ancient Laws If these things be denyed they are here presently to abide the verdict of Battel being fully resolved rather to dye than to part with their Laws or to live servile in bondage The Conqueror in this streight more wisely than willingly granted their demands Some of the English this Norman King banished and most part of every mans estate he seized into his own hands bestowing the Lands of the Natives amongst his followers He deprived Monastries Bishopricks Lanfrank A B. Cant. Cities and Corporations of their ancient liberties and priviledges putting them to redeem them at his own rate And for default of lacking the weight of a Groat in the payment of 700 Marks by the Monks of Ely for the restoring to their Abby the ancient possessions they were constrained to pay a 1000 Marks more The Clergy he charged with maintenance for his Wars bereaved the Religious Houses of their Treasures Chalices and rich Shrines abrogated for the most part the ancient Laws of the Land ordaining new in their stead not so equal or easie to be kept also causing them to be writ in the Norman Tongue He ordained the four Law-Terms whereas before the causes of the Kingdom were determined in every Shire or by the late Law of King Edward in their Gemote or Conventicle held monthly in every Hundred He commanded every English Housholder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight of the Clock at Night At which hour in all Cities Towns and Villages he caused a Bell to be rung by the Normans then called Covre-feu that is Coverfire to prevent nightly meetings He laid great Subsidies upon the Land And that the same might amount to his greater benefit he caused an exact survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom and of every particular part and Commodity thereof causing all the people of England to be numbred their names taken and what every one might dispend by the year their substance Money and Bondmen recorded How many yokes of Oxen and Plow-lands were in the Realm and what services they owed him Which done he exacted Six Shillings to be paid him for every Hide of Land The Book thus made of every several survey by the English was called Doomes-day Book He permitted no English man to bear any office of trust and credit He dispeopled 36 Parish Towns laying the Churches and Towns flat with the earth making thereof a Forest for pleasure now called New-Forest To strengthen himself against revolts and rebellions he fortified such places as he thought most convenient for his purpose and built the Tower of London the Castles of York Lincoln Nottingham and Hasting He was the first that brought the Jews to inhabit England His Son Robert rebelled against him in Normandy and in sight dismounted him but then knowing his voice desired his pardon and remounted him Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent his Brother by the Mother for secretly siding with the King of France he committed to Prison not as Bishop but as he was Earl and seized his Estate Some of whose Gold ground into powder was found hidden in the bottom of Rivers The Conqueror going to War against the King of France in Normandy fell sick when keeping his Bed beyond his wont and the French King hearing that the Disease was in his Belly scoffingly said of him Our Cousin William is laid now in Child-bed Oh what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church surely I think an Hundred thousand will not suffice Which King William hearing of said Well I trust our Cousin of France shall be at no such cost but after this my Child-birth at my going to Church swearing by the resurrection and brightness of God I will find him a Thousand Candles and light them my self And accordingly not long after he entred France with a great Army spoiling all where he came and setting the City Mauntz on fire But he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he gat a sickness which increased with a leap of his Horse that burst the inward rim of his belly cost him his life He dyed at Roan in Normandy A. D. 1087. And forsaken of all his Courtiers his body was left unburied till that one Harluims a poor Countrey Knight at his own charge conveyed it to Caen. Where when it should have been buried a certain man in Gods name forbad the interment in that place which said he was his and his Ancestors right taken from them violently by the said Duke Whereupon they were forced to compound with him ere they interr'd the Corps His Issue were Robert Richard William Henry and six Daughters His base Son named William Peverel was Earl of Nottingham By his last Will and Testament he commanded all his Treasure to be distributed to Churches Gods Ministers and the poor limiting to each their several portion To the Church and Monks of St. Stephens at Caen in Normandy he gave divers Mannors in England and great store of Land yea and his Crown and Regal Ornaments which his Son Henry redeemed To his Son Robert he had before given the Dukedom of Normandy England he left undisposed only wish'd his Son William might succeed him in it And to Henry he gave Five thousand pound presaging that all his Dominions should become Henries in the end He did oft-times exhort his Children to the study of Learning with this saying That an unlearned Prince is but a Crowned Ass He built a Religious House called Battel-Abby in the same place where King Harold was slain dedicating it to the holy Trinity and St. Martin That there the Monks might pray for the Souls of Harold and the rest that were slain in that place endowing it with many great priviledges and amongst the rest these Two That if any Murderer or other Felon for fear of death fled thither he should be freed from all punishment And that it should be lawful for the Abbot of that place to deliver any Thief or Robber from the Gallows if he should chance to pass where any such execution was in hand At Selby in Yorkshire he founded the Abby of St. Germans at Excester the Priory of St. Nicholas and at Caen in Normandy the Monastry of St. Stephens In his time it was decreed at Rome That the See of York should be stiled primas Angliae and the See of Canterbury Primas totius Angliae The setting Seals to Bonds and Writings was now first used in England there being before only Witnesses to them Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was deposed by the Conqueror and dyed in Prison The Abbot of St. Albans told this King that the reason why he gained England in one Battel which the Danes could not do in many was because the maintenance of Martial men with a part of the Lands Revenues was converted to maintain religious men and to religious uses In the time of this Kings Reign befell a most fearful Earth-quake strange burning Feavers very mortal Murrains
unpaved A Blazing-Star appeared and other Stars seemed to shoot Darts one against another The Sea broke over its Banks drowning an abundance of people and in Kent overwhelmed the Lands that sometime were Earl Goodwins which now are called Goodwins Sands very dangerous for Navigators A Well of Blood for Fifteen days rose out of the ground at Finchampstead near Abingdon Pestilence and Scarcity Robert of Glocester hath a pretty passage of King William in these Lines As his Chamberlain him brought as he rose on a day A morrow for to wear a pair of Hose of Say He asked what they costned three Shillings be seid Fie a dibles quoth the King who sey so vile a deed King to wear so vile a Cloth but it costned more Buy a pair for a Mark or thou shalt ha cory fore A worse pair enough the other swith him brought And seyd they costned a Mark and unneath he them bought Aye bel-amy quoth the King these were well bought In this manner serve me or ne serve me not A. D. 1096 and in the Reign of William Rufus by reason of the Pestilence then raging and the oppressions under which the English groaned the tillage of the earth was neglected whereby ensued great scarcity the year following throughout all England HENRY BEAVCLERK HENRY for his Learning stiled Beauclerk A.D. 1100 whilst his brother Robert was busied in the Holy War promising many good things was with the general liking of the people crowned at Westminster in A. D. 1100 Whose first business was the reforming of his own Court and Houshold for a pattern to his subjects Next he restored to the English the use of fire and lights at their own liberty freed the Church from reservation of its possessions upon vacancies made the heirs of the Nobility free to possess their Fathers Lands without redemption from him engaging the Nobles to do the like by their Tenants Allowed the Gentry to marry their daughters and kinswomen without his licence so it were not to his enemy Ordained that the Widow should enjoy her Joynture and be at liberty to marry according to her own liking That the Mother and next kindred should be Guardians to fatherless children That Coiners of false money should be punished with the loss of hand and genitals He also appointed a Measure to the length of his arm to be a standard of commerce amongst his people He forgave all debts to the Crown before his time And that which did the most content his subjects was Anselme A.B. Cant. that he revived the Laws of Edward the Confessor After which he recall'd Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury who had been forced out of the Realm by Rufus because he opposed him for keeping Church-Livings in his hands And Henry to settle himself the more deeply in the affections of the English he married Maud daughter to the King of Scots by Margret Sister to Edgar Atheling But Duke Robert being returned with greatest honour from the Holy Land claimed the Kingdom of England as his rightful inheritance landed an Army at Portsmouth many of the English flocking to him At length the difference between these two brethren was reconciled on these terms That Henry should enjoy the Crown during his life paying to Robert in way of fealty three thousand Marks by the year But this sun-shine of Peace was shortly after withdrawn by the Rebellion of Robert Beliasme Earl of Shrewsbury who in short time being vanquished fled into Normandy for shelter Archbishop Anselme is also said to have disturbed the peace by standing too stifly for the pretended Rights of the Church of Rome against the Kings real Rights and Prerogative peremptorily depriving what Prelates he pleased of their promotions and refusing to consecrate certain Bishops that the King had advanced Moreover the King and his Brother Robert continued not long in amity ere Henry invading Normandy takes his brother in fight whom he sent prisoner to Cardiff Castle in Wales where he had the liberty to walk in the Kings Meadows Forests and Parks but endeavouring to make his escape Radulphus A.B. Cant. he was committed to a stricter durance and also deprived the sight of both his eyes and in few years after dyed and was buried at Glocester his Brother Henry not long surviving him Some troubles arose from the Welsh but that people the King restrained chiefly by placing those Flemings among them whose Lands the Seas had devoured some years before and to whom King Rufus had granted that they should seat themselves in Cumberland The poor Married Priests Anselme sadly perplexed And the King imposed heavy Taxes on the people and reserved vacant Church-promotions to his own use under pretence of keeping them for the most deserving But how unworthily he disposed some of them may be guessed by that pretty reproof which Guymund his Chaplain gave him Who on Rogation-Sunday celebrating Service in the Kings Chappel being to read that Lesson out of St. James 5.17 it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months he purposely read It rained not one one one years and five one months Which causing laughter or admiration in all that heard him the King rebuked him for it demanding the reason why he read so Marry quoth he I see you bestow your preferments only on such as can read so Wherewith the King touched preferred him and in the future was more cautious whom he raised to preferments in the Church The estates both spiritual and temporal he caused to assemble at Salisbury then reforming many abuses and laying here the first foundation of our High Court of Parliament About this time Lewis King of France invaded Normandy whither King Henry passed and vanquished him But as his Son Prince William was returning after him out of Normandy he was cast away and with him an 160 persons of prime note and esteem none of their bodies being found The Mariners had had too much Wine bestowed on them at their putting forth to Sea Maud or Matilda the Empress after the death of the Emperor her Husband King Henry her Father sent for over into England where calling a Parliament he caused Stephen his Sisters Son with his Nobles to swear Fealty to her as to his lawful and now only Heir But the King sailing again into Normandy he there after his pleasure of Hunting made a great repast of Lampreys upon the eating of which he fell exceeding sick and after Seven days sickness dyed A. D. 1135. at the Town of St. Denis His Bowels and Brains and Eyes were buried at Roan The Physitian that took out the Brains was poysoned with the stench His body sliced powdred with Salt and wrapped in a Bulls Hide was conveyed to Reading and there buried in the Abby which himself had founded Besides his lawful Issue William and Maud he is said to have had Fourteen illegitimate some say more He built a magnificent Palace at Woodstock in Oxfordshire In a great dearth in his Countries
without the King's leave That no Archbishop or Bishop upon the Popes summons should go out of the Realm without the Kings license That no Bishop should excommunicate any holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdict without the Kings license That Clerks criminous should be tryed before Secular Judges Unto which Articles the King peremptorily urged Becket to yeild without any reservation of saving in all things his order and right of the Church But Becket utterly refused sending complaints thereupon to the Pope who very desirous to keep the Kings favour required the Bishop to yeild unto the King without any salvo's or exceptions So Becket though with much reluctancy at length did swear in verbo Sacerdotali de plano that he would observe the Laws which the King intituled Avitae of his Grandfather the like to which did all the other Bishops and Nobility But notwithstanding Becket refused to set his seal to the Instrument wherein these Customs were comprehended alledging that he did promise it only to do the King some honour in word only but not with intent to confirm the said Articles Whereupon the King sent to Pope Alexander the third thinking by his means to have subjected the Prelate But he passing it by the King undertook the case himself and by his Peers and Bishops had all Beckets movable Goods condemned to his mercy they also adjudging him guilty of perjury The Bishops did by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaim thenceforward all obedience to him as their Arch-bishop And the next day whilst they were consulting further concerning him the Bishop caused to be sung before him at the Altar The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. and forthwith taking his silver Crosier in his hands he entred therewith into the Kings presence But the King enraged at his boldness commanded his Peers to sit in judgment on him and they adjudged him as a Traytor and perjured person to be apprehended and cast into prison To prevent which Becket fled into Flanders the Pope now openly siding with him and also Lewis the French King But Henry to let the Servant of servants know that he was supreme in his own Kingdom and that he liked not his taking part with a subject against his Sovereign Lord commanded the Sheriffs to attack such as did appeal to the Court of Rome with the Relations of all such of the English Clergy as were with Becket and to put them under Sureties Also to seize their Revenues Goods and Chattels The King likewise seized all the Archbishops Goods and Profits banished his Kindred prohibited his being publickly prayed for as Archbishop Commanded his Justices to apprehend and secure all such as should bring any Interdict into England till the Kings pleasure was further known On the other hand Becket in France by special authority from the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded so far with others that there was scarce found in the Kings Chappel such as might perform the wonted Service Hereupon the King sends again to the Pope to send him Legates which might absolve his excommunicate subjects and settle a Peace But the Popes Legates whom he sent did not effect a reconciliation by reason of Becket's perversness Some conjecture that in contempt of Becket whose Office it was as Archbishop of Canterbury to Crown the King King Henry caused his eldest son Henry to be crowned King of England by Roger Archbishop of York At whose Coronation-feast the father-Father-King himself carrying up the first dish of Meat the Archbishop pleasantly said to the young King Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the world that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have To whom the proud young King thus answered Why wonder you at that My Father knows that he doth nothing unbeseeming him forasmuch as he is royal born but on-one side but Our self are royal born both by Father and Mother Not long after this by mediation of some friends a reconciliation between the King and Becket was effected and Becket was permitted to have the full use of his Metropolitan See and all the profits thereof with the Arrearages Which he had not long re-possessed ere he published the Popes Letters by which Roger Archbishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Episcopal Function for crowning the yong King in prejudice of the See of Canterbury And the Bishops of London Sarum and Excester cut off from the Church by Censure for assisting therein whom Becket would not absolve at the young Kings request but under conditions Which the old King then in Normandy hearing of let fall some words intimating his high displeasure against the Archbishop and desire to be rid of him Whereupon Hugh Morvill William Tracie Hugh Brito and Richard Fits-Vrse Knights and Courtiers hasted into England and murder'd the Archbishop in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury Richard a Monk A.B. Cant. as he stood in the Evening-service-time before the Altar Which done the Parricides fled and Thomas was reputed for a most Glorious Saint and Martyr and strange Miracles beyond my Creed are reported to have been done by this dead Roman-Saint and his blood Amongst other Epitaphs made on his death this was one Quis moritur praesul Cur pro grege Qualiter ense Quando Natali Quis locus Ara Dei. But the news of this vile act coming to the ears of the old King he was exceedingly troubled and to take off the imputation of Guilt from himself he protested that he would submit himself to the judgment of such Cardinal Legates as the Pope should send to enquire of the fact And to calm his own perturbations and avert mens thoughts from the consideration of that Tragedy he undertook the conquest of Ireland which he effected being helped forward therein by the Civil dissentions then amongst the Irish petty Kings Where having caused a reformation of the Irish Church and setled affairs therein to his conveniency he returned into England and from thence posted into Normandy where attended for his arrival two Cardinal-Legats sent at his own request for his purgation concerning Thomas a Becket's death by whom he was absolved Having first given oath that he was no way consenting to the fact and declared his sorrow for having in his anger given occasion by rash words for others to do the deed and ingaged to perform injoyned penances The conditions of his absolution were That at his own charge he should maintain 200 Soldiers a whole year for the defence of the Holy Land and that he should revoke the Laws which he had made against the priviledges of the See of Rome and Beckets friends And now this Cloud thus blown over another succeeds in its place For his unnatural Son young King Henry by the instigation of his Mother Queen Eleanor conspired against him having for his confederates the Kings of France and Scotland
his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with many of the English Nobles Against whom the Father with a bleeding heart for his Sons ungraciousness prepared himself and was very successful in Little Britain where himself was in person also in England by his faithful Subjects For Humphrey de Bohun High Constable of the Realm with other Nobles vanquished Robert Earl of of Leicester and took him Prisoner which moved Lewis of France to seek a Truce of him for six Months whereunto King Henry yielded then Ship'd for England landing at the Port of Hampton From whence he took his journey towards Canterbury and being come within about three miles thereof he went barefooted the hard stones so cutting his tender feet that the ground was stained with his blood And after he came to Canterbury and was entred into the Chapter-house of the Monks Baldwin A.B. Cant. he most humbly prostrated himself on the ground begged pardon and by the instancy of his own Petition was by all the brethren corrected with Rods. The number of lashes which he received on his bare flesh amounted to Fourscore About this time William King of Scots that had lately entred England was taken Prisoner and young King Henry was with storms driven back into France and his Fleet scattered shortly after which Peace was concluded betwixt his Father and him But yet again he sought his Fathers ruine though before he could effect it he was prevented by the King of Terrors Death A. D. 1183. The following year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in England soliciting the King to undertake the holy War in his own person which by the advice of his Lords he refused yet yielded to aid the Cause with Money and gave them leave to go that were disposed thereto His Son John whom he exceedingly loved and commonly in jest called Sans terre without Land he made Lord of Ireland assuring unto him also Lands and Rents in England and Normandy Richard and Geoffery his Sons rebelled again against him The younger of which in a Turnament at Paris was trod to death under the Horse feet but the elder lived to the further grief of his Father For joyning himself with Philip of France forced his Father out of the City of Mentz the City where he was born and loved above all others which made King Henry to utter these words against him That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the world he would requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child namely his heart And afterwards finding his Son John first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action he bitterly cursed the hour of his birth laying Gods curse and his upon his Sons which he would never recall by any perswasions But coming to Chinon he there fell desperately sick and feeling death approach caused himself to be born into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he yielded up his Soul A. D. 1189 and was buried at Font-Everard His Issue were William Henry Richard Jeffry Philip John Maud and Eleanor His base Issue William sirnamed Longsper and Jeffry Archbishop of York These two by fair Rosamund and Morgan by another Woman Rosamund his beloved Concubine was the Daughter of the Lord Clifford whom to keep safe from the envy of Queen Eleanor he placed in a Labyrinth which he built for her at Woodstock with such windings and turnings that none could come at her retiring Room save the King or whom he instructed Howbeit the jealous eye of Queen Eleanor found her out by a clew of silk which Rosamund let fall as she sate to take the Air. For she suddenly fleeing to escape being seen the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the clew still unwinding which the Queen followed till she had found the lovely Rosamund whom she so dealt with giving her Poyson that she ended her days whose body was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph upon her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet King Henry divided England into Circuits appointing that two of his judges should twice in the year in each Circuit administer Justice In the year 1164 he called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in Wilts where amongst other matters it was decreed That all the Clergy should bona fide swear allegiance to the King and should appeal but unto the Archbishop or from him finally to the King without particular licence In the beginning of his reign one Nicholas Breakspear an English man was elected Pope by the name of Adrian the 4th who in the 5th year of his Popedom was choaked with a Fly He sent the Lords Prayer in this manner from Rome to be taught the English people Vre Fadyr in Heaven rich Thy name be halyed everlich Thou bring us thy michel bliss Al 's hit in Heaven y-doe Evar in yearth been it also That holy bread that lasteth ay Thou send it ous this ilke day Forgive ous all that we have don As we forgive uch other mon. Ne let ous fall into no founding Ac shield ous fro the foul thing Amen In the Isle of Wight it rained blood the shower continuing for the space of two hours together A great Earthquake in Ely Norfolk and Suffolk which made the Bells to ring in the Steeples At St. Osyths in Essex was seen a Dragon of marvelous bigness which by moving burned Houses Another great Earthquake which overthrew many buildings and amongst the rest rent in pieces Lincoln Cathedral At Oreford in Suffolk a certain hairy creature perfectly resembling man in all parts and proportions was taken out of the Sea by Fishers in a Net who after he had been kept a while secretly slipt away into the Sea again RICHARD I. A.D. 1189 RICHARD from his exceeding valour sirnamed Ceur de Lion was Crowned at Westminster by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury At which time a great number of the Jews were in a tumultuous sort slaughtered by the common people for which many of them suffered death The Coronation rights performed Richard with all speed prepares for his voyage into the Holy-Land appointing William Longchamp Bishop of Ely his chief Justiciar and Lord Chancellor joyning with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts beyond Humber associating to those Bishops divers temporal Lords for the defence and preservation of Justice And with the King of Scots he concluded firm friendship Which done with a royal Navy he put out to Sea and by the way to the Holy-Land he seized on the Island Cyprus where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria The Island he committed to the keeping of his own Deputies permitting the Islanders to injoy all such Laws and Liberties as they held in the time of Immanuel the Emperor Furder in his way
England and Ireland Pandulph now having got what he came for hastens into France there to disswade Philip from proceeding against King John as being become an obedient and reconciled Son to the Church But Philip who was of his holy Fathers mind not caring for K. John's repentance but his Crown in great choler professed That since the Pope himself had so far thrust him on his Legats suggestions no nor his threats of excommunication should not withdraw him from his intentions In which resolution calling his Peers into a consultation they all approved his design save Ferdinand Earl of Flanders who alledged that it was an unreasonable thing to think of invading another mans right inforcing this his judgment with so good arguments that thereby many of the Peers were induced to change their opinion Which so incensed K. Philip that he drew his Forces against Flanders commanding his mighty prepared Fleet to set forward thitherward Of the which K. John having speedy intelligence set forth his Navy and happily surprized the French Fleet at the Port of Damme whilst most of the Soldiers were on Land spoiling the Earls Country taking 300 Vessels laden with Provisions Arms and other costly fraught and burning and sinking above an 100. And now the King thinking to take the advantage of this Victory made ready a great Army for the recovery of his hereditary Provinces lost to the French but when all else was ready then the Barons denied him their attendance till he was assoyled of his Excommunication and that their pristine liberties granted them by Henry the first were restored Stephen Langton animating them herein and promising his faithful assistance to them Hereupon the King makes his appeal to Rome presenting the Pope with rich presents in answer to which the Pope sent his Legate the Bishop of Tusculum who wrought with the King to corroborate the conveyance of his Kingdoms to the Pope unto which the King yielded But the Archbishop of Canterbury opposed himself against it with whom the Peers of the Land joyned avowing it to be an execrable thing to the whole World And in a full Parliament it was Enacted That since the King could not without consent of Parliament bring his Realm and people to such thraldom therefore if the Pope should in the future attempt any such thing again with life and livelihood he should be withstood The Pope hearing of this not only conceived exceeding hatred against the Archbishop but sent also his authentick Letters for repealing the Interdict upon restitution of 1300 Marks more to the Prelates and that but by equal portions of five years payment And now the King passed into Poictou which he reduced thence into Britain where his Poictovins according to their old custome proved false to him to his great detriment The while his Barons they play Rex at home renewing their confederation and binding themselves with an Oath at the High Altar at St. Edmonds bury That they would pursue the King with Arms till he should consent to the Charter of Liberties granted by Henry 1st So that the King was inforced to return into England where when come they challenged this Charter as a part of his Oath made at his Absolution and shortly after they met together at Stamford with a very numerous Army Their General was Robert Fitz-Walter whom they stiled The Marshal of Gods Army and Holy Church London invited them to enter the City by night where when entred by their threatful Letters they not only drew most of the Nobles from the King but had also almost lockt him out of his Royal Seat insomuch that he was necessitated by gentle messages to procure of his factious Barons a place and day of meeting which was Running-Mead betwixt Windsor and Stains since called Councel-Mead whither they came with Armed multitudes out of all the Kingdom numberless Where the King perceiving their so great strength and his own small party he granted them the utmost of their desires not only for liberties specified in Magna Charta and Charta Forestae but also for a kind of rule in the government by 25 selected Peers to whose command all the other Barons were also bound by Oath to be obedient But the King could not long relish this therefore privately sends to his trustiest friends to fortify and victual their Castles and himself secretly retires into the Isle of Wight From whence he dispatched Messengers both to the Pope and his foreign friends to crave the censure of the one and succours of the other against such outragious Rebels In both which his Agents were so sedulous and friends compassionate that at Rome by definitive sentence the Barons Charters were made voyd the King and Barons accursed if either of them observed the composition made at Councel-Mead And from Flanders Goscoin Brabrant and other parts such competent aids came in as incouraged the King after Three Months secrecy to shew himself in the face of his Enemies His Host he divided into two parts with the one conducted by himself Northward he every-where subdued his Rebels as likewise did the Earl of Salisbury Southward Stephen Langton the Pope suspended for abetting the Barons and his Brother Simon Langton Archbishop elect of York had his election made voyd the Pope constituting in his place Walter Gray whose Pall cost him no less than 1000 pounds The Archiepiscopal Pall is a Pontifical Vestment made of Lambs wooll as it comes from the Sheeps back without any other artificial colour and spun by a peculiar order of Nuns cast into St. Peters Tomb and adorned with little black Crosses having two Labells hanging down before and behind which the Archbishops when going to the Altar put about their Necks above their other pontifical Ornaments The disloyal Barons were all excommunicated by name and all their Lands together with the City of London Interdicted But the lofty Barons held those censures in so high contempt that they decreed neither themselves nor Citizens of London should observe them nor the Prelates denounce them And to revive their dying Cause they resolve on a project for betraying the Crown of England unto Lewis the Dauphin of France sending their Letters of Allegiance confirmed with all the Barons Seals to implore K. Philips favour for sending his Son and his Son for the acceptance of the English Crown To prevent a correspondency herein the Pope sends his Apostolical Commands to Philip of France that he should stay his Son from entring upon St. Peters patrimony with a Curse also on all such as should assist the excommunicate Barons To which Philip replied That England was no patrimony of St. Peters no King saith he having power of himself to alienate his Kingdom K. John especially who being never lawful King had no power to dispose thereof and that it was an error and pernicious example in the Pope and an itching lust after a new kind of Domination His Peers swore That they would spend their blood rather than suffer that a King
