Part of them got into the Wine-cellar who being half oppressed with the House falling down lived seven dayes after the great downfall imploring no succour to help them After this manner plundering up and down they runne madding to every place At last they hasten to the Kings Court and to the Tower of London and they quickly overcome the Tower the King not daring to make opposition against them where the Queen-mother suffering an affront by a certain insolent fellow that offered her a bone fell down half dead Simon Bishop of Canterbury being haled out of the Tower had his Head cut off at Tower-hill by them Robert Hallius endured the same death and so did many others They neither regarded Churches nor publick places they destroy all in their fury like mad men The King thinking what remedy he should use to suppresse these tumults granting a Pardon for what they had done endeavours to pacific the Rabble The Inhabitants of the County of Essex are obedient and return home But the Kentish men persist in their stubbornnesse Tyler being their Leader To whom in the Kings Name John Newton was sent that he might by intreaty reduce these insolent people to their Duty or else should enquire what they would have He coming riding on Horsback was commanded by Tylor to alight and to deliver his Message on foot so much Authority did he arrogate to himself in this fury the Knight refused to come from his Horse whereupon Tyler comes at him with his Sword The King loath to have the Knight endanger'd intreats him to alight the Knight refusing it and Tyler urging him at last came William Walworth the Maior of the City and with the staff he had in his hand he gave Tyler a grievous wound on the Head and according to his Office bid him submit to the King Whilst he stood reeling with this blow he was killed by the Kings followers with innumerable wounds The Captain being flain the maimed faction seemed to prepare for to be revenged But the King though he were yet under fifteen years of age passed on to them with a ready minde promising that he would be their Commander and bad them follow him and all should be as they desired In the mean while Walworth had gathered together about a thousand Citizens the Captain whereof was Robert Conolus and coming upon them as they were in a Tumult he put them in such a fright that they cast away their Arms and were glad to submit The Citizens had fallen upon the Rebels but the King would not suffer them least they should kill the Innocent with the offendours That the tumult might be wholly ended he gave each man leave to return home to his habitation But elsewhere the same quiet was not procured For in Suffolk they ran madding up and down unmeasurably and pulled down some Judges houses and so at Cambridge and in other places killing cutting off the Heads and otherwayes miserably massacring the Nobility Their Captain was John Littester a Diar who was grown so lofty that he behaved himself like a King But he with all his followers was suppressed by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich an industrious and valiant man who took him prisoner and brought him to Execution At London also and elsewhere they proceeded against the guilty where John Straw and others are put to death and so all this Tumult was ended Lancaster in the mean while was sent against the Scotch that he might perpetually observe them if they should attempt any thing upon the occasion of these disorders But he so wisely managed the matter that before they had any rumour of his March thitherward there was a Cessation granted for two or three years In the interim Anna the Sister of Wenceslaus the Emperour came to London to be married to the King where the Marriage was solemnized with a wonderfull pomp Henry Spencer about that time had obtained an Army from the King which he led against the French and chiefly for Pope Vrban against Clement the Anti-pope And first coming into Flanders he besieged Iper but by a greater force marching out of France he was constrained to raise the Siege and when they came beside Graveling he writ to the King that there was now a fit occasion to defeat the Enemy but Lancaster who had the command making delayes it fell to nothing so Spencer having done no business returns home again and shortly after Truce was made between the French and the English In the mean while the Scotch entring the Borders of England consumed many Towns and Castles with fire and sword But Lancaster with Buckingham going against them when they could not force the Scots to fight for revenge of the wrong they had done set fire to some of their Cities and Villages and so retreat for England But Richard to suppress their Insolence to whom also the French had sent aid he with his Army marched into Scotland and finding Edenburgh without a Garison he set that on fire The Scots to divert the English Forces fall into Cumberland and lay siege to Carlile but hearing of Richards approach they giving warning to their fellows return for Scotland Lancaster at that time with a choice number of Souldiers makes a Voyage into Spain King Richard bestowing on him the Title of the King of Spain where he did conquer some Towns and married his Daughter to the King of Portugall but the English being impatient of that Countrey and the heat of the Ayre fell into all kinde of diseases and so made a Truce which a Peace followed shortly after On the Coasts of France the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham being the Leaders an hundred French Vessels laden with wine were overcome and Brest freed from a siege But a grievous Controversie grew at this time in England between the King and the Nobility the Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others the Duke of Ireland the Earl of Suffolk and many other malicious men setting them on They fell to their Arms but by the milder counsel of others they grew friends again The Duke of Ireland leaving the Court of his own accord fell amongst the Forces of the Earl of Darby and not daring to fight swimming the River with his horse he landed at Bauvais where like a banished man he lived some years at Lovane And the rest who were Authours of the Warre against the King at a famous sitting in Parliament were commanded to forsake the Court and Kingdom and some were put to extream tortures In the 15th year of Richards Government the Londoners fell to Mutiny for a very light cause and the King being wonderfully offended at them for a small summe of Money they had refused him he punished them with the loss of their chief Priviledges and with the payment of a great sum of money This is the effect of offending Kings After this in a solemn meeting of the Kings peace was ratified between England and France Isabella the Daughter of the
by famine he forced the obstinate Citizens to submit which Town being the chief was an example for the rest to follow so that shortly he wan all Normandy which was lost by the carelesness of his Predecessors The Duke of Burgundy finding all the English desired to succeed thought it concerned him to procure peace between both Kings and at last he obtained a meeting between Henry and the French Queen for the King was fallen into his usuall doting yet there was nothing enacted The Queen had brought her most beautifull Daughter Katharine that she might ensnare the Kings minde with her allurements nor was it in vain for Henry when he saw her was wonderfully taken with her and when they departed doing nothing the King laid a charge on the Duke of Burgundy that unless all he asked together with the Kings Daughter were granted him he would by force take from the Duke his Dukedom and from the King his Kingdom They were so frighted with these threats that they fell to a new Parly But the Dolphin by reason of this newly conceived hatred and burning with former envy commanded the Duke of Burgundy to be killed basely not long after though he begged his life from him on his knees and so the slaughter of the Duke of Orleance committed before by Burgundy was expiated Nor is peace yet concluded untill the French were forced to it by a further loss A meeting was appointed at Trecas and there was Katherine betrothed to Henry and the right of succession was confirmed to him after the death of Charles whereupon all the Nobility of France swear to be Loyall to him and so the Salique Law in France was broken The Dolphin who had not consented to these conditions is made Warre against by the Kings of France and England and divers Towns that took part with him are conquered and when as he came not upon his citation to appear at Paris before the Marble Table as they call it upon the day appointed he was banished Henry also using his Authority commanded Money to be coyned with the Arms of France and England which he called the Soveraign Then leaving the Duke of Clarence Governour of France and Normandy he returned for England But Clarence making an expedition against Aniou and spoyling them as he came back laden with the prey he was betraied in his passage by one Andrew Fogosus and though he fought valiantly yet was he slain by the Duke of Alenson with the chief Nobility and 2000 English men The Earls of Sommerset and of Suffolk and other Lords were taken prisoners The King to revenge his Brothers death lands in France with a mighty Army and freed Chartres from a siege of the Dolphin for when he heard of the Kings approach he retreated to Towrs whilst the Scotch King with the Duke of Glocester conquer Drocas Henry pursues the Dolphin from place to place yet could not overtake him though he took all Towns in his way so that he joyned in a short time all the Island of France to the rest In the interim the Queen was delivered of a Sonne at Windsor who was Christned Henry of whom King Henry spake as a Prophet Good God saith he I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and shall prevail much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and shall lose all but the will of God be done About that time the Dolphin had besieged those of Narbon Henry marches quickly thither to free them and making too much haste he took a Feaver by over-heating himself wherefore he was forced to stay but the Duke of Bedford was dispatcht who not only freed them of Narbon but also drove the Dolphin towards Aquitan who from thence in mockery was called King of Aquitan But a flux of the belly coming upon Henries disease which increased every day he was carried to Boy de Vincennois where within a few daies he died Christianly Anno 1421. first giving to his Brother the Duke of Bedford the Title of Regent of Normandy and France and his other Brother the Duke of Glocester he made Governour of England He was not yet over 36 years old and so he died in the top and flower of his age and honour having reigned nine years and five moneths The most famous Conquerour of all the Kings and best beloved of his subjects that he was so lamented of them which is not usuall that they could not forbear to weep for him The Doctrine of Wytcliff was eminent in this Kings reign for which John Huss and Hierom of Prague were at Casars command afterwards burnt alive HENRY the sixth King of England and of France Anno 1422. HEnry of Windsor the sole Heir of Henry the fifth obtained the Kingdom after his Fathers death being nine moneths old who when he came to years was not like to his Father either for Vertue or Fortune He was proclaimed King at Paris by the Authority of the Duke of Bedford all the Lords of the Kingdom swearing fidelity to him But King Charles the sixth dying a little after Henry his Sonne Charlis the seventh hoped to regain by Valour and Industry what the French had lost by cowardise First he wan the Pont Malanus which City by Montacute his vertue was again won from him Then they fought with a doubtfull success at Crepan where about 2000 French were slain amongst whom were many Nobles and the Town was taken But Charles overcame many of the English driving a great Herd of Cattell toward Normandy and took the prey from them and freed the Temple of St Michel from a siege Then the chance of Warre being altered he is again put to the worst at Vernols But the fidelity of the men of Orleans was notable who levelling their Suburbs with the ground held play with the Earl of Salisbury a most valiant Commander who had beleaguerd them and when they were almost famished and were ready to yield themselves to the Duke of Burgundy Salisbury disdaining the honour should be taken from him refused the conditions but he whilst he was not wary enough in viewing the sciâ—uation of the City was slain with a bullet from the Walls In the interim the Duke of Glocester did not a little stain his Honour marrying Jacoba the Countess of Holland which had formerly married to John Duke of Brabant but she being surprized by craft was brought back to her Husband but again disguising her self in mans apparell she escaped into Holland and there she waged Warre against her Husband and when she was too weak for him and the Pope would not grant her a Divorce the Duke of Glocester rejected her and she afterwards married to Francus Borsely a Dutch Knight but he being cast into prison by the Duke of Burgundy she afterwards led a miserable life In the mean time the English were often fortunate in Battell against the French and recovered divers Towns but those of Orleans having help as it were from God brought to them did not
had bred him to sufficiently in her Palace he gives him in Marriage Katharine the Daughter of the Earl of Huntley and sent him toward the Borders of England with a great Army to do what he could in hopes to attain some of the Subjects to him either by fear or affection but all proved in vain Henry being wonderfully offended by reason of the Scots invasion musters an Army and marches against the Scots under the Command of Danby but he was called back again to suppress a Rebellion that rose in Cornwall by reason of Tribute to be paid The Cornish the Lord Lieutenant Audley being their Leader march for London but when they came thither they were vanquished and scattered by the Royalists two thousand of them being slain and many taken the greatest part of them were pardon'd except the Ring-leaders for Audley was ignominiously drawn to Execution and lost his head and others that put the people forward as Thomas Flammok Michael Sonne to Joseph a Blacksmith were hanged up The Scot takes occasion hereby during these Tumults to go forward on his enterprise and spoils the Frontiers of England again and then besieged the Castle of Durrham but the Earl of Surrey collecting an Army of 20000 Men and with a great Navy not only raised the siege but pursued the Enemies into Scotland ruin'd many of their Forts and Castles and when they would not stand to fight with him he returned to Barwick By the Mediation of the King of Spain truce was made between England and Scotland for some years but on this condition that Perkin Warbech must leave Scotland He when he was gone from thence hearing that new Tumults were up in Cornwall came thither with a few Souldiers out of Ireland whether he had transported himself and his Family and what by fair words what by pretences he drew some of the Inhabitants to his side and so mustering about three thousand Souldiers he beleaguer'd Exceter but when he heard of the Kings March he forsook his Army and fled to the Altar The King in the mean time being now certain of his flight caused diligent search to be made for him his Wife Katharine a very beautifull woman and of a most noble Family was taken and delivered up to the King who by reason of her Beauty and Descent assigned to her a yearly Revenue Then Henry punished the Rebels but he laid only a small Penance on them and so set them at liberty Peter when he had long staid in Sanctuary and found no place of safety at last yeelded up himself voluntarily and was sent Prisoner to the Tower In the interim Sebastian Gabat a Citizen of Genoa but born at Bristow procuring from Henry one or two Ships sailed to new Countreys in the West and after two years returned again into England Peter who we said was cast into Prison made his escape shortly after and went to Richmond he was taken again and made a publick shame and once more imprisoned in the Tower but when he began a new Conspiracy with the Earl of Warwick whose name Lambert had taken and with some other familiar Friends of the Lieutenant of the Tower he was drawn to Execution and was hanged together with two of the Lieutenants Servants Also Warwick that he might give no more cause for new troubles was beheaded after a short time This was the eldest Sonne of the Duke of Clarence and the last male off-spring of the Family of the Plautaganets who was put in prison from his very childehood a thing beyond the knowledge and memory of man Hence arose a new sedition and of the same kinde For Patrick an Augustin Frier counterfeiting a new Earl of Warwick of one of his Scholars stirred up the people to Rebellion in his Pulpit but he and his Scholar were taken The young man was hanged Patrick was cast into perpetual imprisonment such was the reverence they gave at that time to holy Orders that they would never put to death any of them though they were guilty of high Treason Marriages were made about this time between Katharin the King of Spains Daughter and Arthur Prince of Wales and between Henries Daughter and James King of Scotland From this last Marriage proceeded at length Mary Stuart Mother to King James who was Father to Charles and the Kingdoms were united Arthur five moneths after his Marriage died in Wales But Henry that he might not be defrauded of the Dowry and Friendship of the King of Spain married Katharin by the Popes Indulgence to Henry his second Sonne who was unwilling to it Edmund Pool Earl of Suffolk Sonne to Elizabeth Sister to Edward the fourth being offended with the King at that time for some private injury conspired against him in Flanders The matter being discovered and the Conspiratours taken he only escaped to Philip Arch duke of Austria But Philip by the death of Ferdinand King of Spain having got the Kingdom in the name of his Wife Joan who was the Kings Daughter Sister to Katharine which as was said was married to Arthur Prince of Wales took his journey thither and by a contrary Tempest was brought into England King Henry went to meet him with all honour and obtained from him the Earl of Suffolk upon the Condition that no violence should be offered to his Life Henry cast him into Prison and spared his Life but after he lost his Head in the Raign of Henry the eighth Henry being now in the height of his glory had procured his Subjects fidelity and respect from his Neighbours He was very happy had he not about the end of his Raign and Life been so greedy after the goods and wealth of his Subjects He was long sick of the Gout and afterwards he fell into an Asthma also in the 52 year of his Life and the 23 year of his Raign he died in the year 1508. HENRY the eighth King of England France and Ireland Anno 1508. HENRY the Eighth having got the Kingdom at the beginning he behaved himself with great Obedience Prudence and Justice Marrying Katharine his Brothers Wife which his Father had betrothed He chose the wisest Counsellours and he executed the cursed Ministers of his Fathers exaction He spent then the first year of his Raign in Tilting and other Recreations But at the request of the King of Spain the Queens Father an expedition was undertaken into Spain against the Moors but before the English came there was a Peace made with the Moors and so it was but lost labour and nothing being done only the Captain receiving honours from the King returned again for England Edward Poining a Knight was sent with 1500 Bowmen to Charls Prince of Spain to assist him against the Duke of Gelderland he succeeded prosperously and loaded with rewards he came back again In the mean time a Scotch pirate one Barton who was wonderfull bold and valiant did great mischief about the Coasts of England the Admiral of the Sea was sent out after him after
