An. Reg. 12. The king retteth forward towards France. remooued with the quéene, and all his court, the one & twentith day of Maie being mondaie, from his manor of Gréenwich towards the sea side: and so on the fridaie the flue and twentith of Maie, he arriued at the citie of Canturburie, intending there to keepe his Whitsuntide. On the morrow after, the emperour being on the sea returning out of Spaine, arriued with all his nauie of ships roiall on the coast of Kent, direct to the port of Hieth the said daie by noone, where hée was saluted by the viceadmerall of England, sir William Fitz William, with six of the kings great ships well furnished, which laie for the safegard of passage betwixt Calis and Douer. Towards cuening the emperour departed from his ships, and entered into his bote, and comming towards land, was met and receiued of the lord cardinall of Yorke with such reucrence as to so noble a prince apperteined.
Thus landed the emperour Charles the fift at Douer, vnder his cloth of estate of the blacke eagle, all spread on rich cloth of gold. He had with him manie noble The emperor Charles the fift landeth in England. men, and manie faire ladies of his bloud. When he was come on land, the lord cardinall conducted him to the castell of Douer, which was prepared for him in most roiall maner. In the morning, the king rode with all hast to the castell of Douer to The méeting of the emperor and K. Henrie at Douer castell. welcome the emperour, and entering into the castell, alighted. Of whose comming the emperour hauing knowledge, came out of his chamber, and met him on the staires, where either of them embraced other in most louing maner, and then the king brought the emperour to his chamber. On Whitsundaie earlie in the morning, they tooke The emperor and K. Henrie kéepe Whitsuntide at Canturburie. their horsses, and rode to the citie of Canturburie, the more to kéepe solemne the feast of Pentecost: but speciallie to sée the quéene of England his aunt was the emperour his intent, of whom ye may be sure he was most ioifullie receiued and welcomed.
Thus the emperour and his retinue, both of lords and ladies, kept their Whitsuntide with the king and quéene of England, in the citie of Canturburie with all ioy and solace. The emperour yet himselfe séemed not so much to delight in pastime and Polydor. pleasure, but that in respect of his youthfull yeares, there appeared in him a great shew of grauitie: for they could by no meanes bring him to danse amongst the residue of the princes, but onelie was contented to be a looker on. Peraduenture the sight of the ladie Marie troubled him, whome he had sometime loued, and yet through fortunes euill hap might not haue hir to wife. The chiefe cause that mooued the emperour to come thus on land at this time, was to persuade that by word of mouth, which he had before done most earnestlie by letters; which was, that the king should not meet with the French king at anie interuiew: for he doubted least if the king of England & the French king should grow into some great friendship and faithfull bond of amitie, it might turne him to displeasure.
But now that he perceiued how the king was forward on his iournie, he did what he The emperor laboureth to hinder the purposed interueiw. could to procure, that no trust should be committed to the faire words of the Frenchmen: and that if it were possible, the great friendship that was now in bréeding betwixt the two kings, might be dissolued. And forsomuch as he knew the lord cardinall to be woone with rewards, as a fish with a bait: he bestowed on him great gifts, and promised him much more, so that he would be his friend, and helpe to bring his purpose to passe. The cardinall not able to susteine the least assault by force of such rewards as he presentlie receiued, and of such large promises as on the emperours behalfe were made to him, promised to the emperour, that he would so vse the matter, as his purpose should be sped: onelie he required him not to disalow the kings intent for interuiew to be had, which he desired in anie wise to go forward, that he might shew his high magnificence in France, according to his first intention.
The emperour remained in Canturburie till the thursdaie, being the last of Maie, Edw. Hall. and then taking leaue of the king, and of his aunt the queene, departed to Sandwich, where he tooke his ships and sailed into Flanders. The same daie, the king made The king landeth at Calis. saile from the port of Douer and landed at Calis about eleuen of the clocke, and with him the quéene and ladies, & manie nobles of the realme.. His grace was receiued into the checker, and there rested. The fourth of Iune, the king and quéene with all their traine remooued from Calls, to his princelie lodging newlie erected beside the towne of Guisnes, the most noble & roiall lodging that euer before was séene. ¶ For Ed. Hall in H. 8 fol. lxxiij., The descriptiō of the new palace before Guisnes. it was a palace, the which was quadrant, and euerie quarant of the same palace was thrée hundred and twentie eight foot long of assise, which was in compasse thirtéene hundred and twelue foot about. This palace was set on stages by great cunning & sumptuous worke.
At the entering into the palace before the gate, on the plaine gréene, was builded a fountaine ofimbowed worke, gilt with fine gold, and bice, ingrailed with antike works: the old god of wine called Bacchus birling the wine, which by the conduits in the earth ran to all people plentiouslie with red, white, and claret wine, ouer whose head was written in letters of Romane in gold, Faicte bonne chere quivouldra. On the other hand or side of the gate was set a piller, which was of ancient Romane worke, borne with foure lions of gold, the pillers wrapped in a wreath of gold curiouslie wrought and intrailed, and on the summit of the said piller stood an image of the blind god Cupid, with his bow and arrows of loue, readie by his séeming to strike the yoong people to loue.
The foregate of the same palace or place with great and mightie masonrie by sight The foregate of the said palace. was arched, with a tower on euerie side of the same part, rered by great craft, and imbattelled was the gate and tower, and in the fenesters and windowes were images resembling men of warre, readie to cast great stones. Also the same gate or tower was set with compassed images of ancient princes, as Hercules, Alexander, and other by intrailed worke, richlie limmed with gold and albine colours: and well and warilie was made ouer the gate loups, and inforced with battelments, and in the same gate a lodge for the porter, which there appeared, and other sumptuouslie apparelled like vnto kings officers. By the same gate all people passed into a large court faire and beautifull, for in this court appeared much of the outward beautie of this place, for The large court. from the first water table, to the raising or reisin péeces, were baie windowes, on euerie side mixed with deare stories curiouslie glased, the posts or moinels of euerie window was gilt.
