Orgarius's Daughter that she was even a Phoenix in nature for incomparable Features being by this time a Widower he resolved if what was reported proved true to take her to Wife and in order to be better certified he sent Earl Ethelwold one of his Courtiers to view her who falling in Love with the Lady wooed her for himself and Married her excusing it to the King by telling him That she had Beauty enough for a Subiect but not for so great a Prince However this did not so well satisfy him but he resolved to see her and so Invited himself to the Earls House Ethelwold mistrusting to what intent he had done it being conscious his Wives Beauty would enflame him laboured to excuse his unpreparedness but in vain whereupon he acquainted his Wife with it and intreated her to deforme herself by appearing in a homely Dress and by discolouring her Face if she had any regard to his Life or her own Chastity telling her how her prevailing Charms had made him betray his Trust But this Ambitious Woman proud of her Beauty gathering from his discourse she might have been a Queen and not now altogether out of hopes to be so promised the Earl for the better hiding her Anger to obey him but on the contrary when the King was set at Dinner she came before him Adorned with Jewells and all her costly Ornaments having much added by Art to her Natural Beauties so that she appeared in his Eyes like a glittering Angel yet he dissembled his Anger with Ethelwold for the present till that Afternoon going a Hunting with the Earl in his Forrest he singled him out and after many reproaches struck him through with his Javelin as he was about to fall on his Knees and begg Pardon and in a little time after took the Lady to Wife by whom he had Ethelred afterward King of England For this and his other wicked practices Dunstan whome he had made a Bishop and his great Favorite Enjoyned him as a Penance Not to wear his Crown for seven Years which Injunction he submitted to but left not his Lascivious courses This Edgar brought the Kingdom to a Flourishing condition and is accounted the greatest of the Saxon Monarchs being once at Westchester he had eight Kings and Princes to Row his Barge on the River Dee as we have already noted in our Remarks on Cheshire He is said to compass the Island with almost an incredible Navy of Ships viz. 3600 settling and strengthening the Sea-Ports leaving Guard-Ships to defend them against the Landing of Pirates or other Enemies by which Undertaking he brought such a Terror on Scotland that their King sued for Peace and payed an Annual Tribute to have it confirmed He Restored and Founded 47 Monasteries And in the presence of his Nobility on Christmas Day Anno Dom. 974 he Confirmed the Abby of Ramsey which his Cousin Alwin had Founded and made the Abby which Bishop Oswald had Builded a Cathedral Church He brought the Welsh under an intire Subjection to England aloting their Princes Pensions as his Servants clearing the Seas of Rovers and intended to War on France to compol that King to a reparation of the Damages his Merchants had sustained on the French Coasts by Embargoes and Seisures of their Goods But whilst great things were in his mind his Debaucheries having much wasted his Natural Strength he Dyed when he had Reigned Sixteen Years and was honourably Entombed at Glastenbury which as yet boasts some remains of his Monument In the sixth Year of his Reign the Heavens seemed as on Fire the Stars to appearance darted Beams at each other as if Creation had been about to dissolve A Monsterous Fish was taken on the Coast of Sussex with a Face and Hair like a Man and a Scaly Circlet like a Coronet on its Head and upon its being drawn up sent forth a mighty noise like the roaring of a Lion ESSEX By J Seller Remarks on the County of Essex c. ESSEX is not only considerably Large but is every where sprinkled with Towns and Villages of note and is abundantly stored with Cattle by reason its advantageous Meadows Marshes and other Pastures which lying low produce store of Grass in the driest seasons as for Cheese and Butter it produces very great quantities as also very good Corn and store of Saffron Hops c. It is Bounded on the South with the River Thames and Kent the River washing its verdant Banks as far as the Hope on the West with Hartfordshire and Middlesex on the North with Cambridgshire and Suffolk and on the East with the Ocean It is divided into 20 Hundreds which containe 415 Parishes It has 27 Market Towns and seven Rivers It sends Members to Parliament eight viz. Colchester 2 Harwich 2 Maldon 2 and two Knights of the Shire Colchester in this County is of great Antiquity held to be Built by the Antient British King Coilus from whom it seems to derive its Name and in it was Born King Lucius the first known Christian King in the World Constantine the first Christian Roman Emperour as also Helena his Mother Empress to Constantius and Daughter to King Coilus It is also Memorable for its Long Siege in the late Civil War Malden is very Antient having been the Royal Seat of the Trinobantes of which Cunobeline was King when our Saviour was Born It was taken by the Emperour Claudius and Named Camalodunum wherein he placed a Roman Garison but Rased to the Ground by Queen Bonduca or Boadicia after a mighey Defeat given the Romans in Revenge of their breach of Trust and the Rape of her Daughters which we formerly mentioned Walden famous for Saffron growing about it from whicâ it takes the Name of Saffron Walden and for giving Birth to that Learned Statesman Sr. Thomas Smith Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth At Tilbury the said Queen rendezvouzed her Forces to oppose the Spanish Invasion 1588 and there is now a strong Fort commanding the Mouth of the Thames Chelmsford accounted the Shire Town is of very commodious Building and situation the Assizes being usually held there Braintry Cogshal Harwich and other Towns adorn this County There is a Proverb peculiar to this County which is He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow This Proverb took its rise from a Custom formerly practis'd in the Priory of Dunmow first founded by Juga a Noble Lady for Black Nuns Anno 1111. but afterwards converted into a Priory for Friars who ordained That if any Person from any part of England would come thither and humbly kneel on two stones yet to be seen at the Church Door before the Convent and solemnly take the following Oath he might demand a Gammon or Flitch of Bacon which should be freely given him You shall Swear by the Custom of our Confession That you never made any Nuptial Transgression Since you were married Man and Wife By Houshold Brawls or contentious strife Or otherwise in Bed or at Board
having got the Crown on his Head he held it too precious a Jewel so lightly to part withal so that when the Duke of Normandy sent to demand it putting him in mind of his Oaths and Promises he Reply'd That what was extorted from him in his extremity was not Binding besides the Nobility and Commonalty of his Realm would not consent to his delivering it up to a Stranger as having had sad Experience of the great Mischiefs that had and must consequently again ensue and finally what he demanded of him was not in his power to grant and therefore prayed him to rest satisfied with his own Territories which were sufficiently large enough for any Prince This Answer made the Duke storm and resolve to hazard all rather than miss of his aim whereupon selling his Jewells and Plate he Levyed Men in France Switzerland Germany c. And tho' the Pope strictly forbid him to molest England under pain of Excommunication he took no regard of his Menaces but encreased his Shipping and sent to Norway and those parts from whence the Normans originally descended to stir them up by Landing in the North in savour of his Invasion on the South parts of England and so in order to it continued his Levys making a League with the French King That he should not Invade his Country in his Absence However Harrold having notice of his proceedings raises a great Army which was not long Idle For Tosto Brother to Harrold upon some displeasure flying to Denmark forwarded the Norman Dukes Negotiation so that with a considerable Army they Landed at Richall upon Ouse in Yorkshire and fell to Burning and Plundering whereupon the King Marched his Army towards them who were Advanced to Stanford Bridge built over the River Dârwent upon which Bridge he was stopped with his whole Army by a Single Dane of Monstrous Size who slew Forty of his Men who adventured to remove him and had in all likelyhood prevented his passing at that time over the Bridge had not a Souldier Rowed with a Boat under it and run up his Spear through a crevise into the Danes Body whereupon he fell down Dead and the King hasted with his Army over the Bodies of the slain and falling upon the Danes and Norwegians made of them an incredible slaughter slaying Tosto his Brother and Harfager King of Denmark and Norway Olave the Son of Harfager and Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having only 20 of their 300 Ships left to carry them with the woful News into Denmark the rest being broken on the Rocks by a mighty Storm the day before the Battel happened These Troubles were no sooner over and the Northern parts a little settled but News came posting to the King that Duke William of Normandy was Landed at Pevensey in Sussex on the Eighth of September Anno Dom. 1066 who thereupon caused his Ships to be set on Fire that his Souldiers might take Courage to Fight the more desperately as having no hopes of returning home unless they Conquered and when he first came on Shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand so that he fell on his Hands and being perceived by a Knight to bring up a handfull of Earth when he rise he said Now Sir Duke England sticks fast to you and is your own since you have taken Livery and Seizen doubt not but presently to be King thereof By this Time King Harrold was hastily returned to London whither the Norman Duke sent a Message to him to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom for sparing the lives of the People But this Messenger was dismissed with Threats and both Armies advanced towards each other and on a fair Plain in Sussex called from the ensuing Fight Battel-Field the Normans pitched their Tents to expect the King who was about seven Miles from them and some of the Spies he sent being taken Duke William caused them to be carried from Tent to Tent and plentifully Feasted after which he dismissed them So the next Morning both Armies came in sight of each other and drew up in Battel Array where a second time the Duke sent a Monk to the King to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom or otherwise for avoiding the effusion of much Blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom as his Tributary But Harrold would agree to neither of these returning for Answer That more Swords than one should decide the Controversie So that the next day being the 14th of October Anno Dom. 1066 no agreement being in likelyhood to be made between them it was resolved it should be tried by the Sword and so both Armies being Marshalled for the Battel the Trumpet sounded the Bloody Blast and the Kentish-men who claimed it as their Right to Lead the Van-Guard fell on furiously beating down the Normans and putting their Advanced Parties to the Rout keeping close together in thick Ranks and wedging into the Enemies Squadrons and Battallions so that a miserable slaughter ensued tho' on our part The Normans slew many by shooting their Arrows at random in the Air which violently falling on the Heads of such as were unarmed entered their Sculls so that many fell Dead who never struck stroak in the Battel however the Duke who passed through every part of the Army to give necessary orders knowing if he lost the day his Life and Interest went with it perceiving his Men could not break the thick Phalanxes of the English he commanded they should seem to faint and make an orderly Retreat as if they Fled which succeeded to his wish for hereupon the English supposing it had been a real Flight disranked in pursuit of them whereupon the Normans speedily facing about broke with great fury into their loose Array beating down all before them with their mighty Swords and Battel-Axes pouring perpetual showers of Arrows on them so that although the English kept together and âought Valliantly about the Kings Standard yet he being Shot into the Brain with an Arrow and falling dead they were so disheartned that the Standard was taken the Kings two Brothers Girth and Leofine in defence of it slain with most of the Nobles and as credible Authors affirm 97974 of the Common sort LEICESTER SHIRE The Duke in this Battel had three Horses slain under him and yet escaped without any hurt in the place where this Battel was Fought he afterwards Founded an Abby which to this day is called Battel-Abby After this the small remainder of the Nobles and Clergy consulted what was to be done but finding their weakness they concluded to submit to the Conquerer having Buried the Body of Harrold at Wadham in Essex when he had Reigned about Nine Months and Nine Days and is accounted the Twentieth Sole Monarch of England whereupon Duke William took possession of the Kingdom Remarks on Leicestershire c. LEicestershire is a very fine Inland
the Christian Princes had Elected him and hasted home yet left most of his Troops behind him But by means of his Absence Henry his Youngest Brother so cunningly dealt with the English and Normans that he got much into their Favour and the more because he was Born in England after his Father was Crowned King and for as much as he was of a mild disposition many Princely Virtues making it apparent that his Government would be accompanied with many Honourable Atchievements Gratful Safe and Profitable to the Church and Commonweal so that all things working to his Advancement He was Crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury being Absent on Sunday the 5th of August Anno Dom. 1100 but before his Coronation the Nobles constrained him to Swear he would Ease the People of the oppressing Taxes and other Grievances and Restore to the English the use of Lights and Fire in their Houses which they had been denied for the most part after the Ringing the Evening Bell for the space of 33 Years After his Coronation to make him more Easie in the Throne he caused the Great Seal to pass on several wholsom Laws Subscribing them with his Name and commanded divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal to do the like and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County to be kept in the County Courts The Heads of the Laws were in these Branchâs 1. That the Church should be free from Oppressions and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy 2. That the Heirs of the Nobility should Possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King which Favour likewise should be Granted by the Nobles to their Tennants 3. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen without the Kings License so it were not to the Kings Enemies 4. That the Widow should have the Jointure and not against her Consent be compelled to a second Marriage 5. That the Mother or the next of Kin should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children 6. That Coiners of False and Counterfeit Money should be Capitally Punished and a Measure to the Length of the Kings Arm should be a Standard of Commerce among the People And 7. That all Debts to the Crown before his coming to it should be forgiven and all Murthers before the day of his Coronation to be Pardoned With other such like Indulgences He also at this time Confirmed King Edward the Confessor's Laws Now tho' this went a great way with the People who found themselves easie in these Concessions he yet used other Policies as expecting a storm from the Norman Coast as soon as Duke Robert should Arrive whom he had notice by his Espialls was on his way for having Seized on the plentiful heaps of the last Kings Treasure he Liberally disposed of it among such of his Subjects as he knew would stand him in the greatest stead if things should come to Extremity Then he placed the more Popular Nobles in the chief Offices of State and satisfied the Leading Gentry with Titles of Honour and Places of a lower station absolutely acquitting the People forever from the Tax of Dane Gelt it having been much lessened in the former Reign and from all other Demands and unjust Payments Imposed on them by the two former Kings giving leave to the Nobles and Gentlemen for their Recreation to Inclose Parks for their Deer and free Warrens for their Conies Hares and such like Game And as Traytors to his Virtues State and Kingly Government he Exiled from his Presence and Court Sycophants Parasites Flatterers Niceness in Behaviour Lascivious Conversation Sumptuousness in Apparel Superfluity in Diet c. He made it Death for any to Robb on the Highways and with Indefatigable Endeavours he Corrected and Reformed the Monstrous Pride Intollerable Covetousness Secure Negligence and Sloath of the Clergy Yet the better to please them he Recalled Ansââ from Banishment and Restored him to his Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury giving him full Power to Assemble Convocations and Synods at his pleasure and for the amendment of such Irregularities as were insufferable in the Church he left it wholly to the Pope as also to Invest Bishops by giving them the Ring Cross and Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesestical Promotions and Dignities as by the Lewd Advice and Councel of Reynulph Bishop of Durham his Predecessor had Seized in his hands and converted to his use he voluntarily restored and conferred on honest and grave learned Men and Committed the Bishop of Durham a Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he Escaped and going for Normandy earnestly Incited Duke Robert by many moving Orations to Invade England who prone enough of himself so harkened to him and relying on the Aids he had promised him here on his Landing raised a great Army of which Henry having timely notice thought fit yet to strengthen himself more by Marriage and in order to it he took to Wife Maud Sister to Edgar King of Scots who was Daughter to Malcolm by Margaret Sister to Edgar Etheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the Victorious Saxon King These Nuptials were no sooner consummated and a firm League made with Scotland but Duke Robert Landed his Army at Portsmouth which put the English into apprehensions of being involved in a doubtful War but this threatening storm was soon blown over by the discreet mediation and counsel of Friends on both sides so that a friendly Peace ensued between the two Brothers upon such like Conditions as had been Agreed on in William Rufus's Days whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased and returned discontented with the Duke so that the King fearing he would not long rest contented with the Agreement resolved to be beforehand with him and therefore raising a gallant Army he Sailed to Normandy and was joyned by many of the discontented Nobles giving the Duke two great Overthrows After which he being in a manner forsaken shifted from place to place when in the mean while the King pressing his good Fortune won the strong Cities of Roan Caen Valois and others and putting them in trusty hands returned for England where he was received in Triumph The Duke perceiving his Fortune grew worse and worse those that he most Trusted growing Treacherous and betraying his Councils to the King as being Bribed so to do by which means he was almost stripped of his Dutchy of Normandy he Resolved to make an adventurous Experiment and in order to it came privately into England and humbly submitted himself to his Brother leaving it in his discretion to dispose of him and his Dutchy as he pleased but the King desirous to Annex Normandy to his own Dominions turned from him in a slighting manner and commanded him out of his presence which great Indignity roused the Dukes Courage so that in a great Rage he flung out of the Court and returned to Normandy resolving rather to dye by
the main design of his Preparations having private notice that his Brother John was practicing against him and fearing whilst he was warring abroad he might lose his Kingdom at home he resolved to make such Conditions with the Turkish Sultan as might be best for the Settlement and Peace of the Christians in Syria But the crafty Infidel being very sensible of the weak condition the Christian Army was in would not hearken to any other Terms than to have all the Towns that were taken Ptolomais Excepted surrendered and upon that condition they should be suffered to have a quiet Enjoyment of their Effects and to Trade in the Country and so having made this Agreement and Sold the Island of Cyprus for a Sum of Money to Hugh of Lusingham the last Christian King of Jerusalem though at that time but in Name which Title he confered on King Richard and it lasted to many of our Kings afterward who were stiled Kings of Jerusalem he Embarked in divers Vessels with his Queen who had accompanied him in that dangerous Voyage and Sailed for England but the Ship he was in being separated from the rest of the Fleet in a Storm was driven on the Coast of Histria lying between Aquileia and Venice where he was Ship-Wrack'd and saving his Life by Swimming was made Prisoner and presented to the Duke of Austria in whose Territories he Landed but the Queen who was in another Ship and the rest of the Fleet came safe to England The King by misfortune thus made a Prisoner to his Enemy whom he had disgusted by throwing down his Standard as is said was Sold by him for 40000 Pounds to the Emperer Frederick who set his Ransom at 100000 Pounds Fourscore Thousand of which was raised in England but Duke Leopold was constrained to Pay the other Twenty Thousand Pounds before he could be released from the Popes Curse pronounced against him for making a Prince his Prisoner who for the honour of the Christian Name had Warred Victoriously in the Holy Land So that after almost a Years Imprisonment the King was set at Liberty of which Lewis the French King had no sooner notice but be sent John the Kings Brother word The Devil was got loose again However he did not immediately return to England but went to Normandy and with the Terror of his coming frighted the French out of many strong holds they had taken in his absence then raising a puissant Army he entered France wasting all before him with Fire and Sword reducing to his Subjection all such places as had been taken and made the Rebellious Norman Peers who had engaged in the French Faction prostrate themselves before him whose humble Submission he accepted and accordingly Pardoned them on promises of future Obedience and Fidelity Let me now speak of something that happened Remarkable in England during the Kings absence I told you he had left the Bishop of Ely Regent This Man being of mean Parentage his Grandfather a Plowman and himself the Son of a Cowheard soon forgot his Original as such mostly do who are raised from a low Estate to high Promotion and grew so Insolently Proud that he would not Ride abroad without a Guard of 500 Men to attend him his Table was exceeding Expensive on the Publick Cost and his Insolencies over all sorts as well the Clergy as Laiety was so great that he soon procured himself a Universal Hatred yet a while he Proudly spread his Peacocks Train being Served at his Table and every where Waited on by the Sons of Noblemen to whom he gave in Marriage with some Portion and Preferment divers of his Rustick Kindred thinking thereby to strengthen his Interest but this proved to him a broken Reed for finding he was generally hated by the Nobles and Commons to shun the storm that threatened him with some violent End he sewed up many Jewels and some Gold in the Garments of a Pedlar Woman and Disguised in that Habit resolved to leave the Land carrying under his Arm a piece of Country Cloath which he offering to sale at Dover was Discovered and Seized suffering much outrage from the Common People and being sent to London the Lords Committed him to the Tower where he remained till the Kings return who not only released him but restored him to his Bishoprick yet having seen the folly of his Pride he grew more Humble and shortly after Travelling to Rome Dyed by the way unlamented by all that had known his former carriage The Queen-Mother in the Kings absence perceiving her Son John's aspiring who had a hand in bringing the Bishop of Ely into Disgrace and Outing him made a strong Party of her Friends as soon as she heard King Richard was a Prisoner compelling the Nobles and such others as were in Offices and Trusts to Swear to be True to him and Conserve the Realm to his use and behoof and John hearing he was Released and in Normandy hasted to excuse himself submitting to his Grace and Mercy voluntarily surrendering all the Forts and Castles he had Seized into his hands saying What âe had done he was provoked to do by the Extraordinary Pride and Insolent Behaviour of the Bishop of Ely who unworthily had disordered the Government of the Realm and particularly for the Outrages he had committed on the Person of Jeffery Arch Bishop of York the Kings Brother Yet by the Peers he was Condemned in the Forfeiture of his Goods Estate and Honours but not long after received them again and was restored to the Kings Favour and came with him to England where the King at his Landing was Joyfully received by Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury and most of the Nobles causing himself a second time to be Crowned and the Coronation Solemnity was performed at Winchester Then he made a new Broad-Seal by which device he got much Money out of his Subjects who were obliged to have their Patents Royal Grants for Offices and other Evidences new Sealed the former being declared null and void And yet this not sufficing to put the Kingdom in a good Settlement pay his Soldiers Arrears and repay the Money that had been taken upon trust for his Ransom the Treasuries of Religious Houses were ransacked and a Parliament being called he was allowed to reassume into his hands such Mannors Lordships Lands and Offices as had been disposed of at his setting out to the Holy War for Ready Money so that the Purchasers were enforced to content themselves with the Profits they had Received in lieve of the Money they had Paid After this as the King was at Dinner in his Palace of Westminster News came to him that the French had Besieged Nerville in Normandy upon which in a great Passion he Swore He would never turn his back till he had got thither with his Army and to save his Oath a place by order was immediatly broken in the Wall through which he passed the breach heing left open above a hundred Years afterward in Remembrance
Guyan Gascoyne and other Provinces the former being mostly Victorious recovering many places and driving the Enemy for the most part out of his Territories there But whilst the King was intent to go over and finish what had been so well begun and carried on the French King as much as in him lay to cross his proceedings had made a Faction in Scotland against the new King who compelled him to renounce his Allegiance to King Edward and send Defiance to him nor was this all but with an Army hastily gathered he entered and wasted the Northern parts of England Slaying Burning and Plundering without Pity or Remorse Whereupon King Edward recounting his manifold Favours and the great love he had to the Revolted King of Scots this base Ingratitude so stirred his Anger That he resolved a bloody chastisement should be the punishment of his unthankfullness Whereupon recalling some of his Forces and raising more he Marched to the succour of his Subjects and such was his good Fortune that in a little time he met with and fought the Scotch Army slaying 25000 of them winning the strong Castles of Berwick and Dunbar and soon after the City of Edenburough with many other places of note which made King John too late see his Errors and to what distress his rashness had driven him However thinking to find Favour by an humble submission or at least prevent the further Ruin and Desolation of his Country he came and cast himself at King Edwards Feet wholle submitting with himself the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland to be at his dispose in expectation to have been Restored but King Edward resenting very heinously his ungrateful proceedings sent him under a strong Guard to the Tower of London yet ordered him allowance of Liberty Diet and Attendance as became his state when Marching from Sea to Sea without any farther resistance he settled the Affaires of Scotland committing the Government of the Kingdom to John Warren Earl of Surry as his Lieutenant Constituting Hugh Cressingham Lord Treasurer and William Barnsley his Chief Justice confining some of the Rebellious Scots within the Marches of England that they might be disabled from giving any Disturbance in his Absence and so returned in Triumph with great Honours and high applause of his Subjects The King being now at leasure to remember the Injuries the French had done him and resolving to Revenge them Leagued with Guy Earl of Flanders and Transported an Army thither and Fought with Robert Earl of Arthois whome he Routed taking many Towns and Fortresses on the Frontiers which made the French King play over the game again of stirring up the Scots to Rebellion hoping by that means to constrain him to return but on the contrary he appointed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland his General for that War who mannaged it with that Prudence that after some Marching Training them into the open Field he gave them Battel with incredible Slaughter so that many Miles of Ground were in a manner covered with their dead Bodies by which great Overthrow they found themselves constrained to return to their former Obedience so that the French King perceiving his Project took not on that side seemed very desirous to try his Strength with King Edward in the Field but his Courage failing he reposing more confidence in his Policy than Valour he proceeded to tamper about proposals of Love and Amity that might settle a lasting Peace and King Edward being now a Widower he earnestly solicited him to take his Sister to Wife to make the Alliance stronger which by the cunning subtilty of some Courtiers Bribed by the French King was brought about and Peace ensued after a tedious War that had caused much Bloodshead So the King with his Queen returned home and soon after he made Prince Edward his Son who had been Born at Carnarvan in Wales the better to ingratiate himself with those People Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and to gain the Hearts of the Londoners he restored them those Liberties his Father had deprived them of and without which they had continued the space of Twelve Years during which time a Governour was set over them by the King and their Magistrates chosen by his order But whilst things were well ordering at home the Scots again fell into Rebellion Whereupon the King sent to demand their Ring-leaders who had drawn them into this danger which principally was one Wallis a Gentleman of an inveterate Spirit against the English Nation with a promise of Pardon to all the rest upon their laying down their Arms or else threatned to waste the Country with Fire and Sword from Sea to Sea and spare none of that Nation he should find in his way But driven on by their hard Fate they were Deaf to these Proposals making yet greater preparations to weather as they thought the Storm they could not but expect and so upon the Kings entering the Marches of Scotland they bid him Battel where before the Armies joyned he made them the same Offers which they seemed to reject with scorn so the Bloody Blast being sounded by the order of the Incensed King who resolved now to Scourge them in earnest the English fell on with such fury and violence that they broke like a Tempest into the Scots Battel carrying all before them so that a miserable slaughter ensued and the King pressing too furiously upon those that Fled in the eagerness of the Pursuit fell from his Horse and broke two of his Ribs yet he lightly remounting and not regarding his Hurt drove them out of the Field with the slaughter of 32000 of them he not now as at other times restraining the Swords of his Soldiers but gave scope and encouragement to their thirst of Revenge and in this Battel fell the flower of the Scots Nobility and Gentry but on our side very few were slain some Historians make mention but of 28 of all Degrees tho' that seemes too Partial But in comparison of the Scots they were certainly very inconsiderable The Prisoners that were taken were not many by reason few were spared in the Fight or in the pursuit that were overtaken so that the small remainder of the Nobles came and Humbled themselves before the King charging the fault on such as they said had justly received their Deserts by being slain in the Battel and this Submission upon their taking a new Oath of Fealty and Homage was accepted and returning home upon the earnest request of Pope Boniface the Eighth he Released John the Deposed King of Scots out of the Tower who went to Normandy to live quietly there on Lands alotted him called Bayliolls Lordship or Lands where falling Blind and being much in Years he Dyed leaving his Estate to his Son Edward However his Death put not an end to the Scots Troubles for they had not long enjoyed Peace but forgetting their Oaths or at least despising all conditions with the English they again Revolted and again felt the same Scourge
joyntly with Coventry the Cathedral was Builded by Oswin King of Northumberland upon a Conquest gained over the Mercians and here Wulferre and Celred two Saxon Kings were Buried It was for some time an Arch Bishoprick by the means of King Offa. At Blore Heath in this County a Battel was Fought between the two Houses of York and Lancaster and 2400 of the Yorkists slain STAFFORD SHIRE The Seats of the Nobility are Blore Hall belonging to the Noble Family of Newcastle Newborough to the Earl of Bridgwater Cherley Castle to the Lord Ferrers Throwley to the Lord Cromwell Beudesert and Seaney Park to the Lord Paget Rolleston to the Lord North and Grey Gerards Brumley Sandon and Wislow to the Lord Gerard of Brumley Hamstal Ridware to the Lord Leigh Dudley Castle and Hinley to the Lord Ward Litchfield Close and Eccleshal Castle to the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry The Houses of the Gentry are likewise many and spacious The Reign of RICHARD the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux RICHARD the Second Son and Heir to Edward the Black Prince was Crowned Anno 1377 not much exceeding 11 Years in Age so that Charles the French King taking advantage of his Minority set out a great Fleet Sack't and Burnt the Towns of Dartmouth Plimouth Portsmouth Hastings Rie and others on the Sea-Coast of England but after they had roamed up and down doing great Mischief for three Weeks they were beaten off with considerable Loss by Edmund Earl of Cambridge the Kings Unkle and others nor were the Scots Incited by the French King less troublesom Burning Roxborough and taking by surprize the Castle of Berwick but the People breaking down the Draw-Bridge shut them out of the Town and being straightly Besieged all the Scots in the Castle were put to the Sword except Alexander Ramsey who was reserved for a large Ransom yet the French though they had been beaten off not giving over their designs Landed again and did much mischief at Winchelsea Dover Gravesend and other places on or near the Sea-coast So that the King to Enable him to set out a Fleet and Transport an Army that might put a check to these Insolencies fummoned a Parliament at Westminster in which a Subsidy was Granted him of Four Pence a Head on all Persons above the Age of Fourteen Years which was looked on in those days as a very grievous Tax and the Gathering it was attended with bad consequences However the Money set out an indifferent good Fleet and an Army were sent into France under Lord Thomas one of the Kings Unkles who wasting all in his way joyned with the Duke of Britanie and much anoyed the French Recovering many Towns and Castles but whilst this was doing abroad a dangerous Mischief befell at home John Wall a Factious Priest by his going from place to place and Preaching to the inferiour sort of People That they were Free by the Law of Nature and that Laws were made by Crafty People to keep them Poor and Low so to Enslave them and that by their Pedigree derived from Adam the good things of the Earth should be equally divided amongst them and not some grow Fat and Rich whilst others Pine and Starve And moreover no Taxes were due on any pretence but People Free Born in their Liberality ought to be left Free This and such like Cant being sutable to their humor and wishes mainly wrought with them to become Levellers so that these pernicious Insinuations spread soon into most parts of England before the Magistrates were aware to suppress it and to bring about what was wished by some cunning Knaves to Inrich themselves in the Spoil of others they raised Tumults and possess'd the Country People with a belief That the City of London was at their devotion and only waited till they came to take possession of it whereupon they flowed thither like an outragious Torrent from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and other places stiling themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Weale Publick chosing as their chief Captain one Wat Tyler by profession a Taylor and as his subordinate Officers Jack Straw Jack Shepherd and some others and to this Rout the Incendary of a lewd Priest John Wall Chaplain and being Encamped in Kent and Essex they sent to the King to come and Treat with them but he was disswaded by his Nobles Whereupon those in Essex crossed the Thames and joyning the Kentish Rebels came to Southwark which they Plundered and finding London-Bridge Fortified against them intended to have Burnt the Suburbs on the South side and have Murthered such as they had notice were not pleased with their Proceedings But the Citizens to prevent so great a Mischief let down the Draw-Bridge and admitted them into the City Feasting and Carressing them rather out of fear than good-will however they Burnt the Duke of Lancaster's House at the Savoy and Murthered all his Servants they found in it They ransacked the Inns of Court and Law Offices Burning all the Law Books and Records that came to their hands Plundering the Churches and Religious Houses and Wat Tyler having seized Richard Lyon his Master with whom he had been Apprentice caused his Head to be Cut off and carry'd before him on a Lance because in his Service he had sometimes Beat him for his Rogueries They Plundered likewise the Houses of all Strangers They likewise forced into the Tower where the King Lay Plundered his Mothers Lodgings and broke her Head because she reproved them for their Insolency They Murthered Simon Tybald Arch Bishop of Canterbury because he had some time before Imprisoned Wall for his Seditious Doctrine and after several meetings the King finding he could do no good with them their Behaviour being so Audacious and their Demands so Insolent and Unreasonable he laboured to make the Citizens his Frinds and resolved to repel them by force Whereupon a Conference being appointed in Smithfield the King beforehand thinking to bring them to better Terms without Extremity if possible sent them several of his Ensigns and their Pardons as a token that he owned them for his good Subjects and freely forgave them for what had happened and then meeting them as appointed he perswaded them to desist from all Violence assuring them that upon tryal they should find him to be their Good Lord and Gracious King But Tyler with a frowning countenance insolent behaviour and rough speech refused to accept the Kings Grace and Favour proudly telling him That all those Troops and many more Thousands were at his dispose to Execute whatsoever he would command Then he commanded Sr. John Newton one of the Kings Attendants who bore the Sword to deliver his Dagger which by the Kings command he did Then he Insolently proceeded to demand the Sword but he stoutly Answered It was the Kings Sword and should not be given to a Knave which so incensed Tyler That he Swore he should lose his Head before himself would Eat or Drink commanding the
Warlikâ Stores who joyning the Scots Army Marched intâ England but upon notice of King Richard's approacâ with a formidable Army they crossed the Mountain into Wales leaving Scotland open to the English who Burnt Edenburg St. Johnstons Sterling and Dundee anâ having harassed the Country almost from Sea to Seâ they returned Laden with much Booty This greââ Loss so perplexed the Scots who had got little Plundeâ among the Barren Mountains that on their returâ they made the French Admiral and most that Atteââââ him of note Prisoners till the French King who ãâã precipitated them into this War should make ãâã satisfaction as designing his own Interest and ââvantage by it and not theirs and tho' he was very ââgry at it yet the Scots kept them Prisoners till the ââey demanded was sent for their Ransoms This âred up the French King to raise a mighty Army with ââsolution to Conquer England and to Transport it ãâã prepared 1200 Ships but when they had a long âe in their unruly March Plundered the French and ânings and by reason the Duke of Berry the Kings âkle who was to command them approving not ãâã Enterprize delay'd to come to them their wants âe so great that to supply them they Sold their ârses Armour Weapons and lastly their Cloaths ãâã then fell so horribly to Plundering the Country ãâã the French King not able to endure the cries and âplaints of the oppressed People and dispairing to ãâã any thing in England with such a half-starved disâerly Rout Disbanded them after he had been at â000 l. Charge The English Nobles now began grievously to comân of the Kings breaking his Oath and Promises in ârkening to the evil Counsels and Advice of Robert ãâã Vere Michael De La Poole Alexander Arch Bishop ãâã York Nicholas Bamber and Robert Trisillian his Chief âice together with those flattering Judges who to âse the King had Subscribed to the Nullity of the âmmission and had Censured all such as procured it âe Traitors to the King c. Intreating him to âish them the Kingdom but he would in no wise ârken to any Proposals of parting with those Favoâ who for their better safety counselled him to give ãâã Callice and his other Towns in France to the French âg and rely on him for Aid to curb those proud Subjects who sought to Enslave him their Soveraign but this he looked on as dangerous and would not agree to it But the Nobles finding no Redress flying to Arms he practiced with the Lord Mayor of London to raise him an Army in and about the City which he laboured to do but the Graver Citizens who were well affected to the Nobles not only refused to further it but hindered it all they could declaring it was a means to hasten the desolation of that great City humbly beseeching the King not to require any such thing at their hands but rather seek an Accommodation of Differences This extreamly vexed him but finding he misseâ of his purpose he dissembled his displeasure and laid aside that Project yet forgot them not But some time after this desiring a Loan of 1000 l. and it being refused him he seized into his hands their Charter and Liberties dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out John Hind their Mayor Henry Warner and John Shadworth Sherifs appointing Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City However finding he could not raise such an Army as he intended by reason most of his inferiour Subjects were well affected to the Lords because they sought not to injure the King but to remove his evil Counsellours who were great Oppressors and Disquieters of the Kingdom he promised to call â Parliament wherein matters might be Debated with out heat or animosity and that there his five Favors should be Answerable to all Objections and if Convicted stand to such publick Censure or Punishment as the Parliament could justly inflict on them This Concession much pleased the Lords so that they disbanded their Forces and returned the King their humble thanks But it was not long before they were sensible a Snare was laid for them for the Duke of Ireland was privately Levying 5000 Men pretendedly for his Guard and Defence but it was secretly intimated they were to lie in wait in Parties and Surprize the Lords as they were coming to Parliament so that they suddainly recalled their disbanded Forces and shut him up on the Banks of the Thames which he was forced to Swim on Horse-back for the preservation of his Life and posting to the Sea Coast took Shipping for France where some Years after he was Slain in Chasing a wild Boar but so great was then the Kings Love towards him That he caused his Dead Body to be Embalmed brought over and Magnificently Bury'd After the flight of the Duke the Lords Executed some of the chief Ringleaders and suffered the rest to depart to their Houses and so passed with their Army to London where they were Joyfully received by the Citizens The King who kept his Court at the Tower well perceived how much they had gained the Hearts of the greater Part of the People and therefore for his own safety he desired a Conference with them in which it was Agreed a Parliament should be speedily called to Redress Grievances and accordingly a Parliament was Assembled in which the evil Counsellours and corrupt Judges were Sommoned to appear and Answer to the Articles Exhibited against them but upon their default they were Attainted of High Treason against the King and Common-weal and for this John Earl of Salisbury and Sir Nicholas Bambre lost their Heads the Lord Chief Justice Trisilian was Hanged at Tyburn and the rest of these Judges had suffered in like manner had not the Queens incessant supplications prevailed to change their Dooms into Banishment and in this Parliament the state of Affairs was settled to the high contentment of the People And tho' the next Year the Scots began to bustle yet at the Mediation of the French King a Truce was made between the three Kingdoms and King Richard by this means in Peace and Tranquility assisted the Duke of Lancaster to raise an Army when Leaguing with the King of Portugal he Warred on the Spaniard for the Kingdom of Castile which he claimed in Right of his Wife and so prevailed That the Spaniard was compelled to sue for a Peace which was granted on that Kings Marrying Constance the Dukes Eldest Daughter Loading him Eight Waggons with Gold and allowing him and his Dutchess during their Lives 10000 Mark a Year And after having Married Ann his Younger Daughter to the King of Portugal he returned into England Laden with Riches and Honour And now all Appeals to Rome and the Popes Authority in this Kingdom was Abrogated by Parliament and soon after the Vertuous Lady Queen Ann Dyed whose Death so exceedingly grieved the King that for some Weeks he would not be comforted causing the stately House at Sheen in which she Dyed to be utterly Razed
English Garrison was aware of his coming putting most he found therein to the Sword but it was soon regained by the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Grandval swore Allegiance for his Ransom to King Henry but basely revolted as soon as he was Enlarged Then the Earl took Senes whereupon the Parisians sued to the New French King to assist them underhand tho' at the same time they had for a colour sent some of their Citizens to King Henry promising a continued Duty and Loyalty for yet they found not matters ripe for an open Revolt But whilst the Regent was Magnificently Celebrating his Nuptials with the Lady Ann Sister to the Duke of Burgundy they secretly sent to Charles Advertising him That if he came speedily with any considerable Power they would over-master the English Garrison and deliver the City into his hands This greatly Rejoyced him but whilst his Preparations were slow the Conspiracy was made known to the Regent who swiftly Marched his Army in at their Gates seized on the chief Conspirators and caused them to be Executed in sundry places of the City placing a greater Garrison which very much curbed them bridling them more with the Castle of Pacy and Coursay not far from thence which he took and strongly Fortified and to prevent the Scots Aiding the French James their King was sent home who had been taken on the Seas and a Prisoner at Large to the English many Years yet the English Interest was something weakened by the Revolt of the Duke of Britainy who fearing the Regent growing Powerful might bring him into subjection joyned with the Dauphin as did his Brother Arthur Earl of Yvrie causing that Town in Normandy of which King Henry the Fifth had made him Captain to Rebel yet that and Vernoille which had likewise Revolted were soon Regained and the French Armies that came to Relieve them were Overthrown Soon after the defeated Governour of Yvrie whom the Dauphin had unworthily made Constable of France Besieged St. James Town in Bayon with 4000 Men but the Besieged issuing out with hideous cries of St. George and the Earl Salisbury who by his Martial deeds was grown Terrible to the French that Army being seized with a fear that the Earl was entered with his Army on the other side and about to break-in upon them all in confusion threw away their Arms and fled so a handful of Men pursuing a great many of them leaped into the River and were Drowned others were slain and all the Rich Plunder of the Camp fell to the English But whilst we thus Triumphed in France a Mischief had like to have marred all at home by a discord that happened between the Duke of Gloucester and his Unkle the Bishop of Winchester But the Regent leaving the Earl of Warwick his Lieutenant General in France came timely over and made them Friends in a Parliament he called in honour of which Reconciliation the Young King held a solemn Feast and the Regent Dubbed him a Knight after which the King made Richard Son to the late Earl of Cambridge Duke of York and Restored John Moubray Earl Marshal to his Fathers Dutchy of Norfolk and the Bishop of Winchester going to Callis met the Popes Bull which Invested him with the Dignity of a Cardinal which highly pleased him and new Forces being Levied in England were sent to strengthen the Armies in France so that a great number of Towns that had Revolted were Regained and many French Nobles put to their Ransoms which raised Money to maintain the War Orleance being now the strongest place the French held the Earl of Salisbury laid Siege to it but after two Months lying before it the Earl from a Watch-Tower taking a view of the Town where it was easiest to be Assaulted was slain by a shot from a Culverin being the first Noble Englishman ever known to be kill'd by a Great Shot and with his Death the Courage of the English much abated However the Earl of Suffolk succeeded him in the Command who sending out Sir John Falstaff to procure Provisions for the Camp the Lord Delabreth in his return intending to surprise him with a great Power was beaten by his small Party as being catched again with the Agincourt Trap by Goaring their Horses on Irons Pointed whilst the English retired safe behind them and with their Arrows made a miserable Slaughter of 2500 of his Men taking 11000 Prisoners and a great Booâ whereupon the Besieged in Orleance offered to deliver up the City to the Duke of Burgundy if he would take them into his immediate Protection which he consented to do if the Regent would Agree to it But when he proposed it the Regent told him He could not for since King Henry had been at such great Charge to reduce it to Extreamity and at a point to Yield it was altogether reasonable it should obey no other Soveraign but him This much perplexed the Duke and made him ever after lessen his Affections to the English till he quite fell off and to their great detriment joyned with the adverse party The Citizens of Orleance finding their Proposal fruitless sent to the Dauphin for speedy Succour resolving to hold out to the last Extreamity and the Watches of the English Camp being careless as expecting every day it would Surrender in the depth of Night they thrust several Thousand Men in with store of Provisions so that within a few days they boldly Sallied with their main Strength won a strong Pass and slew 600 English that Guarded it but Assaulting a Bastile where the Lord Talbot lay he fell on them with such fury that leaving half their Number Dead the rest fled fearful into the Town But the next day the Earl of Suffolk by reason of the new Supplies seeing no probability of winning the Place raised the Sirge and put the greater part of his Army into Garrisons but whilst himself lay at Jargeaux the French won it and took him Prisoner and many Noble Prisoners were Slain because the French hotly contended among themselves to whom they rightly belonged and about 25000 French under the Earl of Vendosm and others meeting with the Lords Scales Talbot and Hungerford who Fought with them desperately but not having above 5000 English they were Overthrown and the Lords taken Prisoners yet the French magnifying their Victory many small Towns and Castles Revolted to them as Trois Rhemes Challons and many others which made the Regent resolve to give Charles Battel sending to defie him as a Usurper and Traytor to his Lord and Master and tho' he drew out his Army and made some semblance as if he accepted the Challenge yet he shifted and fled from place to place and could not be brought to a fair Field and the Towns still Revolting it was thought Expedient to send for King Henry over thinking his Presence might keep the rest in Obedience and accordingly coming to Paris he was Crowned there King of France with much Royal Pomp
said to shed some Tears and wish it had not been done However he came to London and summoned a Parliament wherein to ingratiate with the People many good Laws were made which are highly in Esteem to this day But God shew'd him an early token of his displeasure by taking away his only Son being all the Children he had he falling from a Horse dyed of the Bruise Bishop Morton as is said being committed to the Duke of Buckingham's Custody that sagacious Prelate so wound himself into his favour and good opinion that finding he was Ambitiously enclined he spared nothing to encrease his aspiring thoughts to that height as to make him look with envious Eyes on King Richard's Crown and fancy it would sit more comely on his own Head He was indeed of the Royal Blood by the Female side but at a considerable distance However King Richard having broke Promise with him by detaining the Earldom of Hartford tho' he had been chiefly instrumental in Advancing him to the Royal Dignity That for many Reasons the Bishop urged he began to hate him which more and more encreasing from new disapointments and disfavours and in fine the Duke however seemed to decline the Crown it was urged by the Bishop he might be Instrumental to do good to his Country and gain Immortal Fame by Uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster in promoting a Match between the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth and Henry Earl of Richmond Son and Heir to Margaret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir to John Duke of Sommerset his great Unkle Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Fourth Son to Edward the Third This he attentively harkened to and thereupon the Bishop desired to go into the Isle of Ely and there he would raise Men and Money to forward this matter But the Duke considering his Absence would be charged on him and be a means to discover the Intrigue and that also he should want his Counsel at need refused to consent however the Bishop in disguise soon after got away and escaped to the Earl of Richmond Counselling and Animating him to prosecute the Project laid in England King Richard hearing there were secret Cabbals held against him in Britany by the Earl of Richmond and others renewed his Brothers Stratagem to get him into his hands But tho' it cost him much Money yet his Counsels being revealed he also was frustrated in his expectations But by this time having notice of Buckingham's discontents he by Friendly invitations entreated him to come to Court but the Duke excused it on pretence of Indisposition but King Richard well informed to the contrary knew it was rather an Indisposition of Mind than Body sent a second Summons peremptorily commanding him to make his personal appearance which made him believe his design was discovered and thereupon he stoutly replied by the Messenger That he reputed him a Monster a Tyrant Murtherer and not his Lawful King and therefore would not trust his Person in his hands who was cruelly unmerciful to his nearest Relations And so with many of his Friends raised Forces in Wales whilst Sir Edward Courtney did the like in Devonshire and Cornwal Sir Richard Guilford gathered many of the Kentish Commons and in Yorkshire the Marquess of Dorset leaving Sanctuary drew a great Number to him This Storm that threatened Ruine to the Usurper roused him to Arms so that Levying a considerable Army he Marched against the Duke to give him Battel ere he joyned his Friends supposing if he could rout him the rest would soon be Subdued The Duke was as resolute as he and intended to pass the Severn at a low Ford near Gloucester to meet him but that Night and for Ten days after such abundance of Rain fell that the River over-flowed its Banks drowning all the Meadows so that he could not pass and by lingering his Victuals growing scanty most of his Forces left him which unexpected misfortune made him shift for himself when coming to the House of one Humphery Banister near Shrewsbury who had been his Steward and got a good Estate under him he was there sheltered for a time but King Richard Proscribing him and setting a Thousand Pounds on his Head that Treacherous Servant discovered him to the Sherif of Shropshire who apprehended him in poor Apparel digging in the Garden and conveyed him to the King at Salisbury where in hopes of favour he made an ample confession but it availed not for without any Legal Proceedings he was Beheaded upon which the rest dispersed The Earl of Richmond knowing nothing of this disappointment having gotten some Forces of the Duke of Britany put to Sea for England but by contrary winds was driven into Normandy where the French King not only succoured him with Money and other Necessaries but gave him safe conduct through his Territories to Britany where he found a great number of his Friends Arrived before him and there making a sollemn promise to Marry the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Edward the Fourth if his success answered his expectations they owned him in a manner as their King vowing to adventure their Lives to settle him on the Throne King Richard in the mean while was busied in Fortifying the Sea-Ports and cutting off by terrible Executions all that he thought favoured the Earls Interest getting him and his adherents attainted in Parliament so that he seized their Lands and Effects bestowing them on his Creatures which caused much murmuring among the People And one Collingborn an Esquire of good Estate being in a Poetical strain reflecting on Richard's three Favourites viz. Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and the Viscount Lovel in this Distich The Rat the Cat and Lovel our Dog Rules all England under a Hogg Was Executed for it at Tyburn the Judges construing the last word to allude to the King because he had the White Boar for his Cognizance and so in their opinions the Scandal was wrested to Treason And then he laid another Trap for the Earl of Richmond by Bribing Peter Landoys the Duke of Britany's Treasurer but he escaped it on timely notice and fled to the French King however King Richard made an Alliance with James King of Scots by Marrying the Lady Ann one of his Neices to the Duke of Rothsey his Eldest Son and with large Presents and fair Promises so won on the infatuated Queen Dowager his Brothers Widow as to deliver her Daughters into his hands tho' she was sensible he had Murthured her Sons Then he caused it to be given out that Queen Ann his Wife who was Daughter to the great Earl of Warwick and had been Wife to Prince Edward Son to Henry the Sixth was suddainly Dead and though then very well yet soon after she was found unexpectedly dead not without suspicion of Poison which he so little regarded that he immediatly tendered Courtship to Elizabeth his Brothers Daughter who fearing her own and her Sisters safety put him off with
