fayre and lonely, name|ly while the wondering of the people caſt a come|ly
rudde in hir cheekes (of whiche ſhee before had moſt miſſe) that hir great
ſhame wanne hir much prayſe, among thoſe that were more amorous of hir
bodie, than curious of hir ſoule. And many good folk alſo that hated hir
liuing, and glad were to ſee ſinne
corrected: yet pityed they more hir pe|naunce, than reioyced therein, when
they con|ſydered that the Protectour procured it, more of a corrupte
intente, than any vertuous affec|tion.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 This woman was borne in
London, wor|ſhipfully friended,The deſcripti| [...]n of Shores [...]
honeſtly brought vp, and ve|rie well maryed, ſauing ſomewhat too
ſoone, hir huſbande an honeſt Citizen, yong and godly and of good
ſubſtaunce. But for aſmuche as they were
coupled ere ſhe were well rype, ſhe not ve|rie feruently loued, for whome
ſhee neuer lon|ged, which was happely the thing that the more eaſily made
hir incline vnto the kings appetite, when hee required hir. Howbeit the
reſpect of hys royaltie, the hope of gay apparell, eaſe, plea|ſure, and
other wanton wealth, was able ſoone to pierſe a ſoft tender heart.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But when the King hadde
abuſed hir, anon hir huſbande (as hee was an honeſt man, and are that coulde
hys good, not preſuming to to [...]he a Kings Concubine) left hir vp to him al|togither.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 When the king died, the
Lorde Chamber|laine looke hir, which in the kings dayes, albeit he was ſore
enamoured vpon hir, yet he forbare hir, eyther for reuerence, or for a
certaine friendlye faythfulneſſe, Proper ſhe was and fayre: nothing in hir
bodie that you would haue chaunged, but if you would haue wiſhed hir
ſomewhat higher.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Thus ſay they that knew
hir in hir youth. Al|beit ſome that now ſee hir (for yet ſhe liueth) deme
hir neuer to haue bene wel viſaged, whoſe iudge|ment ſeemeth me ſomewhat
like, as though men ſhould geſſe the beautie of one long before depar|ted,
by hir ſcalpe taken out of the charuell houſe: for now is ſhe old, leane,
withered, and dryed vp, nothing left but riueld ſkinne and hard bone. And
yet beeing euen ſuch: who ſo well aduiſe hir vy|ſage, myght geſſe and
deuiſe, which partes how filled woulde make it a fayre face. Yet delyted not
men ſo much in hir beautie as in hir pleaſant behauiour. For a proper wit
had ſhe, and could both read well and write, merrie in companie, readie and
quicke of aunſwer, neyther mute nor full of bable, ſomtime taunting without
diſplea|ſure and not without diſport.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 The king would ſay that
he had three concu|bines,King Edwarde three
concu|bines. which in three dyuerſe properties diuerſly excelled.
One the merieſt, another the wilyeſt, the thirde the holyeſt harlot in his
realme, as one whome no man coulde gette out of the Churche lightly to any
place, but it were to his bed. The other two were ſomewhat greater
perſonages, & naytheleſſe of theyr humilitie cõtent to be
name|leſſe, & to forbeare the prayſe of thoſe propertyes. But the
merieſt was this Shores wife, in whom the King therefore tooke ſpeciall
pleaſure. For many he hadde, but hir he loued, whoſe fauo [...]r to ſay the troth (for ſinne it were to velle the Di|uell) ſhee neuer
abuſed to any mannes hurt, but to many a mannes comfort and reliefe on where
the king tooke diſpleaſure ſhe woulde mitig [...] and appeaſe hys mynde: where men were out ſa|uour ſhee woulde bring
them in hys gra [...]. For manye that had highly offended ſhee obteyned pardon. Of great
forfeytures ſhe gat men re|miſſion. And finally, in many weightie ſuites
ſhee ſtoode many men in great ſtea [...] t [...]her for none or verye ſmall rewardes, and theſe rather gaye than
riche eyther for that ſhee was con|tent wyth the deede ſelfe well done, or
for that ſhee delyted to bee ſued vnto, and to ſhewe what ſhee was able to
doe wyth the King, or for that wanton women and welthie hee not al|wayes
couetous.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
EEBO page image 1376I doubt not ſome ſhall thinke this woman to ſleight a
thing to bee written of, and ſet among the remembraunces of greate matters:
whiche they ſhall ſpecially thinke, that happily ſhall e|ſteeme hir onely by
that they nowe ſee hir. But me ſeemeth the chaunce ſo muche the more
wor|thie to be remembred, in howe much ſhe is nowe in the more beggerly
condition, vnfriended and worne out of acquaintance, after good ſubſtance,
after as great fauour with the Prince, after as great ſute and ſeeking to with al thoſe that thoſe dayes
had buſineſſe to ſpeede, as many other men were in theyr tymes, which be now
famous on|ly by the infamy of theyr yll deedes. Hir doyngs were not much
leſſe, albeit they be much leſſe re|membred bicauſe they were not ſo euill.
