and do great mischief especially in and about the City of London and had been greater but the Earl entered with his Army and put an end to those disorders and set King Henry at liberty who had been a Prisoner in the Tower for almost the space of Nine years conveying him to the King's Palace in great Triumph where on the 13th of October he was crowned again and went with the Crown on his head to St. Paul's Church the Earl of Warwick bearing up his Train and the Earl of Oxford carrying the Sword before him whilst the people cryed God save King Henry and a Parliament being called to sit at Westminster the 26th of November King Edward was declared a Traitor to his Country and a Usurper of the Crown his Goods and Lands were confiscated and his Adherents were attained The Earl of Worcester for his Cause lost his Head and all the Statutes made by Edward Revoked The Crowns of England and France were entailed to King Henry and his Heirs Male and for default of such Issue to George Duke of Clarence The Earl of Warwick to be Governour of the Land till it could be better settled Thus went the various change of Affairs in England 〈◊〉 the bloudy contest between the houses of York and Lancaster yet continued not the advancement of King Henry for King Edward holding Correspondency in England and gathering some Forces beyond the Seas landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire where the better to insinuate with the People He at first pretended to come for his right as a private person but finding himself strong enough he siezed upon York and increasing in Power marched till â—he came near to the City of Warwick where his Brother the Duke of Clarence being reconciled to him by the means of a Maid-servant that had lived with the Old Dutches of York desiring the Earl to forsake King Henry's Cause and close with his Brother but that great Man more regarding his Engagement than Life or Interest sent him word that he had rather be an Earl and always like himself than a perjured Duke and that e'er his Oath should be falsified as the Dukes apparently was he would lay down his Life at his enemies Feet which he doubt not should be bought very dear whereupon King Edward hasted to London and was received by the Citizen no ways able to resist him when drawing out his Forces he marched against the Earl and his Accomplicies and on Easter day in the Morning Battel was joyned on Glad-more Heath near Barnet in which bloudy Conflict fortune at first seemed to favour VVarwick but by an unlucky mistake he lost the day for a great Mist falling the embroidered Stars upon the Coats of such as were commanded by the Earl of Oxford being taken for Suns which was King Edward's Cognizance VVarwick's Battallion charged by that Errour upon their Friends and they suspecting it done on purpose crying out Treason quitted the Field which the Earl perceiving and resolving not to out-live the loss of the day charged desperately into the King's Battel killing many with his own Hands but being cut off from the assistance of his own men he there was slain as likewise was his Brother the Lord Montacute in attempting to Rescue him on King Edward's Party dyed the Lords Cromwell Bourchier and Barns with Siâ— John Lisle and on both sides about 10000 of all sorts But thus ended not the Contests for the Crown for Queen Margaret in the right of her Husband and Son raised a strong Power Anno Domini 1471. and gave the King Battel at Tewxbury but Fortune now turned fatally averse to the Queen and her Family for losing the day with the death of John Lord Somerset John Courtney Earl of Devonshire Sir John Delues Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whitingham Sir John Leukner and several others and a great many of lesser note The Queen in this rout fled and betook her self to a religious house for sanctuary but was takan thence and made close Prisoner young Prince Edward her Son was taken in his flight by Sir Richard Crofts who presented him to King Edward who having a while beheld him with a stern countenance demanded how he durst presume with Banners displayed to disturb his Kingdom to which the Prince replied that what he did was to recover his Father's Kingdoms and his most rightfull Inheritance But how dare you continued the Prince being but a Subject display your Colours against your Liege Lord Upon this resolute replie King Edward unworthily struck him on the Mouth with his Gantlet when Richard Duke of Gloucester basely taking the hint stabbed him and the Wound being seconded by some of the Servants the poor Prince fell dead at the King's feet Things being carried at an extraordinary highth Edmund Duke of Somerset the Prior of St. John's with divers Knights and Esquiers who had taken sanctuary were contrary to the Custome of those times taken thence by force and executed at Tewxbury and soon after Richard Duke of Gloucester the King's Brother stabbed the pious King Henry to the heart in the Tower of London and his body was exposed in a Coffin at St. Paul's to convince the People he was dead As for the Queen she continued several years a Prisoner but at length her Father mortgaged most of his Principalities to pay her Ransome and she thereupon was sent over Sea where in much sorrow and perplexity she languished â—ut the rest of her days and by this means the Lancastrians being utterly disabled to make head King Edward more assured in his Throne betook himself to his Pleasure and hearing of the Fame of Jane Shoar Wife to a Goldsmith in Gracechurch-street he sent for her and took her to his Bed upon which her Husband renounced her and for Grief and the Disgrace betook himself to travel beyond the Seas never returning into England He had likewise two other Concubines high in his esteem and being in the Year 1474. in France at an Interview with the French King Lewis told him that he would one day invite him to court the fair Ladies of Paris to which Offer Edward readily consented insomuch that the French King not being pleased with his forwardness whispering to Philip Comines his Bosome Friend told him that he repented of his Offer considering that there had been too many English Princes already at Paris so that the King returned without having any opportunity to prosecute such Amours Anno 1478. by the contrivance of Richard Duke of Gloucester George Duke of Clarence was accused of sundry Crimes and committed to the Tower where soon after he was smothered in a Butt of Malmsey Wine and 't is reported the King consented to so great a Wickedness upon a Prophecy That a G. should succeed an E. which however proved true though he mistook the Man for Richard Duke of Gloucester usurped the Throne and murthered his two Sons as will appear hereafter Two Acts yet more of this King's Cruelty are memorable viz. Going
10000 l and about 80000 of them took their Oaths to become his Liege Subjects making Sir Edward Poinings Governour and Thomas Wolsey his great Favourite Bishop of that City nor did this Success remain to the English in France alone but at the same time in England for the Scots invading England with a powerfull Army and having pierced as far as Northumberland the Earl of Surry gave them battel with a great overthrow in Folden Field where James their King one Archbishop 2 Bishops 2 Abbats 12 Earls 17 Lords a great number of Knights and Gentlemen and about 8000 common Soldiers slain and allmost all the rest taken prisoners This memorable Battel was fought on Septemb. 9. 1513. King Hen. victorious in France the French sought all Ways for an Accommodation and at last Pope Leo becoming Moderatour a Peace was concluded and soon after Lewis XII married Mary the King 's younger Sister at Albeville with great splendour yet he lived but 82 days after for being aged and infirm and over striving himself to pleasure a beautious lively young Lady it no doubt contributed to the hastening his End and upon his Death the Queen returning for England was privately married at Callais to Charles Bradon Duke of Suffolk her first Lover and from whom she had unwillingly parted to fall into the Arms of Majesty And now by the too free Access of Foreigners Trade greatly decreasing one John Lincoln and other aggrieved persons put up a Bill of Complaint and it was read by the Minister at the Spital Sermon This so animated the Rabble that getting together on May day 1517. they fell upon plundered and destroyed the Houses of the Strangers committing many Outrages on their Persons Nor was the Magistracy able to quell them for being all in an uproar the Lieutenant of the Tower who had no Good-Will for the City played the Great Guns upon it but the Rage of the Multitude spent they retired to their respective Habitations yet several were taken and tried of which number Lincoln and 13 more most of them youths were hanged in divers places of the City and about 200 Men and Boys and 9 Girls and Women went in their Shifts only being bare headed footed and legged and Ropes about their Necks to Westminster where at the upper end of the Hall the King sate and after he had sharply reproved them and they on their knees had begged Mercy Wolsey by the King's command pronounced their Pardon whereat with a joyfull Cry they threw up their Halters in token of deliverance from death and this day ever since is called Evil May day and soon after Tournay was restored to the French in consideration they paid the King 600000 Crowns in twelve years and the Dauphin to marry the Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter when she should be of sufficient years of Consent but if the Marriage took no effect then the City to be restored and Wolsey who by this time had bought him a Cardinal's Cap to have 1000 Marks a year for the profits of the Bishoprick and Wolsey having power with the King to doe all remembring a former Affront put upon by Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham he used his interest to the destruction of that great Peer who was beheaded on Tower-hill upon pretence of aspiring to the Crown In the Year 1521. the Emperour Charles V. in his way to Spain landed at Dover for Refreshment and at the King 's earnest Request came to London and was royally entertained with all the Magnificence and Splendour the Court abounded with at that time and King Henry having written a Book against Martin Luther and sent it to the Pope he in recompence to his Zeal for the Roman Church sent him the Stile of Defender of the Faith which has ever since remained to the Kings and Queens of England sending him likewise a Consecrated Rose The Peace between England and France by reason of misunderstandings growing to a Conclusion a Parliament was assembled at the King's Palace in Black-Fryers granting him half the yearly Revenues of all Spirituall Livings to be paid for five years and the tenth part of all Temporal Substance to carry on his Wars so that not staying to expect War he sent to meet it commanding the Duke of Suffolk to pass over with an Army who taking many Towns and Castles and every where worsting the French returned Victorious and the King banished the Scots out of England confiscating their Goods but upon the Mediation of his Sister a peace was concluded for a time yet there was Martial business abroad for the Irish rebelled and siezing upon the Earl of Kildare who bore the Kings Authority in that Kingdom they sent him bound to England with many Accusations against him for which he was committed to the Tower and Wolsey who hated him signed a Warrant for his Execution without the knowledge of the King whereupon the Lieutenant went to Court and the Trick being made known to the King Wolsey was severely checked and the Earl had the King's Sgnet sent him for his security About this time overtures being made by the Emperor's Ministers in consideration of Marriage with the Lady Mary the French having rejected the Match and some scruples arising about the Legality of her Birth as being born on a Queen that had been his Brother's Wife the King began to fall into a dislike of his Marriage and sent to Rome to sue out a Divorce but finding delays in that Cour◠he desired a Cardinal might be sent to hear the Cause and accordingly Cardinal Campius was sent whose Mules casting their Sumpters in Cheap-side the Cardinal's Treasure was discovered to consist o◠old Shooes broken Meat tatter'd Breaches and Rags which raised no small Laughter in the people This Cardinal sate with Wolsey and other Clergy men but when the King expected the issue of the Matter instead of giving the definitive Sentence he dissolved that Court and referred the Cause to the Pope which so incensed the King that he Commanded him to depart the Kingdom and sent Dr. Cranmer to Rome to justifie the proceedings to the Pope who with other learned Men bringing the Opinions of almost all the Universities of Europe under their Seals that it was not Lawfull to Marry 〈◊〉 Brother's Wife the Divorce was made yet the Queen lived in England till she dyed and King Henry proceeded to take to Wife Ann of Bullen a very beautifull Lady who to that end he had before made a Dutches and honoured with many favours but better she had been without them as by the sequel wi◠appear Cardinal Wolsey whose power was such tha◠he seemed to sway both King and Kingdom bega◠about this time to be lessened in esteem and shortly after for not only disliking but striving to cros◠the King's Proceedings in the Divorce and new Marriage had first the great Seal of England taken from him then several of his Bishopricks which he had ingrossed which begining of disgrace made him more liable to
he surrendred himself and was committed to the Tower and soon after he with the Earl of Southampton were convicted of High-Treason in endeavouring to Leavy War against the Queen c. and the Earl of Essex on the 20th of February 1600 lost his Head on the Green within the Tower not only lamented of the people whose Darling he was but of the Queen her self who at the perswasion of his Enemies had in the heat of her passion signed the Warrant for his Death divers others were Executed on this occasion as it were to bare so great a Man company nor did the Queen enjoy her self after the fall of this Favourite but hastened her own Death by grief dying on the 24th of March 1602 and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapell at Westminster when she had Reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days and in the 69th Year of her Age. This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland Daughter to Henry the Eighth by his Wife Ann Bulloin in her Reign happened Earthquakes Blazing Stars and a Mortal Plague of which 40000 dyed in and about London She was the 43th sole Monarch of England c. Thus set the Glory of her Sex in Dust Whose endless Memory Fame keeps in trust When Eating Time shall Marble Tombs deface Her Name shall live belov'd in every place The Life Reign and Actions of James the First King of Great Britain c. THe name of the Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth gave way to that of the Stuarts James the Sixth of Scotland great Grand-child to James the Fourth and Margaret his Wife Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh succeeding to the Crown by reason of the failure of Issue by the Male Line who upon notice of the Death of Queen Elizabeth being invited by the Nobles set forward from his Kingdom of Scotland and entering England was received on the Frontires with great joy and conducted to London being met some distance by the Mayor and Aldermen and five hundred Horse who conducted him to the Charter-House prepared for his Reception but because the Plague raged the Coronation was deferred and the Popish Party who had earnestly expected the death of the Queen in hopes a Papist might succeed finding themselves disappointed laboured to prevent his establishment in the Throne and several were detected who had received Orders from the Pope to seize his Person and bring him to their own terms however on the 21st of July 1603. The King together with the Queen his Royal Consort were crowned at Westminster by Dr. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Conspirators being tryed at Winchester many were found guilty yet only Watson and Clark two Priests together with George Brook suffered death the King pardoning the rest mostly at the place of Execution and then in a dispute between the Bishops of the Church of England and the Puritan Ministers who pretended to a farther Reformation this wise Prince gave it for the first and by learned reasons so confuted the latter that they were utterly non-plussed and after that he caused the Holy Scripture to be new Translated from the Original and Anno 1604 he made peace with Spain and proceeded to a Uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and took upon him the Stile of King of Great Britain banishing the Jesuites and Seminary Priests who began a fresh to disturb the Government which made them as their last Shift or rather cruel revenge contrived that hellish Plot called the Gunpowder-Plot wherein they bound themselves by Oaths and Sacraments for the more secretly carrying it on but nothing escapes the Eyes of the Almighty who when they were in the highest expectation of success turned their Wisedom into Foolishness for by a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle whom one of the Conspirators was desirous to spare the Nest they had so long been making was found and in it thirty six Barrels of Powder intended to blow up the King Lords and Commons in Parliament this was discover'd under great heaps of Billets but the very Morning they were to assemble in Parliament and Guy Faux at the Vault Door under the Parliament-House Cloaked Booted and Spurr'd with a Dark-Lanthorn and Matches ready to lay the Train upon which the Conspirators were pursued and in the dispute John and Christopher Wright Thomas Piercy and Robert Catesby were slain and Anno 1605 on the 27th of January Sir Edward Digby Thomas Winter Robert Winter Ambrose Rookwood Thomas Bates Robert Keys and Guido Faux were found guilty and Executed as Traitors at the West-end of St. Pauls and in the Palace-Yard In memory of this signal Deliverance the fifth of November the Day on which it was discovered by Authority of Parliament was enacted a perpetual day of Thanksgiving Henry Garnet and divers others concerned in this Plot were Executed at sundry Times and Places Garnet confessing it though a Jesuite and warning the Roman Catholicks not to practice any Treason against their Prince for God would certainly discover and defeat it And soon after there happened Insurrections in the Shires of Liecester Warwick and Northampton about throwing open Inclosures Headed at last by John Reynolds but were dispersed and quieted without much Trouble and the King to honour the City entered himself a Brother of the Cloath-workers Company and by his Example many Nobles were made free of that and divers others the New Exchange was finished Anno 1609 and furnished with Wares being called by the King Britain's Burse The Priests and Jesuites were commanded to depart the Kingdom The Body of Mary Queen of Scots Mother to King James was Anno 1612 removed from Peterborough to the Royal Chappel at Westminster and there splendidly Interred and the Kingdom remained in great Tranquility But to abate the Joy Prince Henry the King 's eldest Son dyed November the 6th of a Feaver though not without some suspicion of Poyson to the great Grief of the Kingdom whose Darling he was And Frederick the Electour Palatine of the Rhine coming into England was married to the Lady Elizabeth the King 's eldest Daughter in the Royal Chappel at White-Hall on the 14th of February following but soon after at the Instance of the Bohemians taking upon him the Rule of that Kingdom he was routed by the Emperour's Forces who seized likewise the Palatinate and the King gave the Citizens of London the Province of Vlster in Ireland and instituted the Order of Baronets limiting them within the number of 200 and to cease with the failure of Issue and Anno 1614 the New River was brought to London to the great refreshment of the City which was much stinted for want of Water being only supplied by a few Conduits in the neighbouring Fields and this year a Divorce being sued out between Robert Devereux and his Countess on her Pretence of his Insufficiency she married Robert Carre Earl of Somerset and the King 's great Favourite for inveighing against which Marriage they procured Sir Thomas Overbury first
storm he perceived was gathering about him but long he had not been there before Lambert's men forced the pass at Vpton and other places insomuch that he found himself constrained to hazard a Battel and thereupon sallyed with undaunted bravery at the head of his loyal Forces making great slaughter forcing Cromwell's Regiment to give way and fall into disorder but being to contend with about 60000 men with not above 7 or 8000 after he had done all that could be expected from Resolution and Bravery finding himself overlay'd the retreat was sounded and he retired in some disorder into the City and finding the day utterly lost he passed out at an other Gate and escaped the hands of those that sought his Life God so ordering it that although 1000 l was biâ— for him yet he lay obscure till he found means tâ— pass the Seas Upon this defeat the Earl of Derby was take and beheaded the Scots prisoners were sold and madâ— slaves and divers of the King's Friends at sundâ— times suffered death and confiscation as the Loâ—â— Capel Duke of Hambleton the Earl of Holland â— and soon after Cromwell got himself Proclaimed Protectour and many strange things were Acted tâ—â—cedious to be inâ—erted But the blustring Tyraâ—â—lying and his Son Richard dismounted the seat had mounted in his stead the form and method Government continually altering and the Peoâ— weary of Oppression General Monk came with Forces out of Scotland and after a short time deâ—red for a free Parliament and that Parliament to the great joy of the People happily restored the King who was with his Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester conducted in great Splendour to his Pallace of White-Hall on the 29th of May 1660. which day by Act of Parliament is set apart as an Annual day of Thanksgiving and many of those that were of the High Commission Court or had an actual hand in his Fathers Death were Tryed Sentenced and Executed in divers places and the 30th of January appointed as an Anniversary in memory of King Charles I. his death and the Churches were restored to Episcopacy and the Purity of Worship as also Crown and Church Lands but to damp this joy the illustrious Princess of Orange coming over to visit her Royal Brothers fell sick of the small Pox and dyed to the great grief of all Europe and on the 13th day of September dyed Henry Duke of Glocester Notwithstanding this happy Restauration there remained some restless people for the January following one Venner a Wine-Cooper with his Fifth-Monarchy Proselytes took Arms and fell desperately upon the City of London killing divers people but being suppressed Venner and 11 more were Executed and the Bodys of Cromwell Ireton and Bradshaw were taken out of their Graves and hanged at Tyburn their heads cut off and set upon Westminster-Hall and their Bodys buryed under the Gallows and on the 23d of April 1661. the King with great Magnificence passed from the Tower to Westminster and there was Solemnly Crowned The Nobles etc. doing him Homage and the Parliament gave very liberally towards the support of the Crown Voting him a Supply of Two Millions Five hundred thousand pounds to be raised in three years time and to hasten the Naval Preparations the City lent him 100000 li. And Anno 1664. War was Proclaimed against the United Netherlands and the following year a fatal Plague fore-run by two blazing Stars happened in most parts of England so that in the space of a year 100000. dyed in the Citys and Suburbs of London and Westminster and 〈◊〉 3 of June a bloudy Fight happened between the two Fleets in which many brave men were killed on both sides and in June following another Fight happened which continued for three days And on the 2d of September a Fire begun in Pudding lane which in three days consumed 78 Parish Churches 5 Consecrated Chappels 18200 Houses Guild-Hall the Royal Exchange and most of the Companys Halls the total Loss valued at Nine Millions 9 hundred thousand pounds and after it many dreadfull Fires happened as in Southwark Lime-House Northampton c. But care was taken to rebuild these and other places more Magnificent in Structure and after several bloudy Engagements at Sea a Peace Anno 1667. was a Peace concluded with the Dutch as likewise the difference with the Crown of Denmark was adjusted soon after and in August 3. 1669. Henrietta Maria the King's Mother and Dowager of England dyed at Columbee in France and was buried at St. Denis Anno. 1670. the Project on foot to make England and Scotland but one was strongly pressed but so many difficulties arize that it was laid aside And the Princess of Orleance making the King a Visit upon her return to France dyed suddenly And the beginning of the year 1671 dyed Her Royal Highness Anne Dutchess of York and was buried at Westminster and in March a Second War was Proclaimed against the Dutch and the French King was brought into the League and in May there happened a desperate Engagement and after that several others which occasioneâ— many disorders in Holland but about the latter enâ— to 1673. a Peace was concluded and the same yeaâ— the Duke of York Married the Princess of Modena much against the mind of the Parliament the King accepted a Freedom of the Goldsmiths and was presented with his Freedom in a Box of Gold and Diamonds and soon after set out his Proclamation for the security of Merchants Ships from Men of War or Privatiers that should come into any of his Ports and to prevent the growth of Popery published an Order that none under very great Penalties should hear Mass or go to Popish Chapels unless such as belonged to the Queen or foreign Embassadours These being the material Treasactions to the year 1678. at the end of which year the Popish Plot came upon the stage discovered first by Israel Tongue and Titus Oates two Divines and afterward by divers others which put the whole Kingdom in a flame and for which divers suffered as Colâ—man Ireland Pickering Grove c. who were Executed at Tyburn and William Viscount Stafford lost his Head on Tower-hill and Green Berry and Hill were Executed for the Murther of Sir Edmund Bury Godfrey And the following year a party of desperate Scots Murthered the Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews in his Coach and fell into Rebellion but were dispersed by the King's Forces under the Command of the Duke of Monmouth and several of the ring-leaders Executed but soon after his return he fell into disgrace at Court and went for Flanders yet stayed not long there e'er he returned and was received into favour And now the Papists began to struggle to cast off the odium the Plot had cast upon them and laboured to lay it upon the Dissenters Nor was there some hot-headed people of that kind wanting who by their ill-timed behaviour towards the King and his Ministers gave them an unexpected advantage so that the
as â—eing elevated with Wine and good Chear fell soul â—n a Rock which broke the Ship to pieces yet the â—rince with his Bride and some others got into the â—ng Boat and might have gone off but the Counâ—ss of Pearch crying to him from the Fore-castle â—or help he caused the Boat to turn and take her in â—ut before he could effect it so many leaped into it â—nd clung to its sides esteeming in that extremity their Lives as dear as their Princes that it sunk with the overlaiding and they were all drowned This doleful news coming to the Kings Earl by some of the Seamen that had escaped upon pieces of the Ship he greatly lamented the loss of his Children and though he was well in years yet in some measure to repair it he Married a second Wife viz. Adilicia Daughter to Jeffery Duke of Lorain but having no Issue by her he sent for Maud his Daughter who had been married to the Emperor her Husband being at that time dead and calling a Parliament caused Stephen his Sisters Son with his Nobles to swear her as to his lawful and now only Heir when sailing into Normandy after the toil of hunting eating a great meal of Lampries he presently fell sick and after seven days sickness dyed in the Town of St. Denis Anno 1135 his body was brought to Reading and buried in the Abby himself had founded and his Bowels and Brain at Roan nor did he dye without suspition of being poisoned for the very sent that came from his Brain was the death of the Physician that took it out The Wives of this King were two viz. Maud Daughter to Malcolm King of Scotland and Adilicia Daughter to Godfry Duke of Lorain his lawful Issue by the first was William and Maud by the last he had none yet is held to have fourteen Illegitimate Children He built many Abbies and Monasteries and was very charitable to the Poor In his time many Prodigies appeared and the Ground rent by an Earthquake sent forth such flames as destroyed some and indangered the lives of more He was King of England and Duke of Normandy fourth Son to William the Conqueror beginning his Reign Anno 1100 and Reigning 35 years being the 23 Monarch of England dying in the 65 year of his Age. Thus falls another Monarch soon or late All Crowns and Scepters in the dust must set All breath of Life the lowly and the high Must leave this narrow stage for vast Eternity The Reign of King Stephen with his Memorable Actions c. STephen Earl of Bloys Son to Adilicia Daughter to William the Conqueror and Stephen Earl of Bloys notwithstanding he had sworn Fealty to the Empress Maud laid claim to the Kingdom and by the interest and policy of his Brother Henry Bishop of Winchester and Roger Bishop of Sarum as also one Hugh Bigot who swore that King Henry upon his Death-bed taking a distaste at his Daughters proceedings had disenherited her and appointed this Stephen to succeed him in his Kingdom of England and Dukedom of Normandy so that upon these and other interests that were made he was Crowned at Westminster on St. Stephen's day Anno 1135 by William Curboil Archbishop of Canterbury the Prelates swearing to hold him King so long as he should preserve their Churches Rights and the Lay-Barrons in like manner swore Allegiance to him so long as he should keep his Covenants with them in preserving their Rights and Priviledges so that he accepted of the Crown and owned his Right as by Election The Charter containing his peoples Franchises Liberties and Immunities which he obliged himself to maintain he Signed and Sealed it at Oxford which was That all Liberties Customs Possessions granted to the Church should be firm and in force That Persons and Causes Ecclesiastical should appertain only to Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction That Church vacancies and the Goods of Church-men should be at the sole dispose of the Clergy That all ill usage touching Forests Exactions c. should be abolished and the Antient Laws restored to their Purity And for his security against the expected storm he caused or suffered many Castles to be erected which afterwards proved to his detriment This King took quiet possession of the Throne and had an interrupted Series of Tranquility for a time but by degrees the distractions came on that turned the Land into a seat of War for many years Baldwin de Redners was the first that openly began to declare himself in favour of the Empress Maud and hereupon the Welshmen took up Arms and falling upon the English not altogether provided gave them a considerable overthrow Nor did David King of the Scots forbear to invade this Kingdom and the Wesh incouraged by their former success continued to spoil the Frontiers and under the favour of another Scotish Invasion wherein under the leading of their King the Scots committed almost unparallel outrages The Nobles conspired against King Stephen betaking them to their respective Castles and strong Holds declaring that they were slighted and rejected in favour of the Flemmings and especially one Willinm de Ypre his chief counsellor and privado to follow whose directions he had neglected that of his Peers But the Scots instead of assisting these Lords making many other Invasions made great spoil and havock of their Houses Castles and Estates seeming rather to aim at a conquest than any thing less So that those in the North marched against them and being animated by Thurstan Archbishop of York by whose Authority Ralph Bishop of Durham being made General undertook but by what Warrant I know not to forgive the sins of all that should fall in Battle and secure them from punishments and pains in another Life the English fell on with such fury that they drove the Scots out of the Field with great slaughter nor could the presence of their King and the Prince his Son restrain them from open flight into Scotland and King Stephen following this advantage obliged them to sue for Peace however he found himself but slenderly assured in the Hearts of his People especially of the Nobles which made him prepare for the worst and hearing the Empress Maud was landed with a small train not exceeding 140 men at Arundel he hasted to oppose her but she being a Woman of great Policy coloured over her Intentions protested she came in peace only to spend the remainder of her days in a Country wherewith she was so much delighted and although the King had some little mistrust he nevertheless dissembled it and gave her Royal Entertainment causing her to be conveyed to the City of Bristol appointing it for her reception scarce had the Empress continued at Bristol two Months before she privately withdrew to Wallingford expecting the Forces her Brother Earl Robert was raising on her behalf But the King having notice of many underhand contrivances besieged that place whilst his Brother the Bishop of Winchester under a pretence of friendship and important
