Trussel one of the Judges who found out a Law Quirk to colour the detestable Treason as followeth I William Trussel In the name of all Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee some time and from this time forward I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Dignity and I shall never be Tendant to thee as for King hereafter This Ceremony or rather compact of Treason being utter'd Sir Thomas Blunt Steward of the Houshold broke his Staff and Proclaimed the Kings Houshold discharged from any further Service and then leaving the King divested of Regal Authority and under strong confinement they posted to London to tell the news which was joyfully received especially by Roger Lord Mortimer of Wigmore though the Queen the better to colour the Treason seemed much disturbed at the relation of the Kings deposing Now the next business was to set the Crown upon young Edwards Head whom by reason of his Minority they thought to Rule as themselves thought fit who notwithstanding his being but fifteen years of Age utterly refused to admit of the Ceremony till he was assured it was with his Fathers free consent But at last submitting to the perswasions of the Queen and Mortimer he was Crowned and Proclamation put out in his name to satisfie the minds of people touching the free Concession of his Father Things being at this pass the Queen began to think of securing her self a Dowry which she did so large that it amounted to two parts of the Revenues of the Crown which she delivered to the disposal of Mortimer at whose command she solely was even as Fame reported both at Bed and Board but their security being interrupted by the pitty many seemed to have for the miseries of the Deposed King they well knowing if he were again restored to his Dignity it would prove their confusion therefore laying aside all remorse they entered into a conspiracy to make sure of him for ever by Murther Whereupon removing him from Kenelworth and out of the Custody of the Earl of Lancaster who they thought too much favored him he was delivered into the Custody of Sir Thomas De Gournay and Sir John Mattravers two bloody Sycophants who conveyed him to Corfe Castle from thence to Bristol and then to Berkly Castle where after many barbarous and vile usages they Murthered him the manner according to Holinshead thus The Kings Death being resolved on Mortimer procured Adam De Forleton to write this doubtful but most wicked Sophism and to be Sealed with the Queens Seal Edvardum occidere nolite timere Bonum est To shed King Edward's Blood Refuse to fear I count it good Where the Comma being put after Nolite bids them not to make him away but placed after Timere expresly commands it in performing which execrable Villany these Monsters were not slow and the better to colour the Regicide lest any outward appearance of violence should be observed they by force bind the good King and O barbarous inhumanity putting a Horn into his Fundament to keep the outward part from seering they thrust a hot Iron through it and therewith twisted his Bowels to pieces not once only but often repeated the cruel torture the which how painful may be guessed by the pittiful out-cries the King made whilst they were putting him to death which cries were heard by many but none durst venture to relieve him After this foul and barbarous Murther committed it was blazed abroad that he died of grief and thereupon they publickly exposed his Body to the Prelates and others for several days but in a short time the Murther which is seldom hid came to light and the Actors known though the Queen and Mortimer deeply dissembled the matter and to outward appearance seemed greatly afflicted Upon the discovery Gorney and Mattravers fled the former of which was taken at Massels in France where he produced the Queen and Mortimers Seals for what he had done whereupon secret Orders were sent for Beheading him on Ship-board in his way for England lest had he come to a Trial he should have made a full discovery of the chief Conspirator as for the latter he wandered about miserably in forreign Countries and at last died miserably in Italy being eat up with Ulcers And Gods vengeance found out these Monsters of men nor was it slow in punishing most deservedly Roger Lord Mortimer the chief Contriver of the wicked Parricide who having attained to the height of his ambition for he together with the Queen being at his Castle of Nottingham one Evening upon a bruite that his Mother was with Child by Mortimer the King with a well affected Company having entered a Vault that went into the Castle passed on till he came into the Chamber where the Queen was in Bed and Mortimer undressing himself to go to her and so secure they were that they had left open the Chamber door whereupon the King caused him to be seized which was not so easily done but two or three were killed in the attempt for Mortimer had at that time a Retinue of fourscore Knights and Gentlemen attending him but in spite of resistance he was carried off And within a while after condemned in Parliament for being accessary to the Murther of the late King betraying the Nation and wasting the Coin as also for committing adultery with the Queen Whereupon he was soon after drawn to Tiburn then called the Elms and there hanged where by the commandment of the King he continued hanging for two days being pittied of none nor did he fall alone for with him were Executed Sir Simon De Bedford and John Deverel Esq both concerned in King Edwards Murther and thus Heavens vengeance aim'd sure and overwhelmed in the height of their pride and security these Monsters of men that durst by cruel tortures shed the Blood of their Anointed Soveraign CHAP. III. The Birth remarkable passages deposing and murthering of Richard the Second King of England France and Lord of Ireland the fiftieth Monarch of England with the manner of the Conspiracies against and Vengeance that overtook many of the Regicides RIchard the Second was Son to the black Prince and Grandson to King Edward the Third being Crowned in the Eleventh year of his Age at the first entry upon his Kingdom all things promised him a peaceable and prosperous Reign but it continued not long so for by reason of the ill conduct of affairs in his Minority John Duke of Lancaster ruling all who was in hatred with the Commons great numbers of the Rabble rose in many Counties under the Conduct of their factious Leaders upon pretence of Redressing grievances the common Cloak of Rebellion the principal Commanders being Wat Tyler and Jack Straw two Mechanicks who committed many outrages as burning plundering and murthering in most places where they came and were so far sided with by the City of London that they entered it