little settled Ferdinand the King's Father-in-Law craved Aid of him against the Moors who infested his Kingdom which he obtained and drove them by that means out of Spain but the War ceasing he sent home the English poor and ill rewarded for their Service which much offended the King and Wars arrising between Pope Julius the Second and Lewis the French King in Italy where the latter seized on the strong Towns of Bologna and La Gasse and became very Formidable King Henry became a friendly Mediator between them But the French King refusing to yeild to Proposals of Peace pursuing his Conquests he required him by his Ambassadors to restore him the Peaceable possession of Guyan and Normandy with his Antient Inheritance of Mayne and Anjou unjustly detained from his Ancestors and himself which being refused he Proclaimed War and for this and Writing a Book in defence of the Roman Pontificate against Martin Luther the Pope on whose account this Quarrel was espoused stiled him Defender of the Faith which Title has ever since been retained by the Kings and Queens of England The King was not slow in raising an Army and King Ferdinand of Spain having notice of his preparations sent to offer his Service if he would Land his Forces in Biscay a part of his Country and from thence March into Guyan which was agreed to and done under the Leading of Thomas Crey Marquess of Dorset But the crafty Spaniard intending nothing but his own advantage by this after the English had suffered many hardships in his Country he joyned them and fell unexpectedly on the Kingdom of Navarre which he seized in a short time the Natives being so amazed at the suddainness of the Invasion that they made little or no resistance But after this success he afforded them no subsistance or any part of the spoil which made the Soldiers Disband of their own accord and come straglingly into England Poor and almost Naked But Sir Edward Howard Youngest Son to the Earl of Surry being Lord Admiral of England many times Landed in the French Territories and greatly endamaged them and at Sea overthrew their Navy in which Fight Sir John Carew of Devonshire in the Regent grapling with a great Carrick of Brest both Ships in the contest fell on Fire and in them on both sides about 800 Men perished This distress on his Coast made the French King augment his Fleet and Fortify his Harbours However the Admiral entered that of Brest with Boats and armed Barges and assailed three great Galleys of Rhodes brought to the assistance of the French King by Prior John these they soon Boarded but the Boats and Barges then returning and leaving them well Manned to be brought off at high Tide by this oversight the French regained them and in the contest the Admiral was born overboard by a Pike and Drowned But in few days his Elder Brother was made Admiral and two Land Armies prepared one under the Leading of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and the other by Charles Somerset Lord Herbert Chamberlain to the King These had not long been Landed but the King leaving the publick mannagement of Affaires to the Queen and directing the Earl of Surry to Guard the North against the Scots Incursion he Sailed to Callice and caused his Army to March to Terwyn which he Besieged and upon the overthrow of the French Army that came to its Relief had it put into his possession which he rased and consumed by Fire except the Cathedral and Bishops Palace During this Siege Maximilian the Emperour with 30 Nobles and Gentlemen repared to King Henry's Camp where to the Honour of England they Enrolled themselves in the King's Pay and were Nobly entertained The next Place that opposed him in his intended Conquest was Tournay which despairing of succour after many fierce Assaults yielded and on condition of their paying 10000 l. the Citizens were received into Henry's Protection and Wolsey his Almoner took an Oath of Allegiance of them to be True to him as his own Subjects However in his Absence the Scots Invaded England with 8000 Men under the Command of the Lord Humes and did great mischief but as they were returning with their Plunder Sir William Bulmer who lay in wait with 1000 Archers put them to the Rout in a sharp Fight slew 500 and took 400 Prisoners and recovered all the Booty so that those who had the luck to Escape returned Poor and Beggarly into Scotland But King James the Fourth to revenge this disgrace raised the Power of his Kingdom and come before the Castle of Norham some Historians say with 100000 Fighting Men which he Took by reason the Captain being prodigal of his Powder too soon spent it But the Earl of Surry Marching against the Scots with 26000 Fighting Men Anno 1513 the fatal Battel of Floden Field was Fought September 9 in which the Victory fell to the English the Scots King 2 Bishops 12 Earls 14 Lords and 12000 others of lesser note being slain For this good Service the Earl of Surry was Created Duke of Norfolk Charles Brandon Viscount Lysle Duke of Suffolk and Woolsey was made Bishop of Lincoln and after some Bickerings with the French on the Coast of Normandy King Lewis stricken much in Years sued for Peace and the better to confirm it Married the Lady Mary Second Sister to King Henry a Young and very Beautiful Lady at whose Wedding and Coronation many brave feats of Chivalry were performed by the English Nobility and Gentry who waited on her But Lewis the 12th Dying three Months after this Marriage she returned again for England and with the King 's private consent was Married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk who had a long time been her Lover Woolsey who was a Butchers Son at Ipswich now began to rise a pace for Doctor Bambridge dying he was made Arch-Bishop and after by the Pope Cardinal of York which puffed him up with so much Pride that he undertook to Rule the King and Kingdom doing for a time without controul what he listed placing and displacing Officers and meddling in all Affairs where there was Advantage or Homage to be gained Especially when made Lord Chancelour and Counsellour of State demanding Accounts of the Treasurers Captains and other Officers that had been in the Wars by which he got much Money out of some that were Rich and those that could not furnish him he Punished and Imprisoned Erecting Courts of his own head and by subtilty got himself to be made the Popes Legat and to Build two Colledges by the Popes permission suppressed and seized on the Lands Effects of many Religious Houses which gave an inlet to King Henry's suppressing the rest some time after who concluded if it were not Sacriledge in the Pope but he could alow of it at pleasure it would be none in him However this Cardinal was sent on several Honourable Embassies wherein he behaved himself so Proudly Naming the King but in the Second
Provision but so outragious was the sea that no Ships could put out so that the Lord Wentworth Governour of the Town found himself constrained to surrender it on Articles when it had been held by the English 211 Years for the Taking of which such joy was made in France as if England was falln into their hands After that they Invaided Flanders pillaging the Country but were Fought with and Overthrown and soon after a great Fleet being set-forth the English Landed near Brest in Britany and Sacked Conquet a considerable Port-Town in that Tract which they afterwards Burnt When the French to strengthen their Interest Married Mary the Young Queen of Scots to Francis the then Dauphin she having been in King Edward the Sixth's Reign conveyed into France to that end But whilst Queen Mary was making great preparation she fell Sick some say of Melancholly for the Absence of King Philip who now seemed little to regard her but herself affirmed when that was alledged to her in her Sickness It was not his Vnkindness troubled her but if she Dyed they might open her and find the loss of Callis written upon her Heart and of that Sickness she Dyed on the 17th of November Anno 1558 when she had Reigned 5 Years 4 Months and 11 Days and in the 40th Year of her Age and was Interred among her Royal Ancestors in Westminster In this Queens Reign a Tempest happened accompanied with prodigious Thunder and Lightening and in Notinghamshire it threw down many Churches and Houses tore up huge Trees threw the Bells out of Steeples and took off Sheets of Lead writhed them together like a Glove and threw them 400 Foot from their place A Child was taken by the force of the Tempest out of a Mans Arms a great height and Dyed by the fall Five or Six People were Kill'd and many Cattle by Hail-Stones Fifteen Inches in Circumference A great Mortality happened at the time of the Queens Death which fell mostly on the Clergy and of that burning Feaver 13 Bishops dyed besides a great Number of Priests and others also Cardinal Poole A Brief Chronology of Martyrs and famous Men and Women that have Suffered the Flames and other Tortures and Persecutions under Popery in England before and since the happy Reformation With the Exhortations and Dying Words of the most Eminent of them ACcording to my Promise tho' this History by reason of many things occuring swells to more Sheets than my intended Brevery designed it I shall in this place set down together a Summary Account of the Persons who have Suffered in England for the sake of a good Conscience and could think it no where more fitly to be placed than after a Reign wherein the Blood of those of the Reformed Church was shed like Water yet Dyed with such Constancy as amazed and startled their cruel Persecutors I have already spoke somthing of our English Martyrs after the Kings Reigns wherein they were Persecuted but for Brevity having omitted many I now come to place them closer together that a better view may be taken and the Method by its plainness more easily understood Know then That when the Purity of the Primitive Churches was Clouded and almost Obscured by the Romish Traditions Errors and Superstitions to make Godliness in the Litteral worldly sense a Gain by leading People into Ignorance and blind Devotion in keeping the Word of God from their Knowledge and in its stead imposing the Doctrine of Men not agreeable with it God in his great Mercy was pleased to raise up such Instruments as laboured to rekindle that Light wicked and designing Rome had near extinguished who for the sake of Gods Holy Truth exposed themselves to the fury of the Adversary and as in other Nations there were many so in England faithful Witnesses were not wanting very early to lay down their Lives I shall not look back so far as the Persecutions under the Heathen Roman Emperours Saxons and Danes for tho' they were very grievous yet more Cruel ensued under the Tyranny of that which calles it self Christian Rome or the Roman Catholick Church For after John Wickliff William Wickham Bishop of Winchester and many other Learned Men had Lighted the Candle as I may term it and opened the Eyes of many in this and the Neighboring Nations to discern Truth from Falshood and of this we have just cause to Glory since the Reformation in all Churches was grounded on it True Religion soon raised her Head and tho' Cruel Adversaries made her Proselites few for a time their Constancy and Zeal was very great In the Year 1380 Vter Bolton and John Asherly were severly Persecuted and soon after Walter Bruce John Ashton John Patescul and divers more some of which are mentioned in the History but as yet it began not to grow up to Flames but by degrees it did for William Swinderly was Burnt in Smithfield also William Thorp and divers others Stigmatized Banished Whipped and Starved in Goals the Popes in whose time they Lived Inciting and Encouraging their Clergy here to pursue them with all Violence and utmost Rigor So that in the Year 1417 the Lord Cobham was Burnt Hanging on a Gallows in St Gilse's Fields and soon after William White John Purrey and Richard White confessing their Faith and Dying with Courage and Christian bravery for the sake of a good Conscience and Peter Clark being forced to fly for maintaining Wickliff's Doctrine from Scripture and Fathers was taken beyond the Seas and put to Death by exquisit Torments viz. His Tongue cut out then Hanged by the Heels and a slow Fire made under him till he Dyed Roger Overly for speaking against the Mass and other Superstitions and offering to prove them not consonant to the Word of God was Executed And to put a Scandal on the Professors of the Truth they Nick-Named them Lollards and their common Prison was called the Lollards Tower But Persecution rather encreased than diminished their Number as appears by the largness of their Assemblies some to Teach and others to Hear For one of these Meetings being surprised in St. Gilses Fields Anno 1415 by Armed Force and wrongfully charged as a Riotous or Tumultuous Meeting tending to Insurrection and Rebellion it was by Popish Judges construed a Treasonable Act and hereupon Roger Acton John Beverly John Brown and about 36 more were Drawn Hanged and Quartered in the Place where they met and John Claydon and Benidict Vlman Burned and about 100 others Languished in Prison till most of them Dyed In Henry the Sixth's time William Taylor for embracing the Doctrine Wickliff had Taught was Burnt in Smithfield Henry Web and Henry Florence Scourged unmercifully and 120 Imprisoned and Tortured divers ways and some suffered the Flames among whom William White and Richard Hovelden were Burnt Soon after this Thomas Baly and Richard Wiche both Ministers were burnt one in Smithfield and the other on Tower-Hill In Edward the Fourth's Reign John Huss or Goose was burnt
with this Town all Ireland was reduced for those few places that held out Surrendred mostly of their own accord And the Lieutenant General having settled the Affairs there and returning to England was by his Majesty Created Earl of Athlone and highly Treated by the City of London c. Whilst this time was taken up in Reducing Ireland the Confederates imployed their Arms to recover the Towns the French had taken in Flanders c. And the Duke of Brandenburg was successful in taking Keyserwart Mentz and Bon places of considerable Strength and Prince Waldeck fought the Mareschal D' Humiers at Forg Village where the English under the Command of the Lord Marlborough did Wonders in stopping of the Torrent of the Enemy who suppos'd to have Surprized the Confederate Camp killing a great many of them and making them Retreat But the French ravaging the Palatinate cording to their wonted Barbarity they burnt Newstadt Frankendale Petersham Lambesham Wachenheim Darmstein and afterward Spires Worms Heidleberg were partly burnt and demolished which hastened the King to head the Army in Flanders And by this time the Duke of Savoy took Carmagnole and gave free Liberty to the Vaudois to Live quietly under his Protection The King by divers Marches and Encampments endeavouring to draw the French to a Battel possessed himself of Beaumont in the sight of their Army Commanded by the Duke of Luxemburg and demolished the Fortifications but with the loss of 400 men they took Montmelian but were beat out by the Cannon of the Castle which they in vain for some time had assaulted and Prince Lewis of Baden Commanding the Emperors Forces gave the Turks a great overthrow in Hungary Killing about 23000 men and taking the greater part of their Cannon and Baggage A Person hired by the Duke of Luxemburg to blow up the King's Bombs and fire the Ammunition Waggons being apprehended and Confessing the Attempt which only fir'd three Bombs had his right Hand cut off then being half Strangled was burnt And as the King was standing under a Tree to view the Enemy a singular hand of Providence appeared in his Preservation for he had no sâonâr stepped aside to give some Orders but a shot from a Cannon rent the Tree in the Place where a Minute before he had stood And now the French Court which had so often aimed at his precious Life and found it difficult to be attempted in a fair Field practised with divers Villains to compass the King's Destruction by Treachery to which end the Sieur Grandvalle had received several Sums of Money for encouragement of the Marquess of Barbesieux the French King's Secretary and brought two others viz. Dumont and Leafdale into the Conspiracy and often they designed to shoot him as he Rode out to view the Troops and the Duke of Luxemburg had Orders to send a party of Horse to fetch them off when this wicked Deed should be done but God prevented it by a timely Discovery for Grandvalle being Apprehended and Tryed by a Court-Marshal was on plain Proof and his own Confession found guilty of Treason and being Drawn Hang'd and Quartered his Head and Quarters were set up on Poles without the Camp And now our Fleet under the Command of Admiral Russel being sooner abroad than the French expected so that on the 19th of May 1692 the Admiral got sight of the Enemy about six Leagues from Cape Barfleur who not thinking us so strong bore down upon him having the Weather-Gage the Wind at South-west and about Eleven in the Morning Tourville the French Admiral engaged ours who bore upon him with the Red Squadron and the Fight continued hot till about three in the Afternoon when the French being greatly Shattered stood away with all the Sail they could make to their own Coast and being closely pursued the Blew Squadron engaged them again about six that Afternoon which continued till ten at Night when they made a retreating Fight wherein some of their Ships blew up and others sunk and Vice-Admiral Delaval getting in under Cape de Wick with Light Frigats Fire-ships and Armed Boats in spite of the Fire the Enemy made from their Ships run them on Ground Capt. Heath laid the Royal Sun of France on board with his Fire-Ship being a French Admiral of 104 Guns and burnt her Capt. Green burnt the Conquerant of 102 Guns and another of 80 was burnt by the boats in which a great many sick and wounded men Perished And Admiral Russel sending Sr George Rook into La Hogue with light Frigats Fireships and Armed boats he burnt 6 that Night and 6 more the next morning 3 of them being Three-Deck-ships carrying from 60 to 70 Guns and one of 56 Guns was overset and lost and others were destroyed in other parts so that about 21 of their biggest Men of War were burnt and of Crafts Frigats and Transport-ships 30 and this without the loss of one Ship on our part and this was also done in the sight of their Land-Army drawn down on the Coast of Normandy to assist K. James in his then Intended Invasion of England And of note on our side were only Kill'd Rear-Admiral Carter and Coll. Hastings of the Marine Regiment This Victory as it much amazed the French caused great Rejoycing in England yet to repair the Disgrace the Duke of Luxemburg besieged Namur to whose Relief the King prepared to March his Army but in the mean while it Capitulated and Surrendred yet the Castle and new Fort held out a great while longer so that they Lost above 5000 men in the Siege and the King having often dared the French to Battel in open Field they as often declining it by Counter-marches and strong Encampments he agreed to Attack them in their Camp at Enghein tho' by the narrowness of the ways the Passage to it was extream difficult This was vigorously attempted and carryed on by the English and Danes with such Courage and Bravery that the French at first were beaten from Post to Post and we were at the point of forcing an entrance into their Camp had they been timely succoured by other Parties that were appointed to sustain them but did not so that from the Hedges Out-works and Cannon advantagiously planteâ on the Hills over-powering our Men after a hot Dispute they found a necessity of retreating leaving many Gallant Commanders dead behind them tho' the Enemy had little cause to boast their whole Army narrowly escaping an intire Defeat and their number of Men and great Officers killed wounded and taken Prisoners much exceeding ours for 10 or 12 of the old Regiments suffered extreamly so that they owned to lose 500 Officers and about 5000 private Soldiers And soon after the Prince D'Erichment fell on a French Party sent out of Namur of 300 Foot and 200 Dragoons totally routing them and taking 400 Prisoners among which were 30 Officers which were carryed to Huy and in this Encounter the Marquess De Hâcâuincourt was slain and the Duke
of Leinster arriving wiâh freâh Supplies from England and being joyned by a Detachment from the King's Camp under the Command of Lieutenant-General Talmash they marched towards Newport and 4 Regiments were sent to Possess themselves of Furnes which successfuly they did and 2000 Pioneers ordered to fortifie it and soon after Dyxmude fell into our hands with the Villages and dependant Territories and several Skirmishes happened with various success to the end of this Campaign And on the 8th of September 1692 an Earthquake happened in England giving 2 or 3 Quick Shoâks yet with little harm and was felt almost at the same time in Ireland France Holland Flanders and other places it lasted about a minute The King of England was then in his Camp at Grammen in Flanders Dining in an old decay'd house which shook very much and every one apprehendâng it would fall he was Perswaded to leave that Ruin-threatening-Fabrick but the Surprize was soon over and no harm happened there The Campaign now being ended the King by the way of Holland returned to England and found all things peaceable and well Governed by the Queens prudent mannagement not only in England but in the otheâ two Kingdoms where War and Tumults ceasing Trade began to Flourish Whilst these things passed a very great Fleât of Turkey and Streights Merchants Dutch and English set Sail richly Laden under a Convoy of Men of War Commanded by Sr. George Rook and in the Streights unexpectedly fell in with the French Fleet But though our Ships fell into this Ambush yet ours and the Dutch Men of War behaved themselves with such Conduct and Courage as also did the Merchantmen that whilst the French were making up and the Dispute lasted most the latter by running along the Shore got into Harbours and others came back again with Sir George who made a very good Retreat so that the French got but little though had they not been over hasty in appearing in probability the greater part of them might have been Encompassed by their whole Fleet. The King as is said being returned after Congratulations a day of Thanksgiving was appointed for Gods singular Providence that had protected him in the greatest dangers to which he had exposed his Royal Person for our Safety The Winter was spent in making Levies by Land and great Preparations at Sea The Parliament chearfully giving such Supplies as were necessary to carry on the War Early in the Spring the Streights and Turkey Fleet put again to Sea but entering the Streighte mouth such a violent Storm arose as blew many of the Ships cleaverly out of it and divers were Lost and much damaged yet many got safe to their proper Ports In March the King passed over to hasten an early Campaign and the Elector of Bavaria being appointed Governour of Flanders sent the Duke of Arco to Complement him on his arrival and Parties being abroad divers Skirmishes and Bickerings happened with various Success in a village called Malterne 100 Newburghers took 80 French Prisoners of War and brought them with their Arms Horse and Baggage to the general Rendesvouz However they sent an Army to Ravage the Palatinate and burnt divers places of note and to divert the Spanish Forces in Flanders a vigorous War was pushed on in Catalonia the Duke D' Nouailles Commanding in chief but met there with many Disapointments by our main Fleet 's appearing on the Coast yet drawing off a part of the Army for that Service The Duke of Wirtemburg with a considerable Body of Horse and Foot forced the Enemies Lines and Entering French Flanders for several Miles put the Country under Contribution raising a Million of Livres taking in divers small places and much Booty This Constrained the Duke of Luxemburg General for the French King to Endeavour by one Exploit or other to draw him back and first with 50 Squadrons of Horse and ten Battallions of Foot and some Field-pieces he attempted to fall on a part of the Garison of Liege and Maestrich being about 18 squadrons of Horse and some Regiments of Foot Commanded by Count Tilly but upon notice retired over the River Sare Leaving three Squadrons to secure his Retreat which beat back the French advanced parties But this was only as a Forerunner to greater Action for the King Marching to releive Huy had notice in his way of it's surrender and thereupon Strengthening the Garison of Liege Marched near Hespan and halted to get Intelligence of the Enemies further design and some hours after had notice they appeared from the high Grounds of St. Gertruden-Landen so that upon notice from the Scouts that it was the Vaunt-Guard of their Army all things were ordered to Receive them if they adventured to make any attempt which they soon after did and a terrible fight ensued which lasted from Sun-rising to Sun setting in this Battel the King was in all parts giving the necessary Orders and acted the part not only of a brave General but also of a Couragious Captain but in the Conclusion the Confederate Army being over-powered by Numbers the French being 80000 and the Confederate but 40000 they were forced to retire and left the French Masters of the Field tho' their loss was more than that of the Confederates Such another Encounter the French made in Savoy where Monsieur Catinat Commanded for France in which the Duke of Schomberg fighting Valiantly at the Head of his Battalion was slain and the Savoyards compelled to leave the field but the French notwithstanding this Success found themselves in so bad a Condition that being compelled to pass the Mountains very late for Recruits and Supplies of Necessaries abundance of them were lost in the Snow and deep Pits with Carriages and Cannon Tho' the French on these Occasions boasted of some Success by Land their Naval Forces since the last Overthrow were but slenderly Recruited and Admiral Russel having notice by a Swede there was a great Fleet in Conquet-Bay Laden with Corn and Naval Stores sent Capt. Pickard with another Man of War and a Fire-ship to get an account of them which struck such a Terror they supposing these Ships the Vaunt-Guard of our main Fleet that cutting their Cables they run on the Flats and Rocks into our Hands others sunk by the Shot so that there were computed about 50 Sail to have been Lost and soon after the Admiral had Orders to joyn the Spanish Fleet on the Coast of Catalonia to prevent the French Designs on that side which brought such a Terror on the French main Fleet under the Command of Monsieur Torville that he immediately got into Thoulon and there lay penn'd up not daring to stir till the English Fleet returned Being in those parts they brought a Terror on Argeirs and other Pyratical Governments so that they sent their Submissions and appeared very desirous to be at Peace with England However a sufficient Squadron being left in the narrow Seas Commanded by the Lord Berkly he attempted the French Coast
the Plew-Posts in Spring-Garden and struck with Horrour at so Stupendious a Wickedness acquainted the Earl of Portland with it intreating him to Discover it to the King which he did and Pendergrass was thereupon introduced by him to the King in his Closet where he opened the nature of the Conspiracy with the Circumstances but was a long time pressed to it before he would name the Conspirators which at last he did under Promise he should not be brought in for a Witness unless he would voluntarily do it This was seconded and confirmed by Monsieur De la Rue who was introduced to the King by Brigadier Lewson who gave in the Names of those he knew And much about the same time came Expresses from the Duke of Wirtemburg that the French Forces to the number of 22000 were drawn down to Callis Dunkirk and other Sea-ports where there lay about 500 Transport-ships and a great many Men of War to conduct them for their Landing in England with the first fair Wind with the late K. James at the head of them The Duke of Berwick had been in England and was returned with an account of what Preâarations their Friends were making here for their Reception which made the French King say he never knew a Design more fairly laid for assurance of Success and his Ministers bragged of it in Foreign Courts And indeed a great part of the Fleet did put to Sea before we had Notice of them but were driven back by contrary Winds and then lay expecting the Sign at ââver-Clifts that King William was Assassinated and it was given out in France that he was drawing towards his end and that they wondered that they heard not of his Death At other timer times it was said he was Kill'd a Hunting c. which makes it plain their intended Invasion depended chiefly on their intenced Assassination for K. William alive to face them at the Head of his victorious Troops that had often beat them at their own Doors they could have little Hopes to prevail but they on the other hand expected to find us all in Confusion as they gave it out we were if the Assassination had taken but were strangely startled when they saw Admiral Russel with about 60 Men of War blocking up their Harbours and threatning to burn them with his Fire-ships which constrained the Land-forces to Disimbark and at length with Shame Loâs and excessive Charge gave over their Enterprize which the French thought before so easy that they said K. James was not coming to invade England but to take the quiet possession of his Throne and the ãâã King had sent him large Bundles of plausible Declarations to be dispersed at his Landing with a Promise to supply him with more Troops as he saw Occaââoâ and Scotland as well as Eâgland was to have been invaded Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas divers of the Conspirators were Seized here and imprisonââ before the King put out his Proclamation as Charâock Bartram ârimeâ Anbury and others and the King going to the House of Peers and senââiâg for the Commons acquainted them with the Conspiracy and intended invasion Whereupon they Congratulated his Safety and declared their Abhorrance of the Villanous and Barbarous Design Solemnly Promising to assist him to the utmost against the Late King and Deâââ his Royal Person against all his Enemies and if he should come by a Violent Death which God forbid to Revenge it upon the Papists and soon after entred into an Association to the same Purpose as since all the Cities and Corporations c. in his Dominions have done Expresses were sent immediately away to Scotland and Ireland the Sea ports stopped and all Suspected Persons with their Horses and Arms secured and an Act passed for the continuing the sitting oâ the Parliament if the King should chance to Dye till the next Heir in Succession should come to the Crown to Dissolve it Thus things being pretty well secured and the King's Proclamation out for the Apprehending divers of the Conâpirators by Name and 1000l Reward with Pardon for such as should come in Voluntarily and make Discovery most of them that were known to be in it were Apprehended On the 11th of March Robert Charâock Edward King and Thomas Keys were Tryed at the Old-Bailey on a special ãâã and upon full Evidence being found Guilty they received Sentence as ââ Case or High-Treason and on the 18th were drawn to Tyburn and there Hang'd and Quartered Charnock and King boldly Confessing it in the Papers they left and Keys made no Denyal of it The next was Sir John Friend a Brewer in the Minories he took his Tryal for High-Treason at the Old-Bailey and being found Guilty as was also the next Day Sir William Parkyns both of them received Sentence as the fore-going and at their Execution owned the Fact in General and many Particulars and were nevertheless Absolved by three Non-jurant Parsons for which Presumption two of them were Committed Tryed and Fined The next that came on the Stage for this Horrid Conspiracy were Ambrose Rookwood Robert Lowick and Charles Cranburn who were Tryed at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster April 21 22. for High-Treason and the Fact being plain they were found Guilty and received Sentence and according to it they were Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Cramburn and Rookwood Confess'd what was Sworn against them and Lowick said he would willingly have assisted King James had he Landed The Heads and Quarters of these and the others Executed were set on the Gates of the City as terrible Examples of Offended Justice Two more were also brought to Justice on this Account viz. Mr. Peter Cook and Capt. Knightly the first found Guilty upon a long hearing and the latter Pleaded Guilty to the Indictment and both receiving Sentence have hitherto found sparing Mercy Things being at this pass the King having given Audience to the Venetian Ambassadors who passed through London in great State and dismissed them Prorogued the Parliament and leaving the management of Affairs in the hands of the Lords Justices went to the Army in Flanders And the Duke of Savoy contrary to the Mind of the Confederates clapped up a Peace with France No Memorable Transaction except a Battel between the Eâector of Saxony and the Turks in Hungary has hitherto happened as to this Campaign and Peace more than War is at present the common Discourse And thus have I brought down this History to the Year of our LORD 1696 being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his most Excellent Majesty King WILLIAM the Third whom God grant Long to Reign FINIS
A ROMANE A BRITAINE A SAXON A DANE A NORMAN THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND GIVING A True and Impartial Account of the most Considerable Transactions in CHURCH and STATE in PEACE and WAR during the Reigns of all the KINGS and QVEENS from the coming of Julius Caesar into Britain WITH An Account of all the Plots Conspiracies Insurrections and Rebellions LIKEWISE A Relation of the Wonderful Prodigies Monstrous Births Terrible Earth-Quakes Dreadful Sights in the Air Lamentable Famines Plagues Thunders Lightnings and Fires c. to the Year 1696. Being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King WILLIAM the III. TOGETHER With a particular Description of the Rarities In the several Counties of England and Wales With Exact MAPS of each County By JOHN SELLER Hydrographer to His Majesty LONDON Printed by Job and John How for John Gwillim against Crossby-Square in Bishopsgate-street 1696. MVNIFICENTIA REGIA 1715. GEORGIVS D.G. MAG Bâ ââ ET HIR âââ FD. J. Puââ sculp TO THE KING Great Sir MY Presumption in this Dedication would be Vnpardonable were it not that the Subject Matter of this Book is such as does particularly Entitle Your Majesty thereunto and makes it fit for a Prince to Patroniâe For it is not only the History of the Lives and Reigns of Your Majesty's Royal Predecessors but also a Description of Your Majesty's Kingdom of England and Principallity of Wales A Country that has been Rescu'd by Your Majesty out of the Jaws of those Devouring Monsters Popery and Slavery which were ready to swallow it up 'T was when the Nation lay Expos'd to the Will and Lust of her Insulting Ravishers that Your Majesty as the Guardian Angel of Great Britain came to her Timely Rescue Exposing Your Royal Person to the Danger of the Sea in the worst Season of the Year that You might Save It from impending Ruine And to whom could the History of England be better Dedicated than to a Prince who has done such Great Things for it Who has Rais'd it from that Oblivion to which the Supineness of the late Reigns had Reduc'd it to make the most considerable Figure of any Kingdom in Europe of which Your Majesty has also again made it the Arbiter Having Rais'd the Genius of the Nation by Your Own Heroick Example above what it was in our Third Edward or Fifth Henry's Days 'T is true indeed both those Princes obtain'd Great Victories over France but it was then Weak and Divided Void of all those Acquisitions that Lewis the 14th has Vnjustly Raâish'd from his Neighbours Whereas Your Majesty has Humbled France in the very Zenith of her Glory when she was Laying the Foundation of an Vniversal Monarchy But it would be too great a Boldness in so Weak a Pen to attempt any thing in Your Majesty's Just Praise when even the most Celebrated Writers must fall far short of Performing it as they ought That Your Majesty may long Live and Reign the Terrour of Your Enemies the Joy of Your Subjests and the Delight of all Mankind shall be the daily Prayer of Your Majesties most Humble Subject and Servant John Seller A New Mapp of ENGLAND and WALES By Iohn Seller THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND CHAP. I. Of its Situation and Fruitfulness The Manners Customs and Religion of the Antient Britains How it was first Inhabited Why call'd Britain and the Name of ENGLAND given to the Part we Inhabit Julius Caesar Invited over c. THIS Island of Great Britain containing at present Three Nations or People of different Languages is the largest in Europe and inferiour to none in the other parts of the World for Fertility Power good Government and Glory of it's Great Actions It is Situated in a healthful Climate between 51 and 58 Degrees of North Latitude Bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark on the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Ducalidonian Seas and on the South with France and Normandy ENGLAND the noblest and largest part of it and a distinct Kingdom of it self though at present all under One happy Monarch formerly sustained many Kings at once all of them commanding great Powers as will appear in the Series of History For in spaciousness it extends it self from North to South in the broadest place 386 Miles and from the Lands End in Cornwal to the Isle of Thanet in the East of Kent it stretches 340 Miles besides the spaciousness of the many Islands as Wight Man Anglesey and others of note which I shall have occasion to mention with every thing else that may give satisfaction to the Reader It is for Longitude placed between the Parallels of 14 and 16 Containing 25 Cities in which are Bishops Seas 'T is full of Parks Rivers and Forrests and abounding in plenty of Arable Ground Pleasant Pastures and Cattel throughout its 40 Counties and the like in the 13 Counties of Wales once a distinct Kingdom but now annexed to the English Diadem As to the time of the first Peopling this fruitful Land some will have it soon after the Floud by Sememothâus Sixth Son of Japhet others that it was Peopled by King Brutus in the 2887th Year of the Worlds Creation and that we are of Trojan Original So that this must be about 1231 Years after the Deluge when Elie was High-Priest But it is rather generally accepted though many other Stories without any good ground or much credit are mentioned That a Colony of some neighbouring Nation viz from Germany wafted over and finding it so pleasant a Soile gladly planted themselves in it But since this is doubtful and all we can gather concerning the Natives before the Landing of Julius Caesar is from Forreign Authors we must be content to pass these over As for the Name of this Island being call'd Britain it is held to come from the word Brith which signifies Painting or Staining their Skins and also going Naked which was the Custom of the Antient Britains They Raced their Skins drawing on them the Figures of Birds Beasts Flowers Suns Stars c. to distinguish their Dignity which like the slic'd Bark of a Tree growing wider as they grew up made them appear Terrible to their Enemies and indeed they were for the most part Fierce and Cruel especially those in the Northern parts who Traded not with the Civilized Gauls insomuch that they Sacrificed every Tenth Captive taken in the Wars among themselves to their Idols of which they had a great number called by the Names of Planets and in the form of divers living Creatures And to these senseless Stocks their Druid's or Magi whom they accounted their Wise Men and served in stead of Flamins and Priests compelled them to pay their Adoration Worshiping in Groves accounting Fortified Woods their Towns and Cities They wore about their Middles Iron Chains and to them both Men and Women had short Swords girded bearing in their Hands a Spear with a Brass Knob or Bell at the end of it to make a
by a Shepherd was Buried together with his Body at a place in Suffolk bearing from thence the Name of St. Edmunds-Bury he being soon after Cannonized a Saint and Martyr And with him ceased the East Angle Government there being no mention made of any more Kings that Governed it as a distinct Kingdom About the number of Years he Reigned Authors disagree and therefore I pass them over as uncertain and proceed to the last of the Seven Kingdoms viz. That of the West Saxons 7. The West Saxon Kingdom described with the Succession of its Kings and what things worthy of History happened during their respective Reigns Also by what means they at last Obtained the Sole Monarchy of England c. The Kingdom of the West Saxons contained the spacious and fertil Counties of Cornwal Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Barkshire Bounded on the North with Monmouthshire Gloucestershire Oxfordshire and Bristol-Channel on the East with Sussex Surry and part of Buckinghamshire on the South with the British-Ocean and part of the Channel on the West with the Ocean These Counties abound in plenty of Corn Wooll Tinn Fruits Cattle and profitable Manufactures having many Excellent Harbours opening advantageously to the Sea so that growing by such means Rich and Powerful they failed not at length to bring under the other Kingdoms Uniting them in a Sole Monarchy under Egbert their Seventeenth King as in the Series of this History will appear Cherdick a Valiant Captain of the Low Country Germans first laboured to form these Counties into a Kingdom but before he could do it he had Six Years Wars with the Britains in which he Fought a great Battel with Aurelius Ambrosius their King and was put to the Rout but upon his Death which happened Two Years after by Poison as has been related Vter-Pendragon Brother to Aurelius being Crowned King of the Britains he borrowed Forces of Hengist who were sent under the Leading of Ebusa and Octa his two Sons but these Forces were as the former overthrown by Vter-Pendragon and Hengists Sons were taken Prisoness but whilst the Victor neglected the Tents of Mars for the softer Alcove of Venus viz. To sport with the fair Igren Wife to the Duke of Cornwal on whom he got the Renouned Prince Arthur who Succeeded him as King over the Britains the Noble Captives Escaped and again advancing their Standard in the Field were Slain with most of their followers These bad beginnings so startled Cherdrick that he found little hopes to keep the footing he had gained but more Forces coming unexpectedly to his Aid he resolved to try another Battel with the Britains which was Fought near Salisbury wherein Fortune turning her Wheel about he put the British Army to the Foil killing Natauleon one of their great Captains and made so great a slaughter of his Enemies that for a time he had no Interruption in settling his Affairs but after the Death of Vter-Pendragon who Died of Poison put into a Well whereof he used to Drink every Morning King Arthur gave great disturbances to him in the settlement of his new acquired Kingdom much Blood being shed between them in divers Battels yet beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 501 he continued it Thirty Three Years Kenrick the Second King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 534. He was Son to Cherdick and a Mortal Enemy to the Britains In his Fathers time he Commanded a part of the Army and Fought several Battels and now coming to the Crown he raised all his Forces and gave the Britains two great Overthrows viz. One at Shrewsbury and the other at Banbury in Oxfordshire He Reigned Twenty Six Years Chewlin the Third King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 560. He Warred upon Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon slaying two of his chief Commanders and this is held to be the first Battel fought between Saxons and Saxons in England a little before which it remarkably happened at Feversham in Kent That a Tame Wolfe having brought forth Seven Male Young-ones they lived Quietly together till grown up and then never left Fighting till all but one were Destroyed as it afterward befell the Saxon Heptarchy This King gave a great Overthrow to the Britains at Bedford and Surprized Four of their Towns viz. Liganbury Ailsbury Bensington and Evisham He Fought another Battel with them at Deorham and Slew three of their Dukes viz. Farmnagill Coinmagill and Candigan Taking the Cities of Glocester Bath and Cirencester But not long after Encountering them at Wodensbridge his Army was defeated and Cuth his Eldest Son Slain for here a party of Saxons assisted the Britains under the Command of Cearlick his Nephew who had fled to them upon hard usage and fear of being made away by his unnatural Uncle He Reigned Thirty Three Years Cearlick the Fourth King of the West Savons gained the Kingdom by the Overthrow of his Uncle Chewlin which he gave him at Waines-Ditch in Wiltshire Anno Dom. 593 after which he found much trouble ere he could be settled in the Government but the Britains standing his Friends he continued his Reign Six Years Chelwolf began his Reign Anno Dom. 598 but scarce was he settled in the Throne ere the Britains Invaded his Territories making great Spoil but finding they were too weak to withstand him alone in process of time they drew the Scots and Picts to their assistance so that many bloody Battels were fought with various success In which Wars he Dyed in the 14th Year of his Reign leaving his Kingdom in much distress and perplexity He was the 5th King of the West Saxons Kingills the Sixth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 612. He had great Wars with the Britains and in a pitched Battel at Beandune he put Cudwan their King to the Rout Slaying above a Thousand of his Subjects and having concluded a Peace with Penda King of the Mercians he grievously Oppressed them so that for a long time they were confined to the Mountains and Fastnesses in the Country now called Wales However after he was Converted to the Christian Faith by Berinus he abated much of his Severity making Dorchester a Bishops See and placing that Religious Man in it He was the First Christian King of the West Saxons and Reigned Thirty One Years Kenwald the Seventh King of the West Saxons made great Wars upon the Britains Overthrowing King Cadwallo at a place called Pennum with incredible slaughter but growing Proud on the success and Quarreling with Penda King of Mercia whose Sister he had Married and in Contempt of him turned her away he was by him driven out of his Kingdom But upon Submitting and being Baptized by Bishop Felix he was restored to his Kingdom and thereby obliged by Penda to receive his Wife into Favour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 643 and Reigned Thirty One Years Eskwin the Eighth King of the West Saxons began his Reign
many Years Elbowed each other and discontented with a Part strugled who should become Masters of the Whole and Amass the Light Crowns into one more Ponderous we find Fortune or rather Providence gave this advantage to Egbert the Seventeenth King of the West Saxons though to attain it he waded as I may term it through a Sea of Blood in his Wars with the Welsh for so I must henceforth stile the poor remainders of the Antient British Race as taking upon them that Epithite and calling their Principality Wales after the Name the Saxons had many Years before given it also with the Cornishmen who Rebelled against him and were assisted with Supplies from Armorica or Britany in France in his Wars against Bernulf King of Mercia and his subduing the Kingdom of Kent and compelling the East South and Angle Saxons to submit to him In these Enterprizes which took him up for the most part the Nineteen Years he Reigned as Petty Monarch over the West Saxons about one Hundred Thousand are held to be Slain on all sides so that the Crown purchased at so large an expence of Lives being set on his Head as has been said at Winchester he commanded the Name of Saxons to be changed into that of Englishmen corresponding with the Name given to the Country they Inhabited That by this change they by degrees might forget the Distinctions they before were under and so firmly Unite as one Kingdom and People not tending to different but one and the same Interest This Egbert gaining through many difficulties what he long before aspired to made divers good Laws for the better Establishment of his new acquired Soveraignty so that the Welsh though they put not themselves under his Protection yet desirous to be at Peace sent him many Presents out of their divided Dominions of North and South Wales which Provincees for no more must I call them Kingdoms were Governed by Petty Princes After this Egbert made a Progress through the greatest part of England appointing Judges and other Magistrates to see the Laws put in Execution against Offenders and to redress the Wrongs and Grievances of such as were Oppressed being received every where with great respect and then thinking to lead a quiet Life he found by sad experience the Inconstancy of Fortune BARKSHIRE Having promised to give a Brief Description of England and its Rarities c. To make good my Word I conceive no better Method to do it in than placing the Counties and what I find in them worthy of Remark after the respective Reign of each Sole Monarch taking them Alphabetically and first of Barkshire Described c. THis County is bounded on the North with part of Oxfordshire and part of Buckinghamshire on the East with part of Middlesex and part of Surry on the South with Hampshire and partly on the West with Wiltshire It is Rich in Clothworking Fat Pasture abundance of Cattle rare Artificers Rivers stored with Fish of divers sorts particularly the River Kennet abounds with Trouts It Containes 140 Parishes 20 Hundreds 12 Market Towns and 3 Rivers of note and to the Parliament Abingdon sends one Member New Windsor two Reading two and Wallingford two besides two Knights of the Shire The Towns Memorable for things of Note are these viz. At Reading was Interred the Body of King Henry the First in a Collegiate Church of an Abby Founded by himself as also his Queen and Daughter Maud the Empress This place is also Memorable for the Birth of William Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Son of a Poor Clothier At Englesfield the Danes were defeated Wallingford is the Gallena of Ptolomy it was the Antient station of the Romans and chief City of the Atrebants Windsor was Builded by King Edward the Third who Instituted the most Noble Order of the Garter The Burying Place of Henry the Sixth Edward the Fourth Henry the Eighth and King Charles the First Eaton was Founded by King Henry the Sixth and Renouned as a Nursery for bringing up of Youth being one of the chiefest Free-Schools in England Sunning was an Episcopal See during the Residence of Eight Bishops which afterward was translated to Sherbourn and so to Salisbury where it now is fixed At Wantage King Alfred Sir Named the Scourge of the Danes was Born Waltham in the East of this County was an Antient station of the Romans as also was Sinodum in the North as appears by many Roman Coins and Medals of their Emperours Digged up there Newbury is Renowned for the Birth of Thomas Hide a famous Historian and Memorable for the Two great Battels between the King and Parliament in the late Civil War As for Castles that of Windsor in this County is accounted the most Exalted of all others having not only been the Burying Place but Pallace of divers Kings and much delighted in by King Charles the Second who made it his chosen place of Pleasure and Retirement being besides its delightful situation advanced on a high Hill arising with a gradual ascent which affords the pleasantest Prospect imaginable On the North side of this County the River Thames glides washing its verdant Banks in many Meanderings with its Silver Streams and out of it goes many Creeks which much advantages those parts of the County by cheap Water-Carriage from London and other places It is likewise Beautified with some Seats of the Nobility which give a good Prospect to Travelers viz. A Noble Seat of the Earl of Craven near Newbery the Earle of Clarendon's at Swallowfield Hurly belonging to John Late Lord Lovelace Barron of Hurley with a great many stately Houses belonging to the Gentry of the County so that it claimes an Equality with most of the English Counties The Reign of Ethelwolf the Second Sole Monarch of England c. EThelwolf the Eldest Son of Egbert upon his Fathers decease declined the Crown as being then Bishop of Winchester rather affecting a Religious Peaceable Life than to Incumber himself with the weighty Affairs of Government But the Nobles perceiving Troubles would arise if they altered the Succession used many cogent Arguments to perswade him to lay aside his Pall for a Crown but their Reasons prevailed not till they had dealt with his Clergy in a manner to constrain him to a compliance whereupon bestowing his Bishoprick on Swithin his Tutor he was solemnly Crowned at Winchester and settling the Civil Affairs as the times allowed finding part of his Dominions Oppressed by the Danes he raised great Forces and Encountered them in divers Battels and in a Bloody one at Ockly in Surry destroyed the greater part of their Army killing and taking Prisoners their chief Captains or Leaders which made the routed Danes that survived the Fatal day retired to the extremities of Kent where straightened for Food and roving to get it many of them were slain by the Country People This King Marryed Osburga a fair Lady Daughter to his Butler by whom he had Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelbred and Elfride
