Earl of Shaftsbury and others were Imprisoned in the Tower one Stephen Colledge a Joyner was Tryed at Oxford found guilty of High Treason and Executed And in the year 1683. Captain Walcot William Hone and John Rouse were executed at Tyburn and the Lord Russell and Algernoon Sidney lost their heads And not long after Sir Thomas Armestrong being brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were sentenced at the King's Bench Bar upon their Outlawries and executed at Tyburn And two Informations for Perjury were preferred against Titus Oates the principal Evidence in the Plot But before he came to Tryal the King dyed for falling ill on Monday the 2d of February 1684. With a violent fit of the Appoplexy which at that time bereaved him of his Senses he continued in a languishing Condition till Friday the 6th of February and then dyed in the 55th year of his Age when he had Reigned 36 years and seven days And was buried in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel being the 46th Sole Monarch of England Thus Charles the Great his Glory laid aside A Prince that Fortune in all Shapes had try'd In War and Councils equally approv'd Feard of his foes but of his friends belov'd Remarkable Transactions from the Time of King JAMES the II. coming to the Crown till his Leaving the Kingdom c. KING Charles leaving no Issue by Queen Katharine his onely Brother succeded him and was Proclaimed by the style of James the Second King of England c. at the Pallace Gate and in London with the usual Solemnity and Ceremony Causing the Lords and others present that were before to be Sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council signifying by Proclamation it was his Pleasure that all who at the decease of King Charles were in Office of Government should so continue till his pleasure was further signified And upon his first sitting in Council he made a Speech in which amongst other Expressions are these viz. I shall make it my endeavour to preserve this Government both in Church and State as it is now by Law Established I know the Principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy and the Members of it have shewed themselves good and loyal Subjects Therefore I shall always take care to Defend and Support it I know too that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as a great a Monarch as I can wish and as I shall never depart from the Just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so I shall never Invade any Man's Property I have often heretofore ventured my Life in Defence of this Nation and I shall still go as far as any man in preservation of it in all its Just Rights and Liberties Nor was it long before a Proclamation was Issued forth to give notice the King intended to call a Parliament inculcating therein the settlement of the Revenue for the support of the Crown and Government that there was a necessity for the maintenance of the Navy for the Kingdoms defence and the advantage of Trade in order to which he desired that the settlement of the Customs due in the Reign of King Charles the Second might continue declaring it was his will and pleasure that the Duties should be Collected accordingly and that he did not doubt of the ready complyance of his Subjects therein This being given forth the Merchants did not dispute the payment And the next thing taken in hand was the preparation for the funeral of the deceased King all persons belonging to or having business at the Court being commanded by an Order of the Earl Marshal to put themselves into decent Mourning and indeed the loss of a Prince that ruled so much in the hearts of his Subjects found a ready complyance for not onely the Courtiers were in Mourning but all the responsible persons of the Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark on the tenth of February took his place at the Council Board as a Privy Councellour of this Kingdom All things being prepared for the Funeral Solemnities of King Charles the Second with decency and order as the occasion required the Royal Corpse was on the 14th day of February Interred in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster The Prince of Denmark whose Train was born up by the Lord Cornbury being chief Mourner and aâ— curious Figure of Wax representing the King was set up amongst the rest of the Kings of England his Predecessours and an Order was published for altering the Prayer in the Liturgy or Common Prayer relating to the Royal Family by way of exchanging Names in the repetition viz. JAMES for CHARLES and further viz. our Gracious Queen MARY CATHERINE the Queen Dowager Their Royal Highnesses MARY Princess of Orange the Princess ANNE of Denmark and all the Royal Family And Money being wanting in the Exchequer it was taken up upon the Excise by way of Farming and the Earl of Rochester was constituted Lord High Treasurer of England and the Marquess of Halifax Lord President of the Privy Council the Earl of Clarendon Lord Privy Seal and the Duke of Beaufort Lord President of Wales These Great Officers thus put in Trust gave us prospect of the tranquility of Affairs and the King was Proclaimed in all the Citys and Burrough Towns of the Kingdom and in the like order in Scotland and Ireland and the Earl Marshal issued out the orders of Summons in order to the preparation of the Coronation which was appointed to be on the 23d of April being Saint George's day requiring all persons who in regard of their Tenures Customs and Usage are bound to do and performe Services on that day to appear before the Commissioners and make out their Claims and give their attendance at the Solemnity and a Proclamation was sent into Scotland in order to the calling of a Parliament in that Kingdom with a Proclamation of Indemnity to divers of the Scottish Nation Then he proceeded to put out a Proclamation to Summons a Parliament to sit at Westminster on the 19th day of May 1685. And accordingly the Citys Burroughs and Shires proceeded to Election and sundry Embassadours residing in England or such as came by Expresses made their Complement of Condolence and Congratulation and the 23d of April being come great preparations were made for the Coronation the Nobles and others met in their Robes and Formalities the Ceremony was performed with much Magnificence and the Parliament according to appointment met when the King in his Robes went to the House and being seated on the Throne made a Speech in which amongst other things He informed them that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in Scotland with the men he brought with him from Holland c and soon We had notice that that Earl had levyed considerable Forces in Argyleshire and other places which obliged the Militia to rise in Arms and several Troops were sent from England and more had gone had not the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme in
