to advize On Thursday the ninth of March a Gentleman came in Post from the Lady Margaret with Letters signifying that whereas the King of France had long lyen at the siege of Pavia he had now been forced to raise his siege and was himselfe taken prisoner by thâ— Imperialestsâ— for joy whereof Bonfires and great Triumph was made in 〈◊〉 and on the twentieth of March being Sunday the King himselfe came to Pauls and there heard a solemne Masse But for all this shew of joy it was thought if the King of France had not now been taken prisoner that the King of England would have joyned in amity with him as being angry with the Fleâ—â—â—gs for Inhauâ—â—ing his Coyne in Flanders which caused much money to be conâ—ayed out of England thither The King of France being taken prisoner was after some time convayed into Spaine and at last brought to Madrill where he â—ell so sicke that the Physitians had little hope of his life unlesse the Emperour would be pleased speedily to visit him upon whose visitation he recovered his health though not presently his strength In which time many propositions were made for his delivery but the Emperour would accept of â—one without restitution of the Dutchy of Burgoigne At last the French King weary of imprisonment and longing for liberty was content to agree to any conditionsâ— the chiefe whereof were that the French King by a certaine day should be set at liberty and within six weeks after should resigne to the Emperour the Dutchy of Burgoigne with all Members pertayning to it and at the â—ame â—â—stant should put into the Emperours hands the Dolphyn of France â—nd with him either the Duke of Orleance his second sonne or else twelve priâ—cipall Lords of France whom the Emperour should name and that there should be between them a League and perpetâ—all coâ—federation foâ— defence of their estates Of whose attonement when King Henry heard as before he had expressed gladnesse that he was taken prisoner so now he sent Sir Thomas Cheiney to him to expresse his joy for being set at liberty so suddaine is the enterchange of love and hate amongst great Princes The French King being thus delivered the Emperour married the Lady Isabel Daughter to Emanuel King of Portingal and â—ad with her in Dower eleven hundred thousand Duckeâ—sâ— though three yeers before being at Windsor he had covenanted to take to wife the Lady Mary King Henries Daughter At this time Cardinall Woolsey obtained licence of the King to erect a Colledge at Oxford and another at Ipswich and towards the charge of them got leave also to suppresse certaine small Monasteries to the number of forty and after got a confirmation of the Pope that he might imploy the Goods and Lands belonging to those Houses to the maintenance of those two Colledges a perniâ—ious president and that which made the King a way afterward to make a generall suppression of all religioâ—s Houses though indeed there be great difference between converting of Monestaries into Colledges and utter subverting them In March King Henry sent Cuthert Tunstall Bishop of London and Sir Richard Winkfield Chancelour of the Duâ—chy of Lancâ—ster into Spaine to conferre with the Emperour about matters of great importance and particularly about Warre to be made in France and yet were these two Princes at this time in League but he that shall observe the carriage of these three Princes towards one another and how convertible their Leagues were into Warre and their Warre into Peace shall finde it a strange Riddle of Ragion di statâ— and their Leagues to have been but meere complements where the skale was turned with the least graine of a circumstance and though they were bound by Oath yet that Oath made the Leagues but little the firmer seeing the League might be broken and yet the Oath kept for while one gave the occasion and the other took it though they were both accessaries yet neither was principall and where there is not a principall the Oath remains inviolate And upon those Hinges did the friend-ship of these Princes turne as at this time the Emperour though not long before he had parted with the King of England in the greatest kindnesse that could be yet gave not the English Embassadours so kinde entertainment now as he had formerly done but for what cause was not apparent unlesse upon some sinister report made to him by Monsieur de Prate who having been his Ligier with the King of England was without taking leave of the King departed and come to the Emperour before the English Embassadours came But howsoever King Henry being determined to make Warre in France himselfe in person his Councell fell into consideration how the charge of the Warre should be maintained which care the Cardinall takes upon him and thereupon appoints Commissioners in all Shiers to sit and draw the people to pay the sixth part of every mans substance in plate or money but the people opposed it alleadging that it was against the Law of the Realme for any man to be charged with such payments unlesse by Parliament and as the Cardinall continued to presse it so the people continued to denye it and when some for denying it were committed to prison the Commons in many Countryes made great assemblies for their defence the report whereof at last came to the King who thereupon came to VVestminster and protested openly that it was done without his knowledge and that it was never his meaning to ask any thing of his Subjects but according to Law and therefore desired to know by whose Authority it was done Here the Cardinall excused himselfe and said that it was the opinion of all the Judges and of all his Councell thaâ— he might Lawfully demand any summe so it were done by Commission and thereupon it was done But the King liked not to take advantage of a distinction to draw money from his Subjects and thereupon gave warning for doing any such thing hereafter and signified so much by his Letters into all the Shiers of England giving also a generall pardon to all that had offered to rise upon it which though he did of his owne free grace yet the Cardinall to win a good opinion in the Commons gave out that it was by his meanes the King granted the pardon King Henries seventeenth yeer was honoured with the advancing of many in honour for on the eighteenth of Iune at his Pallace of Bridewell the Kings sonne which he had by Elizibeth Blunt daughter to Sir Iohn Blunt Knight called Henry Fitz-Roy was created first Earl of Nottingham and after on the same day Duke of Richmond and Somerset Henry Courtney Earle of Devonshire was created Marquis of Excetur the Lord Brandon sonne to the Duke of Suffolke and the French Queene a child of two yeers old was created Earle of Lincolne Sir Thomas Manners Lord Rosse was created Earle of Rutland Sir Henry Clifford was created Earle of Cunberland Sir Robert Ratcliffe
King himselfe sitteth and ministreth the Law because he considered that it is the chiefest duty of a King to administer the Laws And here to get the love of the people by a feigned clemency he sent for one Fogge out of Sanctuary who for feare of his displeasure was fled thither and there in the fight of all the people caused him to kisse his hand After his return home he tooke to wife the Lady Anne youngest daughter of the great Warwicke and the relict of Prince Edward sonne of Henry the sixth though â—hee could not be ignorant that he had been the Author both of her husbands and 〈◊〉 death But womens affections are Eccentrick to common apprehension whereof the two Poles are Passion and Inconstancy Against his Coronation he had sent for five thousand men out of the North and these being come under the leading of Robin of Riddesdale upon the fourth of Iulyâ— together with his new bride he went from Baynards Castle to the Tower by waâ—â—â— where he created Edward his Sonne a childe of ten yeers old Prince of Wales◠〈◊〉 Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke his Sonne Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surry◠〈◊〉 Lord Berckley Earle of Nottingham Francis Lord Lovell Viscount Lovell 〈…〉 Chamberlane and the Lord Stanley who had been committed priâ—oner to the â—ower in regard his Sonne the Lord Strange was reported to have levied forces 〈…〉 not only that day was released out of prison but was made Lord 〈◊〉 of his Househould The Archbishop of Yorke was likewise then delivered but Morton Bâ—shop of Ely as one that could not be drawne to the disinheriting of 〈◊〉 Edwards children was committed to the Duke of Buckingham who sent him to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales there to be in custody The same night were made seventeen knights of the Bath Edmund the Duke of Suffolkes sonne George Gray the Earle of Kents sonne Williaâ— the Lord Zouches sonne Henry Aburgaâ—â—â—â— Christopher Willoughby Henry Babington Thomas Arundell Thomas Boleigne Gervâ—â— Clifton William â—ay Edmund Bedingfield William Enderly Thomas Lewkuâ—â— Thâ—mâ—â— of Vrmond Iohn Bromne and William Berckley The next day being the fifth oâ— Iuly the King rode through the City of London to VVestminster being accompanied with the Dukes of Norfolk Buckingham and Suffolk the Earles of Northuâ—bâ—rland Arundell Kent Surrey VVilâ—shire Huntington Nottinghâ—m Warwick and Lincolâ—â— the Viscounts Liste and Lovell the Lords Stanley Aâ—dely Dâ—cres Peâ—â—ers of Chartley Powis Scroope of â—psale Scroope of Bolton Gray of Codner Grey of Wilton Sturton Cobham Morley Burgeveny Zouch Ferrers of Croby Wells Lumley Matrâ—vers Herbert and Beckham and fourescore Knights On the morrow being the sixth of Iuly the King with Queene Anâ—e his wife came downe out of the White-Hall into the Great Hall at Westminster and went directly to the Kings Bench and from thence going upon Ray-cloath bare-footed went unto St. Edwards shrine all his Nobility going with him every Lord in his degree The Bishop of Rochester bore the Crosse before the Cardinall Then followed the Earle of Huntington beâ—ng a paire of gilt-spurres signifying Knighthood Then followed the Earle of â—â—â—ford bearing St. Edwards staâ—fe for a Relique After him came the Earle of â—â—â—thumberland bare-headed with the pointlâ—sse sword naked in his hand signifying Mercy The Lord Stanley bare the Mace of the Constableship The Earle of Kenâ— bare the second sword on the right hand of the King naked with a point which signifyed Justice to the Temporalty The Lord Lovell bore the third sword on the Kings left hand with a point which signifyed Justice to the Clergie The Duke of Suffolk followed with the Scepter in his hand which signified Peace The Earle of Lincolne bore the Ball and Crosse which signified Monarchy The Earle of Sâ—rry bore the fourth sword before the King in a rich scabbard which is called the swâ—â—d of Estate Then went three together in the midst went Gartar king of Armes in his rich Coat and on his right hand went the Major of London â—earing a Mace and on his left hand went the Gentleman-Usher of the Privy Chamber Then followed the Duke of Norfolk bearing the kings Crown between his hands Then followed king Richard in his roabes of Purple-velvet and over his head a Canopy borâ—e by foure Barons of the Cinque-Ports and on each side of the king went a Bishopâ— on one side the Bishop of Bath on the other of Durham Then followed the Duke of Buckingham bearing the kings traine with a white staffe in his hand signifying the office of High Steward of England Then followed the Queenes traine before whom was borne the Scepter the Ivory rod with the Dove signifying innocency and the Crown herselfe apparelled in roabes like the kings under a rich Canopy at every corner thereof a bell of gold On her head she wore a circlet set full of precious stones the Countesse of Richmond bearing her traine the Dutchesses of Norfolk and Suffolk in their Coronets attending with twenty Ladies of Estate most richly attired In this order they passed the Palace into the Abbey and going up to the High Altar there shifted their roabes and having other roabes open in divers places from the middle upward were both of them Anoynted and Crowned and then after the Sacrament received having the host divided betwixt them they both offered at St. Edwards shrine where the king left St. Edwards Crowne wherewith he had been Crowned and put on his owne and this done in the same order and state as they came they returned to Westminster-hall and there held a most Princely feast at the second course whereof there came into the Hall Sir Robert Dymock the kings Champion making Proclamation that whosoever would say thâ—â— king Richard was not lawfull king of England he was there ready to prove it against him and thereupon threw down his Gantlet and then all the Hall cryed king Richard king Richard And thus with some other Ceremonies the Coronation ended and the king and Queen returned to their lodgings Presently after this king Richard sent a solemne Ambassage to Lewis king of France to conclude a Leagâ—e and Amity with him but the French king so abhorred him and his cruelty that hee would not so much as see or heare his â—â—bâ—ssadors but sent them away with shame in disgrace of their Master At this tâ—me with his Queen he made a Progresse of Glocester under colour to 〈…〉 of his old Honour but indeed to be out of the way having a speciall 〈…〉 to be acted for though he had satisfied his Ambition by depriving his 〈◊〉 Nephews of their livelihoods yet it satisfied not his Feare if he deprived 〈…〉 also of their lives For effecting whereof his old friend the Duke of Buckâ—â—â—â—â—â— was no fit instrument it must be one of a baser metall and to finde out 〈…〉 henceded not goe farre For upon inquiry he was told of two that lay 〈…〉 it Chamber to him Sir Thomas and Sir Tyrrellâ— two brothers like 〈…〉 not more