may befall while my Son is alive but let him either vanquish or dye because the honour of this brave day shall be his if God suffer him to survive Which he did and beat the French out of the field Thereupon King Edward with his untouched Battel advanced towards his victorious Son and most affectionately embracing and kissing him said Fair son God send you perseverance to such prosperous beginnings you have nobly acquit your self and are well worthy to have the governance of a Kingdom intrusted unto you for your valour In the field was found the dead bodies of eleven great Princes and of Barons Knights and men of Arms above fifteen hundred There was slain the King of Bohemia King of Majorca Earl of Alanson Duke of Lorrain Duke of Bourbon Earl of Flanders Earl of Savoy the Dolphin of Viennois Earl of Sancerre and Harecourt Earls of Aumarl Nevers c. six Earls of Almain besides others of great account with the Grand Prior of France and Archbishop of Roan Of the Commons there fell about thirty thousand Of the English side not one man of note or honour was slain A. D. 1346. From the Forrest of Crescie King Edward marched to Callis and besieged it In the time of which siege the Governour thereof for the sparing of food thrust forth of the Town above fifteen hundred of the poor and impotent people whom this Christian King Edward turned not back but suffered them freely to pass through his Camp relieving them gratis with fresh victuals and giving two pence a piece sterling to each of them But whilst the King was busied abroad in France the Scots in favour of the French invaded England advancing as far as Durham where the English encountring them overcame them took David their King prisoner at Nevils Cross by Durham There lay dead in the field the Earls of Murray and Strathern the Constable Marshal Chamberlain and Chancellor of Scotland with many other Nobles Prisoners taken besides the King were the Earls of Douglas Fife Southerland Wigton and Mentieth In this battel on the English side were many spiritual persons who for the defence of their Country made use of carnal Weapons And as King Edwards friends were successful in England so were they also in forreign parts for in Britain Sir Thomas Dagworth overthrew the Lord Charles of Blois though he had much the odds of him as to number of men In Gascoign and those parts Henry Earl of Derby and Lancaster worsted the Duke of Normandy took sundry places of great importance amongst the rest that considerable Town of Brigerac where he permitted every soldier to seize any House and convert all therein to his own profit Whereupon it hapned that a certain Soldier called Reth having broke into a House where the Monyers had for safety stowed the Money of that Countrey in great long sacks he acquainted the Earl therewith supposing that the Earl intended not so great a treasure for a private share but the Earl told him That accordingly as he had at first proclaimed let the treasure be worth what it would yet was it all his own And now after almost a years siege Callis was delivered to King Edwards mercy In Little-Britain the Kings Warden thereof Sir VValter de Bendly vanquished the Marshal of France in fight slew 13 Lords 140 Knights 100 Esquires and took prisoners 9 Lords besides many Knights and Esquires At length after much spoil made upon the French a peace was concluded on betwixt the two Kings though it continued not long ere the French broke the agreement In revenge whereof Edward presently entred France with an Army Will. Witlesy A. B. Cant. and spoiled it where he came and after his return into England again when he heard that John the new King of France had given to Charles the Daulphin the Dutchy of Aquitain King Edward bestowed the same upon the Black-Prince commanding him to defend that right with the sword The Prince thereupon furnished with a gallant Army set sail towards France where he took many Towns and prisoners advanced into the bosome of France up to the very gates of Burges in Berry from whence wheeling about to return to his chief City Burdeaux John King of France encountered him with a great Army having the odds of six to one notwithstanding which the victorious Prince of Wales discomfited the French took prisoners King John and Philip his youngest son the Archbishop of Sens and many great Lords and about two thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing Armories And slew in fight about fifty two Lords and seventeen hundred Knights Esquires and Gentlemen with Sir Reginald Camian who that day bore the Or flamb or French Ensign and of the common Soldiers about six thousand To James Lord Audley who in this fight received many wounds the Prince gave 500 Marks Land in fee-simple which said Land the Lord Audley bestowed on his four Esquires that had continued with him in all the brunt and fury of danger King Edward the Father whilst his Son was thus prosperously busied in France proceeded in hostile sort against the Scots and brought King Baliol at Roxbrough to make a surrender of his Crown to him Prince Edward after his late victory marched with joy and triumph to Burdeaux where having refreshed his wearied soldiers he took his leave of France though not of the King thereof for him he brought with him a Captive to London whither the Prince was welcomed with exquisite honour by Henry Picard then Lord Mayor Which said Picard afterwards at one time feasted at his own charge the King of England France Scotland and Cyprus King Edward ordered that eight days should be spent in giving God the glory for the victory and not long after with a Fleet of One thousand one hundred sail he passed over from â—andwich to a fresh invasion and being come before the walls of Paris he honoured Four hundred Esquires and Gentlemen with Knighthood Ample conditions were offered by the French unto the Kâ—ng of England to which he would not at present listen yet at length was perswaded to an accord on these conditions That Himself and Son Edward should for ever release unto King John and his Heirs the right and claim which they had unto the Crown of France Dutchy of Normandy c. That King John and his Son should for them and their Heirs release unto King Edward and his Heirs the whole Country of Aquitain Santoin c. so the County of Ponthicu c. the proper Inheritance of Queen Isabel K Edward's Mother That King John should pay for his ransom the sum of Thirty hundred thousand Schutes of Gold every two of which should be six shillings eight pence sterling with some other conditions All which were ratified with hands Seals and Oaths at Callis though by the falshood of the French King this amity continued not many years for King John by underhand-dealing sought to alienate the hearts of King Edwards forreign subjects
under the Great Seal as the King in his youthful humour had granted to some Courtiers Also the Kings over-freeness to the Queens Countrey-men the Bohemians discontented many The ancient Nobles they envied that Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford was created Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pool a Merchants Son Earl of Suffolk and that the King had them in too great favour These were held for great grievances nor would the Parliament grant the King any aids against his forreign foes unless these Lords were removed and degraded This the King could not well digest but consulted the Learned in the Law concerning certain Articles of Treason within the compass of which he might take the popular Lords And at Nottingham Robert Trisilian Chief Justitiar Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthorp and William Burgh Justitiars John Lockton the Kings Sergeant at Law All subscribed to certain Articles of Treason made against the Lords which afterwards cost them dear Judg Belknap foresaw the danger therefore unwillingly consented saying There wants but an Hurdle Horse and Halter to carry me where I might suffer the death deserved For if I had not done this quoth he I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords And now the King and Lords prepare themselves for the field the Lords march up to London with an Army of about Forty thousand men against whose coming the King not being able to match their power shuts himself up in the Tower whither the factious Lords Glocester Derby Arundel Warwick and Marshall send him word That if he come not quickly to Westminster according to appointment they would chuse them another King who both would and should obey the Counsel of the Peers Hereupon the King though with no good-will attends their Lordships pleasure at Westminster where he yeilded to remove from about his person Alexander Neville Archbishop of York the Bishops of Durham and Chichester the Lords Zouch and Beaumont with divers others and amongst them certain Ladies Other of his friends were made prisoners And at the Parliament which was shortly after the Judges were arrested as they sate in Judgment and most of them sent to the Tower Trisilian that had fled being apprehended and brought to the Parliament in the forenoon had sentence to be drawn to Tyburn in the afternoon and there to have his throat cut which was done accordingly Divers other Knights also were sacrificed to their revenge The Duke of Ireland and others had their estates confiscated to the Kings use by Act of Parliament This while the Scots invaded the North of England under the conduct of Sir William Douglas whom Henry Hot-spur fighting with hand to hand slew but the Earl of Dunbar coming with an excessive number of Scots took Hot-spur and his brother prisoners A. D. 1396 Peace was concluded with the French the Scots and Spaniards being included therein And in September 1397 a Parliament called The Great for the extraordinary number of Peers and their retinues which came thereunto was held at London wherein the sanctuary of former Laws and all particular Charters of pardon were taken away from Thomas Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others for their treasonable practises and all the Justitiars who stood for the King were cleared from dishonour and such Articles as they had subscribed were publickly ratifyed and the offenders against them pronounced Traytors Richard Earl of Arundel was beheaded on Tower-Hill where at his death he utterly denyed that he was a Traytor in word or deed The Earl of Warwick confessing himself a Traytor in open Court was only banished to the Isle of Man The Duke of Glocester whom as the peoples darling it seemed not safe to bring to a publique Tryal was secretly smothered with pillows and feather-beds at Callis The King at this Parliament created himself Prince of Chester and to his Escutcheon-Royal added the Armories of Edward the Confessor his Cousin Henry Earl of Derby he made Duke of Hereford and advanced the Titles of many other Nobles Not long after which Henry Duke of Hereford accused Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk for speaking certain words to the Kings dishonour which Mowbray constantly denying it should have come to a combat within Lists but the King ended the controversy otherwise by banishing Norfolk for ever and Hereford first for ten years then for six only In the year following the Duke of Lancaster dyed when the King unjustly seized upon the goods of that mighty Prince his Uncle and determined to banish for ever his son the Duke of Hereford now Duke of Lancaster by his Fathers death But whilst King Richard was in Ireland to qualify a disturbance there Henry Duke of Lancaster and Hereford lands in England with what forces he had pretending nothing but the recovery of his inheritance To him there repaired the Earl of Northumberland his son Hot-Spur and Earl of Westmoreland with many others Multitudes offering their service to him as pitying his calamity and exasperated against the King because to furnish his Irish voyage he had extorted moneys on all hands and had taken up carriages victuals and other necessaries without any recompence The Duke of Lancaster with an Army of about sixty thousand marched to Bristol besieged the Castle and took it and therein two Knights of the Kings Councel Bushy and Green whose heads were cut off at the request of the rabble The Duke of York whom King Richard had left behind him to govern England could gain but small assistance against Lancaster nor could the King at his return into England find many friends therefore he betook himself to a parly with his enemies the sum of his demands being That if himself and eight more whom he should name might have Honourable allowance with the assurance of a private quiet life he would resign the Crown This was promised him whereupon he put himself into the Duke of Lancasters hands who conducted him out of the West to London where he was lodged in the Tower And now a Parliament is summoned in the Kings name to be held at Westminster in which Parliament King Richard was charged with the breach of his Coronation-Oath in thirty two Articles His abuse of the publick Treasure waste of the Crown-Land loss of Honour abroad and that at home he was guilty of Falshood Injustice Treason against the rights of the Crown and what not that ambition and envy could invent against him Tho. Arundell A. B. Cant. The result whereof was he resigned his Crown to the Duke of Lancaster which resignation the whole body of the Parliament did particularly accept saving the most loyal Bishop of Carlisle A. D. 1399 Septemb 29. In the very beginning of this Kings reign one John Philpot a private Citizen of London at his own charge manned out a Fleet to the Sea for the guarding of both Land and Sea from the enemy
and his wild companions would way-lay and rob his Fathers and his own Receivers And when one of his servants was arraigned at the Kings Bench bar for felony this Prince hearing thereof posted thither commanding his Fetters to be struck off and he set at liberty and when the Judge opposed him therein commanding him upon his Allegiance to cease from such riot and keep the Kings peace he in a rage ascended the Bench and gave the Judge a blow on the face who sate still undaunted and boldly thus spake unto the Prince Sir I pray remember your self This seat which I here possess is not mine but your Fathers to whom and to his Laws you owe double obedience If his Highness and his Laws be thus violated by you who should shew your self obedient to both who will obey you when you are a Soveraign or minister execution to the Laws that you shall make Wherefore for this default in your Fathers name I commit you prisoner to the Kings Bench until his Majesties pleasure be further known With which words the Prince abashed stood mute laid by his weapons and with obeysance done went to the Prison Whilst the King his Father was crazie and kept his Chamber he through the Princes wild extravagances and set on by some Court-whisperers began both to withdraw his affections and to fear some violence against his own person from the Prince which when young Henry understood in a strange disguise he repaired to his Fathers Court accompanied with many persons of Honour His garment was a Gown of blew Satten wrought full of eye-let-holes and at every eye-let the needle left hanging with the silk it was worked with About his Arm he wore a Dogs Collar set full of S's of Gold the Tirets thereof being most fine Gold Being come to the Court he charged his followers to advance no further than the fire in the Hall whilst himself passed on to his Fathers presence before whose feet he fell confessing his youthful faults and justifying his loyalty to his person declaring himself to be so far from any disloyal attempt that if he knew any person of whom his Father stood in any danger or fear his hand according to duty should be the first to free the King of suspition yea saith he I will most gladly suffer death to ease your perplexed heart and to that end I have this day prepared my self both by confession and receiving the blessed Sacrament Wherefore I humbly beseech your Grace to free your suspition from all fears conceived against me with this dagger the stab whereof I will willingly receive at your hands and will clearly forgive my death At which the King melting into tears cast down the naked dagger which the Prince had put into his hand and raising his prostrate Son Henry Chicheley A. B. Cant. embraced and kissed him confessing that his ears had been over-credulous against him which he promised they should never be in the future But notwithstanding this Prince's youthful exploits yet when he had attained the Crown to begin a good Government he began at home banishing from his Court those unruly youths that had been his consorts commanding them either to change their manners or never to approach within ten miles of his person And chose worthy men for his Council of Estate advancing his Clergy with Power and dignity So highly careful was he for the execution of Justice that himself would every day after dinner for the space of an hour receive Petitions of the oppressed and with great equity would redress their wrongs And so nearly did the death of King Richard touch his heart that he sent to Rome to be Absolved from that guilt of his Fathers Act. In the first year of his Reign at a Parliament holden at Leicester was a Bill exhibited wherein complaint was made That the temporal lands given to the Religious houses and spiritual persons for devotion sake were either superfluous or disorderly spent Whose revenues if better imployed would serve for the defence of the Land and Honour of the King For the maintenance of fifteen Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Almes-houses for the relief of diseased and impotent people and unto the Kings Coffers Twenty thousand pounds per Annum By the Authority of this Parliament an 110 Priories alien were suppressed and their possessions given to the King and his successors for ever But to divert those in Authority from such like proceedings projects were put into the Kings head for recovery of France his rightful possession Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury suggested that King Henry as the true Heir unto his Great-grand-Father Edward the third was the true Heir to the Crown of France As for the Salique-Law alledged against the English claim he affirmed that that Text touched only those parts of Germany which lay betwixt the Rivers Elbe and Sala conquered by Charles the Great who placing the French there to inhabit because of the dishonest lives of those German-women made this Law In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant which the gloss did falsely expound for the whole Kingdom of France whose practise notwithstanding he shewed to be contrary by many experiences both in King Pepin descended of Blithud daughter to Clothair the first and by Hugh Capet as Heir to the Lady Lingard daughter to Charlemain so King Lewis called the Saint and besides that this exclusion is contrary to the word of God which alloweth women to succeed in their Fathers inheritance Numbâ— 27. King Henry now sends a summons and demand in the first place of his Dutchies of Normandy Aquitain Guyon and Anjou to which the Daulphin of France in derision sent him for a present a Tun of Paris Tennis-Balls but the King returned for answer That he would shortly send him London-Balls which should shake Paris-walls Whilst the English were making provision against the French Sir Robert Humfreville gave the Scots a considerable defeat which the French understanding with also the great preparations that Henry of England was making against them they sent over Ambassadors who at Winchester made offer of money and some Territories also the Princess Katharine to be given in marriage to King Henry so that he would conclude a peace but it was answered That without the delivery of the other Dominions belonging to the Kings Progenitors no pacification was to be made And when the Ambassadors had had their answer given them the King sent Antilop his Pursevant at Arms unto Charles King of France with Letters of defiance next made Queen Joan his Mother-in-Law Regent of the Realm then drew his Forces to Southampton commanding his followers there to attend him on such a day The King of France on the other part makes all the preparation he could to defend himself and to offend the King of England To Grey a Privy-Councellor Scroop Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Cambridge Son of Edmond Duke of York he sent 't is said a Million of Gold to betray
John Amend-all Their demands were That the Duke of York now in Ireland might be called home and that he with some others whom Cade named might be principally used in Council That those guilty of good Duke Humphrey's death might receive due punishment That the Grievances of the people might be redressed These Kentish Rebels with whom others from Essex joined after they had committed some outrages in and about London as in beheading the Lord Say Treasurer of England Mr. Cromer High Sheriff plundering many of the Citizens c. upon the King's Proclamation and assurance of Pardon returned to their own homes But Cade afterward attempting to raise new troubles was slain by Mr. Edan a Kentish Gentleman The Duke of York finding the humours of the popular body fitted for his purpose came suddenly out of Ireland and confederated with divers Noble-men to take the Crown from Henry's head and to set it on his own Howbeit their pretence in taking arms was only for the reformation of the State professing that they meant all honour and obedience to the King Which King Henry and his Friends chiefly the Duke of Somerset could not believe Therefore an Army was prepared and also advanced against the Yorkists But before the Armies came to engage in fight by such that secretly favoured the Duke of York the King was perswaded to a reconciliation and that Somerset should be commanded prisoner to his own house Tho. Bourchier A. B. Cant. Which done and York having dissolved his Army he came to the King making great complaints against Somerset who hearing thereof presented himself to the King against his accuser answering York face to face and in plain terms accused him of highest Treason as having conspired to depose the King and to take the Soveraignty upon himself Whereupon York was for a time put under restraint till in St. Pauls Church in London before the chief of the Nobility he took a solemn oath to be a true faithful and obedient subject unto King Henry A. D. 1452 John Lord Talbot first Earl of Shrewsbury of that Family with an Army was sent to regain Gasgoin Burdeaux her self yeilded to this great Soldier Whence he went to relieve Chastilion but charging the Enemy upon much unequal terms was there slain in the field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle After which battel when the flames of intestine War began to flash out in England betwixt the two Families of York and Lancaster the Martial men of England were called home out of France to maintain the Factions here At which time a French Captain scoffingly asked an English man When they would return again into France To whom the English man feelingly and upon a true ground answered When your sins shall be greater and more grievous in the sight of God than ours are now A. D. 1453 the Queen was delivered of a Son who was named Edward A. D. 1454 the Duke of York in despight of his sacred Oath so publickly taken raised arms against the King marching with his forces towards London Against whose coming King Henry prepared an Army with which he advanced to St. Albans where a sharp battel was fought and the Royal party worsted On the Kings side were slain the Duke of Somerset Earls of Northumberland and Stafford Lord Clifford with sundry worthy Knights and Esquires The King himself was shot into the neck with an arrow taken prisoner and conveyed back to London where in July immediately following a Parliament was holden the precursor whereof was a Blazing-star which appeared in June extending its beams to the South The first popular Act of this Assembly was to restore the memory of Duke Humphrey to honour declaring him to have been a true subject to the King and Realm The next was to free the Yorkists from treason as to their taking up of arms In this Parliament the Duke of York created himself Protector of England the Earl of Salisbury his great Confident was made Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Warwick Salisbury's Son Captain of Callis They spared as yet to touch King Henry's life because the people did wonderfully esteem and reverence him for his holiness But that they the Yorkists might with the more facility uncrown and at last kill him they by degrees workt out his ancient Councellors and placed of their own creatures in their rooms And now the French encouraged by our inward divisions landed at Sandwich Fifteen thousand men where they did some spoil then departed Another part of them burned Foway and some other towns in Devonshire A. D. 1458 the Lords met at London to compose all quarrels bringing with them great troops of armed attendants which through the great vigilancy and providence of the then Mayor of London Godfrey Bullein Queen Ann Bulleins Ancestor dutifully kept the King's peace This Meeting of the Lords ended in a Composure though it continued but a very short time before both sides made preparations for War and at Blore-Heath they came to battel which was long and bloody but at length the worst of the day fell to the Kings side Howbeit not long after the King put the Yorkists to flight at Ludlow which town was spoiled to the bare Walls In a Parliament holden at Coventry the Duke of York Earls of March Salisbury Warwick Rutland and others were attainted of High treason and had their whole Estates confiscated But on July 9 1460 at Northampton was the fatal battel where Henry's Forces vvere utterly broken and vanquished through the treachery of the Lord Grey of Ruthen vvho quit his place and fled to the Yorkists The Duke of Buckingham Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont Lord Egrimond Valiant Sir VVilliam Lucy vvith many others of the Kings Friends vvere slain and the King himself fell a prey into his enemies hands vvho carried him to London vvhere a Parliament begun Octob. 8. At which Parliament Richard 〈…〉 his claim to the Crown publ◠〈…〉 â—gree to them on this sort nam◠〈…〉 third son of King â—dward the third had Issue Philip his daughter who was married to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March who had Issue Roger Earl of March who had Issue Edmond Earl of March Roger Anne and Eleanor which said Edmond Roger and Eleanor died without Issue and Anne the Heir of that House was married to Richard Earl of Cambridge the son of Edmond Duke of York fifth son to King Edward the third which said Earl of Cambridge had Richard now Duke of York He also alledged that the descendents of John of Gaunt fourth son and younger brother to Lionel had hitherto holden the Crown of England unjustly for that himself the said Richard Plantagenet Duke of York was the lawful Heir being the son of Richard Earl of Cambridge and Anne aforesaid Whilss this weighty controversy to whom the Crown of right belonged was under debate a Crown which hung for an Ornament in the middle of the roof of the Room where the Knights and Burgesses met to consult and also
vvas Mayor VVilliam Edward Thomas Reyner Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year Sir Thomas Scot was Mayor Ralph Joceline Richard Nedham Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Sir William Hulin vvas Mayor John Plummer John Stocker Sheriffs In his thirty ninth Year Sir Richard Lee was Mayor Richard Flemming John Lambert Sheriffs EDWARD IV. EDWARD the fourth A. D. 1â—61 was the eldest son of Richard Duke of York and began to Reign in the twentieth year of his Age. At which time Henry of Windsor had many friends remaining who by open Hostility sought to re settle him on the English Throne The battel at Towton fought on Palm-Sunday 1461 is very memorable wherein died the Lords Beaumont Nevill Willoughby Wells Scales Grey Dacres Fitz-Hugh Beckingham Knights Esquires and Gentlemen a great number and in all on both parts 35091 but Henry lost the day A. D. 1461 and June 28 was Edward Duke of York and Earl of March Crowned King at Westminster with great solemnity And in November following was Henry of Windsor and his son Edward by Parliament disinherited of their right or claim to the Crown The Dukes of Excester and Sommerset and Earl of Devonshire with an 140 more were Attainted and Disinherited Queen Margreâ— the mean while was gaining Aids from France but they were discomfited by bastard Ogle Then with the Scots she entred Northumberland took the Castle of Bamburgh and passed forward to the Bishoprick of Durham her forces daily increasing but these also were defeated by King Edward at Hegely Moor where Sir Ralph Piercie dying said I have saved the Bird in my breast meaning his Oath made to King Henry in whose cause he lost his life At Hexam also were Henries forces defeated but himself with much difficulty escaped into Scotland Shortly after which this unfortunate Prince came into England in disguise but being betrayed was apprehended in Waddington-Hall as he sate at dinner from whence he was conveyed to London with his Legs bound to the stirrups and at London was Arrested by the Earl of Warwick and committed to the Tower And now King Edward thinks himself at leisure to marry yet refuseth all Forreign matches whereof he had many offered and takes for his consort an inferior subject the Relict of his mortal enemy Sir John Grey slain at the battel of St. Albans on King Henries side This Lady Elizabeth Gray becoming a suiter unto the King for her Joynture kind King Edward became a suiter unto her for a nights-Lodging but she wisely answered him when he became importunate That as she did account her self too base to be his Wife so she did think her self too good to be his Whore When the King would needs marry this Lady to the great discontent of his Councel but especially of his Mother His Mother alledged many reasons to the contrary and amongst the rest this That only her Widow-hood might be sufficient to restrain him for that it was an high disparagement to a King to be dishonoured with bigamy in his first marriage To which the King pleasantly answered In that she is a Widow and hath already Children By Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchelor and have some too and so each of us hath a proof that neither of us are like to be barren And therefore Madam I pray you be content I trust in God she shall bring you forth a young Prince that shall please you And as for the Bigamy let the Bishop hardly lay it in my way when I come to take Orders for I understand that it is forbidden to a Priest but I never wist yet that it was forbidden to a Prince On May 26. 1465 was this Lady whom Edward had accepted to be his Queen Crowned at Westminster with all due Celebrations Her Father Sir Richard Woodvil was created Lord Rivers and made High Constable of England Her son Thomas Grey was created Marquess Dorcet and her other relations preferred But this marriage of the Kings did so sorely disgust the Earl of Warwick who had courted the Duke of Savoys daughter for King Edward that he turned his affection from him to Henry contriving all he could King Edwards deposition He wrought upon George Duke of Clarence the Kings brother to favour his designments the Duke being the easier wrought upon by reason he had before took offence against his brother about his Marriage and preferring his Wifes kindred Then did Warwick by his Agents stir up a commotion in the North one Robert Huldern first heading a rabble of about fifteen thousand and he put to death Sir John Coniers undertook the leading of them marching with them towards London Proclaiming That King Edward was neither a just Prince to God nor a profitable Prince to the Common-Wealth Against these rebels the King sent an Army that ingaged with them not far from Banbury where the Northern men had gone off with the worst had not John Clapham Esquire a servant of Warwicks displayed his colours with the white Bear and from an eminent place cryed a Warwick a sVVarwick whereat the VVelshmen fearing indeed that VVarwick had been come betook themselves to flight leaving their General the Earl of â—embroke and his brother in the field who valiantly fighting were incompassed and taken The Earl with his brother Sir Richard Herbert were brought to Banbury where with ten other Gentlemen they lost their heads Coniers and Clapham being their Judges 1469. From hence the Northern men under the conduct of Robin of Riddisdale hasted to the Kings Mannor of Graffon where the Queens Father then lay whom with his son John they suddenly surprised and at Northampton struck off their heads The King this while having prepared a mighty Army marched towards Warwicks company and at Wolney pitched his Tents the enemy lying at a little distance in readiness for battle but by mediation of friends a peace was intreated When the King resting secure was by politick Warwick surprized in the dead of the night and carryed Prisoner to Warwick-Castle from whence he was by night conveyed to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire where under the custody of the Earls Brother George Neville Archbishop of York he was retained but the Bishop granting him liberty to ride a Hunting in the Forests and Parks he fairly made his escape Warwick hereupon rages but seeing no remedy he made use of necessity and gave forth that himself so caused it having power to make Kings and to unmake them Nor did he and Clarence leave off here but procured a Rebellion in Lincolnshire where Sir Robert VVells an expert Soldier with Thirty thousand Commons disturbed the Country and in every place proclaimed King Henry At Stamford-Wells set upon the Kings forces not staying for VVarwicks coming where was performed a most bloody fight till at length Sir Robert being taken the Lincolnshire men casting away their Coats all ran away In regard whereof this Battel was called the Battel of Lost-Coat-Field VVells with many others were put to death 1470. Upon this defeat Clarence and
murdred body was on the Ascension-Eve laid in an open Coffin and conveyed to St. Pauls in London where it rested uncovered one day and began to bleed afresh thence it was carried to the black Friars Church where it did bleed as before then was buried at Chertsey in Surrey but King Henry the seventh translated it to his Chappel of Windsor A. D. 1474 Was an Interview at Piquigny in France of the two Kings of England and France where falling into complemental conference Lewis told King Edward that he would one day invite him to Paris there to court his fair French Ladies with whom if he committed any sin Lewis merrily told him that Cardinal Bourbon should be his Confessor and to be sure his penance should be the easier for that Bourbon used to kiss fair Ladies himself This was no sooner spoken howsoever meant but Edward was as forward of thanks and acceptance which King Lewis observing rounded Philip Coâ—â—nes his bosome-servant in the ear telling him flatly That he liked not Edwards forwardness to Paris there had been too many English Princes at that City already After King Edwards return into England as he was hunting in Arrow-Park belonging to Thomas Burdet Esquire with the death of much game he slew a white Buck which the Esquire much fancied whereupon he wished the Horns in that persons belly that moved the King to kill that Buck. For which words he was accused and condemned of Treason his words being wrested that he wish'd the Horns in the Kings belly and was beheaded at Tyburne A. D. 1478. George Duke of Clarence by the procurement of his brother Richard Duke of Glocester was accused of Treason and committed to the Tower His accusation was That he had caused divers of his servants to inform the people that Mr. Burdet was wrongfully put to death That upon purpose to exalt himself and Heirs to the regal dignity he had most falsely published that the King his brother was a bastard and therefore not capable to wear the Crown for which and the like crimes charged upon him he was in Parliament Attainted of Treason and found guilty and on the eleventh of March 1478 after he had offered his Mass-peny in the Tower was drowned in a But of Malmsey whose body was buried at Tukesbury But the King was afterwards much grieved that he had consented to his death and would say when any made suit for the life of a condemned person O unfortunate brother for whose life no man would make suit A. D. 1483 King Edward fell into a dangerous and deadly sickness when calling for his Lords into his sick presence and raising his faint body on the pillowes he exhorted and required them all For the love that they had ever born unto him for the love that he had ever born unto them for the love that our Lord beareth unto us all that from that time forward all griefs forgotten each of them would love other Which saith he I verily trust you will If you any thing regard either God or your King affinity or kindred your own Country or your own safety Shortly after which words he departed this life April the ninth and was buried at VVindsor in the New Chappel whose foundation himself had laid 'T is said of him that he was just and merciful in peace sharp and fierce in War and that never any King was more familiar with his Subjects than he In the beginning of his raign he used to sit in person certain days together in his Court of Kings-Bench to see justice and equity done His Issue were Edward Richard George who died an infant Elizabeth Cicely Anne Briget Mary Margret and Catharine His Concubines were Elizabeth Lucy and three others which were of three several humours as himself would say One the merryest which was Shores Wife another the wiliest and the third the holiest for she had wholly devoted her self to his Bed and her Beads His base Issue were Arthur sirnamed Plantaginet and Elizabeth He ordained penal Statutes against excessive pride in apparel especially against long-piked shoes then worn which had grown to such an extream that the Pikes in the toes were turned upwards and with Silver-chains or Silk-laces tied to the knee He gave some Cotswold-sheep to Henry of Castile and John of Arragon 1465 which hath been accounted one of the greatest prejudices that ever hapned to England One VValker a substantial Citizen of London was beheaded in Smithfield for only saying to his Child That he would make him Heir of the Crown meaning his house which had that sign In the fallen estate of King Henry many of the Nobles that had took part with Henry were put to fly for their lives into Forraign Countries and amongst the rest Henry Holland Duke of Excester and Earl of Huntingdon son to the Lady Elizabeth second daughter of John of Gaunt and Husband to the sister of King Edward the fourth was constrained to live in exile in miserable want and penury For saith Philip Comines I once saw the Duke of Excester run on foot bare-leg'd after the Duke of Burgundies Coach and Train begging an Alms for Gods-sake But being known what he was Burgundy gave him a small pension for his maintenance The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings time In his first Year Sit Hugh Witch was Mayor George Ireland John Lock Sheriffs In his second Year Sir Thomas Cook was Mayor VVilliam Hampton Bartholomew James Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Matthew Philip was Mayor Robert Basset Thomas Muschampt Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir Ralph Joceline was Mayor John Tate John Stones Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir Ralph Varney was Mayor Henry Weaver VVilliam Constantine Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir John Young was Mayor John Brown Henry Brice John Darby Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Thomas Oldgrave was Mayor Thomas Stalbrook Humphrey Heyford Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir VVilliam Taylor was Mayor Simon Smith William Herriot Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Richard a Lee was Mayor Richard Gardner Robert Drope Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir John Stackton was Mayor John Crosby John VVard Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Sir William Edwards was Mayor John Allen John Shelley Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir William Hampton was Mayor John Brown Thomas Bledlow Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir John Tate was Mayor Sir VVilliam Stocker Robert Belisdon Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year Sir Robert Drope was Mayor Edmond Shaa Thomas Hill Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year Sir Robert Basset vvas Mayor Hugh Brice Robert Colwich Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year Sir Ralph Joceline was Mayor Richard Rawson William Horn Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year Sir Humfrey Heyford vvas Mayor Henry Collet John Stocker Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year Sir Richard Gardner vvas Mayor Robert Harding Robert Bifield Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year Sir Bartholomew James was Mayor Thomas Ilam John Ward Sheriffs In his twentieth Year Sir John Brown was Mayor Thomas Daniel William Bacon Sheriffs In his
