Wingrave was Mayor William Caston Ralph Balancer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Prior William Furneaux Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Pointel John Dalling Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Simon de Abingdon John Preston Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Renauld at the Conduit Will. Prodham Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Richard Constantine Richard de Hackney Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor John Grantham Richard de Ely Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Adam of Salisbury John of Oxford Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Benet of Fulham John Cawston Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor Gilbert Mordon John Cawston Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Richard Britain was Mayor Richard Rothing Roger Chauntelere Sheriffs EDWARD III. EDWARD the third was Crowned King upon Candlemas-day A. D. 1327. being the eighth day after that his Father had made a resignation of the Crown to him And now because sundry great persons with the whole order of Friars Preachers took pity on the old Kings captivity Mortimer therefore hastned to dispatch him out of the way in order to which he procured an Express from the young King then about 16. Years of age to remove him from Kenelworth Castle delivering him into the hands of those ignominious Knights Thomas de Gourney Seniour and John Mattrevers who conveying him from Kenelworth to Barkly-Castle there murdred him by running a burning spit up into his body as he was about to disburden nature September 22. 1327. His body was buryed at Glocester To animate the bloody Regicides to the commitment of the horrid fact 't is said this ambiguous phrase was invented by Adam de Torleton Bishop of Hereford and sent to them by Mortimer Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Gourney or Corney and his villanous companions when they would needs shave the King on his way to Barkley lest he should be known and rescued inforced him to sit down on a molehil and the rascal Barber insulting told him That cold water out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time To whom the sorrowful King answered Whether you will or no there shall be warm water and therewith shed tears plentifully But young King Edward at his Fathers death was upon the borders of Scotland where having invironed the Scots in the woods of Wividale and Stanhope by the Treason of Mortimer they escaped and he returned inglorious after an huge wast of Treasure and great peril of his own person For had not his loyal Chaplain stept in and received the mortal weapon in his own body the Kings life had been lost Shortly after this peace was concluded with the Scots upon dishonourable terms to the English by the procurement of the Mother-Queen and her Minion Mortimer Joan the Kings Sister was marryed to David Bruce the Scots in derision calling her Joan Make-peace King Edward at the Treaty of Peace sealed Charters to the Scotish Nation the contents whereof were contrived by his Mother Roger Mortimer and Sir James Douglas without the privity of the English Peers He also delivered to them that famous evidence called the Ragman-Roll and likewise quitted them of all his claim to the government of Scotland withal rendring back certain Jewels taken by the English from the Scots amongst which was one of special Note called the Black-Cross of Scotland In the same year being the year of our Lord 1327. dyed Charles the fair King of France by whose death the Crown of that Kingdom devolved to Edward King of England in right of his Mother Queen Isabel Tho. Bradwardin A. B. Cant. who was daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all Kings of France successively and all three dying without Issue the whole right now seeming to be Isabel the only Child of the said Philip that had any Issue But the French pretending a fundamental Law or Entail called the Salique Law by which no woman was inheritable to France sought to debar King Edward his right receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair advancing the Brothers son before the Daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but meliority of the Sex Against the stream of the Queen and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great persons now stood amongst whom was the Kings Uncle Edmund Earl of Kent whose death the Queen and Mortimer shortly procured Nor was Mortimers fall now far off for the King beginning to perceive his own peril in the others potency upon good advice therefore surprized Mortimer with the Queen-Mother in Nottingham-Castle and by a Parliament held at Nottingham Queen Isabel's Dowry was taken from her and only a pension of a thousand Pound per Annum allowed her Mortimer was condemned in open Parliament at VVestminster for causing the young King to make a dishonourable peace with the Scots from whom he received bribes For procuring the death of Sr. Edward of Caernarvon the late King For over-familiarity with Isabel the Queen-Mother For polling and robbing the King and Commons of their Treasure He was ignominiously drawn to Tyburn then called the Elmes where he was executed on the common Gallows there hanging two days and nights 1330. With him there dyed for expiation of the late Kings death Sr. Simon de Bedford and John Deverell Esquire About this time befel great disturbances and divisions in Scotland occasioned by young Bruce and Baliol who both pretended right to that Crown which opportunity King Edward took hold on conceiving himself not obliged to stand to that contract made in his minority by the predominancy of his mother and Mortimer the Scots also detaining his Town and Castle of Berwick from him Wherefore he raises an Army and with Edward Baliol marcheth to Berwick which having besieged David Bruce sent a puissant host to the relief thereof and at Halydon-Hill the English and Scoth Armies joyned battle where the Scots were vanquished with a lamentable slaughter of them There dyed Archibald Dougles Earl of Angus and Governour of Scotland the Earls of Southerland Carrick and Foss the three Sons of the Lord Walter Steward and at least fourteen thousand others with the loss only of one Knight and ten other English-men Hereupon Berwick was surrendred to King Edward and Baliol was accepted to be King of Scotland and had faith and allegiance sworn unto him by the Scotch Nobles Simon Islip A.B. Cant. Which done Baliol repaired to King Edward then at Newcastle upon Tine where he submitted to Edward the third as his Father John Baliol had done to Edward the first After which the King of England assisted this Edward Baliol as his homager going himself in person divers times for suppressing the Brucean party which
King and absolved of his vows by Gregory 4th His Bishoprick he bestowed on Swithun This King in great devotion passed to Rome where he rebuilt the School built by King Offa late fired bearing the name of Thomas the holy confirmed the grant of Peter-pence and for his kind entertainment in the Popes Court he covenanted to pay a hundred Marks to St. Peter's Church another to St. Pauls Light and a third to his Holiness Lambert Ethelard A.B. Cant. In his return through France he married fair Judith the daughter of Charles the Bald then Emperor in honour of whom he ever placed her in his English Court in a Chair of State with all other Majestical complements of a Queen contrary to the Law of the West-Saxons formerly made for Ethelburga's offence who by accident had poyson'd her own Husband with the poyson she had prepared for one of his Minions Which respect of his to his Queen so displeased his Nobles that they rose in arms against him but by mediation of Friends the difference was composed on these terms viz. That the Land should be divided betwixt himself and Son Ethelbald to whom the better part was allotted He dyed at Stanbridg in A.D. 857 and was first buried where he deceased but afterwards his body was removed to the Cathedral of Winchester He had issue Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelred Elfred and one Daughter named Ethelswith It is said of this King That by the advice of his Nobles he gave for ever to God and the Church both the tythe of all goods and the tenth part of all the Lands of England free from all secular service taxations or impositions whatsoever ETHELBALD A.D. 857. EThelbald or Ethelwald married Judith his Mother-in-law Some say that he married his own Mother who was King Ethelwolph's Concubine But when he had reigned about two years and an half he dyed in A D. 860. His Body was first buried at Sherbourn in Dorcetshire where at that time was the Cathedral Church and Episcopal See but afterwards was removed to Salisbury EThelbert was disquieted by the Danes all the time of his reign First ETHELBERT A.D. 860. they spoiled all before them to Winchester also sacking and spoiling that City howbeit in their return the Berkshire men under the conduct of Osryck Earl of Hampton met with them recovered the prey and slew many of them The same year also the Danes with the Normans entred Thanet but these the Kentish men repulsed and made a great slaughter of them Ethelbert dyed in A. D. 866 and was buried at Sherbourn EThelred was now King of England ETHELRED A.D. 866. when there arrived on the English Coasts an huge Army of Danes under the command of those strong and cruel Captains Inguar and Habba who burnt down the City of York and therein consumed with fire all those that had fled thither for security Who entred Mercia won the City of Nottingham and therein wintred Who with fire and sword laid all waste where they came and spared neither sex nor age religious or secular Therefore to avoid their Barbarities the Nuns of Coldingham deformed themselves by cutting off their upper-lips and noses King Ethelred in one years time fought no less than nine set-battels with these Danes and at that battel fought at Essendon not far from Reading he obtained a great victory over them But in a fight at Basing the King received his mortal wound whereof he dyed at Wittington in A. D. 872. Alfredus Trelolegeldus A. B. Cant. He was buried at Winbourn in Dorcetshire with this Inscription In hoc loco quiescit corpus Sancti Ethelredi Regis West-Saxonum Martyris qui A.D. 872 23 die April per manus Ducorum paganorum occubuit His Issue were Elfred and Oswald and one Daughter named Thyre ALFRED A.D. 872. ELfred or Alfred the fourth Son of King Ethelwolph was in his young years and Fathers life-time anointed King at Rome by Pope Leo but after his brother Ethelred's death was crowned at Winchester and is by some stiled the first absolute Monarch over the English Within a Months time after his Coronation he was forced into the field against the Danes whom he fought at Wilton where he was worsted Then the Danes constrained the West-Saxons to enter into league with them then advanced to London where they wintred compelled the Mercians to compound with them banishing Burthred their King placing another in his stead of their own chusing Their King Halden gained Northumberland which he bestowed amongst his followers In A.D. 876 Rollo a noble-man of Denmark came over with a great Army of fresh Forces making a miserable spoil where he came but Alfred forced him out of the Land Howbeit the Danes who had already seated themselves in England bring the King many times to such extremities that he was forc'd to hide himself out of sight and with such small companies as he had to live by fishing fowling and hunting having no more of his great Monarchy left him but Wilt Somerset and Hantshire nor them neither free from the incursions of the Danes The solitary place of his most residency was an Island in Somersetshire commonly called Edelingsey where in poor disguise he was entertained into a Cowherds Cottage This Cowherd who succoured King Alfred named Dunwolfus whom the King after set to learning and made Bishop of Winchester Yet in these his distresses he would sometimes disguise himself in the habit of a common Minstrel repairing to the Danes Camp and by his excellent skill in Musick and Song would gain the opportunity of observing as well what their designments were as their security which he wisely improved For seeing his time he gathered what small Forces he could and on the sudden surprized his careless enemies in their Camp making a great slaughter of them to the great terror of others of them in other parts of the Nation who accounted the King dead long before Shortly after this the Devonshire men joyned Battel with King Hubba whom they slew with a great number of his Danes near unto a Castle then called Kinwith The body of Hubba was there buried in the field and thereof called Hublestone In that fight the English took the Danes much esteemed Banner called Reafan wherein a Raven pourtrayed was wrought in Needle-work by the three Sisters of Hubba And now the English fortunes seemed so advanced that the Danes sent to the King for Peace which was condescended unto and Gormon or Gurthrun their King was Baptized Alfred being his Godfather Celnoth and Ethelrad A. B. Cant. and giving him the name of Athelstone and withall bestowing on him in free gift Gormoncester or Godmonchester near Huntingdon with the adjoyning territories Thirty of the chief Danish Nobility were likewise baptized upon whom King Alfred bestowed many rich gifts And that the limits of the English might be free from Danish incursions thus the confines of King Alfreds Kingdom were laid out His Dominions were to stretch from
