transported the King with Anger being then in Normandy That he let some words fall in his Passion which being taken hold on by some of his Courtiers who mis-construed the Kings meaning it proved the destruction of Becket For soon after having leave to return and beginning new Troubles in Church Matters four of them Slew him at the High Altar in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury and with him two or three Monks that endeavoured his Rescue Thus fell this troublesom Prelate who rising from a low degree his Father being a Londoner and his Mother a Sarazen in his Pride contended many Years with a Potent King and brought many miseries on the Kingdom Afterward he was Sainted and many Superstitious People went on Pilgrimage to his Tomb. The Pope no sooner knew his Champion was fallen but he Threatned Cursed and Fulminated yet with little Terrour However to make himself Easie the King admitted two Cardinals to take his Purgation who allotted his Penance when he had denied his consenting to the Murther upon Oath to War three Years in the Holy Land which he Redeemed by Erecting three Religious Houses That he should go from London to Canterbury bare Footed to visit Beckets Shrine which he performed and suffered himself to be Scourged by the Monks with Rods on his Naked Back after which upon his sending Presents to the Pope he was Absolved During the Kings being thus Abroad his Queen had caused Rosamond his fair Concubine to be Poisoned which so inraged him that he cast her into Prison and would be prevailed on by no Intreaty nor Submission to release her during his Life tho' she endured many Miseries and Hardships in her confinement till at length she was set at Liberty by her Son Richard's comming to the Crown as will more at large appear in his Reign Doctor Gilbert Folliott of Oxford however hardly the Pope had used the King nevertheless perswaded him to regulate abuses in the Clergy and curb their Pride shewing him a warrant for it from the Word of God and the Writings of Eminent Fathers of the Church and other Good and Learned Men That for as much as Kings are stiled The Nursing Fathers of the Church It is their Duty to God to see it well Ordered and Governed and like a careful Husbandman suppress and keep under those rank Weeds of Error that would over-top and choak the Corn of Truth He used many other Reasons and Arguments so that the King began to assume his Power and look more narrowly into their Covetousness Pride and the Oppressions they laid on such as their Jurisdiction extended over in Temporalities wherein he abridged and cut them short which made them greivously complain that the King hearkened to Persons evilly affected to the Church and the Pope having notice who had advised the King sent many Threats and Menaces of what Mischief he would do in England if he did not put him out of his Protection which he had no sooner done but the Clergy like so many Harpies grievously Persecuted him till they made him Abjure the Land but this being contrary to the Kings pleasure he was afterward recalled and had leave to live a private Life However the King neglected to pay the Tribute called Peter-Pence to Rome and Garrisoned his Towns in Normandy very strongly beating out the encroaching French and Enlarging his Borders tho' his Sons proved still troublesom to him in under-hand siding with the French and some discontented Normans and English However he surmounted all Difficulties till in Normandy he fell Sick of a Feaver and Dyed at Chinon on the Sixth of July Anno Dom. 1189 when he had Reigned 34 Years 8 Months and 11 Days He was Eldest Son to Geoffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem by Maud the Empress Eldest Daughter to Henry the First He began his Reign October 25 Anno 1154 and Dying as is said was Buried at Font-Everard in Normandy He is accounted a Wise Just Learned and Valliant Prince and tho' he little burthened his Subjects with Taxes considering the Wars he had yet he left in his Treasury 900000 Pounds in Coin and Plate besides Jewels and other things of great value which furnished out his Son Richard for the Holy War As for his fair Concubine whom he entirely doted on he caused her to be Buried at Godstow near Oxford and on her stately Monument placed this Epitaph Hic Jacet in Tumba Rosamundi non Rosa Munda Non Redolet sed olet que Redolere Solet And may be Englished thus Within this Tomb lies the World 's chiefest Rose She who was Sweet will now offend your Nose In the Fifth Year of this Kings Reign 30 Persecuted Waldenses flying their Country came into England and found here no better Entertainment for being Pronounced Heriticks by a Convocation of Bishops at Oxford the King strictly Prohibited his Subjects to relieve them so that wandering up and down they Dyed with Hunger And near this time certain Jews Crucified a Child at Glocester for which 20 of them were Hanged and many Banished Anno 1163 one Peter Priest of Cole-Church was at the Charge of Building