whiche tyme the lady hys wyfe myght neuer come to hym nor had any thyng to lyue vpon but what people of theyr charities woulde geue hyr or what she got by hyr nedle Anno. 12. William Hampton FyshmoÌ„ M. Iohn Browne S Th. Bledlowe S This Mayor was a good iusticer he punyshed in hys yere many Bawdes and Strompettes and caused them to ryde with raye hoodes and made a payre of Stockes to bee sette in euerye warde of the cytie Anno. 13. Iohn Tat Mercer M. William Stocker S Robert Bellisdon S In this yere the erle of Excester was founde dead in the sea betwene Douer and Calleys One Iohn Gose was burned at the tower hyll for heresy Anno. 14. Ro. Drope Draper M. EdmuÌ„d Shaw S. Thomas Hyll S. This Robert Drope Maior of LondoÌ„ afore named buylded the east ende of y e conduite in Cornehyll Kynge Edwarde required of his subiectes a beneuolence whiche they gaue him and so he sailed into Fraunce with a great armie to aide the Duke of Burgoyne but by sute of the Frenche kyng a peace was concluded for seuen yeres Anno. 15. Robert Basset Salter M. Hugh prince S. Ro. colwich S. This Maior dyd sharp correction vpoÌ„ Bakers for makyng of lyght bread in so muche that he set dyuers of them on the pyllory whose names I pasâ—e ouer And a woman named Agnes Deyntie was also there punyshed for sellynge of false mynged butter Anno. 16. Rauf Iosseleyn Dra. M. Rich. RawfoÌ„ S. Wil. Horne This yere by the dyligence of this Maior the newe wall of London from Creplegate to Byshopsgate was made as it nowe is the Maior with his company of the Drapers made all that part betwyxt Alballowes church in the same wall and Byshops gate of their owne proper costes and the other companies made y e other deale whiche was a great worke to be done in one yere coÌ„sidering the purueyaunce of the stuffe Anno. 17. Humfrey Heyford Goldsmith M. Henry Colet S. Iohn Stocker S. This yere the Duke of Clarence seconde brother to the kyng beyng prysoner in the towre was secretly put to death and drowned in a barell of maluesey within the sayd towre Anno. 18. Richard Gardyner Mercer M. Rob. Herding S. Robert Byfeld S. This yere was a great dearth and also a great death at London and in dyâ—ers other partes of this Realme Anno. 19. Bartholo Iames Draper M. Thomas Ilam S. Iohn Warde S. This Thomas Ilam sheryffe afore named newely buylded the great conduyte in Cheape of his owne proprecostes This yere at the towre hyll were .4 felons hanged and burned for robbyng of a churche Anno. 20. Iohn Brown M. William Daniel S. William Bacon S. This yere the kynge requyred great sommes of money to be lent hym of the citizens of London who after diuerse assemblies graunted to lende him .5000 marke whiche was repaied agayne in the next yere folowyng Anno. 21. William Hariate Draper M. Robert ae S Wil. Wykyng S Rich. Chawry S This yere the Scottes began to stirre against whom kyng Edwarde sent the Duke of Gloucester and diuers other whiche retourned agayne without any notable battayle Anno. 22. Edmond Shawe goldsmith M. Wil. Whyte S. Iohn Mathew S. This Edmund Shaw builded Criple gate in London Kyng Edward makyng great prouision for warre into Fraunce ended hys lyfe the .ix. of Apryll in the yeare of our Lorde .1483 when he had reigned .22 yeares .i. moneth and v. dayes He was buryed at Wyndsor leauyng after him two sonnes Edwarde the prince Rycharde Duke of Yorke with .v. daughters as Elizabeth that after was quene Cicelie Anne Katherine and Bridget King Edward the fifthe Anno. 1. EDward the fyft of the age of .xi. yeres began hys reigne ouer this Realme of England the .ix. of Apryll in the yeare of our Lord .1483 and was murdred by Richarde Duke of Gloucester the same yere the .22 day of Iune so he reigned .2 monethes and .xi. days Thys Edwarde was neuer crowned but cruelly murdred by Richarde Duke of Gloucester his vnnatural vncle who after vsurped the Crowne and was called Richarde the third King Richard the thirde Anno Regni .1 RIchard the thyrd brother to Edwarde the fourthe thorough many cruel dedes lastly obteyned the Crowne of England Fyrst to compas his wycked and dyuelyshe purpose hee put to death those noble men which he thought wold not consent to hys mynde in all thynges the other he corupted with ryche gyftes then by hys vntruth and falshode he wrested from the quene Elizabeth beynge than in sanctuarie Rychard her yonger sonne and brother to the Prynce Thyrdly he caused to be publyshed at Poules Crosse by one doctour Shawe that Edward the fourthe hys elder brother was not ryghtely begotten of hys mother but by aduoutrye and therefore that neyther he nor hys chyldren had ryght to the Crowne or as some wryte he caused to be publyshed that the prynce his brother were not ryghtfully begotten of Queene Elizabeth and therfore the ryghte of the crowne to be his whiche in fyne he toke vpon hym and to make a perfect worke of his crueltie shortly therupon shamefully murdered the two yonge chyldren in the towre of London and vsurped the crowne two yeres and two monethes Anno Regni .1 Robert BylisdoÌ„ Habardasher M. Tho. NorlaÌ„d S. W. Martyn S. Grudge began betwene kynge Rychard the thyrde and his nere friende the Duke of Buckyngham in so much that for displeasure therof the Duke coÌ„spired with dyuers other noble men agaynst hym and intended to bryng into the lande Henry erle of Rychmonde as ryghtful heyre to the crowne This HeÌ„ry had fled into Brytayne fearyng the crueltie of Edward y e fourth for whiche conspiracie the saide Duke of Buckingham with dyuers other was shortly after taken and put to death Henry erle of Rychemounte aided with the Britaynes entended to arriue in Wales but hys nauie was so scattered with a contrary wynd that he was fayne to retyre backe agayne into Brytayne for that tyme. Dyuers noble men detestyng the tyranny of kyng Richard fled into Britayne and there adioyned them with the Erle of Richemount Anno. 2. Thomas Hyll Grocer M. Richard Chester S Tho. Britayne S Rafe Astrie S This Thomas Hill buylded the Cundyte in Gracious strete The noble prince Henry erle of Richmount with a small company of Frenchemen landed at Mylford hauen nygh Pembroke whose commynge when it was hearde of in Wales dyuers noble men with their retinue forsakyng Rychard gathered to hym in greate number so that his strengthe in short space greatly increased At a village nere to Leicester called â—osworthe he mette with his enemies where betwene them was foughten a sharpe battaile In conclusion kyng Rycharde with dyuers other was slayne and Henry obteyned a noble victory After whyche conquest he was immediatly crowned kynge of England in the field and
