the sixth of July 1189 and reigned nine Years nine Months dying in the 42 year of his Age being the 26 sole Monarch of England he was conttacted to Alice Daughter to Lewis the seventh King of France But falling passionately in love with Berengaria Daughter to Sanches the six King of Navar he married her in the way to the Holy Land whether she was accompanying her Father but had no Issue by her yet he left behind him Philip and Isabel his natural Children Thus the stout Lyons Heart to Death did yeild Whose dreadful Arms had strew'd the bloody field Of fruitful Palestine no Infidel Nor French nor Rebels could resist his Steel Victorious every where he did remain Cyprus he won yet by an Arrow slain The Reign and Actions of John King of England c. JOhn called by King Henry the Second his Father Lackland as being out of hopes of the Crown by reason so many Brothers were before him was notwithstanding Arthur his Eldest Brother Geofry's Son being alive crowned upon the Death of King Richard by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury at Wesâ—minster through the instance of Queen Eleanor and most of the Nobles yet the French King promoted great troubles in England under pretence of Inthroaning the young Prince yet for great sum he connived at his being delivered into his Uncles hands so that upon new disturbances occasioned as well by the Clergy as Laity he was closely imprisoned The Poctovians rebelling the King prepared to quiet them but as well the Clergy as the Lay-peers denied him assistance of Men and Money or to wait on him in person yet with such a Power as he could raise with present Treasure he passed the Seas overthrew the Rebels took the young Prince who had escaped prisoner with divers Peers and two hundred French Knights reducing all the revolted Towns to their obedience so that Prince Arthur now kept under stricter restraint than ever died in prison as some will have it not without suspition of violence which caused much murmuring amongst the people and the French King laying hold of that opportunity cited King John as an Homager for the Dukedom of Normandy c. to appear at a set time to be tried by his Peers upon Articles of Murther and Treason but the King disdaining to obey the Summons he was pretendedly by the French King and his Peers disinherited and condemned in his absence so that by reason of the Intestine Troubles not being able to pass over with a sufficient Army to repel the insulting French men they seized upon many of his Towns and Castles some by force and others by treachery yet quieting matters somewhat better at home and getting a considerable sum of Money from the delinquent Barons and such as had been in Rebellion against him and having moreover a Subsidy granted him he prepared to pass the Seas when in the mean while the French King out of a bravado sent a Knight as his Champion to challenge to single Combate any of the Kings Subjects and in a mortal battle to justifie the proceedings of his Sender To match this Braggadocia John Curcy Earl of Ulster in Ireland who had some time before been brought prisoner into England upon a revolt of the Irish so that the King knowing him to be of a savage and untractable nature went in person to propose this honourable undertaking when looking on the King with a stern countenance enough to strike terror in the beholders he said In thy Quarrel I will neither draw Sword or fight a stroke but for the honour of the Realm of England I will shed my last drop of blood Hereupon the day was appointed and all things ordered to be in a readiness but in the mean while the Monsieur geting knowledge of the Earls Gigantick Stature and proportion of Limbs as likewise the great quantities of Provisions he daily devoured he thought it no boot to stay and thinking it was not safe to return into France he sneaked away and went for Spain so that Philip of France ashamed of the disgrace sent to excuse it yet new troubles as indeed this Kings Reign was a perpetual storm arising hâ— could not so soon get over Sea as he expected how ever upon his coming the French were terrified tâ— a degree of suing for peace and it was upon the relinquishing sundry places they had taken accordingly so that the two Kings appointing an interview anâ— the Irish Earl happening to be there the French Kinâ— was very desirous to see a tryal of his strength wheâ— placing a Steel Helmet upon a knotty trunk of Oaâ—â— the Irish man with a strong Sword that no body bâ— himself could weld after a dreadful sneer or two let fly with so full a charge that he cut not only the Helmet in two but entred his Sword so far into the wood that none but himself could pluck it out when being asked by King John 〈◊〉 he looked so furiously before he gave the blow his â—â—ply was That had he missed it he would have killed not only the two Kings but all the spectators The Truce that the French made with the English at this time served but to gain the greater advantage by rendring King John more supine in his Affairs for by degrees they encroached upon all Normandy geting even the City of Roan it self upon which Main Tourain Poctou revolted nor could King John hinder it having his hands full at home and when he was about to go for Normandy Habert Arch-bishop of Canterbury suspected to be a Pentioner of King Philip peremtorily forbid him to proceed in that voyage and the Earls and Barons a second time denyed their Aid insomuch that the King in a rage seized upon some of their Estates and grievously fined others nor was it a little gainful to him that Hubert the Arch-bishop dyed the same year whose large Treasure the King â—ook for the use of the Wars but now an obstacle â—rose The Monks of Canterbury chose one Reginald for their Arch-bishop who was Subprior of their Convent yet the King opposed it and presented John Grey Bishop of Norwich so that the Pope upon noâ—ice of what had happened rejected both and went â—bout to impose on them one Stephen d' Langton whom the Monks for fear of the Pope's high Curse wherewith they were threatned received as their Arch-bishop but the King knowing him to be one â—f the French Faction and that he would consequentâ— be prejudicial to his Affairs could not be brought 〈◊〉 hearken to it though the Pope sent him a present â—f Rings with some flattering Comments on them â—eclaring That the Right and Power over all Chiâ—â—â—â— as in the See of Rome But the King threatning if he desisted not from such pretentions in England he would stop all Monies that passed from hence to Rome and thereupon a hot contest by Letters happening between them the old blade in a pet Interdicted the Kingdom which the Bigottry of the times made the people think
of Worcester and Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton taken and beheaded 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire and a great number of common Soldiers lost their Lives not without considerable Loss to the King and the ending his Life for Hotspur broke furiously through the Squadron where the Standard was and there had killed or taken him Prisoner had he been seconded as he expected yet this so incensed the King that he caused his Body whom his own Party had carried off and buried to be taken out of the Grave the Head cut off and the Quarters to be dispersed in divers Places As for the Earl of Northumberland he was taken after this Defeat as he was raising Forces in the North yet had his Life pardoned but was abridged in his Estate and the better to quiet the like Disturbances the King called a Parliament but could get no considerable Supply neither in that nor the other two Parliaments that succeeded it About this time William de Willford being abroad with a Squadron of Men of War brought in 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl and Rochel Wine which was sold to supply the King's Coffers and a Troup of Western Men brought 3 foreign Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth having slain the Lord Castile and a great many of his Followers who cruzing on the Coast attempted to burn and plunder that place as before they had served Plimouth for which Service the King bestowed liberal Rewards amongst them and in Parliament caused the Earl of Northumberland to be restored to his entire Possession yet these things quieted not the minds of the Nobility for soon after Thomas Mowbray Earl-Marshal of England drew Richard Scroop Arch-Bishop of York into a Conspiracy who tampering with the Earl of Westmoreland and he promising them fair instead of siding with them delivered them up to the King and they were thereupon beheaded but the Pope being highly incensed at the Arch-bishop's Death excommunicated all those that had a hand in it This was seconded by another of the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf but their Forces being weak they were encountred by the Sheriff of Yorkshire where the Earl in a sharp conflict was slain in the Field and the Lord mortally wounded and as a mark of Ignominy the Earl's Head was carried on a Pole through London and fixed on the Bridge-gate and because the Scots had encouraged this Undertaking and to surpress the Rumour that went abroad of King Richard's being alive the King marched an Army of 37000 Men to their Borders battered Berwick with a piece of Cannon the first that was used in England and took it as likewise siezed on all the Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland then marched into Wales but was â—isappointed in that Expedition by the sudden Inâ—undations and Torrents of Water that flowed â—rom the Hills whereby fifty of his Waggons with Treasure and Provisions were destroyed and a great part of his Food which obliged him to reâ—ire The King to repair his Loss called another Parâ—iament which through his Importunity was constrained to grant him a Subsidy and in the year 1407 a Plague raged throughout England and destroyed in London 30000 Persons A great Frost followed it that lasted 15 Weeks yet the Duke of Burgundy craving the King's Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request granted And amongst other memorable Actions of the English Sir John Blunt raised a Siege beat Four thousand French-men with Three hundred English taking about Twelve Noblemen and One hundred and Twenty Gentlemen Prisoners And now Wickliff's Doctrine beginning to spread the Arch-Bishop Arundel so incensed the King that William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp all eminent Divines were put to Death for their profession of a good Faith but the King did not long survive that Cruelty for Anno 1413. falling sick and into an Appoplexy whilst his Crown was placed on his Pillow Prince Henry his Son came and took it thence which the King perceiving upon his reviving sent for him and demaâ—ded the reason of his hastiness who boldly replyed That he seeming dead in all Men's esteem he took it as his Right Whereupon the King with some trouble of mind looking on him said Ah Son with what Right it was got God only knoweth who forgive me the Sin To which the Prince fiercely replyed However it was got I mean to keep it when it shall be mine and defend it with my Sword as you by your Sword have obtained it and soon after the King dyed and was buried at Canterbury This Henry the IV was King of England and France Lord of Ireland c. eldest Son to John Duke of Lancaster by Blanch his Wife He began his Reign the 29th of Sptember Anno 1399 and Reigned 13 Years 3 Months and 16 Days and was the 33d sole Monarch of England by his first Wife Mary he had Issue Prince Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Blanch and Philippa by his second-Wife no Issue that survived him Thus ill-got Crowns create a troubl'd Reign Howe'er so easie got hard to maintain Such Crowns have Thorns that still the Wearer pain The Life Reign and Actions of Henry the V. King of England c. HEnry of Monmouth so called from the place of his Birth in his youthfull years lead away by wild and debauched Courtiers committed many extravagancies not being exempted from Robbing on the High-ways putting his Father in fear of some Design he had upon his Person and attempting to rescue a Prisoner from the Face of Justice in the Court of King's-Bench but when he came to the Crown he was wonderfully changed commanding his former leud Companions to alter their manners or not dare to approach his Court nor within Ten miles of his Person chusing grave and worthy Counsellours and much honouring the Clergy and the more to ingratiate with the People every day after Dinner he was wont for the space of an hour to receive Petitions in order to redress Grievances which he would doe with wonderfull Equity much lamenting the untimely Death of King Richard and so near it touched him that he sent to Rome to be absolved from a Fact he had no hand in Whilst things went on prosperously a Parliament was called wherein it was moved that the superfluous Lands and Temporalties belonging to Religious Houses were sufficient of the Maintainance of 15 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Alms-Houses and over and above 20007 l per Annum to the King's Coffers and this to curb the Pride of the Clergy was pressed very home and had gone on had not the Arch-Bishop of Canteâ—bury to turn his Thoughts from it perswaded him to seek his Right in France of which Kingdom he told him he was the true Heir enforcing it with strong Reasons insomuch that the young King being naturally of a fierce and warlike Spirit soon hearkned to what he had suggested and sent
