over-commer to take all But there proving equality in the fitght there was likewise made equality in the command between them yet did not Edmona long enjoy his share being circumvented by the practice of Edric Earl of Stratton the Arch-Traytor of those times whose falshood had ruined the Father and now his ambirion destroys the Son for which Cnute invents a suitable reward causing his head to be set upon the highest place of the Tower of London therein performing his promise of advancing him above any Lord of the Land which was the mark that this faithlesse wretch aimed at and now attained but in a far different sence from that which he had vainly proposed to himself Cnute being thus rid of a Rival denied copartnership to the Sons of Edmond as pretending the whole to appertain to the Survivor and for fear they might prove thorns in his side he sent them far enough out of the way into Swedeland say some there to be murthered but they were mercifully preserved and conveyed to the Court of Hungary where Edmond dyed without issue but Edward had by Agatha Daughter to Henry the fourth Emperour of Germany a Son named Edgar and a Daughter called Margaret who was the cause as hereafter shall be shewed that the Saxon stem which now seemed withered doth once more reflourish though inocculated we confesse upon another stock Notwithstanding this transportation of Edmonds Sons yet did not Cnute hold himself sufficiently assured of his new accquired Kingdom till he had married Emma widdow of Ethelred whereby he gained the love of the English but the promise he made in marriage that the Children begotten on her should succeed was for some time frustrated by the preoccupation of Harold sirr named Harefoot the eldest son of Cnute by a Concubine but his reign was brief as likewise was that of his Brother Hardi Canute the lawfull Son of Cnute and Emma with whom expired the Danish Dominion here which had been but of a short duration though their incursions and molestations had continued for a longer space Edward styled the Confessor to distinguish him from Edward the Elder and Edward the Saint was next King being the Son of Emma also but by her first Husband Ethelred the Unready and did in some sort restore the Saxon blood For in truth there was a nearer relation to the Crown extant though not so near at hand for the present to wit Edward surnamed by reason of his Forein education the Outlaw the Son of Edmond Ironside the eldest Son by his first Wife of the above mentioned Ethelred the Unready who ought by the Law of Nature and Nations to have preceded Yet did the Confessor wanting Issue himself do his Nephew the Outlaw so much right as to recall him with his Children out of their Banishment in Hungary and designed him his Successor but the Outlaws death before the Confessors prevented that determination Neverthelesse the Confessor without delay pronounced Edgar the Outlaws Son and his own Grand Nephew Heir apparent and gave him the surname of Etheling which in those dayes were only peculiar to such as were inhopes and possibility of a Kingdome And more than so this poor Etheling never was For first he was debarred by his own Guardian Harold the Son of Goodwin Earl of Kent who disdaining the title of Regent which he was only constituted assumed that of King Afterwards by William Duke of Normandy who though he pulled down Harold yet did he not set up Edgar laying claim himself to the Crown by virtue of a pretended Donation from his Cosen Edward the Confessor which had been too weak a plea had it not been justified by a long sword which hath ever since given him the appellation of William the Conquerour Robert the eldest Son of the Conquerour should by right of primogeniture have succeeded his Father in all his Dominions but having proved a Rebel at the French Kings instigation he had only the Dukedom of Normandy assigned to him and the Crown of England was bequeathed to his Brother William surnamed Rufus who dying without any legitimate off-spring and Robert being absent in the Holy-land Henry the youngest Son of the Conquerour as Duke of Normandy but eldest as King of England seized upon it and to ingratiate himself with the Natives and to corroborate his Title he Married Maud Daughter of Margaret by Malcolme King of Scots Sister to Edgar Etheling Son of Edward the Outlaw Son of Edmond Ironside Son of Ethelred the Unready Son of Edgar the peaceable Son of Edmond Son of Edward Senior Son of Alfred and by which means the Royal seed of the Saxons became to be replanted in the English Soil For this Henry the first had not to mention his Son William who perished by water whilst he was young by the foresaid Maud a Daughter of the same name whom he first espoused to Henry the fifth Emperour of Germany afterwards to Ieffrey Plantagenet Earl of Aniou by whom she had a Son called Henry in whom did fully concur the Norman and Saxon Race But the true hereditary succession was some what intercepted by Stephen Earl of Bologne Son of Adela the Conquerours Daughter from whom he could derive but a slender title For had the Conquerours line Masculine failed then ought Theobald Earl of Bloys Stephens Eldest Brother by the same Adela to have been prelated And therefore his surest Tenure proceeded from his Election by the Nobility who notwithstanding their natural Allegiance and twice repeated Oath and among them Stephen himself is reckoned to be one that had sworn Fealty to Maud and her Heirs in the Reign