Scotland to the Relief of King Baliol for which he was very liberally gratified and at length had the Interest of the whole Kingdom of Scotland granted to him by King Baliol he reserving only a yearly Pension to himself About the year 1340. the Isle of Man was conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who thereupon was honoured with the Title of King of Man Not long after this the King created his eldest Son Edward surnamed the Black Prince Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and being now wholly intent upon his French War the Scots daily revolted from King Baliol and David the banished King and his Queen returned again into Scotland And now the King having taken his Voyage for France took upon him the Title of King of France causing the Flower de Luces of France to be quartered with the Lions of England and at this time burnt and spoiled the North parts of France as far as Turwin and so returned for England and confirmed MAGNA CHARTA having received liberal Aides from his Subjects for the maintenance of the French War Now the French hearing of the King 's Second Preparation had a Fleet of 400 Ships ready in the Sluse in Flanders to intercept which the King having notice of set sail thither and fought their Fleet killing about 30000 of their Men and sinking about 200 of their Vessels And after this good Fortune at Sea the King entred France and at the Siege of Turney sent to the French King a Challenge who refused to fight About this time Dr. Bradwardine of Oxford wrote 3 Books in Defence of God's Grace against Free-Will Now after the Siege of Turnye the Armies of England and France intending to fight it but by the Mediation of Lady Jane Mother in Law to King Edward and Sister to the King of France a Truce was concluded for a short time and being afterwards drawn out for Fight again a new Truce by the Intercession of two Cardinals was concluded for the space of three years And the King returning into England shortly after made it High Treason for any Strangers to enter upon any place spiritual in England by the Pope's Authority This King it was that ordained the most Noble Order of the Knights of the GARTER upon the occasion of the Countess of Salisbury loosing her Garter before the King as she was Dancing saith Mr. Camden which the King taking up and seeing some of the Nobles smile he looked on them and said HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE The number of this Order is to be XXVI whereof the King is to be one After this the King returning again for France he mustered there twenty five hundred Horse and thirty thousand Foot his Son Edward the Black-Prince being with him who in the French Wars merrited Immortal Glory near Cressy the King pitched for Battel marshalling his Army into 3 Battalions and barracading them up behind to prevent their flying causing them all to put away their Horses so that they thereby all became Foot Soldiers Philip the French King came to the Field bravely appointed with a gallant Army and joining Battel after a sore Fight the French were Vanquished and the Honour of the day fell to the English the French King and his Soldiers flying the Field the gallantry of this day was solely attributed to the Prince King Edward never coming in with his Forces there being no necessity for it in this Battel the French lost 2 Kings 2 Dukes 7 Earls and 1500 Barrons Knights and men of Arms and about 30000 Soldiers and the next day were several Prisoners taken From hence the King went to lay Siege against Callice and after a strait Siege for a time the Town at last yielded and the King placed there Collonics of English in the Town Now during these Stirs in France David King of Scotland by the French King's procurement entered England supposing all the Nobles to be in France and that none but Priests and Sheppards were left in England but to his no small Damage he found the contrary the greatest part of his Army being slain near Durham and himself also taken Prisoner by one Copland to whom the King gave 500 pounds per annum at Vlverston in Lancashire and David the Scotch King was carried Prisoner to the Tower in London At the King's return from France there happened so cruel a Plague that in one year there was buried in one Church-yard in London 50000 about this time Dr. Orum of Oxford Preached before Pope Vrban at Rome condemning the Papacy and writ the Epistle from Lucifer to the Clergy thanking them for sending so many Souls to Hell After this Henry Earl of Lancaster was Created the First Duke thereof by King Edward and now the Prince of Wales took Ship for France there to defend his Right to the Dutchy of Aquitain and taking great Store of Towns and Prisoners he returned with the spoil to Burdeaux But John the French King promising himself letter fortune than his Father made bold to encounter Prince Edward who though the French were 3 to one by his great valour obtained a great Victory killing 52 Lords and 1700 Knights and Esquires besides 6000 common Soldiers and taking the King of France and Philip his Son one Arch-Bishop 10 Earls and about 200 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen Prisoners after this the Prince having well refreshed himself and Soldiers he hoised Sail for England where he was Joyfully received and the Prisoners courteously used the French King and his Son being kept in the Savoy under a safe Guard and others secured in other places And now David the Scotch King after eleven years Imprisonment at the incessant Suit of Joan David's Queen and King Edwards Sister was set at Liberty paying 100000 marks stirling and after him John King of France after four years imprisonment through the interceeding of Simon Langres the Pope's Legate was also set at liberty paying for the same 3000000 of sutes of Gold which amounteth to 500000 pounds Sterling About this time Dr. Killington of Oxford wrote several Books against the Monks and Fryers and some 5 years before Richard Fitz-Ralph Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Chancelour of Oxford wrote against begging Fryers and about the year 1362 Anno 37 of the King it was ordained that Lawyers should plead in their Mother Tongue Now after the Releasing of the King of France as is before shewed the King created Prince Edward Duke of Aquitain where he and his Wife went and remained at Burdeaux And now Anno 1366 Peter-pence was ordained to be paid no more MAGNA CHARTA was 12 times confirmed during this King's Reign who calling a Parliament in the 50 year of his Reign they laied several complaints and Accusations to the charge of Alice Peers the King's Concubine and against Lord Latimer the King's Chamberlain and during the sitting of this Parliament the Mirrour of Princes Edward the Black-Prince of Wales died whereupon the King made Richard Prince Edward's Son
and 8 moneths He was the 39 Sole Monarch of England he dyed on Sunday the 22 day of April Anno 1508 being in the 24 year of his Reign and about the 52 of his Age and was buried at Weminster in that famous Chappel of his own founding CHAP. XXIX Of King Henry the Eight THis King Henry was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Empson and Dudly were attainted by Parliament for their Oppressions in Henry the Seventh's time and were beheaded on Tower hill and now the King at the Instigation of Pope Julius the Second sent into France to demand the Dutches Normandy Guyen Anjou and Mayne and being denied them he hereupon joyned Amity with Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand King of Spain and some other Princes and then sailed for France where he took Terwin ane Tournay by Siege and then Winter approaching he returned for England first making Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Tournay and afterward of Lincoln York Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Now during the Siege at Terwin the Scots under the Command of their King James the Fourth Henry's Brother in Law entered the Borders of England pretending Truce broken by the killing of Andrew Barton the Scotch Pirate against whom the Lord Howard Earl of Sury Lord Lieutenant of the North went with an Army to whom joyned his Son the Lord Admiral and these at Flodden Field fought the Scots and gave them a great Overthrow killing the King three Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls and seventeen Lords and Knights besides a great number of Gentlemen and about 8000 Soldiers and almost as many taken prisoners About this time a peace was concluded on between the English and French and Lewis the King of France was to marry Lady Mary King Henry's Sister which shortly after he did and within a quarter of a year after dyed and she was married afterwards at Callis to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk upon her return for England her Dowry in France was 30000 Crownes yearly for her Life and 120000 Crowns yearly for five years to the King her Brother About this time Wolsey had a Cardinals Cap sent from Pope Leo and was preferred by the King to the place of Lord Chancelor Anno 1517. The Thames was so hard frozen that Men with Horses and Carts might pass betwixt Lambeth and Westminster and this same year was the fifth Lattern Council held being the seventeenth General Council Julius the second and Leo the ten being Popes And now Strangers growing insolent in London a great Tumult thereupon under the Conduct of one John Lincoln did rise on May Eve for which Uproar he was hanged and 400 Boyes and 11 Women were led through the City to Westminster with halters about their Necks in their Shirts but were pardoned by the King And the new King of France paying to King Henry 600000 Crowns in twelve years and under some other certain Conditions had Tournay redelivered to him and Peace was Concluded although Charles the Emperor came in person into England to diswade the King from it but this peace continued not long for the French breaking Truce as was pretended the King thereupon procured several Princes to take the Emperour's part against France and prepared himself for the War causing a general Muster to be made of all able men from 16 years and upwards in every Hamlet Villiage Burrough City and Shire in England and in the mean time the Emperour coming into England again he then agreed to stay for and to take Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to Wife and then he returned having for his Conduct the Earl of Surry Lord Admiral who at that time wan Morlois and shortly after Returning to France again won and burnt several Towns and then returned to England with great Booty and during these proceedings the Earl of Shrewsbury went against the Duke of Albany who was then made Governor of Scotland and a Truce was concluded on but the Lord Admiral after his Return from France being made Lord Lieutenant of the North notwithstanding the said Truce entered Scotland doing great harm and returned with great Booty Upon the Account of these Wars a Parliament being called by Wolsey's procurement the half of all Spiritual Livings were granted to the King for five years and the Tenth part of temporal Substance and about this time Christian King of Denmark landed in England with his Queen and after 22 dayes Royal Entertainment he Returned to Flanders where he remained as a banished man And now the King sent an Army under the Command of Charles Brandon Duke Suffolk into France who after severral places won and Winter approaching returned honourably for England but the Duke of Albany and the Lord Lieutenant of the North being still at variance at the Mediation of Margaret Queen of Scotland King Henrys Sister together with Wolseys working with the King at length Peace was concluded for a time both with Scotland and France after this several Commotions rose amongst the Commons about the payment of the Subside which when the King heard he pardoned the Offenders and remitted the payment of the Subsidy and now Wolsey began to alienate the King's heart from the Emperour and caused him to with-hold Pay from the Duke of Burbon which was the cause of the French King's Captivity of Burbon's March to Rome where he entered the City in one day and caused Pope Clement and 23 Cardinalls to take the Castle of Angelo for their Refuge where they were maugre all the pushes of the Pope's Leaden Bulls and Curses with Bell Book and Candle-light besieged six Moneths for which offence the Duke of Burbon in the Parliament of France was condemned of Treason And during these Broyles at Rome there arose great Troubles in Ireland but they were quickly laid again by Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry Lord Lieutennant of that Kingdom who being recalled into England upon some other Service the Earl of Ossâ—ry was made Deputy and shortly after being displaced Kilder succeeded him against whom Wolsey was a strong Enemy he thereby gained the King's displeasure for his malepartness therein The year 1527 fell such abundance of Rain in November December and January that the Corn fields Pastures and Cattel were thereby destroyed then was it dry till the 12 of April and then Rain again every day and night till the 3 of June following which caused such a Famine in London and all England over that many dyed for want of Succour And now the King begins to charge the Emperour with a promise of Marriage to Lady Mary afterwards our Queen Mary but her Legitimation was by him much questioned as being begotten on his Brother Arthur's Wife hereupon the King grew into dislike of his Marriage and disclaimed his Contract it being the Opinion of some six Forein Universities to be an unlawful Marriage and for this cause Cardinal Campius came into England with whom was joined Cardinal Wolsey in Commission with power to erect a Court to