gave those persons leave for the most part to escape and the Earls light Horse-men coming on the Rebels gave back and at length betook them to open flight and were pursued three miles with the slaughter oâ— 3500 of them yet such as had Barrocaded themselves with Carts and Waggons amongst the Ordinance as men in despair resolved to sell their liveâ— at a dear rate but upon offer of Pardon they threw down their Arms crying God save King Edward and the next day Kett being siezed in a Barn was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich and his Brother William Kett was hanged on Womanhaâ— Steple and Nine others on the Oake of Reformation The pretence of this Rebellion was about throwing open Inclosures which the King by his Proclamation had commanded to be done but it was neglected These Commotions were no sooner over but another Rebellion broke out in the North Headed by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark one Stephenson a â—ost-master and William Ombler a Yeoman pretending to restore Church rights and redress Grievances declaring the power of the Pope above that of the Kings and that the Church had power of â—oth Swords but this feeble Rebellion not exceeding â—000 vanquished upon the Kings sending his Forâ—es and offer of Pardon yet Ombler Dale and four others were on the 12th of September 1549. Execuâ—ed at York as Seducers and Ring-leaders These and the like disturbances qeieted considerable ones began at Court for Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England having married Queen Catharine Parr Widow to Henry the Eighth and some words and contest happening between her and the Dutches of Somerset Wife to the Protector for precedences the two Brothers so unadvizedly espoused their Wives Quarel which was fomented by secret Enemies that the Admiral by the Protector 's procurement being accused in Parliament for attempting to get the King's person and Government into his hands c. Upon slender proofs was Sentenced and lost his Head on Tower-Hill on the 20th of March to the great grief of the young King who aboured to prevent it but by Somerset's removing this Brother he stood open to the malice and revenge of his implacable Enemies for soon after by the contrivance of Northumberland and others divers Articles were exibited against him for abusing his Trust Animating the Rebels sowing Sedition amongst the Nobles keeping a Court of Requests in his own house whereupon he was deprived of his Authority and sent to the Tower but the King soon released him yet was he not restored to his Trusts Whilst these heats lasted at Court the Affairs abroad were neglected insomuch that the Scots recovered most of the Town the English had taken and the French attempted to surprize Bullenberg with seven thousand men but were beaten off witâ— the loss of one hundred and fifty and had no better sucsess in their attempts upon Guernsey and Jersey Islands however things not going well at home Bullenberg and Bulloin were surrendred to the Frencâ— upon Conditions and the payment of a large Sumâ— of Mony and now to add to the Calamity thâ— Mortal Disease called the Sweating Sickness raged in England carrying off many thousands pursuing the English into Forreign Countrys where none but they were afflicted with it And now the Duke of Northumberland being grown great at Court laboured to remove the Duke of Somerset and by aâ— Stratagem found an opportunity for the Duke by some of his flatters being perswaded there was aâ— design against his life went privately Armed to the Council but his Gown opening as he sate at the Board it was laid hold of as a design in him to kill some of the King 's Privy Counsellors and that with some light matters being urged with agravation they procured his imprisonment and soon after being tryed and found guilty of Felony though he might have come off by his Clergy yet his Council nor himself not foreseeing to claim it he was on the 22d of February Anno 1550 brought to Tower-Hill and there after having declared his Innocence and made a most Christian Speech he was beheaded which some looked upon as a Judgment for so rigorously persecuting his Brother Upon the Death of this Uncle though Plays and other Devices were made to divert the King he grew Melancholly and the people were greatly Incensed against Northumberland however he taking the occasion from the King's Sickness and Disorder procured him to disinherit his two Sisters Mary and Elizabeth and settle the Crown on Jane Eldest Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk by the Lady Frances Daughter to Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France younger Sister to King Henry the eighth who was married to Guilford Dudly Fourth Son to Northumberland and to this Will of the Kings the Council Bishops and all the Judges except Sir John Hollis Subscribed and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London afterward promised their Assistance and Protection but this was supposed to hasten the King's Death For Northumberland having gotten what he expected viz. The Crown in his own Family removed his Physicians â—nd trusty Friends putting him into the hands of a â—he Doctress who wittingly or unskilfuly brought him to his End on the 6th of July 1553. This good Prince is accounted a second Josia exceeding in Charity and Piety all that went before him having Learning and Understanding far above his years â—nd had he lived a longer Date he had proved more perspicuously the Mirror of Kings This Edward was King of England France and Ireland the only Son of King Henry the Eighth by Jane his third Wife he Reigned six Years five Months and eight Days and was the one and Forâ—ieth sole Monarch of England dying in the 16th of his Age and was buried at Westminster Thus England's Phoenix early left the Stage His Death was much Lamented of the Age Yet he contented dy'd from 's Throne to rise In Angels Arms to everlasting joys The Life and Bloudy Reign of Queen Mary UPon the Death of King Edward according to his Will the Lady Jane was proclaimed in London and elsewhere and confirmed by the Council but Mary Eldest Daughter to King Henry the Eighth being then at Fremingham Castle sent to complain against their Proceedings in giving away her right commanding them to acknowledge heâ— their lawfull Queen but they returned her a very slight answer commanding her to be obedient to Queen Jane her Sovereign whereupon with such Friends as she had about her she prepar'd for London and to her a great many of the Suffolk men repaired offering her their Service in case their Religion might be asured insomuch that by that means and the siezure of several Ships in the Ports out of which she caused the Cannon and Ammuition to be taken she became formidable whereupon an Army of 13000 men under the Command of the Duke of Northumberland marched out against her but by that time the Duke was got as far as Cambridge he had notice that
he surrendred himself and was committed to the Tower and soon after he with the Earl of Southampton were convicted of High-Treason in endeavouring to Leavy War against the Queen c. and the Earl of Essex on the 20th of February 1600 lost his Head on the Green within the Tower not only lamented of the people whose Darling he was but of the Queen her self who at the perswasion of his Enemies had in the heat of her passion signed the Warrant for his Death divers others were Executed on this occasion as it were to bare so great a Man company nor did the Queen enjoy her self after the fall of this Favourite but hastened her own Death by grief dying on the 24th of March 1602 and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapell at Westminster when she had Reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days and in the 69th Year of her Age. This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland Daughter to Henry the Eighth by his Wife Ann Bulloin in her Reign happened Earthquakes Blazing Stars and a Mortal Plague of which 40000 dyed in and about London She was the 43th sole Monarch of England c. Thus set the Glory of her Sex in Dust Whose endless Memory Fame keeps in trust When Eating Time shall Marble Tombs deface Her Name shall live belov'd in every place The Life Reign and Actions of James the First King of Great Britain c. THe name of the Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth gave way to that of the Stuarts James the Sixth of Scotland great Grand-child to James the Fourth and Margaret his Wife Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh succeeding to the Crown by reason of the failure of Issue by the Male Line who upon notice of the Death of Queen Elizabeth being invited by the Nobles set forward from his Kingdom of Scotland and entering England was received on the Frontires with great joy and conducted to London being met some distance by the Mayor and Aldermen and five hundred Horse who conducted him to the Charter-House prepared for his Reception but because the Plague raged the Coronation was deferred and the Popish Party who had earnestly expected the death of the Queen in hopes a Papist might succeed finding themselves disappointed laboured to prevent his establishment in the Throne and several were detected who had received Orders from the Pope to seize his Person and bring him to their own terms however on the 21st of July 1603. The King together with the Queen his Royal Consort were crowned at Westminster by Dr. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Conspirators being tryed at Winchester many were found guilty yet only Watson and Clark two Priests together with George Brook suffered death the King pardoning the rest mostly at the place of Execution and then in a dispute between the Bishops of the Church of England and the Puritan Ministers who pretended to a farther Reformation this wise Prince gave it for the first and by learned reasons so confuted the latter that they were utterly non-plussed and after that he caused the Holy Scripture to be new Translated from the Original and Anno 1604 he made peace with Spain and proceeded to a Uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and took upon him the Stile of King of Great Britain banishing the Jesuites and Seminary Priests who began a fresh to disturb the Government which made them as their last Shift or rather cruel revenge contrived that hellish Plot called the Gunpowder-Plot wherein they bound themselves by Oaths and Sacraments for the more secretly carrying it on but nothing escapes the Eyes of the Almighty who when they were in the highest expectation of success turned their Wisedom into Foolishness for by a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle whom one of the Conspirators was desirous to spare the Nest they had so long been making was found and in it thirty six Barrels of Powder intended to blow up the King Lords and Commons in Parliament this was discover'd under great heaps of Billets but the very Morning they were to assemble in Parliament and Guy Faux at the Vault Door under the Parliament-House Cloaked Booted and Spurr'd with a Dark-Lanthorn and Matches ready to lay the Train upon which the Conspirators were pursued and in the dispute John and Christopher Wright Thomas Piercy and Robert Catesby were slain and Anno 1605 on the 27th of January Sir Edward Digby Thomas Winter Robert Winter Ambrose Rookwood Thomas Bates Robert Keys and Guido Faux were found guilty and Executed as Traitors at the West-end of St. Pauls and in the Palace-Yard In memory of this signal Deliverance the fifth of November the Day on which it was discovered by Authority of Parliament was enacted a perpetual day of Thanksgiving Henry Garnet and divers others concerned in this Plot were Executed at sundry Times and Places Garnet confessing it though a Jesuite and warning the Roman Catholicks not to practice any Treason against their Prince for God would certainly discover and defeat it And soon after there happened Insurrections in the Shires of Liecester Warwick and Northampton about throwing open Inclosures Headed at last by John Reynolds but were dispersed and quieted without much Trouble and the King to honour the City entered himself a Brother of the Cloath-workers Company and by his Example many Nobles were made free of that and divers others the New Exchange was finished Anno 1609 and furnished with Wares being called by the King Britain's Burse The Priests and Jesuites were commanded to depart the Kingdom The Body of Mary Queen of Scots Mother to King James was Anno 1612 removed from Peterborough to the Royal Chappel at Westminster and there splendidly Interred and the Kingdom remained in great Tranquility But to abate the Joy Prince Henry the King 's eldest Son dyed November the 6th of a Feaver though not without some suspicion of Poyson to the great Grief of the Kingdom whose Darling he was And Frederick the Electour Palatine of the Rhine coming into England was married to the Lady Elizabeth the King 's eldest Daughter in the Royal Chappel at White-Hall on the 14th of February following but soon after at the Instance of the Bohemians taking upon him the Rule of that Kingdom he was routed by the Emperour's Forces who seized likewise the Palatinate and the King gave the Citizens of London the Province of Vlster in Ireland and instituted the Order of Baronets limiting them within the number of 200 and to cease with the failure of Issue and Anno 1614 the New River was brought to London to the great refreshment of the City which was much stinted for want of Water being only supplied by a few Conduits in the neighbouring Fields and this year a Divorce being sued out between Robert Devereux and his Countess on her Pretence of his Insufficiency she married Robert Carre Earl of Somerset and the King 's great Favourite for inveighing against which Marriage they procured Sir Thomas Overbury first
