and lieth buried at Fonteverard in Normandy Richard the First no Lion ever fought But was call'd Lion's heart cause he was stout From Prison he his Mother did release And setled his Dominions in peace Then levying men and money did prepare All that was needfull to the holy Warre He forc'd King Tuncred buy his peace with Gold And twice won Cyprus for Jerusalem sold. The Turks and Saracens he overthrowes Whilst prostrate Palestine to his Prowess bowes Philip and Leopald their envy bend Against that valour even the Foes commend JOHN King of England NExt Iohn by blowes and bribes usurps his Brothers Crown and Treasury to maintain his unjust Title which was the cause the whole Course of this Kings government was accompanyed with continuall troubles and his two persecutors were Pope Innocent the Third and Philip the Second King of France But the first Tempest was depending from his Cousen Arthur whose Kingdome he had not only taken from him but also had drawne the Dukedome of Normandy to himself leaving to Arthur only the Dukedome of Anjou But his Mother Constance finding her self too weak for the English flyes to the French King and craves aid of him who promised not only to restore all Normandy but all England to Arthur and forthwith received the young man into his Protection Wherefore Phllip listing an Army first made good the Dutchy of Anjou to Arthur and then invaded Normandy But Iohn sailing into Normandy upbraids Philip for perfidiousness because he had very foully broken the peace he had made with his Brother Richard yet for all this they goe not to Armes For while they discourse and each defends his Right they agree on fifty dayes cessation of Armes Baldwin Earle of Flaunders being utterly against it who therefore forsaking Philip makes his peace with the English and takes Counsell by what means when the truce was ended they should wage war with Philip but when Iohn was free from care of war he strikes hands with the French King upon unjust tearms Baldwin hating his sluggishness once more joyned with the French and restored the War of Ierusalem The English are glad and returne home but are very ill received by the Nobility who hated those base Conditions they had made with the French But Iohn now free from War turns all his study to Pole his Subjects and to follow his pleasure Also he deprived the Arch-Bishop of York his brother of all his Fortunes for nothing but because he dehorted him from such injury Then going into Normandy he divorced his Wife Avis and marryed Isabell daughter and heir to the Earl of Engelestne she was Crowned at Canterbury Bâ—t the dayly oppression of King Iohn prevailed so farre also his base Luxury not without murther and Man-slaughter for he destroyed Matilda a beautifull Maid making her to drink Poyson because she would not yield to his entreaty to be corrupted by him And William Bruce with his Wife for speaking somewhat too freely he killed with Famine taking all their estate from them He demanded Subsidies but his Nobles altogether denyed him nor would they follow him in his Wars untill those heavy Imposts laid upon them were taken away Yet he wenâ— afterward into Normandy and thence to Paris where he and his Wife to outward appearance were friendly received by King Philip. But Hugh Earle of Marsh to whom Isabella the Kings Wife was first betrothed being angry with the King for taking his Wife from him joynes with Arthur and begin a new War Philip takes part with them so joyntly those of Tours first then they of Anjou invade they take the Towns of Mirabellum King Iohn reproves Philip for his falseness and begins â—eriously to think upon revenge and coming upon the Forces of the enemy suddenly and unlooked for destroyed them with a great slaughter taking those prisoners that could not escape among whom was Arthur who shortly after dyed of hunger in prison but some say that endeavouring his escape he was drowned in the River but as it is Vulgarly thought he dyed of meer sorâ—ow His Sister Eleanor followed him shortly after the same sad way And thus ended Arthurs Life Title and those Wars Next Year the French King takes all Normandy by Force And now began the Kings other enemy Pope Innocent the Third to vex him more then Philip had done the occasion is this Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury died and the Monks of St. Augustines in that City without the Kings License or knowledge and about midnight elected Reynold a brother of their own to succeed him and took of him an oath forthwith to travell to Rome there to procure his investiture and to receive his Pall from the Pope Tidings hereof coming to the Kings ears he presently made known his inward dislike of their rash and unadvised doings so that upon his motion and to appease his wrath they elect Iohn Gray then Bishop of Norwich Incontinently the King upon his own charges dispatches Letters and Embassadors to the Pope entreating him to ratifie the last choyce But the Pope neglects the Kings Entreaty and confirms him that was first Elected at which the King fretted and stormed much to see himself so slenderly regarded The Monks also to please the King refuse to receive their own first election because it was made in the night At last the Pope would whether the King would or no make choyce of one Stephen Langton one of his Creatures to succeed in the Arch-Bishoprick The King