a courtesie he did him indeed a wrong for waiving his Right of Succession he insisted wholly upon their Right of Election whereof would follow that as they brought him in so they might cast him out of which errour when he was told he said he did it of purpose to make King Iohn the more carefull of his Government by making him sensible upon what an unsure ground his Regality stood King Iohn resented it but seeing it to serve his turne for the present he tooke it not ill as knowing that his turne once served he could afterward be his owne carver of what title he pleased and so upon Ascension day in the yeare 1199. he was Crowned King at Westminster with more solemnity then joy many presaging by their countenances and more in their mindes that all would not long be well It cannot be denyed but that in morall circumstances Earle Iohn had the advantage of his Nephew Arthur for he was a Man of yeares fit to Governe Arthur but a Childe not above thirteene yeares old he a Native at least alwayes bred up in the Kingdome Arthur a Forrainer and had never beene here He well knowne both to the Nobility and the People Arthur a stranger to both as one they had never â—eene and besides to these morall advantages he had now added one from the Politickes that he had gotten Possession of more force in the practicall part then all the former and withall a greater then all these if it be true which some write that his Brother King Richard had assigned him his Successour after his decease But yet knowing the Title at last would come to be tryed in a Court where the Sword must be Judge he imployeth all his endevours to get this Judge to be his friend and by all meanes possible to strengthen himselfe with Armes and thereupon going to Chinon and Roan he seiseth upon the Treasure which his Brother had left in those parts and with it gets Friends and Souldiers the Armour of Armes And indeed all he could have done himselfe would have done him no good if he had not had the helpe of able Assistants who yet assisted him no lesse for their owne ends then for his and these were chiefly his Mother Queene Eleanor who knew if her Grand-sonne Arthur should be King that then his Mother Constantia would rule all at least during his Minority and thereby her selfe put from the Stage of all Authority and the Arch-bishop Hubert who also knew that if Arthur should come to Raigne that then the Anjouyn and French should have all the best Offices and the English wholly be neglected as it was in the time of King William the Conquerour And yet a greater Friend then both these for comming to Roan he used meanes that Walter the Arch-bishop in the Cathedrall Church with great pompe girt him with the Ducall sword of Normandy and Crowned him with a Coronet of Golden Roses he taking his Oath for Faithfull Administration in that Dukedome and they their Oath for being his Loyall Subjects Of his troubles in contestation with his Nephew Arthur THough King Iohn had entred upon Normandy and made that Province sure unto him yet the Province of Anjou stood firme for Arthur in observance of their love to his Father their former Prince which also King Iohn soone after invading reduceth by Force of Armes to his Obedience And now Constantia the Mother of Prince Arthur finding King Iohn too powerfull an adversary and no likelihood for her party to be able long to stand out against him without further assistance conceives it her best way to have recourse to the King of France and thereupon commits her Sonne Arthur to his Tuition who seemed to receive him with the tendernesse of a Father and promiseth to assist him with his uttermost Forces in the recovery of his Right both in France and England Here we may observe upon what hinge the affection of the Kings of France was used to turne For in King Henry the seconds time King Lewis of France was so great a Friend to his Sonne Richard that by all meanes he would helpe him to get the kingdome from his Father Afterward when Richard was King then Philip King of France was so great a Friend to Iohn that by all meanes he would helpe him to get the kingdome from his Brother and now that Iohn is come to be King he is presently growne so great a Friend of Arthur that by all meanes he will helpe him to get the kingdome from his Unkle and no doubt if Arthur should ever have come to be King he would have beene as ready to helpe any other to get the kingdome from him by which it appeares that it was not the Persons of the Men they either hated or loved but that they were alwaies jealous of their growing too great and indeed this ballancing of States keepes Princes affections alwayes in suspense and never suffers the Glasse of their Love or Hate to make a true Reflection About this time William King of Scots came to London to visit King Iohn and there did homage to him for his kingdome of Scotland though some say but onely for the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland but being required ayde against the French he excused himselfe saying he could not doe it without consent of his kingdome and so returned home And now Philip King of France having undertaken the protection of the young Prince Arthur with a mighty Army enters Normandy takes many of the best Townes and pursuing his Victories enters the Province of Anjou also and recovers it from King Iohn which he the yeare before had gotten from Prince Arthur Upon this King Iohn makes a Journey into Normandy accusing King Philip for breaking the Truce which formerly he had made with King Richard for five yeares but when he should come to make his Accusation good by Armes he falleth to Treaties and obtaineth a new Truce for fifty dayes with which new Truce Baldwyn Earle of Flanders who had professed himselfe of that side was not well pleased and thereupon commeth to King Iohn to Roan and entring a new League with him they there consult how to proceed when the fifty dayes should be expired This consultation the King of France understood and thereupon both sides prepare for warre but at the end of the Truce both sides seemed to relent and divers meetings were had for Treaties of Peace and in conclusion King Iohn more desirous of Peace then was for his Honour agreed to these Conditions that his Niâ—ce Blanch Daughter of Alphonsus King of Castile by his Sister Eleanor should marry with Lewis King Philips Sonne who should have with her in Dower besides thirty thousand Markes in money all those Cities except onely Angiers which the French before that time had taken which were many and very great and his Peace thus made he returnes into England with great joy but was not with like joy received of the English Lords who
accusing sometimes one of his Lords sometimes another as 〈◊〉 it wâ—re their fault that he had lost these Townes in Franceâ— and upon 〈…〉 made many of them pay great summes of money which brought 〈…〉 into hatred at home but into contempt abroad for the King of 〈◊〉 â—nâ—â—â—standing his unworthy courses proceeds more violently in his Invasiâ—ns 〈…〉 getting Falaiâ— Damfrâ—nt and all the good Townes of Normandy but onely Roan and at last though Râ—an was a Towne strongly fortifyed with Walls and more strongly with the faithfull hearts of the Inhabiâ—ants yet finding no hope of succour from King Iohn it was forced for want of Victuals to submit it selfe to the King of France whose example all the other Cities followed and so all Normandy returned to the subjection of the French after three hundred and sixteene yeares that Rollâ— the Dane had first possest it It was now the yeare 1205. and the fourth of King Iohns Raigne about which time the two props of his Estate or rather indeed the two Bridles of his intemperancy dyed his Mother Queene Eleanor whose vertues had oftentimes qualifyed the vices of her Sonne and Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury who repented him at his death of nothing more then that he had beene an Instrument of bringing him to the Crowne And now King Iohn being a Substantive of himselfe hath a devise in his head to make his subjects as willing to give him money as he was to have it for knowing the great discontentment they all had for his losses in France he gives it out that he would presently raisâ— an Army for recovery of those losses if he might have money to goe about it whereupon never was money given with more alacrity and as soone as he had it he instantly went to Portesmouth and there took Shipping before it was possible for his Lords and others to be in readinesse to accompany him and sayling forward some certaine Leagues into the Sea upon a sudden he returnes backe againe and then laies the fault upon his Lords that had not followed him and for this backwardnesse of theirs imposed afterwards great Fines upon them by which meanes he got money no lesse by pretence of his not going then he had done before by pretence of his going About this time died Geoffrey Fits-Peter Justitiar of England who while he lived kept the King in some awe in so much as hearing he was dead he swore by the feete of God that now at length he was King of England and with great rejoycing said to some Lords about him Now when this man comes into Hell let him salute the Arch-Bishop Hubert whom certainely he shall finde there But Philip King of France intending to leave the English nothing on that side the Sea invadeth Chinon and takes it and in it the valiant Captaine Roger Lacie which had given a period to King Philips victories had not Guido the husband of Constantia Prince Arthurs Mother revolted to King Iohn who with his assistance once againe leavies an Army besiegeth Mount Auban a Castle thought impregnable and within fifteene dayes takes it which Charles the Great could not get with his seven yeares siege where so great a number of French Lords were taken prisoners that King Iohn sent a Catalogue of their names into England for a memoriall of so great a victory After this he taketh the strong Towne of Angiers and utterly defaceth it for which afterward he was sorry as being the Towne where he was borne But now when the two Kings were ready to meete and to give battell intercession was made by friends of both sides and thereupon a Peace concluded for two yeares and King Iohn returned into England King Iohn being returned performes no lesse worthy acts at home then he had done in France for first he invades the Borders of Scotland and brings Alexander King of Scots to doe him homage and then understanding many of the Irish to be revolted he passeth over to Dublin and reduceth them to his obedience and then placing Iohn Bishop of Norwich Governour there he returnes into England where passing through Wales he subdueth certaine Rebels there and takes eight and twenty children of the best Families for pledges of their future loyalty but not long after hearing they grew mutinous and rebelled againe he was so incensed that he would not goe to dinner till he had seene those twenty eight children to be all hanged before his face so inconsiderate a thing is the desire of revenge that it makes no difference betweene innocency and guiltinesse though indeed a thing oftentimes must be done for example which considered in it selfe would be forborne And it was the yeare 1214. and the fourteenth of K. Iohns Raign when he going to Angiers strongly repaires it and the Province of Poictou revolted to him which Lewis King Philips sonne understanding comes upon them with a mighty Army and using much severity upon the Authors of the revolt takes prisoners Reynold Earle of Boleigne and William Earle of Salisbury with many others of King Iohns Captaines and defeateth his whole Army whereof when King Iohn was certified he grew in a manner desperate and as a man dejected makes a new Truce upon any conditions with the King of France and returnes into England where he findes a worse businesse ready to entertaine him for the Lords of the Realme having often required their ancient Rights and Liberties and finding nothing but delusions endure no longer to be abused but meeting at Saint Edmundsbery they there conferre how they may finde a remedy to redresse this evill and at laâ—t concluded to goe to the King themselves in person and make their Demands whereof a Charter was produced that had beene formerly granted in King Henry the firsts time whereupon comming to the King after Christmas lying then in the New Temple and acquainting him with their Demands he gives them this faire Answer that within a few dayes he would give them satisfaction and causeth the Bishops of Canterbury and Ely with William Marshall Earle of Glocester to passe their words for him that it should be performed But the King meaning nothing lesse then to doe as he said fals presently a leavying of Souldiers which the Lords understanding they also doe the like and going to the Bishop of Canterbury deliver him a Copy of their Demands and require the Kings Answer But the Bishop shewing it to the King and humbly intreating him to give the Lords a satisfactory Answer he swore a great Oath they might as well demand the Kingdome and that he would die before he would yeeld to any such demands Whereupon the Lords knowing now what they were to trust to fall to besiege Northampton and after that Redford which is yeelded to them and withall they are sent to by the Londoners to signifie their readinesse to joyne with them At this time the King was at Windsor providing an Army but hearing the Londoners were joyned with the Lords he thought it no
