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1    With these wordes and writynges and suche other, the Duke of
2Gloucester sone set a fyre, them that were of themself ethe to kindle,
3and in especiall twayne, Edward Duke of Buckingham, and
4Richarde Lorde Hastinges and chaumberlayn, both men of honour
5and of great power. The tone by longe succession from his ancestrie,
6the tother by his office and the kinges fauor. These two not bearing
7eche to other so muche loue, as hatred bothe vnto the Quenes parte:

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8in this poynte accorded together wyth the Duke of Gloucester, that
9they wolde vtterlye amoue fro the kynges companye, all his mothers
10frendes, vnder the name of their enemyes. Vpon this concluded,
11the Duke of Gloucester vnderstandyng, that the Lordes whiche at
12that tyme were aboute the kyng, entended to bryng him vppe to his
13Coronacion, accoumpanied with suche power of theyr frendes, that
14it shoulde bee harde for him to brynge his purpose to passe, without
15the gathering and great assemble of people and in maner of open
16warre, wherof the ende he wiste was doubtuous, and in which the
17kyng being on their side, his part should haue the face and name of a
18rebellion: he secretly therefore by diuers meanes, caused the Quene
19to be perswaded and brought in the mynd, that it neither wer nede,
20& also shold be ieopardous, the king to come vp strong. For where
21as nowe euery lorde loued other, and none other thing studyed
22vppon, but aboute the Coronacion and honoure of the king: if the
23lordes of her kinred shold assemble in the kinges name muche
24people, thei should geue the lordes atwixte whome and them hadde
25bene sommetyme debate, to feare and suspecte, leste they shoulde
26gather thys people, not for the kynges sauegarde whome no manne
27enpugned, but for theyr destruccion, hauyng more regarde to their
28olde variaunce, then their newe attonement. For whiche cause thei
29shoulde assemble on the other partie muche people agayne for their
30defence, whose power she wyste wel farre stretched. And thus should
31all the realme fall on a rore. And of al the hurte that therof should
32ensue, which was likely not to be litle, and the most harme there
33like to fal wher she lest would, all the worlde woulde put her and her
34kinred in the wyght, and say that thei had vnwyselye and vntrewlye
35also, broken the amitie and peace that the kyng her husband so
36prudentelye made, betwene hys kinne and hers in his death bed, and
37whiche the other party faithfully obserued.

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38    The Quene being in this wise perswaded, suche woorde sente vnto
39her sonne, and vnto her brother being aboute the kynge, and ouer
40that the Duke of Gloucester hymselfe and other Lordes the chiefe of
41hys bende, wrote vnto the kynge soo reuerentelye, and to the
42Queenes frendes, there soo louyngelye, that they nothynge Earthelye
43mystrustynge, broughte the Kynge vppe in greate haste, not in good
44speede, with a sober coumpanye. Nowe was the king in his waye to
45London gone, from Northampton, when these Dukes of Gloucester
46and Buckyngham came thither.
47
48
49    Where remained behynd, the Lorde
50Ryuers the Kynges vncle, entendyng on the morowe to folow the
51Kynge, and bee with hym at Stonye Stratford eleuen miles thence,
52earely or hee departed. So was there made that nyghte muche
53frendely chere betwene these Dukes and the Lorde Riuers a greate
54while. But incontinente after that they were oppenlye with greate
55courtesye departed, and the Lorde Riuers lodged,
56
57    the Dukes
58secretelye with a fewe of their moste priuye frendes, sette them downe
59in counsayle, wherin they spent a great parte of the nyght. And at
60their risinge in the dawnyng of the day, thei sent about priuily to
61their seruantes in their Innes and lodgynges about, geuinge them
62commaundemente to make them selfe shortely readye, for their
63Lordes wer to horsebackward. Vppon whiche messages, manye of
64their folke were attendaunt, when manye of the lorde Riuers
65seruantes were vnreadye. Nowe hadde these Dukes taken also
66into their custodye the kayes of the Inne, y^t none shoulde passe
67foorth without theyr licence. And ouer this in the hyghe waye

