RIchard Plantagenet , Duke of Glocester , and King of England , and of France , and Lord of Ireland , the third of that name , was the The House and Title of Yorke . younger sonne of Sir Richard Plantagenet , the fourth Duke of Yorke of that Royall Family , and King of England , designate by King Henry the sixth , and by the most noble Senate , and universall Synod of this Kingdome , the High Court of Parliament . The Mother of this Richard Duke of Glocester , was the Lady Cecily , Daughter of Sir Ralph de Neville , Earle of Westmerland , by his wife Ioane de Beaufort , the naturall Daughter of Iohn Plantagenet ( alias ) de Gaunt , Duke of Guiene and Lancaster , King of Castile and Leon , third Sonne of King Edward the third , for in that order this Duke is best accounted , because William of Hatfield , the second Sonne of King Edward the third dyed in his infancy , and this Duke of Yorke , and King designate , was propagated from two younger sonnes of the same King Edward the third , whereby he had both Paternall and Maternall Title to the Crowne of England and France : But his better and nearer Title , was the Maternall Title , or that which came to him by his Mother the Lady Anne de Mortimer , the Daughter and heire of Phillippa Plantagenet , who was the sole Daughter and heire of Lyonell Plantagenet , Duke of Clarence , and second Sonne of King Edward the third , according to the account and order aforesaid .

And this Lady Phillip was the Wife of Sir Edmond de Mortimer , the great and famous Earle of March , and that Duke Richard , King designate , by his Father Richard Plantagenet , Duke of York ( sirnamed also de Conningsb●rrough ) issued directly , and in a masculine line from Edmond Plantagenet , alias de Langley , the first Duke of Yorke , and the fourth Sonne of King Edward the third , who was the most renowned The Linage of Edward 3. and glorious Progenitor to those Princes of Yorke and Lancaster , and the first King in a Lineall descent from that great Henry , sirnamed Plantagenet , famous for his great Prowesse and many victories , King of England in the right of his Mother the Empresse Matil●● , or Maud , daughter and heire of King Henry the first , and stiled Angl●rum Domina , sometime wife of the Emperour Henry the fifth , by which he was also sirnamed , filius imperatricis : The French men called him , Henry du Court Mantea● , or Court Mantle , because he wore a cloake shorter then the fashion was in those times . By his Father Galfride , or Geoffry Plantagenet , he was Earle or Duke of Anjou ( for then Dux , & Comes , and Ducatus & Comitatus , were Synonomies & promiscuous words , ) he was also Earle of Maine , of Torraine , and hereditary Seneschall , or High Steward of France , and by his marriage of Elianor Queene of France Repudiate , Daughter and heire of William Duke of Gascoigne and of Guiene , and Earle of Poictou : He was Duke and Earle of those Principalities , and Signiories , also by the Empresse his Mother Duke of Normandy : He was Lord of Ireland by Conquest , and confirmed by Pope Adrian . But these were not all his Seigniories The Empire of K. Henry . 2. and Dominions ; for after he was King of England , he extended his Empire and Principate in the South to the Pyrerean mountaines , ( The Confines of Spaine and France ) in the North to the Isles of Girald . in Topog . Hibernie . Sari●bur . in Pol. Newbrig . Lib. ● . Orkney , and in the East and West with the Ocean , as Giraldus Cambrensis , G●l . Neubrigensis , & Ioannes Sarisburiensis , grave and credible Authors affirme , who stiled him , Regum Britanniae maximus ; and doubtlesse he was the greatest King of Brittaine since King Arthur .