made Prisoner by a Burgundian Knight and by him sold to to the English who sent her to Roan and being charged with Witch-craft Bloud-shead and the unnatural use of Man's Apparel contrary to her Sex she was burnt which was too barbarous a usage and had not been executed but to put the French out of the great hopes they conceived in the Promise she had made to drive the French out of the Kingdom and in some kind it had its effects but another expedient was resolved on which was to send over for young King Henry and he accordingly was crowned in Paris with great Pomp by the Cardinal of VVinchester on the 7th of December 1431. The French Nobility doing him homage and the King's Pattents and Grants touching the French Affairs passed under the Seal and Stile of Henry King of the Frenchmen and of England and the Lords Talbot and Arundel were successfully victorious in the Provinces of Main Anjou and other places but John Duke of Bedford Regent of that Kingdom dying at Paris Anno. 1435. with his death the English Affairs sunk for although Richard Duke of York was sent over Regent yet before his arrival Paris was lost by the treachery and revolt of the Citizens and the Duke of Burgundy falling off besieged or blocked up Callais upon notice of which the Duke of Gloucester passed with a great Army but the Burgundians were retired before his arrival which made him proceed to waste the Burgundian Territories and then returned to England whilst the Duke of Somerset the Lords Talbot and VVilloughby made good the English Interest against the French and now it was thought expedient that King Henry should Marry and by the contrivance of de la Pool Duke of Suffolk he took to Wife Margaret Daughter to Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorain Titular King of Sicily and Jerusalem c. with whom he had little or no Dowry and Suffolk's too much favour and interest with the Queen made the Nobles begin to murmur and indeed this Match proved in the end disadvantageous to the English for the Queen being a Woman of a high Spirit and finding her power over a good natured and easie King she delayed not to use it placing and displacing at her pleasure the greatest Counsellers and Ministers of State so the Interest in France daily lessoned and the Dauphinâ— recovered the greatest part of the Kingdom which moved Duke Humphry to reproach the Queen and her Council with bold truth whereby they became so exasperated that from that time they layed Snares to intrap him but finding no plausible opportunity they resolved to take a violent occasion and at a Parliament holden at St. Edmunds-bury Anno 1447. he was arrested by John Lord Beaumont Lord High Constable of England and others charged with High-Treason and put under a Guard of the King's Houshold but had not been long in his Confinement before he was found dead not without strong presumption of violence used towards him yet to shadow it with the people who entirely loved him as a vertuous wise and learned Patriot of his Country his body was exposed and it was given out that he died of an Imposthume and Palsie This Duke who had been the Prop of the English Affairs removed his Servants the better to colour the Matter were brought to Tryall and five of them convicted of High-Treason upon which Sentence they were drawn to Tyburn and being hanged about two Minutes were cut down alive stripped naked and marked out with a Knife to be quartered and then their Charters of Pardon were produced by the Marquess of Suffolk and now the whole frame of Government seemed to repose it self in the Queens Authority and such Favourites as by her insinuation with the King she raised to the highest Dignities This gave scope to the Duke of York's Ambition who concluding there was an open passage to the Crown delayed not the opportunity but consulted his Friends declaring his Title as descended from Lionel and Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster great Grand-father to King Henry the sixth aggravating the miscarriages in Government and keeping up popular divisions and indeed the King's mildness a Council out of Favour with the people â—osses and dishonours abroad a disorder and confusion of things at home mainly contributed to his design and about this time a Rebellion happening in Ireland the Duke of York was looked upon as the fittest Man to go over for the appeasing it and had the fortune to bring it to a happy issue when in the mean while the Duke of Suffolk the Queens great favourite was charged in a Parliament at Westminster with evil Demeanour Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower but the Queen soon after procured his release and now the Yorkists Faction considerably strengthened appeared bare-fac'd and being vigorously withstood by Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester Keeper of the Privy Seal to remove him out of the way a rable of Seamen were stired up to fall upon him at Portsmouth by whose rude hands the good Bishop was slain and in a Parliament holden at Leicester they procured the Banishment of the Duke of Suffolk for five years and as he was attempting to pass the Seas he was taken in Dover Road by such as the Duke of York had laid in wait for him and for want of a Block had his Head cut off on the side of a Cock-boat which was looked upon as a Judgment for his being a contriver of the death of Humphry Duke of Gloucester the King's Uncle Suffolk thus removed out of the way the Duke of York concluded he wanted but one step into the Throne and although he was yet in Ireland he so effectually wrought by his Friends in England that the Kentish Men took up Arms under the leading of Jack Cade and were joyned by those of Essex demanding that the Duke might be called home and that he with some others that Cade named might bechief in Council That those guilty of the death of Duke Humphry might receive due punishment That the Grievances of the people might be redressed and because these requests were not speedily answered they committed many violent out-rages in and about London as plundering the houses of the Citizens beheading the Lord Say Treasurer of England and Mr. Comer High Sheriff of Kent for attempting to perswade them to return to their Obedience However their fury being spent and the King's Proclamation for a Pardon coming out to indemnifie them they returned to their respective Habitations but Cade finding his Power and Credit with the Multitude upon some new disgust attempting again to raise the Rable he was encountered by the Gentry of Kent and slain by one Edan Upon the stirs and uproars in England the Duke of York without any Order hasted from Ireland and took up Arms pretendedly for the Reformation of the State which made King Henry fortifie himself and prepare to oppose their force â— but the Duke of York
