with several other Christian Princes against the Infidels in the Holy Land being fortunate in all his Proceedings save onely in his Succession to the Crown for his Success was so great there that he was freely offered to be made King of Jerusalem which he as generously refused By reason of his Absence his youngest Brother Henry without the least trouble or difficulty ascended the English Throne with the universal Approbation of the Nobility and Commons whose Inclinations were the stronger toward him because he was born in England after his Father was Crowned King and from the great Opinion they had of his singular Vertues Learning and good Temper Yet before his Coronation the Nobles obliged him to swear That he would ease the People of the great Taxes and many other Pressures under which they suffered which he accordingly performed After he was Crowned for the better ensuring his Estate and Title against the Claim of his Brother Robert he freely distributed the great Treasures left by King William among those who upon all Occasions he judged would stand by his Interest He dignified the Wealthy with high Offices and Titles of Honour He abated the Rigour of the New Laws and promised restitution of their old Privileges He regulated Weights and Measures bringing them all to one Standard He freed the People from the heavy Tribute of Danegilt and from all other unjust Taxes and Payments imposed by the former Kings He gave liberty to the Nobility and Gentry to enclose Parks and Chases with Game for their Recreation He banished from his Court all Flatterers as Traytors to his State and Government and all Luxury Sumptuousness in Apparel and Superfluity in Diet he utterly discountenanced He ordained That Thieves and High-way Robbers should be punished with Death With all manner of diligence and Application he endeavoured to reform the monstrous Pride intolerable Covetousness and extreme Sloth and Negligence of the Clergy He recalled Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury from Banishment and restored him to his Bishoprick giving him full Power to call Convocations and Synods at his Pleasure for regulating the intolerable Abuses of the Church yet leaving to the Pope his Authority to invest Bishops by giving them the Ring the Pall and the Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesiastical Dignities and Revenues which his Brother by the lewd Advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham had seised into his Hands he freely conferred upon Grave and Learned Persons and committed Reynulph Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he afterward escaped and earnestly invited Duke Robert who was now returned with great Honour from the Holy Land to recover the Kingdom with his Sword who thereupon raised a great Army with a Design to transport them to England In the mean time Henry having by his Proceedings endeared himself to his People confirmed them now further by marrying Maud Sister of Edgar King of Scots and Daughter of Malcolm by Margaret his Wife Sister to Edgar Atheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Soon after Duke Robert arrived with his Army at Portsmouth many English joyning with him and great Expectations and Fears arose of a bloody War but by the discreet Mediation of Friends to both Sides a loving Agreement was concluded upon almost the same Conditions as with William Rufus namely That Henry should enjoy the Crown during Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year Whereupon Robert returned back to the great discontent of his own Nobility Afterward Robert returned again to England to congratulate his Brothers good Fortune where he was Royally entertained and at the Request of his Sister Queen Maud he forgave the Payment of the Three thousand Marks a year Yet after a while the Ambition of Dominion caused Henry upon some slight occasion to quarrel with his Brother which proceeded so far that he went over to Normandy with an Army where being assisted by many of the Duke's discontented Nobility and Gentry he so prevailed against Robert that he took the Cities of Roan Caâ—n and Valois from him who being forsaken of all fled from one Place to another to secure himself King Henry returning victoriously into England and Robert perceiving that his Lords and People had utterly forsaken him and refused their Assistance and Henry's Strength and Riches increasing he came privately into England and presented himself to his Brother referring himself and all his Concerns to his own Determination But the King either knowing the Inconstancy of the Duke or being prepossessed by some Whisperers that he did not intend uprightly turned from his distressed Brother with a scornful and disdainful Countenance refusing to accept of this his humble Submission The Duke being struck to the Heart returns back to his own Country resolving to die like a Man in the Field but Henry soon routed his weak Forces and brought him Prisoner into England committing him to Cardiff Castle in Wales where endeavouring his Liberty his Eyes by Henry's Command were put out after which he lived miserably Twenty years and was buried at Glocester About this time Robert Belasme Earl of Shrewsbury raised a Rebellion but being soon vanquished he fled into Normandy where finding William of Mortaigne and Cornwal who was offended with the King for keeping from him the Earldom of Kent he soon perswaded him to raise another Insurrection and joyning their Forces they designed great matters but were presently routed by the King's Forces and kept Prisoners during their Lives The King being now freed from fear of Enemies resolved to take the same Advantages his Predecessors had done as to the Investiture of Bishops and taking vacant Bishopricks into his Hands whereat Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was so displeased that he refused to Consecrate such new Bishops as had received their Investitures from the King But Girald Archbishop of York freely performed it upon the King's Command Hereupon Anselm went to complain at Rome and prevailed at last against the King by a Synod of the Clergy held at London Three years after Anselm died and King Henry seised the Revenues of his Bishoprick into his Hands which he kept five years and if at any time he were intreated by the Bishops to bestow it he still answered That he onely kept it for an able and sufficient Man Having enjoyed a few years of Peace he was again rowsed out of it by Lewis the French King who joyning with Fulk Earl of Anjou and Baldwyn Earl of Flanders they all made great Preparations for Invading the Dutchy of Normandy But Henry raising an Army of valiant Commanders and Soldiers landed there and soon engaged with them in Battel which continued nine hours with so great fury on each side that though King Henry won the Field and chased his flying Enemies a long way yet he would often say That he then fought not for Victory but Life Quickly after a Reconciliation was made between these four Princes and William King Henry's eldest Son
my Glory in the Dust And compass'd me with cruel Wars and Woes They poyson'd my sweet beauteous tainted Rose By the Contrivance of my furious Queen My Children their own Father did oppose Such Fruit hath Lust such Malice jealous Spleen Crosses and Troubles made me curse my Birth In them I liv'd reign'd and was turn'd to Earth PRince Henry was in Normandy besieging a Castle injuriously seised by the French King when the News of the Death of King Stephen arrived whereupon his Friends and Followers earnestly persuaded him to raise the Siege and expedite his Voyage into England to prevent any Usurpation which might be designed To which Henry discreetly and courageously replied The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my command in despite of all that dare oppose me and so I will make these intruding Frenchmen understand before I go from hence This Resolution gained him Honour among his Friends and Terrour to his Enemies who understanding his Determination and fearing the worst quietly surrendred the Castle and submitted to Mercy which he graciously granted and then setling his Affairs there attended with many Lords and Gentlemen of Quality he arrived in England where he was soon after Crowned King and then employed himself in setling the Kingdom by making good Laws banishing Strangers who in Multitudes resorted hither and by their sparing Diet and extraordinary Industry enriched themselves and beggar'd the Natives He likewise exiled many of the Nobility who contrary to their Oaths adhered strongly to King Stephen judging them faithless and unuseful to him He caused all the Forts and Castles built by the order or permission of his Predecessor to be demolished as giving occasion of Insurrections upon the least Discontent He resumed into his Hands all Lands belonging to the Crown as also the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland and Huntington which had been given to David King of Scots by Stephen to hinder them from disturbing him in his Usurpation He chose himself a Council out of the gravest and wisest Nobility and restrained the Insolencies of some Grandees which raised Discontents among them and Hugh Lord Mortimer raised Forces at Bridgenorth in Wales against whom the King went in Person where he had been shot with an Arrow had not Hubert de Clare interposed and received it into his own Body In his thirteenth year he married Jeffry his younger Son to Constance the Daughter and Heir Apparent of the Duke of Britain his Son Richard to Adela Daughter of Lewis King of France and his Daughter Maud to Henry Duke of Saxony about which time his Mother Maud the Empress died Having quieted the Rebels at home he went into Normandy where he did Homage to Lewis for his French Provinces Normandy Anjou Aquitain Main and Lorrain some of them his own by Inheritance and others by his Wife Queen Eleanor and then made an Agreement between himself and his Brother Jeffry In his nineteenth year he sailed into Ireland with a mighty Army and fought victoriously against five Kings who at that time reigned there and at last conquered them all and became sole Lord of that Country which he annexed to the Crown of England After his return both out of fondness and for securing the Succession he caused his eldest Son Henry and his Wife Margaret Daughter of the French King to be solemnly Crowned in his presence at two several times in the last of which he for that day degraded himself from being King by waiting as a Servant upon his Son while he sate at Table which young Henry did little regard boasting That his Father did not hereby dishonour himself since he was onely the Son of an Empress whereas himself was Son both of a King and Queen Which proud Speech the unfortunate Father hearing said privately to the Archbishop then present I repent I repent me of nothing more than untimely Advancements In his latter days many Quarrels hapned between him and Lewis of France in all which Henry Jeffry and John his own Sons Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester most unnaturally joyned with the French against him and likewise William King of Scots notwithstanding which the Courage of King Henry prevailed against them all and upon submission he pardoned his Sons and all the rest Yet were they justly punished by Heaven Henry dying before his Father in the flower of his Age and John after King was poysoned by a Monk The History of this Kings Reign declares him to be Learned Wise Just and Valiant and though he were concerned in many great Affairs and Wars both in France Normandy Anjou Ireland and other Places and never received any extraordinary Tax or Subsidy from his Subjects yet he left to his Successor above Nine hundred thousand Pound in Money besides Jewels rich Housholdstuff and all manner of Warlike Provisions And though in most Transactions he was prosperous and successful yet in three things he was very unhappy First In the unnatural Disobedience and Rebellions of his own Sons Secondly In his inordinate Love to Rosamond his endeared Concubine who was admirably fair but exceeding wanton and thereby wholly alienated his Affections from Eleanor his renowned Queen and enslaved himself to her Will and Pleasure so that while she lived she was seldom from his Right-hand and after her Death which Eleanor procured by Poyson he caused her with great Pomp to be solemnly buried at Godstow near Oxford fixing this Epitaph on her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa Mundi non Rosa Munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet Within this Tomb lies the Worlds fairest Rose Though once most sweet she 'll now offend your Nose The third Infelicity of his Reign was the great Dissention between him and Thomas Becket the proud and insolent Archbishop of Canterbury which continued full seven years with all manner of asperity and fierceness For Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury had so great a favour for Thomas Becket a Londoner of mean Parentage that he made him Archdeacon of his own Church and still advancing him at last by the Power he had with the King made him Lord Chancellor of England which so pufft up Becket that he grew extreme haughty yet still shewed great Respect to the King who thereupon constantly encreased his Lands and Revenues which daily heightned him more Theobald dying the King preferred Becket to be Archbishop after which he began to discover his ungrateful Humour For going privately to Rome he was there invested in his Bishoprick by the Pope of whom he received the Pall and was made Legate and then returning into England he was much discountenanced by the King but Becket slighting it on a sudden surrendred his Chancellorship and Great Seal of which the King desiring a Reason he obstinately refused to give any These Quarrels encouraged the debauched part of the Clergy to commit many Insolencies and Villanies for which they received small Punishment though their Crimes were Murder Theft and Robbery for not being
with divers Torments as Conspirators for delivering the Town to the French which was thus gallantly regained to King Henry The Duke of Exeter Tutor to the Kings Person dying at this time the Earl of Warwick was sent to England to take that Charge and the Renowned Earl of Salisbury with an Army of 10000 Men was sent into France with which he besieged the strong City of Orleance upon the River Loyer which had been lately strongly fortified where after two Months Siege the Earl was slain and the Earl of Suffolk succeeded as General who pressed the Siege so close that the Besieged being hopeless of Succour offered to surrender the Town to the Duke of Burgundy who refused it without the Consent of the Duke of Bedford the Regent who though persuaded thereto would by no means consent since he himself had undergone all the Trouble hitherto This Answer pierced the Duke of Burgundy to the Heart so that from thenceforward his Affections grew cold toward the English and he became a secret Well-willer to the French During this Parley a young Maid of about eighteen years old was presented to the French King at Chinon who pretended she was sent from God to deliver France from the English Bondage and thereupon she was called The Mother of God however she in this extremity was believed by the Common People and being armed like a Man she rides to Blois and in company with the Admiral and Marshal of France enters Orleance with fresh Forces and Provisions which so encouraged the Besieged that they issued out at midnight and fell upon the English staying 600 of them in an instant but assaulting the Bastile where the Lord Talbot was he issued out so courageously that they were forced to fly on every side and with very great Loss hardly escaped into the Town but however the next day the Earl of Suffolk raised the Siege This Deliverance was attributed by the Citizens of Orleance to the Conduct of the Martial Maid who was called Joan of Arc and therefore they erected a Monument wherein she and Charles the Seventh King of France were represented kneeling in Armour with their Hands and Eyes toward Heaven After this the English had very doubtful Success for the next day after raising the Siege the Lord Talbot won the strong Town and Castle of Laval and a few days after the Duke of Alanson with Joan of Arc took the Town of Jargeux and in it the Earl of Suffolk and one of his Brothers Prisoners killing another The Duke of Alanson's Army being newly reinforced to near 20000 Men hapned to meet with the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford who were marching with onely 5000 to fortifie another Town upon whom the French fell with great fury insomuch that the three Lords were taken Prisoners and 1200 of their Men slain the rest flying into the Town Upon this Defeat several Cities Towns and Castles immediately surrendred to the French King who soon after took Rhemes and was there Crowned which gained him a great Opinion and caused many more Places to be delivered to him and then attempted to take the City of Paris but by the Valour of the English were repulsed and defeated The Duke of Bedford observing the Success which followed upon the Coronation of King Charles caused King Henry likewise to be Crowned at Paris in the Tenth year of his Age and Reign having been Crowned two years before at Westminster About this time a Truce was concluded for Six years which yet lasted not Three And now the Duke of Bedford's Lady who was Sister to the Duke of Burgundy dying soon after her Brother forsakes the English and joyns with the French King which was followed with the taking of St. Dennis and within two years after the Regent died and was buried at Roan whereat the Citizens some years after complained to Lewis who succeeded Charles but the King publickly protested That he deserved a more sumptuous Sepulchre who in his Life-time scorned to stir a Foot back for all the Power of France and that there was no greater Sign of Baseness and Cowardice than to insult over those when dead whom they durst not withstand while alive The French King now proceeds victoriously and Joan of Arc afore-mentioned accompanying the Duke of Alanson takes in many Towns and endeavouring to raise the Siege of Champaigne they enter the City in despite of the English but afterward sallying forth their Troops were beaten and Joan her self taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of 10000 l. and 300 Crowns a year delivered her to the English who sent her to the Bishop of Bevoirs in whose Diocess she was taken by whom for Sorcery Blood-shed and unnatural use of Manly Apparel she was burnt to death at Roan Many Opinions were held of her Some thought her miraculously raised for the Deliverance of France others that she was a Cheat and Impostor and her Epitaph seems to infer the same Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question Wrong or Right Her Death 's in doubt by Law or Might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean while France a Wonder saw A Woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore After the death of the Noble Regent the valiant Duke of Bedford Richard Duke of York succeeded in his room to the great regret of Edmond Duke of Somerset the Kings Cousin which occasioning private Hatred made way for publick Mischief For soon after the City of Paris revolted and divers others followed that Example At this time Queen Katherine the Kings Mother died who after the King her Husbands death married a handsom Gentleman named Owen Tudor who though of mean Estate yet was descended from Cadwallader the last King of tâ—e Brittains by whom she had two Sons Edmund and Jasper the eldest of whom was by King Henry the Sixth created Earl of Richmond and married Margaret sole Heir to John Duke of Somerset on whom he begot Henry the Seventh In a little while the Duke of York is removed and the Earl of Warwick is put in his Place by the Council of England and from henceforth the Affairs in France succeeded worse every day which was occasioned by the Wisdom of the French Nobility who grew sensible of their miserable Divisions and now united against the English Another Reason was the unhappy Marriage of the King with Margaret the Daughter of Reyner King of Sicily a poor Prince so that he had nothing with her and which was worse King Henry was obliged by the Articles of this Marriage to give to her Father all his Right and Title to the Counties of Anjou and Mayn which bordered upon Normandy
therefore proclaimed War against France upon which occasion and for writing against Martin Luther the Pope stiled him Defender of the Faith Henry sending a Fleet and an Army thither took the Towns of Tyrwin and Tournay At the same time James the Fourth King of Scots though he had married Margaret King Henry's eldest Sister contrary to his Oath and Articles invaded England with an Army of 100000 Fighting Men but the Earl of Surrey with 26000 Men marching against them utterly routed the whole Scotch Army at Flodden field King James himself being slain valiantly fighting After this succeeded a Peace and the French King married King Henry's second Sister Mary And now Cardinal Wolsey of mean Parentage grew extreme Great by the Kings extraordinary Affection toward him and among other extravagant Actions he procured a License from the Pope to pluck down several small Abbies and Priories and to settle the Lands upon two Colleges which he had built one in Ipswich and another in Oxford which President occasioned King Henry some years after to pull down all the rest In his eighth year a Riot hapned in London against Merchant-Strangers and Artificers for which many were condemned of High Treason but were all pardoned by the King The Truce with France was soon broken by the French King whereupon King Henry sent an Army thither who won and burnt Morlaix and several other Towns returning home with great Booty In his twentieth year the Kings Marriage with Queen Katherine of Spain is questioned which was thought to be cunningly contrived by Cardinal Wolsey whereupon the King refrained her Bed and it was judged unlawful by six Foreign Universities so that notwithstanding the Popes Opposition who would have had it referred to him it was made null and void by the next Parliament upon which the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk against the King pronouncing the Marriage lawful But Henry little regarded those Paper Pellets for hereby the Pope lost his Supremacy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More were beheaded for defending it The King soon after married Ann Bullein Daughter to the Lord Rochford who was judged a Favourer of Protestants and therefore disliked by Cardinal Wolsey who for abundance of Misdemeanours was found guilty of a Praemunire and all his Estate and Honours were taken from him for grief whereof he soon after died In his twenty sixth year the King was by Parliament declared Supreme Head of the Church within all his own Dominions in all Ecclesiastical Causes and all Popish Bulls and Indulgences were made void and several Religious Houses of Nuns and Monks whose Revenue exceeded not 200 l. a year were suppressed The next year Queen Ann the Kings dearly-beloved Wife was beheaded though she protested her Innocency at her death being accused for prostituting her Body to her own Brother the Lord Rochford who with some others were put to death for the same This Tragedy being over the King within twenty days married Jane the Daughter of Sir John Seymour by whom he had the Virtuous Prince Edward who succeeded him but within few days after the good Queen died James King of Scotland being slain as aforementioned his Queen Margaret eldest Sister to King Henry was afterward married to Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus who had a Daughter by her called Margaret this young Lady the Lord Howard married without the Kings leave for which she being of the Blood Royal he was beheaded as a Traytor The Kings Proceedings against the Pope caused a Rebellion in Lincolnshire but they were soon dispersed and Captain Cobler their Leader with others executed This was no sooner supprest but an Insurrection begun in the North of above 40000 who called themselves The Holy Pilgrims but upon the Kings Pardon they all quietly departed â—ome A third Rebellion succeeded in Westmorland upon the same account but was likewise defeated and seventy of the principal Conspirators executed In his twenty eighth year several Persons were executed for denying the Kings Supremacy and the Lord Cromwel is made Vicegerent in all Spiritual Matters by whom all Images and Shrines in Churches were taken down and destroyed and the Houses and Lands of Abbots Priors Monks and Nuns for their many Misdemeanours were all taken away and their yearly Revenues amounting to above 200000 l. setled on the King who freely exchanged them for other Lands with divers of his Nobles and Gentry thereby preventing as much as possible the restoring them to their former Uses After the Lord Cromwel had performed this great Business he persuaded the King to marry Ann of Cleve whom he never liked so that though he was married to her four Months he never conversed with her as a Wife the Clergy soon after dissolving the Marriage and the King married Katherine Howard Daughter to the Lord Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk The King then began to frown upon Cromwel which his Enemies who were many observing procured his Downfal for he was attainted in Parliament and without being suffered to defend himself was condemned and executed for High Treason and about this time the Lord Hungerford and the Lord Leonard Gray were put to death King Henry was very unfortunate in his Wives for soon after his last Marriage he was informed that his Queen Katherine had before Marriage lived very lasciviously with one Francis Derham and Thomas Culpeper whereupon the Queen and the Lady Rochfort who was privy thereto were soon after attainted of Treason by Parliament and beheaded and the other two hanged at Tyburn About this time an Act of Parliament was made declaring it High Treason to deny the Oath of Supremacy or to acknowledge the Authority of the Pope Yet though the Discipline of the Church was altered the Doctrine remained almost the same for there were six bloody Articles likewise enacted and it was made Heresie and thereupon burning to deny any of them They were these 1. That after speaking the Words of Consecration by the Priest the real and natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was conceived and crucified was in the Sacrament and no other Substance 2. That the Communion in both Kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Law of God 5. That Private Masses ought to be continued 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God The refusal of these Articles caused the Death of very many Protestants as the denying the Kings Supremacy cut off several Papists so that at the same time Protestants were burnt on one side of Smithfield and Papists hanged on the other which made Foreigners admire not understanding what Religion King Henry was of In his thirty third year the King married Katherine Parr Sister to the Marquess of Northampton and Widow to the Lord Latimer who was likely to have lost her Head if her Virtue and the Kings sudden Death had not
