Chapter IV: Part 4

... Right worshipful cousin, if it please you for to hear of such tidings as we have here, the embassy of Burgundy shall come to Calais the Saturday after Corpus Christi day, as men say five hundred horse of them. Moreover, on Trinity Sunday in the morning, came tidings unto my Lord of Warwick that there were twenty-eight sails of Spaniards on the sea, and whereof there was sixteen great ships of forecastle; and then my Lord went and manned five ships of forecastle, and three carvels, and four pinnaces, and on the Monday, on the morning after Trinity Sunday, we met together afore Calais at four at the clock in the morning, and fought that gathering till ten at the clock; and there we took six of their ships, and they slew of our men about four score, and hurt two hundred of us right sore; and there were slain on their part about twelve score; and hurt five hundred of them.

And it happed me, at the first aboarding of us, we took a ship of 300 ton, and I was left therein and twenty-three men with me; and they fought so sore that our men were fain to leave them, and then come they and boarded the ship that I was in, and there I was taken, and was prisoner with them six hours, and was delivered again for their men that were taken before. And as men say, there was not so great a battle upon the sea this forty winter. And forsooth, we were well and truly beat; and my Lord hath sent for more ships, and like to fight together again in haste.

THE EVILS IN THE CHURCH (+Written before+ 1458).

=Source.=--Gascoigne's _Loci e Libro Veritatum_, edited by Rogers. (Oxford: 1881.)

_Unworthy promotions_ [pp. 13, 14].

It is notorious now in the realm of England that boys, youths and men dwelling in the courts of the worldly are placed in churches, in high offices and in prelacies, others being set aside who have long been occupied in study and preaching and in the guiding of the people without thought of worldly lucre.... Among others unworthily promoted, one foolish youth, eighteen years of age, was promoted to twelve prebends and a great archdeaconry of the value of a hundred pounds, and to one great rectory, and a certain layman received the rents of all the said benefices, and spent upon the youth just as much as he, the layman, pleased, and never rendered an account, and that youth was the son of a simple knight, and, like an idiot, was drunk almost every day.

_Non-residence_ [pp. 3, 149].

Some never or seldom reside in their cures, and he to whom a church is appropriated and who is non-resident, comes once a year to his cure, or sends to the church at the end of the autumn, and having filled his purse with money and sold his tithes, departs again far away from his cure to the court where he occupies himself in money-making and pleasures.... O Lord God! incline the heart of the Pope, Thy vicar, to remedy the evils which arise through the appropriation of churches, and by the non-residence of good curates in the same. For now in England a time draweth nigh when men will say, "Formerly there were rectors in England, and now there are ruined churches in which cultured men cannot decently live...."

_Church dues oppressive_ [p. 13].

For Rome, like a singular and principal wild beast, hath laid waste the vineyards of the church, reserving to herself the elections of bishops, that none may confer an episcopal church on anyone unless they first pay the annates or first-fruits and rent of the vacant church. Also she hath destroyed the vineyard of God's church in many places, by annulling the elections of all the bishops in England. Also she destroys the church by promoting wicked men according as the King and the Pope agree.

_The abuse of the Sacraments_ [pp. 197].

It is now known that many infants die without baptism because the parish churches have no fonts, and divers abbeys have licence and custom that everyone of certain parishes should baptise in their monasteries, and yet they cannot come conveniently by night, or at other times to the font there.

_Proud Prelates_ [pp. 22, 23].

Bishops were wont, as is manifest in the Life of St. Cuthbert, to talk humbly and familiarly with their inferiors and every day to give everyone of their flock an audience if he sought to speak with his bishop. Recently a poor man came to the servant of a certain archbishop, the son of a lord, and said "I marvel that the archbishop does not give audience in his own person to his flock as his predecessor was wont to do." The servant replied "My lord the present archbishop was not bred in the same way as his predecessor" (meaning by this that his lord the archbishop, who was so strange and distant to his flock, was the son of a lord, and his predecessor was the son of a poor man); the poor man answered the said servant, "Truly the present archbishop and his predecessor were bred in different fashions, but it is manifest that the predecessor was the better man and more useful to his flock and to their souls and to the whole diocese."

THE EVILS OF MISGOVERNMENT (1459).

=Source.=--_An English Chronicle_, edited by Davies, pp. 79, 80. (Camden Society, 1846.)

In this same time the realm of England was out of all good governance, as it had been many days before, for the King was simple and led by covetous counsel, and owed more than he was worth. His debts increased daily, but payment there was none; all the possessions and lordships that pertained to the Crown the King had given away, some to lords and some to other simple persons, so that he had almost nought to live on. And such impositions as were put to the people, as taxes, tallages and quinzimes (fifteenths), all that came from them were spent in vain, for he held no household nor maintained no wars. For these misgovernances, and for many other, the hearts of the people were turned away from them that had the land in governance, and their blessing was turned into cursing. The queen with such as were of her affinity ruled the realm as they liked, gathering riches innumerable. The officers of the realm, and especially the earl of Wiltshire, treasurer of England, for to enrich himself, peeled the poor people and disinherited rightful heirs and did many wrongs. The queen was defamed and slandered, that he that was called Prince was not her son.... Wherefore she, dreading that he should not succeed his father in the crown of England, allied unto her all the knights and squires of Cheshire, for to have their benevolence, and held open household among them ... trusting through them to make her son King.

YORK'S POPULARITY (1460).

