severe Laws and abolishes hard Customes He grants the Nobility free leave to hunt and to enclose Parks for Deer and free Warrens for their Conyes and such like Game and as Traytors to his vertues state and Kingly government he banished from his Court all Flatterers and all nicenesse in behaviour Luxuriousness and gorgeousness in apparel and superfluity in dyet He ordained punishments by death for such as rob by the high way and with wonderfull travel and industry he reformed the monstrous pride avarice and secure sloth and negligence of the Clergy He recalled from banishment Anselm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury giving him full power to assemble Synods and Convocations at his pleasure for the rectifying of such things that were amisse in the Church He piously and freely bestowed on godly sober grave Divines all such livings and Ecclesiasticall promotions as his Brother unjustly detained by the lewd advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham whom he sent prisoner to the Tower of London from whence not long after the said wicked Bishop escaped and fled into Normandy to Duke Robert whom he eagerly perswaded to claim his Crown with his Sword who thereupon levies a great Army which he intended with all expedition to transport into this Realme but as King Henry by his former clemencies had rooted himself in the peoples love so to assure himself the better of the Scots he takes Maud the Sister of King Edgar to be his Wife who was daughter to Malcom by his Wife Margaret who was Sister to Edgar Adeling who dyed without issue and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Robert was now arrived in England with a puissant Army and the day for Battel appointed and the Heraulds were sent up and down but at last as a thick lowring cloud is somtimes dispersed by a fair shining Sun so by the discreet mediation of worthy friends there was a friendly peace concluded between the two brothers on the same terms agreed on in King Rufus days whereupon the Norman Lords were much discontented and returned home with the Duke This danger dispelled Beliamy Earl of Shrewsbury with the Earl of Mortain and Cornwall rebell but are soon subdued But now Henry who was hitherto on the defensive part takes up Armes of his own accord against his Brother whether out of some distast for some scoffe his Brother gave him or which is more like stirred up with ambition and avarice to inlarge his Dominions and joyning with the Norman male-contented Nobles with little adoe chased the forsaken Duke from place to place and won from him the Cities of Roan Cane Valoyes indeed all Normandy presently in great honour and triumph he returns for England Robert having thus made tryall of his brothers severity he resolvs now to make tryall of his lenity whereupon he follows after his Brother into England and very submissively deprecates his error and begs his pardon But Henry either offended with the now fresh injury of his brother Or affecting the Dukedome of Normandy departs unkindly from the perplexed and distressed Duke his Brother Coily refusing to accept of his submission which in all humility by him was prosfered But Robert being impatient of that scorn his distress had begot him returns in all speed into Normandy and once more levies an Army resolving rather to dye manfully fighting in the Field then to follow the funeralls of his own Honour but his brother was prevalent and prevents him with a greater force suppressing the mischief in the Birth but not without bloud bringing his Brother Captive into England where for that he at Natures enticement practised his escape at his brothers Commandement both his eyes were pluckt out after which he lived as a miserable and wretched Captive the space of more then twenty years at length he dyed and was buryed at Gloucester This success made Henry magnificent but envied whence arose a foraigne War which by power and pollicy he quieted granting to William the Dukedome of Normandy upon condition of Homage But Charls Earl of Flanders being wickedly slain at Brussels leaving no other Heir William the Son of Robert who was the next right Heir to it for that he was of the Bloud of Maud Daughter to Baldwin and Wife to William the Conquerour was elevated to this Dignity who growing insolent with this prosperity endeavours to recover Normandy his Patrimony by his Grandfather which he brought to passe with no great difficulty by the assistance of the French King but receiving a slight wound in his hand and suffering it to rankle he lost his life and his Patrimony Next the Welch Rebell but the end of that War was a prey of Oxen and Sheep taken by Henry He seldome taxed the Land or never but once for a portion for his Daughter Maud. He was the first that called a Parliament In the Year 1020 William his Son with his Wife the Duke of Anjou's Daughter his Sister Maud the Lady Lucy a Neece of the Kings the Earl of Chester with divers ' other Noblemen and Ladies and others to the number 160 crossing the Seas from France to England were all most miserably drowned not any one saved but