Sir Edward Sherburne Kt. Storekeeper W. Bridges Esq Keeper of the Records in the Tower Sir Alg. May. Kt. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Wards whereunto each long Above the Chair Sir Henry Tulse Kt. Lord Mayor Breadstreet Sir W. Turner Castle Baynard Sir W. Hooker Cornhil Sir Robert Vyn r. Langborn Sir J. Edwards Candlewick Sir John Moor. Walbrook Sir W. Pritchard Bridge without Below the Chair Sir Ja. Smith Portsoken Sir R. Jefferies Cordwainer Sir W. Rawstern Limestreet Sir J. Peake Billingsgate Sir T. Beckford Aldgate Sir J. Chapman Towerstreet Sir Si. Lewis Bassishaw Sir Jo. Reymond Bishopsgate Sir Dud. North. Faringdon without Pet Rich Esq Aldersgate Sir P. Daniel Sheriff Bridge within Sa. Dashwood Esq Sheriff Cheapside Sir B. Bathurst Cripplegate Sir J. Buckworth Colemanstr Sir Ben. Newland Vintry Jacob Lucy Esq Dowgate Ch. Duncomb Esq Broadstreet Pet. Paravicini Esq Queenhith B. Thorogood Esq Faringdon within Recorder Sir Tho. Jenner Chamberlain Mr. Ailworth Com. Serjeant H. Crisp Esq Townclerk W. Wagstaff Esq Vicechamberl J. Lane Esq The Colonels of the Six Regiments of the Trained Bands of London The Red Sir R. Vyner Green Sir Ja. Edwards Yellow Sir John Moor. Blue Sir Will. Pritchard Orange Sir Ja. Smith White Sir John Peake Post master of England E. of Arlington and under his Lordsh P. Froud Esq His Majesties Lieutenants of the several Counties of England Berks Duke of Norfolk Bucks Earl of Bridgwater Bedford Earl of Ailsbury Bristol Duke of Beaufort Cheshire Earl of Derby Cumberland E. of Caâ—lisle Cambridge Lord Alington Cornwal Earl of Bath Devon Duke of Albemâ—rle Dorset Earl of Bristol Derby Earl of Devon Durham L. Bish of Durham Essex Duke of Albemarle Glocester Duke of Beaufort Hereford Duke of Beaufort Hertford E. of Bridgwater Huntingdon E. of Ailsbury Hampsh E. of Gainsborough Kent Earl of Winchelsea Lancashire Earl of Derby Leicester Earl of Rutland London L Mayor and the Lieutenancy Lincoln Earl of Lindsey Monmouth D. of Beaufort Middlesex and Southwark Earl of Craven Norfolk Duke of Norfolk Northampt. E. Peterborough Northumberl D. Newcastle Nottingham D. Newcastle Oxford Earl of Abingdon Purbeck Isle D. of Beaufort Rutland E. of Gainsborough Suffolk Earl of Arlington Surrey Duke of Norfolk Shropshire Visc Newport Stafford Earl of Shrewsbury Somerset D. of Somerset Sussex Earl of Dorset To wer Hamlets L. Alington Worcester E. of Plymouth Warwick E. of Sunderland Wilts Earl of Pembroke Westmorland E. Carlisle North and South-Wales Duke of Beaufort East Rid. York D. Somerset West Rid. E. of Burlington North Rid. V. Faulconbridge Vnder these are Deputy-Lieutenants who are most of the Principal Gentlemen of each County The Officers of His Majesties three Troops of Horse Guards The Kings Troop Captain Duke of Albemarle Lieutenants Aston Esq Edw. Villiers Esq Edw. Griffin Esq Cornet Sir Walter Clerges Guidon Major Binns The Queens Troop Captain Sir Philip Howard Lieutenants Sir Geo. Hewit Sir John Fenwick Cornet Charles Orby Esq Guidon Ph. Darcy Esq His Royal Highness's Troop Captain Earl of Feversham Lieutenants Colo. Worden Colonel Oglethorp Cornet Philip Darcy Esq Guidon Major Edm. Meine The Kings Regiment of Horse under the Earl of Oxford Lieut. Col. Aubrey E. Oxford Major Sir Francis Compton The Foot Guards The Kings Regiment Colonel Duke of Grafton Lieut. Col. John Strode Esq Major William Eyton Esq The Coldstream Regiment Colonel Earl of Craven Lieut. Col. E. Sackville Esq Major John Huitson Esq His Royal Highness's Regiment Colonel Sir Ch. Littleton Lieut. Col. Ol. Nicholas Esq Major Richard Baggot Esq The Holland Regiment Colonel Earl of Mulgrave Lieut. Col. Sir Tho. Ogle Major Windram Esq Governors of Countries Islands Cities Towns Forts and Garrisons Barbadoes Sir Ric. Dutton Bermudos Sir Hen. Heydon Berwick D. of Newcastle Carlisle Lord Morpeth Chepstow Duke of Beaufort Chester Sir Geof Shakerley Dover and Cinque-Ports Col. John Strode Gravesend and Tilbury Sackville Tufton Esq Guernsey Visc Hatton Holy Island Sir J. Fenwick Hull Earl of Plymouth Hurst Castle Ireland Duke of Ormond Jersey Island Sir J. Lanier Jamaica Sir Tho. Lynch Languard Fort Sir R. Manly Leeward Islands Sir Will. Stapleton St. Maws Sir Jos Iredenham Maryland Lord Baltimore New Engl. H. Cranfield Esq New York Col. Dungan Pensylvania Mr. Will. Penn. Pendennis Cast L. Arundel Plymouth and St. Nicholas Island Earl of Bath Portsmouth E. Gainsborough Sandown Cast Sir A. Jacob. Sherness Sir Cha. Littleton Scilly Isâ— Godolphin Esq Scarborough Cast Sir Tho. Slingsby Surat Jo Child Esq Presid Tinmouth Sir Ed. Villiers Virginia L. Howard of Effin Upnor Cast R. Minors Esq Isle of Wight Sir R. Holmes Windsor Castle Constable Duke of Norfolk General Officers Commissary General of the Musters H. Howard Esq Pay-master Gen C. Fox Esq Secretary at War William Blathwayte Esq Judge Advocate Clarke Esq His Majesties Consuls in several Parts of the World Alicant Tho. Jefferies Esq Alexandria Mr. Browers Aleppo Mr. G. Nightingale Argiers Mr. Sam. Martin Bayon Mr. Jo. Westcomb Barcelona Seignior de Roca Cadiz Sir Martin Westcomb Canaries Mr. Rich. Owen Carthagena Mr. Hen. Petit. Cyprus Mr. Sauvaâ— Genoa Mr. John Kirk Lisbon Tho. Maynard Esq Legorn Sir Tho. Dâ—reham Maâ—aga Jam. Pendarvis Esq Marseilles Mr. Rob. Lang. Messina Mr. Ch. Ball. Naples Mr. Geo. Davies St. Sebastian Mr. Morgan Sevil Tho. Rumbold Esq Smyrna Mr. Will. Raye Tunis Mr. Fr. Baker Tripoly Mr. Rich. Baker Venice Mr. Jo. Hobson Zant Mr. Pendarvis The Names of the Nobility Lords Spiritual and Temporal Knights of the Garter and Deans of the Kingdom of England 1684. Dukes and Dutchesses James D. of York and Albany onely Brother to His Sacred Majesty Henry Howard D of Norfolk Cha. Seymour D. of Somerset Geo Villiers D. of Buckingham Chr. Monck D. of Albemarle Jam. Scot D. of Monmouth H. Cavendish D of Newcastle Barbara D. of Cleveland Lovisa de Querovalle D. of Portsmouth Cha. Lenos D. of Richmond Ch. Fitz Roy D of Southampt Hen. Fitz Roy D. of Grafton James Butler D. of Ormond Hen. Somerset D. of Beaufort Geo Fitz Roy D. Northumberl Ch. Beauclaire D. St. Albans Marquesses Cha. Paulet M. of Winchester Geo. Saville M. of Hallifax Earls and Countesses Aubrey de Vere E. of Oxford Cha. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey E. of Kent Will. Stanley E. of Derby John Manners E. of Rutland Th. Hastings E. of Huntingd. Will. Russel E. of Bedford Tho. Herbert E. of Pembroke Edw. Clinton E. of Lincoln James Howard E. of Suffolk Charles Sackville E. of Dorset and Middlesex James Cecil E. of Salisbury John Cecil E. of Exeter Jo. Egerton E. of Bridgwater Phil. Sidney E. of Leicester Geo. Compton E. of Northampt. Edw. Rich E. of Warwick and Holland W. Cavendish E. of Devonsh Wil Fielding E. of Denbigh John Digby E. of Bristol Gilb. Holles E. of Clare Ol. St. John E. of Bolingbroke Cha. Fane E. of Westmorland C. Mountague E. of Manchest Tho. Howard E. of Berkshire Jo. Sheffield E. of Mulgrave Tho. Savage E. of Rivers
discovered his anger against the Lords who had forced his consent to their Banishment which he made appear upon this occasion The younger Spencer having got a few Ships together robbed and pillaged the Merchants of England and all other Nations in the Narrow Seas upon which they Petitioned that a Fleet might be set out to seize and Execute him as a Pyrate and notorious Thief the King smiled seeming to rejoyce thereat and instead of punishing him pardoned them both recalled them from Banishment to despight the Barons and raised them to higher Honour and Offices than before The Lords inraged hereat especially since the Spencers affronted them openly upon all occasions they resolved on revenge and to that purpose immediately raise a strong Army and take the Field and the King with the two Spencers and some other of the Nobles did the like and many sharp encounters passed between them the Lords forgetting they undutifully fought against their Soveraign and the King that his Cruelty had compelled them to take Arms In the end when many of the Barons and thousands of their adherents were slain they fled and were pursued by the King who took the Earls of Lancaster Hereford and many other Lords two and twenty of whom were beheaded in diverse parts of the Realm to the great terror of the People This success made the Spencers yet more insolent so that now they made their Will a Law in all things and presuming that all would be done they desired they persuaded the King to call a Parliament at York in which he created his eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitan Old Hugh Spencer was made Earl of Winchester and Sir Andrew Harkly who was very active against the Lords Earl of Carlisle he likewise exacted the sixth penny of all Mens Estates in England Wales and Ireland whereat the People grievously complained alledging that they were quite impoverished by Famine and Dearth but especially by reason of the disorders in the Government The Scots having notice that K. Edward resolved to revenge the wrongs committed against his Subjects under Robert Bruce their usurping King to divert him invaded Ireland with strong Force but the King being forewarned had sufficiently provided against their landing so that most of them were slain and the rest forced to fly to their Ships and return shamefully home The King now thinking himself invincible marches with a brave Army into Scotland where the Scots being well-armed and many thousands in number pretended to give him Battel when they intended nothing less for as Edward approached they withdrew into the Woods Forrests and Mountains whereby the English Army were soon extreamly distressed by Storms Rain Frost Snow and Hail and likewise with want of Provisions which caused great Mortality so that without performing any thing Honourable he began to retire which the Scots perceiving they pursued him with all cruelty and violence and falling upon his Army forced the King to save himself by flight and leave behind him his Treasure Ordinance and Provisions This disaster happened by the treachery of Sir Andrew Harkley who having privately received Money of the Scots designed to betray the King for which Treason he after lost his Head The Queen being sensible of the malice of the Spencers against her who estranged the King from her Company and Bed and lamenting the late slaughter of many of the Nobility and the continued misery of the Nation she with her Son Prince Edward fled into France to her Brother King Charles where she was at first received with great joy and Promises of assistance the Barons likewise by Letters assuring her of their Service to her self and Son But the Spencers by unvaluable Presents to K. Charles and his Courtiers soon took him off that instead of assistance he reproved his Sister for leaving her Husband the Pope being likewise obliged by the same means required the French King upon pain of his Curse to send the Queen and Prince to Edward and she hardly escaped being betray'd by her own Brother but privately getting into the Empire by means of Sir Robert Artois her kinsman she was joyfully entertained by the Lord Beaumont and his Brother who accompanied her and her Son with three hundred Knights and Gentlemen and landed in England at which the Barons rejoycing soon joyned with her increasing hourly so that the King hastened to Wales to raise Forces leaving the Government of London to Walter Stapleton L. Treasurer and Bishop of Exeter a great Favourite of the Spencers and an Enemy to the Queen and therefore generally hated by the Citizens who abhorring his proud and insolent Government caused his head to be struck off at the Standard in Cheapside without any Legal Tryal and then violently rushing into the Tower slew all they found there keeping that and the City for the Queen and Prince K. Edward upon this revolt chang'd his purpose and posting to Bristow fortified the Town and Castle Sir Hugh Spencer the Father and Son being with him and the Earl of Arundel was made Governour resolving to defend it with all their might but soon after the City was besieged and taken by the Queen and Lords and the Earl of Arundel and Spencer the Father taken Prisoners but the King and Young Spencer being besieged in the Castle not trusting to the strength thereof got out privately in the Night and put themselves in a small Fisherboat but every day for a whole week when the Boat went to Sea it was driven back again near the Castle which the L. Beaumont observing he with a small Vessel chased the Boat and took her wherein he found the King and young Spencer whom they so much desired and brought them to the Queen who presenting them before the besieged in the Castle they presently surrendred Old Spencer the Earl of Winchester and the Earl of Arundel whose Daughter was married to the younger Spencer were beheaded and the King being in an honourable restraint the Queen Prince and Barons with a strong Army marched toward London carrying young Spencer in Triumph before whom several Fidlers and Pipers sung danced and play'd scornfully upon Reeds through every Town and Village as they past where being come he was bound to the top of an high Ladder and his Heart and Privy-members being burnt his Head was set on London Bridge After which the Queen nobly treated and rewarded Sir John of Heynault the Lord Beaumont and their followers who departed home and were there received with great honour The Queen and young Prince to redress all disorders assembled a Parliament in which the King by general consent was deposed and committed to Killingworth Castle with honourable atttendance and Prince Edward his Son Crowned King not long after Edward was removed to Cors-Castle where he was barbarously murdered by his Keepers who through a Horn thrust a burning Spit into his Fundament after he had reigned almost nineteen years and in the forty first of his Age 1307. EDWARD the
then returning into England raised a strong Army of 27000 fighting Men which he landed in France about Autumn The French King having an Army of 60000 Soldiers and accompanied with the Kings of Bohemia Navar and Scotland with Five Dukes Twenty six Earls and above 4000 Lords and Knights entred the Field where he found Edward prepared for Battel but by the Mediation of the Countess of Heynault King Philip's Sister and Mother to King Edward's Wife a Cessation was concluded and King Edward with his Nobles and Soldiers returned to England Yet four years after Edward again met with the Princes of Germany at Brussels who desired the Flemings to joyn with them but they refused unless Edward would entitle himself King of France and Quarter the Arms of France with those of England and lastly would as King of France release them from a Bond of Two Millions of Florens whereby they were obliged not to make War with the King of France King Edward soon yielded to all their Desires whereupon they obliged themselves by a solemn Contract in Writing under their Hands and Seals to assist him to the utmost In the mean time the French Kings Navy landed some thousands of Men at Southampton burning the Town and Villages thereabouts Upon his return the King called a Parliament who raised so great a Tax that the People turned their Prayers into Curses He likewise borrowed great Sums of his richest Subjects and of London 20000 Marks He coined abundance of Gold and Silver Money wherein he quartered the Arms of France and intitled himself King of England and France Having raised an Army of 10000 stout Soldiers he imbarqued them in 200 Ships and sailing toward Sluce he fortunately met with the French Fleet whereon were 40000 Men of divers Nations whom the King fell upon with his whole Navy and after a fierce and bloody Fight very few of the French escaped being all either sunk or taken This Loss was so very considerable that they were afraid to discover it to the French King lest it should too much discompose him and therefore they contrived his Jester should do it who often repeating in his hearing Cowardly Englishmen Faint-hearted Englishmen Dastardly Englishmen The King observing him asked him why Because said he they had not the courage to leap into the Sea as our brave Frenchmen did whereby the King began to have some knowledge of this grand disaster Edward received but small Loss so that the next day he landed at Gaunt and soon after besieged Tournay but by the importunity of the aforesaid Countess of Heynault a second Truce was concluded for one year In King Edward's absence the Scots disliking their King Edward Baliol because he would not engage against the English and calling in David Bruce they invade Northumberland destroying all before them and laying close Siege to Newcastle but at Midnight 200 resolute Men issued out and secretly entred into the Earl of Murray's Tent seising him and killing many to the great terrour of the Scots Camp whereupon David finding stout Resistance raised the Siege and marched to Durham which he took plundred and burnt slaying all the Inhabitants and then sate down before Roxborough Castle defended by the beautiful Countess of Salisbury and her Brother Sir William Mountague who being continually assaulted expected no Help but from the King and to give him notice of their Extremity the valiant Knight himself mounted on a swift Horse rid full speed through thousands of his Enemies sending word to King David as he rid along That in a short time he should again hear of him Upon which the Scots pushed on the Siege with all vigour yet could not carry it and therefore suddenly raised it and returned home King Edward arriving there that very day was much discomposed that he had missed them yet by the Mediation of several Honourable Personages a Truce was concluded for two years The King after the Scots were gone disarmed himself and with ten or twelve Persons of Quality entred the Castle where he was soon inflamed with the Love of the fair Countess but her Vertue resisted all Temptations so that he departed from her in Discontent The King then made a Royal Feast for all his Nobility and Forreigners that came thereto wherein were acted several Martial Sports in one of which the Lord Beaumont a Noble Knight was unfortunately slain After this the King called a Paliament at Westminster wherein he created his eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales and a Tax was raised for the Wars in France for which the King confirmed Magna Charta Charta de Foresta and several other Statutes The next year the King for encouraging Virtue and Valour instituted the Order of the Knights of the Garter at Windsor and then sent an Army into France under the Command of the Earl of Darby John the French Kings eldest Son having closely besieged the Castle of Aguilâ—on in Gascoin with near 100000 men King Edward with his Son eight Earls fifteen Barons and many Gentlemen of Quality with an Army of 14000 men by the advice of the Lord Harcourt a banished Nobleman of France landed in Normandy and took the strong Town of Harflew plundering divers others whereby every Common Soldier was made a Gentleman with the Spoil and his Army increasing he took the City of Caen and abundance of other Towns and Castles the English pursuing their good Fortune so far that they were on a sudden encompassed with 100000 French on the one side and a River on the other yet passing on the Sand at low Water he at last got clear with the slaughter of a very great multitude of French and marching toward Cressy the French King was there resolved to try the fortune of a Field Battel and the English after Prayers to God for sucess with great Courage prepared for fight the King had given the Vanguard to his Son Edward who for his Valour was called the Black Prince the Second Battalion was led by the Earl of Northampton and the third by the King himself The Signal of Battel being given both parties furiously ingaged wherein the Black Prince was very hard put to it and sent to his Father for succor who stood on a Windmil hard by to observe the Fight but the King refused him any aid saying Let them send no more to me whatever happens while my Son is alive but let him either conquer or dye since if it please God he escape I am resolved the honour of this day shall be only his when the Prince heard this he was forced to put out his utmost Courage and Vigor whereby he obtained a glorious Victory the greatest part of the French Army lying dead before them so that in two days wherein the Fight continued there were slain of the French 11 Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and above 30000 Common Soldiers the French King himself hardly escaping by flight After the Battel King Edward kissing and imbracing his Son said Fair Son God