Englande and Scotlande Cecilius was buried at Carlyon Kymarus succeded Cecilius and reigned three yeares in Britayne he was slayne as he was huntyng Elanius called also Danius was kyng of Britayn .ix. yeres Morindus the bastard son of Danius began to reigne in Britain he as our Chronicles saye fought with a kynge who came out of Germanye and arriued here and slew hym with all his power Moreouer as they write of the Irishe seas in his tyme came foorthe a wonderfull monster whiche destroyed muche people wherof the king hearyng would of his valiaunt courage needes fyght with it by whoÌ„ he was cleane deuoured wheÌ„ he had reigned .viii. yeres GorbomaÌ„nus eldest sonne of Morindus reigned .xi. yeres A prince iust and religious he renued the temples of his gods and gouerned his people in peace and wealth Oure englyshe Chronicle sayth he buylded the townes of Cambridge and of Grantham Archigallo brother to Gorbomannus was crowned kyng of Britayne he was in conditions vnlike to his brother for he deposed the noble men and exalted the vnnoble He extorted from men their goodes to enriche his treasurie for which cause by the estates of the realme he was depriued of his royall dignitie when had reigned .v. yeares Elidurus the thyrd sonne of Morindus and brother to Archigallo was elected kyng of Britayn a vertuous and gentil prince who gouerned his people iustly As he was in hunting in a forest by chaunce he met with his brother Archigallo whom moste louyngly he imbraced and founde the meanes to reconcile hym to his lordes and than resigned to hym his royal dignitie when he had reigned .v. yeares Archigallo thus restored to his royal estate ruled the people quietly and iustly .x. yeares lyeth buryed at Yorke Elidurus aforenamed after the deth of his brother Archigallo for his pitie and iustice by the generall câ—nsente of the Britayns was agayn chosen kyng But he reigned not passyng two yeres but that his yonger brethern Uigenius and Peredurus raysed warre agaynste hym tooke hym prisoner and cast hym into the Tower of London where he remayned as they write duryng their Reigne Uigenius Peredurus after the takyng of their brother reigned together vii yeres Uigenius thaÌ„ died Peredurus reygned after alone .ii. yeares He buylded the towne of Pyckeryng after the opinion of diuers writers Elidurus the thirde tyme was made kyng of Britayne who continued his latter reigne honorably and iustely but beynge sore bruised with age and troubles he fynyshed his lyfe when he had now lastly reigned .iiii. yeres and was buried at Carâ—â—le Gorbonian reygned in Britayne .x. yeares Morgan was crowned kyng of Britayne who guyded the realme peacibly xiiii yeares Emerianus brother to Morgan succeded in the Realme of Britayne And when he had tyrannously reigned .vii. yeares he was deposed Iuall was chosen kyng of Britayne for his iustice and temperance which he gouerned peacyblye .xx. yeares Rymo gouerned this realme of Britayne .xvi. yeares In his tyme was great plentie and peace Geruncius reigned here in Britayne xx yeares Catillus reigned peacibly in Britayn x. yeres he houng vp all oppressours of the poore people to geue ensample vnto other Coilus succeded Catellus in the realme of Britayne who quietly reigned xx yeares Porex a vertuous and gentle prince reigned in Britayne .v. yeares Chirinnus king of Britayn through his dronkennesse as our Chronyclers write reigned but one yeare Fulgen his sonne reigned two yeres in Britayne Eldred reygned in Britayne one yeare Androgius lykewyse reygned one yeare in Britayne Uarianus the sonne of Androgius succeded his father in this realm of Britayne He wholly gaue hym selfe to the lustes of the fleshe reigned .iii. yeres Eliud kynge of Britayne reygned v. yeres who was a great Astronomer Dedantius kyng of Britayn reigned v. yeares Detonus reigned in this land of Britayne .ii. yeares Gurgineus reygned .iii. yeares in Britayne Merianus was kyng of Britayne .ii. yeares Bladunus gouerned Britain .ii. yeres Capenus reigned kyng of Britayn iii. yeares Ouinus ruled Britain .ii. yeares Silius reigned in Britain .ii. yeares Bledgabredus was .xx. yeres kynge of Britayne He delited muche in musycke and gaue hym selfe to the studye thereof Archemalus was kyng of Britayne ii yeares Eldelus reigned kyng of Britayne iiii yeares In this tyme dyuers prodigies were sene as globes of fyre burstynge oute of the ayre with great noyse Rodianus was kyng of Britayne .ii. yeares Redargius reygned kyng of Britayn iii. yeares Samulius reigned in britayn ii yeres Penisellus was made kyng of Britayne who gouerned it .iii. yeres Pirrhus ruled Britayne .ii. yeares Caporus was kyng of Britayne .ii. yeares Dinellus the sonne of Caporus a iust vertuous prince gouerned this realm of Britaine .iiii. yeares Helius the sonne of Dinellus reigned not fully one yere king of Britayn Of this prince the Isle of Ely toke this name for that he there buylded a goodly palace wherin was his most delight to lyue and also was there buried LUd the eldest son of Hely succeded his father and reigned .xi. yeares in Britayne As soone as he was made Kyng he reformed the state of his