And now a King being wanting that good Order might be maintained the Princes in full Assembly proposed that Honour to Robert Duke of Normandy but he having notice of his Brothers death declin'd it as being desirous to return and take possession of his Kingdom of England though he afterward found it prepossessed by his younger Brother Henry nor long was it e're he deprived him of his Dutchy of Normandy and finally of his life by putting out his Eyes which many attributed as a Judgement for refusing the profferâ—d Scepter of Jerusalem but upon this refusal Godfry of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain was unanimously chosen King yet refused to be crowned with a golden Crown where his Saviour for the Salvation of Mankind had sometimes worn a Crown of Thorns And although an Army of an 100000 Turks and Sarazens advanced to recover the City yet the Princes drawing out their strength gave them Battel with so fearful an overthrow that all the Hills and Plains for the space of nine miles were covered with the bodies of the slain and so Jerusalem with other exceeding large Territories continued in the Possession of the European Christians during the Reign of nine Kings and for the space of an 100 Years when through their own Dissentions it was lost to Salladine the Sultan of Aegypt Thus Fame and Piety drew Arms from far And made proud Asia reel with heavy War Whilst Christian Faith 's regrafted on the stem Where it first flourish'd great Jerusalem Whilst Jacob's Heritage the Promis'd Land Do's find her Scepter in a Christian hand A Description of the Famous Battel fought near Cressy between the English under the Leading of Edward the Black Prince and the French under the Leading of Philip their King c. KING Edward the third of England having in the right of his Mother laid claim to the Crown of France and the French opposing to it their Salique Law by which the Heirs Female are disabled from governing he rais'd a powerful Army to gain by the Sword that Right which was deny'd him by a pretended Law made to exclude the Daughters of France c. taking upon him the Title of King of France Quartering the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England which have so continued from that day and landing in the North parts he wasted the Country with Fire and Sword as far as Turwin defeating such Forces as came to oppose him and reduced many Towns to his Obedience soon after destroying their Fleet of 400 Sail of Ships and in it 30000 men many of them of the prime Nobility but still being refused to be invested in the possession of the Kingdom having refreshed himself in England and settled his Affairs levied an Army of 32500 Horse and Foot with which he repassed the Seas and brought such a terror upon the French that many great Towns were abandoned without resistance which obliged Philip the French King to raise the whole power of his Country consisting of 100000 Horse and Foot the Flower of France c. and with them advanced by hasty marches to give the English battel or to oblige them to retire of which King Edward having notice by his Espials caused his Horsemen to quit their Horses and marshal'd his Army on foot in three Battalions the chief of which himself retained as a reserve mostly composed of men at Arms and the other two under the leading of the Black Prince his Son and divers Nobles he caused to advance into the Plain where the French coming on with great Fury as not expecting but to obtain the Victory were received in the front by the Avaunt-guard of the Men at Arms whilst the wings of Archers sent showers of Arrows amongst them which gauling their squadrons of Horse in the flank put them into great disorder at which the French Commanders of the Horse growing impatient broke through their own foot and made a strong effort upon the Princes Battel by continually pressing on with fresh men which made the Lords who guarded the Prince send to the King entreating him to advance with his battel to their Succour To which he returned answer That he designed the Glory of the day to his Son and that whilst he was alive they must not expect any Succour from him but fight valiantly to win Honour and Renown which Answer so animated the English that they fought more desperate than ever insomuch that the French Horse being in confusion by the goaring of Pikes and the shot of Arrows and the Foot not able to relieve them the men at Arms brake in with such fury and in a firm battel piercing their squadrons that they could find no place of retreat or rally so that the other Battalion charging in the flank and the Archers still delivering their Arrows with great Celerity Victory declared on the part of the English whilst nothing but flight and slaughter ensued on the part of the French insomuch that in six hours space the field was heaped with the bodies of the slain and nothing was heard so loud as the Crys of the dying men whilst happy was he that could escape the Swords of his fierce Pursuers In this battel were slain the Kings of Navar and Bohemia two Princes of the blood seven Earls and 15000 Barons Knights and men at Arms with not less than 30000 of-lesser note besides a great number taken Prisoners and many of those of the first rank which were afterwards put to their ransoms The battel being entirely won the King and Prince marched to Calais and besieged it when as the Governour having capitulated for some time and the attempts to relieve it proving unsuccessful he surrendred it to the King who placed an English Colony therein and whilst this War lasted David King of Scotland taking part with the French and invading England in the absence of the King was defeated near Durham and himself taken Prisoner by one Copland most of his Army being slain and was after eleven years imprisonment redeemed at 100000 Marks nor was Prince Edward less victorious in a second battel fought between him and John the French King Son to the foremention'd Philip who came against him with 100000 Horse and Foot or as some will have it 130000 in which battel fought near Poâ—tus there were slain fifty two Noble men most of them Dukes and Earls 1700 Knights and Esquires and 16000 common Souldiers the King himself together with Philip the Dauphin one Arch-Bishop ten Earls and about 200 Knights and Esquires were taken Prisoners besides a great number of lesser note though here the French were three to one in the Field Thus England's Antient Glory rais'd by Arms The World through Fame's loud breathing Trumpet charms And this Memorial through all Lands does spread That no Land has more valiant Hero 's bred A Relation of the fatal Battel fought on the Plains of Cossovia between Amurath the first King of the Turks and the Despot of Servia in League with divers other Christian Princes
