eight and lived fifty nine years and was murthered in the Tower of London in 1472. VII Edward the only Son of King Henry VI. by Queen Margaret Daughter to the King of Sicily was the seventh Prince of Wales of the Royal Blood of England He Married Anne the Daughter of Richard Nevil called the Great Earl of Warwick After his Father's Army was defeated by King Edward IV. at Tauton Field in Yorkshire he with his Mother were sent into France to pray aid from that King This Battel was the bloodiest that ever England saw King Henry's Army consisting in threescore thousand and King Edward's in about forty thousand men of which there fell that day thirty seven thousand seven hundred seventy six Persons no Prisoners being taken but the Earl of Devonshire Afterward the Queen returns from France with some Forces but before her coming King Edward had defeated the Earl of Warwick who with some other Lords had raised a Party for her assistance at Barnet wherein near ten thousand were slain So that when it was too late she landed at Weymouth and from thence went to Bewly Abbey in Hampshire where the Duke of Somerset the Earl of Devonshire and divers other Lords came to her resolving once more to try their Fortune in the Field The Queen was very desirous that her Son Edward Prince of Wales should have returned to France there to have been secure till the success of the next Battel had been tried but the Lords especially the Duke of Somerset would not consent to it so that she was obliged to comply with them though she quickly repented it From Bewly she with the Prince and the Duke of Somerset goes to Bristol designing to mise what men they could in Glocestershire and to march into Wales and join Jasper Earl of Pembroke who was there assembling more Forces K. Edward having intelligence of their Proceedings resolves to prevent their conjunction and follows Queen Margaret so diligently with a great Army that near Tewksbury in Glocestershire he overtakes her Forces who resolutely turn to ingage him The Duke of Somerset led the Van and performed the part of a Valiant Commander but finding his Soldiers through weariness begin to faint and that the Lord Wenlock who commanded the main Battel moved not he rode up to him and upbraiding his treachery with his Pole-ax instantly knockt out his Brains but before he could bring this Party to relieve the Van they were wholly defeated the Earl of Devonshire with above three thousand of the Queens Men being slain the Queen her self John Beufort the Duke of Somerset's Brother the Prior of St. John's Sir Jervas Clifton and divers others were taken Prisoners All whom except the Queen were the next day Beheaded At which time Sir Rich. Crofts presented to King Edward King Henry's Son Edward Prince of Wales To whom King Edward at first seemed indifferent kind but demanding of him how he durst so presumptuously enter into his Realm with Arms The Prince replied though truly yet unseasonably To recover my Father's Kingdom and my Inheritance Thereupon King Edward with his hand thrust him from him or as some say struck him on the Face with his Gauntlet and then presently George Duke of Clarence Thomas Grey Marquess Dorset and the Lord Hastings standing by fell upon him in the place and murthered him Others write that Crook-back'd Richard ran him into the Heart with his Dagger His Body was Buried with other ordinary Corps that were slain in the Church of the Monastery of the Black Friars in Tewksberry VIII Edward eldest Son of King Edward IV. was the eighth Prince of Wales of the English Royal Blood Of whose short Reign and miserable Death there is an account in a Book called England's Monarchs IX Richard only Son of King Richard III. was the ninth Prince of Wales His Mother was Ann the second Daughter of Richard Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick and Widow of Prince Edward Son of King Henry VI. aforementioned who was Married to King Richard though she could not but be sensible that he had been the Author both of her Husband's and Father's Death but womens Affections are Diametrically opposite to common apprehensions and generally governed by Passion and Inconstancy This Prince was born of her at Midleham near Richmond in the County of York At four years old he was created Earl of Salisbury by his Uncle King Edward IV. At ten years old he was created Prince of Wales by his Father King Richard III. but died soon after X. Arthur eldest Son to King Henry VII was the tenth Prince of Wales of the Royal English Families He was born at Winchester in the second year of his Father's Reign When he was about fifteen years old his Father proposed a Marriage for him with the Princess Katherine Daughter to Ferdinando King of Spain which being concluded the Lady was sent by her Father with a gallant Fleet of Ships to England and arrived at Plymouth Soon after the Princess was openly espoused to Prince Arthur they were both clad in white he being fifteen and she eighteen years of age At night they were put together in one Bed where they lay as Man and Wife all that Night When morning appeared the Prince as his Servants about him reported called for Drink which was not usual with him Whereof one of his Bed-Chamber asking him the cause he merrily replied I have been this Night in the midst of Spain which is a hot Country and that makes me so dry Though some write that a grave Matron was laid in Bed between them to hinder actual Consummation The Ladie 's Dowry was two hundred thousand Duckets and her Jointure the third part of the Principality of Wales Cornwal and Chester At this Marriage was great Solemnity and Roval Justings Prince Arthur after his Marriage was sent into Wales to keep his Country in good Order having several prudent and able Counsellors to advise with but within five Months after he died at his Castle at Ludlow and with great solemnity was Buried in the Cathedral of Worcester He was a very ingenious and learned Prince for though he lived not to be sixteen years old yet he was said to have read over all or most of the Latin Fathers besides many others Some attribute the shortness of his Life to his Nativity being born in the eighth month after Conception XI Henry the second Son to King Henry VII was the eleventh Prince of Wales of the Royal English Line He was born at Greenwich in Kent After the Death of his eldest Brother Prince Arthur the Title of Prince of Wales was by his Father's Order not given to him but his own only of Duke of York till the Women could certainly discover whether the Lady Katherine were with Child or not But after six months when nothing appeared he had his Title bestowed upon him and King Henry being loth to part with her great Portion prevailed with his Son Henry though not without some
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