Thus the outward part of the place lumined the eies of the beholders, by reason bf the sumptuous worke. Also the tower of the gate (as séemed) was builded by great masonrie, and by great engine of mans wit, for the sundrie countenances of euerie image that there appeared, some shooting, some casting, some readie to strike, and firing of gunnes, which shewed verie honorablie. Also all the said quadrants, baies, and edifices, were roiallie intrailed, as farre as vnto the same court apperteined. And The halpas. direct against the gate was deuised a halpas, and at the entrie of the staire, were images of sore and terrible countenances, all armed in curious worke of argentine. The baie of the same halpas pendant by craft of timber, & vnder it antike images of gold inuironed with verdor of olifs cast in compasse, mounstring their countenances toward the entring of the palace. The staire of the said halpas was cast of passage by the wents of brode steps, so that from the first foot or lowest step, anie person might without paine go vnto the highest piace of the same halpas.
On euerie hand was their chamber doores and enterings into the chambers of the The chambers and lodges. same palace, which were long and large, and well proportioned, to receiue light and aire at pleasure: the roofes of, them from place to place, and chamber to chamber were sieled, and couered with cloth of silke, of the most faili and quicke inuention that before time was séene. For the ground was white ingraild, embowed, and batoned with rich clothes of silkes, knit and fret with cuts and braids, and sundrie new casts, that the same clothes of silke shewed like bullions of fine burned gold: and the roses in losenges, that in the same roofe were in kindlie course, furnished so to mans sight, that no liuing creature might but ioy in the beholding thereof. For from the iaw péece of the said sieling (which péece was gilt with fine gold) were workes in pane paled, all the walles to the crest incountering the cleare stories, the same crest which was of large deepnesse, the worke was antike knots with bosses cast and wrought with more cunning than I can write, all which works and ouerages were gilt, and to set it the more to the glorie, the flourishing bise was comparable to the rich ammell.
Also at the foot of the same palace was another crest all of fine set gold, whereon hanged The hangings & other ornaments. rich & maruelous clothes of arras wrought of gold and silke, compassed of enanie ancient stories, with which clothes of arras euerie wall and chamber swere hanged, & all the windowes so richlie couered, that it passed all other sights before séene. In euerie chamber and euerie place conuenient were clothes of estate, great and large of cloth of gold, of tissue, and rich embroderie, with chaires couered with like cloth, with pommels of fine gold, and great cushins of rich worke of the Turkie making, nothing The chappell with appurtenances. lacked of honourable furnishment. Also to the same palace was reared a chappell with two closets, the quire of the said chappell sieled with cloth of gold, and thereon fiet ingrailed bent clothes of silke, all was then silke and gold. The altars of this chappell were hanged with rich reuesture of cloth of gold and tissue, embrodered with perles. Ouer the hie altar was hanged a rich canopie of maruellous greatnesse, the altar was apparelled with fiue paire of candlesticks of gold, and- on the altar an halpas, and thereon stood a crucifix all of fine gold, and on the same halpas stood twelue images of the bignes of foure yeares of age, all gold.
All the copes and vestments were so rich as might be prepared or bought in the citie of Florens, for they were all but of one péece, so wouen for the purpose, cloth of tissue and powdered with red roses purpled withe fine gold. The Orfris set with pearles and precious stones. And all the walles and deskes of this chappell were hanged Great cost vpō popish trumperie & supersticious trash. with right cloth of gold, & three rich great crosses were there readie to be borne at festiuall times, and basens and censers, gospellers, paxes, crewets, holie water vessels, and other ornaments all of gold. Also in the first closet was a trauerse for the kings person of cloth of gold, & in it his place & chaire, with cushins of cloth The kings closet. of gold: before the trauerse was an altar of presence, which altar was adorned with cloth of broderie, and rich pearles and precious stones, set in goldsmiths worke of fine gold. On the altar was a deske or halpas, whereon stood a patible of the crucifix of fine gold, with an image of the Trinitie, an image of the virgin Marie, and twelie other images, all fine gold & precious stones, two paire of candlesticks of fine gold, with the basens, crewets, paxes, and other ornaments.
The said closet was hanged with tapets embrodered with rich worke fret with pearles and stones, the roofe of the same closet was sieled with worke of inmouled, gilt with fine gold, and senoper, and bise. The second closet was for the queens person, in which was a trauerse of rich cloth of gold, the altar so richlie apparelled, The quéenes closet. that there lacked neither pearles nor stones of riches. On the altar were twelue great images of gold, the closet hanged with cloth of gold, all other iewels missall I suppose neuer such like were séene, and the roofe of the same closet was sieled with like worke that the kings closet was, as is before rehearsed. And from this palace or place into A priuic gallerie. the mightie & strong fortresse & castell roiall of Guisnes, was a gallerie for the secret passage of the kings person into a secret lodging within the same castell, the more Houses of offices both honourable and otherwise necessarie. for the king ease. Also to this palace was all houses of offices, that to such an honourable court should apperteine, that is to wit, the lord chamberlein, lord steward, lord treasuror of the houshold, for the comptroller, the office of gréene cloth, wardrobes, iewell house, and office of houshold seruice, as ewrie, pantrie cellar, butterie, spicerie, pitcher house, larder and poultrie, and all other offices so large and faire, that the officers might & did maruell, as in the craft of viands, by ouens, harthes, rered orses, chimnies, ranges, & such instruments as there were ordeined.