unpaved A Blazing-Star appeared and other Stars seemed to shoot Darts one against another The Sea broke over its Banks drowning an abundance of people and in Kent overwhelmed the Lands that sometime were Earl Goodwins which now are called Goodwins Sands very dangerous for Navigators A Well of Blood for Fifteen days rose out of the ground at Finchampstead near Abingdon Pestilence and Scarcity Robert of Glocester hath a pretty passage of King William in these Lines As his Chamberlain him brought as he rose on a day A morrow for to wear a pair of Hose of Say He asked what they costned three Shillings be seid Fie a dibles quoth the King who sey so vile a deed King to wear so vile a Cloth but it costned more Buy a pair for a Mark or thou shalt ha cory fore A worse pair enough the other swith him brought And seyd they costned a Mark and unneath he them bought Aye bel-amy quoth the King these were well bought In this manner serve me or ne serve me not A. D. 1096 and in the Reign of William Rufus by reason of the Pestilence then raging and the oppressions under which the English groaned the tillage of the earth was neglected whereby ensued great scarcity the year following throughout all England HENRY BEAVCLERK HENRY for his Learning stiled Beauclerk A.D. 1100 whilst his brother Robert was busied in the Holy War promising many good things was with the general liking of the people crowned at Westminster in A. D. 1100 Whose first business was the reforming of his own Court and Houshold for a pattern to his subjects Next he restored to the English the use of fire and lights at their own liberty freed the Church from reservation of its possessions upon vacancies made the heirs of the Nobility free to possess their Fathers Lands without redemption from him engaging the Nobles to do the like by their Tenants Allowed the Gentry to marry their daughters and kinswomen without his licence so it were not to his enemy Ordained that the Widow should enjoy her Joynture and be at liberty to marry according to her own liking That the Mother and next kindred should be Guardians to fatherless children That Coiners of false money should be punished with the loss of hand and genitals He also appointed a Measure to the length of his arm to be a standard of commerce amongst his people He forgave all debts to the Crown before his time And that which did the most content his subjects was Anselme A.B. Cant. that he revived the Laws of Edward the Confessor After which he recall'd Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury who had been forced out of the Realm by Rufus because he opposed him for keeping Church-Livings in his hands And Henry to settle himself the more deeply in the affections of the English he married Maud daughter to the King of Scots by Margret Sister to Edgar Atheling But Duke Robert being returned with greatest honour from the Holy Land claimed the Kingdom of England as his rightful inheritance landed an Army at Portsmouth many of the English flocking to him At length the difference between these two brethren was reconciled on these terms That Henry should enjoy the Crown during his life paying to Robert in way of fealty three thousand Marks by the year But this sun-shine of Peace was shortly after withdrawn by the Rebellion of Robert Beliasme Earl of Shrewsbury who in short time being vanquished fled into Normandy for shelter Archbishop Anselme is also said to have disturbed the peace by standing too stifly for the pretended Rights of the Church of Rome against the Kings real Rights and Prerogative peremptorily depriving what Prelates he pleased of their promotions and refusing to consecrate certain Bishops that the King had advanced Moreover the King and his Brother Robert continued not long in amity ere Henry invading Normandy takes his brother in fight whom he sent prisoner to Cardiff Castle in Wales where he had the liberty to walk in the Kings Meadows Forests and Parks but endeavouring to make his escape Radulphus A.B. Cant. he was committed to a stricter durance and also deprived the sight of both his eyes and in few years after dyed and was buried at Glocester his Brother Henry not long surviving him Some troubles arose from the Welsh but that people the King restrained chiefly by placing those Flemings among them whose Lands the Seas had devoured some years before and to whom King Rufus had granted that they should seat themselves in Cumberland The poor Married Priests Anselme sadly perplexed And the King imposed heavy Taxes on the people and reserved vacant Church-promotions to his own use under pretence of keeping them for the most deserving But how unworthily he disposed some of them may be guessed by that pretty reproof which Guymund his Chaplain gave him Who on Rogation-Sunday celebrating Service in the Kings Chappel being to read that Lesson out of St. James 5.17 it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months he purposely read It rained not one one one years and five one months Which causing laughter or admiration in all that heard him the King rebuked him for it demanding the reason why he read so Marry quoth he I see you bestow your preferments only on such as can read so Wherewith the King touched preferred him and in the future was more cautious whom he raised to preferments in the Church The estates both spiritual and temporal he caused to assemble at Salisbury then reforming many abuses and laying here the first foundation of our High Court of Parliament About this time Lewis King of France invaded Normandy whither King Henry passed and vanquished him But as his Son Prince William was returning after him out of Normandy he was cast away and with him an 160 persons of prime note and esteem none of their bodies being found The Mariners had had too much Wine bestowed on them at their putting forth to Sea Maud or Matilda the Empress after the death of the Emperor her Husband King Henry her Father sent for over into England where calling a Parliament he caused Stephen his Sisters Son with his Nobles to swear Fealty to her as to his lawful and now only Heir But the King sailing again into Normandy he there after his pleasure of Hunting made a great repast of Lampreys upon the eating of which he fell exceeding sick and after Seven days sickness dyed A. D. 1135. at the Town of St. Denis His Bowels and Brains and Eyes were buried at Roan The Physitian that took out the Brains was poysoned with the stench His body sliced powdred with Salt and wrapped in a Bulls Hide was conveyed to Reading and there buried in the Abby which himself had founded Besides his lawful Issue William and Maud he is said to have had Fourteen illegitimate some say more He built a magnificent Palace at Woodstock in Oxfordshire In a great dearth in his Countries
this famous Champion K. Philip by degrees gain'd all in Normandy even Roan it self Main Turain and Poictou revolted from King John and Angiers was betrayed All these losses happening through the default of some of the English Peers and Prelates For when the King was in readiness to take shipping for Normandy Hubert the Archbishop forbad him proceeding in the voyage the Peers also again refused to attend him Wherefore the King put many of his Earls Barons and Knights yea and Clergy-men also to a grievous pecuniary redemption and Huberts Wealth and Possessions who dyed the same year the King seized on This Hubert was suspected of too familiar practising with the King of France Upon the death of this Archbishop Hubert the Monks of Canterbury made choice of Reginald their Sub-Prior in his stead and the King after them of John Gray Bishop of Norwich a man of great wisdom But the Pope neglecting both these recommended Stephen de Langton to the Monks of Canterbury and Bishops of that Province to be presently chosen for their Primate Which the Monks unwilling and deferring to do Stephen Langton A.B. Cant. alledging that no Canonical Election could be made at Rome where was no consent neither of King nor Covent The Pope with choler replied That he had plenitude of Power over the Church of Canterbury and moreover that no consent of Princes used to be expected in Elections where the Pope was He therefore commanded them under pain of his high curse to accept him for their Primate Which all accordingly did though not without murmurations save one Elias de Brantford And to work the King into a compliance hereto the Pope sent him four Gold Rings with four precious stones an Emerald Saphire Ruby and Topaz signifying in his Letter sent with them that the Rings roundness must remember him of Eternity the quadrate number must mind him of Constancy and the four Cardinal Virtues Prudence Justice Temperance and Fortitude The Golds price of Wisdom the Emeralds greeness of Faith the Saphires brightness of Hope the Rubies redness of Charity and the Topaz's clearness of sanctity of life But King John for all these fond toys and fine words when he observed the Popes arbitrariness the dishonour arising to himself in being frustrated of his choice the prejudice to his Crown in having a Bishop thrust upon him without Sovereign consent the hazard to the State in having a French Favourite over the English with also the Monks disloyalty in yeilding to the Pope's Election He first of all proscribed the Monks as Traytors and after that writ Letters to the Pope wherein he alledged the wrongs done to himself and made his exceptions against Langton vowing immutably to stand for his own elect and to dye in defence of the liberties of his Crown likewise minding the Pope of his great profits he received from England menacing withall that if he were crossed in this he would then stop all from crossing the Seas to Rome To which Letters of the King the Pope answered very comminatory and shortly after viz. in A. D. 1208. because the King would be King in his own Dominions this Servus Servorum interdicted the whole Kingdom under which it lay for the term of six years and fourteen weeks without Gods service or Sacraments or Christian burial The Lay-people were tumbled like Dogs into every Ditch Howbeit the King to be even with the Pope proscribed the disloyal Clergy their revenues he confiscated their Bishopricks Abbies and Priories he put into Laymens hands and every-where they suffered wrong without ordinary protection of justice But some of the eminent Clergy detested the Popes savage proceedings as Philip Bishop of Durham and his Successor The Bishops of Winchester and Norwich they animated the King to contemn the Papal Curse and the Cistercian Abbots neglecting the Interdict continued their Divine Service till the Pope suspended them for their contempt Moreover the Pope to revenge himself on the King Anathematized him by name which caused many to desert his service for which he punished them by Fine Yet at length the better to secure himself and State the King was very desirous to come to an atonement and assured under his Seal that Archbishop Langton with the Bishops and Monks and others should be restored both to his favour and their possessions that Holy Church should have all its Franchises as in Edward the Confessors time But because he would not make full satisfaction to the Clergy for all confiscations and other emoluments received of them the Popes Nuncio's refused a peace with him And the Pope was so mad that he absolved all Kings and people poor and rich having dependence on him from all fealty and subjection to him whereupon Male-contents set themselves to work mischief The Welsh fall off from the King wherefore at Nottingham he hangs up their hostages 28 in number His Nobles many of them held themselves discharged of their Allegiance so rebel inviting the French King to their assistance and promising to settle the English Crown on his head Stephen Langton and other Bishops implore the Popes help to support the Church of England being at the point of ruine His officious Holiness thereupon decrees That K. John must be deposed and that he would â—ppoint one more worthy in his stead To effectuate which the Pope sent his Letters to Philip King of France requiring him to undertake the affair of dethroning the King of England and for his reward he should have pardon of all his sins besides the enjoying of the English Crown to him and his heirs for ever Also transmitting his Letters general to all Potentates Soldiers Men of War of all Nations to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and to follow Philip in this design assuring all that their assistance herein whether in person or purse should be no less meritorious than if they visited our Saviours Sepulcher The King of France accepts the offer and makes great preparation for the invading of England and King John raises a Land-Army and prepares a Royal Navy to withstand him But ere the French make their attempts Pandulph the Popes Messenger arrives in England and so wrought upon the King what by representing the danger he was in and what by flattering promises that King John not insensible of his desperate estate sware in all things to submit to the judgment of the Church And shortly after at the Knight-Templers House in Dover he surrendred his Crown into the hands of Pandulph for the use of the Pope laying at his feet his Scepter Robe Sword and Ring and subscribed to a Charter whereby he resigned his Kingdom to the Pope Professing he did it neither through fear or force but of his own free will as having no other way to make satisfaction to God and the Church for his offence And that from that time forward he would hold his Crown of the Pope paying a pension annual of a Thousand Marks for the Kingdoms of
England and Ireland Pandulph now having got what he came for hastens into France there to disswade Philip from proceeding against King John as being become an obedient and reconciled Son to the Church But Philip who was of his holy Fathers mind not caring for K. John's repentance but his Crown in great choler professed That since the Pope himself had so far thrust him on his Legats suggestions no nor his threats of excommunication should not withdraw him from his intentions In which resolution calling his Peers into a consultation they all approved his design save Ferdinand Earl of Flanders who alledged that it was an unreasonable thing to think of invading another mans right inforcing this his judgment with so good arguments that thereby many of the Peers were induced to change their opinion Which so incensed K. Philip that he drew his Forces against Flanders commanding his mighty prepared Fleet to set forward thitherward Of the which K. John having speedy intelligence set forth his Navy and happily surprized the French Fleet at the Port of Damme whilst most of the Soldiers were on Land spoiling the Earls Country taking 300 Vessels laden with Provisions Arms and other costly fraught and burning and sinking above an 100. And now the King thinking to take the advantage of this Victory made ready a great Army for the recovery of his hereditary Provinces lost to the French but when all else was ready then the Barons denied him their attendance till he was assoyled of his Excommunication and that their pristine liberties granted them by Henry the first were restored Stephen Langton animating them herein and promising his faithful assistance to them Hereupon the King makes his appeal to Rome presenting the Pope with rich presents in answer to which the Pope sent his Legate the Bishop of Tusculum who wrought with the King to corroborate the conveyance of his Kingdoms to the Pope unto which the King yielded But the Archbishop of Canterbury opposed himself against it with whom the Peers of the Land joyned avowing it to be an execrable thing to the whole World And in a full Parliament it was Enacted That since the King could not without consent of Parliament bring his Realm and people to such thraldom therefore if the Pope should in the future attempt any such thing again with life and livelihood he should be withstood The Pope hearing of this not only conceived exceeding hatred against the Archbishop but sent also his authentick Letters for repealing the Interdict upon restitution of 1300 Marks more to the Prelates and that but by equal portions of five years payment And now the King passed into Poictou which he reduced thence into Britain where his Poictovins according to their old custome proved false to him to his great detriment The while his Barons they play Rex at home renewing their confederation and binding themselves with an Oath at the High Altar at St. Edmonds bury That they would pursue the King with Arms till he should consent to the Charter of Liberties granted by Henry 1st So that the King was inforced to return into England where when come they challenged this Charter as a part of his Oath made at his Absolution and shortly after they met together at Stamford with a very numerous Army Their General was Robert Fitz-Walter whom they stiled The Marshal of Gods Army and Holy Church London invited them to enter the City by night where when entred by their threatful Letters they not only drew most of the Nobles from the King but