who Succeeded in the Kingdom successively but she Dying he took Judith Daughter to the King of France in a second Marriage by whom I do not find he had any Children In this Kings Reign the Picts were destroyed by Kenneth King of Scotland their chiefest City Camelon Stormed and as well Women and Children as Men who retired thither for safety put to the Sword in revenge of the Death of Alpine the King of Scots Father who being Overthrown by Burdus King of the Picts was taken Prisoner and had his Head struck off on a publick Scaffold and fixed on the Wall of Camelon but soon taken thence by some Scots who came thither in Pictish Habit and so implacable were the Scots in the utter extirpating this Nation which had long stood a boundary between them and the Southern parts of the Island being in a manner placed in the middle of it that having destroyed all the People that fell into their hands they slew their Cattel and suffered them to Rot on the Ground rooted up their Corn and layed their Towns and Villages level with the Ground not sparing Churches nor any Religious Houses pursuing the Flyers to their last Refuge viz. The strong Castle of Maidens now called Edenbourough Castle straightly Besieging them so that the Besieged having endured extream Famine and dispairing of relief desperately Sallying broke in the Night time through the Leagure and as many as escaped fled into England craving Aid of Ethelwolfs Lieutenants or Tributary Regents in Northumberland and other Northern Counties but little was done at this time by reason the King expected an Invasion by the Danes who were preparing in Denmark to succour their distressed Forces that kept but slender footing in England and others of the Picts who before had escaped the miserable desolation of their Country fled to Norway and Denmark and there in consideration of Refuge and present Support resigned their Interest in Pictland in their own and the Names of the rest of their Nation that survived the slaughter Which giving the Danes a colourable Title to make their Claim occasioned great calamities to England and Scotland to the subduing the former after a long continued War as in the sequel will appear Thus fell the Pictish Kingdom and was Annexed to Scotland Anno Dom. 839. After as some Historians Record they had continued under a Succession of Kings 1173 Years But its setting in Blood happened not without dreadful Omens and Prodigies at Camelon their chief City the Bishops Crosier Staff he Officiating at the Altar was reduced to Ashes by Lightning A dreadful Comet appeared and two Firey Armies were seen in the Air running at each other with Burning Spears a noise of Clashing of Arms and Neighing of Horses was affirmed to be heard in England and Pictland without any visibility of either which then were little minded but afterward looked on as the Forerunners of the dire calamities that ensued Upon this destruction of his Neighbours Kingdom Kenwolf was much perplexed because till now they stood as a Barricado to hinder the Incursion of the Scots whereupon he sent Ambassadors to Kenneth peaceably to suffer those of that Nation that were scattered in his and other Countries to return and Rebuild their Ruinated Towns but he would by no means harken to it which constrained him to Fortify the Towns in the Northern Marches and put strong Garisons into them And having a great love for the Clergy of whose number he had been he freed all Church-Lands from Tribute and Regal Services and being desirous to see Rome of whose Magnificence he had heard many wonderful Relations settling his Affairs in the best manner he could with divers of his Clergy and Nobility he Sailed thither and was Entertained with such Magnificence that in recompence of his Reception he confirmed Peter Pence to that See and after his Return gave Annually during his Life Three Hundred Marks to the Bishop of Rome This Ethelwolf Eldest Son to Egbert Began his Reign Anno Dom. 837 and Continued it Twenty Years Buckinghamshire Described c. BUckinghamshire is bounded with Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Oxfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex and Barkshire It abounds in Corn Pastures large Cattle and numerous Flocks of Sheep feeding on its gradual rising Hills and has in it divers stately Forrests and Chaces BUCKINGHAM SHIRE By J. Seller Chilton was the Birth-Place of the Learned Sr. George Crook a Famous Lawyer Amersham or Agmondisham took its Name from the Great Agmond and gave Birth to John Surnamed Amersham and divers other Learned Men. Windover gave Birth to Roger Surnamed Windover Historian to King Henry the Third Houton did the like to Roger Goad a very Learned Man of great Repute This Shire is divided into Eight Hundreds viz. those of Newport Buckingham Cotslow Ashendon Ailesbury Burnham Disborough and Stocke It sends Members to Parliament for Alesbury two Amersham or Agmondisham two Buckingham two Chipen-Wiccomb two Marlo two Wendover two and two Knights of the Shire It Contains One Hundred Eighty Five Parishes Eleven Market Towns and is Watered with Two considerable Rivers viz. The Thames on its South side and the River Ouse on which the Town of Buckingham is seated and in a manner is surrounded with it unless a little on the North side it lies open and over this River are three fair Stone Bridges Ailesbury is likewise very pleasantly situated in the midst of most delightful Meddows and Pastures and the Vale bearing its Name is accounted the most Fertil in Europe As for the Churches in the Principal Towns of this County they give a goodly Prospect to Travellers and are not only well Adorn'd and Fair without but very Beautiful within The Noblemens Seats of Note are Buckingham-House and Whadon lately belonging to George Duke of Buckingham Cheynes one of the Seats of William Duke of Bedford Latimers one of the Seats of William Duke of Devonshire Ashbridge part in Bucks and part in Hartfordshire one of the Seats of John Earl of Bridgwater Wing and Ethrop the Seats of the Earl of Carnarvan Laurendon one of the Seats of the Earl of Lichfield Overwinchendon-House one of the Seats of the Lord Wharton with divers stately Houses many Newly Erected belonging to the Gentry and that which makes it so well Inhabited is the Wholsomness of the Air which contributes to and continues a Healthful Constitution The Reign of Ethelbald the Third Sole Manarch of England EThelbald was Eldest Son to Ethelwolf by Osburga his first Queen and in his Fathers Lifetime held the Kingdom in a great measure as if he had been his Co-Partner His Valour the Danes experienced in divers Bloody Battels in many of which he Prevailed killing numbers with a mighty Faulchion he used in Fight which few but himself could wield yet after the toiles of War giving a little respite to his wearyed Body Judith his Stepmother came attended with divers Lady 's to Congratulate his Success in a very splendid Dress so that her Snow-white Breasts
attired like an Amazonian Queen she accompanied her Brother in his Wars and mainly assisted him by her Prowess and Counsells being a Lady of great Politicks in Martial Affairs In a Battel against the Welsh she took their Standard slew their General and took his Lady Prisoner whom she used very courteously She divers times chased the Danes and in Person Stormed the Town of Derby Garrisoned strongly by the Enemy she also beat them out of Tamworth Litchfield Watersbury Elderbury and Leicester which she Repaired and Fortified also the Town and Castle of Rincorne She Builded Brimsbury and lay'd a Bridge over the Severn and in a set Battel Overthrew the Yorkshire Forces that were in Rebellion against the King and so having manifested her self to the World as the Wonder of her Sex for Heroick Vertues and set an Illustrious Pattern for their Imitation She Dyed when she may be said to have Reigned Eight Years as Co-Partner with the King her Brother in the one and Fortieth Year of her Age and was Buryed at Gloucester in a Church which she and her Husband had Founded where a stately Monument was erected to her Memory And Henry of Huntington in his Works makes the following Encomium upon her Victorious Elfled ever famous Maid Whom weaker Men and Nature's self obey'd Nature your softer Limbs for Ease design'd But Heav'n inspir'd you with a Manly Mind You only Madam latest Times shall sing A glorious Queen and a triumphant King Farewel brave Soul Let Caesar now look down And yield thy Triumphs greater than his own The King upon the Death of his Heroick Sister âreatly lamented her loss and retired for a time from ââl Business but finding his Country yet Called for his âid he shook off his Melancholly and took a Progress ãâã those parts of his Kingdom he had not as yet well âuieted appointing Governours and making such âaws as might restrain the Oppression of his People ând settling his Dominions to the borders of Scotland ââe Welsh also submitted In this Kings Reign John Patrick Erigena a Britain ârote a Book about the Lords Supper shewing therein ââme Abuses the Roman Church had put upon that ââcrament and how it ought to be worthily Received ââcording to our Blessed Saviours Institution and sent ââto Rome which so offended the Pope whose Leaden âord by this time had so got the Ascendant over the âeel Ones of Princes that he wrote to the Clergy to âevail with the King that the Author might be deliââred into their hands to be Censured as they should ââe fit which with some reluctancy being granted ââough the Author proposed to prove it true by Scripture and gave many reasons for what he had done the Clergy in the Popes Name Condemned both him and his Book him as a Heretick and his Book as Erroneous and Heretical when being degraded and delivered over to the Secular Power he suffered Death in the Flames and is worthily accounted amongst the Martyrs This Edward was the Seventh Sole Monarch of England He Reigned Twenty Four Years and was Buryed at Winchester amongst his Royal Ancestors Remarks on Cumberland c. CUmberland extends to the extremity of England Northward as being Bounded that way by Scotland on the East with Northumberland and Westmoreland on the West by the Irish Sea and part of Scotland on the South with Lancashire It abounds in Hills but of no extraordinary height and produces great store of Cattle and a good sprinkling of Corn but not many Fruit Trees At Newlands are Copper-Mines at Refwick Black-Lead and Lapis Calaminaris It Contains one City viz. Carlisle which gives Title to a Bishop Fifty Eight Parishes Nine Market Towns and two remarkable Rivers It sends Members to Parliament six viz. Carlisle two Cockermouth two and two Knights of the Shire Carlisle the Metropolis of the County is very Antient held to be Built by Leil a British King long before the coming of Caesar and is by Ptolomy called Lugovallum it was a flourishing City under the Romans and upon their departure Demolished by the Picts and utterly ruined by the Danes but again Rebuilded by King William Rufus who Built there a strong Castle to prevent the Scots Incursions and by King Henry the first it was made a Bishops See it has been often taken by the Scots but wrested from them again It was Besieged in the late Civil War and made a CUMBERLAND strenuous Defence The other Places of Note are Cockermouth Werkinton Egremond Penroth Keswick and Bampton near which is to be seen part of the Ruins of the Picts Wall which reached from Sea to Sea at East and West At Salkeld in this County upon the River Eden is a Monumental Trophy of Victory consisting of 77 Stones called by the Inhabitants Long Megg and her Daughters one of which to wit that called Long Megg is 15 Foot high from the Ground and the rest 10 supposed to be placed in Remembrance of some Roman Victory The Nobilities Seats are Gray-stock Castle Grumb Castle belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Naywoth alias Noword Castle belonging to the Earl of Carlisle Kirkosward and de Acre Castles belonging to the Earl of Sussex Cockermouth Castle belonging to the Duke of Somerset Rose Castle the Bishops Seate The Reign of Ethelstan Eighth Sole Monarch of England EThelstan Eldest Son to Edward and Eighth Sole Monarch of England began his Reign Anno 925 and was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Adelme Arch Bishop of Canterbury and is held by some to be the first Anointed King of England but I suppose they mean the first Saxon King for it is held by Antient Writers to be used in the Coronation Ceremonies of divers British Kings a great while before Long he had not been Established in his Throne ere Elfried a Norman and one he trusted in weighty Affairs raised a Rebellion against him causing great commotions in the Kingdom but in the end he was taken and his Party dispersed upon which he utterly deny'd he was the occasion of it and laboured to lay it on others whereupon the King unwilling to search deep into the matter least he should create himself powerful Enemies among the Nobility was at that time contented that Elfred should go to Rome and purge himself of the fact upon Oath before the Pope But hereupon not freed from a Jealousie he conceived of Edwin his Brother whom Elfred had accused as a Person aspiring to the Throne he was made away privately with the Kings consent yet tho' too late being better informed he was so grieved that to attone as he conceived for guiltless Blood he caused the Assassines to be put to Death with exquisit Torments and Founded divers places dedicating them to Pious uses as St. Germans in Cornwal St. Petrocus at Bodmyn Plympton Priory Middleton and Michelney c. He Fortified Exeter and quelled the Cornishmen that Rebelled against him and upon Disorders committed by the Scots in the Northern Borders he Marched into that Kingdom gave them
a great Overthrow and made the whole Nation submit their Crown to him which he placed on the Head of Constantine upon his Submission saying It was more Honour to make a King than to be a King However he imposed a Tribute on the Kingdom and to shew the mightiness of his Strength made a vast dint in a Stone with his Sword at Dunbar causing it to be Recorded as a Mark of his Title to the Kingdom of Scotland but soon after Constantine repenting his Submission Leavyed Forces and Invaded England joyning with Anlafe the Dane but at a place called Bromingfield he was Overthrown for the English seeming to retire and the others supposing they had really done it Rallyed on the loose Troops of their Enemies and beat them down in great numbers obtaining a great Victory and Killing 20000 of their Enemies among which Willfert Prince of the Guentes and Howel Prince of North Wales and Seven Dukes who came to the assistance of the Scots Malcolm Heir apparent to Scotland was much Wounded whereupon King Ethelstan setled the English Borders beyond the Tweed taking in the three Southern Counties strongly Garrisoning Edenburg Castle and other Fortresses so that Constantine finding that he was unable to make further opposition betook himself to a Contemplative Life in the Abby of St. Andrews where in a short time after he Dyed Hereupon Ethelstane caused the Scots Nobles to Swear Fealty to him and injoyned them to pay him Yearly twenty Pounds in Gold three Hundred Pounds in Silver and 2500 Head of Cattle Hounds Hawks c. So that the Scots mourned many Years for their joyning with the Danes to Invade England And indeed a little before the fatal Battel a Fountain of Blood-Coloured Water issued out of the side of a Mountain in Galloway and Coloured divers Streams into which it run for many Miles and a Monster was Born with the Members of both Sexes and a Head like a Swine the Back of it full of Bristles and the Nailes like Claws another in Northumberland of the Male Sex having one Belly and two Thighs and Legs but divided upwards into two entire Bodies with two Heads and four Arms and when one Head Slept the other Waked when one Eat the other refused sustenance and always Quarelled the one with the other till one Dying its Stench Killed the other The County of DARBY By John Seller This Ethelstane caused the Bible to be Translated into English which is accounted the first time it ever was in our Language And when he had Reigned Fifteen Years he Dyed and was Buryed with much solemnity at Malmsbury where his Tomb remained some Hundreds of Years with an Epitaph in his praise as a good Prince and a great lover of Justice Remarks on Derbyshire c. THE County of Derby tho' somewhat Hilly in divers parts yet it is a very pleasant County watered with the River Derwent and other Rivers abounding with Fish It has in it a great number of Forrests and Parks stored with Deer It breeds an excellent sort of Large Cattle and abundance of Sheep It abounds also with various sorts of Stones as Free-Stone or durable Greet-Stone and in some places Lime-Stone which is useful both in Building and Husbandry for the Manuring of the Land Here is also Alabaster Crystal Black and Grey Marble which is not only very durable but Polishes well And for Mill-Stones and Whet-Stones here are several Quarries of them in the working whereof many Persons are Employed But the chiefest Commodity of this County is Lead which for the Goodness and Plenty thereof yields to no Place in the World And famous for this is the Peak of Derby-shire commonly called the Devil's Arse which is indeed the most remarkable thing in this County This Peak or Cave called the Devil's Arse is a great Rock or Castle upon an high Hill under which there is a Cave in the ground of a vast bigness the Name seemes to be taken from its having two Buttocks sticking out in form like a Mans bending to the Ground The Arch of the Rock is extream high and through it Drops of Water are continually falling Those that are minded to enter into it must have good store of Lights for going between two Rocks near together they loose the sight of Day which makes the place look dreadful and affrighting and perhaps gave rise to all those fabulous stories of Spirits and Phantoms which are reported of it the recital whereof is neither worth my Pains nor the Readers Eldenhole is another remarkabls place and one of the Wonders of the Peak It is distant two miles from Castleton a Town in the High-Peak The hole of this Cave is about 30 Yards long and 15 Yards broad on the Top descending directly down into the Earth which is much straitned when it cometh 40 Yards deep The Waters which trickle down from the Top thereof do congeal into Stone and hang like Isicles in the root of it Some are hollow within and grow Taper-wise very white and not unlike to Crystal But the greatest Wonder of the Peak is that of Buxton-Wells where nine Springs arise out of a Rock within the compass of eight or nine Yards eight of which are Warm and the ninth very Cold These Springs run from under a Square Building of Free-Stone and about 60 paces off receive another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with four flat Stones called St. Ann near unto which another cold Spring bubleth up These Springs have been found by daily Experience very good for the Stomach and Sinnews and very pleasant to bathe the Body in The wonderous Vertues whereof are thus describ'd Unto St. Ann the Fountain sacred is With Waters Hot and Cold its Springs do rise And in its Sulphur Veins there 's Med'cine lies Old Mens numb'd Joynts new Vigor here acquire In frozen Nerves this Water kindleth Fire Hither the Cripples halt some help to find Run hence and leave their Crutches here behind The Barren hither to be Fruitful come And without help of Spouse go Mothers home This County contains 106 Parishes and is divided into six Hundreds It has eight Market Towns and 13 Rivers It is Rich in Pasture and Memorable for many great Actions that have happened in it It sends Members to Parliament four viz. Derby two and two Knights of the Shire It is Bounded with Yorkshire Notinghamshire Cheshire Staffordshire and Leicestershire Derby the chief Town is commodiously situate on the Western Bank of the River Derwent and in the North-East end of it stands a Bridge of Free-Stone and upon the Bridge a fair Chappel called St. Mary's Chappel But besides Derwent which empties it self six Miles lower into the Trent this Town has the conveniency of a Brook rising Westward and running through it under nine several Bridges The Town is large and populous containing five Parish Churches of which that of All Saints is the fairest whose Tower-Steeple in which are eight Tuneable Bells was built at the only charge
he continued for a time in that station but using many Arts to win upon the Affections of the People finding he should meet with no great opposition in making him self King contrary to the Trust reposed in him he got to be Crowned at Kingston upon Thames in Surry But Wolstan Arch Bishop of York having laboured to oppose it and not being able to do it became his Enemy practising many underhand Treacheries against him siding with Anlafe the Dane who lurked with a few Forces in the Northern parts till Recruits came to him and then by the Bishops means the People of Northumberland Received him as their King A Mapp of DORSETSHIRE By Iohn Seller Hydrog reg at the west end of the Exchang London This King made St. Germans in Cornwal a Bishop See which was afterwards translated to Cridington by Canute King of the Danes Reigning Sole Monarch in England and at last it was settled at Exeter by Edward the Confessor where it now remaines He began his Reign Anno Dom. 946 and continued it Nine Years and was Buryed at Winchester and is accounted the Tenth Sole Monarch of England In his time a violent Earthquake happened throwing down many stately Buildings especially in the Northern parts Remarks on Dorsetshire c. DOrsetshire is very spacious and fertil breeding great numbers of Cattle in its rich Pastures and is much renowned for its Linnen and Woollen Manufactures It produces abundance of Corn and the Isle of Portland joyning as it were to it furnishes us with plenty of Free-Stone used in building Churches and other stately Fabricks in London c. It is Bounded with Wiltshire Somersetshire Hampshire Devonshire and the Channel It Containes 248 Parishes divided into 29 Hundreds 19 Market Towns and four Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Bridport 2 Croft-Castle 2 Dorchester 2 Lyme Regis 2 Melcom Regis 2 Pool 2 Shaston 2 Weymouth 2 Wareham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire It has in it a great many Parks stored with Venison Dorchester the chief Town in this Shire is of great Antiquity and was called by the Romans Durnovaria being of pleasant situation and its Buildings Rich and Populous Banbury was Antiently the Court of many West Saxon Kings at Cern Austin the Monk Preached up Christianity on his first Arrival in this shire and by the consent of the People destroyed their Idols and among the rest one called Hell Shaftsbury is famed for the History of the Prophecying Eagle probably a Man whose Name was Aquila in this place was Buryed the Body of Edward the Son of Edgar Murthered at the command of his Step-Mother in Corfe-Castle At Winbourn Minster Builded by Cuthburga Queen of Northumberland was Intered the Body of Ethelred Nor must we forget Lime in this County which is Memorable for the Landing of James late Duke of Monmouth there with about fourscore Gentlemen from Holland in the Year 1685 being the first Year of the late King James's Reign And tho' he brought so few along with him yet in a few Days after his Landing he was several Thousands strong and gave the Kings Forces a considerable Repulse at Philips-Norton and had he gain'd the Day at Sedgemore which in all probability he had done had he not been betray'd It is verily believed the greatest part of England had Declared for him so great an Aversion even at that time the Nation had against King James and Popery and I am sure they have no reason to be fonder of him since But Heaven had decreed our Deliverance to be the Work of another hand And therefore the unhappy Duke after his Defeat at Sedgmore was taken at Ringwood in Hampshire and from thence brought up to London and two days after Beheaded upon Tower-Hill whose Death was follow'd by abundance of barbarous Executions in this County so that there is hardly a Town in it but what can shew some Bloody Tokens of King James his Cruelty The Quarters of the poor Macerated Wretches having been placed upon Poles set up in the High-ways for many Miles together As we shall shew more at large when we come to King James's Reign Sherburn was Antiently an Episcopal See and so continued a long time in whose Cathedral were Interred the Body of the Kings Ethelbert and Ethelbald Maiden Castle about a Mile West of Dorchester and Badbury Castle appear by Coin and other Marks digg'd up and found about them to have been Garisons of the Romans if not builded by them The River Stowr in this County abounds with Tench of an extraordinary bigness In the Isle of Purbeck are veins of Marble tho' not continued but scattering here and there as Cambden observes yet run a great way under Ground Great store of the best Hemp growing in England is found between Bemister and Bridport and near Sturpain on the side of the River there is a plentiful production of Madder The Hills in Dorsetshire are few and those for the most part gradually rising some Crowned with pleasant Woods and others with Corn in its season and flocks of Sheep It is Beautified with several Seats of the Nobility viz. Hook Castle the Duke of Boltons Cranbourn-House the Earl of Salisburys Wimbourn St. Giles the Earle of Shaftsburys The Houses of the Gentry are likewise very stately as well in the Towns as seperate so that it may be ranked among the most delightful Counties of England The Reign of Edwye the Eleventh Sole Monarch of England EDwye Eldest Son to Edmund and Nephew to Edrid began his Reign Anno Dom. 955 finding Affairs in a forward settlement the Danes being for the most part expelled the Land or had turned their Forces on the Scots as knowing they had been foiled on this side and had but little hopes of fixing in the Southern parts of the Island He was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames and there is reported to have drawn a Lady near a kin to him and Married to a Nobleman aside after a Ball or Dancing bout as if he had some matter of importance to relate to her and behind the Cloth of Arras forced her to his Lust which being much complained of by the Nobility he proposed for the reparation of her Honour to take her to be his Wife but her Husband opposing it and willing to pass over the high Injury his Prince had done him rather than his Country should suffer by any publick Mischief that might ensue thereon from Popular Fury or Factions at Court the matter seemed hushed for a time but whether the King feared the private Revenge of an abused Husband or having an inclination to a free Enjoyment of the Lady I determine not but so it was ordered that he in conclusion caused the Husband to be Murthered and took his Lady now free from the bonds of Marriage by the untimely Death of her Husband not for a Wife as he had before proposed but for his Concubine which makes some Authors believe her Ambition to glitter so near a Throne tho'
Offended each other in Deed or Word Or since the Parish Clark said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve-Month and a Day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in Desire As when you joyn'd hands in holy Quire If to these Conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely Swear A Gammon of Bacon you shall receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our Custom at Dunmow well known Tho' the sport be ours the Bacon's your own And pursuant hereunto it appears upon Record That âichard Wright of Badsworth in Norfolk in the 23d âf Hen. 6. and Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex ân the 7th of Edward the 4th and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex in the 2d of Hen. 8. Took the aforesaid âath and demanded and received their Bacon Amongst the many Noble Seats in this County That âoyal House called Audley-End not far from Saffron-Walden justly claims the first place Built by Thomas âoward Earl of Suffolk Treasurer to King James the first âhen there is New-Hall a very Noble Seat of the late Duke of Albemarles and Bently belonging to the Earl of Oxford Copt-Hall a seat of the Earl of Dorcets Leez âriory a seat of the Earl of Manchester St. Osith a âat of the Earl Rivers Havering a seat of the Earl of âindseys Park-Hall a seat of the Earl of Angleseys âoulsham-Hall Moulsham Friery and Bishops-Hall âats of the Lord Fitz Walter Gosfield-Hall and Spring-âlace seats of the Lord Grey of Wark Easton-Lodg ând Achdon-Place seats of the Lord Maynard Tolsâury a seat of the Lord Howard of Escrick Lawfield-Hall the Lord Carews Seat It contains likewise many âurious Parks Chases Warrens and is stored with Fish âowl and all other Necessaries The Reign of Edward Thirteenth Sole Monarch of England and by some Sirnamed the Martyr EDward Eldest Son to Edgar began his Reign upon the Death of his Father Ann Dom. 975 he was Crowned at Kingston on Thames by Dunstan who had been promoted to the Bishoprick of Canterbury by his Father At his Accession to the Throne a terrible Blazing Star appeared which rising East by South continued visible twenty Nights ushering in a grievous Famin so that the poorer sort were compelled to Eat Grass Leaves and Bark of Trees whereupon many Thousands dyed yet it continued but a Year and then another mischief succeeded which had like to have put the Nation in confusion viz. Several Years past tho' the Popes Cannons prohibited it the Clergy had priviledg to Marry without any hinderance to them in performing their Functions and keeping their Spiritualities But Arch Bishop Dunstan who aimed at the Popedom or at least aspired to a Cardinals-Cap finding it was displeasing to the Roman See because the charge of Wives and Children must of necessity debar the Clergy from sending to Rome such liberal Contributions as otherways they might have done and so hinder Grist from coming to the Popes Mill he to ingratiate himself with that See stired up the Monks and Vnmarried Priests against those that had taken Wives and they dealing underhand with divers unthinking People Tumults arose thereon and much mischief was done For Duke Alfarus encouraging the Married Priests and their party the King with all his Authority had much ado to prevent a General Insurrection At last it was agreed That an Assembly of both Parties should meet and dispute the matter according to Scripture and Cannons and a place for that purpose was prepared in a large upper Room where Dunstan as chief Orator for the Monks had cunningly placed his Chair on a Post or Beam strongly fixed and as some Authors believe had contrived a Device by taking out some Pins to let the Floor fall upon a signal given so the press being very great after a hot Debate had been held for a while and nothing Agreed on Dunstan stamping and saying They shall fall before us c. The Floor first trembled as with the motion of an Earthquake and then fell down leaving nothing but Dunstan's Chair that had been surely seated aloft which being looked upon as and cryed up for a Miracle in the behalfe of the Monks they thereupon carried the day And the Married Priests were left at liberty to Enjoy their Wives but outed of their Benefices This is that Dustan of whom a story goes That to prevent Idleness he was working at the Goldsmiths Trade in a Cell near Glassenbury and whilst he was framing a Chalice of Gold the Devil in the shape of a Beautiful Woman appeared to him endeavouring to Tempt him to Lewdness but he by Inspiration knowing it to be a Fiend Transformed on a suddain as it was peeping over his Shoulder he catched it by the Nose with red hot Tongs and made the Devil rore so loud that all the People in the Village were Affrighted at the horrid Noise and thereupon the seeming Lady Vanished GLOCESTER SHIRE King Edward being thus made away was in a manner privately Buryed at Waltham and afterward his Body removed into the Monastery at Shaftsbury He Reigned 4 Years and was the 13th Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Gloucestershire c. GLoucestershire is made Fruitful by the River Severn Branching almost unto all parts of it it contains much Woodland and Gradual Hills Feeding great store of Tame Cattle and Venison It abounds in Corn Wool Cheese and Butter On the North it is bounded with Worcestershire and Warwickshire on the East with Oxfordshire and Wiltshire on the South with Somersetshire and part of the Severn on the West with Herefordshire and Monmouthshire It Contains one City a Bishops See viz Gloucester 30 Hundreds divided into 280 Parishes 27 Market Towns and 12 Rivers It sends members to Parliament 8 viz Cirencester 2 Gloucester 2 Teuksbury 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Gloucester City is the antient Gelenum of the Romans In it Robert Brother to the Empress Maud was kept Prisoner being taken in the War against King Stephen its Cathedral is of Excellent Architecture and much noted for its Whispering Place wherin the least sound may be distinctly heard at a considerable distance It was won from the Britains by Chewlin King of the West Saxons Anno Dom. 570 and in this City a Monastery of Nuns was Founded by Osrick a Saxon wherin 3 Queens of the Mercians were successively Prioresses In Alny-Isle a place near Gloucester was fought the Combate between Edmund Ironside the Saxon King and Canute the Dane and the division of the Kingdom therupon made as in his Reign will further apear Cirencester or Circester was an antient Station of the Romans in it was born the Learned Thomas Rutham some time Bishop of Durham The next places of note are Dursly Cam Todington Yate Westbury Sudly Castle Tewksbury in whose field the Fatal Battel was fought which ruined at that time the House of Lancaster Anno 1471 in which Prince Edward was slain Queen Margaret taken Prisoner and the
Bounded on the North with Barkshire on the East with Surry and Sussex on the South with the Channel and on the West with Wiltshire and Dorsetshire It Containes one City viz. Winchester which is a Bishops See and is divided into 39 Hundreds 253 Parishes 20 Market Towns and 4 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 26 viz. Knights of the Shire two Winchester Southampton Portsmouth Yarmouth Petersfield Newport Stockbridge Newton Christchurch Whitchurch HANT âHIRE Limington and Andover two each Note That to this County belongs the Isle of Wight As for Winchester the only City it was the Antient Venta-Belgarum of the Romans it is held to have been Founded by Rudhuidibras an Antient British King and was the Royal Seat and Place of Crowning the West Saxon Kings for many Reigns The Cathedral was Built by King Kenwolfe and made the Burying-Place of the Kings Henry the Third was Born in this City and many Men of great fame Southampton was Built out of the Ruins of the Antient Clausentium and after many Devastations Re-Edified in King Richard the Seconds time It 's said to take this latter Name from Hamo a Roman slain there viz. Hamo's Haven or Southampton At Basingstoke was Born John of Basingstoke the first English Author of a Greek Grammar and at Odiam William Lilly first Master of St. Paul's School Other Places in this County are Famous for the Birth of worthy Persons and memorable Transactions as Andover Warblington Hide Illchester Wickham Okely c. Besides the strength of Portsmouth and the Citadel to secure the Coast here are Hurt-Castle and Calshot-Castle standing as it were in the Sea and many other advantages for the protection of Shipping The Rocks afford Samphire and the White Cliffs abundance of Wild Thyme Marjorum and Rosemary The Seats of the Nobility are Basing-House Abbstone and Hackwood seats of the Duke of Boulton Farnborough Place a seat of the Earl of Anglesey Rockborn a seat of the Earl of Shaftsburys Wharlwell a seat of the Lord La Warrs Mottessant a seat of the Lord Sandys Breamore a seat of the Lord Brooks Wolvesey-House the seat of the Lord Bishop of the Diocess The Reign of Edmund who from his Valour and Hardiness was Sirnamed Ironside Fifteenth Sole Monarch of England EDmund Ironside began his Reign in a very troublesome time Anno Dom. 1016 when the Danes had possessed the greater part of the Kingdom taking on him the Crown rather out of pity to his bleeding Country than desire of Soveraignty and indeed did more than could be reasonably expected from him with such slender Forces and little Treasure for immediatly seting up his Standard to recover a great part of the Kingdom at a point to be lost he gave Canute Battel at Penham near Gillingham where he Overthrew him with much slaughter on both sides then he Fought him again with the like success at Sherestane in Worcestershire and likewise in a third Battel near that place notwithstanding Ederick the Traiterous Duke though seemingly siding with the King gave out in the midest of the Battel that the King was Slain upon which Defeat the Danes fled to London and were pursued by Edmund who drove them thence He discomfited them at Oteford in Kent and had clear'd the Kingdom of them but for Edrick's Treachery who in a sixth Battel the King Fought at Assendune near Roachfor in Essex commanding a part of the Kings Army he purposely fled upon which the Souldiers fell into Rout and Disorder so that the King was compelled for his safety to Retreat towards Gloucester whither his scattered Forces resorted to him and after a little Refreshment he caused other Troops to be raised and again displayed his Standard in the Field often Skirmishing with the Danes and slaying great numbers of them sending likewise a Challenge to Canute their King to end the War by single Combate who accepting it the two Kings in the sight of both Armies prepared on the day appointed viz. the 15th of July in a little Island called Olway made so by the winding of the Severn and about ten in the Morning the Combate began both of them having strong and large Swords They had not long continued it and given to each other mighty Blows but the Blood flowed plentifully from their Wounds and Edmund being a Prince of exceeding strength pressed so hard upon Canute that driving him to the Brink of the River he cryed out tho almost Breathless and Faint by effusion of Blood What need is there for us Noble King thus to endanger our Lives The Kingdom is large enough for us both If you will then consent to divide it between us our hands will be strengthened against our Enemies and we shall Live together in Peace and Vnity as Brothers King Edmund pausing hereupon a while considered That if he slew Canute the Danes might not stand to the Award of leaving the Land as having experienced their breach of Truce and that being mostly Pagans they held it but a small matter to break their Word or Oaths with Christians and that other Commanders might come over with fresh Forces to work new Troubles the Country being already very much wasted he at last concluded upon Canute's dropping his Sword in token he Submitted to shake Hands with him and embrace the offer Whereupon King Edmund having the first Lot chose the Southern Eastern and Western Counties as far as the Borders of Yorkshire and Canute then seemed to be contented with the Northern Counties as far as the Borders of Scotland Mutually Swearing to assist each other against all Invaders and for a time they lived Peaceably in Co-Partnership But Ederick the Traytorous Duke perceiving the Danes by reason of the swarms that came frequently from Denmark to be the stronger laboured to ingratiate himself with Canute tho' he held fair with Edmund who would not be perswaded by his faithful Counsellors to take him out of the way tho' his Treasons were apparent And thinking he should merit much of the Dane by destroying King Edmund at least That he should have some part of the Kingdom assigned him he one day as the King was disburdening Nature at the lower end of his Garden conveyed himself by a back way under the Vault and with Impious Hands Thrust a short Spear in at his Fundament and up his Body till it peirced his Heart so that giving an extraordinary Groan he instantly Dyed The Traytor not satisfied with this but desirous to carry some Testimonial of the Regicide with him crept up at the hole and with his Sword cut off the Kings Head and so privately made his Escape to Canute and at his approaching him cryed out Hail Sole Monarch of England Behold the Head of thy Go-Partner Canute inwardly detesting so base a Treachery yet outwardly dessembling his Resentment received it as a Grateful Present promising the Bringer to Advance him above all the Nobles of the English Nation and indeed in one sence he did it as he deserved for
Quarries of Stone It is divided into 4 Hundreds containing 79 Parishes 6 Market Towns and 2 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Huntington 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire HUNTINGTON SHIRE St. Ives is situate on the same stream with many other pleasant Towns and Villages Here was Born Roger thence Sirnamed St. Ives at Cunington the learned Antiquary Sr. Robert Cotton was Born And indeed this Shire has produced divers famous Men as Gregory of Huntington who Dyed 1610 Henry of Huntington Renowned for his History of England William Whittleseay Arch Deacon of Huntington William Ramsey a famous Poet and others In this County a Lake called Wittlesmeer in the Fairest Weather grows Tempestuous and Rages with Surges like the Sea but in a Storm is much Calmer The whole County is well Watered and boasts of many pleasant Vilages The Seats of the Nobility are Kimbolton-Castle a seat of the Earl of Manchester Hinchingbrook now a seat of the Earl of Sandwich but formerly the seat of Sir Oliver Cromwel Vncle to the late Oliver Cromwel called Protector of England who was a Native of this County Great Gidding a seat of the Lord Rockingham Leyghton a seat of the Earl of Arran There are likewise to be seen the Ruines of many stately Buildings as Castles Monasteries and the like It produces a sort of soft Stone much used in Building in those Parts and in diging for it rusty Armour Arms and Coin have been found denoting some great Battel Fought there in former times The Reign of Harrold Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England c. HArrold Sirnamed Harefoot from his Swiftness in Runing Leaping and Vaulting Succeeded his Father Crowned Anno Dom. 1036 He was Second Son to Canute and upon his coming to the Crown was much opposed by Goodwin Earl of Kent a Person very Powerful and a Politick Intreaguer of those times to make Factions c. But by his liberal Promises and present Renuntiation of Taxes he won the Londoners and Lords on the North side the Thames to his Party and having thus far prevailed he strengthened his Hand by liberally disposing of Gratuities to such as had done him any good offices he promoted the English to Places of Trust and Honour sending away more of the Danes than in doing which he could lay no greater obligation upon them For Time as yet had not worn out the Mortal Hatred between the two Nations He took off likewise a good part of the oppressing Tax called Dane-Gelt which the People not without much discontent had laboured under especially in the Northern Counties many Years And now Goodwin Earl of Kent perceiving his Clandestine Practices too weak to enfeeble the Kings Interest in his Subjects affections like cunning Statesman resolves to struggle no longer against this Tide of Fortune and Success and thereupon to make fair with him entered upon an Inhumane Project viz. To betray into his Hands Edward and Alfride Sons to Ethelred and Emma Born at Islip by Oxford but brought up the greater part of their time in Normandy and so cunningly this Traitor to his Country worked the design as knowing Harrold by any means was desirous to destroy them as being the rightful Heirs of the Saxon Line that by specious pretences of Advancement and Honour and how also herself might much profit by it and always stand high in the Kings favour he so dealt with Queen Emma that won by guilded Flatteries and not perceiving the Mortal Hook covered with the Tempting Bait she was easily perswaded to Write to them on this occasion which being seconded by Goodwin and the King the Innocent Princes were decoy'd over and brought as Lambs to the Slaughter for no sooner had the Dane got them in his power but contrary to his Promise he caused Alfride's Eyes to be put out and yet not so contented his Belly was opened with a Razor and one end of his Bowells being fastened to a Post he was forced about it by the pricking of sharp Ponyards till he had twisted them out and so dyed a miserable death which is held to have struck Goodwin the Author of this Mischief with so great a Remorse that he could neither Rest in the Day nor Sleep in the Night without hideous and fearful Dreams till he contributed to the Escape of Edward the other Brother who luckily got away a small time before he was to be Murthered by the like or other as cruel Torments by which his Brother fell a Sacrifice to Policy of State Harrold supposing he had been defeated of the second Game by the contrivance of Queen Emma for Goodwin Swore himself unknowing of any thing relating to it determined to put her to death but cooling a little on his rash Decree and considering she was near Allyed to a Powerful Prince his Neighbour and had been Wife to two Kings the last of them being his Father he changed the Sentence into one somewhat less severe For first he seized on all her Treasure and Possessions which were very considerable and that not being thought a sufficient Punishment he Banished her in a manner Naked so that under such a disgrace and in that poor condition being ashamed to go into Normandy her own Country she got leave to pass the Seas for Flanders where she was received Honourably by the Earl of that Province and there she continued for the most part till the Danish Succession failed and her Son Edward afterward called the Confessor was Invited over to take upon him the Crown Soon after this Harrold fell Sick at Oxford and there Dyed when he had Reigned Four Years He was the Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England and Second of the Danish Line and Reigned Four Years being first Buried at Westminster and after held to be removed to St. Clements Danes without Temple-Barr Remarks on Herefordshire c. HErefordshire is famed for abundance of Fruit-Trees producing great quantities of Cider and other wholsom Liquors Its Wooll is held to be the finest in England especially from those numerous flocks of Sheep that feed on the pleasant Hills about Lempster It also yields abundance of Cheese Butter Swine and all necessary Provisions for the support of Mans Life and has some considerable Forrests and Woods It is Bounded with Shropshire Worcestershire Glocestershire Monmouthshire Radnorshire and Brecknockshire It gives denomination to a Bishoprick the Diocess containing this County and part of Shropshire It is divided into 11 Hundreds containing 176 Parishes 8 Market-Towns and 13 Rivers and sends 8 Members to Parliament viz. Knights of the Shire 2 Hereford 2 Lempster 2 and Weobley 2. The City of Hereford is noted for its Cathedral of Antiââ but Curious Building it gave Birth to Adaââ D' HEREFORD SHIRE Orleton Bishop of Hereford and Roger of Hereford a learned Astrologian Bradwarden-Castle gave Birth to Thomas D' Bradwardine Arch Bishop of Canterbury also to John Guillim a famous Herald whose Systeme of Heraldry is accounted the best on that subject This County
Years before the birth of our Saviour it was given by Ethelbert the Saxon King of Kent to Austin the Monk and his Companions and in their time the Cathedral was Founded in which Eight Kings of Kent lie Buryed It suffered greatly by the Fury of the Danes especially in the Reign of Ethelred when 4200 of its Inhabitants were slain Here King John and his Queen Isabela were Crowned King Henry the Third and King Edward the First Married Edward the Black Prince Henry the Fourth and Queen Joan were Interred here and the Cathedral was long famous in Superstitious times for Pilgrimages made to visit the Shrine of St. Thomas of Becket a Popish Saint and Martyr slain at the Altar in the Reign of Henry the Second Rochester formerly called Roffchester as Builded by one Roff Lord thereof is a very pleasant City it was destroyed by the Danes and suffered much after Rebuilding by two dreadful Fires in the Reigns of King Henry the First and King Henry the Second it has in it many fair Churches and leading to it a curious Arched Bridge of Stone Maidstone a flourishing Town situate on the Medway for a meer Town is reputed the handsomest and best of Trade in all the County Feversham is of great Antiquity very pleasant and commodious in its situation in it King Stephen and Queen Maud were Buried Dover is renowned for its Castle said to be Built by Julius Caesar at his second Landing Queenborough Castle was Built by Edward the Third At Wye J. Kemp the learned Arch Bishop of Canterbury was Born Greenwich is famous for its Park and stately Palace and near it is the New Hospital founded for Decayed Merchants Horstead took its Name from Horsus one of the first Saxon Invaders Tunbridge is famous for its Medicinal Waters and the great resort to its Wells The Seats of the Nobility are Knobl belonging to the Earl of Dorset Penhurst to the Earl of Leicester Bocton-Malberb to the Earl of Chesterfield Hoathfield and Sylom to the Earl of Thanet Chenvening to the Earl of Sussex Lingstead Lodg to the Lord Tenham Leeds-Castle and Grenway-Court to the Lord Culpeper Alington-Castle and Maidstone Place to the Lord Astly Bromly-House the Bishop of Rochesters seat CHAP. X. The Saxons Re-Entry upon the failure of Succession in the Danes and what happened during the Reign of those Kings till the Conquest made of England by William the Norman Conqueror The Reign of Edward called the Confessor Nineteenth Sole Monarch of England EDward commonly stiled the Confessor being arrived in England was received by the People with great demonstrations of Joy and that Flattering Earl of Kent possessed him that he was the chief Instrument of his Restauration tho' indeed like a stanch Courtier he Sailed with all Winds usually adhering to him who was most powerful for certain it is that Leofrick the Earl of Chester moved the Estates on Edwards behalf urging his Right to the Crown as being the true Heir descended from the Antient Saxon Kings under whom the Nation had enjoyed its Rights and Priviledges without Infringments or Invasion He urged his Fathers Merits and the Battels he had Fought against the Danes in the defence of the English Nation and many other things So that they generally concuring with him Edward was Accepted and Crowned at Winchestor by Edsine Arch Bishop of Canterbury yet Goodwin so far insinuated into his favour that he took Edith his Daughter to Wife a very virtuous Lady much affecting a Religious Life so that Ingultus Abbot of Crowland who flourished in her time makes a large Encomium on her Learning Wisdom Humility Modesty and Behaviour In the beginning of this Kings Reign new Troubles arose the Danes Irish and Welsh in a manner all at once Invading the Kingdom doing great Mischief and destroying all before them with Fire and Sword but being met by Alfred the Martial Bishop of Worcester he gave them a great Overthrow In the fifth Year of his Reign there fell so great a Snow in January that covering the Ground and being of a prodigious deepness and continuing so till the middle of March much Cattle and Fowl perished for want of Food And the January following a terrible Earthquake happened causing the Ground to Open in divers places overthrowing many stately Buildings destroying much People and Cattle also at the same time such fearful Lightnings happened That the new sprung Corn was Burnt up whereupon a Dearth ensued and many dyed of Hunger Malcolm the true Heir to the Crown of Scotland flying into England to avoid the Fury of Mackbeth a Bloody Tyrant who had slain the King and Usurped the Kingdom Edward aided him with 10000 Men under the Leading of Syward Earl of Northumberland who by the Mothers side was Grandfather to the Young Prince who Besieging Mackbeth in his Castle of Dunsinane and he attempting to Escape was slain by Maskduff Sheriff of Fife whose Wife and Children Mackbeth had cruelly Murthered and soon after by the Valour of the English Malcolme Sirnamed Conmer was placed in the Scots Throne making a strict League with King Edward and paying him 10000 Marks for the charge of the War After this he Banished Goodwin and his five Sons for being Turbulent in the Government and endeavoring to raise Commotions but about two Years after they were Recalled and received into Favour and Goodwin being one day at Dinner with the King the Cupbearer coming in got a slip and had like to have spilt the Wine but as one Legg failed he recovered with the other and saved both the Wine and his Credit whereupon the Earl of Kent Jestingly said I see one Brother hath helped the other This suddainly puting the King in mind how by his Treachery his Brother Alfride was slain by Harrold the Dane In a heat replied And so would my Brother Alfride have helped me if Goodwin had not been The Earl perceiving the Kings anger which he little expected at that time thinking to excuse himself of so notorious a crime took a piece of Bread and wished it might Choak him if he were any ways concerned in Betraying the Prince into the hands of Harrold and accordingly his Wish was answered for putting it into his Mouth it stuck in his Throat so that it could not be got upwards nor downwards by which means he was Suffocated and Dyed before he could be well removed from the Table which I the rather remark That it may stand as a dreadful warning to all the Rash Imprecators or Evil Wishers of our Age being a Sin too often practised on trivial occasions and I am apt to fear frequently as false in many matters as this of the Earl of Kents which pulled down Gods immediate Judgment upon him and hastily snatched him out of the World The King soon after this falling into displeasure with Queen Emma his Mother abridged her of her Dowry and got her accused of Adultery when by the Law then called Ordealium she was Tryed in the following
manner Her Eyes were blinded with a thick Veil and nine Plowshares newly taken out of the Fire laid a Yard distance from each other in an even row over which she was to pass for her Purgation and if she did it without touching any of them she was to be adjudged Guiltless so being led by a Priest her Feet being bare she passed over missing every one of them which being done and she not knowing it Cryed out O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation she having her Eyes uncovered and perceiving she had passed the danger she fell on her Knees and gave thanks to God for her deliverance This King is likwise accounted to be over severe to his Virtuous Wife Edith who being wrongfully accused of Incontinency was Imprisoned and at last confined to a Religious Life in the Monastery of Wilton In this Kings Reign a Blazing Star appeared and was seen for seven Nights all over Europe The Abby of St. Peter's Westminster founded in a place formerly called the Isle of Thorns was Beautified and much Enlarged by him he removed the Bishops See from Credington in Devonshire to Exeter in the same County and was the first of our English Kings that is said to have The Gift conferred upon him of Curing the Disease called Struma now the Kings-Evil And the first also that sealed his Patents with that stately Seal now called The Kings Great Seal He remitted the remainder of the Tax called Dane Gelt moved to it as some say upon seeing a fearful Apparition dancing about a heap of Money in his Closet that had been exacted from the People under that denomination and towards the close of his Reign he collected all the useful Laws made by his Predecessors into one Body and out of them compiled a select Body of Law held at this day to be the Ground of our Common Law This Edward Seventh Son to Ethelred by Emma his Second Wife was Born at Islip in Oxfordshire and brought up to a great degree of Learning which he improved in his Banishment He began his Reign Anno Dom. 1042 and Reigned Twenty Years Six Months and Twenty Seven Days Dying the Fourth of January of a lingering Fever and was Buried in Westminster Abby where in the second Year of the Reign of the Late King James one of the Choristers searching his Tomb found a plain Golden Crucifix Inscribed to be this Kings and delivered it into the Hands of the said King James who esteemed it as an extraordinary Relick by reason this Edward after his Death was Canonized a Saint at Rome tho' for what Extraordinary Vertues I know not Remarks on the County Palatine of Lancaster c. LANCASHIRE by John Seller Lancaster the Shire Town is Commodiously Situate on the South Banks of the River Lon from whence it might probably take the Name of Loncaster and now by corruption Lancaster It has a Curious Bridge Leading to it and in it a famous Church It gave Title from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster to four Henries Kings of England viz 4th 5th 6th and 7th It is a place of great Antiquity Considerable Trade Pleasant Building and has a stately Castle Manchester the Antient Mancunium of the Romans was highly prized by them where the Ruins of their Forts and Works are found in the digging of Foundacions Ribchester taks it's Name from Rible a little Brook near Clithero it is a Town of great Antiquity and was a station of the Romans as appears by their Coins and Statues that have been digg'd up there and Tradition Reports it to have been once the Richest Town in Christendom Near Duglas a small Brook not far from the Town of Wiggan King Arthur put the Saxons to the Rout with great Slaughter at Belango the Saxons Fought a mortal Battel with each other Near Furness-Fells in this County is a standing Water accounted the greatest in England called Minander-Meer being 10 Miles in Length and all along paved at the bottom with flat Stone and it is said a Fish called a Chare is found here and in no other Waters Also the the River Lune near Cockerfand-Abby abounds with Trout Pike and some Salmon In this County is the Antiently Famous Castle called Hornby Castle Induring many Sieges There are scatered up and down in Lancashire divers Quarries of useful Stone for Building and some Mineralls upon its Hills are many pleasant Springs and Rivers and some places naturally abound with Wiââ Thime Marjorum and Cardus and many other Physical Herbs The Seats of the Nobility give a gratful Prospect to the Travellers and are Clithero Castle belonging to the late Duke of Albemarle Alburn Tower to the Earl of Derby Halfal to the Earl of Macclesfield Hornby Castle to the Lord Morley and Mount-Eagle Wood-acre Hall Ashton Hall and Shortân Hall to the Lord Gerard of Gerards Bromley Wigan the Bishop of Chesters Place besides divers Seats of the Gentry as famous in Prâspect for most part as those mentioned and to conclude it has produced many famous Men serviceable in Church and State The Reign of Harrold Twentieth Sole Monarch of England KIng Edward Dying Issueless tho' Edgar Etheling was the next Heir to the Crown yet Harrold Son to Goodwin Earl of Kent by his Wife Sitha Sister to Swain the Younger King of Denmark having Ingratiated himself into the Favour of the leading Nobility and promised great advantages to the Commons he so firmly bound them to him that he procured himself to be Proclaimed King beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 1065 and according to his promise he remitted to the People many grievous Taxes making them everywhere âasie in their stations and then was Crowned by Aldred Arch Bishop of York confirming the Laws of Edward the Confessor and adding some of his own and laboured to make his bad Title appear more fair in the Eyes of his Subjects by heaping on them what favours they desired as fearing a storm from the Norman Coast which soon after happened to his destruction the cause of it being reported by Historians three several ways 1. That Edward had consigned his Crown to William the Seventh Duke of Normandy to be holden by him after his Death 2. That Young Edgar the true Heir to whom he was great Unkle had resigned his Right to him as being too weak to contend for the possession 3. That Harrold in King Edwards life-time Hawking on the Coast of Sussex the Hawk when he was cast off flew into the Sea whereupon getting into a Skiff in hopes to recover him a Storm arose and he was driven on the Coast of Normandy where Landing and being taken Prisoner he was known and presented to the Duke who caused him to be kept with a strict Guard till such time as he Swore That if King Edward Dyed Issueless he would do his utmost endeavour to secure the Kingdom to the use and behoof of him the before named Duke and thereupon he procuring his Liberty returned to England However
