God : tha t shope both sea and Land,
& ffor all creatures dyed ont tree,
saue & keepe the realme of England
to liue in peace & tranquillitye!

St George, to vs a sheild thou bee!
ffor we haue cause to pray, both old & younge,
w i th a stedfast hart ffull devatlye,
& say, " welcome H ENERY , right-wise K ing ! "

welcome right-wise K ing , & Ioy royall,
he tha t is grounded w i th grace!
welcome the ffortune tha t hath befall,
w hi ch hath beene seene in many a place!

who wend tha t England as itt was,
soe suddenlye changed shold haue beene?
therfore lett vs thanke god of his grace,
& say " welcome Henery, right-wise K ing ! "

how had wee need to remember, & to our minds call
how England is transported miraculouslye
to see the great Mischeefe tha t hath befall
sith the Martyrdome of the holy K ing H ENERY !

how many lords haue beene deemed to dye,
young innocents tha t neu er did sinn!
therfore lett vs thanke god hartilye,
& say " welcome H ENERY , right-wise K ing ! "

some time a K ing raigned in this land,
tha t was Edward of hye ffelicytye;
he was dowted & dread, as I vnderstand,
through all the nations in Christentye;

he serued Iesus ffull heartilye:
these examples may be taken by him
w hi ch hath p re uailed him w i th royaltye
to weare the crowne & be our K ing

for w i th tounge I haue heard it told,
when H ENERY was in a ffar cuntrye,
tha t 3 times he was bought & sold
throughe the might of gold & ffee.

he serued Iesus ffull hartylye:
this example may be said by him
w hi ch p re uailed right royallye
to weare the crowne and be our K ing .

they banished him ouer the fflood,
ouer the fflood & streames gray;
yett his right in England was good,
as herafter know you may.

there was hee banished ouer the ffloode,
& into a strange Land they can him bring;
tha t time Raigned Richard w i th royaltye,
he ware the crowne & was our Kinge.

tha t was well seene att streames stray;
att Milford hauen, when he did appeare
w i th all his Lords in royall array,
he said to them tha t w i th him weare:

" into England I am entred heare,
my heritage is this Land w i thin;
they shall me boldlye bring & beare,
& loose my liffe, but Ile be King.

" Iesus tha t dyed on good ffryday,
& Marry mild tha ts ffull of might,
send me the loue of the Lo rd Stanley!
he marryed my mother, a Lady bright;

" tha t is long sith I saw her w i th sight;
I trust in Iesu wee shall meete w i th winne,
& I shall maintaine her honor right
ouer all England when I am Kinge.

" had I the Loue of tha t Lord in rich array
tha t hath proued his manhood soe well att need,
& his brother S i r Will ia m, the good Stanley; —
a better K nigh t neuer vmstrode steede!

" tha t hath beene seene in mickle dreed:
much was the worshipp tha t happened him;
a more nobler K nigh t att neede
came neuer to maintaine Kinge. "

now leaue wee H ENERY , this prince royall,
& talke of Richard in his dignitye,
of the great misfortune did him befall:
the causer of his owne death was hee.

wicked councell drew Rich ard neere,
of them tha t had the prince in their guiding;
ffor wicked councell doth mickle deere,
tha t bringeth downe both Emperour & K ing .

the Lo rd Stanley bothe sterne & stout, —
he might be called fflower of fflowers, — man dye
tha t was well seene without doubt
att Barwicke walls w i th towers hye;

when all the Lo rd s of England let itt bee,
tha t castle wightlye can hee winn.
was there euer Lord in England, ffare or nere,
tha t did such iorney to his Kinge?

then Richard bade a messenger to ffare
soe ffare into the west countrye
to comfort his knights, squiers lesse & more,
& to set good rule amongst his comintye.

then wicked councell drew Rich[ard] neere:
these were they words they said to him,
" wee thinke yee worke vnwittylye
in England, & yee will continue K ing .

