that this was subject to that and ever after the Archbishop of York was called Primate of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England Also he made the Churches of Scotland to be under the Primate of York as the Churches of England were under Canterbury Though he seemed to curb the insolency of the Clergy he had them yet in great esteem For Aldred Archbishop of York being angry because he could not obtain what he asked and offering to go away in a fury the King not enduring the hatred of that Prelate fell down at his knees and humbly asked forgiveness of him The Bishop being admonished to raise up the King answered No but said He shall feel what it is to offend St Peter By the largeness of his Benefits he shewed forth the love he bare unto Church men building innumerable Churches for the service of God with Monasteries and other sacred Houses About the end of his life and Kingdom he placed his two Sons Robert and Henry almost in equal power over Normandy There arose on a day a quarrel between Henry and Lewis the Dolphin of France playing at Tables which was the cause of a great contention between the French and the Normans The Dolphin drawing Robert on his side enters Normandy with an Army William forthwith having his Navy ready sails into Normandy and with no difficulty reducing his Son Robert to his former obedience he marched to Roan that he might finde the French men work when he was weary with toyling being very fat he made an halt a while The French derided William because he was sick and by reason of his fat belly speaking scoffingly That he was with childe and ready to be delivered When this jeer was told to William he answered If please God that I ever recover of this child-birth I will burn a thousand lights to God in token of my thankfulness Nor was it long before he entred the Territories of France and wasted all with fire and sword Yet shortly after falling into a relapse of the same weakness he died at Roan His followers not only forsook him being dead but spoiled him of what he had And his Body unfortunately being thrice forsaken at last was let down into his own Monument but not entire WILLIAM the second King of England Anno 1088. WIlliam whose sirname was Rufus the third Son succeeded the Conquerour The beginning of his Reign was unquiet and troublesom his Brother Robert being offended with him for taking the succession from him the Nobility being divided and conspiring his destruction But he freed himself of all this danger partly by force partly by rewards and partly by Armes so that he pacified them all But the greater Tempest was threatned from Scotland now ready to arise for Malcom King of the Scots though he ought homage to the English conjecturing amongst so many troubles that he had now a fit opportunity to be prosperous in his business with great force entred Northumberland and with fire and sword he consumed all he met with and loaded with spoils he returned into his Countrey But William having provided an Army invaded Scotland and subduing Malcom brought him at last to his obedience and made him give Hostages for security Robert the Kings Brother once more proclaims Warre against him because he paid him not the money they were agreed upon and the King of France taking his part he took some Towns by force from his Brother which of right belonged to him But William bribed the French King and so depriving his Brother of all help easily compelled him to crave pardon for his Retractayners But that all things might take their turns Malcom taking occasion of raising Arms from the contempt of the English provoked William by a new injury spoyling his Countrey But when being loaden with the spoil he thought to return home by chance being intercepted by Ambush he lost both his life and the Prize he had got But yet this put not an end to the Troubles for the Welsh setting upon the King already incumbred depopulated his Territories in the way whom at last William overcame in a successfull Battel In the mean while Robert Mowbray by whose valour Malcom was subdued supposing himself to be despised or not so much honoured as he deserved procuring some other Noble men to joyn with him riseth up against his Sovereign but the King suddenly falling upon the small number of the Conspirators easily put an end to this tumultuous Warre taking Mowbray prisoner Yet least the Welsh should rise again afresh however their stubborness was beaten down and should occasion greater danger William now endeavours wholly to Conquer them invading their Kingdom and building of Bulwarks but when this Warre proved to be tedious the business being recommended to Hugh Earl of Shropshire and to the Earl of Chester the King left them They cruelly handled the Wolsh cutting off their nostrils and their ears untill such time as the Earl of Shropshire being slain Hugh Count of Chester killing the King of Wales obtain'd a full Victory over them Whilst Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury lived he was ruled as with a bridle but after he was dead being as it were freed from all bands the state of the Church being oppressed he began to rage with immoderate Tributes and hard Laws Now was the first time that all Ecclesiasticall preferments were set to sale and any thing was lawfull for money Yet the Tyranny of this King was not wholly void of doing good for he gave freely to a poor Monk a Benefice for which two others contended violently beating the bargain with great summes of money However all these vices were made good by his great Magnanimity for hearing of the siege of the Town of Mantium breaking through a Wall that he might the sooner enter none following him but such as were couragious like himself and despising the danger of the turbulent Sea he came unexpected and freed the place putting the enemy to flight and taking their Captain prisoner who was Helias Earl of Flescia That Earl when he saw himself captivated imputed this his misfortune to the unlooked for arrivall of the King threatning great matters against the King if he were once at liberty whereupon he was set free to do what he could Also he shewed a wonderfull example of notable courage at a Fort call'd St Michaels Mount for he was suddenly set upon by three Cavaliers and although he was already unhorsed he defended himself valiantly with his Saddle for a Target and his drawn Sword untill such time as he was rescued by his followers When as those that accompanied him found fault with his too great care for his Saddle Yes saith he I would rather have lost my life than have left that to the scorn of the Enemy He was faithfull in his promise betwixt both in continence he neither despised nor yet adored Religion but he was extream covetous This was the first King of England that would
successfull fight or else helped by the Forces of Edward brought almost the whole Nation under him whilst David a young King trifled the time away in France and so doing Homage to the King of England he held it as from him in Chief In the said time the Isle of Man is Conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who therefore was honoured with the Title of King of Man Edward now come to age by the Instigation of Robert Atrebas who was fled out of France into England intends a Warre with France making a Confederacy with the Dukes and Earls of Gelderland Gulic Cleave and the Hanse Towns and of Brabant The French also foreseeing this Tempest made friendship with the Bishop of Leige John King of Bobemia the Earl of Lutzenburg the Palatine Albertus Otho of the House of Austrich and Amesius Earl of Genoa Wherefore Edward sail'd into Flanders bearing the Title of the King of France those of Flanders being the cause of it and then he entred the Borders of France Philip also invaded Aquitan and though the Armies of both Kings were in sight one of the other and ready to fall on yet they both departed without fighting Edward in the mean while to see to his business at home returned for England leaving William Montacute and the Earl of Suffolk to take care of the Warre both of them behaved themselves valiantly yet were taken and brought to Paris But Edward supposing it was in vain to stay at the report of this news provided for his return for France and finding a strong Navy of King Philips in the Haven of Sluse he collecting a great Fleet set upon the French and utterly destroyed their Navy killing then 30000 French with those that were drowned and came to their ends other waies Then he laid siege to Tourney which Town was so well defended by the Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Armeniac that his whole Army being dispersed he lost about 4000 men Edward was much enraged with this loss and challenged Philip to fight a Duel with him but the business came not so farre because it was taken up Yet the befieging of Turney was no whit neglected and Philip did what he could to free the City but Robert King of Sicily interceding and especially Joan Valois Philips sister there is a cessation made for two years In the interim the Scots that were enemies to Bayly's Government calling their King David out of France they make Warre upon Edward and invading Northumberland with a strong Army they miserably destroy all by fire and sword sparing no sex nor condition But at the sudden approach of William Montaente they are afflicted with some loss and being frighted at the coming of Edward sounding a retreat they returned for Scotland but Edward following their Armies overtook them and wearying them with some light skirmishes he forced them to a cessation for two years John Earl Montfort whilst he strives to make good his Title to Britany is taken by King Philip but his Wife seeking help from King Edward easily procured it Mary the Kings Daughter being espoused to the Earls Son the care of that expedition was first committed to Gualter Mani a valiant Gentleman and then to Robert Atrebas In the mean time Baily being driven out of his Kingdom of Scotland and by Edward made Governour of Barwick tels Edward that the Scots had not kept their Covenants whereupon Edward moves suddenly with an Army against the Scots but there was nothing done but the cessation of Arms renewed In the interim Robert Atrebas with Gualter Mani and some other Nobles after a great tempest and Sea-fight arrived at a Town of Britain which is commonly called Vannes and going on Land set on the City that was a Garrison in a Hostile manner and suddenly became Masters of it but by the desperate violence of some of the Nobility the French wan it again and wounded Robert whereof he died shortly after in England But Edward himself moving into Britany laid a new siege to the Vannes and John Duke of Normandy coming suddenly they both make themselves ready for Battell but by the intercession of Pope Clement the sixt Truce was made for some few moneths yet it lasted not who was the cause of it is uncertain they again prepare for their Arms by which means Henry of Lancaster subdued many Towns in Guyan and in other Provinces and then he removed to Burdeaux for his Winter Quarters Philip that he might not lose his Countrey by sloth levying a great Army regained Miremontium a Franc Town and Engolesm But