But it is controverted amongst the Antiquaries and Heralds , which Earle of Anjou first bare the sirname and Sobriquet of Plantagenest , or Plantagenet after the vulgar Orthodoxe , by what occasion , and for what cause it was taken and borne , and from what time and age it had beginning : Some would have the forenamed Geoffry Plantagenet , Father of this Henry , the first Earle of Anjou , which bare it . But we shall finde stronger reasons to derive it from a much more ancient Earle of Anjou , and better causes then can be found in him , if we step but a little backe to their stories , and compare the men and their times . Geoffry Plantagenet being a man of a gallant and active fire , disposed to the Courts of Princes , to Justs Turnaments , &c. and to the Courtship of faire Ladies , those of the highest ranke , and had so amorous a Star , That Philippe le Grosse K. of France , suspected him for too familiar commerce with his bed . But it was of better influence when he archieved and married the Empresse Matilda , by which we may very well calculate , he neither had , nor would be intent or at leisure for such a mortified and perilous Pilgrimage to Jerusalem . But Fulk Earle of Anjou . if we would know the man , let us looke upon the first Fulke , Earle of Anjou , who lived about an hundred yeares before the Norman Conquest of England , and was Sonne of Godefray , or Geoffry Grisegonell the first Earle of Anjou ( according to du Haillon ) Ancestor and Progenitor to the foresaid Geoffry Plantagenet , some seven or eight degrees in the ascending Line , as Paradin accounteth , a man raised upon the foundation of a great courage and strength ( two of the best Principles when they have good seconds , and make too a glorious man , where they serve his vertues , not affections , as in this Prince they did ) whose disposition on the other side being let out into as vaste an ambition and covetousnesse , ne're looked upon the unlawfulnesse of his desires , how horrid soever ( which amongst the many rest ) run him upon the shelves of wilfull perjury , and murder ; the one for defrauding & spoiling a Church of certaine Rights , and the other for contriving the Tragedy of his young Nephew , Drog● , Earle of Brittaine , to make himselfe Lord of his Countrey and Principallity . The secret checke and scourge of those crimes had a long time to worke upon his conscience , and of a great sinner made a great Penitent , being old and having much solitary time , and many heavy thoughts ( which naturally accompany old age , and suggest better considerations of our former and youthfull sinnes . ) he opens the horrour of them , and his afflicted mind to his Confessor , ( as great Constantine to AEgyppus ) who enjoyned him to make the same confession before the holy Sepulcher , at Jerusalem , which Pilgrimage the Earle performed in all lowly and contemptible manner , passing as a private and unworthy person , without traine or followers , save two of his meanest , which he tooke rather for witnesses then servants , whose service was , when they came neare Jerusalem , the one with a cord ( such as is used for the strangling of Criminals ) thrown about his Masters neck , to draw or leade him to Acoustre in criminall & condemne . Paradin . the holy sepulcher , whilst the other did acoustré and strip him as a condemned person , and with extremity scourge him untill he was prostrate before the sacred Monument where he gave evidence of his unfained From this example Henry 2. submitted his body to be scourged by the Monks of Canterbury for the death of Tho. Becket . contrition and sorrow . Amongst other devout expressions , uttering this , Mon dieu & Signeur rec●y a Pardon le perjure & homicide & miserable Foulque ; And after this pilgrimage he lived many years of prosperity in his Country honoured of all men . To justifie this , there be many Examples of other Princes and Noble Persons , who lived about the yeare of our Lord one thousand , and somewhat before , and in three or foure ages after , who under went the like Pilgrimages imposed under base and mechanicke nick-names and persons , as of a Carpenter , a Smith , a Fisher-man , a Mariner , a Shepheard , a Woodman , a Broome-man , &c. In my Inquiry after that of Plantagenet , I met with an ancient Manuscript , that afforded me a large Catalogue of many such , by the French ▪ called Sobriquets , from whence I have transcribed these few for a taste .

And under the name and habit of a Broome-man our Pilgrim performed this Penance , and tooke the Sobriquet of Plantagenest from wearing a stalke of Broome , or plant of Genest ; this is generally received , but the time and reason neither set downe nor rendred by any of our Heralds and Antiquaries , French or English ; for the time when he performed this , I observe it about the yeare of our Lord , one thousand certainly . But for the particular relation , this Count had to chuse the genest plant , or Broome stalke before any other vegitall or thing , I shall lay downe that opinion which is mine owne noting for a circumstance by the way , that the Broome in Hieroglyphicall Learning is the Symbole of humility , and the Poets , particularly Virgil the best of Poets , give it the Epithet of humilis , humilis genista ; and the Etymologists derive it from genu the knee , the part most applyed , and as it were dedicate to the chiefe Act of Reverence , kneeling , to which the naturall Philosophers say , there is so mutuall a correspondency , and so naturall a sympathy between genu and gen●sta , Leon. Fuchius . that of all other plants or vegitals , it is most comfortable and medicinable to the paines and diseases of the knees . Pliny a great Master amongst them saith , Genista tuscae , cum , &c. genua dolentia sanat . Plin. Lib. 24. cap. 9.

