and Breadth Page 1 Boadicea 2 Bonds first sealed 10 Becket Tho. 14 Black Prince 21 A Bishop's Chastity 49 Blasphemy 51 London-Bridge 53. and finisht 53 Shower of Blood 53 Barons 63 Barons first executed 64 A Bishop rescued from the King by force ibid Shower of Blood 78 A miraculous Birth 95 Last Banneret in England 99 A Pond of Blood 108 C. CAractecus Page 4 Cadwallader ibid Constantine ibid Cambridge founded 7 Church-Rights sold. 10 Charles the I. 36 Charles the II. 37 Committee of Safety 39 Canutus 48 Scotch Custom 49 Children born with Horse-tails 52 A barbarous Cruelty 57 Common-Councel-men first in London 58 Charters confirm'd 59 A false Christ. 60 Richard Clare his Valour 61 Coronation-Chair brought from Scotland into England 62 The Value of Calice 66 Clergies Tax ibid Chaucer 68 A noble Citizen of London 69 Combat between Katrington and Annesley ib Character of King Henry the V. 75 A wonderful Cock 78 Cap of Maintainance 89 King Henry the VIII supream Head of the Church 90 First Registers in Churches 92 Cranmer Archbishop his Heart not burnt 96 East-India Company 100 First Master of Ceremonies 103 A monstrous Child 105 King Charles murdered 108 D. DAnes first invade England Page 6 Second Invasion of Danes ibid Drake Captain 34 Dangerfield 45 A Dwarf 63 A great Dearth 65 First Dauphin of France 66 Dukes first created 67 An Appearance of the Devil 74 â—â—fender of the Faith Title 90 Dolphins 95 Captain Drake 99 English first Drunkards ibid Dublin-University 100 A great Drought 101 Deer-killers Penalty 104 Duels restrain'd 105 Countess of Derby's Resolution 108 Lady Eleanor Davis 109 E. ENgland's Length and Breadth Page 2 Its first Inhabitants ibid Their Wives ibid England when so call'd and why 6 Divided into Parishes ibid Kings-Evil first cured 7 A dreadful Example ibid Divided into Circuits 14 Edward the I. sirnamed Long-shanks 17 Edward Caernarven ibid Edward the III. Crowned 19 Edward the IV. 26 Edward the V. 27 Edward the VI. 32 Elizabeth Queen ibid Ethelred 48 Strange Earthquake 49 53 Elephant first seen in England 60 Emperor takes Pay of King Henry 88 A prodigious Earthquake 100 Another 101 F. FIre in London Page 39 Great Fire in London 49 A bountiful Feast 59 Vast Expences in France 60 A great Frost 68 4000 French frighted at the Name of Salisbury 76 A Fort taken by one Man 99 A monstrous Fish 100 G. GOspel first preach'd in England Page 3 First publickly professed here ibid Gaviston 18 Garter first instituted 21. 54 Lady Jane Grey 32 Gunpowder Plot. 35 Guns first used 66 Knights of Garter first ibid Guns first invented 72 First Garter King at Arms. 74 Gold paid by Weight 75 King's Guard first ordained 85 Granada won by the Spaniards 86 An uncourteous Guest 94 H. HEptarchy Page 4 5 Henry the I. Crown'd at Westminster 11 His Death and Issue 12 Henry the II. Plantagenet 13 Henry the III. Crowned 16 Henry the IV. 22 Henry the V. 23 Henry the VI. 24 Henry the VII 28 Henry the VIII 29 Hell Kettles 40 First Burning in the Hand 87 Large Hailstones ibid Ceremonies of Cutting off the Hand for Courtstriking 91 John Hopkins 97 Hacket's strange Reconciliation 99 King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses 103 I. IReland conquer'd Page 14 John King Crown'd at Westminster 15 First Justice of Peace 21 Joan de Lorrain 24 James the I. King 35 James the II. King 40 Installation at Windsor 45 First Lord of Ireland 50 Johannes de Temporibus ibid Ireland first entred by the English 51 Submits to King Henry 52 King of Jerusalem's Title whence 54 Laws first in Ireland 58 A devout Jew 60 Man-Island conquered 66 A noble Justing 70 An Image made to speak 72 King Edward the IV. sits as Judge 79 A melancholy Judge 80 A magnificent Interview 89 King Henry his Justing ibid Viscount Lisle dies of Joy 92 St. James's built 93 English Laws in Ireland 95 A wonderful Journey 104 K. THe Kingdom interdicted by the Pope P. 58 Knighthood compell'd 60 Knights-Templers imprisoned 64 Earl of Kent beheaded 65 Manner of Knighting 70 Obligations of Knighthood 91 Knights-Baronets first created 104 L. A Learned Man became an Ideot Page 59 Laws first pleaded in English 67 Legitimacy by Parliament 71 Barons first made by Letters Patents ibid Lions die in the Tower 77 Judge Littleton 82 Wonderful Lightning at Whitecomb 108 M. FIrst Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London Page 15. 