when Lancaster was too weak for the great Army of Philip Edward came to his assistance with more Forces bringing with him his Sonne Prince of Wales that was yet in his Nonage for he was scarce 15 years old that he might be trained up in the Warres who presently took many Towns and then he marched toward Picardy and Pontium and he either vanquished or destroyed all places in the way Then he passed over Somes a wonderfull example of his Valour the enemy looking on and he discomfited Gondemar more by fear than force In the mean time Philip stay'd with his Army at the Temple of St Germans and being enraged with so great a loss of his men sets Edward a day to sight with him in Battell he had pitched his Camp at Cressen expecting with his Ensignes Philip his enemy The Armies both meet and the Trumpets sound to Battell wherein appeared the wonderfull courage of Edwards both Father and Sonne that day the English got the Victory and the French were routed and ruined the King hardly escaped himself and there were found slain about 30000 men the chief whereof were John King of Bohemia Charles Alencon and other chief Nobles 1500. Another loss fell after this Victory upon the Archbishop of Roan who lost about 7000 Souldiers Nor was this the end of their Victories for it went successively in England against the Scots in the Kings absence their King David with the greatest Noble men were taken prisoners and 15000 Souldiers were slain in the fight and the rest were dispersed Nor did the General Thomas Dagovort fight with less good fortune in Britanie for the Countess of Montfort the principal of the French Nobility being taken and killed Edward being more high by so many and great Victories neglecting Amiens and the Town of Abbas he laid siege to Calais that was of great moment and most convenient for the English affairs whilst Lancaster over-ran all Guyan vanquished those of Xanton and Poictiers and being loaded with the spoil he returned to Burdeaux In the mean while Philip going about to relieve those of Calais drew near with his Forces and when he had in vain provoked Edward to Battell having done nothing he returns toward Paris So they of Calais being out of hopes of relief began to treat for Conditions and it was agreed upon on both sides that six of the principall Citizens should come with
Germany who were promiscuously called by that Name These with Hengist and Horsus their Leaders made hast into England with an Army of 9000 men by whose Valour the Scotch and Picts were overcome in a pitched Battell From hence arose so great an opinion of the Saxons that they were held for Angels as it were sent from heaven and they were received into society by granting part of this Island unto them Also Vortigernus being taken with the beauty of Rovena the Daughter of Hengist easily obtained her for his Wife Hengist not a little elevated by this success forgetting his own Countrey supposed himself to be King of Britany calling therefore not a few of his Countreymen out of Saxony he attempted to gain the Land by force But the Nobility of the Land foreseeing these undertakings they thrust Vortigernus an Uxorious King from his Throne and they create his sonne Vortimer King He suddenly picking up what Souldiers he could went against the Enemy near Alesfort where in a single fight on one side Caligarnus Brother of Vortimer on the other side Horsus Brother to Hengist were slain The Saxons were compelled to forsake all Britany or else a Territory was granted to them in Tennet where they found no quiet Vortimer to whom Britany now was indebted for her liberty having reigned four years was poysoned by Rovena the Wife of Vortigernus and the Nobility are perswaded by a crafty woman to recall their former King Vortigernus This being done Hengist growing more bold by the favour of his Son in Law levies a new Army and again attempts to invade Britany cunningly pretending that he came not to wage Warre with the Britans but to fetch Rovena and to make a continual League with them The false Name of League displeased not the Britans came unarmed to the place appointed but the Saxons came armed with short skeens under their garments by this fraud these unprepared people were overcome without great contest 300 of the Nobility were slain the King himself was taken and obtained his liberty by the Provinces of Kent Suffolk Sussex and Norfolk but he himself fled into Wales In the mean while an infinite number of Saxons arrived in Britany and they over flow the whole Island like a sudden Deluge untill such time as Aurelius Ambrosius a Roman born yet very affectionate to the Britans landed in Britany with a great multitude of people and at first he sets upon King Vortigernus suddenly who was doubtless the cause of all these troubles and besieging him in a certain Castle he put fire to it and consumed him with the Fort. After this he holds the Saxons play enough not in one Battell alone but at length he is miserably destroyed by a Saxon that was suborned to give him poyson to drink when he had been Ruler over the Affairs of Britany 32 years Vter succeeded him in the Kingdom or as some will have it Pendragon the Britan so called because he was wont to wear the Dragons Head of Gold in his Banner which is at this day an Ensign of honour to the English He also overthrew the pride of the Saxons in divers Battels untill the eighteenth year of his Reign poyson being cast into a Well the water whereof he daily drank of he was killed also Arthur succeeded him who was born of a fair and Noble Woman which was Wife to the Duke of Cornwall This Arthur being of wonderfull force killed 800 Saxons with his own hand and did many other admirable things he also set up the order of the round Table but afterwards being wounded in Battell he died in the twenty sixth year of his Reign Constantirus succeeded him and Aurelius Conanus Nephew to Arthur followed him Vortiporus followed Conanus then Malgo Conanus afterward Carelicus Cadvanus succeeded Carelicus and after him Cadwallus and Cadâ—alladar who was the last of the British Kings for leaving his Grandfathers Kingdom of his own accord he sailed into Britany in France by whose absence the courage of the Saxons grew so great that coming in with great multitudes they vanquished the Britans that were now without a King and they easily brought the whole Island under their Jurisdiction Cadwalladar striving to stand against their violence was admonished as it is supposed from heaven to go to Rome and to betake himself to a spiritual life where he died a Monk The Saxons being now Masters of all divide this vast Island into seven Kingdoms and as many Kings yet he that was most powerfull was called King of England so that it is apparent enough that in this Heptarchy there was a Monarchy And now the Christian Religion had taken no small root the clouds of Heathenish Errours being dispersed by Dr Austin the English Apostle as they called him And this light was received by the English men with so great zeal that they strove to enter their Names built Churches and performed Divine duties The Saxon Government flourished exceedingly under this Heptarchy for a long time untill that intestine Warre rose amongst them and brought all things under the power of the West Saxons For Egbert King of the West Saxons when he had by Arms subdued four Kingdoms and was in hope to overcome the other two in memory of his Country after the Name of Britans and Saxons he commanded that all the Inhabitants should be called English men and the Countrey England Now the affairs of the English seemed to be at the height when they were next to their ruine so false is the appearance of all humane things that when they glitter most they may be supposed to be in the declining For the Danes playing the Pirats about the English Coasts for a long time at last by force they enter the Land Angarus and Hubo being their Captains and they wasted the Countrey miserably sparing neither sacred nor common which is apparent by a most famous example of the holy Virgins of Coldingham who to preserve their purity dismembred their bodies For foreseeing the violence of the mad souldiers every where they cut off their own nostrils and their upper lips that being like to Monsters they might mitigate the dishonest lasciviousness of an unbeleeving Nation The Kings of the Mercians and Eastern English were killed by them and their Kingdoms were possessed with no small part of Northumberland at last to repress the insolency of these Danes a great Tribute was laid upon the people which was commonly called Dan or Dans gelt At length they were valiantly repulsed by Alfred King of the West Saxons and are driven out of all Mercia Upon his Victories Edward his Sonne succeeding subdued the East part of England driving out the Danes But Adelstan this Kings Bastard Sonne cast such a fear upon them that they yielded not only Northumberland but also all England unto him and some of them became his subjects willingly But Ethelrede a weak and sluggish King reigning taking heart again they once more invade the Land spoil and wast it miserably
disgraced he fled into Normandy to complain to King Richard and when he had complained of the injury done him he sought in vain for his lost dignity Also Philip King of France invaded Normandy with an Army as he had promised He sought to draw John the Kings Brother to his side but could not his Mother Eleoner disswading him But though he openly did nothing to his Brothers prejudice yet privately a false rumour being spread of the Kings death through England he endeavours to wrest the Kingdom from him whereby afterwards he lost all the favour he had with his Brother together with his Honour The King after this goes against King Philip with a great Navy and first he freed the City Vernowle and afterwards Vandosme from his Leauger so hastily that the French man leaving for fear all his Baggage ran away At last a Peace being made between both they are forced to abstain from Warre though against their wils In the mean while his Kingdom was tossed with various commotions First by Theeves the chief whereof being killed that faction was easily suppressed Secondly by a greater commotion from the Jews arising from one that had forsworn the superstition of his Ancestors for the rest of the Jews being offended at it who continued in their errour could hardly tolerate their converted Brother they meet him in the high-way and fine him sorely whence first grew a Faction then a Tumult and slaughter of the Jews every where Nor was this rage shut up in one Town but passing the bounds it went first to Stamfort then to Lincoln then to York where the Jews flying into a Castle killing first their Wives and Children most barbarously and casting their dead bodies out of the windows on the enemies heads putting fire to Gun-powder they were almost all blown up a cruel example of their stubbornness Lastly It is a question whether the King were more angry with the commotion or with the punishment of Covetousness whereby he found an end for all his troubles A certain Souldier who received wages from King Richard had found a mighty Treasure and fearing least the King should demand it he went to Lemosin