London-Bridge a New with Timber In the 20th Year of this Kings Reign Leicester was Burnt by his command the Walls and Castle Razed and the Inhabitants dispersed for adhering to his Enemies The same Year Christ-Church in Canterbury was burned and six Years after the City of York was Burned and 1185 the Abby of Glasenbury was consumed by Lightening and the next Year a terrible Earthquake happening threw down many Buildings and rent in pieces the Cathederal Church of Lincoln Chichester was also Burnt Near Orford in Suffolk a Monstrous Fish was taken having the shape of a Man upwards and was kept a long time by the Governour in the Castle Eating Raw Flesh and Fish greedily but at last it got away by the breaking of a Sluce and was carried to the Sea again and People were perswaded if it could have been made to Speak it might have told many wonderful things Remarks on Notinghamshire c. NOTTINGHAM SHIRE It contains 8 Hundreds divided into 168 Parishes as also 8 Market Towns and is Watered with 21 great and small Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. East Retford 2 Newark 2 Notingham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Newark in this County is pleasantly seated on the River Trent thence called Newark upon Trent to distinguish it At Swinstead Abby in this place King John was Poisoned by a Monk and over the River there is a very fine Bridge Notingham is pleasantly seated on a branch of the same River incompassed with pleasant Fields and Groves It s Castle was kept by the Danes against Burthred King of Mercia also against Ethelred and Alfred two other Saxon Kings At Stoke near Newark Lambert Symnel in the Reign of Henry the Seventh was utterly Defeated and his upholders John D' La Pool Earl of Lincoln Thomas Garadine Chancelour of Ireland
a Prisoner to King Stephen's Queen However after this Battel Maud received the Allegiance of all the Counties of England except Kent and Marching to Winchester received there the Crown and other Regalia's and so passing to London she was received in Triumph and now the reports of King Stephen's Defeat and Imprisonment flying into Normandy caused his Subjects there to slight him and incline to Geoffery Husband to the Empress but changed their Minds when they heard the King was at Liberty and had strongly Besieged the Empress in Oxford whither she was Fled upon notice the Londoners consulted to seiz her and deliver her Prisoner to the King because she had refused to confirm to them King Edward's Laws with all their Charters and Priveledges And withdrawing privately from London for fear of a Surprize she posted to Oxford where she had not been scarce five Days ere the King Beleagured the City and pressed it with continual Assaults tho' in the depth of Winter so that the Empress fearing to be Taken dressed herself in White and passing the Thames on the Ice went through the Snow which lay then thick on the Ground to Abingdon where taking Horse she passed to Wallingford-Castle kept with a strong Garison by her Friends and by this time her Brother and Son Henry were Landed at Warram-Haven and from thence came to her with some Forces but she wearied with the various turns and chances of War soon after left England and returned to her Husband who was in Normandy having sent Prince Henry before and so Oxford being Surrendered to the King he went to Lincoln and Summoned the Barons who there Swore Allegiance to Eustace his Son whom he Created Duke of Normandy and Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury refusing to Consecrate him was obliged for his contempt of the Kings commands to leave the Land and fly to Normandy whereupon the King seized on his Temporalities but did not dispose of the Arch Bishoprick It is Remarkable that the Kings of England before Stephen refrained going into Lincoln upon the account of a fatal Prophecy pronounced by Merlin viz. When a King enters within Lincoln's Walls His Reign proves Stormy and he Childless falls The Kings Treasure being much wasted in the Wars he Fought he demanded a Subsidy of the Clergy but they refusing it he was extream angry with the Prelates demanding of the Bishops of Salisbury Lincoln and Ely the Keys of their Castles and exacted great Sums of Money from them pretending they were Indebted to the Crown for the Tenures of their Temporalities And now Prince Henry being grown up gathered an Army and Invaded England nor was the King slow to Oppose him but was somewhat retarded by the Indisposition of his Son who fell into a Frenzy of which he shortly Dyed greatly lamented of the King who had no more Children but Sorrow giving place to Anger he caused the Trumpets to sound a Charge against the Enemy but as the two Armies were about to joyn such a Storm of Rain and Hail fell and continued so long that they were forced out of the Field to seek shelter which gave a time for Parly and the King weary of the War and pittying the Sufferings of his People being Childless and not expecting any more