common weale for he amended his lawes and tooke awaye all vsages that were naughte Moreouer he repayred the Citie of London then called Troynouant with fayre buildyngs and walles and buylded on the west part therof of a strong gate whiche vnto this time retaineth the name of hym and is called Ludgate Fynally he dyed leauyng after hym two sonnes Androgeus and Theomancius who beynge not of age to gouerne their vncle Cassiuelane obteyned the Crowne Our Chroniclers write that London tooke the name of this Lud and was called Ludston He was buryed nere to the same Ludgate in a Temple whiche he there buylded CAssiuelane the sonne of Hely as oure vulgare Hystoriographiers write after the deathe of his brother Lud was made gouernour of Britayne whiche hee ruled .xix. yeares In the .viii. yere of his reigne Iulius Cesar who warred longe in France made the fyrste vyage of any straunger into this Realme and afterwarde subdued it Whan C. Iulius Cesar had warred seuen yeares in France Germanie commyng vnto that part where Calaice and Boloigne nowe stande hee determined to make warr into Britain whiche vntyll that tyme remayned vnfrequented and vnknowen of the Romayns His quarell was because that in the warres of Fraunce he perceyued the Frenchemen to haue muche succour and aide from thens Wherfore hauing prepared .lxxx. shyppes he sayled into Britayne where at the first beyng weried with an harde and sharpe battayle And after with sodeyne tempest his nauye almoste destroyed he retourned agayne into France there to wynter his men The next spring whiche was the yeare before Christ .51 His
Conon Meridoke a Britayn was a stryfe and debate in whiche they both sped dyuersly but at at length they wer made frends Maximus reigned .viii. yeares Maximus kynge of Britayne made warre vpon the Galles and sayled into Armerica now called litle Britayn and subduyng the countreye gaue it to Conon Meridoke to hold for euer of the kynges of great Britayn Maximus was constrayned of the souldiours to take on hym the imperiall crowne therfore beyng in France passed further into the lands of the empire subdued a great part of France and all Germanie Gratian the Emperour of hym was put to flight at Paris and slayne at Lyons Whyles Maximus was occupied in the warres in Italye Melga kynge of Pictes and Guanius captayne of the Hunnes vexed the Britayns Wherof when Maximus had vnderstandynge he sente a captaine named Gratian to withstande their force Saint Ursula with the .11000 Uirgins whiche were sent into little Britayne to be maried to the foresayde Conon and his knyghtes wer slayn of the barbarous people beynge on the sea Forthwith the foresaid Gratian that was sent into Britayne of Maximus to defende the land from Barbariens toke on hym the kyngdom of Britayn and exercised all tyranny and exaction vppon the people for whiche cause hee was abhorred of all the Britaynes and by theym was slayne when he hadde reygned fower yeares Then was the Realme a good space wythoute heade or gouernoure In the whyche tyme they were nowe and then very muche vexed wyth the foresayde Barbarous people and other foreyne enemies Nere about the yeare of Christ .427 the Britaynes were inuaded agayne by the Pictes and Scots which not withstandynge the foresayde wall that was made by the Romanes spoyled the coūtrey very sore so that they were dryuen to seke for newe helpe of the Romanes who sent to them a company of souldiors which agayn chased the Picts and made a wall of stone of the thicknes of viii foot in height .xii. foote Which thing when they had done comfortyng the britones and admonishynge them hereafter to trust to their own māhod strēgth they returned agayn to Rome The Scottes and Pyctes yet once agayne entred the lande of Britayne spoylynge the countreye and chasyng the commons so cruelly that they were altogether comfortelesse and broughte to suche myserie that eche robbed and spoyled other and ouer this the groūde was vntylled whereof ensued greate scarcitie and hunger and after hunger deathe In thys necessitie they sente for ayde to Aetius the Romayne capitayne beynge then occupied in warres in a parte of Fraunce but they had no comfort at his hand And therfore wer forced to send ambassade to Aldroenus kynge of little Britayne to desyre ayde and comforte whiche they obteyned in condition that if they atchieued the victorie Constantine his brother shold be made king of britayn for to that day they had no gouernour Which thyng of the Ambassadours beyng graunted the sayd Constantine gathered a companye of souldiors and went forth with them And when he had manfully vanquished theyr enemies obteined the victorie accordynge to the promise made he was ordeyned their kynge and guyded this land .x. yeres Here endeth fynally the dominion tribute of the Romans ouer this lande whiche had contynued by the space of 483. yeares from the tyme that Brute began to rule this lande .1541 After the citie of Rome was builded .1585 yeres THen it folowed that when Constantine brother of Aldroenus had chased and ouercome the Pictes and Scots as is beforesaid he was crowned kynge of great Britayne and guyded the lande the space of .x. yeares in quietnes In the courte of Constantyne kynge of Britayn was a certayne Picte in so greate fauoure and authoritie with the kyng that he myght at all tymes come to his presence who watchynge hys tyme by secrete meanes trayterouslye slewe the kyng in his chamber Then Constantius hys eldest sonne whyche for his lofte spirite was made monke at saincte Swithens in Wynchester by the means of Uortiger duke of Cornwal was taken out of the cloister and made king vnder whose name the foresayd Uortiger ruled all the land and vsed great tyrannye Constantius kyng of Britayn was slayne of certayne Pictes or Scottes whom Uortiger had ordeined for a gard to the kynges bodye Whereof when Uortiger had knowledge