But the considerable reason is , as I conceive it , from the use he was constrained to make of the twigges of Broome when he came to be scourged at Jerusalem , the place necessitating the use of them to that purpose , being ( as Strabo relates ) a stony , sandy , and barren soyle , only Strabo , Lib. 16. naturall and gratefull to the genest , as the watry and moist to the Birch , Willow and Withy , of which there could be none there , for that reason . And from hence it must most conjecturally take the beginning of that Honour , which afterward his Princely and Noble Posteries continued for their sirname , who became Dukes & Princes in sundry places , and some of them Kings of England , France , Scotland and Ireland ; and ( as the pious people of that Age verily beleeved by their observation ) were the more prosperous and happy for his Du Haillon . sake .

For the continuance of the Name , some ( who pretend to see further and better in the darke then others as cleare sighted ) would have it taken of late time , and not used by the Kings and Princes of England , of the Angeume race . But there are many proofes to be adduced against them ; Let us looke into Master Brookes genealogies of England , In his Catalogue of Honour . we shall find nothing more obvious and frequent in the deductions of those Princes of the House of Anjou , then the addition and sirname of Plantagenet ; Edm. Plantagenet , Geo. Plantagenet , Iohn Plantagenet , Edward Plantagenet , Lyonell Plantagenet , Humphry Plantagenet , &c. In the French Historians and Antiquaries , Ion de Tillet , Girard du Haillon , Clande Paradin , & Iean Baron de la Hay , we shall often meet with Geoffry Plantagenet , Arthur Plantagenet , Richard Plantagenet , and diverse the like , all of the first Age , when the Angeume Princes first became English , and some before . Master Camden also in his Immortall P●●tannia , mentioneth some very ancient , as Richard Plantagenet , Iohn Plantagenet , &c. And witnesseth , that the forenamed Geoffry Plantagenet used to weare a Broome-stalke in his Bonnet , as many Nobles of the House of Anjou did , and tooke it for their chiefe sirname . It might be added , that these Earles of Anjou were descended out of the great house of Saxon in Germany , which hath brought forth many Kings ▪ Emperors and Dukes ; and that they were of kindred and alliance to the ancient Kings of France , and sundry other Princes . But I will close here for the high Nobility of King Richard , as the good old Poet did for another Heroicall Person : — Deus est utroque parente . Ovid. Deus . i. Rex .

And come to the other matters of his private story . And first for his Birth and native place , which was the Castle of Fotheringay , or as some write , the Castle of Birkhamsteed , both Castles and Honours of the Duke his Father , about the yeare of our Lord 1450 , which I discover by the calculation of the Birth , Raigne , and death of King Edward his brother , who was borne about 1441 , or 1442. and raigned two and twenty yeares , dyed at the age of one and forty , Anno 1483. The Dutchesse of Yorke their Mother had five children betwixt them , so that Richard could not be lesse then seven or eight yeares younger then King Edward , and he survived him not fully three yeares .

This Richard Plantagenet , and the other children of Richard Duke of Yorke , were brought up in York-shire , and Northampton-shire , but lived for the most part in the Castle of Midelham in York-shire , untill the Duke their Father , and his Sonne Edmund Plantagenet Earle of Rutland were slaine in the battell of Wakefield , Anno Dom. 1641 , upon which the Dutchesse of Yorke their Mother ( having cause to feare the faction of Lancaster , which was now growne very exulting and strong , and of a mortall enmity to the House af Yorke ) secretly conveyed her two younger sonnes , George and Richard Plantagenet ( who was then about some ten yeares old ) into the Low-Countries , to their Aunt the Lady Margaret , Dutchesse of Burgundy , Wife of Charles Duke of Burgundy and Brabant , and Earle of Flanders . They continued at Utrich , the chiefe City then in Holland , where they had Princely and liberall education , untill Edward Earle of March their eldest Brother had revenged his Fathers death , and taken the Kingdome and Crowne ( as his right ) from Henry the sixth , when he called home his two Brothers , and enters them into the practise of Armes , to season their forwardnesse and honour of Knighthood which he had bestowed upon them ; and soone after invests George into the Dutchy of Clarence , and Earledome of Richmond , which Earledome he the rather bestowed upon him , to darken the young Earle of Richmond , Henry Teudor . Richard had the Dukedome of Glocester , and Earledome of Carlile , as I have read in an old Lib. manus . in quarto apud D. Rob. Cotton . Comes , i. Praeses● . Manuscript story , which Creation the Heralds doe not allow . But whether he were Comes thereof after the ancient Roman understanding , that is , Governour ▪ or Comes , or Count , after the common taking it by us English , or others ; that is , for a speciall Titular Lord , I will not take upon me to determine , but affirme I have read him , Comes Carliolensis .

