small Summe of money from the Londoners by threats and violence And then turning to the Nobility he asked a Subsidy of them in vain and he found his Church-men as backward with whom he could do little or nothing Then enterprizing an Expedition to the holy Land to free the King of France he called an Assembly of his Bishops and Peers from whom when he could not obtain one mite of money being like a mad man he drove them all out of the Chamber The Bishop of Ely for that injury was excepted against by him At last some help was afforded him whereupon he was forced to confirm solemnly Magna Charta but that money which he had appointed for the holy Warre was quickly wasted partly by gifts partly by banquetting and other frauds invented for his own destruction Also he had upon a vain hope redeemed the Kingdomes of Sicily for his son Edmund paying a great summe of money to the Pope In the interim the Welsh vexed with great injuries fall away from the Prince and to suppresse these and reduce them to obedience he stood in need of a new supply of money which at last by neat devices and inventions he wrung from them In the mean while Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother at the suit of the Princes of Germany is chosen King of the Romans but shortly when he grew insolent with importunate oppressions and revenges he was put out of the place and returned for England a poor Emperour who went out a rich Earl But Henry that he might make up that money which the Pope had wiped him of by a vain boast of the Kingdom of Sicily he asks once more a Subsidy from his Nobles who refusing stifly and the King pressing for it they fall to odds afterwards calling a new Parliament which the Lords had procured for the safety of the Kingdom he was compelled by Oath and his Son also to confirm it At which time it was Enacted that the Kings Brother with the men of Poictiers that remained in England should presently depart the Kingdom But a contagious pestilence arising either naturally or by some venom these strangers scattered when they departed Many of the Nobility died whereupon many were put to death out of bare suspicion some are cast into prison and some are banished Nor did less evils for this afflict the English for they that had the charge of correcting the errors of others did with all cruelty weed up the miserable English that now so many Lords as there were so many Tyrants there were and the servants were grown like their Masters And that they might stirre up the envy of the subjects against the King they cast all the fault upon him which he endeavoured to free himself from by his publick Writ but all in vain when he was compelled in a solemn Parliament to give that power he had given to twenty four chosen men before to the Earls Montfort and of Glocester and to Spencer taking an Oath to confirm it unto them In the mean while Richard King of the Romans being landed in England Henry growing bolder by the return of his Brother though he were poor first demands a discharge of his Oath from the Pope then he opposed himself against the insolency of the Nobility He flies to help from the French King who is chosen Umpire between Henry and his Nobles to end the controversie but when he did nothing they break forth on all sides into open Warre The Count of Leicester drives forth the Earl of Glocester and storms his Castle and laid a great fine upon the Citizens Then he took the Fort at Worcester and afterwards the Isle of Ely and the Castle of Windsor But the King fearing least he should come so farre as London thought it concerned him to make peace with him They agreed at last on these conditions That all the Castles should be delivered up to the Lords and all strangers at a day appointed should forthwith depart the Kingdom only those excepted who had a Licence given them to stay But the King calling a new Parliament he drew some of the Nobility especially his own sonnes to his party to whom John Comminus Bayly Robert Bruse and others from Scotland joyn'd themselves with these being not a little confirmed he denounceth Warre against the Earls of Leicester and Glocester who did not at all excuse themselves who seeing the King daily increase in Forces levying a sudden but farre less Army oppose the King and here fraud supplied the parts of vertue for setting their Banners behinde without Souldiers they made a shew of a greater Army than they had And fortune helped a good cause for the Kings Forces being dispersed the greatest part of them was oppressed and slain the rest saved themselves by flight But the King the Prince and Earl of Cornwall and his Sonne Henry and all the Scotch Nobility fell into the enemies hands There had been an end of the King and his fortune least a contention arising between the Earls of Leicester and Glocester had given cause to a hot contest and afterwards to a sharp Warre where Leicester being too weak yet fell valiantly with wonderfull glory By the same fortune Simon and Guide Montforts the Sonnes of the Earl of Leicester were banished one into Italy the other into France where afterwards they gave their name to most illustrious families Also their Mother a gallant woman being gone a little before into France ended her life in a Nunnery A new contention being risen amongst the Nobles they sound the Trumpet to Battell again also the Welsh who had helped Earl Monifort are remanded to be slain But peace being confirmed on all sides this trouble abated without blood Rest now obtained at home Edward Prince of Wales at the request of the French King goes forth toward the Warre in Palestina but Richard once King of the Romans died in the mean time whom Henry himself followed shortly after whilst he studied to repair the losses he sustained by Warre EDWARD the first King of England Anno 1272. WHen Henry died Edward staied in Palestina being intent about the holy Warre where he underwent a grievous danger having received three wounds from his adversary with a poisoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull piety of his wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venom from the wounds In his way being made more certain of his Fathers death he came at last over-land into his Country and was inaugurated King At the beginning of his Reign he used the Nobility well but he to abate the insolence of the Clergy commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them by other means and so drew upon him their envy The Welsh whose custom it was on all occasions to make new Commotions now afresh under their Leader Lionel rise up against Edward and rage with wonderfull pride but this tempest soon vanished for Eleoner the Daughter of Simon Monifort
commanded the Garrison refusing to let him in though many Souldiers ran away yet by a fresh supply of the Scots he was disappointed Because this succeeded not he turns about to make conditions for Peace and he offered the Houses to come presently to them and to punish severely the Authors of disagreement so they would leave London that seditious City and chose some other place as Oxford Winchester Cambridge York Bristol Nottingham for to assmble at But the Houses would name no other place least the City of London should be displeased at it for they had more need of the Londoners than of any others The King when that would not take proclaims all men guilty of Treason who should assist the Houses with Money or any other supplies and he threatens the Londoners that if they did it they should lose all their priviledges as they have very great ones The Houses on the other side set as good a gloss upon their Cause as they were able to do Mens mindes and inclinations were distracted by these means The people who are easily led by blinde errour and outward appearances stuck fast to the Parliaments cause Others who were of a higher rank by reason of their Families paid Tribute freely least the Houses should send men to strain on their Shops under a colour of necessity All the Nobles almost held with the King The King in the mean while fortifies Newcastle and Barwick with Garrisons of English wherein doubtless he hurt himself and alienated the hearts of the Scots from him For it was agreed upon before to have them kept by the Scotch souldiers and not by the English But when help came from other parts and the Scots were undervalued they studied to advantage themselves only and though by holding forth Peace he had won many mens hearts yet being driven by despair he attempts by force to gain Hull which he could not do by Policy First he possessed himself of their Fals of Waters and then of their publick Waies that the Towns men might want necessaries but by their Courage and Valour he lost his labour The Houses now Proclaimed openly Warres and they made the Earl of Essex Generall of the Foot Bedford of the Horse The King makes the Earl of Cumberland a very Noble man and faithfull to his Soveraign Generall of his Horse and in the mean time set forth his Declarations to the world and requiring Hull to be delivered up to him that he might punish the insolence of the Governour but nothing prevailed But that Warre Proclaimed might not want its solemnities the King set up his Standard first at Nottingham But when he saw a smaller concourse of men than he believed would have been he again turns about to make conditions He sent Messengers to the Houses to excuse the fact and to desire Articles of Peace But the Houses who knew that this proceeded more from his necessity than love made use of all advantages causing the Kings Commissioners to be brought as Delinquents before the Parliament overthrowing by this means the Law of Nations Then they send to the King that unless he came speedily to London and sent away those Nobles to the Parliament that were fled from them that they might be tried for their Lives and their Estates might be confiscate to maintain their Army they would never lay down their Arms. A very hard condition and no waies to be answered but by the sword Some there were that counselled the King to yield to this but he had yet courage remaining After so many great preambles at length Warre is denounced But we shall pull in our sails unfolding the causes of these dissentions briefly and succinctly as we resolved at first and so hasten to a conclusion least entring afresh into a large field we should tire both our selves and the Reader Pardon therefore this long digression and I shall proceed It was now come to open Warre and the Victory was doubtfull sometimes falling on this side sometimes on that with no small loss of blood on both sides All the particulars are set down at large in Books written to this purpose whither I remit the Reader that desires further knowledge of it Essex was Generall of the Parliament Forces Fairfax he succeeded in his place Divers Battels were fought here and there many Towns vanquished For the greatest part the King had the worst of it who was afterwards also besieged at Oxford by Fairfax and was constrained to fly away in a disguised habit and he came to the Scots that were at Newarke hoping to be received with great humanity by such good subjects as they boasted themselves to be But when both Fortune and Fidelity failed and there was no care taken for him in his affliction They when they could not be good would not be bad and to keep their hands clear they delivered the King to the English under those conditions as they say that no violence should be offered to his Majesty The English being now Masters of their desires carry the King to Holnbey Castle from thence to Hampton Court whither he had fled before for Refuge now a Prison Which place seeming not safe enough for him he went away to the Isle of Wight to be guarded by the Waters and Colonel Hammon using a crafty excuse for a certain Letter was left on the Table whereby the King was advertised that there were some that laid wait for his life whereby he was frighted and fled to a safe place in the Isle of Wight The people though before they were enraged against the King now pitying his case and seeing their errors resolved to plead his Cause They offer their humble Petitions to the Houses that they would not refuse to condescend to make peace with the King and they prevailed so farre that at last the business came to a Treaty with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides with great applause both of the King the Houses and the People but afterward there was an humble Petition exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and Justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside to which they denied to give an Answer The Army and some of the Parliament not being satisfied they march partly toward Newport to the King who now was a Prisoner at large and conveyed him into Hurst Castle Then marching toward London again they possessed themselves of the City and cast some of the Houses into Prison whilst the rest who foresaw this Tempest saved themselves by flight Here we may see an example of Gods judgement for they that before had ill treated their Master are now compelled to suffer All that consented to the non-addresses are restored to their Honours and Places Then the King in the year 1648. was taken as a Prisoner of Warre and carried to Windsor The remainder of the Parliament with others erect a new and unheard of Tribunal to take cognizance of the Kings case Judges were chosen whose Names are generally known This was done in the year 1649. in January The King was brought before the High-Court of Justice and was accused of these Crimes That he gave the cause of the cruell bloodshed in England and Ireland That he had born Armes against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Sonne and others to wage Warre that he might exalt his own Authority with the high detriment of the Commonwealth whence they concluded that he was guilty of Treason and so he was a Traitor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth The King smiled at all these things and gave no answer being further urged he refused to give any answer Whereupon they proceed to Sentence That he was fallen from all his Dignities was guilty of High-Treason and therefore was to lose his Head for being a Tyrant a Robber and an Enemy to the Commonwealth Some making a great shout The Sentence given they proceed to execution though the Holland Embassadours Adrian Paw and Albertus Joachimus with the Scots did their best to hinder the proceedings He obtained leave for Dr Juxton Bishop of London and two of his Children to be with him these for his bodies him for the comfort of his soul At length he sent away his Children with Gifts and Tears only he kept the Minister by him to the last moment of his life The Prince Palatine and the Duke of Richmond came to bid the King their last farewell but the King refused it least they should interrupt the present joys of his soul with new lamenting At last the 30 day of January was appointed for his execution And the King ascended the Scaffold erected before his Banqueting-house from whence he made his last Speech to the People there present and when as now he had sufficiently professed his Innocency he then prepared himself for death and laying his neck on the Block his Head was cut off by a disguised Executioner and he changed a troublesome life for a quiet death In the Year 1649. FINIS