" ffor why, the Lo rd Stanley is lent in this Land,
the Lo rd Strange, & the Chamberlaine; these 3
they may show vpon a day a band
such as may noe Lorde in Christentye

" lett some of them vnder yo ur bondage bee,
if any worshipp you thinke to winn;
or else short while continue shall yee
In England to be our Kinge. "

then they made out messengers w i th maine & might
soe ffarr into the west countrye;
to the Lo rd Stanley tha t noble Knight
they kneeled downe vpon their knee

& said, " Rich ard tha t raignes w i th royaltye,
Emperour of England this day w i thin,
hee longeth you sore, my Lord, to see;
you must come & speake w i th our Kinge. "

then they Lord busked him vpon a day
To ryde to K ing Rich ard w i th royaltye,
& hee ffell sicke att Manchester by the way:
as the will of god is, all things must bee.

the Lo rd strange then called [he] him nee;
these were the words hee said to him:
" In goodlye hast now ryde must yee
to witt the will of Richard, our Kinge. "

then this Lo rd bowned him ffull right
to ryde to K ing Richard hastilye
when hee came before his sou er raigine in sight,
he kneeled downe vpon his knee.

" welcome Lo rd strange, & kinsman nye! "
these were the words he said to him:
" was ther eeuer any Baron in England of ancetrye
shold be soe welcome to his Kinge? "

alas tha t euer he cold soe say,
soe ffroward a hart as hee had vnder!
tha t was well seene after vpon a day;
itt cast him & his crowne assunder,

& brought his body into bale & blunder,
these wicked words he cold begin;
thus ffalshood endeth in shame & wonder,
whether itt be w i th Emperour or King.

of itt heere is no more to say,
but shortlye to ward comanded was hee.
new messengers were made w i thout delay
soe ffarr into the west countrye

to the Lo rd stanley soe wise & wittye:
these were the words the sayd to him,
" you must raise those tha t vnder you bee,
& all the power tha t you may bringe;

" yonder cometh Richmond over the fflood
w i th many allyants out of ffarr countrye,
bold men of bone and blood;
the crowne of England chalengeth hee.

" you must raise those tha t vnder you bee,
& all the power tha t yee may bringe,
or else the Lo rd strange you must neuer see,
w hi ch is in danger of our K ing . "

In a studye this Lo rd can stand,
& said, " deere Iesus! how may this bee?
I draw wittenes to him tha t shope both sea & land,
tha t I neuer delt w i th noe trecherye.

" Richard is a man tha t hath no mercye;
hee wold mee & mine into bondage bringe;
therfore cleane against him will I bee,
of all England though hee bee King. "

then another messenger he did appeare
to will ia m Stanley, tha t noble K nigh t,
& saith, " Rich ard tha t weareth the crowne soe cleare,
& in his Empire raigneth right,

" willeth you to bring yo ur power to helpe him to ffight;
ffor all his trust itt is you in. "
then answered tha t gentle K nigh t,
" I haue great marueill of yo u r K ing ;

" he keepeth the[r]e my nephew, my brothers heyre; — .
a truer knight is not in christentye; —
tha t, Richard shall repent ffull sore,
ffor any thing tha t I can see

" bidd him array him w i th royaltye
& all the power tha t hee may bringe;
ffor hee shall either ffight, or fflee,
or loose his liffe, if hee bee Kinge.

" I make mine avow to Marye, tha t may,
& to her sonne tha t dyed on tree,
I will make him such a breakefast vpon a day
as neuer made K nigh t any K ing in Cristentye!

" tell thou K ing Richard these words ffrom mee:
ffor all the power tha t he may bringe,
in the ffeild he shall either ffight, or fflee,
or loose his liffe or hee be Kinge. "

then this messenger fforth hee went
to carry to K ing Rich ard w i th royaltye,
& saith, " in yonder countrye I haue beene sent,
soe greeued men are not in Christentye

" ffor loue of the Lo rd strange tha t in bale doth bee. "
these were the words hee sayd to him:
" you must either ffight or fflee,
or loose yo u r liffe, if you bee Kinge. "

att tha t King Richard smiled small,
& sware, " by Iesu ffull of might,
when they are assembled w i th their powers all,
I wold I had the great turke against me to ffight,

" or Prester Iohn in his armor bright,
the Sowdan of Surrey w i th them to bringe!
yett w i th manhood & w i th might
in England I shold continue K ing .