and hid it in the Town of Calacum when the Towns men prolonged to let the King come in he laid siege to it whereby receiving a wound in his Arm he died shortly after of it having won the City but not found the Treasure He was of a reasonable Stature of a pleasant and gracefull countenance he was commendable in manners famous more for his Vertues than Vices sparing of Tribute but very cunning to raise Money He was the first that subjected the City of London to Aldermen and Sheriffs blotting out the Name of Potent Earls JOHN the first King of England Anno 1201. RIchard being dead John invades the Kingdom by right of Anticipation shutting out his Cousin Arthur to whom the succession was due by right of Inheritance and also by the prerogative of his age for Arthur was not yet over thirteen years old Also trusting to his Bribes for he had robbed those Treasures his Brother had compiled he entred the Government of his own accord not caring any thing for the envy of his subjects his friends in England not a little helping him The first Tempest was depending from his Cousin Arthur whose Kingdom he had not only taken from him but also had drawn the Dukedom of Normandy to himself leaving only the Dukedom of Anion to the childe Also his Mother Constance finding her self too weak for the English flies to the French King and craves aid of him who promised not only to restore all Normandy but all England also to Arthur and received the young man into his protection Wherefore Philip listing an Army first made good the Duchy of Aniou to Arthur and then he invaded Normandy But John sailing into Normandy upbraids Philip with his perfidiousness because he had foully broken the Peace he had made with his Brother Richard Yet they went not to Arms for while they discourse and each defends his right they agreed on fifty daies cessation of Arms Baldwin Earl of Flanders being against it who therefore forsaking Philip made his Peace with the English and takes Counsel by what means when the Truce was ended they should wage Warre with the French But when John was free from the care of Warre he strikes hand with Philip upon unjust terms and Baldwin hating his sluggishness joyned with the French once more and restored the Warre of Jerusalem The English man was glad and returns for his Countrey yet was very ill received by the Nobility which hated those base conditions John now free from Warre turns all his care to Pole his subjects and to follow his pleasures Also he deprived his Brother Jeffrey Archbishop of York of all his fortune because he dehorted him from such injury Then going into Normandy he Divorced his Wife Avis and married Isabell Daughter and Heir to the Earl of Engolesme She was Crown'd at Canterbury But the oppression and violence of King John prevailed so farre also his base luxury not without murder and man-slaughter for he destroyed Matilda a beautifull Maid causing her to drink poyson because she would not yield to his intreaty to be corrupted by him and William Brause with his Wife for speaking something freely he killed with famine taking all their Estate from them But when he asked Subsidy all the Nobility as one man denied to follow him forth to Warres unless he would remove the heavy Imposts and free them from those cursed injuries Yet he went afterwards into Normandy and then to Paris with his Wife where they are to outward appearance friendly received by King Philip. But Hugh Earl of Marsh to whom Isabella the Kings Wife was first betrothed being angry with the King for taking his Wife from him joyned with Arthur and make a new Warre Philip took their part and so joyntly those of Tours first then they of Aniou invade and they take the Town Mirabellum with Eleoner the Grandmother to Arthur who had fled thither for security which was notwithstanding received by Arthur with great piety and obedience John reproves King Philip for his falseness and began to think seriously of revenge and coming suddenly and unlooked for upon the Forces of the Enemy destroyed them with a great slaughter taking those Captive which could not run away amongst whom was Arthur who shortly after died in prison of hunger on going to make an escape was drowned in the River or as it is vulgarly thought he died of grief and sorrow His Sister Eleoner died the same way shortly after All Commotions are not extinguished with Arthur but Warre springing out from Warre now here now there arise new causes of disagreement For Constance Mother to Arthur complaining to Philip of her Sonne Arthurs death she easily instigated him to a just revenge who was of his own accord the greatest enemy to John He presently sends his Heralds to
anothers Land The union and rest of the Kingdome being thus established for a time suddenly there arose a new faction of the Conspirators It was known to all what the intention was but what hopes they had was unknown to none because it was fortified but with small forces and was unprosperously suppressed those being punished that refused to submit At last all care is converted to the recovering of those Provinces in France that belonged to the English large Tributes and Imposts being granted to the King For though the French had promised restitution of them yet he would not yeeld them up but by force of arms yet it was deferred untill the King being of riper years should stand upon his own Right and should governe the whole matter himself In the mean while those fields that were fenced in for Parks by his Ancestors he laid them open and restored them for husbandry and to the common good But when he was grown up he recalled again those grants and what he gratified the people with in his minority he revoked turning those fields for his pleasure into Parks again And not content with this injury he alienated the hearts of his Subjects from him by many more unlawfull acts He abolished the old Seal and made a new one and so extorted a great summe of money from his Subjects Also he greatly drained them under a pretence of a warre with France and managing the matter slothfully he returned without a victory bringing with him out of France many of Poictou that what reward they had not desired in France he might pay them in England whereby the best men were discharged of their Offices and these vagabonds and strangers were possessed of them The King being now of ripe years took to wife Eleonor the daughter of Raymound Earl of Province whereby there grew no profit to his affairs but rather by reason of a thredbare and beggarly Family and her Kindred coming from all parts as Crows to the prey he suffered great detriment which yet were highly esteemed by him the people much murmuring at it But whilst the King thus goes about to overthrow his Subjects Rights which they labour to preserve all the Nobility being offended at the promotion of strangers they enter into a conspiracy The Ringleader whereof was Richard Marshall who durst freely tell the King of his injustice and required satisfaction But the King to punish their arrogancy muster'd a great Army of strangers and withall cals a Parliament which is an Assembly of several Orders The Nobility refuse to be present unlesse he would command the Bishop of Winchester Peter de Rupibus of Poictou and all his gang to forsake the Court threatning withall that unlesse satisfaction were made unto them they would depose the King and all strangers that were his Adherents and would choose another King the King therefore commands all that were upon Knights service and the Nobility to be present to fight for him which they all refuse to do whereupon he confiscated all their goods and distributed them amongst those of Poictou and their persons to be banished wheresoever they could be found By which threats they being frighted or corrupted by rewards the chief of them fall off whereby the rest were weakned and flie into Wales to the Prince of that Countrey Lionel drawn to hold part with them to whom Hugh Burgies came escaping out of a Castle where he was unjustly imprisoned The King follows those fugitives into Wales but came back with disgrace doing nothing But Richard Marshall when he would not return into the Kings favour being drawn cunningly into Ireland to look to his Estate and there being accused of Treason was killed though the King strove to remove the envy of that deed from himself A Parliament being called some men that had care of the Commonwealth were those that perswaded the King to leave off war and to make Peace with his Nobility the King hearkned to their councel and recalling the Nobles out of Wales he treats with them whereby they are restored to their former dignities and strangers that possessed their places were removed from all places and a great penalty laid upon them yet some of them as Fortune is inconstant were re-admitted into the Kings favour The King then feigning that all favour was for his own Subjects extorted a great Summe of money from them which yet he distributed amongst the poor kindred of the Queen and her Father a poor Prince And having promised before to exclude all strangers from favour and alwayes to take counsell of his Subjects he began now to esteem them more with which indignity the Nobility offended enter upon a new conspiracy to which as the Leader and Chief Richard the Kings brother had given his Name who being so bold as to tell the King of his faults to his teeth doth forcibly dehort him from such fallacies The King was much incensed with this and seeing the inclination of the Londoners toward the Conspiratours calling a Parliament and publishing the Conditions he treats with them for Peace But before it was come so far the Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother was drawn off to the contrary part whereby the Nobility urged their matters more faintly and so the Treaty could come to no conclusion The King now free from all impediments tyrannizeth more over the Nobles the chief of the Conspiratours were banished or turned out of their places Nor did he lesse oppresse the Clergy putting strangers into Church-Offices at the Popes request dispossessing the Nations and laying heavy Taxes upon them so that all hated him Henry purposing to make a new expedition for France asks Subsidies from his Parliament which being denied he was forced to borrow otherwhere Nor yet did he spend it successefully after a years delay and having done nothing well concluding a disgracefull peace with the French But returning for England he tyrannized over the Jews and wrested a great Summe of money from them which he yet consumed with unseasonable gifts very indiscreetly And so his Exchequer being consumed and Subsidies denied him from the Parliament gave him occasion of new oppressions and so drawing the means of the Church to himself was a cause of great differences between him and the Pope But the King being inconstant laid down the Bucklers and yeelded to the Pope who recovering his goods in England did againe pole the poor people of the Kingdome with continual sucking To this may be added that there was a daily conflux out of France and other parts into England of this new Family having some relation to the King this or that way whose wants must be magnificently supplied to the great detriment of the Commonwealth The King grew still poorer by it and so applied himself to rapines and extortions and sold such furniture as belonged to the Crowne wresting all the moneys he could to pay those he stood indebted to Then when he could no longer do it by such inconvenient wayes he obtained a
