the Riches were The Garrison offered to yield themselves and all therein if they might save their Lives and Limbs But the King would accept of no Terms bidding them defend themselves and that he was resolved to win it by his Sword and hang them all Whereupon an Archer standing on the Wall observing his opportunity charging his Steel Bow with a square Arrow and praying that by that Shot he might deliver the Innocent from Oppression and the King just then taking view of the Castle he wounded him in the Shoulder which was made extreme painful by an unskilful Chirurgeon However the Assault was renewed the Castle taken and all put to the Sword by the Kings Command but this too skilful Archer who boldly owned the Action for being demanded How he durst shoot at the Person of a King he replied That the King had slain his Father and his two Brothers with his own Hand and that he was exceeding glad he was now so happily revenged Notwithstanding this Answer the King gave him 100 s. and his Liberty but yet after the King was dead one of his Captains took him flea'd him alive and then hanged him He died of his Wound 1199. having reigned victoriously Ten years and in the Forty second year of his Age leaving no Legitimate Son behind him KING JOHN ROme's mighty Metred Metropolitan I did oppose and was by him depos'd In stead of Blessing he did Curse and Ban And round with Wars and Troubles me inclos'd English and Normans both resisted me Lewis of France my Kingdom did molest Whereby from Turmoils I was seldom free But spent my Kingly Days in little Rest At last the Pope was pleas'd me to restore Peace was proclaim'd and I was re-inthron'd Thus was my State oft turned o're and o're Blest Curst Friends Foes Divided and Aton'd And after Seventâ—â—n yâ—ars were past I fell At Swinstead poyson'd by a Monk of Hell JOhn Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster in his own Right and of Glocester by his Wife being the youngest Son of King Henry the Second succeeded and was Crowned King though Arthur Plantagenet his Nephew and Son of Jeffry his elder Brother was living The whole Course of his Government was attended with continual Troubles his two great Persecutors being Pope innocent the Third and Philip the Second of France King Philip being envious at Englands Grandeur took all Occasions to disturb John as by entertaining Prince Arthur animating him to regain the Crown of England and supplying him with Men and Money and the Normans joyning with them Arthur won many strong Places in Normandy But King John's Lieutenants made a stout Defence till he himself went over with a strong Army and fought many Battels with his Nephew but at last both Sides being wearied with equal Losses they made a Truce which was again broken by the incitement of the French King who promising Arthur double the Forces he had before they both entred Normandy plundring and burning many Towns and Villages But John who wanted nothing but Money was voluntarily supplied by his Lords Gentlemen and Commons with a large Tax they being grieved to see the English Territories thus destroyed and all the stout Youth voluntarily listed themselves for the Service whereby John soon landed in Normandy where thousands more resorted to him so that soon after the two Armies met and fought desperately but at length the French gave way and Arthur was taken Prisoner and sent to Roan where leaping from the Walls with design to escape he was drowned in the Ditch though others write That he came to a violent Death by King John's Order However the French King improved the Report to the best advantage peremptorily citing King John to come and do him Homage for the Dukedom of Normandy and likewise to appear at a set Day to be tried by his Peers for Treason and Murder But John not obeying his Summons was by the King and Peers of France disinherited and condemned and according to the Sentence they proceeded against him For several of the English Nobility joyning with Philip and John being careless the French with a powerful Army took in most of the Towns in Normandy which hapned by the fault of the English Lords and Bishops for when the King was ready to embarque for Normandy Archbishop Hubert forbid him and the Peers refused to attend him upon which the King laid great Fines upon them and seised upon the Estate of Hubert who died soon after But now Pope Innocent his other Enemy begins to play his Part and vex him more dangerously than Philip of France had done For Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury being dead the Monks of St. Austins in that City without the Kings Knowledge or License elected one Reynold a Monk to succeed him and made him take an Oath to go immediately to Rome and to procure his Investiture and receive his Pall of the Pope The King hereat was much displeased so that to appease his Wrath they made a new Election and with his Approbation chose John Gray Bishop of Norwich and the King presently sent Letters and Ambassadors to the Pope entreating him to confirm his Choice But Innocent after the Example of his insolent Predecessors confirmed the first Election whereat John was enraged yea divers of those Monks who chose him now joyned with the King against him alledging the Election was made in the Night and not in open Day and was therefore null and void At length the Pope to end the Controversie nominated Stephen Langton a Man in the Popes Interests and ordered the Monks to elect him which King John forbid But the Papal Command was obeyed and Stephen was elected Archbishop of Canterbury This so exasperated the King that in his Letters to the Pope he solemnly protested That thenceforward he would take strict Account of those Subjects who for any Matters of Right and Justice should run gadding to Rome alledging That he had Bishops Nobles and Magistrates of his own who according to the Customs of the Kingdom could and should determine all Controversies in Church and State and That he would rather expose himself to a thousand Deaths than basely and servilely subject himself and his Kingdom to the insolent and unreasonable Commands of the Pope But Innocent haughtily answered That the Election of Langton should stand requiring the King to give him quiet Possession to recal such Monks as were banish'd on his Account and restore their Estates or otherwise he did authorize four Bishops to interdict and curse the King and the Realm King John observing that the four Bishops appointed grew very Arrogant with their new Authority and thought long e're he signified his Resolution he thereupon seised upon their Estates and declared That he resolved to take the same Course with all those that received any Promotions or Investitures from Stephen Langton or went or appealed to Rome upon any Occasion without License or that should execute any Command of the Pope within this Kingdom Upon this the
send you perseverance that you may always succeed as you have prosperously begun you have Nobly acquitted your self and worthily deserve the Government of a Kingdom bestowed upon you for your Valour King Edward perceiving that after this Victory the French King made no Preparations to resist him marched toward Callice burning and destroying all before him and begirt it with a close Siege which after it had continued a whole year the French King with an Army of 200000 men came to the relief thereof which not being able to effect the Passages thereto being so well fortified by K. Ed◠〈…〉 went back again leaving the poor Townsme◠〈◊〉 mercy of King Edward During this Sieg◠〈◊〉 King of Scotland invaded England with an Army of 50000 men by the procurement of the French King but the Queen with 12000 stout Souldiers fought with him routed his Army took King David Prisoner and several other Persons of Honour killing divers more and above 15000 Scots After this Victory the Queen attended with a Troop of handsom Ladies and Gentlewomen whose Husbands or Kinsmen had long lain at the Siege of Callice sailed thither and were entertained by the King and his whole Army with great joy the Town being despairing of Relief begged the Kings mercy which he denied unless six of the chiefest Citizens came out to him in their Shirts barefoot and bareheaded with Halters about their Necks to be disposed of at the Kings pleasure which hard condition some of them undertook to perform presenting the King with the Keys of the Town and Castle which Edward receiving commanded them to be all presently hanged but his Commanders interposed strongly on their behalf which yet could not prevail the King threatning to make them examples for the wrongs done to the English Nation at Sea at length the Queen with Prayers and Tears on her Knees procured their Pardon The King having got possession of this important Town returned to England and was received at London with great Triumph and by the Popes means a Truce was concluded with the French for two years which being expired Edward sent a strong Army under the Conduct of his Son the Black Prince into Gascoyn destroying all in their march But King John who succeeded his Father Philip resolved to stop this Current and the Black Prince having only 10000 men with him John raised a vast Army and accompanied with his young Son Philip and the Flower of the Nobility of France made all speed toward Prince Edward who was at Poicters ready to receive him The Fight was very bloody but the English Archers galling the French Horse with their Arrows soon disordered their Army and notwithstanding the utmost conduct of the valiant K. John they were put to the rout the King and his Son being taken Prisoners who being brought before the Prince he bowed to the King and giving him comfortable words feasted him and his Son Philip very nobly and lodged him in his own Bed With this Prize the Black Prince returned into England and was joyfully received by all In this Fight were taken seventeen Earls above fifty Lords and a multitude of Knights and Gentlemen of Quality so that every Souldier who had least had two Prisoners all which with the Spoil of the Field the Prince freely gave the Souldiers and every man had Gold and Silver in abundance costly Armour and other valuable things being left on the ground as worth nothing King John lived some time at the Savoy and after at Windsor being as kindly treated by the King as he could desire and after four years Imprisonment a Peace was concluded whereby it was agreed That King John should pay 500000 l. Ransom of Sterling Money and several Countries were freely resigned to the English by John and the French King never to assist any King of Scotland against England About which time David King of Scotland who had been a Prisoner in England ten years for a Ransom of 100000 l and giving his Oath never again to bear Arms against England was released About two years after three Kings came at once to visit King Edward John King of France David King of Scots and the King of Cyprus The next year the Black Prince went into Normandy and was made Governour of the English Conquests who assisted Peter King of Castile and restored him to his Crown of which he was dispossessed by his Bastard brother Henry but soon after Henry with fresh Forces suddenly fell upon King Peter seised him and put him to death By reason of Peter's Death the English Soldiers under the Black Prince despairing of receiving their Pay and being in great necessity daily petitioned the Prince for Relief who finding no other means to supply them imposed several Taxes upon the Inhabitants of Aquitain who finding their Privileges invaded complained thereof to the French King who summoned the Prince to appear before him at Paris contrary to the express Articles of Peace lately concluded and presently proclaimed War against England and the Prince not being in a Posture of Defence all those Countries Towns and Forts daily revolted to the French so that King Edward who had been Victorious forty years lost all those Provinces almost in one The French provided a Navy likewise wherewith they commanded the Narrow Seas But John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster going over to Callice with a brave Army soon made the Frenchmen feel his Fury and recovered many Towns but after John's departure another Army commanded by Sir Robert Knowls and the Lord Fitzwater by reason of some Quarrel between the Commanders was defeated by the French King and 1000 English slain whereby all the Garrisons were again delivered up to the French The King much disturbed at these Misfortunes called a Parliament wherein the Temporalty freely gave him a Subsidy of 15000 l. but the Clergy denied him any Supply whereupon he removed them from all Honours and Offices and placed more grateful Subjects in their room The French King had now besieged Rochel almost a year for whose Relief a Fleet was sent under the Earl of Pembroke but he was fought with by Henry the Bastard of Castile and the Earl with 160 more taken Prisoners the rest with much terrour and difficulty escaped to England Upon the News of this Defeat several other Towns and Provinces revolted to the French King After this John of Gaunt landed with strong Forces at Callice and joyning with the Duke of Brittain ravaged the Country till they came to Bourdeaux where the Black Prince lay very sick and John was made Governour of those Provinces Prince Edward died soon after and was buried at Canterbury the King himself not living long after dying in the Fifty first year of his Reign and the Sixty fifth of his Age 1377. and was buried at Westminster RICHARD the SECOND King of England c. A Sun-shine Morn oft brings a Showry Day A Calm at Sea sometimes foretells a Storm All is not Gold that appears bright and gay A
