Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Whilest both these armies laie thus imbattelled, Whethamsted the king sent the bishop of Winchester, and Thomas Bourchier, bishop of Elie, Richard Wooduile, lord Riuers, & Richard Andrew, the kéeper of his priuie seale, to the duke: both to know the cause of so great a commotion, and also to make a concord; if the re|quests of the duke and his companie séemed conso|nant to reason.The dukes answer to the kings mesage The duke hearing the message of the bishops, answered; that his comming was neither to damnifie the king in honour, nor in person, neither yet anie good man: but his intent was, to remooue from him certeine euill disposed persons of his coun|cell, bloud-succours of the nobilitie, pollers of the cleargie, and oppressours of the poore people.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Amongst these, he chéeflie named Edmund duke of Summerset, whome if the king would commit to ward, to answer such articles as against him in open parlement should be both proponed and proued, he promised not onelie to dissolue his armie; but also of|fered himselfe (like an obedient subiect) to come to the kings presence, and to doo him true and faithfull ser|uice, according to his loiall and bounden dutie. Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 666, 667. in Quart. ¶But a further vnderstanding of the dukes meaning by this his forceable entering of the realme (as him|selfe pretended) maie appeare by certeine letters by him written to the king, and also the kings answers vnto the same: both which I thinke good here to set downe, as I find them recorded.
15.1. Richard duke of Yorke his letter to king Henrie.
Richard duke of Yorke his letter to king Henrie.
_PLease it your highnesse to conceiue, that since my departing out of this your realme, by your commandement, and be|ing in your seruice in your land of Ire|land, I haue beene informed, that diuerse language hath béene said of me to your most excellent estate, which should sound to my dishonour and reproch, and charge of my person: howbeit, that I haue béene, and euer will be, your true liegeman and seruant. And if there be anie man that will or dare saie the contrarie, or charge me otherwise; I beséech your rightwisenesse to call him before your high presence, and I will declare me for my discharge as a true knight ought to doo. And if I doo not, as I doubt not but I shall, I beseech you to punish me as the poorest man of your land. And if he be found vntrue in his suggestion and information, I beséech you of your EEBO page image 638 highnesse that he be punished after his desert, in ex|ample of all other.
Please it your excellencie to know, that as well before my departing out of this your realme, for to go into your land of Ireland, in your full noble ser|uice, as since, certeine persons haue lien in wait for to hearken vpon me, as sir Iohn Talbot knight at the castell of Holt; sir Thomas Standleie knight in Cheshire; Pulford at Chester; Elton at Worcester; Brooke at Glocester; and Richard, groome of your chamber at Beaumaris: which had in charge (as I am informed) to take me and put me into your castell of Conwaie, and to strike off the head of sir William Oldhall knight, and to haue put in prison sir Wil|liam Deuereur knight, & sir Edmund Malso knight, withouten inlarging, vntill the time that your high|nesse had appointed their deliuerance.
Item, at such time as I was purposed for to haue arriued at your hauen of Beaumaris, for to haue come to your noble presence to declare me your true man and subiect, as my dutie is, my landing was stopped and forebarred by Henrie Norice, Thomas Norice, William Buckleie, William Grust, and Bartholomew Bould, your officers in Northwales, that I should not land there, nor haue vittels nor re|freshing for me & my fellowship, as I haue written to your excellencie here before. So farre foorth that Henrie Norice, deputie to the chamberlaine of Northwales, said vnto me, that he had in comman|dement that I should in no wise haue landing, refre|shing, nor lodging, for men nor horsse, nor other thing that might turne to my worship or ease: putting the blame vpon William Saie vsher of your chamber, saieng and affirming that I am against your intent, and as a traitor, as I am informed. And moreouer, certeine letters were made and deliuered vnto Che|ster, Shrewesburie, and to other places for to let mine entrie into the same.
Item, aboue all wrongs and iniuries aboue said doone vnto me of malice, without anie cause, I being in your land of Ireland, in your honourable seruice, certeine commissions were made and directed vnto diuerse persons; which for the execution of the same, sat in certeine places, and the iuries impanelled and charged. Unto the which iuries certeine persons laboured instantlie to haue me indicted of treason, to the intent for to haue vndoone me and mine issue, and corrupted my bloud, as it is openlie published. Besée|ching your maiestie roiall, of your righteousnesse, to doo examine these matters, and therevpon to doo such iustice in his behalfe as the cause requireth: for mine intent is fullie to pursue to your highnesse for the con|clusion of these matters.