Children after many Messages from one to the other a meeting was appointed in which it was firmly agreed That the King should Adopt Prince Henry his Heir to Succeed him in the Kingdom and other his Dominions and in lieu thereof he should quietly enjoy the Crown during the Term of his Natural Life which being Signed and Sworn to all Hostilities ceased and Henry was sent to suppress the Rebellion in Normandy and oppose the intruding French where in his Young Years he shewed himself an expert General and Souldier in driving the Frenchmen out of the Garrisons and Castles they had taken but whilst he was busied in the Wars Abroad King Stephen fell Sick of the Iliack Passion and Dyed in the Monastery of Monks at Dover This Stephen was King of England and Duke of Normandy the third Son of Stephen Earl of Bloyce by Adilicia or Alice He began his Reign on Monday the Second of December Anno Dom. 1135 and Reigned 18 Years 10 Months and 20 Days being the 24th Sole Monarch of England He was Buried at Feversham in Kent in an Abby of his own Founding In his Reign Anno 1136 a Fire began at London-Stone and consumed all before it thence Eastward as far as Aldgate and Westward to St. Paul's Church and the next Year Rochester was destroyed by Fire And in the Third Year of his Reign St. Martin's Church without the Walls and the Hospital with Thirty Nine Houses and much Riches were Burnt In the Last Year of his Reign a little before his Death appeared a plain sign of a Cross in the Moon Remarks on the County of Norfolk c. THis County is pleasantly Situated and receives many Advantages by lying so commodiously open to Sea which Bounds it on the North-East and part of the West on the South it is Bounded by Suffolk and the remaining part of the West by Cambridgshire It produces plenty of Butter Cheese large Cattle Corn Wooll Deer Coneys Sheep and store of Woollen Manufacture It has in it one City viz Norwich a Bishops See it is divided into 31 Hundreds containing 660 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 3 Rivers of note the River Y ar from which Yarmouth takes its Name being the Principal It sends Members to Parliament 12 Norwich 2 Thetford 2 Yarmouth 2 Lynn-Regis 2 Castle-Rising 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Yarmouth lies advantagiously on the North side the River Y ar and has great Trade by Shipping it was Founded by the Danes the better to favour their Landing when they Invaded this Island and has been often Graced with the Presence of many Kings and Princes as William the Conquerer who Fortefied it Henry the Second and Queen Elizabeth Norwich the Antient Venta of the Romans is a City of great Antiquity often Sacked and Burnt by the Danes especially it was levelled to the Ground by them Anno 1004. It suffered much in the Conquerers time for siding with Earl Randdulph The Cathedral was Founded by one Herbert who Translated the Bishoprick from Thetford to Norwich and was the first Bishop of Norwich This City Imploys Thousands of People in the Woollen Manufacture in making Stuffs Bays Says Serges Stockings c. Thetford the Antient Stigomagus of the Romans was the principal seat of the Saxon East-Angle Kings where King Edmund the Martyr was Overthrown by the Danes NORFOLK Lynn is a pleasant Sea-Port Town honoured with the Gift of a Rich Cup by King John and their Charter was enlarged by Henry the Third for their good service against the Outlaw'd Barons and other Priviledges were added in Henry the Eighth's time the Name being changed from Lynn-Episcopi to Lynn-Regis Elmham was Antiently the Bishops See but it was Translated thence to Thetford
Female and that there was no force in that Law to debar him of such a Right This the King considered prudently and deliberated with Grave Counsel about it who all concluded it was his undoubted Right and the Earl of Arthois who fled out of France for saying upon the French Kings Sentencing his Earldom to Maud Countess of Burgundy By me was he made a King and by me shall he be Deposed vehemently solicited the King to claim and prosecute his Right promising him his Interest to make him many Friends even in the Heart of France But this was laid aside a while by reason of a difference arising between England and Scotland For King Edward sending to David the Scots King who had Married his Sister to restore the Castle of Berwick and do him Homage for his Kingdom he Answered That by the Sword he had won the Castle and would keep it and as for the Homage demanded his Father never acknowledged any such Service and if he had King Edward had released it if any such was due and therefore he would not confess any Tenure of the Crown of England This slighting Answer highly exasperated King Edward so that he raised a powerful Army and Marching into Scotland soon subdued the better part of it Fortifying and Garisoning to his own use the Towns and Castles he took and in his return posessed himself of Berwick and caused Edward Bayliol Son to John Bayliol who had