Christian Faith Though some there be that â—ay All theâ—e were but false Criminations charged upon him by Monkes that did not love him But though we believe not these things of him yet to suffer his kingdome to stand Interdicted so many yeares together upon so small occasion as he did was certainely no good signe of Religion in him Yet one Act he did wherein he shewed a respect to Religion by the honour he did to a Religious man For Hugh Bishop of Lincolne lying very sicke he not onely went to visit him but being dead was one of the three Kings the other two were William King of Scotlandâ— and the King of Southwales that carryed his Herse upon their shoulders till they delivered it to the Peeres and the Peeres afterward to the Arch-bishops and Bishops to carry it inâ—o the Quire Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time YEt did this King leave more Workes of Piety behinde him then all his Subjects that were in his time For he Founded the Abbey of Bowley in the New Forest in Hampshire also an Abbey of blacke Monkes in the City of Winchester and the Monastery of Farendâ—n and the Monastery of Hales Owen in Shropshire he reedified â—odstoâ— and Wrâ—xell and enlarged the Chappell of Knarisborough Now for his Subjects onely Richard Prior of Berâ—monâ—sey builded an House against the wall of the said house of Berâ—onâ—sey called the Almary or Hospitall of Converts and Children in honour of Saint Thomas In this Kings time Saint Mary Overeyes in Southwâ—â—ke was begun to be builded and the Stone Bridge over the Thames was by the Merchants of London finished Also Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury Founded a Monastery at West Derham in Norfolke which upon the dissolution came to the family of the Derhams who hold it to this day Of his Lawes and Ordinances IN this Kings time five and thirty of the most substantiall Citizens of London were chosen out and called the Counsell of the City and the King gave the City liberty to alter their Major and Sheriffes every yeare which before continued during life He caused the Lawes of England to be executed in Ireland and money to be Coyned there according to the weight of English money Of his Wives and Children KING Iohn lived to have three Wives His first was Alice Daughter of Hubert Earle of Morton who left him a Widower without issue His second was Isabell Daughter and Heire of Robert Earle of Glâ—câ—ster by whom no issue neither divorced from her by reason of Consanguiniâ—y in the third degree His third Wife was Isabel Daughter and Heire of Aymer Earle of Angoulesâ—e Affianced before to Hugh le Brun Earle of March By this Wife he had two Sonnes Henry and Richard and three Daughters Ioane Eleanor and Isabell Henry succeeded him in the kingdome Richard was Earle of Cornwall and Crowned King of the Romans and had issue Henry and Iohn that dyed without issue also Edward Earle of Cornwall and others Ioane his eldest Daughter marryed to Alexander the second King of Scots dyed without issue Eleanor the second Daughter marryed to Simon Earle of Leycester had issue Henry Simon Almaricke Guy Richard and Eleanor Henry slaine without issue Simon Earle of Bigorre and ancestour to a Family of the Mountfords in France Almaricke first a Priest after a knight Guy Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitour of the Mountfords in Thuscany and of the Earles of the Campo Bacchi in the kingdome of Richardâ— remaining privily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was ancestour of the Wellesburnes in England Eleanor borne in England brought up in France marryed into Wales to Prince Lewin aâ— Griffith Isabel his youngest Daughter marryed to the Emperour Fredericke the second had issue Henry appointed to be King of Sicilie and Margaret Wife of Albret Lantgrave of Thurine She dyed in Childbed after she had beene Empresse sixe yeares He had also two naturall Sonnes Geoffrey Fits Roy and Richard that marryed the Daughter and Heire of Fulbert de Dover who built Childham Castle had issue by her of whom some Families of good account are descended Also one base Daughter named Ioane marryed to Lewin Prince of Wales Of his Personage and Conditions HE was of Stature indifferent tall and something fat of a sowre and angry countenance and concerning his conditions it may be said that his Nature and his Fortune did not well agree For naturally hâ— loved his eâ—se yet his Fortune was to be ever in Action He won more of his Enemies by surprises then by Battels which shewes he had more of Lightning in him then of Thunder He was never so true of his word as when he threatned because he meant alwayes as cruelly as he spake not alwayes as gratiously and he that would have knowne what it was he never meant to performe must have looked upon his promises He was neither fit for Prosperity nor Adversity For Prosperity made him insolent and Adversity dejected a meane Fortune would have suited best with him He was all that he was by Fits Sometimes doing nothing without deliberationâ— and sometimes doing all upon a sudden Sometimes very Religious and sometimes scarce a Christian. His insatiablenesse of money was not so much as that no man knew what he did with it gotten with much noyse but spent in silence He was but intemperate in his best temper but when distempered with sicknesse most of all as appeared at his last when being in a Feaver he would needs be eating of raw Peaches and drinking of sweete Ale If we looke upon his workes we must needes thinke him a worthy Prince but if upon his Actions nothing lesse For his Workes of Piety were very many as hath beene shewed before but as for his Actions he neither came to the Crowne by Justice nor held it with Honour nor left it in Peace Yet having had many good parts in him and especially having his Royall posterity continued to this day we can doe no lesse then honour his memory Casualties that happened in his time ONe Casualty we might count dysastrous if it had not had relation to our selves for Hugh de Bones comming to aide King Iohn with threescore thousand out of Britany and Flanders by misfortune at Sea were all Drowned to whom the King had granted Norfolk and Suffolk for the people he brought with him to Inhabit In this Kings time were great thunders and lightnings and showers with hailstones as big as Goose-Egges Fishes of strange shape were taken in England armed with helmets and shields and were like unto armed knights saving that they were farre greater in proportion About Maidestone in Kent a certaine Monster was found strucken with the Lightning which Monster had a head like an Asse a belly like a man and all other parts farre differing from any other Creature Of his death and buriall VVHen Prince Lewis of France was come into England and was received by the Lords and by
was the marke now aimed at having taken away his kingdome openly how they might take away his life secretly be the Authours of it and not be seene in it but this must be the Contents of a Chapter hereafter Of his Taxations BY this King it appeares there is something else besides the grievance of Taxations that alienates the mindes of English Subjects from their King for never were fewer Taxations then in this Kings time yet never were the Subjects minds more alienated from their King then they were from him Before his Coronation in a Parliament holdeâ— at Westminster â—â—ere was granted him a fifteenth of the Clergy and a twentieth of the Temporalty In his fifth yeare in a Parliament at Lâ—â—don was granted him a fifteenth of the Temporalty In his fifteenth yeare was granted the sixth penâ—y of temporall mens Goods through England Ireland and Wales towards his Warreâ— with Scotland And more then these we reade not of but then at the defeate of the Earle of Lancaster there were Confiscations that supplyed the place of Taxations by which as one saith he became the richest King that had beene since the Conquest Of his Lawes and Ordinances HE Ordained that the moneyes of his Father though counted base by the People should be currant In the eight yeare of his Raigne by reason of a dearâ—h which raised the price of all Victuals it was Ordained by Parliament that an Oxe fatted with grasse should be sold for fifteene shillings fatted with Corne for twenty the best Cow for twelve shillings a fat Hogge of two yeares old three shâ—llings foure pence a fat Sheepe shorne foureteene pence with the Fleece twenty pence a fat Goose for two pence halfe-penny a fat Capon two pence a fat Hen a penny foure Pigeons a penny whosoever sold for more should forfait their Ware to the King But after these Rates imposed all kinde of Victuals grew so scarce that provision could hardly be made for the Kings house whereupon shortly after the Order was revoked and Market Folkes permitted to make the best of their Wares In this Kings time an Ordinance was made against knights Templars accused of Heresie and other crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The like was done by all the Kings of Christendome at one instant being condemned in a Generall Counsell at Vienna In the 14. yeare of his Raigne on the 15. of October the Clerkes of the Exchequer went towards Yorke with the Booke called Domus Dei and other Records and Provision that laded one and twenty Carts but within halfe a yeare they were brought backe againe Affaires of the Church in his time IN the 17. yeare of his Raign the Bishop of Hereford was arrestedâ— accused of High Treason for aiding the Kings enemies in their late rebellion but he refuâ—ed to answer being a consecrated Bishop without leave of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose Suffragan he was and who he said was his direct Judge next the Pope or without the consent of his fellow Bishops who then all arose and humbly craved the Kings Clemency in his behalfe but finding the King implacable they tooke him away from the Barre and delivered him to the custody oâ— the Arch-bishop of Canterbury shortly after he was againe taken and convented as before which the Clergy understanding the Arch-bishops Canterbury Yorke and Dublin with tenne other Bishops all with their Crosses erected went to the place of Judgement and againe tooke him away with them charging all men upon paine of Excommunication to forbeare to lay violent hands upon him with which audacious Act the King was so much displeased that he presently commanded inquiry to be made ex Officio Iudicis concerning those Objections against the Bishop wherein he was found guilty though absent and had all his Goods and Possessions seised into the Kings hands In this Kings time the Crowchet Fryers came first into England In his time Pope Iohn the two and twentieth first Instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi begunne before by Urban the fourth Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King founded Oriall Colledge and Saint Mary Hall in Oxford He builded â— Church of Fryers at his Manour of Langley where the soule of Gaveston should bâ— prayed for In this Kings twentieth yeare Richard Rothing