Henry the Fifth for suppression of the Scriptures in English should be all repealed and Images all thrown out of the Churches throughout the Realm and the Church Service to be read in English and the Sacrament exhibited in both kinds and the other old Ceremonies were abolished and all those that made opposition were either imprisoned or deprived of their places Hereupon Tumults arose in Devonshire and Cornwal doing much harm especially to the City of Exceter which City for its Loyalty had the Mannour of Exilond not after bestowed upon it by the King and Pardon was granted to the Rebells yet notwithstanding they persisted in their Rebellion and 4 times being fought by the Lord Russel and each time worsted yet they still made head again till at length their Ring-Leaders were taken and Executed At this time also the Mayor of Bodmyn was Hanged and a Millers Man who took upon him his Master's name and cause when seeing himself likely to suffer for it thencryedout That he was but the Miller's Man well said Sir Anthony Kingston Thou canst never do thy Master better Service than to hang for him No sooner were these Troubles quelled but one Robert Ket moved about 20000 Commons in Norfolk to a Rebellion taking the City of Norwich in which place the Lord Dudly shortly after caused 60 of them to be executed and afterwards overthrew their Army and took Ket their Leader who was hanged up in Chains upon the Top of the Castle of Norwich and 9 of his Companions hanged in the Oak of Reformation a Tree in which Ket used to sit as Judge to determine of their intended Reformation and Proceedings the great occasion of these Commotions in several Counties in England was against Inclosures and taking up of wast Grounds which was then coming into Fashion for they disparked a great many Parks and other inclosed Grounds whereupon several of them were slain in the Quarrel the Plebeans also at Seymer near Scarborough in York-shire rose also under the Conduct one William Ombler a Yeoman there Thomas Dale a Parish Clerk and one Stephenson the Post but the King sending down his Pardon the Commons left their Leader to be led to York where they were Executed But now began greater Sorrows for the King 's two Uncles the Lord Protector and Lord Admiral falling at Variance about their Wives who should take place it proved unlucky to them both for the Lord Admiral was afterwards attainted of some Treasonable Articles as was supposed by his Brother the Protector 's procurement and was beheaded at Tower-hill and not many years after the Protector himself being fallen into dislike among the Lords at the same place received the same Doom and during these unhappy proceedings the English were quite driven out of Scotland and the French had sought to recover Bulloin but they were so bravely withstood by vallor of one Carter an English Soldier that 15 Waggons went loaded away with their slain and they afterwards attempting the Islands of Gernsie and Jersie they were there also forced to desist with the loss of a thousand men And now the King's Death began to approach he having taken the Death of the Protector his Uncle to Heart and before he died he ordained the Lady Jane Daughter to Henry Duke of Suffolk lately married to Guilford Lord Dudly to succeed him in the Kingdom Notwithstanding the Statute made for the Succession of his Fathers Children Anno 1552 about 7 miles from Oxford at a Town called Middleton a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards which were so conjoined together at the Navel that when they were laid out at length one Head and Body was East and the other West and the Leggs of both the Bodies were joined together in the midst they were Female Children and lived 18 days This Edward the Sixth was King of England France and Ireland he was the only Son of King Henry the Eight by Jane his Queen Daughter to John Seimer Knight He began his Reign on Thursday the 28 day of January Anno 1546 he reigned 6 years 5 months and 8 days and was the 41 sole Monarch of England He died of a Consumption of the Lungs on Thursday the 6 day of July Anno 1553 being in the 7 year of his Reign and about the 16 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXI Of Queen Mary AFter the Death of King Edward the Lords of the Council caused Lady Jane Guilford to be Proclaimed Queen Lady Mary hearing of these proceedings writ to the Lords to acquaint them with her Title to the Crown but they regarded it not alledging the divorce of her Mother hereupon she betook her self to Fremingham Castle to which place the Suffolk men repaired and promised their Aid Provided she would not alter the Religion Established in her Brother's days to which Request she willingly condescended but afterwards upon their Petition to her after she had got the power in her own hands for performance of her Promise she dismissed them with rough Answers And now several men of Account repaired to her and Proclaimed her Queen at Norwich the Lords at London having notice hereof sent the Earl of Northumberland with an Army against her but Queen Maries Forces still encreasing she was Proclaimed Queen in Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Northampton-shire and the Lords now began to grow fearful procured Dr. Ridly Bishop of London to maintain Lady Jane's cause in his Sermon at Paul's Cross but this working no effect they forthwith Proclaimed Queen Mary and so the poor distressed Earl of Northumberland being forsaken by his Soldiers for want of an Harrold at Cambridge proclaimed Queen Mary himself but notwithstanding shortly after lost his head although he had renounced his Religion in hope of Pardon with him suffered Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer and not long after them the Lord Guilford and Lady Jane his Wife a Princess for her Wisdom and Learning worthy of Immortal Fame It is reported that Morgan who gave Sentence of Death upon her fell afterwards into Madness always crying out Take away the Lady JANE from him Now the Queen released the Duke of Suffolk from his Imprisonment but he afterwards seeking to withstand the Queen's Marriage was betrayed by one Vnderwood his Servant and himself with his Brother Thomas Lord Gray were Beheaded and several worthy Bishops as Cranmer Ridly Story Coverdale Hooper c. and all married Priests were displaced and Romanists such as Bonner Gardiner Day Wesie Heath c. were put in their places Sir Thomas Wyat now with a great Power in Kent sought to withstand the Queen's Marriage and to have placed better Councellors about her and thinking to have enter'd over at London-Bridg was there stopt so spoiling Gardiner's the Bishopof Winchester's House he returned and got over the River of Thames at Kingston and intended to have entered the City of London at Ludgate but being there withstood upon his return at Temple-Bar
dispairing of his purpose he yielded himself Prisoner and was shortly after beheaded and 50 Persons more of his Complices were hanged in London and 23 in Kent and the Lord Courtny and Lady Elizabeth afterwards our Queen were clapt up in the Tower upon suspition of favouring Sir Thomas Wyat's proceedings and this Innocent Lady without respect to her Person being extream Sick at her Mannor of Asbridge was nevertheless brought away Prisoner to London and was so straitly kept in the Tower that a little Boy about 4 years of Age who was wont every day to carry her some Flowers and prattle and talk to her Command was given to his Father that the Boy should go no more and the next day the Child going and the Door being shut he peeped in at a hole Crying unto her Mistress I can bring you no more Flowers now From hence this pious Princess was removed to Woodstock where one day sitting sollitary at her Prison window she espied a Maid singing merrily over her milking Pale whose condition she esteemed to be better than hers A little before Arrival of King Philip two Suns were seen at one time and a Rainbow reversed the Bow turning downwards before the Marriage certain Honourable Conditions were propounded to King Philip and agreed to by him And now the Protestants began to be hated Mr. Bourn a godly Minister having a Dagger thrown at him as he was Preaching at Paul's Cross and Bishop Bonner caused all Scriptures painted on the Church-walls to be blotted out and Cardinal Pool coming into England Images Holy Water Pax Censures Oyl and Cream were brought into the Church again And about this time fell such abundance of Rain that for the space of six days men might row with Boats in Saint George's Feilds and the Water was half a yard deep in Westminster-hall Now the Queens cruel Bishops with her consent partly through their perswasions consumed in the Flames during her Reign for the Profession of their Faith 5 Bishops 21 Divines 18 Gentlemen 84 Artificers 100 Husband-men Servants and Labourers 26 Wives 20 Widdows 9 Virgins 2 Boys and 2 Infants in all 287 besides 16 other Persons that perished in Prison and 7 scourged and several Condemned which were released upon the happy entrance of Queen Elizabeth Many also in these perilous times fled amongst whom the Dutchess of Suffolk and her Husband Mr. Berty were two who suffered both Hunger and Cold and were often in Danger of their Lives till at length they got into Poland where they were Honourably treated till Queen Mary's Death And now nothing being Talked of but the Queens being with Child Prayers were made for her safe Deliverance Midwives Rockers and Cradles and all things else prepared but when it come to the point indeed it proved nothing but a Tympany and King Philip seeing himself so frustrated of his Expectation took Shipping for Spain and stayed at that time 19 months from the Queen in whose absence her Exchequer was intended to have been Robbed but some of the Plotters Vdal Throgmorton Peacham Daniel and Stanton were taken and suffered Death and others fled and the same year that Coaches were first used in England viz. Anno 1555 began the hot burning Feavers whereof died many old Persons so that in London died 7 Aldermen in less than 10 months time about 2 years after this Thomas Stafford Son to the Lord Stafford rose in Rebellion but was taken and beheaded And now the King being instigated by his Queen prepared an Army against France and several Nobles went thither where their greatest exploit was the winning of St. Quintins which was repayed by the French winning Callis from the English after it had been in their Possession about 211 years This loss so grieved the Queen that shortly after she died of a Burning Feaver telling her Physitians That they would find Callis written in her Heart if they dissected her Body after her Death That year Queen Mary died the Quartaine Agues continned very sharp so that many old Folk died especially Parsons and Priests so that a great number of Churches were unfurnished and a little before the Queen's Death dyed two of her Physitians besides many Bishops and Noble men And in July the same year a Tempest of Thunder as it went through two Towns near Nottingham beat down the Churches and all the Houses in the Towns the Bells were thrown out of the Steeples and some of the Webs of Lead thrown 400 Foot into the Feild and wreathen up together like a glove Trees were plucked up by the roots and cast 12 score foot off and a Child was taken out of a man's hand and carried an 100 foot and then let fall and died five or six men were killed and Hail-stones fell 15 Inches about This Mary was Queen of England France and Ireland She was the eldest Daughter of King Henry the Eight by Catherine his first Queen Daughter to Ferdinando the VI King of Spain and Widdow Dowager to Prince Arthur King Henry's Elder Brother She began her Reign on Thursday the sixth day of July Anno 1553 and reigned five years four months and 11 days and was the 42 sole Monarch of England She died of a Burning Feaver on Thursday the 17 day of November Anno 1558 being in the Sixth year of her Reign and 40 of her Age Her Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXII Of Queen Elizabeth THis Queen was Crowned at Westminster by Owen Ogilthorp Bishop of Carlile Pool Arch-Bishop of Canterbury dying the same day that Queen Mary dyed At her Entrance the Title of Supremacy was again restored by Parliament and all Queen Maries Statutes in favour of Rome repealed and she being desired by Parliament to marry said That she intended a Virgins Life which accordingly she performed for being Courted by Maximilian the Emperour Ericus Son to the King of Sweden and by the Arch Duke of Austria and Duke of Anjou she denied them all and now Divine Service being celebrated in English and Images thrown out of the Churches again The Scots also began to seek Reformation too whereupon there arose great Tumults among them and the King of France sending the Romanists Aid there the Reformers were forced to crave help from Queen Elizabeth which she sent them under the Command of the Lord Grey and the Queen Mother Regent of Scotland dying the French thereupon concluded Peace for Scotland and left it The year 1561 In June a Terrible Tempest of Thunder and Lightning happenned about London which set Paul's Steeple on fire and burnt it down to the Roof of the Church consuming all the Bells Lead c. And in March the year after a Mare brought forth a Fole with one Body and two Heads and a long tail growing out between them a Sow also Farrowed a Pig with four legs like to the arms of a Child with Hands and Fingers and in April after another Sow Farrowed a Pig with two Bodies eight Feet and but one Head and many
Whiteguift Arch Bishop of Canterbury at which time all people of the City of London were forbidden to repaire thither by reason of the then raging Plague among them there dying that year in London and the out-Libertys 30578 persons of the same disease he continued Religion as it was begun in Queen Elizabeth's days and caused the Bible to be truly Translated according to the Original at his Entrance to the Kingdom Plots were contrived for the destroying of his person and his Eldest Son Prince Henry to change Religion to raise Tumults and let in Strangers but they were happily discovered and some of the Ring-leaders apprehended and put to death some adjudged to perpetual Imprisonment and some pardoned An. 1603. one John Lepton of Repwick Esquire in the County of York undertook to Ride 5 several times betwixt London and York in six days to be taken in one week between Monday morning and Saturday night and began his Journy Monday Morning the 20 of May and finished his Journy on Friday after to the great Admiration of all men Two years after to wit Anno 1605. one William Calverly of Calverly in the County of York Esquire murthered two of his own Children at home at his own house then Stabbed his Wife into the Body with full Intent to have killed her and then went out with Intention to have killed his Child at nurse but was prevented he was Pressed to death at York for this murther because he stood Mute and would not plead And now although the King had made Peace with the Popes Champion the King of Spain yet his Holiness Sons thought to have brought the Ruine of the King and all the Kingdom to Light Anno 1605. by a treacherous Plot of blowing up the King and whole Nobility Root and Branch at one Blow when they were Assembled in Parliament to which end they had laid in several Barrels of Gunpowder Barrs of Iron Faggots and and other things for doing Execution under the Parliament house but this Hellish Design was hapily discovered by a Letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle son to the Lord Morley by some of the Conspirators wherein they wished him to stay his Appearance from the House the first day of the sitting this Letter being Communicated and shewn to several of the Nobility they could not sathom the depth of the dark meaning thereof but at length being shewn to the King he presently conjectured that the Plot was to blow up the House with Gunpowder and so narrow Search being made it was happyly found out and the Conspirators discovered who were some of them shot to death to wit Percy and Catesby for disdaining to be taken others of them were slain by Gunpowder which they had drying by the Fire and Sir Everard Digby the two Wrights John and Christopher Fawkes Graunt Winter Boits and Keyes were Hanged Drawn and Quartered for being chief Actors in this Plot. After this storm was over the Faces of more troubles appeared through the Insurrections of Fines and Rainolds in Northamptonshire and Warwick-shire but this flame quickly vanished into Smoak About this time the Lady Elizabeth the King's Daughter was married to Frederick Count Elector Palatine The Joyes of their Nuptial were shortly after overshadowed with clouds of sorrow which ensued upon the death of Prince Henry which happned Anno 1611 his death was supposed to be something untimely but his Docters gave Satisfaction herein that it was by Course of Nature and not by Poyson as was suspected And now Charles the King 's Second Son afterwards