sending forth his spies they were taken and presented to the Duke who caused them to be sent from Tent to Tent and Feasted and then released them And now the Duke entring the plain where the King was sent a Monk to him to demand the Kingdom or otherwise for the avoiding the effusion of much blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom under him Harrold's Answer was It should be tried by more Swords than one So the next day being the 14 of October 1066 on a Saturday They marshalled their Armies and Trumpets sounding to Battel at the first encounter the Normans had the worst of it and the English thinking they had run dis-ranked themselves for persuit which as soon as the Duke perceived he rallied his men and sell in desperately again and then slew the dis-ranked English on heaps among which King Harrold paid his last Breath to the fury of the Conqueror having an Arrow shot into his Brains and with him died Girth and Leofine his two Brothers and most of the English Nobles and 97974 Soldiers the Duke had three Horses slain under him yet received no harm himself In this same place the Conqueror afterwards built an Abby and called it Battel-Abby And now Aldrede Archbishop of York counselled the People to chuse young Edgar Atheling King being the true lawful Heir to the Crown but it came to nothing for with the determination of Harrold's Reign ceased the Royal blood of the Saxons whose Kings made England an Heptarchy and afterwards had reduced it to a glorious Monarchy and had been Kings and Monarchs thereof from Hengists first Possession of the Kingdom of Kent till Harrold's Deaths about 587 years but Authors agree not in the Computation some accounting more and some less This King Harrold was the Son of Goodwine Earl of Kent by his Wife Sitha Sister to Swain the younger King of Denmark he was the 20 sole Monarch of England And began his Reign Anno 1065 and Reigned about 9 Months and nine days he was slain the 14 of October 1066 at Battel-Field in Sussex and was buried at Waltham in Essex CHAP. X. Of England's Conquest by the Normans and first of William the Conqueror THese Normans who by the Sword gained the Diadem of England and were the last Conquerors thereof in whose Line the Monarchy of England is still continu'd were antiently a mixt Nation with the Warlike Norwegians Swedens and Danes and took their Name from that Northern Climate antiently called Cimbrica Chersonesus and Norway but the Country being thought to be too little for these People Rollo a Famous Noble Norman with many others in his Company betook themselves to Sea to seek Fortunes Court and having practised some Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia England and Ireland at length they became so fearful to the French that Charles the Simple King of France gave to Rollo his Daughter Gilla in Marriage with the Dutchy of Normandy And this Duke Rollo was Proavus or Great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy which Richard was Elder Brother to Robert Father to this WILLIAM the Famous Conqueror of England whose Famous Actions and Memorable Things we shall now proceed to Treat of After the Fight at Battle-Field Duke William hasted towards London wasting as he went the Counties of Kent Sussex Surry Hampshire and Bark-shire he crost Thames at Wallingford and so marched thorow the Counties of Oxford Buckingham and Hartford And at Barkhampstead he made a Stop to which place repaired Aldred Archbishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Winchester Walter Bishop of Hereford the Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling the Heir to the Crown and here did their Allegiance to the Duke And so marching for London he was stopt at St. Albans by Fredrick Abbot thereof On Christmas-day following he was Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of York And now considering how to secure the Realm from Invasions he thought it expedient first to fortifie the Cinque Ports and so taking his March towards Dover at the Instigation of Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Eglesine Abbot of Saint Austines he was surprized by the Kentish men who carrying Boughs and Branches of Trees in their hands they seemed like a Walking Wood which sight so afrighted the Conqueror that he granted their Requests to have all their Ancient Customs whereupon they yielded up to him their Earldom of Kent and Castle of Dover The Conqueror was kind also to the Londoners suffering them to injoy their Priviledges they had in Edward the Confessor's time Shortly after this the Conqueror sailed to Normandy to settle his Affairs there taking with him several English Nobles whose greatness he feared in his Absence for Pledges and making his half Brother Otho Bishop of Bayeux Earl of Kent and William Fitz-Osburne Earl of Hereford to whose Trust he left the Government of the Kingdom till his Return In whose Absence the Welsh rebelled and wasted all to the Mouth of Wye these Stirs called the Conqueror back again who at his Return gave the Lands of the English to his Normans And the English thus turned out of their Estates fell so to Rob and Pillage that the High-wayes between one Town and another lay unfrequented The Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling with his Mother and Sister and several other English Nobles fled into Scotland to King Malcolm to whom the Conqueror sent desiring him to send back for England Edgar Atheling but Malcolm having married his Sister denied him and kept him notwithstanding all King William's Threats And now the Conqueror still going on in his Oppressions of the English he caused every House-houlder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight a Clock at Night to which purpose there was a Bell rung in every City Town or Village by the French called Cover few that is Cover Fire In the Second year of his Reign Goodwine and Edmund two of King Harrold's Sons invaded the Realm out of Ireland and took away great Bootys And the year after the English in the North slew 700 Normans but some of the Authors of the Rebellion being taken had some of them their Heads cut off and other their hands And now Swain King of Denmark assisted the English with 300 Sail of Ships fraught with Soldiers who under Command of Osburne Swaine's Brother and his own two Sons Harrold and Canute arriv'd in Humber and marched for York at whose Approach the Yorkists were so dismay'd that they set their own City on fire and the Minster of St. Peters being then consum'd Aldred their Archbishop died with greif At his time were 3000 Normans slain but the King hearing of these Stirs took his March into the North and after he had overthrown the Enemy he was so inraged at the Northern Disturbers that he spoil'd their Country lying all level with the ground for Threescore miles between York and Durham which lying untilled for nine years space caused such a Famine
the Husband of the Empress shortly after this Earl Robert the Empress Brother was taken Prisoner by some of the King's party who had escaped from Lincoln who carrying him to Gloucester there imprisoned him and growing at length weary of his Irons and hard Lodging he and the King were released one in Liew of the other The Earl after his Releasment went for Normandy to raise more aid but in the mean while King Stephen besieged the Empress in Oxford where she was brought to such a straight that she was forced to fly by Night with some of her Company Disguised getting over the Thames on the Ice it being then Winter from which place they ran on Foot through Snow and Ditches to Abbington being about five miles and here they took Horse and got to Wallingford-Castle And by this time Earl Robert and Prince Henry the Empress Son were landed at Warran-haven from whence they got to the Empress but she at length being wearied with the various success of War and never out of Troubles left England and returned to her Husband into Normandy having sent her Son Henry thither before her At Lincoln the King after the Empress Departure caused all the Barrons to swear Allegiance to Prince Eustace Stephen's Son And Theobald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury refusing to consecrate Eustace King was forced to fly into Normandy for his safety and the King seized all his Possessions no King before Stephen's time durst enter Lincoln being frighted with the Foolish Prophesies of some Wizards After this Henry the Empress's Son entered England again and was met by the King whose Armies had joined in Battel but that the Winter Storms prevented them and so a Truce was concluded which thing was very displeasing to Prince Eustace who not long after died of a Frenzy After his Death a Peace was concluded and the King adopted Prince Henry the Empress's Son for his Heir and Successor In the last year of the King's Reign a little before his Death was seen the Sign of the Cross in the Moon This Stephen was King of England and Duke of Normandy he was the Third Son of Stephen Earl of Bloyce by his Wife Adilicia or Alice third Daughter to William the Conquerour His Reign began on Munday the second day of December Anno Domini eleven hundred thirty five and he reign'd eighteen years ten moneths and twenty dayes and was the twenty fourth sole Monarch of England He died of the Illiack-Passion mixed with his old Disease the Emmeroyds in the Monastery of the Monks at Dover on Munday the twenty fifth day of October Anno Domini eleven hundred fifty four his Body was buried at Feaversham in Kent in an Abby of his own founding In the fourth year of this King's Reign was the second Lateran Council Innocent the II. Pope CHAP. XIV Of King Henry the Second sometimes called Henry Fitz-Empress THis Henry was three times crowned first by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester His Privy Council he chose of the gravest Peers and Thomas Becket his Chancellor About the 5 of his Reign 30 Waldenses or thereabouts being come into England were persecuted by a Council of Bishops held at Oxford and by the King's Command all persons were prohibited to give them any Food whereby they miserably perished And now the King and Malcolm King of Scots entered Amity upon the same Conditions as were agreed upon in Henry the first 's time And in Token of his Subjection the King of Scots offered his Hat and Saddle upon St. Peters Altar in York and there left them About this time the Jews crucified a Child at Gloucester And now Theobald dying Becket the Chancellor was made Archbishop of Canterbury and he denied to take the Oath for observation of the Articles administred to the Clergy which the rest of the Bishops had taken and were clearly against the Pope's Authority Hereupon the Contention between the King and Becket grew so hot that the Pope sent Philip his Almoner to perswade the Bishop to swear who at his Request took the Oath Anno 1163. London-Bridge was made a new of Timber by one Peter the Priest of Cole-church And now Becket standing several times in Opposition against the King at length was condemned of Perjury and being called to hear his Sentence as a Traytor he made shift to escape in Disguise into Flanders by the Name of Deerman Now the King sends his Embassadors to the Pope requesting him to send two of his Cardinals to judge the Case the Pope returned Answer That he would Judg him himself when he saw Cause upon the Receit of this Answer the King made an Order that all the