Mirror for Magistrates, Volume 1 — Reading Notes

uendoline_. Ant. C. 1064. _Higgins_ 53

4 How Queene _Elstride_ the Concubine, and second Wife, of King _Locrinus_, was miserably drowned by Queene _Guendoline_. Ant. C. 1064. _Higgins_ 62

5 How the Lady _Sabrine_, daughter of King _Locrinus_ and _Elstride_, was drowned by Queen _Guendoline_. Ant. C. 1064. _Higgins_ 77

6 How King _Madan_ for his euill life was slayne by wolues. Ant. C. 1009. _Higgins_ 86

7 How King _Malin_ was slayne by his brother King _Mempricius_. Ant. C. 1009. _Higgins_ 92

8 How King _Mempricius_ giuen all to lust, was deuoured by wolues. Ant. C. 989. _Higgins_ 98

9 How King _Bladud_ taking on him to fly, fell vpon the Temple of _Apollo_, and brake his necke. Ant. C. 844. _Higgins_ 106

10 How Queene _Cordila_ in dispaire slew her selfe. Ant. C. 800. _Higgins_ 123

11 How King _Morgan_ of Albany was slayne at Glamorgan in Wales. Ant. C. 760. _Higgins_ 143

12 How King _Iago_ dyed of the Lethargie. Ant. C. 612. _Higgins_ 149

13 How King _Forrex_ was slayne by his brother King _Porrex_. Ant. C. 491. _Higgins_ 153

14 How King _Porrex_ which slewe his brother, was slaine by his owne mother and hir maydens. Ant. C. 491. _Higgins_ 163

15 How King _Pinnar_ was slain in battayle by _Mulmucius Donwallo_. Ant. C. 441. _Higgins_ 172

16 How King _Stater_ of Scotland was slayne by _Mulmucius Donwallo_. Ant. C. 441. _Higgins_ 175

17 How King _Rudacke_ of Wales was slayne by _Mulmucius Donwallo_. Ant. C. 441. _Higgins_ 178

18 How the noble King _Brennus_ after many triumphant victories, at the seege of Delphos in Greece slewe himselfe. Ant. C. 375. _Higgins_ 183

19 How King _Kimarus_ was deuoured by wilde beastes. Ant. C. 321. _Higgins_ 208

20 How King _Morindus_ was deuoured by a monster. Ant. C. 303. _Higgins_ 213

21 How King _Emerianus_ for his tirany was deposed. Ant. C. 235 _Higgins_ 220

22 How King _Chirinnus_ giuen to dronkennesse, raygned but one yeare. Ant. C. 137. _Higgins_ 222

23 How King _Varianus_ gaue himselfe to the lustes of the flesh. Ant. C. 136. _Higgins_ 226

24 How the worthie Britaine Duke _Nennius_, as a valiaunt soldier and faithfull subiecte, encountred with _Iulius Cæsar_, and was by him death wounded. Ant. C. 52. _Higgins_ 230

25 How the Lord _Irenglas_ cosen to King _Cassibellane_, was slayne by the Lord _Elimine_ cosen to _Androgeus_ Earle of London. Ant. C. 51. _Higgins_ 246

26 How _Caius Iulius Cæsar_, which first made this Realme tributorie to the Romans, was slaine in the Senate house. _Higgins_ 260

27 How _Claudius Tiberius_ Nero Emperour of Rome, was poysoned by _Caius Caligula_. A. D. 39. _Higgins_ 276

28 How _Caius Cæsar Caligula_ Emperour of Rome, was slayne by _Cherea_ and others. A. D. 42. _Higgins_ 283

29 How _Guiderius_ King of Britayne and the elder sonne of _Cimbaline_, was slayne in battayle by a Romayne. A. D. 44-46. _Higgins_ 286

30 How _Lelius Hamo_ the Romayne Captayne was slayne after the slaughter of _Guiderius_. A. D. 46. _Higgins_ 289

31 How _Claudius Tiberius Drusus_ Emperour of Rome, was poysoned by his wife _Agrippina_. A. D. 56. _Higgins_ 291

32 How the Emperour _Domitius Nero_ liued wickedly and tyrannously, and in the end miserably slewe himselfe. A. D. 70. _Higgins_ 296

33 How _Sergius Galba_ the Emperour of Rome (gieuen to slaughter, ambition, & glotony) was slayne by the souldiers. A. D. 71. _Higgins_ 301

