St. Bartholomew's Hospital for poor maimed diseased People and Cripples c. 3. Bridewell for imploying and correcting Vagrants Harlots and Idle Persons He was a Comely Person and of a sweet Countenance especially in his Eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness in them In the sixth year of his Reign which was the year before he died he fell sick of the Measels and being fully recovered he rode a Progress with greater magnificence than ever he had done before having in his Train no fewer than four thousand Horse The January following whether procured by sinister Practice or growing upon him by natural infirmity he fell into an indisposition which centred in a Cough of the Lungs Whereupon it was reported that a Poisoned Nosegay had been presented him for a New years Gift which brought him into this slow but mortal Consumption Others said it was done by a vene nous Clyster However it was he grew so ill that his Physicians dispaired of his Life After which a Gentlewoman though to be provided on purpose pretended to cure him but did him much hurt for with her applications his Legs swelled his Pulse failed his skin changed colour and many other symptonis of approaching death appeared An hour before he was overheard to pray thus by himself O Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life 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 Lord God save thy chosen People of England and defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake Then turning his Face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was Praying to God O I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit and in so saying he gave up the Ghost July 6. 1553. in the sixteenth year of his age when he had reigned six years-five months and nine days and was solemnly buried at Westminster Abbey XIII Prince Henry eldest Son to King James I. was the thirteenth Prince of Wales of the Royal Family of England He was born at Sterling Castle in Scotland and in his Childhood gave promising signs of an Heroick and Noble Spirit no Musick being so pleasant to his Ears as the Trumpet and Drum and the roaring of Cannon and no sights so acceptable as that of Musquets Pistols and any kind of Armour and at nine years of age he learned to ride shoot at Archery leap and manage the Pike all which manly exercises he performed to admiration in such young years He was tall of stature about five foot eight inches high of an amiable yet Majestick countenance a piercing Eye a gracious smile and a terrible frown yet courteous and affable to all He was naturally modest and patient and when most offended he would by over-coming himself say nothing very merciful very just and very true to his promises very secret and reserved from his youth He was most zealous in his love to Religion and Piety and his Heart was bent if he had lived to have endeavoured to compound those differences that were among Religious men He shewed his love to good men and hatred of evil in incouraging good Preachers and slighting the vain-glorious in whom above all things he abhorr'd flattery loving and countenancing the good and never speaking of the slothful Preachers without anger and disdain He was very Consciencious of an Oath so that he was never heard to take God's name in vain or any other Oaths that may seem light much less such horrible Oaths as are now too common He never failed to sacrifice daily the first of his actions to God by Prayers and Devotions He was so resolved to continue immutable in the Protestant Religion that long before his death he solemnly protested That he would never join in Marriage with a Wife of a contrary Faith for he hated Popery with all the Adjuncts and Adherents thereof yet he would now and then use particular Papists kindly thereby shewing that he hated not their Persons but Opinions He was obedient to his Parents careful in the affairs of his Family and Revenue loving and kind to Strangers and in a word he had a certain extraordinary excellency that cannot be exprest in words In the nineteenth year of his age he was visited with a continual Head-ach and had two small Fits of an Ague which were afterward followed with very had symptoms which daily increasing Dr. Abbot then Archbishop of Canterbury went to visit him and finding the extream danger he was in discourst to him of the vanity of the World the certainty of Death and the Joys of Heaven asking his Highness whether he were well pleased to die now if it were the Will of God he replied Yes with all my Heart farther declaring That he hoped for the pardon of his sins only from the merits of Christ In his best moments he continued in a Christian frame of Spirit and Novemb. 6. 1612. quietly yielded up his Spirit to his blessed Saviour and Redeemer being attended with as many Prayers Tears and strong Cries as ever any Soul was XIV After his death Charles his Younger Brother succeeded being the fourteenth Prince of Wales and afterward King of England by the Title of King Charles I. XV. Charles the eldest Son of Charles I. was the fifteenth and last Prince of Wales of the Royal Family of England and after King of England by the Title of King Charles II. I have been very brief in relating the Actions of several of the Princes of Wales having already given an account of them in some other Books which I have formerly published As for instance In a Book called Admirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in every County in England in the Remarks upon the County of Glocester you may find all the particulars of the Murther of King Edward the second In another called Historical Remarks upon the Cities of London and Westminster there is a full Relation of the deposition and miserable death of King Richard II. In another intituled The young Man's Calling or the whole Duty of Youth the Lives of King Edward VI. and Prince Henry Son to King James I. are related at large In another called England's Monarchs is an account of the Lives and Actions of all the Kings of England from William the Conqueror to this time and among them of those Princes of Wales who were after Kings of England and are mentioned in the preceeding Remarks In another called The Wars of England c. There is a full account of the Life of King Charles I. with his Trial and Death In another called The History the two late Kings is a Relation of the Life and Death of King Charles II. To