And after the great Earle of Warwicke and Salisbury , Richard de Neville , was reconciled to the Kings favour , George Duke of Clarence was married to the Lady Isabell , or Elizabeth , the elder Daughter of that Earle , and Richard Duke of Glocester to the Lady Anne , which Ladies by their Mother the Lady Anne de Beauchamp , Daughter and heire of Sir Richard de Beauchamp , Earle of Warwicke , were heires of that Earledome . But Anne , although the younger sister , was the better woman , having been a little before married to Edward Plantagenet , Prince of Wales , and Duke of Cornwall , only Sonne of King Henry the sixth , and was now his Princesse and Dowager , by whom Duke Richard had a sonne called Edward , created Prince of Wales when his Father came to the Crowne .

The imployment of this Duke was for the most part in the North , as the Countrey of his birth , so more naturally affected by him according to the Poet : — Natale solum dulcedine cunctos mulcet . Ovid.

And there lay his Appanage and Patrimony , with a great Estate of the Dutchesse his Wife , of which the Signiory of Penrith , vulgò , Camden ▪ in Cumberland . Perith in Cumberland was part , where he much resided , and built or repaired most of the Castles , all that Northerne side generally honouring and affecting his Deportment , being magnificent , ( to apply Sir Thomas Moore something above his ability which he exprest Sir William Haward . most in his hospitality . And surely , if men are taken to the life best from their actions , we shall find him in the circle of a Character ( not so commaculate and mixt , as passionate and purblinde pens have purblind Quasi part blind . dasht it ) whilst we squint not at those vertues in him , which make up other Princes absolute ; His wisedome and courage , had not then their nicknames and calumny , as now , but drew the eyes and acknowledgment of the whole Kingdome towards him ; and his brother had a sound experience of his fidelity and constancy in divers hazardous congresses and battels , through which he had faithfully followed his fortune , and return'd all his undertakings successefull : as at Barnet , where he entred so farre and boldly into the Enemies Army , that two of his Esquires , Thomas Parr and Iohn Milwater being nearest to him were slaine ; yet by his owne valour he quit himselfe , and put most part of the Enemies to flight , the rest to the sword . With the like valour he behaved himselfe at the battell of Exon , Doncaster , St Albans , Blore-heath , Northampton , Mortimers Crosse , and Tewkesbury . And it was then confest a very considerable service to the State , his taking of the famous Pyrate , Thomas Nevill ▪ alias , Faulkonbridge , The Bastard Faulconbridge . Earle of Kent , with whom complyed Sir Richard de Nevill , Earle of Warwicke , a neare kinsman to the Earle of Kent his naturall Father , which ●●●d him up in the better esteeme , and whetted him to any Attempt ●or this haughty Earle , who had drawne him from the House of Yorke ( to which he had done valiant service not long before ) to the party of Henry 6. and his Lancastrian faction ; and fearing what forces and aid King Edward might have from beyond Sea , provides a warlike Fleet for the narrow Seas , of which this Faulconbridge was appointed Admirall , with Commission to take or sinke all Ships he met , either of the Kings friends or Subjects ; who did not under act it , but made many depredations on the Coasts , and put many to the Sword becoming an Enemy , the more considerable , King Edward finding ( as the case stood then with him ) his Attemps by Sea would be of too weake a proofe to surprise him , which the Duke of Gloucester contrived by an advertisement he had of his private stealth into severall of the parts , sometimes where he had recourse to some abetters of that Faction , and comming too shore at Southampton , by a ready Ambush seized and apprehended him , from whence he was conveyed to London , so to Middleham Castle , and after he had told some Tales , put to death . And whilst he continued in the Northern parts , he governed those Countries with great Wisdome and Justice , preserving the Concord and Amity betweene the Scots and English , though the breaches were not to be made up with any strength and continuance , the borders living out of mutuall spoyles , and common Rapines , ever prompt for any cause that might beget braules and se●ds . And in the last yeare of the Reigne of the King his brother , the Quarrels grew so outragious and hostile , that nothing could compose them , but the Sword and open War arising from an unjust detaining the Tribute , King Iames was yearly An Army sent into Scotland under the D. of Glocester . bound to pay , as Polidore thus writeth .