a doubtfull and a notable fight he was conquered and slain but his followers were pardoned A great Example of the Kings Mercy In the mean time Warre grew between the French King and the Pope Henry admonished the French man to desist and when he could not prevail with him he proclaimed Warre against him and made a Confederacy with Maximilian the Emperour and with Ferdinand King of Spain The Spaniard had intreated Henry to send an Army into Biscay and joyning his Forces with his that he should make the French work from that part Whereupon presently Thomas Gray Marquess of Dorset is sent thither with other Nobility and 10000 Souldiers he when he came thither did not long wait for the Spaniards assistance For the Duke of Alba took in the mean time by Force the Kingdom of Navarre from the French endeavouring the profit of his own King But the English that they might not seem to do nothing in Guyan subduing some Towns that were not considerable fell into that necessity of provision the Spaniard affording them none that many of them died miserably for hunger contracting also diseases by such unusual diet and the rest break forth into open Rebellion The Lord Howard who had the disposing of all affairs whilst the Marquess was sick hardly escaped from being slain Wherefore he was forced to provide Ships and to bring these sactious people home again Edward Howard Admiral at Sea did wonderfully depopulate Britanny by fire and sword and vanquished the Forces of the Britans in Battel though they farre exceeded those he had and so with his Ships laden with the spoil he sailed towards the Isle of Wight whilst Henry at London recreated himself with Tiltings and other courtly delights In the mean time in France in the Brittish Sea there was almost an equal fight for loss between the English and the French Ships and the Victory was doubtfull After this the English set upon the French Ships very indiscreetly in the very Haven with a great losse to themselves and their Admiral whereby they were forced to sound a retreat and be gone Whereupon the French began to wax more insolent to do mischief on the Coasts of England and to burn some Cities untill by the vigilancy of Howard who was put into the others place they were kept in Henry was resolved to make a Warre indeed with France and sent George Talbot before with the principal Nobility and 8000 Souldiers only to Callis then he sent Charles Sommerset and other Lords with 6000 Souldiers he himself being to come after them When the Admirals met they fell upon Tarvenne with joynt Forces Henry shortly after came to them with 9000 Souldiers and with a great number of Pioneers Also Maximilian the Emperour which was a rare example took Pay under King Henry Yet though he served under the English he was received as an Emperour should be and for the honour of his Majesty Then the French Horse purposing to relieve the City with provision were repulsed by the English the Duke of Longovil being taken and 240 more whereupon a wonderfull fear and despair fell upon the Townsmen so the English pressing them sore they were forced to surrender The Souldiers had leave to depart with their Arms the Wals were laid level with the ground the City excepting the chief Church and the Palace were consumed with fire Then he marched to Tourney and beleaguer'd the City they refusing to yeeld he quickly became Master of it causing the Citizens to take an Oath of fidelity And when he provoked the French to fight and could not make them accept of it because the Winter was now hard by he made Poyning Governour of it and returned himself for England In the mean while the Scotch at the instigation of the French fell upon the English Frontiers Their General was the Lord Humes who with seven or eight thousand men wasted the Borders But Edward Bulmer suddenly came upon him and took all the booty from him he himself hardly escaped six hundred of his men being slain and four hundred taken But James with an Army of sixty thousand men entred the skirts of England who was met by the Earl of Surrey Henry his Deputy in those parts at Bramston with six and twenty thousand men and joyning Battle the English wan the day by their great valour and the Scots lost it by their great confidence James himself with two Earls three Bishops and eight thousand Souldiers was slain no fewer was taken nor was this Victory wan by the English without losse of bloud it was fought in the year 1513. Henry coming out of France made the Earl of Surrey because he had so well managed his business Duke of Norfolk and other Lords who had done good service received Honours as they deserved He gave also to Thomas Wolsey the Bishoprick of Lincoln This man to be often named by us came from a poor parentage to great Honour and at last was made a Cardinal and governed the Commonwealth of England very wisely Pope Julius the second at this time gave to Hâ—â—ry great Honour sending unto him a Cap of Maintenance a Sword and the Title Of the most Christian King which Grace Henry received with Tiltings and other pompous Shews wherein he himself did alwayes bear the principal part In the interim Mary the Kings Sister was espoused to the Prince of Spain but because the Embassadours of Spain made delayes she was betrothed to the French desiring it and having had their fill of Warre But before the matter was published John the Admiral of the French first ruined one Village in England and John Wallop in revenge of this injury burnt one and twenty in France But at last a League was made and they ceased from Warre The French man lived not above three moneths after his Marriage and the lascivious old man being dead Mary by Henries consent was married to the Duke of Suffolk Wolsey about this time was honoured with a Cardinals-Cap and is created by the King Chancellour of England And Cardinal Campeius was sent to Henry to desire assistance to make Warre against the Turk but he lost his labour for that cheat of raising money was grown stale But Matthias the Cardinal being sent by the Emperour Maximilian for the same purpose prevailed at the request of Wolsey At that time Henry was in great danger of his life For as he went a Hawking the Pole broke that he leaped over the Ditches withall and he was almost smoothered in mire and dirt but his Lâ—ckey drew him out in time and saved his life In the mean while a Sedition grew at London between the Citizens and strangers not without blood-shed which was qualified by the death of the Ring-leaders and pardon to the rest Tourney at this time upon Conditions and under colour of Matrimony between the Dolphin and Mary King Henries Daughter is delivered up to the French and Hostages being given a League is confirmed between them Maximilian being dead
the Empire descended to Charles King of Castile the fifth of that Name Henry in the mean while was idle for lack of Warre spending his time in Tiltings Dancings Pleasures and other Courtly Delights Then that Peace might not be without its Glory a solemn Meeting was appointed between the two Kings of England and France For that purpose a magnificent Palace of Wood was built in France At last they met in wonderfull start they applied themselves to Turnâ—ments running at the Ring and other such Recreations and an Agreement was renewed between the Emperour and the Kings of England and France Wolsey in the interim did what he pleased he found no hinderance in his attempts whatsoever He charged the Duke of Buckingham of high Treason whether it were to or out of envy is uncertain but the Duke lost his Head for it A new cause is given for a Warre between the Emperour and the King of France wherefore Wolsey is sent Umpire between both who did not behave himself so prudently as loftily whereby he incurred the French Kings displeasure Hugh of Moncada besieged Tourney and though the French did his best to relieve it yet he became Master of it Henry in the mean while because he had written a Book against Luther had the Title given him to be Defender of the Faith which hath passed to all his Successours At that time cause was given of a Warre between the French and the Scotch King by occasion of the Duke of Albany and by reason the French had not paid the Money which he promised to Mary Henries Sister so the Covenant being broken they fell to Warre William the sonne of William a Knight the Admiral-Lieutenant with eight and twenty Ships spoiled the Coasts of Scotland burnt their shipping and so returned home Charles the Emperour in the mean time came to London where he was received in great State and Honour and with a solemn Ceremony was graced with the Order of the Garter Then under pretence of conducting the Emperour into Spain by shipping the Earl of Surrey the Kings Admiral sets upon Brittany and conquers Morleys who also was again sent into France with a great Army and he ruined many Towns and Castles and consumed them by fire but he attempted the Fort Heding in vain having left his great Guâ—s at home and so could make no Battery but having behaved himself honourably he retreated to Callis Also the Marquess of Dorset destroyed by fire and Sword an innumerable company of Villages and Forts in Scotland but could not come to joyn Battle with them Sands sallied out of Callis and skirmishing with the Enemy after he had ruined many of their Castles he came back to the City When therefore King Henry understood that the Duke of Albany who commanded all in Scotland had a choice Army in France he sent William Sonne to William with a Navy that he should set upon him in his coming back again but when he had scouted up and down at Sea in vain he at last set his men on Land and with a handfull of his he overthrew a great Army of the French and obtained thereby both the Victory and the Prey and burning the Suburbs of Triport he returned for England Henry now thinks seriously again of a Warre with France and sends Suffolk and many principal Nobility with a great Army into France who at first assault overcame Bell-Castle and made William Scevington the Governour of the Garison In the mean time the Duke of Burbon Constable of France revolted to the English King with ten thousand French who being strengthned by these new Forces enter upon Picardy and conquers many Towns and Castles but Winter coming on and scarcity of provision and the Souldiers murmuring not waiting for the supply that Henry sent he was necessitated to retreat to Callis yet he had done a great mischief to the Enemy The Scotch in the mean while supposing the English to be over-busied with the French Warres lift up their Heads again and assaulting the Borders of England they win divers Towns But the Earl of Surrey entring into Scotland with six thousand Souldiers wan divers Forts and joyning a light Battel with the Scotch he returned Conquerour not without great loss to the Enemy besides the Castle of Judworth and the Town that he burnt up So with uncertain Fortune the business being acted in those parts there was a conclusion for a Cessation of Arms that so they might have time to treat of Peace Francis the first King of France at that time was conquered by the Emperour Charles the fifth at Papion and was taken Prisoner which was no small happiness for the English affairs but a sad loss for the French Then Peace was ratified between the Emperour and the French and the English agreed with them also But the Emperour and the French shortly fell to a new Warre Peace being confirmed abroad England began to be in an uproar with greater Troubles in Civil Dissentions For Henry who had lived twenty years peaceably with his Wife Katharine had a scruple of Conscience put upon him whether he could without Incest live with his Brothers Wife for as we said she was first married to his Brother Arthur Judges were chosen to end this Question But Cardinal Wolsey who had not prudently dealt for Henry had all his Authority taken from him and his Estate was Confiscate But at last other new Dignities being granted to him his great loss was somewhat repaired Then a Parliament was called and he was charged with many faults and amongst the rest that he was wont to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Hat to be stamped on the Kings Coyn. He was convicted of all these things and deprived of all his Estate which shews a wonderfull example of the inconstancy of all humane affairs for he that but lately ruled all and the King too as he pleased made Laws and swaied Courts of Justice rooted out the Nobles at his pleasure burdned the subjects with great Taxes deprived both Clergy and Laity of their goods he is now cast down from his high Pinnacle of Honour hated by all and made no way like himself Afterwards when he was sent for to the Court to answer his charge he died of grief by the way In the mean time the business for a Divorce was transmitted to Clement the Pope of Rome at the suit of Queen Katharine But the Pope fearing to displease King Henry who had lately the Title of Defender of the Faith given him by Leo the tenth nor did he think it safe to provoke the Emperour who ruled in Italy spun out the business with delays by his Legate Campeius who at length with a great disgust to the English after many hastings and procrastinations departed from England leaving the business uneffected The King in the interim burning with new flames of love and so admitting no delay Warham being dead created Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who
The King died shortly after of a Consumption by whose death the Duke of Northumberland being now made partaker of his desire took to himself the Rule of the Kingdom and commanded his Daughter Joan to be publickly proclaimed Queen by King Edwards Testament MARY Queen of England France and Ireland Anno 1553. MARY so soon as the fame was spread of her Brothers death came with Post-horse from Hovesdon where she than resided into Suffolk to whom presently came divers Lords who had first compacted to preserve the Reformed Religion Then she sent by her Letters to the Senate of London that they should proclaim her for Queen But the Lords in the Name of all the people made Answer that by the Testament of King Edward Joan was to succeed and they asserted that Maries Mother was Divorced whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army went against Mary but as he proceeded but slowly Maries Forces increased mightily Also Edward Hastings who was set with four thousand souldiers and six Ships to prevent that Mary might no waies escape revolted to her by which loss the Londoners and Lords were not a little dismaid and grew at odds one with another The London Counsell when they did not hold fast together was commanded openly to proclaim Mary Queen and the same was done in all other places Northumberland when he was certain that his companions had fallen from him that he might not runne the hazard alone called a Counsell at Cambridge and he for want of a Herauld proclaimed Mary Queen of England casting his Cap up in token of joy But that did not at all help his cause for the Earl of Arundel who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Joan coming to Cambridge in Maries Name takes the Duke who in vain intreated for his life and casts him into prison Joan at the command of her Father Duke of Suffolk when the case was altered laid down the Ensignes of the Kingdom with more cheerfulness than she had taken them up The Queen coming to London met her Sister Elizabeth with a thousand Horse and Thomas of Norfolk Edward Contener Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester and Sommersets Wife which she received into grace giving them her hand to kiss Then entring upon the Church affairs she abolished those Bishops and Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed setting up others in their room the people were not a little enraged at it and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome In the interim the Duke of Northumberland the Earls of Northampton and Warwick are Endited of high Treason she spared Northampton but Northumberland was beheaded abjuring the Religion he professed before in hope of pardon His Body was buried by the Duke of Sommerset his Capitall enemy between Anne of Boloyne and Katharine who all suffered the same death The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had professed Joan afterwards with her Husband Dudley Ambrose and Henry Sonnes to Northumberland was condemned to lose her Head but she was reprieved for a time Then a Marriage was Contracted between the Queen and Philip Sonne to Charles the fifth who was afterwards King of Spain which matter was very ill liked by some who did foresee from hence a dangerous consequence to the Kingdom of England Amongst whom was Thomas Wiat who took up Arms to Rebell by the advice of Suffolk Father to Joan Gray drawing some of the Nobility to side with him Also Bres who was sent against him with five thousand men revolted to him by which success he grew more bold and marched toward London and put the Citizens into great fear so that the Lawyers pleaded in their Armour In the mean while the Earl of Suffolk had an Army raised in the County of Warwick but the Earl of Huntington was sent out against him who terrified the feeble Duke that he was forced to flâ—e in haste and to shelter himself in Woods and by-places At last he was discovered by his Host and sent with a strong guard to London and cast into prison Wiat in the mean time coming to London was shut out of the City but he passed over the Thames at Kingston and provided to offer violence to the Citizens After some light skirmishing with the Queens Forces he was overborn by the power of his Enemy and when he had yielded he was sent to prison his Souldiers being scattered or taken The Queen being enraged with that boldnesse of the Subjects began seriously to consider how to punish the guilty Gilford Husband to Joan was first beheaded then Joan her self within the Walls of the Tower of London with a wonderfull Courage Piety and Constancy had her Head chopâ— off She was a Princesse for her Learning and Wisdome worthy of immortal praise It is reported also that Morgan who had given sentence of Death against Joan fell into madnesse shortly after her Death and died mad alwayes crying out That they should take Joan Gray away from him Then Suffolk was beheaded and the same day Wiat the cause of all these mischiefs for Joan had been pardoned had not he with a furious Tumult enraged the Queen Those that followed him some were punished in other places and at severall times amongst whom was Thomas Grey and some were pardoned Also Elizabeth was cast into Prison by the malice of Gardner Bishop of Winchester Without doubt her Life was at stake had she not wisely answered Questions propounded to her concerning her Faith They did severely at that time punish all those that were Enemies to the Religion of the Church of Rome amongst whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester these refusing to abjure their Faith were burnt to ashes The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized and Cardinal Pool being sent from the Pope all the Errours of the English are purged as it were and all confessing their sinnes are received under the Popes Tuition The fame was at this time that the Queen was with Childe she was so glad of it that she commanded to let loose many who were prisoners in the Towr Amongst which were the sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were before condemned to lose their Heads But all this hope vanished when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Tympany That there might not lack Examples of Piety the Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church and when she was told That by so great bounty the Crown-Lands would be much wasted She answered piously and prudently That she preferred her souls health before all the worlds good Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charles and obtain'd from him the Kingdom of Spain and his other Dominions before his Death then he returned for England Then again he went to Callis to wage Warre with the Frenchman and he staid upon that business above
