Goods in the absence of his Banished Son which was but pro tempore intending to banish him in perpetuum which proceedings shortly after proved his Ruin for the King now sailing for Ireland did little good there but himself great harm here For by this means he gave Henry the Banished Son of the Duke of Lancaster opportunity to land in England for the gaining of his Right At whose Arrival several Lords flocked to him Their first attempt was against the Castle of Bristol where they took Bussy the Treasurer and Green who the next day were made shorter by the heads The King hearing of these Stirs returned and thought to have nipt them in the Bud but at his coming he found them fully Blown whereupon he betook himself to Conworth Castle in Wales and afterwards delivered himself into the hands of the Earl of Northumberland conditionally that if he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable Allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that then he would resign his Crown from hence he was carried to the Tower of London and a Parliament was called at Westminster in his name who all agreed to the resignation and Messengers were sent to the Tower to him with the said Instrument the manner and form whereof is shewed before in Edward the Seconds time to this Instrument the King set his hand and Seal desiring that his Cosen Henry Duke of Lancaster might succeed him and thereupon put his Signet Ring on the Dukes hand After this the Definitive Sentence being given in open Parliament Duke Henry rising from his Seat made his challenge to the Crown as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown withall the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the III and that Justice which God of his Grace hath send to me by the help of my Freinds for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words said he was by all the States acknowledged for King and placed in the Royal Throne This Richard the Second was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was the Second Son to Edward the Black-Prince by Joan his Wife Daughter to Edmund Earl of Kent his Reign began on Sunday the one and twenty day of June Anno 1377 and he reigned twenty two years three months and eight days and was the the thirty two sole Monarch of England He was assassinated in Pontefrack Castle by Sir Pierce of Exton and other seven Assassinates he having first valiantly defended himself and slain four of the Assassinates Some affirm that he was starved to Death Anno 1400 His body was brought to London and carried through the City to St. Paul's Church and there left bare-faced by the space of three dayes for People to gaze at and was afterwards buried at Westminster some say at Langley CHAP. XXII Of King Henry the Fourth commonly called Henry of Bullingbrook THis King Henry was crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after his Coronation he created his Eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitain and Cornwall and Earl of Chester and caused the Crown to be entailed upon the Heirs of his Body And then took from the Lords Awmarl Surry and Exeter the late King's Friends the Titles of Dukes And not long after he sent Embassadors to Rome France Spain and Germany to give them the Reasons of his assuming the Crown But the People of Aquitain hearing of those Carriages in England 〈◊〉 favoring King Richard's Cause begâ—◠〈◊〉 Revolt but Henry sending the Earl of Worcâ—â—ter thither with some Forces thâ—y quickly fell to their Obedience again And now the Scots upon some Distates entred the North-parts of England doing much harm And shortly after several Lords as John Holland late Duke of Exceter Thomas Holland late Duke of Surry Edward Plantaginet late Duke of Aumarl John Montacute Earl of Salisbury Lord Spencer Sir Ralf Lumly Sir Thomas Blunt and Sir Benedict Celye with others conspired against Henry either out of Pitty to Richard's cause or Emulation to Henry's greatness but the Plot being discovered before it came to any Perfection by some of their own party The two late Dukes of Exceter and Surry having notice thereof hasted to Cicester pretending as they passed along that King Richard was at liberty and that Henry was fled which was all false for at this time he had got 6000 men in Readiness to oppose them and Exceter seeking to escape by Sea was taken and at the Countess of Hereford's instigation was beheaded by the common People at Pleshie the Lord Spencer receiving the like doom at Bristol and others in other places in all nineteen whereof two had been Dukes in King Richard's time to wit John Holland and Thomas Holland Presently after this the King entered Scotland and spoiled the Country but before his Return Wales was in Rebellion under the Command of Owen Glendour of which the King having Intelligence he turned his March thither and burnt killed and took such Revenge as that time would permit and so returned with such spoil as he had got Glendour being gotten into the inexpugnable Snowden hills But the King's Danger was not less at home than abroad for in his Bed there was hidden a Calthrope or Engine with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes all of them set upward for his Destruction but he discovered it before he lay down but the Traytor was never found out Now Glendour still proceeding in his Outrages Edmund Lord Mortimer went against him but with the loss of about a thousand of his men in the Attempt and his own Liberty to boot being taken Prisoner and afterwards either for love or fear did marry Glendour's Daughter and was privy and consenting to Piercy's Rebellion which followed afterwards About this time were several Libels dispersed up and down in Defamation of the King but the Authors being taken suffer'd death amongst whom were several Grey-Fryers after the Execution of these offenders the King again entered Wales but the cruel Storms there at that time forced his return And the Earl of Northumberland the King's Lieutenant of the North and Piercy Hot-Spur the Earls Son had better success against the Scots who had entered England but returned by weeping Cross being overthrown in two Battels by the Earl and his Son and several taken Prisoners After this the King took to Wife Lady Jane of Navar Widdow of John de Mountforth Duke of Britain and shortly after several Prodigies appeared Prognosticating the Piercys Rebellion which followed not long after the first of them discovering himself in open Arms was Lord Piercy Hot-Spurr who made head about Chester to whom repaired the Earl of Worcester their intentions being to enter the Town of Shrewsbury The King sent for them promising under his hand their safe
mean time road Victoriously to London and was again Proclaimed King and a Parliament shortly after being called They disinherited Henry his Queen and Son and about 43 Nobles and others and now the Queen returning into Scotland with her French Fleet and afterwards making for England her Fleet was Scattered by a Tempest so that her Husband and She were left solely to the Aide of the Scots who marching into England as far as the Bishoprick of Durham King Edward prepared to meet them but making an halt at York he sent the Lord Montacute with forces to oppose them who was encountered on Hedgley Moore by the Lords Hungerford Roâ—'s and Sir Ralph Peircy to whom the Lord Montacute gave the foyl taking Sir Ralph Percy and several others being slain and growing proud of this Victory he assail'd King Henry's Camp at Hexham where after great slaughter he took the Duke of Somerset and other three Lords and one Knight which were all beheaded whereupon Henry fled into Scotland and afterwards coming into England in disguise he was taken and having his feet tyed to the stirrups and his guilt spurs taken off his heels he was then committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Shortly after King Edward called a Parliament and Enacted several good Laws especially against pride in Apparrel and now he begins to think of a wife whereupon the Earl of Warwick was sent to sollicite a Marriage between the King and Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy and all things being well approved of by the Lady and her Friends the Earl Returned before whose Return the King had set his Affections on the Lady Elizabeth Gray here in England whose Mother was Jaquelline Daughter to Peter Earl of St. Pauls to whom shortly after he was Married The Earl of Warwick took great distast thereat thinking himself hereby abused and endeavoured afterwards to uphold King Henry's Cause drawing to his Assistance some Nobles and Forein Princes and upon these discontents some of the Commons rose under the Command of one Robert Hildern intending to gave seized on York from which place they were beaten back by the Lord Montacute president thereof and their Leader beheaded Yet the Commons not dismai'd hereat chose Henry Lord Fitzhughs Son and Sir Henery Nevil Son to the Lord Latimer but they being but young made choice of Sir John Coniers a valliant Knight and intended their march for London of which the King having notice he made William Lord Herbert Earl of Pembrook General and Sir Richard Herbert his Brother assistant to him And now the Northern forces drawing near Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with 2000 Horse fell in the Rear of them but were repulsed and lost most of their Men afterwards the Armies meeting near Banbury some distast being then taken by the Lord Stafford at the Earl of Pembrook the Kings General he thereupon withdrew his Archers upon which occasion Pembrook lost the field and had 5000 men slain and the Earl with his Brother and other ten Gentlemen were taken and carryed to Banbury and there beheaded After this Victory some Commons under the Leading of Robin of Ridsdale hasten to Grafton the King's Mannour house and there surprized Earl Rivers the Queens Father and his Son John and at Northamton beheaded then and now the King set forth with an Army himself and pitched at Wolny four Miles from Warwick whose Guards were not so vigilant as they should have been the King being at that time animated with some hopes of peace of which the Earl of Warwick taking advantage he entered the King's