For men vſe if they haue an euill turne, to write it in mar|ble: and who ſo
doeth vs a good turne, we write it in duſt, whiche is not worſt prooued by
hir: for at this day ſhee beggeth of many at this day ly|uing, that at thys day had begged if ſhee had not
beene.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Now was it ſo deuiſed by
the Protector and his counſaile, that the ſelfe day in which the Lord
Chamberlaine was beheaded in the Tower of London, and aboute the ſelfe ſame
houſe, [...] there (not without his aſſent) beheaded at P [...]|fret, the fore remembred Lordes and Knightes that were taken from the
King at Northamp|ton and Stonie Stratforde.Sir Richard
Ratcliffe. Which thing was done in the preſence, and by the order
of ſir Ry|charde Ratcliffe knight, whoſe ſeruice the Pro|tector ſpecially
vſed in that Councell, and in the execution of ſuch lawleſſe enterpriſes, as
a man that had beene long ſecrete with him, hauing ex|perience of the
worlde, and a ſhrewde wit, ſhort and rude in ſpeech, rough and boyſteous of
beha|uiour, bold in miſchief, as farre from pitie as from all feare of
God.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 This knight bringing them
out of the priſon to the ſcaffolde, and ſhewing to the people aboute that
they were traytors, not ſuffring them to de|clare and ſpeak their
innocencie, leaſt their words might haue inclined men to pitie them, and to
hate the Protector and his part:The Lord [...]+uers and o [...] beheaded. cauſed them ha|ſtily without iudgement, proces,
or maner of or|der to be beheaded, & without other earthly g [...], but onely that they were good men, too true to the
[figure appears here on page 1376] king, and too nigh to the Queene.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Nowe when the Lorde
Chamberlaine and theſe other Lordes and knights were thus behea|ded and
ridde out of the way: then thought the Protector, that while men muſed what
the mat|ter ment, while the Lordes of the Realme were a|bout him out of
their owne ſtrengthes; while no man wyſt
what to thinke, nor whome to truſt, ere euer they ſhoulde haue ſpace to
diſpute and diſgeſt the matter and make partyes, it were beſt haſtily to
purſue his purpoſe, and put himſelfe in poſſeſſion of the Crowne, ere men
coulde haue tyme to deuiſe any way to reſiſt.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But now was all the
ſtudie by what meane this matter being of it ſelfe ſo heynous, might be
firſt broken to the people, in ſuche wiſe that i [...] might be well taken.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 To this councell they
tooke diuerſe, ſuche as they thought meetly to be truſted, likely to be [...]|duced to that part, and able to ſtãde them [...] eyther by power or policie.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Among whom they made of
counſaile. Ed|mond Shaa knight then Maior of London,Edmond Shaa Maior of Lon|don. whiche vpon truſt of his owne
aduauncement, whereof hee was of a prowde heart highly [...]+rous, ſhould frame the Citie to theyr apre [...]. Of ſpirituall men they tooke ſuch as had wit, [...] were in authoritie among the people for op [...] of theyr learnyng, and hadde no ſcrupulous conſcience.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
EEBO page image 1377
[...] Shaa [...].Among theſe had they Iohn Shaa Clearke, brother to the
Maior, and Frier Penker, prouin|ciall of the Auguſtine Friers both Doctors
of di|uinitie, both great Preachers, both of more lear|ning than vertue, of
more ſame than learning. For they were before greatly eſtemed among the
people: but after that ne [...]er. Of theſe two the tone had a ſermon in prayſe of the Protector
be|fore the coronation, the tother after, both ſo full of tedious flatterie,
yt no mãs eares could abide thẽ.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Penker in his ſermon ſo
loſt his voyce, that he was fain to leaue off & come downe in the
midſt. Doctor Shaa by his ſermon loſt his honeſtie, and ſoone after his
life, for verie ſhame of the worlde, int [...] which he durſt neue [...]fter come a|brode. But the Frier forced for no ſhame, and ſo it harmed
him the leſſe. Howbeit ſome doubt and many thinken, that Penker was not of
counſaile of the matter before the coronation, but after the common maner
fel to flatterie after: namely ſith his
ſermon was not incontinent vpon it, but at S. Marie Hoſpitall at the Eaſter
after. But cer|tain it is, that Doctor Shaa was of counſaile in the
beginning, ſo farre forth that they determi|ned that hee ſhoulde firſt
breake the matter in a Sermon at Paules Croſſe, in which he ſhoulde by the
authoritie of his preaching, incline the peo|ple to the Protectors ghoſtly
purpoſe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But nowe was all the
labour and ſtudie, in the deuiſe of ſome conuenient pretext, for which
the people ſhoulde bee contente to
depoſe the Prince, and accepte the Protectour for King. In whiche dyuerſe
things they deuiſed. But the chiefe thing and the weightie of all that
inuention, reſted in this that they ſhoulde alledge baſtardie, eyther in
king Edwarde himſelfe, or in his children or both. So that he ſhould ſeeme
diſ|abled to inherit the crowne, by the duke of York, and the prince by
him.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 To lay baſtardie in king
Edwarde, ſowned openly to the rebuke of
the Protectors owne mo|ther, which was mother to them both, for in that
poynt could be none other coulour but to pretẽd that hys owne mother was
one aduoutreſſe, which notwithſtanding, to further this purpoſe hee letted
not: but naytheleſſe hee woulde that poynt ſhoulde bee leſſe and more
fauourably handled: not euen fully playne and directlye, but that the matter
ſhoulde bee touched aſlope craftily, as though men ſpared in that poynt to
ſpeake all the trothe, for feare of hys
diſpleaſure.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 But the other poynt
concerning the baſtar|die that they deuiſed to ſurmiſe in king Edwards
children, that woulde he ſhoulde be openly decla|red and inforced to the
vttermoſt. The colour and pretext whereof, cannot bee well perceyued. But if
we firſt repeate you ſome things long be|fore done about king Edwards
mariage.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After that King Edwarde
the fourth had de|poſed king Henrie the ſixth, and was in peaceable
poſſeſſion of the Realme, determining himſelfe to marrie as it was requiſit
both for hymſelfe and for the Realme, hee ſe [...]te once in Ambaſ|ſade the Earle of Warwike, with other noble men in
his companie vnto Spaine, to intecate and conclude a mariage betweene king
Edward and the Kings daughter of Spaine. In which thing the Earle of
Warwicke founde the par|ties ſo towarde and willing, that hee ſpeedilye
according to his inſtructions wythout any dif|ficultie, brought ye matter
to verie good cõcluſion
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Now happened it, ye in
the mean ſeaſon there came to make a ſute by petition to the King Dame
Elizabeth Gray,Dame Eliza|beth Gray. whiche was
after hys Queene, at that time a Widowe, borne of no|ble bloud, ſpeciallye
by hir mother, whiche was Duches of Bedforde, ere ſhee maryed the Lorde
Woodfielde hir father. Howbeit this Dame Elizabeth hir ſelfe, being in
ſeruice with Queene Margaret, wyfe vnto King Henrie the ſixth, was maryed
vnto one [...] Graye an Eſ|quire, whome King Henrie made Knight,His name was Iohn Gray. Barnard heath by S. Albons. vpon the
fielde that he hadde on [...] at [...] agaynſt King Edwarde. And little while en|ioyed he that knighthoode:
for he was at the ſame field ſlaine.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After whiche done, and