Florus Anglicus OR AN EXACT HISTORY OF England FROM THE RAIGN OF William the Conquerour to the Death of the Late KING By Lambert Wood Gent. LONDON Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St Pauls Church-yard 1657.6 The History of England TO THE READER FRIENDLY READER THou hast here a short Compendium of the Affaires of England yet written with so much Care and Diligence that there is nothing almost that is wanting in it but circumstances or things not usefull By this means I suppose I have spared the Reader both labour and time For what will it profit a man to spend his Age in searching out of that which he may have represented to him at an instant You may with one glance of your Eye runne over all the Writings and Pains taken by many Authours And that nothing might be wanting I have drawn forth the History from the very Infancy of it even unto the Death of CHARLES the First not following my own Advice but directed by the Testimony of them who setting aside all Envy were Reall and Eye-Witnesses of this Tragedy I have offered no Violence to the Truth by siding with any part If I loved the one I did not hate the other And if perhaps any Man which in Novelties is much desired by his future Experience shall bring forth the hidden Causes of things to the clearer Light I will not refuse to give Credit to it so farre is it from me from believing my own Report before the Relation of other Men. That which pleased me I think shall not be distastefull unto thee And I hope to reap the fruit of my Labours in it your kinde Acceptance which if I may obtain I aim at nothing else Judge moderately of the Style and censure it courteously It will not cause your Admiration shining forth in a Scholastick Brightnesse it will not retard curious Eyes with the Elegancie of words and glorying in the wittie choise of Sentences What can I say more It must be excused The desire of Praise could not carry me aloft who want Wings for it Moderate things please me when I can reach no higher Only I abhorre the envy of Detractors and the quarrelling of carping Momus Having premised thus much I shall remain A true Friend to my Countrey Lambert Wood. Courteous Reader These Books following are printed and sold by Simon Miller at the Starre in St Pauls Church-yard near the West end Folio The Civil Warres of Spain in the Raign of Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany and King of that Nation wherein our late unhappy Differences are parallel'd in many particulars The History of this Iron-Age with the Original and Causes of all Warres and Commotions that have happened throughout Europe from the Year 1500 to this present Quarto Abrahams Faith or the good old Religion proving the Doctrine of the Church of England to be the only true Faith of Gods Elect by J. Nicholson Minister of the Gospel Mr Boltons Directions The Anatomy of Mortality by George Strode Mr Ainsworth on the Canticles Mr Paul Baynes Diocesans Trial. The Supream Power of Christian States Vindicated from the Insolent Pretences of Gulielmus Apollonii by E. Gralle Politique and Military Observations of Civil and Military Governments The Birth Increase Decay of Monarchies the Carriage of Princes Magistrates Commanders and Favourites by D.P. Esq Mr Pinchin his meritorious Price of Christs Redemption Astrology Theologized shewing what Nature and Influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Octavo The Reconciler of the Bible A View of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Edward Waterhouse Esquire his Discourse of Piety and Charity A short View and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England by King Edward and Queen Elizabeth wherein her Doctrine Liturgy and Discipline are considered and preferred before all others Mr Peter du Moulin His Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the delusions of the Priests and Jesuites being seasonable for these times Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and Prayers usefull upon all occasions Mr Knowls His Rudiments of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Schemes or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of time The Poor mans Physician and Chyrurgeon Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the beginning to the death of the Late King Duodecimo Dr Smiths Practice of Physick Grammar Warre Posselius Apothegms Fuciculus Florum Crashaws Visions Robinsons Essayes The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three Arch-enemies of Man-kind the World the Flesh and the Devil together with his Conquest and Crown Vicessimo quarto The New-Testament The third Part of the Bible Playes The Ball. The Conspiracy The Tragedy of Chamlet Example Gamester Dukes Mistresse THE CONTENTS COncerning the first Kings of the Britans 1 Of the first Norman King 9 William the Second 16 Henry the First 20 Stephen King of England 25 Henry the Second 33 Richard the First 38 John the First 45 Henry the Third 53 Edward the First 64 Edward the Second 71 Edward the Third 85 Richard the Second 100 Henry the Fourth 115 Henry the Fifth 122 Henry the Sixth 131 Edward the Fourth 149 Edward the Fifth and Richard the Third 161 Henry the Seventh 172 Henry the Eighth 182 Edward the Sixth 200 Queen Mary 206 Queen Elizabeth 214 King James 223 King Charles the First 230 AN Exact History OF ENGLAND Concerning the first Kings of the Britans BRitany of old was subject not to one but to divers Kings The Names of four of them are called by Caesar Cingelarix Carvilius Taximagalus and Segonax whereupon the Conquest of the Romans over them was more sure though it were longer in doing for whilst they fought all severally they are generally overcome Yet the Britans did ever now and then make some resistance hardly submitting their necks to anothers Government Amongst whom for her Noble enterprise Vaodicia the Queen was most remarkable who with her two daughters Virgins having formerly been forced by the Roman Souldiery in revenge for her chastity abused raised a mighty Army and over-threw the Enemy with a great slaughter yet the fortune of the Warre changing afterwards she escaped bondage provided for her by drinking poyson This Island was subject to the Roman Government five hundred years but discord creeping in at home they left this place of their own accord which they had won with so much labour yet they took such Britans along with them which they thought most fit for Warre part whereof were slain in the Warre part were consumed with hunger and want and part of them transported themselves into that place in France for their safety which from them is called Britany The Picts and Scots they strive to enter upon the Countrey thus forsaken whom to resist they chose Vortigernus Earl of Cornwall for their King and implored the help of the Saxons or Anglo Saxons a Warlick Nation in
look into the faults of the Clergy and reserved to himself the punishing of them neglecting the Bishop of Rome Last of all being much given to hunting he was unhappily slain by an arrow that rebounded from the back of a Stag. The foreshewing signs of his unhappy end being foreseen but not regarded HENRY the first King of England Anno 1101. HEnry the first succeeded his Brother born of William in England not a Duke but a King Who in the absence of his elder Brother Robert either invaded the Kingdom or procured it with money or obtained it by the favour of the people for he was more Learned than all his Brothers and was so much the more dear to the people He made good the Kingdom he had got with fraud by good deeds gentleness and just punishments He every where preferred Learned men for places in the Church he removed such as were unlearned and unworthy from their places He mitigated the more severe Laws and abolished hard Customs He granted the Nobility free leave to Hunt and with his bounty he so won the hearts of all And because he knew that the Scotch were his ill-willers he made peace with them and to binde the League the faster he took Maud the sister of King Edgar to be his Wife That which hapned to his Father and to his Brothers hapned to him to have the first success of Warre from his own kindred Namely the Bishop of Durrham being the first mover of it whom he had cast into prison for exacting too great Tributes who had escaped his Keepers by reason of their neglect his Brother Robert Duke of Normandy is stirred up to wage Warre with Henry and to recover his right Robert was now ready in England with an Army and the day for the Battel was appointed when as the Heralds were sent up and down at last peace is agreed upon 20000 Franks being granted yearly to Robert and hopes of succession should he out live his Brother Henry This danger scarce dispelled another fals upon the neck of it For Robert Bellamy Earl of Shrewsbury for no other cause but envy inviting the Welsh to his aid makes Warre against the King But this stopped him not for raising an Army suddenly he put the Welsh to flight he intercepted Robert and confiscating all his Goods sent him into banishment For to punish Traitors with death was not yet the fashion The third tempest arose from William Earl of Mortane and of Cornwall the Kings Uncle he being angry with his Cosen for denying him the County of Kent endeavours by treachery to draw the Shire unto himself but his Treason being discovered for one County that he thought to win he lost two Henry that was hitherto on the defensive part now takes up Arms willingly against his Brother Robert being offended at some scoff of his and levying an Army he entred Normandy and became Master of it all scarce leaving so much as Roan to his Brother and so he retreated for England Robert had made triall of his severity and was resolved to make proof of his levity whereupon he follows after his Brother into England and very submissive desires pardon for his sawciness But Henry either offended with the now fresh injury of his Brother or else affecting the Dukedom of Normandy neglected the praiers of his Brother Robert being impatient of this scorn returns for Normandy and once more raising an Army attempts a Warre against his Brother but he coming successfully upon Robert with a sufficient force providently suppressed the mischief in the birth but not without blood and he carried his Brother Captive into England and putting out his eyes he held him prisoner to the day of his death By this success he grew Magnificent whence arose envy against him For Fulck Duke of Aniou Baldwin Earl of Flanders and Lewis sirnamed the Gross King of France entring a League with joynt forces they endeavour to restore to William the Sonne of Robert the Land of his Grandfather Henry presently transports his Forces into Normandy and encountring the Battel put the French to flight and after that he had diversly made triall of fortune in fine Peace is confirmed between the Duke of Aniou and Henry which is confirmed by Marriage between William the Kings Son and the said Dukes Daughter After this Peace followed between both these Kings the Dukedom of Normandy being granted to William the Son of Henry doing Homage for it And thus by continuance of time all the first-born Sonnes of the Kings of England are styled Dukes of Normandy But Charles Earl of Flanders being wickedly slain at Brussels leaving no other Heir William the Sonne of Robert who was the next right Heir to it for that he was from the blood of Maud Daughter to Baldwin and Wife to William the Conquerour was elevated to this Dignity who growing insolent with this prosperity endeavours to recover Normandy his Patrimony by his Grandfather which he brought to pass with no great difficulty by assistance of the French King but receiving a wound in one of his hands which was very smal and afterwards rankling he lost both his life and Patrimony by it Peace being confirmed abroad yet Henry was tossed at home with civil commotions Wales being entred into a Conspiracy whereupon he pursuing the Rebels erring in his passage he fell into a straight place and redeemed yet not without danger a thousand sheep and oxen from them And these were the Warres he had both at home and abroad He seldom or never Taxed the Land He made none but good Laws He was the first that ordained the convening of the several Orders which is now called a Parliament He punished Theeves and false Coiners with severe justice He diminished the power of the Pope in his Dominions and such suits as were decided in England he forbad to be called back to Rome without his cognizance thereof the Pope not speaking any thing against it But a greater Controversie arose concerning Ecclesiastical Promotions both of them standing stoutly for his own Interest But the King not regarding the Pope held in his own hands the power of disposing and confirming Offices If he were over luxunious yet he was noble in his choice not loving every one in extreams He had no lawfully begotten Sons but he had many bastards whereupon he endeavoured by all means to establish the Government in Maude and her Daughters but all in vain Stephen succeeding who was born from Adela Daughter to William the Conquerour excluding Maude his Wife and Daughter which first married Henry the fourth the Roman Emperour and he being dead she was married to Jeffrey Plantagenet the Sonne of Fulc the Duke of Aniou At last by reason of some quarrel with the Duke of Aniou he fell into grief of mind whence followed a great weakness of his body by over-eating of Eels and thence he fell into a burning Feaver and so died after he had reigned 35 years being the last of the
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
Sant-Paul he was frustrated and so he returned for Callis plundering all in the way In the mean time the men of Angiers and Bourges wasted the borders of the Prince of Wales which when he endeavoured to oppose receiving news of Lemoges taken making hast thither he wan it again killing all every where but observing the Valour of three Centurions who by their Gallantry checked his Conquering sword for their sakes he spared the City and the Lives of all the inhabitants that were left David King of Scots died in the mean time leaving no heir besides his Cousin Robert Stuart who succeeded him and was Crowned at Scone Robert Canolns was now sent into France with a great Army behaved himself more boldly than fortunately for he was circumvented by Bertrand Gesquinus and lost the greatest part of his men Edward Prince of Wales the most famous for his Valour and Chivalry died at Burdeaux about this time and Gualter Mani a valiant Captain died at London Also the Earl of Pembroke who had married his Daughter being now Governour of Guyan when he was going to his charge of Government was taken by the Spaniards and carried into Spain All those possessions which the Prince of Wales had won followed and were recovered again by Charles the fifth King of France so that the chance of Warre now began manifestly to alter Edward indeed went thither with mighty forces but by a contrary Tempest he lost his labour and Lancaster was carefull of his business but did nothing prevail Edward when he had lost together with his hopes he conceived of his Sonne Edward all the fruits almost of his travell in France fell into so great grief of minde and body that he died about ten moneths after the Prince of Wales when he had reigned fifty years He was the most valiant of all the Kings a comely person excellent for the gifts of his body and minde living as one may say after his death having had a Wife and a Sonne that were incomparable RICHARD the second King of England and France Anno 1378. RIchard sirnamed of Burdeaux the Sonne of Edward the Black Prince of Wales appointed to succeed by Edward his Grandfather came to the Crown after his death not yet being past eleven years of age Wherefore he had Governours assigned to him John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge his Uncles by his Fathers side The Scotch and French taking occasion to win from him by reason of his Nonage provide Armies for invasion The French Conquer the City Rye and being encouraged by their success they fall upon the Isle of Wight and spoil all with fire and sword wresting from the Inhabitants great summes of Money and so spoiling all the Frontiers of England they are enriched with a vast prey The Scotch take the Castle of Barwick but by the Valour of the people of Northumberland and Nottingham the Fort is recovered and all the Scots killed Also Hugh Calverley Governour of Callis burn'd 26 Ships of France in the Harbour of Bononia casting fire amongst them So John Philpot Citizen of London preparing a Fleet at his own charge took all the Ships of Mercerus a notable Rover who plaid the Pirate on the borders of England and rob'd all the English Merchants Ships When he returned in stead of a reward he is accused of high Treason because he had fitted his Navy without the Kings knowledge he defended his cause so well that he not only excused what he did but is famous for it unto this day The King said That publick actions may be privately traduced yet they may not be publickly examined since Authority would in such a case commit a fault and in place of an errour raise a tumult and since the loss is generall and common every one affords weapons for revenge and though it were against reason to exceed the Commission yet it cannot be held a criminal matter to engage for it with hazard of ones life With good and bad fortune they laboured much on both sides The Scotch waste with fire Rupisburg but the Earl of Northumberland entring Scotland spoil'd the Territories of Merchia with sword and flame likewise The Northern English attempting to invade Scotland also are unhappily slain And afterwards the Duke of Lancaster with Buckingham Warwick Stafford and others the chief of the Nobility arrive in Britain with a great Fleet thinking to lay siege to St Malos but finding the Garrison too strong they return home again The Scotch in the mean while setting scaling ladders to the Castle of Barwick overcame it in the night and killed Robert Baynton Governour of it But the Earl of Northumberland coming suddenly with an Army regain'd the Castle after he had beleaguerd it two daies William Montacute the Kings Embassadour at Callis was successfull in his business both by Sea and Land But John Clark was as unfortunate though he behaved himself valiantly being conquered and taken by the enemy both he and his Ships And so here and elsewhere they strove with doubtfull fortune In the mean while Thomas Cartonius is accused for Treason by John Ansler that he had for money given up to the French the Castle of St Saviour Cartonius denying the fact is challenged by Ansler to fight a Duel with him wherein Carton though he were farre stronger in Limbs and force than Ansler is killed by him At the beginning of the fourth year of King Richard's Raign the Earl of Buckingham was sent with others and a small Army into France to assist the Duke of Brittain but the French King dying about that time Peace was confirmed between the new King and the Duke But the Spanish and the French Galleys did wonderfully spoil the Sea-Towns of England at that time and many Towns were either plunder'd or consumed by fire so laden with the prey they returned home The Kentish men by reason of the deadly burden of Tributes grew mad and are enraged with an implacable hatred against the Nobility taking all occasions they could finde for the basest dregs of men commonly being uncapable of honour themselves which they cannot sustain are envious against those that are They report that Wat Tyler was the Author of it who killed the Collector of Tribute that behaved himself arrogantly with his own staff that he took from him To whom other seditious fellows and whole Provinces joyned themselves This tumultuary Faction increased mightily came to London with his Army and kils first of all Richard Lyon a London Doctor with an Ax. And putting his Head on the top of his Spear carries it for a Trophie of his valour Then all of them the next day runne to Lancaster-Hall and set it on fire they take away the rich Hangings and throw them into the Thames carefully looking to it that no man should keep any thing for himself and when one covetous fellow had hid a silver Cup in his bosome they take the man and threw him into the fire alive with the Cup.