been King of Scotland but was deceased there to be Crowned King of Scotland to hold it in Tenure of him and committing to his charge the Government of the Town of Berwick Yet he had not long withdrawn his Army ere the Scots had outed this new King and compelled him to fly into France whereupon King Edward Marched against David who had procured a great many French Forces and Overthrew him with a great Slaughter of his followers and so again having secured that Kingdom more strongly than before he returned in Triumph And now he had leasure to consider how to possess himself of the French Diadem and the firmer to bind the Earl of Arthois to his Interest he created him Duke of Richmond and to carry on the thing secretly till it should be ripe for execution The King by private Messages craved the Advice of the Earl of Hanialt his Wives Father the Lord Beaumont and others who had great Interest in Germany and the Netherlands who all approved it promising their best assistance and that he might have power to command the Nobles and Common People of those Countries when occasion required it They procured him to be created Vicar General of the Empire All this while the French King was Ignorant of their Proceedings being extreamly busy in providing Necessaries for an Army of 60000 Men with which he intended to pass into the Holy Land making his Brother John Duke of Normandy and Regent of all his Dominions till his return but at length having secret Notice of King Edwards Pretensions from some Treacherous Counsellors in England who under-hand were his Pensioners he laid aside his intended Eastern Expedition to defend his own Country yet this Discovery sooner than was wished did not at all amate King Edward nor slacken him in what he Designed but knowing Money is the Sinnew and main support of War by many Politick Devices he got vast Sums from his Subjects and Treasured it in his Coffers till his Affaires should require it so that for a time Money became so scarce among the Trading People That a fat Ox was sold for a Noble a fat Sheep for Twelve Pence a Quarter of Wheat for Two Shillings and other Provisions proportionable Matters being thus Resolved on and Forwarded he Sailed to Flanders with his Queen where he met and Conferred with a great many Princes of Germany who agreed to assist him and returning raised an Army of 27000 Men with which he Landed in France and to oppose him the French King took the Field with an Army of double the Number but when they were ready to joyn in Battel Jone Countess of Hainalt Sister to King Philip and Mother to the Queen of England by her unwearied Mediation staid their forward Swords by procuring a Twelvemonths Truce whereupon the French King dissolved his Army and King Edward with his returned to England Yet he gave not over his Design for going to Brussells after the expiration of the Truce the German Princes firmly Engaged themselves to his Interest and solicited the Flemings to Confederate in the League but they excused it unless the King would stile himself King of France and quarter the Arms of that Kingdom with his own That so he might be impowered to release unto them a Bond of Two Millions of Florins wherein they stood obliged not to wage War against the King of France These things he actually did and then they consorted with the German Princes who Signed and Sealed an Instrument to be True to King Edwards Interest and thereupon he returned to England to make speedy preparations for the War and found that in his Absence the French Squadrons had Burnt Southampton and Ravaged Hampshire and part of Sussex carrying away much Booty but not doubting they should one day pay dear for it he called a Parliament who Granted him a Fifth part of Moveable Goods and a Third Part of Corn also a great Tax on Wooll which lay heavy on the Meaner Sort. He Borrowed morover of his Rich Subjects and the City of London furnished him with 20000 Marks he Coined much Gold and Silver with the French Arms Quartered with the Lions and so early in the Spring Sayled to the Sluce which he found Blocked up by a Fleet of French Genois Picards and other Nations about 250 Sail and on Board them an Army of 40000 Men these he Encountered and utterly Defeated Destroying all that he seized not to his use sending a Multitude of Prisoners into England which Victory obtained by much an inferiour Number of Ships and Men gained him a large Reputation among the Princes his Confederates and greatly dismayed the French and Marching into Flanders he joyned the Forces of Jacob Dartwell General of the Flemings with those of the Duke of Guelders the Marquess of Muse Earls of Mons Suvians and Hainalt the Lord Tralquemont and many Thousand Germans c. and laid Siege to the City of Tournay which the French King prepared to Relieve but as before by the incessant Mediation of the Countess of Hainalt when the Place was at point of Yielding another Truce was made and the Armies Dissolved to the great perplexity of most that had Engaged Whilst King Edward was imployed abroad the Scots by the Encouragement of the French King Deposed Edward Bayliol and Renounced their Homage to the Crown of England but upon his Marching thither with 6000 Horse and 40000 Foot he Regained what had been Lost and made them Submit Yet he was no sooner retired but David coming out of France with some