very great plenty The antient Inhabitants were the Ordovices as the Romans named them who being armed with want and cold were made bold against the force of their Enemies and continued longest free both from the Roman and English Dominion This Shire is 31 Miles long and 17 broad and in circuit 114. The Mountains abound with Oxen Sheep and Goats The middle of it hath a Valley 17 miles long and five broad lying open to the Sea incompassed on all other sides by Hills among which the hiâ—hest is Moilleally Hill on the top whereof is a Fort â—â—d Warlike Trench and a spring of clear Water From these Mountains the River Cluyd riseth runs into the Valley in the Parish of Llan-sanan in the side of a stony Hill there are 24 seats cut out of the main Rock some bigger than others where youth come to tend their Cattel make their sports which to this day is called Arthur's round Table After the beheading of David brother to Luellin the last P. of Wales for High Treason K. Ed. I. bestowed the Town of Denbigh upon Hugh Lacy E. of Lincoln who fortified it with a strong Wall a fair Castle and several high Towers but had not fully finished the Work before his only Son was drowned in a Well therein which caused the sorrowful Father to leave it off and proceed no farther This Town is reckoned the most beautiful in all North-Wales and this is remarkable that in 1575. a great Earthquake which much terrified the People and damaged the Cities of York Worcester Glocester Bristol Hereford and the parts adjacent and caused the Bell in the Shire Hall of Denbigh to Toll twice with shaking of the Earth yet no farther mischief happened This Town is Governed by two Aldermen two Bayliffs 25 Burgesses a Recorder a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants at Mace Wrexham in this County is much admired for the Church which is a fair and spacious structure having a stately Tower or Steeple without and a fine Organ within it being built according to the most exact Rules of Architecture Holt Castle in this County was formerly in the possession of William Lord Stanley whose ready Money and Plate therein besides Jewels and Rich Housholdstuff amounted to four thousand Marks got by the plunder of Bosworth Field where King Richard III. was slain but this Lord upon discontent afterward conspiring against King Henry VII was beheaded for High Treason and it was all confiscated to the King's Exchequer Leoline ap Lleuellin was born in this Shire and made Bishop of St. Asaph by King Edward I. At his death he left a great Estate besides Plate rich Vests and Books to the Canons of that Church and his Chaplains dying in 1313. Godfrey Goodman was born of wealthy Parents in this County and afterward Bishop of Glocester yet was no friend to the Reformation constantly complaining of the first Reformers amongst whom he noted Bishop Ridley as a very odd man One present My Lord says he Ridley was a very odd manindeed for all the Popish Party in England could not match him with his equal in Learning and Religion He died a Roman Catholick and left most of his Estate to pious uses His Uncle Gabriel Goodman was Dean of Westminster for 40 years and the Bible was translated into Welsh at his cost He founded a School and an Almshouse for 12 poor People at Ruthen with a competent Salary He purchased a fair house at Cheswick in Middlesex wherewith his own hands he planted a fair row of Elmes for a retiring place to the Masters and Scholars of Westminster School He imployed Mr. Camden to make an actual Survey of all England at his expence He died 1601. and was buried in Westminster Abbey Sir Hugh Middleton was born at Denbigh and bred in London This is that worthy Knight who fetcht into London the New River Water at his own cost more than 24 Miles encountring all the way with an Army of oppositions grapling with Hills strugling with Rocks and fighting with Forests till in defiance of difficulties he had brought his Project to perfection Robert Earl of Leicester in the reign of Q. Elizabeth by his bounty advanced the building of a new Church in Denbigh Denbigh In 1660. a very great Well in Chick-Town was dried up Richard Clough born at Denbigh was a Chorister at Chester whence he removed to London where he was Apprentice to and after Partner with Sir Tho. Gresham Having lived some time at Antwerp he travelled to Jerusalem where he was made Knight of the Holy Sepulchre Some affirm that he disbursed several thousands of pounds in building the Royal Exchange and that it was agreed betwixt them the Survivor should be Heir to the other on which account they say Sir Tho. Gresham carried away the main of the Estate He gave 100 pound a year to the Free-School in Denbigh besides his Benefaction to the New Church there This County is divided into twelve Hundreds had formerly 5 Castles hath 3 Market-Towns Denbigh Ruthen and Wrexham and 57 Parish-Churches It gives the Title of Earl to L. Feilding FLINTSHIRE hath Cheshire on the East the Sea on the North Shropshire on the South and Denbighshire on the West It is the least Country of Wales not so mountainous as other parts but lies pleasantly along by the River Dee The Air is healthful and the Soil plentiful of Corn and Cattel the Rivers abound with Fish There are not many Woods or Trees in this as well as other parts of Wales the frequent Rebellions of the Inhabitants having occafioned the English to make great devastations of them to prevent their being the retreats of these unquiet people Fruits are not very common but of Milk Butter Cheese and Honey there is plenty Of the last of which they make great quantities of a Drink like Muscadine called Metheglin There were formerly several strong Castles in this Shire as Flint Hawarden or Harden Treer Rudland Mold Yowley and Hope the first was the most famous being founded by K. Henry 2. and finished by K. Edward the first Afterward K. Richard 2. going over to Ireland to suppress the Rebels there his Uncle Henry Duke of Lancaster returning from his Banishment into England at the same time and being joyned by several of the Barons who were much displeased at K. Richard's Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government raised an Army of 60000 Men against him The King returned in hope to suppress this Insurrection and coming to Flint-Castle the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Northumberland were sent to him from the D. of Lancaster to whom K. Richard made a Proposition That if himself and eight more whom he would name might have an honourable allowance with the assurance of enjoying peaceably a quiet life he would resign his Crown This the Earl of Northumberland assured him should be performed whereupon the King surrendred himself into the Duke's hands When K. Richard came first to this Castle they let loose one of his
are these that follow 1. Idwallo in the year of Christ 688. called Iror the Son of Alan 2. Roderick 3. Conan 4. Mervyn 5. Roderick Sirnamed the Great who left Wales between his three Sons allotting unto each his part the Country being divided into North-Wales South-Wales and Powys-Land which had their several Lords and Princes North-Wales fell to the share of Amarawd the eldest Son of Roderick Mawr or the Great the last King thereof with a superiority of Power over both the rest who were but Homagers to this It containeth the County of Merioneth part of Denbigh Flint Carnarvan and the Isle of Anglesey which being the more Mountainous Parts and of difficult access consequently preserved their Liberty longest and do still keep their Language from the Incursions of the English Aberfraw in the Isle of Anglesey was the Princes Palace who were thence sometimer called Kings of Aberfraw South-Wales in the division of the Country fell to Cadel the second Son comprehending the Counties of Glamorgan Pembroke Carmarthen Cardigan and part of Brecknock which though the richâ—â— and most fruitful part of Wales yet Pembrokâ— and Brecknock having their several Kings there remained only Cardigan and Carmarthen under the immediate subjection of the Princes of South-Wales whose principal Seat was at Dynefar or Dynevor Castle not far from Carmarthen who thence were called by their Subjects the Kings of Dynevor Powys-land was bestowed by Roderick upon his youngest Son Mervyn containing the Counties of Montgomery and Radnor with part of Denbigh Brecknock Merioneth and Shropshire His chief Palace was Matraval in Montgomeryshire from whence the Princes thereof