a poor Butcher who like Iob's servant was spared to bring the sad News the King having no children left but his Daughter Maud the Empress who after the Emperors death marryed Ieffery Plantaginet With these and other griefs the King languished at last eating Lampreys he surfeited and dyed and was buryed in Reading Abby after he had reigned 35 years In this King ended all the issues Male of the Conquerour and the Crowne of this Realme devolved on his generall Heirs HENRY the first surnamed Beau-clark King of England and Duke of Normandie He raigned 35 yeares and 4 monthes died the 2 of December 1185. at the age of 67 yeares and lieth buried at Reading 1135. R E. sculpsit Robert's abroad still roving for renowne And now a second time forfeits his Crowne Which Henry his Brother means to weare At the old rate three thousand Marks a year Whose Eyes he now puts out incontinent Lest he should see his bargain and repent He that allows his Brother none now dyes Surfeiting of a Fish abounds with Eyes Crowns no Relation know they oft have stood Close cemented to Caesar's Head with bloud Thus to the Crown the third Descent does fail The Conquerour and all his Issue Male. STEPHEN King of England MOnday December the 26 1135. being St. Stephen's Day Stephen Earl of Mortaign and Bulloyne Son of Stephen Earl of Bloys and Champaine and of Adela Daughter to William the Conquerour notwithstanding all his Vowes and publick Protestations to Henry the First to further the Right and Succession of Maud the Empress being his Daughter and of her Children yet when the King was dead he finding that the Nobility though sworn as deep and solemnly as himself was applyed themselves totally to his devotion he presently shook
the age of 65 yeares after he had raigned 56 yeares and lieth intombed at Westminster 1272. The groaning Kingdome being rid of John Has found his very Image in his Son King Henry the Third nine years of Age Enters a troubled and a doubtfull Stage The Realme he found Rebecca like become With divers Nations strugling in her Womb All which he clear'd at last with promise fair With Oaths Vowes which prov'd nothing but Aiâ— He pill'd his subjects so that at his need Give him they nothing would nor could indeed He marries then with a mean Family And spoyles his Realme to lard their Poverty EDVVARD the First King of England WHen King Henry died Edward his son and heir was in Palestine very intent about the holy war where he underwent a grievous danger having received 3 desperate wounds from his adversary with a poysoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull Piety of his Wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venome from his wounds In his way being made more certain of his fathers death he made great journeyes and travelled in all hast into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and Common-people he was crowned King when he was of the age of 35 years At the beginning of his Reigne he used the Nobility well but to abate the insolence of the Clergy he commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them otherwise and so drew upon himself their envy The Welch rise against him but he luckily intercepts Monfort's daughter espoused to Lluellen their Prince upon surrender of whom that storm blew over and obedience was promised by the Welch to King Edward But within few years three or four at most Lluellen puts an end to his Oath and obedience for his wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new Rebellions also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him falls off to his brother and so with joynt forces they enter England and does some mischief to Edward both of them wonderfully inflamed by a false prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crowne of Brutus was promised to Lluellen but the battle being set Lluellen was killed by a private Soldier and his Head brought to King Edward his Brother David also was taken and had his Head struck off and with his Brothers it was set upon the Tower of London where it remained a long time after but his four Quarters were sent to four Principall Cities in England to be set up for a terrour to all Traitors hereafter so Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welch and the death of Alphonsus his first Borne who was slain in the same battle In the eighteenth year of King Edward's Reigne Alexander the King of Scots not having any Issue of his body fell with his horse and unfortunately brake his neck He had three sisters the eldest of which was married to Iohn Balioll Lord of Galloway the second to Robert le Bruse Lord of Valley-Andrew and the third was married into England to Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergavenny amongst these three each of them backed with his best friends sharp bickerings and civill wars arose to the destruction of many worthy persons on all sides Whilst the matter thus was handled King Edward promises the Kingdome of Scotland to Bruse for ever so he would do him homage for it but Bruse refuseth it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own honour Yet