had also almost lockt him out of his Royal Seat insomuch that he was necessitated by gentle messages to procure of his factious Barons a place and day of meeting which was Running-Mead betwixt Windsor and Stains since called Councel-Mead whither they came with Armed multitudes out of all the Kingdom numberless Where the King perceiving their so great strength and his own small party he granted them the utmost of their desires not only for liberties specified in Magna Charta and Charta Forestae but also for a kind of rule in the government by 25 selected Peers to whose command all the other Barons were also bound by Oath to be obedient But the King could not long relish this therefore privately sends to his trustiest friends to fortify and victual their Castles and himself secretly retires into the Isle of Wight From whence he dispatched Messengers both to the Pope and his foreign friends to crave the censure of the one and succours of the other against such outragious Rebels In both which his Agents were so sedulous and friends compassionate that at Rome by definitive sentence the Barons Charters were made voyd the King and Barons accursed if either of them observed the composition made at Councel-Mead And from Flanders Goscoin Brabrant and other parts such competent aids came in as incouraged the King after Three Months secrecy to shew himself in the face of his Enemies His Host he divided into two parts with the one conducted by himself Northward he every-where subdued his Rebels as likewise did the Earl of Salisbury Southward Stephen Langton the Pope suspended for abetting the Barons and his Brother Simon Langton Archbishop elect of York had his election made voyd the Pope constituting in his place Walter Gray whose Pall cost him no less than 1000 pounds The Archiepiscopal Pall is a Pontifical Vestment made of Lambs wooll as it comes from the Sheeps back without any other artificial colour and spun by a peculiar order of Nuns cast into St. Peters Tomb and adorned with little black Crosses having two Labells hanging down before and behind which the Archbishops when going to the Altar put about their Necks above their other pontifical Ornaments The disloyal Barons were all excommunicated by name and all their Lands together with the City of London Interdicted But the lofty Barons held those censures in so high contempt that they decreed neither themselves nor Citizens of London should observe them nor the Prelates denounce them And to revive their dying Cause they resolve on a project for betraying the Crown of England unto Lewis the Dauphin of France sending their Letters of Allegiance confirmed with all the Barons Seals to implore K. Philips favour for sending his Son and his Son for the acceptance of the English Crown To prevent a correspondency herein the Pope sends his Apostolical Commands to Philip of France that he should stay his Son from entring upon St. Peters patrimony with a Curse also on all such as should assist the excommunicate Barons To which Philip replied That England was no patrimony of St. Peters no King saith he having power of himself to alienate his Kingdom K. John especially who being never lawful King had no power to dispose thereof and that it was an error and pernicious example in the Pope and an itching lust after a new kind of Domination His Peers swore That they would spend their blood rather than suffer that a King
Sheriffs In his thirty second Year John Loufkin was Mayor John Barnes John Buris Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Simon Doulseby was Mayor Simon of Benington John of Chichester Sheriffs In his thirty fourth Year John Wroth was Mayor John Dennis Walter Berney Sheriffs In his thirty fifth Year John Peche was Mayor William Holbech James Tame Sheriffs In his thirty sixth Year Stephen Candish was Mayor John of St. Albans James Andrew Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year John Not was Mayor Richard of Croydon John Hiltoft Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Adam of Bury was Mayor John de Metford Simon de Mordan Sheriffs In his thirty ninth Year John Loufkin was Mayor John Bukilsworth John Ireland Sheriffs In his fortieth Year John Loufkin continued Mayor John Ward Thomas of Lee Sheriffs In his forty first Year James Andrew was Mayor John Tarngold VVilliam Dickman Sheriffs In his forty second Year Simon Mordan was Mayor Robert Girdeler Adam Wimondham Sheriffs In his forty third Year John Chichester was Mayor John Piel Hugh Holdich Sheriffs In his forty fourth Year John Barnes was Mayor William Walworth Robert Gayton Sheriffs In his forty fifth Year John Barnes continued Mayor Adam Staple Robert Hatfield Sheriffs In his forty sixth Year John Piel was Mayor John Philpot Nicholas Brembar Sheriffs In his forty seventh Year Adam of Bury was Mayor John Abery John Fished Sheriffs In his forty eighth Year VVilliam VValworth was Mayor Richard Lions William Woodhouse Sheriffs In his forty ninth Year John Ward was Mayor John Hadley William Newport Sheriffs In his fiftieth Year Adam Staple was Mayor John Northampton Robert Laund Sheriffs RICHARD II. RICHARD the Son of Edward the Black Prince was crowned King in the eleventh year of his age but ere the Crown was setled on his head the French braved it on the English coasts and the Scots set fire on the Tower of Roxbrough and through want of care in such who had the charge of State-matters in the young Kings behalf things were declined to a shameful change and the glorious atchievements of the two late Edwards fell under an eclipse The North parts of England were grievously afflicted with the stroke of Pestilence and their misery augmented by the inroads and outrages of the Scots who had now by surprize gained Berwick which upon the ninth day after the Earl of Northumberland regained by force A. D. 1379 a Parliament was held at London wherein for supply of the Kings wants it was agreed That the Commons or poorer sort should be spared and the burden be wholly laid upon the abler sort And in the next year following a Parliament was held at Northampton wherein every one of each sex above such an age was charged to pay 12 d. per poll which with the hatred born to John Duke of Lancaster was the cause of a great insurrection of the Commons and Bond-men chiefly of Kent Essex Surrey Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridg-shire The principal heads of the said giddy multitude were VVat Tyler and Jack Straw The Rebels of Kent embattel'd themselves upon Black-Heath by Greenwich from whence they marched to London where the common sort generally siding with them they became Masters of Misâ—ule The Priory of St. Johns without Smithfield they kept burning for about seven days Savoy-Palace belonging to the Duke with all the riches therein they consumed by fire in a kind of holy outrage for they threw one of their fellows into the flames because he had thrust a piece of stolen Plate into his bosome They burnt all the Archbishops Goods at Lambeth and defaced all the Writings Rolls Records and Monuments of the Chancery as having a special hatred to the Lawyers Simon Tibald Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England a worthy Prelate Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. Johns and Treasurer of England they haled out of the Tower where the King was in person and beheaded them on Tower-hill with great shoutings and rejoycings The number of these rebellious Reformers under the leading of Jack Straw and the Idol of Clowns VVat Tyler were about an Hundred thousand and at a Sermon made to them by John Ball there was near twice as many Their proud Petitions the King granted them necessity compelling him thereto after which a great multitude of them repaired to their several homes The remaining Rout the King by his Proclamation invited to meet him in Smithfield where he would satisfie their desires in all respects to the full William Courtney A. B. Cant But when they were met in the place appointed Wat Tyler there in the presence of the King offering to kill Sir John Newton for not giving him some undue respect William Walworth Lord Mayor thereupon set upon the arch-Traytor with a drawn Weapon and slew him Which when the Rebels perceived they prepared to take extream revenge but the King instantly spurring forth his Horse bade them follow him and he would be their Captain And whilst they thronged after him into the fields brave VValworth the while hasted into the City raised a thousand Citizens in armour and brought them with VVat Tylers head born before him upon a spear to the King Which the rude multitude seeing some of them fled and others on their knees begged mercy of the King Worthy Walworth the King knighted and bestowed on him an hundred pound lands by the year in fee-simple and as some write the Dagger was now added to the City-arms in remembrance of the great good service done by the Lord Mayor Jack Straw at the time of his execution confessed that these Rebels had designed to murder the King and chief of the Realm and to have set up petty kings of their own chusing in every shire The number of rebels executed in all places was about Fifteen hundred These were called the Hurling-times And now the Nation being setled in quiet King Richard married the Lady Ann Daughter unto the Emperor Charles the Fourth John Duke of Lancaster was sent into France where he concluded a Truce with that Nation for six months But these sun-shine days lasted not long For besides the annoyances done to England by the Scots at several times and the French threatning an Invasion the worst mischief befel at home through the means of discontented and ambitious spirits who kindled a Civil War The Laity took offence against the Clergy because the Archbishop had in Parliament refused to yeild to an unjust proportion of the Tax granted the King to be laid upon the Clergy And so far were the Commons and some Lay-Peers offended therewith that they petitioned the King to take away the Temporalties from Ecclesiastical persons which he denied saying That he would maintain the English Church in the quality of the same state or better in which himself had known it to be when he came to the Crown The displacing of Sir Richard Scrope Chancellor was displeasing to most men The reason of his displacing was because he refused to pass such large gifts
of York vvas created Regent of France but before he arrived there Paris vvas lost by the treachery of the Citizens Feb. 27. 1436. And Philip Duke of Burgundy novv in person gives proof of his disaffections to the English bringing his Forces before the Tovvn of Callis for the relief of vvhich place the Protector Humphrey Duke of Glocester passed vvith a great Army but Burgundy had vvithdravvn his Forces before the Duke arrived Hovvbeit the Duke took some revenge on him by vvasting part of his Dominions Which done he vvith honour returned to his Charge in England In France the Earl of Warwick vvas very active driving the Duke of Burgundy's Forces from Crotoy freeing Albeville from the danger of a Bastile for tvventy days spoiling the Country of Picardy about Amiens and Artois The Duke of Somreset Lords Talbot and VVilloughby were also busied in other places for the security of what the English had gained John Stratford A. B. Cant. But the common enemy the Turk increasing in strengths Ambassadors were sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences betwixt the Nations of France and England whereupon a Truce was taken by the two Kings for eighteen months A. D. 1444 was King Henry married with Margaret the daughter of Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorrain In which marriage say some begun the mournful Tragedies of our Country For after this day the fortune of the World began to decline the King so that he lost his friends in England and revenues in France for shortly all was ruled by the Queen and her Councel to the great disprofit of the King and his Realm and to the mauger and obloquie of the Queen her self who had many a wrong and false report made of her A. D. 1447 Good Duke Humphreys death was effected He was much hated by the Queen and her party as the only man who by his prudence as also by the Honour and Authority of his birth and place seemed to impeach that Soveraign Command which they pretended to settle in the King but meant indeed as the manner is under soft Princes to reign themselves in anothers name Many great Lords were drawn on at the time of a Parliament then holden at St. Edmondsbury to concur for his destruction not perceiving that thereby they pluckt up the flood-gate at which the Duke of York should enter This great Duke being come to attend in this Parliament was Arrested of High Treason by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham Sommerset and others and to guard him certain of the Kings household were appointed but it was not long before he was found dead whose body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a Palsey or Imposthume His servants Sir Roger Chamberlain Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gent. were condemned of High Treason and had this unexampled punishment They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn there hang'd let down quick stript naked mark'd with a knife to be quartred and then a Charter of Pardon for their lives was shewed by the Marquess of Suffolk Thomas Wild the Dukes servant also being condemned and pardoned had for a preamble in his Letters Patents words importing That he had been one among many other Traytors against the King with Duke Humphrey who went about and practised to deliver Eleanor late wife to the Duke out of Prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Bury there to have contrived the Kings destruction Such was the end of this great Prince who by the people of England was thought to be doubly murdered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true Lover of learned men but himself was also learned and a Father of his Country And now the whole frame of government seemed to repose it self on the Queen and such Favourites as the King by her commendations liked The affairs of France were neglected And the Duke of York perceiving the King to be ruled and not to Rule began secretly to allure his friends of the Nobility and privily declared to them his Title to the Crown as likewise he did to certain Governours of Cities and Towns Which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his provision was ready before his purpose was publick The very state of things invited this fatal conspiracy there being now a milder King than England was worthy of a Councel out of favour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and jealous condition of things at home Of all which the Duke of York made his best use cherishing the popular discontents and instead of seeking to redress any evils in the State he represented them to be worse than they were thereby to ripen that breach of Loyalty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought upon In France matters went on very unhappily on the English side For the Duke of Sommerset during the Truce suffered a Town of Britain to be surprised denying restitution thereof cherished his Souldiers in their riot and disorders The French therefore making this their example surprized Town after Town till they had gained all Normandy and within few years extorted the Dutchy of Gascoign out of the English possession In the mean time the Duke of York raised his esteem in England by his appeasing of a tumult which had hapned in Ireland And at a Parliament holden at Westminster many Articles were exhibited by the Lower-House against the Duke of Suffolk wherein he was charged with evil demeanor Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower from whence he was discharged within a few weeks after About this time Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester and keeper of the Privy-Seal a wise and stout man stood in the Duke of Yorks way to the Crown therefore he procured him to be slain at Portsmouth by certain Ship-men And in a Parliament holden at Leicester the Duke of Suffolk a principal pillar of King Henries safety was set at again by the Yorkists They charge that for a crime on him namely the delivery of Anjou and Main which themselves had universally in a former Parliament assented unto and ratified This they prosecuted so effectually though unjustly against him that he was condemned to be banished for five years but in his way to banishment he was by some imployed on purpose taken at Dover-road where they struck off his head at the side of a Cock-boat nor was his death much lamented of the people because he was thought to have been a private actor in the death of the Noble Duke of Glocester Now the Yorkists having thus rid Suffolk out of the way think it no unfit time to begin to put their designs in practise so induce the Commons of Kent to make an Insurrection John Kemp. A. B. Cant. The Captain of the Rebels was a Villain named Jack Cade whom some by contraries called
