killing the Watch. And now the noble Earl of Warwick Dying the Duke of York a second time was made Regent of France yet the French by Encroachments and Revolts of many Towns encouraged when their Courage failed by one Joan of Arc a Martial Maid who pretended she was sent by Heaven to assist her Bleeding Country and indeed Leading the French Troops she did many brave Exploits till taken by the English after she had received many Wounds they tryed her and burnt her for a Witch tho' great Ransoms were offered for her by the French and this they the rather did not only for that she beat them off from the Siege of Orleance and worsted them in many Skirmishes but because the French conceived a superstitious confidence that whilst she Lived their Proceedings would be successful and prosperous Yet both Potentates in the End on the French recovering Ponthois growing weary of so tedious a War that had wasted their People and Treasure a Conference was appointed at Callice and here they often consulted about Peace but in conlusion adjourned the Negotiation because King Henry's Demands were looked on as unreasonable in Three Points viz. 1. In regard of the great Ransom demanded for the Duke of Orleance 2. For that the peaceable and quiet possession of the Dutchies of Aquitaine and Normandy were required without any Homage or Soveraignty acknowledged to the Crown of France 3. For that the surrendering and yielding up into King Henry's hands all such Cities Towns Forts and Territories in France as the English had at any time enjoyed within the space of thirty Years past was required However tho' the Parley was dissolved yet the Duke of Orleance being brought to Calice tho' King Henry the Fifth on his Death-Bed had commanded he should not be Ransomed he was Ransomed by the Duke of Burgundy and Honourably convey'd to the French Court And now to make way for Calamities at Home as well as Misfortunes Abroad a Quarrel arose between the Cardinal of Winchester and Duke of Gloucester for the Duke being Protector of the Realm making Complaints against the Cardinals Acting many things contrary to the Interest of the King and Kingdome without any Warant or making the King Acquainted with it The Cardinal in Revenge procured the Dutchess of Gloucester to be accused of Sorcery and Witchcraft holding correspondence with Witches to take away the King's Life and tho' most believed there was nothing at all in it yet the Cardinal being backed by the Clergy procured her upon groundless suggestions to do publick Penance twice in the City of London and to be doomed to perpetual Imprisonment and the better to colour the matter some who were pretended to be her Associates suffered the Flames After the refusal of some other Matches as the Earl of Arminack's Daughter c. King Henry by the means and procurement of the Earl of Suffolk Bribed by the French King Married the Lady Margaret whom he received by Suffolk his Ambassador at the Hands of the French King and Reyner her Father Duke of Anjou Titular King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem tho' with her he had little or no Dowry which made the Match be much disliked by the Nobles and Commons Yet for this Service the Earl was created Duke of Suffolk and stood high in the Queen's favour and they soon found means to dismiss the good Duke of Gloucester from his Protectorship after he had a long time faithfully Served the King and Kingdom And soon after the deposed Protector by the contrivance of his Grand Enemies was Accused in a Parliament assembled by the Queen in the King's Name at Bury of High Treason and committed to the Tower where the next day he was found dead in his Bed to the great Grief of almost all the Kingdom as being a Pious Valliant and Virtuous Prince it was generally concluded he was Smothered for no Wound was found about him But God was not slow in requiring his Blood at the hands of those that were undoubtedly the contrivers of his fall for upon the removal of this great and beloved Statesman Richard Duke of York found an open way to thrust in and set up his pretensions of Title to the Crown making himself strong in Friends and Treasure the better to carry on his designs So that being now Intent on his own Advancement he grew carless of his Command which turned greatly to the advantage of the French for the Truce no sooner expired but they came strongly prepared into the Field and making three Armies took in divers little Towns and this success emboldened them that holding secret correspondence with the Inhabitants of Roan in Normandy they drew an Army before that City whereupon the Citizens compelled the Earls of Sommerset and Shrewsbury to Surrender the place having leave to depart to Caen with all their Goods Soon after Hareflew and divers other places were lost A Rebellion about this time breaking out in Ireland the Duke of Sommerset was made Regent or Lieutenant in Normandy and the Duke of York sent over to quell the Irish Rebells which he easily effected But this dividing weakening the English Strength the Kings Army in Normandy was Overthrown and Caen Lost and soon after all Normandy and now Divisions happened at Home for the Duke of Suffolk the Queens Favourite being Envied by the People they were Instigated by the Duke of York and his Faction to make many grievous Complaints against him upon the miscarriages in Government whereupon he was to please them colourably committed to the Tower yet had his Liberty at will which so Incensed them that making a Fellow their Captain nicknamed Blewbeard they fell into Rebellion but were soon Quelled and some of their Ringleaders Executed the rest were Pardoned Hereupon the King and Queen thinking to reconcile all Differences a Parliament was called but contrary to their expectation the Commons craved Justice on the Duke of Suffolk and upon his Associates viz. James Fines Lord Say and Treasurer of England John Bishop of Salisbury and some others whereupon he was Banished for Five Years but as he Sailed for France being way laid he was taken by an English Man of War brought to Dover and had his Head Choped off on the side of the Ship 's Boat supposed to be done by the Duke of York's contrivance yet he was not Lamented by any but the King and Queen because it was verily supposed he had a hand in the Duke of Glocester's death And now the Duke of York though in Ireland did by his Agents here stir up a Rebellion among the Plebeans whose Ringleader was Jack Cade who falsly Named himself John Mortimer right Heir to the Crown but the King's Forces dispersed them many being Slain and Cade being Proscribed and a Thousand Marks set on his Head it was soon after brought to the King The Duke of York being defeated in this by the Advice of his Friends returned out of Ireland without the King's leave and consulting with
Years before the birth of our Saviour it was given by Ethelbert the Saxon King of Kent to Austin the Monk and his Companions and in their time the Cathedral was Founded in which Eight Kings of Kent lie Buryed It suffered greatly by the Fury of the Danes especially in the Reign of Ethelred when 4200 of its Inhabitants were slain Here King John and his Queen Isabela were Crowned King Henry the Third and King Edward the First Married Edward the Black Prince Henry the Fourth and Queen Joan were Interred here and the Cathedral was long famous in Superstitious times for Pilgrimages made to visit the Shrine of St. Thomas of Becket a Popish Saint and Martyr slain at the Altar in the Reign of Henry the Second Rochester formerly called Roffchester as Builded by one Roff Lord thereof is a very pleasant City it was destroyed by the Danes and suffered much after Rebuilding by two dreadful Fires in the Reigns of King Henry the First and King Henry the Second it has in it many fair Churches and leading to it a curious Arched Bridge of Stone Maidstone a flourishing Town situate on the Medway for a meer Town is reputed the handsomest and best of Trade in all the County Feversham is of great Antiquity very pleasant and commodious in its situation in it King Stephen and Queen Maud were Buried Dover is renowned for its Castle said to be Built by Julius Caesar at his second Landing Queenborough Castle was Built by Edward the Third At Wye J. Kemp the learned Arch Bishop of Canterbury was Born Greenwich is famous for its Park and stately Palace and near it is the New Hospital founded for Decayed Merchants Horstead took its Name from Horsus one of the first Saxon Invaders Tunbridge is famous for its Medicinal Waters and the great resort to its Wells The Seats of the Nobility are Knobl belonging to the Earl of Dorset Penhurst to the Earl of Leicester Bocton-Malberb to the Earl of Chesterfield Hoathfield and Sylom to the Earl of Thanet Chenvening to the Earl of Sussex Lingstead Lodg to the Lord Tenham Leeds-Castle and Grenway-Court to the Lord Culpeper Alington-Castle and Maidstone Place to the Lord Astly Bromly-House the Bishop of Rochesters seat CHAP. X. The Saxons Re-Entry upon the failure of Succession in the Danes and what happened during the Reign of those Kings till the Conquest made of England by William the Norman Conqueror The Reign of Edward called the Confessor Nineteenth Sole Monarch of England EDward commonly stiled the Confessor being arrived in England was received by the People with great demonstrations of Joy and that Flattering Earl of Kent possessed him that he was the chief Instrument of his Restauration tho' indeed like a stanch Courtier he Sailed with all Winds usually adhering to him who was most powerful for certain it is that Leofrick the Earl of Chester moved the Estates on Edwards behalf urging his Right to the Crown as being the true Heir descended from the Antient Saxon Kings under whom the Nation had enjoyed its Rights and Priviledges without Infringments or Invasion He urged his Fathers Merits and the Battels he had Fought against the Danes in the defence of the English Nation and many other things So that they generally concuring with him Edward was Accepted and Crowned at Winchestor by Edsine Arch Bishop of Canterbury yet Goodwin so far insinuated into his favour that he took Edith his Daughter to Wife a very virtuous Lady much affecting a Religious Life so that Ingultus Abbot of Crowland who flourished in her time makes a large Encomium on her Learning Wisdom Humility Modesty and Behaviour In the beginning of this Kings Reign new Troubles arose the Danes Irish and Welsh in a manner all at once Invading the Kingdom doing great Mischief and destroying all before them with Fire and Sword but being met by Alfred the Martial Bishop of Worcester he gave them a great Overthrow In the fifth Year of his Reign there fell so great a Snow in January that covering the Ground and being of a prodigious deepness and continuing so till the middle of March much Cattle and Fowl perished for want of Food And the January following a terrible Earthquake happened causing the Ground to Open in divers places overthrowing many stately Buildings destroying much People and Cattle also at the same time such fearful Lightnings happened That the new sprung Corn was Burnt up whereupon a Dearth ensued and many dyed of Hunger Malcolm the true Heir to the Crown of Scotland flying into England to avoid the Fury of Mackbeth a Bloody Tyrant who had slain the King and Usurped the Kingdom Edward aided him with 10000 Men under the Leading of Syward Earl of Northumberland who by the Mothers side was Grandfather to the Young Prince who Besieging Mackbeth in his Castle of Dunsinane and he attempting to Escape was slain by Maskduff Sheriff of Fife whose Wife and Children Mackbeth had cruelly Murthered and soon after by the Valour of the English Malcolme Sirnamed Conmer was placed in the Scots Throne making a strict League with King Edward and paying him 10000 Marks for the charge of the War After this he Banished Goodwin and his five Sons for being Turbulent in the Government and endeavoring to raise Commotions but about two Years after they were Recalled and received into Favour and Goodwin being one day at Dinner with the King the Cupbearer coming in got a slip and had like to have spilt the Wine but as one Legg failed he recovered with the other and saved both the Wine and his Credit whereupon the Earl of Kent Jestingly said I see one Brother hath helped the other This suddainly puting the King in mind how by his Treachery his Brother Alfride was slain by Harrold the Dane In a heat replied And so would my Brother Alfride have helped me if Goodwin had not been The Earl perceiving the Kings anger which he little expected at that time thinking to excuse himself of so notorious a crime took a piece of Bread and wished it might Choak him if he were any ways concerned in Betraying the Prince into the hands of Harrold and accordingly his Wish was answered for putting it into his Mouth it stuck in his Throat so that it could not be got upwards nor downwards by which means he was Suffocated and Dyed before he could be well removed from the Table which I the rather remark That it may stand as a dreadful warning to all the Rash Imprecators or Evil Wishers of our Age being a Sin too often practised on trivial occasions and I am apt to fear frequently as false in many matters as this of the Earl of Kents which pulled down Gods immediate Judgment upon him and hastily snatched him out of the World The King soon after this falling into displeasure with Queen Emma his Mother abridged her of her Dowry and got her accused of Adultery when by the Law then called Ordealium she was Tryed in the following
times the beating of a Drum is heard and People say it is usually the Alarm or Forerunner of Wars or Changes of Government and indeed before the late Revolution it was for many days together heard very plain It has a very fine Church a Free-Sohool and an Almes-House Peterborough is famed for its Building and the curious Work of its Cathedral It is seated as Northampton and Oundle are on the River Nen. At Higham Ferries was Born Henry Chichely Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the Reign of Henry the Sixth who Founded All Souls Colledge in Oxford Edgcot on Danes Moor near this place a Bloody Battle was Fought Anno 1469 between Robin of Risdale and Sr. John Coniers against William Herbert Earl of Pembrook the Lord Rivers and others At Fotheringay Castle Mary Queen of Scots was kept a long time Prisoner and at last Beheaded in it The other Towns of Note are Towcester Daventree Wellingborough Kettering Brabrook situate mostly on pleasant Streams that branch in all parts of this County At Wellingborough are Medicinal Waters upon the account of which Queen Mary the First Lay there for several Weeks In the midest of the River Nen South of Peterborough is a deep Gulf so Cold in the Summer no Swimmer is able to endure it yet never Frozen in the Winter The whole County is pleasantly sprinkled with Woods and Tufted Groves wherein great store of Hares shelter The Seats of the Nobility are Grafton Regis a seat of the late Duke of Grafton Burghly Worthorp and Wakerly belonging to the Earl of Exeter Apethorp and Sewlhay Lodg to the Earl of Westmerland Brayton Luswick alias Lowick Thrapston and Sudborow to the Earl of Peterborough Althorp to the Earl of Sunderland Dean to the Earl of Cardigan Winwick to the Earl of Craven Holdenby to the Earl of Feversham Kerby to the Lord Viscount Hatton Baron of Kerby c. Astwell to the Lord Ferrers Easton Mauit to the Lord Grey Boughton and Barnwell Castle to the Lord Montague Rockingham Castle Warmington and Stoke Albony to the Lord Watson Stean to the Lord Crew Peterborough-Pallace and Castle to the Lord Bishop of the Diocess Besides these there are many stately Houses of the Gentry that give a curious Prospect to most Roads in the County The Reign of King STEPHEN THough King Henry thought he made the Crown of England and Dutchy of Normandy sure to his Daughter Maud and her Issue yet for a whole Reign it was debarred from them for Stephen Third Son to Stephen Earl of Bloyce by his Wife Adilicia or Alice Third Daughter to Willian the Conquerer having insinuated himself into the Favour of the leading Nobles Sailed for England and Landed at Whit-Sand Bay with whom came a wonderful Tempest attended with Thunder and Lightening He was Crowned at Westminster on the 26th of December Anno Dom. 1135 by William Corbell Arch Bishop of Canterbury and so well was he Instructed in the former Examples That by Wisdom and Policy he laboured to lay a sure foundation for his Advancement and because Riches are the Sinews and Strength of the Strongest Kings he therefore to Enrich himself seized on the Treasure of the Deceased King and Bountifully disposed of it to such as either by Arms or Council were most likely to stand him in stead he also created sundry Noblemen and Dignified many others with the Honour of Knighthood which made him find many fast Friends and because benefits received are more frequently pleasing to the Vulgar than Right or Reason to ingratiate with the Common Sort he remitted several Taxes of â—hose Grievance they had complained in the latter end of the last Reign but could have no Redress causing the better to confirm this Concession a Charter to be made to the People under the Great Seal for an Assurance of his not Revoking what he had consented to he also made a Mitigation of the Severeties and Penalties of divers Laws and by Solemn Oath bound himself to Observe and Keep the same he likewise Renounced the future Seisures of all Ecclesiastical Dignities and Promotions when they should become Vacant the better to Endear the Clergy to him giving to the Church and Church-men such Graceful and Profitable Priviledges and Immunities as they would demand exempting them among other things from the Authority of the Temporal Magistrate for all Offence whatsoever unless the Ordinary consent to give them up to the Secular Power And to prevent suddain Disturbances that might arise he Builded many Forts Fortresses Bullwarks and Castles Licensing the Nobles Gentry and Clergy to do the like for their Security And to keep fair with David King of Scots who was Unkle to Maud the Empress he gave him the County of Cumberland to hold it in Fee of the Crown of England and do Homage for it when he should be so required and Created his Eldest Son Henry Earl of Huntingdon yet this sufficed not that restless King for soon after he entered England in the Empresses Quarrel and laid many Towns and Villages Waste but being Encountered by Thurston Arch Bishop of York he was Overthrown and flying into Scotland left about 10000 of his Men Dead behind him Nor were the Welsh less troublesome tho' he had Banished Baldwin D' Redvers for Rebelling against him but greatly infested the Western Parts whereupon an Army was sent and gave them Battel but by the Negligence of the Commanders for want of due order the English were put to the Rout and many Slain tho' more taken Prisoners many of which were lead away by the Welsh-women and so great a number were Drowned by the fall of a Bridge over Tweed That a Passage was made over the Water with their Dead Bodies In the Sixth Year of this Kings Reign the Empress Maud being accompanied by her Brother-in-Law Robert Duke of Glocester Landed in England with an Army which as it Marched was much encreased by the comming in of many English and soon after joyned by Randulph Earl of Chester with a Body of Welsh hereupon the King reposing no confidence in delay but Experience advising him that time would be the chief enabler of his Adversaries Success he Levied a strong Army and Marched against them so that a cruel Fight with equal hopes was Fought for many hours between them but at length the common Souldiers on the Kings part striving faintly rather endeavouring to save themselves than to defend their Prince they at last betook them to Flight and left him with a few Nobles and Gentry yet with his Battel-Ax in his Hand like an enraged Lion he stoutly maintained the Combate Slaying many of the Enemy till at last being surrounded and in vain demanded to yeild he made a War himself against whole Troops till being beaten down with a weighty Stone cast on him at a distance he was taken Prisoner and carried to Bristol Castle where remaining about three Months he was exchanged for the Duke of Glocester who in the mean while was made
Market Towns and 5 Rivers Isis which gives an additional name to the Thames into which it falls is very much Celibrated in Antient Story It sends Members to Parliament 9 viz. Oxford City 2 the Vniversity 2 Banbury 1 New Woodstock 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire The Antient City of Oxford is renowned for many remarkable things as being the Place of Meeting of divers Parliaments and holding out many Sieges Here Maud the Empress was Besieged by King Stephen and all in White got by Night over the Thames on the Ice This Place King Charles the First made his chief Head-Quarters during the Civil War till it was taken by Sr. Thomas Farfaix King Richard the First was Born here Its Churches are 13 besides the Cathedral most of them very Stately It is Watered almost round and is supplyed within the City by many Conduits on one of which is the Figure of a Queen Riding on an Ox in Brass But the greatest Ornament of Oxford is its being a Vniversity and for the stateliness of its Colledges their Liberal Endowments and the Number of Scholars contained in them it is not except by its Sister Cambridge to be parallelled in the whole Christian World Of the Number of its Colledges the time of their Foundation and their Founders take the following Account An Account of the Colledges in Oxfond 1. University Colledge was founded by King Alfred Anno 872 for 12. Fellows besides other Students 2. Baliol Colledge was founded Anno 1262. by John Baliol and Devorgilla his Wife Parents of John Baliol King of Scots for 12. Fellows c. 3. Merton Colledge was founded Anno 1274. by Walter de Merton Lord High Chancellour of England and Bishop of Rochester This has 19 Fellows 14 Scholars c. 4. Exeter Colledge was founded Anno 1216. by Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter for 23. Fellows c. 5. Oriel Colledge was founded Anno 1337. by King Edward II for 18. Fellows 12 Schollars c. 6. Queens Colledge was founded Anno 1340. by Robert Eaglesfield B. D. for 15 Fellows besides other Students of the Foundation 7. New Colledge was founded Anno 1375. by William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord High Chancellour of England for 70 Fellows 10 Chaplains 3 Clerks 16 Choiristers c. 8. Lincoln Colledge was founded Anno 1420. by Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln for 15 Fellows c. 9. All-Souls Colledge was founded Anno 1437. by Henry Chicheley Arch Bishop of Canterbury for 40 Fellows besides Chaplains Clerks and other Servants of the Foundation 10. Magdalen Colledge was founded Anno 1459. by William of Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester and Lord High Chancellour of England for 40 Fellows and 30 Scholars besides Chaplains Clerks Choiristers c. 11. Brazen-Nose Colledge was founded Anno 1515. by William Smith Bishop of Lincoln and Richard Sutton Esq for 20 Fellows besides Scholars and Students of the Foundation 12. Corpus Christi Colledge was founded Anno 1516. by Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester and Lord Privy Seal for 20 Follows 20 Scholars besides Chaplains and Clerks c. 13. Christ-Church Colledge was founded Anno 1546. by King Henry VIII for 8 Canons and 100 Students besides Chaplains c. 14. Trinity Colledge was founded Anno 1555. by Sir Tho. Pope for 12 Fellows 12 Scholars and other Students 15. St. Johns Colledge was founded Anno 1557. by Sir Thomas White Merchant Taylor of London for 50 Fellows c. 16. Jesus Colledge was founded Anno 1572. by Queen Elizabeth for 16 Fellows 16 Scholars and other Students 17. Wadham Colledge was founded Anno 1613. by Nicholas Wadham and Dorothy his Wife for 15 Fellows and 15 Scholars c. 18. Pembroke Colledge was founded Anno 1620. by Thomas Teisdale Esq and Richard Wightwick B. D. for 15 Fellows and 11 Scholars c. The Seven Halls are Glocester Edmund St. Alban Magdalen Hart and S. Mary Hall besides New-Inn In all which Colledges and Halls there are fair Chappels and Libraries But amongst these is the most famous Bodlean Library which for choice Books and rare Manuscripts falls little short of the Vatican Here is also that curious Piece of Architecture called the New Theater built for Scholastick Exercises with a fair Printing House by Dr. Sheldon a late Arch Bishop of Canterbury The Musaeum built at the Charge of the Vniversity for the Improvement of Experimental Knowledge especially in Physick with a Laboratory furnished with all sorts of Furnaces and other Materials for Chymical Practice a Store-Room for Preparations and another Room fitted up for a Chymical Library In the Musaeum is also to be seen a curious Repository The publick Physick Garden deserves also to be mentioned here for its Stateliness and infinite Variety of choice Plants The Number of Students in Oxford is rickoned to be 3000 whereof 1000 live upon the Revenues of the Colledges In this City was formerly a famous Castle but now of no great Strength being mostly used for a Prison It has several Bridges about it but one more specially of Stone curiously Arched and is a Place of considerable Trade Woodstock was a long time the Country Retirement of our Kings here it was that Henry II built a sumptuous Bower for fair Rosamond his Paramour here Edward the Black Prince was Born and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer Educated At Islip King Edward the Confessor was Born the other Towns of Note are Banbury Chipingnorton Charlbury Bampton Henly on Thames c. Near Evisham in the South of this County are erected Stones called Rol Richstone in the nature of those on Salisbury Plain but not so big which Fabulous Stories have rendered to have been Men Transformed into Stone but most certain they are a Monument of a great Battel fought there by Rollo the Dane near Oxford is the Well Dripa whose Waters distil from a Rock that hangs over it very Medicinal There is store of Oaker Fullers-Earth and Gipsum at Shot-over Garsington and Whitney and Tobacco-Pipe-Clay and Vmber is found near Blanden Cerulam or Native Blue near Blonds-Court the Tera Lapidosa the Colour of Turkish Rusma is found in the Quarries about Tame the Gold-gritty Clay at Hampton Gay The Seats af the Nobility are Cornbury belonging to the Earl of Clarendon Blechington to the Earl of Anglesey Caversham to the Earl of Craven Dichley and Les Rest to the Earl of Litchfield Ricot and Chesterton to the Earl of Abingdon Broughton Shutford and North Newton to the Lord Viscount Say and Seal Water-Eton to the late Lord Lovelace Cuddesden the Bishops Palace There are fine Parks in this County stored with Deer and many large Woods wherein abundance of Hares shelter The Seats of the Gentry are not a few so that put together it is a very fine Inland County Watered in some parts by the Thames c. The Reign of King HENRY the Third AFter the untimely Death of King John Henry his Eldest Son being but Nine Years of Age was Crowned at Gloucester in the presence of
Earl of Bristol Hinton St. George Court of Ewick Lenn Court and Walton to the Lord Paulet Connington to the Lord Clifford Wells Palace and Banwell to the Bishop of Bath and Wells Bristol Palace to the Bishop of Bristol With divers Houses of the Gentry pleasantly Sighted c. The Reign of EDWARD the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor EDWARD upon the offer of the Crown to him in his Fathers Life time not being Fifteen Years of Age refused it with Tears and Detestation till Mortimer and the Queen his Mother by Threats and Perswasions wrought him to some compliance nor then would he yeild to be Crowned till his Father had Resigned nor then till he was made sensible by some faithful Counsellors it was the only way to secure the Life of the Deposed King and the Crown in the Right Line For many feared that Mortimer being great with the Queen and high in her favour would find some means to rid her of her Husband and by Marrying her place the Diadem on his own Head for which reason he ever after hated that aspiring Lord and laboured to Revenge the Indignity and Death of King Edward the Second which in time he in some measure did in the Execution of Mortimer as will hereafter appear In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Scots denounced War against England thinking to make their Advantage in the Kings Minority but he tho' Young being of a Martial Spirit scorned to be outbraved whereupon he raised an Army of 50000 valiant Men and Marched into Scotland chasing the Scots from place to place who nowhere durst appear in the Field in any Number and having seized several Towns and Castles and finding his Soldiers tired out in following through Woods Marshes and over Craggy Hills he resolved to return which he did and assembled his Parliament at Northampton in which the two Executed Spencers and Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had been put to Death by the Londoners were Attainted of High Treason and all their Goods Lands c. Seized into the Kings hands and then the King by the direction of his Mother and Mortimer concluded a dishonourable Peace with the Scots releasing them of their Homage Fealty and Service due from that Kingdom to the Crown of England and delivered up the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their Late King and of the Nobility of Scotland testified their Tenure and Subjection to the Kings of this Realm After that he Married his Sister to David Son to Robert Bruce and created Mortimer Earl of March at which the Generality of the Nobility were exceedingly disgusted Mortimer upon his new Advancement to Honour and relyance on the Queens favour tho' he found the Nobles were not in his Interest bore it with a higher hand than formerly and perceiving Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Unkle stood most in his way and crossed his aspiring he and the Queen so laboured with the Young King That infecting him with a Jealousie that the Earl had Designs upon his Life and Crown which being backed by false Witnesses he â—dvisedly gave way to Articles that were suggested â— brought in against him so that by Mortimers Creaâ—es he was found Guilty and Beheaded to the great â—ef of all True Englishmen being a Person of singular â—lour a great Statesman Prudent and Virtuous but â— Blood so Treacherously spilt was not slow in â—ying for and procuring Vengance for the King â—ing made sensible of a familiarity between Mortimer â—d his Mother more than was decent and much to â—er dishonour by being got abroad among the Vulgar â—using many scandalous Reports he would not howâ—ver lightly believe it yet one time being assured she â—as at Mortimer's Castle he with a resolute Band of â—is Followers privately in the Evening entered a back â—way and seizing such Servants as he met to prevent â—iscovery went by the direction of one of them to â—he Chamber where the Queen Lodged and there â—ound her in Bed and Mortimer undressing in order to â—leep with her This so exasperated the Young King â—hat calling him Trator and Villain he seized him with his own hands and delivered him to the Guards he not offering to resist or call for help tho' he had a far greater number of Attendants in the Castle than the King brought with him and being Committed to Prison free liberty was given for any that would to Exhibit their Complaints against him which were summed up in the following Articles 1. That he had wickedly contrived and procured the Murther of the Kings Father 2. That by his false Accusations and sinister Counsels he had caused the King to take away the Life of his Vnkle who was truly Noble Religious Devout Honest and a strong Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That too familiarly he conversed with Queen Isabel the Kings Mother to her just Reproach and the dishonour of the King 4. That he received of the Scots a Bribe of 20000l for which he procured the Kings Retreat out of Scotland and the Releasment of his Signory and Homage due for that Kingdom 5. That he had deceitfully couzened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasury converting the Monies and Profits to his own use and behoof For these Wicked and Treasonable Practices he was Tryed and Condemned and afterward Hanged at Tyburn where he remained Hanging unpittied for two Days And in a little time after the King abridged the Queen his Mother in her Dowry allowing her but 1000 l. per Annum restraining her within a certain Limit In the Fifth Year of the Kings Reign Philip D' Valois who Succeeded Charles in the French Throne required him to come over and pay Homage and Fealty for his Dutchey of Guyan and accordingly he went and was kindly entertained till he refused to do it by any more Ceremony than Words but that not being Accepted he returned to England and upon a Second Summons sent it in Writing under the Great Seal which was not looked on as sufficient yet this submission displeased the English Nobility who told him he ought not to pay any Homage for as much as the Crown of France in Right of his Mother properly belonged to him and thus stated his Title viz. Isabel was Daughter to Philip the Fair Son to Philip the Hardy That Philip the Hardy the Queens Grandfather had two Sons viz. her Father who was King and Charles D' Valois who was also King after him Philip the Fair had three Sons all which Dyed without Issue Male he had also a Daughter which was this Isabel Married to King Edward the Second and that Charles D' Valois the Second Son of Philip the Hardy was Father to Philip D' Valois who then Reigned in France and although by the Salique Law of France Women are barred to Rule yet King Edward being a Male of the Elder branch ought to take place before a Male of the Younger though coming by a
Forces raised an Army and Invaded England wasting all before him till he came to Newcastle on Tyne which he closely Besieged when 40 resolute Men of the Garison resolving to surprise him in his Tent ventured in the Night time into the midst of the Scots Camp and though they missed of him because he had that Evening removed his Tent yet they seized the Earl of Murray and brought him Prisoner to the Town which so Terrified the Scots that they soon raised their Siege and Marched farther into the Countrey taking the City of Durham putting all to the Sword they found in it but as they passed by the Castle of Roxbourough that was kept by Sr. William Montague Brother to the Lord Montague Earl of Salisbury then Prisoner in France wherein was the Earls admirable Beautious and Virtuous Lady he Sallied with Forty Horsemen fell in the Rear of the Scots Army kill'd about 200 and took 20 Horses Laden with the richest Spoiles they had taken at Durham Whereupon the Army faced about and Besieged the Castle which was manfully Defended for a long time when fearing it would be taken the Governour when all others refused it broke through the Scots Camp singly on a swift Courser and carried notice to the King of the Distress it was in who hasted to its Relief The terror of whose approach made the Scots raise their Siege a day before he could arrive there yet was he entertained by the Countess of Salisbury in the Castle with great Thankfulness Duty and Respect and was so taken with her exceeding Beauty That he earnestly sued for Enjoyment but the Virtuous Lady first with mild and kind Entreaties and afterward with quick and nipping Reprehensions strove to make him see his own Error but such was his desire her denials so peremptory and resolute That discontentedly he left her and cashiered his Army so returning to London he proclaimed great Feasting and Sports to Recreate his weary Warriers to which resorted divers out of Foreign Nations and in the Justings Sr. John Beaumont was unluckily Slain And after this was finished a Parliament was called wherein he created his Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales and had four Fifteenths of the Laity and three of the Clergy given him towards â—he support of the War certain Lords and others being appointed by Parliament to see it was employed to no other use and the Year following to encrease desire of Martial Glory in his Nobles and Others according to the Custom of other Countries he ordered an Order of Knighthood which he called The Order of the Garter Some say from the Countess of Salisbury's droping her Garter in a Dance which the King taking up and seeing some of his Nobles smile he said HONISOIT QVI MALY PENSE that is Evil be to him that Evil thinks vowing ere long such honour should be done to that Silken Tye that the best of them should be proud of it and this has eversince been the Motto on the Garter incircling the Arms of England he confined the number to 26 of which himself and his Successors were to be Soveraigns stiling them Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter The Rights and Ceremonies of this Order were Yearly to be Solemnized with Princely Magnificence at the Castle of Windsor where their Atchievements are to be seen in St. George's Chappel many Officers belonging to and attending on these Knights on the Ceremonies of their Installment Soon after this he Levied an Army and sent it under the Leading of the Earl of Derby into Gascoine where he won many Towns Castles and Forts And about this time one Jaques Dartwell a Fleming who from a low condition had raised himself to the highest Command and Power among the People that ever any Man had before him by whom he was esteemed as the only Patron of their Country labouring with the Flemish Lords to gain their consent for the Deposing Loys their Earl as a Fool and unfit to Govern and to place Edward the Black Prince Son to Edward King of England in his stead the Popular Tide suddainly turned upon him from Love to mortal Hatred and though he was warned to shun the danger yet going to his House at Gaunt not doubting but the Storm would blow over and that their former Love to him could not be altogether so soon extinguished but might in time revive yet no sooner had he entered into the House but it was Besieged by the common sort railing at him and reviling him in bitter terms so that thinking by his Authority to appease their Rage he spake to them from a Window but their clamour drowned his Voice and Sticks and Stones flew about his Ears in Numbers soon after they broke in and in a barbarous manner Murthered him This one displeasing fact out-ballancing all the good deeds he had done for that Country through the greater part of his Life in Fighting their Battels and often saving them from apparent Ruin so little stress is there to be laid on popular Greatness and Applause And by this tampering King Edward lost many of his Friends the Flemings altogether enclining to the French Interest who before were at his devotion and several of the German Princes fell off and withdrew their Forces Yet these his Misfortunes so little availed to discourage him that he resolved to pursue his Right with his own Strength and hearing soon after that John Eldest Son to the French King had Besieged the Castle of Aquillon in Gascoyn with 10000 Men which was Nobly Defended by the Earl of Pembrook and Sr. Walter Manney he with 14000 Men laid Siege to Harflew which he Took and gave the spoiles to his Soldiers which were very great He likewise Sacked Cheirburg Mountborough Quarentine and the Castle belonging to it and over-run all Normandy greatly enriching his Army and then pitched his Tents before the City of Caen in which were the Earls of Tankervile Ewe and Guyens and with little loss of Men took and ransacked that great City and the Earls were made Prisoners and so Marched to Lovers which he Took then Entered the Province of Eureux which he Wasted laying in Ashes many Towns Cities and Castles and passing on pitched his Tents within two Leagues of Paris from whence the French King after he had Encouraged the Citizens to stand out manfully if they were Besieged fled to St. Dennis where his Army lay But King Edward finding his Army not sufficient to Besiege so great a City wherein were six times the number of his Men having by the way Overthrown divers Parties of French sent out to observe his Motion and got more Spoiles than his Army knew well how to carry he passed the Soam beating off 12000 French that Guarded the Foard of the River and coming within some Leagues of Cressey he had notice by his Scouts That the French King had drawn out his Army to oppose him consisting of divers Forreign Princes the chief Nobility of France and 150000
King to deliver him up to Execution which Insolent Behaviour Sr. William Wallworth Lord Mayor not able to endure Stabbed him with his Dagger so that he fell down Dead and then hasting to raise the City Militia the Rebells after some time were so amazed that they scattered and every one fled for his safety and it was not many days before most of the Ringleaders were by their Companions a thing that seldom fails in such tumultuous Rebellions delivered into the hands of Justice the better to obtain their own Pardons which in the height of their Pride they had scornfully thrown up and the King at this last Conference before their Faces had Cancelled them so that about 1500 or more of the principal Agents were Convicted and Executed in divers Places which put an end to these Popular Disorders and for this Exploit of the Lord Mayor the Dagger was added to the City Arms. Things thus Quieted and the Peoples Fears over The King sued for the Lady Ann Daughter to Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus the Emperour of Germany in Marriage which was Accorded and the Lady who was exceeding Virtuous and Beautiful was received with great Joy by the King and People and Anno Dom. 1385 he Summoned a Parliament at Westminster in which he Created his Unkle Edmund of Langley Duke of York and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester his Cousin Henry Eldest Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Derby Edward Son to Edmund of Langley Earl of Rutland Sir John Holland Earl of Huntington and Thomas Lord Mowbray Earl of Notingham Declaring Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son to Edmund Mortimer and Philippa his Wife Daughter and Heires to Lionel Duke of Clarence Third Son to Edward the Third Heir apparent to the Crown but he was Slain by the Rebells in Ireland before the Kings Death And now the King fell into the dislike of his People by hearkening to evil Counsellours especially one Michael De La Pool whom he had made Chancellour and created Duke of Suffolk and Robert Vere whome he created Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland and would have made him King of that Country if the Nobility would have consented to it so that he respected not the sage Advice and Counsel of the grave and most experienced Lords of this the Parliament took great notice and upon the Chancellours insisting on the Kings behalf for a Tax of four Fifteens affirming no less could support his Estate or maintain such Wars as he was likely to undertake the Lords and Commons not only opposed the motion but accused the Duke and others for lewdly Counselling the King and by their Purloyning to enrich themselves wasting his Treasure That by their bad Advice they had kept the King from coming amongst them which according to a received Law and Custom if he refused to do in Forty Days they might Legally break up and depart to their own homes without his leave and of this and other particulars they sent word to the King desiring him within three days he would come amongst them and give Life to those Laws they should make or they were resolved to separate But in Answer to this he required that a select Assembly of Fifty of their Members should attend him This was refused and the Duke of Gloucester and Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury were only deputed who plainly told the King of the Grievances of his People and that by his Absence from Parliament he obscured the light of Justice and hindered the Negotiation of the Commonweal And if he further declined it they must break up and depart to their homes They also craved with humble submssion as they were commanded to be informed by whom his Majesties Treasure belonging to the Commonweal was prodigally consumed and how it came to pass that his large Revenues could not suffice to maintain his Estate and charge seeing he had no Wars This Message and their Demands so angered the King That he Swore had he fore-known the sawcy bouldness of his Subjects whom as he supposed intended to rise in Arms against him he would more willingly have submitted himself to the King of France and have relyed on him for Protection than thus to be baffled and made servil to those whom his Soveraignty ought to command But the two Lords in all humble Duty shewed him that his People stood well affected towards him and that the French had been and were inveterate Enemies to the King of England With this and such-like submissive Discourse he was some what pacified and promised to come to his Parliament in three days and failed not to do it where by Proof and Accusation of the Lords Michael De La Pool Chancellour of England and Duke of Suffolk was Convicted of Purloyning the Kings Treasure and purchasing Estates with it to his own behoof and giving evil Counsel to the great damage of the Kings Subjects and other things so that his Lands were Sequestered to the King's use his Person Fined 20000 Marks committed close Prisoner and deprived of his Chancellourship and other Offices The Arch Bishop being made Chancellour in his stead and in the same Parliament thirteen Persons were Elected Sworn and Authorized with â—he consent of the King published in Writing under â—is Seal to Examine all or any of his Officers touching â—heir Demeanours in their several Offices and Trusts 〈◊〉 censure and condemn any that should be found â—uilty of henious Crimes and the King took an Oath â—ot to revoke or suppress this Commission without the â—onsent of Parliament and it further passed into a â—aw That if any Person should attempt directly or â—â—directly to perswade or encourage the King to inâ—â—ge his Oath and Promise touching all or any of these matters for the first Offence to lose his Lands and Goods and for the second to be proceeded against as a Traitor to the King and Kingdom And then a Subsidy of one half Fifteen was granted if the Commissioners upon view of the Kings Estate thought it needful and so an end was put to this Sessions of Parliament This was no sooner done but the King at the perswasion of his Counsellours Released his Favourite De La Poole and went with him the Duke of Ireland Tresillian his chief Justice other Judges and Ministers of State to Notingham where they Pronounced the Duke of Gloucester Arch Bishop of Canterbury and the Thirteen Commissioners to be Guilty of High Treason because against his will and consent they had compelled the King to Ratifie the Commission by his Oath and under his Great Seal so going to Coventry the Judges by an Instrument in Writing under their Hands and Seals declared and confirmed their Opinions to be agreeable and consonant to the Laws of the Land touching these matters Whilst Affairs had but an ill Aspect at home thâ— French King to Embroyl the Kingdom more if poâ—sible sent his Admiral with a Thousand Noblemen anâ— Gentlemen into Scotland with Arms and