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68towarde Stonye Stratforde where the Kynge laye, they hadde
69beestowed certayne of theyr folke, that shoulde sende backe agayne,
70and compell to retourne, anye manne that were gotten oute of
71Northampton toward Stonye Stratforde, tyll they should geue other
72lycence. For as muche as the Dukes themselfe entended for the
73shewe of theire dylygence, to bee the fyrste that shoulde that daye
74attende vppon the Kynges highnesse oute of that towne: thus bare
75they folke in hande. But when the Lorde Ryuers vnderstode the
76gates closed, and the wayes on euerye side besette, neyther hys
77seruantes nor hymself suffered to gone oute, parceiuyng well so
78greate a thyng without his knowledge not begun for noughte,
79comparyng this maner present with this last nightes chere, in so few
80houres so gret a chaunge marueylouslye misliked. How be it
81sithe hee coulde not geat awaye, and keepe him selfe close, hee
82woulde not, leste hee shoulde seeme to hyde him selfe for some
83secret feare of hys owne faulte, whereof he saw no such cause in hym
84self: he determined vppon the suretie of his own conscience, to goe
85boldelye to them, and inquire what thys matter myghte meane.
86Whome as soone as they sawe, they beganne to quarell with hym,
87and saye, that hee intended to sette distaunce beetwene the Kynge
88and them, and to brynge them to confusion, but it shoulde not lye
89in hys power. And when hee beganne (as hee was a very well
90spoken manne,) in goodly wise to excuse himself, they taryed not the
91ende of his aunswere, but shortely tooke
92him and putte him in warde, and that
93done, foorthwyth wente to horsebacke, and
94tooke the waye to stonye Stratforde. Where they founde the kinge with
95his companie readye to leape on horsebacke, and departe forwarde,
96to leaue that lodging for them, because it was to streighte for bothe
97coumpanies.

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98    The lord Cardinall perceiuing that the quene waxed euer the
99lenger the farder of, and also that she began to kindle and chafe, and
100speke sore biting wordes against the protectour, and such as he
101neither beleued, and was also loth to here, he said vnto her for a
102finall conclusion, that he woulde no lenger dispute the matter. But
103if she were content to deliuer y^e duke to him & to y^e other lordes
104there present, he durst lay his owne body & soule both in pledge, not
105onely for his suerty but also for hys estate. And if she woulde giue
106them a resolute aunswere to y^e contrary, he would forthw^t depart
107there with all, and shyfte whoso would with thys busynes afterwarde:
108for he neuer entended more to moue her in that matter, in which she
109thought y^t he and all other also saue herselfe, lacked either wit or
110trouth. Wit if they were so dul, that they coulde nothing perceiue
111what the protectour entended: trouthe if they should procure her
112sonne to be delyuered into his handes, in whom thei shold perceyue
113toward the childe any euil intended.
114    The quene with these wordes stode a good while in a great study.
115And for asmuch her semed the Cardinall more redy to depart, then
116some of the remnant, & the protectour himself redy at hand, so y^t
117she verely thought she coulde not kepe him there, but that hee shoulde
118incontinent be taken thence: & to conuay him els where, neyther
119had shee time to serue her, nor place determined, nor parsons
120appointed, all thinge vnredy thys message came on her so sodaynely,

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121nothing lesse loking for then to haue him fet out of sentuary, which
122she thought to be now beset in such places about, y^t he coulde not
123be conuaied out vntaken,
124    & partly as she thought it might fortune
125her fere to bee false, so will she waste it was either nedeles or boteles:
126wherfore if she shold nedes go from him, she dempte it beste to deliuer
127him. And ouer y^t of y^e Cardinals faith she nothing doubted, nor of
128some other lordes neither, whom she there saw. Which as she fered
129lest they might bee deceiuid: so was she well assured they would
130not be corupted: Then thought she it should yet make them y^e more
131warely to loke to him, & the more sircumspectly to se to his surety,
132if she with her owne handes betoke him to them of trust. And at the
133last she toke the yong duke by the hande, and said vnto the lordes:
134my lord (quod she) & all my lordes, I neither am so vnwise to mistrust
135your wittes, nor so suspicious to mistruste your trouthes. Of which
136thing I purpose to make you such a proofe, as if either of both lacked
137in you, might tourne both me to great sorowe, the realme to much
138harme, and you to gret reproche. For loe here is (quod she) this
139gentilman,
140    whom I doubt not but I could here kepe safe if I woulde,
141whatsoeuer any man say. And I doubt not also but ther be some
142abrode so deadly enemies vnto my blood, that if thei wist where any
143of it lay in their owne body, they would let it out. We haue also had
144experience y^t the desire of a kingdome
145knoweth no kinred. The brother hath bene
146the brothers bane.
147    And may the nepheus be sure of their vncle?
148Eche of these children is others defence while they be a sunder, and
149eche of their liues lieth in the others body. Kepe one safe & both
150be sure, and nothing for them both more perilouse, then to be
151both in one place. For what wise merchaunt aduentureth all his
152good in one ship? All this notwithstanding, here I deliuer him and
153hys brother in him, to kepe into your handes, of whome I shall aske