of her Father Henry admitted this stranger and that for no other reason though other were alleged as that Maud was a woman and consequently uncapable of anointing that she was married out of the Realm without the consent thereof which if of any moment should before their solemn engagement have been taken into consideration than that he being a Creature of their own erecting was more obliged to them and would upon all occasions be more ready to gratifie their aspiring humour Yet wanted not the Empresse and her Son adherents both within and without the Kingdom to assert their right who raised such a cloud of trouble to Stephen that he could not dispel it during his whole reign so that at length he came to a composition and his own Son Eustace whom he had designed his Successour being already dead he adopts Henry fitz-Empresse and proclaims him heir apparent with this Proviso That he himself should enjoy the Crown as long as he lived which was not a full year after this peaceable agreement Henry the second of that name is now possessed of the Throne in processe of time adding the Lordship of Ireland to it and that upon a treble account First by vertue of the late Treaty with King Stephen Secondly by title of conquest as being great Grand-Child to William the Norman but Thirdly and chiefly by the equity of
more Masculine Spirit than to acquiesce in the forementioned dishonorable Conditions and because it was a Crown that the Duke of York chiefly affected She caused his Head to be cut off set upon a Pole and Crowned with Paper but the death and disgrace of the Father Edward Earl of March his Eldest Son doth speedily revenge to the utter ruine of the Lancastrian party Nor will this Edward as did his Father await anothers leasure and prove expectant of a Crown in reversion but immediately assumes it by the actual deposing of King Henry whom he takes Prisoner and commits to safe custody in the Tower of London But there was an accident which had well-nigh nipped the white Rose in the bud and restored the red Rose to its pristine vigour Edward the fourth late Earl of March now King of England sends his great General the Earl of Warwick to treat a Match between him and the Lady Bona Sister to the Queen of France But our youthful King in the mean time consulting only his own affections takes to Wife the fair Lady Gray Widdow of Sir Iohn Gray of Groby which so inceses warwick that he Rebels against his Master beats him not only out of the Field but also out of the Kingdom delivers King Henry from his Prison and reseats him in his Throne but all this is but as Lightning before Death Edward returns from beyond Seas fights with defeats and kills the Earl of warwick routs also Queen Margaret newly landed and the relicts of her Lancastrian Associates takes her and her Son Edward Prisoners which last is stabbed by Richard Duke of Glocester King Edwards Brother and not long it is but the Father Henry is dispatched by the same hand in the Tower of London whither he was remanded by King Edward after this fortunate and victorious successe The cruelty of Richard Duke of Glocester whose nature was more crooked than his body did not terminate in the blood of the Enemies but begins to practise on his Friends and nearest Relations For perceiving that King Edward by reason of his incontinency whereunto no English Prince was ever more subject was not long liv'd he secretly plots the attaining of the Crown for himself And for the more expedite compassing this ambitious design he first incenses King Edward against their common Brother George Duke of Clarence not only exaggerating the hainousaesse of his former disobedience which had been pardoned but insinuating a blind Prophecy that one whose name began with the letter G. should prove fatal to Edwards posterity Hereupon the Duke of Clarence is committed to the Tower and there by Richard drowned in a Butt of Malmsey however it was given out that he dyed of a discontented passion But the Ominous G. which the King so much dreaded was found in the sequele to appertain to Glocester himself who was the Contriver of this mischief and Butcher of Edwards innocent Sons of whom after the Kings decease he was made Protector The young Prince Edward the fifth was at Ludlow when his Father Edward the fourth dyed from whence his Mother was over desirous to have him forthwith conveyed to London But his Unkle the Duke of Glocester meets him by the way at Stony-Stratford and having secured all his faithful Attendants and Kindred by the Mothers side takes into custody the person of the young King which was the game that this mighty hunter did mainly intend Yet was there one obstacle to his aspiring ends still behind to wit Richard Duke of York the Kings Brother in Sanctuary with his Mother at Westminster whom to allure thence for to do it by Violence was accounted Religion in those days he imploys the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to perswade the Mother and in case she proves obstinate to interpose his Authority to part with her Son under colour that he might be a companion and great lenitive of the Melancholy disposition of his disconsolate Brother Glocester having thus compassed the Wardship of both his Nephews makes shew as if he would proceed to the Coronation of the Elder but whilst the Lords of the Councel are debaring of the time and manner of it he arrests and on a sudden makes shorter by the Head the Lord Chamberla in Hastings whom