Companion c. The Relation of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Battel Field in Sussex between Harrold King of England and William Duke of Normandy on Octob. 14. 1066. KING Harrold having no sooner defeated the Army of Norvigians and Danes in the North with exceeding slaughter in which of note fell Harfagar King of Denmark Tosto his Brother and Olave his Son but News was brought him that the Normans under the leading of their Duke were landed in the South whereupon he made such speed with his Army that before they could pass through the County of Sussex he was drawing out of London and so with the like celerity marched to give them battel after having sent back the Messenger who came from the Duke of Normandy to demand possession of the Kingdom by vertue of a promise he had made him when being a private man he was taken Prisoner upon his Coast so that both Armies pitching their Tents upon a great Plain now known by the name of Battel-field the King sent divers Spies to view the Norman Camp who being taken and presented to the Duke he generously feasted them causing them to be carried from Tent to Tent and then they were dismissed without any damage or detriment And now Duke William a second time sending to demand the Kingdom or a single Combat with King Harrold and both of them being refus'd as also another proffer which was to hold the Kingdom as a Feudetary of Normandy the Armies drew out on the 14th of October 1066 to try the Fortune of a King and Kingdom by more Swords than one when being set in array of Battel and incouraged on either side with moving Orations the bloody Blast was sounded and the Kentish Men who claimed the Avaunt-guard or From of the Battel as their Right moved and charged the Enemy in the Front with great fury the Battalions and Wings of Horse on the other parts doing the like yet keeping firm in their thick and closed Ranks so that what with the shot of Arrows and those that came to the Sword and push of Pike a bloody and doubtful Fight ensued nor could the Normans with the continual wheeling of their Horse and shot of Archers of which they mostly consisted dismay or disorder the English Battel thoâ— in their motions they shot a slaunt in the Air that the Arrows in their fall might disable the inmost Ranks and gaul the Horse which the Duke perceiving and finding that unless he could loosen the Battel it was in vain for him to expect the Victory nor had he any hope of return his Fleet being before fired at his command he ordered the Retreat to be sounded but â—n such a manner that the whole Army consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot might suddenly face about and charge at the Signal appointed to be given which Stratagem answered his Expectation for the English supposing the Normans fled suddenâ—y disranked to pursue them so that their Orders being open and the Duke rallying 〈◊〉 is Men broke in with a furious Charge â—nd made such slaughter that the ground was covered with heaps of the slain nor â—ould the King though he laboured to cast â—â—em into a thick Body restore the Battel â—ut as he was intent upon it he received the â—ot of an Arrow which entred his Brain â—nd of which Wound he fell down dead â—ter which a miserable slaughter ensued â—ough a party of the English cast themselves into a Ring and manfully resisted however being in the end routed on all parts there fell 97974 by the Sword and shot of Arrows amongst which were the King and his two Brothers Leosin and Grith together with the flower of the English Nobility and of the Normans not above 9000 and although their Duke escaped he had three Horses slain under him yet by this Battel so gained he won a Kingdom for the Land being thus deprived of her King and Nobles no farther resistance was made but all things were left to the disposal of the Conqueror who soon after caused himself to be Crowned King and is known in our Cronologies by the style oâ— King William the First or William the Conqueror Thus Normans fierce possess'd our fruitful Soile And stain'd with blood the famous British Isle Speed de vitae W. C. The Battels of Jerusalem or Jerusalem noâ— by the Armies of the Western Princes December 25. 1099. JErusalem being in the hands of the Infidels their unheard of Cruelties loudened the crys of the oppressed Christians anâ— obliged them to importune their Patriarch to implore the Christian Princes to send their Armies by Battel to rescue them from their Oppressors who accordingly sending his Letters full of lamentations by one Peter a Hermit with other proofs and attestations of the miseries they suffered in the Holy Land such credit was given to them that in a short time an Army of 300000 men were raised wearing on their Breasts red Crosses in token of their holy Warfare and were chiefly under the leading of Godfry of Bulloin Duke of Lorrain and his two Brothers Eustace and Baldwin Hugh brother to the French King Raymond and Robert Earls of Flanders Robert Duke of Normandy Son to William the Conqueror Stephen de Valois Earl of Chartires Adimer Bishop of Podolia c. and with this Army they passed the Hellespont covering the shores of Asia and brought a great Terror upon the Infidels who gathered what Forces they could to oppose the progress of such a War and were not altogether unsuccessful for Peter the Hermit advancing before the rest of the Army with 40000 men raised in the Territories of the Church being furiously charged by the Enemy lost the greatest part of his Forces and was obliged to retire with the rest to Civite a Town a little before abandoned by the Turks not daring to depart thence till the arrival of Duke Godfry when with their united Forces the Christians marched to the City of Nicea which they besieged and made themselves Masters of it in fifty days finding therein great Riches and many Persons of note amongst whom were the Turkish King Solyman's Wife and two Children and the King who came to the Relief of it with the whole power of the lesser Asia consisting of 60000 Horse and Foot was overthrown with such slaughter as covered the Fields with the dead Bodies and filled the Ditches with blood nothing being to be heard but crys and dying groans for the Christians following the Execution 40000 of the Infidels fell by the Sword which brought such a Terror upon those Parts that Cities and Towns were abandoned without so much as being disputed Antioch only of all in that large Tract held out yet made but a weak resistance for after a furious Assault it was taken which being known to the Garrisons of Iconium and Haraclea they surrendred upon the first summons still flying before the Victors and daily sending to his Cozen Axan the Persian Sultan for Aid but he not being able to