to be sent Prisoner to the Tower and there to be poisoned for which Contrivance Sir Gervase Elwes and Mrs. Turner suffered Death the Earls and Countess were likewise sentenced but had by the King's Mercy Leases of their Lives granted them for 99 years and for ever banished the King's Presence The Fall of this Favourite made way for Mr. George Villiers a Gentleman of a good House who was soon after created Duke of Buckingham Anno 1618. Sir Walter Rawleigh was delivered from a long Imprisonment in the Tower and sent to discover a golden Mine in the West-Indies promising it should be no ways prejudicial to the Spaniards but failing in that Discovery and Sacking the Spanish Town of St. Thoms upon his Return to England at the continued Importunity of Gondamore the Spanish Ambassadour he was Beheaded upon a former Sentence and on the 2d of March 1618 Queen Anne died and was buried at Westminster her Death was preceeded by an extraordinary Blazing-Star And now the King being desirous to see Prince Charles Married sent him into Spain to render his Courtship to the Infanta but after a six Months stay being trifled with that Court insisting to have him change his Religion c. the King recalled him and prepared for War in order to recover the Palatinate and set on Foot a Treaty of Marriage with France but lived not to see it concluded for on the 7th of March Anno 1625 he died of an Ague at Theobalds in Scotland and was Buried at Westminster with great Solemnity much lamented of his Subjects being a Prince of extraordinary Learning Conduct and Prudence his Wife was Ann Daughter of Frederick the Second King of Denmark by whom he had Issue Henry Charles Elizabeth and two other Daughters Mary and Sophia who dyed young This King James was great Grand-Child by Father and Mother's side to Margaret Daughter to Henry the 7th of England He began his Reign over this Kingdom Anno 1602 Reigned 22 years 3 days and was the 44 sole Monarch of England and first of Great Britain whose antient Name he restored by uniting the Kingdoms He died in the 59 year of his Age. Thus to Death's Fury the wise Prince gave way And left this Twilight for eternal Day That Phenix-like he out of moulder'd Dust May Glorious rise to mingle with the Just The Life Reign and Actions of Charles the First King of Great Britain c. KIng James giving way by Death Prince Charles his only surviving Son was immediately Proclaimed and Crowned at Westminster soon after which he was solemnly Married to Henrietta Maria Daughter to Henry the Fourth French King whom he had seen in his Journey through Paris to the Court of Spain The Marriage being over the King began to shew his Resentments of the Affronts he had received in the Court of Spain and Anno 1625 a Parliament was called and Assembled at Westminster on the 8th of June wherein after some strong Debates about Petitions of Right and Religion the King had two Subsidies granted him and a Fleet was sent to Sea which spoiled and greatly indamaged the Spanish Coast but although the War was just and honourable yet upon the Meeting again of the Parliament in the August following they denyed a farther Supply whereupon he endeavoured with the Advice of his Lawyers to raise Money by way of Tonage but the Parliament forbid the Payment of it and many of the Merchants refused to obey the King's Mandates however the King making an Alliance with the united Provinces set out another Fleet and greatly distressed the Spaniards but amongst others some French Ships being sunk burnt or taken they seized the English Effects in their Ports by way of Reprisal whereupon the French were commanded to leave England but Monsieur Basompire coming Ambassadour prevailed to have many of them recalled yet all Commerce ceased between the two Kingdoms and the French greatly oppressed the Rochellers which made them humbly supplicate King Charles's Assistance who sent a good power under the leading of the Duke of Buckingham but the French being strongly Encamped and Fortified in Rhee the English returned without effecting any thing considerable and the Parliament again complained of several Grievances whereupon they were Dissolved and new Forces raised for the Relief of Rochell but as the Duke of Buckingham was about to Embark he was stabbed to the Heart by one John Felton an English Adventurer at Portsmouth for which the Murtherer was Executed seeming to approve off and glory in the Fact to the last and thus unhappily fell this Duke that had been the Darling Favourite of two Kings Anno 1630 the Queen on the 29th of May was brought to Bed of a Son afterward Christened by the Name of Charles and since our Soveraign Monarch as will appear in the next Reign at his Birth a bright Star appeared in the day-time and on the 14th of October 1633 the Queen was delivered of the Duke of York but the Joy of these Births were a little Eclipsed by the misunderstandings in Scotland and the oppositions made in payment of Ship-Money though Ten Judges had given their Vote for the legality of it the Occasion of great Commotions in Scotland arising about the Service-Book of Common-Prayer being sent thither to be read in Churches as usual in England for when the Dean came to read it in St. Giles's Church at Edenborough he narrowly escaped his Brains being beaten out by the People's throwing Stools Chairs and Cudgels at him nor did the Bishop who got up into the Pulpit to appease them fare any better and so great in a short time grew the Tumult that the Magistrates were not able to quell it which obliged the King to raise an Army but upon his Approach the Scots in Arms met him on the Lorders and submitted and a Peace thereupon was concluded but soon after fell to Covenanting and raised new Commotions the which and the Misunderstandings between the King and his Parliament gave the native Irish an opportunity to Rebel and commit a most horrible Massacre on the English throughout that Kingdom murthering about 200000 of all Ages and Sex before any Succours were sent to their Relief This happened in the year 1641 the same year the Earl of Strafford was beheaded upon an Attaindure of Parliament and about two years after William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was Executed in the same manner and the King having passed a Bill for the Parliament to sit during their Pleasure such Heats ensued and such Tumults withall that the King after he had endeavoured to give them all the satisfaction that could consist with his Honour and Conscience was obliged to retire to Windsor to avoid the Insolencies of the Multitude who threatened him in his Palace and committed many outrages pulling down the Organs and spoiling the Vestments and Ornaments of Worship in Westminster-Abby and during the King's Absence the Parliament having put the Country in Arms and took into their hands most of
Rutlandshâ—re Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Dâ—rby-shire and Nottingham-shire the Cornaby Stafford-shire Worcester-shire Cheshire and Shropshire The Cantons of Wales had likewise their order and division viz. The Ordovices possessed Flintshire Carnarvan-shire Denby-shire Mountgomery-shire and Merionoth-shire the Silures Hereford-shire Radnor-shire Brecknock Monmouth and Glamorgan-shire The Dimetâ—e Carâ—marden-shire Pembrook-shire and Cardigan-shire the Ottodini Brigantes Parisi were accounted separate from the former and possessed themselves of York-shire Lancashire Durham Richmond County Westmorland Cumberland Northâ—mberland and the latter sometimes of March Teifidale Twâ—edale and Louthian These Divisions had their respective Heads or Governours to whom they made Acknowledgment and payed some inconsiderable Tribute though most of that kind fell to the share of the Priests and indeed their Riches was but small for Cesar when he found he had a considerable Advantage over the Southren part of this Island layed no greater Tax upon them than three hundred pounds a year as a Tributary Acknowledgment to Rome We might insist on the Tribes that were possessed of Scotland and the Island belonging to Great Britain but not being much to the purpose it is convenient to pursue the more materialpart of History This part of Great Britain is the most plentiful abounding with all Things necessary for the pleasure and Support of Humane Life and was named as is said England from Englone a place in Denmark or as some will have it from a People called East Angles who placed themselves in the Eastern part of it in the time of the Saxons which name neither the Danes nor Normans in their Conquests thought fit to Change or Alter so that it contained it for the space of eight hundred seventy three years when King James united it with Scotland 1602. and restored the Ancient Name of Great Britain and such Reputation it all along had aâ— to gain the fifth place in General Councils and was stiled for the abundance of Plenty it afforded to Supply the Neighbour Nation the Store-house of the Western world for from henâ—s even in early days the Romans were wont yearly to Lade eight hundred Vessels with Corn for the supply of their Armies in other Countries so that it has been often taken for the Fortunate Island mentioned by antient Wâ—iters especially the Grâ—cians But above all it has been the peculiar Care of Heaven in that the Christian Faith was planted here in the sixty third year of our Sâ—viours Incarnation and it is held not without good groundâ— that Josâ—ph of Aramathca was sent hither by Philip the Apostle of France and that he was Buried at Glâ—ssâ—nbury and some will have it and shew much Reason for it that St. Paul was here and Preached the Gospel However this is certain It enjoyed the first Christian King in the person of King Lucius and gave birth to that Glorious Propagator of Christianity Constantine the great Emperor of Rome But thus much for History in General from whence we proceed to what is more particular Thus Fame to breath our Nations Glory 's proud Hark! How her Golden Trumpet sounds aloud From Pole to Pole the Mighty â—lasâ— is gone To fill all Nationâ— circl'd by the 〈◊〉 An Historical Account of the British Princes that opposen the Romans in their attempting to Settle in thâ—se parts THE Romans under Casar first taking the Advantage of the Divisions and Animosities riegning amongst the petty Princes of the Britains made no other account but to Gain a full Possession with little trouble or hazard but found themselves mistaken even in barbarous Valour as they Termed it for so it fell out That King Lud who built the Wâ—st-Gate of the City of London and was the first Founder of the City it self calling it Carelud tho' not in extent as at present dying and leaving two Sonâ— viz. Andragius and Tâ—mantius their Uncle Cassibelane by the Fathers direction took upon him the Government till they should be of Age stiling himself Prince of the Trinâ—bants or new Troy as some will have it being the most powerful of all the Princes of the Britains and when his Nephews were capable of Rule he gave to Andragius Trinovant the Dukedom of Kent and to Temantius the Dukedom of Cornwal reserving to himself the City of Verilum now St. Albons and other â—ependances But Andragius being dissatisfied with his Uncle and hearing the Fame of Caesars great Actions â—mplored his Assistance against him and so far prevailed that he came over and Overcame this Prince after a long and obstinate Resistance wherein eighty thousand were slain on both sides at sundry times and the Country 's Amerced for breaking the Truce and when he left the Island Andragius with a great many British Souldiers went along with him to help him in his Wars against Pompey the Great whom he Overthrew in the Pharsalian Fields So that after the death of Cassibelan who expired at York Temantius possessed both his Father's and Uncle's Dominions nor had Caesar only this Prince to Contend with but likewise Cingitorix Taximagul and Caravil petty Kings of Kent but his Fortune prevailing against them their Men slain and they routed the first was taken and the two last fled So that the Roman Arms growing dreadful to the rest of the Princes after they had lent what Assistance they could and found themselves too weak to Oppose a prevailing Conqueror Senimagues Ancalites Bibroses and the rest of the States of Icenij laid down their Arms and submitted as did many others However Câ—esar rather shewed the Romans this Island than subdued it or knew the Extent of it for neither by Arms or Intelligence could he discover whether it was an Island or Continent Caesar after having waded through the World at a Sea of Blood and reached the very Pinacle of humane Greatness being slain in the Senate House in Rome by the Conspiracy of the Senators Augustus Caesar coming to the Imperial Throne the Britains bâ—…gan to bethink themselves of casting off the Romaâ—… Yoke under Cunobeline who held his Regal Seat â—… Malden in Essex and had been Kinghted by Julius Gâ—…sar and indeed they went a great way in it Aâ—…gustus prepared three times utterly to Subdue him an his Dominions but was diverted by other Affairs â—… that in the twenty third Year of this King's Reign thâ—… PRINCE of Peace our Blessed Lord and Saviour beinâ—… Born the Lyon lay down with the Lamb An Universâ—… Peace ensued according as it had been foretold bâ—… the Prophets This was the first of the British King that stamped his Image upon his Coyn and Dying fulâ—… of years he was succeeded by Guiderius his Son whâ—… was no less desirous than his Father to shake off thâ—… Roman Tribute When he heard Augustus Câ—…sar waâ—… Dead and Caligula who was Emperor in his steadâ—… being denied the Payment made great preparation against him but being an Emperor of little Conduct anâ—… less Courage coming to the Belgick shore he made hâ—… Souldiers gather Shells in their Helmets
another it was carried to VVinchester â—…nd buried in the Cathedral Church but since the â—…ones have been removed to and laid with those of â—…anute the Danish King This was the King who built VVestminster Hall â—…inety yards in length and twenty four yards two â—…eet in breadth yet when he came to see it he complained it was too little by half and therefoâ—… he would reserve it for a lodging Room He wâ—… slain as you have heard in the thirteenth year his Reign and the sorty sourth of his Age being tâ—… one and twentieth sole Monarch of England Thus Second William by misfortune's hand Drop'd in the Grave and left the wealthy Land Two Sons of the Great Conqueror met their fate VVhere he had laid the Country desolate The Reign â—and Actions of Henry the First King England c. HEnry the First English Monarch of that Namâ— who for his great Abilities in Learning wâ— called Beau-clark or good Scholar upon the uneâ— pected death of his Brother VVilliam and his Brothâ— Robert's being in the Holy Land waring again the Infidels upon many fair promises to the Noblâ— and Commons procured himself to be accepted King and was Crowned at VVestminster Anno 11â— Anselm being Archbishop of Canterbury and at fiâ— made it hisstudy to please all sorts striving to maâ— his House and Court a pattern of Virtue and goâ— Living to the rest of his Subjects permiting the Peâ— ple to have Fire and Candle in their Houses at the own discretion which under severe penalties had beâ— prohibited by his Father freeing the Churches froâ— reservations upon vacancies allowing the Heirs Noblemen to possess their Fathers Lands without Redemption ingaging the Nobles to do the like by the Tenants allowing so it were not to his Enemies tâ— Gentry to marry their Daughters and Kinswomen whom they pleased and that the Widow enjoyiâ— Joynter should be at liberty to maâ—â—y whom 〈◊〉 â—…ased That the Mother and nearest Relations â—…ould be Guardians to Fatherless Children during â—…ir Minority That such as coyned false Money â—…ould loose their Right Hand And if Men be deâ—…ved of their Genitals he ordained a certain Meaâ—…e to be a Standard Measure of Commerce accordâ—…g to the length of his Arm which is our Yard Forâ—…ing all