Clergy that were with the Pope or did Appeal to Rome should have their Livings sequestred and banished all the Kinred of Becket Man Woman Child and Suckling And now the King stoutly withstood all the Popes Threats Edicts and Bulls denying also the payment of Peter-pence And Roger Archbishop of York at the King's Command in Contempt of Becket crowned Henry the King's Son But Becket after 7 years Banishment was again reconciled to the King and restored to his former Dignity During these Stirs there was one Gilbert Foliott Doctor of Divinity in Oxford who perswaded the King to curb the Pride of the Clergy and this Doctor often reprooved proud Becket to his Face for which he was much hated and persecuted Now Becket at his second Entrance on his Bishoprick excommunicated several Prelates And King Henry being in Normandy and hearing hereof chanced to speak some words against the Bishop which moved four of his Courtiers to sale for England where in the Church of Canterbury they murthered Bishop Becket Anno 1170. He was afterwards canonized by the Pope and is reputed amongst those of the Romish perswasion for a great Saintâ— He was by Birth a Londoner his Mother a Sarazen and by Profession he was a Civilian After the King returned for England Robert Fitz-Stephen a valliant man without the King's Knowledg sailed for Ireland where he became Conqueror of several Strong-holds But the King himself who had it in his Thoughts long before to make a Conquest thereof sailed thither and imprisoned Fitz-Stephen who had made way for the King's Conquest After some Skirmishes the King conquered Ireland and established Religion there and built also a Magnificent Castle at Dublin and so returned for England About this time it was ordained That Men should make their Testaments in presence of their Neighbours And if the Man that died had Wife and Children he was to cast up what he owed to other men and to Servants for their Wages And then the rest of his Goods were to be divided into Three Parts one part to his Children another part to his Wife and the third part for his Burial and to Pious Vses After this the King sailed to Normandy whither the Pope had sent two Cardinals to take the King's Purgation for Becket's Death His
Earl John the King's Brother who had endeavoured to gain the Crown in his Brothers Captivity that the Devil was let loose again After his Releasement he came for England and was joyfully received by Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Earl John was adjudged by his Peers to loose all his Estate And now the King caused himself to be Crowned again at Winchester and had a new Great Seal made by which Device he got great Summs of money out of his Subjects causing them to have all their Evidences new Sealed after this being at Dinner at Westminster and hearing of the Siege of Nerville he swore he would not turn his Face till he had got thither with his Army and so caused the Wall to be cut down where he was that he might pass through which Breach was to be perceived two hundred years after And now he forgave his Brother Earl John and getting a great Victory over the French at Gysors He thus spoke Not we saith he but DIEVET MONDROIT that is God and our Right hath obtained this Victory after this the Kings of England made it their Motto Afterwards by the interceeding of Pope Innocent the Third a Peace was concluded between England and France And not long after this the King lying a Garrison against the Castle of Chalne was there shot in the left Arm by an Arballaster standing on the Wall with a sqare Arrow out of a Steel Bow of which Wound he shortly after died He banished all the Jews of Norwich St. Edmund Bury Lyncoln Stanford Lyn and York at which last place above five hundred of them besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle and when the Christians came to Besiege them the Jews cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them on the Besiegers heads and then burnt both the House and themselves so desperatly Wicked were they This Richard the first was King of England and Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain He was the third Son of King Henry the Second by Elianor his Queen eldest Daughter and Heir to William Duke of Aquitain His Reign began on Thursday the sixth of July 1189 he reigned nine years and nine Months and was the twenty sixth sole Monarch of England He died of the before named Wound in his Arm on Tuesday the sixth of April Anno Domini 1199 being in the tenth year of his Reign and 42 of his Age His body was buried at Font-Everad CHAP. XVI Of King John commonly termed by his Father John Lackland HE was Crowned at Westminster by Hubâ—â— Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and had much ado before he got the Crown and more ado before the People would swear him Fealty which when they did it was with a Reservation Arthur King John's Nephew by his Elder Brother Jeffery with whom sided Philip King of France did mightily oppose King John's proceedings but he was backt by Otho the Emperour And Hubert the Arch-Bishop in a great Assembly made an Oration wherein he Declared that the Crown of England was meerly Arbitrary and Elective Now the King after several Out-fals between Philip King of France and him at length a Peace was concluded wherein it was agreed that Lewis Heir of France should marry King John's Neece After the Peace concluded the King returned for England and ordered a collection of 3s on every Carucata of Land for the Marriage of his Neece and his Martial uses But Jeffery Arch-Bishop of York Son to King John's Father by Rosamond his Father's Concubine denyed the Payment hereof within his Precincts and likewise refused to accompany the King his Brother into France to solemnize the Marriage and conclude the Peace for which Contemps the King caused all his Temporalties to be Seized on After this the King and William King of Scotland meeting at Lincoln they there swore Amity and Faithful Love upon the Crosier-staff of Arch-Bishop Hubert But now the French King breaking the Peace concluded on several Battels were fought between him and King John and Prince Arthur was taken Prisoner and died The Pope sought a Reconciliation between the two Kings but it took no effect After this the King returned and called a Parliament at Oxford at which time they granted him 33 s. 4 d. for every Knights Fee In the year 1204 Normandy fell from England to the French after it had been disbranched from France about 319 years the next year after the Arch-Bishop died whose Wealth and Possessions were Seized on by the King in Regard of his haughty carriage in his life time and John Gray Bishop of Norwich was translated to Canterbury And now the King bethinks himself again on Revenge upon the French and with a great Army landed at Rochel and presently won the Castle Mount Auban which was reputed invincible after this the City Angiers was also subjected by him And at length the two Kings met but by the interceeding of Forein Prelates a two years Peace was concluded About this time the King sent one Alexander a Divine of Oxford to the Pope to defend his Authority against that of Rome which he very well performed and made out both by Scripture and Reason and writing against the Pope's Authority he was afterwards persecuted and banished by Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and died in Exile shortly after this the Emperour Otho arived in England and was Royally received by the King who after some days of Banquetting returned again And now the Pope begins to play his Prancks depriving Arch-Bishop Gray and setting up Stephen Langton in his place writing to the King in his behalf and now began the King's miseries to approach for upon this Account the King wrote to Pope Innocentius the Third threatning him for intruding upon his Prerogative the Pope returned him a thundring Answer and presently after sent his Apostolical command to the Prelates London Ely and Worcester to interdict the Kingdom if the King continued in his Obstinacy This Commission was put in Execution and the Church Doors shut up for several years some Authors say 6 years so that the People lived more like Infidels than Christians for which affront several of the Clergy were banished by the King and sent to the Pope their Master And now the Irish being in Rebellion the King hasted thither at whose arrival more then twenty petty Kings came to him to Dublin doing their Allegiance About this time Gualter Maxes Arch-Deacon of Oxford preached vehemently against the Pride of the Pope and wrote a Book called the Revelation of the Romish Goliah for which he was much persecuted and hated Shortly after this Philip King of France by commission from the Pope took Ship for England to depose King John the Pope promising him the Crown of England but the King prepared against his coming yet fearing the French Power he unwillingly swore to Pandulphus the Pope's Nuncio to submit in all things to the judgment of the Church hereupon Pandulphus swore him touching all things in his
Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales and caused the Nobles to swear him Fealty about this time the famous Dr. John Wickliff of Oxford maintained sundry learned points against the Church of Rome This Edward the Third was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was eldest Son of King Edward the second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he began his Reign on Saturday the 25 day of January Anno 1329 and reigned 50 years 4 months and 26 days and was the 31 sole Monarch of England He died on Sunday the 21 day of June Anno 1377 being the 51 year of his Reign and about the 65 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXI Of King Richard the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux IN the beginning of this King's Reign the French invaded England and burnt the Town of Rye the Scots the Town of Rocksbrough And after this the French took the Isle of Wight and forced the Inhabitants to pay them a hundred marks not long after they burnt the Town of Hastings All these Advantages being taken by reason of the King 's tender years upon the Occasion of these daily Rapines one Sir John Philpot of London seeing the remissness of the Lords at his own proper costs and charges manned out a Fleet to scour the Seas which Fleet shortly after took 15 Rich Spanish Ships which well recompenced Sir John for his charges About this time Barwick was surprized by the Scots who killed Sir Robert Boynton the Governour and about nine days after it was regained by the Earl of Northumberland the Scots being all put to the Sword And now a Parliament being called at London for Manning of those Services a Subsidy was granted to the King by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal the Commons at that time being exempted from it Shortly after this Sir John Arundel and several other valiant Knights and Esquires being sent to the Duke of Britain for his aid against the French were all drowned But the King sending more Forces after these as the Duke of Lancaster Buckingham Warwick and Stafford with others of the cheif of the Nobility they landed safely at Callis and went through France to Britain spoiling Countries burning Towns and killing People the French not daring to oppose them About this time Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Brute John Ashton and Peter Pateshall were persecuted some by perpetual Imprisonment and some by Banishment for Preaching and maintaining Dr. Wickliffs Doctrine After this the King calling another Parliament at Northampton they granted him Poll-money of Twelve pence per head of every one above such an Age. The next year after this the Commons of Kent Essex Surry Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridge rebelled and under the Conduct of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw marched suriously to London burning the Priory of St. John's without East Smithfield and turning also the Savoy and the Bishop of Canterbury's House in Lambeth into Ashes Beheading Simon Tybald the Archbishop Sir John Hales Lord Prior with others And now they sent a malicious arrogant Petition to the King whose Tenor the King durst not deny his Person being then in manifest Danger of them But Wat Tyler cavelled at the conditions of Peace Suggesting strange Hopes of high matters to himself hereupon he was desired to ride to the King which accordingly he did and there behaved himself so insolently that he offered to kill Sir John Newton one of the King 's Attendants for the omission of some Punctilio