laying claim to the Province of Vlster but great preparations being made against him he came over and submitted yet returning to his old Trade he was at length slain by one of his Companions who with his Head compounded for his own safetie c. and shortly after great Dissensions happened in Scotland where the Scots Mutiniers Murthered their King and the Queen the Heiress of Scotland and Mother to King James the First of England flying for France was driven on the Coast of England and made a Prisoner by order of Council and now the Pope impatient of delay by his Commissions and large Promises stirr'd up many as well Nobles as Plebeans to take Arms causing his Bulls to be dispersed the better to incense the people against the Queen however they were overthrown and an Alderman a Priest and about 66 Constables and others Executed at Durham and other places The Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland hereupon fled into Scotland but raising new Commotions they were again routed and Northumberland on the 22d of August 1570 beheaded at York where to the last he affirmed the Pope's Supreamacy and declared the Land to be in Schism according as the Pope had declared in his Bull or Curse against the Queen which had been privately fastened on the Gate of the Bishop of London's Palace and divers Priests conspiring themselves and stirring up others to raise Commotions were convicted and Executed at sundry times and places as Story Summevil Parry Campion Throckmorton Howard and others Anno 1577. the famous Captain Drake set sail from Plymouth and in 3 years wanting 12 days compassed the whole Earth making many wonderfull discoverys his Men being worshiped by the Barbarous Nations as Gods and at a place which he named Nova Albion the King surrendered him his Crown of Net-work and Feathers curiously wrought desiring him to take upon him the Government of the Country which he did to the behoof of the Queen setting up a Monument of her Sovereignty in those parts by the consent of King and People and much about the same time Sir Martin Forbisher tryed the North East Passage and named the furthest Land Queen Elizabeths Forelands and whilst this great Queen flourished in spite of Forreign and Clandestine Foes Francis de Valois Duke of Anjou and Brother to the French King made sute to her for Marriage and mistaking the Freedom she had taken for a consent came over to Wooe her in Person but after the Expence of much Treasure himself and his Sute were rejected and he returned no wiser than he came And now the King of Spain oppressing the States of the Neitherlands and labouring to settle the Inquisition amongst them the Queen upon their humble supplication sent over 1000 Horse and 5000 Foot under the Leading of Sir John Norris and for the Security of the Reimbursment of her Charges had the Towns of Brill and Flushing with two Sconces and a Castle put into her hands Anno 1587 The Priests raised new stirs in England and Ireland which hastened the Death of Mary Queen of Scots for that poor Princess weary of a tedious Imprisonment holding some Intelligence with one Babington and others in orders to make her escape was betrayed by her Secretary and being Sentenced as one that had designed to depose Queen Elizabeth and set up her self she was on the 7th of Feb. beheaded at Fotheringay Castle whose Execution proved afterward no small cause of discontent to our Queen All hopes by this means and other disappointments being lost to the Papists of bringing their Designs about by Clandestine ways the Pope stirred up the King of Spain to Invade the Kingdom giving it him as the Patrimony of St. Peter and promising him success whereupon he gathered his huge Armado which he named Invincible even whilst there was a Treaty of peace on Foot yet the Queen having notice from Henry the Third King of France what was intended against her prepared by Sea and Land to expect the Storm pitching her Camp at Tillbury in Essex consisting of 15000 Horse and 22000 Foot and for her own Guard out of the several Countys she drew 23520 Horsemen and 34500 Foot-men and in the remarkable year 1588 on the 20th of July the Spaniards with their huge Hulks which appeared on the Sea like floating Castles passed by Plymouth towards Calais to joyn the Duke of Parma Governour of the Neitherlands for the King of Spain but were dispersed with a mighty Tempest yet gathered again but were so beaten by the English under the command of the Lord Howard Admiral Sir Francis Drake and others that of 134. great Ships that Sail from Lisbon only 53 returned into Spain so that there were missing 81 Vessels 13000 Soldiers and Sea-men and there was hardly a Noble Family in Spain but lost a Brother or Kinsman in this Expedition which had cost the King of Spain Ten Millions For this great deliverance the Queen gave publick Thanks in St. Paul's Church and the Spanish Prisoners and Streamers were brought to London and the Queen resolving to be even with the Spaniard for this Treachery sent Sir Francis Drake and others into the West-Indies where they took many Spanish Towns and Ships with great store of Gold and Silver and after that she assisted Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal to recover his right whereupon they burnt Cadiz and the Shiping in the Harbour worth five Millions took several Towns in Portugal and marched to the very Gates of Lisbon against which the Earl of Essex breaking his Lance demanded the proudest Spaniard of them all to come and answer him They likewise sailed to the Azzores and took and plundered those Islands This made the Papists at home begin to stir for which Patrick Cullen Dr. Lopez a Spaniard and divers others hired to kill or poison the Queen were detected and executed and indeed the Plots and Contrivances of the like kind against this Queen are recorded to be very many nor did the Spaniards fail to send Forces to the Assistance of the Irish Rebells under Tyroen but they were defeated by the Lord Montjoy many of them killed and the rest obliged to beg leave to depart the Kingdom and Tyroen forsaken of his Followers was sent into England and Imprisoned in the Tower About this time the Earl of Essex who had been under disgrace for some Miscarriages when he was Deputy of Ireland and confined to his House being of a fiery temper and knowing his Enemies at Court were contriving his Ruine he sent for â—â—e Earl of Southampton and divers other Friends as resolving to force a Visit and confront them in the presence of the Queen but being strictly forbid it he confined the Counsellors that were sent to that purpose under a guard and marched into London but finding himself opposed and that there were none very forward to stand with him upon such an Undertaking he returned and fortified his House in the Strand but finding himself to weak to hold out
neglecting it and refusing to acknowledge they ought so to doe he with a powerfull Army entred Scotland and being about to charge the Enemy as he was mounting his Horse startled and threw him breaking by a spurn of his Heel two of the King's Ribs yet without delay he remounted and gave them Battel charging quite through their Army with such slaughter that in a very short time they were all in Rout and Confusion so that in this Action near Fawkirk 70000 Scots are reported to be slain after which most of the strong places yielded to King Edward when returning victorious to England he in Parliament restored Mogna Charta and Charta Forestae agreeing that no Tax or Subsidy should be levied upon the People but by the Consent of Prelates Peers and Commons in Parliament and in the end of his Grants left out Salvo jure Coronae nostrae viz. Saving the rights of our Crown and at the earnest entreaty of the Pope he set Baliol at Liberty And now the King being desirous absolutely to subject and annex Scotland to the Crown of England raised another powerfull Army against which the Scots not able to make head retired and as their last refuge entreated the Pope to send his Letters of Inhibition which accordingly were sent but the King was so far from regarding them that he in a great passon swore he would not desist ahd when they urged it farther that if he persevered the Pope would take it upon himself he with a disdainfull Smile replied What! Have you done Homage to me as to the chief Lord of Scotland and do you now suppose that I can be terrified with Threatenings as if like one that had no Power to compell I would let the right which I have go out of my Hands Let me hear no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will consume all Scotland from Sea to Sea This resolute Protestation so terrified the Scots that they only replied For the Justice and Rights of their Countrey they were ready to shed their Bloud and the King to justifie his Proceeding sent the Earl of Lincoln to Rome so that by the Influence of the Pope a Truce was concluded from all Saints to Whitsuntide but the Pope not so contented before the Truce was expired declared himself in favour of the Scots whereupon King Edward in a Parliament holden at Lincoln by the General Consent defended his Proceedings with a Protestation that they had not exhibited any thing to the Court of Rome as in form of Judgment or submitting to the Tryall of his Cause but rather for the satisfaction of its Merit and Justice and when the Pope required the King to stand to his decision for matter of Claim the Peers to whom the King had entirely referred it signified to the Pope that the King of England was not to answer in Judgment for any rights of the Crown before any Tribunal under Heaven and that by sending Deputies and Attornies to that purpose he should make the Truth and Justice of his Cause doubtfull forasmuch as it manifestly tended to the Disinherision of the Crown which with the help of God they would maintain against all Men And this was subscribed at Lincoln Anno 1301. by no less than 100 Peers so that Pope Boniface the Third perceiving no good to be done and loth to break with England gave over his Pretensions and left the Scots to make the best of their business whereupon the King made the Lord Segrave Custos of that Kingdom but the Scots thereupon growing impatient took Arms and overthrowing