Debts due to the Crown before be came to â—… Renewing the Laws of Edward the Confessor And â—…e better to strengthen his Title he married Maud â—…ughter to the King of Scots by Margaret Sister to â—…gard Atheling joyning in Succession to the Saxon â—…ngs But by this time News came that Robert his â—…der Brother after refusing the Scepter of Jerusalem which for his Valour and Conduct upon taking â—…t City from the Insidels was offered him by all the Western Princes that commanded the numerous Army of Christians in that glorious Expedition was â—…ndâ—d with an Army at Portsmouth and that many â—… the English sided with him which put the King to no small consternation however having got by â—…s lenity and fair pretences the hearts of the greater â—…rt of the People he resolved not to forgo what â—… had gotten and thereupon tried so far the good â—…mper of his Brother that by Presents and large â—…omises he worked upon him to remit his Claim â—…ein of which he was to have three thousand Marks â—…id him yearly and gave him six Months Royal Enâ—…tainment The Sunshine of Peace lasted not long before Beâ—…isine Earl of Shrewsbury and Roger Montgomery â—…ith divers other râ—…d but being vanquished â—…ey sled to Normandy however he was perplexed â—…the Arch-Bishop who influenced by the See of â—…ome contended to regulate the Clergy and dispose â—… Ecclesiastical promotions as he pleased refusing Consecrate such Bishops as the King was desirous to advance yet the King fearless of what mighâ— happen in England upon notice his Brother at thâ— instigation of some English Fugitives was preparinâ— for a second Invasion He resolved to prevent it by carrying the War into Normandy which he effected with such precepitation that he overthrew Robert took him Prisoner and sent him to Cardrâ— Castle where at first he was only Prisoner at large having the priviledge of the Medows and Parks under a slender Guard but as some will have it at tempting his escape but others the People too much pittying his condition and the apprehensions iâ— wrought made the King confine him a close Prisoner and the better to secure himself against any attempts this poor Prince might make cause thâ— Twinkles of his Eyes to be put out or clouded iâ— darkness by burning Glasses and not long after hâ— lost his Life some say by a voluntary starving himself out of a disdain he took that the King his Brother sent him a Suit of his old cast Clothes with aâ— addition That they were good enough for a Prisoner however this unnatural act greatly eclipsed the glory oâ— this King and too plainly shewed that Crowns knowâ— no Kindred when they stand in competion The Duke being dead King Henry seized upon his Dutchy of Normandy so that England may now be said to conquer Normandy though indeed it was unhappy for the English whom he began to restrain with a harder hand seeing he had removed the danger that threatned him banishing the Flemings who were desirous to instruct us in the Wollen Trade retracting many Grants he had passed and to strenghen his Alliance abroad he married Maud his Eldest Daughter to Henry the Fourth Emperor of Germany or the Romans and the Welsh promoting some disorders he forced them to obedience Aâ— likewise these in Normandy where new troubleâ— arose and that which gave him hopes of the settlement of Affairs was the death of the Arch-Bishop who to raise the Popes Power had opposed â—im in his important proceedings and was a great Enemy to the Married Priests who were tolerated â—n this Kings Reign The High Court of Parliament some Authors will have to be constituted in his Reign Anno 1116. William Eldest Son to Robert the deceased Duke of Normandy being alive Lewis King of France togeâ—her with the Earls of Flanders and Anjou laboured â—o fix him in the Dukedom but were frustrated â—nd a great Battle Anno 1119 was fought between â—he two Kings wherein Baldwin Earl of Flanders with divers other Nobles and some thousands of Common Soldiers were slain and the Victory falling â—o the English occasioned great loss and dishonour â—o the French and the Earl of Anjou upon King Henry's return to Roan with Palms of Triumph gave his Daughter and Heiress in Reversion of that Province to William the Kings Eldest Son whose Nuptials were solemnized with great joy and hope of future happiness But all things are unstable in this World for the King setting sail for England and the Prince with his Bride his Brothers Sisters and other great Personages staying six hours sail behind â—o take leave of their Friends resolved notwithstanding to come up with the King before he landed 〈◊〉 that the Marriners running a desperate course
although the Barons were excommunicated yet they slighted it and incouraged the City of London which was Interdicted for adhearing to their Interests and sent to Lewis Dauphin of France their Letters of Allegiance confirmed with their Seals intreating King Philip his Father to send him in order to take possession of the English Diadem but the Pope advertised of what was in hand sent his Apostolick commands to Philip charging him not to suffer his Son to molest St. Peter's Patrimony with a Curse upon such as should assist him but it prevailed not for the hot-headed Prince sent over with a Fleet of 600 Ships and 80 Boats landing in Kent where he joyned the Barons whereupon the King retired towards Winchester and the Dauphin came to London where he was received in triumph the Citizens doing him homage as did the Barons at Westminster he swearing to them That he would restore all men their Rights and recover to the Crown whatever King John had lost so that most important places submitted During these Transactions the King ruined the Houses and Castles of the Barons in Arms and set forward from Lyn in Norfolk to give them battle but passing the Washes the Floods destroyed most of his Baggage with many of his Soldiers which obliged him to desist But the Barons not having their rents paid began to look back and perceiving their services slighted by the Dauphin and the places of trust bestowed on his French-men they thought it high time to reconcile themselves to their King which was hastened by the discovery the Viscount d' Melun made upon his Death-bed viz. That Lewis had sworn when established on the Throne to condemn the Barons to perpetual banishment as Traytors to their King and utterly root out their Kindred so that forty of them immediately addressed their Letters of humble submission to the King but it so unfortunately fell out that he was dead before they arrived The death of this King is variously reported some will have it to be of a Flux others of a Surfeit but Writers of best credit say that coming to Swinstead Abby after his great loss in the Washes and seeing the liberal profuseness of the Monks whilst his Army was in a manner half starved he said in a pet holding a Loaf in his hand That if he lived but half a year he would make it 12 times as dear which being overheard by a Monk he mixed poison in a Cup of Wine and served it to the King as he was at dinner by the force whereof he died some again will have it to be done by intoxicated Fruit. This John was King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain sixth Son of King Henry the Second by Q. Eleanor and 27 sole Monarch of England he began his Reign on the 6th of April Anno 1199 reigned 17 years 6 months and 13 days dying of poison the 19. of October 1216. Thus from a troubled Throne King John descends And in his Grave all toil and trouble ends There factious Subjects Popes nor Galick Arms Disturb his rest with their too rude alarms Death can alone from cares of state give rest The slumbring Grave is with no fears opprest The Reign and Actions of Henry the III. King of England c. KIng John being dead the Barons almost with one voice and consent notwithstanding Lewis was yet in the Land with his Army chose Henry eldest Son to the deceased King about Ten years of Age Crowning him nine days after his Fathers Death and the Earl of Pembroke was constituted his Guardian who raised an Army and marched against the French giving them a great overthrow near Lincoln taking several of the Barons that stood out with about 400 Knights and Esquires Prisoners besides a great Booty the French had scraped together in plundering the Country and many of the French that scattered from the Battel were killed by the Peasants nor was the Fleet appointed to bring Supplies out of France better treated for being met by the English most of the French Ships were burnt sunk or taken so that the Dauphin was obliged with such Forces as he could Rally to shut himself up in London whither he was followed by the Earl and besieged by Water and Land which made the Monsieur begin to think of a timely Capitulation The substance was That Lewis and the Barons in Arms should submit to the Censure of the Church and that then he and as many as would goe with him should be permitted to depart the Land with a Promise never to return again in a design of harming it and that he should use his Interest with his Father that such things as belonged to the English Crown and were wrongfully detained should be restored and that when himself should be King of France he should peaceably part with them and that he should immediately render to Henry all Castles and Places taken in England during the War To this Lewis swore and for the better security of the Barons that had been in Rebellion Wallo the Legate the Earl of Pembroke and the young King swore they should be restored as well the Barons as others to all their Rights and Inheritances with their Liberties before demanded of King John that none of the Laity should suffer damage or reproach for the Side or Party they had taken and that the Prisoners taken in War or by Surprize should be released Upon this Lewis the Dauphin and as many of his Followers as were left passed into France yet the Kingdom was molested by sundry turbulent Persons whom no Concessions nor Favours could oblige and amongst these were William Earl of Aumarle Robert de Veipont c. which encouraged the Welsh to raise new Broils on the Frontiers And soon after one Arnulph a Citizen of London with divers others Conspiring to call in Lewis a second time Arnulph and two others were hanged and several had for the like Attempt their Hands or Feet cut off and the Barons finding their Liberties but slowly confirmed began to murmur Lewis extreamly vexed for the disgrace he had suffered in England upon the Death of his Father though contrary to his Oath seized upon Rochel and the County of Poictu both appertaining to the English and the true Cause he excused by pretending King Henry as Homager of Aquitain should have attended at his Coronation but that he neither did it in Person nor shewed any Reason for his being absent by his Ambassadors These Proceedings made King Henry nâ— at Age Call a Parliament which granted him Supply in order to raise an Army for the recovery of his Right but that not proving sufficient though he that Summer vanquished the French in a set Battel he pressed about 5000 Marks from the Londoners above their Fifteenths and the Clergy were not exempted but under pain of the papal Censure obliged to pay the Tax of Fifteenths but the greatest Summe he raised was by revoking the Charters and Liberties excusing it by
the next day a Truce was concluded yet Simon de Monfort Earl of Leicester who headed the Baron's Army carrying the King about with him as his Prisoner got into his hands all the strong Holds These Proceedings in England putting a stop to the Pope's Revenue he sent Cardinal Ottobon his Legate to Excommunicate the Barons but they for a while despised it yet soon after falling out amongst themselves many of them came over to Prince Edw. who had taken the Field with an Army so that he enclosed the Earl of Leicester's Camp at Evesham and obliged him to battel where the Earl lost the day with his Life and had his Head Hands and Feet chopped off as a mark of Infamy By this Overthrow the King was rescued and set at liberty when to heal the long Divisions a Parliament was called at Winchester by whose Approbation the King seized the Charters of London and other Cities and Towns that had proved disloyal and the Legate proceeded to excommunicate the Bishops of Winchester London Worcester and Chichester for taking part with the King's Enemies And now Prince Edward with a great Train took a Journey to the Holy Land and the King more firmly to settle the Nation called a Parliament at Marlborough where the Statutes called by the name of the place were enacted but having been at Norwich to quiet a tumult and punish such as had burnt the Priory Church upon his return he fell sick at the Abby of St. Edmund in Suffolk and after a short Languishment dyed Anno 1272. from whence he was conveyed to Westminster and there buried in the Abbey This Henry King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Guyenne and Aquitain was eldest Son to King John his Wife was Eleanor Daughter of Raymond Earl of Provence by whom he had Issue Edward Edmund Richard who dyed young also John William and Henry Margaret married to Alexander the Third King of Scotland Beatrix married to John the First Duke of Bretaigne and Katharine who dyed young He began his Reign the 19th of October 1216. and reigned 56 Years and 28 Days being the 65th Year of his Age he was the 27th sole Monarch of England He was very charitably given and founded many Churches and Religious Houses In his time four Suns appeared from the Rising to the Setting after which followed a great Famine and eighteen Jews were hanged for crucifying a Child and others severely punished for circumcising another that had been christened Thus dyed Third Henry when on England's Stage H 'ad sway'd the Sceptre near a long liv'd Age The longest Reign the Nation e'er beheld Yet Life wound off by time the Cedar's fell'd The Reign and Actions of Edward the First King of England c. KIng Edward at the death of his Father Henry was warring in the Holy Land where he did Wonders in his own Person insomuch that the Sarazens dreading his Prowess the Governour of Damascus under a feigned Friendship sent a Villain to assassinate him who seeming as if he was about to deliver him a Letter stabbed him in three places in the Arm with a poisoned Dagger and had repeated the Wounds but that the Prince struck him down with his Foot whereupon his Guards came in and cut the Wretch in pieces as he lay on the