more Glorious Rise Englands Pharsalia or the bloody Civil War between King Henry the Sixth of the House of Lancaster Richard Duke of York and Edward the Fourth of the House of York describing the several Fights and pitch'd Battels wherein 100000 Men on both sides are accounted to be slain c. RIchard Duke of York taking distaste at the Release of the Duke of Somerset by King Henry the Sixth he with the Earl of Warwick and divers others his Accomplices fell to open Force and levied an Army about the Marches of Wales with which they marched towards London under pretence of redressing Grievances and removing evil Counsellors to oppose whom King Henry drew out and both Armies meeting at St. Albans in the County of Hertford the Duke sent to the King to demand divers Lords that were about him and such as he should name or prescribe but being rejected with disdain the charge was sounded and both Armies joyned Battel furiously and maintained a doubtful fight till at length Victory began to declare for the King but the Scale was soon turned for Warwick breaking through the Gardens with about 2000 men and his approach not being there suspected the Kings Army many of the chief Nobility being slain was broken yet would he not fly but stood the shot of the Archers till wounded in the Neck he was taken Prisoner and being carried to London and a Reconciliation made on both parts the Duke being shortly constituted Governour of Ireland In this fatal Batal of St. Albans between the Houses of York and Lancaster fell forty eight Noble-men Knights and Esquires and amongst them the Earls of Somerset Northumberland and Stafford together with 5000 of the meaner sort and many were wounded amongst whom was the King. Long did not the seeming Reconciliation last but the Duke of York raising new Troubles was together with the Earls of March Rutland Warwick and Salisbury with others of less Note attainted of High Treason in Parliament but it so little discouraged them that drawing out from the several places where they were retired with their Army consisting of 25000 men they took the Field against whom the Kings Army advanced with great speed so that meeting at Northampton a cruel and bloody fight ensued but in the end the King being unfortunate in War his Army was worsted and himself a second time made Prisoner there being on both sides not less than ten thousand men slain and of Note Humphry Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Egremont and a Parliament being called the Duke laid claim to the Crown deriving his Pedigree from Leonel the Third Son of Edward the Third elder Brother to John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the Fourth Grandfather to the King so that after a great debate at length it was concluded on all parts that King Henry during his natural Life should quietly possess and enjoy the Crowns and Kingdoms and afterwards they to remain in general Tail to the Duke of York and his Heirs But the Queen a Woman of a Masculine Spirit not approving that her Son Prince Edward a Youth of great hope should be so excluded withdrew her self into the North and there without the consent of the King raised Forces to secure his Right against whom the Duke advanced with an Army but unadvisedly giving her Battel near Sands Castle before his whole Forces were come up and falling into several Ambushes laid for the purpose he himself after a bloody and doubtful fight being slain together with the Earl of Rutland his Son and the Earl of Salisbury with three thousand more of lesser Note and his Head being cut off was crowned with a Paper Crown and in derision carried through the Queens Victorious Army The Duke slain many hoped that this Calamitous War would have an end but failed in their Expectations for Edward Earl of March having raised an Army of 23000 men in the Marches of Wales and hearing of his Fathers Death advanced with great speed overthrowing in a great Battel the Earls of Pembrook and Ormond who endeavoured near Ludlow to oppose his passage in which Battel were slain 3800 men and several Prisoners of Note taken and amongst them Owen Tuder Father-in-Law to the King whose Head by the Command of the Earl was cut off and so he continued his March to fight the Army that yet remained with the Queen who was advanced as far as St. Albans and had overthrown the Londoners who came to oppose her entering their City with the slaughter of 2000 of them and took the King whom they had brought along with them to countenance their undertaking But Edward Earl of March approaching her with his Army which was much increased by the way she thought it not convenient to give battel but suffering him to enter London retired into Scotland Whilst he taking upon him the Title of King was Crowned at Westminster but was not setled in his Throne before News was brought that King Henry with divers Lords were in the North with a great Army whereupon he drew out his Forces to give them battel marching directly to Pomfract in York-shire sending the Lord Fitz-Walter before to take the Charge of the Passage of Ferry Bridge where that Lord with many others were slain and King Henry's Forces gaining the Pass the Armies came in sight of each other and drew up in Battalia being the greatest that had been seen in England since the Conquest Edwards consisting of 48660 and Henry's of 60000 fighting Men when after some pause the Trumpets sounded the Charge and the Army moved furiously when Warwick who lead the Vaunt-guard to incourage his men put from his Horse by whose Example many did the like resolving to win the Field or dye in the Battel so that after It had continued with great slaughter for the space of ten hours and most of theCommanders on King Henry's part slain his Battel swerved nor could the Courage and Skill of those that survived restore it but a fearful flight ensued while the Victors following the Execution covered all the Field with dead Bodies whilst the Blood streamed in Channels for in this Battel fought between the Towns of Towton and Saxton on the twenty ninth of March fell Persons of Quality to the number of 375 amongst which were Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and John Lord Nevel Brother to the Earl of Warwick John Lord Clifford and John Lord Wells and of the meaner sort 35091 whereupon King Henry with his Son and Queen fled into Scotland and Edward returned to London This fatal blow though it put a damp to their Spirits did not altogether discourage the Lancastrians for Queen Margaret going into France raised new Supplies in that Kingdom but making towards England her Fleet was scattered by a Tempest and she driven upon the Coast of Scotland with the smaller part of it yet finding her Husband in the Scotish Court highly entertained by James their King she took heart and soon after the