County and produces store of large Cattle much Corn plenty of Fowl Fruits Fish wholsom Pastures c. It is Bounded by Darbyshire Notinghamshire Lincolnshire Rutlandshire Northamptonshire and Warwickshire It is divided into 6 Hundreds containing 192 Parishes 11 Market Towns and one noted River It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Leicester 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Leicester is pleasantly seated on the River Stower and well compacted being the County Town and a place of considerable Trade it is of great Antiquity as held to have been Builded by King Leir a famous British King for which cause it was antiently called Leir-Cester Lutterworth gave Birth to the famous John Wickliff who was Parson of it and the first English Reformer or Detector of the Errors in the Church of Rome frequently Writing and Disputing against them in the Reign of Edward the Third for which many snares were laid to take his Life by the Romish Clergy but he escaped them and Dyed a natural Death leaving the Candle of Truth Lighted by which John Huss Jerome of Prague Luther and others took their prospect of a happy Reformation that soon after ensued Bosworth is Memorable for the Battel fought near it on Redmore August 22 Anno Dom 1485 wherein Richard the Third was slain by the forces of Henry Earl of Richmond and his Crown found in a Hawthorn Bush which was placed on the Earles Head and he Proclaimed King which put an End to the fatal Feuds between the Houses of York and Lancaster In the West of this County once stood Clycester a famous City in the time of the Romans called by them Bennone though now nothing but a few Ruins of it remain The other Towns of note are Mountsorell Loughborough Waltham on the Woald Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bildsdon Lutterworth Harborough c. At Cole-Overton in the Hundred of West Goscot and other parts of this County great store of Pitcole is digg'd of a Bitumencus Nature very hard and fast about Luterworth are Allomey Veins and Welâs whose Waters strained through them are Medicinal and Petrefying so that it is said they turn Straw and Sticks into Stone by reason of their Exceeding Coldness near Belvoir-Castle on a R ck are found Snake Stones Cockle Stones and Star Stones The Seats of the Nobility are Pleasantly Situate viz Garerton one of the seats belonging to the Late Duke of Albemarle Burbage to the Earl of Kent Belvoir-Castle partly in Lincolnshire to the Earle of Rutland Ashby-de-in-Zouch Donington-Park to the Earl of Huntington Broadgate and Grooby to the Earl of Stamford Stanton-Bruânell to the Earle of Cardigan Ashby-Folville to the Lord Carrington Besides these there are iâ great many fine Houses of the Gentry standing sightly to the Fields and Roads some Parks and store of Ganie at all proper Seasons CHAP. XI An Account of the Norman Original How they came to be called Normans With a Description of the Dutchey of Normandy c. BEfore I enter upon the particulars of the Reign of William the First stiled the Conquerer I shall take the Method observed upon other Turns and Changes of Government viz. To give some Account of these New Invaders who at last laid claim to England by Conquest These Normans so called from the Northern Climes which first produced them were composed of Norwegians Swedes and Danes who finding their Country too straight for them betook them to the Seas to seek their Fortunes and practiced Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia and England on the latter of which they Landed under the Leading of Rollo their Duke and became very troublesom to the English Saxons between whom there was great Wars Till at last Rollo Dreaming He sat on the highest Hill in France and a pleasant Spring Issued out of a Rock on which he laid his Head running down in many Streams to which flocked a number of Birds with Red Brests to Drink the Water and then flew to fragrant Groves where they Sung so Melodiously that he was Ravished with their Notes and beneath this Hill he fancied there lay so pleasant a Country that the like he had never beheld in his Life When Waking much pleased with his Dream he sent for a Monk of Crowland accounted a great Diviner telling him his Dream and demanding the Interpretation of it who willing for his Countrys sake to be rid of such troublesom Guests told him at an adventure as is supposed That the Fates had Decreed him to settle his Dominions in one of the most pleasant Countries of France Which he gave creadit to and perceiving England much wasted and impoverished by a tedious War and a Famine that then raged having exacted some Aides and Supplies of Money he Transported his Forces over the Narrow Sea and Warred five Years with such Fury on the French that fearing to lose all Charles their King Sirnamed the Simple gave him his Daughter Gilla in Marriage and as her Dowry the Peaceable Possession of what they had already gained by the Sword which being modeled into a Dutchy they called Normandy which Name through all the changes of that Kingdom it bears to this day This Rollo was great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy Elder Brother to Robert Father to William the Conquerer As for a Brief Description of the Dukedom of Normandy once a Patrimonial Inheritance of the Kings of England and to which they now have a Right It is Bounded on the East with the Isles of France at the River Epta which passes by the City of Gisors on the West with Britany the Antient Armorica and a Collony of the Britains from which it is separated by the River Crenon Northward by the Sea on the South with the Country of Mayne and is divided by the River Seine Abundantly Rich in Merchandize through the commodiousness of its Havens and Rivers The People are the most Subtil Apt and Ingenious of all the French Provinces yet Affable Curteous and greatly enclined to Learning Their Manufacture consisting most in Wooll and Linnen Cloth the Country producing no Vines capable of making good Wine unless about Caen a very pleasant City The chief City is Roan very famous for many Sieges as in the Series of History will appear having an Arch Bishop whose Jurisdiction extendeth to the River Oyse and a Parliament till of late that the French King has assumed such a Despotick Power and much lessened its Authority was usually held here for the consulting the good of the Province The other Cities of note are Auranche Argences Alancon Falaise Fecham Newhaven or Haver-de-Grace St. Valery Sileaux Constance Manta St. Michale and divers Walled Towns to the number of Eighty So that when the French by reason of our Civil Dissentions wrested it from us they plucked one of the fairest Jewells out of the English Diadem which in time we may yet hope to regain especially under the Auspicious Reign of WILLIAM the Third our present Heroick and Victorious King The Reign of WILLIAM the First
Primate of England so that he and his Successors became subordinate to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury Philip King of France taking advantage of the Kings Absence from Normandy encouraged Robert to make himself Absolute Duke assisting him with Men and Money whereupon the King was again constrained to pass the Seas with a puissant Army being over-eager in laying waste the Country and harassing himself in War being over-heated he fell Sick and hearing that the French King should say in a Scoffing manner He lay a long time in Child-Bed he Replied in a rage That at his Vprising or Churching he would Light so many Candles in France as should Inflame the whole Country And indeed he made his words good for upon his recovery inraged that his Enemies had in his Sickness taken the advantage to waste his Territories he spoiled all the West parts of France Firing the City of Nantz Meux and a great number of Towns and Villages Inriching with part of the Spoil the Church of St. Stephen's in Normandy which was of his own Founding moreover bequeathing in his last Will his Crown and Regal Ornaments to it appointing his Body when he Dyed to be Buryed therein And for the Service done in this War he requited many of his Commanders who had signalized their Vallour with possessions in England to hold them of the Crown one of which Grants for the Antiquity and plain manner of Conveyance exempted from the tediousness now in use I think not amiss to recite viz. I William give to thee Norman Hunter here Who art to me both Leef and Dear The Hop and the Hoptown And all the Bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell and even Above the Earth to Heaven From me and mine To thee and thine As good and faire As ever they were To Witness that this is Sooth I bite the White Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery And my Young Son Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow When I come to Hunt upon Yarrow In the last Year of this Kings Reign there was found in the Province called Rose in Wales a Sepulcher of 14 Foot Long in which was Buried with much Treasure as the Custom of the Times then were Gawen one of King Arthurs Knights of his Round Table and Bones therein of an exceeding bigness And now as all Kings must come at last to the Grave the Life of this Restless Conquerer grew to a Period for going over to Quiet new Troubles in Normandy he had scarcely Accomplished it before he fell Sick of a Malignant Feaver at Caen in Normandy and after some Languishings Dyed and being a corpulent Man his Belly in a little time Burst and the Stench being great none but a few poor Monks would come near him nor was this all one Ascalinus Fitz Arthur a Norman Gentleman denyed him Burial in St. Stephen's Church saying He had Founded it on his Inheritance violently taken away that it stood upon the Floor of his Fathers House and the Body of no Despoiler should be covered in his Earth however Henry his Fourth Son giving a Hundred Pound Weight in Silver as a recompence he was there Interred but with little or no Ceremony so that he who in his Life time made Nations Tremble being Dead was little or nothing regarded This William the First was Son to Robert the Sixth Duke of Normandy begotten as is said on a Beautiful Damsel named Arlet the Daughter of a Tanner in Honour of whom a Town is called by her Name He began his Reign over England Anno Dom. 1066 on Saturday the Fourteenth of October and Reigned Twenty Years Ten Months and Twenty Six Days being the 21 Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Lincolnshire c. LIncolnshire by reason of its Fens and other Advantagious Pastures produces great numbers of small and large Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn abundance of Fish and Wild-Fowl much Wooll and Leather It is commodiously on the East Bounded with the German Ocean and part of Norfolk so that by reason of its Havens it has a great Trade and very much helped on the North by being Bounded with the River Humber and part of Yorkshire on the West with Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Leicestershire on the South with Northamptonshire and Cambridgshire It is divided into 30 Hundreds containing one City a Bishops See 630 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 9 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Boston 2 Grantham 2 Grimesby 2 Lincoln City 2 Stamford 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Lincoln was Antiently held to be one of the finest Cities of England being of great Antiquity and made by King Edward the Third the chief Mart for Lead Wooll and Leather here was also a great Battel Fought between Randolph Earl of Chester Robert Earl of Gloucester and King Stephen the latter being Overthrown and taken Prisoner It was Besieged by King Henry the Third and taken from the Barrons Wainfleet was the Birth Place of William Sirnamed thence Wainfleet who Flourished in the Reign of Henry the Sixth being Bishop of Winchester He Founded here a Free-School and Magdalen Colledge in Oxford LINCOLNE SHIRE In the Fens are found the Ategen or Godwitt also a foolish Bird called a Dottrell which Cambden says being Hunted thrusts its Head into a Bush and then thinks all is secure tho' the whole Body is seen and so in Moulting time he is easily taken The Reign of WILLIAM the Second Sirnamed Rufus WHen William the First Dyed his Eldest Son Robert was in Germany Negotiating his Fathers Affairs to draw in those Princes to assist him in making a Vigorous War on the French who were now become somewhat Formidable to their Neighbours so that by the favour of his Absence the Conquerers Last Will the furtherance of Lanfrank and Wolstane two Learned Prelates who had great Influence over the Commons and divers of the Nobles William Sirnamed Rufus from the Redness of his Hair or Face was after many hot debates among the Nobles Crowned King at Westminster by Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury on Sunday the 26th of September Anno Dom. 1087. This William was Younger Brother to Robert but being of a milder Temper and better affected to the English by reason he had in a manner been bred up amongst them and approved by them Robert found himself greatly Agreived that he had been put beside his Right in England tho' the Dutchy of Normandy was left entirely to him but the Title of Duke not agreeing with his great Spirit when he perceived he might have been a King had not loss of opportunity barr'd it he resolved nevertheless to tempt Fortune in a tryal for the regaining what was overslipt whereupon he raised a gallant Army composed of his own Subjects and Strangers Landing them in England with little or no Resistance not doing any damage to the English but being Encamped Commissioners were sent by King William to treat with him about an Accommodation for the preventing the effusion of
most of his Army whereupon Wales entirely submitted to the English Obedience These Troubles were scarce over when another Storm threatned from Normandy The Duke spurred on by Philip of France who promised to Aid him a second time prepared for England but the King having an Army on foot concluded it better to seat the War in another Country than in his own and therefore to prevent the Dukes making his Voyage Sailed to Normandy whose surprising Landing brought great fear on the Country however the King finding himself able with the Army he had to do no great matters and being destitute of Money to raise Forces Abroad bethought him of a Stratagem to do it viz. He sent to England many chief Officers to Levy such for the Wars as were of Ability and having Listed Citizens of London and others to the number of 30000 when they came to the Sea Shoar and most of them shewed an unwillingness to Embark as looking back to their Wives and Children from which many of them had been forced upon a pretended pressing urgency it was Proclaimed That such as would lay down Ten Shillings should be Discharged from the Service which most of them did with great Alacrity so that very few of them went With this Money King William underhand bought off Philip the French King from the Duke of Normandy's Interest which he perceiving agreed with his Brother by Ratifying again the former Conditions and the Christian Armies being on foot in most parts of Europe to rescue the Christians in the Holy Land from the Tyrany of the Turks and Sarazens Duke Robert to raise Forces and accompany them Pawned his Dutchey of Normandy to King William for 10000 Pounds and there did many Valiant Exploits insomuch that at the taking of Jerusalem he was first proffered to be made King of it and all the Country lying about it larger than what either David or Solomon possessed but he refused it in hopes of the Kingdom of England after his Brothers Death tho' he was disappointed of it and Dyed a deplorable Death which some have accounted as a Judgment for his having refused the profered Scepter of Jerusalem However on his refusal the Princes chose Godfry of Bulloin Earl of Flanders with which Choice he Joyfully complied but would not be Crowned as he said with a Crown of Gold where our Blessed Saviour for the Sins of Man and to procure his Redemption had some time worn a Crown of Thorns But nearer to My Purpose The King was no sooner returned out of Normandy but News was brought him the Welsh were again in Rebellion whereupon he Marched to Subdue them but returned without effecting it by reason of the violent Torrents occasioned by the Rain and their keeping among the Rocks and Fastnesses till his Army was tired out with Famine and other inconveniencies yet soon after they grew Quiet of themselves But scarce had he time to take breath ere a Rebellion broke out in the North whither he hasted with his Army gave the Rebells a great Overthrow and takeing some of the Ringleaders caused them to be put to Death but extended his Pardon to the common sort and Mowbray who encouraged them was committed to Windsor Castle where he continued a long while Prisoner And the Welsh growing again troublesom by wasting the English Borders and carrying away great spoils the King sent the Earls of Shrewsbury and Chester against them with a strong Power where after some Search and as secret Marchings as they could they found them making Merry in the Isle of Anglesey with the Plunder they had got from the English and falling upon them when they expected nothing less their Feasting was turned into Mourning for the greater part of them was Slain and those that were taken Prisoners mostly lost Feet Hands or Eyes or were put to worse Torments as a Terror to the rest that they should keep Quiet within their appointed limits The King thinking all would now be Quiet resolved to take his Ease and then forgeting how the English had faithfully stood by him and assisted him in his most dangerous undertakings he cast many of them out of Favour Office and Trust laying grievous Taxes on the Commonalty Selling for ready Money the best Promotions in Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs Prohibiting Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury to Assemble any Convocations or Synods for the well ordering the Clergy or for the Correcting such as did Offend without his Leave or License by which means he secretly filled his Coffers with Treasure and tho' the Good Arch Bishop laid before him the ill consequences and dangers of such Proceedings and not being minded he resolved to go for Rome and lay before Pope Vrban the Third the danger the Church was in by Misgovernment and to perswade him to Intercede with the King not to intermedle with Church-Affaires but leave them to his Clergy The King hearing of his Intention sent to command him not to go but the Old Man and his Retinue were before on their Journey however the King sent after him and Pillaged him near Dover of all his Wealth in hopes that would stay him but it did not For he went to Rome and made such Complaints that the Pope in a chafe would have Excomunicated the King But his Clergy Advised him that having already Excomunicated the Emperour Henry the Fourth The first Christian Prince that ever was under Excomunication therefore it would be convenient to see the Issue of that Sentence ere he proceeded any further For says a blunt Abbot your Holiness must have a care how you heat any more Irons before you see how those you have Heated already will be Quenched least they prove too Hot for your handling However many Letters and Verbal Messages were sent to the King Admonishing him not to meddle any more with the Investing of Bishops by giving them the Cross Ring and Pastoral Staff nor Prohibit the Assembling of the Convocations or Synods touching the Affairs of the Church nor the Execution of any Canons tho' they were by Regal Authority Confirmed To this the King Answered That he would still do as he Pleased and not lose so fair a Flower belonging to his Crown And being Reproved in the absence of Anselm by Ralph Bishop of Chichester he cast him into disgrace and Suspended many Churches in his Diocess causing the Revenues to be brought into his Exchequer so that the Clergy finding no Redress greatly Murmured but in vain till his humour was over and then he not only received the Bishop into his extraordinary Grace and Favour but Granted many Honourable Priviledges to his See yet he stood not long on these terms ere the Kings humour changing again he Banished him By these ways the King had Amassed great Sums part of which he laid out in Building viz. He made outward Walls and Bullwarks about the Tower of London on this side the Ditch which Ruined by Time and other Accidents are now Demolished tho' some of the
again It is famous for being the Prison of many Nobles as David King of Scots John King of France c. In it were Murthered Henry the Sixth the two Princes Edward the Fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York by Crookback Richard's Command within its Walls on the Green divers Nobles have been Beheaded as Robert Earl of Essex the Lady Jane Grey a little before Proclaimed Queen and the Lord Dudly her Husband and many others too numerous to mention Here Sr. Tho. Overbury was Poisoned and Arthur Capell the Noble Earl of Essex in King Charles the Seconds Reign was found Dead his Throat being Cut from Ear to Ear. In London one Gallus a Roman Leiutenant being Slain at a Brook it was called thence Galbrook now corruptly Wallbrook The famous Cathedral of St. Pauls was Founded by Sigebert King of the East-Angles and Ethelbert King of Kent where before a Temple was erected to Diana In the Reign of Edmund Ironside this City was closely Besieged by the Danes but the Siege soon raised by that Valiant King Anno 1133 the greater part of it was consumed by Fire In King Richard the Second's time was the great Rencounter in Smithfield with the Rebells Wat Tyler and Jack Straw where the former was killed by Sr. William Walworth the Valiant Lord Mayor For which the Dagger is added to the City Armes This City has had the Honour to Entertain several Kings and Princes King Stephen kept his Court where Crosby Square stands in Bishopsgate-street King Edward the Third in Cornhill where the Popes-Head-Tavern stands King John had his Chappel where the Stone-House on London-Bridge stands and kept his Court in Holy-Well-Lane by Shoreditch King Henry the Eighth held his Palace in Blackfriers and some times in Bridwell where he Lodged the Emperor Charles the Fifth It s Monument on Fish-street-Hill is very famous Erected in Memory of the dreadful Fire Anno Dom. 1666 Sept. the 2. which consumed 13000 Dwelling-Houses besides the Cathedral of St. Pauls and almost all the Churches Chappels Halls and other Publick Buildings To Islington near this City comes a pleasant Stream from a small Spring in Hartfordshire called Amwell and supplies it by Wooden Pipes with Water in abundance Bow Church in this City has a Steeple accounted the finest in Europe It s Exchange in Cornhill is Beautified with the Statues of the Kings and Queens and is a very stately Structure Its Conduits are curious Ornaments to the City as also are the Halls of the Companies and likewise St. Paul's Cathedral the East End and about a Third Part of it being Finished containing the most excellent Workmanship that ever was wrought in Stone Christ's Hospital St. Bartholomew's the Charter-House Bethlehem and Bridwell are very famous for Charity In Christ Church three Queens were Buryed viz. Margaret second Wife to Edward the First Isabell Wife to Edward the Second and Joan her Daughter Married to David King of Scots Westminster the second City standing in this County has the River of Thames pleasantly on the South side of it and has been the most constant Residence of the Kings and Queens of England till White-Hall was Builded by Cardinal Wolsey in the Reign of Henry the Eighth and yet claimes the Coronation and Burials of them in its stately Abby Built in a place once called The Isle of Thorns in Henry the Sevenths Chappel and has also given Birth to many great Princes This City is very Antient viz. about 1660 Years The Palaces of White-Hall and St. James are very Stately but the more to be noted for being the ordinary Residence of our Kings and Queens His Majesties Palace at Kensington is accounted one of the Pleasantest Seats in the County and extraordinary much delighted in by the late Queen Isleworth or Thistleworth is a Village pleasantly situate on the River Thames where Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwal had a stately Palace which was Burnt to the Ground by a Tumultuous Sally made by the London Mob Chealsea is pleasantly seated on the River and above all Beautified with its stately Colledge dedicated to the Vse and Relief of decay'd or disabled Souldiers and Officers Cambray-House beyond Islington is of very Antient Building first Founded by a Grocer and takes a fair Prospect of London Highgate and Hampstead are situate on pleasant Hills giving a large Prospect The next of note are Edger Acton Wilsdon Edmonton Tatnam Highcross Harow Drayton Hackney Newington Hampton famous for its stately Court which is one of the finest in England Built by the great Cardinal Wolsey The Seats of the Nobility in this City and County are many viz. Norfolk-House in Arundel Buildings belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Wallingford-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Buckinghams Albemarle-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Albemarle Soho-Square a seat of the late Duke of Monmouths Clarkenwell-House belonging to the late Duke of Newcastle Cleveland-House to the Dutchess of Cleveland Worcester-House to the Duke of Beaufort Highgate-House to the Duke of Northumberland Winchester-House to the Duke of Bolton Halifax-House to the Marquess of Halifax Kent-House to the Earl of Kent Bedford-House to the Duke of Bedford Thannet-House to the Earl of Thannet Leicester-House to the Earl of Leicester Cambray-House to the Earl of Northampton Warwick and Holland Houses to the Earl of Warwick and Holland Clare-House to the Earl of Clare Mulgrave-House to the Earl of Mulgrave Chealsey-House to the Earl of Lindsey St. Albans-House to the Earl of St. Albans Essex-House to the Earl of Essex Cardigan-House to the Earl of Cardigan Anglesey-House to the Earl of Anglesey Cravan-House to the Lord Cravan Ailesbury-House to the Earl of Ailesbury Burlington-House to the Earl of Burlington Powis-House to the Marquiss of Powis Macclesfield-House to the Earl of Macclesfield Conway-House to the Earl of Conway Campden-House to the Earl of Gainsborough Faulconberg-House to the Lord Viscount Faulconberg Mordant-House to the Lord Viscount Mordant of Avelon Sion-House to the Duke of Sommerset also Northumberland-House in the Strand Drayton to the Lord Paget Hackney-House to the Lord Brook Charterhouse-Close to the Lord Grey of Wark a House at Whitton to the Lord Culpeper Lord Berkley Barron of Stratton his seat Stratton-House alias Berkley-House in Pickadilly and at Twickenham a seat of the Lord Bennets Barron of Ossulston The Bishop of London's seats London-house and Fullham-house As for Medicinal Wells in this County there have been lately found out divers at Islington Hoxdon and other Places by many highly approved for the Cure of divers Distempers The Reign of HENRY the First Sirnamed for his great Learning Beau-Clark or Fine Schollar WHen King William the Second was unfortunately Slain Robert his Eldest Brother Fortunate in all his proceedings save only in his Succession to the Crown of England was Victoriously Warring in the Holy Land against the Turks and Sarazens but hearing of his Brothers Death he declined the Kingdom of Jerusalem to which
to rage in their destruction and consumed with Fire all the places in his March making such a desolation as had not been known in that Country for many hundred Years and by so mighty a Terror having Quieted these People he returned with great Spoil and was joyfully received at London Where Assembling the Nobles he desired a Supply to enable him to Marry his Daughter Maud to the Emperour Henry who had demanded her in Marriage which they granted and it was Leavied in the nature of a Tax on Lands being called Aid pur file Marrier and the same custom for the Marriage of the Eldest Daughters of the Kings of this Realm was a long time continued and may yet be practised on the like Emergency At the same time he devised and ordered the manner and fashion of a High Court of Parliament appointing it to consist of the Three Estates of which himself was the Head so that the Laws being made by the consent of all were highly pleasing to the People This happy beginning of a Good Constitution of Government was First Established at Salisbury in April Anno Dom. 1114 some Authors have it 1116. However it has proved by the continuance and great Improvement of Parliaments happy for England to this day seeing to those August Assemblies we owe the well founding of the best constituted Government it the World Soon after this the King hoping in some measure to repair the loss of his Children Drowned as has been recited Married Adilicia Daughter to Godfrey first Duke of Lovain And Pope Calixtus the Second came to him in Normandy in hopes to perswade him not to meddle in matters belonging to Ecclesiastical Affairs but neither Flattery Threats or Perswasion could work the King to a compliance with his desires and at this meeting two Youths Sons to the Earl of Mellent and Servants to the King Disputing with two of the Popes Cardinals with Logical Sylogisms so Nonplus'd them that they were compelled to own their Ignorance About Three Years after Pope Honorius the Second sent Cardinal Cremensis to certifie the abuses of the Married Clergy and to that purpose he made a long Oration in a large Assembly of Priests and others in praise of Chastity and dispraise of Vnlawful Lust for so he termed that of the Married Priests with their Wives but being narrowly watched by some of them he was by a Publick Officer taken in Bed the same Night with a common Strumpet and so loaden with Shame compelled to return to his Master without Success Yet the King preferring Thurston one of his Chaplains to the Arch Bishoprick of York the Proud Priest refused to Swear Obedience to the See of Canterbury which his Predecessors had both Sworn and performed and Appealing to Rome the King permited the Pope to dispense with his Obedience to that See but he proceeding further to give him the Investure of Arch Bishop by delivering him the Pall Ring and Cross the King was so much displeased that he prohibited his return but in the end the Popes Threatnings Menacing nothing but Curses Excomunications and Suspensions he had leave to Enjoy the Dignity of the Archiepiscopal See least evil affected Persons taking advantage of the Difference might raise Commotions to disturb the Quiet of the Kingdom And soon after one Arnold in a Divinity Lecture at Oxford for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates and Dissolute and Wicked Lives of the Priests was Assassinated and found Dead with near a Hundred Wounds in his Head Face and other Parts In the 27th Year of this Kings Reign Dyed the Emperour Henry the Fifth of Germany not leaving any Issue by Maud his Empress whereupon the King to strengthen his Interest against France Married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet Son and Heir Apparent to Foulk then Earl of Anjou by whom she had Issue Henry afterward King of England Geoffery and William This fair Ofspring enriched the King with the truest endowment of Content for that as he conceived he saw in them the long continuance of his Line in possessing the Crown of this Realm and to make it the more certain and sure to them he took three sollemn Oaths in the space of five Years of all the Nobility and chief Men of the Kingdom That with their best Advice and with the hazzard of their Goods Lands Lives and Fortunes they should Support and Maintain the Succession of his Daughter and her Heirs And so growing in Years he went over to Normandy to do the like there and settle his Affaires but Eating Lamprys at the Town of St. Dennis he Surfeited on them and after a short Sickness Dyed This King was accounted Wise Learned Mild and Just beyond most of his Predecessors more enclined to Peace than War extending his Bounty to such as merited it by Publick Service confining his Gifts within the limits of Thrift and Measure He was a gentle Friend but a stuborn Enemy He had several Children by his Concubins which he promoted to Honours and Places of Trust He Erected the two Bishopricks Ely and Carlisâle and Founded the Monastries of Shirbourn Circester the Priory at Dunstable and the Abby of Reading in Barkshire where he was Intered in a stately Tomb. He began his Reign Wednesday the First of August Anno Dom. 1100 and Reigned 35 Years 4 Months and 1 Day and was the 33d Sole Monarch of England In the 16th Year of his Reign great Thunders Lightenings and Hail happened in December doing much harm and the Moon for two Nights appeared of the Colour of Blood in October the same Year the Thames was so Dry that the People passed at the Tower and almost as far as the Bridge to the other side on Foot In the 33d Year of his Reign happened so great an Eclips of the Sun that at Noon-day the Stars plainly appeared and about two days after there was a terrible Earthquake and the same Year happened a dreadful Fire in London which consumed it from the West End of Cheapside to Aldgate and the nex Year Worcester and Rochester were Accidentally Burnt and a little before his Death a Blazing Star with a Bushy Tail of the colour of Blood appeared at South West Twelve Nights successively Remarks on Northamptonshire c. NOrthamptonshire is a pleasant Inland County held to be Situate in the Middle of the Kingdom being mostly Inclosure affording store of Corn Pease Fruits good Pasturs and larg Cattle Sheep and Foul in abundance divers Parks stored with Deer and much Fish It contains in it one City viz. Peterborough which is a Bishops See tho' Northampton is the Shire Town It is divided into 20 Hundreds and in them 326 Parishes 13 Market Towns and 5 Rivers It is Bounded with Cambridgshire Huntingtonshire Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Warwickshire Leicestershire and Lincolnshire sends Members to Parliament 9 viz. 2 Knights of the Shire Peterborough 2 Northampton 2 Brackley 2 Higham Ferries 1. NORTHAMTON SHIRE Oundle or Houndhill is famous for a Well wherein at certain
and thence to Norwich where it now remains The Seats of the Nobility are Dukes-Place belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Oxnead-Hall and Paston-Hall to the Earl of Yarmouth Reynam-Hall and Stif-key-Hall to the Lord Viscount Towusend Castle-Rising to the Duke of Norfolk Norwich-Palace and Ludham-Hall to the Bishop of the Diocess Besides divers sightly Houses of the Gentry The Reign of King HENRY the Second commonly called Henry Fitz-Empress AT the time when King Stephen Dyed Henry was in Normandy Besieging a strong Castle the French had a little before taken by Surprize and being advised by some Nobles about him to pass over for England and leave the Siege least another in his Absence might step into the Throne as before had happened he made a Reply full of Discretion and true Valour to this effect The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my Command in despight of those that dare to cross me most and so shall these Intruding Frenchmen ere I raise the Siege This resolution redoubled his honour among his Friends and brought fear on the Enemy for when they knew it they surrendered the Castle and submitted themselves to his Mercy and so having settled Affairs in that Dukedom with a Noble Train of Lords and Gentlemen he came for England where he was Crowned three times viz. By Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster Then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester He chose his Council of the Gravest Wisest and most Learned Peers and made Thomas of Becket Chancelour and appointed such Judges and Learned Men in the Laws by Industry and Labour to Refine them That the Common Laws were greatly Mended and Improved being rendred more tolerable and profitable to the People and after this he divided the Kingdom into six Circuits and for the better administration of Justice and Trying of Causes between Subject and Subject he appointed his Judges to go those Circuits twice a Year which Order yet continues He Banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those days by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinary Sparing and painful Industry procured much Wealth and Begger'd the Natives He Exiled many of the Nobles who contrary to their Duties had adhered to King Stephen and differing much from the Opinion of his Predecessor he affirmed that strong Castles and Forts maintained in the heart of the Kingdom did rather Animate Great Men upon any displeasure to Revolt than Fear them into Obedience whereupon he caused most of them to be Razed to the Ground and Seized such Mannors Lordships Possessions as his Predecessors had either Sold or Given from the Crown holding it to be the Duty of every Subject to refuse the Gift or Purchace of such things as do immediately concern the Honour and Maintenance of a King And the like he did in the Northern Parts where many Great Men Commanding as they list had wrought themselves and their Posterity into many Honours Castles Mannors which properly appertained to the Crown He likewise took into his hands the Provinces of Cumberland Northumberland and the Earldom of Huntingdon which David King of Scots and Henry his Son had received as a Gift from King Stephen to favour his Wars against the Empress However the King entered into Amity with Malcolm King of Scots upon the same Conditions as were Agreed on in Henry the Firsts time and in Token of his Subjection the Scot Offered his Bonnet and Saddle upon St. Peter's Altar at York And about this time Theobald Dying Becket was made Arch Bishop of Canterbury This King even in time of Peace had generally an Army on foot and rarely kept them Idle but would often Transport them to Normandy and there having Exercised them would bring them back again so that on all occasions they were found ready and expert Souldiers And now an advantage opened a way to the English for the Conquest of Ireland For the Eastern part along the Sea being possessed by Dormat-Mac-Mahur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him especially upon taking away the Queen of Morice King of Meath so that the Injured King Confederating with Roderick O Conor King of Connought they beat him out of his Country so that he fled for England and craved Aid of King Henry to Restore him which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Subjection was harkened to when the better to encourage the design the King for a Sum of Money obtained leave of Pope Adrian an Englishman then advanced to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to Establish the Christian Religion therein and bring it to an acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing for this Expedition new Troubles arose in Normandy which required his Presence to pacifie but he granted his Letters Patents by which he gave leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of Exile laid hold of this first Advantage and Solicited the Nobles but above all he promised Richard the Kings Son a Young Prince of a Warlike Spirit his Daughter a very Beautiful Young Lady and all his Countries after his Decease to be made over to them he likewise incited one Fitz Stephens who with a Band of Valiant Welshmen was the first that Landed and maintained his Ground with much Courage till the Prince and divers Nobles came over and with little trouble they seized the Town of Wexford which was given to Fitz Stephens for his part of the Charge of the War and soon after many of the petty Irish Kings being Overthrown Dormat was Restored and Dublin the chief City Submitting to him he put to Death by many Cruelties such of his Capital Enemies as he found there However the Prince went Conquering on and Subdued all before him of which King Henry had no sooner Notice but fearing this might flush Ambition and make him practice with his own Subjects for the Crown he speedily returned to England and sent Mandates Commanding all the English under great Penalties to return rallying the Nobility for suffering the Prince in his Absence to go over he was in this so far Obeyed that the Prince was left in Dublin with a small Train the Irish was not slow in taking the advantage of this Retreat and therefore Besieged him in that prime City with an Army of 30000 Men upon which he Sally'd with about 1500 and utterly Routed them taking great Spoils and so in obedience to the Kings commands returned for England where he surrendered into his Fathers hands all the Forts and Cities he had taken Anno 1172 the King Landed in Ireland with a Royal Army and found Dormar to be Dead however he brought such a Terror on the Country That Roderick and most of the other Princes submitted to him intreating him to take the Government on him as their Supream Lord which he Accepted with their Oaths of Fealty and at Christmas he made a Royal Feast in
the City of Dublin to the Petty Kings and most of the Nobility of the Kingdom and having settled the Civil and Ecclesiastical matters reforming Barbarities and Abuses he brought those that held out in Vlster under Subjection and so returned in Triumph to London Thus was Ireland made subject to the Crown of England and has so continued ever since being a very spacious Country viz. in Length 303 Miles in Breadth 112 in Circumference 948. And such was the over-fondness of this King to his Eldest Son Henry that he caused him and his Wife Margaret Daughter to Lewis the French King to be twice sollemnly Crowned in the presence of his People himself the second time for that day leaving the Title of King and serving as a Servitor at his Son's Table whereat the Bishop of Winchester whispering the Young Henry in the Ear said Never any King of England had such a Sewer at his Table Nay replied the Upstart my Father need not think it any dishonour to him as being but Royal Born on one side when I had both a King to my Father and a Queen to my Mother upon this the old King shook his Head and whispered the Bishop I find my Lord I have raised the Young Man too soon and too late repent of it And from that time he laboured to suppress the Pride of his Sons which made them often Rebel and Conspire with his Enemies drawing away the Hearts of many of his Subjects And altho' at one time Lewis the French King Henry Geoffry and John three of his Sons joyned with Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester and William King of Scots against him yet by plain Valour he Routed them and made his Sons and others that were his Subjects submit to his Pardon and soon after his Son Henry Dyed in the flower of his Age. But these were not all the Kings Troubles for he was grievously pestered with the stubbornness of Becket Arch Bishop of Canterbury For upon his first admittance to that See he refused to take the Oath for observation of the Articles administred to the Clergy which the rest of the Bishops had done because it was clearly against the Popes Authority and perceiving the King much displeased at his refusal he resolved to set the Pope on his Back and therefore privately withdrawing himself went to Rome where he made grievous complaints against the King and Clergy of England to Innocent the Second upon which the Pope gave him the Pall and appointed him Legate so upon his return he delivered up his Chancelorship and Great Seal not giving the King or any other an account why he did so These Jars between the King and the Arch Bishop imboldened the Inferiour Clergy to commit many Irregularities for which they received but small punishment for if they committed Murthers Manslaughters Fellonies or Robberie being Censured by Men of their own Profession they came off as they could wish so that the Common Wealth being sorely oppressed to Redress these Grievances the King found himself constrained to call a Parliament In which that Law made in King Stephens Reign which exempted the Authority of Temporal Judges from meddling with Ecclesiastical Affaires was Repealed and the Laws held in the Reign of Henry the First and other the Kings Predecessors Established and Inforced being commonly called Avitae Legis but he was stoutly opposed in his Proceedings by Becket and some other Bishops who unadvisedly made themselves partakers of his Faction but after many Conferences Disputes and Consultations all except Becket Ratified and Subscribed those newly revived Laws but he by no means would do it unless he might enter this Clause Salvo Ordine suo which words clearly Annihilated the Life and Substance of those Laws but the Bishops fearing the Kings Anger might turn to their great disadvantage at last prevailed with Becket to Swear to the said Laws but upon another Pet taken he recanted his Oath and was Absolved by the Pope Yet it nothing daunted the King but rather Irritated him to Seiz into his own hands all such Temporalities as he had formerly given to the Arch Bishop requiring him to render an Account of 30000 Marks he had Imbezilled during his being Chancellor But the Prelate in Answer to this boldly affirmed the King had freely given it to him as a free Gift and ought not in Honour or Conscience to demand it back Whereupon all the Moveables that appertained to him were Seized by the Kings express command At which Becket being disgusted he went to Rome without the Kings License and the King perceiving his drift was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors to represent his perversness and evil carriage and how reasonable things were he had imposed on him entreating the Pope to divest him of his Dignity and he would provide for him and his in another station But Becket had made such interest in the Court of Rome That the Pope not only refused it but with many Threatnings sent two Legates To Curse the King and all his People unless on their demands Becket were immediatly restored to his Dignity also to his Lands and Moveables that were Confiscated and in the mean while he commended him to the Abbot of Pontynack where he was kindly received and for a time entertained But upon the Kings Threats that unless he was Expelled the House that he would leave no Monk of that Order in France he was dismissed the King Commanding That without his License no Cardinal nor Legate should presume to set Footing in England and hereupon he Banished all Beckets Relations which much grieved him yet under-hand he was encouraged by Lewis the French King resolutely to persist in his Obstinacy whereupon King Henry to put an end to this difference that much disturbed the Kingdom Sailed to France and in the French Kings presence Conferred with the Arch Bishop making him an Offer That if he would take the Oath again and subscribe the Instrument Triparte as himself and the Arch Bishop of York had done he should be restored to his Favour and enjoy all that was formerly appertaining to him and his Friends recalled from Banishment but then he started another obstacle consenting to do it if it might be with an exception of salvo honore Dei This more angered the King than the former for by it he seemed to Object the Laws made tended to the dishonour of God and if so consequently were void in themselves bringing a scandal upon those that first Instituted them and also upon himself and the Parliament that had Revived them Whereupon Becket plainly told him That he feared none but God and since his Laws were derogatory to the Antient Customs and Priviledges of the Church and Robbed God of his Honour the King in seeking to Establish them should not have his will whilst he lived And upon this Disagreement the Pope sent two Legates to Interdict the Kingdom till Becket should be restored to his Dignity This so far
Nobles who little approved him the Pope appointed him his Legate in England and so early in the Spring the King with about 30000 Men at Arms with divers Nobles and Gentlemen set Sail and safely arrived in the Port of Messina in Sicily whither the King of France and some other Princes whose Territories lay near were got before him and there they renewed their Resolves not to Return till they had won Jerusalem but this fair Sunshine held not long on the French Kings part for his Army being exceeded by the Gallantry of the English he feared they would win from him the Glory of the Undertaking which his Flatterers had told him would redound totally to his Honour and the lasting Fame of the French Nation so that clouds of discontent appeared on his Brows and in a little time he gave free Reins to the former Displeasure that had been hushed for that King Richard had rejected his Sister and Married the Daughter of the King of Navar yet as well as he could he dissembled his displeasure seeing the Eyes of all Christendom were fixed on this Undertaking and without the apparent loss of his Honour he could not presently draw back when he was so far Engaged and so weighing Anchor they set forward with a fair Gale but at length a Storm arising the English Fleet was separated from the rest and driven on the Coast of the pleasant Island of Cyprus where some of his Ships putting in to Repair the Dammage they had received at Sea divers of their Marriners upon Landing were Slain by the King of the Island 's command who professed himself a Christian and well-wisher to this Undertaking this so much transported King Richard with a desire of chastizing such Inhospitality and Outrage that he Tack'd with his whole Fleet Landed his Army on the Island and easily Overthrew the King and took him Prisoner carrying him along with him Manacled in Silver Chaines to Syria and having secured the Island to his Interest by leaving a Governour and Garisons in the strong Forts he Sailed to Ptolomais which place he had News the Christians had Besieged and there was Joyfully received by many of the Princes in Leagre and having a day or two refreshed and comforted his Forces it was agreed that a general Assault should be given at the places where the Battering Rams and other forcible Engins had made Breaches in the Walls which was so hotly carried on that all their Out-works were won in a few Hours whereupon the Garison not expecting present Relief and fearing to be put to the Sword if the Town was taken by Storm Surrendered upon Condition they might safely depart thence This was agreed to upon their leaving 5000 Hostages till a great Sum of Money should be Paid and that Saladine the Turkish Sultan should deliver up such Prisoners as he had taken being Christians and so about 50000 Marched out many of them almost Starved the Famine having been extream among them No sooner they had vacated the City but the Duke of Austria's Standard bearer hasted to plant his Masters Colours on the Battelment as if by the sole Valour of the Austrian Arms the Place had been Taken which indeed had the least share in the Danger This so highly displeased King Richard that not staying to Command any other to do it he stept on the Wall and plucking down those Proud Colours trampled them under his Feet This put the Duke into a great chafe which made him afterward Confederate with Lewis the Second to hinder the progress of Affairs in the Holy Land that King Richard might not carry from them the Glory Yet he little regarded their Anger but pursuing this success gave Saladine Battel not far from this City and Overthrew him with incredible Slaughter having the execution of the Enemy for many Miles so that the Fields and Lanes were covered with their dead Bodies and thereupon he Marched his Army towards Jerusalem being chosen General by the Knights Templars and most of the Princes But in the midest of these great Designs Mallice thrust in to hinder the progress of the Christian Arms as to what was intended to be done for the Discontents of Lewis and the Duke of Austria more and more growing on them they at length shewed it so openly as to withdraw a great part of their Forces from the Army and the former pretending want of Health and the Climates not agreeing with him Sailed back to France carrying with him the best of his Forces and tho' before he went he gave his Oath at the earnest Request of the Popes Legate that he would not injure King Richards Territories neither in Normandy nor England yet soon after recalling the rest of his Forces with them went the Duke of Austria whom he had constituted his Lieutenant General in Syria He did make War against Normandy and strove to raise distractions in England but in the former Attempt he was mostly worsted yet at last swept away some small Towns and Castles and in the latter the Threatnings of the Popes Curse against all that should Rebel in England prevented his Intrigues in a great measure though some Commotions happened as you will hear in the sequel Notwithstanding thse Disappointments King Richard Wintered his Army in those Towns the Sultan had Ruinated in his Retreat to prevent their falling into the hands of the Christians Rebuilding and Fortifying those that were most commodious resolving in the Spring to lay Siege to Jerusalem but when his Forces were drawn into the Field he found by Sickness and many that had Deserted his Army was so wasted that he was not able to undertake it The Sultan fearing some such design had strongly Garisoned it with 30000 Men However the King Marched forward and took by the way divers Castles and Fortresses and 5000 Camels Laden with Riches from Egypt and Arabia which much Encouraged his Soldiers as being mostly distributed amongst them When one day Marching a Knight climbing up a high Hill came hastily to the King and told him from thence he might have a Prospect of Jerusalem which instead of Joy drew Tears from his Eyes when lifting up his Hands he passionately said O Lord I beseech thee let me not See thy Holy City since by the Disappointments I have met with I am not able to Deliver it out of the hands of the Enemies of thy Name and so turning aside he returned to Ptolomais where he found some new Adventurers Arrived when Marching cross the Country and Subduing all before him he brought such a Terrour upon the People that his very Name was frightful to them and as some Historians have it a long while after used to Bugbare their Children with it when they cry'd and were untoward viz. If you hold not your peace King Richard is coming and will have you which had such effects on them that they became still as Lambs However finding no more Forces were in Europe preparing to enable him to take Jerusalem