34 How the vicious _Siluius Otho_, Emperour of Rome, slew himselfe. A. D. 71. _Higgins_ 304

35 How _Aulus Vitellius_ Emperour of Rome, came to an infortunate end. A. D. 71. _Higgins_ 307

36 How _Londricus_ the Pict was slayne by King _Marius_ of Britaine. A. D. 80. _Higgins_ 310

37 How _Seuerus_ the Emperour of Rome and Gouernour of Britayne was slaine at Yorke, fighting against the Picts. A. D. 206-13. _Higgins_ 313

38 How _Fulgentius_ a Scythian, or Pict, was slayne at the seege of Yorke. A. D. 206-13. _Higgins_ 320

39 How _Geta_ the yonger sonne of the Emperour _Seuerus_ once Gouernour of Britayne, was slayne in his mother’s armes, by his brother _Antonine_ Emperour of Rome. A. D. 214. _Higgins_ 325

40 How _Aurelius Antonius Bassianus Caracalla_ Emperour of Rome, was slayne by one of his owne seruauntes. A. D. 209. _Higgins_ 330

_The Printer’s Advertisement_ 347

_The Authour’s Epistle. Blenerhasset_ 348

_The Induction. Blenerhasset_ 353

41 How _Guidericus_ refused to paye tribute vnto _Claudius Cæsar_: how he subdued _Galba_: how hee became desirous to winne all the worlde: spoyled France, Germany, and a great part of Italy: and lastly how hee was miserably slayne in a tempest of Thunder. _Blenerhasset_ 355

42 How _Carrassus_ a Husbandman’s son, slewe _Lodrike_ the King of the Pictes, and howe the Emperour made him a captayne. Then howe he obtayned the Britayne crowne and how suspition brought him to decay. A. D. 293. _Blenerhasset_ 369

43 How Queene _Helena_ was Empresse of all the world. A. D. 289. _Blenerhasset_ 384

44 How _Vortiger_ destroyed the young King _Constantine_, and howe he obtyned the crowne: & how after many miseries he was miserably burnt in his Castle by the brethren of _Constantine_. A. D. 446. _Blenerhasset_ 396

45 How _Vter Pendragon_ was inamoured with Duke _Garelus_ wife: and howe by lawlesse loue he lost his kingdome. A. D. 500. _Blenerhasset_ 409

46 How _Cadwallader_ the last King of the Britaynes, after he had behaued very valiantly against the Saxons, resigned his crowne, and went to Rome, where he liued in a religious house. _Blenerhasset_ 419

47 How _Sigebert_ was thrust from his throne and miserably slayne by a heardman. A. D. 755. _Blenerhasset_ 428

48 How Ladie _Ebbe_ dyd flea her nose and vpper lippe away to saue her virginitie. A. D. 870. _Blenerhasset_ 443

49 How _Alurede_ was brought vnto disease and vnto vntimely death, being inclined vnto the sinne of the fleshe. _Blenerhasset_ 449

50 How _Egelred_ for his wickednesse was diuerslye distressed by the Danes, and lastly died for sorrow. A. D. 1016. _Blenerhasset_ 458

51 Howe _Edricus_ destroyed the valiant King _Edmunde Ironsyde_, hoping to haue greate preferment for his labour of _Canutus_ the Dane, and howe the same _Canutus_ caused him to be be-headed for his labour. A. D. 1018. _Blenerhasset_ 466

52 How King _Harrold_ raynyng but niene monthes had continuall warre with the Danes, with the Norway King, with his brother _Tosto_, and with Duke _William_, who partely by hys strength but chiefly by policie, ouercame hym, and by killyng him in the feelde obteyned the kingdome of England. A. D. 1095. _Blenerhasset_ 470

_The Author’s Preface. Baldwin_ Page 3

_To the reader. Baldwin_ 7

_To the reader, ed. 1610. Niccols_ 11

LEGENDS FROM THE CONQUEST.

