A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government

Calais, where he stayed some time, and the seventeenth of December following came to Westminster, where he kept his Christmas.

Soon after his return, he elected into the order of the Garter, Alpho • sus Duke of Calabri • , Son and Heir to Ferdinand King of Naples : to whom Christopher Vrswicke the kings Almoner, was sent to Naples to carry it; which as soon as Alphonsus had received, he appareled himself presently in the Habit, before a great assembly, indeed to show what favor he was in with the king of England.

There had been disturbance in the Realm before, by a Counterfeit Son of the Duke of Clarence ; but that device had two main imperfections: One, that the true Son of the Duke was for • h-coming, and to be shown openly for convincing the false; the other, that though the counterfeit had been the true, yet he could have laid no claim to the Crown, as long as any Daughters of King Edward the fourth were living: Now therefore a device is found, by which those imperfections were both of them amended: for now a Counterfeit was set on foot, who pretended to be Richard the younger Son of king Edward the fourth; so that neither any other could be produced to convince him of being false, nor any Daughters of King Edward could hinder his Right for claiming the Crown. This device was first forged by Margaret Duchess of Burgundy ; a woman that could never be quiet in her mind, as long as king Henry was quiet in his kingdom; and by this device she hoped, if not to put him clean out of his seat, yet foully at least to disturb him in it; and this was the purpose of the Pl • t: but by what instrument it was acted, by what abe • tours fomented, and what issue the device had, are wor • hy all to be related. The Duchess having formerly given out, that Richard the younger Son of king Edward, was not murthred, but in compassion spared, and sent secretly a way to seek his fortune; and having after long search gotten at last a fit Boy to personate a Prince; keeps him seretly a good time with her; in which time she so thoroughly instructed him in all Circumstances, and he afterward put them so gracefully in practice, that even those who had seen and known the young Prince while he lived, could hardly perceive but that this was he. It is true, though he were not King Edwards Son, yet he was his Godsonne; and might perhaps have in him some base blood of the house of York. This Perkin Warbeck, (for so was the youths name, called Perkin, as a diminutive of Peter ) when he so perfectly had learned his lesson, that he was fit to come upon the Stage; she sent him into Portingall, that coming from a strange Country, it might be thought, he had been driven to wander from one Country to another, for safeguard of his life, at least that she of all other might not be suspected. From Portingal she caused him to pass into Ireland, where the house of York was specially respected, in regard of the great love which Richard Duke of York, Father of King Edward the fourth, had won amongst them: by reason whereof, this Perkin as esteemed his Grand-child, was well entertained by them, and held in great estimation. He had not been long in Ireland, when the French king sent for him; for being at that time at variance with King Henry, he thought he might make good use of Perkin, as a pretender against King Henry for the Crown. Perkin being come to Paris, was entertained in a Princely fashion; and for his more honor, had a guard assigned him, over which the Lord Congreshall was Captain. He had not been long at Paris, when there resorted to him Sir George Nevill bastard, Sir John Taylor, Richard Robinson, and about a hundred other English: Amongst the rest, one Stephen Fryon, that had been King Henries Secretary for the French Tongue; but discontented, fled, and became a chief Instrument in all Perkins proceedings. But this float of Perkins lasted not long; for as soon as Peace was concluded between the two Kings; the King of France dismissed Perkin and would keep him no longer. Then passed he secretly to his first foundresse, the Lady Margaret ; who at his first coming, made a show of suspecting him to be a Counterfeit. But causing him in great assemblies to be brought before her, as though she had never seen him before; and finding him to answer directly to all questions she put unto him: she openly professed, that she was now satisfied, and thought him verily to be her true Nephew; and thereupon assigned a gu • rd of thir • y persons, clothed in Murrey and Blew, and call • d him the White Rose of England. Upon report hereof, many in England were inclined to take his part; and Sir Robert Clifford and Robert Bareley were sent into Flanders, to acquaint the Duchess with the people's respect to Perkin : and indeed Sir Robert Clifford, upon sight and conference with him, wrote letters into England, wherein he affirmed, that he knew him to be true Son of king Edward, by his face, and other Lineaments of his body. King Henry hearing of these things, sent certain espials into Flanders, that should feign themselves to have fled to Perkin ; and by that means the better search out who were of the Conspiracy with him. Whose name being returned to the King, he caused them • o be apprehended and brought to his Presence; the chief of whom were John R • tcliffe Lord Fitzwater, Sir Simon Montford, and Sir Thomas Th •• y •• knights, William Dawbeney, Robert Ratcliffe, Thomas Cressenor, and Thomas Astwo • d, also certain Priests, as William Richford D. of Divinity, Thomas Boyns, D. William Sutton, William Worseley Dean of Paul's, Robert Layborne, and Richard Lesley, of whom, some hearing of it, fled to Sanctuary, o • hers were taken and condemed, as Sir Simon Montford, Robert Ratcliffe, and William Dawbeney, who were all three behe • ded. The Lord Fitzwater pardoned of life, was conveyed to Calais, and there laid in hold; where seeking to make escape by corrupting his Keeper, he lost his head. Shortly after, Sir Robert Clifford returning out o • Flanders (not as some think, sent a spy from the beginning; but rather now at last either discerning the fraud, or woe • by rewards) and submitted himself to the kings mercy: discovering unto him, as far as he knew, all that were either open or secret abettors of the Conspiracy; amongst whom he accused Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain: his accusation was this that in Conference between them, Sir William had said, that if he certainly knew; that the young man named Perkin were the Son of king Edward the fourth, he would never fight nor bear Arms against him. These words being considered of, by the Judges, seemed to express a tickle hold of Loyalty; for who could tell how soon he might be persuaded that he knew it? and upon the matter, was to be Loyall to king Henry, but for want of better; and withal it struck upon a string which had always sounded harsh in king Henries ears, as preferring the Title of York before that of Lancaster. Sir William being hereupon arraigned; whether trusting to the greatness of his favors, or the smalnes of his fault, denied little of that wherewith he was charged, and upon confession was adjudged to die; and accordingly on the sixteenth day of February was brought to the Tower-hill, and there beheaded: after whose death, Giles Lord Dawbeny was made L. • hamberlaine. This was that Sir William Stanley, who came in to rescue the Earl of Richmond, when he was in danger of his life; who set the Crown upon his head, and was the cause of his being saluted King: And could it enter into his breast, to put him to death, that had saved his life, and done him so many great services besides? But it may be said, It was not the Earl of Richmond that did it, but the King of England ; for certainly, in many cases, a King is not at liberty to show mercy, so much as a private man may. Though there be that affirm, the cause of his death was not words only, but real acts, as giving aid to Perkin under-hand by money. And yet it seems, there was some conflict in the mind of King Henry, what he should do in this case; for he stayed six weeks after his Accusation, before before he brought him to his Arraignment. How-ever it was, the Summer following, the King went in Progress to Latham, to the Earl of Darby, who had ma • ied his mother, and was brother to Sir William Stanley: perhaps to congratulate his own safety; perhaps to condole with him his brothers death; but certainly to keep the Earl from conceiving any sinister opinion of him: For to think that Sir William's suing to be Earl of Chester, (an Honor appointed to the kings son) or his great wealth (for he left in his Castle at Holt, in ready money forty thousand marks, beside • Plate and Jewels) were causes that procured or set forward his death; are considerations very unworthy of so just a Prince, against a Servant of so great deserving.

But in this mean while, Perkin having gotten a Power of idle loose fellows, took to Sea, intending to l • nd in Kent ; where though he were repelled, yet some of his Soldiers would needs venture to go on Land; of whom a hundred and sixty persons were taken Prisoners, whereof five were Captains; Mortford, Corbet, Whitebolt, Qu •• tyn and Gemyne : These hundred and sixty persons were brought to London, railed in ropes, like horses drawing in a Cart, who upon their Araignement, confessing their offense, were executed, some at London, and some in Towns adjoining to the sea-coast. Perkin finding no entertainment in Kent, sailed into Ireland, and having stayed there a while, and finding them also, being a naked people, to be no competent assistants for him, from thence he sailed into Scotland, where he so moved the King of Scots with his fair words and colorable pretexts (made no doubt before by the Dutcesse of Burgoigne ) that he received him in great state, and caused him to be called the Duke of York : and to persuade the World that he thought him so indeed, he gave to him in marriage the Lady Katherine Gourdon, da • ghter to Alexander Earl Huntley, his own near kinswoman; and soon after, in Perkins quarrel, entered with a puissant Army into England ; making Proclamation, that whosoever would come in and aid the true Duke of York, should be spared; but none coming in, he then used all kind of cruelty, and the whole County of Northu • berland was in a manner wasted: whereat Perkin, at his return, expressed much grief, saying It grieved him to the heart to see such havoc made of his people: To whom the King answered, Alas, Alas, you take care for them, who for anything that appears are none of yours; for not one of the Country came in to his succor. King Henry incensed with this bold attempt of the king of Scots, called his High Court of Parliament, acquainting them with the necessity he had of a present war to revenge this indignity offered him by the Scots, and thereupon requiring their aid by money, had a subsidy of sixscore thousand pounds readily granted him; and then in all haste a puissant Army is provided, and under the conduct of the Lord Dawbeney sent into Scotland, but before he arrived there he was suddenly called back, by reason of a commotion begun at Cornwall, for payment of the Subsidy lately granted, which though it were not great, yet they grudged to pay it. The Ring-leaders of this commotion were Thomas Flammock, a gentleman le •• ned in the Laws, and Michael Joseph a Smith; who laying the blame of this exaction upon John Morton Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Reynold Bray, as being chief of the Kings Council, exhorted the people to take arms; and having a • sembled an Army, they went to Taunton, where they slew the Provost Pery • , one of the Commissioners for the Subsidy, and from thence came to Wells, intending to go to London where the King then lay, who having revoked the Lord Dawbeney, appointed Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey (after the death of the Lord Dinham, made Lord Treasurer of England ) to have an eye to the Scots, and if they made invasion, to resist them. In the mean time James Twychet Lord Audley confederated himself with the Rebells of Cornwall, and took upon him to be their Leader, who from W • lls went to Salisbury, and from thence to Winchester, and so to Kent, hoping there • o have had great aid, but found none; for the Earl of Kent, the Lord of Aburg ••• , John Brook Lord Cobham, Sir Edmond Poynings, Syr Richard Guildford, Sir Th •• as Bourchier, John Peachy and William Scott were ready in Arms to resist them; whereupon the Rebels brought their Army to Black-heath, four miles distant from L • nd • n, and there in a plain on the top of a hill encamped themselves; whereof when the King had knowledge, he presently sent John Earl of Oxford, Henry Bou • •• ier Earl of Essex, Edmond de la Poole Earl of Suffolk, Sir Riceap Thomas and Sir H •• fry Stanley to inviron the hill on all sides, that so all hope of flight might he take • n from them; and then set forward himself, and encamped in St. George • fields, where for encouragement he made divers Bannarets. The next day he sent the Lord Dawbeney to set upon the Rebels early in the morning, who first got the bridge at Deb • ford Strand, though strongly defended by the Rebels Archers, whose arrows were • eported to be a full clothe-yard in length; but notwithstanding the Lord 〈◊〉 coming in with his Company, and the Earls assailing them on every side, they were soon overcome: In which conflict were slain of the Rebels above 〈◊〉 thousand; taken prisoners a very great number, many of whom the King p •• doned, but of the chief Authors none: for the Lord Audley was drawn from Newgate to Tower-hill, in a coat of his own Arms painted upon paper, reversed and all torn; and there, on the four and twentieth day of June was beheaded. Thomas Flammock and Michael Joseph were hanged drawn & quartered, and their heads and quarters pitched upon stakes, set up in London and other places. Of the Kings Army were slain not above three hundred. It is memor • ble with what comfort Joseph the black-smith cheered up himself at his going to execution, saying that yet he hoped by this that his name and memory should be everlasting: so deer even to vulgar spirits is perpetuety of Name, though joined with infamy, what is it then to Noble spirits, when it is joined with Glory?