the Custos took him Prisoner but he was soon rescued by Sir Robert Nevil yet this made King Edward set forward with an Army which brought such a Terrour upon Scotland that he marched through the Kingdom from Roxborow to Cathiness 300 miles without the lest resistence for those that were in Arms betook themselves upon his approach to the Woods and Mountains The King thus absolute in Scotland had for a summe of Money Wallis their Ring-leader delivered into his hands so that at Westminster being found guilty of Treason in rebelling against the King his law full Sovereign he was hanged and quartered his Quarters sent into Scotland and set up in divers remarkable places after whose death Bruce that had contended with Baliol for the Kingdom headed the Scots and gathered a considerable Army but was routed by Aymery de Valence one of King Edward's Captains and forced into the Orcades where he lived an obscure Life with much hardship till he found another opportunity to head his Countrey-men and did many noble Exploits which drew King Edward to oppose him but in his way he fell sick at Carlisle where finding the near approach of Death he charged his Son Edward who was to succeed him that he should be industrious to bring the Scots under the English Obedience and that he should carry his Bones along with him through Scotland the better to render him victorious commanding on pain of his Curse not without common consent to recall out of Banishment Pierce Gavestone and farther enjoining him to send his Heart into the Holy Land accompanied with 149 Knights and their Train to which end he had laid up two thousand pounds of Silver and that upon pain of Damnation the Money should be turned to no other use then removing from Carlisle to Bury upon the Sands he there dyed of a Dissentery anno 1307. and his Body buried at Westminster This Edward the First was King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitain c. eldest Son to Henry the Third by Eleanor his Queen his first Wife was Eleanor Daughter to Ferdinand the Third King of Castile by whom he had Issue John Henry and Alphons all dying young Edward who succeeded him Eleanor married to Henry the Third Earl of Barrie Joan married to Gilbert Clare Earl of Hereford and Gloucester Margaret married to John the Second Duke of Brabant Berenger Alice and then Mary who at the earnest Entreaty of her Grandmother became a veiled Nun at the Age of Ten years Elizabeth first married to John Earl of Holland and Zealand then to Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hartford and ctssex then Beatrix and Blanch. By his Second Wife Margaret Daughter to Philip the Hardy King of France he had Issue Thomas Earl of Norfolk and Earl Marshal of England Edmund Earl of Kent and Eleanor who dyed young he began his Reign on the 16th of November anno 1272. and reigned 34 Years 7 Months and 12 days dying in the 35th year of his Reign and the 69th of his Age. Thus did grim Death close up our Monarch's eyes From whom no mortal Might could take the Prize In Arms renowned the World his Fame has heard Belov'd by most and by all Mankind fear'd The Reign and Actions of Edward the Second King of England c. THis King from the place of his Birth was called Edward of Caernavon he began his Reign anno 1307
the Revenge of some Courtiers whom he had iâ—jured and they soliciting the King to proceed further he commanded him to leave the Court and retire to York but as he was on his way he was overtaken and arrested by the Earl of Northumberland and his House and Furniture siezed Hiâ— Charge was for speaking Arrogant Words against the King which were interpreted that he meant to take revenge for his disgrace but at Leicester Abby in his way to London taking an Italian Confection to break Wind from his Stomach he dyed not without suspition of Poisoning himself rather than after so great a share of Power and Grandure as he had possessed to fall into the hands of his Enemies His last words were these viz. If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served my King he would not at this time cast me off As for his Birth it was mean being the Son of a Butcher at Ipswich rising from a low degree by his Policie Cuning and prompt Genus About this time Queen Ann was delivered of a Daughter Christened by the name of Elizabeth afterward our renowned Queen of England and two years after of a dead Child but the Popish party at Court perceiving this good Queen strongly to incline to the Lutheran Doctrine and encourage those of the Profession they found an opportunity to strike in with some displeasure of the King 's and accuse her of Incest and Adultery with her Brother the Lord Rochfort which appeared upon no other Foundation than his waiting upon her whilst she was in Bed to inquire of her Health and for joy of her recovery presuming to salute her however she was beheaded on Tower-Hill making a very Pious and Christian-like end and for the same Fact dyed Her Brother in like manner on the 19th of May 1536. and the next day the King gave a greater light into this cruel Execution by Marrying the Lady Jane Seymour Daughter to Sir John Seymour which looked as though the removing one from his Embraces was only to make way for the other Wolsey as is said being dead Thomas Cromwell a Black-smith's Son of Putney who had been an under Favourite of the Cardinals began to rise in the Kings esteem being first made Master of the Jewel-house then Barron of Okeham then Earl of Essex after that great Chamberlain of England and Vicar General of the Spiritualities he was a great favourer of the Reformed Religion and strove what in him lay to promote it but this and his greatness proved his downfall by raising powerfull Enemies at Court against him so that after he had done many great things for the King and Kingdom he was Arraigned Condemned and lost his Head however some change of the Face of the Romish Worship made the Monks and Fryars invite the Plebeans to take up Arms under pretence of redressing Grievances and reforming matters of State and were headed in Lincolnshire by one Mackarel a Monk but being promised by the King their requests should be partly answered they laid down their Arms but it was not long before another rout got together under the name of Pilgrims carrying in their Banner the Picture of Christ with his five Wounds the Chalice Cake and other foolish Devices declaring for Holy Mother Church and a Reformation in State These assembled in Yorkshire to the number of 40000 Commanded by one Diamond a Fisherman who Stiled himself the Earl of Poverty and one Robert Aske yet upon the approach of the King's Forces though they had for a time appeared very formidable being promised as the former some Redress of their Demands and a Pardon for what had passed they dispersed themselves yet upon these and the like stirs several of the Ringleaders were taken and Executed as four Abbots two Pryors three Monks and 3 Priests nor did Captain Mackerel escape this Execution and of Temporal Persons dyed the Lord Dacres Sir Robert Constable Sir Francis Bigod Robert Aske and divers others and now the Churches began to be purged of Images and other Trumpery which greatly inriched the King's Coffors for many of them were of Gold and Silver set with precious Stones and those of Wood were burnt nor were the Monasteries and Religious Houses long delayed of which there were suppressed Monasteries â—645 Colledges 90 Chanceries and Free Chapels â—374 So that the Bible was read in English Register Books appointed and Weddings and Christenâ—ngs Commenced in due order to hinder Clandestine Iniquities for upon their being demolished great numbers of Childrens Sculls and Bones were found which had been Murther'd stopt up in the Walls and other places to hide the Infamy of the Lascivious Nuns and Fryars c. But by this means the Revenues siezed swarms of Monasticks were turned out to shift which made them labour to incense not only many of the Commons but some Noblemen and Gentlemen against the King and the Pope sent a Bull Excommunicating the King but the Bull bearer being taken as he was fixing it upon the Bishop of Londons Palace he was as a Traytor conveyed to Tyburn and there hanged with the Bull about his Neck and the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Nevile were Executed at Tower-Hill for Conspiring to depose Henry and place Cardinal Reignald Pool Grand-son to the Duke of Clarence in the Throne The Lady Jane Seymour whom Henry hade made â—his Queen dying in Child-bed with Prince Edward afterward our Edward the Sixth the King Married the Lady Ann Sister to the Duke of Cleve and she being sent over the King no sooner fixed his Eyes on her but he took dislike a to her Person and pretending he had been deceived in the Report of her Beauty the Beding was refrained and a Divorce procured in Parliament barring her the Tittle of Queen and he proceeded to Marry the Lady Catharine Howard Neice to the Duke of Norfolk but she soon after run the same Risque as Ann of Bulloin had done for she had not been Married much above a year before she was accused of Fornication and Adultery the one with Francis Derham before Marriage and the other with Thomas Culpeper after she was Queen for which she together with the Lady Jane Rochfort lost her head on Tower-Hill the latter suffering for Concealing the Fact of the former though the Queen declared to her Confessor to the last she was innocent as for Derham and Culpeper they were Executed at Tyburn nor did the Countiss of Salisbury Daughter to George Duke of Clarence and Mother to Cardinal Pool escape the cruelty of the King for upon a suspition she held Correspondence with her Son she was attainted in Parliament and beheaded upon that Attandure and about the same time the Lord Leonard Grey lost his Head for Treason and for refusing to deny the Pope's Supreamicy and acknowledge the King's upon a Statute acknowledging the King Supream Head in his own Kingdom John Fisher Bishop of Rochester and the famous Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor
two Ruffians sent at another time to kill her who were prevented by Beddingfield her Keepers being out of Town she at last escaped the ruine intended her In the year 1554. on the 16th of April a great Dispute was held between the Popish Doctors and Thomas Cranmer Arch Bishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridly Bishop of London Hugh Lattimer Bishop of Durham and others of the Reformed Religion at Oxford about Transubstantiation and other Points wherein when the Papists found themselves baffled they told the Bishops though they had the word yet they had the Sword and indeed they used it with extream cruelty for these good Prelates were then Imprisoned and about a Year and six Months after were burnt for the sake of a good Conscience in Oxford Town-Ditch and now on the 25th of July Philip King of Spain arrived with a great Train of Nobility and the Marriage was solemnized and they proclaimed by the Titles of Philip and Mary King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Princes of Spain and Sicily Arch Dukes c. of Austria Dukes c. of Millain Burgundy and Brahant Counts c. of Haspurg Flanders and Tyrol and in November following the Queen was said to be with Child and upon the spreading this report she took her Chamber whereupon Midwives Rockers and Nurses were provided and the Priests in their Pulpits prayed for her safe Delivery assuring the people before hand it was a Prince and some where so vain to discribe it features the Parliament likewise resolved if the Queen Dyed King Philip should be Protector of the Realm and the Infant during the Minority and at last a false Rumour was given out that the Queen was actually delivered of a Prince whereupon the English Merchants at Antwerp and other Ports discharged their Guns and drunk Healths to their young Master but in conclusion it appeared the Queen was not nor never had been with Child yet it was conjectured by many that the Papists if King Philip had not protested against it had shamed a Child upon the Nation and soon after out of some dislike he left England and returned no more yet he taking part with the Emperour his Father against the French the Queen sent a Gallant Army under the Leading of the Earl of Pembroke to his Aid as he lay at the Siege of St. Qeintines by whose help the place was taken from the French whereupon the Duke of Guis with the greatest part of the French Army coming about by swift Marches unexpectedly laid Siege to Calais the only English Town in France and there being no Succours sent from England by reason of contrary Winds as if Heaven apparently declared it self against the breach of League the besieged few in number after they had done all that men were capable of doing in Defence of the place surrendered it upon advantageous Articles The loss of this place and the unkindness of King Philip cast the Queen into a deep Melancholly insomuch that she declared if she was opened when Dead they might find Calais written on her Heart and the Sweating Sickness coming on she fell desperately ill and dyed the 17th of November 1558 in her Reign were consumed in the Flames for the sake of a good Conscience five Bishops twelve Ministers 18 Gentlemen forty eight Artificers one hundred Husband-men Servants and Labourers twenty six Wives twenty Widows nine Virgins and two Infants the one Whipped to Death by Bonner's Chaplain for calling him Ball 's Priest and the other springing out of his Mothers Womb whilst she was in the Flames was notwithstanding cast into the Fire sixty more were Imprisoned and grievously persecuted seven of them Whipped and sixteen perished in Prison who being as Hereticks denyed Christian Burial were buried in Dunghills The Dutches of Suffolk and divers others were forced to flie beyond the Seas where they suffered extreme Misery and hardship nay so violent were the Priests who altogether swayed the Queens Inclinations that they intended to take up the Body of King Henry her Father and bury it in a Dunghill in revenge of the injurys he had done Mother Church in rooting out the Monks and Fryars but the Council opposed it and in process of of time almost all the Persecutors came to miserable Ends. This Mary was Queen of England France and Ireland Eldest Duaghter to Henry the Eighth by Catharine his Queen Daughter to Ferdinand the Seventh King of Spain She began her Reign on the 6th of July and Reigned five Years four Months and Eleven Days dying in the fortieth Year of her Age without Issue and was buried in Westminster being the 42. sole Monarch of England c. Thus Dy'd Romes Darling who a wonder stood In Cruelty and Feasting Flames with Bloud Made England groan beneath a Popish Yoak Yet Death at last the fatal Fetters broke The Reign and Actions of Elizabeth Queen of England c. QUeen Mary giving place by Death her Illustrious Sister Elizabeth after escaping many Eminent Dangers succeeded her in the Throne the Nobles owning her their rightfull Queen and doing her Homage so that on the 15th of January she was crowned by Dr. Oglethorp Bishop of Carlisle and soon after a Parliament was called in which the Title of Supreamacy was taken from the Pope and restored to the Crown with the tenths and first Fruits of Ecclesiastical Livings as also the Common Prayers as used in the Churches in the Reign of Edward the Sixth and such Acts as in Queen Marys time were made in favour of the Romanists were were repealed so that the Face of Religion was again restored and many pious men that had fled the Land returned and about this time a Petition was made to the Queen to Marry that her Royal Issue might succeed her but she absolutely refused to hearken to it saying That she held it sufficient that a Marble Stone should tell to Posterity that she a Quen had Reigned lived and dyed a Virgin The Pope by this time having Notice that England was rescued out of his Clutches set all his Engines on work to trouble the Reign of this great Queen which obliged her to enter into Confederacy with divers Protestant Princes of Germany and upon demanding Calais the French promised to deliver it to the English at the Expiration of eight years or to pay 500000 Crowns but it was never performed though sworn to and for the better Regulation of the Clergy in England Oaths were tendered whereupon divers refusing to own the Queens Supreamacy were turned out and learned Men who had been outed in Marys Reign put into their places she likewise called into her Mint Pase and Adulterated Coin and allowing so much as the true value she refined it and Coined that Mony that now goes Currant in her Stamp laying up Magazines and Stores of Warlik Provision and sent Aids into Franne to support the Protestants in Arms against the Papist but to divert her nearer home Shan O-Neal Rebelled in Ireland
he surrendred himself and was committed to the Tower and soon after he with the Earl of Southampton were convicted of High-Treason in endeavouring to Leavy War against the Queen c. and the Earl of Essex on the 20th of February 1600 lost his Head on the Green within the Tower not only lamented of the people whose Darling he was but of the Queen her self who at the perswasion of his Enemies had in the heat of her passion signed the Warrant for his Death divers others were Executed on this occasion as it were to bare so great a Man company nor did the Queen enjoy her self after the fall of this Favourite but hastened her own Death by grief dying on the 24th of March 1602 and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapell at Westminster when she had Reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days and in the 69th Year of her Age. This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland Daughter to Henry the Eighth by his Wife Ann Bulloin in her Reign happened Earthquakes Blazing Stars and a Mortal Plague of which 40000 dyed in and about London She was the 43th sole Monarch of England c. Thus set the Glory of her Sex in Dust Whose endless Memory Fame keeps in trust When Eating Time shall Marble Tombs deface Her Name shall live belov'd in every place The Life Reign and Actions of James the First King of Great Britain c. THe name of the Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth gave way to that of the Stuarts James the Sixth of Scotland great Grand-child to James the Fourth and Margaret his Wife Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh succeeding to the Crown by reason of the failure of Issue by the Male Line who upon notice of the Death of Queen Elizabeth being invited by the Nobles set forward from his Kingdom of Scotland and entering England was received on the Frontires with great joy and conducted to London being met some distance by the Mayor and Aldermen and five hundred Horse who conducted him to the Charter-House prepared for his Reception but because the Plague raged the Coronation was deferred and the Popish Party who had earnestly expected the death of the Queen in hopes a Papist might succeed finding themselves disappointed laboured to prevent his establishment in the Throne and several were detected who had received Orders from the Pope to seize his Person and bring him to their own terms however on the 21st of July 1603. The King together with the Queen his Royal Consort were crowned at Westminster by Dr. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Conspirators being tryed at Winchester many were found guilty yet only Watson and Clark two Priests together with George Brook suffered death the King pardoning the rest mostly at the place of Execution and then in a dispute between the Bishops of the Church of England and the Puritan Ministers who pretended to a farther Reformation this wise Prince gave it for the first and by learned reasons so confuted the latter that they were utterly non-plussed and after that he caused the Holy Scripture to be new Translated from the Original and Anno 1604 he made peace with Spain and proceeded to a Uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and took upon him the Stile of King of Great Britain banishing the Jesuites and Seminary Priests who began a fresh to disturb the Government which made them as their last Shift or rather cruel revenge contrived that hellish Plot called the Gunpowder-Plot wherein they bound themselves by Oaths and Sacraments for the more secretly carrying it on but nothing escapes the Eyes of the Almighty who when they were in the highest expectation of success turned their Wisedom into Foolishness for by a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle whom one of the Conspirators was desirous to spare the Nest they had so long been making was found and in it thirty six Barrels of Powder intended to blow up the King Lords and Commons in Parliament this was discover'd under great heaps of Billets but the very Morning they were to assemble in Parliament and Guy Faux at the Vault Door under the Parliament-House Cloaked Booted and Spurr'd with a Dark-Lanthorn and Matches ready to lay the Train upon which the Conspirators were pursued and in the dispute John and Christopher Wright Thomas Piercy and Robert Catesby were slain and Anno 1605 on the 27th of January Sir Edward Digby Thomas Winter Robert Winter Ambrose Rookwood Thomas Bates Robert Keys and Guido Faux were found guilty and Executed as Traitors at the West-end of St. Pauls and in the Palace-Yard In memory of this signal Deliverance the fifth of November the Day on which it was discovered by Authority of Parliament was enacted a perpetual day of Thanksgiving Henry Garnet and divers others concerned in this Plot were Executed at sundry Times and Places Garnet confessing it though a Jesuite and warning the Roman Catholicks not to practice any Treason against their Prince for God would certainly discover and defeat it And soon after there happened Insurrections in the Shires of Liecester Warwick and Northampton about throwing open Inclosures Headed at last by John Reynolds but were dispersed and quieted without much Trouble and the King to honour the City entered himself a Brother of the Cloath-workers Company and by his Example many Nobles were made free of that and divers others the New Exchange was finished Anno 1609 and furnished with Wares being called by the King Britain's Burse The Priests and Jesuites were commanded to depart the Kingdom The Body of Mary Queen of Scots Mother to King James was Anno 1612 removed from Peterborough to the Royal Chappel at Westminster and there splendidly Interred and the Kingdom remained in great Tranquility But to abate the Joy Prince Henry the King 's eldest Son dyed November the 6th of a Feaver though not without some suspicion of Poyson to the great Grief of the Kingdom whose Darling he was And Frederick the Electour Palatine of the Rhine coming into England was married to the Lady Elizabeth the King 's eldest Daughter in the Royal Chappel at White-Hall on the 14th of February following but soon after at the Instance of the Bohemians taking upon him the Rule of that Kingdom he was routed by the Emperour's Forces who seized likewise the Palatinate and the King gave the Citizens of London the Province of Vlster in Ireland and instituted the Order of Baronets limiting them within the number of 200 and to cease with the failure of Issue and Anno 1614 the New River was brought to London to the great refreshment of the City which was much stinted for want of Water being only supplied by a few Conduits in the neighbouring Fields and this year a Divorce being sued out between Robert Devereux and his Countess on her Pretence of his Insufficiency she married Robert Carre Earl of Somerset and the King 's great Favourite for inveighing against which Marriage they procured Sir Thomas Overbury first
that without any constraint or imposition of Penalty they flocked thitheâ— from all parts whereupon the place was constrained to yield and Odo again Banish'd but whilst these thing passed Duke Robert was not idle for having gathereâ— what Forces he could he Landed at Southampton but finding himself unable to resist the Army that was marching against him and not joyned by the expected supply he repassed the Seas without doing any thing oâ— note except the ingageing VVilliam to pay him 3000 Mark a year and after his Decease to resign it to him or his Heirs and now Lanfrank the Arch-bishop dying the King supplied himself with Treasure by keeping the See of Canterbury and many other Ecclesiasticaâ— Promotions vacant for the space of four Years some oâ— which he likewise sold and was wont to say That Christ's Bread is a sweet Dainty and most delicious foâ— Kings Howbeit when two Monks were contending who should give most to be made Abbot of a certain Abby in the King's Disposal he espied a third Monk standing in a corner and causing him to advance he demanded VVhat he would give to be made Abbot Not onâ— Farthing replyed the Monk for I have renounced thâ— VVorld and Riches that I may the more carefully servâ— God Then replyed the King thou art worthy to bâ— made Abbot and the Abbey shall be thine The Scots by this time having Invaded England under the leading of Molcolm their King King VVilliam marched his Army Northward to oppose him but before it came to the trial of Battle a Peace was concluded and the 12 Villages in the Northern Marcheâ— which the Scots had held during the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror restored them for a Tribute of twelve Marks a year And this year the King to strengthen him against the Scots rebuilt Carlisle in Cumberland which had been demolished by the Danes about two â—undred years before And in Anno 1093 made Anâ—elm a Norman Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury but â—ong the Peace lasted not between the two Kingdoms for Malcolm coming to Glocester to treat about further â—ccord and not being received or entertain'd according to his liking he returned in a rage and raising a great Army in his own Country fell into the English Frontires with Fire and Sword destroying all before him as far as Alnewick and no sooner were these stirs quieted but Robert Mobray and William of Anchon conspired with divers others to depose King William and set up Stephen de Albermarle a Sisters Son but were prevented and defeated The Welsh making many Incursions and Inroades into the Kings Territories he marched a powerful Army into the heart of Wales and there did such notable Exploits that the Welsh finding themselves unable to make head against his Forces submitted themselves so that from the year 1093 VVales has been subject to the Crown of England The King upon new provocations Invaded his Brother Roberts Terretories in Normandy taking divers Castles and strong holds inforcing him thereby to a Peace after which uniting their Forces against their younger Brother Henry who had practised the surprising their Territories he was besieged by them in the Castles of St. Michaels Mount in Normandy during which Siege King VVilliam's life was in great hazard for being too forward in charging such as sallied he was overthrown by a Knight and had his Horse slain but being known the Knight took him up and presented him with another Horse when the King springing into the Saddle and coming up with a fierce countenance demanded who it was that haâ— overthrown him but the undaunted Knight instead of excusing it boldly told him it was he Then saiâ— the King looking mildly upon him by St. Lukes facâ— for that was his usual Oath thou shalt be my Knight and inroled in my Check with a Fee answerable to thâ— worth But in conclusion Henry being constrained foâ— want of Water and other necessaries to submit the Brethren were reconciled and Robert preparing for the Holy Wars mortgaged his Dukedom of Normandy to King VVilliam for 6660 pounds to raisâ— which petty sum at that time he caused great Taxes as they were termed to be laid upon the People and forced the Religious Houses to contribute towards it And in the absence of Robert the French besieging Main in Normandy the King upon notice of it as hâ— sat at Dinner in his Palace of VVestminster swore Hâ— would never turn his back till he arrived there and so causing the Wall to be broke through for his passage he hasted to Sea commanding his Army to follow him but the Winds being contrary and the Seaâ— rough and boisterous the Mariners doubted to set sail and the Pilot besought the King to continue in the Port till the Weather was more favourable but he impatient of delay and disdaining to fear replied Hast thou ever heard that a King has been drowned therefore hoist up the Sails I charge thee and be gone So that safely and unexpectedly arriving in Normandy the French were so terrified that they raised the Siege This King denied that the Pope had any Authority over any Bishop of his Realm and also the Poweâ— of binding and loosing yet in acknowledgement to the See of Rome he paid Peter pence granted by his Father he derided Invocation of Saints and curbed the avarice and aspiring Ambition of the Clergy In his Reign a great Earthquake happened and the Steeple of the Abby of VVinchester was burnt with â—…ghtning which likewise rent the roof of the â—…by casting down the Image of the Virgin Mary â—…d her Crucifix breaking one of her Legs and not â—…ng after so great a Wind happened at London that it â—…ew down sixty some say six hundred Houses taking of the roof of Bow Church and carrying it a great â—…ight in the Air And so great a Famine and Morâ—…ity ensued that the quick were scarcely able to buâ—… the dead Two blasing Stars appeared and many â—…ars as if they shot fiery Darts at each other â—…nd in the last year of his Reign the Sea overâ—…wed her Banks carrying away a great number â—… People Cattle and Houses drowning most of the â—…ands which had been Earl Goodwins which is not â—…covered to this day but retain the Earls Name as â—…own by that of Goodwins Sands At Finchamstead â—…ear Abbington in Barkshire a Well of bloodly coâ—…oured Water sprung up for fifteen days and then â—…eased King VVilliam by this time having setled his Afâ—…irs betook him to Recreations and especially â—…unting in the New Forrest his Father had made by â—…he unpeopling and delapidation of a great many â—…owns and Vilages when so it happened that Sir VValter Tyrre a French Knight shooting at a Stag he Arrow glanced against a Tree and flying aslaunt â—…ruck the King into the breast of which he immeâ—…ately died August 1. Anno 1100. and his Body being â—…id in a Cart the best Herse those times afforded a â—…reat King it broke bemired in a dirty way yet beâ—…g put into