of Burgundy appealed against Charles the late Dauphin and seven others as murderers of her Lord and no defence being made for them they were all summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris by a certain day which they refusing were Banished out of all the Territories of France and to forfeit all their Honours Dignities and Estates The Dauphin having notice thereof went to his old Friend the Earl of Arminiach late Constable of France who espoused his cause and assisted him with Men Money and Arms and soon after the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother meeting with a Body of his Forces under the Command of the Duke of Alanson and being falsly informed of their strength by a trecherous Lombard he fell upon them but was overpowered and slain with several other English Noblemen and near two thousand Common Souldiers K. Henry was much grieved with this unexpected overthrow resolving to be revenged of the Dauphin and his adherents and to that end called a Parliament who gave him a plentiful supply but because it would be long in gathering he pawned his Crown to his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester for 20000 pounds with which soon raising an Army of 30000 stout Men he lands at Calice with John Duke of Bedford and with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Flanders and James K. of Scots he took several Towns from the Dauphin who not daring to venture a Battel fled from place to place designing to tire out the Kings Army in pursuit of him about which time K. Henry had notice that his Q. Katharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor upon which with a Prophetick Spirit as was judged he said I Henry born at Monmouth shall continue but a short time and gain much but Henry born at Windsor shall Reign long and lose all which happened accordingly The King still won more Forts and Castles from the Dauphin who finding the King was gone far from him raised another Army and streightly besieged the City of Cosâ—â—y in Burgundy who agreed to deliver it to him if not relieved within ten days of which K. Henry having advice marched with sufficient Force to succour it but fell so sick by the way that he could travel no further however John Duke of Bedford proceeded on of whose Courage and Conduct the Dauphin being afraid raised the Siege and retired The Kings sickness encreasing he was carried to Boys in Vincennes where he in a few days died before his death he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Lieutenant General of Normandy and Regent of the Kingdom of France and his other Brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester Protector of England and of his Sons Person and then exhorted them with the rest of the Nobles present to maintain true friendship with his faithful Confederate Philip Duke of Burgundy to be at Unity among themselves to be True and Loyal to his Son King Henry to assist by all means his sad and mournful Queen and to maintain by Wisdom and Courage what he by Gods help and his own valour had gotten He died in the thirty eighth year of his Age and the ninth of his Reign 1442. and his Body being conveyed into England was buried with great Pomp and Solemnity in Westminster Abby upon whose Tomb his Queen caused his Royal Statue to be lay'd covered over with Silver Plate gilt the Head thereof being Massy Silver but in the time of K. Henry the eighth the head and the other Silver was stolen away yet the Headless Monument is to be seen at this day with the following Verses on the Tomb. Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heir of France Great Hector lies in Dust HENRY the SIXTH King of England c. MY Father Englands Warlike Mars being dead And I an Infant but of eight Months old The Diadem was plac'd upon my head In Royal Robes the Scepter I did hold But wonderful are the Almighty's Ways And past Mans Reason e're to comprehend For I had nought but sad and woful Days Even from my Birth unto my Tragick End ' Gainst me the House of York their Force did bend Both Peers and People weltred in their Gore That Crown and Scepter they from me did rend My Sire and Grandsire both had worn before Twice was I Crown'd uncrown'd oft blest oft croft At last my Life and Kingdom both I lost THough King Henry the Sixth was not above eight Months old at his Fathers Death yet by the wise Conduct of his two Uncles afore-mentioned the Government was managed with all manner of Prudence and Discretion But soon after the Death of Henry the Fifth Charles the Sixth of France died likewise and the unconstant Frenchmen began to renounce their Oaths and Allegiance to the English Crown and generally revolting to Charles the Dauphin now King of France endeavoured to extirpate the English Nation and Sovereignty from among them To which purpose their new King seised upon Pont Melance a Town on the River Sâ—yn without any warning and slew most of the Engliâ—h Garrison therein but Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury a great Champion in that Age by the Regents Order regained it and caused the Inhabitants again to swear Allegiance to King Henry which they soon after again forfeited and the Parisians invited Charles to come to their City but the Regent having notice thereof tho' he was then engaged in Mirth and Triumphs as having at that time married the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter yet made such speed with his Army that he was at their Gates before they were aware and having seised on the principal Conspirators and executed them publickly by divers cruel Deaths he secured the City by divers new Forts a strong Garrison and a severe Governour The Protector still furnishing the Regent with fresh Supplies of all things from England he daily won divers strong Towns and Fortresses the French King not daring to engage in fight with him though he often shewed himself and boasted of his Valour While all things succeeded well there hapned an unfortunate Accident at Mons where the French suddenly surprised the English within the City and killed them all without the least pity or compassion but the Garrison-Soldiers got into the Castle which the French resolving to besiege and starve them out gave themselves over at present to Ease and Jollity Of this the Lord Talbot was advised who the next Night marched thither with 700 Men and got into the Castle and then issuing out under their Governour the Earl of Suffolk they rushed violently into the Town crying out aloud St. George A Talbot a Talbot wherewith the sleepy drunken Frenchmen were so amazed that some leaped naked over the Walls in their Shirts and broke their Necks about 400 Gentlemen were slain and taken Prisoners the Common People being released After which 30 Citizens 20 Priests and 15 Fryars were put to death
or Halberts in the Van the Battel began both Parties fighting bravely one for the Liberty of their Country and the other for a Kingdom The Normans perceiving they could not break the united Strength of the English pretended to fly which the English believing pursued them in disorder whereupon the Normans taking the advantage rallied and charging them furiously in that disjoynted Posture made a very great Slaughter among the English and among the rest King Harold his Brother and most of the English Nobility fell that day and of the Common Soldiers Sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy four Others report an hundred thousand were slain Duke William had three Horses killed under him yet received not the least Wound his Loss being onely as is said Six thousand Men. Thus died King Harold after onely nine Months Reign and was buried at Waltham Abby in Essex And it is very remarkable That whereas Harold with his Father Godwin had cruelly murdered Alfred the true Heir to the Crown and his Normans he was now by a Norman wounded in the left Eye with an Arrow whereof he immediately died This great Battel was fought at Hastings in Sussex on Saturday October 14. 1066. The English after this vast Loss had designed to make Edgar Atheling King but it was prevented by their private Animosities And thus ended the Saxon Monarchy in England which from Hengist in 475. to this Year had continued save onely some short Interruptions by the Danes Five hundred ninety one Years And here we shall begin to give a more particular Account of all the Monarchs who have Reigned in England till His present Majesty King CHARLES the Second whom God preserve WILLIAM the FIRST SIRNAMED THE CONQVEROVR King of England and Duke of Normandy BY bloody Battels Conquest and by Fate Rich Englands Crown and Kingdom I surpris'd I topsie-turvie turn'd the English State And Laws and Customs strange and new devis'd And where I Conquer'd there I Tyranniz'd In stead of Love making the People fear In raising Taxes I was exercis'd And Tributes greater than the Land could bear Yea and the Normans Fame the more to rear The English I forbid the English Tongue French Grammar Schools I instituted here And ' gainst this Nation added Wrong to Wrong At last my Crown Sword Scepter Conquests brave I left I lost and scarce could find a Grave DUke William after the Fight which from that time was called Battel-Field and an Abby of that name built there hastned toward London wasting the Counties of Kent Sussex Surrey Hantshire and Berkshire and crossing the Thames at Wallingford marched through Oxfordshire Bucks and Hartford hire and on Christmas day following was Crowned King at Westminster by the inforced Consent of the English Nobility who with outward Applause though with inward Grief and Discontent acknowledged themselves to be his Subjects the Kentish-men onely excepted by whom as he went to possess himself of the strong Castle of Dover he was intercepted in his March being encompassed by many valiant Soldiers who carrying green Boughs in their Hands seemed to be a moving Wood suddenly environed him and his Followers protesting That rather than they would basely lose their Privileges and be deprived of their ancient Laws and Customs they were resolved every Man to die in the Place The King considering his own Danger and their Resolution consented to their Demands and for their bold and generous Resolution he ever after honoured them with this Preheminence That the Men of Kent should lead the Van in the Field And thereupon the Earldom and Castle of Dover was delivered to King William Now what the Kentish-men obtained by Arms the Citizens of London procured by Art for one William a Norman being their Bishop they so prevailed with him and he with the King that he confirmed their former Charter written in the Saxon Tongue and sealed with Green Wax to this Effect William King greeteth William Bishop and Godfrey Portreeve and all the Burgesses that in London be French and English Friendly And I do you to wit That I will that you enjoy all the Law which you did in the Days of Edward King And I will That each Child be his Fathers Inheritor after his Fathers Days And I will not suffer that any Man any Wrong you offer God keep you King William having thus conquered the Kingdom used several Policies for securing it to himself For presuming that he was obeyed by the Natives more out of Fear than Love 1. He took Hostages of those that were dearest to the English either Sons or Nephews whom he sent into Normandy for securing their Fidelity 2. He deprived the English of all Offices both of Honour and Profit conferring them on his Normans 3 Because the Clergy were much reverenced by the People and concerned themselves in Temporal Affairs he ordained That they should concern themselves onely in Spiritual Matters 4. To take away all Hopes of regaining their Liberty he disarmed all the Natives and left them utterly disabled to make any Resistance 5. To prevent all Concourse or Meetings where they might have opportunity to condole their Miseries especially in the Night he commanded a Bell to be hung up in every Town Village and City to be rung at Eight a Clock every Night at which every Englishman was to put out his Fire and to keep himself within his House 6. To diminish the English Nobility he sent them to fight his Battels in Normandy and if any of them returned Victorious they were much discountenanced in stead of being rewarded The Common People were likewise used in the same manner being still ordered to endure the hottest Service in Fight both in France and Normandy 7. He erected strong Forts and Castles in several places of the Realm commanded by his Countrymen who made the least Crime committed by the English to be Capital to them 8. He deprived the Gentry and Clergy of their Plate and Money yea even that used in Churches alledging That Thieves Traytors and Rebels had hid them there to deceive him of his Forfeitures and support themselves against his Authority 9. He published divers severe Laws in the French Tongue whereby many English of great Estates did ignorantly transgress and the smallest Offences were made sufficient to seise their Estates which were violently taken from them without any Commiseration 10. He declared the Patents Grants and Charters of former Kings to be void and having seised them into his own Hands he sold them again to the true Owners for great Sums of Money which if they could not procure he gave them to his French and Normans 11. He took a general Survey of the Natives Lands and Cattel and then laid unreasonable Taxes upon them not regarding their Cries or Poverty 12. He erected new Courts of Justice for administring his new Laws and caused his Judges constantly to follow his Court that they might never act any thing which should displease him or gratifie the English 13. To give