Escutcheons the Armories of St. Edward the Confessor sometime King of England These proceedings for a time made fair weather but not long for a Feud arising between Henry Duke of Hereford and Thomas Duke of Glocester the latter accused the former of speaking several words to the dishonour of the King that King Richard held the Peers of England in no esteem but as much as in him lay sought to destroy them by banishing some and putting others to death That he never troubled his mind with considering how his Dominions were diminished through his carelesness and lastly that all things went to wrack as well in Peace as War Upon this it was ordered that the Accuser and the Accused should try the matter by Combate the latter stoutly denying he ever said any such words as were objected against him so that gages being delivered on both sides they entered the Lists but e're they encountered the King threw down his Warder and upon further consideration banished Norfolk for his Life and Hereford at first for ten years which after he reduced to six which some alleadged was a just Judgment on the former for being instrumental in putting the Duke of Glocester to death he being then Captain of Calais But now ruin and desolation being at hand Portents forerun it all the Bay-trees in England suddenly withered and within a while sprung out again fresh near Bedford the River between the Villages of Harleswood and Swelston where it is deepest drove back on either hand and for three Miles left its Channel dry with sundry other remarkable presages of what after happened To give way to which the King upon notice of his Cousin the Lord Mortimer's being slain by the Irish of Leinster who were up in Arms under their Leader Obrian he resolved to pass over in person to revenge his death and therefore to furnish his expedition he raised many of all hands and at the same time his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster dying he seized on his Inheritance without regard to his Son the Duke of Hereford who remained in Exile which the said Duke hearing was so throughly netled that not resolving to wait the expiration of his Banishment he taking the advantage of King Richard's absence resolves for England having upon notice of his Fathers decease taken upon him the Title of Duke of Lancaster and only accompanied with the banished Bishop of Canterbury and about twenty others when having taken Ship he for some time lay hovering on the Coast to understand how the People stood affected to him and the better to give his agents on shore time to work them to his purpose but upon notice that his Faction was strong he Landed only under pretence of recovering his Rightful Inheritance when as there repaired to him the Earl of Northumberland and his Son the Lord Henry his Son the Lord Nevil Earl of Westmorland and others as likewise a great number of the Country People offering him their Service so that within a short time he had formed a Puissant Army the news of which soon alarumed Edmund Duke of York the Kings Uncle who calling to his assistance Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Earl of Wiltshire Bushy Bagot Green Russel and other Knights of the Kings Council to consult about raising forces to impeach the Dukes passage but their consultation came to nothing the Dukes Faction having so dealt with the common people that they every where refused to take up Arms against him Whereupon Sir John Bushy Lord Treasurer and Sir Henry Green betake themselves to Bristol Castle but it being stormed by the Lancastrians their Heads became a Sacrifice to popular fury but Bagot taking ship Sailed over to Ireland to acquaint the King with what had happened who thereupon making such peace as he could with the Irish he hastens over but before his arrival the Dukes Faction was swelled to such a torrent that there was no opposing it Whereupon the King having Cashiered his Army or they for the most part deserting him he retired to the Castle of Conway in North-Wales whither upon notice of his being there resorted to him the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Earl of Northumberland where after a long Parly the King perceiving no other conditions could be gained required that he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that he in consideration thereof would make a resignation of his Crown which demand Northumberland swore should be observed and thereupon the King accompanied them to the Castle of Flint whither the Duke was come with a part of his Army and from thence after a short conference they removed to Chester where the King in consideration of many fair promises never performed put himself into the Dukes hands who conveyed him to London and there made sure of him in the Tower whither several of the Lancastrian Faction daily resorted to him to parly about the surrender of his Crown which at last he consented to do seeing no other Remedy to his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster and at the same time taking off his Signet he put it on the Dukes Finger and at the same time there being a Parliament called in King Richard's name the