he wept and made semblaunt of greate sorowe and heauynes and caused the sayd Scottes or Pictes to be put to deathe thoughe he in dede were the chief causer of their treason and murder So this Constantius reigned but .v. yeares And Aurelius and Uther the kynges younger brethren fled into little Britayn Uortiger was by force ordeined king of Britayne and gouerned the realme .xvi. yeares not without trouble For the nobles of Britayne suspected that Constantius was not murthered with out hys consent And therfore alienated their myndes from hym In Britayne was so great plentie of corne and fruite that the lyke had not ben seen many yeares before Whiche plentie was cause of idlenes gluttony lechery and other vices so that through their incontinent and riottous lyuyng ensued so great pestilence and mortalitie that the lyuynge scantely suffised to bury the dead The Pictes and Scotts also hauing knowledge of the death of their knightes whyche were slayne by Uortiger for murderyng of the kynge inuaded and in most cruell wise spoyled the land of Britayne Uortiger beyng sore abashed for so muche ashe knewe the myndes of hys people to be alienated from hym after some mens opinion sente for the Saxons named Angli whiche had no place to dwel in gaue to them inhabitāce in Kent By their helpe and manhoode in many batails he vanquished and droue back the Pictes and other enemies and therefore had them euer after in greate loue and fauour Hengist one of the captaines of the Saxons founde meanes that Uortiger kynge of Britayne maryed his daughter Rowan a mayden of wonderfulle beautie and pleasauntnesse but a myscreant and Pagane For her sake the kynge was deuorced frome his laufull wyfe by whome he hadde .iii. sonnes For whiche dede welnere all the Britones forsooke hym and the Saxons daily encreased bothe in fauoure multitude and auctoritie and from this tyme sought alwaye occasyon to extinguyshe vtterly the power of the britayns and subdue the lande to them selfe The Saxons couenanted with the Britons that they shold attend to their worldly busynes and the Saxons as their souldiors would defend the lande from the incursions of all enemies for which seruice the Britains should geue to them competent meate and wages And vnder thys pretence caused more Saxons to bee sent for entendyng at conueniente tyme by force to haue the lande in their subiection Sainct Germain came into Britayn to reduce them from the heresye of Pelagius to the fayth of Christe The britayns consyderyng the daily repaire of the Saxons into this realm
his sonne who inclosed y e same with a depe dyche and grauÌ„ted to the inhabitantes therof great fredom And after builded a church ouer y e place of his sepulture and ordeined there an house of monkes enduyng them with fayre possessioÌ„s And after it was vsed y e kings of EnglaÌ„d wheÌ„ thei wer crouned sent for an offering their crounes vnto S. Edmondes shryne and redemed the same with a good price The englyshe men sente agayne for Etheldred out of Normandye who by the healpe of the Normans and present assistance of his commons expelled Canutus but shortly Canutus returned agayne into Englande where he spared nothynge that myght be destroyed with sworde fyre In whiche tyme king Etheldred ended his lyfe when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeares and was buried in the Northe Isle of Paules churche in London aboue the aultar Fabian saythe that in the seconde yeare of this kynges reigne a great part of the citie of London was wasted with fyre but how it beganne hys aucthor telleth not But ye shal vnderstand that this day the citie of London had moste housyng and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde Westminster and littell or none where the chiefe or hart of the citie is now except in diuers places was housynge but they stoode without order So that many townes cities as CaÌ„terbury York and dyuers other in Englande passed London in buyldyng at those dayes as I haue sene sayth Fabyan by an old boke somtime in the Guyld halle of London named Domes daye But after the conquest it increased and shortly after passed and excelled all the other Aboute the .viii. yeare of this kyngs reign dyed Ethelwald byshop of Wynchester who was born in Wynchester and ther buylded an abbey of Nunnes as sayth Fabyan AFter y e deth of Etheldred great variance fell betwene y e englishe meÌ„ for the election of theyr kyng for y e citezens of London with certayn other named Edmund the son of Etheldred a yong man of lusty and valiant courage in martiall aduentures both hardy and wyse and one that could very well endure all paynes Wherefore hee was surnamed Ironsyde but the more part fauored Canutus the Dane By meanes wherof betwene those two princes were foughten many great battayles in the which either party sped diuersly to the great slaughter of theÌ„ that toke their partes But lastly it was agreed that the two Captayns shold try theyr quarell betwene them selues onely In which fight although Edmund semed to haue the vpper hand yet be condisceÌ„ded to deuyde the realm and make Canutus felow with him in the kingdom whyche agreement was at laste concluded In this tyme there was an englishe Earle called Edricus which by hys falshode had wrought muche hurte to hys naturall country and lastelye was aucthor of the deth of the noble Edmund And therof himself brought fyrst knowledge to Canutus the Dane sayinge in this wyse Thus haue I doone Canutus for the loue of thee To whom hee answered sayinge For my loue thou hast murdered thyne owne soueraigne Lord whome I loued most entierly I shall in rewarde therof exalt thy head aboue all the lordes of Englande And foorthwith commanded hym to be headed and his head to be set vpon a spear on the hyghest gate of London These princes reygned together .ii. yeares Thys Edmund was buryed at Glastenburye VUhen Canutus