joyntly with Coventry the Cathedral was Builded by Oswin King of Northumberland upon a Conquest gained over the Mercians and here Wulferre and Celred two Saxon Kings were Buried It was for some time an Arch Bishoprick by the means of King Offa. At Blore Heath in this County a Battel was Fought between the two Houses of York and Lancaster and 2400 of the Yorkists slain STAFFORD SHIRE The Seats of the Nobility are Blore Hall belonging to the Noble Family of Newcastle Newborough to the Earl of Bridgwater Cherley Castle to the Lord Ferrers Throwley to the Lord Cromwell Beudesert and Seaney Park to the Lord Paget Rolleston to the Lord North and Grey Gerards Brumley Sandon and Wislow to the Lord Gerard of Brumley Hamstal Ridware to the Lord Leigh Dudley Castle and Hinley to the Lord Ward Litchfield Close and Eccleshal Castle to the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry The Houses of the Gentry are likewise many and spacious The Reign of RICHARD the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux RICHARD the Second Son and Heir to Edward the Black Prince was Crowned Anno 1377 not much exceeding 11 Years in Age so that Charles the French King taking advantage of his Minority set out a great Fleet Sack't and Burnt the Towns of Dartmouth Plimouth Portsmouth Hastings Rie and others on the Sea-Coast of England but after they had roamed up and down doing great Mischief for three Weeks they were beaten off with considerable Loss by Edmund Earl of Cambridge the Kings Unkle and others nor were the Scots Incited by the French King less troublesom Burning Roxborough and taking by surprize the Castle of Berwick but the People breaking down the Draw-Bridge shut them out of the Town and being straightly Besieged all the Scots in the Castle were put to the Sword except Alexander Ramsey who was reserved for a large Ransom yet the French though they had been beaten off not giving over their designs Landed again and did much mischief at Winchelsea Dover Gravesend and other places on or near the Sea-coast So that the King to Enable him to set out a Fleet and Transport an Army that might put a check to these Insolencies fummoned a Parliament at Westminster in which a Subsidy was Granted him of Four Pence a Head on all Persons above the Age of Fourteen Years which was looked on in those days as a very grievous Tax and the Gathering it was attended with bad consequences However the Money set out an indifferent good Fleet and an Army were sent into France under Lord Thomas one of the Kings Unkles who wasting all in his way joyned with the Duke of Britanie and much anoyed the French Recovering many Towns and Castles but whilst this was doing abroad a dangerous Mischief befell at home John Wall a Factious Priest by his going from place to place and Preaching to the inferiour sort of People That they were Free by the Law of Nature and that Laws were made by Crafty People to keep them Poor and Low so to Enslave them and that by their Pedigree derived from Adam the good things of the Earth should be equally divided amongst them and not some grow Fat and Rich whilst others Pine and Starve And moreover no Taxes were due on any pretence but People Free Born in their Liberality ought to be left Free This and such like Cant being sutable to their humor and wishes mainly wrought with them to become Levellers so that these pernicious Insinuations spread soon into most parts of England before the Magistrates were aware to suppress it and to bring about what was wished by some cunning Knaves to Inrich themselves in the Spoil of others they raised Tumults and possess'd the Country People with a belief That the City of London was at their devotion and only waited till they came to take possession of it whereupon they flowed thither like an outragious Torrent from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and other places stiling themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Weale Publick chosing as their chief Captain one Wat Tyler by profession a Taylor and as his subordinate Officers Jack Straw Jack Shepherd and some others and to this Rout the Incendary of a lewd Priest John Wall Chaplain and being Encamped in Kent and Essex they sent to the King to come and Treat with them but he was disswaded by his Nobles Whereupon those in Essex crossed the Thames and joyning the Kentish Rebels came to Southwark which they Plundered and finding London-Bridge Fortified against them intended to have Burnt the Suburbs on the South side and have Murthered such as they had notice were not pleased with their Proceedings But the Citizens to prevent so great a Mischief