Camp Treacherously by night and took him prisoner when he never dreamt upon it from whence they conveyd him with easie journys by night to the Castle of Midleham in Yorkshire and there left him to the keeping of George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Warwicks Brother from whom the King not long after escaped and came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an army he past from thence to London not long after this Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised 30000 plebeans in Lincolnshire and pitched near Stanford whereupon the King caused the Lord Wells Sir Roberts Father and Sir Thomas Dimmoâ—k his Kinsman to be beheaded which was against the King's Oath and promise to them and then marched to fight Sir Robert who with Sir Thomas Deland were taken Prisoners and Lincolnshire men cast of their Coats and run away whereupon that Battel was called Loss-Coat field there were slain that day about 10000. this Newes made the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick flye to sea and casting Anchor before the Town of Callis they were there denyed Entrance by the Lord Vanclere who was the Earl of Warwicks Deputy there for which good service he was by King Edward made Captain of Callis and Warwick discharged as a Traytor yet nevertheless he was welcome to the French where the Queen of King Henry at that time was with whom Warwick joyned whose Daughter at that time was betrothed to Prince Edward King Henrys Son and they all sollicited for Forces which was granted and the Earl landing in England with a great Army proclaimed King Henry to whose Aide great store of People flocked the Lord Fawconberge in the West and the Earl of Pembrook in the North doing the like And the Earl of Warwick now taking his March towards London King Edward Commanded his Lords to attend him in the War but several of them disowned his Mandates which he perceiving with some few Nobles in his Company hasted towards Nottingham there to determine what was best to be done but his Foes greatly increasing Bon-fires burning Bells ringing and all the people crying up King Henry for very fear King Edward with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester took shipping at Lyn and sailed into Flanders to Charles Duke of Burgundy and his Queen took Asylum at Westminster where she was delivered of Prince Edward afterwards King of England and at this time several of the Kings Friends took Sanctuary Edward being fled Warwick took King Henry out of the Tower where he was prisoner and Riding in Tryumph through the Streets of London great were the Acclamations of the People crying God save King Henry And now a Parliament being called Edward was declared Traytor and his with all his Adherent's Goods confiscated and the Crown Intayled to the Heirs Males of Henry's body and for default thereof to the Heirs Males of George Duke of Clarence and finally all the Statutes made by King Edward were Abrogated But King Edward having gotten some small Forces of about 12000 men of his Brother in Law the Duke of Burgundy he returned for England as a Subject and proclaimed King Henry deluding the People and so got to York which he making them believe that he came but to look for his own Inheritance surprized and assumed to himself leaving a Garison in it and from hence he marched to Nothingham and so to
and was afterwards interred with great solemnity in the Grey-Fryers in Leicester and at the dissolution thereof the stone-trough wherein his Corps were laid was taken up and is now a drinking trough for Horses at a Common Inn in Leicester After the Fight was over the Lord Stanly found the Crown among the spoiles of the field and set it upon the Earl of Richmond's head in the field at which instant began the Reign of this new King and so an End was put to the bloody Contentions between the Yorkists and Lancastrians there were fought here in England eleven Set-Battels five in Henry the Sixt days as St. Albans Blackheath Northampton Wakefield and Towton and five in Edward the Fourths time as Hexham Banbury Lose-Coat-Field Barnet field and Tewxsbury and lastly Bosworth field which put a period to the to the Reign of the Plantaginets and opened away for the Tewdors to succeed them in these Civil Wars between the Houses of Lancaster and York were slain above one Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Men. This Richard the Third was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was a younger Brother to King Edward the Fourth and Son to Richard Duke of York who was Son to Richard Earl of Cambridge who was Son to Edmund Duke of York who was Fifth Son to King Edward the Third his Reign began on Friday the 22 day of June Anno 1483. He reigned two years and two moneths and was the 38 Sole Monarch of England he was slain in the Battel at Bosworth field as is before shewed on Monday 22 day of August Anno 1885. and his Body was buried in the Grey-Fryers at Leicester CHAP. XXVIII Of King Henry the Seventh AFter the Battel at Bosworth field was over the King hasted to London where with great Joy he was received and shortly after Crowned and Edward Plantaginet Earl of Warwick imprisoned in the Tower And now a Parliament being called King Richard was attainted and the Crown intayled on Henry and his heirs for ever About this time was the Sweating-Sickness of which Disease a world of people dyed a new Disease never known in England before And now the King dissolving the Parliament in January after he married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth who in September after was brought to Bed of Prince Arthur and not long before the King's Marriage was Wheat sold for three shillings per Bushel and Bay-Salt the same price and the Cross in Cheapside was new builded And now the King taking his Progress to York to gain the Love of his Northern Subjects the Lord Lovel with some others that had taken Sanctuary after Bosworth Field raised forces thinking to surprize the King but he with 3000 men under the Conduct of the Duke of Bedford sent either to pardon or Fight them and the Duke proffering pardon the Lord Lovel fled by night and the multitude yeilded without stroak and shortly after Sir Humphry Stafford another Rebel suffered at Tyburn And not long after a new Tumult began upon the Report of one Richard Symon a Priest who broached abroad that one Lambert Symnell Scholar of his was heir to Edward Duke of Clarence who was cast into Prison a little before by Henry and so sailing with him into Ireland he there prevailed so much among the Peers especialy with Thomas Fitz-Girald Lord Chancelor that at Dublin he was Proclaimed and Crowned King and there obtaining some help he returned for England to whom those Lords that favoured the Cause of the Plant aginets joyned themselves although they knew the Fraud among whom the Earl of Lincoln was chief who with the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Collonel Swart and Mawrice Fitz Thomas near a little Village about three Miles for Newark called Stoak were all slain by the Kings Army and 4000 Common Soldiers besides and the Counterfeit Symnel with the lewd Contriver of this wicked Stratagem Simon the Priest were both taken and Symnel confessing the business to be forced on him was made one of the King's Falkoners and the Priest Simon was commited to a dungeon and perpetual shackles And shortly after this Battel the King sent Richard Fox Bishop of Exceter and Sir Richard Edgecomb Embassadors to the King of Scots where they to the King 's great Satisfaction concluded a seven years Truce About this time the Duke of Britain sent to the King for his Assistance against France but he unwilling to disoblige either party having been formerly beholden to both sought a reconciliation making himself Umpire between them to which the French seemed to listen but in the mean time prepared for War and at St. Albans gave the Britains a great Overthrow and slew the Lord Woodvile and all or most of his men who was gone to the Duke's aid without King Henry's knowledge hereupon the King prepared to lend his Assisting hand to the Britains but their Duke in the mean time died which put an end to the business And now began some stirs in York-shire where the Earl of Northumberland was slain by the Commons at a place called Cock-Leg near Thirske at the inticement of one John Chambers for demanding the Subsidy granted by Parliament to the King and the Plebeans afterwards made head under the Command of Sir John Egrimont but the King sending an Army against them under the Command of Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry they were quickly dissipated and the Ringleadears shortly after received death the due Reward for such Rebels but Sr. John Egrimont escaped to Margaret Dutchess of Britain the common Encorager and Receiver of all King Henry's Enemies About this time the Scots rose in Rebellion against James the Third their King and fought the Army at Bannocks-Burn where in a Mill in the same field he was murthered After this King Henry began to prepare for War against France at the Request of Maximilian the Emperor whom they had basely abused in not only divorsing his Daughter Margaret from the French King but also in making Ann the Heir of the Dukedom of Britain his Wife who had been betrothed to the said Emperor by his Embassadors and the King taking his Voyage for France landed at Callis and marched on as far as Bulloigne and finding the Emperour unprepared upon whose Accounts he had undertaken that War he thereupon made Peace with France and had the sum of 186250 li. granted yearly which was duly pay d during his time and his Son 's until the debt vvas run out After this Voyage Margaret the Dutchess of Burgumdy the King 's grand Enemy obtruded upon the English one Peterkin or Parkin Walbeck by the name of Richard Plant aginet Second Son of Edward the Fourth and many of the Nobility out of Innovation rather than Love knowing it to be a Deceit of the Dutchess sided with him and the Lord Stanly amongst the rest did supply him with Money for which Cause shortly after he lost his Head although formerly he had been a main Instrument
