ABSTRACT
After Christmasse he called the Nobles of the realm togither to a Parliament at London, but he lived not to the end thereof, for now after the great and fortunate chaunces hapned to him,2 and being delivered of all Civill division, hee was taken with sicknesse, of the which he languished til his appointed houre, during which sickenesse, some evil disposed people laboured to make dissention betweene the King and the Prince his sonne, by reason whereof, and by the acte of youth, which he exercised more than meanely3 and for the great recourse of people unto him, of whom his Court was at all times more aboundant hat the King his father, the King suspected that he would presume to usurpe the crown, he being alive: which suspitious jealousie was occasion that he in part withdrewe his affection and singular love from the Prince. But when this noble Prince was advertised of his fathersjealousie, he disguised himself in a gown
of blew satten, made full of small Eylet holes, and at every Eylet the needle wherwith it was made hanging stil by a threede of silke. And about his arme he ware a dogges coller set ful of SS of golde and the Tirets1 of the same also of fine gold. Thus apparelled, with a great companye of Lordes and other noblemen of his Court, he came to the King his father, who at that time laye at Westminster, where at his comming (by his owne commaundment) not one of his companye avaunced himselfe further than the fire in the Hall, notwithstanding that they were greatly and ofte desired to the contrarie, by the Lordes and great estates of the King's Court: and that the Prince had commanded, to give the lesse occasion of mistrust to the King his father, but he himselfe only accompanyed of the King's house, passed forth to the King his Father, to whom (after due salutation) he desired to shewe the intent of his minde in secrete manner. Then the Kyng caused himselfe to be borne in his chayre into his secrete chamber (bycause he was deseased and might not goe) wher in the presence of three or foure persons, in whom the King had most confidence, he commaunded the Prince to shewe the effect of his minde. Then the Prince kneeling down before his Father, saide to him these wordes, 'Most redoubted Lord and Father, I am this time come to your presence, as your liegman, and as your sonne naturall, in all thyngs to obay your grace as my soveraigne Lord and father. And whereas I understand yee have me suspect of my behaviour against your grace, and that yee feare I would usurpe your Crowne against the pleasure of your highnesse, of my conversation youre grace knoweth that if yee were in feare of any man, of what estate soever he were, my due tie were to the endaungering of my life to punishe that person, thereby to race that sore from your hearte. And then howe much rather oughte I to suffer death to bring your grace from the feare that yee have of me that am your naturall sonne, and your liegeman. And to that intente I have thys daye by confession and receyving the Sacramente, prepared my selfe, and therefore moste redoubted Lorde and Father, I beseeche you in the honour of God, for the easing of your harte, heretofore your knees to slea me with this dagger,' And at that worde wyth all reverence he delivered to the King hys dagger, saying, 'My Lorde and Father, my lyfe is not so desirous to mee, that I woulde live one daye that should be to you displeasure, nor I covet not so much my life as I doe your pleasure and welfare, and in your thus doing, here in the presence of these Lordes, and tofore God at the daye ofjudgemente I clearelye forgive you my death.'