all the Muses Nine In Latin Greek and Hebrew she most excellent was known To Forreign Kings Ambassadors the same was daily shown Th' Italian French and Spanish Tongue she well could speak and read The Turkish and Arabian Speech grew perfect at her need JAMES King of England c. EPITAPH WE justly when a meaner Subject dies Begin his Epitaph with here he lies But wherin King whose memory remains Triumphant over-death with Here he Reigns Now he is dead to whom the world imputes Deserved admirable Attributes For shall we think his Glory can decease That 's honour'd with a stile The King of Peace VVhose happy Vnion of Great Britany Calls him The blessed King of Unity And in whose Royal Title it ensu'th Defender of the Faith and King of Truth These girt thy Brows with an Immortal Crown Great James and turn thy Tomb into a Throne BY the death of Queen Elizabeth the Sovereignty of the Tudors expired yielding place to the Stuarts to succeed the first of whom was James the sixth King of Scotland who united both the Kingdoms was of the same Religion with his Predecessor happy because he obtained the Kingdom by lawful Succession no way imbroiled with Wars and Tumults but settled in exceeding great Peace yet as a storm succeeds a calm soon after his entrance a Conspiracy was discovered and the Lord Cobbam Sir Walter Rawleigh and others were accused and condemned for designing the destruction of the King to change Religion to raise Tumults and to introduce Forreigners some of whom were put to death and others Imprisoned He was Crowned at Westminster by Archbishop Whitgift at which time there raged so great a Plague in London that 305 78 died thereof in one year He caused the Bible to be newly translated out of the Original Languages Now though the King had made Peace with Spain yet the Popes Sons thought to have brought ruin upon the King and Kingdom all at once during the sitting of the Parliament to which purpose they had hired a Cellar under the Parliament House wherein they placed thirty six barrels of Gunpowder and upon them several Bars of Iron Faggots and other things for doing Execution but this Hellish Design was happily discovered by a Letter sent to the Lord Monteagle Son to the Lord Morley by some of the Conspirators wherein they advised him not to appear in the House the first day of sitting this Letter being shewed to divers of the Nobility they could not comprehend the meaning thereof but being seen by the King he presently conjectured that the design was to blow up the House with Gunpowder and search being made it was happily discovered and the Conspirators fled Piercy and Catesby being pursued were shot to death before they could be taken others were burnt to Death by drying Gunpowder by the Fire Sir Ever Digby John and Christopher Wright Guy Fawks Grant Winter â—ates and Keys were hanged and quartered as principal Plotters some of them designed an Insurrection in Northampton and Warwickshire but it was soon blown over In his tenth year the Countess of Essex accusâ—ng her Husband of Insufficiency was divorced from him married to the E. of Somerset who was thought to have made love to her before in an unlawful way and therefore Sir Thomas Overbury disswaded him from the Match as being a Vitious Woman which she having notice of they contrived his death and having persuaded him to refuse an honourable imployment offered him by the King he was sent to the Tower for his contempt where with the help of Sir Gervas Elway the Lieutenant Mrs. Turner one Franklin an Apothecary and Weston his death was effected by Poyson which being after discovered they were executed for the same and the Earl and Countess of Somerset condemned but reprieved Fredrick Count Elector Palatine came now to London to marry King James's Daughter which was solemnized with all manner of Joy but soon overclouded by the death of the Virtuous and Heroick Prince Henry Nov. 6. 1612. about which time the gallant Sir Walter Rawleigh after fourteen years imprisonment Petitioned the King that he might make a Voyage into America which the King granted giving him a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for his Service his reputation and merit caused many Gentlemen of Quality to venture their Estates and Persons with him many considerable Adventures hapned as the burning of St. Thomas and others of which Information being given to Count Gondamor the Spanish Ambassador he continually importuned the King for satisfaction Of which Rawleigh as soon as ever landed at Plymouth having notice endeavoured to escape from thence in a Bark to Rochel but being taken he was brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondamor looked on him as a Man of great Courage and Ability but as having much Animosity against his Master being one of those Scourges employed by Q. Elizabeth to vex him and was therefore resolved to use all manner of means to ruine him In consequence whereof in October Rawleigh was brought to the Kings Bench Bar before the L. Chief Justice where the Record of his Arraignment at Winchester was produced and he demanded why Judgment should not be put in execution against him Rawleigh replied That the Judgment was made void by the Kings Commission for his late Expedition The L. Chief Justice replied The Opinion of the Court was to the contrary and thereupon he was sentenced and requiring time to prepare for Death it was answered The time appointed was the next Morning And accordingly he was the next day beheaded in the Old Palace-yard Westminster About this time Queen Ann died and the Palsgrave who had married the Lady Elizabeth having at the Instance of several of the German Princes been chosen King of Bohemia the Emperour was wonderfully inraged thereat and proclaimed War against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterward out of all Germany yet at last he was received and found bountiful Entertainment in Holland During this Kings Reign the English Plantations were setled in the West-Indies namely Virginia first discovered by Sir Water Rawleigh who gave it that Name in Honour of his Virgin-Mistress Q. Elizabeth Also Bermudas and new-New-England to which a multitude of Inhabitants quickly resorted and made themselves very commodious Habitations James was K. of England Scotland France and Ireland he was Son to Henry Stuart L. Darnly who was Grandson to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry the seventh of England by her second Husband His Mother was Mary Queen of Scotland Grandchild to the Lady Margaret by her first Husband James the Fourth K. of Scotland so that the Lady Margret was great Grandmother to King James both by the Father and Mothers side He Reigned twenty two years and three days and was the forty fourth Sole Monarch of England He died of the Spleen on Saturday March 27. 1625. in the fifty ninth year of his Age and was buried at Westminster
being one of the greatest Islands in the Universe It was formerly called Samothea from Samothes as some report the sixth Son of Japhet who first inhabited here two hundred fifty two years after the Flood It was also named Albion as is said from Albion a Giant the Son of Neptune who after he had conquered the Samotheans setled here three hundred thirty five years after the Deluge Some say it was called Albion ab albis Rupibus from the white Rocks toward France which is most probable The Grecians called it Britain for what Reason we know not it may be from Prittannia which signifies Metals they finding the Island full of Brass Tin Iron Gold Silver and Lead Lastly It was named England from Engloen a Place in Denmark which was neither changed by the Danes nor Normans and retained that Title eight hundred seventy three years till King James came to the Crown and united England and Scotland which is since called Great Britain It was accounted the Fortunate Island and Pope Innocent in the Reign of Henry the Third was so in love with it that he would fain have come over to see it if the King would have permitted it England is thought to have embraced Christianity about sixty three years after Christ in Nero's time and that Joseph of Arimathea was sent by the Apostle St. Philip to preach the Gospel here yea some affirm That both St. Paul and Simon Zelotes were here likewise though these are onely Conjectures Julius Caesar tells us That when he entred this Island they were not under one sole King or Monarch but divided into no less than twenty eight petty Kingdoms or Provinces The most memorable of their Princes who opposed the Conquest of the Romans are these following 1. Cassibelan King of the Trinobantes who inhabited Middlesex Essex and Hartfordshire For about the Year of the Worlds Creation 3913. and fifty four years before the Birth of Christ the Fortunate Romans under the Conduct of Julius Caesar first landed about Deal in Kent the News whereof was so exceeding welcome to the Roman Senate that they decreed a Thanksgiving for twenty days an Honour never granted to any before the greatest Victors having had but five or at most but ten days assigned them At which time Cassibelan was chosen by general Consent to withstand the Roman Invasion which he did with very great Courage beating them twice off from the British Shore His chief City was Verulam near where St. Albans now standeth 2. Cingitorix Carvil Taximagul and Segonax These four reigned Kings of Kent together and opposed the Romans at the same time but were vanquished by them their Men being slain Cingitorix taken and the other three forced to fly and shift for themselves 3. Cunobeline 4. Togodumus 5. Cataractus a most renowned Prince of the Icenians who inhabited Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire He resisted the Romans gallantly for nine years together but was then betrayed and carried to Rome in Triumph yet for the gallantry of his Spirit he was released from his Bonds and taken into Caesar's Favour 6. Voadicea or Boadicea Wife to Prasagutus King of the Icenians who made the Emperour Nero his Heir leaving his Noble Queen and her two Daughters to the Emperour's Protection but he abusing his Trust she slew in one Battel eighty thousand Romans taking and plundering the Cities of Verolamium and Carnalodunum now Malden in Essex whereby she brought Terrour upon all but being at length vanquished in Fight she poysoned her self rather than to submit to her Enemies These with divers other Princes were very stout Defenders of their Country and Liberties against the Roman Power for above an hundred years neither had they been then subdu'd but by the unhappy Quarrels and Divisions among themselves whereby their Enemies took the advantage to ruin them altogether and become their Masters The several Roman Emperours who commanded in Britain were Julius Caesar Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian and several others even fifty two in number among whom Constantius Chlorus the Father of Constantine the Great was very remarkable He was a Wise Noble and Publick-spirited Prince he usually said That it was more profitable for the State that the Wealth of the Land should be dispersed into the Commons Hands than to lie locked up in the Princes Coffers He was so averse to Superfluity that he had scarce Necessaries but herein he chiefly excelled that he protected the poor Christians who were under a bloody Persecution from Dioclesian the Roman Tyrant he made his Court their Sanctuary And to try the sincerity of their Profession he used Jehu's Policy commanding all his Officers and Servants to offer Sacrifice to the Heathen Gods and threatning to discard the Refusers but on the contrary he rejected all that complied with this Reflection That he who is disloyal to his God can never be faithful to his Prince Whilst he was Governour here under the Emperour Aurelian he married Helena the Daughter of Coelius a British Prince who converted him to Christianity on whom he begot Constantine the Great in Britain After he was Emperour he came hither and fought against the Picts but returning from that Expedition he fell sick at York which was his Imperial Seat At which time his Son Constantine came thither to him at the sight of whom being much comforted he sate up in his Bed and spake to this effect It now sufficeth and Death is not terrible to me since I shall leave my Actions not yet accomplished unto thee my Son to be performed in whose Person I doubt not but that my Memory shall be preserved as in a Monument of succeeding Fame What I did design though now by this my fatal Period I leave undone be thou sure to do it that is Govern thy Empire with Justice protect the Innocent and wipe away all Tears from the Eyes of the Christians for therein above all other things I have accounted my self happy To thee therefore I leave my Diadem and their Defence taking my Faults with me to the Grave there to be buried in everlasting Oblivion and leaving my Vertues if I had ever any to live and survive in thee And here he ended his Speech and his Life together The afore-mentioned Persecution under Dioclesian and Maximinian was very grievous It was called the Tenth Persecution and continued for ten years with so great rage that within one Months time seventeen thousand Christians were put to death and multitudes of others cruelly used though escaping with their Lives And as in other Places so in Britain the Churches of the Christians were demolished their Bibles burnt and their Bodies massacred divers being killed at St. Albars and other Places yea so many suffered at Lichfield that the Place became like another Golgotha upon which account that City hath for its Arms a Field of Blood whereon are many Martyrs But the chief Cause of these Miserie 's proceeded from the Christians themselves For
Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow He caused a Seal to be made for himself whereon was engraven By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron But on the other side thus By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England In this Kings Reign lived Bevois or Bevis Earl of Southampton who not being able to endure the Oppression of the Normans gathered all the scattered Fragments of Englishmen whom desire of Liberty and hatred of the Conquerour had made willing to joyn with him associating to him likewise the Strength of the Danes and Welch who met at Cardiff in Wales But Success not depending upon Valour being unable to encounter such expert Soldiers as the Normans their Forces were routed and Bevis fled to Carlisle after which no credible Author relates what became of him Tho' the Monkish Writers have been very injurious to his Memory as well as of others who by repeating incredible things concerning them have made Posterity think there was no Truth in any of their Actions His Place of Residence is said to be Dunton in Wiltshire and his Sword was till of late kept as a Relique in Arundel-Castle not equalling in length that of King Edward the Third at Westminster King William left behind him three Sons Robert to whom he gave his Dutchy of Normandy William Rufus and Henry who both successively were Kings of England and one Daughter named Adela He was of an indifferent Stature strong Make and comly Behaviour of a stern Countenance undaunted Courage resolute in Action and quick in Execution He was discreet and Politick in managing his Affairs and Business yet it seems he perceived his own defect in some Cases for want of Learning and did therefore often excite his Sons to learn with this Saying That an Vnlearned Prince is but a crowned Ass Which Speech made such a strong Impression upon his Son Henry that by his Knowledge and Learning he obtained the Name of Beauclark or Fine Scholar King William feasted and hunted much coveted all oppressed the Conquered and still kept his dearest Friends in an awful regard of him He reigned Twenty years and ten months and died in the Sixty fourth year of his Age 1087. WILLIAM the SECOND SIRNAMED RVFVS WHat my Triumphant Father won I held I tax'd and poll'd this Kingdom more than he Great Tributes from my People I compell'd No Place in Church or Commonwealth was free But always those who most would give to me Their Suit obtained whether wrong or right The Clergy I compelled to agree To sell Church-Plate and Chalices out-right Vntil at last by the Almighty's Power My Kingly Force and Strength was Weakness made And all my Glory perish'd in an Hour My Pomp and Greatness vanish'd like a Shade For hunting in New-Forest void of Fear A Subject slew me shooting at a Deer AT the Death of William the Conquerour Robert his eldest Son Duke of Normandy being in Germany William the younger Brother hastned to London in the Company of Morcar and Wilnoth Sons to King Harold both released from Imprisonment in Normandy where soon after by the procurement of Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wolstane who were reverenced by the People and by bestowing many costly Gifts he was soon after made King though most of the Prelates and States were for Robert Soon after Robert by the incitement of Bishop Odo came into England landing at Southampton to regain his Right with a gallant Army of Normans and many French whom King Philip of France had sent to his Aid with whom joyned several of the English But William by his fair Pretences and Promises to repeal the severe Laws and Taxes in his Fathers Reign prevailed with the People to appear for him with whose assistance he regained divers strong Forts and Castles which were seised by the Nobility for the Service of Robert and among others he besieged Rochester-Castle wherein was Odo to the gaining whereof he sent out Orders That all should repair to his Assistance under the Penalty of being accounted a Niding or Coward whereby the People came in such Numbers that the Castle was soon surrendred Odo banished and his Estate forfeited And afterwards Robert out of his peaceable Inclination and to prevent the effusion of Blood accepts of William's Proposals whereby he was to hold the Crown during his Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year and that if he survived he should succeed William in England and so peaceably returns back to Normandy King William having now more surely fixed himself in his Possession of the Kingdom began presently to follow his Fathers Example endeavouring to humble the innate Courage of the English by heavy Oppressions and Impositions and taking it for a Maxim That Riches heightned but Poverty debased the Spirits of Men he laid severe Taxes upon the People which were levied with all kind of despite and cruelty by his ravenous Officers This caused much discontent of which Malcolm King of Scots taking the advantage and being affronted at the English Court he invaded the North Parts with a great Army killing burning and destroying all before him till at last he sate down before a strong Castle in Northumberland valiantly defended by Robert Mowbray the Earl thereof who at last pretending to surrender it and coming out of his Castle-gate well mounted with the Keys thereof fastned to his Lance in stead of delivering them in making low Obeisance to the King in token of Submission clapping Spurs to his Horse he suddenly ran upon the King and with his Lance pierced him into the Eye whereof he immediately died After which by the swiftness of his Horse he made his Escape leaving the amazed Scots to lament their irreparable Loss who returned back to Scotland with their breath'ess King Now Robert Duke of Normandy complaining of the Kings breach of Promise designed to transport an Army to England having again Assistance from the French But William resolving to make an Offensive War abroad raised Forces here with intent to invadeâ— Normandy to the number of Twenty thousand who being ready to imbarque he proposed That whoever would give him 10 s. should be excused from going to Normandy which many willingly did whereby he raised a considerable Sum part of which being privately sent to the French King made him forsake his Ally so that Robert standing alone was soon perswaded to come to an Agreement After which they both joyn their Forces against their youngest Brother Henry who having notice thereof fortified himself in the strong Castle of Mount St. Michael in Normandy which they besieged wherein William was in great danger for some of the Besieged sallying out the King rode against them and was encountred by a Knight who killed his Horse under him and would have killed him too had he not known him by his Voice Whereupon the Soldiers with great respect mounted him on another Horse and he asking furiously who it was overthrew him the Knight stoutly