In the mean time the king of Scots taking advantage of these troubles in England, invaded the Frontiers, forraged the Bishopric of Durham, and at last besieged the castle of Norham, whereof Richard Fox then Bishop of Durham was owner; who thereupon sent presently to the Earl of Surrey, acquainting him with this Invasion: Whereupon the Earl, taking with him Ralph Earl of Westmorland, Thomas Lord Barns, Ralph Lord Nevill, George Lord Strange, and many other Lord's and knights, and an Army of little less then twenty thousand men, besides a Navy, whereof the Lord Brooke was Admiral; set forward against the Scots, and not only forced the Scots to raise their siege of Norham Castle, but followed them also into Scotland, where he overthrew and defaced, the Castle at Cawdestraynes, the Tower of He • e • hall, the Tower of Edington, the Tower of Fulden, and at last by composition took the strong Castle of Hayton, and rased it to the ground. At the Earls being at Hayton, the King of Scots sent to him Marchemont and another Herald, requiring him, at his election, either to fight with him with their whole Armies, or else they two to fight in single combat; upon condition, that if the victory fell to the Scottish king, the Earl should deliver for his Ransom the Town of Barwick: Whereunto the Earl made answer, that the Town of Barwick was the King his Masters, and therefore not for him to dispose of; but for his offer of single combat, he willingly accepted it, and thought himself highly honored by such a match: But King James of Scotland had no meaning to perform either one or other, but privily in the night fled back into Scotland ; and then the Earl returned to Barwick. In the mean time, one Peter Hyal • s a man of great learning and policy, was sent Ambassador to the King of Scots, from the King of Spain, to mediate a Peace between the two kings of of England and Scotland ; who finding the King of Scots conformable to his motion, found after the King of England (who was never averse from Peace upon honorable Conditions) no less inclining to it: and so a Truce was concluded for certain years; upon conditition, that Perkin Warbeck should be sent out of the Scottish Dominions.

About this time, the Lord of Camphyre and others sent from Philip Archduke of Austria and Duke of Burgundy, came to king Henry for a conclusion of Amity, and to procure the English merchan • s resort again to his Country: for king Henry some time before, upon displeasure with the Flemings, but specially with the Lady Margaret, for abetting Perkin Warbeck ; not only had banished all Flemish wares and merchandizes out of his Dominions, but had also restrained all English merchants from having any traffick in any of their Territories, causing the Mart for all English commodities to be kept at Calais: but now, upon this invitation, and having found it had been a great hindrance to his own Merchant-adventurers, and thereupon some insurrections had risen, he willingly condescended to their Request; and so the English resorted again into the Archdukes Dominions, and were received into Antwerp with general Procession; so glad was that Town of the Engglish-men's return.

In this eleventh year of the Kings Reign, died Cicely Duchess of York, mother to king Edward the fourth, at her Castle of Berkhamstead, being of extreme age; who had lived to see three Princes of her body Crowned, and four Murthered: she was buried at F • dri • g • am by her Husband.

Shortly after the Truce concluded between England and Scotland, Perkin Warbeck was commanded to depart out of the Scottish Dominions: who thereupon with his wife and family, sailed into Ireland: where understanding that the Cornish-men were ready to renew the war again, he thought best not to let p • sse so fair an occasion; and thereupon, having with him four small ships, and not above six-score men, he sailed into Cornwall, and there landed in the month of September, and came to a Town called Bodmyn ; where with fair words and large promises, he so prevailed with the people, that he had gotten to him above three thousand persons to take his part; and then made Proclamations in the name of King Richard the Fourth, as son to King Edward the Fourth: and by the advice of his three Counselors, John Heron a bankrupt Mercer, Richard Skelton a Tailor, and John Astley a Scrivener, determined to attempt first the winning of Exceter ; which with great violence he assaulted, and the Townsmen with as great valiantness defended: whereof when the King heard, he sent the Lord Dawbeny to their rescue: but before he came, the Lord Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire, and the valiant Lord William his son, accompanied with Sir Edmund Carew, Sir Thomas Trenchard, Sir William Courtney • Sir Thomas Fulford, Sir John Hal • well, Sir John Croker, Walter Court • ey, Peter Edgecombe, William St. Maure with others came to their aid: upon whose coming, Perkin left the siege, and retired to Taunton ; where he mustered his men, as though he meant to prepare for battle: but finding his number to be much diminished, (fo • of six thousand which he had at Exceter, many were fled from him, when they saw no Great ones to take his part) he began to distrust his case; and he •• ing withal, that the king with a great Power was at hand: about midnight, with threescore horse-men in his company, he departed in post from Taunton, and took Sanctuary in a Town called Beauly near to Southampton. When king Henry he • rd that Perkin was fled, he sent after him to the Sea-side, to stop his passage and apprehend him: But the messengers that were sent, when they came to St. Michaels 〈◊〉 , though they found not Perkin, yet there they found his wife the Lady Katherine Gourdon, whom they presently brought to the king; a beautiful young Lady: to whom, in honor of her birth, and commiseration of her beauty, the king allowed a competent maintenance, which she enjoyed during the kings life, and m • ny years after. king Henry being come to Exceter, stayed there a few days, about examination of the Rebellion, and execution of the chief Offendours: of whom there being a great multitude, and all of them craving pardon, the king caused them all to be assembled in the Church-yard of St. Peter, where they all appeared bar • -headed in their shirts, and halters about their necks: whom the king viewing out of a window made for the purpose; after he had paused a while, made a speech unto them, exhorting them to obedience; and then, in hope they would afterward be dutiful Subjects, he pardoned them all: whereat they made a great shout, crying 〈◊〉 , God save king Henry! though some of them afterward, like ungrateful wretches, fell into new Rebellions.

All this whi • e Perkin was in Sanctuary: and the King thinking himself in danger as long as he was in safety, set a Guard about the place, to keep him for escaping; whereby Perkin was so restrained, that at last he submitted himself to the kings mercy, and was thereupon sent to the Tower to b • there in s • fe custody. This do • e, king Henry appointed Thomas Lord D • rcy, Sir Amy • s Pawle • , and Robert Sherb •••• Dean of Paul's • to be Commissioners, for ma • ing enquiry of the Offenders, 〈◊〉 for assessing their Fines; which they did with great severity to some, with great mildness to others, to all with equity.

〈◊〉 was now the fourteenth year of the kings Reign, when one Sebastian •• bato, • Ge ••• a's Son, born • t B • iston, persuaded the king to man and victua •• a ship at Bristow, • o search for 〈◊〉 stand, which (he said) he knew to be replenished with rich Commodities; who setting forth with three other small sh • ps of London merchants, returned home two year • after, when he had made a large discovery westward, and would have gone to 〈◊〉 , if the Mariners had not forced him to return: a likewise si • years before, one Christop • er Columbus a Spaniard, made the first discovery of America.

Perkin being in the Tower and carefully guarded, yet found me • s to escape; and fled to the Priory of Sheen near Richmond ; where discovering himself to the Pryor of that Monastery, he begged of him for God's sake, to get the kings Pardon fo • his life; which the Prior effected: but then was Perkin brought to the Court at Westminster, and was one day set fettered in a pair of Stocks before Westminsterhall, and there stood a whole day; the next day he was set upon a like Scaffold in Cheape-side, and there standing the whole day also, hethen read openly his confession, wr • tten with his own hand; wherein he declared his Parentage and the place of his Birth, and all the passages of his Life, and by what means he was drawn to make this attempt. After this, he was committed again to the Tower, and care taken, he should be better looked to than he was before. But all the care notwithstanding, once again Perkin attempted to escape, and drawing into a Confederacy with him the young Earl of Warwick ; by fair words and large promises so corrupted his keepers, Stra • gwish, Bl • wet, Astwood and long Roger, servants to Sir John Digbie Lieutenant of the Tower, that they intended to have slain their Master, and set Perki • and the Earl of Warwick at liberty. But this practice was soon discovered, • o that Perki • and John a Water, sometime Major of Corke in Ireland, one of Perki • s chief founders, were on the sixteenth day of November arraigned at Westminster and condemned, and both of them on the two and twentieth day were drawn to Tyburne and there hanged; where Perki • took it upon his death, that the Confession he had formerly made, was true: soon after also Blewet and Astwood, two of the Lieutenants men, were in the same place executed. On the one and twentieth day of the same month, Edward Plantagemet Earl of Warwick was arraigned at Westminster, before the Earl of Oxford, then High Steward of England ; not for consenting to break Prison, but for conspiring with Perkin to raise Sedition and destroy the king; and upon his Confession, had Judgment, and on the eight and twentieth day of the same month, in the year 1499. was brought to the Scaffold on the Tower-hill, and there beheaded. This Earl of Warwick was the eldest Son of the Duke of Clarence, and was the last Heir male of the name of Plantagenet, and had been kept in the Tower from his very In • ancy out of all company of Men and fight of Beasts; so as he scarcely knew a Hen from a Goose, nor one beast from another; and therefore could never know how to practice his escape of himself, but by Perki • s subtlety: for which cause the king favored him so far, that he was not buried in the Tower, but at Bissam by his Ancestors. And thus ended the designs of Perki • Warbeck, which had troubled both the Kingdom and the King, the space of seven or eight years, a great part of the Kings Rain.

But in the time of Perki • s being in the Tower, another like practice was set on foot; for an Augusti • e Frier called Patrick, in the County of Suffolk, having a Scholar named Ralph Wilford a Cordwayners Son, he caused him to take upon him to be the Earl of Warwick, lately by great chance gotten out of the Tower; and they going together into 〈◊〉 ; when the Frier perceived some light credit to be given to him, he then stuck not to declare it openly in the Pulpit, desiring all men to assist him. But this practice was soon discovered, and both the Mr. and the Scholar were apprehended & attainted; the Scholar Wilford was hanged on Shrovetuesd • y at S. Thomas Waterings, and the Frier was condemned to perpetual Prison: for at that time so much reverence was attributed to holy Orders; that a Priest, though • e had committed Treason against the king, yet had h • s life spared. And this pract •• e was some cause to exasperate the king against the Earl of Warwick, who though innocent in himself, yet was nocent in pretenders: and besides; king Ferdinand of Spai • e, with whom at this time there was a Treaty for marriage of his Daughter to Prince Arthur, had written to the king in plain terms, that he saw no assurance of his Sons succession, as long a • the Earl of Warwick lived: and thus all things unfortunately concurred to bring this innocent Prince to his end.

In the fifteenth year of his Reign, partly to avoid the danger of the Plague, then reigning in England ; but chiefly to confer with the Duke of Burgoigne about many important businesses: the King and Queen sailed over to Calais ; where at an enterview between him and the Duke, at Saint Peters Church without Calais, the Duke offered to hold the kings sturrup at his alighting, which the king by no means would permit; but descending from horse-back, they embraced wi • h great affection; • nd after Communication had between them, the King and Queen in the end o • Iu •• returned into England.

In his seventeenth year • woe great Marriages were solemnized: the Lady 〈◊〉 of Spain was sent by her Father king Ferdi • a • d, with a puissant, Army of S •• ps into E • gland ; where she arrived at Plymouth, the second day of October ; and on the fourteenth of November after • was espo • sed openly to Prince Ar • hur, both be • ng clad in white; He of the age of •• fteen years, she of eighteen: at night they were laid together in one Bed, where they lay as Man and Wife all that night: when • o • ning appeared, the Prince (as his servants about him reported) called for drink, which before time he had not used to do; whereof one of his Chamb • rlaines • sking 〈◊〉 the cause • he answered merrily, saying, I have been this night in the midst o • Spa ••• , which is a hot Country, and • hat make • me so dry: though some write, tha • • grave Matron was laid in bed between them, to hinder actual Consummation •• T • e Ladies portion was two hundred thousand Ducats; her jointure, the 〈◊〉 part of the Principality of Wales, Cornwall and Ch • ster. At this Marriage was gr ••• solemnity and Royal Justings; during which time, there came into London 〈◊〉 Earl, a Bishop, and divers other noble personages sent from the king of Scots 〈…〉 conclusion of a Marriage, (before treated of, between the Lady Margaret the 〈◊〉 eldest daughter, and him; where the Earl by Proxy, in the name of king James 〈◊〉 Mas • er, affied and contracted the said Lady, which Contract was published at 〈◊〉 Cross • the day of the Conversion of Saint Paul ; for joy whereof, Te Deum 〈…〉 , and great fires were made through the City of London ; and if such joy we • e made when the match was made, what joy should be made now at the issue of the match, when by the Union of those persons is made an Union of these kingdoms; and England and Scotland are but one great Britain ? The Ladies portion was ten thousand pounds, her jointure two thousand pounds a year, after king James his death; and in present one thousand. When this match was first propounded at the Connsell Table, some Lord's opposed it; objecting, that by this means the Crown of England might happen to come to the Scottish Nation. To which King He • ry answered, what if it should? It would not be an accession of England to Sco • la • d, but of Scotland to England : and this answer of the kings passed for an Oracle, • nd so the match proceeded, and in August following was Consummate at Edi • b • rgh, conducted thither in great State by the Earl of Northumberland.

Prince Arthur after his marriage, was sent again into Wales, to keep that Count • y in good order; to whom were appointed for Counselors, Sir Richard Poole, hi • • insman and chief Chamberlain, Sir Henry Vernon, Sir Richard Crof • s, Sir David 〈◊〉 , Sir William Udall, Sir Thomas Englefield, Sir Peter Newton, John Walleston, 〈◊〉 Marton, and Doctor William Smith President of his Counsel: but within five months after his marriage, at his Castle of Ludlow he deceased, and with great sole •• ity was buried in the Cathedral Church at Worcester. His Brother Henry Du • e of York, was stayed from the title of Prince of Wales, the space of half a year, till to women it might appear, whether the Lady Katherine, the Relict of Prince Ar •••• were with child, or no. The towardlines in learning of this Prince Arthur is ve • y memorable; who dying before the age of sixteen years, was said to have read over all • or most of the Latin Authors, besides many other.