Balioll yields to those conditions and so got the Kingdome of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country-men Envy against him increased for refusing Justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slaine for Baylioll exempted Albermeâ—h from punishment that slew him whereupon Baylioll cited before Edward's Tribunall is forced to plead his cause he was angry at this disgrace and denies Homage to Edward and proclaims warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloudy warre between the two Nations which lasted for three hundred years only some feigned cessations passed between No lesse than four times did this victorious King Edward subdue the false and fraudulent Scots compelling them with extraordinary tokens of subjection and humility to submit themselves to his mercy In the mean time a new warre breaks forth between King Edward and the French King Philip the fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King for Kings that envy one another easily break forth into open Hatred but Edward had other grudges against the French for conniving at the death of his Cousen Henry the Emperors Son Edward therefore when a day was appointed him hath a stipendary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appeare whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of King Edward in France by force of Armes the King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant with Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour presently marches against the King of France but finding the French divided in two parts and defrauded with the Emperours delayes when he had held his winters quarters at Gaunt not without the murmuring of the Citizens and great want of his souldiers At the beginning of the spring truce being made with the French for three years the King tooke Margaret the Dukes sister to wife for Eleoner died in the former Expedition against the Scots And the daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards sonne he retreated for England About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grievously to the King upon Edward the young Prince who by the lewd advice of Pierce Gaveston his loose and gracelesse Companion brake forcibly into his Park and made havock of his Game for which the Prince was committed to Prison and Gaveston banished for ever Lastly making an incursion into Scotland he is taken with a Disentery and dies of it and lies buried at Westminster He was very tall of Countenance somwhat sorrowfull of Chastitie like his Father but in fortitude farre before him Religious he was and wise The noble and Victorious Prince EDWARD the first surnamed Long-shanks King of England Duke of Aquitaine Earle of Poictices and Anjou Lo of Ireland c He Conquered Scotland and brought from thence the Marble Chaire He subdued and overcame llewelyn Prince of Wales and made his sonne Edward Prince Hereof he died at the age of 68 yeares 1307. after he had raigned 34 yeares 8 monthes buried at Westminster King Edward Saraceus Head Sholder sunders Where Christ wrought miracles this Prince did wonders His wife with such so pious love abounds She sucks the venome from his poysoned wounds 'T were Treason to their merits to conceal So great a Valour and so sweet a zeal The haughty Welch he soon did over-run And left them Vassalls to his Princely Son And by his sword so weighed down Fortunes scales That Englands heir succeeds stil Prince of
Throne will o're his Nephews neck Although his own in the attempt he break What follow'd this Vsurper at the Helme A three years Curse on him and his whole Realme At last base fears impossibles foresees And to the Pope bends his unprincely knees In Swinstead Abbey death did him besiege In Sacramentall Masse Wassall my Liege Who pities him a safe estate that scorns And wounds his Temples with a Crowne of Thorns HENRY the Third King of England AFter the Death of King Iohn Henry his eldest Son about the age of nine years was Crowned King but not without some controversie of the Nobles some of the Nobility falling off to him who a little before had made a defection and swore to King Lewis Yet Lewis with an Army of twenty thousand men won many Towns till at last he came to the Castle at Lincolne which a certaine Noblewoman did bravely defend and caused him to stop and an Army of the English coming on in the mean time he was repulsed and conquered many of the English Nobility being taken that stood with him besides the Count of Perch that stood with him till the last preferring an honourable Death before a dishonourable Life Yet he did not despair but sent for more Forces out of France which were all almost destroyed in a Fight at Sea By these misfortunes he was forced to take Conditions of a hundred and five thousand Franks in respect of the charge he had been at he renouncing all right to the Kingdome of England And promising faithfully to prevaile with his father to restore all the Provinces in France belonging to the English The King restored to the rebellious Nobility all the Lands belonging to them And Lewis at Dover set Saile