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154them both afore god and the world. Faithfull ye be that wot I wel
155and I know wel you be wise. Power & strenght to kepe him if ye list
156neither lacke ye of your self, nor can lack helpe in this cause.
157And if ye cannot els where, then may you leue him here. But only
158one thing I beseche you for y^e trust that his father put in you euer,
159and for the trust that I put in you now, that as farre as ye thinke
160that I fere to muche, be you wel ware y^t you fere not as farre to
161little. And therewithall she said vnto the child: farewel my own
162swete sonne, god send you good keping, let me kis you ones yet ere
163you goe, for God knoweth when we shal kis togither agayne. And
164therewith she kissed him, & blessed him, turned her back and wept
165and went her way, leauing the childe weping as fast. When the lord
166Cardinal & these other lordes with him, had receiued this yong duke,
167thei brought him into the sterrechamber
168where the protectour
169toke him in his armes & kissed him with these wordes: Now welcome
170my lord euen w^t al my very hart. And he
171sayd in that of likelihod as he thought.
172Thereupon forthwith they brought him to y^e kynge his brother into the bishoppes palice at powles,
173& from thence through the citie
174honorably into the tower, out of which after y^t day they neuer
175came abrode.

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176    And of trouth the
177protectour and the Duke of Buckingham made very good semblaunce
178vnto the Lord Hastinges, and kept him much in company. And
179vndoubtedly the protectour loued him wel, & loth was to haue loste
180him, sauing for fere lest his life shoulde haue quailed their purpose.
181For which cause he moued Catesby to proue wyth some words cast
182out a farre of, whither he could thinke it possible to winne the lord
183Hasting into their parte. But Catesby whither he assayed him or
184assaied him not, reported vnto them, that he founde him so fast, and
185hard him speke so terrible woordes, that he durst no further breke.
186And of trouth the lord Chamberlen of very trust shewed vnto
187Catesbye, the mistrust that other began to haue in the mater. And
188therfore he fering lest their mocions might with y^e lord Hastinges
189minishe his credence, wherunto onely al the matter lenid, procured
190the protectour hastely to ridde him.
191And much the rather, for that
192he trusted by his deth to obtaine much of the rule that the lorde
193Hastinges bare in his countrey: the only desire whereof, was y^e
194allectiue y^t induced him to be partener and one specyall contriuer of
195al this horrible treson.
196    Whereupon sone after that is to wit, on
197the friday the thirtene day of Iune many
198Lordes assembled in the tower, and there sat in counsaile, deuising
199the honorable solempnite of the kinges coronacion, of which the
200time appointed then so nere approched, that the pageauntes and
201suttelties were in making day and night at westminster, and much

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202vitaile killed therfore, that afterward was cast away. These lordes so
203sytting togyther comoning of thys matter, the protectour came in
204among them, fyrst aboute ix. of the clock, saluting them curtesly, &
205excusyng hymself that he had ben from them so long, saieng merely
206that he had bene a slepe that day. And after a little talking w^t them,
207he sayd vnto y^e Bishop of Elye: my lord you haue very good strawberies
208at your gardayne in Holberne, I require you let vs haue a messe
209of them. Gladly my lord, quod he, woulde god I had some better thing
210as redy to your pleasure as that. And therwith in al the hast he sent
211hys seruant for a messe of strauberies. The protectour sette the lordes
212fast in comoning, and therupon prayeng them to spare hym for a
213little while, departed thence.
214
215    And sone after one hower betwene .x.
216& .xi. he returned into y^e chamber among them, al changed
217with a wonderful soure angrye countenaunce, knitting the browes,
218frowning and froting and knawing on hys lippes, and so sat him downe,
219in hys place: al the lordes much dismaied & sore merueiling of this
220maner of sodain chaunge, and what thing should him aile. Then when
221he had sitten still a while,
222thus he began: what were they worthy to
223haue, that compasse & ymagine the distruccion of me, being so nere of
224blood vnto y^e king and protectour of his riall person & his realme. At
225this question, al y^e lordes sat sore astonied, musyng much by whome
226thys question should be ment, of which euery man wyst himselfe clere.