53 The falle of _Robert Tresilian_ Chiefe Iustice of England, and other his fellowes, for misconstruing the Lawes, and expounding them to serue the Prince’s affections. A. D. 1388. _G. Ferrers_ 13

54 How the two _Rogers_ surnamed _Mortimers_ for their sundry vices ended their liues vnfortunately, the one An. 1329, the other 1387. _Cavil_ 23

55 How Syr _Thomas_ of _Woodstocke_ Duke of Glocester, vncle to King _Richarde_ the seconde, was vnlawfully murdered. A. D. 1397. _G. Ferrers_ 33

56 How the Lord _Mowbrey_, promoted by King _Richard_ the second to the state of a Duke, was by him banished the Realme, in 1398, and after died miserablie in exile. _Sir Thomas Chaloner_ 44

57 How King _Richard_ the second was for his euill gouernance deposed from his seat, 1399, and murdered in prison. _G. Ferrers_ 56

58 How _Owen Glendour_ seduced by false prophecies tooke vpon him to bee Prince of Wales, and was by _Henry_ Prince of England chased to the mountaynes, where hee miserably died for lack of food. A. D. 1401. _Thomas Phaer_ 65

59 How _Henrie Percy_ Earle of Northumberland, was for his couetous and trayterous attempt put to death at Yorke. A. D. 1407. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 78

60 How _Richard Plantagenet_ Earle of Cambridge, intending the Kings destruction, was put to death at Southhampton. A. D. 1415. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 86

61 How _Thomas Montague_ Earle of Salisbury, in the middest of his glory was chaunceably slayne at Orleaunce with a piece of Ordinaunce. A. D. 1428. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 90

62 Howe King Iames the first for breaking his othes and bondes was by God’s sufferaunce miserably murdered of his owne subiectes. A. D. 1437. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 103

63 How Dame _Eleanor Cobham_ Duchesse of Glocester, for practising of Witchcraft and sorcery suffred open penaunce, and after was banished the realme into the Ile of Man. _Ferrers_ 112

64 How _Humfrey Plantagenet_ Duke of Glocester, Protector of England, during the minority of his nephue King _Henry_ the sixt, commonly called the good Duke, by practise of enemyes was brought to confusion. _Ferrers_ 128

65 How Lord _William de la Pole_ Duke of Suffolke, was worthely banished for abusing his King, and causing the destruction of the good Duke _Humfrey_ A. D. 1450. _Baldwin_ 147

66 How _Iacke Cade_ naming himselfe _Mortimer_, trayterously rebelling against his King, was for his treasons and cruell doinges worthily punished. A. D. 1450. _Baldwin_ 157

67 The tragedye of _Edmund_ Duke of Somerset, slayne in the first battayle at St. Albons, in the 32. yeare of _Henry_ the sixt. A. D. 1454. _Ferrers_ 168

68 Howe _Richarde Plantagenet_ Duke of York, was slayn through his ouer rash boldnesse, and his sonne the Earle of Rutland for his lacke of valiaunce. A. D. 1460 184

69 How the Lorde _Clyfford_ for his straunge and abhominable cruelty, came to as straunge and sodayn a death. A. D. 1461. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 195

70 The infamovs end of Lord _Tiptoft_ Earle of Worcester, for cruelly executing his Prince’s butcherly commaundements. A. D. 1470. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 201

71 How Sir _Richard Neuill_ Earle of Warwicke, and his brother _Iohn_, Lord Marquise _Montacute_, through their too much boldnesse were slaine at Barnet. A. D. 1471. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 210

72 How King _Henry_ the sixte a vertuous Prince, was after many other miseries cruelly murdered in the Tower of London. A. D. 1471. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 217

73 How _George Plantagenet_ third sonne of the Duke of Yorke, was by his brother King _Edward_ wrongfully imprisoned, and by his brother _Richard_ miserably murdered. A. D. 1478. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 226

74 How King _Edward_ the fourth through his surfeting &, vntemperate life, sodaynly dyed in the middest of his prosperity. A. D. 1483. _Skelton_ 244

75 How Syr _Anthony Wooduile_ Lord Riuers and Scales, Gouernour of Prince _Edward_, was with his nephue Lord _Richard Gray_ and others causelesse imprisoned, and cruelly murthered. A. D. 1483. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 249

76 How the Lord _Hastings_ was betraied by trusting too much to his euill counsellour _Catesby_, and villanously murdered in the Tower of London by _Richard_ Duke of Glocester. A. D. 1483. _Dolman_ 275