In this palace (as ye haue heard) was the kings grace lodged, and all the nobles after their degrees. And for that the towne of Guisnes was little, and that all the noble men might not there be lodged, they set vp tents in the field, to the number of twentie Tents erected. and eight hundred sundrie lodgings, which was a goodlie sight. Thus was the king in his palace roiall at Guisnes. Francis the French king was with all his nobles of the realme of France come to the towne of Ard, which was prepared for his comming, manie tents, halles, and pauilions were set and pitched in the field. On the French partie also there was at the same towne of Ard builded the French kings lodging full well, but not finished. Much was the prouision in Picardie on euerie part thorough all. The French king commanded his lodging to bée made a little out of the towne of Ard, in the territorie of an old castell, which by the warre of old time had béene beaten. On the same place was edified a house of solace and sport, of A bunketting house for solace and disport. large and mightie compasse, which was chieflie susteined by a great mightie mast, whereby the great ropes and tackle streined, the same mast was staied. All the roofe of the same house hoong on the same mast, and with tackle was streined & borne by the supporters of the same mast or trée, the colours of the same was all blew, set with starres of gold foile, and the orbs of the heauens by the craft of colours in the roofe, were curiouslie wrought in maner like the skie or firmament, and a cressant strained somedeale towards the towne of Ard, this cressant was couered with frets and knots made of iuie bushes, and box branches, and other things that longest would be gréene for pleasure.
Now like as diuerse of the French nobilitie had visited the king of England whilest he laie in Calis, so likewise the lord cardinall, as ambassadour to the king, rode with a noble repaire of lords, gentlemen, and prelates, to the towne of Ard, where he was of the French king highlie interteined, with great thanks, for that by his meanes hée had ioined in friendship with the king of England, to his high contentation and pleasure, as hauing obteined the thing which he had long desired. The noble port, sumptuous shew, and great traine of gentlemen, knights, lords, and number of seruants, The great pompo of cardinall Woolsie. in rich apparell & sutes of liueries attendant on the cardinall, made the French men greatlie to woonder at his triumphant dooings.
The king of England had giuen vnto the said cardinall full authoritie, power, and libertie, to affirme and confirme, bind and vnbind, whatsoeuer should be in question betwéene him and the French king: and the like authoritie, power, and libertie, did the French king by his sufficient letters patents, grant to the same cardinall, which Great credit committed to the cardinall by both the kings. The interuiew of the two kings in the vale of Andren. was accepted to be a signe of great loue, that he should commit so great a trust vnto the king of Englands subiect. The daie of the meeting was appointed to be on the thursdaie the seauenth of Iune, vpon which daie the two kings met in the vale of Andren, accompanied with such a number of the nobilitie of both realmes, so richlie appointed in apparell, and costlie iewels, as chaines, collars of S S, & other the like ornaments to set foorth their degrees and estates, that a woonder it was to behold and view them in their order and roomes, which euerie man kept according to his appointment.
The two kings méeting in the field, either saluted other in most louing wise, first on horssebacke, and after alighting on foot eftsoones imbraced with courteous words, to the great reioising of the beholders: and after they had thus saluted ech other, they went both togither into a rich tent of cloath of gold, there set vp for the purpose, in the which they passed the time in pleasant talke, banketting, and louing deuises, till it drew toward the euening, and then departed for that night, the one to Guisnes, the other to Ard. At this meeting of the two kings in open sight, I then well perceiued (saith Hall) the habillements roiall of the French king. His garment was a chemew, Edw. Hall in H. 8. fol. lxxvij. The French kings roiall ornaments. of cloath of siluer, culponed with cloath of gold, of damaske, cantell wise, and garded on the borders with the Burgon bands.
Ouer that he had a cloake of broched sattin, with gold of purple colour, wrapped about his bodie trauerse, beded from the shoulder to the wast, fastned in the loope of the first fould: this said cloake was richlie set with pearles and pretious stones. This French king had on his head a coife of damaske gold set with diamonds, and his courser that he rode on was couered with a trapper of tissue, brodered with deuise, cut in fashion mantell wise, the skirts were embowed and fret with frized worke, and knit with corbelles & buttons tasseled of Turkie making, raines and headstall answering of like worke: and verelie of his person the same Francis the French king, a The description of the French kings person. goodlie prince, statelie of countenance, merie of chéere, browne coloured, great eies, high nosed, big lipped, faire brested, broad shoulders, small legges, & long féet.
On saturdaie the ninth of Iune, in a place within the English pale were set vp in a field called the campe, two trées of much honour, the one called the Aubespine, that The dsecription of the wo artificiall tices figuring Henrie and Francis. is to saie, the hawthorne in English, for Henrie: and the other the Framboister, which in English signifieth the raspis berie, after the signification in French. These trees were curiouslie wrought, the leaues of gréene damaske, the branches, boughs, and withered leaues of cloath of gold; and all the bodies and armes of the same cloath of gold laid on timber: they were in height from the foot to the top thirtie foure foot of assize, in compasse about an hundred twentie and nine foot, & from bough to bough fortie thrée foot: on these trées were flowers and fruits in kindlie wise, with siluer and Venice gold: their beautie shewed farre.
On the same daie the two kings came to those trées of honour, noblie accompanied The length of the campe. in such roiall sort as was requisit. The campe was in length nine hundred foot, and in bredth thrée hundred and twentie foot ditched round about (sauing at the entries) with broad and déepe ditches. Diuerse scaffolds were reared about this campe for the ease of the nobles. On the right side of the field stood the quéene of England, and the quéene of France, with manie ladies. The campe was stronglie railed and barred on euerie end: in the entrie there were two lodgings prepared for the two kings, wherein they might arme themselues, and take their ease. Also in the same compasse there were two great cellars couched full of wine, which was liberallie bestowed on all men. The two kings make chalenge to all commers at iusts, & c. The two kings, as brethren in armes, vndertooke to deliuer all persons at iusts, tour nie and barriers.