Tumba c. Here lies the Worlds fair Rose which once was sweet But faded now you no such savour meet He had likewise Morgan by another Concubine and in his time it reigned blood in the Isle of VVight for the space of two hours A great Earthquake happened and a Dragon of marvellous higness was discovered at St. Osyph in Essex another Earthquake happened that rent in pieces the Cathedral of Lincoln â—nd at Oxford in Sussex certain Fishermen drew up in their Net a hairy Creature out of the Sea in all proportions like a Man which was exposed to the â—ight of thousands living upon Flesh but in the end â—ole from his keepers and got to Sea again And his King it was that caused Leicester to be burnt the Walls raised the Castle demolished and the Inhabiants to be expulsed for their disobedience and taking â—art with his Enemies This King long strugling for a Throne at last The glitring Diadem he grasp'd so fast That Becket nor 's rebellious Sons nor Rome Could seize the Prize till death had found his 〈◊〉 The Reign and Actions of Richard the First King of England c. KIng Henry the Second being dead Richard his third Son for his strength and courage sirnamed Cour 〈◊〉 Leon or Lyons heart was crowned by Baldwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury and sworn to keep several Articles administred to him by the Peers advantagious to the Kingdom the Solemnity of his Coronation was at Westminster and was followed with much bloodshed in divers parts of the Nation for by the instigation of several Monks and Fryers the people in a tumultuous manner fell upon the Jews and upon some disgust made miserable havock of their Goods and slaughter of their Persons for which divers of the Ring-leaders were executed And now it being in the power of this King to put in practice what he had long determined viz. to pass into the Holy Land with an Army for the rescue of the oppressed Christians wherefore hearing that divers other Princes had determined the like he appointed VVliliam Longchamp Bishop of Ely his Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor and to him he joyned Hugh Bishop of Durham for the Conservation of the Northern parts Beyond Humber and with these he associated divers Temporal Lords concluding at the same time a Peace with the King of Scots so that supposing all safe aâ— home the next undertaking was to furnish his Navy which being done he put to Sea with a very greaâ— attendance not sparing to mortgage and sell severaâ— parcels of his Revenues and forced William d' Turâ—ham his Fathers Treasurer to contribute 1100 pound to defray the Charges and that he might the betteâ— keep his Brother John in quiet during his absence hâ— appointed him for his maintenance the Revenue of Earldoms The King being on his way toward Palastine afâ—â— he had wintered at Sicily passed towards Cyprus wheâ— finding some of his Ships that had put that into Island stress of Weather had been seized by the Cypriots and his men roughly used he sent to the King for reparation but that being denied him not without Threats if he did not depart the Haven our undaunted King not used to be braved beat the Defendants from the shoar and resolutely Landing seized the Island together with its King and appointing a Governour carried that King in Manacles of Gold to Ptolomais where the Christians lay at Siege taking by the way a great Argosey on board which was 1500 Sarazens and Turks furnished beside other things with Fire-works and Barrels of Venomous Serpents bound for Ptolomais since called Acon intending to disperse those Venomous Creatures amongst the Christians as they lay Incamped before the Town but King Richard caused them to be cast into the Sea and in the dispute there perished by the Sword and Waters for many voluntarily cast themselves over-board 1300 of the Sarazens c. The King by this time safely arrived at Ptolomais or Acon found it Besieged by sundry Nations under the Western Princes as Genoways Florentines Flemings Danes Almains Dutch Pisans Friez-landers Lombards and the English that had passed thither under Hubert Bishop of Sarum in the time of King Henry the Second as likewise the Knights Templers of European Nations beside the Asian Christians who made a gallant Army and soon after came Philip King of France and the Duke of Austria with a great Fleet whereupon a Council of the Princes was held concluding that part of the Force being left to maintain the Siege the rest should draw out to give Battle to the Saladine or King of the Turks and Sarazens who lay hovering on the Plains a few Leagues distant with 300000 Horse and Foot but they could not engage him to a fight yet falling upon his rear in his retreat they cut off a great number and took much spoil returning again to the Siege but the Saladine who knew the importance of this strong City followed with greater force but durst not attempt its relief yet in ravaging the Country have gotten at sundry times 1500 Christian captives he sent word If they did not raise the Siege he would cut them in pieces in the sight of the Army Whereupon King Richard sent a Trumpet commanding him to desist For if he put those Christians to death the prisoners in his Camp must expect the like treatment However upon the next assault the Saladine caused them to be put to death whose piteous cries piercing the Ears of King Richard he in a rage caused the Heads of 2500 of the Turks and Sarazen Captives to be sinitten off in the fight of the Enemies Camp and now a general assault was given where the English with showers of Arrows beating the Infidels from the Walls mounted with such resolution and bravery that nothing was able to resist them so that seconded by the rest the strong City of Ptolomais was taken and in the over-running the Streets a great number put to the Sword so that whilst the English were busie in repulsing the Enemy who made a great resistance the Austrians advanced the Standard of their Duke upon the Walls as if by the valour of a handful of men that important place had been taken which so far incensed King Richard that he threw it down and trampled it under foot which rais'd a mortal grudge in the Austrian Duke against our King nor did he rest till in some part he had given his anger vent which at that time he durst not express This place being taken and garrisoned by Christians the next design was upon the City of Jerusalem but Philip the French King envying the glory of the English drew off the greater part of his Army and returned to France the like did the Duke of Austria and divers of their faction not withstanding the prayers and intreaties of the Asian Christians who hoped by the prevailing Arms of these Western Princes to be delivered from the tyranny and oppression they had so long groaned under however King
the sixth of July 1189 and reigned nine Years nine Months dying in the 42 year of his Age being the 26 sole Monarch of England he was conttacted to Alice Daughter to Lewis the seventh King of France But falling passionately in love with Berengaria Daughter to Sanches the six King of Navar he married her in the way to the Holy Land whether she was accompanying her Father but had no Issue by her yet he left behind him Philip and Isabel his natural Children Thus the stout Lyons Heart to Death did yeild Whose dreadful Arms had strew'd the bloody field Of fruitful Palestine no Infidel Nor French nor Rebels could resist his Steel Victorious every where he did remain Cyprus he won yet by an Arrow slain The Reign and Actions of John King of England c. JOhn called by King Henry the Second his Father Lackland as being out of hopes of the Crown by reason so many Brothers were before him was notwithstanding Arthur his Eldest Brother Geofry's Son being alive crowned upon the Death of King Richard by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury at Wesâ—minster through the instance of Queen Eleanor and most of the Nobles yet the French King promoted great troubles in England under pretence of Inthroaning the young Prince yet for great sum he connived at his being delivered into his Uncles hands so that upon new disturbances occasioned as well by the Clergy as Laity he was closely imprisoned The Poctovians rebelling the King prepared to quiet them but as well the Clergy as the Lay-peers denied him assistance of Men and Money or to wait on him in person yet with such a Power as he could raise with present Treasure he passed the Seas overthrew the Rebels took the young Prince who had escaped prisoner with divers Peers and two hundred French Knights reducing all the revolted Towns to their obedience so that Prince Arthur now kept under stricter restraint than ever died in prison as some will have it not without suspition of violence which caused much murmuring amongst the people and the French King laying hold of that opportunity cited King John as an Homager for the Dukedom of Normandy c. to appear at a set time to be tried by his Peers upon Articles of Murther and Treason but the King disdaining to obey the Summons he was pretendedly by the French King and his Peers disinherited and condemned in his absence so that by reason of the Intestine Troubles not being able to pass over with a sufficient Army to repel the insulting French men they seized upon many of his Towns and Castles some by force and others by treachery yet quieting matters somewhat better at home and getting a considerable sum of Money from the delinquent Barons and such as had been in Rebellion against him and having moreover a Subsidy granted him he prepared to pass the Seas when in the mean while the French King out of a bravado sent a Knight as his Champion to challenge to single Combate any of the Kings Subjects and in a mortal battle to justifie the proceedings of his Sender To match this Braggadocia John Curcy Earl of Ulster in Ireland who had some time before been brought prisoner into England upon a revolt of the Irish so that the King knowing him to be of a savage and untractable nature went in person to propose this honourable undertaking when looking on the King with a stern countenance enough to strike terror in the beholders he said In thy Quarrel I will neither draw Sword or fight a stroke but for the honour of the Realm of England I will shed my last drop of blood Hereupon the day was appointed and all things ordered to be in a readiness but in the mean while the Monsieur geting knowledge of the Earls Gigantick Stature and proportion of Limbs as likewise the great quantities of Provisions he daily devoured he thought it no boot to stay and thinking it was not safe to return into France he sneaked away and went for Spain so that Philip of France ashamed of the disgrace sent to excuse it yet new troubles as indeed this Kings Reign was a perpetual storm arising hâ— could not so soon get over Sea as he expected how ever upon his coming the French were terrified tâ— a degree of suing for peace and it was upon the relinquishing sundry places they had taken accordingly so that the two Kings appointing an interview anâ— the Irish Earl happening to be there the French Kinâ— was very desirous to see a tryal of his strength wheâ— placing a Steel Helmet upon a knotty trunk of Oaâ—â— the Irish man with a strong Sword that no body bâ— himself could weld after a dreadful sneer or two let fly with so full a charge that he cut not only the Helmet in two but entred his Sword so far into the wood that none but himself could pluck it out when being asked by King John 〈◊〉 he looked so furiously before he gave the blow his â—â—ply was That had he missed it he would have killed not only the two Kings but all the spectators The Truce that the French made with the English at this time served but to gain the greater advantage by rendring King John more supine in his Affairs for by degrees they encroached upon all Normandy geting even the City of Roan it self upon which Main Tourain Poctou revolted nor could King John hinder it having his hands full at home and when he was about to go for Normandy Habert Arch-bishop of Canterbury suspected to be a Pentioner of King Philip peremtorily forbid him to proceed in that voyage and the Earls and Barons a second time denyed their Aid insomuch that the King in a rage seized upon some of their Estates and grievously fined others nor was it a little gainful to him that Hubert the Arch-bishop dyed the same year whose large Treasure the King â—ook for the use of the Wars but now an obstacle â—rose The Monks of Canterbury chose one Reginald for their Arch-bishop who was Subprior of their Convent yet the King opposed it and presented John Grey Bishop of Norwich so that the Pope upon noâ—ice of what had happened rejected both and went â—bout to impose on them one Stephen d' Langton whom the Monks for fear of the Pope's high Curse wherewith they were threatned received as their Arch-bishop but the King knowing him to be one â—f the French Faction and that he would consequentâ— be prejudicial to his Affairs could not be brought 〈◊〉 hearken to it though the Pope sent him a present â—f Rings with some flattering Comments on them â—eclaring That the Right and Power over all Chiâ—â—â—â— as in the See of Rome But the King threatning if he desisted not from such pretentions in England he would stop all Monies that passed from hence to Rome and thereupon a hot contest by Letters happening between them the old blade in a pet Interdicted the Kingdom which the Bigottry of the times made the people think