Great were the preparations and an Act on the 21st of March passed the Royal Assent for granting their Majestys a present Aide and another Act soon after passed for recviving Actions and Processes depending in the Courts of Westminster discontinued by the omitting Hillary Term with others conducing to the regulation and settlement of Affairs and divers great Officers were made and honours Conferred on sundry persons And now the Coronation day drawing near the Parliament considered of the Coronation Oath and the Royal Assent given to an Act intituled an Act for Establishing the Coronation Oath to be Administred to all the Kings and Queens that shall Succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm upon their respective Coronations by one of the Arch-Bishops to be done in Publick so that nothing being wanting to perfect the Royal Ceremony of the Coronation on Thursday the 11 of April the King and Queen landing at the Parliament Stairs went to the Princes Lodgings between 10 and 11 in the Morning and the Peers and Peeresses being in their Robes and having their Coronets their Majestys came to Westminster-Hall the Procession being put in order and there taking their Seats on a Throne under a Cloth of State the Regalia was presented and delivered to those Noblemen by whom it was to be born and the Earl Marshal Kings at Arms and Heraulds having put the Procession in order it passed on through the Guard of Soldiers that made a Lane blew Cloth being spread and scattered with sweet hearbs their Majestys under a Canopy of State in their Royal Robes the King in a Velvet Crimson Cap and the Queen with a Circlet of Gold on her head the Peers and Peeresses in their Robes with their Coronets in their hands and entring Westminster Abby their Majestys Ascended the Throne and the Nobles and others disposed themselves according to their degrees and Places and the Ceremony was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence after which their Majestys with their Crowns on their Heads and the Nobility with their Coronets on returned in the same order they went to Westminster-Hall where a Stately Banquet was prepared and being seated the first course was Marshalled in and the King Champion in Compleat Armour came into the Hall on Horseback and made his Challenge in these words repeated by York Herauld viz. If any person of any Degree whatsoever High or Low shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord and Lady King WILLIAM and Queen MARY King and Queen of England France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith to be Rightfull King and Queen of this Realm of England or that they ought not to Enjoy the Imperial Crown of the same here is their Champion who saith he lieth and is a false Traytor being ready in person to Combate with him and in this Quarrel will Adventure his Life against him on what day soever he shall appoint The Royal Entertainment ended their Majestys returned to White-Hall and the great Guns and Bells proclaimed the Joy together with the peoples shouts and acclamations The Night was spent in Bonfiers and Drinking-healths which in a short time was so ordered throughout the Kingdom and Scotland not to be behind proceeded to Proclaim their Majestys King and Queen of that Kingdom deputing the Earl of Argyle and others to wait upon their Majestys with an offer of the Crown which being Accepted their Majestys have since been so owned that Kingdom with equal demonstrations of Joy The Charges of the Government appearing very great the Parliament agreed upon a Pole Bâ—â— which being brought in and approved it passed the Royal Assent encouraging the lending of 300000 l upon its security till Money can be raised The late King being by this time in Ireland and the French Fleet about to Land more men in that Kingdom were Engaged near Bantry-Bay by an English Squadron under the Command of Vice-Admiral Herbert and three of their great Ships disabled and sunk a great many of their Seamen and Officers killed without the loss of one Ship on our side though much inferiour in number And the French and Irish laying Siege to London-Derry were beaten off by the Besieged under the Command of Colonel Walker Minister of that Place and about 4000 of them slain insomuch that they were obliged to acquit it and draw off And several persons attempting to spread King James his Declarations in the City of London some were seized and committed to Newgate And during these Transactions the late Lord Chancellour Jeffreys and the late Lord Chief Justice Wright dyed one in the Tower and the other in Newgate The Convention of Scotland was turned into a a Parliament the Lord Hamilton made President and an Act passed for asserting their Power and preventing any questions or dispute that may arise about their power to Act as being a Parliament Aud since the Castle is surrendred Thus Reader you may see our chang'd estate And own God's Mercies Wonderfull and Great Whose swift Almighty Hand the Ruin stay'd That Rome's dark Thunder into Bolts had made Aiming 'em at Religion Life and Laws But Heaven defeats where e'er it owns the Cause
bring Which shows the frailness of each earthly thing The Reign of Henry the Second King of England c. HEnry Plantaginet commonly called Fitz Empress was three times Crowned first by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Westminster then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester and being setled in the Realm he demolished sundry Castles that had given too much incouragement to the falling off of such as at any time grew discontented some that had Honours unduly conferr'd on them he divested and reduced to a private State purged the Land of Forreign Soldiers and chiefly of the Flemings that had come over with King Stephen choosing his Council out of the most Worthy and Learned Men restraining the Incroachments and Oppressions of the greatest Persons without respect of their greatness which made the Lord Hugh Mortimer fall off and take up Arms against whom King Henry went in person and had been slain at the Siege of Bridgnorth had not Hubert d' St. Clare one of his Courtiers stepped between as the Arrow was coming and lost his own Life to save his Masters but this Lord soon reduced and the face of