little strengthen the French proceedings for Joan a Country Maid which had spent her youth in keeping Sheep desiring to free the Kingdom of their enemies the English was brought to the King who admired the Maids courage when he saw that she was a Maid indeed She putting on mens Armour brought provision into Orleance with the Forces she had received from the King and with many assaults at length she raised the siege Then she wonderfully weakned the English with many though less Battels three thousand English were slain in Belsia Nor was Charles wanting to his own affairs but the Maid being Leader he went to Rhemes and recovered the Ensigns of the Kingdom Then he marched to Paris whilst Bedford was carefull enough and suffered no occasion to slip to manage his business as he ought The Maid at the siege of Compienna thinking to relieve the place received a wound in the leg and so was fain to retreat Yet this Warlike Maid broke into the City and sallying forth again upon the Enemy she was taken prisoner and being convicted as they report of Art Magick she was burnt alive Yet Compienna was freed from the siege and Melun Corvolium and other places were recovered But the English to gain honour to their side calling King Henry to Paris now but twelve years old they Crown him King of France the Lords of that Kingdom who were present swearing fealty unto him In the mean while Charles by the craft of a certain Carter giving fish to the watch recovers Lyons and so he followed the success he had But the Kingdom all this time was wonderfully ruinated there was nothing left in the field and a miserable lamentation was made every where At last both the Leaders of the Warre having their full began to Treat of Agreement at Artoys they meet the English being baited with the sweetness of the Kingdom of France could not be pacified but Burgundy Matiscan the Temple of Gingon Altissidore and other Towns being yielded to him they were content Then the English took high indignation deeply resenting that the Duke of Burgundy their faithfull companion in the Warre was fallen away from them Their anger thus incensed would have been the ruine of the Frenck but being laid down it was their safety for in a short time they shook off that heavy yoke For the Parisians suddenly took courage and drove out the English from Paris and on the other side Burgundy with the same earnestness he helped the English before now assists the French To this there hapned the death of the Duke of Bedford the Governour of France which did a little damnifie the English Then other places taking example by Paris fell off to Charles and the Normans scarce continued their fidelity but by the slaughter of five thousand of them they were either frighted or pacified The English affairs thus declining in France they did not assault Cities and fenced places as formerly but Castles and poor Forts Also Burgundy waged offensive Warre with the Duke of York who succeeded Bedford and besieged Callis but he retreated in time for the Duke of Glocester arrived the next day with a great Army who finding the enemy gone ruined all with fire and sword In the interim the Scotch laid siege to the Castle of Rapesburg but being certified of the return of the Duke of York and the coming of the Earl of Northumberland he quickly raised his siege In the mean while Harflet was delivered up to the French at a price the Garrison souldiers being corrupted with money But the Duke of Sommerset and Talbot besieging the City afresh by Sea and Land regained it once more the Duke of Orleans with his Army being come only to look on In the mean time James King of Scotland after he had been prisoner ten years in England was restored to his liberty placed with a rich Matron but being at length ingratefull he was treacherously slain in his chamber the authours of the fact were severally executed All this while the business went diversly in France on both sides and what by Valour what by Policy many Towns were won and recovered again In England a contest fell out between the Duke of Glocester and a Cardinal his Uncle the Wife of the Duke of Glocester was accused by the Cardinal for Witchcraft as if by Magick Arts she went about to take away the Kings life She was forced publikely to satisfie for that wickedness she had not attempted though others that were guilty in their very sufferings excused the Dutchess of it Now by the intercession of Christian Princes they began to treat of Peace between the French and the English Peace was not ratified but a cessation was granted for eighteen moneths In the mean time the Earl of Suffolk by his own Authority contracted a Marriage between King Henry and Margaret the Daughter of the Duke of Angiers boasting much of the Maids Beauty and Doury at last he perswaded the King though passed his word to the Daughter of the Earl of Brittain This Matrimony Contracted gave but small help to the English affairs when for commutation great part of Normandy was yielded to the French Also the Duke of Britain revenging the wrong done to his Daughter drove all the English out of Aquitan Now the hatred that had long grown between the Duke of Sommerset and York began to bud again He by fraud and injustice deposed this York from his Authority of Viceroy though he had behaved himself gallantly in France and made himself Viceroy in his place York being not a little offended at it For the King did nothing less than taking care of his Kingdom all the Authority was between Queen Margaret and the Marquess of Suffolk Also by the contriving of his adversaries the Duke of Glocester who was so well esteemed of by all the people that they pointed at him by the name of the good Duke was put out of his place and unknown to the King a Parliament being called privately they question him for his life he was cast into Prison where the next day how it is not known he was miserably murdered By a stratagem the City of Fulger was taken by the English and the Town Larcha by the French so they break out into Warre again The French despising Sommerset for his negligence who as we said had now all the power wan many Towns and in Guyan divers willingly fell off to the French amongst which was Roan following the example of the rest and more mischief befell the English Also the Cities of Harflet and Caer though they were valiantly defended yet by the carelesnesse of Sommerset the Governour were delivered up to the French who so almost with no pains wan all Normandy and made good all France for themselves except Callis The Duke of York who should now help the English in France was fain to go to still the Irish that were up he quickly pacified them whereby he wan the peoples hearts very much and
of the Battell brought fresh Forces and joyned with Henry whereby he was not a little animated for otherwise he was farre inferiour to Richard in men and so takes heart again The King himself at last entred the fight who after he had given wonderfull tokens of his Valour had killed Henries Standard-bearer put Henry himself in danger he was surrounded by multitudes of souldiers and fighting valiantly was slain Henry got the Victory by Richards death for the Earl of Northumberland who brought up the tear of Richards Army as he came against his will so he refused to fight any longer Not above 1000 were slain of the Kings side and of Henries side hardly 100. The Nobility that yielded were pardoned and Henry had forthwith the Crown set on his Head which they had taken from Richards Head and he is saluted â—ing by all with a generall acclamation Richards body was found amongst the dead and was buried with no Honour at Leicester HENRY the seventh King of England and France Anno 1486. HENRY came to the Kingdom both by Right and Valour and was Crowned at Westminster Anno 1486 the day before the Calends of November Then calling a Parliament he is discharged of the Treason Richard laid to him and he gave Rewards and Honours to some that were grieved He married Elizabeth the Daughter to Edward the fourth and by that Marriage the old quarrell between the White Rose and the Red was ended At his first entrance he kept a strong Guard about him either for his power or Majesty which custom is continued to our daies The English Sweat was rife about this time a disease never known before it destroyed abundance of men but the sharper the disease was the shorter time it lasted Then new troubles arose in the North of England which were easily vanquished by Lovels flight and Staffords death But a new tumult that grew from meer opinion and perswasion gave cause for new cares for one Simon a Priest reports falsly that a Scholar of his who was very like which made the Priest the bolder to give it out was the Sonne to Edward Duke of Clarence which was cast into prison a little before by Henry and he said with him into Ireland and prevailed so much amongst the Peers there that the youth was saluted King at Dublin Then obtaining help from Margaret wife to Burgundy he comes inâ—o England to whom those Lords that favoured the cause of Plantagenet joyned themselves though they knew the fraud yet they hoped to bring on the design But Henry went against them in time and after a most eager fight he slew the Earl of Lincoln and other of the chief men that followed him But he spared Lambert this counterfeit Earl by reason of his youth and innocency and he was made the Kings servant Simondus escaped because he was a Priest Then sending Embassadours into Scotland he treated for peace but when he could not procure it in regard of the malice of the subjects a Truce was made for seven years But a difference rifing between Charles King of France and Francis Duke of Brittany Henry that he might displease neither side being engaged to both made himself Umpire to end the quarrel between them but when he could do nothing by his Embassadours they fell to Arms. Edward Lord Vdevill the Queens Uncle without the knowledge of the King assisted the Duke of Brittany with 400 choice men but the French afterwards getting the Victory the Duke and they were all slain The Duke being dead the contest ended In the mean time in Yorkshire troubles arose because of Tribute required one John Chambers was the Authour of them Henry Earl of Northumberland Governour of that Country was basely slain by one of the factions multitude then they came on by Troops John Egrimont Knight being their Leader But the King fell on them presently and easily dissipated the tumultuous rabble punishing severely the Authors of it But Egrimont fled to Margaret into Burgundy which was the common place of refuge for the Rebels yet there was nothing abated of the Tribute to be paid A great Tumult about that time fell in Scotland the subects rising against James King of Scotland and they forced his Sonne James to take part with them Henry King of England Charles King of France and the Pope could not reconcile this quarrel and when the subjects gave a harsh answer the Battell began at Strevelin where the subjects got the Victory and the King himself though his Sonne was against it was cruelly slain in a Mill. Then a jarring arose between Frederick the Emperour and some Cities in Flanders the French came to assist the Emperour But Henry not enduring the French so near to Callis sent the Lord Morley with a supply of a thousand men who with two thousand of his souldiers vanquished eight thousand of the enemies but he himself was slain The French to revenge this loss had almost won Newport but being frighted at the coming of the English they lost the Victory Maximilian the Emperour when he endeavoured to marry Anne Daughter to Francis Duke of Brittany which he had betrothed by Embassadours he is hindred by the French King to whom he had espoused his Daughter Margaret for he divorcing Margaret gaping after the Dukedom of Brittany by force got Anne into his power and solemnly made her his Wife Henry was wonderfully offended at this fraud and asked Subsidies from his Parliament taking counsell to make a Warre upon the French King At length he landed at Callis with a small Army and besieged Bononia but finding Maximilian unprepared for whose sake he had undertaken this Warre he easily yielded to make Peace obtaining from the French a great summe of money and a yearly revenue and so returned for England Margaret Wife to the Duke of Burgundy alwaies studied mischief against the English for she bred up for some moneths in her Court a tertain young man who was called Peterkin or Perkin Warbech and obtruded him upon the English Nation for Richard the Sonne of Edward the fourth who was said to have been stifled Many of the Nobility of England either deceived by the appearance or because they desired innovation joyn with that supposed Richard amongst whom was William Stanley who helped Peter with money Stanley was taken convicted and lost his Head though he were the principall cause whereby Henry came to the Crown Peter in the mean time having got a tumultuous number of men landed in Kent where there were taken of his men 160 amongst whom were five Captains who first landed they were hanged at London and other places Peter when he little prevailed there sails into Ireland where he was magnificently entertained by the Inhabitants who much honoured the name of the Plantagenets But when he could expect little help thence from a poor weak people he makes haste into Scotland The Scot had him in high esteem and being deceived by his presence or courtly Carriage which Margaret
in the first place and next to him Mary Katharines Daughter and last of all Elizabeth which he begat of Anne of Boloyn Young Edward was Crowned at nine years of age in the year 1547. Because he was young he had sixteen Overseers appointed for him the chief was the Duke of Sommerset Brother to Jane Seymere a man of great integrity The death of Henry being heard of by Francis King of France did exceedingly grieve the old man who being about the same age did presage his own death to be near He kept a Funerall solemnity for him as the manner is for Kings and not long after that he followed him that was gone before him Henry at his death had commanded his Councill before all things that they should press a Marriage for his Sonne Edward with the Queen of Scotland Messengers are therefore sent to treat of conditions and to obtain their consent but when the faction of the Papists prevailed for the Dolphin a great Army was presently raised and sent into Scotland under the conduct of the Viceroy Sommerset The Scots also came to meet him with a powerfull hand they joyned Battell at Muskelburg but they were beaten down and put to flight the chief of their Nobility being slain or taken prisoners After this Victory many Cities yielded and the Nobles fell off from them in greater numbers But that there might be an end made of this Warre and difference they send the Maiden Queen by advice of the Peers to be Educated and Espoused in France In the mean time there was a great change of the old customs in the Churches of England Images were cast out of the Churches by the Authority of Sommerset who was addicted to the Reformed Religion The Sacrament was exhibited under both kindes and the other old Ceremonies were abolished all that made opposition were either cast into prison or lost their places Upon this ground a wonderfull sedition arose in divers Countries of England though the Rebels had several intentions some came to pillage others under pretence of Religion set forward other designes the smallest number made it any matter of conscience There was a Proclamation made whereby all were pardoned if they would lay down their Arms but the more mildly they were dealt withall the more did this mad rabble increase They besieged Exceter but the Citizens did resist them with wonderfull Valour enduring great famine and scarcity At length Gray coming with an Army after some small Bickerings raised the siege The Rebels recollecting their Forces began a new fight but they were put to flight or taken presently and hanged When this sedition was quelled another as great rose in Norfolk for Robert Ket a base fellow had drawn twenty thousand men to his party who guarded him that he might deliver up some complaints to the King The King though he disdained to treat with Rebels answered them that their Petitions should be granted at the next Parliament They were not content with this but they laid siege to the City of Norwich and wan it The Earl of Northampton went against them with a small Army and was worsted by the factious rabble and the Lord Sheffeld and others were killed But being strengthned with new forces he went once more against them and holding forth to them the Kings pardon they threw away their Arms and left their Colours returning every man to his place Ket and the rest of the Ring-leaders suffered for it Another tumult rose about the same time which fell of it self only the Ring-leaders were executed The French in the mean while breaking their League proclaimed Warre with England and providing a Fleet when they had assaulted Garnsey Jersey and Bononia in vain with an Army they left off of their own accord In the mean time the Viceroy of England being deceived beheaded the Admirall his Brother being circumvented by the femine fraud of his Wife and condemned him for nothing that was laid to his charge upon which occasion both he and his Authority committed an egregious fault For they that favoured the Admirall were offended with the Viceroy and they that did honour him would trust him but a little so they