King succeeded his Brother in the Principallity of Wales about this time Sir Walter Rawleigh was released intending to visit the new found World and many Gentlemen took their fortunes with him but unhappily in his Voyage burning St. Thomes it shortly after cost him his Life for Intelligence being given to Condibert then Embassador in England he never left pressing the King for Reparation hereupon Sir Walter as soon as he came to Plymouth was apprehended by Sir Lewis Stuckly and was brought tryed and condemned in the Kings Bench and the next Morning after his Tryal was Beheaded And about this time the King being very Sick he happily Recovered again but his Loving and vertuous Queen Ann dyed Anno 1618. After this the King made a Motion of Marriage for his Son Charles Prince of Wales with the King of Spains Daughter thinking thereby to gain opportunity of helping his Son in Law who having been lately chosen by some of the German Princes King of Bohemia was afterwards upon some distast driven out of Bohemia by the Emperor and afterwards out of all Germany and remained at this time in Holland being a Refuge for all distressed people To effect this marriage the Prince with the Duke of Buckingham went for Spain where seeing the Marriage with himself and the Lady Maria the Infanta of Spain procrastinated and delaid left the Court and Returned for England Anno 1623. The Plantations in the Indies were settled in this Kings time he was a very learned King as appears by his Works now in print he was an honest Father to his Childern worthy of his wife and good to his subjects and a great desirer of Peace whose Motto was Beati Pacifici and as he desired Peace so he dyed in Peace This James was King of England Scotland France and Ireland he was Son to Henry Stuart Lord Darly who was Grand Child to Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry the VII of England by her Second Husband and his Mother was Mary Queen of Scotland who was Grand Child also to Lady Margaret by her first Husband James the fourth King of Scotland so that the said Lady Margaret was great Grand-mother to King James both by Father and Mothers side He began his Reign on Wednesday the 24 day of March Anno 1602. Reigned 22 years and 3 days and was the 44 Sole Monarch of England He dyed of the Spleen on Saturday the 27 day of March Anno 1625 being in the 23 year of his Reign and nine and fiftieth year of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXIV Of King Charles the first SHortly after his Coronation at Westminster he proceeded to a Marriage with Henrietta Maria Daughter to Charles the Fourth King of France whom he had formerly seen in his journy through that Country into Spain his first Complement to her when he went to meet her at Dover was That he desired to be no longer Master of himself then he was Servant to her and indeed this Love he continued to the last hour of his Life for on the day before his unfortunate end he desired his Daughter the Lady Elizabeth to assure her Mother if ever She see her again That his Thoughts had never Strayed from her and that his Affections should be the same to the Last After the King's Marriage was over his dislike against the Spaniards at his Departure from that Court was still fresh in his memory
great number of Houses at Winchelsey The King wanting more Money called a Parliament to supply him but was denied whereupon he sold his Jewels Plate and other precious Stuff shortning the allowance also of his House and inviting himself sometimes to one Nobleman's Table and sometimes to another And Alexander King of Scotland coming to York there Married Margaret the Kings Daughter to whose Marriage-Feast the Arch-Bishop of York gave 600 fat Oxen which were all spent at the first Service Not long after this Prince Edward the Kings eldest Son went into Spain and married the Kings Sister whereupon the Spanish King quitted all his claim to Gascoign to King Henry who gave his Son Edward upon his Marriage Gascoin Wales Bristow Stanford and Grantham the year after the Prince with his Wife and Royal Retinue landed at Dover And now also Edmund the King's Son was honoured by the Pope with the empty Title of King of Sicily Anno 1225 Seabald Arch Bishop of York was prosecuted by the Pope for Preaching and writing against his Holiness's Pride And this year 142 Jews were brought to Westminster who were accused and 18 of them hanged for Crucifying a Child at Lincoln and the rest kept Prisoners And now the King again perceiving his Coffers to be empty caused sharp Orders to be made against Sheriffs for the passing their Accompts in the Exchequer And about this time came the Germain Ambassadors with an Embassy to Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother wherein they declared That their Masters the Princes Electors of the Roman Empire had made choice of him for King which he after much Consultation accepted on And now the Barrons fall into Rebellion again and a Parliament being called at Oxford thither they repaired and behaved themselves very Insolently towards their Sovereign hereupon the King sailed into France and there compounded with the French King that he should hold the Dukedom of Normandy and Earldom of Anjou Mayne Touraign and Poictue for 300000 pounds of Touraigne and on promise to receive other Lands of the value of 20000 l. per annum Anno 43 of the King a Jew at Teukesbury fell into a Privy upon Saturday and refused to be helped out because it was their Sabboth whereupon the Earl of Gloucester kept him in all Sunday too and on Monday he was dead About this time Dr. Strenham wrote that Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures were only necessary to Salvation Now the King of France being Umpire between Henry and his Barrons he gave Judgment for the King and the Barrons denying to stand to his Sentence the King gave them Battel near Nottingham where they received a great Overthrow and Simon Mountforth Son to the Earl of Leicester the chief Rebell and many other Barrons Knights and Esquires were taken After this Overthrow the Barrons sent Letters twice to the King desiring to be reconciled but could not be heard which provoked them to fight the King's Army again at which time the Fortune of the day fell to the Barrons for they took the King and his Brother Richard King of the Romans and some other great Peers and the next day their two eldest Sons yielded themselves Prisoners And now Earl Mountforth Joyful of the Victory proceeded to the Imprisonment of the King of the Romans his Son and the Prince in Dover but this budding happiness of the Earl's was quickly cropped for the Earl of Gloucester and he differing about parting of the Prey the Earl of Gloucester thereupon opposed the current of Leicester's Fortune with whom joined the Prince escaped out of Prison and several other Nobles and at Everssham in Worcestershire they overthrew Leicesters Army and he being there slain had his Head cut off and sent to Worcester and his Hands and Feet were chopt off and all those on his party disinherited and London is threatned to be burnt by the King for taking the Barrons part Shortly after this John de Warren Earl of Surrey killed Allan de Zouch in Westminster-Hall upon some distaste taken Anno 1264 there were 700 Jews slain in London because one of them would have forced a Christian Man to have paied more than two pence for the Usury of 20 shillings the week and the year 1269 the Thames was so hard frozen that Men and Cattel passed over from Lambeth to Westminster upon the Ice About this time it was that Prince Edward took his Voyage for the Holy-War and Roger-Bacon a famous Divine of Oxford was Imprisoned by the Pope for Preaching against the Absurdities in the Church of Rome Anno 1271 the Steeple of Bow-Church in Cheap-side fell down and flew many People Men and Women and the year after was a great Riot in Norwich through which the Monastery of the Trinity was burned whereupon the King rode down thither and after enquiry made of the chief Actors caused 50 of them to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered and their Quarters to be burnt And now the King perceiving his Death to approach swore the Earl of Gloucester to keep the Realm for Prince Edward his Son This Henry III. was King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Guyain and Aquitain He was eldest Son to King John by Isabel his Queen Daughter and Heir of Aimery Earl of Angolisme his Reign began on wednesday the 19 of Octob. Anno 1216 and he reigned 56 years and 28 days and was the 28 sole Monarch of England he died at the Abby of St. Edmunds in Suffolk on Wednesday the 16 day of November Anno 1272 being in the 57 year of his Reign and 65 of his Age his body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XVIII Of King Edward the First commonly called Long-Shanks KING Edward was gone for the Holy-Land when the Crown fell to him Elianor his Queen being with him who at Acon in their Voyage was delivered of a Daughter and at that place her Husband was Wounded by a Trayterous Villain in three places of his Arm with a Poysoned knife all which Wounds after the Chyrurgions were wearied the Queen cured by licking out the Venom with her Tongue yet she thereby receiving no prejudice The news of his Father's Death coming to his Ear he forthwith returned and after his Arrival himself and Queen were Crowned by Robert Kilwarby Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and after this the King called a Parliament at Westminster which as some affirm were the first Statutes there made and Luellin Prince of Wales refusing to come to the Parliament King Edward thereupon went into Wales and built the Castle of Flint and Luellin made his Submission and gave the King 50000 pounds for Agreement and 10000 marks per Annum for the Island of Man But afterwards he had several Bickerings with the Welsh but at length reduced them to perfect Subjection and beheaded Luellin their Prince and his Brother David and set up their Heads upon the Tower at London He appointed Sheriffs for Wales and established the English Lawes amongst them Anno 1274 was the Second Council of
Foot and 1000 Horse under the Command of Sir John Norrice and shortly after went the Earl of Leicester as Deputy but no great matters being performed he was again recalled and Commanded to resign up his Government to the Netherlands again and the King of Spain now under the false proffers of Peace prepared his Invincible Navy as it was called against England of which the Queen had notice by the French King so that she caused the generall Forces of her Realm to be mustred and fifteen hundred horsemen and two and twenty thousand Foot were Commanded to repair to Tilbury in Essex whither She also went attended with her own Guard consisting of two thousand three hundred fifty two horsemen and thirty four thousand and fifty foot her Admiral at Sea was Lord Charles Howard and Vice Admiral Sir Francis Drake This Armado consisted as some of our Chronologers reckon of Seventy two Gallisers and Gallions forty seven Ships and Hulks eleven Pinaces and Carvals two thousand eight hundred forty and three great Ordinance eight thousand ninety and four Saylers eighteen thousand six hundred fifty and eight Soldiers two thousand eighty and eight Gally-Slaves two hundred and twenty thousand great Shot four hundred and seventy thousand and four hundred pounds of Powder one hundred and twelve thousand pounds of Lead for Bullets one hundred thirty four thousand and four hundred pounds of Match seven thousand Muskets and Callivers ten thousand Partizans and Halberts with Biskets Flesh Cheese Rice and other Necessarys for six months but this Terrour of the World was terrified and vanquished by the gallantry of the renouned Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake who destroyed fourscore and one of the Spaniards Vessels and seventeen thousand of their Men besides many Noble persons taken Prisoners nay there was scarce a worthy Family in all Spain that in this expedition lost not either a Son Brother or Kins-man the Pope's Contribution towards this Expedition was a Million of Gold it was in the year 1588. And now the Queens Enimies being Dissipated She caused publick Thanks to be given to God through the Realm and there were Executed for Treason against her Majesty here in England at several times before and after this Invasion about one hundred Persons whereof threescore and seven were Jesuires And now to requite the Spaniars the Queen the year after assisted Don Antonio King of Portugal with eleven thousand Soldiers and five and twenty hundred Marriners under the Command of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake these English Soldiers won the Groyne and it being intended to be rescued they so valliantly behaved themselves that they took the Spanish King's standard and made great slaughter of their Enemies and burning both the said Town and the Country for three miles round about they then betook themselves to Sea again and shortly after the Earl of Essex joyned with them and then they Sailed for Portugal and took Penish from whence they went to Attempt Lisbone the Metropolis of Portugal but not being able to overcome it they returned and had the Castle of Cassais rendered to them and they took 60 Spanish Hulks Laden with Corn Masts Cables Copper and Wax and so retuned for England with great Honor. After this Supplys were sent by the Queen to Henry King of Navarr a Protestant for the gaining the French Crown but he finding many Rubs in his way changed his Religion and then easily obtained it About this time Anno 1591 one William Harket was executed in Cheapside for Blasphemy and Treason and about three years after Doctor Lopez suffered And now the Spanish Practices still in the Queens thoughts at length she set out a Brave Navy against the Spaniards Anno 1596. their first Assault was on Cadez which Place they won and forced the Cittizens to pay them twenty thousand Duccats for their Ransom and the Ships of the Spaniards which the English ran ashoar there proffered five and twenty hundred thousand Duccats for their ransom which being denyed Acceptance at the Command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia they were all set on fire they being estimated to be worth twelve Millions of Duccats After this another Fleet went again and the Spaniards every where being worsted the Fleet again returned for England with three Prizes worth four hundred thousand Duccats and Sigismond King of Pollonia and the King of Denmark about this time sought to the Queen to conclude a Peace with France but prevailed not And now Tirr Owen in Ireland breaking into Rebellion after some Expeditions thither at length the Earl of Essex was sent Deputy who concluded a Peace with Tirr Owen from six weeks to six weeks for which he was much condemned by the Lords and recalled into England again by the Queen and afterwards lost his head the Queen being neither privy nor consenting to it for whose Death she sore lamented dureing her Life which lasted not long after and bid the Plague of God light upon them for their act which Curse shortly after took effect for in one year there dyed of the Plague in London and the Suburbs thirty thousand five hundred seventy eight besides all those that dyed of other Diseases After Essex the Lord Mountjoy went Deputy for Ireland by whose vigilancy and Courage Tirr Owen at length with all his Adherents from the Pope and the King of Spain were Totally routed and he forced to fly into Spain and now the Spaniards all hopes of prevailing against England being gon began to sue for Peace which upon certain Conditions was granted them and the Queen afterthis perceiving the time of her dissolution to draw nigh named King James of Scotland for her Successor and not long after dyed she was a Queen endowed with all the benefits of Nature a comely person for her Body but more comly in her Soul and an excellent Schollar as may appear by these following Verses made in praise of her None like Elizabeth was found in Learning so divine She had the perfect skilful art of all the Muses nine In Latine Greek and Hebrew She most excellent was known To Foreign Kings Embassadors the same was daily shown The Italian French and Spanish Tongue she well could speak and read The Turkish and Arabian Speech grew perfect at her need This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland she was the only Daughter of King Henry the Eight by his Second Queen Ann of Bulloin she began her Reign on Thursday the 17 day of November Anno 1558. and reigned 44 years 4 months and 7 days and was the 43 Sole Monarch of England She dyed on Wednesday the 24 day of March Anno 1602 being in the 45 year of her Reign and 69 of her Age. She was buried at Westminster with this Queen expired the Sovereignty of the Tewdors yielding place to the Stuarts to Succeed in which Name it still doth and long and prosperously may it so continue CHAP. XXXIII Of King James HE was Crowned at Westminster by Dr.