calmness appearing at home he passed into France to do Homage to King Lewis for his Provinces of Normandy Acquitain Anjou Main and Lorain which he claimed as his right 〈◊〉 in himself and partly in Eleanor his Queen and there he adjusted differences between himself and his Brother Geofry and after being highly Caressed and Entertained he returned to England where as much as in him lay intending to live peaceably he contracted an Alliance with Malcolme King of Scots restoring him the 〈◊〉 of Huntingdon The Welsh about this time making Inroads and greatly indamaging the English the King marched against them and joyned Battle but in the heat of the Fight his Standard was cowardly abandoned and his person in danger to be slain or taken Prisoner for which Henry d' Essex Standard bearer being accused by Robert d' Montford as the main cause of the dissertion the Combat as usual upon such Accusations was allowed them at Reading and Essex being overcome the King was notwithstanding contented to spare his life upon condition he became a Monk which accordingly he did and was immediately shorn but in conclusion the Welsh were subdued and the King returning in Triumph was Crowned together with Eleanor his Queen at Worcester where they both at the Offertory laid their Crowns on the high Altar vowing never to wear them after and this was the last of the three Crownings and his Brother Geofry now dead he seized upon sundry Citys and strong places in Normandy and setling his Affairs in that Province he returned to England where Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury influenced by the Pope began to trouble the Kingdom not only at the Council Tours privately surrendring those Honours the King had heaped upon him to the Pope and from him receiving them again thereby to cast off the acknowledgements he had to the King or his Prerogative but countenanced all manner of violence in the Clergy even to murther so that the complaints of above a hundred Murthers done by the Clergy coming to the King's car and he not finding them punished by Church Censure brought some of them under the Civil Power commanding Justice to be administred without partiality as well to the Clergy as Laity to that end appointing Ministers of Justice in all parts of the Land whose charge it was to enquire into crimes of that or the like nature But this was opposed by Becket with a high hand challenging the King with invading the Rights of the Church demanding at the same time the Castle of Rochester and sundry other places as belonging to the See of Canterbury This made the King assemble all the Bishops in Convocation at Westminster Becket excepted where it was agreed That no Appeals should be made to Rome without the Kings Licence That no Arch-bishop or Bishops upon the Popes Summons should go out of the Land without the like leave That no Bishop should excommunicate any person holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdiction without the like Licence That Clerks criminals should if the King thought fit be tried before Secular Judges But although the King urged Becket to agree to them yet he absolutely refused it sending thereupon complaints to the Pope who for his profit and interest not desirous to break with England commanded Becket to yield to the King without any Salvo's or exception which not without much stomaching the matter he at last consented to on the word of a Priest and swore that he would observe the Laws which the King called Avitae as being made in the Reign of his Grandfather yet he refused afterwards to set his Seal saying What he had done was rather in some measure to pleasure the King than out of conscience For which and his continuing obstinate he was condemned to the confiscation of his Goods and the Bishop of Chichester in the name of the other Bishops disclaimed and for the afronting the King in his Palace with his Cross he was adjudged as a Traytor and perjured person and that he should as such be taken and imprisond which made him flee into Flanders where Pope Alexander and Lewis the French King openly declared for him which so far incensed King Henry that he banished his Kindred commanding his Sheriffs and other Officers to seize such as appealed to Rome as likewise the Kindred of those Clergy that were with Becket excluding him from being prayed for as Arch-bishop Becket being by this time in France excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded in the like nature with others so that there were scarce any found in the Kings Chappel to perform the Service This made him send to the Pope for Legates to absolve his Subjects and settle a peace in the Kingdom and although accordingly they were sent yet Becket standing off with much obstinacy nothing was effected wherefore as some Historians will have it to spite the Arch-bishop the more and the more firmly to establish the Kingdom he caused Roger Arch-bishop of York to Crown his Eldest Son Henry and at the Coronation Feast the King carried up and served at the Table the first Dish of Meat whereat the Arch-bishop whispering the young King said Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the World that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have this day To which the early raised Stripling replied Why wonder you at that my Lord seeing my Father knows he doth nothing that is unbeseeming him for as much as he is Royally born on one side but as for our self we are Royally born on both as having a King to our Father and a Queen to our Mother Upon which proud speech the old King told the Arch-bishop That he repented the too early advancement of the Boy And now by the mediation of Friends the old King and Becket were reconciled and all