of respect to him But the insolent Traytor for this affront received his Death's Wound from the hand of Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor of London And the Lord Mayor presently raising a thousand Citizens surprised the headless Monster and caused them to beg their Lives of the King John Lister the Dyar who headed the Rabble in Suffolk was also taken by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and there was executed of this rebellious Rabble in London and elsewhere about 1500. Now these Plebean Furies being over the King took to Wife Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the IV and shortly after John Duke of Lancaster was accused of Treason touching the King's Person but the Accusers Reward was Death which he hoped and intended for the Duke's Lot After this the Duke sailing into France concluded a Truce for about two years space and then a Parliament being called at London the Laity sought to depose the Clergy of their Estates but the King answered their Request in these words I will saith he maintain the English Church in the quality of the same Estate or better than I found it when I came to the Crown At this Parliament was Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Created the first Marquess of Dublin This year also the Duke of Lancaster set Sail for Spain to regain the Kingdom of Castile to which by Right of his Wife he laid claim to Within a while after several Lords rebeled against the King and were all pardon'd before they came to their Tryals yet notwithstanding the King's Clemency they still kept together and raising great Forces they did not stick to charge the King with several misdemeanours and now the Duke of Lancaster returning for England again Peace was concluded between him and Spain and the King thereof gave him 200000 Nobles towards the defraying of this charges he had been at at whose return the King made him Duke of Aquitain After this the King desiring of the Londoners the Loan of a thousand pounds it was denied him whereupon he seized on their Liberties and dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out their Mayor John Hind and John Shadworth and Henry Wanner their Sheriffs and appointed Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City And about two years after the King having a desire to go for Ireland had a Subsidy granted him four years Truce being then concluded with France but after this he with the Company of the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Gloucester sailed into France where he espous'd the Lady Isabel Daughter to Charles King of France this Journey besides Losses at Sea cost him 4000 marks At his return from France certain Peers revolted from him making Forces removing such Officers from the King as they thought fit whereupon the Earl of Arundel one of the Rebells had his Head lopt off and the Earl of Gloucester was smothered with Pillows and Feather Beds at Callis and shortly afterwards the King made himself Earl of Chester and created several Dukes and Earls at that time And not long after this the River between Swelston and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Bottom remained dry about three miles space And now the King extorting Money and taking up Carriages and other Necessaries intending for Ireland to suppress the Rebells there who had slain Lord Mortimer Lord Lieutenant there And the Duke of Lancaster dying about this time the King seized his
conduct but they refused to go which caused the King with the Prince and other Nobles to march towards them as soon as Piercy Hot-spur discovered the Royal Standard he drew out his Army consisting of about 14000 to try the Fortune of War which at that time proved very averse to him for he and the Earls of Worcester Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton and several others with 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire that day or the next loss their Lives with an Incredible number of common Soldiers and on the King's party were slain the Earl of Stafford and ten new Knights all made that morning and many Esquires and Gentlemen and about 500 common Soldiers the Battel ended the King marched to York whither he commanded the Earl of Northumberland to come who obeyed his Command and had pardon of Life but was abridged in Estate Whiles things were thus setling in the North news came that Wales was still in Rebellion so the Clergy at the motion of their Metropolitan granted the King a Subsidy for Maintenance of his Army and William de Wilford also being in the King's Service on the narrow Seas brought some assistance to his Indigencies by taking 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl Sope and Rochel Wines to the number of one thousand Tuns And not long after a Parliament being called another Subsidy was granted and the Earl of Northumberland was again restored to his Possessions presently after this came a Troop of Western men who brought to the King three forein Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth where they also slew the Lord of Castile and several of his men which Lord formerly had burnt Plimouth and thinking to have done so here was by these Plebeans put by his purpose for which good Service the King gave them store of Gold And now the King calling Three Parliaments one after another for Money could get none the chief Opposer was Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal who drew Richard Scroop Archbishop of York into a Conspiracy against the King and the Earl of Westmerland pretending to side with them ensnared them both in his Gin and presented them to the King who caused both their Heads to be struck off although Westmerland had promised them their Lives And now the King began again to pursue the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf who were supposed privy to Earl Marshals Conspiracy with an Army of 37000 Men whereupon they fled into Scotland the King seeing this took Barwick by battering down a Tower in the Wall with a great Gun the first that was used in England and took Alnwick and all other Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland And from hence marching to Wales he expected the like good Fortune there but such a sudded Rage of Waters in Wales came so fast down upon his Army that he was forced to return 50 Waynes laden with Treasure and other Carriages being destroyed by the Rage thereof After this another Parliament being called they granted a Subsidy being rather wearied with the King's Importunity than out of any good Will to him Anno 1407. being the next year after there was so great a Plague in England that in short space it destroyed 30000 in London and multitudes elsewhere in the Realm and the year after was a great Frost that held 15 Weeks All this while Glendour continuing his Rebellion in Wales The Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf leaving Wales into which they had escaped and coming to raise Forces in the North were met and encountred by Sir Thomas Rookby the Sheriff of York-shire who flew the Earl and gave the Lord Bardolf a wound of which he died After this the Duke of Burgundy sending to the King for Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request answered and presently after Orleance sending for Aid against Burgandy and promising greater matters than the other it was granted to him also to the great wonder of many and now the Lord Hail Marshal of France laying a Siege to a certain strong place in Gascoign with other Lords and about 4000 Men of Arms were driven from thence by Sir John Blunt with 300 Soldiers and 12 of the Principallest and about 120 Gentlemen were then taken Prisoners but the King lived not to see the Fortune and Carriage of these Wars In this King's Reign through Arch-Bishop Arundells Procurement William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp suffered Martyrdom for their Faith being all worthy Divines This Henry the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Blaunch his Wife Daughter and Heir to Henry Plantaginet Duke of Lancaster Son to Edmund Sir-named Crouch-back he began his Reign on Munday the 29 day of September Anno 1399 and reigned 13 years 5 months and 19 days and was the 33 sole Monarch of England He died at London of an Apoplexy on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno 1412. and was buried at Canterbury CHAP. XXIII Of King Henry the Fifth commonly called Henry of Monmouth HE was Crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and at his first entrance dismissed all his youthful Companions and made choice of grave men for his Councellors He was wont every day after dinner for the space of an hour to receive Petitions of the oppressed who with great equity he relieved he was so zealous towards the Clergy hating Lollards or Wickliffians that he caused Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who was the cheif that held that opinion then to be Imprisoned but he afterwards escaping for Wales 37 of his Faction as it was then thought to be being taken were all condemned and seven of them viz. Lawrence Redman David Sawtree William James Thomas Brightwell William Haulam Ralph Greenburst and John Schut were burnt and strangled in St. Gyles's Fields after this the King restored the Son of Lord Piercy Hot-Spur to his Blood and Grandfather's Honour of Earl of Northumberland and presently after sent Embassadors to France to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Aquitain Guyen and Anjou but in derision to his Demands the Dauphin of France sent him a Tun of Tennice Balls as Bullets most fit for his tender hands The King disgusted hereat preparing for Warrs the French made the Scots their Friends to invade Englands marches which accordingly they did in such a violent manner that the King scarce knew which Kingdom to begin with first but at length it was concluded for France the Clergy giving a Tenth and the Temporal Lords their Aid of 346 Men at arms and 552 Archers and about some 10 Ships and to keep back the Scots Sir RobertVmsreivil was sent against them who in a Skirmish took 360 of them Prisoners and great spoil The news of the proceedings here in England flying into France Charles the French King sent his Embassadours to England with offer of money and some Territories of France but none of the best and the Princess Catherine in Marriage to King Henry
but these proffers found no Acceptance for Antelope the Pursevant at Arms was sent to the French King with Letters of Defiance Hereupon Charles sent a million of Gold out of France to the Lords Scroop Gray and Cambridge all three in especial favour with King Henry to betray or murther him before he arrived in Normandy which they O the prevalency of Gold intended to have put in execution but being discovered the Night before the King intended to have put to Sea they were all three beheaded And so the King embarked for France and landed near Harflew commanding his Army that they should do no violence to Churches Church-men Women or Children and so advanced towards the Town and laid Siege to it which shortly after was yielded to him and he turned out the French and Peopled the Town with English Artizans from hence he marched with 2000 Horse and 13000 Foot through the Countries of Caux and Ewe towards Callis but finding so many Obstacles in his way the French having plased shed Woods pulled down Bridges and carried all Victuals out of the Country where he intended to pass and his Soldiers growing sick and faint for want of Victuals he therefore resolved to march back to Callis The French upon this Advantage thinking to surprize the King near Azin Court pitched their Banner Royal their Host consisting of 150000 Horse and 10000 Men at Arms Princes Noblemen and Knights King Henry considering the faintness of his Soldiers through want of Victuals and that the French were six to one desired a Peace but was denied the French making themselves so sure of the Victory as that they had disposed of Court-places and other preferments in England among themselves each knowing his place but this day proved more fatal to them than they expected for King Henry seeing no way but one encouraged his Men and entered Battel obtaining a most glorious Victory with the loss of Edward Duke of York the Earl of Worcester and some few others but of the French fell that day 4000 Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires besides 10000 Common Soldiers and so many Prisoners taken that they far exceeded the Conquerors wherefore the King Commanded to kill them all least they should rise up against