Mirror for Magistrates, Volume 1

by Unknown

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Volume I.

PART I.
Dedication to the nobility, &c. John Higgins	Page [3]
Address to the Reader from first edition. John Higgins	[7]
Preface from ed. 1587. John Higgins	[11]
To the Reader from ed. 1587. Thomas Newton	[13]
The Author’s Induction, 1575-8. John Higgins	[15]
LEGENDS.
1 How King Albanact the yongest son of Brutus, and first King of Albany (now called Scotland) was slaine by King Humber. Ant. C. 1085. John Higgins	[21]
2 How Humber the King of Hunnes minding to conquer Britaine was drowned in the arme of sea now called Humber. Ant. C. 1085. Higgins	[47]
3 How King Locrinus the eldest sonne of Brutus liued vitiously, and was slaine in battaile by his wyfe Queene Guendoline. 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]
PART II
The Printer’s Advertisement	[347]
The Authour’s Epistle. Blenerhasset	[348]
The Induction. Blenerhasset	[353]
LEGENDS.
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]

Volume II.

PART III.
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 lifeand 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
PART IV.
(The remainder of the volume by Richard Niccols)
Dedicatory Sonnet to the Earl of Nottingham	543
To the reader	544
The Induction	546
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
PART V.
Dedicatory sonnet to Lady Elizabeth Clere	817
Advertisement to the Reader	818
The Induction	819
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

THE

Mirour for Magistrates,

wherein may bee scene,

by

examples passed in this

Realme with

how greeuous plagues vices are punished in great Princes and Magistrates:

and how fraile and vnstable worldly prosperity is found, where Fortune seemeth most highly to fauour.

PART I.

By JOHN HIGGINS.

[Reprinted from the edition of 1587, collated with those of 1575 and 1610.]