were so called This Countrey continued in the Line of Mervyn a long time together but much afflicted and dismembred by the Princes of North-Wales who cast a greedy eye upon it The last that held it entire was Meredith who left it to his two Sons Madoc and Griffith of which Madock died at Winchester in 1160. and Griffith was by King Henry I. created Lord Powys the residue of Powys-land which pertained to Madock depending still upon the fortune of North-Wales In these several Divisions were different Kings and Princes who long strugled with the Saxons for their Liberties But because we find very little mention of their Actions in our Chronicles I shall proceed with the History of the Saxons and Danes and afterward give an account of the actions of some of the Welsh Kings and Princes till that Principality was wholly subdued to the Crown of England The Saxons according to the common fate of Conquerours after they had subdued their Enemies disagreed among themselves and several of their Princes incroached upon the Territories of each other and so became petty Monarchs of some part of Britain These were reckoned to be â—ourteen in number till at last Egbert the eighteenth King of the West Saxons got command over all the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons and so became sole Monarch of England which none of his Predecessors before ever obtained He had War fourteen years with the Cornish and Welch and took West-chester their chief hold from them making a strict Law against any Welcoman that should pass over Offa's Dike or set one Foot within his English Dominions He slew Bernulf King of Mercis in Battel and drove the King of Kent out of his Kingdom The East Angles and East Saxons submitted to him and likewise the South Saxons whereupon he caused himself to be crowned absolute Monarch at Winchester And this Monarchy continued in the Saxons till the Danes first got and then lost it again and the Saxons Issue failing upon their next entrance it then fell to the Normans as by the Sequel will appear In the fourteenth year of Egbert the Danes with thirty three Ships landed in England to whom he gave Battle but had the worst of the day losing two of his chief Captains and two Bishops but the Danes returning two years after into Wales and joyning with the Welch Egbert overcame both Danes and Welch together Ethelwolph his Son succeeded after whom reign'd Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelred and then Alfred in whose time the Danes under Roll a Nobleman came over with a great Army but by the Valour of Alfred were beaten This virtuous Prince divided the twenty four hours of the Day and Night into three equal parts which he observed by the burning of a Taper set in his Chapel Clocks and Watches being not then in use Eight hours he spent in Contemplation Reading and Prayer other eight for his Repose and the Necessaries of Life and the other eight in Affairs of State He divided the Kingdom into Shires Hundreds and Tythings for the better Administration of Justice and suppressing of Robbers and Felons which had so good effect that the People might Travel with all manner of security yea saith my Author if Bracelets of Gold had been hung in the High-ways none durst have presumed to have taken them away He commanded all his Subjects who possessed two Hides of Land to bring up their Sons in Learning till they were at least fifteen years old asserting That he accounted a man Free born and yet Illiterate to be no better than a Beast a Sot and a Brainless Creature Neither would he admit any into Office that were not so He translated the Holy Gospel into the Saxon Tongue was devout in the Service of God and a great Protector of Widows and Orphans Edward his eldest Son succeeded him against whom his Nephew Ethelwald rebelled His Sister Elfleda had very hard Travel of her first Child whereupon she ever after forbore the Nuptial Embraces alledging it to be an over-foolish Pleasure which occasioned such bitter Pains and listing her self a Souldier under her Brother she performed many valiant exploits against the Danes against whom Edward obtained a great Victory near Wolverhampton wherein two of their Kings were slain with many of the Nobility and a multitude of Common Souldiers which procured him both Fear and Love from the People After his death Ethelstane reigned who is said to be the first Anointed King of this Island He enlarged his Dominions farther than he received them He overthrew Godfrey the Danish King of Northumberland Howell King of Wales and Constantine King of Scotland forcing them to submit to his pleasure after which he again restored them to their Dignities glorying That it was more Honour to make a King than to be a King These actions procured him much renown from his Neighbour Princes who courted his Friendship and sent him curious Presents Othy the Emperor who married his Sister sent him a curiosity richly set with Precious Stones very artificially contrived wherein were Land-skips with Vines Corn and men seeming so naturally to move as if they had been real The King of Norway sent him a sumptuous Ship richly guilt with Purple Sails The King of France sent him a Sword which was said to have been Constantine's the Great the Hilt whereof was all of Gold and therein as they
after murdered as he was easing Nature by Edrick and his Head presented to Canutus who though he loved the Treason yet commanded the Traytor to be beheaded By the Death of Edmund the Saxon Monarchy came to a Period for Canutus after his Death seised upon the other half of England none being able to withstand whereby the Danes made themselves sole Masters of this Island after it had been in possession of the Saxons about 566 Years The English Nobles owning Canutus for their lawful King and swearing Fealty to him at his Coronation at London in the year of Christ 1017. Though Canutus had never the better Opinion of them considering that most of them had sworn Allegiance to Edmund their Natural Sovereign and likewise that they were English Natives He therefore judged them treacherous Persons and used them accordingly for some he banished others he beheaded and many by the Just Judgment of Heaven died sudden Deaths Canutus to establish his Government called a Parlaiment of Bishops Lords and Barons in London wherein many laws were ordained and among others this following We admonish diligently all Christian Men that they do always love God with an inward heart and be diligently obedient to Divine Teachers and do subtilly search God's Learning and Laws often and daily to the profit of themselves And we warn that all Christian men do learn to know at least-wise the right Belief and a right to understand the Lord's Prayer and the Creed for that with the one every Christian man should pray unto God and with the other shew forth right Belief He also ordained in another Parliament at Oxford That both English and Danes should observe the laws made by King Edgar as judging them to be above all others most just and reasonable He married Emma the Widow of King Etheldred and Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy with this Condition That the Issue of her Body by him should inherit the Kingdom of England He went to Rome to complain of the excessive Extortions of the Pope from the English Archbishops upon receiving their Palls And having reigned twenty Years over England he died Notwithstanding the former Agreement yet Harold the Son of Canutus by Elgina his first Wife in the absence of Hardiknute the Son of Queen Emma succeeded his Father and the better to secure himself he by the assistance of the treacherous