so far prevailed with the easie King that a Reconciliation was made and the Kuke of Somerset who mainly opposed the Yorkists Interest was confined a Prisoner to his house which done the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came to London making great complaints to the King against Somerset of which that Duke had no sooner notice but he came before the King and accused his Accuser Face to Face charging him with High-Treason as having conspired to depose the King and take the Sovereignty on himself whereupon the Duke of York was confined till such time as he swore in St. Paul's Church before a great Concourse of Nobility to continue a true faithfull and obedient Subject to King Henry And about this time by the success of John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury the Affairs of France began to appear in a better posture for by the prevailing Arms of this valiant man Burdeaux the chief City in Normandy was taken with many other Places of Note but upon his attempting to relieve Castilion charging the Enemy upon unequal Terms he was slain in the Field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle and with him dyed all the English hope of ever recovering what was lost in France for the Duke of York not regarding his Oath An. 1445. took up Arms and broke into the King's Palace and the King to oppose him drew out considerable Forces so that a great Battel was fought at St. Albans where the King was wounded with an Arrow and taken Prisoner and the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford together with the Lord Clifford and divers other Knights and Gentlemen of the Royal Party slain Henry being brought to London a Parliament was called in which the Memories and Honours of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester were restored and those that had taken up Arms under the Duke of York indempnified of the Treason and that Duke created Protectour of England The Earl of Salisbury made Chancellour and the Earl of Warwick his Son Captain of Calais And thus having gotten the Power into their hands they worked out the Counsellours and Favourites of the King placing such in their stead as would stickle for their Interest The Divisions gave the French the boldness to make discents into several places In Kent and Devonshire they burnt some Towns and committed many Outrages which yet abated not the heat and heart-burning of the English one to another for although 〈◊〉 Lords met and concluded a seeming Agreementâ— yet it lasted not long before both side â—â—â—â—med and a mortal Battel was fought on 〈…〉 where the King's Party was worsted And soon after another Battel was fought at Ludlow where the Duke and his Adherents received a great overthrow and the Town of Ludlow laid in Ruines for adhering to the Yorkists and hereupon a Parliament was called wherein the Duke of York the Earls of March Salisbury and Rutland and others were attainted of High Treason and had their Estates confiscated But on the 9th of July 1460. the Scale turned for in a fatal Battel at Northampton the King was overthrown by means of the revolt of the Lord Grey of Ruthen and in this Battel on the King's part there were slain the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont the Lord Egrinham Sir William Lucy and others and the King himself was made Prisoner and carried to London where in a Parliament begun the 8th of October the Duke of York laid Claim to the Crown and set forth his Pedigree and urged it so far that the Parliament came to a conclusion That Henry should enjoy the Crown during his natural Life but then it should fall to the Duke of York and his heirs and the heirs of Henry to be utterly excluded and accordingly the Duke was proclaimed Heir apparent to the Crown But Queen Margaret who was in the North raising Forces resolved not to stand to what her Husband had been forced to consent to but to maintain the right of her Son Prince Edward but having gathered a considerable Army she marched towards London against her the Duke drew out and near Wakefield a bloudy and doubtfull Battel was faught in which the Duke of York was slain his Forces overthrown his Son the Earl of Rutland killed begging his Life on his Knees and the Earl of Salisbury taken Prisoner and beheaded the Duke's head was cut off and a Paper Crown set upon it by way of derision and thus had ended the fatal Quarrel between the Houses of York and Lancaster had not Edward Earl of March eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a great Army gathered in the Marches of Wales and near Mortimer's Cross in Ludlow fought with the Queens Army when at the joining of the Battel three Suns appeared in the Firmament which immediately united into one In this Battel the Queens Forces were overthrown with great Slaughter and Owen Tudor Father in law to King Henry VII being taken Prisoner was together with Sir John Scudemore and his two Sons beheaded but An. 1460. the Queen overthrew the Earl of March in a great Battel at St. Albans rescuing King Henry out of his hands who was brought thither to countenance the Soldiers but the Londoners sided with him and upon the Queens drawing off to the North proclaimed him King of England c. And here Historians put an end to King Henry's Reign though he lived much longer as will appear in the succeeding Reign his Wife was Margaret Daughter to Reynate King of Jerusalem c. by her he had Issue Edward This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland the onely Child of Henry the Fifth by Katharine his Queen he began his Reign on the 30th of August 1422. and reigned thirty eight Years 6 Months and 3 Days being the thirty fifth sole Monarch of England and was stabbed to the heart in the Tower by Richard Duke of Gloucester Brother to Edward the Fourth on the 20th of May 1471. in the 46th Year of his Age buried first in the Abbey of Chartsey in Surry afterwards removed to Windsor by Henry the Seventh then removed again none knows where In his time many strange Accidents happened portending the Woes and Miscries that befell the Kingdom Thus the good pious King bereft of Crowns Bore patiently the Wreck of Fortune's frowns Yet murtherous minds were not with this content But in a stream of Bloud to Heaven he 's sent The Reign and Actions of Edward the Fourth King of England c. EDward the eldest Son to Richard Duke of York in the beginning of his Reign found great opposition from the Lancastrians who pitying the Misfortune of pious King Henry raised Forces in many parts he was crowned at Westminster but the Citizens who had been the greatest Sticklers for him not finding him answer their expectations in performing the Promises he had made them began to decline his Interest however he marched against the Forces raised in the North giving the Lord
Earl of Shaftsbury and others were Imprisoned in the Tower one Stephen Colledge a Joyner was Tryed at Oxford found guilty of High Treason and Executed And in the year 1683. Captain Walcot William Hone and John Rouse were executed at Tyburn and the Lord Russell and Algernoon Sidney lost their heads And not long after Sir Thomas Armestrong being brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were sentenced at the King's Bench Bar upon their Outlawries and executed at Tyburn And two Informations for Perjury were preferred against Titus Oates the principal Evidence in the Plot But before he came to Tryal the King dyed for falling ill on Monday the 2d of February 1684. With a violent fit of the Appoplexy which at that time bereaved him of his Senses he continued in a languishing Condition till Friday the 6th of February and then dyed in the 55th year of his Age when he had Reigned 36 years and seven days And was buried in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel being the 46th Sole Monarch of England Thus Charles the Great his Glory laid aside A Prince that Fortune in all Shapes had try'd In War and Councils equally approv'd Feard of his foes but of his friends belov'd Remarkable Transactions from the Time of King JAMES the II. coming to the Crown till his Leaving the Kingdom c. KING Charles leaving no Issue by Queen Katharine his onely Brother succeded him and was Proclaimed by the style of James the Second King of England c. at the Pallace Gate and in London with the usual Solemnity and Ceremony Causing the Lords and others present that were before to be Sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council signifying by Proclamation it was his Pleasure that all who at the decease of King Charles were in Office of Government should so continue till his pleasure was further signified And upon his first sitting in Council he made a Speech in which amongst other Expressions are these viz. I shall make it my endeavour to preserve this Government both in Church and State as it is now by Law Established I know the Principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy and the Members of it have shewed themselves good and loyal Subjects Therefore I shall always take care to Defend and Support it I know too that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as a great a Monarch as I can wish and as I shall never depart from the Just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so I shall never Invade any Man's Property I have often heretofore ventured my Life in Defence of this Nation and I shall still go as far as any man in preservation of it in all its Just Rights and Liberties Nor was it long before a Proclamation was Issued forth to give notice the King intended to call a Parliament inculcating therein the settlement of the Revenue for the support of the Crown and Government that there was a necessity for the maintenance of the Navy for the Kingdoms defence and the advantage of Trade in order to which he desired that the settlement of the Customs due in the Reign of King Charles the Second might continue declaring it was his will and pleasure that the Duties should be Collected accordingly and that he did not doubt of the ready complyance of his Subjects therein This being given forth the Merchants did not dispute the payment And the next thing taken in hand was the preparation for the funeral of the deceased King all persons belonging to or having business at the Court being commanded by an Order of the Earl Marshal to put themselves into decent Mourning and indeed the loss of a Prince that ruled so much in the hearts of his Subjects found a ready complyance for not onely the Courtiers were in Mourning but all the responsible persons of the Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark on the tenth of February took his place at the Council Board as a Privy Councellour of this Kingdom All things being prepared for the Funeral Solemnities of King Charles the Second with decency and order as the occasion required the Royal Corpse was on the 14th day of February Interred in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster The Prince of Denmark whose Train was born up by the Lord Cornbury being chief Mourner and aâ— curious Figure of Wax representing the King was set up amongst the rest of the Kings of England his Predecessours and an Order was published for altering the Prayer in the Liturgy or Common Prayer relating to the Royal Family by way of exchanging Names in the repetition viz. JAMES for CHARLES and further viz. our Gracious Queen MARY CATHERINE the Queen Dowager Their Royal Highnesses MARY Princess of Orange the Princess ANNE of Denmark and all the Royal Family And Money being wanting in the Exchequer it was taken up upon the Excise by way of Farming and the Earl of Rochester was constituted Lord High Treasurer of England and the Marquess of Halifax Lord President of the Privy Council the Earl of Clarendon Lord Privy Seal and the Duke of Beaufort Lord President of Wales These Great Officers thus put in Trust gave us prospect of the tranquility of Affairs and the King was Proclaimed in all the Citys and Burrough Towns of the Kingdom and in the like order in Scotland and Ireland and the Earl Marshal issued out the orders of Summons in order to the preparation of the Coronation which was appointed to be on the 23d of April being Saint George's day requiring all persons who in regard of their Tenures Customs and Usage are bound to do and performe Services on that day to appear before the Commissioners and make out their Claims and give their attendance at the Solemnity and a Proclamation was sent into Scotland in order to the calling of a Parliament in that Kingdom with a Proclamation of Indemnity to divers of the Scottish Nation Then he proceeded to put out a Proclamation to Summons a Parliament to sit at Westminster on the 19th day of May 1685. And accordingly the Citys Burroughs and Shires proceeded to Election and sundry Embassadours residing in England or such as came by Expresses made their Complement of Condolence and Congratulation and the 23d of April being come great preparations were made for the Coronation the Nobles and others met in their Robes and Formalities the Ceremony was performed with much Magnificence and the Parliament according to appointment met when the King in his Robes went to the House and being seated on the Throne made a Speech in which amongst other things He informed them that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in Scotland with the men he brought with him from Holland c and soon We had notice that that Earl had levyed considerable Forces in Argyleshire and other places which obliged the Militia to rise in Arms and several Troops were sent from England and more had gone had not the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme in
But being a Cruel and Desolute Prince he was Killed by his Souldiers after he had continued seven Months in the Throne So that Maximus being then Deputy the Britains felt not the Effects of his Anger and thus Rome wanting a Head Marcus Sylvius Otho entred upon the Stage yet Reigned but three Months and five Days before he made way for Aulus Vitellus who after eight Months Reign was Killed by the Souldiers and Elavius Vespatian made Emperor in his stead So that in these short Revolutions the Britains had Peace yet in this last Reign the Brigantes and Silures were up in Arms but Julius Frontius over-powered them Petilius being Deputy the Famous City of Jerusalem after an obstinate and bloody Siege was Taken by the Romans under the Lâ—ading of Titus Vespatian who succeeded his Father in the Empire after he had Reigned about nine Years and Reigned two years and three months yet we find not that he had any War with the Britains but left the Empire to Domitian his Brother who raised a Persacution against the Christians by the Example of Nero Insomuch that Christianity then beginning to Flourish in this Island many were cut off for the Testimony they bore to their Lord and Master And Julius Agricola being Deputy he upon the Revolt of the Britains gave them â—… and in a fearful Overthrow slew Ten Thousand of them with the Loss of Three Bundred and Forty of his own Men and this is he that first discovered this Country to be an Island and Domitian after about fifteen years Reign dying Cocâ—eius Nerva came to the Throne of Empire being a very Charitable Prince but after ten Months he gave place to Trajan who raised the Third Persecution and Overthrew the Revolting Britains by Spartiaâ—us his Lieutenant Leaving the Stage of Honour after Twenty One Years Six Months when Adrianus was Proclaimed Emperor and although he had no War with the Britains he nevertheless raised a Persecution against the Christians and made the Church of Christ weep Tears of Blood in all Lands whither his Power extended yet he Reigned twenty two years But at length Antonius Pius who Succeeded him restrained re-called his Cruel Edicts yet in his time the Britains rising in Arms were Overthrown by Lollius Urbicus Marcus Aurelius taking next upon him the Administration of the Imperial Power revived the Persecution but had no War with the Britains and giving place after nineteen years Reign Commodius took upon him the Sway of the Empire and now the Almighty smiling upon this Land with the brightest Rays of Divine Love raised up a Christian King and the first that the World had seen viz. King Lucius Son to King Ceilus and Great Grand Child to Arviragius who Married the Emperor Drusius's Daughter and he being more mindful of Religion that dearest part of Government than of any other Consideration the better to Establish the Work so prosperously begun sent two Learned Men to Elutherus then Bishop of Rome to be further Instructed in the FAITH who thereupon sent him Fagarius and Damianus with his Letter in the following words You have received in the Kingdom of Britain by GOD's Mercy both the Law and Faith of Christ you have both the Old and New Testament out of the same through God's Grace by the Advice of your Realm take a Law and by the same through God's Sufferance Rule your Kingdom of Britain for in that