anothers Land The union and rest of the Kingdome being thus established for a time suddenly there arose a new faction of the Conspirators It was known to all what the intention was but what hopes they had was unknown to none because it was fortified but with small forces and was unprosperously suppressed those being punished that refused to submit At last all care is converted to the recovering of those Provinces in France that belonged to the English large Tributes and Imposts being granted to the King For though the French had promised restitution of them yet he would not yeeld them up but by force of arms yet it was deferred untill the King being of riper years should stand upon his own Right and should governe the whole matter himself In the mean while those fields that were fenced in for Parks by his Ancestors he laid them open and restored them for husbandry and to the common good But when he was grown up he recalled again those grants and what he gratified the people with in his minority he revoked turning those fields for his pleasure into Parks again And not content with this injury he alienated the hearts of his Subjects from him by many more unlawfull acts He abolished the old Seal and made a new one and so extorted a great summe of money from his Subjects Also he greatly drained them under a pretence of a warre with France and managing the matter slothfully he returned without a victory bringing with him out of France many of Poictou that what reward they had not desired in France he might pay them in England whereby the best men were discharged of their Offices and these vagabonds and strangers were possessed of them The King being now of ripe years took to wife Eleonor the daughter of Raymound Earl of Province whereby there grew no profit to his affairs but rather by reason of a thredbare and beggarly Family and her Kindred coming from all parts as Crows to the prey he suffered great detriment which yet were highly esteemed by him the people much murmuring at it But whilst the King thus goes about to overthrow his Subjects Rights which they labour to preserve all the Nobility being offended at the promotion of strangers they enter into a conspiracy The Ringleader whereof was Richard Marshall who durst freely tell the King of his injustice and required satisfaction But the King to punish their arrogancy muster'd a great Army of strangers and withall cals a Parliament which is an Assembly of several Orders The Nobility refuse to be present unlesse he would command the Bishop of Winchester Peter de Rupibus of Poictou and all his gang to forsake the Court threatning withall that unlesse satisfaction were made unto them they would depose the King and all strangers that were his Adherents and would choose another King the King therefore commands all that were upon Knights service and the Nobility to be present to fight for him which they all refuse to do whereupon he confiscated all their goods and distributed them amongst those of Poictou and their persons to be banished wheresoever they could be found By which threats they being frighted or corrupted by rewards the chief of them fall off whereby the rest were weakned and flie into Wales to the Prince of that Countrey Lionel drawn to hold part with them to whom Hugh Burgies came escaping out of a Castle where he was unjustly imprisoned The King follows those fugitives into Wales but came back with disgrace doing nothing But Richard Marshall when he would not return into the Kings favour being drawn cunningly into Ireland to look to his Estate and there being accused of Treason was killed though the King strove to remove the envy of that deed from himself A Parliament being called some men that had care of the Commonwealth were those that perswaded the King to leave off war and to make Peace with his Nobility the King hearkned to their councel and recalling the Nobles out of Wales he treats with them whereby they are restored to their former dignities and strangers that possessed their places were removed from all places and a great penalty laid upon them yet some of them as Fortune is inconstant were re-admitted into the Kings favour The King then feigning that all favour was for his own Subjects extorted a great Summe of money from them which yet he distributed amongst the poor kindred of the Queen and her Father a poor Prince And having promised before to exclude all strangers from favour and alwayes to take counsell of his Subjects he began now to esteem them more with which indignity the Nobility offended enter upon a new conspiracy to which as the Leader and Chief Richard the Kings brother had given his Name who being so bold as to tell the King of his faults to his teeth doth forcibly dehort him from such fallacies The King was much incensed with this and seeing the inclination of the Londoners toward the Conspiratours calling a Parliament and publishing the Conditions he treats with them for Peace But before it was come so far the Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother was drawn off to the contrary part whereby the Nobility urged their matters more faintly and so the Treaty could come to no conclusion The King now free from all impediments tyrannizeth more over the Nobles the chief of the Conspiratours were banished or turned out of their places Nor did he lesse oppresse the Clergy putting strangers into Church-Offices at the Popes request dispossessing the Nations and laying heavy Taxes upon them so that all hated him Henry purposing to make a new expedition for France asks Subsidies from his Parliament which being denied he was forced to borrow otherwhere Nor yet did he spend it successefully after a years delay and having done nothing well concluding a disgracefull peace with the French But returning for England he tyrannized over the Jews and wrested a great Summe of money from them which he yet consumed with unseasonable gifts very indiscreetly And so his Exchequer being consumed and Subsidies denied him from the Parliament gave him occasion of new oppressions and so drawing the means of the Church to himself was a cause of great differences between him and the Pope But the King being inconstant laid down the Bucklers and yeelded to the Pope who recovering his goods in England did againe pole the poor people of the Kingdome with continual sucking To this may be added that there was a daily conflux out of France and other parts into England of this new Family having some relation to the King this or that way whose wants must be magnificently supplied to the great detriment of the Commonwealth The King grew still poorer by it and so applied himself to rapines and extortions and sold such furniture as belonged to the Crowne wresting all the moneys he could to pay those he stood indebted to Then when he could no longer do it by such inconvenient wayes he obtained a
espoused to Lionel whilst she came out of France by Sea to her Husband was taken in the way whom he was forced to redeem at a great ransom promising also to Edward continual Homage and granting his Brother David to the English who was highly esteemed by Edward But Lionels obedience lasted not above three years for his Wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new rebellions Also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him fell off presently to his Brother and so with joynt Forces they enter England and did some mischief to Edward both wonderfully inflamed by a false Prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crown of Brutus was promised to Lionel But the Battell being set Lionel was killed by a private Souldier and his Head was brought to the King who caused it to be fastned on a pole and to be Crowned with joy and set up on the Tower of London The lot of David was like to his Brothers who being taken in Wales was drawn with a Horse to the place of execution and there beheaded and his Head set by his Brothers and his four quarters were sent to the four principall Cities of England So Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welsh and the death of Alphonsus his first born who was killed in the same Battell But a greater cloud hung over his head from Scotland For Alexander the third King of Scotland whilst he rode the Great Horse fell with him and so died leaving his Daughter Margaret to inherit but she shortly after her Father died also leaving the Kingdom to ten Corrivals who strove for it Edward was chosen Umpire by them all to search their Titles but he reduced all their pretences to two especially namely John Bayly and Robert Bruse who with equal right affected the Kingdom whilst the matter sticks between them Edward sets on Bruse promising to him the Kingdom of Scotland for ever so he would do him Homage for it But Bruse refused it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own Honour but Baily yielded to those conditions and so gained the Kingdom of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country men Envy against him increased for refusing justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slain for Baily exempted Albermeth that slew him from punishment whereupon Baily was cited to appear before Edwards Tribunal was forced to plead his cause He was angry for this disgrace and returns to his Kingdom and afterwards denied Homage to Edward and proclaimed Warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloody Warre between the two Nations which lasted for 300 years only some feigned cessations passing between Armies are Mustered on both sides and the English giving the first onset on the Scotch slew abundance of them and won many Cities and Castles by which loss Brusius was constrained to beg for Peace which was granted but he himself was carried Captive into England and being afterwards set at liberty he ended his daies in France expecting in vain the restitution of his goods And so Edward returned for England leaving after him John Varamius Earl of Sussex his Embassador and Hugh Chrysingamius his Treasurer to take care of the Scotch business But a little after this the Scotch when the King was gone into France making head against the Kings Ministers having William Valla for their Captain they killed Hugh Chrysingamius and with him 6000 English But the King came back for England commanded that his Court should be held at York and presently levying an Army he assaulted the Scotch afresh at Fonkirk and though he himself were dismounted from his Horse that was frighted with the hollow of the enemy and was dangerously wounded two ribs being broken in his body yet he made a great slaughter amongst them 40000 Horse and Foot of them being slain Only Vallas with a small handfull of men escaped by flight from the fury of the enemy All the Noble mens goods are made forfeit to the English and they were all made Tributaries and to swear the third time to be true to King Edward But the false Scot kept his word but a very short time for Brusius the Son of Robert being made King in a Turbulent manner new commotions arise for he fearing the power of John Cuminus caused him wickedly to be murdered in the Temple of Dumfrise When Edward heard this he was wonderfully incensed Presently having raised a gallant Army he marcheth into Scotland not meaning to cease till he had brought down the usurper of that Kingdom The Earl of Pembreke who was marched before with his Brigade lighting suddenly on Bruse destroyed all his men from whose hands the King himself hardly escaped he led a dishonourable llfe in Caves Dens and Crags of Mountains seeking his fortune in other matters His Brothers falling into the power of the enemy were put to extream tortures as Traytors The King fierce with the madness of Revenge spared no mans life but slew all he met withall The Earl of Athol also though he were of the Kings blood was sent to London and hanged there so and by such like waies were the followers of Bruse punished Yet Bruse though he wanted almost any to follow him did not give out but collecting a handfull of souldiers he sets upon the Earl of Pembroke suddenly and put him to the worst with great loss and slaughter and he drove the Earl of Glocester into the Castle of Ayrs and besieged him there untill Edward coming to his relief he was forced to fly to his old sculking holes In the mean time a new Warre breaks forth with the French King Philip the Fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King and arising from pretended injury for Kings that envy one the other do easily break into open hatred The King of England also was justly angry and sought all occasions of wrong greedily by reason that Henry his Cousin Son to Richard the Emperour was killed by the Earl Montfrots Son at which wickedness the French connived In a fight at Sea first a great destruction was brought upon the French at the entrance of the River Sion and elsewhere And Edward when a day was appointed for him as a stipendiary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appear and the Homage he did willingly before he now refused to do whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of Edward in France by force of Arms. The King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant and others to which was joyned â—he help that came from Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour who had promised it presently marched against the King of France but finding the French divided into parts and defrauded of the assistance promised them by the Emperour when he had held his Winter Quarters at Gaunt not without murmuring of the Citizens and great want amongst his Souldiers at the beginning
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