small Summe of money from the Londoners by threats and violence And then turning to the Nobility he asked a Subsidy of them in vain and he found his Church-men as backward with whom he could do little or nothing Then enterprizing an Expedition to the holy Land to free the King of France he called an Assembly of his Bishops and Peers from whom when he could not obtain one mite of money being like a mad man he drove them all out of the Chamber The Bishop of Ely for that injury was excepted against by him At last some help was afforded him whereupon he was forced to confirm solemnly Magna Charta but that money which he had appointed for the holy Warre was quickly wasted partly by gifts partly by banquetting and other frauds invented for his own destruction Also he had upon a vain hope redeemed the Kingdomes of Sicily for his son Edmund paying a great summe of money to the Pope In the interim the Welsh vexed with great injuries fall away from the Prince and to suppresse these and reduce them to obedience he stood in need of a new supply of money which at last by neat devices and inventions he wrung from them In the mean while Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother at the suit of the Princes of Germany is chosen King of the Romans but shortly when he grew insolent with importunate oppressions and revenges he was put out of the place and returned for England a poor Emperour who went out a rich Earl But Henry that he might make up that money which the Pope had wiped him of by a vain boast of the Kingdom of Sicily he asks once more a Subsidy from his Nobles who refusing stifly and the King pressing for it they fall to odds afterwards calling a new Parliament which the Lords had procured for the safety of the Kingdom he was compelled by Oath and his Son also to confirm it At which time it was Enacted that the Kings Brother with the men of Poictiers that remained in England should presently depart the Kingdom But a contagious pestilence arising either naturally or by some venom these strangers scattered when they departed Many of the Nobility died whereupon many were put to death out of bare suspicion some are cast into prison and some are banished Nor did less evils for this afflict the English for they that had the charge of correcting the errors of others did with all cruelty weed up the miserable English that now so many Lords as there were so many Tyrants there were and the servants were grown like their Masters And that they might stirre up the envy of the subjects against the King they cast all the fault upon him which he endeavoured to free himself from by his publick Writ but all in vain when he was compelled in a solemn Parliament to give that power he had given to twenty four chosen men before to the Earls Montfort and of Glocester and to Spencer taking an Oath to confirm it unto them In the mean while Richard King of the Romans being landed in England Henry growing bolder by the return of his Brother though he were poor first demands a discharge of his Oath from the Pope then he opposed himself against the insolency of the Nobility He flies to help from the French King who is chosen Umpire between Henry and his Nobles to end the controversie but when he did nothing they break forth on all sides into open Warre The Count of Leicester drives forth the Earl of Glocester and storms his Castle and laid a great fine upon the Citizens Then he took the Fort at Worcester and afterwards the Isle of Ely and the Castle of Windsor But the King fearing least he should come so farre as London thought it concerned him to make peace with him They agreed at last on these conditions That all the Castles should be delivered up to the Lords and all strangers at a day appointed should forthwith depart the Kingdom only those excepted who had a Licence given them to stay But the King calling a new Parliament he drew some of the Nobility especially his own sonnes to his party to whom John Comminus Bayly Robert Bruse and others from Scotland joyn'd themselves with these being not a little confirmed he denounceth Warre against the Earls of Leicester and Glocester who did not at all excuse themselves who seeing the King daily increase in Forces levying a sudden but farre less Army oppose the King and here fraud supplied the parts of vertue for setting their Banners behinde without Souldiers they made a shew of a greater Army than they had And fortune helped a good cause for the Kings Forces being dispersed the greatest part of them was oppressed and slain the rest saved themselves by flight But the King the Prince and Earl of Cornwall and his Sonne Henry and all the Scotch Nobility fell into the enemies hands There had been an end of the King and his fortune least a contention arising between the Earls of Leicester and Glocester had given cause to a hot contest and afterwards to a sharp Warre where Leicester being too weak yet fell valiantly with wonderfull glory By the same fortune Simon and Guide Montforts the Sonnes of the Earl of Leicester were banished one into Italy the other into France where afterwards they gave their name to most illustrious families Also their Mother a gallant woman being gone a little before into France ended her life in a Nunnery A new contention being risen amongst the Nobles they sound the Trumpet to Battell again also the Welsh who had helped Earl Monifort are remanded to be slain But peace being confirmed on all sides this trouble abated without blood Rest now obtained at home Edward Prince of Wales at the request of the French King goes forth toward the Warre in Palestina but Richard once King of the Romans died in the mean time whom Henry himself followed shortly after whilst he studied to repair the losses he sustained by Warre EDWARD the first King of England Anno 1272. WHen Henry died Edward staied in Palestina being intent about the holy Warre where he underwent a grievous danger having received three wounds from his adversary with a poisoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull piety of his wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venom from the wounds In his way being made more certain of his Fathers death he came at last over-land into his Country and was inaugurated King At the beginning of his Reign he used the Nobility well but he to abate the insolence of the Clergy commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them by other means and so drew upon him their envy The Welsh whose custom it was on all occasions to make new Commotions now afresh under their Leader Lionel rise up against Edward and rage with wonderfull pride but this tempest soon vanished for Eleoner the Daughter of Simon Monifort
espoused to Lionel whilst she came out of France by Sea to her Husband was taken in the way whom he was forced to redeem at a great ransom promising also to Edward continual Homage and granting his Brother David to the English who was highly esteemed by Edward But Lionels obedience lasted not above three years for his Wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new rebellions Also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him fell off presently to his Brother and so with joynt Forces they enter England and did some mischief to Edward both wonderfully inflamed by a false Prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crown of Brutus was promised to Lionel But the Battell being set Lionel was killed by a private Souldier and his Head was brought to the King who caused it to be fastned on a pole and to be Crowned with joy and set up on the Tower of London The lot of David was like to his Brothers who being taken in Wales was drawn with a Horse to the place of execution and there beheaded and his Head set by his Brothers and his four quarters were sent to the four principall Cities of England So Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welsh and the death of Alphonsus his first born who was killed in the same Battell But a greater cloud hung over his head from Scotland For Alexander the third King of Scotland whilst he rode the Great Horse fell with him and so died leaving his Daughter Margaret to inherit but she shortly after her Father died also leaving the Kingdom to ten Corrivals who strove for it Edward was chosen Umpire by them all to search their Titles but he reduced all their pretences to two especially namely John Bayly and Robert Bruse who with equal right affected the Kingdom whilst the matter sticks between them Edward sets on Bruse promising to him the Kingdom of Scotland for ever so he would do him Homage for it But Bruse refused it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own Honour but Baily yielded to those conditions and so gained the Kingdom of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country men Envy against him increased for refusing justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slain for Baily exempted Albermeth that slew him from punishment whereupon Baily was cited to appear before Edwards Tribunal was forced to plead his cause He was angry for this disgrace and returns to his Kingdom and afterwards denied Homage to Edward and proclaimed Warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloody Warre between the two Nations which lasted for 300 years only some feigned cessations passing between Armies are Mustered on both sides and the English giving the first onset on the Scotch slew abundance of them and won many Cities and Castles by which loss Brusius was constrained to beg for Peace which was granted but he himself was carried Captive into England and being afterwards set at liberty he ended his daies in France expecting in vain the restitution of his goods And so Edward returned for England leaving after him John Varamius Earl of Sussex his Embassador and Hugh Chrysingamius his Treasurer to take care of the Scotch business But a little after this the Scotch when the King was gone into France making head against the Kings Ministers having William Valla for their Captain they killed Hugh Chrysingamius and with him 6000 English But the King came back for England commanded that his Court should be held at York and presently levying an Army he assaulted the Scotch afresh at Fonkirk and though he himself were dismounted from his Horse that was frighted with the hollow of the enemy and was dangerously wounded two ribs being broken in his body yet he made a great slaughter amongst them 40000 Horse and Foot of them being slain Only Vallas with a small handfull of men escaped by flight from the fury of the enemy All the Noble mens goods are made forfeit to the English and they were all made Tributaries and to swear the third time to be true to King Edward But the false Scot kept his word but a very short time for Brusius the Son of Robert being made King in a Turbulent manner new commotions arise for he fearing the power of John