let down the Draw-Bridge and admitted them into the City Feasting and Carressing them rather out of fear than good-will however they Burnt the Duke of Lancaster's House at the Savoy and Murthered all his Servants they found in it They ransacked the Inns of Court and Law Offices Burning all the Law Books and Records that came to their hands Plundering the Churches and Religious Houses and Wat Tyler having seized Richard Lyon his Master with whom he had been Apprentice caused his Head to be Cut off and carry'd before him on a Lance because in his Service he had sometimes Beat him for his Rogueries They Plundered likewise the Houses of all Strangers They likewise forced into the Tower where the King Lay Plundered his Mothers Lodgings and broke her Head because she reproved them for their Insolency They Murthered Simon Tybald Arch Bishop of Canterbury because he had some time before Imprisoned Wall for his Seditious Doctrine and after several meetings the King finding he could do no good with them their Behaviour being so Audacious and their Demands so Insolent and Unreasonable he laboured to make the Citizens his Frinds and resolved to repel them by force Whereupon a Conference being appointed in Smithfield the King beforehand thinking to bring them to better Terms without Extremity if possible sent them several of his Ensigns and their Pardons as a token that he owned them for his good Subjects and freely forgave them for what had happened and then meeting them as appointed he perswaded them to desist from all Violence assuring them that upon tryal they should find him to be their Good Lord and Gracious King But Tyler with a frowning countenance insolent behaviour and rough speech refused to accept the Kings Grace and Favour proudly telling him That all those Troops and many more Thousands were at his dispose to Execute whatsoever he would command Then he commanded Sr. John Newton one of the Kings Attendants who bore the Sword to deliver his Dagger which by the Kings command he did Then he Insolently proceeded to demand the Sword but he stoutly Answered It was the Kings Sword and should not be given to a Knave which so incensed Tyler That he Swore he should lose his Head before himself would Eat or Drink commanding the
another Parliament called there that long harassed Kingdom was brought to a good Settlement And now a Match being Negotiated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina Infanta of that Kingdom her Dowry was settled and in Lieu thereof the English had Tangier which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation without any Profit So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King the Lady came over Royally attended and the King going to Portsmouth was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London and afterwards came to White-Hall and was Joyfully received Sir Henry Vane and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason for things done before the Restoration being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity the former was Beheaded but the latter Reprieved and kept in Prison till he Died and Archibald Johnson Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea and brought over was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland divers were Imprisoned and some Executed which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time And in the North of England another much about the same time being discovered one Gibbons and Baker were Tryed found Guilty and Executed whereupon the rest Dispersed The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000 l great Naval Preparations were made which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety and indeed a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations an Order of Council was made giving Letters of Reprisal against them and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats Men of War c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes and hereupon the King set out his Declaration touching his Proceedings for Reparation from the Subjects of the States Whilst these things were doing a Dutchman under the Disguise of a Sweed coming from Guinea publickly reported De Ruytter the Dutch Commander had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither but it proving False he was Sentenced and Whipt through London However the Parliament being Prorogued War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664 and a General Fast succeeded for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies was beaten off but whilst many Encounters happened at Sea a worse Calamity befell at Land for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring and but little cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air about the beginning of May 1665 a Plague began fearfully to Rage so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of all Degrees dyed and of these were accounted 68596 of the Plague However the War was carryed on with