them without any stop till they came within view of the English Colours King Edward having implored the aid of the Almighty full of hopes of obtaining Victory without the least disturbance of mind divided his Army into three Bodies The Front was commanded by the young Lion of Wales our brave Prince Edward assisted with several of the most experienced Generals consisting of Eight Hundred Men at Arms Two Thousand Archers and a Thousand Welshmen The second Battalian was commanded by the Earls of Northampton and Arundel with other Lords being Eight Hundred Men at Arms and One Thousand Two Hundred Archers The third and last being about Seven Hundred men at Arms and Three Thousand Archers with the rest of the Nobility the King led himself and being mounted upon a white Hobby he Rid through the several Ranks reviving and incouraging his Souldiers with cheerful words to fight like Men for his Right and their Honour He then ordered the Rear of the Army to be Barricado'd with Trees and Carriages and likewise commanded the Troopers to dismount and leave their Horses behind them so that all means of flight being taken away they must now resolve either to Conquer or Die. In King Philip's Army were the King of Bohemia the King of Majorca the Duke of Lorrain the Duke of Savoy the Earls of Flanders Nevers Sancerre with many other Dukes Earls Barons and Gentlemen Volunteers both French Dutch and Germans and just the Night before the Battel Ann of Savoy joined him with a Thousand Men at Arms So that all things seemed to conspire to elate the French Pride and assure them of Victory They divided their Army likewise into three Battalia's The Van was led by the Duke of Alonson the King's Brother and the King of Bohemia The Reer by the Duke of Savoy And the main Battel the King Commanded himself He was so impatient of delays that He would scarce stay to call a Council of War to consider how to manage the Fight He likewise caused the Banner of Auriflamb to be erected which was of red Silk and Hallowed by the Pope of which the French had as high an opinion as if it had fallen from Heaven The King of Bohemia hearing of the posture of the English Army contrary to the proud conceit of the French said Here will the English end their Days or Conquer A little before the Fight happened a very terrible Tempest of Thunder and Rain and a bright Rain-bow appeared in the Heavens And soon after the Sun broke forth shining full in the Faces of the French and on the Back of the English and at the same time great numbers of Ravens and other Birds of Prey flew over the French Army All which accidents were judged ominous and presaging mischief to the Enemy The signal of Battel being given by King Philip it was entertained by a shout from his Army the Drums beat the Trumpets sounded Banners flew in the Air Glittering Swords were seen threatning Death and Destruction and all the horrors of War appeared in their most dismal Colours The ruine of the French began at the Genoeses who being all Cross-Bow Men were ordered to open a way for the French Horse but it happened that their Bow-strings being Wet by the late great Shower and their Bodies weary with a long March after the English had received the first Volley of their Arrows with their Targets their Ranks were opened in many places by the fall of their slain Fellows who were kill'd by the English Bowmen and at length most outragiously scattered and trampled under foot by the Duke of Alanson by Command of the King himself who bringing up the Horse in a full Career cried out On on let us make our way upon the Bellies of these Genoeses who do but hinder us And instantly Rides through the midst of them followed by the Dukes of Lorrain and Savoy never staying till they came to that Body of the English commanded by the Gallant Prince of Wales These French Gallants half out of breath with their Post haste and terribly disordered by the perpetual Storms of our Whistling Arrows came now to handy strokes with the Princes Squadron with Battle Axes Swords and Lances The Fight was very bloody while each earnestly contended for Victory The old King of Bohemia resolving to dye honourably thrust himself into the first Ranks of his own Horsemen and furiously charging the English he was slain with Sword in hand the Troop of his faithful Followers with their slaughtered Bodies covering him even in Death and his fate was soon perceived by the fall of the Bohemian Standard King Philip in Person with a strong Party hastened to the relief of his Brother and Friends who were also much distrest by the English Valour and great numbers slain though the Prince of Wales was in danger in the encounter had not his Souldiers rusht in couragiously among their Enemies for the preservation of their worthy Prince King Edward stood all this while upon Windmill-Hill with his Helmet on which he never pull'd off till the Fight was ended judiciously surveying the whole Field of Battel to observe the success being ready to bring down his Party which lay hovering like a Black Cloud where necessity should require In the mean time the brave Prince of Wales was contending with the whole power of France whereupon some of his Generals seeing the great inequality and doubting the worst they sent to the King requesting his assistance The King asked the Messenger whether his Son were slain or hurt who replied No he was safe but like to be over powered by the multitude of his Enemies Well then said the King go back to them that sent you and tell them that so long as my Son is alive they send no more to me whatever happen for I design that the honour of this day shall be his if God permit him to survive and am resolved that he shall either win the Spurs or lose his life This resolution of the King 's though it brought no assistance yet seemed to inspire new Life and Spirits into the English so that they fought like Lions On the otherside King Philip whose Kingdom lay at Stake performed the Duty of a good General and a gallant Souldier fighting so long in his own Person till his Horse was killed under him himself twice dismounted and wounded both in the Neck and Thigh and in danger of being trodden to death had not the Earl of Beaumont rescued and remounted him and the French out of their Loyalty to save him almost against his Will conveyed him out of the Field who seemed rather desirous to end his days in such noble Company His departure was quickly known to both Armies and as suddenly put an end to this bloody Carnage wherein hitherto none had quarter but were all put to the Sword The French King himself with a small Company fled to Bray in the Night and approaching the Walls the Guard demanded who was there