Cuminus caused him wickedly to be murdered in the Temple of Dumfrise When Edward heard this he was wonderfully incensed Presently having raised a gallant Army he marcheth into Scotland not meaning to cease till he had brought down the usurper of that Kingdom The Earl of Pembreke who was marched before with his Brigade lighting suddenly on Bruse destroyed all his men from whose hands the King himself hardly escaped he led a dishonourable llfe in Caves Dens and Crags of Mountains seeking his fortune in other matters His Brothers falling into the power of the enemy were put to extream tortures as Traytors The King fierce with the madness of Revenge spared no mans life but slew all he met withall The Earl of Athol also though he were of the Kings blood was sent to London and hanged there so and by such like waies were the followers of Bruse punished Yet Bruse though he wanted almost any to follow him did not give out but collecting a handfull of souldiers he sets upon the Earl of Pembroke suddenly and put him to the worst with great loss and slaughter and he drove the Earl of Glocester into the Castle of Ayrs and besieged him there untill Edward coming to his relief he was forced to fly to his old sculking holes In the mean time a new Warre breaks forth with the French King Philip the Fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King and arising from pretended injury for Kings that envy one the other do easily break into open hatred The King of England also was justly angry and sought all occasions of wrong greedily by reason that Henry his Cousin Son to Richard the Emperour was killed by the Earl Montfrots Son at which wickedness the French connived In a fight at Sea first a great destruction was brought upon the French at the entrance of the River Sion and elsewhere And Edward when a day was appointed for him as a stipendiary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appear and the Homage he did willingly before he now refused to do whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of Edward in France by force of Arms. The King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant and others to which was joyned â—he help that came from Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour who had promised it presently marched against the King of France but finding the French divided into parts and defrauded of the assistance promised them by the Emperour when he had held his Winter Quarters at Gaunt not without murmuring of the Citizens and great want amongst his Souldiers at the beginning
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
nothing on but their shirts with Halters about their necks and submit themselves to King Edward all the rest to have free pardon These though they did most humbly upon their knees crave for pardon yet were condemned to be hanged but at the Queens request they were set at liberty and sent away with money to defray their charges as they went The King and Queen enter the City in Triumph they command the old inhabitants to leave the City and kept the place stocked with English families The French strive to regain by craft what they had lost by Valour for Godfry Charnus the Governour of St Odomar had corrupted with money Almeric Papiensis which Edward had made Captain of Calais to deliver up the City but the matter being disclosed Almeric is called for into England who coming and confessing his fault at last he obtained pardon but upon that condition that he should deceive the French of their expectation and deliver them up to the hands of the English At the time appointed came Charnus and brought the Gold with him he had promised but he was circumvented by Edwards Forces yet he stoutly defended himself and made work enough for Edward and his Sonne both that were present untill all were slain that he brought with him and he with a Cavalier of Ribomantium who had twice dismounted Edward but at last was vanquished by him was taken prisoner But the business succeeded more happily for the English got the Castle of Gnyan by bribing the Governour and so plaid the French the same trick Philip the French King now died leaving his Sonne John Heir of the Kingdom also Humbert Prince of Dauphine died who left the same successour and from that time the first born of the French King is called the Dolphine But when the Treaties of Peace began succeeded not Edward Prince of Wales is sent again into France who over-running Aquitan Septimania Tolonse Narbon Bourges heavy with the spoil came back to Bourdeaux Edward no less on the other part vexed France with new Forces also he set Lancaster to assist the King of Navarre who also Conquered many Castles and Cities wherefore the French man raising what force he could first laies hold on Normandy and recovered many Towns there and had won all the Province unlesse he had been diverted by the insolency of Edward Prince of Wales who came against him but when Edward was too weak for the French Army he soon retreated to Bourdeaux The French followed him and forced him to fight not willing to forbear the hopes he had of the Victory although Legates came from the Pope and submissively desired peace But the Prince of Wales scorning the base conditions sent him by the French namely That he should yield himself and his Army to the mercy of the French made himself ready to fight and making choice of some places that were Vineyards and over-grown with briars that he might avoid the violence of the Horse there he planted his Bow-men who easily troubled the Horsemen that came improvidently to offend them and so began the Battell and following their success they dispersed and routed all the French Army presently King John himself with his younger Sonne Philip and an innumerable Nobility of France were taken prisoners seven thousand were slain amongst whom were many chief Noble men The rest with three Sons of the King escaped by flight The King of France though he were captivated was used with all respect by Prince Edward and when he had wintred with him at Bourdeaux at the beginning of the spring he is brought into England and is entertained richly by King Edward who being content with one Captive King he released David King of Scotland at the request of Queen Joan sister to Edward when he had lived in England eleven years first paying his Ransom that he had promised But by the intercession of some Cardinals there was a Treaty of Peace between both Kings And John being now weary of his stay in England easily yielded to those conditions which Edward propounded But his eldest Sonne the Dolphin Prince and the Counsel of France were not content with them saying they were heavy and unjust Whereupon Edward impatient of delays attempts to make good by Arms that he could not obtain in Peace He leaving the charge of the Kingdom to his younger Sonne Thomas with 1100 Ships and the Flowr of the Nobility of England sails to Calais where he divided his Army into three parts The first Body he trusted with the Prince of Wales the second to Lancaster the third he kept for himself Then over-running Picardy he wan many Towns till he sat down with his Army before the Wals of Paris waiting in vain for the coming of the Dolphin wherefore he retreated toward Lions But in the way he was overtaken with so great a tempest in the year 1360 that being mightily frighted he made a vow to make peace with the French and not long after it was confirmed at Lyons In which conditions the French King was also included with his Sonne and is released from his Captivity and great part of France with a vast summe of Money is granted to Edward but the French King the next year the cause why is not certain came for England and after he had languished long he died there Edward about this time instituted the Order of Knights of the Garter with great solemnity The fame of the Prince of Wales was now spread through the world wherefore if any were oppressed with injury or wronged by their enemies they fled to him for to be their Protector and to revenge their wrongs Amongst the rest Peter King of Castile was restored again to his Kingdom who returned him very small thanks for his labour for Peter refused to pay the Souldiers their wages they deserved The Prince got nothing by it but grief of minde and body if you set aside the fame and glory he acquired of his great vertue The Souldiers in the interim being enraged for lack of their Pay that they might not want necessary provision over-run all the Territories round about and commit rapine in all places where they came whereupon the inhabitants complain to the King of France therefore the French King sets the Prince a day to give an account of this insolence He denied to come unless he came armed with 60000 Souldiers so this controversie brake forth into open Warre and they on both sides take by force many Towns and abundance of men are slain the English for the most part having the best of it conquering the Towns of Burdeaux and Belloperch where they took the Mother of the Duke of Borbon and the Queen of France About this time Philippa Queen of England died yet her death put no stop to the English proceedings in France For the Earl of Pembroke falling upon the people of Aniou wan many Towns and when he endeavoured to take and spoil the French Navy by the industry of the Earl of
Part of them got into the Wine-cellar who being half oppressed with the House falling down lived seven dayes after the great downfall imploring no succour to help them After this manner plundering up and down they runne madding to every place At last they hasten to the Kings Court and to the Tower of London and they quickly overcome the Tower the King not daring to make opposition against them where the Queen-mother suffering an affront by a certain insolent fellow that offered her a bone fell down half dead Simon Bishop of Canterbury being haled out of the Tower had his Head cut off at Tower-hill by them Robert Hallius endured the same death and so did many others They neither regarded Churches nor publick places they destroy all in their fury like mad men The King thinking what remedy he should use to suppresse these tumults granting a Pardon for what they had done endeavours to pacific the Rabble The Inhabitants of the County of Essex are obedient and return home But the Kentish men persist in their stubbornnesse Tyler being their Leader To whom in the Kings Name John Newton was sent that he might by intreaty reduce these insolent people to their Duty or else should enquire what they would have He coming riding on Horsback was commanded by Tylor to alight and to deliver his Message on foot so much Authority did he arrogate to himself in this fury the Knight refused to come from his Horse whereupon Tyler comes at him with his Sword The King loath to have the Knight endanger'd intreats him to alight the Knight refusing it and Tyler urging him at last came William Walworth the Maior of the City and with the staff he had in his hand he gave Tyler a grievous wound on the Head and according to his Office bid him submit to the King Whilst he stood reeling with this blow he was killed by the Kings followers with innumerable wounds The Captain being flain the maimed