of Money to Betray him over which he earnestly laboured to do shewing him the Kings Letters in a Loving stile wherein he invited him into England promising at his Arrival to give him his Daughter Elizabeth in Marriage and by this means the Treacherous Treasurer trained the Earl to St. Malloes where a Ship and Equipage lay ready to Transport him But no sooner had John Chevelet the Earls Friend truly informed the Duke of Brittany that this pretended Marriage was designed for the Earls destruction but he commanded his Treasurer oâ— pain of Death to re-possess him of his Person who accordingly stole him from the English whilst himselâ— made merry with the Ambassador and caused his Servants to thrust him into a Sanctuary whose priviledgâ— might not be violated excusing and laying it on theâ— own Negligence for not taking more care to keep â—im when in their custody This Loss both of Money and of Prey made King Edward exceeding Angry but there being no remedy he seemed slightly â—o pass it over Not long after this by the instigation of the Duke â—f Gloucester and others the King grew exceeding Jeaâ—ous of his Brother the Duke of Clarence being the more incited to it by an old Prophecy which Predicted 〈◊〉 G should Reign after an E and this Dukes Name â—eing George he verily believed he was meant by it â—alling freshly into his mind his Practices with Warwick â—nd what had been done concerning him in Parliament â—nd thereupon by his contrivance he was accused of High Treason for Conspiring his Death and Aspiring â—o the Throne and after a few days Imprisonment â—e was found Drowned in a Butt of Malmsey leaving â—ehind him but two Children Edward and Margaret who were both Unfortunate for Edward being creaâ—ed Earl of Warwick was Imprisoned very Young and â—auslesly Beheaded in the Reign of Henry the Seventh â—n a surmize he intended to Escape Prison and joyn with Perkin Warbeck to raise Commotions And Marâ—aret was Married to Richard De La Poole Earl of Salisâ—ury who being a Widow after the Earls Death was â—eheaded in the Reign of Henry the Eighth so strange â—â— is that Competitors for Crowns rarely enjoy that Calm and Tranquility that attends on a meaner Estate Nor do Historians excuse this King from being of a â—ruel Temper as causing a Mercer in Cheapside to be â—anged at his own door for Jestingly saying to his â—ttle Son If he would be a good Boy he would make him â—eir to the Crown meaning his House bearing that Sign â—ut it being otherways wrested it cost him his Life â—e also caused one Thomas Burdet Esq to be Beheaded upon a very slender occasion viz. Being on his Progress in Warwickshire he chanced to Hunt in one of Burdel's Parks and among others killing a White Buck which he highly esteened News of it was no sooner brought but the Gentleman in a passion wished The Horns in the Belly of those that Counselled the King to kill him This being told by some Pick-thanks to Edward with this addition viz. That he wished the Horns in his Belly the Judges soon construed it that thereby he wished the King's Death who with those Horns in his Belly could by no means Live and so the poor Gentleman in lieu of the great Entertainment he had given the King and his Nobles at his House lost his Life at Tyburn being there Beheaded The King in the latter-end of his Reign contrary to his former Generous humour grew exceeding Covetous and Nigardly so that to encrease his Treasure he extorted much Money from his People by vexing them with the execution of Penal-Laws which quenched their Love and Affections very much with this Money he proposed to Match his Daughters and sent to the French King to mind him of his Oath sworn to in the Articles that he should send over for the Lady Elizabeth and Marry her to the Dauphin but he never intending it excused it only with fair promises that he would do it speedily and whilst this was on foot James the Third King of Scots required the Lady Cicilia another of the Kings Daughters in Marriage with his Son and Heir apparent which was agreed to and part of her Portion paid before hand but instead of her being sent for and a Friendly Allyance concluded the King of Scots with this Money raised Forces and entered England committing many cruel outrages 〈…〉 The Duke of Gloucester was sent with a 〈◊〉 â—â—ble Army forcing his way into the Town of Berwick and Besieging the Castle defended by Earl Bothwel but purposing to March into Scotland he left the Lord Standly with 4000 Men to maintain the Siege and pursued the Scots King wasting his Country with Fire and Sword Till the Nobility perceiving the miserable estate of the Realm humbly sued to the Duke for Peace which was granted on these Conditions viz. That full Restitution should be made to King Edward 's Subjects for the Injuries done them That the Scots King should Restore his Brother the Duke of Albany who was in the English Army to his Honours c. That the Castle of Berwick should be Yeilded or not Rescued from the present Siege and the Marriage Money Re-paid The First of these they performed not as being unable but the other were observed and the Castle of Berwick soon Surrendered But the French King utterly broke all Frindship with King Edward by denying the Yearly Pension and Marrying the Dauphin to the Lady Margaret Daughter to Maximillian Son of Frederick the Emperour which Affront had certainly caused a War had King Edward lived to have prosecuted what he had projected but falling Sick of a Surfeit with Eating too excessively at a Banquet he grew daily weaker and weaker and a visible decay of Nature appearing in him he called his Nobles about him and laboured to make Friendship between his Wives kindred and his own causing them to Embrace and give Solemn assurances of it in his presence then recommending to them the care of his Queen and Children earnestly Exhorting them to live in Unity he gave up the Ghost at Westminster on the ninth of April 1483 in the 40th Year of his Age and 23d of his Reign His Body being buried in a Chappel of his own foundation at Windsor In this Kings Reign John Hust was Burnt on Tower-Hill for the profession of a good Conscience A Rose-Tree in the beginning of the calamitous Wars between the two Houses Bore on one Branch a White and a Red Rose the Cognizances of York and Lancaster and a Spring of Blood gushed out near Lancaster Amazing Voices were heard in the Air Firey Meteors and Blazing-Stars c. appeared as also Fiery Armies Fighting furiously Remarks on Westmorland c. THis County is partly Hilly and partly Plain It produces Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn store of Wild-Fowl and in some places abounds in Fish Venison c. It is Bounded with Yorkshire Lancashire and Cumberland It is divided into five Wards containing 26
Richard Symond a Priest set up a Pupil of his whom he had cunningly Instructed to claim the Crown by the Name of Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Duke of Clarence tho' it afterward appeared his true Name was Lambert Symnel His Age agreed with that of the Prince he represented who was then a Prisoner and in likness he resembled him and his carriage was extreamly Genteil and Taking so that many flocked to him who were desirous of change as well of the Nobles and Gentry as Commons but not finding here a sufficient Strength he failed to Ireland where Sir Thomas Garendine the Lord Chancelor espoused his Quarrel and drew many to take part with him and to him the Dutchess Dowager a mortal Enemy to King Henry sent supplies of Money Men and Arms and by her Encouragement many English espoused his Interest so that he became very Formidable This constrained King Henry to bring the true Edward out of the Tower and carry him through the Streets of London to satisfy the People of the Imposture where the Nobility were required to be present and to confer with him But this did little for the others Army encreasing The King raised Forces to repel him and a Battel was joyned near Stoke in Lincolnshire which was maintained with great resolution but the Irish who compossed the greater part of Symnel's Army being destitute of Warlike Weapons tho' they fought valiantly were routed whereupon the rest gave way And in this Battel the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Garendine Marian Swart and Sir Thomas Browghton were Slain Symnell was taken Prisoner and after a publick Confession who he was made Scullion in the Kings Kitchen and after that his Faulconer Peace now being settled the Queen was Crowned and Thomas Bourcher Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being dead Bishop Morton was preferred to that Archiepiscopal See and made Lord Chancelor of England soon after which preferment he was dignified with the Hat and Habit of a Cardinal by Pope Alexander the Sixth Whilst these things Passed a Quarrel arose between Charles the French King and Francis Duke of Britany whereupon the latter too weak to oppose his powerful Enemy required Aid of King Henry but he having in his necessities been befriended by them both rather laboured to make an Accomodation yet underhand the King winking at it many English went over to the Duke's Assistance but were mostly slain in a fatal Overthrow the French gave near the City of Nantz with their chief Leader the Lord Woodvile This made King Henry openly assist the Duke with Men and Money to furnish which he raised by Parliament a Tax of the Tenth Penny on all Moveable Goods which caused a Rebellion in the North where the Earl of Northumberland enforcing the Kings Orders for the strict Levying it was Murthered by the Rout but Thomas Earl of Surry going against them with an Army they dispersed and fled yet several of the Ringleaders were taken and Executed in sundry places During the War in Britany That Duke dyed and the Estates Marrying his Daughter and Heiress to the French King tho' she had before been contracted to Maximillian the Emperour a Peace ensued and the Lady Margaret Daughter to the Emperour whom the French King had taken as his Wife was returned with disgrace which occasioned a War between them and Henry being on both sides solicited for Aid he for many waighty Reasons adhered to the Emperour and Transported an Army under the Command of his Unkle Jasper Duke of Bedford and John Earl of Oxford but the Emperour not being forward in his promised Preparation the King passed into France and laid Siege to Bullen which made the French King for fear of Britany of which by his Marriage he was become Soveraign Prince sue for Peace which was concluded between him and King Henry during their Lives The French King for defraying his Charges paying 186200 l. and a Yearly Pension of 25000 Crowns which was Paid during King Henry's Life whereupon he returned with his Army Not long after this the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy set up another Imposture who though his true Name was Perkin Warbeck was to pass for Richard Plantagenet the second Son of Edward the Fourth and the better to further her design she used such Policy in England that she gained many of the best Rank who were well affected to the House of York to favour him King Henry however to Countermine her Stratagem bent to work him Mischief secretly caused divers of his Friends seemingly to fly to this nâ—â— pretended Duke and offer him their Service their Estates the mean while the better to colour the matter being seized in England And by this means he gained private Intelligence of all the Proceedings and an Account of the Names of such as being in England held correspondency with him which brought many into Trouble and some to Execution And finding the Emperour disgusted at the Peace he had made with France secretly encouraged this design he removed the English Mart from the Low Countries to Callice which proved greatly prejudicial to the Flemings especially upon a Prohibition of Flemish Wares being brought into England which made the Emperour publish the like Prohibition to hinder the Importation of English Goods in any part of his Territories which causing a decay of Trade incited the meaner sort of Handicrafts in London to commit divers Outrages on the Persons and Goods of the Flemings that Inhabited among them but about 80 of the Ringleaders being Taken were Imprisoned till by the Kings Pardon they were Released and the Flemings Banished Sir Robert Clifton whom the King by Promises and Gifts had won to his Favour about this time came over and the better to Apprehend such as he should Accuse without Blows he appointed to meet him in the Tower where among his Great Courtiers he singled out Stanley who had been Instrumental in setting the Crown on the Kings Head and was now his Lord Chamberlain who was nevertheless committed to Prison and the main Evidence on his Tryal being That he had said That if he was sure this Perkin was the True Duke of York he would not draw his Sword against him he was thereupon Sentenced and all his great Services could not attone to save his Life for he was very soon after Beheaded Yet with this the Storm blew not over for the Native Irish declaring for Perkin tho' the King sent an Army thither under Sir Edward Poinings yet he could do little good there they being too nimble for him in their Woods Bogs and Mountains and not being assisted by the Nobles and Gentry as he expected the fault was charged by him on the Earl of Killdare whom he brought over Prisoner but that Lord so well acquitted himself that he was soon set at Liberty and sent back again with Honour and Rewards and Perkin putting to Sea Landed in Kent but he was beaten off and a great many of his Men slain and such as were
and whilst the King was expecting a final Determination Campeius seeing a Storm likely to arise thought fit to be packing for Rome pretending the Pope had sent for him Upon notice of this the King was much perplexed as knowing they designed to fix it in the Court of Rome to tire him out with vast Expences and Delays so that from that time Cardinal Woolsey began to fall from his favour For having secretly promised a Divorce yet fearing to displease the Court of Rome he had now refused it And the next Term the King caused his Attourney General to prefer an Indictment against him on the Statute of Premunire on several Articles which being found by the Grand Jury he Confessed all the material points by his Attourney And all his Promotions except the Arch-Bishoprick of York and the Bishoprick of Winchester were taken from him and Sir Thomas Moor was made Lord Chancellour The King likewise seized his Mass of Plate and Rich Furniture and confined him to his House at Asher near Kingstone A Parliament being Assembled the Commons made great complaints against the Clergy exhibiting divers Articles relating to their Pride Luxurious way of Living Trading as Husbandmen and Merchants to the Injury of those brought up to it c. This was strongly opposed by Dr. Fisher Bishop of Rochester who Reflecting on the Commons by saying Now with our Commons is nothing but Down with the Church and all this is for lack of Faith only they complained of it to the King by Sir Thomas Audley their Speaker and others but the Bishop excusing himself by putting another Interpretation on the meaning of his Words they were contented with the King 's sharply reprehending him and then they proceeded to Article against Woolsey under several Heads Charging him with Misleading and Abusing the King wasting and purloining the Treasure That in his Letters he had Written I and my King as if the King had been his Inferiour and at his Command To be brief they loaded him with Pride Cruelty Oppression Lechery Evil Counsel c. However the King by reason of his former Favour permitted him to retire to the Arch-Bishoprick of York and there continue privately till further orders But he tampering with the Pope and being encouraged by his Letters to oppose the King and force him if he would not otherways comply to restore him to Favour or else by virtue of a Bull to Curse him and take the power of the Clergy Government into his own hands as the Popes Vice Roy whilst he was in his way to York and preparing for his Installment he was Arrested by the Earl of Northumberland whereupon he shewed the Meanness of his Spirit and Birth as all Cruel Proud Upstarts usually do when they fall into any affliction though in their prosperity they are regardless of others Calamities but rather labour to promote than decrease them For however upon his first being seized thinking to terrify the Earl who never bore any good-will towards him he told him He was a Member of the Colledge of Cardinals at Rome and that neither the King nor any other Temporal Prince could or ought to Intermeddle with him for any Cause or Matter whatsoever But this nothing availing he fell into Tremblings and Frights and when the Kings Letter was produced to give him some beams of Comfort that he might not altogether despair of Mercy and Favour with a sordid Meanness of Spirit he fell on his knees in a dirty place and kissed it shedding Tears for Joy when in the height of his State and Pride he had accounted the King as his Pupil more than his Soveraign For indeed his first Station in the World was an ordinary Pedagogue or Schoolmaster But at the sight of Sir William Kingstone Constable of the Tower with a Guard of Yeomen to convey him Prisoner thither his fears so encreased that he fell Sick at Leicester Abby and taking a strong Confection which some suppose he did purposely to Poison himself he breathed his last saying a little before he Dyed If he had Served his God so faithfully as he had done his King he would not at that time have cast him off And thus fell that Pageant of suddain Greatness unpitied by all Inriching some by his Death tho' in his Life-time he had Ruined many more He Built White-Hall a stately Colledge at Oxford another at Ipswich and many other stately Buildings leaving much Money Plate and Rich Furniture which was seized to the Kings use who distributed part of it and his Lands among such as had well deserved The King by this time having gotten it under the Seals of most of the Universities in Christendom That his Marriage was Unlawful procured a Divorce without the Popes Dispensation and soon after he Married Anna Bullen whom he had Created Marchioness of Pembrook a Protestant Lady Daughter to the Lord Rochford afterwards Earl of Wiltshire Elizabeth Barton stiled the Holy Maid of Kent for Prophecying That if King Henry proceeded to the Divorce and Married another he should not be King of England one Month after was Hanged together with Seven of her Desciples at Tyburn for Treason A Parliament being called the Clergy therein totally submitted themselves to the King touching their Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Affaires and the Pope was by Parliament utterly deprived of all Annates and First Fruits of Bishopricks and other Spiritual Promotions The Marriage with Queen Catharine was Annulled and that with Queen Anna Confirmed and by the same Act the Crown was entailed to the King and the Heirs of his Body out of which the Lady Mary was Excluded and to this all the Lords and Burgess present in Parliament were Sworn except Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor who refused to do it Wherefore they were marked out by the King for Destruction as a Terror to others for not only Refusing to Swear but Contesting and Protesting against the proceedings of the Parliament they were sent to the Tower where upon denying the Kings Supremacy Ordained by another Act and atributing it to the Pope they were Accused Tryed Convicted and Beheaded And by this Act the King was Acknowledged to be Supream Head of the Church in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Things and Causes and the Popes Bulls Pardons Indulgences and other Instruments of the like Nature made void For Grief of which and her own hard Usage Queen Catharine who was stiled Dowager and Lived with a small Attendance Sickened and Dyed nor did her Successor long survive her For some time after Queen Ann had been safely delivered of the Princess Elizabeth who was afterwards Queen of England a Conspiracy was laid to take away her Life supposedly on the account of her Religion for some of the Romish party were not without supposition she swayed much in those Alterations and therefore being Accused of Incest by some of her Subborned Bedchamber-Women as if she had Layn with the Lord Rochford her own Brother the furious King
Fortune However the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland lost his Head for winking as it was alledged against him at the Irish entering within the English Pale and not timely Repelling them Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolk having been Arraigned before the Green Cloth for Striking one Mr. Clear of Norfolk within the Tennis Court of the King's House and being found Guilty he had Judgment to lose his Right Hand and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods and all things being prepared for the Execution of this Sentence and Sir Edmund brought in the Chief Justice declared his Offence which he Confessed and humbly submitted himself to the King's Mercy only he desired the King would spare his Right Hand and take his Left For said he if my Right Hand be spared I may Live to do the King good Services Of which Submission and Saying when the King was informed he ordered he should lose neither of his Hands and Pardoned him also as to his Lands and Goods The Scots had lain still a long while but now began under James the Fifth their Young King to make great Disturbances but after some Bickerings and much Spoil in either Country they were Overthrown and the Earls of Cassels and Glencarn the Lords Maxwell Fleming Sommervel Oliphant Gray and Car were made Prisoners and many Slain The News of this Overthrow so perplexed King James That falling into a deep Grief and Melancholly he Dyed a week after leaving only a Daughter to Succeed him who was then but newly Born and Christened Mary Upon notice of whose Birth when he lay Sick he burst out in this Prophetical Saying It came with a Lass meaning the Crown and it will go with a Lass Soon after the King of Scots Death the Lords that were Prisoners in England to curry favour for their Liberty proposed a Match between Prince Edward Henry's Son and their Young Queen which was kindly accepted The Match being proposed to the Parliament of Scotland they seemed highly to approve it ratifying a Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Nobility as also with their Oaths yet the French Faction so prevailed that it came to nothing But King Henry enraged to be thus abused sent a powerful Army into Scotland which spoiled the Country taking several Towns and great Plunder nor was the King flow to pass over to France where laying Siege to Bullen he had it yielded to him and having Fortified it returned into England to raise Money for a Supply of the War which tho' the Emperour without his consent had made a Peace with France he resolved vigorously to prosecute and because Richard Read an Alderman refused Sir Thomas Wryothsltey the Chancellor the Supply he demanded of him he was compelled in Person to Serve the King in his Wars against the Scots by whom he was taken Prisoner and paid a large Ransom And soon after the French were worsted by Sea and Land and the Scots Routed who Invaded England and followed into their Country Whereupon Peace ensued between England and France Soon after the King cavelling with the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of Surry for bearing in their Escutchion certain Arms appropriated to the King and Prince only tho' they had been born by his Ancestors time out of mind unquestioned being Indicted for High Treason they were both Condemned The Son was Beheaded and the Father escaped by the King's Death which soon ensued viz. on Tuesday the 28th of January Anno Dom. 1546 in the 56th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and 6 Days He was Buryed with much pomp and Funeral solemnity in the Chappel at Windsor In this King's time happened a great Famin viz. 1527 upon the falling of a violent Raine November December and January and from the 12th of April every day till the 3d of June Anno 1545 William Foxley Potmaker to the Mint Slept in the Tower of London not being by any meanâ— to be Waked 14 Days and 15 Nights and when he waked it seemed to him but as one Night The Number of Religious Houses Suppressed were Monasteries 313 Priories 290 Friaries 122 Nunneries 142 Colledges 152 Hospitals 129 and their Inhabitants turned out to wander in the Fields after long Ease and Luxury Remarks on Yorkshire in its three Ridings THis is the largest Shire in England and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France It is divided into three Parts or Ridings viz. The North East and West Ridings It produces store of Horses large Cattle Sheep and in many places very good Corn and Pastures great quantities of Woollen Cloth and very Subtil People It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Duâ—ham the German Ocian Lincolnshire Derbyshire Lancashire and Westmoreland It contains 26 Hundreds 563 Parishes 57 Marker Towns 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief 1 City which is an Archiepiscopal See viz. York 14 Castles 62 Bridges 4 Chases â— Forrests and 72 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 30 viz. Alborough 2 Beverly 2 Borrough-Bridge 2 Hildon 2 Hull 2 Knarseborough 2 Malton 2 North-Alerton 2 Pomfret 2 Richmond 2 Rippon 2 Scarborough 2 Thrisk 2 York City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire YORK SHIRE By I Seller This Shire affoards store of Iron Pit-Coal and Sea-Coal at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones supposed some Roman Monument on Rosemary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles at Giglesworth are 3 Springs one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour in the North are Ting-tong Wells said to be three Miles in the Earth and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it The Castles of note are those of Sheffield Coningsborough Tickil Sandal Harwood Knasborough Cawood Scarborough Kilton Skelton c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth in memory of the Battel fought there near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies which flow out of the Springs every other Year and fall violently into the Sea The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle to the late Duke of Buckingham Slingsby Castle to the Honourable Family of New-castle Snap to the Earl of Exceter Markin-field to the Earl of Bridgwater Mulgrave Castle to the Earl of Mulgrave Shipton Castle to the Earl of Thanet Nawort Castle to the Earl of Carlisle Wharlton Castle and Javoux Abby to the Earl of Ailesbury Lounsborough Bolton and Braden Tower to the Earl of Burlington Hall and Wimbledon to the Duke of Leeds Thorn-Hill to the Earl of Macclesfield Hackforth Anderly Le Miers to the Earl of Holderness Newborough Abby Coxwold Hall Oulston Hall Aldwark and Murton to the Lord Faulconberg Wressel Castle to the Duke of Richmond Easby Hall to the Lord Eure Baron of Witton Wheldrake to the Lord Howard of Escrick Holm in Spadingmore and Dalton to the Lord Lexinton Wilton Castle to the
King and Parliament in England continuing to increase many that feared the sad Events left the Land others retired to lead private Lives Mary the King 's Eldest Daughter being Married to the Prince of Orange by Approbation of Parliament the Queen went over with her and the King caused all Popish Priests to be banish'd the Kingdom and the Penal Statutes to be put in Execution against Papists Yet the Parliament proceeded to Tax the King about harkning to the Change of Religion and that he had given cause to the Rebellion in Ireland casting many Reflections on the Queen which constrained him to publish his Declaration to wipe off these Imputations but this doing little good he retired with Prince Charles his Son the Palsgrave of the Rhine the Duke of Richmond and others to York Summoning the Nobles Knights of the Garter and all such as held Tenure of the Crown by Lands or Service But the Parliament strictly forbid it Yet many went and among them several Members of Parliament The King seeing no good by fair means to be done he Commanded all the Yorkshire Men to meet him at Howard-Moor near York where there appeared about 60000 and with about 20000 he returned to York Commanding the rest to return to their Respective Homes In the mean while the Parliament was borrowing Money of the Londoners on the Publick Faith and raising 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse they sent them towards York of which the King had no sooner Notice but with a slender Force he repaired to Hull and demanded enterance but Sir John Hotham the Governour appearing on the Walls fell on his Knees and entreated his Majesty not to desire that of him which he could not Grant by reason of the Trust imposed in him by the Parliament whereupon he was proclaimed Traytor and the King sent to the Parliament to complain of this Affront and require a Treaty tending to a Reconciliation promising to repair to them if they would leave London and make choice of some other fitting place but they refused it Whereupon he Proclaimed all those Guilty of Treason that assisted them either with Money or Supplies and threatned to deprive the Londoners of their Charter if they offended herein Then he Fortified Newark and Barwick and sought to gain Hull by Force but failed in the Attempt And the Parliament having proclaimed the Earl of Essex their General the King repaired to Notingham and there set up his Standard and gathered a considerable Army so that now to the great Trouble of most People War was prepared for on both sides with much Vigor and Resolution in which many Gallant Men lost their Lives And Prince Charles seeing his Father's Affairs in a desperate Condition Sailed for the Scillys from whence he was Invited by the Parliament to return for London but not thinking it safe he went to the Hague and continued with his Sister the Princess of Orange till he heard the sad News of his Father's Death In the mean while Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice the King's Nephews Sons to his Sister the Queen of Bohemia came over and were Graced with Commands in the Army After several Skirmishes and the taking some Towns on both sides the two Armies drew near each other and the King perceiving himself Strong upon the Earl of Worcester's coming in with a considerable Force of Welch resolved to out-march Essex and reach London and to that end got a days March before him but Scorning to be pursu'd by a Subject he changed his Measures Faced about and both Parties Facing between Keinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire on the 23d of Octob. 1642 a sharp Battel was Fought between them in which on both sides were slain between 5 and 6000 Men and the Slaughter had been much greater had not Night come on and parted them After this the King took in the Town and Castle of Banbury and some other places The Parliament to strengthen their Army Voted That all Apprentices that would List should be Free from their Masters and afterward received into Service again whereupon they gained considerable Recruits Then solemnly invited the Scots to their Assistance which the King by his Letters to the Privy-Council of Scotland laboured to prevent but in vain Yet several of the Lords and Commons presented a Petition to him at Cole-brook and had answer He would expect them at Windsor Castle and desired them to hasten the Treaty But this they did to gain time till Essex was Recruited which made the King hasten to Secure Brainford where happened a sharp Encounter tho' at last he forced his way but upon Essex's hastening with his Regular Forces and the London-Militia he retired for fear of being hemmed in to Oxford and because this happened in a time of Treaty the Parliament Voted to have no Accommodation yet after allowed it if he would leave his Army and come to them But this was Rejected and the War waxed fierce so that with various Success Towns were taken and Parties routed on both sides by turns whilst the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely and the City of Norwich were Authorized by the Parliament to Associate under the Lord Gray of Wark And the Queen arriving with Officers Ammunition and Money from Holland was received at York by the Earls of New castle and Cumberland And these Disturbances at Home gave the Irish an Opportunity to Rebel again at the Instigation of the Pope who to that Purpose sent two Letters one to Owen O Neal and the other to all the Arch-bishops Bishops Nobles and People of the Kingdom Commanding those who had already appeared in the Quarrel and Exhorting others to take Arms wickedly approving the Massacre and bestowing on them his Benediction with plenary Pardons and Absolutions for whatever they should act so that much Blood was again shed which caused by the Mediation of those that were Peaceably inclin'd several new Treaties to be set on Foot between the King and Parliament but they came to nothing being still crossed by those that hoped for Advantages by the Distractions of the times And the Lord Brook besieging Litchfield-Close was there Slain but his Soldiers took it and the Earl of Chester Prisoner And now they proceeded to draw up Articles of high Treason against the Queen some of which were That she pawned the Crown-Jewels in Holland That she endeavoured to raise a Party in Scotland against the Parliament and that she was in the Head of a Popish Army in England This was carried to the Lords by Pym who seemed at first to be Surprized but after agreed to it About this time Robert Yeomans and George Boucher were Hang'd at Bristol on pretence they designed to betray the City to the King and on the like pretence Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Challonor were Executed on the Account of London And during these Heats Arch-bishop Laud was Attainted of High-Treason and lost his Head And the Queen meeting the King at Edge-hill went with him to
Oxford where having Recruited his Army he marched to Gloucester which he Besieged And Prince Rupert having taken Bristol and gained some other advantages came to him In the mean while Essex hasted away with the City Trained-Bands and Auxiliaries added to his Army and between the King and him a great Battel was Fought on Newbury-heath soon after for upon his coming having raised the Siege he followed the King and having view'd his Army presently Engag'd and after a sharp Fight the King's Party had the worst And now the Parliament getting the Fleet from Sir John Pennington made the Earl of Warwick Admiral and watched the Coast to prevent the Landing of Foreign Forces and Sir John Hotham and hâ—s Son being Tryed for intending to deliver Hull to the King on some Disgust taken were Condemned and Beheaded and the Parliament proclaimed all Traytors that should assist the King against them with Horse Arms or Money and Treason for any Member of their House to Desert them and go to him And soon after the second Newbury Fight ensued in which the King was worsted and between 4 or 5000 Men Slain on both sides after which the Vxbridge Treaty began But the Parliaments Demands were such that it broke off without coming to any Agreement Whilst these and other matters happened in England the Marquess of Montâ—osâ— with a handful of Men performed Wonders in Scotland overthrowing the Lord Burleigh and divers others but not being Succoured as he expected it onâ—â— diverted the Scâ—ts for a time from entring England And upon the Parliaments passing the Self-denying Ordinance the Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbeigh Surrendred their Commissions in the Lords House and 10000 l. per Annum was Voted to Essex out of Delinquents Estates And now Sir Thomas Fairfax was made General of their Army and Oliver Cromwell Lieutenant-General of the Horse and most of the Commission-Officers were Changed and Col. Mitton Surprized Shrewsbury one of the King's head Garisons York being Relieved by Prince Rupert the bloody Fight at Marston-Moor ensued in which 9000 were Slain which occasioned the Surrendering that City and Col. Massey Defeated the Prince at Lebury But that which most Ruined the King was Naseby Battel where besides the slain the greater part of his Soldiers and Officers were taken Prisoners also divers of his menial Servants his Coach and Cabinet of Letters This Battel was Fought in a Fallow-Field on the North-West-side of Naseby a mile broad which Ground was wholly taken up by the Armies so that the Battel was exceeding bloody both sides being vâ—ry Couragious and Numerous not being 500 Odds And here the King besides his Men lost 12 pieces of Cannon 8000 Arms 40 Barrels of Pouder 200 Carriages and his baggage besides his Treasure that should have paid his Army or raised Recruits and was never after able to recover the Blow but faintly Strugled whilst the Parliament Forces swept away almost all his Garisons Oxford being the last of any Note in which the King was closely Besieged and that City made a very stout Resistance but there being no Army in the Field that could relieve it the King fearing a Storm resolved to go thence privately and cast himself for Protection on the Scots Army that was advanced as far as Southwel and thence to New-Castle The Scots promised him Protection and appeared very Joyful of his Presence among them yet all waa but Dissimulation for the English Parliament demanded his Delivery and they wanting their Pay which they could not by any other means foresee they should have in consideration of 200000 l. they Surrendred him Prisoner and immediately marched back over the Tweed in the mean while Oxford Litchfield Worcester Pendennis the Island and Castle of Scilly and many others Surrendred and the few Parties of Royalists that made Head were frequently routed But briefly to pass over this Bloody Scene which cannot be very Grateful to English-men I come to a close of this unhappy Reign Having got the King in their Hands they sent him Prisoner to Holmby-Castle whilst many earnestly Laboured for an Accommodation the Surry-men Petitioned but were set upon by the Soldiers some Slain and many Wounded nor fared the Kentish-men better At length a Treaty was set on Foot but Letters were purposely scattered to fright the King away intimating Designs against his Life for then he had a kind of Liberty being brought to Hampton-Court in order to the Treaty When escaping into the Isle of Wight he was there made Prisoner by Coll. Hammond in Carisbrook-Castle and it was Voted No further Address be made to the King But that was afterward Annulled and the King's Concessions Voted Satisfactory and things were in a fair way to an Agreement But the Army Officers knowing their Commissions lasted but with the War dealing under-hand with some designing Men in the Parliament-House who under pretence of a Publick Good had all along along aimed at Self-interest the Soldiers being by Interest and Promises made of their Party all such Members as were for the Accommodation were by Military Force excluded the House and the King brought to Hurst-Castle and afterwards to Windsor and his Party went extreamly to wreck at Maidstone Ponifract Bow Stratford Kingston and Colchester after a brave Resistance being taken Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to Death tho' Quarter had been given them And now those Members that were left in the House of Commons contrary to the Consent of the Lords being backed by the Army made an Act as they called it for the Tryal of the King and Erected a Tribunal called by them a High-Court of Justice to that end of which John Bradshaw a Serjeant at Law was President and 56 others as Judges and the King being called before them and accused of several Crimes as that he gave cause for the Cruel Blood-shed in England and Ireland that he had Proclaimed War in setting up his Standard against the Parliament That he had commissioned his Son and others to wage War and therefore was pronounced a Traytor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth of England To this Charge the King refused to Answer or to acknowledge the Authority of the Court offering his Reasons but they were not admitted and being several times brought before them and urged thereunto on his refusal on the the 27th of Jan. 1648. the Sentence was pronounced against him viz. That he the said Charles Steuart was fallen from all Dignity was Guilty of High-Treason and to be put to Death by Severing his Head from his Body for being a Tyrant a Murtherer and an Enemy to the Common-Wealth The Sentence being read the Court stood up in Confirmation of it as an Act and Resolution of them all and the King offering to speak was Violently Hurried away by the Guard And tho' the Dutch Embassador the Scots and most of the English Nobles interceeded to stay Execution he was on the 30th of Jan. 1648. brought from St. James's to White-Hall