though he had used as a forward Coadjuter in depressing of the Queens Relations yet knew him to be altogether averse from yielding any Countenance to the disinheriting of his Masters King Edwards Children Hastings thus removed the Duke of Buckingham who had received several disgusts from his Brother-in-law Edward the fourth is pitched upon as the fittest agent to carry on this Devilish attempt who having prepared the Mayor and Citizens of London comes in their name pretending Bastardy and insufficiency of Edwards race to make a tender of the Crown to Protector Richard and in case of refusal with threats to elect some other worthy and deserving Person Richard in seeming amazednesse makes strange at first of this by himself-devised proposal but after some importunity grants his forfooth unwilling consent not without a dissembled regret of his Nephews condition whose murder in the Tower doth immediately ensue Buckingham supposed not privy to the making away of the harmlesse Princes upon this and other distasts retires from Court to his Castle of Brecknock where with his prisoner Morton Bishop of Ely he contrives the Match between Henry Earl of Richmond and Elizabeth Daughter of Edward the fourth which proves Richards downfall and the union of the Yorkish and Lancastrian line Henry Earl of Rickmond was the Son of Margaret Daughter of Iohn Duke of Somerset Son of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Katherine Swineford relict of Sir Ores Swineford and though this Iohn and other Children were born before espousals yet was the issue made legitimate by Act of Parliament and confirmed by a Bull from Rome Of this Henry there goes a tradition for current that in the heat of the Civil Wars between the House of York and Lancaster Henry the sixth having espied him in the presence laid his hand upon his head and in a Prophetick manner said Behold this youth who is to enjoy that for which we now contend Which his Mother observing and treasuring up in her heart sent him into Britany in France as into a safe Harbour to be there educated and preserved till the sury of the tempest were over which then did so terribly rage throughout the Land Richard the third earnestly Solicites the Duke of Britany to deliver up Richmonds person to him which was well-nigh effected by the treachery of Peter Landoys the Dakes especial Favourite But Richmond having timely notice of this Clandestine negotiation flyes to the French Kings Court for at that time the Dukedom of 〈◊〉 was a distinct Principality from whence having sworn to consummate the projected marriage with the Lady Elizabeth he hastens to redeem poor England from the jaws of an usurping Tyrant Richmond Lands at Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire where he was heartily
creatures are most greedy of natural freedom doth readily assent but these are prevented and her Actions interpreted as yet tending to the destruction of Queen Elizabeth for which she is tryed by certain delegated Commissioners who much resembled a late thing called an High Court of Justice is by them found guilty and shortly after beheaded at Fotheringham Castle in Northamtonshire but the true cause why she suffered was expressed to her self by the Earl of Kent one of her Judges a little before her reputed Martydom Madam says he if you live our Religion is in danger of which words she desired the Auditors to take special notice that confessedly it was not Treason but Religion for which she was to dye Iames the 6th King of Scotland Son of the late executed Mary now come to years of discretion expostulates with Queen Elizabeth about his Mothers death but the Queen puts it off upon the precipitation of her Secretary Davison intimating that if he stirred in the least manner to revenge it would irrecoverably hazard his hopes of the Succession of which yet she gives him but a very saint assurance But in her declining age some about her who had been shie before to intermeddle with so ticlish and unpleasing a point grow more peremptory and presse her to a positive declaration to whom her answer was It is the King of Scots due and let him have it Conform whereunto Iames King of Scotland immediately after her death is proclaimed King of England both which he converts into the name of Great Britany and now is Cadwalladers Prophecy before remembred exactly compleated that his Race should recover the sole Dominion of this Island for King Iames besides his direct descent from King Henry the seventh brought another but higher title if the former had not been sufficient from Banco a Nobleman of Scotland whose Son Fleance fled from the tyranny of Macheth the Usurper into wales and there married the Prince his Daughter by whom he had walter the first of the renowned Family of the Stewards but for the particulars of that conjunction we referre you to the British and and Scotish Historians King Iames arose in this our Horizon with much clearnesse notwithstanding Rawleighs mist and the smoak of the Gun-power-plot which were soon dispell'd but his setting was obscured by a little Cloud which shortly did overspread the whole Land He had married his eldest Daughter Elizabeth to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhene who unadvisedly gaping after the Kingdom of Behemia lost not only it but his own patrimonial possession King Iames who had more of Solomon than David in him sollicites restitution rather by Treaty than Arms and as the most conducing means