floor yet these wounds by the Chirurgions were accounted mortal unless some one would hazard his own Life by sucking out the Poison but when every one shrunk back Eleanor his Wife who would by no means be persuaded from accompanying him in that tedious Journey chearfully undertook it and effected the Cure without any Injury done to her self for which generous Undertaking he raised Crosses and Monuments to her Memory in England The News of his Father's death no sooner reached him but setling the Affairs of the War he returned to England where together with his Queen he was crowned by Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury at whose Coronation 500 Horses were let loose in a large Forest to be possessed by those that first caught them and upon notice the Welsh were in Arms he marched against them overthrew and slew Lewelin their Prince in a great Battel whose Head crowned with Ivy was set upon the Tower and utterly subduing those Mountainiers he made his Son Edward born amongst them at Caernarvon Prince of the Country And going for France he sate as a Peer of that Kingdom in consideration of the Lands and Territories he held there and upon his return banished the Jews to the number of 15000 for bringing in base Money and exacting Extortion Alexander the Third King of Scotland who had married King Edward's Sister being dead and the Lords Bruce and Baliol for want of other Heirs standing in competition for the Kingdom Edward by his Authority became Umpire and adjudged it to the latter promising to support his Right by Arms for which he was to become his Homager but that Prince being in the Throne to please his People who feared the English Greatness might be prejudicial to them hearkened to Proposals with France and suffered his People to enter the North parts of of England with Fire and Sword Edward drove them back with great slaughter entering Scotland and making such terrible Destruction that the Cities and Towns for the most part surrendred the Scotch Nobles sued for Peace and in the Parliament held at Berwick they acknowledged him their King swearing to be true Subjects to him for ever after sealing a solemn Instrument to that purpose whereupon King Edward leaving John de Warren Earl of Surry and Sussex as his Viceroy in that Kingdom sent John Baliol the late King Prisoner to the Tower of London and brought away with him the Crown Sceptre and Cloth of State burning their Records abrogating their Laws altering the Form of their Divine Service and transplanting their learned Men to Oxford He brought likewise the Marble Chair wherein the Kings of Scotland were wont to be crowned from the Abbey of Schone and sent it to Westminster upon which is written this prophetical Distich Ni fallat Fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient Lapidem regnare tenetur ibidem Where'er this Stone the Scot shall placed find There shall he reign for there his Rule 's assign'd This was verified in King James the first upon the uniting the Kingdoms but more of that in his Reign King Edward going into France to recover such places as the French had taken in the latter end of his Father's Reign and refused to restore especially in Gascoign the Scots rebelled and under the leading of one William Wallis fell upon the English at an advantage near Striveling Bridge and put them to the rout killing amongst others Hugh de Cressingham the Treasurer and having flead him divided his Skin in parcels amongst them as a Trophie of their Revenge and committed many other outrages which hastened the King's Return at which time he summoned a Parliament at York giving the Scots a day to appear but they
Crown of France and Dutchy of Normandy c and in lieu thereof King John and his Son should for them and their Heirs release unto King Edward and his Heirs the entire Countrey of Aquitain Santogne and their Dependences c. That King John should pay 300000 Schuts of Gold each valued at six Shillings eight pence Sterling which Agreement was ratified at Calais but not all performed for now the Black Prince dying Anno 1377. in the 46th year of his Age and the King growing in years and sickly matters abroad were neglected and the French renewed their Encroachments nor did the King long survive the death of that dear Son for having appointed the Son of that Prince to succeed him in the Throne he dyed on the 21st of June Anno 377. in the 51st year of his Reign and was the 31st sole Monarch of England c. This Edward was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain eldest Son to Edward the Second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he dyed at Shene in Surry and was buried at Westminster his Wife was Philip Daughter to the Earl of Hanault and Holland by whom he had Issue Edward the Black Prince William of Hatfield Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Edward Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York William of Windsor and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester Isabel married to Ingelram of Guisnes Earl of Soysons and Arch Duke of Austria Joan espoused by proxy to Alphons the Eleventh King of Castile and Leon but dyed before the consummation of the Nuptials Blanch who dyed young Mary married to John Montfort Duke of Bretaigne and Margaret married to John de Hasting Earl of Pembroke He built many stately Fabricks settled the Wool Staple at Calais instituted the Order of the Garter restrained the Pope from conferring Benefices upon Strangers constituted Prince Edward his Son first Duke of Cornwall since inherent to the Eldest Son of the Kings of England in his time florished the famous John Wickliff who first openly and successfully opposed the Pope and exposed the manifest Errours of the Church of Rome Blazing Stars likewise appeared with continued Rains and a great Mortality through all Europe so vehemently that the Dead were more than the Living Thus the great Warrier after all his Toil From whom whilst living none could take the spoil Dropt in old Age and made the Grave his Bed Whom late the Nations did both love and dread The Reign and Actions of Richard the II. King of England c. THis Richard was Son to Edward the Black Prince he was crowned on the 21st of June 1377 in the eleventh Year of his Age but the Government growing out of Frame by reason of the King's Nonage and the Differences amongst the Nobility the French took the opportunity to invade some Sea coast Towns and the Scots were emboldened to enter England burning Roxborough and to augment the miseries of the English the Pestilence raged fearfully in the Northern parts so that the glorious Face of things seemed utterly to be changed but a better Accord ensuing the Earl of Northumberland regained Berwick and in the Year 1379. a Parliament being held at London where it was agreed that the more wealthy sort should be taxed for the King 's present occasions and the poorer exempted but this held not long for the next year another Parliament being called at Northampâ—on a Poll Tax was agreed on that every Person of either Sex above the Age of Sixteen should pay 12 pence a head which was looked upon as so great a Grievance that many refused not only to pay it but took up Arms especially in Kent Surry Essex Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridge-shire under the Leading of those notorious Persons Jack Straw and Wat. Tyler who making no less than one hundred thousand came to London where the multitude sided with them and committed many outrages as burning the Priory of Saint John's the Duke of Lancaster's Palace at the Savoy us likewise the Archbishop of Canterbury's Goods at Lambeth defacing all Rolls Records and Writings wherever they found them as professing themselves great Enemies to the Law nor did this suffice but dragging the Archbishop then Chancellour of England and Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. John's out of the Tower though the King was present they in a rude and barbarous manner heheaded them on logs of Timber with loud Shouts and Rejoicings and proceeded to exhibite many unreasonable Petitions yet necessity constrained the King either to dissemble their Insolence or grant them their Demands whereupon many dispersed went to their respective Habitations and the rest the King by his Proclamation ordered to meet him in Smithfield with promises of Satisfaction where in great numbers they came armed with a Messeline of Weapons headed by Wat. Tyler who in presence of the King using insolent Speeches and attempting to kill Sir John Newton for contradicting him William Walworth Lord Mayor of London being by and no longer able to endure such Arrogance after some Expressions of his Resentment stabbed Tyler with a Dagger which his companions perceiving prepared to take a bloudy Revenge but the King taking courage spurred forward commanding them to follow him declaring that he would be their Captain and in the mean while Walworth armed the Citizens and came with a thousand well appointed men bearing Tyler's Head on a Spear before them by which he so daunted the rout that they threw down their Weapons and besaught the King's Mercy with a Promise of future Obedience and Walworth for this Act was knighted with a Donative of one hundred pounds a year free Land and from this Action many will have it that the Dagger was added to the City Arms and soon after this Jack Straw and about 1500 others were executed upon the account of this Rebellion Straw at his death confessing that their Design was to murther the King and Nobles and set up petty Kings of their own chusing in every Shire The Nation being better at quiet the King bethought himself of Marrying and in order to it having treated with the Emperour Charles the Fourth for the Lady Anne his Daughter she was sent into England and the Nuptials were celebrated upon which a Peace with France ensued yet the Scots continued to invade the Northern parts though with various Success but this was not all for the King advancing divers persons of mean worth to the highest Dignities or at least the greatest Favours and places of Trust the Nobles began to murmur and fall off so that although a Parliament was called they would not grant the King any Aids unless his Favourites were removed or degraded which he could not well digest and therefore resolved to find out some other way to supply his Coffers in order to which he seized upon the Estates and Effects of sundry that had withdrawn themselves and consulting his Lawyers for his better justification
about sundry Articles of Treason in the compass of which the Lords that stood out might fall he got them subscribed at Nottingham by Robert Trisilian Chief Justiciar Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthrop and William Burgh Justiciars as likewise by John Lecton Serjeant at Law whereupon he proclaimed them Traitors and both sides armed but the King finding the Lords too powerfull for him and that they had discovered the Snares he had laid to entrap them thought it no time to oppose his small number against forty thousand men but shut himself up with such Forces as he had in the Tower of London where he had laid up Stores for his Subsistence if things came to farther Extremity The King withdrawn the Lords came to Westminster and there assembling to consult what was to be done they resolved to dispatch a Messenger to let the King know that if he left not the Tower and came quickly to them that things might be better settled and ordered they would proceed to chuse a King that should and would hearken to and the Judgment and Counsel of his Peers This though much against his will constrained him to meet them at Westminster and after some debate consented to remove from his Person Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York the Bishops of Durham and Chichester the Lords Zouch and Beaumont and many others with certain chargeable Court-Ladies who were maintained as Spies upon the Actions of the Nobility and the better to make up the breach a Parliament was summoned in which the Judges were called to an Account for the subscribing of the Articles and other matters and most of them being arrested as they sate in Judgment were sent Prisoners to the Tower but Trisilian took an opportunity to escape yet being apprehended he was in the morning sentenced in Parliament and in the Afternoon pursuant to that Sentence as one that had wheedled in the rest to a compliance he was conveyed to Tyburn and there had his Throat cut by Hand of the common Executioner and many others were put to death as evil Counselours and Betrayers of the People The Estates of the King 's chief Favourites were likewise confiscated but the Scots at the same time invading the Northern Parts the Proceedings were not carried on to the highth as was otherways intended and not long after the Scale turned for another Parliament being called at London the Sanctuary of former Laws and all partscular Charters of Pardon were disannulled and taken away from Thomas Duke Gloucester the Earl of Arundel and others for their Treasonable Practices and Enterprizes and all the Justiciars who stood for the King were cleared from the Danger and Scandal they lay under and the Articles they had signed were ratified and such as had offended against them proclaimed Traitors and Richard Earl of Arundâ—l was beheaded on Tower-Hill as guilty of the breach of them The Earl of Warwick upon the like cause was banished and the Duke of Gloucester arrested and carried to Calais where he was privately made away and the King created himself Earl of Chester and to his Escutcheon Royal added the Armories of Edward the Confessour creating his Cosin Henry Duke of Hereford who was not long after accused by Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk for speaking dangerous words of the King and Mowbray constantly affirming what Hereford denied the Combat was granted them and all things in order to it prepared but when they were entred the Lists and at the point of defying each other to death the King threw down his Warder by that means staying the Combat changed the manner of the Order and banished them the Kingdom the Duke of Norfolk for ever and the Duke of Hereford first for ten Years then for six only constraining them upon pain of death immediately to depart and soon after the Duke of Lancaster Father to the latter and Uncle to the King dying he seized on all his Wealth which was extremely considerable he being looked upon one of the