Citizens exceedingly Himself did not only become one amongst them causing himself to be entred a Brother of the Merchant-Taylors Company but also wore the habit at a publick Feast and sate as Master of the Company A. D. 1492 Octob. the sixth King Henry with his Host landed at Callis from whence with his whole forces he marched towards Boloigne which when he had besieged Articles of peace were concluded betwixt him and the King of France For King Henry before his going out of England had been dealt with on the French Kings behalf to accept of conditions but would not enter into any Treaty with him till he was in the field and that with such a puissance as vvas likely enough to force his ovvn conditions When Henry had to his advantage setled his transmarine affairs he returned for England vvhere he vvas not to remain long in quiet For the Dutchess of Burgundy had provided another counterfeit King a youth of a Princely personage called Peter VVarbeck the son of a converted Jew This her creature Peter or as some called him Perkin and Peterkin under the name and Title of Richard Plantaginet second son of King Edward the fourth had great honour given him by the King of France And divers persons of eminency in England were so deluded that they believed him to be the true Richard and thereupon sought to advance him to the Crown which cost some of them the price of their heads as the Lord Fitz-VValter Sir Simon Montford Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain that gained the Victory for King Henry at Bosworth-field These with more were put to death for favouring of Perkin The King also for the further prevention of dangers caused the coasts of England to be strongly guarded sent a new Lord Chancellor into Ireland Henry Denny a Monk of Langton-Abby and Sir Edward Poynings with some forces whose greatest care and diligence was to punish such as before time had given any assistance to the Mock-king and to restrain such as were likely to do so in time to come The Earl of Kildare falling under suspition Poynings sent prisoner into England where the King did graciously hear and admit his defences and returned him with Honour and continuation of authority The Irish had formerly exhibited many Articles against this Earl the last of which was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland constituting him Lord-Deputy thereof But Perkin having gained private assistance from the French King and Maximilian to strengthen yet his enterprize he repairs into Scotland unto James the fourth having special recommendations from the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy who gave him most courteous entertainment The rare impudency of the youth and that connexion which his darings had with other Princes drew this King into an errour concerning him When he was first brought to the presence of the King of Scots with a right Princely gracefulness he declared to the said King That Edward the fourth leaving two sons Edward and Richard both very young their unnatural Uncle Richard to obtain the Crown purposed the murder of them both but the instruments of his cruelty having murdred his elder brother the young King were moved with pity to spare his life and that thus saved by the mercy of God he was privately conveyed beyond the Seas the world supposing that himself also had been murdred And that Henry Teuder Earl of Richmond after he had by subtle and foul means obtained the Crown he then wrought all means and ways to procure the final destruction of him the rightful Heir to the English Diadem That his said mortal enemy Henry hath not only falsely surmised him to be a feigned person giving him Nick-names so abusing the World but that also to deprive him of his right he had offered large Sums of Mony to corrupt the Princes with whom he had been retained and had imploy'd his servants to murder him That every man of reason might well understand that the said Henry needed not to have taken these courses against him had he been a feigned person That the truth of his manifest cause had moved the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy his most Dear Ant to yield him their assistence That now because the Kings of Scotland were wont to support them who were spoiled and bereft of the said Kingdom of England and for that he the said King James had given clear signs that he was of the like Noble quality and temper with his Ancestors he so distressed a Prince came to put himself into his hands desiring his aid to recover his Realms promising faithfully that when his Kingdoms were regained he would gratefully do him all the pleasure that should lie in his utmost power The King of Scots was so influenced with this Impostors words amiable person Princely deportment recommendations of Princes his aids from the Irish and assured hope of aid in England that he honourably received him as if he had been the very Richard Duke of York and gave his consent that this pretended Duke should marry the Lady Katharine Gourdon daughter to the Earl of Huntly which accordingly he did and also prepared to invade England in his quarrel although there wanted not them who with many arguments advised this King to repute him for no other than a Cheat. King Henry that he might be prepared for the Scots called a Parliament which granted a Tax to be gathered of six score thousand pounds the Levy of which mony kindled a dangerous fire in England For when the Kings Collectors came amongst the Cornish-men to receive their proportion of the Tax they tumultuously assembled under the leading of one Thomas Flammock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith of Bodnam Which Captains led their rout towards Kent and at Wells James Tuchet Lord Audley joyned with them From Wells they proceeded to Black-Heath where the Kings forces defeated them without much labour fifteen hundred of the Rebels were taken and the takers had their prisoners goods granted them James Lord Audley was led from New-gate to Tower-hill in a Coat of his own Armories painted on a Paper reverst and torn where he was executed Flammock and the Smith were quartred Memorably strange was the comfort that the Smith cheered himself withall as he was drawing to his execution to wit That yet he hoped that by this means his Name and Memory should be everlasting The Kings care was now to order the War against Scotland whither he sent the Earl of Surrey with an Army to invade the Scotch borders as they had lately done the English The Earl pursued the revenge with great vehemency but in short time by the King of Spains mediation a Truce was concluded betwixt the two Nations One Article of which Truce was That Perkin should be no longer fostered in Scotland Whereupon he withdraws into â—reland whither the Cornish-men sent to him inviting him amongst them promising that at his arrival
they would venture their lives and fortunes for him as hoping that under his government they should be eased of their Taxes Perkin accepting their invitation landed at Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall after whose arrival some thousands of people resorted to him When King Henry heard of his landing and making head against him he smiled saying Loe we are again provoked by this Prince of Rake-hells but lest my people should through ignorance be drawn into destruction let us seek to take this Perkin by the easiest way we can He therefore assembled his forces and sent out his Spies to observe the track and hopes of Prince Peterkin who had now besieged the loyal City of Excester which would neither yield to his fine promises nor his threats and violence but valiantly withstood him till they were relieved by Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire and other good subjects that forced the Rebels away from before the City Which Rebels now understanding what great preparations were made against them began many of them to drop away from their new King and Perkin himself secretly fled and took Sanctuary at Beaulieu in New-forest out of which Sanctuary upon the Kings offer of life to him and oblivion of his crimes he gladly came forth and put himself into the Kings hands by whose order he was conveyed to London where the King by curious and often examination of him came to the full knowledg of that his heart desired The châ—ef matter of which confession the King caused to be published in Print But the imaginary King Perkin indeavouring to make an escape from such that had the charge of him after the undergoing of some publique shame for that attempt was committed to the Tower where he by his insinuations and promises had corrupted his keepers to set himself and the Earl of Warwick at large to which design of escaping the poor Earl is said to have consented Perkin for this conspiracy had his Tryal at Westminster and was condemned and being drawn to Tyburn had the sentence of death executed upon him At the Gallows Perkin did read his own confession therein owning himself to have been born in the Town of Tourney in Flanders of such parents whom he named and that being come into Ireland to see the Country he was there wrought upon to personate Richard Duke of York c. Thus died If I be not deceived a deceiver A. D. 1499. The Earl of VVarwick was publickly arraigned for minding to have escaped out of the Tower and consequently to deprive King Henry of his Crown and Dignity and to usurp the Title and Soveraign Office all which streined charge the Earl by false friends 't is said was perswaded to confess So lost his head upon Tower-hill and was buried at Bisham by his Ancestors Thus died the last Heir Male of the blood and Sirname of Plantaginet It is said That in the eyes of the Castilâ—aâ—s who had secretly agreed with King Henry to match their Princess Katharine with Prince Arthur there could be no sure ground of succession whilst the Earl of VVarwick lived Tho. Langton A. B. Cant. And the said Lady Katharine when the Divorce was afterward prosecute against her by her Husband King Henry the eight is reported to have said That it was the hand of God for that to clear the way to the Marriage that innocent Earl of VVarwick was put to unworthy death A. D. 1506 Edmund de la Pole Earl of Suffolk wilfully slew a common person in his fury for the which King Henry caused him to be arraigned the fact he was perswaded to confess and had pardon But the Earl as a Prince of the blood his mother being sister to Edward the fourth held himself disgraced by having been seen at the Kings-Bench-Bar a Prisoner therefore in discontent fled to his Aunt the Dutchess of Burgundy but within a while after he returned into England and the year following his spirit not yet being laid fled again after he had first complotted to disturb the Kings peace Whereupon King Henry applied himself to his wonted Art for learning the secrets of his enemies imployed Sir Robert Curson to feign himself a friend to Pole thereby to get himself into his bosome for the finding out of his secret designs and correspondents Mâ—ny great persons for Poles câ—use were committed to prison some were put to deaâ—h as Sir James Terrel and Sir John VVâ—dâ—am who lost their heads on Tower-hill and three other persons who were executed in other places And the more to disanimate de la Poles complices and favourers King Henry had procured from Pope Alexander the sixth an Excommunication and curse against Pole Sir Robert Curson and five other persons by special name and generally all others that should aid the Earl against the King Sir Robert Curson was named on purpose to make de la Pole secure of him Neither did the King leave here for he so prevailed with the Pope as he decreed by Bull That no person should afterward have priviledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and came forth again and that if any Sanctuary-man should afterward commit any murder robbery sacriledge treason c. He should by lay force be drawn thence to suffer due punishment And now Suffolk perceiving himself stript of all future hope of endamaging the King he put himself into the grace and protection of Philip King of Spain with whom he remained in banishment till King Philip was driven by tempest into England at which time King Henry prevailed with him to deliver Pole into his hards upon promise that he would spare his life And accordingly at Philips return home Pole was sent in England and then committed to the Tower King Henry thus secured of this hazard bestowed his ages care on gathering of mony though by some such ways as seemed none of the justest Empson and Dudley two Lawyers were his instruments for the bringing in of mony to fill his Exchequer These called the richer sort of Subjects into question for the breach of old penal Laws Henry Dean and William Warham A. Bps. Cant. long before discontinued and forgotten The courses they took in the execution of their imployment was for one of them to outlaw persons privately and then to seize their estates forcing them to chargeable compositions with the King and heavy bribes to themselves Another detestable practise of theirs was to have false Jurors and Ring-leaders of false Jurors who would never give in any verdict against their Patrons Empson and Dudley insomuch that if any stood out in Law these sons of Belial squared the destiny of their causes By these means many honest and worthy Subjects were rigorously fined imprisoned or otherwise afflicted But the King falling sick of a consuming disease by the means of good Counsel he inclined to grant to all men general Pardons certain only excepted and ordained that all such monys should be restored as had been unjustly levyed by his Officers He died A.