=Source.=--_An English Chronicle_, edited by Davies, p. 93. (Camden Society, 1846.)

+Ballad set upon the Gates of Canterbury.+

Send home most gracious Lord Jesu most benign,
Send home thy true blood unto his proper vein,
Richard duke of York, Job thy servant insign,
Whom Satan not ceaseth to set at care and disdain,
But by Thee preserved he may not be slain;
Set him _ut sedeat in principibus_, as he did before,
And so to our new song, Lord, thine ears incline,
_Gloria, laus et honor Tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor_!

Edward Earl of March, whose fame the earth shall spread,
Richard Earl of Salisbury named prudence,
With that noble knight and flower of manhood,
Richard Earl of Warwick, shield of our defence,
Also little Falconberg, a knight of great reverence;
Jesu them restore to their honour as they had before,
And ever shall we sing to thine High Excellence,
_Gloria, laus et honor Tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor_!

The dead man greeteth you well,
That is just true as steel,
With very good intent.
Also the Realm of England,
Soon to loose from Sorrow's bond
By right indifferent judgement.

THE BATTLE OF NORTHAMPTON (+July 10, 1460+).

=Source.=--_An English Chronicle_, edited by Davies, pp. 96-98. (Camden Society, 1846.)

The King at Northampton lay at Friars, and had ordained there a strong and mighty field in the meadows, armed and arrayed with guns, having the river at his back. The earls [March and Warwick] with the number of sixty thousand, as it was said, came to Northampton and sent certain bishops to the King beseeching him that, in eschewing of effusion of Christian blood, he would admit and suffer the earls for to come into his presence to declare themselves as they were. The duke of Buckingham that stood beside the King, said unto them, "Ye come not as bishops for to treat for peace, but as men of arms;" because they brought with them a notable company of men of arms. They answered and said, "We come thus for surety of our persons, for they that be about the King be not our friends."

"Forsooth!" said the duke, "the Earl of Warwick shall not come to the King's presence, and if he come he shall die." The messengers returned again and told this to the earls....

Then on the Thursday the x^{th} day of July, the year of our Lord 1460, at two hours after noon, the said earls of March and Warwick let cry through the field, that no man should lay hands upon the King nor on the common people, but only on the lords, knights, and squires: then the trumpets blew up, and both hosts encountered and fought together half an hour,... The duke of Buckingham, the earl of Shrewsbury, the lord Beaumont, the lord Egremont were slain by the Kentishmen besides the King's tent, and many other knights and squires. The ordinance of the King's guns availed not, for that day was so great rain that the guns lay deep in water, and so were quenched and might not be shot. When the field was done, and the earls through mercy and help had the victory, they came to the King in his tent, and said in this wise: "Most noble Prince, displease you not, though it hath pleased God of his Grace to grant us the victory of our mortal enemies, the which by their venomous malice have untruly steered and moved your highness to exile us out of your land. We come not to that intent for to inquiet nor grieve your said highness, but for to please your most noble person, desiring most tenderly the high welfare and prosperity thereof, and of all your realm, and for to be your true liegemen while our lives shall endure." The King of their words was greatly recomforted, and anon was led into Northampton with procession, where he rested him three days, and then came to London, the xvj day of the month abovesaid, and lodged in the bishop's palace. For the which victory London gave to Almighty God great laud and thanking.

THE WANDERINGS OF QUEEN MARGARET (1460).

=Source.=--Gregory's "Chronicle" in the _Collections of a London Citizen_, pp. 208, 209. (Camden Society.)

And that same night the King [Henry VI.] removed unto London, against his will, to the bishop's palace of London, and the Duke of York come unto him that same night by torch-light and took upon him as King and said in many places that "this is ours by very right." And then the Queen, hearing this, voided unto Wales, but she was met beside the Castle of Malpas, and a servant of her own that she had made both yoeman and gentleman and after appointed for to be in office with her son the prince, spoiled her and robbed her and put her so in doubt of her life and son's life also. And then she come to the castle of Hardelowe [Harlech] in Wales, and she had many great gifts and [was] greatly comforted, for she had need thereof. And most commonly she rode behind a young poor gentleman of fourteen year age, his name was John Combe, born at Amysbery in Wiltshire. And there hence she removed full privily unto the Lord Jasper, Lord and Earl of Pembroke, for she durst not abide in no place that was open, but in private. The cause was that counterfeit tokens were sent unto her as though they had come from her most dread lord the King Harry the VI.; but it was not of his sending, neither of his doing, but forged thing;... for at the King's departing from Coventry toward the field of Northampton, he kissed her and blessed the prince, and commanded her that she should not come unto him till that he send a special token unto her that no man knew but the King and she. For the lords would fain had her unto London, for they knew well that all the workings that were done grew by her, for she was more wittier than the King, and that appeareth by his deeds.

THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD (1460).

=Source.=--Hall's _Chronicle_, pp. 250, 251. (London: 1809.)

[+Note.+--Hall's _Chronicle_ was first published in 1542, and therefore the following extract is by no means contemporary with the events it describes. But it is the only account of the battle of Wakefield, and it derives some authority from the fact that Hall had an ancestor who was slain in the fight.]