of it and his Arrival so terrified the French That they no sooner heard of his Landing but they raised the Siege Yet pursuing this Advantage he gave a mighty Army of them Battel near Gysors slaying great numbers and putting the rest to Flight he not having half their number Whereupon said he Not we but Dieu Et Mondroit that is God and our Right hath obtained this Victory After which the Kings of England made it their Motto under their Arms and so he prosecuting this Victory took many Towns But in the midest of his Success Pope Innocent the Third Interceding a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns but it held not long for the French giving new provocations he passed the Seas again with a powerful Army when closely Besieging the Castle of Challons near to Lymois as he took a private view he was descried and known by a common Soldier who Shooting at him with a square impoisoned Arrow out of a Steel Bow grievously Wounded him in the Arm yet he took the Castle by Storm and caused all he found therein to be Slain except the Person who wounded him who being brought before him and demanded how he durst shoot a Poisoned Arrow at the King The Fellow who expected he was reserved for Death by Cruel Torments seemed not at all daunted but boldly reply'd That in the War he had lest his Father and his Brother and was exceeding glad Fortune had so well assisted him in Revenging their Deaths Upon this resolute Answer the King much contrary to the expectation not only of the Prisoner but all the rest freely Pardoned him and caused him to be led out of the Army to avoid the violence of the Soldiers towards a Person who had Slain their King for indeed he Dyed within three days after viz. the 6th of April Anno Dom. 1199. This King Richard began his Reign Anno Dom. 1189 and Reigned 9 Years and 9 Months Dying in the 42 Year of his Age and was Buried at Font-Everard in Normandy at his Fathers Feet as himself had directed He was for his surpassing Valour called Ceur de Leon or Lions-Heart fearing no danger where the attempt was Honourable In his Reign the Jews were Banished out of Norwich St. Edmunds-Bury Stamford Lyn and York in which last place about 500 of them besides Women and Children entered a Tower of the Castle and when they found themselves hard pressed by a Siege they cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them on the Heads of the Besiegers then in a desperate mood Fired the Tower and Burnt themselves in it tho' Quarter was offered if they would have Surrendered NORTHUMBERLAND Remarks on the County of Northumberland THis Northern County the Extremity of England is Bounded on the North and part of the West with Scotland another part of the West with Cumberland on the South with part of Cumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham and on the East with the German Ocean In many Parts there is Plenty of good Corn it produces a profitable Breed of Cattle has in it many pleasant Gardens Orchards Parks Hare and Coney Warrens on the Western side it is somewhat incommoded with Hills but otherwise produces Plains Inclosures Meadows Woods tho' not many It contains 46 Parishes 5 Market Towns and is branched with 21 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. Berwick upon Tweed 2 Morpeth 2 New-Castle on Tine 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire This County was the Antient Northumbrian Kingdom of the Saxons and suffered much by lying so near the borders of Scotland especially when the Scots utterly destroy'd the Pictish Kingdom that had for some time screened them from the Incroachment of that Northern Nation At a Place called Otterburn a great Battle was Fought between the English and Scots Alnwick is of note for the mighty Victories the English gained over the Scots and being the usual Seat of the Northumbrian Kings and lately of many of the Noble Earls of Northumberland At Emildon Duns Sirnamed Scotus was Born a Person of great Wit and Subtilty in School Philosophy Berwick is pleasantly situate on the Tweed looking a great way from its lofty Turrets into both Kingdoms and is fam us for the many Sieges it has held out against the Scots in divers Kings Reigns Newcastle is pleasantly seated on the River Tine that branches all the Southern part of this County and produces store of Salmon as dos also the River Bywel Newcastle is also famous for furnishing the City of London with Coals brought thence by Sea and therefore commonly called Sea-Coals which Trade is also a great Nursery for Seamen Vpon the Hills near North-Tine tho' Boggy and full of Water there are great heaps of Stones which some take as a Monument of a Roman British or Saxon Victory The Seats of the Nobility are Ogle Castle Bothat Castle Heple Tower belonging to the Noble Family of the Duke of Newcastle Prudhoe Castle to the Duke of Summerset Wark Castle Chillingham Castle Dunstaburg Castle and Horton Castle to the Lord Grey of Wark Widerington Castle to the Lord Widerington and some Houses there are of the Gentry very Beautiful and pleasantly Situate especially on the East side with a curious Prospect to the Sea by means of whose Washing its Shoars this County receives great Benefit The Reign of King JOHN RICHARD the First Dying in Normandy and Buried at Font-Everard his Brother John Earl of Lancaster by his own Right and of Glocester in Right of his Wife having long aspired to the Crown thought this was his time to push hard for it although Arthur Plantaginet Son to Geoffery his Elder Brother was Living and so with what store of Treasure he had heaped up making many of the Nobles and some Leading Commoners of his Party he openly laid claim to the Soveraignty of England as his Undoubted Right and Arthur not being able to stand in competition with him this way as being little Interested in the English by reason he had for the most part been brought up beyond the Seas and consequently a Stranger to the greatest part of the Nation his Right was carried away in the current of the Peoples Inclinations and John was Crowned at Westminster by Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury at what time the Bishop to flatter the People and curry-favour with the King declared in an Oration That the Crown of England was meerly Arbitrary and Elective yet the more sober part of the Nobility knowing this Princes Haughty Temper Swore him to several Articles upon his admission to the Crown for Observing and Maintaining their Rights and Priviledges Antient Laws and Customs c. Scarcely was King John Settled in his Throne but Philip the French King underhand assisted by others sent for Arthur to his Court protesting a great deal of Love and tender Affection to him Informed him of his Title to the Crown of England Dutchy of Normandy and Britany animating him to raise his Spirits and use his
Courage for the recovery of what was so unjustly taken from him and that if he were destitute of Friends that might Advise and Council him he and his Nobles would willingly supply that defect if he wanted Gold or Silver the Sinews of War his Coffers should be open at his Service or if Valiant Men to Fight for him and his Right many Thousand Frenchmen would venture their Lives in his Quarrel These large and Friendly proffers which rather proceeded from the fear King Philip had of Englands Strength and Prosperity which might as indeed it afterwards fell out get the Ascendant over France than for any cordial Love he bore to the Young Prince keeping him only as a Trump Card in his hand to play his Game as he saw occasion However these great Proffers bore up his Spirits and he wholly cast himself on the French King for Protection submitting to be Governed and Ruled by him in all things Whereupon Forces were Levied in France and Normandy and hereupon some Strong Holds in the latter Revolted from King John and declared for Prince Arthur and others they won however the Kings Lieutenant raised Forces to oppose them so that between both Armies there happened divers Encounters with various success King John hearing of these stirs in Normandy thought there remained no time for delay but gathering a strong Power passed the Seas and joyning with his Lieutenant retook several Towns and Overthrew the Young Prince in a set Battel with great Slaughter of the French Nobles and others that were Engaged with him This made the French King begin to consider he had laid hold on the wrong end of the staff and from that time procured divers Prelates and some Princes as Mediators to bring on Foot a Treaty for a Peace which Treaty gave both sides a short breathing But the King of England's Proposals being no less than the restoring all the Towns taken a defraying of the charges of the War and that King Philip should put for ever Prince Arthur out of his Protection it came in the end to nothing so that the War renewed more furious than before by which means the poor Inhabitants of Normandy were grievously Oppressed by Burning Plundering and many other Miserie 's attendant on Hostilities However to repress these Outrages of the Invading French the King raised a yet greater Army but then found his Treasure was much too scanty to defray the charges of that Expedition of which the Nobles and Commons were no sooner made sensible but of their own accord they largely contributed rather than the Honour of the King and Kingdom should be Eclipsed by the Bravadoes of a dastardly Nation and then Landing with a gallant Army in Normandy the number of his Forces were daily augmented and not long after the two Armies met and sought a dreadful Battel in which the French were Overthrown and Prince Arthur with divers of the French Nobility taken Prisoners and sent to the Castle of Roan where as it was given out leaping from the Walls to make his Escape he leaped short fell into the Moat and there was Drowned Tho' Historians who have made Remarks What a few Steps there are between the Prisons and Graves of Princes tho' they do not charge the King with the knowledg of it are apt to conjecture that this Prince came to be Drowned by other means than his own attempt And indeed the King had all his Life afterward a very troublesome and turbulent Reign For now the Prince was Dead the French King began to pull off his Vizor laying claim to Normandy in his own Right and poured in such a number of Forces that King John's Treasure being spent he could not Levy in any reasonable time Soldiers sufficient to oppose their torrent so that wining many Towns and Castles the whole Dutchy to prevent the Ruin and Desolation threatened it Subjected it self to the French King after it had been disbranched from France about 319 Years And that the King should not be at leasure to Regain it the French King underhand found him work at home by making Pope Innocent the Third his Enemy For about this time Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury Dying the Monks of the Order of St. Augustin met in the Cathedral Church about Midnight without the Kings knowledg or License and chose one Reynold a Brother of their own to Succeed in the Archiepiscopal See taking of him an Oath to travel to Rome and procure his Investiture and receive the Pall from the Pope The King hearing of these unwarantable Proceedings was much displeased which so affrighted the Monks that to regain his Favour they proceeded to a second Election and chose John Grey a Person whom the King had nominated to them who was then Bishop of Norwich and so the Kings Anger being appeased he sent Ambassadors with his Letters to the Pope to Entreat him to Ratify the second Choice But in the mean time a new Schism or Faction appeared for the Suffragan because he was not made acquainted nor an Actor in either of the said two Elections made suit to the Pope to displace them both But he imitating the proud Example of many of his Predecessors who coveted to swim against the stream and seldom or never granted any Kings request least in some sort they should be thought to be yeilding neglected both their suits and confirmed Raynold who was first chosen But the King growing angry hereat the Monks to please him rather out of fear than complacency refused to receive into their Quire or own the Arch Bishop the Pope had Confirmed tho' he was of their own chusing giving this Reason for it viz. That it was done Clandestinly and at an unseasonable Time for as much as the choice was made in the Night when as it should have been done in the open Day and so they concluded it void and in it self a Nulity yet remained good till by Judicial Proceedings and a Sentence it were pronounced void so that this matter was Controverted at Rome where the Pope made specious shews and pretences of accomodating the matter to heal the Schisme so that it should be to the satisfaction of the King and Monks but his aim was otherwise for he designed to prefer a creature of his own viz. Stephen Langton a Man that would always move by his dictates having before been made Cardinal of Chrisogone and privatly he Wrote to the Monks to Choose him yet not so cunningly but the King had Notice of it and strictly charged them not to proceed to any other Election but the Popes Threats and Promises of Rewards dispensed with their Obedience to the Kings Commands so that they did Elect him their Arch Bishop This so exasperated the King that he commanded on severe Penalties no Appeals should be made to Rome and that from thence forth he would take a strict account of such of his Subjects that for any matter of Right or Justice should go to Rome to require it seeing he had
Prelates Noblemen and Judges sufficient to determine any Controversies within his Kingdom that should arise either in Church or Common-Weal and added That he would rather expose himself to Ten Thousand Deaths than basely as he was required make himself and his Kingdom Servil to the Popes Insolency and Peremptory Commands But on the other side the Pope threatened what he would do if he was not Obey'd in the Election of Langton and the calling home such Monks as had Fled through fear of the Kings displeasure on this last Election and because this was not speedily done he sent his Apostolical Command to the Prelates of London Ely Worcester c. to Interdict the Kingdom if the King continued in his obstinacy as he termed it This Commission was put in Execution and the Church-Doors were shut up for several Years Some Authors say Six there being neither Prayers Sermons Christenings nor Service at the Funerals of the Dead said or performed publickly during that time so that the People distinguished not the Sabbath from other days but followed their Work and Sports on it living More like Infidels than Christians such power over the Minds of besotted Men had the Popes Usurpation in those dark and ignorant Times For this Affront the King Banished divers Bishops and others of the Clergy whom he found most forward in complying with the Popes Interest seizing on their Temporalities resolving to take the like course with all such as consented to receive Promotions Investitures or Ecclesiastical Degrees from the Pope or new Arch Bishop or that went to Rome upon any occasion without his License or did attempt to put in Execution any Command from the Pope within his Kingdom The Pope no sooner heard of this but resolving not to cool on it he sent into England two Legates viz. Pandulph and Durant to perswade the King to be Reconciled to Langton and the other Bishops and Clergy that were under his Displeasure in England or in Banishment to restore them to their Lands Places and Goods that a good understanding might be renewed between the Pope and him This did but little please the King yet however fearing to be Accursed and Embroyl himself in new Troubles for in those days the Popes Leaden Sword did more mischief in Kingdoms than many of Steel People being for the most part infatuated to believe what he did he did by the immediate Will and Command of God whose Vicegerent he assumed to himself to be He promised to perform all but allowing the Election of Cardinal Langton protesting that if another might be chosen he would yet prefer him to some other Bishoprick but the Imperious Legates instead of gratifying the Kings Request pronounced the Popes Curse not only against the King but all Persons who should do him Service or give him Attendance or supply him with things Necessary Absolving his Subjects from their Allegiance Duties and Oaths requiring all Christian Princes to make War upon him as upon the Arch and Grand Enemy of the Church of God The Pope also published and pronounced against him Sentence of Deprivation and gave his Crown and his Kingdom to Philip the French King if by any secret Plot or open Violence and Hostility he could Expel or Murther him These were the Fruits of this pretended Holy un-Holy Father The Popes Religion and Government and this Usurping Arrogance was a badg of his unsufferable Pride in that he presumed to do what no Earthly Creature can do nor what a Christian ought to attempt to do against a Prince who is Gods Anointed and against such a one as the Almighty has placed in his Kingdom to Govern and Rule his People Yet this Fulmination did not much startle King John and being determined to know the minds of his People how they stood affected to him after this matter he took a sollemn Oath of them for the defence of his Person and the performance of faithful Service to him and then raising an Army he went to Scotland because that King encouraged by the Pope was practicing against him sheltering such as had taken part with the Pope and fled out of England But King Alexander the Second perceiving that Fire and Sword began to devour apace in his Country he with much Humility sent to King John to desire him to spare his People and their Substance and what in reason he required he would accord to and a Peace was made shortly between them he consenting to Banish all the Kings Enemies out of his Country This much disappointed Philip of France who was preparing to Invade England and had to that end provided a gallant Army but by the Wisdom Valour and Circumspection of King John and the Providence of God 300 of his Ships Laden with Corn and other Provisions and Necessaries for the Invasion were Surprized by our Ships which great disapointment put an end at that time to the Design and frustrated his vain hope But after all this the King finding so many Efforts and Treacheries against him that disparing to weather every one of them and pittying the sufferings of his People under these distractions he suddainly without the Advice of his Nobles or of his Privy Council degenerating from his former daring and boldness of Spirit fell on his Knees before the Legate acknowledging his Disobedience craving of him the Popes Pardon resigning with his Crown the possession of his Kingdom to the See of Rome which Crown the proud Prelate took and to put him into some pain in considering whether he should ever have it restored again kept it Four Days and then returned it to the use of him and his Heirs reserving 1000 Marks Yearly by way of Tribute to the See of Rome which was the main thing the Pope had aimed at and for which he had all the while made such a prodigious noise and bustle But this low and Un-Prince-like Submission to a paltry Priest threw him into another mischief which was the contempt and dislike of his Nobles so that for the most part they Revolted from him and entered upon a cruel and unnatural War which went very near to have enslaved this flourishing Island once more to Strangers for the Barons finding they were too weak to oppose the King they leaned on Philip of Frrnce proposing if he would assist them with sufficient Forces and Money they would soon Depose King John and place the Crown upon the Head of Lewis Son to Philip This News fired the Young Ambitious French Prince who had also something of a Martial Spirit that he never left urging his Father till he had furnished him out with an Army But the Pope having now closed with King John on his complaining of this to him he sent his strict command under many Threats to the French King not to suffer his Son to pass the Seas or in the least to molest a Kingdom under the Protection of the Holy See tho' as you have heard a little before himself had given it to them
Wallo the Popes Legate and divers Nobles and by reason of his Non-age was put under the Gaurdianship of Pembrook who was by the consent of the Peers made Protector of the Realm during his Minority who prudently mannaged Affairs administring the Laws and Justice uprightly to the People Yet long he had not been Crowned before Philip the French King thinking to take advantage of this change dealt underhand with some discontented Noblemen and supposing by this means he had made a strong Party in England Invaded the Kingdom yet the Protector was not idle in his Charge but Leavied a considerable Army and though the Welsh under Llewellin their Prince Rebelled to favour the proceedings of the French he made head against them and stopt their Ravages before a sufficient Force could come to his Camp from other parts and slew many of them in several Skirmishes tho' as yet they came to no considerable Battel And now Pope Innocent being Dead and Honorius seated in the Pontifical Chair taking part with King Henry not only confirmed the power of his Predecessors Apostolical Legate in England but by him Cursed Prince Lewis who came over with the French Forces to take possession of this Realm and all his Adherents Excommunicating and Depriving them of all the Priviledges of Christians which put a stop to their carreer So that Lewis made shew as if he only waited for a fit opportunity to depart yet in the mean time King Philip his Father with great care and cost prepared Reinforcements and Shiped them for England But Hugh d' Burg Master of the Cinque Ports Manned out a Fleet upon notice they were putting to Sea and after a sharp Engagement Sunk Burnt and Took the greatest part of the Enemys Ships which consisted of 150 Sail. This Exploit got him a good esteem among the People which he after lost by his Covetousness as will appear and much daunted the French that were already in England making Prince Lewis intreat the Popes Legate to Absolve him and for so much Money as would defray the charges of his Return he promised to deliver up all the Castles and Places he had in his possession which being done and agreed to he Sailed for France and left his Friends in England to shift for themselves many of which were forced into Banishment and some of the more forward taken and Executed but the greater Number Pardoned Upon this a Parliament was called and in it the Antient Saxon Laws of Edward the Confessor and divers other good Laws made by succeeding Kings were reduced into a smaller compass what seemed superfluous according to the Constitution of the then present Government being left out And this has continued a happiness to the Kingdom being that Magna Charta or Great Charter of England that set a Barrier between the Succeeding Kings and the People That the one should not encroach on the Subjects Rights but live as free born Subjects nor the other upon the Prerogative of the Crown but that the Scale should be in a due Ballance between Soveraign and Subject This was Ratified and Confirmed under the Great Seal to the high satisfaction of the Kingdom so that the Parliament Granting the King a considerable Tax the People paid it with all the alacrity immaginable with which Money he not only discharged his Debts but Levied a formidable Army who under the Leading of Richard the Kings Brother and divers Nobles won much back again that the French had taken during the Troubles in his Fathers Reign entirely reducing the Provinces of Poictiers and Gascoyne and returning with little loss of Men from this Glorious Enterprize were received with great Joy However the absence of the Army gave the French King leasure to practice his usual method of stiring up Differences and Dissentions in those places by which means he surprized some Towns but King Henry grown up and being a Prince of Courage and Valour resolved to go in Person whose Arrival so terrified the French that they Deserted divers Places without contending and those that yielded not on Summons were taken by Force The French King perceiving the Cowardize of his own Men and the Courage of the English after many losses began to study how he might come to a Peace and upon surrendering what he had possessed himself of it was concluded advantagiously enough to the Honour of King Henry and the English Nation But soon after this some discontented Nobles at home laboured to Alienate the minds of his Subjects from him upon a Jealousie that he reposed his greatest confidence in Strangers and made little account of their Fidelity but to prevent any Eruption that might give his Enemies abroad the advantage of Regaining what they had Lost and what cost him much Treasure in Recovering he Laboured to reconcile himself to them and sent away many Strangers from his Court with whom indeed it was much pestered and the English Nobles had some reason to complain of it by which means and some other Concessions a Reconcilement was made And now the Earl of Chester Dying without Issue Male leaving only Four Daughters the King Seized his Possessions and Annexed them to the Crown augmenting them with large additions of Yearly Revenues Regal Priviledges and Honours giving the Ladies in lieu of it divers Castles Lordships and Mannors which exceeded their own in true value and having Married Prince Edward his Son to Elianor Sister to the King of Spain he gave him the Province of Guyan and the Lordship of all Ireland and created him Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales which two latter Dignities he then annexed as inseparable Titles to the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England and so they at this day continue soon after this the King narrowly escaped being Murthered by an Oxford Scholar who about Midnight crept in at the Window of that Chamber where he usually Reposed but that Night he was absent at a Merri-making however the Student being found there with unusual Weapons about him upon Examination Confessed he came with the before-mentioned Design but would not acknowledg what âduced him to it or any that we âupposed to have ât him on work whereupon his Aâms and Legs beâg fastened to Four Horses he was by them Drawn ãâã pieces The French King as you have heard entering into Peace with England nothing more at length appeared ãâã it but that he did it to gaine time so that he might âcome Stronger for Philip being Dead Lewis the âinth his Son broke out into open Hostilities without âving any warning his Father before his death having âade preparations to enable him to do it wasting in âuyan all the places where he came This roused King Henry and made him Levy great Forces with a purpose âo drive him out not only of that but all Normandy and âuch other places as he had a right claim to and were âetained from him by the French So that passing over ânto France many fierce Encounters passed between âhem
out but it being more terrible abroad they fell on their Faces and lay as astonished near an Hour There also appeared as it were four Suns besides the Natural one which had a great Circle of a Chrystal colour and after St. Martins Day it began to Thunder very horribly which lasted 15 Days The Jews at Norwich Stole a Boy and Circumcised him intending to have Crucified him at Easter for which divers were Convicted and put to sundry Punishments In the 20th Year of the King the Thames over-flowed its Banks so that Boats were Rowed in the great Palace-Yard at Westminster and also in the midst of the Hall Pope Gregory the Ninth wrote to the King That he might have safe conduct to come and see England but was denied in consideration it was thought he did it with an intent to Embroyl the Kingdom In the 23d of the King a great Plague happened consuming 500000 People of all Degrees and Newcastle upon Tyne with the Bridge was consumed by Fire and two Years after the Sea Flowed without any considerable Ebb and in the Night by the fighting of the Waves seemed all on Fire making a terrible Noise which was heard many Miles On the 43d of the Kings Reign a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privy on a Saturday and refused to be helped out because it was on their Sabbath whereupon the Duke of Glocester Lord Lieutenant of the County made him keep our Sunday there when on Monday Morning he was found Dead And about this time Dr. Sternham wrote That the Sufficiency of Holy Scripture without Tradition or Innovation were only necessary to Salvation and Roger Bacon a famous Divine of Oxford was Imprisoned and severely Persecuted by the Pope for Preaching against the Absurdities of the Church of Rome And John De Warren Earl of Surry Killed Alen de La Zouch in Westminster-Hall on an Affront given by a Jostle Seven Hundred Jews were Slain in London upon an Insurrection because one of them had extorted more than two Pence per Week for 20 s. Interest Anno Dom. 1269 the Thames was so hard Frozen that Men Cattle and Wains passed over on the Ice a considerable time Anno Dom. 1271 the Steeple of Bow-Church in Cheapside London fell and in the fall oppressed many People which were slain in its Ruines Remarks on the County of Rutland RUtlandshire or the County of Rutland is commodiously Situate among divers fertil Shires or Counties being Bounded with Lincolnshire Northamptonshire and Leicestershire being very neatly compacted producing some considerable sprinkling of Corn but more Pasture being for the most part Plain without Hills and few Woods in it that are considerable also Cattle Wooll Fish Fowl and many other things worthy to Rank it with the rest It is divided into 5 Hundreds containing 48 Parishes 2 Market Towns and is a third part bordered by the River Weland branching into many pleasant Streams over which is laid a very advantageous Bridge leading to Barrowden It sends Members to Parliament Two Knights of the Shire RUTLAND By I. Seller Whitwell is memorable for another Overthrow given the Danes Scyten is noted for a Speaking Eagle in the Reign of King Harrold the Last which Prophesied the coming in of the Normans and the Subjection of the Kingdom by them The other chief Places are Whissenden Ashwell Barrow Market-Overton c. The Seats of the Nobility are Exton Brook and North Luffingham belonging to the Earl of Ganesborough The Gentry have some Seats here but not very many of any note In this County were formerly many Castles but Demolished in the several Civil Wars and other Commotions that have happened in this Kingdom the Ruinous Foundations of many yet being upon digging broke up I find but Four Parks in this County and some of them but slenderly stored with Deer yet there are many Hares some Coneys and pleasant Fishing and Fowling at the proper Seasons The Reign of King EDWARD the First since the Norman Conquest KING Edward had News of his Fathers Death when he was Warring in the Holy Land which made âim settle the Affairs of the Eastern Christians on such Terms as could be so suddainly obtained very advanâagious for them and so returned home to take care âf his more near concerns his Queen in this Voyage âeing brought to bed of a Daughter Upon his Arrival he was Received by the Nobles ând Commons with many demonstrations of Joy and ân a few Days he and his Queen were Crowned by Robert Killwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury and having disposed of divers Trusts and places of Honour giving some Largesses to ingratiate himself with the Higher and Lower Degrees he called a Parliament at Westminster and thither Llewellin Prince of Wales was Summoned to do Homage for the Principality he held But he taking disgust because Elianor Daughter to the deceased Earl of Leicester was taken by the English on the Seas as she was coming from France in order to Marry him not only refused to come but because the Lady was detained from him raised a considerable Army of Welshmen and Borderers and fell into Rebellion entering England and doing great Mischief But the King resolving to make his first Expedition Terrible to that Languishing Nation raised such a Power as Llewellin found himself in no capacity to oppose wherefore leaving his Men he came privately to the King and prostrating himself begged Pardon protesting that his Love was so exceeding great to the Captive Lady that nothing but the hopes of Redeeming her and entering on those Nuptials that had been Agreed on at the Court of France could have made him draw his Sword so that if she might be given to his Arms he would from thenceforth live in Peace and Obedience be always ready to use his Sword at the Service of King Edward against the French King or any other when he should Command it King Edward upon this considering his Government not to be very well settled and that the French King much relied on the Disturbances the Welsh could give when he designed any thing against England freely consented to what he demanded and upon Llewellin's Swearing Fealty the Lady was put into his possession with many Rich Presents bestowed on her at her departure by the Queen and Court-Ladies and the Nuptials were Solemnized to their mutual Satisfaction Soon after this King Edward in Monumental Honour to his Queen for the great Love she had shewed in Sucking his Envenomed Wound and accompanying him in the Holy Land where she endured many hardships raised Crosses in the most Remarkable Cross-ways in England with the Arms of Spain Quartered with those of England and the Queens Statue in Marble on the most Remarkable of them and remembering the Treacherous Practices of the Jews against him Abroad and their always taking part with the Infidels against the Christians he Banished them out of England to the Number of 15009 Persons Confiscating their Goods by which means and Fining corrupt Judges and
of War the King taking by force and surrender all the strong Castles and Fortresses into his hands and Oath of the Justices Mayors and Officers of the several Towns and Forts and having disposed all things to the best advantage and settled the Government in trusty hands he brought away the Crown Robes of State and Marble Chair from Scone in which the Scots Kings had always been Crowned and placed the latter in the Kings Chappel at Westminster and on it there is said to be a Prophetick Latin Distick in English to this Effect Where e'er this Stone is Plac'd the Scot shall find And there shall Rule for there his Reign 's Assign'd This may indeed seem to be verified in the Union of the two Kingdoms under King James the First of the Scotish Line But to proceed As soon as King Edward was returned from his Journey he caused an Enquiry which was termed Troli Baston to be made in all his Dominions of the Misdemeanors and Oppressions of his Officers and others so that the Number of the Transgressors were so many that heavy Fines being laid on them and they like so many full Spunges Squeezed of their Unjust Gains into the Kings Coffers they were plentifully replenished thereby not only to Pay off old Debts but to Recompence such as had at their own Expence faithfully Served him in his Wars and among other Complaints Dr. Langton Bishop of Chester Exhibited one to the King against Prince Edward whom he said at the Instigation of Pierce Gaveston his Loose and Evil Counsellor had forcibly broken into his Parks wounded his Servants and destroyed his Game Whereupon the Prince was committed to Prison during the Kings pleasure and Gaveston Banished upon pain of Death never to return into the Land and Edward Earl of Cornwal Son to Richard King of the Romans Dying without Issue he gave that Earldom to Prince Edward which Title with that of Chester have been since inseparable from the Princes of Wales A Peace being now had in Scotland things remained quiet for a time during which space Robert Bruce one of the Competitors came with divers Nobles to the English Court and was highly Entertained which they did only for a shew whilst they were dealing underhand with the Pope to favour their Cause nor was he slow in it but sent an Instrument in Writing by which he pretended to lay claim to the Kingdom of Scotland as holden of the See of Rome wherein King Edward was peremptorily required to surcease from all Demands of Tenure and Soveraignty over it But he stoutly Answered by his Ambassadors That it did belong to the Kings of England and not unto the See of Rome or to any other requiring him to revoke his unjust Claim for that both he and his Nobles were resolved to maintain his Right therein at the hazard of their Lives and Estates and the Ambassador shewing the Hands and Seals of the Nobles and most of the Prelates of England that had Sworn to this Resolution the old Blade with the Leaden Sword drew in his Horns whereupon Bruce secretly withdrew and raised Tumults in Scotland Yet the King forced him to fly into Norway where he remained till in Edward the Seconds Reign he returned to broach new Troubles But the King upon his Marching through Scotland Dyed commanding in his Last Will That his Son should SHROP SHIRE By John Seller carry his Bones with him till he had utterly Subdued the Rebells and that Gaveston should not be Recalled from Banishment also that his Heart should be carried to the Holy Land and there Buried He began his Reign November 16 Anno Dom. 1272 and Reigned 34 Years 7 Months and 21 Days being the 29th Sole Monarch of England He Dyed of a Dyssentery at Burg upon Sands July 7 Anno Dom. 1307 in the 69th Year of his Age and was Buried at Westminster In the Third Year of this Kings Reign on St. Nicholas Day very terrible Thunders Earthquakes and Lightenings happened also a great Fiery Dragon in the Air and a Blazing Star which much amazed the People In the Year 1288 the Summer was so Scorching that many Dyed of extream Heat yet Wheat was Sold at 2 s. 8 d. the Quarter and all Corn at a proportionable rate but the Year following by reason of the great Rains that fell Wheat was raised to 20 s. a Quarter and so continued near Forty Years which was in those times accounted a great Dearth Anno Dom. 1299 the Kings Palace at Westminster with the Buildings of the Monastery were consumed with Fire and a great Whale coming up the River was struck and taken over-against Erif being 40 Foot Long and proportionable in Bulk c. Remarks on Shropshire c. SHropshire is commodiously situated intermixed with Hills Plains Woods Forrests Chaces c. and produces Corn Rich Pastures Cattle and many other things to the advantage of the Inhabitants It is Bounded with Cheshire Staffordshire Worcestershire Herefordshire Radnorshire Mongomeryshire and Denbyshire It contains 15 Hundreds divided into 170 Parishes and haâ in it 14 Market Towns and 18 great and small Rivers branching mostly from the Severn which plentifully Waters this Shire and others It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Bishops-Castle 2 Bridgnorth 2 Ludlow 2 Shrewsbury 2 Wenlock 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire In Shropshire besides Shrewsbury the County Town a noted Mart for Cloath and Frizes brought from Wales and thence dispersed into divers parts of England There are Remarkable Ruins of some Antient Places which were certainly Towns or Cities of great splendor as Workcester Uriconium the antient Usoconia of which Okenyat is a small remainder Oswalstree retaines its Name from Oswald the 11th King of Northumberland who was here Slain in Battel by Penda King of the Mercians The other Towns of Note are Wellynton Newport Braynton c. At Shrewsbury and other places on the Severn is taken a Fish called a Mort in Taste like a Salmon at Pitchford is a Well whose Water casts up a Scum of Liquid Bitumen and near Oswaldstree is a Vestigia of a Roman Camp The Seats of the Nobility are Pepperhill belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury Highercal and Eyton to the Lord Viscount Newport Cherbury to the Lord Herbert Baron of Cherbury It has also in it 13 Bridges 13 Castles 7 Forrests and 27 Parks The Seats of the Gentry are likewise very pleasant and there is almost every where great store of Game and abundance of Fish The Reign of EDWARD the Second usually called Edward of Carnarvan EDWARD the Second Succeeded his Father in the Throne but having been brought up tenderly and given too much to Flatterers and loose Company he very early gave the Nobles cause to distast his Government for tho' his Father in his Last Will had strictly Prohibited his Recalling Peirce Gaveston from Banishment a Person who by his evil Example and pernicious Counsels had been the great Debaucher of his Younger Years yet he did it tho'
contrary to the Mind of his People in general and to despite them the more took him into his particular Favour Vowing if it lay in his power he would willingly share the Kingdom with him heaping Honours on him and Liberally opening his Coffers to him so that he no sooner asked but his desires were granted This much perplexed the Nobles and made them Remonstrate to the King the ill consequences that were likely to follow on such his Proceedings putting him in mind of his dying Fathers charge to him and urging many other things but he little regarded them so that perceiving the King entirely to doat on this upstart Favourite who thereupon grew very Proud and Insolent advancing him to the Barony of Wallingford and Earldom of Cornwal making him Master of his Jewels and Treasure a great part of which he sent beyond the Seas to provide for himself against such a Storm as he might reasonably expect They for a time held their peace tho' they inwardly grieved at the Miscarriage of things The King was now Married to Isabel Daughter to Philip the French King a Lady of admirable Beauty but of a haughty Mind impatient of Injuries yet this Loose Favourite to cross her because he stood not high in her esteem laboured by introducing fresh Beauties to the King to Alienate him from her Society and Bed carried him often to Revellings and made him Drink to Excess that his Conscience might not find any deliberate time to Check him for his Lawless Enterprizes The Queen at this was both Grieved and Angry labouring however by all mild ways and endearing perswasions to Reclaim the King laying before him his Unkindness to one that so tenderly Loved and Honoured him and the Scandal and Contempt he would cause of himself among his People if he who was placed in so eminent a Station to give good Examples to others as Patterns for them to follow shewed in himself such an evil one Intreating him to follow the Prudence and Heroick Virtues of his Father and not despising the sober Advice of his Grave Counsellors harken to and be lead away by base Parasites and Flatterers But the King not regarding what she said tho' the People at the same time greatly Murmured and spoke evil of him for his Loose and Un-Princely manner of Living as also of Gaveston to whom they bore an irreconcileable hatred The Nobles found themselves constrained for redressing these Mischiefs and preventing greater that threatened the Kingdom To Petition the King for Gaveston's Banishment wherein they set forth his evil Practices and Faults with the Sorrow of his Majesties best affected Subjects for that he more than was fit or comely was Guided and Governed by that unworthy Favourite earnestly entreating his Highness he would be pleased for preventing such Mischiefs as were otherwise likely to ensue To Banish that Lewd Person from his Court and Kingdom The King upon this fearing some danger threatned if he refused to comply with his Nobles whom he found resolutely bent no longer to suffer such Indignities as Gaveston had put upon them tho' much against his will agreed he should be sent into Ireland which accordingly was done yet the King sent after him many comfortable Messages and at length constituted him his Lieutenant of that Kingdom sending him store of Plate Jewels and Corn to maintain his State and Granâure by which he might conclude his Banishment but ân Honourable Embassy and an occasion presented âhereby to the King to make him more Rich and Poâent Besides all this the Kings discontents and passions âor his Absence appeared to be so many and great That the Nobles were grieved for the perplexities of âis Mind which made them in hopes of his Favourites ââture amendment of all things that had been found âmiss in him after this Humbling of their own accord Petition the King that he might be Recalled But âike the Leopards Spots his Vices were so natural to him and so inherent in him that he was nothing changed but upon his return grew more Insolent than âever which occasioned him but a short time for at the âncessant Importunities of the Nobles he was again Banished into Flanders yet remained not long ere the King impatient of his Absence Recalled him without the consent of his Nobles and to Agrandize him the more Married him to his Kinswoman the Earl of Glocesters Daughter a Virtuous and Honourable Lady when bearing himself much on this Alliance he grew to such a height that he scorned the greatest Peers in England and in his State Attendance and Table outâied even the King Glorying and openly boasting how he Ruled the King and by what ways he had misleâ him This however did him no kindness for the King âââding he could no longer Protect him against the potent Nobles and the clamours of the Common People which âhreatned ruin in his stay he was constrained to part with him a Third time But the âoise and discontents by his Absence was no sooner pacified and alay'd but the King sent to him privately to Return tho' very fatal to him for upon his Landing entering into the Castle of Scarborough he was there Besieged and taken by the Earl of Warwick and with the consent of the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford carried to Warwick-Castle and Beheaded The King had no sooner notice of the untimely end of his Favourite but in a vehement passion he Cursed those Noblemen and expressed his Anger and Vows of Revenge in many threatning terms But Time rendering him cooler and the Reasons that were given for their hasty Proceedings he Pardoned them in consideration that all which belonged to Gaveston should be put into his hands However his inclinations were such that he could not be long without a Favourite to whom he might impart his Secrets on all occasions wherefore he made Sr. Hugh Spencer and Hugh his Son of his Cabinet Council raising them from a mean Estate to Lord it over the Nobles and whatever he did of any importance was by their Advice and Direction he made the Elder of them Earl of Winchester and gave to both of them many Honourable Places and Offices which caused them to become more Insolent than Gaveston and altogether as much hated in a little time Robert Bruce mentioned in the foregoing Reign upon notice of these Disorders in England thought it was now a fit time for him to possess himself of the Crown of Scotland and therefore returning from Norway he was Joyfully received by the Scots as well Nobles as Commons and was by them a second time Crowned King whereupon he Levied a great Army and entered into the English Marches miserably wasting the Country as he passed with Fire and Sword which made King Edward shake off his soft repose and hasten to the Field whose coming put a stop to the torent and made the Scots retire beyond the Tweed Whereupon King Edward having strengthened his Army entered Scotland doing great Damage but was at Bannocks Bourn
they could procure an Executioner to Behead him so greatly was he Beloved by all sorts of People but at length a vile Wretch was procur'd out of a Goal for a sum of Money to perform that Office Five others were put to Death there and at York the next day the Lords Clifford Mobray and Derwell were Hanged in Iron-Chaines The Earl of Hereford likewise lost his Head in all at several places Twenty Noblemen so that in no Reign so much Noble Blood by Executions wet the English Earth These terrible Executions astonished the rest and broke their Strength which greatly puffed up the Spencers by whose Instigation more than any cruel inclination in the King it was thought to be done to secure their own State which after this they imagined could not be shaken For soon after some Courtiers Intreating the King for the Life of a Person of mean Rank who had committed a Murther he broke out into a violent Passion in these words viz. A Plague overtake you all for Flatering Knaves you make much Suit for the Life of an errand Caitiff but which of you spoke a word for the good Knight Lord Thomas my Vnkle By the Bread of God this Varlet shall Dye the Death he deserves and so in a Rage he turned from them and soon after he called a Parliament at York in which Prince Edward his Son was Created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain and Sir Andrew Harkly whose extraordinary Service was a principal means of the Barons Overthrow Earl of Carlisle and demanded the Sixth Penny of all Temporalities in England Wales and Ireland to defray the Charges of his intended War against the Scots which he obtained yet the People grievously Murmured at Paying it affirming they were altogether Impoverished by the late Wars and Famine And now the Scots geting secret Inteligence of what the King intended against them resolved to begin first and well knowing they had Impoverished the Northern parts and that no further Booty was there to be had they crossed over the Narrow Straights and fell very furiously on Ireland but by the Courage and prudent Conduct of the Bishop of Armagh and the Lord Brinningham they were Overthrown their King Slain and most of them Cut in Pieces upon this advantage King Edward Marched into Scotland which he found full of Terror and Confusion the People every where flying before him into the Woods Mountains and other Fastnesses thinking by that means to weary out the English and indeed their Project failed not for Snows Rains and bitter Frosts ensuing the English were unable to keep the Field especially their Provisions being near spent and a great Mortality by reason of the raw Damps and Colds grievously afflicted the Camp so that contrary to the mind of the King they were forced to return which the Scots perceiving crept from their lurking Holes and carried Fire a cross which is the usual Signal for the Alarum or raising the Country and soon gathered into such Multitudes that following and wasting his Rear at last they boldly set on his main Battel and discomfited it so that he was constrained to fly and leave them Masters of his Treasure and Baggage This Defeat is said to be occasioned by the Treachery of Sr. Andrew Harkley who had been lately Created Earl of Carlisle who being Bribed by the Scots betraied his trust in the Battel But however it happened it was charged upon him and for it he lost his Head Upon the Kings return there happened a Quarrel between the Queen and the Spencers she charging them to have Alienated the Kings affections from her and to cause him to place it on Harlots and the King seeming to excuse or take part with them she so highly resented the Affront that under pretence of visiting her native Country she obtained leave to go over with the Prince her Son where she was received by King Charles her Brother Philip her Father being Dead with many expressions of kindness and shewing her dislike to return unless matters might be Reformed at home some of the Barons in England sent secretly by Letters to Advise her That if she could procure one Thousand Valliant Strangers they would joyn her on her Landing with a considerable Force and endeavour once more to Redress the Disorders of the State This she made known to her Brother who comforted her by earnest Promises and Oaths That by his Assistance and at his Cost her Wrongs and the Kingdoms Injuries should be Repaired but kept not his Word for being Bribed by the Spencers who by their Spies had notice of her tampering in the French Court when she demanded his Performance he grew cold upon it and chid her for such Intentions saying She was foolishly afraid of her Shaddow since she had Vndutifully forsaken the company of her Lord and Husband The Pope also and chiefest Cardinals being Engaged by great Rewards strictly required the French King upon pain of the Apostolick Curse to send home the Queen and Prince so that she perceiving he intended to deliver her into the hands of such as would have Forcibly brought her over she secretly retired with her Son into the Empire however during her stay at the French Court she had done England a kindness in causing by her Mediation the Troubles in Gascoyne to cease and making an Agreement in other matters relating to the King her Husband In consideration of which he was to confer the Dutchy of Aquitain and Earldom of Poictou on the Prince his Son which he did under his Seal and he did Homage for it to his Unkle the French King but upon his sending for her home she refused to come unless hers and others Grievances were Redressed by Parliament which occasioned his trying by other means to make her return but as is said she retiring into the Empire upon suspicion of what was Intended went to Hainalt where she was kindly received and to make her Interest strong at that Court she without the consent of her Husband or the Peers of England Married the Prince to Phillipa the Earl of Hainalts Daughter upon which account and the means of what Treasure she had brought she raised 2700 Soldiers Commanded by Sr. John of Hainalt and the Lord Beamont to whom Joyned the Young Lord Mortimer who had escaped out of the Tower of London and got beyond the Seas with some other Exiled English Noblemen and Strangers so that having all things in a readiness she Sayled for England and Landed at Orwell in Sussex whither a great Number of English resorted to her and the further she went her Army greatly encreased King Edward having notice of this left his Court and retired hastily into the West to raise Forces promising 1000 l. to any that should bring him the Lord Mortimer's Head The King was no sooner retired but the Londoners taking the Advantage of his Absence seized upon the Bishop of Exeter who was appointed to Govern the City and without any Legal Proceedings or Judicial
Earl of Bristol Hinton St. George Court of Ewick Lenn Court and Walton to the Lord Paulet Connington to the Lord Clifford Wells Palace and Banwell to the Bishop of Bath and Wells Bristol Palace to the Bishop of Bristol With divers Houses of the Gentry pleasantly Sighted c. The Reign of EDWARD the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor EDWARD upon the offer of the Crown to him in his Fathers Life time not being Fifteen Years of Age refused it with Tears and Detestation till Mortimer and the Queen his Mother by Threats and Perswasions wrought him to some compliance nor then would he yeild to be Crowned till his Father had Resigned nor then till he was made sensible by some faithful Counsellors it was the only way to secure the Life of the Deposed King and the Crown in the Right Line For many feared that Mortimer being great with the Queen and high in her favour would find some means to rid her of her Husband and by Marrying her place the Diadem on his own Head for which reason he ever after hated that aspiring Lord and laboured to Revenge the Indignity and Death of King Edward the Second which in time he in some measure did in the Execution of Mortimer as will hereafter appear In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Scots denounced War against England thinking to make their Advantage in the Kings Minority but he tho' Young being of a Martial Spirit scorned to be outbraved whereupon he raised an Army of 50000 valiant Men and Marched into Scotland chasing the Scots from place to place who nowhere durst appear in the Field in any Number and having seized several Towns and Castles and finding his Soldiers tired out in following through Woods Marshes and over Craggy Hills he resolved to return which he did and assembled his Parliament at Northampton in which the two Executed Spencers and Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had been put to Death by the Londoners were Attainted of High Treason and all their Goods Lands c. Seized into the Kings hands and then the King by the direction of his Mother and Mortimer concluded a dishonourable Peace with the Scots releasing them of their Homage Fealty and Service due from that Kingdom to the Crown of England and delivered up the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their Late King and of the Nobility of Scotland testified their Tenure and Subjection to the Kings of this Realm After that he Married his Sister to David Son to Robert Bruce and created Mortimer Earl of March at which the Generality of the Nobility were exceedingly disgusted Mortimer upon his new Advancement to Honour and relyance on the Queens favour tho' he found the Nobles were not in his Interest bore it with a higher hand than formerly and perceiving Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Unkle stood most in his way and crossed his aspiring he and the Queen so laboured with the Young King That infecting him with a Jealousie that the Earl had Designs upon his Life and Crown which being backed by false Witnesses he âdvisedly gave way to Articles that were suggested â brought in against him so that by Mortimers Creaâes he was found Guilty and Beheaded to the great âef of all True Englishmen being a Person of singular âlour a great Statesman Prudent and Virtuous but â Blood so Treacherously spilt was not slow in âying for and procuring Vengance for the King âing made sensible of a familiarity between Mortimer âd his Mother more than was decent and much to âer dishonour by being got abroad among the Vulgar âusing many scandalous Reports he would not howâver lightly believe it yet one time being assured she âas at Mortimer's Castle he with a resolute Band of âis Followers privately in the Evening entered a back âway and seizing such Servants as he met to prevent âiscovery went by the direction of one of them to âhe Chamber where the Queen Lodged and there âound her in Bed and Mortimer undressing in order to âleep with her This so exasperated the Young King âhat calling him Trator and Villain he seized him with his own hands and delivered him to the Guards he not offering to resist or call for help tho' he had a far greater number of Attendants in the Castle than the King brought with him and being Committed to Prison free liberty was given for any that would to Exhibit their Complaints against him which were summed up in the following Articles 1. That he had wickedly contrived and procured the Murther of the Kings Father 2. That by his false Accusations and sinister Counsels he had caused the King to take away the Life of his Vnkle who was truly Noble Religious Devout Honest and a strong Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That too familiarly he conversed with Queen Isabel the Kings Mother to her just Reproach and the dishonour of the King 4. That he received of the Scots a Bribe of 20000l for which he procured the Kings Retreat out of Scotland and the Releasment of his Signory and Homage due for that Kingdom 5. That he had deceitfully couzened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasury converting the Monies and Profits to his own use and behoof For these Wicked and Treasonable Practices he was Tryed and Condemned and afterward Hanged at Tyburn where he remained Hanging unpittied for two Days And in a little time after the King abridged the Queen his Mother in her Dowry allowing her but 1000 l. per Annum restraining her within a certain Limit In the Fifth Year of the Kings Reign Philip D' Valois who Succeeded Charles in the French Throne required him to come over and pay Homage and Fealty for his Dutchey of Guyan and accordingly he went and was kindly entertained till he refused to do it by any more Ceremony than Words but that not being Accepted he returned to England and upon a Second Summons sent it in Writing under the Great Seal which was not looked on as sufficient yet this submission displeased the English Nobility who told him he ought not to pay any Homage for as much as the Crown of France in Right of his Mother properly belonged to him and thus stated his Title viz. Isabel was Daughter to Philip the Fair Son to Philip the Hardy That Philip the Hardy the Queens Grandfather had two Sons viz. her Father who was King and Charles D' Valois who was also King after him Philip the Fair had three Sons all which Dyed without Issue Male he had also a Daughter which was this Isabel Married to King Edward the Second and that Charles D' Valois the Second Son of Philip the Hardy was Father to Philip D' Valois who then Reigned in France and although by the Salique Law of France Women are barred to Rule yet King Edward being a Male of the Elder branch ought to take place before a Male of the Younger though coming by a