bring Which shows the frailness of each earthly thing The Reign of Henry the Second King of England c. HEnry Plantaginet commonly called Fitz Empress was three times Crowned first by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Westminster then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester and being setled in the Realm he demolished sundry Castles that had given too much incouragement to the falling off of such as at any time grew discontented some that had Honours unduly conferr'd on them he divested and reduced to a private State purged the Land of Forreign Soldiers and chiefly of the Flemings that had come over with King Stephen choosing his Council out of the most Worthy and Learned Men restraining the Incroachments and Oppressions of the greatest Persons without respect of their greatness which made the Lord Hugh Mortimer fall off and take up Arms against whom King Henry went in person and had been slain at the Siege of Bridgnorth had not Hubert d' St. Clare one of his Courtiers stepped between as the Arrow was coming and lost his own Life to save his Masters but this Lord soon reduced and the face of calmness appearing at home he passed into France to do Homage to King Lewis for his Provinces of Normandy Acquitain Anjou Main and Lorain which he claimed as his right 〈◊〉 in himself and partly in Eleanor his Queen and there he adjusted differences between himself and his Brother Geofry and after being highly Caressed and Entertained he returned to England where as much as in him lay intending to live peaceably he contracted an Alliance with Malcolme King of Scots restoring him the 〈◊〉 of Huntingdon The Welsh about this time making Inroads and greatly indamaging the English the King marched against them and joyned Battle but in the heat of the Fight his Standard was cowardly abandoned and his person in danger to be slain or taken Prisoner for which Henry d' Essex Standard bearer being accused by Robert d' Montford as the main cause of the dissertion the Combat as usual upon such Accusations was allowed them at Reading and Essex being overcome the King was notwithstanding contented to spare his life upon condition he became a Monk which accordingly he did and was immediately shorn but in conclusion the Welsh were subdued and the King returning in Triumph was Crowned together with Eleanor his Queen at Worcester where they both at the Offertory laid their Crowns on the high Altar vowing never to wear them after and this was the last of the three Crownings and his Brother Geofry now dead he seized upon sundry Citys and strong places in Normandy and setling his Affairs in that Province he returned to England where Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury influenced by the Pope began to trouble the Kingdom not only at the Council Tours privately surrendring those Honours the King had heaped upon him to the Pope and from him receiving them again thereby to cast off the acknowledgements he had to the King or his Prerogative but countenanced all manner of violence in the Clergy even to murther so that the complaints of above a hundred Murthers done by the Clergy coming to the King's car and he not finding them punished by Church Censure brought some of them under the Civil Power commanding Justice to be administred without partiality as well to the Clergy as Laity to that end appointing Ministers of Justice in all parts of the Land whose charge it was to enquire into crimes of that or the like nature But this was opposed by Becket with a high hand challenging the King with invading the Rights of the Church demanding at the same time the Castle of Rochester and sundry other places as belonging to the See of Canterbury This made the King assemble all the Bishops in Convocation at Westminster Becket excepted where it was agreed That no Appeals should be made to Rome without the Kings Licence That no Arch-bishop or Bishops upon the Popes Summons should go out of the Land without the like leave That no Bishop should excommunicate any person holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdiction without the like Licence That Clerks criminals should if the King thought fit be tried before Secular Judges But although the King urged Becket to agree to them yet he absolutely refused it sending thereupon complaints to the Pope who for his profit and interest not desirous to break with England commanded Becket to yield to the King without any Salvo's or exception which not without much stomaching the matter he at last consented to on the word of a Priest and swore that he would observe the Laws which the King called Avitae as being made in the Reign of his Grandfather yet he refused afterwards to set his Seal saying What he had done was rather in some measure to pleasure the King than out of conscience For which and his continuing obstinate he was condemned to the confiscation of his Goods and the Bishop of Chichester in the name of the other Bishops disclaimed and for the afronting the King in his Palace with his Cross he was adjudged as a Traytor and perjured person and that he should as such be taken and imprisond which made him flee into Flanders where Pope Alexander and Lewis the French King openly declared for him which so far incensed King Henry that he banished his Kindred commanding his Sheriffs and other Officers to seize such as appealed to Rome as likewise the Kindred of those Clergy that were with Becket excluding him from being prayed for as Arch-bishop Becket being by this time in France excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded in the like nature with others so that there were scarce any found in the Kings Chappel to perform the Service This made him send to the Pope for Legates to absolve his Subjects and settle a peace in the Kingdom and although accordingly they were sent yet Becket standing off with much obstinacy nothing was effected wherefore as some Historians will have it to spite the Arch-bishop the more and the more firmly to establish the Kingdom he caused Roger Arch-bishop of York to Crown his Eldest Son Henry and at the Coronation Feast the King carried up and served at the Table the first Dish of Meat whereat the Arch-bishop whispering the young King said Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the World that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have this day To which the early raised Stripling replied Why wonder you at that my Lord seeing my Father knows he doth nothing that is unbeseeming him for as much as he is Royally born on one side but as for our self we are Royally born on both as having a King to our Father and a Queen to our Mother Upon which proud speech the old King told the Arch-bishop That he repented the too early advancement of the Boy And now by the mediation of Friends the old King and Becket were reconciled and all
Crown of France and Dutchy of Normandy c and in lieu thereof King John and his Son should for them and their Heirs release unto King Edward and his Heirs the entire Countrey of Aquitain Santogne and their Dependences c. That King John should pay 300000 Schuts of Gold each valued at six Shillings eight pence Sterling which Agreement was ratified at Calais but not all performed for now the Black Prince dying Anno 1377. in the 46th year of his Age and the King growing in years and sickly matters abroad were neglected and the French renewed their Encroachments nor did the King long survive the death of that dear Son for having appointed the Son of that Prince to succeed him in the Throne he dyed on the 21st of June Anno 377. in the 51st year of his Reign and was the 31st sole Monarch of England c. This Edward was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain eldest Son to Edward the Second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he dyed at Shene in Surry and was buried at Westminster his Wife was Philip Daughter to the Earl of Hanault and Holland by whom he had Issue Edward the Black Prince William of Hatfield Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Edward Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York William of Windsor and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester Isabel married to Ingelram of Guisnes Earl of Soysons and Arch Duke of Austria Joan espoused by proxy to Alphons the Eleventh King of Castile and Leon but dyed before the consummation of the Nuptials Blanch who dyed young Mary married to John Montfort Duke of Bretaigne and Margaret married to John de Hasting Earl of Pembroke He built many stately Fabricks settled the Wool Staple at Calais instituted the Order of the Garter restrained the Pope from conferring Benefices upon Strangers constituted Prince Edward his Son first Duke of Cornwall since inherent to the Eldest Son of the Kings of England in his time florished the famous John Wickliff who first openly and successfully opposed the Pope and exposed the manifest Errours of the Church of Rome Blazing Stars likewise appeared with continued Rains and a great Mortality through all Europe so vehemently that the Dead were more than the Living Thus the great Warrier after all his Toil From whom whilst living none could take the spoil Dropt in old Age and made the Grave his Bed Whom late the Nations did both love and dread The Reign and Actions of Richard the II. King of England c. THis Richard was Son to Edward the Black Prince he was crowned on the 21st of June 1377 in the eleventh Year of his Age but the Government growing out of Frame by reason of the King's Nonage and the Differences amongst the Nobility the French took the opportunity to invade some Sea coast Towns and the Scots were emboldened to enter England burning Roxborough and to augment the miseries of the English the Pestilence raged fearfully in the Northern parts so that the glorious Face of things seemed utterly to be changed but a better Accord ensuing the Earl of Northumberland regained Berwick and in the Year 1379. a Parliament being held at London where it was agreed that the more wealthy sort should be taxed for the King 's present occasions and the poorer exempted but this held not long for the next year another Parliament being called at Northampâ—on a Poll Tax was agreed on that every Person of either Sex above the Age of Sixteen should pay 12 pence a head