them From thence the King marched to Callis and so took Ship for England landing at Dover where he was received with great Triumph and at his entrance into London was presented with 1000 pounds in Gold and two Gold Basons worth 500 pounds Not long after Sigismond the Emperor arrived in England desiring a Peace between England and France which would not be granted and so concluded a Peace between himself and England and received the honourable Order of Knight-hood of the Garter from King Henry he returned And now the King of France having a Navy wasting on the Seas with many Bravadoes the English Fleet under the Command of John Duke of Bedford battered sunk and took the most of them and sent the three great Carracks of Genoa to England But Burgundy now siding with France against England the King thereupon called a Parliament and a Subsidy and tenth was granted him for the maintenance of the Wars against France but all not being sufficient for defraying so vast a charge he was forced to pawn his Crown and sell his Jewells for raising more moneys And being now well prepared he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Protector of England and so made his second Expedition for France and arrived in Normandy whose Terrour was such that 25000 Families fled out of the Country upon his Arrival His first Attempt was against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he presently took and bestowed it on his Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence and the Castle of Aumbelliers on the Earl of Salisbury with that of Lovers on the Earl Marshal and presently after Cane was also taken by him About this time the Scots laying Siege against Barwick and Roâ—ksborough they were all scared away with fear when they heard that the Lord Protector and Arch Bishop of York with other Nobles were drawing near them with an Army Presently after a Parliament was called by the Protector 's Authority for raising Money for the Wars in which Parliament Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who held the opinion of Dr. Wickliff was condemned and hanged in St. Giles's Fields being burnt also whilest he was hanging The King at this time laid against the Town and Castle of Fallais which after a while was surrendred upon certain Conditions and after this he divided his Army into several parts under the Command of Himself and Nobles who wan several Castles here and there he with his party laid Siege to Roan which after six months Siege was forced to Surrender there being famished in the Town during the Siege 50000 and 12000 Starvelings turned out of the Town who died in Ditches He caused the Burgesses there to pay him 356000 Crowns towards his Expences in the Siege and likewise to swear Fealty to him and his Successors This place had been about 215 years in the possession of the French from the time that King John of England lost it Presently after the Surrender of this place about 40 other Towns and places of note did yield themselves to the King and now the Duke of Burgundy sought to make Peace but it was denyed King Henry following on now to make an absolute and entire Conquest which shortly after he effected a Flood-Gate being opened unto him for accomplishing of the same by reason of some affronts offered by the Dauphin to his Mother the Queen who impatient of wrongs raised Forces and with the help of the Duke of Burgundy became Regent of France which civil Broils made well for King Henry for Peace being sought with him it was granted with these Conditions that the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of the French King Charles and his Queen should remain to King Henry and his Heirs for ever whereupon he married Lady Catherine Daughter to King Charles and so the Sallique Law of France at this time was made void but the Pope being sollicited to confirm Henry King of France would not condescend to it Upon the Sealing and Swearing the above mentioned Articles Philip Duke of Burgundy did Homage to King Henry who was then Stiled and Proclaimed Regent of France and kept his Court at Paris for a time Parliaments being then called which confirmed all things the Nobles all swearing to be true to King Henry except the Dauphin and his party who were in Rebellion and in the last Parliament had Sentence of Disinheritance pronounced against him and in the Court of Chancery in Paris all things were sealed with the Seal of King Henry And now all things thus confirmed the King with his Queen came for England who was no sooner out of France but the Scots hasted thither to the Aid of the Dauphin and in a Skirmish several of
the English were slain amongst whom the King's Brother the Duke of Clarence was one and the Earls of Somerset and Suffolk with other Lords were taken Prisoners the King having notice hereof embarqued again for France and landed at Callis and chased the Dauphin from place to place he not daring to Fight during these proceedings the Queen was brought to Bed at Windsor of a young Prince Henry which news coming to the King's Ears he in a Prophetical way thus spake Good God saith he I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and loose all but the Will of God be done Which words of his afterwards proved true And now the King after several brave exploits by him perform'd in this his last expedition into France died appointing by his last Will his younger Brother Humfry Duke of Gloucester Protector of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exceter Guardian of his Son's Body This Henry the V. was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of King Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen Daughter to Humfry de Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton He began his Reign on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno Do. 1412 and reigned nine years five moneths and 10 days and was the thirty fourth sole Monarch of England He died of a Burning Feavor and Flux at Boice de Vincennois in France on Monday the the one and thirty day of August Anno Domini 1422 and was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXIV Of King Henry the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor THis King was Crowned at Westminster being but about 8 months old and a Parliament being called and a Subsidy granted that the regal Chair in the House might not stand empty thither the Queen did carry the young Prince and sate with him in her Lap he speaking to the House in anothers Tongue And now the affairs in France were various Fortune sometimes smiling on the French and other sometimes on the English whereupon the Duke of Bedford Regent of France desired to enter Battel with the French which accordingly was performed near the Vernoil where the French were beaten and about 5000 of them slain besides many taken Prisoners During these proceedings in France James the young King of Scots who had casually been taken Prisoner at Sea in Henry the Fifths time was set at Liberty in England thereby to draw the Scots off from Aiding the French not long after Duke Humphry the Protector was married to Jaqueline of Bavaria her Husband being then living which caused the Duke of Burgundy to forsake the Regent in France and now Factions breeding in the Court of England the Regent left France to appease the dangers at home which he happily performed and then with the Lord Talbot and fresh Forces returned again to France From the beginning of April 1428 unto All-Hallon-Tide after fell such abundance of Rain that not only Hay but Corn also was distroyed About this time at the Regent's Return into France Siege was laid unto Orleance where the Earl of Salisbury was slain yet notwithstanding the Siege continued And Charles the young French King being very pensive not knowing how to remedy this Mischief likely to ensue At Chinon a young Maid called Joane of Loraine a sheeperdess appeared to him bidding him be of good Courage for God had sent her to deliver the Realm and so going to Blâ—yce with the Marshal of France and there getting Forces by her Valour the Siege was raised at Orleance the English loosing 600 men at that Brunt and for some short space after this the loosing and taking of Towns was interchangeable but Joan and the Duke of Alanzon still proceeding in their good fortunes near Jergeaux they fought the Lord Talbot taking him and several Nobles Prisoners and killing about 1000 of the English they not loosing above 600. Hereupon several Towns Revolted from the English and Charles himself who before had kept in now Issued out in Armes thinking to have recovered Paris but he was disapointed of his hopes by the Regent and now the English lying Siege to Champaign Joan the Martial Maid coming to it's Rescue was taken and sent to Roan and there Burnt for a Witch which did not a little dismay the French but success proving still various it was thought that King Henry's presence in France would be a great discouragement to the Carrolines hereupon the King with the Company of the two English Cardinals York and Winchester and other Nobles sailed into France Anno. 1432 and at Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester he was Crowned King of France yet Charles esteemed himself not the less a King for all this the King having thus taken possession of France not long after took his farewel of it his Return was by Roan and so over Land to Callis and thence to England again and now the Soldiers beginning to be weary of their Imployment and discontented with their Wages fell to Mutiny at Paris for which the Regent cashiered 110 and chopt of the heads of four of the Principallest of them Anno 1435 the Theames was so frozen that the Merchants which came to the Thames Mouth were forced to be carryed to London by Land And now after several Changeable Successes in France at length the Regent dyed the news of whose death coming to England Richard Duke of York was sent Regent but Paris was lost before his Arrival in France and after several Skirmishes with the English the French proceeded to besiege Callis to which place the new Regent drew his Army but King Henry hearing hereof and fearing the worst sent the Protector with a great Fleet against the French at whose approach they all ran away and so the Protector Settling the State of Callis returned with great honour But this new Regent performing little or nothing in France he Returned for England and Richard Earl of Warwick went in his place but he after a short space dying the Duke of York went again and at his Return into France prossered several times to fight the French King who never durst undertake to joyn Battel with him Not long after this the Duke of Orleance was set at Liberty who had been Prisoner ever since the Battel at Azin Court which was above 26 yeares before his Ransom was 300000 Crowns the Protector was much against his Releasment Anno 1438. All the Lions in the Tower of London dyed and this same year was held the Council at Florence being the 16 General Council Eugenius the fourth being Pope Julythe 18. Anno 1440. The Postern of London by East Smith-field against the Tower of London sunk by Night and about 2 years after a Contest fell between the Duke of Gloucester and the Cardinal his Uncle and the Duke's Lady was accus'd by the Cardinal Henry Chicely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for Witch-craft as if by Art Magick she