King Edward tooke it very ill at the hands of Iames fourth King of Scotland , that he refused to pay the Tribute whereunto he was bound by Convenant ; And therefore resolved by Armes to compell him to it : But King Edward being distracted with a jealous care and watching of France , neglected that businesse of Scotland , and in the meane time Alexander Duke of Albany , Brother to King Iames , pretending earnest businesse in France , makes England in his way , and instigates King Edward to put on Armes against his Brother , promising to returne shortly out of France , and raise a power in Scotland for his aide : Hereupon the King resolved it , and sent the Duke of Glocester with a good Armie into Scotland , who marched master of the field neare to Barwicke , having a little before sent thither Thomas Stanley to besiege it , and soone after tooke it himselfe . But the Duke of Albany failed him , and had underhand strooke up a peace with his Brother of Scotland ; yet Richard of Gloucester accomplished the expedition Anno 24. Ed. 4. very honourably and happily : Thus Polidore . But to enlarge what he reporteth desertively , and abridgeth ; King Edward , notwithstanding that negligence ( noted by him ) levied strong forces ( the King of Scotland being as vigilant in that businesse ) and made the Duke of Glocester his Generall , under whom went Sir Henry Peircy Earle of Northumberland , the Lord Stanley after Earle of Derby , the Lord Lovell , the Lord Gray of Grestocke , the Lord Scroope of Bolton , the Lord Fitzhugh , Sir William Parre of Rose a noble and valiant Gentleman , Father of the Lord Parr of Rose , Kendall , and Fitzhugh , and Grandfather to Sir William Parr Earle of Essex , and Marquesse of Northampton , Sir Edward Woodville Lord Rivers Brother to the Queene Elizabeth , with many other of Eminency and Noble quality . The Duke marched first with his Armie to the borders and frontieres of Scotland , giving the overthrow to such as resisted , then made up to the strong Towne of Barwicke , which at that instant the King of Scotland possessed by the surrender of Henry 6 , and had the like successe with those Troopes of the Enemies he met and found about the Towne . After a short siege the besieged upon Summons and Parlee ( finding themselves too weake to make good the opposition ) were easily perswaded to be at quiet , and safely rendring the Towne and Castle vpon very slender conditions , as is recorded in the Chronicle of Croyland . Having plac't a Governour and Garrison in the Towne , he Chron. Croy. continued his march towards Edenborough , with a purpose to besiege and sacke it , but was met in the halfe way by Embassadours from thence , who ( after a favourable audience and accesse craved ) in the name of their King and Nation implore a League , or at least a Truce betweene the Kingdomes , offering so faire conditions for it , that the Generall after a deliberate consultation , granted to suspend or intermit all hostile proceedings , with a faire entertainement to their persons , and a publike Edict throughout the Army , that no English should offer any violence or offence to any Scot or their goods , and by this provident truce , that ruddy storme ( which seemed terrible to impend ) was diverted and made a calme preface to the famous League , afterward concluded by him when he was K. and Iames the 4 th . of Scotland . But whilst these imployments staid him there , newes arrived of King Edwards death , and was muttered very doubtfully by some who had confidence and ground to suppose it hastened by treachery . The The doubtfull death of K. E. 4 vid. lib 4. Nobles at London , and in the South parts speedily call the Duke home by their private letters and free approbation , to assume the Protection of the Kingdome , and two Princes committed unto him by the King . Rex Edwardus 4. filios suos Richardo Duci Glocestriae , in tutelam The Duke of Gloucester made Lord Protector . moriens tradidit : as Polidore testifieth .