which was looked upon as so great a Grievance that many refused not only to pay it but took up Arms especially in Kent Surry Essex Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridge-shire under the Leading of those notorious Persons Jack Straw and Wat. Tyler who making no less than one hundred thousand came to London where the multitude sided with them and committed many outrages as burning the Priory of Saint John's the Duke of Lancaster's Palace at the Savoy us likewise the Archbishop of Canterbury's Goods at Lambeth defacing all Rolls Records and Writings wherever they found them as professing themselves great Enemies to the Law nor did this suffice but dragging the Archbishop then Chancellour of England and Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. John's out of the Tower though the King was present they in a rude and barbarous manner heheaded them on logs of Timber with loud Shouts and Rejoicings and proceeded to exhibite many unreasonable Petitions yet necessity constrained the King either to dissemble their Insolence or grant them their Demands whereupon many dispersed went to their respective Habitations and the rest the King by his Proclamation ordered to meet him in Smithfield with promises of Satisfaction where in great numbers they came armed with a Messeline of Weapons headed by Wat. Tyler who in presence of the King using insolent Speeches and attempting to kill Sir John Newton for contradicting him William Walworth Lord Mayor of London being by and no longer able to endure such Arrogance after some Expressions of his Resentment stabbed Tyler with a Dagger which his companions perceiving prepared to take a bloudy Revenge but the King taking courage spurred forward commanding them to follow him declaring that he would be their Captain and in the mean while Walworth armed the Citizens and came with a thousand well appointed men bearing Tyler's Head on a Spear before them by which he so daunted the rout that they threw down their Weapons and besaught the King's Mercy with a Promise of future Obedience and Walworth for this Act was knighted with a Donative of one hundred pounds a year free Land and from this Action many will have it that the Dagger was added to the City Arms and soon after this Jack Straw and about 1500 others were executed upon the account of this Rebellion Straw at his death confessing that their Design was to murther the King and Nobles and set up petty Kings of their own chusing in every Shire The Nation being better at quiet the King bethought himself of Marrying and in order to it having treated with the Emperour Charles the Fourth for the Lady Anne his Daughter she was sent into England and the Nuptials were celebrated upon which a Peace with France ensued yet the Scots continued to invade the Northern parts though with various Success but this was not all for the King advancing divers persons of mean worth to the highest Dignities or at least the greatest Favours and places of Trust the Nobles began to murmur and fall off so that although a Parliament was called they would not grant the King any Aids unless his Favourites were removed or degraded which he could not well digest and therefore resolved to find out some other way to supply his Coffers in order to which he seized upon the Estates and Effects of sundry that had withdrawn themselves and consulting his Lawyers for his better justification
Fitz-walter battel at Ferrybridg near Pontefract but not being able to maintain it he was there with most of his men cut in pieces by Henry's Forces when both Armies facing on the Plain between Towton and Saxton on the 28th of March they joined Battel that of Edwards consisting of 48660 men and Henry's of 60000 but by the Lancastrians mistaking Stars for Suns being the Cognizance of each Party and doubting some Treason in the case many of them fled so that those who remained lost the field and in this Battel were slain the Earl of Northumberland the Lords Clifford Neuel Wells Scales Beaumont Dacres Grey Willoughby Fitzhug and other Persons of Quality about 357 and in all 35091 being the most bloudy and obstinate Battel that had been fought upon this Overthrow Henry with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland and were honourably received by King James whose Sister Prince Edward not long after married From Scotland the Queen sailed to France to seek aids in that Court and in mean while King Edward returning to London was a second time proclaimed and calling a Parliament Henry together with his Queen and Prince Edward his Son were disinherited and about fourty three Nobles disinherited and attainted The Queen a Woman of a Martial Spirit by her Interest in France had by this time gotten a considerable number of Men but sailing for Scotland and afterwards making for England her Fleet was scattered by a Tempest so that she and her Husband were left solely to the Aid of the Scots and with what Forces they could gather marched as far as the Bishoprick of Durham but the Forces of the Scots were defeated at Hegely Moor where Sir Ralph Percie dying said in allusion of his Oath to King Henry I have saved the Bird in my Breast And another defeat happening at Hexam Feries Fortune seemed utterly averse and that poor Prince coming out of Scotland into England in disguise was betrayed and apprehended as he sat at Dinner in Wadington-Hall and in an ignominious manner brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly and secured as a Prisoner in the Tower King Edward by the Imprisonment of Henry conceiving himself more secure sent the Earl of Warwick to woo for him in the Court of Savoy but whilst he earnestly sollicited and had brought the matter to perfection by obtaining the good Will of the Estates News came that King Edward had married the Lady Elizabeth Grey Widow to Sir John Grey slain in the Battel at St. Albans fighting on the part of King Henry with whom he had fallen in Love upon her becoming an humble Suitor to him for her Jointure and because he could not compass his ends without Marriage that vertuous Lady disdaining to be the Harlot even of a puissant King he resolved against the Minds of his Friends to obtain his desires by making her his Wife This so sensibly touched the Earl of Warwick in reflecting upon his Honour in serving a Master of so little Constancy that although he had been mainly Instrumental in helping him to the Kingdom he changed his love into mortal hatred and working upon George Duke of Clarence to favour his design and by secret Practices they stirred up a Commotion in the North where one Robert Huldren headed 15000 of the Commons but he being executed Sir John Conyers undertook to head them Proclaiming as they passed that King Edward was an unjust Prince and unprofitable to the Kingdom when to surpress these disorders he sent an Army under the leading of the Earl of Pembroke who joyned Battel near Banbury and had been victorious had not one John Clapham Esq and Servant to the Earl of Warwick come in the heat of the Fight and displayed his Master's Colours whose Cognisance was the White Bear and by crying a Warwick so dismayed the Welshmen of whom most of the Army was composed that thereby thinking the Earl was come in with his party they threw down their Arms and betook them to flight leaving their General who valiantly fighting was taken Prisoner together with his Brother Sir Robert Herbert and ten other Gentlemen of Note who lost their Heads at Banbury by the Judgment of Conyers and Clapham Anno 1469. The Success of the Northern men occasioned them to rise in great Number and a Party under the Leading of Robert of Ridisdale surprising the King's Manner of Grafton siezed the Lord Rivers the Queens Father together with John his Son whom they beheaded at Northampton which obliged the King to hasten with a great Army but whilst the people were expecting the issue of a bloudy Fight a Truce was concluded which rendering the King more secure than cautious the Earl of Warwick entered his Tent in the dead of Night and with little resistance made him Prisoner and carried him to Warwick Castle and from thence in the Night time conveyed him to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire and there committed him to George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Brother to the Earl but having Liberty allowed to hunt in the Park and Forrests he was rescued by a Troup of his own Men however Sir Robert Wells with thirty thousand of the Commons disturbed the Country Proclaiming King Henry but encountering King Edwards Forces and himself in a bloudy Battel made Prisoner the Lincolnshire Men of which the Army was mostly composed threw of their Coats with the Earls badge on them in great Confusion left the Field so that from that it was called the battel of Losi-Coaâ—field upon which defeat and the putting Sir Robert with many others to death The Duke of Clarence Earl of Warwick and divers Nobles found themselves obliged to pass the Seas but were refused enterance at Calais of which place VVarwick was Captain by one Vawclear whom he a little before had Substituted his Deputy and for which refusal King Edward made him Captain in VVarwick's stead however they went to the Court at France and were there entertained with much respect where gathering Aids and holding Correspondence with their Friends in England soon after they Landed at Dartmouth and Marched towards London Proclaiming King Henry and commanded all from Sixteen to Sixty years of Age to take up Arms on his behalf against Edward Duke of York whom they termed a Usurper so that all the Land in a manner was in Arms and King Edward perceiving his Fortune utterly averse and that the few forces he had raised were ready to Revolt he thought it no fit time to dispute but rather to reserve himself to a more favourable Fortune whereupon with a few of his Friends he passed the Seas and was received by Charles Duke of Burgundy who had married the Lady Margaret his Sister whilst his Queen took Sanctuary in Westminster where she was delivered of a Son afterwards Christened by the name of Edward and other Sanctuarys were filled with the King's Friends and such as had adhered to him This disorder gave the Kentish men an opportunity to rise in Arms