Arch-bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford were appointed his Procurators to declare what he had done nor was this sufficient for to make him odious to the People they exhibited thirty two Articles against him very scandalous and reproachful Whereupon Commissioners were nominated by the consent of the Houses to pronounce the Sentence of Deposition who were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glastenbury the Duke of Glocester the Lord Berkly and William Thyrring Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas the Form thus In the Name of God We John Bishop of St. Asaph John Abbot of Glastenbury c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords Spiritual of the Realm of England and Commons of the said Realm representing all the states of the said Realm sitting in place of Judgment do renounce all fealty to Richard of Burdeaux and him Depose from all Kingly Dignity c. Upon which the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat Crossed himself and then layed claim to the Crown in these words In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and Crown with all the appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry and by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Kinsfolks and Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws This said he was conducted by the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York to the Royal Throne and there Seated and from thenceforth all Writs and Process Issued out in his Name Richard In the mean space remaining a Prisoner in the Tower and every day in danger of his Life which was often aimed at the more
firmly to establish his Successour in his Throne who sat uneasie whilst deposed Majesty was breathing who though in an abject condition yet wanted not those who were contriving to readvance him to his Throne yet he to render a better Construction of his actions than indeed they would bear not only published several Proclamations excusing what was done but sent his Ambassadours to the Courts of neighbouring Princes to give his reasons for taking upon him the Crown of England during the Life of the Rightful Heir and in Parliament the better to ingratiate himself passed an Act for restoring the Blood and Estates of such as had either suffered or were disinherited as Traytors during the Reign of King Richard yet gained he not so much love but that a conspiracy if so it may be termed in so rightful a cause was formed for restoring Richard to his Regal Dignity The chief contrivers of which were the Dukes of Exceter Surry and Amaurle the Earls of Huntington Kent Rutland Salisbury and the Lord Spencer late Earl of Glocester the Bishop of Carlile Sir Bernard Broukas Sir John Shevele the Abbot of Westminster and John Maudlin the counterfeit King Richard a person who had been his Chaplain and much resembled him both in Features and Lineaments with several others so that undertaking grew strong but how to seize upon Henry and his Son they knew not unless with a multitude and that not to be raised without suspicion so that it was concluded that it should be performed in Christmas Holydays then at hand under pretence of shows and pastime but the Morning before the Evening it should have been put in practice it was discovered to the King by the Duke of Amaurle as some report yet so narrowly the King escaped that he had scarce reached London before the Earls of Kent and Salisbury not knowing their design was discovered entered the Kings Lodging at Windsor with four hundred Armed Men supposing to have surprized him there But when they found the Bird was flown they were much grieved yet having dared thus far they resolved to proceed yet further and thereupon to increase their number gave out that King Richard was at liberty and in the midst of an Army of 100000 Men at Pomfret and that Henry and his Son were fled and then the better to confirm the belief of the People Maudlin the Chaplain personated Richard but the device answered not their expectation for in the end most of the Lords were taken and put to death as likewise Maudlin the counterfeit Richard the whole number that at that time fell a Sacrifice to Richard's cause were 19. Thus his friends being put to death his turn came next for jealous Henry could not imagine himself safe whilst Richard remained still in the Hearts of his Subjects therefore many Councils were held how to be rid of him so that at last it was concluded that he should be conveyed from the Tower to Pomfret Castle and committed to the hands of Bloody Ruffians who that he might die a death the least discernable as our Historians of most credit relate was there starved to death with cold and hunger being kept with insufferable torments fifteen days e're he died and as some say the more to aggravate his torments he had Victuals daily set before him but was not suffered to touch it or at most but so small a quantity as ratheâ— lingered out his misery than was any ways advantageous a death so cruel that even the barbarous Nations detest to inflict upon the worst of Malefactors and much more on a King Anointed and Viceroy of Heaven for no other fault than what he was prompted to by others who worked upon his tender nature being a King in himself disposed to mercy After he was dead his Body was brought up to London and in St. Pauls exposed to the view of the people and the better to colour so great an iniquity it was caused to be rumoured that upon notice of the execution of his friends he had pined away with grief but that he was starved to death agree Stow Walsingham Harding and other Historians of account though some there be that affirm he was slain by Sir Piers Exton after he had in resisting slain several of his Knights but if he had been brained or mortally wounded certain it is that he would never have been exposed to the view of the people nor could he have been put to death without Henries consent but inquiry would have been made into the