in the Year 1682. The chief Witness against him was Rumsey who Swore That the Declaration for a Rising being read Alderman Cornish being present and being ask'd how he lik'd it he answer'd Very well and what poor Interest he had he would join in it And yet this Fellow at the Lord Russel's Tryal Swore Cornish was not there when the Declaration was read nor knew nothing of it However the Alderman's Death was resolved on and both Judge and Jury being agreed he was found Guilty Condemn'd and on the 23th of the same Month executed in Cheapside over against the Guild-Hall of the City Declaring his Innocency as to what he was Condemn'd for to the very last And indeed Heaven it self attested it for him for his Execution was follow'd with such a dreadful Storm of Wind attended with Thunder Lightning and Rain as the like has scarce happened at that time of the Year in the Memory of Man His true Crime was That he was a Zealous Protestant that had serv'd the City Faithfully in his Shrievalty and had Examined Fitz-Harris in Newgate and had like to have discovered the Depth of that cursed Design against the Protestants The same Day also one Mrs. Gaunt a Woman of great Goodness and Charity was burn'd at Tyburn for relieving a Lieutenant under Monmouth in the West himself being the Witness against her for which he had his Pardon And now the Parliament met again and the King tells them how he had Defeated Monmouth and that several Popish Officers had been very useful to him therein that he could not be without their Service and that the Militia was not sufficient without keeping up a standing Army and hopes they will help him to Defray the Charge but the Parliament address to him to Disband his Popish Officers and offers to pass an Act to Indempnify them from the Penalties they had already incurr'd in serving without having taken the Test appointed by Law This Address of the Commons was very surprising to the King who expected from them absolute Obedience without Reserve But the King was much more Surpriz'd when he understood that the Bishop of London had made a motion in the House of Lords to take the King's Speech into Consideration as fearing the Lords would concur with the Commons in their Address But the King was resolved to prevent it and therefore first Prorogued and soon after Dissolved the Parliament who had been so large in their Supplies the first Session that now too late they saw he was able to live without them The Parliament's questioning of the Popish Officers had put them all into a Fright but the Parliament being Dissolved they were all at ease again and nothing but Popish Officers and Priests and Jesuites are seen about the Court who were grown to an unparallell'd degree of Impudence And yet to find Fault with them was a Crime next to High-Treason But the King finding the Penal Laws and Tests stand as a mighty Obstacle in his way was resolv'd to remove them In order to which the Lord-Keeper North dying while Jefferies was keeping the Bloody Assizes in the West at his return back he had the Seals given him with the Title of Lord-Chancellor as a Reward for his good Service in destroying the Western Hereticks and as an encouragement to him to destroy the Penal Laws and Tests the great Bulwark against Popery And therefore dispensing Power in the King is that which must next be set up in order to effect it And the Judges must be dealt with to give their Opinions for it And I have been certainly told That the King Closetting Sir Thomas Jones about it Sir Thomas was not enough thorow paced but boggled at it and told the King He could not do it to which the King answering He would have twelve Judges of his Opinion Sir Thomas Replyed He might have twelve Judges of his Opinion but he would scarce find twelve Lawyers of his Opinion But the King was as good as his Word and made such Judges as gave their Opinions That the King might dispense with the Penal Laws and Tests out of Parliament The Papists having always look'd upon the Church of England with an evil Eye did so now more than ever they having writ several Elaborate and Learned Books in opposition to the principal Errors of Popery which they were never able to answer But they were resolv'd if they could not deal with them one way they would another and therefore the King granted a Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs expresly contrary to Law thereby to Curb them This Commission was Granted to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor Jefferies the Earl of Rochester the Earl of Sunderland the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Rochester and the Lord-Chief-Justice of England But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury refusing to act in it the Bishop of Chester was added Before these Commissioners the Bishop of London was Cited and Suspended for not Suspending Dr. Sharp for Preaching a Sermon against the Corruptions and Frauds of the Church of Rome In Ireland the King having recalled the Duke of Ormond from his Lieutenancy made the Earl of Clarendon Lieutenant and Sir Charles Porter Lord-Chancellor who after their arrival there declared according to their Instructions that the King would preserve the Acts of Settlement and Explanation inviolable as the Magna-Charta of Ireland But at the same time the King having given to Collonel Richard Talbot a Man not at all belov'd by the Protestants an Independent Commission to reform the Army and he turns out those Officers that were firm to the Protestant Religion and the English Interest and puts Notorious Irish Papists in their Room and serves not only the Officers but even the private Troopers and Soldiers that were Protestants in the same manner So that one of the best principled Armies in the World both with respect to Loyalty and a firm adherence to the Protestant Religion was turn'd out and Disbanded and a parcel of Irish Popish Cut-Throats entertain'd in their places which seemed strange to the English Protestants there and not at all agreeable to what my Lord Clarendon and Sir Charles Porter had told them who were not themselves pleased with it but knew not how to help it But in England the King having established his Dispensing Power puts forth a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience pursuant to which the Goals all over England that were fill'd with Protestant Dissenters were clear'd and the Dissenters set at Liberty Who having been long oppress'd and almost ruin'd by severe Prosecutions for several Years together were now glad of a little Ease tho' the most Judicious among them saw clearly enough it was not for their Sakes but to introduce Popery that this Indulgence was principally Granted and therefore were always afraid of the Snake hid in the Grass The Episcopal Clergy who in the late Reign and the beginning of this also had been very severe to Dissenters began now to see they had
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâ—d it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles â—nd tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viâ—â—age of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâ—ot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And
A ROMANE A BRITAINE A SAXON A DANE A NORMAN THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND GIVING A True and Impartial Account of the most Considerable Transactions in CHURCH and STATE in PEACE and WAR during the Reigns of all the KINGS and QVEENS from the coming of Julius Caesar into Britain WITH An Account of all the Plots Conspiracies Insurrections and Rebellions LIKEWISE A Relation of the Wonderful Prodigies Monstrous Births Terrible Earth-Quakes Dreadful Sights in the Air Lamentable Famines Plagues Thunders Lightnings and Fires c. to the Year 1696. Being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King WILLIAM the III. TOGETHER With a particular Description of the Rarities In the several Counties of England and Wales With Exact MAPS of each County By JOHN SELLER Hydrographer to His Majesty LONDON Printed by Job and John How for John Gwillim against Crossby-Square in Bishopsgate-street 1696. MVNIFICENTIA REGIA 1715. GEORGIVS D.G. MAG Bâ— â—â— ET HIR â—â—â— FD. J. Puâ—â— sculp TO THE KING Great Sir MY Presumption in this Dedication would be Vnpardonable were it not that the Subject Matter of this Book is such as does particularly Entitle Your Majesty thereunto and makes it fit for a Prince to Patroniâ—e For it is not only the History of the Lives and Reigns of Your Majesty's Royal Predecessors but also a Description of Your Majesty's Kingdom of England and Principallity of Wales A Country that has been Rescu'd by Your Majesty out of the Jaws of those Devouring Monsters Popery and Slavery which were ready to swallow it up 'T was when the Nation lay Expos'd to the Will and Lust of her Insulting Ravishers that Your Majesty as the Guardian Angel of Great Britain came to her Timely Rescue Exposing Your Royal Person to the Danger of the Sea in the worst Season of the Year that You might Save It from impending Ruine And to whom could the History of England be better Dedicated than to a Prince who has done such Great Things for it Who has Rais'd it from that Oblivion to which the Supineness of the late Reigns had Reduc'd it to make the most considerable Figure of any Kingdom in Europe of which Your Majesty has also again made it the Arbiter Having Rais'd the Genius of the Nation by Your Own Heroick Example above what it was in our Third Edward or Fifth Henry's Days 'T is true indeed both those Princes obtain'd Great Victories over France but it was then Weak and Divided Void of all those Acquisitions that Lewis the 14th has Vnjustly Raâ—ish'd from his Neighbours Whereas Your Majesty has Humbled France in the very Zenith of her Glory when she was Laying the Foundation of an Vniversal Monarchy But it would be too great a Boldness in so Weak a Pen to attempt any thing in Your Majesty's Just Praise when even the most Celebrated Writers must fall far short of Performing it as they ought That Your Majesty may long Live and Reign the Terrour of Your Enemies the Joy of Your Subjests and the Delight of all Mankind shall be the daily Prayer of Your Majesties most Humble Subject and Servant John Seller A New Mapp of ENGLAND and WALES By Iohn Seller THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND CHAP. I. Of its Situation and Fruitfulness The Manners Customs and Religion of the Antient Britains How it was first Inhabited Why call'd Britain and the Name of ENGLAND given to the Part we Inhabit Julius Caesar Invited over c. THIS Island of Great Britain containing at present Three Nations or People of different Languages is the largest in Europe and inferiour to none in the other parts of the World for Fertility Power good Government and Glory of it's Great Actions It is Situated in a healthful Climate between 51 and 58 Degrees of North Latitude Bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark on the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Ducalidonian Seas and on the South with France and Normandy ENGLAND the noblest and largest part of it and a distinct Kingdom of it self though at present all under One happy Monarch formerly sustained many Kings at once all of them commanding great Powers as will appear in the Series of History For in spaciousness it extends it self from North to South in the broadest place 386 Miles and from the Lands End in Cornwal to the Isle of Thanet in the East of Kent it stretches 340 Miles besides the spaciousness of the many Islands as Wight Man Anglesey and others of note which I shall have occasion to mention with every thing else that may give satisfaction to the Reader It is for Longitude placed between the Parallels of 14 and 16 Containing 25 Cities in which are Bishops Seas 'T is full of Parks Rivers and Forrests and abounding in plenty of Arable Ground Pleasant Pastures and Cattel throughout its 40 Counties and the like in the 13 Counties of Wales once a distinct Kingdom but now annexed to the English Diadem As to the time of the first Peopling this fruitful Land some will have it soon after the Floud by Sememothâ—us Sixth Son of Japhet others that it was Peopled by King Brutus in the 2887th Year of the Worlds Creation and that we are of Trojan Original So that this must be about 1231 Years after the Deluge when Elie was High-Priest But it is rather generally accepted though many other Stories without any good ground or much credit are mentioned That a Colony of some neighbouring Nation viz from Germany wafted over and finding it so pleasant a Soile gladly planted themselves in it But since this is doubtful and all we can gather concerning the Natives before the Landing of Julius Caesar is from Forreign Authors we must be content to pass these over As for the Name of this Island being call'd Britain it is held to come from the word Brith which signifies Painting or Staining their Skins and also going Naked which was the Custom of the Antient Britains They Raced their Skins drawing on them the Figures of Birds Beasts Flowers Suns Stars c. to distinguish their Dignity which like the slic'd Bark of a Tree growing wider as they grew up made them appear Terrible to their Enemies and indeed they were for the most part Fierce and Cruel especially those in the Northern parts who Traded not with the Civilized Gauls insomuch that they Sacrificed every Tenth Captive taken in the Wars among themselves to their Idols of which they had a great number called by the Names of Planets and in the form of divers living Creatures And to these senseless Stocks their Druid's or Magi whom they accounted their Wise Men and served in stead of Flamins and Priests compelled them to pay their Adoration Worshiping in Groves accounting Fortified Woods their Towns and Cities They wore about their Middles Iron Chains and to them both Men and Women had short Swords girded bearing in their Hands a Spear with a Brass Knob or Bell at the end of it to make a
about him 6. Friga or Frea was Wodens Queen upon the account of Chastity and other Virtues after her Death they set up an Idol in her Likeness on a Pillar resembling Diana compleatly Armed to the Waste with a Bow and a Sword and to her were often Sacrificed those Females that had Violated their Virgin-Chastity Some Authors allow her to have been Expert in Arms by whose Prowess the Antient Saxons extended their German Territories and to her was Dedicated the Sixth Day called then Frea's-Day now Fryday 7. Seater This Idol was placed in the shape of an Old Man on a Pillar treading with his bare Feet on a Pearch with sharp pricks on its Back holding in his Right Hand a Basket of Fruits signifying Plenty and in his Left a Wheel signifying Time when we ought to be careful in laying up our Stores to prevent Scarcity He was held in his Life time to be a great Prophet and Astrologer telling things to come and Teaching the Saxons the Course of the Sun Moon and Stars and to him they Prayed for Knowledge Wisdom and hopeful Children Spring and Fall they Offered Fruits to him and strewed the way to his Temple with Flowers For his Worship they appointed the Seventh Day of the Week calling it Sater's Day now Saturday They had another Idol resembling the Image of Death with Flowing Crimson Robes holding a Lighted Torch in his Right Hand and a Lion Rampant on his Head by the Left Foot with his Left Hand He was placed on a Tomb or Grave-stone to put them in mind of Mortality and to shew Deaths Obduracy and Inexorableness they called him Flint Before his Shrine which was set in a large place Walled about without any Covering they Executed or Sacrificed Offenders for Extraordinary Crimes by Fire Racks and other Exquisit Tortures Having thus given you a Brief Description of the Original and Manners of the Antient Saxons before their coming into this Island I should now proceed to give you an Account of the Succession of their several Kings here during the time of their Heptarchy or Seven Kingdoms until King Edgar overcoming and subduing all the rest reduc'd it again to a Monarchy But that shall be the business of the next Chapter CHAP. V. The Succession of the Petty Monarchs of the Kentish South-Saxon and East-Saxon Kingdoms with what Remarkably Happen'd during their respective Reigns in Peace and War The Time when they Began and Ended them with the Limits of their Dominions 1. Of the Kingdom of Kent and the Succession of its seventeen Kings HEngist the first Saxon Invader as is formerly noted setled Himself and his People in the County of Kent a Fertil part of England large in Extent bounded on the North with the River Thames by which it is divided from Essex on the East with the Channel on the West with Surry and on the South with Sussex He began to Erect a Saxon Kingdom there Anno Dom. 455 and had during his Thirty Four years Reign continual War with the Britains his Brother Horsa Dying of the Wounds he received in Battel gave Name to a place called Horsa's Tomb now corruptly called Horsted where he was Buried and had a famous Monument erected over his Grave the Ruins of which some Hundred Years since were visible It is held by Authors of great repute those Stones of a prodigious bigness on Salisbury Plain which have created Admiration in the Beholders were erected as a Monument where he caused the British Nobles to be Treacherously Slain by which means he gained his design on this Kingdom making way to its Subjection for indeed they are commonly to this day called Stone Hing or Hengist Stones They appear to have been a Treble Row of Stones circularly placed one within another Twenty Eight Foot long for the most part and Seven Foot broad viz. those that are reared upright besides others of prodigious bigness that lie overthwart from one to another and are fastned with Tenents and Mortises but at this day the Form of this Wonderful Structure is very much defaced some of the greater Stones being either faln or reclining towards the Earth Eske by some called Osea succeeded Hengist in the Kingdom of Kent a Man much inferiour to him in Valour and Conduct therefore to make the People if possible to forget what they were that he might live the more at Ease he Tollerated such of the Câ—nti as would to live among his Saxons on condition they would take upon them the Name or Epithite of Eskins and though he Reigned Twenty Four Years nothing very Memorable is Recorded of him in History for the other Saxon Princes in setling their Kingdoms Screening him from the Incursions of the Britains and making the seat of War in the Northern and Western Counties he had for the most part a Peaceable Reign Octa the Third King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 513 he provided prudent and wholsom Laws for the Goverment of his People Built several Castles on the Sea-Coast and the Inland Frontiers commanded the Pagan Idolatries to be strictly Observed and Christianity to be Extirpated sheding much Innocent Blood on that occasion In his time strange sights were seen of Dragons Lions and other furious wild Beasts Fighting in the Air. In the West of Kent it Rained Wheat and soon after great Drops of Blood upon which ensued extream Dearth succeeded by much Bloodshed between his People and the South Saxon borders about setling their Territories at the latter end of his Reign which continued Twenty Years Imerick began his Reign Anno Dom. 533 He made an Edict That Strangrs should be Curteously Entertained and caused Houses of Publick Resort to be built on the Roads and the Highways to be Mended and made Passable at the Publick Charge building Watch-Towers on the Sea-Coasts and setting Lights in them for the guidance of Saylors He restrained the severity against the Christians and is numbered among the good Saxon Kings in his time was the Second General Council held at Constantinople for all Christendom Anno Dom. 553. He Reigned Twenty Nine Years during which space nothing Memorable of any Warlike Actions are Recorded of him Ethelbert The Fifth King of Kent began his Reign 562 He had not long Reigned before Cheuline King of the West Saxons raised an Army against him to Oppose whom he Mustered great Forces and at Wimbleton both Hosts joyned Battel where Ethelbert lost the day Two of his Dukes and Five Thousand of his People being Slain and this is Recorded to be the first Open War among the Saxon Kings However a Peace was soon after concluded and Gregory Arch-Deacon of Rome seeing some fair Youths of this Island standing in the Market of that City to be Sold he demanded from whence they were and being told from Britain out of a Province called Deira he sighing said when he understood Paganisme predominated Ah it is great pity but their Country should be Delivered Ira Dei from the Wrath of
God And coming soon after to be Pope he Remembring what he had said sent Augusting the Monk accompanied with Forty Men of several Religious Orders into Britain Anno Dom. 596 who making their Address to King Ethelbert were by him kindly received and had Canterbury then but a poor Village allowed them for their Residence with Liberty to Convert his Subjects to the Christian Faith so that by their painful industry in Preaching and exemplary Lives they made a considerable progress in the Glorious work of Salvation to poor Souls leading them out of the Darkness of Paganisme into the Marvelous Light of the Gospel so that again the Candle was Lighted which God for the Pride and Lukewarmness of the Christians had suffered in a great measure to be Extinguished in this Island and the King falling in Love with their Inoffensive Lives and conceiving a good Opinion of their Doctrine was Baptized with many Thousands of his Subjects in the Thirty Sixth Year of his Age and Fourteenth of his Reign Anno Dom. 596 for which God Blessed him with a long and prosperous Reign viz. Fifty Six Years Edelbard the Sixth King of Kent soon after his coming to the Crown was Converted by Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Canterbury whom Augustine on his Death-Bed had appointed his Successor in that See whereupon he Divorced himself from his Mother-in-Law whom he had Married after his Fathers Death and recalled Militus and Jusâ—us whom he had caused to fly beyond the Seas for fear of Persecution restoring them to their Bishopricks In his time Two mighty Whales were taken on the Coast of Kent and a Fight of Birds of various kinds were seen in the Air near Rochester about Noon whose numbers in that place in some measure Darkened the Sun for the space of an Hour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 618 and Reigned Twenty Four Years Ercombert the Seventh King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 642. This Man was a great Lover of the Christians everywhere in his Dominions suppressing the Idol Temples causing the Christian Worship strictly to be Observed throughout his Dominions Building divers Churches commanding the Fast of Lent to be kept He Reigned Twenty Four Years Egbert the Eighth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 666. He was of a cruel Nature Murthering his two Nephews Ethelred and Ethelbert to secure the Kingdom to his Posterity casting their Dead Bodies into the Medway a River runing by Rochester and Chattam whose Water thereupon for a time seemed of the colour of Blood and was so corrupted that a number of Fish dyed in it which was held as a Divine Judgment to upbraid the Murtherer after which he had a troublesome Reign his own People murmuring against him and being often ready to Rebel A little before his Death a terrible Blazing-Star appear'd for six Nights at South East soon after the seting of the Sun He Reigned Nine Years and odd Days Lothaire the Ninth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 675. In his time there was held the Third General Council at Constantinople where 600 Bishops were present Three of which went from England and had the Precedency given them before divers other Nations Agatho being then Bishop of Rome Afterward engaging in a War against Ethelred King of Mercia and Edrick King of the South Saxons he charging in the thickest of the Battel and endeavouring to break in upon the Mercian Standard where that King stood Invironed with his Nobles a Dart being thrown overthwart with a strong hand struck him on the Left Side and pierced through the Right so that he instantly fell Dead on the place when he had Reigned Eleven Years and his death so discouraged his Souldiers who had before near-gained the Victory that they quitted the Field and fled Ederick the Tenth King of Kent was a Man of great Courage but using some Cruelty towards his Nobility they grew displeased with him and laboured to stir up the common People to a dislike of his Government and at last raised a Rebellion against him and in a great Battel near Maidstone he was Slain and his Body very despitefully used The Night before this Battel there were Groans and Cries heard as proceeding out of the Air and most of the Lawrels throughout the Country Withered after which great Mischief happened for the Victors not agreeing about dividing the spoil fell into parties and in clandestine Broyles shed much Blood so that there was no King in Kent for six years This Ederick Reigned only two Years and ten Days begining it Anno Dom. 682. Withred the Eleventh King of Kent upon his Brothers Overthrow fled from the Popular Fury to Ine King of the West Saxons with whom he remained till the expiration of the six Years when agreeing with him for a considerable sum of Money he Restored him to the Kingdom which sum not exceeding 6000 l. being raised on the Subject caused great Murmurings but he quieted them by promising to Live Frugally Proclaiming a general Pardon and granting them many Priviledges which in former Reigns they enjoyed not so that he lived rather like a Private Man than a Soveraigne Prince Yet he had great Wars with Ethelred King of Mercia He Reigned 33 Years beginning it Anno Dom. 694. Edbert the Twelfth King of Kent Succeeded Withred He at the beginning of his Reign laboured for Peace and setled the Kingdom that had been harrassed and in a manner destroyed by the Mercians in the former Reign Rebuilding the Churches and Monastries they had Ruinated But in the Fourth Year of his Reign the Beacons of Heaven foreshewed more Misery to the already suffering Kingdom two Blazing-Stars appearing successively the one in the South West and the other at South East after which great Dissentions arose among the Saxon Kings and much Blood was spilt in divers places the Britains were likwise extreamly distressed by the Invading Norhumbers and West Saxons who penned them within the Streights and Mountains of Wales till Famine coming on numbers were Starved in the Rocks and Caves whither they had retired for shelter He began his Reign Anno Dom. 727 and Reigned 23 Years Ethelbert the Thirteenth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 750. At his coming to the Crown he laboured to promote Christianity gave large Gifts to the Cathedral Church of Canterbury and to St. Andrews in Rochester Built by Ethelbert the Second King of Kent He laboured also to keep Peace with his Neighbours yet such was the greedy desire of the Saxons to incroach on each other having beaten the poor Britains out of all the Counties that were worth Possessing that Wars ensued and much Blood was shed Yet he Dyed in Peace whan he had Reigned Eleven Years Alrick the Fourteenth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 761 but after he had Reigned 34 Years Offa the great King of the Mercians Quarrelled with him for Entertaining Duke Edesin who Fled from his Fury yet this seemed only a pretence his
the Reignes of Twenty Five Kings THE Kingdom of Northumberland Extended very largly in the North of England containing Yorkshire Durham Lancashire Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland Bounded on the North with the German Ocean on the West with the Irish Sea and part of Scotland on the South with Cheshire Derbyshire Notinghamshire and Lincolnshire abounding with Sea-Coale Mineralls Quarries of Stone Cattle Rivers stored with Salmon Trouts and other Fish Fat Pastures Fowl and abundance of Corn. Ida and Ella two Saxon Dukes first Modelled it into a Kingdom Anno Dom. 597 causing divers Towns to be Built that had been ruined in the Wars keeping strong Guards on their Borders to defend them against Encroachments yet after they had Reigned Fifteen Years finding themselves too weak to bandy against the Britains Picts and East Angles who greatly disturbed them in their Settlement to render them able to keep what they had Seized they sent for five German Captains who came with more Forces by which additional Strength the Kingdom was Established But about that time Ida Dying they Quarrelled with Ella for their Parts or Shares whereupon to prevent the effusion of Blood and rending it in pieces by Civil Dissention it was agreed they should Reign with him as Co-Parteners Anno Dom. 562. The Continuance of their Reigns were as followeth 2. Theadwold 1 Year 3. Elappea 5 Years 4. Adda 7 Years 5. Ferthuf 7 Years 6. Theodorick 7 Years But Ella Out-living some and Banishing others when he found he was powerful in the Love of his People and they hated for their Tyranny Reigned singly many Years after and in all Forty Two Viz. till 589. Elthelrick Accounted by the foregoing means the Seventh King of Northumberland Succeeding Ella Anno Dom. 589. His Accession to the Throne was ushered in by a fearful Blazing Star and the Sea breaking in near Hortle Pool in the Bishoprick of Durham swept away divers Villages Drowning many People and Cattle He had Wars with the Picts who bordered on the North of his Kingdom and in a set Battel near Wark in Northumberland gave them a great overthrow as also the Scots their Confederates entering their Kingdom and bringing away large Booties so that they were constrained to sue for Peace which was granted But intending to War on the Britains Death put a period to that Enterprize when he had Reigned four Years Anno 593. Ethelfrid the Eighth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 593 being a mortal Enemy to the poor Britains making Inroads into their Territories and destroying all before him when coming to the Monastery of Bangor in Carnarvanshire the Monks came out with Presents to meet him Singing a Hymn as a demonstration of his Welcom but this and their Innocence which they too much trusted in little availed to Skreen them from his Fury for being of a Bloody temper Eleven Hundred of them in that Monastry and others Adjacient were miserably Massacred at his Command a little while after the meeting of Augustin Bishop of Canterbury with the British Bishops at Austin's Oak in Worcestershire to settle matters of Religion according as it was practiced at Rome but those Bishops in many Points Dissenting from him the Assembly abruptly broke up and for this he is hardly censured and not without ground to be the Instigater of Ethelfrids Cruelty This Ethelfrid Fought with Cadwan King of the Britains near West-Chester and overthrew him with great slaughter and after a Peace concluded which lasted during their Lives he Warred on the Scots and defeated Edanaden their King at Degsaxton on the Marches of Scotland and Banished Edwin his Kinsman and Heir Apparent to the Crown who flying for protection to Redwald King of the East Angles they raised an Army and joyning Battel many of Ethelfrids Souldiers who bore good-will to Edwin seeing his Standard in the Field Revolted whereupon Ethelfrid labouring to restore the declining Battel threw himselfe like a desperate Man among the thickest of the Enemies and was slain when he had Reigned Thirty Two Years Edwin after the Death of Ethelfrid was placed by Redwald in the Throne of the Northumbrian Kingdom and is accounted the Ninth King He began his Reign Anno Dom. 626. It is reported by the Monks of those times who were mightily addicted to such Foolish and Superstitious Fables That in his Banishment the Apostle St. Paul Appeared to him in a Vision Preaching to him the Gospel and telling him if he would cause it to be freely Preached in the Northumbrian Kingdom he should be shortly placed in the Throne which he then promised to do whereupon the Vision laying one Hand on his Head and Commanding him to remember that Sign Vanished But after he gained his desires forgeting his promise the same Apostle appeared to Paulinus the Bishop of York and commanded him to lay his Hand on the Kings Head and demand if he remembred that Sign which he had no sooner done but Edwin fell at his Feet begging Pardon for his neglect and was thereupon with many of his Nobles Baptized at York after which he Built many Religious Houses and was himself a great promoter of Christianity sheltering and relieving such as fled the Persecution of Pagan Kings which Charitable succour of the distressed was the main ground on which Penda King of the Mercians founded his Quarrel so that a Bloody War ensuing Edwin and Offrid his Son were slain in Battel the Mercians at that time being assisted by Cadwallo King of the Britains when he had Reigned Seven Years In his time he much inlarged the Northumbrian Kingdom subduing the Coasts of Britain and the Islands of the Hebrides To prevent whose progress one Eumerius was sent by the West Saxon King to Murther him but was prevented by Lillia the Kings Chamberlain steping between on the push and receiving the Mortal Wound in his own Body He Built the Cathedral at York of Stone which before was only of Wood. Offride or Osrick the Tenth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 633. By Edwin's Example encouraging and promoting the Christian Religion In his time a Little Stream of the Colour of Blood burst from a Rock near York and soon after entering on a War against Cadwallo King of the Britains he was Slain when he had Reigned about a Year Oswald the Eleventh King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 634 he followed the steps of his Two Predecessors in promoting the Christian Religion sending for Adian a Scotch Bishop of great note to assist him in so good a Work who Preaching in Landesfeorn or Holy Island in Scotland and the King Interpreting it to the People many of them were Converted and Baptized He had great Wars with the Britains and in a set Battel slew Cadwallo the last but one of the race of the British Kings and the greatest part of his Army at Deniseburn so that he had Peace on that side but thinking to gain the like advantage over Penda the Mercian King
in the dangerous War his Predecessor had set on foot engaging in a Battel against Egbert King of the West Saxons who joyned with the East Angles against him he was Slain in the Second Year of his Reign after which most of the Towns on the East and Western Borders were Sacked and some reduced to Ashes Which Desolation was fore-run by a Comet with a Tail pointing downward like a flaming Sword Watlaf the Eighteenth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 826 and with the Kingdom was constrained to espouse the Wars his Predecessors had left as it were Entailed on it so that raising the Strength of his much harassed and weakened Dominions he drove the West Saxons out of Worcestershire and other Western Encroachments yet not without considerable loss in the several Bickerings between them But in the Thirteenth Year of this King Egbert the West Saxon came upon him with a potent Army and in a set Battel overthrew him putting a Period to his Life and Reign Berthulf the Nineteenth King of Mercia came to the Kingdom in a troublesome time viz. Anno Dom. 839 for he not only found his People in War with his Countrymen but a more cruel Enemy had Invaded the Country viz. The Pagan Danes who being Enemies to all alike as desirous of grasping the sole Monarchy of this Island they made such Havock and Desolation in all places where they prevailed That the People of whole Counties in the Northern parts flying their fury left the Towns Naked and Defenceless for the Saxons in Civil War having much impaired their strength found that they at this time were too weak to oppose the Torrent of those Multitudes that were poured in upon them from Denmark and Gothland and also from Shetland the Orcades and other Northern Islands which the Danes possessed beyond Scotland from one of which they brought a Cruel People called Redshanks from the Redness of their long Leggs occasioned by the coldness of that Climate they going for the most part Naked except a Mantle thrown over their Shoulders and are supposed by some Authors for their mighty stature to be of the Race of the Titans or Giants held once to Inhabit part of Britain However they brought such a Terror on the Mercian Kingdom c. That Berthulf was forced to quit it in the Thirteenth Year of his Reign after which in compassion to the oppressed People who were Slain and Spoiled at the pleasure of the Danes Burdred took upon him the Government and being a Prince of great Courage he fought divers Battels with the Danes and at last gained a great Victory insomuch that the Fields and Lanes were strewed with the Dead Bodies But greater Forces arriving to recruite their broken Army he was forced after some strugling to quit his Kingdom when he had Reigned Twenty Two Years viz. Anno Dom. 872. And with him Ended the Succession of Saxon Kings as petty Monarchs of the Mercian Kingdom CHAP. VII The Kingdoms of the East Angles and West Saxons with their respective Succession of Kings and what Happened of Note during their Reigns in Peace and War Particularly the Danish Invasion and by what means England was reduced under a Sole Monarchy 6. The East Angle Kingdom Described with the Succession of its Fifteen Kings THE Kingdom of the East Angles contained Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely Bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Essex and Hartfordshire on the West with Notinghamshire Huntingtonshire and part of Bedfordshire on the North partly by the German Ocean and partly by the River Trent and Northumbrian Kingdom Commodiously Situate for Navigation as being accommodated with divers good Havens famous for Butter Cattel Corn Wooll Cloath Stuffs c. The First Saxon Founder of this Kingdom was Offa a High German Nobleman who brought over considerable Forces upon notice his Countrymen were parcelling out the Southern parts of this Island and Landing at Yarmouth he prevailed with some difficulty to settle himself and his People in the Counties above-mentioned beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 575 and Reigned Seven Years being for the most part at peace In his time a great Eclipse of the Sun happened about Noon almost total so that it continued in a great degree Dark for the space of an Hour Titulus Succeeding Vffa Anno Dom. 583 laboured to settle his Borders and keep a good understanding with his Neighbours and perceiving the British Forces were rather Retired than Subdued he made many wholsom Laws to keep his People in order repaired the Ruined Towns built Forts on the Sea-Coast and Reigned about 32 Years keeping his Country for the greater part of that time in Quiet he was the Second King of the East Angle Kingdom Redwald the Third King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 616. Soon after his coming to the Throne he was Baptized into the Christian Faith but upon some distaste renounced his Baptismal Vows and became a great Persecutor of the Christians amongst others he intended the Death of Edwin afterward King of Northumherland who fled to his Court for Refuge because he interceeded for them But he being a Favorite of the Queens and the King imparting his design to her she pittying the young Prince so laboured to disswade him from it that he not only laid aside his wicked purpose but entered into a strict League with him and an Army was raised to place him in the Kingdom of Northumberland when in a great Battel they Slew Ethelfrid who had got possession of the Throne and had Banished Edwin This Redwald Reigned Eight Years Erpenwald the Fourth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 624. He by the perswasion of Edwin King of Northumberland became a Favourer of the Christians and was Baptized he built divers Churches and Monasteries but when he had Reigned about Twelve Years Richebert a Pagan Saxon out of a Zeal to their False Gods whose Idol Temples this King had caused to be converted into places of Christian Worship Assnssinated him and fled but being taken endeavoring to pass the Seas he was put to death by exquisit Torments Sigebert the Fifth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 636. He was Son to Redwald and having received a good opinion of the Christian Religion when he was very Young he upon his Fathers Apostatizing fled into that Country now call'd France antiently Gallia where he improved in the Study of Divine things so that being a great lover of Learned Men at his coming to the Crown he Founded a Colledge Endowing it with a plentiful Maintenance viz. Anno Dom. 637 and so passionately he was in love with a Religious manner of Living that laying aside his Crown when he had Reigoed Two Years he took on him the Habit of a Monk yet out of compassion to his suffering People Invaded and driven to great distress by Penda King of the Mercians he laid aside his Cowl and