Citizens exceedingly Himself did not only become one amongst them causing himself to be entred a Brother of the Merchant-Taylors Company but also wore the habit at a publick Feast and sate as Master of the Company A. D. 1492 Octob. the sixth King Henry with his Host landed at Callis from whence with his whole forces he marched towards Boloigne which when he had besieged Articles of peace were concluded betwixt him and the King of France For King Henry before his going out of England had been dealt with on the French Kings behalf to accept of conditions but would not enter into any Treaty with him till he was in the field and that with such a puissance as vvas likely enough to force his ovvn conditions When Henry had to his advantage setled his transmarine affairs he returned for England vvhere he vvas not to remain long in quiet For the Dutchess of Burgundy had provided another counterfeit King a youth of a Princely personage called Peter VVarbeck the son of a converted Jew This her creature Peter or as some called him Perkin and Peterkin under the name and Title of Richard Plantaginet second son of King Edward the fourth had great honour given him by the King of France And divers persons of eminency in England were so deluded that they believed him to be the true Richard and thereupon sought to advance him to the Crown which cost some of them the price of their heads as the Lord Fitz-VValter Sir Simon Montford Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain that gained the Victory for King Henry at Bosworth-field These with more were put to death for favouring of Perkin The King also for the further prevention of dangers caused the coasts of England to be strongly guarded sent a new Lord Chancellor into Ireland Henry Denny a Monk of Langton-Abby and Sir Edward Poynings with some forces whose greatest care and diligence was to punish such as before time had given any assistance to the mock-Mock-king and to restrain such as were likely to do so in time to come The Earl of Kildare falling under suspition Poynings sent prisoner into England where the King did graciously hear and admit his defences and returned him with Honour and continuation of authority The Irish had formerly exhibited many Articles against this Earl the last of which was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland constituting him Lord-Deputy thereof But Perkin having gained private assistance from the French King and Maximilian to strengthen yet his enterprize he repairs into Scotland unto James the fourth having special recommendations from the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy who gave him most courteous entertainment The rare impudency of the youth and that connexion which his darings had with other Princes drew this King into an errour concerning him When he was first brought to the presence of the King of Scots with a right Princely gracefulness he declared to the said King That Edward the fourth leaving two sons Edward and Richard both very young their unnatural Uncle Richard to obtain the Crown purposed the murder of them both but the instruments of his cruelty having murdred his elder brother the young King were moved with pity to spare his life and that thus saved by the mercy of God he was privately conveyed beyond the Seas the world supposing that himself also had been murdred And that Henry Teuder Earl of Richmond after he had by subtle and foul means obtained the Crown he then wrought all means and ways to procure the final destruction of him the rightful Heir to the English Diadem That his said mortal enemy Henry hath not only falsely surmised him to be a feigned person giving him Nick-names so abusing the World but that also to deprive him of his right he had offered large Sums of Mony to corrupt the Princes with whom he had been retained and had imploy'd his servants to murder him That every man of reason might well understand that the said Henry needed not to have taken these courses against him had he been a feigned person That the truth of his manifest cause had moved the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy his most Dear Ant to yield him their assistence That now because the Kings of Scotland were wont to support them who were spoiled and bereft of the said Kingdom of England and for that he the said King James had given clear signs that he was of the like Noble quality and temper with his Ancestors he so distressed a Prince came to put himself into his hands desiring his aid to recover his Realms promising faithfully that when his Kingdoms were regained he would gratefully do him all the pleasure that should lie in his utmost power The King of Scots was so influenced with this Impostors words amiable person Princely deportment recommendations of Princes his aids from the Irish and assured hope of aid in England that he honourably received him as if he had been the very Richard Duke of York and gave his consent that this pretended Duke should marry the Lady Katharine Gourdon daughter to the Earl of Huntly which accordingly he did and also prepared to invade England in his quarrel although there wanted not them who with many arguments advised this King to repute him for no other than a Cheat. King Henry that he might be prepared for the Scots called a Parliament which granted a Tax to be gathered of six score thousand pounds the Levy of which mony kindled a dangerous fire in England For when the Kings Collectors came amongst the Cornish-men to receive their proportion of the Tax they tumultuously assembled under the leading of one Thomas Flammock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith of Bodnam Which Captains led their rout towards Kent and at Wells James Tuchet Lord Audley joyned with them From Wells they proceeded to Black-Heath where the Kings forces defeated them without much labour fifteen hundred of the Rebels were taken and the takers had their prisoners goods granted them James Lord Audley was led from New-gate to Tower-hill in a Coat of his own Armories painted on a Paper reverst and torn where he was executed Flammock and the Smith were quartred Memorably strange was the comfort that the Smith cheered himself withall as he was drawing to his execution to wit That yet he hoped that by this means his Name and Memory should be everlasting The Kings care was now to order the War against Scotland whither he sent the Earl of Surrey with an Army to invade the Scotch borders as they had lately done the English The Earl pursued the revenge with great vehemency but in short time by the King of Spains mediation a Truce was concluded betwixt the two Nations One Article of which Truce was That Perkin should be no longer fostered in Scotland Whereupon he withdraws into â—reland whither the Cornish-men sent to him inviting him amongst them promising that at his arrival
and hanged at Wapping A. D. 1609 was the New-Exchange built the King naming it Britains-Burse In the same year the King by Proclamation prohibited all foreign Nations from fishing on any of the coasts of England Scotland Ireland or the Isles adjacent without special License from his Commissioners In this year also the King according to an ancient custom had aid of his Subjects through England for making his eldest son Prince Henry Knight A. D. 1610 June 4th all Roman Priests Jesuits and Seminaries as being the Incendiaries of disturbances were commanded to depart the Realm Then the Oath of Allegiance was ministred to all sorts of people His Majesty caused to be built the goodliest Ship of War that had ever been built in England being of the burthen of 1400 Tun and carrying 64 pieces of Ordinance Prince Henry named it the Prince A. D. 1612 The Corps of Mary late Queen of Scotland the Kings Mother was translated from Peterborough to the Chappel-Royal at Westminster On November the sixth following Prince Henry died of a malignant Fever which reigned that year in most parts of the Land Some said that he died by poisoned grapes which he eat others by Gloves of a poisoned perfume given him for a present but be his death by what means it would certain it is that he was infinitely beloved of the people as one that had given great hopes of proving a wise and Martial Prince February 14th the marriage of the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne with the Princess Elizabeth was solemnized in the Chappel at White-Hall She was attired all in white having a rich Crown of Gold upon her head her hair hanging down at length curiously beset with Pearls and precious Stones her train supported by 12 young Ladies all in white In this same year the City of London having before had the Province of Vlster granted them by the King for a plantation sent thither about three hundred persons of all sorts of Handy-crafts-men chiefly to inhabit the Cities of London-derry and Coleraign And for the advancing of this or the like plantation in Ireland the King about this time began a new Order of Knights called Baronets which Order he stinted within the number only of two hundred and as the Issue should fail the Order to cease About this time also an exemplar punishment was imposed upon Sir Peckshall Brockas which was to stand at Pauls-Cross in a white sheet holding a wand in his hand he having been formerly convicted before the High-Commissioners for many notorious adulteries with divers Women About A. D. 1614 Mr. Hugh Middleton Citizen and Goldsmith of London with infinite cost and labour brought the New-river to the City of London from the two great springs of Chadwel and Amwel in Hartfordshire And about the same time was the Moor-Fields by London converted from deep stinking ditches and noisom Common-shores to pleasant sweet Walks A. D. 1615 Smithfield which was before a rude dirty place was paved all over and the middle part thereof railed in September 27th the Lady Arbella the Kings Cousin-German died She had sometime before without the Kings privity secretly married the Earl of Hartfords younger Son for which they were both committed to the Tower Sir Edward Cook the famous Lawyer upon some displeasure was discharged from being Lord Chief Justice In this year was a divorce made betwixt Robert Devereux Earl of Essex and his Countess for his Insufficiency and she left free to marry any other After which divorce Robert Carre Earl of Sommerset took her to Wife But Sir Thomas Overbury the Earls special friend having disswaded the match and perhaps laid some imputation on the Ladies fame according to desert did by this means so incense these Lovers against him that they first made means to have the said ingenious Gentleman committed to the Tower and then by their instruments to have him poisoned some say by a Tansey sent him to eat some by a Clister ministred to him For which fact Sir Gervas Elwes then Lieutenant of the Tower and Mrs. Turner with others were put to death The Earl and his Countess were also arraigned and condemned but had a lease of their lives granted them for ninety-nine years yet so as after never to see the Kings face more This made way for the advancement of Mr. George Villers for this great favourite the Lord Carre being upon this occasion laid aside the said Mr. Villers was accepted in his stead Whom the King first of all Knighted and made Gentleman of his Bedchamber soon after Viscount and Master of his Horse a while after Earl of Buckingham then Marquess of Buckingham and Lord High Admiral and lastly Duke of Buckingham A person 't is said he was of delicate composure of body and of excellent natural parts and one that was very mindful of his Relations and Kindred most of whom he procured to be advanced A. D. 1618 Sir Walter Rawleigh who had lived a condemned man many years in the Tower of London now to procure some liberty propounded to the King a project for the fetching of Gold from a Mine in Guyana and that without any wrong to the King of Spain This the King condescended unto and Sir Walter set forward in his Voyage but when after a real or only a shew of search no treasure could be found he fell upon St. Thome belonging to the King of Spain George Abbot A B. Cant which he plundred and burnt then returned though to his ruin For though Sir Walter sought to excuse his spoiling of St. Thome by alledging that the Spaniards had first assaulted him and moreover that he could not come at the Mine without first winning of that Town yet did the Spanish Lieger Gundamoâ—e so aggravate this his fact and prevailed so with the King who preferred the publick peace before the life of a man already condemned that he gave way to have the sentence of his former condemnation executed upon him And accordingly this man famous for Letters and Arms was beheaded in the Parliament-yard at Westminster In this Year 1618 and March the second Queen Anne died at Hampton-Court and was buried at Westminster The November preceding her death a famous Comet or Blazing-Star appeared A. D. 1620 July the seventeenth Bernard Calvert of Andover rode from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover from thence passed by Barge to Callis in France and from thenee returned back to St. Georges Church the same day This his journey he performed betwixt the hours of three in the morning and eight in the afternoon A.D. 1621 Sir Francis Michel a Justice of the Peace of Middlesex was sentenced by Parliament to Ride with his face to the Horse-tail through the City of London for practising sundry abuses in setting up new Ale-houses and exacting monies contrary to the Law This sentence was executed upon him Sir Francis Bacon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellor of England was for bribery but it was his servants that were bribed put out
above all the Peers of his Kingdom A while after performing this his promise by causing Edrick's head to be cut off and placed on the highest Gate of London But some say that King Edmond dyed a natural death at London when he had reigned seven Months whose body was buried at Glastenbury His Issue were Edward sirnamed the Out-law because he lived out of England during the reign of the Danes and Edmond DANES CANUTE A.D. 1017 CANVTE the Dane after the death of Edmond seized upon the other half part of the Kingdom the English Nobles owning him for their rightful King and swearing allegiance to him He was crowned at London by Living us Elstane Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1017. And to establish the Crown more sure to himself he banished Edwin the son of King Ethelred who for his melancholy and regardless behaviour was called The King of Churles He also sent away Edward and Edmond the sons of Edmond Ironside Next he espoused Emma the Widow of King Ethelred and sister to the Duke of Normandy on this condition That the issue of her body by him should inherit the English Crown Then calling a Parliament of his Peers to Oxford he there established these Laws following viz. That all decent ceremonies tending to the encrease of reverence and devotion in the service of God should be used as need required That the Lords Day should be kept holy That a Clergy killing a Lay-man or for any other notorious crime should be deprived both of his Order and Dignity That a married woman convict of adultery should have her nose and ears cut off And a Widow marrying within the space of twelve months after her Husbands dectase should lose her Joynture With many others He went on pilgrimage to Rome where he complained against the excessive exactions and vast sums of money extorted by the Pope from the English Archbishops at such times as they received their Palls from thence Which the Pope engaged to redress for the future The greatness and glory of this King was such that some Court-Parasites sought to perswade him that he possessed a more than humane power but he to demonstrate the contrary being then at Southampton caused a Chair to be set on the shore when the Sea began to flow then sate himself in it and in the presence of his many attendants thus spake to the swelling-waves Thou Sea art part of my dominion don't therefore on pain of punishment presume so much as to wet the robes of thy Lord. But the unruly Sea swelling on further and further first wet his skirts then thighs so that the King suddenly started up and retiring said Let the inhabitants of the world know that the power of Kings is but weak and vain and that none is worthy the name of King save He that keepeth Heaven Earth and Sea in obedience to his own will After which time he would never wear his Crown but therewith crowned the picture of Christ on the Cross at Winchester which became a prize to the Church-men He dyed in A.D. 1035 and was buried at Winchester His Issue were Swein Harold Hardicanute and two Dâ—ughters In Essex he built the Church of Ashdon where he had the victory of King Edmond In Norfolk he founded the Abbey of St. Benets and in Suffolk the Monastry of St. Edmond Egelnoth A.B. Cant. which Saint he much dreaded To the Church of Winchester besides other rich Jewels he gave a Cross worth as much as the Revenue of England amounted to in one year And unto Coventry they say he gave the Arm of St. Augustine which at Papia cost him an hundred Talents of silver and one of gold HARALD A.D. 1035 HARALD for his exceeding swiftness sirnamed Harefoot the base son of King Canute in the absence of Hardicanute his Fathers son by Queen Emma was admitted King by the Nobility and crowned at Oxford by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury Which done for the better securing of the Crown to himself he sought means to gain Edward and Alfred the two surviving sons of King Ethelred into his hands In order whereunto he sent to them into Normandy a Letter feigned in their Mother Emma's name inviting them over into England for the recovery of their right But when Prince Alfred was accordingly arrived Earl Goodwin who pretended great kindness unto him betrayed him and his small party brought over with him into Haralds hands who at Guilford committed them to the slaughter only reserving every tenth man either for service or sale Alfred he sent prisoner into the Isle of Ely where his eyes being put out he in short time after dyed through grief and pain Queen Emma's Goods Harald confiscated banished her out of the Realm and oppressed the English people with great payments He dyed at Oxford Elnothus A B. Cant. A.D. 1040 and was buried at Westminster HArdicanute upon the death of Harold was by the States of the Land HARDICANUTE A.D. 1030 as well English as Danes invited over from Denmark to take upon him the government of the Kingdom which he accordingly did and was crowned at London by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury The dead body of his half brother King Harold he caused to be taken up and to be thrown into the River Thames which being found by a Fisherman he buried it in the Churchyard of St. Clements Danes so called because the great burial-place of the Danes Hardicanute for the maintaining of his Fleet imposed heavy tributes on the English insomuch that two of the Collectors thereof named Thurstane and Feader were slain by the Citizens of Worcester for which fact their City was burnt and their Bishop Alfred expulsed the See till that with money he had purchased his peace Earl Goodwin presented to this King a Ship whose Stern was of Gold with Eighty soldiers in her all uniformly and richly suited On their heads they all wore gilt Bargenets and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion swords with gilt hilts girded to their wasts a battel-ax after the manner of the Danes on their left shoulders a target with gilt bosses born in their left hands a dart in the right hand and their arms bound about with two bracelets of gold of six ounces weight But as Hardicanute was revelling and carousing at Lambeth in a solemn Assembly and Banquet He suddenly fell down dead The day of whose death instead of laments was annually celebrated amongst the common people with open pastimes in the streets Which time being the eighth of June is called Hoctide or Hucxtide signifying a time of scorn and contempt which fell upon the Danes by his death He was buried at Winchester A. D. 1042. About four years before the Danes first coming into England which was near the year of our Lord 789 showers of blood fell from Heaven and bloody Crosses were therewith marked upon mens garments 'T is said also that after the Danes had seated themselves in England whilst the English were drinking
causing a great dearth among Cattel extraordinary Rains Water floods incredible which so softned the hills to the foundations that some of them fell and over-whelmed the Villages near them Most of the principal Cities were indamaged by fire So great a fire hapned in London that it consumed Houses and Churches all the way from the West-gate to the East-gate And 't is said that tame and domestick Fowls became wild flying to the Woods WILLIAM RVFVS WIlliam sirnamed Rufus A. D. 1087. notwithstanding that Robert Curtoise his eldest Brother was living yet by the mediation and assistance of Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Wolstane he gained the voices of the Councel and was Crowned A. D. 1087. But Odo Bishop of Bayeux to take revenge for his sufferings under the Conqueror instigated Duke Robert to repair into England and recover his right which he promised should soon be effected Now Robert that Money the sinews of War might not be wanting for the carrying on of this design mortgaged the Province of Constantine to his Brother Henry and with him many of the English sided William on the other hand by fairly promising to abolish the over-hard Laws made by his Father and to take off the Taxes and Imposts drew the people generally to stand in his defence by whose aids he regained divers strong holds that the Nobles had seized for Duke Robert He also besieged Rochester wherein Odo was from which siege he sent forth his Proclamation throughout the Land commanding all men to repair thereto and that whosoever would not should be reputed a Niding A word so disgraceful and hateful to the English signifying a Coward or base-hearted fellow that made multitudes hast with all speed to that service Whereupon the Castle was yielded and Odo banished and his goods confiscated But whilst these things were acting Robert Duke of Normandy Landed at Southampton and very shortly returned again into his own Territories upon his Brother Williams promise to pay him Three thousand Marks yearly and to resign the Kingdom to him or his Heirs at his death About this time Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterbury dyed and the King kept that See vacant above Four years So did he by many other Ecclesiastical promotions and set to sale the rights of the Church preferring those therein that would give the most and yet his exchequer became never the richer He was wont to say That Christs bread is sweet dainty and most delicate for Kings His Brother Roberts Territories in Normandy he invaded taking divers strong holds and Castles inforcing Robert to make a Peace with him After which these two Brothers unite their forces against their Brother Henry But he fearing after-claps had strongly fortified the Castle of Mount St. Michael in Normandy wherein they besieged him In which time of Siege King Williams life was in great hazard for some of the besieged sallying forth William more boldly than wisely rode against them and a Knight encountring him slew his Horse under him and had slain him too had he not made himself known by his voyce Whereupon the armed men with great reverence took him up and brought him another Horse when the King not staying for the stirrup sprang into the Saddle and with angry countenance demanded who it was that overthrew him and the Knight as boldly answered and shewed himself who he was By Lukes face quoth the King thou shalt be my Knight and be inrolled in my Check with a fee answerable to thy worth Prince Henry in the time of this siege being sorely distressed for Water sent to his Brother Robert knowing him to be of the better temper desiring him that he might have that permitted him which God had made common Duke Robert commanded him to be supplied whereat King William was wroth Anselme A.B. Cant. To whom Robert sayd And dost thou esteem more of water which is every where to be got than of a Brother having no more but him and me In short time after these Three brethren were reconciled and in short time after that the two elder again disagreed The Peace of England was also disturbed by Malcolme King of Scots but by the Ambushment of Mowbray Earl of Northumberland he was slain with his Son Edward Then Mowbray grown proud turns Rebel but was taken and committed to Windsor Duke Robert preparing for the Holy Wars mortgaged his Dukedom to his Brother William for the sum of Six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds of Silver for the making up of which sum King William made the Religious Houses to ransack their Coffers Normandy therefore was now the Kings concern to keep as his own wherefore a while after hearing as he sate at meat that Main a City in Normandy was straitly besieged and his Subjects sorely distressed he swore his wonted Oath By St. Lukes face that he would not turn his back till he was with them And thereupon commanded the wall of the House to be broke down that he might go forth the next way to Sea leaving order for his Nobles straight-way to follow him But the Winds being contrary and Seas raging his Pilate humbly desired him to stay a while till the winds and Seas were appeased To whom the King said Hast thou ever heard that a King hath been drowned Therefore hoise up the sails I charge thee and be gone Which accordigly being done the King making such hast relieved the City before it was expected Then setling his affairs in that Countrey he returned into England where as he was Hunting in New-Forest Sir Walter Tyrrel a French Knight shooting at a Stag the Arrow glanced against a Tree and struck the King into the breast with which he immediately dyed Aug. 1. A. D. 1100. His body layd in a Colliers Cart was drawn with one poor Jade through a very dirty way till the Cart broke where for a while the Corps was left in the dirt but afterwards was conveyed to Winchester and there buryed in the Cathedral Church The bones since have been taken up and laid into a Coffer with the bones of Canutus At Westminster he laid new foundations of a most stately Palace and finished that stately building called the great Hall which he found fault with because no bigger accounting it scarce worthy the name of a Bed-chamber in respect of that which he intended to build He new built the City Carlisle which 200 years before had been spoiled by the Danes built the Church of St. Saviours in Southwark and founded an Hospital in York to the Honour of St. Peter In this Kings reign the Bishops See was translated from Selsey to Chichester anciently called Cissancester In his Reign happened a most dreadful Earth-quake vehement Lightning leaving an intolerable stink behind it An exceeding tempest of Wind that in London drove down Sixty Houses blew off the Roof of Bow-Church with the Beams Six of which in their fall were driven Twenty three foot deep into the ground the Streets of the City lying then
Matilda came to Winchester where sending for the Bishop being then the Popes Legate though he doubted some danger yet not daring to send a flat denyal returned this equivocal answer Ego parabo me I will make ready as though he had meant to follow the Messenger whereas he addressed himself to work her downfall For sending for his Brothers Queen Prince Eustace the Londoners and William Ypre he made strong his party for the King Himself and friends abiding in the City and the Empress keeping in the Castle not daring to adventure forth for about the space of Seven weeks When the Bishop to deceive Matilda commanded peace to be proclaimed and the City Gates to be set open But the Empress and her Friends now leaving the Castle to go to some other place were pursued by the Bishops forces in which pursuit many of her party were wounded and slain Earl Robert taken and others flying into the Nunnery of Warwell were burned together with the place And Winchester City the Bishop caused to be fired for the Citizens affections to the Empress The Empress who had escaped to the Castle of the Devizes and there in hazard to be surprized caused her self to be put into a Coffin as though dead bound fast with Cords and so as if it had been her dead Corps she was carried in a Horse-litter to Glocester King Stephen and Earl Robert being exchanged one for another the King now pursues Matilda and in Oxford besieged her wan the Suburbs thereof and brought her to that streight that for her escape in a great Frost and Snow she was forced in order to the deceiving of the Centinels eyes to cloath her self in white Linen Garments and so on foot to run through Ice and Snow Ditches and Vallies till she came to Abingdon where taking Horse she got the same night to Wallingford Castle After which many bickerings hapned betwixt the two parties with variable successes to and fro Sometimes in one part of the Nation Matilda's side prevailed in another part Stephens to the great ruine of the whole Realm However Stephen to assure the succession to his Son Eustace called a Councel at London commanding Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury to consecrate his Son King Which he refusing to do and that by the Popes special Mandate was forced to fly into Normandy the King seizing upon all his possessions But Eustace shortly after dying King Stephen inclined to peace and was content to adopt Henry Fitz-Empress for his Son and Successour To whom the Nobles at Oxford did homage as to the undoubted Heir and the Prince yielded Stephen the honour of a Father But King Stephen being afflicted with the Iliack passion together with his old Disease the Hemerhoids gave up the Ghost at Dover A. D. 1154 and was buried at Feversham in Kent Though his body afterward for the Lead-sake wherein it was wrapped was cast into the River He had Issue Balwine Eustace William Maud Mary and two natural Sons His Son Eustace in a rage set fire on the Corn-fields belonging to the Abby of Bury Theobald A.B. Cant. because the Monks denyed to help him to a sum of Money but afterwards sitting down to Dinner at the first morsel of Bread he put into his mouth he fell into a fit of madness and in that fit dyed King Stephen erected the Abbies of Cogshall in Essex of Farness in Lancashire the Nunneries at Carew and Higham an Hospital at York and Monastry at Feversham About the beginning of his Reign a Fire beginning at London-stone consumed Eastward to Aldgate and Westward to St. Pauls HENRY II. A.D. 1154. HENRY PLANTAGINET the Son of Maud the Empress and Earl Geofry of Anjou was Crowned at Westminster by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury And Henry to settle the Realm in quiet demolished certain Castles and fortified others Some Earls unduly created he reduced into a private condition purged the Realm of Foreign Soldiers chiefly of the Flemings Chose himself a Councel out of the most eminent persons spiritual and temporal and restrained the insolencies of some great personages which made some of them discontented especially that arrogant Lord Hugh de Mortimer who raised a Rebellion Against whom the King went in person where in the Siege of Bridge-North he had been shot with an arrow had not Hubert de St. Clare interposed and took the arrow into his own bosome The King having quieted the Rebels he hasted into France and there did homage to King Lewis for his French Provinces setled an accord between himself and Brother Geofry and at his return into England entred into amity with Malcolm King of Scots restoring to him the Earldom of Huntingdon Then he advanced against the Welsh with whom fighting his person was in great danger his Standard-royal cowardly abandoned for the which Henry de Essex Standard-bearer was afterward accused by Robert de Montford who in single combat within lists vanquished him at Reading where the said Essex was shorn a Monk But the King at length overcame the Welsh and returned with triumph into England after which himself and his Queen Eleanor were crowned at Worcester where they both at the Offertory laid their Crowns upon the high Altar vowing never to wear them after This now was the third time in which at three several places Westminster Lincoln and Worcester he had been crowned Then the King crost the seas into his Dukedom of Normandy where he made seizure of some Cities into his hands after his Brother Geofry's death and setled some affairs then returned After which and about the year 1163 began the famous Controversie betwixt the King and his Favourite Beâ—ket whom in the beginning of his reign he had advanced to be Lord Chancellor and upon the death of Theobald to be Archbishop of Canterbury Tho. Becket A.B. Cant. Which Archbishoprick Becket at the Council of Tours secretly delivered up to the Pope and received it again from his hands But the cause of the dissention betwixt the King and this Bishop was the remisness and neglect of Becket's curbing the disorders of the Church-men which then were grown to a dangerous height complaint having been made to the King of above a hundred Murders committed by the Clergy in his reign Which enormities besides many others of other kinds not being punished by Church-censure the King exceedingly displeased brought them under the Civil Power ordering that Justice should be administred to all alike without partiality as well Clergy as Laity appointing Ministers of Justice through all parts of the Land to that purpose against which Becket opposed himself peremptorily defending the pretended Rights of the Clergy and his See of Canterbury yea so far as that he challenged from the Crown the custody of Rochester Castle and other Forts which the King for securing his state had resumed into his own hands Hereupon the King assembling his Bishops at Westminster it was there agreed That none should appeal to the See of Rome in any case