all fell from him at once though upon divers ends Also the Viceroy was taken up with building a stately Palace which is to this day called Sommerset House And he had demolished divers Temples Towers and sacred places by which injury he had alienated from him not a little the mindes of all men Warwick who was of his own inclination the Viceroy his greatest enemy made use of this occasion and procured some Lords to stand with him and they conspired together against the Viceroy and sending messengers to the King who sojourned at Windsor to certifie him of the good intention of the Lords they desired his consent to cast the Viceroy into Prison But the Viceroy when he would not or could not answer the crimes objected against him he submitted himself to the Kings will and pleasure by which humility he obtained pardon and was received into grace Also the Dukes Daughter to make the friendship lasting by Marriage was betrothed to Warwicks Sonne and Warwick was made Admirall of the Sea Then Peace being ratified between the English and the French Bononia was delivered up to the French King 400000 Crowns being paid to the English The Emperour in the mean time because the profession of the Romish Religion was not allowed to his sister denounced Warre against England but he was pacified by such an Answer as was seasonable to that time Also there was a Treaty for a Marriage between Elizabeth the Kings sister and the King of Denmarks Sonne but Elizabeth could not be perswaded to be married to any man A speech there was further concerning a Marriage between Edward and the French Kings Daughter which was ratified and the Dowry agreed upon In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland that he might bring to pass what he intended endeavours by all means to root out the Duke of Sommerset But he to prevent his snares came one day into his Chamber armed and found him naked in his Bed and whether he were pacified by his false or friendly shew of Love and Humanity he spared him and departed doing nothing to him But afterwards Sommerset was accused by him for high Treason and lost his Head for it being a forerunner of the Accusers destiny Northumberland when as thus farre all things had succeeded as he desired was resolved to follow the success and perswaded the King at length that if he would have the Reformed Religion that was then generally received in England to be confirmed he should pass over his sister Mary who was so strongly addicted to the Church of Râ—me and should nominate Joan Gray for his successour Wife to his Sonne Gilford Dudley who was next of blood after his Sisters The King who was resolved by all means to preserve the Reformed Religion easily yielded to this some others in vain opposing it
Norman Kings STEPHEN King of England Anno 1136. HEnry being dead Stephen upon a doubtfull Title and his elder Brothers delaying first possessing succeeded He won the English partly by promises partly by benevolence to which was added his Title of Inheritance Having laid hold on the Kingdom by promises he endeavours to make it good by courtesie He took off the heaviest Taxes and granted his own right to the Clergy which the former Kings kept to themselves Also he would that Church-men should be free from yielding obedience to the temporal Magistrate Thus he won the people and the Church-men and the Nobility by granting them free leave to Hunt and liberty to build Castles His Brother Theobald who by his Birthright was next to the Crown he pacified by a yearly Pension Moreover to win the good will of strangers he obtained for his Sonne Eustachius Constance the Daughter of Lewis King of France yet he did not more by that Marriage than by Treasures strengthen himself in the Kingdom of King Henry which he spent not luxuriously but to leavy Souldiers and to wage Warre with He was scarce Crowned before he was forced to fall to his Arms for David King of Scotland striving to assert the Interest of Maud the Empress proclaimed Warre against Stephen and possessed himself of the Towns of Carlile and New-castle Stephen marched against him with a great Army and granting Cumberland to David and the County of Huntington to his Sonne he put by a Tempest that was coming on without any blood-shed at all Not long after he was shaken with Civil Commotions greater than before for when he was sickly he was reported by some to be dead whereupon the Nobles abusing their Castles to the Kings ruine conspired together and endeavour to get the Kingdom into their own power Stephen least by delay the danger should get strength partly by his Captains partly with his own hand he subdued the boldness of the Rebels He marched against Baldwin the ring-leader of the Conspirators and driving him out of Oxford he pursues him as farre as the Isle of Wight and forcing him from thence he enjoyned him perpetuall banishment He was scarce quiet at home but a Warre from abroad puts him to further trouble For Jeffrey Plantagenet relying on the Title of Maud his Wife invades Normandy with offensive Arms and strives to possess himself of his Grandfathers Territories Stephen quickly levying an Army hastens thither they having fought in divers small skirmishes come to an agreement namely that Jeffrey should abstain from all Title and Right Stephen paying to him an annuity of 35000 Franks When he returned he found the Kingdom full of Warre and Tumults for the Nobility enter upon a Conspiracy because the King kept not his promises and every one of them makes Warre in his own Dominions Also David King of Scotland forgetfull of his Covenant enters upon Northumberland and miserably made havock of all by fire and sword he neither spared women nor innocent children he kils the Priests before the Altars the sacred Virgins are ravished in the Churches The King to oppose himself against the greatest danger first bends his forces against the Scots But the Warre during long giving command to Thurstin Archbishop of York to wage Warre with the Scots he returned home that he might tame the rest of the Rebels which by force of Arms by Promises and by his Benevolence he at last reclaimed Thurstin in the mean time joyning Battell subdued the Scots and slew them with a great slaughter for eleven thousand Scots were slain in the fight besides those that ran away and were killed in the pursuit The King being made more bold by this success enters now with Arms upon Scotland and afflicted David with a sore loss and compelled him to beg for peace which at last he yielded to Stephen taking Henry the Son to David for Hostage Stephen returning laid siege to Ludlow the receptacle for the Conspirators and with his own hand he freed Henry whom he had taken for a pledge The most cruel tempest followed this fortune for Maude requiring her Right arrived in England Stephen hearing this laies siege to Arundel Castle where by chance she harboured her self but in this desperate siege water being all spent Maude delivers up the Castle having leave given her to retire towards Bristol In the mean while he quickly removes to Lincoln taken by Randulph Sonne to Robert Earl of Glocester and environs it with a siege The Earls of Chester and Glocester endeavouring to free the City fight with Stephen hand to hand in which fight Stephen is taken prisoner after that he had given wonderfull arguments of his prowess and he is brought before Maud who sent him toward Bristol to be imprisoned and she in the mean while possesseth the Kingdom entring London as Conquerour in Triumph But Maude or Mathilde the wife of Stephen hearing of the Kings misfortune humbly intreated Maud that she being of a long time weary of the Government might have liberty to live with her Husband a private life Also the Londoners they require their antient Laws which they enjoyed under Edward the Confessor but Maud would grant neither Maud not enduring the high stomack of Mathilde and detesting ignoble servitude cals for Eustachius her Sonne with a select company of Souldiers out of Kent to London who joyning with the Londoners that were wonderfully offended that their suits were denied them also fortifying himself with the help of the Bishop of Winchester they fall upon the Army of Mathilde which fled privately to Oxford and asked not help in vain of David King of Scotland by whose assistance her Army being increased she besieged Winchester But the Queen with her Sonne Eustachius falling on her fortress overcame Mathilde in a pitched Battell and took Robert Sonne to Mathilde but Mathilde her self escaped luckily A Treaty for Peace followed this fortune whereby Robert on the one hand Stephen on the other are set at liberty but there was no other condition agreed upon wherefore the Trumpet sounds again to Warre and Stephen being now free besieges Mathilde at Oxford but she despising danger passed through his Army in the night Yet she was so frighted with the present danger that she ever after forbare to make Warre with him leaving the charge of the whole business to her Son Henry In the mean while the City of Lincoln was valiantly defended against the King But at last the Earl willingly yielded to the King desiring reconciliation yet Stephen entertained him not so courteously but spoil'd the miserable Earl of all his Estate by which perjury he did not a little alienate the mindes of his subjects Henry by the death of his Father Jeffrey having got the Dukedom of Aniou and of Aquitan and with his Wife Eleonar the County of Poicteirs by a fresh attempt but with a few Souldiers sails for England hoping at last to regain his Grandfathers Kingdom He was no sooner landed but his friends
successfull fight or else helped by the Forces of Edward brought almost the whole Nation under him whilst David a young King trifled the time away in France and so doing Homage to the King of England he held it as from him in Chief In the said time the Isle of Man is Conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who therefore was honoured with the Title of King of Man Edward now come to age by the Instigation of Robert Atrebas who was fled out of France into England intends a Warre with France making a Confederacy with the Dukes and Earls of Gelderland Gulic Cleave and the Hanse Towns and of Brabant The French also foreseeing this Tempest made friendship with the Bishop of Leige John King of Bobemia the Earl of Lutzenburg the Palatine Albertus Otho of the House of Austrich and Amesius Earl of Genoa Wherefore Edward sail'd into Flanders bearing the Title of the King of France those of Flanders being the cause of it and then he entred the Borders of France Philip also invaded Aquitan and though the Armies of both Kings were in sight one of the other and ready to fall on yet they both departed without fighting Edward in the mean while to see to his business at home returned for England leaving William Montacute and the Earl of Suffolk to take care of the Warre both of them behaved themselves valiantly yet were taken and brought to Paris But Edward supposing it was in vain to stay at the report of this news provided for his return for France and finding a strong Navy of King Philips in the Haven of Sluse he collecting a great Fleet set upon the French and utterly destroyed their Navy killing then 30000 French with those that were drowned and came to their ends other waies Then he laid siege to Tourney which Town was so well defended by the Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Armeniac that his whole Army being dispersed he lost about 4000 men Edward was much enraged with this loss and challenged Philip to fight a Duel with him but the business came not so farre because it was taken up Yet the befieging of Turney was no whit neglected and Philip did what he could to free the City but Robert King of Sicily interceding and especially Joan Valois Philips sister there is a cessation made for two years In the interim the Scots that were enemies to Bayly's Government calling their King David out of France they make Warre upon Edward and invading Northumberland with a strong Army they miserably destroy all by fire and sword sparing no sex nor condition But at the sudden approach of William Montaente they are afflicted with some loss and being frighted at the coming of Edward sounding a retreat they returned for Scotland but Edward following their Armies overtook them and wearying them with some light skirmishes he forced them to a cessation for two years John Earl Montfort whilst he strives to make good his Title to Britany is taken by King Philip but his Wife seeking help from King Edward easily procured it Mary the Kings Daughter being espoused to the Earls Son the care of that expedition was first committed to Gualter Mani a valiant Gentleman and then to Robert Atrebas In the mean time Baily being driven out of his Kingdom of Scotland and by Edward made Governour of Barwick tels Edward that the Scots had not kept their Covenants whereupon Edward moves suddenly with an Army against the Scots but there was nothing done but the cessation of Arms renewed In the interim Robert Atrebas with Gualter Mani and some other Nobles after a great tempest and Sea-fight arrived at a Town of Britain which is commonly called Vannes and going on Land set on the City that was a Garrison in a Hostile manner and suddenly became Masters of it but by the desperate violence of some of the Nobility the French wan it again and wounded Robert whereof he died shortly after in England But Edward himself moving into Britany laid a new siege to the Vannes and John Duke of Normandy coming suddenly they both make themselves ready for Battell but by the intercession of Pope Clement the sixt Truce was made for some few moneths yet it lasted not who was the cause of it is uncertain they again prepare for their Arms by which means Henry of Lancaster subdued many Towns in Guyan and in other Provinces and then he removed to Burdeaux for his Winter Quarters Philip that he might not lose his Countrey by sloth levying a great Army regained Miremontium a Franc Town and Engolesm But when Lancaster was too weak for the great Army of Philip Edward came to his assistance with more Forces bringing with him his Sonne Prince of Wales that was yet in his Nonage for he was scarce 15 years old that he might be trained up in the Warres who presently took many Towns and then he marched toward Picardy and Pontium and he either vanquished or destroyed all places in the way Then he passed over Somes a wonderfull example of his Valour the enemy looking on and he discomfited Gondemar more by fear than force In the mean time Philip stay'd with his Army at the Temple of St Germans and being enraged with so great a loss of his men sets Edward a day to sight with him in Battell he had pitched his Camp at Cressen expecting with his Ensignes Philip his enemy The Armies both meet and the Trumpets sound to Battell wherein appeared the wonderfull courage of Edwards both Father and Sonne that day the English got the Victory and the French were routed and ruined the King hardly escaped himself and there were found slain about 30000 men the chief whereof were John King of Bohemia Charles Alencon and other chief Nobles 1500. Another loss fell after this Victory upon the Archbishop of Roan who lost about 7000 Souldiers Nor was this the end of their Victories for it went successively in England against the Scots in the Kings absence their King David with the greatest Noble men were taken prisoners and 15000 Souldiers were slain in the fight and the rest were dispersed Nor did the General Thomas Dagovort fight with less good fortune in Britanie for the Countess of Montfort the principal of the French Nobility being taken and killed Edward being more high by so many and great Victories neglecting Amiens and the Town of Abbas he laid siege to Calais that was of great moment and most convenient for the English affairs whilst Lancaster over-ran all Guyan vanquished those of Xanton and Poictiers and being loaded with the spoil he returned to Burdeaux In the mean while Philip going about to relieve those of Calais drew near with his Forces and when he had in vain provoked Edward to Battell having done nothing he returns toward Paris So they of Calais being out of hopes of relief began to treat for Conditions and it was agreed upon on both sides that six of the principall Citizens should come with