Earl Goodwin who had married Canutus's Daughter endeavours to get into his Power Edward and Alfred the two Sons of Queen Emma by King Etheldred whom he knew had more Right than himself and to that purpose they counterfeit a Letter in Emma's name whom Harold had abused and robbed of her Jewels the Contents whereof were to this purpose EMMA in Name only Queen to Edward and Alfred her Sons sends Motherly Greetings Whilst we severally bewail the death of our Sovereign my Lord and your Father and your selves Dear Sons are still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdoms of your lawful Inheritance I much wonder what you intend to do since you know that delays in Attempts give the Usurper more leisure to lay his Foundation and more safely to fix thereon his intended Building never ceasing to post from Town to City to make the Lords and Rulers thereof his Friends by Threats Prayers or Rewards But notwithstanding his Policy yet they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Native Countrey-men to reign over them than this Danish Usurper Therefore my advice is That either of you do with all speed repair to me that we may advise together what is to be done in this so great an Enterprise Fail not therefore but send me word by this Messenger what you intend to do herein And so fare ye well Your Affectionate Mother Emma Messengers being sent to Normandy with this Letter they met only with Alfred Edward being gone into Hungaria to whom delivering their Message he was very joyful and made all possible hast to England accompanied with divers Norman Gentlemen and arriving at Southampton was received by the villanous Earl Goodwin with much pretended Kindness and Friendship who made as if he would bring him to London but being come to Gilford in Surrey Goodwin commanded his men to kill all Alfred's Company and then carrying him to the Isle of Ely ordered his Eyes to be put out Then opening his Body they took out his Bowels and fastning one end of his Guts to a Stake they drove him round it with Iron Darts and Needles till all his Bowels came clear away Thus died innocent Alured or Alfred the true Heir to the Crown by the Treachery of Godwin to the great disgust of the English Nobility who vowed Revenge This Harold called Harefoot for his great swiftness did not long enjoy his usurped Dominion for after four years he died After which Hardiknute the Son of Canutus and Queen Emma who was by his Father made King or Denmark is now by the States of the Land both Danes and English invited over hither to take upon him the Government He was a great Oppressor of the English by heavy Taxes which so enraged them that two of his Collectors were slain at Worcester for which their City was burnt and their Bishop Alfred expelled his Office till with Money he had purchased his peace Though this King was very vicious yet it is said he was more kind to Edward his Half-brother and made Earl Godwin purge himself for the death of Prince Alfred though it is thought his bountiful Gifts to the King prevailed much more for clearing him than his Innocence One present especially is very remarkable that is A Ship whose Stern was of Gold and fourscore Soldiers all richly habited within her on their Heads they all wore guilt Burgonets and on their Bodies a triple gilt Harbergeon about their Wasts Swords girt richly guilt a Danish Battle-ax on their left Shoulders a Target with gilt Bosses on their left Hand a Dart in their right and upon their Arms Bracelets of Gold of great Value After two years Reign Hardiknute died in the midst of his drunken Debaucheries and in him ended the Danish Race in England three Kings only of that Nation Reigning here This third Conquest was but of a short continuance yet were the Danes very insolent toward the English during that time for if an Englishman and a Dane met at a Bridge or at a Door the Englishman must stand still till the Dane past by and if he did not then bow down very low to the Dane he was certainly beaten and abused Yea it is related That while the English were drinking the Danes would stab them or cut their Throats to prevent which when the Englishman drank he desired his next Companion to be his Surety or Pledge from whence it is said the Custom of Pledging one another did first arise For these and abundant greater Insolencies after the Death of Hardiknute the Danes were utterly driven out of England and never again returned
Edward called the Confessor succeeded next in 1042. who was an absolute Englishman and the youngest Son of Etheldred and Queen Emma being invited from Normandy by all the English Nobility who disdained the Danish Subjection and was entertained with great Joy He first remitted that heavy Danish Tax of Forty thousand pound a year called Dane gilt imposed by his Father and paid forty years by all but the Clergy who are exempted Because the Kings reposed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church than in the Power of Armies It is reported Edward forgave that Tax upon this occasion A great Sum of that Treasure being brought into his Chamber and laid in a heap he being called to see it was at first sight much affrighted protesting he saw the Devil dancing with great Joy upon the same and therefore commanded it should be again restored to his Subjects and released them from it for ever after He married Editha Earl Godwin's Daughter but never had any Conjugal Society with her though she was a Lady accomplished with all excellent Endowments both of Mind and Body so that this old Veâ—â—â—â—â— written on her Sicut Spina Rosam Genuit Goduinus Editham From prickled Stalk as sweetest Rose So Editha fair from Godwin grows Edward himself confessed upon his Death-bed That openly she was his Wife but in secret Embracings as his own Sister But whether it were Infirmity or Chastity it seems he was willing to have her accused of Incontinency whereof if she were guilty he could not be innocent it being a great injury to put his Wives vertue to so Tyrannical a trial After this some differences arose between him and Earl Godwin and Forces were raised on both sides but by the Intercession of the Nobility an Agreement was made Yet Godwin escaped not Divine Vengeance for being charged by the King for the Munder of Alfred he wished if he were guilty he might never swallow down a bit of Bread again which happened accordingly for the first bit of Bread he put into his Mouth choaked him as he sate with the King at Table A dreadful Instance of God's Severity against Perjury This King is blamed for his Cruelty to his Mother in forcing her to pass over nine burning Plow shares bare-foot and blind-fold for a Trial of her Continency which yet she performed without the least damage He is said to be the first King that cured the Disease called the King's-Evil It is related that this King lying on his Bed one Afternoon with the Curtains drawn a pilfering Courtier coming into his Chamber and finding the King's Casket open which Hugoline his Chamberlain had forgot to shut he took out as 〈◊〉 Money as he could well carry and went away But finding success he came a second and a third time still carrying off more At which the King who had observed all called to him to be gone with all speed since he had enough if he could be contented For said he if Hugoline should come and catch thee thou wilt go nigh to lose all thou hast got and may'st get a Halter into the Bargain The Fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and a great deal of Money taken out he was much incensed But the King bid him not be moved For said he he that hath it hath more need of it than we When this King