and was so successful that within a short space he took fifteen Ships of the Spaniards fraught with Rich Merchandize By a Tempest were cast away at Sea four Knights and above a thousand Englishmen in their passage to Little-Britain In the year 1392 the Londoners were so unkind to the King that they refused to supply him with the loan but of a thousand pound and because a certain Lombard offered to lend the same they abused and almost killed him for which the King took away their Charter The year of Christ 1394 was famous or notable for the deaths of many great Ladies and amongst the rest of Queen Anne the Kings first wife whom it is said he loved to a kind of madness In the same year that the King was deposed the Bay or Lawrel Trees withered all over England and afterwards reflourished and on the first of January near Bedford-Town the River where it was deepest did on the sudden stand still and so divided it self that the bottom remained dry for about three miles Now flourished Sir John Hawkwood whose Chivalry had made him renowned through the Christian World Sir Geoffry Chaucer Poet Lawreat now also lived Queen Anne wife to King Richard the second first taught English women to ride on side-saddles when as before that time they rid astride She also brought in high head attire piked with Horns and long trained Gowns for Women The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir Nicholas Brember was Mayor Nicholas Twiford Andrew Pikeman Sheriffs In his second Year John Philpot was Mayor John Boseham Thomas Cornwallis Sheriffs In his third Year John Hadly was Mayor John Helisdon VVilliam Barra Sheriffs In his fourth Year VVilliam VValworth was Mayor Walter Doget William Knighthode Sheriffs In his fifth Year John Northampton was Mayor John Rotu John Hinde Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Northampton continued Mayor Adam Bramme John Sely Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Nicholas Brember was Mayor Simon Winchcome John Moor Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir Nicholas Brember continued Mayor Nicholas Exton John French Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Nicholas Brember continued Mayor John Organ John Churchman Sheriffs In his tenth Year Nicholas Exton was Mayor William Stondon William More Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Nicholas Exton continued Mayor William Venor Hugh Falstalfâ— Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Nicholas Twiford was Mayor Thomas Austen Adam Carlehul Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year William Venor was Mayor John Walcot John Love Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year Adam Bamme was Mayor John Francis Thomas Vibent Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year John Hinde was Mayor John Shadworth Henry Vamere Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year William Stondon was Mayor Gilbert Mafield Thomas Newington Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year John Hardley was Mayor Drew Barintin Richard Whitington Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year Sir John Froyshe was Mayor William Bramston Thomas Knolls Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year Sir VVilliam More was Mayor Roger Ellis VVilliam Sevenoke Sheriffs In his twentieth Year Adam Brown was Mayor Thomas VVilford VVilliam Parker Sheriffs In his twenty first Year Sir Richard VVhitington was Mayor John VVodcock VVilliam Ascham Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Sir Drew Barintin was Mayor John VVade John VVarner Sheriffs HENRY IV. A D. 1389 HENRY of Bullingbroke the son of John Duke of Lancaster the fourth son of King Edward the third was Crowned at VVestminster by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury His Cousin the late King Richard seem'd so little concern'd for the loss of his Crown that when it was told him of Bullingbrokes being accepted by Parliament for King in his stead he only used these words I look not after such things but my hope is that after all this my Cousin will be my good Lord and friend But now Henry seated in Richards Throne used all the best means to retain the hearts of the people that sided with him and to weaken the opposite party and withal sent Ambassadors to forreign Princes to justify his unjust proceedings But the King of France and people of Aquitain would not allow of his pretences and the Citizens of Burdeaux openly said That since the world began there was never a more cruel unreasonable nor wicked fact done That the good Prince was betrayed by faithless men and that all Law was violated In England were many that inclined and contrived to set King Richard again upon his rightful Throne though to seek a captive Kings deliverance doth commonly hasten his death The principal Conspirators were John Holland Earl of Huntingdon Thomas Holland Earl of Kent the Dukes of Surrey Excester and Aumarl John Monticute Earl of Salisbury Thomas Spencer Earl of Glocester and the Bishop of Carlile Their plot was to kill Henry Bullingbroke and his son Henry but before the time of intended execution was come the whole conjuration was discovered Many attempts the conspirators made to effect the re-establing of Richard and amongst the rest they procured one Maudlen King Richards Chaplain to personate his Lord but this with all the rest of their projects failed The Towns-men of Cyrencester assayled and took some of the discontented Lords and then cut off their heads because some of their followers set fire on Cyrencester thinking that whilst the Towns-men were busied in quenching the fire they might set their Lords at liberty The Commons in Essex took the Earl of Huntingdon and cut off his head in revenge of the Duke of Glocesters death which he had had a hand in The Lord Spencer the Commons beheaded at Bristol Some others of them were put to death at Oxford some at London where also John Maudlen the counterfeit Richard a goodly personage and one VVillian Ferby were hang'd and quartred The Bishop of Carlile was by the Kings Clemency saved after his condemnation King Richard did not long survive his friends but at Pontfract Castle was put out of the way by hunger cold and great torments though the Scots have untruly writ that he escaped out of prison and led a solitary and vertuous life in Scotland and there dyed and was buryed at the black-Fryars in Sterling After Richards murder at Pontfract King Henry caused his dead body to be brought up to London where in St. Pauls with his face uncovered he lay for a time exposed to the view of all men then was his body transported to Langley in Hartfordshire where it lay buried till Henry the fifth in the first year of his Reign caused the Royal remains of his body to be Translated to VVestminster That beautiful Picture of a King sitting Crowned in a chair of State at the upper end of the Quire in VVestminster-Abby is said to be of him And now King Henry to divert the thoughts of the people from his Predecessors Tragedy prepared a puissant Army and marched with it into Scotland where he only did some hurt by wasting the Countrey and then returned Shortly after which he advanced against Owen Glendour that had
raised a Rebellion in VVales but Glendour against the Kings coming had withdrawn himself with his surest friends into the Fastnesses of Snowden wherefore the King only made some spoil in the Country and returned Many vvere the plots that vvere still made against the King but the contrivers were discovered and put to death among whom were many Monks And now Glendour having taken the Lord Mortimer prisoner with no small slaughter of his Herefordshire-men the King marched again into Wales where while he stayed he was in great danger to have perished by sudden storms and rains the like whereof his people had never seen or felt The common fame went that Glendour was a Conjurer and had raised those hideous Thâ—â—â—pâ—â—â— by â—lish Arts. In the No◠〈…〉 forces were more fortunate against the Scotts for at Halidon-hill Henry Hot-spur obtained a great victory taking prisoners the Earls of Douglas Fife Angus Murray and Orkney the Lords Montgomery Erskin and Grave with about eighty Knights besides Esquires and Gentlemen And besides what Scots were slain in battel there were about five hundred of those which fled from the fight drowned in the River Tweed But that Henry might have little joy of his ill-gotten greatness the Piercies they raised a dangerous Rebellion wherein indeed they pretended a care for the Common-wealths reformation though they really intended the advancement of their own private interests for it was agreed amongst the conspirators that the Kingdom should be shared betwixt Mortimer Earl of March Piercy and Owen Glendour South England to Mortimer North England to Piercy and Wales beyond Severn to Glendour and Archenbald Earl of Douglas vvas allowed as a sharer to be freed from ransom and to have Berwick for his ovvn Thus agreed they fortify Shrewsbury vvhither the King advanceth vvith his Army vvhere a terrible battel vvas fought and therein Hot-spur slain and his Host vanquished The Earls of Dunglas Worcester Sir Richard Vernon and Baron Kindleton vvith divers others vvere taken though not vvithout great danger of the Kings life and the death of many persons of quality on his side Henry Hot-spurs body was drawn out of the Grave Beheaded and Quartred and the parts sent to be set up in divers places of the Kingdom The Earl of Worcester Vernon and Kindleton were Beheaded The Earl of Northumberland who was taken by the way as he was bringing Forces out of the North to joyn with those at Shrewsbury had his life pardoned The year following a Parliament was holden at Coventry called the Lack-learning-Parliament either for the unlearnedness of the persons or for their malice to learned men For in order to supply the Kings wants a Bill was exhibited against the temporalties of the Clergy but by the courage of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings care of the Church their motion was fruitless A. D. 1405 another conspiracy was made against King Henry the chief in which conspiracy were Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal and Richard le Scrope Archbishop of York who being taken were both Beheaded But the Pope excommunicated all such that had a hand in putting the Archbishop to death Another fresh report of King Richards being alive was again spread abroad when the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph sought to raise an Army in the North but were encountred by the Sheriff of York-shire who after a sharp conflict slew the Earl in the field and mortally vvounded the Lord Bardolph The Earls head vvas cut off and after it had been ignominiously carryed through London vvas fixed on the Bridge A. D. 1413 the King fell sick and as some report in this his last sickness he caused his Crown to be set on a pillow at his beds-head when suddenly the pangs of his Apoplexy seized on him so violently that all supposed him to be dead At which instant Prince Henry coming in took away the Crown but his Father recovering out of his fit quickly missed it and understanding who had taken it away caused his son to be called unto him of whom he demanded what he meant to bereave him of that whereunto he had yet no right The Prince boldly replyed Long may you live Sovereign Father to wear it your self but all men deeming that you was gone to Inherit another Crown this being my right I took it as my own but now do acknowledge it for none of mine And therewith set the Crown where he found it O Son quoth the Father with what right I got it God only knovveth vvho forgive me the sin But hovvsoever it vvas got said the Son I mean to keep it and defend it vvhen it shall be mine vvith my Svvord as you by the Svvord have obtained it The King dyed at London and vvas buried at Canterbury His Issue vvere Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Glocester Blanch and Philippa A great Plague befel throughout England chiefly in London vvhere vvithin a short space it destroyed thirty thousand In the ninth year of his reign a Snovv continued December January February and March The Winter vvas so very sharp and long that almost all small Birds perished through hunger A little before the Rebellion of the Piercies vvas a strange Apparition betvveen Bedford and Bickleswade vvhere sundry Monsters of divers colours in the shapes of armed men vvere often seen to issue out of the Woods in the morning vvhich to such as stood far off seemed to encounter one another in most terrible manner but vvhen they drevv near nothing vvas to be found Because the number of Lolards so called increased an Act vvas made for the punishing of them by burning The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor William Waldren William Hende Sheriffs In his second Year Sir John Francis was Mayor John Wakel William Ebot Sheriffs In his third Year Sir John Shadworth was Mayor William Venor John Fremingham Sheriffs In his fourth Year John Walcot was Mayor Richard Marlow Robert Câ—icâ—y Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir William Ascham was Mayor Thomas Falconer Thomas Pool Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Hinde was Mayor William Louth Stephen Spilman Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir John Woodcock was Mayor Henry Barton William Cromer Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir Richard Whittingham vvas Mayor Nicholas Watton Geoffry Brooke Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir William Stondon vvas Mayor Henry Ponfract Henry Halton Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir Drew Barentine was Mayor Thomas Buck VVilliam Norton Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Richard Marlow vvas Mayor John Law VVilliam Chichely Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor John Penne Thomas Pike Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir Robert Chichely was Mayor John Rainwel VVilliam Cotton Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year VVilliam VValden vvas Mayor Ralph Lovenham VVilliam Sevenoke Sheriffs HENRY V. A. D. 1413 HENRY of Monmouth whilst he was Prince did many things very incongruous to the greatness of his birth For he
King Henry into his hands or else to murder him but their Treason being discovered they received the just reward of Traytors On the seventh of August 1414 the King of England with 1500 sail took to the seas attended with Thirty thousand Soldiers besides Gunners Enginiers Artificers and Labourers a great number And the 15 day of the same Month he cast anchor in the mouth of Seyn about three miles from Harflew where landing his men he fell devoutly on his knees desiring Gods assistance to the gaining of his Right Then made Proclamation That on pain of death Churches Church-men Women and Children should be spared from all violence And after due encouragement to his followers he made Harflew the first essay of his Fortunes in France it being a Port conveniently seated upon the mouth of the River Seyn and a safe entrance into his intended Conquest as well for the landing of men as to hinder the passage unto Roan and Paris both which received Traffique by the same River This town of Harflew was surrendred to King Henry Septemb 22. Into which when he first entred he passed along the streets bare-footed until he came to the Church of St. Martin where with great devotion he gave most humble thanks unto Almighty God for that his first atchieved Enterprize When the King had continued at Harflew about fourteen days he marched with 2000 Horse and 13000 Foot through Caux and Eu towards Callis in which march the French used all their endeavours to endamage him for besides many skirmishes they broke down the Bridges where he was to pass plashed the woods entrenched the ways stuck stakes in the Fords and in places of advantage laid store of soldiers to impeach his passage conveyed all victuals out of the Countreys through which he should go and at Blanchetague where he purposed to have passed over the River Some there the French had fortified against him for which cause he marched by Worms with intent to have passed the River at Port le Remy but finding that also guarded he kept along the River to Hargest the French Army marching on the other side Therefore he still marched on by the River side till he came to Bathen-Court where he got over his feeble and wearied Army proceeding on his march till he came to Azin or Agin-Court which was upon Octob. 24 where the French in a field of advantage purposely chosen had pitched their Banner-Royal with an infinite Host exceeding the English six times in number some say ten times King Henry now seeing himself so far engaged and many of his men sick of the flux 't is said he offered the surrender of Harflew and what else he had won and to make satisfaction for the harms done in France so as he might have liberty safely to depart for Callis to which the Constable and Marshal of France were willing but the young Princes and Nobles refused all conditions of Peace And assuring themselves of victory they before-hand disposed of the English Prisoners prepared a Chariot for the captive King divided the prey commanded the Bells to be rung in the adjacent Cities and Towns and thanks to be given to God that had delivered the Enemy into such a place of advantage sent to King Henry to know what ransome he would give sent for King Charles and the Daulphin to come in their persons to the battel that so they might have the honour of the Victory And so bold were the French upon their numbers and great strength that they spent the night before the battel in Feasts triumphs and sports but the English more wisely in preparing themselves for the fight When morning was come the French took the field pressing who should be foremost to this easie as they thought Conquest Against whom their greatest strength consisting in Horse King Henry commanded Two hundred strong Bow-men to lodg in a low Meadow where a deep ditch full of water might help to secure them from the Horse and the bushes cover them from sight having stakes also prepared and shod with iron at both ends which they were appointed to stick slopewise in the ground and to remove them upon occasion to guard them from the Horse This done King Henry ranged his Host disposing it into three Battels placing his Bow-men on both sides the Main where the King rode himself richly accoutred before whom the Royal Standard was born and many other Banners in Warlike order Both sides being in readiness they a while stood facing one another But the King of England resolving to break his way through his Enemies to Callis or else to dye with a cheerful countenance and words full of courage he animated his followers to put forth their utmost powers that after-ages might know what the Lance the Axe the Sword and the Bow could do in the hands of the Valiant and that whosoever desired Riches Honours and Rewards here they were to be had Which words ended his Army fell prostrate on the ground and committed themselves to God every man taking into his mouth a piece of earth in remembrance of his own mortality or in lieu of the Sacrament And then rising up the King with cheerful countenance commanded his Standard to advance forward saying Because our injurious enemies do attempt to shut up our way let us upon them in the name of the most Glorious Trinity and in the best hour of the whole year Sir Thomas Erpingham an old experienced Soldier with a Warder in his hand led the way who when he saw time threw his Warder up into the air whereat the whole Army gave a great shout The French kept still their own ground which the undaunted English perceiving they advanced towards them giving another shout when immediately the Archers laid in the Meadows darkned the Air with a showr of Arrows and the English Army fell on with admirable courage the most of them also for nimbleness being but half cloathed without hat and bare-leg'd so behaving themselves that the French Vantguard was instantly distressed and disordered into such a confused press that they were not able to use their Weapons at any advantage Their Wings which assayed to charge upon the English were broken and forced back for safety to their Main Battel where they bred both fear and confusion And those French Troops which pursued the Archers who gave back as if forced to flye came on with their Horses on the spur upon the jaws of destruction for falling by multitudes on those goring-stakes left by the Archers on purpose they were miserably overthrown and panched to death the English still on all hands hotly pursuing their advantages Against whom the Duke of Brabant advanced hoping by his example to encourage others furiously breaking into the English Army wherein manfully fighting he was slain With the like resolution Duke Alanzon pressed into the English Battalion where King Henry fought and there had slain Humphrey Duke of Glocester had not the King come in to his
rescue between whom and Alanzon was a hard contest Alanzon giving the King a slighty wound and the King at length striking him down to the ground whom the Soldiers in the heat of fight then slew contrary to the Kings command The French Reer-Guard seeing the disaster of their Van and Main Battel to save themselves ran away leaving the English no more work to do The number of prisoners taken by the English here was very great But King Henry perceiving fresh troops of the King of Sicils to appear fresh in the field and the same strong enough without any new rallied forces to encounter with his wearyed Souldiers to the end therefore that he might not have at once prisoners to guard and an enemy to fight contrary to his generous nature he commanded that every man should kill his prisoner which was immediately done certain principal men excepted Then by his Heralds he commanded those Troops either forthwith to come and fight with him else to depart the field either of which if they delayed he would revenge upon them without mercy Whereupon they quit the field When the fight was over and the field won King Henry fell down upon his knees and commanded his whole Army to do the same saying that verse in the Psalm Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give the glory And demanding what was the name of the place when it was answered him Agincourt then to all posterities following saith he shall this battel be called the battel of Agincourt The spoil here taken in Armour Jewels and Apparel was very great Of the English were slain the Duke of York the Earl of Suffolk two Knights David Gam Esquire and twenty eight private Souldiers Of the French were slain four thousand Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Souldiers Prisoners of Account taken in the field were Charles Duke of Orleans John Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Richmond Louis de Bourbon Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Rouen with divers others Just before this battel of Agincourt when it was reported that the French forces were very numerous Captain Gam resolutely said That if there were so many there were enough to be killed enough to be taken prisoners and enough to run away The next day after this battel Great Henry marched towards Callis and in the next month following spread sails for England and on November 23 in Triumph-wise he entred London where he received the gratulations of his people The City presented him a thousand pound in Gold and two golden Basons After some time of refreshing the King called a Parliament to London which granted him a Subsidy and a Tenth for the carrying on of his Wars in France which he graciously accepted though it was too short for the defraying so vast a charge Therefore to make it up the King pawned his Crown to his Uncle Cardinal Beauford for a great Sum of Money and certain Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks Then with an Army of 25527 Souldiers every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers Upon July 28 1417 he took to the Seas and August the first arrived in Normandy to their great terror many of the Inhabitants for fear flying into Britain And as soon as on shore to encourage his followers he dubbed 48 Knights then laid siege against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he took August the sixteenth He took likewise the Castles of Aumbelliers and Lovers the first of which he gave to his brother Clarence the second to the Earl of Salisbury and third to the Earl Marshal Caen in Normandy the King took by force giving the pillage thereof amongst his Souldiers Now whilst King Henry was busied in France the Scots wrought what mischief they could against him at home entred England in an Hostile manner bringing with them one whom they pretended to be King Richard the second laid strait siege against Roxbrough and Berwick but upon the report of an Army of English coming against them they broke up their sieges and well was he that could first set foot in his own Country In January the strong Town and Castle of Fallors was delivered to the King after which he divided his Army into several parts under the Conducts of the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester and Earl of Warwick who took sundry garisons The King the while besieged Roan which after about a Twelve-months siege was delivered to him upon Terms i. e. That the Burgesses should pay unto him three hundred fifty six thousand Crowns of Gold Should swear faith and loyalty to him and his successors c. A. D. 1418. Immediately after the surrender of this sundry other places of Note yielded themselves wherein King Henry placed Garisons And now France trembling at the English successes and their own losses sought a peace from King Henry who yielded to a personal conference to be held at Melun vvhither Charles the French King his Queen Isabel the Princess Katharine Duke of Burgundy Count of St. Paul with a thousand Horse came first then King Henry his brothers of Clarence and Glocester attended likewise with a thousand Horse met them When much conference passed but nothing was concluded which did not well please the King of England wherefore ready to depart he thus spoke to Burgundy Cousin I may not well digest this refusal but be ye assured that either I will have your Kings daughter and all my demands or else I will banish both you and them out of France You may speak your pleasure answered the Duke but before you shall thrust us out of France you shall be weary of the enterprize The Treaty thus broke Burgundy reconciled himself with the Daulphin and Henry displeased herewith prosecuted the War more sharply set upon Ponthois the last of July and in few hours gained the Town wherein great spoils fell to the Souldiers shares The news of this made King Charles to remove his Court from Paris to Troys in Champagne whilst Henry went forward with his intended enterprizes he and his Generals winning many strong-holds And to make the more way for the English successes the Daulphin and his Mother the Queen fell at great variance when the Queen by the procurement of Burgundy the King being very infirm was made Regent of France whose female authority and the hatred to her own Son the Daulphin did not a little prejudice the Crown of France And to the greater advantage of the English the Daulphin killed the Duke of Burgundy whereupon the Queen and young Duke of Burgundy perswaded King Charles to disinherit the Daulphin his Son and to give the Lady Katharine in marriage unto the King of England which accordingly was done and a peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings of England and France The prime Articles of the peace were these That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and should hold all their
dignities rents and possessions during their natural lives That after the death of Charles the present King of France the Crown and Realm of France should with all rights and appurtenances remain unto the King of England and his Heirs for ever That because of King Charles his infirmness and incapacity to dispose the affairs of the Realm of France therefore during his life the government thereof should be and abide to King Henry so that thenceforth he should govern the Realm and admit to his Councel and Assistance with the Councel of France such of the English Nobility as he should think fit c. The Number of Articles were thirty three which were sworn unto at Troyes May 30 1420 the same being proclaimed in London the 20 of June following These Articles were concluded betwixt the two Kings in the presence of divers of the chief Nobility both of England and France homage being sworn unto King Henry and he proclaimed Regent of France And on the third of June the marriage of Henry and Katharine was with all pompous solemnity celebrated at Troyes the Bishop of that See performing the ceremonies From Troyes the King of England and his Queen rode to Paris where great entertainment was gâ—ven and the more to weaken the Daulphins interest a Parliament of the three Estates was assembled in Paris where the disinherison of the Daulphin was confirmed In this Parliament was also the final accord betwixt the two Kings acknowledged by the French King as made by his free consent and liking and with advice of the Councel of France whereupon it was likewise there ratified by the General States of that Realm and sworn unto particularly upon the Holy Evangelists by the French Nobles and Rulers spiritual and secular who also set their Seals to the Instruments thereof Which Instruments were sent into England to be kept in the Kings Exchequer at Westminster Things now setled in France as well as that unsetled time would permit King Henry leaves the Duke of Clarence to be his Lieutenant there and hasts for England with his Queen whom he caused to be Crowned at Westminster in little time after their arrival in England Then called a Parliament in order to the raising of moneys for the continuing of the Conquest in France but some men minding more their private interest than the publique instead of being free thereto to contribute they petitioned the King to commiserate the poverty of the Commons which as they pleaded were beggered by the Wars wherefore without further pressing for any aid the King again pawned his Crown to his rich Uncle Cardinal Beauford for twenty thousand pounds and then returned into France with four thousand Horse and 24 thousand Foot And time it was for the Daulphins party was grown considerably strong by Aids sent from Scotland under the conduct of the Earl of Bucquhanan and Archibald Douglas who had given a defeat to a party of the English therein killing the valiant Duke of Clarence and taking prisoners the Earls of Huntingdon and Somerset and Thomas Beaufort After which the Daulphinois had laid siege to Alenzon and straitned the City of Paris by withholding provisions from it but when victorious Henry appeared the enemy betook them to their strong-holds many of which he gained in short time A. D. 1421 and Decemb. the sixth whilst King Henry lay before Meaux news was brought him that his Queen at the Castle of Windsor was delivered of a Son at which he exceedingly rejoyced yet said he liked not the place of her delivery having before commanded that she should not be delivered there and withal predicted that what Henry of Monmouth should gain Henry of Windsor should lose A. D. 1422 Queen Katharine passed beyond the Seas to the King into France and there in the Loure King Henry and his Queen Katharine at the Festival of Pentecost sate in their Royal Robes with their Imperial Crowns on their heads and kept there Court with great confluence of people But shortly after this renowned Prince fell sick of a burning Fever and Flux whereof he dyed August 31. 1422. His bowels were buried at St. Mauro de Fosses his body at Westminster next beneath the Tomb of Edward the Confessor Upon his Tomb Queen Katharine caused a Royal Picture to be laid covered all over with Silver-Plate gilt the head whereof was wholly of massy Silver All which at the Abbies suppression was sacrilegiously broken off and taken away His Issue was only Henry of Windsor T is said of him That he was a Prince godly in heart sober in speech sparing of words resolute in deeds provident in Councel prudent in judgment modest in countenance magnanimous in action constant in undertaking a great Alms-giver devout to Godward a renowned Souldier fortunate in field from whence he never returned without Victory He erected the Monasteries of Bethlem and Briget near unto Richmond gave Princely gifts to the Church of Westminster and Brother-hood of St. Giles without Cripple-gate-London He first instituted Garter principal King at Arms besides other augmentations to the Order of St George A. D. 1414 Sigismond the Emperour came into England desiring to make peace betwixt the two Nations of France and England but when that could not be effected he entred into a League with the English himself Sir Roger Acton Beverly Murley and some others were strangled and burned for an unlawful meeting in St. Giles-fields A. D. 1417. Sir John Oldcastle Lord Cobâ—am was adjudged as a Traytor to the King and Realm to be drawn through the streets to St. Giles-fields by London and there to be hang'd and burnt Three Popes were now at once mounted into St. Peters Chair namely Benedict Gregory and John therefore for preventions of mischief to the Church by this Schisme a Councel was held at Constance in Germany whither King Henry sent nine English Prelates one of which to wit Richard Clifford Bishop of London was the first nominated by the Councel to be Pope and he first nominated him that succeeded which was Otho Collonna by the name of Martin the fifth In the third year of this Kings reign and on Candlemas day seven Dolphins came up the River Thames four of which were taken An Act made in Parliament holden at Leicester That such who maintained Wickliffes doctrine were Hereticks and Traytors and to be hanged and burned By which Law Sir Roger Acton with divers others as also the Lord Cobham were put to death The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir VVilliam Cromar was Mayor John Sutton John Michael Sheriffs In his second Year Sir Thomas Falconer was Mayor John Michael Thomas Allen Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Nicholas Wotton was Mayor VVilliam Cambridge Alan Everard Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir Henry Barton was Mayor Richard Whittington John Coventry Sheriffs In his fifth Year Richard Marlow was Mayor Henry Read John Gedney Sheriffs In his sixth Year VVilliam Sevenoke was Mayor John Brian
John Barton John Parvess Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Richard Whittington was Mayor Robert Whittington John Butler Sheriffs In his eighth Year William Cambridge was Mayor John Butler John Wells Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Robert Chichely was Mayor Richard Gosseline William VVeston Sheriffs HENRY VI. A. D. 1422. HENRY of Windsor was crowned about the Eighth Month of his age The guard and custody of this Royal Infant was committed to Thomas Duke of Excester the Nurture and Education to his Mother the Queen-Dowager the Government of England to Humphrey Duke of Glocester and the Regency of France to John Duke of Bedford The first disadvantage that befel the English Cause after the late King's decease was the death of Charles the French King who survived Henry but 53 days for the imbecilities of this Prince were a strength to the English on the other side the Infancy of young Henry was an advantage to young Charles by them of his party now called King of France though by the English he was called only King of Berry because little else was left unto him Howbeit now he seeks to enlarge his Dominions having received Aids from Italy and Scotland And not far from the Town of Vernoil his and the Regents Forces joined battel when the English inured to the French Wars having born the first heat of their enemies encounter by perseverance utterly broke them and put them to flight The Regent himself fought most fiercely winning unto himself a lasting Honour On the enemies part was slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others Prisoners taken was the Duke of Alanzon himself with about two hundred others of special account After this Victory the Regent besieged Mants in Main and with Ordnance beat down part of the Walls whereupon it was yeilded this being one of the Articles at the surrender which perhaps might be upon every like occasion That if any person was found within the City which had been consenting to the murder of John Duke of Burgundy Father to Philip Duke of Burgoigne that they should simply be at the Regents mercy Some time after this and not much Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury with a dreadful puissance besieged the City of Orleans and so enforced it that the inhabitants were willing to articulate and to yeild themselves to the Duke of Burgundy then being in his company but the Earl highly disdaining thereat said in the English Proverb I will not beat the bush and another shall have the bird Which Proverbial speech 't is said so offended the Duke that it wholly alienated his mind from the English to their great loss in all the French Wars following And now appeared that famous French Shepherdess Joan of Lorrain about 18 years of age daughter to James of Arcke This Maid to comfort Charles of France presented her self to him at Chinon bidding him to be of good courage and constantly affirming that God had sent her to deliver the Realm of France from the English yoak and to restore him to the fulness of his Fortunes Then she armed her self like a man and required to have that Sword which at that time did hang in Saint Katharines Church of Fierebois in Tourain and being warlikely arrayed she gets into Orleans which did greatly animate the fainting French From Orleans this Maid of God for so the French called her sent a Letter to de la Pole Earl of Suffolk in words to this effect King of England do reason to the King of heaven for his blood-royal yeild up to the Virgin the keys of all the good Cities which you have forced c. I am the chief of this War wheresoever I encounter your men in France I will chase them will they nill they c. The Virgin comes from heaven to drive you out of France be not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of heaven the Son of St. Mary but Charles shall enjoy it the King and lawful heir to whom God hath given it He shall enter Paris with a goodly train c. Vnderstand these news of God and the Virgin spare innocent blood leave Orleans at liberty This Letter was entertained of the English with laughter and Joan reputed of them no better than a Bedlam or Inchantress But be she what she would yet by her encouragements and conduct the English had Orleans pluckt out of their hopes and with much loss were driven to raise the siege In all Adventures Joan was one and the foremost At one Sally she being shot through the arm said to her followers Come this is a favour let vs go on they cannot escape the hand of God The English lost at this siege the Earl of Salisbury the Lord Moline the Lord Poynings Sir Thomas Gargrave and of all sorts if you believe the enemy were slain in such Sallies as the Martial Maid made 8000 our own Writers say but 600. After the raising of this siege some Towns were took by the English but at a Village called Potay the French coming upon them before the Archers could fortifie their battels with an empalement of stakes the English after three hours bloody resistance were put to the worst The Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thommas Rampstone were taken prisoners Which loss was followed vvith the sudden revolt of sundry Tovvns Nor vvas it long ere Charles recovered Aunerre and Rhiemes in the last of vvhich according to the Maids direction he vvas solemnly crovvned King of France Hitherto the Virgin had been very lucky but coming to the rescue of Champagne distressed by the English and Bâ—rgundians she vvas taken by a Burgundian Knight vvho sold her to the English and they sent her to Roan vvhere she vvas burnt for Sorcery Bloodshed and unnatural use of man-like Apparel and Habiliments contrary to her Sex The rumor of vvhose death and ignominious cause thereof vvas something incommodious to Charles's affairs for a time and it vvas thought that the coming of young King Henry into France vvould be much more vvho Decemb. 7.1431 vvas crovvned King of France in Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester At vvhich time such of the French Nobility as vvere present did their homage to him The Kings Patents and Grants touching French matters passed under the seal and stile of Henry King of the French-men and of England And about this time the English Affairs succeeded pretty fortunately in France The Earl of Arundel and Lord Talbot carry about victorious arms and terrifie Main Anjou and other places vvith their successes A D. 1435 that famous Patriot and General John Duke of Bedford dyed at Paris Upon vvhich many Tovvns voluntarily yeilded and multitudes of the French forsook the English to joyn vvith Charles And though the English Forces then in France vvere not altogether slothful yet through a fatal security or negligence or both at home there vvas not speedy sufficiencies of resistance ministred Richard Duke