the Profits and Arrears of the See of Canterbury restored But this restles Prelate taking his time to disturb the Kingdom whilst the old King was in Normandy published the Popes Letters by which Roger Arch-bishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Ecclesiastical Functions for that they had crowned the young King in prejudice to the See of Canterbury and the Bishops of Exeter Sarum and London were cut off from the Church by censure for being Assistants at that Coronation nor would he at the young Kings earnest intreaties but under divers restrictions and hard conditions Absolve them Becket's new insolencies coming to the ear of the old King in Normandy he fell into a great rage and let such words fall that some of his Courtiers interpreting them to intimate the Kings desire to be rid of that proud Prelate contrary to his knowledge Richard Fitzurse William Tracie Hugh Brito and Hugh Norvil passed secretly into England and getting admittance into the Cathedral Church at Canterbury took their opportunity with concealed Weapons to fall upon him as he stood in the Evening Service time before the high Altar and there slew him with a Monk or two that made resistance and thereupon made their escapes This news flying to Rome and the Murther charged upon the King as done by hiâ— order the Pope began terribly to mennace him when he to take off the imputation of guilt not only protested his innocence but offered to purge himself by submitting to the Judgment of such Cardinâ— Legates as the Pope should send upon inquiry intâ— the Fact and the better to quiet the people that began to murmur against him he passed into Irelanâ— with a great Army and finding the several pettâ— Kings divided amongst themselves he made a Conquest of that Kingdom and made himself Lord Ireland Upon the Kings return from the Conquest Ireland he found two Cardinal Legates arrived Normandy by whom he was absolved after giving Oath that he was no ways consenting to the death Becket and declaring his sorrow for having let fâ— words in his anger that might administer any ocâ—sion of committing that crime whereupon the coâ—ditions of his Penance were enjoyned viz. That his own charge for the space of a year he should maâ—tain two huâ—dred Soldiers for defence of the Holy Laâ— That he should revoke all Customs introduced to the 〈◊〉 judice of the Churches Liberties and restore and make up the Possessions of the Church of Canterbury That he should cull home and freely receive all that were in Banishment for Becketg 's cause There were other secret Penances enjoyned which upon his coming over he performed The King notwithstanding the satisfaction he gave the Pope was not at ease for the young King Henry his Son instigated by his Mother the Kings of Scotland and France his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with divers Nobles as well English as Normans raised a Rebellion and seized upon many Towns in Britain and other places But the old Kings Fortune prevailed against them and by Humphry Bohun his High Constable in England he overcame Robert Earl of Leicester which made Lewis of France seek a Truce with him of six Months which was accorded and coming to Canterbury three Miles bare footed as his private Penance he entred the Chapter House of the Monks and humbly prostrating himself on the floor begged pardon and suffered himself voluntarily to be whipped on the back with Rods by all the Brethren of the House so that his stripes amounted to fourscore This confirmed the people of his innocency or at least satisfied their anger so that the Scots invading England were so unanimously opposed that they were defeated and William their King taken prisoner Young King Henry attempting to land was driven back to France by contrary Winds but making some other attempts he died in the expedition Anno 1183 And the next year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem came into England to implore the Kings Aid â—gainst the Infidels that grievously oppressed the Eastern Christians and that he would go thither in person but the Nobles being consulted and not approving it only a supply of Money was granted The King the better to quiet his Son John who was of a turbulent spirit constituted him Lord of Ireland assigning him rents in England and Normandy however he conspired with his Brothers Richard and Geofry against him but before any thing came to perfection Geofry was troden to death under the Horses feet at a Turnament in Paris notwithstanding Richard by the assistance of Philip the French King drove his Father out of Mentz the place of his birth and for which reason he loved it above all other whereupon with tears he declared that seeing his Son had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the World he would requite him for from that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child viz. his heart and having a Scrowl of the Conspirators he no sooner found his Son John in the head of them and first in that Scrowl but he curst the hour of his Birth laying God's curse and his own upon all his Sons which he could not be prevailed upon to recal but fretting himself for the unnatural proceedings of his Children and worn out with age and toil he fell sick at Charon and finding the approach of death he caused himself to be carried to the Church and laid before the high Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he gave up the ghost Anno 1189 and waâ— intered at Font Everard This King Henry the Second was King of England Duke of Normandy Guen and Aquitain eldest Son to Jeffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem by Maud his Wife eldest Daughter tâ— Henry the First He began his Reign on the 25th oâ— October 1154 and reigned 34 years eight months anâ— eleven days and was the twenty fifth sole Monarcâ— of England he had Issue by his Wife Eleaner Will am who died 1156 Richard Geofry and Philip whâ— died very young John Maud who was married 〈◊〉 Henry sirnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony Eleanâ— married to William King of Castile Joan married 〈◊〉 VVilliam King of Sicily and afterwards to Ramuâ— the fourth Earl of Tholouze By the lovely Rosamond his beautiful Concubinâ— he had natural Issue viz. VVilliam sirnamed Longspur and Jeffry Arch-bishop of York This Rosamond was Daughter to the Lord Clifford and whilst the King prosecuted his Wars in Normandy and France he caused her to be kept in a Labrinth built at VVoodstock to secure her from his jealous Queen but she finding her by a clew of Thred or Silk which the Fair one had accidentially let fall compelled her to drink Poison of which she died to the unspeakable grief of the King who not only detested his Queen for so much cruelty but raised a stately Monument at Godstow with this Scription Hic jacet in