Kingdom you are God's Vicar This I have mentioned to shew The honesty and plainness of the Bishops of Rome before they came to be Debauched and Corrupted with Pride and Avarice And this good King so far improved the Advice that he immediately Changed the Seats of the three Arch Flamens and twenty-eight Flamens into so many Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees appointing for the first three London York and Gloucester and thereupon the Christian Religion in spite of the Oppressors grew up like a stately Cedar and overspread the Land Helvius Pertinax the next Emperor did nothing of note having but a short Reign not exceeding eight Months and was Succeeded by Didius Julianus who continued not above two Months neither oâ— them having any War with the Britains Yet in the Reign of Septimus Severius the Calledonians were up in Arms and Heraclionus his Deputy not being able to Quell them the Emperor came over in Person yet could not Effect it by reason of the Fortresses and Marshes where they usually Fortified themselves with less than the Loss of fifty thousand oâ— his men and the better to Bridle them he caused a mighty Wall with Towrs to be run from Shorâ— to Shore but being come over a second time upon new Commotions he fell Sick and dyed at York and in his Reign the fifth Persecution was raised against the Christians Bassianus Caracala Reigneâ— after him six years and being made Co-Emperor with his Brother Geta he slew him yet the Britains werâ— not molested during his Reign and then he gave place to Opilius Maerinus who reigned about one year two months and was Succeeded by Heliogabilus a Lude Debauched and Luxurious Emperor whâ— had been formerly Priest to the Son yet he held the imperial Seat four years and then gave Place to Alexander Severus who gave Liberty to the Christiâ—ns to live peaceably and quiet without oppression or persecution but when he had reigned six months â—nd seven days he was killed by the Mutiny of the Almain Souldiers and made way for Maximinus who â—aised the sixth Persecution yet in his time the Briâ—ains were in Peace but three Years put a period to his Reign and Julius Varius Maximus mounted the Throne but he soon after was slain by the Souldiers And Gordianus who succeeded him Reigned but forty days For now the Petorian Souldiers began to commit all manner of Disorders setting the Empire to Sale raising any one to it for Money and then either Killing or Deposing them made room for more Gain and instead of One they sometimes set up Two in Co-partnership as Claudius Puppienus and Celius Balbinus who Reigned only a Year then Antonius Gordianus Reigned and after him Julius Philippus the one Reigning Four and the other Five Years Which short continuance and the Care they had to Secure themselves made them little mind what was done abroad and Lieutenants of Provinces perceiving things go thus unfortunately did not so much trouble themselves in Gathering the publick Taxes as to ingratiate in the Peoples Favour and enrich themselves by Presents and Offerings which were daily made them without runing the hazard of forcing them to Rebel And now Decius coming to the Imperial Seat stirred up by the Enemies of the Church of Christ he raised the seventh Persecution but his Fury continued not for he reigned but two years e're he gave way to Trebonianus and Voâ—usianius who stayed the Persecution and had Peace with the Britains But in two years they gave way to Aelmelianus who reigned not above two months and though Valerianus that succeeded
and other places the better to secure his new acquired greatness and was the first that admitted the Jews to Inhabit England and finding some stirs in Normandy he re-passed the Seas and fought his Son Robert who dismounted him but knowing his voice remounted him and begged his pardon and by that means they were made Friends and the War ceased However finding Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent secretly Conspiring against him he Confiscated his Estate and Banished him his Dominions and being about to War against the French who during the Contest with his Son had offered some Indignities to his Dominions in Normandy he fell sick of a great pain and disorder in his Bowels whereat the French King in a scofing manner said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed therefore it behoves us to consider what number of Candles we must offer when he is Churched for no doubt they must be very many This being told to King William he in a rage swore by the Resurrection and brightness of God That his Cousin of France should be at no such cost or trouble but that at his Churching himself would light a thousand Candles in France and he failed not in his promise for entering that Kingdom with Fire and Sword he burnt the City of Mentz or Metz and many other places yet being too eager in pursuit of the French and of a Corpulent Body his Horse with a surious bound broke the Inner Rim or Film of his Belly of which when he had quieted the Disturbances abroad and at home and an extream Surfeit he got by overheating himself in action he died after a considerable sickness at Roan in Normandy Anno 1087. and there forsaken of his Sons and Courtiers who hasted to secure their respective Interests his Body was left unburied till one Harulims a poor Country Knight at his proper charge conveyed it to Cane where upon the attempting to bury him in St. Stephen's Chappel it was denied by one Ascelinus Fitz Arthur who in the Name of God forbad it saying It was the very place of his Father's House Floar which the Duke in his Life-time had wrongfully taken from him and upon his Inheritance founded the Church Therefore continued he I challenge the Ground and on God's behalf forbid that the Body of any Oppressor or Dispoiler be buried in my Earth neither shall it be Interred in the Precincts of my right But in conclusion Henry the Conqueror's younger Son hearing of the refusal compounded for 100 pound weight of silver and the Body was accordingly Interred with little or no Pomp for during the Contest his Belly burst in sunder and the Contageon thereby occasioned was so great that few could indure it he died on the 9th day of September 1087. in the 56th year of his Dukedom of Normandy and the 21st of his Reign over England in the 64th year of his Age his Wife was Maud Daughter to Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders his Issue was Robert sirnamed Curthois or Short-boots William sirnamed Miser who died Anno 1028. Richard who after his Father had gained the English Diadem came to a violent Death being gored in the New Forrest by a Stag or as others have it died by the stroke of a Bough William Rufus who succeeded him in the Kingdom of England though he nominated no Successor but left it to God's disposal much bewailing on his Death-Bed the Rigour and Oppressions he had used towards the English Henry born at Selby in York-shire Anno 1070. Cicely a veiled Nun Constance Married to Allain Earl of Britain in France Alice Married to Stephen Earl of Bloys by whom she had Stephen Earl of Mortain and Boleine afterward King of England Gundred Married to William d' Warren a Noble Norman and first Earl of Surry Ela who in her Child-hood was contracted to Duke Harrold afterward King of England Margaret who in her Childhood was given to Alphons King of Gallicia in Spain and William Preverel his Natural Son who was Created Earl of Nottingham His last Will and Testament was That all his Goods should be distributed to Churches Ministers and Poor limiting their respective Portions and to the Church and Monks of St. Stevens in Normandy where he above all â—oveted to be Buried he gave several Mannors as likewise his Crown which was afterward Redeemed by his Son Henry To Robert he left the Dutchey of Normandy but left as we said England free only wishing that his Son William might succeed him in it and presageing that Henry should in Conclusion possess all his Dominions he gave him 5000 Pounds the remainder of his Treasure He Deposed and Imprisoned Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury who died in Prison However he built many fair Churches and Abbies endowing them with Revenues and large Priviledges specially Battle-Abby where he slew King Harrold so that any Theâ—f or Murtherer flying thither had safe Protection and if the Abbot came by where any Execution was in hand he might if he pleased save the Malefactor he allowed a certain Pention to the Monks to â—ray for the Soul of King Harrold and those that were â—lain in the Battle In this King's time who was the 20th sole Monarch of England happened a dreadful Earthquake strange Burning Feavors proving very Mortal Murrains causing great Dearth of Cattle extraordinary Rains and Inundations which softned the Hills to that degree that some of them sunk to a flatness and overwhelmed the Neighbouring Villages most of the chief Cities suffered by Fire and London had her Houses and Churches burnt as the fire carried it from the West Gate to the East Gate Thus Lived and sell the Potent Conqueror Death's sorce subdued what ne'er was foil'd in War The Reign of William II. Sirnamed Rufus King of England c. VVIlliam Rufus so named from the redness of his Face although his Elder Brother Robert was alive immediately passing to London he by the assistance of Lanfrank Arch-bishop of Canterbury and VVolstane so far wrought upon the Council that he procured himself to be Crowned Anno 1087. at VVestminster but Odo his Uncle returning from his Banishment stirred up Robert his Brother against him instigating the Nobles to take part with him but Robert wanting Money was obliged for the better carrying on the Expedition to Pawn the Province of Constantine to his Brother Henry but whilst these preparations were in hand VVilliam to ingratiate himself with the English made large Promises to take off the hard Taxes and restore the Laws his Father had abolished upon which the people siding with him he wrested many of the strong Holds out of the hands of thosâ— that had seized them for his Brother Robert proceeding to besiege his Uncle Odo in Richester putting forth his Proclamation by which he ordered all people to repair thither in Arms and whoever refused he should be accounted a Niding which word at that time was so distastful and hated by the English as signifying a Coward or mean-spirited Fellow
the next day a Truce was concluded yet Simon de Monfort Earl of Leicester who headed the Baron's Army carrying the King about with him as his Prisoner got into his hands all the strong Holds These Proceedings in England putting a stop to the Pope's Revenue he sent Cardinal Ottobon his Legate to Excommunicate the Barons but they for a while despised it yet soon after falling out amongst themselves many of them came over to Prince Edw. who had taken the Field with an Army so that he enclosed the Earl of Leicester's Camp at Evesham and obliged him to battel where the Earl lost the day with his Life and had his Head Hands and Feet chopped off as a mark of Infamy By this Overthrow the King was rescued and set at liberty when to heal the long Divisions a Parliament was called at Winchester by whose Approbation the King seized the Charters of London and other Cities and Towns that had proved disloyal and the Legate proceeded to excommunicate the Bishops of Winchester London Worcester and Chichester for taking part with the King's Enemies And now Prince Edward with a great Train took a Journey to the Holy Land and the King more firmly to settle the Nation called a Parliament at Marlborough where the Statutes called by the name of the place were enacted but having been at Norwich to quiet a tumult and punish such as had burnt the Priory Church upon his return he fell sick at the Abby of St. Edmund in Suffolk and after a short Languishment dyed Anno 1272. from whence he was conveyed to Westminster and there buried in the Abbey This Henry King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Guyenne and Aquitain was eldest Son to King John his Wife was Eleanor Daughter of Raymond Earl of Provence by whom he had Issue Edward Edmund Richard who dyed young also John William and Henry Margaret married to Alexander the Third King of Scotland Beatrix married to John the First Duke of Bretaigne and Katharine who dyed young He began his Reign the 19th of October 1216. and reigned 56 Years and 28 Days being the 65th Year of his Age he was the 27th sole Monarch of England He was very charitably given and founded many Churches and Religious Houses In his time four Suns appeared from the Rising to the Setting after which followed a great Famine and eighteen Jews were hanged for crucifying a Child and others severely punished for circumcising another that had been christened Thus dyed Third Henry when on England's Stage H 'ad sway'd the Sceptre near a long liv'd Age The longest Reign the Nation e'er beheld Yet Life wound off by time the Cedar's fell'd The Reign and Actions of Edward the First King of England c. KIng Edward at the death of his Father Henry was warring in the Holy Land where he did Wonders in his own Person insomuch that the Sarazens dreading his Prowess the Governour of Damascus under a feigned Friendship sent a Villain to assassinate him who seeming as if he was about to deliver him a Letter stabbed him in three places in the Arm with a poisoned Dagger and had repeated the Wounds but that the Prince struck him down with his Foot whereupon his Guards came in and cut the Wretch in pieces as he lay on the floor yet these wounds by the Chirurgions were accounted mortal unless some one would hazard his own Life by sucking out the Poison but when every one shrunk back Eleanor his Wife who would by no means be persuaded from accompanying him in that tedious Journey chearfully undertook it and effected the Cure without any Injury done to her self for which generous Undertaking he raised Crosses and Monuments to her Memory in England The News of his Father's death no sooner reached him but setling the Affairs of the War he returned to England where together with his Queen he was crowned by Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury at whose Coronation 500 Horses were let loose in a large Forest to be possessed by those that first caught them and upon notice the Welsh were in Arms he marched against them overthrew and slew Lewelin their Prince in a great Battel whose Head crowned with Ivy was set upon the Tower and utterly subduing those Mountainiers he made his Son Edward born amongst them at Caernarvon Prince of the Country And going for France he sate as a Peer of that Kingdom in consideration of the Lands and Territories he held there and upon his return banished the Jews to the number of 15000 for bringing in base Money and exacting Extortion Alexander the Third King of Scotland who had married King Edward's Sister being dead and the Lords Bruce and Baliol for want of other Heirs standing in competition for the Kingdom Edward by his Authority became Umpire and adjudged it to the latter promising to support his Right by Arms for which he was to become his Homager but that Prince being in the Throne to please his People who feared the English Greatness might be prejudicial to them hearkened to Proposals with France and suffered his People to enter the North parts of of England with Fire and Sword Edward drove them back with great slaughter entering Scotland and making such terrible Destruction that the Cities and Towns for the most part surrendred the Scotch Nobles sued for Peace and in the Parliament held at Berwick they acknowledged him their King swearing to be true Subjects to him for ever after sealing a solemn Instrument to that purpose whereupon King Edward leaving John de Warren Earl of Surry and Sussex as his Viceroy in that Kingdom sent John Baliol the late King Prisoner to the Tower of London and brought away with him the Crown Sceptre and Cloth of State burning their Records abrogating their Laws altering the Form of their Divine Service and transplanting their learned Men to Oxford He brought likewise the Marble Chair wherein the Kings of Scotland were wont to be crowned from the Abbey of Schone and sent it to Westminster upon which is written this prophetical Distich Ni fallat Fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient Lapidem regnare tenetur ibidem Where'er this Stone the Scot shall placed find There shall he reign for there his Rule 's assign'd This was verified in King James the first upon the uniting the Kingdoms but more of that in his Reign King Edward going into France to recover such places as the French had taken in the latter end of his Father's Reign and refused to restore especially in Gascoign the Scots rebelled and under the leading of one William Wallis fell upon the English at an advantage near Striveling Bridge and put them to the rout killing amongst others Hugh de Cressingham the Treasurer and having flead him divided his Skin in parcels amongst them as a Trophie of their Revenge and committed many other outrages which hastened the King's Return at which time he summoned a Parliament at York giving the Scots a day to appear but they