faction seemed to prepare for to be revenged But the King though he were yet under fifteen years of age passed on to them with a ready minde promising that he would be their Commander and bad them follow him and all should be as they desired In the mean while Walworth had gathered together about a thousand Citizens the Captain whereof was Robert Conolus and coming upon them as they were in a Tumult he put them in such a fright that they cast away their Arms and were glad to submit The Citizens had fallen upon the Rebels but the King would not suffer them least they should kill the Innocent with the offendours That the tumult might be wholly ended he gave each man leave to return home to his habitation But elsewhere the same quiet was not procured For in Suffolk they ran madding up and down unmeasurably and pulled down some Judges houses and so at Cambridge and in other places killing cutting off the Heads and otherwayes miserably massacring the Nobility Their Captain was John Littester a Diar who was grown so lofty that he behaved himself like a King But he with all his followers was suppressed by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich an industrious and valiant man who took him prisoner and brought him to Execution At London also and elsewhere they proceeded against the guilty where John Straw and others are put to death and so all this Tumult was ended Lancaster in the mean while was sent against the Scotch that he might perpetually observe them if they should attempt any thing upon the occasion of these disorders But he so wisely managed the matter that before they had any rumour of his March thitherward there was a Cessation granted for two or three years In the interim Anna the Sister of Wenceslaus the Emperour came to London to be married to the King where the Marriage was solemnized with a wonderfull pomp Henry Spencer about that time had obtained an Army from the King which he led against the French and chiefly for Pope Vrban against Clement the Anti-pope And first coming into Flanders he besieged Iper but by a greater force marching out of France he was constrained to raise the Siege and when they came beside Graveling he writ to the King that there was now a fit occasion to defeat the Enemy but Lancaster who had the command making delayes it fell to nothing so Spencer having done no business returns home again and shortly after Truce was made between the French and the English In the mean while the Scotch entring the Borders of England consumed many Towns and Castles with fire and sword But Lancaster with Buckingham going against them when they could not force the Scots to fight for revenge of the wrong they had done set fire to some of their Cities and Villages and so retreat for England But Richard to suppress their Insolence to whom also the French had sent aid he with his Army marched into Scotland and finding Edenburgh without a Garison he set that on fire The Scots to divert the English Forces fall into Cumberland and lay siege to Carlile but hearing of Richards approach they giving warning to their fellows return for Scotland Lancaster at that time with a choice number of Souldiers makes a Voyage into Spain King Richard bestowing on him the Title of the King of Spain where he did conquer some Towns and married his Daughter to the King of Portugall but the English being impatient of that Countrey and the heat of the Ayre fell into all kinde of diseases and so made a Truce which a Peace followed shortly after On the Coasts of France the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham being the Leaders an hundred French Vessels laden with wine were overcome and Brest freed from a siege But a grievous Controversie grew at this time in England between the King and the Nobility the Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others the Duke of Ireland the Earl of Suffolk and many other malicious men setting them on They fell to their Arms but by the milder counsel of others they grew friends again The Duke of Ireland leaving the Court of his own accord fell amongst the Forces of the Earl of Darby and not daring to fight swimming the River with his horse he landed at Bauvais where like a banished man he lived some years at Lovane And the rest who were Authours of the Warre against the King at a famous sitting in Parliament were commanded to forsake the Court and Kingdom and some were put to extream tortures In the 15th year of Richards Government the Londoners fell to Mutiny for a very light cause and the King being wonderfully offended at them for a small summe of Money they had refused him he punished them with the loss of their chief Priviledges and with the payment of a great sum of money This is the effect of offending Kings After this in a solemn meeting of the Kings peace was ratified between England and France Isabella the Daughter of the
French King a Maid of eight years old being betrothed to King Richard For Anna his former Wife was deceased The Duke of Glocester by an importune word blaming the Kings negligence fell into his displeasure and fearing some ill issue of it with his Brothers forsook the Court and entring into a Conspiracy with some friends he attempted to change the state of the Kingdom But the King under-feeling it with his Brother the Earl of Huntington took a progress to the Castle of the Duke of Glocester his Fathers Brother when he came there at night he found the Duke rising out of his Bed and presently going to meet him he was taken by the Earl Marshall and carried Prisoner to Callis and there was hanged miserably Also the Earl of Arundel the chief Conspiratour and some principall Noblemen are east into Prison And he afterwards in a Parliament being questioned for his life had his head cut off the rest being condemned either to be banished or to perpetual Imprisonment And thus Richard by the bloud of the Nobility thought to make good his Kingdom The Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford without any other witness appeaching one the other of Treason are admitted to fight a Duell but when they were both ready to fight they were commanded to forbear and so to spare blood they were both sent away to divers places into Banishment Norfolk went first for Germany then to Venice where he died of meer sorrow and grief But Hereford who had sail'd into France and there being instigated by the Counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was banished for the same Conspiracy returned privately home under a pretence of his Patrimony to be redeemed which the King had brought into the Exchequer after his Fathers death against all Right and Equity but indeed that joyning with the Nobility he might order the Kings Insolence He was scarce landed but the Nobility came from all parts to him and he waxed very strong And having now a sufficient Army he took some Cities and beheaded the Kings chiefest Counsellours Richard in the interim was in Ireland and did his best to subdue the Irish When a Messenger came to him of the Commotions in England he was troubled at it yet made no haste according as the danger required At length the Earl of Salisbury was sent into England before him that he might levy what Forces he could the King promising in six dayes to be with him As soon as the Earl set foot in England he raised with ease a mighty Army of Welsh but the King not appearing a rumour was given that he was dead so part of his Forces went one way some another but a few stood to their Colours The King at last so soon as contrary windes would let him came to them But when he found so much of the Countrey to be fallen to Hereford and the Duke of Lancaster also by the death of his Father he quite fainted in his minde and bad all those men that came to help him to go whither they pleased yet they continuing their fidelity he with the Earl of Exeter and some others fled to the Castle of Conve where he found the Earl of Salisbury Here the Duke of Worcester who was Governour of the Kings House breaking his white Staff a sign of his Office and so renouncing his fidelity fell off from the King to the Lords Conspiratours Then the Earl of Northumberland is sent to the King who from that Castle conveyed him to another place saying also that he came to treat with the King for Conditions of Peace which the King did not refuse But in the way the Earl of Rutland coming upon him he is forced to go to Flint-Castle whether shortly after Henry the Duke of Lancaster came who was guilty and friendly received by the King and then he related the cause of his coming which was that he might receive his Rights and Goods The King granted and ratified all so they went to drink together and afterwards mounting on Horsback they ride towards London in a continued voyage in so great haste that the King had no leisure given him to change his cloaths Then was the King put into the Tower the Castle for the Nobility and was diligently watched there And a Parliament was called by the Command of Lancaster though it were falsly given out in the Kings Name wherein Richard was accused of divers crimes Namely That he had wasted the goods of the Kingdom That he had borrowed a vast summe of Money and not yet repay'd it That he had made all the Laws Arbitrary as he pleased That he had changed the Members of Parliament when he would That he had Tyrannically taken Power to himself over the Subjects Estates That he had corrupted the Judges That he had caused his Vncle Earl of Glocester to be barbarously murdered at Callis That he had imprisoned the Members of Parliament That beyond Right and Equity he had put the Earl of Arundel to extream Terture That be had depopulated his own Kingdome That be had pawned the Ornaments of the Kingdome and Kings out of the Kingdom and so forward For which faults they thought fit to deprive him of all his Honours and Title of King But he that he might seem to desire what he would have avoided willingly resigned all his Right to the Kingdom and freely gave it to Henry of Lancaster whom he nominated to succeed him which was ratified and confirmed by the Great Seal Then Richard being brought to Pomfret-Castle was discharged of his Crown Henry having thus got the Kingdome and not enduring any Competitour one day lamenting was heard to cry out Is there any man will free me from that hatefull man And presently one Peter Exton a Knight that he might winne the Kings favour with such a wickednesse went with eight more unto Richard whom he set upon to kill him being at Dinner but Richard rising hastily wresting the Ax out of the hands of one of his Executioners killed four of them and at last by this Peter Exton he was knocked down dead himself by an unhappy blow on the Head which the Parricides lamented when it was too late Thus the unhappiest and most well-favoured of the Kings of England ended his life and Kingdom HENRY the fourth King of England and France Anno 1399. HENRY of Lancaster who was nominated to succeed was crowned King but that he might not be thought to usurp that Kingdom which he had by Election he endeavoured to be established in his own Right vaunting that he was the next Heir being directly descended from Henry the third but that was false and counterfeit for Roger Mortimer Earl of Marsh deriving his Pedigree from the eldest Sonne of Henry the third had a better Title To this he added his Right of Force whereby he made good the Succession he could not have done by Inheritance Be it what it will be he maintain'd it by his Sword He gave good example when his