Part of them got into the Wine-cellar who being half oppressed with the House falling down lived seven dayes after the great downfall imploring no succour to help them After this manner plundering up and down they runne madding to every place At last they hasten to the Kings Court and to the Tower of London and they quickly overcome the Tower the King not daring to make opposition against them where the Queen-mother suffering an affront by a certain insolent fellow that offered her a bone fell down half dead Simon Bishop of Canterbury being haled out of the Tower had his Head cut off at Tower-hill by them Robert Hallius endured the same death and so did many others They neither regarded Churches nor publick places they destroy all in their fury like mad men The King thinking what remedy he should use to suppresse these tumults granting a Pardon for what they had done endeavours to pacific the Rabble The Inhabitants of the County of Essex are obedient and return home But the Kentish men persist in their stubbornnesse Tyler being their Leader To whom in the Kings Name John Newton was sent that he might by intreaty reduce these insolent people to their Duty or else should enquire what they would have He coming riding on Horsback was commanded by Tylor to alight and to deliver his Message on foot so much Authority did he arrogate to himself in this fury the Knight refused to come from his Horse whereupon Tyler comes at him with his Sword The King loath to have the Knight endanger'd intreats him to alight the Knight refusing it and Tyler urging him at last came William Walworth the Maior of the City and with the staff he had in his hand he gave Tyler a grievous wound on the Head and according to his Office bid him submit to the King Whilst he stood reeling with this blow he was killed by the Kings followers with innumerable wounds The Captain being flain the maimed faction seemed to prepare for to be revenged But the King though he were yet under fifteen years of age passed on to them with a ready minde promising that he would be their Commander and bad them follow him and all should be as they desired In the mean while Walworth had gathered together about a thousand Citizens the Captain whereof was Robert Conolus and coming upon them as they were in a Tumult he put them in such a fright that they cast away their Arms and were glad to submit The Citizens had fallen upon the Rebels but the King would not suffer them least they should kill the Innocent with the offendours That the tumult might be wholly ended he gave each man leave to return home to his habitation But elsewhere the same quiet was not procured For in Suffolk they ran madding up and down unmeasurably and pulled down some Judges houses and so at Cambridge and in other places killing cutting off the Heads and otherwayes miserably massacring the Nobility Their Captain was John Littester a Diar who was grown so lofty that he behaved himself like a King But he with all his followers was suppressed by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich an industrious and valiant man who took him prisoner and brought him to Execution At London also and elsewhere they proceeded against the guilty where John Straw and others are put to death and so all this Tumult was ended Lancaster in the mean while was sent against the Scotch that he might perpetually observe them if they should attempt any thing upon the occasion of these disorders But he so wisely managed the matter that before they had any rumour of his March thitherward there was a Cessation granted for two or three years In the interim Anna the Sister of Wenceslaus the Emperour came to London to be married to the King where the Marriage was solemnized with a wonderfull pomp Henry Spencer about that time had obtained an Army from the King which he led against the French and chiefly for Pope Vrban against Clement the Anti-pope And first coming into Flanders he besieged Iper but by a greater force marching out of France he was constrained to raise the Siege and when they came beside Graveling he writ to the King that there was now a fit occasion to defeat the Enemy but Lancaster who had the command making delayes it fell to nothing so Spencer having done no business returns home again and shortly after Truce was made between the French and the English In the mean while the Scotch entring the Borders of England consumed many Towns and Castles with fire and sword But Lancaster with Buckingham going against them when they could not force the Scots to fight for revenge of the wrong they had done set fire to some of their Cities and Villages and so retreat for England But Richard to suppress their Insolence to whom also the French had sent aid he with his Army marched into Scotland and finding Edenburgh without a Garison he set that on fire The Scots to divert the English Forces fall into Cumberland and lay siege to Carlile but hearing of Richards approach they giving warning to their fellows return for Scotland Lancaster at that time with a choice number of Souldiers makes a Voyage into Spain King Richard bestowing on him the Title of the King of Spain where he did conquer some Towns and married his Daughter to the King of Portugall but the English being impatient of that Countrey and the heat of the Ayre fell into all kinde of diseases and so made a Truce which a Peace followed shortly after On the Coasts of France the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham being the Leaders an hundred French Vessels laden with wine were overcome and Brest freed from a siege But a grievous Controversie grew at this time in England between the King and the Nobility the Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others the Duke of Ireland the Earl of Suffolk and many other malicious men setting them on They fell to their Arms but by the milder counsel of others they grew friends again The Duke of Ireland leaving the Court of his own accord fell amongst the Forces of the Earl of Darby and not daring to fight swimming the River with his horse he landed at Bauvais where like a banished man he lived some years at Lovane And the rest who were Authours of the Warre against the King at a famous sitting in Parliament were commanded to forsake the Court and Kingdom and some were put to extream tortures In the 15th year of Richards Government the Londoners fell to Mutiny for a very light cause and the King being wonderfully offended at them for a small summe of Money they had refused him he punished them with the loss of their chief Priviledges and with the payment of a great sum of money This is the effect of offending Kings After this in a solemn meeting of the Kings peace was ratified between England and France Isabella the Daughter of the
French King a Maid of eight years old being betrothed to King Richard For Anna his former Wife was deceased The Duke of Glocester by an importune word blaming the Kings negligence fell into his displeasure and fearing some ill issue of it with his Brothers forsook the Court and entring into a Conspiracy with some friends he attempted to change the state of the Kingdom But the King under-feeling it with his Brother the Earl of Huntington took a progress to the Castle of the Duke of Glocester his Fathers Brother when he came there at night he found the Duke rising out of his Bed and presently going to meet him he was taken by the Earl Marshall and carried Prisoner to Callis and there was hanged miserably Also the Earl of Arundel the chief Conspiratour and some principall Noblemen are east into Prison And he afterwards in a Parliament being questioned for his life had his head cut off the rest being condemned either to be banished or to perpetual Imprisonment And thus Richard by the bloud of the Nobility thought to make good his Kingdom The Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford without any other witness appeaching one the other of Treason are admitted to fight a Duell but when they were both ready to fight they were commanded to forbear and so to spare blood they were both sent away to divers places into Banishment Norfolk went first for Germany then to Venice where he died of meer sorrow and grief But Hereford who had sail'd into France and there being instigated by the Counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was banished for the same Conspiracy returned privately home under a pretence of his Patrimony to be redeemed which the King had brought into the Exchequer after his Fathers death against all Right and Equity but indeed that joyning with the Nobility he might order the Kings Insolence He was scarce landed but the Nobility came from all parts to him and he waxed very strong And having now a sufficient Army he took some Cities and beheaded the Kings chiefest Counsellours Richard in the interim was in Ireland and did his best to subdue the Irish When a Messenger came to him of the Commotions in England he was troubled at it yet made no haste according as the danger required At length the Earl of Salisbury was sent into England before him that he might levy what Forces he could the King promising in six dayes to be with him As soon as the Earl set foot in England he raised with ease a mighty Army of Welsh but the King not appearing a rumour was given that he was dead so part of his Forces went one way some another but a few stood to their Colours The King at last so soon as contrary windes would let him came to them But when he found so much of the Countrey to be fallen to Hereford and the Duke of Lancaster also by the death of his Father he quite fainted in his minde and bad all those men that came to help him to go whither they pleased yet they continuing their fidelity he with the Earl of Exeter and some others fled to the Castle of Conve where he found the Earl of Salisbury Here the Duke of Worcester who was Governour of the Kings House breaking his white Staff a sign of his Office and so renouncing his fidelity fell off from the King to the Lords Conspiratours Then the Earl of Northumberland is sent to the King who from that Castle conveyed him to another place saying also that he came to treat with the King for Conditions of Peace which the King did not refuse But in the way the Earl of Rutland coming upon him he is forced to go to Flint-Castle whether shortly after Henry the Duke of Lancaster came who was guilty and friendly received by the King and then he related the cause of his coming which was that he might receive his Rights and Goods The King granted and ratified all so they went to drink together and afterwards mounting on Horsback they ride towards London in a continued voyage in so great haste that the King had no leisure given him to change his cloaths Then was the King put into the Tower the Castle for the Nobility and was diligently watched there And a Parliament was called by the Command of Lancaster though it were falsly given out in the Kings Name wherein Richard was accused of divers crimes Namely That he had wasted the goods of the Kingdom That he had borrowed a vast summe of Money and not yet repay'd it That he had made all the Laws Arbitrary as he pleased That he had changed the Members of Parliament when he would That he had Tyrannically taken Power to himself over the Subjects Estates That he had corrupted the Judges That he had caused his Vncle Earl of Glocester to be barbarously murdered at Callis That he had imprisoned the Members of Parliament That beyond Right and Equity he had put the Earl of Arundel to extream Terture That be had depopulated his own Kingdome That be had pawned the Ornaments of the Kingdome and Kings out of the Kingdom and so forward For which faults they thought fit to deprive him of all his Honours and Title of King But he that he might seem to desire what he would have avoided willingly resigned all his Right to the Kingdom and freely gave it to Henry of Lancaster whom he nominated to succeed him which was ratified and confirmed by the Great Seal Then Richard being brought to Pomfret-Castle was discharged of his Crown Henry having thus got the Kingdome and not enduring any Competitour one day lamenting was heard to cry out Is there any man will free me from that hatefull man And presently one Peter Exton a Knight that he might winne the Kings favour with such a wickednesse went with eight more unto Richard whom he set upon to kill him being at Dinner but Richard rising hastily wresting the Ax out of the hands of one of his Executioners killed four of them and at last by this Peter Exton he was knocked down dead himself by an unhappy blow on the Head which the Parricides lamented when it was too late Thus the unhappiest and most well-favoured of the Kings of England ended his life and Kingdom HENRY the fourth King of England and France Anno 1399. HENRY of Lancaster who was nominated to succeed was crowned King but that he might not be thought to usurp that Kingdom which he had by Election he endeavoured to be established in his own Right vaunting that he was the next Heir being directly descended from Henry the third but that was false and counterfeit for Roger Mortimer Earl of Marsh deriving his Pedigree from the eldest Sonne of Henry the third had a better Title To this he added his Right of Force whereby he made good the Succession he could not have done by Inheritance Be it what it will be he maintain'd it by his Sword He gave good example when his
much augmented his own affairs But when all things went not as they should do in France and Sommerset was held to be the cause of all and after him Suffolk Many complaints by consent of the Lower-House of Parliament were alleadged against him whereof he was found guilty and cast into Prison but he is suddenly set at liberty But a new sitting being summoned at the instance of the Lower-House he was banished for five years but whilst he sailed into France he was intercepted by the English and his Head cut off leaving his Body disgracefully on the shore and so the death of the Duke of Glocester was paid for Richard Duke of York in the mean time having won the Irish hearts gave the first step to end the differences between the White Rose and the Red and for a beginning of his own Right to the Crown for he descended from Lyonel Duke of Clarence the third Son to the third Edward Nor was it difficult to change the state of the Kingdom when so many abuses and errours that were so well known to the common people were crept in And King Henry wholly unfit for the Government as the people would say by whose foolish negligence France and Normandy were lost The men of Kent by the perswasion of York gave their Votes to John Mortimer and with a great and well-appointed Army they march toward London Mortimer himself commanding them The Army made a stay between Eltham and Greenwich and then they sent up their Complaints to the King and Parliament concerning the present state of the Kingdom and amongst the rest they petition That the Dukes of York Buckingham and Exceter may be restored to their places and former favour there was no answer given but a crying out to their Arms. But the men of Kent when they were come to the Battel killing both the Staffords who commanded the Army they put the Kings Forces to flight whereupon the greatest part of the Kings men fell off for they came running by companies to Mortimer whose Forces thus increased wonderfully wherefore the King fled to Killingworth Castle in the County of Warwick expecting the issue By his departure Mortimer grew more bold and came to the Suburbs of London and then possessing himself of the Bridge he came into London doing no wrong to any man for his Army was very well disciplined to keep down the violence of the Souldiers whereby he won the affections of many but afterwards the Men of Kent being sharpned with hope of the prey fell upon some of the richer Citizens which was very ill resented by all Mortimer was now Master of London and he cut off the Heads of some of those that were the Ministers of those Errours as John Say Chief-Treasurer of England and his Sonne in Laws and some others But the Londoners detesting his haughtiness arm themselves and craving help from Scales the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower with such Forces as they had collected Matthew Gogthus being their Captain in the night they fall upon Mortimers Army that were in the Suburbs of St Georges on the other side of the Thames But the Kentish men repulse them with such violence that the Londoners were forced to give ground and to leave the Bridge to the Conquerours who hereupon being enraged fell to cast in fire