Edward was hastning out of Normandy with a great Army to recover England from the Danes being ready to give Battel his Captains assured him of Victory and that they would not leave one Dane alive God forbid said Edward that the Kingdom should be recovered for me who am but one Man by the death of so many thousands better it is that I should live a private and unbloody Life than to be a King by such a Slaughter and Butchery This King having no lisue of his own sent for Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside out of Hungary who for his long absence was called the Outlaw but he dying soon after he declared Edgar the Outlaw's Son to be Heir and sirnamed him Atheling or Adeling a Term appropriated to the presumptive Heirs of the Crown He had also a Daughter named Matilda who was married to the King of Scots and was Mother to David King of Scotland and Maud Queen of England When King Edward was on his Death-bed he observed all present weeping and lamenting for him to whom he said If you loved me you would forbear weeping and rejoyce because I go to my Father with whom I shall receive the Joys promised to the Faithful not through my Merits but by the free mercy of my Saviour who sheweth mercy on who he pleaseth After the Death of Earl Godwin Harold his Son grew into great Favour with King Edward and was by him made Lieutenant of his Army against the Welch who with his Brother Tosto or Toston utterly subdued that Rebellion After which Harold still increasing more in favour with the King there grew such hatred between the two Brethren that Tosto coming to Hereford slew all his Brother's Servants and cutting them in pieces salted them and put them into powdering-tubs It hapned afterward that Harold going beyond Sea was by Tempest â—â—â—ven into Normandy and being seised and carrâ—â—d before Duke Wiliam he made him promise That after the death of King Edward he would secure the Kingdom for him according to King Edward's Will Which Oath having taken Harold came back and told King Edward what he had done who seemed well content therewith saith the Historian which if it were true he had surely forgot his former Declaration concerning Edgar Atheling However after the death of King Edward Harold neither regarding his Oath to Duke William nor Edgar's Right whom he dispised for his tender Age caused himself to be Proclaimed King without any great Ceremony or Celebration none much approving or disapproving thereof and to ingratiate himself with the People he eased them of several severe Taxes laid upon them by his Predecessor and was affable and kind to all But this was a short calm before a great storm for soon after Duke William sent his Ambassadors to him to mind him of his Oath but he returned answer That it was extorted from him in his Imprisonment and therefore was no way obliging At this Answerthe Duke was much inraged and prepared Forces for gaining the Kingdom by force Neither was Harold idle but made provision to withstand him At which time a dreadful Comet appeared in the Heavens which was then judged and after proved to be a fatal Omen During these Preparations Tosto Brother to Harold and Harfager King of Denmark with three hundred Ships invaded the Country landing in Yorkshire Harfager claiming the Crown as Son of Canutus but the Nobility of those parts opposing them were routed which Harold hearing march'd against them and at Stamford-Bridge he encountred them where his whole Army was withstood by one single Dane who slew forty of
oftentimes when the King charged them with affronting his Lord Lieutenants they unanimously answered That they were very willing to be subject to any Prince he should nominate provided he were a Welshman born The King perceiving their inflexible temper resolved to gratifie them by a Politick Stratagem He thereupon sends secretly to the Queen who was then big with Child that she should come to him with all speed to Carnarvan and when she was nigh her time of Delivery He ordered all the Welsh Nobility and Gentry to appear before him at Ruthland Castle to consult about the Publick welfare of their Country When they were come he detained them till he had notice that the Queen was delivered of a Son at Carnarvan and then calling them together he told them That they having often Petitioned him to have a Prince to rule them he being now going out of their Countrey would nominate one to them provided they would promise to accept and obey him The Welshmen answered they would be willingly obedient to him provided he were their own Countryman Ay says the King I will assure you that he was born in Wales That he can speak never a word of English and that he never did any wrong to man Woman or Child The Welshmen were very joyful of their good fortune promising true subjection to him Whereupon he named his own new born Son Edward firnamed Carnarvan from the place of his Birth and from that time the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England have been Intituled Princes of Wales This Prince succeeded his Father by the name of King Edward II. He was a comely Person and of great strength but much given to Drink which made him often disclose his Secrets For his other conditions his greatest fault was his inordinate love to Garestone and the Spencers who being Persons of lewd Lives endeavoured to debauch him with Wine and Women and occasioned many mischiefs and grievances in the Kingdom of which the Nobility and People were so sensible that when they found him irreclaimable they resolved to depose him and set his young Son Edward on the Throne his Queen likewise joining with the Lords therein who going over to France she there Contracted a Marriage between her Son Edward and Philippa Daughter to the Earl of Heynault by whom being aided with Forces she landed at Orwell near Harwich in Suffolk The Lords immediately resorted to her and the Londoners inclining to take her part the King found his evil Counsellors the Spencers and others could do him little service Therefore Shiping themselves for the Isle of Lundy they were by Tempest cast upon the Coast of Wales and the King secured himself in a Monastery in Glamorganshire But soon after both he and his Favourites were taken from thence They were Hanged and Quartered and he himself was deposed by Parliament having been first persuaded to make a formal resignation of the Crown And at length he was committed a Prisoner to Berkley Castle near Bristol where he was miserably murdered by having a red hot Iron or Spit thrust up into his Body II. Edward of Windsor so called from the place of his Birth the Son of this unfortunate King was the second Prince of Wales of the English Royal Blood Upon the Deposing of his Father by the Parliament it was resolved that he should be advanced to the Throne which this young Prince refused unless his Father resigned the Government which he was obliged to do and so his Son was Proclaimed King by the name of Edward III. who afterward proved a Glorious and Renowned Prince His Minority being but four years old when he was Crowned though it may Palliate cannot so take off the scandal of not preventing his Death who gave him Life but that there remains a great blemish upon his memory For being a Master of so much reason as to pause upon it as he did upon the first motion of putting his Father to Death it may be thought he had power enough to have prevented the execution it being a violation of the Law of Nature and likewise of ill example since the People might use him in the same manner if he outlived their affections or his own discretion But his revenge upon Mortimer seems to declare him