great Vigour and on the 3d of June the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy the two Fleets engaged and after a long and obstinate Fight which continued many Hours bloody and doubtful the Dutch gave way and such as got off stood to their own Coast The English having taken burnt sunk and shattered about thirty of their Ships and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000 tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire-ships Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth Portland Marlborough and the Lord Muskery Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester whereof 13 were Commanders Hereupon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Victory the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knighthood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action The Plague still continuing to Rage a Fast was Proclaimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month till it should cease and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights to purify the Air whilst the King c made his progress through the greater part of England the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford and upon his laying before them them the necessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War the Commons Voted him 1250000 l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City But the Plague abating the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster as did the King and Queen The French King envying the growing greatness of the English more than any love he had for the Dutch as it afterward plainly appeared Joyned with them and was soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others The Fleets being abroad Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albermarle then Joynt-Admirals of the English the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships the former being to the Westward with the rest engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders and maintained the Fight two Days when on the third Prince Rupert coming in the Fight continued very Bloody till the Evening with much Loss on both sides and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper and burnt by the Dutch Sir George Ascough who Commanded her being taken Prisoner and carryed into Holland About six or seven Weeks after there happened another Sea-Fight and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts and on the 7th of August Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly and the Town of Baudaris upon the Island of Scheling and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch one of them of 54 Guns was taken On the Second of September 1666 being Sunday began the dreadful Fire of London at one Faringdons a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane the back-side of Fish-street-hill It continued Burning until Wednesday Night following and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof take as followeth In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the heighth of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately
Edifices Thirteen thousand two hundred Dwelling-houses four hundred Streets Of the six and twenty Wards it utterly destroy'd fifteen and left eight other shattered and half burnt The Ruins of the City were four hundred thirty six Acres from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple-Church and the North-East Gate along the City-Wall to Holbourn-Bridge To the Estates and Fortunes of the Citizens it was merciless but to their Lives very favourable that it might in all things resemble the last Conflagration of the World The Destruction was sudden for in a small space of time the same City was seen most flourishing and reduced to nothing Three days after when this fatal Fire had baffled all humane Counsels and Indeavours in the Opinion of all it stopt as it were by a Command from Heaven and was on every side extinguished This Dreadful Fire was both begun and carried on by Papists as appeared by Hubert's own Confession who was Executed at Tyburn for the same and also by several Depositions given in to the Parliament Whereupon the following Inscription was Engraven round about the Pedestal of the Monument viz. Which Inscription being Razed out in K. James's Reign was set up again since the late Revolution And now large Supplies were Voted the King by the Parliament and War declared against Denmark and a ship of 52 Guns belonging to that Crown taken on the Coast of Scotland whilst Capt. Robinson took and destroyed three Dutch Men of War near the Texâ—l A Rebellion breaking out in Scotland Forces were sent thither which put 1500 of the Rebels to Rout and some of the Ring-Leaders being taken were Executed which put an end to that Disturbance and an Act passed for the speedy Re-building the City of London The Dutch attempting Burnt-Island in Scotland were beaten off but their whole Fleet coming to an Anchor in the Gun-fleet and finding