of York vvas created Regent of France but before he arrived there Paris vvas lost by the treachery of the Citizens Feb. 27. 1436. And Philip Duke of Burgundy novv in person gives proof of his disaffections to the English bringing his Forces before the Tovvn of Callis for the relief of vvhich place the Protector Humphrey Duke of Glocester passed vvith a great Army but Burgundy had vvithdravvn his Forces before the Duke arrived Hovvbeit the Duke took some revenge on him by vvasting part of his Dominions Which done he vvith honour returned to his Charge in England In France the Earl of Warwick vvas very active driving the Duke of Burgundy's Forces from Crotoy freeing Albeville from the danger of a Bastile for tvventy days spoiling the Country of Picardy about Amiens and Artois The Duke of Somreset Lords Talbot and VVilloughby were also busied in other places for the security of what the English had gained John Stratford A. B. Cant. But the common enemy the Turk increasing in strengths Ambassadors were sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences betwixt the Nations of France and England whereupon a Truce was taken by the two Kings for eighteen months A. D. 1444 was King Henry married with Margaret the daughter of Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorrain In which marriage say some begun the mournful Tragedies of our Country For after this day the fortune of the World began to decline the King so that he lost his friends in England and revenues in France for shortly all was ruled by the Queen and her Councel to the great disprofit of the King and his Realm and to the mauger and obloquie of the Queen her self who had many a wrong and false report made of her A. D. 1447 Good Duke Humphreys death was effected He was much hated by the Queen and her party as the only man who by his prudence as also by the Honour and Authority of his birth and place seemed to impeach that Soveraign Command which they pretended to settle in the King but meant indeed as the manner is under soft Princes to reign themselves in anothers name Many great Lords were drawn on at the time of a Parliament then holden at St. Edmondsbury to concur for his destruction not perceiving that thereby they pluckt up the flood-gate at which the Duke of York should enter This great Duke being come to attend in this Parliament was Arrested of High Treason by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham Sommerset and others and to guard him certain of the Kings household were appointed but it was not long before he was found dead whose body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a Palsey or Imposthume His servants Sir Roger Chamberlain Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gent. were condemned of High Treason and had this unexampled punishment They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn there hang'd let down quick stript naked mark'd with a knife to be quartred and then a Charter of Pardon for their lives was shewed by the Marquess of Suffolk Thomas Wild the Dukes servant also being condemned and pardoned had for a preamble in his Letters Patents words importing That he had been one among many other Traytors against the King with Duke Humphrey who went about and practised to deliver Eleanor late wife to the Duke out of Prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Bury there to have contrived the Kings destruction Such was the end of this great Prince who by the people of England was thought to be doubly murdered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true Lover of learned men but himself was also learned and a Father of his Country And now the whole frame of government seemed to repose it self on the Queen and such Favourites as the King by her commendations liked The affairs of France were neglected And the Duke of York perceiving the King to be ruled and not to Rule began secretly to allure his friends of the Nobility and privily declared to them his Title to the Crown as likewise he did to certain Governours of Cities and Towns Which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his provision was ready before his purpose was publick The very state of things invited this fatal conspiracy there being now a milder King than England was worthy of a Councel out of favour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and jealous condition of things at home Of all which the Duke of York made his best use cherishing the popular discontents and instead of seeking to redress any evils in the State he represented them to be worse than they were thereby to ripen that breach of Loyalty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought upon In France matters went on very unhappily on the English side For the Duke of Sommerset during the Truce suffered a Town of Britain to be surprised denying restitution thereof cherished his Souldiers in their riot and disorders The French therefore making this their example surprized Town after Town till they had gained all Normandy and within few years extorted the Dutchy of Gascoign out of the English possession In the mean time the Duke of York raised his esteem in England by his appeasing of a tumult which had hapned in Ireland And at a Parliament holden at Westminster many Articles were exhibited by the Lower-House against the Duke of Suffolk wherein he was charged with evil demeanor Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower from whence he was discharged within a few weeks after About this time Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester and keeper of the Privy-Seal a wise and stout man stood in the Duke of Yorks way to the Crown therefore he procured him to be slain at Portsmouth by certain Ship-men And in a Parliament holden at Leicester the Duke of Suffolk a principal pillar of King Henries safety was set at again by the Yorkists They charge that for a crime on him namely the delivery of Anjou and Main which themselves had universally in a former Parliament assented unto and ratified This they prosecuted so effectually though unjustly against him that he was condemned to be banished for five years but in his way to banishment he was by some imployed on purpose taken at Dover-road where they struck off his head at the side of a Cock-boat nor was his death much lamented of the people because he was thought to have been a private actor in the death of the Noble Duke of Glocester Now the Yorkists having thus rid Suffolk out of the way think it no unfit time to begin to put their designs in practise so induce the Commons of Kent to make an Insurrection John Kemp. A. B. Cant. The Captain of the Rebels was a Villain named Jack Cade whom some by contraries called
head Howbeit the Traytor Banister did not only lose his promised reward but also received just punishments from Heaven for his eldest son fell mad and so died in a Hogstie his second son became deformed and lame in his limbs his third son was drowned in a small puddle of water his eldest daughter was struck with a foul Leprosie and himself being of extream age was found guilty of murder but saved by his Clergy Divers of the Earl of Richmond's party were put to death and so jealous was the King now of his ill-gotten greatness that he stored the Sea-coasts with armies of men furnished the Ports with store of munition and made all things ready to prevent Earl Henry's arrival caused a Parliament to be assembled at Westminster wherein the said Earl and all such as had fled the Land in his behalf were attainted and were made enemies to their native Country their Goods confiscate their Lands and possessions condemned to the Kings use Moreover the Usurper sent his Agents laden with Gold and many gay promises to the Duke of Britain offering what not if he would either send Earl Henry into England or commit him there into Prison but the Duke himself lying extream sick his Treasurer Peter Landose corrupted with Gold had betrayed the Earl into Richard's hands had not the Earl had timely notice of it and prevented it by a speedy escape unto the French-Court where he received great favours Dr. Richard Fox then a Student in Paris was eminently serviceable to the Earl in that Nation And the Duke of Britain when he understood the treachery of Landose was highly displeased and continued a favourer of the Earl and his Cause But all these things with many more were against K. Richard which he very well foresaw though he knew not well how to remedy yet that he might make his Title and interest as good as he could he devised to marry with his Neece the Princess Elizabeth but his Queen Anne stood in his way to this for the present though not long for she fell into the remorseless hands of death but whether a natural or violent is not well known After which Richard courts the Lady Elizabeth his own Brothers daughter though in vain for she detested him Howbeit when Henry heard of Richards attempts herein and not knowing what time through flattery and perswasions from some persons might do upon the young Princess her good nature he hastned for England setting sail from Harfleet with about 200 men August 15 and arrived at Milford-Haven the seventh day following from vvhence he advanced tovvards Shrewsbury On his way to which place there met him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in VVales with a great body of men to side in his quarrel which Earl Henry afterwards requited by making this his first Alder Governour of VVales From Shrewsbury the Earl marched to Newport where Sir Gilbert Talbot met him with two thousand men from the Earl of Shrewsbury Thence he passed to Litchfield where he was honourably received But when the Usurper understood that the Earl daily increased in strengths and that he was advanced so far without any opposition from his Court at Nottingham he set forth his Host to meet the Earl which he did near unto Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire His Vant-guard he disposed of a marvellous length to strike the more terror into the hearts of his foes the leading whereof was committed to John Duke of Norfolk His own Battalion was furnished with the best approved men of War When he had ordered his army for fight he animated his followers to behave themselves valiantly alledging to them that it was against a company of Runnagates Thieves Outlaws Traytors beggarly Britains and faint-hearted French-men that they were to fight who would oppress and spoil them of their Lands Wives and Children that these their enemies were such Cowards that they would fly faster from them than the silly Hart before the Hound that the Earl of Richmond Captain of the rebellion was but a Welsh Milk-sop For their love to him their Prince their zeal to their native Country he wished them that day to shew their English valour assuring them that for his part he would either triumph in a glorious victory or die in the quarrel with immortal fame Now S. George for us and us for victory saith he Haste therefore forward and remember this that I am he that with high advancement will prefer the valiant and hardy and with severe torture will punish the dastard and cowardly run-away The Earl of Richmond's forefront was commanded by the Earl of Oxford the right wing by Sir Gilbert Talbot the left by Sir John Savage the main Battel by the Earl himself and his Uncle Jasper When the Earl had ordered his small Host consisting of about 5000 men he rode from rank to rank and wing to wing encouraging his followers to fight alledging the justness of their quarrel which God would bless assuring them that for so good a cause as to free the Land of a Monster a Tyrant a Murderer he would that day rather become a dead carrion upon the ground than a Carpet-prisoner kept alive for reproach Advance therefore forward saith he like true-hearted English-men display your Banner in defence of your Country get the day and be Conquerors lose the day and be villains God and St. George give us a happy success Then immediately a fierce Battel commenced and was manfully continued on either part At length the King having intelligence that Earl Henry was but slenderly accompanied with men of Arms he therefore with his Spear in the Rest ran violently towards the Earl in which rage at the first brunt he bare down and overthrew the Earls Standard slew Sir William Brandon the bearer thereof next encountred Sir John Cheiny whom he threw to the ground thereby making an open passage to the Earl himself In which very instant when the Earl was like to be distressed the Lord Stanley sent in aids of fresh Soldiers under the leading of Sir William Stanley which were raised as he pretended for Richard but intended them when he should see his time for Richmond's service These entred the fight with such courage that they put the Usurpers forces to flight when the Usurper closing his Helmet said to such that brought him a swift horse for his escape This day shall finish all Battels or else I will finish my life So thrusting into the throng of his enemies he manfully fighting died in the place A. D. 1485 Aug. 22. There died with him that day the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir Robert Brakenbury The number of both parts slain in the field were 4000 Sir William Catesby with two other persons of quality were taken and two days after were beheaded at Leicester Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey the Duke of Norfolks son and heir being then also taken prisoner the Earl of Richmond demanded of him how he
they would venture their lives and fortunes for him as hoping that under his government they should be eased of their Taxes Perkin accepting their invitation landed at Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall after whose arrival some thousands of people resorted to him When King Henry heard of his landing and making head against him he smiled saying Loe we are again provoked by this Prince of Rake-hells but lest my people should through ignorance be drawn into destruction let us seek to take this Perkin by the easiest way we can He therefore assembled his forces and sent out his Spies to observe the track and hopes of Prince Peterkin who had now besieged the loyal City of Excester which would neither yield to his fine promises nor his threats and violence but valiantly withstood him till they were relieved by Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire and other good subjects that forced the Rebels away from before the City Which Rebels now understanding what great preparations were made against them began many of them to drop away from their new King and Perkin himself secretly fled and took Sanctuary at Beaulieu in New-forest out of which Sanctuary upon the Kings offer of life to him and oblivion of his crimes he gladly came forth and put himself into the Kings hands by whose order he was conveyed to London where the King by curious and often examination of him came to the full knowledg of that his heart desired The châ—ef matter of which confession the King caused to be published in Print But the imaginary King Perkin indeavouring to make an escape from such that had the charge of him after the undergoing of some publique shame for that attempt was committed to the Tower where he by his insinuations and promises had corrupted his keepers to set himself and the Earl of Warwick at large to which design of escaping the poor Earl is said to have consented Perkin for this conspiracy had his Tryal at Westminster and was condemned and being drawn to Tyburn had the sentence of death executed upon him At the Gallows Perkin did read his own confession therein owning himself to have been born in the Town of Tourney in Flanders of such parents whom he named and that being come into Ireland to see the Country he was there wrought upon to personate Richard Duke of York c. Thus died If I be not deceived a deceiver A. D. 1499. The Earl of VVarwick was publickly arraigned for minding to have escaped out of the Tower and consequently to deprive King Henry of his Crown and Dignity and to usurp the Title and Soveraign Office all which streined charge the Earl by false friends 't is said was perswaded to confess So lost his head upon Tower-hill and was buried at Bisham by his Ancestors Thus died the last Heir Male of the blood and Sirname of Plantaginet It is said That in the eyes of the Castilâ—aâ—s who had secretly agreed with King Henry to match their Princess Katharine with Prince Arthur there could be no sure ground of succession whilst the Earl of VVarwick lived Tho. Langton A. B. Cant. And the said Lady Katharine when the Divorce was afterward prosecute against her by her Husband King Henry the eight is reported to have said That it was the hand of God for that to clear the way to the Marriage that innocent Earl of VVarwick was put to unworthy death A. D. 1506 Edmund de la Pole Earl of Suffolk wilfully slew a common person in his fury for the which King Henry caused him to be arraigned the fact he was perswaded to confess and had pardon But the Earl as a Prince of the blood his mother being sister to Edward the fourth held himself disgraced by having been seen at the Kings-Bench-Bar a Prisoner therefore in discontent fled to his Aunt the Dutchess of Burgundy but within a while after he returned into England and the year following his spirit not yet being laid fled again after he had first complotted to disturb the Kings peace Whereupon King Henry applied himself to his wonted Art for learning the secrets of his enemies imployed Sir Robert Curson to feign himself a friend to Pole thereby to get himself into his bosome for the finding out of his secret designs and correspondents Mâ—ny great persons for Poles câ—use were committed to prison some were put to deaâ—h as Sir James Terrel and Sir John VVâ—dâ—am who lost their heads on Tower-hill and three other persons who were executed in other places And the more to disanimate de la Poles complices and favourers King Henry had procured from Pope Alexander the sixth an Excommunication and curse against Pole Sir Robert Curson and five other persons by special name and generally all others that should aid the Earl against the King Sir Robert Curson was named on purpose to make de la Pole secure of him Neither did the King leave here for he so prevailed with the Pope as he decreed by Bull That no person should afterward have priviledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and came forth again and that if any Sanctuary-man should afterward commit any murder robbery sacriledge treason c. He should by lay force be drawn thence to suffer due punishment And now Suffolk perceiving himself stript of all future hope of endamaging the King he put himself into the grace and protection of Philip King of Spain with whom he remained in banishment till King Philip was driven by tempest into England at which time King Henry prevailed with him to deliver Pole into his hards upon promise that he would spare his life And accordingly at Philips return home Pole was sent in England and then committed to the Tower King Henry thus secured of this hazard bestowed his ages care on gathering of mony though by some such ways as seemed none of the justest Empson and Dudley two Lawyers were his instruments for the bringing in of mony to fill his Exchequer These called the richer sort of Subjects into question for the breach of old penal Laws Henry Dean and William Warham A. Bps. Cant. long before discontinued and forgotten The courses they took in the execution of their imployment was for one of them to outlaw persons privately and then to seize their estates forcing them to chargeable compositions with the King and heavy bribes to themselves Another detestable practise of theirs was to have false Jurors and Ring-leaders of false Jurors who would never give in any verdict against their Patrons Empson and Dudley insomuch that if any stood out in Law these sons of Belial squared the destiny of their causes By these means many honest and worthy Subjects were rigorously fined imprisoned or otherwise afflicted But the King falling sick of a consuming disease by the means of good Counsel he inclined to grant to all men general Pardons certain only excepted and ordained that all such monys should be restored as had been unjustly levyed by his Officers He died A.
Princes to attempt the recovery of the holy-Land sending Cardinal Campeius on this errand into England Which Cardinal and his company being come to London as they passed through Cheap-side the sumpture Mules cast their Carriages and Coffers on the ground out of which the lids flying open fell old breeches boots and broken shoes torn stockings tattered rags old iron and horse shoes broken meat marrow bones roasted eggs and crusts of bread with such-like treasure About A. D. 1521 the Emperour Charles passing toward Spain landed at Dover where the King met him and conducted him in great state to London lodging him in his new Palace in the Black-Friars then feasted him at Windsor and in such bands of amity the Emperor and King Henry seemed to be link'd that in London this sentence was set up in the Guild-hall over the dore of the Councel-Chamber Carolus Henricus vivant Defensor uterque Henricus fidei Carolus Ecclesiae The reason of which Titles Defender of the Faith and Church was For that Charles the Emperour had directed forth a solemn Writ of Out-lawry against Dr. Martin Luther who had then given a great blow to the Triple Crown and King Henry had wrote a Book against the said Luther for the which the Pope gave the Title of Defender of the Church to the Emperour and Defender of the Faith to the King and for the same cause he sent King Henry a consecrated Rose A new variance hapning again betwixt the Kingdoms of France and England the King assembled a Parliament at the Black-Friers in London which granted him half of the yearly revenues of all Spiritual livings to be paid for five years continuance and the tenth part of all temporal substance to carry on the Wars against France and Scotland When the King being furnished with mony sent a great Army into France under the conduct of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk who had married Mary the Kings Sister Queen Dowager of France This valiant Commander first besieged and won Bell-Castle then took the Castle of Bonguard Braie Roie Lihome Mondedier and Boghan which done he returned King Henry was so inraged against the Scots that he took from all those inhabiting England all their goods sending them into their Country on foot with white Crosses sowed upon their uppermost garments But Margaret Queen of Scots solliciting her brother Henry for a peace the difference betwixt the two Nations was for a while reconciled About A. D. 1525 arose great troubles in Ireland the wild Irish casting off all obedience and killing many of the Kings English Subjects Girald Fitz-Girald Earl of Kildare was sent prisoner into England for that the Earl of Ossery had accused him of many misdemeanors as That he connived at the Earl of Desmonds escape whom he should have attached by order from the King That he grew over-familiar with the Irish and that he put to death the Kings best subjects When the Earl was brought to London he was committed to the Tower by the Cardinals means who did not love him In the Tower he expected death daily but with such couragious resolution that being at slide-groat with the Lieutenant when the Mandate was brought for his Execution on the morrow morning and seeing the Lieutenant struck into a sudden sadness he said unto him By St Bride Lieutenant there is some mad game in that Scroll but fall how it will this throw is for a huddle And when the worst was told him he said I pray thee Lieutenant do no more but assuredly learn from the Kings own mouth whether his Highness be witting of this or not Whereupon the Lieutenant loving the Earl well went to the King and shewed him the Warrant which the King seeing controlled the sawciness of the Priest for so he then called the Cardinal and gave the Lieutenant his Signet for a nullity of the Warrant so the Earl was delivered from the death threatned and not long after from his imprisonment About or in A. D. 1528 King Henry began to call into Question the lawfulness of his marriage with his Queen Katharine who was daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain and had been married to Prince Arthur eldest son of Henry the seventh when he was about fifteen years of age but he dying ere he had been married twelve months King Henry his brother by the advice of his Councel took this Princess Katharine to Wife in few days after his Fathers death and enjoyed her nuptial society near twenty years in which time she had born him two sons both dying in their infancy and one daughter named Mary afterward Queen But now he said his Conscience was much dissatisfied doubting it might not be lawful for him to have his brothers Wife notwithstanding he had had a dispensation from the Pope for it therefore first he refused his Queens bed and having moved the doubt to his own Divines he next sent for the opinion of most of the Universities of Europe which concluded against it and signified so much under most of their common Seals He also sent Agents unto Rome with an humble request to the Pope that an indifferent Judge might be sent to determine this weighty affair Whereupon Cardinal Campeius was sent over into England with whom Cardinal Wolsey was joyned in Commission These Cardinals had a place ordained them in the Black-Friers in London for the keeping of their Court of Judicature To which Court the King and Queen were summoned to appear personally which accordingly they did having several seats prepared for them When the Court was sate the Cryer called King Henry to appear who forthwith answered Here Then was the Queen called who made no answer at all but presently rose up and going to the King fell on her knees at his feet and in the audience of the people said unto him Sir I desire you to take some pity upon me and do me Justice and right I am a poor woman a stranger born out of your Dominions having here no indifferent Councel and less assurance of friendship Alas Wherein have I offended or what cause of displeasure have I given you that you thus intend to put me away I take God to my Judge I have been to you a true and humble Wife ever conformable to your will and pleasure never gain-saying any thing wherein you took delight Without all grudge or discontented countenance I have loved all them that loved you howsoever their affections have been towards me I have born you Children and been your Wife now this twenty years Of my Virginity and Marriage-bed I make God and your own Conscience the Judge and if it otherwise be proved I am content to be put from you with shame The King your Father in his time for wisdom was known to be a second Solomon and Ferdinand of Spain my Father accounted the wisest amongst their Kings could they in this Match be so far over-seen or are there now wiser and more learned men than at that time were Surely it seems
is no other substance consisting in the bread and wine besides the substance of Christ God and man Secondly That the Communion in both kinds was not necessary to Salvation the flesh only in form of bread being sufficient to the Laity Thirdly That Priests might not marry by the Law of God Fourthly That the vows of chastity ought by Gods law to be observed Fifthly That private Masses were necessary for the people and agreeable to the Law of God Sixthly That auricular Confession was expedient to be retained in the Church of God For offending against the former Law of abjuring the Popes Supremacy c. was John Fisher Bishop of Rochester put to death and Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor so merry conceited a person that he could not forbear his jests though bloody death stared him in the face For when on the Scaffold the Executioner desired his forgiveness he replied I forgive thee but I promise thee thou wilt get no honour by â—utting off my head my neck is so short And when he was to lay his neck on the block he stroâ—kt out his white beard and said to the Heads-man I pray let me lay it over the block lest you should cut it off For though you have a Warrant to cut off my head you have none to cut off my Beard Besides these two there were put to death for the same cause many Abbots Priors and Friars For oppugning the six Articles and asserting Gospel-truths did many Christians of the reformed Religion suffer death in the flames Amongst the rest Dr. Robert Barns was one and Mrs. Anne Askue a person of rare wit and elegant beauty who when she had been twice tormented upon the Rack to the disjoynting of her bones then gave her body to the flames for Christs sake And the life of Queen Katharine Parre was hard laid for by Stephen Gardner but through her wisdom and prudent carriage towards the King it was preserved About A. D. 1545 was a match concluded to be made betwixt Prince Edward King Henrie's son and the young Princess of Scotland the Scotch Nobility approving thereof and in a Parliament of the three estates the match was confirmed in England the like also in Scotland but Cardinal Beton Archbishop of St. Andrews fearing lest hereby Scotland should also change the Church-Orders and the French likewise not liking the union means was therefore wrought to break the said intended marriage of the two young Heirs whence wars insued and the English invaded Scotland spoiled Leith burnt Edenbrough and wasted the Country for seven miles about set fire upon Haddington and Dunbar then returned And because the French refused the performance of certain Covenants King Henry made war also upon that Nation and in short time won the strong Town of Bulloigne Then the French King with intent to balance the loss of Bolloign invaded the Isle of Wight and Sea-coasts of Sussex though it proved to the loss of many of his Captains and thousands of his Souldiers A. D. 1546 the Reingrave came with a great force to victual a Fort built near to Bulloigne which the Earl of Surrey sought to prevent him from but was discomfited with the loss of many brave mens lives Shortly after which by the mediation of the Empâ—ror and other Christian Potentates peace was concluded betwixt France and England A. D. 1547 and January the twenty eighth King Henry yielded to deaths impartial stroke whose body with great solemnity was buried at Windsor In his Will he ordained howsoever Titles had been made invalid in Parliaments That his three Children should succeed each other for want of other Issue One thousand Marks he commanded should be given to the poor and to twelve poor Knights at Windsor each of them twelve-pence a day for ever every year a long Gown of white cloth the Garter to be embroidred upon the breast and therein the Cross of St. George and a Mantle of red cloth to be worn thereupon His Wives were Katharine his brothers Relict Anne Bullen Jane Seymore Anne of Cleve Katharine Howard Neece to the Duke of Norfolk and Katharine Parre the daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendal His Issue Henry which lived not full two months another son not named and Mary these by Katharine of Spain Elizabeth and a son still-born by Anne Bullen Edward by Jane Seymour His natural Issue Henry Fitz-Roy After the dissolution of the religious Houses he erected the Bishopricks of Westminster Chester Oxford Peterborough Bristol and Glocester and also erected the Cathedral Churches of Canterbury Winchester Worcester Chester Peterborough Ely Glocester Bristol Carlile Durham Rochester and Norwich In all which he founded a Dean with a certain number of Prebendaries The Colledge of Christ-Church in Oxford begun by Cardinal Wolsey he ordained to be the Cathedral of this Bishops See Many died of the sweating sickness in England especially about London In the twenty third year of his raign Richard Rice a Cook was boiled to death in Smith-field for poysoning divers persons In the thirty seventh of his raign the Stews on the Bank-side in Southwark were put down by the Kings appointment A. D. 1546 William Foxly continued sleeping fourteen days and fifteen nights and could not by any means be awakened during that time yet when he did awake he was in very good temper as though he had slept but one night and lived forty years after King Henry by Act of Parliament assumed the Stile and Title of King of Ireland former Kings of England bearing only the stile of Lords thereof 'T is said that now Turkey Carp Hops Pickarel and Beer came into England all in a Year Mayors and Sheriffs of Londen in this Kings Time In his first Year Thomas Bradbury was Mayor for the part of the year Sir VVilliam Capel for the rest George Monox John Doget Sheriffs In his second Year Sir Henry Kebble was Mayor John Milborne John Rest Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Roger Acheley was Mayor Nicholas Shelton Thomas Mersine Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir William Copinger was Mayor for part of the year Sir Richard Haddon for the rest Robert Holdernes or Alderns Robert Fenrother Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir William Brown was Mayor John Dawes John Bruges Roger Bosford Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir George Monox vvas Mayor James Yarford John Munday Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir William Butler vvas Mayor Henry Warley Richard Gray William Baily Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir John Rest was Mayor Thomas Seymour John or Richard Thurston Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Thomas Exmewe was Mayor Thomas Baldrie Ralph or Richard Simons Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir Thomas Mersine was Mayor John Allen James Spencer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Sir James Yarford was Mayor John Wilkinson Nicholas Patrick Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir John Burg vvas Mayor John Skevington John Kyme alias Keble Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir John Milborn was Mayor John Breton or Britain Thomas Pargitor Sheriffs In his