by a Shepherd was Buried together with his Body at a place in Suffolk bearing from thence the Name of St. Edmunds-Bury he being soon after Cannonized a Saint and Martyr And with him ceased the East Angle Government there being no mention made of any more Kings that Governed it as a distinct Kingdom About the number of Years he Reigned Authors disagree and therefore I pass them over as uncertain and proceed to the last of the Seven Kingdoms viz. That of the West Saxons 7. The West Saxon Kingdom described with the Succession of its Kings and what things worthy of History happened during their respective Reigns Also by what means they at last Obtained the Sole Monarchy of England c. The Kingdom of the West Saxons contained the spacious and fertil Counties of Cornwal Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Barkshire Bounded on the North with Monmouthshire Gloucestershire Oxfordshire and Bristol-Channel on the East with Sussex Surry and part of Buckinghamshire on the South with the British-Ocean and part of the Channel on the West with the Ocean These Counties abound in plenty of Corn Wooll Tinn Fruits Cattle and profitable Manufactures having many Excellent Harbours opening advantageously to the Sea so that growing by such means Rich and Powerful they failed not at length to bring under the other Kingdoms Uniting them in a Sole Monarchy under Egbert their Seventeenth King as in the Series of this History will appear Cherdick a Valiant Captain of the Low Country Germans first laboured to form these Counties into a Kingdom but before he could do it he had Six Years Wars with the Britains in which he Fought a great Battel with Aurelius Ambrosius their King and was put to the Rout but upon his Death which happened Two Years after by Poison as has been related Vter-Pendragon Brother to Aurelius being Crowned King of the Britains he borrowed Forces of Hengist who were sent under the Leading of Ebusa and Octa his two Sons but these Forces were as the former overthrown by Vter-Pendragon and Hengists Sons were taken Prisoness but whilst the Victor neglected the Tents of Mars for the softer Alcove of Venus viz. To sport with the fair Igren Wife to the Duke of Cornwal on whom he got the Renouned Prince Arthur who Succeeded him as King over the Britains the Noble Captives Escaped and again advancing their Standard in the Field were Slain with most of their followers These bad beginnings so startled Cherdrick that he found little hopes to keep the footing he had gained but more Forces coming unexpectedly to his Aid he resolved to try another Battel with the Britains which was Fought near Salisbury wherein Fortune turning her Wheel about he put the British Army to the Foil killing Natauleon one of their great Captains and made so great a slaughter of his Enemies that for a time he had no Interruption in settling his Affairs but after the Death of Vter-Pendragon who Died of Poison put into a Well whereof he used to Drink every Morning King Arthur gave great disturbances to him in the settlement of his new acquired Kingdom much Blood being shed between them in divers Battels yet beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 501 he continued it Thirty Three Years Kenrick the Second King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 534. He was Son to Cherdick and a Mortal Enemy to the Britains In his Fathers time he Commanded a part of the Army and Fought several Battels and now coming to the Crown he raised all his Forces and gave the Britains two great Overthrows viz. One at Shrewsbury and the other at Banbury in Oxfordshire He Reigned Twenty Six Years Chewlin the Third King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 560. He Warred upon Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon slaying two of his chief Commanders and this is held to be the first Battel fought between Saxons and Saxons in England a little before which it remarkably happened at Feversham in Kent That a Tame Wolfe having brought forth Seven Male Young-ones they lived Quietly together till grown up and then never left Fighting till all but one were Destroyed as it afterward befell the Saxon Heptarchy This King gave a great Overthrow to the Britains at Bedford and Surprized Four of their Towns viz. Liganbury Ailsbury Bensington and Evisham He Fought another Battel with them at Deorham and Slew three of their Dukes viz. Farmnagill Coinmagill and Candigan Taking the Cities of Glocester Bath and Cirencester But not long after Encountering them at Wodensbridge his Army was defeated and Cuth his Eldest Son Slain for here a party of Saxons assisted the Britains under the Command of Cearlick his Nephew who had fled to them upon hard usage and fear of being made away by his unnatural Uncle He Reigned Thirty Three Years Cearlick the Fourth King of the West Savons gained the Kingdom by the Overthrow of his Uncle Chewlin which he gave him at Waines-Ditch in Wiltshire Anno Dom. 593 after which he found much trouble ere he could be settled in the Government but the Britains standing his Friends he continued his Reign Six Years Chelwolf began his Reign Anno Dom. 598 but scarce was he settled in the Throne ere the Britains Invaded his Territories making great Spoil but finding they were too weak to withstand him alone in process of time they drew the Scots and Picts to their assistance so that many bloody Battels were fought with various success In which Wars he Dyed in the 14th Year of his Reign leaving his Kingdom in much distress and perplexity He was the 5th King of the West Saxons Kingills the Sixth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 612. He had great Wars with the Britains and in a pitched Battel at Beandune he put Cudwan their King to the Rout Slaying above a Thousand of his Subjects and having concluded a Peace with Penda King of the Mercians he grievously Oppressed them so that for a long time they were confined to the Mountains and Fastnesses in the Country now called Wales However after he was Converted to the Christian Faith by Berinus he abated much of his Severity making Dorchester a Bishops See and placing that Religious Man in it He was the First Christian King of the West Saxons and Reigned Thirty One Years Kenwald the Seventh King of the West Saxons made great Wars upon the Britains Overthrowing King Cadwallo at a place called Pennum with incredible slaughter but growing Proud on the success and Quarreling with Penda King of Mercia whose Sister he had Married and in Contempt of him turned her away he was by him driven out of his Kingdom But upon Submitting and being Baptized by Bishop Felix he was restored to his Kingdom and thereby obliged by Penda to receive his Wife into Favour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 643 and Reigned Thirty One Years Eskwin the Eighth King of the West Saxons began his Reign
Proclaimed and the Britains being Overthrown in divers Battels were forced to fly to the Rocks and the broken craggy Cliffs on the Sea-shoare and the Mountainnous parts for shelter from thence with aking Hearts beholding the blazing Fires that consumed their Habitations and the miserable Desolation made in their almost before ruined Country But as if such Cruelty as no doubt it did seemed displeasing in the sight of God The angry Heavens Warred against him and did what the feeble Britains were unable 〈◊〉 do viz he was driven out of the Country by vioâ—â—nt Rains which Deluging the Valleys and Plaines â—arryed away Men Horse and Baggage so that by â—his means he lost a good part of his Army When â—o put so great a misfortune out of his mind going to Merton to sollace with his Paramour a worse misforâ—une befel him for having Quarreled with Offa King of Mercia Clyto a Mercian Captain upon privat notice of his Journy attended but with a few Servants layed an Ambush and slew him which was the next day Revenged by Osricus one of Kenwolfs Captains who upon news of what had happened by a Shepherd who from a Hill had beheld the slaughter of the King and his Followers crossing the Country by the nearest ways intercepted Clyto in his return and after a sharp dispute slew him and Eighty Souldiers his attendants and caused the Kings Body to be Interred with much State at Winchester This King Reigned Twenty Nine Years Brithrick the Sixteenth King of the West Saxans began bis Reign Anno Dom. 784. He was given up very much to the Love of Women and though he was Marryed to a very Beautiful Queen yet he kept divers Concubins so that his Recreations of that kind taking up much of his time gave his Neighbours for the most part rest especially to the satisfaction of the Britains who were in a low condition and unable to undergo the Charge and Fatigue of a dangerous War as they had lately experienced to their smart and impoverishment yet in his time several strange Prodigies appeared viz. The similitudes of seven Moons in the Firmament which by degrees uniting into one it Shined exceeding Bright for a time above what that pale Planet had usually done and then became dim and cloudy A great Glob of Fire appeared over Winchester and coming near the earth parted or broke into divers lesser Globes or Balls which Fired some Houses and killed many People also a little Blazing-Star appeared three Nights successively and a Month before his Death strange Shrieks and affrighting Voices were heard in his Pallace The manner of his Death was thus The Queen impatient of the Wrongs he did her in keeping Strumpets in his Pallace and causing her sometimes to wait on them was at length prompted to revenge the Affronts put upon her by one of them he best loved and therefore having mixed Poison with some rich Wine she intended to send it to her in the Kings Name as a Present but being unluckily called away to see some sights that were prepared for the diversion of the Court she left it in her Closet and for haste the Door open when as the King coming thither before her return and taking it for a Cordial Drank largly of it and so by the strength of the Poison he Dyed in three Hours and the Queen fearing to suffer a cruel Death though this had un-witingly happened by her means hereupon flying into France through Grief and Want she dyed in a miserable condition This King Reigned Sixteen Years Egbert the Seventeenth and Last Petty King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 800 and whilst he continued in this Station before he came to be Crowned Sole Monarch of the Saxons Uniting the Heptarchy or Seven Kingdoms he had great Wars with the Britains who were assisted by the Cornish-men which from the beginning of his Wars with them to the time he brought them to acknowledge him their Superiour lasted about Fourteen Years in which time he took Westchester and made a strict Law That no Britain or Welshman should pass Offa 's Ditch without leave Then Warring on the Mercians he slew Bernulf their King subdued Kent and compelled the East Angles the South and East Saxons to submit to him and in a great measure having brought the Mercians and Northumbrians under grasping at the Sole Monarchy which he concluded Fortune had or soon would chain to his Sword he caused himself with great Pomp solemnly to be Crowned Soled Monarch of the Saxons that had been for the most part till now distinctly Governed by their respective Kings as appears in the foregoing account of the Succession of them This was performed at Winchester with many of the Ceremonies used at present in the Coronation of our Kings when he had Reigned over the West Saxons Nineteen Years But because I am obliged to Trace the remainder of his Reign viz. Seventeen Years as Sole Monarch in the next Chapter I here omit to mention any more of his Actions And now to clear some difficulties that may arise as far as History gives light into the Truth Note That although Egbert caused himself to be Crowned Sole Monarch and absolutely possessed himself of those Kingdoms whose Succession of Kings ceased before or when he Reigned as that of Kent the East Saxons and South Saxon Kingdoms c. yet others were of a longer continuance and can be supposed only as Tributary to him for we find Burdred the last of the Mercian Kings ended his Reign Anno Dom. 874. viz. Thirty Eight Years after Egberts Death And to the same purpose it is to be considered further viz. where Authors make mention of a longer continuance of the Petty Kingdoms than there is any Succession of Kings Recorded the Judicious Observers and Comparers of History have looked on it as a Mistake in them by taking the Lieutenants or Vice-Roys placed by the Sole Monarchs to Govern under them for petty Kings which Error the Antient Writers of the Affairs of this Kingdom having been too lyable to their Incoherence in respect of Time has not a little puzzled those that came after them which I have as well as the matter will conveniently bear without breaking the thred of History laboured to Reform CHAP. VIII The Succession of the Fifteen Saxon Kings that were Sole Monarchs of England with what Memorable Things happened in Peace and War during their Reigns as Wonderful Sights Prodigies and Remarkable Accidents c. Till the time the Danes wrested the Kingdom with much strugling from them Anno Dom. 1017 about 230 Years after they made their first Invasion Together with a Description of the Counties of England one by one after every Kings Reign which will be continued throughout the Work giving an Account of what is or has been Rare or Remarkable in each of them c. The Reign of King Egbert the First Sole Saxon Monarch of England WHEN the contending Petty Kings of the Saxons had for
many Years Elbowed each other and discontented with a Part strugled who should become Masters of the Whole and Amass the Light Crowns into one more Ponderous we find Fortune or rather Providence gave this advantage to Egbert the Seventeenth King of the West Saxons though to attain it he waded as I may term it through a Sea of Blood in his Wars with the Welsh for so I must henceforth stile the poor remainders of the Antient British Race as taking upon them that Epithite and calling their Principality Wales after the Name the Saxons had many Years before given it also with the Cornishmen who Rebelled against him and were assisted with Supplies from Armorica or Britany in France in his Wars against Bernulf King of Mercia and his subduing the Kingdom of Kent and compelling the East South and Angle Saxons to submit to him In these Enterprizes which took him up for the most part the Nineteen Years he Reigned as Petty Monarch over the West Saxons about one Hundred Thousand are held to be Slain on all sides so that the Crown purchased at so large an expence of Lives being set on his Head as has been said at Winchester he commanded the Name of Saxons to be changed into that of Englishmen corresponding with the Name given to the Country they Inhabited That by this change they by degrees might forget the Distinctions they before were under and so firmly Unite as one Kingdom and People not tending to different but one and the same Interest This Egbert gaining through many difficulties what he long before aspired to made divers good Laws for the better Establishment of his new acquired Soveraignty so that the Welsh though they put not themselves under his Protection yet desirous to be at Peace sent him many Presents out of their divided Dominions of North and South Wales which Provincees for no more must I call them Kingdoms were Governed by Petty Princes After this Egbert made a Progress through the greatest part of England appointing Judges and other Magistrates to see the Laws put in Execution against Offenders and to redress the Wrongs and Grievances of such as were Oppressed being received every where with great respect and then thinking to lead a quiet Life he found by sad experience the Inconstancy of Fortune BARKSHIRE Having promised to give a Brief Description of England and its Rarities c. To make good my Word I conceive no better Method to do it in than placing the Counties and what I find in them worthy of Remark after the respective Reign of each Sole Monarch taking them Alphabetically and first of Barkshire Described c. THis County is bounded on the North with part of Oxfordshire and part of Buckinghamshire on the East with part of Middlesex and part of Surry on the South with Hampshire and partly on the West with Wiltshire It is Rich in Clothworking Fat Pasture abundance of Cattle rare Artificers Rivers stored with Fish of divers sorts particularly the River Kennet abounds with Trouts It Containes 140 Parishes 20 Hundreds 12 Market Towns and 3 Rivers of note and to the Parliament Abingdon sends one Member New Windsor two Reading two and Wallingford two besides two Knights of the Shire The Towns Memorable for things of Note are these viz. At Reading was Interred the Body of King Henry the First in a Collegiate Church of an Abby Founded by himself as also his Queen and Daughter Maud the Empress This place is also Memorable for the Birth of William Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Son of a Poor Clothier At Englesfield the Danes were defeated Wallingford is the Gallena of Ptolomy it was the Antient station of the Romans and chief City of the Atrebants Windsor was Builded by King Edward the Third who Instituted the most Noble Order of the Garter The Burying Place of Henry the Sixth Edward the Fourth Henry the Eighth and King Charles the First Eaton was Founded by King Henry the Sixth and Renouned as a Nursery for bringing up of Youth being one of the chiefest Free-Schools in England Sunning was an Episcopal See during the Residence of Eight Bishops which afterward was translated to Sherbourn and so to Salisbury where it now is fixed At Wantage King Alfred Sir Named the Scourge of the Danes was Born Waltham in the East of this County was an Antient station of the Romans as also was Sinodum in the North as appears by many Roman Coins and Medals of their Emperours Digged up there Newbury is Renowned for the Birth of Thomas Hide a famous Historian and Memorable for the Two great Battels between the King and Parliament in the late Civil War As for Castles that of Windsor in this County is accounted the most Exalted of all others having not only been the Burying Place but Pallace of divers Kings and much delighted in by King Charles the Second who made it his chosen place of Pleasure and Retirement being besides its delightful situation advanced on a high Hill arising with a gradual ascent which affords the pleasantest Prospect imaginable On the North side of this County the River Thames glides washing its verdant Banks in many Meanderings with its Silver Streams and out of it goes many Creeks which much advantages those parts of the County by cheap Water-Carriage from London and other places It is likewise Beautified with some Seats of the Nobility which give a good Prospect to Travelers viz. A Noble Seat of the Earl of Craven near Newbery the Earle of Clarendon's at Swallowfield Hurly belonging to John Late Lord Lovelace Barron of Hurley with a great many stately Houses belonging to the Gentry of the County so that it claimes an Equality with most of the English Counties The Reign of Ethelwolf the Second Sole Monarch of England c. EThelwolf the Eldest Son of Egbert upon his Fathers decease declined the Crown as being then Bishop of Winchester rather affecting a Religious Peaceable Life than to Incumber himself with the weighty Affairs of Government But the Nobles perceiving Troubles would arise if they altered the Succession used many cogent Arguments to perswade him to lay aside his Pall for a Crown but their Reasons prevailed not till they had dealt with his Clergy in a manner to constrain him to a compliance whereupon bestowing his Bishoprick on Swithin his Tutor he was solemnly Crowned at Winchester and settling the Civil Affairs as the times allowed finding part of his Dominions Oppressed by the Danes he raised great Forces and Encountered them in divers Battels and in a Bloody one at Ockly in Surry destroyed the greater part of their Army killing and taking Prisoners their chief Captains or Leaders which made the routed Danes that survived the Fatal day retired to the extremities of Kent where straightened for Food and roving to get it many of them were slain by the Country People This King Marryed Osburga a fair Lady Daughter to his Butler by whom he had Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelbred and Elfride
who Succeeded in the Kingdom successively but she Dying he took Judith Daughter to the King of France in a second Marriage by whom I do not find he had any Children In this Kings Reign the Picts were destroyed by Kenneth King of Scotland their chiefest City Camelon Stormed and as well Women and Children as Men who retired thither for safety put to the Sword in revenge of the Death of Alpine the King of Scots Father who being Overthrown by Burdus King of the Picts was taken Prisoner and had his Head struck off on a publick Scaffold and fixed on the Wall of Camelon but soon taken thence by some Scots who came thither in Pictish Habit and so implacable were the Scots in the utter extirpating this Nation which had long stood a boundary between them and the Southern parts of the Island being in a manner placed in the middle of it that having destroyed all the People that fell into their hands they slew their Cattel and suffered them to Rot on the Ground rooted up their Corn and layed their Towns and Villages level with the Ground not sparing Churches nor any Religious Houses pursuing the Flyers to their last Refuge viz. The strong Castle of Maidens now called Edenbourough Castle straightly Besieging them so that the Besieged having endured extream Famine and dispairing of relief desperately Sallying broke in the Night time through the Leagure and as many as escaped fled into England craving Aid of Ethelwolfs Lieutenants or Tributary Regents in Northumberland and other Northern Counties but little was done at this time by reason the King expected an Invasion by the Danes who were preparing in Denmark to succour their distressed Forces that kept but slender footing in England and others of the Picts who before had escaped the miserable desolation of their Country fled to Norway and Denmark and there in consideration of Refuge and present Support resigned their Interest in Pictland in their own and the Names of the rest of their Nation that survived the slaughter Which giving the Danes a colourable Title to make their Claim occasioned great calamities to England and Scotland to the subduing the former after a long continued War as in the sequel will appear Thus fell the Pictish Kingdom and was Annexed to Scotland Anno Dom. 839. After as some Historians Record they had continued under a Succession of Kings 1173 Years But its setting in Blood happened not without dreadful Omens and Prodigies at Camelon their chief City the Bishops Crosier Staff he Officiating at the Altar was reduced to Ashes by Lightning A dreadful Comet appeared and two Firey Armies were seen in the Air running at each other with Burning Spears a noise of Clashing of Arms and Neighing of Horses was affirmed to be heard in England and Pictland without any visibility of either which then were little minded but afterward looked on as the Forerunners of the dire calamities that ensued Upon this destruction of his Neighbours Kingdom Kenwolf was much perplexed because till now they stood as a Barricado to hinder the Incursion of the Scots whereupon he sent Ambassadors to Kenneth peaceably to suffer those of that Nation that were scattered in his and other Countries to return and Rebuild their Ruinated Towns but he would by no means harken to it which constrained him to Fortify the Towns in the Northern Marches and put strong Garisons into them And having a great love for the Clergy of whose number he had been he freed all Church-Lands from Tribute and Regal Services and being desirous to see Rome of whose Magnificence he had heard many wonderful Relations settling his Affairs in the best manner he could with divers of his Clergy and Nobility he Sailed thither and was Entertained with such Magnificence that in recompence of his Reception he confirmed Peter Pence to that See and after his Return gave Annually during his Life Three Hundred Marks to the Bishop of Rome This Ethelwolf Eldest Son to Egbert Began his Reign Anno Dom. 837 and Continued it Twenty Years Buckinghamshire Described c. BUckinghamshire is bounded with Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Oxfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex and Barkshire It abounds in Corn Pastures large Cattle and numerous Flocks of Sheep feeding on its gradual rising Hills and has in it divers stately Forrests and Chaces BUCKINGHAM SHIRE By J. Seller Chilton was the Birth-Place of the Learned Sr. George Crook a Famous Lawyer Amersham or Agmondisham took its Name from the Great Agmond and gave Birth to John Surnamed Amersham and divers other Learned Men. Windover gave Birth to Roger Surnamed Windover Historian to King Henry the Third Houton did the like to Roger Goad a very Learned Man of great Repute This Shire is divided into Eight Hundreds viz. those of Newport Buckingham Cotslow Ashendon Ailesbury Burnham Disborough and Stocke It sends Members to Parliament for Alesbury two Amersham or Agmondisham two Buckingham two Chipen-Wiccomb two Marlo two Wendover two and two Knights of the Shire It Contains One Hundred Eighty Five Parishes Eleven Market Towns and is Watered with Two considerable Rivers viz. The Thames on its South side and the River Ouse on which the Town of Buckingham is seated and in a manner is surrounded with it unless a little on the North side it lies open and over this River are three fair Stone Bridges Ailesbury is likewise very pleasantly situated in the midst of most delightful Meddows and Pastures and the Vale bearing its Name is accounted the most Fertil in Europe As for the Churches in the Principal Towns of this County they give a goodly Prospect to Travellers and are not only well Adorn'd and Fair without but very Beautiful within The Noblemens Seats of Note are Buckingham-House and Whadon lately belonging to George Duke of Buckingham Cheynes one of the Seats of William Duke of Bedford Latimers one of the Seats of William Duke of Devonshire Ashbridge part in Bucks and part in Hartfordshire one of the Seats of John Earl of Bridgwater Wing and Ethrop the Seats of the Earl of Carnarvan Laurendon one of the Seats of the Earl of Lichfield Overwinchendon-House one of the Seats of the Lord Wharton with divers stately Houses many Newly Erected belonging to the Gentry and that which makes it so well Inhabited is the Wholsomness of the Air which contributes to and continues a Healthful Constitution The Reign of Ethelbald the Third Sole Manarch of England EThelbald was Eldest Son to Ethelwolf by Osburga his first Queen and in his Fathers Lifetime held the Kingdom in a great measure as if he had been his Co-Partner His Valour the Danes experienced in divers Bloody Battels in many of which he Prevailed killing numbers with a mighty Faulchion he used in Fight which few but himself could wield yet after the toiles of War giving a little respite to his wearyed Body Judith his Stepmother came attended with divers Lady 's to Congratulate his Success in a very splendid Dress so that her Snow-white Breasts
appearing half Naked added to her Beauty she being then but very Young the King was so Charmed or Infatuated that he became Enamoured of her and though upon his Address she strongly urged she was his Fathers Widow and the Daughter of a King and that it was inconsistent with the Law of God and her Reputation to yield to his desires her Repulses served but as Air to make the Fire of his Passion blaze to a greater degree till at last between willing and unwilling tempted by Ambitious Inclinations of being a Queen Consort rather than Dowager she yielded to be his Wife And though the Match was highly opposed by his Nobles who layed before him the Scandal it would bring upon his Children if he had any by her and perhaps for his Sins a Punishment upon the Nation he persisting in his Resolution was Marryed though with little Ceremony tending to Magnificence as usual at the Weddings of the former Kings And indeed this brought much trouble on the King and Nation for whilst he Dallianced with his Incestuous Bride and pursued his wanton Pleasures the weighty Affaires of Government were layd aside and as it were altogether neglected which gave the Danes great advantage to recruit their Forces that had been not only weakened by War in the former Reign but with Famine attended on by a grievous Pestilence and when he had Reigned Two Years and Three Months without doing any thing Memorable he Dyed Suddainly supposed by an Appoplexy though some conclude he was Poisoned After which Queen Judith fearing some Mischief might befal her by reason she had upon this Marriage incurred the hatred of the People procured leave from Ethelbert Brother and Successor to Ethelbald to be Transported to France but a Storm arising the Ship was driven on the Coast of Flanders where undertaking to Travel by Land to her Fathers Court she was surprized on her Journey by Baldwin Forrester of Ardenna who compelled her to be his Wife and by kind usage won so much upon her Affections That Writing in her own and his behalf many moving and submissive Letters to the King her Father he not only forgave what had happened but created her Husband Earl of Flanders to hold that Country as his Tributary and from this Match Lineally descended Maud Wife to our William stiled the Conquorer also Baldwin Earl of Flanders who was King of Jerusalem and another of that Name who was by the Latins Invested with the Imperial Diadem of Greece upon their taking the famous City of Constantinople Anno Dom 1284. This Ethelbald was Third Sole Monarch of England Ending his Reign with his Life Anno Dom. 860. BEDFORD SHIRE By John Seller Remarks on Bedfordshire c. BEdfordshire is a very Pleasant In-Land County it is Bounded with Northamptonshire Huntingtonshire Cambridgshire Hartfordshire Buckinghamshire c. It is plentiful in Cattle Fowle Corn fat Pastures Forrests Parks replenished with store of Timber and Deer consisting of Plains pleasant Valleys and gradual rising Hills and is said to yeild the best Barley in England especially in the North parts It containes One Hundred and Sixteen Parishes Nine Hundreds Ten Market Towns and One considerable River It sends Members to Parliament Four viz. Bedford two and two Knights for the County Bedford the Shire Town has been to its cost the Scene of much Action especially in the Wars between King Stephen and the Empress Maud Mother to Henry the Second and in the Wars of the Barons against King John and was raz'd to the ground by King Henry the Third but soon Rebuilt and ever since flourished in much tranquility and splendor In a Chappel not far from the Town Offa the great King of the Mercians was Buryed which being demolished by the overflowing of the Ouse his Spectrum is said often to have appeared on the Water of that River There is a little Rivolet at Asply near Wobourn in this County which is famous for its Petrifying Quality being said to Turn Wood into Stone and that a Wooden Ladder happening to fall into it was some time after taken up again all Stone And that not only the Pivolet or Brook but the Earth in the Banks of it has the same Vertue So that it is justly accounted one of the Wonders of our Isle Dean is a pleasant Town Eminent for the Birth of Francis Dillingham a very Learned Man as Layton Buzzard for the Birth of William Sclater Dunstable called by the Romans Magiovinium the latter Name being taken from a notable Thief called Dun who with his Accomplices Inhabited it and for that cause called Dunstable or Duns Inning Place it also gave Birth to that Leared Author John Sirnamed Dunstable The River Ouse Waters this County with its pleasant Meanders passing through Bedford and hath over it a handsom Stone Bridge with two Gates upon it This County is likewise Beautified with some of the Seats of the Nobility as those of Anthony Grey Earl of Kent at Wrest-House and Harrold the Earl of Bullinbrooks at Bletsho and Melchborn the Earl of Allesbury's at Ampthil and Clophil Its Hills produce the best Marl with abundance of Blue Stone like Slate And the whole County is plentiful in all sorts of Provision and divers profitable Manufacturs The Reign of Ethelbert Fourth Sole Monarch of England EThelbert Second Son to Ethelwolf a Prince of an Active Spirit immediatly Succeeded his Brother Ethelbald being Crowned ten days after his Death the imergency of Affairs not allowing longer delay or much Ceremony in the performance by reason the Danes were again become powerful so that as well as the time would permit having setled the Western parts of his Kingdom and that he might not leave an Enemy at his Back made the Welsh his Friends he commanded the Nobles and Gentry to Muster as many as could be spared from Tilling the Ground and Harvest and were able to bear Arms and with them so Accoutered for the War to repaire to his Standard and being Obeyed in this he Marched towards the Enemy whom he found Ravaging with their usual cruelties the Inland Counties as far as the Western Borders of Bedfordshire sending Heralds before him to demand the reason Why they Invaded his Country and destroyed so many Innocent People stripping the Towns and Villages of all that was valuable and laying many of them in Ashes But they with threats dismissing his Messengers without any satisfactory answer Ethelbert gave them Battel which continued for a time Bloody and doubtful as if Victory knew not to which side to encline but when the Sun was descending in the West a Band of Peasants came to the Kings assistance with Forks Sythes and other Harvest Instruments and falling on the Danes with loud crys they taking this to be a Reserve and thinking there might be more sheltered behind the Woods and Hills hereupon immediatly gave back and the King taking advantage of their fears pressed on so furiously in the head of his Army that from an orderly
slaying Agner accounted one of their Kings Nine Earls and a great number of common Souldiers Yet Fourteen Days after they put the King to Flight at Basing after a Battel of Twelve Hours and within Thirty Days did the like at Merton the King receiving a Mortal Wound as he was in the Pursuit at Whitingham of which he Dyed when he had Reigned Five Years viz. Anno Dom. 872 and was Buryed in the Monastery of Wimbourn He was the Fifth Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Cornwal c. COrnwal the Antient Cornubij seemes to take its Name from its pushing into the Sea in the form of a Horn. It abounds with Mines of Tin which is the best and finest in all Europe Stone Quarries Corn Fruits Cattle and as some hold there might be much Silver Digged in several places It is the Extremity of England Westward On the North and partly the West it has the Irish Sea on the South the Channel and on the East Devonshire It is divided into Nine Hundreds and contains 161 Parishes 22 Market Towns and seven Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 44 viz. Bodmin two Bassiney two Camelford two Dunhived two Eastlow two Fowey two Grampound two Helston two St. Germins two St. Ives two Kellington two Leskerk two Lostwithiall two St. Mawes two St. Michael two Newport two Penryn two Port-Pigham two Saltash two Tregonye two Truro two and two Knights of the Shire Camelford in this County is very famous for the Battel where Mordred was Slain and King Arthur received his Mortal Wound There has lately been digged up peices of Armour in that place Tintagal Castle gave King Arthur that Miracle of British Valour Birth At Castle-Dennis the Ruins of the Daines Trenches upon their first Invasion are to be seen St. Germans is a very stately Place and was Antiently an Episcopal See but removed to Bodmin and from thence by King Edward the Confessor to Exeter in Devonshire where it remains Cradoc is likewise noted for the Birth of John Travisa a Learned Writer This County is famed for its exceeding high Mount overlooking the Sea with a curious Bay on which stands Pensance commanding the Harbour CORNWALL The Seats of the Nobility are Stow Wolston Stanbury Clifton and Lanow belonging to the Earl of Bath Lubydrock and Truro to the Earl of Radnor Boconock to the Lord Mohun of Okehampton Terrise to the Lord Arundel Barron Trerise The Cliffs to the Sea Coast produce Samphire Sea Holley and the Inland part abounds with Rosa Solis wild Hysop Marjorum Garlick growing naturally as also Chestnuts The Reign of Alfrid Sixth Sole Monarch of England ALfrid by some called Elfride Fourth Son of Ethelwolf being at Rome when his Brother Dyed was fetched from thence to succour and support his Bleeding Country at the point to be lost to a Merciless Enemy he had the Crown placed on his Head Anno Dom. 872 and finding a greater necessity to be in the Field than the Pallace he caused Forces to be raised in all his Dominions free from the Danish Subjection for in stead of befriending the Northumbrian and Mercian Dukes that had joyned with them against Ethelred they sorely oppressed those Countries making them as it were Slaves to perform all servile offices not leaving them any thing they could properly call their owne Billeting Souldiers in their Houses as Guards over them rather than Guests who constrained the poor Inhabitants to feed them with what should sustain the wants of themselves and their necessitous Children as also to supply them with Money or else their Lives were liable at every distaste taken by their Lord Danes to pay for the Defect Such treatment as this being the usual Rewards of all those who by their own Treachery and perfidiousness endeavour to bring in Foreigners to Subdue and Enslave their Native Country And yet this is the sole Aim of those Brutes among us that glory in the Name of Iacobites who would bring in the late King James by the Arms of the French and thereby subject the Nation to the will of that insulting Tyrant Lewis the Fourteenth and so entail Slavery for ever on themselves and their Posterity And if they only were to feel it might they have their wishes But since others must suffer with them should their Attempts succeed I hope that God that has so lately brought to light their cursed Designes will still continue to defeat all the enterprizes of such Profligate Villans and preserve the Sacred Life of His Majesty from all their Hellish Machinations and thereby these Nations in that Peace and happiness which through God's goodness they now enjoy under His Majesties Auspicious Reign I hope the Reader will pardon this Digression which only Zeal to my King and Country and a just indignation against those Miscreants who are continually labouring to embroil us in Blood and Confusion has Extorted from me But to proceed By these their Cruel and Arbitrary proceedings the King finding no Truce nor Oathes were binding on their part resolved to gather his Forces into a Body and give them Battel causing Publick Prayers to be put up for his success but before it could be effectually done upon notice of it they Marched into Devonshire taking Exceter whilst they were parlying with the King for a Truce after which he narrowly escaped the Ambush they layed to intrap him and take his Life whereupon having gotten as many Forces as he could together he pursued them in their March towards Bristol which City they intended to Sack but they facing about and a fierce Fight ensuing the King was overthrown his Army scattered and he forced to fly into the Woods for shelter where fiting his Bow and Arrows in a poor Shepherds Cottage he was sharply reproved by the Houswife she not knowing him for letting a Cake burn on the Hearth for want of turning it saying How now you Lubber must I give you House-roome for doing nothing Why did not you turn the Bread Yet I warant you would be ready to Eate it ere it is half Baked The King finding he was in great straights and much grieved at the misery his Subjects groaned under at last bethought him of a Stratagem to Redress it viz. He put himself into the Habit of a Bard or Harper and went into the Danish Camp playing on his Harp unsuspected and by that means taking notice of their Luxurious manner of living and sluggish security he went thence and collected his scattered Forces and falling upon them near Abingdon in the Night time when they little expected the danger so near he made an incredible slaughter of the un-prepared Danes so that nothing but Crys and clashing of Swords were heard throughout the Valleys and here Hubba one of their great Captains was Slain and their Banner Rafan taken being the Danes chief Standard having on it the figure of a Raven done in Nedlework Imbrodered by the Daughters of Lodbroke Sisters to Hungar and Hubba which was in high Estimation because
they had Prophesied Victory should ever attend the Danes wherever it was Displayed in the Field And soon after the Battel was over Hubba was Buryed and a mighty Hill of Stones cast on him as a Monument which gave Name to the place of his Burial which is called Hubblestow or Stone to this day The King pursuing this advantage and for the Encouragement of his Souldiers having shared the Spoiles taken from the Danes amongst them followed the Retreating Enemy and within a while gave them two other great Defeats one at Ethan-Dun the other at Rhoaf-ceaster now Rochester raising the Siege they had layed before it After this they Recruited and brought another Raven Standard to the Field in hopes of better success But near Alesford in Kent they received another great Overthrow so that the Waters in the Ditches Ponds and Rivers adjacent were coloured with Blood and from thence he chaced them into Essex through the Thames in passing which River pursu'd by the Enemy and their own fears many for haste missing the Fords were smothered in the Deeps This however sufficed not the King whose main Aime was to drive them out of the Kingdom and so give Peace and Rest to his tired and distressed Subjects wherefore he Marched to a place then called Beaufleet where Hastinges a Dane who newly arrived with Eighty Ships had fortified and received his flying Country-men and here likewise Fortune was on his side he giving them the Rout and lastly they were quite discomfited at Boultington by Severn and at the Isle of Mesig or Mersey in Essex at the River Ligea or Ley which goeth to Ware and carryed up their Ships but Alfred Trenching and Drying it they could not bring them back whereupon they fled into Northumberland and then to Denmark THE COUNTYE PALATINE OF CHESTER Remarks on the County Palatine of Chester c. THis County is an Antient Palatinate and one of the Pleasantest Counties in that part of England famous for producing Kine of whose Milk is made the best Cheese in the Nation from which the County seemes to take its Name Its Pastures are exceeding Rich and Corn-Land produces extraordinary Crops it abounds with Fish Fowl Sheep and some Goats It is Bounded with Lancashire Yorkshire Shropshire Staffordshire Darbyshire Flintshire Denbighshire and the Ocean It Contains Eighty Six Parishes One City Seven Hundreds Thirteen Market Towns and Nine Rivers and gives denomination to a Bishop of its Diocess It sends Members to Parliament Four viz. The City of Chester two and two Knights of the Shire The City of Chester is famous in many respects as for its Minster Castle and Stone Bridge and has particular to it a Chief Justice for the Entertainment it gave King Edgar who was Rowed in a Barge on the River Dee by Eight Kings whilst himself held the Helm as their Supreame Sovraign It was made a Principality upon Hugh Lupus a Noble Norman being Invested in it by William the Conqueror To be holden as Freely by his Sword as the King himself holds England by his Crown which was the Tenure of all Counts Palatines more like Princes than Subjects as a modern Author has it It s stately Minster was Builded by Leofrick an Earl to the Honour of St. Werburga and in it was Buryed the Body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Germany and it gave a Title to the Eldest Sons of our Kings who by Birthright are Earls of Chester Calvely is a very Pleasant Town giving Birth to Hugh Calvely a great General against the French in the Reign of Edward the Third Sr. Robert Knowles and divers others of Note Eccleston is Memorable for the Birth of Thomas thence called Eccleston Banbury is a plesant seated Town as also Wrenbury The large Rivers Dee and Mersey Flow very spaciously on its Western part Chester being advantageously situate on the former and Fordestham on a branch of the latter on the East side it has many pleasant Hills with very fertil Valleys Northwich is likewise pleasantly situate on a stream of Mersy over which is a curious Bridge as there is at Dutton Coxton c. The Seats of the Nobility are Clifton alias Rock Savage and Fordsham belonging to the Earl of Rivers Gawsworth and Alford belonging to the Earle of Maclesfield Dutton belonging to the Lord Gerard Barron of Gerards Bonley Dunham Massey the Seat of the Late Lord Delamer Earl of Warrington Besides many stately Houses of the Gentry The Reign of Edward the Elder Seventh Sole Monarch of England c. EDward Sirnamed the Elder Eldest Son to Alfred or Elfride began his Reign Anno Dom. 901. But not long had he been in the Throne ere his Brother Adelwold envying his advancement to the Regal Dignity conspired to supplant him and in order to it raised a Rebellion But finding he was too weak to maintain his Pretensions he fled with part of his Forces to the Danes who were by this time returned and had gotten some strong holds in the North and they for to colour their design made him King in Title tho' not in Effect and with them joyned the Welsh Northumbers and those Scots that bordered on the River Tweed Against these joynt Forces the King Marched and at St. Edmund's Ditch he gave them Battel but lost the day tho' the Danes gained a bloody Victory for in the Fight two of their Kings were slain viz. Chrochrichus and Ethelwald However to put a stop to their further advancing he built the Castle of Hartford and many other strong places and then having recruited his broken Troops with the whole power of the Western and Southern Counties that remained entirly under his obedience he again advanced his Standard and gave the Danes and their Confederates Battel at Wodens-field near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire where the chance of War turning on his side brought him a great Victory There his Rebellious Brother Adelwold with two Kings or chief Leaders of the Danes viz. Covilfus and Healden were slain This Battel was Fought Anno 910. Upon this Edward settled his Northern Territories as far as Northumberland and upon the Death of Eldred who had Marryed Elfleada his Sister he Establiâ—â— her in those Counties that were formerly in the possession of the Mercian Kings before spoken of and Anno Dom. 915 he gave the Danes and their Confederates another great Overthrow killing Turktilus a reputed King with two Earls Virutes and Scurfa the Dukes of Bedford Buckingham c. also Duke Edrick whom the Danes had made King of the East Angles being Vanquished was Slain by his Subjects And then appointing his Sister a true English Heroin who having endured the sharp pangs of Child-Birth had forsook her Husbands Bed saying The Pleasure was not worth the Pain she suffered resolving never more to run the like hazzard as it were in some degree his Partner in the Kingdom she soon made it known that her delight was more in the rough Fields of Battel than in the downey Bed of Love for