Sheriffe of London bâ—â—lded the Parish Church of Garlickhithe in London Ralph Baldocke Bishop of London gave two thousand Markes to the building of the new Worke of the Chappell on the South side of Pauls Church And left much more by his Testament Casualties IN the eighth yeare of this Kings Raigne was so great a dearâ—h that Horses and Dogges were eaten and Theeves in prison pluckt in peeces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eate them halfe alive which continuing three yeares brought in the end such a pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In the fourth yeare of his Raigne the Church of Middleton in Dorsetshire with all the Monuments was consumed with Lightning the Monkes being at Mattins In this Kings time digging the Foundation of a worke about Pauls were found more then a hundred heads of Oxen and kine which confirmed the opinion that of old time it had beene the Temple of Iupiter and that there was the Sacrifice of Beasts Of his Wife and Children HE marryed Isabel Daughter of Philip the Faire King of France she being but twelve yeares of age who lived his Wife twenty yeares his Widdow thirty and dying at threescore and three yeares old at Rysings neare London was buried in the midst of the Gray Fryers Quire in London By her he had issue two Sons and two Daughters his eldest Sonne named Edward of Windsor because borne there succeeded him in the kingdome His second Sonne named Iohn of Eltham because borne there was at twelve yeares old created Earle of Cornwall he dyed in Scotland in the flowre of his Youth unmarryed His eldest Daughter Ioane being a childe was marryed in the fourth yeare of King Edward her Brother to Dâ—vid Prince of Scotland Sonne to King Robert Bruce at seven yeares old who comming afterward into England to visit her Brother dyed here and was buryed at the Gray Fryers in London His second Daughter Eleanor was marryed to Reginold the second Earle of Gelder with a portion of fifteene thousand pounds and had issue by him two Sonnes who were Earles successively Of his Personage and Conditions HE was faire of body and of great strength but given much to drinke which made him oftentimes bewray his owne Secrets For his other conditions his greatest fault was that he loved but one for if his love had beene divided it could not have beene so violent He was extreame in nothing but in loving and though love moderated be the best of affections yet the extremity of it is the worst of passions He was rather unfortunate then unhappy seeing unfortunatenesse is in the Event unhappinesse in the Cause and
Lieutenant of the English pale they were forced to retire and flye The Earle of S. Paul escaped to S. Omers but left many of his men of quality behind him and more taken Prisoners After this Thomas Duke of Clarence the Kings second sonne and the Earle of Kent with competent Forces entred the Haven of Sluce where they burnt foure ships riding at anchour and then returned to the reliefe of Callis besieged at that time by the French and in the way tooke three Carricks of Gâ—noua richly laden and brought them into the Chamber of Rye And these were the troubles of this King abroad But now at home the Reliques of the former Northerne Rebellion began to revive for now Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall the Lords Hastings Fawconbridge and Bardolfe with divers others conspired at a time appointed to meet upon Yorkswould-Downes and there to bid defiance to king Henry Articles of Grievances were framed and set up in all publick places which drew multitudes to be partakers of the enterprize But now Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmeâ—land with the Lord Iohn the Kings third sonne the Lords Henry Fitz-Hughes Ralph Evers and Robert Vmphrevile make head against them and comming into a Plaine in the Forrests of Galltree they sate down right against the Archbishop and his Forces which were twenty thousand and Westmerland perceiving the Enemies forces to be farre more than theirs he used this policie he sent to the Archbishop demanding the reason why he would raise Forces against the king who answering that his Armes were not against the king but for his owne defence whom the king upon the instigation of Sycophants had threatned withall he sent him a scrowle of their grievances which Westmerland read and seemed to approve and thereupon desired a conference with him The Archbishop more credulous then wise perswaded the Earle Marshall to goe with him to the place appointed to conferre the Articles are read and allowed of and thereupon Westmerland seeming to commiserate the souldiersâ— having beene in armour all day and weary wished the Archbishop to acquaint his Party as he would his with this their mutuall agreement and so shaking hands in most Courtly friendship dranke unto him whereupon the souldiers were willed to disband and repaire home which they had no sooner done but a Troâ—p of horse which in a colourable manner had made a shew to depart wheeled about and afterwards returned and being come in â—ight the Earle of Westmerland arrested both the Arcbishop and the Earle Marshall and brought them both Prisoners to the king at Poâ—fret who passing from thence to York the Prisoners likewise were carried thither and the next day both of them beheaded At Durham the Lords Hastings and Fâ—wconbridge with two knights were executed Northumberland with the Lord Bardolfe fled first to Barwick and after into Scotland where they were entertained by David Lord Flemming whereupon the king gave summons to the Castle of Barwick which at first they refused to obey but upon the planting and discharging of a Piece they presently yeelded without composition and here William Greystock Henry Baynton and Iohn Blinkâ—nsop knights and five other were presently put to execution and many others committed to severall Prisons About this time Iames sonne and heire of Robert king of Scotland a childe of nine yeares old attended by the Earle of Orkney as he was sailing into France was taken by certaine Mariners of Norfolk who brought him to the King at Windsor the 30. of March 1408. and the King sent them to the Tower of London Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had been in Wales France and Flanders to raise a Power against King Henry returned back into Scotland and after a yeere with a great Power of Scots entred England and came into Yorkshire making great spoyle and waste as they passed but Sir Thomas Rokesby Sheriffe of Yorke levying the forces of the County upon Bramham-moore gave them battell in which Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight About this time also Sir Robert Vmphrevile Vice-admirall of England with ten men of warre entred Scotland burnt their Gallyâ—t and many other ships over against Lieth and brought away with him fourteen tall ships laden with corne and other staple commodities which at his returne he sent into the Markets round about and thereby brought down the prizes of all things and purchased to himselfe the name of Mend-market The Prince had been a Student In Queenes Colledge in Oxford under the tuition of his Unkle Henry Beaufort Chancellor of that University afterwards Bishop of Lincolâ—e and Winchester and lastly made a Cardinall by the title of Eusebius From Oxford the Prince was called to Court and the Lord Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester was made his Governour but comming afterward to be at his owne disposing whether being by nature valorous and not yet well stayed by time and experience oâ— whether incited by ill companions and emboldened by the opinion of his owne greatnesse he ranne into many courses so unworthy of a Prince that it was much doubted what he would prove when he came to be Prince Once it is said he lay in wait for the Receivers of his fathers Rents and in the person of a Thiefe set upon them and robbed them Another time when one of his companions was arraigned for felony before the Lord Chiefe Justice he went to the Kings Bench barre and offered to take the Prisoner away by force but being withstood by the Lord Chiefe Justice he stepped to him and struck him over the face whereat the Judge nothing abashed rose up and told him that he did not this affront to him but to the King his father in whose place he sate and therefore to make him know his fault he commanded him to be committed to the Fleete You would have wondred to see how calme the Prince was in his own cause who in the cause of his companion had been so violent for he quietly obeyed the Judges sentence and suffered himselfe to be led to Prison This passage was not a little pleasing to the King to thinke that he had a Judge of such courage and a Sonne of such submission but yet for these and such other pranks he removed him from being President of the Councell and placed in it his third sonne Iohn This made the Prince so sensible of his fathers displeasure that he thought it necessary to seek by al means to recover his â—ood opinion which he endeavored to doe by a way as strange as that by which he lost it for attiring himselfe in a garment of blew Sattin wrought all with Eylet-holes of black silke at every hole the needle hanging by which it was sowed and about his arme a thing in fashion of a hounds collar studded with SS of gold he came to the Court at Westminster to whom the King though not well in health caused himselfe in
him Of his Death and Buriall IN the fortysixth yeare of his Age having Peace both at home and abroad and being of too active a spirit to be idle he tooke upon him the Crusado and great provision was made for his journey to Ierusalem but alas his journey to Ierusalem required no such provision for being at his prayers at S. Edwards shrine he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexie and thereupon removed to the Abbot of Westminsters house where recovering his senses and finding himselfe in a strange place he asked what place it was and being told that he was in the Abbots house in a Chamber called Ierusalem Well then said he Lord have mercy upon me for this is the Ierusalem where a Southsayer told me I should dye And here he dyed indeed on the 20. day of March in the yeare 1413. when he had lived sixe and forty yeares Reigned thirteen and a halfe It is worth remembring that all the time of his sicknesse his will was to have his Crowne set upon his bolster by him and one of his fits being so strong upon him that all men thought him directly dead the Prince comming in tooke away the Crowne when suddenly the king recovering his senses missed his Crown and asking for it was told the Prince had taken it whereupon the Prince being called came back with the Crown and kneeling down said Sir to all our judgements and to all our griefes you seemed directly dead and therefore I tooke the Crown as being my Right but seeing to all our comforts you live I here deliver it much more joyfully than I tooke it and pray God you may long live to weare it your selfe Well saith the king sighing what right I had to it God knowes But saith the Prince if you dye king my sword shall maiâ—teine it to be my Right against all Opposers Well saith the king I referre all to God but I charge thee on my Blessing that thou administer the Lawes indifferently avoyd Flatterers deferre not to do Justice nor be sparing of Mercy And then turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on me and with those words gave up the Ghost His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Of men of Note in his time OF men of Valour in his time of whom there was great store I shall need to say no more than what hath already been said in the body of the story onely I cannot but remember Sir Robert Kâ—olls who borne of meane parentage made himselfe famous over all Christendome and dying at a Manour of his in Norfolk was brought to London and buried in the Church of the White Fâ—ieâ—s in London which himselfe had re-edified But for men of learning I must set in the first place William Wickham a man of no learning yet well worâ—hy tâ— hold the place In relating of whose life I must have leave to expatiate a little His fathers name was Iohn Long or as some say Perot but as Campian proveth Wickham and not from the place of his dwelling though he was Parish-Clerke of Wickham in Hampshire where he taught children to write in which quality his sonne William proved so excellent that Nicolas Wooddall Constable of Winchester Castle tooke him from his faâ—her â—nd kept him at Schoole first at Winchester afterward at Oxford till himselfe being made Surveyor-generall of the Kings works he sent for this William to serve him as his Clerke who in short time grew so expert in that imployment that Adam Torletoâ— Bâ—shop of Wincheâ—ter commended him