stoutly keeps him off and confiscates all the Lands and Goods of such as partake in the election with Rome and forbids all appeals thither The Pope after a proud letter or two interdicts him and all his Kingdome which he very frankly gives to Philip the French King who coming to invade and possesse himself of the Popes gift lost three hundred of his Ships and returned home as he came Nevertheless Iohn basely on his knees tenders his Crown for the Popes use which his Legate keeps four dayes but the Nobility hating his poor spirit revolt to the French whom Iohn not able to resist flyes and is poysoned by a Monk in Swinstead Abbey who drank to him in these words Wassall my Liege He was buryed at Worcester having Reigned seventeen years and odd months He left behind him four sons viz. Henry who succeeded him Richard who was elected King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay And three Daughters viz. one marryed to Frederick the Emperour the second to William Marshall Earl of Worcester and the third to the Earl of Leicester The right Valiant Prince RICHARD surnamed Coeur-de-â—ion King of England and Hierusalem Duke of Normandy and Acuitanè Earle of Poeters and Annou Lo of Ireland c. He died at the age of 43 yeares Ano. 1199. after he had raigned 9 yeares 9 months and 22 dayes and lieth buried at Fonteveraâ—d in Normandy O what a lushie morsell is a Crowne That right or wrong Princes will gusle't downe John to the
the age of 65 yeares after he had raigned 56 yeares and lieth intombed at Westminster 1272. The groaning Kingdome being rid of John Has found his very Image in his Son King Henry the Third nine years of Age Enters a troubled and a doubtfull Stage The Realme he found Rebecca like become With divers Nations strugling in her Womb All which he clear'd at last with promise fair With Oaths Vowes which prov'd nothing but Aiâ— He pill'd his subjects so that at his need Give him they nothing would nor could indeed He marries then with a mean Family And spoyles his Realme to lard their Poverty EDVVARD the First King of England WHen King Henry died Edward his son and heir was in Palestine very intent about the holy war where he underwent a grievous danger having received 3 desperate wounds from his adversary with a poysoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull Piety of his Wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venome from his wounds In his way being made more certain of his fathers death he made great journeyes and travelled in all hast into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and Common-people he was crowned King when he was of the age of 35 years At the beginning of his Reigne he used the Nobility well but to abate the insolence of the Clergy he commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them otherwise and so drew upon himself their envy The Welch rise against him but he luckily intercepts Monfort's daughter espoused to Lluellen their Prince upon surrender of whom that storm blew over and obedience was promised by the Welch to King Edward But within few years three or four at most Lluellen puts an end to his Oath and obedience for his wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new Rebellions also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him falls off to his brother and so with joynt forces they enter England and does some mischief to Edward both of them wonderfully inflamed by a false prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crowne of Brutus was promised to Lluellen but the battle being set Lluellen was killed by a private Soldier and his Head brought to King Edward his Brother David also was taken and had his Head struck off and with his Brothers it was set upon the Tower of London where it remained a long time after but his four Quarters were sent to four Principall Cities in England to be set up for a terrour to all Traitors hereafter so Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welch and the death of Alphonsus his first Borne who was slain in the same battle In the eighteenth year of King Edward's Reigne Alexander the King of Scots not having any Issue of his body fell with his horse and unfortunately brake his neck He had three sisters the eldest of which was married to Iohn Balioll Lord of Galloway the second to Robert le Bruse Lord of Valley-Andrew and the third was married into England to Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergavenny amongst these three each of them backed with his best friends sharp bickerings and civill wars arose to the destruction of many worthy persons on all sides Whilst the matter thus was handled King Edward promises the Kingdome of Scotland to Bruse for ever so he would do him homage for it but Bruse refuseth it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own honour Yet Balioll yields to those conditions and so got the Kingdome 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 slaine for Baylioll exempted Albermeâ—h from punishment that slew him whereupon Baylioll cited before Edward's Tribunall is forced to plead his cause he was angry at this disgrace and denies Homage to Edward and proclaims warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloudy warre between the two Nations which lasted for three hundred years only some feigned cessations passed between No lesse than four times did