gave those persons leave for the most part to escape and the Earls light Horse-men coming on the Rebels gave back and at length betook them to open flight and were pursued three miles with the slaughter oâ— 3500 of them yet such as had Barrocaded themselves with Carts and Waggons amongst the Ordinance as men in despair resolved to sell their liveâ— at a dear rate but upon offer of Pardon they threw down their Arms crying God save King Edward and the next day Kett being siezed in a Barn was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich and his Brother William Kett was hanged on Womanhaâ— Steple and Nine others on the Oake of Reformation The pretence of this Rebellion was about throwing open Inclosures which the King by his Proclamation had commanded to be done but it was neglected These Commotions were no sooner over but another Rebellion broke out in the North Headed by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark one Stephenson a â—ost-master and William Ombler a Yeoman pretending to restore Church rights and redress Grievances declaring the power of the Pope above that of the Kings and that the Church had power of â—oth Swords but this feeble Rebellion not exceeding â—000 vanquished upon the Kings sending his Forâ—es and offer of Pardon yet Ombler Dale and four others were on the 12th of September 1549. Execuâ—ed at York as Seducers and Ring-leaders These and the like disturbances qeieted considerable ones began at Court for Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England having married Queen Catharine Parr Widow to Henry the Eighth and some words and contest happening between her and the Dutches of Somerset Wife to the Protector for precedences the two Brothers so unadvizedly espoused their Wives Quarel which was fomented by secret Enemies that the Admiral by the Protector 's procurement being accused in Parliament for attempting to get the King's person and Government into his hands c. Upon slender proofs was Sentenced and lost his Head on Tower-Hill on the 20th of March to the great grief of the young King who aboured to prevent it but by Somerset's removing this Brother he stood open to the malice and revenge of his implacable Enemies for soon after by the contrivance of Northumberland and others divers Articles were exibited against him for abusing his Trust Animating the Rebels sowing Sedition amongst the Nobles keeping a Court of Requests in his own house whereupon he was deprived of his Authority and sent to the Tower but the King soon released him yet was he not restored to his Trusts Whilst these heats lasted at Court the Affairs abroad were neglected insomuch that the Scots recovered most of the Town the English had taken and the French attempted to surprize Bullenberg with seven thousand men but were beaten off witâ— the loss of one hundred and fifty and had no better sucsess in their attempts upon Guernsey and Jersey Islands however things not going well at home Bullenberg and Bulloin were surrendred to the Frencâ— upon Conditions and the payment of a large Sumâ— of Mony and now to add to the Calamity thâ— Mortal Disease called the Sweating Sickness raged in England carrying off many thousands pursuing the English into Forreign Countrys where none but they were afflicted with it And now the Duke of Northumberland being grown great at Court laboured to remove the Duke of Somerset and by aâ— Stratagem found an opportunity for the Duke by some of his flatters being perswaded there was aâ— design against his life went privately Armed to the Council but his Gown opening as he sate at the Board it was laid hold of as a design in him to kill some of the King 's Privy Counsellors and that with some light matters being urged with agravation they procured his imprisonment and soon after being tryed and found guilty of Felony though he might have come off by his Clergy yet his Council nor himself not foreseeing to claim it he was on the 22d of February Anno 1550 brought to Tower-Hill and there after having declared his Innocence and made a most Christian Speech he was beheaded which some looked upon as a Judgment for so rigorously persecuting his Brother Upon the Death of this Uncle though Plays and other Devices were made to divert the King he grew Melancholly and the people were greatly Incensed against Northumberland however he taking the occasion from the King's Sickness and Disorder procured him to disinherit his two Sisters Mary and Elizabeth and settle the Crown on Jane Eldest Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk by the Lady Frances Daughter to Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France younger Sister to King Henry the eighth who was married to Guilford Dudly Fourth Son to Northumberland and to this Will of the Kings the Council Bishops and all the Judges except Sir John Hollis Subscribed and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London afterward promised their Assistance and Protection but this was supposed to hasten the King's Death For Northumberland having gotten what he expected viz. The Crown in his own Family removed his Physicians â—nd trusty Friends putting him into the hands of a â—he Doctress who wittingly or unskilfuly brought him to his End on the 6th of July 1553. This good Prince is accounted a second Josia exceeding in Charity and Piety all that went before him having Learning and Understanding far above his years â—nd had he lived a longer Date he had proved more perspicuously the Mirror of Kings This Edward was King of England France and Ireland the only Son of King Henry the Eighth by Jane his third Wife he Reigned six Years five Months and eight Days and was the one and Forâ—ieth sole Monarch of England dying in the 16th of his Age and was buried at Westminster Thus England's Phoenix early left the Stage His Death was much Lamented of the Age Yet he contented dy'd from 's Throne to rise In Angels Arms to everlasting joys The Life and Bloudy Reign of Queen Mary UPon the Death of King Edward according to his Will the Lady Jane was proclaimed in London and elsewhere and confirmed by the Council but Mary Eldest Daughter to King Henry the Eighth being then at Fremingham Castle sent to complain against their Proceedings in giving away her right commanding them to acknowledge heâ— their lawfull Queen but they returned her a very slight answer commanding her to be obedient to Queen Jane her Sovereign whereupon with such Friends as she had about her she prepar'd for London and to her a great many of the Suffolk men repaired offering her their Service in case their Religion might be asured insomuch that by that means and the siezure of several Ships in the Ports out of which she caused the Cannon and Ammuition to be taken she became formidable whereupon an Army of 13000 men under the Command of the Duke of Northumberland marched out against her but by that time the Duke was got as far as Cambridge he had notice that