to burn the Houses upon the Bridge and so put a great fright upon the City and made a great slaughter At last their heat began to remit and these men of Kent began to detest the wickednesse Mortimer had done and desired to return home again which when the King understood he sent his Seal for their Pardon and for all his men being gone from him Mortimer was left without a Guard who thinking to escape by flight was taken and slain This Tumult was appeased but a far greater arose shortly after for York depending upon his Right comes to London under pretence of Complaints against his Adversaries and especially against Sommerset who had lost France and was now come home but the truth was to make a Party he obtained the help of Norfolk and the Earls of Sarisbury and Devorshire to assist him and so marching into Wales he quickly raised an Army The King hearing this prepares his Forces also and collecting Forces he made haste thither with the Duke of Sommerset Both the Armies meet at last and the King sending messengers asked York What should be the cause of so great a Tumult Who cast all the fault on the Kings evil Counsellours and chiefly upon Sommerset promising that if he were cast into Prison untill such time as he might be tried that then he would disband all his Army Hereupon Sommerset is cast into Prison under a colour and York gave his Passe-port which being done the King went toward London with York But Sommerset who before was cast into prison being now set at liberty accompanied the King and in his stead York was brought like a Prisoner before the King At last they come to London and there grew a hot dispute between these two Dukes before the Kings Councel the one accusing the other of Treason the matter came at last to this head That York should take a solemn Oath to be true to the King and should go toward his Castle Wigmore for the report was that Edward Earl of Marsh Sonne and Heir to York was now drawing up with an Army And in the mean time a Messenger came from Burdeaux craving help against the French John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury is sent thither who after he had behaved himself gallantly was slain with a Gun The French by his death recover all they had lost except Burdeaux In the mean while the Duke of York did his best to allure the mindes of the Subjects and then gaining the Nobility to his side who were all offended with Sommerset and joyning the Earls of Sarisbury and Warwick with him he prevailed so farre that Sommerset in the Kings absence was sent to the Tower But Henry when he heard that though he were sick and returning to London he not only sets him at Liberty he makes him Governour of Callis and of all the other places in France which thing so provoked York that he and his Assistants March to London with a great Army The King with Sommerset Buckingham and his Sonne Humphrey the Earl of Northumberland and a sufficient Army goes against them At St Albans the Armies came in sight one of the other York sent Letters in the Morning to the King requiring Sommerset to be delivered up to him that he might be tried the King refusing this he makes the first On-set Sommerset and with him the Earl of Northumberland and Humphrey Earl of Stafford fell in the Battel and five thousand men with them Many were wounded and taken The King himself who had fled into a Countrey-mans house for fear of the weapons was taken by the Conspiratours This Battel fell on May the 23th and the 13th year of his Raign But
look into the faults of the Clergy and reserved to himself the punishing of them neglecting the Bishop of Rome Last of all being much given to hunting he was unhappily slain by an arrow that rebounded from the back of a Stag. The foreshewing signs of his unhappy end being foreseen but not regarded HENRY the first King of England Anno 1101. HEnry the first succeeded his Brother born of William in England not a Duke but a King Who in the absence of his elder Brother Robert either invaded the Kingdom or procured it with money or obtained it by the favour of the people for he was more Learned than all his Brothers and was so much the more dear to the people He made good the Kingdom he had got with fraud by good deeds gentleness and just punishments He every where preferred Learned men for places in the Church he removed such as were unlearned and unworthy from their places He mitigated the more severe Laws and abolished hard Customs He granted the Nobility free leave to Hunt and with his bounty he so won the hearts of all And because he knew that the Scotch were his ill-willers he made peace with them and to binde the League the faster he took Maud the sister of King Edgar to be his Wife That which hapned to his Father and to his Brothers hapned to him to have the first success of Warre from his own kindred Namely the Bishop of Durrham being the first mover of it whom he had cast into prison for exacting too great Tributes who had escaped his Keepers by reason of their neglect his Brother Robert Duke of Normandy is stirred up to wage Warre with Henry and to recover his right Robert was now ready in England with an Army and the day for the Battel was appointed when as the Heralds were sent up and down at last peace is agreed upon 20000 Franks being granted yearly to Robert and hopes of succession should he out live his Brother Henry This danger scarce dispelled another fals upon the neck of it For Robert Bellamy Earl of Shrewsbury for no other cause but envy inviting the Welsh to his aid makes Warre against the King But this stopped him not for raising an Army suddenly he put the Welsh to flight he intercepted Robert and confiscating all his Goods sent him into banishment For to punish Traitors with death was not yet the fashion The third tempest arose from William Earl of Mortane and of Cornwall the Kings Uncle he being angry with his Cosen for denying him the County of Kent endeavours by treachery to draw the Shire unto himself but his Treason being discovered for one County that he thought to win he lost two Henry that was hitherto on the defensive part now takes up Arms willingly against his Brother Robert being offended at some scoff of his and levying an Army he entred Normandy and became Master of it all scarce leaving so much as Roan to his Brother and so he retreated for England Robert had made triall of his severity and was resolved to make proof of his levity whereupon he follows after his Brother into England and very submissive desires pardon for his sawciness But Henry either offended with the now fresh injury of his Brother or else affecting the Dukedom of Normandy neglected the praiers of his Brother Robert being impatient of this scorn returns for Normandy and once more raising an Army attempts a Warre against his Brother but he coming successfully upon Robert with a sufficient force providently suppressed the mischief in the birth but not without blood and he carried his Brother Captive into England and putting out his eyes he held him prisoner to the day of his death By this success he grew Magnificent whence arose envy against him For Fulck Duke of Aniou Baldwin Earl of Flanders and Lewis sirnamed the Gross King of France entring a League with joynt forces they endeavour to restore to William the Sonne of Robert the Land of his Grandfather Henry presently transports his Forces into Normandy and encountring the Battel put the French to flight and after that he had diversly made triall of fortune in fine Peace is confirmed between the Duke of Aniou and Henry which is confirmed by Marriage between William the Kings Son and the said Dukes Daughter After this Peace followed between both these Kings the Dukedom of Normandy being granted to William the Son of Henry doing Homage for it And thus by continuance of time all the first-born Sonnes of the Kings of England are styled Dukes of Normandy But Charles Earl of Flanders being wickedly slain at Brussels leaving no other Heir William the Sonne of Robert who was the next right Heir to it for that he was from the blood of Maud Daughter to Baldwin and Wife to William the Conquerour was elevated to this Dignity who growing insolent with this prosperity endeavours to recover Normandy his Patrimony by his Grandfather which he brought to pass with no great difficulty by assistance of the French King but receiving a wound in one of his hands which was very smal and afterwards rankling he lost both his life and Patrimony by it Peace being confirmed abroad yet Henry was tossed at home with civil commotions Wales being entred into a Conspiracy whereupon he pursuing the Rebels erring in his passage he fell into a straight place and redeemed yet not without danger a thousand sheep and oxen from them And these were the Warres he had both at home and abroad He seldom or never Taxed the Land He made none but good Laws He was the first that ordained the convening of the several Orders which is now called a Parliament He punished Theeves and false Coiners with severe justice He diminished the power of the Pope in his Dominions and such suits as were decided in England he forbad to be called back to Rome without his cognizance thereof the Pope not speaking any thing against it But a greater Controversie arose concerning Ecclesiastical Promotions both of them standing stoutly for his own Interest But the King not regarding the Pope held in his own hands the power of disposing and confirming Offices If he were over luxunious yet he was noble in his choice not loving every one in extreams He had no lawfully begotten Sons but he had many bastards whereupon he endeavoured by all means to establish the Government in Maude and her Daughters but all in vain Stephen succeeding who was born from Adela Daughter to William the Conquerour excluding Maude his Wife and Daughter which first married Henry the fourth the Roman Emperour and he being dead she was married to Jeffrey Plantagenet the Sonne of Fulc the Duke of Aniou At last by reason of some quarrel with the Duke of Aniou he fell into grief of mind whence followed a great weakness of his body by over-eating of Eels and thence he fell into a burning Feaver and so died after he had reigned 35 years being the last of the
others also Nor did the Queen do lesse at Bristol killing Hugh Father to Spencer who was ninety years old causing him to be dragged to Execution pulling his heart out alive Then she sent part of her Army to finde out the King Henry Earl of Lancaster being the chief and Rice Paulinus a Welshman who because he knew every passage of the Countrey exactly he lead the Earl to the Monastery of Neth where the King hid himself where presently both he with Spencer Robert Baldoch and Simon Redyng is delivered into the hands of his Enemies and is left to the Custody of the Earl of Leicester who entertained him with all respect as it was fit a captive King should be But Edmund Earl of Arundel John Daniel and Thomas Micheldem are beheaded at the request of Mortimer But Spencer who was now Earl of Glocester is now with Simon Redyng drawn to Execution and being first hanged they were afterwards beheaded and quartered and their Heads set up on London Bridge the quarters were sent to the chief Cities but Baldoch was famished to death in prison Then a Parliament is called wherein they consulted to depose the King and to Crown the Prince his Sonne Edward But he being farre more Religious than his Mother would not accept the Crown unlesse his Father would resign it willingly Some are sent to perswade this miserable King and the unhappy man did yeeld easily to it A day is set for the delivering up his Title and Edward cloathed in black comes into the Chamber where they were gathered together that should receive his Abdication but he scarce saw the provision made for his renunciation but he sunk down half dead in a swound and with much ado being refreshed by the Earl of Leicester and the Bishop of Winchester he came to himself But when he heard the cause of the Assembly he answered That as it was displeasing to him that his Subjects were so much offended at him so he was well pleased that they had made his Son Edward King in his stead and so the Solemnities being rightly performed the business was at last accomplished Then an allowance being granted to Edward he remained in the Custody of the Earl of Leicester and was well used Also so great a stipend was granted to the Queen-Mother that there was scarce any thing left for the King and Queen Nor was the furious woman yet pleased but went about to infringe the Liberty her Husband enjoyed with the Earl of Leicester and by the counsel of Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford power is granted to two Knights Thomas Gorney and John Matrevers to carry the King to some other place They hewed him filthily cutting his hair most ridiculously and his heard also that he might not be known at last they brought him to Barclay-Castle After he had lost his Kingdom they consult concerning his Life First They thought by unwholsome food to destroy him then by filthy stinks of carcases and lastly by poyson but neither prevailed Then the Letters of the Bishop of Hereford the most wicked Counsellour were sent to his Keepers by which he checks them heavily for dealing so well with him that was not fit to be so kindly used adding in the end Doe not fear to kill Edward 't is good which was interpreted by them as they pleased who thereupon fell upon the miserable King in his Bed and strive with the Blankets to strangle him Nor were they content with this but they thrust a hot Iron into his Fundament and so burned his Bowels a most hideous Example of Cruelty and destroyed him in a dolefull manner But these Parricides when they looked for a Reward for their Villany they received a just Reward of it For being called in question for their Lives they were banished Afterwards Gorney lost his Head Matrevers after a long banishment at last died miserably This King was of an excellent Stature of Body wonderfull strong but too much given to drunkenness and so not secret of his Counsels he was immoderate toward those he loved For Love if it be with Moderation is a most noble affection of the soul and if that be wanting it is the worst passion of all the rest He was more unhappy than unfortunate He exceeded all in Chastity for he left no Bastards behinde him In Moderation for he used no unjust wayes to pole his Subjects of their Moneys As his Subjects hated him in his life time so his memory was dear unto them after his Death EDWARD the third King of England and France Anno 1328. HIs Father being deposed Edward was saluted King sirnamed Windsor not yet having passed his fifteenth year and therefore he had Governours that should Rule the Kingdome in his Name But the chief Power remain'd in the Queen and Mortimer either the Nobility winking at it or allowing it The first care was to fall upon the Scotch for Robert Bruise despising the young King entred the Borders of England with his Army whereupon an Army is raised joyning those of the hanse Towns which the Queen brought with her But when divers people hardly could be held together in respect of the diversity of their Manners there grew in a short time a great discord between both Nations so nothing succeeding well they came back again and afterwards the English consented to base Conditions of Peace A Marriage being contracted between David Prince of Scotland and Joan Sister to Edward Also Edward Married his Wife that was promised him Philippa the Earl of Hannonia's Daughter being yet in their Nonage Then the Souldiers of Hannonia who caused the Discord are sent home And Edmund Earl of Kent accused of Treason because he had endeavoured to restore the Kingdom to his Brother Edward was condemned and lost his Head But the great Revenues of the Queen which she had drawn to her self by a Grant of Parliament were restrained to a thousand per annum and she was imprisoned in a Castle and Mortimer being convicted of Adultery with her and being taken in the act was presently hanged In the mean while Philip the Fair King of France died and the Kingdom was devolved to his Sonnes Henry Lewis and Charls the Fair who all reigned in their turns but Charls dying without an Heir-male lawfull Succession failed in him Edward who was of kinne by the Sister of Charles who was the Daughter to Philip the Fair supposing that the Kingdom fell by descent to him found Philip Valesius Brother to Philip the Fair to be his enemy for women by the common rule of France are excluded by the Salique Law Wherefore Philip was prefer'd before Edward and the King of England was forced to do him Homage for the Lands he possessed in France But these things gave cause afterwards for a grievous Warre and a sharp Contention In the mean time Edward Baily Son to John affecting the Kingdom of Scotland descending from his Ancestors Robert Bruse being now dead made Warre upon the Scots and by a