With these two kings were associate by the order of armes, the duke of the Vandosme, the duke of Suffolke, the countie saint Paule, the marquesse Dorset, monsieur de Roche, sir William Kingston, monsieur Brian, sir Richard lerningham, monsieur Canaan, sir Giles Capell, monsieur Buccall, maister Nicholas Carew, monsieur Montafilion, and maister Anthonie Kneuet. On mondaie the eleuenth of lune, the two quéenes of England and of France came to the campe, where either saluted other The two quéenes met at the campe. right honourablie, and went into a stage for them prepared. At the houre assigned, the two kings armed at all peeces mounted on horssebacke, and with their companies entered the field; the French king on a courser barded, couered with purple sattin, broched with gold, & embrodered with corbins fethers round and buckled, the fethet Ed. Hall in H. 8. fol. lxxvij, &c. The French kings rich araie at these justs. was blacke and hatched with gold: on his head péece he bare a sleue. All the parteners of the French kings chalenge were in like apparell euerie thing correspondent in cloath of silke embrodered, on his person were attendant on horssebacke noble persons, and on foot foure persons all apparelled in purple sattin.
The king of England was vpon a fresh courser, the trappers of cloth of gold, of The king of Englands sumptuous furniture at the same justs. tissue, the arson mantell wise, and on the brunt of the trapper bard fashion, cut in waues of water worke, and euerie waue raw wrought and frized with damaske gold: this worke was laid loose on russet veluet, and knit togither with points of gold, which waues signified the lordship of the narrow seas. All the parteners of the kings cha. lenge were in the same sute, their horsses as well as their persons. Attendant on the king on horssebacke were sir Henrie Guilford maister of the kings horsse, sir Iohn Pechie deputie of Calis, sir Edward Guilford maister of the kings armie, and monsieur Moret of the French court. All these foure were apparelled in the kings liuerie, which was white on the right side, and the left side gold and russet both hose and garment: on him were attendant on foot six honourable knights, twentie esquiers, and officers to the number of an hundred and twelue persons, of the which number all the knights and gentlemen had coats, the one halfe siluer, and the other cloath of gold and russet veluet, and the other officers coats were of right sattin of the same colour, and all their hosen were of the same sute verie costlie.
Thus with honour and noble courage these two noble kings with their companies The two kings enter into the field. entered into the field, and them presented vnto the quéenes. After reuerence doone, they rode round about the tilt, and so tooke their places appointed, abiding the answers: which was for the first the duke of Alanson and ten men of armes on his band, on coursers barded, the bards couered with white and black veluet, fastened the one within the other, garded with Burgon bands of tinsell sattin, as well their garments as their bards. Then entered on coursers barded twelue gentlemen of the band of the lord admerall of France, their garments and bards were russet sattin, broched with gold and white and purple sattin, after the deuise of their pleasure with great plumes. When these bands were entred the field, they shewed themselues about the tilt, and did reuerence vnto the queenes. The band of the duke of Alanson tooke first place, they made them prest on both sides, the French king was the first that ran, he did valiantlie and brake speares mightilie.
Then ran the king of England to monsieur Grandeuilewith great vigor; so that The king of England runneth against Grandeuils. the speares brake in the kings hand to thevantplate all to shiuers. And at the second course he gaue the said monsieur Grandeuile such a stroke, that the charnell of his headpéece, although the same was verie strong, was broken in such wise that he might run no more, wherby the king wanted three courses. Then ran the duke de Vandosme, & met his counter part right noblie, and brake speares right valiantlie. The noble duke of Suffolke charged his course, and met right valiantlie his counter part, and furnished the fiue courses right noblie togither like good men of armes. And when all parties of the chalenge had right valiantlie furnished their courses, then ran againe the two noble kings, who did so valiantlie, that the beholders had great ioy, after which courses the heralds cried Desarmee, and the trumpets sounded to lodging.
On tuesdaie the twelfe of Iune at houre conuenient the two quéenes tooke their Monsieur de Swies and his band. stages, and the band of chalenge in the field prest to answer and deliuer all commers, to whome came ten gentlemen armed on barded horsses of the band of monsieur de Swies, their bards and apparell cloath of veluet full of friers knots siluer. After they had presented them vnto the quéenes, they they tooke the end of the tilt, and so course after course they ran to the chalenegers right egerlie, and the chalengers of the partie of the two kings deliuered to the end of their articles of iusts. Then entered eleuen men of armes of the band of monsieur de Tremoiell, on horsses barded with yellow veluet, losenged with friers knots of blacke veluet: and after they had saluted the quéenes, they likewise tooke the end of the tilt, and course after course ran vntill they were deliuered of their chalenges of iusts. Valiantlie this daie was finished.
On wednesdaie the thirtéenth of Iune, the two hardie kings armed at all peeces, The attire of the French king and his parteners of chalenge. entered into the field right noblie apparelled. The French king and all his parteners of chalenge were arraied in purple sattin, broched with gold and purple veluet, embrodered with little rolles of what sattin, wherein was written, Quando: their bards & garments were set full of the same, and the residue where was no rolles were pondered & set with the letter elle, as thus, L which in French is she, which was interpreted to be, Quando elle, when she: and insuing the deuise of the first daie, it signifieth togither, Hart fastened in paine endles, when she. The king of England The king of England and the parteners of his chalenge. with all the band or parteners of his chalenge were likewise on horssebacke, apparelled in trappers of losenges russet veluet and cloath of siluer of damaske, embrodered and set in euerie losenge a branch of eglantine of gold, the apparell of the persons were of the same correspondent to the trapper. This eglantine trée is sweet, pleasant and greene, if it be kindlie and fréendlie handeled; but if it be rudelie dealt with, it will pricke and he that will pull vp the whole trée by the top, his hands will be hurt.
