ancient Laws If these things be denyed they are here presently to abide the verdict of Battel being fully resolved rather to dye than to part with their Laws or to live servile in bondage The Conqueror in this streight more wisely than willingly granted their demands Some of the English this Norman King banished and most part of every mans estate he seized into his own hands bestowing the Lands of the Natives amongst his followers He deprived Monastries Bishopricks Lanfrank A B. Cant. Cities and Corporations of their ancient liberties and priviledges putting them to redeem them at his own rate And for default of lacking the weight of a Groat in the payment of 700 Marks by the Monks of Ely for the restoring to their Abby the ancient possessions they were constrained to pay a 1000 Marks more The Clergy he charged with maintenance for his Wars bereaved the Religious Houses of their Treasures Chalices and rich Shrines abrogated for the most part the ancient Laws of the Land ordaining new in their stead not so equal or easie to be kept also causing them to be writ in the Norman Tongue He ordained the four Law-Terms whereas before the causes of the Kingdom were determined in every Shire or by the late Law of King Edward in their Gemote or Conventicle held monthly in every Hundred He commanded every English Housholder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight of the Clock at Night At which hour in all Cities Towns and Villages he caused a Bell to be rung by the Normans then called Covre-feu that is Coverfire to prevent nightly meetings He laid great Subsidies upon the Land And that the same might amount to his greater benefit he caused an exact survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom and of every particular part and Commodity thereof causing all the people of England to be numbred their names taken and what every one might dispend by the year their substance Money and Bondmen recorded How many yokes of Oxen and Plow-lands were in the Realm and what services they owed him Which done he exacted Six Shillings to be paid him for every Hide of Land The Book thus made of every several survey by the English was called Doomes-day Book He permitted no English man to bear any office of trust and credit He dispeopled 36 Parish Towns laying the Churches and Towns flat with the earth making thereof a Forest for pleasure now called New-Forest To strengthen himself against revolts and rebellions he fortified such places as he thought most convenient for his purpose and built the Tower of London the Castles of York Lincoln Nottingham and Hasting He was the first that brought the Jews to inhabit England His Son Robert rebelled against him in Normandy and in sight dismounted him but then knowing his voice desired his pardon and remounted him Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent his Brother by the Mother for secretly siding with the King of France he committed to Prison not as Bishop but as he was Earl and seized his Estate Some of whose Gold ground into powder was found hidden in the bottom of Rivers The Conqueror going to War against the King of France in Normandy fell sick when keeping his Bed beyond his wont and the French King hearing that the Disease was in his Belly scoffingly said of him Our Cousin William is laid now in Child-bed Oh what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church surely I think an Hundred thousand will not suffice Which King William hearing of said Well I trust our Cousin of France shall be at no such cost but after this my Child-birth at my going to Church swearing by the resurrection and brightness of God I will find him a Thousand Candles and light them my self And accordingly not long after he entred France with a great Army spoiling all where he came and setting the City Mauntz on fire But he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he gat a sickness which increased with a leap of his Horse that burst the inward rim of his belly cost him his life He dyed at Roan in Normandy A. D. 1087. And forsaken of all his Courtiers his body was left unburied till that one Harluims a poor Countrey Knight at his own charge conveyed it to Caen. Where when it should have been buried a certain man in Gods name forbad the interment in that place which said he was his and his Ancestors right taken from them violently by the said Duke Whereupon they were forced to compound with him ere they interr'd the Corps His Issue were Robert Richard William Henry and six Daughters His base Son named William Peverel was Earl of Nottingham By his last Will and Testament he commanded all his Treasure to be distributed to Churches Gods Ministers and the poor limiting to each their several portion To the Church and Monks of St. Stephens at Caen in Normandy he gave divers Mannors in England and great store of Land yea and his Crown and Regal Ornaments which his Son Henry redeemed To his Son Robert he had before given the Dukedom of Normandy England he left undisposed only wish'd his Son William might succeed him in it And to Henry he gave Five thousand pound presaging that all his Dominions should become Henries in the end He did oft-times exhort his Children to the study of Learning with this saying That an unlearned Prince is but a Crowned Ass He built a Religious House called Battel-Abby in the same place where King Harold was slain dedicating it to the holy Trinity and St. Martin That there the Monks might pray for the Souls of Harold and the rest that were slain in that place endowing it with many great priviledges and amongst the rest these Two That if any Murderer or other Felon for fear of death fled thither he should be freed from all punishment And that it should be lawful for the Abbot of that place to deliver any Thief or Robber from the Gallows if he should chance to pass where any such execution was in hand At Selby in Yorkshire he founded the Abby of St. Germans at Excester the Priory of St. Nicholas and at Caen in Normandy the Monastry of St. Stephens In his time it was decreed at Rome That the See of York should be stiled primas Angliae and the See of Canterbury Primas totius Angliae The setting Seals to Bonds and Writings was now first used in England there being before only Witnesses to them Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was deposed by the Conqueror and dyed in Prison The Abbot of St. Albans told this King that the reason why he gained England in one Battel which the Danes could not do in many was because the maintenance of Martial men with a part of the Lands Revenues was converted to maintain religious men and to religious uses In the time of this Kings Reign befell a most fearful Earth-quake strange burning Feavers very mortal Murrains