cause of his death Therefore O Henry if thou wert Author or at least but privy to so Execrable a Murther though for thine own pretended safety and for that errors cause which is erroneously miscalled a reason of state thou art altogether inexcusable and surely he is not a man that hears of the Infamishment of this King and feels not a chilling horrour and conceives not detestation of such a bloody barbarity but Heaven was not slow in revenging the fall of this King for what was the Reign of his Successour but a continual trouble what Insurrections Rebellions Losses at Sea Plagues Tempests fearful Prodigies and all that can make a Nation miserable Famine excepted did not happen how many Plots and Conspiracies were layed against his Life by those that had advanced him to the Regal Dignity What fears and jealousies stuck as Thorns in his Crown and made ever uneasie what executions of the Nobility happened during his Reign even of those especially who had been instrumental in deposing Richard and no doubt counselling his death so that the English Earth never drank more noble Blood in so short a time he Reigning but 13. y. 6. m. 3. d. and left Issue Prince Henry afterwards King Thomas Duke of Clarence slain at Beaufort without Issue John Duke of Bedford who died without Issue and Humfry Duke of Glocester who was murthered in his Bed at Bury and two Daughters Blaunch and Philip Now as for his Eldest Son Henry the Fifth after his glorious Atchievements in France he died in the Flower of his Age not without suspicion of Poyson and Henry the Sixth Son to King Henry the Fifth and Grandson to Henry the Fourth and Prince Edward his Son and great Grand-child to the Fourth Henry were Murthered by that Monster of Mankind the Duke of Glocester afterwards Reigning by the name of Richard the Third And thus we may see how Sacred Kings Lives ought to be held when such Tragedies revenge their fall King Richard after he had been exposed to view for several days and the rueful spectacle moved many to compassionate his death was conveyed to Langly in Hartfordshire and there obscurely buried though King Henry the Fifth caused those Royal remains to be removed to Westminster and there Interred amongst his Ancestors Thus fell this unhappy King without Issue and thus his fall was revenged and now leaving him to slumber in his Grave we shall proceed to the next Tragedy which as it falls next in
without opposition and took the Tower wherein the King was and were designed to murther him had not providence prevented it by his condescending to what they demanded though never so unreasonable and granting a pardon to all for what offences soever had been committed upon which a great part acknowledged the Kings Concessions satisfactory and so returned home yet their grand Captains keep their Armies on foot and still drew up unreasonable Petitions such as they knew the King could not with honour grant and hereupon they took a pretence of doing more mischief intending to have divided the Kingdom amongst Mechanicks every County to have had a King of the Commons as they termed it But e're they could bring their rebellious purpose to perfection it it was prevented for Sir William Walworth then Lord Mayor of London being with the King at a Treaty with Wat Tyler and hearing the Traitor speak irreverently of his Soveraign and offering to murther one of the Kings Knights for not shewing him such respect as he required he with his drawn Sword Arrested him as a Traitor in West-Smithfield and he refusing to yield some Lords coming in he was killed and had his head cut off and carried on a Spear out of the mouth of which he had before impiously protested that all the Laws of England should proceed At the fall of their grand Captain the Rebels were much grieved and being near twenty thousand strong resolved upon revenge but the young King spurring forward told them that he was and would be their Captain and that whatsoever they desired if it were lawful they should have which appeased and caused many of them to throw down their Arms and in the mean space the Lord Mayor having raised 1000 Citizens and brought them to confront the Rebels under his own Conduct that of Sir Robert Knowles and others whereupon the Rebels totally submitted to the King upon promise of pardon Whereupon the King sent to all his loving Subjects throughout England who were able to provide Horse and Arms to attend him on Black-Heath where they were mustered to the number of 40000 all on Horseback and well appointed and now the Rebels in Kent Essex and other Counties beginning again to raise tumults were dispersed by force and many of the principal Incendiaries put to death so that the Nation was reduced to its former obedience and quiet so that the King began to think of Marriage which Anno 1382. In the Month of January he effected with the Lady Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus King of Bohemia and she Crown'd by William Courtney Son to the Earl of Devonshire and Bishop of Canterbury Upon which through the Negotiation of the Duke of Lancaster a Truce was concluded between the French and English from Christmas till Midsummer and the said Duke upon his return dispatched with an Army to revenge the injuries the Scots had put upon the English during the intestine broils but returned without effecting any thing memorable and upon his return he was accused by a Carmelite Friar and by Birth an Irish-man to have conspired the Kings Death to the truth of which the Friar Swore upon the Sacrament but the Dukes Interest in the King and his Council so overpowered the testimony of the Friar that it was not believed but on the contrary the Evidencer delivered over to the Lord John Holland who caused him cruelly to be put to death without Trial or Form of Law and afterwards dragged through the streets when at the same time the Lord Thomas of Woodstock afterwards made Duke of Glocester rushed into the presence Chamber