French King Charles the Sixth who in the Kings Name required the peaceable Surrender of the Kingdom of France with the entire Dutchies of Aquitain Normandy Anjou Poictou and Mayn proposing That if without effusion of Blood the French King would yield to his Demands he would then vouchsafe to take his Daughter Katherine in Marriage and would endow her with all the afore-mentioned Provinces and allow the French King all Honour and Respect But if he refused to deliver his Patrimony without Blows he would then endeavour to gain it by the Sword wherein he must expect his People would suffer all the Calamities of a War The French King and Nobility were much surprised at this unexpected Message and therefore desired time to deliberate on so weighty an Affair but the Dolphin the Kings eldest Son despising the Youth and unlikely Attempt of King Henry sent him as a Present a Tun of Tennis-balls as more agreeable to his Years which Henry receiving said That he would shortly send him such London Balls as should shake Paris Walls and thereupon soon levied a strong Army Which the Dolphin being informed of who by reason of the Sickness of the King managed all Affairs he sent Ambassadors to Henry That if he would desist from all Hostility and live in Peace and take his Sister Katherine to Wife he should have with her a considerable sum of money and some small Territories in France but the King returned answer that Unless Aquitain Normandy Anjou and all the other small Seigniories were delivered to him as justly appertaining to his Crown he would neither disband his Army nor wave his Title to the Crown of France but would attempt to gain it by fire and Sword As soon as the French Ambassadors were gone the King having left considerable forces upon the Borders of Scotland and provided all things necessary sent his Letters of defiance to the French King and was just imbarking for his voyage when at that very instant a dangerous conspiracy was discovered either to deliver him up to the French or murder him in his Tent contrived by Richard Earl of Cambridge Brother to the Duke of York Henry Lord Scroop and Sir Thomas Gray three of the most valiant Commanders in his whole Army who being apprehended and brought into his presence freely confessed the whole contrivance and that they were corrupted by rewards from the Dauphin upon which they were the next day executed as Traytors The Wind serving the King transported his Army into Normandy in an hundred and forty ships and the Town of Harflew being delivered to him after a seige of thirty seven days was ransomed from plunder by the Citizens with great sums of Gold and Silver the King then resolved to march to Callice through the very Borders of France though the Dauphin had an Army of thirty thousand and the English were only two thousand Horse and thirteen thousand Archers many of them wanting health victuals and sleep and having plenty of nothing but silver and Gold which in that place would not give them the least supply of what was truly necessary for preserving their Lives It much disturbed the French King who lay at Roan that the English should march on thus without control and therefore he sent K. Henry a defiance and that he would be with him in a few days and accordingly bringing an Army of threescore thousand Horse into the Field incamped near a Town called Agen-Court making great jollity the night before the battel as assuring themselves of the victory being so very numerous and the English so inconsiderable and sickly on the contrary K. Henry and his little Army spent the night in Prayers and Devotions as knowing that they must either conquer valiantly or dye basely upon Fryday Oct. 20. 1414. The battel began wherein both sides fought with great courage but at length K. Henry obtained a glorious victory there being slain the High Constable and High Admiral of France the Dukes of Alanson Brabant and Bane thirty four Earls and Lords eight thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and about sixteen hundred Common Souldiers besides ten principal Dukes and Lords taken Prisoners on King Henry's side were not slain above six hundred Souldiers and two Commanders After this K. Henry marched safely to Callice where having refreshed themselves they took shipping for England being inriched with Gold Silver and costly armour in abundance and the King was received with all manner of Joy and Triumph into London The French King was extreamly troubled at this great overthrow but the Dauphin especially insomuch that he died as was thought for meer vexation soon after The Earl of Arminiach being made High Constable the Duke of Exeter the Kings Uncle Governour of Harflew understanding he was going that way with some forces suddenly issued out upon him and defeated his whole party which so inraged the new Constable that with all speed he besieged Harflew on every side with five hundred ships at the mouth of the River Seyn which K. Henry having notice of he presently sent a stout Army imbarked in two hundred Ships who falling upon the French Fleet in sight of the Town utterly destroyed them with a vast slaughter of men and thereby forced the Constable immediately to raise the siege and King Henry then calling a Parliament and declaring to them his right to France they freely gave him great sums of money wherewith sailing into Normandy he won the strong Town of Caen in the mean time such private quarrels arose between the French Nobility as much advantaged K. Henry who daily won the chiefest Towns in Normandy and then laid a formal siege to the great City of Roan which was strongly fortified and well provided so that K. Henry gave many terrible assaults in vain upon which being informed that there were above two hundred Thousand Men Women and Children within the Walls he resolved to gain it by famine without blows and to that end casting a deep ditch about the City pitched full of sharp stakes and guarded with Archers the Inhabitants could neither pass in nor out so that in two months time the Famine increased so grievously that the Citizens drunk nothing but Vinegar and Water and were forced to eat Rats Mice Cats Dogs and Horses and the poorer sort being turned out perished miserably between the Gates and the English Trenches the Famine still growing more outragious they sent four Knights four Scholars and four of their chief Burgesses clothed all in black as Commissioners to the King who spake to this purpose Great and renowned Prince In all ages Kings and valiant Captains have gained the greatest glory and reputation by subduing their proud and haughty enemies with their Swords and valour and it hath been always reckoned a note of baseness and Cowardice in a Prince to overcome by Famine and want of food wherein there is neither wise conduct nor true courage That your highness may therefore equal the greatest Conquerors in generosity we
Son of K. Henry the 8. by Q. Jane Seymour his third wife who died soon after her delivery He was very carefully educated by his Father and had such a happy Genius that in a short time he attained to a perfect use knowledge of the ancient and modern Languages and was exceedingly skilled in all the liberal Arts He was of a beautiful body a mild and gracious disposition and an Heavenly wit so that the renowned Cardan calls him a Miracle of Nature After K. Henrys Death Edward by unquestionable right succeeded him his Father having appointed twenty eight Councellours to assist him in the Government till he came of Age who chose the Earl of Hartford afterward Duke of Somerset to be Protector of the King and Kingdom After his Fathers funerals were past several Persons were advanced to honours in order to his Coronation which was performed February 20 1547. At which three Swords were delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland and having received them he said There was yet another Sword to be delivered to him whereat when the Lords wondred I mean said he the sacred Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit without which we are nothing neither can do any thing King Henry before his death strictly charged the Lords of the Council to use their utmost endeavour for perfecting the marriage of his Son Edward with the young Queen of Scots in prosecution whereof the Protector entred Scotland with a considerable Army by Land and a fleet of sixty Ships under the Lord Clinton scoured the Seas upon which the Governour of Scotland erected the Firecross which was two firebrands set in the fashion of a Cross and pitched upon the point of a spear with a Proclamation that all above sixteen years of Age and under sixty should resort forthwith to Musselborough and bring provision of victuals with them upon which so many came in that the most serviceable only were retained the English approaching a Fierce Battle ensued but at last the English remained victors wherein were slain fourteen thousand cots with the L. Fleming and other Persons of Quality and of English only Fifty one Horsemen and one Footman though many wounded this sight was at Edmonstone Bridge near Musselborough there were fifteen hundred Prisoners taken the chief whereof were the Lords Yester Hobley and Hamilton the Master of anepool the Lord Weems and the Earl of Huntley who being demanded how they were stood affected to the Marriage answered That they liked the match well enough but did not approve of this kind of woing After this the English plundred and fired â—eith and took several other places so that the Earl Bothwell and other Gentry of Tiviotdale came and submitted to the Protector entring into Terms of Peace with him The Protector returning to London called a Parliament wherein the six Articles were repealed and those Colledges and Chappels that K. Henry had not seized were given to the K. the Churches were ordered to be purged of Images no Beads Processions Prayers to Saints or for the Dead or in an unknown Tongue to be used Masses and Dirges were likewise abolished upon this divers Bishops refusing to comply with the Injunctions in Religion were removed and committed to Prison It was likewise ordained that the Eucharist should be received in both kinds that Bishops should be made by the King under his Letters Patents without any other pretended Authority and that all persons exercising Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction should have the Kings Arms in the eals of their Office after which they confirmed the Kings Supremacy In the mean time the young Queen of cots was conveyed into France and married to Francis the Dauphin at six years old These Alterations of Religion caused divers Insurrections for the Commissioners going into the Country to execute the aforementioned orders as Mr. Body one of the Commissioners was performing his office in the West of England by plucking down Images he was stabbed to the heart by a Popish Priest and the Common People joining with the Priest upon the instigation of other Papists they took Arms to the number of ten thousand refusing the pardon offered them and besieging Exeter which was Gallantly defended but at length the King sending his Forces soon dispersed them several of the Ringleaders being taken and executed in London This was succeeded by another Insurrection in Norfolk under one Ket a Tanner who issued out warrants in his Majesties name acting the part of the Kings Deputy without his Authority and calling the Tree near Norwich wherein he pretended to administer Justice The Oak of Reformation but the Earl of Warwick marching against them upon offer of a General Pardon they laid down their Arms sixty of them being before executed by Martial Law and nine hanged upon the Oak of Reformation A third Insurrection happened upon the neck of this in Yorkshire raised by one Ombler a Gentleman Dale a Parish Clerk and Stephenson a Priest who gathered four or five thousand to assist them upon conceit of a Prophecy That the time should come wherein there would be no King the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed and the Land ruled by four Governours elected by the Commons holding a Parliament in Commotion which should begin at the North Seas of England And this they thought to be the time and that the Rebels in Devonshire Yorkshire and Norfolk should join together to accomplish this Prophesy but hearing of the bad success of their friends and having a pardon sent them by the King they forsook their Leaders who were taken and executed at York At this time some heats arose at Court between the Wives of the two Brothers the Lord Protector and L. High Admiral about precedency whereupon the Admiral was accused of attempting to get the Kings Person and Government into his hands with divers other matters for which he was condemned by the contrivance of the Earl of Warwick and by his Brothers Warrant beheaded upon Tower-hill And now Cardinal Pool was upon the Death of Paul the third elected Pope which being told him he desired them to consider well whether they were swayed by no passion of mind or did any thing for favour or affection but only for the honour of God and the Church they taking this for a kind of denial presently chose Cardinal Montanus who took the name of Julius the third During these domestick troubles the French had divers times attempted Bulloign and had now got seven thousand men and all other provisions necessary to surprize it but being come within a quarter of a Mile of the Fort the Garrison had notice thereof who put themselves into such a posture to receive them that they were repulsed with a great slaughter fifteen Waggons being laden with the dead bodies afterward they attempted Guernsey and Jersey with no better success being beaten off with the loss of a thousand men upon this succeeded a Peace whereby it was agreed that Bulloign should be surrendred
he was discoursing and drinking on Horseback as the Cup was at his Mouth a Servant of the Queens by her Contrivance struck him into the Back with a Knife or Dagger at which setting Spurs to his Horse to get away and fainting with loss of Blood he fell from his Horse with one Foot in the Stirrup and was dragged up and down the Woods till at last his Body was left dead at the Gate of Corf Castle When this Fact was committed the Queen was so struck with remorse that to expiate her Guilt she built two Monasteries Almsbury and Wormwell For as Mr. Fox observes most of these Religious Houses were founded either upon the account of some Publick or Private Murther Edward the Martyr as he was called being thus slain Etheldred his younger Brother the Son of Edgar and Queen Elfrida succeeded He reigned thirty eight Years but was very unfortunate and full of Troubles all his time It is related That when Archbishop Dunstan Christned Etheldred as he held him over the Font the Child was not very cleanly whereupon the Bishop swore By the Mother of God this Boy will prove an unhappy and slothful Prince which hapned accordingly At his Coronation a Cloud appeared half like Blood and the other half like Fire In his third Year the Danes invaded the Kingdom in several Places and the King paid them Forty thousand Pound yearly for his Quiet which much disobliged his Subjects yea the English were so low that the Danes commanded their Houses Wives Daughters and all they had Whereupon Etheldred contrived that all the Danes were massacred in one Day But this did more enrage them so that first Swain and then Canutus came with two hundred Sail of Ships and landed in Cornwal burning and destroying all before him and killing Nine hundred Monks and Nuns at one time the Kings Counsels being all betrayed by the Traytor Edrick Whereupon he fled with his Queen Emma and her two Sons into Normandy to Richard Duke thereof who was her Brother But Swain being soon after killed by his own Men they made his Son Canutus King After which Etheldred returns again to England and perceiving the several Treasons against him and being unable to withstand their Fury he soon after died Edmund the eldest Son alive of Etheldred succeeded sirnamed Ironside from his great Strength and Courage He was Crowned at Kingston But the Danes were then so powerful in England that Canutus was accepted King at Southampton many of the Clergy and Laity swearing Allegiance to him but the City of London stood firm for Edmund who fought several Battels against the Danes and routed Canutus four times in the plain Field and would in likelihood have freed the Nation from the Danes had not the ever-false Edrick and other perfidious Persons of the Clergy and Laity prevented it At length to avoid further Bloodshed they made an Agreement to divide the Kingdom betwixt them but Edmund enjoyed the Benefit of this Accord a very short time being soon after murdered as he was easing Nature by Edrick and his Head presented to Canutus who though he loved the Treason yet commanded the Traytor to be beheaded THE GOVERNMENT of the DANES BY the Death of Edmund the Saxon Monarchy came to a Period for Canutus after his Death seised upon the other half of England none being able to withstand whereby the Danes made themselves sole Masters of this Island after it had been in possession of the Saxons about 566 Years The English Nobles owning Canutus for their Lawful King and swearing Fealty to him at his Coronation at London in the Year of Christ 1017. Though Canutus had never the better Opinion of them considering that most of them had sworn Allegiance to Edmund their Natural Sovereign and likewise that they were English Natives He therefore judged them treacherous Persons and used them accordingly for some he banished others he beheaded and many by the just Judgment of Heaven died sudden Deaths Canutus to establish his Government called a Parliament of Bishops Lords and Barons in London wherein many Laws were ordained and among others this following VVe admonish diligently all Christian Men that they do always love God with an inward heart and be diligently obedient to Divine Teachers and do subtilly search Gods Learning and Laws often and daily to the profit of themselves And we warn that all Christian Men do learn to know at leastwise the right Belief and aright to understand the Lords Prayer and the Creed for that with the one every Christian Man should pray unto God and with the other shew forth right Belief He also ordained in another Parliament at Oxford That both English and Danes should observe the Laws made by King Edgar as judging them to be above all others most just and reasonable He married Emma the Widow of King Etheldred and Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy with this Condition That the Issue of her Body by him should inherit the Kingdom of England He went to Rome to complain of the excessive Extortions of the Pope from the English Archbishops upon receiving their Palls And having reigned twenty Years over England he died Notwithstanding the former Agreement yet Harold the Son of Canutus by Elgina his first Wife in the absence of Hardiknute the Son of Queen Emma succeeded his Father and the better to secure himself he by the assistance of the treacherous Earl Godwin who had married Canutus's Dâ—ughter endeavours to get into his Power Edward and Alfred the two Sons of Queen Emma by King Etheldred whom he knew had more Right than himself and to that purpose they counterfeit a Letter in Emma's Name whom Harold had abused and robbed of her Jewels the Contents whereof were to this purpose EMma in Name onely Queen to Edward and Alfred her Sons sends Motherly Gree ings Whilst we severally bewail the Death of our Sovereign my Lord and your Father and your selves Dear Sons are still more and more disposs ssed from the Kingdoms of your Lawful Inheritance I much wonder what you intend to do since you know that Delays in Attempts give the Usurper more leisure to lay his Foundation and more safely to fix thereon his intended Building never ceasing to post from Town to City to make the Lords and Rulers thereof his Friends by Threats Prayers or Rewards But notwithstanding his Policy yet they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Native Country-men to reign over them than this Danish Usurper Therefore my Advice is That either of you do with all speed repair to me that we may advise together what is to be done in this so great an Enterprise Fail not therefore but send me word by this Messenger what you intend to do herein And so fare ye well Your Affectionate Mother Emma Messengers being sent to Normandy with this Letter they met onely with Alfred Edward being gone into Hungaria to whom delivering their Message he was very joyful and made
