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T. Ch.[371]
This tragicall example was of all the company well liked, howbee
it a doubt was found therein, and that by meanes of the diuersity of
the chronicles: for whereas Hall (whose chronicle in this worke wee
chiefly followed) maketh Mowbrey appellant and Bolinbroke
defendant, Fabian reporteth the matter quite contrary, and that by
record of the parliament roll, wherein it is playne that Bolinbroke was
appellant and Mowbrey defendant.[372] Wherefore whatsoeuer shall
bee sayde here in the person of Mowbrey, (who being a most noble
prince, had too much wrong to bee so causeles defamed after his
death) imagine that to bee spoken agaynst his accuser. Which
matter[373] sith it is more hard to decide than needefull to our
purpose, which minde only to disswade from vices and exalt vertue,
wee referre to such as may come by the recordes of the actes of the
parliament,[374] contented in the meane while with Maister Halle’s
iudgement, which maketh best for[375] our forshewed purpose. This
doubt thus let passe. “I would,” sayde Maister Ferrers, “say
somewhat for king Richard,[376] after whose depriuing, his
brother[377] and diuers others made a maske, minding by king[378]
Henrye’s destruction to haue restored him, which masker’s matter so
runneth in this, that I doubt which ought to goe before, but seeing no
man is ready to say ought in theyr behalfe, I will giue (who so listeth)
leasure to looke[379] therevpon, and in the meane time to furder your
enterprise, I will in king Richarde’s behalfe[380] recount such part of
his story as I thinke most necessary. And therefore imagine Baldwine
that you see the corps of this prince all[381] to be mangled with blewe
woundes, lying pale and wan, all naked vpon the cold stones in[382]
Paule’s church, the people standing round about him, and making
his complaynt in manner as followeth.”[383]
How King Richard the second was for
his euill gouernaunce deposed from
his seate, in the yeare 1399, and
murdered in prison[384] the yeare
following.
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For comming backe this soden stur[432] to stay,
The earle of Worcester whome[433] I trusted moste,
(Whiles I in Wales at Flint my castle[434] lay,
Both to refresh and multiply myne hoste)
There[435] in my hall, in sight of least and most,[436]
His staffe did breake, which was my householde stay,
[437]
Bad ech make shift, and rode himselfe away:
[See princes, see the strength whereof wee bost,
Whom most wee trust, at neede doe vs betray:
Through whose false fayth my land and life I lost.][438]
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G. F.[463]
[When hee had[464] ended this so woefull a tragedy,[465] and to
all princes a right worthy[466] instruction, wee paused:[467] hauing
passed through a miserable time full of piteous tragedies. And
seeing the raigne of Henry the fourth ensued, a man[468] more
wary[469] and prosperous in his doings, although not vntroubled with
warres both of outforth and inward enemies, wee began to searche
what peeres[470] were fallen therein, whereof the nombre was not
small: and yet because theyr examples were not much to be noted
for our purpose, we passed ouer al the maskers (of whom king
Richard’s brother was chief) which were all slayn and put to death for
theyr trayterous attempt. And finding Owen Glendour next, one of
fortune’s owne whelpes, and the Percies his confederates, I thought
them vnmeete to be ouerpassed, and[471] therefore sayd thus to the
sylent company: “What my maisters is euery man at once in a
browne study? hath no man affection to any of these stories? you
minde so much some other belike, that these doe not moue you: and
to say the[472] truth, there is no speciall cause why they should.
[473]How be it Owen Glendour, because he was one of fortune’s
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Th. Ph.[551]
[Whan starued Owen had ended his hungry exhortation, it was
well enough liked, howbeit one founde a doubte[552] worth the
mouing, and that concerning this title, earle of March: for as it
appeareth, there were three men of three diuers nations together in
one time entituled by that honour: first syr Edmund Mortimer, whom
Owen kept in pryson, an Englishman: the second the lord George of
Dunbar, a valiaunt Scot, banished out of his countrey, and well
esteemed of Henry the fouerth: the thirde lord Iames of Bourbon, a
Frenchman, sent by the Frenche king to help Owen Glendour.
These three men had this title all at once, which caused him to
aske how it was true that euery one of these could bee earle of
March: whereto was answered, that euery countrey hath Marches
belonging vnto them, and those so large, that they were earledomes,
and the lords thereof entituled thereby: so the[553] lord Edmund
Mortimer was earle of March in England, lord Iames of Burbon, of
the Marches of Fraunce, and lorde George of Dunbar, earle of the
Marches in Scotland. For otherwise neyther coulde haue interest in
other’s title. This doubt thus dissolued, maister Ferrers sayde: “If no
man haue affection to the Percies, let vs passe the times both of
Henry the fourth and the fift, and come to Henry the sixt, in whose
time fortune (as shee doth in the minority of princes) bare a great
stroke among the nobles. And yet in Henry the fourth’s time are
examples which I would wish, Baldewine, that you should not forget,
as the conspiracy made by the byshop of Yorke, and the lord
Mowbrey, sonne of him whome you late treated of, pricked forwarde
by the earle of Northumberland, father to sir Henry Hotspur, who fled
himselfe, but his parteners were apprehended and put to death, with
Bainton and Blinkinsops, which could not see theyr duty to theyr
king, but tooke parte with Percy, that banished rebell.” As hee was
proceding, hee was desired to stay by one which had pondered the
story of the Percies, who briefly sayde: “To the end, Baldwine, that
you may knowe what to say of the Percies, whose story is not all out
of memory (and is a notable story) I will take vpon mee the person of
the lord Henry Percy,[554] earle of Northumberland, father of sir[555]