The duke of York with his people descended down the hill in good order and array and was suffered to pass forward, toward the main battle: but when he was in the plain ground between his castle and the town of Wakefield, he was environed on every side, like a fish in a net or a deer in a buckstall: so that he, manfully fighting, was within half an hour slain and dead, and his whole army discomfited.... While this battle was in fighting a priest called Sir Robert Aspall, chaplain and schoolmaster to the young earl of Rutland, second son to the abovenamed duke of York, of the age of twelve years, a fair gentleman and a maidenlike person, perceiving that flight was more safeguard than tarrying, both for him and his master, secretly conveyed the earl out of the field ... but or he could enter into a house the lord Clifford espied, followed and taken, and by reason of his apparell demanded what he was. The young gentleman, dismayed, had not a word to speak, but kneeled on his knees imploring mercy and desiring grace both with holding up his hands and making dolorous countenance, for his speech was gone for fear. "Save him," said the Chaplain, "for he is a prince's son, and peradventure may do you good hereafter." With that word the Lord Clifford marked him and said, "By God's blood, thy father slew mine, and so will I do thee and all thy kin," and with that word stuck the earl to the heart with his dagger, and bade the chaplain bear the earl's mother and brother word what he had done.... This cruel Clifford and deadly blood-supper, not content with this homicide or child-killing, came to the place where the dead corpse of the duke of York lay, and caused his head to be stricken off, and set on it a crown of paper and so fixed it on a pole and presented it to the Queen, not lying far from the field, in great despite and much derision, saying, "Madame, your war is done; here is your King's ransom."

THE RAVAGES OF THE LANCASTRIANS AFTER THE VICTORY OF WAKEFIELD (1460).

=Source.=--Ingulph's _Chronicles_, pp. 421, 422. (Bohn Edition.)

The duke being thus removed from this world, the north-men, being sensible that the only impediment was now withdrawn, and that there was no one now who could care to resist their inroads, again swept onwards like a whirlwind from the north, and in the impulse of their fury attempted to overrun the whole of England. At this period too, fancying that everything tended to insure them freedom from molestation, paupers and beggars flocked forth from those quarters in infinite numbers, just like so many mice rushing forth from their holes, and universally devoted themselves to spoil and rapine, without regard of place or person. For, besides the vast quantities of property which they collected outside, they also irreverently rushed, in their unbridled and frantic rage, into churches and the other sanctuaries of God, and most nefariously plundered them of their chalices, books, and vestments, and, unutterable crime! broke open the pixes in which were kept the body of Christ, and shook out the sacred elements therefrom. When the priests and the other faithful of Christ in any way offered to make resistance, like so many abandoned wretches as they were, they cruelly slaughtered them in the very churches or church yards. Thus did they proceed with impunity, spreading in vast multitudes over a space of thirty miles in breadth, and, covering the whole surface of the earth just like so many locusts, made their way almost to the very walls of London; all the moveables which they could possibly collect in every quarter being placed on beasts of burden and carried off. With such avidity for spoil did they press on, that they dug up the precious vessels, which, through fear of them, had been concealed in the earth, and with threats of death compelled the people to produce the treasures which they had hidden in remote and obscure spots.

THE BATTLE OF MORTIMER'S CROSS (1461).

=Source.=--Gregory's "Chronicle," in the _Collections of a London Citizen_, p. 211. (Camden Society.)

Also Edward Earl of March, the Duke of York's son and heir, had a great journey at Mortimer's Cross in Wales the second day of February next so following, and there he put to flight the Earl of Pembroke,[18] (and) the Earl of Wiltshire. And there he took and slew of knights and squires to the number of 3,000.

[18] Jasper Tudor.

And in that journey was Owen Tudor taken and brought unto Hereford, and he was beheaded at the market place, and his head set upon the highest grice[19] of the market cross, and a mad woman combed his hair and washed away the blood of his face, and she got candles and set them about him, burning more than a hundred. This Owen Tudor was father unto the Earl of Pembroke, and had wedded Queen Catherine, King Harry the VI.'s mother, thinking and trusting all the way that he should not be beheaded until he saw the axe and the block, and when that he was in his doublet he trusted on pardon and grace till the collar of his red velvet doublet was ripped off. Then he said: "That head shall lie on the stock that was wont to lie on Queen Catherine's lap," and put his heart and mind wholly unto God, and full meekly to his death.

[19] Grices = steps upon which crosses are placed.

BATTLE OF TOWTON (1461).

=Source.=--Ingulph's _Chronicles_, pp. 425, 426. (Bohn Edition.)

Edward pursued them as far as a level spot of ground, situate near the castle of Pomfret and the bridge at Ferrybridge, and washed by a stream of considerable size; where he found an army drawn up in order of battle, composed of the remnants of the northern troops of King Henry. They, accordingly, engaged in a most severe conflict, and fighting hand to hand with sword and spear, there was no small slaughter on either side. However, by the mercy of the Divine clemency, King Edward soon experienced the favour of heaven, and, gaining the wished-for victory over his enemies, compelled them either to submit to be slain or to take to flight. For, their ranks being now broken and scattered in flight, the King's army eagerly pursued them, and cutting down the fugitives with their swords, just like so many sheep for the slaughter, made immense havoc among them for a distance of ten miles, as far as the city of York. Prince Edward, however, with a part of his men, as conqueror, remained upon the field of battle, and awaited the rest of his army, which had gone in various directions in pursuit of the enemy.