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227    Now flew y^e fame of this lordes death, swiftly through the citie,
228& so forth farder about like a winde in euery mans ere. But the
229protector immediatelye after diner, entending to set some colour
230vpon y^e matter, sent in al y^e hast for many substauncial men out of the
231city into the Tower. And at their comming, himself w^t the Duke of
232Bukingham, stode harnesed in old il faring briginders, such as no man
233shold wene y^t thei wold vouchsafe to haue put vpon their backes,
234except that some sodaine necessitie had constrained them. And then
235the protectour shewed them, y^t the lord chamberlain, & other of

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236his conspiracy, had contriued to haue sodeinly destroide him & the
237duke, ther y^e same day in y^e counsel. And what thei intended further,
238was as yet not well knowen. Of whiche their treson he neuer had
239knowlage before x. of y^e clock y^e same fore none. Whiche sodain fere
240draue them to put on for ther defence such harneis as came next to
241hande. And so had god holpen them, y^t y^e mischief turned vpon them
242y^t wold haue done it. And this he required them to report.
243Eueri man
244answered him fair, as though no man mistrusted y^e mater which of
245trouth no man beleued. Yet for y^e further appesing of y^e peoples mind,
246he sent immediatli after diner in al y^e hast, one herode of armes, w^t
247a proclamacion to be made through y^e
248city in y^e kinges name,
249conteyning y^t the
250lord Hastinges w^t diuers other of his traytorous purpose, had before
251conspired y^e same day, to haue slaine y^e lord protector & y^e
252duke of Buckingham sitting in y^e counsel, & after to haue taken
253vpon them to rule y^e king & y^e realm at their pleasure, & therbi
254to pil & spoil whom thei list vncontroled. And much mater was ther
255in y^e proclamacion deuised, to y^e slaunder of y^e lord chamberlain,
256as y^t he was an euil counseller to y^e kinges father, intising him to many
257thinges highlye redounding to y^e minishing of his honor, & to y^e
258vniuersal hurt of his realm, by his euyl company, sinister procuring, &
259vngracious ensample, as wel in many other thinges as in y^e vicious
260liuing & inordinate abusion of his body, both w^t many other, & also
261specialli w^t shores wife, which was one also of his most secret counsel
262of this heynous treson, w^t whom he lay nightli, & nameli y^e night last
263passed next before his death, so that it was y^e less meruel, if vngracious
264liuyng brought him to an vnhappy ending: which he was now put
265vnto, by y^e most drede commaundement of y^e kinges highnes & of his
266honorable & faithful counsel, bothe for his demerites, being so openli
267taken in his falsli conceiued treson, & also lest y^e delaying of his
268execucion, might haue encoraged other mischiuous persons partners of
269his conspiracy, together & assemble themself together in makyng some

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270gret commocion for his deliueraunce, whose hope now being by his
271wel deserued deth politikely repressed, al y^e realm shold bi gods grace
272rest in good quiete and peace. Now was this proclamacion made w^tin
273 .ii. houres after y^t he was beheded, & it was curiously indited, & so
274fair writen in parchment in so wel a set hande, & therwith of it self so
275long a processe, y^t eueri child might wel perceiue, that it was prepared
276before. For al y^e time betwene his death & the proclaming could scant
277haue suffised vnto y^e bare wryting alone, all had it bene but in paper
278& scribled forth in hast at aduenture. So y^t vpon y^e proclaming therof,
279one y^t was scole master of Poules of chaunce standing by, & comparing
280y^e shortnes of y^e time w^t the length of y^e matter, said vnto them y^t stode
281about him here is a gay goodly cast, foule cast awai for hast. And a
282merchant answered hym, y^t it was writen by profecy. Now then by &
283bi, as it wer for anger not for couetise, y^e protector sent into y^e house of
284shores wife (for her husband dwelled not
285w^t her) & spoiled her of al y^t euer she had,
286aboue y^e value of .ii. or .iii. M. marks, & sent her body to prison.
287And when he had a while laide vnto her for the maner sake, y^t
288she went about to bewitch him, & y^t she was of counsel w^t the lord
289chamberlein to destroy him: in conclusion when y^t no colour could
290fasten vpon these matters, then he layd heinously to her charge, y^e
291thing y^t her self could not deny, that al y^e world wist was true, & that
292natheles euery man laughed at to here it then so sodainly so highly
293taken, y^t she was nought of her body. And for thys cause (as a goodly
294continent prince clene & fautles of himself, sent oute of heauen into
295this vicious world for the amendement of mens maners) he caused the
296bishop of London to put her to open penance, going before the crosse in
297procession vpon a sonday with a taper in her hand.
298In which she went
299in countenance & pace demure so womanly, & albeit she were out of
300al array saue her kyrtle only: yet went she so fair & louely, namelye
301while the wondering of the people caste a comly rud in her chekes (of