the freer Access to the French and Normans if the English should rebell he plucked down and ruined Thirty six Churches with many Towns and Villages for many Miles even from Salisbury to the Sea making his New Forest there But this Offence did not escape unpunished for in this very Forest Richard the Kings second Son was goared by a Deer and died William Rufus his third Son was slain by an Arrow shot at an Hart and his Grandchild Robert Curtoyse being in pursuit of the Game was struck by a Bough into the Jaws and died there 14. His chief Pleasure being in Hunting he seised all Chases and Forests of the Kingdom into his Hands making very cruel Laws against such as presumed to hunt in them without License as the loss of Eyes Limbs and the like 15. He gave large Territories and Farms to his Favourites who leased them out to their Slaves and Servants creating them into Mannors and calling themselves Lords thereof He reserved some Tenures to himself whereby his Tenants were obliged to serve him in the Wars or attend his Person to which they were sworn in Publick Courts by which Tenure he disposed of their Heirs in Marriage having Possession of their Estates till they were Twenty one years of age By which Example other Great Lords did the like This was the Model of King William's sharp and severe Government wherein he rather used the Power of an insolent and lawless Conquerour than the Legal Administration of a gracious King whereby he was feared by many but loved by few and such as were most in favour with him were discountenanced upon every slight occasion These violent Proceedings especially in raising such intolerable Taxes occasioned a Rebellion in Devonshire and another in Northumberland the second Year of his Reign but his good Fortune soon suppressed them as it also did the next Year the Invasion of Swanus King of Denmark who was incited thereto by the English that fled thither for Succour from the Cruelty of King William but he no sooner saw them almost e're he made them fly back to their Ships and to revenge the Infidelity of the English he utterly destroyed their fruitful Lands about York and Durham so that the Ground lay waste nine years after and abundance of People died with Want and Famine The next year he summoned a general Convocation of the Clergy wherein he bitterly accused several grave and learned Bishops Abbots Priors and others of many pretended Crimes and Offences for which he absolutely deprived them of their Dignities and Estates which he bestowed on others either for Love or Money These insufferable Acts provoked Marcarus and Edwin the Earls of Northumberland and Mercia with Egilwyn Bishop of Durham to raise an Insurrection But the King quickly drove Edwyn into Scotland Marcarus was taken and imprisoned in the Tower of London where he long continued and the Bishop was inhumanely famish'd to death in Abington Abby At this time great difference arose about the Primacy of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York but at last it was adjudged in favour of the first and York submitted accordingly In his fifteenth year his eldest Son Robert by the instigation of Philip the French King rebelled against him in Normandy which occasioned his Father to go thither with an Army where he was so stoutly encountred that he was unhorsed and in great danger of his Life by his Son unknown but he hearing his Fathers Voice rescued him again and was after reconciled and received Pardon of his Father and the King with great loss returned again to England Soon after William to revenge divers Injuries and Affronts offered him by King Phi ip in Normandy went with a gallant Army into France where finding Odo Earl of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux his Brother by the Mother to hold secret Correspondence with the French King he complained thereof to the Lords whereupon Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury advised the King to commit him to Prison What says the King are you for committing a Clergy-man You need not said Lanfrank commit the Bishop of Bayeux but you may very justly imprison the Earl of Kent Which was done accordingly Sometime before this Pope Hildebrand dying a Magician told Odo That he foresaw he should succeed him upon which Odo having already swallowed the Papacy in thought sent Money the most prevailing Messenger to Rome before-hand and purchased himself a Palace there providing likewise for his Journey thither but King William for his Presumption and other Misdemeanours staid and committed him saying Offensive foolhardiness must be restrained in time While the King was in Normandy he fell sick and the French King hearing his Distemper was in his Belly scoffingly said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed Ah what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church Sure an hundred thousand will hardly be enough King William hearing of this Jest said Well I hope our Cousin of France shall be at no such Cost for after this my Childbirth at my going to Church I will saith he swearing by the Resurrection and Brightness of God find him a thousand Candles and light them all my self Alluding to the Candles that Women used to carry in that Age when they went to be Churched And soon after he performed his Word destroying the People Towns and Cities on the Frontiers of France with Sword and Fire but in burning the City of Mantz he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he got a Sickness which being increased by the Leaping of his Horse burst the inner Rim of his Belly he being very Corpulent of which he soon after died at Roan Upon his Death-bed he said I appoint no Successor to the Kingdom of England but I commend it to the Eternal God whose I am and in whose Hands all things are He much lamented his Severity and Cruelty to the English Nation He was buried in the Abby of St. Stephen at Caen in Normandy though his Funerals were interrupted by a Norman Gentleman who would not permit him to be buried till he had received Satisfaction for that Ground which the Conquerour had unjustly taken from him Thus this victorious Conquerour whose Mind could not be confin'd to one Kingdom while he lived being dead could hardly get a place to be buried in The Charters and Conveyances in his Reign were not so tedious as now adays but very short and plain as appears by this following transcribed out of an Authentick Record I William King the third of my Reign give to Norman Hunter to me that art both leif and dear the Hop and the Hopton and all the Bounds up and down under the Earth to Hell above the Earth to Heaven from me and mine to thee and thine as good and as fair as ever they mine were To witness that this is sooth I bite the white Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery and my youngest Son Henry For a Bow and a broad
Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow He caused a Seal to be made for himself whereon was engraven By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron But on the other side thus By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England In this Kings Reign lived Bevois or Bevis Earl of Southampton who not being able to endure the Oppression of the Normans gathered all the scattered Fragments of Englishmen whom desire of Liberty and hatred of the Conquerour had made willing to joyn with him associating to him likewise the Strength of the Danes and Welch who met at Cardiff in Wales But Success not depending upon Valour being unable to encounter such expert Soldiers as the Normans their Forces were routed and Bevis fled to Carlisle after which no credible Author relates what became of him Tho' the Monkish Writers have been very injurious to his Memory as well as of others who by repeating incredible things concerning them have made Posterity think there was no Truth in any of their Actions His Place of Residence is said to be Dunton in Wiltshire and his Sword was till of late kept as a Relique in Arundel-Castle not equalling in length that of King Edward the Third at Westminster King William left behind him three Sons Robert to whom he gave his Dutchy of Normandy William Rufus and Henry who both successively were Kings of England and one Daughter named Adela He was of an indifferent Stature strong Make and comly Behaviour of a stern Countenance undaunted Courage resolute in Action and quick in Execution He was discreet and Politick in managing his Affairs and Business yet it seems he perceived his own defect in some Cases for want of Learning and did therefore often excite his Sons to learn with this Saying That an Vnlearned Prince is but a crowned Ass Which Speech made such a strong Impression upon his Son Henry that by his Knowledge and Learning he obtained the Name of Beauclark or Fine Scholar King William feasted and hunted much coveted all oppressed the Conquered and still kept his dearest Friends in an awful regard of him He reigned Twenty years and ten months and died in the Sixty fourth year of his Age 1087. WILLIAM the SECOND SIRNAMED RVFVS WHat my Triumphant Father won I held I tax'd and poll'd this Kingdom more than he Great Tributes from my People I compell'd No Place in Church or Commonwealth was free But always those who most would give to me Their Suit obtained whether wrong or right The Clergy I compelled to agree To sell Church-Plate and Chalices out-right Vntil at last by the Almighty's Power My Kingly Force and Strength was Weakness made And all my Glory perish'd in an Hour My Pomp and Greatness vanish'd like a Shade For hunting in New-Forest void of Fear A Subject slew me shooting at a Deer AT the Death of William the Conquerour Robert his eldest Son Duke of Normandy being in Germany William the younger Brother hastned to London in the Company of Morcar and Wilnoth Sons to King Harold both released from Imprisonment in Normandy where soon after by the procurement of Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wolstane who were reverenced by the People and by bestowing many costly Gifts he was soon after made King though most of the Prelates and States were for Robert Soon after Robert by the incitement of Bishop Odo came into England landing at Southampton to regain his Right with a gallant Army of Normans and many French whom King Philip of France had sent to his Aid with whom joyned several of the English But William by his fair Pretences and Promises to repeal the severe Laws and Taxes in his Fathers Reign prevailed with the People to appear for him with whose assistance he regained divers strong Forts and Castles which were seised by the Nobility for the Service of Robert and among others he besieged Rochester-Castle wherein was Odo to the gaining whereof he sent out Orders That all should repair to his Assistance under the Penalty of being accounted a Niding or Coward whereby the People came in such Numbers that the Castle was soon surrendred Odo banished and his Estate forfeited And afterwards Robert out of his peaceable Inclination and to prevent the effusion of Blood accepts of William's Proposals whereby he was to hold the Crown during his Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year