to him so long as he kept his Covenants with them and preserved their Rights whereby he acknowledged his Right to the Crown to proceed from their Election To confirm himself in his Dignity he proceeded by the same Method as Henry bestowing his Uncles Treasure freely upon such as either by Arms or Counsel might be useful to him He created several Noblemen He released the People of all extravagant Payments causing a large Charter to be drawn up for mitigating the Severity of divers Laws and bound himself by a solemn Oath to observe the same He granted to the Church and Clergy as great Immunities as they could demand and fully exempted them from the Power of the Temporal Magistrate for all Offences whatsoever without the Bishops Licence And to prevent Rebellions he erected many Castles Forts and Bulwarks in divers Parts of the Land and gave leave to the Nobility Gentry and Clergy to do the like He gave David King of Scots and Uncle to Maud the Empress because he should not assist her the whole County of Cumberland and created his Son Henry Earl of Huntington Notwithstanding which David soon after ravaged the Northern Parts with Fire and Sword in her Quarrel but being encountred by Thurstan Archbishop of York he was overthrown and hardly made his Escape into Scotland leaving above Ten thousand of his Army dead behind him which Victory was judged to be chiefly occasioned by the Courage and Policy of Thurstan who before the Battel openly proclaimed That whoever fell therein should have full Pardon of all his Sins and certainly enter into Heaven which much spirited the English In his sixth year Maud the Empress landed at Arundel in Sussex with onely an hundred and forty Men and was quickly inforced with the English who joyned with her and her base Brother Robert Earl of Glocester and Reynulph Earl of Chester with a stout Party of Welchmen Stephen made all expedition to meet her and a bloody Fight began with equal Success till at length King Stephen's Soldiers left their King almost alone who with his Battel-ax drove back whole Troops of his Enemies and afterward renewed his Assaults till his Sword flew in pieces when being now disarmed he was taken and carried to Bristow-Castle where he continued about three Months and was at last set at liberty in exchange for the Earl of Glocester who was taken Prisoner by King Stephen's Queen This Earl Robert was one of the most valiant Men of that Age he had one Stephen Beauchamp to his Servant whom he made his onely Favourite to the great dislike of all the rest of his Followers And being one time very much endangered in a Battel he called to some of his Company for help but one bitterly replied Call to your Stephen now to help you Pardon me pardon me said the Earl In matters of Love and Wenching I make use of my Stephen but in Martial Affairs I wholly depend upon your Courage and Valour After this Victory Maud the Empress was triumphantly received into Circeter Oxford Winchester and London but refusing to ratifie King Edward's Laws and remit some severe ones which she harshly denied the Londoners contrived to seise her which she having notice of fled suddenly to Oxford where Stephen presently close besieged her who despairing of holding it she and her Followers escaped by clothing themselves in white Linen in a great Snow and so passed unknown to the Sea and got away The Empress being once in the Castle of the Devizes was there in great hazard likewise whereupon she caused her self to be put into a Coffin as though dead and bound fast with Cords and so like a dead Corps she was carried in a Horse-litter to Glocester and soon after being weary of these continual Troubles she went into Normandy King Stephen presently seised all the Castles which were kept by the Barons against him to gain which the sooner it is related he used this Course Having taken the Bishop of Salisbury he put a Rope about his Neck and so led him to the Castle of the Devizes held by his Followers threatning to hang their Bishop and Master if they did not immediately surrender The like he did by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln who held another Castle upon Trent which was thereupon delivered and the King seised all the Treasure and Goods to his own use These Troubles being over the Kingdom for some years enjoyed Peace but Henry called Shortmanâ—le eldest Son to Maud by Jeffry Plantagenet married Eleanor the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Poictou who had lately been divorced from Lewis the Seventh King of France after she had brought him two Daughters So that Henry was now Duke of Normandy in the Right of his Mother Earl of Anjou by Descent from his Father and Earl of Poictou in Right of his Wife by whom a while after he had likewise the Earldom of Tholouse Prince Henry by the invitation of several of the English Nobility and others was much encouraged to come into England and recover his Right especially since Stephen and Eustace his onely Son did now endeavour to take in the Castles of several Nobles whom they judged to be for Henry's Interest who accordingly landed with a considerable Army King Stephen likewise gathered a very equal Strength to encounter him Both Armies lay near each other and some went between them every day In the mean time Eustace the King's Son by mischance was drowned though others write That being in a rage he set fire to some Corn-fields belonging to the Abby of Bury because the Monks denied him Money and afterwards sitting down to Dinner at the first Morsel of Bread he put into his Mouth he fell into a Fit of Madness of which he died The King though extremely grieved for the Death of his Son yet began to hearken to Terms of Peace and at length he adopted Prince Henry to his Son proclaimed him Heir Apparent to the Crown the Nobles doing Homage to him at Oxford and gave him many Gifts assuring him of his Friendship By this Agreement Arms were laid aside and Peace succeeded the Prince with his Followers returning into Normandy where they were joyfully received But King Stephen being afflicted with the Iliack Passion and with his old Distemper the Hemorrhoids died the next year at Dover 1154. and was buried at Feversham in Kent though his Body was afterward thrown into the River for covetousness of the Lead wherein it was wrapped having reigned Eighteen years and ten months And by the Succession of Henry the Saxon Blood was again restored to the Imperial Crown of this Realm HENRY the SECOND King of England Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain Lord of Ireland TO th' Empress Maud I was undoubted Heir And in her Right my Title being just By Justice I obtain'd the Regal Chair Fair Rosamond I did debauch with Lust For which Heavens Justice hating Deeds unjust Stirr'd up my Wife and Sons to be my Foes Who strove to lay
under the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrate but tried by those of their own Profession their greatest Offences were connived at or very slightly examined whereby many grievous Enormities hapned in the Kingdom Whereupon the King summoned a Parliament wherein that Law of King Stephen exempting the Clergy from the Authority of the Temporal Judge for any Crime whatsoever was repealed and the ancient Laws again revived and enforced This was very much opposed by Becket and some few Bishops more of his Faction but after several Conferences these Laws were confirmed and subscribed by all the Bishops but Becket who would by no means assent thereto without inserting this Clause Salvo Ordine suo Saving the Order of the Clergy which would have utterly invalidated all those Laws At which the King being enraged by the persuasion of the other Bishops who dreaded the Consequence Becket took a solemn Oath to allow of those Laws whereat the King turned his Fury into Kindness toward Becket and immediately caused an Indenture to be drawn betwixt himself and the two Archbishops testifying their Submission to this Oath which was subscribed by the King and the Archbishop of York but Becket again relapsing into his former Obstinacy not onely refused it but expressed much sorrow for his former Oath and desired to be absolved there from by the Pope which was done accordingly some private Penance onely being enjoyned him who required him not to yield but to persist constantly in his opinion Upon which the King being again incensed against Becket seises all his Estate and Promotions into his Hands and required an Account of 30000 Marks which he had received when Chancellor but Becket boldly affirmed That the King had given it him freely and therefore he would give no Account thereof Then Becket went again privately to Rome without License and the King being sensible that his Des gn was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors with Letters to Rome declaring how reasonaâ—le his Demands were and the extraordinary Perverseness of Becket desiring the Pope he might be deprived of his Dignities and promising to provide for him some other way But the Pope not onely denied his Request but in thundring Terms threatned to send two Legats into England who should curse the King and Kingdom unless Becket were presently restored to his Honours and Estate and in the mean time the Pope recommended Becket to be entertained as a Monk in the Abby of Poâ—tiniack in France The King observing how Matters went grew more exasperated and sent to the Abbot to turn Becket out of his House and threatned upon refusal not to leave one Monk of his Order in France He also published certain Injunctions against the Pope and all Cardinals or Legats who should presume to enter into his Kingdom without his License He then deprived all Becket's Friends and Favourers of their Dignities and Estates banishing them out of the Kingdom as Abettors and Encouragers of Becket in his Obstinacy against the King These Proceedings and especially his being turned out of the Abby for fear of the Kings Anger much troubled Becket yet then Lewis of France though young King Henry had married his Daughter cherisht and entertained him But the King being tired with these Turmoils goes privately into France and in the presence of the French King confers with Becket offering him That if he would now take the Oath and subscribe the Instrument he should return into England and be restored to his Favour and Dignities with all his Friends But he proudly answered That if the King would let him swear and subscribe with this Exception Salvo Honore Dei Saving the Honour of God he would then consent This angred the King more than ever as intimating That those Laws were dishonourable to Almighty God and therefore he would obey no farther than he pleased but Becket undauntedly persisted alledging That he feared none but God and since those Laws did derogate from ancient Customs and Privileges of the Church and robbed God of his Honour the King should never establish them by his Consent as long as he lived The King thus disappointed soon after two Legats came from Rome to curse him and the Realm Whereupon he again goes to Becket into Normandy but finds him the very same Man and therefore he being willing to be quiet consented that Becket should return into England which he did accordingly but the King being much discontented was heard repiningly to say That among all those whom he had advanced there was none would free him from such an insolent and dangerous Enemy He likewise received mean Welcome from the young King Henry because Becket had suspended three or four Bishops who assisted at Henry's Coronation for doing it without a License from him upon which young Henry now banished him his Court and confined him to his own House in Canterbury But a few days after Becket being in the Cathedral of Canterbury standing before the High Altar four Knights and Courtiers fell upon him and slew him there of which Fact King Henry was accused by the Pope but stoutly denied it yet because of his former Murmurings he was forced to submit to the Popes Censure which was To war three years in Person in the Holy Land which he redeemed by building three Monasteries and to go to Becket's Tomb bare-footed which he did and suffered himself to be scourged with Rods by every Monk there And thus the King made a bad end of these Troubles But others soon succeeded for about this time the young King Henry died and his Sons Richard and Jeffry again rebelled against him but the younger was soon after trod to death under the Horses Feet at a Turnament at Paris But Richard yet lived to the further Grief of his Father for joyning himself with Philip King of France he forced his Father out of the City of Mantz the Place where he was born and loved above all others which caused the old King to say That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the World he was resolved to requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that which ought best to please a Child and that was his Fathers Heart And afterward finding his Son John the very first in the Conspiracy against him in that Action he bitterly curst the Hour of his Birth wishing Gods Curse and his own upon his Sons which he would never recal by any Persuasions But coming to Chiron he fell mortally sick and causing himself to be carried to the Church before the High Altar after humble Confession of his Sins he gave up the Ghost 1189. having reigned Thirty four years and eight months RICHARD the FIRST King of England c. called Coeurdelion THrough the Almighty's Mercy and his Aid Jerusalem I conquer'd and set free The Turks and Saracens who waste it laid I 〈◊〉 from Judea soon to flee The Isle of Cyprus was subdu'd by me
the Riches were The Garrison offered to yield themselves and all therein if they might save their Lives and Limbs But the King would accept of no Terms bidding them defend themselves and that he was resolved to win it by his Sword and hang them all Whereupon an Archer standing on the Wall observing his opportunity charging his Steel Bow with a square Arrow and praying that by that Shot he might deliver the Innocent from Oppression and the King just then taking view of the Castle he wounded him in the Shoulder which was made extreme painful by an unskilful Chirurgeon However the Assault was renewed the Castle taken and all put to the Sword by the Kings Command but this too skilful Archer who boldly owned the Action for being demanded How he durst shoot at the Person of a King he replied That the King had slain his Father and his two Brothers with his own Hand and that he was exceeding glad he was now so happily revenged Notwithstanding this Answer the King gave him 100 s. and his Liberty but yet after the King was dead one of his Captains took him flea'd him alive and then hanged him He died of his Wound 1199. having reigned victoriously Ten years and in the Forty second year of his Age leaving no Legitimate Son behind him KING JOHN ROme's mighty Metred Metropolitan I did oppose and was by him depos'd In stead of Blessing he did Curse and Ban And round with Wars and Troubles me inclos'd English and Normans both resisted me Lewis of France my Kingdom did molest Whereby from Turmoils I was seldom free But spent my Kingly Days in little Rest At last the Pope was pleas'd me to restore Peace was proclaim'd and I was re-inthron'd Thus was my State oft turned o're and o're Blest Curst Friends Foes Divided and Aton'd And after Seventâ—â—n yâ—ars were past I fell At Swinstead poyson'd by a Monk of Hell JOhn Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster in his own Right and of Glocester by his Wife being the youngest Son of King Henry the Second succeeded and was Crowned King though Arthur Plantagenet his Nephew and Son of Jeffry his elder Brother was living The whole Course of his Government was attended with continual Troubles his two great Persecutors being Pope innocent the Third and Philip the Second of France King Philip being envious at Englands Grandeur took all Occasions to disturb John as by entertaining Prince Arthur animating him to regain the Crown of England and supplying him with Men and Money and the Normans joyning with them Arthur won many strong Places in Normandy But King John's Lieutenants made a stout Defence till he himself went over with a strong Army and fought many Battels with his Nephew but at last both Sides being wearied with equal Losses they made a Truce which was again broken by the incitement of the French King who promising Arthur double the Forces he had before they both entred Normandy plundring and burning many Towns and Villages But John who wanted nothing but Money was voluntarily supplied by his Lords Gentlemen and Commons with a large Tax they being grieved to see the English Territories thus destroyed and all the stout Youth voluntarily listed themselves for the Service whereby John soon landed in Normandy where thousands more resorted to him so that soon after the two Armies met and fought desperately but at length the French gave way and Arthur was taken Prisoner and sent to Roan where leaping from the Walls with design to escape he was drowned in the Ditch though others write That he came to a violent Death by King John's Order However the French King improved the Report to the best advantage peremptorily citing King John to come and do him Homage for the Dukedom of Normandy and likewise to appear at a set Day to be tried by his Peers for Treason and Murder But John not obeying his Summons was by the King and Peers of France disinherited and condemned and according to the Sentence they proceeded against him For several of the English Nobility joyning with Philip and John being careless the French with a powerful Army took in most of the Towns in Normandy which hapned by the fault of the English Lords and Bishops for when the King was ready to embarque for Normandy Archbishop Hubert forbid him and the Peers refused to attend him upon which the King laid great Fines upon them and seised upon the Estate of Hubert who died soon after But now Pope Innocent his other Enemy begins to play his Part and vex him more dangerously than Philip of France had done For Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury being dead the Monks of St. Austins in that City without the Kings Knowledge or License elected one Reynold a Monk to succeed him and made him take an Oath to go immediately to Rome and to procure his Investiture and receive his Pall of the Pope The King hereat was much displeased so that to appease his Wrath they made a new Election and with his Approbation chose John Gray Bishop of Norwich and the King presently sent Letters and Ambassadors to the Pope entreating him to confirm his Choice But Innocent after the Example of his insolent Predecessors confirmed the first Election whereat John was enraged yea divers of those Monks who chose him now joyned with the King against him alledging the Election was made in the Night and not in open Day and was therefore null and void At length the Pope to end the Controversie nominated Stephen Langton a Man in the Popes Interests and ordered the Monks to elect him which King John forbid But the Papal Command was obeyed and Stephen was elected Archbishop of Canterbury This so exasperated the King that in his Letters to the Pope he solemnly protested That thenceforward he would take strict Account of those Subjects who for any Matters of Right and Justice should run gadding to Rome alledging That he had Bishops Nobles and Magistrates of his own who according to the Customs of the Kingdom could and should determine all Controversies in Church and State and That he would rather expose himself to a thousand Deaths than basely and servilely subject himself and his Kingdom to the insolent and unreasonable Commands of the Pope But Innocent haughtily answered That the Election of Langton should stand requiring the King to give him quiet Possession to recal such Monks as were banish'd on his Account and restore their Estates or otherwise he did authorize four Bishops to interdict and curse the King and the Realm King John observing that the four Bishops appointed grew very Arrogant with their new Authority and thought long e're he signified his Resolution he thereupon seised upon their Estates and declared That he resolved to take the same Course with all those that received any Promotions or Investitures from Stephen Langton or went or appealed to Rome upon any Occasion without License or that should execute any Command of the Pope within this Kingdom Upon this the
to the Earl of Leicester HENRY the THIRD King of England AMidst great Troubles and Confusions I In Youth ascended to the English Throne England was then opprest with Misery By Frenchmen who by me were overthrown For the brave English under my Command Did soon expell those their insulting Foes My Barons did my Sovereignty withstand And brought upon themselves and me great Woâ—â— For in each Battel none but I did lose I lost my Subjects Lives on every Side From Civil Wars no better Profit grows Friends Foes my People all that beat or died My Gain was Loss my Pleasure was my Pain These were the Triumphs of my troublous Reign AFter the Death of King John Henry his eldest Son of nine years old was Crowned King the Earl of Glocester who had married one of his Aâ—â—â—s and was Learned Wise and Valiant being made Protector of him and the Kingdom who administred Justice faithfully among the People The Youth of the King and the Treachery of many of the English Nobility encouraged Philip of France and Lewis his Son to land fresh Forces in the Realm to whom the Welch likewise joyned all the Forces they could raise But the new Protector raised an Army against them and in many Encounters defeated them And Pope Honorius finding the French slighted his Thunderbolts sent out new Curses more sharp and severe than any of his Predecessors whereupon Prince Lewis seemed at present to be affrighted and to prepare for his Departure though his Father Philip still sent new Forces over But Hugh de Burgh Governour of the Ciâ—â—uâ—-Ports preparing a gallant Fleet valiantly encountred them at Sea and took all their Ships This great Victory brought Lewis to treat of Peace and being absolved by Guallo the Popes Legat and receiving a considerable Sum of Money he surrendred all the Forts Towns and Castles he had taken and with all his Forces sailed back to France leaving his English Friends who had assisted him all these Wars to the rigour of the Law whereby they were cut off by miserable and cruel Deaths The Kingdom having now time to breathe a Parliament was called wherein the Laws of King Edward were revived and the Grand Charter called then Magna Charta containing several Laws for the Liberty Ease and Security of the Subject was confirmed and a Tax granted for sending an Army into France to recover Poictiers and Gascoigne under Richard the Kings Brother which had been injuriously seised by the French for some years Those Provinces were soon regained wholly back to the English which in a short time produced a Peace between both Nations But then worse Troubles succeed it at home for the King confiding onely in some leud Officers about him disregarded his Nobility and most Loyal Subjects invading their Liberties and Estates and vexing them with many grievous and unnecessary Taxes which were levied upon them by his Officers with all manner of severity At length a Parliament was called at Oxford wherein his Designs were altogether crossed and the Proceedings therein of such ill Consequence that it was stiled Insaâ—um Parliamentum or the Mad Parliament For when Multitudes came to complain of their Wrongs and Oppressions the Lords and Commons for redress thereof established many things which they judged necessary but highly intrenching upon the Kings Prerogative for they chose Twelve of the most Considerable Persons in the Kingdom whereof the Earl of Glocester and Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester were Chief who were called Les Douze Pieres or The Twelve Peers to whom full and absolute Power was granted by a Patent sealed by the King though unwillingly to support and maintain the Laws they had made The Parliament being ended the Commissioners began strictly to put those Statutes into Execution whereby they dismissed most of the Kings Menial Servants from their Attendance on him placing others of their Mind in their State This above all other things did most disturb the King and thereupon he grew extreme melancholy But hoping for better Success he summoned another Parliament wherein he with extreme Passion and Grief complain'd of his hard Usage by the Twelve Peers but the Lords and Commons were so far from remitting any thing that they further ratified all that had been done and the Archbishop with nine other Bishops publickly denounced a solemn Curse against all that by Advice or Assistance should oppose those Laws or the Authority of the Twelve Peers This still encreased the Kings Discontent who could take no delight in any thing he enjoyed and therefore went over to divert himself with Lewis King of France who treated him with all manner of Kindness and Magnificence About this time Hugh de Burgh Earl of Kent was accused by the Bishop of Winchester and others That he had scandalised and abused the King That he had enticed and trayterously defiled the King of Scots Daughter whom he married in hope to succeed her Brother in her Right That he stole out of the Jewel-house a Jewel of such excellent Vertue as to make those who had it Invincible which he had bestowed upon Llewellin Prince of Wales the King's Enemy These and many other Articles was he charged with who doubting the Power of his Enemies retired into Essex where he was seised by Soldiers who sent for a Smith to make Shackles for him to prevent his escape but the Smith understanding who they were for fetching a deep Sigh said Do with me what you pl ase and God have mercy on my Soul but as sure as the Lord lives I will never make Iron Shackles for him but will rather die for most cruel Death imaginable For is not this the most Loyal and Courageous Hubert who hath so often preserved England from being destroyed by Strangers and restored England to England Let God be Judge between him and you for using him so unjustly and inhumanely requiting his most excellent Deserts with the worst of Recompences However the Commander bound him and carried him Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence by the means of the Bishop of London he was a while after released The King being continually tormented with the diminishing of his Regal Authority endeavoured to procure some Remedy from abroad and to that end with great expence of Money he secretly obtained twâ— Bulls from Pope Alexander the Third whereby the King and all those who had sworn to maintain the new Laws and Ordinances and to support the Authority of the Twelve Peers were freely absolved and discharged from keeping those Oaths But this being kept private the Twelve Peers ruled all and were so diligent in their Business that they left the King nothing to do so that he was King in Name onely not in Power Soon after Hugh Spencer being Lord Chief Justice and a great Favourite with the King was removed by the Twelve Peers being charged with Corruption and Arbitrary Proceedings They likewise dismissed such Sheriffs and Justices as the King had made chusing others in their Places which
