Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	great_a	king_n	time_n	14,389	5	3.4431	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31597	The present vvarre parallel'd, or, A briefe relation of the five yeares civil warres of Henry the Third, King of England with the event and issue of that unnaturall warre, and by what course the kingdome was then setled againe / extracted out of the most authenticke historians and records.	Chamberlayne, Edward, 1616-1703.	1647 (1647)	Wing C1846; ESTC R36298	18,912	26

their late rebellious carriage had so farre provoked his Majesties patience that he would not so much as admit of their Petition or hearken to any that endeavoured to mediate for them Hereupon they were advised to draw up an Instrument or writing whereby they should yeeld themselves wholy both bodies and goods to the Kings mercie which was done accordingly and sealed with the Common Seale of the Citie His Majestie upon earnest suit unto him accepted hereof giving present expresse command that all the Chaines and Posts which they had placed at every street and lanes end should be forthwith carried to the Tower and that the Mayor and fourty of the chiefe Citizens should repaire unto him the next day and confirme their said writing this was done and they all came accordingly but contrary to their expectation though not deserts were all delivered into the custody of the Constable of Windesore Castle and shut up there in a large Tower where they had small cheere and worse lodging The next day toward night all but five whereof the Mayor was one had their enlargement Those five their bodies and goods were as a boone bestowed on the Prince the rest were commanded to attend at Windesore for a long time after Sixty or seventy wealthy Citizens with all their Lands goods and Chattels did the King dispose to his household servants For the Government of this unruly City the King appointed one Othon a forreiner or stranger first Constable of the Tower and then Custos or Warden of the Citie to pull downe their haughty rebellious spirits and that his Peace for the future might be surely kept he required the best mens sonnes in the City for Hostages These he clapt up in the Tower and caused them to be there kept at the cost and charges of their Parents Daily suit was made unto his Majestie for his Pardon and favour but in vaine then they petition the King to know his gracious pleasure what Fine he would demand of the whole City for their offences against him The King at length signified unto them that the summe of fifty thousand Marks should be their Fine Whereto the Londoners returne this humble answer They had been of late by this unhappie War so exceedingly impoverished that a summe so great as it was in those times could not possibly be raised amongst them wherefore they humbly beseeched his Princely compassion might be so farre extended towards them as to require and accept according to their abilities At length after much suit and submission and a fine of twenty thousand Marks the King received them to mercy and sent them under his great Seale a generall Pardon those onely excepted whose estates were already bestowed granting and allowing that their former Charter and ancient Priviledges should be restored unto them notwithstanding all the transgressions they are the words of the Pardon and trespasses done to Vs to our Queene to our noble brother Richard King of Almaine and the Prince our first begotten sonne And here was the first pacification betwixt the King and the Londoners for whom wee may say thus much That their foule Rebellion against their Soveraigne was not more detestable then their humble submission to their Soveraigne was commendable And therefore in the Ordinance called Dictum de Kenelworth made for the setling of the Kingdome we find them notwithstanding all their disloyalty commended as shall be seen in the ensuing Story After the proud stomach of this City was brought down and all tumultuous spirits quelled the King calls his Parliament in festo Sancti Edvardi Regis to Westminster wherein those that aided and assisted the Earle were all excepting the Londoners attainted and that all their Lands and goods were forfeited But this Sentence though it was lesse then they deserved yet was more then they would endure and therefore the fire that was not yet quencht but smothered breakes forth againe Some flie into the Isle of Ely and fortifie that Some into the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire Another party possesse themselves of Killingworth Castle Another under the command of the Lord Ferrers in the Northerne parts And amongst others one Adam Gurdon lived as an Outlaw in Hampshire * tum rarus aut nullus locus in Anglia fuit tutus eò quod terra erat vespilionibus plena Now scarce any place in England was free from plunderers To reduce these to obedience the King undertakes Killingworth Castle The Prince was sent against Adam Gurdon Lord Edmond the Prince's brother against those in Axholme And Lord Henry the King of Almaines son against the Lord * Ferrers To the Rebels in Killingworth Castle the King sent first a gracious message willing them to desist and to returne to their