of using their Arms which the Duke of Brabant perceiving advanced furiously to break the Order of the English and encourage his side but met his Fate in that Attempt however the Duke of Alanzon broke in upon the King's Standard and there had slain the Duke of Gloucester had not the King prevented it by timely interposing and between them began a sharp dispute wherein the Duke of Alanzon all most beat the King's Crown flat to his Helmet but being struck from his Horse by Henry and crying out he was Alanzon notwithstanding his begging quarter and the King's endeavour to save him the enraged Soldiers for the Danger he had put their Sovereign into dispatched him on the spot so that the Rear-guard of the French Army being worsted and unable to sustain the Fury of the English fled without fighting leaving the Victory with infinite spoil and a great number of Prisoners to a handfull of Men in a manner naked and allmost half starved which may convince the World that Victory depends not upon the Arm of Flesh but scarcely was the Field cleared of the French before another Army bigger than that of the English which was coming to their Aid and knowing nothing of the Defeat appeared upon the Hills and the King fearing the great number of Prisoners might turn against him during the heat of the Fight caused them all as a Maxim of self-â—â—eservation except those of the greatest Quality to be killed and then sent a Herauld to summon them to fight or depart immediately for if they stayed whilst he charged them they must expect no Quarter whereupon the King of Sicily who commanded in chief not thinking it convenient with those Forces to dispute what so great an Army had lost drew off so that King Henry finding himself an entire Conquerour fell on his Knees and commanding all both Officers and Soldiers to doe the like with up lifted hands and said Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be given the Glory And having learned the name of the place he said Let this be called the Battel of Agincourt all posterity In this Battel were slain of the French one thousand Princes Noblemen Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Soldiers The Prisoners of note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon the Earl of Richmond Lowis de Burbon the Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Roven and divers others The English loft of Note were the Duke of York and Earl of Suffolk with two Knights and David Gam Esquire the common Soldiers that fell were very inconsiderable some not allowing above one hundred twenty eight but that seems somewhat partial The next day after this Battel Henry marched with the spoil and his Prisoners off the Field towards Callais his Soldiers now having Cloaths and plenty of all Necessaries and having fortified the Towns he had taken and given necessary Orders he came for England and was received in London with Triumph and there presented with one thousand pounds and two Gold Basons and calling a Parliament he had a Subsidy of a Tenth granted for the carrying on his Wars in France which not sufficing he pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort his Unckle and his Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks then he passed the Sea with an Army of 25527. every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers and the first of August 1417. arrived in Normandy bringing such a terrour upon the Countrey that most of the Inhabitants fled into Bretaigne and having dubbed thirty eight Knights he laid Siege to Conquest and took it the 16th of August with the Castles of Aubeliers and Lovers he likewise stormed the City of Caen and gave the Pillage to his Soldiers During K. Henry's Success in France the Scots invaded England bringing with them a Person representing Richard the Second but hearing as they lay at the Siege of Roxborough and Berwick that the English Army was marching toward them they raised the Sieges and fled This did not hinder the King 's proceeding in France for there he took many Cities and had the strong Castle of Fallors delivered him then divided his Army under the Commands of the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and Earl of Warwick so that taking divers places at once he set down before Roan and took it after a year's Siege obliging the Burgesses for their Ransome and being permitted quietly to live there pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors And now the French finding themselves unable to make head against the English and Accommodation was sought and to bring it the easier to pass an Interview was had between King Henry and King Charles at the Town of Melun where the Queen and the Princess Katharine of France was present and there King Henry first fixed his Eyes and Affection on that beauteous Maid and finding the French Noblemen averse to his Demands he told the Duke of Burgundy that he would either have the Princess and what he had farther required or he would drive him and the rest of the Nobles out of France To which the Duke replied That he might say his pleasure but before he should drive them out of France he should be weary of the Enterprize This Treaty proving ineffectual the King took the Town of Ponthois and gave large spoil to his Soldiers which obliged the French King to remove his Court from Paris to Troyis in Champaigne and now to facilitate the English Conquests the Dauphin having put a sensible Affront upon the Queen his Mother she conceived a mortal hatred and laboured to ruine him confederating with the Duke of Burgundy and procuring her self by reason of the King's Imbecility to be made Regent of France and soon after the Dauphin causing John Duke of Burgundy to be slain in his presence as he came to doe him Homage for contriving as he said the death of Lewis Duke of Orleance that he might the better sway the Kingdom under an infirm King Philip the young Duke of Burgundy to revenge his Father's death closed with King Henry and proceeded to persuade Charles the French King to disinherit the Dauphin and give the Lady Katharine in Marriage to the King oâ— England and the Queen seconding this Project it was effected and a Peace concluded between the two Crowns upon divers Articles the chief being That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and hold all their Dignities Rents and Possessions during their natural Lives That after their deaths the Crown and Realm of France should with all its Rights and Appurtenances remain unto the King of England and his Heirs for ever and that by reason of the Infirmity of King Charles therefore during his Life the Affairs of the Realm of France together with the Government thereof should remain in the King Henry so that thenceforth he should govern the Realm and admit to his Council and
Assistence with the Council of France such of the English Nobility as he should see convenient with other Articles to the number of thirty very advantageous to the English were all sworn to at Troyis May the 30th 1420. and proclaimed in London the June following and Homage sworn to King Henry who was proclaimed Regent of France and on the 3d of June the Marriage was celebrated in the presence of divers of the chief Nobility of England and France at Troyis with great Pomp and Splendour and they rode in Triumph to take Possession of the Palace in Paris and a Parliament of the three Estates were assembled in that City who confirmed what had been done by the Kings and it was there likewise ratified by the General Estates of the Realm and Sworn to particularly on the Holy Evangelist by the French Noblemen and Rulers Spiritual and Temporal who moreover sealed the Instruments which were sent over to be kept in the King's Exchequer at Westminster which done the King left the Duke of Clarence his Lieutenant in France and came for England with his Queen where he was received with Joy and Triumph causing her to be crowned at Westminster and then proceeded to call a Parliament for farther Supplies to maintain his War against the Dauphin who still stood out to recover the Kingdom but the Commons exhiting a Petition of Poverty he again pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort for 20000 pounds and passed into France with 4000 Horse and 24000 Foot and his presence there was necessary for the Dauphin strengthened by Forces for Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Buchanan and Archibald Douglas defeated and killed the Duke of Clarence took the Earls of Huntindon Somerset and others Prisoners and heightened with that Success he laid Siege to Alenzon and cut off the Provisions of Paris but the King 's Approach made him to retire to Bury King Henry soon recovered what the Dauphin had taken and drove him to great distress but when this great King had triumphed over that mighty Kingdom with unconquerable Fortune and Success and annexed it fully to the Crown of England death laid his Arrest upon him for falling sick of a burning Fever and Flux he dyed on the 30th of August 1422. at Bloice de Vincennois and his Body brought over was buried with pomp at Westminster hard by the Tomb of Edward the Confessour appointing by his last Will and Testament his younger Brother Humphry Duke of Gloucester Protectour of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Guardian of his Son Henry born a little before at Windsor contrary to the King 's express command who when he heard the Queen had lain in at that place prophetically spake viz. Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall reign long and lose all yet God's Will be done This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland eldest Son of Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen He began his Reign on the 20th of March 1412. and reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 days and was the 34th sole Monarch of England Thus Beauty Power and Honour yield to death Great Conquerours like Slaves resign their breath Their Lawrels in the Dust with them must lie But Fame's immortal and can never dye The Life Reign and Actions of HENRY the Sixth King of England France c. HEnry of Windsor so called from the place of his Birth upon the death of his Father was crowned when he exceeded not eight Months of age the Queen holding him in her lap whilst the Solemnity was performed to whom his Nurtriture and Education was committed but his Minority much disadvantaged the English Interest in France for old King Charles dying Charles his Son greatly strengthned his party and although he was called by the English in derision only King of Burry as having little more left him yet now he encroached upon the English wresting from them sundry places by the help of Aids from Scotland and Italy which made the English Regent think it time to give him Battel and accordingly the Armies joyned near Vernoli where the French were overthrown the Regent doing wonders in his own person and there were slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others and the Duke of Alanzon taken Prisoner upon which Victory the English besieged Monts in Main and having with his Cannon made a great breach in the Wall it was surrendered and a little while after the Earl of Salisbury besieged Orleance and brought it to such distress that the Garison was willing to surrender to the Duke of Burgundy but the Earl refused it which so offended the Duke that he declined the English Interest which proved very prejudicial The French being in a drooping Condition and using strong Cordials to support their Spirits one Joan a Shepherdess of Lorrain came to the Dauphin and offered him her Service saying She was sent by God to deliver France out of the hands of the English and not exceeding eighteen years of age her offer at first was looked upon as rediculous but she persisting in what she had declared the Dauphin caused her to be armed at all points and desiring the Sword that hung in St. Catharines Church she got into Orleance then besieged by the English and from thence sent a Letter commanding them to raise the Siege and deliver up the Towns they possessed for she was resolved to drive them out of France but they looked upon it only as proceeding from Folly or a raving fit yet in the several Sallies she made it proved otherwise for by the violent Sallies she made the Siege was raised with loss to the English she commonly fighting in the head of the French and animating them to go on couragiously for being in one of the Sallies shot through the Arm with an Arrow and perswaded to retire she cryed out This is a favour let us go on they cannot escape the hands of God and there of note were slain the Earl of Salisbury the Lords Moline and Poynings Sir Thomas Gagrave and the French say about eight thousand common Soldiers yet our Historians allow but six hundred and the French following their success wrested several Towns and surprising a party of English overthrew them taking Prisoners the Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampston whereupon several Towns revolted and the Dauphin took Auxier and Rhiemes in the latter of which according to the direction of Joan called by the French the Maid of God Charles the Dauphin caused himself to be Crowned King of France Joan of Arks having been hitherto very sucsessfull and done the Dauphin singular service coming to the relief of Campaign which was greatly distressed by the English and Burgundians in a desperate charge advancing too far and being separated from those that should have succoured her she was