to the King who imployed him presently in surveying his Fortifications at Dover and Quinborough Castles and afterward made him Surveyor of his Buildings at Windsor Castle and his houses of Henley and East-Hamstead And here first Envy rose up against him for having caused to be engraven on the stone of a wall in Windsor Castle these words This made William VViâ—kham some that envyed his rising complained to the King of this insolencie as arrogating to himselfe that excellent piece of Building to de done at his charge but VVickham called before the King about it made answer that his meaning waâ— not neither by any indâ—fferent construction could it import that VVickham made that buiâ—ding but that the same building made VViâ—kham as being a meanes of the Kings great favour towards him This answer pacified the King who tooke him daily more and more into his favour and being now entred into the Ministery was first made Parson of S. Martins in the Fields then Minister of S. Martins le Grand â—fâ—erwards Archdeacon of Lincolne Provost of VVells and Rector of Manyhens in Devoâ—shire so as at one time he had in his hands so many Ecclesiasticall livings that the value of them in the Kings bookes amounted to eight hundred seventy sixe pounds thirteen shillings besides which he was honored with many Temporall places of great profit and respect as to be his principall Secretary Keeper of the Privy Seale Master of the Wards and Liveries Treasurer of the Kings Revenues in France and some other Offices After which the Bishoprick of VVinchester falling voyd meanes was made to the King to bestow that place upon him And here the â—â—cond time did Envy rise up against him informing the King that he was a man of little or no learning and no way sit for such a dignity whereupon the King made stay of granting it but when VVickham came before the King and â—old him that what he wanted in personall learning he would supply with being a Founder of learning This so satisfied the King that he bestowed the place upon him After this he was made Lord Treasurer of England and here the third time did Envy rise up against him for the King requiring of his subjects a supply of money It was answered that he needed no other supply than to call his Treasurer to accompt This blow struck deepe upon the Bishop for he was presently charged to give accompt for eleven hundred ninety six thousand pounds and whilst he was busie in preparing his account all his Temporalties upon importunity of Iohn of Gaunt were seized into the Kings hands and given to the Prince of VVales and himselfâ— upon paine of the Kings displeasure commanded not to come within twenty miles of the Court. In this case he dismisseth his traine and sendeth copies abroad of his accompt if it might be received but was hindred by the working of Iohn of Gaunt against him Upon this ground as was thought Queen Philip wife to K. Edward the Third upon her death-bed by way of Confession told VViâ—kham that Iohn of Gaunt was not the lawfull issue of king Edward but a supposititious Son for when she was brought to bed at Gauâ—t of a Daughter knowing how desirous the King was to have a Son she exchanged that daughter with a Dutch woman for a Boyâ— whereof she had been delivered about the same time with the Queen Thus much she confessed and
a King and for a sacrifice than a Priest and he could not choose but dye a Martyr who all his life had beene a Confessor He had one immunity peculiar to himself that no man could ever be revenged of him seeing he never offered any man injury By being innocent as a Dove hee kept his Crown upon his head so long but if he had been wise as a Serpent he might have kept it on longer But all this is not sufficient if we expresse not in particular his severall virtues So modest that when in a Christmas a shew of women was presented before him with their breasts layd out he presently departed saying fie fie for shame forsooth you be to blame So pittifull that when he saw the quarter of a Traytor over Cripplegate he caused it to be taken down saying I will not have any Christian so cruelly handled for my sake So free from swearing that he never used other oath but forsooth and verily So patient that to one who strooke him when he was taken prisoner he onely sayd forsooth you wrong yourselfe more than me to strike the Lords annointed So devout that on principall Holy-dayes he used to weare sackcloth next his skinne Once for all let his Confeâ—â—or be heard speak who in ten years confession never found that he had done or sayd any thing for which he might justly be injoyned Pennance For which causes King Henry the Seventh would have procured him to be Cannonized for a Saint but that he was prevented by deathâ— or perhaps because the charge would have been too great the Canonization of a king being much more costly than of a private person Of men of Note in his time THere were men of valour in this Kings Reigne of extraordinary eminencie as first Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France whom when a French Lord upbraided that his sword was of lead he made him answer and made him feel that it was of steele Next him was Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury whose very name was a sufficient charme to daunt a whole French Army Then the next was Iohn Lord Talbot so great a terror to the French that when the women would still their children from crying they would use to say Talbot comes Then was Richard Nevill Earle of Warwicke so much greater than a king as that which makes is greater than that it makes and such a one was he Many other besides these not much inferior to these that we may truly say there never was a more heroicall King of England than Henry the Fifth nor ever a King of England that had more heroicall Subjects than Henry the Sixth And though Arms and Letters seem to be of different conditions yet they commonly grow up and flourish together as in this kings Reigne were Iohn Leland sirnamed the Elder who wrote divers Treatises for instruction of Gramarians William White a Priest of Kent professing the Doctrine of Wickliffe for which he suffered Martyrdome by fire Alexander Carpenter who wrote a booke called Destructorium vitiorum against the Prelates of that time Peter Basset Esquire of the Privy Chamber to king Henry the Fifth whose life he wrote Iohn Pole a Priest who wrote the life of St. Walhorayle an English woman Also Thomâ—s Walden alias Netter who wrote divers Treatises against the Wickliffifts Peâ—er Clerke a Student in Oxford and a defender of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled and was put to death beyond Sea Thomas Walsingham born in Norfolk a diligenâ— Historiographer Thomas Ringstead the younger an excellent Preacher who wrote divers Treatises Thomas Rudborn a Monke of Winchester and an Historiographer Peter Pâ—yne an earnest professor of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled into â—â—beâ—â—â— Nicholas Vpton a Civilian who wrote of Heraldry of colours in Armory and of the duty of Chivalry Iohn Capgrâ—ve born in Kent an Augustine Frier who wrote many excellent Treatises particularly the Legend of English Saints Humphry Duke of Glocester Protector of the Realm well learned in Astrologie whereof he wrote a speciall Treatise intiâ—uâ—ed Tabula Directionum Iohn Whethamstead otherwise called Frâ—mentariuâ— Abbot of St. Albâ—ns who wrote divers Treatises and amongst others a booke of the Records of things happening whiles he was Abbot which book Holinshead had seen and in some passages of his time followed Roger Oâ—lâ—y accused of Treason for practising with the Lady Elâ—â—nor Cobham by sorcery to make the king away and therof condemned and dyed for it he wrote one Treatise intituled Contra â—â—lgi superstitiones and another De sua Innocentia Henry Walsingham a Carmelite Frier oâ— Norwich who wrote sundry Treatises in Divinity Lidgateâ— Monke of Bury who had travelled France and Italy to learne languages and wrote many workes in Poetry Thomas Beckington Bishop of Bath who wrote against the Law Salique of France Michael Trigurie born in Cornwâ—ll whom for his excellent learning king Henry the Fifth made Governor of the Universitie of Caâ—n in Normandy after he had conquered it Reynold Peacocke Bishop of Chichester who wrote many Treatises touching Christian Religion Robert Fleming who wrote a Dâ—ctionary in Greeke â—â—d Latine and a worke in verse of sundry kindes Nicholas Mâ—ntacute an Historiographer Iohn Stow a Monke of Norwich and Doctor of Divinity in Oxfâ—rd Nichâ—lâ—â— Buâ—geie born in a Town of Norfolke of that name who wrote an History called Adâ—â—â—tiâ—nes Chronicorum Robert â—alsâ—cke who wrote a booke De â—e Militâ—ri Thomas Dâ—â—dâ— a Carmelite Frier of Mâ—rleborough who wrote the life of Alphred king of the West-Saxons Robert Bâ—le â—irnamed the Elder Recorder of London who gathered a Chronicle of the Customs Laws Foundations Changes Offices Orders and publique Assemblies of the Citie of London with other matters touching the perfect discription of the same Citie he wrote other workes also touching the state of the same Citie and the Acts of King Edward the third THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH EDWARD Earle of March born at Roane in Normandy sonne and heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke slaine in the battell at Wakefield succâ—eded his Father in the Right but exceeded him in the possession of the Crown of England and that by virtue of an act of Parliament lately made wherein the said Duke of York not only was declared heire apparent to the Crown and appointed Protector of the King and Kingdome but it was further enacted that if King Henry or any in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this Act that then the said Duke or his heire should have the present Possession which because his friends attempted to doe therefore justly doth Edward Earle of March his sonne by virtue of this act take possession of the Crown and is Proclaimed king of England by the name of Edward the fourth through the City of London on the fifth day of March in the yeer 1460. But before he could have leasure to be Crowned he was forced once againe to try his fortune in the field by battell For King Henry
he had brought his souldiers onely to shew them the Country and returne as they came adding withall that to make it appeâ—â—e he was able without helpe of the English to subsist of himselfeâ— he utterly disclâ—â—med any benefit by that Truce untill three months after the English were reâ—â—â—ned to their own Country and so in a great snuffe returned home For the better Confirmation of what waâ— agreed upon between the two kings an 〈◊〉 is desired but before the same is eâ—â—ectuaâ—ed the French king sends to the Engâ—â—sh army an hundred Tonne of Gascoigne wine to be drunke out amongst the privâ—â—e â—ouldiers and therewithall free licence for Commanders and Gentlemen to recreate themselves in Amyeâ—s where they were lovingly entertained by the Burgers of the Town by the kings expresse command The place of enterview of these two 〈◊〉 is agreed on to be at Picquency a Town three miles distant from Amâ—eâ—s seated in â—â—ottome through which the river of Some runneth over which a strong bridge was buâ—â—t and in the midst thereof a graâ—e made overthwart with â—artes no wider 〈◊〉 than a man might well thrust in his arme covered with boardes overheadâ— to avoid the rainâ—foure of the Bed-chamber on both sides are appointed to search the roomâ— to prevent traps of instrumenâ—â— of treachery and being by them certified that â—ll as was cleere the kings advance themselves King Edward being come in sight of the place made a stand being told that the circumstance of comming fâ—râ—t to thâ— place was a matter of great disparagement in point of State but the French king â—oâ—e regarding substâ—nce then circumstance gave the king of England the advanâ—â—â—â— to come at hiâ— pleasure and went first to the barre appointed for conference 〈◊〉 theâ—e did attend king Edwards leasure He had in his Company Iohn Duke of 〈◊〉 with his brother the Cardinall and eight hundred mâ—n at Arms. King Edâ—â—â—â— hâ—d with him his brother the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Northumberland â—he Lords Chamberlaine and Chancellour and at his backe his whole Army in bâ—tâ—eâ—â— The kings lovingly salute each other and complements of courtesie reâ—ipro 〈…〉 which finished They with their Noblemen there present take all â—heir 〈◊〉 upon the holy Evangelists in all to their â—ower to observe the Articles o◠〈◊〉 agreâ—d on After which In private the French king imporâ—uâ—es king Edâ—â—â—â— that the Duke of Brittaine might be left out of these Articles but after much 〈◊〉 to that