that he could have no access into the City that way he in the night marched round about by Kingstone thinking that way to have surprized the City on the sudden but staying to remount a great Gun that was dismounted by the way by that means he could not reach the City so soon as he had expected nor till his coming was discovered and preparations on that side the City made against him Cardinal Reginald Pole A.B. Cant. The Earl of Pembroke possessed himself of St. James's which Wiat at his coming perceiving marched a little aside towards Charing-Cross At Charing-Cross the Lord Chamberlain and Sir John Gage stood to resist Wiat but the Kentish-men rushing violently into the Streets forced their opposites into the gates of White-Hall where was a great distraction within and no other voice heard than Treason Treason Mean while Wiat with such small company as he had with him hasted to Ludgate where he knocked to have entrance but was debar'd In the interim those his followers that had turned to White-Hall were dispersed about twenty of which dirty bemired Rebels were slain in the conflict and no other cry heard on the contrary part but Down with the daggle-Tails Wiat returning from Ludgate sate down upon a stall against Bell-Savage-Inne where he mused a while then retired towards the Court and was not opposed till he came to Temple-Bar where began some Bickering but Clarencieux King at Arms coming to him perswaded him to submit to the Queens mercy To whom Sir Thomas Wiat said If I must yield I will yield to a Gentleman and yielded himself to Clarencieux Then was he mounted behind Sir Maurice Berkley and so carried to the Court and in the after-noon to the Tower About fifty of his fellow Rebels were hanged in London and four hundred more were led through the City with Halters about their necks to Westminster where they were all pardoned by the Queen A. D. 1554 and April 11th Sir Thomas Wiat was beheaded on Tower-hill where at his death he warned the people to beware how they took any thing in hand against the higher Powers and excused the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney of having any hand in his Rebellion Alexander Bret and twenty two Kentish persons more were executed in divers parts of that County These Commotions were the occasions of great troubles to the Lady Elizabeth for the great difference in judgment that was betwixt her sister the Queen and her caused the Queen to suspect that she was a principal mover in them Wherefore the good Princess was in all haste sent for from her Mannor of Ashbridge where she then lay sick and was committed prisoner to the Tower of London at her first coming being kept a close prisoner under locks and bolts but at length the Lord Shandois obtained liberty for her to walk in the Queens Chamber and in the garden About May 19th she was removed to Woodstock where her liberty was not much inlarged In this her confinement as she sate looking out of the window she hap'd to see a maid milking in the Park and merrily singing over her pail which struck this pensive prisoner into a deep muse preferring the Maids fortunes above her own and heartily wishing that her self was a Milk-maid Perhaps this might be the place where Stephen Gardner with intent to insnare her life caused her to be examined what she thought of those words of Christ Hoc est corpus meum This is my body To which after some pause the Princess thus warily and as wittily answered Christ was the word that spake it He took the bread and brake it And what the word did make it That I believe and take it A. D. 1554 and April 16th a disputation began concerning Transubstantiation betwixt certain learned men of the Popish perswasion and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley late Bishop of London and old Father Latimer sometime Bishop of Worcester of the Reformed Religion which dispute ended on the 20th of the same month and a year and six months after the aforenamed Bishops gave Testimony to the truth in the flames in the Town-ditch of Oxford A. D. 1554 and July 25th was the marriage betwixt Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England with great State solemnized and their Titles by Garter King at Arms solemnly proclaimed with these following stiles Philip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Arch-Dukes of Austrich Dukes of Milain Burgundy and Brabrant Counts of Haspurg Flanders and Tyrol In the November next following this marriage the Queen was reported to be with Child for joy whereof Te Deum was commanded solemnly to be sung and processions and prayers were made for her safe delivery The Queen took her Chamber the Court was full of Midwives all due provisions made against the good hour And so certain it was taken to be that some were punished but for questioning the contrary and the Parliament Enacted That if God should take away Queen Mary this their young Master coming into the world should succeed and that King Philip should be Protector during the Princes minority Howbeit though they had this confidence to trust Philip with the government of England if such a case should happen yet had Philip little confidence in the English first because they would have hindred the marriage betwixt him and the Queen and then because a Nobleman had given his counsel to cut off the Lady Elizabeths head whence he assured himself that those so bad-minded to their natural Princess could not be well-minded to him a stranger A great friend 't is said King Philip was to the said Princess Elizabeth nor would he cease solliciting his Queen till he had gained her some freedom from her close restraint But now the expected time of Queen Maries deliverance being come a rumour was spread that a Prince was born for joy whereof the Bells were rung Bon-fires flamed processions were made and some in their Sermons fondly described the beauty of this young Prince Notwithstanding at last it proved no such matter Some said this rumour was spread in policy and that the Queen to have put the Lady Elizabeth besides the Crown would have mothered another bodies Child but King Philip scorn'd to Father it Others said that the Queen miscarried others that she had a Tympany A. D. 1557 the Queen to take part with the Spaniard and Pope proclaimed Wars against France and King Philip crossed the Seas into Flanders After whom his Queen sent a thousand Horsemen four thousand Foot and two thousand Pioneers under the conduct of the Earl of Pembroke who came with his forces before the Town of St Quintins at that time besieged by the Dukes of Savoy and Brunswick and in short time by their manly courage forced the Town to yield for joy whereof great Triumphs were made in England which lasted not long For
arising between the two Houses concerning an Appeal made by one Sherley to the Lords His Majesty upon the 9th of June prorogued them till the 13th of October following There happened this year a dangerous Plot carried on with great secrecy by the Blacks of Barbadoes against the English which upon the very nick of being put in execution was detected and the Conspirators punished The Natives of new-New-England under the command of King Philip Hegamore rose likewise against the English and did them considerable damage but were in a short time curbed from their insolencies and driven to their skulking holes In September most part of the Town of Northampton was by a dreadful Fire burnt down nothing left standing except a few Houses in the out-skirts of the Town The Parliament met again at the prefixed time but the former difference between the Houses being revived they were upon the 22th of November prorogued again till the 15th of February 1676. In the French Army this year the Champion of France the renowned Marshal Turenne as he was viewing a Pass maintained by the Germans fell by a Cannon Shot fired by a Battery raised by Montecucully the Imperial General to the great grief of his Master the French King On the Fifth of March 1675 6 Sir John Narborough concluded an honourable Peace and of great advantage to the Trade of this Nation with the Government of Tripoly The French last Campagne lost their famous Mareschal Turenne Anno 1676. and the Dutch Marine Expeditions are this year ushered in with a fate as unlucky to the States for their Darling Admiral De Ruyter on the twenty ninth of April died of his Wounds which he had received some days before in an Engagement with the French in the Bay of Augusta on the Coast of Sicily But to return home The first thing we meet with this year of note is a dreadful Fire which happened the 26th of May in the Burrough of Southwark It began about four in the Morning and continued all day and part of the night and notwithstanding the indefatigable pains and diligence of his Grace the Duke of Monmouth of the Earl of Craven and Lord Mayor yet about 600 Houses were burnt and blown up by this sad accident His Majesty for securing Trading to and from his Ports which was much disturbed by the insolency of Dutch Spanish and French Privateers amongst whom the War still continued on the second of June caused a Proclamation to be published declaring all Ships of what party soever that should put into any of his Ports to be under his protect on during their stay there commanding His publick Officers and all other His Majesties Subjects to use their best endeavours to hinder the roving of any private Men of War so near his Coasts as might give apprehensions to Merchant Men That if a Man of War of one party and one or more Merchant Men of another should come into His Majesties Ports the Merchant Men should have the priviledge to sail out two Tides before the Man of War That none of his Seamen should presume to enter and list themselves on board of any Foreign Man of War or any Ship designed for Traffick or the Fishing Trade without His Majesties leave first obtained with several other Rules relating to the securing of Trade and His Majesties Sovereignty in these Seas in pursuance of which Proclamation several Privateers were stopt and detained in many of the Ports of this Kingdom August 20th her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Daughter Christened by the Name of Isabella the Lord High Treasurer being Godfather and the Dutchess of Monmouth and Countess of Peterborough Godmothers October 26th His Majesty passed an Order in Council That none of His Subjects except the Queens Domestick Servants should repair to her Majesties Chappel or to the Houses or Chappels of any Foreign Embassadors or Agents there to hear Mass or English Sermons upon pain of having the Laws severely executed against them and His Majesty appointed Messengers of the Chamber and other Officers to wait without at the Houses of Foreign Embassadors and Agents and to take notice of such of His Subjects as should come out of the said Chappels from Religious Worship and bring them or their Names to the Council Board The Principal Secretaries of State were by His Majesty likewise required to repair to the said Embassadors and Agents and in His Majesties Name acquaint them with His Royal Pleasure in executing His Laws that they might have no Cause to complain of disrespect offered to their Character or of any purpose of infringing their Priviledges February 15th 1676 7 the Parliament pursuant to their last Prorogation met at Westminster Anno 1677. April 16th His Majesty in His Royal Robes with the usual Solemnities came into the House of Lords whither the House of Commons being called several Bills were passed amongst others an Act for raising the sum of Five hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred seventy eight pounds two shillings and two pence half peny for the speedy building of thirty Ships of War another for an additional Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for three years and a third for erecting a Judicature to determine differences touching Houses burnt and demollished by the late dreadful Fire in Southwark and then both Houses adjourned till the 21th of May following This Month the Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Danby Lord high Treasurer of England were installed Knights of the Garter at Windsor May 21th Both Houses according to their last Adjournment met again at Westminster His Majesty having before by Proclamation required all the Members to be present in order to the debating of Matters of great importance In this Session the House of Commons made an Address to His Majesty that he would be pleased for the security of the Nation and repressing the growing greatness of France to enter into some Leagues proposed by them in their Address to which on the 28th of the same month he gave them His Answer at the Banquetting House which Answer being made publick in Print we shall refer you to the Answer it self His Majesty farther told them that it was His pleasure the House should be Adjourned to the 16th of July following and that if he intended they should sit again before Winter he would give them notice by His Proclamation Accordingly both Houses were adjourned till the 16th of July ensuing July 16th both Houses met again pursuant to their last Adjournment and forthwith Adjourned again according to His Majesties Direction till the third of December following August the fourth His Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland began his Journey for that Kingdom And now His Majesty thinking it fit to put a stop to the French Victorious Proceedings in Flanders bethought himself of entering into Alliances with some Princes and States abroad and began to raise Forces for that purpose of whom the year following will afford more matter of