so deeply wounded the Kings Mind that he resolved immediately to make use of the Popes Bulls and thereupon caused them to be solemnly proclaimed in England Wales and Ireland adding That all who did any way support those Laws or the Twelve Peers should be committed to Prison He likewise took an Oath of all above twelve years old in and about London to be true to him and his Heirs But the Lords were not to be frighted declaring That they were resolved rather to die than recede from the Acts of that Honourable Assembly And judging that the King was designing something against them they went into the Marches of Wales where they raised a strong Army and then humbly addressed themselves to the King by Letters protesting their Fidelity to him and beseeching his Majesty That for the Honour of God the Good of his Soul and the Welfare of his People he would renounce and forsake those Counsels which were given him to suppress the Ordinances of Oxford and the Twelve Peers The King was much displeased with these Letters but returned no Answer Whereupon the Barons marched with a strong Army toward London carrying a Banner wherein the Kings Arms were curiously wrought As they passed they destroyed and burnt the Houses and Estates of those that favoured the Popes Bulls as undoubted Enemies to the King and Kingdom and then approaching to London they were joyfully received by the Citizens The King desâ—â—ing to divide the Lords caused it to be published That himself and the greatest part of the Barons were agreed and therefore required that all Arms might be laid aside and Peace restored But the Barons marched to Windsor where finding many Strangers in the Kings Palace they rifled and removed them but at length upon the Kings Motion all Differences were referred to Lewis the French King who upon hearing of both Parties declared That all the new Laws and Ordinances should be made void and the Power of the Twelve-Peers dissolved This Sentence the Lords judged Partiality and therefore fly again to Arms on th Marches destroying all that belonged to Sir Roger Mortimer who counselled the King to withstand them Prince Edward likewise raises an Army and marches against them but is overthrown After this they marched to London in Triumph hut King Henry hearing that Peter and Simon Montfort had raised Forces at Northampton he levied a strong Army and took the Town by Assault making the two Commanders and many others Prisoners The Barons being powerful were herewith nothing discouraged yet still sent Letters to the King with humble Protestations of their Fidelity if the new Laws were observed But Henry his Brother Richard King of the Romans and Prince Edward sent the Barons an absolute Defiance and wi h their Armies they met at Lewes in Sussex where after a bloody Fight the two Kings Prince Edward and several other Persons of Quality were taken Prisoners above 20000 being slain After which both Sides inclined to heaâ—â—en to Peace and at length it was agreed That the King by new Articles and Oaths should confirm the Power of the Twelve Peers and the other new Laws yet that two Spiritual and two Temporal Lords should review them and alter what they thought fit and if they could not agree the Duke of Britain was to be Uâ—pire This being concluded the two Kings eldest Sons were delivered as Hostages to the Barons where they continued above nine Months The King then called another Parliament wherein the Oxford Ordinances were again confirmed and the King again swore to maintain the Authority of the Twelve Peers and those Laws till any thing were found amiss in them and all who had defended them in the late Wars were pardoned by the King whereupon the two Princes were enlarg'd Yet soon after the two great Earls of Glocester and Leicester differed about these Laws and Prince Edward joyning with Glocester a cruel Battel was sought at Evesham in Worcestershire wherein Simon Montford Earl of Leicester and his Son Sir Hugh Spencer were slain and the Power of the Barons was utterly defeated And a Parliament being called no Man durst then contradict the Kings Will so that all the Laws made at Oxford the Authority of the Twelve Peers all Patents Commissions and Instruments whatsoever relating to what was Enacted in that called The Mad Parliament were brought forth and publickly damned cancelled and made void And thus King Henry regained his former Power and Authority to do as he pleased After which he humbled the City of London but upon their Submission received them again into Favour When Pope Innocent the Fourth offered the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples to Richard King of the Romans aforementioned with many impossible Conditions You might as well said the Kings Agent at Rome say to my Lord and Master I sell or give you the Moon climb up catch and take it Pope Alexander his Successor desired to borrow a great Sum of Money of Richard to whom he replied I will lend no Money to my Superiors whom I cannot oblige to repay me again This Richard is said to be so very rich that he was able to spend 100 Marks a day for ten years together which was a great Sum in that Age. Wicked rather than witty was that of a Dean and High Treasurer of England about this time who it seems had carried himself so well in his Office that when he died he made this wicked Will I bequeath all my Goods and Possessions to my Sovereign Lord the King my Body to the Earth and my Soul to the Devil Prince Edward full of Heat and Courage now resolves to make himself famous and transporting an Army into the Holy Land he there wrought Wonders the Turks not daring to engage in that Quarter wherein he was and raising the Siege of Acon which they had long lain before with above 100000 Men But since Force would not they resolved to dispatch him by Treachery a villainous Saracen wounding him unawares with a venomous Knife though after much Pain and Danger and the extreme Love of his Queen Eleanor who suckt out the Poyson with her Mouth he recovered thereof But in his absence King Henry died when he had reigned above Fifty six years in the Year 1272. EDWARD the FIRST King of England c. MY Glorious Victories and Valour try'd My Mighty Actions And ne'er dying Fame Were all proclaim'd throughout the World so wide By gallant Deeds I won Immortal Fame Rebelliouis Wales I utterly subdu'd And made them Vassals to my Princely Son I Scotland entered with Fire and Blood And almost all that Kingdom over-run Still where I fought triumphantly I won Through Wounds and Death my Glory I obtain'd Yet when I these renowned Deeds bad done A costly Sepulchre was all I gain'd For though Grandees contend for Earthly Sway Death binds them to the Peace and parts the Fray EDward sirnamed Longshanks from the Properness of his Person being informed of his Father's Death by great Journeys arrived
send you perseverance that you may always succeed as you have prosperously begun you have Nobly acquitted your self and worthily deserve the Government of a Kingdom bestowed upon you for your Valour King Edward perceiving that after this Victory the French King made no Preparations to resist him marched toward Callice burning and destroying all before him and begirt it with a close Siege which after it had continued a whole year the French King with an Army of 200000 men came to the relief thereof which not being able to effect the Passages thereto being so well fortified by K. Ed◠〈…〉 went back again leaving the poor Townsme◠〈◊〉 mercy of King Edward During this Sieg◠〈◊〉 King of Scotland invaded England with an Army of 50000 men by the procurement of the French King but the Queen with 12000 stout Souldiers fought with him routed his Army took King David Prisoner and several other Persons of Honour killing divers more and above 15000 Scots After this Victory the Queen attended with a Troop of handsom Ladies and Gentlewomen whose Husbands or Kinsmen had long lain at the Siege of Callice sailed thither and were entertained by the King and his whole Army with great joy the Town being despairing of Relief begged the Kings mercy which he denied unless six of the chiefest Citizens came out to him in their Shirts barefoot and bareheaded with Halters about their Necks to be disposed of at the Kings pleasure which hard condition some of them undertook to perform presenting the King with the Keys of the Town and Castle which Edward receiving commanded them to be all presently hanged but his Commanders interposed strongly on their behalf which yet could not prevail the King threatning to make them examples for the wrongs done to the English Nation at Sea at length the Queen with Prayers and Tears on her Knees procured their Pardon The King having got possession of this important Town returned to England and was received at London with great Triumph and by the Popes means a Truce was concluded with the French for two years which being expired Edward sent a strong Army under the Conduct of his Son the Black Prince into Gascoyn destroying all in their march But King John who succeeded his Father Philip resolved to stop this Current and the Black Prince having only 10000 men with him John raised a vast Army and accompanied with his young Son Philip and the Flower of the Nobility of France made all speed toward Prince Edward who was at Poicters ready to receive him The Fight was very bloody but the English Archers galling the French Horse with their Arrows soon disordered their Army and notwithstanding the utmost conduct of the valiant K. John they were put to the rout the King and his Son being taken Prisoners who being brought before the Prince he bowed to the King and giving him comfortable words feasted him and his Son Philip very nobly and lodged him in his own Bed With this Prize the Black Prince returned into England and was joyfully received by all In this Fight were taken seventeen Earls above fifty Lords and a multitude of Knights and Gentlemen of Quality so that every Souldier who had least had two Prisoners all which with the Spoil of the Field the Prince freely gave the Souldiers and every man had Gold and Silver in abundance costly Armour and other valuable things being left on the ground as worth nothing King John lived some time at the Savoy and after at Windsor being as kindly treated by the King as he could desire and after four years Imprisonment a Peace was concluded whereby it was agreed That King John should pay 500000 l. Ransom of Sterling Money and several Countries were freely resigned to the English by John and the French King never to assist any King of Scotland against England About which time David King of Scotland who had been a Prisoner in England ten years for a Ransom of 100000 l and giving his Oath never again to bear Arms against England was released About two years after three Kings came at once to visit King Edward John King of France David King of Scots and the King of Cyprus The next year the Black Prince went into Normandy and was made Governour of the English Conquests who assisted Peter King of Castile and restored him to his Crown of which he was dispossessed by his Bastard brother Henry but soon after Henry with fresh Forces suddenly fell upon King Peter seised him and put him to death By reason of Peter's Death the English Soldiers under the Black Prince despairing of receiving their Pay and being in great necessity daily petitioned the Prince for Relief who finding no other means to supply them imposed several Taxes upon the Inhabitants of Aquitain who finding their Privileges invaded complained thereof to the French King who summoned the Prince to appear before him at Paris contrary to the express Articles of Peace lately concluded and presently proclaimed War against England and the Prince not being in a Posture of Defence all those Countries Towns and Forts daily revolted to the French so that King Edward who had been Victorious forty years lost all those Provinces almost in one The French provided a Navy likewise wherewith they commanded the Narrow Seas But John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster going over to Callice with a brave Army soon made the Frenchmen feel his Fury and recovered many Towns but after John's departure another Army commanded by Sir Robert Knowls and the Lord Fitzwater by reason of some Quarrel between the Commanders was defeated by the French King and 1000 English slain whereby all the Garrisons were again delivered up to the French The King much disturbed at these Misfortunes called a Parliament wherein the Temporalty freely gave him a Subsidy of 15000 l. but the Clergy denied him any Supply whereupon he removed them from all Honours and Offices and placed more grateful Subjects in their room The French King had now besieged Rochel almost a year for whose Relief a Fleet was sent under the Earl of Pembroke but he was fought with by Henry the Bastard of Castile and the Earl with 160 more taken Prisoners the rest with much terrour and difficulty escaped to England Upon the News of this Defeat several other Towns and Provinces revolted to the French King After this John of Gaunt landed with strong Forces at Callice and joyning with the Duke of Brittain ravaged the Country till they came to Bourdeaux where the Black Prince lay very sick and John was made Governour of those Provinces Prince Edward died soon after and was buried at Canterbury the King himself not living long after dying in the Fifty first year of his Reign and the Sixty fifth of his Age 1377. and was buried at Westminster RICHARD the SECOND King of England c. A Sun-shine Morn oft brings a Showry Day A Calm at Sea sometimes foretells a Storm All is not Gold that appears bright and gay A
of Cheshire as if that were more honourable then to be King of the Realm and to sweetten these things honours were bestowed upon divers Noble-men his Cousen Henry Bullingbroke Earl of Darby Son and Heir apparent to the Kings Fourth Uncle John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was created Duke of Hereford his Cousen Edward Plantaginet Earl of Rutland was created Duke of Albemarle and several others were advanced He also granted free pardon to all but fifteen whom he should name whereby he kept the Nobility in fear and awe so that if any offended him he would declare him to be one of the fifteen and put his life upon Tryal for pretended Treason It happened about this time that the Duke of Hereford hearing daily complaints of the Kings misgovernment and his extream arbitrary and illegal proceedings he privately disclosed his grief thereat to the Duke of Norfolk intreating him to inform the King thereof and to beseech him to be more favourable to the Lords who were with too great severity condemned for High-Treason The Duke of Norfolk regarding more his own advancement then the Common good resolved to rise by the fall of his friend and therefore told all to the King with the most malicious and aggravating circumstances imaginable whereat the King inraged summoned his Cousen to answer who freely acknowledged what he had privately and friendly desired might be reformed but denied the false suggestions added thereto and challenged the Duke of Norfolk to a single combate to vindicate himself which was accepted and consented to by the King but when the day came and they entted the Lists for fight the King would not suffer them to proceed but banished the Duke of Norfolk for ever who soon after died at Venice and the Duke of Hereford for six years who went into France and was honourably received by that King and not long after his Father John Duke of Lancaster died and the King unjustly seized all his honours and estate into his hands which he divided among his Flatterers and Minions which unworthy act so much displeased his Uncles the Duke of York and the Duke of Albemarl that they left the Court and retired to their own Houses In the mean time the King was wholly misled by the lewd conduct of William Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Sir James Bagot Sir John Bushie and Sir Henry Green by whose advice without consent of his Counsel he raised a great Army farming the whole Revenues of his Kingdom to these his favourites for several years and sailing into Ireland wholly subdued that rebelling Nation but in his absence Henry now Duke of Lancaster with his old friend Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury returned to England to claim his Dutchy of Lancaster and landing in the North great numbers of armed Troops admiring his Nobility and virtues joined with him so that within a few days he marched to London and was there received and entertained with much joy King Richard returning soon raised great Forces which he conducted against the Duke but perceiving his Subjects daily revolt from him and hearing that his three unworthy Favourites Scroop Bushie and Green on whom he most relied were taken and beheaded he voluntarily came to the Duke of Lancaster and confessing his own insufficiency and weakness to govern well praised the singular Qualities of the Duke as worthy of a Kingdom offering to resign it to him if he would accept thereof Though the Duke was very willing to wear a Crown yet hoping to have it by the free consent of all the Nobility and People he caused the King to be guarded to the Tower of London and then calling a Parliament twenty four Articles of Misgovernment were publickly charged against the King and sent him by both Houses of Parliament who not only confessed them to be true acknowledging his inability to Rule better but by an Instrument in Writing under his Hand and Seal resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry Duke of Lancaster which being read and generally approved of by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons they deposed King Richard and made Henry King and his old Friend Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury installed him in the Royal Throne Richard was then sent to Pomfret Castle but Henry fearing his Government could not be safe while Richard lived he was soon after assaulted by Sir Pierce of Exton and eight more with Bills and Poleaxes in his lodging and after valiant resistance made was overpowered and murdered by them in the twenty second year of his Reign and the thirty third of his Age 1399. In this Age lived Sir John Mandevil of whom so many Fictitious Relations have been written that it may be judged he was never in being But very credible Historians assert that there was such a person born at St. Albans in Hartfordshire who attaining to Learning had an earnest desire to visit Asia and Africa which he accordingly performed travelling thirty four years into Scythia Armenia Egypt Lybia Arabia Media Mesopotamia Persia Chaldâ—â—a Greece Illyria Tartary and divers other Kingdoms of the World and committed what he had observed to Writing at his return wherein though there may seem some things incredible yet it may be supposed many of them were taken from fabulous Authors and added to his Book and others were written by report from others for that he did not design to relate lies may appear because he kept his Religion after all his wandrings and and did oft complain of the corruptions of that Age saying often Virtus cessat c. In our time it may be certainly said that Virtue is departed the Clergy err the Devil reigneth and Simony beareth sway Some Authors write he died at Leige in Germany where they shew the Furniture of his Horse and Spurs worn in his Travels yet the Town of St. Albans will not allow of it but claim the honour of his Interment and have a riming Epitaph for him upon a Pillar near where they judge his Body lies which Mr. Weaver says in his Monuments being set to some lofty tune as the Burning of Antichrist or the like will be worth singing It is as follows All you that pass by on this Pillar cast Eye This Epitaph read if you can 'T will tell you a Tomb stood once in this room Of a gallant Spirited Man John Mandevil by name a Knight of great fame Born in this honoured Town Before him was none that ever was known For Travel of so high renown As the Knights in the Temple cross legg'd in Marble In Armor with Sword and with Shield So was this Knight grac't which time hath defac't That nothing but ruins doth yield His Travels being done he shines like the Sun In Heavenly Canaan To which blessed place O Lord of his Grace Bring us all Man after Man HENRY the FOURTH King of England c. From misled Richard I the Crown did wrest Which wrongfully upon my Head was plac'd Vncivil Civil Wars the Realm molest And Englishmen do England
spoil and wast Fathers their Sons and Sons their Fathers slew Vndutiful unkind unnatural This War Now York then Lancaster great grew As Conquest did on either side befal But I the Crown and Scepter still did hold For what by wrong I got by force I wore And Prince of Wales I made my Son so bold But as my greatness still increased more By fatal Fate my Vital Thred was cut And all my Glory in a Grave was put THough by right the Crown of England if K. Richard should dye without issue ought to have descended to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir to Edmond Mortimer by Philip his Wife who was Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of King Edward the third yet his Cousen Henry of Bullingbroke Duke of Hereford and Son and Heir of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the younger Brother of Lionel was Elected and Crowned King For after the Resignation of K. Richard was read openly in Parliament Duke Henry rising from his Seat made his challenge to the Crown as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Edward the third by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent to me and by the help of my Friends for the recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition to be lost through default of Government and breach of Laws After he had thus spoke the States acknowledged him for King and placed him on the Royal Throne though the whole proceedings against Richard were publickly condemned by John Bishop of Carlisle as hateful to God and Trayterous toward their Prince he not having the favour of Thieves and murderers who are try'd by indifferent Judges and condemned after full proof against them But the Bishop had no sooner ended his Speech e're he was seized by the Earl Marshal and committed close Prisoner in the Abby of St. Albans In this Parliament the Crown of England was intailed upon King Henry and his Heirs for ever and the King created his eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester The Parliament was no sooner ended but several of the greatest Lords who pretended most Joy for Henry's advancement conspired to take away his life at a solemn Justs or Triumph at Oxford contr ved for that purpose In this Treason were engaged Edward Plantaginet Duke of Aumerle Son and Heir apparent to Edmond of Langley Duke of York Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and John his Brother Duke of Exeter both half Brothers to King Richard John Montague Earl of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earl of Glocester Sir Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen a Servant to King Richard and in Stature and Countenance much like him All the Conspirators except the Duke of Aumerle met at Oxford at the time appointed with strong Guards who going to visit his Father the old Duke snatch't a Writing out of his bosom wherein the whole Plot was display'd who thereupon made haste to discover it to the King at Windsor but his Son outriding him another way came first just as K. Henry was providing to go and disclosing all received the Kings Pardon who perceiving his danger went presently to the Tower of London preparing to raise a great Army The Conspirators upon this discovery being desperate put Magdalen into Royal Robes affirming him to be K. Richard escaped out of Prison and with great Forces they marched toward London to meet the King who going courageously against them with 20000 Men the common Souldiers were so discouraged that they generally run away and left their Lords who were most of them taken and put to death in several parts of the Kingdom Thus was King Henry delivered from this Danger and to prevent the like for the future he caused King Richard to be murdered at Pomfret Castle as aforementioned When the French King Charles the Sixth Father-in-Law to King Richard heard of his Deposing he sent Letters of Defiance to King Henry and raised an Army-Royal in Picardy resolving to revenge his Wrongs but when he heard certainly of his Death he desisted After this the Welch and Scots made Invasions but King Henry with Fire and Sword soon quelled them Yet the next year the Scots again entred the Northern Borders with barbarous Cruelty but were encountred by Henry Hotspur Son of the Earl of Northumberland with 10000 stout Men who gave them a bloody Overthrow killing above 10000 Scots in the Field and taking above 500 Prisoners and among them the Earls of Douglas Fife Murray and Angus The next year the French King sent 1200 Lords and Commanders to Wales to assist Owen Glendour in his Rebellion but meeting with a Storm twelve of his greatest Ships were cast away with all the Men and Arms and the rest with great difficulty returned to France Which Misfortune caused the English to scoff and scorn the French Kings unprosperous Expedition which so exasperated him that he immediately sent another Army of 12000 Men who landed safely and joyned with 10000 rebellious Welch then in Arms. King Henry being sensible of his own danger if he should make but one false Step presenâ—ly provided a very brave Army and marched with all expedition into Wales which when the Frenchmen had notice of distrusting the fickle Nature of the Welch and fearing they would forsake them in time of danger and fly to their Woods and Mountains like Men amazed they run back to their Ships and cowardly returned to France without effecting any thing upon which the Welch likewise disbanded so that King Henry dissolved his great Army and returned home without Blows In his third year King Henry demanded the Scotch Prisoners taken in the last Battel by Henry Hotspur the Earl of Northumberland Earl of Worcester and others who refused to deliver them alledging That by the Law of Arms they belonged to them upon which great Discontents arose between them For the Piercies resolved to restore their Cousin Edmund Mortimer the true Heir to the Crown and to depose King Henry To which end they first earnestly petitioned the King to ransom him he being taken Prisoner by Own Glendour in fighting for King Henry but the King not granting their Request as not desiring his Liberty caused it to be published That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give some colour for the Treasons the Lords had contrived on his behalf The Piercies being much disturbed at this Proclamation paid his Ransom to Glendour and redeemed him entring likewise into a League with Glendour of mutual Defence and for deposing King Henry and several Scottish Lords joyning with them they raised considerable Forces publishing Six Articles of High Misdemeanours and Misgovernment against King Henry for which they defied him as a Traytor and Usurper and vowed his Destruction King Henry now finding his Crown lay at stake levied a stout Army and first