And now Prince Arthur being dead, and the Lady Katherine of Spain left a young widow; King Henry loath to part with her dowry, but chiefly being desirous 〈◊〉 continue the Alliance with Spain : prevailed with his other Son Prince Henry, though with some reluctance, such as could be in those years (for he was scarce • welv • years of age) to be contracted with the Princesse Katherine his bro • h • rs widow; for which marriage, a dispensation by advice of the most learned men at that 〈◊〉 in Christendom, was by Pope Julius the second granted, and on the five and twentieth day of June, in the Bishop of Salisbury • s house in Fleet-street, th • marriage was solemnized.

A little before this time, 〈…〉 Earl of S • ffolke, Son to John Duke of Suffolk and Lady Eliz • b • t • Sister • o king Edward the • ourth, had in his fury killed a mean person • and was thereupon I • dighted of Murder; for which, although he had the kings Pardon, yet because he was brought to th • Kings-bench-b • rr • , and there arraigned; he took it for so great 〈…〉 his honor, that in great rage he fled into Flanders to his Aun • the Lad • M •• garet ; where having stayed a while, when his p • ssion was over, he return • d again. • ut after the marriage between Prince Arthur and the Lady 〈◊〉 , w •• there it were that in that solemnity he had run himself in debt; or 〈◊〉 he were • rawn to do so by the Lady Margare • , he passed over the second time, with his b • other Richard, into Fl • nder • . This put the king into some doubt of his intention • whereupon he hath recourse to his usual course in such cases, and Sir 〈…〉 Captain of Hamme • Castle, to feign himself one of that Conspiracy, the •• by to learn the depth of their intentions: And to take away all susp •• ion of his employment; • he first Sunday of November, he caused the said Earl and Sir Robert C • rson with five others to be accursed openly at Paul's Cross, as Enemies to him and his Realm. In conclusion, Sir Robert Curson acquainted the king with divers of that faction; amongst whom, Willia • Lord Court • ey, and Willia • de la Poole, brother to the foresaid Earl of Suffolk, who were taken but upon suspicion, yet held long in prison: but Sir James Tyrrell (the same that had murdered the two young Princes in the Tower) and Sir Io •• Windham, who were proved to be Traitor • , were accordingly attainted, and on the sixth day of May at the Tower-hill beheaded. Whereof when the Earl heard, despairing now of any good success, he wandered about all Germany and Fr •• c • , where finding no succor, he submitted himself at last to Philip Duke of Austria, by whom afterward he was delivered to king Henry, by this occasion: Ferdi • a • d king of Aragon, by his Wife Isabella Queen of C • style, had only two Daughters, the eldest whereof named Ioa • e, was married to this Philip Duke of Austria ; the younger, named Katherine, to Arthur Prince of England: and now Queen Isabella being lately dead, by whose death the kingdom of Castile descended in Right of his Wife, to this Duke Philip ; they were sailing out of Germany into Sp • ine to take possession of the kingdom; but by tempest and contrary winds were driven upon the coast of England, and landed at Weymouth in Dorsetshire ; where desiring to refresh themselves a little on shore, they were invited by Sir Thomas Tre • cha • d (a principal knight of that Country) to his house, who presently sent word to the king of their arrival. King Henry glad to have his Court honored by so great a Prince, and perhaps upon hope of a courtesy from him, which afterward he obtained: • ent presently the Earl of Arundell to wait upon him, till himself might follow; and the Earl went to him in great magnificence, with a gallant troop of three hundred Horse, and for more State came to him by Torch-light. Upon whose Me ••• ge, though king Philip had many re • sons of haste on his journey; yet not to give king He • ry distaste, and withal to give his Queen the comfort of seeing the Lady Katherine her Sister; he went upon speed to the king at Windsor, while his Queen followed by easy journeys. After great magnificence of entertainment, king Hen • y taking a fit opportunity, and drawing the king of Castile into a room, where they two only were private; and laying his hand civilly upon his arm, said unto him; Sir, you have been saved upon my Coast: I hope you will not suffer me to wrack upon yours. The king of Castile asking him, what he meant by that speech? I mean it (saith the king) by that hair-brained fellow the Earl of Suffolk ; who being my subject, is protected in your Country, and begins to play the fool when all others are weary of it. The king of Cas • ile answered; I had thought, Sir, your felicity had been above those thoughts; but if it trouble you, I will banish him: king Henry replied, that his desire was to have him delivered to him: with this, the king of Castile a little confused said, That can I not do with my honor: Well then (said the king) the matter is at an end: at last the king of Castile, who held king Henry in great estimation, composing his countenance, said, Sir you shall have him; but upon your Honor, you shall not take his life: I promise it upon mine Honor, said King Henry: and he kept his promise; for he was not put to death during all his Reign; but yet he took such order, that in the Reign of his Son K. Henry the Eighth, he had his head cut off. During the king of Castiles being here, a Treaty was concluded, and bears date at Windsor ; which the Flemings term Intercursus malus, for that the Free fishing of the Dutch upon the Coasts and Seas of England, granted in the Treaty of Vndecimo, was not by this Treaty confirmed, as all other Articles were. And now, when king Henry had received the king of Castile into the Fraternity of the Garter, and had his Son Prince Henry admitted to the order of the Golden fleece; and that the Earl of Suffolk was brought over and committed to the Tower; the king of Castile departed home.

In this kings time were two Calls of Serjeant • at Law: One in his eleventh year, in which were called nine Serjeants, Mordant, Higham, Kingesmill, Conisby, Butler, •• xely, Frowick, Oxenbridge, and Constable ; who kept their feast at the Bishop of Eli 's Place in Holborne, where the King, the Queen, and all the chief Lord's dined. The other Call, in his twentieth year; in which were called ten Serjeants, Robert Brudnell, William • revill, Thomas Marow, George Edgore, Lewis Pollard, Guy Palms, and William Fairfax ; who kept their feast at the Archbisho • s house in Lambeth.

King Henry having gotten as much honor as the Estimation of neighbouring Princes could give him, began now to be intentive to getting of wealth; wherein he quickly found Instruments fit for his purpose, but specially two, Empson & Dudley both Lawyers; Dudley of a good family, but Empson the son of a Sieve-maker. These two persons being put in Authority, turned Law and Justice into Rapine. For first, their manner was, to cause divers Subects to be indicted of Crimes, and then presently to commit them; and not produce them to their answer, but suffer them to languish long in Prison; and by sundry artificial devices and terrors, extort from them great Fines, which they termed Compositions and Mitigations. Neither did they (towards the end) observe so much as the half face of Justice, in proceeding by Indictment; but sent forth their Precepts to attach men, and convent them before themselves and some others at their private houses, and there used to shuffle up a Summary proceeding by examination, without trial of Jury; as • uming to themselves, to deal both in Pleas of the Crown, and controversies Civil. Then did they also use to enthrall and charge the Subjects lands with Tenures in Capite, by finding false Offices; refusing upon divers pretexts and delays, to admit men to traverse those false Offices, as by Law they might. Nay the Kings Wards, after they had accomplished their full age, could not be suffered to have livery of their lands, without paying excessive Fines, far exceeding all reasonable rates. When men were outlawed in personal actions, they would not permit them to purchase their Charters of Pardon, except they paid great and intolerable sums; standing upon the strict point of Law, which upon Outlawries gives forfeiture of goods. Nay, contrary to all Law and color, they maintained, the King ought to have the half of men's lands and rents during the space of full two years, for a Paine in case of Outlawry. They would also ruffle with Jurors, and enforce them to find as they would direct; and if they did not, then convent, imprison, and fine them. These and many other cours • s they had of preying upon the people: but their principal working was upon Penall Statutes; wherein they considered not whether the Law were obsolete, or in use; and had ever a rabble of Promoters and leading Jurors at their command, so as they could have any th • ng found, either for Fact or Valuation. There remaineth to this day a Report, that King Henry was on a time entertained very sumptuously by the Earl of Oxford, at his Castle of Heningham : and at the Kings going away, the Earls servants stood in their livery-coats with cognisances, ranged on both sides, to make the King a lane: Whereupon the King called the Earl to him, and said: My Lord, I have heard much of your Hospitality, but I see it is greater than is spoken; These handsome Gentlemen and Yeomen whom I see on both sides of me, are sure your Meniall servants. At which the Earl smiled, and said: It may please your Grace, that were not for mine ease; They are most of them my Retainers, and are come to do me s • rvice at such a time as this, and chi • fly to see your Grace. Whereat the King started a little, and said: By my faith (my Lord) I thank you for my good cheer; but I may not endure to have my Laws broken in my sight: my Attorney must speak with you about it. And it is part of the Report, that it cost the Earl for a composition, fifteen thousand marks. And to show further the Kings extreme diligence: I remember (saith Sir Francis Bacon Lord of Virula • in his History) to have seen long since a Book of Account of Empsons, that had the kings hand almost to every leaf, by way of signing; and was in some places postilled in the Margent with the kings own hand likewise, where was this Remembrance:

And over against this Memorand • m (of the kings own hand,) Otherwise satisfied. This (saith he) I do the rather mention, because it shows in the king a Nearnesse, but yet with a kind of Justnesse.

In his three and twentieth year, there was a sharp prosecution against Sir William Gapell now the second time, for misgovernment in his Majoralty: The great matter was, that in some payments he had taken notice of false monies, and did not his diligence to examine who were the Offenders: for which and some other things • aid to his charge, he was condemned to pay two thousand pounds; whereof, being a man of stomach, he refused to pay a farthing; and thereupon was sent to the Tower, where he remained till the Kings death. Knesworth likewise, that had been lately Major of London, and both his Sheriffs, were for abuses in their offices questioned and imprisoned, and not delivered but upon payment of one thousand four hundred pounds. Sir Lawrence Ailmer, who had likewise been Major of London, and his two Sheriffs, were put to the Fine of one thousand pounds; and Sir Lawrence, for refusing to pay it, was committed to prison, where he stayed till Empson himself was committed in his place. By these courses he accumulated so great store of Treasure, that he left at his death, most of it in secret places, under his own key and keeping at Richmond, (as is reported) the sum of near eighteen hundred thousand pounds sterling. But though by this course he got great store of Treasure, yet by it he lost the best treasure (the people's hearts) but that he something qualified it by his last Testament, commanding that Restitution should be made of all such moneys as had unjustly been levied by his Officers.

It seems king Henry, after the death of his Queen the Lady Elizabeth, had an inclination to marry again; and hearing of the great beauty & virtue of the young Queen of Naples, the widow of Ferdinando the younger; he sent three confident persons, Francis Marsyn, James Braybrooke, and John Style, to make two inquiries; one of her person and conditions, the other of her Estate: Who returning him answer, that they found her Beauty and Virtues to be great, but her Estate to be only a certain Pension or Exhibition, and not the kingdom of Naples as he expected, he then gave over any further meddling in that matter. After this, another Treaty of Marriage was propounded to the king, between him and the Lady Margaret Duchess Dowager of Savoy, only daughter to Maximilian, and Sister to the king of Castile ; a Lady wise and of great good fame: In which business was employed, for his first piece, the kings then Chaplain, and after the great Prelate, Thomas Woolsey. It was in the end concluded, with ample conditions for the king, but with promise de Futuro only. Which marriage was protracted from time to time, in respect of the Infirmity of the king; which held him by • its till he died.

He left Executours, Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester, Richard Fitz James Bishop of London, Thomas Bishop of Durham, John Bishop of Rochester, Thomas Duke of Norfolk & Treasurer of England, Edward Earl of Worcester and Lord Chamberlain, John F. knight, chief Justice of the Kings Bench, and Robert R. knight chief Justice of the Common Pleas. A little before his death, he had concluded a marriage (in which negociation Fox Bishop of Winchester was employed) between his younger Daughter the Lady Mary, of the age of ten years; and Charles king of Castile, not much elder: but though concluded, yet not solemnized; and she was afterward married to Lewis the French king.

THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE EIGHT.