the Sea-Port Towns the King sent to grant them their reasonable Demands yet though several Messages passed nothing came to a conclusion and many of the King's Friends left the upper and lower House as dreading the fatal Consequence so that at last there not being above 80 Members in the lower House and 16 in the upper The Queen left England with her illustrious Daughter the Princess of Orange and the King with divers Nobles went to York whither he Summoned the Knights of the Garter and those that held of the Crown to repair And now People fearing things would come to extremity the County of Kent petitioned for an Accommodation but their Petition was rejected and the bringer and receiver imprisoned by the Parliament yet upon the King's Summons about 60000 Men of Yorkshire appeared on Howard Moor near York and after a view were ordered to repair to their respective Habitations but at this time the Parliament borowed a great Summe of Money of the Londoners on the publick Faith and raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse making the Earl of Essex their General and proclaimed War The King being denied entrance into Hull and having vainly assaulted it fortified Newark and Barwick and advancing to Nottingham set up his Standard so that Hostilities began and a piteous War ensued wherein many brave Men lost their Lives Victory declaring sometimes for one Party and sometimes for another insomuch that the Fields â—n about fifty Battles and Skirmishes were fatted with Bloud and made in many places white with the Bones of the slain no Wounds as it is observed by Lucan piercing so deep as those of Civil War but the King being extremely weakened by a fatal Overthrow at the Battel of Nasâ—by fought on June the 14th 1645 where most of his Officers Soldiers and voluntire Gentlemen were â—lain or taken Prisoners his Baggage Cannon Ammunition or what not seized he after the Defeat for want of Money was never in a Condition to make any considerable Head though some Towns and Parties stood out for him but going to Oxford and finding the Storm gather from all Parts distrusting the strength of the Place he privately withdrew and by the Advice of some about him cast himself for protection on the Scotch Army then in England whose Commanders promised him all manner of safety but being in Arrear they for the Summe of 200000 l delivered up this good Prince into the hands of his merciless Enemies who carried him for a while from place to place flattering him with Treaties and Commissioners were sent to him demanding Consessions and Agreements to Articles but when all good people were in hopes of an Accommodation and right understanding that the Land after so much bloudshed might have rest the Scale suddenly turned and a High Court of Justice was erected of which Serjeant Bradshaw was President and although the King denied their Jurisdiction yet they proceeded to try him viz. for that he had caused the cruel bloudshed in England and Ireland and born Arms against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Son and others to wage War c. and although he answered not to the Charge yet on the 27th of January 1648. they pronounced Sentence against him that he should loose his Head and accordingly on the 30th of January he was beheaded on a Scaffold before White-Hall-gate where he made a Speech professing his Innocency and desiring God to bless these Kingdoms and forgive his Enemies Thus fell this unfortunate Prince when he had Reigned 23 years 10 Months and 3 Days in the 49 Year of his Age and his Body was Buried at Windsor He was second Son to King James by Anne his Queen and had Issue by Henrietta Maria his Queen Charles James Henrietta Mary Elizabeth Catharine and Henrietta Thus did the much lamented Monarch fall And left behind the slighted earthly Ball Too scanty was Earth's Glory and Renown For him that had in view a heavenly Crown The Reign of Charles the II. King of Great Britain c. AT the Time of the cruel Execution Charles the Second was in Holland whither he had withdrawn himself to prevent the Designs of his Enemies and there with inexpressible Sorrow received the heavy News of his Father's Death and although from the 30th of January 1648 his Reign is dated as being rightfull King of these Realms yet that part of a Parliament then sitting upon penalty of Treason forbid all Persons to proclaim him or be aiding in his Restauration and then the Commons House the better to assure it Voted the Lords useless and dangerous however the Marquess of Ormond since Duke of Ormond Proclaimed the King in Ireland and the Scots did the like in Scotland however in England the King's Arms were pulled down and the Harp and Cross called the Arms of the Common-wealth set up The Processes in Law were altered and Money Coined with the States Arms And now the Lord Fairfax disliking these proceedings and having laid down his Commission of General of the Army Oliver Cromwell took it up and so laboured to please his Masters that with armed Force he brought Scotland and Ireland to a Compliance whilst the King was soliciting the Princes abroad for Aides to recover his Right when the more to disturb that King's Party in England not onely the Crown Lands were set to sail but even the Palaces and those of Bishops Deans and Chapters run the same risk and many worthy persons were expelled places of Benifice or Trust in Church or State and the Parliament for their greater security caused many Castles to be demolished The Marquess of Montross declared for the King's interest in Scotland performing wonders even with 〈◊〉 handfull of men against the Arms of the Countrie but in conclusion after he had done all that â—ould be expected from heroick Valour and Conâ—uct his men being scattered and he obliged to â—hift was taken and at Edenburg hanged and quarâ—ered During the Treaty the Scots had on Foot with the King to bring him into that Kingdom â—owever the urgency of the King's Affairs made â—im dissemble his resentments and upon the Treaty concluded landed at Spey and was conducted 〈◊〉 Edenburg and afterward solemnly Crowned 〈◊〉 Schon viz. January 1. 1650. setting up his Stanard at Abberdeen and causing the Forces reduced â—nder his Command to march against the English â—orces that had entred that Kingdom but without â—mming to any considerable Encounter the King 〈◊〉 July 1651. passed the Tweed and entred England â—ot onely to draw the Enemy out of Scotland but 〈◊〉 join his friends that had promised him Succours and without much difficulty marching through the Country to Worcester many Gentlemen and others came in to him but being followed in a manner at the heels by Cromwell and the Militia of the Counties every where raised and the Earl of Derby whom he had sent to raise Forces in Leicestershire defeated by Lilburn he resolved to fortifie that City and abide the