sent for Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside out of Hungary who for his long absence was called the Outlaw but he dying soon after he declared Edgar the Outlaw's Son to be Heir and sirnamed him Atheling or Adeling a Term appropriated to the Presumptive Heirs of the Crown He had also a Daughter named Matilda who was married to the King of Scots and was Mother to David King of Scotland and Maud Queen of England When King Edward was on his Death-bed he observed all present weeping and lamenting for him to whom he said If you loved me you would forbear weeping and rejoyce because I go to my Father with whom I shall receive the Joys promised to the Faithful not through my Merits but by the free Mercy of my Saviour who sheweth Mercy on whom he pleaseth After the Death of Earl Godwin Harold his Son grew into great Favour with King Edward and was by him made Lieutenant of his Army against the Welch who with his Brother Tosto or Toston utterly subdued that Rebellion After which Harold still increasing more in favour with the King there grew such Hatred between the two Brethren that Tosto coming to Hereford slew all his Brothers Servants and cutting them in pieces salted them and put them into Powdering-tubs It hapned afterward that Harold going beyond Sea was by Tempest driven into Normandy and being seised and carried before Duke William he made him promise That after the Death of King Edward he would secure the Kingdom for him according to King Edward's Will Which Oath having taken Harold came back and told King Edward what he had done who seemed well content therewith saith the Historian which if it were true he had surely forgot his former Declaration concerning Edgar Athâ—ling However after the Death of King Edward Harold neither regarding his Oath to Duke William nor Edgar's Right whom he despised for his tender Age caused himself to be Proclaimed King without any great Ceremony or Celebration none much approving or disapproving thereof And to ingratiate himself with the People he eased them of several severe Taxes laid upon them by his Predecessor and was affable and kind to all But this was a short Calm before a great Storm for soon after Duke William sent his Ambassadors to him to mind him of his Oath but he returned answer That it was extorted from him in his Imprisonment and therefore was no way obliging At this Answer the Duke was much inraged and prepared Forces for gaining the Kingdom by Force Neither was Harold idle but made Provision to withstand him At which time a dreadful Comet appeared in the Heavens which was then judged and after proved to be a fatal Omen During these Preparations Tosto Brother to Harold and Harfager King of Denmark with three hundred Ships invaded the Country landing in Yorkshire Harfager claiming the Crown as Son of Canutus but the Nobility of those Parts opposing them were routed which Harold hearing marched against them and at Stamford-Bridge he encountred them where his whole Army was withstood by one single Dane who slew forty of his Men and made good the Bridge till a Soldier in a Boat rowing under the Bridge thrust his Spear through a Crevice and so slew this valiant Champion After which the King fell upon the D nes and got an intire Victory over them killing King Harfager and Tosto his own Brother Olave the Son of Harfager and Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners with abundance more who begging their Lives the King ordered Twenty of their Three hundred Ships to carry them to Denmark with sad News of the loss of their King and his whole Army No sooner was this Storm over but a worse began for Duke William having prepared a great Army and Navy resolved for England having the free Consent of his Nobility for his Voyage many of them assisting him therein But first he sent to Pope Alexander to confirm his Title to the Crown who did it readily and withal sent him a Consecrated Banner an Agnus Dei and a Hair of St. Peter with a Curse to all Opposers to carry in the Ship wherein he himself sailed Being thorowly furnished he and his Men embarqued at St. Vallery where they staid a long time for a Wind at length setting Sail Sept. 28. 1066. he arrived with his Fleet at Pevensey in Sussex where as soon as he landed it hapned one of his Feet stuck so fast in the Sand that he fell to the Ground whereupon one of his Attendants catching him by the Arm and helping him up said Stand up my Lord and be of good Courage for now you have taken fast Footing in England and observing that he had taken up Sand and Earth in his Hand he added You have now taken Livery and Seisin of the Country it being the Custom that when Possession is taken of Land a piece of Earth is given to the Possessor A Wizard or Necromancer had told Duke William That he should safely arrive in England with his whole Army without any hindrance from Harold which after it came to pass King William sent for this Conjurer to confer further with him but it was told him That he was drowned in that Ship which alone of the whole Navy miscarried whereupon the Conquerour said He would never put confidence in that Science which was of more benefit to the Ignorant than the Skilful therein for it seems he could foresee my good Fortune but not his own Misfortune After his Landing the Duke set all his Ships on fire to assure his Men that they must either conquer or die He then marched toward Hastings declaring the Cause of his coming to be to inherit the Kingdom which was given him by King Edward and strictly charging his Soldiers not to wrong any of the People in the least since they were so soon to become his Natural Subjects He then sent Messengers to Harold either to deliver him up the Country and be subject to him or to fight it out in the sight of both Armies in single Combate or lastly to stand to the Pope's Determination But he returned answer That unless he did suddenly depart he would give him cause to repent this his rash Invasion and that the next day it should be tried by more Swords than One. Accordingly Harold marcheth couragiously against Duke William who put himself into a posture to receive him It hapned that the Morning before the Battel William's Armourer by mistake put on his Back-piece before and his Breast-plate behind which being observed by some of his Attendants was judged an ill Omen and therefore they advised him not to fight that Day To whom the Duke replied I value not such Fooleries but if I have any skill in Soothsaying as in truth I have none I am of the opinion it doth fore ell that I shall change my Condition and of a Duke shall this day become a King The Armies being Marshalled Harold placing the Kentish-men with their heavy Axes
or Halberts in the Van the Battel began both Parties fighting bravely one for the Liberty of their Country and the other for a Kingdom The Normans perceiving they could not break the united Strength of the English pretended to fly which the English believing pursued them in disorder whereupon the Normans taking the advantage rallied and charging them furiously in that disjoynted Posture made a very great Slaughter among the English and among the rest King Harold his Brother and most of the English Nobility fell that day and of the Common Soldiers Sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four Others report an hundred thousand were slain Duke William had three Horses killed under him yet received not the least Wound his Loss being onely as is said Six thousand Men. Thus died King Harold after onely nine Months Reign and was buried at Waltham Abby in Essex And it is very remarkable That whereas Harold with his Father Godwin had cruelly murdered Alfred the true Heir to the Crown and his Normans he was now by a Norman wounded in the left Eye with an Arrow whereof he immediately died This great Battel was fought at Hastings in Sussex on Saturday October 14. 1066. The English after this vast Loss had designed to make Edgar Atheling King but it was prevented by their private Animosities And thus ended the Saxon Monarchy in England which from Hengist in 475. to this Year had continued save onely some short Interruptions by the Danes Five hundred ninety one Years And here we shall begin to give a more particular Account of all the Monarchs who have Reigned in England till His present Majesty King CHARLES the Second whom God preserve WILLIAM the FIRST SIRNAMED THE CONQVEROVR King of England and Duke of Normandy BY bloody Battels Conquest and by Fate Rich Englands Crown and Kingdom I surpris'd I topsie-turvie turn'd the English State And Laws and Customs strange and new devis'd And where I Conquer'd there I Tyranniz'd In stead of Love making the People fear In raising Taxes I was exercis'd And Tributes greater than the Land could bear Yea and the Normans Fame the more to rear The English I forbid the English Tongue French Grammar Schools I instituted here And ' gainst this Nation added Wrong to Wrong At last my Crown Sword Scepter Conquests brave I left I lost and scarce could find a Grave DUke William after the Fight which from that time was called Battel-Field and an Abby of that name built there hastned toward London wasting the Counties of Kent Sussex Surrey Hantshire and Berkshire and crossing the Thames at Wallingford marched through Oxfordshire Bucks and Hartford hire and on Christmas day following was Crowned King at Westminster by the inforced Consent of the English Nobility who with outward Applause though with inward Grief and Discontent acknowledged themselves to be his Subjects the Kentish-men onely excepted by whom as he went to possess himself of the strong Castle of Dover he was intercepted in his March being encompassed by many valiant Soldiers who carrying green Boughs in their Hands seemed to be a moving Wood suddenly environed him and his Followers protesting That rather than they would basely lose their Privileges and be deprived of their ancient Laws and Customs they were resolved every Man to die in the Place The King considering his own Danger and their Resolution consented to their Demands and for their bold and generous Resolution he ever after honoured them with this Preheminence That the Men of Kent should lead the Van in the Field And thereupon the Earldom and Castle of Dover was delivered to King William Now what the Kentish-men obtained by Arms the Citizens of London procured by Art for one William a Norman being their Bishop they so prevailed with him and he with the King that he confirmed their former Charter written in the Saxon Tongue and sealed with Green Wax to this Effect William King greeteth William Bishop and Godfrey Portreeve and all the Burgesses that in London be French and English Friendly And I do you to wit That I will that you enjoy all the Law which you did in the Days of Edward King And I will That each Child be his Fathers Inheritor after his Fathers Days And I will not suffer that any Man any Wrong you offer God keep you King William having thus conquered the Kingdom used several Policies for securing it to himself For presuming that he was obeyed by the Natives more out of Fear than Love 1. He took Hostages of those that were dearest to the English either Sons or Nephews whom he sent into Normandy for securing their Fidelity 2. He deprived the English of all Offices both of Honour and Profit conferring them on his Normans 3 Because the Clergy were much reverenced by the People and concerned themselves in Temporal Affairs he ordained That they should concern themselves onely in Spiritual Matters 4. To take away all Hopes of regaining their Liberty he disarmed all the Natives and left them utterly disabled to make any Resistance 5. To prevent all Concourse or Meetings where they might have opportunity to condole their Miseries especially in the Night he commanded a Bell to be hung up in every Town Village and City to be rung at Eight a Clock every Night at which every Englishman was to put out his Fire and to keep himself within his House 6. To diminish the English Nobility he sent them to fight his Battels in Normandy and if any of them returned Victorious they were much discountenanced in stead of being rewarded The Common People were likewise used in the same manner being still ordered to endure the hottest Service in Fight both in France and Normandy 7. He erected strong Forts and Castles in several places of the Realm commanded by his Countrymen who made the least Crime committed by the English to be Capital to them 8. He deprived the Gentry and Clergy of their Plate and Money yea even that used in Churches alledging That Thieves Traytors and Rebels had hid them there to deceive him of his Forfeitures and support themselves against his Authority 9. He published divers severe Laws in the French Tongue whereby many English of great Estates did ignorantly transgress and the smallest Offences were made sufficient to seise their Estates which were violently taken from them without any Commiseration 10. He declared the Patents Grants and Charters of former Kings to be void and having seised them into his own Hands he sold them again to the true Owners for great Sums of Money which if they could not procure he gave them to his French and Normans 11. He took a general Survey of the Natives Lands and Cattel and then laid unreasonable Taxes upon them not regarding their Cries or Poverty 12. He erected new Courts of Justice for administring his new Laws and caused his Judges constantly to follow his Court that they might never act any thing which should displease him or gratifie the English 13. To give
Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow He caused a Seal to be made for himself whereon was engraven By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron But on the other side thus By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England In this Kings Reign lived Bevois or Bevis Earl of Southampton who not being able to endure the Oppression of the Normans gathered all the scattered Fragments of Englishmen whom desire of Liberty and hatred of the Conquerour had made willing to joyn with him associating to him likewise the Strength of the Danes and Welch who met at Cardiff in Wales But Success not depending upon Valour being unable to encounter such expert Soldiers as the Normans their Forces were routed and Bevis fled to Carlisle after which no credible Author relates what became of him Tho' the Monkish Writers have been very injurious to his Memory as well as of others who by repeating incredible things concerning them have made Posterity think there was no Truth in any of their Actions His Place of Residence is said to be Dunton in Wiltshire and his Sword was till of late kept as a Relique in Arundel-Castle not equalling in length that of King Edward the Third at Westminster King William left behind him three Sons Robert to whom he gave his Dutchy of Normandy William Rufus and Henry who both successively were Kings of England and one Daughter named Adela He was of an indifferent Stature strong Make and comly Behaviour of a stern Countenance undaunted Courage resolute in Action and quick in Execution He was discreet and Politick in managing his Affairs and Business yet it seems he perceived his own defect in some Cases for want of Learning and did therefore often excite his Sons to learn with this Saying That an Vnlearned Prince is but a crowned Ass Which Speech made such a strong Impression upon his Son Henry that by his Knowledge and Learning he obtained the Name of Beauclark or Fine Scholar King William feasted and hunted much coveted all oppressed the Conquered and still kept his dearest Friends in an awful regard of him He reigned Twenty years and ten months and died in the Sixty fourth year of his Age 1087. WILLIAM the SECOND SIRNAMED RVFVS WHat my Triumphant Father won I held I tax'd and poll'd this Kingdom more than he Great Tributes from my People I compell'd No Place in Church or Commonwealth was free But always those who most would give to me Their Suit obtained whether wrong or right The Clergy I compelled to agree To sell Church-Plate and Chalices out-right Vntil at last by the Almighty's Power My Kingly Force and Strength was Weakness made And all my Glory perish'd in an Hour My Pomp and Greatness vanish'd like a Shade For hunting in New-Forest void of Fear A Subject slew me shooting at a Deer AT the Death of William the Conquerour Robert his eldest Son Duke of Normandy being in Germany William the younger Brother hastned to London in the Company of Morcar and Wilnoth Sons to King Harold both released from Imprisonment in Normandy where soon after by the procurement of Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wolstane who were reverenced by the People and by bestowing many costly Gifts he was soon after made King though most of the Prelates and States were for Robert Soon after Robert by the incitement of Bishop Odo came into England landing at Southampton to regain his Right with a gallant Army of Normans and many French whom King Philip of France had sent to his Aid with whom joyned several of the English But William by his fair Pretences and Promises to repeal the severe Laws and Taxes in his Fathers Reign prevailed with the People to appear for him with whose assistance he regained divers strong Forts and Castles which were seised by the Nobility for the Service of Robert and among others he besieged Rochester-Castle wherein was Odo to the gaining whereof he sent out Orders That all should repair to his Assistance under the Penalty of being accounted a Niding or Coward whereby the People came in such Numbers that the Castle was soon surrendred Odo banished and his Estate forfeited And afterwards Robert out of his peaceable Inclination and to prevent the effusion of Blood accepts of William's Proposals whereby he was to hold the Crown during his Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year and that if he survived he should succeed William in England and so peaceably returns back to Normandy King William having now more surely fixed himself in his Possession of the Kingdom began presently to follow his Fathers Example endeavouring to humble the innate Courage of the English by heavy Oppressions and Impositions and taking it for a Maxim That Riches heightned but Poverty debased the Spirits of Men he laid severe Taxes upon the People which were levied with all kind of despite and cruelty by his ravenous Officers This caused much discontent of which Malcolm King of Scots taking the advantage and being affronted at the English Court he invaded the North Parts with a great Army killing burning and destroying all before him till at last he sate down before a strong Castle in Northumberland valiantly defended by Robert Mowbray the Earl thereof who at last pretending to surrender it and coming out of his Castle-gate well mounted with the Keys thereof fastned to his Lance in stead of delivering them in making low Obeisance to the King in token of Submission clapping Spurs to his Horse he suddenly ran upon the King and with his Lance pierced him into the Eye whereof he immediately died After which by the swiftness of his Horse he made his Escape leaving the amazed Scots to lament their irreparable Loss who returned back to Scotland with their breath'ess King Now Robert Duke of Normandy complaining of the Kings breach of Promise designed to transport an Army to England having again Assistance from the French But William resolving to make an Offensive War abroad raised Forces here with intent to invadeâ— Normandy to the number of Twenty thousand who being ready to imbarque he proposed That whoever would give him 10 s. should be excused from going to Normandy which many willingly did whereby he raised a considerable Sum part of which being privately sent to the French King made him forsake his Ally so that Robert standing alone was soon perswaded to come to an Agreement After which they both joyn their Forces against their youngest Brother Henry who having notice thereof fortified himself in the strong Castle of Mount St. Michael in Normandy which they besieged wherein William was in great danger for some of the Besieged sallying out the King rode against them and was encountred by a Knight who killed his Horse under him and would have killed him too had he not known him by his Voice Whereupon the Soldiers with great respect mounted him on another Horse and he asking furiously who it was overthrew him the Knight stoutly