K ING Henry the seventh being deceased, his only son Prince Henry, Heir by his Father of the house of Lancaster, and by his Mother of the house of York : by unquestionable right succeeded in the Crown, at the Age of eighteen years, on the two and twentieth of April, in the year 1509. who having been trained up in the study of good letters all his Fathers time • he Governed at first, as a man newly come from Contemplation to Action, as it were by the Book • in so regular and fair a man • er, that as of Nero's Goverment, there was said to be Quinquennium Neronis ; so of this Kings, there might as justly be said, Decennium Henrici ; and perhaps double so long a time, comparable with so much time of any Kings Reign, that had been before him. How he came to alter, and to alter to such a degree of change as he did, we shall then have a fit place to show, when we come to the time of his alteration. King Henry having learned by Books, that the weight of a Kingdom is too heavy to lie upon one man's shoulders, if it be not supported by able Counselors; made it his first care, to make choice of an able Council; to which he called William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chancellor of England, Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester, Thomas Howard Earl of Surry, and Treasurer of England, George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, and Lord Steward of his Household, Charles Summerset Lord Chamberlain, Sir Thomas Lovell • Sir Henry Wyat, Doctor Thomas Ruthall, and Sir Edward Poynings ; by advise of these Counselors, his first Act after the care of his Fathers Funeral; was the care to perform his Fathers Will, in marrying the Lady Katherine of Spain, the Relict of his Brother Prince Arthur ; to which perhaps but in respect of filial pierie, he had not the greatest devotion; and for relinquishing whereof, he might (no doubt) more easily have obtained a Despensation from the Pope, then his Father had done, for getting it to be allowed: but obsequiousnesse to his Fathers desire, and respect to his Councils advice, so far prevailed with him, that he would not be Crowned, till that were performed, that one Coronation might serve them both: and so on the third day of June following, he married the said Lady, at the Bishop of Salisburies house in Fleetstreet ; where of many great solemnities, I will remember but this one; that though the Bride were a Widow, yet to show she was a Virgin Widow, she was attired all in white, and had the hair of her head hanging-down behind at the full length: and then (having made in the Tower four and twenty Knights of the Bath ) two days after being Midsomer day, he was Crowned at Westminster, together with his Queen, by the hands of William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury ; with all Circumstances of State, in such cases usual; and then all the Nobility Spiritual and Temporal, did him Homage; and the people being asked whether they would receive him for their King, they all with one voice, cried, yea, yea.

This done, his next Act was another part of performing his fathers Will, which was to proclaim Pardons for all offenses, (Treason, Murder, and Felonie only excepted) and to have restitution made of all goods unjustly taken from any; and because the Instruments of such injustice, are always most odious, and nothing gives the people so much contentment, as to see their Persecutours punished; he therefore caused Empson and Dudley the two chief Actours of the late unjust proceedings, to be committed to the Tower, and divers of their inferior Agents, called Promoters, as Canby, Page, Smith, Derby, Wright, Simpson, and Stockton, to be set on the Pillory in Cornhill, with papers on their heads, and then to ride through the City, with their faces to the horse tails; with the shame whereof within seven days after, they all died in Newgate. Shortly after a Parliament was called; whereof Sir Thomas Ingleby was chosen Speaker; and therein Empson and Dudley were attainted of High Treason, and after arraigned; Edmund Dudley in the Guildhall, on the seventeenth of July, and Sir Richard Empson at Northampton in October following, and on the seventeenth of August the year following, they were both of them beheaded on the Tower Hill; and their Bodies and Heads buried, the one at the White Friars, the other at the Black.

On Midsomer Eave at night, King Henry came privily into Westchester, clothed in one of the Coats of his Guard, to behold the same: and this first year King Henry spent in Justs and Maskes, which were almost perpetual, performed with great Magnificence always; and sometimes with great Acts of Valour, on the Kings part specially.

In February the same year, Ambassadors came from the Kings Father in law, the King of Aragon ; requiring Ayde against the Moors ; in which service, the Lord Thomas Darcy, a Knight of the Garter, making suite to be imployd; he was sent thither, and with him the Lord Anthony Gray, brother to the Marquess Dorset, Henry Guilford, Wolstan Brown, and William Sidney Esquires of the Kings House, Sir Robert Constable • Sir Roger Hastings, Sir Ralph Elderton and others; who on the Mund • y in the Rogation Weeke, departed out of Plimot • Haven, with four ships Royal, and on the first of June, arrived at the Port of Cadis in south Spain ; of whose coming the King of Aragon hearing • sent to bid them welcome, but advertising them withal, that he had now by reason of new troubles with France, taken truce with the Moors ; and therefore they might return again into their own Country, to whom yet he allowed wages for all his soldiers. W • ereupon the Lord Darcy and all his men went aboord their ships, but Henry Guilford, Wol • tan Br • wne, and William Sidney, desirous to see the Court of Spain, went thither and were honourably entertained. Henry Guilford, and Wolstan Brown were made Knights by the King; who gave to Sir Henry Guil • ord a Canton of Granado ; and to Sir Wolstan Brown an Eagle of Sicily on a Chief, to the augmentation of their Arms: William Sidney so excused himself, that he was not made Knight. After this they returned to their ships, and their ships into England.

During the time that the Lord Darcy was in Spain, the Lady Margaret Duchess of Sa • oy, Daughter unto Maximilian the Emperor; and Governesse of Flande • s and other the Low-countries, pertaining to Charles the young Prince of Ca • tile, sent to King Henry for fifteen hundred Archers, to aid her against the Duke of Gelders, which the King granted; and thereupon Sir Edward Poynings Knight of the Garter, and Comptroller of the Kings House appointed to go, accompani • d with his son in law the Lord Clinton, Sir Matthew Brown, Sir John Dig • y, John Werton, Richard Wetherill, and others, to the number of fifteen hundred, took shipping at Sandwich, and passing over to the said Lady Regent, did her there great service; for which John Norton, John Fogge, John Scott, and Thomas Lynde were knighted; and then with many thanks and rewards, returned, not having lost in all the Journey, by war or sickness, above an hundred men.

In the third year of King Henryes Reign, one Andrew Barton a scottish Pirate, was grown so bold, that he robbed English -men no less then other Nations • till the King sent his Admiral, Sir Edward Howard to repress him, who in a fight, so wounded the said Barton, that he died; and then taking two of his ships, brought the men prisoners to London ; and though their offense deserved no less then death, yet the King was so mecifull as to pardon them all; provided, they departed the Realm within twenty days. The King of Scotts hearing the death of Barton, and taking of his ships; sent to King Henry, requiring restitution; but King Henry answered his Herald, that he rather looked for thanks for sparing their lives, who so justly had deserved death.

In the third year also of King Henryes Reign, the French King made sharp War against Pope Julius the second; whereupon King Henry wrote to the French King, requiring him to desist from his War against the Pope being his friend and confederate; but when the King of France little regarded his request, he then sent him word, to deliver him his Inheritance of the Duchy of Normandy and Guyen, and the Countries of Angiou and Mayne ; as also his Crown of France, or else he would recover it by the sword. But when the King of France was not moved with this threatening neither; King Henry then joining in league with the Emperor Maximilian, with Ferdinand King of Spain, and with divers other Princes; resolved by advise of his Council to make war on the King of France, and to that end made preparation both by Sea and Land.

This year the King kept his Christmas at Greenwich in a most Magnificent manner. On New-years day was presented one of his Joviall Devises, which only for a Pattern what his shows at other times were, I think fit to set down at large. In the Hall was made a Castle, garnished with Artillery and weapons in a most warlike fashion, and on the Front of the Castle was written, la Forteresse Dangerense: within the Castle were six Ladies, clothed in russet Satin, laid all over with leaves of gold: On their heads Coyfes and Caps of gold. After this Castle had been carried about the Hall, and the Queen had beheld it; in came the King with five other, appareled in Coates, one half of russet-Satten, with spangles of fi • e gold; the other half of rich clothe of gold: on their heads Caps of russet Satin, embrodered with works of fine gold. These six assaulted the Castle, whom the Ladies seeing so lusty and courageous, they were contented to solace with them; and upon further communication, to yield the Castle; and so they came down, and daunced a long space: after that the Ladies led the Knights into the Castle, and then the Castle suddenly vanished out of their sights. On Twelfth day at night, the King with eleven more were disguised, after the manner of Italy, called a Maske; a thing not seen before in England. They were appareled in garments long and broad, wrought all with gold, with Vysors and Caps of gold. And after the banket done, these Maskers came in, with six Gentlemen disguised in silk, bearing staff Torches; and desired the Ladies to dance, and after they had danced and communed together; took their leave and departed.

The five and twentieth of January began the Parliament, of which was speaker Sir Robert Sheffield knight, where the Archbishop of Canterbury shown the wrong which the King of France did to the King of England, in with-holding his Inheritance from him; and thereupon the Parliament concluded that War should be made on the French King and his Dominions.

At this time King Ferdinand of Spain, having War with the French King, wrote to his Son in law King Henry, that if he would send over an Army into Biskey, and invade France on that side; he would aid them with Ordnance, Horses, and all other things necessary; whereupon Thom • s Gray, Marquess Dorset was appointed to go, and with him the Lord Howard Son and hei • e to the Earl of S • rry, the Lord Brooke, the Lord Willoughby, the Lord Ferrers, the Lord's John, Anthony, and Leonard Grey, all brothers, to the Marquess; Sir Grisseth ap Ryce, Sir Maurice Barkeley, Sir William Sands, the Baron of B • r • ord, and Sir Richard Cornwall his brother, William Hussey, John Melton, William Kingst • n Esquires, and Sir Henry Willoughby, with divers others, to the number of ten thousand, who taking ship at Southampton, o • the sixteenth of Ma • • the third of June they landed on the coast of Biskey, whither within three days after their arrival, came from the King a Marquess and an Earl to welcome them; but of such necessaries as were promised, there came • one; so as the English being in some want of victuals, the King of Navarre offered to supply them, which they accepted; and promised thereupon not to molest his Territories. After the Army had lain thirty days, looking for aid and provision from the King of Spain, at last a Bishop came from the King, desiring the • to have patience a while, and very shortly he would give them full contentme • t. In the mean time, the Englishmen forced to feed much upon Garlic, and 〈◊〉 drink of ho • t Wines; fell into such sickness, that many of them died, at least eighteen hundred persons; which the Lord Marquess seeing, he sent to the King to know his pleasure, who sent him answer, that very shortly the Duke of Alv • should come with a great power, and join with him; and indeed the Duke of Alva came forward with a great Army, as if he meant to join with him as was promised; but being come within a days Journey, he suddenly turned towards the Realm of Navarre ; and entering the same, chased out the King, and Conquered the Kingdom to the King of Spain's use. This Spanish policy pleased not the English, who finding nothing but words from the King of Spain, and being weary of lying so long idle; they fell upon some small Towns in the border of Guyen, but for want of Horses as well for service as draught; were unable to perform any great matter; at which time, being now October, the Lord Marques fell sick, and the Lord Howard supplied his place of General, to whom the King of Spain once again sent, excusing his present coming, and requiring him, seeing the time of year was now past, that he would be pleased to break up his Army, and disperse his Companies into Towns thereabou • , till the nex • spring, when he would not fail to make good all his promises: Hereupon the Lord Howard and his Company went to Rendre, the Lord Willoughby to Gorscha • g, and Sir William Sands with many other Captains to Fontarely. King Henry in the mean time, hearing what the King of Spain's intention was; sen • his Herald Windsor with Letters to the Army, willing them to tarry there • for that very shortly he meant to send them a new supply of Forces, under the conduct of the Lord Herbert his Chamberlain; but this message so incense • the Soldiers, that in a great fury they had slain the Lord Howard if he had • o • yielded presently to return home; who thereupon was forced to hire ship •• and in the beginning of December they landed in England ; being taught •• y this experience what trust is to be given to Spanish promises.

About the same time that the Marquess went into Spain, Sir Edward H •• ard Lord Admiral of England, with twenty great ships made forth toward • Br • ttaine ; where setting his men on land, he burned and wasted divers Town • and Villages, and being threatened by the Lord's of Britain to be encountered, to encourage his Gentlemen, he made divers of them Knights; as Sir Edwa •• Brook brother to the L. Cobham, Sir Grif • eth Down, Sir Thomas Windham, Sir Thomas Lucy, Sir John Burdet, Sir William Pirton, Sir Henry Sherburne, and Sir Stephen Bull. The Britons were ten thousand, the English but five and twenty hundred; yet the Britain's not contented with this advantage of number, would ne • ds use policy besides, for by the advice of an old experienced Captain, their General commanded his men that a • soon as Battels were joined • they should retire a little, meaning thereby to draw the English into some disadvantage; but the common Soldiers not knowing their Generalls purpose, and supposing he had seen some present danger, instead of retiring took their heels and fled; so giving the English by their British policy, if not a Victory, at least a safety to return to their ships. After which the Britain's sued for truce, and could not obtain it; for the English Admiral pursued his forraging the Country, till fearing there were many French ships abroad at Sea, he came and lay before the Isle of Wight. King Henry in the mean time followed his pleasures; and in June kept a solemn Just at Greenwich, where he and Sir Charles Brandon took up all cummers; and the King shown himself no less a King at Arms, then in Estate.