Scots entered England as far as Durham when King Edward preparing to meet them marched to York and there making a halt sent the Lord Montacute to oppose and hinder their further Progress but being encountered on Hedgly Moor by the Lords Hungerford and Ross together with Sir Ralph Peircey he after a sharp dispute took Sir Ralph Prisoner which success incouraged him to pass on and give battel to King Henry who lay encamped at Hexam where both Armies striving to do their utmost devoir a bloody conflict ensued but many being slain and much blood spilt divers of the Commanders wounded and disabled and taken Prisoners Victory declared against King Henry who finding himself unfortunate in War fled into Scotland in this battel 5600 were slain and the Duke of Somerset with three other Lords and one Knight taken Prisoners who were all beheaded And now King Henry returning privately into England in disguise was taken Prisoner and carried to the Tower so that Edward seem'd established in his Throne yet Fate not satisfied with English Blood though the wounded Nation had bled such Streams as made her faint and languish another cruel War arose and the Factions began again to bandy as fierce as ever for Warwick who was called afterwards the make King of those Times being sent to solicite a Marriage between King Edward and the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and having finished his Negotiation to the liking of the Lady and her Father found upon his return thaâ— the King was married to Elizabeth the Widdow of Sir John Gray slain in upholding the Cause of King Henry at which the Eatâ— supposing his Honour that had been ingaged in the Savoiards Court greatly to suffer grew much inraged and finding mean to withdraw himself joyned with diver Nobles raised a Power and proclaimeâ— King Henry declaring for him and epousing his Interest growing on a suddeâ— so strong that King Edward was forced tâ— draw out his Army and march against him pitching his Camp at Wolney four Milâ— from the Plain on which Warwick was encamped but his Guards being negligent and the Earl having notice thereof entereâ— the Kings Camp and took him Prisoner yeâ— used him very courteously allowing him for his Keeper his Brother George Nevilâ— Arch-Bishop of York who suffering him tâ— ride abroad a hunting and to follow otheâ— Recreations till one day being with a slender Guard far from the Castle and meeting a great Troop of his own Men those thaâ— were with him durst not speak to him 〈◊〉 returning to his Confinement but were glaâ— to leave him behind them and escape for their Lives so that being again at Liberty he was received by his Army with great Joy and passed to London to the great discontent and dislike of the Earl of Warwick Things being at this pass Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised an Army of 30000 consisting mostly of the Commons of Lincolnshire on the behalf of King Henry in revenge of which King Edward caused the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dimmock his Kinsman to be beheaded and so marched to fight Sir Robert when charging furiously upon the unexperienced Plebeans they scarcely sustained the second shock but throwing away their Coats and Weapons fled for their Lives from whence it was called the Battel of Loose-Coat-Field and the Execution â—eing hotly pursued by the inraged Soulâ—iers 10000 of them are accounted to be â—ain As for Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas Deland who commanded under him â—hey were taken Prisoners Upon the News of this Defeat the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward â—ed to Callais but being denied entrance â—hey departed thence to the Court of France where they found Queen Margaret where gathering great Forces they returned to England every where proclaiming King Henry so that the People from all parts hasted to their Standart as well the Nobles as the Commons viz. the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Faulconberg and others so that marching towards London and King Edward finding his Mandates in many places disobey'd thought it not convenient in that juncture to attend the Sequel but with divers of his trusty Friends leâ—â— England and fled to his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy who had a little before married his Sister so that King Henry waâ— Re-in-throned but continued not long iâ— that Estate before King Edward returned landing in the North with a small Army proclaiming King Henry as he passed and pretending he came only as a private maâ— to possess himself of his Inheritance bâ— which means deceiving the People hâ— surprized the City of York and having garrisoned it pulled off the Vizor and marched towards London reconciling himself by the way thro' the means of a Maiâ— who had been brought up by the old Dutches of York to his Brother the Duke of Clâ—rence whereupon the Citizens opening their Gates and every where proclaiming him King Henry was again taken Prisoner anâ— send to the Tower and now the whole weight of the War lying upon Warwicks shoulders he desperately resolved to carry the day or fighting courageously dye in the Bed of Honour and thereupon directed his March towards London out of which King Edward drew his Forces to meet him and on Easter Day joyned Battel near Barnet since known by the Battel of Barnet-field where either of the Generals impatient of so tedious a War drew on their Forces with great force and fury Warwick charging upon the Kings Squadron broke in with his Sword and made such Distruction that they fled on that part and the Battel had gone on his side had there not been a mistake in part of his Men who by mistaking their Cognizances charged upon their fellows which making them suspect some Treason or sudden Revolt they threw down their Weapons and fled which Warwick perceiving and not finding it in his power to retain them or restore the Battel though he laboured by Example and Perswasion to do it resolving not to out-live the day â—he rushed furiously amongst the Squadrons of the Enemy and there fighting valiantly fell upon the heaps of the slain and with him died his Brother the Lord Montacute and three other Lords were slain on the part of King Edward and of the meaner sort on both sides 20000. The News of this defeat made known to Queen Margaret and Prince Edward her Son by such as fled the field she took Sanctuary in the Abby of Ceerne but the Lords that escaped the Battel of Barnet rallying their scattered Forces gave King Edward another Battel at Tewxbury in which they were overthrown with the loss of 3000 men and of Note the Earl of Devonshire and the Duke of Somerset's Brother there likewise Prince Edward was taken and soon after stabbed by Crook-back'd Richard Duke of Glocester in the Presence of King Edward and soon after King Henry was murthered and his Queen taken from Sanctuary and put to a great Ransom Thus stop'd the Stream of Blood when drain'd near dry Thus our Pharsalia England's Tragedy