invaded Italy in one battel three hundred thousand fighting men two thousand of their ships also laden with warlike munition he took but dyed of a Fever before he had reigned full two years His Statue of Gold the Senate caused to be set up in the Capitol and his Target of the same metal to be hung up in the Senate-house QUINTILIUS A.D. 272. AVrelius Quintilius brother to Claudius was proclaimed Emperor by the soldiers of his Army and was confirmed by the Senate but the soldiers that had followed Claudius thinking themselves worthy of the first voice in the election proclaimed Aurelianus for Emperor and Quintilius knowing that he could not stand against him chose rather by cutting his veins to bleed himself to death after he had reigned only seventeen days than to hazard the chance of war or to return to his private estate AURELIANUS A.D. 272. VAlerius Aurelianus subdued the Swevians and Sarmates and with great valour forced the Germans out of Italy The Warlike Queen Zenobia he vanquished and brought her in Triumph to Rome But that which blemishes the lustre of this Prince is That he raised the Ninth Persecution against the Christians 9th Pers He was slain by his own Servants TACITUS A.D. 279. CLaudius Tacitus after Eight Months Interregnum with much importunity took upon him the Government of the Empire for all seemed now to decline this greatness they saw it so hazardous But this Prince reigning about Six Months yielded to Deaths impartial stroke Whether that was natural or violent is left uncertain ANnius Florianus Brother to Tacitus FLORIANUS A D. 279. took upon himself the name and authority Imperial but hearing the news of Probus his Election he bled himself to death after he had for a very few days pleas'd himself with only the shadow of Sovereignty VAlerius Probus was elected by the Eastern Army PROBUS A.D. 280. and had his election confirmed by the Senate with these additions to his Title of Augustus namely The Father of his Country and highest Bishop His first service after he was Emperor was in Gallia against the Germans who had made themselves Lords thereof where in one Battel continuing Two days he slew 400000 of them and recovered out of their hands Seven Cities He quieted the Provinces of Muscovia Russia and Polonia and likewise Greece Syria Arabia Palestina and Judea Whence passing into Persia he had honourable conditions of Narseus their mighty King Whereupon issued so universal a peace that no wars were heard of in all the Provinces of the Empire But this calm lasted but a short time for the Egyptians likewise Bonosus and Proclus rebel against him all whom he subdued Other defections and rebellions there were in the Eastern parts which he prepared vigorously to correct resolving as he said to bring matters to that pass that the State should want no more soldiers which saying of his with also his curbing the dissolute manners of the soldiers did so disgust them that some of his Army conspired against him and treacherously murder'd him After which yet they erected for him an honourable sepulcher wherein was engraven this epitaph Here lyes the Emperor Probus justly for his goodness called Probus Of all the Barbarous Nations and Tyrants a Conqueror CARUS A.D. 286. AVrelius Carus was chosen by the soldiers and confirmed by the Senate The murderers of his predecessor Probus he severely punished Carinus his eldest son he made Governour of Britain and the Western parts and himself with his younger son Numerianus prepared for the East against the Persians but in his journey thitherward as he lay sick in his bed a Thunder-bolt slew him with many others then with him in his Tent. The terror whereof so disanimated his whole Army that they desisted the intended design against Persia and Numerianus took his Fathers death so heavily that with continual weeping his eyes were so weakned that he could not endure any light From which disasters Arrius Aper in hopes of procuring the Empire to himself took occasion to work the death of Numerianus DIOCLESIANUS and MAXIMIANUS A.D. 288. DIoclesianus who at the first was a common soldier slew Arrius Aper which done he was elected Emperor and confirmed by the Senate Valerius Maximianus for his good service in vanquishing the Gauls who troubled the peace of the Empire he made his Consort in the Government These Emperors raised the Tenth Persecution 10th Pers which continued for the term of ten years so fierce that within the space of one month Seventeen thousand Christians were put to death besides infinite numbers of others cruelly handled though suffered to escape with their lives And as in other parts of the Empire so in Britain the Churches of the Christians were demolished and their Bibles burned and their bodies afflicted St. Alban of the City Verolanium was beheaded at Holmhurst now called St. Albans His Instructor Amphibolus was brought to the same place and whipped at a stake whereat his entrails were tied so winding his entrails out of his body was at last stoned to death Sundry others were put to death in other places and in Lichfield so many that the place became another Golgotha for which cause that City doth bear for their Seal of Arms a Field charged with many Martyrs But the chief cause of these miseries befalling the Christians was from the Christians themselves For saith Eusebius after that our conversation through too much liberty and licentiousness was degenerated and holy discipline corrupted whiles every one of us did envy bite and back-bite each other waging intestine wars and piercing one another with opprobrious words whilst nothing but hypocrisie was in the face deceit in the heart and guile on the tongue whereby mischief was at the full height then began the heavy hand of God to visit us c. Howbeit when God had done using these his Rods of Correction he cast them into the fire These two Tyrants having renounced the Empire and being again become private men Dioclesian poysoned himself and Maximian hanged himself CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS COnstantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximinus to whom the two former Emperors had voluntarily resigned up their soveraignties divided the Empire into two parts East and West Galerius had the Government of the Eastern division and Constantius of the Western Constantius was wise valiant noble and of a publick spirit wholly reigning to inrich his Subjects He would commonly say That it was more profitable for the state that the whole wealth of the Land should be dispersed into the Commons hands than to lye locked up in the Princes Coffers He was so averse to superfluity that upon extraordinary occasions he was forced to borrow Plate of his Friends to furnish his Tables and Cup-boards But the most excelling vertue was his countenancing and protecting the late persecuted Christians making his Court their Sanctuary And to winnow the chaff from the Wheat he used Jehu's policy commanding all his Officers to
raised a Rebellion in VVales but Glendour against the Kings coming had withdrawn himself with his surest friends into the Fastnesses of Snowden wherefore the King only made some spoil in the Country and returned Many vvere the plots that vvere still made against the King but the contrivers were discovered and put to death among whom were many Monks And now Glendour having taken the Lord Mortimer prisoner with no small slaughter of his Herefordshire-men the King marched again into Wales where while he stayed he was in great danger to have perished by sudden storms and rains the like whereof his people had never seen or felt The common fame went that Glendour was a Conjurer and had raised those hideous Thâ—â—â—pâ—â—â— by â—lish Arts. In the No◠〈…〉 forces were more fortunate against the Scotts for at Halidon-hill Henry Hot-spur obtained a great victory taking prisoners the Earls of Douglas Fife Angus Murray and Orkney the Lords Montgomery Erskin and Grave with about eighty Knights besides Esquires and Gentlemen And besides what Scots were slain in battel there were about five hundred of those which fled from the fight drowned in the River Tweed But that Henry might have little joy of his ill-gotten greatness the Piercies they raised a dangerous Rebellion wherein indeed they pretended a care for the Common-wealths reformation though they really intended the advancement of their own private interests for it was agreed amongst the conspirators that the Kingdom should be shared betwixt Mortimer Earl of March Piercy and Owen Glendour South England to Mortimer North England to Piercy and Wales beyond Severn to Glendour and Archenbald Earl of Douglas vvas allowed as a sharer to be freed from ransom and to have Berwick for his ovvn