common Soldiers yet with an undaunted Courage he Marched on and coming within sight of the Enemy Marshalled his small Army resolving to abide the Battel viz. He divided it into three Battels all which he Impaled in the Rear with Carriages and gave the conduct of the First to Prince Edward his Son who was by reason of his Young Years assisted by the Earls of Warwick and Crawford the Lords Harcourt Stafford Manney De La Warr Chandois Clifford and Bourchier âving 800 Men at Arms 2000 Archers and 1000 âhers The Second Battel was Commanded by the ârls of Northampton and Arundel accompanied with âvers Nobles and Gentlemen consisting of 800 Men ãâã Arms and 1200 Archers The Third and main âttel the King Commanded and having Prayed for ââccess and Refreshed themselves they prepared for âe Fight but that day the French declined the Battel ât the next it was begun on their side by 15000 Geâis with Crosbows Shooting Bearded Arrows but âey Charging on the Princes Battel were soon overârn by the English Archers and in their Retreat put âe French Kings Battel into disorder whereupon âany of them were Slain by their Friends and then âe French main Battel Charged on the Prince and put âim so hard to it that he was obliged to send to the King to succour him who asked the Messenger Whether he was Alive or not And being Answered He âas he said Report to him from me That he must expect no Aid for this shall be the day wherein he shall win his Spurs âr lose his Life whereupon the English as Men in dispair Fought so desperately that they put the French Army in all parts to the Rout the Kings Battel standing entire and not Engaging slaying more than 30000 of them and the next day they Overthrew another Army that not knowing of the Defeat was coming to the Camp under the Leading of the Arch Bishop of Roan and Grand Prior of France and among the Slain were 11 Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and many of Note made Prisoners The Plunder of the Field the King bestowed upon his Nobles Gentry and common Soldiers which greatly Inriched them carrying the Slain of Note to Mountrell and there Honourably Interred them After this great Victory with inconsiderable Loss to the English the King laid Siege to Callis and the French King tho' he made some shews with a great Army to Relieve it defending the Passes stopt their retiring the Besieged were Summoned and threatned if they Surrendered not immediately to expect no Mercy they Capitulated but their Terms offered was not accepted they obstinately resisted so long that being brought to extremity the King would not accept of their Submission then tendered unless six of their chief Inhabitants would present themselves before him in their Shirts with Halters about their Necks and deliver up the Keys which was done when forthwith he commanded them to be Hanged but at the entreaty of the Queen and Nobles they were spared Whilst this Siege lasted David King of Scots with an Army of 50000 Men entered England and did great mischief but the Queen being then at home gave him Battel with an Army of 12000 and gave the Scots a fatal Overthrow King David was there taken Prisoner by one John Copeland who refused to deliver him to the Queen as claiming him his Prisoner by the Right of War till going over to the King he desired him to do it and for his good Service settled on him 500 l. per Annum in Lancashire and made him a Squire of his Body whereupon King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London The King having appointed Sr. Andrew D' Pavie a Lombard Governour of Callis and turned out the French Inhabitants returned to England but upon private notice the Governour for a great Sum designed to betray it to the Lord Cherney Captain of Arrays he went over and was received in the dusk of the Evening he prevented it by surprising that Lord and his Soldiers when they had partly entered and the rest waited for admittance Yet in this Fight the King Encountering hand to hand with Eustace of Ribomount was by him twice stooped on his Knees but scorning to yield he advanced with such fury and redoubled strength that he beat him down and took him Prisoner but having experienced him to be a Valiant Knight he soon released him without Ransom About this time King Philip Dyed and John his Son was Crowned and the Calicians took the strong Castle of Guyens and the King upon the obstinacy of the Flemings in refusing to Aid him removed the Marts to Callis settling there the Woollen Manufacture so that by the Priviledges and Imunities granted to Artificers happy was he that in a few Years could obtain the Kings leave to go over Soon after Prince Edward Sirnamed for his valourous deeds the Black Prince Landed an Army in Gascoine soon subduing the greater part of that Province which made the French King hasten thither with a very numerous Army and tho' he was six to one against the Prince the Battel was Fought near Poictiers where the English Archers put the French Horse into such confusion at the first onset that they fell into Rout and disordered all the Squadrons that were to support them however the Battel where the French King fought valiantly stood manfully to it a considerable time but such was the prevailing valour of the English That King John and Philip his Younger Son were taken Prisoners many Thousands Slain and the rest put to Flight The Fight being over Prince Edward treated his Royal Prisoners with all Gentleness and Humility cheering up their drooping Spirits attending at the Kings Table Lodged him in his own Bed and provided for him Honourable Attendance insomuch that he confessed He rather fancied himself at his own Court than a Prisoner by having met with so Courteous an Enemy From hence he was conducted to Burdeaux and so into England where he was Entertained with the like civilities and respect by the King and Queen and besides these and what Nobles were Slain there were taken 17 Earls 51 Barons and a great Number of Knights and Gentlemen the English Soldiers throughout the Army that had fewest being possessed of two Prisoners and moreover the rich Spoiles of exceeding value were divided amongst them and a Truce was concluded for two Years In the mean while the King of Scots who had been Ten Years a Prisoner was Released at the Ransom of 100000 l. to be Paid in Five Years and upon taking his Oath not to bear Arms against England nor be Aiding to any other in doing it and further he acknowledged Homage and Fealty for his Kingdom of Scotland to King Edward And proposing to the French King his Ransom with Articles to be signed on his Enlargement he sent them to Charles his Eldest Son who was Regent in his absence and to the Nobility of France who utterly disliking the Conditions prepared to Invade King Edwards Terretories to
King to deliver him up to Execution which Insolent Behaviour Sr. William Wallworth Lord Mayor not able to endure Stabbed him with his Dagger so that he fell down Dead and then hasting to raise the City Militia the Rebells after some time were so amazed that they scattered and every one fled for his safety and it was not many days before most of the Ringleaders were by their Companions a thing that seldom fails in such tumultuous Rebellions delivered into the hands of Justice the better to obtain their own Pardons which in the height of their Pride they had scornfully thrown up and the King at this last Conference before their Faces had Cancelled them so that about 1500 or more of the principal Agents were Convicted and Executed in divers Places which put an end to these Popular Disorders and for this Exploit of the Lord Mayor the Dagger was added to the City Arms. Things thus Quieted and the Peoples Fears over The King sued for the Lady Ann Daughter to Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus the Emperour of Germany in Marriage which was Accorded and the Lady who was exceeding Virtuous and Beautiful was received with great Joy by the King and People and Anno Dom. 1385 he Summoned a Parliament at Westminster in which he Created his Unkle Edmund of Langley Duke of York and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester his Cousin Henry Eldest Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Derby Edward Son to Edmund of Langley Earl of Rutland Sir John Holland Earl of Huntington and Thomas Lord Mowbray Earl of Notingham Declaring Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son to Edmund Mortimer and Philippa his Wife Daughter and Heires to Lionel Duke of Clarence Third Son to Edward the Third Heir apparent to the Crown but he was Slain by the Rebells in Ireland before the Kings Death And now the King fell into the dislike of his People by hearkening to evil Counsellours especially one Michael De La Pool whom he had made Chancellour and created Duke of Suffolk and Robert Vere whome he created Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland and would have made him King of that Country if the Nobility would have consented to it so that he respected not the sage Advice and Counsel of the grave and most experienced Lords of this the Parliament took great notice and upon the Chancellours insisting on the Kings behalf for a Tax of four Fifteens affirming no less could support his Estate or maintain such Wars as he was likely to undertake the Lords and Commons not only opposed the motion but accused the Duke and others for lewdly Counselling the King and by their Purloyning to enrich themselves wasting his Treasure That by their bad Advice they had kept the King from coming amongst them which according to a received Law and Custom if he refused to do in Forty Days they might Legally break up and depart to their own homes without his leave and of this and other particulars they sent word to the King desiring him within three days he would come amongst them and give Life to those Laws they should make or they were resolved to separate But in Answer to this he required that a select Assembly of Fifty of their Members should attend him This was refused and the Duke of Gloucester and Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury were only deputed who plainly told the King of the Grievances of his People and that by his Absence from Parliament he obscured the light of Justice and hindered the Negotiation of the Commonweal And if he further declined it they must break up and depart to their homes They also craved with humble submssion as they were commanded to be informed by whom his Majesties Treasure belonging to the Commonweal was prodigally consumed and how it came to pass that his large Revenues could not suffice to maintain his Estate and charge seeing he had no Wars This Message and their Demands so angered the King That he Swore had he fore-known the sawcy bouldness of his Subjects whom as he supposed intended to rise in Arms against him he would more willingly have submitted himself to the King of France and have relyed on him for Protection than thus to be baffled and made servil to those whom his Soveraignty ought to command But the two Lords in all humble Duty shewed him that his People stood well affected towards him and that the French had been and were inveterate Enemies to the King of England With this and such-like submissive Discourse he was some what pacified and promised to come to his Parliament in three days and failed not to do it where by Proof and Accusation of the Lords Michael De La Pool Chancellour of England and Duke of Suffolk was Convicted of Purloyning the Kings Treasure and purchasing Estates with it to his own behoof and giving evil Counsel to the great damage of the Kings Subjects and other things so that his Lands were Sequestered to the King's use his Person Fined 20000 Marks committed close Prisoner and deprived of his Chancellourship and other Offices The Arch Bishop being made Chancellour in his stead and in the same Parliament thirteen Persons were Elected Sworn and Authorized with âhe consent of the King published in Writing under âis Seal to Examine all or any of his Officers touching âheir Demeanours in their several Offices and Trusts ãâã censure and condemn any that should be found âuilty of henious Crimes and the King took an Oath âot to revoke or suppress this Commission without the âonsent of Parliament and it further passed into a âaw That if any Person should attempt directly or ââdirectly to perswade or encourage the King to inââge his Oath and Promise touching all or any of these matters for the first Offence to lose his Lands and Goods and for the second to be proceeded against as a Traitor to the King and Kingdom And then a Subsidy of one half Fifteen was granted if the Commissioners upon view of the Kings Estate thought it needful and so an end was put to this Sessions of Parliament This was no sooner done but the King at the perswasion of his Counsellours Released his Favourite De La Poole and went with him the Duke of Ireland Tresillian his chief Justice other Judges and Ministers of State to Notingham where they Pronounced the Duke of Gloucester Arch Bishop of Canterbury and the Thirteen Commissioners to be Guilty of High Treason because against his will and consent they had compelled the King to Ratifie the Commission by his Oath and under his Great Seal so going to Coventry the Judges by an Instrument in Writing under their Hands and Seals declared and confirmed their Opinions to be agreeable and consonant to the Laws of the Land touching these matters Whilst Affairs had but an ill Aspect at home thâ French King to Embroyl the Kingdom more if poâsible sent his Admiral with a Thousand Noblemen anâ Gentlemen into Scotland with Arms and
Cursing any that should afterward Build it yet this Sorrow wasting by time to strengthen his Alliance he Sailed to France and took the Lady Isabel Charles the Sixth's Daughter to Wife and brought her to England with her Nurse and a great Train of Ladies and not exceeding Seven or Eight Years she was called The Baby Queen the King having contracted not to Bed her till she should be Fourteen Years of Age and a 30 Years Peace was concluded whereupon the King gave up to the Duke of Britany the strong Town and Castle of Brest which much offended the English Nobles especially the Duke of Glocester his Unkle who plainly told him he had dishonoured himself and the English Nation by tamely parting with such an important Place which had not been gained but at the expence of much Blood and Treasure this so angered the King that he privately Swore to be Revenged on him and such other Noblemen as he said usually checked and controuled him in his Proceedings and accordingly getting a Parliament to his mind Sir John Bushe one of his Creatures being Speaker of the Lower House This upstart Speaker boldly Accused Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury who fitting in the House of Peers by the King was ordered not to Answer and it should be no damage to him his silence nevertheless was taken for Confession and he was Banished the Realm the Earls of Arundel and Warwick in this Parliament were Attainted of High Treason upon which the former lost his Head and the latter being confined to the Isle of Wight through Grief and want of Necessaries shortly Dyed But the Duke of Glocester stood too high in the Peoples Favour to be reached this way therefore he was privately seized at his own House hurried to Callice and there by the command of Thomas Moubray then Earl of Notingham and for this wicked exploit created Duke of Norfolk the Valiant Prudent Virtuous and Renowned Duke was Smothered to Death tho' in the manner of it Authors disagree some will have it by pressing and keeping him long between Feather-Beds others that he was thrown into and headed up in a Butt of Malmsey However here he was wickedly made away and never seen afterward to the great grief of all but the King and his Favourites who hugged themselves with joy to think they had removed out of their way the great Obstacle that hindered their Advances to Arbitrary Power After this Moubray proceeded to Accuse Henry Duke of Hartford Son to the Duke of Lancaster of Speaking Treasonable and Scandalous Words of the King whereupon Hartford Challenged his Accuser to the single Combate to try by the Sword the Truth and Justice of his Accusation but when they were both entered the Lists and prepared for the Encounter the King threw down his Warder staid the Combate Banished Hartford for six Years and Moubray forever who Travailing to Venice there Dyed miserably confessing his Guilt and trouble for the Death of the Noble Duke of Glocester but Hartford was honourably Entertained by Charles the French King who would have Married him to a Beautiful Lady Daughter to the Duke of Berry his Unkle but King Richard industriously prevented it as fearing such an Alliance might enable him to grasp at his Crown and when the Duke of Lancaster Dyed he seized on his vast Treasure tho' he had given his Cousin Henry leave on his departure to appoint his Attorney to Act for him and take care of his Inheritance But these Proceedings bred much Mischief For the King having lost most of his old and getting a new set of Counselors viz. The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushe Sir James Bagot and Sir John Green they advised him to many things contrary to the Advice of his grave Council and much troubled the People and now the Irish Rebelling the King to Raise an Army Farmed the Kingdom and all his Revenues belonging thereunto for certain Years and Sailed for Ireland The Duke of Hartford who wanted no Intelligence how matters went in England looked on the Peoples Ferment and the Kings Absence to give him a very favourable advantage to shake off his Chains wherefore as privately as he might he came to England accompanied by the Banished Arch Bishop and many other trusty Friends declaring to the People he only came to take quiet Possession of his Dutchy of Lancaster which by the Death of his Father was his Undoubted Right so that Trousands flocked to him And finding how the People were bent to favour his cause he Raised a considerable Army and seized the before named Counsellours whom they Beheaded King Richard in Ireland hearing of these Stirs setled Affaires there as well as he could and hasted over with a small Army but before he could pass Wales most of them had Deserted him and then being ascertained that his Counsellours in whom he had reposed much trust to Levy Forces for him were taken off despairing of any safety to be gained by force he came to Henry Duke of Lancaster of his own accord and publickly owned his Insufficiency and Weakness to Govern well praising the Duke's rare and singular Virtues his absolute worthiness to be a King c. profering to make him an absolute Surrender of his Kingdom if he would accept of it The Politick Duke who well knew this proceeded not cordially from him but from the effects of fear and constraint however refused it for tho' he much affected the wearing of a Crown yet he thought it more advisable to receive it at this time from the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and hereupon he caused the King with a very respective and honourable Attendance to be conveyed to the Tower and a Parliament being called in his Name Twenty Four Articles were Exhibited against him for Mismanagement and ill Conduct in Government and many henious Crimes which in his Restraint he seemed to confess and own and by an Instrument under his Hand and Seal he Resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry of Bullenbrook Duke of Lancaster which being publickly and generally Ratified and Approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Henry stood up and made this Challenge to the Crown viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the Third and the Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was at the point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words being said all the Estates acknowledged him for King and Richard was formally Deposed in the words and in manner Recited in Edward the Seconds Reign and thereupon was sent to Pomfret Castle but long he had not been there ere upon some practices of his Favourites to Reinstate him he was villanously Murthered by Sir Pierce of Exton and Eight others of whom he
Valiantly killed Four with a Bill he wrested out of one of their Hands Thus untimely Dyed King Richard the Second when he had Reigned 22 Years 3 Months and 8 Days Being the 32d Sole Monarch of England After his Death his Body was brought to London and exposed to the view of the People to satisfie them he was Dead and prevent their taking part with Impostors and then Buried at Langley In this Kings Reign the River Ouse between Swelstone and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Botton in the Middle remained dry for three Miles Soon after Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Bruce John Ashton and Peter Peteshall were Persecuted some by Perpetual Imprisonment some by Banishment for Preaching and Maintaining Wickliffe's Doctrine In the last Year of this Kings Reign all the Bay-Trees in England Withered and when Lancaster came to the Crown fresh Branches sprouted from the supposed dead Stocks And an Army of Birds Fighting in the Air strangely destroyed each other THE County of SUFFOLKE Remarks on the County of Suffolk c. SUffolk has many Advantages in its Situation by reason the Eastern part of it opens to the Sea and is stored with commodious Havens besides this County abounds with Cattle Wooll Corn Marshes producing fat Pastures store of Butter and much Cheese but not much approved of It is mostly plain branched with several curious Rivers flowing from and runing into the Ocean On the North it is Bounded with Norfolk on the West with Cambridgeshire and on the South with Essex It contains 22 Hundreds 575 Parishes 28 Market Towns 1 Castle 2 principal Rivers 32 Bridges 27 Parks most of them well stored with Deer It sends Members to Parliament 16 viz. Alborough 2 Dunwich 2 St. Edmunds-Bury 2 Ipswich 2 Orford 2 Sudbury 2 Eye 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Ipswich in this County was Founded by one Gipsa it has a flourishing Estate in Shiping-Trade by reason of the Navigable River it stands on it was often harassed in antient times by the Danes and is particularly noted for the Birth of that great Pagentry of Fortune Cardinal Wolsey whose Father was a Butcher in it St. Edmunds-Bury is Memorable for King Edmund's being Shot to Death by the Danes for Expiation of which Cruelty King Canute Erected here a stately Monastery once accounted the Richest in Europe And here a Parliament was held in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth Exning is the Birth-place of St. Audri Sister to King Ina. At Renlisham Redwald the first Christian King of the East-Angles kept his Court Lidgate is the Birth-place of John Sirnamed Lidgate a famous English Poet. The Seats of the Nobility are Busbrook Hall belonging to the Duke of St. Albans Ewston to the Earl of Arlington Christs Church in Ipswich Sudbury Hall Soham Lodge to the Lord Viscount Hereford Denham Hall to the Lord Viscount Townsend Broom Hall and Carleford Hall to the Lord Cornwallis Besides these there are a great many stately Buildings belonging to private Gentlemen In some of the Cliffs to the Sea Hawks build and there is much Game for Recreation as Fishing Fowling Hunting c. Here also stands Framlingham Castle a place of great State Beauty Strength and Conveniency and the Ruins of Burgh Castle Remain The Reign of HENRY the Fourth commonly called Henry of Bullenbrook THIS Henry was Crowned by the consent of the Estates in the life time of Richard the Second and created Henry his Eldest Son Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester Then he called a Parliament in his own Name in which the Bishop of Carlisle for speaking in the behalf of King Richard and moving a commiseration of his wrongs was committed close Prisoner to the Abby of St. Albans and the Crown was entailed on Henry and his Heirs forever This Parliament no sooner ended but many Lords Conspired the Death of the King entering into Oath and Covenant to do it at Oxford where they had appointed sollemn Sports for his Entertainment in honour as they Flatteringly pretended of his happy Accession to the Crown but really with an intent to restore King Richard And accordingly they met Armed all but Edward Plantagenet Duke of Aumarle Son to Edmund of Langley Duke of York the Kings Unkle who as he sat at Dinner with his Father had by chance the Label of the Instrument of Combination hanging out at his Bosom of which the old Duke taking hold drew forth the whole Writing and Reading the Contents of the Conspiracy prepared for Windsor to give the King an account of it which the young Duke perceiving hastily took Horse and out-stript him himself revealing all the Intrigue for which he had his Pardon Upon this Discovery the King put off his Journey to Oxford and hastened to the Tower of London securing the City to his Interest and raising an Army of which the Lords at Oxford had no sooner notice but they encreased their Forces causing one Magdalen much in likeness to Personate King Richard and advanced their Standard to meet the King but finding they were much inferiour to him in Number their courage failed which so disheartened the Souldiers that they dispersed and left their Leaders to shift for themselves so that most of them were Taken and Executed in divers places others fled the Kingdom and reserved themselves to broach new Broils and this hastened King Richard's Murther in the manner as has been said For King Henry complaining that so long as he Lived he should never be at rest and demanding if none loved him so well as to rid him of that Torment Pierce of Exton to curry favour with him posted away and with other Ruffians villainously performed it at which the French King was mightily displeased purposing to send his Letters of Defiance to King Henry and Invade his Kingdom but upon second thoughts tho' he had raised a potent Army he dissolved it and proceeded no further in the business Yet soon after he Levied another Army to Invade Aquitaine and Guyan but was so stoutly withstood by King Henry's Forces That he retired and Disbanded them But the King of England doubting the security of his ill-got Title laboured to make Peace with him the better to strengthen himself offering a Marriage between Henry his Son and the Lady Isabella Widow to King Richard and Daughter to Charles the Sixth of France but that King considering how unfortunate Marriages had been between France and England refused it whereupon she was sent over in great State and Married to her Cousin Charles Eldest Son of Lewis Duke of Orleance her Unkle Soon after this Owen Glendour with his Welsh Rebelled Overthrowing the King's Army and taking the Lord Grey of Ruthen and Edmund Mortimer the Kings Cousin Prisoners using them exceeding hardly the sooner to oblige the King to Ransom them but he neglected it because Mortimer was nearer Allied to the Crown by Right of Descent than himself yet tho' he might have had his
Liberty if he would have joyned with the Welsh and some English Nobles that were fled thither he rather chose to endure Extremities than to comply with them Whereupon they solicited the Scots who Invaded the Northern parts of the Kingdom doing much Mischief but the King soon requited it by entering Scotland and laying all waste before him However he no sooner returned but the Scots re-entered England with 20000 Men committing many Barbarous Cruelties but being Encountered by Henry Sirnamed Hotspur Son to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland 10000 of them were Slain and 500 taken Prisoners and of note Mordacke Earl of Fiffe Archibald Earl of Douglas Thomas Earl of Murray and Robert Earl of Angus The following Year the French sent 12 Ships with 1200 Nobles Gentlemen and others to assist the Welsh but most of them were Shipwrack'd on the Point of Cornwal and the rest with much difficulty returned to France yet soon after he Landed 12000 Men in Wales to assist Glendour and his Rebellious Companions who joyned them with 10000. But upon the Kings approach with an Army the Welsh fled into the Woods and Mountains leaving the French to shift for themselves which made them hasten to their Ships and return to France without doing any thing Memorable which made the French King become a Jest to the English viz. That he was often Big but never Brought-forth Notwithstanding King Henry to Strengthen his Interest Abroad Married Jane Widow to John the deceased Duke of Britany and gave Blanch his Eldest Daughter to William Duke of Bavaria Son and Heir Apparent to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and some time after Philippa his Youngest Daughter to the King of Denmark In the Third Year of his Reign he required Henry Piercy Earl of Worcester Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and Piercy Hotspur his Son to deliver up the Scots Prisoners taken in the late Battel on the Northern Borders but was Answered Those Prisoners were theirs by Right of War and they would not part with them desiring him at the same time to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer but this he refused alledging That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give Glendour and other his Accomplices a colourable pretence for Rebellion seeing he was so near Allied to the Crown and therefore his own Safety and his good Discretion gave him Advice not to hearken to their Motion but to punish his offence This much displeased the Piercies and designing to Levy War against the King they Ransomed Mortimer at their own charge secretly entering into a League and Friendship with Glendour they promised him great matters when King Henry by their United Strength should be Deposed then they Engaged the Scots Prisoners to take part with them also the Earl of Stafford Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York and many others and as they had done against Richard so they framed and published Articles against him as to his Misdemeanours in Government false claim to the Crown charging him with the Murther of King Richard his Lawful and Rightful Soveraign also his refusing to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer who was taken Fighting in his Cause but rather wished he might die in a loathsome Prison because the Crown of Right belonged to him as being Son and Heir to Philippa Daughter and Heiress to Lionel Duke of Clarence Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Father to Henry whom they stiled a Usurper This made many joyn with them so that their Army became very Formidable to the King And to bind the Welsh more firmly to them Edward Mortimer Earl of March Married Glendour's Daughter by which means in a little time they flattered themselves they should have a King of England of the Antient British Blood And indeed a very great danger about this time threatened the King for a Calthrop or Engin with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes was placed in his Bed which had certainly procured his Death had he suddainly lain down upon it but it was timely Discovered yet the Party who placed it could not be made known and divers Gray Fryers scattering defamatory Libels against the King several of them were taken and Hanged The King finding his greatest advantage now lay in Expedition suddainly raised an Army and by long Marches prevented the Earls joyning with the Welsh so that both Armies meeting near Shrewsbury Piercy Hotspur a Person of undaunted Courage no sooner saw the Royal Standard but he resolved to throw his Fortune on the hazard of a Battel so the Charge being Sounded the Scots gave the first onset and Fought desperately but were over-born and a great part of them Slain yet notwithstanding the Lords renewed the Battel with great fury and obstinacy perswading themselves of good success until the King and the Prince his Son determining by Honourable Death to leave their Bodies in the Field rather than fall into the hands of their Enemies or betake them to shameful flight and leave their Men a Sacrifice behind them redoubling their Strength and Valour set such Examples to the rest that the declining Battel was restored and Piercy Hotspur with many of chief Command being Slain the Lords Army fell into rout and confusion so that in the Field and Pursuit 6000 were slain the Earls of Worcester Douglas and many others were taken Prisoners and a famous Victory was obtained and it is said the King slew in this Battel 36 with his own hands but because the Earl Douglas in single Combate had fought with him and approved himself a valiant Man he had his Liberty granted without Ransom but the rest of the Prisoners had not that good luck for the Earl of Worcester and several of the chief were Beheaded many of a lower degree Hanged and Quartered and their Heads placed on London Bridge In this Battel the King lost not above 600 Men. To follow this lucky Success the Prince was sent into Wales with part of the Army where he found Owen Glendour forsaken by most of his Companions and with the rest for his safety he retired into a vast Wood which being encompassed and narrowly watched he was there with many others Famished to Death and such as were taken by hunting and beating that Wood suffered by Execution And hereupon the Prince returned to the King and in the mean while the Earl of Northumberland came and submitted himself to the Kings Mercy and tho' he was excused it was with no hearty goodwill but rather to prevent the Castle of Berwick and other strong Places on the Frontiers from falling into the hands of the Scots as being held by such Officers as the Earl had appointed under him These Troubles were no sooner over but Lewis Duke of Orleance sent the King in a Bravado a Challenge to meet him and a Hundred French with a Hundred English to Combate it for Honours sake in an indifferent place whereto the King returned Answer That his former Actions in Warlike undertakings could clearly acquit him from the imputation of Cowardize and that Kings
ought not to be so careless of their Peoples wellfare and safety as to meet every Madman who had the vanity to send them a Challenge But that he would be at all times ready to Repel any Violence or Injury which he should dare rashly or unadvisedly to Attempt against him or his People This exceedingly nettled Mounsieur so that in an angry mood designing Revenge he Besieged the Town of Vergie in Guyan but having wasted his Army in almost a four Months Siege he was constrained to raise it and retire with disgrace After this the Duke of Burgundy to mend the matter raised an Army to reduce Callis but upon King Henry's preparations to pass the Seas with an Army he was Remanded by the French King which he looking on as the Duke of Orleances doings to hinder him from gathering expected Lawrels a mortal hatred sprung up between them and several Battels were Fought King Henry first assisting Burgundy and then Orleance and gained much Money by their Contention whilst they weakened each other and the whole Estate of France whilst they drew in Parties to side with them In the mean while the Marshal of France laying Siege to a Town in Gascony with 4000 Men at Arms was beaten off by Sir John Blunt with 300 English 12 Noblemen and 120 Gentlemen taken Prisoners and carried into the Town in Triumph And now tho' the King had Pardoned the Earl of Northumberland yet he resenting some Indignities put on him grew restless for Revenge and therefore Associating with Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York Thomas Moubray Earl Marshal The Lords Hastings Faulconbridge Bardolf and divers others Forces were resolved to be raised and another hazard of the Field to be Enterprised But the Earl of Westmoreland whom they would have drawn to their Party revealing their Design to the King he secretly Marched with an Army into the North and surprising Moubray Scroop and some others caused their Heads to be stricken off but Northumberland Bardolf c. Escaped to France from whence they afterward came to Scotland where that King promised to Aid them but to prevent the threatening Danger the King raised a potent Army and sent it under the Prince of Wales into Scotland where he Retook Berwick Alnwick and other strong places that the Earl had delivered to the Scots and Burnt many Towns in the heart of that Kingdom whereupon the Scots finding themselves unable to make Resistance craved a Truce which was Granted for twelve Months and thereupon the Prince returned home with his Spoils Whilst this was doing the French to favour the Design set out several Armed Ships to Alarum the Coast Towns of England when the Lord Castile with three other Lords 20 Knights and a great many Soldiers Landing at Dartmouth were Encountered by the Country People who Slew Castile and most of his Soldiers and taking the rest Prisoners brought them to the King who very well rewarded the Rusticks for their Care and Vigilancy and put the Lords and Knights to great Ransoms and the King going to see them on Board at their departure in his return from the Downs very narrowly scaped being taken by a French Privatier's supposedly lying purposely in wait for him whereupon the Lord Commois who attended him being a Norman Nobleman was suspected of Treachery but upon his Tryal acquitted and received into Favour The Truce with Scotland Expired Northumberland and Bardolf Animated the Scots to Invade England which they did doing much mischief in Northumberland and other Northern parts Whereupon the King Levied an Army and Traveled by long Marches to Encounter them but before his Arrival they were Fought-with and Overthrown by Sir Thomas Rookby High Sherif of Yorkshire who slew the Earl and sent his Head as a Present to the King that was very acceptably received and the Lord Bardolf being Wounded fled into Scotland and there Dyed of his Wounds After this the King Assembling a Parliament Created therein his three Younger Sons viz. Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford and Humphry Duke of Gloucester and many Laws were therein Enacted profitable to the Common-weal and from this Day till his Death the King Enjoyed a Life free from Hostility but found such Inward perplexities of Mind for having Consented to or Instigated the Murther of King Richard his first Cousin for the lucre of his Crown that to make some Attonement and quiet his Conscience he Levied an Army resolving as he had Vowed to make War against the Infidels that Oppressed the Christians in the Holy Land which the Popes of those times declared was a full Atonement or sufficient Expiation for any Crime how Notorious so ever but whilst things were getting ready he fell into an Appoplexy and finding Death approaching caused his Crown to be placed on his Pillow with an intent to deliver it to the Prince when he was near Departing but he impatient of delay supposing him when fallen into a Drowsâness to be Dead removed it thence whereupon the King raised himself and missing it demanded Who had taken it And the Prince Replying It was he The King fell back and fetching a deep Sigh said My Son what Right I had to this Crown and how I have Enioyed it God knows and the World hath seen and thereupon he fetched a deep Groan but the Prince not minding that said Comfort your self in God Father The Crown you have and if you Dye it is mine and I will keep it with my Sword as you have done and within a few Hours the King dyed in the 46th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 13 Years 5 Months and 19 Days and was Buried at Canterbury Anno 1412. In this Kings Reign two Blazing Stars appeared before the breaking out of the Piercy's Rebellion and many Drops of Blood fell on Peoples Garments in the Northern Parts as from the Clouds Anno 1407 a great Plague happened that destroyed in London 30000 Persons and multitudes else where and the Year after a violent Frost held 15 Weeks And by the wicked procurement of Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp worthy Divines suffered Martyrdome for opposing the Romish Superstitions and Idolatry Preaching the Gospel and much adhearing to Wickliffe's Doctrine Remarks on the County of Surry c. SUrry is a very spacious County and would be aboundantly Fruitful did not a ridge of barren Hills run in a manner quite through it however it abounds in Corn Cattle Rich Medows and Vpland Pastures and Open and Inclosed Grounds yeilds store of Honey Wooll Fowl Fish Deer and is abundant in pleasant Gardens and Orchards of Fruit-Trees It is Bounded on the North with the Thames and Middlesex on the East with Kent on the South with Sussex and on the West with Hampshire and Buckinghamshire It contains 13 Hundreds in which are 141 Parishes 8 Principal Market Towns 7 Bridges 4 Forrests and 17 Parks as for Rivers there are many small ones as at Gilford
their Ransom to pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors and with this Capital City went the currant of the rest so that he became sole Master of Normandy Upon this the Duke of Burgundy came to King Henry under safe conduct to treat of an Accommodation but whatever the King asked was denied which made him in a passion Swear That he would have the Lady Catharine in Marriage and what he demanded with her or otherwise he would ere long drive both him and his Master out of the Kingdom To which the Duke Replied Those words were easie to be spoke but that he must take much Labour and Toil to make them good After this the Duke reconciled himself to the Dauphin ratified under their Hands and Seals before a publick Notary and King Henry to let the world see he resolved to persist in what he had enterprized created Gascoyn D' Foyes Earl of Longeville Sir John Grey Earl of Tankervile and Sir John Bourchier Earl of Ewe in the Kingdom of France and upon the approach of Captain Bueff with 1500 Men to Ponthoyse the Lord Listendame the Governour with 10000 Inhabitants Deserted it leaving for haste most of their Rich Goods behind them This Place the King Fortified and Marched to Paris which he lay before Three Days bringing a great terror on that City but with his small Army not able to incompass it he Marched back to Ponthoyse John Duke of Burgundy as is said having reconciled himself to the Dauphin yet it being superficial and not hearty he determined in a more submissive manner to humble himself unto him that thereby their Loves taking a deeper root might bring forth the fruits of Unity and Peace but when they met the Dauphin whose Mallice was irreconcileable and whose mistrustful Jealosie did perswade him that the Duke would not be faithful procured him treacherously to be Murthered by the blow of a Battel-Ax in his presence as he was about to kneel and pay him Homage This was looked on by many as a just Judgment because much in the same manner he had caused Lewis Duke of Orleance to be Murthered in the Tenth Year of King Henry the Fourth This made not amiss for King Henry but hastened his advancement for Philip Son to the Murthered Duke was so highly displeased that he not only in his melancholy Anger determined forever to separate himself from his Innocent Dutchess without any other reason or cause than that she was Sister to the Dauphin but as his fury abated her Tears and the sober Advice of his Counsellours brought him to better reason so that for that time his Love continued to her as at first Yet he resolved on Revenge another way viz. By joyning his Interest with King Henry for he was very powerful in Flanders as well as Burgundy and was able to give a considerable check to France but more especially to the Dauphins Interest and to bring this about he laboured to Reconcile the Kings of England and France and in those his endeavours he was the more powerful 1. Because his Wife was Daughter to the French King 2. Because the Lady Catharine who could do all with ââeen Isabella passionately desired to be Married to King âenry 3. Because the Queen for depriving her of her Treasure ââd some other Affronts put upon her had conceived a morââ hatred against the Dauphin insomuch that she could not ââdure to hear him Named 4. Because the Dauphin was more Subtile Cunning âafty and Revengeful Than Politick Wise or Valliant And Lastly Because the treacherous Murther of Burâândy had rendered him Abhorred among the Neighbouring ârinces and for the most part in France And soon after this by the means of the Duke and Queen of France matters so ripened towards a Peace That it was Agreed King Henry should have an Interview with Charles the French King his Queen and Daughter at Trois in Campaign whither he went accompanied with his Brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester the Earls of Warwick Salisbury Huntington Longevile Tankervile and Ewe and to prevent any Treacherous Surprise drew a Camp of 15000 Men âear the Place and so luckey were their Consultations that within a few Days a strict Amity was made and a Peace Proclaimed between the two Kings upon many Articles But the Substance briefly was That the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of King Charles and his Queen should reââin to King Henry and his Heirs forever whereupon ãâã Married the Lady Catharine with great Pomp and ââendour So that the Salique Law of France was at âs time made void Yet the Pope being solicited to ââfirm King Henry would not consent to it Howââer the Articles of Peace and Agreement were Proââmed in both Kingdoms so that King Henry being âw more at leasure and commanding for the French King as being appointed Regent or Protector of France he pursued the Dauphin from place to place stripping him with little labour of many important Towns Castles and Fortresses and in the strong Town of Moylin on the River Seine they took the Lord Barbason and divers others who were concerned in the Murther of the Duke of Burgundy who being sent to Paris were Tryed Sentenced and put to Death and the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy Appealing to a Grand Council in which the two Kings sat as Judges against the Dauphin and seven others they were Summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris at a fixed Day but failing to do it as likewise in the Parliament soon after called They were Banished the Realm deprived of their Honours Names Titles and Dignities whatsoever and Proclaimed Enemies This greatly perplexed the Dauphin Yet going into Languedock he was succoured and supported with Money Arms and other Necessaries by the Earl of Arminack Almost all France being reduced to Obedience the two Kings and Queens took leave and Henry received in his way to England Homage of all the Nobles of the Dutchy of Normandy and conferring high Honours and Titles on many came to Callis and from thence Sailed for England where he was Joyfully received and the February following Queen Catharine was Crowned at Westminster with great Solemnity The Dauphin upon King Henry's departure began to look up a little and having made the Young Duke of Alanson his Lieutenant the Duke of Clarence was left Lieutenant for Henry who deceived by one Andrew Forgusa a Treacherous Lombard whom he too much Trusted thinking to repress the French Forces was drawn into their Ambush and after a desperate Fight against four to one the English were Overthrown near Blangy yet the French lost 1200 of their choicest Men and of the English were slain the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Tankervile Sir Gilbert Vmphervile the Lord Ross and near 2000 of less Note and taken Prisoners the Earls of Suffolk Sommerset and Perch the Lord Fitz-Walter and others But upon the approach of Sir Thomas Beaufort with a Band of Archers the
French hasted out of the Field with their Prisoners and Spoil as having had hot work on it already and not willing to try a second Encounter The King was much troubled at this Overthrow and the death of his Brother but resolving Revenge he sent the Earl of Mountague to succeed him in the Command of the Provinces and assembling a Parliament caused to be laid before them the State of both Nations whereupon to enable him in his Wars the Temporality gave him one Fifteenth and the Clergy two and for Expedition the Bishop of Winchester Advanced 20000 l. and received it again out of the Tax Granted by Parliament whereupon an Army consisting of 24000 Men was Transported under the Command of John Duke of Bedford the King's Brother driving the Dauphin from the Siege of Chartieres from thence the Duke Marched to Paris and was soon joyned by the Duke of Burgundy with 4000 Horse nor was the King slow in following his Army having with him James the Young King of Scots who with his own People Besieged and Took Direux and delivered it to King Henry and so they chased the Dauphin out of all his strong Holds compelling him to take Refuge in Berry whither the King thought not fit to tire his Army in following him but having taken in a great many places repassed the Loire About this time Queen Catharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor which News coming to the King very much troubled him because he had charged her not to Lye-in there but being unexpectedly taken in Labour necessity compelled her to do it The King's Reason for it was grounded on an old Prophecy Predicting No Prince Fortunate that should be Born there Whereupon in a Passion he said to the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and Win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and Loose all But God's Will be done Soon after this the King having Reduced the Isles of France and almost all other Places fell Sick and unable to Travel whereupon he committed the charge of the Army to his Brother John Duke of Bedford Then calling together his Nobles and sending for the Queen he appointed the Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Lieutenant General of Normandy and his other Brother Humphry Duke of Glocester Regent of England and Protector of his Son's Person Exhorting the Nobles to maintain the Friendship with the Duke of Burgundy and always to be at Union among themselves to be faithful to his Son and Queen and never to conclude a Peace with the Dauphin till he submitted to his Son Soon after this he Dyed August 31st Anno 1422 at Boice Le Vincenois in France of a Burning Feavour and Flux in the 30th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 Days and his Body being brought over was Buried among his Noble Ancestors at Westminster with extraordinary Solemnity SUSSEX By I. Seller Remarks on the County of Sussex c. SUssex is a very pleasant open County in most parts and much advantaged by its lying open on its South side to the Sea It produces a considerable sprinkling of Corn flocks of Sheep and many Large Cattle Fruit great store and much Pasture-Ground It abounds in Butter Cheese and some Honey Flax and Hops on the West it is Bounded with Hampshire on the North with Kent and Surry and on the East with the Sea and some little part of Kent It contains 1 City viz. Chichester which is a Bishops See 65 Hundreds Parishes 312 Market Towns 17 1 Castle 2 Rivers 10 Bridges and 33 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Arundel 2 Bramber 2 Chichester 2 East Grinstead 2 Horesham 2 Lewis 2 Midhurst 2 New Shoreham 2 Steyning 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Besides the Cinque Ports viz. Hastings 2 Rye 2 Seaford 2 and Winchelsea 2. Chichester in this County is held to be Founded by Cissa a South Saxon and the Bishoprick was Translated thither from Sesley by William the Conqueror at Lewis King Ethelston Coined his Money and a strong Castle was Built there by Earl Warren and a Bloody Battel fought near it between King Henry and his Barons at Pensey or Pevensey the Conqueror Landed when he won England and near Hastings the great Fight was fought between William and King Harold for the Kingdom and the place is called to this day Battel-Field at Buckstead the first Great Iron Guns in England were Cast The Waters in this County produce the best Carp in the Island and on the Sea Coast store of Lobsters are taken Near Walsal are store of Lime Pits Sesley is famed for Cockles near Tenderden Steeple is a Stone that sensibly appears to Grow by the falliag of the Rain The Seats of the Nobility are Arundel Castle belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Buckhurs and Stoneland belonging to the Earl of Dorset part of Bolebrook to the Earl of Thanet Herst Monceux to the Earl of Sussex Cowdrey Battel-Abby and Poynings to the Lord Montague Petworth-Place to the Duke of Sommerset Eridg to the Lord Abergavenny Up-Park to the Lord Grey and Chichester Palace to the Bishop of the Diocess And many sightly Houses belonging to the Gentry c. The Reign of HENRY the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor HENRY the Sixth being at the Death of his Father not above three Months Old a Parliament was soon after called and he Crowned at Westminster at five Months Old the Queen holding him in her Lap whilst the Ceremony was performed and likewise brought into the Parliament-House where the Lords paid Homage to him as their Rightful Soveraign a Speech on his behalf being made to them by the Queen Exhorting them to be stedfast and Unanimous in securing his Right and opposing his Enemies c. which they promised to be and endeavour to the utmost Not long after this King Charles the Sixth Dying the French Nobles began to bethink themselves that it stood little with their Honour to be subject to a Prince of another Nation whilst they had a Son of their King amongst them and forgeting their Oaths and Fealty they began on a suddain to grow cold towards the English and seemed desirous to shake off their Yoak of which the Regent giving notice to his Brother in England care was taken continually to send him over Men and Money to compell them if necessity required it to their Obedience but first he used all manner of fair Means minding them if they persevered in their Loyalty the happy conclusion would make them Rich and Fortunate win to them the Love and Favour of their Young King as he grew up and increased in Wisdom and Years c. However the Dauphin got himself Crowned by his Party under the Title of Charles the Seventh and with his small Army took the Field sending the Lord Grandval to Besiege Pont-Melance on the River Seine which he had the fortune to surprize before the
brought into England about 12 Years after by William Caxton a Mercer Remarks on Warwickshire c. WArwickshire is an Inland County very pleasantly situate well Wooded and incumbered but with few Hills It is Bounded with Staffordshire Leicestershire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire It abounds with Cattle Corn Wooll Cheese Butter pleasant Pastures Fish and Fowl It contains 5 Hundreds in which are 158 Parishes 14 Market Towns 4 Castles 10 Rivers 10 Bridges 13 Parks and 2 Forrests It sends Members to Parliament 6 viz. Coventry City 2 Warwick 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Warwick the Shire Town is of very Antient foundation held to be Builded by Gurguntus a British King 375 Years before the Birth of our Saviour the Castle yet retaining very many marks of great Antiquity and Memorable for the Residence of the Renowned Guy Earl of Warwick where is kept a Vessel called his Pot and usually filled with good Liquor to be Drunk by all comers on memorable Days It is commodiously situate on the River Avon Coventry joyntly with Litchfield make a Bishoprick on one of its Gates called Gifford-Gate is the Bone of a Monstrous Beast fastned said to be that of the huge Boar Guy slew who with his Snout turned up a deep place now called Swanes Mear At Wolney Anno 1469 King Edward the Fourth was taken Prisoner by the great Earl of Warwick and his Forces scattered At Backlow Hill Pierce Gaviston was taken and Beheaded The other Places of Note are Henly Southam Sutton Atherstone Kyneton Rougby Aulchester Bitford The River Tame abounds with Fish and finely branches the Northern part of the County as Avon does most of the rest over which leading to Warwick is a sightly and strong Bridge At Lemington a Salt Spring arises a great distance from the Sea At Newenham or Menhem Reges is a Petrifying Well Snale Stones Star Stones and Cockel Stones are found near Shugbury The Noblemens Seats are Milcot-House belonging to the Earl of Dorset Compton-Place to the Earl of Northampton Newnham Padox to the Earl of Denby Wormleighton to the Earl of Sunderland Comb to the Earl of Craven Ragley and Luddington to the Earl of Conway Hewel Grange to the Earl of Plymouth Ettington to the Lord Ferrers Warwick Castle Knowel and Beuchamps Court to the Lord Brook Fletchamstead and Stonely to the Lord Leigh Wotenwaven and Aln-Lodg to the Lord Carrington besides many pleasant Seats of the Gentry sightful to Travellers The Reign of King EDWARD the Fourth EDWARD Duke of York having prevailed over the Lancastrians and put to death many of his great Enemies Marched Triumphantly to London where he was by the Citizens joyfully received and Proclaimed King on the 4th of March Anno 1461 and the 19th of June following he was Crowned at Westminster but his carriage towards the Citizens afterward made them repent their forwardness to take part with him against King Henry who had always loved them and been their constant Friend Soon after his Coronation he called a Parliament and laboured therein to settle the Affaires of the Kingdom which were much disordered by the Civil War And all former Statutes made in the Reign of Henry which Attainted him and his Adherents of High Treason were Cancelled and made void The Earl of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his Son were in this Parliament Attainted of sundry Treasons and lost their Heads and to strengthen his Interest he conferred Titles of Honour on a great many of his Friends Whereupon seeing little hopes left of King Henry's Recovering his Crown the Duke of Sommerset Sir Ralph Piercey and others submitted themselves to Edward's Mercy and were received into favour but upon notice the Queen was arrived from France in the North and by the Aid of the Scots had raised a considerable Army they secretly fled to her Edward had soon notice of these Proceedings and sent the Lord Montacute before him with a considerable Force himself followed with the rest of the Army and this Lord with such resolution and bravery set upon the Lords Hungerford and Ross that at the begining of the Fight they Cowardly fled away but Sir Ralph Piercey and other stout Commanders who preferred an honourable death before a shameful desertion of their Men fought it out bravely till they lost their Lives in the Field and left the Victory to their Adversary The Lord Montacute flushed with this success and thursting after fame without staying for the King set upon Queen Margaret's Army and after a bloody Fight put her to the Rout and Henry Duke of Summerset William Tallboies who stiled himself Earl of Kent the Lords Ross Mollines and Hungerford Sir Henry Nevel Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Richard Tunstal being Taken were in several places Beheaded and 27 others were shortly after Executed in divers manners But after this Overthrow Henry Escaped to Scotland with his half-Brother Jasper Earl of Pembrook Sir Ralph Grey and others and hereupon all the Castles in the North fell into King Edward's hands For this Service done by the Lord Montacute the King would have given him the Earldom of Northumberland but upon that Earls submitting though he had fought against him he restored him to his Lands and Honours giving Montacute in lieu of his Resignation the Title of a Marquess and to encourage his Soldiers and such as had deserved well he bestowed on them great Bounties out of the confiscated Estates of his Enemies causing many advantagious Laws to be Enacted the better to settle him on the Throne by gaining the affection of the People Soon after this King Henry returning disguised into England was discovered taken Prisoner and sent to Edward who committed him to close ward in the Tower King Edward now thinking himself firmly fixed in the Throne by the advice of the Estates after the proposals of several Matches concluded to send his great Friend Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick to require the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and Sister to Charete Queen to Lewis the Eleventh King of France in Marriage the Earl was sent over with a very splended Equipage and with many Rich presents to the Lady and was so prosperous in his Negotiation that all things he had in Commission were soon agreed to the Portion assigned and the Instruments for settling her Dowry ratified but this wrought much mischief to King Edward For going to Recreate himself at his Mannor of Grafton he there cast his Eyes on the Beautiful Elizabeth Widow to Sir John Grey slain in King Henry's cause at the Battel of St. Albans and by no perswasions being able to gain her for his Concubine though he had freely granted her her Husbands Estate which she Petitioned to him for so enflamed was he with the desire of Enjoying her and she plainly telling him As she thought her self of too mean a condition to be his Wife so she thought her self much above his demands of being his Concubine and tho' her Life might be at his dispose