The two kings with their companies thus apparelled, presented themselues to the queenes, and so tooke the end of the tilt. Then entered into the field monsieur Leskew called lord Leskin, with him came eleuen men of armes, himselfe the twelfe on horsses barded and richlie apparelled, and so rode about the tilt and saluted the qneenes, and tooke the end of the tilt. Monsieur de Leskew and his eleuen companions Monsieur Leskew. had their bases and bards all of blacke cloath of gold of damaske all cut on blacke sattin, their garments had mantell sléeues on the left arme, to the wast behind iust to the shoulder, which was praised for the strangenesse. The French king ran to monsieur de Ambois, one of the band of monsieur Leskew, and the king of England charged his course and ran to monsieur Leskew, and so furnished their courses (as they saie) right noblie and valiantlie in breaking speares that were strong. Thus course after course ech with other, his counter partie did right valiantlie: but the two kings surmounted all the rest in prowesse and valiantnesse.
This band thus furnished, entered the marquesse de Salons and his band, twelue The marques de Salons & his band. persons all riding on coursersbarded and apparelled in white sattin and blacke, broched with gold and siluer, with cuts and culpins much after tawnie and blacke sattin billots: & after reuerence doone to the queenes, they tooke the end of the tilt. To the marquesse de Salons ran the king of England, and the king of France to an other of the same band, still course after course ran all the noble men, till the marques de Salons and his band were deliuered, who bare them right valiantlie: then blew the trumpets the retreit, & the two kings them vnarmed and after departed, the French king vnto Ard, and the king of England to his castell of Guisnes.
On thursdaie the thirtéenth daie of Iune by the noonetide the two quéenes met in the campe & tooke their places, the people were come to behold the honour, and to sée the two kings, who all readie armed entered the field, to receiue and deliuer all The two kings armed enter the field. men by answer of iusts. Then entered the earle of Deuonshire, on his band the lord Montacute, lord Herbert, lord Leonard Greie, maister Arthur Poole, maister Francis Brian, maister Henrie Norris, and foure other all richlie apparelled, the one side blew veluet embrodered with a mans heart burning in a ladies hand holding a A deuise or conceipt. garden pot stilling with water on the heart: the other side was white sattin embrodered with letters of gold. This companie rode about the tilt, and did reuerence to the queenes, and so abode at the end of the same.
The earle of Deuonshire charged his speare, and the French king likewise charged his course to meet the same earle, and ran so hard togither, that both their speares brake, and so mainteined their courses noblie. Then ran the king of England to monsieur Memorancie, and him encountered, & both bare togither and gaue great strokes; the kings most noble grace neuer disuisored nor breathed vntill lie ran the fiue courses & deliuered his counterpartie. Dukes, marquesses, knights, esquiers, and others ran as fast as euer they might, there was none that abode when the courses came, vntill the earle of Deuonshire and his band were deliuered of demands. Then entered the The lord Howard and his eleuen companions in armes. lord Howard sonne to the duke of Norffolke and eleuen companions apparelled and barded in crimsin sattin full of flames of gold, the borders ribbed with crimsin veluet, and with much honor (after due reuerence doone to the quenes) were brought with heralds ofarmes about the tilts; and so tooke the place to them appointed: right rich was their apparell.
Then ran the French king and incountered the same lord Edmund, they brake both their staues valiantlie course after course, the incounter ceassed not till they had furnished their fiue courses; so was the lord Edmund deliuered by the French K. Then ran the king of England to a strong gentleman named Rafe Brooke and brake his speare, and ran course after course, vntill he had finished his courses right noblie and like a prince of most valiancie. The residue ceassed not vntill they had ech deliuered other of their chalenge. On fridaie the fiftéenth daie of Iune the king of England The king of England and his band with their deuise on their apparell. mounted on a courser roiall, his person armed at all peeces, his apparell and trappers was the one side rich cloath of gold of tissue, the other side cloath of tissue of siluer, and cloath of gold of tissue entered ound the one with the other.
The ound is a worke wauing vp & downe, and all the borders as well trappers as other was garded with letters of fine gold, and all the other side that was ound was set with signes called cifers of fine gold, the which were set with great and orientall pearles. The cifers signified letters knit togither in a knot, which was to wit; God my freend, my realme and I maie. This was the deuise and reason thereof. All the kings band were apparelled in like apparell. The French K.likewise armed at all The French king, his furniture and deuise vpon his ornaments. points mounted on a courser roiall, all his apparell as well bards as garments were purple veluet entered the one with the other, embrodered full of little books of white sattin, & in the bookes were written A me. About the borders of the bards and the borders of the garments a chaine of blew like iron, resembling the chaine of a well or prison chaine, which was interpreted to be Liber, a booke. Within this booke was written (as is said) A me. Put these two togither and it maketh Libera me. The chaine betokeneth prison or bonds, and so maketh togither in English, Deliuer me of bonds. Then they tooke the end of the tilt.