Thus agreed they fortify Shrewsbury vvhither the King advanceth vvith his Army vvhere a terrible battel vvas fought and therein Hot-spur slain and his Host vanquished The Earls of Dunglas Worcester Sir Richard Vernon and Baron Kindleton vvith divers others vvere taken though not vvithout great danger of the Kings life and the death of many persons of quality on his side Henry Hot-spurs body was drawn out of the Grave Beheaded and Quartred and the parts sent to be set up in divers places of the Kingdom The Earl of Worcester Vernon and Kindleton were Beheaded The Earl of Northumberland who was taken by the way as he was bringing Forces out of the North to joyn with those at Shrewsbury had his life pardoned The year following a Parliament was holden at Coventry called the Lack-learning-Parliament either for the unlearnedness of the persons or for their malice to learned men For in order to supply the Kings wants a Bill was exhibited against the temporalties of the Clergy but by the courage of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings care of the Church their motion was fruitless A. D. 1405 another conspiracy was made against King Henry the chief in which conspiracy were Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal and Richard le Scrope Archbishop of York who being taken were both Beheaded But the Pope excommunicated all such that had a hand in putting the Archbishop to death Another fresh report of King Richards being alive was again spread abroad when the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph sought to raise an Army in the North but were encountred by the Sheriff of York-shire who after a sharp conflict slew the Earl in the field and mortally vvounded the Lord Bardolph The Earls head vvas cut off and after it had been ignominiously carryed through London vvas fixed on the Bridge A. D. 1413 the King fell sick and as some report in this his last sickness he caused his Crown to be set on a pillow at his beds-head when suddenly the pangs of his Apoplexy seized on him so violently that all supposed him to be dead At which instant Prince Henry coming in took away the Crown but his Father recovering out of his fit quickly missed it and understanding who had taken it away caused his son to be called unto him of whom he demanded what he meant to bereave him of that whereunto he had yet no right The Prince boldly replyed Long may you live Sovereign Father to wear it your self but all men deeming that you was gone to Inherit another Crown this being my right I took it as my own but now do acknowledge it for none of mine And therewith set the Crown where he found it O Son quoth the Father with what right I got it God only knovveth vvho forgive me the sin But hovvsoever it vvas got said the Son I mean to keep it and defend it vvhen it shall be mine vvith my Svvord as you by the Svvord have obtained it The King dyed at London and vvas buried at Canterbury His Issue vvere Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Glocester Blanch and Philippa A great Plague befel throughout England chiefly in London vvhere vvithin a short space it destroyed thirty thousand In the ninth year of his reign a Snovv continued December January February and March The Winter vvas so very sharp and long that almost all small Birds perished through hunger A little before the Rebellion of the Piercies vvas a strange Apparition betvveen Bedford and Bickleswade vvhere sundry Monsters of divers colours in the shapes of armed men vvere often seen to issue out of the Woods in the morning vvhich to such as stood far off seemed to encounter one another in most terrible manner but vvhen they drevv near nothing vvas to be found Because the number of Lolards so called increased an Act vvas made for the punishing of them by burning The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor William Waldren William Hende Sheriffs In his second Year Sir John Francis was Mayor John Wakel William Ebot Sheriffs In his third Year Sir John Shadworth was Mayor William Venor John Fremingham Sheriffs In his fourth Year John Walcot was Mayor Richard Marlow Robert Câ—icâ—y Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir William Ascham was Mayor Thomas Falconer Thomas Pool Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Hinde was Mayor William Louth Stephen Spilman Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir John Woodcock was Mayor Henry Barton William Cromer Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir Richard Whittingham vvas Mayor Nicholas Watton Geoffry Brooke Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir William Stondon vvas Mayor Henry Ponfract Henry Halton Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir Drew Barentine was Mayor Thomas Buck VVilliam Norton Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Richard Marlow vvas Mayor John Law VVilliam Chichely Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor John Penne Thomas Pike Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir Robert Chichely was Mayor John Rainwel VVilliam Cotton Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year VVilliam VValden vvas Mayor Ralph Lovenham VVilliam Sevenoke Sheriffs HENRY V. A. D. 1413 HENRY of Monmouth whilst he was Prince did many things very incongruous to the greatness of his birth For he
of York vvas created Regent of France but before he arrived there Paris vvas lost by the treachery of the Citizens Feb. 27. 1436. And Philip Duke of Burgundy novv in person gives proof of his disaffections to the English bringing his Forces before the Tovvn of Callis for the relief of vvhich place the Protector Humphrey Duke of Glocester passed vvith a great Army but Burgundy had vvithdravvn his Forces before the Duke arrived Hovvbeit the Duke took some revenge on him by vvasting part of his Dominions Which done he vvith honour returned to his Charge in England In France the Earl of Warwick vvas very active driving the Duke of Burgundy's Forces from Crotoy freeing Albeville from the danger of a Bastile for tvventy days spoiling the Country of Picardy about Amiens and Artois The Duke of Somreset Lords Talbot and VVilloughby were also busied in other places for the security of what the English had gained John Stratford A. B. Cant. But the common enemy the Turk increasing in strengths Ambassadors were sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences betwixt the Nations of France and England whereupon a Truce was taken by the two Kings for eighteen months A. D. 1444 was King Henry married with Margaret the daughter of Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorrain In which marriage say some begun the mournful Tragedies of our Country For after this day the fortune of the World began to decline the King so that he lost his friends in England and revenues in France for shortly all was ruled by the Queen and her Councel to the great disprofit of the King and his Realm and to the mauger and obloquie of the Queen her self who had many a wrong and false report made of her A. D. 1447 Good Duke Humphreys death was effected He was much hated by the Queen and her party as the only man who by his prudence as also by the Honour and Authority of his birth and place seemed to impeach that Soveraign Command which they pretended to settle in the King but meant indeed as the manner is under soft Princes to reign themselves in anothers name Many great Lords were drawn on at the time of a Parliament then holden at St. Edmondsbury to concur for his destruction not perceiving that thereby they pluckt up the flood-gate at which the Duke of York should enter This great Duke being come to attend in this Parliament was Arrested of High Treason by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham Sommerset and others and to guard him certain of the Kings household were appointed but it was not long before he was found dead whose body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a Palsey or Imposthume His servants Sir Roger Chamberlain Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gent. were condemned of High Treason and had this unexampled punishment They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn there hang'd let down quick stript naked mark'd with a knife to be quartred and then a Charter of Pardon for their lives was shewed by the Marquess of Suffolk Thomas Wild the Dukes servant also being condemned and pardoned had for a preamble in his Letters Patents words importing That he had been one among many other Traytors against the King with Duke Humphrey who went about and practised to deliver Eleanor late wife to the Duke out of Prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Bury there to have contrived the Kings destruction Such was the end of this great Prince who by the people of England was thought to be doubly murdered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true Lover of learned men but himself was also learned and a Father of his Country And now the whole frame of government seemed to repose it self on the Queen and such Favourites as the King by her commendations liked The affairs of France were neglected And the Duke of York perceiving the King to be ruled and not to Rule began secretly to allure his friends of the Nobility and privily declared to them his Title to the Crown as likewise he did to certain Governours of Cities and Towns Which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his provision was ready before his purpose was publick The very state of things invited this fatal conspiracy there being now a milder King than England was worthy of a Councel out of favour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and jealous condition of things at home Of all which the Duke of York made his best use cherishing the popular discontents and instead of seeking to redress any evils in the State he represented them to be worse than they were thereby to ripen that breach of Loyalty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought upon In France matters went on very unhappily on the English side For the Duke of Sommerset during the Truce suffered a Town of Britain to be surprised denying restitution thereof cherished his Souldiers in their riot and disorders The French therefore making this their example surprized Town after Town till they had gained all Normandy and within few years extorted the Dutchy of Gascoign out of the English possession In the mean time the Duke of York raised his esteem in England by his appeasing of a tumult which had hapned in Ireland And at a Parliament holden at Westminster many Articles were exhibited by the Lower-House against the Duke of Suffolk wherein he was charged with evil demeanor Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower from whence he was discharged within a few weeks after About this time Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester and keeper of the Privy-Seal a wise and stout man stood in the Duke of Yorks way to the Crown therefore he procured him to be slain at Portsmouth by certain Ship-men And in a Parliament holden at Leicester the Duke of Suffolk a principal pillar of King Henries safety was set at again by the Yorkists They charge that for a crime on him namely the delivery of Anjou and Main which themselves had universally in a former Parliament assented unto and ratified This they prosecuted so effectually though unjustly against him that he was condemned to be banished for five years but in his way to banishment he was by some imployed on purpose taken at Dover-road where they struck off his head at the side of a Cock-boat nor was his death much lamented of the people because he was thought to have been a private actor in the death of the Noble Duke of Glocester Now the Yorkists having thus rid Suffolk out of the way think it no unfit time to begin to put their designs in practise so induce the Commons of Kent to make an Insurrection John Kemp. A. B. Cant. The Captain of the Rebels was a Villain named Jack Cade whom some by contraries called
Kings-bench Court and there pronounced pardon of all offences committed against him On July 4 he came to the Tower where he Created Estates ordained the Knights of the Bath set at liberty the A.B. of York and Lord Stanley and July 6 was anointed and Crowned at Westminster But this Usurper well knowing that whilst his young Nephews were living the Crown would not stand firm on his head he therefore imploys Sir James Tirrel a man of an aspiring spirit to procure these Childrens destruction which accordingly he did For about midnight Miles Forest and John Dighton Tirrell's bloody instruments came into the Chamber where the young King and his Brother lay and suddenly wrapt them up in the Bed-clothes keeping by force the Feather-bed and Pillows hard upon their mouths that they were therein smothered to death This villany done Sir James caused the Murderers to bury their Bodies at the stairs-foot somewhat deep in the ground under a great heap of stones though afterward K. Richard caused them to be taken up inclosed in Lead and to be cast into a place called the Black-deeps at the Thames mouth But the justice of God pursued the Murderers for Forest rotted away piece-meal Tirrell died for Treason under Henry 7 and Dighton lived and died a vagabond beyond the Seas And the Usurper after this detestable fact never had quiet in his mind never thought himself secure but when he went abroad his eyes still whirled about his body privily fenced his hand ever on his Dagger his sleep interrupted with fearful dreams sometimes suddenly starting up leaping out of his bed and running about the Chamber Immediately also after this Murder began the Conspiracy betwixt the Duke of Buckingham and divers other Gentlemen against the Murderer The occasion of Buckinghams falling off from Richard is diversly reported some say it was because the King would not grant him the Duke of Hereford's lands to the which he pretended himself the rightful heir others impute it to the Dukes high-mindedness that he could not bear the glory of another Himself said the occasion was the murder of the two Children But be the occasion what it would yet this is most sure that this enmity of the Dukes to the King proved of good consequence to the rightful heirs to the Crown For hereupon the Duke left the Court retiring to his own house of Brecknock where he had in his custody that true friend to K. Edward's Posterity John Morton Bishop of Ely who by his wisdom abused the Dukes pride to his own deliverance the Dukes destruction and benefit of such to whom the Crown of right appertained When the Duke was at first become alienated from the King and come to his own house he solicited the Bishop his Prisoner to speak his mind freely to him in matters of state but the Bishop refused thus answering him In good faith my Lord I love not much to talk with Princes as a thing not all out of peril although the words be without fault forasmuch as it shall not be taken as the party meant it but as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I think on Aesops tale that when the Lion had proclaimed that on pain of death there should no horned beast abide in the Wood one that had in his forehead a bunch of flesh fled away a great pace The Fox that saw him run so fast asked him Whither he made all that haste he answered In faith I neither wot nor care so I were once hence because of this Proclamation of horned beasts What fool quoth the