swearing that he would kill any man alive the King not excepted that durst lay Treason to his Brothers charge which rash words were afterwards excused upon pretence of his Zeal to his Brothers honour though at the same time his duty to his Soveraign ought to have overballanced the other but the Duke of Lancaster's credit growing great with the Court Lords the King was forced to oblige him not knowing how to help it and therefore seeing him grow obstinate he the rather wished to be rid of him which he thought he could no better do than by furnishing him a Navy and an Army to Invade Castile which Kingdom he claimed in the Right of his Wife Constance Daughter to the late King where arriving he obtained several places of strength worsting the Spaniards every where When in the mean while the French under their young King resolving to revenge old injuries prepared an Army of 100000. Men to Invade England supposing it weakned by the remoteness of the Duke of Lancaster's Army but such was Gods providence that although they were imbarqued and several times attempted to put to Sea yet were they still driven back and detained by contrary winds even at such a time when the discontents amongst the Nobility made way for their Conquest for the King supposing himself rid at least for a time of his Uncle the turbulent Duke of Lancaster found his second Uncle Thomas Duke of Glocester no less troublesome who with the Lords of his Faction continually opposed the Kings proceedings even to the weakning the Kingdom denying in Parliament to grant him either Men or Money even when the French Army was daily expected to Land upon pretence that he had undeservedly created Michael Delâ— Pole Lord Chancellour Duke of Suffolk and Robert D' Vere Duke of Dublin in Ireland not being willing any should be advanced but of his own Faction which caused a Poet both learnedly and fellingly to Sing or rather Weep his Countries misery in the doleful strains I Sing the Civil Wars tumultuous Broils And Bloody Factions of a mighty Land Whose People haughty proud with foreign spoils Upon themselves now turn their Conquering Hand Whilst Kin their Kin Brother his Brother foils Like Ensigns all against like Ensigns band Bows against Bows a Crown against a Crown Whilst all pretending Right all Right threw down The Nation which had been formerly troubled with the Insurrection of the Plebeans was again troubled by the Faction of the Peers who stuck not to demand the removal and banishment of all such as were near and dear unto the King under pretence of evil Councillours When indeed their distast for the most part was founded upon private Animosities which when they perceived they could not effect by fair means they retired into the several Counties where their Lands were and where they were most popular and there raised such forces as they could get which in a short time in conjunction made an Army of Forty thousand men though in time of eminent danger they pretended no Forces considerable could be levyed With these forces they march towards London with an intent to force the King to accord to what they should propose although at that time Dela Pole the Duke of Ireland and Archbishop of York the Persons against whom they chiefly objected were banished the Kings presence The
Kings Servants that they set upon the Duke in the Castle of Chartres and forcing their Entrance killed him and his Brother the Cardinal which was no doubt a signal Judgment for the many Thousand Innocents that by his advice were Massacred Upon this the Leaguers prevailed with Pope Sixtus the fifth willing enough of himself to excommunicate the King and every where excite his Ruffians to Assassinate him promising for their encouragement great Rewards on Earth and greater in Heaven but the King was still Invironed with such Trusty Friends that the Popes Hellish design was for a while Frustrated though no way that carryed the Face of a Probabillity was lest unattempted The Leaguers growing still more Furious having made the Duke of Mayne the Duke of Guise and others their head therefore to nip them in the bud the two Kings advanced with their Armys and sate down before the great City of Paris the chief Seat of the Leaguers and made Sundry Assaults in order to win it but did not so soon prevail but that one of the Popes Hellish Instruments prevailed against the Kings Life the manner thus One James Clement a Jacob in Monk having been tampered withall and moulded in private to Enterprize so great a wickedness he in the Assembly of his Convent declares his Resolution to kill the King for which resolution he is carressed called Saviour of his Country applauded and promised Mountains in this World if he overlived the Act and if he miscarry to be assured of Saintship to pass immediately to Heaven without calling at Purgatory to have shrines and Altars erected in memorial of the as they wickedly and falsly termed it Pious Religious and Holy undertaking which so Transported the Novice that he thought himself already capering above the Clouds and thought every moment a day till he had put his wicked design in practice wherefore either to make him the more venterous or that themselves did think it more expedient they carryed him to the High-Altar prayed over him O wickedness beyond Degree that God would Strengthen his Arm to give a sure Blow and thereupon delivered him a Dagger wrapped up in the Relict of a Saint as they called it and the better to compleat the Impostor added to all their wickedness by dipping the point of it in consecrated Wine of the Sacrament and then dismissed him with what they called Blessings but indeed such monstrous Impiety that to the everlasting Infamy of the Romish-church let it stand Recorded This deceived wretch full Fraught as he imagined with Honour in this World and happiness in the other Arrives at the Kings Camp at St. Clou and pretended an Embassy from the Leaguers to the King which he was charged to deliver