really innocent or that he abhor'd the World should think otherwise Whereby he so far reconciled himself to the opinion of the Vulgar that he seldom wanted Friends during his long Reign as he never wanted an occasion to make use of them He was a Prince of that admirable composure of Body and Mind that Fortune seemed to have fallen in love with him elevating him so far above the reach of Envy or Treachery that all the Neighbour Princes dazled with the splendor of his Glory gave place to him who from the very first Ascent to the Throne had a prospect of two Crowns more than he was born to The one placed within his reach which was Scotland The other that of France which was more remote To the attaining the first there was a fair opportunity offered by the irreconcileable contest of two Rival Kings David Bruce and Edward Baliol whose Right and Interest were so evenly poized that King Edward's power could easily turn the Scale To the recovery of France there was yet a fairer opportunity given him by the revolt of Philip of Artois a Prince of the Blood Royal and Brother in Law to Philip of Valois the present French King who upon discontent came over and discovered all the Secrets of the French Counsels to King Edward assuring him of the Affections of several of the French Nobility And now the two Kings set up their Titles to the Kingdom of France Edward was nearest by Blood but drew his Pedigree from a Female Philip was farther off but descended of all Males and because the Law Salique which excludes Women from Reigning in France was conceived as well to exclude all Descendants from Females therefore was Philip's Title accepted the French obstinately declaring That they would never tye the Succession of that Crown to a Distaff To which King Edward replied That he would then tye it to his Sword With the English took part the Emperor and the chief Princes of Germany With the French the King of Bohemia the two Dukes of Austria the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Savoy and divers Princes of Italy together with his inraged Neighbour David Bruce King of Scots a weak but restless Enemy against whom King Edward had set up Edward Baliol as Competitor and to whose assistance he sends an Army toward Scotland and at Hallydown Hill near Berwick the Scots are utterly defeated about Thirty Two Thousand Souldiers being slain with a great number of Nobility and Gentry After this King Edward gained a Glorious Victory over the French at the Battel of Cressy and another at Poictiers wherein John King of France was taken Prisoner And David King of Scots with an Army of Threescore Thousand men a second time
Lands belonging to them being alienated from the Church for ever Another Monastery of great account was at Basing-wark in this County near the famous Ditch made by Offa K. of the Mercians which begun in this place running through North-Wales nigh the mouth of the River Dee and from thence along the Mountains in the South and ended near Bristow at the fall of the Wye The Tract whereof is yet to be seen and called to this Day Clawd Offa or Offa's Ditch Congellus or Comgallus is challenged by the Welsh for their Countryman as being first Abbot of Banchor though Archbishop Vsher makes him the first Abbot of Bangor in the North of Ireland He was of a pious life wrote Learned Epistles and Died in 600. Elizabeth the seventh Daughter of King Edward I. and Queen Eleanor was born at Ruthland Castle where antiently a Parliament was kept This Princess at 14 years of age was Married to John Earl of Holland Zealand c. and after his death to Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex High Constable of England by whom he had a numerous Issue she died 1316. and was buried in the Abbey Church of Saffron Walden in Essex Owen Glendour Esquire was born in his antient Patrimony of Glendour Wye in this County was bred in London a Student of the Common Law till he became a Courtier and Servant to King Richard II. after whose death being on the wrong side of preferment he retired into Wales where there arose a difference between him and the Lord Grey of Ruthen about a Common upon which many spur'd on his posting ambition by telling him he was the true Heir of all North-Wales and he was likewise incouraged therein by those who pretended to interpret some Propheâ—s of the famous Merlin in his favour persuading him the time was come wherein he should recover the Welsh Principality All these allurements meeting with an aspiring mind and the English being at variance among themselves He in 1402. and the third year of K. Henry IV. endeavoured to draw the Welshmen to a general defection assuring them they had now a fair opportunity to shake off the English Yoke and to resume their own antient Laws and Customs To whose persuasions the Welshmen hearkning they constituted him their Prince and Captain General Having got some Forces together he falls first upon his old Adversary Reynold Lord Grey and takes him Prisoner yet with promise of releasment if this Lord would Marry his Daughter which offer though the Lord Grey at first not only refused but scorned yet was at last obliged to accept thereof though his treacherous Father in Law delayed his inlargement till he died The Welsh much animated with this first success break furiously into the Borders of Herefordshire plundring and destroying all before them being opposed only by the Lord Edmund Mortimer who had formerly withdrawn himself to the Castle of Wigmore He having assembled what Forces he was able gave them Battel and was taken Prisoner and then fettered cast into a deep and filthy Dungeon It was thought that if Glendour had as well known how to use his Victory as to get it he might at this time have much endangered the English Dominion over the Welsh But having killed 1000 English he thought he had done enough for that time and so giving over the pursuit retired The inhumanity of the Welsh Women was here memorable who stript the dead Carcasses of the English and then cut off their Privy Parts and Noses whereof the one they thrust into their Mouths the other they pressed between their Buttocks King Henry was compell'd to suffer these affronts at this time from the Welsh being ingaged in a dangerous War with Scotland that K. having Invaded England with a great Army but with very ill success his Forces being first defeated by the Earl of Northumberland And afterward by Henry Piercy his Kinsman called Hot-spur and George Earl of March who at a place called Hamilton kill'd 10000 Scots and took 500 Prisoners In the mean time Glendour had solicited the French King for aid who sent him 1200 men of quality but the Winds were so contrary that they lost 12 of their Ships and the rest returned home The English deriding this ill success of the French so exasperated the French K. that presently after he sent 12000 more who landed safely and joined with the Welsh but when they heard of the approach of the English Army whether mistrusting their own strength or suspecting the Welshmens faithfulness they ran to their Ships disgracefully went home Although King Henry IV. was advanced to the Crown by the Parliament of England who Deposed King Richard II. for his misgovernment yet many of those who were instrumental therein grew in a short time discontented upon one account or another as is usual in such cases insomuch that several Conspiracies were made against him Among others the Peircies Earls of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hot-spur began about this time to fall off from him one reason whereof was because the King at their request as well as of several other Noblemen