mean time road Victoriously to London and was again Proclaimed King and a Parliament shortly after being called They disinherited Henry his Queen and Son and about 43 Nobles and others and now the Queen returning into Scotland with her French Fleet and afterwards making for England her Fleet was Scattered by a Tempest so that her Husband and She were left solely to the Aide of the Scots who marching into England as far as the Bishoprick of Durham King Edward prepared to meet them but making an halt at York he sent the Lord Montacute with forces to oppose them who was encountered on Hedgley Moore by the Lords Hungerford Roâ—'s and Sir Ralph Peircy to whom the Lord Montacute gave the foyl taking Sir Ralph Percy and several others being slain and growing proud of this Victory he assail'd King Henry's Camp at Hexham where after great slaughter he took the Duke of Somerset and other three Lords and one Knight which were all beheaded whereupon Henry fled into Scotland and afterwards coming into England in disguise he was taken and having his feet tyed to the stirrups and his guilt spurs taken off his heels he was then committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Shortly after King Edward called a Parliament and Enacted several good Laws especially against pride in Apparrel and now he begins to think of a wife whereupon the Earl of Warwick was sent to sollicite a Marriage between the King and Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy and all things being well approved of by the Lady and her Friends the Earl Returned before whose Return the King had set his Affections on the Lady Elizabeth Gray here in England whose Mother was Jaquelline Daughter to Peter Earl of St. Pauls to whom shortly after he was Married The Earl of Warwick took great distast thereat thinking himself hereby abused and endeavoured afterwards to uphold King Henry's Cause drawing to his Assistance some Nobles and Forein Princes and upon these discontents some of the Commons rose under the Command of one Robert Hildern intending to gave seized on York from which place they were beaten back by the Lord Montacute president thereof and their Leader beheaded Yet the Commons not dismai'd hereat chose Henry Lord Fitzhughs Son and Sir Henery Nevil Son to the Lord Latimer but they being but young made choice of Sir John Coniers a valliant Knight and intended their march for London of which the King having notice he made William Lord Herbert Earl of Pembrook General and Sir Richard Herbert his Brother assistant to him And now the Northern forces drawing near Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with 2000 Horse fell in the Rear of them but were repulsed and lost most of their Men afterwards the Armies meeting near Banbury some distast being then taken by the Lord Stafford at the Earl of Pembrook the Kings General he thereupon withdrew his Archers upon which occasion Pembrook lost the field and had 5000 men slain and the Earl with his Brother and other ten Gentlemen were taken and carryed to Banbury and there beheaded After this Victory some Commons under the Leading of Robin of Ridsdale hasten to Grafton the King's Mannour house and there surprized Earl Rivers the Queens Father and his Son John and at Northamton beheaded then and now the King set forth with an Army himself and pitched at Wolny four Miles from Warwick whose Guards were not so vigilant as they should have been the King being at that time animated with some hopes of peace of which the Earl of Warwick taking advantage he entered the King's Camp Treacherously by night and took him prisoner when he never dreamt upon it from whence they conveyd him with easie journys by night to the Castle of Midleham in Yorkshire and there left him to the keeping of George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Warwicks Brother from whom the King not long after escaped and came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an army he past from thence to London not long after this Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised 30000 plebeans in Lincolnshire and pitched near Stanford whereupon the King caused the Lord Wells Sir Roberts Father and Sir Thomas Dimmoâ—k his Kinsman to be beheaded which was against the King's Oath and promise to them and then marched to fight Sir Robert who with Sir Thomas Deland were taken Prisoners and Lincolnshire men cast of their Coats and run away whereupon that Battel was called Loss-Coat field there were slain that day about 10000. this Newes made the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick flye to sea and casting Anchor before the Town of Callis they were there denyed Entrance by the Lord Vanclere who was the Earl of Warwicks Deputy there for which good service he was by King Edward made Captain of Callis and Warwick discharged as a Traytor yet nevertheless he was welcome to the French where the Queen of King Henry at that time was with whom Warwick joyned whose Daughter at that time was betrothed to Prince Edward King Henrys Son and they all sollicited for Forces which was granted and the Earl landing in England with a great Army proclaimed King Henry to whose Aide great store of People flocked the Lord Fawconberge in the West and the Earl of Pembrook in the North doing the like And the Earl of Warwick now taking his March towards London King Edward Commanded his Lords to attend him in the War but several of them disowned his Mandates which he perceiving with some few Nobles in his Company hasted towards Nottingham there to determine what was best to be done but his Foes greatly increasing Bon-fires burning Bells ringing and all the people crying up King Henry for very fear King Edward with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester took shipping at Lyn and sailed into Flanders to Charles Duke of Burgundy and his Queen took Asylum at Westminster where she was delivered of Prince Edward afterwards King of England and at this time several of the Kings Friends took Sanctuary Edward being fled Warwick took King Henry out of the Tower where he was prisoner and Riding in Tryumph through the Streets of London great were the Acclamations of the People crying God save King Henry And now a Parliament being called Edward was declared Traytor and his with all his Adherent's Goods confiscated and the Crown Intayled to the Heirs Males of Henry's body and for default thereof to the Heirs Males of George Duke of Clarence and finally all the Statutes made by King Edward were Abrogated But King Edward having gotten some small Forces of about 12000 men of his Brother in Law the Duke of Burgundy he returned for England as a Subject and proclaimed King Henry deluding the People and so got to York which he making them believe that he came but to look for his own Inheritance surprized and assumed to himself leaving a Garison in it and from hence he marched to Nothingham and so to
Foot and 1000 Horse under the Command of Sir John Norrice and shortly after went the Earl of Leicester as Deputy but no great matters being performed he was again recalled and Commanded to resign up his Government to the Netherlands again and the King of Spain now under the false proffers of Peace prepared his Invincible Navy as it was called against England of which the Queen had notice by the French King so that she caused the generall Forces of her Realm to be mustred and fifteen hundred horsemen and two and twenty thousand Foot were Commanded to repair to Tilbury in Essex whither She also went attended with her own Guard consisting of two thousand three hundred fifty two horsemen and thirty four thousand and fifty foot her Admiral at Sea was Lord Charles Howard and Vice Admiral Sir Francis Drake This Armado consisted as some of our Chronologers reckon of Seventy two Gallisers and Gallions forty seven Ships and Hulks eleven Pinaces and Carvals two thousand eight hundred forty and three great Ordinance eight thousand ninety and four Saylers eighteen thousand six hundred fifty and eight Soldiers two thousand eighty and eight Gally-Slaves two hundred and twenty thousand great Shot four hundred and seventy thousand and four hundred pounds of Powder one hundred and twelve thousand pounds of Lead for Bullets one hundred thirty four thousand and four hundred pounds of Match seven thousand Muskets and Callivers ten thousand Partizans and Halberts with Biskets Flesh Cheese Rice and other Necessarys for six months but this Terrour of the World was terrified and vanquished by the gallantry of the renouned Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake who destroyed fourscore and one of the Spaniards Vessels and seventeen thousand of their Men besides many Noble persons taken Prisoners nay there was scarce a worthy Family in all Spain that in this expedition lost not either a Son Brother or Kins-man the Pope's Contribution towards this Expedition was a Million of Gold it was in the year 1588. And now the Queens Enimies being Dissipated She caused publick Thanks to be given to God through the Realm and there were Executed for Treason against her Majesty here in England at several times before and after this Invasion about one hundred Persons whereof threescore and seven were Jesuires And now to requite the Spaniars the Queen the year after assisted Don Antonio King of Portugal with eleven thousand Soldiers and five and twenty hundred Marriners under the Command of Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Drake these English Soldiers won the Groyne and it being intended to be rescued they so valliantly behaved themselves that they took the Spanish King's standard and made great slaughter of their Enemies and burning both the said Town and the Country for three miles round about they then betook themselves to Sea again and shortly after the Earl of Essex joyned with them and then they Sailed for Portugal and took Penish from whence they went to Attempt Lisbone the Metropolis of Portugal but not being able to overcome it they returned and had the Castle of Cassais rendered to them and they took 60 Spanish Hulks Laden with Corn Masts Cables Copper and Wax and so retuned for England with great Honor. After this Supplys were sent by the Queen to Henry King of Navarr a Protestant for the gaining the French Crown but he finding many Rubs in his way changed his Religion and then easily obtained it About this time Anno 1591 one William Harket was executed in Cheapside for Blasphemy and Treason and about three years after Doctor Lopez suffered And now the Spanish Practices still in the Queens thoughts at length she set out a Brave Navy against the Spaniards Anno 1596. their first Assault was on Cadez which Place they won and forced the Cittizens to pay them twenty thousand Duccats for their Ransom and the Ships of the Spaniards which the English ran ashoar there proffered five and twenty hundred thousand Duccats for their ransom which being denyed Acceptance at the Command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia they were all set on fire they being estimated to be worth twelve Millions of Duccats After this another Fleet went again and the Spaniards every where being worsted the Fleet again returned for England with three Prizes worth four hundred thousand Duccats and Sigismond King of Pollonia and the King of Denmark about this time sought to the Queen to conclude a Peace with France but prevailed not And now Tirr Owen in Ireland breaking into Rebellion after some Expeditions thither at length the Earl of Essex was sent Deputy who concluded a Peace with Tirr Owen from six weeks to six weeks for which he was much condemned by the Lords and recalled into England again by the Queen and afterwards lost his head the Queen being neither privy nor consenting to it for whose Death she sore lamented dureing her Life which lasted not long after and bid the Plague of God light upon them for their act which Curse shortly after took effect for in one year there dyed of the Plague in London and the Suburbs thirty thousand five hundred seventy eight besides all those that dyed of other Diseases After Essex the Lord Mountjoy went Deputy for Ireland by whose vigilancy and Courage Tirr Owen at length with all his Adherents from the Pope and the King of Spain were Totally routed and he forced to fly into Spain and now the Spaniards all hopes of prevailing against England being gon began to sue for Peace which upon certain Conditions was granted them and the Queen afterthis perceiving the time of her dissolution to draw nigh named King James of Scotland for her Successor and not long after dyed she was a Queen endowed with all the benefits of Nature a comely person for her Body but more comly in her Soul and an excellent Schollar as may appear by these following Verses made in praise of her None like Elizabeth was found in Learning so divine She had the perfect skilful art of all the Muses nine In Latine Greek and Hebrew She most excellent was known To Foreign Kings Embassadors the same was daily shown The Italian French and Spanish Tongue she well could speak and read The Turkish and Arabian Speech grew perfect at her need This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland she was the only Daughter of King Henry the Eight by his Second Queen Ann of Bulloin she began her Reign on Thursday the 17 day of November Anno 1558. and reigned 44 years 4 months and 7 days and was the 43 Sole Monarch of England She dyed on Wednesday the 24 day of March Anno 1602 being in the 45 year of her Reign and 69 of her Age. She was buried at Westminster with this Queen expired the Sovereignty of the Tewdors yielding place to the Stuarts to Succeed in which Name it still doth and long and prosperously may it so continue CHAP. XXXIII Of King James HE was Crowned at Westminster by Dr.