fell upon the Scots at Shrewsbury before they could joyn their Confederates whom he routed as he did likewise Hotspur and Worcester killing thirty six with his own Hand The Earl of Worcester was taken and beheaded and several of the principal Confederates were hanged and quartered and their Heads set upon London bridge Prince Henry likewise went into Wales against Owen Glendour who was suddenly forsaken by his Army and hiding himself in the Woods being encompassed by the Princes Forces was miserably starved to death Henry Hotspur was slain in the Field but his Father the Earl of Northumberland came voluntarily and submitted himself to the King protesting himself innocent of these Treasons which though the King did not in the least credit yet he gave him good Words and suffered him to depart at pleasure because he had Berwick Castle and other strong Places in his Possession These Troubles being ended Lewis Duke of Orleance Brother to the French King sent a vain-glorious Challenge to King Henry requiring him with an hundred stout English to fight with him and the like number of French for Honours sake at a Place appointed But the King discreetly answered That his former warlike Actions sufficiently cleared him from the infamous Title of Coward That Kings ought not to be so careless of their Kingdoms or prodigal of the Blood of their Subjects whom God had committed to their Charge as to fight for any Cause unless for the Defence of the True Religion their own Rights or to secure their Realms from Foreign Enemies and revenge their Peoples Wrongs That a Sovereign Prince by the Laws of Arms and Honour was not obliged to any Challenge in the Field except against one equal to him in Dignity Yet that he would be always ready to repress any Violence or Wrong which the Duke should rashly or unadvisedly attempt against him or his People The haughty Duke having received this mild Answer grew inraged and immediately sate down with a great Army before the Town of Vergie in Guyen which he besieged three Months giving many fierce Assaults and receiving such stout Repulses that despairing of Success he was compelled to raise his Siege and return disgracefully into France The Duke of Burgundy likewise judging that King Henry durst not leave the Kingdom to make War abroad desired leave of the French King to attempt the regaining of Callice and to that end raised great Strength but the French Kings Council being informed of King Henry's vast Preparations to defeat them commanded Burgundy to desist which he imputed to the Pride of the Duke of Orleance lest he should gain more Honour than himself No sooner was Henry freed from this Danger but another presently succeeded contrived by Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland Richard Scroop Archbishop of York Thomas Mowbray Earl-Marshal the Lords Hastings Faulconbridge Bardolf and others but the Conspiracy being privately revealed he unexpectedly marched with an Army into the North and surprised all the Lords except Northumberland and Bardolf whom he immediately beheaded Northumberland fled into France and from thence came back a while after into Scotland where he was promised Aid against the King but Prince Henry being sent thither burnt and destroyed all before him taking in the Castles of Berwick and Anwick and forcing the Scots to beg for Truce which was granted them for a few Months onely But three years after Northumberland and Bardolf animating the Scots to a new War entred Northumberland and did much mischief Whereupon King Henry raised Forces to suppress them but before his coming they were routed by Sir Ralph Rooksby Sheriff of the County and the two Lords with divers others being taken they cut off their Heads and sent them for Presents to the King After which till his Death which hapned in two years he enjoyed Peace and Quietness and then died at London of an Apoplexy having reigned Thirteen years and five months and lived Fifty six 1412. and was buried at Canterbury In his Admonition to his Son at his Death he spake thus As long as Englishmen have Wealth and Riches so long shalt thou have Obedience from them but when they are Poor they are still ready for Commotion and Rebellion HENRY the FIFTH King of England c. FRom the Lancastrian Line successively I Englands Glorious Golden Garland got I mixed Justice still with Clemency Much Blood I shed yet Blood-shed loved not Time may my Bones and Sepulchre destroy But Time can never blast my endless Fame Oblivion my great Acts can ne'er annoy Or make Forgetfulness forget my Name In France a Game at Tennis I did play With roaring Rackets thundring Guns and Drums And what I play'd for still I brought away The Spoils triumphantly transporting home Yet at the last grim Death my Life assail'd And as I liv'd I di'd lov'd and bewail'd WHilst Henry the Fifth was Prince he accompanied with several rude debauched Persons with whom he committed many extravagant Actions but after the Death of his Father being Crowned King he became a new Man banishing all those his loose Companions from his Presence and Court and electing grave discreet Counsellors and Officers in all Places for Administration of the Government and Courts of Justice He applied himself to reform all kind of Abuses and especially the Pride Covetousness and other Enormities of the Clergy enjoyning them to apply themselves to Prayer Preaching and Hospitality He executed the Laws with moderation upon his People and to prevent any Irruptions of the Scots and Welch he built divers Forts and Castles on the Frontiers Garrison'd with some thousands of stout Soldiers In his first year he ordered the Body of King Richard the Second to be removed with great Pomp and Solemnity from Langley to Westminster and buried it with Queen Ann his first Wife In his second year he called a Parliament at Leicester in which he was earnestly petitioned to suppress the Religious Houses throughout the Kingdom as being now onely the Nurseries of Idleness Gluttony Letchery and Pride the Revenues whereof were reckoned to be worth 20000 l. a year which would then maintain 15 Earls 1500 Knights and above 6000 Soldiers besides an Allowance to a great number of Alms-houses To divert this dangerous Motion the fat Abbots and Priors the idle Monks wanton Fryars and whining Nuns joyntly beseeched the Archbishop of Canterbury to be their Friend who in a Learned Oration discovered the Kings Right to the Crown of France proposing an easie Method for attaining thereto and lastly as a more prevailing Argument he offered the King as a free Gift from the Clergy an incredible Sum of Money for furthering him therein This Proposal laid all those Petitions asleep being approved of both by King Nobles and People and nothing was discoursed of but Englands recovering of France To which purpose the Duke of Exeter the Kings Uncle the Archbishop of Dublin the Lord Gray High Admiral and the Bishop of Norwich attended with 500 Horse were sent Ambassadors to the
French King Charles the Sixth who in the Kings Name required the peaceable Surrender of the Kingdom of France with the entire Dutchies of Aquitain Normandy Anjou Poictou and Mayn proposing That if without effusion of Blood the French King would yield to his Demands he would then vouchsafe to take his Daughter Katherine in Marriage and would endow her with all the afore-mentioned Provinces and allow the French King all Honour and Respect But if he refused to deliver his Patrimony without Blows he would then endeavour to gain it by the Sword wherein he must expect his People would suffer all the Calamities of a War The French King and Nobility were much surprised at this unexpected Message and therefore desired time to deliberate on so weighty an Affair but the Dolphin the Kings eldest Son despising the Youth and unlikely Attempt of King Henry sent him as a Present a Tun of Tennis-balls as more agreeable to his Years which Henry receiving said That he would shortly send him such London Balls as should shake Paris Walls and thereupon soon levied a strong Army Which the Dolphin being informed of who by reason of the Sickness of the King managed all Affairs he sent Ambassadors to Henry That if he would desist from all Hostility and live in Peace and take his Sister Katherine to Wife he should have with her a considerable sum of money and some small Territories in France but the King returned answer that Unless Aquitain Normandy Anjou and all the other small Seigniories were delivered to him as justly appertaining to his Crown he would neither disband his Army nor wave his Title to the Crown of France but would attempt to gain it by fire and Sword As soon as the French Ambassadors were gone the King having left considerable forces upon the Borders of Scotland and provided all things necessary sent his Letters of defiance to the French King and was just imbarking for his voyage when at that very instant a dangerous conspiracy was discovered either to deliver him up to the French or murder him in his Tent contrived by Richard Earl of Cambridge Brother to the Duke of York Henry Lord Scroop and Sir Thomas Gray three of the most valiant Commanders in his whole Army who being apprehended and brought into his presence freely confessed the whole contrivance and that they were corrupted by rewards from the Dauphin upon which they were the next day executed as Traytors The Wind serving the King transported his Army into Normandy in an hundred and forty ships and the Town of Harflew being delivered to him after a seige of thirty seven days was ransomed from plunder by the Citizens with great sums of Gold and Silver the King then resolved to march to Callice through the very Borders of France though the Dauphin had an Army of thirty thousand and the English were only two thousand Horse and thirteen thousand Archers many of them wanting health victuals and sleep and having plenty of nothing but silver and Gold which in that place would not give them the least supply of what was truly necessary for preserving their Lives It much disturbed the French King who lay at Roan that the English should march on thus without control and therefore he sent K. Henry a defiance and that he would be with him in a few days and accordingly bringing an Army of threescore thousand Horse into the Field incamped near a Town called Agen-Court making great jollity the night before the battel as assuring themselves of the victory being so very numerous and the English so inconsiderable and sickly on the contrary K. Henry and his little Army spent the night in Prayers and Devotions as knowing that they must either conquer valiantly or dye basely upon Fryday Oct. 20. 1414. The battel began wherein both sides fought with great courage but at length K. Henry obtained a glorious victory there being slain the High Constable and High Admiral of France the Dukes of Alanson Brabant and Bane thirty four Earls and Lords eight thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and about sixteen hundred Common Souldiers besides ten principal Dukes and Lords taken Prisoners on King Henry's side were not slain above six hundred Souldiers and two Commanders After this K. Henry marched safely to Callice where having refreshed themselves they took shipping for England being inriched with Gold Silver and costly armour in abundance and the King was received with all manner of Joy and Triumph into London The French King was extreamly troubled at this great overthrow but the Dauphin especially insomuch that he died as was thought for meer vexation soon after The Earl of Arminiach being made High Constable the Duke of Exeter the Kings Uncle Governour of Harflew understanding he was going that way with some forces suddenly issued out upon him and defeated his whole party which so inraged the new Constable that with all speed he besieged Harflew on every side with five hundred ships at the mouth of the River Seyn which K. Henry having notice of he presently sent a stout Army imbarked in two hundred Ships who falling upon the French Fleet in sight of the Town utterly destroyed them with a vast slaughter of men and thereby forced the Constable immediately to raise the siege and King Henry then calling a Parliament and declaring to them his right to France they freely gave him great sums of money wherewith sailing into Normandy he won the strong Town of Caen in the mean time such private quarrels arose between the French Nobility as much advantaged K. Henry who daily won the chiefest Towns in Normandy and then laid a formal siege to the great City of Roan which was strongly fortified and well provided so that K. Henry gave many terrible assaults in vain upon which being informed that there were above two hundred Thousand Men Women and Children within the Walls he resolved to gain it by famine without blows and to that end casting a deep ditch about the City pitched full of sharp stakes and guarded with Archers the Inhabitants could neither pass in nor out so that in two months time the Famine increased so grievously that the Citizens drunk nothing but Vinegar and Water and were forced to eat Rats Mice Cats Dogs and Horses and the poorer sort being turned out perished miserably between the Gates and the English Trenches the Famine still growing more outragious they sent four Knights four Scholars and four of their chief Burgesses clothed all in black as Commissioners to the King who spake to this purpose Great and renowned Prince In all ages Kings and valiant Captains have gained the greatest glory and reputation by subduing their proud and haughty enemies with their Swords and valour and it hath been always reckoned a note of baseness and Cowardice in a Prince to overcome by Famine and want of food wherein there is neither wise conduct nor true courage That your highness may therefore equal the greatest Conquerors in generosity we
desire you to sufferour sick and wounded men with our women and Children to pass safely through your Camp and if afterward you dare assault our walls and forts and by your courage should happen to become our Lord you may then deal with us as you please and by this action may make your self famous among those Heroes who scorn all mean attempts and regard nothing so much as unspotted honour and reputation The King having with some trouble heard this bold Oration he presently returned this undaunted Answer Proud vain glorious Frenchmen Do you imagin that I am so weak a Scholar in the Art of War as not to have yet learned the principles thereof are not the Sword Fire and Famine the three principal Instruments wherewith the most renowned Kings and Gallant Captains have ever and do still endeavour to subdue their enemies and being joined together are they not able to conquer the stoutest nation in the World it was my goodness and Clemency that I did not assault your walls with my Sword because I would not willingly be the death of any but those who wilfully seek their own destruction neither do I intend to consume so fair a Jewel as this City is with Fire but desire to preserve it as being my own Right and Inheritance if I then use the mildest of the three that is Famine to correct you and bring you to reason you may if you please quickly free your selves from it by delivering this City into my hands which if you shall obstinately refuse I will make you sensible that every impudent talking fellow is not fit to instruct Princes in martial affairs neither ought bookish unexperienced Plebeians to read warlike Lectures to me who am their enemy you desire nay you saucily require that your sick and starved People may pass into the Country through my Army and then if I dare I may assault your Town the World will certainly wonder at your cruelty who have barbarously and uncharitably thrust out of your Gates multitudes of innocent poor distressed People of your own blood kindred and Country on purpose that I should unmercifully kill and destroy them yet such hath been my mercy that I have often relieved and succored them but since I find your obstinacy still continue I henceforth resolve not to give them any comfort and if they perish with Famine as they needs must God will require their blood at your Hands who would most wickedly expose them to these calamities and not at mine who would willingly preserve them if I could have my right be you therefore assured that since you remain so obdurate they shall not pass through my Army but die at your Gates unless your hard Hearts yield them some pity And when I see cause I will assault your Town to your cost but will not be directed how nor when by you in the mean time I would have you know that he who does thus invade and march through the very bowels of your Countrey he who hath already taken as strong though not so great Cities as this and he who with the death and destruction of your chiefest Nobles Captains and most valiant men at Arms hath forced his way thus to besiege your Town dares also if he please assault it and doubts not in the least to win it when he shall think fit The King having thus spoke ordered that the French Commissioners should Dine with his great Officers of State and with a frowning Countenance turned from them after Dinner the Frenchmen consulting among themselves humbly begged of the King a Truce for eight days to consult what was to be done which the King naturally inclined to Clemency freely granted during which daily conferences passed between both partys but nothing was concluded upon which the Townsmen desired only one day more which was frankly assented to in which the Common People hearing nothing was done fell into a dreadful mutiny and threatned to cut their Commanders Throats for suffering them to starve like Dogs for their own pleasure and therefore they forced them to deliver up this great and strong City The French being much disheartned at these disasters a Treaty of Peace was begun in which K. Henry being denied all his demands was very angry and told the Duke of Burgundy the Regent of the Kingdom That he would have the Princess Katherine to Wife and all those Countreys and Provinces he required or else he would drive both his Master and himself out of the Kingdom The Duke reply'd Such words were spoke with much ease but it would cost him much trouble and pains to make them good Which King Henry was resolved to do and therefore suddenly tooâ— the Town of Poictois in a dark night with scaling Laâ—◠〈◊〉 without blows and thereby laid the way open to Pâ— before which the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother 〈◊〉 with his Troops two days and much affrighted 〈◊〉 â—itizens but being â—â—able to assault it with so 〈◊〉 a number he rose from thence and within seâ—â—â—ays took all the Towns Cities Castles and Forts in Normandy except Mount St. Michael The Duke of Burgundy finding that the want of an entire friendship between him and the Dauphin was the chief cause of the destruction of France resolved to agree with him but the Dauphin being irreconcileable upon their meeting caused the Duke to be trecherously murdered which yet seemed to be a just revenge upon him he himself having caused Lewis the Duke of Orleance to be murthered upon a like enterview in the tenth year of K. Henry the Fourth Philip the Dukes Son was extreamly inraged with this horrible accident and to be quit with the Dauphin he with the Earl of Flanders used all means to conclude a Peace betwixt the Kings of England and France and so turn all their Forces against the Dauphin who acted upon his own account and had lately deprived the the Queen of France of her Treasure who therefore hated and abhorred him and to that end it was agreed that K. Henry should meet with Charles the Sixth K. of France Isabel his Queen and the Lady Katharine where a firm Peace was soon agreed on and K. Henry was married with great triumph to the Lady Katharine and was proclaimed sole Regent and Heir apparent of the Crown of France both in England and France King Charles only to have Possession during life After this Peace which consisted of twenty Articles very advantageous to Henry and that the Nobility of both Kingdoms had sworn to them the two Kings accompanied with James the young and valiant King of Scots the Duke of Burgundy Prince of Orange with a great many Lords and Knights besieged and took all the strong Towns and Castles in the Dutchy of Burgundy which joyned with the Dauphin and then they all marched to Paris where K. Henry was again proclaimed Heir apparent of France and soon after a great Assembly was called at Paris where both Kings sat as Judges and the Dutchess
of Burgundy appealed against Charles the late Dauphin and seven others as murderers of her Lord and no defence being made for them they were all summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris by a certain day which they refusing were Banished out of all the Territories of France and to forfeit all their Honours Dignities and Estates The Dauphin having notice thereof went to his old Friend the Earl of Arminiach late Constable of France who espoused his cause and assisted him with Men Money and Arms and soon after the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother meeting with a Body of his Forces under the Command of the Duke of Alanson and being falsly informed of their strength by a trecherous Lombard he fell upon them but was overpowered and slain with several other English Noblemen and near two thousand Common Souldiers K. Henry was much grieved with this unexpected overthrow resolving to be revenged of the Dauphin and his adherents and to that end called a Parliament who gave him a plentiful supply but because it would be long in gathering he pawned his Crown to his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester for 20000 pounds with which soon raising an Army of 30000 stout Men he lands at Calice with John Duke of Bedford and with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Flanders and James K. of Scots he took several Towns from the Dauphin who not daring to venture a Battel fled from place to place designing to tire out the Kings Army in pursuit of him about which time K. Henry had notice that his Q. Katharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor upon which with a Prophetick Spirit as was judged he said I Henry born at Monmouth shall continue but a short time and gain much but Henry born at Windsor shall Reign long and lose all which happened accordingly The King still won more Forts and Castles from the Dauphin who finding the King was gone far from him raised another Army and streightly besieged the City of Cosâ—â—y in Burgundy who agreed to deliver it to him if not relieved within ten days of which K. Henry having advice marched with sufficient Force to succour it but fell so sick by the way that he could travel no further however John Duke of Bedford proceeded on of whose Courage and Conduct the Dauphin being afraid raised the Siege and retired The Kings sickness encreasing he was carried to Boys in Vincennes where he in a few days died before his death he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Lieutenant General of Normandy and Regent of the Kingdom of France and his other Brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester Protector of England and of his Sons Person and then exhorted them with the rest of the Nobles present to maintain true friendship with his faithful Confederate Philip Duke of Burgundy to be at Unity among themselves to be True and Loyal to his Son King Henry to assist by all means his sad and mournful Queen and to maintain by Wisdom and Courage what he by Gods help and his own valour had gotten He died in the thirty eighth year of his Age and the ninth of his Reign 1442. and his Body being conveyed into England was buried with great Pomp and Solemnity in Westminster Abby upon whose Tomb his Queen caused his Royal Statue to be lay'd covered over with Silver Plate gilt the Head thereof being Massy Silver but in the time of K. Henry the eighth the head and the other Silver was stolen away yet the Headless Monument is to be seen at this day with the following Verses on the Tomb. Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heir of France Great Hector lies in Dust HENRY the SIXTH King of England c. MY Father Englands Warlike Mars being dead And I an Infant but of eight Months old The Diadem was plac'd upon my head In Royal Robes the Scepter I did hold But wonderful are the Almighty's Ways And past Mans Reason e're to comprehend For I had nought but sad and woful Days Even from my Birth unto my Tragick End ' Gainst me the House of York their Force did bend Both Peers and People weltred in their Gore That Crown and Scepter they from me did rend My Sire and Grandsire both had worn before Twice was I Crown'd uncrown'd oft blest oft croft At last my Life and Kingdom both I lost THough King Henry the Sixth was not above eight Months old at his Fathers Death yet by the wise Conduct of his two Uncles afore-mentioned the Government was managed with all manner of Prudence and Discretion But soon after the Death of Henry the Fifth Charles the Sixth of France died likewise and the unconstant Frenchmen began to renounce their Oaths and Allegiance to the English Crown and generally revolting to Charles the Dauphin now King of France endeavoured to extirpate the English Nation and Sovereignty from among them To which purpose their new King seised upon Pont Melance a Town on the River Sâ—yn without any warning and slew most of the Engliâ—h Garrison therein but Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury a great Champion in that Age by the Regents Order regained it and caused the Inhabitants again to swear Allegiance to King Henry which they soon after again forfeited and the Parisians invited Charles to come to their City but the Regent having notice thereof tho' he was then engaged in Mirth and Triumphs as having at that time married the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter yet made such speed with his Army that he was at their Gates before they were aware and having seised on the principal Conspirators and executed them publickly by divers cruel Deaths he secured the City by divers new Forts a strong Garrison and a severe Governour The Protector still furnishing the Regent with fresh Supplies of all things from England he daily won divers strong Towns and Fortresses the French King not daring to engage in fight with him though he often shewed himself and boasted of his Valour While all things succeeded well there hapned an unfortunate Accident at Mons where the French suddenly surprised the English within the City and killed them all without the least pity or compassion but the Garrison-Soldiers got into the Castle which the French resolving to besiege and starve them out gave themselves over at present to Ease and Jollity Of this the Lord Talbot was advised who the next Night marched thither with 700 Men and got into the Castle and then issuing out under their Governour the Earl of Suffolk they rushed violently into the Town crying out aloud St. George A Talbot a Talbot wherewith the sleepy drunken Frenchmen were so amazed that some leaped naked over the Walls in their Shirts and broke their Necks about 400 Gentlemen were slain and taken Prisoners the Common People being released After which 30 Citizens 20 Priests and 15 Fryars were put to death
