the poore cōmons, of wit and wisdome discrite and studious, well affected to religion, and a friende to veritye, and no lesse enemy to pride and ambition, especially in hautye prelates, which was his vndoing in this present euil world: MarginaliaDuke Humfrey commended for hys learning.And, which is seldome & rare in such princes of that calling, he was both learned himself: and no lesse geuen to study, as also a singular fauourer and patron to them which were studious and learned. And that my commendation of hym may haue the more credit, I wil produce the testimony of learned writers, who lyuing in hys tyme, not onely do commend hys famous knowledge, and ripenes of learning in him: but also commit and submit their workes to hys iudgement to be examined. MarginaliaPetrus de Monte, De virtutum et vitiorum differētia, ad D. Humfredum.Of which writers one is Petrus de Monte, writing De virtutum et viciorum differentia: who in hys Epistle dedicatorie, beginning with the singuler commendatiō of this Duke, and afterward speaking De optimarum artiū, liberaliumq; scientiarū peritia, sayth thus: Cui tu quidem omni conatu, omni ingenio, atq; studio incumbis: adeo vt nihil tibi sine librorum lectione, iucundum, gratum, aut certe delectabile videatur. &c. And in further proces of hys worke, thus he further declareth, saying: Delectaris autem non vna tantum arte, aut scientia, quanquam et id quidem esset satis: verum fere omnibus, earumq; codices magna quadam auiditate legisti. &c. Beside this Petrus de Monte, let vs heare also the iudgemēt of an other writer of the same age, MarginaliaLapiscastellius De comparatione studiorum et res militaris ad D. Humfredum.named Lapiscastellius, who likewise dedicating to the sayd Duke Humfrey, his booke intituled: Comparatio studiorum et rei militaris, amongst diuers other wordes commendatory, hath these as follow: Ad te potissimum mitto, quod horum te optimum, et sapientiisimum iudicem fore existimo, qui vt ex integerrimo pat. domino, Zenone Baiocensi episcopo, homine tuæ laudis cupidissimo, accepi: ita in his humanitatis studijs inuigilares, vt nullus toto terrarum orbe princeps, nec doctrina, nec eloquentia, nec humanitate tecum comparandus sit. &c. Many other argumentes and places may be brought, to declare what is to be estemed of the learning and studious wyt of thys noble Prince.

Furthermore, as the learnyng of this Prince was rare and memorable, so was the discrete wisedome and singular prudence in him no lesse to be considered: as, for the more manifest proufe therof, I thought here good amongest many other his godly doyngs, to recite one example, reported as well by the penne of Syr Thomas More, as also by maister VVilliam Tindall, þ^e true Apostle of these our latter dayes, to the entēt to see and note, not onely the crafty woorkyng of false miracles in the clergy, but also that the prudent discretion of this hyghe and mighty Prince, the foresayd Duke Humfrey, maye geue vs better to vnderstand what man he was. The story lyeth thus.