to him such persons as he would name to which the King returned Answer that he and his adherents were all Traytors so the Yorkists assailed the Town and flew 48 Nobles Knights and Esquires amongst whom were the Earls of Somerset Northumberland and Stafford and 5000 Common Soldiers and wounded the King in the neck with an Arrow so he was taken Prisoner The next day the Duke of York and Earls of Salisbury and Warwick marched to London with the King and in his name summoned a Parliament by whose Authority the Duke of York was established Protector of England Salisbury Lord Chancelor and Warwick Captain of Callis but it was not long before they were again displaced The French by reason of these intestine Broils took their Advantage making several inroads on the Coasts of England killing the Mayor Bayliffs and several other Officers of Sandwich and burnt Foway and several other Towns in Devonshire Anno 1458 there was a Fray in Fleetstreet between the men of the Court and the inhabitants of the said Street in which Fray the Queens Attorny was slain for which Fact the King committed the Governours of Cliffords Furnivals and Barnards-Inn to Prison and William Taylor Alderman of the Ward and several others were sent to Windsor Castle The year after being 1459 the Science of PRINTING was found out in Germany at Magunce by a Soldier and was brought into England about 12 years after by one William Caxton a Mercer who practized it at St. Peter's Abby in Westminster for a pretty while And now a seeming reconcilement was concluded on between the King with his Lancastrians and the Yorkists but it had not long continuance for the Yorkists under the pretence of some Afronts offered to the Earl of Warwick by some of the King's Servants drew to an head again but their Intentions being discovered by one Andrew Trollop they all thereupon disperced themselves And shortly after a Parliament being called in it were the Duke of York Earl of March Earl of Warwick Earl of Rutland and Earl of Salisbury with certain others all attainted of High-Treason and their whole Estates consiscared but they neither fearing nor regarding their attainder drew out again from the several places whither they were fled and uniting their forces together consisting of about 25000 men they fought the King at Northampton slaying about ten thousand men with several Nobles as Humfry Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Egremont and others and taking the King himself Prisoner whereupon the Tower was surrendred and the Lord Scales Lieutenant thereof seeking to escape was murthered by Whirry men on the Thames Now a Parliament again being called the Duke of York coming out of Ireland made his Claim to the Crown deriving his pedigree from Lyonell the 3 Son of Edward the III elder Brother of John of Gaunt Father of King Henry the IV and after great debate in the Parliament at length it was concluded that King Henry should possess it during his life and after his Death then the Crown to remain to Richard Duke of York and his Heirs in general tail During these proceedings the Queen with her Son were in the North raising of Forces whither the Duke of York marched to encounter them reposing himself at Sandal Castle expecting more force to come to his aid but the Queen in the mean time coming before the Castle with a small force laying Ambushes on either side of the Hill before the Castle which the Duke not suspecting rushed out upon the Queen's men whom he had no sooner encountred but the Ambushes presently coming out surrounded him by which means the Duke with several of his Complices and Friends as the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Rutland a Child of 12 years old who though begging his life on his knees with tears were slain and about 3000 Soldiers Edward Plantaginet Earl of March Son and Heir to the Duke of York hearing of his Father's Death with an Army of 23000 men intended to Fight the Queen's Army but he found imployment by the way for at Mortimer's Cross near Ludlow he was encountred by the Earl of Pembrook and Earl of Ormond to whom he gave a great Overthrow slaying 3800 of them and taking several Prisoners amongst whom was Owen Tuder who had married Catherine Mother to Henry the VI. whose Head was chopped off in the mean time the Queen was gotten as far as St. Albans where the Londoners fearing their Plunder by her Army together with the King and several Nobles gave her Army Battel she giving them the overthrow and slaying two thousand of their men but Edward Earl of March drawing nigh the King and Queen retired into Scotland leaving the Kingdom to Edward whereupon he entered London giving a Period to Henry's Reign which accounted is but till this time although he lived eleven years after This Henry the Sixth was King of England France and Lord of Ireland he was the only Child of King Henry the Fifth by his Queen Catherine Daughter to Charles the VI. King of France His Reign began on Munday the 31 day of August Anno 1422. he reigned 38 years 6 months and 3 days and was the 35 sole Monarch of England he was stabbed to the Heart in the Tower by Crook-back Richard Duke of York afterwards King of England on Monday the twenty day of May Anno Domini 1471 being the 49 of his Age his body was first buried in the Abby of Chartsy in Surry and afterwards removed to Winsor by King Henry the Seventh and after that again removed none knows to what place CHAP. XXV Of King Edward the Fourth KING Edward was Crowned at Westminster but his Carriages towards the Citizens at his first entrance made them repent their forwardness in his behalf against King Henry and hearing of Henry's preparations in the North he marched toward Pontefrack in York-shire giving the Lord Fitzwalter charge of the passage at Ferry Bridg nigh Pontefract where the said Lord and several of his men were slain shortly after the Armies drew into a plain between the Towns of Towton and Saxton the King's Army consisting of 48660 and Henry's of 60000 men the Fight was bloody and continued 10 hours but at last the Lancastrians not able to gain-stand Edward's Forces they betook themselves to their Heels leaving the glory of the day to King Edward there was slain that day being Palm-Sunday the 29 of March several Nobles as Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland John Lord Clifford John Lord Nevil and Leonard Lord Wells and several other persons of Quality to the Number of 357 and in all there was slain about 35091. This doleful News coming to Henry he with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland where they were honourably received by King James to whose Sister not long after the Prince was married and now after these passages in Scotland the Queen sailed into France to seek Aide where she got more men then her Coffers would discharge Edward in the
Calves and Lambs were Monstrous some with Collors of Skins about their Necks like to the double Cuffs of Shirts then used About this time Francis King of France dying Charles his Brother succeeded him and great Dissentions arising Queen Elizabeth sought a Reconciliation but it could not be obtained whereupon for supportation of Religion she sent an Army into France under the Command of Lord Ambrose Dudly Earl of Warwick who landed at Newhaven in Normandy and after eleven moneths possession thereof were then constrained to render it to the French through Famine and Plague which they brought into England Anno 1563 whereof there dyed in 8 moneths space 23660. The year after the Thames was so hard frozen that Markets were kept on the Ice and all manner of Exercise performed thereon without Danger which Frost going away with a five dayes thaw caused great Floods and drowned many people especially in Yorkshire and this year also was such a Terrible Tempest of Hail Lighting and Thunder in June that at Chelmesford in Essex 500 Acres of Corn was destroyed with it and the Windows on the East side of the Town all the Tyles of their houses were beaten down with it besides divers Barns Chimneys and the Battlements of the Church and the like harm was done in divers other places as at Leeds Crainbrook and Dover And now Shan O Neale Rebelling in Ireland and after several Submissions and Pardons still bursting out again into Armes at length he was slain by his Brother in a Tent. And about this time Anno 1566. The Royal Exchange in London was first built at the Charges of Sir Thomas Gresham the Marchants in former times using to meet in Lumbard-Street And two years after to wit Anno 1568 The Scots murthered their King and Mary Queen of Scotland fled into England where she was honourably received but at length lost her Head Now after these Commotions in Scotland the Earls in the North Westmerland and Cumberland Dacres Nevil Norton Tempest Danby and others in the year 1569 rebelled against the Queen but they were quickly dismaid at the Approach of the Earl of Sussex who was sent against them and surprized them and at Durham caused an Alderman a Priest called Plumtree and 66 Constables to be hanged and Sir George Bowes Knight Marshal did see them Executed in every Town betwixt Newcastle and Weatherby whereupon the Earls fled Westmerland into Flanders and Northumberland into Scotland from whence he was sent into England and lost his head Anno 1570 And the year after at Kingston in the County of Hereford on the 17 of February was the ground seen to open and certain Rocks with a piece of ground removed and went forwards four days together carryed with it great Trees and Sheep-Coats some with 60 sheep in them and overthrew Rimnalstone Chappel the depth of the hole where it first broke out is 30 Foot and the breadth of the Breach was 160 yards also two high ways were removed neare 100 yards with trees and hedg-rowes c. And now Peace being concluded with France and the Queen of Navar a Protestant coming to Paris in France to solemnize her Sons Marriage with the Kings Sister was there secretly poysoned and after her the Admiral of France cruelly murthered and such a Massacre made as neither Sex nor Age escaped the Fury of these Romanists this was about the year 1572. and the time being now elapsed for the delivery of Callis to Queen Elizabeth according to conditions when the Peace was concluded she therefore sent to demand it and after much Dispute and Debate it was at length