to no Person but himself and so by Feigned pretences had admittance when putting his hand into his Sleeve as though he would draw out a Letter with the before mentioned Dagger smote him in the Belly the King wrested the Dagger from him wounded him on the Head which Strugling made such a noise that the Guards coming hastily in and seeing the King wounded stayed not to Inquire into the manner but with their Swords cut the miserable wretch to pieces and sent him by that means to his propper place from whence not all the Papal Authority nor Masses of a Thousand years can deliver him The next Morning the King Died of his Wounds leaving the King of Navarr his Kingdom and Army who succeeded him by the name of Henry the fourth and soon after avenged the Death of his Predecessor by Beseiging Paris the chief residence of the Leaguers who greatly rejoyced for the Death of the King reduced it to such extremity by Famine no filthy thing was left uneaten and yet 6 or 7000 Dyed with Hunger and Pestilence The Pope hearing of the Kings Death much Applauded the Murtherer caused his Statute to be set up and gave him a red Letter in the Callender saying he was worthy of praise for he Stabbed not the Picture of a King but the King of France in the mid'st of his Army and the best word he could afford the King was a Favourer of Hereticks and an unfortunate Prince but his joy lasted not long for he soon after Died miserably and thus much for the fall of this great King CHAP. VII The Relation of the Murther of King Henry the Fourth of France commonly called Henry the Great by Francis Ravillack what Prodigies Fore-run it and the Vniversallity of the Conspiracy with Gods vengeance on the Barbarous Actors and Contrivers c. HEnry the IV. Son to Anthony of Burbâ—on by his Wife the only Daughter and Heir of Henry D' Albert King of Navarr after his Grandfather Father and Mothers Decease Injoyed that Kingdom and as you have heard being next Prince of the blood he was rightful King of France after the Decease of Henry the III. and carryed on the War against the Leaguers till he had obtained the absolute Soveraignty joyning both Kingdoms Many were the Plots layed against his Life as that Massacre in Paris whither he resorted to Solemnize his Marriage with Margaret Sister to King Charles the IX where amongst other Slaughters of his dearest Friends it was debated whither he and the Young Prince of Conde should be Murthered and carryed on the contrary only by the perswasions of one Duke yet the next Morning they were brought forth into an outward Court where whole Piles of Dead lay and put to their choice by the King either to chuse Death or the Mass they being both Protestants of which at that time they thought it convenient to chuse the latter but soon found means to escape and Renounce those Errors another attempt was made against his Life after the reduction of Paris at Melun by one Peter Barrier a Souldier who was hired to have Stabbed him at the advantage of his passing a Corner but being detected had his hand first burnt holding the Knife with which the Execution was intended in it the mean while and afterwards had his Flesh pulled off with hot Pincers A third open attempt was by one John Castle a Merchants Son in Paris and a pupill of the Jesuits own bringing up and past doubt Instructing he not being above 18 years of Age thrust himself into the Kings presence and being about to strike him into the Belly was prevented by the Kings Stooping to return a Salute to one of his Nobles yet it struck him through the Lip and struck one of his Teeth out whereupon the party was apprehended and confessed the Fact glorying in what he had done and maintained he ought to do it and that he should offer up a Sacrifice acceptable to God by taking out of the World a Prince Relapsed and Excommunicated not did he seem much to Regard his Torments when his Hand was Burnt his Flesh plucked off with hot pincers and lastly as he justly deserved had his Limbs torn off with Wild Horses which making it plainly appear that his
Patrons the Jesuits had perswaded him to that wickedness and promised him Salvation for his Reward whereupon his Father was Banished his House demollished and a Piramid set in his place and secondly by a Decree of Parliament the whole Society of Jesuits were expelled out of France but by their shews of Piety and Sincerity so Wrought with the Kings Favorites and they with him on their behalf that that Decree was repealed and they again restored to the Destruction of the Kings Life as most imagine The next that attempted his Life was one that was or at least pretended himself a Natural who finding opportunity run at him with a Knife whereupon the Guard would have Killed him but the King forbid it and he being asked the reason said He was King of all the World and that Henry kept France from him whereupon the King out of meer compassion ordered him to be released And now France Flourishing under this great and Glorious Prince whose good Conduct had Reduced it to so happy an Estate that the like for some Ages past had not been he thought to have rested but such was the Implacable Mallice of his Adversaries that they watched all opportunities to deprive him of Life to whom next Heaven they owed their happyness nor did they desist till they had brought about their wicked purposes the manner and opportunity given thus The King having Married Mary D' Medicis Daughter to Frances and Neice to Fardinand Dukes of Florence upon the Divorce of Margaret Sister to the three late Kings of France She was Impatient till she was Installed and although the King had other purposes of more urgency which required his leaving of Paris yet was he prevailed with to stay though many things Prognosticated ill events as the Raining Blood in divers places Monsters-Born Earthquakes and Airy Fantoms happening and appearing and several Predictions that the King should not out-live that Year that he should Dye in