thereof was extreamly displeased at so great an affront and secretly contrived mischief against him to whom the Duke of Clarence who had been disobliged by his Brother joyned himself and married Warwick's Daughter and soon after with other great Lords and Confederates they raised a Rebellion in York-shire and were so strong that at Banbury King Edwards Forces were overthrown and 5000 of them slain the Lord Rivers the Queens Father and the Lord Strafford being beheaded Yet King Edward preparing another great Army marched toward the Rebels but many of the Nobility endeavouring to procure a Peace obtained a Parley during which King Edward being less watchful of himself was seized in his Bed by the treacherous Earl of Warwick and secretly sent Prisoner to Middleham Castle in York-shire to be there kept Prisoner by his own Brother the Archbishop of York who likewise joined with Clarence and Warwick against him from whom either accidentally or willingly he soon after made his escape and at last came safe to London where by the procurement of the Lords the King the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence met upon security given in Westminster Hall where Warwick used such high Language to the King upbraiding him for his Ingratitude that all parted in high discontent and soon after at the Battel of Loosecoats the Rebels were beaten by King Edward throwing off their Coats for haste to make their escape in which fight were slain 10000 men The Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence hearing of this misfortune fled in despair with their Ladies and other Gentlewomen to Callice but were denied entrance by the Governour though the Dutchess of Clarence was then in Labour and delivered on Shipboard whereupon they went to Deip in France and were kindly entertained by that King where divers others repairing to them they consulted to restore King Henry and Prince Edward Henry's Son married the Earl of Warwicks second Daughter whereat the Duke of Clarence was much concerned and resolved to submit to his Brother upon the first opportunity All things being in readiness Warwick and his Confederates imbark for London and land at Dartmouth where his Forces soon increased very much and he then made Proclamation in all places for all men to come to his aid against the Duke of York who falsely and traiterously called himself King In the mean time Edward levied a strong Army wherewith he marched toward the Rebels but being informed of the general love of the People to Warwick and hearing me then loud shouts of King Henry King Henry a Warwick a Warwick he suspected the fidelity of his own Forces and with 800 of his best Friends left his Army and fled in the Night to Lincolnshire and from thence to Holland to the Duke of Burgundy As soon as it was known that Edward was gone the Earl of Warwick câ—me to London and taking Henry out of the Tower carried him triumphantly through the City to Pauls and from thence to the Bishops Pallace where he kept his Court. Then a Parliament being called Edward and his Adherents were attainted of High Treason and their Estates confiscate to the King the Duke of Clarence is declared Heir of the Dukedom of York and the Crown is intailed upon Henry and his Heirs and in default of his issue to the Duke of Clarence and his In a short time Edward by the assistance of the Duke of Burgundy lands in England with small Forces and few joyning with him he declared he came not to challenge the Crown but only his inheritance of the Dutchy of York upon which the People flock't in to him and at last the Lords told him They durst not joyn with him unless he would stile himself King which he did accordingly and the Earl of Warwick with other Nobles coming against him with a strong Army got into Coventry they suspecting the Duke of Clarence who joining accordingly with King Edward they defied the Earl of Warwick who durst not venture without the Walls King Edwar'd hereupon leaves Coventry and marches toward London where he was again joyfully received and King Henry was again committed to the Tower and was soon after followed by the Earl of Warwick who at Barnet was slain with his Brother the Marquess and 10000 men slain After this Queen Margaret landeth from France and some Nobles joyning with her the two Armys met at Teuksbury in Glocestershire where King Edward again remained Victor killing 3000 of his Adversaries and the Queen and her Son Edward were taken Prisoners the Prince being then cruelly murdered by Richard Duke of Glocester and soon after King Henry was found dead in the Tower being wickedly stabbed by the same bloody Richard After this King Edward makes his claim to France and to gain it craved aid of his Subjects by way of Benevolence and among others a covetous Widdow gave him twenty pounds which the King who was there present unknown to her observing not only gave her Thanks but came and kissed her telling her That she should have a kiss from a King for her Money whereat the old Woman was so transported that she told him a Kings kiss was worth more Money and thereupon gave him twenty pound more The King having got an Army together sailed to France but the French King fearing his power chose rather to buy his Peace of the Kings Courtiers which he did accordingly with great Sums of Money paid yearly to the English Nobility Among others he sent two thousand Crowns to the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain the Messenger desiring a Receipt for his own security which the Lord Chamberlain scrupling at said Sir What you desire is very reasonable but the Gift comes from the good Will of your King and not from my Request If you please to give it put into the Pocket of my Sleeve and no other Acquittance shall you have of me for it shall never be said that the Lord Chamberlain of England was a Pensioner to the King of France neither shall my Acquittances be ever found in the Chamber of Accounts in France After this the Lord Chamberlain was more esteemed by the French and had his Money paid without a Receipt About this time the Duke of Clarence being sent to the Tower for High Treason was drowned in a Butt of Malmsey and soon after King Edward himself died after he hid lived 40 years and reigned twenty two 1483. He was a very compleat Person exceeding Valiant but too wanton he used to say he had three Mistresses of different Qualities one of them the Fairest another the Merriest and a third the Holiest Harlot alive whom he could never send for to his Bed but she was always at Prayers with her Beads EDWARD the FIFTH King of England c. IF Birth or Beauty Innocence or Youth Could Pity raise within a Tyâ—ants Heart Then surely Richard would have found it Truth And not have acted such a bloody Part. What Glory then to be of Royal Race What Joy is there in
what sense the words were spoken The Bishop of Ely being a Prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham he by often discoursing with him became so intimate that the Duke opened his whole mind to him complaining of the bloody villanies and Tyranny of the King which the Bishop endeavoured by all means to aggravate repeating all the murders and other crimes he was guilty of and at length perswaded him to endeavour the deposing of Richard and advancing the Earl of Richmond to the Throne and thereby unite the two Houses of Lancaster and York by Richmond's marrying the Lady Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourth's eldest Daughter he being Son and Heir apparent to Margret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir of John Duke of Somerset son to John of Gaunt Fourth Son of Edward the Third and therefore a lawful Heir to the Crown and that hereby all occasion of Faction and Civil Wars would be removed and the World would be rid of a Master who was loathed and hated by all good men The Bishop having by these and many other Arguments confirmed Buckingham in his Resolution of attempting against Richard he then prevailed with him to let him go into the Isle of Ely from whence he fled to the Earl of Richmond in Flanders King Richard having notice hereof sent many rich gifts and presents to the Duke of Brittain to deliver up Richmond to him but could not prevail and tho the Plot of the Bishop was very secret yet Richard had intelligence thereof and resolved to take off Buckingham either by fair or foul means and therefore sent for him kindly to Court but the Duke knowing that Richard never spared the Blood of any who stood in his way sent submissive excuses as not being able to travel the King soon perceived his sickness was more in mind than body and therefore sent Letters full of threats peremptorily commanding him to come the Duke rather desiring an open enemy than a false friend boldly returned answer That he would not venture his life in the hands of such a Monster Murtherer and usurping Tyrant as he was and thereupon presently fled to Arms raising considerable forces in Wales Sir Edward Courtrey and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter did the like in Devonshire Sir Richard Guilford and others in Kent and the Marquess of Dorset in Yorkshire Richard preparing an Army marched with all speed to meet Buckingham before he joined with his confederates who resolving to confront him designed to bring his Army over the Severn to Glocester but the night before it rained extreamly continued so to do for ten days after which caused a very great flood and laid all the Country under water drowning Towns Villages and abundance of People this delay caused scarcity in the Dukes Army upon which the inconstant Welch ran away and left him alone so that he was forced to fly to one Humfry Banister near Shrewsbury for security he having been his Servant and raised by the Duke to a handsome estate the Lords hearing of the Dukes ill success got to Sea and arrived safely in Brittain Richard offered a thousand pound to any who should discover the Duke of Buckingham upon which that ungrateful Wretch delivered him up and without any Legal Tryal he was instantly beheaded In the mean time Richmond hearing nothing of these misfortunes having got together about five thousand men imbarqued them for England but was beaten back by a storm and much shattered yet being relieved by the French King he soon after got into Brittain where he met his noble friends by whom it was concluded to attempt landing in England once more Richmond swearing to marry Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourths eldest Daughter But K. Richard to prevent the match perswaded the old Queen with large promises and great sums of money to deliver her five Daughters into his custody and soon after he caused it to be reported that his own Queen was dead which she hearing of was much troubled and in a week after was found dead indeed which Richard so little regarded that he presently made love to the Lady Elizabeth who considering her own and Sisters danger durst not deny him absolutely but perswaded him to stay till he had defeated the Duke of Richmond and setled himself in Peace At this time his Court flatterers perswaded him that Richmond and his Party received such small incouragement and assistance from the French King that he was unable to make any attempt against him which Richard readily believed and therefore discharged the forces which were in Garrison on the Sea Coasts whereby it pleased God to infatuate the councel of this Bloody Politician to bring him to his deserved fate for soon after by the aid of the young French King the Earl of Richmond with a very inconsiderable force landed at Milford in Wales where he saw little appearance of assistance but the Welchmen being put in mind that Richmond being the Son of Owen Tudor was of their own Countrey and Blood and that he would have a special kindness for them that he would marry the Lady Elizabeth and thereby perfectly settle the Kingdom they soon flockt yea throng'd unto him with willing and resolved minds under several Gallant Commanders the Earl of Shrewsbury likewise sent in two thousand men and Sir Thomas Bouchier Sir Walter Hungerford and the Lord Stanley came with five thousand more all these were lieved by King Richards order but revolted to Richmond as judging it lawful to forsake a Tyrant and submit to a more legal Power Richard was much disturbed at this disappointment however he raised an Army of about twenty thousand and with his true friend John Duke of Norfolk marched toward Bosworth in Leicestershire where the Armies met and fought two hours K. Richard acting the part of a valiant Commander but at length was slain as it is said by the Earl of Richmonds own hand August 22. 1485. a thousand of his men being killed and among them the Duke of Norfolk and not above an hundred of Richmonds after the battle Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Son and Heir to the Duke of Norfolk was taken Prisoner fighting for King Richard of whom the Earl of Richmond demanded How he durst bear Arms for that Tyrant Richard who answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary Authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I will fight for that stock and as I fought then for him so I will fight for you when you are established by the same Authority And so he did for his Son Henry 8. at Flodden Field Camdens Remains King Richard being killed his Crown which he that day wore being found among the spoils was brought to Henry Earl of Richmond by his Father in Law the Lord Stanley and the Souldiers shouting loudly and crying King Henry King Henry he crowned him therewith in the open Field King Richard had three wicked Councellers who incited him to cruelty Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and the Lord Lovel and Richard gave the Hog for the supporter of his Arms whereupon one Collingborn made the following Rime and was executed for the same as a Traytor The Rat the Cat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog Thus lived and thus died King Richard
after he had reigned as a Tyrant two years two months and two days and of his Age thirty nine 1485. HENRY the SEVENTH King of England c. I Was the Man by Providence assign'd To purchase to this restless Kingdom rest I York and Lancaster in one conjoyn'd That by long Wars each other had opprest My Strength and Wisdom both by Heav'n were blest With good success even from first to last And the Almighty turned to the best A world of dangers which I over past I did unite the White Rose and the Red By a Conjugal Sacred Marriage Band Traytors and Treason both I quite struck dead For I was guarded by a Mighty Hand In Honour and Magnificence I Reign'd And after death a glorious Tomb I gain'd HEnry Earl of Richmond being Crowned by the name of King Henry the Seventh he according to his Oath and Promise married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth thereby uniting the two Houses of Lancaster and York whose differences had been the death of many Thousand gallant men He then chose a select number of men for the security of his Person whom he called the Yeomen of the Guard or Crown and rewarded his Friends with Honours and Offices and among others Edward Stafford Son of the Duke of Buckingham was restored to his Fathers Dignity and Estate and calling a Parliament at Westminster all Acts which made him and his adherents guilty of High Treason were repealed and cancelled and the Crown was intailed upon him and his Heirs In his second year Francis Lord Lovel Humphrey and Thomas Strafford who had taken sanctuary for their safety at Colchester animated many People in the North to a Rebellion but King Henry soon raising an Army and pursuing them their Commanders fled and left the poor Rebels who upon submission were pardoned by the King Strafford again took Sanctuary in an Abby near Oxford but was violently forced from thence as not being sufficient enough to protect Traytors who being condemned was executed but his Brother was pardoned as Acting by his instigation No sooner was this Fire quenched but another broke out for the next year Sir Richard Symond a knavish crafty Priest knowing that Edward Plantaginet Son and Heir to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth who was now seventeen years old had from his Infancy been kept Prisoner by the two last Kings in the Castle of Sherry Hutton in Yorkshire and that he had been lately removed from thence to the Tower by King Henry he got a young Boy named Lambert Simnel a Bakers Son whom he instructed in all Court accomplishments and then told him that he was the onely Son of the Duke of Clarence and first Heir Male of the House of York The Youth being Ingenious was soon fired with this Discourse so that he could talk thereof very subtilly as if he had received his knowledge by Inspiration This Priest having throughly instructed this apt Scholar he conveyed him into Ireland and was soon entertained and believed by that barbarous and fickle Nation who gave him all Honour and Reverence yea divers of the Nobility after much conference with him did really believe what he affirmed to be true and among others the Lord Chancellor and Sir Thomas Gerandine pitying his condition were very liberal toward him He then gave private notice thereof to the Lady Magaret Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy and Sister to King Edward the Fourth who though she certainly knew he was a Countefeit yet bearing a mortal hatred to King Henry and the House of Lancaster and hoping if the Design succeeded it might procure the inlargement and advancement of her true Nephew Edward to the Crown she published the report thereof in England and all other places and that the Irish had received him for their Sovereign neither would she be wanting to support him with Men Money and Arms to the utmost These vain reports caused her Sister Eiizabeth the Lord Lovel and several other of the discontented English Nobility to transport themselves to her into Flanders and she having raised about 2000 men sent them to Ireland to joyn with 2000 more all resolving for England In the mean time King Henry to discover the Cheat caused Edward the young Earl of Warwick to be brought publickly through the City from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where vast numbers of Nobility and Commons discoursed with him And now Lamberts Forces landed near Lincoln to whom Henry sent an Army who soon routed the Irish for want of Arms and dispersed the rest most of their Commanders being slain Symonds the Priest and Lambert were taken Prisoners the first being committed to perpetual Imprisonment and Lambert was first made Scullion Boy and afterwards the Kings Falkoner In his fourth year a Tax being raised by Parliament for assisting the Duke of Brittain against the French the Countrey People in Northumberland and Durham refused to pay it and cruelly murdered the Earl of Northumberland who was employed in raising thereof and increasing in number they committed many Insolencies but the King sending a compleat Army against them under the Earl of Surry and following himself in person the Rebels as Men amazed soon fled after which followed severe execution upon all whom the King suspected to dislike his Government In his seventh year King Henry sailed with an Army into France and Besieged Bulloign assaulting it fiercely but the French King by the Mediation of his Friends and Money soon procured a Peace very honourable to Henry About which time his ancient and inveterate Enemy the Dutchess of Burgundy set up another Pageant against him having instructed a Dutch Boy called Perkin Warbeck to personate Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth and Brother to King Edward the Fifth instructing him exactly in the Pedegrees of the Houses of Lancaster and York and telling him she resolved to advance him to the Crown whereby the youth in a short time became as expert in the Language and Linage as any Englishman whatsoever The French King expecting daily an English Army to be raised in Brittain sent for Perkin and promised to assist him in regaining his Kingdom honouring him with all manner of magnificence so that the youngster could not but strongly imagine that he was born to be a King But in the midst of his flattering hopes the Peace between France and England aforementioned was concluded upon which for fear he should be delivered up to King Henry he fled secretly out of France to his Titular Aunt the Dutchess who received him joyfully entertaining him like a Prince with plenty of Money and costly Apparel and ordering thirty Gentlemen of Quality to wait on him as his Guard She then caused it to be published in England that