into the Countrey he was invited to hunt in the Park of one Thomas Burdet Esq where after having caught much Game he by the persuasion oâ— some that were about him killed a white Buck which for its Tameness and comely Form was greatly beloved by the Owner and upon notice it was slain he wished the Horns of it in the Belly of those that advised the King to doe it which being over-heard by some Court Parasites they to curry favour with the King made their Report of it to him with aggravation insomuch that Burdet was tried and cast for High Treason in wishing the King's Death and accordingly beheaded at Tyburn Another Person he caused to be hanged before his own door in Cheapside for saying to a little Youth his Son that if he would mind his Book and be a good Boy he would make him heir to the Crown meaning in all probability his house that bore that Sign c. But now the King worn out with Wars and Women much grieved for the untimely death of his Brother fell sick and sending for the Nobles that were at Court he earnestly desired them to live peaceably together and have regard to his Children in their tender Years forgetting Injuries and Animosities as they tendered the Love of God and their King appointing his Son Edward a Youth of about 12 years of Age to succeed him making the Duke of Gloucester Protectour of his Person during his Minority and then gave up the Ghost on the 9th of Apr. 1483. He had Issue by Elizabeth his Wife Daughter to Richard Woodvile Earl Rivers Prince Edward Richard Duke of Bedford who dyed a Child Richard Duke of York Elizabeth married to Henry VII Ciciâ— married to the Lord Viscount Wells Anne married to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Bridget a veiled Nun Mary who dyed 1482. Margaret who dyed an Infant Katharine married to William Courtney Earl of Devonshire his base Issue was Arthur and Elizabeth This Edward was King of England France and Lord of Ireland Son to Richard Plantagenet Duke of York he began his Reign on the 4th of March 1460. and reigned 22 Years 1 Month and 5 Days and was the 36th sole Monarch of England he dyed in the 40th year of his Age and the 23d of his Reign his Body was buried in the new Chapel at Windsor whose Foundation himself had laid Thus after bloudy Toils with restless Fate The Warlike Prince does to the Grave retreat The mighty dead now undistinguished lies Death makes the Monarch and the Slave his prize The Reign and Actions of Edward the V. King of England c. EDward V upon the death of his Father was committed to the Care and Tutulage of Sir Anthony Woodvile with whom were joined sundry of the Queens Relations before her Marriage but Richard Duke of Glocester the deceased King's Brother thirsting after Sovereignty laboured to remove them from the Person of the young King and to that â—nd hearing they were bringing him out of the Countrey whither he had retired to be crowned â—t London with a great Power and Train he so â—ealt with the Queen that she sent express word they should save the charge and trouble of so great 〈◊〉 Concourse and urged as Gloucester had insinuated that it would give the Nobility at London apprehensions of danger and occasion of disturbance or discontent and having made the Duke of Buckâ—ngham the Lord Hastings and others his Confidents he marched to Stonystratford and there took â—ho young King by force from the small Train that attended him arresting the Lord Richard Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawtre in the King's presence nor could his entreaty prevail for their delivery he made Sir Anthony Woodvile now Lord Rivers Prisoner and soon after sent him and the Lord Grey with a strong Guard to a Castle in the North pretending for his Justification of these proceedings that they had a design upon his Life and the Lives of the ancient Nobility that they might have the power of the King and Kingdom in their own hands and to render the report more plausible caused old Armour and rusty weapons to be shewed to the people in his way to London pretending those were the Instruments intended to doe the business The Queen upon the surprising news began to have mortal Apprehensions of the danger the King and her self were in finding how she had been imposed on by the Protectour in forbidding the strength intended for the Guard of her Son's Person and the better to secure her self she removed with her son Richard Duke of York and her Daughters into the sanctuary at Westminster and people werâ— filled with fear and confusion especially when they found the Thames full of Boats with the servants oâ— Buckingham and Gloucester in them to prevent thâ— escape of any persons that way and to prevenâ— their coming to sanctuary however the Archbishop of York comforted the Queen the best he could delivering up the Broad Seal and telling her if anâ— misfortune came to the King he would crown hiâ— Brother and the Duke of Gloucester caused thâ— Lord Hasting Lord Chamberlain to send a Messagâ— to the Archbishop to assure him all would be well but the Queen declared against that Lord as onâ— that sought the Ruine of her Family however oâ— the fourth of May the King came to Town and waâ— in much Pomp conveyed to the Bishop of London Palace where the Dukes of Gloucester Buckingham and other Noblemen swore Fealty to him and by a second Approbation the first was confirmed Protector of the King's Person and Kingdoms Gloucester having made a prosperous beginning fell to strengthening his Party and held divers Councils to contrive what was farther to be done but he found he had as yet but half his Prey in his hands and thereupon he laboured to get the Duke of York into his possession and to that end Consultations were held in the Stra-chamber where it was resolved that for sundry Reasons he should be with his Brother but the Abbat and Archbishop declaring it was no ways reasonable but alltogether dangerous to make a breach upon the sanctuary the latter was appointed to wait upon the Queen to prevail with her for his peaceable delivery and although she used many pregnant Reasons to the contrary yet understanding the Protectour was resolved to have him by force if fair means failed she with much regret and a floud of sorrow delivered him to the charge of the Archbishop and other Lords that attended saying I deliver him and his Brother into your hands of whom I shall require them before God and the World after which she tenderly kissed and embraced the Infant blessing him and weeping over him as a fatal presage of his Misfortune whilst the Child wept as fast the Protectour having gotten him he took him in his Arms and gave him a treacherous Kiss saying Now wellcome my Lord even with all my heart The Prize thus gotten the Councils were removed
head them against the King's Forces in England promising their Aid to help him to the Kingdom so that landing at Whitsand Bay in Cornwal many thousands resorted to him and being strong enough he besieged Exeter but it made a stout Resistence and was in conclusion relieved by the Earl of Devonshire whereupon Perkin's Men perceiving the little success they were like to have against the far greater Forces preparing to encounter them dropped away by degrees which he perceiving fled privately to the Abby of Beaulien in New Forest for Sanctuary but upon Promise of Life and a Pardon for his Crimes he came forth and submitted making his publick Confession and Recantation how he was but the Son of a converted Jew born at Tournay in Flanders and had been wrought upon to take this Enterprise upon him by the Duchess of Burgundy and others upon which he was committed close Prisoner to the Tower Yet some Practices being still on foot King Henry not thinking himself secure caused him to be tried at Westminster for High Treason in attempting to escape and carry with him the Earl of Warwick to raise new Commotions in the Kingdom and being sentenced was drawn to Tyburn and there hanged In this the innocent Earl of Warwick was involved without any other apparent reason than to cut him off that the Succession might be the more firm to Henry's posterity and this poor Prince who had been kept a Prisoner from his Infancy and little knâ—w what belonged to Law or Matters of State being by some who insinuated to be his Friends persuaded to confess upon his Tryall what he never intended or thought of by having a Promise of Pardon upon such a Confession the King very unkindly took him at his word and being condemned for High Treason he was beheaded on Tower-hill and in him failed the Name of Plantagenet as being the last of the Male Line of that illustrious House This cruel execution little inferiour to what Richard the III. had acted by his Newphews is held to be done upon the account of the Match between Prince Arthur the King's Son and the Princess Katharine of Spain the Spaniard appearing averse to conclude it till by the removal of the Earl of Warwick the Succession was better secured Anno 1506. Edmund de la Pool Earl of Suffolk was tried by the King 's express Command at the King's-Bench-Bar Westminster for killing a man and tho he had his Pardon yet being of the Royal Bloud it so disgusted him that he privately retired beyond the Seas and laboured to disturb Henry's Reign by secretly holding Correspondence in England which obliged the King to send his Spies abroad especially Sir Robert Courson who insinuating into the Earl's Favour got out of him who were his Conferates in England whereupon Sir James Tirrel the wicked Instrument in the Murther of the two young Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower and Sir John Windham with three others lost their Heads on Tower-hill Nor did the King spare any Cost or Labour to get the Earl into his hands but when his Pollicy failed Fortune befriended him for Philip King of Spain and Archduke of Austria in whose Countries the Earl remained being at Sea was driven into the West of England by Stress of Weather of which Henry had no sooner notice but he hasted to receive and entertain him which he did in a most splendid manner and with some difficulty procured his Promise to send him over the Earl a Prisoner protesting his Life should be secured to him and accordingly he was