Anglorum Gesta Or A Brief HISTORY OF England BEING An Exact Account of the most remarkable Revolutions and most memorable Occurrences and Transactions in PEACE and WAR as Battles Sieges Sea-fights Invasions Leagues Interviews Treaties Solemnities c. that have hapned in the several Kings Reigns since the first Attempt by Julius Caesar upon this Island to the Coronation day of his present Majesty King Charles the Second WITH Several useful Catalogues of the Bishopricks Cities Shires Colledges and Halls in both Universities and Tables of the Kings Reigns and of the Dimensions of England Scotland and Ireland By GEORGE MERITON Gent. LONDON Printed by T. Dawks for Tho Basset at the George near Cliffords Inn in Fleetstreet 1675. CAROL SECVN D â— MAG BRI. FRAET HIB REX PRAESTANTISSIMO ET HONORATISSIMO DOMINO NON SOLUM NOBILITATE GENERIS VERUM ETIAM AMPLITUDINE DIGNITATIS DOMINO CONYERS DARCY BARONI DARCY MEYVILL ET CONYERS HOC COMPENDIUM DE MEMORIALIBUS ANGLIAE EX GRATITUDINE PRAEFATO PRENOBILI DOMINO E SINGULARIBUS CAUSIS HUMILIME DEDICAT GEORGIUS MERITONUS TO THE Reader Courteous Reader I Am not so conceited of my self or my own endeavours as not to think that this Breif History of England will fall under very many hard and sharp censures especially from those who sit in Cathedra Derisionis and lavish so much time away in carping at other Mens Endeavours that they cannot allow themselves so much Liberty as to gratify the World with any thing of their own I am afraid also the Virtuofi of our days will object and say What need was there to obtrude this useless Pamphlet into the World when so many persons such as Beda Giraldus Geoffry of Monmouth Higden Ranulph of Chester Malmsbury Simon Dunelm Caxton Matthew Westminster Gyldas Henry Huntington Hollinshed Matthew Paris Daniel Martin Sir Thomas Moor Pollidore Virgil Speed Hist Brit. Sir Fran. Bacon Sir Richard Baker and several others have so learnedly and volluminously bestowed their pains herein already so that this small Taper among so many bright Torches were as good out as seeming to give no light at all I confess to such as make this Objection this small Treatise at first sight may seem useless yet if they consider that none of the persons before named have begun so high in point of time and continued the some so low as our own time even till the Coronation day of our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second Anno 1661 and Perhaps they may then partly be of another mind However with the generality of People for whom this Collection is principally intended I hope it will receive a more Candid Acceptance considering that several of the Authors before mentioned have written in Latin and so every man not capacitated to read them or understand them being read and besides some of them have only collected the affairs of an hundred or two hundred years and some more and some less oâ—hâ—rs of them have only writ the Lâ—fe perhaps of one particular King c. so that none of them can give the Reader such a general account of Englands Memorable Accidents for such a long continued course of time with so little expence of time to the Reader in the perusal as this small Treatise will and in case any of them could yet as rare and curious stamps upon Coins for their variety and strangeness are daily enquired after and bought though the Silver be all one with ours even so it fares with Books which as Meddals bear the Pictures and Devices of our various Invention though the matter be the same yet for variety sake they are often read and it is often found that the same Dishes of Meat drest after a new fashion do beget a fresh Appetite and gratifie the tasts of many better nay there is no Book so bad even Sir Bevise himself Fryer Bacon or Tom Thumb but some Advantage may be gotten by it for as in the same Field the Ox findeth Fodder the Hound a Hare the Stork a Lizard the Hawk a Partridg the fair maid Flowers so we cannot except we list our selves saith Seneca but depart the better from any Book whatsoever So I hope Reader Thou maist find something here to Content at least nothing to Distaste thee and them I shall think my time well bestowed if neither but out of a Malignant humour thou disdainest what I have done I care not I have pleased my self and learned long since that Envy with her Sister Ignorance do harbour only in the basest and most degenerate Breast Vale George Meriton A Brief HISTORY OF England CHAP. I. Of the Scituation of Britain with its Lymits together with some of the old Customs practised amongst the Britains the several names of the Island and when first Inhabited c. THIS Island of Britain is bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark on the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Occan on the North with the Deucalidon Seas and on the South with Normandy and France It contains in length from the Strathy-head in Scotland to the Lisard-point in Cornwal 624 miles and in breadth from the Lands end in Cornwal to the Island Tennet in the East of Kent 340 miles and is in the eight Clymate for Latitude and for Longitude placed between the paralells 14 and 16. The Limits of it in times past was from the Orcades to the Pyrean Mountains And in former times this noble Island of Britain sustained Eleven Kings all commanding great powers several other Islands belong to it amongst which the Isle of Man is not of the least account for to it belongs a King with a Leaden Crown whose King is now the Noble Earl of Darby whose Ancestors have been Lords of Man about two hundred and seventy years The Division of this Island is into three Kingdomes 1. Scotland whose Partition Southward was from Carlile to Newcastle 2. Cambria or Wales whose Partition was from Basiagwark to Wye and 3. England which was coasted with the French and Germain Seas on the one side and with the other two Kingdoms on the other side It is verily supposed that this Island was Peopled before the Flood Jeffery of Monmouth affirmeth that this Island was Peopled by Brute with his Trojans in the 2887 year of the World's Creation and after the universal Deluge 1231 years And in the year of Elie's Priesthood But several antient Historians writing before his time make no mention of King Brute and some have affirmed that there was never any such Man The Inhabitants were called Britains from the word Brith which signifieth painting or staining of the Skin which they had formerly in use amongst them Some Authors have affirmed that the English did proceed from Cimbria Chersonesus which came from Italy but others assure us that they came from the antient Gauls in France But certain it is that the first Inhabitants of this Island being merely barbarous they never troubled themselves to transmit their Original to Posterity And if
with Britain and began his reign Anno Domini 218 and reigned about one year and two Months XXIV Heliogabilus This Emperour began his Reign Anno Domini 219 and reigned about four years he had no Wars with Britain but he was a great Whoremaster and incestuoussy lay with his own Mother XXV Alexander Severus he tollerated the Christians to live peaceably had no War with Britain he was slain by the Almain Souldiers having his eyes put out after he had Regned about thirteen years and six Months and seven days XXVI Maximinus This Emperour's Reign began Anno Domini 237. and continued three years he had no Wars with Britain The sixth Persecution of the Church of Chirst began in his time XXVII Julius Verus Maximus This Emperour was slain at the same time his Father was slain he was a beautiful person and his Company much desired by the Ladies whose suits he easily condescended to he had peace with the Britains XXVIII Gordianus This Emperour's Reign was short not exceeding forty days as some Authors affirm No War with Britain in his time XXIX Claudius Puppienus and Celius Balbinus These Emperours Reigned about a year They began their Reign Anno Domini 239. And had no Wars with Britain XXX Antonius Gordianus He had Peace with Britain he began his Reign Anno Domini 240 and reigned four years XXXI Julius Philippus In his time there was no War with Britain he reigned five years and begun his Reign Anno Domini 245 he was a Christian and the first Emperour that received Baptism as some Authors do affirm in his time the famous Cyprian flourished XXXII Decius The seventh Persecution of the Church began in this Emperour's time he began his Reign Anno Domini 250 and reigned about two years he had no war with Britain XXXIII Trebonianus and Volusianus These Emperours had Peace with Britain They begun their Reigns Anno Domini 252 and reigned two years XXXIV Aemelianus This Emperour Reigned but about three months he began his Reign Anno Domini 254. he had no War with Britain XXXV Valerianus His Reign was but short lasting about a year yet much Christian blood spilt in that time for now begun the ninth Persecution of the Church under him Lawrence and Cyprian suffered Martyrdom but Britain had Peace with him XXXVI Galienus This Emperour Reigned fifteen years he began his Reign Anno Domini 254. and had no War with Britain XXXVII Flavius Claudius he began his Reign Anno Domini 269. and reigned two years he had peace with Britain and was a great Hater of the Christians but had not time to put in Execution his intended Torments against them XXXVIII Quintilius This Emperour shortly after he had taken the Government upon him opened his own Veins and so died he had no War with Britain he began his Reign Anno Domini two hundred seventy one XXXIX Aurelianus he began his Reign Anno Domini 271. and reigned five years he had no War with Britain but was a great Persecutor of the Christians XL. Tacitus He had no War with Britain Reigning about six Months only he began his Reign Anno Domini two hundred seventy and six XLI Florianus He began his Reign Anno Domini 278 and Reigned about three months he had Peace with Britain XLII Probus He was a lover of the Christians and had no War with Britain his Reign began Anno Domini 278. and he reigned about five years XLIII Marcus Aurelius Carus The Britains in his time fell afresh into Rebellion after they had been quiet above 80 years and Carancius being sent Deputy he fell also in Rebellion with them but after the Emperour's Death Carancius was slain by Alectus the succeeding Deputy This Emperour began his Reign Anno Domini 282 and Reigned something more than a year XLIV Dioclesian This Emperour sent Alectus to quiet the Britains who then Rebelled under Carancius and pursuing the Rebels with a continued hatred he himself was at length slain in London by Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornwal and many thousand Romans with him and among the rest one Gallus who was Alectus's Companion was slain in London at a certain Brook which was afterwards called by his Name Gallbrook or Walbrook but at long-run Asclepiodotus himself was slain by Coilus Duke of Colchester This Emperour Dioclesian was a great Persecutor of the Christians he began his Reign Anno Domini 284. and reigned about three years and Maximinianus who was co-emperour with him about 4 years XLV Constantius Clorus This Emperour coming into Britain to subdue the Calledonians and Picts under the command of Coilus who had made himself King at his coming found Coilus dead he married his fair Daughter the Princess Helena and begot on her Constantine the Great This Emperour was a favorer of the Christians though his Predecessor Dioclesian had much oppressed them for in his time was Albine the Protomartyr of England beheaded at Holmehurst now St. Albans and Aaron and Julius suffered at Leicester and about a thousand Christians suffered at Litchfield This Constantius began his Reign Anno Domini 291 and reigned about thirteen years he died at York XLVI Constantius Galerius Maximianus Severus Maxentius Licinius and Martinianus for the space of eight years the Empire was Ruled by these Men sometimes one sometimes another and sometimes all of them ruling till at length they were all vanquished by Constantine the great in these Emperours times were very cruel Torments put in practise against the Christians Maxentius used to join the living bodies of the Christians with other dead Carcases and being chained Mouth to Mouth he caused them to be tumbled up and down Some think this was the reason why St. Paul used that expression in his Epistle to the Romans 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death In these Emperors times were some petty Wars with Britain These Emperours began their Rule Anno Domini three hundred and four and Reigned about eight years XLVII Constantinus Magnus This Emperour was a Britain by Nation his Father was Constantius Florus and his Mother Hellena the Daughter of Coilus he did associate with him in the Empire his Sons Crispus Constantinus Constantius and Constance each of them ruling in some part of the Empire The Government continued under these Emperours from the year 312 to the year 350. Some petty Wars they had with Britain some Authors affirm that this Constantine the Great beginning to persecute the Christians he was smitten with a Leprosie that the Physitians left him as incurable and being asleep one Night he saw a Vision telling him that if he desired to recover his health he should recall from Exile Silvester the Bishop and all the Clergy which things he performed and being Converted and Baptized he was immediately cured and increasing in Devotion he built many Churches and among the rest that of St. Peters in Rome himself digging the Foundation and carrying away twelve Baskets full of Earth in