" I sweare by Iesu tha t dyed on a tree,
& by his mother tha t mayden blythe,
ffrom the towne of Lancaster to Shrewsburye,
K nigh t nor squier Ile leaue none aliue.

" I shall kindle their cares riffe,
& giue their Lands to my K nigh ts keene;
many a man shall repent the while
tha t euer they rose against their King.

" ffrom the holy-head to S t davids Land,
where now be towers & castles hye,
I shall make p ar kes & plaine ffeilds to stand,
ffrythes ffaire, & fforrests ffree.

" Ladyes, " well-away!" shall crye;
widdowes shall weepe, & their hands wringe;
many a man shall repent tha t day
tha t euer they rose against their Kinge. "

then he made out messengers w i th maine & might
throughout England ffarr & neere,
to Duke, Erle, Barron, & Knight,
& to euery man in his degree

you neu er heard tell of such a companye
att sowte, seege, nor noe gatheringe:
p ar t of their names heere shall yee
tha t came tha t day to serue their K ing

thither came the duke of Norffolke vpon a day,
& the Erle of Surrey tha t was his heyre;
the Erle of Kent was not away.
the Erle of Shrewsbury breme as beare.

the Erle of Lincolne wold not spare,
the Erle of Northumberland ready bowne,
the Erle of westmoreland great othes sware,
all they said Rich ard shold Keepe his crowne

theres was my Lo rd Zouch, sad att assay;
my Lo rd Mattrevis, a noble K nigh t;
young Arrundell dight him vpon a day,
the Lo rd wells, both wise and wight;

the Lo rd Gray Cotner in his armour bright,
the Lo rd Bowes made him bowne,
the Lo rd Audley was ffeirce to ffight,
& all said Rich ard shold keepe his crowne

there was my Lo rd Bartley, sterne on a steede,
the Lo rd fferryes of chartlye, the Lo rd fferryes of Strobe,
the Lo rd Bartley noble att neede,
chamberlaine of England tha t day was hee.

the Lo rd ffittz Hugh, & his cozen nye,
the Lo rd Scroope of vpsall, the Lo rd scroope of Bolton;
the Lo rd Dacres raised all the North cuntrye;
& all said Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

There was many nobles mustered to ffight:
the Lo rd Audley & the Lo rd Lumley,
the Lo rd Gray-stocke in his armour bright,
he brought w i th him a noble companye,

he sware by Iesus tha t dyed on a tree,
" tha t his enemyes shold be beaten downe;
he was not [in] England, ffarr nor neere,
tha t shold lett Richard to weare his crowne."

there was S i r Iohn Spencer, a noble K nigh t,
S i r Raph hare-bottle in rich array,
S i r william ward, alwayes tha t was wight,
S i r Archeobald, the good Rydley;

S i r Nicholas Moberly was not away,
nor yett S i r Robert of Clotten,
alsoe S i r Oliuer, the hend horsley;
all said Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

there was S i r Henery Percy, sterne on steede,
S i r Roger Bowmer in his companye,
S i r Rich ard Manners, noble att neede,
Soe was S i r Henery the hend Hatteley;

S i r Robert Conway in companye,
S i r Raphe Smyth & S i r Roger Akerston,
& S i r William, his cozen nye;
& all sayd Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

There was a noble K nigh t, S i r Iohn the Gray,
& S i r Thomas of Mountgomerye;
S i r Rodger Sanfort was not away;
ffrom London came S i r Rob ert Brakenburye;

S i r Henery Bowdrye was not away,
nor yett S i r Rich ard the good Chorlton;
S i r Raphe Robbye made him yare;
all said Rich ard wold keepe his crowne.