Readie was monsieur Florengis and with him twelue men of armes with coursers Monsieur Florengis and his companie. barded: the bards and apparell was crimsin veluet, tawnie veluet, and plunket veluet embrodered borderwise with sheepeheards hookes of cloath of siluer. When they with honour had passed about the tilt (due reuerence to the quéenes and ladies doone) the two kings had their speares readie, and then began the rushing of speares. The king of England this daie ran so ficshlie and so manie courses, that one of his best coursers was dead that night, this band was deliuered man after man of their pretense of iusts. Then entered bands of monsieur de Rambeurs and monsieur de Puis, ech hauing eleuen persons in number, the one band all white sattin embrodered with blacke, and the other all blacke dropped with siluer drops; who after reuerence doone to the quéenes, at the end of the tilt tooke their places. Then began a new incounter hard and sore, manie of them bare great strokes of the kings, to their honour: and with such violence they ran, as they set their horsses in a sweating heat, and themselues meeting with full force made the fragments or broken peeces of their staues mount aloff in the air like an arow out of a bow; as the poet saith;
Hastæ stridentis fractæ petit æthera cuspis.On saturdaie the seuentéenth daie of Iune, the French king with a small number The French king commeth to Guisne, & the king of England goeth to Ard. came to the castle of Guisnes about the houre of eight in the morning. The king being in his priuie chamber had thereof knowledge, who with glad hast went to receiue the same French king, and him met and welcomed in friendlie and honorable maner; and after communication betwéene them had, the king of England departed, leauing the French king there in the sumptuous place before named. Then was busie the lord chamberleine, the lord steward, and all other officers, to make readie feast and cheare. It were too long to rehearse all, for such a feast and banket was then made, that of long time before the like had not bene séene. The king of England thus departing, he tooke his horsse, and with a companie of noblemen rode to Ard, where the French quéene and other noble men receiued him with much honour. After which receiuing, he was by the said quéene and lords brought into a chamber The king of England interteined of the French quéene. hanged with blew veluet embrodered with flowers delice of cloth of gold, wherein was a great bed of like worke, from whence he was conueied to another chamber, in the which was a kings state. This chamber was hanged and sieled with cloth of gold, embrodered with great cordels or friers knots of cloth of siluer. In the same chamber were two cupboords, on either side one, furnished with great and goodlie plate gilt. Noble feasting and cheare was there made. After dinner the ladies dressed them to danse, and certeine yoong honourable lords of England, apparelled after the maner of Rusland or farre Eastland, whose hosen were of rich gold sattin called A maske in the French court of English lords. aureat sattin, ouerrolied to the knée with scarlet, and on their feet shooes with little pikes of white nailes after the Estland guise, their dublets of rich crimsin veluet and cloth of gold, with wide sléeues lined with cloth of gold: ouer this they had clokes of crimsin veluet short, lined with cloth of gold, on euerie side of the clokes rings of siluer, with laces of Venice gold, and on their heads they had hats made in the towne of Danske, and purses of seales skinnes, and girdels of the same: all these yoong lords had visards on their faces, and their hats were drawne with like hatbands full of damaske gold. Other ten lords were apparelled in long gownes of blew sattin of the ancient fashion, embrodered with reasons of gold that said Adieu iunesse, Farewell youth: they had tippets of blacke veluet, & hats hanging therby, & on their heads hie violet standing caps, and girdels of silke, and purses of cloth of gold after the ancient maner, with visards on their faces of like anciencie. After all these triumphs and braueries, great store of spices, fruits, iellies, & banketing viands were brought, which being doone and ended, the king tooke leaue of the French queene and ladies, to whome were brought thirtie horsses trapped in damaske, white and yellow, and so passed he and his traine the towne of Ard into the field and campe. Right roiailie also was the French K. interteined, and all other after their degree and state. Now when all this so!emnitie was ended, the French king tooke leaue of the quéene and ladies of the court. The lord cardinall in statelie attire, accompanied with the duke of Buckingham, and other great lords, conducted forward the French king, and in their way they incountered and met the king of England and his companie right in the vallie of Anderne, apparelled in their masking apparell, which gladded the French king. After The two kings méet. reuerence doone, the said two kings departed for that night, the English to Guisnes, and the French to Ard. On mondaie, the eighteenth of Iune, was such an hideous storme of wind and weather, A great and tempetuous wind prognosticating trouble. that manie coniectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortlie after to follow betwéene princes. On tuesdaie the ninteenth of Iune, the two kings came to the campe againe armed at all peeces, and there abode them that would come, so that then began the iustes afresh. On wednesdaie the twentith of Iune, the two kings began to hold tournies with all the parteners of their chalenge armed at all péeces. The quéene of France and the quéene of England were in the places for them prepared, and there was manie a goodlie battell performed: the kings dooing as well as the best, so that the beholders spake of them honor. On thursdaie the one and twentith of Iune, the two kings likewise kept the tourneies, so that all those noble men that would prooue their valiancies, were deliuered according to the articles of the tourneies, which this daie tooke end. On fridaie the 22 of Iune, the two kings Barriers. with their retinue did battell on foot at the barriers, and there deliuered all such as put foorth themselues to trie their forces. On saturdaie the thrée and twentith of Iune, The cardinall sang masse before the two kings. the lord cardinall sang an high solemne masse by note, aloft vpon a pompous stage before the two kings & quéenes, the which being finished, indulgence was giuen to all the hearers. The two kings dined in one chamber that daie, and the two quéenes in another. After dinner, the two kings with their band entered the field on foot before the barriers, & so began the fight, which continued battell after battell, till all the commers were answered. There were deliuered this day thus at the barriers by battell, an hundred and six persons: the two last battels did the kings trie. And so that saturdaie the whole chalenge was performed, and all men deliuered of the articles of iusts, tourneies, and battels on foot at the barriers, by the said two kings and their aids. After this, there followed roiall maskes, and on the sundaie the foure and twentith Maskes. of Iune, the king of England with foure companies, in euerie companie ten, trimlie appointed in masking apparell, rode to Ard: and likewise the French king accompanied with eight and thirtie persons as maskers repaired to