different success But at length the Earl perceiving fresh supplies continually press on his weary Soldiers thinking by his Example to give them new Courage he dismounted and with his Sword in his Hand pressed into the Front of his Enemies making miserable slaughter But breaking in too far and not being timely succoured he was slain together with the Marquess his Brother who threw himself into the opening Jaws of Death in hopes to bring the Earl off These great Commanders slain the Army grew faint and giving way by degrees at length fell into a total rout about 10000 being slain and of King Edward's Part of Note only Sir Humphry Bourcher Son to the Lord Barns and the dead Bodies of the Earl and Marquess being brought to St. Paul's were exposed to view three Days and then Honourably Interred among their Ancestors in the Priory of Bissam Queen Margaret having notice of this Defeat fled with her Son to the Abbey of Bewley in Hampshire whither divers Lords resorted to her and agreed to raise new Forces and try the fortune of another Field which they did and were Overthrown at Tewxbury about 3000 being slain and of Note the Duke of Sommerset Sir John Lewkner Sir John Delves c. The Prisoners of Note were the Queen and Prince the Prior of St. John's Sir Jervis Cliffton Sir Thomas Tristram and Twelve others of Note all but the two first being Beheaded the next day and soon after Prince Edward being presented to the King by Sir Richard Crofts who took him Prisoner was piteously Murthered in his sight by the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and others on the signal given by the King in striking him on the Mouth with his Gantlet nor was it long after that Innocent King Henry was Murthered in the Tower by the same Duke of Gloucester who struck a Dagger to his Heart his Body being afterward exposed to view in St. Paul's three days that the People might be sure he was Dead however these Proceedings caused the King much hatred among the People when somewhat to satisfie them he consented to Ransome the Queen to pay which the poor Prince her Father sold his Titles to Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and returning home she Lived a Melancholy and Disconsolate Life which lasted not long ere she dyed of Grief particularly for the Death of the Prince her Son whom she dearly Loved King Edward by Bloodshed being rid of his greatest opposers took sollace in Pleasures being very Lustful and was rarely without two or three Concubins tho' his Queen was Young and Beautiful and among them Jane Shoar Wife to Mathew Shoar a Goldsmith in Grace-church-street was most pleasing to him though in the end it brought her to shame and misery But to pass this over The King being now as I may term it Established in the Throne the Duke of Burgundy vehemently incited him to War on France and recover it as his Antient Right and Inheritance upon which condition himself promised to do great matters towards assisting him The King was not slow in listening to it for many reasons urged by his Council as The French having frequently assisted his Enemies c. Yet Money being wanting it seemed difficult But to surmount this he resolved without a Parliament to ask it of his Subjects as a Free Gift which many indeed complied with tho' with an ill will But one thing in this is Remarkable The King to oblige them to bring in more freely if not for Love yet for fear of after-claps on Penal Laws seeing many that were Rich had engaged their Persons or Purses in the War against him he sat sundry Hours in a Day to receive it himself when among others a Rich yet Nigardly old Widow brought Twenty Pounds this so highly pleased him That he not only returned her thanks but told her For her kindness she should Kiss a King and having performed it once the Old Woman pull'd out another Bag crying Vdsbodikins if Kings Sell their Kisses so Cheap give me tother Touch on the Lips and here is another Twenty Pound for you The King smiled at this took her at her word and thought his Kisses well Sold. With this Benevolence of his Subjects and his own Treasure he Transported a fair Army over Sea but found the Duke of Burgundy altogether unprovided even of the promised Necessaries for the support of the English who Lying without the Towns on the cold Ground soon began to murmur however to employ them he Marched with the Duke towards St. Quintins which was secretly promised to be delivered to him by Lewis of Luxemburg great Unkle to King Edward's Queen but on their approaching its Walls the Cannon not only plaid fiercely on them but the Garison made great Sallies so that finding no good to be done they were constrained to draw off and soon after the Duke without taking leave went to raise Forces leaving only word That he would come again with an Army as soon as he was able These Proceedings made the King begin to repent he had come over upon his account and the French King making large offers to obtain a Peace it was after some debate Agreed to without the Dukes consent viz. 1. In consideration the French King Paid Edward 65000 Crowns towards his Charge and 50000l per Annum for his Life 2. That in one Year he should send for the Lady Elizabeth King Edward 's Eldest Daughter and Marry her to the Dauphin allowing them for Nine Years space Annually 50000 Crowns and then the Peaceable possession of the Dutchy of Guyan and in consideration of this Hostages should be left till the English had quitted France and were returned home This being Agreed on tho' the Marriage was never performed the Duke of Burgundy hastened to the Kings Camp and in a blustering and storming manner greatly inveighed against what he had done and was as sharply Answered by him whereupon he rod away in much discontent and the French King came to an Enterview with King Edward highly Feasting him and his whole Army giving Money to the Officers and Soldiers and commanding all his Subjects to use them with much Bounty and Civility which done King Edward Marched to Callice and there passed over to England and then the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheney the Hostages were sent after him with great Rewards The Duke of Burgundy however continued the War and was thrice Overthrown in one Year and in the last at Nancy he was slain King Edward being now at leasure to look if therâ were after so many slaughters any that could lay â Claim to his Crown or Interrupt by such a pretence the Peace of him or his Heirs for by this time he had two Sons and five Daughters he at last thought on Henry Earl of Richmond who remained with the Duke of Brittany he being of the Royal Blood and near of Allyance to the Crown To get this Prince into his hands he Bribed Peter Landois the Dukes Treasurer with great Sums
Edward the Fourth and the last of the Male Line of the Plantagenets who had sway'd the Scepter from Henry the Second King Henry by this Bloodshed having more firmly Established his Throne or at least himself from those fears that he apprehended from mutable Fortune whilst this Young Prince Lived Married Arthur Prince of Wales his Eldest Son to the Lady Catharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain with great Magnificence in St. Paul's But that Young Prince soon after Dying she was Married to Henry his Second Son who Succeeded But upon some pretended scruples Divorced as will appear at large in the History of his Reign And James the Fourth King of Scots suing for the Lady Margaret the Kings Eldest Daughter the Match was concluded tho' the French King and others had required her but could not obtain their Suits for in this Henry wisely considered That if his Sons Issue should fail it would be a means to unite Scotland to England when if he had Married her to a more Powerful Kingdom this must have been Subjected to that which he concluded would prove very dishonourable to the English Nation and the Lady being sent to Edenbourough was there Married with great Solemnity The King in the latter end of his Reign growing exceeding Covetous contrived how he might extort Money from his Subjects and for this as his chief Instrument he used Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley two Lawyers whom he appointed to put the Penal Laws in execution with great Rigor which they spared not to do to the utmost tho' in the next Reign it cost them their Lives nor was the complaints of the oppressed People minded tho' exceeding great and many from all parts of England which encouraged a whole swarm of Locusts as under Officers to pill and pole them in every Shire which caused the King much hatred After this Philip Duke of Austria in Right of his Wife coming to be King of Spain was in his Voyage thither driven by a Tempest into Weymouth Harbour in Dorsetshire where with his Queen he was Entertained by Sir Thomas Trenchard and after Invited to the King's Court at Windsor where for the Entertainment he gave him he procured the Duke of Suffolk fled into Austria to be put into his hands on condition he should have no violence offered him and indeed during this Kings Reign he was only kept a Prisoner but in the next lost his Head King Henry soon after falling Sick of a languishing Disease which was looked on as a Judgment for oppressing his Subjects remitted all offences against his Penal Laws enlarged all Prisoners except for Treason Murther restored Moneys to those that had been Ruined relieved the Poor and did many good Acts. And having Reigned 23 Years and 8 Months he Dyed and was Buried at Westminster in the famous Chappel of his own founding by Elizabeth his Queen who Dyed not long before in the 52d Year of his Age. In this Kings Reign Wheat was Sold for Six Pence a Bushel Nantwich Salt 6 d. and Bay Salt 3 d. per Bushel White Herings 6 s. per Barrel Red Herrings 3 s. per Cade Sprats 6 d. per Cade and Gascoign Wine at 6 l. per Tun. Anno 1495 a mighty Storm of Hail fell killing and wounding many Cattle and People several Stones being taken up at St. Neots in Huntingtonshire 18 Inches about And soon after a fearful Plague raged which made the King and Queen for a time remove their Court to Callice And during his Reign about Nine Persons Men and Women suffered the Flames for the profession of a good Faith Several did Penance by carrying Faggots on their Backs and some were Burnt in the Cheek c. Remarks on Wiltshire c. WIltshire is Renowned for the Frugal Industry of the Inhabitants It produces numerous Flocks of Sheep of whose Wooll Cloath is made and many Thousands of People set on Work as also large Cattle store of Corn and Pastures Venison Fish Fowl c. It is Bounded with Barkshire Hampshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire and Gloucestershire It contains 29 Hundreds in which are 304 Parishes 23 Market Towns 5 Rivers 1 City viz. Salisbury which is a Bishops See 3 Bridges 1 Castle 1 Chace and 2 Parks The River Avon branches its Southern parts and Wilby-Bourn extends to the West as also does a part of Avon and in other parts it is pleasantly Watered the Castle is that of Castlecomb It sends Members to Parliament 34 viz. Bedwin 2 Caln 2 Chipenham 2 Cricklade 2 Devizes 2 Downton 2 Heitsbury 2 Hindon 2 Ludgarsale 2 Malmsbury 2 Marleborough 2 New Sarum 2 Old Sarum 2 Westbury 2 Wilton 2 Wooton Basset 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire WILTSHIRE On Salisbury Plain is the memorable Wonder called Stone Henge supposed to be Erected as a Monument to Hingest the first Saxon Invader its Stones are of a prodigious bigness some 28 Foot long and 7 broad Morticed one within another tho' wasted by time some are falln Near Sawerth are Cockle-stones and those called the Grey Weathers near Marlborough On the Borders of this County between Great Bedwin and Lockington are certain deep Holes called the Giants Caves The Water breaking out of certain Stones near Knet is accounted a presage of Dearth At Luckington is a Well whose Virtue is to Cure Sore Eyes At Aubury is cast up a Ditch of a prodigious depth near Circular set round with large Stones supposed once a strong Encampment of the Romans as Yarnborough Castle on Salisbury Plain is supposed to have been one of their Fortresses The Seats of the Nobility are Marleborough-House and Allington-House belonging to the Duke of Somerset Wilton and Falstone alias Fallerdown to the Earl of Pembrook Clarlton to the Earl of Barkshire Stourton-Castle to the Lord Stourton Wardour-Castle to the Lord Arundel of Wardour Long Leats to the Viscount Weymouth Baron of Warmister the Bishops Seat in Salisbury The Reign of King HENRY the Eighth HENRY the Eighth being Eighteen Years old began his Reign the 22d of April Anno Dom. 1509. and was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury His first Policy was to wind himself into the Affections of his Subjects and soon found out a way to do it by issuing out Proclamations That such as had been Injured by Extortions and Oppressions of evil Persons in his Fathers Reign should be favourably heard and receive Satisfaction for the wrongs done them Whereupon great Numbers came with grievous Complaints those that had received the least Injury being the most clamorous and having recompenced many to please the rest Empson and Dudley the two corrupt Judges were Convicted of High Treason and Beheaded on Tower-Hill and divers imployed under them were Disgraced by Pillories Stocks and Whipping-Posts tho' these Catterpillars had exceedingly Enriched the Kings Treasury as well as their own Coffers For his Father left behind him the greatest Mass of Money that any King of England before him had done Things being a
Fortune However the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland lost his Head for winking as it was alledged against him at the Irish entering within the English Pale and not timely Repelling them Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolk having been Arraigned before the Green Cloth for Striking one Mr. Clear of Norfolk within the Tennis Court of the King's House and being found Guilty he had Judgment to lose his Right Hand and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods and all things being prepared for the Execution of this Sentence and Sir Edmund brought in the Chief Justice declared his Offence which he Confessed and humbly submitted himself to the King's Mercy only he desired the King would spare his Right Hand and take his Left For said he if my Right Hand be spared I may Live to do the King good Services Of which Submission and Saying when the King was informed he ordered he should lose neither of his Hands and Pardoned him also as to his Lands and Goods The Scots had lain still a long while but now began under James the Fifth their Young King to make great Disturbances but after some Bickerings and much Spoil in either Country they were Overthrown and the Earls of Cassels and Glencarn the Lords Maxwell Fleming Sommervel Oliphant Gray and Car were made Prisoners and many Slain The News of this Overthrow so perplexed King James That falling into a deep Grief and Melancholly he Dyed a week after leaving only a Daughter to Succeed him who was then but newly Born and Christened Mary Upon notice of whose Birth when he lay Sick he burst out in this Prophetical Saying It came with a Lass meaning the Crown and it will go with a Lass Soon after the King of Scots Death the Lords that were Prisoners in England to curry favour for their Liberty proposed a Match between Prince Edward Henry's Son and their Young Queen which was kindly accepted The Match being proposed to the Parliament of Scotland they seemed highly to approve it ratifying a Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Nobility as also with their Oaths yet the French Faction so prevailed that it came to nothing But King Henry enraged to be thus abused sent a powerful Army into Scotland which spoiled the Country taking several Towns and great Plunder nor was the King flow to pass over to France where laying Siege to Bullen he had it yielded to him and having Fortified it returned into England to raise Money for a Supply of the War which tho' the Emperour without his consent had made a Peace with France he resolved vigorously to prosecute and because Richard Read an Alderman refused Sir Thomas Wryothsltey the Chancellor the Supply he demanded of him he was compelled in Person to Serve the King in his Wars against the Scots by whom he was taken Prisoner and paid a large Ransom And soon after the French were worsted by Sea and Land and the Scots Routed who Invaded England and followed into their Country Whereupon Peace ensued between England and France Soon after the King cavelling with the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of Surry for bearing in their Escutchion certain Arms appropriated to the King and Prince only tho' they had been born by his Ancestors time out of mind unquestioned being Indicted for High Treason they were both Condemned The Son was Beheaded and the Father escaped by the King's Death which soon ensued viz. on Tuesday the 28th of January Anno Dom. 1546 in the 56th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and 6 Days He was Buryed with much pomp and Funeral solemnity in the Chappel at Windsor In this King's time happened a great Famin viz. 1527 upon the falling of a violent Raine November December and January and from the 12th of April every day till the 3d of June Anno 1545 William Foxley Potmaker to the Mint Slept in the Tower of London not being by any meanâ to be Waked 14 Days and 15 Nights and when he waked it seemed to him but as one Night The Number of Religious Houses Suppressed were Monasteries 313 Priories 290 Friaries 122 Nunneries 142 Colledges 152 Hospitals 129 and their Inhabitants turned out to wander in the Fields after long Ease and Luxury Remarks on Yorkshire in its three Ridings THis is the largest Shire in England and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France It is divided into three Parts or Ridings viz. The North East and West Ridings It produces store of Horses large Cattle Sheep and in many places very good Corn and Pastures great quantities of Woollen Cloth and very Subtil People It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Duâham the German Ocian Lincolnshire Derbyshire Lancashire and Westmoreland It contains 26 Hundreds 563 Parishes 57 Marker Towns 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief 1 City which is an Archiepiscopal See viz. York 14 Castles 62 Bridges 4 Chases â Forrests and 72 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 30 viz. Alborough 2 Beverly 2 Borrough-Bridge 2 Hildon 2 Hull 2 Knarseborough 2 Malton 2 North-Alerton 2 Pomfret 2 Richmond 2 Rippon 2 Scarborough 2 Thrisk 2 York City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire YORK SHIRE By I Seller This Shire affoards store of Iron Pit-Coal and Sea-Coal at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones supposed some Roman Monument on Rosemary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles at Giglesworth are 3 Springs one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour in the North are Ting-tong Wells said to be three Miles in the Earth and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it The Castles of note are those of Sheffield Coningsborough Tickil Sandal Harwood Knasborough Cawood Scarborough Kilton Skelton c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth in memory of the Battel fought there near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies which flow out of the Springs every other Year and fall violently into the Sea The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle to the late Duke of Buckingham Slingsby Castle to the Honourable Family of New-castle Snap to the Earl of Exceter Markin-field to the Earl of Bridgwater Mulgrave Castle to the Earl of Mulgrave Shipton Castle to the Earl of Thanet Nawort Castle to the Earl of Carlisle Wharlton Castle and Javoux Abby to the Earl of Ailesbury Lounsborough Bolton and Braden Tower to the Earl of Burlington Hall and Wimbledon to the Duke of Leeds Thorn-Hill to the Earl of Macclesfield Hackforth Anderly Le Miers to the Earl of Holderness Newborough Abby Coxwold Hall Oulston Hall Aldwark and Murton to the Lord Faulconberg Wressel Castle to the Duke of Richmond Easby Hall to the Lord Eure Baron of Witton Wheldrake to the Lord Howard of Escrick Holm in Spadingmore and Dalton to the Lord Lexinton Wilton Castle to the
John Rogers who in King Henry the Eighth's Reign had fled and associated himself with the famous Tindal after his Death returned into England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and was made a Prebend of St. Pauls by Bishop Ridley being taken and cast in Prison Sentence of Death passed upon him to be burnt which pain he endured with great Constancy and undauntedness of Spirit Exhorting his Wife and Ten Children who weeping came to take their leave of him to part with him Joyfully and Trust in God who would be a better Husband and Father to them Doctor John Hooper Bishop of Gloucester came in for a Crown among the number of these Martyrs and they having Condemned him he was sent down to Gloucester to be burnt where as they said he had done the greatest mischief in sowing the Seeds of Heresie and there in mallice because he earnestly Exhorted the People to be Constant in a steadfast Faith and not to adheare to the destructive Tenents of the Church of Rome they Burnt him with Green Wood so that his Leggs and part of his Thighs were consumed whilst he continued Praying and Exhorting the People yet in these Torments he declared he was as Easie as in a Bed of Roses Dr. Robert Ferrar Bishop of Carmarden was likewise brought on the stage for thwarting Bishop Gardener's Humour and being Condemned as a Heretick by Dr. Morgan who had been thrust into his Bishoprick there happened but a short space between that and his suffering the Flames in Carmarden-Market-Place expressing a firmness of Mind and much resolution in undergoing his Torments accusing Gardener of his Death and Citing him to Answer it before God's High Tribunal Rowland Taylor an Eminent Minister of Hadley being accused as the former was sent to that Parish to be Burnt where he was Lamented by all sorts of People especially the Poor to whom he had been very Charitable calling out the Almes-People by Name and giving them then what Money he had Exhorting them to follow the Doctrine he had Taught them and coming to the Stake he Merrily said Now many would be deceived whereat a Popish Priest supposing he would have Recanted urged him to it with promises and hopes of longer Life but he smilingly Reply'd You mistake my meaning I do not intend by the Grace of God any that I have Preached his Word to shall find me Contradict what I have Taught for Life or any other thing but once supposing to have been Buried in Hadly Church-Yard the Worms will be deceived because my Corpulent Body that might have fed them must now be Burnt to Ashes Besides these divers others of Note were Burnt as Lawrence Saunders a famous Preacher at Coventry John Cardmaker Chancellour of Wells and Bath At London John Bradford a Man Eminent for his Learning and Sanctity in Smithfield At which place also suffered in the Flames that Eminent and Holy Martyr Mr. John Philpot saying at his Martyrdom I will pay my Vows in thee O Smithfield And with him suffered a little Youth praising God and Rejoyceing in the Flames Yet this Issue of Blood staid not for Tho. Tompkins whose Hand Bonner Bishop of London burnt in Prison to try his Constancy which he endured with much Patience was burnt in Smithfield also William Hawtree And in Essex Stephen Knight William Pigot and John Lawrence Rawlins White at Cardiff William Flower and George Marshal at Westminster and John Warn in Smithfield And now the Goâls being full and complaint made by the Pope to the King and Queen That Hereticks were not so severely dealt-with as beyond the Seas they sent to Bonner prone enough of himself to Cruelty that he should disincumber the Prisons in his Diocess by sending such as were Condemned to Execution and proceed to the Tryals of the rest In obedience to this bloody Command he Condemned John Ardely and John Sympson who were burnt in Essex and Thomas Wats Tho. Hawks Tho. Osmond William Bamford Tho. Osburn Inhabitants of Cogshal in Essex being Committed for not Receiving the Easter Sacrament were Condemned and Burnt in several places of that County John Bland Nicâolas Shetterden John Frakesh and Humphery Middleton also suffered the Flames and a while after by the same Cruelty fell Nicholas Hall John Harpole Christopher Wade and Margery Boley In Kent John Launder Derick Carver Tho. Iveson John Denby James Abbes John Newman Patrick Packingham and Richard Hook suffered the Flames Robert Samuel a Minister was Burnt at Norwich two more at Ipswich five in the Diocess of Canterbury for Bonner especially took as much pleasure in Condemning these Good People and sending them to the Flames as Domitian did in Torturing Flys Seven were Burnt in one Fire in Smithfield four in Canterbury A Woman as she was Burning in the Isle of Guernsey had a Child sprung out of her Womb which the Cruel Torturers threw again into the Flames To be brief and not tire your Patience in drawing so Tragical a Scene too wide There were in this short Raign consumed in the Flames for the Confession of a Good Faith 277 of all Ages and Sexes viz. Five Bishops 21 Divines 8 Gentlemen 4 Tradesmen 100 Husbandmen Servants and Labourers 26 Wives 20 Widows and Virgins 2 Boys and 1 Infant Besides these 7 were Whipped one to Death 16 perished in Prisons 12 were Buried in Dunghills and many lay Condemned in Expectation of the Firey Tryal and some Hundreds fled beyond the Seas but the death of this Queen who gave way to so much Cruelty put an end to the Persecution the stream of Blood being thereby stopped And before this time and soon after most of the Persecutors were overtaken by Gods Judgments and came to Miserable and Detested Ends. Some were Executed for several heinious Crimes others wandered beyond the Seas till they Perished and some were Eaten up by Vermin And thus Reader have I heitherto made good my Promise and now passing over this Acaldama or Field of Blood I lead you to a more diverting Theme The Reign of Queen ELIZABETH ELIZABETH Youngest Daughter to Henry the Eighth after her many Sufferings in close Confinement and attempts made to take away her Life happily Succeeded to the Throne and put a stop to the cruel Persecutions her Sister had raised on the 17th of November 1558. And the first publick Testimony she gave of her Princly Discretion and Knowledge in the weighty Affairs of State was to chuse a Wise and Learned Council causing new Commissions and Instructions to be sent to the several Ambassadors in Forreign Courts and desired by Sir Edward Hern her Agent who had resided in Queen Mary's Time at the Court of Rome That mutual Good Offices might pass between her and the Pope in matters that concerned Publick Affairs seeing she had happily Succeeded her Sister on the Throne But the haughty Old Man would not Answer but in his usual Dialect viz. That the Kingdom of England was held in Fee of the See Apostolick That she
could not Succeed being Illegitimate That he could not contradict the Declarations of Clement the Seventh and Paul the Third That it was a great presumption to assume the Name of Queen and Government without his consent yet being desirous to shew a Fatherly Affection if she would renounce her pretentions to the Crown and refer herself wholly to his free disposition he would do whatever might be done with the Honour of the Apostolick See The Queen who was well assured of her Title to the Crown by her Right and by the Estates in Parliament little expecting such an Answer was very much displeased called home her Agent and from that time resolved never more to hold any Correspondency with the See of Rome But having refused the King of Spain's offers of Marriage with her counting the Dispensation he promised to procure at the Popes hands Unlawful and Wicked she set her mind to contrive the most easie and inofensive ways how to restore the Protestant Religion consulting with those of the greatest understanding in Affairs of Church and State and coming to some result she placed in the Courts of Judicature and Offices of greatest Trust such Persons as were of that Profession or well enclined to it And having wisely weighed all circumstances she made provision against the encouragement and growth of Popery by restraining the Nobles and others from sending their Children to be Educated beyond the Seas and caused many Ceremonies in Divine Worship used in the former Reign to be laid aside And so after the Funeral of her Sister prepared for her Coronation and was in order to it conducted with extraordinary Pomp and Triumph from the Tower through the City to Westminster where she was Invested with the Regal Ornaments and was Crowned by the Bishop of Carlile the other Bishops refusing to perform that Office as fearing the Popes displeasure or rather the fall of the Romish Religion in this Kingdom to which Alteration if they consented not they foresaw they must lose their Bishopricks And now People differing much in Points of Religion it was ordered by Proclamation That none should unreverently speak of the Sacrament and it was alowed to be received in both kinds yet a Conferrence was appointed to be held at Westminster between the Papists and the Protestants upon these Considerations viz. 1. Concerning Prayer and the Administration of the Sacrament in the Vulgar-Tongue 2. Concerning the Authority of the Church in Constituting and Abrogating Ceremonies to Edification 3. Concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass But the Papists in this would come to nothing without the Popes License and some of the Bishops threatning the Queen and her Nobles with Excommunication if they proceeded to make alterations for their male-pertness some of them were committed to Prison The Queen appointed a Form of Common Prayer in English and settled the Reformed Religion entirely throwing off the Roman Yoak and began to apply herself to other weighty Affairs sending to demand the Restitution of Callice Lost in the preceding Reign and after many Debates it was agreed That the French King should Enjoy it for the Term of Eight Years and that then it should be restored to the Queen of England or in refusal be Paid 500000 Crowns and hereupon a Peace was Agreed and Proclaimed between the two Nations as also between the Dauphin and the Queen of Scots his Wife whereby Scotland was Included Whilst these things were transacting the Parliament Advised the Queen to Marry leaving her entirely therein to her own Choice that Children might be Born to Succeed her To which the Queen made this reply That she was already Wedded which was to her Kingdom and People and having promised to take a Husband if so the good of the State should require it she dismissed those that were sent to her by both Houses on this Message And soon after came an Ambassador from the King of Sweden to propose a Marriage between her and Prince Ericus the Kings Eldest Son but after he had been sumptuously Treated he was dismissed with a modest Denial and tho' the Duke of Anjou the Arch Duke of Austria and others sued for her Favour she only gave them her Esteem instead of her Love and put them off with fair words In the meantime the Scots destroyed in most parts of that Kingdom the Religious Houses Altars Images c. declaring for a Reformation which was against their Queens mind Whereupon the French on her Husbands and her part raised Forces to oppose them which made them send their Complaints to Queen Elizabeth and implore her assistance for the speedy driving out the Frenchmen whom they said through their Queens favour had engrossed all the Places of Trust Honour and Profit into their Hands This Queen Elizabeth communicating to her Council after many Debates to prevent the French getting an inlet into England by the way of Scotland it was agreed Assistance should be given to the Reformers And the Duke of Norfolk was appointed Lieutenant General of the North to secure the Borders and on certain Articles agreed an Army was sent into Scotland under the Command of the Lord Grey and Ships to Edenborough Frith who dislodged the French Men of War that lay there This made the French King sue for Peace to the Queen but his suit was rejected on many weighty Considerations tho' he promised at this time to deliver up Callice in lieu thereof However a Treaty was held at Edenborough but it came to little upon the French King 's declining to Sign the Articles agreed on And now the Pope a Second time laboured to perswade the Queen to own his Supremacy and not separate England from the Body of the Roman Catholick Church but the Queen refusing to harken to the Popes Letters resolved firmly to adhere to the Protestant Religion And now the Queen of Scots returning into that Kingdom her Husband being Dead sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth full of kind expressions to desire that a sincere Friendship might be maintained between them and the Envoy that brought it had Commission to deal with the Queen to declare her Heir Apparent to the Kingdom which was insinuated as the safest way to continue Peace between the two Crowns But the Queen Answered She would do nothing to the prejudice of her Title but as to this matter she would refer it to the Personal Conferrence that was to be held shortly at York But that Interview was broken off by the Papists contrivance least it might be a means towards creating the Queen of Scots an inclination to the Reformed Religion whereupon the Queen the better to strengthen her Hands built several Sail of stout Ships cast a great many Ordnance and the Art of Gun-powder-making in England was first by her Encouragement found out so that having a great Fleet always at Sea she was by Forreigners stiled The Queen of the North Seas causing the Militia readily to be provided with Arms and frequently Exercised And the Guisean Faction
labouring to destroy the Hugonots or Protestant Party in France constrained them for the safety of their Lives to fall into a Civil War The Queen assisted the latter and had Haverdegrace and New Haven put into her Hands as Cautionary Towns for the reimbursment of her Charges when things should be settled and to keep them firm to her Interest so that they should not make a Peace without her consent and hereupon she sent them 6000 Men under the Command of the Lord Ambrose Dudley and kept the Seas with a considerable Navy Whilst matters went thus Abroad Designs were carrying on against the Queen at Home whereupon divers of Note especially those descended of the Blood Royal by the two Daughters of Henry the Seventh were Imprisoned And she calling a Parliament an Act passed for Assurance of the Queens Royal Power and Authority over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions And further Enacted That the Oath of Supremacy should be administered to all Persons for the better discovery of such as sided with the Pope against her which much startled the Papists and made them quiet for a time In the mean while the Prince of Conde one of the chief Leaders of the French Protestants being Overthrown at the Battel of Derux was taken Prisoner as likewise Sir Nicholas Trockmorton who paying his Ransom was set at Liberty But the Admiral Chastillion took so many Places as startled the Guises insomuch that they consented to an Edict of Pacification whereby the Princes were to be restored to the French Kings Favour Conde alured with the hopes of the Lieutenancy of France and a Marriage with the Queen of Scots the Hugonets to enjoy the freedom of their Religion c. The Agreement was suddainly made and the English not only treacherously Abandoned but they Joyned with the Papists to drive them out of the places they held and straightly Besieged New Haven which by reason of the Plague raged grievously in it they had Surrendered to them But the Spanish Greatness threatning England and the French offering reasonable Terms a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns and Ratified upon their delivering Hostages to pay the Queen at a set time a large Sum of Money upon which the French King was Invested with the Order of the Garter Hereupon the Spaniard in a fret prohibited all Commerce between the English and his Subjects which made the Queen remove the Wooll-Mart from Antwerp to Ems in Frizland but the Low Countries being much Impoverished thereby the Edict was Repealed and now the Queen made her great Favourite Sir Robert Dudley Lord Denbigh Earl of Leicester Knight of the Garter Chancellor of Oxford and Master of the Horse and this she seemed to do the better to qualify him for a Husband for the Queen of Scots but it swelled him to that Ambition that he soon aspired to make pretentions to herself and the Queen of Scots soon after Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Duke of Lenox of the Royal Blood and of this Marriage was born James the Sixth of Scotland and first of England This not only displeased Queen Elizabeth but the greater part of the Scots Nobility because he was scarce 20 Years of Age and easie to be sway'd any way However he was sollemnly Crowned King but by the contrivance of Murray the Queen of Scots Bastard Brother and others he some time after was Blown-up in his Lodging and his mangled Body thrown by the force of the Pouder into the Garden The Parliament of England meeting again humbly besought the Queen to Marry but she still declined it Shortly after the Queen of Scots falling into a Languishing condition Recommended her Son to the Protection of Queen Elizabeth yet Recovering Earl Bothwell suspected to be one with Murray in destroying Darnley was forced to fly the Kingdom and Murray raised a Party against the Queen to Depose her when after some contesting being over-powered she fled into England and craved Queen Elizabeth's Protection but by the Advice of some Counselours bribed by Murray's Faction in stead of allowing her tho' near in Blood that favour she was committed a Prisoner in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury and after 20 Years Confinement lost her Head for holding Correspondencies with the Papists to take away the Life of the Queen A Passage having been discovered by the English to Russia and great Privileges granted to the Merchants The Czar or Emperour of Moscovy and Russia sent his Ambassadors to Queen Elizabeth with Rich presents of Furrs and such other Commodities as his Country yielded and with them one Anthony Jenkinson an Englishman who had first Sailed the Caspian Sea his demands was to make a League Offensive and Defensive with her but by reason of the distance of the place the Queen agreed not to the former but left the latter indifferent and so the Ambassadors having been highly Treated were dismissed with a return of Presents In Ireland Shan O Neal fell into Rebellion but being defeated by the English and throwing himself on the Hebridians he was by them Slain after a seeming kind reception and the Earl of Desmond was seized and sent Prisoner to England and Sir John Hawkins being in America with some Ships and contrary to the Capitulation set-upon by the Spaniard his Goods rifled and some of his Men slain the English Nation was so exasperated with the Treachery that they demanded a War with Spain which however at that time was not granted for the Queen having taken the French Protestants who were cruelly Persecuted under Charles the Ninth was employed to support them with Money and Ammunition and in providing for such a fled hither tho' they had basely abandoned her at New Haven But the Duke of Alva the King of Spains General making fierce War in the Low Countries he brought in the Inquisition to Extirpate the Protestant Religion There there happened an Accident that opened a Breach between England and Spain viz. Vast Sums of Money being sent in a Spanish Ship by Italian Merchants to be Imployed in the Bank in the Low Countries for the ruin of the Protestants there those Vessells were Chased upon the English Coast by some French Men of War and the Money being brought on Shoar the Queen was Advised by her Privy Council to stay it and give the Merchants Owners Security for the Repaiment of it Whereupon the Duke of Alva caused all the Goods and Effects of the English in the Low Countries to be seized and the Queen caused the same to be done by the Dutch Merchants in England which were of greater Value and Commerce being Prohibited the English removed the Staple to Hamb rough and the Privatieâs set out so greatly Endamaged the Spaniard that the Queen was forced to restrain them yet the Duke of Alva secretly practised to raise Rebellion in England and Ireland and the Earls of Northumberland Westmorland and others did make an Insurrection in the North being Instigated to it by Morton a
Popish Priest and by their Declaration Invited all the Roman Catholicks to joyn them and at Durham Toâe in pieces all the English Bibles and Common Prayer Books they could find in the Churches but being Proclâimed Traytors upon the approach of the Queens Forces they Fled with a small company into Scotland from whence the Earl of Westmoreland fled into the Low Countries and there Lived in a poor condition till he Dyed and divers being taken were Executed Soon after this a Rebellion broke forth in Cumberland but the Rebells were routed and dispersed by the Lord Hunsâon and another in Ireland but quieted by the Lord Deputy And one Felton by the Popes Command fâstned in the Night time a Bull Declaratory to the Bishop of Londons Palace Gate wherein he Absolved all the Queens Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance but Felton being taken Confessing Justifying the Fact he was Condemned and Executed near the place where he fixed the Bull it being at that time hung about his Neck And the Duke of Norfolk having been Imprisoned for designing a Marriage with the Que n of Scots and endeavouring her Escape upon his humble Submission and a Writing âigned wherein he promised never to think of the Marriage or any thing derogatory to Queen Elizabeth's Authority he was discharged And a great many of the English for sundry crimes being fled into Scotland upon refusal of delivering them up the Earl of Sussex and the Lord Scroop entered that Kingdom with an Army and compelled the Scots of the Queens party to abstain from Hostility and utterly forsake the English Rebells And a Rebellion being raised in Ireland by the Earl of Thumond and his adherents the Earl fled into France for fear of being delivered to the Lord Deputy by his Friends but upon his humble submission was restored to his Estate and Dignity and the Duke of Norfolk being again Imprisoned was brought to his Tryal for High Treason and was thereupon Condemned and lost his Head and soon after Dr. John Storey a great Persecutor in Queen Mary's Reign who was decoyed on Board an English Ship under pretence of seazing Prohibited Goods as being made the Duke of Alva's chief Searcher being Tryed for Treason was found Guilty and Executed at Tyburn And Matthew Stewart Earl of Lenox the Young King of Scotland's Grand-Father and Regent of Scotland being surprized by the contrary Faction was Murthered and the Earl of Marr chosen Regent who Dyed within 13 Months after And divers about this time suffered for conspiring the Queens Death And a League was concluded with France and soon after at the celebration of the Marriage between the King of Navar and the Lady Margaret the French Kings Sister happened the cruel Massacre at Paris and by the French King's command the Protestants were Massacred in all the Provinces of that Kingdom to the Number of 300000 among them fell the Admiral Chastillion and divers other Nobles yet God delay'd not to Revenge their Innocent Blood for the King Dyed a while after with Blood issuing from all his Vents The Duke of Guise who had contrived at one blow to cut off all the Protestants in France was Murthered in his Palace by the Succeeding King's command and most of the rest that had contrived this Tragedy came to untimely Ends. The Earl of Northumberland who since his Rebellion had sheltered in Scotland was by the Earl of Morton delivered to the Lord Hunsdon for a Sum of Money and soon after Beheaded at York And Walter Devereux Earl of Essex whom the Queen held in high favour being sent with Forces into Ireland to depress the Rebellion and being envied by some Great Men at Court in his Absence they made Parties against him Charging many Miscarriages in his Conduct so that the Queen was constrained to call him home with a command to resign up his Authority in Vlster but the Earl of Leicester being Jealous of his presence at Court as imagining he was not indifferent to the Queen soon procured him to be sent back again with the empty Title of Marshal of Ireland which he took so much to Heart that in a short time he Dyed The Prince of Orange Heading the Flemings and they supplicating the Queen for Aid after mature deliberation with her Council and the States of the Low Countries putting Cautionary Towns into her Hands for Security she sent over Forces and permitted as many Voluntiers as would to go and Casimire Son to the Elector Palatine at the Queens charge brought in a considerable Number of Horse and Foot These Forces were unexpectedly Attacked by Don John of Austria and the Prince of Parma with a Numerous Army of the Spaniards best Forces but so fiercely Encountered that after an obstinate Fight they were forced to retreat leaving some Thousands Slain which Victory was attributed to the Valour of the English and Scots The Duke of Alanzon the French Kings Younger Brother now made earnest Suit to the Queen and tho' by the means of one Simier a French Courtier he so far insinuated into the Queens favour as to be admitted to come over Incognito and hold a private Conference with her yet by reason of his Youth and some other Obstacles this Treaty of Marriage as well as the rest had done came to nothing yet the Earl of Leicester for enveighing against it so far as to reflect on the Queen was for a time confined to Greenwich-Castle and the Queen being on the Thames in her Barge a young Fellow fired a Piece which Shot one of the Rowers through the Arm for which being Sentenced to be Hanged the Queen then understanding it was done Accidentally and not out of any Design against her Pardoned him And the Queen having procured of the Grand Signior a liberty of free Trade in all his Dominions a Company of Turkey Merchants was first set up The Pope having bestowed Ireland on the King of Spain a Rebellion was raised there but the Lord Grey being made Deputy the Irish Spanish and Itallians were totally routed and put to the Sword Captain Francis Drake a Native of Plymouth in Devonshire adventuring to America with a few Ships Discovered divers Coasts before unknown and is reputed to Sail about the World because he shot the Gulf of Magelan returning brought home great Riches and after being Knighted he made several advantagious Voyages with greater Force and became such a Terror to the Spaniards in those parts that they started to hear him Named Also Hawkins Forbusher and others pursuing that Voyage not only greatly endamaged the Spaniard but greatly enriched England with Gold and Silver so that the Queen having called in the bad Money the Land soon abounded with plenty of her own Coin The Earl of Desmond being routed in Ireland was after a great Search made for him found and slain by a common Soldier which gave much quiet to that Kingdom And now the Papists using secret Practices against the Queen among other Expedients to prevent the
them A Sow furrowed Piggs with Arms and Hands fingered as a Child instead of Legs And many other Creatures produced Monstrous Births A Plague likewise happened whereof Dyed in 8 Months 23660. The Thames was so hard Frozen that Waines and Carts passed it Markets and divers sorts of Exercises were kept and used on it Great Floods and Tempests happened spoiling much Corn and demolishing many Buildings In Yorkshire a Tempest over-threw a Church called Patrick Burton and laid many Villages in Ruins And many fearful Sights appeared in the Air. The Reign of King JAMES the First QUeen Elizabeth a little before she died having declared King James the Sixth of Scotland her Successor as indeed he was the next Allied to the Crown of England as being great Grand-Son to the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh he was upon that Queens death Proclaimed by Secretary Cecill and others and solemnly Invited to fill the vacant Throne when having disposed Affairs in Scotland for the preserving the Peace of that Kingdom he set forward with a very splendid Equipage And his first Act was to Establish and Continue Religion as it had been Setled by the deceased Queen causing the Old and New Testaments to be Translated from the Original and set many at liberty who were Imprisoned on sundry occasions by the Queen deceased But whilst these things were doing there wanted not some who envied his Accession to the Throne and secret contrivances were laid to Depose him and set up the Lady Arabella a Branch sprung from the same Stem by another Branch but it being timely discovered divers were Apprehended Tryed and Condemn'd yet only George Brook Brother to the Lord Cobham and two Popish Priests suffered Death Sir Walter Rawleigh and divers others being Pardoned and on the 25th of July 1603 the King and Ann his Queen were Crowned at Westminster in the Marble Chaire brought out of Scotland by Edward the First which fullfilled the Prophecy Inscribed on it and mentioned in that Kings Reign and Prince Henry the Kings Eldest Son was made Knight of the Garter and stiled Prince of Wales and Honours were conferred on divers Persons The next thing the King proceeded to do was to decide the Controversy between the Church of England and the Party that then stiled themselves Puritans and a Conference to that purpose was appointed at Hampton-Court where the King so Learnedly Argued that the former carried the day And the Jesuits proving over-hot in stirring up the People to change in opinions thereby to work their own ends were Banished the Kingdom and a Proclamation put out for Uniformity in the Church Soon after this the King Assembled a Parliament recommending to them the care of the Nation and a lasting settlement of Peace and Tranquility and thereupon restored the Antient Name of this Island causing himself to be Proclaimed King of Great Britain And whilst he and the Parliament happily accorded a private design was carried on to destroy them both for the Popish Party being denied the Tolleration they had petitioned for contrived one of the most Stupendious Mischiefs that ever entered into the Hearts of Men for their heat of Mallice would not be quenched with the Royal Blood but that of the Nobility and Gentry the representative body of the whole Kingdom united at Westminster was to have been shattered in pieces and dismembered by a blast of 36 Barrells of Gunpowder which they had placed in a Cellar under the Parliament House but it was Discovered by a Letter to the Lord Monteagle the Morning before it was to have been put in execution The principal Conspirators were Robert Catesby Thomas Piercy Robert Winter Thomas Winter John Garnet Ambrose Rookwood John Wright Francis Fresham Sir Everard Dighby and Guido Faux This Latter was to have set Fire to the Train and was taken with his Dark-Lanthorn at the Enterance of the Cellar on the 5th of November 1605. Which day by Parliament was appointed Annually a Day of Thanksgiving for that memorable Deliverance Upon this Discovery the Conspirators that escaped by flying were divers of them slain by Forces raised by the High-Sheriff of Warwickshire Faux upon Examination before the Council confessed the whole matter saying God would have had it prosper but the Devil Discovered it expressing himself sorry that it had not taken effect Garnet the Jesuite and others were Executed on this account and some Lords who were absent from Parliament and were suspected to have notice of the Design were committed to the Tower but after some confinement were released again and soon after this a rumour was spread without any certain Author That the King was Stabbed and Slain with an Impoisoned Knife as he was Hunting near Ockingham which for a time much troubled the People nor could their fears be allayed before a Proclamation came out to satisfie them of the contrary and the King of Denmark the Queens Brother coming to White-Hall was Magnificently Entertained and having stay'd about a Month departed highly satisfied The Kingdoms of England and Scotland that had long continued in bloody Wars were now United by both their consents in their Representatives on a foundation advantagious to either Nation and so it has ever since continued The Duke of Juliers about this time dying the Dukes of Newburg and Brandenburg strove for that Dutchey but whilst they weakly contended Spain more powerful resolved to take it from them both seizing on the City of Juliers the principal place of the Province which obliged King James at the States of the Netherlands supplication to send 4000 English under the Command of Sir Edward Cecill and Sir Hatton Cheek by whose Valour it was chiefly Reduced Soon after Henry the Fourth of France was Stabbed in his Coach by one Ravilliack passing the Ironmongers-street in Paris for which the Murtherer was pulled to pieces with Burning Pincers yet could not be compelled to tell who set him on that wicked Enterprize and King James startled with this untimely Death put out a Second Proclamation to Banish the Jesuits out of the Kingdom and all Popish Recusants Ten Miles from the Court. The Lord Sanquire a Scotish Baron having his Eye put out by one Turner a Fencing-master in White-Fryars in revenge hired two Persons to Murther him for which he was Hanged before Westminster-Hall-Gate in the Palace-Yard and Dyed very penitently tho' great intercession was made to save him And the Queen of Scots Beheaded in the foregoing Reign was by the Kings order removed from Peterborough to Westminster and there magnificently Interred and soon after the Elector Palatine of the Rhinâ came into England and Married the Lady Elizabeth the Kings Daughter But the splendour of the Nuptials were Eclipsed by the Death of Prince Henry the Kings Eldest Son which happened a little before the Weding not without suspicion of Poison as some have it by the Scent of Perfumed Gloves others by eating a Bunch of Grapes but the Disease affecting mostly the Brain it carried him
