64 



A marriage aot only in commemoration of the former discourse, but in a 

 c< by the? l ar g er walke of most searious affaires, yet the period came to 



tllis that if Hen. Earle of Eichmond, nephew to John Duke of 

 Sommerset, of the immediate line of that famous John of Gaunt, 

 xt Duke of Lancaster, would marry Elizabeth, the eldest daughter 

 h H?useof- ean(i next heire t( > E( *w- 4 * the House of Yorcke, he then, by 

 y e ^bole consent of the kingdome should be saluted and 

 appointed king, the secresy of w ch businesse and decree was 

 imparted to Eeighnold Bray, a man of spetiall trust w th Lady 

 of Yorck. j ar g are t Countesse of Eichmond, and mother to the Earle, 

 whoe according to the confidence reposed in him, effectually 

 dispatched the same. 



But as this busines had a comfortable passage, the Bishope 

 of Ely found an opportunity to escape, according to his former 

 proiected desire of liberty, and so chainging his rayment, very 

 priuately conveighed himselfe into his He of Ely, from whence 

 sufficiently assisted w th frinds and money, he sayled into the low 

 countries where how he demeaned himselfe w th all wisdome, 

 faith, diligence and uprightnesse, the larger stories are plentifull 

 and impartiall. 



In the meane while King Eichard had solicited ffrancis Duke 

 of Britaine (in whose custody Hen. Earle of Eichmound had 

 long remayned) to deliuer up his prisoner into his owne hands 

 but all in vaine, for the worthy Duke would by noe means con- 

 sent to soe f acinerous a treason, nor be corrupted w th any reward 

 whatsoever. 



At last the well-instructed orators so p r vailed (shewing that 

 the King deeired nothing but his imprisonment for feare of 

 setting in co'bustion the whole state) that the Duke of Britaine 

 was contented to receaue the Earles reuenewes and of all such 

 as belonged unto him, as confiscated and made over by the king 

 of England, but the Duke, faling into his accustomed malady or 

 frency, was unapt either to attend or heare Ambassadours, 

 where upon Peter Landoies, his principall treasurer (a man more 

 corrupt, and couetousnes itselfe), and moulded by the working 

 hand of K. Eichard to the same purpose, undertooke the 