richest uncrowned Heads in Europe Long had not these Things passed before the Irish fell into Rebellion when to quiet them King Richard raised a great Army to supply which he grievously oppressed his Subjects by a heavy Tax which begot no small Hatred amongst the People so that some of the Nobles who favoured Hereford now become Duke of Lancaster sent to him to advertize him of the Discontents letting him know that this was his time to make his Fortune and he not delaying the opportunity with an Army of about 2000 English and Foreigners landed whilst King Richard was busie in Ireland and was immediately joined by the Earl of Northumberland and his Son and declaring as a specious pretence he came for no more than his Dutchy of Lancaster the People in compassion of his wrong flocked about him from all parts so that the Duke of York whom King Richard had left Governour of the Kingdom till his Return from his Irish Expedition not being able to oppose the Torrent was obliged to acquiess and suffer him to take Bristol where Bushy and Green two of the King 's Privy Counselours being made Prisoners they lost their Heads to please the multitude This allarmed King Richard in Ireland and obliged him to hasten for England gathering some Troups in Wales which he joined to those he brought over but few of the Nobles coming to his Assistence and finding himself too weak to oppose the Torrent he suffered them to disband and betook himself with a few of his Followers to Conwoth Castle and from thence sent to demand Honourable Conditions and amongst the rest That if himself and eight more whom he should name might have Allowance becoming their Qualities and an assurance of a quiet Private Life he would be content to resign the Crown to his Cosin the Duke of Lancaster and being promised what what was demanded he put himself into the hands of the Earl of Northumberland and was conveyed to the Tower of London whereupon a Parliament was called in his Name to sit at Westminster who concluding upon his Resignation sent an Instrument to him in order to his subscribing which being accordingly done as likewise seal'd he put his Signet Ring upon the Duke's Finger and after this a definitive Sentence passed in Parliament at which time the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat made his Claim and Challenge to the Crown in the following words viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Apurtenances as coming of the Bloud Royal from King Henry the Third and that Justice which God of his Grace doth send me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws After this Claim Henry was acknowledged by all the Estates for King and seated in the Royal Throne which is accounted the end of Richard's
of using their Arms which the Duke of Brabant perceiving advanced furiously to break the Order of the English and encourage his side but met his Fate in that Attempt however the Duke of Alanzon broke in upon the King's Standard and there had slain the Duke of Gloucester had not the King prevented it by timely interposing and between them began a sharp dispute wherein the Duke of Alanzon all most beat the King's Crown flat to his Helmet but being struck from his Horse by Henry and crying out he was Alanzon notwithstanding his begging quarter and the King's endeavour to save him the enraged Soldiers for the Danger he had put their Sovereign into dispatched him on the spot so that the Rear-guard of the French Army being worsted and unable to sustain the Fury of the English fled without fighting leaving the Victory with infinite spoil and a great number of Prisoners to a handfull of Men in a manner naked and allmost half starved which may convince the World that Victory depends not upon the Arm of Flesh but scarcely was the Field cleared of the French before another Army bigger than that of the English which was coming to their Aid and knowing nothing of the Defeat appeared upon the Hills and the King fearing the great number of Prisoners might turn against him during the heat of the Fight caused them all as a Maxim of self-â—â—eservation except those of the greatest Quality to be killed and then sent a Herauld to summon them to fight or depart immediately for if they stayed whilst he charged them they must expect no Quarter whereupon the King of Sicily who commanded in chief not thinking it convenient with those Forces to dispute what so great an Army had lost drew off so that King Henry finding himself an entire Conquerour fell on his Knees and commanding all both Officers and Soldiers to doe the like with up lifted hands and said Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be given the Glory And having learned the name of the place he said Let this be called the Battel of Agincourt all posterity In this Battel were slain of the French one thousand Princes Noblemen Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Soldiers The Prisoners of note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon the Earl of Richmond Lowis de Burbon the Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Roven and divers others The English loft of Note were the Duke of York and Earl of Suffolk with two Knights and David Gam Esquire the common Soldiers that fell were very inconsiderable some not allowing above one hundred twenty eight but that seems somewhat partial The next day after this Battel Henry marched with the spoil and his Prisoners off the Field towards Callais his Soldiers now having Cloaths and plenty of all Necessaries and having fortified the Towns he had taken and given necessary Orders he came for England and was received in London with Triumph and there presented with one thousand pounds and two Gold Basons and calling a Parliament he had a Subsidy of a Tenth granted for the carrying on his Wars in France which not sufficing he pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort his Unckle and his Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks then he passed the Sea with an Army of 25527. every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers and the first of August 1417. arrived in Normandy bringing such a terrour upon the Countrey that most of the Inhabitants fled into Bretaigne and having dubbed thirty eight Knights he laid Siege to Conquest and took it the 16th of August with the Castles of Aubeliers and Lovers he likewise stormed the City of Caen and gave the Pillage to his Soldiers During K. Henry's Success in France the Scots invaded England bringing with them a Person representing Richard the Second but hearing as they lay at the Siege of Roxborough and Berwick that the English Army was marching toward them they raised the Sieges and fled This did not hinder the King 's proceeding in France for there he took many Cities and had the strong Castle of Fallors delivered him then divided his Army under the Commands of the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and Earl of Warwick so that taking divers places at once he set down before Roan and took it after a year's Siege obliging the Burgesses for their Ransome and being permitted quietly to live there pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors And now the French finding themselves unable to make head against the English and Accommodation was sought and to bring it the easier to pass an Interview was had between King Henry and King Charles at the Town of Melun where the Queen and the Princess Katharine of France was present and there King Henry first fixed his Eyes and Affection on that beauteous Maid and finding the French Noblemen averse to his Demands he told the Duke of Burgundy that he would either have the Princess and what he had farther required or he would drive him and the rest of the Nobles out of France To which the Duke replied That he might say his pleasure but before he should drive them out of France he should be weary of the Enterprize This Treaty proving ineffectual the King took the Town of Ponthois and gave large spoil to his Soldiers which obliged the French King to remove his Court from Paris to Troyis in Champaigne and now to facilitate the English Conquests the Dauphin having put a sensible Affront upon the Queen his Mother she conceived a mortal hatred and laboured to ruine him confederating with the Duke of Burgundy and procuring her self by reason of the King's Imbecility to be made Regent of France and soon after the Dauphin causing John Duke of Burgundy to be slain in his presence as he came to doe him Homage for contriving as he said the death of Lewis Duke of Orleance that he might the better sway the Kingdom under an infirm King Philip the young Duke of Burgundy to revenge his Father's death closed with King Henry and proceeded to persuade Charles the French King to disinherit the Dauphin and give the Lady Katharine in Marriage to the King oâ— England and the Queen seconding this Project it was effected and a Peace concluded between the two Crowns upon divers Articles the chief being That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and hold all their Dignities Rents and Possessions during their natural Lives That after their deaths the Crown and Realm of France should with all its Rights and Appurtenances remain unto the King of England and his Heirs for ever and that by reason of the Infirmity of King Charles therefore during his Life the Affairs of the Realm of France together with the Government thereof should remain in the King Henry so that thenceforth he should govern the Realm and admit to his Council and
Assistence with the Council of France such of the English Nobility as he should see convenient with other Articles to the number of thirty very advantageous to the English were all sworn to at Troyis May the 30th 1420. and proclaimed in London the June following and Homage sworn to King Henry who was proclaimed Regent of France and on the 3d of June the Marriage was celebrated in the presence of divers of the chief Nobility of England and France at Troyis with great Pomp and Splendour and they rode in Triumph to take Possession of the Palace in Paris and a Parliament of the three Estates were assembled in that City who confirmed what had been done by the Kings and it was there likewise ratified by the General Estates of the Realm and Sworn to particularly on the Holy Evangelist by the French Noblemen and Rulers Spiritual and Temporal who moreover sealed the Instruments which were sent over to be kept in the King's Exchequer at Westminster which done the King left the Duke of Clarence his Lieutenant in France and came for England with his Queen where he was received with Joy and Triumph causing her to be crowned at Westminster and then proceeded to call a Parliament for farther Supplies to maintain his War against the Dauphin who still stood out to recover the Kingdom but the Commons exhiting a Petition of Poverty he again pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort for 20000 pounds and passed into France with 4000 Horse and 24000 Foot and his presence there was necessary for the Dauphin strengthened by Forces for Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Buchanan and Archibald Douglas defeated and killed the Duke of Clarence took the Earls of Huntindon Somerset and others Prisoners and heightened with that Success he laid Siege to Alenzon and cut off the Provisions of Paris but the King 's Approach made him to retire to Bury King Henry soon recovered what the Dauphin had taken and drove him to great distress but when this great King had triumphed over that mighty Kingdom with unconquerable Fortune and Success and annexed it fully to the Crown of England death laid his Arrest upon him for falling sick of a burning Fever and Flux he dyed on the 30th of August 1422. at Bloice de Vincennois and his Body brought over was buried with pomp at Westminster hard by the Tomb of Edward the Confessour appointing by his last Will and Testament his younger Brother Humphry Duke of Gloucester Protectour of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Guardian of his Son Henry born a little before at Windsor contrary to the King 's express command who when he heard the Queen had lain in at that place prophetically spake viz. Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall reign long and lose all yet God's Will be done This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland eldest Son of Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen He began his Reign on the 20th of March 1412. and reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 days and was the 34th sole Monarch of England Thus Beauty Power and Honour yield to death Great Conquerours like Slaves resign their breath Their Lawrels in the Dust with them must lie But Fame's immortal and can never dye The Life Reign and Actions of HENRY the Sixth King of England France c. HEnry of Windsor so called from the place of his Birth upon the death of his Father was crowned when he exceeded not eight Months of age the Queen holding him in her lap whilst the Solemnity was performed to whom his Nurtriture and Education was committed but his Minority much disadvantaged the English Interest in France for old King Charles dying Charles his Son greatly strengthned his party and although he was called by the English in derision only King of Burry as having little more left him yet now he encroached upon the English wresting from them sundry places by the help of Aids from Scotland and Italy which made the English Regent think it time to give him Battel and accordingly the Armies joyned near Vernoli where the French were overthrown the Regent doing wonders in his own person and there were slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others and the Duke of Alanzon taken Prisoner upon which Victory the English besieged Monts in Main and having with his Cannon made a great breach in the Wall it was surrendered and a little while after the Earl of Salisbury besieged Orleance and brought it to such distress that the Garison was willing to surrender to the Duke of Burgundy but the Earl refused it which so offended the Duke that he declined the English Interest which proved very prejudicial The French being in a drooping Condition and using strong Cordials to support their Spirits one Joan a Shepherdess of Lorrain came to the Dauphin and offered him her Service saying She was sent by God to deliver France out of the hands of the English and not exceeding eighteen years of age her offer at first was looked upon as rediculous but she persisting in what she had declared the Dauphin caused her to be armed at all points and desiring the Sword that hung in St. Catharines Church she got into Orleance then besieged by the English and from thence sent a Letter commanding them to raise the Siege and deliver up the Towns they possessed for she was resolved to drive them out of France but they looked upon it only as proceeding from Folly or a raving fit yet in the several Sallies she made it proved otherwise for by the violent Sallies she made the Siege was raised with loss to the English she commonly fighting in the head of the French and animating them to go on couragiously for being in one of the Sallies shot through the Arm with an Arrow and perswaded to retire she cryed out This is a favour let us go on they cannot escape the hands of God and there of note were slain the Earl of Salisbury the Lords Moline and Poynings Sir Thomas Gagrave and the French say about eight thousand common Soldiers yet our Historians allow but six hundred and the French following their success wrested several Towns and surprising a party of English overthrew them taking Prisoners the Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampston whereupon several Towns revolted and the Dauphin took Auxier and Rhiemes in the latter of which according to the direction of Joan called by the French the Maid of God Charles the Dauphin caused himself to be Crowned King of France Joan of Arks having been hitherto very sucsessfull and done the Dauphin singular service coming to the relief of Campaign which was greatly distressed by the English and Burgundians in a desperate charge advancing too far and being separated from those that should have succoured her she was