sent over and secured in the Tower King Henry supposing himself now secure made it his business to heap up Riches and for that purpose he had his Instruments Empson and Dudly who by grievous unlawfull and indirect ways oppressed the People for which they were justly punished as a Terrour to corrupt Judges which in the next Reign appears but in the midst of this Unrertaking the King dyed viz. anno 1509. on the 22d of April He had Issue by Elizabeth his Queen eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth Arthur who was married to Katharine of Spain and dyed before his Father anno 1502. Henry Edmund who dyed 1499. Margaret married to James the Fourth King of Scotland Elizabeth who dyed young Mary first married to Lewis the Twelfth King of France and afterward to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Katharine who dyed young This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland Son to Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond by Margaret Daughter and Heir to John Beaufort Duke of Somerset Grandchild to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster He began his Reign in the Year 1485 and reigned twenty three Years eight months and was the 39th sole Monarch of England he dyed in the 52d Year of his Age and was buried in the Chapel of his own Building at Westminster Thus after Toils of State and War are o'er Monarchs lie down to be disturb'd no more The Grave yields quiet and Repose from ill When Fate wound off the Wheels of Life stand still The Reign and Actions of Henry VIII King of England c. KIng Henry the Eighth was in his Father's Life time betrothed to Katharine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow and the old King left him to set up with 1800000 l that he had scraped together in his latter days the greatest Treasure any King of England ever left before This Henry was crowned at Westminster on the 25th of June 1509. together with Queen Katharine by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury chusing many grave persons out of the Clergy and Lâ—iâ—y And now the people being enraged against Empson and Dudly for their illegal Oppressions the King to prevent Tumults that might have happened in the beginning of a young Prince's Reign if Redress had been refused caused them to be arrested and imprisoned and soon after being brought to Tryall and many heinous things proved against them together with the Cries and Clamours of the people for Justice they were sentenced to lose their Heads and were accordingly executed The King being of a martial Spirit and impatient of Ease sent his Heralds at Arms to the French King there in his Name and as in right belonging to the English Crown to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Guine Main and Anjou but they being refused he failed into France with a considerable Army besieged Terwin and thither came Maximilian the Emperour as a voluntary aider to the King and served under the English Standard as a Knight of the Order of the Garter and the French advancing with a considerable power to the relief of this place were routed allmost without fighting so from their cowardly running away being most Horse it was called in derision The Battel of Spurs yet six of their Standards and many Prisoners of note were taken and thereupon the Town yielded and the King marched to the Siege of Tournay which he won and obliged the Citizens for their Redemption to pay him
10000 l and about 80000 of them took their Oaths to become his Liege Subjects making Sir Edward Poinings Governour and Thomas Wolsey his great Favourite Bishop of that City nor did this Success remain to the English in France alone but at the same time in England for the Scots invading England with a powerfull Army and having pierced as far as Northumberland the Earl of Surry gave them battel with a great overthrow in Folden Field where James their King one Archbishop 2 Bishops 2 Abbats 12 Earls 17 Lords a great number of Knights and Gentlemen and about 8000 common Soldiers slain and allmost all the rest taken prisoners This memorable Battel was fought on Septemb. 9. 1513. King Hen. victorious in France the French sought all Ways for an Accommodation and at last Pope Leo becoming Moderatour a Peace was concluded and soon after Lewis XII married Mary the King 's younger Sister at Albeville with great splendour yet he lived but 82 days after for being aged and infirm and over striving himself to pleasure a beautious lively young Lady it no doubt contributed to the hastening his End and upon his Death the Queen returning for England was privately married at Callais to Charles Bradon Duke of Suffolk her first Lover and from whom she had unwillingly parted to fall into the Arms of Majesty And now by the too free Access of Foreigners Trade greatly decreasing one John Lincoln and other aggrieved persons put up a Bill of Complaint and it was read by the Minister at the Spital Sermon This so animated the Rabble that getting together on May day 1517. they fell upon plundered and destroyed the Houses of the Strangers committing many Outrages on their Persons Nor was the Magistracy able to quell them for being all in an uproar the Lieutenant of the Tower who had no Good-Will for the City played the Great Guns upon it but the Rage of the Multitude spent they retired to their respective Habitations yet several were taken and tried of which number Lincoln and 13 more most of them youths were hanged in divers places of the City and about 200 Men and Boys and 9 Girls and Women went in their Shifts only being bare headed footed and legged and Ropes about their Necks to Westminster where at the upper end of the Hall the King sate and after he had sharply reproved them and they on their knees had begged Mercy Wolsey by the King's command pronounced their Pardon whereat with a joyfull Cry they threw up their Halters in token of deliverance from death and this day ever since is called Evil May day and soon after Tournay was restored to the French in consideration they paid the King 600000 Crowns in twelve years and the Dauphin to marry the Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter when she should be of sufficient years of Consent but if the Marriage took no effect then the City to be restored and Wolsey who by this time had bought him a Cardinal's Cap to have 1000 Marks a year for the profits of the Bishoprick and Wolsey having power with the King to doe all remembring a former Affront put upon by Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham he used his interest to the destruction of that great Peer who was beheaded on Tower-hill upon pretence of aspiring to the Crown In the Year 1521. the Emperour Charles V. in his way to Spain landed at Dover for Refreshment and at the King 's earnest Request came to London and was royally entertained with all the Magnificence and Splendour the Court abounded with at that time and King Henry having written a Book against Martin Luther and sent it to the Pope he in recompence to his Zeal for the Roman Church sent him the Stile of Defender of the Faith which has ever since remained to the Kings and Queens of England sending him likewise a Consecrated Rose The Peace between England and France by reason of misunderstandings growing to a Conclusion a Parliament was assembled at the King's Palace in Black-Fryers granting him half the yearly Revenues of all Spirituall Livings to be paid for five years and the tenth part of all Temporal Substance to carry on his Wars so that not staying to expect War he sent to meet it commanding the Duke of Suffolk to pass over with an Army who taking many Towns and Castles and every where worsting the French returned Victorious and the King banished the Scots out of England confiscating their Goods but upon the Mediation of his Sister a peace was concluded for a time yet there was Martial business abroad for the Irish rebelled and siezing upon the Earl of Kildare who bore the Kings Authority in that Kingdom they sent him bound to England with many Accusations against him for which he was committed to the Tower and Wolsey who hated him signed a Warrant for his Execution without the knowledge of the King whereupon the Lieutenant went to Court and the Trick being made known to the King Wolsey was severely checked and the Earl had the King's Sgnet sent him for his security About this time overtures being made by the Emperor's Ministers in consideration of Marriage with the Lady Mary the French having rejected the Match and some scruples arising about the Legality of her Birth as being born on a Queen that had been his Brother's Wife the King began to fall into a dislike of his Marriage and sent to Rome to sue out a Divorce but finding delays in that Cour◠he desired a Cardinal might be sent to hear the Cause and accordingly Cardinal Campius was sent whose Mules casting their Sumpters in Cheap-side the Cardinal's Treasure was discovered to consist o◠old Shooes broken Meat tatter'd Breaches and Rags which raised no small Laughter in the people This Cardinal sate with Wolsey and other Clergy men but when the King expected the issue of the Matter instead of giving the definitive Sentence he dissolved that Court and referred the Cause to the Pope which so incensed the King that he Commanded him to depart the Kingdom and sent Dr. Cranmer to Rome to justifie the proceedings to the Pope who with other learned Men bringing the Opinions of almost all the Universities of Europe under their Seals that it was not Lawfull to Marry 〈◊〉 Brother's Wife the Divorce was made yet the Queen lived in England till she dyed and King Henry proceeded to take to Wife Ann of Bullen a very beautifull Lady who to that end he had before made a Dutches and honoured with many favours but better she had been without them as by the sequel wi◠appear Cardinal Wolsey whose power was such tha◠he seemed to sway both King and Kingdom bega◠about this time to be lessened in esteem and shortly after for not only disliking but striving to cros◠the King's Proceedings in the Divorce and new Marriage had first the great Seal of England taken from him then several of his Bishopricks which he had ingrossed which begining of disgrace made him more liable to