much augmented his own affairs But when all things went not as they should do in France and Sommerset was held to be the cause of all and after him Suffolk Many complaints by consent of the Lower-House of Parliament were alleadged against him whereof he was found guilty and cast into Prison but he is suddenly set at liberty But a new sitting being summoned at the instance of the Lower-House he was banished for five years but whilst he sailed into France he was intercepted by the English and his Head cut off leaving his Body disgracefully on the shore and so the death of the Duke of Glocester was paid for Richard Duke of York in the mean time having won the Irish hearts gave the first step to end the differences between the White Rose and the Red and for a beginning of his own Right to the Crown for he descended from Lyonel Duke of Clarence the third Son to the third Edward Nor was it difficult to change the state of the Kingdom when so many abuses and errours that were so well known to the common people were crept in And King Henry wholly unfit for the Government as the people would say by whose foolish negligence France and Normandy were lost The men of Kent by the perswasion of York gave their Votes to John Mortimer and with a great and well-appointed Army they march toward London Mortimer himself commanding them The Army made a stay between Eltham and Greenwich and then they sent up their Complaints to the King and Parliament concerning the present state of the Kingdom and amongst the rest they petition That the Dukes of York Buckingham and Exceter may be restored to their places and former favour there was no answer given but a crying out to their Arms. But the men of Kent when they were come to the Battel killing both the Staffords who commanded the Army they put the Kings Forces to flight whereupon the greatest part of the Kings men fell off for they came running by companies to Mortimer whose Forces thus increased wonderfully wherefore the King fled to Killingworth Castle in the County of Warwick expecting the issue By his departure Mortimer grew more bold and came to the Suburbs of London and then possessing himself of the Bridge he came into London doing no wrong to any man for his Army was very well disciplined to keep down the violence of the Souldiers whereby he won the affections of many but afterwards the Men of Kent being sharpned with hope of the prey fell upon some of the richer Citizens which was very ill resented by all Mortimer was now Master of London and he cut off the Heads of some of those that were the Ministers of those Errours as John Say Chief-Treasurer of England and his Sonne in Laws and some others But the Londoners detesting his haughtiness arm themselves and craving help from Scales the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower with such Forces as they had collected Matthew Gogthus being their Captain in the night they fall upon Mortimers Army that were in the Suburbs of St Georges on the other side of the Thames But the Kentish men repulse them with such violence that the Londoners were forced to give ground and to leave the Bridge to the Conquerours who hereupon being enraged fell to cast in fire to burn the Houses upon the Bridge and so put a great fright upon the City and made a great slaughter At last their heat began to remit and these men of Kent began to detest the wickednesse Mortimer had done and desired to return home again which when the King understood he sent his Seal for their Pardon and for all his men being gone from him Mortimer was left without a Guard who thinking to escape by flight was taken and slain This Tumult was appeased but a far greater arose shortly after for York depending upon his Right comes to London under pretence of Complaints against his Adversaries and especially against Sommerset who had lost France and was now come home but the truth was to make a Party he obtained the help of Norfolk and the Earls of Sarisbury and Devorshire to assist him and so marching into Wales he quickly raised an Army The King hearing this prepares his Forces also and collecting Forces he made haste thither with the Duke of Sommerset Both the Armies meet at last and the King sending messengers asked York What should be the cause of so great a Tumult Who cast all the fault on the Kings evil Counsellours and chiefly upon Sommerset promising that if he were cast into Prison untill such time as he might be tried that then he would disband all his Army Hereupon Sommerset is cast into Prison under a colour and York gave his Passe-port which being done the King went toward London with York But Sommerset who before was cast into prison being now set at liberty accompanied the King and in his stead York was brought like a Prisoner before the King At last they come to London and there grew a hot dispute between these two Dukes before the Kings Councel the one accusing the other of Treason the matter came at last to this head That York should take a solemn Oath to be true to the King and should go toward his Castle Wigmore for the report was that Edward Earl of Marsh Sonne and Heir to York was now drawing up with an Army And in the mean time a Messenger came from Burdeaux craving help against the French John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury is sent thither who after he had behaved himself gallantly was slain with a Gun The French by his death recover all they had lost except Burdeaux In the mean while the Duke of York did his best to allure the mindes of the Subjects and then gaining the Nobility to his side who were all offended with Sommerset and joyning the Earls of Sarisbury and Warwick with him he prevailed so farre that Sommerset in the Kings absence was sent to the Tower But Henry when he heard that though he were sick and returning to London he not only sets him at Liberty he makes him Governour of Callis and of all the other places in France which thing so provoked York that he and his Assistants March to London with a great Army The King with Sommerset Buckingham and his Sonne Humphrey the Earl of Northumberland and a sufficient Army goes against them At St Albans the Armies came in sight one of the other York sent Letters in the Morning to the King requiring Sommerset to be delivered up to him that he might be tried the King refusing this he makes the first On-set Sommerset and with him the Earl of Northumberland and Humphrey Earl of Stafford fell in the Battel and five thousand men with them Many were wounded and taken The King himself who had fled into a Countrey-mans house for fear of the weapons was taken by the Conspiratours This Battel fell on May the 23th and the 13th year of his Raign But
York when his Adversary was dead commands his Followers to abstain from fighting and goes with the King to London Then a Parliament was called and he is freed from all fault and made Protector of the King and Kingdome The Earl of Sarisbury was made Chancellour and Warwick Governour of Callis For procuring which places every one was very watchfull But the Queen not enduring the Authority of York she never left urging Buckingham with the Death of his Son and young Sommerset with the Death of his Father and when she had sufficiently incensed them she goes to Greenwich and there she holds a Councel commanding York and his Confederates to renounce their Places But they refused to do it Then with subtilty mingled with flattery she intercepts them and did all the mischief she could but all in vain yet they least they might give cause of greater troubles retire themselves some to one place some to another But sending Messengers one to another they came all to London with their Forces provided and by the Mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others there was an Act of Oblivion granted for all that had been done and Peace was concluded on both sides and all is confirmed with a solemn Shew of Religion Yet they held not long for occasion being taken from a quarrel that happened between one of the Kings and of the Earl of Warwicks Servants they endeavoured to lay hold on Warwick but he fore-seeing the danger with Post-horse makes haste to York to the Duke and to his Father Earl of Sarisbury whom he acquainted with the business but he going on board the Navy that was ready by the shoar for he was Admiral of the Sea made haste to Callis In the mean time Sarisbbury goes to the King with 5000 souldiers that he might acquaint him with the injury done to his Sonne and of the inveterate hatred of the Queen which was now apparent But Audley who at the command of the Queen and of the Duke of Buckingham had raised an Army of 10000 men went against him and was beaten 2400 were slain the rest fled to save themselves York supposing it was in vain to dally any longer raising an Army with the Earls of Sarisbury and of Warwick he provides for Warre but a Treaty being had between both sides and a pardon granted by the King for all faults many forsook the Dukes and all the Counsels of the Conspirators were detected with which York was brought to desparation and fled with his younger Sonne Earl of Rutland first into Wales then into Ireland When the private souldiers had procured pardon the Earls of Marsh Sarisbury and Warwick took their voyage for Callis but some of the principall were put to death and a Parliament being called they were all convinced and condemned for Treason Also Sommerset at the Queens intercession was made Governour of Callis but when he thought to enter upon his Government he was shot at from the Town and was forced to betake himself to some other place The Queen hearing this began to rage and commanded all the Ships that were in Sandwich-Haven to be fitted for Callis But John Dynham for the Earl of Marsh his sake took them all and with Riverius their Admiral brought them to Callis The Earl of Warwick also sail'd into Ireland to York and consulting with him returned safe for Callis Simon Montfort was Warden of the Cinque-ports and guarded all the Inrodes that Warwick might not come into England but he being admonished of it by the Spies he had fastning upon his Navy not yet ready he plundered Sandwich and brought Simon with a great booty to Callis And when he understood that the Kentish men desired his presence he came the second time to Sandwich where the Lord Cobham with a great multitude of the Nobility joyned with him Wherefore being appointed with an Army of 25000 Men be marched presently to London and possessed himself of the Tower whereby he afterwards did the Londoners a great deal of mischief But hearing that his Father the Earl of Sarisbury was coming on he passed over the Thames and joyned with him The King with the Dukes of Buckingham and Sommerset and a well appointed Army marches against them at Northampton he came in sight of the Enemy The Battel began on both sides and they fought vehemently