with several other Christian Princes against the Infidels in the Holy Land being fortunate in all his Proceedings save onely in his Succession to the Crown for his Success was so great there that he was freely offered to be made King of Jerusalem which he as generously refused By reason of his Absence his youngest Brother Henry without the least trouble or difficulty ascended the English Throne with the universal Approbation of the Nobility and Commons whose Inclinations were the stronger toward him because he was born in England after his Father was Crowned King and from the great Opinion they had of his singular Vertues Learning and good Temper Yet before his Coronation the Nobles obliged him to swear That he would ease the People of the great Taxes and many other Pressures under which they suffered which he accordingly performed After he was Crowned for the better ensuring his Estate and Title against the Claim of his Brother Robert he freely distributed the great Treasures left by King William among those who upon all Occasions he judged would stand by his Interest He dignified the Wealthy with high Offices and Titles of Honour He abated the Rigour of the New Laws and promised restitution of their old Privileges He regulated Weights and Measures bringing them all to one Standard He freed the People from the heavy Tribute of Danegilt and from all other unjust Taxes and Payments imposed by the former Kings He gave liberty to the Nobility and Gentry to enclose Parks and Chases with Game for their Recreation He banished from his Court all Flatterers as Traytors to his State and Government and all Luxury Sumptuousness in Apparel and Superfluity in Diet he utterly discountenanced He ordained That Thieves and High-way Robbers should be punished with Death With all manner of diligence and Application he endeavoured to reform the monstrous Pride intolerable Covetousness and extreme Sloth and Negligence of the Clergy He recalled Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury from Banishment and restored him to his Bishoprick giving him full Power to call Convocations and Synods at his Pleasure for regulating the intolerable Abuses of the Church yet leaving to the Pope his Authority to invest Bishops by giving them the Ring the Pall and the Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesiastical Dignities and Revenues which his Brother by the lewd Advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham had seised into his Hands he freely conferred upon Grave and Learned Persons and committed Reynulph Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he afterward escaped and earnestly invited Duke Robert who was now returned with great Honour from the Holy Land to recover the Kingdom with his Sword who thereupon raised a great Army with a Design to transport them to England In the mean time Henry having by his Proceedings endeared himself to his People confirmed them now further by marrying Maud Sister of Edgar King of Scots and Daughter of Malcolm by Margaret his Wife Sister to Edgar Atheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Soon after Duke Robert arrived with his Army at Portsmouth many English joyning with him and great Expectations and Fears arose of a bloody War but by the discreet Mediation of Friends to both Sides a loving Agreement was concluded upon almost the same Conditions as with William Rufus namely That Henry should enjoy the Crown during Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year Whereupon Robert returned back to the great discontent of his own Nobility Afterward Robert returned again to England to congratulate his Brothers good Fortune where he was Royally entertained and at the Request of his Sister Queen Maud he forgave the Payment of the Three thousand Marks a year Yet after a while the Ambition of Dominion caused Henry upon some slight occasion to quarrel with his Brother which proceeded so far that he went over to Normandy with an Army where being assisted by many of the Duke's discontented Nobility and Gentry he so prevailed against Robert that he took the Cities of Roan Caâ—n and Valois from him who being forsaken of all fled from one Place to another to secure himself King Henry returning victoriously into England and Robert perceiving that his Lords and People had utterly forsaken him and refused their Assistance and Henry's Strength and Riches increasing he came privately into England and presented himself to his Brother referring himself and all his Concerns to his own Determination But the King either knowing the Inconstancy of the Duke or being prepossessed by some Whisperers that he did not intend uprightly turned from his distressed Brother with a scornful and disdainful Countenance refusing to accept of this his humble Submission The Duke being struck to the Heart returns back to his own Country resolving to die like a Man in the Field but Henry soon routed his weak Forces and brought him Prisoner into England committing him to Cardiff Castle in Wales where endeavouring his Liberty his Eyes by Henry's Command were put out after which he lived miserably Twenty years and was buried at Glocester About this time Robert Belasme Earl of Shrewsbury raised a Rebellion but being soon vanquished he fled into Normandy where finding William of Mortaigne and Cornwal who was offended with the King for keeping from him the Earldom of Kent he soon perswaded him to raise another Insurrection and joyning their Forces they designed great matters but were presently routed by the King's Forces and kept Prisoners during their Lives The King being now freed from fear of Enemies resolved to take the same Advantages his Predecessors had done as to the Investiture of Bishops and taking vacant Bishopricks into his Hands whereat Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was so displeased that he refused to Consecrate such new Bishops as had received their Investitures from the King But Girald Archbishop of York freely performed it upon the King's Command Hereupon Anselm went to complain at Rome and prevailed at last against the King by a Synod of the Clergy held at London Three years after Anselm died and King Henry seised the Revenues of his Bishoprick into his Hands which he kept five years and if at any time he were intreated by the Bishops to bestow it he still answered That he onely kept it for an able and sufficient Man Having enjoyed a few years of Peace he was again rowsed out of it by Lewis the French King who joyning with Fulk Earl of Anjou and Baldwyn Earl of Flanders they all made great Preparations for Invading the Dutchy of Normandy But Henry raising an Army of valiant Commanders and Soldiers landed there and soon engaged with them in Battel which continued nine hours with so great fury on each side that though King Henry won the Field and chased his flying Enemies a long way yet he would often say That he then fought not for Victory but Life Quickly after a Reconciliation was made between these four Princes and William King Henry's eldest Son
bad Mind doth a handsom Shape deform So I who was by Blood Descent and Form The perfect Image of a Gallant Prince Because my Vices I did not reform No Faith 's in Face or Shape I did evince My Royal Name and Power a Mock was made My Subjects madly in Rebellion rose Mischief on Mischief still did me invade Oppos'd Depos'd Expos'd Inclos'd in Woes With doubtful Fortune I in Trouble Reign'd At length by Murder Death and Rest I gain'd KIng Edward the Third in his last Sickness created his Nephew Richard Son to the Black Prince deceased Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwal committing the Regency of the Kingdom to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster After his Death Richard the Second of that Name of Eleven years old was Crowned King of England In the whole Course of his evil Government he slighted his Nobility and taxed his Subjects severely to throw it away prodigally upon his ill-deserving Favourites despising the Advice of the Wise and hearkning to the Follies of his young debauched Companions In his first year Charles King of France presuming on his Minority being assisted by the King of Castile landed in England burning the Towns of Plymouth Dartmouth Portsmouth Rye and others on the Sea and would have proceeded further had they not been encountred by the Earls of Cambridge Buckingham and others who beat them back to their Ships At the same time a valiant Scot named Alexander Ramsey at the instigation of the French King with only forty men desperately scaled the Walls of Berwick Castle and finding the Captain and Guards sleeping they took it without blows designing to have taken the Town too but the Inhabitants from the great noise in the Castle suspecting mischief cut down the Stairs of the Drawbridge on the Townside so that when the Scots let it fall the Chains broke and the Bridge fell into the Castle Ditch whereby the Scots not being able to get out were made Prisoners by their own Victory They then endeavoured to fortify the Castle but it was soon besieged and taken by K. Richard's Forces who gave quarter to none but only Ramsey their Captain Soon after the French again landed in England doing great mischief at Dover Winchelsey Hastings and Gravesend where they got much Booty To prevent and revenge these injuries a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein four Pence was laid upon every person above fourteen years old the levying whereof caused a dangerous Rebellion under Jack Straw Wat Tyler John Wall a Factious Priest and others who stiled themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Commonweal of England declaring that all Men ought to be equal in Dignity and Estate as being all the Sons of Adam they marched through several Countreys to London the mean sort of People joyning with them so that they became very formidable committing all manner of Insolencies and making bold demands of the King and the Lord Mayor which so incensed the Mayor that he struck Tyler off his Horse with his Sword where he was killed immediately upon which the Rebels who were above 20000 soon disperst no less than fifteen hundred being Executed for the same with several cruel Deaths and Torments in divers parts of the Realm And thus in an instant vanished this great cloud which threatned the destruction of King and Kingdom In his tenth year the King forsaking the advice of his gravest and most experienced Nobility was perswaded to commit many illegal and disorderly Actions by the Counsel of Michael de la Pool his Chancellor Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Alexander Archbishop of York and Robert Tresillian Lord Chief Justice who without cause exasperated him against the Duke of Glocester his Uncle and the Earls of Warwick and Arundel whom they intended to surprise at Supper if Nicholas Exton Lord Mayor of London would have assisted them But failing herein they resolved to impeach them in Parliament but they being jealous of the Kings intent came thither strongly guarded while they were on their way in a Wood near the Court the King asked the Opinion of several about him what he should do in the case at length he merrily demanded of one Sir Hugh Liun who had been a good Souldier in his days but was now distracted what he would advise him to do Issue out quoth Sir Hugh and let us set upon them and kill every Mothers Son and when thou hast so done by Gods Eyes thou hast killed all the faithful Friends thou hast in England But K. Richard doubting the success of any violent course that Design was defeated and the King demanding a great Tax of four fifteens is not only denied but several misdemeanors of his Government are declared to him and at length Michael de la Pool his favourite is by the Lords found guilty of many offences Condemned Fined and Imprisoned and Commissioners were appointed to examine the Crimes of all the Kings Officers the King taking an Oath not to recal that Commission without consent of Parliament and it was enacted That all those who should perswade the King to infringe the same should for the second offence suffer as Traytors to the King and Kingdom Notwithstanding which this Parliament was no sooner ended but Pool Vere Tresillian and others perswaded him contrary to this Solemn Oath to assemble the Judges at Nottingham where they pronounced the Duke of Gloucester and the thirteen Commissioners and divers others to be guilty of High Treason for compelling the King to ratify the Commission under his Great Seal which Judgment they confirmed under their Hands as agreeable to the Laws of the Kingdom The Truce with France being ended that King sent 1000 Persons of Quality into Scotland who joyning with their Army of 30000 they therewith invaded England committing many violences but hearing King Richard was marching toward them they turned into the craggy Mountains of Wales doing much mischief to the Inhabitants and in the mean time K. Richard entred Scotland with 68000 men burning and destroying Edinborough St. Johnstons Sterling Dundee with many other places and then returned home The Scots and French returning found little or no sustenance by reason of the late ruins so that the Frenchmen were forced to return home without Horses Arms or Money but the Admiral and several Grandees were kept as Pledges by the Scots till the French King had satisfied the losses and damages which they had sustained meerly for his sake upon whose account they entred into this War whereupon he was forced to send what Money they demanded to redeem his Commanders The French King vowing Revenge against the English for these Disgraces prepared a very great Army which he designed to transport into England in a Navy of no less than 1200 Ships Against whom King Richard soon raised vast Forces consisting in above 100000 Men. But all these mighty Preparations soon came to nothing for the French Soldiers in their March toward the Ships committed such horrid