successfull fight or else helped by the Forces of Edward brought almost the whole Nation under him whilst David a young King trifled the time away in France and so doing Homage to the King of England he held it as from him in Chief In the said time the Isle of Man is Conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who therefore was honoured with the Title of King of Man Edward now come to age by the Instigation of Robert Atrebas who was fled out of France into England intends a Warre with France making a Confederacy with the Dukes and Earls of Gelderland Gulic Cleave and the Hanse Towns and of Brabant The French also foreseeing this Tempest made friendship with the Bishop of Leige John King of Bobemia the Earl of Lutzenburg the Palatine Albertus Otho of the House of Austrich and Amesius Earl of Genoa Wherefore Edward sail'd into Flanders bearing the Title of the King of France those of Flanders being the cause of it and then he entred the Borders of France Philip also invaded Aquitan and though the Armies of both Kings were in sight one of the other and ready to fall on yet they both departed without fighting Edward in the mean while to see to his business at home returned for England leaving William Montacute and the Earl of Suffolk to take care of the Warre both of them behaved themselves valiantly yet were taken and brought to Paris But Edward supposing it was in vain to stay at the report of this news provided for his return for France and finding a strong Navy of King Philips in the Haven of Sluse he collecting a great Fleet set upon the French and utterly destroyed their Navy killing then 30000 French with those that were drowned and came to their ends other waies Then he laid siege to Tourney which Town was so well defended by the Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Armeniac that his whole Army being dispersed he lost about 4000 men Edward was much enraged with this loss and challenged Philip to fight a Duel with him but the business came not so farre because it was taken up Yet the befieging of Turney was no whit neglected and Philip did what he could to free the City but Robert King of Sicily interceding and especially Joan Valois Philips sister there is a cessation made for two years In the interim the Scots that were enemies to Bayly's Government calling their King David out of France they make Warre upon Edward and invading Northumberland with a strong Army they miserably destroy all by fire and sword sparing no sex nor condition But at the sudden approach of William Montaente they are afflicted with some loss and being frighted at the coming of Edward sounding a retreat they returned for Scotland but Edward following their Armies overtook them and wearying them with some light skirmishes he forced them to a cessation for two years John Earl Montfort whilst he strives to make good his Title to Britany is taken by King Philip but his Wife seeking help from King Edward easily procured it Mary the Kings Daughter being espoused to the Earls Son the care of that expedition was first committed to Gualter Mani a valiant Gentleman and then to Robert Atrebas In the mean time Baily being driven out of his Kingdom of Scotland and by Edward made Governour of Barwick tels Edward that the Scots had not kept their Covenants whereupon Edward moves suddenly with an Army against the Scots but there was nothing done but the cessation of Arms renewed In the interim Robert Atrebas with Gualter Mani and some other Nobles after a great tempest and Sea-fight arrived at a Town of Britain which is commonly called Vannes and going on Land set on the City that was a Garrison in a Hostile manner and suddenly became Masters of it but by the desperate violence of some of the Nobility the French wan it again and wounded Robert whereof he died shortly after in England But Edward himself moving into Britany laid a new siege to the Vannes and John Duke of Normandy coming suddenly they both make themselves ready for Battell but by the intercession of Pope Clement the sixt Truce was made for some few moneths yet it lasted not who was the cause of it is uncertain they again prepare for their Arms by which means Henry of Lancaster subdued many Towns in Guyan and in other Provinces and then he removed to Burdeaux for his Winter Quarters Philip that he might not lose his Countrey by sloth levying a great Army regained Miremontium a Franc Town and Engolesm But when Lancaster was too weak for the great Army of Philip Edward came to his assistance with more Forces bringing with him his Sonne Prince of Wales that was yet in his Nonage for he was scarce 15 years old that he might be trained up in the Warres who presently took many Towns and then he marched toward Picardy and Pontium and he either vanquished or destroyed all places in the way Then he passed over Somes a wonderfull example of his Valour the enemy looking on and he discomfited Gondemar more by fear than force In the mean time Philip stay'd with his Army at the Temple of St Germans and being enraged with so great a loss of his men sets Edward a day to sight with him in Battell he had pitched his Camp at Cressen expecting with his Ensignes Philip his enemy The Armies both meet and the Trumpets sound to Battell wherein appeared the wonderfull courage of Edwards both Father and Sonne that day the English got the Victory and the French were routed and ruined the King hardly escaped himself and there were found slain about 30000 men the chief whereof were John King of Bohemia Charles Alencon and other chief Nobles 1500. Another loss fell after this Victory upon the Archbishop of Roan who lost about 7000 Souldiers Nor was this the end of their Victories for it went successively in England against the Scots in the Kings absence their King David with the greatest Noble men were taken prisoners and 15000 Souldiers were slain in the fight and the rest were dispersed Nor did the General Thomas Dagovort fight with less good fortune in Britanie for the Countess of Montfort the principal of the French Nobility being taken and killed Edward being more high by so many and great Victories neglecting Amiens and the Town of Abbas he laid siege to Calais that was of great moment and most convenient for the English affairs whilst Lancaster over-ran all Guyan vanquished those of Xanton and Poictiers and being loaded with the spoil he returned to Burdeaux In the mean while Philip going about to relieve those of Calais drew near with his Forces and when he had in vain provoked Edward to Battell having done nothing he returns toward Paris So they of Calais being out of hopes of relief began to treat for Conditions and it was agreed upon on both sides that six of the principall Citizens should come with
Sant-Paul he was frustrated and so he returned for Callis plundering all in the way In the mean time the men of Angiers and Bourges wasted the borders of the Prince of Wales which when he endeavoured to oppose receiving news of Lemoges taken making hast thither he wan it again killing all every where but observing the Valour of three Centurions who by their Gallantry checked his Conquering sword for their sakes he spared the City and the Lives of all the inhabitants that were left David King of Scots died in the mean time leaving no heir besides his Cousin Robert Stuart who succeeded him and was Crowned at Scone Robert Canolns was now sent into France with a great Army behaved himself more boldly than fortunately for he was circumvented by Bertrand Gesquinus and lost the greatest part of his men Edward Prince of Wales the most famous for his Valour and Chivalry died at Burdeaux about this time and Gualter Mani a valiant Captain died at London Also the Earl of Pembroke who had married his Daughter being now Governour of Guyan when he was going to his charge of Government was taken by the Spaniards and carried into Spain All those possessions which the Prince of Wales had won followed and were recovered again by Charles the fifth King of France so that the chance of Warre now began manifestly to alter Edward indeed went thither with mighty forces but by a contrary Tempest he lost his labour and Lancaster was carefull of his business but did nothing prevail Edward when he had lost together with his hopes he conceived of his Sonne Edward all the fruits almost of his travell in France fell into so great grief of minde and body that he died about ten moneths after the Prince of Wales when he had reigned fifty years He was the most valiant of all the Kings a comely person excellent for the gifts of his body and minde living as one may say after his death having had a Wife and a Sonne that were incomparable RICHARD the second King of England and France Anno 1378. RIchard sirnamed of Burdeaux the Sonne of Edward the Black Prince of Wales appointed to succeed by Edward his Grandfather came to the Crown after his death not yet being past eleven years of age Wherefore he had Governours assigned to him John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge his Uncles by his Fathers side The Scotch and French taking occasion to win from him by reason of his Nonage provide Armies for invasion The French Conquer the City Rye and being encouraged by their success they fall upon the Isle of Wight and spoil all with fire and sword wresting from the Inhabitants great summes of Money and so spoiling all the Frontiers of England they are enriched with a vast prey The Scotch take the Castle of Barwick but by the Valour of the people of Northumberland and Nottingham the Fort is recovered and all the Scots killed Also Hugh Calverley Governour of Callis burn'd 26 Ships of France in the Harbour of Bononia casting fire amongst them So John Philpot Citizen of London preparing a Fleet at his own charge took all the Ships of Mercerus a notable Rover who plaid the Pirate on the borders of England and rob'd all the English Merchants Ships When he returned in stead of a reward he is accused of high Treason because he had fitted his Navy without the Kings knowledge he defended his cause so well that he not only excused what he did but is famous for it unto this day The King said That publick actions may be privately traduced yet they may not be publickly examined since Authority would in such a case commit a fault and in place of an errour raise a tumult and since the loss is generall and common every one affords weapons for revenge and though it were against reason to exceed the Commission yet it cannot be held a criminal matter to engage for it with hazard of ones life With good and bad fortune they laboured much on both sides The Scotch waste with fire Rupisburg but the Earl of Northumberland entring Scotland spoil'd the Territories of Merchia with sword and flame likewise The Northern English attempting to invade Scotland also are unhappily slain And afterwards the Duke of Lancaster with Buckingham Warwick Stafford and others the chief of the Nobility arrive in Britain with a great Fleet thinking to lay siege to St Malos but finding the Garrison too strong they return home again The Scotch in the mean while setting scaling ladders to the Castle of Barwick overcame it in the night and killed Robert Baynton Governour of it But the Earl of Northumberland coming suddenly with an Army regain'd the Castle after he had beleaguerd it two daies William Montacute the Kings Embassadour at Callis was successfull in his business both by Sea and Land But John Clark was as unfortunate though he behaved himself valiantly being conquered and taken by the enemy both he and his Ships And so here and elsewhere they strove with doubtfull fortune In the mean while Thomas Cartonius is accused for Treason by John Ansler that he had for money given up to the French the Castle of St Saviour Cartonius denying the fact is challenged by Ansler to fight a Duel with him wherein Carton though he were farre stronger in Limbs and force than Ansler is killed by him At the beginning of the fourth year of King Richard's Raign the Earl of Buckingham was sent with others and a small Army into France to assist the Duke of Brittain but the French King dying about that time Peace was confirmed between the new King and the Duke But the Spanish and the French Galleys did wonderfully spoil the Sea-Towns of England at that time and many Towns were either plunder'd or consumed by fire so laden with the prey they returned home The Kentish men by reason of the deadly burden of Tributes grew mad and are enraged with an implacable hatred against the Nobility taking all occasions they could finde for the basest dregs of men commonly being uncapable of honour themselves which they cannot sustain are envious against those that are They report that Wat Tyler was the Author of it who killed the Collector of Tribute that behaved himself arrogantly with his own staff that he took from him To whom other seditious fellows and whole Provinces joyned themselves This tumultuary Faction increased mightily came to London with his Army and kils first of all Richard Lyon a London Doctor with an Ax. And putting his Head on the top of his Spear carries it for a Trophie of his valour Then all of them the next day runne to Lancaster-Hall and set it on fire they take away the rich Hangings and throw them into the Thames carefully looking to it that no man should keep any thing for himself and when one covetous fellow had hid a silver Cup in his bosome they take the man and threw him into the fire alive with the Cup.