there was S i r Marmaduke Constable, a noble K nigh t,
of K ing Richards councell hee was nye;
S i r william Conyous, allwayes tha t was wight,
S i r Rob er t Thribald w i th his meanye;

soe was S i r Martine of the wardley,
& S i r Rich ard the good Hortton,
& S i r Rich ard Rosse sware smartlye
tha t K ing Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

There was S i r Rob er t, the sterne Sturley;
S i r Iohn of Melton, thither Came hee,
Sir Garuis Clyfton in rich array,
S i r Henery Perpoint in his degree,

S i r Thomas North w i th royaltye,
& alsoe S i r Iohn of Babington,
S i r Humphrey Stafford sware certainelye
tha t K ing Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

there was S i r Robert Ryder, a man of might,
S i r Rob er t Vtridge in his dignitye;
S i r Iohn Huntington was ffeirce to ffight,
soe was S i r Iohn willmarley.

S i r Rob er t Swayley w i th royalltye,
& alsoe S i r Bryan of stableton,
& S i r william his cozen nye,
& all said Rich ard shold keepe his crowne.

There was S i r Rich ard Ratcliffe, a noble K nigh t,
of K ing Richards councell was hee;
S i r William his brother was ffeirce to ffight,
& S i r Thomas, they were brethren 3.

& S i r Rich ard the Mallinere,
& S i r Iohn the good Hortton,
& S i r Thomas the good Mallynere,
& all said Rich[ard] shold keepe his crowne.

There was S i r Raphe Dacres out of the North,
& S i r Christopher the Moresbye;
S i r William Musgreaue was stiffe to stand,
soe was S i r Alexander ffawne in his dignitye.

S i r George Murkenffeild behind wold not bee,
nor yett S i r Thomas the doughtye Broughton;
S i r Christo pher Owen made him readye,
& all sayd Rich[ard] shold weare his crowne.

there was S i r william Tempest out of the vale,
& S i r Rich ard his cozen nye;
S i r Raph Ashton, hee made not ffaile,
S i r Tho mas Maclefeild in Companye.

S i r Richard ward behind wold not bee,
nor yett S i r Robert of Middleton;
S i r Iohn Coleburne sware certainelye
tha t K ing Richard shold keepe his crowne.

there was S i r Iohn Neuill of bloud soe hye,
S i r Iohn Hurlstean in rich arraye,
S i r Rodger Herne behind wold not bee,
S i r Iames Harrington, sad att assay,

S i r Robert his brother was not away,
nor yett S i r Thomas of Pilkinton;
& all these, great othes sware they
tha t K ing Rich ard shold keepe his crowne

had wee not need to Iesu to pray,
tha t made the world, the day & night,
to keepe vs out of bale and woe?
2 shires against all England to ffight,

& maintaine H ENERY tha t came ffor his right,
& in the realme of England was ready bowne!
ffreinds, & yee will hearken me right,
I shall tell you how Henery gott his crowne.

the Lo rd Stanley sterne and stout,
tha t euer hath beene wise and wittye
ffrom Latham Castle w i thouten doubt
vppon a munday bowned hee

w i th K nigh ts & squiers in companye.
they had their banners in the sunn glitteringe;
they were as ffeirce as ffawcon to fflye,
to maintaine H ENERY tha t was their K ing .

then this Lo rd bowned him vpon a day
w i th noble men in companye;
towards Newcastle vnder Line he tooke the way,
& told his men both gold and ffee.

S i r william Stanley wise and wight,
ffrom the castle of Holt w i th holts hye
to the Nantwich hee rydeth straight,
& tooke his men wages of gold and ffee.

all the north wales ffor the most p ar tye,
the fflower of Cheshire, w i th him hee did bringe;
better men were not [in] christentye
tha t euer came to maintaine their K ing .