this victorious King Edward subdue the false and fraudulent Scots compelling them with extraordinary tokens of subjection and humility to submit themselves to his mercy In the mean time a new warre breaks forth between King Edward and the French King Philip the fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King for Kings that envy one another easily break forth into open Hatred but Edward had other grudges against the French for conniving at the death of his Cousen Henry the Emperors Son Edward therefore when a day was appointed him hath a stipendary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appeare whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of King Edward in France by force of Armes the King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant with Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour presently marches against the King of France but finding the French divided in two parts and defrauded with the Emperours delayes when he had held his winters quarters at Gaunt not without the murmuring of the Citizens and great want of his souldiers At the beginning of the spring truce being made with the French for three years the King tooke Margaret the Dukes sister to wife for Eleoner died in the former Expedition against the Scots And the daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards sonne he retreated for England About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grievously to the King upon Edward the young Prince who by the lewd advice of Pierce Gaveston his loose and gracelesse Companion brake forcibly into his Park and made havock of his Game for which the Prince was committed to Prison and Gaveston banished for ever Lastly making an incursion into Scotland he is taken with a Disentery and dies of it and lies buried at Westminster He was very tall of Countenance somwhat sorrowfull of Chastitie like his Father but in fortitude farre before him Religious he was and wise The noble and Victorious Prince EDWARD the first surnamed Long-shanks King of England Duke of Aquitaine Earle of Poictices and Anjou Lo of Ireland c He Conquered Scotland and brought from thence the Marble Chaire He subdued and overcame llewelyn Prince of Wales and made his sonne Edward Prince Hereof he died at the age of 68 yeares 1307. after he had raigned 34 yeares 8 monthes buried at Westminster King Edward Saraceus Head Sholder sunders Where Christ wrought miracles this Prince did wonders His wife with such so pious love abounds She sucks the venome from his poysoned wounds 'T were Treason to their merits to conceal So great a Valour and so sweet a zeal The haughty Welch he soon did over-run And left them Vassalls to his Princely Son And by his sword so weighed down Fortunes scales That Englands heir succeeds stil Prince of
a League concluded between England and Scotland and upon the discharge of some Scotch Lords Prisoners in the Tower of London a marriage was promised between Edward and the young Heir of Scotland which afterward was falsified and she married to the French King whereupon the Duke of Somerseâ— with a well provided Army enters Scotland and fought the Scots at Musselburgh and slew of them mâ—re than 14000 amongst whom besides the Lord Lohemore and the Lord Fleming fell almoâ—t all the young Nobillity of Scotland There were taken in fight Earl Huntley Chancellour of Scotland The Lords Hester Hobbey and Hamilton and 1500 more of good account possessing themselves of many strong Forts and Castles with abundant spoile and then betaking themselves homewards they not a little recreated the minds of the dejected Scots by their departure While these things thus fell out in Scotland there happened great alteration in the Ecclesiasticall State at home divers of the Kings Tutors being earnestly bent to a Reformation of Religion and especially the Lord Protector himself and it was therefore Resolved by the Kings Tutors and Counsell that whatsoever King Henry had enacted for the abrogating of the Popes authority should stand in full force and authority whereby the English Church became purged of Popery And what is very memorable the same day that Images and Superstition were thrown out of the Church news was brought of the great victory atchieved upon the Scots at Musselburgh The Popishly affected Stephen Gardiner and bloudy Bonner are committed to the Tower About this time fell out an unlucky difference betwixt the Protector and his Brother which proved the ruine of them both for they both lost their heads This Year Bishop Ridley preached before the King and in his Sermon took occasion to discourse of the necessity of Alms-deeds which the King earnestly attending and laying to heart sent for the Bishop after Sermon and entered into private communication with him causing him to set down in a chair and whether he would or not to put on his hat about relief The King to shew his wonderfull charity appointed severall Hospitalls to which he gave Lands to the value of 600 pounds per annum which had belonged to the Savoy and 4000 Marks a year in mony beside About the beginning of the next year the King fell into lingring sicknesse then into a Hectick Feaver whereof together with a consumption of the Lungs he died at length not without suspicion of poyson And now Northumberland began to devise how he might gain the Crown of England to his posterity