for France having warred unhappily in anothers Land Then a Parliament was summoned and Magna Charta ratified also the Court of Wards was revived and a Tax granted the King to Levy an Army under the Conduct of his Brother Richard for the recovery of his Rights in France The Parliament being ended the said Tax with great celerity is collected without any the lest grutch or contradiction so that the Kings Coffers were replenished with Gold and Silver and all requisites were carefully provided and a gallant Army of couragious men of War were assembled and safely transported With which Richard the Kings Brother did almost wonders subduing where he found resistance and seizing upon Lordships Forts Towns Castles and other defenced places quietly and without blowes no Head being made against him so that within few Months such was his valour and good Fortune he recovered both those Provinces wholly for the King and returned with much honour into England But the Kings absence from those Places gave opportunity to the French King to infest them which he unfriendly laid hold on and suddenly led a new Army into Poicters and easily made himself Lord thereof From thence marcht to Perigott and Alverne and other places in Guyan where he did the like But King Henry sent thither an other Army under the Conduct of his Brother Richard Earl of Cornwall with which he encountered the French and fought many sharp Battels in which for the most part his Fortune continued prosperous and all things seemed to promise him the recovering of whatever in his absence had been lost But in the height of all these broyles a friendly peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Richard returned safe into England This Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings Brother at the suit of the Princes of Germany is elected King of the Romans but not long after being charged with insolence and oppression he was put out of the Office and returns to England a poor King that went out a rich Earle And now began those mischievous broyls and turmoyls in this Realm which until the Kings death daily vexed him more and more and the whole Kingdome also for the King lending too ready and pleasing an ear to lewd and evill Officers about him whom above all Officers he loved and favoured and by whose Counsell and advice both himself and his whole Kingdom was ruled and directed made little account of his best Subjects Love And took from them in divers things such Liberties as by the Lawes and Ordinances of this Kingdome they justly claimed and ought to have enjoyed He also pinched his people with many unnecessary and grievous Taxes which by those lewd and bold Officers were levied with much rigour and sharpness to their great distast The King also took to Wife Eleoner Daughter of Raymond Earle of Province whereby there grew no profit to his affairs but rather suffered great detriment by reason of her thread-bare and beggarly Family and her poor kindred flocking from all Parts as Crowes to the Prey which nevertheless were highly entertained by the King and enâ—icâ—t with money and placed in Offices of greatest honour and profit and the English â—hrust ouâ— aâ— which â—he Nobles stormed and the people every where much murmured But whilâ—â— the King goes about to overthrow his Subjects Rights which they labour to preserve all the Nobiliâ—y being offended at the promotion of strangers they enter into a Conspiracy The King calls a Paâ—liament The Nobility refuse to be present unless he would command the Bishop of Winchester Peter de Rupâ—bus and all his Gang to forsake the Court threatening withall that unless satisfaction were made to them they would depose the King and drive away all strangers his adherents and choose another King In fine both Sides King and Barons fall to Armes and with various success fight severall fierce and cruell Battels at length at the battel near Lewis after the fall of twenty thousand men The two Kings and the Prince with many Knights and Gentlemen of great account were all taken prisoners by the Barons Then a peace is concluded between them a Parliament being called the King confirmed the Government of the twelve Peers which by Hand and Seal he had assigned them in a former Parliament at Oxford called the Mad Parliament and Prince Edward who was Hostage for his Father is set at liberty But the Prince not enduring to see his Father thus a titular King raiseth a fresh Army and about Evesham near Worcester fights the Barons whom by reason of a mortall jarre between Leicester and Gloucester their two Generalls he overthrows Then the Kings call another Parliament and repeals and nulls all former Decrees touching the Authority of the twelve Peers and thus the King got again the staffe into his own hand by the vertue and valour of his princely son The King much incensed with the Londoners for taking part with the Barons could hardly be disswaded from burning the City but at last the Prince made their peace and after thâ—t marches with an Army to the Holy Land where the King dyes having reigned fifty six years HENRY the III. King of England Duke of Aquitane Earle of Poic tiers and Anjou Lord of Ireland He died at