attired like an Amazonian Queen she accompanied her Brother in his Wars and mainly assisted him by her Prowess and Counsells being a Lady of great Politicks in Martial Affairs In a Battel against the Welsh she took their Standard slew their General and took his Lady Prisoner whom she used very courteously She divers times chased the Danes and in Person Stormed the Town of Derby Garrisoned strongly by the Enemy she also beat them out of Tamworth Litchfield Watersbury Elderbury and Leicester which she Repaired and Fortified also the Town and Castle of Rincorne She Builded Brimsbury and lay'd a Bridge over the Severn and in a set Battel Overthrew the Yorkshire Forces that were in Rebellion against the King and so having manifested her self to the World as the Wonder of her Sex for Heroick Vertues and set an Illustrious Pattern for their Imitation She Dyed when she may be said to have Reigned Eight Years as Co-Partner with the King her Brother in the one and Fortieth Year of her Age and was Buryed at Gloucester in a Church which she and her Husband had Founded where a stately Monument was erected to her Memory And Henry of Huntington in his Works makes the following Encomium upon her Victorious Elfled ever famous Maid Whom weaker Men and Nature's self obey'd Nature your softer Limbs for Ease design'd But Heav'n inspir'd you with a Manly Mind You only Madam latest Times shall sing A glorious Queen and a triumphant King Farewel brave Soul Let Caesar now look down And yield thy Triumphs greater than his own The King upon the Death of his Heroick Sister â—reatly lamented her loss and retired for a time from â—â—l Business but finding his Country yet Called for his â—id he shook off his Melancholly and took a Progress 〈◊〉 those parts of his Kingdom he had not as yet well â—uieted appointing Governours and making such â—aws as might restrain the Oppression of his People â—nd settling his Dominions to the borders of Scotland â—â—e Welsh also submitted In this Kings Reign John Patrick Erigena a Britain â—rote a Book about the Lords Supper shewing therein â—â—me Abuses the Roman Church had put upon that â—â—crament and how it ought to be worthily Received â—â—cording to our Blessed Saviours Institution and sent â—â—to Rome which so offended the Pope whose Leaden â—ord by this time had so got the Ascendant over the â—eel Ones of Princes that he wrote to the Clergy to â—evail with the King that the Author might be deliâ—â—red into their hands to be Censured as they should â—â—e fit which with some reluctancy being granted â—â—ough the Author proposed to prove it true by Scripture and gave many reasons for what he had done the Clergy in the Popes Name Condemned both him and his Book him as a Heretick and his Book as Erroneous and Heretical when being degraded and delivered over to the Secular Power he suffered Death in the Flames and is worthily accounted amongst the Martyrs This Edward was the Seventh Sole Monarch of England He Reigned Twenty Four Years and was Buryed at Winchester amongst his Royal Ancestors Remarks on Cumberland c. CUmberland extends to the extremity of England Northward as being Bounded that way by Scotland on the East with Northumberland and Westmoreland on the West by the Irish Sea and part of Scotland on the South with Lancashire It abounds in Hills but of no extraordinary height and produces great store of Cattle and a good sprinkling of Corn but not many Fruit Trees At Newlands are Copper-Mines at Refwick Black-Lead and Lapis Calaminaris It Contains one City viz. Carlisle which gives Title to a Bishop Fifty Eight Parishes Nine Market Towns and two remarkable Rivers It sends Members to Parliament six viz. Carlisle two Cockermouth two and two Knights of the Shire Carlisle the Metropolis of the County is very Antient held to be Built by Leil a British King long before the coming of Caesar and is by Ptolomy called Lugovallum it was a flourishing City under the Romans and upon their departure Demolished by the Picts and utterly ruined by the Danes but again Rebuilded by King William Rufus who Built there a strong Castle to prevent the Scots Incursions and by King Henry the first it was made a Bishops See it has been often taken by the Scots but wrested from them again It was Besieged in the late Civil War and made a CUMBERLAND strenuous Defence The other Places of Note are Cockermouth Werkinton Egremond Penroth Keswick and Bampton near which is to be seen part of the Ruins of the Picts Wall which reached from Sea to Sea at East and West At Salkeld in this County upon the River Eden is a Monumental Trophy of Victory consisting of 77 Stones called by the Inhabitants Long Megg and her Daughters one of which to wit that called Long Megg is 15 Foot high from the Ground and the rest 10 supposed to be placed in Remembrance of some Roman Victory The Nobilities Seats are Gray-stock Castle Grumb Castle belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Naywoth alias Noword Castle belonging to the Earl of Carlisle Kirkosward and de Acre Castles belonging to the Earl of Sussex Cockermouth Castle belonging to the Duke of Somerset Rose Castle the Bishops Seate The Reign of Ethelstan Eighth Sole Monarch of England EThelstan Eldest Son to Edward and Eighth Sole Monarch of England began his Reign Anno 925 and was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Adelme Arch Bishop of Canterbury and is held by some to be the first Anointed King of England but I suppose they mean the first Saxon King for it is held by Antient Writers to be used in the Coronation Ceremonies of divers British Kings a great while before Long he had not been Established in his Throne ere Elfried a Norman and one he trusted in weighty Affairs raised a Rebellion against him causing great commotions in the Kingdom but in the end he was taken and his Party dispersed upon which he utterly deny'd he was the occasion of it and laboured to lay it on others whereupon the King unwilling to search deep into the matter least he should create himself powerful Enemies among the Nobility was at that time contented that Elfred should go to Rome and purge himself of the fact upon Oath before the Pope But hereupon not freed from a Jealousie he conceived of Edwin his Brother whom Elfred had accused as a Person aspiring to the Throne he was made away privately with the Kings consent yet tho' too late being better informed he was so grieved that to attone as he conceived for guiltless Blood he caused the Assassines to be put to Death with exquisit Torments and Founded divers places dedicating them to Pious uses as St. Germans in Cornwal St. Petrocus at Bodmyn Plympton Priory Middleton and Michelney c. He Fortified Exeter and quelled the Cornishmen that Rebelled against him and upon Disorders committed by the Scots in the Northern Borders he Marched into that Kingdom gave them
he continued for a time in that station but using many Arts to win upon the Affections of the People finding he should meet with no great opposition in making him self King contrary to the Trust reposed in him he got to be Crowned at Kingston upon Thames in Surry But Wolstan Arch Bishop of York having laboured to oppose it and not being able to do it became his Enemy practising many underhand Treacheries against him siding with Anlafe the Dane who lurked with a few Forces in the Northern parts till Recruits came to him and then by the Bishops means the People of Northumberland Received him as their King A Mapp of DORSETSHIRE By Iohn Seller Hydrog reg at the west end of the Exchang London This King made St. Germans in Cornwal a Bishop See which was afterwards translated to Cridington by Canute King of the Danes Reigning Sole Monarch in England and at last it was settled at Exeter by Edward the Confessor where it now remaines He began his Reign Anno Dom. 946 and continued it Nine Years and was Buryed at Winchester and is accounted the Tenth Sole Monarch of England In his time a violent Earthquake happened throwing down many stately Buildings especially in the Northern parts Remarks on Dorsetshire c. DOrsetshire is very spacious and fertil breeding great numbers of Cattle in its rich Pastures and is much renowned for its Linnen and Woollen Manufactures It produces abundance of Corn and the Isle of Portland joyning as it were to it furnishes us with plenty of Free-Stone used in building Churches and other stately Fabricks in London c. It is Bounded with Wiltshire Somersetshire Hampshire Devonshire and the Channel It Containes 248 Parishes divided into 29 Hundreds 19 Market Towns and four Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Bridport 2 Croft-Castle 2 Dorchester 2 Lyme Regis 2 Melcom Regis 2 Pool 2 Shaston 2 Weymouth 2 Wareham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire It has in it a great many Parks stored with Venison Dorchester the chief Town in this Shire is of great Antiquity and was called by the Romans Durnovaria being of pleasant situation and its Buildings Rich and Populous Banbury was Antiently the Court of many West Saxon Kings at Cern Austin the Monk Preached up Christianity on his first Arrival in this shire and by the consent of the People destroyed their Idols and among the rest one called Hell Shaftsbury is famed for the History of the Prophecying Eagle probably a Man whose Name was Aquila in this place was Buryed the Body of Edward the Son of Edgar Murthered at the command of his Step-Mother in Corfe-Castle At Winbourn Minster Builded by Cuthburga Queen of Northumberland was Intered the Body of Ethelred Nor must we forget Lime in this County which is Memorable for the Landing of James late Duke of Monmouth there with about fourscore Gentlemen from Holland in the Year 1685 being the first Year of the late King James's Reign And tho' he brought so few along with him yet in a few Days after his Landing he was several Thousands strong and gave the Kings Forces a considerable Repulse at Philips-Norton and had he gain'd the Day at Sedgemore which in all probability he had done had he not been betray'd It is verily believed the greatest part of England had Declared for him so great an Aversion even at that time the Nation had against King James and Popery and I am sure they have no reason to be fonder of him since But Heaven had decreed our Deliverance to be the Work of another hand And therefore the unhappy Duke after his Defeat at Sedgmore was taken at Ringwood in Hampshire and from thence brought up to London and two days after Beheaded upon Tower-Hill whose Death was follow'd by abundance of barbarous Executions in this County so that there is hardly a Town in it but what can shew some Bloody Tokens of King James his Cruelty The Quarters of the poor Macerated Wretches having been placed upon Poles set up in the High-ways for many Miles together As we shall shew more at large when we come to King James's Reign Sherburn was Antiently an Episcopal See and so continued a long time in whose Cathedral were Interred the Body of the Kings Ethelbert and Ethelbald Maiden Castle about a Mile West of Dorchester and Badbury Castle appear by Coin and other Marks digg'd up and found about them to have been Garisons of the Romans if not builded by them The River Stowr in this County abounds with Tench of an extraordinary bigness In the Isle of Purbeck are veins of Marble tho' not continued but scattering here and there as Cambden observes yet run a great way under Ground Great store of the best Hemp growing in England is found between Bemister and Bridport and near Sturpain on the side of the River there is a plentiful production of Madder The Hills in Dorsetshire are few and those for the most part gradually rising some Crowned with pleasant Woods and others with Corn in its season and flocks of Sheep It is Beautified with several Seats of the Nobility viz. Hook Castle the Duke of Boltons Cranbourn-House the Earl of Salisburys Wimbourn St. Giles the Earle of Shaftsburys The Houses of the Gentry are likewise very stately as well in the Towns as seperate so that it may be ranked among the most delightful Counties of England The Reign of Edwye the Eleventh Sole Monarch of England EDwye Eldest Son to Edmund and Nephew to Edrid began his Reign Anno Dom. 955 finding Affairs in a forward settlement the Danes being for the most part expelled the Land or had turned their Forces on the Scots as knowing they had been foiled on this side and had but little hopes of fixing in the Southern parts of the Island He was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames and there is reported to have drawn a Lady near a kin to him and Married to a Nobleman aside after a Ball or Dancing bout as if he had some matter of importance to relate to her and behind the Cloth of Arras forced her to his Lust which being much complained of by the Nobility he proposed for the reparation of her Honour to take her to be his Wife but her Husband opposing it and willing to pass over the high Injury his Prince had done him rather than his Country should suffer by any publick Mischief that might ensue thereon from Popular Fury or Factions at Court the matter seemed hushed for a time but whether the King feared the private Revenge of an abused Husband or having an inclination to a free Enjoyment of the Lady I determine not but so it was ordered that he in conclusion caused the Husband to be Murthered and took his Lady now free from the bonds of Marriage by the untimely Death of her Husband not for a Wife as he had before proposed but for his Concubine which makes some Authors believe her Ambition to glitter so near a Throne tho'
in a Tinsel splendor of ignominy made her consenting to the latter crime however she enclined to the former yet this unprincely action created him such a hatred in the minds of his Subjects That all except his Flatterers extreamly murmured against him and Bishop Dunstan sharply reproving him for his Vices he Proscribed him as an Enemy or Traytor so that to save his Life he absconded in England a while and then fled into Flanders Of these disorders in Government and Disaffections of the People the Danes taking advantage joyned with the Welsh and Invaded the Northern Borders having many Irish and some Scots as Auxiliaries joyned with them so that most of those Counties being violently Oppressed and finding the King slow to relieve them THE BISHOPRICK of DURHAM By Iohn Seller having united their Forces and expelled the Enemy renounced their Allegiance to him and chose his Brother Edgar King a young Prince of an active Spirit who had assisted them in the War to which with little opposition the whole Nation consented and hereupon Edwye being Deposed Dyed of Grief and was Buryed at Winchester In his time there was a great contention between the Monks and Marryed Priests the former opposing the latter as not capable of Officiating in holy Orders according to the Cannons of the Church of Rome and they again alledging those Cannons were contradictory to the Holy Scriptures so the Controversy was put to the King to determine and in this indeed he gave a right Judgment declaring for the Married Priests which is the only commendable thing noted in his Reign He Reigned four Years and was the Eleventh Sole Monarch of England Remarks on the Bishoprick of Durham c. THE Bishoprick of Durham tho' small in circumference abounds in plenty of all things as Cattel Corn Pastures Fruit-Trees Woods Forests and Parks and is Watered with divers pleastant Streams stored with Fish It has to the North and West many pleasant Hills and is Bounded with Northumberland Westmorland Yorkshire and the German Ocean It has in it the City of Durham which is a Bishops See and is a Palatine having divers Priviledges above many Counties It Contains 118 Parishes 6 Market Towns and 11 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Durham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire It gained the Title and Priviledge by the great Fame and Renown of St. Cuthberd for the Interment of whom the Cathedral was first Bulded by Bishop Aldwin and much enlarged by Bishop Careleph His Tomb was with much Devotion Visited by Edward Ethelstane and divers other Saxon Kings and by William the Conqueror this Bishoprick was made a County Palatine There is a place called Gallile in the West End of the Church where is to be seen the Tomb of venerable Beda Binchester the Benovium of the Romans was famed for their chief station in the North and many of their Coins have been found in Earthen Vrns upon Digging up old foundations Chester in the Street the Condercum of the Romans is a Place of great Antiquity pleasantly situate and well Inhabited At Nevil's Cross near Durham the Scots were defeated and David their King made Prisoner by one Copeland and carry'd Prisoner to the Tower for which service Copeland received of the King five Hundred Pounds per Annum In this Bishoprick near Darlington are three wonderful deep Pits called Hell Kettles supposed to be sunk by an Earthquake In this Palatine also stands Bernard Castle famous for the many Sieges it has held out against the Scots Over the River Weer with which the City of Durham is almost encompassed are two well built Stone Bridges one from the South the other from the North Road leading into the Town This Palatine has a Jurisdiction within it self to Try Criminals and other Matters from which in many cases there lyes no Appeal The Seats tho' few are very Antient and yet Magnificent Structures viz. Durham Place and Aukland Castle the Bishop Seats being the principal The Reign of King Edgar Twelfth Sole Monarch of England EDgar the Second Son of Edmund began his Reign Anno Dom. 959 at which time the Danes wearyâ—d out with War began to think of settling a Peace â—ith the English upon consideration they might rest at â—uiet in some Northern Counties and have other Adâ—antages which considering the uncertainty of the â—en state of Affairs was not thought amiss to be â—lowed them they owning the King their Superiour â—nd to continue as it were his Subjects And so King â—dgar having received the Crown at Bath from the â—ands of Odo Arch Bishop of Canterbury applied himâ—elf to the Government of his Kingdom and recalled Dunstan from Banishment yet by this means some Divines of Oxford Vniversity were Branded in the Cheek and Banished for Affirming The Church of Rome â—o be the Whore of Babylon Monkery an Offensive Contagion Their Vows of Celibacy an encouragement to Sodomy and other Vncleaneness He made very strict Laws against Drunkenness which was very rife in his time causing Cups to be made with certain Pins or Marks and a penalty to such as should exceed the allowed Draught And England being then pestered with Wolves who destroyed much small Cattle and some People he made a Law That those who held Lands of the Crown should Yearly bring in a cerrain number of Wolves Heads under a Penalty of forfeiting their Tenures And Ludwal the Prince of Wales was alloted to bring in three Hundred Wolves Heads Yearly in consideration of the Lands he held in subjection to the Crown of England Whereupon upon such dilligent search was every where made that â—n a few years there was not one to be found in England except such as were kept tame nor ever since has there been otherways any of the breed in this Country tho' Neighbouring Ireland not long since abounded with them This Edgar Yearly rid the Circuit to take notice of the abuses and corruptions of his Judges and severely Punished their remisness in the Administration of the Laws But notwithstanding all these good Qualities he was very much blemish'd with Incontinency not sparing Wives or Daughters where his desires lead him to pursue the enjoyment of his unlawful Pleasures He begat a Daughter whom he named Edith on Wolfe-child a veiled Nun who was afterward for a considerable sum of Money Cannonized by the Pope and attempting to gaine the possession of Odwina a Western Dukes Daughter her Mother whom he solicited to give her into his Arms preferring the preservation of her Chastity to the Kings Anger and all his Golden Promises contrived a Stratagem to defeat him which she effected by laying her waiting Maid in her Daughters Bed with whose wanton toying in the Dark he was so pleased that tho' he discovered the Fraud the next Morning he not only commended the Dutchess but gave his Bedfellow the Reward he had promised the Yong Lady and kept her as his Concubine Soon after this hearing by Fame of the great Beauty of Duke
Orgarius's Daughter that she was even a Phoenix in nature for incomparable Features being by this time a Widower he resolved if what was reported proved true to take her to Wife and in order to be better certified he sent Earl Ethelwold one of his Courtiers to view her who falling in Love with the Lady wooed her for himself and Married her excusing it to the King by telling him That she had Beauty enough for a Subiect but not for so great a Prince However this did not so well satisfy him but he resolved to see her and so Invited himself to the Earls House Ethelwold mistrusting to what intent he had done it being conscious his Wives Beauty would enflame him laboured to excuse his unpreparedness but in vain whereupon he acquainted his Wife with it and intreated her to deforme herself by appearing in a homely Dress and by discolouring her Face if she had any regard to his Life or her own Chastity telling her how her prevailing Charms had made him betray his Trust But this Ambitious Woman proud of her Beauty gathering from his discourse she might have been a Queen and not now altogether out of hopes to be so promised the Earl for the better hiding her Anger to obey him but on the contrary when the King was set at Dinner she came before him Adorned with Jewells and all her costly Ornaments having much added by Art to her Natural Beauties so that she appeared in his Eyes like a glittering Angel yet he dissembled his Anger with Ethelwold for the present till that Afternoon going a Hunting with the Earl in his Forrest he singled him out and after many reproaches struck him through with his Javelin as he was about to fall on his Knees and begg Pardon and in a little time after took the Lady to Wife by whom he had Ethelred afterward King of England For this and his other wicked practices Dunstan whome he had made a Bishop and his great Favorite Enjoyned him as a Penance Not to wear his Crown for seven Years which Injunction he submitted to but left not his Lascivious courses This Edgar brought the Kingdom to a Flourishing condition and is accounted the greatest of the Saxon Monarchs being once at Westchester he had eight Kings and Princes to Row his Barge on the River Dee as we have already noted in our Remarks on Cheshire He is said to compass the Island with almost an incredible Navy of Ships viz. 3600 settling and strengthening the Sea-Ports leaving Guard-Ships to defend them against the Landing of Pirates or other Enemies by which Undertaking he brought such a Terror on Scotland that their King sued for Peace and payed an Annual Tribute to have it confirmed He Restored and Founded 47 Monasteries And in the presence of his Nobility on Christmas Day Anno Dom. 974 he Confirmed the Abby of Ramsey which his Cousin Alwin had Founded and made the Abby which Bishop Oswald had Builded a Cathedral Church He brought the Welsh under an intire Subjection to England aloting their Princes Pensions as his Servants clearing the Seas of Rovers and intended to War on France to compol that King to a reparation of the Damages his Merchants had sustained on the French Coasts by Embargoes and Seisures of their Goods But whilst great things were in his mind his Debaucheries having much wasted his Natural Strength he Dyed when he had Reigned Sixteen Years and was honourably Entombed at Glastenbury which as yet boasts some remains of his Monument In the sixth Year of his Reign the Heavens seemed as on Fire the Stars to appearance darted Beams at each other as if Creation had been about to dissolve A Monsterous Fish was taken on the Coast of Sussex with a Face and Hair like a Man and a Scaly Circlet like a Coronet on its Head and upon its being drawn up sent forth a mighty noise like the roaring of a Lion ESSEX By J Seller Remarks on the County of Essex c. ESSEX is not only considerably Large but is every where sprinkled with Towns and Villages of note and is abundantly stored with Cattle by reason its advantageous Meadows Marshes and other Pastures which lying low produce store of Grass in the driest seasons as for Cheese and Butter it produces very great quantities as also very good Corn and store of Saffron Hops c. It is Bounded on the South with the River Thames and Kent the River washing its verdant Banks as far as the Hope on the West with Hartfordshire and Middlesex on the North with Cambridgshire and Suffolk and on the East with the Ocean It is divided into 20 Hundreds which containe 415 Parishes It has 27 Market Towns and seven Rivers It sends Members to Parliament eight viz. Colchester 2 Harwich 2 Maldon 2 and two Knights of the Shire Colchester in this County is of great Antiquity held to be Built by the Antient British King Coilus from whom it seems to derive its Name and in it was Born King Lucius the first known Christian King in the World Constantine the first Christian Roman Emperour as also Helena his Mother Empress to Constantius and Daughter to King Coilus It is also Memorable for its Long Siege in the late Civil War Malden is very Antient having been the Royal Seat of the Trinobantes of which Cunobeline was King when our Saviour was Born It was taken by the Emperour Claudius and Named Camalodunum wherein he placed a Roman Garison but Rased to the Ground by Queen Bonduca or Boadicia after a mighey Defeat given the Romans in Revenge of their breach of Trust and the Rape of her Daughters which we formerly mentioned Walden famous for Saffron growing about it from whicâ— it takes the Name of Saffron Walden and for giving Birth to that Learned Statesman Sr. Thomas Smith Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth At Tilbury the said Queen rendezvouzed her Forces to oppose the Spanish Invasion 1588 and there is now a strong Fort commanding the Mouth of the Thames Chelmsford accounted the Shire Town is of very commodious Building and situation the Assizes being usually held there Braintry Cogshal Harwich and other Towns adorn this County There is a Proverb peculiar to this County which is He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow This Proverb took its rise from a Custom formerly practis'd in the Priory of Dunmow first founded by Juga a Noble Lady for Black Nuns Anno 1111. but afterwards converted into a Priory for Friars who ordained That if any Person from any part of England would come thither and humbly kneel on two stones yet to be seen at the Church Door before the Convent and solemnly take the following Oath he might demand a Gammon or Flitch of Bacon which should be freely given him You shall Swear by the Custom of our Confession That you never made any Nuptial Transgression Since you were married Man and Wife By Houshold Brawls or contentious strife Or otherwise in Bed or at Board
Offended each other in Deed or Word Or since the Parish Clark said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve-Month and a Day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in Desire As when you joyn'd hands in holy Quire If to these Conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely Swear A Gammon of Bacon you shall receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our Custom at Dunmow well known Tho' the sport be ours the Bacon's your own And pursuant hereunto it appears upon Record That â—ichard Wright of Badsworth in Norfolk in the 23d â—f Hen. 6. and Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex â—n the 7th of Edward the 4th and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex in the 2d of Hen. 8. Took the aforesaid â—ath and demanded and received their Bacon Amongst the many Noble Seats in this County That â—oyal House called Audley-End not far from Saffron-Walden justly claims the first place Built by Thomas â—oward Earl of Suffolk Treasurer to King James the first â—hen there is New-Hall a very Noble Seat of the late Duke of Albemarles and Bently belonging to the Earl of Oxford Copt-Hall a seat of the Earl of Dorcets Leez â—riory a seat of the Earl of Manchester St. Osith a â—at of the Earl Rivers Havering a seat of the Earl of â—indseys Park-Hall a seat of the Earl of Angleseys â—oulsham-Hall Moulsham Friery and Bishops-Hall â—ats of the Lord Fitz Walter Gosfield-Hall and Spring-â—lace seats of the Lord Grey of Wark Easton-Lodg â—nd Achdon-Place seats of the Lord Maynard Tolsâ—ury a seat of the Lord Howard of Escrick Lawfield-Hall the Lord Carews Seat It contains likewise many â—urious Parks Chases Warrens and is stored with Fish â—owl and all other Necessaries The Reign of Edward Thirteenth Sole Monarch of England and by some Sirnamed the Martyr EDward Eldest Son to Edgar began his Reign upon the Death of his Father Ann Dom. 975 he was Crowned at Kingston on Thames by Dunstan who had been promoted to the Bishoprick of Canterbury by his Father At his Accession to the Throne a terrible Blazing Star appeared which rising East by South continued visible twenty Nights ushering in a grievous Famin so that the poorer sort were compelled to Eat Grass Leaves and Bark of Trees whereupon many Thousands dyed yet it continued but a Year and then another mischief succeeded which had like to have put the Nation in confusion viz. Several Years past tho' the Popes Cannons prohibited it the Clergy had priviledg to Marry without any hinderance to them in performing their Functions and keeping their Spiritualities But Arch Bishop Dunstan who aimed at the Popedom or at least aspired to a Cardinals-Cap finding it was displeasing to the Roman See because the charge of Wives and Children must of necessity debar the Clergy from sending to Rome such liberal Contributions as otherways they might have done and so hinder Grist from coming to the Popes Mill he to ingratiate himself with that See stired up the Monks and Vnmarried Priests against those that had taken Wives and they dealing underhand with divers unthinking People Tumults arose thereon and much mischief was done For Duke Alfarus encouraging the Married Priests and their party the King with all his Authority had much ado to prevent a General Insurrection At last it was agreed That an Assembly of both Parties should meet and dispute the matter according to Scripture and Cannons and a place for that purpose was prepared in a large upper Room where Dunstan as chief Orator for the Monks had cunningly placed his Chair on a Post or Beam strongly fixed and as some Authors believe had contrived a Device by taking out some Pins to let the Floor fall upon a signal given so the press being very great after a hot Debate had been held for a while and nothing Agreed on Dunstan stamping and saying They shall fall before us c. The Floor first trembled as with the motion of an Earthquake and then fell down leaving nothing but Dunstan's Chair that had been surely seated aloft which being looked upon as and cryed up for a Miracle in the behalfe of the Monks they thereupon carried the day And the Married Priests were left at liberty to Enjoy their Wives but outed of their Benefices This is that Dustan of whom a story goes That to prevent Idleness he was working at the Goldsmiths Trade in a Cell near Glassenbury and whilst he was framing a Chalice of Gold the Devil in the shape of a Beautiful Woman appeared to him endeavouring to Tempt him to Lewdness but he by Inspiration knowing it to be a Fiend Transformed on a suddain as it was peeping over his Shoulder he catched it by the Nose with red hot Tongs and made the Devil rore so loud that all the People in the Village were Affrighted at the horrid Noise and thereupon the seeming Lady Vanished GLOCESTER SHIRE King Edward being thus made away was in a manner privately Buryed at Waltham and afterward his Body removed into the Monastery at Shaftsbury He Reigned 4 Years and was the 13th Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Gloucestershire c. GLoucestershire is made Fruitful by the River Severn Branching almost unto all parts of it it contains much Woodland and Gradual Hills Feeding great store of Tame Cattle and Venison It abounds in Corn Wool Cheese and Butter On the North it is bounded with Worcestershire and Warwickshire on the East with Oxfordshire and Wiltshire on the South with Somersetshire and part of the Severn on the West with Herefordshire and Monmouthshire It Contains one City a Bishops See viz Gloucester 30 Hundreds divided into 280 Parishes 27 Market Towns and 12 Rivers It sends members to Parliament 8 viz Cirencester 2 Gloucester 2 Teuksbury 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Gloucester City is the antient Gelenum of the Romans In it Robert Brother to the Empress Maud was kept Prisoner being taken in the War against King Stephen its Cathedral is of Excellent Architecture and much noted for its Whispering Place wherin the least sound may be distinctly heard at a considerable distance It was won from the Britains by Chewlin King of the West Saxons Anno Dom. 570 and in this City a Monastery of Nuns was Founded by Osrick a Saxon wherin 3 Queens of the Mercians were successively Prioresses In Alny-Isle a place near Gloucester was fought the Combate between Edmund Ironside the Saxon King and Canute the Dane and the division of the Kingdom therupon made as in his Reign will further apear Cirencester or Circester was an antient Station of the Romans in it was born the Learned Thomas Rutham some time Bishop of Durham The next places of note are Dursly Cam Todington Yate Westbury Sudly Castle Tewksbury in whose field the Fatal Battel was fought which ruined at that time the House of Lancaster Anno 1471 in which Prince Edward was slain Queen Margaret taken Prisoner and the
Bounded on the North with Barkshire on the East with Surry and Sussex on the South with the Channel and on the West with Wiltshire and Dorsetshire It Containes one City viz. Winchester which is a Bishops See and is divided into 39 Hundreds 253 Parishes 20 Market Towns and 4 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 26 viz. Knights of the Shire two Winchester Southampton Portsmouth Yarmouth Petersfield Newport Stockbridge Newton Christchurch Whitchurch HANT â—HIRE Limington and Andover two each Note That to this County belongs the Isle of Wight As for Winchester the only City it was the Antient Venta-Belgarum of the Romans it is held to have been Founded by Rudhuidibras an Antient British King and was the Royal Seat and Place of Crowning the West Saxon Kings for many Reigns The Cathedral was Built by King Kenwolfe and made the Burying-Place of the Kings Henry the Third was Born in this City and many Men of great fame Southampton was Built out of the Ruins of the Antient Clausentium and after many Devastations Re-Edified in King Richard the Seconds time It 's said to take this latter Name from Hamo a Roman slain there viz. Hamo's Haven or Southampton At Basingstoke was Born John of Basingstoke the first English Author of a Greek Grammar and at Odiam William Lilly first Master of St. Paul's School Other Places in this County are Famous for the Birth of worthy Persons and memorable Transactions as Andover Warblington Hide Illchester Wickham Okely c. Besides the strength of Portsmouth and the Citadel to secure the Coast here are Hurt-Castle and Calshot-Castle standing as it were in the Sea and many other advantages for the protection of Shipping The Rocks afford Samphire and the White Cliffs abundance of Wild Thyme Marjorum and Rosemary The Seats of the Nobility are Basing-House Abbstone and Hackwood seats of the Duke of Boulton Farnborough Place a seat of the Earl of Anglesey Rockborn a seat of the Earl of Shaftsburys Wharlwell a seat of the Lord La Warrs Mottessant a seat of the Lord Sandys Breamore a seat of the Lord Brooks Wolvesey-House the seat of the Lord Bishop of the Diocess The Reign of Edmund who from his Valour and Hardiness was Sirnamed Ironside Fifteenth Sole Monarch of England EDmund Ironside began his Reign in a very troublesome time Anno Dom. 1016 when the Danes had possessed the greater part of the Kingdom taking on him the Crown rather out of pity to his bleeding Country than desire of Soveraignty and indeed did more than could be reasonably expected from him with such slender Forces and little Treasure for immediatly seting up his Standard to recover a great part of the Kingdom at a point to be lost he gave Canute Battel at Penham near Gillingham where he Overthrew him with much slaughter on both sides then he Fought him again with the like success at Sherestane in Worcestershire and likewise in a third Battel near that place notwithstanding Ederick the Traiterous Duke though seemingly siding with the King gave out in the midest of the Battel that the King was Slain upon which Defeat the Danes fled to London and were pursued by Edmund who drove them thence He discomfited them at Oteford in Kent and had clear'd the Kingdom of them but for Edrick's Treachery who in a sixth Battel the King Fought at Assendune near Roachfor in Essex commanding a part of the Kings Army he purposely fled upon which the Souldiers fell into Rout and Disorder so that the King was compelled for his safety to Retreat towards Gloucester whither his scattered Forces resorted to him and after a little Refreshment he caused other Troops to be raised and again displayed his Standard in the Field often Skirmishing with the Danes and slaying great numbers of them sending likewise a Challenge to Canute their King to end the War by single Combate who accepting it the two Kings in the sight of both Armies prepared on the day appointed viz. the 15th of July in a little Island called Olway made so by the winding of the Severn and about ten in the Morning the Combate began both of them having strong and large Swords They had not long continued it and given to each other mighty Blows but the Blood flowed plentifully from their Wounds and Edmund being a Prince of exceeding strength pressed so hard upon Canute that driving him to the Brink of the River he cryed out tho almost Breathless and Faint by effusion of Blood What need is there for us Noble King thus to endanger our Lives The Kingdom is large enough for us both If you will then consent to divide it between us our hands will be strengthened against our Enemies and we shall Live together in Peace and Vnity as Brothers King Edmund pausing hereupon a while considered That if he slew Canute the Danes might not stand to the Award of leaving the Land as having experienced their breach of Truce and that being mostly Pagans they held it but a small matter to break their Word or Oaths with Christians and that other Commanders might come over with fresh Forces to work new Troubles the Country being already very much wasted he at last concluded upon Canute's dropping his Sword in token he Submitted to shake Hands with him and embrace the offer Whereupon King Edmund having the first Lot chose the Southern Eastern and Western Counties as far as the Borders of Yorkshire and Canute then seemed to be contented with the Northern Counties as far as the Borders of Scotland Mutually Swearing to assist each other against all Invaders and for a time they lived Peaceably in Co-Partnership But Ederick the Traytorous Duke perceiving the Danes by reason of the swarms that came frequently from Denmark to be the stronger laboured to ingratiate himself with Canute tho' he held fair with Edmund who would not be perswaded by his faithful Counsellors to take him out of the way tho' his Treasons were apparent And thinking he should merit much of the Dane by destroying King Edmund at least That he should have some part of the Kingdom assigned him he one day as the King was disburdening Nature at the lower end of his Garden conveyed himself by a back way under the Vault and with Impious Hands Thrust a short Spear in at his Fundament and up his Body till it peirced his Heart so that giving an extraordinary Groan he instantly Dyed The Traytor not satisfied with this but desirous to carry some Testimonial of the Regicide with him crept up at the hole and with his Sword cut off the Kings Head and so privately made his Escape to Canute and at his approaching him cryed out Hail Sole Monarch of England Behold the Head of thy Go-Partner Canute inwardly detesting so base a Treachery yet outwardly dessembling his Resentment received it as a Grateful Present promising the Bringer to Advance him above all the Nobles of the English Nation and indeed in one sence he did it as he deserved for