Insolencies that they were hated and cursed by the Inhabitants who did them all the mischief possible and hid their Provisions from them so that they were forced first to sell their Arms then their Horses and last of all their Clothes to keep themselves from starving after which the French King finding how odious they were to the People and not being able to give them fresh Supplies of Money and Victuals he suddenly disbanded them and lost his Honour his great Hopes and Money all at once After this the Barons humbly beseech the King to confirm his former Oath and to expell those wicked Counsellors afore-mentioned and banish those flattering Judges who to please him had subscribed such Illegal Opinions but the King absolutely denied their Request Whereupon to prevent their own and the Kingdoms Ruine as they declared they raised a strong Army of their Friends and Abettors wherewith they marched toward London with full resolution to have those former Laws confirmed Upon which those vile Favourites fled all to the French King for Aid against the Lords The King having tried the Affections of his People and finding they would not fight against the Barons especially the Londoners seemed to agree with the Lords assuring them he would call a Parliament wherein those Favourites should answer to all charged against them and if convicted should suffer such Punishment as they should judge fit This unexpected Condescension so highly contented the Lords that they returned the King hearty Thanks and presently disbanded all their Forces but the Kings Mind was soon altered for he permitted Robert Vere Duke of Ireland to raise 5000 Men for the Guard of his own Person which the Lords observing they in an instant got their Confederates together and suddenly encompassed the Duke and his Army near the Thames so that he was forced to swim cross on Horseback from whence he presently fled into France where about five years after as he was hunting he was slain by a Wild Boar. Yet such was the Affection of the King toward him while he lived that he caused his dead Carcase to be embalmed and brought into England and to be apparelled in Princely Robes and Ornaments putting about his Neck a Chain of massy Gold coveâ—ing his Fingers with Rings and solemnizing his Funeral with all manner of Pomp and Magnificence But to return After the Duke had escaped as aforesaid the Barons executed several of his chief Companions for terrour to others but commanded the Multitude to return home with all speed and then marching to London were highly treated and enterta ned by the Citizens The King who kept his Court in the Tower of London was now willing to admit of a Conference with the Lords where it was concluded That a Parliament should be called who being met the Kings Counsellors and Judges were condemned for High Treason against the King and Kingdom John Earl of Salisbury and Sir Nicholas Brember were beheaded and Tresillian the Lord Chief Justice was hanged at Tyburn and the rest of the Judges had suffered the same Fate had not the importunate Request of the Queen changed it into Banishment And thus were all things in a great measure setled and composed The next year the Scots invaded the Land and did much mischief but by the Discretion of the States a Truce was concluded for seven years And soon after John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster raising a strong Army transported them into Spain where he demanded the Kingdom of Castile in the Right of his Wife Constance eldest Daughter of Peter the deposed and slain King and with the assistance of the King of Portugal he performed many great services forcing the King of Spain to sue for peace who married Constance the Dukes Eldest Daughter by his said wife and gave him eight Waggons loaden with massy Gold paying also ten thousand Marks yearly to him and his Dutchess during their Lives He likewise married his younger Daughter Ann to the King of Portugal and then returned to England with great riches and honour In his sixteenth year the usurped Jurisdiction of the Pope was abridged for it was enacted in Parliament That the Popes pretended Authority within this Kingdom shall thenceforth cease and that no appeal upon any Account should be made to the Court of Rome and the penalty of perpetual Imprisonment and Forfeiture of Lands and Goods In his seventeenth year his virtuous Queen Ann died and two years after K. Richard married Isabel Daughter to Charles the Sixth of France upon which a peace was concluded betwixt both Nations for Thirty years and K. Richard rashly delivered up the strong Town and Castle of Brest to the Duke of Brittain which much discontended the Nobility especially the Duke of Glocester the Kings Uncle who plainly told him That it was not convenient to deliver up that without blows which his Ancestors had gained with so much expence of blood whereas the King inraged resolved upon revenge and therefore hearkened to all manner of false informations against him and among others he was told That the Electors designed to have chosen him Emperor of Germany had not his Vncle and others represented him as altogether unfit and unable to Govern an Empire who could not rule his own Subjects at home This false suggestion still aggravated the Kings Anger against the Lords so that under pretence of friendship and with the breach of his Oath and honour he caused the Duke of Glocester and the Earls of Warwick and Arundel to be suddenly apprehended and then summoning a Parliament Sir John Bushie Speaker of the House of Commons a man of a proud and insolent Spirit in a long speech magnified the King profanely attributing to him the highest Titles of Divine Honour and condemning to Hell all that as he said had traiterously conspired against his Majesty and particularly impeaching the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who sate next the King and was silent because the King under pretence of favour had enjoined him not to answer and to absent himself for the future protesting that no damage should arise to him yet for want of answering these false Accusations he was with the Kings consent banished the Realm the Earl of Arundel was beheaded for High Treason and the Earl of Warwick escaped upon great submission and confessing many Crimes whereof he was altogether Innocent but the good Duke of Glocester without Tryal or sentence was sent to Callice and by the Kings order Thomas Mowbray Earl of Nottingham caused him to be there stiffled betwixt two Feather-beds for which good service he was made Duke of Norfolk The King likewise procured both Houses of Parliament to grant full and absolute power to six or eight such Persons as he should nominate to enact and determine what they should think Convenient in all causes whereby many mischievous things were decreed to the dammage of the Kingdom and to please his Guard who were most Cheshire men of mean birth and fortunes he stiled himself Prince
of Cheshire as if that were more honourable then to be King of the Realm and to sweetten these things honours were bestowed upon divers Noble-men his Cousen Henry Bullingbroke Earl of Darby Son and Heir apparent to the Kings Fourth Uncle John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was created Duke of Hereford his Cousen Edward Plantaginet Earl of Rutland was created Duke of Albemarle and several others were advanced He also granted free pardon to all but fifteen whom he should name whereby he kept the Nobility in fear and awe so that if any offended him he would declare him to be one of the fifteen and put his life upon Tryal for pretended Treason It happened about this time that the Duke of Hereford hearing daily complaints of the Kings misgovernment and his extream arbitrary and illegal proceedings he privately disclosed his grief thereat to the Duke of Norfolk intreating him to inform the King thereof and to beseech him to be more favourable to the Lords who were with too great severity condemned for High-Treason The Duke of Norfolk regarding more his own advancement then the Common good resolved to rise by the fall of his friend and therefore told all to the King with the most malicious and aggravating circumstances imaginable whereat the King inraged summoned his Cousen to answer who freely acknowledged what he had privately and friendly desired might be reformed but denied the false suggestions added thereto and challenged the Duke of Norfolk to a single combate to vindicate himself which was accepted and consented to by the King but when the day came and they entted the Lists for fight the King would not suffer them to proceed but banished the Duke of Norfolk for ever who soon after died at Venice and the Duke of Hereford for six years who went into France and was honourably received by that King and not long after his Father John Duke of Lancaster died and the King unjustly seized all his honours and estate into his hands which he divided among his Flatterers and Minions which unworthy act so much displeased his Uncles the Duke of York and the Duke of Albemarl that they left the Court and retired to their own Houses In the mean time the King was wholly misled by the lewd conduct of William Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Sir James Bagot Sir John Bushie and Sir Henry Green by whose advice without consent of his Counsel he raised a great Army farming the whole Revenues of his Kingdom to these his favourites for several years and sailing into Ireland wholly subdued that rebelling Nation but in his absence Henry now Duke of Lancaster with his old friend Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury returned to England to claim his Dutchy of Lancaster and landing in the North great numbers of armed Troops admiring his Nobility and virtues joined with him so that within a few days he marched to London and was there received and entertained with much joy King Richard returning soon raised great Forces which he conducted against the Duke but perceiving his Subjects daily revolt from him and hearing that his three unworthy Favourites Scroop Bushie and Green on whom he most relied were taken and beheaded he voluntarily came to the Duke of Lancaster and confessing his own insufficiency and weakness to govern well praised the singular Qualities of the Duke as worthy of a Kingdom offering to resign it to him if he would accept thereof Though the Duke was very willing to wear a Crown yet hoping to have it by the free consent of all the Nobility and People he caused the King to be guarded to the Tower of London and then calling a Parliament twenty four Articles of Misgovernment were publickly charged against the King and sent him by both Houses of Parliament who not only confessed them to be true acknowledging his inability to Rule better but by an Instrument in Writing under his Hand and Seal resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry Duke of Lancaster which being read and generally approved of by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons they deposed King Richard and made Henry King and his old Friend Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury installed him in the Royal Throne Richard was then sent to Pomfret Castle but Henry fearing his Government could not be safe while Richard lived he was soon after assaulted by Sir Pierce of Exton and eight more with Bills and Poleaxes in his lodging and after valiant resistance made was overpowered and murdered by them in the twenty second year of his Reign and the thirty third of his Age 1399. In this Age lived Sir John Mandevil of whom so many Fictitious Relations have been written that it may be judged he was never in being But very credible Historians assert that there was such a person born at St. Albans in Hartfordshire who attaining to Learning had an earnest desire to visit Asia and Africa which he accordingly performed travelling thirty four years into Scythia Armenia Egypt Lybia Arabia Media Mesopotamia Persia Chaldâ—â—a Greece Illyria Tartary and divers other Kingdoms of the World and committed what he had observed to Writing at his return wherein though there may seem some things incredible yet it may be supposed many of them were taken from fabulous Authors and added to his Book and others were written by report from others for that he did not design to relate lies may appear because he kept his Religion after all his wandrings and and did oft complain of the corruptions of that Age saying often Virtus cessat c. In our time it may be certainly said that Virtue is departed the Clergy err the Devil reigneth and Simony beareth sway Some Authors write he died at Leige in Germany where they shew the Furniture of his Horse and Spurs worn in his Travels yet the Town of St. Albans will not allow of it but claim the honour of his Interment and have a riming Epitaph for him upon a Pillar near where they judge his Body lies which Mr. Weaver says in his Monuments being set to some lofty tune as the Burning of Antichrist or the like will be worth singing It is as follows All you that pass by on this Pillar cast Eye This Epitaph read if you can 'T will tell you a Tomb stood once in this room Of a gallant Spirited Man John Mandevil by name a Knight of great fame Born in this honoured Town Before him was none that ever was known For Travel of so high renown As the Knights in the Temple cross legg'd in Marble In Armor with Sword and with Shield So was this Knight grac't which time hath defac't That nothing but ruins doth yield His Travels being done he shines like the Sun In Heavenly Canaan To which blessed place O Lord of his Grace Bring us all Man after Man HENRY the FOURTH King of England c. From misled Richard I the Crown did wrest Which wrongfully upon my Head was plac'd Vncivil Civil Wars the Realm molest And Englishmen do England
spoil and wast Fathers their Sons and Sons their Fathers slew Vndutiful unkind unnatural This War Now York then Lancaster great grew As Conquest did on either side befal But I the Crown and Scepter still did hold For what by wrong I got by force I wore And Prince of Wales I made my Son so bold But as my greatness still increased more By fatal Fate my Vital Thred was cut And all my Glory in a Grave was put THough by right the Crown of England if K. Richard should dye without issue ought to have descended to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir to Edmond Mortimer by Philip his Wife who was Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of King Edward the third yet his Cousen Henry of Bullingbroke Duke of Hereford and Son and Heir of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the younger Brother of Lionel was Elected and Crowned King For after the Resignation of K. Richard was read openly in Parliament Duke Henry rising from his Seat made his challenge to the Crown as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Edward the third by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent to me and by the help of my Friends for the recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition to be lost through default of Government and breach of Laws After he had thus spoke the States acknowledged him for King and placed him on the Royal Throne though the whole proceedings against Richard were publickly condemned by John Bishop of Carlisle as hateful to God and Trayterous toward their Prince he not having the favour of Thieves and murderers who are try'd by indifferent Judges and condemned after full proof against them But the Bishop had no sooner ended his Speech e're he was seized by the Earl Marshal and committed close Prisoner in the Abby of St. Albans In this Parliament the Crown of England was intailed upon King Henry and his Heirs for ever and the King created his eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester The Parliament was no sooner ended but several of the greatest Lords who pretended most Joy for Henry's advancement conspired to take away his life at a solemn Justs or Triumph at Oxford contr ved for that purpose In this Treason were engaged Edward Plantaginet Duke of Aumerle Son and Heir apparent to Edmond of Langley Duke of York Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and John his Brother Duke of Exeter both half Brothers to King Richard John Montague Earl of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earl of Glocester Sir Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen a Servant to King Richard and in Stature and Countenance much like him All the Conspirators except the Duke of Aumerle met at Oxford at the time appointed with strong Guards who going to visit his Father the old Duke snatch't a Writing out of his bosom wherein the whole Plot was display'd who thereupon made haste to discover it to the King at Windsor but his Son outriding him another way came first just as K. Henry was providing to go and disclosing all received the Kings Pardon who perceiving his danger went presently to the Tower of London preparing to raise a great Army The Conspirators upon this discovery being desperate put Magdalen into Royal Robes affirming him to be K. Richard escaped out of Prison and with great Forces they marched toward London to meet the King who going courageously against them with 20000 Men the common Souldiers were so discouraged that they generally run away and left their Lords who were most of them taken and put to death in several parts of the Kingdom Thus was King Henry delivered from this Danger and to prevent the like for the future he caused King Richard to be murdered at Pomfret Castle as aforementioned When the French King Charles the Sixth Father-in-Law to King Richard heard of his Deposing he sent Letters of Defiance to King Henry and raised an Army-Royal in Picardy resolving to revenge his Wrongs but when he heard certainly of his Death he desisted After this the Welch and Scots made Invasions but King Henry with Fire and Sword soon quelled them Yet the next year the Scots again entred the Northern Borders with barbarous Cruelty but were encountred by Henry Hotspur Son of the Earl of Northumberland with 10000 stout Men who gave them a bloody Overthrow killing above 10000 Scots in the Field and taking above 500 Prisoners and among them the Earls of Douglas Fife Murray and Angus The next year the French King sent 1200 Lords and Commanders to Wales to assist Owen Glendour in his Rebellion but meeting with a Storm twelve of his greatest Ships were cast away with all the Men and Arms and the rest with great difficulty returned to France Which Misfortune caused the English to scoff and scorn the French Kings unprosperous Expedition which so exasperated him that he immediately sent another Army of 12000 Men who landed safely and joyned with 10000 rebellious Welch then in Arms. King Henry being sensible of his own danger if he should make but one false Step presenâ—ly provided a very brave Army and marched with all expedition into Wales which when the Frenchmen had notice of distrusting the fickle Nature of the Welch and fearing they would forsake them in time of danger and fly to their Woods and Mountains like Men amazed they run back to their Ships and cowardly returned to France without effecting any thing upon which the Welch likewise disbanded so that King Henry dissolved his great Army and returned home without Blows In his third year King Henry demanded the Scotch Prisoners taken in the last Battel by Henry Hotspur the Earl of Northumberland Earl of Worcester and others who refused to deliver them alledging That by the Law of Arms they belonged to them upon which great Discontents arose between them For the Piercies resolved to restore their Cousin Edmund Mortimer the true Heir to the Crown and to depose King Henry To which end they first earnestly petitioned the King to ransom him he being taken Prisoner by Own Glendour in fighting for King Henry but the King not granting their Request as not desiring his Liberty caused it to be published That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give some colour for the Treasons the Lords had contrived on his behalf The Piercies being much disturbed at this Proclamation paid his Ransom to Glendour and redeemed him entring likewise into a League with Glendour of mutual Defence and for deposing King Henry and several Scottish Lords joyning with them they raised considerable Forces publishing Six Articles of High Misdemeanours and Misgovernment against King Henry for which they defied him as a Traytor and Usurper and vowed his Destruction King Henry now finding his Crown lay at stake levied a stout Army and first