was stablished in the kyngdom he had knowledge how Olanns king of Norway in his absence inuaded the couÌ„trey of Denmarke wherfore in all hast he sped him thitherward by the maÌ„hod of the english souldiors obteined of them a noble victory recouered Norway to his seignory wherfore when he returned into England he demeaned him toward all men as a sage gentle moderat prince and so continued .xx. yeares Canutus called a parliameÌ„t at OxeÌ„ford where it was decreed that english men and Danes should hold the lawes of Edgare late kyng Canutus subdued the Scots wherby he was king of .iiii. kingdoms y t is to say of England ScotlaÌ„d Denmark Norway After that he weÌ„t into Denmark and so to Rome And after returned again into England Where he kept all his life tyme good iustice and did many charitable dedes And after his deathe was buried in s. Swithins at Winchester Of this Canutus Polidore hath writen a notable history in y e end of his vii boke of the historie of England HArold the sonne of Canutus by hys wyfe Elgina for hys swyftnes surnamed Harefote began hys reygne ouer thys realme of England In the begynning hee shewed some token of crueltie in that he banyshed his stepmother Emma and tooke from her suche iewelles and treasure as she hadde He reigned iii. yeares Hee was buryed at Westmynster and after at S. Clementes without Temple barre HArdikenitus king of Denmarke after the deathe of Harolde was ordeyned kyng of Englande He for the iniurie done to his mother Emma caused the corps of Harolde to be taken out of the sepulchre and smyting of the head caste it with the body into the ryuer of Thames where by a fysher it was taken vp and vnreuerently buried at S. Clementes as afore is sayd He burdeined his subiectes with eractions and tribute and in meat and dryncke was so prodygall that hys tables were spreade .iiii. tymes in the day and the people serued with great excesse whan he had reigned .iii. yeares he dyed sodeinly at Lambeth not without suspection of poysonynge and was buried at Winchester Hardikenitus beyng deade the Danes were beaten slayn and dryuen out of this lande into theyr owne countrey xxviii yeares after that Swayn began fyrst to reigne EDwarde the sonne of Egelrede or Etheldred by the aduice of Goodwyne and Leofricus Erle of Chester after the deathe of Hardikenitus was sent for out of Normandie to take on him the goueruaunce of this realme of Englande whiche hee guyded with much wisdome and iustice from whom issued as out of a fountaiue very godlinesse mercie pitie and liberalitie towarde the pore and gentylnes and iustice towards all men and in all honest lyfe gaue moste godly example to hys people He discharged the englyshmen of the great tribute called y e Dane gelt whiche was often before time leuied to y e impouerishyng of the people He subdued the Wesâ—hemen whiche rebelled and made warre vpon their borders The .xvi. yere of this kyng Edward died y e good Erle Leofricus erle of Mercia of Chester who was buried in the abbey of Couentrie which he hym selfe had caused to be buylded He purchased many great priuileges for the aforesaid towne of Couentrie Willyam bastard duke of Normandie about this tyme came with a goodly company into England and was honorablye receyued to whom the kynge made great cheere And at his returne enriched hym with great gyftes pleasures and as som write made promise to hym that if he died without issue the same
and the inhabitantes of the same strete which fray began in the nyght and continued tyll the next day where were many mē slayne and hurt on bothe parties Anno. 21. Iohn Thirley Irōmōger M. Tho. bewmoūt S Rich. Nordon S The steple of Paules churche in London was set on fyre with lightnyng and lastly quenched by great diligence of many men but chiefly through the labour of a priest of Bowe in cheape Anno. 22. Thomas Carworth Grocer M Nicolas wilford S Iohn Norman S An act was made by the common coū sayle of London that vpon the sondaye should no maner of thyng within the francheses of the Citie be bought or sold Anno. 23. Henry Frowicke Mercer M. Stephē Foster S Hugh Wyche S Kyng Henry by the aduice of the erle of Suffolke toke to wyfe Margaret the kynges daughter of Sicile and refused the daughter of the Erle of Arminake with whome he had made his fyrst contract which thyng was cause of muche miserie and trouble in England as fyrst the losyng of Normandy the diuision of the lordes within the realme the rebellion of the Commonaltie agaynste the Prince and fynally the Kynge deposed and the Quene with the prince fayne to flee the realme Henry Chicheley byshop of Canturbury dyed who in hys lyfe time builded two houses for studentes in the vniuersitie of Oxenforde called Alsolne colledge and Bernarde colledge Anno. 24. Symond Eyre Draper M. Iohn Derby S Godfrey Fildyng S Thys Symon Eyre afore named builded the Leaden hall in London and also a beautifull chapell in the east ende of the same Ouer the gate whereof was written as foloweth Dextera Domini exaltauit me That is to saye The Lordes ryght hande hath exalted me Wherby be doyng so notable a worke for the common weale also lefte a notable example to other Citezens commyng after hym whom God likewise exalteth with such temporall blessynges that they be not vnthankefull to God and theyr cōmon weale wherin they haue receued them This yere was a peace concluded with France for one yeare Anno. 25. Iohn Onely Mercer M. Robert Horne S. Godfrey Boloyne S. Humfrey Duke of Gloucester and protectour of Englande was at the parliament of Bury arrested and .vi. days after he was found dead in his bedde of his deathe are dyuerse opinyons whych I ouerpasse Hee was huryed at Saint Albones William Wamflete a man of greate deuotion wysedome and Iustice was made byshop of Winchester and Chancelloure of Englande thys man to the fortheraunce of letters and studious yong men erected