a Tyrant but be sure that thou take great care to redress the Grievances of thy Subjects and severely punish those that wrong them Hereby shalt thou gain the Englishmen's Hearts and reign prosperously for so long as they freely enjoy their Liberties and Estates thou may'st be sure of their Loyalty and Obedience but if thou strive to slave or impoverish them they will certainly rebel against thee for such is their nature that they will rather chuse to dye Freemen than to live Slaves and Beggars Therefore if thou Govern thein with a mixture of love and fear thou wilt be King over the most Pleasant and Fruitful Countrey and the most Loving Faithful and Valiant People in the World whereby thou wilt be a terror to all thine Enemies My Son when it shall please God to take me out of the World which is the Common Lot of all men I must leave my Crown and Kingdom to thee and I would earnestly advise thee that of all things thou wilt avoid Pride neither be thou bewitcht with worldly honour so as to be exalted in thine own imagination but always remember that the higher thy Dignity is so much greater is the burden that lyes upon thee for the security of thy Kingdom and of every particular Subject therein as being like the Head and Heart in the Body from whence all the Members receive Life and Nourishment Whereby thy People finding they receive so many benefits from thee will be always ready to assist and defend thee for their own preservation as the Members do the Head and Heart But above all things be careful to serve God sincerely and ascribe to him the Glory of all thy Successes against thine Enemies as coming from his goodness and not any merit of thine These and many other good Instructions the King gave to his Son And soon after being at his Prayers at St. Edward's Shrine in Westminster-Abbey he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexy and thereupon removed to the Abbot of Westminster's House where recovering himself and finding he was in a strange place he asked where he was and being told in the Abbot's House in a Chamber called Jerusalem where an Astrologer had formerly told him he should dye He said Nay then I am sure I shall dye though he before thought it would have been in Palestine and was therefore preparing to make a Voyage thither And here he died indeed March 20. 1413. It is observable that during his sickness he always required to have his Crown set upon his Bolster by him and one of his Fits being so strong upon him that all thought him absolutely dead the Prince coming in took away the Crown when suddenly the King recovering his senses and missing it was told the Prince had taken it who being called came back with the Crown and kneeling down said Sir to all our Judgments and to all our griefs you seemed directly dead and therefore I took the Crown as my Right but seeing to all our comforts you live I here deliver it more joyfully than I took it and pray God you may long live to wear it your self Well said the King sighing what Right I had to it God knows But says the Prince If you dye King my Sword shall maintain it to be my Right against all Opposers Well replied the King I leave all to God and then turning about said God bless thee and have mercy upon me And with these words he gave up the Ghost After his Father's Death the Prince was Proclaimed King by the name of Henry V. and proved a better Man of a King than a Subject for till then he was not in his right Orb and therefore no marvel he was exorbitant Those that have taken the height of him parallell'd him with Alexander for Magnanimity and Caesar for his being Invincible and Affectation of Glory but he had something of Caesar that Alexander the Great had not That he would not be Drunk nor Intemperate and something of Alexander that Caesar had not That he would not be flattered and both were short of him in this that Conquering others they could not Conquer themselves but even when they were Lords of the World became Slaves to their own Passions He advanced the former Title of the Right of the Kings of England to the Kingdom of France and sent Ambassadors to King Charles VI. to demand a peaceable surrender of that Crown to him offering to accept his fair Daughter Katherine with the Kingdom and to expect no other Pledge for his Possession till after Charles's Death But the French King being sick his Son the Dauphin who managed the Government instead of another answer scornfully sent the King a Present of Tennis Balls as an intimation that his Youth was better acquainted with the use of them than of Bullets The King whose Wit was as Keen as his Sword returned him this answer That in requital of his fine Present of Tennis Balls it should not be long e're he would toss such Iron Balls amongst them that the best Arm in France should not be able to hold a Racket against them Neither was he worse than his word though his Army seemed very disproportionate for so great a work being only as some Write nine thousand Horse and Foot with which small number he met with the French Army at a place called Agencourt where though the Enemy were above five to one he fought them with such resolution that he took more Prisoners than his own Forces consisted of and kill'd ten thousand of them the Dauphin himself dying soon after of grief with the loss only of six hundred English nay one Author says of not above twenty six in all which made the Victory almost miraculous And which the Religious young King was so sensible of that he caused the Clergy in his Army to sing that Psalm of David When Israel went out of Egypt c and the Souldiers in their Arms responded at every Verse Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be all the Glory And upon his return to England with his Prisoners he commanded that no Ballad or Song should be sung but those of Thank sgiving to God for his happy Victory and Safe return without any reflections upon the French or extolling the English Valour Soon after he returned back to France where many great Cities and Towns were Surrendred to him and the French being unable to make any resistance at length a Treaty of Peace is concluded and he married his beloved Lady Katherine Daughter to the French King Charles being Proclaimed Regent of France during that King's Life and Heir Apparent to that Crown after King Charles his Death He was tall of Stature lean of Body and his Bones small but strongly made somewhat long Neckt black Hair'd and of a very comely Countenance So swift in running that he with two of his Lords would run down a Wild Buck or Doe in a Park He delighted in Songs and Musical Instruments