refused to redeem their Kinsman Mortimer from Glendour's slavery for Henry was deaf of that Ear and could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven for then he should be free from concealed Competitors And another cause was his denying them the benefit of such Prisoners as they had taken of the Scots whereupon they went of themselves and procured Mortimer's Delivery and then entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Glendour and by their Proxies in the House of the Arch-Deacon of Bangor they agreed upon a Tripartite Indenture under their Hands and Seals to divide the Kingdom into three parts whereby all England from Severn and Trent South and Eastward was to be given to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March All Wales and the Land beyond the Severn West were assigned to Owen Glendour and all the remaining Land from Trent to the North to be the Partition of the Lord Piercy Wherein Glendour persuaded them they should accomplish an old Welsh Prophecy against the Mole or Mouldwarp of England That K. Henry was this Mouldwarp cursed of God's own Mouth and they were the Lion the Dragon and the Wolf which should divide the Land among them At this time King Henry utterly unacquainted with this Conspiracy published a Proclamation intimating that the Earl of March had voluntarily caused himself to be taken Prisoner to the end that the Welsh Rebels having him in their custody might have some pretence for their Insurrection and therefore he had little reason to be concerned for his Redemption Upon this the Piercy's assisted with some Scots and drawing to their Party the E. of Stafford Rich. Scroop Archbishop of York and many others they drew up certain Articles against King Henry and sent them to him in writing namely That he had falsified his Oath given at his landing That he came but only to recover his
exceeds And like the strokes of Jove's resistless Thunder Shoots forth and breaks the strongest Ranks Here in the thickest throng of Enemies Like Thracian Mars himself Black Edward plies asunder Death's fatal task Here Noble Warwick gives A furious onset There brave Suffolk strives T' out 〈◊〉 the formost Emulations fire Is kindled now and blazes high Desire Of Honour drowns all other Passions there Not in the Chiefs alone Each Soldier In that small Army feels bright Honours flame And labours to maintain his proper Fame Ne're was a Battel through all parts so fought Nor such high wonders by an handful wrought White Victory that soar'd above beheld How every English hand throughout the Field Was stain'd with Blood Amaz'd to see the Day And that so few should carry her away The Fields no more their verdure can retain Enforced now to take their Purple stain And be obscur'd with slaughter while the wounds Of France manure her own unhappy Grounds Where mixed with Plebeian Funerals Her greatest Princes die There Bourbon falls And Marshal Clermont welters in his gore There Noble Charney's beaten down that bore The Standard Royal that sad Day Here dies Athens Great Duke There Valiant Eustace lyes Who as a badg of highest Honour wore A Chaplet of bright Pearls that had before Won by King Edward in a skirmish near To Calice he was taken Prisoner As testimony of his Prowess show'd Been by that Royal Enemy bestow'd Great are the French Battalia's and in room Of those that fall so oft fresh Souldiers come So oft the bloody Fight 's renewed that now The English weary with subduing grow And 'gin to faint oppress'd with odds so great When lo to make the Victory compleat Six hundred Bowmen whom to that intent Before the Battel the brave Prince had sent Abroad well mounted now come thundring o're The Field and charge the French behind so sore As with confusion did distract them quite And now an Execution not a Fight Ensues All routed that great Army flies A Prey to their pursuing Enemies With his disheartned battel Orleans Forsakes the Field with him the Heir of France Young Charles of Normandy and thousands moe Not overthrown but frighted by the foe Nor are the English tho' enow to gain The day enow in number to maintain So great a chase And not so well suffice To follow as subdue their enemies Nor yet which more declar'd the Conquest sent From Heaven alone to strike astonishment in over-weening Mortals and to show Without that help how little Man can do Are all the English Conquerors in the Field Enow to take so many French as yield Nor to receive the Prisoners that come Tho' some in fields are Ransom'd and sent home Yet more from thence are Captive born away Then are the Hands that won so great Day c. And now though King John had the misfortune to fall into the Hands of an Enemy yet he had the happiness to be made Captive to a Noble Enemy For Prince Edward having conquered his Person by the Fortune of War endeavoured now to overcome his Mind by his Courteous demeanor addressing him with such an humble Grace yet generous deportment as a Person of so gallant a Soul as this noble Prince was capable of which so alleviated the King's affliction that he could not find much difference between his Captivity and Liberty which the same Poet thus expresses THE chase together with the day was done And all return'd In his Pavilion Brave Edward feasts his Royal Prisoner At which as Noble did the Prince appear As erst in battel and by sweetness won As great a Conquest as his Sword had done No fair respect or Honour that might cheer That King 's afflicted breast was wanting there No Reverence nor humble courtesie That might preserve his state and dignity But Edward shew'd at full And at the Feast In Person waited on his captive Guest But what content what Object fit could Fate Present to comfort such a changed State For him Whose State the Morning Sun had seen so high This night beholds in sad captivity His restless passions rowling to and fro No calm admit when thus his noble Fo Prince Edward spake Great King for such you are In my thoughts still whate're the Chance of War Hath lately wrought against you here forgive Your humble Kinsman's service if I strive To ease your sorrow and presume to do What is too much for me to counsel you Do not deject your Princely thoughts or think The Martial Fame that you have gain'd can sink In one succesless Field Or too much fear your Nation 's Honour should be tainted here Mens Strength and Honour we most truly try Where Fields are fought with most equality But God was pleas'd to make this days success The more miraculous that we the less Might challenge to our selves and humbly know That in so great and strange an overthrow Some secret Judgment of our God was wrought And that the Sword of Heaven not England fought c. And for your self Great King all History That shall hereafter to the World make known Th' event of Poictiers Battel shall renown Your Personal Prowess which appear'd so high As justly seem'd to challenge Victory Had not Gods secret Providence oppos'd But though his Will Great Sir hath thus dispos'd Your State remains your Person and your Fame Shall in my humble thoughts be still the same And till my Father see your Face to show How he respects your Worth and State to you As to himself were he in Person here In all observance Edward shall appear The Noble King a while amaz'd to see Victorious Youth so full of Courtesie At last replies Brave Cousin you have shown Your self a Man built up for true Renown And as in Action of the Wars to be This Ages Phoenix in Humanity Why do you wrong me thus as to enthral Me doubly Not insulting o're my Fall You rob me Cousin of that sole Renown Which I though vanquish'd might have made mine own To bear Adversity I might have shew'd Had you been proud a Passive Fortitude And let the world though I am fallen see What sp'rit I had in scorning misery But you have robb'd me of that Honour now And I am bound in Honour to allow That Noble Theft content since such are you To be your Captive and your Debtor too And since my Stars ordain'd a King of France Arm'd with such odds so great a Puissance Must in a fatal Field be lost to raise So great a Trophie to anothers Praise I am best pleas'd it should advance thy Story And John's dishonour be Prince Edward's Glory After the Battel Prince Edward led King John and the Captive Nobles Prisoners to Bourdeaux the Archiepiscopal See and chief City of his Dominions in France where he retained them till the Spring following But sent present News of this Victory to his Father who thereupon ordered a Thanksgiving to be celebrated all over England for eight days