Was Acted in a bloody Scene till Death With slaughter tir'd was almost out of breath What Lands what Kingdoms might our men have â—ane With that Bloods loss which Civil hands have drawn Such Pow'rs united as our Fields distain'd By Conquering on vast Empires might have gain'd Have overset bold Ott'mans Rising Throne And seen his Conquests far beneath their own A Description of the Battel of Bosworth-field fought between Richard the Third King of England and Henry Earl of Richmond known afterward by the Title of King Henry the Seventh c. AFter the Death of Edward the Fourth Richard Plantagenet Duke of Glocester having caused his two Nephews to be murthered usurped the Throne endeavouring to establish himself therein as he had first acquired it viz. by blood so that greatly oppressing his Subjects and especially the Nobility as also causing Queen Ann his Wife secretly to be made away that he might marry Elizabeth his Neece Daughter to his Brother King Edward the Fourth divers conspired against him and amongst the rest the Duke of Buckingham who had been the main Instrument in helping him into the Throne but raising Forces and being unsuccessful in his attempt his men flying and leaving him to shift for himself he resorted to the House of one Banister who had been his Steward and had got a good Estate under him where for a time he secured himself in disguise to attend his better fortune though it proved otherwise for King Richard seting 1000 l. upon his head the same Banister in whom he confided discovered him to the Sherif of the County who seizing upon him in the Disguise or Habit of a Gardiner carried him to Salisbury where by the Command of the King without Arraignment or Tryal he was beheaded And now by a secret Contract the Earl of Richmond being betroth'd to the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth after having escaped many Dangers beyond the Scas and his Faction being strong in England prepares with such an Army as he could well gather by the favour of the Duke of Brittany and increased by such English as fled to him for fear of the Usurper for England and landed at Milford-Haven his Retinue not exceeding 2000 but was soon increased to a far greater number by those that daily came to joyn him which made King Richard advance with his Army to oppose him and pitched his Tents at Radmore near Bosworth in Leicestershire and both Armies being drawn up in Battalia the Lord Stanly with a great Detachment kept aloof on the Hills and the King suspecting he intended to revolt from him to his Enemy sent to him to advance but he refused saying he would do it when he saw his time whereupon King Richard in a great Rage commanded his Son whom he had in Hostage for the Fathers Fidelity instantly to be beheaded but was by some of his Favorites perswaded to defer it till the Battel was over by which means the young man escaped for both Armies joyning with great fury a bloody and doubtful fight ensued so that for a long time the Scale of Victory hung in an equal poise King Richard commanding and fighting courageously in all parts but the Lord Stanly when both Armies had tried their Strengths and were weary with fighting coming in with his fresh men bore down all before him so that King Richard perceiving the Fortune of the War to go against him like a man in despair resolving not to survive it charged with great fury amongst the thickest Squadrons and having killed and beaten down many was at length over-pow'red and himself slain falling upon heaps of his Enemies his Crown was afterward found in a Hawthorn-bush and himself stripped naked was carried all bloody upon a Horse to Leicester and there buried in the Grey-Friars with much Solemnity after its being exposed two days to the People In this Battel called the Battel of Bosworth-field 6000 men on either side were slain and amongst them divers of Note And now the Earl of Richmond being Crowned in the Field marched to London and soon after solemnly married the Lady Elizabeth joyning the Houses of Lancaster and York he being the Heir of the one and she the Heiress of the other And so the Discord to soft Concord yields That with the Bones o' th' slain made white the Fields Dividing Friends in an unfriendly Jar Rending the tor'ring State with Impious War Whilst Father against Son Brothers with Brothers fight Not caring who was wrong or who was right But smeer'd with Blood in Cruelty delight Being emulous who most cou'd vent his Rage Such is the fate when Civil Arms ingage A description of the Battel of Seminara fought in the Kingdom of Naples between King Ferdinand then intituled to that Kingdom and the Great Gonsalves Caâ—tain of the Spaniards on the one part and the Lords Obignny and Persive for Charles the French King on the other part Anno 1495. CHarles the French King victorious in Italy having won many strong Places and Countries and amongst the rest the Rich and Fertile Kingdom of Naples Ferdinand in whose right it was raising an Army of Spaniards Sicilians Italians c. and entred the Provinces the French had a little before brought to their Subjection in order to recover them advancing as far as the Country of Seminara to oppose whom the Lord Obignny Governour of Calabria for the French King and the Lord Persive Governour of Bosilicula marched with their united Forces from their appointed Rendezvous at Terranova to Seminara to fight the King or besiege him in the Town who knowing nothing of their Conjunction and ignorant of their number issued out of the Town upon news of their approach to give them Battel not staying for the Troops he expected from Puglia Campagnia and Arbuzzo though Gonsalves counted the expertest Captain of his Age laboured to disswade him from fight for being in the flower of Youth and height of his Spirit he rather strove to expose his Valour than hearken to good Counsel and so having made an excellent Speech or Oration to animate the Captains and Souldiers to do their utmost he marched towards Terranova three miles along the Hills and coming to the River lodged his Foot on the left Bank and his Horse-men he stretched on the right to serve for a Wing and so continued to expect the Enemy By this time the French and Switzers came in sight and Obignny cast the latter into a firm Battalion placing the Foot raised in Calabria behind them as a Battel of Succour dividing the Squadron of Horse between them being Men at Arms and in the same order the light Horse-men and so in a square Battel they pass d the River whereupon the Spanish Horse advanced to oppose them but being hotly charged by the thick Battalion of the French in the Advaunt-guard after many of them were beaten down and slain the rest were obliged to retire by