since Instead of aiming at anothers Crown As did his Father tamely yeelds his own Has Mars begot Clineas then O strange Sure all the world is moulded up of Change And to the Waves we may compare them well One threatens Heaven another sinks to Hell Such is the State of sublunary things Nothing is fixt no not the Throne of Kings Peace out of doubt would be perpetuall But that our sins our sins for battels call HENRY the Fourth King of England THe Crowne of England Richard the deposed King dying without issue did rightfully descend upon Edmund Mortimer Earl of March the Son and Heir of Edmund Mortimer by Philip his Wife who was the Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the Third Yet his Cousin Henry Bullingbrook Duke of Hartford and Son and Heir of Iohn of Gaunt younger brother unto the said Lionel was elected and crowned King forthwith he created his Eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and summoned his high Court of Parliament in which an order was taken for the safe keeping and honourable attendance and maintaining of Richard the late King but his deposing imprisonment and all former proceedings against him were in the same assembly publickly condemned and reproved by Iohn Bishop of Carlile as hatefull unto God traiterous towards the King and infamous among good men for he averred boldly that if he were not a good King yet more wrong was done to him then ordinarily is done to theeves and murtherers because they are not as he was condemned before they had made their answer to the Crime objected before Judges who were indifferent and pronounced their Judgment upon good proof But so soon as he had ended his speech he was attached by the Earl Marshall and committed to strait prisonment in the Abbey of St. Albans and then among many other things in the same Parliament done the Crown of England was entailed to King Henry and his Heirs for ever No sooner was this Parliament ended but a conspiracy of some of the greatest Lords that outwardly made much shew of joy for the high dignity and advancement of King Henry The Confederates were the Kings Cousin Edward Plantaginet Duke of Aumarle and Heir apparent to Edmund of Langley Duke of York Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and Iohn Holland his Brother Duke of Exeter both which were halfe Brothers to King Richard Iohn Montague Earl of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earl of Glocester Sr Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen who was somtime a Chamber-waiter to the deposed King and who both in Stature and in Countenance and Behaviour was not much unlike him The Plot was to take away the Kings Life at solemne jests held at Oxford whither the King was invited and promised there to be present because he supposed that triumph was appointed only for his honour and delight The Treachery was cunningly contrived by the Conspirators who by Indentures under their hands and seals bound themselves each unto other both for secrecy and for the resolute effecting and performing thereof to their utmost power all which they solemnly confirmed by their Oaths The Conspirators all mâ—t at the time and place appointed but the Duke of Aumarle who being at dinner his Father perceiving a Lay-bill hang out of his Bosome took hold of it and drew the whole writing out which being he takes Horse and hasts to the King but the Duke his Son bâ—ing bâ—avely mounted and perceiving his imminent danger posts after and geâ—ting to the King fiâ—st confessed the conspiracy and obtains his pardon The King being thus certified of the Treason turns his journey to the Tower of London where he prepares for his defence He levies a strong power and marcheth against the Traitors But when the Conspirators understood that all the Plot was revealed they attired the said Magdalen in Royall Robâ—s and caused him to affirm himself King Richard and with him and all their Troops which were very warlike and strong they resolve to oppose themselves to the King in the open field But the King speedily marching towards them with 20000 men at the noise of whose approach the Companies under command of the Conspirators cowardly forsook them and left them a prey to the King who took and executed them in severall places some few escaped but over-oppressed with fear and sorrow soon after died The French King his Father in Law resolves to redeem him from imprisonment but ascertained of his death desists Yet for all this King Henry still distrusting the weaknesse of his usurped Title and endeavouring to support it with a more firm foundation entreats Charls the French King to give in marriage his Daughter Isabel somtime King Richards Wife unto his eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales But her Father observing that marriages betwixt Eâ—gland and France were seldome fortunate denied the Kings request whereupon she was honourably sent back into France The Welch and Scots rebell and are overthrown by the Piercies who take many Noble Prisoners which the