Humphrey Duke of Buckingham with John Talbot the Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Lord Egremont John Bellomont and others were slain and on one and the other side ten thousand men This was in the year 1460. The Queen escaped with the Duke of Sommerset and his Sonne but the King more mindfull of his prayers than of the Battel was taken and brought prisoner to London Warwick presently got possession of the Tower and Scales the Lieutenant whilest he thought to get away crossing the Thames in a disguise was discovered taken and beheaded The Duke of York receiving Message of this Success leaving Ireland came Post for London where at a solemn meeting he layes open his Right to the Crown of England deriving his Pedigree from Lyonel the third Son of Edward the third the elder brother of John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the fourth the Usurper But he desired not the Kingdom unless his Right were made clear to all men Wherefore a Councel being held the Title of a King is granted to King Henry so long as he lived and York is named to succeed him The Queen all this while mustering an Army in Scotland invades England daily York with his younger Sonne of Rutland and with the Earl of Sarisbury went against her leaving for a Guard to King Henry the Earls of Warwick and Norfolk but he being circumvented by treachery was slain and 3000 of his Souldiers with him nor did she spare the Earl of Rutland a childe of twelve years old though he begged for his life with tears Sarisbury who was taken alive and as many as were taken with him were by the fury of a Woman all beheaded This was the end of Richard Plantaganet Duke of York The Earl of Marsh hearing of his Fathers death managed his business with more vehemency now than before raising an Army of 23000 Men he overcame the Earls of Pembroke and Ormont alive he took Owen Tewdor alive who had married Katharine Mother to Henry the sixth and chopped off his Head But the Queen insulting at the death of the Duke of York marched toward London with her Forces and was met by the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick who durst have given her Battel but by the treachery of their followers that forsook them they were forced to flie for to save themselves King Henry by that Victory came again into the Queens Power But in the mean time Edward Earl of Marsh by the general Vote of all Orders was crowned King according as it was enacted in Parliament and gathering a great Army at Tanton he met the King and the Queen and joyning Battel with them he
commanded the Garrison refusing to let him in though many Souldiers ran away yet by a fresh supply of the Scots he was disappointed Because this succeeded not he turns about to make conditions for Peace and he offered the Houses to come presently to them and to punish severely the Authors of disagreement so they would leave London that seditious City and chose some other place as Oxford Winchester Cambridge York Bristol Nottingham for to assmble at But the Houses would name no other place least the City of London should be displeased at it for they had more need of the Londoners than of any others The King when that would not take proclaims all men guilty of Treason who should assist the Houses with Money or any other supplies and he threatens the Londoners that if they did it they should lose all their priviledges as they have very great ones The Houses on the other side set as good a gloss upon their Cause as they were able to do Mens mindes and inclinations were distracted by these means The people who are easily led by blinde errour and outward appearances stuck fast to the Parliaments cause Others who were of a higher rank by reason of their Families paid Tribute freely least the Houses should send men to strain on their Shops under a colour of necessity All the Nobles almost held with the King The King in the mean while fortifies Newcastle and Barwick with Garrisons of English wherein doubtless he hurt himself and alienated the hearts of the Scots from him For it was agreed upon before to have them kept by the Scotch souldiers and not by the English But when help came from other parts and the Scots were undervalued they studied to advantage themselves only and though by holding forth Peace he had won many mens hearts yet being driven by despair he attempts by force to gain Hull which he could not do by Policy First he possessed himself of their Fals of Waters and then of their publick Waies that the Towns men might want necessaries but by their Courage and Valour he lost his labour The Houses now Proclaimed openly Warres and they made the Earl of Essex Generall of the Foot Bedford of the Horse The King makes the Earl of Cumberland a very Noble man and faithfull to his Soveraign Generall of his Horse and in the mean time set forth his Declarations to the world and requiring Hull to be delivered up to him that he might punish the insolence of the Governour but nothing prevailed But that Warre Proclaimed might not want its solemnities the King set up his Standard first at Nottingham But when he saw a smaller concourse of men than he believed would have been he again turns about to make conditions He sent Messengers to the Houses to excuse the fact and to desire Articles of Peace But the Houses who knew that this proceeded more from his necessity than love made use of all advantages causing the Kings Commissioners to be brought as Delinquents before the Parliament overthrowing by this means the Law of Nations Then they send to the King that unless he came speedily to London and sent away those Nobles to the Parliament that were fled from them that they might be tried for their Lives and their Estates might be confiscate to maintain their Army they would never lay down their Arms. A very hard condition and no waies to be answered but by the sword Some there were that counselled the King to yield to this but he had yet courage remaining After so many great preambles at length Warre is denounced But we shall pull in our sails unfolding the causes of these dissentions briefly and succinctly as we resolved at first and so hasten to a conclusion least entring afresh into a large field we should tire both our selves and the Reader Pardon therefore this long digression and I shall proceed It was now come to open Warre and the Victory was doubtfull sometimes falling on this side sometimes on that with no small loss of blood on both sides All the particulars are set down at large in Books written to this purpose whither I remit the Reader that desires further knowledge of it Essex was Generall of the Parliament Forces Fairfax he succeeded in his place Divers Battels were fought here and there many Towns vanquished For the greatest part the King had the worst of it who was afterwards also besieged at Oxford by Fairfax and was constrained to fly away in a disguised habit and he came to the Scots that were at Newarke hoping to be received with great humanity by such good subjects as they boasted themselves to be But when both Fortune and Fidelity failed and there was no care taken for him in his affliction They when they could not be good would not be bad and to keep their hands clear they delivered the King to the English under those conditions as they say that no violence should be offered to his Majesty The English being now Masters of their desires carry the King to Holnbey Castle from thence to Hampton Court whither he had fled before for Refuge now a Prison Which place seeming not safe enough for him he went away to the Isle of Wight to be guarded by the Waters and Colonel Hammon using a crafty excuse for a certain Letter was left on the Table whereby the King was advertised that there were some that laid wait for his life whereby he was frighted and fled to a safe place in the Isle of Wight The people though before they were enraged against the King now pitying his case and seeing their errors resolved to plead his Cause They offer their humble Petitions to the Houses that they would not refuse to condescend to make peace with the King and they prevailed so farre that at last the business came to a Treaty with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides with great applause both of the King the Houses and the People but afterward there was an humble Petition exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and Justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside to which they denied to give an Answer The Army and some of the Parliament not being satisfied they march partly toward Newport to the King who now was a Prisoner at large and conveyed him into Hurst Castle Then marching toward London again they possessed themselves of the City and cast some of the Houses into Prison whilst the rest who foresaw this Tempest saved themselves by flight Here we may see an example of Gods judgement for they that before had ill treated their Master are now compelled to suffer All that consented to the non-addresses are restored to their Honours and Places Then the King in the year 1648. was taken as a Prisoner of Warre and carried to Windsor The remainder of the Parliament with others erect a new and unheard of Tribunal to take cognizance of the Kings case Judges were chosen whose Names are generally known This was done in the year 1649. in January The King was brought before the High-Court of Justice and was accused of these Crimes That he gave the cause of the cruell bloodshed in England and Ireland That he had born Armes against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Sonne and others to wage Warre that he might exalt his own Authority with the high detriment of the Commonwealth whence they concluded that he was guilty of Treason and so he was a Traitor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth The King smiled at all these things and gave no answer being further urged he refused to give any answer Whereupon they proceed to Sentence That he was fallen from all his Dignities was guilty of High-Treason and therefore was to lose his Head for being a Tyrant a Robber and an Enemy to the Commonwealth Some making a great shout The Sentence given they proceed to execution though the Holland Embassadours Adrian Paw and Albertus Joachimus with the Scots did their best to hinder the proceedings He obtained leave for Dr Juxton Bishop of London and two of his Children to be with him these for his bodies him for the comfort of his soul At length he sent away his Children with Gifts and Tears only he kept the Minister by him to the last moment of his life The Prince Palatine and the Duke of Richmond came to bid the King their last farewell but the King refused it least they should interrupt the present joys of his soul with new lamenting At last the 30 day of January was appointed for his execution And the King ascended the Scaffold erected before his Banqueting-house from whence he made his last Speech to the People there present and when as now he had sufficiently professed his Innocency he then prepared himself for death and laying his neck on the Block his Head was cut off by a disguised Executioner and he changed a troublesome life for a quiet death In the Year 1649. FINIS