the Earle of War|wicke being in his Ambaſſade about the afore re|membred
maryage, this poore Ladie made hum|ble ſute vnto the king, that ſhe myght be
reſtored vnto ſuch ſmall landes as hir late huſbande had gyuen hir in
ioynture. Whome when the King behelde, and heard hir ſpeake, as ſhee was
both fayre and of a goodlye fauour, moderate of ſtature, well made, and
verie wiſe: hee not one|ly pityed hir, but alſo waxed enamoured of hyr. And
taking hir afterwarde ſecretely aſide, be|ganne to enter in talking more
familiarlye.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Whoſe appetite when ſhe
perceyued, ſhe vertu|ouſly denied him. But that did ſhee ſo wiſely, and with
ſo good maner, and wordes ſo well ſet, that ſhee rather kyndled his deſyre
than quen|ched it.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And finally, after many a
meeting, muche wooyng, and many great promiſes, ſhe well e|ſpyed the Kings
affection towarde hir ſo great|ly encreaſed, that ſhe durſt ſomewhat the
more boldly ſay hir mynde, as to him whoſe heart ſhe perceiued more
feruently ſet, than to fall off for a worde.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And in concluſion, ſhee
ſhewed him playne, that as ſhe wyſt hirſelfe to ſymple to be his wyfe, ſo
thought ſhe hir ſelf too good to be his cõcubine. The King much marueyling
at hir conſtancie, as hee that had not beene woont elſe where to be ſo
ſtiffely ſayde nay, ſo much eſteemed hir con|tinencie EEBO page image 1378
and chaſtitie, that he ſet hir vertue in the ſtead of poſſeſſion and ryches,
and thus taking counſaile of his deſire, determined in all poſſible haſt to
mary hir.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 And after hee was thus
appoynted, and had betwene them twaine enſured hir: then aſked he counſaile
of his other friendes, and that in ſuche maner, as they might then perceiue,
it booted not greatly to ſay nay.The Kinges Mother
Notwithſtanding the Du|ches of Yorke his mother was ſo ſore moued therwith, that ſhe diſſwaded the mariage aſmuch as
ſhe poſſible might, alledging yt it was his ho|nour, profite, and, ſuretie
alſo, to marie in a noble progeney out of his realme, wherevpon depended
greate ſtrength to his eſtate, by the affinitie and greate poſibilitie of
encreaſe of his poſſeſſion. And that he coulde not well otherwiſe doe,
ſtanding that the Earle of Warwike had ſo farre moued alreadie, which were
not likely to take it well, if all his voyage were in ſuch wiſe fruſtrate,
and his appoyntments deluded. And ſhe
ſayde alſo, that it was not Princely to marie his owne ſubiect, no great
occaſion leading therevnto, no poſſeſſi|ons, or other commodities depending
therevpon, but onely as it were a riche man that would ma|rie his mayd, only
for a little wanton dotage vp|pon hir perſon. In which mariage many mo
cõ|mend the maidens fortune than the maſters wiſ|dome. And yet therein ſhe
ſaide was more hone|ſtie than honor in this mariage. Foraſmuch as there is betwene no marchant and his own mayd ſo
great difference, as betwene the king and this widow. In whoſe perſon,
albeit there was no|thing to be miſlyked, yet was there (ſhe ſayd) no|thing
ſo excellẽt but that it might be found in di|uerſe other that were more
meetly (quoth ſhe) for your eſtate, and maydens alſo, whereas the on|ly
wydowheade of Elizabeth Gray, though ſhee were in all other things
conuenient for you, ſhould yet ſuffice as me ſeemeth to refrayne you
from hir mariage, ſithe it is an
vnſitting thing, & a verie blemiſh and highe diſparagement to the
ſacred maieſtie of a Prince, that ought as nigh to approche prieſthoode in
cleanneſſe as he doth in dignitie, to bee defouled with Bigamie in hys firſt
mariage.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
The Kinges Anſwere to his mother.The king when his
mother had ſayde, made hir anſwere, part in earneſt part in play merily, as
he that wyſt himſelfe out of hir rule. And albe|it hee woulde gladly that
ſhe ſhould take it well, yet was at a
poynt in his owne minde, tooke ſhee it well or otherwiſe. Howbeit ſomewhat
to ſa|tiſfie hir, he ſayde, that albeit maryage beeyng a ſpirituall thing,
ought rather to bee made for the reſpect of God, where his grace enclineth
the par|ties to loue togither, as he truſted it was in hys, than for the
regarde of any temporall aduaun|tage: yet naytheleſſe, him ſeemed that this
ma|riage euen worldly conſidered, was not [...]
[...]|table. For he reckened ye amity of no earthly [...]|tion ſo neceſſarie for him, as the friendſhip of his owne, whiche he
thought likely to beate [...]
[...] much the more haetie fauour, in that he diſ [...]ned not to mari [...] with one of his owne lande. And yet if outwarde alliance ware thought
to requiſite, he woulde finde the meanes to [...]nte [...] therevnto, much better by other of his kinde, where all the partyes
could be contented, then to mary himſelf whom he ſhould happely neuer loue,
and for the poſſibilitie of more poſſeſſions, leaſe the fruite and pleaſure
of this that hee had alreadie. For ſmall pleaſure taketh a man of all that
euer he hath be|ſide, if he be wined agaynſt his appetite. And I doubt not
(quoth he) but there be as yee ſay other, that be in euery poynt comparable
with hir. And therefore I let not them that like them to wedde them. No more
is it reaſon, that it miſtyke any man, that I mary whereit lyketh me. And I
am ſure that my couſin of Warwike neither loueth me ſo litle, to grudge at
that I loue, nor is to vn|reaſonable to looke that I ſhoulde in choyſe of a
wife, rather be ruled by his rie, than by mine own: as though I were a warde
that were bounde to marie by the appoyntment of a Gardaine. I woulde not bee
a King wyth that condition, to forbeare mine owne libertie in choyſe of myne
owne maryage. As for poſſibilitie of more in|heritaunce by newe affinitie in
ſtraunge lands, is oft the occaſion of more trouble than profite. And we
haue alredie tytle by that meanes, to ſo much as ſufficeth to get and keepe
well in one mannes dayes. That ſhe is a Widow, and hath already childrẽ, by
Gods bleſſed Ladie, I am a Bacheler and haue ſome to, and ſo eche of vs hath
a proufe that neither of vs is like to bee barraine. And therefore (Madame)
I pray you bee content, I truſt in God ſhe ſhall bring forth a yong Prince
that ſhall pleaſe you. And as for ye Bygamye, let the Biſhoppe hardly lay
it in my way when I come to take orders. For I vnderſtande it is for|bidden
a Prieſt, but I neuer wyſt it yet, that it was forbidden a Prince.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 The Duches with theſe
wordes nothing ap|peaſed, and ſeeing the King ſo ſet thereon, that ſhee
coulde not pull him backe, ſo highly ſhe diſ|deyned it, that vnder pretext
of hir duetie to god|warde, ſhe deuiſed to diſturbe this mariage, and rather
to helpe that hee ſhoulde marie one dame Elizabeth Lucie, whome the King had
alſo not long before gotten with child. Wherfore ye kings mother openly
obiected agaynſt his maryage, as it were in diſcharge of hir conſcience,
that the Kyng was ſure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy and hir huſband before
God.Elizabeth Lucy. By reaſon of which wordes,
ſuch obſtacle was made in the matter, that eyther the Biſhops durſt not, or
the King EEBO page image 1379 woulde not proceede to the ſolemnization of
this wedding, till theſe ſame were clearly purged, and the troth well and
openly teſtified. Wherevpon dame Elizabeth Lucy was ſent for.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And albeit that ſhe was
by the kings mother and many other put in good comfort, to affirme that ſhee
was enſured vnto the king: yet when ſhee was ſolemnly ſworne to ſay the