his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with many of the English Nobles Against whom the Father with a bleeding heart for his Sons ungraciousness prepared himself and was very successful in Little Britain where himself was in person also in England by his faithful Subjects For Humphrey de Bohun High Constable of the Realm with other Nobles vanquished Robert Earl of of Leicester and took him Prisoner which moved Lewis of France to seek a Truce of him for six Months whereunto King Henry yielded then Ship'd for England landing at the Port of Hampton From whence he took his journey towards Canterbury and being come within about three miles thereof he went barefooted the hard stones so cutting his tender feet that the ground was stained with his blood And after he came to Canterbury and was entred into the Chapter-house of the Monks Baldwin A.B. Cant. he most humbly prostrated himself on the ground begged pardon and by the instancy of his own Petition was by all the brethren corrected with Rods. The number of lashes which he received on his bare flesh amounted to Fourscore About this time William King of Scots that had lately entred England was taken Prisoner and young King Henry was with storms driven back into France and his Fleet scattered shortly after which Peace was concluded betwixt his Father and him But yet again he sought his Fathers ruine though before he could effect it he was prevented by the King of Terrors Death A. D. 1183. The following year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in England soliciting the King to undertake the holy War in his own person which by the advice of his Lords he refused yet yielded to aid the Cause with Money and gave them leave to go that were disposed thereto His Son John whom he exceedingly loved and commonly in jest called Sans terre without Land he made Lord of Ireland assuring unto him also Lands and Rents in England and Normandy Richard and Geoffery his Sons rebelled again against him The younger of which in a Turnament at Paris was trod to death under the Horse feet but the elder lived to the further grief of his Father For joyning himself with Philip of France forced his Father out of the City of Mentz the City where he was born and loved above all others which made King Henry to utter these words against him That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the world he would requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child namely his heart And afterwards finding his Son John first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action he bitterly cursed the hour of his birth laying Gods curse and his upon his Sons which he would never recall by any perswasions But coming to Chinon he there fell desperately sick and feeling death approach caused himself to be born into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he yielded up his Soul A. D. 1189 and was buried at Font-Everard His Issue were William Henry Richard Jeffry Philip John Maud and Eleanor His base Issue William sirnamed Longsper and Jeffry Archbishop of York These two by fair Rosamund and Morgan by another Woman Rosamund his beloved Concubine was the Daughter of the Lord Clifford whom to keep safe from the envy of Queen Eleanor he placed in a Labyrinth which he built for her at Woodstock with such windings and turnings that none could come at her retiring Room save the King or whom he instructed Howbeit the jealous eye of Queen Eleanor found her out by a clew of silk which Rosamund let fall as she sate to take the Air. For she suddenly fleeing to escape being seen the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the clew still unwinding which the Queen followed till she had found the lovely Rosamund whom she so dealt with giving her Poyson that she ended her days whose body was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph upon her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet King Henry divided England into Circuits appointing that two of his judges should twice in the year in each Circuit administer Justice In the year 1164 he called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in Wilts where amongst other matters it was decreed That all the Clergy should bona fide swear allegiance to the King and should appeal but unto the Archbishop or from him finally to the King without particular licence In the beginning of his reign one Nicholas Breakspear an English man was elected Pope by the name of Adrian the 4th who in the 5th year of his Popedom was choaked with a Fly He sent the Lords Prayer in this manner from Rome to be taught the English people Vre Fadyr in Heaven rich Thy name be halyed everlich Thou bring us thy michel bliss Al 's hit in Heaven y-doe Evar in yearth been it also That holy bread that lasteth ay Thou send it ous this ilke day Forgive ous all that we have don As we forgive uch other mon. Ne let ous fall into no founding Ac shield ous fro the foul thing Amen In the Isle of Wight it rained blood the shower continuing for the space of two hours together A great Earthquake in Ely Norfolk and Suffolk which made the Bells to ring in the Steeples At St. Osyths in Essex was seen a Dragon of marvelous bigness which by moving burned Houses Another great Earthquake which overthrew many buildings and amongst the rest rent in pieces Lincoln Cathedral At Oreford in Suffolk a certain hairy creature perfectly resembling man in all parts and proportions was taken out of the Sea by Fishers in a Net who after he had been kept a while secretly slipt away into the Sea again RICHARD I. A.D. 1189 RICHARD from his exceeding valour sirnamed Ceur de Lion was Crowned at Westminster by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury At which time a great number of the Jews were in a tumultuous sort slaughtered by the common people for which many of them suffered death The Coronation rights performed Richard with all speed prepares for his voyage into the Holy-Land appointing William Longchamp Bishop of Ely his chief Justiciar and Lord Chancellor joyning with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts beyond Humber associating to those Bishops divers temporal Lords for the defence and preservation of Justice And with the King of Scots he concluded firm friendship Which done with a royal Navy he put out to Sea and by the way to the Holy-Land he seized on the Island Cyprus where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria The Island he committed to the keeping of his own Deputies permitting the Islanders to injoy all such Laws and Liberties as they held in the time of Immanuel the Emperor Furder in his way
the Kings command none left alive save this too skilful Archer who neither denied nor excused the fact but alledged the necessity of his case and the justice of God in it for that the King he said had slain his Father and two Brothers with his own hands Yet did the magnanimous King forgive this Bertram de Guidon the fact gave him an Hundred Shillings and set him at liberty but Captain Markadey after the King was dead took him flea'd him alive and then hang'd him When Ceur de Lyon perceived the certain approach of death with contrition confession and participation of the Sacrament he prepared himself for another life and dyed of his wound April 6 A D. 1199. And according to his command his Bowels were buried at Charron amongst the rebellious Poictovins as those who had only deserved his worst parts his heart at Roan as the City which for her constant loyalty had merited the same and his Corps were inhumed at Font-Everard at the feet of his Father to whom he had sometime been disobedient In the first year of his Reign he appointed Henry Fitz Alwin to be Major of London that honourable City having been formerly governed by Portgraves or Portreves He caused Money to be coyned held in great request for its purity by the Easterlings a people of Germany afterwards current Money and called Sterling from the Easterlings When this King was in France one Fulk a Priest told him that he kept three Daughters which if he did not dismiss they would procure him Gods wrath Why Hypocrite said the King all the World knows that I never had Child Yea said Fulk you have Three and their names are Pride Covetousness and Lechery Is it so said the King You shall see me presently dispose them The Knights Templers shall have Pride the White Monks Covetousness and the Clergy Lechery and there have you my three Daughters bestowed amongst you Now lived Robin Hood an outlawed Noble and Little John who with an Hundred stout fellows more molested all passengers by the way yet only robbed and made prey of the rich selling good pennyworths when they had done JOHN JOHN though that Arthur his Brother Jeffries Son was living A. D. 1119. yet by the assistance of his Mother Eleanor and other Noble Friends was by the great Councel of the Realm admitted King To whom they then sware only a conditional Fealty viz. To keep faith and peace to him if he would render to every of them their rights He was crowned at Westminster by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury His Reign throughout was attended with great troubles For first the King of France took upon him to establish young Arthur in the Kingdom though after a while for his own advantage he delivered the Prince into his Uncles hands Then the King of Scots procured some disturbances but an accord was shortly made the two Kings of England and Scotland swearing faithful love to each other upon the Crosier of Archbishop Hubert Presently after which these two Kings with the King of South-Wales expressed their great humility by helping to carry the Corps of Hugh Bishop of Lincoln on their shoulders to the place of interment Then the Clergy disturbed the peace oppugning the Kings Royal Title to a Benefice locking the Church-doors against his Praesentee scorning his Princely Letters fencing the Church with armed men against his Officers assailing his Sheriff moving the Pope to excommunicate all their opposers yea caused the King himself to be accused to the Pope for a Tyrant The whole Cistercian Order denied the payment of a subsidy granted the King The Canons of Lincoln refused to accept of him for their Bishop whom the King had appointed in the place of him deceased Hubert Archbishop called a General Councel in his Province without the Kings permission and then disdained the Kings prohibition thereof The Lay-Peers they came in also to act a part and at a time when the King stood in need of their help against the Poictovins and French refused to attend the King in his Wars against them Howbeit King John put forth to Sea arrived in Normandy and in battel overthrew his Nephew Arthur and by valour recovered all the Provinces which had revolted Prince Arthur and all the Peers of Poictou above 200 French Knights and others of command he took prisoners Not long after which young Arthur dyed not without suspition of violence Which gave fresh occasion to some of the disaffected Peers to bâ—â—dy against the King whom the King of France now cited as his Homager for the Dukedom of Normandy to appear at a set-day to be tryed by his Peers upon point of Murder and Treason And King John not appearing at the appointed time was by the King and Peers of France Disinherited and condemned and according to the sentence they proceeded against him and what by the Kings remisness the treachery of his people and power of his enemies he lost a great part of his strongest Towns and Castles in the French Territories But the Delinquent Peers and Barons King John put to their Fines and for the carrying on of the Wars against France had a Subsidy granted him which moved the people to think hardly of him The King of France who had been too succesful of late against the English sent a braving Champion over into England to justifie by Duel his proceeds in K. John's French Dominions with whom John Curcy Earl of Vâ—ster undertook to combate This Curcy was a man of gyant-like limbs and strength and of some conditions â—oâ— despicable had they not been savaged with too much rudeness Which appeared not only in his wild speeches touching the Kings 〈◊〉 of his Nephew Arthur but even thâ—n 〈◊〉 the King demanded of him whether he would combat in his quarrel answered No not in thy quarrel nor for thy sake yet for the Kingdoms right I will fight to the death But this the French Champion never put him to for hearing of the Earls excessive feeding and strength answerable thereto the Monsieur sneak't away into Spain as asham'd to shew his face again in France Of Earl Curcy 't is further said That when the two Kings of France and England met together upon a Truce in France K. Philip having heard of Curcy and that he was in the English Camp requested of K. John that he might see some experiment of his so much feared and famed strength Whereupon an Helmet of excellent proof full-farced with Mayl was set upon a Wooden block when the Earl first lowring round about him with a dreadful aspect lift up his trusty skeyn and cleft so deep quite through the steely resistance into the knotty wood that none there present save himself could draw it out again which he did with ease Then being by the Kings asked Why he frowned so angrily before he struck answered That he purposed if he had fail'd of his blow to have kill'd them all both Kings and the other spectators But for all
had homage done him by many of the Scotish Lords at Dumfres he next took unjust revenge on Walter Langton Bishop of Chester by Imprisoning him and seizing all his temporal goods and credits because that in his Father K. Edward's life-time the Bishop had gravely reproved him for his misdemeanors and had complained on Pierce Gavestone whereon ensued young Edward's Imprisonment and Gaveston's banishment Then he sailed into France where at Bolein with wonderful magnificence he was married to young Isabel Daughter of Philip the Fair and at his return for England brought back with him his beloved Minion Pierce Gaveston who was a Gentleman stranger brought up with him Which Gaveston the King suffered now to Lord it over the chief Nobles to fill the Court with Buffoons and Parasites and the like pernicious instruments to wast the wealth of the Kingdom in revellings and riotous courses to transport riches into foreign parts bestowing upon him his own Jewels and Ancestors treasures and even the Crown it self of his victorious Father Not sticking to profess That if it lay in his power he should succeed him in the Kingdom being wholly ruled by him Therefore to repress Gaveston's exorbitances the Lords in Parliament procured though with no good-will of the Kings that Gaveston Earl of Cornwall should be perpetually banished they gratifying the King with a subsidy of the 20th part of the Subjects goods Howbeit shortly after the King contrary to his Oath made unto the Parliament called Earl Gaveston home out the Ireland himself meeting him at Flint-Castle and then bestowing on him to Wife Joan of Acres Countess of Glocester resolving for this leud mans sake to put Crown Life and all in hazard And now the insolent Earl strives to outgo himself in his former courses consuming the Kings treasures and means so that there was not sufficient left for the necessities of the Court and drawing the King into such debaucheries that the Queen conceived her self injured thereby as well as the Nobles Whereupon Gaveston is a third time forced out of the Realm into which he again returned the following Christmas when the King welcomed him as an Angel from Heaven and forthwith advanced him to be principal Secretary But the Lords as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal resolved by force of Arms utterly to extirpate him chusing for their Leader in this design Thomas Earl of Lancaster And at Datkington this infamous Earl Gaveston was surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who conveyed him to Warwick-Castle and in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaveshead caused his head to be cut off as a subverter of the Laws and an open Traytor to the Kingdom Which act caused a lasting hatred in the King to his Nobles John Offord A.B. Cant. though for the present the Kings displeasure was allayed by the mediation of the Prelates and especially of Gilbert Earl of Glocester who stood neutral But whilst the English King minded only his pleasure undaunted Bruce now the received King of Scotland industriously prosecuted his design for setting his Country at liberty from the English driving them out of most places of his Realm and making great spoil in Northumberland Which awakning K. Edward he marched with a very great Army against him though many of the Nobles refused to attend him in this service because he delayed to ratifie their desired Liberties and provisions for better Government so often consented unto by himself At Bannocksbourn the English and Scotch Armies came in sight each of other when the enemy left nothing undone