obedience But they contrary to all Law of Armes contrary to natural civilitie cut off the Messengers hand and sent him back with an uncivil answer Then the King marcht to Killingworth and sate downe before it upon Midsummer Eve During the siege which lasted six Months Clerus populus convocantur duod●●im eliguntur de potentioribus Procerum prudentioribus Pralatorum quibus datur potestas ordinandi super Statutum exharedatorum c. The Clergie and Laitie are assembled and out of the chiefest of the Peerage and wisest of the Prelates were chosen twelve to whom power was given to pronounce sentence against the Rebels and to settle the peace of the Kingdome they first taking an oath de utilibus ordinandis to decree nothing but what should be for the good of the Common-weale Then the people take a solemne oath Quod dictum ipsorum inviolabiliter observarent that they would stand to their Decree which to this day by our Lawyers is called Dictum de Kenelworth a severe yet a good and wholesome course without effusion of blood to punish Rebellious Subjects The Decree was as followeth In nomine sanctae individuae Trinitatis Amen Ad honorem gloriam Omnipotentis Dei Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti c. Et ad honorem bonum prosperum pacificum statum Christianissimi Principis Domini Henrici Regis Angliae illustris totius Angliae Ecclesiae Nos Willihelmus c. In English thus In the name of the holy and individuall Trinitie Amen For the honour and glory of Almighty God the Father Son and holy Ghost c. And for the honour prosperitie and peace of the most Christian Prince our Soveraigne Lord Henry the most renowned King of England and of the whole Church of England We William Exon William Bath and Wells Henry Worcester and T. St. Davids Bishops Gilbert de Clare E. of Glocester Humphrey Earle of Hereford Philip Basset John Bailof Robert Wallop Alan de la Souch Roger de Somerie and Warren de Basingborn providing for the welfare of the Land c. have thought fit to order as followeth 1. That the Rebels be not wholly deprived of their estates but shall have

Earle of Leicester and the Earle of Glocester because his Excellency minding his own private more then the publique good of his fellow Rebels without any respect had to his adjutants ingrosses all to himself disposes of the Royall prisoners at his own pleasure seized on the revenues of the Crown and composition of Delinquents for his own use whereas they had privately agreed before Ea omnia aquâ sorte inter eos dividenda fore In briefe he shared all places of power and profit betweene himselfe his sonnes and his allies Whereat Glocester as good a man as he stomackt and fell off with his followers to the Prince who by this time disponente domino clavigero carcerum every thing working for the King had made his escape out of prison at Hereford for being allowed by his keepers to aire himself sometimes on horse back in the town meadow after he had tyred two or three at length he mounts a speciall fleet Nag and putting spurs custodibus valedixit and came safe to Wigmore Castle where the Lord Mortimer lay with his forces raised for the King so marcht on with a great power taking in as they went some strong garrisons of the rebels plunder'd their houses drave their cattel c. Here the warre grew hot each side fortifying towns and houses plundering and driving all round about to store the garrisons Mens houses which were wont to be their own castles were now made castles but the owners were least Masters all left to the mercy of the rude souldier the poor Countrymans dwelling house pillaged every where and searcht * usque ad lectorum stramentum to the very bedstraw nor onely mens houses but even Gods houses the very Churches were not free from the prophane hands of plunderers the high wayes lay unoccupied no passing from town to town without danger of robbing When the Prince the Earle of Glocester the Earle of March with the reliques of the royal army were united and well ordered they resolved to give his Excellency the Earle of Leicester bat●ell At Evesham in Worcestershire by a speedy and unexpected march they came upon him The Earle seeing himselfe engaged to fight gave order that his own coat-armour should be put upon the King who was then a prisoner in the Army and that the King for the safety of his person forsooth should be placed in the front of the battell that so if the battell went against him the King might be aimed at as Generall and his Excellency thereby make his escape But the King at first charge called out to the loyall army that he was their King and so was preserved yet not without the losse of some of his own being wounded by a javelin as well as his subjects blood the battell was very violent and went sore against the Rebels at length the Earle himselfe the head of this Rebellion was cut off at the instant of whose death there happened such extraordinary lightening thunder and thicke darkenesse that it struck a generall horrour and amazement into the hearts of the Rebels as if the King of Kings would now at last visibly revenge the Kings quarrell or as if they had seen Gods immediate hand against them as once against Corah and the 250. Assembly men Numb. 