and that if he survived he should succeed William in England and so peaceably returns back to Normandy King William having now more surely fixed himself in his Possession of the Kingdom began presently to follow his Fathers Example endeavouring to humble the innate Courage of the English by heavy Oppressions and Impositions and taking it for a Maxim That Riches heightned but Poverty debased the Spirits of Men he laid severe Taxes upon the People which were levied with all kind of despite and cruelty by his ravenous Officers This caused much discontent of which Malcolm King of Scots taking the advantage and being affronted at the English Court he invaded the North Parts with a great Army killing burning and destroying all before him till at last he sate down before a strong Castle in Northumberland valiantly defended by Robert Mowbray the Earl thereof who at last pretending to surrender it and coming out of his Castle-gate well mounted with the Keys thereof fastned to his Lance in stead of delivering them in making low Obeisance to the King in token of Submission clapping Spurs to his Horse he suddenly ran upon the King and with his Lance pierced him into the Eye whereof he immediately died After which by the swiftness of his Horse he made his Escape leaving the amazed Scots to lament their irreparable Loss who returned back to Scotland with their breath'ess King Now Robert Duke of Normandy complaining of the Kings breach of Promise designed to transport an Army to England having again Assistance from the French But William resolving to make an Offensive War abroad raised Forces here with intent to invadeâ— Normandy to the number of Twenty thousand who being ready to imbarque he proposed That whoever would give him 10 s. should be excused from going to Normandy which many willingly did whereby he raised a considerable Sum part of which being privately sent to the French King made him forsake his Ally so that Robert standing alone was soon perswaded to come to an Agreement After which they both joyn their Forces against their youngest Brother Henry who having notice thereof fortified himself in the strong Castle of Mount St. Michael in Normandy which they besieged wherein William was in great danger for some of the Besieged sallying out the King rode against them and was encountred by a Knight who killed his Horse under him and would have killed him too had he not known him by his Voice Whereupon the Soldiers with great respect mounted him on another Horse and he asking furiously who it was overthrew him the Knight stoutly
in a short time from the Holy Land to England where he was joyfully received both by the Peers and People and soon after Crowned King in the One and thirtieth year of his Age at which 500 Great Horses were let loose for any to take that would in honour of so Martial a Prince After the Battel aforementioned wherein Simon Montford Earl of Leicester his Son Henry and many other Lords were stain and the Lady Eleanor his Daughter was banished but kindly received by Philip the Hardy of France thereby to gain the Good-will of many English Lords who being discontented with the last Kings Government were not well pleased with his Son who constantly assisted his Father against them Philip being likewise sensible of the Courage of King Edward to prevent his own danger he secretly incited Lluellin Prince of Wales to rebell promising him likewise the Lady Eleanor in Marriage But Edward having private notice of this Contract and that the Lady was coming over to Wales he intercepted her at Sea and kept her Prisoner upon which Lluellin took the Field with many thousand Men but mean and thievish Fellows On the other side King Edward resolving to make himself terrible to the Welch raised a very formidable Army but Lluellin being sensible or his inability to resist and out of his extreme Love to the Lady submitted himself to the King and made many solemn Oaths of his Fidelity to the King against France and all others whereupon Edward who was inclinable to Mercy freely granted him his Pardon his Favour and his beloved Lady so that all was ended without a drop of Blood But a few years after David his Brother of a mutinous Temper and yet one much in favour with the King persuaded Lluellin to put himself again into Arms and many sharp Conflicts passed between him and Sir Roger Mortimer but at length they were both taken and their Heads sent to the King who caused them to be set upon the Tower of London Yet were the Welchmen so perversely bent to ruine themselves that within a few Months after they twice rebelled but were soon subdued by many terrible Slaughters and severe Executions And because they maintained their Wars more by hiding and shifting among vast Woods and Forests the King caused all the Woods to be cut and burnt down by which means they were reduced to more Civility and applied themselves to Arts and Trades like other Men. In his eighteenth year Alexander King of Scots fell from his Horse and broke his Neck leaving no Issue behind him He had three Sisters the eldest married to John Baliol Lord of Galloway the second to Robert Bruce Lord of Valley Andrew and the third to John Hastings Lord Abergaveny in England These three contended for the Crown losing many Men on all sides and the Country much ruined whereupon King Edward as their Sovereign Lord went into Scotland to compose those Differences and in the end they were all contented to refer themselves to his Judgment by an Instrument under their Hands and Seals Whereupon King Edward chose Twenty Englishmen and as many Scots of good Understanding and Discretion who consulted thereof and upon their Determination he declared John Baliol who had married the eldest Sister to be King who thereupon received the Crown from King Edward and did him Homage for the same And now the French King wrongfully invading the English Territories in Gascoign and Guyen the King to supply his Necessities seised upon all the Plate Jewels and Treasure of the Churches and Religious Houses within the Kingdom being advised thereto by William March Lord Treasurer who alledged That it were better this money should be stirring and according to the Name Currant and go abroad to the Use of the People than to lie rusting in Chests without any Use or Advantage whatsoever The King likewise compelled the Clergy to give one half years Revenue of all their Ecclesiastical Dignities which when they scrupled at affirming That by a Canon lately made at the Council of Lions they were excused from all Temporal Supplies he told them plainly Since you refuse to help me I will also refuse to help you If you deny to pay Tribute to me as your Prince I will deny to protect you as my Subjects And therefore if you be spoiled robbed or murdered expect no Succour nor Defence from me nor mine But to get some Amends they humbly petitioned the King to repeal the Statute of Mortmain or the Will of a Dead Mans Hand which forbad all Persons to give any Houses or Lands to the Church either at their Deaths or before without leave from the King But he resolving never to gratifie them in any thing replied That it was not in his Power without the Consent of a Parliament to make void any Law whatsoever So that they were forced to be contented though with much inward Vexation Having thus fleec'd the Clergy he laid a new Tax upon Wooll and Hides exported out of the Kingdom and required the tenth part of every Mans Estate to be paid him to maintain his Wars He caused the Clergy to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to pay the Pope for the War against the Turks and took up 100000 Quarters of Wheat which he sent to his Armies in Normandy where they fought with doubtful Success sometimes winning and then again losing In his Twenty fifth year 1296. John Baliol King of Scots by the secret incitement of the French King and some others about him sent a proud Defiance to King Edward and a Renunciation of his Fealty and Homage and with a tumultuous Army entred the Northern Borders cruelly destroying all with Fire and Sword Whereupon Edward upbraiding him with his many Favours and Honours received from him resolved to revenge his Ingratitude and with strong Forces marched thither taking the Castle of Berwick with the Slaughter of 25000 Scots He likewise won Dunbar Edinburgh and all other Places of Strength The King of Scots observing no Safety in Resistance humbly submitted himself to the King and surrendred the Kingdom into his Hands who with a strong Guard sent him Prisoner to the Tower of London but with large allowance of Liberty and Attendance and then committed the Government of Scotland to John Warren Earl of Sussex Sir Hugh Cressingham High Treasurer and Wistiam Earnly Lord Chief Justice of that Kingdom Having so happily performed this he then turned his Arms to France who to divert him animated the Scots again to rebell but King Edward resolving not to leave the French if possible without fighting continued still in Normandy sending Orders to the Earl of Northumberland and others to suppress that Rebellion which they did with a very bloody slaughter Upon which the French King perceiving himself disappointed would not venture to engage the English Army but sent honourable Propositions of Peace which were accepted by the King and a general Peace was proclaimed After his return
bad Mind doth a handsom Shape deform So I who was by Blood Descent and Form The perfect Image of a Gallant Prince Because my Vices I did not reform No Faith 's in Face or Shape I did evince My Royal Name and Power a Mock was made My Subjects madly in Rebellion rose Mischief on Mischief still did me invade Oppos'd Depos'd Expos'd Inclos'd in Woes With doubtful Fortune I in Trouble Reign'd At length by Murder Death and Rest I gain'd KIng Edward the Third in his last Sickness created his Nephew Richard Son to the Black Prince deceased Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwal committing the Regency of the Kingdom to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster After his Death Richard the Second of that Name of Eleven years old was Crowned King of England In the whole Course of his evil Government he slighted his Nobility and taxed his Subjects severely to throw it away prodigally upon his ill-deserving Favourites despising the Advice of the Wise and hearkning to the Follies of his young debauched Companions In his first year Charles King of France presuming on his Minority being assisted by the King of Castile landed in England burning the Towns of Plymouth Dartmouth Portsmouth Rye and others on the Sea and would have proceeded further had they not been encountred by the Earls of Cambridge Buckingham and others who beat them back to their Ships At the same time a valiant Scot named Alexander Ramsey at the instigation of the French King with only forty men desperately scaled the Walls of Berwick Castle and finding the Captain and Guards sleeping they took it without blows designing to have taken the Town too but the Inhabitants from the great noise in the Castle suspecting mischief cut down the Stairs of the Drawbridge on the Townside so that when the Scots let it fall the Chains broke and the Bridge fell into the Castle Ditch whereby the Scots not being able to get out were made Prisoners by their own Victory They then endeavoured to fortify the Castle but it was soon besieged and taken by K. Richard's Forces who gave quarter to none but only Ramsey their Captain Soon after the French again landed in England doing great mischief at Dover Winchelsey Hastings and Gravesend where they got much Booty To prevent and revenge these injuries a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein four Pence was laid upon every person above fourteen years old the levying whereof caused a dangerous Rebellion under Jack Straw Wat Tyler John Wall a Factious Priest and others who stiled themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Commonweal of England declaring that all Men ought to be equal in Dignity and Estate as being all the Sons of Adam they marched through several Countreys to London the mean sort of People joyning with them so that they became very formidable committing all manner of Insolencies and making bold demands of the King and the Lord Mayor which so incensed the Mayor that he struck Tyler off his Horse with his Sword where he was killed immediately upon which the Rebels who were above 20000 soon disperst no less than fifteen hundred being Executed for the same with several cruel Deaths and Torments in divers parts of the Realm And thus in an instant vanished this great cloud which threatned the destruction of King and Kingdom In his tenth year the King forsaking the advice of his gravest and most experienced Nobility was perswaded to commit many illegal and disorderly Actions by the