to his peaceable ends entertains an overture of a match betwixt his Son Charles Prince of Wales and the Infanta of Spayn to whose King the Palatinate was by the Emperour configned over But the English Parliament takes exception at this intended Spanish affinity and as if Religion were at the Stake declaims against it Notwithstanding the King sends his Son into Spain who returns thence without a wife yet in his passage thither had an accidental sight of her in France who was by Heaven his designed Spouse As soon as Iames was dead Charles his Son is proclaimed King who immediately marries Henrietta Maria youngest Daughter to Henry the great King of France of whom as was just now hinted he had a transient view in his voiage to Spain which when this Princesse understood she is reported to have said That he needed not to have gone so far for a wife But now the seed of discontent which had been sowed in his Fathers time did begin to bud forth Scotland yields the first-fruits which also too much thrives in the English Plantation The Scotish Nobility enter into Combination against Episcopacy and the Service-book which they allege to be obtruded upon them For redresse of these imaginary grievances the Scots with swords in their hand approach his Majesty to present a Petition as is given out A Parliament in England is called to compose differences which rather increases them for which it is soon dissolved The Scots Invasion continues but at length a Pacification is made another Parliament is convened which working so far upon the Kings necessities extorts from him an inseparable jewel of his Prerogrative to wit a privilege not before asked or granted not to be discharged without their own consent In strength of this concession they proceed to other unseasonable demands which together with the tumults of the City occasioned the King to retire Northward and being denyed entrance into Hull for which Sir Iohn Hotham did afterwards receive his reward from those that imployed him he repairs to Nottingham where understanding that an Army was formed under the Earl of Essex at London and then on their March to bring him back as it was given out to his Parliament he sets up his Standard Royal but the appearance not answering expectation he directs his course towards Shrewsbury where by the confluence of the loyal Welsh his small forces are so increased that he is able to confront the Earl of Essex then at Worcester who retreats into Warwickshire and is overtaken at Edge-hill by his Majesty where the first signal battail is sought in which both sides were great losers and yet both sides assume the victory to themselves The war continues doubtful for three years but the Battail at Naseby in Northamptonshire proves fatal to the Kings affairs for after that succeeds little else but the ruine of his party in all places and surrender of most of his Garrisons till he was necessitated in disguise to leave Oxford his prime and well-nigh alone remaining hold then in a manner beleaguered and betake himself for Protection to the Scotish Army The Scots though they had received all possible satisfaction as to their own concernments yet could not refrain from intermeddling in the English distempers and were at that time besieging Newark upon Trent They at first received the King with all seeming promises of security as to his Person but having carried him with them to Newcastle do there barter him with the English for 200000 l. a price which as the French Embassador observed did far exceed that which Iudas received for betraying of our Saviour From Newcastle his bought and sold Majesty is conveyed by Commissioners deputed for that purpose from the Parliament of England to his house at Holdenby in Northamtonshire perhaps that he might be within prospect of that uncomfortable place Naseby where was given him his irreparable overthrow there to reside during the pleasure of the two Houses But not long it was ere Cromwel whose pulse at that time says a then pen-man began to beat a Lordly pace by his instrument Ioyce surprizes him in his bed and when Ioyce told Cromwel that he had the King in his Custody then quoth Cromwel I have the Parliament in my pocket Cromwels end in seizing on the
and entwisted together But we cannot dissemble what few take notice of to wit that the better that is the more Masculine Bloud-Royal of the Saxon Race which in comparison of the Norman though both founded in Conquest was much to be preferred by reason of its much elder prescription did still reside in the House of Scotland For Margaret bare to Malcolm besides that Daughter Maud three Sons Edgar Alexander and David who to pass over the Intrusion of Donald the Brother and Duncan the Bastard of Malcolm because each did soon expire were all Kings in their Order but only David had Issue from whom the Kings of Scotland have ever since however they have alwayes abstained from their claim to the English Crown upon that account derived an undoubted and not to be disputed descent Henry David's only Son departed this life before his Father but left three Sons behind him Malcolm William and David which last was Earl of Huntington in England whereof Malcolm the 4. succeeded his Grandfather him being childless his Brother William him his Son Alexander the second him his Son Alexander the third and him should have his Grandaughter Margaret who was bred in and sent for out of Norway but that she died before her arrival on the Scotish