After this, King Henry having prepared men and ships ready to go to Sea; under the Governance of Sir Anthony Out • read, Sir Edmund Ichingham, William Sidney and divers other Gentlemen; appointed them take the sea, and to come before the Isle of Wight, there to join with the Admiral; which altogether made a Fleet of five and twenty fair ships: and to Portesmouth he we • t himself to see them, where he appointed Captains; for one of his chiefest ships called the Regent, Sir Thomas Knevet master of his horse, and Sir John Carew of Devonshire, and to another principal ship called the Sovereign, he appointed for Captains Sir Charles Brandon, and Sir Henry Guildford ; and then making them a bank • , sent them going. The French King likewise had prepared a Navy of nine & thirty ships in the Haven of Brest, whereof the chief was a great Carrick, called the Cordelyer, pertaining to the Queen his wife. These two Fleets met at the Bay of Britain, and there entered a tirrible fight; The Lord Admiral made with the great ship of Deepe, and chased her; Sir Charles Brandon and Sir Henry Guildford being in the Sovereign, made with the great Carrick of Brest, and laid stem to stem to her but whether by negligence of the Master, or by reason of the smoke from the Ordnance, the Sovereign was cast at the ster • e of the Carrick ; whereat the Frenchmen shoured for joy; which Sir Thomas Knevet seeing, suddenly he caused the Regent in which he was, to make to the Carrick, and to grapple with her a long board; and when they of the Carrick perceived they could not get a sunder, they let slip an Anchor, and so with the stream the ships turned, and the Carrick was on the Weather side, and the Regent on the Lee side; at which time a cruel fight passed between these two ships: but in conclusion the Englishmen entered the Carrick, which when a Gunner saw, he desperately set fire on the Gunpowder (as some say) though others affirmed, that Sir Anthony Outhread following the Regent at the stern, bowged her in divers places, and set her powder on fire; but howsoever it chanced, the Carrick and the Regent both were consumed by fire. In the Carrick was Sir Piers Morgan, and with him nine hundred men: in the Regent were Sir Thomas Knevett, and Sir John Carew, and with them seven hundred men, all drowned and burnt. King Henry to repair the loss of the Regent, caused a great ship to be made, such a one as had never been seen in England ; and named it Henry Grace de Dieu.

Though King Henry had hitherto followed his pleasures, as well agreeing with his youth and constitution; yet he neglected not in the mean time severer studies; for he frequented daily his Council Table, and no matter of importance was resolved on, till he had heard it first maturely discussed: as was now a War wi • h France, which he would not enter into upon his own head, nor yet upon advise of his private Council, till he had it d • b • ted and concluded in Parliament; whereupon he called his High Court of Parliament, wherein it was resolved; that himself in person with a Royal Army, should invade France ; and towards the charges thereof, an extraordinary Subsidy was willingly granted.

On May even this year, Edmund de la Poole, Earl of Suffolk, was beheaded on the Tower Hill: This was that Earl of Suffolk whom King Phillip Duke of Austria, had delivered up into the hands of King Henry the seventh, upon his promise that he would not put him to death; which indeed he performed, but his son King Henry the eight was not bound by that promise, and by him he was; and shortly after, to bring another Lord in his place, Sir Charles Brandon was created Viscount Lisle.

For all the great preparation for France, King Henry forbore not his course of Revelling, but kept his Christmas at Greenwich, with divers cu • ious devises, in most magnificent manner. In March following, the Kings Navy Royal, to the number of two and forty ships was set forth, under the conduct of Sir Edward Howard Lord Admiral, accompanied with Sir Walter Deveraux Lord Ferrers, Sir Wolston Brown, Sir Edward Ichingham, Sir Anthony Poynings, Sir John Walloppe, Sir Thomas Windham, Sir Stephen Bull, William Fits Williams, Arthur Plantagenet, William Sidney esquires; and divers other Gentlemen, who sailing to Brittane, came into Bertram Bay, and there lay at Anchor in sight of the French Navy, whereof one Prior John was Admiral, who keeping himself close in the Haven of Brest ; the English Admiral intended to assail him in the Haven, but because his ships were to great to enter the Bay; he caused certain Boa • es to be manned forth, thinking thereby to toule out the French ; but when this neither would draw them to come abroad, he then called a Council, where it was determined, that first they should assayle Prior John and his Gallies, lying in Blankesable Bay, and after set upon the rest of the French Flee • e in the Haven of Brest ; and it was further appointed, that the Lord Ferrers, Sir Stephen Bull, and others should go on land, with a convenient number, to assault the Bulworkes, which the French had there made; while the Admi • all with Row B • rges and little Gallies entered into the Bay, that so the Frenchmen might at once be assailed both by sea and land. But though this were determined by the Council of War • et, the Lord Admiral had a trick by himself, for by the advise of a Spanish Knight called Sir Alphonso Charunt, affirming that he might enter the Bay with little danger; he called to him William Fi • s-Williams, William Cook, John Colley, and Sir Wolston Brown, as his most trusty friends, making them privy to his intent, which was to take on him the whole enterprize with their assistance only; and so confident he was of success, that he wrote to the King to come thither in person, to have the honor of the enterprize himself; but it seems the King had better Fates, at least went not; and thereupon, on Saint Marks day the Admiral put himself in a small row B • rge; and appointing three other small row Ships, and his own Shipboat to attend him: and therewith on a sudden rowed into the Ba • , where Pryor John had moored up his Gallies just to the ground; which Gallies with the Bulworks on the land shot most cruelly; yet the Admiral went on, and coming to the Gallies, drove out the French-men. The Bay was shallow, and the other ships by reason the Tide was spent, could not enter; which the French-men perceiving, they entered the Gallies again with Morris Pikes, and began a new fight; whereupon the Admiral attempting to return back into his row B • rge; which by violence of the Tide, was driven down the stream; with a Pike was thrown over board, and drowned; the just issue of his headstrong enterprize; the forenamed Alphonso was also there slain: upon which sorrowful accident, the Lord Ferrers with the rest, returned into England. After whose departure, Pryor John came forth with his Gallies; and coasting over the borders of Sussex, burnt certain poor Cottages • but the King made suddenly a new Admiral, the Lord Thomas Howard, eldest Brother to him that was drowned; son and heir of the Earl of Surrey : who so skowrd the seas, that the French were no more to be seen on any coast of England.

King Henry had hitherto performed Acts of Arms, though in Jest, yet with great magnificence; he will not perform them with less, being now in earnest and especially to deal with so potent aa adversary: and therefore when it was concluded by Parliament, that he should make a War in France himself in p • rson; he sent before to prepare the way for him, George Talbot, Earl of Sh • ewsbury, high Steward of his Household; accompanied with the Lord Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby, the Lord Dowckeroy Pryor of Saint John's, Sir Robert Ratcliffe, Lord Fitswater, the Lord Hastings, the Lord Cobham, Sir Riceap Thomas, Sir Thomas Blunt, Sir Richad Sacheverell, Sir John Digby, Sir John Askew, Sir Lewis Bagot, Sir Thomas Cornwall and others, to the number of eight thousand; who arrived at Calais about the middle of May ; after him in the end of May, followed Sir Charles Somerset, Lord Herbert, Lord Chamberline, accompanied with the Lord Percy Earl of Northumberland, the Lord Gray Earl of Kent, the Lord Stafford Earl of Wiltshire, the Lord Dudley, the Lord Delaware, Sir Edward Hussey, Sir Edward Dimmock, Sir David Owen, with others, to the number of six thousand: These Generalls joining together, issued out of Calais, and on the two and twentieth day of June, sat down before the strong Town of Terwin, which City was strongly fortified; and in it was Governor the Lord Poultreny, who had with him six hundred Horsemen, and five and twenty hundred Almans, besides the Inhabitants. Here at the very first happened two disasters to the English ; one, that the Baron Carew was slain with a shot from the Town; the other, that Sir Nicholas Va • x, and Sir Edward Belknappe coming from Guys • es with four and twenty Carts of Provision, were set upon by the Duke of Vendosme, Lieutenant of Picardie, and many of the English slain, and the Provision taken. In this state was the English Campe at Terwin ; when King Henry the last day of June came himself to Calais, and on the one and twentieth of July took the field, having in his Army of fighting men, not above nine thousand, but with Pyoners, and others that attended the Cariages, eleven thousand and three hundred men: His foreward was led by Charles Brandon Viscount Lisle, his main Battle by himself, and Sir Henry Guildford carried his Standard; and in this order he marched forward to the siege of Terwin, entering upon the French ground, the five and twentieth of July. On the morrow after, by negligence of the Carters, that mistook the way, a great Gunne called the John Evangelist, was overthrown in a deep Pond of water, and could not at that time be recovered; but a few days after, the Master Carpenter taking with him a hundred laborers, went and weighed it up; but having carted it ready to bring away, was set upon by eight hundred French ; and the most of his company slain: the Gunne was taken by the French, and carried to Bulloyne. In the French Army were to the number of eleaven thousand footmen, and four thousand Horse; whereof were Captains, the Lord De la Palyce, the Lord De Priennes, the Duke De Longuevyle, the Earl of Saint Paul, the Lord of Floringes, the Lord of Clermont, and Richard De la Poole an English man, son to John Duke of Suffolk. The Armies were come within two miles one of another, and some light skirmishes passed between them, specially one; on a day called the dry Wednesday, for the day was wonderful hot, and the King with his Army stood in order of battle, from six a clock in the morning, till three in the afternoon: after this, the King removed towards Terwyn ; and as the Army marched, another of the Kings Bombards of Iron, called the Redde Gunne, was overthrown in a lane, and there left; which the French understanding, went with a great power to fetch it away, as they had done the other; but the Lord Berners, Captain of the English Pyoners, prevented them; and though set upon by the French, to the number of nine or ten thousand, yet by the valor of the Earl of Essex, and Sir Riceap Thomas, with the bold adventures of Sir William Tyler, and Sir John Sharpe, they recovered it and brought it safe to the Campe. On the fourth of August K. Henry came before the city of Terwyn, where he strongly fortified his Tents with Ord • ance, and other Warlike defences. In which mean time, the Captain of Bulloigne, knowing that many of the Garison of Calais were gone with the King, thought to take advantage of • heir absence, and do some great exploit upon Calais ; and thereupon with a thousand men, came to New • ha • Bridge, and killing the watchmen, took it; but afterward some of his company going to fetch Booties, and coming so near the walls of Calais, that they were descried; about sixscore Coopers and other Artificers issued forth, and driving them back, recovered again Newnham Bridge, and took divers of them prisoners; especially when the gate of Calais, called Bulloign gate was opened, & that Colepepper the under Marshal, with two hundred Archers issued forth, and joined with them. The French prisoners were brought to Calais, and there sold in open Market; amongst others, a Cooper of the Town of Calais, bought a prisoner that dwelt in Bulloigne, and had of the prisoner for his ra • some, a hundred Crowns; when the money was paid, the French man prayed the Cooper to see him safe delivered, and to conduct him out of danger; the Cooper was content, and went himself alone with the French man, till he came beyond the Cawsey, and there would have departed; but the French man perceiving that the Cooper was aged, and that no rescue was nigh • by force took the Cooper prisoner, •• d carried him to Bulloigne ; making him pay two hundred Crowns, before h • was delivered.

Whilst King Henry lay thus at the siege of Terwyn, on the eleventh of Au •••• , the Emperor Maximilian was come to Air ; which King Henry understanding, went and met him between Air and the Campe; where with great complements they saluted each other; but their complements were broken off, by •• e extreme foul weather which happened that day: the morrow after, the Emperor Maximilian came from Air to the Kings Campe, wearing a Cross of Saint George, as the Kings Soldier, and receiving wages of him for service; an honor never done to any King of England before; and yet was no disparagement to the Emperor, for he was royally received, and lodged in a Tent of clothe of gold; that as no Emperor before, had ever been soldier to a King; so no soldier before was ever lodged in such a Tent. At this time the City of Terwyn, being in some distress for want of victuals; the French King appointed all his horsemen to the number of eight thousand, to see victuals by any means convoyed into it; the charge of which Convoy was committed to Monsieur De Priennes: but King Henry by advise of the Emperor Maximilian, had made Bridges to pass his men over the river, to the other side of the Town, where was easiest access; in such sort, that when the French Convoy came with their victuals, and thought to have entered the Town, they found the English Army there ready to resist them; whereupon a fierce battle was fought between them: but in conclusion the French were put to flight, and fled so fast, that from thence it was called the battle of Spurres, for that they used more their spurs in running away, then their Launces in fighting. In this battle, the Duke of Longuevyle, the Lord of Clermont, Captain Bayard, and others to the number of twelve score were taken prisoners, and all brought to the Kings presence; with six Standards that were likewise taken. After the battle, the King made Sir John Pechye Banneret, and John Carre Knight, who had both of them done great service in this encounter. King Henry having obtained this victory against the French horsemen, and hindered the Town of Terwyn from relief of victuals, and withal plying his battery more fiercely then before; made the Townsmen soon fall to desire composition, and upon condition that the soldiers might depart with Horse and Armor, they yielded up the Town into the Kings hands. This was done on the eighteenth of August, and the Earl of Shrewsbury entered the Town the same night; and set up the Banner of Saint George in the highest place of it, in sign of victory, and swore all the Townsmen to be true subjects to the King of England. The four and twen • eth of August, the King himself entered the Town, and dined in the Bishops Palace, where it was resolved, that the Walls and Fortifications of Terwyn should be raced, and the Town burnt all but the Cathedral Church and the Palace, all the Ordnance was sent to Air, to be kept there to the Kings use.