God with us And there was also a new great Seal made And now the Lord Fairfax having laid down his Commission the Parliament made Oliver Cromwell their General who was so Fortunate in all his Enterprizes that in a few years time he brought England Scotland and Ireland into Subjection truth is if his Cause had been Honourable and Just he would have been as much Honoured by Posterity for his Vallour as he is hated by all good Subjects for his Disloyalty and Inhumanity to his Sovereign Lord and Master the King And now his Majesty being in France he hoped to get Aid there but found none yet his Friends here in England Proclaimed him King the Earl of Ormond and Lord Inchequin caused him also to be Proclaimed King in Ireland And now the Parliament proceeded to make Sale of the King and Queen's Lands not sparing their Houses whose Purchasers gained no small Summs by them making Money of the Leads Glass Iron Timber and Stones of the same Houses the Bishops with the Deans and Chapters Lands also received the same Doom and most of the Castles in England were by the Parliament's Order demolished and thrown down and all Persons were expelled from places of Trust either in Church or State which would not Subscribe to the present Government then Established by them And now his Majesty was Proclaimed in Scotland and after great Debate had among them there at length they agree on some Propositions to be sent to the King who was then at the Isle of Jersie and Mr. Windram Laird of Libberton was appointed Messenger The Heads of which Propositions were 1. That his Majesty should sign the Solemn League and Covenant 2. That he should pass divers Acts of Parliament which were concluded on in their two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland 3. That he should be pleased to recall the late Commissions given to Mounttross 4. That he should put away all Papists from him 5. That he would appoint some place about Holland to Treat with their Comissioners And 6. That he would be graciously pleased to give a speedy Answer to their Desires These Propositions coming to the King they were very stifly debated Pro and Con and after much Consultation at last Sir William Flemming was sent Agent to the Committee of the Estates in Scotland till such as the Laird Libberton could be dispatched who shortly after followed with a Letter and Instructions by word of Mouth to the Committee of Estates and Breda in Holland was appointed for the place of a solemn Treaty and after great debates by the Committee of Estates and Kirk in Scotland at long run it was concluded that the Earl of Castles the Lord Lothian Burly and Libberton Sir John Smith and Mr. Jeoffries should go Commissioners for the Estates and Mr. Broady Lauson and Wood for the Kirk and these having received their Commissions met the King at Breda where after their Speeches made to his Majesty they then delivered their Propositions much to the same effect of those already mentioned Now during this Treaty the Marquess of Montross was seized in Scotland where he was with a most barbarous inhumanity exposed to all the severness imaginable a Gibbet set up for him of a height extraordinary where he was hanged and then quartered with all the circumstances of a solemn and a deliberate cruelty and malice to the eternal infamy of that Faction which would in the very instance of an overture and Treaty of accord proceed to so unheard of an outrage upon the Person of so loyal a Subject to his and their Sovereign This was the fatal and Tragical Event of his Majesties Affairs in Scotland Upon the Report of this News at Breda the King was much Troubled and all the Treaty had like to have broken off upon it but yet the King at length through the necessity of his Affairs concluded the Treaty by condescending to most of the Propositions and this Conclusion being carryed to Edenborough after much Debate it was Resolved another Message should be sent to invite the King over but the Parliament here in England having notice of all those proceedings in Scotland prepared an Army thereupon to Invade Scotland under the Command of their General Oliver Cromwel and they had also about this time put out an Act for the bringing all Proceedings at Law into the English Tongue and Secretary hand which continued so for about some ten years And about this time also their Admiral General Blake took sunck and burnt most of Prince Ruperts Fleet which was a great hurt to the Kings Affairs And now the King being arived at Spey in the North of Scotland some Lords were sent down to accompany him to Edenborough as he came along he was entertained with the general Joy of all the People and at Abberden he was presented with 1500 pounds which thing was ill taken by the Commitee of Estates and Kirk and therefore they sent their Injunction to prohibit other places from doing the like and the King being now come to Edenborough he was again proclaimed King on the 15 of July Anno 1650 but his Coronation was deferred by reason of the then Troubles for the English Army was upon their Borders so the Scots now began to think how they might defend themselves and therefore they marched under the Command of Montgomery and set upon the English at Musclebrough but were worsted and at Dunbarr the English wholly routed them and gained the Pass there this newes was brought to the King at St. Johnstons much about the same time when the death of his Sister the Princess Elizabeth was brought to him so shortly after this he left the States of Scotland and repaired into the North of that Kingdom being no longer able to endure the Affronts put upon him And now besides the danger of the English Army then in the Bowels of Scotland they themselves were yet devided into three Partys so that nothing but ruin could be expected among them but the King returning with Montgomery to St. Johnstons again they were then all reconciled among themselves and the King on the first day of January Anno 1650 was Crowned at Scoon And now the King set up his Standard at Abberdeen and resolved himself to be Generalissimo of the Scoth Army and about this time was Sir Henry Hyde beheaded at London for his Loyalty and not long after Captain Brown Bushel received the like Doom for performing some signal Services for the King And the King now began to Fortifie Sterling to which place he afterwards removed his Court and the English drew nigher and nigher every day and had surprized the Earl of Eglington and one of his Sons but whilest things were thus in Agitation in Scotland a Plot was discovered in England against the Parliament most of which Plotters were Presbyterians and two of them being Ministers viz. Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love were beheaded for their Treason as the Parliament called it now Cromwell perceiving that he
and 8 moneths He was the 39 Sole Monarch of England he dyed on Sunday the 22 day of April Anno 1508 being in the 24 year of his Reign and about the 52 of his Age and was buried at Weminster in that famous Chappel of his own founding CHAP. XXIX Of King Henry the Eight THis King Henry was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Empson and Dudly were attainted by Parliament for their Oppressions in Henry the Seventh's time and were beheaded on Tower hill and now the King at the Instigation of Pope Julius the Second sent into France to demand the Dutches Normandy Guyen Anjou and Mayne and being denied them he hereupon joyned Amity with Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand King of Spain and some other Princes and then sailed for France where he took Terwin ane Tournay by Siege and then Winter approaching he returned for England first making Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Tournay and afterward of Lincoln York Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Now during the Siege at Terwin the Scots under the Command of their King James the Fourth Henry's Brother in Law entered the Borders of England pretending Truce broken by the killing of Andrew Barton the Scotch Pirate against whom the Lord Howard Earl of Sury Lord Lieutenant of the North went with an Army to whom joyned his Son the Lord Admiral and these at Flodden Field fought the Scots and gave them a great Overthrow killing the King three Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls and seventeen Lords and Knights besides a great number of Gentlemen and about 8000 Soldiers and almost as many taken prisoners About this time a peace was concluded on between the English and French and Lewis the King of France was to marry Lady Mary King Henry's Sister which shortly after he did and within a quarter of a year after dyed and she was married afterwards at Callis to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk upon her return for England her Dowry in France was 30000 Crownes yearly for her Life and 120000 Crowns yearly for five years to the King her Brother About this time Wolsey had a Cardinals Cap sent from Pope Leo and was preferred by the King to the place of Lord Chancelor Anno 1517. The Thames was so hard frozen that Men with Horses and Carts might pass betwixt Lambeth and Westminster and this same year was the fifth Lattern Council held being the seventeenth General Council Julius the second and Leo the ten being Popes And now Strangers growing insolent in London a great Tumult thereupon under the Conduct of one John Lincoln did rise on May Eve for which Uproar he was hanged and 400 Boyes and 11 Women were led through the City to Westminster with halters about their Necks in their Shirts but were pardoned by the King And the new King of France paying to King Henry 600000 Crowns in twelve years and under some other certain Conditions had Tournay redelivered to him and Peace was Concluded although Charles the Emperor came in person into England to diswade the King from it but this peace continued not long for the French breaking Truce as was pretended the King thereupon procured several Princes to take the Emperour's part against France and prepared himself for the War causing a general Muster to be made of all able men from 16 years and upwards in every Hamlet Villiage Burrough City and Shire in England and in the mean time the Emperour coming into England again he then agreed to stay for and to take Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to Wife and then he returned having for his Conduct the Earl of Surry Lord Admiral who at that time wan Morlois and shortly after Returning to France again won and burnt several Towns and then returned to England with great Booty and during these proceedings the Earl of Shrewsbury went against the Duke of Albany who was then made Governor of Scotland and a Truce was concluded on but the Lord Admiral after his Return from France being made Lord Lieutenant of the North notwithstanding the said Truce entered Scotland doing great harm and returned with great Booty Upon the Account of these Wars a Parliament being called by Wolsey's procurement the half of all Spiritual Livings were granted to the King for five years and the Tenth part of temporal Substance and about this time Christian King of Denmark landed in England with his Queen and after 22 dayes Royal Entertainment he Returned to Flanders where he remained as a banished man And now the King sent an Army under the Command of Charles Brandon Duke Suffolk into France who after severral places won and Winter approaching returned honourably for England but the Duke of Albany and the Lord Lieutenant of the North being still at variance at the Mediation of Margaret Queen of Scotland King Henrys Sister together with Wolseys working with the King at length Peace was concluded for a time both with Scotland and France after this several Commotions rose amongst the Commons about the payment of the Subside which when the King heard he pardoned the Offenders and remitted the payment of the Subsidy and now Wolsey began to alienate the King's heart from the Emperour and caused him to with-hold Pay from the Duke of Burbon which was the cause of the French King's Captivity of Burbon's March to Rome where he entered the City in one day and caused Pope Clement and 23 Cardinalls to take the Castle of Angelo for their Refuge where they were maugre all the pushes of the Pope's Leaden Bulls and Curses with Bell Book and Candle-light besieged six Moneths for which offence the Duke of Burbon in the Parliament of France was condemned of Treason And during these Broyles at Rome there arose great Troubles in Ireland but they were quickly laid again by Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry Lord Lieutennant of that Kingdom who being recalled into England upon some other Service the Earl of Ossâ—ry was made Deputy and shortly after being displaced Kilder succeeded him against whom Wolsey was a strong Enemy he thereby gained the King's displeasure for his malepartness therein The year 1527 fell such abundance of Rain in November December and January that the Corn fields Pastures and Cattel were thereby destroyed then was it dry till the 12 of April and then Rain again every day and night till the 3 of June following which caused such a Famine in London and all England over that many dyed for want of Succour And now the King begins to charge the Emperour with a promise of Marriage to Lady Mary afterwards our Queen Mary but her Legitimation was by him much questioned as being begotten on his Brother Arthur's Wife hereupon the King grew into dislike of his Marriage and disclaimed his Contract it being the Opinion of some six Forein Universities to be an unlawful Marriage and for this cause Cardinal Campius came into England with whom was joined Cardinal Wolsey in Commission with power to erect a Court to
forthwith sent their Mandates to the respective Governors of the Sea-port Towns Prohibiting them to obey any of the King's Orders unless they were confirmed by them hereby they weakned the King's Authority more than all their former Proceedings had done which the King might easily have prevented in time if he had put Soldiers into the said Towns to have kept them for himself And not long after this they took into their hands most Sea-Port Towns of Concernment among which Hull was one which denied to the King and delivered to them And now the King seeing the harsh proceedings of the Parliament he writ to them from Windsor protesting his Innocency whereupon they sent Messengers to him to desire his return to London but he refused upon which occasion the Lower-House drew up an Humble Remonstrance as they called it whose Propositions were so unreasonable that the House of Peers would not consent to them till they saw the Commons uniting themselves against them and then Messengers were sent to the King with the Remonstrance who with some Reservation yielded to part of it and denied the other part yet this would not satisfie them but they proceeded further to Petition the King That the accused Members might be free and clear from all Guilt which was granted them but now those who favoured the King's Cause fearing the event of these proceedings part of them left England and part repaired home leaving the Parliament so that there were not above 25 in the Upper-House and scarce 80 in the Lower-House and shortly after hardly 16 in the upper House and the Queen about this time left England accompanying her Daughter to her Husband the Prince of Orange to whom she was Espoused and the King caused all Priests to be banished out of the Realm and severe Statutes to be published against the Papists And now all things growing worse and worse the Parliament began to take the boldness upon them to accuse the King of harkning to a Change in Religion and that he had given Cause to the Uproars in Ireland but especially those that were most powerful with him secretly bespotting the Queen the King to remove these Aspertions Published his Declarations to the People of his Innocency but they taking no effect he with his Son Prince Charles the Palsgrave and Duke of Richmon took their Journy for York Resolveing to oppose Force against Force And now the King after several Passages between him and the Parliament called all the Knights of the Garter and all others that held of the Crown to Repair to York the Parliament on the contrary made it death for any to go yet notwithstanding several Members went over to the King upon this Account And now people fearing the worst the Men of Kent Petitioned the Parliament on the behalf of the King That nothing might be done without the King's Consent that the Liturgy might not be altered That the Bishops might be restored whom they had Excluded the Lords House That they would not suffer the Fundamental Laws of the Land to be Antiquated without the Kings permission Nor Arms to be raised without his Command That some good means might be found out to make a Reconcilement c. This Petition was ill taken and the bringer therof together with the Earl of Bristol the Receivers of it were both Imprisoned for their Pains and Somersetshire men afterwards preferring a Petition to the Parliament they Commanded it to be burnt by the Common Hang-man And now after Thwartings and Discontents between the King and Parliament he at last Commanded all the York-shire men to meet him at a certain place called Howard Moor near York who accordingly appeared being about Threescore Thousand men and the King with the Prince and some Lords about six hundred horse met them there and with about twenty thousand men went back to York and Commanded them all to repaire to their Houses in the mean time the Parliment borrow'd a great Sum of money of the Londoners on the Publick Faith as they called it and Raising an Army of ten thousand Foot and two thousand Horse they sent them towards York in the Interim the King assailed Hull but was withstood by Sir John Hotham and having this bad Success at first he thereupon sent to the Parliament to Conclude a Peace and promised forthwith to repair to them if they would leave London and make choice of some other place to Sit in but they Refused it whereupon the King proclaimed all men guilty of Treason that should Assist the Houses either with Money or other Supplyes and also threatned to deprive the Londoners of their Priviledges if they offended herein and the King having fortified Newark and Barwick sought again to obtain Hull but in vain and now the Parliament Proclaimed open War making the Earl of Essex General and the King set up his Standard at Nottingham and now it being come to open War the Victory was doubtful sometimes one Side sometimes the other geting the better with no small loss of blood and the Life of many a gallant man and the Prince when he saw his Fathers Affairs in a desperate Condition took Shipping for the Scillyes from whence he was Invited by the Parliament to return to London but he thought it not safe for his Person to do so and so sailed to the Hague to his Sister the Princess of Orange where he remained till the Sad News of his Father's Murther was brought to him Now although there be several Book in print treating at large of the several Skirmisses Battells Sieges c. which happned between the King and Parliament during the seven years unhappy Dissentions between them yet partly to Satisfie the Reader whose Purse affords him not Mony to buy them or multitude of business time to peruse them I have here Incerted a brief Catalogue of the most considerable of them as followeth 1642. Apr. Sir John Hotham denyed the King Entrance into Hull for which he was proclaimed Traytor Aug. The King's Standard set up at Nottingham and a little before 20 of his men slain and a Colour taken by a Sally out of Hull Sept. Portsmouth Besieged by Sir John Merrick and yeilded to him Lord Byron set upon near Bracklye got off again with some loss marched to Worcester secured it for the King and the Parliament Forces attempting the Town were set upon in the Rear at Wickfield near Worcester by Prince Rupert and Routed but the Earl of Essex afterwards advancing thither Worcester was then yeilded to the Parliamentarians Octob. The signal great Fight at Edge-hill about 5000 slain Banbury and Broughton-House surrendred to the King after which he entered Tryumphantly into Oxford with an 150 Colours taken in Fight Novemb. Brantford Fight about 200 of the Parliament party slain besides several drowned and some 15 pieces of Ordnance sunk in the Thames Decemb. Marborough taken for the King by Lieutenant General Wilmot and Tadcaster by the Earl of New-Castle and Winchester and Chichester delivered