fourteenth Year Sir John Mundy vvas Mayor John Rudston John Champneis Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year Sir Thomas Baldrie was Mayor Michael English Nicholas Jennings Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year Sir William Bailey vvas Mayor Ralph Dodmere VVilliam Roche Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year Sir John Allen was Mayor John Caunton or Calton Christopher Askaw Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year Sir Thomas Seymour vvas Mayor Stephen Peacock Nicholas Lambert Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year Sir James Spencer was Mayor John Hardy William Hollis Sheriffs In his twentieth Year Sir John Rudston vvas Mayor Ralph Warren John Long Sheriffs In his twenty first Year Sir Ralph Dodmer was Mayor Michael Dormer Walter Champion Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Sir Thomas Pargiter was Mayor William Dantesey or Dancy Richard Champion Sheriffs In his twenty third Year Sir Nicholas Lambert was Mayor Richard Gresham Edward Altham Sheriffs In his Twenty fourth Year Sir Stephen Peacock was Mayor Richard Reynolds John Martin Nicholas Pinchon John Priest Sheriffs In his twenty fifth Year Sir Christopher Askew vvas Mayor William Forman Thomas Kitson Sheriffs In his twenty sixth Year Sir John Champneis was Mayor Nicholas Leveson William Denham Sheriffs In his twenty seventh Year Sir John Allen was Mayor Humfrey Monmouth John Cotes Sheriffs In his Twenty eighth Year Sir Ralph Warren was Mayor Robert or Richard Paget William Bowyer Sheriffs In his twenty ninth Year Sir Richard Gresham was Mayor John Gresham Thomas Lewin Sheriffs In his thirtieth Year Sir VVilliam Forman was Mayor William Wilkinson Nicholas Gibson Sheriffs In his thirty first Year Sir VVilliam Hollys was Mayor Thomas Ferrer Thomas Huntlow Sheriffs In his thirty second Year Sir William Roche was Mayor VVilliam Laxstone Martin Bows Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Sir Michael Dormer was Mayor Rowland Hill Henry Suckley Sheriffs In his thirty fourth Year Sir John Cotes was Mayor Henry Hobberthorn Henry Amcoats Sheriffs In his thirty fifth Year Sir William Bowyer was Mayor John Tholouse Richard Dobbes Sheriffs In his thirty sixth Year Sir William Laxton was Mayor John Wilford Andrew Jud Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year Sir Martin Bows was Mayor George Barne Ralph Allen or Alley Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Sir Henry Hobberthorn was Mayor Richard Jarveis Thomas Curteis Sheriffs EDWARD VI. A. D. 1547. EDward the Sixth was born but not without the death of his Mother A.D. 1537 Octob. 12. A. D. 1547 and Febr. 20. he was Crowned at Westminster At which time when three Swords were delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland he said There was yet another Sword to be delivered him namely the sacred Bible which is said he the sword of the Spirit without which we are nothing neither can do any thing His Mothers brother Edward Lord Seymour Earl of Hartford and Duke of Somerset was by the consent of the Nobles made Protector over his Minority and the Realms In short time after the Kings Coronation the Lord Protector and Council sought to effect the Marriage betwixt the young King and the young Queen of Scotland as it had been formerly agreed on by both Nations but this the Scots refused to yield unto wherefore the Protector led an army into Scotland and at a place called Edmondstone-edg near to Musclebrough fought the Scots and vanquished them following the chase of them almost five miles wherein the Lord Fleming with sundry men of note were slain and 10000 of the Soldiers and about a 1000 were taken Prisoners the chief whereof were the Earl of Huntly the Lords Yester Hobby and Hamilton the Lord Weems and a brother of the Earl of Cassills Lieth the English sacked and set on fire took the Island St. Colmes Broughticrag Rocksbrough Humes Castle and others insomuch that many Gentlemen in Tividale and the Meres came to the Protector and entred into terms and conditions of peace with him After the Protectors return a Parliament was assembled at London wherein the six Articles were repealed those Colledges and Chappels that King Henry had left were given the King and the Churches ordred to be purged of all Images And accordingly Commissioners were appointed who first began at St. Pauls in London and thence proceeded throughout England and Wales But this reformation occasioned great commotions which began in the West A Priest stabbed one Mr. Body a Commissioner to the heart for plucking down certain Images and this fact of his was so favoured by the Cornish and Devonshire Rusticks that ten thousand of them rose in Arms heading themselves under Mr. Humphrey Arundel six other Gentlemen and eight Priests These rebells besieged the City of Excester and sore distressed it yet did the Citizens loyally hold out against them for which the King did enlarge their Liberties and gave unto their City the Mannor of Exilond At last the rebells agree upon Articles to be sent the King therein requiring to have Mass celebrated as in time past it had been To have holy bread and holy water in remembrance of Christs body and blood To have the six Articles again in force c. To these and the rest of their demands the King sent an answer Therein pitying their ignorance reproving their sawciness and withal a general pardon to as many as would desist in time concluding thus We for our part seek no longer to live than to be a Father to our people and as God hath made us your King so hath he commanded you obedience by whose great Majesty we swear you shall feel the same power in our Sword which how mighty it is no subject knoweth how puissant it is no private man can judg and how mortal no English heart can think Therefore embrace our mercy whilst it is offered lest the blood spilt by your means cry vengeance from the earth and be heard in the ears of the Lord of Heaven Notwithstanding all this the rebells still persisted in their Traiterous attempts the King therefore sent an army against them which put them to flight at Honiton then worsted them at Excester where the rebells lay siege and lastly upon Clift-heath destroyed the greatest part of them their consecrated Host Crucifix Crosses consecrated Banners holy bread and holy water which the rebells had brought into the field thinking by vertue of them to have made all sure on their side were all trampled into the dirt Arundel Winsland Holmes and Bury four rebell-Captains were taken and executed at London Others also of their partakers were executed by Martial Law amongst whom was Boyer the Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwall Nigh to which Town dwelt a Miller that had been a busie-fellow in the rebellion but he knowing his own danger willed his man to take the name of Master if any enquired after him To this Millers house Sir Anthony Kingstone Marshall of the Field came where calling for the Master the officious man in his name very bodily presented himself whom Sir Anthony straight commanded to the Gallows and when the poor fellow seeing the
defence of the Reformed Religion because of the bloody Inquisition that without respect had persecuted her subjects Because the King of Spain had sent forces into Ireland and lastly to prevent her enemy the Spaniard from being so nigh a neighbour to her A. D. 1587 and Febr. 7 was Mary Queen of Scotland King James's Mother beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle to the great discontent 't is said of Queen Elizabeth who committed Secretary Davison to the Tower thereupon and never admitted him more to his place because of his forwardness in promoting the death of that Roman-Catholick Queen But what is above us is nothing to us The matters for which she was condemned in the Star-chamber Court at Westminster were her pretending title to the Crown of England her being privy to certain Treasons of Anthony Babington and others tending to the hurt and death of the Royal person of Queen Elizabeth This she absolutely denied affirming that she never attempted any thing against the Queens person though for her own delivery out of prison she confessed she did make some attempts Babington with thirteen other Traytors were executed A. D. 1588 Henry third King of France who ever honoured Queen Elizabeth and not the least because of her Religion sent speedy and secret notice unto her of the Spaniards intentions to invade her Realm of England Against whose coming the Queen caused her Trained-bands to be in readiness Tilbury in Essex was the place for her Camp whereunto were appointed to march 15000 Horse and 22000 Foot And for her special Guard out of the several Counties of the West East and South parts of England were selected 2352 Horsemen and 34050 Footmen The Queen her self was Generalissimo and Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester Lieutenant-General A. D. 1588 and May 19 the Armado or invincible Navy of the Spaniards as they termed it loosed Anchor from Lisbon and on July 20 it passed by Plimouth towards Callis hoping about those coasts to have met with the Prince of Parma but in their way the English Fleet changed some bullets with them July 21 the two Fleets fought within Musket-shot when the English Admiral Lord Charles Howard fell most hotly on the Spaniards Vice-Admiral In this fight they well perceived how that their great unweildy Ships were unfit for service in those narrow Seas the English smaller Ships being too nimble for them as well in respect of saving themselves as in annoying the Spanish July 22 Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral took one of their great Gallions wherein was Don Pedro de Valdez with divers other Noblemen The Soldiers had the spoil of this Ship in which was 55000 Duckets of Gold July 23 the Spaniards came right against Portland when the sorest fight was performed and the English gained a great Venetian Ship with other lesser ones July 24 the fight was only betwixt the four great Galleasses and some of the English Ships July 25 the Spaniards came aaginst the Isle of Wight where was a terrible Encounter till at length the English so battered the Spanish tall Ships that they were forced to secure themselves in an Half-moon posture July 28 as the Spanish Fleet lay at Anchor within sight of Callis the English sent in amongst them eight Fire-ships filled with Gun-powder pitch brimstone and other combustible matter their Ordnance charged with bullets stones chains and the like These being drove with wind and tide unto the Spanish Fleet and then taking fire such a sudden roaring clap was given that the Spaniards affrighted in the dead of the night were struck into an horrible fear lest all their Ships should be fierd by these wherefore in great haste they cut their cables hoised their sails and drove at random into the Seas July 29. ranging themselves in order they approached overagainst Greveling where the English again getting the wind of them discharged upon them from morning till night to the confusion of divers of the Spanish Ships The Hollanders with thirty-five of their Ships watched the coasts about Dunkirk to prevent the Duke of Parma from having any intercourse there July 30 the Spanish Dons having gotten more Sea-room for their huge-bodied bulks spread their sails and made away as fast as wind and water would permit them fearing the small fleet and forces of the English whereas had they known but the want of Powder that was on the English side they would sure have stood longer to their tacklings The English Admiral followed now the Vincible Armado towards Norway and the Spaniards for the saving of their fresh-water cast all their Mules and Horses over board The Duke of Medina their Admiral when he at last arrived in Spain was deprived of all his Authority and other ways disgraced Many of the Spanish Ships in their flight perished through tempest upon the Irish Seas others were driven into the Chanel of England where part of them were taken by the English others by the Rochellers and some arrived at Newhaven Of 134 Ships which had set sail from Lisbon only 53 returned into Spain Of the four Galleasses of Naples but one and of the ninety-one Gallions and great Hulks from divers Provinces only thirty-three returned Of the four Gallies of Portugal but one In brief there was missing of their whole Fleet eighty one Vessels and of the 30000 Soldiers 13500 and odd Of Prisoners taken in England Ireland and Low-countries were 2000 and upwards So that it appears there was small virtue in the Popes Crusado wherein he published a safe Pass-port for his Spaniards to enter England The English Fleet was betwixt fourscore and a hundred sail Captains therein were the Lords Howard and Sheffield Sir Francis Drake Sir John Hawkins Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Martin Frobisher c. For this Deliverance the 19 of November was appointed a day of Thanksgiving Blessed be the Lord who gave us not a prey into their teeth c. Psal 124. Octogesimus octavus mirabilis annus Clade Papistarum faustus ubique piis Dr. Fulk The Thunder-clap of this Armado being thus over and the Invincible become Vincible the Queen determined to assist Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal for the regaining of his Kingdom to which end a Fleet was sent out under the conduct of Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norris for the land-service was General These landing in a Bay of Galicia near to the Groin took the Base-town by surprize which they found well-victualled and stored with Wine to the damage of the English who taking too immoderately of it so inflamed and infected their blood that it caused great sickness and mortality in the whole Army After some conflicts with the High-town they fired the Base-town or suburbs and put again to Sea and when some struglings with the Winds were over they recovered the Burlings In which passage Robert Earl of Essex with his Brother Mr. Walter Deureux accompanied with other gallant men came Voluntiers to the Fleet which landing in Portugal won the Town and Castle of Peniche
his attendants in tumultuous manner made into London his followers crying through the streets that the said Earl of Essex should have been murdred by Cobham Cecill and Rawleigh Howbeit instead of finding that friendship in London which they expected the Earl was proclaimed Traytor in divers places thereof Wherefore the Earl made haste back and fortified his own house in the Strand but after some little resistance yielded himself to the Lord Admiral and the same night was sent prisoner to the Tower And upon February the nineteenth the Earls of Essex and South-hampton were Arraigned and condemned at Westminster and on February 25 1600 the Earl of Essex suffred death on the Green within the Tower whose dying speech was to this effect That his punishment was just his sins innumerable his last sin for which he died a great crying bloody and infectious sin that had drawn others for love to him to offend God their Soveraign and the World He prayed God to forgive his sins and her Majesty and the state to forgive him Prayed for them thanked God that he was never Atheist in denying the Scriptures nor Papist in trusting to his own merits for Salvation but in the merits of Christ Jesus his Saviour Prayed the people to joyn with him in prayer that his Soul might be lifted up by faith above all earthly things desired forgiveness of all the World as he from his heart forgave all men His head was with three strokes severed from the body and his death generally lamented For Accessories and Abettors in the offence were executed first Captain Lee and after him Sir Gilliam Merrick and Henry Cuff a learned man were executed at Tyburn and on Tower-hill were beheaded Sir Charles Davors and Sir Christopher Blunt But as the death of this Noble person was much bewayled of the Subjects so was it likewise of her Majesty who would oft times shew passions of her grief for his death even until her own death which to the great sorrow of her people befel on the 24 of March 1602. Her body was buried in Henry the sevenths Chappel at VVestminster where her Successor King James erected her a Princely Monument Memoriae Sacrum c. She was 't is said Spains rod Romes ruin Netherlands relief Earths joy Englands gem worlds wonder Natures chief In her Raign were executed in England of Jesuites and Seminary-Priests for sowing sedition and plotting Treason the number of sixty seven and fifty three more of them were banished A. D. 1571 and February the seventeenth at Kingstone near Marlech in Hereford-shire the ground opened and certain Rocks with a piece of ground removed and went forward the space of four days It removed it self betwixt six of the Clock in the evening and seven the next morning forty paces carrying great Trees and sheep-coats some with flocks of sheep in them It overthrew Rinnastone-Chappel also two high-ways were removed nigh an hundred yards with Trees and Hedges The ground thus carried being in all twenty six Acres and where tillage-ground was there pasture is left in place and where pasture there tillage A. D. 1578 Mark Scaliot a Black-smith of London made a Lock of Iron Steel and Brass of a eleven several pieces and a pipe-Key all which weighed but one grain of Gold He also made a Chain of Gold of forty three links which Chain being fastned to the Lock and Key and put about a flea's neck the flea drew them with ease Chain Key Lock and Flea weighâ—d but one grain and an half A. D. 1580 In the Marishes of Dainsey in Essex was so infinite a number of Mice that they almost covered the whole Marsh and so tainted the grass with their venemous teeth that the Cattle grazing thereon were infected with the Murrain and died And by no art could men destroy these Mice but at length Owles in abundance to the great admiration of the Country came and devoured them In or nigh the Year of our Lord 1591 was VVilliam Hacket a hot-headed Sectarist Arraigned and found guilty of having spoken many Seditious and Trayterous words c. For the which he was brought from New-gate in London to a gibbet in Cheapside and there executed Divers persons called Brownists were executed in several places of England for sowing sedition namely Henry Barrow and John Greenwood one Penrie a VVelch-man Elias Thacker and John Copping A. D. 1600 and August the fifth did James the sixth King of Scotland narrowly escape a grand Conspiracy practised by the Earl of Gowry and his brother A. D. 1586 that mirrour of men for Letters and Arms Sir Philip Sidney died of a wound received at Zutphen-fight in Guelderland Mayors and Sheriffs of London in her Reign In her first Year Sir VVilliam Hewet was Mayor Thomas Lodge Roger Martin Sheriffs In her second Year Sir VVilliam Chester was Mayor Christopher Draper Thomas Roe Sheriffs In her third Year Sir VVilliam Harper was Mayor Alexander Avenon Humphrey Baskervile Sheriffs In her fourth Year Sir Thomas Lodge was Mayor VVilliam Allen Richard Chamberlain Sheriffs In her fifth Year Sir John VVhite was Mayor Edward Banks Rowland Heyward Sheriffs In her sixth Year Sir Richard Mallory was Mayor Edward Jackman Lionel Ducket Sheriffs In her seventh Year Sir Richard Champion was Mayor John Rivers James Hawes Sheriffs In her eighth Year Sir Christopher Draper was Mayor Richard Lambert Amb. Nicholas John Langley Sheriffs In her ninth Year Sir Roger Martin was Mayor Thomas Ramsey John Bond Sheriffs In her tenth Year Sir Thomas Roe was Mayor John Oliph Robert Harding James Bacon Sheriffs In her eleventh Year Sir Alexander Avenon was Mayor Henry Beecher VVilliam Dane Sheriffs In her twelfth Year Sir Rowland Hayward was Mayor Francis Barneham VVilliam Boxe Sheriffs In her thirteenth Year Sir VVilliam Allen was Mayor Henry Milles Johr Branch Sheriffs In her fourteenth Year Sir Lionel Ducket was Mayor Richard Pipe Nicholas VVoodrosse Sheriffs In her fifteenth Year Sir John Rivers was Mayor James Harvey Thomas Pulloccel or Pullison Sheriffs In her sixteenth Year Sir James Hawes was Mayor Thomas Blancke Anthony Gamage Sheriffs In her seventeenth Year Sir Ambrose Nicholas was Mayor Edward Osborne VVolstane Dixie Sheriffs In her eighteenth Year Sir John Langley was Mayor VVilliam Kempton George Barne Sheriffs In her nineteenth Year Sir Thomas Ramsey was Mayor Nicholas Backhouse Francis Bowyer Sheriffs In her twentieth Year Sir Richard Pipe was Mayor George Bond Thomas Starkie Sheriffs In her one and twentieth Year Sir Nicholas VVoodroffe was Mayor Martin Calthorp John Hart Sheriffs In her two and twentieth Year Sir John Branch was Mayor Ralph VVoodcock John Allot Sheriffs In her three and twentieth Year Sir James Harvey was Mayor Richard Martin William Webbe Sheriffs In her four and twentieth Year Sir Thomas Blancke was Mayor William Roe John Haydon deceased Cuthbert Buckle succeeded Sheriffs In her five and twentieth Year Sir Edward Osbourne was Mayor William Mashaw John Spencer Sheriffs In her six and twentieth Year Sir Thomas Pulioccell was
Mayor Stephen Slaney Henry Billingsley Sheriffs In her seven and twentieth Year Sir Wolstone Dixie vvas Mayor Anthony Ratcliffe Henry Pranel Sheriffs In her eight and twentieth Year Sir George Barne was Mayor George House William Elkin Sheriffs In her nine and twentieth Year Sir George Bond was Mayor Thomas Skinner John Catcher Sheriffs In her thirtieth Year Sir Martin Calthorp served one part Sir Richard Martin the other Hugh Offley Richard Saltonstall Sheriffs In her one and thirtieth Year Sir John Hart was Mayor Richard Gurney Stephen Some Sheriffs In her two and thirtieth Year Sir John Allot served one part Sir Rowland Heyward the other Nicholas Mosley Robert Brook Sheriffs In her three and thirtieth Year Sir William Webbe was Mayor VVilliam Rider Benet or Benedict Barnham Sheriffs In her four and thirtieth Year Sir William Roe was Mayor John Garret or Gerrard Robert Taylor Sheriffs In her five and thirtieth Year Sir Cuthbert Buckle served one part Sir Richard Martin the other Paul Banning Peter Haughton Sheriffs In her six and thirtieth Year Sir John Spencer was Mayor Robert Lee Thomas Bennet Sheriffs In her seven and thirteth Year Sir Stephen Slaney was Mayor Thomas Lowe Leonard Halliday Sheriffs In her eight and thirtieth Year Sir Thomas Skinner served one part Sir Henry Billingsley the other John Wats Richard Godard Sheriffs In her nine and thirtieth Year Sir Richard Saltonstall was Mayor Henry Roe John More Sheriffs In her fortieth Year Sir Stephen Some was Mayor Edward Holmedon Robert Hampson Sheriffs In her one and fortieth Year Sir Nicholas Mosley was Mayor Humphrey Walde Roger Clerk Sheriffs In her two and fortieth Year Sir William Rider was Mayor Thomas Smith Thomas Cambel VVilliam Craven Sheriffs In her three and fortieth Year Sir John Garret or Gerrard was Mayor Henry Anderson William Glover Sheriffs In her four and fortieth Year Sir Robert Lee was Mayor James Pemberton John Swinerton Sheriffs JAMES A. D. 1602 KING James his Title to the Crown of England sprung from Henry the seventh whose Issue 〈◊〉 the Male failing in the late deceased Queen Elizabeth the off-spring of Margaret his eldest daughter was the next Heir which Lady Margaret being married unto James the fourth King of Scotland by him had Issue James the fifth whose only daughter and Child Queen Mary was the Mother of King James the sixth of that name that had swayed the Scepter in Scotland Which learned Prince when he heard of the death of Queen Elizabeth set forward out of Scotland and was with great joy received of all his English Subjects in his way to London and at his approach unto that honourable City the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with five hundred choice Citizens all in Chains of Gold and well-mounted met his Majesty and with all solemn observance attended him unto the Charter-house Then preparations were made for his Coronation but before the day appointed thereunto a Proclamation came forth that no Citizen should presume to approch the Court the City having buried in one week above one thousand of the plague And yet a greater plague than this was intended against England about the Kings coming in had not God in his mercy prevented it For Pope Clement the eighth having sent unto Henry Garnet Superior of the Jesuites in England two Bulls therein prohibiting any to be admitted to the Crown unless he would first tolerate the Romish Religion and by all his best endeavours advance that Catholique cause Hereupon the Popes creatures to do their unholy Father the best service they could combined with some whom private discontents had discomposed to surprise the Kings person and Prince Henry intending to retain them prisoners in the Tower or if they could not gain the Tower then to carry them to Dover-Castle and there to keep them till they had brought the King to their own terms and compleated their designs The persons accused for this Conspiracy were Henry Brook Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Grey of Wilton Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Griffin Markham Sir Edward Parham George Brook and Bartholomew Brooksby Esquires Anthony Copley Gentleman Watson and Clark Priests A. D. 1603 and July 21 King James and Queen Anne were Crowned at Westminster by John Whitguift Archbishop of Canterbury and when the Coronation was over the Conspirators were conveyed to Winchester where the Term was then kept because of the plague at London and there had their Tryal and were all condemned by their Jury save Sir Edward Parham Howbeit only three of them were executed namely Watson Clark and George Brook This business thus Transacted for the safety of King and Kingdom his Majesty to gratify the Puritan or Presbyterian party that had petitioned for a reformation in the English Church commanded an Assembly of selected Divines to appear in his Royal presence at Hampton-Court whither the summoned accordingly repaired Persons summoned to maintain the cause of the Church of England were the Archbishop of Canterbury Bishops of London Durham Winchester c. Persons for the reformation of the Church were Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Sparks of Oxford Mr. Knewstubs and Mr. Chaderton of Cambridge At this conference his Majesty notably vindicated the Church of England see the conference at Hampton-Court Printed 1604. After an indeavour of setling Church-peace the King commanded a new Translation of the holy Scriptures which was accordingly done A. D. 1604 and August the nineteenth was peace proclaimed betwixt the two Nations of Spain and England And the King to joyn the Nations of England and Scotland into an happy unity caused himself by Proclamation to be stiled King of Great Britain A Proclamation also came forth commanding all Jesuites and Seminary Priests out of the Land but these under-miners of Church and State mean not to leave England so but design to stay and triumph in its ruins purposing by one fatal-blow to destroy the King the Prince the Peers both temporal and Spiritual the Knights and Burgesses of Parliament And the Traytors intent when that damnable villany should be effected was to surprize the Queen and remainder of the Kings Issue Richard Bancroft A. B. Cant. to bring in forreign powers and to alter Religion Sir Edward Baynham an Attainted person was sent to the Pope to acquaint him with the designed Gun-powder-Treason and Thomas Winter brought with him out of Flanders Guy Fawks as a fit Executioner of their hellish project The Conspirators resolved among themselves that it was lawful for case of Conscience to destroy the innocent with the nocent and this by the Authority and judgment of Garnet himself Then they took Oath of secresy swearing by the blessed Trinity and the Sacrament they then were about to receive never to disclose directly or indirectly by word or circumstance this their Plot in hand nor any of them to desist from the Execution thereof until the rest of the Conspirators should give leave This done Mr. Thomas Piercy hired an house next adjoyning to the Parliament-House pretending it to be for his Lodgings and
blow severed his Royal Head from his Body Whose blood was taken up by several persons for different ends by some as Trophies of their Villany by others as â—â—licks of a Martyr His Corps embalmed and wrapped in Lead was conveyed to Windsor by some of his Servants And February the 9th 1648. was there Interred in the Chappel-Royal by the Duke of Richmond Marquess of Hartford Earls of Southampton and Lindsey and the Bishop of London A Prince he was very temperate chaste humble affectionate to his People eloquent notwithstanding some small hesitation in his utterance exceeding in fortitude and patience most devout in and constant to his Religion His Issue were first Charles-James who died almost as soon as born Charles the Second whom God preserve James Duke of York Henry Duke of Gloucester born July 8th 1640 Mary born the 4th of November 1631 Elizabeth born the 28 of December 1635 Anne born March the 7th 1636 Katharine Henrietta Maria born June the 16th 1644 In his troubles he composed an excellent Book intituled Eikon Basilicon he had begun the repairing of St. Paul's at London he built that famous Ship called the Royal Soveraign whose burden was 1636 Tuns her length 127 foot her breadth within the Planks 46 foot her depth from the breadth 19 foot carrying 100 piece of Ordinances wanting four her Lanthorn so large that ten men might stand in it her building cost Eighty thousand pounds An. Dom. 1625 was a great Plague at London whereof died within the Bills of Mortality 41313. A. D. 1632 and February the 11th happened a great Fire on London-Bridg 1635 Thomas Parre died being aged 152 years and was buried in the Abby-Church at Westminster The Names of the Regicides who sate when Judgment was for murdring the King were Serjeant John Bradshaw President of the Court Oliver Cromwell Henry Ireton Thomas Lord Grey of Groby John Danvers Hardress Waller Thomas Maleverer John Bourchier William Counstable Michael Livesey Gregory Norton Knights John Lisle William Say William Hechingham John Blakestone Gilbert Millington Cornelius Holland John Carew Miles Corbet Francis Allen Peregrin Pelham Humphrey Edwards Gregory Clement Thomas Wogan Thomas Scot William Cawley Anthony Stapely Nicholas Love Augustine Garland John Dixwell Simon Mayne Daniel Blagrave Esquires Valentine Walton Thomas Harrison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewer Henry Marten William Purefoy John Berkstead Edmund Ludlow John Hutchinson Robert Tichburn Owen Roe Robert Lilburn Adrian Scrope Richard Dean John Okey John Hewson William Goffe John Jones John Moor John Alured Henry Smith Edmund Harvey John Venne John Downes Thomas Horton Thomas Hammond George Fleetwood James Temple Thomas Wait Colonels Isaac Pennington and Thomas Andrews Aldermen of London Vincent Potter and Peter Temple Officers belonging to the High Court of Injustice were Dr. Dorislaus Ask William Steel who excused himself by sickness John Cook Solicitor Dendy Mace-bearer Broughton and Phelps Clerks Isaac King Crier Woolfred Pain Radley Powell Hull Messengers and Door-keepers forty of these men of blood The Warrant for the Kings Execution was directed to Colonel Francis Hacker Colonel Huncks and Lieutenant Colonel Phayre to see it done But who can stretch forth his hand against the Lords Anointed and be guiltless Sam. 26.9 My Son saith the wise man Fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change for their calamity shall rise suddenly Mayors and Sheriffs of London in his Reign In his first year 1625. Sir Allen Cotton was Mayor Thomas Westraw Ellis Crisp died Jo. Pool and Christopher Cletherow after Sheriffs In his second year 1626. Sir Cuthbert Hacket was Mayor Edward Bromfeild Richard Fenn Sheriffs In his third Year 1627. Sir Hugh Hamersley was Mayor Maurice Abbot Henry Garraway Sheriffs In his fourth Year 1628. Sir Richard Dean was Mayor Rowland Backhouse William Acton Knight and Baronet Sheriffs In his fifth Year 1629. Sir James Cambell was Mayor Humphrey Smith Edmund Wright Sheriffs In his sixth Year 1630. Sir Robert Ducie Barr. vvas Mayor Arthur Abdy Robert Cambell Sheriffs In his seventh Year 1631. Sir George Whitmore vvas Mayor Samuel Cranmore Henry Prat Sheriffs In his eighth Year 1632. Sir Nicholas Raynton vvas Mayor Hugh Perry Henry Andrews Sheriffs In his ninth Year 1633. Sir Ralph Freeman and Sir Tho. Moulston Mayor Gilbert Harrison Richard Gurney Sheriffs In his tenth Year 1634. Sir Robert Parkhurst was Mayor John Heylord John Cordell Sheriffs In his eleventh Year 1635. Sir Christopher Cletherow vvas Mayor Thomas Soame John Gayer Sheriffs In his twelfth Year 1636. Sir Edward Bromfeild was Mayor VVilliam Abell John Garrat Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year 1637. Sir Richard Fenn was Mayor Thomas Atkin Edward Rudge Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year 1638. Sir Maurice Abot was Mayor Isaac Pennington John VVollaston Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year 1639. Sir Henry Garraway was Mayor Thomas Adams John VVarner Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year 1640 Sir Edmund VVright vvas Mayor John Towse Abraham Reynardson Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year 1641. Sir Richard Gurney was Mayor George Garret George Clarke Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year 1642. Isaac Pennington vvas Mayor John Langham Thomas Andrews Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year 1643. Sir John VVollaston was Mayor John Fowke James Bunce Sheriffs In his twentieth Year 1644. Thamas Atkin was Mayor VVilliam Gibbs Richard Chambers Sheriffs In his one and twentieth Year 1645. Thomas Adams was Mayor John Kendrick Thomas Foot Sheriffs In his two and twentieth Year Sir John Gayer was Mayor Thomas Cullam Simon Edmonds Sheriffs In his three and twentieth Year 1647. Sir John VVarner was Mayor Samuel Avery John Bide Sheriffs In his four and twentieth Year 1648. Sir Abraham Reynardson was Mayor Thomas Vyner Richard Brown Sheriffs Thomas Andrews Mayor in room of Reynardson sent to the Tower CHARLES the Second A. D. 1648 JAnuary the 30th Charles the Second was then in Holland when his Father King Charles the First was murdered and that tayl of a Parliament sitting at Westminster were resolved instead of admitting him the lawful Heir unto the Government of England to assume it unto themselves To which end they first set forth a Proclamation That no person whatsoever should presume to proclaim or any way to promote Charles Stuart Son of Charles Stuart late King of England or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of these Kingdoms but he that should attempt any such thing should be adjudged a Traytor After this they voted the House of Lords to be useless and dangerous and Kingly Government to be unnecessary and burthensome and therefore they abolished both Howbeit the Marquess of Ormond caused his Majesty to be publickly proclaimed King in Ireland and the Scotch Parliament did the like in Scotland But the Members at Westminster having a Victorious Army on their side proceeded to establish their Projects caused all publick Writings to be issued out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parliament ordering a new great Seal to be