55 Magna Charta 17 Evil May-day 29 Man hang'd for his Master 32 Mary Queen ibid Monmouth lands at Lyme 42 Defeated and beheaded 43 A Lord devoured by Mice 49 Miracles 58 Maid of Leicestershire 61 Montfort's Audacity ibid Sir John Mandevil 65 Judgement on King Edward's Murderers 83 Name of Merchant-Taylors first given 87 Masking first used in England 88 Meat sold by Weight 93 Mass restored 96 A strange Mortality 98 N. NUns of Codington Page 48 French Navy of 1287. 7 Necromantick Art 76 Last Nuncio in England 98 O. Oswald Page 6 Oxford-University founded 7 Oliver Usurper 37 Oates his Plot. 40 Perjury and Punishment 41 Oath of Allegiance 105 P. AN English-man elected Pope Page 15 Peterkin and Symnel 28 Protestancy founded 32 Abolished 33 Old Parr his Age. 37 Plague in London 39 First Parliament in England 49 Two Popes at once 53 A Bondman came to be Pope ibid King John resigns his Crown to the Pope 48 A wonderful Preservation 63 First Coronation-Pardon 65 A wonderful Pestilence 67 Great Plenty 68 A King obliged to attend the Parliament 70 A strange sort of general Pardon 71 Prince Henry made a Prisoner 73 King Henry the 5ths Prophesie 74 Printing first used in England 77 A wonderful Prodigy ibid The Fickleness of Parliaments 80 First suing in forma Pauperis 86 Popes Authority abolished 91 First Gentlemen-Pensioners 93 Priests Children legitimated 95 A Plague 105 R. ROmans first enter England Page 2 Their Departure 3 Rosamond 14 Richard Coeur de Lion 15 Robin Hood and Little John ibid. 55 Richard the II. 22 Richard the III. 28 King Richard's Reply to the Priest 56 A â—â—ot of Sheep 64 A strange Rainbow 96 A vast Rain ibid Rain of Fire from Heaven 110 S. SAxons Invasion Page 4 Stephen Earl of Blois Crown'd at Westminster 12 His Valour Death Issue 13 Salisbury Church built 16 Scotland subjected 17 Spencers 18 Scots invade England 20 Straw and Tyler 22 A wonderful Sorceress 53 William King of Scots does Homage to King John 57 Sterling Money ibid. 58 King of Scots does Fealty to King Edward 62 Title to Scotland surrendred 65 Defrauding Souldiers punished 66 A Subsidy granted without asking 74 Scriptures ordered to be in Latin 75 A wonderful Slaughter 79 King Edward marries his Subject 80 Sheep sent to the King of Arragon ibid Strange Examples of Severity 81 Length of Shoos Noses 82 Inundation of the Severn 84 Sweating Sickness 85 A Carver made Sheriff ibid A Just at Sheens 86 Sanctuaries
in his Journey to France spent Vast Expences in France 2700000 l. which was more then than ten times so much now In the 25th year of this King Aldermen Aldermen first in London were first chosen within the City of London who then had the rule of the City and of the Wards of the same and were then yearly changed as now the Sheriffs are The City of London was now allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn which before was to be presented to the King where-ever he were In this King's Time a Proclamation was Who obliged to be Knighted set forth That all such as might dispend 15 l. a year in Land should receive the Order of Knighthood and those that would not or could not should pay their Fines There was a Man now that took upon A false Christ. him to be Christ and had five Wounds made in his Body in resemblance of our Saviour's and continuing obstinate in this humour he was taken and immured between two Walls A certain Jew chancing to fall in a Privy A devout Jew on a Saturday would not that day be taken out because it was the Sabbath the Earl of Gloucester would not suffer him to be taken out the next day because it was the Christian Sabbath and on the third day he was taken out dead In this King's Reign there was sent by An Elephant first in England the King of France the first Elephant that was ever seen in England Matthew Paris relates of a Maid now in A Miracle of Nature Leicestershire that being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Communion and yet continued fat and in good liking Also in this Time a Child born in the A Dwarf Isle of Wight at 18 years of Age was but three Foot high who being brought to the Queen she kept him for a Monster of Nature Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester in a A valiant Earl Battel against Baldwin de Gisnes a valiant Flemming employed by King Henry himself alone encountred 12 of his Enemies and having his Horse slain under him he pitched one of