Guisnes. They met on the waie, & each companie passed by other without any countenance making or disuisarding. They were honorablie receiued, as well at the one place as the other. And when they had ended their pastime, banketting; and danses, they returned and met againe on the way homeward, and then putting off their visards, they louinglie embraced: and after amiable communication togither, they tooke leaue each of other, & for a remembrance gaue gifts either to other verie rich and princelie. ¶ During this triumph, much people of Picardie and west Flanders drew to Ed. Hall in H. 8. fol. lxxxiiij. Guisnes, to sée the king of England &is honor, to whom vittels of the court were giuen in plentie, the conduit of the gate did run wine alwaies. There were vagabonds, plowmen, labourers, and of the bragerie, wagoners and beggers, that for drunkennesse laie in routs and heapes. So great resort came thither, that knights Knights and ladies faine to lie in haie and straw. and ladies, who were come to sée the noblenesse, were faine to lie in haie and straw, and held them thereof highlie pleased. From the court of the emperour, nor of the ladie Margarets court, nor of Flanders, Brabant, nor Burgognie cam neuer a person to answer to the chalenge. By that it séemed that there was small loue betwene the emperour & the French king. Moreouer, monsieur Faiot capteine of Bullongne with monsieur Chattelon, did their deuoir to haue taken the towne of saint Omer, of which dooing was thought no goodnesse to the emperour.] On mondaie the fiue and twentith of Iune, the king with the quéene remooued from Guisnes to Calis, where he remained till the tenth of Iulie, on which daie be King Henrie departed from Guisnes to Calis, & from thence to Grauchng to visit the emperour. Ed. Hall in H. 8. fol. lxvj. rode to Graueling, and was receiued on the waie by the emperour, and so by him conueied to Graueling, where not onelie the king, but also all his traine was cheared and feasted, with so louing maner, that the Englishmen highly praised the emperours court. [When the French king and his lords had knowledge of the meeting of the emperour and the king of England in the towne of Graueling, they were therewith greatlie gréeued, as by manie things appeared. For as the Englishmen were in France disdained, and in their sutes there greatlie deferred, and had little right, and much lesse fauour: so from day to day still more and more began hartburning, and in conclusion open warre did arise betweene the two realmes.] On wednesdaie the eleuenth of Iulie, the emperour and his aunt the ladie Margaret The emperor commeth to Calis to king Henrie. duchesse of Sauoy came with the king of England to the towne of Calis, and there continued in great ioy and solace, with feasting, banketting, dansing and masking vntil the fouretéenth of Iulie. ¶ For the interteining of these estates (the English Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 927. Banketting house within the towne of Calis. Re. Turpin. lords and gentlemen displaced of their lodgings to serue the other and their traine) there was builded a banketting house eight hundred foot compasse, like a theatre, after a goodlie deuise, builded in such maner as (I thinke) was neuer séene, with sixtéene principals made of great masts, betwixt euerie mast foure and twentie foot, and all the outsides closed with boord and canuas. Ouer it, and within round about by the sides, were made thrée scaffolds or lofts one aboue another for men and women to stand vpon. And in the midst of the same banketting house, was set vp a great piller of timber made of eight great masts, bound togither with iron bands, for to hold them togither: for it was anhundred and foure and thirtie foot of length, and cost six pounds thirteene shillings and fourepence to set it vpright. The banketing house was couered ouer with canuas, fastened with Goodlie workmanship within the bauketting house. ropes and iron as fast as might be deuised. And within the said house was painted the heauens, with starres, sunne, moose, and clouds, with diuerse other things made aboue ouer mens heads: and there were great images of wickers couered, and made like great men of diuerse strange nations: and diuerse reasons were written by them of the countries that they likened to be of, with the armes of those countries hanging by them. Also there was made as it were manie ships vnder saile, and windmils going, and about the high piller of timber that stood vpright in the middest, was made stages of timber for organs and other instruments to stand vpon, and men to plaie on them, & for other musicians & pageants to be plaied, when the K. of England & the emperor should be at their banket. But in the morning of the same day, the wind began to rise, & at night blew off the canuas, and all the elements, with the starres, Banketting house defaced by tempest. sunne, moone, and clouds, and the wind blew out aboue a thousand torches, and other lights of wax, that were prepared to giue light to the banket, & all the kings seats that were made with great riches, besides all other things, were all dashed and lost.] The same daie at night that the states were interteined, the king and fifteene persons A statelie mask to solace the emperor & his companie. were apparelled all in blacke veluet couered with cloth of gold, cut on the veluet, fastened with knots of gold, on the which knots hoong spangles of gold like tufts, and bonnets of the same, & clokes of crimsin sattin and cloth of gold wrapped trauerse, and their buskins of the same cloth of gold. All these lustie maskers went to the emperours lodging, and were receiued, and in the chamber of presence dansed and reuelled, the which at the emperours request, the king and other dis, uisarded themselues, whereby the king was knowne: then the king tooke his leaue, and departed for that night. On tuesdaie the twelfe of Iulie, bicause the banketting house could not be finished, the emperour and the ladie Margaret supped with the king & the queene at the checker, where the same night after supper reuelled ninetie and six maskers: after the reuels was a banket, after which banket the king brought the emperour and the ladie Margaret to the staple, and after withdrew him. This night were eight companies of maskers, and in euerie companie twelue persons all in gold, siluer and veluet, richlie apparelled, but bicause the roome was small, the shew was the lesse. In these reuels were put in maskers apparell diuerse French gentlemen in maskers apparell vnwéeting to them that bare rule in the reuels. gentlemen of the French court vnwéeting to the K. or anie other that bare rule. For diuerse yoong gentlemen of the French court fauored more the French partie, than the emperours partie; through which meanes they saw and much more heard than they should haue doone. On fridaie the thirteenth daie of Iulie, the emperour did intend to haue departed from Calis, but the counsell was such that he departed not that night. On saturdaie the fouretéenth oflulie, the emperour tooke his leaue of the queene of England his aunt, and departed toward Graueling, being conducted on his waie by the king of England, to a village towards Flanders called Waell, and there they imbraced and tooke their leaue either of other in most louing maner. They did not altogither spend the time thus while they were togither, in vaine pleasures, and sporting reuels; for the charters before time