unlawful yet all the force and Law they then had could never obtain a Writ of Restitution the continuance of this new Saxon Monarchy was but during the times of these two Kings following 1. Edward the Confessour He was Crowned at Winchester by Edsine Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the beginning of his Reign the Danes Irish and Welsh entered England and destroyed all in their passage with Fire and Sword but they were withstood in their proceeding by Alfred the Warlike Bishop of Worcester In the fifth year of the King's Reign there fell so great a Snow in January that covered the Ground till the middle of March and much Cattel and Fowl died and in January after happened such an Earthquake that it seemed to rend the ground in sunder and withal such fearful Lightnings were then that the Corn in the Fâ—elds was burnt up which caused a great Dearth And now Goodwine Earl of Kent who was the main Instrument in setting up King Edward for his Favour to the Burgesses of Canterbury falls into dislike with the King and after several thwartings he and his five were banished but about two years after was received again into favour and being one day at the King's Table at Dinner the Cup-bearer coming in got a slip and had like to have spilt the Wine but as one Foot slipped the other recovered it whereupon the Earl said I see one Brother hath helped the other Yes said the King and so would my Brother Alured have helpen me if Goodwine had not been The Earl perceiving the King's Anger he took a piece of Bread and wished it might choak him if he were guilty of betraying the King's Brother so putting the Bread into his Mouth he was choaked therewith and fell down dead After this the King caused his Mother Emma to be tried whether she were guilty of Adultery or no by causing her to go blindfold over the place where nine Plow-shares lay glowing hot and she being clear of the Accusation laid to her charge went over the place where they lay and mist them every one stepping betwixt still all the way as she went when she was past them she not knowing so much cryed out saying Oh Lord When shall I come to the place of my Purgation And having her eyes opened and seeing herself past the Danger she fell on her knees and gave Thanks to her Deliverer this kind of Tryal was called Ordalium It is reported also that his Dealings with his own Beautiful Queen Edith a Daughter to Earl Goodwine were little better she being likewise accused of Adultery and kept in Prison during her Father's Banishment In this King's time was a blasing Star seen for sev'n dayes space all the World over The Abby of St. Peters at Westminster was enlarged by this King and he built the Church of St. Margarets at Westminster and removed the Bishop's Sea from Cridington in Devon-shire to Exeter and made Leofrick first Bishop thereof and he was the first of our Kings that cured the Disease called Struma now the King 's Evil and that first used to Seal his Patents with the Stately Seal now called The KING' 's Great Seal and he remitted the Tax of Dane-Guilt so grievous to his Subjects and Collected all the Laws of his Predecessors into one Body which some say is the Ground or Foundation of our Common Law This King Edward was seventh Son to King Ethelred and first by his Second wife Queen Emma he was born at I slip in Oxford-shire and was the 19 Sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno. Dom. 1042. and reigned 20 years 6 months and 27 daies He died the 4 of January and was buried at Westminster 2. Harrold This King at his Entrance freed his Subjects from those grievous Tributes his Predecessors had afflicted them withall he was crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of York Now there were three several Reports of Edward's disposing of the Crown some said to the Norman Duke who made that the Anchor-hold of his Claims others to young Edgar to whom he was great Vncle and lastly to this Harrold who in King Edwards days being at Sea in a Fisher-boat upon Pleasure was driven into Normandy where Duke William caused him to swear that if Edward died without Issue the Crown of England should be reserved for the Normans And hereupon after Edward's Death and Harrold's assuming of the Crown Duke William sent his Embassadours to him to put him in minde of his Oath but he returned Answer That it was extorted from him in his Imprisonment and so not obliging At this Answer the Duke was much inraged and prepared for an Invasion and at Harrold's Preparation to Encounter the Duke a fearful Comet appeared which was look'd upon as after it proved a bad Omen And now Harrold's Misery approaching Tosto Brother to Harrold and Harrold Harfagar King of Denmark invaded England and landed at Richal upon Owse in York-shire and spoiling the Country round about marched straitway to York News being brought to the King he with his Army marched Northwards to suppress these Danish Forces and at Stamford Bridg built over the River Derwent he was stopt by a single Dane who slew 40 of his men but at length the valiant Dane was slain by a Soldier who got a Boat and rowed under the Bridge and thrust his Spear up through a hole in the Bridge and so slew the famous valiant Dane Some say He was slain with a Dart thrown at him And the King now getting the Bridge he fell upon the Norwegians and made great slaughter of them and among the rest he slew Harfagar the King of Denmark and Tosto his own Brother and Olave the Son of Harfagar and Paul Earl of Orkny were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives of the King were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having 20 small Vessels of their great Fleet of three hundred Ships wherewith they invaded the Realm allowed them to carry away their slain and hurt with the heavy news to Denmark of the loss of their King and overthrow of their whole Army These Troubles were no sooner over but William Duke of Normandy landed at Pevensey in Sussex upon the eighth day of September Anno Domini 1066 who after his landing set his own Fleet on Fire that his Soldiers might have no hopes of flying back thither for succour When he first came on shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand and the Knight that was next to him said Now Sir Earl England sticks fast to thee Doubt not but presently to be King thereof after some small stirs he sent a Messenger to the King at London to demand the Kingdom but the Messenger was dismissed with Threats and Harrold now seeing no way but one either to fight or yield the Kingdom which was too sweet a Morsel to part with without Blows He therefore advances with his Army into Sussex and pitched his Tents in a fair plain within seven miles of the Enemy and
sending forth his spies they were taken and presented to the Duke who caused them to be sent from Tent to Tent and Feasted and then released them And now the Duke entring the plain where the King was sent a Monk to him to demand the Kingdom or otherwise for the avoiding the effusion of much blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom under him Harrold's Answer was It should be tried by more Swords than one So the next day being the 14 of October 1066 on a Saturday They marshalled their Armies and Trumpets sounding to Battel at the first encounter the Normans had the worst of it and the English thinking they had run dis-ranked themselves for persuit which as soon as the Duke perceived he rallied his men and sell in desperately again and then slew the dis-ranked English on heaps among which King Harrold paid his last Breath to the fury of the Conqueror having an Arrow shot into his Brains and with him died Girth and Leofine his two Brothers and most of the English Nobles and 97974 Soldiers the Duke had three Horses slain under him yet received no harm himself In this same place the Conqueror afterwards built an Abby and called it Battel-Abby And now Aldrede Archbishop of York counselled the People to chuse young Edgar Atheling King being the true lawful Heir to the Crown but it came to nothing for with the determination of Harrold's Reign ceased the Royal blood of the Saxons whose Kings made England an Heptarchy and afterwards had reduced it to a glorious Monarchy and had been Kings and Monarchs thereof from Hengists first Possession of the Kingdom of Kent till Harrold's Deaths about 587 years but Authors agree not in the Computation some accounting more and some less This King Harrold was the Son of Goodwine Earl of Kent by his Wife Sitha Sister to Swain the younger King of Denmark he was the 20 sole Monarch of England And began his Reign Anno 1065 and Reigned about 9 Months and nine days he was slain the 14 of October 1066 at Battel-Field in Sussex and was buried at Waltham in Essex CHAP. X. Of England's Conquest by the Normans and first of William the Conqueror THese Normans who by the Sword gained the Diadem of England and were the last Conquerors thereof in whose Line the Monarchy of England is still continu'd were antiently a mixt Nation with the Warlike Norwegians Swedens and Danes and took their Name from that Northern Climate antiently called Cimbrica Chersonesus and Norway but the Country being thought to be too little for these People Rollo a Famous Noble Norman with many others in his Company betook themselves to Sea to seek Fortunes Court and having practised some Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia England and Ireland at length they became so fearful to the French that Charles the Simple King of France gave to Rollo his Daughter Gilla in Marriage with the Dutchy of Normandy And this Duke Rollo was Proavus or Great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy which Richard was Elder Brother to Robert Father to this WILLIAM the Famous Conqueror of England whose Famous Actions and Memorable Things we shall now proceed to Treat of After the Fight at Battle-Field Duke William hasted towards London wasting as he went the Counties of Kent Sussex Surry Hampshire and Bark-shire he crost Thames at Wallingford and so marched thorow the Counties of Oxford Buckingham and Hartford And at Barkhampstead he made a Stop to which place repaired Aldred Archbishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Winchester Walter Bishop of Hereford the Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling the Heir to the Crown and here did their Allegiance to the Duke And so marching for London he was stopt at St. Albans by Fredrick Abbot thereof On christmas-Christmas-day following he was Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of York And now considering how to secure the Realm from Invasions he thought it expedient first to fortifie the Cinque Ports and so taking his March towards Dover at the Instigation of Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Eglesine Abbot of Saint Austines he was surprized by the Kentish men who carrying Boughs and Branches of Trees in their hands they seemed like a Walking Wood which sight so afrighted the Conqueror that he granted their Requests to have all their Ancient Customs whereupon they yielded up to him their Earldom of Kent and Castle of Dover The Conqueror was kind also to the Londoners suffering them to injoy their Priviledges they had in Edward the Confessor's time Shortly after this the Conqueror sailed to Normandy to settle his Affairs there taking with him several English Nobles whose greatness he feared in his Absence for Pledges and making his half Brother Otho Bishop of Bayeux Earl of Kent and William Fitz-Osburne Earl of Hereford to whose Trust he left the Government of the Kingdom till his Return In whose Absence the Welsh rebelled and wasted all to the Mouth of Wye these Stirs called the Conqueror back again who at his Return gave the Lands of the English to his Normans And the English thus turned out of their Estates fell so to Rob and Pillage that the High-wayes between one Town and another lay unfrequented The Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling with his Mother and Sister and several other English Nobles fled into Scotland to King Malcolm to whom the Conqueror sent desiring him to send back for England Edgar Atheling but Malcolm having married his Sister denied him and kept him notwithstanding all King William's Threats And now the Conqueror still going on in his Oppressions of the English he caused every House-houlder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight a Clock at Night to which purpose there was a Bell rung in every City Town or Village by the French called Cover few that is Cover Fire In the Second year of his Reign Goodwine and Edmund two of King Harrold's Sons invaded the Realm out of Ireland and took away great Bootys And the year after the English in the North slew 700 Normans but some of the Authors of the Rebellion being taken had some of them their Heads cut off and other their hands And now Swain King of Denmark assisted the English with 300 Sail of Ships fraught with Soldiers who under Command of Osburne Swaine's Brother and his own two Sons Harrold and Canute arriv'd in Humber and marched for York at whose Approach the Yorkists were so dismay'd that they set their own City on fire and the Minster of St. Peters being then consum'd Aldred their Archbishop died with greif At his time were 3000 Normans slain but the King hearing of these Stirs took his March into the North and after he had overthrown the Enemy he was so inraged at the Northern Disturbers that he spoil'd their Country lying all level with the ground for Threescore miles between York and Durham which lying untilled for nine years space caused such a Famine
