Who causeth bloudshed shall not escape[584] the sword.[585]
[By that this was ended, I had found out the story of Richard earle of Cambridge: and because it contained matter in it, though not very notable, yet for the better vnderstanding of the rest, I thought it meete to touch it, and therefore saide as followeth: “You haue saide well of the Percies and fauourably; for in deede, as it should appeare, the chiefe cause of their conspiracy against king Henry, was for Edmund Mortimer their cousin’s sake, whome the king very maliciously proclaymed to haue yeelded him selfe to Owen coulourably, when, as in deede, hee was taken forcibly against his will and very cruelly ordered in prison. And seeing wee are in hand with Mortimer’s matter, I will take vpon mee the person of Richard Plantagenet, earle of Cambridge, who for his sake likewise died. And therefore I let passe Edmund Holland, earle of Kent, whome Henry the fourth made admirall to scoure the seas, because the Britayns were abroad. Which earle (as many thinges happen in war) was slaine with an arrowe at the assaulte of Briacke:[586] shortly after whose death this king died, and his sonne Henry the fift of that name, succeded in his place. In the beginning of this Henry the fifte’s raigne, died this Richard, and with him Henry the lord Scrope and other, in whose behalfe this may bee saide.”]
How Richard Plantagenet[587] Earle of Cambridge entending the king’s destruction, was put to death at Southamton, Anno Dom. 1415.[588]
1.
Haste maketh waste, hath commonly ben sayd,
And secrete mischiefe seelde hath lucky speede:
A murdering minde with proper poyze is wayd,
All this is[589] true, I finde it in[590] my creede:
And therefore, Baldwine, warne all states take heede,
How they conspire any other to betrappe,