When the solemnities of the Lord's day, which is known as Palm Sunday, were now close at hand, after distributing rewards among such as brought the bodies of the slain, and gave them burial, the King hastened to enter the before-named city. Those who helped to inter the bodies, piled up in pits and in trenches prepared for the purpose, bear witness that eight-and-thirty thousand warriors fell on that day, besides those who were drowned in the river before alluded to, whose numbers we have no means of ascertaining. The blood, too, of the slain, mingling with the snow, which at this time covered the whole surface of the earth, afterwards ran down in the furrows and ditches along with the melted snow, in a most shocking manner, for a distance of two or three miles.

POPULAR BALLAD ON THE ACCESSION OF EDWARD IV. (1461).

=Source.=--_Archæologia_, vol. xxix., p. 130.

"_On Thursday the first week in Lent came Edward to London with thirty thousand men, and so in field and town everyone called Edward King of England and France._"

Since God hath chosen thee to be his Knight,
And possessed thee in this right,
Then him honour with all thy might,
_Edwardus Dei gratia!_

Out of the stock that long lay dead,
God hath caused thee to spring and spread,
And of all England to be the head,
_Edwardus Dei gratia!_

Since God hath given thee through his might,
Out of that stock bred in sight,
The flower to spring and rose so white,
_Edwardus Dei gratia!_

Then give him laud and praising,
Thou virgin Knight of whom we sing,
Undefiled since thy beginning,
_Edwardus Dei gratia!_

God save thy countenance,
And so prosper to his pleasance,
That ever thine estate thou mayst enhance,
_Edwardus Dei gratia!_

THE MAYOR OF LONDON'S DIGNITY (1463).

=Source.=--Gregory's "Chronicle" in the _Collections of a London Citizen_, pp. 222, 223. (Camden Society.)

This year, about Midsummer, at the royal feast of the Sergeants of the Coif, the Mayor of London was desired to be at that feast. And at dinner time he came to the feast with his officers, agreeing and according unto his degree. For within London he is next unto the King in all manner [of] thing. And in time of washing the Earl of Worcester was taken before the mayor and set down in the midst of the high table. And the mayor seeing that his place was occupied held him content, and went home again without meat or drink or anything, but reward him he did as his dignity required of the city. And took with him the substance of his brethren the aldermen to his place, and were set and served as soon as any man could devise, both of cygnet and of other delicacies enough, that all the house marvelled how well everything was done in so short a time....

Then the officers of the feast, full evil ashamed, informed the masters of the feast of this mishap that is befallen. And they, considering the great dignity and costs and charge that belonged to the city, anon sent unto the mayor a present of meat, bread and wine and many divers subtleties. But when they that come with the presents saw all the gifts and the service that was at the board, he was full sore ashamed that should do the message, for the present was not better than the service of meat was before the mayor and throughout the high table. But his demeaning was so that he had love and thanks for his message and a great reward withal. And thus the worship of the city was kept and not lost for him. And I trust that never it shall, by the grace of God.

THE MARRIAGE OF EDWARD IV. (1464).

=Source.=--Gregory's "Chronicle" in the _Collections of a London Citizen_, pp. 226, 227. (Camden Society.)

Now take heed what love may do, for love will not nor may not cast no fault nor peril in nothing.

That same year, the first day of May, our sovereign lord the King Edward IV. was wedded to the Lord Rivers' daughter; her name is Dame Elizabeth that was wife unto Sir John Grey.... And this marriage was kept full secretly long and many a day, that no man knew it; but men marvelled that our sovereign lord was so long without any wife, and were ever feared that he had been not chaste of his living. But on All Hallows' day at Reading there it was known, for there the King kept his common council, and the lords moved him and exhorted him in God's name to be wedded and to live under the law of God and Church, and (that) they would send into some strong land to inquire a queen of good birth according to his dignity. And then our sovereign might no longer hide his marriage, and told them how he had done, and made that the marriage should be opened unto his lords.

A DINNER OF FLESH (_circa_ 1465).

=Source.=--_The Boke of Nurture_, by John Russell (1460-1470). (Roxburghe Club, 1867.)

+The furst Course.+

Furst set for the mustard and brawne of boore, the wild swyne,
Such potage as the cooke hathe made of yerbis spice and wyne,
Beeff, moton, stewed feysaund, Swan with the Chawdyn,[20]
Capoun, pigge, vensoun bake, lech lombard,[21] frutur veaunt[22] fyne.
And then a Sotelte: }
Maiden mary that holy virgyne, } A Sotelte.[23]
And Gabrielle gretynge hur with an Ave }

[20] A sauce for swans.

[21] A dish of pork, eggs, cloves, currants, dates, and sugar powdered
together.

[22] Meat fritter.

[23] Made of sugar and wax.

+The Second Course.+

Two potages, blanger mangere and also Jely
For a standard vensoun rost kyd, faun or cony,
bustard, stork, crane pecock in hakille ryally,[24]
Partriche, wodcock plovere, egret, Rabettes sowkere,[25]
Great birds, larks gentille, Creme de mere,
dowcettes,[26] payne puff with lech Jely ambere.

[24] Sewn in the skin.

[25] Sucking rabbits.

[26] Sweet cakes.

... A sotelte followynge in fere,
the course for to fullfylle,
An angelle goodly can appere,
And syngynge with a mery chere
Unto iij shepperds upon an hille.