King demands and is denied In the 3. year of his Reigne the King demands the Scotch Prisoners of the Piercyes but is denied whereupon unkindnesse arose and they extended to joyne with Glendor They get the Earl of Stafford the Arch-Bishop of York a great company of Scots English to joyne with Owen Glendor but before they proceed to Battel they publish an accusation against the King consisting of severall Articles 1. That he usurpt the Crown and murdered the King 2. He unjustly detained the Crown from Edm Mortimer 3. That without any need he oppressed the people with grievous Taxes 4. No justice was to be expected from him who contrary to his coronation oath had in sundry Shires forestalled Elections and procured Burgeships and bestowed them on his own creatures Lastly that he would not release his Cousin Mortimer from Prison For which Treasons they defied him as a Traytor The King with a strong Army fights the Conspirators near Shrewsbury where the King wins the day and the Prince marching against Glendor is forsaken by his Welch and dies of famine in the woods where he hid himself The Duke of Burgoyne attempts to regain Callicâ— in vain Presently another conspiracy is plotted detected and the Traytors executed Lastly the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph rebelled and are taken and beheaded Thus was King Henry's Reign a majesticall misery and a soveraignty of sorrow so having reigned 13. years and 6. months wanting 5 dayes he died and was royally buried at Canterbury The right noble Prince Henry the 4th King of England and Fraunce Lord of Ireland c. Who died at tâ—e age of 46 yeares in Anno 1413. after he had raigned 13 yeares 6 moneths and 4 dayes and lieth buried at Canterbury Was 't not enough thy Cousin's Crown to take And it a prey to thy ambition make But that his Bloud his Royall Bloud must be A Sacrifice too to thy jealousie
a League concluded between England and Scotland and upon the discharge of some Scotch Lords Prisoners in the Tower of London a marriage was promised between Edward and the young Heir of Scotland which afterward was falsified and she married to the French King whereupon the Duke of Somerseâ— with a well provided Army enters Scotland and fought the Scots at Musselburgh and slew of them mâ—re than 14000 amongst whom besides the Lord Lohemore and the Lord Fleming fell almoâ—t all the young Nobillity of Scotland There were taken in fight Earl Huntley Chancellour of Scotland The Lords Hester Hobbey and Hamilton and 1500 more of good account possessing themselves of many strong Forts and Castles with abundant spoile and then betaking themselves homewards they not a little recreated the minds of the dejected Scots by their departure While these things thus fell out in Scotland there happened great alteration in the Ecclesiasticall State at home divers of the Kings Tutors being earnestly bent to a Reformation of Religion and especially the Lord Protector himself and it was therefore Resolved by the Kings Tutors and Counsell that whatsoever King Henry had enacted for the abrogating of the Popes authority should stand in full force and authority whereby the English Church became purged of Popery And what is very memorable the same day that Images and Superstition were thrown out of the Church news was brought of the great victory atchieved upon the Scots at Musselburgh The Popishly affected Stephen Gardiner and bloudy Bonner are committed to the Tower About this time fell out an unlucky difference betwixt the Protector and his Brother which proved the ruine of them both for they both lost their heads This Year Bishop Ridley preached before the King and in his Sermon took occasion to discourse of the necessity of Alms-deeds which the King earnestly attending and laying to heart sent for the Bishop after Sermon and entered into private communication with him causing him to set down in a chair and whether he would or not to put on his hat about relief The King to shew his wonderfull charity appointed severall Hospitalls to which he gave Lands to the value of 600 pounds per annum which had belonged to the Savoy and 4000 Marks a year in mony beside About the beginning of the next year the King fell into lingring sicknesse then into a Hectick Feaver whereof together with a consumption of the Lungs he died at length not without suspicion of poyson And now Northumberland began to devise how he might gain the Crown of England to his posterity he therefore imparts the businesse to the Duke of Suffolk requesting his eldest Daughter Iane to be given in marriage to his son Gilford Dudley then he takes upon him to perswade the King not only to disinherit his two sisters but also by Will to constitute his Cousin the Lady Iane Queen after him which accordingly the good King yeilded preferring the true worship of God before all naturall respects A few dayes before things were thus ordered King Edward not yet 16. years of age sent forth his blessed soul at Greenwich to wit the sixt day of Iuly when he had held the Kingdome under Governours six years five months and nineteen dayes shewing