Erly vpon Twesday att Morne
S i r william Stanley, tha t Noble K nigh t,
remoued ffrom Nantwiche to the towne of stone, —
by then was Henery come to stafford straight, —

he Longed sore to see him in sight,
& straight to stafford towne is gone,
& kneeled downe anon-right,
& by the hand he hath him tane:

hee said, " I am ffull glad of thee; "
& these were the words he said to him:
" through the helpe of my L ord thy ffather, & thee,
I trust in England to continue Kinge "

then he hent tha t noble prince by the hand,
& said, " welcome my sou er raigne K ing H ENERY !
chalenge thy Herytage & thy Land,
tha t thine owne is, & thine shall bee.

" be Eger to ffight, & lothe to fflee!
let manhood be bredd thy brest w i thin!
& remember another day who doth ffor thee,
of all England when thou art Kinge. "

after, there was noe more to say,
but leaue of the prince he hath taken,
& came againe by light of the day
to the litle prettye towne of stone.

Early vpon Saturday att morne,
to Lichffeild they remoue, both old & younge.
att woosley bridge them beforne,
there had they a sight of our Kinge.

& to Lichefeild they ridden right,
w i th answerable army came royallye:
to nomber the companye tha t was w i th the K nigh t,
itt was a goodlye sight to see.

guns in Lichefeild they cracken on hye
to cheere the countye both more & min,
& glad was all the Chiualrye
tha t was on heneryes p ar te, our Kinge.

throughout Lichefeild rydeth the Knight,
on the other side there tarryed hee;
a messenger came to him straight,
& kneeled downe vpon his knee,

& saith, " the Lo rd Stanley is his enemy nye,
tha t are but a litle way ffrom him;
they will ffight w i thin these houres 3
w i th Rich ard tha t is Englands Kinge. "

" tha t wold I not, " the Knight can say,
" ffor all the gold in Christentye! "
towards Tamworth he tooke the way,
& came to Hattersey, & neighed nye

where the Lo rd Stanley in a dale cold bee,
w i th trumpetts & tabours tempered w i th him:
itt was a comelye sight to see
as euer was to maintaine Kinge.

All tha t night there tarryed they,
& vpon the sunday gods service did see.
toward the ffeild they did them array;
the vawward the Lo rd Stanley tooke hee,

S i r William Stanley the rerward wold bee,
& his sonne S i r Edward w i th a winge.
the did remaine in their array
to waite the coming of Rich ard King.

then they Looked to a fforrest syde,
they hard trumpetts & tabours tempered on hye:
they thought K ing Rich ard had comen there,
& itt was the Noble prince, K ing H ENERYE .

ouer a riuer then rydeth hee;
he brake the ray, & rode to him:
itt was a comelye sight to see
the meeting of our Lo rd & Kinge —

then in their host there did ffall affray
a litle time before the night; —
you neuer saw men soe soone in their array
w i th ffell weapons ffeirce ffor to ffight —

vpon a keene courser tha t was wight,
other Lo rd s w i th him hee cold bringe;
thus in array came ryding straight,
H ENERY of England, our noble Kinge.

he lowted low & tooke his hatt in his hand,
& thanked the states and cominaltye:
" to quitt you all I vnderstand;
I trust in Iesu tha t day to see "

many a cry in the host tha t night did bee;
& anon the Larke began to singe;
truth of the battell heere shall yee,
tha t euer was betweene K ing and K ing

K ing H ENERY desired the vaward right
of the Lo rd stanley tha t was both wise & wittye;
& hee hath granted him in sight,
& saith " but small is yo u r companye. "

4 of the Noble K nigh ts then called hee;
their names to you then shall I minge;
he bade array them w i th their chiualrye,
& goe to the vaward w i th our Kinge:

S i r Rob er t Tunsall, a Noble Knight,
& come of royall anceytree;
S i r Iohn Savage, wise & wight,
S i r Hugh Persall; there was 3:

S i r Humphrey Stanley the 4 did bee,
tha t proued noble in euerye thinge;
they did assay them w i th their chiualrye,
& went to the vaward w i th our kinge

the Lo rd stanley both sterne and stout,
2 battells tha t day had hee
of hardye men, w i thouten doubt
better were not in christentye.