+The iij Course.+

Creme of almondes and mameny the iij course in coost,
Curlew brew, snipes, quayles, sparows, martenettes rost,
Perche in gely, Crevise[27] dewe dough, pety perveis[28] with the
moost,
Quinces bake, leche dugard, Fritter sage, I speke of cost,
And soteltees fulle solemn:
that lady that conceived by the holygost,
him that distroyed the fiends boost,
presented plesauntly by the Kynges of Coleyn.
After this, delicates mo.
Blaunderelle, or pepyns with carawey in confite,
Wafers to eat, ypocras[29] to drink with delite.
Now this fest is fynysched voyd the table quyte.

[27] Cray-fish.

[28] Pies.

[29] Spiced wine.

PRIVATE WARS (+September, 1469+).

=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. ii., No. 620.

_Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston._

I greet you well, letting you wit that your brother and his fellowship stand in great jeopardy at Caister, and lack victuals; and Dawbeney and Berney be dead, and divers others greatly hurt; and they fail gunpowder and arrows, and the place sore broken with guns of the other party, so that, but they have hasty help, they be like to lose both their lives and the place, to the greatest rebuke to you that ever came to any gentleman, for every man in this country marvelleth greatly that ye suffer them to be so long in so great jeopardy without help or other remedy.

The Duke hath been more fervently set there upon, and more cruel, since that Wretyll, my Lord of Clarence's man, was there, than he was before, and he hath sent for all his tenants from every place, and others, to be there at Caister at Thursday next coming, that there is then like to be the greatest multitude of people that came there yet. And they purpose them to make a great assault--for they have sent for guns to Lynn and other place by the seaside--that, with their great multitude of guns, with other shoot and ordnance, there shall no man dare appear in the place. They shall hold them so busy with their great people, that it shall not lie in their power within to hold it against them, without God help them, or have hasty succour from you.

Therefore, as ye will have my blessing, I charge you and require you that ye see your brother be helped in haste. And if he can have no means, rather desire writing from my Lord of Clarence, if he be at London, or else of my Lord Archbishop of York, to the Duke of Norfolk, that he will grant them that be in the place their lives and their goods; and in eschewing of insurrections with other inconveniences that be like to grow within the shire of Norfolk, this troublous world, because of such conventicles and gatherings within the said shire for cause of the said place, they shall suffer him to enter upon such appointment, or other like taking by the advise of your council there at London, if ye think this be not good, till the law hath determined otherwise; and let him write another letter to your brother to deliver the place upon the same appointment....

Do your devoir now, and let me send you no more messengers for this matter; but send me by the bearer here of more certain comfort than ye have done by all other that I have sent before. In any wise, let the letters that shall come to the Earl of Oxenford come with the letters that shall come to the Duke of Norfolk, that if he will not agree to the tone, that ye may have ready your rescue that it need no more to send therefore. God keep you.

Written the Tuesday next before Holy Rood Day.

In haste by your mother.

THE RESTORATION OF HENRY VI. (1470).

=Source.=--_Chronicles of the White Rose_ (Warkworth's Chronicle), pp. 117-118. (Bohn, London: 1845.)

Here is to know, that in the beginning of the month of October in the year of our Lord 1470, the bishop of Winchester, by the assent of the Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, went to the Tower of London, where King Harry was in prison, (by King Edward's commandment,) which was not worshipfully arrayed as a prince, and not so cleanly kept as should beseem such a prince. They had him out and new arrayed him, and did to him great reverence, and brought him to the palace of Westminster, and so he was restored again to the Crown.... Whereof all his good lovers were full glad, and the more part of people also.... [For] when King Edward the Fourth reigned the people looked after ... prosperities and peace, but it came not; but one battle after another, and much trouble and great loss of goods among the common people; as first the fifteenth of all their goods, and then a whole fifteenth, and yet at every battle [they had] to come far out of their countries at their own cost; and these and such other causes brought England right low, and many men said King Edward had much blame for hurting merchandize, for in his days they were not in other lands, nor within England, taken in such reputation and credence as they were before.

THE ARRIVAL OF EDWARD IV. (1471).

=Source.=--_Chronicles of the White Rose_, pp. 37, 38, 50, 51. (Bohn, London: 1845.)

The same night following upon the morn, Wednesday and Thursday, the 14th day of March fell great storms, winds and tempests upon the sea, so that the said 14th day, in great torment, he came to Humber Head, where the other ships were dissevered from him, and every from other, so that of necessity they were driven to land, every one far from the other. The King, with his ship alone, wherein was the Lord Hastings, his Chamberlain, and others to the number of five hundred well chosen men, landed within Humber on Holderness side at a place called Ravenspurne. The King's brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, and in his company three hundred men landed at another place, four miles from thence. The Earl Rivers, and the fellowship being in his company, to the number of two hundred, landed at a place called Powle, fourteen miles from whence the King landed, and the remainder of the fellowship where they might best get land. That night the King was lodged at a poor village two miles from his landing, with a few with him; but that night, and in the morning, the residue that were coming in his ship, the rage of the tempest somewhat appeased, landed, and alway drew towards the King.

... The King at that time being at Warwick, and understanding his near approaching, upon an afternoon issued out of Warwick, with all his fellowship, by the space of three miles, into a fair field towards Banbury, where he saw the Duke [of Clarence], his brother, in fair array come towards him, with a great fellowship. And when they were together within less than half a mile, the King set his people in array, the banners displayed, and left them standing still, taking with him his brother of Gloucester, the Lord Rivers, Lord Hastings, and a few others, and went towards his brother of Clarence. And in like wise the Duke for his part, taking with him a few noblemen, and leaving his host in good order, departed from them towards the King. And so they met betwixt both hosts, where there was right kind and loving language betwixt them two, with perfect accord knit together for ever hereafter, with as heartily loving cheer and countenance as might be betwixt two brethren of so great nobility and estate.