he therefore imparts the businesse to the Duke of Suffolk requesting his eldest Daughter Iane to be given in marriage to his son Gilford Dudley then he takes upon him to perswade the King not only to disinherit his two sisters but also by Will to constitute his Cousin the Lady Iane Queen after him which accordingly the good King yeilded preferring the true worship of God before all naturall respects A few dayes before things were thus ordered King Edward not yet 16. years of age sent forth his blessed soul at Greenwich to wit the sixt day of Iuly when he had held the Kingdome under Governours six years five months and nineteen dayes shewing forth even in that tender age blossoms of vertue together with singular piety towards God constancy of mind love of right and an incredible study of Learning Not above three hours before he expired thinking no body had been by he uttered this Prayer Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wreâ—ched life take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosens sake if it be thy will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O my Lord blesse thy people and save thine inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realme from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy Name Soon after he cried out I faint I faint Lord have mercy upon me and take my spirit and so yielded up the Ghost The high and Mighty Monarch Edward the VI. by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defendor of the Earth etc To thee Great King it was a gain to dye Whose death was crown'd with immortality Nor does he erre whoever takes thee for Edward the Saint the Second Confessor Thou that in pious Paths so Even hast trod Art Enoch like translated by thy God Who as thy death does evidently show Lov'd thee too well to leave thee long below Whos 's every act the Vniverse convinces And is a pattern to succeeding Princes When thou of Popery didst the Temple purge Thy Scepter turn'd into thy Saviours scourge MARY Queene of England MARY so soon as she heard of her Brothers death posted to Framingham Castle in Suffolk to whom resorted divers Lords who had formerly compacted to preserve the Romish Religion Then she sent to the Senate of London that they should proclaim her Queen but the Lords in the name of all the people made answer That by the Testament of King Edward Iane was to succeed and they asserted that Maryes mother was divorced whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army marches against Mary but as he proceeds but slowly Maryes Forces increase mightily also Edward Hastings who was set with six Ships to prevent Maryes escape into France revolted to her by which losse the Lords and Londoners were not a little dismayed and grew at odds one with the other and the Londoners proclaimed Mary Queen and Northumberland when he was certain of his friends falling from him that he might not run the hazard alone calls a Counsell at Cambridge and himself for want of an Herauld proclaims Mary Queen of England c. casting his Cap up in token of joy But that did not at all help his Cause for the Earl of Arundell who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Iane now coming to Cambridge in Maryes name takes the Duke and Casts him into Prison he in vain intreating for his life Iane at the Command of the Duke of Suffolk her father when the Case was thus altered layes down the Ensigns of the Kingdome with much more cheerfullnesse then ever she took them up The Queen coming to London met her Sister Elizabeth with 1000 Horse and Thomas of Norfolk Edward Contener Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Somersets Wife which she received into Grace giving them her hand to kisse Then entering upon the Church affairs she abollished those Bishops and Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed setting up others in their roome the people not a little offended at it and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome In the interim
the Duke of Northumberland the Earls of Northampton and Warwick are indicted of high Treason she spared Northampton but Northumberland was beheaded abjuring that Religion he professed before in hope of pardon his body was buried by the Duke of Somerset his Capitall Enemy between Anne of Boloyne and Katharine who all had suffered the same death The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had professed Iane afterwards with her husband and his two brethren Ambrose and Henry were all condemned to dye but Iane was reprieved for a while Then the Marriage was contracted between Mary and Philip of Spain whereat Wyat and others offended conspire lead an Army to London and are overthrown and executed The Queen enraged with the boldnesse of the subjects began seriously to consider how to punish the guilty Gilford husband to Iane was first beheaded then Iane her self within the Walls of the Tower with a wonderfull courage piety and Constancy had her head chopt off She was a Princesse for her learning and wisdome worthy of immortall praise It is reported that Morgan who passed Sentence upon her fell mad shortly after and cried Take away Lady Iane from me Then Suffolk was beheaded and the same day Wyat the cause of all these mischiefs for Iane had been pardoned had not he raised that furious tumult and enraged the Queen those that followed him some were