Fox thou mayest well enough abide the Lion meant not thee for it is no horn on thy head No marry quoth he that wote I well enough but what and if he call it an horn where am I then But though the Bishop at the first declined talking of State-matters with the Duke yet afterward when by often discoursing with the Duke and other circumstances he found him to be of a proud stomach and emulated the Kings greatness he would speak his mind frankly enough to him rendring the Usurper as odious as was possible by alledging his unnaturalness to his own Mother in charging her with defiling the Marriage-bed his unnaturalness to his own Brothers and Nephews in saying they were bastards his murdering his Nephews and other enormities Then to tickle the Dukes own ambition the Bishop would commend him to be a person of such rare vertues that he merited to wear the Crown himself inviting him for Gods sake and his Countries sake to take the Government upon himself or otherwise to devise some means how the Realm might be rid of the Tyrant and brought under some good Governour When the Duke had pondered a while upon this and the like discourse of the Bishops he acquainted the Bishop That his resolutions were to advance Henry Earl of Richmond to the Crown and that the said Earl of Richmond heir of the House of Lancaster should marry the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter of Edward the fourth by which Marriage the Housâ—s of York and Lancaster should be united into one All which to effect the Duke and Bishop first made the Mothers of Elizabeth and Henry privy hereunto and imployed divers trusty instruments to interest the Nobles and Gentry in the design Then the Bishop left Brecknock in disguise and sailed into Flanders where he did Earl Henry eminent services Many great persons combined to dethrone the Usurper which he having knowledg of sent his loving Letters to the Duke of Buckingham whom he understood to be head of the Complotters requesting him most earnestly to come to the Court for he was in great want of his wise counsel But the Duke mistrusting his smooth words excused himself that he was sickly and not well able to travel The King therefore sent his commands to him and threats withal if he refused to give attendance unto which the Duke sent his resolute answer That he would not come to his mortal enemy and immediately prepared War against him Then Thomas Marquess Dorset came out of Sanctuary and also gathered a band of men in the North Sir Edward Courtney and his Brother the Bishop of Excester raised another Army in Devonshire and Cornwall and in Kent Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen raised a party all which was done in a moment But the Usurper marching with his Host against the Dukes forces which were most Welsh they for want of pay and other provision brake up their Camp and left the Duke to shift for himself which when the Confederates understood they also dispersed themselves The Duke of Buckingham in disguise repaired for security unto a servants of his near Shrewsbury named Humphry Banister but the King by Proclamation promising great rewards to him that should detect the Duke that wretch Banister for the hope of gain betrayed his Master the Duke Who with a guard of men was conveyed to Salisbury where without arraignment or judgment the Duke lost his
they would venture their lives and fortunes for him as hoping that under his government they should be eased of their Taxes Perkin accepting their invitation landed at Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall after whose arrival some thousands of people resorted to him When King Henry heard of his landing and making head against him he smiled saying Loe we are again provoked by this Prince of Rake-hells but lest my people should through ignorance be drawn into destruction let us seek to take this Perkin by the easiest way we can He therefore assembled his forces and sent out his Spies to observe the track and hopes of Prince Peterkin who had now besieged the loyal City of Excester which would neither yield to his fine promises nor his threats and violence but valiantly withstood him till they were relieved by Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire and other good subjects that forced the Rebels away from before the City Which Rebels now understanding what great preparations were made against them began many of them to drop away from their new King and Perkin himself secretly fled and took Sanctuary at Beaulieu in New-forest out of which Sanctuary upon the Kings offer of life to him and oblivion of his crimes he gladly came forth and put himself into the Kings hands by whose order he was conveyed to London where the King by curious and often examination of him came to the full knowledg of that his heart desired The châ—ef matter of which confession the King caused to be published in Print But the imaginary King Perkin indeavouring to make an escape from such that had the charge of him after the undergoing of some publique shame for that attempt was committed to the Tower where he by his insinuations and promises had corrupted his keepers to set himself and the Earl of Warwick at large to which design of escaping the poor Earl is said to have consented Perkin for this conspiracy had his Tryal at Westminster and was condemned and being drawn to Tyburn had the sentence of death executed upon him At the Gallows Perkin did read his own confession therein owning himself to have been born in the Town of Tourney in Flanders of such parents whom he named and that being come into Ireland to see the Country he was there wrought upon to personate Richard Duke of York c. Thus died If I be not deceived a deceiver A. D. 1499. The Earl of VVarwick was publickly arraigned for minding to have escaped out of the Tower and consequently to deprive King Henry of his Crown and Dignity and to usurp the Title and Soveraign Office all which streined charge the Earl by false friends 't is said was perswaded to confess So lost his head upon Tower-hill and was buried at Bisham by his Ancestors Thus died the last Heir Male of the blood and Sirname of Plantaginet It is said That in the eyes of the Castilâ—aâ—s who had secretly agreed with King Henry to match their Princess Katharine with Prince Arthur there could be no sure ground of succession whilst the Earl of VVarwick lived Tho. Langton A. B. Cant. And the said Lady Katharine when the Divorce was afterward prosecute against her by her Husband King Henry the eight is reported to have said That it was the hand of God for that to clear the way to the Marriage that innocent Earl of VVarwick was put to unworthy death A. D. 1506 Edmund de la Pole Earl of Suffolk wilfully slew a common person in his fury for the which King Henry caused him to be arraigned the fact he was perswaded to confess and had pardon But the Earl as a Prince of the blood his mother being sister to Edward the fourth held himself disgraced by having been seen at the Kings-Bench-Bar a Prisoner therefore in discontent fled to his Aunt the Dutchess of Burgundy but within a while after he returned into England and the year following his spirit not yet being laid fled again after he had first complotted to disturb the Kings peace Whereupon King Henry applied himself to his wonted Art for learning the secrets of his enemies imployed Sir Robert Curson to feign himself a friend to Pole thereby to get himself into his bosome for the finding out of his secret designs and correspondents Mâ—ny great persons for Poles câ—use were committed to prison some were put to deaâ—h as Sir James Terrel and Sir John VVâ—dâ—am who lost their heads on Tower-hill and three other persons who were executed in other places