THE BATTLE OF BARNET AND THE DEATH OF WARWICK (1471).

=Source.=--_Chronicles of the White Rose_, pp. 63-68. (Bohn, London: 1845).

On the morrow, betimes, the King, understanding that the day approached near, betwixt four and five of the clock, notwithstanding there was a great mist, and hindered the sight of each other, yet he committed his cause and quarrel to Almighty God, advanced his banners, did blow on trumpets, and set upon them, first with shot, and then, and soon, they joined and came to hand-strokes, wherein his enemies manly and courageously received them, as well in shot as in hand-strokes, when they joined; which joining of their both battles (armies) was not directly front to front, as they so should have joined, had it not been for the mist, which suffered neither party to see the other, but for a little space; and that of likelihood caused the battle to be the more cruel and mortal; for so it was that the one end of their battle overreached the end of the King's battle, and so at that end they were much mightier than was the King's battle at the same end, that joined with them, which was the west end, and therefore, upon that part of the King's battle they had a greater distress upon the King's party; wherefore many fled towards Barnet, and so forth to London, ere ever they left off; and they (the Earl's party) fell into the chase of them and did much harm. But the other parties, and the residue of neither battle, might see that distress, neither the fleeing, nor the chase, because of the great mist that was, which would not suffer any man to see but a little from him; and so the King's battle, which saw none of all that, was thereby in nothing discouraged, for, save only a few that were near unto them, no man wist thereof; also the other party by the same distress, flight, or chase, were therefore the greater encouraged. And in likewise at the east end, the King's battle, when they came to joining, overreached their battle, and so distressed them there greatly, and so drew near towards the King, who was about the midst of the battle, and sustained all the might and weight thereof. Nevertheless upon the same little distress at the west end, anon ran the news to Westminster, and to London, and so further to other countries, that the King was distressed, and his field lost; but the laud be to Almighty God! it was otherwise; for the King, trusting verily in God's help, our blessed Lady's and Saint George, took to him great hardiness and courage, for to suppress the falsehood of all them that so falsely and so traitorously had conspired against him, wherethrough, with the faithful, well-beloved, and mighty assistance of his fellowship, that in great number dissevered not from his person, and were as well assured unto him as to them was possible, he manly, vigorously, and valiantly, assailed them in the midst and strongest of their battle, where he, with great violence, beat and bare down before him all that stood in his way, and then turned to the range, first on that hand, and then on that other hand, in length, and so beat and bare them down, so that nothing might stand in the sight of him, and the well assured fellowship that attended truly upon him; so that, blessed be God! he won the field there, and the perfect victory remained unto him, and to his rebels the discomfiture of thirty thousand men, as they numbered themselves. In this battle was slain the Earl of Warwick....

On the morrow after, the King commanded that the bodies of the dead lords, the Earl of Warwick, and his brother, the Marquis, should be brought to St. Paul's in London, and, in the church there, openly shewed to all the people; to the intent that after that the people should not be abused by feigned seditious tales, which many of them, that were wont to be towards the Earl of Warwick, had been accustomed to make; and, peradventure, so would have made after that, had not the dead bodies there been shewed, open and naked and well known; for, doubtless, else the rumour should have been sown about in all countries that they both, or else at the least, the Earl of Warwick was yet alive, upon the cursed intent thereby to have caused new murmurs, insurrections and rebellions amongst indisposed people.

THE PLAGUE (1471).

=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. iii., Nos. 675, 681.

_Sir John Paston to John Paston._

... I pray you send me word if any of our friends or well-doers be dead, for I fear that there is great death in Norwich, and in other borough towns in Norfolk, for I assure you it is the most universal death that ever I wist in England; for, by my troth, I cannot hear by pilgrims that pass the country nor none other man that rideth or goeth [through] any country, that any borough town in England is free from that sickness; God cease it when it please Him. Wherefore, for God's sake, let my mother take heed to my young brethren that they be not in any place where that sickness is reigning, nor that they disport not with any young people which resort where any sickness is, and if there be any of that sickness dead or infect in Norwich, for God's sake, let her send them to some friend of hers in the country....

_Margaret Paston to her son John._

... As for tidings here, your cousin Barney of Wichingham is passed to God, him God assoil. Veyly's wife and London's wife, and Pycard the baker of Twmlond be gone also; all this household and this parish is as ye left it, blessed be God; we live in fear, but we know not whether to flee, for to be better than we be here.

THE DEATH OF HENRY VI. (+May 21, 1471+).

A. =Source.=--_Chronicles of the White Rose_ (Warkworth's "Chronicle"), p. 131. (Bohn, London: 1845).

And the same night that King Edward came to London, King Harry, being in ward, in prison in the Tower of London, was put to death, the twenty-first day of May, on a Tuesday night, betwixt eleven and twelve of the clock; being then at the Tower the Duke of Gloucester, brother to King Edward, and many others; and on the morrow he was coffined and brought to St. Paul's, and his face was open that every man might see him. And in his lying, he bled on the pavement there; and afterward at the Black Friars was brought, and there he bled anew and afresh; and from thence he was carried to Chertsey Abbey in a boat, and buried there in our Lady Chapel.