troth, ſhee confeſſed that they were neuer enſured. Howbeit ſhee ſayde his
grace ſpake ſo louing wordes vnto hir,
that ſhe verily hoped hee woulde haue maryed hir. And that if it had not
beene for ſuch kinde wordes, ſhee woulde neuer haue ſhewed ſuche kindneſſe
to him, to let him ſo kindly get hir with childe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 This examination ſolemnly
taken, when it was clearly perceyued that there was none im|pediment:The kinges marriage. the king with great feaſt and
honou|rable ſolemnitie, maried dame Elizabeth Gray, and hir crowned Queene
that was his enimyes wife, and many time
had prayed full heartily for his loſſe, in which God loued hir better than
to graunt hir hir bone.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But when the Erle of
Warwike vnderſtood of this mariage, he toke it ſo highly that his Am|baſſade
was deluded, that for very anger and diſ|daine, he at his returning
aſſembled a great puiſ|ſance againſt the king, and came ſo faſt vpon him or
he could be able to reſiſt, that he was faine to voyd the realme,The king fled and flee into Holland for ſuccor,
where he remayned for the ſpace of two
yeares, leauing his new wife in Weſtminſter in Sanc|tuarie,The place [...]e. where ſhe was deliuered of Edwarde the prince, of whom we
before haue ſpoken. In which meane time the erle of Warwike toke out of
pri|ſon,King H [...]o [...]e [...] on ſet vp and ſet vp againe king Henry the ſixt, which was
before by king Edwarde depoſed, and that much what by the power of the Earle
of War|wike whiche was a wiſe man,
[...] the Erle of Warwicke. and a couragious warrior, and of ſuch
ſtrength, what for his lands, his
alliance, and fauour with all people, that hee made kings, and put downe
kings almoſt at his pleaſure, and not impoſſible to haue atteyned it
himſelfe, if he had not reckened it a greater thing to make a king than to
be a king. But nothing laſteth alway: for in concluſion king Edwarde
returned,The Erle of Warwick [...]. and with much leſſe number thã he had at Barnet on the
Eaſterday field, fiue the rule of Warwike, with many other great eſtates of
that partie, and ſo ſtably atteyned the crowne againe, that he peacably enioyed it vntill his dying day: and in
ſuch plight left it, that it could not be loſt, but by the diſcorde of his
verie friends, or falſe|hoode of his fayned friends. I haue rehearſed this
buſineſſe about this mariage ſomewhat the more at length, bycauſe it might
thereby the better ap|peare vppon how ſlipper a grounde the Protec|tor
buylded his colour, by whiche he pretended king Edwards children to be
baſtards. But that inuention ſimple as it was, it like them to whõ it
ſufficed to haue ſomewhat to ſay, while they were ſure to be compelled to no
larger proufe thã themſelfe lyſt to make.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Now then (as I began to
ſhew you) it was by the protector & his counſaile concluded,Doctor Shaes Sermon. that this doctor Shaa ſhould in
a ſermon at Paules croſſe ſignifie to the people, that neyther king Edward
himſelfe, nor the Duke of Clarence, were lawful|ly begotten, nor were not
the verie children of the duke of Yorke, but gotten vnlawfully by other
perſons, by aduoutrie of the duches their mother. And that alſo dame
Elizabeth Lucy was verily the wife of King Edwarde, and ſo the Prince and
all his children baſtards, that were begotten vpon the Queene.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3
4 According to this deuiſe
doctor Shaa the ſun|day after, at Paules Croſſe in a greate audi|ence (as
alwaye aſſembled greate number to his preaching) he tooke for his Theme
Spuria vi|tulamina non agent radices altas. That is to ſay:
Baſtarde ſlippes ſhall neuer take deepe roote.
[figure appears here on page 1379] Therevpon when he had ſhewed the great grace
that God giueth and ſecretely infundeth in right generation after the lawes
of matrimonie, then declared he that commonly thoſe children lacked that
grace, and for the puniſhment of their Pa|rents were for ye more pait
vnhappie, which were gottẽ in baſe, & ſpecially in aduouterie. Of
which though ſome by the ignorance of the world & the truth hid from
knowledge inherited for the ſeaſon other mens landes, yet God [...] ſo prouideth, that it con [...]th not in their bloud long, but the tenth cõming to light the
rightfull inheritors be reſtored, & the haſtard ſlip vylled vp [...] it can be rooted d [...]e: And when he had laid for the proofe and confirmation of this [...]
[...]|ples taken out of the old teſtament and other an|cient hiſtories.
Then [...]gan he to diſcend into the prayſe of the Lorde Richarde late Duke of
Yorke, calling him father to the Lord protector, EEBO page image 1380 and
declared the title of his heyres vnto ye crown, to whome it was after the
death of king Henrie the ſixt entayled by authority of Parliamẽt. Thẽ
ſhewed he that his verie ryght heyre of his bodye lawfully begotten was only
the Lord Protector. For he declared then, that King Edwarde was neuer
lawfully maryed vnto the Queene, but was before God huſband vnto Dame
Elizabeth Lucie, and ſo his children baſtardes. And beſides that, neyther
King Edwarde himſelfe, nor the Duke of
Clarence, among thoſe that were ſecrete in the houſholde, were reckened
verie ſurely for the children of the noble Duke, as thoſe that by theyr
fauours more reſembled other knowne men than him. From whoſe vertuous
cõditions he ſayd alſo that kyng Edwarde was farre off. But the Lorde
Protectour hee ſayde, the verie noble Prince, the ſpeciall paterne of
Knightly prowes, as well in all Princely behauior as in the lineaments and
fauour of his viſage, repreſented the
verie face of the noble Duke his father. This is, quoth he, the fathers owne
figure, this is hys owne countenaunce, the verie print of his viſage, the
ſure vndoubted Image, the plaine expreſſe likeneſſe of that noble duke.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2
3 Nowe was it before
deuyſed, that in the ſpeaking of theſe wordes, the Protector ſhoulde haue
comen in among the people to the Sermon warde, to the ende that thoſe wordes
meeting with his preſence, might haue bene taken among the hearers, as thoughe the holy ghoſt had put them in
the preachers mouth, and ſhoulde haue moued the people euen ther to crie,
king Richard, king Richarde, that it might haue beene after ſayde, that hee
was ſpecially choſen by God and in maner by myracle. But this deuiſe
quayled, eyther by the Protectors negligence or the Prea|chers ouermuch
diligence. For while the Pro|tectour founde by the way tarying, leaſt he
ſhould preuent thoſe wordes, and the Doctor fearing that he ſhoulde come ere hys Sermon coulde come to theſe
wordes, haſted his matter thereto, he was come to them, and paſte them, and
en|tred into other matters ere the Protector came. Whome when he behelde
comming, he ſodainly left the matter with which he was in hande, and without
any deduction therevnto, out of all order and out of all frame began to
repeate thoſe words againe: this is the verye noble Prince, the ſpe|ciall
patrone of knightly prowes, whiche as well
in all princely behauiour, as in the liniaments & fauor of his
viſage, repreſenteth the verie face of the noble duke of Yorke his father:
this is the fa|thers owne figure, this his owne countenance, ye very print
of his viſage, the ſure vndoubted I|mage, the plaine expreſſe likeneſſe of
the noble duke, whoſe remembrance can neuer die while he liueth. While theſe
wordes were in ſpeaking, the Protector accõpanied with the duke of
Buc|kingham, went through the people into the place where the doctors
commonly ſtande in the vpper ſtorie, where he ſtood to hearken the ſermon.