Coasts And now the rest being extinct recourse must be had to the Off-spring of the late mentioned Earl of Huntington when lo two Grand Competitors appear Iohn Baliol who fetches his stock from the eldest Daughter Margaret and Robert Bruse who confessedly came from the younger Isabell but alledges that he is in a nearer degree of Consanguinity to Earl David than the other either did or could pretend himself to be The Controversie in regard of the Potency of both Parties being not capable of a decision at home without the danger of a Civil War it was referred to Edward the first King of England who rather brought Oyl to encrease than Water to quench the flame and was resolved to bestow it on him only who would profess homage and swear fealty unto the English Crown To this Imperious demand Baliol though conceived superior in Title yet proving meaner in Spirit did readily condescend which Bruse whose Plea was thought weaker but Courage found greater did utterly refuse to assent unto Whereupon Edward pronounces sentence on Baliols side who is acknowledged King by many of the Scotish Nobility but rather out of fear of Edward's power than any satisfaction or delight they took in this dishonourable and as they esteemed it unworthy submission Yea Baliol himself doth soon repent of it and bids defiance to Edward who now afresh cajols Bruse urging the performance of promises he returned a scornfull Negative As if saies he we had nothing else to do than to conquer Kingdoms for you to enjoy Baliol at last surrenders himself unto Edward and is by him sent Prisoner into England and there detained until the Pope's Intercession and Engagement that he should create no further trouble in Scotland he is released and retires into France where having resigned his whole right to his Counsin Bruse he spends the remainder of his days in a more quiet and contented estate But Robert Bruse Son of Robert the Author of the Contention which he lived not to see finished was little pleased with Eeglish Edward's fishing in disturbed streams and therefore he sets up trading for himself at first with smal probability of thriving but afterwards he caught the prey where at he aimed which was almost ravished out of the mouth of his Infant-Son David by Edward Baliol Son of that Iohn who had once renounced it but it was again rescued by Robert Stuart the Vice-roy and Baliol with his Issue if he had any failing the Brusians became legal Owners of that Kingdom whereinto at the beginning they seemed to have made but a violent and forcible entry Robert Stuart even now remembred was David's Sister's Son and consequently his Heir he having no Children of his own but David notwithstanding old benefits upon some new displeasure was inclinable to have put him by had he not been over-perswaded by the Nobility who were as well sensible of Robert's worth as that his Grandfather Robert the first had before his Son David was born designed him to the Kingdom Nay the Fates themselves if credit be to be given to some Scotish Chronicles had long ago destined no less for they report that Macbeth the after Tyrant and Banco one of Robert's Progenitors walking in a Wood encountred with three women of more than humane aspect who saluted Macbeth then a private person King of Scotland whereat when Banco shewed himself aggrieved they told him that Macbeth should only the King himself which presently came to pass but that the succession was reserved for his Posterity which though somewhat with the slowest is now at length exactly fulfilled For this Robert was the Son of Walter the Son of Iohn the Son of Alexander the Son of Walter the Son of Alexander the Son of Alan the Son of Walter Stuart the first of that Surname and Office in Scotland the Son of Fleance the Son of Banco whom Macbeth to defeat the Prediction slew and sought to do the like to his Son Fleance who prevented his bloudy intentions by fleeing into Wales and there as it hath already been touched in gross he married Nest by whom he had that first and famous Walter the Daughter of Giffith ap Llewelyn the Son of Angharad the Daughter and Heir of Meredith the Son of Owen the Son of Howel Dha the Son of Cadelh the Son of Rodri Mawr the Son of Esylht the Daughter and Heir of Conan Tyndaithwy the Son of Rodri Moelwynog the Son of Edwall Twrch the Son of Cadwallader last King of Brittany and first of Wales beyond whom in point of pedegree we dare not wander but must here erect our Pillars and fix our Ne plus ultra lest by wading further we should be swallowed up in the vast Abyss of an unbounded and fathomless Ocean And here we might likewise put a period to the whole Tract as having traced this Robert's lineage in the Brettish Story as far as with any confidence we can well proceed and being able with much more ease and assurance to resolve our present Sovereign's into his for Charles the second is the Son of Charles the first the Son of Iames the sixth the Son of Mary the Daughter and Heir of Iames the fourth the Son of Iames the fourth the Son of Iames the third the Son of Iames the second the Son of Iames the first the Son of Iohn whose name upon the Assumption of the Kingdom was converted into Robert the third the Son of the aforesaid Robert the second c. but that it is demurred by some First Whether Nest Walter 's Mother were an Heir or no 2. Admitting that she were whether her Ancestor Cadelh were the eldest Son of Rodri Mawr who being King of all Wales was the first that