Devonshire on the 5 of November 1688. and the Army to the number of 13 or 14000 Landed seized upon Exceter and divers other places whilst the King was prepairing to oppose it causing his Forces and Artillary to march for Salisbury whether he went in person But finding the falling off of part of his Army and afterwards the Nobility and the surprize of sundry strong Towns in the North and other places he returned to White-Hall and upon news of the defeat of a Party set to Guard Reading and Twyford Bridge the King on the 11 of December left White-Hall having the day before sent the Queen away c. but within a day or two he was discovered at Feversham and a Message sent to him from the Lords sitting in Council to return which accordingly he did but afterwards going to reside at Rochester he privately withdrew himself and taking Ship passed into France where the Queen was arrieved some time before Thus fortunes Hand does turn about the Wheele And makes the great as well as feeble Reele Memorable Transactions under the Auspicious Reign of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY c. THE Kingdom left without a Head and th 〈◊〉 Publick Affairs receiving prejudice in man 〈◊〉 particulars after several Addresses and Congratulations on the 25th of December the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster and humbly besought his present Majesty to take upon him the Administration of of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and to dispose of the publick Treasury c. till the meeting of the Convention appointed to meet the 22 of January making iâ— their further Request that he would cause his Circular Letters to be Issued out to the Lords And for the Election of Representatives to repair and â—it at Westminster and the next day a great number of Gentlemen who had been Members of Parliament in the Reign of King Charles the Second met at the Commons House who drew up an Address to the â—â—â—ine purpose as the Lords which was presented and very Gratiously received and on the 30 of December a Declaration was Issued out Authorizing Justices of the Peace Sheriffs and other Officers who were in their Offices the 1st of December except Papists to Act in their several Places and Stations And divers Priests and other disaffected persons were seized in sundry Counties and committed to several Prisons and the Circular Letters sent abroad the Papists were commanded to depart the Citys of London and Westminster And many eminent Citizens of London upon notice that the Treasury was Exhausted lent towards the defraying the Charges of the Publick Affairs of the Kingdom about 300000 l which was paid in at Guild-Hall for the use of the Exchequer Nor was the Scots slow in making their Address for Protection which many of the Lords and Commnns did and were kindly received with a promise at their Request of Issuing out Letters for the meeting of a Convention of the Estates on the 14th day of March at Edenburg which gave a general Satisfaction to Scotland On the 22d of January 1688. According to appointment the Convention met at Westminster where the Lord Marquess of Hallifax held the place as Speaker in the House of Lords Henry Powell Esq did the like in that of the Commons And after some Debates and Considerations for the Settlement of Affairs they made an Address of Thanks for the Royal Care and Conduct and at their Intreaty a further continuation of the Administration was Accepted and the days were Appointed for a Publick Thanksgiving for the great Deliverance of these Kingdoms But in Ireland things went not on so prosperously for the Earl of Tyrconnel greatly oppressed the Protestants suffered the Papists to plunder their Houses every where disarming them and putting them out of places of Trust however in several parts of that Kingdom the Protestants under the leading of Noblemen and others gave them notable overthrows But the Popish party relying upon the Succours they expected from France gave not over their Ravages and Outrages However great preparations were made in England to reduce that Kingdom to Obedience and some Stores of Ammunition and Provisions sent from Scotland and care was taken to stop such as were going over and a prohibition was laid on French Goods and Manufactures c. And now the desire of the people being to see their present Majestys on the Throne a great number of worthy persons in the Citys of London and Westminster Petitioned setting forth it was their humble desire it might be speedily done and soon after Her present Majesty upon the earnest Invitation of the Estates Embarqued for England attended by a Squadron of English and Dutch Men of War and arrived safely at White-Hall on the 12th of February 1688. to the inexpressible Joy of the people and was saluted all the way Her Yatch passed by the Forts and Ships in the Road as also by the Tower Guns the Standard being displayed and at Court she received the Complements of all the Nobility present nor did the Lords and Commons delay to prepare for the Proclaiming King WILLIAM and Queen MARY by declaring the Throne Vacant and praying them to accept the Regal Dignities Abrogating the former Oaths of Allegience and Supremacy and Incerting these viz. I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear that I will be Faithfull and bear True Allegience to their Majestys King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. Do Swear that I do from my heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this Damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicate or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever and so I declare that no foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God Matters prepared in readiness for so great and solemn an Occasion the Lords and Commons on the 13th of February having acquainted them with what they had done and obtained their Consent About Eleven of the Clock they went to White-Hall Gate where the Officers and Serjeants at Arms Trumpets and other persons being present Sir Thomas St. George Knight Garter Principal King at Arms receiving the Proclamation and the Officers at Arms by the Lords being ordered immediately to Proclaim it York Herauld Proclaimed it at White-Hall Gate after the Trumpets had thrice sounded Garter reading it by periods in the presence of the Lords and Commons and a great concourse of people and the satisfaction conceived was manifested by loud shouts and general Acclamations of Joy and in good order they proceeded to Temple-Bar where having informed the occasion of their coming they had the Gates opened and all except the Bailiff of Westminster and his men entred and were received by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder Sheriffs c. When having made a Second Proclamation
gave the Danes many Battels and being of a hardy and couragious temper he greatâ—y raised the drooping hearts of his Subjects raising the Siege of London and worsting their Army four times in open fight so that Canute having Challenged him to a single Duel for the Kingdom he loyfully accepted the offer so that going into an Island called Alney near Glocester they fought valiantly but Canute finding himself over matched and having received some dangerous Wounds he desired a Parly which being granted he said What should move us most Valiant Prince that for the obtaining of a Title we should thus indanger our Lives better it were to lay Malice and Weapons aside and to condescend to a Loving Agreement Let us now therefore become sworn Brothers and divide the Kingdom between us in such League of Amity that each may use the other as his own so shall the Land be peaceably governed and we joyfully assist each other in necessity Upon these words they threw down their Arms and embraced as Friends in the fight of both Armys so that the Kingdom being divided Edmund had the South and Canute the North but in a while after Edrick the Treacherous Duke who had betrayed the Councels of Edmund thinking to ingratiate himself with the Danes run a Spear into the Body of the King as he was easing himself and having by that means killed him he cut off his Head and hastening with iâ— to Canute he cryed Hallsole Monarch of England behold the Head of thy Copartner upon which Canute promised to advance him above all the Nobles of England but whilst the Traytor was big with expectation of honour and preferment he caused him to be Arrested and cutting off his Head fixed it on the Tower advancing him in that sense as he deserved This Edmund was Third Son of Ethelfrid and Fifteenth sole Monarch his Reign exceeded not a year Thus the Great Saxon Monarchy did yield And with her slaughtered King gave up the Field To the Blood-thirsty Danes but three short Reigns Bring back the Saxons and expire the Danes The Danish Monarchy over England and what remarkably happened in the Reigns of the three Danish Kings c. THe Original of the Danes as indeed all Originals is variously reported by Historians some will have that People derived from the Scythians and others from Scandia an Island Northward however when they Invaded England they were populous as it appears by their continual repairing the great numbers they lost for their first Invasion was in the year of our Lord 787 and were about 230 years before they gained the sole Monarchy They were as to their Religion Pagans Canute their first sole Monarch was Crowned at London by Livingus Arch-bishop of Canterbury Anno 1017. he upon his coming to the Crown Banished Edwin Son of Ethelred and sent Edward and Edmund the two Sons of Eumund Ironside to his Brother then King of Sweedâ—n to be made away and proceeded to Mary Queen Emma who had been Wife to King Ethelred and was Sister to the Duke of Normandy upon condition the Heir gotten on her Body should succeed him in the English Throne upon which he assembled the Peers in Parliament at Oxford and there made many good Laws establishing the Christian Religion injoyning that all decent Ceremonies tending to Devotion and Dâ—vine Worship should be observed with reverence that the Lords day should be kept holy and a Clergyman that should kill a Layman or be found guilty of any other notorious Crime should be deprived of his Order and Dignity A married Woman committing Adultery to have her Nose and Ears cut off and a Widow marrying within a Twelvemonth to loose her Joynter and being great in power both by Sea and Land some of his Flatterers would needs go about to perswade him that not only the Earth but the Ocean was obedient to him and that he might raise or calm it at his pleasure and he then being at Southampton to upbraid them caused a Chair to be set on the Sand when the Sea was coming in and placing himself in it commanded the Sea to retire and not dare to wet his Garments but the regardless Waves roaling on dashed him to that degree that he was forced to remove when turning to his Parasites he said You well now perceive all the might and power of Kings is but vanity for none is worthy to have the name of King but he that keepeth Heaven Earth and Sea in obedience to his Will And from that time he declined to wear his Crown causing it to be placed on the Head of Christs Crucified Imageat Winchester and gave many large Gifts to the Church and Church-men building several Churches and going a Pilgrimage to Rome procured the taking off the excessive Charge the English Arch-bishops were at when they took the Pall. He Reigned eighteen years and was the 16. sole Monarch of England being Buried in the old Monastery at Winchester Harold succeeded his Father Canute though he was opposed at his Enterance by Earl Goodwin he was likewife Son to Queen Emma and Crowned at Oxford by Elmothius Arch-bishop of Canterbury using manâ— Dâ— vices to get Edward and Alfrâ—d the two So 〈…〉 into his hunds he decoyed over the latter in his Mothers Name but he landing in hopes to be joyned with the promised Forces was betrayed by Earl Goodwin and the King setting upon his small Forces at Guilford caused them all except every tenth man to be slain and taking Alfrid alive he made his Eyes be put out and fastening one end of his Bowels to a stake he was pricked round with Ponyards till such time as he had drawn out his Guts and so died this poor Prince Nor did he rest here but proceeded to Banish Queen Emma and Confiscate her Goods for reproaching him with the Death of her Son This Harrold was second Son of Canute and the seventeenth sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno 1036 and Reigned four years being buried according to Stow at Westminster Hardicanute succeeded Harrold being invited over from Denmark both by the Danes and English and Crowned at London by Elnoth Arch-bishop of Canterbury he caused the Body of Harrold to he digged up and cutting off the Head threw it into the Thames but it being found by some Fisher-men they decently Interred it in St. Clements-Danes so called for its being the chief Burial place of the Danes This King was given much to Eating and Drinking insomuch that he caused his Tables to be spread four times a day with all manner of Dainties and raised a Tax of 32147 pounds to maintain a great Fleet at Sea and in vain Ostentation Earl Goodwin sitted out one with a Golden stern and Men compleatly armed with guilt Arms and Armour but the King hearing the Tax was denied and that Thurston and Feader two of his Collectors were slain by the people at Worcester he expulsed the Bishop and burnt the City but as he was Revelling at a
Wedding in Lambeth he suddenly fâ—ll down dead when he had reigned about two years He was third Son of Canute and the eighteenth sole Monarch he began his Reign Anno 1040 and was 〈◊〉 at Winâ—r and with him fell the Dâ—sh Monarchy in England and the Saxons re-entered to the no small Joy of the people Thus Monarchies and Monarchs rise and fall Whilst worldly Pomp is Fortunes Tennis-ball The Saxon Monarchy restored c. HArdicanute being dead Edward the seventh Son of Ethelred by Queen Emma was sent for out of Normandy where he had taken Sanctuary during the Danish Monarchy and Crown'd upon his Arrival at Winchester by Edsine Arch-bishop of Canterbury Anno 1042. and to gain the greater favour of the people he remitted the Tax of 40000 Pounds a year which had for 40 years been levyed upon all Lands except those of the Clergy by the Name of Dane-Guilt and the better to settle his Kingdom he compiled a Body of wholsom Laws from those of the Mercians West Saxons and Danes still known by the Title of Edward the Confessor's Laws written in Latin his Wars were only with the Welsh Irish and some Danes but those very inconsiderable yet Earl Goodwin being very powerful joyned with his Sons against him and in January a very deep Snow falling which covered the Earth till the middle of March the Cattle and Fowls of the Air were starved in abundance and the Summer produced Lightnings that burnt up the Corn whereupon a Famine ensued and the King at the Instigation of Goodwin and Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury seized upon his Mothers Jewels and committed her Prisoner to the Abbey of Warwick putting her to undergo the Law Ordalium which is to pass over nine hot Plow-shares with naked feet and blindfold laid about a yard asunder which she did without touching them before she knew she was come to the place so that a reconciliation hereupon ensued and this manner of tryal was by way of Purgation for such as were suspected of Incontinency he Imprisoned her for Marrying Canute and not assisting him and his Brothers in their Extremity In this Kings Reign a great Earth-quake happened and Earl Goodwin was choaked at the King's Table with a piece of Bread which he wished might choak him if he had any hand in the Death of Alfrid the Kings Brother He is accounted the first King that ever Cured the King's-Evil he Marry'd Edith Daughter to Goodwin a very Beautiful Lady but had no Children by her being reported never to have Carnally known her and seeing a needy Courtier come into his Chamber one Morning as he lay in Bed with the Curtains drawn and take as much Money out of his Coffer as he could carry he suffered it without speaking but upon his third coming he reproved him of Covetousness charging him to be gone for if Hugoline his Treasurer should come and seize him in the Fact he would be sure to stretch for it and scarce was he gone when the Treasuaer who had casually left open the Coffer came and appeared in a great Consternation at the loss but the King bid him not trouble himself for he that took it had most need of it And lying soon after upon his Death-Bed perceiving those that stood about him to weep he said If you loved me you would not weep but rejeyce because I go to my Father with whom I shall receive the Joys promised to the Faithful not through my merite but the free mercy of my Saviour who sheweth mercy on whom he pleases And giving up the Ghost he was buried at Westminster when he had Reigned 20 Years and 6 Months and 27 Days he rebuilt St. Peter's Westminster and St. Margret's Church made the first Great Seal and was the 19 sole Monarch of England called the Confessor Harrold Son to Earl Goodwin and Sitha his Wife Sister to Swain the younger King of Denmark was upon the Death of King Edward taken for King though he waved the Ceremony of this Coronation and to ingratiate himself with the People lightened the Texes and Behaved himself Courteous and Affable to all Men but he had not long held the Regal Dignity before William Duke of Normandy sent to put him in mind of his Oath which was made during his Imprisonment in Normandy whether in the time of King Edward he had been driven by stress of weather importing that when ever Edward died he should secure the Kingdom for the Norman Duke but Harrold urging what he then did was by constraint and that he conceived himself not obliged to stand to it The Duke prepared to Invade the Kingdom at which time a Dreadful Commet appeared denouncing the Woes and Miseries that ensued for before the Normans arrived a great number of Danes and Norwigeans landed in the North under the Leading of Testo and Harrold Harfrager King of Denmark and spoiling the Country before them marched to York which constrained the King to draw out his Army but being about to pass Stamford-bridge built over the River Derwent his Forces were stopped by a single Dane of Gigantick stature and strength and forty of his Men killed in attempting to remove him but in the end a Soldier getting under the Bridge in a Boat run his Spear through a Creuis and by that means killed him so that the Bridge gained the King gave Battle and overthrew the Enemy with great slaughter killing the Danish King and Tosto his Brother and Olave the Kings Son with Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners however they upon earnest supplication were suffered to depart the Kingdom in the ships that brought them with the heavy news of their loss but the King had scarce time to consider his advantage before he had News that William Duke of Normandy was Landed with 50000 Men at Pevensey in Sussex on the eigth of September 1066 and fired his Fleet to put his Soldiers out of hopes of return which made Harrold hasten to oppose him who by this time had sent a Messenger to London to demand the Kingdom but they dismissed him with Threats and although the Duke to prevent the effusion of more blood proffered to fight hand to hand yet the King refused it saying It should be tried by more Swords than one Whereupon the Armys advancing pitched in a large Plain and from thence the King sent Spies into the Dukes Camp who being taken were lead from Rank to Rank and made to take a perfect survey of the Army and so dismissed The 14th of October 1366 being come the Armys drew out and faced each other till the Trumpets sounded the Charge when at the first Encounter the Normans were forced to give ground and retire in disorder which the English perceiving and thinking the Battle won carelesly disranked to pursue them which they perceiving and taking that advantage rallied and changed the face of Fortune for the Normans entering the loose squadrons overwhelmed the English with showers of Arrows so that all was turned