B. =Source.=--_Chronicles of the White Rose_ (Fleetwood's "Arrival of King Edward IV."), p. 93. (Bohn, London: 1845.)

Here it is to be remembered, that from the time of Tewkesbury-field, where Edward, called Prince, was slain, then, and soon after, were taken and slain at the King's will, all the noblemen that came from beyond the sea with the said Edward, called Prince, and others also their partakers as many as were of any might or puissance. Queen Margaret herself was taken and brought to the King, and in every part of England, where any commotion was begun for King Henry's party, anon they were rebuked, so that it appeared to every man at once, the said party was extinct and repressed for ever, without any manner of hope of again quickening; utterly deprived of any manner of hope or relief. The certainty of all which came to the knowledge of the said Henry, late called King, being in the Tower of London. Not having before that knowledge of the said matters, he took it to so great despite, ire, and indignation, that of pure displeasure and melancholy, he died the twenty-third day of the month of May. Whom the King did order to be brought to the friars preachers at London, and there his funeral service done, to be carried by water to an Abbey upon Thames' Side, sixteen miles from London, called Chertsey, and there honourably interred.

KING EDWARD'S COURT (1472).

=Source.=--_Archæologia_, vol. xxvi., pp. 276 _et seq._ (London: 1836).

_The coming into England of the Lord Gruthuyse from the right high and mighty Prince Charles duke of Burgundy._

When he [Gruthuyse] came to the castle of Windsor, into the quadrant, my lord Hastings, chamberlain to the King, Sir John Parr, Sir John Don with divers other lords and nobles received him to the King. The King had caused to be imparrailled on the far side of the quadrant three chambers richly hanged with cloths of Arras and with beds of state, and when he had spoken with the King's grace and the queen, he was accompanied to his chamber by the lord chamberlain and Sir John Parr with divers more, which supped with him in his chamber; also there supped with him his servants. When they had supped, my lord chamberlain had him again to the King's chamber. There incontinent the King had him to the queen's chamber where she had there her ladies playing at morteaulx,[30] and some of her ladies and gentlemen at the closheys[31] of ivory, and dancing. And some at divers other games accordingly. The which sight was full pleasant to them. Also the King danced with my lady Elizabeth, his eldest daughter. That done, the night passed over, they went to his chamber. The lord Gruthuyse took leave, and my lord chamberlain with divers nobles accompanied him to his chamber, where they departed for that night. And in the morning when Matins was done, the King heard in his own chapel our Lady's mass, which was melodiously sung, the lord Gruthuyse being there present. When the mass was done, the King gave the said lord Gruthuyse a cup of gold garnished with pearl. In the midst of the cup is a great piece of unicorn's horn,[32] to my estimation, seven inches compass. And in the cover was a great sapphire. Then went he to his chamber where he had his breakfast. And when he had broken his fast, the King came to the quadrant. My lord prince also, borne by his chamberlain called Master Vaughan, which bade the aforesaid lord Gruthuyse welcome. Then the King had him and all his company into the little Park, where he made him to have great sport. And there the King made him ride on his own horse, a right fair hobby, the which the King gave him.... The King's dinner was ordained in the lodge, and before dinner they killed no game save a doe; the which the King gave to the servants of the lord Gruthuyse. And when the King had dined, they went a-hunting again. And by the castle were found certain deer lying; some with greyhounds and some run to death with buck-hounds.... By that time it was near night, yet the King shewed him his garden and Vineyard of Pleasure, and so turned into the castle again where they heard evensong in their chambers.

[30] A game resembling bowls.

[31] Nine-pins.

[32] A charm against poison in the cup.

The queen ordained a great banquet in her own chamber. At which banquet were the King, the queen, my lady Elizabeth the King's eldest daughter, the lord Gruthuyse (etc).... There was a side table at which sat a great view of ladies, all on the one side. Also in the outer chamber sat the queen's gentlewomen, all on one side. And on the other side of the table over against them, as many of the lord Gruthuyse's servants, as touching to the abundant welfare like as it is according to such a banquet. And when they had supped, my lady Elizabeth danced with the Duke of Buckingham and divers other ladies also. Then about nine of the clock the King and the queen, with all her ladies, brought the said lord Gruthuyse to three chambers of Pleasance, all hanged with white silk and linen cloth, and all the floors covered with carpets. There was ordained a bed for himself, of as good down as could be gotten, the sheets of Rennes, also fine fustians; the counterpoint cloth of gold, furred with ermine, the tester and celer also shining cloth of gold, the curtains of white sarcent; as for his head suit and pillows, they were of the queen's own ordering. The second chamber was another of state, the which was all white. Also in the same chamber was made a couch with feather beds, hanged with a tent knit like a net, and there was a cupboard. In the third chamber was a bath or two, which were covered with tents of white cloth. And when the King and the queen, with all her ladies, had showed him these chambers, they turned again to their own chambers, and left the said lord Gruthuyse there, accompanied with my lord chamberlain, which disrobed him, and went both to the bath.... And when they had been in their baths as long as was their pleasure they had green ginger, confits and ypocras, and then they went to bed.

AN ENGLISHMAN'S LIBRARY (_circa_ 1475).

=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. iii., No. 869.

[+Note.+--The original manuscript is much decayed, and the portions between brackets represent attempted reconstructions of the text.]

_The inventory of the English books of John [Paston] made the fifth day of November, anno regni regis E. iiij...._

1. A book had of mine hostess at the George ... of _The Death of Arthur beginning at Cassab[elaun_, _Guy Earl of] Warwick_; _King Richard Cœur de Lion_;[33] A chronicle ... to Edward III.