Counsel of Michael de la Pool his Chancellor Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Alexander Archbishop of York and Robert Tresillian Lord Chief Justice who without cause exasperated him against the Duke of Glocester his Uncle and the Earls of Warwick and Arundel whom they intended to surprise at Supper if Nicholas Exton Lord Mayor of London would have assisted them But failing herein they resolved to impeach them in Parliament but they being jealous of the Kings intent came thither strongly guarded while they were on their way in a Wood near the Court the King asked the Opinion of several about him what he should do in the case at length he merrily demanded of one Sir Hugh Liun who had been a good Souldier in his days but was now distracted what he would advise him to do Issue out quoth Sir Hugh and let us set upon them and kill every Mothers Son and when thou hast so done by Gods Eyes thou hast killed all the faithful Friends thou hast in England But K. Richard doubting the success of any violent course that Design was defeated and the King demanding a great Tax of four fifteens is not only denied but several misdemeanors of his Government are declared to him and at length Michael de la Pool his favourite is by the Lords found guilty of many offences Condemned Fined and Imprisoned and Commissioners were appointed to examine the Crimes of all the Kings Officers the King taking an Oath not to recal that Commission without consent of Parliament and it was enacted That all those who should perswade the King to infringe the same should for the second offence suffer as Traytors to the King and Kingdom Notwithstanding which this Parliament was no sooner ended but Pool Vere Tresillian and others perswaded him contrary to this Solemn Oath to assemble the Judges at Nottingham where they pronounced the Duke of Gloucester and the thirteen Commissioners and divers others to be guilty of High Treason for compelling the King to ratify the Commission under his Great Seal which Judgment they confirmed under their Hands as agreeable to the Laws of the Kingdom The Truce with France being ended that King sent 1000 Persons of Quality into Scotland who joyning with their Army of 30000 they therewith invaded England committing many violences but hearing King Richard was marching toward them they turned into the craggy Mountains of Wales doing much mischief to the Inhabitants and in the mean time K. Richard entred Scotland with 68000 men burning and destroying Edinborough St. Johnstons Sterling Dundee with many other places and then returned home The Scots and French returning found little or no sustenance by reason of the late ruins so that the Frenchmen were forced to return home without Horses Arms or Money but the Admiral and several Grandees were kept as Pledges by the Scots till the French King had satisfied the losses and damages which they had sustained meerly for his sake upon whose account they entred into this War whereupon he was forced to send what Money they demanded to redeem his Commanders The French King vowing Revenge against the English for these Disgraces prepared a very great Army which he designed to transport into England in a Navy of no less than 1200 Ships Against whom King Richard soon raised vast Forces consisting in above 100000 Men. But all these mighty Preparations soon came to nothing for the French Soldiers in their March toward the Ships committed such horrid
spoil and wast Fathers their Sons and Sons their Fathers slew Vndutiful unkind unnatural This War Now York then Lancaster great grew As Conquest did on either side befal But I the Crown and Scepter still did hold For what by wrong I got by force I wore And Prince of Wales I made my Son so bold But as my greatness still increased more By fatal Fate my Vital Thred was cut And all my Glory in a Grave was put THough by right the Crown of England if K. Richard should dye without issue ought to have descended to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir to Edmond Mortimer by Philip his Wife who was Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of King Edward the third yet his Cousen Henry of Bullingbroke Duke of Hereford and Son and Heir of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the younger Brother of Lionel was Elected and Crowned King For after the Resignation of K. Richard was read openly in Parliament Duke Henry rising from his Seat made his challenge to the Crown as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Edward the third by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent to me and by the help of my Friends for the recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition to be lost through default of Government and breach of Laws After he had thus spoke the States acknowledged him for King and placed him on the Royal Throne though the whole proceedings against Richard were publickly condemned by John Bishop of Carlisle as hateful to God and Trayterous toward their Prince he not having the favour of Thieves and murderers who are try'd by indifferent Judges and condemned after full proof against them But the Bishop had no sooner ended his Speech e're he was seized by the Earl Marshal and committed close Prisoner in the Abby of St. Albans In this Parliament the Crown of England was intailed upon King Henry and his Heirs for ever and the King created his eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester The Parliament was no sooner ended but several of the greatest Lords who pretended most Joy for Henry's advancement conspired to take away his life at a solemn Justs or Triumph at Oxford contr ved for that purpose In this Treason were engaged Edward Plantaginet Duke of Aumerle Son and Heir apparent to Edmond of Langley Duke of York Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and John his Brother Duke of Exeter both half Brothers to King Richard John Montague Earl of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earl of Glocester Sir Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen a Servant to King Richard and in Stature and Countenance much like him All the Conspirators except the Duke of Aumerle met at Oxford at the time appointed with strong Guards who going to visit his Father the old Duke snatch't a Writing out of his bosom wherein the whole Plot was display'd who thereupon made haste to discover it to the King at Windsor but his Son outriding him another way came first just as K. Henry was providing to go and disclosing all received the Kings Pardon who perceiving his danger went presently to the Tower of London preparing to raise a great Army The Conspirators upon this discovery being desperate put Magdalen into Royal Robes affirming him to be K. Richard escaped out of Prison and with great Forces they marched toward London to meet the King who going courageously against them with 20000 Men the common Souldiers were so discouraged that they generally run away and left their Lords who were most of them taken and put to death in several parts of the Kingdom Thus was King Henry delivered from this Danger and to prevent the like for the future he caused King Richard to be murdered at Pomfret Castle as aforementioned When the French King Charles the Sixth Father-in-Law to King Richard heard of his Deposing he sent Letters of Defiance to King Henry and raised an Army-Royal in Picardy resolving to revenge his Wrongs but when he heard certainly of his Death he desisted After this the Welch and Scots made Invasions but King Henry with Fire and Sword soon quelled them Yet the next year the Scots again entred the Northern Borders with barbarous Cruelty but were encountred by Henry Hotspur Son of the Earl of Northumberland with 10000 stout Men who gave them a bloody Overthrow killing above 10000 Scots in the Field and taking above 500 Prisoners and among them the Earls of Douglas Fife Murray and Angus The next year the French King sent 1200 Lords and Commanders to Wales to assist Owen Glendour in his Rebellion but meeting with a Storm twelve of his greatest Ships were cast away with all the Men and Arms and the rest with great difficulty returned to France Which Misfortune caused the English to scoff and scorn the French Kings unprosperous Expedition which so exasperated him that he immediately sent another Army of 12000 Men who landed safely and joyned with 10000 rebellious Welch then in Arms. King Henry being sensible of his own danger if he should make but one false Step presenâ—ly provided a very brave Army and marched with all expedition into Wales which when the Frenchmen had notice of distrusting the fickle Nature of the Welch and fearing they would forsake them in time of danger and fly to their Woods and Mountains like Men amazed they run back to their Ships and cowardly returned to France without effecting any thing upon which the Welch likewise disbanded so that King Henry dissolved his great Army and returned home without Blows In his third year King Henry demanded the Scotch Prisoners taken in the last Battel by Henry Hotspur the Earl of Northumberland Earl of Worcester and others who refused to deliver them alledging That by the Law of Arms they belonged to them upon which great Discontents arose between them For the Piercies resolved to restore their Cousin Edmund Mortimer the true Heir to the Crown and to depose King Henry To which end they first earnestly petitioned the King to ransom him he being taken Prisoner by Own Glendour in fighting for King Henry but the King not granting their Request as not desiring his Liberty caused it to be published That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give some colour for the Treasons the Lords had contrived on his behalf The Piercies being much disturbed at this Proclamation paid his Ransom to Glendour and redeemed him entring likewise into a League with Glendour of mutual Defence and for deposing King Henry and several Scottish Lords joyning with them they raised considerable Forces publishing Six Articles of High Misdemeanours and Misgovernment against King Henry for which they defied him as a Traytor and Usurper and vowed his Destruction King Henry now finding his Crown lay at stake levied a stout Army and first
with divers Torments as Conspirators for delivering the Town to the French which was thus gallantly regained to King Henry The Duke of Exeter Tutor to the Kings Person dying at this time the Earl of Warwick was sent to England to take that Charge and the Renowned Earl of Salisbury with an Army of 10000 Men was sent into France with which he besieged the strong City of Orleance upon the River Loyer which had been lately strongly fortified where after two Months Siege the Earl was slain and the Earl of Suffolk succeeded as General who pressed the Siege so close that the Besieged being hopeless of Succour offered to surrender the Town to the Duke of Burgundy who refused it without the Consent of the Duke of Bedford the Regent who though persuaded thereto would by no means consent since he himself had undergone all the Trouble hitherto This Answer pierced the Duke of Burgundy to the Heart so that from thenceforward his Affections grew cold toward the English and he became a secret Well-willer to the French During this Parley a young Maid of about eighteen years old was presented to the French King at Chinon who pretended she was sent from God to deliver France from the English Bondage and thereupon she was called The Mother of God however she in this extremity was believed by the Common People and being armed like a Man she rides to Blois and in company with the Admiral and Marshal of France enters Orleance with fresh Forces and Provisions which so encouraged the Besieged that they issued out at midnight and fell upon the English staying 600 of them in an instant but assaulting the Bastile where the Lord Talbot was he issued out so courageously that they were forced to fly on every side and with very great Loss hardly escaped into the Town but however the next day the Earl of Suffolk raised the Siege This Deliverance was attributed by the Citizens of Orleance to the Conduct of the Martial Maid who was called Joan of Arc and therefore they erected a Monument wherein she and Charles the Seventh King of France were represented kneeling in Armour with their Hands and Eyes toward Heaven After this the English had very doubtful Success for the next day after raising the Siege the Lord Talbot won the strong Town and Castle of Laval and a few days after the Duke of Alanson with Joan of Arc took the Town of Jargeux and in it the Earl of Suffolk and one of his Brothers Prisoners killing another The Duke of Alanson's Army being newly reinforced to near 20000 Men hapned to meet with the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford who were marching with onely 5000 to fortifie another