nothing on but their shirts with Halters about their necks and submit themselves to King Edward all the rest to have free pardon These though they did most humbly upon their knees crave for pardon yet were condemned to be hanged but at the Queens request they were set at liberty and sent away with money to defray their charges as they went The King and Queen enter the City in Triumph they command the old inhabitants to leave the City and kept the place stocked with English families The French strive to regain by craft what they had lost by Valour for Godfry Charnus the Governour of St Odomar had corrupted with money Almeric Papiensis which Edward had made Captain of Calais to deliver up the City but the matter being disclosed Almeric is called for into England who coming and confessing his fault at last he obtained pardon but upon that condition that he should deceive the French of their expectation and deliver them up to the hands of the English At the time appointed came Charnus and brought the Gold with him he had promised but he was circumvented by Edwards Forces yet he stoutly defended himself and made work enough for Edward and his Sonne both that were present untill all were slain that he brought with him and he with a Cavalier of Ribomantium who had twice dismounted Edward but at last was vanquished by him was taken prisoner But the business succeeded more happily for the English got the Castle of Gnyan by bribing the Governour and so plaid the French the same trick Philip the French King now died leaving his Sonne John Heir of the Kingdom also Humbert Prince of Dauphine died who left the same successour and from that time the first born of the French King is called the Dolphine But when the Treaties of Peace began succeeded not Edward Prince of Wales is sent again into France who over-running Aquitan Septimania Tolonse Narbon Bourges heavy with the spoil came back to Bourdeaux Edward no less on the other part vexed France with new Forces also he set Lancaster to assist the King of Navarre who also Conquered many Castles and Cities wherefore the French man raising what force he could first laies hold on Normandy and recovered many Towns there and had won all the Province unlesse he had been diverted by the insolency of Edward Prince of Wales who came against him but when Edward was too weak for the French Army he soon retreated to Bourdeaux The French followed him and forced him to fight not willing to forbear the hopes he had of the Victory although Legates came from the Pope and submissively desired peace But the Prince of Wales scorning the base conditions sent him by the French namely That he should yield himself and his Army to the mercy of the French made himself ready to fight and making choice of some places that were Vineyards and over-grown with briars that he might avoid the violence of the Horse there he planted his Bow-men who easily troubled the Horsemen that came improvidently to offend them and so began the Battell and following their success they dispersed and routed all the French Army presently King John himself with his younger Sonne Philip and an innumerable Nobility of France were taken prisoners seven thousand were slain amongst whom were many chief Noble men The rest with three Sons of the King escaped by flight The King of France though he were captivated was used with all respect by Prince Edward and when he had wintred with him at Bourdeaux at the beginning of the spring he is brought into England and is entertained richly by King Edward who being content with one Captive King he released David King of Scotland at the request of Queen Joan sister to Edward when he had lived in England eleven years first paying his Ransom that he had promised But by the intercession of some Cardinals there was a Treaty of Peace between both Kings And John being now weary of his stay in England easily yielded to those conditions which Edward propounded But his eldest Sonne the Dolphin Prince and the Counsel of France were not content with them saying they were heavy and unjust Whereupon Edward impatient of delays attempts to make good by Arms that he could not obtain in Peace He leaving the charge of the Kingdom to his younger Sonne Thomas with 1100 Ships and the Flowr of the Nobility of England sails to Calais where he divided his Army into three parts The first Body he trusted with the Prince of Wales the second to Lancaster the third he kept for himself Then over-running Picardy he wan many Towns till he sat down with his Army before the Wals of Paris waiting in vain for the coming of the Dolphin wherefore he retreated toward Lions But in the way he was overtaken with so great a tempest in the year 1360 that being mightily frighted he made a vow to make peace with the French and not long after it was confirmed at Lyons In which conditions the French King was also included with his Sonne and is released from his Captivity and great part of France with a vast summe of Money is granted to Edward but the French King the next year the cause why is not certain came for England and after he had languished long he died there Edward about this time instituted the Order of Knights of the Garter with great solemnity The fame of the Prince of Wales was now spread through the world wherefore if any were oppressed with injury or wronged by their enemies they fled to him for to be their Protector and to revenge their wrongs Amongst the rest Peter King of Castile was restored again to his Kingdom who returned him very small thanks for his labour for Peter refused to pay the Souldiers their wages they deserved The Prince got nothing by it but grief of minde and body if you set aside the fame and glory he acquired of his great vertue The Souldiers in the interim being enraged for lack of their Pay that they might not want necessary provision over-run all the Territories round about and commit rapine in all places where they came whereupon the inhabitants complain to the King of France therefore the French King sets the Prince a day to give an account of this insolence He denied to come unless he came armed with 60000 Souldiers so this controversie brake forth into open Warre and they on both sides take by force many Towns and abundance of men are slain the English for the most part having the best of it conquering the Towns of Burdeaux and Belloperch where they took the Mother of the Duke of Borbon and the Queen of France About this time Philippa Queen of England died yet her death put no stop to the English proceedings in France For the Earl of Pembroke falling upon the people of Aniou wan many Towns and when he endeavoured to take and spoil the French Navy by the industry of the Earl of
business prosperously for the Duke of Burgundy and being highly rewarded they went back for their Country the Warre being as then not ended between the Burgundian and the Duke of Orleans But he knowing that the hearts of the English were therefore set against him requesting their assistance obtained it from King Henry but when there was a scattered report that they were both agreed the auxilliary English staying by the Loyre expected their wages which when they could not obtain they being incensed plundered a Town that was hard by called Bellilocum and the Monastery and after that being called away by the Duke of Clarence they march toward Gasconye for the Duke of Orleans and plunden all as they go along and when the Duke of Orleans had paid them their wages they were pacified and returned for England But Henry now for a good while having ended his Civil Warre and intending an expedition for Palestina preparing a Fleet for that purpose died very suddenly at Westminster when he had reigned about 14 years About the time of his death James Stuart the eldest Sonne of Robert for David was dead whilst he was taking a voyage into France was taken by the English and was brought to London being exceedingly entertained by the King but his Father supposing his Sonne was now lost died for meer grief and sorrow shortly after whom his Brother Robert succeeded in the Throne HENRY the fifth King of England and France Anno 1413. THis King was inaugurated with a wonderfull applause and desire of the Lords and Commons and he not willing to disappoint his subjects of the hope they conceived of him gave presently a sign of his excellent Government sending away from him those ministers of lascivious youth amongst whom he had been formerly bred and least by sluggishness his valiant heart should languish he sets his whole care how to recover his right in France having narrowly looked into it First he sent Heraulds and demanded his Kingdom from King Charles promising to Marry his Daughter and threatning also that if Charles would not do it he would come with an Army and take his Patrimony by force Charles laughed at his Embassadours whereby he so enraged the minde of Henry that he presently mustering a mighty Army with about 1200 Ships he sails into France first he besieged Harflet and in a few daies compelled it to yield Then passing to Somma at the Temple of Maxentius the enemy met him wherefore he pitched his Tents But when he saw the enemy not very greedy to fight he skirmished lightly and so passed on to Callis The French man in the mean time when it came into his minde sent Heraulds to Henry to challenge him to fight who was not unwilling to accept it he dismissed them with rewards and passing over a River presently news came that the enemy was at hand wherefore he hastily makes himself ready for the Battell though he were farre inferiour in forces they presently fall on but Henry joyning industry to his vertue giving such a violent charge that after a terrible fight on both sides he put the French at last to their heels He himself being in the midst of the enemies forces dismounted the Duke of Alenson who was presently slain by the English souldiers they had so many prisoners that they farre exceeded the Conquerours wherefore he commanded to kill them all least they should rise against them that had subdued them There was a wonderfull multitude of Dukes Earls and Lords that were destroyed and not above 600 of the English wanting amongst which one was the Duke of York This Battell was fought at Dagincourt which gave a good omen to great Victories afterwards Henry by this Victory cast such a terrour on the French that Lewis the Dolphin taking grief of minde died shortly after Such was the constancy of Henries heart that he forbad his souldiers on pain of death to sing any scurrilous songs in derogation of the French but rather to sing Psalmes and Hymns to the glory of God In that time Sigismund the Emperour came to England to treat of Peace between the French and the English nor was Henry slow in the business but when the French in the interim besieged Harflet he was so angry that no man afterwards durst mention peace and presently sending the Duke of Bedford to raife the siege with the Earl of Marsh Oxford and other Earls and 200 Ships he fought a bloody Battell at Sea at Harflet Haven with Borbon the French Admiral wherein the English wan the day sinking 500 Ships of the French and so freed the Town But Caesar finding the perfidiousness of the French did not only forbear ever after to make mention of any peace but made a firm League with the English against all opposers and so returned back into Germany The French in the mean time not to be idle hired some great Ships of Genoa and besieging the Haven of Harflet endeavoured to hinder all relief from the Town But the Earl of Huntington coming suddenly upon them after a fierce fight dispersed them and vanquished the rest He took the Duke of Borbon a Bastard and so returned Conquerour for England Then the King with his chief Nobility sailed into Normandy and Conquered the Fort Tucha whilst the Earl of Salisbury wan Albervill which place the King gave freely to him and his heirs After that he wan Caen which City when the Towns men defended with great obstinacy he made mines secretly through which the most forward of the souldiery entred the City the Duke of Clarence leading them on and setting on the Guard put them all to flight and so the whole Army found entrance some of the principall for their perversness were put to death and the plunder of the City was given to the Souldiers The Governour had not yet yielded the Fort but when the King sware he would spare none if they continued resolute at last he gave it up The French in the mean while being in Civil broils all things went with the English as they pleased He sent the Duke of Clarence to besiege the Town of Bayon which he quickly wan whilst he staid at Caen he restored to the people of Lyons a mighty mass of Treasure that was found in the Castle which the frighted people had brought thither upon condition that they should be constant in their obedience for the future This was a pattern of his wonderfull piety Then he removed to Corfen and in three daies won the Town Then he subdued Argentanians after that Alencon then Falesia and so returned Victor to Caen. He had almost the like success at Sea vanquishing many Ships of the enemy but his own Fleet was tossed long in a tempest whilst he strove to sail to South-hampton yet he lost but two Ships In the mean while the Earl of Warwick and Talbot conquer the Castle of Dumfrise and Clarentius mastered Curton and many other Towns Then the King laies siege to Roan and at last
York when his Adversary was dead commands his Followers to abstain from fighting and goes with the King to London Then a Parliament was called and he is freed from all fault and made Protector of the King and Kingdome The Earl of Sarisbury was made Chancellour and Warwick Governour of Callis For procuring which places every one was very watchfull But the Queen not enduring the Authority of York she never left urging Buckingham with the Death of his Son and young Sommerset with the Death of his Father and when she had sufficiently incensed them she goes to Greenwich and there she holds a Councel commanding York and his Confederates to renounce their Places But they refused to do it Then with subtilty mingled with flattery she intercepts them and did all the mischief she could but all in vain yet they least they might give cause of greater troubles retire themselves some to one place some to another But sending Messengers one to another they came all to London with their Forces provided and by the Mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others there was an Act of Oblivion granted for all that had been done and Peace was concluded on both sides and all is confirmed with a solemn Shew of Religion Yet they held not long for occasion being taken from a quarrel that happened between one of the Kings and of the Earl of Warwicks Servants they endeavoured to lay hold on Warwick but he fore-seeing the danger with Post-horse makes haste to York to the Duke and to his Father Earl of Sarisbury whom he acquainted with the business but he going on board the Navy that was ready by the shoar for he was Admiral of the Sea made haste to Callis In the mean time Sarisbbury goes to the King with 5000 souldiers that he might acquaint him with the injury done to his Sonne and of the inveterate hatred of the Queen which was now apparent But Audley who at the command of the Queen and of the Duke of Buckingham had raised an Army of 10000 men went against him and was beaten 2400 were slain the rest fled to save themselves York supposing it was in vain to dally any longer raising an Army with the Earls of Sarisbury and of Warwick he provides for Warre but a Treaty being had between both sides and a pardon granted by the King for all faults many forsook the Dukes and all the Counsels of the Conspirators were detected with which York was brought to desparation and fled with his younger Sonne Earl of Rutland first into Wales then into Ireland When the private souldiers had procured pardon the Earls of Marsh Sarisbury and Warwick took their voyage for Callis but some of the principall were put to death and a Parliament being called they were all convinced and condemned for Treason Also Sommerset at the Queens intercession was made Governour of Callis but when he thought to enter upon his Government he was shot at from the Town and was forced to betake himself to some other place The Queen hearing this began to rage and commanded all the Ships that were in Sandwich-Haven to be fitted for Callis But John Dynham for the Earl of Marsh his sake took them all and with Riverius their Admiral brought them to Callis The Earl of Warwick also sail'd into Ireland to York and consulting with him returned safe for Callis Simon Montfort was Warden of the Cinque-ports and guarded all the Inrodes that Warwick might not come into England but he being admonished of it by the Spies he had fastning upon his Navy not yet ready he plundered Sandwich and brought Simon with a great booty to Callis And when he understood that the Kentish men desired his presence he came the second time to Sandwich where the Lord Cobham with a great multitude of the Nobility joyned with him Wherefore being appointed with an Army of 25000 Men be marched presently to London and possessed himself of the Tower whereby he afterwards did the Londoners a great deal of mischief But hearing that his Father the Earl of Sarisbury was coming on he passed over the Thames and joyned with him The King with the Dukes of Buckingham and Sommerset and a well appointed Army marches against them at Northampton he came in sight of the Enemy The Battel began on both sides and they fought vehemently Humphrey Duke of Buckingham with John Talbot the Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Lord Egremont John Bellomont and others were slain and on one and the other side ten thousand men This was in the year 1460. The Queen escaped with the Duke of Sommerset and his Sonne but the King more mindfull of his prayers than of the Battel was taken and brought prisoner to London Warwick presently got possession of the Tower and Scales the Lieutenant whilest he thought to get away crossing the Thames in a disguise was discovered taken and beheaded The Duke of York receiving Message of this Success leaving Ireland came Post for London where at a solemn meeting he layes open his Right to the Crown of England deriving his Pedigree from Lyonel the third Son of Edward the third the elder brother of John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the fourth the Usurper But he desired not the Kingdom unless his Right were made clear to all men Wherefore a Councel being held the Title of a King is granted to King Henry so long as he lived and York is named to succeed him The Queen all this while mustering an Army in Scotland invades England daily York with his younger Sonne of Rutland and with the Earl of Sarisbury went against her leaving for a Guard to King Henry the Earls of Warwick and Norfolk but he being circumvented by treachery was slain and 3000 of his Souldiers with him nor did she spare the Earl of Rutland a childe of twelve years old though he begged for his life with tears Sarisbury who was taken alive and as many as were taken with him were by the fury of a Woman all beheaded This was the end of Richard Plantaganet Duke of York The Earl of Marsh hearing of his Fathers death managed his business with more vehemency now than before raising an Army of 23000 Men he overcame the Earls of Pembroke and Ormont alive he took Owen Tewdor alive who had married Katharine Mother to Henry the sixth and chopped off his Head But the Queen insulting at the death of the Duke of York marched toward London with her Forces and was met by the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick who durst have given her Battel but by the treachery of their followers that forsook them they were forced to flie for to save themselves King Henry by that Victory came again into the Queens Power But in the mean time Edward Earl of Marsh by the general Vote of all Orders was crowned King according as it was enacted in Parliament and gathering a great Army at Tanton he met the King and the Queen and joyning Battel with them he