punished and some pardoned Also Elizabeth was cast into prison by the means of Gardiner Bishop of Winchester without doubt her Life was at Stake had she not wisely answered to questions concerning her Faith They did severely at that time punish all those that were averse to the Romish Religion among whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester these refusing to abjure their Faith were burnt to ashes The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized and Cardinall Poole being sent from the Pope all the Errors of the English are purged and they received under the Popes tuition The Fame was at this time that the Queen was with Child and for joy Te Deum was sung at Pauls and she released out of the Tower many Prisoners among whom were the Sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were condemned to lose their heads But all this hope vanisht when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Timpany The Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church and when she was told that by so great a bounty the Crown Lands would be much wasted she replied piously and prudently She preferred her souls health before all the worlds goods Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charls and obtained of him the Kingdome of Spaine and his other Dominions before his death then he returned to England then again he went to Callice to wage war with the French and staid upon that businesse above 18. months the English murmuring and the Queen lamentâ—ng his absence Thomas Stafford at that time was instigated by the French to make warre against the Queen and landing with an Army he wan York Castle but he soon was conquered and taken and beheaded at London and his followers were hanged Then the Queen sent Pembroke to assist her husband and won a great victory over the French but drawing too many Forces out of Callis the Duke of Guise assaulted and won it after it had been in the hands of the English two hundred years Guina followed it and so the English were cleane thrust out of all France The Queen was wonderfull grieved for the losse of Callis which together with her Dropsie put an end to her life in the year of our Lord 1558. the fifth year of her Reigne and the fourty third of her Life ELISABET D. G. ANG FRAN. ET HIB REGINA FIDEI CHRISTIANAE PROPVGNA TRIX ACERRIMA What means this Popish Fogg the Church to smother Where is the Queen should be a nursing Mother Edward preceeded thee in the same form That a bright Sun foreruns a blustering storme For Age and Sex all at the stake we see O burning zeal and frozen Charity If to deny the Tyranny you please Behold a Cloud of faithfull Witnesses No it were better to bethink with speed What Sackcloth such a world of ashes need But Madam were not these your own intents How have you suffer'd in your Instruments ELIZABETH Queene of England ELIZABETH Daughter to Henry the Eighth by Anne Boloyne succeeded her Sister Mary being raised from the Prison to the Throne By her Coronation the Papal authority fell again the second time all the Ceremonies Mary had brought in she abollished and reformed all according to rule of her Brother Edward Being she was of a flourishing age and Queen of a flourishing Kingdome it could not be but she must be sought to of many lovers Maximilian the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Sweeden the Arch-Duke of Austria and the Duke of Angiers sent to woe her but all in vaine First because the Queen would not marry for at her inauguration the Condition was That she should marry no Stranger whereby there was hopes left to the Natives for so great a match The French and Scotch they hoped to prevaile much by reason she was a woman and of tender years whereupon they invade and spoile the English Frontiers The French King pretending Title to the Crown of England in right of his Wife Mary Stewart allyed to Henry the seventh but at last peace is confirmed betwixt Elizabeth the Scotch and French and all the Romane Catholicks are routed out of Scotland Mary when Francis was dead return'd for Scotland and made a firme agreement with Elizabeth but envy and ambition soon violated it and their sister-like concord to the ruine of Mary at last Mary takes to her husband Henry Darley and after Bothwell but discontents and warres arising she flees to Elizabeth in England who received her in her Arms She was at first liberally entertained but after moving dissention in England being a most bitter enemy to those of the Reformed Religion she was kept more narrowly For eighteen years she was kept in prison at last she began to riot in hope of the Kingdome and to lay snares for the Queens Life for which cause at the request of the severall Orders of England she was beheaded Also the Duke of Suffolk who privily sought to marry her suffered the same punishment Elizabeth in the mean time assisted those of the Reformed Religion in France Now fell out a warre between Philip the Second and the low Countreys in which Elizabeth assisted the united Provinces The Queen for this assistance was hated by the Spaniards who had before privately laid snares for her life but now he breaks forth into open warre for he raised a mighty Fleet from Spaine and other places it was the greatest Navy for Provision and Men that ever the Ocean bare and carried the presumptuous Title of Invincible It consisted of