that might be for their advantage digging before their Battalions certain trenches wherein they stuâ—k sharp Stakes covering them with Hurdles which miserably afflicted the English Cavalry falling into them at unawares thereby procuring to the Scots the greatest victory that ever they had over the English In this fight K. Edward did gallantly behave himself nor would he fly till by the importunity of friends he was thereunto forced for his preservation Now was slain the Earl of Glocester the Lord Clifford with other Lords and about 700 Knights Esquires and mâ—n of Armories Humphry de Bohun was taken Prisoner and a great booty the Scots gained for the English in this expedition had adorned themselves as for a triumph with all sorts of riches gold silver and the like in a kind of wanton manner corresponding to the Prince they followed In those times the Scots made such-like scoffing Rhimes as this on the English Long Beards heartless painted Hoods witless Gay Coats graceless makes England thriftless This Conquest incouraged the Scots to make inroads into the English Northern Counties where they made great spoil some of the disloyal Englishmen joyning with them The King nevertheless could not forget his Gaveston whose body with great pomp he caused to be transferred from Oxford to Kings-Langley in Hartfordshire himself in person honouring the Exequies Then in Pierce Gavestons place the King advanced into his favour the two Spencers Father and Son whose intolerable insolencies and oppressions seemed to exceed those of Gavestons against whom the Barons did swell with such impatience that not content with the wast of their Lands by threats of civil War they procured their Banishment The Queen who hitherto had been a Mediatrix betwixt the King and his Lords having received the denyal of one nights lodging at the Castle of â—eeds in Kent which belonged to one of the Barons whom she perceived to take too much upon them now turned her Spleen against them incensing the King her Husband against them so highly that King Edward resolved to dye in the quarrel or to bring the factious Lords into a more becoming carriage towards him The judgment given against the Spencers he procured to be reversed Some of the Delinquent Lords render'd themselves to the King others of them were apprehended amongst whom were the two Roger Mortimers Father and Son who were committed to the Tower Howbeit the Earl of Lancaster in the North resolved with what forces he could procure to fight for his security against whom the King marched and at Burrowbridg encountred him where Humphrey de Bohun was slain with a spear from under the bridg and the Earl of Lancaster with other principal men Barons and Knights to the number of above ninety were taken by Andrew de Herckly Captain of Carlisle afterward created Earl of that place The Earl of Lancaster a few days after was beheaded at Pontfract the Barons and Knights were drawn hang'd and quarter'd The Lord Badlesmere who refused to let the Queen lodg at Leeds was executed at Canterbury Never did English earth at one time drink so much blood of her Nobles as at this time in so vile a manner shed One Earl and Fourteen Lords suffering death most of them by the halter But that this Tragedy of the Lords was exploited by others and not by the Kings free inclinations appears for that when some of the Courtiers and Favourites pleaded for the life of one of a mean Family
he kept under till such time that he was ingaged against the French for the obtaining of that Kingdom and the recovery of sundry Towns and places in Goscoigne injuriously with-held from him by the French King To remedy which wrongs the King of England had addressed his Ambassadors but in vain therefore that the World might take notice of his just proceedings he in a large Letter directed to the Colledge of Cardinals justifies his design upon France to be equal and honest First because himself of any Male living was the nearest in blood to the late King Charles his Uncle Secondly because the French had refused to put the Cause to civil tryal Thirdly for that the process of the twelve Peers in giving the Crown from him when he was under age was by all Laws void and frustrate Fourthly for that Philip of Valois had invaded Aquitain which belonged to the Crown of England and detained such places as he had wrongfully gained therein Fifthly for that the said Philip had aided the Scots in their rising against him Edward having done this he next makes a confederation with the High and Low-Dutch and other Foreigners then prepared a brave Army his English Subjects contributing liberally for the carrying on of the War And to make his Coffers the fuller he made bold with the Lombards and the moveable goods of such Priories in England as were Cells to Monasteries in France Thus provided of men and monies King Edward sailed with his Forces to Antwerp and by the importunity of the Flemings he first assumed the Title and Armories of the Realm of France quartering the Flower de Lis with the Lyons And entring France he burnt and spoyled the North-parts thereof up as far as Turwin then returning to Antwerp he there kept his Christmas with his Queen Philip from whence about Candlemas he set sail for England where in a Parliament holden at Westminster he obtained liberal aids for supportation of his designed Conquest In lieu of which he granted a general large pardon of trespasses and other to him and confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta with some others Then upon June 23. He shipped from Harwich to Sluce in Flanders near which place the French lay in wait with a Navy of 400 Ships with intent to intercept him but Edward having the advantage of Wind and Sun furiously set upon the French Ships putting the Monsieurs so hard to it that a great number of them chose to cast themselves into the Sea rather than to become Prisoners Thirty thousand of them are confessed to have been slain and drowned and more than half of their Ships were either sunk or taken The loss was so very great on the French side that least the news thereof might too much afflict the King of France his Jester disclosed it to him by often-times repeating this saying in his hearing Cowardly English-men Dastardly English-men Faint-hearted English-men Why said the King at length Because said the Jester They durst not leap out of their Ships into the Seas as our brave French men did From which saying the King took a hint of the overthrow After which Famous Sea-victory obtained by the English puissant King Edward with his Host consisting of near an hundred thousand men sate down before Tourney from whence he sent to the French King whom he saluted only by the name of Philip of Valoys challenging him to fight with him hand to hand in single Combat or if that pleased not then each to bring an hundred men into the Field and try the event with so small an hazard or otherwise within ten days to joyn full battel with all their forces near Tourney To which Philip made no direct answer alledging that the Letters were not sent to him the King of France but barely to Philip of Valoys Nevertheless he brought his Army within sight of the English Host but by the mediation of Queen Philips Mother and two Cardinals a Truce was concluded between the two Kings till the Midsumer next following The main reason inducing King Edward to yield hereunto was the want of supplies of money through the fault of his Officers in England whom he severely punished at his return And now to weaken great Edwards strengths the Pope put Flanders under Interdict Simon Langham A B. Cant. as having disloyally left their own Earl and chief Lord Philip King of France And Lewis the Emperor breaking league with the King of England took part with France which when King Edward understood he angrily said I will fight with them both And not long after he was upon the Sea with a very great Fleet none knowing whither he would steer his Course but in Normandy he landed where he took the Populous and Rich City of Caen and with his dreadful Host burning and spoiling round about marched up almost as far as the walls of Paris Where with his Army in an enemies Countrey between two Rivers Sein and Some the bridges being broke down by the French Edward designed at a low water to have passed over a Ford between Albeville and the Sea whom to intercept the French King had sent thither before him Godner du Foy with a thousand Horse and six thousand Foot Howbeit undaunted Edward entred himself into the Ford crying He that loves me let him follow me as one resolved to pass over or there to die the first of which he did for his Souldiers following him won the passage putting du Foy to flight And now King Edward being come near to Cressie in Poâ—thieu lying between the Rivers of Some and Anthy he there most vigilantly provided for his defence against King Philip who was advancing towards him with an Hundred thousand men and upward When the two Armies were within sight each of other the King of England after he had called upon God disposed his Host into three Battels Simon Langham A B Cant. To his Son Edward the Black-Prince he gave the ordering of the Van the second Battel the Earls of Northampton and Arundel commanded the third himself And as if he meant to barricado his Army from flying he caused his Carriages to be placed in the rear thereof and Trees to be plashed and felled to stop up the way behind his Host commanding withal that all should forsake their horses and leave them amongst the Carriages On the Enemies part the King of Bohemia and Earl of Alanson had charge of the Vantguard King Philip was in the main battel and the Earl of Savoy commanded the Rear The sign of battel being given by King Philip a bloody fight ensued wherein the Black Prince was very hard beset therefore his Father was sent for to his rescue who upon the hillock of a Windmill stood to behold the fight being in readiness to enter thereinto when just occasion should invite him But at that time he refused to go returning the Messengers with this answer Let them send no more to me for any adventure that
head Howbeit the Traytor Banister did not only lose his promised reward but also received just punishments from Heaven for his eldest son fell mad and so died in a Hogstie his second son became deformed and lame in his limbs his third son was drowned in a small puddle of water his eldest daughter was struck with a foul Leprosie and himself being of extream age was found guilty of murder but saved by his Clergy Divers of the Earl of Richmond's party were put to death and so jealous was the King now of his ill-gotten greatness that he stored the Sea-coasts with armies of men furnished the Ports with store of munition and made all things ready to prevent Earl Henry's arrival caused a Parliament to be assembled at Westminster wherein the said Earl and all such as had fled the Land in his behalf were attainted and were made enemies to their native Country their Goods confiscate their Lands and possessions condemned to the Kings use Moreover the Usurper sent his Agents laden with Gold and many gay promises to the Duke of Britain offering what not if he would either send Earl Henry into England or commit him there into Prison but the Duke himself lying extream sick his Treasurer Peter Landose corrupted with Gold had betrayed the Earl into Richard's hands had not the Earl had timely notice of it and prevented it by a speedy escape unto the French-Court where he received great favours Dr. Richard Fox then a Student in Paris was eminently serviceable to the Earl in that Nation And the Duke of Britain when he understood the treachery of Landose was highly displeased and continued a favourer of the Earl and his Cause But all these things with many more were against K. Richard which he very well foresaw though he knew not well how to remedy yet that he might make his Title and interest as good as he could he devised to marry with his Neece the Princess Elizabeth but his Queen Anne stood in his way to this for the present though not long for she fell into the remorseless hands of death but whether a natural or violent is not well known After which Richard courts the Lady Elizabeth his own Brothers daughter though in vain for she detested him Howbeit when Henry heard of Richards attempts herein and not knowing what time through flattery and perswasions from some persons might do upon the young Princess her good nature he hastned for England setting sail from Harfleet with about 200 men August 15 and arrived at Milford-Haven the seventh day following from vvhence he advanced tovvards Shrewsbury On his way to which place there met him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in VVales with a great body of men to side in his quarrel which Earl Henry afterwards requited by making this his first Alder Governour of VVales From Shrewsbury the Earl marched to Newport where Sir Gilbert Talbot met him with two thousand men from the Earl of Shrewsbury Thence he passed to Litchfield where he was honourably received But when the Usurper understood that the Earl daily increased in strengths and that he was advanced so far without any opposition from his Court at Nottingham he set forth his Host to meet the Earl which he did near unto Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire His Vant-guard he disposed of a marvellous length to strike the more terror into the hearts of his foes the leading whereof was committed to John Duke of Norfolk His own Battalion was furnished with the best approved men of War When he had ordered his army for fight he animated his followers to behave themselves valiantly alledging to them that it was against a company of Runnagates Thieves Outlaws Traytors beggarly Britains and faint-hearted French-men that they were to fight who would oppress and spoil them of their Lands Wives and Children that these their enemies were such Cowards that they would fly faster from them than the silly Hart before the Hound that the Earl of Richmond Captain of the rebellion was but a Welsh Milk-sop For their love to him their Prince their zeal to their native Country he wished them that day to shew their English valour assuring them that for his part he would either triumph in a glorious victory or die in the quarrel with immortal fame Now S. George for us and us for victory saith he Haste therefore forward and remember this that I am he that with high advancement will prefer the valiant and hardy and with severe torture will punish the dastard and cowardly run-away The Earl of Richmond's forefront was commanded by the Earl of Oxford the right wing by Sir Gilbert Talbot the left by Sir John Savage the main Battel by the Earl himself and his Uncle Jasper When the Earl had ordered his small Host consisting of about 5000 men he rode from rank to rank and wing to wing encouraging his followers to fight alledging the justness of their quarrel which God would bless assuring them that for so good a cause as to free the Land of a Monster a Tyrant a Murderer he would that day rather become a dead carrion upon the ground than a Carpet-prisoner kept alive for reproach Advance therefore forward saith he like true-hearted English-men display your Banner in defence of your Country get the day and be Conquerors lose the day and be villains God and St. George give us a happy success Then immediately a fierce Battel commenced and was manfully continued on either part At length the King having intelligence that Earl Henry was but slenderly accompanied with men of Arms he therefore with his Spear in the Rest ran violently towards the Earl in which rage at the first brunt he bare down and overthrew the Earls Standard slew Sir William Brandon the bearer thereof next encountred Sir John Cheiny whom he threw to the ground thereby making an open passage to the Earl himself In which very instant when the Earl was like to be distressed the Lord Stanley sent in aids of fresh Soldiers under the leading of Sir William Stanley which were raised as he pretended for Richard but intended them when he should see his time for Richmond's service These entred the fight with such courage that they put the Usurpers forces to flight when the Usurper closing his Helmet said to such that brought him a swift horse for his escape This day shall finish all Battels or else I will finish my life So thrusting into the throng of his enemies he manfully fighting died in the place A. D. 1485 Aug. 22. There died with him that day the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir Robert Brakenbury The number of both parts slain in the field were 4000 Sir William Catesby with two other persons of quality were taken and two days after were beheaded at Leicester Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey the Duke of Norfolks son and heir being then also taken prisoner the Earl of Richmond demanded of him how he