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302which she before had most misse) that her great shame wan her much
303praise, among those y^t were more amorous of her body then curious
304of her soule. And many good folke also y^t hated her liuing, & glad
305wer to se sin corrected: yet pitied thei more her penance, then
306reioyced therin, when thei considred that y^e protector procured it,
307more of a corrupt intent then ani vertuous
308affeccion. This woman was born in
309London, worshipfully frended, honestly brought vp, & very wel
310maryed, sauing somewhat to sone, her husbande an honest citezen,
311yonge & goodly & of good substance. But forasmuche as they were
312coupled ere she wer wel ripe, she not very feruently loued, for whom
313she neuer longed. Which was happely the thinge, that the more easily
314made her encline vnto y^e kings appetite when he required her. Howbeit
315y^e respect of his royaltie,
316y^e hope of gay apparel, ease, plesure & other
317wanton welth, was hable soone to perse a softe tender hearte. But
318when the king had abused her, anon her husband (as he was an honest
319man & one that could his good, not presuming to touch a kinges
320concubine) left her vp to him al togither.
321When the king died, the lord
322Chamberlen toke her. Which in the kinges daies, albeit he was
323sore ennamored vpon her, yet he forbare her, either for reuerence, or
324for a certain frendly faithfulnes. Proper she was & faire:
325nothing in her
326body y^t you wold haue changed, but if you would haue wished her somewhat
327higher. Thus say thei y^t knew her in her youthe. Albeit some that
328now se her (for yet she liueth) deme her neuer to haue ben wel visaged.
329Whose iugement semeth me somwhat like, as though men should
330gesse y^e bewty of one longe before departed, by her scalpe taken out
331of the charnel house: for now is she old lene, withered & dried vp,
332nothing left but ryuilde skin & hard bone. And yet being euen such:
333whoso wel aduise her visage, might gesse & deuise which partes how

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334filled, wold make it a faire face. Yet delited not men so much in her
335bewty, as in her plesant behauior. For a proper wit had she, & could
336both rede wel & write, mery in company, redy & quick of aunswer,
337neither mute nor ful of bable, sometime taunting w^tout displesure &
338not w^tout disport. The king would say
339that he had .iii. concubines, which in
340three diuers properties diuersly exceled. One the meriest, an
341other the wiliest, the thirde the holiest harlot in his realme, as one
342whom no man could get out of y^e church lightly to any place, but it
343wer to his bed. The other two were somwhat greter parsonages, &
344Natheles of their humilite content to be nameles, & to forbere the
345praise of those properties. But the meriest was this Shoris wife, in whom
346the king therfore toke speciall pleasure. For many he had, but her
347he loued, whose fauour to saithesai theEdition: saithe trouth (for sinne it wer to belie y^e
348deuil) she neuer abused to any mans hurt, bubut to many a mans comfort
349& relief: where the king toke displeasure, she would mitigate &
350appease his mind: where men were out of fauour, she wold bring them
351in his grace. For many that had highly offended, shee obtained pardon.
352Of great forfetures she gate men remission. And finally in many
353weighty sutes, she stode many men in gret stede, either for none, or
354very smal rewardes, & those rather gay then rich: either for that she
355was content w^t the dede selfe well done, or for y^t she delited to be suid
356vnto, & to show what she was able to do wyth the king, or for y^t
357wanton women and welthy be not alway couetouse.