Paris a suddain and violent Death and in his Coach the which he though he was not over credulous on such occasions began to hearken to it and was heard to say that he must be gone from that City or his Enemies would Kill him nay so sure were they of his Destruction that a Month before his being Assassinated Papers were found Printed in Spain and Italy that he was Dead and eight days before a Courrier passed through Leige saying He went to give the Princes of Germany notice of his Death The Villain Incited to be the Executioner with large promises of Earthly Treasure and Joys Everlasting hardens himself to perpetrate the Execrable wickedness having Lingered about Paris a long time for that purpose he being an Ill down lookt Rascal who had formerly quitted his Order and became a Solicitor of Ecclesiastical affairs the day after the Instalment the King Intending to leave Paris the next day the King going in his Coach from the Louvre to the Arsenal and to see all things provided for the Queens Entrance having in the Coach with him the Dukes of Espernon and Monthason the Marshals of Lavardine Rocquelavar La Force Mirebeau and Lian Cour chief Esquires when Entering Iron-Mongers Street through the narrow passage by St. Innocents Church a Cart Laden with Wine was overthrown as most imagine for the purpose which caused the Coach to stop and whilst his Guard of Partizans passed through the Church-yard this Villain who had all the while followed the Coach set one Foot against the Stall and the other upon the spoke of the Wheel and with a long Knife struck the King into the Breast beneath the Heart at which the King cryed I am Wounded yet the Hellhound redoubled his force with a second Blow which struck him to the Heart of which he Dyed without fetching so much as a Sigh and again a third stroke which the Duke D' Monthazon received on his Sleeve and although it was supposed the Murtherer might have escaped yet so heightened was he in his wickedness that he never Stirred from the place neither hid his Bloody Knife but rather Gloried in what he had done and being taken he was adjudged by the Chamber of the Assemblies to be drawn to the Grave with four Horses and to have the Flesh pulled off from his Arms Breasts and Thighs with Burning Pincers and then Torn to peices which Sentence was put in Execution without his Testifying the least Emotion of Grief or Fear for such strange Torments so that it was Evident that he had been made believe that Paricid was Merritorious and that if he Dyed he Dye a Martyr being Inchanted with a false assurance of great things though for his Horrid Treason and Barbarous Assassination he met with his just Reward All France at the Death of this King were amazed and in Tears unless his Enemies who secretly rejoyced thinking to gain their purposes but were deceived most of them being wasted and destroyed in the Wars that were in the Minority of his Children and thus fell this great King yet e're I conclude one thing is Remarkable when he was opened the Jesuits got his Heart which they so long had desired and carryed it to their Church De La Fleck under pretence of Burying it there his Body was Buryed in St. Dennis whither a little before the Body of his Prodecessor Henry the III. had been brought from the Church of St. Cornillie And leaving France I shall Return to England there to give the Reader a Sight of one of the blackest Trajedies that ever the World has known a Murther without President or Parrallel even the Murther of the Sacred Martyr Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory which take as followeth to the Eternal Infamy of the Regicids CHAP. VIII The Dismal Relation of the most Inhuman and Barbarous Murther of CHARLES the First King of Great Brittain France and Ireland and of Gods extraordinary Judgments and speedy Vengeance on the Monsterous Regicides and principal Agents and Abettors in his most deplorable Death KING CHARLES the First of ever Blessed Memory Son to the Renowned King James first sole Monarch of Great Brittains Empire and his Vertuous Consort Anne Sister to Christianus King of Denmark was Born at Dunfermel in Scotland on the 19 of November 1600 and when Englands bright Star the Glorious Queen Elizabeth Set he with his Royal Father the undoubted Heir of these Dominions came to London and continued with great Applause attracting in his Infancy the Eyes and Hearts of the Nation to gaze upon his comely person and much admire his Vertues promising such a Blessing to England that indeed it was not worthy of he being sole Heir to the Crown by the Death of Prince Henry who died at St. James's Anno 1625 succeeded to the Crown having before his Fathers Death contracted Marriage with the Vertuous and most Renowned Princess Henrietta Maria Daughter to Henry the IV. of France and Sister to Lewis the then Reigning King and at first such was the Universal
condescending for the sake of Peace that his concessions were by the Rebels themselves Voted satisfactory which the Arch-Traytor Cromwell perceiving and finding that such a conclusion would hinder him from aspiring he Plotted with the Factious Army Officers to marr the whole proceedings by new modelling the Parliament and turning out such as were Inclinable to accord with his Majesty whereupon placing Guards about the Parliament-House after some conference with the Speaker Pride and Hewson sent in a Paper to the House of Commons Requiring the Impeached Members and Major-General Brown as Guilty of calling in Hammilton a Forged pretence to pick a Quarrel might be secured and brought to Justice and that the ninety and odd Members that refused to Vote against the Scotch Ingagement and all that Voted for recalling the four Votes of non Addresses to his Majesty and for a Personal Treaty and acquiescing Votes in his Majesties answer should be immediately suspended the House and that those that had done no such things should draw up their Protestations in Writing c. a