Fitz-walter battel at Ferrybridg near Pontefract but not being able to maintain it he was there with most of his men cut in pieces by Henry's Forces when both Armies facing on the Plain between Towton and Saxton on the 28th of March they joined Battel that of Edwards consisting of 48660 men and Henry's of 60000 but by the Lancastrians mistaking Stars for Suns being the Cognizance of each Party and doubting some Treason in the case many of them fled so that those who remained lost the field and in this Battel were slain the Earl of Northumberland the Lords Clifford Neuel Wells Scales Beaumont Dacres Grey Willoughby Fitzhug and other Persons of Quality about 357 and in all 35091 being the most bloudy and obstinate Battel that had been fought upon this Overthrow Henry with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland and were honourably received by King James whose Sister Prince Edward not long after married From Scotland the Queen sailed to France to seek aids in that Court and in mean while King Edward returning to London was a second time proclaimed and calling a Parliament Henry together with his Queen and Prince Edward his Son were disinherited and about fourty three Nobles disinherited and attainted The Queen a Woman of a Martial Spirit by her Interest in France had by this time gotten a considerable number of Men but sailing for Scotland and afterwards making for England her Fleet was scattered by a Tempest so that she and her Husband were left solely to the Aid of the Scots and with what Forces they could gather marched as far as the Bishoprick of Durham but the Forces of the Scots were defeated at Hegely Moor where Sir Ralph Percie dying said in allusion of his Oath to King Henry I have saved the Bird in my Breast And another defeat happening at Hexam Feries Fortune seemed utterly averse and that poor Prince coming out of Scotland into England in disguise was betrayed and apprehended as he sat at Dinner in Wadington-Hall and in an ignominious manner brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly and secured as a Prisoner in the Tower King Edward by the Imprisonment of Henry conceiving himself more secure sent the Earl of Warwick to woo for him in the Court of Savoy but whilst he earnestly sollicited and had brought the matter to perfection by obtaining the good Will of the Estates News came that King Edward had married the Lady Elizabeth Grey Widow to Sir John Grey slain in the Battel at St. Albans fighting on the part of King Henry with whom he had fallen in Love upon her becoming an humble Suitor to him for her Jointure and because he could not compass his ends without Marriage that vertuous Lady disdaining to be the Harlot even of a puissant King he resolved against the Minds of his Friends to obtain his desires by making her his Wife This so sensibly touched the Earl of Warwick in reflecting upon his Honour in serving a Master of so little Constancy that although he had been mainly Instrumental in helping him to the Kingdom he changed his love into mortal hatred and working upon George Duke of Clarence to favour his design and by secret Practices they stirred up a Commotion in the North where one Robert Huldren headed 15000 of the Commons but he being executed Sir John Conyers undertook to head them Proclaiming as they passed that King Edward was an unjust Prince and unprofitable to the Kingdom when to surpress these disorders he sent an Army under the leading of the Earl of Pembroke who joyned Battel near Banbury and had been victorious had not one John Clapham Esq and Servant to the Earl of Warwick come in the heat of the Fight and displayed his Master's Colours whose Cognisance was the White Bear and by crying a Warwick so dismayed the Welshmen of whom most of the Army was composed that thereby thinking the Earl was come in with his party they threw down their Arms and betook them to flight leaving their General who valiantly fighting was taken Prisoner together with his Brother Sir Robert Herbert and ten other Gentlemen of Note who lost their Heads at Banbury by the Judgment of Conyers and Clapham Anno 1469. The Success of the Northern men occasioned them to rise in great Number and a Party under the Leading of Robert of Ridisdale surprising the King's Manner of Grafton siezed the Lord Rivers the Queens Father together with John his Son whom they beheaded at Northampton which obliged the King to hasten with a great Army but whilst the people were expecting the issue of a bloudy Fight a Truce was concluded which rendering the King more secure than cautious the Earl of Warwick entered his Tent in the dead of Night and with little resistance made him Prisoner and carried him to Warwick Castle and from thence in the Night time conveyed him to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire and there committed him to George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Brother to the Earl but having Liberty allowed to hunt in the Park and Forrests he was rescued by a Troup of his own Men however Sir Robert Wells with thirty thousand of the Commons disturbed the Country Proclaiming King Henry but encountering King Edwards Forces and himself in a bloudy Battel made Prisoner the Lincolnshire Men of which the Army was mostly composed threw of their Coats with the Earls badge on them in great Confusion left the Field so that from that it was called the battel of Losi-Coaâ—field upon which defeat and the putting Sir Robert with many others to death The Duke of Clarence Earl of Warwick and divers Nobles found themselves obliged to pass the Seas but were refused enterance at Calais of which place VVarwick was Captain by one Vawclear whom he a little before had Substituted his Deputy and for which refusal King Edward made him Captain in VVarwick's stead however they went to the Court at France and were there entertained with much respect where gathering Aids and holding Correspondence with their Friends in England soon after they Landed at Dartmouth and Marched towards London Proclaiming King Henry and commanded all from Sixteen to Sixty years of Age to take up Arms on his behalf against Edward Duke of York whom they termed a Usurper so that all the Land in a manner was in Arms and King Edward perceiving his Fortune utterly averse and that the few forces he had raised were ready to Revolt he thought it no fit time to dispute but rather to reserve himself to a more favourable Fortune whereupon with a few of his Friends he passed the Seas and was received by Charles Duke of Burgundy who had married the Lady Margaret his Sister whilst his Queen took Sanctuary in Westminster where she was delivered of a Son afterwards Christened by the name of Edward and other Sanctuarys were filled with the King's Friends and such as had adhered to him This disorder gave the Kentish men an opportunity to rise in Arms
head them against the King's Forces in England promising their Aid to help him to the Kingdom so that landing at Whitsand Bay in Cornwal many thousands resorted to him and being strong enough he besieged Exeter but it made a stout Resistence and was in conclusion relieved by the Earl of Devonshire whereupon Perkin's Men perceiving the little success they were like to have against the far greater Forces preparing to encounter them dropped away by degrees which he perceiving fled privately to the Abby of Beaulien in New Forest for Sanctuary but upon Promise of Life and a Pardon for his Crimes he came forth and submitted making his publick Confession and Recantation how he was but the Son of a converted Jew born at Tournay in Flanders and had been wrought upon to take this Enterprise upon him by the Duchess of Burgundy and others upon which he was committed close Prisoner to the Tower Yet some Practices being still on foot King Henry not thinking himself secure caused him to be tried at Westminster for High Treason in attempting to escape and carry with him the Earl of Warwick to raise new Commotions in the Kingdom and being sentenced was drawn to Tyburn and there hanged In this the innocent Earl of Warwick was involved without any other apparent reason than to cut him off that the Succession might be the more firm to Henry's posterity and this poor Prince who had been kept a Prisoner from his Infancy and little knâ—w what belonged to Law or Matters of State being by some who insinuated to be his Friends persuaded to confess upon his Tryall what he never intended or thought of by having a Promise of Pardon upon such a Confession the King very unkindly took him at his word and being condemned for High Treason he was beheaded on Tower-hill and in him failed the Name of Plantagenet as being the last of the Male Line of that illustrious House This cruel execution little inferiour to what Richard the III. had acted by his Newphews is held to be done upon the account of the Match between Prince Arthur the King's Son and the Princess Katharine of Spain the Spaniard appearing averse to conclude it till by the removal of the Earl of Warwick the Succession was better secured Anno 1506. Edmund de la Pool Earl of Suffolk was tried by the King 's express Command at the King's-Bench-Bar Westminster for killing a man and tho he had his Pardon yet being of the Royal Bloud it so disgusted him that he privately retired beyond the Seas and laboured to disturb Henry's Reign by secretly holding Correspondence in England which obliged the King to send his Spies abroad especially Sir Robert Courson who insinuating into the Earl's Favour got out of him who were his Conferates in England whereupon Sir James Tirrel the wicked Instrument in the Murther of the two young Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower and Sir John Windham with three others lost their Heads on Tower-hill Nor did the King spare any Cost or Labour to get the Earl into his hands but when his Pollicy failed Fortune befriended him for Philip King of Spain and Archduke of Austria in whose Countries the Earl remained being at Sea was driven into the West of England by Stress of Weather of which Henry had no sooner notice but he hasted to receive and entertain him which he did in a most splendid manner and with some difficulty procured his Promise to send him over the Earl a Prisoner protesting his Life should be secured to him and accordingly he was sent over and secured in the Tower King Henry supposing himself now secure made it his business to heap up Riches and for that purpose he had his Instruments Empson and Dudly who by grievous unlawfull and indirect ways oppressed the People for which they were justly punished as a Terrour to corrupt Judges which in the next Reign appears but in the midst of this Unrertaking the King dyed viz. anno 1509. on the 22d of April He had Issue by Elizabeth his Queen eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth Arthur who was married to Katharine of Spain and dyed before his Father anno 1502. Henry Edmund who dyed 1499. Margaret married to James the Fourth King of Scotland Elizabeth who dyed young Mary first married to Lewis the Twelfth King of France and afterward to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Katharine who dyed young This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland Son to Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond by Margaret Daughter and Heir to John Beaufort Duke of Somerset Grandchild to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster He began his Reign in the Year 1485 and reigned twenty three Years eight months and was the 39th sole Monarch of England he dyed in the 52d Year of his Age and was buried in the Chapel of his own Building at Westminster Thus after Toils of State and War are o'er Monarchs lie down to be disturb'd no more The Grave yields quiet and Repose from ill When Fate wound off the Wheels of Life stand still The Reign and Actions of Henry VIII King of England c. KIng Henry the Eighth was in his Father's Life time betrothed to Katharine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow and the old King left him to set up with 1800000 l that he had scraped together in his latter days the greatest Treasure any King of England ever left before This Henry was crowned at Westminster on the 25th of June 1509. together with Queen Katharine by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury chusing many grave persons out of the Clergy and Lâ—iâ—y And now the people being enraged against Empson and Dudly for their illegal Oppressions the King to prevent Tumults that might have happened in the beginning of a young Prince's Reign if Redress had been refused caused them to be arrested and imprisoned and soon after being brought to Tryall and many heinous things proved against them together with the Cries and Clamours of the people for Justice they were sentenced to lose their Heads and were accordingly executed The King being of a martial Spirit and impatient of Ease sent his Heralds at Arms to the French King there in his Name and as in right belonging to the English Crown to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Guine Main and Anjou but they being refused he failed into France with a considerable Army besieged Terwin and thither came Maximilian the Emperour as a voluntary aider to the King and served under the English Standard as a Knight of the Order of the Garter and the French advancing with a considerable power to the relief of this place were routed allmost without fighting so from their cowardly running away being most Horse it was called in derision The Battel of Spurs yet six of their Standards and many Prisoners of note were taken and thereupon the Town yielded and the King marched to the Siege of Tournay which he won and obliged the Citizens for their Redemption to pay him