MarginaliaA false miracle espied.In the young dayes of this kyng Henry the vi. being yet vnder þ^e gouernaunce of this Duke Humfrey his protector, there came to S. Albones a certaine beggar with hys wife, and there was walkyng about the towne, beggyng fiue or sixe dayes before the kyngs comming thether, saying that he was borne blinde and neuer saw in his life, and was warned in his dreame, that he should come out of Barwike, where he said he had euer dwelled, to seke S. Albon, and that he had bene at his shrine, and had not bene holpen, and therfore he would go and seke him at some other place: for he had heard some say, since hee came, that S. Albones body should be at Colon, and in dede such a contention hath there bene. But of truth as I am surely informed, he lyeth here at S. Albones, sauyng some Reliques of hym, whiche they there shewe shrined. But to tell you forth, whē the kyng was comē, and the towne full, sodainly this blynde man, at S. Albones shrine had his sight againe, and a miracle solēnly ronge, and Te Deum songe, so that nothyng was talked of in all the towne, but this miracle. So happened itit then, that Duke Humfrey of Glocester, a man no lesse wise, thē also well learned, hauing great ioye to see such a miracle, called the poore man vnto him, and first shewyng him selfe ioyous of Gods glory, so shewed in the gettyng of his sight, and exhortyng him to mekenes, and to no ascribing of any part of the worship to him selfe, nor to be proude of the peoples prayse, which would call him a good and godly man therby, at last he looked well vppon his eyen, and asked whether hee could neuer see nothyng at all, in all his lyfe before. And when as well hys wife as him selfe affirmed fastly no, then he loked aduisedly vpon his eyen againe, and sayd: I beleue you very well, for me thinketh that ye can not see well yet. Yes syr, quod he, I thanke God and hys holy martyr, I can see now as well as any man. Yea can (quod the Duke) what colour is my gowne? Then anone the begger told him. What colour (quoth he) is this mans gowne? He told him also, and so forth without any sticking, he told him the names of all the colours that coulde be shewed him. MarginaliaDissimulation well punished.And when þ^e duke saw that, he bad him walke traitour, and made him to be set openlye in the stockes: For though he could haue sene sodeinly by miracle the difference betwene diuers colours, yet coulde he not by the sight so sodēly tell the names of all these colours, except he had knowen them before, no more then the names of all the men that he should sodainly see.

MarginaliaCommendation of Duke Humfrey.By this may it be sene how Duke Humfrey had not onely an head to discerne and disseuer truth from foreged and fained hipocrisie, but studye also and diligence likewise was in him, to reforme that which was amisse.

And thus much hetherto for the noble prowesse & vertues, ioyned with like ornamentes of knowledge & literature shining in this princely duke. For the which, as he was both loued of the poore cōmons, & wel spoken of of all men, and no lesse deseruing the same, MarginaliaThe good Duke of Glocester.being called the good Duke of Glocester: so neyther yet wanted hee his enemies, & priuye enuiers, whether it was through the fatall and vnfortunate lucke of the name of that house, which is but a vayne and friuolous obseruation of Polydore, and Halle which followeth him, MarginaliaPolyd. Hist. lib. 23.
Hall. in 25. Henr. 6.bringyng in the examples of Hugh Spenser, of Thomas of VVodstocke, sonne to K. Edward the third, of this Duke Humfrey, and after of K. Richard the third, Duke likewyse of Glocester: or whether it was that the nature of true vertue commōly is such, that as the flame euer beareth his smoke, and the body his shadow: so the brightnes of vertue neuer blaseth, but hath some disdayne or enuye waiting vpon it: or els whether it was rather for some diuorcement from his wife, or for some other vice or trespasse done (as seemeth moste like truth) which God as well in Dukes houses correcteth, as in other inferiour persons, especially where he loueth: But howsoeuer the cause is to vs vnknowen, this good Duke of Glocester, albeit being both the kinges sole vncle, and hauyng so many well willers through the whole realme, yet lacked not his Satan: lacked not his secret maligners. MarginaliaThe enemies to the Duke of Glocester.Of whom specially was Henry Beauford Cardinall, bishop of VVint. and Chauncellour of England: who of long time disdayning and enuying the rule and autoritye of this Duke, fyrst had disposed and appointed himselfe, to remoue þ^e kinges person frō Eltham vnto VVinsore out of þ^e Dukes handes, & there to put in suche gouernours, as him listed. MarginaliaThe malitious working of the Cardinall agaynst the Duke of Glocester.After that, entending the Dukes death, he set men of armes and Archers at the end of London bridge, and for barring the hie way with a draw chain, set men in chambers, sellers and windowes with bowes and arrowes and other weapons, to the purposed destruction both of the Duke & his retinue, if God had not so disposed, to turne his iourney an other waye. Beside other manifold iniuries and molestations, the ambitious Cardinall, seeking by all meanes to be Pope, procured such trouble against him, that great diuisiō was