Then the English Army marched over-land to Lisbon where a strong sally was made upon the English but the Earl of Essex chased them back to their very gates And the mean while Admiral Drake with his Fleet were come to Cascais and possessed the Town without any resistance and during the stay there the English took threescore Hulks from the Spaniards laden with Corn Masts Cables Copper and Wax About A. D. 1591 Queen Elizabeth sent Ayds into France in the behalf of Henry IV whom the Popish party would not admit to the Crown of France though his absolute right because he leaned to the Reformed Religion nor was he admitted till he had taken Oath to defend the Roman faith against all oppugners A. D. 1596 and June the first did Charles Lord Howard and the Earl of Essex with a gallant Fleet begin their Voyage for Cadiz which in a short time after their coming to it was surrendred to them The spoil thereof was given to the English soldiers the wearing clothes of the inhabitants only excepted and the Citizens upon the payment of an 120000 Duckets for their ransome had their liberty The Spanish Fleet which lay in the Harbour valued at twelve Millions of Duckets was fired by the Admirals command to the end it might not become a prize to the English The Town the English burnt and spoiled the Island then set sail towards Favo a Town in Algarva where the English landed forraged the Country for about three leagues burnt the Town Lotha and then returned for England But the wrongs which had been offered by the Spaniards seeming far greater to the English than was yet the justice upon them and the wise Queen holding it best to keep the Spanish King employed at home the Earl of Essex was therefore Commissioned with a well-furnished Fleet to sail for the Azores Islands Which Fleet upon Septemb. 15. 1597 fell with the Isles of Flores Evernes Fyall and Pike all which submitted to the Earl Then he sailed for St. Michaels where Sir Walter Rawleigh kept the Seas with the Ships whilst Essex landed and sacked the rich Town Villa Franca but the Winters storms approaching the Earl returned home bringing with him a Brazil-ship of War with three other prizes valued at 400000 Duckets The Pope and Spaniard though they had hitherto been frustrated in all their mischievous designments against the Queen and Church of England yet still they hoped that by one treacherous means or other they might at length effect the ruin of both though praised be God the ruin proved to their own vile instruments Patrick Cullen hired to murther the Queen was executed at Tyburn Philip Earl of Arundel and Sir John Perat were both condemned for high Treason but died by course of nature Roderick Lopez a Spaniard one of the Queens Physitians undertaking to poyson her was with his two complices executed at Tyburn Edmund York and Richard VVilliams hired by one Holt an English-Jesuite were executed for their Treasons Edward Squire was executed for impoysoning the pommel of the Queens saddle and pommels of the Earl of Essex his Chair though by Gods providence the poyson effected not what was intended by it One VVallpoll a Jesuite animated him to the fact by alledging that he might do it without much danger of his life but though he should lose his life for it yet he should be assured that in exchange of this transitory one he should enjoy the estate of a glorious Saint in Heaven So meritorious it seems it is to murder Catholique Princes so they be not Roman-Catholick ones But besides all these Romish-Agents there was the Irish Tir-Oen who used his greatest endeavours to divert subjection from the English Crown against whom that Martial Knight Sir John Norris was sent General who after he had brought Tir-Oen to a submission though as it after proved but a feigned one ended his days The Irish Rebelling again the Earl of Essex was sent thither where in the Province of Munster he became terrible to those wild Irish-Rebels chasing them before him into the woods though with more expence of time and loss of men than was well liked by some statists in England Then the Earl advanced into Leinster-Province against the O Coners and O Moils Then made towards Vlster where he entred into Parley with Tyrone But her Majesty being informed likely by some that envyed the Earls being so highly in her favour that the Spring Summer and Autumn were spent without service upon the Arch-Traytor Tyr-Oen that her men were diminished and large sums of mony consumed without the Earls doing that he was sent for That without her Highness order he entred into Parley with the Rebels Hereupon her Majesty sent sharp Letters unto the Earl upon the receipt whereof in discontent he hasted into England well hoping to pacify the Queens displeasure but after a short verbal welcom from the Queen he was commanded to his chamber and soon after committed to the custody of the Lord Keeper 1599. In the Earls stead Charles Blount Lord Montjoy was sent into Ireland who held Tyr-Oen very hard and forced him to withdraw into his old lurking places But to strengthen the Irish part the King of Spain sent into Ireland two thousand old trained Spanish Souldiers with certain fugitive Irish under the command of Don d'Aquila who strait after his arrival published a writing wherein he stiled himself Master-General and Captain of the Catholique King in the Wars of God for preserving the faith in Ireland Unto these two thousand Spaniards more were shortly sent under the conduct of Alohons O Campo but Alphonso had not long nested in Ireland ere himself and three of his Captains were taken and twelve hundred of his Spaniards were slain And at the siege of Kingsale the Spaniards made suit to the Lord General for a peace which was yielded unto whereupon the Spaniards departed and the Irish submitted themselves to the merciful Queen The Earl of Essex who had been committed to the keeping of the Lord Keeper was by her Majesties clemency quit of that durance and only commanded to his own house but the Earl of a daring spirit and exasperated by his Martial followers likewise presuming upon the Queens high respect towards him resolved by force and violence to have personal conference with the Queen and to remove from about her such as he deemed his enemies To effect which many of his favourers assembled at his house as well Noble-men and Knights as Captains and other Officers but this being understood by the Statists they made it known to her Majesty who thereupon sent four of her Honourable Counsellors to the Earl to offer him Justice and to command the Assembly to depart These Counsellors accordingly went to the Earl to Essex-house where they did their message to the Earl and commanded his followers whom they saw about him to lay down their weapons and depart but the Earl leaving these Councellors under custody in his own house with
London Bridge In May the King passed some Bills in the House of Lords whereof one was for raising an Imposition on Wines and other Liquors and the Parliament was adjourned till the 11th of August following In June News was brought to London of the burning of the Bridge Town in Barbadoes where besides the loss of most of the Houses the Magazine to the great prejudice of the publick as well as of private Persons was blown up The Duke of York in September near to Dover took the usual Oath of Warden of the Cinque Ports The Parliament that was to have met in August was by Proclamation Prorogued till the Tenth of November ensuing and the Duke of Monmouth upon the resignation of the Lord Gerrard was made Captain of his Majesties Life-Guards of Horse Sir Thomas Allen made Peace this year with the Algerines and the Parliament which met at the appointed time and adjourned till March were in December by Proclamation prorogued till the Tenth of October following About the middle of January 1668 9 the Dutchess of York was brought to Bed of a Daughter christened by the Name of Henrietta by the Archbishop of Canterbury the Duke of Ormond assisting as God-father the Marchioness of Dorchester and Countess of Devonshire having the Honour of being God-mothers In March 1668 9 the Prince of Tuscany in pursuance of his Travels came to visit England where being honourably received and magnificently treated by His Majesty and several Persons of Quality of the Kingdom he departed for Holland in his way homeward Anno 1669. The beginning of this year the Earl of Carlisle was sent Embassadour Extraordinary to Sweden As he was at Copenhagen on his way he received a Letter from the King of England in answer to an obliging Letter of the King of Denmark to be delivered to that King This Letter was so acceptable to the Dane that upon the Embassadours instance he dispatched Orders to all his Ports and Mercantile Towns especially in Norway for restoring the English to their former Freedoms and Priviledges in Trading Being arrived in Sweden he presented the King with the George worn by the Knights of the Garter and was afterward as His Majesties Proxie solemnly installed in the Order at Windsor This year was the stately new Theatre of Oxford the noble Gift of Dr. Sheldon Archbishop of Canterbury according to the intent of the Donor put into the Possession of that University And upon his Graces declining the Chancellourship the Duke of Ormond was installed Chancellour of the University of Oxford Whilst the King was taking his Divertisement with the Duke of York in the New Forrest in Hampshire they both received an Express of the death of their Mother the Queen Dowager of England who died at Columbee the last of August and was buried in St. Denis in November following About this time arrived at Dublin the Lord Roberts as Lord Deputy of Ireland The Exchange of London ever since the Fire had been kept at Gresham Colledge in Bishopsgate-street till now to the great satisfaction of the City the Merchants returned to the Royal Exchange in Corn-hill a Fabrick as far exceeding the old one in Beauty and Structure as the City rebuilt does that which was destroyed At the day of October prefixed the Parliament met to whom the King amongst other things in his Speech proposed the uniting of England and Scotland into one Kingdom this Project in the Sequel had no better issue than another set on foot by King James for the same purpose The Parliament having sate above a month and done but very little were prorogued till the 24th of February following The Parliament of Scotland sate at Edenbourgh at the same time that the Parliament of England did at Westminster in the which the Earl of Lauderdale represented His Majesty as His Commissioner In this Session of Parliament amongst many other Acts that of asserting his Majesties Supremacy in all Causes and over all Persons Civil and Ecclesiastical passed A necessary Act for securing the Rights of Monarchy against popular and unwarrantable Innovations and a duty which had it not been forgotten or trampled upon in these later times might with Gods Blessing have preserved both Nations from scandalous and fatal consequences A splendid and magnificent Embassie was this year sent to Taffelette Emperour of Morocco in the Person of Mr. Henry Howard since Duke of Norfolk which by reason of the troubles of that Countrey and the inability of the Emperor to secure a safe conduct to a Person of that quality proved of small consequences and the Embassadour returned without seeing the Emperour or performing his Embassie The later end of this year died the Duke of Albemarle his Dutchess not many days surviving him The King as a mark of gratitude to the deceased Duke sent his Son the present Duke his Fathers Garter continued to him many of his Honours and Preferments and sent him word that he himself would take care of his Fathers Funeral The Parliament met again at the appointed time and the King among other things re-minded them of the project of Union between the two Kingdoms This year in the beginning of April Anno 1670 the King having passed some Bills the Parliament was adjourned to the 24th of October Amongst others was an Act for authorizing such Commissioners as His Majesty should be pleased to nominate for treating with the Scottish Commissioners about the projected Union who being nominated and having afterwards met with those sent from Scotland many Conferences were held but insuperable difficulties appearing in the matter it was wholly laid aside At this time the Lord John Berkley arrived in Dublin and was invested Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Princess of Orleans made now her last visit to her two Brothers the King of England and Duke of York at Dover and upon her return which was shortly after took her journey out of this World for to the great grief and surprize of the Court of England she died suddenly Captain Beach being in the Straits with four English Frigots met a squadron of seven Algier Men of War full of Men gave them Battel and after a short dispute forced them all ashore where two of them were burnt by themselves and the rest by the English most of their Men were lost and 250 Christian Captives set at liberty In October The Parliament met again according to their Adjournment and then was the Peace between England and Spain beyond the Line concluded and ratified The Prince of Orange came this year into England and having visited both Universities after a short stay he returned During this Session of Parliament the Lords and Commons having humbly represented to His Majesty their fears and jealousies of the growth of Popery the King by Proclamation commanded all Jesuits and English Irish and Scottish Priests and all others that had taken Orders from the See of Rome except such as were to wait upon the Queen and Foreign Embassadors to