After this it was concluded, that the King should lay siege to the City of Tourney ; whereupon he set forward in three battles, the Eeale of Shrewsbury led the Vangard; the King and the Emperor, the Battle; and the Lord Chamberlain the Re • eward. In this order the Kings Army marched forwards towards Tourney ; by the way, he went and visited the young Prince of Castile, and the Lady Margaret, Governesse of the Prince, in the Town of Lisle, where with all Mag • ificence; or rather indeed Reverence, he was entertained; and after he had stayed there three days, he took his leave, and being gone a mile and somewhat more out of the town, he asked where his Campe lay, and no man there could tell the way, and guide they had none; the night was so dark and mystie, by chance at last they met with a victualler coming from the Camp, who was their guide and conducted them to it. By which we may see, to what distress a great Prince may be brought by a little over-sight.

On the one and twentieth day of September, the King removed his Campe towards Tourney ; and being come within three miles of the town, he sent Garter king of Arms to summon the town; but they, though they had but few men of war amongst them, yet stood upon their guard; whereupon the King begin it on all sides, and made such firce batteries upon it, that though it were written on the gates of the town, graven in stone, Iamais tu ne as perdu ton Pucellege ; thou hast never lost thy Maidenhead; yet now they were glad to loose it: and in conclusion, they sent a trumpet to require a Parley, and then sued for mercy, and yielded it up, and paid ten thousand pounds sterling besides, for redemption of their liberties: and then Master Thomas Woolsey the Kings Almoner, calling before him all the Citizens young and old, swore them to the King of England ; the number of whom was fourscore thousand. This done, the King entered into Tourney, and calling into his presence Edward Guildford, William Fitzwilliams, John Dansie, William Tyler, John Sharpe, William Hussey, John Savage, Christopher Garnysh, and some other valiant Gentlemen; he gave to them the order of knighthood; and then remembering the great entertainment the Prince of Castile and the Lady Margaret had given him at Lisle, he would not be behind them in such courtesy; and thereupon in • ited them solemnly to his city of Tourney, whom at their coming he brought into the town in great triumph: during their abode in Tourney, amongst other compliments of entertainment, there was had a Justs, where the King and the Lord Lisle answered all comers: after the Justs, was a sumptuous Banquet; after the Banquet, the Ladies danced, and then came in the King, and eleven other in a Maske, all richly appareled with Bonnets of gold: and when the • had passed the time at their pleasures, the garments of the Maskers were cast off; amongst the Ladies take them that could. This was King Henries disposition, that he could not forbear Revelling in the midst of his Arms; and Ladies must be entertained as well as soldiers. After this, finding the French not willing to come to a Battle, and the winter drawing on, he left Sir Edward Poynings Governor of Tourney, and then returned to Calais, and from thence passed into England, and rode in post to Richmond to the Queen.

Whilst King Herry was thus busied in his war with France, the King of Scots, though his Brother in law, yet instigated by the French King, and taking advantage of King Henries absence, assembled his people to Invade England ; but before his whole power could come together, the Lord Humes his Chamberlin, with seven or eight thousand men entered the borders; but as he was returning with a great booty of Cattle, in a field overgrown with Broome, called Milfield, he was encountered by Sir Edward Bulmer, having with him not above a thousand men; who lying in that field in ambush, broke out upon him, and put him to flight, with the slaughter of five or six hundred of his company, and four hundred taken prisoners, the Lord Humes himself escaped by • light, but his Banner was taken; and this, by the Scots was called, the ill Rode. In the mean time the whole power of Scotland was assembled, no fewer then one hundred thousand men; though Buchanan in favor of his Country, • aith, not the fifth part of that number; and with these, King James approaching the borders, and coming to Norham Castle, laid siege unto it, which for want of Powder, was soon delivered up unto him. But by this time the Earl of Surrey, Lieutenant of the North parts, had assembled an Army of six and twenty thousand men; to whom also soon after, his Son the Lord Admiral, with one thousand expert soldiers came and joined • and now having many great Lord's and Knights in his Army, he appointed to everyone their station; and then was informed, that King James being removed six miles from Norha • , lay embattelling upon a great Mountain called Floddon, where it was impossible to come near him, but with great disadvantage; for at the foot of the hill, o • the left hand, was a great ma • ish ground full of reeds and water, on the right hand was a river called Till, so swift any deep that it was not possible; on the back-side were such craggy rocks and thick woods, that there was no assailing him on that part; the forepart of his Campe he had fenced with his great Ordnance. Being in such a hold, the Earl of Surry found there was no possibility of a Battle, unless he could draw him from the hill; whereupon he called a coun • ell, by which it was determined to s • nd Roug-Cross • Pu • suivant at Arms with a trumpet, to the K. of Scots, to let him know, that he was ready on Friday following to give him Battle, if he would abide it; whereunto the King of Scots by his Pursuivant Ilay, made answer, that at the day prefixed he should find him ready for Battail as he desired, that he would willingly have come to such a ma • ch if he had been at Edinburgh ; but though he made this answer, yet he would not leave the strong Hold he was in, but kept himself still upon the Hill; at last, Thomas Lord Howard, son and hei • e to the Earl of Surrey, having viewed the Country round about, declared to his Father, that if he would but fetch a small compass, and come with his Army on the back of his Enemies, he should enforce the Scottish King to come down out of his strength, or else stop him from receiving of victuals o • any other thing out of Scotland. This council of the Lord Howard his Father followed, and King James perceiving what their meaning was, thought it stood not with his honor to be forestalled out of his own Realm, and thereupon immediately raised his Camp, and got to another Hill, but not so steep as the other; which the Earl of Surrey perceiving, he determined to mou • t it, and to fight with the Scots, before they should have leisure to fortify their Campe; and herewith making a short Speech, for encouragement of his Soldiers, he divided his Army into Battailes; the Van • guard was led by the Lord Howard, to whom was joined as a Wing, Sir Edward Howard ; the middle-ward was led by the Earl himself, and the Rear-ward by Sir Edward Stanley ; the Lord Dacres with a number of horsemen was set apart by himself, to succor where need should be; the Ordnance was placed in the Front, and in other places, as was thought most convenient: and in this order they March forward, towerds the Scots. On the other side, King James reckoning upon the benefit of the Hill, thought the English half mad, to venture a Battle upon such disadvantage; and thereupon making a Speech to encourage his Soldiers, who were of themselves so forward, that they needed no encouraging. He divided his Battailes in this manner; the main Battle he led himself, to which he appointed two Wings; the right led by the Earls of Huntley, Cr • wford and Mountrosse ; the left by the Earls of Lenox and Argyle, together with the Lord H • mes Lord Camberlain: and so confident they were of victory, that the King first, and after all the Lord's and mean • me • , put away their Horses, as thinking they should not need them; which confidence was afterward their undoing; for when the Battle being joined, Sir Edward Howard in getting up the Hill, was so assaulted by the Earls of Lenox and Argyle, that he was left almost alone, and in manifest peril to be slain; in comes the Lord Dacres with his Horsmen, and trode underfoot the Scottish Battle of speeres on foot, which he could not have done, if they had kept their Horses. And this part of the Scottish A • my being led by the Earls of Crawford and Mountrosse, they were both of them slain, and the whole Battle but to flight. In another part also Sir Edward Stanley did the like, upon the Battle led by the Earls of Lenox and Argyle, putting it to flight, with the slaughter also of these two Earls. King James notwithstanding, maintained the fight still, with great resolution, till Sir Adam Forman his Standard-bearer was beaten down; and then not fainting, though despairing of success, he rushed into the thickest of his Enemies, amongst whom he was beaten down and slain; and to make his death the more honorable, there died with him three Bishops (whereof one was Alexander, Archbishop of Saint Andrew's, the Kings base Son) two Abbots, twelve Earls, and seventeen Lord's, of Knights and Gentlemen very many, in all about eight thousand, and almost as many taken prisoners (as Paulu • Iovius saith) amongst whom was Sir William Scot, Chancellor to the said King, and Sir George Forman his Sergiant Porter; the Lord Hume and the Earl Huntley got horses and escaped. Neither was the Battle without blood to the English, for there was slain at lest a thousand, and (that which in a Defeat was strange) many also taken prisoners; for many in pursuing the Scots, went rashly so far • that they knew not which way • o return, and by Bands of Scots that had not fought that day, were set upon and • aken. When the field was done, the Lord General called to him certain Lord's and Gentlemen, and made them Knights, as Sir Edward Howard his Son, the Lord Scroope, Sir William Percy, Sir Edward Gorge, and others. This Battle was fought on Friday the ninth of September, in the year 1513. called by some Bramston, by some, • lodden Field. King James here slain was the same that had married the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter of King Henry the seventh; and sister to the present King Henry ; and might have enjoyed many happy days, if he had kept himself firm to his alliance, but being carried away with the inveterate spleen between the two Nations, and propension to France ; he ended his life, though honorably, yet miserably under many wounds. It is a very memorable, but s • arce credable thing; which, (from the mouth of a very credible person who saw it) George Buchanan relates concerning this King; that intending to make a war with England ; a certain old man of venerable aspect, and clad in a long blew garment, came unto him, and leaning familiarly upon the chair where the King sat, said, I am sent unto thee O King, to give thee warning, that thou proceed not in the war thou art about; for if thou do, it will be thy ruin: and having so said, he pressed thorough the company, and vanished out of sight; for by no inquiry it could be known what became of him. But the King was too resolute to be frighted with Phantosmes, and no warning could divert his Destinie, which had not been Destiny if it could have been diverted. The day after the Battle, his Body, though disfigured with wounds, was known by the Lord Dacres and others, to be his; and thereupon bowelled, embalmed and wrapped in lead, was brought to the Monastery of Sheene in Surrey, and there interred; but at the dissolution of that House, was taken up and thrown into a waste room amongst timber and stone; which John Stow saith, he so saw; and further relateth, that the servants of Launcelot Young, Glasier to Queen Elizabeth being at Sheene, in new Glazing the windows, either upon a foolish pleasure, or desire of the lead, cut the head from the rest; but smelling the sweet perfums of the Balms, gave it to their Master; who opening the lead, found therein the head of a man, retaining favor, though the moisture were clean dried up, whose hair both of head and beard was red: which afterward, he caused to be buried, at Saint Michaels Church in Woodstreet, where he dwelled. But notwithstanding this relation of Stow; John Lesly Bishop of Ross affirmeth, that it was held for certain, the Body thus found, was the Body of the Lord Bouchard slain in that B • ttaile. Buchanan saith, of Alexander Elfinston, who in countenance and statu • e was like the King; and that King James was seen alive the same night at Kelso, whence he passed to Jerusalem, and there spent the rest of his days in holy contemplation: but howsoever it was, he was never seen anymore in Scotland.