Town upon whom the French fell with great fury insomuch that the three Lords were taken Prisoners and 1200 of their Men slain the rest flying into the Town Upon this Defeat several Cities Towns and Castles immediately surrendred to the French King who soon after took Rhemes and was there Crowned which gained him a great Opinion and caused many more Places to be delivered to him and then attempted to take the City of Paris but by the Valour of the English were repulsed and defeated The Duke of Bedford observing the Success which followed upon the Coronation of King Charles caused King Henry likewise to be Crowned at Paris in the Tenth year of his Age and Reign having been Crowned two years before at Westminster About this time a Truce was concluded for Six years which yet lasted not Three And now the Duke of Bedford's Lady who was Sister to the Duke of Burgundy dying soon after her Brother forsakes the English and joyns with the French King which was followed with the taking of St. Dennis and within two years after the Regent died and was buried at Roan whereat the Citizens some years after complained to Lewis who succeeded Charles but the King publickly protested That he deserved a more sumptuous Sepulchre who in his Life-time scorned to stir a Foot back for all the Power of France and that there was no greater Sign of Baseness and Cowardice than to insult over those when dead whom they durst not withstand while alive The French King now proceeds victoriously and Joan of Arc afore-mentioned accompanying the Duke of Alanson takes in many Towns and endeavouring to raise the Siege of Champaigne they enter the City in despite of the English but afterward sallying forth their Troops were beaten and Joan her self taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of 10000 l. and 300 Crowns a year delivered her to the English who sent her to the Bishop of Bevoirs in whose Diocess she was taken by whom for Sorcery Blood-shed and unnatural use of Manly Apparel she was burnt to death at Roan Many Opinions were held of her Some thought her miraculously raised for the Deliverance of France others that she was a Cheat and Impostor and her Epitaph seems to infer the same Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question Wrong or Right Her Death 's in doubt by Law or Might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean while France a Wonder saw A Woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore After the death of the Noble Regent the valiant Duke of Bedford Richard Duke of York succeeded in his room to the great regret of Edmond Duke of Somerset the Kings Cousin which occasioning private Hatred made way for publick Mischief For soon after the City of Paris revolted and divers others followed that Example At this time Queen Katherine the Kings Mother died who after the King her Husbands death married a handsom Gentleman named Owen Tudor who though of mean Estate yet was descended from Cadwallader the last King of tâ—e Brittains by whom she had two Sons Edmund and Jasper the eldest of whom was by King Henry the Sixth created Earl of Richmond and married Margaret sole Heir to John Duke of Somerset on whom he begot Henry the Seventh In a little while the Duke of York is removed and the Earl of Warwick is put in his Place by the Council of England and from henceforth the Affairs in France succeeded worse every day which was occasioned by the Wisdom of the French Nobility who grew sensible of their miserable Divisions and now united against the English Another Reason was the unhappy Marriage of the King with Margaret the Daughter of Reyner King of Sicily a poor Prince so that he had nothing with her and which was worse King Henry was obliged by the Articles of this Marriage to give to her Father all his Right and Title to the Counties of Anjou and Mayn which bordered upon Normandy
with several other Christian Princes against the Infidels in the Holy Land being fortunate in all his Proceedings save onely in his Succession to the Crown for his Success was so great there that he was freely offered to be made King of Jerusalem which he as generously refused By reason of his Absence his youngest Brother Henry without the least trouble or difficulty ascended the English Throne with the universal Approbation of the Nobility and Commons whose Inclinations were the stronger toward him because he was born in England after his Father was Crowned King and from the great Opinion they had of his singular Vertues Learning and good Temper Yet before his Coronation the Nobles obliged him to swear That he would ease the People of the great Taxes and many other Pressures under which they suffered which he accordingly performed After he was Crowned for the better ensuring his Estate and Title against the Claim of his Brother Robert he freely distributed the great Treasures left by King William among those who upon all Occasions he judged would stand by his Interest He dignified the Wealthy with high Offices and Titles of Honour He abated the Rigour of the New Laws and promised restitution of their old Privileges He regulated Weights and Measures bringing them all to one Standard He freed the People from the heavy Tribute of Danegilt and from all other unjust Taxes and Payments imposed by the former Kings He gave liberty to the Nobility and Gentry to enclose Parks and Chases with Game for their Recreation He banished from his Court all Flatterers as Traytors to his State and Government and all Luxury Sumptuousness in Apparel and Superfluity in Diet he utterly discountenanced He ordained That Thieves and High-way Robbers should be punished with Death With all manner of diligence and Application he endeavoured to reform the monstrous Pride intolerable Covetousness and extreme Sloth and Negligence of the Clergy He recalled Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury from Banishment and restored him to his Bishoprick giving him full Power to call Convocations and Synods at his Pleasure for regulating the intolerable Abuses of the Church yet leaving to the Pope his Authority to invest Bishops by giving them the Ring the Pall and the Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesiastical Dignities and Revenues which his Brother by the lewd Advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham had seised into his Hands he freely conferred upon Grave and Learned Persons and committed Reynulph Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he afterward escaped and earnestly invited Duke Robert who was now returned with great Honour from the Holy Land to recover the Kingdom with his Sword who thereupon raised a great Army with a Design to transport them to England In the mean time Henry having by his Proceedings endeared himself to his People confirmed them now further by marrying Maud Sister of Edgar King of Scots and Daughter of Malcolm by Margaret his Wife Sister to Edgar Atheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Soon after Duke Robert arrived with his Army at Portsmouth many English joyning with him and great Expectations and Fears arose of a bloody War but by the discreet Mediation of Friends to both Sides a loving Agreement was concluded upon almost the same Conditions as with William Rufus namely That Henry should enjoy the Crown during Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year Whereupon Robert returned back to the great discontent of his own Nobility Afterward Robert returned again to England to congratulate his Brothers good Fortune where he was Royally entertained and at the Request of his Sister Queen Maud he forgave the Payment of the Three thousand Marks a year Yet after a while the Ambition of Dominion caused Henry upon some slight occasion to quarrel with his Brother which proceeded so far that he went over to Normandy with an Army where being assisted by many of the Duke's discontented Nobility and Gentry he so prevailed against Robert that he took the Cities of Roan Caâ—n and Valois from him who being forsaken of all fled from one Place to another to secure himself King Henry returning victoriously into England and Robert perceiving that his Lords and People had utterly forsaken him and refused their Assistance and Henry's Strength and Riches increasing he came privately into England and presented himself to his Brother referring himself and all his Concerns to his own Determination But the King either knowing the Inconstancy of the Duke or being prepossessed by some Whisperers that he did not intend uprightly turned from his distressed Brother with a scornful and disdainful Countenance refusing to accept of this his humble Submission The Duke being struck to the Heart returns back to his own Country resolving to die like a Man in the Field but Henry soon routed his weak Forces and brought him Prisoner into England committing him to Cardiff Castle in Wales where endeavouring his Liberty his Eyes by Henry's Command were put out after which he lived miserably Twenty years and was buried at Glocester About this time Robert Belasme Earl of Shrewsbury raised a Rebellion but being soon vanquished he fled into Normandy where finding William of Mortaigne and Cornwal who was offended with the King for keeping from him the Earldom of Kent he soon perswaded him to raise another Insurrection and joyning their Forces they designed great matters but were presently routed by the King's Forces and kept Prisoners during their Lives The King being now freed from fear of Enemies resolved to take the same Advantages his Predecessors had done as to the Investiture of Bishops and taking vacant Bishopricks into his Hands whereat Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was so displeased that he refused to Consecrate such new Bishops as had received their Investitures from the King But Girald Archbishop of York freely performed it upon the King's Command Hereupon Anselm went to complain at Rome and prevailed at last against the King by a Synod of the Clergy held at London Three years after Anselm died and King Henry seised the Revenues of his Bishoprick into his Hands which he kept five years and if at any time he were intreated by the Bishops to bestow it he still answered That he onely kept it for an able and sufficient Man Having enjoyed a few years of Peace he was again rowsed out of it by Lewis the French King who joyning with Fulk Earl of Anjou and Baldwyn Earl of Flanders they all made great Preparations for Invading the Dutchy of Normandy But Henry raising an Army of valiant Commanders and Soldiers landed there and soon engaged with them in Battel which continued nine hours with so great fury on each side that though King Henry won the Field and chased his flying Enemies a long way yet he would often say That he then fought not for Victory but Life Quickly after a Reconciliation was made between these four Princes and William King Henry's eldest Son
to him so long as he kept his Covenants with them and preserved their Rights whereby he acknowledged his Right to the Crown to proceed from their Election To confirm himself in his Dignity he proceeded by the same Method as Henry bestowing his Uncles Treasure freely upon such as either by Arms or Counsel might be useful to him He created several Noblemen He released the People of all extravagant Payments causing a large Charter to be drawn up for mitigating the Severity of divers Laws and bound himself by a solemn Oath to observe the same He granted to the Church and Clergy as great Immunities as they could demand and fully exempted them from the Power of the Temporal Magistrate for all Offences whatsoever without the Bishops Licence And to prevent Rebellions he erected many Castles Forts and Bulwarks in divers Parts of the Land and gave leave to the Nobility Gentry and Clergy to do the like He gave David King of Scots and Uncle to Maud the Empress because he should not assist her the whole County of Cumberland and created his Son Henry Earl of Huntington Notwithstanding which David soon after ravaged the Northern Parts with Fire and Sword in her Quarrel but being encountred by Thurstan Archbishop of York he was overthrown and hardly made his Escape into Scotland leaving above Ten thousand of his Army dead behind him which Victory was judged to be chiefly occasioned by the Courage and Policy of Thurstan who before the Battel openly proclaimed That whoever fell therein should have full Pardon of all his Sins and certainly enter into Heaven which much spirited the English In his sixth year Maud the Empress landed at Arundel in Sussex with onely an hundred and forty Men and was quickly inforced with the English who joyned with her and her base Brother Robert Earl of Glocester and Reynulph Earl of Chester with a stout Party of Welchmen Stephen made all expedition to meet her and a bloody Fight began with equal Success