some small time to little purpose they resigned up their Power again into his hand from whom they received it And now about the 16 of December Anno 1653. Oliver Cromwel was sworn Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. and so the Government was now again in a single Person against which they had all sworn and in April after the Protector concluded a Peace with the Dutch whose Aid and Assistance the King had strongly sollicited against him The King seeing this he sought a Reconciliation between France and Spain hoping thereby to further his own Interest he left France and departed for Germany accompanied with his Cosin Prince Rupert taking his first Residence at the Spaw whither his Royal Sister the Princess of Orange came to visit him now during these passages Oliver Protector had discovered a Plot in England against his Authority and some of the Plotters were taken and two of them viz. Collonel Gerrard and Mr. Vowel suffered Death Indeed the Protector had a cunning way in discovering of Plots for he had his Inveaglers in several parts of England who feigned themselves great Favourers of the King's Cause prickt Gentlemen on into Conspiracies against the Protector and when they were come to any head and that the chief were inrolled and sworn and the day appointed for putting their Intentions in Execution then forthwith were they discovered to the Usurper and so their Estates became Preys to his Coffers and their Persons to his Mercy which was but small their heads being usually their ransoms to this man of Might upon which account several worthy Gentlemen lost their Lives for no man could say his Life was his own if once Oliver did but frown upon him for his Will was his Law and this his Rule Sic volo sic jubeo stat pro Ratione voluntas This is my Will and this I do Command What man is he that dare the same withstand Great indeed was the Awe the People stood in during his Usurped Authority for he carried MAGNA CHARTA in his Sword-Hilt and the Peoples Liberty in his well tempered Blade and now they began to stir in Scotland again and the Earl of Glencarn Menro and Middleton having gotten some Forces together intended again to have prosecuted the King's Cause but they were routed by General Monk and Collonel Morgan During these Stirs his Majesty in the Company of his Royal Sister had left the Spaw and taken his Journy to Collen where he and his Sister were Royally entertained and shortly after they were Invited by the Duke of Newburgh to his Pallace at Dunsel Dorf where they were Nobly Feasted and here the King and his Sister parted she returning for Holland and his Majesty to Collen During these passages the Protector discovered another plot which should have been a general Rising all over England whereupon several were taken and executed and abundance transported beyond Seas and sold for Slaves And now the King with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester and his Royal Sister the Princess of Orange with several other Lords and Ladys took their Progress to see the Fair at Franckford and at Conningstein near Franckford Christina Queen of Sweeden and the King gave one the other a Visit and his Majesty having made his Abode at Franckford during so long time as he thought good he then returned again for Câ—llen from whence he was shortly after invited into the Low Countrys by Don John de Austria Governor thereof whither his Brother the Duke of York came to him Cromwell now according to conditions sent over 6000 foot Soldiers to aid the French King in his Wars against Flanders and the English were to have Dunkirk in consideration therof which afterwards was delivered to them after some difficulty passed But during these Stirs beyond Seas Oliver by an Assembly whereof Sir Thomas Witherington was Speaker was invested with Purple Robes and installed in Westminster Hall after which he Established a Pageant house of Lords most of them of his own Creation such as John Lord Hewson and the like and not long after this he discovered another Plot and Sir Henry Slingby Dr. Hewit Mr. Aston Mr. Stacy and Mr. Betly suffered death the two first beheaded and the other three hanged drawn and quartered for being in the said Plot as Oliver pretended Now great was the Pomp and State this Protector of England assumed to himself and as great the state of his Son Henry whom he had made Lord Deputy of Ireland he had also appointed Commissioners in most Eminent places in England for Approbation of Ministers and given them power to eject Ignorant Scandalous and Insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters under which notion of Ignorance many worthy Divines were thrown out of their livings when the Truth was Loyalty on their sides and Covetousness on the Adverse side was the principal cause of their Ejectment Hugh Peters the Minister was in great favour with the Protector and served him in place of his Jester among those Parliaments that were called by this Protector one of them consisting most of Mechanicks Enacted that no persons should be Married but by the Justices of Peace and first to be asked in the Church or else proclaimed in the Market And now the Usurped Power and Authority of Oliver drawing to a Period his Glass being run at length this Conquerour of Three Kingdoms on the Third day of September Anno 1658. was forced to yield himself Prisoner to death who following his own example admitted neither of bail nor ransom but made him pay his last breath to his Will and so in a great Wind he was hurried away into another World After his death he was laid in State at Somerset house in the Strand till the 23 of November after and then his Funeral was celebrated at a vaster Charge then hath formerly been used for the best Kings in the best of times he was Inhumed in the Abby at Westminster but his Resurrection followednot longafter for he with Bradshaw who condemn'd King Charles the First were both of them digged out of their Graves and hanged in Chains at Tiburn that year the King was restored to his Kingdomes Anno 1660. Oliver being now gone Richard his eldest Son succeed him whose head being thought to light and his shoulders to weak for the Supportation of so weighty a Government he was quickly thrust out again from his Protectorship and now Fletwood and Lambert the chief Instruments in outing of Richard with the rest of the Army called the old Parliament turned out by Oliver to their Places again who willingly assumed them whilest these proceedings were in hand the Gentlemen in Lancashire and Cheshire about harvest time 1659 rose under the Conduct of Sir George Booth in defence of their Priviledges and cause of the King but Lambert being sent against them by the Parliament he routed them and Sir George Booth was shortly after taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower and Lambert was gratified by the Parliament
went about to take away the King's Life and she was forced to satisfy publickly for that wickedness she had not attempted though others that were guilty in their very Sufferings excused the Dutchess of it Yet notwithstanding she did Pennance going the first day from Temple-Bar down Fleetstret with a wax Taper in her hand to Pauls where she offered her Taper to the Altar the next day but one she went through Bridgestreet and Grace Church Street to Leaden-Hall and so to Christ-Church by Allgate and two days after she went through Cheapside to St. Michaels in Cornhil in form aforesaid Now the Affairs still various in France at length a Truce was concluded for 18 Moneths and hopes of perpetual Amity grounded upon a Match Contracted by William de la Pole Earl of Suffolk for the King with Margaret Daughter to Renate Duke of Angiers and Titular King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem but this Match proved inauspicious to the King for by it he lost his Friends in England and Revenues in France and not long after all was Ruled by the Queen and Suffolk and their Complices and a Parliament being called the Duke of Yorks Commission was revoked and Henery Beaufort Duke of Somerset was sent Regent into France And now began the King's Miserys to approach for in the Parliament at St. Edmundsbury the Protector through the Queen's means unknown to the King was Arrested of high Treason and before he came to any Tryal he was Murthered in his Bed with Pillowes as it was thought and the Cardinal of Winchester the other Prop of the Kingdom lived not long after him after whose death the Affaires both of England and France were carryed on very unfortunately And now Suffolk the Queens chief Favourite is made Duke which passages displeasing the people Richard Plantaginet begun to think how these distempers might work well on his side for the obtaining the Crown whereupon hetook shipping for Ireland to still the Irish Commotions there which he quickly effected and there layd the foundation of his first plots In mean time Somerset Regent in France lost all which unhappy News coming to England it caused several to look sleightly at the Queen but especially at Suffolk against whom several Articles were exhibited by the Lower-house of Parliament whereupon he was Imprisoned in the Tower but shortly after was again restored to his Liberty The 23 of the King on Candlemas Eve in diverse places of England were heard Terrible Thunder with Lightning whereby the Church of Baldock in Hartfordshire and the Church of Walden in Essex and divers others were sore shaken and the Steeple of St. Pauls Church in London about three of the Clock in the afternoon was set on fire but was happily quenched again And now the Duke of York shortly after procured Adam Mollins the Bishop of Chichester Keeper of the Privy Seal another Pillar of the Kingdom to be Murthered by the Seamen at Portsmouth Not long after one Thane alias Blewbeard a Fuller of Canterbury attempting to raise some forces in the Duke of York's behalf miscarried in his Enterprize and was taken hanged and quartered And another Parliament being called and the Commons wishing well to the Duke of York they again accuse the Duke of Suffolk and now obtained of the King Sentence of his Banishment for five years who being upon the