whilst he was expecting high Promotion he caused him to be Arrested and his Head being stricken off was placed on the highest part of the Tower for by this time he was advanced with an Army to London and the English upon the consternation they were in at the surprizing News of the Kings Death not opposing him in a short time the whole Kingdom submitted to him so that being Crowned Sole Monarch he put a Period to the Saxon Reign about 566 Years from the Establishment of the Heptarchy HARTFORD SHIRE By John Seller This Edmund was the Fifteenth Sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno Dom. 1016 and continued it about one Year He was a Prince abounding with Courage Courtesie and Strength a lover of Humanity and very Merciful to those that Submitted to him and so Good-natured That he hardly could be induced to believe any Treachery against him Remarks on Hartfordshire c. HArtfordshire is a very pleasant Inland County producing large crops of Corn especially Barly of which the best Malt is held to be made It abounds with pleastant Orchards and Gardens has in it divers Parks stored with Deer It produces large and small Cattle in great abundance and is sprinkled with Woods and adorned with pleasant Hills Meadows and Inclosiures and is particularly noted for the great quantities of Black Cherries that are at the proper season sent from thence to London many of the Trees that produce them growing in the Hedg-rows in Fields and along the Roads casting a pleasant shade in Summer time to refresh the weary Traveller It is Bounded with Cambridgshire Essex Middlesex Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and divided into Eight Hundreds viz. Odsey Edwinstree Hitching Broadwater Broughing Hartford Dacor and Caisho Hundreds and these again into 120 Parishes It has 18 Market Towns and one River of note viz. Ware River though it is Watered with many small Streams It sends Members to Parliament Six viz. St Albans two Hartford the Shire Town two and two Knights of the Shire In this County are divers Places worthy of note as St. Albans raised out of the Ruins of old Verulam an Antient Roman station It is Memorable for the Death of St Alban the British Proto Martyr who suffered there in the Tenth Persecution raised by Dioclesian the Roman Emperour who being Buryed here and a stately Monument raised on his Grave by Offa the great King of the Mercians seems to have given it its Name This Place is also famous for two Battels fought here The first between Richard Duke of York and King Henry the sixth the 23d of May Anno Don. 1455. In which the King was defeated with the slaughter of the Duke of Summerset Earl of Northumberland Lord Clifford and 5000 of lesser note The second on the 17th of February Anno Dom. 1460 where King Henry the sixth and his Queen Margaret gained the Victory over the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick Barnet is famed for its Market and Medicinal Waters and for the great Victory gained by Edw. the 4th on the 14th of April Anno Dom. 1471 against the Earls of Warwick and Oxford in whose Field that great Earl was slain since called The Battel of Barnet-Field Here was Born John Barnet Bishop of Worcester then of Bath and Wells lastly of Ely Lord Treasurer in the Reign of Edward the Third Ware Hatfield and Hodsdon are all three seated on the River Lea and near unto Ware is Amwel-Spring famous for being the Head of the New-River which so plentifully furnishes the City of London with Water Langly commonly called Kings Langly gave Birth to Edmond of Langly fifth Son to Edward the Third and the first Burial-place of Richard the Second afterward removed to Westminster Abbots Langly was the Birth-place of Nicholas Break-spear advanced to Pope of Rome by the Name of Pope Adrian the Fourth who made the Emperour Frederick of Germany hold his Stirrop Oister supposed by Cambden to have been the Camp of the Roman Lieutenant Ostorius the next of note are Weathamsted Baldock Redburn Helmsteadsbury Gatesden Hemsted Cottered Grohambury which produced many famous Men. The Seats of the Nobility curiously adorn it and are these More Park once the delightful seat of the Late Vnfortunate Duke of Monmouth Caishobury and Hadam-Hall the seats of the Earl of Essex Totteridg the seat of the Earl of Angleseys Hatfield Hartford-Castle Bigrave Chesunt and Quickwood seats of the Earl of Salisburys With divers seats of the Gentry rendering a pleasant Prospect in all Parts CHAP. IX The Reigns of the Three Danish Kings who were Sole Monarches of England viz. Canute Harrold and Hardicanute with the Memorable Things that happened in their several Reigns Some Observations on the Original of the Danes A Brief Description of the Country from whence they came Their manner of War Religion Customs c. BEing come to speak of a Succession of Kings different in Nation from the former it will not be improper to give an account briefly of the Original of the Nation that gave birth to the first of them c. The Original of the Danes is concluded by some Authors to have been from Scythia That a Famine extreamly raging in that Country divers Colonies had left it and ranging to seek Food found out an Island called Scandia situate Northward not far from the continent of Denmark and in time growing too numerous for that scanty place they Warred on the Danij and so long continued it that they grasped the Kingdom with so hard a hand as to this day it is not wrested from the Race of them and from thence they called the Country Danes-Mark or portion of Land now corruptly Denmark This Peninsule so called by reason it is almost an Island as it is now held by the Danish King that is properly called Denmark is in Length Eighty Miles and Twenty in Breadth having but little firm Land being divided into many Islands whereof Jutland for its bigness is the chief It borders upon Germany and is a near Neighbour to the lower Frisia it is difficult to determine whether it receives greater Benefit than Damage from the Sea for often by the violent Tempests the Banks and Fences being forced by the Waves the Water not only covers the Fields for a long time but by the suddainness of the Deluge destroys many Cattle and People and as well Stately Buildings as Lowly Cottages And the Country is full of Woods containing store of Deer The Island of Frunen is separated from the main Land by a narrow Arm of the Sea To the Westward of it lieth Juta to the East Slayland which for the Beauty and Fertility of it is to be preferred before all the other Islands belonging to the Danish King In it is situate Copenhagen the principal residence of the King also Roschilt the place of their Burial near unto which is the Island of Scandia the first Habitation of the Danes in those parts as most
conclude But now to the King of Denmark belongs Norway formerly a distinct Kingdom and some other Countries which render his Territories much larger than when the Danes first possessed it As for their Religion when they first Invaded England and long after it was Paganism Their Idols were many out-numbering those of the Pagan Saxons to some they Offered Horses to others Humane Sacrifice Fruits Flowers Water Bread Wine Fish c. They were a People very Bloody and Cruel to those they prevailed over and extreamly Lustful and Treacherous Their Habit was close girted Coats their Arms Spears of a moderate length Battel-Axes and Faulchions their Diet many times the Flesh of their slain Enemies Rost or Sodden it was about 230 years from their first Invading England before Canute got the Sole Monarchy of whose Reign I am next to treat The Reign of Canute Sixteenth Sole Monarch of England and first of the Danes that Reigned here CAnute Son to Swane who as you have heard was Murthered by his Souldiers began his Reign as Sole Monarch Anno Dom. 1017. He was Crowned at London by Livingus Arch Bishop of Canterbury and at his first coming to the Crown kept the English under with a very strict Hand every where disarming them and making it a capital Crime for above a certain number of them to meet together unless called by his Authority so that Faires and Marts were in a manner laid aside He Deposed and Banished the Popular Nobles conferring their Titles of Honour and Estates on his Danes and yet not thinking he was sufficiently secured whilst Edward and Edmund the Sons of Edmund Ironside remained in the Kingdom and yet thought that if he should dip his Hands in their Innocent Blood he must of necessity incur the perpetual hatred of the English he concluded to take away their Lives privately so that he might excuse it and lay the blame on others whereupon he sent the Young Princes to his Brother King of Sweden with private Instructions to make them away but he detesting so base a crime Transferred them to the King of Hungary where Edmond Dyed but Edward getting favour at Court and being a Prince endowed with much manly Beauty and excellent Parts Agatha Sister to the Empress of Germany fell in Love with him to whom he was Married and by her had Edgar Sirnamed Etheling who Dyed without Issue Margaret who Married Malcolm King of Scots she had Issue Christian a Veiled Nun Edgar David and Alexander all three Kings of Scotland proceeded from this Line as also Maud wife to King Henry the first King of England who had Issue Maud the Empress Mother to King Henry the Second so that the design of making away these Princes abroad by a wonderful Providence turned in the end to the Advantage of both Kingdoms in restoring the Saxon Line after the Norman Conquest to England in the person of Henry the Second and producing many worthy Kings in Scotland Canute to strengthen his Interest Marryed Emma Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy and widow to King Ethelred and soon got possession of the Kingdom of Norway which has ever since been annexed to the Crown of Denmark then Warring on the Scots he made them Tributaries so that some reckon him to be the possessor of Four Kingdoms he made a strict League with the Normans and set out a huge Navy to Sea bringing thereby a Terror on all the Neighbouring Sea Coasts laying a Tax of 82000 Pounds on his English Subjects with which Money at the perswasion of Queen Emma he pay'd off and sent away the greater part of the Lazy Danes to their Native Country which won him much favour with the English Then he set himself to the contriving and establishing wholsom Laws for the better settlement of his Kingdom and for the more firmly founding them he called a Parliament at Oxford He is commended for his aversion to Dissemblers Traitors and Flatterers for one of the latter having told him He was Soveraign King not only of the Land but the Sea and not only his People but the Winds and Waves were subject to his Command to disprove and upbraid the Parasite being at Southampton he caused his Chair to be placed on the Sand and Commanded the Sea that it should not swell to wet his Royal Robes but the Waves Rowling towards the Shoar in their wonted Flowings Dashed him up to the Thighs whereupon rising hastily he said to his Attendants Now you see all the Might and Power of Kings is but Vanity for none is worthy to have the Name of King but he that hath all things subject to his Laws and from that time as several Authors affirm he not only Banished all Flatterers from the Court but refused to wear his Crown In the Third Year of his Reign with a great Navy he Sailed to Denmark that Country being then Invaded by the Vandalls who had over-run the larger part of Germany and overthrowing them in a bloody Battel Slaying their chief Leaders he chased the rest out of his Kingdom and causes Castles and Forts to be Builded on the Frontiers to secure it against their Incursions And so returning with Victory he was received at London in Triumph and having settled his Affairs in a flourishing condition the Kingdom thereby much recovered its Antient Renown and he having received the Christian Faith a considerable time before hearing of the Magnificence of Rome and desirous to see its stately Structures the manner of their Living c. went thither not Royally Attended but as a Pilgrim where nevertheless being known he was received with great respect and having given liberally to that See after he had visited all the places of note in that Superb City once Mistriss of the World he returned highly satisfied with the Undertaking causing the Ruined Churches to be Repaired and Founded divers Religious Houses giving great Priviledges to the Monastery of St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk which he had re-Edified and then taking a Progress to restore the Face of Justice in the several Counties punishing the corrupt Ministers and Oppressors worn out with the Toiles of War and Indefatigable Study in settling his new acquired Kingdom he fell Sick on the Road some Miles from Shaftsbury and being conveyed to that Town in a short time he paid the debt by Nature due from all that are cloathed with Mortality Dying Anno Dom. 1036 when he had Reigned 18 Years and tho' the First of the Danish yet is accounted the 16th Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Huntingtonshire c. HUntingtonshire is as the former an Inland County Bounded by Northamptonshire Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire It produces store of Wooll Cattle Corn and many fertil Pastures it is somwhat Woody tho' incumbered with few Hills of any considerable height it has many small Streams abounding with Roach Dace Chub Trouts Carp and Pike and abundance of Wild Fowle resorts to its Meers and Marshy Places it contains divers Parks of Deer and some Warrens also
gave Birth to the Renowned Robert Devereux Earl of Essex who lost his Head in Queen Elizabeths Reign The next Towns of note are Stanton Lempster Weobly Ludbury Rosse Orleton Pembridg and Wormbridg Marsley-Hill in this County is Celebrated by all Writers for its wonderful Travel on Saturday the 7th of February 1571. which was indeed exceeding strange and surprizing and must not be here omitted It happened thus About six of the Clock in the Evening the Earth began to move with a mighty rooring and bellowing Noise which was heard several Miles off and then it lifted it self up a great height and began to Travel carrying along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheepfolds and Flocks of Sheep continuing still thereon and from the place whereon it first stood by seven a Clock the next Morning had gone about 200 Foot and so continued its Travel three Days together and then stood still in its passage it overthrew Kinnaston-Chappel and removed an Yew-Tree growing in the Church-Yard from West to East throwing down also several Houses Trees and Hedges But that which adds more to the wonder is That two High-ways were turned about 300 Foot from their former Pathes the East part to the West and the West to the East Pasturage being left in the place of Tillage and likewise Tillage in the place of Pasturage As for the Seats of the Nobility tho' not many they are mostly of curious Antient Building viz. Goodrick-Castle Penyard-Castle and Eccleswald-Castle belonging to the Earl of Kent Wilton Aconsbury and Dewswell belonging to the Lord Chandois and Hereford Palace belonging to the Bishop of the Diocess There are divers Quarries of Stone found in this County which stand the People in great stead also some Minerals much Fuel is likewise got out of the Ground The Reign of Hardicanute the Third Danish King and Eighteenth Sole Monarch of England HArdicanute the Third Son of Canute by a different Mother viz. Emma Succeeded Harrold Anno Dom. 1040 He was Crowned at London by Elnoch Arch Bishop of Canterbury upon which he laboured to settle his Affairs at home and abroad kept the Seas free from Pirates that for some time before had infested the Coast causing the Danes and Norwegians to build divers Ships for his Service but being of a rough and uneasy temper he was not very pleasing to his Subjects He bore a Mortal Hatred to Harrold his Brother-in-Law and not being capable of expressing it to any effect during his Life he shewed it openly after his Death causing his dead Body to be taken out of the Sepulcher in which it had lain a considerable time and the Head to be cut off and then thrown into the Thames sunk with a great weight of Lead but some Fishermen draging it up with their Nets a while after decently Buried it in St. Clements Church in the Strand for which reason some will have it to take the additinal word Danes as it is now called This Hardicanute is accounted among the Voluptuous Kings taking great pleasure in Banqueting and often gloried he could Eat more at a Meal than any of his Subjects his Table was four times a Day spread with all manner of Delicates that Sea or Land afforded by which riotous manner of living he greatly wasted his Treasure and set an example to his Nobles to do the like so that the Court being Impoverished consults were held to raise an exacting Tax on the Commons which was chiefly counselled by Goodwin Earl of Kent whereby he fell into the hatred of the People and went Guarded a long time after to prevent their fury The Sum raised was 3â—147 Pounds a great Tax in those days and grievously exasperated the People because it was exacted with rigor insomuch that at Worcester they made an Insurrection and slew two of the Collectors which so highly offended the King that he not only caused divers of the Mutineers to be Executed but laid the City in a heap of Rubbish by Fire so that the Innocent suffered among the Guilty which caused other Insurrections but they were presently quieted and many slain With part of this Money the clamouring Seamen were paid off and thereupon a great part of the Fleet laid up and then the King pursued his former pleasures whereupon the Scots much wasted the Northern Borders but being overthrown in a great Battel on the bank of the Tweed near to Barwick they were compelled to sue for Peace which they could not obtain till they had made considerable restitution for the dammage they had done in the English Counties About the latter end of this Kings Reign a terrible Blazing Star appeared for Three Weeks The Sun at noon day seemed of the colour of Blood strange and amazing Voices were heard supposed to proceed out of the Air and many other Prodigies are said to have happened When he had Reigned about two Years being Invited to a Noblemans Wedding held at Lambeth in Surry situate on the South side the Thames he there Eat and Drank so unmeasurably that he immediatly Sickned and being carried from the Table fell into a grievous Surfeit and not admiting his Physitians to Bleed him which they advised as the only Remedy for his Recovery he soon after Dyed and leaving no Issue behind him with him dyed the Danish Monarchy in England and it devolved again on the Saxons For Edward the Seventh Son of Ethelred by Queen Emma having escaped many dangers was sent for upon the Death of Hardicanute from Normandy whither he had retired to save his Life upon the Death of his Brother Alfride and Proclaimed King Remarks on the County of Kent c. KEnt is a very large and spacious County and advantagiously seated being almost wholly invironed with the Sea except its Western parts which borders upon Surry and Sussex Besides the Thames which parts it Northward from Essex its principal Rivers are Medway the Rother and the Stowr It abounds in Fruits Corn fat Pastures and exceeding profitable Marshes for the feeding of Cattle which are bought up Lean from other Counties and sent thither to be made Fat It produces particularly the greatest quantity of Cherries of any County in England c. It is divided into 67 Hundreds containing 408 Parishes 2 Cities viz. Canterbury and Rochester the former being an Archiepiscopal See having the Primacy of all England the latter is likewise a Bishops See It has likewise 31 Market Towns and 4 Rivers more than before mentioned among which Lewisham River is famous for the large store of Fish found in it its Stream carrying about several Mills It sends Members to Parliament 10 viz. Canterbury 2 Maidston 2 Queenbourough 2 Rochester 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Besides which 3 of the Cinque Ports being in this County viz. Dover Rumney and Sandwich do each of them send two Barons up to the Parliament called Barons of the Cinque Ports KENT By J. Seller Canterbury is by some Authors said to have been Built 900
manner Her Eyes were blinded with a thick Veil and nine Plowshares newly taken out of the Fire laid a Yard distance from each other in an even row over which she was to pass for her Purgation and if she did it without touching any of them she was to be adjudged Guiltless so being led by a Priest her Feet being bare she passed over missing every one of them which being done and she not knowing it Cryed out O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation she having her Eyes uncovered and perceiving she had passed the danger she fell on her Knees and gave thanks to God for her deliverance This King is likwise accounted to be over severe to his Virtuous Wife Edith who being wrongfully accused of Incontinency was Imprisoned and at last confined to a Religious Life in the Monastery of Wilton In this Kings Reign a Blazing Star appeared and was seen for seven Nights all over Europe The Abby of St. Peter's Westminster founded in a place formerly called the Isle of Thorns was Beautified and much Enlarged by him he removed the Bishops See from Credington in Devonshire to Exeter in the same County and was the first of our English Kings that is said to have The Gift conferred upon him of Curing the Disease called Struma now the Kings-Evil And the first also that sealed his Patents with that stately Seal now called The Kings Great Seal He remitted the remainder of the Tax called Dane Gelt moved to it as some say upon seeing a fearful Apparition dancing about a heap of Money in his Closet that had been exacted from the People under that denomination and towards the close of his Reign he collected all the useful Laws made by his Predecessors into one Body and out of them compiled a select Body of Law held at this day to be the Ground of our Common Law This Edward Seventh Son to Ethelred by Emma his Second Wife was Born at Islip in Oxfordshire and brought up to a great degree of Learning which he improved in his Banishment He began his Reign Anno Dom. 1042 and Reigned Twenty Years Six Months and Twenty Seven Days Dying the Fourth of January of a lingering Fever and was Buried in Westminster Abby where in the second Year of the Reign of the Late King James one of the Choristers searching his Tomb found a plain Golden Crucifix Inscribed to be this Kings and delivered it into the Hands of the said King James who esteemed it as an extraordinary Relick by reason this Edward after his Death was Canonized a Saint at Rome tho' for what Extraordinary Vertues I know not Remarks on the County Palatine of Lancaster c. LANCASHIRE by John Seller Lancaster the Shire Town is Commodiously Situate on the South Banks of the River Lon from whence it might probably take the Name of Loncaster and now by corruption Lancaster It has a Curious Bridge Leading to it and in it a famous Church It gave Title from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster to four Henries Kings of England viz 4th 5th 6th and 7th It is a place of great Antiquity Considerable Trade Pleasant Building and has a stately Castle Manchester the Antient Mancunium of the Romans was highly prized by them where the Ruins of their Forts and Works are found in the digging of Foundacions Ribchester taks it's Name from Rible a little Brook near Clithero it is a Town of great Antiquity and was a station of the Romans as appears by their Coins and Statues that have been digg'd up there and Tradition Reports it to have been once the Richest Town in Christendom Near Duglas a small Brook not far from the Town of Wiggan King Arthur put the Saxons to the Rout with great Slaughter at Belango the Saxons Fought a mortal Battel with each other Near Furness-Fells in this County is a standing Water accounted the greatest in England called Minander-Meer being 10 Miles in Length and all along paved at the bottom with flat Stone and it is said a Fish called a Chare is found here and in no other Waters Also the the River Lune near Cockerfand-Abby abounds with Trout Pike and some Salmon In this County is the Antiently Famous Castle called Hornby Castle Induring many Sieges There are scatered up and down in Lancashire divers Quarries of useful Stone for Building and some Mineralls upon its Hills are many pleasant Springs and Rivers and some places naturally abound with Wiâ—â— Thime Marjorum and Cardus and many other Physical Herbs The Seats of the Nobility give a gratful Prospect to the Travellers and are Clithero Castle belonging to the late Duke of Albemarle Alburn Tower to the Earl of Derby Halfal to the Earl of Macclesfield Hornby Castle to the Lord Morley and Mount-Eagle Wood-acre Hall Ashton Hall and Shortâ—n Hall to the Lord Gerard of Gerards Bromley Wigan the Bishop of Chesters Place besides divers Seats of the Gentry as famous in Prâ—spect for most part as those mentioned and to conclude it has produced many famous Men serviceable in Church and State The Reign of Harrold Twentieth Sole Monarch of England KIng Edward Dying Issueless tho' Edgar Etheling was the next Heir to the Crown yet Harrold Son to Goodwin Earl of Kent by his Wife Sitha Sister to Swain the Younger King of Denmark having Ingratiated himself into the Favour of the leading Nobility and promised great advantages to the Commons he so firmly bound them to him that he procured himself to be Proclaimed King beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 1065 and according to his promise he remitted to the People many grievous Taxes making them everywhere â—asie in their stations and then was Crowned by Aldred Arch Bishop of York confirming the Laws of Edward the Confessor and adding some of his own and laboured to make his bad Title appear more fair in the Eyes of his Subjects by heaping on them what favours they desired as fearing a storm from the Norman Coast which soon after happened to his destruction the cause of it being reported by Historians three several ways 1. That Edward had consigned his Crown to William the Seventh Duke of Normandy to be holden by him after his Death 2. That Young Edgar the true Heir to whom he was great Unkle had resigned his Right to him as being too weak to contend for the possession 3. That Harrold in King Edwards life-time Hawking on the Coast of Sussex the Hawk when he was cast off flew into the Sea whereupon getting into a Skiff in hopes to recover him a Storm arose and he was driven on the Coast of Normandy where Landing and being taken Prisoner he was known and presented to the Duke who caused him to be kept with a strict Guard till such time as he Swore That if King Edward Dyed Issueless he would do his utmost endeavour to secure the Kingdom to the use and behoof of him the before named Duke and thereupon he procuring his Liberty returned to England However
County and produces store of large Cattle much Corn plenty of Fowl Fruits Fish wholsom Pastures c. It is Bounded by Darbyshire Notinghamshire Lincolnshire Rutlandshire Northamptonshire and Warwickshire It is divided into 6 Hundreds containing 192 Parishes 11 Market Towns and one noted River It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Leicester 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Leicester is pleasantly seated on the River Stower and well compacted being the County Town and a place of considerable Trade it is of great Antiquity as held to have been Builded by King Leir a famous British King for which cause it was antiently called Leir-Cester Lutterworth gave Birth to the famous John Wickliff who was Parson of it and the first English Reformer or Detector of the Errors in the Church of Rome frequently Writing and Disputing against them in the Reign of Edward the Third for which many snares were laid to take his Life by the Romish Clergy but he escaped them and Dyed a natural Death leaving the Candle of Truth Lighted by which John Huss Jerome of Prague Luther and others took their prospect of a happy Reformation that soon after ensued Bosworth is Memorable for the Battel fought near it on Redmore August 22 Anno Dom 1485 wherein Richard the Third was slain by the forces of Henry Earl of Richmond and his Crown found in a Hawthorn Bush which was placed on the Earles Head and he Proclaimed King which put an End to the fatal Feuds between the Houses of York and Lancaster In the West of this County once stood Clycester a famous City in the time of the Romans called by them Bennone though now nothing but a few Ruins of it remain The other Towns of note are Mountsorell Loughborough Waltham on the Woald Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bildsdon Lutterworth Harborough c. At Cole-Overton in the Hundred of West Goscot and other parts of this County great store of Pitcole is digg'd of a Bitumencus Nature very hard and fast about Luterworth are Allomey Veins and Welâ—s whose Waters strained through them are Medicinal and Petrefying so that it is said they turn Straw and Sticks into Stone by reason of their Exceeding Coldness near Belvoir-Castle on a R ck are found Snake Stones Cockle Stones and Star Stones The Seats of the Nobility are Pleasantly Situate viz Garerton one of the seats belonging to the Late Duke of Albemarle Burbage to the Earl of Kent Belvoir-Castle partly in Lincolnshire to the Earle of Rutland Ashby-de-in-Zouch Donington-Park to the Earl of Huntington Broadgate and Grooby to the Earl of Stamford Stanton-Bruâ—nell to the Earle of Cardigan Ashby-Folville to the Lord Carrington Besides these there are iâ— great many fine Houses of the Gentry standing sightly to the Fields and Roads some Parks and store of Ganie at all proper Seasons CHAP. XI An Account of the Norman Original How they came to be called Normans With a Description of the Dutchey of Normandy c. BEfore I enter upon the particulars of the Reign of William the First stiled the Conquerer I shall take the Method observed upon other Turns and Changes of Government viz. To give some Account of these New Invaders who at last laid claim to England by Conquest These Normans so called from the Northern Climes which first produced them were composed of Norwegians Swedes and Danes who finding their Country too straight for them betook them to the Seas to seek their Fortunes and practiced Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia and England on the latter of which they Landed under the Leading of Rollo their Duke and became very troublesom to the English Saxons between whom there was great Wars Till at last Rollo Dreaming He sat on the highest Hill in France and a pleasant Spring Issued out of a Rock on which he laid his Head running down in many Streams to which flocked a number of Birds with Red Brests to Drink the Water and then flew to fragrant Groves where they Sung so Melodiously that he was Ravished with their Notes and beneath this Hill he fancied there lay so pleasant a Country that the like he had never beheld in his Life When Waking much pleased with his Dream he sent for a Monk of Crowland accounted a great Diviner telling him his Dream and demanding the Interpretation of it who willing for his Countrys sake to be rid of such troublesom Guests told him at an adventure as is supposed That the Fates had Decreed him to settle his Dominions in one of the most pleasant Countries of France Which he gave creadit to and perceiving England much wasted and impoverished by a tedious War and a Famine that then raged having exacted some Aides and Supplies of Money he Transported his Forces over the Narrow Sea and Warred five Years with such Fury on the French that fearing to lose all Charles their King Sirnamed the Simple gave him his Daughter Gilla in Marriage and as her Dowry the Peaceable Possession of what they had already gained by the Sword which being modeled into a Dutchy they called Normandy which Name through all the changes of that Kingdom it bears to this day This Rollo was great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy Elder Brother to Robert Father to William the Conquerer As for a Brief Description of the Dukedom of Normandy once a Patrimonial Inheritance of the Kings of England and to which they now have a Right It is Bounded on the East with the Isles of France at the River Epta which passes by the City of Gisors on the West with Britany the Antient Armorica and a Collony of the Britains from which it is separated by the River Crenon Northward by the Sea on the South with the Country of Mayne and is divided by the River Seine Abundantly Rich in Merchandize through the commodiousness of its Havens and Rivers The People are the most Subtil Apt and Ingenious of all the French Provinces yet Affable Curteous and greatly enclined to Learning Their Manufacture consisting most in Wooll and Linnen Cloth the Country producing no Vines capable of making good Wine unless about Caen a very pleasant City The chief City is Roan very famous for many Sieges as in the Series of History will appear having an Arch Bishop whose Jurisdiction extendeth to the River Oyse and a Parliament till of late that the French King has assumed such a Despotick Power and much lessened its Authority was usually held here for the consulting the good of the Province The other Cities of note are Auranche Argences Alancon Falaise Fecham Newhaven or Haver-de-Grace St. Valery Sileaux Constance Manta St. Michale and divers Walled Towns to the number of Eighty So that when the French by reason of our Civil Dissentions wrested it from us they plucked one of the fairest Jewells out of the English Diadem which in time we may yet hope to regain especially under the Auspicious Reign of WILLIAM the Third our present Heroick and Victorious King The Reign of WILLIAM the First
Eglesine Abbot of St Austines had as secretly as they could made them Weapons and lay in Ambush for him which he no sooner entered but every one cut down a Bough to shelter him from present discovery burst out of the Woods on either side the straight he was passing and surrounded his small Train but whilst the King was in suspence what this unusual thing might signifie they all at once threw down their Boughs and stood ready prepared with their Bows Arrows and such other Weapons as they had for the Encounter whereupon the Arch Bishop advancing towards the Conquerer said Behold most noble King the Commons of Kent Assembled to demand a Confirmation of their Antient Rights Laws and Liberties the which if you will Grant them they are willing to Submit and become your Obedient Subjects otherwise in defence of them they are resolved to venture their dearest Blood and presently to give you Battel This unexpected Adventure startled the King that notwithstanding his great Courage a surprising fear seemed visible in his Countenance so that pausing a while he thought it more prudent to yield to Necessity than hazard after so much expence of Blood and Treasure his Life and Kingdom on an uncertain Chance and Nicety Whereupon he signed their demands presented in Writing and gave them a Solemn Promise to Confirm it to them in a Legal manner whereupon they threw down their Arms and Shouted for Joy so that from his Reign to this day that County Enjoys the Priviledges they held in Edward the Confessors time exempted from other Counties as also those in preceding Reigns After this perceiving the Spirits of the English were not so easily brought under as he supposed and hearing that Swain King of Denmark was preparing for an Invasion at the Instigation of Goodwin and Edmund two of King Harrolds Sons he began to relax in his severity and to make fair with the City of London Granted them this short Charter viz. I William King Greet William Bishop and Godfrey Porters and all the Burgesses within London French and English and I Grant you that I Will that you Maintain and Enjoy all your Laws as you did in the days of King Edward meaning the Confessor and I will that each Child be his Fathers Heir and further I will that no Man Wrong you and so God keep you However the Danes Landed a strong Army in the North where they were Joyned by many English in hopes thereby to regain their Liberties but the King hasting thither drove them to their Ships with great slaughter and to revenge him on those that had joyned with them he wasted the Country from York to Durham so that for Nine Years the Ground lay waste which occasioning a Famine numbers of People Dyed After this he Summoned a Convocation of the Clergy charging them with many faults and failures in their Functions and Duty towards him for which he Deposed and Deprived divers Learned and Godly Men of their Dignities Living and Substance The two former he bestowed on such as bid most for them and the latter he kept to Maintain his Wars in Normandy where Troubles were arisen in his Absence the French labouring to recover it as part of their Antient Territories But scarce had he Expelled them ere hasty News recalled him viz. The Earls Edwin and Morcar had set up Edgar Etheling and raised great Forces which were so Formidable to the Conquerer by reason the English were generally enclined to favour the Young Prince than he found himself constrained to end the Difference by fair means and to make the common sort more ready to embrace it he Swore to keep Inviolable the Antient Laws of the Land particularly those of Edward the Confessor but not long after he took from the Abby of St. Albans all the Lands between Barnet and London-Stone And to Strengthen himself he made a League with Malcolm King of Scots who had often publickly or underhand made Incursions or raised Commotions in the Northern parts of the Kingdom And the Bounds of the Country were ascertained by rearing a Stone Cross called by the Scots Stain Moor in Westmorland but by the English Roy Cross or Kings Cross and soon after the King Sailed again for Normandy and quelled the Rebellious Normans that were joyned with the French against him and so returned with Victory but his Treasure being Exhausted he to recruit it Sold to Walcher Bishop of Durham the Earldom of Northumberland but he Enjoyed it not long for Oppressing the People to raise the Money he had disbursed they rose in a Tumultuous manner and slew him Anno 1075 and the ensuing Year a Frost continued without Intermission from the 12th of November to the 15th of April so that the Wild Fowl were most destroyed and many Cattle perished for want of Food A Blazing Star soon after appeared whereupon great contentions ensued in Normandy for Robert the Kings Son having Ingratiated himself into the Favour of the People raised great Forces and in a set Battel Wounded his Father in the Arm threw him from his Horse and took it as his Prize gaining an intire Victory in which many of the English Nobles lost their Lives Whereupon the King finding his Army much weakened was constrained to return for England and finding the City of London did not much favour him after this Defeat to lay a curb and awe on them he rebuilt the Tower of London drawing a Ditch about it to the largness as it continues to this day it being before but of inconsiderable Strength viz. Anno Dom. 1078 and so a Peace in a short time being concluded between him and his Son Robert the latter being allowed the nominal Title of Duke of Normandy and entirely to possess it as a Soveraign Prince after his Fathers Death he came into England and was made General against the Scots who breaking the League wasted the Northern Countries as far as the place then called Moonkchester to whom he gave an entire Defeat and in memory of the Victory erected a strong Castle of Stone Naming it New-Castle from which the Town so called on Tine took its Name Not long after this such mighty Rains happened and continued for so long a time that divers Hills were so softened into a Quagmire that they sunk down and overthrew many Cots and some Villages making as it were a Level St. Paul's Church was likewise set on Fire in June following supposed to be done by Lightning and a great part of it consumed but soon Rebuilded by the Liberal Contributions of the Clergy and Laity He held a Synod in London where some Bishopricks were Translated from one place to another as Selwy to Chichester Credington to Exeter Shirbourn to Salisbury Dorchester unto Lincoln and there being a Contention between the two Arch Bishops of Canterbury and York for Primacy he undertook to determine the difference appointing Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Thomas Arch Bishop of York only
Primate of England so that he and his Successors became subordinate to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury Philip King of France taking advantage of the Kings Absence from Normandy encouraged Robert to make himself Absolute Duke assisting him with Men and Money whereupon the King was again constrained to pass the Seas with a puissant Army being over-eager in laying waste the Country and harassing himself in War being over-heated he fell Sick and hearing that the French King should say in a Scoffing manner He lay a long time in Child-Bed he Replied in a rage That at his Vprising or Churching he would Light so many Candles in France as should Inflame the whole Country And indeed he made his words good for upon his recovery inraged that his Enemies had in his Sickness taken the advantage to waste his Territories he spoiled all the West parts of France Firing the City of Nantz Meux and a great number of Towns and Villages Inriching with part of the Spoil the Church of St. Stephen's in Normandy which was of his own Founding moreover bequeathing in his last Will his Crown and Regal Ornaments to it appointing his Body when he Dyed to be Buryed therein And for the Service done in this War he requited many of his Commanders who had signalized their Vallour with possessions in England to hold them of the Crown one of which Grants for the Antiquity and plain manner of Conveyance exempted from the tediousness now in use I think not amiss to recite viz. I William give to thee Norman Hunter here Who art to me both Leef and Dear The Hop and the Hoptown And all the Bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell and even Above the Earth to Heaven From me and mine To thee and thine As good and faire As ever they were To Witness that this is Sooth I bite the White Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery And my Young Son Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow When I come to Hunt upon Yarrow In the last Year of this Kings Reign there was found in the Province called Rose in Wales a Sepulcher of 14 Foot Long in which was Buried with much Treasure as the Custom of the Times then were Gawen one of King Arthurs Knights of his Round Table and Bones therein of an exceeding bigness And now as all Kings must come at last to the Grave the Life of this Restless Conquerer grew to a Period for going over to Quiet new Troubles in Normandy he had scarcely Accomplished it before he fell Sick of a Malignant Feaver at Caen in Normandy and after some Languishings Dyed and being a corpulent Man his Belly in a little time Burst and the Stench being great none but a few poor Monks would come near him nor was this all one Ascalinus Fitz Arthur a Norman Gentleman denyed him Burial in St. Stephen's Church saying He had Founded it on his Inheritance violently taken away that it stood upon the Floor of his Fathers House and the Body of no Despoiler should be covered in his Earth however Henry his Fourth Son giving a Hundred Pound Weight in Silver as a recompence he was there Interred but with little or no Ceremony so that he who in his Life time made Nations Tremble being Dead was little or nothing regarded This William the First was Son to Robert the Sixth Duke of Normandy begotten as is said on a Beautiful Damsel named Arlet the Daughter of a Tanner in Honour of whom a Town is called by her Name He began his Reign over England Anno Dom. 1066 on Saturday the Fourteenth of October and Reigned Twenty Years Ten Months and Twenty Six Days being the 21 Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Lincolnshire c. LIncolnshire by reason of its Fens and other Advantagious Pastures produces great numbers of small and large Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn abundance of Fish and Wild-Fowl much Wooll and Leather It is commodiously on the East Bounded with the German Ocean and part of Norfolk so that by reason of its Havens it has a great Trade and very much helped on the North by being Bounded with the River Humber and part of Yorkshire on the West with Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Leicestershire on the South with Northamptonshire and Cambridgshire It is divided into 30 Hundreds containing one City a Bishops See 630 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 9 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Boston 2 Grantham 2 Grimesby 2 Lincoln City 2 Stamford 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Lincoln was Antiently held to be one of the finest Cities of England being of great Antiquity and made by King Edward the Third the chief Mart for Lead Wooll and Leather here was also a great Battel Fought between Randolph Earl of Chester Robert Earl of Gloucester and King Stephen the latter being Overthrown and taken Prisoner It was Besieged by King Henry the Third and taken from the Barrons Wainfleet was the Birth Place of William Sirnamed thence Wainfleet who Flourished in the Reign of Henry the Sixth being Bishop of Winchester He Founded here a Free-School and Magdalen Colledge in Oxford LINCOLNE SHIRE In the Fens are found the Ategen or Godwitt also a foolish Bird called a Dottrell which Cambden says being Hunted thrusts its Head into a Bush and then thinks all is secure tho' the whole Body is seen and so in Moulting time he is easily taken The Reign of WILLIAM the Second Sirnamed Rufus WHen William the First Dyed his Eldest Son Robert was in Germany Negotiating his Fathers Affairs to draw in those Princes to assist him in making a Vigorous War on the French who were now become somewhat Formidable to their Neighbours so that by the favour of his Absence the Conquerers Last Will the furtherance of Lanfrank and Wolstane two Learned Prelates who had great Influence over the Commons and divers of the Nobles William Sirnamed Rufus from the Redness of his Hair or Face was after many hot debates among the Nobles Crowned King at Westminster by Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury on Sunday the 26th of September Anno Dom. 1087. This William was Younger Brother to Robert but being of a milder Temper and better affected to the English by reason he had in a manner been bred up amongst them and approved by them Robert found himself greatly Agreived that he had been put beside his Right in England tho' the Dutchy of Normandy was left entirely to him but the Title of Duke not agreeing with his great Spirit when he perceived he might have been a King had not loss of opportunity barr'd it he resolved nevertheless to tempt Fortune in a tryal for the regaining what was overslipt whereupon he raised a gallant Army composed of his own Subjects and Strangers Landing them in England with little or no Resistance not doing any damage to the English but being Encamped Commissioners were sent by King William to treat with him about an Accommodation for the preventing the effusion of