till at length King Stephen's Soldiers left their King almost alone who with his Battel-ax drove back whole Troops of his Enemies and afterward renewed his Assaults till his Sword flew in pieces when being now disarmed he was taken and carried to Bristow-Castle where he continued about three Months and was at last set at liberty in exchange for the Earl of Glocester who was taken Prisoner by King Stephen's Queen This Earl Robert was one of the most valiant Men of that Age he had one Stephen Beauchamp to his Servant whom he made his onely Favourite to the great dislike of all the rest of his Followers And being one time very much endangered in a Battel he called to some of his Company for help but one bitterly replied Call to your Stephen now to help you Pardon me pardon me said the Earl In matters of Love and Wenching I make use of my Stephen but in Martial Affairs I wholly depend upon your Courage and Valour After this Victory Maud the Empress was triumphantly received into Circeter Oxford Winchester and London but refusing to ratifie King Edward's Laws and remit some severe ones which she harshly denied the Londoners contrived to seise her which she having notice of fled suddenly to Oxford where Stephen presently close besieged her who despairing of holding it she and her Followers escaped by clothing themselves in white Linen in a great Snow and so passed unknown to the Sea and got away The Empress being once in the Castle of the Devizes was there in great hazard likewise whereupon she caused her self to be put into a Coffin as though dead and bound fast with Cords and so like a dead Corps she was carried in a Horse-litter to Glocester and soon after being weary of these continual Troubles she went into Normandy King Stephen presently seised all the Castles which were kept by the Barons against him to gain which the sooner it is related he used this Course Having taken the Bishop of Salisbury he put a Rope about his Neck and so led him to the Castle of the Devizes held by his Followers threatning to hang their Bishop and Master if they did not immediately surrender The like he did by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln who held another Castle upon Trent which was thereupon delivered and the King seised all the Treasure and Goods to his own use These Troubles being over the Kingdom for some years enjoyed Peace but Henry called Shortmanâ—le eldest Son to Maud by Jeffry Plantagenet married Eleanor the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Poictou who had lately been divorced from Lewis the Seventh King of France after she had brought him two Daughters So that Henry was now Duke of Normandy in the Right of his Mother Earl of Anjou by Descent from his Father and Earl of Poictou in Right of his Wife by whom a while after he had likewise the Earldom of Tholouse Prince Henry by the invitation of several of the English Nobility and others was much encouraged to come into England and recover his Right especially since Stephen and Eustace his onely Son did now endeavour to take in the Castles of several Nobles whom they judged to be for Henry's Interest who accordingly landed with a considerable Army King Stephen likewise gathered a very equal Strength to encounter him Both Armies lay near each other and some went between them every day In the mean time Eustace the King's Son by mischance was drowned though others write That being in a rage he set fire to some Corn-fields belonging to the Abby of Bury because the Monks denied him Money and afterwards sitting down to Dinner at the first Morsel of Bread he put into his Mouth he fell into a Fit of Madness of which he died The King though extremely grieved for the Death of his Son yet began to hearken to Terms of Peace and at length he adopted Prince Henry to his Son proclaimed him Heir Apparent to the Crown the Nobles doing Homage to him at Oxford and gave him many Gifts assuring him of his Friendship By this Agreement Arms were laid aside and Peace succeeded the Prince with his Followers returning into Normandy where they were joyfully received But King Stephen being afflicted with the Iliack Passion and with his old Distemper the Hemorrhoids died the next year at Dover 1154. and was buried at Feversham in Kent though his Body was afterward thrown into the River for covetousness of the Lead wherein it was wrapped having reigned Eighteen years and ten months And by the Succession of Henry the Saxon Blood was again restored to the Imperial Crown of this Realm HENRY the SECOND King of England Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain Lord of Ireland TO th' Empress Maud I was undoubted Heir And in her Right my Title being just By Justice I obtain'd the Regal Chair Fair Rosamond I did debauch with Lust For which Heavens Justice hating Deeds unjust Stirr'd up my Wife and Sons to be my Foes Who strove to lay
and much weakned the Kings Army so that soon after all Aquitain was lost Another Cause was the horrid Murder of the innocent Duke of Glocester for the King being of a mild patient and virtuous Temper and the Queen on the contrary of a proud politick revengeful Humour despised the soft Disposition of her Husband and could not endure that the King being now of full Age should be any longer under a Governour and to that end was resolved to dismiss the good Duke of Glocester from his Protectorship being much encouraged therein by the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of Suffolk the rich Cardinal of Winchester and the Archbishop of York and a Parliament being called the Duke of Glocester by their procurement was arrested and committed to Prison for High-Treason and the next morning was found dead in his bed and judged by all to be barbarously murdered And now the Duke of Tork secretly conspired with his accomplices to set up his Title to the Crown and the Duke of Suffolk ruling all used several oppressive methods against the People whereby no man nor money was raised for France and the Counsel not able to manage any thing to the honour of the King either at home or abroad so that in a short time all Normandy was lost for which the Duke of Suffolk was accused in Parliament and committed to the Tower but the Queen suddenly dissolving the Parliament restored him again to favour yet afterward upon the importunity of the Commons he was banished for five years but being taken by an English man of War as he was sailing to France they landed him at Dover and cut off his head on the sands whereby the innocent blood of the Duke of Glocester was in some measure revenged When the English had thus lost France a French Captain scoffingly asked an Englishman when they would return again to France who seriously replied when your sins shall be greater and m re grievous in the sight of God than ours then shall the English again Conquer France It has been observed that from the Reign of King Edward the first to this time which was about two hundred years there was an extraordinary concurrence of martial men prudent Counsels and excellent conduct so that this Nation was renowned throughout the Christian World but why they did all afterwards decay must be left to the learned to discuss The Duke of York being sent into Ireland to suppress a Rebellion there and hearing how matters went both in England and France began to declare his right to the Crown as being descended from Philip Daughter and Heir of George Duke of Clarence elder Brother to John of Gaunt great Grand-Father to Henry the sixth these things being whispered by the Duke of York's friends and Allies in England and likewise that the Kings understanding was weak the Queen proud and ambitious and the Council base and treacherous and that all France was lost because of the usurpation of King Henry it caused great dissatisfactions in the minds of the People upon which Jack Cade calling himself John Mortimer made an insurrection in Kent and with a rude multitude marched toward the King then at Greenwich sending a Message that he intended no harm to his Royal Person but would only displace some of his evill Councellors who were great oppressors of the People the Queen soon raised an Army to suppress them but they were defeated by Cade who marched to London and did much mischief but the Kings General Pardon being Proclaimed his followers left him and Jack Cade was slain fighting for his Life This cloud being past a greater suceeded for many of the Nobility and Commons hating the ill Government of the Queen and her adherents sent for the Duke of York from Ireland the chief of his friends being the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Devonshire Salisbury Warwick and the L. Cobham who concluded to raise an Army to remove the Duke of Somerset from the King and Queen as a deceiver of the King a friend to his enemies and the chief occasion of the loss of France the King fearing the worst likewise raised an Army but to take away all pretence he committed the D. of Somerset to the Tower upon which the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came privately to Court where he found the Duke of Somerset with the King by whose procurement the Duke of York was committed some few days Prisoner but being again at Liberty he made fresh complaints of the disorders of the Government and the Duke of Somerset and strengthning himself with the power of the chief of the Nobility he caused Somerset to be arrested for High-Treason on the Queens great Chamber from whence he was sent to the Tower but was presently after released and made Captain of Callice Upon which the Duke of York again lâ—â—ieth an Army and was met by another on the Kings part at St. Albans where a bloudy battle was fought above eight thousand and among them the Duke of Somerset being slain and King Henry taken Prisoner and brought to the Duke of York who used him courteously and having called a Parliament at London the Duke of York was made Protector of the Kings Person the Earl of Salisbury Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Norwich his Son Captain of Callice who managed affairs to the general satisfaction of the Nobility and People but the Duke of Buckingham having lost his eldest Son and the new Duke of Somerset his Father resolved upon revenge and joyning with the Queen they called a great Councel at Greenwich by whose Authority the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury were removed from the Government the Queen designing by all means to cut them off of which the Duke of York being sensible resolved now to maintain his claim to the Crown in the open Field and to that purpose raised an Army but his intention being discovered too early to the King he fled with his youngest Son to Ireland his eldest Son the Earl of March got to Callice where he was joyfully received from whence returning by the incouragement of several of the Nobility and landing at Sandwich in Kent he soon gathered an Army of Twenty five thousand men with which he met the Kings forces at Northampton where after a furious fight the King was routed with the loss of ten thousand men and himself taken Prisoner The Duke of York having notice of this Victory returns suddenly to London from Ireland where a Parliament being called in the Kings name the Duke sitting down in the imperial Throne in the House of Lords in an eloquent speech declared his right to the Crown whereupon after mature deliberation it was enacted by both Houses That King Henry should retain the name and honour of a King during life that the Duke of York should be proclaimed Heir Apparent of the Crown and to be a present Lord Protector of the Realm and that if King Henry or any of his confederates should