MAYSTER SACKUILLE’S INDUCTION 309

77 The complaynt of _Henry_ Duke of Buckingham. _Sackville_ 333

78 How _Colingbourne_ was cruelly executed for making a foolish Rime. Attributed to _Baldwin_ 366

79 How _Richarde Plantagenet_ Duke of Glocester murdered his brother’s children, vsurping the crowne, and in the third yeare of his raigne was most worthely depriued of life and kingdome, in Bosworth plaine, by _Henry_ Earle of Richmond after called King _Henry_ the VII. A. D. 1485. _Segar_ 381

80 The wilfvll fall of the Blackesmith, and the foolishe end of the Lorde _Audley_ A. D. 1496. _Cavill_ 396

81 How the valiant Knight Sir _Nicholas Burdet_, Chiefe Butler of Normandy, was slayne at Pontoise. A. D. 1441. _Higgins_ 418

82 The Lamentation of King _Iames_ the fourth, King of Scots, slayne at Brampton in the fifthe yeare of King _Henry_ the eight. A. D. 1513. 442

83 The Bataile of Brampton, or Floddon fielde, faught in the yeare of our Redeemer 1513, and in the fifth yeare of the raygne of that victorious prince King _Henry_ the eyght. _Dingley_ 449

84 How _Shore’s_ wife, King _Edward_ the fourth’s Concubine, was by King _Richard_ despoyled of her goods, and forced to doe open penaunce. _Churchyard_ 461

85 How _Thomas Wolsey_ did arise vnto great authority and gouernment, his maner of life, pompe and dignitie, & how hee fell downe into great disgrace, and was arested of high treason. _Churchyard_ 484

86 How the Lord _Cromwell_ exalted from meane estate, was after by the enuie of the Bishop of Winchester and other his complices brought to vntimely end. A. D. 1540. _Drayton_ 502

(_The remainder of the volume by Richard Niccols_)

_Dedicatory Sonnet to the Earl of Nottingham_ 543

87 The famovs life and death of King _Arthur_ 553

88 The life and death of King _Edmvnd_ svrnamed _Ironside_ 583

89 The lamentable life and death of Prince _Alfred_ brother to King _Edmund Ironside_ 605

90 The treacherous life and infamovs death of _Godwin_ Earle of Kent 622

91 The life and death of _Robert_ svrnamed _Curthose_ Duke of Normandie 639

92 The memorable life and death of King _Richard_ the first, surnamed _Cœur de Lion_ 673

93 The vnfortvnate life and death of King _Iohn_ 699

94 The wofvll life and death of King _Edward_ the second 726

95 The lamentable lives and deaths of the two yong Princes, _Edward_ the fifth and his brother _Richard_ Duke of York 766

96 The tragicall life and death of King _Richard_ the third 785

97 The Poem annexed called England’s _Eliza_ 813

_Dedicatory sonnet to Lady Elizabeth Clere_ 817

_Advertisement to the Reader_ 818

98 Englands _Eliza_, or the victoriovs and trivmphant reigne of that virgin Empresse of sacred memorie, _Elizabeth_ Queene of England France and Ireland &c. 828

To the nobility and all other in office, God graunt the increase of wisedome, with all thinges necessary for preseruation of theyr estates.