16. v. 35. for the like rebellious practises In this signall Battell were slaine besides the Earle and his sonne sixteen Lords and Knights and about ten thousand more of the Rebells part The Earles Corps was strangely though not undeservedly handled by the people who were so inraged against him the chief actour and authour of their so much mischiefe and misery that in despight of him they lopt off his head hands feet and privie members and sent them in scorn for tokens to severall places his body was buried in Evesham Church Notwithstanding this there were many ignorant people who had been by specious pretences abused and seduced to that side that were of opinion for a long time after that he died a Martyr because it was in defence of their holy as they thought but indeed impious Covenant and Oath Two of the Earles sonnes were at the same fight taken Prisoners not long after they made an escape out of Prison but could not escape Gods vengeance on Rebells for in France In miseriis dies suos finiverunt The Countesse being banished died a Nunne in France All the Earls Honours and Possessions were conferred upon Edmond Earle of Lancaster the Kings second son And thus ended this great fiery Meteor in a stench Thus fell ou● English Catalin● as M. Cambden stiles him a man in show faire and honest but indeed Vir pravo ingenio profundâ perfidiâ of a perverse disposition and treacherous beyond any mans suspition after his Soveraigne had heaped upon him many high favours as the Earledom of Leicester and that high and honourable office of Lord high Steward and to endear him the more had given him his own Sister in marriage In token of thankfulness he doth his utmost endeavour to diminish the Kings known authority to subject him to the wills of his Subjects to pull down Monarchicall government and set up a factious Oligarchy and all under that faire common pretence of restoring Religion to its purity and the People to their Liberty The King thus happily preserved and almost miraculously all things considered set at liberty about a Month after calls a Parliament at Winchester no more at London untill it was more loyall and lesse tumultuous where by a full Convention it was enacted That all Statutes and Ordinances made by the former Parliament called the wood or mad Parliament should be repealed and all writings and bonds then sealed by the King for observing the sam● should be cancelled and made void That the City of London ob suam Rebellionem for this her Rebellion should be deprived of all her ancient Priviledges and Liberties and the Ring-leaders of them juxta voluntatem ipsius Regis plecti to suffer such punishment as his Majesty was pleased to inflict Et ditiores Civitatis in carcerem truderentur saith Matth. Westm. Pro eo quod Simoni in Regis contemptum etiam damnum Regni fortiter adhaeserint that the wealthier Citizens should be cast in prison because they had in contempt of his Majesty and great dammage and mischief of the Realm assisted the Earle Furthermore it was there enacted that all such as had favoured the Rebels were they now in prison or at large should forfeit all their estates Afterward the King marcht with a great power to Windesore resolving as the fame then went to destroy the whole City of London Many of the Rabble and wild Commoners saith Fabian were as resolved to defend the City against him but the wiser sort thought better to become humble petitioners for their pardon of what was past then to incense his Majestie any farther and to that end drew up an humble Petition and presented it to the King but

a single Combate Gurdon accepts it and performed it so gallantly that the Prince assured him of his life and estate if he would submit which he did and was received into great favour with the Prince but divers of his men were there executed But now the Isle of Ely was strongly fortified by a great multitude got together that refused to submit to the Ordinance of Kenelworth Upon the naturall strength of this Isle and the plenty of all provision therein seditious Rebels have often presumed and from hence have molested more Kings then one as they did now the neighbouring Counties robbing and pillaging Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire plundering the City of Norwich and carrying away the richest Citizens made them redeem themselves at length a message was sent unto them requiring them to submit to the Ordinance of Killingworth to leave off robbing their fellow subjects and to return to their alleigeance Hereto they return this insolent answer that they had taken up arms to defend the good of Church and State and therefore ought to be restored to their lands without paying any fine In briefe they require hostages into the Island and that they might hold it five yeers peaceably till they saw how the King would performe his promises perfidious subjects ever suspect their Princes fidelity which high insolency of theirs unheard of till our times so exasperates the King that he resolves to try the utmost to reduce them to their obedience for that purpose marches with a mighty Armie against them the Prince also joyns with a considerable power after many assaults at length after they had held it