the famous colledge of Marye Magdalene in Oxenford Anno. 26. Iohn Gidney Draper M. Williā Abraham S. Thomas Scotte S. This yeare was taken the towne of Fogers from the Englyshemen which was the cause that all Normandye was loste after warde Anno. 27. Stephen Browne Grocer M. Williā Catlow S. Williā Marrow S. This yeare Roan was yelded to the Frenche Kyng Anno. 28. Thomas Chalton M. William Hulyn S. Tho. Canynges S. The Marques of Suffolke was banished the land for .v. yeares to appeace the rumor of the commons of England for the death of the duke of Gloucester who saylyng toward France was mett on the sea by a shyp of warre and there presently beheaded by the capitayn called Nicholas of the tower and the dead corps cast vp at Douer vpon the sandes the fyrst day of May. The commons of Kent in great number assembled on Black Heath hauyng to their captain Iack Cade naming him self Mortimer Against whom the kyng sent a great armye but by the sayd capitain and rebelles they were discomfited and syr Humfrey Stafford Williā hys brother wyth many other slayne After this victorie the Capitaine and rebelles cam to London and cut the ropes of the drawe brydge and entred the citye and stroke his sworde on London stone saying Nowe is Mortymer lord of this citie Upon the third day of Iuly he caused the lorde Saye to be brought to the Guylde Hall of London there to be arraigned Whyche before the Kynges Iustices desyred to be tried by his peres but the capitayn perceyuing hys delay by force tooke hym frome the officers and at the standarde in Cheape smote of hys head Hee also beheaded syr Iames Cromer at the mylls ende And pytchynge these two heades on two polles entred the Cytie and in despite caused them beynge borne before hym in euery streete to kysse togyther After thys murder succeded open robberye wythin the Cytie But the Maior and other sage Maiestrates perceiuynge theymselues nother to bee sure of goodes nor lyfe determyned to expulse this vngracious companye and sente to the Lorde Scales keeper of the tower who promysed hys ayde wyth shootyng of ordinaunce and Mathewe Gough was appoynted to assyst the Mayre so the capitaines of the Citie tooke vpon them in the nyght to keepe the brydge prohybytyng the Kentyshe men to passe The rebelles hearyng the bridge to be kept ranne with great force to open that passage where betwene bothe partes was a fierce encounter The rebelles draue the Citelyns frome the stoulpes at the Brydge foote to the drawe bridge and sette fyre in dyuers houses In conclusyon the rebelles gat the drawe bridge and drowned and slewe manye This conflict endured tyll .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng in doubtfull chaunce so that bothe partes agreed to desiste from fyght tyll the next day vpon condition that neither Londoners should passe into Southwarke nor the Kentishmen in to London Then the archbishop of Canturbury being Chancellor with the byshop of Winchester passed into Southwarke where they shewed a generall pardon for all offenders vnder the kynges greate seale whyche they caused to be proclaymed wherevppon the whole multitude retyred home but through a proclamation beyng made that who so coulde apprehend the sayd Iacke Cade shoulde haue a M. markes one Alexander Iden founde hym in a gardein who in hys defence slewe the said Iack Cade and brought his body to London where his head was set on London brydge The bishop of Salisbury was murdred by y e cōmons of the west countrey Anno. 29. Nicolas Wiford grocer M Io. Middleton S Williā Dere S The whole duchy of Normandy was yelded to the frenche kynge by meanes of the Quene and the duke of Somerset whiche caused so muche trouble in England that mortall warre ensued Anno. 30. Williā Gregorie skinner M Mathew Philip S. Christop wartō S. A commotion began thys yere by the duke of Yorke and other noble menne which was appeased for a tyme and the malice dissembled Anno. 31. Godfrey M. Feldyng M. Richard Lee S. Richard Alley S. Thys yeare the Quene was delyuered of a Prynce who was called Edwarde Anno. 32. Iohn M. Norman M. Draper M. Iohn Waldern S. Thomas Coke S. Before this Maiors yeare the Maior sheriffes and commons were wonte to ryde to Westmynster when the Maior should take hys charge but
April in the yere 1483. so he reigned .xxii. yeres one moneth and fyue dayes He was a man of noble courage and great wyt but in his tyme was muche trouble and vnquietnes in the realme Anno. 1. Hughe Wiche M. Iohn Looke S. George Irelande S. This yere the Staplers of Calless demanded of kyng Edward .18 thousand pouÌ„ds which they had leÌ„t him to mainteyne his warres against kyng Henry but their sute was smally regarded and lastly denyed Anno. 2. Thomas Coke M. Wil. Hampton S Barth Iames S Margarete the Quene and wyfe to Henry the sixt landed in EnglaÌ„d about the beginning of Nouember but hauyng small succour and euyll fortune was fayne to take the seas agayne and by tempest of weather was dryuen into Scotland Anno. 3. Mathewe Philippe Goldsmyth M. Robert Basset S Th. MuschaÌ„pe S The lorde Mountague hauynge the rule of the North discomfited kyng HeÌ„ry commyng out of Scotlande with a great power to recouer the crowne this is called the battayle of ExhaÌ„ in which were taken the Duke of Somerset the lorde Hungerford the lord Roas which were after put to death w t many other Kyng Edward was secretly maried to Elizabeth Gray late wife of syr Iohn Graye at whiche mariage was none present but the king his spouse the Duches of Bedford the priest twoo gentle women and a yonge man to helpe the priest to masse For which mariage rose great variance betwene the kynge and the erle of Warwick his chief fryende and mainteyner This yere was kyng Henry taken in a woodde in the North countrey by one named Cantlowe and arested by the erle of Warwicke and presented to the kyng Edwarde and sent to the tower