us altogether unprepared several of their Frigats entered Chatham and the Thames River and burnt several Ships tho' with the Loss of two of their own But Sir John Harman with 16 Sail engaged 30 French Men of War near Martinego and burnt and Sunk the greater part of them Whereupon at a Treaty held at Breda all sides grown weary of War a Peace was Concluded with France Denmark and the States General which was Solemnly Proclaimed and soon after with Spain And upon the Address of the Commons the Laws were put in Execution against Recusants and Assemblies of Nonconformists with much Heats for a considerable time In the beginning of 1668 Great Tumults happened in the Suburbs of London by an Insurrection of Apprentices and ill Persons joyning with them so that much mischief was done under pretence of pulling down Bawdy-Hâ—â—ses upon which eight were Condemned for High-Treason and four of them Executed The Duke of Albemarâ—â— dying the King undertook the Charge of his Funeral which was very Magnificent being Interred in Westminster-Abbey And the same Year Dyed Mary the Queeâ— Moâ—â—er of England at Columbâ— in France and 〈◊〉 Dutchess of Orleance the King's Sister coming over to Vâ—sit him after a short stay she upon her Return dyed at Sâ— Clâ—â—s in â—rance There being now Peace near Home the King resolve to Chastize the Algerines for their Insolency and in Oâ—der to it sent Sir Thomas Allen with a strong Squadron of Men of War who took and sunk divers of their Ships and compelled them to renew the Peace they had lately broken and to deliver up a great Number of the English Captives And much about the same time Coll. Blood with other Accomplices Gagg'd the Keeper of the Jewel-House in the Tower took away the Crown and had carried it off had not speedy pursuit been made and being Imprisoned for this whilst the People were expecting what Punishment would be inflicted on him for so unpresidented a Crime the King freely pardoned him And now Orders were given out upon view for the Repairing and better Fortifying all the Sea-ports for the King very much resenting some new Affronts put upon him by the States-General of the United Netherlands a second War began to Threaten but Money being wanting which is the main Engine and Sinews of War the Exchequer was shut up which caused a general Murmurring and much Loss to many People To palliate this the King declared That nothing could have moved him to it but only the looking upon his Government under the Threatning of the States-General and other Neighbouring Princes without his appearing in the same Posture but seeing the Necessity was inevitable It was needful that some extraordinary Course should be taken till Money could be otherways procured After this the King published a Declaration of Indulgence to such as Dissented from the Established Religion And now the War being fully resolved on Sir Robert Holms who was cruising with five Frigats about the Isle of Wight fell in with the Dutch Smyrna-Fleet and other Ships coming from the Streights under the Convoy of six Men of War between whom there happened a smart Engagement upon their refusing to strike and lower their Flags which continued till Night and 〈◊〉 the next Morning renewed and five rich Dutch Merchant-men were taken and their Rear-Admiral for want of more Assistance sunk and the rest got home This first blow given War was Declared the French King joyning with us in it being Obliged by the Treaty to send a Squadron of his best Ships which was Commanded by the Count d' Estreeâ— as were the English by the Duke of York and standing over to the Coast of Holland a fierce Engagement soon happened with much Effusion of Blood on both sides for either part being Emulous of Honour fought with extraordinary Eagerness till at last the Dutch stood away to their own Coast and the English after them as near as they could for the Shallows but under the shelter of a Fogg they got into their Harbours In this Fight the English lost the Noble Earl of Sandwich and the Royal James and long they had not lain on the Flemish Coast but the Dutch Recruited and came out again but after two other Engagements with much Loss on either side a Peace was concluded and the King hereupon became Mediator for the like Accommodation between the Crowns of France and Spain labouring by his Embassadors to compose the Differences between them Commanding at the same time his Subjects not to enter into the Service of any Foreign Prince without his Leave The Parliament now sitting gave the King 584900 l. for the speedy Building thirty Ships of War whereupon he resolved to enter into an Allyance with some Princes abroad that they might be able to put a stop to the Torrent of the French King's Conquests in Flanders And to render the Union stricter he Married the Lady Mary his Neice and eldest Daughter to his brother to the Prince of Orange and proceeded to raise Forces so that in a short time he had a considerable Army on Foot and the Parliament promised