overcame their Forces the most valiant fell in the fight the rest fled to save their lives The King and Queen escaped into Scotland leaving the Kingdom to Edward the fourth of that Name EDWARD the fourth King of England and France Anno 1461. EDWARD having got the Crown at last could not peaceably enjoy it For Henry that had fled into Scotland by the assistance of the Scots makes a new Warre upon him Edward meets him with equal Forces and fought him at Exham putting Henry and his Souldiers to their heels thirty thousand men were slain on both sides Edward giving the Command to spare none The Duke of Sommerset who formerly had fallen from Henry to Edward despairing of the success presently changed his minde at the report of so great an Army and revolted to Henry was taken and beheaded Henry again retires for Scotland waiting for another opportunity for his busines But afterwards returning for England in a disguise he was taken by the English and delivered up to Edward and by him that the state of the Kingdom might be the more quiet he was cast into prison In the mean time Edward took care of his houshold affairs and he married his Sister Margaret to Philip Duke of Burgundies Sonne Charles the Earl of Warwick being not a little mad at it who hated Burgundy worse than the plague whence and from other causes a grievous quarrel rose between them For Warwick hating the King drew to his faction his Brothers the Archbishop of York and the Marquess Montacute by a set speech and after that George Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother marrying his Sister to him and with the Duke he takes his voyage toward Callis for he was yet Governour of the City giving order to his Brothers in his absence to raise Tumults in Yorkshire They carefully observed what they had in charge and quickly causing a Tumult the common people as it usually happens in a blinde rage though they be raised against the innocent march to London armed that there they might seek for remedy of mischiefs they knew not what Edward hearing of this sedition sends William Herbert Earl of Pembroke hoping to subdue the people who was no sooner come but they put him to flight In the mean while Warwick upon this rumour with the Duke of Clarence arrived in England from Callis and so with joynt Forces they provide for another Battel Edward no way dismayed with the first loss sends Pembroke again with a new Army to fight them But when they fought his Army was beaten and he was taken prisoner and he was beheaded at Warwick with the other Nobility that fell into their hands Then there was a Treaty of Peace and Messengers being sent on both parts the King being animated with hopes of Agreement dealt the more securely which Warwick was not ignorant of and therefore falling upon the Kings Tents at night killing the Guard he takes the King prisoner who never dreamt of it and sends him first to Warwick then into Yorkshire to Middleham Castle to be secured But the King flattering the Keepers and bribing them with money by their connivance shortly came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an Army by the assistance of Hastings he came safe to London Then there began a Treaty at London for Peace whither Warwick and the Duke of Clarence were come but this had no effect For they being stomackfull and very furious the matter could not come so farre as Peace wherefore all being left undone they depart and Warwick musters new Forces of which he makes Robert Wells sonne to Richard Commander in Chief But the King when he found he must engage again in Battel besides his expectation sent for Roberts Father Richard and his Kinsman Thomas Dimoke Knight to come to him who came upon the Kings promise of free Conduct The King commanded them to call off Robert from taking Arms and mustering Forces suddenly he goes against them with Thomas and Richard and when they were come to the Enemy and found that Robert would not hearken to his Fathers admonitions but held up his Arms still he contrary to his promise a most wicked example causeth both the Father and Kinsman to lose their Heads They fell to fighting and Roberts Forces were discomfited he himself was taken alive and immediately was beheaded Warwick at the news hereof with the Duke not knowing what course to steerâ— presently sailed into France to King Lewis who entertained him magnificently Queen Margaret Wife to Henry came also presently with Prince Edward who took counsel together and made a Covenant between the King the Earl and the Queen Edward in vain dehorting from it and Warwicks Daughter was betrothed to Edward and promise made on both sides that they would never cease untill the Kingdom should be restored either to Henry or to Edward his Sonne A mighty Army is raised and a vast Fleet rode at Anchor in the mouth of the Sienna Warwick invited by Letters from his friends with part of his Army and a Navy prepared with the Earls of Oxford and Pembroke came safe to Dartmouth The Queen who was not yet ready was to follow when she heard good news though the Duke of Burgundy observed his motion So soon as he was landed and it was published that he was arrived 't is wonderfull what multitudes of people ran to him with which being fortified he presently moves toward London But Edward not expecting an Enemy and leaving the care of raising Forces till another time with his Brother Richard Duke of Glocester took shipping at Lyn a Sea Town and sailed into Flanders to Charles of Burgundy to his own great disadvantage Queen Elizaboth being near to her travell fled to Westminster and made that her Asylum where she was deliverd of her Sonne Edward Warwick in the interim without any opposition came to London and marching to the Tower set King Henry at liberty and clothing him in his Kingly Ornaments attending him through the midst of London to St Pauls Church after thanks given to God he sets him in his Throne Then a Parliament was called and all King Henry had Enacted was ratified and the Acts of King Edward were maid void Edward with his followers was banished as an enemy of the Kingdom Edward in the mean time nothing dismay'd at this change raising an Army by the help of Charles of 12000 Men and with 18 Ships landed in Yorkshire His Army was so small that he durst attempt nothing only sent to perswade the people there but all in vain for they either by fear or for respect to Warwick would not falsifie their promise but when he gave out that he was come not for the Kingdom but to recover his Patrimony the Dukedom of York many running to him he grew somewhat stronger and so goes to York But the Towns men being warned by Letters from Warwick would not let Edward come in He spake fairly to the Citizens and desired
alive he writ Letters to the Lieutenant of the Tower Robert Brakenbury that so soon as he could by any means he should destroy the young King Edward and his Brother in the Tower when he refused and delayed he gave that charge to James Tyrel who coming to London in great poverty he stifled the young children cafting pillars upon them The childrens death was divulged Richard not being against it it is wonderfull how great amazement seized on the minds of all men every one lamented the unhappiness of the children and pitied them and they began to speak what hopes they had of him who spared not his own near kindred but shed their blood to say nothing of the Mother and her Daughters Certainly immortall God who will not suffer great sins to go unpunished revenged on the innocent Children the perjury of their Father committed at York and the death of the Duke of Clarence whom he wickedly murdered But the Duke of Buckingham who had taken such pains for Richard began now to detest his horrid wickedness and sell away from him took counsell with the Bishop of Ely who was committed to his custody how to restore Henry Earl of Richmond to whom the Kingdom of right belonged next unto for that he descended from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his great Grandfather and to root out Richard a monster of men These therefore disclosed their business to others they presently send away Hugh Conway and Thomas Ranmey into Brittany who should acquaint the Earl of the combination and he should impart it to the Duke of Brittany The Duke though he were much importuned by Richards Letters to keep Henry in prison promised assistance Richard in the mean time who had notice of the consultations of Buckingham sent for him again and again to come unto him but when he refused to come they fall to their Arms on both sides The Duke mustering presently some Welsh forces and others came to Glocester over the River to meet Richard that had a mighty Army with him But the souldiers which he had procured voluntarily rather than for their pay were not very firm but ran from him before he came in sight of the enemy The Duke was now almost left all alone only his Lacky remained with him who was forced to fly to shift for himself and went to Humphrey Baunisters he unmindfull of all former favours delivered him afterwards to Richard who cut off his Head When this was commonly reported all the Conspiratours ran one one way and another another way some to places of refuge some to the Duke of Brittany to the Earl Richard had heard in the mean time that the Duke did not only not hurt the Earl but had resolved to assist him wherefore he presently provides a Fleet that if perhaps the Earl should come he might repulse him every where from the English coasts Henry in the mean time with 40 Ships and 5000 Brittains sailed for England but a tempest arose and scattered his Ships and he almost was quit of all his Forces and was driven to Cornwall where coming on Land when he saw a great Army he retreated to his Shipping again weighed Anchor and saild to Sea And being very pensive when he heard of Buckinghams death void of all counsell he returned again to Brittany in France But by the coming of the Nobility he took heart once more and promised before the Altar to marry Elizabeth Edwards Daughter if the business should succeed to his minde and so afresh an Oath of fidelity was taken by them all Richard in the mean time did rage fiercely against all those that followed the Earl wheresoever he could lay hold on them Thomas Earl of Dorset who had fled to him was banished both by Sea and Land Also he made a Covenant with the Scotch King and confirmed it giving his Sister Anne to the Scotch Kings Sonne Richard in the interim laies new traps for Earl Henry by corrupting the Dukes Treasurer with money But he escaped them the matter being detected by Bishop Morton When the fraud was known to the Duke himself he was so enraged against the Treasurer that he caused this wicked man for that and other wicked deeds to be hanged The Earl Henry was now come into France where the Earl of Oxford escaped from his imprisonment came and joyned with him and promised his faithfull endeavour in all affairs To whom some Noble men that studied at Paris came to assist willingly offering their aid amongst whom was Richard Fox the famousest Scholar in those daies whom the Earl took to be of his Privy-Counsell and when he had gaind the Kingdom afterwards he made him Bâ—shop of Winchester But Richard to hinder Earl Henry's Marriage with Elizabeth partly by flattery partly by fear partly by promises he prevailed so farre with Queen Elizabeth that she should entrust her Daughters with him and should write her Letters to her Sonne the Marquess of Dorset who was near to Earl Henry whereby she should command him to return home without delay leaving the Earls society That all things were now pacified and that her family was received into the Kings favour Richard all this while having gotten the Queens Daughters that he might totally destroy the intention of Henry he thought himself to marry Elizabeth his Brothers Daughter his former Wife also was yet alive But she also when other projects would not suit was taken privately away by poyson In the mean while he tries all means to win Elizabeth to affect him and if he could not obtain her he was resolved to joyn violence to his prayers But he was so much urged with care and forraign fear that he had no time for lust to shew it self In the interim Stanley had a command to Muster an Army but he must not go forth before he had given unto Richard for a pawn and pledge of his fidelity his eldest Sonne the Lord Strange A fame was also spread on purpose that Henry had implored help from the French in vain and that there was no fear of his coming Richard dealt something carelesly and unwisely discharging the Navy he had sent to scour the English Coasts Henry was advertised how things stood and arrived in England with but 2000 souldiers in pay Presently Rice Thomas and John Savage two the most Potent men in Wales having collected some Forces came to joyn with Henry Pembroke with some others did the like Stanley though he wished well yet fearing least his Sonne should be miserably tortured by the King delayed his intention untill some other opportunity Richard all this time was wonderfull sluggish and careless but when he heard of the revolt of his subjects he raised what men he could scrape up and went against Henry He pitched his Tent at Bosworth field when he saw the enemy intended to fight he also made ready his men At last they fall on and fought a sharp Battell on both sides But Stanlâ—y who came later in the heat
stood for a Divorce of Queen Katharine The Pope in the mean time gave his Judgement for Katharine But Henry who had now Divorced Katharine by the Authority of many Divines and of those at Paris who were as it is supposed corrupted by money married Anne of Boloyne privately and being thereupon angry with the Pope he abolished all his Power over the English Church making it high Treason for any man to preferre the Popes Authority before the Kings or should pay Tribute to him which he had no right unto and caused them to be denied unto him for the future and made it a penalty for their life if any man should maintain the Pope to be the supream Head Then he made all the Churches of England and Ireland take an Oath to him that they should acknowledge him to be Head of the Church next under Christ The Discipline was thus changed but nothing in the Doctrine which he confirmed by a Synod called at London For he put to death many of those that followed Luther and Swinglius So Henry behaved himself in the rest of his life that had the Popes not been unjust against him he would willingly have submitted himself under their power The Pope being offended that he had lost his Authority sending out his Writings or Bull as they called it he Excommunicated Henry King of England but when it was known that it was procured by Queen Katharine it was the less regarded and she shortly after being deprived of friends lost her life for her contumacy In the mean time Sir Thomas More once Chancellour of England and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester who both refused to take the Oath of the Kings Supremacy lost their Heads Henry now using his own Authority invaded the goods of the Church and expelled the Monks out of their Monasteries Nor was he content with that but he cut off the Heads of his second Wife Anne of Boloyne Daughter to Thomas Bolen Earl of Wilshire accusing her for Incest and Adultery together with the Lord Rochsfort her Brother and others that were of the Kings Bed-Chamber Then he married Jane Semare who died afterwards in Childe-birth of Edward the sixth of that name who succeeded King Then he Divorced from him Anne of Cleve newly married and for her sake he beheaded Thomas Cromwell who made the match who was risen from a mean estate to a vast power by the success of Fortune Also Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk had his Head chopt off being charged of Treason because he had privily married Margaret Daughter to the King of Scots and Henries Neece Margaret was first detained then she was set free after that she was married to Matthew Earl of Leven King James his Grandfather In the mean time