Lugdunence Gregory the X being Pope which is accounted the fourteenth general Council In the III of the King's Reign upon St. Nicholas day were very Terrible Thunders Earth-Quakes and Lightning and a great Draggon and blazing Star which put many People in great fear and in the year 1288 the Summer was so hot that many Persons died with the extremity thereof and yet Wheat that year was sold for two shillings eight pence the Quarter and all other Corn at very low-prices but the year following Wheat was raised to Twenty shillings the quarter by reason of the great Rains that fell that year which dearth of Corn continued about 40 years to the end of King Edward the Second's Reign saith my Author so that in process of time a Bushell of Wheat was at Ten shillings The King the 19 of his Reign banished all the Jews out of England making all their Goods Confiscate the number of them that were Banished is reckoned to be 15000 and 9 persons The King also inflicted great Fines upon his Judges and other Officers for their Corruption the sum imposed upon Eleven of them was 236000 Marks About this time Dr. Scotus called Dr. Subtilis by some preached against the abuse of the Keys and that Transubstantiation could neither be proved by Scripture nor sound Reason Not long after this Alexander King of Scotland dying without Issue great Contentions arose between the Lords Bruse and Baliol about the Crown but King Edward being Umpire between them gave Judgment for Lord Balioll who was Crowned King and did Homage to Edward for his whole Kingdom After this the Scotch King seeking to shake off his Homage again he and his Kingdom were all Conquered by King Edward and all the Scotch Nobles swore to be true to Edward ever after acknowledging him for the King Baliol late King was sent Prisoner to London to the Tower and John de Warren Earl of Surry and Sussex was left Vice Roy in Scotland and at this time the King brought the Chair out of Scotland which is now in Westminster Abby in which our Kings are Crowned and with it was also brought the Crown Scepter and Cloth of Estate The Scots not long after falling into a fresh Rebellion were again subdued by the King with the slaughter of 60000 of their men Shortly after this the King took to Wife the King of France his Sister by which means there was a firm Peace concluded between England and France And now Edward the King 's eldest Son was by his Father made Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and now the Scots desirous still of Liberty revolted again under the Command of the Lord Bruse but they were quickly reduced to their former Obedence after this getting Heart again they stood for the regaining of their Kingdom and King Edward marching to give them Battel died in his march and commanded in his last Will that his Son should carry his Bones with him till he had marched through all Scotland in his life-time he utterly renounced Pope Beniface's Supream Authority and on his Death-bed charged his Son to continue the Banishment of Pearce of Gaveston and to convey his Heart to be buried in the Holy-Land The year 1299 the King's Palace at Westminster with the Buildings of the Monastery adjoining to it were all burnt This Edward the First was King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitain c. He was eldest Son to Henry the III by Ellianor his Queen Second Daughter to Raymond Earl of Province He began his Reign on Wednesday the 16 of November Anno 1272 and reigned 34 years 7 moneths and 21 days and was the 29 sole Monarch of England He died of a Dissenterie at Burgh upon Sands in his March to Scotland on a Fryday the 7 of July Anno 1307. in the 35 year of his Reign and 69 of his Age he was buried at Westminster CHAP. XIX Of King Edward the Second commonly called Edward of Carnarvan AT his first entrance he recalled Pearce of Gaveston Earl of Cornwal out of Banishment although he were forbidden it by his Father's last Will. Shortly after he married Isabel Daughter to the King of France after this calling a Parliament they sadly complayned of Gavestons Insolence and so far prevailed with the King that he yielded to his Banishment whereupon they granted to the King a Subsidy of the 20 part of their goods but Gaveston not long after was recalled again by the King and was married to the Earl of Gloucesters Sister and received into greater favour than ever the King not at all regarding his Father's Command nor his own Oath to his Nobles This Gaveston now grew so high and was so lavishing of the Kings Treasure alienating him also from the Queens Bed that she complained hereof to her Father the King of France Hereupon the Nobles again complain of Gaveston to the King and prevailed for his Banishment with a Proviso that if he returned again to suffer Death About this time Anno 1311. the Order of the Templers was expelled Christendom and this year Clement the V. being Pope was the Council at Vienna being the 15 general Council The next year after Gaveston being returned for England he was taken by the Earl of Warwick at the Castle of Scarborough and with the consent of the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford was carried to Warwick Castle and there Beheaded hereupon the King was greatly inraged but upon Condition that all things belonging to Gaveston should be rendred to him He Pardoned the Lords Anno 1314 the King caused his Writs to be published for Victualls That no Ox stalled or corn-fed should be sold for more than 24 shillings no Grass-fed Ox for more than 16 shillings a fat stalled Cow at 12 shillings another Cow at ten shillings a fat Mutton Corn-fed at 20 pence another fat Mutton at 14 pence a Fat Hog of two years old at ten groats a Fat Goose at two pence half-penny and in the City three pence a Fat Capon at two pence in the City two pence half-penny a Fat Hen a penny in the City three half-pence 4 Pigeons for a Penny 24 Eggs a penny in the City twenty Eggs a penny After this a Tanners Son of Exceter called himself the Son of Edward the first and would needs prove the King a Changling but his claim was quickly strangled with a halter at Northampton And now the Queen was delivered of Prince Edward and the Parliament shortly after granted the King a Fifteenth and the King going against Scotland the Earls Lancaster Surry Warwick and Arundel refused to attend him at this time he received a great overthrow from the Scots he and Lord Spencer being both forced to fly and several Lords with seven hundred Knights and Esquires were slain Anno 1318 The Famine in England was so Raging that Horses Dogs and Children were stoln for Food and the Thieves that were in Prison did pluck in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and
Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales and caused the Nobles to swear him Fealty about this time the famous Dr. John Wickliff of Oxford maintained sundry learned points against the Church of Rome This Edward the Third was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was eldest Son of King Edward the second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he began his Reign on Saturday the 25 day of January Anno 1329 and reigned 50 years 4 months and 26 days and was the 31 sole Monarch of England He died on Sunday the 21 day of June Anno 1377 being the 51 year of his Reign and about the 65 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXI Of King Richard the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux IN the beginning of this King's Reign the French invaded England and burnt the Town of Rye the Scots the Town of Rocksbrough And after this the French took the Isle of Wight and forced the Inhabitants to pay them a hundred marks not long after they burnt the Town of Hastings All these Advantages being taken by reason of the King 's tender years upon the Occasion of these daily Rapines one Sir John Philpot of London seeing the remissness of the Lords at his own proper costs and charges manned out a Fleet to scour the Seas which Fleet shortly after took 15 Rich Spanish Ships which well recompenced Sir John for his charges About this time Barwick was surprized by the Scots who killed Sir Robert Boynton the Governour and about nine days after it was regained by the Earl of Northumberland the Scots being all put to the Sword And now a Parliament being called at London for Manning of those Services a Subsidy was granted to the King by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal the Commons at that time being exempted from it Shortly after this Sir John Arundel and several other valiant Knights and Esquires being sent to the Duke of Britain for his aid against the French were all drowned But the King sending more Forces after these as the Duke of Lancaster Buckingham Warwick and Stafford with others of the cheif of the Nobility they landed safely at Callis and went through France to Britain spoiling Countries burning Towns and killing People the French not daring to oppose them About this time Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Brute John Ashton and Peter Pateshall were persecuted some by perpetual Imprisonment and some by Banishment for Preaching and maintaining Dr. Wickliffs Doctrine After this the King calling another Parliament at Northampton they granted him Poll-money of Twelve pence per head of every one above such an Age. The next year after this the Commons of Kent Essex Surry Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridge rebelled and under the Conduct of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw marched suriously to London burning the Priory of St. John's without East Smithfield and turning also the Savoy and the Bishop of Canterbury's House in Lambeth into Ashes Beheading Simon Tybald the Archbishop Sir John Hales Lord Prior with others And now they sent a malicious arrogant Petition to the King whose Tenor the King durst not deny his Person being then in manifest Danger of them But Wat Tyler cavelled at the conditions of Peace Suggesting strange Hopes of high matters to himself hereupon he was desired to ride to the King which accordingly he did and there behaved himself so insolently that he offered to kill Sir John Newton one of the King 's Attendants for the omission of some Punctilio of respect to him But the insolent Traytor for this affront received his Death's Wound from the hand of Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor of London And the Lord Mayor presently raising a thousand Citizens surprised the headless Monster and caused them to beg their Lives of the King John Lister the Dyar who headed the Rabble in Suffolk was also taken by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and there was executed of this rebellious Rabble in London and elsewhere about 1500. Now these Plebean Furies being over the King took to Wife Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the IV and shortly after John Duke of Lancaster was accused of Treason touching the King's Person but the Accusers Reward was Death which he hoped and intended for the Duke's Lot After this the Duke sailing into France concluded a Truce for about two years space and then a Parliament being called at London the Laity sought to depose the Clergy of their Estates but the King answered their Request in these words I will saith he maintain the English Church in the quality of the same Estate or better than I found it when I came to the Crown At this Parliament was Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Created the first Marquess of Dublin This year also the Duke of Lancaster set Sail for Spain to regain the Kingdom of Castile to which by Right of his Wife he laid claim to Within a while after several Lords rebeled against the King and were all pardon'd before they came to their Tryals yet notwithstanding the King's Clemency they still kept together and raising great Forces they did not stick to charge the King with several misdemeanours and now the Duke of Lancaster returning for England again Peace was concluded between him and Spain and the King thereof gave him 200000 Nobles towards the defraying of this charges he had been at at whose return the King made him Duke of Aquitain After this the King desiring of the Londoners the Loan of a thousand pounds it was denied him whereupon he seized on their Liberties and dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out their Mayor John Hind and John Shadworth and Henry Wanner their Sheriffs and appointed Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City And about two years after the King having a desire to go for Ireland had a Subsidy granted him four years Truce being then concluded with France but after this he with the Company of the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Gloucester sailed into France where he espous'd the Lady Isabel Daughter to Charles King of France this Journey besides Losses at Sea cost him 4000 marks At his return from France certain Peers revolted from him making Forces removing such Officers from the King as they thought fit whereupon the Earl of Arundel one of the Rebells had his Head lopt off and the Earl of Gloucester was smothered with Pillows and Feather Beds at Callis and shortly afterwards the King made himself Earl of Chester and created several Dukes and Earls at that time And not long after this the River between Swelston and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Bottom remained dry about three miles space And now the King extorting Money and taking up Carriages and other Necessaries intending for Ireland to suppress the Rebells there who had slain Lord Mortimer Lord Lieutenant there And the Duke of Lancaster dying about this time the King seized his
Goods in the absence of his Banished Son which was but pro tempore intending to banish him in perpetuum which proceedings shortly after proved his Ruin for the King now sailing for Ireland did little good there but himself great harm here For by this means he gave Henry the Banished Son of the Duke of Lancaster opportunity to land in England for the gaining of his Right At whose Arrival several Lords flocked to him Their first attempt was against the Castle of Bristol where they took Bussy the Treasurer and Green who the next day were made shorter by the heads The King hearing of these Stirs returned and thought to have nipt them in the Bud but at his coming he found them fully Blown whereupon he betook himself to Conworth Castle in Wales and afterwards delivered himself into the hands of the Earl of Northumberland conditionally that if he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable Allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that then he would resign his Crown from hence he was carried to the Tower of London and a Parliament was called at Westminster in his name who all agreed to the resignation and Messengers were sent to the Tower to him with the said Instrument the manner and form whereof is shewed before in Edward the Seconds time to this Instrument the King set his hand and Seal desiring that his Cosen Henry Duke of Lancaster might succeed him and thereupon put his Signet Ring on the Dukes hand After this the Definitive Sentence being given in open Parliament Duke Henry rising from his Seat made his challenge to the Crown as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown withall the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the III and that Justice which God of his Grace hath send to me by the help of my Freinds for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words said he was by all the States acknowledged for King and placed in the Royal Throne This Richard the Second was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was the Second Son to Edward the Black-Prince by Joan his Wife Daughter to Edmund Earl of Kent his Reign began on Sunday the one and twenty day of June Anno 1377 and he reigned twenty two years three months and eight days and was the the thirty two sole Monarch of England He was assassinated in Pontefrack Castle by Sir Pierce of Exton and other seven Assassinates he having first valiantly defended himself and slain four of the Assassinates Some affirm that he was starved to Death Anno 1400 His body was brought to London and carried through the City to St. Paul's Church and there left bare-faced by the space of three dayes for People to gaze at and was afterwards buried at Westminster some say at Langley CHAP. XXII Of King Henry the Fourth commonly called Henry of Bullingbrook THis King Henry was crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after his Coronation he created his Eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Aquitain and Cornwall and Earl of Chester and caused the Crown to be entailed upon the Heirs of his Body And