them by the Leg out of the Saddle and leapt into it himself and continued the Fight without giving ground till his Army came to rescue him Simon Montford was a Man of so audacious The strange Audacity of Montford a Spirit that he gave King Henry the Lye to his face and in presence of all his Lords the King feared him strangely for being frighted off the Thames by Thunder and meeting Montford who bid the King not fear for the danger was past the King said No Montford I fear not the Thunder so much as thee NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the First IN King Edward the First 's Time Leolin A. D. 1274. Leolin the last Welsh Prince being the last Prince of Welsh Blood for Rebellion was slain and his Head set upon the Tower of London This King by the Statute of Rutland in Wales and England united the 12th year of his Reign united the Government of Wales to England At this time there were ten Competitors Baliol Scots King does Fealty to K. Edward for the Scotch Crown at last King Edward determined the Business and Baliol was chosen who did Homage and swore Fealty and Allegiance to King Edward as his liege Lord. King Edward caused the fatal Chair The Coronation-Chair brought into England wherein the Kings of Scotland used to be inaugurated to be brought into England and put in Westminster-Abbey amongst the Monuments where it still remains All the Scots swore Allegiance to this The Scots swear Allegiance to King Edward King except William Walleys who of a private Gentleman came to be their Guardian Angel In his Time three Men for rescuing of a Prisoner had their right Hands cut off at their Wrists In this King's Time the Title of Baron Barons was confined to such only as were called by Writ to serve in Parliament In this King's Time there was a Rot of A Rot of Sheep Sheep which continued for 25 years together which 't was thought began by a Ship of incredible greatness brought out of Spain In his 16th year it chanced in Gascoin A wonderful Preservation that as the King and Queen sate in their Chamber upon a Bed talking together a Thunderbolt coming in at the Window behind them passed betwixt them and slew two of their Gentlemen that stood before them NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the II. THis King going towards Scotland to A. D. 1307. King Edward beaten by the Scots raise the Siege of Striveling with an 100000 Men was defeated by the Scots who had but 30000 Men. This King being always at dissention First noble Blood shed since the Conquest with his Barons and they rebelling against him there was many of them taken and executed being the first that suffered in this manner in England since William the Conqueror This King was perswaded in his own Edward the II deposed Life-time to surrender his Crown to his Son and all Persons renounced Allegiance to him In this King's Time an Ordinance was Knights-Templers imprisoned made against Knights-Templers accused of Heresie and other Crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The Bishop of Hereford being by this A Bishop rescued from the King by force King arrested for high-Treason the other Bishops came and rescued him by force In this King 's 8th year was so great a A greatDearth Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison pluckt in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eat them half alive which continuing three years brought in the end such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In this King's Time lived John Mandevile Sir John Mandevile the great Traveller a Doctor of Physick and a Knight NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the III. AT the Coronation of Edward the III. A. D. 1327. The first Coronation-Pardon a general Pardon was proclaimed which was the president and foundation of the Custom since used by all Kings that at their first coming to the Crown a general Pardon is always granted This King surrendred all his Title to Title to Scotland surrendred Scotland which his Grandfather had obtained there Edmond Earl of Kent this King's Uncle Edmond Earl of Kent beheaded being condemned for high-Treason was so generally beloved that he stood on the Scaffold from one a Clock till five before any one could be found to execute him In this King's Time the Isle of Man was Man-Island conquered conquered by William Mâ—â—ntacute Earl of Salisbury for which Service King Edward gave him the Title of King of Man 'T is said that this King