And the more to disanimate de la Poles complices and favourers King Henry had procured from Pope Alexander the sixth an Excommunication and curse against Pole Sir Robert Curson and five other persons by special name and generally all others that should aid the Earl against the King Sir Robert Curson was named on purpose to make de la Pole secure of him Neither did the King leave here for he so prevailed with the Pope as he decreed by Bull That no person should afterward have priviledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and came forth again and that if any Sanctuary-man should afterward commit any murder robbery sacriledge treason c. He should by lay force be drawn thence to suffer due punishment And now Suffolk perceiving himself stript of all future hope of endamaging the King he put himself into the grace and protection of Philip King of Spain with whom he remained in banishment till King Philip was driven by tempest into England at which time King Henry prevailed with him to deliver Pole into his hards upon promise that he would spare his life And accordingly at Philips return home Pole was sent in England and then committed to the Tower King Henry thus secured of this hazard bestowed his ages care on gathering of mony though by some such ways as seemed none of the justest Empson and Dudley two Lawyers were his instruments for the bringing in of mony to fill his Exchequer These called the richer sort of Subjects into question for the breach of old penal Laws Henry Dean and William Warham A. Bps. Cant. long before discontinued and forgotten The courses they took in the execution of their imployment was for one of them to outlaw persons privately and then to seize their estates forcing them to chargeable compositions with the King and heavy bribes to themselves Another detestable practise of theirs was to have false Jurors and Ring-leaders of false Jurors who would never give in any verdict against their Patrons Empson and Dudley insomuch that if any stood out in Law these sons of Belial squared the destiny of their causes By these means many honest and worthy Subjects were rigorously fined imprisoned or otherwise afflicted But the King falling sick of a consuming disease by the means of good Counsel he inclined to grant to all men general Pardons certain only excepted and ordained that all such monys should be restored as had been unjustly levyed by his Officers He died A.
into England bringing thence many sick Soldiers which dangerously infected the Nation with a long continuing Plague About the year 1564 the Irish sought to shroud themselves from their obedience unto Queen Elizabeth under the shelter of Shan O-Neal a man cruel by nature and claiming an Hereditary right to the Province of Vlster as the O-Neals formerly had done to all Ireland Against this rebel so great preparations were made that he terrified therewith came over into England and on his knees begged the Queens pardon which she granted him Howbeit not long after he rebelled but at length was slain by some of his own Countrymen A. D. 1567 so great civil dissensions were in Scotland that outrages were not only committed upon the best Subjects but even upon the King and Queen themselves him they barbarously murdred and forced her to leave Scotland Which unhappy Queen having embarqued her self for France Edward Grindal A. B. Cant. hoping there to find many friends was by cross winds drove upon the English Coasts from whence she might not return but was detained Prisoner in England A. D. 1568 by the working Instruments of the old Doctor at Rome there were discontents bred and nourished in some great persons of England as the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland Leonard Dacres Nevill c. who had in readiness certain English Priests Morton and others with Bulls and Instruments of Absolution Reconciliation and Oaths to be taken to the Pope These Romish rebels raised forces and with Banner displayed entred Burrowbridge old Morton being their Ensign-bearer in whose Colours was painted the Cross and five wounds of Christ But at the approach of her Majesties Forces the Captains of the rebells fled into Scotland and their followers were taken without any resistance Of these Traytors were put to death at Durham by Martial Law an Alderman a Priest sixty-six Constables besides others of them in other places about A. D. 1570 Leonard Dacres of Harlsey renewed the rebellion and had amongst his followers many Women-soldiers but upon a Moor nigh unto Naworth the Lord Hunsdon dispersed them in fight August 22d of this year was the Earl of Northumberland beheaded at York where in his last speech he avowed the Popes Supremacy denied that subjection was due to the Queen affirmed the Realm to be in a Schism and that obedient subjects were no better than Hereticks For you must know that Pope Pius the fifth had by his Bull dated 1569 deprived the Queen of her Kingdoms absolved her subjects of all subjection to her and pronounced all that yielded her obedience accursed Which Bull was privately hung upon the Bishop of London's Palace-gate at the West-end of St. Pauls And such influence it had upon the spirits of many persons disaffected to the Reformed Religion that they sought by divers means to work the Queens destruction Many were the projects and devices to ruin the Church and Queen but by the good providence of Almighty God the projectors were defeated in their purposes and suffered deserved punishment In Norfolk John Throgmorton Brook Redman and others sought to raise a commotion for the which they suffered death Dr. Story executed for his treason 1571. John Sommervil instigated by one Hall a Seminary Priest to murther the Queen was executed John Payn imployed to murther her as she took her recreation abroad was executed so was Edmond Champion a Seminary Priest also executed Francis Throgmorton for endeavouring to procure an Invasion was executed William Parry who purposed to have murdred the Queen was executed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland being privy to the Plots of Throgmorton for the bringing in of foreign powers was committed to the Tower where to save the Hangman a labour he shot himself to the heart Thomas Howard being too busie in some Popish designs was also put to death John Whitgift A B. Cant. Other Popish Traytors were likewise deservedly executed whose names facts and places and times of execution for brevities sake are omitted A. D. 1572 Novemb. 18 appeared a strange Star or Comet Northward in the Constellation of Cassiopeia not much less than the Planet Venus never changing place fixed far above the Moons Orb the like to which never did appear since the beginning of the world that we read of saving that at the Birth of Christ A. D. 1573 was built at London the Royal-Exchange so named by her Majesty whose founder was Sir Thomas Gresham A. D. 1576 Sir Martin Frobusher sailed into the Northeast Seas far further than any man before him had done giving to those parts the name of Queen Elizabeths Foreland A. D. 1577 and Novemb. 15 Capt. Drake set sail from Plimouth and in three years wanting twelve days he encompassed the Earth landing again in England on Novemb. 