the Empire descended to Charles King of Castile the fifth of that Name Henry in the mean while was idle for lack of Warre spending his time in Tiltings Dancings Pleasures and other Courtly Delights Then that Peace might not be without its Glory a solemn Meeting was appointed between the two Kings of England and France For that purpose a magnificent Palace of Wood was built in France At last they met in wonderfull start they applied themselves to Turnâ—ments running at the Ring and other such Recreations and an Agreement was renewed between the Emperour and the Kings of England and France Wolsey in the interim did what he pleased he found no hinderance in his attempts whatsoever He charged the Duke of Buckingham of high Treason whether it were to or out of envy is uncertain but the Duke lost his Head for it A new cause is given for a Warre between the Emperour and the King of France wherefore Wolsey is sent Umpire between both who did not behave himself so prudently as loftily whereby he incurred the French Kings displeasure Hugh of Moncada besieged Tourney and though the French did his best to relieve it yet he became Master of it Henry in the mean while because he had written a Book against Luther had the Title given him to be Defender of the Faith which hath passed to all his Successours At that time cause was given of a Warre between the French and the Scotch King by occasion of the Duke of Albany and by reason the French had not paid the Money which he promised to Mary Henries Sister so the Covenant being broken they fell to Warre William the sonne of William a Knight the Admiral-Lieutenant with eight and twenty Ships spoiled the Coasts of Scotland burnt their shipping and so returned home Charles the Emperour in the mean time came to London where he was received in great State and Honour and with a solemn Ceremony was graced with the Order of the Garter Then under pretence of conducting the Emperour into Spain by shipping the Earl of Surrey the Kings Admiral sets upon Brittany and conquers Morleys who also was again sent into France with a great Army and he ruined many Towns and Castles and consumed them by fire but he attempted the Fort Heding in vain having left his great Guâ—s at home and so could make no Battery but having behaved himself honourably he retreated to Callis Also the Marquess of Dorset destroyed by fire and Sword an innumerable company of Villages and Forts in Scotland but could not come to joyn Battle with them Sands sallied out of Callis and skirmishing with the Enemy after he had ruined many of their Castles he came back to the City When therefore King Henry understood that the Duke of Albany who commanded all in Scotland had a choice Army in France he sent William Sonne to William with a Navy that he should set upon him in his coming back again but when he had scouted up and down at Sea in vain he at last set his men on Land and with a handfull of his he overthrew a great Army of the French and obtained thereby both the Victory and the Prey and burning the Suburbs of Triport he returned for England Henry now thinks seriously again of a Warre with France and sends Suffolk and many principal Nobility with a great Army into France who at first assault overcame Bell-Castle and made William Scevington the Governour of the Garison In the mean time the Duke of Burbon Constable of France revolted to the English King with ten thousand French who being strengthned by these new Forces enter upon Picardy and conquers many Towns and Castles but Winter coming on and scarcity of provision and the Souldiers murmuring not waiting for the supply that Henry sent he was necessitated to retreat to Callis yet he had done a great mischief to the Enemy The Scotch in the mean while supposing the English to be over-busied with the French Warres lift up their Heads again and assaulting the Borders of England they win divers Towns But the Earl of Surrey entring into Scotland with six thousand Souldiers wan divers Forts and joyning a light Battel with the Scotch he returned Conquerour not without great loss to the Enemy besides the Castle of Judworth and the Town that he burnt up So with uncertain Fortune the business being acted in those parts there was a conclusion for a Cessation of Arms that so they might have time to treat of Peace Francis the first King of France at that time was conquered by the Emperour Charles the fifth at Papion and was taken Prisoner which was no small happiness for the English affairs but a sad loss for the French Then Peace was ratified between the Emperour and the French and the English agreed with them also But the Emperour and the French shortly fell to a new Warre Peace being confirmed abroad England began to be in an uproar with greater Troubles in Civil Dissentions For Henry who had lived twenty years peaceably with his Wife Katharine had a scruple of Conscience put upon him whether he could without Incest live with his Brothers Wife for as we said she was first married to his Brother Arthur Judges were chosen to end this Question But Cardinal Wolsey who had not prudently dealt for Henry had all his Authority taken from him and his Estate was Confiscate But at last other new Dignities being granted to him his great loss was somewhat repaired Then a Parliament was called and he was charged with many faults and amongst the rest that he was wont to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Hat to be stamped on the Kings Coyn. He was convicted of all these things and deprived of all his Estate which shews a wonderfull example of the inconstancy of all humane affairs for he that but lately ruled all and the King too as he pleased made Laws and swaied Courts of Justice rooted out the Nobles at his pleasure burdned the subjects with great Taxes deprived both Clergy and Laity of their goods he is now cast down from his high Pinnacle of Honour hated by all and made no way like himself Afterwards when he was sent for to the Court to answer his charge he died of grief by the way In the mean time the business for a Divorce was transmitted to Clement the Pope of Rome at the suit of Queen Katharine But the Pope fearing to displease King Henry who had lately the Title of Defender of the Faith given him by Leo the tenth nor did he think it safe to provoke the Emperour who ruled in Italy spun out the business with delays by his Legate Campeius who at length with a great disgust to the English after many hastings and procrastinations departed from England leaving the business uneffected The King in the interim burning with new flames of love and so admitting no delay Warham being dead created Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who
yet given no answer to his Charge whereupon they denied to supply the King with Subsidies wherefore he was forced to finde out some other waies to raise monies wherewith he provided a mighty Fleet once more wherewith assisted by the Flemish Ships he spoiled all the Spanish Ships they met either coming from Spain or sailing thither and did wonderfully annoy the very Spanish Coasts but when the French were not spared a stop was made in France of some English Vessels and the Merchants Goods were Confiscate The Ministers of the Church of Rome had heightned the indignation those that came into England with the Queen and these did what they could privately to trouble the English affairs They were commanded to leave the Land but they were sent away with good gifts and rewards The French offended at this as an injury sent Monsier Bassempeir Extraordinary Embassadour into England who prevailed so farre that some were recall'd The French was not satisfied with this but forbad all Commerce with the English subjects and Charles did the like Envy increasing Lewis oppressed the Rochellers Charles sent relief to the besieged though he prevailed but little some mens hearts flagging who returned for England and for their sluggishness they were cast into prison But chiefly sharp complaints were charged by the Parlament against Buckingham who was the Commander of this Expedition That he had delivered some Sea Towns to the Custody of some Souldiers that received no pay from the English and had made strangers Commanders of them in Chief That to the great detriment and hazard of the Kingdom he had brought German Souldiers into England That by his perswasion one Parliament was called after another and nothing done That he had put many worthy Noble man from their places undeservedly and put men less deserving into their places That Warlick Expeditions undertaken imprudently had alwaies an ill end as was fresh in memory by the Rochell business That Merchandise failed by this means That he had turned another way such preparations as were made for Warre and had destroyed a multitude of Shipping by his ill managing of business c. Charles to stop all farther proceedings against Buckingham presently dissolved the Parliament and being overcome with the continuall prayers of the besieged he raised new Forces to send to assist the Rochellers under the command of the Duke of Buckingham but when he was ready to Embarque himself he was stabbed with a Knife by Felton an English man who by this act did sacrifice himself for his Country but he was taken when he had done it and was hanged for his pains Then a new Parliament was summoned the King complained that Tunnage was denied him the answer was made that such supplies were never granted to the Kings but upon urgent necessity and therefore it were better that he should look to prevent the wrongs that were every where crept in whereupon the Parliament was once more Dissolved Then there was a supersedeas to all business for if any man did not pay that Custom he Incurred the Kings displeasure and if any did pay then he incurred the displeasure of the Parliament and hereupon grew cause enough for following mischiefs The King offended at the mallepartness of the Parliament cast Sr John Eliot and some other Members of Parliament into prison and appointed Judges to take cognizance of their Fact they supposing themselves chosen besides the custom deferred to meddle with the business being doubtfull what to do the King pressed them on one hand and the people on the other The Kings Officers sent messengers to the Merchants whom they call usually Adventurers exhorting them that they would set their Merchandise to sale as they were wont saying the King would take care of all only let them pay their Custom which thing they refused to do without consent of Parliament The other Merchants did the same for it was fresh in their memories that about an hundred years before the Merchants had a penalty set upon them who paid their Custom the Parliament being against it in memoriall whereof that posterity might not plead ignorance a Chappel was built which at this day is called Alderman-Bury and a stranger Merchant who paying the Custom had set his Merchandize to sale was excluded from all Commerce And for this reason there was cause given for both sides to be displeased In the interim Peace was ratified with France and the Queen was brought a Bed of her first-born Charles The Spaniard also was hampred with divers Warres and want of moneys and therefore he thought it better to make Peace with Charles than to be brought to a finall desparation yet the King and his subjects were never the better agreed New and greater causes of dissention arose The King had taken care that the Book of Common-prayer should bâ— re-printed that such as had not the same gift of minde might have something for their imitation and by a set form should be stirred up to more attentiveness This form was read in Churches and Houses at that time through all England But the Scotch a scrupulous people in their opinion who are more afraid of the name of yielding than resisting and would sooner offend against Religion than the Ceremonies of it did publickly refuse it but they especially who held forth affected purity were called Puritans Charles to regulate the obstinate presently musters an Army to invade Scotland James Hamilton was the cause of it who was sent into Scotland to allay the peoples mindes before it should come to a Warre but he dealt deceitfully for having a desire to the Crown of Scotland he endeavoured to raise dissentions and hoped to fish best in troubled waters The Scotch on the other part that they might not idly wait for their own destruction meet the King with their Forces but their Banners and Ensignes were not displaied and in token of humility they laid their Arms down before him on the ground But when both Armies stood now ready the English that they might not strive with their Brethren refused to fight wherefore he was forced to make peace with the Scots upon no good conditions which being ratified he came back to London He was scarce returned but some factious fellows and such as by troubles and Warre hoped to make their own advantage speak against the Kings sluggishness and stirred him up who was already prone enough to make a new Warre against the Scots whereupon he goes once more with an Army into Scotland and by the same contumacy of his souldiers as before he was frustrate of his intentions The Scotch also made a nearer agreement amongst themselves against the King which they called their Covenant The King therefore when he was distressed for want cals a Parliament and asks Subsidies of them but it was in vain wherefore he was forced to fly to other Artifices The Queen that was pressed with the same care the King was dealt with the Earl Charles Rosset and with other