where he remayned longe after in the Dungyon Anno. 4. Raufe Iosselyn Draper M. Iohn Tate S. Iohn Stone S. This yere the kyng ordeyned a newe coigne as the ryall the angell the halfe aungell and the farthyng ryals were x. s. the angel .vi. s. viii d. And the grots were made of lesse value then they were by .viii. d. in an ouÌ„ce The siluer that before was at .ii. s. viii d. the ounce was nowe inhaunced to .iii. s. iiii d. the ouÌ„ce and fyne golde that before was .xxx. s. the ounce was now inhaunced to .xl. s. the ounce And this yere was Queene Elizabeth crowned at westmynster on Whytsondaye or the .xxvi. daye of Maye Anno. 5. Raufe Uerney Mercer M. Sir HeÌ„ weuer S Wil. CoÌ„staÌ„tin S This yere the .xi. daye of February the Queene was delyuered of a daughter who was named Elizabeth Anno. 6. S. Io. Yong Grocer M. Iohn Brown S Henry Brice S Iohn Darbie Alderman for that he refused to paye for the cariage awaye of a dead dogge lying at his gate and for vnmete language whiche he gaue vnto the Maior was by a court of Aldermen assessed with the fyne of fyue pounde whiche he payed euery peny Anno. 7. Thomas Owlegraue M. HuÌ„f. Heyford S Th. stalbroke S Syr Thomas Cooke alderman of London was accused of treason and arraygned of the same and founde not gyltye but yet by reason of the Lorde Treasorer who was not his friende he was deteyned in prison and coulde not be delyuered vntyll he had fyned with the kyng for .8000 poundes which he payed A greate iustes was in Smythfyelde betwene the lorde Scales and the bastard of Burgoyne Anno. 8. Wil. Tayler Grocer M. SymoÌ„ Smith S. Wil. Hariot S. This William Tapler Maior of LoÌ„don afore named gaue to the citie of LoÌ„don certaine tenementes for the whiche the citie is bounde to paye for euer at euery fiftene to be grauÌ„ted to the kyng for all such people as shal dwel in Cordwayner strete warde that shall be sessed at .xii. d. the piece or vnder Which charitable worke ought not to be forgotteÌ„ but remayne in remeÌ„braunce to the exaÌ„ple of them who are able to do the lyke The grudge whiche the erle of Warwyke had conceyued against kyng Edward for the forsayde mariage declared it selfe openly so that he adioyned hym with the Duke of Clarence the kynges brother and by their meanes styrred so the Northren men that they dyuers tymes rebelled and turned the kynge and the realme to much trouble But shortly the kyng so demeaned hym selfe that the rebelles were suppressed Wherfore the erle of Warwych perceyuynge hys part to be weakened fled with the duke of Clarence and other into Fraunce Anno. 9. Rich. Lee Grocer M. Rich. Gardiner S. Robert Drope S. The Duke of Clarence the earles of Warwycke Penbroke and Oxenford landed at Darthmouth to whome by meanes of proclamations that were publyshed in the name of kyng Henry the commons gathered in so great companies that Edward fearyng his part fled into FlauÌ„ders to the Duke of Burgoyne Then was Henry the syxt set at lybertie and agayne proclaymed kynge by meanes of the erle of Warwyck and other and Edward proclaymed vsurper of the crowne but that contynued not longe The erle of Worcester was beheaded at the tower hyll and his body with the head was buried in the blacke fryers churche Anno. 10. Io. Stockton Mercer M. Iohn Crosby S. Iohn Warde S. Queene Elizabeth wyfe to Edwarde the fourth beynge in the sanctuary of westmynster was deliuered of a prince who afterward was Edward the fifth Kyng Edward beyng retorned out of Flaunders arryued in the North parte of England with a very small company of soldiours but by meanes that he vsed and through his brother y e Duke of Clarence who turned now to hys parte he came so puisaunt to London that he entred the citie and tooke kyng Henry in the Byshops palaice and than went agaynst the erle of Warwick whom he vanquyshed and slewe with his brother Marques Mountagâ—e on Glademoreheath nere Barnet ten myles from LoÌ„don Shortly after at Tewkesbury he ouerthrew Queene Margaret the wife of Henry In whiche battayle was takeÌ„ the sayde Margaret with Edwarde the Prynce her sonne the Duke of Somerset and dyuers other Kyng Edwarde againe receyued his royaltie and was taken for kyng and vncourteously slewe prynce Edwarde sonne of Henry the .6 after he had taken hym prysoner as by smyting hym on the face with his gauÌ„tlet after which stroke his seruauÌ„tes sodaynly fell vpon hym and slewe hym out of hande so sayth Halle Fabian and Raistall A commocion styred by the bastarde Fawcombrydge and the commons of Kent and Essex who robbed and spoyled the suburbes of the cytie of London and fyred Byshops gate and Algate Henry the syxt was murdered in the towre of London and buried at Chertsey and after remoued to Wyndsor he founded the Colledge and schole at Eaton nyghe to Wyndsor Anno. 11. WilliaÌ„ Edward Gro. M. Iohn Alleyn S. Ioh. Chelley S. The erle of Oxenforde was sent prysoner to Guynes where he remayned prysoner so longe as Edwarde the fourthe reygned whiche was twelue yeres in all
third yere of the Quenes maiesties reigne the. xv day of Nouember the Quenes maiestie published a proclamation wherin her grace restored to the realme diuers small pieces of syluer money as the piece of .vi. d. iiii d .iii. d .ii. d. and .i. d. three halfepenie thre farthyngs And also forbad all maner of forayn coynes to be currant with in the same realme as well golde as syluer excepte two sortes of crownes of golde wherof the one was the freuche crowne the other a flemishe crowne Thys fourth yeare in England were many monstrous byrthes as in March a mare brought foorth a foale with one body being in good proportion and two heades hauyng as it were a long tayle growing out right like a horn betwene the same two heades Also a sowe farrowed a pygge with .iiii. legges lyke vnto the armes of a man childe wyth handes and fyngers moute and eares dysfygured c. About April a sow