above two yeers by the helpe of new made bridges and boates they stormed it on every side that they were forced to yeeld And now men thought that the fire was quite out But there were yet some live embers which the Earle of Glocester upon some distaste blowing suddainly flamed out again in London where the Commons of the City forgetting their late punishment and as men saith mine author without dread of God or the King drew up in Arms again flock't to the Earle of Glocester plundered the well-affected to the King sequestred their estates brake the Prisons chose a new Mayor and Sheriffes made Bulwarks and Barbicans and forfeited the City wonderously and were so confident of their strength and cause that they durst bid the King battell appointing Hou●sloe-heath for the field The King by a speedy march came to the place at the time appointed but they instead of meeting his Majesty ran about the Citie in a tumultuous manner Some to Westminster and there plundered the Kings Pallace fenestras ostia fregerunt saith Mat. Westm. vix manus à combustion● totius Palatii cohibentes brake the doores and windows hardly forbearing to set it all on fire Then the King removed his campe to the other side of the City and had his head-quarters at Straisord three miles off the Citie the rest of his Army lay at Ham a village hard by The wiser Citizens foreseeing the danger that hung over them desired a treaty with the King wherunto though they were most unworthy of so much clemency His Majesty was graciously pleased to condescend and upon these easie termes they were vain received to mercy Imprimis Salvo in omnibus aicto Killingworthi that the ordinance of Killingworth should be observed in all points then that the fortifications should be razed and the trenches filled up lastly that 1000. Marks dammages should be paid down to the Kings brother for his Mannour of Isleworth fi●●d by them long before Also his Majesty for some yeares following cho●● the Mayor and Sheriffes himselfe but toward the latter end of his Reign being fully reconciled he restored them their often forfeited * Priviledges Thus after the Almighty whose judgements are unsearchable had suffered crafty seditious spirits to seduce a whole Nation to trample upon his Anointed and to tread his Honour in the very dust for a time yet at length all his enemies are clothed with shame and upon himselfe his Crown flourisheth again And now after this furious dreadfull Tempest after so many storms and showers of blood began a joyful long-expected Calm which that they might enjoy without any intervening of more stormes and for the better setling and quieting the Kingdome the King gives expresse command for the razing of divers in-land Castles as Farnham c. That so if another Rebellion should be begotten it might no where find a Nurse and then it could not be long lived Also for the more quiet and secure travelling of his Subjects he appoints a Captain in every County who with a Troop of Horse should alwaies assist the Sheriffe for the taking and punishing all stragling reliques of the late Armies and high-way robbers wherwith the Kingdome did abound at that time no place free from them In some places also Ruricolae saith Rishanger the Countrey people would generally rise against them as against Wolves or Beares and at one time they took and kill'd fifty of them that were got together neer St. Albans in Hartfordshire Besides the King Proclamari fecit contra pacem regni disturbantes set forth a Proclamation against all such as should any way disturbe the quiet of the Realm by plundering or stealing c. And that if any man should presume to steal but a Cow or a Sheep vel aliquid aliud saith mine Author he should surely be put to death These were the petty devises of that Age to pump and draine the huge sinke of the Kingdom but the Staple Policie was by a Forraign expedition like a wide ●uce to let out all the filth at once for which purpose therefore among others it was resolved upon that a great Army should be raised under the Command of the Prince for a voyage to Palestine And by this course especially did his Majesty soon spend the insolencies of his owne and the Rebels Souldiers made Lawlesse by the late unavoidable Liberty of Civill Armes And here was an end of this wasting groundlesse unnaturall War wherin the Subject having struggled and wrestled with Soveraigntie till they had wasted the Kingdom and wearied themselves at last are content to sit downe by the losse to let the King have his own Rights again and some of theirs according to the usuall event and issue of such imbroylements A Postscript OUt of this briefe Narration may be extracted somewhat for KING and Commons For the KING First for preventing Seditions and Rebellions then for setling a Kingdome after the Rebellion supprest For the first That he beware how hee entrust the Government of His Kingdome to others How he suffer His Favourites and great Officers of State to suck him into necessities and inthrall Him by indigency and be thereby drawne by extraordinary illegall Impositions and Taxes to vexe and alienate the hearts and affections of His Subjects and then as he must be constrained to flie to them for reliefe and