the Duke finding the Day lost used what Industry he could to make an orderly retreat into the Neighbouring Wood but by reason his Array was broken the Imperialists entered with him making great slaughter of his men and pressed so furiously upon him that although he stoutly defended himself yet at length he was taken Prisoner by Hippalito a Venetian and disarmed as likewise were a great number of his men and some prime Commanders In this Battel 2000 foot were slain as likewise 800 Horsemen and 700 wounded on the part of the Saxons but of the Germans the slain exceeded not 500 there were likewise taken 42 Ensigns with all the Plate Jewels Baggage and Furniture of the Camp though the Saxons made a kind of a marching or running fight for the space of fifteen miles in all continuing about eight hours and after this Victory all the Country of Saxony submitted to the Emperours Pleasure as soon after did most of the other Estates and Principalities that combined to withstand and oppose him Thus Saxony in her own Confines prest Through one great loss is many years distrest Labâ—ring with War till Peace at last gave rest A Description of the Memorable battel of Muscle-borough-field fought in Scotland between Edward Seimour Duke of Somerset and James Hamilton Earl of Arran Regents of England and Scotland Anno 1547. A Great difference arising between the two Nations upon the Scots refusing as it had been agreed upon in the days of Henry the Eighth to give their young Queen Mary sole Heiress to the Crown of Scotland to Edward the Sixth King of England c. The English under the leading of the Duke of Somerset and other Nobles entered that Kingdom resolving by War to prosecute them for their Obstinacy and oblige them if possible to the performance of what they without any Colour or Reason had refused whereupon on the third of September Anno 1547 the Lord Regent passed the Tweed with an Army consisting of 10000 foot of which 600 were Harquibuses 4000 men at Arms and Demilances with 2000 light Horse-men of whom 200 were Harquibusiers mounted and 1300 Pioneers the Train of Artillery consisting of fifteen great pieces besides a Fleet of sixty five Vessels whereof a great Gally and thirty four Ships were well appointed for War the rest being Victuallers and Tenders and on the ninth of September incamped within two Miles of the Scotish Army under the command of the Earl of Arran who the next Morning dislodged as likewise did the English and advanced towards each other though the former had but a bad welcome for some of the English Ships riding at Anchor in the River let flye so soon as they came within reach of their shot and killed a Captain together with twenty five Souldiers which made the Battalion of Archers commanded by the Earl of Argyle retreat nor could they be perswaded to advance which made the whole Army change the intended course by marching more Southwardly nor stayed they till they had possessed themselves of the Hill called Fauxside-Bray which made the duke of Somerset the English General send some Troops thither to secure the Hill it being of great advantage to those that possessed it and so successful was he therein that he procured in a short time several pieces of Cannon to be mounted thereon which afterward proved very serviceable in battering the Enemies Ranks and in the Emergency the Council debated on Horse-back what was to be done as not having liesure otherways to do it and came to result this viz. that the Lord Grey of Wilton Marshal of the Army and Captain General of all the Horse-men should with his band of Bulloiners and other Troops to the number of 1800 Horse-men advance to charge the Enemy in the Front whilst Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy Captains of the Pentioners and Men at Arms together with the Lord Fitz-Walter and his band of Demilances to the number of 1600 should be ready to support him that so by a furious charge they might break or disorder the thick front of the Enemies Pikes and although this was a hazardous undertaking yet the Captains disputed not the Order only the Lord Grey desired the General that if he should miscarry in the Enterprize he would be good to his Wife and Children and so taking leave he advanced to meet the Scots who with no less speed came on in so thick a Wedge that it appeared very difficult if not impossible to pierce their Array for the Earl of Angues who commanded the Vaunt-guard had in his Battel 8000 Men and four or five pieces of Cannon which served as a flank on his Right and on his Left he had 400 Horse men and was supported with 10000 Highlanders and in the Rear-ward was the Earl of Huntly with 8000 Scots and 4000 Irish Archers who served as a Wing unto them both being furnished likewise with Ordnance as in the other battel nor was this all for the English had the difficulty of a great Slough or miry Ditch to struggle with in their Passage which not only obliged them to break their Ranks but mited divers of them that were not skilled in leaping yet surmounting these they came to a furious charge insomuch that although at the first onset the battel was not broken yet it swaied and gave back to Admiration so that the English gained Ground apace but the Lord Marshal finding he was not at that time capable of forcing their Ranks he made a softly retreat towards the Hill that they might disrank to follow him and he thereby have an opportunity to give a second charge before they could fall into order in which retreat he lost twenty five of his men and had divers wounded many of them Persons of Quality as the Lord Generals Son and Sir Thomas Darcy c. Nor did they fail to lay hold on the Kings Standard borne by Sir Andrew Flammock but it was so well defended that they only broke the Staff and carried away the nether end but the English Commanders having rallied their Troops and by moving Orations dissipated the fear the late slaughter occasioned and being re-inforced Peter Meucasa Captain of a Company of Harquibusiers on foot drew up in the front of the Enemies battel and was seconded by Peter Gamboa a Spanish Captain who commanded 200 Harquibusiers on Horseback who with their shot made such slaughter that the Scots durst not advance and by that means the English Archers had time to march on the Right-hand of our foot-men and feather them with their flights of Arrows and the great Ordnance playing transverse within Musquet-shot and the foot-men who had been obscured by the Horse advancing in good array the Scots began to shrink together though they were far superior to the English in number and quickly losing all Courage betook themselves to open flight their General the Earl of Arran flying foremost nor did Angues stand to it but followed with great Celerity so that the