But the people were ſo farre fro crying king Richard,Preacher. that they ſtoode as they had beene turned into ſtones,
for wonder of this ſhameful Sermon.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 After which once ended,
the Preacher g [...] him home, and neuer after durſt looke out for ſhame, but kept him out
of ſight like an Owle. And when hee once aſked one that had beene his olde
friend what the people talked of him, all were it that his owne conſcience
well ſhewed him that they talked no good, yet when the tother anſwe|red him,
that there was in euery mannes mouth ſpoken of him muche ſhame, it ſo ſtroke
him to the heart, that within few dayes after hee withe|red and conſumed
away.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then on the Tueſday
folowing this [...]on, there came into the yeeld hal in London the duke of Buckingham,
accompanied with [...]e lords and knights, me than happily knewe the meſſage that they
brought. And there in the E [...]
[...] of the hal, where the Maior kepeth the Haſtings, the Maior &
all the Aldermen being aſſembled a [...] him, all the cõmons of the Citie gathered before them: after ſilence
cõmaunded vpon greate paine in the protectors name: the duke ſtood vp and
(as he was neither vnlerned, and of nature mar [...]y|louſly well ſpoken) he ſayd vnto the people with a cleare and a
loude voyce in this maner of wiſe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
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FRiends,The Duke of Bucking [...] Ora [...]. for the zeale and heartie fauour that we beare you, we
be comẽ to break vnto you of a matter right great and weightie, and no
leſſe weightie than pleaſing to God, and profitable to all the Realme:
nor to no part of the Realme more profitable, than to you the Citizens of
this noble Citie. For why, that thing that we wote wel ye haue long time
lacked, and fore lõged for, that ye would haue giuen great good for,
that ye would haue gone farre to fetche, that thing we be come hither to
bring you without your labour, paine, coſt, aduenture or ieopardie. What
thing is that? Certes the ſuretie of your owne bodies, the quiet of your
wiues and your daughters, the ſafegarde of your goodes: of all which
things in times paſt ye ſtood euermore in doubt. For who was there of you
all, that would recken himſelfe lord of his owne good among ſo many
grennes & traps as was ſet therfore, among ſo much pilling and
polling, among ſo many taxes and [...]allages, of which there was neuer ende, & oftentimes no
neede: or if any were, it rather grewe of ryot, and vnreaſonable waſt,
than any neceſſary or honou|rable charge. So that there was dayly pilled
fro good men and honeſt, great ſubſtance of goodes to be laſhed out among
vnthrifts, ſo farre forth that fiftenes ſuffiſed not, nor anye vſuall
names of EEBO page image 1381 knowne taxes: but vnder an eaſie name of
bene|uolence and good will, the comiſſioners ſo much of euery man tooke,
as no man coulde with hys good will haue giuen. As though that name of
be|neuolence, had ſignified that euery man ſhoulde pay not what himſelfe
of his owne good will liſt to graunt, but what the king of his good will
lyſt to take. Which neuer aſked little, but euery thing was hawſed aboue
the meaſure, amercimentes turned into fines, fiues into raunſoms, ſmal
treſ|paſſe into miſpriſion, miſpriſion
into treaſon. Whereof I thinke no man loketh that we ſhould remember you
of examples by name, as though Burdet were forgotten,
[...]. that was for a worde ſpokẽ in haſt cruelly beheaded,
by the miſconſtru|ing of the lawes of this realme, for the Princes
pleaſure:Markam. with no leſſe honour to
Markam then chiefe Iuſtice, that left his office rather than hee woulde
aſſent to that iudgement, than to the diſ|honeſtie of thoſe,Cooke. that ryther for feare or flatterie
gaue that iudgement. What Cooke your
owne worſhipfull neighbour, Alderman and Maior of this noble Citie, who
is of you ſo eyther negli|gent that he knoweth not, or ſo forgetfull that
he remembreth not, or ſo hard hearted that he pity|eth not, that
worſhipful mans loſſe? what ſpeake we of loſſe? his vtter ſpoyle and
vndeſerued de|ſtruction, onely for that it happed thoſe to fauour him
whom the prince fauored not. We need not I ſuppoſe to rehearſe of theſe
anye mo by name, ſith there bee (I
doubt not) manye here preſent, that either in themſlues, or in their nigh
friendes haue knowen as well their goods as their perſons greatly
endaungered, eyther by feyned quarels, or ſmall matters agreeued with
heynous names. And alſo there was no crime ſo great, of whiche there
could lacke a pretext. For ſith the king pre|uenting the time of his
inheritance attayned the crowne by battaile: it ſufficed in a riche man
for a pretext of treaſon, to haue bin of kindred or al|liance neare familiaritie or lõger acquaintaunce with
any of thoſe that were at any tyme ye kings enimies, which was at one
time and other, more than halfe the realme. Thus were neither your goods
in ſurety, and yet they brought your bodies in ieopardie, beſide the
common aduenture of opẽ warre,
[...]e [...] warre. which albeit that it is euer the wil and
oc|caſion of much miſchiefe, yet is it neuer ſo miſ|chieuous as where any
people fall at diſtaunce a|mong thẽſelues, nor in none earthly nation ſo
deadly and ſo peſtilent, as when it
hapneth amõg vs: and among vs neuer ſo long continued diſ|ſention, nor
ſo many battailes in that ſeaſon, nor ſo cruell and ſo deadly foughten as
was in that kings days that dead is, God forgiue it his ſoule. In whoſe
time, and by whoſe occaſion, what a|bout the getting of the garland,
keeping it, lea|ſing, and winning againe, it hath coſt more Engliſh
bloud, than hath twiſe the winning of Fraunce.Ciuill
warre. In which inwarde warre among our ſelues, hath bene ſo
great [...]uſion of the auncient noble bloud of this realme, that ſcarcely the
halfe remayneth, to the great enfeebling of this noble land, beſide many
a good towne ranſacked & ſpoi|led by them, that hath bene going
to the fielde or comming from thence. And peace long after not much ſurer
than warre. So that no time was therein which rich men for their money,
& greate men for their lands, or ſome other for ſome feare, or
ſome diſpleaſure were not out of perill. For whõ truſted he that
miſtruſted his owne brother? whom ſpared he that killed his owne brother?