Blood and the Miserie 's such a War was likely to bring on both Nations for being thereby weakened they might easily become a Prey to Forreign Enemies who watched for such an opportunity to work their ends both on Normandy and England especially the Danes and French To these and other Reasons for an amicable conclusion of the Difference the Norman Duke harkened with much mildness so that in a short time it was agreed that Robert after Williams Death should possess the Kingdom and to the end his Heirs might not disturb it he was debarred from Marriage as I find it in some Historians however certaine it is he left no Legitimate Issue behind him And in the mean time he was Yearly to pay the sum of 3000 Marks And the Articles being Signed the Brothers took a Friendly leave of each other so that through Providence this threatning Storm which filled England with many doubts and fears at its approach blew over without doing any harm After the Duke of Normandy had repassed the Seas with his Army the King fearing he might repent him of what he had Agree'd to strengthened the Sea Ports and Built some Castles advantagiously on the Havens to prevent Landing by surprize but knowing his prime Strength and Assurance was in the Love of his Subjects he began to caress the Nobles more than he had done and remitted to the Commons several grievous Taxes for upon his coming to the Crown he thought treading in his Fathers steps was the best Measures but now he found that Mildness rather than Rigor was the surest Policy to keep the Natives of this Island firm to his Interest whereupon he restored much that had been Extorted by his Rigorous Ministers and the better to curry favour with the People caused some of them to be punished for the offences he had enjoyned them to commit About this time Odo Bishop of Bayon the Kings Unkle who had been Banished by the Conquerer came over and was kindly received by his Nephew who Created him Earl of Kent and conferred on him many other Honours and Trusts which made the old Clergy-Man presume so much on the Kings Favour That he took upon him more Authority to Rule than came to his share by many degrees whereupon the Nobles made grievous complaints That a Stranger should presume to Domineer over them in their Native Country so that the King being sensible of his Arogancy changed his Smiles into Frowns which caused him to make a party among the English Normans and to fall into open Rebellion Declaring for Duke Robert and his Right who underhand had promised to Land some Forces but did not This Treachery of the Normans made the King almost totally throw himself on the English for Safeguard and Protection These Fractions and Disorders in the State begat new conceits in Malcolm King of Scots who resolving to take the advantage of them hastily raised an Army and Invaded the Northern Marches wasting all in his way with Fire and Sword whereupon the King Summoning all his Courage not to leave an Enemy at his Back first fell upon the Bishop and gave him and his Rebellious Associates a terrible Overthrow and in the Battel the Bishop being taken Prisoner he was compelled to Abjure the Land This happening the latter-end of the Second Year of the Kings Reign the Third no sooner began but he resolved to be Revenged on the Scots who had broke their League with him in order to lay hold on the Advantages Clandestine Commotions seemed to offer them and finding them Plundering and Spoiling his Subjects he scarce gave them time to Embattel ere like a Tempest he broke in amongst them destroying the greater part of their numerous Army in which fell Twenty of their Nobles and their King was constrained to Acknowledg Subjection to England renew his League upon Oath and in further confirmation of his Subjection he became a Pentioner to King William and to make it more apparent he was Tributary to England payed Twelve Mark Yearly for the Twelve Villages the King restored him after he had taken them from him in this War which he had held in the Reign of William the Conquerer and to Fortifie against the Scots Incursions he Rebuilded and Garisoned the City of Carlisle in Cumberland it having been demolished by the Danes about 200 Years before and Lanfrank Dying at a great Age the King kept the profits of the Arch Bishoprick in his hands Four Years and then made Anselm a Norman Abbot Arch Bishop which much displeased the English Clergy Not long after this Malcolm King of Scots coming to Gloucester where King William held his Court being denied Access and unhandsomly treated by some Carpet-Courtiers who had been raised from a low degree he without acquainting the King with it or demanding satisfaction for the Indignity put upon him flung away in a great rage and arriving in Scotland Assembled the Nobles and incited them to bring all the Forces they could raise to his Standard which they punctually obeyed and entering England with a huge Army he wasted all before him as far as Alnewick which he Besieged and Took it but the strong Castle held out against him which with his numbers he so straightly begirt that Famine got in and much dismai'd the Besieged whereupon an adventurous Knight with a Flag of Truce in his Hand and the Keys of the Castle on his Spear came out at the Gate Mounted on a swift Racer and making low obeysence as if he submitted them to the King of Scots being come pretty near setting Spurs to his Horse he run at the King with his Spear and piercing him into the Eye and Brain he fell Dead to the Ground and the Knight by the swiftness of his Horse escaped through the Scotish Camp at which the Scots were so dismai'd That they raised the Siege and departed with the Body of their King Mournfully into Scotland For this daring piece of Service which turned so much to the advantage of William The Knight had his Name by him changed from Mabrey to Piercey and was created Earl of Northumberland whose Race as Earls continued till of very late days as will appear in the succeeding Reigns But this Success prevented not a Conspiracy against the King for Robert Mowbrey and William of Ancho Plotted to take away his Life by Treachery and Crown Stephen D' Albemarle his Second Sisters Son but the Design being Discovered a little before it was to be put in practice by one of the Accomplices in the Conspiracy some were taken and Executed others Fled And now the Welsh Rebelling under the Leading of Rees their Prince the King with a gallant Army entered Wales but the Rebells shifting from one steep Mountain to another as well knowing the ways in those Fastnesses and climbing the craggy Clifts like Goats many of the English were wasted in pursuing them but at length Starving them out they were constrained to come to a Battel wherein Rees was Slain with
most of his Army whereupon Wales entirely submitted to the English Obedience These Troubles were scarce over when another Storm threatned from Normandy The Duke spurred on by Philip of France who promised to Aid him a second time prepared for England but the King having an Army on foot concluded it better to seat the War in another Country than in his own and therefore to prevent the Dukes making his Voyage Sailed to Normandy whose surprising Landing brought great fear on the Country however the King finding himself able with the Army he had to do no great matters and being destitute of Money to raise Forces Abroad bethought him of a Stratagem to do it viz. He sent to England many chief Officers to Levy such for the Wars as were of Ability and having Listed Citizens of London and others to the number of 30000 when they came to the Sea Shoar and most of them shewed an unwillingness to Embark as looking back to their Wives and Children from which many of them had been forced upon a pretended pressing urgency it was Proclaimed That such as would lay down Ten Shillings should be Discharged from the Service which most of them did with great Alacrity so that very few of them went With this Money King William underhand bought off Philip the French King from the Duke of Normandy's Interest which he perceiving agreed with his Brother by Ratifying again the former Conditions and the Christian Armies being on foot in most parts of Europe to rescue the Christians in the Holy Land from the Tyrany of the Turks and Sarazens Duke Robert to raise Forces and accompany them Pawned his Dutchey of Normandy to King William for 10000 Pounds and there did many Valiant Exploits insomuch that at the taking of Jerusalem he was first proffered to be made King of it and all the Country lying about it larger than what either David or Solomon possessed but he refused it in hopes of the Kingdom of England after his Brothers Death tho' he was disappointed of it and Dyed a deplorable Death which some have accounted as a Judgment for his having refused the profered Scepter of Jerusalem However on his refusal the Princes chose Godfry of Bulloin Earl of Flanders with which Choice he Joyfully complied but would not be Crowned as he said with a Crown of Gold where our Blessed Saviour for the Sins of Man and to procure his Redemption had some time worn a Crown of Thorns But nearer to My Purpose The King was no sooner returned out of Normandy but News was brought him the Welsh were again in Rebellion whereupon he Marched to Subdue them but returned without effecting it by reason of the violent Torrents occasioned by the Rain and their keeping among the Rocks and Fastnesses till his Army was tired out with Famine and other inconveniencies yet soon after they grew Quiet of themselves But scarce had he time to take breath ere a Rebellion broke out in the North whither he hasted with his Army gave the Rebells a great Overthrow and takeing some of the Ringleaders caused them to be put to Death but extended his Pardon to the common sort and Mowbray who encouraged them was committed to Windsor Castle where he continued a long while Prisoner And the Welsh growing again troublesom by wasting the English Borders and carrying away great spoils the King sent the Earls of Shrewsbury and Chester against them with a strong Power where after some Search and as secret Marchings as they could they found them making Merry in the Isle of Anglesey with the Plunder they had got from the English and falling upon them when they expected nothing less their Feasting was turned into Mourning for the greater part of them was Slain and those that were taken Prisoners mostly lost Feet Hands or Eyes or were put to worse Torments as a Terror to the rest that they should keep Quiet within their appointed limits The King thinking all would now be Quiet resolved to take his Ease and then forgeting how the English had faithfully stood by him and assisted him in his most dangerous undertakings he cast many of them out of Favour Office and Trust laying grievous Taxes on the Commonalty Selling for ready Money the best Promotions in Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs Prohibiting Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury to Assemble any Convocations or Synods for the well ordering the Clergy or for the Correcting such as did Offend without his Leave or License by which means he secretly filled his Coffers with Treasure and tho' the Good Arch Bishop laid before him the ill consequences and dangers of such Proceedings and not being minded he resolved to go for Rome and lay before Pope Vrban the Third the danger the Church was in by Misgovernment and to perswade him to Intercede with the King not to intermedle with Church-Affaires but leave them to his Clergy The King hearing of his Intention sent to command him not to go but the Old Man and his Retinue were before on their Journey however the King sent after him and Pillaged him near Dover of all his Wealth in hopes that would stay him but it did not For he went to Rome and made such Complaints that the Pope in a chafe would have Excomunicated the King But his Clergy Advised him that having already Excomunicated the Emperour Henry the Fourth The first Christian Prince that ever was under Excomunication therefore it would be convenient to see the Issue of that Sentence ere he proceeded any further For says a blunt Abbot your Holiness must have a care how you heat any more Irons before you see how those you have Heated already will be Quenched least they prove too Hot for your handling However many Letters and Verbal Messages were sent to the King Admonishing him not to meddle any more with the Investing of Bishops by giving them the Cross Ring and Pastoral Staff nor Prohibit the Assembling of the Convocations or Synods touching the Affairs of the Church nor the Execution of any Canons tho' they were by Regal Authority Confirmed To this the King Answered That he would still do as he Pleased and not lose so fair a Flower belonging to his Crown And being Reproved in the absence of Anselm by Ralph Bishop of Chichester he cast him into disgrace and Suspended many Churches in his Diocess causing the Revenues to be brought into his Exchequer so that the Clergy finding no Redress greatly Murmured but in vain till his humour was over and then he not only received the Bishop into his extraordinary Grace and Favour but Granted many Honourable Priviledges to his See yet he stood not long on these terms ere the Kings humour changing again he Banished him By these ways the King had Amassed great Sums part of which he laid out in Building viz. He made outward Walls and Bullwarks about the Tower of London on this side the Ditch which Ruined by Time and other Accidents are now Demolished tho' some of the
Ruins yet remain also Westminster-Hall being 90 Yards Long and 24 Yards and 2 Foot Broad yet when he saw it he said It was too Little by half and therefore he would reserve it for a Bed-Chamber though indeed it is accounted the Largest in Europe and one thing is remarkable tho' there are many Cobwebs in the Windows and in the Glass Lanthorn above the Roof yet on the large and curious Wooden Frame tho' never Swept not any appear which has given occasion to conclude it is made of Irish Oak and that the virtue of the Wood is such no Spider will come near it The King being thus at Ease the French were not wanting to take the Advantage of it especially since Duke Robert was absent Warring in the Holy Land and had left his Dukedom in charge with the King of England whereupon they laid Siege to the City of Constantia in Normandy and pressed it very sorely of which King William having news as he was in the height of Sport Hunting in New Forrest he left all his Company on a suddain and Posted towards the Sea Side where finding a small Bark he leaped into it and commanded the Master to set Sail for any part in Normandy but the Sea running high by reason of a Storm he refused to weigh Anchor laying before the King that the passing at that time was full of danger and therefore intreated him to wait for more favourable Weather whereupon much enraged he commanded him to make no delay for any fear or danger of Tempests For when said he have you ever heard a King was Drowned by a Storm So that the Marriners plying the best of their skill to bear in the Wind they got safely over The French no sooner heard the King was Landed but concluding he had a great Army with him or soon to arrive were so chill'd with fear that Courage failing them in much disorder they raised the Siege and the Besieged in Sallying cut off a great many in the Rear took most of their Tents and Baggage left behind for haste and so the King with a small Train coming thither was joyfully received and having better Fortified and Stored it with Provisions conferring some Honours and Gifts on those that behaved themselves well he returned to England met divers of the Nobility who had raised Forces and were coming to his Aid who scarcely believed he could be there in so short a time or what he related of the raising the Siege could be true till they had it confirmed from many hands In the second Year of this Kings Reign a terrible Earthquake happened and in the fourth such prodigious Lightening and Thunder as did great mischief in divers places and particularly it Burnt the Steeple of the Abby at Winchester rent the Beams of the Roof and cast down the Image of the Virgin Mary breaking one of its Leggs as also the Crucifix and not long after so great a Storm happened at London that it blew down 60 some say 606 Houses and took off the Roof of Bow-Church bearing it a great height in the Air and six of the Beams being 27 Foot Long with the fall run a prodigious depth into the Ground the Streets being then un-paved so that with much labour they were digg'd out In his sixth Year was so great a Scarcity of Provisions and a Pestilence that in Populous Places the Living were hardly sufficient to Bury the Dead In his ninth Year two Blazing Stars with long Firey Trains appeared one in the East the other in the West for twenty Nights seeming to dart Fire one at the other And in the last Year of his Reign the Sea overflowed its Banks in Kent and lay'd under Water all the Lands that had been Earl Goodwin's being about 4000 Acres Drowning much People and Cattel and Demolishing many Villages And to this day has not been Regained That Overflowing is called Goodwins Sands very fatal to Marriners There also rose up a Spring of Water of the Colour of Blood gushing out for 15. days in great abundance at Finchamstead near Abingdon in Barkshire which was held to Presage the Kings untimely Death For he Hunting in the New Forrest where his Father had made such desolation of Churches Religious Houses and Villages upon pretence of Pleasure as the Dogs were at Bay with a Stag and he having spoiled many of them Sr. Walter Terrill one of the Squires of the Kings Body let fly an Arrow which glancing on the side of an Oak slaunted on the King who was pressing on to the Quarry and entered so deep into his Breast that he dyed of the Wound and almost on that spot not long before his Nephew Richard Son to Robert of Normandy was slain by a violent fall from his Horse beaten off by a Bow all which Accidents were looked on as Judgments for the Sacriledge and Waste committed on so trivial an occasion MIDLESEX By John Seller Remarks on the County of Middlesex and the famous Cities of London and Westminster MIddlesex gains the Preheminence of other Counties by reason in it stands the famous City of London The Courts of Judicature and Palaces of our Kings and by reason of the great numbers of Handicrafts for few Manufactures used by the English Nation are here unpractised being in all too many to inumerate This County produces a good sprinkling of Cattle Corn Pastures Parks Chases and store of Deer It is Bounded on the North with Hartfordshire on the West with Buckinghamshire on the South with the River Thames and Surry on the East with Essex It is divided into seven Hundreds viz. Edmonton Hundred Elthorn Hundred Finsbury and Wenslaxbarn one Hundred Goare Hundred Oswelston Hundred Isleworth Hundred Spelthorn Hundred containing 73 Parishes besides those Parishes contained in the Cities of London and Westminster which are 126 viz. 97 within the Walls of London 16 without the Walls but within the Liberties thereof and 7 in the City of Westminster 2 Cities London and Westminster the former being a Bishops See 5 Market Towns and 1 principal River viz. the Thames which washes its South side It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. London City 4 Westminster City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire London a City of the greatest Trade in Europe is pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Thames lifting up her lofty Head on gradually rising Hills full of Riches and Beautified with many stately Buildings King Lud who Reigned here a little before the arrival of Julius Caesar much Beautified and Enlarged it if he were not the first Founder calling it after his Name Caer Lud and one of its Western Gates retaines his Name to this day It has a stately Stone Bridge with 19 Arches passing over to Southwark upon which are vast piles of Houses The Tower said to be Built by Julius Caesar and much Enlarged by William the Conquerer is for Strength and Prospect very Famous having a Moat and conveniency to let the Thames Water in and out
again It is famous for being the Prison of many Nobles as David King of Scots John King of France c. In it were Murthered Henry the Sixth the two Princes Edward the Fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York by Crookback Richard's Command within its Walls on the Green divers Nobles have been Beheaded as Robert Earl of Essex the Lady Jane Grey a little before Proclaimed Queen and the Lord Dudly her Husband and many others too numerous to mention Here Sr. Tho. Overbury was Poisoned and Arthur Capell the Noble Earl of Essex in King Charles the Seconds Reign was found Dead his Throat being Cut from Ear to Ear. In London one Gallus a Roman Leiutenant being Slain at a Brook it was called thence Galbrook now corruptly Wallbrook The famous Cathedral of St. Pauls was Founded by Sigebert King of the East-Angles and Ethelbert King of Kent where before a Temple was erected to Diana In the Reign of Edmund Ironside this City was closely Besieged by the Danes but the Siege soon raised by that Valiant King Anno 1133 the greater part of it was consumed by Fire In King Richard the Second's time was the great Rencounter in Smithfield with the Rebells Wat Tyler and Jack Straw where the former was killed by Sr. William Walworth the Valiant Lord Mayor For which the Dagger is added to the City Armes This City has had the Honour to Entertain several Kings and Princes King Stephen kept his Court where Crosby Square stands in Bishopsgate-street King Edward the Third in Cornhill where the Popes-Head-Tavern stands King John had his Chappel where the Stone-House on London-Bridge stands and kept his Court in Holy-Well-Lane by Shoreditch King Henry the Eighth held his Palace in Blackfriers and some times in Bridwell where he Lodged the Emperor Charles the Fifth It s Monument on Fish-street-Hill is very famous Erected in Memory of the dreadful Fire Anno Dom. 1666 Sept. the 2. which consumed 13000 Dwelling-Houses besides the Cathedral of St. Pauls and almost all the Churches Chappels Halls and other Publick Buildings To Islington near this City comes a pleasant Stream from a small Spring in Hartfordshire called Amwell and supplies it by Wooden Pipes with Water in abundance Bow Church in this City has a Steeple accounted the finest in Europe It s Exchange in Cornhill is Beautified with the Statues of the Kings and Queens and is a very stately Structure Its Conduits are curious Ornaments to the City as also are the Halls of the Companies and likewise St. Paul's Cathedral the East End and about a Third Part of it being Finished containing the most excellent Workmanship that ever was wrought in Stone Christ's Hospital St. Bartholomew's the Charter-House Bethlehem and Bridwell are very famous for Charity In Christ Church three Queens were Buryed viz. Margaret second Wife to Edward the First Isabell Wife to Edward the Second and Joan her Daughter Married to David King of Scots Westminster the second City standing in this County has the River of Thames pleasantly on the South side of it and has been the most constant Residence of the Kings and Queens of England till White-Hall was Builded by Cardinal Wolsey in the Reign of Henry the Eighth and yet claimes the Coronation and Burials of them in its stately Abby Built in a place once called The Isle of Thorns in Henry the Sevenths Chappel and has also given Birth to many great Princes This City is very Antient viz. about 1660 Years The Palaces of White-Hall and St. James are very Stately but the more to be noted for being the ordinary Residence of our Kings and Queens His Majesties Palace at Kensington is accounted one of the Pleasantest Seats in the County and extraordinary much delighted in by the late Queen Isleworth or Thistleworth is a Village pleasantly situate on the River Thames where Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwal had a stately Palace which was Burnt to the Ground by a Tumultuous Sally made by the London Mob Chealsea is pleasantly seated on the River and above all Beautified with its stately Colledge dedicated to the Vse and Relief of decay'd or disabled Souldiers and Officers Cambray-House beyond Islington is of very Antient Building first Founded by a Grocer and takes a fair Prospect of London Highgate and Hampstead are situate on pleasant Hills giving a large Prospect The next of note are Edger Acton Wilsdon Edmonton Tatnam Highcross Harow Drayton Hackney Newington Hampton famous for its stately Court which is one of the finest in England Built by the great Cardinal Wolsey The Seats of the Nobility in this City and County are many viz. Norfolk-House in Arundel Buildings belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Wallingford-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Buckinghams Albemarle-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Albemarle Soho-Square a seat of the late Duke of Monmouths Clarkenwell-House belonging to the late Duke of Newcastle Cleveland-House to the Dutchess of Cleveland Worcester-House to the Duke of Beaufort Highgate-House to the Duke of Northumberland Winchester-House to the Duke of Bolton Halifax-House to the Marquess of Halifax Kent-House to the Earl of Kent Bedford-House to the Duke of Bedford Thannet-House to the Earl of Thannet Leicester-House to the Earl of Leicester Cambray-House to the Earl of Northampton Warwick and Holland Houses to the Earl of Warwick and Holland Clare-House to the Earl of Clare Mulgrave-House to the Earl of Mulgrave Chealsey-House to the Earl of Lindsey St. Albans-House to the Earl of St. Albans Essex-House to the Earl of Essex Cardigan-House to the Earl of Cardigan Anglesey-House to the Earl of Anglesey Cravan-House to the Lord Cravan Ailesbury-House to the Earl of Ailesbury Burlington-House to the Earl of Burlington Powis-House to the Marquiss of Powis Macclesfield-House to the Earl of Macclesfield Conway-House to the Earl of Conway Campden-House to the Earl of Gainsborough Faulconberg-House to the Lord Viscount Faulconberg Mordant-House to the Lord Viscount Mordant of Avelon Sion-House to the Duke of Sommerset also Northumberland-House in the Strand Drayton to the Lord Paget Hackney-House to the Lord Brook Charterhouse-Close to the Lord Grey of Wark a House at Whitton to the Lord Culpeper Lord Berkley Barron of Stratton his seat Stratton-House alias Berkley-House in Pickadilly and at Twickenham a seat of the Lord Bennets Barron of Ossulston The Bishop of London's seats London-house and Fullham-house As for Medicinal Wells in this County there have been lately found out divers at Islington Hoxdon and other Places by many highly approved for the Cure of divers Distempers The Reign of HENRY the First Sirnamed for his great Learning Beau-Clark or Fine Schollar WHen King William the Second was unfortunately Slain Robert his Eldest Brother Fortunate in all his proceedings save only in his Succession to the Crown of England was Victoriously Warring in the Holy Land against the Turks and Sarazens but hearing of his Brothers Death he declined the Kingdom of Jerusalem to which
the Christian Princes had Elected him and hasted home yet left most of his Troops behind him But by means of his Absence Henry his Youngest Brother so cunningly dealt with the English and Normans that he got much into their Favour and the more because he was Born in England after his Father was Crowned King and for as much as he was of a mild disposition many Princely Virtues making it apparent that his Government would be accompanied with many Honourable Atchievements Gratful Safe and Profitable to the Church and Commonweal so that all things working to his Advancement He was Crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury being Absent on Sunday the 5th of August Anno Dom. 1100 but before his Coronation the Nobles constrained him to Swear he would Ease the People of the oppressing Taxes and other Grievances and Restore to the English the use of Lights and Fire in their Houses which they had been denied for the most part after the Ringing the Evening Bell for the space of 33 Years After his Coronation to make him more Easie in the Throne he caused the Great Seal to pass on several wholsom Laws Subscribing them with his Name and commanded divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal to do the like and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County to be kept in the County Courts The Heads of the Laws were in these Branchâ—s 1. That the Church should be free from Oppressions and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy 2. That the Heirs of the Nobility should Possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King which Favour likewise should be Granted by the Nobles to their Tennants 3. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen without the Kings License so it were not to the Kings Enemies 4. That the Widow should have the Jointure and not against her Consent be compelled to a second Marriage 5. That the Mother or the next of Kin should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children 6. That Coiners of False and Counterfeit Money should be Capitally Punished and a Measure to the Length of the Kings Arm should be a Standard of Commerce among the People And 7. That all Debts to the Crown before his coming to it should be forgiven and all Murthers before the day of his Coronation to be Pardoned With other such like Indulgences He also at this time Confirmed King Edward the Confessor's Laws Now tho' this went a great way with the People who found themselves easie in these Concessions he yet used other Policies as expecting a storm from the Norman Coast as soon as Duke Robert should Arrive whom he had notice by his Espialls was on his way for having Seized on the plentiful heaps of the last Kings Treasure he Liberally disposed of it among such of his Subjects as he knew would stand him in the greatest stead if things should come to Extremity Then he placed the more Popular Nobles in the chief Offices of State and satisfied the Leading Gentry with Titles of Honour and Places of a lower station absolutely acquitting the People forever from the Tax of Dane Gelt it having been much lessened in the former Reign and from all other Demands and unjust Payments Imposed on them by the two former Kings giving leave to the Nobles and Gentlemen for their Recreation to Inclose Parks for their Deer and free Warrens for their Conies Hares and such like Game And as Traytors to his Virtues State and Kingly Government he Exiled from his Presence and Court Sycophants Parasites Flatterers Niceness in Behaviour Lascivious Conversation Sumptuousness in Apparel Superfluity in Diet c. He made it Death for any to Robb on the Highways and with Indefatigable Endeavours he Corrected and Reformed the Monstrous Pride Intollerable Covetousness Secure Negligence and Sloath of the Clergy Yet the better to please them he Recalled Ansâ—â— from Banishment and Restored him to his Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury giving him full Power to Assemble Convocations and Synods at his pleasure and for the amendment of such Irregularities as were insufferable in the Church he left it wholly to the Pope as also to Invest Bishops by giving them the Ring Cross and Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesestical Promotions and Dignities as by the Lewd Advice and Councel of Reynulph Bishop of Durham his Predecessor had Seized in his hands and converted to his use he voluntarily restored and conferred on honest and grave learned Men and Committed the Bishop of Durham a Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he Escaped and going for Normandy earnestly Incited Duke Robert by many moving Orations to Invade England who prone enough of himself so harkened to him and relying on the Aids he had promised him here on his Landing raised a great Army of which Henry having timely notice thought fit yet to strengthen himself more by Marriage and in order to it he took to Wife Maud Sister to Edgar King of Scots who was Daughter to Malcolm by Margaret Sister to Edgar Etheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the Victorious Saxon King These Nuptials were no sooner consummated and a firm League made with Scotland but Duke Robert Landed his Army at Portsmouth which put the English into apprehensions of being involved in a doubtful War but this threatening storm was soon blown over by the discreet mediation and counsel of Friends on both sides so that a friendly Peace ensued between the two Brothers upon such like Conditions as had been Agreed on in William Rufus's Days whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased and returned discontented with the Duke so that the King fearing he would not long rest contented with the Agreement resolved to be beforehand with him and therefore raising a gallant Army he Sailed to Normandy and was joyned by many of the discontented Nobles giving the Duke two great Overthrows After which he being in a manner forsaken shifted from place to place when in the mean while the King pressing his good Fortune won the strong Cities of Roan Caen Valois and others and putting them in trusty hands returned for England where he was received in Triumph The Duke perceiving his Fortune grew worse and worse those that he most Trusted growing Treacherous and betraying his Councils to the King as being Bribed so to do by which means he was almost stripped of his Dutchy of Normandy he Resolved to make an adventurous Experiment and in order to it came privately into England and humbly submitted himself to his Brother leaving it in his discretion to dispose of him and his Dutchy as he pleased but the King desirous to Annex Normandy to his own Dominions turned from him in a slighting manner and commanded him out of his presence which great Indignity roused the Dukes Courage so that in a great Rage he flung out of the Court and returned to Normandy resolving rather to dye by
the Sword valiantly fighting in the Field than again to be guilty of such Meanness The King who was not unacquainted with his humour rightly guessed at what was intended and therefore followed him with an Army and much Treasure and after many Battels overpowering his small number he was taken brought Prisoner to England and closely confined when endeavouring to make his Escape the King to whome in William Rufus his Reign he had done many good offices ungratfully caused his Eyes to be put out with Burning Glasses yet in this Captivity he lived about the space of 20 Years and then as is said the King sending him a Suit of his Old Cloaths he took the Indignity so impatiently that resolving to live no longer in that Misery and Disgrace some Historians have it that he voluntarily Starved himself others that he Beat out his Braines against the Stones of the Prison-Wall however certain it is that in his confinement Dyed the Valliant well Accomplished and much Lamented Robert Eighth Duke of Normandy a Prince in whom all Heroick Virtues shined The King seeming now to be rid of all his Fears began to consider the Clergy by his concessions were grown exceeding Rich and Ingrossed many Temporalities so that resolving to come in with them for a share of what they had Accumulated by his Bounty he laid Taxes on some and reassumed his power of Creating Bishops which so highly disgusted Arch Bishop Anselm That he not only bitterly inveighed against his Proceedings contrary to his former Promises but absolutely refused to Consecrate such Bishops as the King Appointed However to curry favour with the King Gerald Arch Bishop of York performed that Ceremony and Anselm soon after being Banished fled to Rome and made grievous complaints to Pope Paschal the Second of the wrongs as he pretended that had been done him and upon the Popes Intercession about two Years after he had License to return and at a Synod of the Clergy holden in London by the Popes Authority it was Enacted That from thence forth no Temporal Person should give Investiture to any Bishop by the Cross and Ring yet three Years after Arch Bishop Anselm Dying The Temporalities of the See of Canterbury were Seized into the Kings hands who converted them to his use for the space of five Years the See being so long kept vacant he aledging to the Bishops that sued to him to Nominate an Arch Bishop That he only kept it for a worthy Person that might justly deserve it Anno Dom. 1108 The King erected the Bishoprick of Ely appointing the Diocess to extend through the County of Cambridge and Isle of Ely and Endowed it with some of his own Lands in those parts by which means he made fair weather with the Pope because by this addition he had strengthened his Interest the more in England and the Clergy seemed satisfied in part for their Damages sustained But now a Storm threatned in Normandy for the King having gotten quiet Possession after his Brothers Death Lewis Le Gross King of France fearing a further Incroachment on his Territories if the King of England wanting Interuption had liberty to grow Powerful he procured Foulk Earl of Anjou on a weak pretence to seiz on the Country of Mayne and then animated Baldwin Earl of Flanders to Proclaim War for the King of England's with-houlding a Yearly Pension of 300 Marks which the Conquerer had settled on Baldwin fifth Earl of Flanders and had been pay'd by William Rufus to his Son and Nephew because the Earl had assisted the Conquerer with considerable Forces upon his Invading Elngand All these made strong preparations to Invade Normandy But the News soon roused the King from his Bed of Ease and filled him with Princely Resolutions whereupon he passed the Seas with an Army of Nobles Gentry and common Souldiers when losing no time he set upon the Earl of Anjou and his Associates giving him an entire Overthrow so that he was enforced to save himself by shameful Flight leaving the Prime Nobility and Gentry of his Army dead on the Plaines or Prisoners of War with 4000 of lesser note And near unto the Town of Nice which was Surprized and holden by the King of France he Encountered the other Confederates so that a very cruel Fight beginning between them it continued Nine Hours and was on both sides fought with such Eagerness and Heroick Resolution that tho' the King won the Victory and kept the Field whilst his Parties sent after them had a long chace of the flying Enemy he truly confessed He Fought not then for Victory but for his Life Not long after these Victories Overtures of Peace were made and the King fearing some practices against him in England might raise a Rebellion if he should be long entangled in War Abroad he thâ— more readily harkened to them and a Peace was concluded upon a Marriage between William the Kings Eldest Son and the Daughter of the Duke of Anjou but in their return for England staying somewhat behind the King and to make Merry and take leave of their Friends in their Riotous Treatments the Marriners got such plenty of Wine that being for the most part made Drunk coming with full Sail in hopes to overtake the King they run upon the Shallows where the Ship beating along by the violence of the Wind and Waves Foundered yet the Prince with his fair Bride and many others got into the Long-Boat and put off but Mary Countess of Perch his Sister crying from the Sinking Deck pitiously to him To take her in and not let her Perish in the Waters he Rowed back again thinking to do it but then many Lives being at the point to be lost and in that great Extremity â—very one valuing his own Life equal with his Princes neither Words nor Swords could keep so many from leaping in as sunk the Boat so that they together with Richard the Kings Younger Son Lucia his Neice and her Husband the Earle of Chester were swallowed up by the merciless Waves only three or four Sailors escaping on Planks to Shoar as sad Relators of the Tragical News which filled the Court with Mourning and the whole Nation with an Universal heaviness However the King bore it with Prudence and much Princely Fortitude knowing his Grief could not Retrieve his great loss nor had he any long time after his Landing to weigh the mishap ere Wars loud Alarms summoned him to the Field for in his absence the Welsh impatient of the English Yoak had strengthened themselves in Confedracy with some Irish Adventurers and now broke into open Rebellion not as formerly abiding in the Mountains and Fastnesses but relying on a foolish Prophecy That in that Year they should recover their Antient Territories and have a King of their Nation Reign over the whole Island they boldly advanced and unadvisedly gave him Battel in the Plains where they were Overthrown and most of them Slain or taken Prisoners the King inciting the Sword