Seas intending his banished Voyage was taken and in Dover Road had his Head Chopped off on the side of a Cock Boat After this the Bishop of Salisbury was Murthered by his own Tenants and Lord Say Treasure of England and his Son in Law with some other were slain by the Common People such footing had the Duke of York's cause gotten amongst them and now in his behalf though he was still in Ireland rose the Commons of Kent under Jack Cade's Command and pitched on Black-heath neare Greenwich in Kent the King perceiving it no time to be idle raised an Army in the mean time Cade retired to Sevenock in Kent And the King supposing he had fled sent Sir Humphry Stafford and other Gentlemen with some forces to pursue him to whom Cade gave Battel and slew Sir Humphry with some others of which the King having notice he left the Tower to the Custody of the Lord Scales and fled to Kenelworth Castle and so Cade marched to London causing the head of Master Crâ—mer high Sheriff of Kent to be lopt of and falling to the plundering of some of the Wealthiest Citizens the Lord Mayor then considering the danger they were in sent forthwith to the Lord Scales for Aid who sent the Renowned Esquire Matthew Gough to their Relief and now the Cittizens took heart and began to bar up London-Bridge the Kentish Plebeans quartering in Southwork and hearing hereof ran furiously to their Armes and with their Leader Cade sought to open the passage by force but was not able the Contention was very hot and continued all Night Gough and several others being slain to appease these Furies by Pollicy which could not be conquered by Force the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury sent a Pardon under the King 's great Seal whereupon the Plebeans threw down their Arms and gave their leader Cade leave to shift for himself who afterwards attempting new Troubles a 1000 marks was promised to them that could take or kill him whereupon one Mr. Eden a Gentleman of Kent slew him and 26 more of his crew suffered Death at Canterbury and elsewhere These Stirs were no sooner over but the Duke of York arrived in England leaving Ireland who at his first approach imprisoned several Nobles in Ludlow Castle but many of the Peers sided with him now the King as it was time began to rouse up his Spirits marching towards the Duke then in Wales who hearing of the King's march fled into Kent and at Brent-Heath encamped of which the King having intelligence he steared his Course that way and sending Messengers to the Duke to demand the Reasons of these Tumults he perceiving the King too powerful for him did thereupon submit and was received again into favour And now some hopes arising of the recovering of Gascoin again the Lord Talbot and some others were thereupon sent into France who at first were very successful in their Designs but the Lord Talbot being slain the French regained all again and the English lost all Aquitain after they had possessed it about three hundred years And about this time the Queen was delivered of her First born Edward by this time the Duke of York had arrested the Earl of Somerset of high Treason who being sent Prisoner to the Tower of London was from thence Released by the King and made Captain of Callis whereupon York and his Adherents fell into open force levying an Army about the Marches of Wales from whence they intended their march to London but were stopt at St. Albans by the King and his Forces the Duke at his coming hither sent to the King desiring him to deliver up
hear the King's Cause pleaded which accordingly was done and when Sentence of Divorcement should have been according to the King's expectation pronounced Campius then caused Proclamation to be made and adjourned the Court and referred the Sentence to the Pope The King highly displeased hereat sent Dr. Cranmer and some others to the Pope to dispute the unlawfulness of the Marriage who gave Cornelius Agrippa the grand Rabbi in those days such Satisfaction in this point so that none of the Pope's Disputants durst encounter the Doctor about it whereupon a Parliament being called by the King all persons were forbidden to appeal or make payment to Rome and further the King's Marriage with the Lady Catherine of Spain by the said Parliament was Dissolved Upon these proceedings in England the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk in Flanders against the King and pronounced the Marriage Lawful but the King regarded it not for hereby the Pope lost his Supremancy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moore their Heads for standing for it And now the King married the Lady Ann Bullin Daughter to Viscount Rochford which Lady was accounted a Lutheran and Cardinal Wolsey for his dislike of this Marriage and Adjourning of the Court as is before shewed fell into the Kings Displeasure and several Articles being exhibited against him in Parliament as that he used to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Cap to be stamped on the Kings Coyn and several other grand Offences hereupon he lost all his Dignities and his House and Furniture were seized and the Earl of Northumberland was sent to bring him up to answer his Charge who took him at Cawood Castle about seven miles from York and as he was on his Journy to London at Leicester Abby he ended his dayes by taking an over much quantity of an Italian Confection for breaking Wind from his Stomach as Report went He is said to have suppressed 40 Monasterys for the raising his two Colledges in Oxford and Ipswich and to have laid by 12 Barrels full of Gold and Silver to serve the Pope in his Wars About this time Elizabeth Barton called the holy Maid of Kent was reported by those who feared the Downfall of Babel to have Revelations from Heaven among which one was That if the King proceeded in his Second Marriage he should not Reign a Moneth to an end but the Mouth of this Oracle was quickly stopt for herself with seven of her Disciples were all execued at Tyburn for Treason And now the Pope seeing his Revenue here in England likely to go to wrack began to write and stir up James the Fifth King of Scots against King Henry his Uncle promising the Crown of England to those that could win it About this time Queen Ann was deliver'd of the Princess Elizabeth afterwards Queen of England and the next year after of a Dead Child and not long after she was sent to the Tower and falsely accused of Adultery and Incest for which she with her Brother the Lord Rochford and Norris Weston and Brierton gentlemen of the Privy Chamber together with one Marks all lost their Heads and the next day after Queen Ann's Death the King married the Lady Jane Seymer And now began the Lord Cromwells rising who by birth was a Black Smyth's Son and had been Cardinal Wolsey's Soliciter he was first made Master of the King's Jewel-house Baron of Oakham in Rutlandshire then Knight of the Garter after that Earl of Essex and then Lord high Chamberlain and lastly the King's Vicar general he was the Sole cause of the demolishing of Monasteryes and the pulling down of Images Idols and Shrines in the Churches of England but this Pillar of the Church was undermined by Stephen Gardener that Murtherer of Protestants in Queen Mary's dayes and so by his means being brought into Dislike with the King at length he was beheaded Now several Commotions arose in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire occasioned by the demolishing of Abbys the Commons being incited thereto by the Monks who had lost their Roast-meat and took ill with Courser Fair but after several propositions made by the Commons to the King and Answers thereunto having Pardon granted they threw down their Arms but several of the Monks rising again with several persons of Quality as the Lord Darcy Lord Hussye Sir Robert Constable Sir Thomas Percy Sir Francis Biggot Sir Stephen Hambleton Sir John Bulmer the Abbot of Fountains Abbot of Gervaulx Abbot of Rivax and Prior of Burlington were afterwards taken and suffered Death and now the King having been two years a Widower since the death of Queen Jane who dyed in Child-Bed of Edward the Sixt afterwards King he was married to the Lady Ann of Cleve but about half a year after through Gardiner's false Suguestions was by Parliament divorsed from her and not long after he Married Catherine Howard Daughter to Edward Brother to Thomas Duke of Norfolk but about 6 Moneths after her Marriage she was condemned of Adultery and lost her Head at Tower Hill and with her the Lady Jane Rochford and several others that year as Margaret the Countess of Salisbury Lord Grey Lord Dacres Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper and now the King married the Lady Katherin Parr Wife to the Lord Lattimer And about this time it was enacted by Parliament to be high Treason either to deny the Oath of the King's Supremacy or to acknowledg the Pope and though by this the Discipline of the Church was altered yet little of Doctrine was changed for it was made heresie and death to deny any of the Six Articles following as 1. That after the speaking of the words of Consecration by the Priest the Real and Natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was Conceived and Crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Laws of God 5. That private Masses ought to be continued and 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God Upon the denial of these six Articles several People suffered the Flames Anno 1541. The King took upon him the Title of King of Ireland and the same year sent an Army against the Scots under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk who when he came to Fight the Scots they willingly lost the day and suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners out of disdain to their Leader Oliver St. Clere for grief whereof their King James the fifth dyed there was at this time 21 men of Account taken Prisoners and committed to the Tower of London but shortly after these Prisoners were released again and a Peace for 10 years concluded upon the promise of a Marriage with the Lady Mary King James his only Child and Prince Edward Henry's Son and Heir afterwards King by the name