or who could perfitely loue him, if his owne brother could not? What
maner of folke he moſt fauored we ſhal for his honor ſpare to ſpeake of,
howbeit this wote you well al, that who ſo was beſt, bare alway leaſt
rule, and more ſute was in his dayes vnto Shores wife, a vile and an
abhominable ſtrumpet, than to al the Lords in Englãd, except vnto thoſe
yt made hir their proctor, which ſimple woman was wel named &
honeſt, till the king for his wanton luſt and ſinfull affection bereft
hir frõ hir huſband, a right honeſt ſubſtantiall yong mã among you. And
in that point, whiche in good fayth I am ſorie to ſpeake of, ſauing that
it is in vaine to kepe in counſaile that thing that all men know, the
kings greedie appetite was inſaciable, and euery where ouer all the
realme intollerable. For no woman was there any where, yong or olde,
riche or poore, whom he ſet his eye vpon, in whom he any thing lyked,
eyther perſon or fa|uour, ſpeeche, pace, or countenaunce, but wyth|out
any feare of god, or reſpect of his honor, mur|mure or grudge of the
worlde, he woulde impor|tunely purſue his appetite, & haue hir,
to the great deſtruction of many a good woman, and great dolor to their
huſbande, and their other friendes, which being honeſt people of
thẽſelues, ſo much regarde the cleanneſſe of their houſe, the chaſtitie
of their wiues, and their children, that them were leauer to leaſe all
that they haue beſyde, than to haue ſuche a villanye done them. And all
were it that wyth thys and other importable dealyng the Realme was in
euerye parte annoyed: yet ſpeciallye yee heere the City|zens of thys
noble Citye, as well for that amongeſt you is moſte plentye of all ſuche
things as myniſter matter to ſuche iniuryes, as for that you were neareſt
at hande, ſithe that neare here about was commonly hys moſt abyding. And
yet be ye the people whome he had as ſingular cauſe well and kindlye to
entreate, as any parte of hys Realme, not onely for that the Prince by
thys noble Citie,London the Kings eſpeci|al
chamber. as hys eſpe|ciall Chamber, and the ſpeciall well
renowmed Citie of hys Realme, muche honourable fame EEBO page image 1382
receyueth among all other Nations: but alſo for that ye not without your
great coſt, and ſundrie perils and ieopardies in all his warres, bare
euen your ſpeciall fauor to his part, which your kinde mindes borne to
the houſe of Yorke, ſith hee hath nothing worthily acquited, there is of
that houſe that nowe by Gods grace better ſhall, whiche thing to ſhewe
you is the whole ſumme and ef|fect of this our preſente errande. It ſhall
not I wote well, neede that I rehearſe you agayne, that ye haue alreadie hearde, of hym that can bet|ter
tell it,, and of whome I am ſure ye will bet|ter beleeue it. And reaſon
is that it ſo bee. I am not ſo prowde to looke therefore that yee ſhoulde
recken my wordes of as greate authoritie as the Preachers of the worde of
God, namely a man ſo cunning & ſo wiſe, that no man better woteth
what hee ſhoulde ſaye, and thereto ſo good and vertuous, that hee woulde
not ſaye the thyng whiche he wyſt he ſhoulde not ſaye, in the Pul|pet
namely, into the which no honeſt man
com|meth to lie, which honourable Preacher yee well remember
ſubſtanciallye declared vnto you at Paules Croſſe, on Sunday laſt paſſed,
the right and title, that the moſt excellent prince Richarde Duke of
Glouceſter, nowe Protectour of thys Realme hath vnto the Crowne and
kingdome of the ſame. For as the worſhipfull man groundly made open vnto
you, the children of K. Edward the fourth, were neuer lawfully begotten,
foraſ|muche as the king (leauing his
verie wife Dame Elizabeth Lucy) was neuer lawfully maried vn|to the
Queene their mother, whoſe bloud ſauing that be ſet his voluptuous
pleaſure before his ho|nor, was full vnmeetly to bee matched with hys,
and the mingling of whoſe blouds togither, hath beene the effuſion of
great part of the noble bloud of this realme. Whereby it may well ſeeme
the mariage not wel made, of which there is ſo much miſchiefe growne. For
lacke of which lawful ac|coupling, and
alſo of other things which the ſayd worſhipfull doctor rather ſignified
than fully ex|playned, and which things ſhall not be ſpoken for me, as
the thing wherin euery man forbeareth to ſay that hee knoweth in auoyding
diſpleaſure of my noble Lord Protector, bearing as nature re|quireth a
filiall reuerence to the Duches his mo|ther, for theſe cauſes I ſay
before remẽbred, that is to wit, for lacke of other iſſue lawfully
cõming of the late noble prince Richard duke of Yorke to whoſe royall bloud the Crowne of England and of
Fraunce, is by the high authoritie of Parlia|men entayled, the right and
title of the ſame, is by the iuſt courſe of enheritaunce according to the
common lawes of this lande, deuolute and com|mon vnto the moſte excellent
Prince the Lorde Protector, as to the very lawfully begottẽ ſon of the
foreremembred noble duke of Yorke. Which thing well conſidered, and the
greate knightlye prowes pondered, with manifolde vertues which in his
noble perſon ſingularly abound, the nobles and commons alſo of this
realme, and ſpeciallye of the north part, not willing any baſtarde bloud
to haue the rule of the lande, nor the abuſions be|fore in the ſame vſed
any longer to continue, haue cõdiſcended and fully determined to make
hum|ble petition to the moſte puiſſaunte Prince the Lorde Protectour,
that it may lyke his grace at our humble requeſt, to take vpon him the
gui|ding and gouernaunce of this Realme, to the wealth and encreaſe of
the ſame, according to his verie right and iuſt tytle. Which thing I wore
it well, hee will bee loth to take vppon hym, as he whoſe wiſedome well
perceyueth the labor and ſtudie both of minde and bodie, that ſhall come
therewith, to whomeſoeuer ſo will occupie the rowme, as I dare ſay hee
will if he take it. Which rowme I warne you well is no childes office.
And that the great wiſe man well percey|ued, when he ſayd: Veh regno
cuius rex puer eſt: VVo is that Realme that hath a childe to their
king.