her Nephew Richard was alive and expected the assistance of all his loving Subjects to restore him to his Kingdom as being the undoubted Heir Male of the House of York these reports wrought much both upon the Gentry and Common People so that many resolved to assist him and sent Sir Robert Clifford secretly into Flanders to enquire whether he were really such as was pretended who by the Subtilty of the Dutchess and the Ingenuity of the Lad was really perswaded that he was King Edward the Fourth's youngest Son of which sending an account into England his Friends and Partakers daily increased This Design extreamly disturbed King Henry who therefore strongly fortified all places upon the Sea coast and likewise sent divers Spies to the Dutchess of Burgundy who under pretence of joyning with her discovered what Persons in England intended to joyn with Perkin upon whose information and after Legal Tryals the chiefest of them were executed as Traytors In the mean time an Insurrection happened in Lond n against the Easterlings the Apprentices of London breaking up their Warehouses at the Stillyard and doing much mischief but they were soon disperst by the Lord Mayor and afterward all pardoned by the King And now Sir Robert Clifford upon his repentance and the Intercession of his Friends was pardoned by King Henry who coming over discovered all the Contrivances of the Lady Margaret and Perkin with the rest of the Conspirators but named onely Sir William Stanley at which the King admired because he was much beloved by him and had received great rewards who upon clear Conviction was beheaded In the mean time Perkin being furnished with Ships by the Lady Margaret manned with abundance of Villains and Outlaws who landing in Kent were beaten back with great loss and 160 taken Prisoners who where executed in divers places Having such ill success he lands next in Ireland and goes from thence to Scotland where he was entertained by that King though he knew he was a Counterfeit who assisting him they marched into Northumberland and almost utterly destroy'd it Upon this King Henry calls a Parliament who laying a severe Tax on the People the Cornishmen rebel and march toward London but at Blackheath King Henry got an absolute Victory with the slaughter of 2000 Rebels And then turning his Arms toward the Scots they fled before him so that he entred Scotland without resistance destroying many considerable Towns and Forts the Scotch King not daring to relieve them though he with his Army were sometimes not a mile distant Upon this followed a Truce for some years upon condition that Perkin should be banished out of Scotland who sailed from thence into Cornwal where the Cornishmen though so lately defeated yet being desperate joyned with him and Besieged Exeter very closely but at length left it and sat down before Taunton but the King marching toward him with a Formidable Army Perkin with his chief Captains fled and took Sanctuary at Beauly near Southampton several of the rest were taken and executed and the Rable pardoned and Perkin being Besieged in his Monastry yielded himself and was brought to the King who pardoned him only he was set in the Stocks upon an high Scaffold in Cheapside a whole day with a Paper pinned at his back declaring his ignoble descent and Pedigree and was then committed Prisoner to the Tower where practicing with Edward the young Earl of Warwick and others to raise disturbances he was by Law condemned and executed for High Treason together with young Warwick who was extreamly pitied by all for his innocence King Henry soon after sending an Ambassage to Philip Duke of Burgundy by Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Doctor in the end of his Speech gave this severe remark on the Dutchess That after she was threescore years old she had brought forth two Monsters Lambert and Perkin and those not in the ninth and tenth Month as Women usually do but in the hundred and fourscore Month for they were both above fifteen years of age when she brought them abroad as it were out of her Belly neither were they Crisoms or Infants but such lusty lads that as soon as ever they were born they were able to make War with a Mighty King These troubles being over his eldest Son Prince Arthur of fifteen years old was married to the Lady Katharine daughter to Ferdinando King of Spain and the next year James the Fourth King of Scots married the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry but these joys were soon over for Prince Arthur died within five Months after he was married And now King Henry resolving to humble his People took advantage of the breach of the Penal Laws imploying Sir Richard Empson and Edmond Dudleâ— therein who being attended with a Band of Cheats and Informers ruined abundance of People in many Countreys in England so that no man thought himself secure of any thing he enjoyed In his twenty first year the King and Queen of Castile being driven by storm into England were entertained by the King with all kind of magnificence and the next year King Henry grew sick and infirm and perceiving his time was short he deprived those Caterpillars of their power who during his Sickness Plagued the People more than ever he likewise pardoned all Offences and restored great summs to those who had been robbed by those wretched Cormorants being extream penitent for the wrongs and injuries he had committed upon his Subjects and having reigned twenty three years and lived fifty two he died and was buried in a sumptuous Chappel built with great cost by himself at Westminster in the year 1508. HENRY the EIGHTH King of England c. TO both the Royal Houses I was Heir Of Two that long contended I One made This Nation rent and almost in despair I did revive setling Commerce and Trade I banish'd RomishVsurpations vain In France I Bulloign Tyrwin Tournay waâ— The Stile of Faiths Defender I did gain Six Wives I had three Anns two Kates one Jane In my Expences Royal beyond measure Striving in Noble Actions to exceed Accounting Honour as my greatest Treasure Yet various Fancies did my Frailty feed I made I marr'd I did and I undid Till all my Greatness in a Grave was hid HEnry the onely surviving Son of Henry the Seventh succeeded his Father at Eighteen years of Age 1509. And having a Dispensation from the Pope he married the Lady Katherine his Brother Prince Arthur's Widow To oblige his People he made open Proclamation That he would hear the Complaints against Empson and Dudley and finding they had committed notorious Rapines on his Subjects he caused them to be beheaded at Tower-hill and their Confederates were Pilloried in several Places of the Kingdom At this time the French King Lewis the Twelfth made War with the Pope whereupon Henry offered himself a Mediator but was rejected by the French King and
reserved her for better Fortune for being studious in the English Bible which was forbid to be read she thereby began to hearken to those who declaimed against the Abuses of the Roman Church and thought her self so well instructed in her Religion that she would debate thereof with the King who impatiently heard her both by reason of the anguish of his sore Leg and because he hated to be contradicted especially in his old Age and by his Wife as he said This was so much aggravated by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester a bitter Enemy to the Reformation as being against the Six Articles and the Proclamation against Prohibited Books that the King gave leave to him and Wriothsley the Chancellor to draw up Articles against her which they presented to the King and were subscribed by him so that they onely expected a Warrant to carry her to the Tower which the Queen accidentally hearing of fell into a great Passion extremely bewailing her Misfortune of which the King having notice came himself to her Chamber where compassionating her Condition he used such kind Words as did help to recover her so that the next Night coming into the Kings Chamber he began to talk of Religion but she wittily excusing her self by reason of the weakness of her Sex Judgment said She would refer her self in this as in all other Causes to his Majesties Wisdom Not so by St. Mary quoth the K. you are become a Doctor Kate to instruct Vs as We take it and not to be instructed or directed by Vs But the Queen replying That what she said was rather to pass away the time and make him forget his Pain than to hold an Argument and that she hoped by hearing his Majesties Learned Discourse to receive some Profit thereby The King answered And is it even so Sweet-heart Then are we perfect Friends again and therewith lovingly kissed her But her Enemies knowing nothing of this Reconcilement prepared to send her to the Tower the next day according to the Kings Warrant when she being merrily talking with him in the Garden the Lord Wriothsley with forty of his Guard came in whom the King sternly beholding and after calling to him at some distance from the Queen so expostulated the matter that at last he reviled him and commanded him out of his Presence yet at the Kings return she humbly begged his Pardon to whom the King answered Alas poor Soul thou little knowest how ill he has deserved this for I assure thee he has been a very Knave to thee And thus by her opportune Submission she escaped though Winchester absolutely designed her Ruine Not long before King Henry sailed to Callice in a Ship with Sails of Cloth of Gold and the Emperour of Germany served under him as a Soldier at 100 Crowns a day The King sate down before Bulâ—oigne and in six weeks time it was delivered to him This was succeeded by a War with Scotland by the instigation of the French King whereupon Henry sent an Army of 20000 Men to invade Scotland who burnt and plundred several Towns and Villages but James the Fifth of Scotland an active and warlike Prince having raised Forces marched toward the Borders with a resolution to fight the English though dissuaded by his Nobility who remembred the Miseries of the former War and the loss of their last King James having made Oliver Sinclair a Favourite of mean Birth General the Lords were so much disgusted that upon the appearance of onely 500 English Horse apprehending them to be the whole English Army the Scots threw down their Arms and fled Many Prisoners were taken as the Earls of Glencairn Cassils the Lords Maxwell Sommervill Oliphant Gray and Ol. Sinclair with above 200 Gentlemen and 800 Soldiers The News of this Loss with the murdering of an English Herald being brought to King James together with the Birth of a Daughter when he earnestly desired a Son so oppressed him with Grief and Despair that he fell into a Fever and died the thirty third year of his Age and the thirty second of his Reign leaving onely his Infant Daughter Mary to succeed him This turn of Affairs put Henry upon new thoughts of uniting England and Scotland by procuring a Marriage between his Son Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland whereupon the King having magnificently treated the Scotch Nobility represented to them this fair Occasion of ending all Quarrels between the two Nations who approving thereof the Match was confirmed both by the Parliament of England and Scotland But Cardinal Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews fearing that the Consequence of it would be a Change in Matters of Religion opposed it as likewise the French which caused continual Wars and great Devastations And then the King fell again upon France who were â—routed by him in divers kirmishes but in his thirty eighth year a Peace was concluded between England and France And soon after the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of urrey were convicted of High Treason onely for Quartering the Arms which they said properly belonged to the King for which the Earl was beheaded to the great grief of the People but the Duke by reason of the Kings Sickness and Death soon after was preserved For he was grown excessive Corpulent and the Inflammation of his Leg cast him into a lingring Fever whereby he finding his Spirits decay made his Will wherein he ordered that his onely Son Edward should succeed him and he dying without Issue his Daughter Mary and after her if without Issue his Daughter Elizabeth should succeed appointed the Principal Men of the Kingdom for his Executors And finding his last Moment approaching he sent for Archbishop Cranmer then at Croyden who coming found him speechless The Archbishop desired him to give some Sign of his dying in the Faith of Christ upon which he squeezed his Hand and presently departed after he had reigned thirty seven years and nine months and lived fifty six Thus died King Henry whose Reign had been fatal to his Queens burdensom and cruel to his Subjects yet glorious in respect of his Victories over his Enemies and that the Ax was then first laid to the Root of Superstition and the Door first opened to Truth and Reformation EDWARD the SIXTH King of England c. I seem'd in wisdom aged in my youth A Princely Pattern I reformed the time With Christian Courage I maintained Gods Truth And Christian Faith ' gainst Antichristian crime My Father did begin it in my prime And Bial and Belial from this Kingdom drove And I did still endeavour all my time By all means to advance Gods Truth and Love To add Grace unto Grace I always strove I liv'd beloved both of God and Men My Soul unto its maker soar'd above My Mortal Part returned to Earth agen Thus death my just proceedings did prevent And Peers and People did my loss lament EDward was born at Hampton-Court Oct. 17. 1537. Being the only surviving
Pope sent two proud Legats into England Pandulphus and Durandus who persuaded the King to agree with Langton and restore the Prior and Monks of St. Austins to their Lands and Offices To which John for fear of the Popes Curse and to prevent any further Quarrels yielded onely desiring to be excused as to the Election of the Archbishop yet protesting That if another might be chosen he would prefer Langton to some other Bishoprick But the Legats in stead of gratifying the King in his Request proceeded immediately to excommunicate him pronouncing the Popes Curse against him and absolving all his Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance toward him Yea he required all Christian Princes to make War upon him as the Arch and Grand Enemy of the Church of God Nay he published the Sentence of Deprivation against him and gave his Crown and Kingdom to Philip the French King of which he was to take Possession as soon as he could expel or murder John either by some secret Plot or by open Violence and Hostility Thus did this Unholy Father out of his Usurping Arrogance and Hellish Pride presume to dispose of Kings and Kingdoms at his pleasure and all on the cursed Pretence of the Honour of God and Holy Church But the King not fearing these Thunderbolts was resolved to stand his Ground and to that end took a solemn Oath of his Subjects for his Defence and their Fidelity And then raising a strong Army he entred Scotland against King Alexander for supporting divers Rebellious Clergymen and others who adhered to the Popes Authority against him but the King of Scots finding he should gain nothing but Ruine and Destruction by Opposition humbly submitted himself to King John and an entire Friendship and Amity was concluded betwixt them The French King resolving to take Possession of the Popes Gift provided great Forces to invade the Kingdom but by the diligence of King John 300 of his Ships loaden with Corn Victuals and other Warlike Provisions were seised and thereby Philip's vain Hopes at that time prevented However the Pope accursed the King again and again so that despairing of ever bâ—ing quiet without the Advice of his Council or Nobility he all on a sudden submitted himself upon his Knees to Pandulphus the Popes Legat confessing his Disobedience and begging Pardon and by a Publick Instrument in Writing under his Hand and Seal he resigned his Crown and Scepter to the Pope which Pandulphus kept four days for the Popes Use and then gave them both back to John and his Heirs upon Condition to hold his Kingdom from the Pope and pay 1000 Marks a year to him as a Tribute This base Submission so alienated the Affections of his Nobility and Men of War that they revolted from him and fled to his Enemy the French King who resolved to make his Son Lewis Monarch of this Realm and sent him hither with a numerous Army where he did much mischief though often encountred But the Pope being now for King John forbid Philip to proceed any further against him since he and his Kingdom were now reconciled to him and the Church and that the Crown was held from the See of Rome But the French King refused to obey affirming That no King could give away his Kingdom nor the Protection of his Subjects which were committed to him by God without the Consent of the Nobility Gentry and Commons and that therefore this Kingdom could not be holden of the Church of Rome nor protected by her This Answer so vexed the Pope that he presently sent Cardinal Guallo into England who cursed King Philip and Lewis his Son with all the English Nobility who took part with them Though the wiser sort little regarded what the Cardinal did yet the Common People and Soldiers who were ignorantly devout were so amazed that they fled to their Houses and Ships and others entred into the Houses and Grounds of the Excommunicate Lords and Gentry robbing and spoiling all before them supposing that their Robberies were pleasing and meritorious before God by which means the Lords were much distressed and even ready to starve for want of Sustenance none daring to relieve them so that they were at last necessitated to throw themselves at the Kings Feet and crave his Mercy who though by their means he had been reduced to the utmost Extremities yet being of a merciful Disposition he easily pardoned them and restored them to their Honours and Lands By which means the French finding themselves forsaken were forced to return back to France and all their vast Designs perished in a moment But the Pope intending to make his Proceedings against King John a President to other Princes assembled a General Council at Lateran wherein he gave a full Account of all Transactions with the Kings Grant of his Kingdom and the Tenure whereby it was held from the Church of Rome And in the same Council Otho the Emperour Peter King of Arragon Raymond Earl of Tholouse and divers other Sovereign Princes were Excommunicated and others Interdicted with their Kingdoms and Provinces for Heresie as was pretended though the real Design was to make Princes Slaves and Vassals to the Will and Pleasure of the Pope and to enrich himself with their Ruine For in this Council wherein they say were 1215 Catholick Doctors it was positively concluded That the Pope might depose Kings absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance and give away their Kingdoms Likewise That such as spoke evil of the Pope should be damned in Hell and that none should be Emperour till he had sworn Homage to the Pope and had received his Crown from him Also Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation were then decreed and established And thus all these Troubles which had continued ten years came now to an end But the Clergy would by no means be reconciled to King John for such was their inveterate Hatred toward him that under pretence of Kindness he was poysoned by a Monk at Swinstead Abby near Lincoln who to make all sure poysoned himself that he might not fail to do the same to the King And thus died King John when he had reigned Seventeen years in 1216. and lies buried at Winchester He was Politick and exceeding Valiant Bountiful and Liberal to Strangers not given to Revenge for when he was shewed how Honourably one of his Rebellious Barons was Intombed and advised to deface the Monument No by no means says he I wish all 〈◊〉 Enemies were as honourably buried When several Greeks came hither and offered to prove that there were several Errours in the Church of Rome at that time he rejected them saying I will not suffer our Faith which is established to be called in question with doubtful Disputations He left behind him four Sons Henry who succeeded him Richard created King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay with three Daughters one married to the Emperour Frederick a second to William Marshal Earl of Worcester and the third
and much weakned the Kings Army so that soon after all Aquitain was lost Another Cause was the horrid Murder of the innocent Duke of Glocester for the King being of a mild patient and virtuous Temper and the Queen on the contrary of a proud politick revengeful Humour despised the soft Disposition of her Husband and could not endure that the King being now of full Age should be any longer under a Governour and to that end was resolved to dismiss the good Duke of Glocester from his Protectorship being much encouraged therein by the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of Suffolk the rich Cardinal of Winchester and the Archbishop of York and a Parliament being called the Duke of Glocester by their procurement was arrested and committed to Prison for High-Treason and the next morning was found dead in his bed and judged by all to be barbarously murdered And now the Duke of Tork secretly conspired with his accomplices to set up his Title to the Crown and the Duke of Suffolk ruling all used several oppressive methods against the People whereby no man nor money was raised for France and the Counsel not able to manage any thing to the honour of the King either at home or abroad so that in a short time all Normandy was lost for which the Duke of Suffolk was accused in Parliament and committed to the Tower but the Queen suddenly dissolving the Parliament restored him again to favour yet afterward upon the importunity of the Commons he was banished for five years but being taken by an English man of War as he was sailing to France they landed him at Dover and cut off his head on the sands whereby the innocent blood of the Duke of Glocester was in some measure revenged When the English had thus lost France a French Captain scoffingly asked an Englishman when they would return again to France who seriously replied when your sins shall be greater and m re grievous in the sight of God than ours then shall the English again Conquer France It has been observed that from the Reign of King Edward the first to this time which was about two hundred years there was an extraordinary concurrence of martial men prudent Counsels and excellent conduct so that this Nation was renowned throughout the Christian World but why they did all afterwards decay must be left to the learned to discuss The Duke of York being sent into Ireland to suppress a Rebellion there and hearing how matters went both in England and France began to declare his right to the Crown as being descended from Philip Daughter and Heir of George Duke of Clarence elder Brother to John of Gaunt great Grand-Father to Henry the sixth these things being whispered by the Duke of York's friends and Allies in England and likewise that the Kings understanding was weak the Queen proud and ambitious and the Council base and treacherous and that all France was lost because of the usurpation of King Henry it caused great dissatisfactions in the minds of the People upon which Jack Cade calling himself John Mortimer made an insurrection in Kent and with a rude multitude marched toward the King then at Greenwich sending a Message that he intended no harm to his Royal Person but would only displace some of his evill Councellors who were great oppressors of the People the Queen soon raised an Army to suppress them but they were defeated by Cade who marched to London and did much mischief but the Kings General Pardon being Proclaimed his followers left him and Jack Cade was slain fighting for his Life This cloud being past a greater suceeded for many of the Nobility and Commons hating the ill Government of the Queen and her adherents sent for the Duke of York from Ireland the chief of his friends being the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Devonshire Salisbury Warwick and the L. Cobham who concluded to raise an Army to remove the Duke of Somerset from the King and Queen as a deceiver of the King a friend to his enemies and the chief occasion of the loss of France the King fearing the worst likewise raised an Army but to take away all pretence he committed the D. of Somerset to the Tower upon which the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came privately to Court where he found the Duke of Somerset with the King by whose procurement the Duke of York was committed some few days Prisoner but being again at Liberty he made fresh complaints of the disorders of the Government and the Duke of Somerset and strengthning himself with the power of the chief of the Nobility he caused Somerset to be arrested for High-Treason on the Queens great Chamber from whence he was sent to the Tower but was presently after released and made Captain of Callice Upon which the Duke of York again lâ—â—ieth an Army and was met by another on the Kings part at St. Albans where a bloudy battle was fought above eight thousand and among them the Duke of Somerset being slain and King Henry taken Prisoner and brought to the Duke of York who used him courteously and having called a Parliament at London the Duke of York was made Protector of the Kings Person the Earl of Salisbury Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Norwich his Son Captain of Callice who managed affairs to the general satisfaction of the Nobility and People but the Duke of Buckingham having lost his eldest Son and the new Duke of Somerset his Father resolved upon revenge and joyning with the Queen they called a great Councel at Greenwich by whose Authority the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury were removed from the Government the Queen designing by all means to cut them off of which the Duke of York being sensible resolved now to maintain his claim to the Crown in the open Field and to that purpose raised an Army but his intention being discovered too early to the King he fled with his youngest Son to Ireland his eldest Son the Earl of March got to Callice where he was joyfully received from whence returning by the incouragement of several of the Nobility and landing at Sandwich in Kent he soon gathered an Army of Twenty five thousand men with which he met the Kings forces at Northampton where after a furious fight the King was routed with the loss of ten thousand men and himself taken Prisoner The Duke of York having notice of this Victory returns suddenly to London from Ireland where a Parliament being called in the Kings name the Duke sitting down in the imperial Throne in the House of Lords in an eloquent speech declared his right to the Crown whereupon after mature deliberation it was enacted by both Houses That King Henry should retain the name and honour of a King during life that the Duke of York should be proclaimed Heir Apparent of the Crown and to be a present Lord Protector of the Realm and that if King Henry or any of his confederates should
