Warkworth's Chronicle 1464. 01 May 1464. And whiles the seyde Erle of Warwyke (age 35) was in Fraunce, the Kynge was wedded to Elisabethe Gray (age 27)¹, wedow, the qwiche Sere Jhon Gray that was hyre housbonde was slayne at Yorke felde¹ in Kynge Herry partye, and the same Elisabeth was doughtere to the Lorde Ryvers, and the weddynge was prevely in a secrete place, the fyrst day of Maye the yere above seide. And when the Erle of Warwyke (age 35) come home and herde hereof, thenne was he gretely displesyd withe the Kyng, and after that rose grete discencyone evere more and more betwene the Kyng and hym, for that and other, &c, And thenne the Kyng put oute of the Chaunceler-schepp the Bysshope of Excetre (age 32)², brother to the Erle of Warwyke (age 35), and made the Bysshoppe of Bathe (age 44)³ Chaunceler of Englonde, After that the Erle of Warwyke (age 35) toke to hyme in fee as many knyghtys, squyers, and gentylmenne as he myght, to be stronge, and Kyng Edwarde dide that he myght to feble the Erles powere⁴. And yett thei were acorded diverse tymes, but thei nevere loffyd togedere aftere.

Note 1. The Kynge was wedded to Elizabethe Gray. See a most quaint narrative of this marriage in William Habington's Historie of Edward the Fourth, fol. 1640, pp. 33-35. I find it stated in one place (MS. Harl. 2408.) that Edward's mother attempted to hinder the marriage, by causing "another contract to be alleadged made by him with the Lady Elizabeth Lucy, on whom he had begot a child befor." She seems, indeed, to have been most hostile to this imprudent and unpopular connexion:

Married a woman? married indeed!

Here is a marriage that befits a king!

It is no marvaile it was done in hast:

Here is a bridall, and with hell to boote,

You have made worke."

Heywood's First Part of Edward IV. Sig. A. ij.

The author of Hearne's fragment, however, speaks in praise of the marriage, "Howbeit that lewde felow that drew this last brent cronicles, abusid himsel gretely in his disordrid wrizting for lakke of knowlege." (P. 293.)

Note 1. Slayne at Yorke felde. Sir John Grey² was slain at the second battle of St. Alban's, fought on the 17th Feb. 1460-1. - J.G.N.

Note 2. The Bysshope of Excetre. George Neville (age 32), made Chancellor the 25th July 1460. He was translated to the archbishopric of York, 17th June 1465. - J.G.N.

Note 3. The Bysshope of Bath. Robert Stillington (age 44). He did not receive the seal until the 8th June 1468, previously to which Robert Kirkham had been Keeper. - J.G.N.

Note 4. Kyng Edwarde dide that he myght to feble the Erles powere. We have, however, in an act passed subsequently to this period, an especial clause that the same act "be not prejudiciall or hurtyng unto Richard Neville, Erle of Warrewyk.” — Rot. Parl. 4 Edw. IV.