Wherfore ſo much the more cauſe haue we to thanke God, that this
noble perſonage which is ſo righteouſly intituled therevnto, is of ſo ſad
age, and thereto ſo great wiſedome ioyned with ſo great experience, which
albeit hee will hee loth (as I haue ſayd) to take it vpon him, yet ſhall
be to our petition in that behalf the more graciouſly incline, if ye the
worſhipfull Citizens of this the chiefe citie of this realm, ioyne with
vs the nobles in our ſaide requeſt. Which for your owne weale we doubt
not but ye wil: and natheleſſe I hartily pray you ſo to do, wherby you
ſhal do great pro|fit to all this realme beſide, in chooſing thẽ ſo good
a king, and vnto your ſelfe ſpecial commoditie, to whõ his maieſtie ſhal
euer after bear ſo much the more tender fauor, in how much he ſhall
perceiue you ye more prone & beneuolẽtly minded toward his
election. Wherin dere friends what mind you haue, we require you plainly
to ſhew vs.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 When the Duke had ſayde,
and looked that the people whome he hoped that the Maior had fra|med before,
ſhould after this propoſition made, haue cried king Richard, king Richarde,
all was huſht and mute, and not one worde anſwe|red thervnto: wherwith ye
duke was maruellouſ|ly abaſhed, and taking the Maior nearer to hym, with
other that were aboute him priuie to that matter, ſayde vnto them ſoftly,
what meaneth this, that this people be ſo ſtill. Sir (quoth the Maior
percaſe they perceyue you not well. That ſhall we mende (quoth he) if that
will) helpe.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 And by and by ſomewhat
lowder he rehear|ſed them the ſame matter agayne in other or|der and other
wordes ſo well and ornatelye, and naytheleſſe ſo euidently and plaine, wyth
EEBO page image 1383 voyce, geſture, and countenance ſo comly, and ſo
conuenient, that euery man much maruelled that heard him, and thought that
they neuer had in theyr liues heard ſo euill & tale ſo well
tolde.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 But were it for wonder
or feate, or that eche lookt that other ſhould ſpeake firſt: not one word
was there aunſwered of all the people that ſtoode before, but all was as
ſtill as the mydnight [...] not ſo muche as rowning amongeſt them by which they might ſeeme to
commune what was beſt to doe. When the
Maior ſawe this, hee with other partners of that Councell drew aboute the
duke, and ſayde that the people had not beene accuſto|med there to be ſpoken
vnto, but by the Recorder, which is the mouth of the Citie, and happily to
him they will aunſwere.
[...]r William [...]
With that the Recor|der called Fitz William, a ſad man, and an
ho|neſt, whiche was ſo newe come into that office that he neuer had ſpoken
to the people before, and loth was with that matter to beginne, nor
with|ſtanding, therevnto commaunded by the
Maior, made rehearſall to the Commons of that the Duke had twiſe rehearſed
them himſelfe. But the Recorder ſo tempered his tale, that he ſhewed e|uerie
thing as the dukes wordes, and no part his owne. But all this noting, no
chaunge made in the people, which alway after one, ſtoode as they had beene
men amaſed, wherevpon the duke row|ned vnto the Maior and ſayd: this is a
maruel|lous obſtinate ſilence, and therwith he turned vn|to the people again with theſe words. Dere friẽds we
come to moue you to that thing which per|aduenture we not ſo greatly needed,
but that the Lords of this realme, & the cõmons of other par|ties
might haue ſufficed ſauing yt wee ſuche loue beare you, & ſo much
ſet by you, yt we would not gladly do without you, that thing in which to
be partners is your weale & honor, which as it ſee|meth, either you
ſee not, or wey not. Wherefore wee require you giue vs aunſwere one or
other, whether you bee minded as all the
nobles of the realm be, to haue this noble prince now protector to be your
king or not.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 At theſe words the people
began to whiſper a|mong themſelues ſecretly, that the voice was nei|ther
lowd nor diſtinct, but as it were the ſound of a ſwarme of Bees, till at the
laſt in the neather end of the Hall, a buſhment of the dukes ſeruants and
Naſhfieldes, and other longing to the pro|tector, with ſome prentiſes and
laddes that thruſt into the hall among the
preaſe, beganne ſodainly at mennes backes to crie out as lowde as theyr
throtes woulde giue: King Richard, King Ri|charde, and threw vp their cappes
in token of ioy. And they that ſtood before caſt backe their heads
maruelling thereof, but nothing they ſayde.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 And when the Duke and the Maior saw this maner, they wisely
turned it to theyr purpose, and sayde ir was a goodlye crie, and a ioyfull
to heare, euery man with one voyce, no man saying nay. Wherefore friendes
(quoth the Duke) since that we perceyue it is all your whole myndes to haue
this noble man for your king, whereof wee shall make his grace so effectuall
report, that wee doubt not but it shall redounde vnto your greate weale and
commoditie: we require ye that ye tomorrow go with vs, and we with you vnto
his noble grace, to make our humble request vnto him in maner before
remembred. And therewith the Lordes came downe, and the companie dissolved
and departed, the more part all sad, some with glad semblance that were not
verie merye, and some of those that came thither with the duke not able to
dissemble their sorrow, were fain at his backe to turne theyr face to the
wall, while the doulour of theyr heart burst out of theyr eyes.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Then on the morowe after, the Maior with all the Aldermen and
chiefe comoners of the citie in their best maner apparelled, assembling
the(m)selues togither, resorted vnto Baynardes Castell, The Maiors comming to Baynards Ca|ſtell.where the protector lay.