absolutely denyed And not long after this the Queen was deprived of all Princely Authority at the fained suit of one Morton at Rome and the Pope sent his Bull into England to that purpose which Bull being hung up at the Bishop of London's gate the bringer therof John Felton was for his paines hanged and quartered in St. Paul's Church-yard After this Anno. 1576. In March near Richmond in York-shire a strange Tempest happened which overthrew Cottages Trees Barnes and Hay-stacks and great part of the Church called Patrick Brunton and most strange sights were seen in the Air both terrible and fearful And about this time the Regent of Scotland was murthered and after him the Earl of Lenox the new Regent so powerful were the Popes perswasions with these Idolizers of his holiness the Duke of Norfolk also lost his head on Tower-hill for being as was supposed too favourable towards these Scotch Proceedings and now another new Regent being chosen in Scotland he desired the help of Queen Elizabeth for the defence of the young King which was granted and 1500 Men were sent under the Command of Sir William Drury who presently caused the Surrender of Edenbrough Castle Anno 1580. that renowned English Navigator Sir Francis Drake finished his Voyage of compassing the Earth and now our Merchants began to Trade with the Muscovites and Turks This year there happned a great Earthquake and a Blasing Starr was seen Nightly in October and November a strange and Terrible Tempest also of Lightining and Thunder hapned which seized on the Churches of Blybrough in Suffolk and Bongey nine miles from Norwich and rent the Churches and steeples killing four Persons and several others thrown down groveling on the ground and the same year also in the Parish of Blandsdon in York-shire a women of 80 years of Age named Alice Perim was deliver'd of an hideous Monster whose head was like unto a sallet the fore part of him like a Man with eight Legs of several shapes and a Tail of half a yard long An. 1583 Tobacco came first into England The Pop's Envy now burning still against the Queen he procured the King of Spain to send 600 men for Irelands Rebellion who were all slain by the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland Anno 1585 Virginia was made an English Colony and about this time all the Assizes kept at the City of Exceter in Devonshire before Sir Henry Anderson Lord Justice of the Common Pleas there dyed Serjeant Floriday Sir John Chichester Sir Arthur Blasset and Sir Barnard Drake Knights Thomas Cary Richard Cary John Fortiscue William Waldrum and Thomas Risden Esquires and Justices of the Peace and of the Common People dyed very many Constables Reeves Tythingmen and Jurors especially of one Jury died eleven of the twelve this Sickness began amongst the Prisoners and fastned on the rest by degrees and about ten years before at the Assizes at Oxford before Sir Robert Bell Lord Chief Barron there dyed abundance of Persons also suddenly by the rising of a damp among them Now as is said before the Pope still seeking all occasions against the Reformed Religion it made several flye and some sued to Queen Elizabeth for Aide amongst whom the States of the Netherlands became her Petitioners for their Defender which Request She thrice denied but at length condescended which kindness hath been badly retaliated and sent 5000
whereupon a Fleet was set to Sea who spoiling all the Spanish Vessels they met withal for that time returned and after this the King called a Parliament and desired a Subsidy but was denied notwithstanding his Treasures were Exhausted and the War Just and Honorable But although the Parliament denied the King a Supply he made use of some other means for pocurement of Money and joining Amity and Forces with the Vnited Provinces once again he set a mighty Navy to Sea which did mightily annoy the Spanish Coast and spoiled their Ships and among the rest some of France became Preys to them which caused the Seizure of some English Merchants Goods whereupon several French were comanded to leave England but Monsieur Bassompiere coming Embassador prevailed so far that several French were again recalled but nevertheless all Commerce between the two Kingdoms was prohibited on both sides And the French grievously oppressed the Rochellers to whose Assistance several men were sent out of England but doing little good they returned again for which Cause some were Imprisoned And now several Complaints being exhibited upon this Account by the Parliament the King dissolved them and intended new Supplies under the Duke's Command for Rochell but he being ready to Embarque was Stabbed by one Felton who got the Gallows for his Reward And now the King called another Parliament desiring a Grant of Tunnage but was denied whereupon they were Dissolved upon which Account great Contentions arose the King Commanding the Merchants to pay their Customs and the Parliament forbidding them whereupon several Members were Imprisoned and among the rest Sir John Elliot was one but the Merchants ready enough to Imbrace those Commands were most for their Advantage did thereupon obey the Parliaments Mandates and slighted the King's they remembring that about 100 years before there was a Penalty imposed upon the Merchants for paying their Customs the Parliament being then against it and in Memory thereof there was a Chappel built called Alderman-Bury Anno 1630 May the 29 the Queen was brought to Bed of Prince Charles now King of England and about 6 years after Mr. Hambden refusing to pay Ship-money Sentence passed against him by 12 of the Judges who absolutely declared for the Legality of it only Judg Hutton and Judg Crook dissented and new Stirs now arising about the Book of Common-Prayer in Scotland which occasioned the sad War that afterwards ensued the King marched thitherward with an Army and the Scots meeting him laid down their Arms whereupon Peace was concluded but at the King's return he was again Pricked forward by some who rather sought their own Advantage than his hereupon he went again for Scotland but nothing was done and now they had taken their Covenant as it was called against the King who called a Parliament to relieve his wants but they treading in their Predecessors Steps denied him a Supply And now the Irish being afresh in Rebellion the Long Parliament for so it was called by Reason of its long Continuance for the King had Signed a Bill for them to Sit as long as they pleased sought means to suppress them and all Ceremonies were forbidden in the Church of England but only such as were usen in Queen Elizabeths time the Earl of Strafford Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wren were Impeached of High-Treason and sent to the Tower and most of the Judges who had declared for Ship-mony were Voted Delinquents Judg Berkly was Arrested by the Usher of the Black Rod for High-Treason as he sate on the King 's Bench. Seven Romish Preists were also Imprisoned whose Pardon was granted by the Parliament at the Request of the French Embassador and the King to Ingratiate himself released them at which the Parliament took Snuff because they were not first made acquainted before their Releasement and to thwart the King in his Proceedings they changed their former Decree and caused two of the Priests to be put to Death which Act of theirs took mainly with the People but this as good Reason displeased the King who complained of the Insolencies of the Lower house to his Peers and so proceeded to displace some Officers of State putting in another Lieutenant of the Tower whereupon the Lower house did Article against the new Lieutenant to the Peers who refused to meddle in the Business it being the King's Prerogative to put in whom he pleased but not long after a multitude of Apprentices and other People came Thundring to the Hall-Door crying to have the new Lieutenant either remov'd or else they would turn All upside down This giddy headed Rabble of Plebeans demanded also that Bishops should be Excluded the Parliament-house and to satisfy their blind folly they ran into Westminster Abby and spoiled the Vestments Organs and Sepulchers and all else that was comely or decent and from thence they ran confusedly to Whitehall and there Thundered out the same Languages but least they should proceed to some further Insolencies the King the next day fortified himself with a strong Guard And now things beginning to work for the Parliament they thought it good pollicy to make Hay whilest the Sun shone and to strike whilest the Iron was hot and hereupon they under the pretence of some Fear assumed to themselves a Guard also for their Defence and constituted the Earl of Essex Captain thereof and further they without the King's Consent or Knowledge appointed an Extraordinary Assembly in the City of London and further to ingratiate themselves with the Novelty-mongers they cast 12 Bishops into Prison which Business much troubled the King and the year before Anno 1641 the Lord Strafford was Beheaded and about two years after the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who died as Sacrifices for the Popular Fury and Martyrs for the Government Now the King grieved at these Insolencies proceeded to accuse one Member of the House of Peers and five of the House of Commons of High-Treason and demanding the Members they were denied to be delivered to him whereupon he with 500 Armed men went to the Hall he alone entring the Parliament House and not seeing any of the Accused Members there he then declared his Good Intentions to the Parliament and so returned and the next day went again but found them not the Parliament hereupon put the City in Arms and Adjourned their Sitting for five days forbidding the Citizens to help the King to find out any of the said Members whose Commands they so far obeyed as that in Despight of the King they carried the said Members and placed them in the House again in their several places and the Parliament still proceeding to lessen the King's Power sent Letters to the adjacent Counties commanding them to draw up in Arms upon which Account there was ready upon occasion above twenty Thousand men the King seeing these Proceedings hasted to Hampton-Court And now the Parliament daily increased in their Power and went and sate in the City to endear themselves the more to the Citizens and