but some Affronts put upon him he sent Antelop his Pursuvant at Arms with Letters of defiance and having discovered and escaped a Conspiracy against his Life laid by the Contrivance of the French who had promised several of his Nobles a Million of Gold to effect his Death he embarked with his Army for France and landed at Harflew in Normandy where he had Burdeaux and many Towns of Note put into his Hands in which he left Garrisons and placed in them English Artizens with small Resistance which made him resolve to pass through the Countries of Caux and Ewe to his Town of Calais though his Army consisted of no more than 13000 Foot and 2000 Horse and so set forward with easie Marches the Country in his way being all destroyed before him for the French having notice of what he intended had not only removed the Forrage and Provisions but destroyed and brake down the Bridges fell'd Trees and plashed Woods in the way he was to take raising in the mean time great Forces in all parts of the Country as not doubting but they had him and his Army at their Pleasure and indeed for want of Necessaries and by reason of the Difficulties the Soldiers were forced to struggle with many oâ— them in a short time became sick and infirm so that the King finding himself in a strait began to repent him that he had so far advanced into the Enemies Country as knowing should he now retreat he must fight his way wherefore he made some Overtures to the French Generals proposing to surrender several Towns he had taken in Normandy but they rejected these Propositions with Derision as not doubting but himself and them together with his small Army wherein were many of the English Nobility would be at their disposal and so confident were they herein that the three Generals viz. The Dolphin the Dukes of Burgundia and Orleans had conditioned and agreed amongst themselves for the Prisoners and Spoils and with their huge Army consisting of 150000. Horse and 10000 Foot many of the former being the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom who hoped to win Honour in such as they thought it an assured Enterprize they advanced apace so that King Henry a Man of an undaunted Courage seeing no way but to fight disposed his Army to the best Advantage placing in the front a competent number of Archers who carried beside their Bows and Swords long Stakes pointed with Iron to fix in the Ground slauntwise that when they retired they might secure them against the Horse And in a Meddow with a convenient Ditch to defend it he placed as in an Amubush five hundred Archers who lay within half shot of the French Wing whilst in the main Battel stood the men at Arms and the Horse divided into two Squadrons were to charge as advantage gave them Opportunity And now whilst the French who covered the Country were advancing in three main Battels as to assured Victory the King with a moving Oration exhorted his Captains and Souldiers For the Honour of their Country and their own safety not to faint but stand to it manfully and confiding in the justness of their Cause not to despair of Victory nor should for his part let France see him a Captive or England be put to the Charge of his Ransom as being resolved to dye with Honour if things came to Extremity And so the Charge being sounded the thick squadrons of the French who scarcely had room for an orderly march came furiously on and were when within shot met by a flight of English Arrows which gauling their Horses and dismounting divers of their Chiefs command was given to press on and come to a close fight thereby to frustrate the Archers of the use of their Bows at what time a furious charge being given the Archers retreated a few Paces and left bare a triple tire of pointed Stakes which till that time they had covered upon which the French Horse-men rushing a great number of their Horses were gored and sticking as it were altogether disabled barrocaded the English Army from the approach of the rest so that not only the Archers in the front continued to pour in their shot but likewise those in the Meadow that flanked the squadron of the Right Wing began incessantly to deliver their shafts which in a short time wrought such Confusion that the French finding no place to retire amongst the thick Ranks that still pressed on and wedged as it were each other in began to fall into disorder many of them disranking as not being able to manage their wounded Horses nor could their Foot conveniently advance to their relief so that the men of Arms breaking in with great fury and the English Horse charging their Right Wing a miserable slaughter ensued nothing but death and flight being seen on their part throughout the field whilst the King himself distinguished by a Crown he wore on his Helmet fought courageously piercing their main Battel forcing his Horse over heaps of the slain which the Duke of Alanso who commanded on that part perceiving broke through the formost rank in a desperate manner and charged with his Sword so forcibly that with the blow he bruised the Kings Crown and made him a little recoil but the King soon advancing gave him such a stroke as beat him to the Ground at which time he cryed out he was Alanso and begged for quarter notwithstanding which and though the King laboured to save him he was there slain and now the French began to retire in great disorder nor was it in the power of the Commanders to restore the battel which advantage the English perceiving had the Execution of them with such a fearful slaughter that it is reported by divers Historians and some of them their own that no less that 4000 Noble-Men Knights and Esquire were slain together with 100000 of the meaner sort though all agree the French lost 60000 in that defeat and so many Prisoners many of them of the first Rank were taken that the King fearing upon fresâ— Troops showing themselves upon the Hills which were indeed come too late to the battel as not hearing of the overthrow thaâ— being more in number than his own men if the French reinforced should rally anâ— come to another tryal they might fall upon his Rear in the battel caused them all except some of the Chief to be slain â—thâ— which although it was a bloody Sentencâ—â— yet Self-preservation at that time made it State Policy And soon after this Victory which he ascribed to God alone the King had not only Paris put into his Hands but Marrying Catharine Daughter to Charles the French King he was Crowned King of France in Reversion and possessed himself of all the Cities and Towns of that Kingdom except a few the Dolphin held out against him in Berry Nor did this Glorious Victory cost the English much Blood there being not above 2500 slain and of Note only Edward Duke of