brave way of making and unmaking Parliaments but the Paper being thrown out of the House with detestation whereupon all the Guards advanced and a strong Guard set at the House Door where Sir Hardress Waller and the Collonels Pride and Hewson lying purdue violently seized upon several Knights and Burgesses as they came out others they decoyed out under Sleeveless pretences and in the end seized upon debarred of Entrance and caused to decline coming no less then 200 forty one all which number were secured and kept Prisoners Hugh Peters being their Keeper who protesting against this force and Insolency done upon and against the Houses and priviledges of Parliament were released all except Major-General Brown who was kept Prisoner at St. James's Ireton bidding them at their departure look to it and see they Acted nothing against the present Parliament or Army Thus all things being brought and fitted to their purpose the King is taken from the Isle of Wight and carried to Hurst Castle a place very incommodious both for health and necessaries it standing in the Sea and no fresh water being to be had within three Miles from whence Harrison conveyed him to Winchester and so by several Journies to St. James's that insolent Traytor riding in the Coach with him and giving order to his Souldiers to beat such as pressed near either to see him or compassionate his Sufferings And now these Monsters resolving the Kings Death to make way for their greatness the offalls or fragments of a Parliament make an Ordinance whereby they took away and disanulled the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and at the same time the Council of War forbid any State to be used towards his Majesty whose attendants were for the most part discharged and to compleat their Villanies and to appear in their proper colours an Ordinance was brought into the Commons House by Scot for the Tryal of the King so monsterous and wicked a proposal that no Age e're parallel'd which after some debate was approved of and sent to the Lords House who cast it out with detestation which so metled them that they presently passed a Vote asserting the Supream power to lie in the Commons and that whatsoever is Enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons in Parliament hath the force of Law which passed without a Negative Voice so that it plainly appeared at whose beck they were And upon these Votes they made the Nest wherein they hatched the Monster called An Act for the Tryal the King c. which the 9 th of January 1648 was Proclaimed in Westminster-Hall by Serjeant Danby by the Beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet and notice given that the Commissioners of the pretended High-Court of Justice were to sit the next day and that all those that had any thing to say against Charles Stuart King of England might be heard The like was done in Cheapside and at the Royal-Exchange And thus they Proclaimed their Wickedness aloud the which however Masqued with specious pretences and was then heard by most with Horror and amazement The Bloody Villains that durst sit to Judge their Lawful King were as followeth whose Name and Memory are hateful to all Mankind Oliver Cromwell that Monster in Nature Henry Ireton John Bradshaw President and scandal to the Long-Robe who a little before had taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy but such Monsters no Oaths can bind Thomas Harrison a Butchers Son at New-Castle Underline in Stafford-shire John Carew John Cook Solicitor to the Court Hugh Peters that Scandal to the Clergy and Factious Bell-weather Thomas Scot a Brewers Clark Gregory Clement a broken Merchant Adrian Scroop the Stain of his Family John Jones a Serving-man Frances Hacker Daniel Axtil a mean Shop-Keeper in Bedford-shire Collonel Okey once a Stoaker in a Brew-House Miles Corbet John Bark stoad a sorry Goldsmith in the Strand Thomâ—s Pride sometimes a Dray-man Isaac Ewer Thomas Lord Gray of Grooby O Scandal and Shame of his Family Sir John Danvers Brother to the Loyal Earl of Danby Sir Thomas Maleverrer Sir John Bourcher a troublesome Independant Collonel Purefoy Governour of Coventry John Black stone a Shopkeeper in Newcastle Sir William Constable Governour of Gloucester Richard Dean General at Sea Francis Allen a Broken Goldsmith Peregrine Pelham Governour of Hull John Moor John Allured not long before a private Souldier but to fit him for this Villany made a Collonel Humphry Edwards a Member of the long Parliament Sir Gregory Norton a Pensioner to the King but now bought off to make one in the Execrable Villany John Ven a broaken Silk-man Thomas Andrews a Linnen-Draper Anthony Stapely Governour of Chichester Thomas Horton of mean and obscure Birth John Fry a Country Farmer and an Arian Heretick Thomas Hammond Prince Henry's Physitians Son Isaac Pennington twice Lord-Mayor of London twice Broke and a lasting Dishonour to the City Simon Meyen a recruit to the Long Parliament Sir Hardress Waller a poor Knight though after Inriched by the Spoils of his Maiesty William Heveningham Henry Martin a Lude and vicious Person and consequently the fitter for so wicked a purpose Owen Rowe a Silkman Augustine Garland a petty Fogger Henry Smith one of the Six Clarks in Chancery Robert Tichbourn a Linnen-Draper also Lord-Mayor of London George Fleetwood James Temple Thomas Wait of obscure Birth Peter Temple a Linnen-Draper Robert Lilburn Brother to John Lilburn the troubler of Israel Gilbert Millington Chairman to the Committee for Plundering the Clergy Vincent Potter of obscure Birth John Downs Thomas Wogan John Lisby William Say Valentine Walton Brother in Law to Cromwell Edward Whaly a Woollen-Draper Edmund Ludlow Son of a Traytor Sir Michael Livesey a poor Knight of Kent John Hewson first a Cobler then a Shoomaker William Goff a Salters Apprentice who run away from his Master and betook him to the Army Cornelius Holland a Serving-man Thomas Challenor by some Reputed