off in Five Days tho' the Physitians gave out he dyed of a Malignant Fever Whatever his Disease was it carried him off on the 6th of November 1610. in the blossom of his Youth he being 18 Years 8 Months and 17 Days Old He was a Prince of Extraordinary Wisdom and Piety much above his Years Of strength and ability of Body equal to most Men of a Noble and Heroick Disposition and an hater of Flattery and Flatterers He had an high Esteem of Sir Walter Rawleigh and used to say No other King but his Father would keep such a Man as Sir Walter in such a Cage meaning the Tower He kept his Court at St. James's which was much frequented by the most sober of both the Nobility and Gentry Something of the gravity of the Prince's temper may be known by the following story Once when the Prince was hunting the Stagg it chanced that the Stagg being spent crossed the Road where a Butcher and his Dog were travelling and the Butchers Dog killed the Stag which was so great that the Butcher could not carry him off When the Huntsmen and Company came up they fell at odds with the Butcher and endeavoured to incense the Prince against him to whom the Prince soberly Answered What if the Butcher's Dog killed the Stagg what could the Butcher help it They Replyed If his Father had been served so he would have Sworn at that rate That no Man could have endured it Away replyed the Prince All the Pleasure in the World is not worth an Oath In the time of his Sickness a Person whom he lov'd and who had been the Companion of his Diversions coming to see him and asking him how he did the Prince among many other sober Expressions answer'd him thus Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreations But England was not worthy of so great a Blessing as the Life of this Excellent Prince For whom notwithstanding the Court was not long in Mourning because of the Nuptials that ensued and the Elector Palatine having been highly Feasted and Entertained departed with his Bride The King having raised one Sir Robert Carr who had been his Page high in his Favour creating him Viscount Rochester so that he Acted as it were all in all and the Earl of Essex's Lady falling in Love with him and complaining of her Husbands inability in performing his Nocturnal Duties the King gave order to the Archbishop that a Divorce might be sued out which accordingly was done and she Married the Viscount But Sir Thomas Overbury who had been his great Favorite inveighing much against this Marriage and labouring to disswade him from it because the Lady lay under much scandal of Lust and Incontinency was by his and her procurement committed to the Tower and there by tampering with Sir Gervis Ellows the Lieutenant of that Garison and one Weslon and others they procured him to be Poisoned and the Earl of Northampton who was privy to it the better to colour the business gave out he dyed of the Pox and that strange noisom Sores were found on his Body but this did not long conceal so wicked a practice for it proved their Ruine Northampton dyed soon after in a Melancholly disordered condition and a little after the Apothecaries Man who was hired to give Sir Thomas Overbury a Glister that had been poisoned falling Sick at Flushing revealed what he knew as to the Poisoning and who was concerned in it This News coming over by the means of Sir Ralph Winwood who had been Ambassador in Holland made a great noise and more and more suspicion appearing the King sent for the Judges to search narrowly into the Truth of it Imprecating a Curse on them and their Posterity if they were negligent in it and the like on himself and Posterity if he favoured any Guilty Person so that the Viscount made Earl of Somerset in consideration of his Marriage with the Lady Catharine Howard Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk and Niece to the Earl of Northampton who had been Divorced from the Earl of Essex when he had got his Pardon signed as being charged before with Imbezling the Crown Jewells c. had it stopped under the Broad Seal and the Lord Chief Justice Cook sending for him he went to the King to complain of the Indignity put upon him looking on it as a great presumption in the Man that had done it But the King much to his dissatisfaction replied Thou must go then for if Cook sends for me I must go too and when he parted with him turning his back he smiling said I shall never see thy Face more and the same Day the Earl and his Countess were made Prisoners and divers others as Weston Mrs. Turner a great confident of the Countesses Sir Jarvis Ellows and one Frankling The Four last being first Tryed were found Guilty received Sentence of Death and were Executed confessing the fact and soon after the Earl and his Countess were Tryed and Condemned but the King Pardoned them or rather Reprieved them giving them only a Lease of their Lives for Term of Years utterly Banishing them the Court and his Favour So that deprived of all Honours places of Trust and Fortunes they led mean and despicable Lives the dying very miserably her Privy Parts Rotting and he of Discontent and Melancholly So punctual is God in his Providence to revenge Innocent Blood on the shedders of it and bring them to shame even in this Life The fall of this Favourite made way to the rise of George Villers Son to Sir George Villers of Lancashire by a second venture who being a comely Person and his Parts improved by Travel the King upon his first arrival at Court cast his Eyes on him made him his Cupbearer at large and in the End created him Duke of Buckingham growing in a little time as high in favour as the former doing all with the King as he pleased and continued so to do till he was Stabbed by one Felton at Portsmouth as will appear in the next Reign Sir Thomas Mason being Arraigned as concerned in the Murther of Overbury had his Tryal set aside and the Lord Chief Justice chequed for venturing to insinuate That in this there might be the Discovery of more than a Private Person intimating tho' not plainly That Overbury's untimely remove had something in it of retaliation as if he had been guilty of the same crime against Prince Henry and glancing some what that the Earl of Northampton had but how truly I determine not assured the Lieutenant of the Tower That the making away of Sir Thomas Overbury would be acceptable to the King he had his wings ever after clipped Soon after this the Lady Arabella Dyed in the Tower which set Mens Tongues and Fears on work that she followed the same fate but nothing publick appeared in it She was Daughter to Charles Stewart Younger Brother to the King's Father and
and there being attended on a Scaffold before the Banquetting-House by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London he made a Profession of his Innocency and of his Faith forgiving his Enemies and praying to God not to lay his Blood to their Charge seeming troubled that he had consented to the Sentence against the Earl of Strafford and after this and much more to the like Purpose he kneeling down gave the Sign to the Executioner by stretching out his Arms and at one Blow had his Head separated from his Body which being put in a Coffin covered with Velvet was carried to Windsor and buried in a Vault in St. George's Chappel Thus without President fell King Charles when he had Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days being the 24th Year of his Reign and 49th of his Age. Put to Death by the Hands of his own Subjects contrary to all Law and Justice universally Pitied but unable to be help'd by his People He was one of the Chastest Princes that ever sate upon the Throne being all along so true to his Queen that he never Defil'd his Marriage-bed And had he not given too much heed to Buckingham Laud and some other fâattering Parasites and Courtiers who were continually Buzzing into his Ears nothing but Absolute and unlimitted Power putting him upon Dissolving his Parliaments and then raising Money and Ruling without them as appear'd by his Twelve Years interval of Parliaments viz. from Anno 1628 to 1640. whereby he lost the Love of his People he had never been brought to that dismal Catastrophe but might have Liv'd and Dy'd a Happy Prince And this may be observ'd from this King's Reign as well as from several before That never any Prince fell out with his Parliament and went about to Establish an Arbitrary Power but he not only found himself Mistaken but also thereby made himself Miserable Before the breaking out of this unnatural War amazing Sights were seen in the Air of Firey Men and Horses running at each other with Launces encountring with great Blasts of Lightning and noise of Thunder In Gloucester-shire Spectres were seen in a large Field not far from that City drawn up in Battalia furiously Engaging and then Vanishing to the Amazement of the Beholders The Reign of King CHARLES The Second KING Charles the First being put to Death the Relicks of the Parliament began to take out of the way such Nobles and others as they supposed would obstruct their Proceedings and particularly Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were Beheaded for Treason pretended against them And now to make their Power the Stronger they combined with the Army-Officers And tho' Charles Son to the preceding King had an undoubted Right to the Kingdom they proceeded to bar him and all the Royal Line as they hoped from the Crown or any other from being King or chief Magistrate unless by Publick Act of Parliament so appointed and that it should be Treason in any to attempt to further King Charles the Second by them generally called Charles Stewart in his Designs to possess the Crown by Proclaiming him or any Assistance given to him taking great care not to admit the Secluded Members lest they should put a stop to the Current of their Proceedings taking down every where the King 's Arms and placing the Harp and Cross in their places called the States Arms and having taken down the late King's Effigies from the Royal-Exchange they caused to be inscribed in the place where it stood in Letters of Gold Exit Tyranus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutiae Primo Anno 1648. Jan. 30. All Titles in Processes of Law were altered and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia c. was put in Custodes Libertatis Angliae c. The King's-Bench was called the Vpper-Bench and a new Stamp was made for Money having on the one side the Cross and on the other the Cross and Harp inscribed The Common-wealth of England on the one side and God with Vs on the other also a new Great Seal was prepared with the Cross and Harp on the one side with this Inscription The Great Seal of England and on the other side the Picture of the House of Commons with these Words In the first Year of Freedom by God's Blessing restor'd 1648. Things being thus Moddelled whilst King Charles was in France Solliciting for Aid to possess him of his Kingdoms Fairfax out of some dislike to the Patliaments proceedings laid down his Commission which was given to Oliver Cromwel who from this time laid the Projection of his future Greatness And indeed in his attempts on Ireland and Scotland he was so Successful as to reduce them to the English Obedience with incredible Slaughter of the Natives However King Charles was proclaimed by his Friends in England and Ireland and soon after in Scotland And now Money being wanting to maintain the Parliaments Armies c. the Crown-Lands Dean and Chapter and Bishops Lands were Sold with many stately Houses and most of the Castles in England Demolished and all Persons expelled from Places of Trust in Church and State that Subscribed not to be Conformable to the New-modelled Government The Scots all this while were Debating how to Restore the King who was in the Isle of Jersey and coming to a Result sent the Laird Libberton and Mr. Windram to him with Proposals the Heads being these 1. That he should Sign the Solemn League and Covenant 2. That he should Pass divers Acts concluded on in the two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland 3. That he should recall the Commissions given to Montross 4. That he should put from him all Papists and appoint some place in Holland to treat with their Commissioners and give them a speedy Answer And Sir William Fleming being sent by the King to the Estates of Scotland Breda was appointed for the place of Treaty and Commissioners were sent to represent the Kirk and State who delivered what they had in Charge to the same Effect as has been mentioned But whilst the Treaty held the Marquess of Montross making new Attempts was Surprized in Scotland where with much Indignity he was brought to Execution and Hanged on a Gibbet of extraordinary height Dying with a Courage and Bravery suitable to that wherein he had Lived and Quarters were set up in divers places This being done in a full Treaty greatly Displeased the King because he had his Commission and had acted in his Cause but the necessity of his affairs made him pass it over and he Condescended to most of the Proposals The Parliament of England soon heard of their Treaty and to prevent its taking effect sent an Army under Cromwel into Scotland and manning out a Fleet Admiral Blake fell in with Prince Rupert's Squadron sinking and burning most of the Ships he Commanded for the King however matters being agreed on the King hastened to Scotland and Landed at Spey where several Lords came to him and the Town of
England of the most Religious and Sanctified Persons he could Nominate This was called the Little-Parliament and indeed they did Little exept it were making an Act against Tythes and an Act for Marriages by a Justice of Peace and then being weary of their Power they gave it up to Oliver who had given it to them And now another sort of Government comes next For the Officers of the Army had drawn up a new System and presented it to Oliver desiring him to take the Government upon him under the Title of Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland He at first made a shew of refusing it tho' every one believ'd there was nothing that he desir'd more but being further pressed to it he accepted of it and was that afternoon install'd at Westminster Tho' the Dutch had been already severely beaten and were extreamly Solicitous for a Peace yet that they might get the better Terms they resolved to try the Fortune of War once more which yet prov'd more in-auspicious to them than the former for in the next Battel which was on the 29th of July 1653. Admiral Van Trump was Slain and 33 Sail of Ships sunk to the bottom of the Ocean out of which 1200 men were Sav'd by the English taken up out of Boats and swimming in the Sea This was so great a Mortification to the Dutch that the States were afraid of a general Revolt And therefore they forthwith apply'd themselves to Oliver for a Peace which in the Infancy of his new Government he was willing to Grant upon reasonable Terms tho' they were reduc'd to so low a Condition that he might have made what Terms he pleas'd The Success the English had against the Dutch made other Nations fear Cromwel The Spanish Ambassador coming early to Congratulate his Authority and the Portugals came in a Splendid Embassy to sue for Peace Nor were the French backward to own his Power So that he had now no apprehension of Trouble but only from the Royalists to suppress whom a Plot was soon after found out of several Persons for an intended Assassination of the Protector and several Persons Executed for it The King about this time went into Germany and Solicited several of the Princes there for assistance but with little Success Ireland being wholly reduc'd to Obedience the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchiqueen having timely withdrawn themselves and Embarqued for France an Itinerant High Court of Justice was set up and several of the chief Rebels that began the Massacre in Forty-One were Try'd and Executed for the same among which that notorious Villain Sir Philem O Neal was Hang'd and Quarter'd and his Head plac'd upon Dublin-bridge Some attempts for a rising having been made by several of the Nobility of Scotland they were utterly Defeated by General Monk who was made Commander in chief of that Kingdom And now the Protector having according to the Articles of Government called a Parliament who beginning to Question the Power by which they were called they were soon dissolved again and several of the Royalists taken up about a new Conspiracy The Protector about this time having a mind to some of the Spaniards Indian-Gold sent a Fleet and Army to surprize Hispaniola in the West-Indies but sailing in that attempt by the ill Conduct of General Venablers they went from thence to the Island of Jamaica which they took and which has continued ever since in the Power of the English being now a very rich and flourishing Plantation And General Blake being with his Fleet in the Streights and coming before Tunis and sending to the Governour to demand Satisfaction for the Wrongs done by their People to the English and that the English Captives there might be deliver'd to him had return'd for answer That their Castles of Guletto and Porta Ferina were both well Mann'd and furnished with Ordnance and therefore they did not fear him Whereupon Blake with his great Ships and their Seconds came into the Bay of Porta Ferina within Musquet-shot of the Castle and fired with such fury upon them notwithstanding the frequent Discharges of sixty Great Guns upon his Ships that in two Hours the Castle was made Defenceless and all their Guns dismounted at the same time Burning Nine of their Ships which he found in the Road. This Noble Action strook such a Terror not only upon Tunis who were willing then to Submit to Blakes Proposals but also upon Algeirs and Triâolâ that they quickly came to a Treaty and a Peace was made very much to the Advantage of the English About this time there having been an horrible Massacre made upon the Poor Protestants of Piedmont by the Command of the Duke of Savoy ãâã the instigation of the Popish Priests and Jesuits the Protector espous'd their Quarrel and not only sent to the Duke on their behalf causing his Edict against them to be recall'd but likewise caus'd a solemn Day of Humiliation to be kept and vast Sums of Money Collected throughout all England for their Relief and sent it or at least part of it by Sir Samuel Moreland to them which made Oliver be look'd upon abroad as the great Patron of the Reformed Religion Upon the War made with Spain by the attempt upon Hâspaniola and Jamaica before-mentioned a Peace ensued with France by which among other Articles the King and his Royal Brothers were excluded that Kingdom After which Rear-Admiral Stayner with a part of the English Fleet set upon eight Spanish Ships within four Leagues of the Bay of Cadiz the Admirals Ship in which was General Don Marco del Porto with 600000 pieces oâ Eight ran ashore in the Bay the Vice-Admiral Commanded by Don Francisco de Esquevel and having in heâ 1200000 pieces of Eight was taken as was also another Ship Commanded by Don Rodiques Calderon both theâ were set on Fire one by the Spaniards themselves to prevent their being made Prisoners and the other by accident Two other very rich Ships were taken and kept and severâ of the Spanish Nobles being taken were brought up tâ London but Oliver being satisfied with the Treasure takâ in the Ships dealt very Generously with the Spanish Nobleâ and after a small time of detaining them here sent theââ home without Ransom The next Year General Blaââ lying with some Ships near Cadiz to watch for they turn of the Spanish Plate-Fleet had intelligence that they were put into the Bay of Santa-Cruz and sailing thither he discern'd the Spanish Fleet to the number of sixteen barricado'd in the Bay but this did not hinder Blake but that the next Morning he sailed into the Bay and whilst some of his Ships pour'd their Broad-sides into the Castles and Forts he and Stayner fought the Spanish Fleet and obtained an intire Victory but perceiving he could not bring away the Spoil set them all on Fire but one that was Sunk But that which is most wonderful in this Noble Action was That the Wind which blew
another Parliament called there that long harassed Kingdom was brought to a good Settlement And now a Match being Negotiated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina Infanta of that Kingdom her Dowry was settled and in Lieu thereof the English had Tangier which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation without any Profit So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King the Lady came over Royally attended and the King going to Portsmouth was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London and afterwards came to White-Hall and was Joyfully received Sir Henry Vane and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason for things done before the Restoration being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity the former was Beheaded but the latter Reprieved and kept in Prison till he Died and Archibald Johnson Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea and brought over was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland divers were Imprisoned and some Executed which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time And in the North of England another much about the same time being discovered one Gibbons and Baker were Tryed found Guilty and Executed whereupon the rest Dispersed The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000 l great Naval Preparations were made which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety and indeed a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations an Order of Council was made giving Letters of Reprisal against them and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats Men of War c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes and hereupon the King set out his Declaration touching his Proceedings for Reparation from the Subjects of the States Whilst these things were doing a Dutchman under the Disguise of a Sweed coming from Guinea publickly reported De Ruytter the Dutch Commander had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither but it proving False he was Sentenced and Whipt through London However the Parliament being Prorogued War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664 and a General Fast succeeded for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies was beaten off but whilst many Encounters happened at Sea a worse Calamity befell at Land for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring and but little cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air about the beginning of May 1665 a Plague began fearfully to Rage so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of all Degrees dyed and of these were accounted 68596 of the Plague However the War was carryed on with great Vigour and on the 3d of June the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy the two Fleets engaged and after a long and obstinate Fight which continued many Hours bloody and doubtful the Dutch gave way and such as got off stood to their own Coast The English having taken burnt sunk and shattered about thirty of their Ships and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000 tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire-ships Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth Portland Marlborough and the Lord Muskery Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester whereof 13 were Commanders Hereupon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Victory the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knighthood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action The Plague still continuing to Rage a Fast was Proclaimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month till it should cease and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights to purify the Air whilst the King c made his progress through the greater part of England the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford and upon his laying before them them the necessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War the Commons Voted him 1250000 l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City But the Plague abating the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster as did the King and Queen The French King envying the growing greatness of the English more than any love he had for the Dutch as it afterward plainly appeared Joyned with them and was soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others The Fleets being abroad Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albermarle then Joynt-Admirals of the English the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships the former being to the Westward with the rest engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders and maintained the Fight two Days when on the third Prince Rupert coming in the Fight continued very Bloody till the Evening with much Loss on both sides and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper and burnt by the Dutch Sir George Ascough who Commanded her being taken Prisoner and carryed into Holland About six or seven Weeks after there happened another Sea-Fight and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts and on the 7th of August Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly and the Town of Baudaris upon the Island of Scheling and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch one of them of 54 Guns was taken On the Second of September 1666 being Sunday began the dreadful Fire of London at one Faringdons a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane the back-side of Fish-street-hill It continued Burning until Wednesday Night following and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof take as followeth In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the heighth of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately
so hard that Booths were erected upon the Ice and all sorts of Commodities sold in them insomuch that it was called Blanket-Fair Also a Bull was baited upon the Ice and Coaches ply'd from the Temple stairs to Westminster in Hillary Term. The Reign of King JAMES the Second KING Charles the Second being Dead on the same day in the afternoon being February the 6th 1684 5. his Brother James Duke of York was Proclaimed King And upon his coming to the Council He declared that since it had pleased God to place him in that station to succed so good a King as well as so kind a Brother he thought it fit to declare his Endeavours to follow his Brothers Example more especially in that of his great Clemency and Tenderness to his People and make it his Endavour to preserve the Government both in Church and State as it is by Law Established And then comends the Church of England's Principles and Members telling them He knows likewise that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as Great a Monarch as he can wish And therefore as he will never depart from the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so he will never invade any Mans Property This Speech of the Kings to his Council was forthwith Printed and Published and received every where with great Applause many hoping their fears were greater than there was occasion for But how he kept to this Declariation which had he done he might have been happy the sequel of his Reign will shew There was now no longer Occasion for the King to Dissemble what he was and therefore what his Brother King Charles had acted in Masquerade King James resolved to do bare-fac'd and accordingly the next Sunday after his accession to the Crown he went publickly to Mass which Convinc'd those that before would not believe him to be a Papist and I have heard it Reported That the Duke of Norfolk carrying the Sword before him resign'd it at the Door upon which the King told him His Father would have gone further with him To which the Duke smartly Reply'd But your Majesties Father would not have gone so far And so went to the Protestant Chappel In a few days after the King Published a Paper of his Brother's dying a Roman-Catholick and of his Receiving the extream Unction and other Ceremonies of the Roman-Church before his Death attested by one Huddleston a Popish Priest And also a Paper taken out of King Charles's his Strong-Box shevving that hovvever he appear'd othervvise outvvardly yet in his heart he vvas a Sincere true Roman-Catholick The Customs and Excise dying vvith King Charles being granted only for his Life the King puts out a Proclamation commanding the paying of them till they should be granted by Parliament Which vvas his first Specimen hovv vvell he intended to preserve Mens Properties vvhen his very first Publick Act of Government vvas a Notorious violation both of Mens Properties and of the Lavvs of the Kingdom Soon after this his Brother King Charles the Second vvas Buried but vvith so little Pomp and Solemnity becoming the Majesty of a King that he vvas as it vvere throvvn into his Grave in the dead time of the Night accompanied by fevv Persons as if his Corps had been in danger of being Arrested for Debt He was interred indeed in Henry the 7th's Chappel but without any Stone to cover him So that never any King that died possest of a Throne was so meanly Buried Yet was it well enough for King Charles whose latter part of his Reign was as Dark as his Burial was Obscure But this notes the Gratitude of the King to so kind a Brother as he had always been to him A little before King Charles died Dr. Oats was fined 100000 l. for Scandalum Magnatum against the Duke of York and to be kept a close Prisoner till the Fine was paid which mighty Scandal was for saying The Duke was reconciled to the Church of Rome Which now the King acknowledged But this must not serve Oats's turn a Fine and Imprisonment was no sufficient Compensation for the Lives of the Popish Martyrs that suffered in his Brother's Reign and therefore the King having him now within his Clutches an Indictment for Perjury is preferr'd against Oats and the Perjury assign'd is Double first That Ireland one of the Executed Jesuits was not in London from the third of August 1678 till the 14th of Sept. next following whereas Oats at the said Ireland's Tryal Swore That he was at a Consult about killing the King in the middle of August Secondly That Oats was at St. Omers all April and May 1678 Whereas at the Tryal of Harcourt and White-bread c. he Swore they were at a Consult the 24th of April concerning killing the King and establishing the Popish Religion Ireland at his Tryal which was in 1678 urged the first Point and Harcourt Whitebread c. at their Tryals in 1679 pleaded the second but Oats prov'd both so incontestably at their several Tryals that it was both to the Satisfaction of Judge and Jury and of the whole Nation But now the Case was alter'd the Design was to invalidate the Popish Plot and to punish Oats for justifying it And they were pretty sure to carry it having such a Jury as would be sure to find him Guilty upon any Evidence and against the most Substantial Evidence to the contrary that Mirror of Injustice Jefferies being Judge The Witnesses against him were the St. Omer's Youths now better instructed than they were before who all remembred their Lesson to a T. and swore Oats was at St. Omer's all April and May and the Popish Stafford-shire Witnesses at that Tryal counted as good Witnesses as any in the World Swore Ireland was in Stafford-shire or thereabouts in August and September As to this last I find a Passage in Cook 's Detection of the four last Reigns that justifies Oats's Evidence beyond all Peradventure which I will here Insert and leave to Posterity to judge of It is briefly this One Mr Benjamin Hinton a Goldsmith in Lombard-street was Ireland 's Cashier and Mr. Hinton going out of Town at that time in August 1678. met Ireland ãâã or about Barnet coming for London where Ireland told him he had extraordinary Occasions for Money and urg'd Hinton to go back with him but Hinton told him his Man could do Ireland's Business as well as he and his occasions would not permit him to go back I asked Mr. Hinton of the Truth of this to which he would not give me any Answer but be this true or false it 's entred into Hinton's Book of Accompts Paid to Mr. Ireland's own Hands whereas the other Entries are Paid by his Order And 't is said Mr. Hinton's Man would Depose he Paid these Moneys to Ireland himself Mr. Hinton afterwards failing a Commission of Bankrupt was Sued against him and his Book of Accompts was delivered and kept at the Widow Vernon's Coffee-house
been only Tools in so doing to the Papists and had carried on their Wââk for them and now that their Eyes began to be ãâã and tâââ they would be so no more they would fain have made Tââs of the Dissenters to pull down the Church of England by aggravating the ill Usage they had receiv'd from them so many Years And that now was their time to call them to an Account and be even with them for it and several of the Dissenters who were very Honest tho' mistaken Men were by these specious Pretences drawn in to joyn with them The King was so fond or his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience that he Publishes it a second time with an Injunction to have it read in all Parish-Churches and the Bishops of the respective Diocesses were to see it done But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and several of the Bishops looking upon this as a thing contrary to Law not only refused to do it but humbly Petitioned the King to hear the Reasons why they could not comply with that Order But this was looked upon by Jefferies then Lord-Chancellor Father Peters then made one of the Privy-Council and others of the Popish Faction as a Crime next to High-Treason and therefore for their Contempt they were Committed to the Tower It was now more than a Year that had passed since the King's Declaration for Indulgence came forth and the Prince and Princeâ of Orange having been privately sounded how they stood affected to the Test and Penal Laws they being the next Heirs to the Crown their Opinion seemed to be That the Papists should by Law have Liberty for the private Exercise of their Religion without Disturbance but that by no means the Tests should be taken off to let them in to have a share in the Government This it was that touch'd the Papists to the quick for they saw that the King was well stricken in Years and upon his Death which they knew not how soon might happen a Protestant Princess was the next Heir who would soon pull down all that Babel which they had been Building and therefore some other Provision must be made for another Popish Successor And nothing could do this so well as a young Prince of Wales during whose Minority if the Kiââ should Die they might Govern themselves ãâ¦ã Popery as in the days of Old This being resolv'd on the old Dâtchess of Modena makes hee Offering to the Lady of Loretto of whom she Implores That the Queen of England may have a Son for a Daughter would signify nothing to be Heir of the Crown of England By Vertue of these Prayers and the Queen's going down to the Bath and drinking the Waters there she was said to be Impregnated and nothing was now to be heard among the Popish Faction but drinking the Young Prince's Health even before he was Born for that it would be a Son there was no body question'd as taking it for Granted that was the Design And all things were carried on by the Faction in order to it's Birth The Princess Ann of Denmark being not very well was advis'd by her Physicians to go down to the Bath for the Recovery of her Health And the Arch bishop of Canterbury and several others of the Bishops being in the Tower and the Bishop of London suspended from his Office and other concurring Circumstances being ready it was now look'd upon to be a good time for the Queen to cry out which was accordingly so well manag'd that on Sunday the 11th of June 1688 a young Prince of Wales was said to be born Which was publish'd with so much Joy both throughout England Scotland and Ireland and by their Embassadors in all Foreign Courts that they abundantly over-acted it The great Point of a Popish Heir being thus secur'd the Popish Faction begun to go on with a high Hand turning out Dr. Hough whom the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford had chosen for their President and all the Fellows too because they would not accept of a Papist whom the King would have impos'd upon 'em by a Mandamus in Sidney Colledge in Cambridge Father Francis was put in and in Vniversity-Colledge in Oxford Obadiah Walker the Principal declar'd himself a Papist The Head of Christ-Church put in by the King waâ also of ââe same Profession Nor was any Preferment to ãâ¦ã unless he were a Roman-Catholick In Scotland the âing had issued out a Proclamation for Tolleration in Religion recommending his Roman-Catholick Subjects particularly to the Protection of the Government there and tells them he expects his Will should be Obey'd absolutely and without Reserve But in Ireland the King would allow no Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants for they were turn'd out of all Offices and Places whatsoever And the Earl of Clarendon recalled from his Lieutenancy and Talbot who had already reformed the Army there and made it perfectly Popish was for that good Service made Earl of Tyrconnel and Deputy of Ireland Sir Charles Porter also the Lord Chancellor was turned out and one Alexander Fitton a Papist who had been fetch'd out of Goal in England and made a Knight is now made Lord-Chancellor in his place I have before told you of the Committing of the Seven Bishops to the Tower which were the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Bishop of Bristol the Bishop of Peterborough the Bishop of Chichester the Bishop of St. Asaph ând the Bishop of Ely and of the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales while they were there the Bishops having by their Habeas Corpus been set at Liberty were Tryed for a high Misdemeanour in Trinity-Term following and notwithstanding the new Modelling of the Judges and that one of then Judge All'bone was a known Papist yet Mr. Justice Powel to his lasting Honour did both Learnedly and Zealously defend their Cause so that the Jury acquitted them The publick Rejoycing that was made for the acquittal of the Bishops was not Confined to the Cities of London and Westminster but upon the News thereof being brought to Hounsloe-Heath where the Army lay the King being at that time treated by the Earl of Feversham in his Tent it was received with a general Shout throughout the whole Army the King not knowing the Reason of that Shout was very much Startled at it and sent the Earl of Feversham out to enquire the Cause who upon his Return told the King ' Tâââ nothing ãâã the Soldiers Joy for the acquittal of the Bishops To whom the King reply'd with some Discomposure And call you that Nothing This being indeed enough to let him see how vain a Design he had undertaken to set up Popery by a Protestant Army The King was now busie in modelling all the Corporations in England that send Burgesses to Parliament to get a Parliament fitted to his own Turn in order to take off the Penal Laws and Tests no other obstacle now lying in his way when on a sudden he
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâd it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles ând tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viââage of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And
of the Young-Men and Maids about the Reign of Queen Mary the First and is equall'd for Height and Beauty by few in the Nation In short 't is a Town of good Trade and very famous for its Ale which is accounted the best and strongest in the Kingdom Ripton the Antient Ripandunum is a pleasant place here Ethelbald the ninth King of the Mercians slain at Egelwald was by his Subjects Interred and from hence Burdred the last King of Mercia was expelled by the Danes together with his Queen Ethelwith At Melburn John D' Bourbon taken at the Battel of Agincourt in France by our Henry the 5th was kept Prisoner Little Derby was an Antient Collony of the Romans as appears by their Coins and Medals digged up there at sundry times The Seats of the Noblemen are Palsover Castle the Antient seat of the Duke of Newcastle Haddon the seat of the Earl of Rutland Hadwick and Chatsworth the seats of the Duke of Devonshire Berthy the seat of the Earl of Chesterfield Sherley the seat of the Lord Ferrers Sutton c. The Reign of Edmund Ninth Sole Monarch of England EDmund Brother to Ethelstan began his Reign Anno. Dom. 940. He was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames but scarce settled in the Throne before the Danes perswading the People of Northumberland and other Northern Counties to joyn with them advanced against him with a puissant Army to whom he gave a great Overthrow near Northampton and had various success against them in divers other Battels He caused the Eyes of the two Sons of Dunmail to be put out for theirs and their Fathers Rebellion against him and then to quiet his People made many good Laws to restrain Rapin and other Injuries that for want of such boundaries between Princes and Subjects they had sustained in many of the former Reigns and upon these Laws Magna Charta or the Great Charter of England seems very much to be grounded Anlafe the Dane retaining some footing in the Northern parts of England and Southern Sheirs of Scotland Laboured to perswade Indulph King of Scots to break the League he had made with Ethelstan urging that Edmund who now Reigned was a supine Person no ways fit to bear the weight of Government and therefore they might easily gaine their designes in subduing the Kingdom but Indulph would by no means be tempted to break his Oath Whereupon the Dane thinking to do it without his Aid sent for more Forces who Landing in the Humber Elgarine Governor of Northumberland either through fear or hopes of Advancement declared he was descended of Danish Blood and breaking the Trust King Edmund had reposed in him he Joyned such Forces as he could raise with Anlafe whereupon the King sent to Indulph for Aid according to the Articles of Treaty to assist each other in case of Invasion and with all expedition he sent him 10000 well apointed Soldiers with which and his own Forces he fell upon the Danes and Routed them at the first onset making a terrible slaughter in the pursuit In this Battle as the King had commanded the Treacherous Earl Elgarine was taken alive though he would willingly have dyed on the Swords of those that secured him when being adjuged a Traytor to his Country he was drawn in peices by the strength of Horses And after this great Victory he settled the Northern Counties that had been much harrassed and weakened by the Enemy and upon his return granted large Priviledges to St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk rebuilding many ruined places And now the Irish Invading the Western Coasts with many small Vessels were beaten off divers of them slaughtered and most of their Ships Burnt Greater things were in projection to be done by this King had not an untimely Death prevented him for one day seeing a Gentleman that served him and for whom by reason of his Faithfullness he had a singular esteem hard pressed by a Ruffiain in single Combate and at the point to be slain he unadvisedly rushed in to his Rescue and receiving the points of their Swords in his Body whilst he thought to seize them with his Hands he dyed of the Wounds when he had Reigned Six Years and was Interred at Glastenbury being the Ninth sole Monarch of England Anno Dom. 946. He was fifth son to King Edward At his death he left his Brother Edred or Eldred Protector of the Realm commiting to his care Edwye and Edgar his two Sons who were in their Minority Remarks on Devonshire c. DEvonshire by reason of the advantage of the Sea and its many spacious Havens is not only of great account in it self but to its Neighbouring Counties It produces many rich Manufactories and contains divers stately Towns It has in it rich veins of Tin store of Cattle Corn fat Pastures Containing the City of Exon a Bishops See 394 Parishes 33 Hundreds 37 Market Towns and 23 Rivers small and great It sends Members to Parliament 26 viz. Exeter Plymouth Plimpton Totness Oakhampton Honiton Barnstaple Tavistock Ashburton Tiverton Beralston 2 Each and 2 more out of these three Towns Clifton Dartmouth and Hardness and 2 Knights of the Shire in all 26. It is Bounded with Somersetshire Cornwal the Irish Sea and Channel Exeter the only City of this County is of great Antiquity for the Castle called Rugemont was once the Palace of the West Saxon Kings and afterward of the Earls of Cornwal and the Walls and Cathedral were Builded by King Ethelstane and is situate on the River Ex. Torbay in this County some few Miles from the North East of Dartmouth is singularly remarkable for the Descent made here on the 5th of November 1688 by the then Prince of Orange but his now present Majesty King William the Third whom God long preserve with his Forces from Holland to save this Nation from Popery and Slavery which had then bid fair for it but upon his Landing vanish'd like Mists before the Morning Sun Plymouth seated on the River Plym is renowned by being the birth-place of that great Sea Captain Sr. Francis DEVON SHIRE Drake Tinmouth was the place where the Danes Landed when they first Invaded the Western Parts and suffered much by the French in the Year 1690 Crediton was a Bishops See till it was removed to Exeter by Edward the Confessor Hubblestone was the burying-place of Hubba the Dane Brother to Hungar slain in Battel not far from thence In the Parish of Comb-Martin it is Recorded That William Wimondham Refined out of Oar digged there 270 Pound weight of Silver afterward Coined for Elinor Dutches of Bar. The Seats of the Nobility are pleasantly situate in this County viz. Potheridge and Wenbury seats of the Late Duke of Albemarle Chudleigh the seat of the Lord Clifford Baron of Chudleigh and the Lord Bishop of the Diocess his Palace at Exeter The Reign of Edred c. Tenth Sole Monarch of England EDred or Eldred as is said being left Protector of the Realms and Persons of Edwye and Edgar
was allarmed with the News of the great Preparations making by the Dutch both by Sea and Land Upon which account the King sends to his Envoy at the Hague to put in a Memorial to the States General to know the Reason The French King also who was concern'd at it orders his Ambassador there to deliver in a Memorial upon that occasion wherein he tells the States There are such Bonds of Friendship and Alliance between his Master and the King of Great Brittain as will oblige him the French King not only to assist the King of Great Brittain but to look on the first Act of Hostility committed against him the King of Great Brittain to be a Manifest Rupture of the Peace and a Breach with his Crown This left no longer any doubt in the mind of the Prince of Orange and the States General of the private League between England and France Which was a sufficient Ground for the Prince of Orange to rescue these Kingdoms to which in Right of his Princess he was the next Heir from Popery and Arbitrary Power For he saw plainly that the Supposititions Prince was Introduc'd to wrong him and his Princess of their Right to the Succession and to subject these Kingdoms to Popery and Slavery and by consequence all Europe besides The Dutch took no notice of the French King 's Memorial but gave King James's Envoy this Answer that they had Arm'd in Imitation of his Britanick Majesty and the other Princes and that they had thereby given no just occasion of Offence in Arming when all other Princes where in motion and that they were long since convinced of the Alliance that the King his Master had treated with France and what had been mention'd to them by Monsier de Count d' Avaux in his Memorial After this Answer King James expected no good from the Dutch and lookt upon them as if they had already declar'd War against him And now the Eyes of all England were turned to Holland and expected Deliverance from thence without which they saw themselves Ruined nor did his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange deceive them but Landed with an Army of about 14000 Men at Torbay near Exeter on the Fifth day of November 1688. A day deservedly Famous in England for two eminent Deliverances from Popery Soon after his Landing he went to Exceter where he was received by the People with Shouts and Acclamations of Joy as their Deliverer as indeed he was After some little stay there he came forwards towards the South but King James to oppose him sent down his Army to Salisbury whither he also went himself but part of the Army going over to the Prince the King was so Staâtled at it that he thought not himself there out of Danger and so return'd to London again and as the Prince came forward he was in all places look'd upon as a Blessing sent from Heaven to rescue 'em from Popery and Slavery In the mean time King James to prevent if it were possible the impending and growing danger Restores all the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge and puts out his Proclamation for vacating all New Charters and restoring of old ones and Particularly the Charter of London was carried in great Pomp to Guild-Hall by Jefferies and given the Citizens again But for all these good things there was no body now thank'd him as being the Effects of his Fear and not of his good will The Prince's coming nearer and nearer to London the Nobility and Gentry at every Place Flocking to him and Congratulating him King James first sends away his Queen and pretended Prince to France and in a little time after withdraws himself from White-Hall and goes to Feversham where attempting to go a-board he was seiezed and rifled by the Country People and after his being known he came back to London again and was well receiv'd but the Prince being then at Windsor and designing the next Day for London King James by a Message was desir'd to with-draw himself to Ham near Kingston to avoid those Inconveniences that might Ensue But the King rather chose to go to Rochester having the Princes Guards with him to secure him from the Insults of the People there he staid two or three Days and then Privately Embark'd himself for France where he soon after ariv'd King James being thus gone away upon the Prince's coming to London he was desir'd by the Nobility and Gentry to take the Government upon him thereby to suppress the Disorders of the common People which was then very Great but by the Prince's Order soon brought to be quiet The Mass-Houses were every vvhere pull'd down and the Priests and Jesuits with the whole Popish Crew put to the Scamper Jefferies being dropt by his Master was shifting for himself but taken by the Mobb in a Seaman's Habit was carried before the Lord-Mayor and from thence sent to the Tower attended by strong Guards to keep him from being torn in Pieces by the incensed Mobb who follow'd him with Threats Curses and Execrations where sometime after he drank himself to Death and so sav'd the Hang-man a Labour The Prince of Orange having the Government put into his Hands Summons such Gentlemen as were Members of King Charles's last three Parliaments to meet at Westminster to consult what was fit to be done for the Nation which they accordingly did and desir'd the Prince that Writs might be issued out for the calling a Convention of the Estates in the Nature of a Parliament to meet in January following Which being done the Convention met at the time appointed and entering into several Debates about the present States of Affairs they came to this Result That King James by privately withdrawing himself out of his Kingdoms had Abdicated the Throne whereby it was become Vacant And so ended the Four Years Reign of King James the Second An Account of what Remarkably Occur'd since the Reign of King WILLIAM the III. and Queen MARY the II. to the Year 1606. KING James as has been mentioned having Left the Land and that in Parliament being taking for an Abdication and the Throne declared Vacant William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange were Proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. before White-Hall and in the City of London with the Joy of the whole Nation on the 13th of Feb. 1688 and with Convenient speed they were Proclaimed with the like satisfaction in all the Principal Places of their Dominions and the King returned the Parliament a Gracious answer to their Declaration expressing himself highly satisfied with what they had done promising to the utmost his Care and Protection for the Preservation of the Established Religion Laws and Liberties and that he should always be ready to Concur with them in any thing that should be for the Good of the Kingdom and to do all that in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of it and thereupon he proceeded to quiet disorders in all
and Landed some Men at Cammaret-Bay under Lieutenant-General Talmash but they had drawn thither such great Bodies of Horse and Foot strongly Intrenched that the English with some Loss were constrained to retire in this Action the Lieutenant-General received a Wound in the Thigh with a Musket-shot and Dyed of it at Plymouth greatly Lamented as being an expert and Generous Commander But for this Disappointment not giving over they stood in before Diep and laid that Famous Town in Ashes and then throwing in about 250 Bombs into Havre-de-Grace fir'd a great part of it and afterward Bombed St. Maloes and Callis and sent in Machines to blow up the Works guarding the Entrance of Dunkirk Harbour which had some tho' not the wished Effect And so Sailing along the Coast of France brought such a Terror every where that they were forced Night and Day to be on their Guard The King in this Year 169â labouring by the often moving his Camp to bring the French to battle but not able to do it caused Huy to be Besieged which with little resistance he took and Garisoned and the Prince of âaden with the Saxon and German Troops passing the Rhine cut off divers in the Rear of the French Army it retiring before him so that he raised Contributions and returned unopposed and after this on all hands the French parties Scouting abroad were mostly deâeaâed by the Confederates killed and taken Prisoners bringing in great Booties of Cattle c. And whilst the French advanced somewhat near the City of Leige the Garison Sallyed and took between 7 and 800 Horse entirely defeating two Squadrons of their forrage Guards These and the like matters ending this Campaign the King returned and was Welcomed home with the Universal joy of his People But all their joy was soon turned into Mourning For the Queen fell sick at Kensington on the 22 of December 1694 and in a little time her Distemper was known to be the small Pox a distemper Fatal to the Royal Family of which on the 28th she Dyed in the 33d Year of her Age and in the Flower of her Strength and Beauty to the great affliction of the King and three Kingdoââ she lay a considerable time in State and then was Interred among her Royââ Ancestors in Henry the 7th's Chappel at Westminster with a most Solemn Funeral Pomp a Stately Mausoleum was Erected in the Abbey whereon very remarkably a Robin-Redbreast for many weeks usually sat Singing Not only the English Court but most in Christendom went into the deepest Mourning and Condoleances were made not only by the Parliament but the Foreign Ministers c. The Clouds of sorrow being a little blown-over the King considering of his weighty affairs abroad appointed 7 Able Ministers of State Lords Justices in his absence to administer affairs of Government and having settled all things to the best advantage passed to the Army in Flanders which drawing into the Field very Numerous Marched towards the strong Town of Namure Situate on the Muse and Sambre and after a Vigorous Seige carried on by the King with all Imaginable Bravery and Gallantry tho' Marshal Bouflers had thrown himself into the Town and even in the fight of Vineroy at the head of an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men first the Town and afterwards the Castle was compelled to Surrender to the King This tedious Siege in a manner ended the Campaign so that little else of moment happened the French altogether declining a Battle and the King having settled Affairs upon his return made a Progress through most parts of England The Parliament being dissolved a New one was called and meeting among other things particularly upon the King 's Recommending that Important affair to them at the opening of the Sessions took into Consideration the State and badness of the Coyn and coming to a result an Act passed for calling in the Clipped Money and Re-coyning it in Mill'd Money according to the true Weight Standarâ and Mints were set up in divers parts of the Kingdom for the better ordering a speedy supply of it in every part of the Nation Whilst these things were doing make things happy and easy to us our Enemies were contriving our utter destruction divers were sent from France to joyn with those already here and one of the most wicked Conspiracies contrived and a long time secretly carried on that any Age has known or History made mention of for whilst a Design was laid in the French Court to invade the Kingdom their Emmissaries here were framing a Design to destroy the King's Life by a villanous Assassination and Sir George Barclay brings over a Commission to encourage them in it The Conspirators many in Number had divers Meetings sometimes at one Capt. Porter's Lodgings and others at the Nagg's-Head in Govent-Garden and in Leaden-Haââ-Street at the Sun in the Strand the blew-posts in Old-Spring-Garden in Pickadilly and other places and several Persons as a Committee from their Body were appointed as Knightly Porter King c. to view the Ground in the King's passage to Richmond a place he usually Frequented to acquaint the rest which was the most Convenient place to set upon him in his Coach and cut him off and accordingly they viewed the Avennues about Brentford Richmond c. and concluded on the Narrow-lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green was the most convenient to do it in where the Guards could pass but âew a Breast and with this upon their return they acquainted Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkyns Robert Charnock and others who approved it The Design thus laid they âexâ Consulted in what manner it should be done and came to a Result that one Party with 7 or 8 chosen Men should Assassinate the King in his Coach whilst two other Parties attacked the Guards their Number in all being upwards of Forty and the 15th of February 1695 being Saturday a day the King usually went a Hunting that way was the first appointed time and they prepared for it accordingly But Providence so Ordered it that he went not abroad that Day of which they had notice from ãâã two Orderly Men as they stiled them viz. Durance and Chambers who âây at Kensington concealed for that Purpose Then they had other Meetings upon it and appointed to be in a Readiness the Saturday following and met accordingly and were setting out when again they had Notice the same hand of Providence had Disappointed them This startled them into new Fears that their wicked Design had taken Air especially upon notice the King 's going abroad was suddenly put off and the Guards were come back in haste their Horses Foaming and Keys one of the Conspirators heard them Mutter something which gave him and the rest a Jealousy to mistrust a Discovery was made as indeed Providence had Ordered it whereupon they Dispersed and gave over the Design For Capt. Pendergrass being acquainted with this bloody Design from Capt. Porter about the 13th of February at