concluded were read ouer, and all the articles of the league tripartite agréed betwixt the emperour, the king of England, and the French king, were at full declared, to the which the French king had fullie condescended. And for the more proofe thereof, and exemplification of the same, he sent monsieur de Roch with letters of credence to signifie to the emperour, that in the word of a prince he would obserue, fulfill, performe and kéepe all the same articles, for him, his realme and subiects. Shortlie after that the emperour and the king had The king returneth into England. taken leaue each of other, and were departed, the king shipped, and with the quéene and all other the nobilitie returned safelie into England. The king kept his Christmas at Greenwith this yeare, with much noblenesse and open court. And the tenth daie of Februarie, in his owne person, iusted with all commers. On Twelfe daie his grace and the earle of Deuonshire, with foure aids, answered at the tourneie all commers, which were sixtéene persons: noble and rich was their apparell, but in feats of armes the king excelled the rest. About this time 1521 Polydor. the king hauing regard to the common welth of his realme, considered how for the space of fiftie yeares past and more, the nobles and gentlemen of England, being giuen to grasing of cattell, and kéeping of shéepe, had inuented a meane how to increase their yearlie reuenues, to the great decaie and vndooing of husbandmen of the land. For the said nobles and gentlemen, after the maner of the Numidans, An inconuenience of turning arable ground into pasture. more studieng how to increase their pastures, than to mainteine tillage, began to decaie husband tacks & tenements, and to conuert arable ground into pasture, furnishing the same with beasts and shéepe, and also deere, so inclosing the field with hedges, ditches, and pales, which they held in their owne hands, ingrossing woolles, and selling the same, and also shéepe and beasts at their owne prices, and as might stand most with their owne priuate commoditie. Hereof a thréefold euill chanced to the common wealth, as Polydor noteth. One, The commonwealth hurt thrée waies thereby. for that thereby the number of husbandmen was sore diminished, the which the prince vseth chieflie in his seruice for the warres: an other, for that manie townes and villages were left desolate, and became ruinous: the third, for that both wooll and cloth made thereof, and the flesh of all maner beasts vsed to be eaten, was sold at far higher prices than was accustomed. These enormities at the first begining being not redressed, grew in short space to such force and vigour by euill custome, that afterwards they gathered to such an vnited force, that hardly they could be remedied. Much like a disease, which in the beginning with litle paine to the patient, and lesse labour to the surgeon maie be cured; whereas the same by delai and negligence being suffered to putrifie, becommeth a desperate sore, and then are medicines nothing auailable, and not to be applied, according to his opinion that said:
The king therefore causing such good statutes as had beene deuised and established for reformation in this behalfe, to be reuiued and called vpon, took order by directing Commissions granted for the maintenance of tillage and laieng open of inclosures. foorth his commissions vnto the iustices of peace, and other such magistrats, that presentment should be had and made of all such inclosures, and decaie of husbandrie, as had chanced within the space of fiftie yeares before that present time. The iustices and other magistrates, according to their commission executed the same. And so commandement was giuen, that the decaied houses should bée built vp againe, that the husbandmen should be placed eftsoones in the same, and that inclosed grounds should be laid open, and sore punishment appointed against them that disobeied. These so good and wholesome ordinances shortlie after were defeated by meanes of Bribes. bribes giuen vnto the cardinall: for when the nobles and gentlemen, which had for their pleasures imparked the common fields, were loth to haue the same againe disparked, they redéemed their vexation with good summes of monie; and so had licence to keepe their parks and grounds inclosed as before. Thus the great expectation which men had conceiued of a general redresse, prooued void: howbeit, some profit the husbandmen in some parts of the realme got by the moouing of this matter, where inclosures were alreadie laid open, yer mistresse monie could preuent them; and so they inioied their commons, which before had beene taken from them. After that this matter for inclosures was thus dispatched, the cardinall boiling in The cardinall deuiseth the destruction of the duke of Buckingham. hatred against the duke of Buckingham, & thirsting for his bloud, deuised to make Charles Kneuet, that had beene the dukes surueior, and put from him (as ye haue heard) an instrument to bring the duke to destruction. This Kneuet being had in examination before the cardinall, disclosed all the dukes life. And first he vttered, that the duke was accustomed by waie of talke, to saie, how he meant so to vse the matter, that he would atteine to the crowne, if king Henrie chanced to die without issue: & that he had talke and conference of that matter on a time with George Neuill, lord of Aburgauennie, vnto whome he had giuen his daughter in marriage; and also that he threatened to punish the cardinall for his manifold misdooings, being without cause his mortall enimie. The cardinall hauing gotten that which he sought for, incouraged, comforted, and The cardinall imbedeneth Kneuet against the duke. procured Kneuet, with manie comfortable words and great promises, that he should with a bold spirit and countenance obiect and laie these things to the dukes charge, with more if he knew it when time required. Then Kneuet partlie prouoked with desire to be reuenged; and partlie mooued with hope of reward, openlie confessed, that the duke had once fullie determined to deuise meanes how to make the king away, being brought into a full hope that he should be king, by a vain prophesie which one Nicholas Hopkins, a monke of an house of the Chartreux order beside Bristow, called Henton, sometime his confessor had opened vnto him. The cardinall hauing thus taken the examination of Kneuet, went vnto the king, The cardinall accuseth the duke of Buckingham to the king. and declared vnto him, that his person was in danger by such traitorous purpose, as the duke of Buckingham had conceued in his heart, and how that now there is manifest tokens of his wicked pretense: wherefore, he exhorted the king to prouide for his owne suertie with speed. The king hearing the accusation, inforced to the vttermost by the cardinall, made this answer; If the duke haue deserued to be punished, let him haue according to his deserts. The duke hervpon was sent for vp to London, & at his comming thither, was streightwaies attached, and brought to Edw. Hall. the Tower by sir Henrie Marneie, capteine of the gard, the sixtéenth of Aprill. There was also attached the foresaid Chartreux monke, maister Iohn de la Car alis de la Court, the dukes confessor, and sir Gilbert Perke priest, the dukes chancellor. After the apprehension of the duke, inquisitions were taken in diuerse shires ofHelleborum frustra (cùm iam cutis agra tumescit)
Poscentes videas: venienti occurrite morbo.
