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All About History Books
The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Historia Regis Henrici Septimi by Bernado Andrea is in Tudor Books.
King's Speech
Regis Oratorio
"Most loyal lords and bravest comrades in war, you who have endured so many dangers with me by land and sea—behold, though unwilling, we are once again challenged to battle. The Earl of Lincoln, as you know, is a treacherous man, and without any provocation from me, he now defends an unjust cause against me. And as you see, he does not do so secretly, but with the utmost shamelessness, without any fear of God— not merely to injure us, but in obedience to the counsel of a frivolous and insolent woman, who is not unaware that her own brother Richard met his end, yet because that bloodline has always been hostile to ours, she gives little thought to the future of her granddaughter, my noble consort, and now seeks to destroy me and our children. You see, then, how often we are provoked by them. But let them be sure of this: they shall never take anything from us without vengeance. I call upon God above and His holy angels as my witnesses, that while I strive day and night to ensure your safety and our common peace, the ancient enemy rises up against us. Yet God, who is a righteous judge, strong and patient, will bring a remedy to this evil as well. Meanwhile, I urge and exhort you: let our just inheritance weigh more with you than their wickedness. And do not doubt that the same God who made us victorious in our previous battle will now permit us to triumph again over our enemies. Let us then advance upon them fearlessly, for God is our helper."
"Fidissimi domini ac strenuissimi bellorum socii, qui tanta, pericula mecum terra marique estis experti, ecce iterum inviti altero tentamur prælio. Comes enim Linconiensis, ut nostis, homo perfidus, sine ulla sibi a me data occasione iniquam adversum me causam tutatur. Neque hoc facit, ut videtis, dissimulanter, verum impudentissime, sine ullo Dei timore; non tantum nobis ut incommodet quam ut obsequatmlevis ac procacis mulierculæ consilio; quæ sanguinem suum a Ricbardo fratre suo extinctum non ignorat, verum quia stirpi nostræ sanguis ille semper inimicatus est, parum nepti suæ consorti meæ clarissimæ prospiciens, nos ac liberos nostros perdere tentat. Videtis ergo quotiens ab ipsis irritamur; sed inultum a nobis id nunquam auferet. Deum imprimis testor et sanctos angelos ejus equidem, saluti vestræ communique quieti dum noctes atque dies consulere paro, repugnat hostis antiquus. Verumtamen Deus judex justus fortis et patiens huic quoque malo remedium afferet. Vos interea hortor et moneo ut plus valeat hoc tempore justa hæreditas quam illorum iniquitas. Nec dubitetis quin Deus ipse qui nos superiore bello victores effecit idem nunc de hostibus nos triumphare permittet. Aggrediamm^ itaque illos intrepidi; nam Deus noster adjutor est."
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[16th June 1487] He [King Henry VII] had just finished and was ready to reply to the Earl of Oxford, when, since time was pressing, he commanded silence and ordered that action be taken swiftly due to the urgency of the moment. Then, almost headlong, they seized their arms, like doves scattered by a dark storm. And now, the royal army was approaching the bands of the barbarians, who, having taken up a position on the brow of a hill, were drawn up and prepared, lying in wait for our men. But the Lord, the God of vengeance, avenging their unjust rage, sent a sudden whirlwind, just as He had done when Constantine fought against the enemies of the Church. As battle broke out and while it seemed our forces were being overcome, they who were thought to be defeated ended up subduing the enemy. Then suddenly, a great shout rose up to the heavens: "King Henry!" And the blast of trumpets from all sides filled the ears of all with joy. There, that wretched little would-be king [Lambert Simnel (age 10)], who, as I mentioned before, had been crowned in Ireland, was captured in battle. When asked by what audacity he had dared to commit so great a crime, he did not deny that he had been forced into it by certain infamous men of his own sort. Then, when he was questioned about his family and parentage, he confessed that they were entirely low-born people, engaged in menial occupations, altogether unworthy to be recorded in this history. As for that Earl of Lincoln, he met an end fitting for his deeds: for he was slain on the battlefield, as were many others, among whom their leader and commander, Martin Schwartz, a man otherwise highly skilled in the arts of war also fell while fighting bravely. Through the grace of Almighty God, a victory was granted to our king, who lost very few of his own men in the battle. He returned to London, giving thanks to God, accompanied by the entire host in celebration.
Finierat cum jam respondere parato ut ante comiti Oxoniensi rex quia tempus urgebat silentium indicit ac temporis angustiæ consulendnm imperavit. Illi ferme præcipites, atra ceu tempestate columbæ, arma capessunt. Jamque barbarorum turmis appropinquabat regius exercitus; illique supercilio montis instructi paratique mostros operiebantur. Sed Deus ultionum Dominus injustas illorum iras vindicans, repentino venti turbine, velut dum Constantinus adversus ecclesiæ hostes dimicaret, exorto dum præliantur, nostri qui putabantur superati illos denique subjecerunt. Tunc subito ad eethera exortus clamor "Rex Henricus," clan gentibus undique tubis, aures omnium lætitia complevit. Ibi nebulonum ille regulus in Hibernia ut ante dixi coronatus misellus bello capitur; qui interrogatus qua audacia tantum facinus vapulo facere ausus esset, a quibusdam suæ sortis flagitiosis hominibus se fuisse coactum non negavit.
Deinde super generis ac parentum conditione interrogatus, viles omnino personas, vilibusque officiis, nec in hac historia inseri dignis, omnes fuisse confessus est. Comes autem ille Linconiensis dignum factis exitium pertulit; nam in campo interemptus est, et item alii permulti, quorum dux atque imperator Martinus Souarp, vir alioquin bellicis artibus egregie doctus, fortiter pugnando corruit. Parta Dei Optimi Maximi gratia a rege nostro victoria, paucis admodum suorum in eo bello trucidatis, Londinum Deo gratulatum revertitur, tota comitante caterva.
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