seditions arose in the North parts of England here and there by reason of the change made of Church Ceremonies some were punished for it some were sent home and some were subdued by force of Arms the troubles were happily asswaged yet not without some danger for it was a matter of great concernment to keep all quiet under new customs Henry now married his fifth Wife Katharine Howard but her he beheaded shortly after with the Lord of Rochsfort condemning her for Lasciviousness At that time Henry had the Title of King of Ireland when as before he was called only Lord of it In the interim Arthur Plantagenet bastard to Edward the fourth is accused of Treason but when he was proved not guilty he was received into the Kings favour but Arthur took so much joy at it that he died the next night of meer rejoycing The Scotch now entring the Frontiers of England and spoiling them compell Henry to take Arms who sent the Duke of Norfolk with an Army into Scotland who ruined many Villages and Houses and not seeing any enemy he returned to Barwick The Scot would not suffer this violence to be unrevenged but musters an Army suddenly and fals into England but his men being scattered and killed the Scot fell into such grief of minde and then into a Feaver that he quickly died of it leaving Mary Stewart his Daughter but eight daies old Heir of the Kingdom Henry to put an end to so great dissentions by the union of these two Nations dealt with the captive Lords to Espouse this Inheritrix of Scotland to his Son Edward who were set at liberty to press the business But by the mediation of the Cardinal of St Andrews this Treaty was made void the Daughter being married to the Dolphin Henry was enraged at this and sent a valiant Army into Scotland and burnt Leeth which pacified his wrath Then he made peace with Charles the fifth the Emperour and he married his sixth Wife Katharine Latimers Widow who was brought in danger of her life upon suspition of the change of her Religion but by her prudence and humility she escaped Now Henry by his Covenant with the Emperour proclaims Warre against the French King and sent an Army unto Callis under the command of John Wallop which joyning with the Forces of Charles besieged the City Landreice But the French making shew of a Battell called the Emperour off from the siege and when he had brought provision into the City he retreated having deluded Charles Then Henry mustering a mighty force sails himself into France and besieging Bononia won the place In the mean time the English Ships which they had taken from the French are filled with provision at London but the English had bad success in their fight in Scotland and Henries men were vanquished by which Victory and new forces they had recruited themselves with from France the Scots grew insolent and invade England But the English by the good success of the Earl of Hereford destroyed an innumerable company of Villages in Scotland and returned home Conquerours though otherwise they sustained a mighty loss by the Scots The Admirall of England with a Fleet did mischief on the coasts of Normandy and destroyed a multitude of the enemy but shortly after there was a Treaty made between the French and the English and the conditions of agreement were that the French should redeem Bononia with eight hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Henry Earl of Surrey his Son are accused of Treason because they had engraven something in their Coats of Arms that seemed to be peculiar to the King and though they did defend their Titles very abundantly yet the Earl lost his Head But the Duke was kept in prison till the Reign of Queen Mary Henry died about this time in the year 1547 when he had reigned 38 years and was 56 years old He was a Prince adorned with all gifts of Nature and in whom had he not too much loved his pleasure there was no defect He was a great favourer of Learning EDWARD the sixth King of England France and Ireland Anno 1547. HENRY dying left his Sonne Edward born of Seymer by his Will to succeed him
eighteen Moneths the English murmuring and the Queen lamenting for his absence Thomas Stafford at that time was instigated by the French to make Warre against the Queen and landing in England with an Army he wan the Castle of York but he was soon conquer'd and taken by the Earl of Westmerland he was then beheaded at London and his followers were hanged The Queen though it were against the Articles agreed upon put her finger in to assist her Husband and sent an Army under the Command of Pembroke to assist him to beleaguer St Quintius The French attempting to relieve the place with victuals were forced to fight and they were beaten and the chief of their Nobility were taken amongst whom were the Dukes of Momorancy Mompensier and Longovill John Borbon Duke of Anion was killed whereupon the City yeelded This Victory was imputed chiefly to the English but it was recompensed with a greater loss for Callis having more Forces drawn out of it then could be spared was assaulted by the Duke of Guise who would not let such an opportunity slip and being repulsed he came valiantly on again so long untill it was forced to yeeld after this City had been in the hands of the English two hundred years Guyna followed this though it were gallantly maintain'd by the besieged and so the English were thrust forth of all France The Queen was wonderfull grieved for the loss of Callis she sent a great Fleet and burnt some Villages but had small comfort for her great loss Peace then was confirmed between both Crowns but Mary sought not for it who took such grief of minde for the loss of Callis and was so weak of body by reason of her Dropsie that she ended her dayes in the year of our Lord 1558. the fifth year of her Raign and the three and fourtieth year of her Life ELIZABETH Queen of England France and Ireland Anno 1558. ELIZABETH Daughter to Henry the eight by Anne of Bullen succeeded her Sister Mary being raised to the Throne from the Prison By her Coronation the Papal Authority fell again the second time All the Ceremonies Mary had brought in she abolished and Reformed all according to the Rule of her Brother Edward Being she was of a flourishing age and had a most flourishing Kingdom it could not be but she should be sought unto by many Lovers that were at emulation for her For at once Maximilian the Emperour the Kings of Spain and Sweden the Arch-Duke of Austria and the Duke of Angirrs sent to wooe here but they were all put by First because the Queen would not marry for at her Inauguration the Condition was That she should marry no stranger whereby there was hopes left to the Natives for so great a Match The French and Scotch they hoped to prevail much by reason of her tender years being also she was a woman whereupon they invade and spoil the English Frontiers for Mary Stuart Daughter to James the fifth had married to Francis the second King of France and the French King pleaded his Right thereupon to the Crown of England because his Wife was allied to Henry the seventh and Elizabeth was born by a second venter Henry the eighth his first Wife being alive and so was accounted as a bastard by her Enemies But Elizabeth to win the Love of her Neighbours lent help to the Subjects of Scotland who by the malice of the Guisians were extreamly afflicted and the business was drawn to this head that Peace was ratified between Elizabeth the Scotch and the French and all the Roman Catholicks that nesled in Scotland were commanded to be gone and the English Colours that the Frenchman had taken up wrongfully were wrested from him Mary when Francis was dead returned for Scotland and made a firm Agreement with Elizabeth untill such time as Envy and Ambition growing up the Agreement was violated by the ruine of one of them and their Sister-like Concord was dissolved For Mary her second Husband she was married to was Henry Darley Kinsman to the Stuarts and one that was the most beautifull amongst Princes who being afterwards slain as 't is supposed by Feminine fraud she fell into the hatred of all her Subjects and when after that in spite of the Nobility she made Bothwill partaker of her bed and for his cause made Warre upon her Subjects she fell into all misery and being captivated she was kept so a long time but at length she made her escape and fled into England to Elizabeth who received this miserable woman in her Arms. She was at first liberally entertained but after when she began to move Dissention in England where she was entertained being a most bitter enemy to those of the Reformed Religion she was kept more narrowly For eighteen years she was held in prison sometimes with more sometimes less liberty untill such time as she grew fierce by reason of her Captivity and to riot in hopes of the Kingdom laying snares for the Queens Life for that cause at the request of the several Orders of England she was beheaded Also the Duke of Suffolk who had secretly gone about to obtain Mary for his Wife was put to the same death before her Elizabeth in the mean while sent assistance to those of the reformed Religion in France that were in trouble and for a pledge the strongest City in France Haver de Grace was delivered up to her but when she refused to quit it again the French King laid siege to it and wan it from her At that time a sharp Dissention sprang up between Philip the second and the Low-Countreys which grew to a Warre and Elizabeth led by the affinity of the Religion and the nearness of those Countreys assisted the United Provinces with Men and Money For Leicester was sent with Forces into Holland but when he exceeded his Commission and arrogated too much power to himself and by fraud attempted to make himself Master of the principal Towns he lost the States good-will and returned without honour into England The Queen for this assistance was hated by the Spaniard who had privately before laid snaret for her life but now he breaks forth into open Warre For he raised a mighty Fleet both in Spain and in the Low-Countreys it being the best Navy for provision of men and munition that ever the Ocean bare and carried the presumptuous Title of Invincible it consisted of one hundred and thirty Ships in which were nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety Souldiers eight thousand three and fifty Mariners two thousand and eighty Gally-slaves two thousand six hundred and thirty great Ordnance and the 19th of July 1588. they came within sight of England and was in hopes to devour it But by the valour of the English and the Dutch the Fleet was partly hindred partly worsted but especially by a Tempest that rose against it the Spaniard was disappointed of his hopes From that time they break forth on both sides into a fiery
from Heaven For hiring a Cellar under the Parliament-House be laid in a vast deal of Gun-pouder which he purposed to set fire to and so to blow up at once all the Parliament-House together with the King the Prince and all the Nobility but the matter was discovered by the importunate care of the Conspirators who gave warning of the danger to the Lord Mounteagle Sonne to the Lord Morlay a Member of the Parliament and one that they loved very well In this Vault there were found terrible Instruments of this damned wickedness that a man would wonder at which were presently taken away Then the Conspirators were executed Catesbey with his companions John and Christopher Wright and Thomas Pierce flying to his Arms was killed with a shot others were taken and executed Amongst whom was Everard Digbey who was unwillingly drawn into this Conspiracy for otherwise he was a man of excellent parts And thus that hainous wickedness that had troubled the devils themselves was purged away In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by John Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors were punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King James his Daughter The Marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were over-shadowed with clouds of sorrow for on the sixth day of November 1612 Prince Henry departed this life Various reports were spread abroad by the vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physicians gave it under their hands that he died of a violent malignant Feaver Charles the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principality of Wales About this time that Gallant and Noble Spirit Sr Walter Rawlrigh after fourteen yeares imprisonment made addresses to the King to get leave to visit the New-found-World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that Service his Reputation and Merit caused many Gentlemen of quality to venture their Estates and Persons on the Design Many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but more especially that of the taking and burning St Thomes Information being sent to Gendimer who was Embassadour here in England never rested assaulting the King with importunity for reparation Rawleigh no sooner comes a shore at Plimouth but he had secret information and did endeavour to get from thence in a Bark for Rotchell but being apprehended by Sr Lewis Stukly he is brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondimer that looked upon him as a man that had not only high abilities but animosity to do his Master mischief being one of those scourges that Queen Elizabeth had made use of to afflict the Spaniards Having now gotten him in the Trap he laid his Bâ—its about the King In October he was brought to the Kings Bench-barre at Westminster before the Lord Chief-Justice where the Records of his arraignment at Winchester were opened and he demanded why the judgement should not be put in execution Ralwrigh replied that Judgement was void by the Kingâ— Commission for his late expedition The Lord Chief-Justice replied the opinion of the Court was to the contrary He required time to prepare for death but it was answered the appointed time was the next morning Accordingly on the morrow he lost his Head on a Scafford in the Palace-yard The Earl of Buckingham as great in Title as favour was now grown a Marquess and lying in the Kings bosom every man paid tribute to his smile Worcester and Nottingham are taken off for him to be Master of the Horse and Admirall of England Queen Anne about that time fell sick and died She was a Queen to be had in everlasting memory for her Noble Vertues The King also fell sick but by Gods affistance he recovered The Palsegrave in the mean time who had married Elizabeth by the prompting forward of some of the German Princes was chosen King of Bohemia The Emperour was wonderfully enraged at this Election and proclaimed Warre against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterwards out of all Germany who in Holland the common refuge for all wretched people found a bountifull and safe entertainment But James that he might help his Sonne in Law made a motion for a Marriage of his Son Charles and the Spaniards Daughter Charles is sent into Spain through France by Land where he saw upon his journey Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth He was received in Spain in outward appearance magnificently but a dissention arising between the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivares the principall Don of the Spanish Court the Treaty for the Marriage was drawn out at langth but Charles being impatient of delays was called home again by his Father and arrived safe in England and afterwards he married Mary whom he had affectionately beheld in France What remains to be spoken of King James is either scarce worth recording or not so consonant to the truth He died at last of a disease of the Spleen though there were false reports spread abroad that he was poysoned when he had reigned twenty two years and was fifty nine years of age in the year 1625. He was a true Platonick Prince a Husband worthy of his Wife an honest Father to his Children a good King to his Subjects because he was a Prince he was the Most Learned and he was the Best Prince by reason of his Learning When this King reigned the English Plantations were setled in the Indies as in Virginy which Country Sr Walter Rawleigh first discovered and in the Barmudoes whither an infinite multitude of inhabitants presently resorted building publick and private houses and made a Commonwealth The same was done by others in New-England to the great comfort of such as were distressed and fled thither CHARLES the first King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1625. CHARLES the first succeeded his Father being twenty five yeares of age The first design he had was to marry Henrietta Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France as he purposed before who landed in England the 22 day of April and was received magnificently Then a Navy was prepared against the Spaniard for all friendship was grown stale between these two Kings by reason of the breach of the Marriage and the business of the Palatinate he joyned with the Ships of Holland and sent away toward Spain and first assaulting Cades and not prevailing they set up sail to Sea and spoyling all the Spanish Vessels they met they return for England Now a Covenant was made between the English and the United Provinces and they resolved with joynt Forces to tire out the Spaxiard but Charles whose Exchequer was empted by reason of his great Expence of his Spanish Voyage and setting forth of his Navy was forced to call a Parliament but Buckingham the Kings chief Minister of State and most dear unto him had