passed for the bereaving him of his life he expressed to them how much he was beholden to them for the honour they had conferred on him For said he I account it greater honour to have my head stand on the Prison-gate for my loyalty to my King than to have my Picture placed in his Bed-chamber and I wish I had flesh enough not only to be set up in four Cities but to have a piece of it sent to every City in Christendom for a testimony of my loyalty to my King and Country May the 31st he was brought to the place of his Execution where being mounted on a Scaffold he told the people That God doth sometimes suffer a just man to perish in his righteousness and a wicked man to prosper in his wickedness prayed God to forgive his enemies for he did declared that what he had done in that kingdom was in obedience to the most just commands of his Sovereign That he esteemed the late King lived a Saint and dyed a Martyr praying God he might so end as he had done That he believed never people could be more happy than they might in His present Majesty Gave God thanks that he went to Heavens Throne with joy though death looked upon him in its most ugly shape Then desired their charity and prayers concluding thus I leave my soul to God my service to my Prince my good will to my Friends and my name and charity to you all Then having prayed a while he received from the Executioner a cord whereat hung a Declaration of his fact to hang about his neck which accordingly he hung there saying that he thought himself not more honoured by the Garter than by that Cord and Paper adding That if they had any more dishonour to put upon him he was ready to accept it And then with a chearful countenance he submitted himself to the execution of the sentence to be hang'd on a Gallows Thirty foot high for the space of three hours Which being done he was taken down and had his head cut off which was fixed on Edenborough Talbooth his quarters were sent to be set up in several places and the rest of his mortal part buried under the Gallows This may serve for a tast of the rebellious and diabolical spirit of that malicious Consistory When this noble Lord first heard of the murther of King Charles the first 't is said that with the â—oint of his Sword he wrote Great Good and Just could I but rate My griefs and thy too rigid fate I 'de weep the world to such a strain That it should deluge once again But thy loud-tongu'd blood demands supplies More from Briareus hands than Argus eyes I 'le therefore sing thy obsequies with Trumpet sounds And write thy Epitaph with blood and wounds Shortly after the death of this Peer an agreement was concluded betwixt the King and the Scots at Breda from whence the King went to the Hague and took Shipping for Scotland and at the Spey in the North of that Countrey he safely arrived hereupon the Members at Westminster fearing lest the Scots should invade them resolved to invade Scotland and to make that the seat of War in order to which they sent for their Idol Cromwell out of Ireland whom at his coming to London they made their Capt. General for Thomas Lord Fairfax laid down his Commission as not willing to engage against his Presbyterian Brethren the Scots June the 28th this new Capt. General Oliver advanced with his Army towards Scotland August the 10th King Charles the first 's Statue in the Royal Exchange by order of the Westminster-Members was defaced the Head being broken off and this Inscription set over Exit Tyrannus ultimus Anno libertatis Angliae restitute primo Anno 1648 January the 30th And about the same time were the Kings Arms ordered to be erazed in all publick places and in lieu of them the States-Arms being St. Georges Cross and the Harp were set up in Courts of Judicature August the 22d was Col. Eusebius Andrews Beheaded on Towerhill for receiving a Commission from His Majesty In Scotland the English Army under Oliver having made themselves masters of some Garisons on September the first marched to Dunbar whither the Scotch Army followed them and pent them up on a neck of Land not a mile and a half from Sea to Sea great were the streights of the English Army at this time many of the Souldiers being sick and disabled and the whole Army shut up as it were in a pound but these extremities instead of disheartning them set the greater edge to their courages and resolved they were on September the third 1650 either to force their way through their enemies or nobly to dye in the attempt to which end a party was sent to gain Coopers Peth-pass from the Scots which being effected the whole English Army charged and after about an hours hot ingagement the Scots Horse were routed and thereupon the foot threw down their Arms and made the best use they could of their Legs In the Scots Army was this day near 16000 Foot and 6000 Horse whereof 4000 were slain and near 10000 taken Prisoners The English Army were not above 7500 Foot and 3500 Horse besides disabled men There was taken from the Scots in this fight 27 field Pieces 10000 Arms many Prisoners of note and near 200 Horse and Foot-Colours which were afterwards hung up as Trophies in Westminster-hall September the 8th the virtuous Princess Elizabeth died in her Confinement at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight And in August following the Prince of Orange died at the Hague in Holland and sometime after this the mock-Parliament to free England of the Royal blood sent the Duke of Gloucester to Heidleburgh ordering him an allowance of 1500 l. per Annum October the 8th some Cavaliers took Arms in Norfolk for which about twenty of them were Executed December the 24th the strong Castle of Edenbrough was yielded into the English hands though not without suspition of some treachery January the first to begin the New-year the Scots Crowned His Majesty at Scoon in Scotland after he had conceded to some Kirk-conditions A little before this time there were three different parties in Scotland David Lesley and his Army were for King and Kirk the Marquess of Montross and his Followers were for the King without the Kirk and Colonel Kerre and Straughan were for the Kirk without the King Col. Kerries party was routed and himself taken Prisoner by Col. Lambert and Straughan and Swinton deserted the Kirk complying with the English for which the Kirk Excommunicated them March the 4th Sir Henry Hide was Beheaded before the Royal Exchange because being the Kings Leiger at Constantinople he had opposed Bendish who was sent thither by the States of England A. D. 1651 and March the 29th was Captain Brown Bushel an expert Seaman Beheaded under the Scaffold on Tower-hill for taking part with his Soveraign In Ireland the
Bertualdus A. B of Cant. reigned in peace the term of four years but affecting a private retired life he appointed Chelred his Cousin to rule in his stead and accompanied with Offa King of East-Saxons KENRED and Edwin Bishop of Winchester he went unto Rome where himself and Offa became Monks and there dyed CHeldred the 9th King of the Mercians CHELRED A.D. 709. was all along during his seven years reign engaged in Wars against Inas King of the West-Saxons Which Inas being in pilgrimage at Rome in A.D. 720 gave a tribute to Rome called Peter-pence being a peny for every house At first it was called the Kings Alms it was also called Romescot Inas built a Colledg at Wells and a stately Abby at Glastenbury where formerly the old Cell of Joseph of Arimathea had been He also built a Castle at Taunton King Chelred dyed in A. D. 716 and vvas buried in the Cathedral Church at Lichfield EThelbald the 10th King of the Mercians ETHELBALD spent the most part of his reign in peace and too much thereof in Luxury for the vvhich he vvas reproved by Boniface an English man Bishop of Mentz Whose Epistle Redargutory had this influence upon the King that in sign of repentance he priviledged the Church from all Tributes to himself and founded the Abby of Crowland About which time it was appointed by Arch-Bishop Cuthbert and his Clergy in a convocation held in his Province that the Sacred Scriptures should be read in their Monasteries the Lords Prayer and Creed taught in the English tongue A. D. 733. In January the Sun suffered so great an Eclipse that the Earth seemed to be overshadowed as with Sack-cloth And A. D. 756 and in December the Moon being in her full appeared both dark and bloody for a Star though there be none lower than the Moon seemed to follow her and to deprive her of light till it had got before her But great Ethelbald fighting against Cuthred the West Saxon was trayterously slain by the procurement of one of his own Captains near Tanworth and was buried at Repton in Derbyshire OFFA A.D. 758. OFFA the 11th King of the Mercians as is said was born both lame deaf and blind continuing so unto his mans estate He was of such stout and daring spirit that he thought nothing impossible for him to attain unto The first that felt his fury were the Kentish men whose King Alrike he slew in fight with his own hands From south to north he then marched and beyond Humber made havock of all that opposed him Whence returning in triumph he vanquished Kenwolph and his West-Saxons with whom Marmadius King of the Britains sided He caused a great ditch to be made between his and the Britains borders that is from Basingwark in Flintshire and North-Wales not far from the mouth of Dee running along the Mountains into the South ending near Bristol at the fall of Wye The tract whereof in many places is yet seen being called Clawdh Offa Tarninus and Nothelmus A.B. Cant. or Offa's Ditch The Danes that had invaded England he forced back to their ships with the loss of all their booty and many of their lives Then making his son Egfryd Partner with him in the Kingdom he went to Rome where he made his Kingdom subject to a tribute called Peter-pence and gave rich gifts to Pope Hadrian for canonizing Alban a Saint in honour of whom at his return he built a Magnifick Monastry over against Verolanium Also in testimony of his repentance for the blood he had shed in his Wars he gave the tenth part of his goods unto the Church-men and poor At Bath he built a Monastry and in Warwick-shire a Church where the adjoining town from it and him beareth the name Off-Church He dyed at Offley in A D. 794 and was buried without the town of Bedford in a Chappel standing upon the bank of Owse which long since was swallowed up by the same River In A D. 755 was Sigebert King of West-Saxons slain by a Swineherd and in A.D. 760 Kenwolph King of West-Saxons made Wells an Episcopal See EGfryd the son of Offa restored to the Church her ancient priviledges which his Father had deprived her of EGFKID A.D. 794. He dyed in the first year of his reign and was buried in the Abby-Church of St. Albans KEnwolph the 13th King of the Mercians KENWOLPH A.D. 795. was at home a president of peace religion and justice and abroad of temperance humility and courtesie In War stout and victorious in Peace studious of enriching his subjects He vanquished the Kentish men and carried away their King prisoner detaining him captive and giving his Kingdom to Cuthred He built a fair Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire where upon the dedication thereof he led Pren his captive King of Kent up to the high altar and there without either his entreaty or any ransom set him at full liberty He dyed A. D. 819 and was buried at Winchcomb where was buried also Kenelm his son murder'd by his sister Quendred SAXON MONARCHS EGBERT A.D. 819. EGbert the 18th King of West-Saxons first warred against the Cornish and Welsh a remnant of the old Britains which for fourteen years held side against this King which so enraged him that he made it present death for any Britain to pass over Offa's pitch into England Their great Caer-legion now Westchester he took from them and at London cast down the Image of their Prince Cadwalle He subdued Kent East-Saxons and East-Angles also the Mercians and indeed all upon the North and South of Humber yeilded him obedience He was crowned at Winchester absolute Monarch of the whole Island in A. D. 819 and caused the South of this Island to be called England Three several times the Danes landed in England in his reign whom he expelled He dyed in A. D. 836 and was buryed at Winchester Cuthbert and Brogmius A.B. Cant. But his bones were since taken up and with others bestowed in Chests set upon the Wall on each side the Quire of the Cathedral with these verses inscribed Hic Rex Egbertus pausat cum Rege Kenulpho nobis egregia munera uterque tulit His issue were Ethelwolph and Ethelstan and one Daughter named Egdith commonly called St. Edith who was Governess of a Monastry of Ladies at Pollesworth in Warwickshire EThelwolph was in his youth committed unto the care of Helmestan Bishop of Winchester ETHELWOLPH 836. and by him unto learned Swithun the Monk He took such a liking unto the quiet and solitary life enjoyed only by religious men all other estates being molested to withstand the intruding Danes that he took upon him the Monkish Vow and profession and was made Deacon and shortly after upon the death of Helmestan he was elected if not consecrated also Bishop of Winchester But the death of his Father immediately following by the intreaty of the Nobles and constraint of the Clergy he was made
should of himself or with a few flatterers pass over his Crown and enthrall his Nobles especially to the Pope who should follow St. Peters steps to win souls and not to meddle with Wars and murders of mens bodies And Prince Lewis declared That he would chuse rather to be excommunicated by the Pope than to falsifie his promise to the English Barons So without more ado he speedily set forth for England with his Fleet of 600 Ships and 80 Boats which coming to shore in Kent the Barons joyned forces with him King John whose Army consisted most of stipendiary Forreigners thought it best for a time to forbear Battel with Lewis and not to commit his whole fortunes to the hazard of their sudden defection therefore drew towards Winchester Lewis marching forward towards London taking all the strong-holds in his way excepting Dover Castle kept by the valiant and faithful Hubert de Burgo London received Lewis the Citizens swearing truth to him so did the Barons at Westminster Lewis swearing to them That he would restore all men their right and recover to the Crown what ever had been lost by K. John All or most places where the French Prince came submitted to him At Odiam Castle indeed wherein were but 13 English men Lewis and his whole Army was not only braved 15 days but also sallying forth upon them every one took an enemy surrendring the Castle at last upon honourable terms K. John in other parts of the Realm with a very considerable Host ruined the Barons Castles and possessions But setting forth from Lyn in Norfolk where for their faithful services he bestowed large Franchises and his own Sword and a gilt Bowl with a full resolution to give Lewis Battel as he was passing the Washes with his Army and Carriages towards Lincolnshire all his Carriages Treasures and Provision were irrecoverably lost himself and Army hardly escaping And now by this time the Barons were struck with some remorse to see their Native Country by their procurement to be so miserably wasted and afflicted and which grieved them the most was that their faithful services to Lewis were but slightly regarded by him at present and were like to be ill repayed in the future for Viscount De Melun a Noble Frenchman had on his death bed privately discovered to them how that Lewis had sworn That if ever Englands Crown was setled on his head he would condemn unto perpetual exile all the disloyal Barons as Traytors to their Sovereign and extirpate all their kindred Forty of the Barons therefore presently addressed their Letters of submissive suit to the King but he was dead before the Messengers came Some say he dyed of a Flix some of a Surfeit but the most report that he dyed of Poyson for K. John coming say they from the Washes to Swinshed Abby and there taking notice as he sat at meat of their too prodigal provision he swore That if he lived but half a year longer he would make one half-peny Loaf as dear as twelve To prevent which a Monk presented him with an invenomed Cup tasting first thereof himself so becoming the wicked instrument of his own and Sovereigns death Octob. 19 1216. He was buried at Worcester His Issue were Henry Richard Joan Eleanor and Isabel Base issue Jeffry Fitz-Roy Richard and Jane He appointed those excellent forms of Civil government in the Cities and incorporate Towns of England endowing them also with their greatest Franchises He setled the rates and measures for Wine Bread Cloth and such like necessaries of Commerce He planted English Laws and Officers in Ireland Now lived one Simon Thurvey who for his pride in Learning especially for his blasphemies against Moses and Christ became so utterly ignorant that he could hardly read a Letter in the Book In or the near the year 1176 London-Bridge was begun to be built of Stone by Peter of Cole-Church Priest and was finished in A. D. 1209. Mayors in this Kings time were these following In the 10th year Henry Fitz Alwin was first Mayor Peter Duke Thomas Neal Sheriffs In the 11th year Idem Mayor Peter le Josue William Blounde Sheriffs In the 12th year Idem Mayor Adam Witley Stephen le Grass Sheriffs In the 13th year Idem Mayor John Fitz Peter John Garland Sheriffs In the 14th year Idem Mayor Randolph Egland Constantine Josue Sheriffs In the 15th year Idem Mayor Martin Fitz Alice Peter Bate Sheriffs In the 16th year Idem Mayor Solomon Basing and Hugh Basing Sheriffs In the 17th year William Hardel Mayot John Trevers Andrew Newland Sheriffs HENRY III. HENRY 3d. at about 10 years of Age was Crowned King A.D. 1216 the Ninth day after his Father K. John's decease the Earl of Pembroke being by common consent of Peers and Prelates constituted Guardian of him during his Non-age This Noble Earl set out against Lewis and at Lincolne utterly defeated his Army which discomfiture was called Lewis Fair from the great spoil that the Earls Soldiers took from the Lewysians and City of Lincolne Here the chiefest of the malignant Barons were taken with about 400 Knights besides Esquires and of other sorts innumerable A great number also of such as escaped out of the Fight were knockt on the head by the Country people Likewise about the same time a fresh supply of men and Money coming from France were scattered sunk and taken by the English Fleet the English in the engagement using unslaked Lime which they threw into the faces of the Monsieurs blinding their sight therewith Then to give no rest to Lewis his declining fortunes the Earl of Pembroke clseloy besieged London with Lewis in it where he brought the matter to capitulation The heads whereof were That Lewis and the Barons should submit to the judgment of the Church whose censure they had long contemned That Lewis should depart the Land Richard Magnus A.B. Cant. and never return with design to do harm That he should endeavour with his Father that all such things that belonged to the English Crown might be restor'd and that when Lewis himself should be King he should peaceably part with them That Lewis should immediately render to K. Henry all holds and places taken in the War for the performance of all which Lewis took his Oath On the other part the King Legate Wallo and the Earl swore That the King should restore to the Barons and others all their rights and inheritances with all their liberties formerly demanded of K. John That none of the Laity should suffer damage and reproach for taking part on either side That Prisoners should be released This done Wallo absolved Lewis and his adherents and Lewis took his leave of England Yet was not England quiet long for William Earl of Aumarl Foulk de Brent and Robert de Veipont with others committed divers furious Riots the Church and State being grown into such disorder that every man dared to attempt in either what his own audaciousness should suggest The
reduced to that penury that he was forced to live upon the Alms of the Church This King designed at least pretended to go for the Holy Land when the Parliament granted him large Aids upon this condition That at this time once for all he should submit himself to govern by Law to confirm the Charters of Liberties or Magna Charta Against the breakers whereof a most solemn curse was pronounced The King swearing to keep all Liberties upon pain of that execratory sentence As he was a man a Christian a Knight and a King anointed and crowned Yet notwithstanding the Oath and the Curse the King two or three years after caused the Tenth of all England and Ireland to be collected for his own use and the Popes the Pope having given the Kingdom of Sicily to his Son Edmond but the English subjects were first to win it for him Which the Nobles peremptorily denied the attempting there being occasion enough for money and men at home the Welsh having risen in rebellion Against whom Prince Edward was sent who though he wanted not for Courage St. Edmund of Abingâ—â—n A. B. Caâ—t yet in one field lost 2000 English men and was beaten out of the field In A.D. 1257 was Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother elected King of Romans and was crowned at Aquisgrane having paid a large sum of money for the honour At this time the Earl was reputed to possess so much ready Coin as would every day for ten years afford him an hundred Marks upon the main stock besides his Rents and Revenues in Germany and the English Dominions And now the King relapsed into his profuseness and favouring of the Poictovins and other forreigners The Nobles hereupon came exquisitely armed to the Parliament holden at Oxford with a resolution to inforce the King and his Aliens to their proposals Which were That the King should unfeignedly keep the Charter of Liberties That such an one should be in place of Justitiar who would judg all impartially That the Forreigners should be expelled the Realm And that twenty-four persons should there be chosen to have the sole administration of King and State and yearly appointing of all great Officers Reserving to the King the Ceremonies of Honour Binding themselves by Oath to see these things performed and the King and Prince swearing to observe the ordination of these disloyal Barons who had by an Edict given out high menacings against all that should resist The Poictovins were so terrified by these violent proceedings that they fled into France The giddy people they joined with the Barons as the Assertors of their Liberties Boniface A. B. Cant the Londoners bound themselves under their publick Seal to assist them in the common Cause Richard King of Romans the Barons would not suffer to come into England but in a private manner with a very small train and being landed they exacted an Oath of him and upon pain of forfeiting all his Lands in England bound him to join with them in reforming the State which they factiously had assumed to do having appointed Four Knights Commissioners in every shire to enquire of all Oppressions and to certifie the same to them And the better to strengthen their Cause Simon Montford Earl of Leicester Head of the Factionists with others passed into France there to transact with the King thereof as to an indissoluble League About which time King Henry for want of Money or good Counsel or both was induced upon no very good terms for ever to renounce to the King of France all his right to Normandy Anjou Tourain Main and Poictou But the fire which had been long in blowing did now break out into a flame the King and his Barons taking arms against each other Simon de Montford executes his greatest revenge on the Queens friends who were aliens not sparing the King's who were free-born English-men Yet at length mutual weariness inclines Henry and his Barons to a peace and the King is willing that the Statutes of Oxford should be in force but the Queen was unwilling Which being known to the Londoners it put the baser sort into so leud a rage that she being to shoot the Bridg from the Tower towards Windsor where Prince Edward was ingarison'd they with dirt and stones and villanous words forced her back to the Tower Howbeit at London in a Parliament there held matters were pieced up though shortly after all was rent again both sides making fresh preparations for War King Henry drew towards Oxford where the rendezvous of his friends and forces was appointed from which University he dismissed all the Students being above fifteen thousand of those only whose names were entred into the Matriculation-book Whereupon many of them went to the Barons to Northamptor whither Henry came and breaking in at the Town-Walls encountred his Enemies amongst whom these Students of Oxford had a Banner by themselves advanced right against the King and did more annoy him in the fight than the rest of the Barons Forces Which the King who at length prevailed vowed sharply to revenge but was disswaded by his Councellors who told him that those Students were the sons and kindred of the great men of the Land whom if he punished even the Nobles that now stood for him would take arms against him The King encouraged by this success advanceth his Royal Standard toward Nottingham burning and wasting the Barons Lands wheresoever he came The Barons they sent Letters to him protesting their loyal observance to his person but all hostility to their enemies who were about him Rob. Kilwarby A B. Cant To which the King returned them a full defiance as to Traytors professing that he took the wrong of his friends as his own and their enemies as his At length the two Armies met and ingaged in fight wherein Prince Edward bravely behaved himself putting the Londoners to flight pursuing them for four miles but in the mean while his Father having his horse slain under him yielded himself prisoner the King of Romans and other great Peers were taken and the whole hope of the day lost on the Kings side On the next day peace was concluded for the present on condition That Prince Edward and Henry the King of Romans Son should also render themselves into the Barons hands And now by this advantage the factious Lords gained all the chief Castles of the Kingdom into their power Montford carrying his Soveraign as his prisoner about the Country yet with all outward respect and honour the rather to procure a more quiet surrender of Garrisons So fortunate may Treason and Rebellion for a time be though in the end it commonly speeds as it deserves To tame these Rebels the Pope sends his Cardinal Legate to Excommunicate them but they trusting to the temporal sword made light of the spiritual Howbeit to the Kings great advantage there hapned so irreconcileable a difference betwixt the two great Earls of Leicester and Glocester that the
he kept under till such time that he was ingaged against the French for the obtaining of that Kingdom and the recovery of sundry Towns and places in Goscoigne injuriously with-held from him by the French King To remedy which wrongs the King of England had addressed his Ambassadors but in vain therefore that the World might take notice of his just proceedings he in a large Letter directed to the Colledge of Cardinals justifies his design upon France to be equal and honest First because himself of any Male living was the nearest in blood to the late King Charles his Uncle Secondly because the French had refused to put the Cause to civil tryal Thirdly for that the process of the twelve Peers in giving the Crown from him when he was under age was by all Laws void and frustrate Fourthly for that Philip of Valois had invaded Aquitain which belonged to the Crown of England and detained such places as he had wrongfully gained therein Fifthly for that the said Philip had aided the Scots in their rising against him Edward having done this he next makes a confederation with the High and Low-Dutch and other Foreigners then prepared a brave Army his English Subjects contributing liberally for the carrying on of the War And to make his Coffers the fuller he made bold with the Lombards and the moveable goods of such Priories in England as were Cells to Monasteries in France Thus provided of men and monies King Edward sailed with his Forces to Antwerp and by the importunity of the Flemings he first assumed the Title and Armories of the Realm of France quartering the Flower de Lis with the Lyons And entring France he burnt and spoyled the North-parts thereof up as far as Turwin then returning to Antwerp he there kept his Christmas with his Queen Philip from whence about Candlemas he set sail for England where in a Parliament holden at Westminster he obtained liberal aids for supportation of his designed Conquest In lieu of which he granted a general large pardon of trespasses and other to him and confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta with some others Then upon June 23. He shipped from Harwich to Sluce in Flanders near which place the French lay in wait with a Navy of 400 Ships with intent to intercept him but Edward having the advantage of Wind and Sun furiously set upon the French Ships putting the Monsieurs so hard to it that a great number of them chose to cast themselves into the Sea rather than to become Prisoners Thirty thousand of them are confessed to have been slain and drowned and more than half of their Ships were either sunk or taken The loss was so very great on the French side that least the news thereof might too much afflict the King of France his Jester disclosed it to him by often-times repeating this saying in his hearing Cowardly English-men Dastardly English-men Faint-hearted English-men Why said the King at length Because said the Jester They durst not leap out of their Ships into the Seas as our brave French men did From which saying the King took a hint of the overthrow After which Famous Sea-victory obtained by the English puissant King Edward with his Host consisting of near an hundred thousand men sate down before Tourney from whence he sent to the French King whom he saluted only by the name of Philip of Valoys challenging him to fight with him hand to hand in single Combat or if that pleased not then each to bring an hundred men into the Field and try the event with so small an hazard or otherwise within ten days to joyn full battel with all their forces near Tourney To which Philip made no direct answer alledging that the Letters were not sent to him the King of France but barely to Philip of Valoys Nevertheless he brought his Army within sight of the English Host but by the mediation of Queen Philips Mother and two Cardinals a Truce was concluded between the two Kings till the Midsumer next following The main reason inducing King Edward to yield hereunto was the want of supplies of money through the fault of his Officers in England whom he severely punished at his return And now to weaken great Edwards strengths the Pope put Flanders under Interdict Simon Langham A B. Cant. as having disloyally left their own Earl and chief Lord Philip King of France And Lewis the Emperor breaking league with the King of England took part with France which when King Edward understood he angrily said I will fight with them both And not long after he was upon the Sea with a very great Fleet none knowing whither he would steer his Course but in Normandy he landed where he took the Populous and Rich City of Caen and with his dreadful Host burning and spoiling round about marched up almost as far as the walls of Paris Where with his Army in an enemies Countrey between two Rivers Sein and Some the bridges being broke down by the French Edward designed at a low water to have passed over a Ford between Albeville and the Sea whom to intercept the French King had sent thither before him Godner du Foy with a thousand Horse and six thousand Foot Howbeit undaunted Edward entred himself into the Ford crying He that loves me let him follow me as one resolved to pass over or there to die the first of which he did for his Souldiers following him won the passage putting du Foy to flight And now King Edward being come near to Cressie in Poâ—thieu lying between the Rivers of Some and Anthy he there most vigilantly provided for his defence against King Philip who was advancing towards him with an Hundred thousand men and upward When the two Armies were within sight each of other the King of England after he had called upon God disposed his Host into three Battels Simon Langham A B Cant. To his Son Edward the Black-Prince he gave the ordering of the Van the second Battel the Earls of Northampton and Arundel commanded the third himself And as if he meant to barricado his Army from flying he caused his Carriages to be placed in the rear thereof and Trees to be plashed and felled to stop up the way behind his Host commanding withal that all should forsake their horses and leave them amongst the Carriages On the Enemies part the King of Bohemia and Earl of Alanson had charge of the Vantguard King Philip was in the main battel and the Earl of Savoy commanded the Rear The sign of battel being given by King Philip a bloody fight ensued wherein the Black Prince was very hard beset therefore his Father was sent for to his rescue who upon the hillock of a Windmill stood to behold the fight being in readiness to enter thereinto when just occasion should invite him But at that time he refused to go returning the Messengers with this answer Let them send no more to me for any adventure that
VVarwick fled into France thinking to take sanctuary at Callis but there the Lord Vawclear whom VVarwick had substituted his Deputy denied them admittance bidding them defiance with his great Guns for which good service King Edward mad Vawâ—leaâ— himself Governour of Callis But though these Lords were rejected here yet were they with great respect received at the â—rench Court K. Lewis furnishing them with aids which effected they set sail and landed at Dartmouth from whence Warwick marched towards London proclaiming Henry King and commanding all from sixteen to sixty upon a great penalty to take arms against the Usurper Edward Duke of York And incredible it was to see the confluence of them which came armed to him who a little before applauded and approved none but King Edward The Bastard Fawconbridg in the West and the Earl of Pembroke in Wales every-where proclaimed King Henry also And the Lord Montacute who having mustered 6000 men in the name of King Edward and brought them forward almost to Nottingham drew them back again alledging King Edward's ungratefulness to his friends Every one cryed now A King Henry a King Henry a Warwick a Warwick and indeed all so applauded the passage now on foot that King Edward was forced to flye beyond the seas His Queen Elizabeth stole out of the Tower and took sanctuary in Westminster where on the 4th of November she was delivered of a son which without all pomp was there also baptized by the name of Edward Other Sanctuaries were also full of Edwards Friends And now the Kentish men took the opportunity to rob spoil and do much harm about London and some in London it self and more would have done had not the Earl of Warwick come in to the rescue which encreased his name that was great enough before On October 6 the said Earl entred the Tower wherein King Henry had been detained prisoner almost the space of 9 years whom he released and restored to him the title of King and forthwith conveyed him through London to the Bishops palace where a pompous Court was kept till the 13 of the same month on which day Henry went Crowned to St. Pauls the Earl of Warwick bearing his Train and Earl of Oxford the Sword the people crying God save King Henry November 26 following a certain Parliament was begun at Westminster wherein K. Edward was declared a Traytor to his Country an Usurper of the Crown and had all his goods confiscate the like judgment passed against his adherents John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester was beheaded All the Statutes made by K. Edward were revoked The Crowns of England and France entailed to K. Henry and his Heirs Male and for want of such unto George Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick was made Governour of the Land in those turbulent times But K. Edward having received some aids from the Duke of Burgundy and the promises of more in England landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire At his first arrival he seemed to lay aside his claim to the Crown pretending only to his rights as a private person howbeit when he had possest himself of York and got his friends about him he then marched in an hostile manner till he came near to the City of Warwick where his Brother Clarence brought in to his assistance 4000 men And Clarence reconciled to K. Edward sought to draw in Warwick to which end he sent messengers to him to the Town of Warwick where he then lay but Warwick bade the Messengers go tell the Duke from him That he had rather be an Earl and always like himself than a perjured Duke and that ere his Oath should be falsified as the Dukes apparently was he would lay down his life at his enemies foot which he doubted not should be bought very dear This stout resolution made Edward more wary therefore he hastens forward to obtain London whither when he was come the Citizens set open their Gates to him And now peaceable Henry becomes Prisoner again to K. Edward who hearing of Warwicks advance towards London draws forth his forces to meet him taking Henry along with him and upon Gladmore neer Barnet on Easterday in the morning the Kings and Earls hosts joyned Battel the best of the day for a while being Warwicks but at length through the fogginess and darkness of the Air the Stars embroidered on the Earl of Oxfords mens Coats who were in the left wing of the Battel were mistaken for the Sun which K. Edwards men wore in which error VVarwicks Battalion le ts fly at their own fellows that were in great forwardness of gaining the victory and they not knowing the cause of the errour judged themselves betrayed whereupon the Earl of Oxford with 800 men quit the Field Which great VVarwick perceiving he couragiously animated his men and furiously rushed into the midst of his enemies battel so far that he could not be rescued where valiantly fighting he was slain Marquis Montacute making forward to relieve him was also slain whereby ended that bloody days task On King Edward's part died the Lord Cromwel Lord Bourchier Lord Barnes and Sir John Lisle On the other part the Earl of Warwick and his brother John Nevil Marquis Montacute On both sides ten thousand most of which were buried upon the same plain where afterwards a Chappel was built In this same year 1471 and within few weeks after this was a battel fought at Tewksbury betwixt King Edward and the Martial Queen Margaret the defeat hapning to the Queen On whose side were slain John Lord Sommerset John Courtney Earl of Devonshire Sir John Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham and Sir John Lewkner with three hundred others Amongst them that fled Prince Edward King Henries son was one him Sir Richard Crofts apprehended and presented him to the King whom the King a while beheld with austere countenance at last demanded of him How he durst with Banner display'd so presumptuously disturb his Realm To which the Prince answered That what he did was to recover his Fathers Kingdomes and his most rightful inheritance How darest thou then added the Prince which art his subject display thy Colours against him thy Liege-Lord Which answer so moved King Edward that he dashed the Prince on the mouth with his Gantlet and Richard Duke of Glocester with some of the Kings servants most shamefully murdred him at the Kings feet His body was buried in the Monastery of the black Friars at Tewksbury Edmond Duke of Sommerset the Pryor of St. Johns with many Knights and Esquires were taken forth of Sanctuary and executed at Tewksbury Queen Margaret in this fatal day of battel took into a religious house from whence she was taken and committed to sure and strait keeping in which condition she remained till such time that she was ransomed by her Father Duke Renate May 20 King Edward entred London and in few days after the Crookback'd Duke of Glocester stabbed harmless King Henry to the heart Whose