at the Siege of Guns first used Callice first made use of Guns About this Time Philip King of France First Daulphin of France died leaving his Son John to succeed him in the beginning of whose Reign Humbert Prince of Daulphin dying without Issue made him his Heir and thereupon Charles King John's Son was made first Daulphin of France Sir John Midsterworth Knight about this Defrauding Souldiers punished Time was hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn for Treason by him committed in defrauding Souldiers of their Wages There was an Offer made to King Edward The Value of Callice to leave him 1400 Towns and 3000 Fortresses in Aquitain upon condition he would render Callice and what he held in Picardy In the 45th year of this King in a Parliament The Clergy grant a Tax at Westminster the Clergy granted him 50000 l. to be paid the same year and the Laity as much which was levied by setting a certain rate of 5 l. 15 s. upon every Parish which were found in the 37 Shires to be eight thousand six hundred Some say this King instituted the Order Knight of the Garter first of Knight of the Garter This King caused all Pleas in Law Law first pleaded in English which were before in French now to be made in English that the Subject might understand the course of the Law In this Time at the instance of the Londoners Apparel for Whores an Act was made That no common Whore should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments reversed the wrong side outwards This King also was the first that created Dukes first created Dukes of whom Henry of Bullingbrook Earl of Lancaster created Duke of Lancaster in the 27th year of his Reign was the first but afterward he erected Cornwal into a Dutchy and conferred it upon the Prince after which Time the King 's eldest Son used always to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester In the 22d year of his Reign a contagious A wonderful Pestilence Pestilence arose in the East and South Parts of the World and spread it self all over Christendom and coming at last into England it so wasted the People that scarce the 10th Person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the 1st of January and the 1st of July 57374 Persons In Yarmouth in one year 7052 Men and Women before which Time the Parsonage there was worth 700 Marks a year and afterwards was scarce worth 40 l. a year This Plague began in London about Alhollantide in the year 1348 and continued till the year 1357 where it was observed that those who were born after the beginning Decrease of Teeth in men of this Mortality had but twenty eight Teeth whereas before they had two and thirty In this King's Time a Frost lasted from A great 〈◊〉 the midst of September to the Month of April In the 11th year of his Reign there was Plenty of all things so great Plenty that a quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings a fat Ox for a Noble a fat Sheep for Six-pence five Pidgeons for a penny a fat Goose for Two-pence a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate In this King's Time lived the so much Chaucer famed Sir Geoffry Chaucer the famous English Poet. NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the II. IN the beginning of this King's Reign A. D. 1377. A noble Act of a Citizen of London one Mercer a Scottish Pirat committing many Outrages upon the Seas against the English Merchants a Citizen of London one John Philpot at his own Charges set forth a Fleet and in his own Person encountring Mercer took him and all his Ships About this Time one Sir John Annesley A Combat between Katrington and Annesley Knight accused Thomas Katrington Esq for betraying the Fortress of St. Saviour to the French which Katrington denying at the suit of Annesley a solemn Combat is permitted to be between them at which Combat the King and all the great Lords were present The Esq Katrington was a man of a mighty stature the Knight Annesley a little man yet through the justness of his Cause after a long Fight the Knight prevailed and Katrington the day after the Combat died After the Rebellion of Wat Tyler and 〈◊〉 executed for Treason Jack Straw in this King's Time Sir Robert Tresilian Lord Chief Justice being appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders 1500 being found guilty