Ministers of the Barbarians Pansanius and Cunaus to procure a supply out of the Popes Treasury yet it is supposed that the King knew nothing of it promising if she prevailed that the Catholicks in Ireland should have greater liberty in their Religion But Rosset denied that any such assistance could be granted to any unless to a Catholick Prince as they term it but if the King would abjure the Reformed Religion and cleave to the Church of Rome he promised all assistance but he hating such a sacriledge nothing was done Rosset for this business was in great danger for the English who after they had renounced the Roman Religion hated his name more than the Plague or death it self when they saw that his followers had more freedom and were not ignorant of Rosset who was the Author of it they make a tumultuous head against him that they might tear in pieces this hurtfull instrument of so hatefull superstition but he hardly escaping in disguised apparell hid himself amongst the friends of the Queen Mother Mary de Medicis who at that time was in England and afterwards he escaped all danger by the assistance of John Justinian the Venetian Embassadour and Embarking himself he sailed into Flanders but when he came to Rome Pope Vrban the eighth rewarded his good service with a Cardinals Cap. The Irish in the interim were broke forth into a new Rebellion and the Parliament used all means to finde a remedy for such a mischief And the King being not at quiet caused the Liturgy to be new printed which he imposed upon all the Churches in England and forbad all Ceremonies to be used otherwise than they were in Queen Elizabeths daies In the mean while that no new cause of divisions might be wanting seven Romish Priests are cast into prison and are condemned by the Parliament to suffer death but the French Embassadour pitied their miserable condition and sued to the King for their pardon the King answered he could grant nothing in that business without consent from his Parliament Then it was motioned to the Parliament who presently yielded to it The King when he knew this thought by an importunate anticipation to gain the thanks of that business to himself and of his own accord commands the Priests to be freed from the prison The Parliament was angry at the Kings over-forwardness and changed their former Decree of freedom into a Sentence of condemnation The King he began to urge their discharge and to stand upon it resolving never to leave the business untill the Parliament were met in a full number and should give their finall determination They of their own accord cause one or two of these Monks to be put to death It is wonderfull how great good will of the people they procured to themselves by this deed especially when by their publick Writings they began to infringe the Kings Authority using such sweet words to the people that might win their good liking of it The King in the House of Peers complains of the insolence of the Lower House and by a sharp Speech inveighed against their stubborness saying that he neither could nor would wink at so great affronts Others again complain against the Kings too great Power and desire remedies The King in the mean time strove to put out some from their places of publick employment and to put in others amongst the rest he put out Montjoy from his Lieutenants place of the Tower and put in another that stood fast to his part The Lower House interprets this business as if the King strove to draw all the power of Government to himself and accused this new Lieutenant before the Upper House for a factious person and who was before condemned by the Judges to dye and therefore a man unfit for so weighty an imployment They added farther that this matter could not be without danger for he having the command of the Tower might destroy all the City of London The Upper House answered That unless they would put their sickle into another mans Corn it were wickedness in them to hinder the King in that matter for it was an ancient and received prerogative of the Kings openly refusing their consent Nor was it long ere a multitude of Servants which they call Apprentices and a rabble of other people came to the Hall door crying out and thundring that unless they would remove out of that place the Lieutenant of the Tower who was a Papist a factious a wicked and unworthy man they would turn all upside down and they prevailed by this means so far that both the King and the Lords were forced to consent Nor was this furious multitude of the people content with this but they made a fresh onset to abolish the Government of Bishops and would have them all to be forwarnd the Parliament House for that they were addicted as they pretended to the Church of Rome and to force them to it they runne like furies into Westminster Abbey that was venerable for it's Antiquity and they fall in their rage upon the sacred Garments Organs Sepulchres and spoil all that was either comely for its Ancientness pretious for cost or to be valued for curious Workmanship they hardly spared the Bones and Ashes of the dead their impure purity had hurried them so farre Then they runne to the Kings Court crying urging and thundring out the same things The King had them all go about their business threatning them with severe punishment that refused and least the next day they should terrifie him with greater multitudes he fortified himself with a stronger Guard The Parliament either fearing themselves or because they would not be inferiour to the King require a strong Guard of Souldiers to defend them the Earl of Essex might be the Captain of it The King neither granted nor denied it Then they attempted a new business and that was not usual appointing an extraordinary Assembly in the City that should manage all weighty and great occurrences and this they did without the Kings leave or knowledge And to weaken his Majesty the more or rather to satisfie the insolence of the people they cast twelve Bishops into prison because they went about to maintain their priviledge by the publick Charter That business much troubled the King and all those that loved the publick quiet above all things but they that hoped to finde some good for themselves out of these tossings and tumults did laugh in their sleeves fomenting the troubles and turning every stone untill such time as the Earl of Bristol and his sonne were involved in the same danger Strafford the year before lost his Head to satisfie the people who was a man of a commendable and most approved understanding William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England followed him But now they touched his bowels for they began to accuse the Queens Majesty as if she had privately caused the troubles in Ireland and had secretly moved that people that are
of themselves inconstant enough to rebell The King moved with this accused five of the Lower House and one of the Upper House of High Treason Their Names were the Lord Viscount Mandevill Mr Pym Mr Hambden Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr Hollis and Mr Strowd clearly demonstrating that they were the men that had given occasion for these Tumults and Dissentions The Articles of their accusation were these That they endeavoured to overthrow the Fundamental Laws and the Kings Authority That they strove to alienate the hearts of the Subject from him That by the same Artifice they had sollicited the Kings souldiers to revolt That they had procured strangers to help them to possesse the Kingdom That they attempted to cast down the Parliament and the Priviledges of it That they contrived to bring both Houses to themselves and to their Opinions and therefore they caused that concourse and commotion of the People Lastly That they had blown up this fire of War against Maâ—esty These Articles being read to the Lower-House the King required that some should be sent to seize presently on their Writings but some were sent to the King to disswade him from it and in the name of the Parliament they would be Surety for the fidelity of the Members accused But the King answered That he required Obedience from his Subjects without enquiring into his Reasons Others again urged That the King by this Act had overthrown the Priviledges of Parliament and noted this Accusation to be a famous Libel The King was resolved to oppose Force against Force he requires assistance from the Souldiery and hasteneth to the Hall with five hundred armed men after him and commanding them all to wait at the door he only entered into the House with an angry Countenance and when he saw none of those that were accused he seriously relates his good Intentions to the Parliament and to the Laws and Priviledges thereof requiring that those Memcers he accused might be delivered up to him and so he went back to his Palace the same way as he came and sent a Herauld once more to finde out those he had charged Then he goes again himself to the House where the rest of the Members late and did renew his discourse whereby he expressed his good Inclination and laboured to remove the envy from himself that lay upon him saying That he would change nothing nor do otherwise than what was done in Queen Elizabeths dayes Then he went to Dinner to one of the Sheriffs houses and was in some danger by reason of the enraged multitude But the Lower-House taking Counsell with the Upper resolved by all means to revenge this rigour of the King that he had used against their Priviledges they presently put the City in Arms caused them to shut up their Shops and the sitting was adjourned for five dayes Also the Parliament for bad the Citizens that no man should help the King to finde out those that were accused rendring the King as hatefull to the People as they could and shaking his Authority The King when he might have made use of this Division between the two Houses to overthrow the attempts of the People breaks forth into violent anger sets a. Guard upon the Tower of London and once more declares the accused to be guilty of High Treason forbidding all men either to conceal them or to convey them away promising their Estates to any that should discover them either alive or dead But men were so farre from obeying the King that the accused Members guarded with a multitude of Citizens took their places again as before in Parliament yet this was not sufficient for the Parliament published through the City That the King intended to ruine the Citizens That his Forces were now ready to do it which did not a little exasperate the mindes of the Citizens But the Aldermen of the City took a better course and humbly certified the King That the Communalty were too much incensed already and therefore he should let pass bitter counsel and finde out some way to compose the matter The King answered them with the greatest moderation greatly complaining that his Authority was violated But the Parliament when they had brought the business so farre thought not fit to give it over but on the 16th day of January in the Year 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others as it was pretended to defend the Houses that they might assemble freely and Latters were forthwith sent to other neighbouring Counties whereby they were commanded to draw up in Arms all the Forces they could under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties Upon this occasion there came together a mighty Army so that at least 20000 were ready at a beck The King having timely notice of it leaving the City makes haste to Hampton Court commanding his Counsellours to follow him especially the Earls of Essex and Holland but they refused wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that fled so that for haste being he had no Purveyors to provide room for him sufficiently He his Wife and Children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed He being now escaped from out of their hands by Proclamations endeavoured to maintain his own Cause before the whole world but he wanted help It was otherwise with the Parliament for all London now stood against the King ready in Arms. The Streets and crosse-wayes were stopped with Chains and Barres and Cannon mounted Also the Parliaments Forces were augmented by an addition of four thousand Horse Souldiers that came to them The Boats and Barks were fitted for the Warre and most of the Citizens servants and Apprentices were at a call to joyn with the Parliament and being armed what with Clubs what with Sticks what with Swords and other Weapons they came and guarded the Parliament-House at Halberd-men And from that time the meeting was not at Westminster as before but in the City that they might the better win the minds of the Citizens to themselves and be nearer to their businesse Though the King being asked his opinion thereof by Essex did flatly deny it wherefore they are resolved to set upon the Kings stubborn minde as they said They commanded the Governours of Sea-Towns not to obey the Kings Orders unless they were confirmed by the Authority and Seal of the Parliament at one blow almost cutting off all the Kings Authority This might have been prevented had he by good counsell taken possession of those Towns and put in Souldiers to keep them for him The King when he saw they provided Force and that he was not safe at Hampton Court rides presently to Windsor thither came the French Embassadour to him who offered to be Umpire between the King and his Subjects but when neither King nor Queen would give any great credit to his words he did prevail but little But now the King first saw that he was deceived of his hopes when he imagined that Wales