then took from the Lords Awmarl Surry and Exeter the late King's Friends the Titles of Dukes And not long after he sent Embassadors to Rome France Spain and Germany to give them the Reasons of his assuming the Crown But the People of Aquitain hearing of those Carriages in England 〈◊〉 favoring King Richard's Cause begâ—◠〈◊〉 Revolt but Henry sending the Earl of Worcâ—â—ter thither with some Forces thâ—y quickly fell to their Obedience again And now the Scots upon some Distates entred the North-parts of England doing much harm And shortly after several Lords as John Holland late Duke of Exceter Thomas Holland late Duke of Surry Edward Plantaginet late Duke of Aumarl John Montacute Earl of Salisbury Lord Spencer Sir Ralf Lumly Sir Thomas Blunt and Sir Benedict Celye with others conspired against Henry either out of Pitty to Richard's cause or Emulation to Henry's greatness but the Plot being discovered before it came to any Perfection by some of their own party The two late Dukes of Exceter and Surry having notice thereof hasted to Cicester pretending as they passed along that King Richard was at liberty and that Henry was fled which was all false for at this time he had got 6000 men in Readiness to oppose them and Exceter seeking to escape by Sea was taken and at the Countess of Hereford's instigation was beheaded by the common People at Pleshie the Lord Spencer receiving the like doom at Bristol and others in other places in all nineteen whereof two had been Dukes in King Richard's time to wit John Holland and Thomas Holland Presently after this the King entered Scotland and spoiled the Country but before his Return Wales was in Rebellion under the Command of Owen Glendour of which the King having Intelligence he turned his March thither and burnt killed and took such Revenge as that time would permit and so returned with such spoil as he had got Glendour being gotten into the inexpugnable Snowden hills But the King's Danger was not less at home than abroad for in his Bed there was hidden a Calthrope or Engine with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes all of them set upward for his Destruction but he discovered it before he lay down but the Traytor was never found out Now Glendour still proceeding in his Outrages Edmund Lord Mortimer went against him but with the loss of about a thousand of his men in the Attempt and his own Liberty to boot being taken Prisoner and afterwards either for love or fear did marry Glendour's Daughter and was privy and consenting to Piercy's Rebellion which followed afterwards About this time were several Libels dispersed up and down in Defamation of the King but the Authors being taken suffer'd death amongst whom were several Grey-Fryers after the Execution of these offenders the King again entered Wales but the cruel Storms there at that time forced his return And the Earl of Northumberland the King's Lieutenant of the North and Piercy Hot-Spur the Earls Son had better success against the Scots who had entered England but returned by weeping Cross being overthrown in two Battels by the Earl and his Son and several taken Prisoners After this the King took to Wife Lady Jane of Navar Widdow of John de Mountforth Duke of Britain and shortly after several Prodigies appeared Prognosticating the Piercys Rebellion which followed not long after the first of them discovering himself in open Arms was Lord Piercy Hot-Spurr who made head about Chester to whom repaired the Earl of Worcester their intentions being to enter the Town of Shrewsbury The King sent for them promising under his hand their safe
conduct but they refused to go which caused the King with the Prince and other Nobles to march towards them as soon as Piercy Hot-spur discovered the Royal Standard he drew out his Army consisting of about 14000 to try the Fortune of War which at that time proved very averse to him for he and the Earls of Worcester Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton and several others with 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire that day or the next loss their Lives with an Incredible number of common Soldiers and on the King's party were slain the Earl of Stafford and ten new Knights all made that morning and many Esquires and Gentlemen and about 500 common Soldiers the Battel ended the King marched to York whither he commanded the Earl of Northumberland to come who obeyed his Command and had pardon of Life but was abridged in Estate Whiles things were thus setling in the North news came that Wales was still in Rebellion so the Clergy at the motion of their Metropolitan granted the King a Subsidy for Maintenance of his Army and William de Wilford also being in the King's Service on the narrow Seas brought some assistance to his Indigencies by taking 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl Sope and Rochel Wines to the number of one thousand Tuns And not long after a Parliament being called another Subsidy was granted and the Earl of Northumberland was again restored to his Possessions presently after this came a Troop of Western men who brought to the King three forein Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth where they also slew the Lord of Castile and several of his men which Lord formerly had burnt Plimouth and thinking to have done so here was by these Plebeans put by his purpose for which good Service the King gave them store of Gold And now the King calling Three Parliaments one after another for Money could get none the chief Opposer was Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal who drew Richard Scroop Archbishop of York into a Conspiracy against the King and the Earl of Westmerland pretending to side with them ensnared them both in his Gin and presented them to the King who caused both their Heads to be struck off although Westmerland had promised them their Lives And now the King began again to pursue the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf who were supposed privy to Earl Marshals Conspiracy with an Army of 37000 Men whereupon they fled into Scotland the King seeing this took Barwick by battering down a Tower in the Wall with a great Gun the first that was used in England and took Alnwick and all other Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland And from hence marching to Wales he expected the like good Fortune there but such a sudded Rage of Waters in Wales came so fast down upon his Army that he was forced to return 50 Waynes laden with Treasure and other Carriages being destroyed by the Rage thereof After this another Parliament being called they granted a Subsidy being rather wearied with the King's Importunity than out of any good Will to him Anno 1407. being the next year after there was so great a Plague in England that in short space it destroyed 30000 in London and multitudes elsewhere in the Realm and the year after was a great Frost that held 15 Weeks All this while Glendour continuing his Rebellion in Wales The Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf leaving Wales into which they had escaped and coming to raise Forces in the North were met and encountred by Sir Thomas Rookby the Sheriff of York-shire who flew the Earl and gave the Lord Bardolf a wound of which he died After this the Duke of Burgundy sending to the King for Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request answered and presently after Orleance sending for Aid against Burgandy and promising greater matters than the other it was granted to him also to the great wonder of many and now the Lord Hail Marshal of France laying a Siege to a certain strong place in Gascoign with other Lords and about 4000 Men of Arms were driven from thence by Sir John Blunt with 300 Soldiers and 12 of the Principallest and about 120 Gentlemen were then taken Prisoners but the King lived not to see the Fortune and Carriage of these Wars In this King's Reign through Arch-Bishop Arundells Procurement William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp suffered Martyrdom for their Faith being all worthy Divines This Henry the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Blaunch his Wife Daughter and Heir to Henry Plantaginet Duke of Lancaster Son to Edmund Sir-named Crouch-back he began his Reign on Munday the 29 day of September Anno 1399 and reigned 13 years 5 months and 19 days and was the 33 sole Monarch of England He died at London of an Apoplexy on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno 1412. and was buried at Canterbury CHAP. XXIII Of King Henry the Fifth commonly called Henry of Monmouth HE was Crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and at his first entrance dismissed all his youthful Companions and made choice of grave men for his Councellors He was wont every day after dinner for the space of an hour to receive Petitions of the oppressed who with great equity he relieved he was so zealous towards the Clergy hating Lollards or Wickliffians that he caused Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who was the cheif that held that opinion then to be Imprisoned but he afterwards escaping for Wales 37 of his Faction as it was then thought to be being taken were all condemned and seven of them viz. Lawrence Redman David Sawtree William James Thomas Brightwell William Haulam Ralph Greenburst and John Schut were burnt and strangled in St. Gyles's Fields after this the King restored the Son of Lord Piercy Hot-Spur to his Blood and Grandfather's Honour of Earl of Northumberland and presently after sent Embassadors to France to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Aquitain Guyen and Anjou but in derision to his Demands the Dauphin of France sent him a Tun of Tennice Balls as Bullets most fit for his tender hands The King disgusted hereat preparing for Warrs the French made the Scots their Friends to invade Englands marches which accordingly they did in such a violent manner that the King scarce knew which Kingdom to begin with first but at length it was concluded for France the Clergy giving a Tenth and the Temporal Lords their Aid of 346 Men at arms and 552 Archers and about some 10 Ships and to keep back the Scots Sir RobertVmsreivil was sent against them who in a Skirmish took 360 of them Prisoners and great spoil The news of the proceedings here in England flying into France Charles the French King sent his Embassadours to England with offer of money and some Territories of France but none of the best and the
the English were slain amongst whom the King's Brother the Duke of Clarence was one and the Earls of Somerset and Suffolk with other Lords were taken Prisoners the King having notice hereof embarqued again for France and landed at Callis and chased the Dauphin from place to place he not daring to Fight during these proceedings the Queen was brought to Bed at Windsor of a young Prince Henry which news coming to the King's Ears he in a Prophetical way thus spake Good God saith he I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and loose all but the Will of God be done Which words of his afterwards proved true And now the King after several brave exploits by him perform'd in this his last expedition into France died appointing by his last Will his younger Brother Humfry Duke of Gloucester Protector of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exceter Guardian of his Son's Body This Henry the V. was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of King Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen Daughter to Humfry de Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton He began his Reign on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno Do. 1412 and reigned nine years five moneths and 10 days and was the thirty fourth sole Monarch of England He died of a Burning Feavor and Flux at Boice de Vincennois in France on Monday the the one and thirty day of August Anno Domini 1422 and was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXIV Of King Henry the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor THis King was Crowned at Westminster being but about 8 months old and a Parliament being called and a Subsidy granted that the regal Chair in the House might not stand empty thither the Queen did carry the young Prince and sate with him in her Lap he speaking to the House in anothers Tongue And now the affairs in France were various Fortune sometimes smiling on the French and other sometimes on the English whereupon the Duke of Bedford Regent of France desired to enter Battel with the French which accordingly was performed near the Vernoil where the French were beaten and about 5000 of them slain besides many taken Prisoners During these proceedings in France James the young King of Scots who had casually been taken Prisoner at Sea in Henry the Fifths time was set at Liberty in England thereby to draw the Scots off from Aiding the French not long after Duke Humphry the Protector was married to Jaqueline of Bavaria her Husband being then living which caused the Duke of Burgundy to forsake the Regent in France and now Factions breeding in the Court of England the Regent left France to appease the dangers at home which he happily performed and then with the Lord Talbot and fresh Forces returned again to France From the beginning of April 1428 unto All-Hallon-Tide after fell such abundance of Rain that not only Hay but Corn also was distroyed About this time at the Regent's Return into France Siege was laid unto Orleance where the Earl of Salisbury was slain yet notwithstanding the Siege continued And Charles the young French King being very pensive not knowing how to remedy this Mischief likely to ensue At Chinon a young Maid called Joane of Loraine a sheeperdess appeared to him bidding him be of good Courage for God had sent her to deliver the Realm and so going to Blâ—yce with the Marshal of France and there getting Forces by her Valour the Siege was raised at Orleance the English loosing 600 men at that Brunt and for some short space after this the loosing and taking of Towns was interchangeable but Joan and the Duke of Alanzon still proceeding in their good fortunes near Jergeaux they fought the Lord Talbot taking him and several Nobles Prisoners and killing about 1000 of the English they not loosing above 600. Hereupon several Towns Revolted from the English and Charles himself who before had kept in now Issued out in Armes thinking to have recovered Paris but he was disapointed of his hopes by the Regent and now the English lying Siege to Champaign Joan the Martial Maid coming to it's Rescue was taken and sent to Roan and there Burnt for a Witch which did not a little