purpose king Edward gave his resolute answerâ— that if king Lewis 〈◊〉 the frendship of Englâ—nd he should not molest the Duke of Brittaineâ— for â—hat he was resolved at any time to come in person to relieve himâ— if he were distuâ—â—ed King Edward pretended the many kindnesse he had formeâ—ly recâ—ived of the Duke of Brittaine but it was conceived that the desire of compassing the Eaâ—les o◠〈◊〉 and Pembrooke now in the Duke of Brittaines Country were the greatest 〈◊〉 of his standing â—o â—irmely for him The money to be payd to king Edâ—â—rd 〈◊〉 the Articles is accordingly payd and thereupon the French Hostages are delivered and the Englisâ— Army reâ—â—res to Callice and from thencâ— is transported into 〈◊〉 and then the English Hostages are likewise delivered This Peace was 〈◊〉 â—o be made only by the holy Ghost because on the day of meeâ—ing a white Dove came and sate upon the king of Englands Tent though the Dukes of Glocester and Burgoigâ—e thought it was made by no good spirit King Edward being returned into England had his minde running still upon the dangeâ— that might grow from the Earle of Richmond he therefore dispatched D. Stillington and two other his Ambassadors to the Duke of Briâ—aine to send him over to him under this subtle pretence that he meant to match him in mariage with the Lady Cicillâ— his younger daughter and withall sent also no small store of Angels to speake for him which so prevailed with the Duke that he delivered the Earle oâ— Richmond to the Ambassadors who conducted him thence to Saint Maloâ— where whil'st they stayed for a winde the young Earle by the cunning plotting of Peter Landoiâ— the Dukes Treasurer more out of scorne that he was not gratified by the English Ambassadour to the proportion of his place than for any love to the Earle escapes into Sanctuary from whence neither prayers nor promises could get him cut Neverthelesse upon Peter Landois his promise he should be safely kept there the Ambassadors departed and returned home acquainted K. Edward with the Duke of Bâ—â—goigâ—â—s courtesie in delivering him and their own negligence in suffering him to escape onely making amends with the promise of Peter Landois which might be to K. Edward some contentment but was no satisfaction At Christmas following being the sixteenth yeere of his Reigne he created his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales Duke of Corâ—wall and Earle of Chester his second sonne he made Duke of Yorke giving the order of knighthood to the sonne and heire of the Earle of Liâ—colâ—e and many others He created also foure and twenty knights of the Bath whereof Brian Chiefe Justice and Littleton a Judge of the Common Pleas were two About this time there were two examples of severity seene not unworthy the relating if but onely to make us see how dangerous a thing it is Ludere cum sanctiâ— to speake words that may be taken as reflecting upon the king The first was of one Walter Walker a wealthy Citizen dwelling at the signe of the Crown in Cheapside This man one day when his childe cryed bid him be quiet and he would make him heire of the Crowne which words being subject to interpretation he was called in question about them arraigned condemned and put to death The other was of Thomas Burdet of Arrow in Warwickeshire Esquire It happened that K. Edward hunted in his Parke he being from home and there killed a white Buck whereof Mr. Burdeâ— made speciall account so as comming home and finding that Buck killed he wished it hornes and all in his belly that had counselled the king to kill it and because none counselled the King to kill it but himselfe it was thought those words were not spoken without a malignant reflecting upon the King and thereupon Burdet was arraigned and condemned drawne to Tiburne and there beheaded though Mâ—rkhâ—â— then Chiefe Justice chose rather to lose his place than assent to the Judgement And now began ambition to boyle in Richard Duke of Glocester whereof the first heate fell upon his brother the Duke of Clarence how to rid him out of the way to which end he seeks to raise Jealousies in King Edwards head against him telling him that some of Clareâ—ce his followers were Sorcereâ—s and Necromancers and had given forth speeches that one whose name begun with G. should disinherit his Children and get the Crown and for a colour of this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarâ—â—ce his servants who came with him out of
〈◊〉 and founded the Chappell at Maclesfield in Cheshire where he was borne Also in his time Stephen Granings Major of London founded a free Grammâ—r Schoole 〈◊〉 VVolverhampton in Staffordshire where he was borne and gave lands sufficient for a Master and an Usher leaving the oversight to the Merchant-Taylours in London Thiâ— Town of VVolverhampton commonly so called is originally and rightly called 〈◊〉 hampton upon this occasion The Town was antiently called Hampton to which a noble woman named VVilfrune a widdow sometime wise of Athelâ—s Duke of Northampton obtained of King Ethelred to give lands to the Church there whâ—ch she had founded and thereupon the Town tooke the addition of the said VVilfrune In this Kings time also Iohn Collâ—t Deane of Pauls founded Pauls Schoole in the Church-yard there Casualties happening in his time IN his first yeere happened the Sicknesse called the Sweating-sicknesse which though it continued not long yet tooke away many thousands and in his two and twentieth yeer the like Sweating-sicknesse happened againe but by reason of Remedies found in the former took away fewer In his second yeer Wheat was sold for three shillings the Quarter Bay-salt at the like price In his seventh yeer Wheate was sold at London for twenty pence the Bushell which was counted a great dearth In his tenth yeer Wheate was sold at London for six pence the Bushell Bay-salt for three pence halfe penny Nantwichâ—salt â—salt for sixpence white Herrings nine shillings the Barrell red Herrings three shillings the Cade red Sprats six pence the Cade and Gascoigne wines for six pounds the Tâ—â— In his fifteenth yeer Gascoigne wine was sold at London for forty shillings the Tunne a Quarter of Wheate foure shillings and Bay-salt foure pence the Bushell The two and twentieth of August 1485. the very day that King Henry got the victory of King Richard a great fire was in Bread-street in London in which was burnt the Parson of Saint Mildreds and one other man in the Parsonage there In his tenth yeer in digging to lay a new foundation in the Church of Saint Mary Hill in London the body of Alice Hackney which had been buried in the Church a hundred seventy five yeeres before was found whole of Skin and the joynts of her Armes pliable which Corpes was kept above ground foure dayes without annoyance and then againe buried In his twelveth yeere on Bartholomew day at the Towne of Saint Neâ—des in Bedfordshire there fell Hayle-stones that were measured eighteene Inches about In his thirteenth yeer on the one and twentieth of December suddenly in the night brake out a fire in the Kings lodgings being then at his Manour of Sheeâ— by violence whereof a great part of the old building was burnt with hangings beds Apparell Plate and mâ—ny Jewells In his fifteenth yeer the Town of Babraâ— in Norfolke was burnt Also this yeer a great Plague happened whereof many people died in many places but specially in London where there died in that yeer thirty thousand In his twentieth yeer Alum which for many yeers had been sold for six shillings a hundred rose to five nobles a hundred and after to foure marks In his two and twentieth yeer the Citty of Norwich was well neere consumed with fire Also in the same yeer in Iuly a gallery new builded at Richmond wherein the King and the Prince his Sonne had walked not an houre before fell suddenly downe yet no man hurt The great Tempest which drave king Philip into England blew down the Golden Eagle from the Spire of Pauls and in the fall it fell upon a signe of the Black-Eagle which was in Pauls Church-yard in the place where the School-house now standeth and battered it and brake it downe This the people interpreted to be an ominous Prognostick upon the Imperiall House as indeed it proved for this king Philip being the Emperours sonne arriving in Spaine sickned soon after and being but thirty yeeres of age deceased upon whose decease his wife Queen Iohn out of her tender love to him fell distracted of her wits Of his wife and children HE maried Elizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the Fourth being of the age of nineteene yeeres whom two yeeres after his Mariage he caused to be Crowned She lived his wife eighteen yeeres and dyed in Child-bed in the Tower of London the eleventh of February the very day on which she was borne and is buried at Westminster in the magnificent Chappell and rich Monument of Copper and Guilt which her Husband had erected He had issue by her three Sonnes and foure Daughters his eldest sonne Arthur was born at Winchester the twentieth day of September in the second yeere of his Reigne and dyed at Ludlow at fifteen yeeres old and a halfe and of this short life some cause may be attributed to his Nativity being borne in the eighth moneth after conception He was buried in the Cathedrall Church of St. Maries in Worcester where in the South side of the Quire he lies enâ—ombed in Touch or Jet without any remembrance of him by Picture His second sonne Henry was borne at Greenwich in â—ent on the two and twentieth day of Iune in the seventh yeere of his Fathers Reigne and succeâ—ded him in the kingdome His third sonne Edmund was borne in the tenth yeere of his Fathers Reigne and dyed at five yeares of age at Bishops Hatfield and lyes buried at St. Peters in Westminster His eldest daughter Margaret was born the nine and twentieth day of November the fifth yeer of her Fathers Reigne and at fourteen yeers of age was married to Iames the fourth King of Scotland unto whom she bare three Sons Iames the fifth Arthur and Alexander and one Daughter which three last dyed all of them young and after the death of her husband king Iames slaine at Flodden field in 〈◊〉 against the English she was remarried to Archibâ—ld Dowglâ—sse Earle of Augus in the yeer 1514. to whom she bare Margaret espoused to Mathew Earle of Lenox Father of the Lord Henry who died at the age of nine moneths and lyeth interred in the upper end of the Chancell in the Parish Church of Stepney neer London Her second Sonne was Henry Lord Dâ—â—nley reputed for personage the goodliest Gentleman of Europe who married Mary Queen of Scotland the Royall Parents of the most Royall Monarch Iames the first King of great Britaine Her third Sonne was Charles Earl of Lenox Father to the Lady Arbella King Henries second Daughter the Lady Elizâ—beth was borne in the yeere 1492. at three yeers of age died and was buried at Westminster His third Daughter the Lady Mary had been promised to Charles King of Castile but was married to Lewis the twelveth King of France who dying three moneths after she was then married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke His fourth Daughter the Lady Katherine was borne in the yeer 1503. in the eighteenth yeer of her Fathers Reigne and dyed â—n Infant Of his Personage and Conditions HE