To which place repaired also according to their appoyntment, the Duke of
Buckingham, with diuerse noble men with him, beside many knights and other
gentlemen. And therevpon the duke sent worde vnto the L. Protector of the
being of a great and honourable co(m)panie, to moue a great matter vnto his
grace.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Wherevpon the protector made difficultie to come out vnto them,
but if he first knewe of some part of their errand, as though he doubted
& partly distrusted the comming of such a number vnto him so
sodenly, without any warning or knowledge whether they came for good or
harm. Then the duke whe(n) he had shewed this vnto the Maior and other that
they might thereby see howe little the Protector looked for this matter,
they sent vnto him by the messenger such louing message againe, and
therewith so humbly besought him to vouchsafe, that they might resort to his
presence, to purpose their intent, of which they would vnto none other
person any parte disclose, that at the last he came forth of his Chamber,
and yet not downe vnto them, but stoode aboue in a Gallerie ouer them, where
they mighte see him, and speake to him, as though he would not yet come too
nere them till he wist what they ment.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 And therevpon the Duke of
Buckingham, firſt made hũble petition vnto him on the behalfe of them all,
that his grace woulde pardon them, and licence them to purpoſe vnto his
grace the intent of their comming without his diſpleaſure, without which
pardon obteined, they muſt not be holde to moue him of that matter. In which
al|beit they ment as much honour to his grace, as wealth to all the realme
beſide, yet were they not ſure howe his grace woulde take it, whome they EEBO page image 1384 woulde in no wyſe offende. Then the Protec|tour (as he
was verie gentle of himſelfe, and alſo longed ſore to witte what they ment)
gaue him leaue to purpoſe what him lyked, verily truſting for the good minde
that he bare them all, none of them any thing woulde intend vnto himwarde,
wherewith he ought to be grieued.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 When the Duke had this
leane and par|don to ſpeake, then waxed hee holde to ſhew him their intent
and purpoſe, with all the cauſes mo|uing
them therevnto as ye before haue heard, and finally to beſeech his grace,
that it wold like him of his accuſtomed goodneſſe and zeale vnto the Realme,
now with his eye of pitie, to behold the long continued diſtreſſe and decaye
of the ſame, and to ſet his gracious handes to redreſſe and a|mendment
therof, by taking vpon him the crown and gouernaunce of thys Realme,
accordyng to hys right and tytle lawfully deſcended vnto him, and to the
lande of God, profite of the lande, and
vnto his grace ſo muche the more honour, and leſſe paine, in that that neuer
Prince reigned vp|on any people, that were ſo glad to liue vnder his
obeyſaunce, as the people of thys Realme vn|der his.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 When the Protector had
heard the propoſition, he looked verie ſtraungely thereat, and anſwered:
that all were it that he partly knew the things by them alledged to be true,
yet ſuche entire loue hee bare vnto king Edward and his children, that ſo
much more regarded his honor in other
realmes about than the crowne of any one of whiche hee was neuer deſirous,
that he could not finde in his hart in this point to encline to thier
deſire. For in all other Nations where the truth were not well knowne, it
ſhoulde peraduenture be thought, that it were his owne ambicious minde and
deuiſe, to depoſe the Prince, and take himſelfe the Crowne, with which
infamie hee woulde not haue his ho|nour ſtayned for any crowne, in which he
had e|uer perceyued much more labor and
paine, than pleaſure to him that ſo would ſo vſe it, as he that would not,
were not worthie to haue it. Not|withſtanding he not onely pardoned thẽ the
mo|tion that they made him, but alſo thanked them for the loue and heartie
fauour they bare hym, praying them for hys ſake to giue and beare the ſame
to the Prince, vnder whome hee was, and woulde be content to liue, and with
his labor and counſayle as farre as ſhoulde lyke the King to vſe him, he woulde doe his vttermoſt deuoyr to ſet
the realme in good ſtate, whiche was alreadie in this little while of his
Protectorſhip (the praiſe giuen to God) well begonne, in that the malice of
ſuch as were before occaſion of the contrarie, and of new intended to be,
were now partly by good policie, partly more by Gods ſpeciall prouidence,
than mans prouiſion repreſſed.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Vpon this answere giuen, the Duke by the Protectours licence, a
little rowned, aswell with other noble men aboute him, as with the Maior and
Recorder of London. And after that vpon like pardon desired and obteyned, he
shewed aloud vnto the Protector, that for a finall conclusion, yt the realm was appointed k. Edwards line shuld not any
longer raigne vpo(n) the(m), both for that they had so farre gone, that it
was nowe no suretye to retreate, as for that they thoughte it for the weale
vniuersall to take that way, although they had not yet begon it.
Compare 1587 edition:
1 Wherefore if it woulde
like his grace to [...]lle the Crowne vpon him, they woulde hu [...]y be|ſeech him therevnto. If he woulde giue them a reſolute aunſwere
to the contrarie, whiche they woulde be lothe to heare, then muſte they
needes ſeeke and ſhould not fayle to find ſome other no|ble man that
would.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 Theſe wordes much mooued
the Protector, whiche elſe as euerie man may wit, woulde ne|uer of
likelyhoode haue enclyned therevnto. But when hee ſawe there was none other
waye, but that eyther hee muſte take it, or [...]e hee and hys both g [...] from it, he ſayde vnto the Lordes and Commons: Sith we perceyue well
that all the Realme is ſo ſet, whereof we bee very ſorie that they was not
ſuffer in any wiſe King Edwards line to gouerne them, whome no man earthlye
can gouerne agaynſt theyr willes, and we well alſo perceyue, that no man is
there, to whome the Crowne can by iuſt tytle apperteyne, as to our ſelfe, as
verie right heyre lawfully begotten of the bodie of our moſte deare father
Rycharde late Duke of Yorke, to whiche tytle is now ioy|ned your election,
the Nobles and Commons of thys Realme, whiche we of all tytles poſſible take
for moſte effectuall: We be content and a|gree fauourablye to encline to
your petition and requeſt, and according to the ſame,The
pro [...] taketh vp [...] him to be king. here we take vpon vs the royall eſtate,
pre [...]minence and king|dome of the two noble Realmes, Englande and Fraunce,
the tone fro this daye forwarde, by vs and our heyres to rule, gouerne, and
defende: the tother by Gods grace, and your good helpe, to get againe and
ſubdue, and eſtabliſhe for euer in due obedience vnto thys Realme of
Englande, the aduauncement whereof wee neuer aſke of God longer to liue than
we intend to procure.
Compare 1587 edition:
1
2 With this there was a
greate ſhoute, crying King Rycharde, King Richarde. And then the Lordes went
vp to the King (for ſo was he from that tyme called) and the people
departed, tal|king dyuerſelye of the matter, euery man as hys fantaſie gaue
hym. But much they talked and marueyled of the maner of this dealing, that
the matter was on both partes made ſo ſtraunge, as thoughe neyther had euer
communed with other EEBO page image 1385 thereof before, when that them ſelfe
wy [...] there was no manne ſo dull that h [...]de them, bin hee perceyued well ynough, that all the matter was made
betwene them. Howbeit ſome ex [...]d that agayne, and ſayde all muſte be owne at good or|der though: And
men muſte ſometyme for the manners ſake, not be a known what they know. For
at the conſecration of a Biſhop, euery man [...]teth well by the paying for his Bulles, that he purpoſeth to be one,
and though he pay for no|thyng elſe. And
yet muſt he be twyce aſked whe|ther he will be Biſhop or no, and he [...]ſt twice ſay nay, and at the thyrde tyme take it, as com|pelled
therevnto by his owne wil. And in a ſtage play, all the people [...] right well, that hee that playeth the Sowdaine, is percaſe a ſowter,
yet if one ſhoulde can ſo little good, to ſhewe out of ſeaſon what
aquaintaunce hee hath with him, and call hym by hys [...]
[...]e while he ſtan|deth in his maieſtie, one of hys tormentors myghte
happe to breake [...] head, and worthie for marring of the play. And ſo they ſayde, that
theſe matters hee kings games, as it were ſtage playes, and for the m [...] part, played vpon ſcaf|foldes. In which poore men be but the lookers
on. And they yt wiſe be will meddle no further. For they that ſometime ſtep
vp, and play with them, when they cannot playe theyr partes, they diſorder
the playe, and doe themſelues no good.