were all executed The manner of Knighting in these days Manner of Knighting thus They caused him to put a Basenet upon his Head and then the King with a Sword in both his Hands struck him strongly upon the Neck This King added the Dagger to the Arms of London This King for a considerable time kept the Great Seal in his own hands The French in this King's Time designing The French prepare a Navy of 1287 Ships to invade England presuming no less than to make a Conquest of it prepared 1287 Ships but the Attempt as it was impertinent signified nothing A Parliament in this King's Time declared The King obliged to attend the Parliament to the King That by an old Ordinance it was enacted that if the King should absent himself 40 days not being sick from his Parliament the Houses might lawfully break up and return home This King being at dissention with his Lords could procure none to fight against them 'T is almost wonderful what is related of A strange Accident in a Family the Family of the Hastings Earls of Pembroke that for many Generations the Sons never saw the Fathers the Fathers being always dead before the Sons were born In this King 's 13th year a Royal Just A noble Justing was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London which being published many Strangers came hither of the most noble Families of Europe At the day appointed there issued out of the Tower about three a Clock in the afternoon 60 Coursers apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came forth almost 40 Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a Chain ofGold and so they came riding through the Streets of London to Smithfield where the Just held 24 days At this Time in a Parliament the Duke A Bastard legitimated by Parliament of Lancaster caused to be legitimated the Issue he had by Catharine Swinford before he married her of whom Thomas Beaufort was created Earl of Somerset In a Parliament about this Time the What Articles first to be handled in Parliament Judges gave their opinions that when Articles are propounded by the King to be handled in Parliament if other Articles be handled before those are determined that it is Treason in them that do it A
part proving the weaker Spencer the elder was taken at the Siege of Bristol and there cut up alive and quartered The younger was taken with The death of the Spencers the King at the Abby of Neath in Wales which Spencer was ignominiously hanged The distressed King being now shut up in Prison at last yielded to resign the Crown The resignation of his Crown to his Son Edward whereupon Sir William Trussel in behalf of the whole Realm renounc'd all Allegiance to him A. D. 1327. His Issue were Edward John Joan and His Issue Eleanor EDWARD the Third was Crowned A. D. 1327. upon Candlemas-day Soon after Tho. de Gourney and John Mattrevers conveyed the old King from Kenelworth to Berkley Castle and there Murdered him by running a Death of Edward the Second burning Spit into his Body as he was easing Nature Sept. 22. 1327. His Body was buried at Gloucester To animate these Regicides Adam de Torleton Bishop of Hereford sent them this ambiguous Phrase by Mortimer Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est This King made Edw. Baliol King of Scots who did him Homage In the year 1327. died Charles the Fair King of France by whose death the Crown Edward the Third his Title to France devolved to Edward King of England in right of his Mother Queen Isabel who was Daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Charles the Fair. But the French pretending a Fundamental Law by which no Woman was inheritable to France sought to debar King Edward of his right receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair advancing the Brothers Son before the Daughters Son Whereupon King Edward went into France with a puissant Army His Expedition for his Right in France and over-ran all places in his way at last the French Army met him at Cressy in Ponthio lying between the Rivers of Some and Anthy being above 100000 men A bloody Fight ensued where the Black Prince King Edward's Son without the help of the Battel wherein his Father was which stood idle won so great a Victory of the French A great Victory that they slew of their party 11 great Princes and of Barons Knights and men of Arms above 1500. and of the Commons about 30000. Of the English not