3 1580. In America in the Country which he named Nova Albion the King thereof presented unto him his Network Crown of many coloured feathers and therewith resigned his Scepter of Government unto his dispose The people there so admired the English men that they sacrificed to them as to their gods At his departure from thence he reared a Monument to witness her Majesties right to that Province as being freely given to her Deputy both by King and people The little Ship called the Pelican wherein this admirable Voyage was performed was at her Majesties command laid up in the Dock by Deepford as a Monument of Englands fame and Captain Drake was honoured with Knighthood A. D. 1581 was the motion renewed for a Marriage betwixt Francis Valois Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth and so effectually was the suit moved and acceptably heard of her Highness that the Monsieur came over in person though to the little liking of many of the English Nobles and to the great discontent of the Commons as was made known by a Book written against it which cost William Stubs the Inditer thereof the loss of his right hand About A. D. 1583 the Pope and King of Spain sent supplies to the Irish rebells under the command of Thomas Stukely an English fugitive whom the Pope had stiled Marquess of Ireland These landing in Ireland raised their consecrated Banner built their Fort Del Ore but the Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy quickly put most of them to the sword A. D. 1585 after several suits made unto the Queen by the distressed States of the Netherlands and their Grievances recommended to her by the King of France with promise of his own assistance her Majesty was graciously pleased to undertake their protection sending to their assistance Sir John Norrice with 5000 Foot and a thousand Horse all retained at her Highness pay during those Wars against Spain which monthly amounted to 12526 l. Sterling For which moneys so disbursed the Towns of Flushing and Brill with two Sconces and the Castle of Ramekins in Holland were delivered to the Queens use in pledg until the money was repaid The considerations moving her Majesty to assist â—he United Provinces were The
than their own Army amounted unto and that was about 12000. The Parliament lost here that daring Martialist Collonel Francis Thornhaigh Shortly after the Battel Duke Hamilton was taken Prisoner and Cromwell to improve this success followed the scattered parties into Scotland where when he was come there repaired to him the Earls of Arguile Lowden Leven and other of the Scotch Covenanting-Nobility who contracted with him for subduing the common Enemy meaning the Loyal party Colchester that had endured a tedious siege and was now brought to such scarcity of provision that they had not Horse-flesh enough to serve them one day longer and on it they had lived almost a Fortnight August the 27th yielded upon Articles The private Soldiers to depart with life the Commanders to remain at the Generals dispose and the City to raise 14000 l. to save it from Plunder Prisoners of quality taken here were the Lords Goring Capel Loughbrough eleven Knights twelve Colonels eight Lieutenant-Colonels nine Majors thirty Captains and sixty-five Gentlemen Three of the Knights were presently condemned by a Council of War two of whom namely Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to death dying as they had lived with great courage But whilst these things were managed by the Army the Parliament was busied with Petitions from London and other places for a Personal Treaty The Parliament therefore contrary to the humours of some of their factious Members repealed those Votes they had formerly made for no more Addresses to the King and both Houses voted a Treaty to be with the King in honour freedom and safety And September the 18th the Treaty began at Newport in the Isle of Wight where his Majesty condescended so far unto the Parliaments demands which were the same in substance with those formerly made that both Houses came to this resolve That the Kings Concessions were a sufficient ground for peace But this did exceedingly inrage the factious Members and Commanders of the Army who now resolved to seize the King into their own hands and dispose which they did removing him out of the Isle of Wight and making him Prisoner in Hurst-Castle November the 30th the Army then fell to purging the Parliament apprehending forty Members thereof that were persons of the most known integrity and highest resolution denying admission to 150 more and suffering none to enter the House save such whom they knew would serve their designs Which Army-Members revived those Votes of no more Addresses to the King the Votes for a Treaty with the King and of the satisfactoriness of his Concessions they razed out of the Journal-book And then proceeded to vote That the supreme authority of the Nation resided in themselves That to raise Arms against the Peoples Representatives or the Parliament was High-treason That the King himself took Arms against the Parliament and so was guilty of the blood-shed throughout the Civil-war And therefore this fag-end of a Parliament was resolved to have his Majesty brought to his Trial in order thereto giving their commands for his bringing up to London and January the 19th he was accordingly brought to St. James's When the factious Members whom the Army had licensed to sit proceeded to constitute a Court for the Trial of the King giving it the specious name of the High Court of Justice which said Court they impowred to convene hear judg and execute Charles Stuart King of England These proceedings the House of Lords detested so did the Parliament of Scotland the Judges of the Land affirmed it to be contrary to the known Laws and Customs of England for the King to be brought to Trial and the Presbyterian Ministers did both publickly and privately disswade them from this horrid action though all in vain And the more to animate the Kings Judges in their illegal proceedings that Pulpit-Jester Hugh Peters preached before them on that Text Psal 149.8 To bind their Kings in chains c. such honour have all his Saints when he assured them that they were the Saints there meant often in his prophane Sermon calling them the Saint Judges and professed that he had for a certain found upon a strict scrutiny that there were in the Army 5000 Saints no less holy than those that now conversed in Heaven with God Almighty Afterwards kneeling in his Pulpit weeping and lifting up his hands he earnestly beg'd them in the name of the People of England that they would execute justice upon that wretch Charles and would not let Benhadad escape in safety c. January the 20th his Majesty was brought before the High Court of Justice in Westminster-Hall where he boldly and chearfully took the Seat prepared for him and the Chargâ— was reâ—d against him with all those reproachful terms of Tyrant Traytor and Murderer and impleaded in the name of all the People of England But General Fairfax his Lady from a Scaffold adjoining cried with a loud voice That not half the People of England were guilty of that crime but that 't was by means of that Traytor Cromwell that this wickedness was done The King alledged to the Court that he could not make his defence unless they first produced their Authority for the trial of him their King which they not being able to do except that of the Sword remanded him to the place of his captivity January the 22d the High Court of Justice met again when the King being brought to the Bar Solicitor Cook required that he might be put upon it either to give in his positive answer or else that the charge against him upon his refusal to plead might be taken for confessed The substance of which Charge was That he the said Charles Stuart King of England had been the Occasion Author and Contriver of the Wars and therein was guilty of all the Treasons Murders Rapines Burnings Spoils Desolaâ—ioâ—s damage and mischief to this Nation acted or committed in the Wars or occasioned thereby To the Charge President Bradshaw required the Kings answer but his Majesty firmly persisting in the disowning of their Authority and offering to give reasons why he could not own their Court the Court was adjourned to the next day January the 23d the King was again brought before his fictitious Judges when he was again press'd to give in his reasons why he could not own their Authority alledging that to own this new Court was against the Priviledges of the People and the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom whereupon the President commanded the Clerk to record the default and the Guard to take back the Prisoner which was accordingly done January the 27th his Majesty was again brought to the Bar where he still refused to own their illegal Court but said he had some matters conducing to the good of the People which he desired to have liberty to speak before the Members of both Houses which the Court would by no means yield unto but commanded the Clerk to read the Sentence against him which was That whereas the