desire you to sufferour sick and wounded men with our women and Children to pass safely through your Camp and if afterward you dare assault our walls and forts and by your courage should happen to become our Lord you may then deal with us as you please and by this action may make your self famous among those Heroes who scorn all mean attempts and regard nothing so much as unspotted honour and reputation The King having with some trouble heard this bold Oration he presently returned this undaunted Answer Proud vain glorious Frenchmen Do you imagin that I am so weak a Scholar in the Art of War as not to have yet learned the principles thereof are not the Sword Fire and Famine the three principal Instruments wherewith the most renowned Kings and Gallant Captains have ever and do still endeavour to subdue their enemies and being joined together are they not able to conquer the stoutest nation in the World it was my goodness and Clemency that I did not assault your walls with my Sword because I would not willingly be the death of any but those who wilfully seek their own destruction neither do I intend to consume so fair a Jewel as this City is with Fire but desire to preserve it as being my own Right and Inheritance if I then use the mildest of the three that is Famine to correct you and bring you to reason you may if you please quickly free your selves from it by delivering this City into my hands which if you shall obstinately refuse I will make you sensible that every impudent talking fellow is not fit to instruct Princes in martial affairs neither ought bookish unexperienced Plebeians to read warlike Lectures to me who am their enemy you desire nay you saucily require that your sick and starved People may pass into the Country through my Army and then if I dare I may assault your Town the World will certainly wonder at your cruelty who have barbarously and uncharitably thrust out of your Gates multitudes of innocent poor distressed People of your own blood kindred and Country on purpose that I should unmercifully kill and destroy them yet such hath been my mercy that I have often relieved and succored them but since I find your obstinacy still continue I henceforth resolve not to give them any comfort and if they perish with Famine as they needs must God will require their blood at your Hands who would most wickedly expose them to these calamities and not at mine who would willingly preserve them if I could have my right be you therefore assured that since you remain so obdurate they shall not pass through my Army but die at your Gates unless your hard Hearts yield them some pity And when I see cause I will assault your Town to your cost but will not be directed how nor when by you in the mean time I would have you know that he who does thus invade and march through the very bowels of your Countrey he who hath already taken as strong though not so great Cities as this and he who with the death and destruction of your chiefest Nobles Captains and most valiant men at Arms hath forced his way thus to besiege your Town dares also if he please assault it and doubts not in the least to win it when he shall think fit The King having thus spoke ordered that the French Commissioners should Dine with his great Officers of State and with a frowning Countenance turned from them after Dinner the Frenchmen consulting among themselves humbly begged of the King a Truce for eight days to consult what was to be done which the King naturally inclined to Clemency freely granted during which daily conferences passed between both partys but nothing was concluded upon which the Townsmen desired only one day more which was frankly assented to in which the Common People hearing nothing was done fell into a dreadful mutiny and threatned to cut their Commanders Throats for suffering them to starve like Dogs for their own pleasure and therefore they forced them to deliver up this great and strong City The French being much disheartned at these disasters a Treaty of Peace was begun in which K. Henry being denied all his demands was very angry and told the Duke of Burgundy the Regent of the Kingdom That he would have the Princess Katherine to Wife and all those Countreys and Provinces he required or else he would drive both his Master and himself out of the Kingdom The Duke reply'd Such words were spoke with much ease but it would cost him much trouble and pains to make them good Which King Henry was resolved to do and therefore suddenly tooâ— the Town of Poictois in a dark night with scaling Laâ—◠〈◊〉 without blows and thereby laid the way open to Pâ— before which the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother 〈◊〉 with his Troops two days and much affrighted 〈◊〉 â—itizens but being â—â—able to assault it with so 〈◊〉 a number he rose from thence and within seâ—â—â—ays took all the Towns Cities Castles and Forts in Normandy except Mount St. Michael The Duke of Burgundy finding that the want of an entire friendship between him and the Dauphin was the chief cause of the destruction of France resolved to agree with him but the Dauphin being irreconcileable upon their meeting caused the Duke to be trecherously murdered which yet seemed to be a just revenge upon him he himself having caused Lewis the Duke of Orleance to be murthered upon a like enterview in the tenth year of K. Henry the Fourth Philip the Dukes Son was extreamly inraged with this horrible accident and to be quit with the Dauphin he with the Earl of Flanders used all means to conclude a Peace betwixt the Kings of England and France and so turn all their Forces against the Dauphin who acted upon his own account and had lately deprived the the Queen of France of her Treasure who therefore hated and abhorred him and to that end it was agreed that K. Henry should meet with Charles the Sixth K. of France Isabel his Queen and the Lady Katharine where a firm Peace was soon agreed on and K. Henry was married with great triumph to the Lady Katharine and was proclaimed sole Regent and Heir apparent of the Crown of France both in England and France King Charles only to have Possession during life After this Peace which consisted of twenty Articles very advantageous to Henry and that the Nobility of both Kingdoms had sworn to them the two Kings accompanied with James the young and valiant King of Scots the Duke of Burgundy Prince of Orange with a great many Lords and Knights besieged and took all the strong Towns and Castles in the Dutchy of Burgundy which joyned with the Dauphin and then they all marched to Paris where K. Henry was again proclaimed Heir apparent of France and soon after a great Assembly was called at Paris where both Kings sat as Judges and the Dutchess
of Burgundy appealed against Charles the late Dauphin and seven others as murderers of her Lord and no defence being made for them they were all summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris by a certain day which they refusing were Banished out of all the Territories of France and to forfeit all their Honours Dignities and Estates The Dauphin having notice thereof went to his old Friend the Earl of Arminiach late Constable of France who espoused his cause and assisted him with Men Money and Arms and soon after the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother meeting with a Body of his Forces under the Command of the Duke of Alanson and being falsly informed of their strength by a trecherous Lombard he fell upon them but was overpowered and slain with several other English Noblemen and near two thousand Common Souldiers K. Henry was much grieved with this unexpected overthrow resolving to be revenged of the Dauphin and his adherents and to that end called a Parliament who gave him a plentiful supply but because it would be long in gathering he pawned his Crown to his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester for 20000 pounds with which soon raising an Army of 30000 stout Men he lands at Calice with John Duke of Bedford and with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Flanders and James K. of Scots he took several Towns from the Dauphin who not daring to venture a Battel fled from place to place designing to tire out the Kings Army in pursuit of him about which time K. Henry had notice that his Q. Katharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor upon which with a Prophetick Spirit as was judged he said I Henry born at Monmouth shall continue but a short time and gain much but Henry born at Windsor shall Reign long and lose all which happened accordingly The King still won more Forts and Castles from the Dauphin who finding the King was gone far from him raised another Army and streightly besieged the City of Cosâ—â—y in Burgundy who agreed to deliver it to him if not relieved within ten days of which K. Henry having advice marched with sufficient Force to succour it but fell so sick by the way that he could travel no further however John Duke of Bedford proceeded on of whose Courage and Conduct the Dauphin being afraid raised the Siege and retired The Kings sickness encreasing he was carried to Boys in Vincennes where he in a few days died before his death he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Lieutenant General of Normandy and Regent of the Kingdom of France and his other Brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester Protector of England and of his Sons Person and then exhorted them with the rest of the Nobles present to maintain true friendship with his faithful Confederate Philip Duke of Burgundy to be at Unity among themselves to be True and Loyal to his Son King Henry to assist by all means his sad and mournful Queen and to maintain by Wisdom and Courage what he by Gods help and his own valour had gotten He died in the thirty eighth year of his Age and the ninth of his Reign 1442. and his Body being conveyed into England was buried with great Pomp and Solemnity in Westminster Abby upon whose Tomb his Queen caused his Royal Statue to be lay'd covered over with Silver Plate gilt the Head thereof being Massy Silver but in the time of K. Henry the eighth the head and the other Silver was stolen away yet the Headless Monument is to be seen at this day with the following Verses on the Tomb. Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heir of France Great Hector lies in Dust HENRY the SIXTH King of England c. MY Father Englands Warlike Mars being dead And I an Infant but of eight Months old The Diadem was plac'd upon my head In Royal Robes the Scepter I did hold But wonderful are the Almighty's Ways And past Mans Reason e're to comprehend For I had nought but sad and woful Days Even from my Birth unto my Tragick End ' Gainst me the House of York their Force did bend Both Peers and People weltred in their Gore That Crown and Scepter they from me did rend My Sire and Grandsire both had worn before Twice was I Crown'd uncrown'd oft blest oft croft At last my Life and Kingdom both I lost THough King Henry the Sixth was not above eight Months old at his Fathers Death yet by the wise Conduct of his two Uncles afore-mentioned the Government was managed with all manner of Prudence and Discretion But soon after the Death of Henry the Fifth Charles the Sixth of France died likewise and the unconstant Frenchmen began to renounce their Oaths and Allegiance to the English Crown and generally revolting to Charles the Dauphin now King of France endeavoured to extirpate the English Nation and Sovereignty from among them To which purpose their new King seised upon Pont Melance a Town on the River Sâ—yn without any warning and slew most of the Engliâ—h Garrison therein but Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury a great Champion in that Age by the Regents Order regained it and caused the Inhabitants again to swear Allegiance to King Henry which they soon after again forfeited and the Parisians invited Charles to come to their City but the Regent having notice thereof tho' he was then engaged in Mirth and Triumphs as having at that time married the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter yet made such speed with his Army that he was at their Gates before they were aware and having seised on the principal Conspirators and executed them publickly by divers cruel Deaths he secured the City by divers new Forts a strong Garrison and a severe Governour The Protector still furnishing the Regent with fresh Supplies of all things from England he daily won divers strong Towns and Fortresses the French King not daring to engage in fight with him though he often shewed himself and boasted of his Valour While all things succeeded well there hapned an unfortunate Accident at Mons where the French suddenly surprised the English within the City and killed them all without the least pity or compassion but the Garrison-Soldiers got into the Castle which the French resolving to besiege and starve them out gave themselves over at present to Ease and Jollity Of this the Lord Talbot was advised who the next Night marched thither with 700 Men and got into the Castle and then issuing out under their Governour the Earl of Suffolk they rushed violently into the Town crying out aloud St. George A Talbot a Talbot wherewith the sleepy drunken Frenchmen were so amazed that some leaped naked over the Walls in their Shirts and broke their Necks about 400 Gentlemen were slain and taken Prisoners the Common People being released After which 30 Citizens 20 Priests and 15 Fryars were put to death
with divers Torments as Conspirators for delivering the Town to the French which was thus gallantly regained to King Henry The Duke of Exeter Tutor to the Kings Person dying at this time the Earl of Warwick was sent to England to take that Charge and the Renowned Earl of Salisbury with an Army of 10000 Men was sent into France with which he besieged the strong City of Orleance upon the River Loyer which had been lately strongly fortified where after two Months Siege the Earl was slain and the Earl of Suffolk succeeded as General who pressed the Siege so close that the Besieged being hopeless of Succour offered to surrender the Town to the Duke of Burgundy who refused it without the Consent of the Duke of Bedford the Regent who though persuaded thereto would by no means consent since he himself had undergone all the Trouble hitherto This Answer pierced the Duke of Burgundy to the Heart so that from thenceforward his Affections grew cold toward the English and he became a secret Well-willer to the French During this Parley a young Maid of about eighteen years old was presented to the French King at Chinon who pretended she was sent from God to deliver France from the English Bondage and thereupon she was called The Mother of God however she in this extremity was believed by the Common People and being armed like a Man she rides to Blois and in company with the Admiral and Marshal of France enters Orleance with fresh Forces and Provisions which so encouraged the Besieged that they issued out at midnight and fell upon the English staying 600 of them in an instant but assaulting the Bastile where the Lord Talbot was he issued out so courageously that they were forced to fly on every side and with very great Loss hardly escaped into the Town but however the next day the Earl of Suffolk raised the Siege This Deliverance was attributed by the Citizens of Orleance to the Conduct of the Martial Maid who was called Joan of Arc and therefore they erected a Monument wherein she and Charles the Seventh King of France were represented kneeling in Armour with their Hands and Eyes toward Heaven After this the English had very doubtful Success for the next day after raising the Siege the Lord Talbot won the strong Town and Castle of Laval and a few days after the Duke of Alanson with Joan of Arc took the Town of Jargeux and in it the Earl of Suffolk and one of his Brothers Prisoners killing another The Duke of Alanson's Army being newly reinforced to near 20000 Men hapned to meet with the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford who were marching with onely 5000 to fortifie another Town upon whom the French fell with great fury insomuch that the three Lords were taken Prisoners and 1200 of their Men slain the rest flying into the Town Upon this Defeat several Cities Towns and Castles immediately surrendred to the French King who soon after took Rhemes and was there Crowned which gained him a great Opinion and caused many more Places to be delivered to him and then attempted to take the City of Paris but by the Valour of the English were repulsed and defeated The Duke of Bedford observing the Success which followed upon the Coronation of King Charles caused King Henry likewise to be Crowned at Paris in the Tenth year of his Age and Reign having been Crowned two years before at Westminster About this time a Truce was concluded for Six years which yet lasted not Three And now the Duke of Bedford's Lady who was Sister to the Duke of Burgundy dying soon after her Brother forsakes the English and joyns with the French King which was followed with the taking of St. Dennis and within two years after the Regent died and was buried at Roan whereat the Citizens some years after complained to Lewis who succeeded Charles but the King publickly protested That he deserved a more sumptuous Sepulchre who in his Life-time scorned to stir a Foot back for all the Power of France and that there was no greater Sign of Baseness and Cowardice than to insult over those when dead whom they durst not withstand while alive The French King now proceeds victoriously and Joan of Arc afore-mentioned accompanying the Duke of Alanson takes in many Towns and endeavouring to raise the Siege of Champaigne they enter the City in despite of the English but afterward sallying forth their Troops were beaten and Joan her self taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of 10000 l. and 300 Crowns a year delivered her to the English who sent her to the Bishop of Bevoirs in whose Diocess she was taken by whom for Sorcery Blood-shed and unnatural use of Manly Apparel she was burnt to death at Roan Many Opinions were held of her Some thought her miraculously raised for the Deliverance of France others that she was a Cheat and Impostor and her Epitaph seems to infer the same Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question Wrong or Right Her Death 's in doubt by Law or Might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean while France a Wonder saw A Woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore After the death of the Noble Regent the valiant Duke of Bedford Richard Duke of York succeeded in his room to the great regret of Edmond Duke of Somerset the Kings Cousin which occasioning private Hatred made way for publick Mischief For soon after the City of Paris revolted and divers others followed that Example At this time Queen Katherine the Kings Mother died who after the King her Husbands death married a handsom Gentleman named Owen Tudor who though of mean Estate yet was descended from Cadwallader the last King of tâ—e Brittains by whom she had two Sons Edmund and Jasper the eldest of whom was by King Henry the Sixth created Earl of Richmond and married Margaret sole Heir to John Duke of Somerset on whom he begot Henry the Seventh In a little while the Duke of York is removed and the Earl of Warwick is put in his Place by the Council of England and from henceforth the Affairs in France succeeded worse every day which was occasioned by the Wisdom of the French Nobility who grew sensible of their miserable Divisions and now united against the English Another Reason was the unhappy Marriage of the King with Margaret the Daughter of Reyner King of Sicily a poor Prince so that he had nothing with her and which was worse King Henry was obliged by the Articles of this Marriage to give to her Father all his Right and Title to the Counties of Anjou and Mayn which bordered upon Normandy