one man of Note or Honour was slain The Scots taking this Opportunity in Scots invade England favour of the French invaded England but were soon stopt their King David taken Prisoner and their chiefest Nobles slain After the King had taken many great places in France at last there was a Peace concluded though it continued not long ere the French broke the Agreement In revenge whereof King Edward entred His second Journey into France France with an Army and spoiled it where he came and after his return home he bestowed the Dutchy of Aquitain on the Black Prince commanding him to defend his right The Prince furnished with a gallant Army went to the chief City Bourdeaux and John King of France encountred him with a great Army having the odds of six to one notwithstanding the Victorious Prince discomfited the French Another great Victory by the Black Prince took Prisoners the King and his youngest Son and many great Lords and about 2000 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing Armories slew 52 Lords and 1700 Knights and Gentlemen besides common Soldiers 6000. Shortly after he return'd home with his Prisoner King John and a while after these Conditions were agreed The Agreement upon That King John and his Heirs should have the Crown of France and Dutchy of Normandy and King Edward and his Heirs Aquitain and Santain and King John pay for his Ransom 500000 l. Sterling Not long after this the Martial Prince The death of the Black Prince Edward died on Trinity Sunday 1376. about his age 46 and was buried at Canterbury And his Father died soon after at Shene in The Kings Death and Burial His Issue Surrey A. D. 1377. and was buried at Westminster His Issue were Edward the Black Prince William Lionel John of Gaunt Edmund William of Windsor Thomas Isabel Joan Blanch and Margaret He was the founder of the Noble Order The first Order of the Garter of the Garter so entituled from the Garter he took up of the Countess of Salisbury's which slipt off in a Dance Also in his First Justices of the Peace first year was the Original of Justices of the Peace RICHARD the Second the Son of A. D. 1377. the Black Prince was Crowned King in the eleventh year of his Age but ere the Crown was settled on his Head the French braved it on the English Coasts and the Scots set fire on the Tower of Roxborough and through want of care in such who had the charge of State-matters in the Kings behalf things were declined to a shameful change and the glorious Atchievements of the two late Edwards fell under an Eclipse Jack Straw and Wat Tyler caused Straw Tyler great Rebellions but were supprest at last King Richard married the Lady Ann His Marriage Daughter to the Emperour Charles the IV. and a Truce was concluded with France After a great many Troubles by Civil Wars and Dissensions he was caused to His resignation of the Crown resign the Crown to the Duke of Lancaster Queen Ann Wife to King Richard first Womens first riding on sidefaddles taught English Women to ride on side-saddles before they rode astride and long trainâ—â— Gowns for Women HENRY the Fourth the Son of John A. D. 1399. Duke of Lancaster the fourth Son of King Edward the Third was Crowned at Westminster All that the old King said was I look not after such things but my hope is that after all this my Cousin will be my good Lord and Friend Many did strive to re-place Richard but to no purpose Death of King Richard And he at last died at Pontfract Castle by Hunger Cold and great Torments and was buried at Langley in Hartford-shire There was a great many Conspiracies afterwards against King Henry but they all came off with the worst and the Plotters thereby only hastened their own ruin The King died at London A. D. His Death and Issue 1413. His Issue were Henry Thomas John Humphrey Blanch and Philippa HENRY the Fifth of Monmouth whilest A. D. 1413. he was Prince did many things very incongruous to the greatness of his Birth yet when he had attained the Crown to begin a good Government he began at home banishing from Court those unruly Youths that had been his Consorts He began his Reign in all things very advisedly He sent into France to demand his Right and the Dauphin in derision sent him a Ton of Paris Tennis Balls But the King returned for Answer that he would shortly send him London Balls which should shake Paris Walls And soon after went with an His