King Henry being now returned from Tourney into England, and finding the great services done in his absence against the Scots ; on the day of the Purification of our Lady, at Lambeth he created the Earl of Surrey Duke of Norfolk, with an augmentation of the Arms of Scotland ; Sir Charles Brandon Viscount Lisle, he created Duke of Suffolk, the Lord Howard high Admiral, he made Earl of Surry, Sir Charles Somerset Lord Herbert his chief Chamberlain Earl of Worcester, and shortly after Sir Edward Stanly he made Lord Monteagle ; and in March following, Master Thomas Woolsey his Almoner, was made Bishop of Lincoln. Here before we go further, it will be fit • o • ay something of this man, that he be not a rub afterward in the way of the Story: He was borne at Ipswich in Suffolk, the son of a Butcher, sent to Oxford by reason of his pregnancy of wit, so soon, that taking there the first degree of Art, he was called the Boy Bachelor; proceeding in learning, he was made Fellow of Magdalene College in Oxford, and afterward Schoolmaster of the School there, at which time the Marquess Dorset committed three of his Sons to be Instructed by him; and having a Benefice fallen in his gift, sent for him one Christmas, and bestowed it upon him; whereof Woolsey going to take possession, at his being there, for what misdemeanor is not delivered, he was by Sir Amyas Pawlet set by the heels, which afterward he remembered to Sir I am • s his no small trouble, for he made him attend his pleasure five or six years; all which time lying in the Middle-Temple, where he re-edified the Gate-house next the street very sumptuously, setting the Cardinals Arms upon it, to appease him. After this disgrace he went over-sea, where he fell in acquaintance with Sir John Naphant treasurer of Calais, and by him was preferred to be King Henry the sevenths Chaplain: and now being by this means in the Kings eye, he so diligently carried himself, that he soon got into the Kings heart. One time it happened, the King had occasion to send a Messenger to the Emperor Maximilian, about a business that required haste; for which employment no man was thought more fit then Woolsey ; whereupon, the King called him, gave him his Errand, and bad him make all the speed he could; Woolsey departed from the King at Richmond about noon, and by the next morning was got to Dover, and from thence by noon that day was come to Calais, and by night was with the Emperor; to whom declaring his Message • and having a present dispatch, he rode that night back to Calais, and the night following came to the Court at Richmond. The next morning he presented himself before the King, who blamed him for not being yet gone, the ma • ter requiring haste; to whom Woolsey answered, that he had been with the Emperor, and had dispatched the business, and for proof shown the Emperors lines; the King wondered much at his speed, but then asked him if he met not his Pursuivant, whom he sent after to advertise him of a special matter he had forgotten; whereto Woolsey answered, May it please your Grace I met him yester-day upon the way, but that business I had dispatched before, taking the boldness so to do without commission, as knowing it to be of special consequence; for which boldness I humbly entreat • our Graces pardon. The King not only pardoned him, but bestowed presently upon him the Deanery of Lincoln, and soon after made him his Almoner. In this state King Hen • y the eight found him, with whom also he grew into such favor, that he made him of his Council; and having won Tourney, made him Bishop of that City; and returning into England, (the Bishopric of Lincoln falling void by the death of Doctor Smith ) made him Bishop of that Diocese. And thus far the story hath now brought him, but soon after he was raised higher; for Doctor Bambridge Archbishop of York dying, he was translated from Lincoln to that See; and that he might not be inferior to the Archbishop of Canter • ury, he procured of the Pope to be made Cardinal, and Legat a Latere ; and after, by the King was made Lord Chancellor of England : and being come to this height of dignity, he so carried himself in Expences of Household, in number of Retinve, and in all circumstances of State, that no Subject before or since, hath in any degree come near him. And if we may say it, he was the first Debaucher of King Henry ; for to the end he might have the managing of all matters himself, he persuaded the King that he should not need trouble himself with frequenting the Council Table as he did, but take his pleasure, and leave those things to his Council, whereof himself would alwa • es give him • nigh Information. This was plausible Council, and no marvel if it were embraced of a young King, coming from the mouth of so great a Prelate.

In this fifth year of the King, the Citizens of London finding themselves grieved with the Inclosures of the common fields about Islington, Hogsdon and Sh • rdich, and other places adjoining; went one morning, and threw down all the Hedges, and filled up all the Ditches; whereat though the Kings Council were at first offended, yet the Major and City shown them such reaso • s, that they rested satisfied, and the fields were never since hedged.

On the nineteenth of May, this year Pope Julius the second sent to King Henry a Cap of Maintenance and a Sword; and being angry with the King of France, transferred by Authority of the Lateran Council, the title of Christianissimo from him, upon King Henry, which with great solemnity was published the sunday following, in the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul ; but this solemnity must not pass without Revelling, Maskes, and Justs; wherein the King and the Duke of Suffolk were defendants against all comers; who having the Duke of Longuevyle, and the Lord of Clermont to be spect • tours, spread the fame of their Chivalrie into foreign Nations.

And now the great love that had been long between King Henry and the Flemings, began to abate; upon this occasion, King Henry the seventh had concluded a match between his daughter Mary, and Charles Prince of Spain : but by reason of her young years, and for want of assurance of Jointure, the match was deferred during his time; but now King Henry the eight seeing his sister of convenient years, began to call upon it, and signified so much to the Council of Flanders ; but they, whether having other ends, or out of Spanish delays, put him off with excuses, and at last sent him word plainly, they could do nothing in it that year. The King of France had soon Intelligence how much King Henry distasted these Spanish dealings, and meant to make some good use of it, for the ends he began to propose to himself, which were, to get the Lady Mary for himself, and thereby procure peace with England, being now old, and weary of the War. And for this purpose he got the new Pope Leo the tenth to be his mediator, and both of them send Ambassadors to King Henry, the Pope to persuade him to have peace with France, the French King to treat about a Marriage with the Lady Mary: upon whose Embassages, King Henry partly to satisfy the Pope, and partly to advance his sister; did not unwillingly hearken to the motions: but whilst this was in working, Pryor John (who knew nothing of these intentions) began again to play his Pra • ks; and coming with his Gallyes on the coast of Sussex, burnt Bhighthem-steed, and took away the goods he found in the Village, whereupon the Lord Admiral sent Sir John Walloppe to sea, with divers ships and eight hundred men, who for one Village that Pryor John burnt in England, burnt one and twenty Villages and Towns in France, to the great honor of himself, and his country.

And now King Henry by advice of his Council, and specially of Woolsey Bishop of Lincoln, concluded both the peace with France, and the Marriage of his Sister the Lady Mary, with the French King; but yet it stuck a while upon some differences, King Henry demanding Bulloigne, and the King of France Tourney : in conclusion these demands were waved, and the principal conditions were • first concerning the Ladies Jointure, that she should have two and thirty thousand Crowns of yearly revenues if she survived the King; and then concerning ths peace, that the French King should pay yearly to King Henry for five years one hundred thousand Crowns, and the peace to continue between them during their lives, and a year after, and bound reciprocally to assist each other with ten thousand foot, if the war were by land, with six thousand if by sea. All things thus concluded, the Lady Mary was brought to Dover by King Henry and his Queen: and on the second of October taking shippi • g, was conducted by the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquess Dorset, the Bishop of Durham • the Earl of Surry, the Lord De la ware, the Lo • d Berners, the Lord Monteagle, Sir Maurice Berkely, Sir John Pechye, Sir William Sands, Sir Thomas Bulleyne • Sir John Carre, and many other Knights and Ladies; but being not past half way over the sea, their ships by tempest were dispersed, and the Lady with some jeoperdy landed at Boleyn, where Sir Christopher Garnish was fain to stand in the water and take her in his arms, and so set her on shore, and there the Duke of Vendosme with a Cardinal and many other great States received her. From Boleyn the eight of October, she came to Abbevyle where the Dolphyn received her: on the morrow being Saint Dennis day, she came to Saint Dennis, where the marriage between the King of France and her, was solemn • ized (though some write it had been solemnized before at Abbevyle. ) The fifth of November she was Crowned Queen of France, at which time the Dolphyn held the Crown over her head, as being too massy for her to wear; and the day following she was received into Paris in most magnificent manner. In honor of whose Marriage and Coronation, the Dolphyn had caused a solemn Justs to be proclaimed, which should be kept in Paris the seventh of November. Upon report of this Proclamation in England, the Duke of Suffolk, the Marquess Dorset and his four Brothers, the Lord Clinton, Sir Edward Ne •• ll, Sir Giles Capell, Thomas Cheiney and others, obtained leave of the King to be at the challenge, where they all behaved themselves with great valor, but specially the Duke of Suffolk ; whose glory the Dolphyn so much envied, that he got a Dutch-man the tallest and strongest man in all the Court of France, secretly as another person to encounter him, with a purp • e to have the Duke foiled; but indeed it turned to his greater honor, for he foiled the Dutch-man in such sort, that when they came to the Barriers, the Duke by main strength took him about the neck, and so prommeled him about the head, that he made the blood issue out at his nose: many other Princes and Lord's did bravely; and after three days the Justs ended.

King Henry was not long behind to solemnize it in England also; for at Greenwich the Christmas following, on Newyeers night, and Twelfth night; he presented such strange and magnificent devices, as had seldom been seen; and the third of February following he held a solemn Justs, where he and the Marquess Dorset answered all comers, at which time the King brake three and twenty spears, and threw to the ground one that encountered him both man and horse.

At this time preparation was making for King Henry in person to go to Calais, there to meet with the French King and Queen, but death hindered the design; for before the next spring, the first of January the French King died at the City of Paris, fourscore and two days after his marriage; teaching others by his example, what it is for an old man to marry a young Lady. King Henry hearing of the French Kings death, sent the Duke of Suffolk, Sir Richard Winkefield, and Doctor West, to bring over the Queen Dowager, according to the Covenants of the marriage. Whereupon the Queen was delivered to the Duke by Indenture, who obtaining her good will to be her husband, (which was no hard matter, that had been her first love:) wrote to the King her brother for his consent; whereat the King seemed to stick a while, but at last consented; so as he brought her into England unmarried, and then marry at his return; but the Duke for more surety married her secretly in Paris, and after having received her Dower, Apparrell and Jewels; came with her to Calais, and there openly married her with great solemnity. At their coming into England, King Henry to show his conten • meant with the marriage, in the company of the Duke of Suffolk, the Marquess Dorset, and the Earl of Essex, all richly appareled; held a new kind of Justs, running courses on horseback in manner Volant, as fast as one could follow another, to the great delight of the beholders.

This year the King at his Manor of Oking; Woolsey Archbishop of York came and shown him letters, that he was elected Cardinal; for which dignity he disabled himself, till the King willed him to take it upon him, and from thenceforth called him Lord Cardinal, but his Hat and Bull were not yet come: after which Doctor Warham Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor of England ; finding Woolsey being now Cardinal, to meddle more in his office of Chancelourship, then he could well suffer • resigned up the Seal, which the King presently gave to Woolsey. About this time, Cardinal Campejus was sent by Pope Leo to King Henry, to solicit him to a War against the Turk, with whom Cardinal Woolsey was joined in Commission, who hearing of the ragged retinue of his fellow Cardinell; sent store of red clothe to Calais to make them fit followers of so great a Lord: and when Campejus was landed at Dover, Cardinal Woolsey caused the gentry of Kent to wait upon to Black-heath, where he was met and received by the Duke of Norfolk and many Prelates, & there in a Tent of clothe of gold shifted himself into his Cardinals robes. Eight Mules he had laden with necessaries; but Woolsey not thinking them enough for his honor, sent him twelve more. But now see the shame of pride, for in Cheap-side his Mules by some mischance overthrew their Carriages and Coffers on the ground, whose lyds flying open, shown the world what treasure it was they carried, old Breeches, Boots, and broken Shoos, broken Meat, Marybones and crusts of Bread; exposing him to the laughter of all the people: yet the Cardinal went joging on afore with his Crosses, guilt Axe and Mace, unto Paul's Church; and by the way had an Oration made him by Sir Thomas Moore, in name of the City, and then waited on with many Bishops, was conducted to Bath Place, where he was lodged for his own particular: he got well by the Journey, for the King gave him the Bishopric of Salisbury ; but the errand he came about, which was to have Ayde by money, for a War against the Turk, he could not obtain, for it was well known to be but a devise to get money, without any intention of what was pretended.

In his seventh year, King Henry kept his Christmas at his Manor of Eltham ; where on Twelfth night according to his custom, was a stately Maske of Knights and Ladies, with solemn Daunsing and a most Magnificent Banquet.

It was now the eight year of King Henryes Reign, when the new league between him and the French King was Proclaimed in the City of London : and this year Mageret Queen of Scots eldest Sister to King Henry, having before married Archibald Dowglasse Earl of Angus ; by reason of dissention amongst the Lord's of Scotland, was glad with her husband to fly into England, and to seek succor at her brothers hands; who assigned to her the Castle of Harbottell in Northumberland to reside in; where she was delivered of a daughter named Margaret. From thence the King sent for her and her husband to come to his Court; and thereupon the third of May, Queen Margaret riding on a white Palfrye (which the Queen of England had sent her) behind Sir Thomas Parr • , came through London to Baynards Castle, and from thence went to Greenwich : but her husband the Earl of Angus, was secretly before departed into Scotland ; which when King Henry heard, he only • aid it was done like a Scot. And now in honor of his sisters coming, King Henry the nine and twentieth of May, appointed two solemn days of Justs; where the King, the Duke of S • ffolke, the Earl of Essex, and Nicholas Carew Esquire: took upon them to answer all comers, amongst others, the King and Sir William Kinston ran together, which Sir William though a strong and valorous Knight, yet the King overthrew him to the ground: all the rest was performed with no less valor then magnificence. This year died the King of Aragon, Father to the Queen of England, for whom was kept a solemn Obsequie in the Cathedral Church of Paul's ; and Queen Margaret after she had been a year in England, returned into Scotland.