that she was his lawfull wife and would abide the Determination of the Court of Rome but of no other After Whitsontide the King and Queen removed to Windsor and there continued till the fourteenth of Iuly on which day the King removed to Woodstocke and left the Queen at Windsor where she remained a while and after removed to Easthamsted whither the King sent to her divers Lords first to perswade her to be conformable to the law of God which if they could not do then to let her know that his pleasure was she should be at either of these three places his Mannor of Oking or of East-hamstead or the Monastery of Bisham and there to continue without further molesting him with her suits And now came Cranmer in to play his part It chanced that Doctor Stepheâ—s Doctor Foxe and he met at Waltham one day at dinner where falling into discourse about the case then in agitation of the Kings mariage with Queene Katherine the other Doctors thought the mariage might be proved unlawfull by the Civill Law but said Cranmor â— it may better be proved by the Law of God and it is no hard matter to doe it which words of his being made knowne to the Kingâ— Cranmor is sent for and commanded to set his reasons down in writing which having done and shewed them to the King he was asked whether he would stand to that which he had written who answered he would even before the Pope himselfe if his Majesty pleased marry said the King and to Pope you shall go and thereupon sent him to the Court of Rome and with him Thomas Bullen Earl of Witshire Doctor Stokesley Elect of London Doct. Lee the Kings Almoner and others who coming to Bolonia where the Pope was had a day of audience appointed but was hindred by a â—â—diculous accident for the Pope holding out his foot for them to kisse his toe as the manner is a dog of the Earls by chance in the room ran and caught the Popes foot in his mouth made it for that time unfit to kisse After this when Cranmor had made his Proposition he was told it should be answered when the Pope came to Rome so the Embassadors were dismissed and Cranmor went to the Emperourâ— Court where in private conference he satisfied Cornelius Agrippa the most learned at that time about the Emperour and brought him to be of his opinion Cranmor returning home and giving the King this satisfaction the Kings mariage with Queen Katherine was soon after dissolved by Parliament and the Bishop of Canterbury accompanied with Doctor Stokesley Bishop of London Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester the Bishop of Bathe and Lincolne and other learned men rode to Dunstable where Queen Katherine then lay where being cited to appeare and making default fifteen dayes togethers for lack of appearance she was divorced from the King and the mariage declared to be void and of none effect and from thenceforth it was decreed she should no more be called Queen but Princesse Dowager after which time the King never saw her more At this time being the foure and twentieth yeer of King Henries reigne Sir Thomas Moore after long suit delivered up the great Seal which was then delivered to Thomas Audeley Speaker of the Parliament and he made first Lord Keeper and shortly after Chancelour in whose roome of Speaker Hâ—nfrey Wingâ—eld of Grayes-Inne was chosen on the first of September this yeer the King being at Windsor created Anne Bullen Marchionesse of Pembrooke giving her a thousand pounds land a yeere and then being desirous to talke with the King of France in person on the tenth of October taking the said Lady with him and divers Lords as the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke the Marquesse of Dorset and Excester the Earles of Arundell Oxford Surrey Essex Derby Rutland Sussex and Huntington with divers Viscounts Barons and Knights he sailed over to Callice and on the twentieth of October meâ— with the King of France at Bolloigne with whom he staid foure dayes in which time to doe him honour the King of France honored the two Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke with the Order of Saint Michael and then both Kings went to Callice where the French King stayed certain dayes in which time to doe the King of France honor King Henry honored two of his great Lords with the Order of the Garter and then after great magnificence in revelling feasting on the twentieth of Ostob. the French King departed from Callice and King Henry returned into England where on the fourteenth of November following he maried secretly the Lady Bulleâ—â— which mariage was not openly known till Easter after when it was perceived she was with childe at which time William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury dyed Thomas Cranmor was elected Archbishop in his roome After that the King perceived his new wiâ—e to be with childe he caused all Officers necessary to be appointed to her and so on Easter eave she went to her closet openly as Queen and then the King appointed her coronation to be kept on Witsunday following and writings were sent to all Sheriffes to certifie the nams of men of forty pounds to receive the order of Knighthood or else to makâ— fine the assesment of which â—ines was appointed to Thomas Cromwell Master of of the Jewel-house and of the Kings Councell a man newly come in the Kingâ— favour by whose industry great sums of money were by such fines gathered In the beginning of May the King caused Proclamation to be made that all men who claimed to doe any service at the Coronation by the way of tenure granâ— or prescription should put in their claime three weekes after Easter in the Star-chamber before Charles Duke of Suffolke for that time high Steward of England the Lord Chancellour and other Commissioners Two dayes before the Coronation were made Knights of the Bath the Earle of Dorset the Eaâ—le of Derâ—y the Lord Clifford the Lord Fitzwater the Lord Hastings the Lord Monteagle the Lord Vaux Sir Iohn Mordant Sir Henry Parker Sir William Windsor Sir Francis Weston Sir Thomas Arundell Sir Iohn Hurlson Sir Thomas Poynings Sir Henry Savill Sir George â—itzwilliams Sir Iohn Tindall and Sir Tho Iâ—rmey On Whitsunday the Coronatioâ— was kept in as great state 〈◊〉 for al circumstances as ever anâ— was and the day after a solem Justâ— was â—olden In May this yeer Pope Clement sent a messenger to King Henry requiring him personally to appeare at the generall Councell which he had appointed to be kept the yeer following but when his Commission was shewed there was neither time nor place specified for keeping of the said Councell and so with an uncertain Answer to an uncertain Demand the Messenger departed It was now the five and twentieth yeere of the Kings reigne when on Midsomer day Mary the French Queene and then wife to Charles Duke of Suffâ—lke dyed and was buried at Saint Edmund-berry and on the seaventh of September
taken downe and Tables placed in their roomes In his fifth yeer the Book of Common Prayer was established Casualties happening in his time IN his second yeere Saint Annes Church within Aldesgate was burnt In his â—ifth yeere a sweating sicknesse infested first Shrewesbury and then the north parts and after grew most extreame in London so as the first weeke there dyed eight hundred persons and was so violent that it tooke men away in foure and twenty houres sometimes in twelve and somtimes in lesse amongst other of account that dyed of this sicknesse were the two Sonnes of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke who dyed within an houre after one another in such order that both of them dyed Dukes This disease was proper to the English Nation for it followed the English wheresoever they were in foraigne parts but seized upon none of any other Countrey In this yeere one Master Arden of Kent by procurement of his wife was murthered in his owne house being dead his body was carried out and laid upon the ground in a close hard by where this is memorable that for two yeers after the ground where his body lay bore no grasse but represented still as it were a picture of his body onely in the space between his legges and armes there grew grasse but where any part of his body touched none at all Yet this miraculous accident was not so much for the murther as for the curses of a widow-woman out of whose hands the said Master Arden had uncharitably bought the said close to her undoing And thus the divine justice even in this world oftentimes works miracles upon offenders for a mercifull warning to men if they would be so wise to take it In his sixth yeer the third of August at Middleton-stony eleven miles from Oxford a woman brought forth a childe which had two perfect bodies from the navill upward the legges for both the bodies grew out at the midst where the bodies joyned and had but one issue for the excrements of them both they lived eighteen dayes and were women children This yeere also were taken at Quinborow three Dolphins and at Black-Wall six more the least of which was bigger then any horse Works of Piety by him or other in his time THis King gave three houses to the reliefe of the poor first for the fatherlesse and beggers children he gave the late Gray-Fryers in London which iâ— now called Christs Hospitall then for lame and diseased persons he gave the Hospitall of Saint Thomas in Southwarke and Saint Barthalomews in West Smithfield Thirdly for riotous and idle persons he gave his house of Bridâ—well and for their maintenance he took six hundred pounds a yeer land from the house of the Savoy which had been long abused and bestowed it upon these houses to which he added four thousand marks a yeer more By his example Sir William Chester Alderman of London and Iohn Calthroppe Draper at their owne costs made the Brickwalls and way on the backside that leadeth to the Hospitall of Saint Barthalomews and also covered and vawted the Towne Ditch which before was very noysome In the second yeer of this King Sir Iohn Gresham then Major of London founded a free Schoole at Host in Norfolke also at his decease he gave to every Ward in London ten pounds to be distributed amongst the poor and to maids marriages two hundred pounds In his third yeer Sir Rowland Hill the â—hen Lord Major of London caused to be made a Cawsway commonly called Overlane pavement in the high way from Stone to Nantwich in length four miles for the ease of horse and man He caused also a Cawsway to be made from Dunchurch to Bransen in Warwickshiere more then two miles in length and gave twenty pounds towards the making of Roitton Bridge three miles from Coventry He made likewise the high way to Kilborne neere to London Also four Bridges two of them of stone containing eighteen arches in them both the one over the River of Severne called Acham Bridge the other Terne Bridge and two other of Timber at Stoke where he built also a good part of the Church A free Schoole likewise he builded at â—rayton in Shropshiere with Master and Usher and gave sufficient stipends to them both Also he purchased a free fair to the said Towne with a free Market weekly and every fourteen dayes a free Market for cartell Besides all thiâ— he gave to the Hospitall of Christ-Church in London in his life time five hundred pounds and at his death a hundred In this Kings fourth yeer Sir Andrew Iud Major of London founded a notable free Schoole at Tunbridge in Kent he builded also an Almshouse for six poor people nigh to the Parish Church of Saint Helens in Bishopsgate-streete and gave threescore pounds land a yeer to the Skinners of London for which be bound to pay twenty pounds to the Schoolemaster and eight pounds to the Usher of his free Schoole at Tunbridge yeerly for ever and four shillings weekely to the six poor Almspeople and something more yeerly In his sixth yeer Sir George Barnes Major of London gave a Windmill in Finsbury-field to the Haberdashers of London the profits thereof to be destributed to the poor of that Company also to Saint Bartholamews the little certaine Tenements to the like use Of his personage and conditions COncerning his personage it is said he was in body beautifull of a sweete aspect and specially in his eyes which seemed to have a starry livelinesse and lustre in them Concerning his conditions in matter of fact there is not much to be said but in matter of disposition and inclination very much even to admiration For though his tree was not yet come to the maturity of bearing fruit yet it was come to the forwardnesse to bear plenty of buds and blossomes For proofe of his mercifull disposition this one example may be sufficient when one Ioan Butcher was to be burned for blasphemy and heresie all the Counsell could not get him to signe the Warrant till the Archbishop Cranmer with much importunity perswaded him and then he did it but not without weeping For his pregnancy of wit and knowledge in all kindes of learning we shall need but to hear what Cardan who coming into England had often conference with him reporteth of him that he was extraordinarily skilfull in Languages and in the Politicks well seen in Philosophy and in Divinity and generally indeed a very miracle of Art and Nature He would answer Embassadours somerimes upon the suddaine either in French or Latine he knew the state of forraigne Princes perfectly and his own more He could call all Gentlemen of account through his Kingdome by their names and all this when he had scarce yet attained to the age of fifteene yeers and died before sixteene that from hence we may gather it is a signe of no long life when the faculties of the minde are ripe so early Of his death and buriall IN