to the French with all the Forts Artillery and baggage upon the payment of Four hundred thousand Crowns to the King of England The Duke of Brunswick now desired the Lady Mary the Kings Eldest Sister in Marriage but there being a treaty about marrying her to the Infanto of Portugal it was retarded In the mean while the Emperor of Germany demanded by his Ambassador that the Lady Mary might have free exercise of the Mass but neither promises nor threats could prevail with the King to allow it being as he said against his Conscience a treaty was likewise set on foot for a Marriage between the Lady Elizabeth the Kings youngest Sister and the King of Denmarks Eldest Son but when it was almost concluded the princess could by no means be prevailed upon to consent thereto And soon after several of the Nobility were sent in an Ambassy to the French King to Treat of a Marriage between King Edward and his Daughter which at length was agreed on the French being to give her two hundred thousand Crowns as a Portion but it was never consummated by reason of the Kings Death The Earl of Warwick was now created Duke of Northumberland and having an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector resolved upon his ruin which Somerset was not insensible of and therefore used all imaginable caution to defeat him but being of a mild disposition though perswaded by his friends to prevent his own ruin by Northumberlands destruction he was unwilling to taste any violent course only he was perswaded by some treacherous acquaintance to go privately armed to the Council Table where being apprehended his bosom was opened and he thereupon committed to the Tower tryed and found guilty upon a new Law which made it Fellony to design the Death of a Privy Councellor and was soon after beheaded on Tower-hill together with Sir Michael Stanhope and Sir Thomas Arundel Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Miles Partridge being hanged there at the same time Mean while the Duke of Suffolks three Daughters which he had by Francis Daughter of Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France were married at Durham House the Eldest Jane Grey to the Lord Guilford Dudley Fourth Son to the Duke of Northumberland the Second Katherine to the Earl of Pembroke the youngest being somewhat deformed to Martin Keys the Kings Gentleman Porter the Duke of Northumberland having so far advanced his designs as to procure an Alliance with the Royal family now hoped to arrive to the height of his ambition though the people generally hated him for his practices against those two gallant men the Duke of Somerset and the Lord Admiral the Kings Uncles For the King now grew very weak and in a languishing state of body which whether occasioned by grief for the Death of his Uncles or whether caused by poison which as some reported was infused into a Nosegay of Flowers presented to him on new years day as a great rarity or whether by a defluxion of Rheum upon his Lungs is yet uncertain however he fell into an Hectick Feaver which the Physicians declared would suddenly cause his Death whereupon the Duke of Northumberland used several stratagems to secure the Lady Mary and perswaded the King to exclude his two Sisters in regard if the Lady Mary succeeded Popery and Idolatry would be again introduced and she could not be put by unless her other Sister the Lady Elizabeth were likewise excluded since their Rights depended upon one another but if he pleased to appoint the Lady Jane his own next Kinswoman to succeed he might be sure the true Religion would be maintained to Gods great Glory so that the sick Prince out of Love to Religion was prevailed with to exclude his two Sisters and to ordain by his will the Lady Jane to be his Successor which will was subscribed by all the Council Bishops and Judges except Sir John Hales Bishop Cranmer likewise made some difficulty to sign it but at length did as others and a few days after this pious Prince departed this Life at Greenwich July 6. 1553. in the Seventeenth year of his Age when he had reigned six years and five months being buried at Westminster near his Grandfather Henry the Seventh MARY Queen of England c. AS soon as I ascended to the Throne The True Religion I banisht quite Rome Spain and I were all conjoin'd in one To persecute to burn and put to flight All that the Gospel of our Lord profest All who oppos'd blind Error and the Pope All such with grievous tortures were opprest With th' Ax with Fire with Faggot and the Rope Scarce any Nation underneâ—th the Sky Afflicted was as I caused this to be But when my thoughts and hopes were grown most high Then Death at five years end arrested me No Bail would serve I could commaâ—d no aid But in the Prison of my Grave was laid MAry eldest Daughter of King Henry the Eighth by Queen Katha ine of Spain was born at Greenwich 1518. at whose birth though great numbers of the Nobility were at Court yet there was not observed to be the usual joy upon such occasions which some thought proceeded from a secret impulse that she was rather born for a Scourge than a Blessing to the Nation as it after happened when she grew up she was committed to the Tuition of the Countess of Salisbury who above all things instructed her in the Romish Principles which may be thought the reason of her furious Zeal therein and especially since Stephen Gardiner a keen enemy to the Reformation was her Ghostly Father of whom she once demanded What he thought of those that were not of her Opinion He told her They would infallibly be damned since there was no Salvation in any Church but that wherein the Pope Christs Vicar was the Head and that it was dangerous to converse with them but a mortal sin to spare any of them if she had advantage against them it being pleasing to God to destroy them as obstinate Hereticks which pernicious Counsel as soon as she had power she fully put in practice After the death of King Edward the Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen which the Lady Mary who was at her Mannor at Hovesdon in Herefordshire having notice of she sent a Letter to the Lords of the Council to deplore her Brothers death and demand the Crown as her right but they writ her an answer wherein they insisted on the lawfulness of her Mothers divorce whereby she was made Illegitimate and by several Acts of Parliament yet in force uninheritable to the Crown Imperial of this Realm together with the Will of King Edward and the proclaiming of Queen Jane and therefore desired her to be quiet and obedient to the present Government This was Signed by above twenty of the Council divers of them being Executors of the Testament of the last King The Lady Mary perceiving their Resolution to stand by Queen Jane went to Framingham Castle in
Fitz-Harris were hanged at Tyburn July 2. The E. of Shaftsbury was committed to the Tower one Stephen Colledg a Joyner was likewise sent Prisoner thither and a Bill being brought against him to the Grand-Jury at the Old Bayly they returned it Ignoramus a while after he was sent to Oxford and found guilty of High-Treason committed there for which he was there executed Novem. 24. a Commission issued out for the Tryal of L. Shaftsbury at the Old Bayly but the Grand-Jury brought in the Bill Ignoramus July 12 13 14. 1683 Willam L. Russel Thomas Walcâ—t William Hoâ—e and John Rous were endicted and condemned for High Treason the L. Russel was beheaded in Lincolns-Inn-Fields and the others executed at Tyburn Decem. 7. Algernon Sidney Esquire was beheaded on Tower-hill upon the same Account June 20. 1684. Sir Thomas Armstrong was hanged and quartered upon an Outlawry for High-Treason James Holloway likewise executed some time before at Tyburn upon the like Outlawry for High Treason The Names of the Principal Officers Civil and Military in England 1684. The Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council 33. Lord A. Bishop Canterbury Lord Gilford Lord Keeper E. of Radnor L. President Mar. Hallifax L. Privy Seal Duke of Ormond Duke of Albemarle Duke of Newcastle Duke of Beaufort Marquess of Winchester Earl of Lindsey Earl of Arlington Earl of Oxford Earl of Huntington Earl of Bridgwater Earl of Peterborough Earl of Chesterfield Earl of Sunderland Earl of Clarendon Earl of Bath Earl of Craven Earl of Ailsbury Earl of Nottingham Earl of Rochester L. Viscount Faulconbridge Lord Bishop of London Lord Dartmouth Henry Coventry Esq Sir â—â—oline Jenkyns Knight 〈…〉 Ernle 〈…〉 Chichely 〈…〉 L.C. Justice Sidney Godolphin Esq Edward Seymour Esq The Great Officers of the Crown 9. L. High Steward of Engl. L. Keeper Lord North. L. High Treasurer at present in Commission L. President E. of Radror L. Privy Seal Mar. Hallifax L Great Chamberlain Earl of Lindsey L. High Constable Earl Marshal D. of Norfolk L. High Admiral at present in Commission His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State 2. Earl of Sunderland Sidney Godolphin Esq Officers of His Majesties Houshold Ecclesiastical 3. Dean of the Chappel Lord Bishop of London Clerk of the Closet Lord Bishop of Durham L. Almoner L. B. Rochester Civil 9. L. Steward D. of Ormond L. Chamberlain E. Arlington Master of the Horse Duke of Richmond Treasurer Lord Newport Comptroller L. Maynard Cofferer Lord Brounker Master of the Houshold H. Bulkly Esq Clerks of the Green-cloth Sir S. Fox Sir W. Boreman Clerks Comptrollers Sir Win. Churchill Sir R. Mason Gentlemen of the Bed chamber E. of Bath first Gentleman and Groom of the Stole Duke of Newcastle E. of Dorset and Middlesex Earl of Mulgrave Duke of Albemarle Earl of Lindsey Earl of Oxford Earl of Arran Lord Latimer Earl of Sussex Earl of Rannelagh Earl of Litchfield Earl of Rochester Vicechamb H. Saville Esq Keeper of the Privy Purse Baptist May Esq Treasurer of the Chamber Edward Griffen Esq Surveyor-General of His Majesties Works Sir Christopher Wren Master of the Robes belonging to His Majesties Person Hen. Sydney Esq Master of the Jewel-house Sir Gilbert Talbot Master of the Ceremonies Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Wardrobe Ralph L. Mountague Master Falconer Duke of St. Albans Clerks of the Council Sir J. Nicholas Kt. of the Bath Sir Philip Lloyd Sir Thomas Dolman Francis Gwyn Esq Masters of the Requests Sir Charles Cotterel Thomas Povey Esq Sir William Glascock Charles Morley Esq Clerks of the Privy Seal Sir Charles Bickerstaff John Matthews Esq Thomas Watkins Esq John Richards Esq Clerks of the Signet Sir John Nicholas Kt. Bath Sidney Bere Esq Nicholas Morice Esq Dr. William Trumbull Kt. Marshal Sir E. Villiers Usher of the Black Rod Sir Thomas Duppa Serj. Porter Sir H. Progers Military Capt. of the Band of Pensioners E. of Huntington Lieut. Fra. Villiers Esq Standard-bearer Sir Humphrey Winch. Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard L. Viscount Grandison Lieut. Tho. Howard Esq Ensign H. Dutton-Colt Esq Clerk of the Check Charles Villiers Esq The Judges and Principal Officers of Justice 12. Of the Kings Bench. Sir Geo. Jeffreys Kt. Bar. L. C. Justice of England Sir Francis Withens Kt. Sir Richard Holloway Kt. Sir Thomas Walcot Kt. Of the Common Pleas. Sir Tho. Jones L. C. Justice Sir Hugh Windham Kt. Sir Job Charlton Kt. Sir Creswel Levinz Kt. Of the Exchequer Will. Mountague L.C. Baron Sir Edw. Atkyns Kt. Sir William Gregory Kt. Sir Thomas Street Kt. Of the High Court of Chancery Fra. L. Guilford L. Keeper Sir Harbottle Grimston Master of the Rolls The Eleven Masters in Chancery Sir John Coell Kt. Sir W. Beversham Kt. Sir Samuel Clark Kt. Sir Edward Low D. L. Sir Miles Cooke Kt. Sir Lac. Will. Child Kt. Sir John Hoskins Kt. Sir John Franklyn Kt. Sir Adam Otley Kt. Sir Robert Le Gard Kt. Sir James Astrey Kt. Sir R. Sawyer Attorny Gen. H. Finch Esq Sollicit Gen. The Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Chancellor Sir T. Chichely Vicechancell Sir J. Otway Attorney Gen Sir J. Heath Receiver Gen. Sir J. Curson Auditors J. Fanshaw Esq Edw. Webb Esq Clerk Cheek Gerard Esq The Chief Officers of His Majesties Revenue The Commissioners of the Treasury Earl of Rochester Sir John Ernle Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Edward Deering Bar. Sir Stephen Fox Kt. Sydney Godolphin Esq And under these Lords The Commissioners of the Customs Charles Lord Chene Sir Dudley North Kt. Andrew Newport Esq Sir Richard Temple Baronet Sir Geo. Downing Kt. Bar. Sir Nicholas Butler Kt Commissioners of the Exciseâ— and Fire-Hearths Sir Denny Ashburnham Bar. Francis Parrey Esq Robert Huntington Esq Charles Davenant Esq John Friend Esq Felix Calvert Esq Nath. Horneby Esq Patrick Trant Esq William Bridge Esq Treasurer Sir Cornw. Bradshaw Kt. Commissioners for Wine-Licences Henry Deering Esq William Young Esq John Taylor Esq Michael Brighouse Esq Robert Ryves Esq Commissioners of Appeals for Excise Robert Spencer Esq Charles Fanshaw Esq Sir Paul Neal Kt. George Dodington Esq Edward Seymour Esq Of the High Court of Admiralty The Commissioners for Executing the Office of L. High Admiral of England Earl of Nottingham Sir Thomas Meers Baronet Sir Humphrey Winch Kt. Sir Edward Hales Baronet Sir John Chichely Knight Henry Saville Esq Arthur Herbert Esq Vice-Admiral of England Duke of Crafton Rere-Adm Ar. Herbert Esq Judge of the Admiralty Sir Leoline Jenkyns Treasurer of the Navy L. Falkland Comptroller Sir Richard Haddock Surveyor Sir John Tippet Clerk of the Acts James Southern Esq To whom are joyned these Commissioners Sir John Narborough Kt. Sir Phineas Pett Kt. Sir Richard Beech Kt. Sir John Godwin Kt. Constable of the Tower of London Lord Allington Lieutenant of the Tower Thomas Cheek Esq Master of the Ordinance Lord Dartmouth Lieut. Sir Chr. Musgrave Surveyor of the Ordnance Sir Bernard de Gome Kt. Treasurer Cha. Bertie Esq Clerk of the Ordnance
the freer Access to the French and Normans if the English should rebell he plucked down and ruined Thirty six Churches with many Towns and Villages for many Miles even from Salisbury to the Sea making his New Forest there But this Offence did not escape unpunished for in this very Forest Richard the Kings second Son was goared by a Deer and died William Rufus his third Son was slain by an Arrow shot at an Hart and his Grandchild Robert Curtoyse being in pursuit of the Game was struck by a Bough into the Jaws and died there 14. His chief Pleasure being in Hunting he seised all Chases and Forests of the Kingdom into his Hands making very cruel Laws against such as presumed to hunt in them without License as the loss of Eyes Limbs and the like 15. He gave large Territories and Farms to his Favourites who leased them out to their Slaves and Servants creating them into Mannors and calling themselves Lords thereof He reserved some Tenures to himself whereby his Tenants were obliged to serve him in the Wars or attend his Person to which they were sworn in Publick Courts by which Tenure he disposed of their Heirs in Marriage having Possession of their Estates till they were Twenty one years of age By which Example other Great Lords did the like This was the Model of King William's sharp and severe Government wherein he rather used the Power of an insolent and lawless Conquerour than the Legal Administration of a gracious King whereby he was feared by many but loved by few and such as were most in favour with him were discountenanced upon every slight occasion These violent Proceedings especially in raising such intolerable Taxes occasioned a Rebellion in Devonshire and another in Northumberland the second Year of his Reign but his good Fortune soon suppressed them as it also did the next Year the Invasion of Swanus King of Denmark who was incited thereto by the English that fled thither for Succour from the Cruelty of King William but he no sooner saw them almost e're he made them fly back to their Ships and to revenge the Infidelity of the English he utterly destroyed their fruitful Lands about York and Durham so that the Ground lay waste nine years after and abundance of People died with Want and Famine The next year he summoned a general Convocation of the Clergy wherein he bitterly accused several grave and learned Bishops Abbots Priors and others of many pretended Crimes and Offences for which he absolutely deprived them of their Dignities and Estates which he bestowed on others either for Love or Money These insufferable Acts provoked Marcarus and Edwin the Earls of Northumberland and Mercia with Egilwyn Bishop of Durham to raise an Insurrection But the King quickly drove Edwyn into Scotland Marcarus was taken and imprisoned in the Tower of London where he long continued and the Bishop was inhumanely famish'd to death in Abington Abby At this time great difference arose about the Primacy of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York but at last it was adjudged in favour of the first and York submitted accordingly In his fifteenth year his eldest Son Robert by the instigation of Philip the French King rebelled against him in Normandy which occasioned his Father to go thither with an Army where he was so stoutly encountred that he was unhorsed and in great danger of his Life by his Son unknown but he hearing his Fathers Voice rescued him again and was after reconciled and received Pardon of his Father and the King with great loss returned again to England Soon after William to revenge divers Injuries and Affronts offered him by King Phi ip in Normandy went with a gallant Army into France where finding Odo Earl of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux his Brother by the Mother to hold secret Correspondence with the French King he complained thereof to the Lords whereupon Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury advised the King to commit him to Prison What says the King are you for committing a Clergy-man You need not said Lanfrank commit the Bishop of Bayeux but you may very justly imprison the Earl of Kent Which was done accordingly Sometime before this Pope Hildebrand dying a Magician told Odo That he foresaw he should succeed him upon which Odo having already swallowed the Papacy in thought sent Money the most prevailing Messenger to Rome before-hand and purchased himself a Palace there providing likewise for his Journey thither but King William for his Presumption and other Misdemeanours staid and committed him saying Offensive foolhardiness must be restrained in time While the King was in Normandy he fell sick and the French King hearing his Distemper was in his Belly scoffingly said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed Ah what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church Sure an hundred thousand will hardly be enough King William hearing of this Jest said Well I hope our Cousin of France shall be at no such Cost for after this my Childbirth at my going to Church I will saith he swearing by the Resurrection and Brightness of God find him a thousand Candles and light them all my self Alluding to the Candles that Women used to carry in that Age when they went to be Churched And soon after he performed his Word destroying the People Towns and Cities on the Frontiers of France with Sword and Fire but in burning the City of Mantz he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he got a Sickness which being increased by the Leaping of his Horse burst the inner Rim of his Belly he being very Corpulent of which he soon after died at Roan Upon his Death-bed he said I appoint no Successor to the Kingdom of England but I commend it to the Eternal God whose I am and in whose Hands all things are He much lamented his Severity and Cruelty to the English Nation He was buried in the Abby of St. Stephen at Caen in Normandy though his Funerals were interrupted by a Norman Gentleman who would not permit him to be buried till he had received Satisfaction for that Ground which the Conquerour had unjustly taken from him Thus this victorious Conquerour whose Mind could not be confin'd to one Kingdom while he lived being dead could hardly get a place to be buried in The Charters and Conveyances in his Reign were not so tedious as now adays but very short and plain as appears by this following transcribed out of an Authentick Record I William King the third of my Reign give to Norman Hunter to me that art both leif and dear the Hop and the Hopton and all the Bounds up and down under the Earth to Hell above the Earth to Heaven from me and mine to thee and thine as good and as fair as ever they mine were To witness that this is sooth I bite the white Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery and my youngest Son Henry For a Bow and a broad
CHARLES the FIRST King of England c. THough clog'd with miseries and woes Palm-like deprest I highher rose And as th' unmoved Rock outbraves The b isterous Winds and raging Waves So Triumpht I and shone more bright In sad afflictions darksome Night My splendid but yet toilsom Crown Regardlesly I trampled down With joy I took a Crown of Thorn Though Sharp yet easy to be born The Heavenly Crown already mine I view'd with Eyes of Faith divine I vain things slighted to inchace Glory the just reward of Grace CHarles the third Son of James the sixth King of Scots and Ann his wife daughter of Frederick the Second King of Denmark was born at Dumfermling in Scotland Nov. 19. 1600. At the Age of two years he was created D. of Albany In 1603. K. James had news by Sir Robert Cary one of the younger Sons of the L. Hunsdon that Q. Elizabeth was dead contrary to the opinion of many of his Scotch Courtiers who being wearied with the tediousness of their expectation did believe at last that it would never be acknowledged by the Lords of England that the Q. was dead as long as there was any old woman of that Nation left to wear good clothes take the name of Q. upon her for bringing which news the D. of Albany was committed to the Governance of Sir Robert Carys Lady and he himself ever after much esteemed by him This news being seconded by that of the proclaiming of K. J. for her lawful successor the K. prepared to go for England at which time a certain Laird of the High-lands though very old came to Court to take his leave of him and after his prayers for his Majesties long life and prosperity he next applied himself to D. Charles without taking any great notice of Prince Henry and when the K. told him he mistook himself in his Addresses to the Infant as not being his eldest Son and Prince of Scotland he answered That he knew well enough what he did and that it was this Child in whom his name and memory was to be perpetuated to future Ages with other speeches of the like nature which were then disregarded but after the death of Prince Henry were thought to have somewhat prophetical in them In the sixth year of his age he was taken from the charge of the Women and committed to the Tutorage of Mr. Tho. Murray under whom he advanced exceedingly in learning the weakness in his legs rendring him more bookish and studious than he had otherwise been which Prince Henry taking notice of he jestingly one time took Archbishop Abbots Square Cap and put on his brothers head telling him That if he continued a good boy and followed his book he would make him one day Archbishop of Canterbury which the Child took in such disdain that he threw his Cap on the ground and trampled it under his feet which afterward was taken as an ill presage to the Church but it was altogether groundless as to him since there never was a more gracious Patron to the Church nor a more resolute Champion for the Hierarchy than he When he was twelve years old his brother Prince Henry died and Charles succeeded in the Principality of Wales Dukedom of Cornwal all the Royalties thereof In 1622. he took Ship at Dover arrived at Bullen in France and from thence rid Post to the Court of Spain upon this occasion Frederick Prince Palatine being disspossest of his ancient patrimony by the Emperor of Germany as aforementioned the upper Palatinate being conferred upon the D. of Bavaria and the lower on the K. of Spain it was held most expedient to negotiate a marriage between Prince Charles and the Infanta of Spain for the recovery of the whole which being managed by the L. Digby he was fed with delays from one time to another whereupon K. James resolved to send the Prince in Person either to consummate or break off the treaty accordingly he went accompanied with the D. of Buckingham Mr. Endimion Porter and Mr. Francis Cottington when â—ews came of his arrival at Madrid though the English Subjects were glad for his safety yet they were afraid of his danger because he had put himself into the power of the King of Spain which no body durst acquaint the King withal but Archee the Jester who going boldly to the King as he found him in a good humour told him That he was come to change Caps with him Why said the King Marry says Archee Because thou hast sent the Prince into Spain from whence he is never like to return But says the King What wilt thou say when thou â—est him come back again Marry says Archee I will then take off the Cap which I put upon thy head for sending him â—hither and put it on the King of Spain for letting him return At which words it is reported the King was much concern'd not having before apprehended the danger of that Adventure Dr. Heylins Life K. Charles p. 25. But the Spaniard had no such design and therefore the Restitution of the Palatinate being denied the Match broke off and a Rupture was like to follow whereupon K. James proposed a Marriage with Henrietta Maria of France whom the Prince had seen when he passed incognito into Spain which afterward took effect It is reported that when she was told that the Prince of Wales had been at the Court and was gone to Spain she said That if he had went to Spain for a Wife he might have had one nearer hand and saved himself a great part of the trouble During these Preparations for a War and Marriage King James departed this life at Theobalds and Prince Charles was proclaimed K. of G. Brittain France and Ireland But having already published a little Book of the same price with this called The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland or An Account of the Reign of King Charles the First his Illegal Tryal and deplorable Martyrdom with all Passages to His present Majesties happy Restauration I shall not here repeat any part thereof but collect some few Remarkable Occurrences which have happened from the year 1660 to this time King CHARLES the Second NO Voice more soft than Thunder can express Our present Joy or our past Heaviness None can the largeness of this Joy set out Vnless at once he makes three Kingdoms shoâ— To God on High in Thankfulness and Praisâ—t Who without Blood did Crown our King witâ— Bays Brought from three Conquered Nations whichh he Holds in subjection but to make them free Without a War Great Charles his Kingdoms won Thus streight when Heaven please the thing is done Now let us thankful be and sing his praise Who for our Cypress has bestowed Bays May we give God and Caesar all their due And always Peace and Loyalty pursue AFter His Majesties most Wonderful and Joyful Restauration in the year 1660 he was April 23. following Crowned with all manner of Magnificence at Westminster and