and much weakned the Kings Army so that soon after all Aquitain was lost Another Cause was the horrid Murder of the innocent Duke of Glocester for the King being of a mild patient and virtuous Temper and the Queen on the contrary of a proud politick revengeful Humour despised the soft Disposition of her Husband and could not endure that the King being now of full Age should be any longer under a Governour and to that end was resolved to dismiss the good Duke of Glocester from his Protectorship being much encouraged therein by the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of Suffolk the rich Cardinal of Winchester and the Archbishop of York and a Parliament being called the Duke of Glocester by their procurement was arrested and committed to Prison for High-Treason and the next morning was found dead in his bed and judged by all to be barbarously murdered And now the Duke of Tork secretly conspired with his accomplices to set up his Title to the Crown and the Duke of Suffolk ruling all used several oppressive methods against the People whereby no man nor money was raised for France and the Counsel not able to manage any thing to the honour of the King either at home or abroad so that in a short time all Normandy was lost for which the Duke of Suffolk was accused in Parliament and committed to the Tower but the Queen suddenly dissolving the Parliament restored him again to favour yet afterward upon the importunity of the Commons he was banished for five years but being taken by an English man of War as he was sailing to France they landed him at Dover and cut off his head on the sands whereby the innocent blood of the Duke of Glocester was in some measure revenged When the English had thus lost France a French Captain scoffingly asked an Englishman when they would return again to France who seriously replied when your sins shall be greater and m re grievous in the sight of God than ours then shall the English again Conquer France It has been observed that from the Reign of King Edward the first to this time which was about two hundred years there was an extraordinary concurrence of martial men prudent Counsels and excellent conduct so that this Nation was renowned throughout the Christian World but why they did all afterwards decay must be left to the learned to discuss The Duke of York being sent into Ireland to suppress a Rebellion there and hearing how matters went both in England and France began to declare his right to the Crown as being descended from Philip Daughter and Heir of George Duke of Clarence elder Brother to John of Gaunt great Grand-Father to Henry the sixth these things being whispered by the Duke of York's friends and Allies in England and likewise that the Kings understanding was weak the Queen proud and ambitious and the Council base and treacherous and that all France was lost because of the usurpation of King Henry it caused great dissatisfactions in the minds of the People upon which Jack Cade calling himself John Mortimer made an insurrection in Kent and with a rude multitude marched toward the King then at Greenwich sending a Message that he intended no harm to his Royal Person but would only displace some of his evill Councellors who were great oppressors of the People the Queen soon raised an Army to suppress them but they were defeated by Cade who marched to London and did much mischief but the Kings General Pardon being Proclaimed his followers left him and Jack Cade was slain fighting for his Life This cloud being past a greater suceeded for many of the Nobility and Commons hating the ill Government of the Queen and her adherents sent for the Duke of York from Ireland the chief of his friends being the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Devonshire Salisbury Warwick and the L. Cobham who concluded to raise an Army to remove the Duke of Somerset from the King and Queen as a deceiver of the King a friend to his enemies and the chief occasion of the loss of France the King fearing the worst likewise raised an Army but to take away all pretence he committed the D. of Somerset to the Tower upon which the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came privately to Court where he found the Duke of Somerset with the King by whose procurement the Duke of York was committed some few days Prisoner but being again at Liberty he made fresh complaints of the disorders of the Government and the Duke of Somerset and strengthning himself with the power of the chief of the Nobility he caused Somerset to be arrested for High-Treason on the Queens great Chamber from whence he was sent to the Tower but was presently after released and made Captain of Callice Upon which the Duke of York again lâ—â—ieth an Army and was met by another on the Kings part at St. Albans where a bloudy battle was fought above eight thousand and among them the Duke of Somerset being slain and King Henry taken Prisoner and brought to the Duke of York who used him courteously and having called a Parliament at London the Duke of York was made Protector of the Kings Person the Earl of Salisbury Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Norwich his Son Captain of Callice who managed affairs to the general satisfaction of the Nobility and People but the Duke of Buckingham having lost his eldest Son and the new Duke of Somerset his Father resolved upon revenge and joyning with the Queen they called a great Councel at Greenwich by whose Authority the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury were removed from the Government the Queen designing by all means to cut them off of which the Duke of York being sensible resolved now to maintain his claim to the Crown in the open Field and to that purpose raised an Army but his intention being discovered too early to the King he fled with his youngest Son to Ireland his eldest Son the Earl of March got to Callice where he was joyfully received from whence returning by the incouragement of several of the Nobility and landing at Sandwich in Kent he soon gathered an Army of Twenty five thousand men with which he met the Kings forces at Northampton where after a furious fight the King was routed with the loss of ten thousand men and himself taken Prisoner The Duke of York having notice of this Victory returns suddenly to London from Ireland where a Parliament being called in the Kings name the Duke sitting down in the imperial Throne in the House of Lords in an eloquent speech declared his right to the Crown whereupon after mature deliberation it was enacted by both Houses That King Henry should retain the name and honour of a King during life that the Duke of York should be proclaimed Heir Apparent of the Crown and to be a present Lord Protector of the Realm and that if King Henry or any of his confederates should
thereof was extreamly displeased at so great an affront and secretly contrived mischief against him to whom the Duke of Clarence who had been disobliged by his Brother joyned himself and married Warwick's Daughter and soon after with other great Lords and Confederates they raised a Rebellion in York-shire and were so strong that at Banbury King Edwards Forces were overthrown and 5000 of them slain the Lord Rivers the Queens Father and the Lord Strafford being beheaded Yet King Edward preparing another great Army marched toward the Rebels but many of the Nobility endeavouring to procure a Peace obtained a Parley during which King Edward being less watchful of himself was seized in his Bed by the treacherous Earl of Warwick and secretly sent Prisoner to Middleham Castle in York-shire to be there kept Prisoner by his own Brother the Archbishop of York who likewise joined with Clarence and Warwick against him from whom either accidentally or willingly he soon after made his escape and at last came safe to London where by the procurement of the Lords the King the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence met upon security given in Westminster Hall where Warwick used such high Language to the King upbraiding him for his Ingratitude that all parted in high discontent and soon after at the Battel of Loosecoats the Rebels were beaten by King Edward throwing off their Coats for haste to make their escape in which fight were slain 10000 men The Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence hearing of this misfortune fled in despair with their Ladies and other Gentlewomen to Callice but were denied entrance by the Governour though the Dutchess of Clarence was then in Labour and delivered on Shipboard whereupon they went to Deip in France and were kindly entertained by that King where divers others repairing to them they consulted to restore King Henry and Prince Edward Henry's Son married the Earl of Warwicks second Daughter whereat the Duke of Clarence was much concerned and resolved to submit to his Brother upon the first opportunity All things being in readiness Warwick and his Confederates imbark for London and land at Dartmouth where his Forces soon increased very much and he then made Proclamation in all places for all men to come to his aid against the Duke of York who falsely and traiterously called himself King In the mean time Edward levied a strong Army wherewith he marched toward the Rebels but being informed of the general love of the People to Warwick and hearing me then loud shouts of King Henry King Henry a Warwick a Warwick he suspected the fidelity of his own Forces and with 800 of his best Friends left his Army and fled in the Night to Lincolnshire and from thence to Holland to the Duke of Burgundy As soon as it was known that Edward was gone the Earl of Warwick câ—me to London and taking Henry out of the Tower carried him triumphantly through the City to Pauls and from thence to the Bishops Pallace where he kept his Court. Then a Parliament being called Edward and his Adherents were attainted of High Treason and their Estates confiscate to the King the Duke of Clarence is declared Heir of the Dukedom of York and the Crown is intailed upon Henry and his Heirs and in default of his issue to the Duke of Clarence and his In a short time Edward by the assistance of the Duke of Burgundy lands in England with small Forces and few joyning with him he declared he came not to challenge the Crown but only his inheritance of the Dutchy of York upon which the People flock't in to him and at last the Lords told him They durst not joyn with him unless he would stile himself King which he did accordingly and the Earl of Warwick with other Nobles coming against him with a strong Army got into Coventry they suspecting the Duke of Clarence who joining accordingly with King Edward they defied the Earl of Warwick who durst not venture without the Walls King Edwar'd hereupon leaves Coventry and marches toward London where he was again joyfully received and King Henry was again committed to the Tower and was soon after followed by the Earl of Warwick who at Barnet was slain with his Brother the Marquess and 10000 men slain After this Queen Margaret landeth from France and some Nobles joyning with her the two Armys met at Teuksbury in Glocestershire where King Edward again remained Victor killing 3000 of his Adversaries and the Queen and her Son Edward were taken Prisoners the Prince being then cruelly murdered by Richard Duke of Glocester and soon after King Henry was found dead in the Tower being wickedly stabbed by the same bloody Richard After this King Edward makes his claim to France and to gain it craved aid of his Subjects by way of Benevolence and among others a covetous Widdow gave him twenty pounds which the King who was there present unknown to her observing not only gave her Thanks but came and kissed her telling her That she should have a kiss from a King for her Money whereat the old Woman was so transported that she told him a Kings kiss was worth more Money and thereupon gave him twenty pound more The King having got an Army together sailed to France but the French King fearing his power chose rather to buy his Peace of the Kings Courtiers which he did accordingly with great Sums of Money paid yearly to the English Nobility Among others he sent two thousand Crowns to the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain the Messenger desiring a Receipt for his own security which the Lord Chamberlain scrupling at said Sir What you desire is very reasonable but the Gift comes from the good Will of your King and not from my Request If you please to give it put into the Pocket of my Sleeve and no other Acquittance shall you have of me for it shall never be said that the Lord Chamberlain of England was a Pensioner to the King of France neither shall my Acquittances be ever found in the Chamber of Accounts in France After this the Lord Chamberlain was more esteemed by the French and had his Money paid without a Receipt About this time the Duke of Clarence being sent to the Tower for High Treason was drowned in a Butt of Malmsey and soon after King Edward himself died after he hid lived 40 years and reigned twenty two 1483. He was a very compleat Person exceeding Valiant but too wanton he used to say he had three Mistresses of different Qualities one of them the Fairest another the Merriest and a third the Holiest Harlot alive whom he could never send for to his Bed but she was always at Prayers with her Beads EDWARD the FIFTH King of England c. IF Birth or Beauty Innocence or Youth Could Pity raise within a Tyâ—ants Heart Then surely Richard would have found it Truth And not have acted such a bloody Part. What Glory then to be of Royal Race What Joy is there in
what sense the words were spoken The Bishop of Ely being a Prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham he by often discoursing with him became so intimate that the Duke opened his whole mind to him complaining of the bloody villanies and Tyranny of the King which the Bishop endeavoured by all means to aggravate repeating all the murders and other crimes he was guilty of and at length perswaded him to endeavour the deposing of Richard and advancing the Earl of Richmond to the Throne and thereby unite the two Houses of Lancaster and York by Richmond's marrying the Lady Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourth's eldest Daughter he being Son and Heir apparent to Margret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir of John Duke of Somerset son to John of Gaunt Fourth Son of Edward the Third and therefore a lawful Heir to the Crown and that hereby all occasion of Faction and Civil Wars would be removed and the World would be rid of a Master who was loathed and hated by all good men The Bishop having by these and many other Arguments confirmed Buckingham in his Resolution of attempting against Richard he then prevailed with him to let him go into the Isle of Ely from whence he fled to the Earl of Richmond in Flanders King Richard having notice hereof sent many rich gifts and presents to the Duke of Brittain to deliver up Richmond to him but could not prevail and tho the Plot of the Bishop was very secret yet Richard had intelligence thereof and resolved to take off Buckingham either by fair or foul means and therefore sent for him kindly to Court but the Duke knowing that Richard never spared the Blood of any who stood in his way sent submissive excuses as not being able to travel the King soon perceived his sickness was more in mind than body and therefore sent Letters full of threats peremptorily commanding him to come the Duke rather desiring an open enemy than a false friend boldly returned answer That he would not venture his life in the hands of such a Monster Murtherer and usurping Tyrant as he was and thereupon presently fled to Arms raising considerable forces in Wales Sir Edward Courtrey and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter did the like in Devonshire Sir Richard Guilford and others in Kent and the Marquess of Dorset in Yorkshire Richard preparing an Army marched with all speed to meet Buckingham before he joined with his confederates who resolving to confront him designed to bring his Army over the Severn to Glocester but the night before it rained extreamly continued so to do for ten days after which caused a very great flood and laid all the Country under water drowning Towns Villages and abundance of People this delay caused scarcity in the Dukes Army upon which the inconstant Welch ran away and left him alone so that he was forced to fly to one Humfry Banister near Shrewsbury for security he having been his Servant and raised by the Duke to a handsome estate the Lords hearing of the Dukes ill success got to Sea and arrived safely in Brittain Richard offered a thousand pound to any who should discover the Duke of Buckingham upon which that ungrateful Wretch delivered him up and without any Legal Tryal he was instantly beheaded In the mean time Richmond hearing nothing of these misfortunes having got together about five thousand men imbarqued them for England but was beaten back by a storm and much shattered yet being relieved by the French King he soon after got into Brittain where he met his noble friends by whom it was concluded to attempt landing in England once more Richmond swearing to marry Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourths eldest Daughter But K. Richard to prevent the match perswaded the old Queen with large promises and great sums of money to deliver her five Daughters into his custody and soon after he caused it to be reported that his own Queen was dead which she hearing of was much troubled and in a week after was found dead indeed which Richard so little regarded that he presently made love to the Lady Elizabeth who considering her own and Sisters danger durst not deny him absolutely but perswaded him to stay till he had defeated the Duke of Richmond and setled himself in Peace At this time his Court flatterers perswaded him that Richmond and his Party received such small incouragement and assistance from the French King that he was unable to make any attempt against him which Richard readily believed and therefore discharged the forces which were in Garrison on the Sea Coasts whereby it pleased God to infatuate the councel of this Bloody Politician to bring him to his deserved fate for soon after by the aid of the young French King the Earl of Richmond with a very inconsiderable force landed at Milford in Wales where he saw little appearance of assistance but the Welchmen being put in mind that Richmond being the Son of Owen Tudor was of their own Countrey and Blood and that he would have a special kindness for them that he would marry the Lady Elizabeth and thereby perfectly settle the Kingdom they soon flockt yea throng'd unto him with willing and resolved minds under several Gallant Commanders the Earl of Shrewsbury likewise sent in two thousand men and Sir Thomas Bouchier Sir Walter Hungerford and the Lord Stanley came with five thousand more all these were lieved by King Richards order but revolted to Richmond as judging it lawful to forsake a Tyrant and submit to a more legal Power Richard was much disturbed at this disappointment however he raised an Army of about twenty thousand and with his true friend John Duke of Norfolk marched toward Bosworth in Leicestershire where the Armies met and fought two hours K. Richard acting the part of a valiant Commander but at length was slain as it is said by the Earl of Richmonds own hand August 22. 1485. a thousand of his men being killed and among them the Duke of Norfolk and not above an hundred of Richmonds after the battle Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Son and Heir to the Duke of Norfolk was taken Prisoner fighting for King Richard of whom the Earl of Richmond demanded How he durst bear Arms for that Tyrant Richard who answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary Authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I will fight for that stock and as I fought then for him so I will fight for you when you are established by the same Authority And so he did for his Son Henry 8. at Flodden Field Camdens Remains King Richard being killed his Crown which he that day wore being found among the spoils was brought to Henry Earl of Richmond by his Father in Law the Lord Stanley and the Souldiers shouting loudly and crying King Henry King Henry he crowned him therewith in the open Field King Richard had three wicked Councellers who incited him to cruelty Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and