In this year were sent twelve hundred Carpenters and Masons, with three hundred Laborers, to the City of Tourney in France, to build a Castle there, to keep the City in Awe. And now the Cardinal being weary of hearing so many Causes himself, as were daily brought before him; ordained by the Kings Commission (aftet the pattern of Mases, divers under Courts to hear co • mplaints of Suitours: whereof one was kept in the Whitehall, another before the Kings Almoner Doctor Stokesley, a third in the Lord Treasurers lodging near the Star-chamber, and the fourth at the Roles in the afternoon: these Courts for a time were much frequneted; but at last, the people perceiving that much delay was used in them, and that sentence given by them bound no man by Law: they thereupon grew weary of them, and resorted to the common Law. By occasion of this Government of the Cardinal, who under color of Justice, did what he pleased: many great men withdrew themselves from the Court; as first the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of Winchester, who went and lived in their Dioceses; then the Duke of Norfolk, and at length the Duke of Suffolk, who being run deep into the Kings debt, by reason of his many Employments into France, and his great House-keeping since his marriage with the Kings Sister, hoped the King would have forgiven it, and would no doubt have done it, but that the Cardinal opposed it, to the end the Duke should be the more at his command.

In October this year, Matthew Bishop of Zion commonly called the Cardinal of the Swizzers came into England from the Emperor Maximilian ; by whose soliciting, and Cardinal Woolseys persuasion, the King lent the Emperor a great some of money, for Woolsey being angry with the King of France, for detaining the revenues of his Bishopric of Tourney, persuaded King Henry that the best way to abate the French Kings power, was to furnish the Emperor money, the better to maintain war against him: and what Woolsey said, was in those days to King Henry an Oracle.

This year the King kept his Christmas at his manner of Greenwich ; where on Twelfth night according to his custom, rare devices with great magnificence were presented; after which time the King exercised himself much in Hawking, which was like to have proved no good sport to him; for one time following his Hawk, and leaping over a Ditch with a Pole, the Pole brake, so that if one Edmund Mody a foot-man had not leapt into the water and lift up his head which was fast in the clay, he had been drowned.

In this year also there happened in the City of London, an Insurrection against strangers, specially of Artificers, complaing that strangers were permitted to resort hither with their Wares, and to exercise Handy-crafts, to the great hindrance and impoverishing the Kings own Subjects; and not only so, but that they were borne out in many great Insolencies, and wrongs they offered to the English, as one time it happened, a Carpenter in London called Williamson, had bought two Pigeons in Cheap-side and was about to pay for them, when a French-man took them out of his hand, saying, they were no meat for a Carpenter: well (said Williamson ) I have bought them, and I will have them; nay (said the French-man ) I will have them for my Lord Ambassador; hereupon they grew to words, and complaint was made to the French Ambassador, who so aggravated the matter to the Major, that the Carpenter was sent to prison, and when Sir John Baker sued to the Ambassador for him, he answered, by the body of God, the English knave was worthy to loose his life for denying anything to a French-man, and other answer he could have none. Matry like and worse Insolencies were offered by changes; which one John Lincoln a Broker drew into a Bill, and prevailed with Doctor Beale, Preacher on Easter Tuesday at the spittle to read it openly in the pulpit, which so stirred up many, that strangers could hardly pass the streets, but were stricken, and sometimes beaten down. At last, one evening, many Prentises and others assembling, rifled some strangers houses, and much mischief was like to be done: but by the tare of the Major and Aldermen and by the ind • stry of Robert Brook Recorder, and Sir Thomas Moore, • hat had been under shriefe of London ; they were gotten to be quiet and many of the disturbers were sent to prison, whereof Lincoln and twelve other were hanged, four hundred more in their shirts, bound in ropes and halters about their necks (and thereupon called the black wagon) were brought to Westminster, where the King himself sat that day; and when the Cardinal had charged them with the greatness of their offense; they all cried, mercy, mercy: and then the King by the mouth of the Cardinal, pardoned them all which clemency purchased the Ki • g no small love amongst the people.

In this ninth year, in June King Henry had divers Ambassadors at his Court; for whose entertainment he prepared a costly Justs; himself and twelve more against the Duke of Suffolk and other twelve. The King had on his Head a Ladies sleeve full of Diamonds, and perhaps something else of the Ladies in hes heart, which made him perform his courses with the applause of all behold • s. This year by reason of a sweating sickness, Michaelm • s Tearme was adjourned; and the year following, Trinity Tearme was held one day at Oxford, and then adjourned again to Westminster.

About this time Cardinal Woolsey obtained of Pope Leo, authority to dispence with all Offences against the spiritual Laws; by virtue whereof he set up a Court, and called it, The Court of the Legat ; in the which he proved Testaments, and heard Causes, to the great hindrance of all the Bishops of the Realm; and to the debauching of Priests and Religious persons, who relying upon his greatness, took • uch a liberty of licentiousness, to themselves, that none was more disorderly, then those that were in orders: and supposii • g perhaps, they might lawfully comit such sins themselves, as they forgave to others. And indeed the Cardinals carriage exceeded all bounds of moderation; for when he said mass, he made Dukes and Earls to serve him of wine, with a say taken, and to hold the bason at the Lauatory: and when the Archbishop of Canterbury, writing a letter to him, subscribed, your brother William of Canterbury, he took it in great dudgion, to be termed his brother.

It was now the tenth year of King Henries Reign, when the Kin • of France, longing much, to have Turney restored to him: by great gifts and greater promises • won • he Cardinal Woolsey, to move the King in it; who upon his persuasions, was contented to be treated withal about it: to which the King of France sent the Lord Bonquet high Admiral of France : and the Bishop of Paris, who in there attendance, having above fourscore Gentlemen, and with their servants and all above twelve hundred, arrived in England ; and on Monday the seven and twentieth of September, were met at Black-heath by the Ea • le of Surrey high Admiral of England, attended likewise with above five hundred Gentlemen and others, who conducted them to London, where they were lodged at Marchantailors Hall: The last of September, the Ambassadors went to the King at Greenwich, where after long communication, an Agreement was at last concluded under pretence of a marriage to be had, between the Dolphin of France, and the Lady Mary Daughter to the King of England, that in name of her marriage money, Tourney should be deliveted to the French King: he paying to the King of England, for the Castle he had made in that Citty, six hundred Thousand C • owns in twelve years, by fifty Thousand Crowns yearly: and if the marriage should chance not to take effect, then that Tourney should be again restored to the King of England ; for performance of which article, Hrstages shotld be delivered: namely, Monsi • ur de Memorancye, Monsieur de Monpesac, Monsieur de Moy, and Monsieur Morett, and moreover the French King should pay to the Cardinal of England a thousand marks yearly, in recompense of his Revenewes, received before of his Bishopric of Tourney: All things thus concluded, the Cardinal made to the Ambassadors a solemn Banquet, and after presented them with a stately Mummery. The eighth of October, the King feasted them at Greenwich, and at night presented a stately Maske of Knights and Ladies, with rear devises and great magnificence: The next day, Sir Thomas Exmew Major of London, feasted them at Goldsmiths-Hall, and then delivering their four Hostages, they took their leave. At whose departure, the King gave to the Admiral of France, a Garnish of guilt vessel, a pair of covered Basons, gilt, twelve great guilt Bowles, four pair of great guilt Pots, a standing Cup of Gold, garnished with great Pearls, and to some other he gave Plate, to some other cheins of Gold, to some rich Apparel: to the great comendation of his liberality. Shortly after their departure, the Earl of Worcester Lord Chamberlain, the Bishop of Eli, the Lord of Saint John's, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir John Pechy, and Sir Thomas Boleyn, as Ambassadors from the King of England, accompanied with Knights, Gentlemen, and others, to the number of above four hundred, passed over to Calais, and from thence went to Paris ; where after Royal Entertainment by the King, with di • erse Maskes and stately shows, they took their leaves and rode to Tourney to see the Citty delivered to the French men, on the eighth of February to the great grief of the English Garrison. After the English Ambassadors were returned, King Henry to cheer up the four French Hostages, left here for performance of covenants, on the seventh of May, presented a solemn and stately Maske, wherein himself, the Duke of Suffolk and the French Queen were Actors, and on the eight of March following was a solemn Just holden, and with great magnificence performed.

In the eleventh year of King Henries Rain died the Emperor Maximilian, for whom, the King caused a solemn obsequie to be kept in Paul's Church. After whose death the French King and the King of Spain, endeavored by sundry plots, each of them to get the Empire, but in conclusion, Charles King of Castile, (afterwards called Charles the fifth) was elected Emperor; for joy whereof, a solemn Mass was sung at Paul's, the seventh of July, at which were present the Cardinal Campeius, the Cardinal of York, the Duke of Buckingham, Norfolk and Suffolk, with the Ambassadors of Spain, France, Venice, and Scotland ; and this year the King kept Saint Georges feast at Winsor, with great solemnity.

At this time, diverse young Gentlemen that had been in France, after the manner of that Country, carried themselves so familiarly with the King; that the Lord's of his counsel thought it a disparagement to him: and thereupon, with his leave first obtained, they banished them the Court: and in their places, brought in more stayed and graver men: namely, Sir Richard Winkefield, Sir Richard Ierningham, Sir Richard Weston and Sir William Kingston.

In the summer of this year, the Queen lying at her Manor of Havering in Essex, desired the King to bring thither the four Hostages of France to whom she made a Royal Banpuet and in September following the King lying at his Manor of Newhall in Essex, otherwise called Beaulieu ; where he had newly built a stately Mansion, invited the Queen and the French Hostages thither, where after a sumptuous Banquet, he presented them with an extraordinary Mask, for the Maskers were the Duke of Suffolk, the Earl of Essex, the Marquess Dorset, the Lord Aburgaveny, Sir Richard Winkfield, Sir Richard Weston and Sir William Kingston, the youngest of whom was fifty years old at least, that the Ladies might see, what force they had to make age young again.

At this time, the French King was very desirous to see the King of England with whom he had entered into such a league of alliance, and to that end made means to the Cardinal, that there might be an Enterview between them at some convenient place: to which the Cardinal, no • so much to satisfy the French King as to show his own greatness in France ; e • sily condescended, and thereupon persuaded King Henry, how necessary it was, that such an Enterview should be: and then were sent unto Guysnes, under the rule of Sir Edward Belknap three thousand artificers, who built on the plain before the Castle of Guysnes, a most stately Palace of timber, curiously Garnished without and within: whither both the Kings in June next following, agreed • o come and to answer all comers at the Tilt, Tournies and Barriers, whereof proclamation was made in the Court of England, by Orleans King of Arms of France and in the Court of France by Clarentius, King of Arms of England: whilst these things were preparing on Candlemas Even, as the King and Queen were come from Even-song at their Manor of Greenwich ; suddenly there blew a Trumpet, and then entered into the Queens Chamber, four Gentlemen, who brought with them a waggon, in which sat a Lady richly appareled; which Lady, acquainted the King, that the four Gentlemen there present, were come for the love of their Ladies, to answer all comers at the Tilts on a day by the King to be appointed; which day was thereupon appointed on Shrovetuesday next • nsuing, where they all behaved themselves with great valor, to the great delight of the King and Queen.

By this time King Henry was ready for his journey into France, and so removing from his Manor of Greenwich, on Friday the five and twentieth of May he with his Queen arrived at Canterbury, where he meant to keep his Whitsuntide. At which time, the Emperor Charles returning ou • of Spain arrived on the coast of Kent, where by the vice Admiral of England, Sir William Fitz-Williams, he was conducted to land, and there met and received by the Lord Cardinal in great state. After which the King himself rode to Dover, to welcome him: and on Whitsunday early in the morning conducted him to Canterbury, where they spent all the Whitsuntide in great joy and solace. The chief cause that moved the Emperor at this time, to come on land, was to have dissuaded the King from any Enterview with the French King: but when he saw him • o forward in that jour • ey, he then only endeavored to persuade • him, that he should put no trust in the French Kings words, and with great gui • ts and promises, prevailed with the Cardinal to join with him in this persuasion. The last of May, the Emperor took his leave, and the same day, the King made sails from Dover and landed at Calais, together with the Queen and many Lord's and Ladies. The fourth of June the King and Queen removed from Calais to his Princely lodging beside the Town of Guysnes, the most Royal Building that was e • er seen; likewise Francis the French King had his lodging prepared close to the Town of Ard, in a strange but most magnificent fashion. Both Kings had given authority and power to the Cardinal to affirm and confirm, • o bind or unbind, whatsoever should be in difference between them; no less an honor to the Cardinal then a confidence in the Kings. On Thursday the seven • h of June, the Kings met in the vale of Andren so magnificently attired, both themselves, and all their followers, that from thence it was called • he campe of clothe of Gold. Here they spent that day in loving complements; and at night departed, the one to Guysnes, the other to Ard. On Satureday the ninth of June were set up in a place, within the English pale two Trees of honor, with stately rooms and stages for the Queens, and thither the two Kings came, most Royally accompan • ed; wherein most magnificent manner, they performed Acts of valor, both on foo • e and horseback; and after them all the great Lord's both of France and England did the like: this solemnity of Justs and Maskes was continued to the four and twentieth day of June ; at which time, the Kings and Queens took leave of each other, the French King and Q • eene removed to Ard ; the King and Queen of England to Calais, where he remained till the tenth of July, and then ridings • oward