made with the Cross and Harp on one side and this Inscription The great Seal of England on the other side the picture of the House of Commons with this Inscription In the first year of freedom by Gods blessing restored 1648. And afterward they appointed that all moneys to be coyned should be stamped with the Cross and Harp on one side and the Cross on the other with this Motto The Commonwealth of England God with us And instead of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance they imposed an Engagement upon the people To be true and faithful to the Commonwealth as it was then established without King or House of Lords A Council of State they constituted by the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England consisting of forty persons who were to have the executive part of the Government Thus was Englands ancient Government soon changed by about 50 persons who stiled themselves a Parliament and the Representative body of England The maxim upon which they grounded these their alterations and all other their illegal proceeds was this That all power and authority is originally in the people and that they were the peoples Representative When this Junto had made such a module of Government they erected another High Court of Injustice for the trial of Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridge of the Earls of Holland and Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen all which were condemned to die for engaging in their Soveraign's cause but the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen were reprieved the other three were beheaded in the Palace-yard at Westminster March the 9th The ever loyal Lord Capel in his speech on the Scaffold declared that he died against the Justice of the known Laws of the Land and for no other cause than his asserting the Fifth Commandment prayed heartily for the King for his restoration long life and prosperity shutting up his Speech with a profession of his cheerfulness in forgiving his Enemies Other good Subjects they put to death in other places of the Nation Lieutenant Colonel Morris Mr. Beaumont a Minister Major Monday and Cornet Blackburn And many were the loyal persons that were now proscribed and had their Estates confiscated as the Marquess of Newcastle Earl of Bristol the Lords Cottington Widdrington Culpepper Byron Sir Edward Hide Sir Philip Musgrave Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Richard Greenvill with others And all that had been in actual Arms for the King or other service were forced to compound for their Estates if they had any to the great impoverishing of the Royal party A. D. 1649 and April the 7th The Members at Westminster for the better supply of their Army and taking away of free-quarter passed an Act for the levying of 90000 l. a Month upon England for six months Then took into consideration the sale of Dean and Chapters Lands May the 15th divers Troops of the Army for mutinying were surprised by Fairfax at Burford where some few of the Ringleaders were shot to death and the rest disbanded There were of that party a people called Levellers who in those times of distraction would have all things in the Common-wealth ordered according to their wild humours and yet all their cry was for the Liberties of free-born English men About this time Dr. Dorislaus whom the disloyal Members had sent over as their Agent into Holland was there slain by Colonel Whitford a Scotch man and not long after one Ascham another of their Agents sent into Spain was there slain by one Sparks May the 30th in the City of London England was proclaimed a Free-State And June the 13th the House ordered that no ceremony should be used to the Kings Children the Duke of Glocester and Lady Elizabeth then in the Junto's custody In Ireland the Kings Lieutenant the Marquess of Ormond in order to promote the Kings cause there concluded a peace with the Irish and June the 22d he besieged the City of Dublin but August the 2d Colonel Michael Jones with his whole strength being betwixt 8 and 9000 sallied out upon the besiegers who were 19000 Horse and Foot and routed them totally slew of them about 3000 took Prisoners 2517 took all the Marquess's train of Artillery and Amunition and a very rich booty in the Camp August the 16th Oliver Cromwell landed with his forces at Dublin and after a short stay there marched with great expedition against Tredagh or Drogedah where Sir Arthur Ashton was Governor the defendants of that Town did bravely behave themselves howbeit Oliver gained it by storm giving strict order to his Soldiers that they should afford quarter neither to Man Woman or Child but should kill all He vowed to one of his Commanders That he would sacrifice their bodies to the souls of the English men they had formerly murdered Next Oliver besieged Wexford which through the treachery of one Strafford was yielded And shortly after this many engarisoned places were reduced by Olivers forces The Plantation of Virginia that had refused subjection to the new Republick of England was forced to a conformity by Sir George Ayscoughs Fleet. October 23 Mr. John Lilbourn the Leader of the Levelling party one that had wit enough but of a thwarting turbulent spirit was tryed at Guildhall in London for writing against the Members at Westminster and their Council of State but he so well pleaded his case and had so lucky a Jury that he was quit in despight of his Judges About this time Prince Rupert the King's Admiral was distrest and put to his shifts by the Junto's Fleet losing most of his Ships with his Brother Prince Maurice who was then cast away A. D. 1650. In the beginning of this year the truly Loyal and Magnanimous Marquess of Momross was defeated in Scotland by Major General Straughorn the Marquess himself by quitting his Horse and shifting himself into an ordinary Highlanders habit made a shift to escape for the present his standard was taken in which was pourtrayed the Head of King Charles the first lying a bleeding and severed from the body with this Motto Judg and revenge my cause O Lord. The Marquess after some days wandring about in by-places came to the Laird of Astons House a person whom the Marquess had done several kindnesses for but this false Scot whether for fear or lucre betrayed this distressed Peer into the hands of his Enemy David Lesley who sent him to the City of Edenbrough where the common Hangman met him at the Towns end and first pulled off his Hat then forced him into a Cart which had a high Chair placed in it in which the Marquess was seated that thereby he might be the more obnoxious to the scorns of the vulgar But his noble soul was not at all dismayed for God he said did all the while most comfortably manifest his presence to him and furnished him with courage to overlook the reproaches of men and to behold him for whose cause he suffered After the sentence of Parliament was