The Army and affaires of those parts disposed , he came to Yorke , where he made a few daies stay to pay some religious Offices and Ceremonies to the manes and exequies of the deceased King , so hastned to London , having in his Traine ( besides his owne ordinary Retinue ) sixe hundred voluntary Gentlemen of the North parts , brave Horsemen and gallantly mounted , upon the way he dispatched certaine seguall messengers to the young King ( who was then at Ludlow Castle in Wales ) to provide for his honourable Conduct of London where he arrived not long after the Lord Protector , and was magnificently received and lodged at the Bishops Pallace ; his Brother the Duke of Yorke was then with the Queene Mother in the Pallace at Westminster , who out of a pretended motherly care ( rather indeed her pollicy ) would not let him stirre from her to see the King , who had desired his company , but instantly takes Sanctuary with him in the Abbey . The Lord Protector sollicites her by some Noblemen to send or bring him to the King , which she peremptorily stood against , untill Cardinall Bourser , Archbishop of Canterbury , was made the Messenger , who so gravely and effectually perswaded with her , that she delivered him the Duke : After some dayes respite in London-House , the King ( according to ancient custome ) was to remove Court to the Tower of London , the Castle Royall , and chiefe House of safety in the Kingdome , untill the more weighty affaires of the State , and such troubles ( if any hapned , as often interceeds the alterations of Raignes were well dispatched and composed ( some threatning evils of that kind being discovered and extinguished before the Protector came to London . ) And untill all things proper to his Coronation were in preparation and readinesse , the Lord Protector still being neere unto Phil. de Comines in Lud. 11. him with all duty and care , and did him homage , as Honourable Phillippe de Comines , Le Du● de Glocester avoit fait homage á son N●ph●n Comme á so● Roy & souverain Seigneur ; but this Testimony being a voucht by one who loved not the Protector may leave more credit ; who sayes , when the young King approacht towards London , the Lord Sir Tho. Moore . Protector his Unckle rode barehead before him ; and in passing along , said with a loud voice to the People ; Behold your Prince and Soveraigne , Chronic ▪ Abbat . Croy. to which the Prior of Croyland , who lived in those dayes , reporteth , Richardus Protector nihil reverentiae , quod capite nudato , genu Flecto aliove quolibet corporis habitur insubdito exigit , regine potisuo facere distulit aut recusavit ; And why should these services and his constancy be judged lesse real to the Son then to the Father , his care & providence looking pregnantly through all turnes that concern'd him and his State ; and therefore timely remov'd such of Danger as were vehemently suspected for their Ambition and insolent assuming Power and Authoritie not proper to them , and so stood ill-affected to their Prince , and turbulent Maligners of the Government . And thus his strict justice to some , begat the envie of others , as it fell out in the time of King Edward , betweene those of the blood Royall ( with whom the ancient Barons sided ) and the Reginists , who being stubborne , haughty , and incomputable The insolency of the Queens Kindred . of the others nearnesse to the King , stir'd up Competitions and turbulencies among the Nobles , and became so insolent and publique in their pride , and Out-rages towards the people , that they forc't their murmurs at length to bring forth mutiny against them : But finding the Kings inclination gentle on that side , they so temper'd it , as they durst extend their malice to the Prince of the blood , and chiefe Nobilitie , many times by slanders and false suggestions , privately incensing the King against them , who suffered their insinuations too farre , whilst his credulitie stood abus'd , and his favour often alienated from those , whose innocence could understand no cause for it . The Engines of those intrusions and supplantations , were the Grayes , the Woodvills , and their kinsmen , who held a strong beliefe , to have better'd their power with the young King their kinsman , and then they might have acted their Rodomontades and injuries in a higher straine , remov'd the Prince of the blood , and set up what limits they pleased to their Faction and Power during the minoritie of the King , and after too , whilst the Queene Mother could usurpe or hold any superintendency upon the Soveraigntie , or her Sonne . These things , and the mischiefes that seem'd to superimpend the State , equally poiz'd , and consulted , by the Lord Protector , and others of the principall Nobilitie , it was resolv'd , to give a timely remedy or period unto them ; all which Sir Thomas Moore acknowledgeth , Sir Thomas Moore , in Edward 5. Rich. 3. and confesseth , the Nobles of the Kingdome had reason to suspect and feare the Queenes Kindred , would put their power more forward when their Kinsman came to be King , then in his Fathers time , although then their insolencies were intollerable . And this Author further acknowledgeth there had bin a long grudge & heart-burning betweene the King and Queenes Kindred in the time of King