reserved her for better Fortune for being studious in the English Bible which was forbid to be read she thereby began to hearken to those who declaimed against the Abuses of the Roman Church and thought her self so well instructed in her Religion that she would debate thereof with the King who impatiently heard her both by reason of the anguish of his sore Leg and because he hated to be contradicted especially in his old Age and by his Wife as he said This was so much aggravated by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester a bitter Enemy to the Reformation as being against the Six Articles and the Proclamation against Prohibited Books that the King gave leave to him and Wriothsley the Chancellor to draw up Articles against her which they presented to the King and were subscribed by him so that they onely expected a Warrant to carry her to the Tower which the Queen accidentally hearing of fell into a great Passion extremely bewailing her Misfortune of which the King having notice came himself to her Chamber where compassionating her Condition he used such kind Words as did help to recover her so that the next Night coming into the Kings Chamber he began to talk of Religion but she wittily excusing her self by reason of the weakness of her Sex Judgment said She would refer her self in this as in all other Causes to his Majesties Wisdom Not so by St. Mary quoth the K. you are become a Doctor Kate to instruct Vs as We take it and not to be instructed or directed by Vs But the Queen replying That what she said was rather to pass away the time and make him forget his Pain than to hold an Argument and that she hoped by hearing his Majesties Learned Discourse to receive some Profit thereby The King answered And is it even so Sweet-heart Then are we perfect Friends again and therewith lovingly kissed her But her Enemies knowing nothing of this Reconcilement prepared to send her to the Tower the next day according to the Kings Warrant when she being merrily talking with him in the Garden the Lord Wriothsley with forty of his Guard came in whom the King sternly beholding and after calling to him at some distance from the Queen so expostulated the matter that at last he reviled him and commanded him out of his Presence yet at the Kings return she humbly begged his Pardon to whom the King answered Alas poor Soul thou little knowest how ill he has deserved this for I assure thee he has been a very Knave to thee And thus by her opportune Submission she escaped though Winchester absolutely designed her Ruine Not long before King Henry sailed to Callice in a Ship with Sails of Cloth of Gold and the Emperour of Germany served under him as a Soldier at 100 Crowns a day The King sate down before Bulâ—oigne and in six weeks time it was delivered to him This was succeeded by a War with Scotland by the instigation of the French King whereupon Henry sent an Army of 20000 Men to invade Scotland who burnt and plundred several Towns and Villages but James the Fifth of Scotland an active and warlike Prince having raised Forces marched toward the Borders with a resolution to fight the English though dissuaded by his Nobility who remembred the Miseries of the former War and the loss of their last King James having made Oliver Sinclair a Favourite of mean Birth General the Lords were so much disgusted that upon the appearance of onely 500 English Horse apprehending them to be the whole English Army the Scots threw down their Arms and fled Many Prisoners were taken as the Earls of Glencairn Cassils the Lords Maxwell Sommervill Oliphant Gray and Ol. Sinclair with above 200 Gentlemen and 800 Soldiers The News of this Loss with the murdering of an English Herald being brought to King James together with the Birth of a Daughter when he earnestly desired a Son so oppressed him with Grief and Despair that he fell into a Fever and died the thirty third year of his Age and the thirty second of his Reign leaving onely his Infant Daughter Mary to succeed him This turn of Affairs put Henry upon new thoughts of uniting England and Scotland by procuring a Marriage between his Son Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland whereupon the King having magnificently treated the Scotch Nobility represented to them this fair Occasion of ending all Quarrels between the two Nations who approving thereof the Match was confirmed both by the Parliament of England and Scotland But Cardinal Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews fearing that the Consequence of it would be a Change in Matters of Religion opposed it as likewise the French which caused continual Wars and great Devastations And then the King fell again upon France who were â—routed by him in divers kirmishes but in his thirty eighth year a Peace was concluded between England and France And soon after the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of urrey were convicted of High Treason onely for Quartering the Arms which they said properly belonged to the King for which the Earl was beheaded to the great grief of the People but the Duke by reason of the Kings Sickness and Death soon after was preserved For he was grown excessive Corpulent and the Inflammation of his Leg cast him into a lingring Fever whereby he finding his Spirits decay made his Will wherein he ordered that his onely Son Edward should succeed him and he dying without Issue his Daughter Mary and after her if without Issue his Daughter Elizabeth should succeed appointed the Principal Men of the Kingdom for his Executors And finding his last Moment approaching he sent for Archbishop Cranmer then at Croyden who coming found him speechless The Archbishop desired him to give some Sign of his dying in the Faith of Christ upon which he squeezed his Hand and presently departed after he had reigned thirty seven years and nine months and lived fifty six Thus died King Henry whose Reign had been fatal to his Queens burdensom and cruel to his Subjects yet glorious in respect of his Victories over his Enemies and that the Ax was then first laid to the Root of Superstition and the Door first opened to Truth and Reformation EDWARD the SIXTH King of England c. I seem'd in wisdom aged in my youth A Princely Pattern I reformed the time With Christian Courage I maintained Gods Truth And Christian Faith ' gainst Antichristian crime My Father did begin it in my prime And Bial and Belial from this Kingdom drove And I did still endeavour all my time By all means to advance Gods Truth and Love To add Grace unto Grace I always strove I liv'd beloved both of God and Men My Soul unto its maker soar'd above My Mortal Part returned to Earth agen Thus death my just proceedings did prevent And Peers and People did my loss lament EDward was born at Hampton-Court Oct. 17. 1537. Being the only surviving
Suffolk resolving to get what Forces she could and try her Right by Arms being there divers of the Nobility and Gentry resorted to her offering their aid to establish her in the Throne provided she would make no alteration in Religion which she faithfully promised with many solemn Asseverations yet soon made it appear That no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks The Lords hearing she raised Forces they did the like and sent them under the Duke of Northumberland against her but his Commission being limited that he could do nothing without daily orders from the Council he was forced to march slowly which was his utter ruine for the Lady Mary sent to several of the Nobility to come in to her assistance as the Earls of Sussex Oxford and Bath and other Lords and Gentlemen who came with their Tenants and other Commoners relying upon her Promise not to alter Religion but especially the Suffolk men and yet Mr. Fox observes that she burnt and put to death more of that County for Religion than of any other County in England so fatal was the belief of her promises to them The Fleet which was sent to surprise her joyning likewise with her and the People in general being for her the Council saw it in vain to withstand and therefore sent to the Duke of Northumberland to dismiss his Army whereupon the Lady Mary was proclaimed Queen and the Lady Jane who had only personated a Queen for ten days was sent to the Tower Soon after the Duke of Northumberland was condemned and beheaded with Sir John Gates and Sir Tho. Palmer And a Parliament being called all the Laws concerning the Illegitimacy of the Queen and those against the Pope and his Usurpations were repealed In her second year and the thirty seventh of her Age the Queen began to think of marrying and at last was Contracted to Philip King of Spain and Son to the Emperour Charles the Fifth which caused great dissatisfaction among her Subjects fearing that the Spaniards having once got footing in England would enslave the Nation and deprive them of their Ancient Laws and Customs This alienated them from the Queen so that several private Consults were held about deposing Queen Mary and re-establishing the Lady Jane who remained under Sentence of death in the Tower of London but these contrivances being discovered the Fomentors had recourse to Arms for their own security the first of them was Sir Thomas Wiat who made an Insurrection in Kent and by declaring himself for the defence of his Countrey and Religion raised 3000 of the Commons The Duke of Suffolk his Brother the Lord Gray and Sir Peter Carew of Devonshire and others designed the like in Cornwal Devonshire and Suffolk but resolving not to shew themselves till the Spaniards landed they were detected and forced to fly However Wiat increased daily in power and threatned the Herald who was sent with a Pardon to Pistol him if he endeavoured to withdraw the Souldiers from him and one Colonel Bret made an incouraging Oration to them to this purpose Valiant Countreymen we now ingage our selves in a cause to vindicate our Common Liberties against the Insolencies of the cruel Spaniard you whose degenerate Spirits can endure slavery continue in it in Gods name but as for me I had rather undergo the most painful death than betray my Rights to the Spaniards and I here enroll my self under Wiats Colours and am confident that some of you for the Vindication of the Ancient Glory of the English Nation will follow my example He had scarce ended this Speech but they threw up their Caps and cried out a Wiat a Wiat so that the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Arundel and Sir Henry Iirningham who approached them at Rochester Bridge turned Tail and fled In the mean time the Queen mistrusting the Londoners whom she knew hated Popery came to Guildhall and in a Speech declared to them that though Wiats pretences were against the Match with Spain yet his real design was to plunder and therefore she left with them the Lord Howard and the Lord Treasurer to assist the Lord Mayor in defending the City against the Rebels At length Wiat arrived in Southwark and with his great Guns beat down divers Houses but being opposed by the Queens Forces and about twenty of â—hem slain he soon after submitted upon hope of Mercy and was committed to the Tower his folâ—owers dispersing themselves and twenty pair of Gallows were set up in divers places in the City whereon many were executed This Rebellion being supprest the Popish Faction reflected on the Lady Jane as the cause thereof and soon after she and her Husband the Lord Guilford Dudley were beheaded Wiat in hope of pardon accused the Lady Elizabeth and the Marquess of Exeter as Accomplices but at his Death he again cleared her Then the Duke of Suffolk and his Brother suffered as likewise Sir Nicholas Throgmorton and â—he Lady Elizabeth was in great danger of her life at this time and indeed all the Reign of her Sister yet still happily escaped The Queen having removed all obstacles Philip of Spain arrived in England and married her Upon which succeeded the Reconciliation of the whole Kingdom by Cardinal Pool which he did in these words Our Lord Jesus Christ whom the Father hath appointed head â—ver all the Church absolve you and we by the Apostolick Authority given us by the most Holy Lord Pope Julius the Third his Vicegerent on Earth do absolve and deliver you and every of you with the whole Realm and the Dominions â—hereof from all Heresy and Schism and from all and every â—udgment censures and pains for that cause incurred and also we do restore you again to the Vnity of our Mother the Holy Church as in our Lettters of Commission more plainly shall appear The Queen next endeavoured to prevail upon the Parliament to restore the Abby Lands but they were so divided among the Nobility and Gentry that it proved ineffectual And being now thirty eight years old it was reported she was with Child and â—ll things were provided for her lying in yea a Popish Priest ventured to describe the excellent Features of the Infant before it was born and Bells and Guns â—roclaimed the joy but at length it came all to noâ—hing which caused much laughter The Reign of Queen Mary seemed hitherto only sprinkled with Blood but now the blessed Martyrs come thick to Act their parts for the Protestant Clergy were not only deprived of their Livings but all sorts without respect of Sex Age or Quality began to feel the severity of her Laws the pourtraicture whereof cannot be better expressed than in the words of the Reverend Bishop Jewel in his vindication of the Protestant Religion against the Romanists wherein he thus deciphers their hard usage toward the Reformers You have saith he imprisoned your Brethren you have stript them naked you have scourged them with Rods you have burnt their Hands and Arms
Robert Bertie E. of Lindsey Hen. Mordant E. of Peterbor Tho. Grey E. of Stamford Hen. Finch E. of Winchelsey Ro. Pierrepoynt E. of Kingston Ch. Dormer E. of Carnarvon Ph. Stanhope E. of Chesterfield Tho. Tufton E. of Thanet Tho. Weston E. of Portland W. Wentworth E. of Strafford Ro. Spencer E. of Sunderland Rob. Leake E. of Scarsdale Ed. Mountague E. of Sandw Hen. Hyde E. of Clarendon Algernon Capel E. of Essex Rob. Brudenel E. of Cardigan Arth. Annesley E of Anglesey John Greneville E. of Bath Cha. Howard E. of Carlisle Will. Craven E. of Craven Robert Bruce E. of Ailsbury Rich. Boyle E. of Burlington Hen. Bennet E. of Arlington Anth. Cooper E. of Shaftsbury Will. Herbert E. of Powis Ed. Henry Lee E. of Lichfield Tho. Osborne E. of Danby Tho. Lennard E. of Sussex Lewis Duras E. of Feversham Cha. Gerard E. of Macklefeld John Roberts E. of Radnor Will. Paston E. of Yarmouth Geo. Berkley E. of Berkley Eliz. Countess of Shepey Dan. Finch E. of Nottingham Laur. Hyde E. of Rochester Jam. Bertie E. of Abingdon Ed. Noel E. of Gainsborough Con. Darcy E. of Holderness Tho. Windsor alias Hickman E. of Plymouth Viscounts Leicest Devereux V. Hereford Fra. Brown V. Mountague W. Fiennes V. Say and Seal Tho. Bellasyse V. Fauconberg Cha. Mordant V. Mordant Fra. Newport V. Newport Tho. Thynne V. Weymouth Horat. Townsend V. Townsend Christoph Hatton V. Hatton The Arch-Bishops Bishops and Deans 1684. Bishops names Deans names Bishopricks names Dr. Sandcroft Dr. Tillotson Cant Arch Bish Dr. Dolben Dr. Wickham York Arch Bish Dr. Lloyd Dr. Stratford St. Asaph Dr. Lloyd Dr. Humphries Bangor Dr. Mew Dr. Bathurst Bath and Wells Dr. Gulston Dr. Thompson Bristol Dr. Rainbow Dr. Smith Carlisle Dr. Pierson Dr. Ardern Chester Dr. Carleton Dr. Stradling Chichester Dr. Wood Dr. Addison Coventry Lichf Dr. Womock B. of the Ch. St. Davids Dr. Crew Dr. Sudbury Durham Dr. Gunning Dr. Spencer Ely Dr. Lamplugh Dr. Annsly Exon. Dr. Frampton Dr. Marshal Glocester Dr. Crofts Dr. Benson Hereford Dr. Bew Dr. Gamage Landaff Dr. Barlow Dr. Brevint Lincoln Dr. Compton Dr. Stillingfleet London Dr. Sparrow Dr. Sharpe Norwich Dr. Fell Dr. Fell Oxford Dr. Lloyd Dr. Patrick Peterborough Dr. Turner Dr. â—astillion Rochester Dr. Ward Dr. Pierce Sarum Dr. Morley Dr. Meggot Winchester Dr. Thomas Dr. Womock Worcester  Dr. Spratt Westminster Dr. Bridgeman Bishop of the Isle of Man Baron and Baronesses Geo. Nevill L. Abergavenny James Touchet L. Audley and E. of Castlehaven in Irel. Cha. West L. de la Warre Tho. Parker L. Morley and Monteagle Robert Shirley L. Ferrers Cha. Mildmay L. Fitz-Walter Hen. Yelverton L. Grey Frances Lady Ward Will. Stourton L. Stourton Conyers Darcy L. Conyers Henry Sandys L. Sandys Vere Cromwel L. Cromwel and E. of Arglas in Irel. Ralph Eure L. Eure. Philip Wharton L. Wharton Tho. Willoughby L. Willoughby of Parham William Paget L. Paget Francis Howard L. Howard of Effingham Cha. North L. North and L. Grey of Rolleston James Bruges L. Chandois Robert Carey L. Hunsdon John Petre L Petre. Digby Gerard L. Gerard of Bromley Henry Arundel L. Arundel of Warder and a Count of the Empire Cath. O Brien Bar. Clifton Christoph Roper L. Tenham Fulke Greville L. Brooke Ralph Lord Mountague of Boughton Ford L. Grey of Warke John Lovelace L. Lovelace John Paulet L. Paulet Will. Maynard L. Maynard John Coventry L. Coventry Will. L. Howard of Escrick Charles Mohun L. Mohun Hen. L. Herbert of Cherbury Thomas Leigh L. Leigh Thomas L. Jermyn William Byron L. Byron Richard L. Vaughan and E. of Carbery in Ireland Francis Smith L. Carrington William L. Widdrington Edward Ward L. VVard Tho. Colepeper L. Colepeper Jacob Astley L. Astley Charles Lucas L. Lucas John Bellasyse L. Bellasyse Ed. Watson L. Rockingham Rob. Sutton L. Lexington Marmaduke L. Langdale John L. Berkley of Stratton Francis Holles L. Holles Charles L. Cornwallis George Booth L. Delamer Thomas Crew L. Crew Rich. L. Arundel of Treryse James L. Butler of Moor-Park E. of Ossory Hugh L. Clifford of Chudleigh Rich. L. Butler of Weston Susan Lady Bellasyse Rich. Lumley L. Lumley Geo. Carteret L. Carteret John Bennet L. Ossulston George Legge L. Dartmouth William L. Alington Ralph Stawel L. Stawel Francis North L. Guilford The Knights and Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter as they were filled up at Windsor April 8. 1684. 2 King of Denmark 1 SOVEREIGN of the Order 1 King of Sweden 2 Duke of York 3 Prince of Orange P. Elector of Brandenburgh 3 4 Prince Elector Palatine P. George of Denmark 4 5 Duke of Ormond Duke of Buckingham 5 6 Earl of Oxford Earl of Strafford 6 7 Duke of Monmouth Duke of Albemarle 7 8 Duke of Beaufort Earl of Bedford 8 9 Earl of Arlington Duke of Southampton 9 10 Earl of Mulgrave Duke of Newcastle 10 11 Earl of Danby Duke of Grafton 11 12 Duke of Richmond Duke of Hamilton 12 13 Duke of Somerset Duke of Northumberland 13 There are lately published the three following Books which with this of Englands Monarchs may be reckoned a very satisfactory History of England and the affairs thereof for above a thousand years past they are to be had single or all bound together of Nath Crouch at the Bell in the Poultry near Cheapside I. ADmirable curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland Ireland or An account of many remarkable persons places and likewise of the Battles Sieges Prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many hundred years past Together with the natural and artificial rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Price One Shilling II. Historical Remarks and Observations of the Ancient and present state of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable Acccidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other Occurrences for above Nine hundred years past in and about these Cities to the Year 1681. and a description of the manner of the Tryal of the late Lord Stafford in Westminster Hall Illustrated with Pictures with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Price One Shilling III. The Fifth Edition of the Wars in England Scotland and Ireland being near a third enlarged with very considerable Additions containing an Impartial Account of all the Battles Sâ—iges and other Remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidâ—â—â—s which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of Kâ—â—g Charles the First 1625 to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. The illegal Tryal of King Charles 1. at large with his last Spâ—ech at his Suffering And the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. with Pictures of several remarkable Accidents Price One Shilling Nine other very useful pleasant and necessary Books are lately published