triumph at London and in other places it may be it was done because the Kings Power was now ended The Queen in the mean time imbarqued at Dover and with true tears took her last farewell fore-seeing that this departure of hers was an omen of a most sad Divorce The Parliament in the interim asked the Kings consent upon some Governours of the Kingdom they had chosen But the King who was now sensible of his errours began to draw back and to delay the business They impatient of all delayes send Commissioners to him to let him understand That the Parliament must flie to their Arms and defend their Authority by force unlesse the King would presently grant their just Petitions as they said And when the King resolved to remove farther from London they entreated him not to do it but rather if he would not he should let his Sonne live at London The King not wondring a little at this Petition answered That he was by these Propositions much amazed but what to answer he knew not He would have them lay their hands on their hearts and would search whether of the two gave the cause now of mischiefs that would arise from a Civil Warre As for his Sonne he would as a Father provide for him and that neither of them would go from London unless they were afraid of the Insolency of some people there And that he desired to procure Peace by all means not caring who took up Arms for he would rest on Gods providence So their Messengers were dismissed But the Parliament supposing they were not now to demur command all the Lieutenants of the Counties by their Edicts to flie to their Arms and to compell all their Subjects that were fit to bear Arms to repair to their Colours And forthwith they unpoured all those Officers the King had made and made new ones by their own Authority The most excellent and the wisest men were of opinion that all that provision of the Parliament would dissolve into smoke The London Counsel also thought themselves wronged by this unusual and unheard of boldness in the Parliament for by this means they were stript of all their Authority They complain of it to the King but what should he do whose hands were already bound and he did not strive to unbinde them Then they put up their humble Petitions to the Parliament to which the principal Citizens of London subscribed their hands But when they waited for an Answer as it was requisite the principal of the Subscribers were punished So all things grew worse and worse The King in the mean time who was not ignorant of the Parliament Attempts called all his Nobility to him that he might put a stop to the Parliament proceedings The Parliament to lull the King asleep with fair words used all devices and when this would not do they over-weigh him with complaints and crimes As that he had hearkned to a change in Religion and given cause for the uprears in Ireland especially they that were most powerfull with him secretly bespotting the Queen They added That the Instruments of the Pope of the Kings of Spain and France were resolved to restore the King to his former Authority and other things that served to justifie their own proceedings and to make the King faulty The King published his Declarations labouring to remove these aspersions from him and to decline the hatred of them yet prevailed nothing for the Parliament by a new Declararation did both support and augmented the former Articles complaining that the greatest injury was done to themselves by the Kings forsaking them The King in the mean time takes his journey for York together with the Prince the Palsgrave the Duke of Richmond and some other of the Nobility being resolved to be deluded no farther but to oppose Force against Force and the Right he could not maintain by yielding to maintain by Arms. The Parliament did not sit still but fortified the chief Towns with Ammunition and Souldiers especially Hull a City of greatest concernment Also the Earl of Warwick was sent with thirty men of Warre to guard the English Coasts and they call Vice-Admiral Pennington back again by speedy Messengers who had transported the Queen into Holland and under pretence of subduing Rebellion they gather a mighty mass of money Charles in the mean time to overthrow their Commands prohibits what they would have by Edicts to the contrary but they disobeying the King did their work by frighting him with threats which was a great grief to moderate men The King when he was come to York was received with the highest affection of his Subjects and before them all he removeth all that envy of Popery that was charged upon him But the Parliament who were not well pleased with the Yorkshire men for this sent Letters to the King inserting fair speeches to pacifie his anger They write a counterfeit Letter in the name of Elizabeth Countess Palatine as written by her wherein they did foully defame the States of Holland for her ill entertainment amongst them To avoid the hatred of this business Joachimus the States Embassadour complained to the Parliament of the falsity of that report because his Masters Honours were much shadowed by it whose splendor and benevolence toward strangers was sufficiently known to all the world and he prevailed so farre that these counterfeit Letters were publickly burnt A Rumour also as false as the former was scattered abroad that a great Fleet was made ready for King Charles in the Denmark Havens and thus each on both sides strive to draw reputation and authority to their party They had long enough banded in words they must now come to blows Ere long they break forth into open Warre The King cals all the Knights of the Garter and all others that by the band of Nobility held from the Crown to come to him to York The Parliament contrarily made it death for any of them to go to the King yet of the Lower House twenty Members revolt to the King making more reckoning of the Kings commands than of the Parliaments In the mean time there followed an humble Petition of the men of Kent to the Parliament wherein they humbly desired That nothing should be done without the Kings consent That the Liturgy might not be altered That the Bishops might be restored That they would not suffer the Fundamentall 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 an agreement c. But the Parliament not only denied to answer them but they severely punish him that brought the Petition and the Earl of Bristol that received it casting both of them into Prison to cut off for the future all way for such requests their fellows not a little raging at it and saying openly that that liberty was unjustly taken away whenas they had listned to other Petitions that were farre more
unequall than that was The Parliament in the mean time when they found nothing done by the Commissioners they had sent to the King resolve to execute their former commands they command the Lieutenants of Counties to perform what they formerly had enjoyned them and presently to raise such an Army who willingly went about it hoping from troubles to finde occasion to do their business yet some looking deeper into it refused to raise Arms without the Kings Order Also the Houses purposed to remove Pennington that was come back again because they found him more enclined to the King than to the Parliament but he denied to yield to them unless the King should force him to it The King trusting to his fidelity refused to discharge him and to receive Warwick whom they would substitute But the Lower House the Upper House being against it who held it unfit to proceed without the Kings consent pressed the business and confirmed the first Election and being exasperated by the Kings inclination resolved seriously for to make a Warre of it All the provision of Hull or other Garrisons they commanded to be brought to London fearing least the King should at some time possess himself of the Town and Ammunition But they to whose trust these things were committed would not deliver them without command from the King They valued not all their threats and commands to have the Governour of the Town delivered up unto them In the mean time the Sommersetshire men detesting the obstinacy of the Parliament by example of the Men of Kent presented an humble Petition to the Parliament but they offended with their boldness command it to be burned by the Hangman to deterre the Sommersetshire men from profering any more such Petitions who were charged to come in no greater multitudes than was requisite The King also desired to sail into Ireland with a sufficient Army to tame the Rebels But the Houses fearing least he should allure the Rebels to joyn with him and being strengthened with their Forces should return for England denied him his request and preferred their own fears before the relief of so many miserable men He in the mean time deposed the Earl of Essex from being Chamberlain and Leicester from being Deputy of Ireland and the Earl of Holland for their disobedience But the Houses on the contrary forbid all of them to do any such thing without their prohibition on penalty of their lives also they confirmed Warwicks Authority And that they might fortifie the mindes of all men the more and exasperate them against the King they spread a report that there was a great provision made by him for Warre against the Commonwealth and the Laws saying that all the subjects were therefore freed from their Oaths The King holds forth the contrary in his Declarations And when some Lincolnshire men came to him in Troops and offered to defend the Kings Cause he forbad them stifly and to manifest to all his love of Peace he commanded them all to go home again upon the condition that they should return to assist him when they were called He detained only 500 Foot and 50 Horse for his Life-Guard Many of the Nobility were drawn by this lenity of the King to revolt to him The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal that had done him so many injuries asking pardon of the King was friendly received by him This was the cause that many others fell away so that in the Upper House there remained not above fifteen and they the most bitter against him These with new representations concerning the Education of his Children the Offices of the Kingdom and such like questions wearied the Kings minde But they prevailed nothing for those Captains and Souldiers that were mustered against the Rebels in Ireland leaving their Colours freely fled to the King at York Whereupon the King augmented his Life-Guard to 1200 Foot and 200 Horse all descended of Noble Families and for the greater Honour to them he made the Prince of Wales their Captain These being required to manifest their fidelity did all swear unanimously to defend the Kings Cause but all the Nobility offered willingly to rais◠severally 200 Foot in Arms if occas 〈…〉 By which constancy of the subject and by a small summe of money he received out of Holland the King began to be cheered with new hopes Then he appointed the Yorkshire men to meet him at a certain place on the 13th day of June not farre from York who accordingly came with about 60000. The King with his Sonne some Lords 600 Horse and a considerable party of Foot met them there and with a premeditated Speech he declared his good intention toward Religion the Parliament and to defend his own Rights and Kingly Dignity Also he made an Apology for the good of his Souldiers that were present then he shewed unto them the Acts of Parliament Lastly he promised good pay if any man would assist him because he desired to use the help of his subjects rather than strangers This Speech was received by some with great applause others made their humble Petition that the King would hold a good correspondency with his Parliament and desired that he would send those Lords back to the Parliament who had revolted from them But the Earl of Lindsey the Kings Chamberlane and Lovel foreseeing the dissention might rise from this Petition suppressed this faction at the beginning Where 〈…〉 they were displeased and divers men went away from the King But the King accompanied with twenty thousand men came to York and commanded them all to return to their houses The Parliament was not ignorant of this business they accuse the said Lords of Treason because they had hindred the subjects from Petitioning freely for relief of their grievances not remembring what example they had given by refusing the Petitions of the Men of Kent and Sommersetshire and not only so but had severely punished them for offering their Petitions Then they raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse and send them towards York hoping they would increase by others coming to them And they borrowed a sufficient summe of Money from the Londoners who strove who should bring most of their silver and guilt Plate and whatsoever pretious things they had hoping of great advantage they should receive by it But the Kings misfortune began when 20000 pounds were detain'd by the Exchange being published at London which the Queen had borrowed with the Crown Jewels laid to pawn this was a mighty stop to the Kings proceedings The Houses increased the more who some in vain being angry at it endeavoured to raise a great Army The King also who had with advice made delaies and spun out the time could no longer wink at these preparations for Warre but by Letters by Policy by open Warre he did press the business uncessantly and with great impatience And he politiquely attempts to take Hull having obtain'd the consent of some of the Garrison But Hotham who