dismay the French but success proving still various it was thought that King Henry's presence in France would be a great discouragement to the Carrolines hereupon the King with the Company of the two English Cardinals York and Winchester and other Nobles sailed into France Anno. 1432 and at Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester he was Crowned King of France yet Charles esteemed himself not the less a King for all this the King having thus taken possession of France not long after took his farewel of it his Return was by Roan and so over Land to Callis and thence to England again and now the Soldiers beginning to be weary of their Imployment and discontented with their Wages fell to Mutiny at Paris for which the Regent cashiered 110 and chopt of the heads of four of the Principallest of them Anno 1435 the Theames was so frozen that the Merchants which came to the Thames Mouth were forced to be carryed to London by Land And now after several Changeable Successes in France at length the Regent dyed the news of whose death coming to England Richard Duke of York was sent Regent but Paris was lost before his Arrival in France and after several Skirmishes with the English the French proceeded to besiege Callis to which place the new Regent drew his Army but King Henry hearing hereof and fearing the worst sent the Protector with a great Fleet against the French at whose approach they all ran away and so the Protector Settling the State of Callis returned with great honour But this new Regent performing little or nothing in France he Returned for England and Richard Earl of Warwick went in his place but he after a short space dying the Duke of York went again and at his Return into France prossered several times to fight the French King who never durst undertake to joyn Battel with him Not long after this the Duke of Orleance was set at Liberty who had been Prisoner ever since the Battel at Azin Court which was above 26 yeares before his Ransom was 300000 Crowns the Protector was much against his Releasment Anno 1438. All the Lions in the Tower of London dyed and this same year was held the Council at Florence being the 16 General Council Eugenius the fourth being Pope Julythe 18. Anno 1440. The Postern of London by East Smith-field against the Tower of London sunk by Night and about 2 years after a Contest fell between the Duke of Gloucester and the Cardinal his Uncle and the Duke's Lady was accus'd by the Cardinal Henry Chicely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for Witch-craft as if by Art Magick she
Leicester and from thence to Coventry where Warwick lay but durst not Fight him and so to Warwick whither the Duke of Clarence being come he and Edward became Friends and they marching to London where the Geates were set open every one crying King Edward Here Henry was again taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower the Earl of Warwick perceiving how things went found it was no time to be idle and therefore resolved to win or loose all by Battel and so marched towards London as far as Barnet King Edward pitching his Tents at Gladmore near Barnet to oppose him having at this time King Henry with him on Easter day they joyned Battel and Fortune sided with King Edward the Earl of Warwick and Lord Montacute his Brother were slayn and three Lords on King Edward's side and in all on both sides about 10000 besides several Nobles as the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Oxford and Exceter c. fled and took Sanctuary and afterwards proved Broachers of new Plots And now King Edward rid Triumphantly to London having King Henry still with him and about this very time landed Queen Margaret Henry's Wife and her Son Edward in England but hearing of the loss at Barnet field they took Asylum at the Abby of Ceerne to which place the Lords that fled from Barnet repaired who comforted the Queens heart with future hopes here forces repairing to them they flye from place to place and at length fought King Edward at Teuxsbury where three or four of the Chief of them as the Earl of Devonshire and Somersets Brother were slain and 3000 men besides and Prince Edward heir to Henry was taken and several Lords taking Sanctuary at Tewxsbury were nevertheless haled thence and beheaded and it is reported Prince Edward was basely murthered by the Duke of Gloucester and some of King Edwards Servants for speaking somewhat to boldly in the Kings Presence After this Queen Margaret was taken from Sanctuary and carryed Prisoner to Worcester and shortly after from thence to London after this the Lord Fawconberge Son to the Earl of Kent raised a confused Army of 17000 men for the Aide of King Henry but he was quickly curbed and fled to Sea And shortly after King Henry was stabbed to the heart by Crookt-back Richard Duke of Gloucester who as is shewed before was a main Instrument in Prince Edward's Murther it is recorded of King Henry that he had an honest mind a comely personage and was more like a Saint than a King now Queen Margaret being ransomed by her Father went beyond Seas to him and there languished away her dayes And after this all Henrys Friends being either banished or put to Death Edward was then at quiet and calling a Parliament all King Henry's Laws were Abrogated And about this time the Duke of Burgandy sent to desire King Edward's Assistance against King Lewis of France so the King went in Person with as great an Army as ever went out of England but he did Burgundy little good for he concluded a Peace with France on condition that Lewes should pay King Edward 70000 Ducats for his Charges and 50000 to be paid him yearly and that the Dauphin should marry Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and so returned for England About this time one John Huss suffered the flames on Tower hill for the profession of a good Faith and now all things being setled King Edward followed his pleasure and being on his Progress in Warwickshire he chanced to hunt in the Park of one Thomas Burdet Esq and killing store of Deer among the rest a white Buck was killed which Mr. Burdet hearing of he wished the horns in his belly that Councelled the King to kill him for which words he was beheaded at Tiburn And in those catching times a Jest of a Mercer in Cheapside telling his Son if he would ply his Book he should be Heir to the Crown meaning his own house that had that sign cost him his Life After this the Duke of Clarence being falsely Attainted and Condemned by Parliament he was shortly after drowned in a Butt of Malmsy in the Tower And James King of Scots about this time sent into England to dare King Edward to Fight who sent an Army under the Command of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester whereupon the Scots fainted and concluded Peace upon certain conditions and yielded up Barwick into the hands of the English out of whose possession it had been about 21 yeares After this the French breaking the Articles of Peace by the Dauphin's Marriage to Lady Margaret of Austrich Grand Child to the Emperour Frederick the King hereupon intended War against them but was prevented by Death Of those four Concubines King Edward delighted in Jane Shoare was not the least beloved by him This Edward the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was Son to Richard Plantaginet Duke of York by his Wife Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury He began his Reign on Monday the fourth day of March Anno 1460. and Reigned 22 years 1 Moneth and 5 dayes and was the 36 Sole Monarch of England He dyed of a Surfeit at Westminster on Friday the 9 day of April Anno 1483 being the 40. year of his Age and 23 of his Reign His body buried at Winsor in the new Chappel whose was foundation himself laid CHAP. XXVI Of King Edward the Fifth THis King was never Crowned for at the very first his Uncle the Duke of Glocester began to think of deposing him drawing to his side the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings they resolve forthwith to remove all the Queen's Friends from the King and to compass their Design they perswade the Queen that her son the King might come to London to his Coronation accompanied only with some few of his friends which she little suspecting what they aimed at easily condiscended unto and now they proceed to the taking of their Prey imprisoning the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother at Northampton they then hasted after the King to Story-Stratford whither he was gone on his way for London and here they made bold in the King's presence to arrest the Lord Richard Woodvile Sir Richard Grey and Sir Thomas Wagham and carried the King and all his company back to Northampton there displacing such of his Servants as they thought fit and putting others whom they pleased in their places Having thus far proceeded in their Design the perfidious Duke of Gloucester took upon himself the Order and Governance of the young King and sent Lord Richard Woodvile and the other two Knights to Pontefract Castle in York-shire where in Conclusion they were beheaded The Queen having notice of these proceedings betook her self with her Children to Sanctuary in Westminster where shortly after the Arch-Bishop of York then Lord Chancelour delivered her the Great Seal but afterwards considering of the Danger he might incur hereby sent for it again And now the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham coming to
and 8 moneths He was the 39 Sole Monarch of England he dyed on Sunday the 22 day of April Anno 1508 being in the 24 year of his Reign and about the 52 of his Age and was buried at Weminster in that famous Chappel of his own founding CHAP. XXIX Of King Henry the Eight THis King Henry was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Empson and Dudly were attainted by Parliament for their Oppressions in Henry the Seventh's time and were beheaded on Tower hill and now the King at the Instigation of Pope Julius the Second sent into France to demand the Dutches Normandy Guyen Anjou and Mayne and being denied them he hereupon joyned Amity with Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand King of Spain and some other Princes and then sailed for France where he took Terwin ane Tournay by Siege and then Winter approaching he returned for England first making Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Tournay and afterward of Lincoln York Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Now during the Siege at Terwin the Scots under the Command of their King James the Fourth Henry's Brother in Law entered the Borders of England pretending Truce broken by the killing of Andrew Barton the Scotch Pirate against whom the Lord Howard Earl of Sury Lord Lieutenant of the North went with an Army to whom joyned his Son the Lord Admiral and these at Flodden Field fought the Scots and gave them a great Overthrow killing the King three Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls and seventeen Lords and Knights besides a great number of Gentlemen and about 8000 Soldiers and almost as many taken prisoners About this time a peace was concluded on between the English and French and Lewis the King of France was to marry Lady Mary King Henry's Sister which shortly after he did and within a quarter of a year after dyed and she was married afterwards at Callis to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk upon her return for England her Dowry in France was 30000 Crownes yearly for her Life and 120000 Crowns yearly for five years to the King her Brother About this time Wolsey had a Cardinals Cap sent from Pope Leo and was preferred by the King to the place of Lord Chancelor Anno 1517. The Thames was so hard frozen that Men with Horses and Carts might pass betwixt Lambeth and Westminster and this same year was the fifth Lattern Council held being the seventeenth General Council Julius the second and Leo the ten being Popes And now Strangers growing insolent in London a great Tumult thereupon under the Conduct of one John Lincoln did rise on May Eve for which Uproar he was hanged and 400 Boyes and 11 Women were led through the City to Westminster with halters about their Necks in their Shirts but were pardoned by the King And the new King of France paying to King Henry 600000 Crowns in twelve years and under some other certain Conditions had Tournay redelivered to him and Peace was Concluded although Charles the Emperor came in person into England to diswade the King from it but this peace continued not long for the French breaking Truce as was pretended the King thereupon procured several Princes to take the Emperour's part against France and prepared himself for the War causing a general Muster to be made of all able men from 16 years and upwards in every Hamlet Villiage Burrough City and Shire in England and in the mean time the Emperour coming into England again he then agreed to stay for and to take Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to Wife and then he returned having for his Conduct the Earl of Surry Lord Admiral who at that time wan Morlois and shortly after Returning to France again won and burnt several Towns and then returned to England with great Booty and during these proceedings the Earl of Shrewsbury went against the Duke of Albany who was then made Governor of Scotland and a Truce was concluded on but the Lord Admiral after his Return from France being made Lord Lieutenant of the North notwithstanding the said Truce entered Scotland doing great harm and returned with great Booty Upon the Account of these Wars a Parliament being called by Wolsey's procurement the half of all Spiritual Livings were granted to the King for five years and the Tenth part of temporal Substance and about this time Christian King of Denmark landed in England with his Queen and after 22 dayes Royal Entertainment he Returned to Flanders where he remained as a banished man And now the King sent an Army under the Command of Charles Brandon Duke Suffolk into France who after severral places won and Winter approaching returned honourably for England but the Duke of Albany and the Lord Lieutenant of the North being still at variance at the Mediation of Margaret Queen of Scotland King Henrys Sister together with Wolseys working with the King at length Peace was concluded for a time both with Scotland and France after this several Commotions rose amongst the Commons about the payment of the Subside which when the King heard he pardoned the Offenders and remitted the payment of the Subsidy and now Wolsey began to alienate the King's heart from the Emperour and caused him to with-hold Pay from the Duke of Burbon which was the cause of the French King's Captivity of Burbon's March to Rome where he entered the City in one day and caused Pope Clement and 23 Cardinalls to take the Castle of Angelo for their Refuge where they were maugre all the pushes of the Pope's Leaden Bulls and Curses with Bell Book and Candle-light besieged six Moneths for which offence the Duke of Burbon in the Parliament of France was condemned of Treason And during these Broyles at Rome there arose great Troubles in Ireland but they were quickly laid again by Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry Lord Lieutennant of that Kingdom who being recalled into England upon some other Service the Earl of Ossâ—ry was made Deputy and shortly after being displaced Kilder succeeded him against whom Wolsey was a strong Enemy he thereby gained the King's displeasure for his malepartness therein The year 1527 fell such abundance of Rain in November December and January that the Corn fields Pastures and Cattel were thereby destroyed then was it dry till the 12 of April and then Rain again every day and night till the 3 of June following which caused such a Famine in London and all England over that many dyed for want of Succour And now the King begins to charge the Emperour with a promise of Marriage to Lady Mary afterwards our Queen Mary but her Legitimation was by him much questioned as being begotten on his Brother Arthur's Wife hereupon the King grew into dislike of his Marriage and disclaimed his Contract it being the Opinion of some six Forein Universities to be an unlawful Marriage and for this cause Cardinal Campius came into England with whom was joined Cardinal Wolsey in Commission with power to erect a Court to