danger he was in changed his note confessing himself to be but the man Sir Anthony said Well thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him causing him to be trussed up on the next tree Other commotions arose in other parts of the Realm but the most dangerous was that in Norfolk headed by Robert Ket a Tanner of Wimonham who took upon him to be the Kings Deputy giving out Warrants in the Kings name for what he pleased His Tribunal-seat was in an old Tree where sate the jolly Tanner accompanied with his Counsellors and Assistants being two chosen men out of every hundred of the rout Hither came the complaints of the Camp and from hence Commissions were issued out to plunder Ships and Gentlemens houses of Armour and Artillery so that this Tree was termed the Oak of Reformation Whence likewise sometimes Sermons were delivered and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker for which his life was endangered his Sermon was so displeasing to the Rabble To pacifie these rebells the King caused his general pardon to be proclaimed by an Herald at Arms. Notwithstanding which they still proceeded in their rebellion and made themselves Masters of the City of Norwich The King therefor sent William Parre Marquess of Northampton against them but him they over-powered Then the Lord Dudley Earl of Warwick was imployed against them who with small resistance gained the Market-place of Norwich where he caused sixty rebells whom he had taken immediately to be executed by Martial Law The main body of the rebells entrenched themselves at the foot of the Hill called Dussin-dale partly upon vain Prophesies given forth amongst them by Wisards That Hob Dic and Hie meaning the Clowns should with their clubs fill up the valley of Dussin-dale with dead bodies On August 27 the Earl prepared for fight the rebells likewise set themselves in order placing in their fore-rank all the Gentlemen whom they had taken prisoners coupled in Irons Upon the rebells Captain Drury with his own Band and the Almains charged couragiously and opened their Battel to the setting at liberty of the captive Gentlemen and the Earls light Horsemen came so valiantly on that the rebells gave back and fled and with the foremost their Captain Ket The chase held three miles and more with the slaughter of 3500 rebells The rest of the rebells that kept about the Ordnance by the Generals perswasions and promise of pardon cast away their Weapons and with one voice cried God save King Edward The next day following Ket was apprehended in a Barn where he had hid himself and shortly after was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich William Ket his brother was hang'd upon the high Steeple of Wimonham and nine other of them were hang'd upon the Oak of Reformation This Rebellion was at the first broacht under the pretence of throwing open the Inclosures which the King by Proclamation had commanded to be done though it was neglected These disturbances being setled others were made in the North by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark William Ombler a Yeoman and one Stevenson the Post of Seymour Their pretences were to restore the Church her rights and to disburthen the Land of Grievances giving out that the Pope was the man that K. Edward was an intruder if not a meer Heretick that the Church had power of both the Swords When these fellows were increased to the number of about 3000 the Kings pardon being sent to them they most of them departed to their own homes but Ombler and Dale with four others were executed at York Septemb. 21 1549. And as the Commons disquieted the Country so did some Lords and Ladies disquiet the Court. The Protector 's brother Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England had married Queen Katharine Parre which Lady contending for place with the Protector 's Dutchess occasioned the haughty Dutchess 't is said to procure the Lord Sudley's ruin Which Lord was accused to have designed the getting of the Kings person into his custody and Government of the Realm for the which with some smaller matters charged upon him he was condemned by Act of Parliament and by his brother the Protector 's Warrant was beheaded on Tower-hill March 20. But the Brothers being now disjoined who might have supported each other had they lived together in brotherly love the Protector himself is marked out for destruction Divers Lords article against the Duke accusing him That he had animated the rebells in their rebellion That he was a sower of sedition amongst the Nobles That he had against Law erected a Court of Requests in his own house inforcing divers of the Kings Subjects thither to answer for their free-holds c. And so close and cunningly they prosecuted the matter against him that they got him into the Tower Octob. 12 1549 but the King procured his liberty immediately though not his former Authority In the mean space that the Protector was under these troubles the Scots recovered the places that the English had gained from them The French also attempted to gain the Fort of Bulloinberg by surprize unto which enterprize 7000 men were chosen who secretly marched in the night with Ladders and furniture meet for the design and approached within a quarter of a Mile of the Fort but one Carter an English man a soldier amongst them understanding what was intended hastily and privately made from his Company and gave the Alarm to his Countrymen in the Fort whereupon Sir Nicholas Arnalt the Governour made such preparations against the French mens coming that at their approach he repulsed them with so great a slaughter that fifteen Wagons went away laden with dead bodies of the French After this the French assaulted the Isles of Garnsey and Jersey but were beaten off with the lost of a thousand men Howbeit the French King gave not over till he had recovered by surrender Bulloinberg and the Town of Bulloin which last he purchased at a high price A. D. 1550 that mortal disease called the sweating-sickness raged extreamly through England whereof died the two Sons of Charles Brandon both of them Dukes of Suffolk successively besides an infinite number in their best strength And which is wonderful this disease followed only English men in foreign Countries no other people being infected thereby And to fill up the dolours of these doleful times the good Duke of Sommerset was again by the over-reachings of the Earl of Warwick lately created Duke of Northumberland and other his emulators committed prisoner and not long after put to death For the Duke of Sommerset giving ear to such false friends as sought his ruin privily armed himself and so went to the Council-Table his flatterers having put him in fear of some sudden attempt intended against him But at the Council-Table his bosom being opened and the Armour found he was forthwith apprehended as intending the death of some Counsellor and sent to the Tower Octob. 16 1551 and in December
following he was condemned of Felony as seeking the death of some of the Kings Counsellors and on Febr. 22 of the same year he was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he thus spake to the people Dearly beloved Friends I am brought hither to suffer death albeit I never offended against the King either in word or deed and have always been as true and faithful to this Realm as any man hath been But forasmuch as I am by Law condemned to die I do acknowledg my self as well as others to be subject thereunto Wherefore to testifie my obedience which I owe unto the Laws I am come hither to suffer death whereunto I willingly offer my self with most hearty thanks unto God that hath given me this time of repentance who might through sudden death have taken away my life that I neither should have acknowledged him nor my self When having uttered these words with others exhortatory That the people would continue constant in the Gospel suddenly there was heard a great noise whereby the assembly was struck into great fear which noise was made by some of the Trainband-Hamlets coming hurrying on the Tower-hill This stir being ceased another presently insued for the people seeing Sir Anthony Brown ride towards the Scaffold they violently ran and crowded together thitherward supposing he had brought a pardon from the King and with a sudden shout cried a pardon a pardon God save the King But these interruptions over the Duke proceeded in his speech requesting the people to join in prayer with him for the King exhorting them unto obedience to him and his Council Which done asking every man forgiveness and declaring that he freely forgave every man he meekly submitted his head to the Axe Whose death the people were much grieved for speaking very bitterly against the Duke of Northumberland and the good King sorely mourned because of it which likely did much increase his Consumptive distemper that brought him to his end Whilst he lay in his weakness he was over-wrought to disinherit his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth and to ordain by Will for his Successor to Englands Diadem Guilford Dudley's Wife Jane the elder Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose Mother the Lady Frances was the Daughter of Mary Queen of France and Charles Branden Duke of Suffolk Unto this Will of King Edward all his Council the Bishops and all the Judges saving Sir John Hallis subscribed When the King drew towards his last breath he prayed as followeth Lord God deliver me out of this miserable life and take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen sake if it be thy will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O my Lord bless thy people and save thine inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christs sake So turning his face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God O I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying he yielded up the Ghost July 6 1553. And was interred in the Chappel of St. Peters at Westminster He was a Prince very well learned in the Latin and Greek Tongues also in the French Spanish and Italian adorned with the skill of Logick Natural Philosophy Musick and Astronomy Of such observation and memory that he could tell and recite all the Ports Havens and Creeks belonging to England Scotland and France what coming in there was how the Tide served in every of them what burden of Ship and what wind best served the coming into them Of all his Nobles chief Gentry and Magistrates he took special notice of their hospitality and religious conventions He was very sparing of his Subjects blood though rebells or hereticks When Joan Butcher was to be burnt for heresie all his Council could not move him to sign the Warrant for her execution till Dr. Cranmer A. B. laboured with him therein to whom the King said What my Lord will you have me send her quick to hell And taking the Pen he used this speeeh I will lay all the charge hereof upon Cranmer before God So zealous he was for the reformed Religion and against Popery that he thrust out all the Roman fopperies out of the Churches and superstitions out of the English Church nor would he permit his sister Mary to have Mass said in her house though the Emperour Charles made suit for it in her behalf So charitable that he conferred on the City of London Christs-Hospital and St. Thomas-Hospital for the relief of the Impotent fatherless Children and wounded Soldiers and Bridewell for vagabond and idle persons and so circumspect as to himself and publick that he kept a Journal-Book written with his own hand how all things proceeded with him and the state even from the first day of his raign unto his death The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir John Gresham was Mayor Thomas White Robert Chertsey Sheriffs In his second Year Henry Amcoats was Mayor William Lock Sir John Ayleph Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Rowland Hill was Mayor John Yorke Richard Turk Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir Andrew Jud was Mayor Augustine Hinde John Lion Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir Richard Dobbes was Mayor John Lambert John Cowper Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir George Barne was Mayor William Garret or Gerard John Mainard Sheriffs Queen MARY A.D. 1553 PIOVS King Edward having exchanged this wretched life for an happy the Councel in the first place perswaded the Lord Mayor and certain of the Aldermen of London to take their Oathes to be faithful to the Lady Jane Grey then caused the said Lady Jane to be proclaimed in London Queen of England But when Queen Mary heard the news of her brothers death and the Councels proceeds by her Letters she required the Councel as they tendred her displeasure and their own safeties to proclaim her Queen and Governour of the Land Unto which Letters the Lords forthwith answered That by good Warrant of Ancient Laws of the Realm besides the last Will of King Edward the right was in the Lady Jane to govern England unto whom therefore and none other they must yield subjection They also remembred the Queen of the unlawful marriage and divorce of her Mother of her own illegitimation desiring her to forbear any furder claim and to submit her self to the Queen Jane now her Soveraign Which Letters sent to Queen Mary were subscribed by Thomas Canterbury Archbishop Thomas Ely Chancellor Henry Suffolk Duke The Duke of
Sir George Booth's Forces the Members at Westminster prepared an Act for sequestring of the Estates of such persons as were engaged in this rising and in token of their favour and gratitude they order'd Lambert a thousand pound for his good service which he presently distributed amongst his Soldiers thereby to engage them the more firmly to his designs for though himself and other Grandees of the Army carried fair with the Junto yet were they not well pleased with them because since their last sitting they had somewhat lessened the Armies power in giving order to their Speaker William Lenthall to issue out Commissions for Commanders which had been done afore by the General and had withal reserved the chief command of the Army to themselves without any Captain General Therefore now whilst they were flustred with their late Victory they drew up their Propositions to be presented to the Parliament which they entituled The humble Petition and Proposal of the Army under the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert in the late Northern expedition therein desiring that the Army might be commanded by Fleetwood as chief General by Lambert as the next superior General c. This was sent up to London from Lambert's Army to be presented to the Parliament But Sir Arthur Haslerigg being made acquainted with it before it was delivered immediately informed his fellow-Members thereof alledging that it was a matter of most dangerous consequence The Junto hereupon passed a Vote That the having of more general Officers was a thing needless chargeable and dangerous But the Army-Officers of Lambert's party still-prosecuting their intentions of gaining the whole ordering of the Army into their own hands the Junto thereupon passed this Act That it should be Treason in all persons whatsoever to raise levy or collect moneys without consent of Parliament designing hereby to bring the Army into subjection because otherwise they could have no maintenance they likewise ordered that Lambert Desbrough Kelsey Berry Ashfield Cobbet Packer Barrow and Creed should be discommissionated and that others should enjoy their commands They also ordered the Government of the Army to be in Seven Commissioners in whom the power should jointly reside these were Fleetwood Monk Ludlow Walton Morley Overton and Haslerigg But Lambert and his Complices were resolved to try a tug with the Junto who should be Masters and to that end they engaged divers Companies and Regiments about London to side with them and the Junto drew two Regiments to Westminster to take part with them but when these two parties had stood at Westminster in a hostile sort almost a whole day facing each other and sometimes ready to fall to it in good earnest towards the evening the two parties fairly agreed to draw off to their respective quarters And the next day and forward Lambert took care to guard the Parliament-doors that none of the Members might enter into the House And now the Junto being once more laid aside Lambert's party made choice of Lieutenant General Fleetwood to be Captain General of the Army Lambert who 't is thought aspired to Soveraignty to be Major General and Desbrough to be Commissary General They framed likewise a new Government on October the 26th nominating Twenty-three persons to have the management of publick affairs whom they would have to be called a Committee of Safety Their names were Bulstrode Whitlock Edmund Ludlow Sir Henry Vane Sir James Harrington Sir Archibald Johnson General Fleetwood General John Lambert Colonel Desbrough Colonel Sydanham Major Saloway Colonel Berry Mr. Lawrence Colonel Thompson Colonel Hewson Colonel Lilburn John Ireton Lord Maior Alderman Robert Tichburn Walter Strickland Cornelius Holland William Steel Clerk Bennet Brandrith Thus was miserable England subjected to the Arbitrary power of an Army to have what Lords and Laws they pleased But the time of its liberty approached the principal instrument whereof was General George Monk who pretending to a re-settlement of the Junto and not to be able to see the Nation so inslaved by Lambert and his factious party drew his Army out of Scotland having first changed some of his Officers The Committee of Safety exceedingly courted this General to comply with them and when that would not do Lambert drew his Army into the North with design to impede General Monk's march to London but all their projects availed nothing with the General And to help forward his Majesties interest and the Nations deliverance the City of London grew very discontented and surly against the Army the Fleet that declared for the Junto likewise many of Lambert's party withdrew themselves from him and the Country in general was full of discontents and murmurings insomuch that the Committee of Safety perceived themselves to be in a very unsafe and kind of desolate condition and therefore with great submission they sent for the Speaker desiring him with the rest of his follow-Members to return to the exercise of their trust which accordingly they did on December the twenty-sixth and Colonel Lambert finding that all now went bad on his side privately slipt away from his Soldiers then about Newcastle upon Tine and they returned to their obedience to the Junto who upon their resettlement Discommissionated Lambert with divers Colonels and Commanders of the Army published a Declaration for a Commonwealth without a single Person or House of Lords for preservation of the Laws upholding of the Ministry the University and Tythes all which had lately been in great danger for maintaining liberty of Conscience General Monk in the mean time advanced with his new-modelled Army towards London all the way being caressed by the Gentry of the several Counties as he passed along with all testimonies of affection and petition for the restoring of the Secluded Members and procuring of a Free Parliament Commissioners were sent to him from the City of London with the like request for a Free Parliament but the General wisely concealed his inclinations and intentions pretending strong resolutions to be faithful to those Members sitting at Westminster and yet carried himself with so much evenness that the City and Country had hopes he would stand their friend as the Junto could see but little cause to misdoubt his real good meaning towards them howbeit to make him the surer on their side they ordered him and his heirs a 1000 l. per Annum February the third General Monk came to London with his Army he had drawn out of Scotland the Army which had been quartered there having marched out the night before by the Junto's command though not without discontent and some disorder and mutiny The next day his Excellency was conducted to the Parliament-House where he received thanks from the Members for his good service after which he acquainted them with the numerous Addresses he had received from the Counties for the admission of the secluded Members and a Free Parliament minding them also of the danger themselves and Nation would be in if the Fanatick party should be continued in Civil
Kt. Borough of New-Castle under Line Sir Thomas Bellot Bar. William Leveston Gower Esq Borough of Tamworth Thomas Thynne Esq John Swynfen Esq Suffolk Sir Jervase Elwes Bar. Sir Samuel Barnardiston Bar. Borough of Ipswich Gilbert Linfield Esq John Wright Esq Borough of Dunwich Sir Philip Skippon Kt. Thomas Allen Esq Borough of Orford Lionel Lord Huntingtower Sir John Duke Bar. Borough of Alborough Sir Richard Haddock Kt. Henry Johnson Esq Borough of Sudbury Sir Robert Cordell Bar. Jervase Elwes Esq Borough of Eye Sir Charles Gaudey Kt. and Bar. Sir Robert Reves Bar. Borough of Saint Edmundsbury Sir Thomas Harvey Kt. Thomas Jermin Esq Surrey Arthur Onslow Esq George Evelyn of Wotton Esq Borough of Southwark Sir Richard How Kt. Peter Rich Esq Borough of Blechingly George Evelyn of Nutfield Esq Edward Harvey Esq Borough of Ryegate Roger James Esq Dean Goodwyn Esq Borough of Guilford Richard Onslow Esq Thomas Dalmahoy Esq Borough of Gatton Sir Nicholas Carew Kt. Thomas Turgis Esq Borough of Haslemere Sir William More Bar. James Gresham Esq Sussex Sir John Pelham Bar. John Lewkener Esq City of Chichester Richard May Esq John Braman Esq Borough of Horsham Anthony Eversfield Esq John Mitchell Esq Borough of Midhurst Sir William Morley Kt. of the Bath John Alford Esq Borough of Lewes William Morley Esq Edward Bridger Esq Borough of New Shoreham Robert Fag Esq John Cheale Esq Borough of Bramber Henry Goring Esq Nicholas Eversfield Esq Borough of Steyning Sir John Fagg Bar. Sir Henry Goring Bar. Borough of East-Grimstead Thomas Pelham Esq Sir Thomas Littleton Kt. Borough of Arundel William Garraway Esq James Butler Esq Warwickshire Sir Edward Boughton Bar. Robert Burdet Esq City of Coventry Richard Hopkins Esq Robert Beak Esq Borough of Warwick Sir Henry Puckering Bar. Sir John Clopton Kt. Westmerland Sir John Lowther of Lowther Kt. Allen Bellingham Esq Borough of Apulby Richard Tufton Esq Anthony Lowther Esq Wiltshire Sir Richard Grubbam How Knight and Baronet Thomas Thinn of Long Leat Esq City of New Sarum Sir Thomas Mompesson Kt. Alexander Thiftlethwait Esq Borough of Wilton Thomas Herbert Esq Thomas Penruddock Esq Borough of Downton Maurice Bockland Esq Sir Joseph Ash Bar. Borough of Hindon Richard How Esq Thomas Lambert Esq Borough of Westbury Richard Lewis Esq William Trenchard Esq Borough of Hetsbury William Ash Esq Edward Ash Esq Borough of Calne Sir George Hungerford Kt. Walter Norborn Esq Borough of the Devizes Sir Walter Ernley Bar. Sir Edward Baynton Kt. of the Bath Borough of Chippenham Sir Edward Hungerford Kt. of the Bath Sir John Talbot Kt. Borough of Malmesbury Sir William Estcourt Bar. Sir James Long Bar. Borough of Cricklade Hungerford Dunce Esq Edmund Web Esq Borough of Great Bedwyn Francis Stonehouse Esq John Dean Esq Borough of Lugdersal Thomas Neal Esq John Smith Jun. Esq Borough of Old Sarum Eliab Harvey Esq John Young Esq Borough of Wooton Basset Lawrence Hyde Esq John Pleydall Esq Borough of Marlborough Thomas Bennet Esq Edward Goddard Esq Worcestershire Samuel Sandys Esq Thomas Foley Esq City of Worcester Thomas Street one of his Majesties Serjeants at Law Sir Francis Winnington Kt. Borough of Droitwich Henry Coventry Esq Principal Secretary of State Samuel Sandys Jun. Esq Borough of Evesham Sir James Rushout Bar. Henry Parker Esq Borough of Bewdey Philip Foley Esq Yorkshire Charles Lord Clifford Henry Lord Fairfax City of York Sir John Hewley Kt. Sir Henry Thompson Kt. Town of Kingston upon Hull Lemuell Kingdone Esq William Ramsden Esq Borough of Knaresborough Sir Thomas Slingby Bar. William Stockdale Esq Borough of Scaresborough William Thompson Esq Francis Thompson Esq Borough of Rippon Sir Edmund Jennings Kt. Richard Stern Esq Borough of Richmond Thomas Craddock Esq Humphrey Warton Esq Borough of Heyden Sir Hugh Bethell Kt. Henry Guy Esq Borough of Burrowbrigg Sir Thomas Malleverer Bar. Sir Henry Gooderick Kt. and Bar. Borough of Malton William Palmes Esq Sir Watkinson Payler Bar. Borough of Thirske Sir William Frankland Bar. Nich. Sanderson Esq Borough of Alborough Sir John Reresby Bar. Henry Arthington Esq Borough of Beverly Sir John Hotham Bar. Michael Warton Esq Borough of North-Allerton Sir Gilbert Gerrard Bar. Sir Henry Calverly Kt. Borough of Pontefract Sir John Dawney Kt. Sir Patience Ward Kt. BARONS Of the CINQUE-PORTS Port of Hastings Sir Robert Parker Bar. John Ashburnham Esq Town of Winchelsey Creswell Draper Esq Thomas Austin Esq Town of Rye Sir John Robinson Kt. and Bar. Thomas Frewen Esq Port of new Rumney Sir Charles Sedley Bar. Paul Barret Esq Port of Hyeth Sir Edward Dering Bar. Julius Deeds Esq Port of Dover William Stokes Esq Thomas Papillon Esq John Strode Esq Port of Sandwich John Thurburn Esq Sir Ja. Oxenden Kt. and Bar. Port of Seaford Sir William Thomas Bar. Herbert Stapley Esq WALES Anglesey Henry Bulkeley Esq Town of Bewmarris Richard Bulkeley Esq Brecon Richard Williams Esq Town of Brecon Thomas Mansel Esq John Jefferies Esq Cardigan Edward Vaughan of Trouscoed Esq Town of Cardigan Hector Philips Esq Carmarthen John Lord Vaughan Kt. of the Bath Town of Carmarthen Altham Vaughan Esq Carnervon Thomas Bulkeley of Dinas Esq Town of Carnervon Thomas Mostin of Glotheth Esq Denbigh Sir Thomas Middleton Bar. Town of Denbigh Sir John Salisbury Bar. Flint Mutton Davies Esq Town of Flint Roger Whitley Esq Glamorgan Bussy Mansel Esq Town of Cardiffe Sir Robert Thomas Bar. Merieneth Sir John Wynne Kt. and Bar. Pembroke Sir Hugh Owen Bar. Town of Pembroke Arthur Owen Esq Town of Haverfordwest William Wogan Esq Montgomery Edward Vaughan Esq Town of Montgomery Matthew Price Esq Edward Loyd Esq Radnor Rowland Gwyn Esq Town of Radnor Deerham Esq HIS MAJESTY'S Most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL HIS Highness Prince Rupert William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Heneage Lord Finch Lord Chancellor of England Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy Seal James Duke of Monmouth Master of the Horse John Duke of Lauderdale Secretary of State for Scotland James Duke of Ormond Lord Steward of the Houshold Charles Lord Marquess of Winchester Henry Lord Marquess of Worcester Henry Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Bridgwater Robert Earl of Sunderland one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Arthur Earl of Essex first Lord Commissioner of the Treasury John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole Thomas Lord Viscount Falconberg George Lord Viscount Hallifax Henry Lord Bishop of London John Lord Roberts Denzill Lord Hollis William Lord Russel William Lord Cavendish Henry Coventry Esq one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Sir Francis North Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Sir Henry Capel Knight of the Bath first Commissioner of the Admiralty Sir John Ernly Knight Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chicheley Knight Master of the Ordnance Sir William Temple Baronet Edward Seymour Esq Henry Powle Esq Commissioners for the Treasury ARthur Earl of Essex Lawrence Hide Esq Sir Edward Deering Sidney Godolphin Sir John Ernly Chancellor of the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Henry Guy Esquire Commissioners for the Execution of the Office of Lord High Admiral of England SIr Henry Capell Knight of the Bath Daniel Finch Esquire Baronets Sir Thomas Lee Sir Humphrey Winch Sir Thomas Meers Esquires Edward Vaughan Edward Hales FINIS BOOKS sold by Abell Swalle at the Sign of the Vnicorn at the West-end of St. Pauls Folio's PLutarch's Lives in English Sir Rich. Baker's Chronicle 1679. Mr. Joseph Mead's Works Mr. Abr. Cowley's Poems Hugonis Grotii Opera omnia Theologica 4. Vol. 1679. Episcopii Op. Vol. 1. Suarez de Legibus Quarto's Cluverii Geographia in figuris Zelidaura Queen of Tartaria A Dramatick Romance written in spanish by the command of the King of Spain made English 1679 Octavo A Conference between Dr. Stilling-fleet and Dr. Burnet with Coleman 1679. Sermons on several Occasions By John Tillotson D. D. Dean of Canterbury Scriptural Catechism or the Duty of Man laid down in express words of Scripture A Discourse concerning the Blessedness of the Righteous by Mr. How M. A. Tou's Le's Devoires de T'homme ' on La Practique devertus Chre'tiames Dict. Dutch Grammer Festan 's French Grammer A Discourse concerning the Period of Humane Life Twelves French Bible French Testament Psalms French Common-Prayer
Deputy thereof Ireton was very successful against the Marquess of Ormond the Lord Inchequin Marquess Clancard Earl of Castlehaven and other the Kings friends taking many Garisons from them the like did Oliver in Scotland from the Kings friends there Howbeit His Majesty hoping that now at length England might be favourable to his just Cause he advances into England by the way of Carlile with about 16000 men bending his course by a swift march for the West of England though it was hoped by his friends he would have directed his course for London But August the 23 the King with his Army entred the City of Worcester and Cromwel with all hast marched after him by the way joyning with Fleetwood Desbrough the Lord Grey of Groby Lambert Harrison and the Militia-forces of several Counties so that his Army when he was come to Worcester could not amount to fewer then 80000 men In Lancashire the Earl of Derby had raised for the King near 1500 Horse and Foot against whom Colonel Lilbourn marched and routed them taking many persons of quality the Earl of Derby himself with much ado escaped to the King at Worcester where on that twice fatal but once Lucky day September the 3d his Majesty being surrounded by his Enemies resolved to sally upon them with his whole force which accordingly he did and at the first made the disloyal party retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the part of a Valiant Souldier at the head of his Horse But at length his Army being overpowered by the numerous fresh supplies of his enemies His Majesties side was put to the worst his Horse flying amain towards the North and his Foot into Worcester whither they were followed at the heels by their Victors who entred the City with them which they plundred killing and taking most of the Scots Prisoners those Horse that fled were pursued and great part of them taken and the poor stragling Scots were either made Prisoners or killed by the Country People The number of the Kings party slain were judged to be about 3000 and of Prisoners taken in the whole near 10000 amongst whom were Duke Hamilton the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Cleveland Lauderdaile Rotho Carnwath and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir John Packington Sir Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major General Piscotty Major General Mountgomery Colonel Graves Mr. Fanshaw the Kings Secretary the Adjutant General Marshal General General of the Ordnance together with five Colonels of Horse 13 of Foot 17 Lieutenant Colonels 19 Majors 109 Captains there was also taken 158 Colours the Kings standard Coach and Horses Coller of SS and Star-Cloak with other things of great value His Majesty through the good providence of God escaped the hands of his enemies wandring about England in disguise for six weeks at length being transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Freccam near Haure de Grace in France although his foes made the strictest search for him possible withall menacing those that should conceal him and promising high rewards to those that should discover him A little before this fight at Worcester divers persons many of them Presbyterian Ministers were seized on for holding correspondence with Charles Stuart none might as they loved their lives and estates call him King and on August the 22 were two of them namely Mr. Christopher Love Minister and Mr. Gibbons beheaded on Tower-hill The common Prisoners Scots and English taken at Worcester were sent up to London and that they might no further trouble the States of England they were transported into Foreign Plantations October the 15th the Earl of Derby was beheaded and Sir Timothy Fetherstonhaugh dyed the same death also for the same crime viz. for honouring the King In short time after the fight of Worcester the Mock-Parliament had the welcome news of reducing the Isle of Man the Barbadoes the Isle of Jersey and Cornet Castle in Guernsey but a little to allay their transport they had the unwelcome news of the death of their Admiral Popham and Ireton their Deputy of Ireland this last dyed of the plague under the Walls of Limirick but was buryed in great State in Westminster-Abby All was now in a calm at home and Scotland and Ireland both almost subjected to the English States they therefore in this leisure-time judg it seasonable to vindicate themselves on the Vnited Netherlands for the affronts done to their Ambassadors Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland in Holland and their incroaching on the English merchants trade and slighting the English States who proffered strict amity and alliance Hereupon they prohibited the importing any Foreign Comodities except upon English bottoms or such as were of the Country whence the goods came beginning withal to stand high upon the claim of dues and reparations for the prejudice done the English in their Trading and when no satisfaction would be given but the Dutch grew rather more Lordly calling into question the English Soveraignty in the narrow Seas and refusing to give the English the honour of the FLAG the States of England resolved to beat them into better manners And in the Year of our Lord 1652 on May the 19th was the first Sea-fight between the States of England and the Netherlands the fight continued about four hours till the night parted them without much cause of boasting on either part that which was the English had a right to But shortly after this Admiral Blake took twelve Dutch men of War August the 16th Sir George Ayscough with a squadron of seven Ships charged through and through the Dutch Fleet consisting of sixty men of War in which Encounter Captain Pack was slain September the fifth as the French Fleet who took part with the Dutch were going to the relief of Dunkirk most of them were taken by General Blake and about the conclusion of the same month the Dutch were bang'd to purpose by Blake at a place called the Kentish-Knock and were pursued by the English into their very Harbor But in the beginning of Winter Blake was worsted by the Dutch in the Downs losing the Garland Bonadventure and two Merchantmen Upon the 18 19 and 20th days of February the two Fleets fought again when the Dutch were forced to fly the English taking fifty-two of their Merchant-men they had in Convoy and nine men of War A. D. 1653 and April the 20th Oliver Cromwell took upon him to put a period to the fitting of those long winded-Members at Westminster objecting to them when he came to displace them That they delayed if not utterly neglected the redressing of publick Grievances that they designed their own interest and perpetuating themselves therefore they were to sit there no longer Instead of these Members turned out of doors Oliver and his Officers constituted a Council of State to rule the Common-wealth though they resolved to rule the Council of State June the 2d the English and Dutch Fleets engaged again in Fight when at the very first shot made by