Dorcetshire with about fourscore men and a considerable quantity of Arms and Amunition declaring his intention to deliver the Kingdom from the danger it was likely to be brought into by the prevailing power of the Papists under the influence of a King who had professed himself openly to be of the Roman Communion c. and divers of his Declarations were printed and scattered abroad for printing which one Mr. Desney a Councellour was seized and Tryed at the Marshalsea upon an Indictment of High Treason and being by the Jury found guilty he was sentenced and executed his head being afterward placed on London Bridge The Duke of Monmouth encreasing his Forces in the West and causing himself to be Proclaimed King not onely the standing Guards but a great number of New-raised forces were sent against him as likewise the Scotch Regiment sent from Holland when after sundry skirmishes in which divers were killed on both sides On the sixth of July the Duke in the dead of the night by a silent March endeavoured to surprize the King's Forces encamped on Sedgmore near Bridgwater commanding the Foot in person and ordering the Lord Grey with the Horse to take a compass and fall in the Rear but the design being discovered by an early Alarum after many brisk firings between the Foot and the Dukes Horse not coming timely up the King's Horse entred the Ranks and in spite of the opposition that was made broke and disordered them so that about daylight they fled in great confusion and a piteous slaughter ensued so that two thousand are held to be slain The Duke with most of the Commanders escaped the Field but having been Attainted in Parliament and a premium of 5000 l set upon his head he was upon the information of an old Woman searched for in the Inclosures near Holt Lodge and after divers attempts to escape was taken and by easie Marches brought to White-Hall and by the Council committed to the Tower and the third day after brought to the Scaffold on Tower-Hill where after he had made a very Christian-like and Heroick Speech he had his Head severed from his Body at five stroaks so barbarous was his execution the Body of this unfortunate and much lamented Nobleman in whose Veins flowed by the Father's side the Royal Bloud was put into a Hearse in order to its Interment but this execution allayed not the fury of some persons for the Lord Chief Justice Jeffries and others being sent into the West to try such as escaped Military execution caused about 300 to be executed in divers places amongst whom the Lady Lile was beheaded at Winchester for harbouring some persons who had escaped the Battel and soon after a Woman was burnt at Tyburn upon the like occasion During these proceedings the Earl of Argyle was Routed in Scotland taken in a pond and beheaded at Edenburg Rumbold the Malster was hanged and quartered and his quarters sent to England and set upon the Gates of London Colonel Ayloffe and Mr. Nelthorp were sent prisoners and executed one before the Temple and the other before Gray's-Inn And the Parliament meeting again after its prorogation the King told them that in consideration of sundry good Services several Roman Catholick Officers had done him he was willing they should continue in their places notwithstanding the Parliament was very earnest to have them removed and pardon granted them for what had passed in Acting contrary to Law as not being Qualified for places of Trust without taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy however they were continued and the Parliament soon after Dissolved An Embassadour was sent to Rome and the Pope's Nuncio came to England being kindly received by the King and now it began to be rumour'd that Father Petre a Jesuit was got to the Helm of Affairs and soon after he was declared a Privy Councellour And divers persons were Tryed upon the Account of what had been done in the Reign of King Charles the Second for which Alderman Cornish suffered in Cheapside and Charles Bateman a Chirurgeon at Tyburn And the Dissenters were severely prosecuted though at the same time the Popish Priests began to build them Chapels in Limestreet Bucklers-Bury St. John's and Southwark promising themselves no less than the re-establishment of that Religion and some people were punished for opposing their proceedings the City Trained Bands being ordered on Sundays c. to guard those houses from the violence of the Multitude and most of the Judges having declared a Dispensing Power in the King Papists throughout the Nation were put into places of Trust and Offices without taking the Oaths Especially after the Tryal of the Case of Sir Edward Haleâ— at the Court of King's-Bench where the Verdict went for him c but the Members of the Church oâ— England seeming not well pleased there followed an unexpected closing with the Dissenters and a Declaration was published for Toleration or Liberty of Conscience and a promise to Establish it by Law The Church of England-men we almost every where displaced and Papists and Dissenters placed in their stead most of the Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford turned out and a President imposed on it A High Commission Court was â—erected to censure the Clergy the Bishop of London was suspended and most of the Corporations had their Charters taken into the King's hands some of them being shortly after restored with alterations The standing Forces were increased Campaigns were held on Hounslow Heath to exercise the Souldiers and the King designing to call a Parliament the people were questioned in many parts of the Kingdom whether they would themselves if chosen or give their Voices for such as should be willing to take away the Penal Laws and Tests And the Archbishop of Canterbury with Six other Bishops were sent prisoners to the Tower â—nd afterwards Tryed at the King's-Bench Bar but â—cquitted for petitioning the King to revoke his Order of Reading his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in Churches in time of Divine Service And during their Imprisonment we had news that â—he Queen was brought to Bed of a Son for which 〈◊〉 Thanksgiving day was appointed and the Conâ—uits in London ran with Wine as likewise in many other places and the Embassadours in foreign Courts made great Rejoycing But whilst this â—oy lasted at Court and things were making ready or the calling a Parliament news came that great â—reparations were making in Holland with a design â—o pass an Army into England which changed the â—ace of Affairs for those that had been turned out â—f places of Trust were restored the Bishops were received into savour the Charter of London and other Charters were restored Depositions were taken relating to the Birth of the Infant and enrolled in Chancery and the King was willing no Papist should be a Member in Parliament with many other concessions and great Levys were made for Sea and Land however the Dutch Fleet without much interruption came to Torbay in