York and the Earl of Worcester Thus Haughty France drunk with her Blood did reel And fell before a Conquering Monarchs Steel Thus in old Days kind Heav'n for England fought And Mighty Realms to her Subjection brought A Description of the Glorious Battel and chievements of the Mighty Scanderbeg King of Epirus being an Account of his many Victories over the Turks under the leading of Amurath the Second King of that Name c. AMurath the Second Turkish King of that Name by the many Conquests he had made growing dreadful to the lesser Princes divers of them conditioned to become his Tributaries and amongst others John Castriot Prince of Epirus for the due Observance of which he gave his four Sons as Hostages viz. George after named by the Turks Scanderbeg Stamsius Reposius and Constantine Amurath promising well and honourably to intreat them yet he had no sooner gotten them into his Possession but he caused them to be circumcised and to be instructed in the Mahometan Superstition poisoning upon a Jealosie of their intending to escape all but the first and after the Fathers Death seized contrary to his Promise upon the Kingdom of Epirus which not a little grieving George Castriot or Scanderbeg whose Right it was he sought 〈◊〉 ways to escape but the crafty Turk 〈◊〉 watchful Eye over him intending at 〈◊〉 times to put him to death but by 〈◊〉 â—eans or other was as often prevented 〈…〉 being at length made a Commander in the Turkish Army against the Hungarians and that Army with a fearful slaughter overthrown by the Great Huniades on the Plains of Moravia he then thought it the best time to escape and fly the Turkish Servitude whereupon taking with him Amurath's Secretary with divers of his trusty Friends he led him into a large Wood and there compelled him to write in his Masters Name to the Governour of Croija the chief City of Epirus as also to sign it with his Signet to the intent that he might deliver him up his Charge which accordingly he did and then having secured him from making any Relation thereof he posted thither and had it upon the sight of those Letters surrendred at what time sending for Prince Amasa his Kinsman Moses an expert Captain and divers others he acquainted them with the purpose he had to deliver his Country from the Turkish Tyranny who approving his undertaking his Subjects frequently resorted to him so that he became very powerful and divers Cities revolting from the Turks put themselves under his Protection as Stelusia Petra Alba Petrolla so that with a great Power he entred Macedonia and laid those Countries that were under the Turkish Sovereignty waste at which unexpected News Amurath being greatly alarmed sent 40000 of his best Souldiers under the leading of Alis Bassa to surprize him but Scanderbeg retiring into Epirus gave him battel with no more than 6000 Men and after a sharp dispute overthrew him with the slaughter of 22000 of his Men not losing above 300 of his own carrying in a manner the battel with his Prowess for charging the Turkish squadrons he broke through beating down all with an irresistible force that stood before him so that his men following him had little to do but to slaughter the routed and amazed Turks After which Amurath sent Mustapha Bassa with a great Army to waste Epirus who was by Scanderbeg overthrown and himself taken Prisoner These overthrows so enraged Amurath that raising a mighty Power he came in Person promising great Rewards to those that could bring Scanderbeg's Head and so besieged Sfetigrade but although he batter'd it incessantly with his Cannon and made frequent Assaults with the loss of 20000 of his best men it was so resolutely defended by the Governour who would not be corrupted by any offers of Gold that he despaired with his huge Army to win it and fearing by the Sallies of the besieged and the frequent Assaults Scanderbeg made with his flying Army by breaking into one quarter or other of his Camp that his multitude being consumed he should be obliged to return with disgrace he in the end indented for a Sum of Money in hand and a larger quantity when it should be effected with an inconsiderable Fellow by Occupation a Smith to cause the City to be surrendered which he brought to pass in the following manner The City of Sfetigrade by most held impregnable being scituate upon a Rock and for that Reason affording but one Well or main Spring which in abundance furnished the Citizens and Souldiers into this Well in the Night-time the Traitor cast the stinking putrefied Carcass of a Dog that had lain a long time in the Streets which being found and drawn thence the next Morning as likewise noised throughout the City as well the Citizens as Souldiers refused any more to drink of it nor could the Governour with all his Perswasions and Intreaties oblige them to it though himself to convince them of the wholsomness of the Water drank often in their sight but they rather chose to undergo the worst Extremities of Thirst by which means many of them died so that the Governour through this Nicety of his Souldiers not finding the City tenable was obliged to capitulate and marching out with Bag and Baggage was conducted to Scanderbegs Army and he by whose Treachery the City fell into the Hands of the Turks being for a while seemingly carress'd was in the end secretly made away yet upon Amurath's return Scanderbeg fell upon the Rear of his Army and cut off 3000 of his Men. The year following Amurath returned with a greater Army and besieged Croija the chief City of Epirus but losing under its Walls without success 30000 men and despairing notwithstanding to win it he died in his Tent Anno 1450. leaving his Son Mahomet to succeed him in his Empire charging him to be revenged of Scanderbeg with whom his Armies under the leading of divers Bassa's fought many bloody Battels but were always worsted by the invincible Prince even with a handful of men his Force and Courage being such that he often with his own hand turned the Scale of Victory when it was inclining to his Enemies nor could the Corruption of his great Captains with vast Sums of Turkish Gold alter his Fortune so that having stood twenty four years the Champion and Bulwork of Christendom he at last died in Peace at Lyssa which Town nine years after his Death being taken by the Turks they opened his Sepulchre and took thence his bones for which they had such a Veneration that happy was he that could get the smallest piece of them which being got they counted of great Value and wore it about them as an inestimable Jewel fancying that ever after Scanderbeg's Fortune would attend them Thus di'd the Hero far Renown'd in Arms Whose very Name the Globe with Wonder charms No Pow'r from him could take the Laureat Prize Till All-subduing Death seal'd up his Eye And lay'd him up till he