whereupon a Fleet was set to Sea who spoiling all the Spanish Vessels they met withal for that time returned and after this the King called a Parliament and desired a Subsidy but was denied notwithstanding his Treasures were Exhausted and the War Just and Honorable But although the Parliament denied the King a Supply he made use of some other means for pocurement of Money and joining Amity and Forces with the Vnited Provinces once again he set a mighty Navy to Sea which did mightily annoy the Spanish Coast and spoiled their Ships and among the rest some of France became Preys to them which caused the Seizure of some English Merchants Goods whereupon several French were comanded to leave England but Monsieur Bassompiere coming Embassador prevailed so far that several French were again recalled but nevertheless all Commerce between the two Kingdoms was prohibited on both sides And the French grievously oppressed the Rochellers to whose Assistance several men were sent out of England but doing little good they returned again for which Cause some were Imprisoned And now several Complaints being exhibited upon this Account by the Parliament the King dissolved them and intended new Supplies under the Duke's Command for Rochell but he being ready to Embarque was Stabbed by one Felton who got the Gallows for his Reward And now the King called another Parliament desiring a Grant of Tunnage but was denied whereupon they were Dissolved upon which Account great Contentions arose the King Commanding the Merchants to pay their Customs and the Parliament forbidding them whereupon several Members were Imprisoned and among the rest Sir John Elliot was one but the Merchants ready enough to Imbrace those Commands were most for their Advantage did thereupon obey the Parliaments Mandates and slighted the King's they remembring that about 100 years before there was a Penalty imposed upon the Merchants for paying their Customs the Parliament being then against it and in Memory thereof there was a Chappel built called Alderman-Bury Anno 1630 May the 29 the Queen was brought to Bed of Prince Charles now King of England and about 6 years after Mr. Hambden refusing to pay Ship-money Sentence passed against him by 12 of the Judges who absolutely declared for the Legality of it only Judg Hutton and Judg Crook dissented and new Stirs now arising about the Book of Common-Prayer in Scotland which occasioned the sad War that afterwards ensued the King marched thitherward with an Army and the Scots meeting him laid down their Arms whereupon Peace was concluded but at the King's return he was again Pricked forward by some who rather sought their own Advantage than his hereupon he went again for Scotland but nothing was done and now they had taken their Covenant as it was called against the King who called a Parliament to relieve his wants but they treading in their Predecessors Steps denied him a Supply And now the Irish being afresh in Rebellion the Long Parliament for so it was called by Reason of its long Continuance for the King had Signed a Bill for them to Sit as long as they pleased sought means to suppress them and all Ceremonies were forbidden in the Church of England but only such as were usen in Queen Elizabeths time the Earl of Strafford Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wren were Impeached of High-Treason and sent to the Tower and most of the Judges who had declared for Ship-mony were Voted Delinquents Judg Berkly was Arrested by the Usher of the Black Rod for High-Treason as he sate on the King 's Bench. Seven Romish Preists were also Imprisoned whose Pardon was granted by the Parliament at the Request of the French Embassador and the King to Ingratiate himself released them at which the Parliament took Snuff because they were not first made acquainted before their Releasement and to thwart the King in his Proceedings they changed their former Decree and caused two of the Priests to be put to Death which Act of theirs took mainly with the People but this as good Reason displeased the King who complained of the Insolencies of the Lower house to his Peers and so proceeded to displace some Officers of State putting in another Lieutenant of the Tower whereupon the Lower house did Article against the new Lieutenant to the Peers who refused to meddle in the Business it being the King's Prerogative to put in whom he pleased but not long after a multitude of Apprentices and other People came Thundring to the Hall-Door crying to have the new Lieutenant either remov'd or else they would turn All upside down This giddy headed Rabble of Plebeans demanded also that Bishops should be Excluded the Parliament-house and to satisfy their blind folly they ran into Westminster Abby and spoiled the Vestments Organs and Sepulchers and all else that was comely or decent and from thence they ran confusedly to Whitehall and there Thundered out the same Languages but least they should proceed to some further Insolencies the King the next day fortified himself with a strong Guard And now things beginning to work for the Parliament they thought it good pollicy to make Hay whilest the Sun shone and to strike whilest the Iron was hot and hereupon they under the pretence of some Fear assumed to themselves a Guard also for their Defence and constituted the Earl of Essex Captain thereof and further they without the King's Consent or Knowledge appointed an Extraordinary Assembly in the City of London and further to ingratiate themselves with the Novelty-mongers they cast 12 Bishops into Prison which Business much troubled the King and the year before Anno 1641 the Lord Strafford was Beheaded and about two years after the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who died as Sacrifices for the Popular Fury and Martyrs for the Government Now the King grieved at these Insolencies proceeded to accuse one Member of the House of Peers and five of the House of Commons of High-Treason and demanding the Members they were denied to be delivered to him whereupon he with 500 Armed men went to the Hall he alone entring the Parliament House and not seeing any of the Accused Members there he then declared his Good Intentions to the Parliament and so returned and the next day went again but found them not the Parliament hereupon put the City in Arms and Adjourned their Sitting for five days forbidding the Citizens to help the King to find out any of the said Members whose Commands they so far obeyed as that in Despight of the King they carried the said Members and placed them in the House again in their several places and the Parliament still proceeding to lessen the King's Power sent Letters to the adjacent Counties commanding them to draw up in Arms upon which Account there was ready upon occasion above twenty Thousand men the King seeing these Proceedings hasted to Hampton-Court And now the Parliament daily increased in their Power and went and sate in the City to endear themselves the more to the Citizens and
for this good Service with a thousand pounds At this time the King with his Brother the Duke of York were at Callis ready to have wasted over if this business of Sir George Booths had taken effect And now Lambert began to harbour some conceptions of assuming to himself the Government Oliver having chalked him out the way and so turned out the Rump Parliament again for so the people called this Fragment of the old Parliament and then erected a New-nothing of his own called a Committee of Safety all this made well still for the King's Cause and now Lambert takes his March into the North as far as Newcastle intending to Fight General Monk and so become sole Lord and Master of all but when he came there his men were unwilling to Ingage and in the mean time the Rump had gotten together again seven times a worse Devil then before and dissolved his Committee of Safety and within a short space they inticed all his Soldiers to desert and leave him so that he was left to shift for himself And the Rump now invited General Monk to March with his Army to London which accordingly he did and was received with much joy but he was no sooner come but the Rump set him on work to put some Violences upon the City which he with great danger and peril performed this gave the Citizens great occasion to think That he from whom they expected so much good would prove their Ruin but he soon gave them proofs of the contrary by drawing his Troops into the City in the quality of a Friend and declaring himself for a free Parliament which revived their hearts His first business was to restore the secluded Members to their places in the House of Commons upon which the Assembly dissolved it self and Writs were Issued out for a new Parliament but with such reservation that people were doubtful what the Event would prove for no Recusant Cavallier nor Cavalleir's Son was to sit in the Parliament This healing Parliament for so it was called presently after they were set began to vote for the King and great Debates there were about it but at length it was carry'd for the King and so the States Arms were pulled down every where and the Kings Arms set up and his Majesty on Tuesday the 8 day of May Anno 1660. was proclaimed King at Whitehall-gate and in the City with great Pomp Bells ringing Bonefires burning and the Conduits flowing with wine as the Peoples hearts did with gladness And now News was carryed and Commissioners were sent to the King to desire his return to his Kingdoms and Crown he being then at Breda in Holland shortly after which he prepared for England and on the 29 day of May 1660. landed at Dover accompanied with his two Brothers James Duke of York and Henry Duke of Gloucester and some Lords and Gentlemen of his Attendance he was met by General Monk and other Nobles and the General kneeling down upon the ground the King took him up and dignified him with the George and Garter himself putting the George about the Generals Neck and the Dukes of York and Gloucester tying on the Garter and so marching to Black Heath in Kent his Majesty was attended on from thence by the Lord Monk's Army all armed and Swords drawn and the Nobles and Gentry in Cloth of Silver and other rich Apparrel and the Lord Mayor of London and Aldermen and a great Number of Cittizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains about their Necks and so in a most glorious manner he was conducted through London to Whitehall and that night several Bonfires were made which made the night shine like another day but that at Westminster was most remarkable where the Effigies of Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a Pole with the Common Wealth 's Arms an hour or two and then cast down into the fire and burnt And now the Parliament being infinitely Satisfied with the King 's happy Arrival did order that a Bill should be prepared for keeping a perpetuall Aniversary for a day of Thanksgiving to God for his great Mercy and Blessing to these Nations in the happy Resturation of his Majesty and that the 29 day of May should be set appart every year for that purpose And now began the Judgements of God to overtake many of those Capital Traitors whose hands had been deeply Imbrewed in the late King's blood and in October following 26 of the them were found guily of high Treason and nine of them were executed the same Month to wit Thomas Harrison Adrian Scroope John Carew John Jones Gregory Clement Thomas Scot John Cooke Hugh Peters and Daniel Axtell so that though divine Vengeance hath many times Leaden feet yet when it comes it hath Iron hands no sooner scarce was the King restored to his Crown but his chiefest care was to restore the Church to its purity of worship and so Bishops were again setled in every Diocess and the Common Prayer restored And now Mary Princess of Orange being come over to visit the King her Brother fell sick of the small pox and dyed which was no little grief to the King In January after the King was restored to his Kingdoms one Venner a wine Cooper with his Phanatick Proselytes Rebelled and with a desperate Intention sought to destroy all those that were not of their Opinion killing a man in Pauls Church-yard and an Head-borough in Beach Lane and after other Mischiefs done they marched into Cane-wood and about 3 days after returned and fell desperately upon the City and being opposed 22 of the Kings Liege People were slain and 22 of them and the rest with much ado were taken and dispersed and Venner their Leader with 11 more of them were executed in several places in the City And upon the 30 day of this same Moneth the Carkasses of Oliver Cromwell John Bradshaw and Henry Ireton were digged up out of their Graves and were drawn on Hurdles to Tyburn and there hanged and their Carkases being buried under the Gallows their heads were choped off and were fixed upon Poles and set up upon Westminster Hall not long after this dyed the most prudent Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester the King's Brother to the great grief of all true English men and upon the 23 day of Aprill Anno 1661 being St. George's day his Majesty King Charles the Second was Crowned at Westminster with great Splendor and Solemnity having the day before made a Magnificent passage from the Tower through the City of London to Whitehall And now by God's blessing having proceeded so far as the Title of this Epitomy makes mention I shall here Conclude with Saint Peter Fear God and Honour the King And so God grant King Charles the Second a long and happy Reign And he that will not say Amen with me Lord let Hugh Peter's Lot his portion be FINIS A Table of the Kings A Catalogue of the British Kings and Princes that opposed the Conquest and
quitted by the King with Foy and Mount Edgecombe March Lord Ashly defeated near Stow and Denning surrendred to the Parliament 1646. Aprill Ruthen Castle Exceter St. Michael's Mount Dunster Castle and Woodsteck yielded Corfe Castle taken by Stratagem and the King quits Oxford in Disguise May. Oxfords second siege the King repairs to the Scots at Southwel and thence to Newcastle Banbury and Radnor surrendered June Carnarvan Town and Castle Ludlow Borstal Oxford and Farringdon all yielded to the Parliament July Litchfield Worcester Wallinford Castle Gothridge and Pendennis the like and Conway taken by Storm Aug. Ragland house surrendered by the Marquess of Worcester Sept. Scilly Island and Castle also yielded Octo. Denbigh Castle also yeilded Novem. General Fairfax marched Tryumphantly to London Febr. The Scotch Army having first sold the King for two hundred thousand pounds marched into Scotland and the King sent Prisoner to Holmby by the Parliament And now the King's Enemies having gotten him in their Power remove him from place to place and at length into the Isle of Wight there to be guarded by Collonell Hammon and the Merciless Waves of the Sea and here he writ that excellent Book called Icon Basilicon and afterwards coming to a Treaty of Peace the King so far condescended as that it was then Voted Satisfactory after which the Army and those of the Parliament who had all this time aimed at self Interests began to display themselves in their Colours turning out all such Members of the House of Parliament as they suspected and conveyed the King to Hurst Castle and afterwards to Windsor during which proceedings several Bickerings and Ingagements had happened between the Royallists and Parliamentarians the Royal party every where to going wrack especially at Maidstone Pontefract Bow Stratford Kingston and Preston where the Scotch Army received a great Overthrow loosing a world of men And lastly at Colchester where those two gallant Gentlemen Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to Death after Quarter given contrary to the Law of Arms. And now the Army and those Members then left in the House after the others were Secluded devised and erected a new unheard of Tribunal called a High-Court of Justice to take Cognizance of the King's Cause one Bradshaw a Serjeant at Law being made President thereof and the King being called before this new Erected Authority was there accused of several Crimes as That he gave Cause of the Cruel Blood-shed in England and Ireland That he had born Arms against the Parliament That he had given Commission to his Son and others to Wage War and Therefore he was pronounced a Traytor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth of England The King refused to answer to the Charge or to acknowledg the Court being several times brought before them and urged thereunto at length upon the 27 day of January Anno 1648. They pronounced Sentence against him That he the said Charles Stewart was faln from all Dignity was guilty of High-Treason and was to be put to Death by severing his Head from his Body for being a Tyrant a Murtherer and an Enemy to the Common-wealth the Sentence being read the Court stood up in Confirmation of it as the Act and Resolution of the whole Court and the King offering to speak something the President would not permit him but Commanded him to be carried away and conveyed to Whitehall And now this Wicked Sentence thus Pronounced they shortly after proceeded to Execution although the Holland Embassadors Adrian Paw and Albertus Joachimus with the Scots also sought to diswade them from it but all would take no place with them they thirsting after the Blood of this Pious Prince and so on Tuesday the 30 day of January Anno 1648 was the Scaffold erected just before White-hall the King's Banquetting-house from which Scaffold the King made his last Speech professing his Innoceney and after by a disguised Executioner had his Head chopt off at one Blow and even his Enemies wept in private for that they had done in publick It being an Insolence without President and a Murther in the highest degree detestable in regard both of the quality and of the Person being acted by Rebellious Subjects upon the Person of their lawful Prince and moreover a Prince in himself of a most exemplary Tenderness and Virtue His Body was put in a Coffin of Black Velvet and carried to his House at St. James's and there put in Lead and about the seventh day of February after it was delivered to two of his Servants to Bury where at Windsor in St. George's Chappel it was Interred in the presence of the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hartford and the Earls Lindsy and Southampton and Dr. Juxon with several others on the Breast of the Corps was sawdered a small piece of Lead about two foot long and two inches broad in which was inscribed KING CHARLES 1648. This Charles the First was King of England Scotland France and Ireland he was the Second Son of King James by Ann his Queen who was Daughter to Frederick the Second King of Denmark and Norwigia He began his Reign on Saturday the 27 day of March Anno 16â—2 reigned 23 years 10 months and 3 days and was the 45 sole Monarch of England He was beheaded on Tuesday the 30 day of January as is shewed before Anno 1648 being in the 24 year of his Reign and 49 year of his Age. His Body was buried at Windsor CHAP. XXXV Of King Charles the Second KING Charles the First being Barbarously Murthered the Parliament now began to lop of several Nobles heads and other of the late King's Favourites as Duke Hamelton Lord Capell and the Earl of Holland and now they thought to have intailed their Sitting from Generation to Generation never intending to rife again by a Dissolution and to this intent they put out an Act whereby they took all as they thought either Right or Hope of Succession from Charles the Second and likewise disinabled all the rest of his Brothers and Sisters from Inheriting any thing in England and they caused the King's Arms to be pulled down every where and in their places were set up the Cross and Harp which they called the States Arms the King's Picture also in the old Exchange they caused to be defaced and the following Inscription set behind the head of it in Gold Letters Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutae Primo Anno 1648. January 30. They likewise caused the Titles of all Process at Law to be altered and in stead of Carolus Dei Gratia c. they put in Custodes Libertatis Angliae c. and caused the Court of King's Bench to be called by the name of the Vpper-Bench They made also a new Stamp for Money with the Cross on one side thereof and the Cross and Harp on the other side and the Circumscription on the one side was The Common-wealth of England and on the other side