Amongste the wise (right Honorable) whose sentences (for the moste parte) tende either to teache the [Sidenote: _Plotinus._] attayning of vertue or eschuing of vice, _Plotinus_ that wonderfull and excellent Philosopher hath these wordes: The property of Temperaunce is to couet nothing which may be repented: not to excede the bands of measure, & to kepe Desire vnder the yoke of Reason. Whiche saying if it were so well knowen, as it is nedefull; so well embraced, as is[53] wished; or so surely fixed in minde, as it is printed in his workes: then certis many Christians might by the instruction of an Ethnicke Philosopher, shun great and daungerous perils. For to couet without consideration, to passe the measure of his degree, and to let will run at randon, is the only destruction of all estates. Else howe were it possible, so many learned, polliticke, wise, renoumed, valiaunt, and victorious personages, might euer haue come to such vtter decay? For example, wee haue[54] _Alexander_ the Great, _Cæsar_, _Pompey_, _Cyrus_, _Hannibal_, &c. All which [Sidenote: _Quintus (by desier of glorye) felte the reward of theire Curtius._] immoderate and insatiable lustes: for if _Alexander_ had beene content with Macedonie, or not beene pufte vp with pride after his triumphes, hee had neuer beene so miserably poysoned. If _Cæsar_ and _Pompey_ had beene satisfied with theire victories, and had not fell to ciuill discention, the one had not beene slaine in the senate with daggers, nor the other abroade, by their frendes procurement. If _Cyrus_ had beene [Sidenote: _Iustinus pleased with all Persia, and Media, and not thirsted lib. 1._] for bloud, hee had neuer com to so infortunate a fall. So if _Hanniball_ had not so much delited [Sidenote: _Plutarchus._] in glorye of warfare, his countrey had neyther fell in ruine, nor hee bene miserably forced [Sidenote: _Liuius._] to poyson himselfe. But you will say, desire of [Sidenote: _Polibius._] fame, glorye, renowne, and immortalitie (to which all men well nighe by[55] nature are inclined, especially those which excell or haue any singuler gift of fortune or[56] the body) moued them to such daungerous, great, and hardy enterprises, which must needes be confessed[57] as an infallible veritie: and therefore I suerly[58] deeme those Princes aboue specified (considering their[59] fortunes, fame, and exploytes) had neuer come to suche ende, but for wante of temperance. And now[60] sithe there are three other Cardinall vertues which are requisite in him that should bee in authoritye: that is to saye, Prudence, Iustice, and Fortitude, which so wonderfully adorne and beautifie all estates (If Temperaunce bee with them adioyned, that they moue the very enemies with admiration to prayse them) some peraduenture (as affection leades) will commende one, some another: as[61] _Aristotle_ the Prince of [Sidenote: _Arist._] Philosophers names Prudence, the mother of vertues, [Sidenote: _Cicero._] but[62] _Cicero_ defines her the knowledge of [Sidenote: _Prudence._] things which ought to bee desired and followed, and also of them which ought to bee fled and eschewed; yet you shall finde that for want of Temperaunce, some which were counted very wise[63] fell into wonderfull reproche and infamy. But[64] Iustice that incomparable vertue, (as the auncient Ciuilians define her) is[65] a perpetuall and constant will which giueth to euery man his right, yet if shee be not constant, which is the gifte of Fortitude; nor equal in discerning right from wrong, wherein is Prudence; nor vse proportion in iudgement and sentence, which pertayneth to Temperaunce: shee can neuer bee called equitie or iustice, but fraude, deceite, iniustice and iniurie. And, to speake of Fortitude, which _Cicero_ defineth, a consyderate vndertaking of [Sidenote: _Fortitude._] perills, and enduring of labours; if he whome [Sidenote: _Cicero._] wee suppose stoute, valiaunt, and of good courage, want Prudence, Iustice, or Temperaunce, he is not counted wise, righteous and constant, but sottish, rude and desperate. For Temperaunce (sayth _Cicero_) [Sidenote: _Cicero._] is of reason[66] in lust and other euel [Sidenote: _Temperance._] assaultes of the minde, a suer and moderate dominion & rule. This noble vertue is deuided into three[67] partes, that is Continency, Clemencie, and Modestye, which well[68] obserued and kept (if grace bee to them adioyned) it is impossible for him that is endued with the aboue named vertues euer to fall into the infortunate snares of calamity, or misfortune. But Ambition which is immoderate[69] desire of honour, rule, dominion, and superioritie, (the very distruction of nobility and common weales, as among the Romanes; Sylla, Marius, Carbo, Cinna, Cateline, Pompey, and Cæsar, are witnesses) hath brought great decay to[70] our contrey, and countreymen. Which Master Baldwin hath so touched[71] in his Epistle of the laste[72] volume of this booke, that I nede not therewith deale any further.[73] I haue here (right honorable) in this booke[74] only reproued foly in those which are heedelesse: Iniurie in extortioners, rashnes in venterers, [trecherie in traytours, riote in rebelles,][75] and excesse in such as suppresse not vnruly affections. Now[76] I truste you will so thinke of it (althoughe the style deserue not like commendation) as you thought of the other parte. Which if you shall, I doubt not but it may pleasure some; if not, yet geue occasion to others which can do better, either to amend these, or to publish their owne.[77] And thus wishing you Prudence to discerne what is meete for your callings, Iustice in the administration of your functions, Fortitude in the defence of your Countrey, and Temperaunce in moderation of all your affections, with increase of honours, and euerlasting felicity: I bid you in Christ Iesu farewell.[78] At Winceham the vii. day of December.

Your most humble in the Lord, IOHN HIGINS.[79]