Sir william, wise and worthye,
was hindmust att the outsettinge;
men said tha t day tha t dyd him see,
hee came betime vnto our K ing

then he remoued vnto a mountaine full hye,
& looked into a dale ffull dread;
5 miles compasse, no ground they see,
ffor armed men & trapped steeds

theyr armor glittered as any gleed;
in 4 strong battells they cold fforth bring;
they seemed noble men att need
as euer came to maintaine [a] K ing

the duke of Norfolke avanted his banner bright,
soe did the younge Erle of Shrewsburye,
to the sun & wind right speedylye dight,
soe did Oxfford, tha t Erle, in companye.

to tell the array itt were hard ffor me,
& they Noble power tha t they did bring
And of the ordinance heere shall yee,
tha t had tha t day Richard our Kinge.

they had 7 scores Sarpendines w i thout dout,
tha t were locked & Chained vppon a row,
as many bombards tha t were stout;
like blasts of thunder they did blow

10000 Morespikes w i th-all,
& harquebusyers, throwlye can the thringe
to make many a noble man to ffall
tha t was on H ENERYS p ar t, our kinge.

K ing Richard looked on the mountaines hye,
& sayd, " I see the banner of the Lo rd Stanley. "
he said, " ffeitch hither the Lo rd Strange to mee,
ffor doubtlesse hee shall dye this day;

" I make mine avow to Marye, tha t may,
tha t all the gold this Land w i thin
shall not saue his liffe this day,
in England iff I be Kinge! "

then they brought the Lo rd Strange into his sight;
he said, " ffor thy death make thee readye. "
then answered tha t noble K nigh t,
& said, " I crye god & the world mercye!

" & Iesus, I draw wittnesse to thee
tha t all the world ffrom woe did winn,
since the time tha t I borne did bee,
was I neu er traitor to my Kinge. "

a gentleman then called hee, —
men said Latham was his name, —
" & euer thou come into my countrye,
greete well my gentlemen eche one;

" my yeomen Large of blood and bone,
sometimes we had mirth att our meetinge;
they had a M aster , & now they haue none,
ffor heere I must be martyred w i th the Kinge. "

there he tooke a ring of his ffingar right,
& to tha t squier raught itt hee,
& said, " beare this to my Lady bright,
for shee may thinke itt longe or shee may see;

" yett att doomes day meete shall wee, —
I trust in Iesu tha t all this world shall winn —
In the celestyall heauen vpon hye
in presence of a Noble K ing .

" & the ffeild be lost vpon our p ar tye, —
as I trust in god itt shall not bee, —
take my eldest sonne tha t is my heyre,
& fflee into some ffarr countrye

" yett the child a man may bee, —
hee is comen of a Lo rd s kinn, —
another day to reuenge mee
of Richard of England, if he be K ing . "

then to King Richard there came a K nigh t,
saith, " I hold noe time about this to be.
see yee not the vawards begining to ffight?
when yee haue the ffather, the vnckle, all 3,

" looke what death you will haue them to dye;
att yo u r will you may them deeme "
through these ffortunate words eskaped hee
out of the danger of Rich ard the Kinge.

then the p ar tyes countred together egerlye.
when the vawards began to ffight,
K ing Henery ffought soe manffullye,
soe did Oxford, tha t Erle soe wight;

S i r Iohn Sauage, tha t hardy K nigh t,
deathes dints he delt tha t day
w i th many a white hood in fight,
tha t sad men were att assay.

S i r Gilbert Talbott was not away,
but stoutly stirred him in tha t ffight;
w i th noble men att assay
he caused his enemyes lowe to light.

S i r Hugh Persall, w i th sheild & speare
ffull doughtylye tha t day did hee;
he bare him doughtye in this warr,
as a man of great degree.