forth even in that tender age blossoms of vertue together with singular piety towards God constancy of mind love of right and an incredible study of Learning Not above three hours before he expired thinking no body had been by he uttered this Prayer Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wreâ—ched life take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosens sake if it be thy will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O my Lord blesse thy people and save thine inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realme from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy Name Soon after he cried out I faint I faint Lord have mercy upon me and take my spirit and so yielded up the Ghost The high and Mighty Monarch Edward the VI. by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defendor of the Earth etc To thee Great King it was a gain to dye Whose death was crown'd with immortality Nor does he erre whoever takes thee for Edward the Saint the Second Confessor Thou that in pious Paths so Even hast trod Art Enoch like translated by thy God Who as thy death does evidently show Lov'd thee too well to leave thee long below Whos 's every act the Vniverse convinces And is a pattern to succeeding Princes When thou of Popery didst the Temple purge Thy Scepter turn'd into thy Saviours scourge MARY Queene of England MARY so soon as she heard of her Brothers death posted to Framingham Castle in Suffolk to whom resorted divers Lords who had formerly compacted to preserve the Romish Religion Then she sent to the Senate of London that they should proclaim her Queen but the Lords in the name of all the people made answer That by the Testament of King Edward Iane was to succeed and they asserted that Maryes mother was divorced whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army marches against Mary but as he proceeds but slowly Maryes Forces increase mightily also Edward Hastings who was set with six Ships to prevent Maryes escape into France revolted to her by which losse the Lords and Londoners were not a little dismayed and grew at odds one with the other and the Londoners proclaimed Mary Queen and Northumberland when he was certain of his friends falling from him that he might not run the hazard alone calls a Counsell at Cambridge and himself for want of an Herauld proclaims Mary Queen of England c. casting his Cap up in token of joy But that did not at all help his Cause for the Earl of Arundell who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Iane now coming to Cambridge in Maryes name takes the Duke and Casts him into Prison he in vain intreating for his life Iane at the Command of the Duke of Suffolk her father when the Case was thus altered layes down the Ensigns of the Kingdome with much more cheerfullnesse then ever she took them up The Queen coming to London met her Sister Elizabeth with 1000 Horse and Thomas of Norfolk Edward Contener Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Somersets Wife which she received into Grace giving them her hand to kisse Then entering upon the Church affairs she abollished those Bishops and Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed setting up others in their roome the people not a little offended at it and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome In the interim
England STephen having now paid his debt to Nature it remained that his Engagements also be discharged to his adopted Heir which in like manner was in a short time performed for Henry Duke of Anjou the Empress Mauds son according to agreement succeeded him in the Throne who with the great applause and generall liking of all men was rightly Crowned at Westminster by the hands of Theobald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He was also Crowned at Lincolne and Thirdly at Worcester Malcome King of Scots joyning with him confederate He behaved himself wisely in the beginning of his Reigne making election of the wisest men he could get for Counsellers he expelled strangers such as came in hope of rapine especially those of Flanders demolishing the Castles that the Nobility had built at the Connivance of King Stephen which they had often abused to sedition The Laws also that were faulty during the War he reduced to their former integrity The Demeans bestowed by King Stephen on such as were unworthy he took away to himself and so spared his subjects from Tribute and Taxes deeming it safer to offend a few then many Singular was the zeal this King bare to the furtherance of Justice and equity for he divided his Kingdom into six several Circuits and for the better administration of Justice together with the tryal of Causes between man and man and for the greater ease and comfort of his subjects he appoynted severall Judges twice in every year to ride those Circuits which course and order is continually observed to this day He also resumed into his own hands the Province of Northumberland together with the Earldome which David King of Scots and Henry his Son had received Giftwise of King Stephen because they should not further