farrowed a pigge which had .ii. bodies .viii. feete and but one head many calues and lambes wer monstrous and one calfe had a colier of skinne growyng about the necke lyke to a double ruffe whiche to the beholders semed strange and wonderfull The .xxiiii. day of May a monstrous chyld was borne at Chichester in Suffer whyche maye not so playnly be declared wyth the penne as in picture The head armes and legges lyke vnto an Anatomie the breast and bealy verye monstrous bygge frome the nauille as it were a longe strynge hangyng about the neck a great coller of fleshe and skyn growyng lyke the ruffe of a shyrt or neckerchief commyng vp aboue the eares pleytyng or foldyng c. This yeare the Queenes maiestie in September addressed a band of her subiectes to the towne of Newhauen in Normandye who were embarked at Portesmouthe because that hauen is most apt for transportatiō to that place Upon whose arriuall the townes men and inhabitauntes ioyefully surrendred them selues and their towne into the possession of the Queenes Maiestie whych was kept by Englyshmen from September .1562 to the .29 day of Iuly then next folowynge whiche was in the yere .1563 the gouernour of whiche bande was the ryghte honourable the Earle of Warwyke who with the capitaynes seruyng there whiche were of great experience and souldiors trayned by them to knowledge of seruice together with part of the old approued garrison of Barwike did at that time both manfully defend the piece and valiantly encountred by sundry skirmishes cōflicts with the coūtie Ringraue and his band the moste part wherof were happyly atchieued to the great ouerthrow of the aduersaries part and singular cōmendations of ours Anno. 4. sir Tho. Lodge grocer M. William Alleyn S. Rich. Chāberlain S. This Maiors yeare began the .xxviii. day of October in the yeare .1562 whiche was in the latter part of the fourthe yeare of our soueraigne lady Elizabeth And the fyfthe yeare of her maiesties reigne began the .17 day of Nouembre next folowyng Now this fifth yere when the frenche men with huge armies assembled oute of all partes of Fraunce to recouer the place of passage the stoppyng wherof by oure power was the double wo of theyr common wealth there bredde thorough the heate of tyme and putrifaction of the ayre a miserable and infortunate plague among oure men whiche meruailously encreased wyth the death of dyuers of the best capitains and souldiours wherewithall there folowed a cruell and quick siege wherat was present the yang kyng hymselfe the quene his mother the Constable and the best tried number of warlike souldiors with in the whole countrey besides an other sort of yong olde that cared not for life or land so theyr owne aduenture might wyn agayne the cause of theyr distresse with this generall ayde the marishes were made passable and firme ground which by men of great experience was thought impossible And with common help the Canons wer placed the castell walles were battered sundry breaches made beyonde expectation Howbe it they were rewarded by oure gonners and made to taste the bitter frute of theyr desperate approche to theyr great terrour and annoyance The erle of Warwyke with the remnant of our captaines and souldiours in couragious order standynge at the seuerall breaches readye to defende theyr assaultes whych perceyued by the ennemy they caused theyr trumpettes to sounde the blaste of emparle that composition of eyther part myght be made to auoyde the imminent slaughter and effusion of bloud This offer seemed not vnmete bothe partes concluded the town was delyuered the .xxix. daye of Iuly When the towne in thys sorte was surrendred to the frenchemen and the greatest parte of our garrison shypped many sycke persons were lefte behynde impotent and vnhable to helpe theym selues The myserie wherof Edwarde Randolffe esquire high marshall of the towne who was appointed to tary and see the vttermoste of oure composition accomplished perceyuyng moued with naturall pitie of his countrey men relinquyshed without comfort caused the sayd sycke persons to be caryed aboord not sparyng his owne shoulders at that time ful feble and full of the plage him selfe and his men styll bearyng and helping the poore creatures on shypboord A rare fact worthy of worldly reward and no doubte in remembraunce wyth God hym self the true recorder of mercyfull desertes Thys yeare as ye haue hearde the plague of pestilence being in the towne of Newhauen and many souldioures afected with the same returnyng into Englande the infection therof spredde in dyuers partes of this realme but especially the citie of London was so infected therwith that in the same whole yere that is to say from the fyrst of Ianuarie .1562 vntyll the last of December .1563 there dyed in the Cytie and liberties therof conteining .108 parishes of all diseases .xx. M .iii. C .lxxii. so that there dyed of the plague beyng part of the nombre before named xvii M .iiii. C. and .iiii. persones And in the out parishes adioyning to the same Citie being xi paryshes dyed of all diseases in the whole yere aforesaid .iii. M .ii. C .lxxx. viii persons of them of the plague beyng a part of the sayd numbre laste before named .ii. M .vii. C .xxxii. so that the hole totall summe of all those that dyed of all diseases in the whole yeare aswel within the citie of London and liberties of the same as in the out parishes nyghe adioynynge vnto the same Citie was .xxiii. M .vi. C .lx. and of theym of the plague beynge parte of the totall summe before named dyed in all .xx. M .i. C .xxxvi. This yeare for so much as the plague of the pestilence was so hote in the citie of London there was no terme kept at Michelmas to be short y e poore citisens of Lōdon were this yere plaged with a treble plague as with y e pestilence scarsitie of money and dearth of victuals the myserie wherof were to long here to write