be with childe by Edward Seymoure Earl of Hertford who being at that time in France was presently sent for and being examined before the Archbishp of Canterbury and affirming they were lawfully married but not being able within a limited time to produce witnesses of their marriage they were both committed to the Tower where she was brought to Bed and after by the Connivence or Corruption of their Keepers being suffered sometimes to come together Shee was with childe by him again which made the Queen more angry then before so as Sir Edward Warner Lieutenent of the Tower was put out of his place and the Earle was fined in the star-chamber five thousand pounds and kept in prison nine yeers after Though in pleading of his Case One Iohn Hâ—les argued They were lawfull man and wife by virtue of their owne bare Consent without any Ecclesicsticall Ceremonie The Lady a few yeers after falling through grief into a mortall Sicknesse humbly desired the Queens Pardon for having married without her knowledge and commending her children to her clemency dyed in the Tower At this time the King being under Age dissentions amongst the Peeres grew hot in Erance of which there were two Factions Both pretending the cause of Religion of the One the Duke Guise a Paipst was Head of the other the Prince of Conde a Protestant but while Delirant Reges Plectunter Achiui while these Princes are at variance the people suffer for it and chiefly as being under the weaker protection the Protestant Party where upon Queene Elizabeth having well learned the Lesson Tum tua res agitur partis cum proximus ardetâ— and fearing least the flaim of their dissention might kindle a fire within her owne Kingdome sent over Sir Henry Sidney Lord Presiden of Wales into France to endeavour by all possible means their reconcilement which when hee could not effect and perhaps it was never meant he should effect it but onely to see what invitations would be made to the Queen for her assistance she thereupon at the moan of the afflicted Protestants sent over an Army of six thousand Souldiers under the Conduct of the Earl of Warwick in assistance of the Prince of Conde and other Protestant Lords who delivered to him the Town of Newhaven to hold in the King of France his name untill such time as Calice were restored But the Prince of Conde marching to joyn with the English Forces was by the Duke of Guise interrupted and taken prisonerâ— which had been a great disappointment to the English but that the Duke of Colin joyned with him besieged Caen in Normandy and took it togeâ—her with Bayeux Faleise and Saint Lo. The French Hostages that were pledges for the payment of five hundred thousand Cowns if Calice were not restored were remaining still in England who perceiving there was like to be War with France prepared secretly to get away but being ready to take Shipping were discovered and brought back again In the mean while the Prince of Conde drawn on with a hope to marry the Queen of Scots and to have the chief Government in France during the Kings Minority concluded a Peace with the King and with the Guises so as now all French as well Protestants as Papists required to have Newhaven delivered up But the Earl of Warwick perceiving the â—icklenesse of the French Protestants First to make suâ—e to draw him into France and now upon so slight occasion to require him to be gone he shutteth all â—rench both Protestants and Papists oâ—t of the Town and layes hold of their Ships the French on the other side make ready to set upon the Town saying They fought not now for Religion but for their Countrey wherefore it was meet that both Protestants and Papists should joyn their Forces seeing they had already concluded a Peace betwixt themselves And hereupon the Duke of Memorancy sent a Trumpetter to the Earl of Warwick commanding him yeeld the Town who making answer by Sir Hugh Pawlet That he would never yeeld it without the Queens leave he thereupon besieged the Town and with great violence of Battery sought to get it by force Which Queen Elizabeth hearing she sent a Commission to the Earl of Warwick to yeeld it up if upon honourable Conditions which soon after was accordingly done after the English had held it eleven months and then the Earl without any dishonour for yeelding up a Town which the Pestilence made him no lesse unwilling then unable to hold he returned into England but that which was more dolefull then the losse of Newhaven he brought the Pestilence with him into England The recovery of this Town not onely made the French to triumph but hereupon the Chancellor of France pronounced openly That by this Warre the English had lost all their Right to Calice and were not to require it any more seeing it was one of the Conditions That neither of the Nations should make Warre upon the other which was the Point stood upon by the King of France and his mother when Queen Elizabeth sent Sir Thomas Smith to demand Calice to be restored At this time there were such crosse designes amongst the Princes of Christendome that a very good Polititian could hardly understand their Ayms The Duke of Guise being slain in the Civill Warre the Queen of Scots Dowry was not paid her in France and the Scots were put off from being the Kings Guard This exceedingly displeased the Queen of Scots but then to please her againâ— and for fear lest hereupon she should apply her self to the friendship of the English her Unkle the Cardinall of Lorrain solicites her afresh to marry Charls Duke of Austria offering her for her Dowry the County of Tyroll The Queen of Scots to make use of her Unkles fear and perhaps to bring Queen Elizabeth into an opinion of depending upon her acquaints her with this motion and therein requires her advice Queen Elizabeth not willing she should marry with any forraign Prince perswades her to take a husband out of England and particularly commended to her the Lord Robert Dudley whose wife a little before had with a fall broke her neck promising withall that if she would marry him she should then by Authority of Parliament be declared her successour in case she dyed without issue But when her Unkles and the Queen-Mother were informed of this motion they so much disdained the Marriage with Dudley that so she would refuse that Match and perseverein the friendship of the French they offered to pay her the Dowry money that was behinde and to restore the Scots to all their former liberties in France And as for the King of Spain he had indeed a Ligier Embassadour here in England but rather by way of complement and to watch advantages then for any sincere love which he began now to withdraw from the English as suspecting them to intend a Trade to the West Indies And now the French Protestants may see what they brought upon
St. Edmonds berry being by chance set on fire continued burning till it had consumed 160. houses but by the Kings bountifulnesse giving 500. loads of timber and the City of Londons reliefe the Towne was forthwith new builded in a fairer manner than it was before In the yeare 1613â— on the seventeenth of April in the parish of Stâ—ndish in Lancashire a mayden child was borne having foure legges foure armes two bellies joyned to one back one head with two faces the one before the other behind like the picture of Ianus This year also on the 26. of Iune in the parish of Christs-Church in Hampshire on Iohn Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with his wife a yong child by them was himself the child both burned to death with a suddain lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yet lay burning for the space of almost three dayes till he was quite consumed to ashes This yeare also on the seventh of August the Towne of Dorchister was quite consumed with fire begun on the house of a Tallow Chandler destroying all the houses except a few neare the Church and all their wares and goods to the value of two hundred thousand pounds yet not any man or woman perished About the same time also the Play-house called the Globe upon the Banks side neare London was quite consumed with fire by discharging a Piece of Ordnance and yet no man hurt and about foure years after a new built Play-house neare Golding-lane called the Fortune was by negligence of a Candle cleane burnt to the ground In the year 1614. the Town of Stâ—atford upon Avon was burned and left the water should be behind in doing of mischiefe so great Iundations were at this time in Norfolke and Lincoln-shire that the sea entred twelve miles into the land In the yeare 1612 on the 18. of Novemb. a Blazing star bgan to be seene in the South-east about five a clock in the morning the flame or streame whereof enclined towards the west This comet in the opinion of D. Bâ—mbridge the great Mathematician of Oxford was as far above the Moon as the Moon is above the earth what iâ— portended is onely known to God but the sequell of it was that infinite slaughters and devastations followed upon it both in Germany and other Countries In the year 1622 on Friday the 24. of October a Roman Catholike Priest preached in the after-noon at Hunsdon house in the Black Friers in London in an upper chamber where there were assembled above 300 men and women when about the middle of the Sermon a great part of the Floore brake and fell down with such violence that it brake down the next floorâ— under it in the fall whereof were slain the Preacher and almost 100â— of his Auditors besides as many more hurt In this Kings time course paper commonly called white brown paper was first made in Engl. specially in Surry about Winsor Of his Wife and Children HE married Anne the daughter of Frederick the second King of Denmarke whose marriage was there solemnized in the yeare 1589. By whom he had borne in Scotland two Sons Henrie who dyed before him and Charles who succeeded him in the Crown and one daughter named Elizabeth married to Frederick the fiâ—th of that name Count Palatine of the Rheine by whom she had many children both Sons and Daughters King Iames had also by his wife Queen Anne two other daughters borne in England the Lady Marie and the Lady Sophia who both dyed youngâ— the Lady Marie at about three yeares old the Lady Sophia the next day after she was borne and were both of them buried with great solemnity in the Chappell Royall at Westminster Of his Personage and Conditions HE was of stature somewhat higher than ordinary of a wel compacted body of an Ambourne haire of a full and pleasing viâ—ageâ— in his latter dayes enclining to be fat and buâ—leyâ— of bodily exercises he tooke most delight in huntingâ— which yet some thought hee used rather as a retiring himselfe from the importunity of Staâ—e affaires than for any great pleasure hee took in it It is said he had such a fashion in riding that it could not so properly bee said he rid as that his horse carried him for hee made but little use of his Bridle and would say a horse never stumbled but when hee was reined Hee was of an admirable pregnancie of wit and that pregnancy much improved by continuall study from his child-hood by which he had gotten such a promptnesse in expressing his mind that his extemporall speeches were little inferiour to his premeditated writings Many no doubt had read as much and perhaps more than he but scarce ever any concocted his reading into judgement as he did by which hee became so judicious that though hee could not Prophesie yet he could presage and his Conjectures were little lesse than Oracles In all the Liberall Sciences hee was we may say a Master of Arts but in Divinity a Doctor as he made appeare in the Conference at Hampton Court and is seene still by the learned Writings he hath leâ—t behind him And as for that part of the Politicks which concernes Monarchie Regere Imperio populos which himselfe used to call King Craft in this he excelled Hee knew how to take the inclinations of the people at their first bound and never suffer them to rise higher than hee could well reach them nor to grow stronger than he could either alter or divert them He would be sure to keep his Subjects in a temper of contentment which if he could not doe by preventives he would by lenitives He was so wise that hee could dissemble without seeming a Dissembler be free in opening his mind and yet keep counsaile He was as a provident Pilot that in a calme would provide for a storme and you should never finde him committing the fault of Non pâ—taram He was both Marti Mercurio but not tam morti quam Mercurio as being of his temper who said Cedant Arma Toga and indeed seeing peace is the end of both It were not wisedome to seeke it by Armes if it may be had by the Gowne as it is in the Aphorisme Consiliâ— omnia experiri prius quam Armis sapientem Decet That which was bountie in him being a King would have beene frugality if he had beene a private person there being of both one radicall reason Of all the Morrall vertues he was eminent for chastity in which the Poet seemes to include all vertuâ— where he saith Nulli fas casto sceleratum in sistere limen By nulli casto meaning no vertuous person it was a manifest argument of his being an excellent Prince that comming next to the admirable Queen Elizabeth which was in a manner to compare them together yet there appeared no inequallity that it might not untruely be said King Iames was but the continuation of Queen Elizabeth the same vertue though different sexes and now to