Fitz-Harris were hanged at Tyburn July 2. The E. of Shaftsbury was committed to the Tower one Stephen Colledg a Joyner was likewise sent Prisoner thither and a Bill being brought against him to the Grand-Jury at the Old Bayly they returned it Ignoramus a while after he was sent to Oxford and found guilty of High-Treason committed there for which he was there executed Novem. 24. a Commission issued out for the Tryal of L. Shaftsbury at the Old Bayly but the Grand-Jury brought in the Bill Ignoramus July 12 13 14. 1683 Willam L. Russel Thomas Walcâ—t William Hoâ—e and John Rous were endicted and condemned for High Treason the L. Russel was beheaded in Lincolns-Inn-Fields and the others executed at Tyburn Decem. 7. Algernon Sidney Esquire was beheaded on Tower-hill upon the same Account June 20. 1684. Sir Thomas Armstrong was hanged and quartered upon an Outlawry for High-Treason James Holloway likewise executed some time before at Tyburn upon the like Outlawry for High Treason The Names of the Principal Officers Civil and Military in England 1684. The Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council 33. Lord A. Bishop Canterbury Lord Gilford Lord Keeper E. of Radnor L. President Mar. Hallifax L. Privy Seal Duke of Ormond Duke of Albemarle Duke of Newcastle Duke of Beaufort Marquess of Winchester Earl of Lindsey Earl of Arlington Earl of Oxford Earl of Huntington Earl of Bridgwater Earl of Peterborough Earl of Chesterfield Earl of Sunderland Earl of Clarendon Earl of Bath Earl of Craven Earl of Ailsbury Earl of Nottingham Earl of Rochester L. Viscount Faulconbridge Lord Bishop of London Lord Dartmouth Henry Coventry Esq Sir â—â—oline Jenkyns Knight 〈…〉 Ernle 〈…〉 Chichely 〈…〉 L.C. Justice Sidney Godolphin Esq Edward Seymour Esq The Great Officers of the Crown 9. L. High Steward of Engl. L. Keeper Lord North. L. High Treasurer at present in Commission L. President E. of Radror L. Privy Seal Mar. Hallifax L Great Chamberlain Earl of Lindsey L. High Constable Earl Marshal D. of Norfolk L. High Admiral at present in Commission His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State 2. Earl of Sunderland Sidney Godolphin Esq Officers of His Majesties Houshold Ecclesiastical 3. Dean of the Chappel Lord Bishop of London Clerk of the Closet Lord Bishop of Durham L. Almoner L. B. Rochester Civil 9. L. Steward D. of Ormond L. Chamberlain E. Arlington Master of the Horse Duke of Richmond Treasurer Lord Newport Comptroller L. Maynard Cofferer Lord Brounker Master of the Houshold H. Bulkly Esq Clerks of the Green-cloth Sir S. Fox Sir W. Boreman Clerks Comptrollers Sir Win. Churchill Sir R. Mason Gentlemen of the Bed chamber E. of Bath first Gentleman and Groom of the Stole Duke of Newcastle E. of Dorset and Middlesex Earl of Mulgrave Duke of Albemarle Earl of Lindsey Earl of Oxford Earl of Arran Lord Latimer Earl of Sussex Earl of Rannelagh Earl of Litchfield Earl of Rochester Vicechamb H. Saville Esq Keeper of the Privy Purse Baptist May Esq Treasurer of the Chamber Edward Griffen Esq Surveyor-General of His Majesties Works Sir Christopher Wren Master of the Robes belonging to His Majesties Person Hen. Sydney Esq Master of the Jewel-house Sir Gilbert Talbot Master of the Ceremonies Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Wardrobe Ralph L. Mountague Master Falconer Duke of St. Albans Clerks of the Council Sir J. Nicholas Kt. of the Bath Sir Philip Lloyd Sir Thomas Dolman Francis Gwyn Esq Masters of the Requests Sir Charles Cotterel Thomas Povey Esq Sir William Glascock Charles Morley Esq Clerks of the Privy Seal Sir Charles Bickerstaff John Matthews Esq Thomas Watkins Esq John Richards Esq Clerks of the Signet Sir John Nicholas Kt. Bath Sidney Bere Esq Nicholas Morice Esq Dr. William Trumbull Kt. Marshal Sir E. Villiers Usher of the Black Rod Sir Thomas Duppa Serj. Porter Sir H. Progers Military Capt. of the Band of Pensioners E. of Huntington Lieut. Fra. Villiers Esq Standard-bearer Sir Humphrey Winch. Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard L. Viscount Grandison Lieut. Tho. Howard Esq Ensign H. Dutton-Colt Esq Clerk of the Check Charles Villiers Esq The Judges and Principal Officers of Justice 12. Of the Kings Bench. Sir Geo. Jeffreys Kt. Bar. L. C. Justice of England Sir Francis Withens Kt. Sir Richard Holloway Kt. Sir Thomas Walcot Kt. Of the Common Pleas. Sir Tho. Jones L. C. Justice Sir Hugh Windham Kt. Sir Job Charlton Kt. Sir Creswel Levinz Kt. Of the Exchequer Will. Mountague L.C. Baron Sir Edw. Atkyns Kt. Sir William Gregory Kt. Sir Thomas Street Kt. Of the High Court of Chancery Fra. L. Guilford L. Keeper Sir Harbottle Grimston Master of the Rolls The Eleven Masters in Chancery Sir John Coell Kt. Sir W. Beversham Kt. Sir Samuel Clark Kt. Sir Edward Low D. L. Sir Miles Cooke Kt. Sir Lac. Will. Child Kt. Sir John Hoskins Kt. Sir John Franklyn Kt. Sir Adam Otley Kt. Sir Robert Le Gard Kt. Sir James Astrey Kt. Sir R. Sawyer Attorny Gen. H. Finch Esq Sollicit Gen. The Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Chancellor Sir T. Chichely Vicechancell Sir J. Otway Attorney Gen Sir J. Heath Receiver Gen. Sir J. Curson Auditors J. Fanshaw Esq Edw. Webb Esq Clerk Cheek Gerard Esq The Chief Officers of His Majesties Revenue The Commissioners of the Treasury Earl of Rochester Sir John Ernle Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Edward Deering Bar. Sir Stephen Fox Kt. Sydney Godolphin Esq And under these Lords The Commissioners of the Customs Charles Lord Chene Sir Dudley North Kt. Andrew Newport Esq Sir Richard Temple Baronet Sir Geo. Downing Kt. Bar. Sir Nicholas Butler Kt Commissioners of the Exciseâ— and Fire-Hearths Sir Denny Ashburnham Bar. Francis Parrey Esq Robert Huntington Esq Charles Davenant Esq John Friend Esq Felix Calvert Esq Nath. Horneby Esq Patrick Trant Esq William Bridge Esq Treasurer Sir Cornw. Bradshaw Kt. Commissioners for Wine-Licences Henry Deering Esq William Young Esq John Taylor Esq Michael Brighouse Esq Robert Ryves Esq Commissioners of Appeals for Excise Robert Spencer Esq Charles Fanshaw Esq Sir Paul Neal Kt. George Dodington Esq Edward Seymour Esq Of the High Court of Admiralty The Commissioners for Executing the Office of L. High Admiral of England Earl of Nottingham Sir Thomas Meers Baronet Sir Humphrey Winch Kt. Sir Edward Hales Baronet Sir John Chichely Knight Henry Saville Esq Arthur Herbert Esq Vice-Admiral of England Duke of Crafton Rere-Adm Ar. Herbert Esq Judge of the Admiralty Sir Leoline Jenkyns Treasurer of the Navy L. Falkland Comptroller Sir Richard Haddock Surveyor Sir John Tippet Clerk of the Acts James Southern Esq To whom are joyned these Commissioners Sir John Narborough Kt. Sir Phineas Pett Kt. Sir Richard Beech Kt. Sir John Godwin Kt. Constable of the Tower of London Lord Allington Lieutenant of the Tower Thomas Cheek Esq Master of the Ordinance Lord Dartmouth Lieut. Sir Chr. Musgrave Surveyor of the Ordnance Sir Bernard de Gome Kt. Treasurer Cha. Bertie Esq Clerk of the Ordnance
Sir Edward Sherburne Kt. Storekeeper W. Bridges Esq Keeper of the Records in the Tower Sir Alg. May. Kt. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Wards whereunto each long Above the Chair Sir Henry Tulse Kt. Lord Mayor Breadstreet Sir W. Turner Castle Baynard Sir W. Hooker Cornhil Sir Robert Vyn r. Langborn Sir J. Edwards Candlewick Sir John Moor. Walbrook Sir W. Pritchard Bridge without Below the Chair Sir Ja. Smith Portsoken Sir R. Jefferies Cordwainer Sir W. Rawstern Limestreet Sir J. Peake Billingsgate Sir T. Beckford Aldgate Sir J. Chapman Towerstreet Sir Si. Lewis Bassishaw Sir Jo. Reymond Bishopsgate Sir Dud. North. Faringdon without Pet Rich Esq Aldersgate Sir P. Daniel Sheriff Bridge within Sa. Dashwood Esq Sheriff Cheapside Sir B. Bathurst Cripplegate Sir J. Buckworth Colemanstr Sir Ben. Newland Vintry Jacob Lucy Esq Dowgate Ch. Duncomb Esq Broadstreet Pet. Paravicini Esq Queenhith B. Thorogood Esq Faringdon within Recorder Sir Tho. Jenner Chamberlain Mr. Ailworth Com. Serjeant H. Crisp Esq Townclerk W. Wagstaff Esq Vicechamberl J. Lane Esq The Colonels of the Six Regiments of the Trained Bands of London The Red Sir R. Vyner Green Sir Ja. Edwards Yellow Sir John Moor. Blue Sir Will. Pritchard Orange Sir Ja. Smith White Sir John Peake Post master of England E. of Arlington and under his Lordsh P. Froud Esq His Majesties Lieutenants of the several Counties of England Berks Duke of Norfolk Bucks Earl of Bridgwater Bedford Earl of Ailsbury Bristol Duke of Beaufort Cheshire Earl of Derby Cumberland E. of Caâ—lisle Cambridge Lord Alington Cornwal Earl of Bath Devon Duke of Albemâ—rle Dorset Earl of Bristol Derby Earl of Devon Durham L. Bish of Durham Essex Duke of Albemarle Glocester Duke of Beaufort Hereford Duke of Beaufort Hertford E. of Bridgwater Huntingdon E. of Ailsbury Hampsh E. of Gainsborough Kent Earl of Winchelsea Lancashire Earl of Derby Leicester Earl of Rutland London L Mayor and the Lieutenancy Lincoln Earl of Lindsey Monmouth D. of Beaufort Middlesex and Southwark Earl of Craven Norfolk Duke of Norfolk Northampt. E. Peterborough Northumberl D. Newcastle Nottingham D. Newcastle Oxford Earl of Abingdon Purbeck Isle D. of Beaufort Rutland E. of Gainsborough Suffolk Earl of Arlington Surrey Duke of Norfolk Shropshire Visc Newport Stafford Earl of Shrewsbury Somerset D. of Somerset Sussex Earl of Dorset To wer Hamlets L. Alington Worcester E. of Plymouth Warwick E. of Sunderland Wilts Earl of Pembroke Westmorland E. Carlisle North and South-Wales Duke of Beaufort East Rid. York D. Somerset West Rid. E. of Burlington North Rid. V. Faulconbridge Vnder these are Deputy-Lieutenants who are most of the Principal Gentlemen of each County The Officers of His Majesties three Troops of Horse Guards The Kings Troop Captain Duke of Albemarle Lieutenants Aston Esq Edw. Villiers Esq Edw. Griffin Esq Cornet Sir Walter Clerges Guidon Major Binns The Queens Troop Captain Sir Philip Howard Lieutenants Sir Geo. Hewit Sir John Fenwick Cornet Charles Orby Esq Guidon Ph. Darcy Esq His Royal Highness's Troop Captain Earl of Feversham Lieutenants Colo. Worden Colonel Oglethorp Cornet Philip Darcy Esq Guidon Major Edm. Meine The Kings Regiment of Horse under the Earl of Oxford Lieut. Col. Aubrey E. Oxford Major Sir Francis Compton The Foot Guards The Kings Regiment Colonel Duke of Grafton Lieut. Col. John Strode Esq Major William Eyton Esq The Coldstream Regiment Colonel Earl of Craven Lieut. Col. E. Sackville Esq Major John Huitson Esq His Royal Highness's Regiment Colonel Sir Ch. Littleton Lieut. Col. Ol. Nicholas Esq Major Richard Baggot Esq The Holland Regiment Colonel Earl of Mulgrave Lieut. Col. Sir Tho. Ogle Major Windram Esq Governors of Countries Islands Cities Towns Forts and Garrisons Barbadoes Sir Ric. Dutton Bermudos Sir Hen. Heydon Berwick D. of Newcastle Carlisle Lord Morpeth Chepstow Duke of Beaufort Chester Sir Geof Shakerley Dover and Cinque-Ports Col. John Strode Gravesend and Tilbury Sackville Tufton Esq Guernsey Visc Hatton Holy Island Sir J. Fenwick Hull Earl of Plymouth Hurst Castle Ireland Duke of Ormond Jersey Island Sir J. Lanier Jamaica Sir Tho. Lynch Languard Fort Sir R. Manly Leeward Islands Sir Will. Stapleton St. Maws Sir Jos Iredenham Maryland Lord Baltimore New Engl. H. Cranfield Esq New York Col. Dungan Pensylvania Mr. Will. Penn. Pendennis Cast L. Arundel Plymouth and St. Nicholas Island Earl of Bath Portsmouth E. Gainsborough Sandown Cast Sir A. Jacob. Sherness Sir Cha. Littleton Scilly Isâ— Godolphin Esq Scarborough Cast Sir Tho. Slingsby Surat Jo Child Esq Presid Tinmouth Sir Ed. Villiers Virginia L. Howard of Effin Upnor Cast R. Minors Esq Isle of Wight Sir R. Holmes Windsor Castle Constable Duke of Norfolk General Officers Commissary General of the Musters H. Howard Esq Pay-master Gen C. Fox Esq Secretary at War William Blathwayte Esq Judge Advocate Clarke Esq His Majesties Consuls in several Parts of the World Alicant Tho. Jefferies Esq Alexandria Mr. Browers Aleppo Mr. G. Nightingale Argiers Mr. Sam. Martin Bayon Mr. Jo. Westcomb Barcelona Seignior de Roca Cadiz Sir Martin Westcomb Canaries Mr. Rich. Owen Carthagena Mr. Hen. Petit. Cyprus Mr. Sauvaâ— Genoa Mr. John Kirk Lisbon Tho. Maynard Esq Legorn Sir Tho. Dâ—reham Maâ—aga Jam. Pendarvis Esq Marseilles Mr. Rob. Lang. Messina Mr. Ch. Ball. Naples Mr. Geo. Davies St. Sebastian Mr. Morgan Sevil Tho. Rumbold Esq Smyrna Mr. Will. Raye Tunis Mr. Fr. Baker Tripoly Mr. Rich. Baker Venice Mr. Jo. Hobson Zant Mr. Pendarvis The Names of the Nobility Lords Spiritual and Temporal Knights of the Garter and Deans of the Kingdom of England 1684. Dukes and Dutchesses James D. of York and Albany onely Brother to His Sacred Majesty Henry Howard D of Norfolk Cha. Seymour D. of Somerset Geo Villiers D. of Buckingham Chr. Monck D. of Albemarle Jam. Scot D. of Monmouth H. Cavendish D of Newcastle Barbara D. of Cleveland Lovisa de Querovalle D. of Portsmouth Cha. Lenos D. of Richmond Ch. Fitz Roy D of Southampt Hen. Fitz Roy D. of Grafton James Butler D. of Ormond Hen. Somerset D. of Beaufort Geo Fitz Roy D. Northumberl Ch. Beauclaire D. St. Albans Marquesses Cha. Paulet M. of Winchester Geo. Saville M. of Hallifax Earls and Countesses Aubrey de Vere E. of Oxford Cha. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey E. of Kent Will. Stanley E. of Derby John Manners E. of Rutland Th. Hastings E. of Huntingd. Will. Russel E. of Bedford Tho. Herbert E. of Pembroke Edw. Clinton E. of Lincoln James Howard E. of Suffolk Charles Sackville E. of Dorset and Middlesex James Cecil E. of Salisbury John Cecil E. of Exeter Jo. Egerton E. of Bridgwater Phil. Sidney E. of Leicester Geo. Compton E. of Northampt. Edw. Rich E. of Warwick and Holland W. Cavendish E. of Devonsh Wil Fielding E. of Denbigh John Digby E. of Bristol Gilb. Holles E. of Clare Ol. St. John E. of Bolingbroke Cha. Fane E. of Westmorland C. Mountague E. of Manchest Tho. Howard E. of Berkshire Jo. Sheffield E. of Mulgrave Tho. Savage E. of Rivers