intermeddle in the interest of his Mother Maud the Empress to the Crown In the thirteenth year of his Reign he marryed Geofrie one of his younger sons to Constance the daughter and heir apparent to Conaccus Duke of Britain who dyed not long after and left to them that Dutchie He also affied his younger son Richard unto Adela one of the Daughters of Lewis the King of France and marryed his Daughter Maud to Henry Duke of Saxony Much about this time dyed Maud the Empresse his Mother In the Nineteenth year of his Reign for that the Irish Nation attempted to deprive him of certain Territories in that Island left him by his Predecessors he sailed thither with a mighty Army and fought many victorious Battles against Five Kings which at that time reigned there all which he did subdue and made subject to himself and became sole Lord of all that Country and annexed that Title unto his Crown and returned loaden with honours into this Kingdome If he managed all things wisely hitherto now does he shew as much weakness and infirmity making his Son Henry and his Wife Margaret daughter to the French King to be twice solemnly crowned in the presence of his people himself the second time for that day leaving the Title of a King and serving as a sewer at his Sons Table whereat his proud Son made no wonder but publickly affirmed that his Father was thereby no whit dishonoured for that he was only the son of an Empress but he himself was the son both of a King and also of a Queen In the mean time Lewis King of France his father in Law fell to upbraid his pusillanimity that he being entered into the Government and crowned King would permit his father to be equall with him in the Kingdome contenting himself to be a Titular King only he easily enflamed his youthfull mind too ready to be set on fire with unlawful desires This secret Envy began now to break forth into open hate and the son constantly cavilled at every thing the father did or said Nor was the sons horrible ingratitude unknown to the Father wherefore Messengers were sent to Lewis to oppress and extinguish those so sad beginnings of discord But Lewis instead of doing good offices of reconciliation laught at the Embassadors asking them scornfully why they called him Maâ—ter who had freely delivered up his right to his son But these things ended not thus for many jarrs and quarrels arose betwixt King Henry the Father and Lewis the French King which at length were decided by sharp and bloudy Wars In all which most unnaturally Henry Geofry and Iohn and most undutifully Robert Earl of Leicester and Hugh Earl of Chester together with William then King of Scots took part with the French against the King in all which notwithstanding King Henry by noble courage and princely prowesse did still prevaile and upon submission granted pardon to his sons and all their Complices Yet were his sons after grievously punished by God for Henry dyed before his Father in the prime and flower of his youth and Iohn who after was King was poysoned by a Monk in Swinstead Abbey in Lincolnshire Yet these unnaturall Rebellions of his own Children to whom he had been so indulgent a father moved such a passion in his perplexed mind as it suddenly struck him into a Feaver extream dangerous and hearing that his son Richard had raised a new broyl against him he could no longer sustain the wounds of his spirit but within a day or two breathed out his last when he had reigned almost 25 years and was buryed at Fontenward in Normandy The History of this Kings reign approveth him to have been wise learned just politick and valiant save in that over-indulgence to his graceless children and what not a little addeth to the number and splendour of his commendations was that albeit he were often engaged in business some of them concerning his Wars in France Normandy Anjou Ireland and in other places and some of them respecting his Politick Rule and government at home yet he never imposed upon his subjects any extraordinary Tax or payment whatsoever yet left he unto his Successor more than 900000 pounds in silver and gold besides Plate Jewels houshold-stuff and plentifull provision for the War And though in most things prosperity made him happy yet in three things he was unfortunate The 1. was the unnaturall disobedience and revolt of the fruit of his own Loyns The 2. was his unquenchable lust to his inseperable Concubine the beautious Rosamond who being admirably fair and wantonly condition'd too much estranged his affections from Eleanor his renowned Queen and made his desires subject nay slavish to the others wanton Will The 3. was the irreconcileable dissention betwixt him and Thomas Becket the insolent Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The King is accused of his death by the Pope which he denyes upon oath yet the Pope enjoyns him for pennance 3. years War in person in the Holy Land which he redeemed by erecting 3. houses of Religion and to go from London to Canterbury bare-footed to visit Beckets shrine which he did suffer'd himself to be scourg'd by every Monk Thus this King ended all his troubles