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358    At these wordes y^e people began to whisper among
359themselfe secretely, that the voyce was neyther loude nor distincke, but
360as it were the sounde of a swarme of bees, tyl at the last in the nether
361ende of the hal, a bushement of the dukes seruantes and Nashefeldes
362and other longing to the protectour, with some prentises and laddes
363that thrust into the hal amonge the prese, began sodainelye at mennes
364backes to crye owte as lowde as their throtes would gyue: king
365Rycharde kinge Rycharde, and threwe vp their cappes in token of
366ioye. And they that stode before, cast back theyr heddes meruailing
367thereof, but nothing they sayd.
368
369    And when the duke and the Maier
370
371    saw thys maner, they wysely turned it to theyr purpose. And said it
372was a goodly cry and a ioyfull to here, euery man with one voice no
373manne sayeng nay. Wherfore frendes, quod the duke, sins that we
374parceiue it is al your hole mindes to haue this noble man for your
375king whereof we shall make his grace so effectuall reporte, that we
376doubte not but it shall redounde vnto your great weal and commoditye:
377we require ye that ye to morow go with vs and wee with you
378vnto his noble grace, to make our humble request vnto him in maner

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379before remembred. And therewith the lordes came downe, and the
380company dissolued and departed, the more part al sad, som with
381glad semblaunce that wer not very mery, and some of those that came
382thyther with the duke, not able to dissemble theyr sorow, were faine
383at his backe to turne their face to the wall, while the doloure of their
384heart braste oute at theyr eyen.
385    Then on the morowe after, the mayre
386with all the alderman and chiefe comeners
387of the citie in their beste maner apparailed,
388assembling themself together resorted vnto Baynardes castell where the
389protector lay. To which place repaired also according to theyr appointmente
390the duke of Buckingham, with dyuers noble menne with him,
391beside manye knightes and other gentlemen. And thereupon the duke
392sent worde vnto the lord protectour, of the being there of a great
393and honourable coumpanye, to moue a great matter vnto his grace.
394Whereupon the protectour made difficultie to come oute vnto them,
395but if he first knewe some part of theyr errande, as though he doubted
396and partelye dystrusted the commyng of suche noumber vnto him so
397sodainlye, withoute anye warnyng or knowledge, whyther they came
398for good or harme, then the Duke when he had shewed this vnto the
399maire and other, that they mighte thereby see howe lytle the protectour
400loked for this matter, thei sent vnto him by the messenger suche
401louyng message againe, and therewith so humblye besought hym to
402vouchesafe that thei might resort to hys presence, to purpose their
403intent, of which they would vnto none other parson any part disclose,
404that at the laste hee came foorth of his chamber, and yet not down
405vnto them, but stode aboue in a galarye ouer them, where they mighte
406see hym & speake to him, as though he woulde not yet come to nere
407them tyll he wist what they mente. And thereuppon the Duke of
408Buckingham fyrste made humble peticion vnto him, on the behalfe
409of them all, that his grace woulde pardon them and lycence them to
410purpose vnto hys grace the intent of their commyng with oute his

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411displeasure, withoute whiche pardon obtayned, they dyrstdurst not be
412bold to moue him of that matter. In whiche albeit thei ment as muche
413honor to hys grace as wealthe to al the realm beside, yet were they not
414sure howe hys grace woulde take it, whom they would in no wyse
415offende. Then the protector as hee was very gentle of hymselfe, and
416also longed sore to wit what they mente, gaue hym leaue to purpose
417what hym lyked, verely trustyng for the good minde that he bare them
418al, none of them ani thing would intende vnto hym warde, where with
419he ought to be greued. When the duke had this leaue & pardon to
420speake, then waxed he bolde to shewe hym theyr intent and purpose,
421with all the causes mouing them thereunto as ye before haue harde,
422and finally to beseche hys grace, that it wold lyke him of his accustomed
423goodnes and zeale vnto the realm, now with his eye of pitie,
424to beholde the long continued distres and decay of the same and to sette
425his gracious handes
426to the redresse and amendement therof, by taking
427vppon him the crowne and gouernaunce of this realme,
428
429    according to
430his right and tytle lawfully descended vnto hym, and to the laude of
431god, profyte of the land, and vnto his grace so muche the more honour
432and lesse paine, in that that neuer prince raigned vpon any people,
433that were so glad to liue vnder hys obeysaunce as the people of this
434realme vnder his. When the protector had hard the proposicion, he
435loked very strangely therat, and answered: That all were it that he
436partli knew the thinges by them alledged to be true: yet such entier
437loue he bare vnto king Edward and his children, that so muche more
438regarded hys honour in other realmes about, then the crowne of any
439one, of which he was neuer desyrous, that he could not fynde in his
440hearte in this poynte to enclyne to theyr desyre. For in all other
441nacyons where the trueth wer not wel knowen, it shold paraduenture
442be thought, that it were his owne ambicious minde and deuise, to
443depose the prince & take himself the crown. With which infami he
444wold not haue his honoure stayned for anye crowne. In whiche he
445had euer parceyued muche more labour and payn, then pleasure to