Edward ; which the King , although he were partiall for the Queenes Faction , was earnest to reconcile , but could not : And after he was dead , the Lord Gray , Marquesse Dorset , the Lord Rich. Gray , and the Lord Rivers , made full accompt to sway the young King ; and having learn'd , it was best fishing in a troubled streame , threw all occasions of dissention amongst the great men of this Kingdome , that so , whilst the other Nobles were busie in their owne quarrells , they might take an opportunitie to assault and supplant where they hated . And for provision towards the Designe , the Marquesse had secretly gain'd a great quantity of the Kings treasure out of the Tower , and the Woodevills made good preparations of Armes ; of which , some were met with by the way as they were conveighed close packed in C●rts . It was therefore high time for the Protector and ancient Nobilitie to looke circumspectly about them , and fasten on all occasions that might prevent such growing Treacheries , which could be no way but by taking off their heads . Which being resolved , the Marquesse of Dorset , the Lord Richard Gray their Uncle , Sir Anthony Woodeville , Lord Rivers , and some other of that kindred and Faction were apprehended , and at Pomfret executed ( onely the Marquesse , by some private notice given him , fled , and tooke Sanctuary ) At the Lord Hastings . same time the Lord Hastings ( who much favoured the Queene and her partie , especially the Marquesse ( therefore the more to be suspected dangerous ) was Arrested for High Treason , and in the Tower upon the Greene had his head chop 't off , an Act of more strange and severe appearance then the other , having the esteeme of a good Subject , and generally supposed much affectionate to the Protector , and the Duke of Buckingham . And Sir Thomas Moore , reporteth , Sir Thomas Moore . that the Protector was most unwilling to have lost him , but that he saw him joyning with their Enemies , and so his life had ill requited them and their purpose ; this was a Dilemma ; But what that purpose was , and what they had in Agitation at that instant is not disertly said onely from other places of the Story . And those which follow Sir Thomas Moore , it may be conceiv'd , they doubted him for his affectation of the Soveraigntie , & some practice against the King and his Brother for those be the charges they presse upon him , although it is neither said , nor made good by any direct and just proofe . But admit he was now growne jealous of him , and sent Sir William Catseby , a man in great credit with the Lord Hastings , to ●ound what opinion he held of that Title and Claime he might lay to the Crowne , who ( presuming upon Catsebies gratitude and trust that had beene advanced by him ) without circumstance , and even with indignation exprest an utter mislike thereof , and engaged himselfe , his uttermost power and abilitie against it , peremptorily adding , he had rather see the death and destructions of the Protector and Duke of Buckingham , then the young King deprived of the Crowne : Which reply , Catseby , ( being more just to his employment then honour in this poynt ) returnes the Protector , who layd hold upon the next occasion to seize his head , which is the greatest and bloodiest Crime that brings any proofe against him ; and yet not so cleare , but that there may be some other State-mistery or fraud suspected in it . Let us leave it up on that accompt , and but consider how much more wee forgive the fames of H. 1. E. 3. H. 4. E. 4. H. 7. because they had their happy Starres and successe ; and then , Prosperum scelus virtus vocatur , there is applause goes with the Act and Actor : Iulius Caesar , was , and ever will be reputed a wise and a great Captaine , although his Emulation cost an infinite quantitie of excellent humane blood , and his Nephew , Octa. Augustus , never ceased proscribing banishing and massacring , untill he had dispatched all his proud Emulators : Iulius Caesar thought it , Crimen sacrum vel crimen Regale ; or , Crimen sacrum Ambitio : Ci● . lib 3. de offic. & Suet. in vi●a Iul●i Caesaris . who●e rule was , Si violandum est jus , regnandi gratiâ Violandum est , ali is rebus piet atem colas . If right for ought may e're be violate , It must be only for a Soveraign State .

Drawing it from that rule ( though Apocrypha ) in Euripides . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. in Phoeniss . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

Si injuste agere oportet , pro tyrannide ( aut regno ) pulcherrimum est injuste agere , in aliis pietatem colere exped●t .

And Antonius Caracalla , alledged the Text to justifie the killing of his Brother Geta his Collegue , in the Empire . Polynic●s , the Brother of Eteocles was of the same Religion , and said , A Kingdome could not be bought at too high a rate , put in Friends , Kindred , Wife , and Axiom . Polit. Riches . Via ad potentiam est tollere ●●●ulos & premere Adversarios , which the great M●ster of Axiomes allowed , hath beene countenanced by many great examples of State-reason , and policie in all times , even since the Ogygian Age for an old observation , and generall in all forraigne Countries saith , — Regnum furto Senec. in trag . Et fraude ademptum antiquum est specimen imperii .