made Prisoner by a Burgundian Knight and by him sold to to the English who sent her to Roan and being charged with Witch-craft Bloud-shead and the unnatural use of Man's Apparel contrary to her Sex she was burnt which was too barbarous a usage and had not been executed but to put the French out of the great hopes they conceived in the Promise she had made to drive the French out of the Kingdom and in some kind it had its effects but another expedient was resolved on which was to send over for young King Henry and he accordingly was crowned in Paris with great Pomp by the Cardinal of VVinchester on the 7th of December 1431. The French Nobility doing him homage and the King's Pattents and Grants touching the French Affairs passed under the Seal and Stile of Henry King of the Frenchmen and of England and the Lords Talbot and Arundel were successfully victorious in the Provinces of Main Anjou and other places but John Duke of Bedford Regent of that Kingdom dying at Paris Anno. 1435. with his death the English Affairs sunk for although Richard Duke of York was sent over Regent yet before his arrival Paris was lost by the treachery and revolt of the Citizens and the Duke of Burgundy falling off besieged or blocked up Callais upon notice of which the Duke of Gloucester passed with a great Army but the Burgundians were retired before his arrival which made him proceed to waste the Burgundian Territories and then returned to England whilst the Duke of Somerset the Lords Talbot and VVilloughby made good the English Interest against the French and now it was thought expedient that King Henry should Marry and by the contrivance of de la Pool Duke of Suffolk he took to Wife Margaret Daughter to Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorain Titular King of Sicily and Jerusalem c. with whom he had little or no Dowry and Suffolk's too much favour and interest with the Queen made the Nobles begin to murmur and indeed this Match proved in the end disadvantageous to the English for the Queen being a Woman of a high Spirit and finding her power over a good natured and easie King she delayed not to use it placing and displacing at her pleasure the greatest Counsellers and Ministers of State so the Interest in France daily lessoned and the Dauphinâ— recovered the greatest part of the Kingdom which moved Duke Humphry to reproach the Queen and her Council with bold truth whereby they became so exasperated that from that time they layed Snares to intrap him but finding no plausible opportunity they resolved to take a violent occasion and at a Parliament holden at St. Edmunds-bury Anno 1447. he was arrested by John Lord Beaumont Lord High Constable of England and others charged with High-Treason and put under a Guard of the King's Houshold but had not been long in his Confinement before he was found dead not without strong presumption of violence used towards him yet to shadow it with the people who entirely loved him as a vertuous wise and learned Patriot of his Country his body was exposed and it was given out that he died of an Imposthume and Palsie This Duke who had been the Prop of the English Affairs removed his Servants the better to colour the Matter were brought to Tryall and five of them convicted of High-Treason upon which Sentence they were drawn to Tyburn and being hanged about two Minutes were cut down alive stripped naked and marked out with a Knife to be quartered and then their Charters of Pardon were produced by the Marquess of Suffolk and now the whole frame of Government seemed to repose it self in the Queens Authority and such Favourites as by her insinuation with the King she raised to the highest Dignities This gave scope to the Duke of York's Ambition who concluding there was an open passage to the Crown delayed not the opportunity but consulted his Friends declaring his Title as descended from Lionel and Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster great Grand-father to King Henry the sixth aggravating the miscarriages in Government and keeping up popular divisions and indeed the King's mildness a Council out of Favour with the people â—osses and dishonours abroad a disorder and confusion of things at home mainly contributed to his design and about this time a Rebellion happening in Ireland the Duke of York was looked upon as the fittest Man to go over for the appeasing it and had the fortune to bring it to a happy issue when in the mean while the Duke of Suffolk the Queens great favourite was charged in a Parliament at Westminster with evil Demeanour Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower but the Queen soon after procured his release and now the Yorkists Faction considerably strengthened appeared bare-fac'd and being vigorously withstood by Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester Keeper of the Privy Seal to remove him out of the way a rable of Seamen were stired up to fall upon him at Portsmouth by whose rude hands the good Bishop was slain and in a Parliament holden at Leicester they procured the Banishment of the Duke of Suffolk for five years and as he was attempting to pass the Seas he was taken in Dover Road by such as the Duke of York had laid in wait for him and for want of a Block had his Head cut off on the side of a Cock-boat which was looked upon as a Judgment for his being a contriver of the death of Humphry Duke of Gloucester the King's Uncle Suffolk thus removed out of the way the Duke of York concluded he wanted but one step into the Throne and although he was yet in Ireland he so effectually wrought by his Friends in England that the Kentish Men took up Arms under the leading of Jack Cade and were joyned by those of Essex demanding that the Duke might be called home and that he with some others that Cade named might bechief in Council That those guilty of the death of Duke Humphry might receive due punishment That the Grievances of the people might be redressed and because these requests were not speedily answered they committed many violent out-rages in and about London as plundering the houses of the Citizens beheading the Lord Say Treasurer of England and Mr. Comer High Sheriff of Kent for attempting to perswade them to return to their Obedience However their fury being spent and the King's Proclamation for a Pardon coming out to indemnifie them they returned to their respective Habitations but Cade finding his Power and Credit with the Multitude upon some new disgust attempting again to raise the Rable he was encountered by the Gentry of Kent and slain by one Edan Upon the stirs and uproars in England the Duke of York without any Order hasted from Ireland and took up Arms pretendedly for the Reformation of the State which made King Henry fortifie himself and prepare to oppose their force â— but the Duke of York
of England were beheaded and yet by the contrivance of the Papists the bloudy six Articles were brought in a sa Snare to those of the Reformed Religion upon which account many suffered the Flames and amongst others Dr. Barns and Mrs. Ann Askew who refusing after Tortures to comply were committed to the devouring Fire and the King Married the Lady Catharine Parr who favoured the Lutherans and was of the Reformed Church whose Life the Papists often put in danger but she escaped the Snare and out-lived the King who having invaded both Scotland and France upon the disappointment in the Match proposed and agreed on between Prince Edward and the Lady Mary of Scotland Heir and Heiress to the two Crowns and won Bulloin in France wasting Scotland wsth Fire and Sword and taking upon him the Title of King of Ireland he fell sick in January 1547. and made his Will that in default of Issue his Son and two Daughters should successively possess the Trone and giving great Sums to charitable Uses dyed the 28th of the same Month. This Henry was King of England France and Ireland second Son to Henry the Seventh he Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and six Days and was the forty sole Monarch of England the Issue he left behind him were Edward Mary and Elizabeth who succeeded him in the Sovereignty he dyed in the 56th year of his Age and was buried in the Chapell at Windsor Thus the Eighth Henry ends his bloudy Reign Beauty it self with him can't Pitty gain Yet met by Death amongst the Dead he lies And with his Life he ends his Cruelties The Life Reign and Actions of Edward the Sixth King of England c. PIous Edward the Sixth far from his Fathers temper was born on the 12th of Ostober 1537. occasioning by his Birth the Death of his Mother Queen Jane for in her hard labour King Henry having notice it was a Son for which he had passionately longed and that either the Child or the Mother must perish he intimated he could have more Wives but knew not whether he should have another Son whereupon the Chirurgeons having dozed the Queen with strong Spirits to make her senseless of the pain by making a large Incision took forth the Birth but by that usage the Queen soon after dyed This Prince was Crowned at Westminster on the 20th of February 1547. having the three Swords delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland and upon this he told them there was yet another Sword to be delivered to him viz. The Holy Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit and without which no King can Govern well Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and his Mothers Brother was made Protector over his Minority and hereupon it was concluded the Scots should be compelled to make good the Marriage which otherwise they refused to do wherefore a great Army was raised and led by the Lord Protector into Scotland and vanquished the Scots in Muschelborough Field after an obstinate and bloudy Fight with great slaughter of their men chasing them about five miles so that there dyed the Lord Fleming with sundry others of quality and ten thousand of lesser note and one thousand were taken Prisoners amongst whom of note were the Earl of Huntly the Lords Yester Hobby and Hamilton the Earl of Cassis and the Lord Weems so that the English without any farther opposition sacked and burnt Lieth the Island of St. Colmes Brougherag Roxborough Humes Castle and other places which obliged many of the Scotch Nobility and Gentry to come and cast themselves at the Proctor's Feet beseeching him to spare their Country entering into terms with him on condition of Peace whereupon he returned to England and a Parliament was called and the bloudy six Articles repealed those Colledges Chapells and Religious Houses that King Henry had spared were given to the King Edward and Commissioners appointed to purge the Churches of Images which accordingly was done but in the West Mr. Body one of the Commissioners was stabbed to the heart by a Priest and to justifie the murther 10000 of the Cornish and Devonshire Rusticks took Arms Headed by Humphry Aurundell six other Gentlemen and eight Priests who straightly besieged Exceter but were beaten off after they had done considerable mischief yet they continued in Arms â—nd sent the King sundry Articles to be aggreed to viz. That they might have Mass Celebrated as in times â—ast that they might have Holy Bread and Holy Water in â—membrance of Christ's Body and Bloud that the six Articles might be again in force with some others to which the young King pittying their ignorance returned them an answer with a general Pardon if they submitted but that not prevailing and the multitude still encreasing an Army was sent against them which put them to flight at Honiton and beat â—hem before Exceter and on Cliff-Heath utterly disâ—omfitted them with considerable slaughter and all the Popish Trumpery which the Priests had brought â—nto the Field to encourage them were trampled under Feet and Aurundel Holms Winsland and Bury â—our of their Ring-leaders were taken and Executed â—nd a Miller's man near Bodmin taking upon him by â—is Masters directions to personate him Sir Anthony Kingstone Marshal of the Field commanded him to â—e hanged the Fellow confidently affirming himself to be the Rebellious Miller till he came to the Gallows yet there declared he was but his man yet this late Confession stood him in no stead for Sir Anthony caused him to be hanged telling him he could never do his Master better Service but the troubles ended not thus for the Priests being unhived and deprived of their Roast-meat stir'd up the people in other parts of the Kingdom and especially those in Norfolk were Headed by one Robert Kett a Tanner who Stiled himself the King's Deputy to redress Grievances issuing out Writs and Warrants in the King's name and chusing an Old Oake to sit in Council called the Oake of Reformation to which Tribunal all Complaints and Grievances of the Rusticks were brought to be redressed and Orders were sent for the plundering Gentlemens Houses taking Arms and Amunition out of Ships c. making themselves Master of the City of Norwich over-throwing the Marques of Northampton but the Lord Dudly Earl of Warwick being sent against them forced the City and caused Sixty of such as he there had taken iâ— Arms to be immediately hanged however thâ— Rebels intrenched and fortified their Camp at the foot of a Hill called Duffin-dale encouraging themselves upon a vain Prophecy that Hob Dic and Hic meaning the Rusticks should with their Clubâ— fill up the Valley of Duffin-dale with the Bodys of the slain On the 27th of August the Earl prepared to give them Battel when the better to retard him the Rebels set in the head of their Battel all the Gentlemen and others that they had taken Prisoners coupled in Irons however Captain Drury with hiâ— Band of Almains broke in furiously and