of Edward the sixt but the Pope and the French diswading the Scots from this Marriage King Henry thereupon made War against both Nations and took Bulloyn in France for the Redemption whereof and conclution of Peace the French were to pay him in Eight years space 800000 Crownes and during these proceedings in France the King's Army did much harm to the Scots by burning Edenbrough and wasting the Country for 7 Miles round about but all these stirs were ended by King Henry's Death which not long after ensued The year 1545. The 27 of April one William Foxly Pot-maker for the Mint fell a sleep in the Tower of London and slept 14 days and 15 nights and could not by any means be awakned and when he did awake seemed in all things as if he had slept but one Night And this same year began the Council of Trent which was continued till Anno 1563. Paul the III. Julius the III. and Pio the IV. being Popes this was the 18 General Council The King about the 13 of his Reign writ a Book against Martin Luther and sent it to the Pope for which he had the Tittle given of Defender of the Faith which his Successors retain to this day But not long after falling to variance with the Pope as is shewed before he writ another Book against the Pope during this Kings Reign several persons to the number of 81 suffered the Flames for the Profession of their Faith and before Luthers time several persons did the like for in Henry the IV time suffered 3 in Henry V time about 40 suffered besides several others grivously persecuted 8 in Henry VI time and above 100 whipped and persecuted one in Edward the fourth's time and about some 9 in Henry the VII time Her after followeth a true and perfect Cattalogue of the number of all the Religigious houses as Monasterys Prioryes Fryorys Nunnerys Colledges and Hospitals in every County of England which were demolished in this Kings Reign with their valluation as they were presented to the King by the Commissioners at the time of their Suppression Counties Monasteries Priories Friories Nunneries Colledges Hospitals Pounds Shillings Pence Halfpence Bark-shire 05 02 01 03 03 02 06368 12 08 00 Bedfordshire 01 06 03 04 03 03 03054 10 03 00 Buckinghamshire 01 01 01 02 01 00 00730 01 11 01 Cambridg-shire 09 14 04 07 01 04 05002 11 10 01 Cheshire 05 01 03 02 03 01 01447 02 00 01 Cornwall 11 03 01 00 02 00 01287 00 06 01 Cumberland 04 04 01 02 22 00 02549 12 09 00 Derbyshire 08 02 00 03 03 01 01055 12 11 01 Devonshire 14 10 01 02 01 01 05394 02 06 00 Dorcetshire 07 02 02 03 03 01 04520 06 09 90 Durham 04 00 00 01 10 04 02696 15 00 00 Essex 13 14 03 02 02 04 07013 08 06 00 Gloucestershire 11 03 01 02 01 05 07302 05 10 01 Hamshire 08 10 06 03 03 04 07218 17 05 00 Herefordshire 02 06 01 02 00 01 00522 04 05 00 Hartfordshire 02 12 03 05 02 03 04076 03 10 00 Huntingtonshire 02 04 00 02 08 01 02743 05 06 01 Kent 09 13 06 09 01 13 08840 18 07 01 Lancashire 05 05 00 00 06 00 02288 19 08 01 Leicestershire 09 06 00 03 04 05 04833 11 09 01 Lincolnshire 32 24 05 06 05 03 11664 12 00 01 London 03 03 00 04 02 11 12595 08 00 00 Middlesex 03 03 05 02 09 05 03550 00 08 00 Norfolk 12 20 16 05 09 04 06128 07 03 00 Northampton 06 06 04 07 07 03 04731 15 06 00 Nottinghamshire 03 06 02 01 04 03 02763 07 07 01 Northumberland 02 02 04 03 03 01 01252 15 10 00 Oxfordshire 07 07 05 04 01 03 03078 01 06 00 Rutlandshire 00 01 00 00 00 01 00043 13 04 00 Shropshire 08 05 06 00 03 02 02757 14 06 01 Staffordshire 04 10 02 05 08 03 01902 17 03 01 Somersetshire 10 08 02 03 05 06 09324 17 02 00 Suffolk 13 15 03 03 04 01 05390 07 09 00 Surry 03 04 03 00 01 01 04883 14 00 01 Sussex 08 09 03 05 03 04 03355 10 07 00 Warwick-shire 04 10 03 06 06 04 03839 03 00 00 Wiltshire 03 13 04 04 04 08 04044 17 01 01 Westmerland 01 00 01 00 00 00 00166 10 06 00 Worcestershire 07 04 02 02 02 02 04896 01 08 00 York-shire 33 10 11 23 15 10 14611 03 05 00 Asaph Diocess 04 00 00 01 00 01 00808 05 05 00 Banger Diocess 05 01 03 00 02 00 00298 18 02 00 David Diocess 06 05 02 00 07 00 01548 03 07 00 Landaff Diocess 06 06 03 01 01 00 00925 12 00 00 Â Â Â Â Â Â Total 183707 13 00 00 Now although the Revenues of these Religious places at the Dissolutions thereof did amount to one hundred eighty three thousand seven hundred and seven pounds and thirteen shillings per annum yet the King was not much inriched thereby most of the said Lands being either given away by the King or sold off at small Rates and made to hold of some of the King's Mannours most of them of East-Greenwich by small and inconsiderable Rents The number of Monasteries suppressed in England and Wales were 313 Priories 290 Frieries 122 Nunneries 142 Colledges 152 and Hospitals 129 in all 1148. This Henry the Eight was King of England France and Ireland he was Second Son of King Henry the Seventh by Elizabeth his Queen eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth His Reign began on Sunday the 22 day of April Anno 1509 He reigned 37 years 9 months and 6 days and was the 40 sole Monarch of England He died on Thursday the 28 day of January Anno 1546 being in the 38 year of his Reign and 56 of his Age his body was buried in the Chappel at Windsor CHAP. XXX Of King Edward the Sixth HE was Crowned at Westminster being about nine years old and at his first entrance took Care to settle Soul-saving Ministers among his Subjects and as He took care for the Church so the Lord Seymer Duke of Somerset the King's Uncle was as busie in managing the State Affairs of the Realm and thereupon went into Scotland to prosecute the Marriage with the Lady Mary Queen of Scotland and at Barwick declaring his Intentions the Governour of Scotland thereupon sent the Fire-Cross through the Realm requiring all Persons of ability of body to meet at Muskelbrough where they were fought by the English and received a great Overthrow 9 of their Nobles and about 10000 of their Soldiers being slain and whilest these things were in Action the Lady Mary was conveyed into France there to be married to the Dauphin And now the Duke of Somerset Protector of England during his Nephews Minority returning from Scotland a Parliament was then called wherein it was Enacted that the Statute of the 6 Articles in Henry the Eights time and those of Richard the Second and
for this good Service with a thousand pounds At this time the King with his Brother the Duke of York were at Callis ready to have wasted over if this business of Sir George Booths had taken effect And now Lambert began to harbour some conceptions of assuming to himself the Government Oliver having chalked him out the way and so turned out the Rump Parliament again for so the people called this Fragment of the old Parliament and then erected a New-nothing of his own called a Committee of Safety all this made well still for the King's Cause and now Lambert takes his March into the North as far as Newcastle intending to Fight General Monk and so become sole Lord and Master of all but when he came there his men were unwilling to Ingage and in the mean time the Rump had gotten together again seven times a worse Devil then before and dissolved his Committee of Safety and within a short space they inticed all his Soldiers to desert and leave him so that he was left to shift for himself And the Rump now invited General Monk to March with his Army to London which accordingly he did and was received with much joy but he was no sooner come but the Rump set him on work to put some Violences upon the City which he with great danger and peril performed this gave the Citizens great occasion to think That he from whom they expected so much good would prove their Ruin but he soon gave them proofs of the contrary by drawing his Troops into the City in the quality of a Friend and declaring himself for a free Parliament which revived their hearts His first business was to restore the secluded Members to their places in the House of Commons upon which the Assembly dissolved it self and Writs were Issued out for a new Parliament but with such reservation that people were doubtful what the Event would prove for no Recusant Cavallier nor Cavalleir's Son was to sit in the Parliament This healing Parliament for so it was called presently after they were set began to vote for the King and great Debates there were about it but at length it was carry'd for the King and so the States Arms were pulled down every where and the Kings Arms set up and his Majesty on Tuesday the 8 day of May Anno 1660. was proclaimed King at Whitehall-gate and in the City with great Pomp Bells ringing Bonefires burning and the Conduits flowing with wine as the Peoples hearts did with gladness And now News was carryed and Commissioners were sent to the King to desire his return to his Kingdoms and Crown he being then at Breda in Holland shortly after which he prepared for England and on the 29 day of May 1660. landed at Dover accompanied with his two Brothers James Duke of York and Henry Duke of Gloucester and some Lords and Gentlemen of his Attendance he was met by General Monk and other Nobles and the General kneeling down upon the ground the King took him up and dignified him with the George and Garter himself putting the George about the Generals Neck and the Dukes of York and Gloucester tying on the Garter and so marching to Black Heath in Kent his Majesty was attended on from thence by the Lord Monk's Army all armed and Swords drawn and the Nobles and Gentry in Cloth of Silver and other rich Apparrel and the Lord Mayor of London and Aldermen and a great Number of Cittizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains about their Necks and so in a most glorious manner he was conducted through London to Whitehall and that night several Bonfires were made which made the night shine like another day but that at Westminster was most remarkable where the Effigies of Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a Pole with the Common Wealth 's Arms an hour or two and then cast down into the fire and burnt And now the Parliament being infinitely Satisfied with the King 's happy Arrival did order that a Bill should be prepared for keeping a perpetuall Aniversary for a day of Thanksgiving to God for his great Mercy and Blessing to these Nations in the happy Resturation of his Majesty and that the 29 day of May should be set appart every year for that purpose And now began the Judgements of God to overtake many of those Capital Traitors whose hands had been deeply Imbrewed in the late King's blood and in October following 26 of the them were found guily of high Treason and nine of them were executed the same Month to wit Thomas Harrison Adrian Scroope John Carew John Jones Gregory Clement Thomas Scot John Cooke Hugh Peters and Daniel Axtell so that though divine Vengeance hath many times Leaden feet yet when it comes it hath Iron hands no sooner scarce was the King restored to his Crown but his chiefest care was to restore the Church to its purity of worship and so Bishops were again setled in every Diocess and the Common Prayer restored And now Mary Princess of Orange being come over to visit the King her Brother fell sick of the small pox and dyed which was no little grief to the King In January after the King was restored to his Kingdoms one Venner a wine Cooper with his Phanatick Proselytes Rebelled and with a desperate Intention sought to destroy all those that were not of their Opinion killing a man in Pauls Church-yard and an Head-borough in Beach Lane and after other Mischiefs done they marched into Cane-wood and about 3 days after returned and fell desperately upon the City and being opposed 22 of the Kings Liege People were slain and 22 of them and the rest with much ado were taken and dispersed and Venner their Leader with 11 more of them were executed in several places in the City And upon the 30 day of this same Moneth the Carkasses of Oliver Cromwell John Bradshaw and Henry Ireton were digged up out of their Graves and were drawn on Hurdles to Tyburn and there hanged and their Carkases being buried under the Gallows their heads were choped off and were fixed upon Poles and set up upon Westminster Hall not long after this dyed the most prudent Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester the King's Brother to the great grief of all true English men and upon the 23 day of Aprill Anno 1661 being St. George's day his Majesty King Charles the Second was Crowned at Westminster with great Splendor and Solemnity having the day before made a Magnificent passage from the Tower through the City of London to Whitehall And now by God's blessing having proceeded so far as the Title of this Epitomy makes mention I shall here Conclude with Saint Peter Fear God and Honour the King And so God grant King Charles the Second a long and happy Reign And he that will not say Amen with me Lord let Hugh Peter's Lot his portion be FINIS A Table of the Kings A Catalogue of the British Kings and Princes that opposed the Conquest and