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446hym that so woulde so vse it, as he that woulde not were not worthy
447to haue it. Notwithstanding he not only pardoned them the mocion
448that they made him, but also thanked them for the loue and hearty
449fauoure they bare him, prayinge them for his sake to geue and beare
450the same to the prynce, vnder whom he was and would be content
451to lyue, & with his labour and counsel as farre as should like the kyng
452to vse him, he woold doe his vttermost deuor to set the realm in good
453state. Whiche was alreadye in this litle while of his protectorship (the
454prayse geuen to god) wel begon, in that the malice of such as wer before
455occasion of the contrary and of new intended to bee, were nowe
456partelye by good policye, partly more by goddes special prouidence
457then mans prouision repressed. Vpon this answer geuen, the Duke by
458the protectours lycence, a lytle rouned, aswell with other noble men
459about him as with the mayre and recorder of London. And after that
460vpon lyke pardone desyred and obtayned, he shewed aloude vnto the
461protectour, that for a fynal conclusion, y^t the realm was appointed
462king Edwardes lyne shoulde not any longer reigne vpon them, both
463for that thei had so farre gone, that it was now no surety to retreate,
464as for that they thought it for the weale vniuersal to take that wai
465although they had not yet begonne it. Wherfore yf it would lyke hys
466grace to take the crowne vpon him, they woulde humblye beseche
467hym thereunto. If he woulde geue them a resolute aunswere to the
468contrarye, whyche they woulde bee lothe to heare, than muste they
469needes seke and shold not faile to fynd some other noble manne that
470woulde. These wordes muche moued the protectoure, whiche els as
471euery manne may witte, would neuer of likelyhoode haue inclyned
472therunto. But when he saw ther was none other way, but that eyther
473he must take it or els he and his bothe goe fro it, he saide vnto the
474lordes and commons: Sith we parceiue wel that al the realm is so set,
475whereof we be very sorye that they wil not suffer in any wise king
476Edwardes line to gouerne them, whom no manne earthly can gouerne
477again their willes, and we wel also perceue, that no manne is there, to
478whom the crown can by so iust tytle appertayn as to our self, as

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479verye ryghte heyre lawfullye begotten of the bodye of oure moste deere
480father Rycharde late Duke of Yorke, to whiche tytle is nowe ioyned
481your elleccion, the nobles & comons of this realm, whiche wee of all
482titles possible take for most effectual: we be
483content & agre fauourably to incline to
484your peticion and request, and accordyng
485to the same,
486here we take vppon vs the royall estate, preeminence and
487kyngdome of the twoo noble realmes, England and Fraunce, the tone
488fro this day forward by vs and our heires to rule, gouerne and defend,
489the tother by goddes grace & youre good helpe to geat again and subdewe,
490and established for euer in due obedyence vnto this realme of
491Englande,
492
493    thaduancement whereof we neuer aske of god longer to
494lyue then we entende to procure. With this there was a great shout,
495crying kyng Richarde king Rychard. And then the lordes went vp to
496the kyng (for so was he from that time called) and the people departed,
497talkyng diuersly of the matter euery man as his fantasye gaue hym.
498But muche they talked and marueiled of the maner of this dealing,
499that the matter was on both partes made so straunge, as though neither
500had euer communed with other thereof before, when that themself wel
501wist there was no man so dul that heard them, but he perceieud wel
502inough, y^t all the matter was made betwene them. Howbeit somme
503excused that agayne, and sayde all must be done in good order though.