to the Conqueror who about the year 824 made it cease to be any longer a Kingdom annexing it by right of Conquest to that of Mercia in which for the future we must account it This Kingdom continued entire 372 years Thus fell the Kentish Kingdom thus bereft Of all its Grandure to the Conqueror left Its name was swallowed by a greater sway Ingulf'd in what we must call Mercia An account of the Kingdom of the South Saxons containing Sussex and Surry under the Succession of four Kings THis parcel of the British Land fell first to Eâ—â—â— Captain of the Saxons who brought supplys out of Germany at their greatest need Landing at Shoram in Sâ—ssex where he gave barrel to the Britains and by a great overthrow obliged them to the Woods and Fastnesses whereupon sending for more Aid to Aâ—sure him in his Conquest he took possession of Sussex and Surry begining his Reign 488. and continued it 32 years Then giving place to Cossa who Reigned as some will have it 72 years and to him succeeded Ethels Wolfe who after 25 years Reign was slain by Cadewel a Banished Prince of the West Saxons yet before his death the Christian Religion was tolerated in his Kingdom himself being Converted by as Bede has it Bishop Willfride tho' some allow his Conversion to Berinus Bishop of Dorchester however he was held to be a good Prince nor did Cadewel long rest in quiet after his death for Barthun and Authun took up Arms against â—im and made him fly the Kingdom but he returning with a great power overcame the two Dukes and after that it became a part of the West Saxon Kingdom when it had continued a Kingdom 133 years Thus set the second Kingdom or it's Fame For from this time it lost it's ancient Name An account of the West Saxon Kingdom containing Cornwal Devonshire Barkshire and Hampshire with the succession of Kings THe first that possessed himself of this Kingdom was Chardick a low Country German Captain who entred Britain about the year of our Lord 495. and Killing Nataulcon a great Prince of the Britains in a dreadful Battle he made himself King of the West Saxons beginning his Reign in 501 and continued it 33 years at the end of which he gave place to Kenrick who prosecuting the War against the Britains gave them two great overthrows at Banbury in Oxfordshire and Shrewsbury in Wiltshire whereby they losing Courage and hopes of Conquest left him in quiet possession of what his Father had acquired but after a Reign of 26 years he was succeeded by Chewlin who fought Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon And this is accounted the first Battle the Saxons had amongst themselves he gave likewise a great overthrow to the Britains at Bedfold and surprized four of their Towns as Liganburgh Alisbury Bensington and Evesham and about six years after he fought the Britains at Durham and slew Coinmagil Caudigan and Farmnagil three of the British Kings thereupon surprizing Glocester Bath and Cirencester but at length some Saxons Joyning with the Britains to Oppose his growing greatness he was overthrown at Wodensbeoth and his Son Cuth slain and thereupon Cearlick his Nephews prosecuting the War against him bereft him of the Kingdom after â—…e had Reigned 33 years yet the Nephew held it but â—…x years before he gave place to Chelwoolf This â—…rince held the Scepter of the West Saxons Kingdom 14 â—…ears but being assaulted by the Britains in confedraâ—…y with the Scots and Picts after much trouble and â—…ile he dyed in the Wars so that his Kingdom fell â—… Kingil who gave the Britains Battle at Beandune â—…nd killed 1046 of them and the better to strengthen â—…imself he made peace with Penda King of the Marâ—…ans and was converted to the Christian Faith by â—…erinus to whom he gave Dorchester as a seat This King Reigned 31 years over the West Saxons and â—…hen gave place to Redwald who was Baptized and Reigned 13 years after him Eskwin began his Reign â—…75 and continued it but two years being overcome â—…t that time by Wolfere King of the Mercians at Buâ—…amhford and most of his people slain and was succeeâ—…ed in the Kingdom of the West Saxons by Kentwin who was a greater Persecutor of the poor remnant of â—…he Britains making them fly into the Rocks and Mountains for shelter and security but his Reign â—…asted not long for at the end of 9 years he dyed and gave place to Cadewalde who slew Ethelwoolf King of â—…he South Saxons and afterward usurped his Kingdom and being a Heathen he destroyed many of the Christians especially the Clergy but in the end he was succeeded by Ine who began his Reign Anno 688. â—…he brought the South Saxon Kingdom into a province and had Wars with the Britains and Mercians and made many wholsom Laws upon which many now â—…n force are founded he built the Abby of Glassenbury and went a Pilgrimage to Rome and there dyed This was he that gave the Pope the first Peter-pence from England to be payed on Lammus day his Reign continued 37 years and was succeeded by Ethellred in whose Reign two dreadful Blazing-Stars appeared his Reign continued 14 years and then he gave place to Cuthred Anno 740. this King made Peace with the Mercians and Joyning his Force with them the cruelly opressed the Britains but Adelem an Eaâ—… and one of his Subjects Rebelling against him hâ—… was obliged to give it over to Defend his Trritories but having Reigned 14 years he was succeeded bâ—… Sigesâ—â—rt This King caused Cumbra an Earl of hâ—… Counsel to be slain for reproving his Vices whicâ—… occasioned his Subjects to Rebel and forced him tâ—… shelter himself in a Wood where he was found anâ—… slain by the Earls Swinheard when he had Reigned about a year to whom Kenwoolf succeeded who Waâ—…ed very furiously on the Britains and gave them greâ—… overthrows but in the end himself was overthrowâ—… by Offa King of the Mercians and there slain â—… Captain Ciyto but his Subjects recovered hiâ—… Body and revenged his death upon the Captain and Eighty of his followers The King thus dead Brithrick steped into the Throne in whose time divers strange prodegies and Phantoms appeared as well in the Air aâ—… on the Earth and when he had Reigned without any considerable Action fell by Poyson which he took in in a confection the Queen had prepared for one of hiâ—… paramours whereupon he fled into France and therâ—… died Miserably and now this Kingdom began to draw to a Period or rather to loose it's name to be joyned with the rest in a sole Monarchy for Egbert succeeded Brithrick Anno 806. as King of the West Saxons he after a long War wherein much blood was spilt gained an absolute rule over the Seven Kingdoms making a strict Law against the Welch that should dare to venture over Offas Ditch which he appointed for their Boundard he slew Bernulph King of the
business inviting many of the Nobles that he thought disaffected to the King he made them Prisoners in his Palace and by that means constrained them to render their Castles as Ransoms for their Persons which much weakened the Interest of the Empress yet Earl Robert burnt Worcester for holding out against her and the like did Ralph Painel one of her Captains to Nottingham The Empress finding her Measures broken by the crafty Bishop of Winchester hasted to Lincoln but the King followed close and besiged that City and took it yet she made her escape so that new Measures being taken her Forces daily increased insomuch that becoming strong in the Field Robert Earl of Glocester and Ralph Earl of Chester gave the King battle near Lincoln which was maintained with great obstinacy and effusion of blood Victory seeming to incline to neither party till such time as the Kings Horse gave way thought to have been done by treachery however the Foot stood manfully to it but being overcharged and trampled down for want of their Horse to cover them they fled likewise leaving the King who chose rather to die than give back to fight the Battle when with a very weighty Battle-Ax like an inraged Lyon he drove whole squadrons before him killing a great number for wherever he struck the blow proved mortal but in the fury of the Fight having broken his Battle-Ax and after that his Sword he was beaten down with a Massiestone thrown at him and by that means brought under and taken Prisoner King Stephen thus made a Prisoner was carried to Glocester where the Empress expected him and from thence sent Prisoner to Bristol whereupon all but the County of Kent acknowledged her as their Soveraign so that going to Winchester in state she there received the Regal Crown and passing to London she was met with Procession and the Acclamations of the people but the Earl of Glocester Brother to the Empress being taken by some of the Nobles that sided with King Stephen and Imprisoned at Glocester searing if any violent Death befel the King he should run the same Risque he so far solicited the matter that an exchange was made and both the one and the other had Liberty after which the Earl went for Normandy which had revolted from Stephen to raise Forces to secure what was gained but whilst this was doing the Londoners being displeased as not receiving the satisfaction they expected and the Nobles thinking themselves slighted by her the restless Bishop of Winchester set the Nation again into a Blaze of dissention making a strong Party for King Stephen besieging the Empress in the Castle of Winchēster seven weeks and then the better to work his advantage feigning a Peace and causing it to be proclaimed set open the City Gates but she and her followers almost starved out with Famine were scarce departed when he caused them to be pursued in which pursuit many were slain and taken Prisoners and amongst them Earl Robert who by this time was returned with a slender Train and others taking Sanctuary in the Nunnery of Worwell were burnt together with the House nor did the Bishop spare Winchester but fired it for taking part with the Empress The Empress escaping this Storm betook her self to the Castle of the Devizes in Wiltshire but being closely pressed by the prevailing party and out of all hopes of relief she contrived a Stratagem to prevent her falling into their hands viz. Inclosing her self in a Coffin and making it known to a few of her Trusty Friends under pretence it was the dead Body of a Person whom the Besiegers knew to be dead in that place procuring a pass for the burial of it with its Ancestors She was in a Horse-litter carried to Glocester and there joyfully received by those of their Party But finding it not safe to continue there she hasted to Oxford where being straightly Besieged by the King in the depth of Winter and the Suburbs gain'd she found her self in no capacity longer to defend the place but taking the advantage of a Snow that had fallen she put on white Garments and by that means in the dusk of the Evening passed alone undiscovered to Abington on Foot and from thence to Wallingford on Horseback the same Night so sweet is a Crown that no Difficulties or Dangers are thought too much to attain it It was indeed strugled for with various success causing a great deal of blood shed as the Partys prevailed with Burnings and Devastations However that he might assure the Succession of his Son Eustuce he called a Council at London commanded Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury to Anoint him King but having received the Pope's Mandate to the contrary he refused it for which he was obliged to leave the Land and flie to Normandy yet the King for this refusal seized upon his Possessions But shortly after Prince Eustace dying the King became more inclinable to an agreement with the Empress The death of this Prince is by some Historians thus reported viz. Having set fire to the Corn Fields belonging to the Abby of Bury because the Monks refused to supply him with a sum of Money for his present occasion after that at his first sitting down to Dinner upon the first bit of Bread he touched he fell distracted and died in that fit but this seems a Fable of the Monks to terrifie people from medling with their Diana or the abundance of Treasure they in those days of Ignorance scraped to themselves even from those that had far greater need However the Kings hope dying in this Prince he was content to adopt Henry by some called Fitz Empress though indeed Plantaginet for his Son and Successor to whom at Oxford in the great Assembly held there for that purpose the Peers did Homage as to the undoubted Heir and the Prince acknowledged the King as his Father and after whom he was to Reign nor did Stephen live long when this was done for being afflicted with the Illiack pasio and the Haemorhoids worn out with Labour and continual toil left the Crown which he had worn with so much trouble and variety of Fortune to young Henry dying at Dover Anno 1134 and was Buried at Feversham in Kent though afterward his Body only for the value of the Lead that inclosed it was cast into the River by the covetous Sexton This Stephen was King of England and Duke of Normandy third Son to Stephen Earl of Blois by his Wife Adilicia or Alice Daughter to William the Conqueror he began his Reign the second of December Anno 1135 and Reigned Eighteen Years Ten Months and 20 Days and had Issue by Maud or Matilda his Wife Daughter of Eustace Earl of Bulloigne Brother of Godfry and Baldwin Kings of Jerusalem Baldwin Eustace William Maud and Mary he had likewise two Natural Sons Gervas the younger he made Abbot of Westminster Thus in a Tempest liv'd the Warlike King Small rest he found till death the calm did