Inheritance and would not meddle with the King or the Crown That most Traiterously he had taken arms against his Soveraign Lord imprisoned him and then most barbarously caused him to be murthered That ever since the death of K. Richard II. he had unjustly kept the Crown from his Kinsman Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to whom of right it belonged That upon no occasion he had imposed divers large Taxes upon the People That by his Letters he procured Burgesses and Knights of Parliament to be chosen For which Causes and many others they defied him and vowed his destruction and the restoring the Earl of March to his Right K. Henry could not but know that much of this was true yet since it did not hinder him from seeking to get the Crown when he had it not it could less hinder him from seeking to keep it now he had it and if he were able being a private man to get it from a King he was likely to be more able now to keep it from a private man And for any objections that Conscience could make he had enough to answer them all For if his Title were good against K. Richard II. by his Resignation it was good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance Upon these grounds he satisfied himself and raised an Army against these Lords whom he prevented from joining with the Welsh and near Shrewsbury ingaged them where though Henry Hot-spur shewed sufficient Courage yet he was slain and the K. obtained the Victory taking several Prisoners of note and among others the Earl of Worcester whom he caused to be Beheaded and many of the rest to be Hanged and Quartered and their Heads to be set upon London Bridg. There fell 6000 of the Rebels that day whereof K. Henry kill'd 36 with his own hands And the young P. afterward Henry V. though wounded in the Face with an Arrow yet was not wounded in his Courage but continued fighting till the end of the Battel After this the K. sent his Son Henry P. of Wales with his whole Army into that Country but before his coming Owen Glendour was forsaken by all his Company and lurking about the Woods was there famished to death for want of sustenance Such was the miserable end of this aspiring ambitious Britain After this Rebellion was supprest K. Henry enacted several rigorous Laws for preventing the like in time to come as 1. That no Welshman should purchase Lands or be chosen into office in any City Town or Burrough or wear arms within any City 2. That if a Welshman should sue an Englishman the cause should be tryed by an English Jury 3. That all English Burgesses who married Welshwomen should forfeit their Liberties 4. No meeting nor Council to be permitted to the Welsh but in the presence of the Officers of the L. of the Mannor 5. No Victuals to be carried into Wales without License of K. or Council 6. No VVelshman should possess any Castle or Fortified House 7. No VVelshman to be capable of any Office of State or in any Court of Judicature 8. No Englishman marrying a Welshwoman should enjoy any office in Wales Thomas ap VVilliam ap Thomas ap Richard ap Howel ap Vaughan Esquire was born of an antient Family at Moston in this County This Gentleman being called at a Pannel of a Jury by all these names was advised by the Judge in the reign of K. Henry VII to contract them whereupon he nominated himself Moston A leading case to the Gentry in VVales who leaving their Pedigrees at home carry one Sirname only abroad with them Flint though the Shire Town is no Market Town no nor St. Asaph though a City and Bishop's See till made so very lately But it is near VVest-Chester the Market General of these parts and besides every Village hath a Market in it self as affording all necessary commodities This County was part of the County Palatine of Chester paying 2000 Marks called a Mize at the change of every Earl of Chester till the year 1568 for then upon occasion of one Thomas Radford committed to Prison by the Chamberlain of Chester this County disjoined it self from that Earldom and united to the Principality of VVales It is divided into five Hundreds had seven Castles hath only one Market Town Calerwis and 28 Parish Churches Near Kelkin a small Village in this County is a little Well whose Water riseth and falleth according to the motion of the Sea Tydes GLAMORGAN SHIRE so called as is thought from P. Morgan the Possessor thereof or from Morgan Abby founded by VVill. E. of Glocester upon the Sea-shore on the South of this County is bounded on the East by Monmouth-shire on the North by Breck-neck on the West by Carmarthen-shire on the South by the Severn Sea in length 40. in breadth 20. and in circumference 112 Miles The North part of this Shire is Mountainous the South Plain and very fruitful being called the Garden of VVales abounding with Cattel pleasant Springs and Fruits Tare is the chief River upon the Eastern Shoar of which Cardiffe the fairest Town of all South-wales is situated which Fitz Hannon fortified with a Wall and Castle in the reign of VVilliam Rufus when he and his Norman Knights had conquered Rhese or Rice Prince of these Parts and deprived Jestine of his legal Inheritance After which he made it his own Court of Justice ordaining his Followers to whom he disposed of the Lands to hold them in Vassalage of him The Castle was strong in which K. Henry I. Sirnamed Beuclark kept his Elder Brother Robert called Courthose twenty six years Prisoner they being both Sons of K. VVilliam the Conqueror The City and Bishoprick of Landaff is seated in this County being one of the most antient Bishops Sees either in England or Wales and claimeth a direct succession from the Archbishops of Caerleon upon Vsk The first Bishop we read of was St. Dubritius confearated by Lupus and Germanus when they came hither out of France for extirpating the Pelagian Heresie The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Telian successor to Dubritius founded upon the River Tassi or Tare and thence called Landaff Llan in VVelsh being a Church This Church was formerly well endowed so that it might have been reckoned one of the richest in Christendom but now enjoys not the Tenth of the former revenue the ruin thereof coming in the time of Bishop Dunstan alias Kitchin This Diocess contains most part of Glamorgan and Monmouth-shire wherein are 177 Parish Churches Giraldus Cambrensis reports that in the Island of Barrey in this County there is a chink in a Rock to which if you lay your Ear you will hear a noise like that of Smiths at work one while blowing the Bellows then striking with the Hammer on the Anvile sometimes the noise of a Grindstone grinding Tools afterward the hissing of Iron quenched and the puffing sound of Flames under a Furnace Clemens Alexandrinus writes of a place in Britain which