K ing Rich ard did in his army stand,
he was n[u]mbred to 40000 and 3
of hardy men of hart and hand,
tha t vnder his banner there did bee.

S i r William Stanley wise & worthie
remembred the brea[k]ffast he hett to him;
downe att a backe then cometh hee,
& shortlye sett vpon the Kinge

then they countred together sad & sore;
archers they lett sharpe arrowes fflee,
they shott guns both ffell & ffarr,
bowes of vewe bended did bee,

springalls spedd them speedylye,
harquebusiers pelletts throughly did thringe;
soe many a banner began to swee
tha t was on Rich ards p ar tye, their King

then our archers lett their shooting bee,
w i th ioyned weapons were growden ffull right,
brands rang on basenetts hye,
battell-axes ffast on helmes did light.

there dyed many a doughtye K nigh t,
there vnder ffoot can the thringe;
thus they ffought w i th maine & might
tha t was on H ENERYES p ar t, our K ing

then to K ing Richard there came a K nigh t,
& said " I hold itt time ffor to fflee;
ffor yonder stanleys dints they be soe wight,
against them no man may dree.

" heere is thy horsse att thy hand readye;
another day thou may thy worshipp win,
& ffor to raigne w i th royaltye,
to weare the crowne, and be our K ing . "

he said, " giue me my battell axe in my hand,
sett the crowne of England on my head soe hye!
ffor by him tha t shope both sea and Land,
K ing of England this day I will dye!

" one ffoote will I neuer fflee
whilest the breath is my brest w i thin! "
as he said, soe did itt bee;
if hee lost his liffe, if he were King

about his standard can the light,
the crowne of gold the hewed him ffroe,
w i th dilffull dints his death the dight,
the Duke of Norffolke tha t day the slowe.

the Lo rd fferrers & many other moe,
boldlye on bere they can them bringe;
many a noble K nigh t in his hart was throwe,
tha t lost his liffe w i th Richard the K ing .

there was slaine S i r Rich ard Ratcliffe, a noble K nigh t,
of K ing Richards councell was ffull nye;
S i r william Conyas, allwayes tha t was wight,
& S i r Robert of Brakenburye.

a K nigh t there dyed tha t was ffull doughtye,
tha t was S i r Richard the good Chorlton;
tha t day there dyed hee
w i th Richard of England tha t ware the crowne

amongst all other K nigh ts, remember
w hi ch were hardy, & therto wight:
S i r william Brandon was one of those,
K ing Heneryes Standard he kept on height,

& vanted itt w i th manhood & might
vntill w i th dints hee was dr[i]uen downe,
& dyed like an ancyent K nigh t,
w i th H ENERY of England tha t ware the crowne.

S i r Perciuall Thriball, the other hight,
& noble K nigh t, & in his hart was true;
K ing Richards standard hee kept vpright
vntill both his leggs were hewen him froe;

to the ground he wold neu er lett itt goe,
whilest the breath his brest was w i thin;
yett men pray ffor the K nigh ts 2
tha t euer was soe true to their King.

then they moued to a mountaine on height,
w i th a lowde voice they cryed k ing H ENERY ;
the crowne of gold tha t was bright,
to the Lo rd stanley deliu er ed itt bee.

anon to King H ENERY deliu er ed itt hee,
the crowne tha t was soe deliu er ed to him,
& said, " methinke ye are best worthye
to weare the crowne and be our King. "

Then they rode to Leister tha t night
w i th our noble prince K ing H ENERYE ;
they brought K ing Rich ard thither w i th might
as naked as he borne might bee,

& in Newarke Laid was hee,
tha t many a one might looke on him.
thus ffortunes raignes most maruelouslye
both w i th Emperour & w i th king.

now this doubtfull day is brought to an end,
Iesu now on their soules haue mercye!
& hee [that] dyed this world to amend,
saue stanleys blood, where-soeuer they bee,

to remaine as Lo rd s w i th royaltye
when truth & conscyence shall spread & spring,
& tha t they bee of councell nye
to Iames of England tha t is our K ing !