2. Item, a book of Troilus[34] which William Bra ... hath had near ten years, and lent it to Dame ... Wyngfeld, and _ibi ego vidi_.

3. Item, a black book with _the legend of Lad[ies,[35] la Belle Dame] saunce Mercye_; _the Parliament of Bird[s_;[36] _the Temple of] Glass_;[37] _Palatyse and Scitacus_; _the Me[ditations]_; _the Green Knight_.[38]

4. Item, a Book in print of the Play of the [Chess].

5. Item, a book lent Midelton, and therein is _Belle Da[me sans] Mercy_; _the Parliament of Birds_; _Ballad ... of Guy and Colbronde_; _of the Goose_ ... _the Disputation between Hope and Despair_; _... Mare haunts_; _the Life of Saint Cry[stofer]_.

6. A red book that Percival Robsart gave me _... of the Meeds of the Mass_; _the Lamentation of Childe Ypotis_;[39] _a prayer to the Vernicle_;[40] [a book] called _the Abbey of the Holy Ghost_.

[33] A romance of the fourteenth century, first printed by Wynkyn de
Worde (1509-1528).

[34] Chaucer's _Troilus and Cressida_.

[35] Possibly Chaucer's _Legend of Good Ladies_.

[36] Possibly Chaucer's _Parliament of Fowls_.

[37] A poem by Lydgate (_circa_ 1370-1451). For a text of this poem see
Early English Text Society, Extra Series, lx. (1891).

[38] An anonymous ballad of the fourteenth century.

[39] In this ballad Ypotis = Epictetus (see Horstmann's _Altenglische
Legenden_ (1881)).

[40] The "Vernicle," or "Veronica Kerchief" was one of the most popular
legends of the Middle Ages. Veronica, a lady of Jerusalem (afterwards
identified with the woman that had an issue of blood), seeing Christ
sinking beneath the burden of the Cross, wiped His face with a veil.
After this work of mercy the face of Christ was found imprinted on the
veil.

7. Item, in quires:--Tully _de Senectute_[41] in divers [places] whereof there is no more clear written.

[41] Cicero's _De Senectute_.

8. Item, in quires:--Tully or Cypio[42] _de Ami[citia]_ left with William Worcester.

[42] Scipio. In Cicero's dialogue, _De Amicitia_, the friendship of the
chief speaker, Gaius Lælius, with the younger Scipio, is taken as the
model of the theme. "Equidem ex omnibus rebus, quas mihi aut fortuna
aut natura tribuit, nihil habeo quod cum amicitia Scipionis possim
compare."

9. Item, in quires, a book of _the Policy of In[gelond]_.

10. Item, in quires, a book _de Sapientia_[43] ... wherein the second person is likened to Sapi[ence].

[43] Lydgate's _Werke of Sapience_.

11. Item, a Book _de Othea_,[44] text and gloss ... in quires. Memorandum, mine old Book of Blazonings of Arms.

Item, the new Book portrayed and blazoned.

Item, a copy of Blazonings of Arms and the names to
be found by letter.

Item, a book with arms portrayed in paper....

Memorandum, my Book of Knighthood and the man[ner] of making of Knights, of Jousts, of Tour[nements], fighting in lists, paces holden by so[ldiers] ... and challenges, statutes of war, and _De Regim[ine Principum]_.[45]

[44] A treatise on _Wisdom_. Dr. Gairdiner notes that the name is
derived from the Greek Ὠ θεὰ but was used in the Middle Ages as the
name for the Goddess of Wisdom (_Paston Letters_, vol. ii., p. 335, n.
1).

[45] Thomas Hoccleve (1370?-1449) wrote the _Regement of Princes_,
based on the _De Regimine Principum_ of Ægidius Colonna (see Early
English Text Society, Extra Series, lxxii., 1897).

Item, a new Book of new Statutes from Edward IV.

DEATH OF CLARENCE (1478).

=Source.=--Ingulph's _Chronicles_, pp. 479, 480. (Bohn Edition.)

Now each began to look upon the other with no very fraternal eyes. You might then have seen (as such men are generally to be found in the courts of all princes) flatterers running to and fro, from the one side to the other, and carrying backwards and forwards the words which had fallen from the two brothers, even if they had happened to be spoken in the most secret closet. The arrest of the duke for the purpose of compelling him to answer the charges brought against him happened under the following circumstances. One Master John Stacy, a person who was called an astronomer, when in reality he was rather a great sorcerer, formed a plot in conjunction with one Burdet, an esquire, and one of the said duke's household; upon which he was accused, among numerous other charges, of having made leaden images and other things to procure thereby the death of Richard, Lord Beauchamp, at the request of his adulterous wife. Upon being questioned in a very severe examination as to his practice of damnable arts of this nature, he made confession of many matters, which told both against himself and the said Thomas Burdet. The consequence was, that Thomas was arrested as well; and at last, judgment of death was pronounced upon them both, at Westminster, from the Bench of our lord the king, the judges being there seated, together with nearly all the lords temporal of the kingdom. Being drawn to the gallows at Tyburn, they were permitted briefly to say what they thought fit before being put to death; upon which, they protested their innocence, Stacy indeed but faintly; while, on the other hand, Burdet spoke at great length, and with much spirit, and as his last words exclaimed with Susanna, "Behold! I must die; whereas I never did such things as these."