to rage in their destruction and consumed with Fire all the places in his March making such a desolation as had not been known in that Country for many hundred Years and by so mighty a Terror having Quieted these People he returned with great Spoil and was joyfully received at London Where Assembling the Nobles he desired a Supply to enable him to Marry his Daughter Maud to the Emperour Henry who had demanded her in Marriage which they granted and it was Leavied in the nature of a Tax on Lands being called Aid pur file Marrier and the same custom for the Marriage of the Eldest Daughters of the Kings of this Realm was a long time continued and may yet be practised on the like Emergency At the same time he devised and ordered the manner and fashion of a High Court of Parliament appointing it to consist of the Three Estates of which himself was the Head so that the Laws being made by the consent of all were highly pleasing to the People This happy beginning of a Good Constitution of Government was First Established at Salisbury in April Anno Dom. 1114 some Authors have it 1116. However it has proved by the continuance and great Improvement of Parliaments happy for England to this day seeing to those August Assemblies we owe the well founding of the best constituted Government it the World Soon after this the King hoping in some measure to repair the loss of his Children Drowned as has been recited Married Adilicia Daughter to Godfrey first Duke of Lovain And Pope Calixtus the Second came to him in Normandy in hopes to perswade him not to meddle in matters belonging to Ecclesiastical Affairs but neither Flattery Threats or Perswasion could work the King to a compliance with his desires and at this meeting two Youths Sons to the Earl of Mellent and Servants to the King Disputing with two of the Popes Cardinals with Logical Sylogisms so Nonplus'd them that they were compelled to own their Ignorance About Three Years after Pope Honorius the Second sent Cardinal Cremensis to certifie the abuses of the Married Clergy and to that purpose he made a long Oration in a large Assembly of Priests and others in praise of Chastity and dispraise of Vnlawful Lust for so he termed that of the Married Priests with their Wives but being narrowly watched by some of them he was by a Publick Officer taken in Bed the same Night with a common Strumpet and so loaden with Shame compelled to return to his Master without Success Yet the King preferring Thurston one of his Chaplains to the Arch Bishoprick of York the Proud Priest refused to Swear Obedience to the See of Canterbury which his Predecessors had both Sworn and performed and Appealing to Rome the King permited the Pope to dispense with his Obedience to that See but he proceeding further to give him the Investure of Arch Bishop by delivering him the Pall Ring and Cross the King was so much displeased that he prohibited his return but in the end the Popes Threatnings Menacing nothing but Curses Excomunications and Suspensions he had leave to Enjoy the Dignity of the Archiepiscopal See least evil affected Persons taking advantage of the Difference might raise Commotions to disturb the Quiet of the Kingdom And soon after one Arnold in a Divinity Lecture at Oxford for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates and Dissolute and Wicked Lives of the Priests was Assassinated and found Dead with near a Hundred Wounds in his Head Face and other Parts In the 27th Year of this Kings Reign Dyed the Emperour Henry the Fifth of Germany not leaving any Issue by Maud his Empress whereupon the King to strengthen his Interest against France Married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet Son and Heir Apparent to Foulk then Earl of Anjou by whom she had Issue Henry afterward King of England Geoffery and William This fair Ofspring enriched the King with the truest endowment of Content for that as he conceived he saw in them the long continuance of his Line in possessing the Crown of this Realm and to make it the more certain and sure to them he took three sollemn Oaths in the space of five Years of all the Nobility and chief Men of the Kingdom That with their best Advice and with the hazzard of their Goods Lands Lives and Fortunes they should Support and Maintain the Succession of his Daughter and her Heirs And so growing in Years he went over to Normandy to do the like there and settle his Affaires but Eating Lamprys at the Town of St. Dennis he Surfeited on them and after a short Sickness Dyed This King was accounted Wise Learned Mild and Just beyond most of his Predecessors more enclined to Peace than War extending his Bounty to such as merited it by Publick Service confining his Gifts within the limits of Thrift and Measure He was a gentle Friend but a stuborn Enemy He had several Children by his Concubins which he promoted to Honours and Places of Trust He Erected the two Bishopricks Ely and Carlisâ—le and Founded the Monastries of Shirbourn Circester the Priory at Dunstable and the Abby of Reading in Barkshire where he was Intered in a stately Tomb. He began his Reign Wednesday the First of August Anno Dom. 1100 and Reigned 35 Years 4 Months and 1 Day and was the 33d Sole Monarch of England In the 16th Year of his Reign great Thunders Lightenings and Hail happened in December doing much harm and the Moon for two Nights appeared of the Colour of Blood in October the same Year the Thames was so Dry that the People passed at the Tower and almost as far as the Bridge to the other side on Foot In the 33d Year of his Reign happened so great an Eclips of the Sun that at Noon-day the Stars plainly appeared and about two days after there was a terrible Earthquake and the same Year happened a dreadful Fire in London which consumed it from the West End of Cheapside to Aldgate and the nex Year Worcester and Rochester were Accidentally Burnt and a little before his Death a Blazing Star with a Bushy Tail of the colour of Blood appeared at South West Twelve Nights successively Remarks on Northamptonshire c. NOrthamptonshire is a pleasant Inland County held to be Situate in the Middle of the Kingdom being mostly Inclosure affording store of Corn Pease Fruits good Pasturs and larg Cattle Sheep and Foul in abundance divers Parks stored with Deer and much Fish It contains in it one City viz. Peterborough which is a Bishops See tho' Northampton is the Shire Town It is divided into 20 Hundreds and in them 326 Parishes 13 Market Towns and 5 Rivers It is Bounded with Cambridgshire Huntingtonshire Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Warwickshire Leicestershire and Lincolnshire sends Members to Parliament 9 viz. 2 Knights of the Shire Peterborough 2 Northampton 2 Brackley 2 Higham Ferries 1. NORTHAMTON SHIRE Oundle or Houndhill is famous for a Well wherein at certain
a Prisoner to King Stephen's Queen However after this Battel Maud received the Allegiance of all the Counties of England except Kent and Marching to Winchester received there the Crown and other Regalia's and so passing to London she was received in Triumph and now the reports of King Stephen's Defeat and Imprisonment flying into Normandy caused his Subjects there to slight him and incline to Geoffery Husband to the Empress but changed their Minds when they heard the King was at Liberty and had strongly Besieged the Empress in Oxford whither she was Fled upon notice the Londoners consulted to seiz her and deliver her Prisoner to the King because she had refused to confirm to them King Edward's Laws with all their Charters and Priveledges And withdrawing privately from London for fear of a Surprize she posted to Oxford where she had not been scarce five Days ere the King Beleagured the City and pressed it with continual Assaults tho' in the depth of Winter so that the Empress fearing to be Taken dressed herself in White and passing the Thames on the Ice went through the Snow which lay then thick on the Ground to Abingdon where taking Horse she passed to Wallingford-Castle kept with a strong Garison by her Friends and by this time her Brother and Son Henry were Landed at Warram-Haven and from thence came to her with some Forces but she wearied with the various turns and chances of War soon after left England and returned to her Husband who was in Normandy having sent Prince Henry before and so Oxford being Surrendered to the King he went to Lincoln and Summoned the Barons who there Swore Allegiance to Eustace his Son whom he Created Duke of Normandy and Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury refusing to Consecrate him was obliged for his contempt of the Kings commands to leave the Land and fly to Normandy whereupon the King seized on his Temporalities but did not dispose of the Arch Bishoprick It is Remarkable that the Kings of England before Stephen refrained going into Lincoln upon the account of a fatal Prophecy pronounced by Merlin viz. When a King enters within Lincoln's Walls His Reign proves Stormy and he Childless falls The Kings Treasure being much wasted in the Wars he Fought he demanded a Subsidy of the Clergy but they refusing it he was extream angry with the Prelates demanding of the Bishops of Salisbury Lincoln and Ely the Keys of their Castles and exacted great Sums of Money from them pretending they were Indebted to the Crown for the Tenures of their Temporalities And now Prince Henry being grown up gathered an Army and Invaded England nor was the King slow to Oppose him but was somewhat retarded by the Indisposition of his Son who fell into a Frenzy of which he shortly Dyed greatly lamented of the King who had no more Children but Sorrow giving place to Anger he caused the Trumpets to sound a Charge against the Enemy but as the two Armies were about to joyn such a Storm of Rain and Hail fell and continued so long that they were forced out of the Field to seek shelter which gave a time for Parly and the King weary of the War and pittying the Sufferings of his People being Childless and not expecting any more Children after many Messages from one to the other a meeting was appointed in which it was firmly agreed That the King should Adopt Prince Henry his Heir to Succeed him in the Kingdom and other his Dominions and in lieu thereof he should quietly enjoy the Crown during the Term of his Natural Life which being Signed and Sworn to all Hostilities ceased and Henry was sent to suppress the Rebellion in Normandy and oppose the intruding French where in his Young Years he shewed himself an expert General and Souldier in driving the Frenchmen out of the Garrisons and Castles they had taken but whilst he was busied in the Wars Abroad King Stephen fell Sick of the Iliack Passion and Dyed in the Monastery of Monks at Dover This Stephen was King of England and Duke of Normandy the third Son of Stephen Earl of Bloyce by Adilicia or Alice He began his Reign on Monday the Second of December Anno Dom. 1135 and Reigned 18 Years 10 Months and 20 Days being the 24th Sole Monarch of England He was Buried at Feversham in Kent in an Abby of his own Founding In his Reign Anno 1136 a Fire began at London-Stone and consumed all before it thence Eastward as far as Aldgate and Westward to St. Paul's Church and the next Year Rochester was destroyed by Fire And in the Third Year of his Reign St. Martin's Church without the Walls and the Hospital with Thirty Nine Houses and much Riches were Burnt In the Last Year of his Reign a little before his Death appeared a plain sign of a Cross in the Moon Remarks on the County of Norfolk c. THis County is pleasantly Situated and receives many Advantages by lying so commodiously open to Sea which Bounds it on the North-East and part of the West on the South it is Bounded by Suffolk and the remaining part of the West by Cambridgshire It produces plenty of Butter Cheese large Cattle Corn Wooll Deer Coneys Sheep and store of Woollen Manufacture It has in it one City viz Norwich a Bishops See it is divided into 31 Hundreds containing 660 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 3 Rivers of note the River Y ar from which Yarmouth takes its Name being the Principal It sends Members to Parliament 12 Norwich 2 Thetford 2 Yarmouth 2 Lynn-Regis 2 Castle-Rising 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Yarmouth lies advantagiously on the North side the River Y ar and has great Trade by Shipping it was Founded by the Danes the better to favour their Landing when they Invaded this Island and has been often Graced with the Presence of many Kings and Princes as William the Conquerer who Fortefied it Henry the Second and Queen Elizabeth Norwich the Antient Venta of the Romans is a City of great Antiquity often Sacked and Burnt by the Danes especially it was levelled to the Ground by them Anno 1004. It suffered much in the Conquerers time for siding with Earl Randdulph The Cathedral was Founded by one Herbert who Translated the Bishoprick from Thetford to Norwich and was the first Bishop of Norwich This City Imploys Thousands of People in the Woollen Manufacture in making Stuffs Bays Says Serges Stockings c. Thetford the Antient Stigomagus of the Romans was the principal seat of the Saxon East-Angle Kings where King Edmund the Martyr was Overthrown by the Danes NORFOLK Lynn is a pleasant Sea-Port Town honoured with the Gift of a Rich Cup by King John and their Charter was enlarged by Henry the Third for their good service against the Outlaw'd Barons and other Priviledges were added in Henry the Eighth's time the Name being changed from Lynn-Episcopi to Lynn-Regis Elmham was Antiently the Bishops See but it was Translated thence to Thetford
and thence to Norwich where it now remains The Seats of the Nobility are Dukes-Place belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Oxnead-Hall and Paston-Hall to the Earl of Yarmouth Reynam-Hall and Stif-key-Hall to the Lord Viscount Towusend Castle-Rising to the Duke of Norfolk Norwich-Palace and Ludham-Hall to the Bishop of the Diocess Besides divers sightly Houses of the Gentry The Reign of King HENRY the Second commonly called Henry Fitz-Empress AT the time when King Stephen Dyed Henry was in Normandy Besieging a strong Castle the French had a little before taken by Surprize and being advised by some Nobles about him to pass over for England and leave the Siege least another in his Absence might step into the Throne as before had happened he made a Reply full of Discretion and true Valour to this effect The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my Command in despight of those that dare to cross me most and so shall these Intruding Frenchmen ere I raise the Siege This resolution redoubled his honour among his Friends and brought fear on the Enemy for when they knew it they surrendered the Castle and submitted themselves to his Mercy and so having settled Affairs in that Dukedom with a Noble Train of Lords and Gentlemen he came for England where he was Crowned three times viz. By Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster Then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester He chose his Council of the Gravest Wisest and most Learned Peers and made Thomas of Becket Chancelour and appointed such Judges and Learned Men in the Laws by Industry and Labour to Refine them That the Common Laws were greatly Mended and Improved being rendred more tolerable and profitable to the People and after this he divided the Kingdom into six Circuits and for the better administration of Justice and Trying of Causes between Subject and Subject he appointed his Judges to go those Circuits twice a Year which Order yet continues He Banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those days by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinary Sparing and painful Industry procured much Wealth and Begger'd the Natives He Exiled many of the Nobles who contrary to their Duties had adhered to King Stephen and differing much from the Opinion of his Predecessor he affirmed that strong Castles and Forts maintained in the heart of the Kingdom did rather Animate Great Men upon any displeasure to Revolt than Fear them into Obedience whereupon he caused most of them to be Razed to the Ground and Seized such Mannors Lordships Possessions as his Predecessors had either Sold or Given from the Crown holding it to be the Duty of every Subject to refuse the Gift or Purchace of such things as do immediately concern the Honour and Maintenance of a King And the like he did in the Northern Parts where many Great Men Commanding as they list had wrought themselves and their Posterity into many Honours Castles Mannors which properly appertained to the Crown He likewise took into his hands the Provinces of Cumberland Northumberland and the Earldom of Huntingdon which David King of Scots and Henry his Son had received as a Gift from King Stephen to favour his Wars against the Empress However the King entered into Amity with Malcolm King of Scots upon the same Conditions as were Agreed on in Henry the Firsts time and in Token of his Subjection the Scot Offered his Bonnet and Saddle upon St. Peter's Altar at York And about this time Theobald Dying Becket was made Arch Bishop of Canterbury This King even in time of Peace had generally an Army on foot and rarely kept them Idle but would often Transport them to Normandy and there having Exercised them would bring them back again so that on all occasions they were found ready and expert Souldiers And now an advantage opened a way to the English for the Conquest of Ireland For the Eastern part along the Sea being possessed by Dormat-Mac-Mahur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him especially upon taking away the Queen of Morice King of Meath so that the Injured King Confederating with Roderick O Conor King of Connought they beat him out of his Country so that he fled for England and craved Aid of King Henry to Restore him which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Subjection was harkened to when the better to encourage the design the King for a Sum of Money obtained leave of Pope Adrian an Englishman then advanced to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to Establish the Christian Religion therein and bring it to an acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing for this Expedition new Troubles arose in Normandy which required his Presence to pacifie but he granted his Letters Patents by which he gave leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of Exile laid hold of this first Advantage and Solicited the Nobles but above all he promised Richard the Kings Son a Young Prince of a Warlike Spirit his Daughter a very Beautiful Young Lady and all his Countries after his Decease to be made over to them he likewise incited one Fitz Stephens who with a Band of Valiant Welshmen was the first that Landed and maintained his Ground with much Courage till the Prince and divers Nobles came over and with little trouble they seized the Town of Wexford which was given to Fitz Stephens for his part of the Charge of the War and soon after many of the petty Irish Kings being Overthrown Dormat was Restored and Dublin the chief City Submitting to him he put to Death by many Cruelties such of his Capital Enemies as he found there However the Prince went Conquering on and Subdued all before him of which King Henry had no sooner Notice but fearing this might flush Ambition and make him practice with his own Subjects for the Crown he speedily returned to England and sent Mandates Commanding all the English under great Penalties to return rallying the Nobility for suffering the Prince in his Absence to go over he was in this so far Obeyed that the Prince was left in Dublin with a small Train the Irish was not slow in taking the advantage of this Retreat and therefore Besieged him in that prime City with an Army of 30000 Men upon which he Sally'd with about 1500 and utterly Routed them taking great Spoils and so in obedience to the Kings commands returned for England where he surrendered into his Fathers hands all the Forts and Cities he had taken Anno 1172 the King Landed in Ireland with a Royal Army and found Dormar to be Dead however he brought such a Terror on the Country That Roderick and most of the other Princes submitted to him intreating him to take the Government on him as their Supream Lord which he Accepted with their Oaths of Fealty and at Christmas he made a Royal Feast in
the City of Dublin to the Petty Kings and most of the Nobility of the Kingdom and having settled the Civil and Ecclesiastical matters reforming Barbarities and Abuses he brought those that held out in Vlster under Subjection and so returned in Triumph to London Thus was Ireland made subject to the Crown of England and has so continued ever since being a very spacious Country viz. in Length 303 Miles in Breadth 112 in Circumference 948. And such was the over-fondness of this King to his Eldest Son Henry that he caused him and his Wife Margaret Daughter to Lewis the French King to be twice sollemnly Crowned in the presence of his People himself the second time for that day leaving the Title of King and serving as a Servitor at his Son's Table whereat the Bishop of Winchester whispering the Young Henry in the Ear said Never any King of England had such a Sewer at his Table Nay replied the Upstart my Father need not think it any dishonour to him as being but Royal Born on one side when I had both a King to my Father and a Queen to my Mother upon this the old King shook his Head and whispered the Bishop I find my Lord I have raised the Young Man too soon and too late repent of it And from that time he laboured to suppress the Pride of his Sons which made them often Rebel and Conspire with his Enemies drawing away the Hearts of many of his Subjects And altho' at one time Lewis the French King Henry Geoffry and John three of his Sons joyned with Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester and William King of Scots against him yet by plain Valour he Routed them and made his Sons and others that were his Subjects submit to his Pardon and soon after his Son Henry Dyed in the flower of his Age. But these were not all the Kings Troubles for he was grievously pestered with the stubbornness of Becket Arch Bishop of Canterbury For upon his first admittance to that See he refused to take the Oath for observation of the Articles administred to the Clergy which the rest of the Bishops had done because it was clearly against the Popes Authority and perceiving the King much displeased at his refusal he resolved to set the Pope on his Back and therefore privately withdrawing himself went to Rome where he made grievous complaints against the King and Clergy of England to Innocent the Second upon which the Pope gave him the Pall and appointed him Legate so upon his return he delivered up his Chancelorship and Great Seal not giving the King or any other an account why he did so These Jars between the King and the Arch Bishop imboldened the Inferiour Clergy to commit many Irregularities for which they received but small punishment for if they committed Murthers Manslaughters Fellonies or Robberie being Censured by Men of their own Profession they came off as they could wish so that the Common Wealth being sorely oppressed to Redress these Grievances the King found himself constrained to call a Parliament In which that Law made in King Stephens Reign which exempted the Authority of Temporal Judges from meddling with Ecclesiastical Affaires was Repealed and the Laws held in the Reign of Henry the First and other the Kings Predecessors Established and Inforced being commonly called Avitae Legis but he was stoutly opposed in his Proceedings by Becket and some other Bishops who unadvisedly made themselves partakers of his Faction but after many Conferences Disputes and Consultations all except Becket Ratified and Subscribed those newly revived Laws but he by no means would do it unless he might enter this Clause Salvo Ordine suo which words clearly Annihilated the Life and Substance of those Laws but the Bishops fearing the Kings Anger might turn to their great disadvantage at last prevailed with Becket to Swear to the said Laws but upon another Pet taken he recanted his Oath and was Absolved by the Pope Yet it nothing daunted the King but rather Irritated him to Seiz into his own hands all such Temporalities as he had formerly given to the Arch Bishop requiring him to render an Account of 30000 Marks he had Imbezilled during his being Chancellor But the Prelate in Answer to this boldly affirmed the King had freely given it to him as a free Gift and ought not in Honour or Conscience to demand it back Whereupon all the Moveables that appertained to him were Seized by the Kings express command At which Becket being disgusted he went to Rome without the Kings License and the King perceiving his drift was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors to represent his perversness and evil carriage and how reasonable things were he had imposed on him entreating the Pope to divest him of his Dignity and he would provide for him and his in another station But Becket had made such interest in the Court of Rome That the Pope not only refused it but with many Threatnings sent two Legates To Curse the King and all his People unless on their demands Becket were immediatly restored to his Dignity also to his Lands and Moveables that were Confiscated and in the mean while he commended him to the Abbot of Pontynack where he was kindly received and for a time entertained But upon the Kings Threats that unless he was Expelled the House that he would leave no Monk of that Order in France he was dismissed the King Commanding That without his License no Cardinal nor Legate should presume to set Footing in England and hereupon he Banished all Beckets Relations which much grieved him yet under-hand he was encouraged by Lewis the French King resolutely to persist in his Obstinacy whereupon King Henry to put an end to this difference that much disturbed the Kingdom Sailed to France and in the French Kings presence Conferred with the Arch Bishop making him an Offer That if he would take the Oath again and subscribe the Instrument Triparte as himself and the Arch Bishop of York had done he should be restored to his Favour and enjoy all that was formerly appertaining to him and his Friends recalled from Banishment but then he started another obstacle consenting to do it if it might be with an exception of salvo honore Dei This more angered the King than the former for by it he seemed to Object the Laws made tended to the dishonour of God and if so consequently were void in themselves bringing a scandal upon those that first Instituted them and also upon himself and the Parliament that had Revived them Whereupon Becket plainly told him That he feared none but God and since his Laws were derogatory to the Antient Customs and Priviledges of the Church and Robbed God of his Honour the King in seeking to Establish them should not have his will whilst he lived And upon this Disagreement the Pope sent two Legates to Interdict the Kingdom till Becket should be restored to his Dignity This so far
transported the King with Anger being then in Normandy That he let some words fall in his Passion which being taken hold on by some of his Courtiers who mis-construed the Kings meaning it proved the destruction of Becket For soon after having leave to return and beginning new Troubles in Church Matters four of them Slew him at the High Altar in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury and with him two or three Monks that endeavoured his Rescue Thus fell this troublesom Prelate who rising from a low degree his Father being a Londoner and his Mother a Sarazen in his Pride contended many Years with a Potent King and brought many miseries on the Kingdom Afterward he was Sainted and many Superstitious People went on Pilgrimage to his Tomb. The Pope no sooner knew his Champion was fallen but he Threatned Cursed and Fulminated yet with little Terrour However to make himself Easie the King admitted two Cardinals to take his Purgation who allotted his Penance when he had denied his consenting to the Murther upon Oath to War three Years in the Holy Land which he Redeemed by Erecting three Religious Houses That he should go from London to Canterbury bare Footed to visit Beckets Shrine which he performed and suffered himself to be Scourged by the Monks with Rods on his Naked Back after which upon his sending Presents to the Pope he was Absolved During the Kings being thus Abroad his Queen had caused Rosamond his fair Concubine to be Poisoned which so inraged him that he cast her into Prison and would be prevailed on by no Intreaty nor Submission to release her during his Life tho' she endured many Miseries and Hardships in her confinement till at length she was set at Liberty by her Son Richard's comming to the Crown as will more at large appear in his Reign Doctor Gilbert Folliott of Oxford however hardly the Pope had used the King nevertheless perswaded him to regulate abuses in the Clergy and curb their Pride shewing him a warrant for it from the Word of God and the Writings of Eminent Fathers of the Church and other Good and Learned Men That for as much as Kings are stiled The Nursing Fathers of the Church It is their Duty to God to see it well Ordered and Governed and like a careful Husbandman suppress and keep under those rank Weeds of Error that would over-top and choak the Corn of Truth He used many other Reasons and Arguments so that the King began to assume his Power and look more narrowly into their Covetousness Pride and the Oppressions they laid on such as their Jurisdiction extended over in Temporalities wherein he abridged and cut them short which made them greivously complain that the King hearkened to Persons evilly affected to the Church and the Pope having notice who had advised the King sent many Threats and Menaces of what Mischief he would do in England if he did not put him out of his Protection which he had no sooner done but the Clergy like so many Harpies grievously Persecuted him till they made him Abjure the Land but this being contrary to the Kings pleasure he was afterward recalled and had leave to live a private Life However the King neglected to pay the Tribute called Peter-Pence to Rome and Garrisoned his Towns in Normandy very strongly beating out the encroaching French and Enlarging his Borders tho' his Sons proved still troublesom to him in under-hand siding with the French and some discontented Normans and English However he surmounted all Difficulties till in Normandy he fell Sick of a Feaver and Dyed at Chinon on the Sixth of July Anno Dom. 1189 when he had Reigned 34 Years 8 Months and 11 Days He was Eldest Son to Geoffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem by Maud the Empress Eldest Daughter to Henry the First He began his Reign October 25 Anno 1154 and Dying as is said was Buried at Font-Everard in Normandy He is accounted a Wise Just Learned and Valliant Prince and tho' he little burthened his Subjects with Taxes considering the Wars he had yet he left in his Treasury 900000 Pounds in Coin and Plate besides Jewels and other things of great value which furnished out his Son Richard for the Holy War As for his fair Concubine whom he entirely doted on he caused her to be Buried at Godstow near Oxford and on her stately Monument placed this Epitaph Hic Jacet in Tumba Rosamundi non Rosa Munda Non Redolet sed olet que Redolere Solet And may be Englished thus Within this Tomb lies the World 's chiefest Rose She who was Sweet will now offend your Nose In the Fifth Year of this Kings Reign 30 Persecuted Waldenses flying their Country came into England and found here no better Entertainment for being Pronounced Heriticks by a Convocation of Bishops at Oxford the King strictly Prohibited his Subjects to relieve them so that wandering up and down they Dyed with Hunger And near this time certain Jews Crucified a Child at Glocester for which 20 of them were Hanged and many Banished Anno 1163 one Peter Priest of Cole-Church was at the Charge of Building London-Bridge a New with Timber In the 20th Year of this Kings Reign Leicester was Burnt by his command the Walls and Castle Razed and the Inhabitants dispersed for adhering to his Enemies The same Year Christ-Church in Canterbury was burned and six Years after the City of York was Burned and 1185 the Abby of Glasenbury was consumed by Lightening and the next Year a terrible Earthquake happening threw down many Buildings and rent in pieces the Cathederal Church of Lincoln Chichester was also Burnt Near Orford in Suffolk a Monstrous Fish was taken having the shape of a Man upwards and was kept a long time by the Governour in the Castle Eating Raw Flesh and Fish greedily but at last it got away by the breaking of a Sluce and was carried to the Sea again and People were perswaded if it could have been made to Speak it might have told many wonderful things Remarks on Notinghamshire c. NOTTINGHAM SHIRE It contains 8 Hundreds divided into 168 Parishes as also 8 Market Towns and is Watered with 21 great and small Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. East Retford 2 Newark 2 Notingham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Newark in this County is pleasantly seated on the River Trent thence called Newark upon Trent to distinguish it At Swinstead Abby in this place King John was Poisoned by a Monk and over the River there is a very fine Bridge Notingham is pleasantly seated on a branch of the same River incompassed with pleasant Fields and Groves It s Castle was kept by the Danes against Burthred King of Mercia also against Ethelred and Alfred two other Saxon Kings At Stoke near Newark Lambert Symnel in the Reign of Henry the Seventh was utterly Defeated and his upholders John D' La Pool Earl of Lincoln Thomas Garadine Chancelour of Ireland
Francis Lord Lovel and others were Slain with 4000 Common Soldiers and Symnel taken Prisoner June 16 Anno Dom. 1487. At Mansfield was Born the first Earl Mansfield in Germany now a famous Family in the Empire said to be one of King Arthurs Round Table Knights Blythe is a pleasant Town situate on the River Idle Besides these of Note and Antiquity are Hoverham Retford Worksop and Southwell In this County is the much noted Forrest of Shirwood where Robin Hood held his chief Residence and in it are bred a great many of those Hares called the Laner In this County they digg a soft Stone which Burnt makes a Plaister for Flooring their upper-Rooms which dry'd is harder than Plaister of Paris About Worksop grows store of Liquorice The County contains many Parks full of Deer The Rivers Meers and Ponds are stored with Fish and at the Season there is plenty of Wild-Fowl The Seats of the Nobility are Worksop belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Welbeck Abby and Notingham Castle to the late Earl of Newcastle Holm Pierepont to the Duke of Northumberland Rufford to the Marques of Hallifax Houghton and Chare-House to the Earl of Clare Shelford to the Earl of Chesterfield Bestwood to the Earl of Burford Newsted Abby Bulvel Park and Linby to the Lord Rochdale Averham and Killham to the Lord Lexington besides divers pleasant Seats of the Gentry c. The Reign of King RICHARD the First RICHARD the Eldest Son living of Henry the Second was in Normanay at the time his Father Dyed there and could not come over so soon as was expected by reason that Country remained unsettled by Intestine Wars and some Factions the French had made at a great Expence to keep it so which required necessarily his presence However he sent over speedy orders for the Releasment of Queen Elianor his Mother who had endured a long and hard Imprisonment by the strict command of King Henry who would not forgive her at his Death because she had Poisoned Rosamond his fair and much beloved Concubine and after her Releasment she was by King Richard appointed Regent of England till his Return And then by reason her own Experience had informed her what hardships those endured who Languished under Confinement she caused to be set at Liberty all such as were in Prison for ordinary Offences or small Debts The latter she Paid that the Subjects should be no Loosers by her commiseration and Administred the Government Prudently with much Moderation Integrity and Justice The King at length coming over with a splendid Train of Nobility was received with great Joy of the People and puting an end to the Queen Dowager's Regency was Crowned by Baldwin Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Swore to keep several Articles administered to him by the Nobles to the Ease and great Advantage of his Subjects freeing all that were in Prison for Offences against the Crown and such others as without injustice done to his Subjects he could acquit and in the whole course of his Government so provided that Mercy with Justice might extend to all and finding his Brother John of a Turbulent Spirit he heaped many Honours and Promotions on him thereby to satisfie him and alay his thirst of aspiring viz. He Created him Earl of Lancaster and gave him the Counties of Notingham Devon and Cornwal Married him to the sole Daughter and Heiress of the Earl of Glocester by which means he obtained the Lordship of that County But these great Favours and Donations answered not the Kings expectations for when he had showered on him such Bounties he found him by his practices reaching at the Crown as much relying on a Faction at home and the promises of the French to assist him when need required it It being a Policy of theirs to divert King Richard whom all Historians allow to be a Valiant and Warlike Prince from Warring on France in Reparation of the many Injuries his Subjects in Normandy had Sustained by the Inroads they had frequently made However the King mildly reproving his Brother and shewing him his Ingratitude to nurture such Designs also the Guilt and Danger he would incur he made many Excuses and Protestations he had no such Designs as had been suggested of him and they were both his and the Kings Enemies who had spread those reports to set them at variance These and his renewed Protestations of Loyalty and Obedience resolving to live quiet and contribute all he could to the Advantage of the Commonweal prevailed with the King to accept of his Submission and have a good opinion of his Fidelity and the King as an Expiation for the Offences himself had committed against Henry his Father making a Vow to accompany the other Christian Princes for the Recovery of the Holy Land from the Turks and other Infidels who grievously Oppressed the Asian Christians he the more easily winked at what he had plainly seen so that a Reconcilement being made the Kings thoughts were wholly taken up with his intended Expedition but having Lavished away the vast Treasure his Father left in large Donations he found Money was wanting to furnish him out with such an Army and Equipage as might stand with his Honour He had been Solicited besides his own Inclinations by the Pope to this Undertaking with many promised Blessings as others had been if by their Arms they Regained the Holy City Jerusalem from the Infidels yet to raise Money he refused to Levy any Taxes on his Subjects but Sold his Castles of Barwick and Roxborough to the King of Scots for 10000 Pounds the Lordship and Earldom of Durham to Hugh then Bishop of the See for 16000 Pounds as also Honours Lordships Mannors Priviledges Royalties and Crown-Lands upon other Grants and Tenures to divers of his Subjects for much Money so that having as he supposed a sufficient Treasure he prepared things in a readiness but contrary to his expectation it falling short he borrowed Sums of such as he had formerly Liberally bestowed his Bounties on protesting that for the performing so great and Honourable a service he was not unwilling to Sell his City of London if he could find any body of Ability to Purchase it rather than by Taxes he would Oppress his Subjects In this Undertaking at the Instance and earnest Incitement of the Pope were also Engaged Frederick the Emperer Philip the Second Sirnamed Augustus King of France Leopold Arch Duke of Austria and many other Princes so that a gallant Army was prepared and great store of Treasure With these King Richard entered into an Agreement that their General Rendezvous should be in the Island of Sicily the following Spring and That such Wealth and Booty as God and good Fortune should put into their Possession should be equally divided between them and their Forces and thus every thing being in a readiness King Richard appointed William Langchamp Bishop of Ely Regent in his Absence and soon after the better to Establish the Bishops Authority among the
Nobles who little approved him the Pope appointed him his Legate in England and so early in the Spring the King with about 30000 Men at Arms with divers Nobles and Gentlemen set Sail and safely arrived in the Port of Messina in Sicily whither the King of France and some other Princes whose Territories lay near were got before him and there they renewed their Resolves not to Return till they had won Jerusalem but this fair Sunshine held not long on the French Kings part for his Army being exceeded by the Gallantry of the English he feared they would win from him the Glory of the Undertaking which his Flatterers had told him would redound totally to his Honour and the lasting Fame of the French Nation so that clouds of discontent appeared on his Brows and in a little time he gave free Reins to the former Displeasure that had been hushed for that King Richard had rejected his Sister and Married the Daughter of the King of Navar yet as well as he could he dissembled his displeasure seeing the Eyes of all Christendom were fixed on this Undertaking and without the apparent loss of his Honour he could not presently draw back when he was so far Engaged and so weighing Anchor they set forward with a fair Gale but at length a Storm arising the English Fleet was separated from the rest and driven on the Coast of the pleasant Island of Cyprus where some of his Ships putting in to Repair the Dammage they had received at Sea divers of their Marriners upon Landing were Slain by the King of the Island 's command who professed himself a Christian and well-wisher to this Undertaking this so much transported King Richard with a desire of chastizing such Inhospitality and Outrage that he Tack'd with his whole Fleet Landed his Army on the Island and easily Overthrew the King and took him Prisoner carrying him along with him Manacled in Silver Chaines to Syria and having secured the Island to his Interest by leaving a Governour and Garisons in the strong Forts he Sailed to Ptolomais which place he had News the Christians had Besieged and there was Joyfully received by many of the Princes in Leagre and having a day or two refreshed and comforted his Forces it was agreed that a general Assault should be given at the places where the Battering Rams and other forcible Engins had made Breaches in the Walls which was so hotly carried on that all their Out-works were won in a few Hours whereupon the Garison not expecting present Relief and fearing to be put to the Sword if the Town was taken by Storm Surrendered upon Condition they might safely depart thence This was agreed to upon their leaving 5000 Hostages till a great Sum of Money should be Paid and that Saladine the Turkish Sultan should deliver up such Prisoners as he had taken being Christians and so about 50000 Marched out many of them almost Starved the Famine having been extream among them No sooner they had vacated the City but the Duke of Austria's Standard bearer hasted to plant his Masters Colours on the Battelment as if by the sole Valour of the Austrian Arms the Place had been Taken which indeed had the least share in the Danger This so highly displeased King Richard that not staying to Command any other to do it he stept on the Wall and plucking down those Proud Colours trampled them under his Feet This put the Duke into a great chafe which made him afterward Confederate with Lewis the Second to hinder the progress of Affairs in the Holy Land that King Richard might not carry from them the Glory Yet he little regarded their Anger but pursuing this success gave Saladine Battel not far from this City and Overthrew him with incredible Slaughter having the execution of the Enemy for many Miles so that the Fields and Lanes were covered with their dead Bodies and thereupon he Marched his Army towards Jerusalem being chosen General by the Knights Templars and most of the Princes But in the midest of these great Designs Mallice thrust in to hinder the progress of the Christian Arms as to what was intended to be done for the Discontents of Lewis and the Duke of Austria more and more growing on them they at length shewed it so openly as to withdraw a great part of their Forces from the Army and the former pretending want of Health and the Climates not agreeing with him Sailed back to France carrying with him the best of his Forces and tho' before he went he gave his Oath at the earnest Request of the Popes Legate that he would not injure King Richards Territories neither in Normandy nor England yet soon after recalling the rest of his Forces with them went the Duke of Austria whom he had constituted his Lieutenant General in Syria He did make War against Normandy and strove to raise distractions in England but in the former Attempt he was mostly worsted yet at last swept away some small Towns and Castles and in the latter the Threatnings of the Popes Curse against all that should Rebel in England prevented his Intrigues in a great measure though some Commotions happened as you will hear in the sequel Notwithstanding thse Disappointments King Richard Wintered his Army in those Towns the Sultan had Ruinated in his Retreat to prevent their falling into the hands of the Christians Rebuilding and Fortifying those that were most commodious resolving in the Spring to lay Siege to Jerusalem but when his Forces were drawn into the Field he found by Sickness and many that had Deserted his Army was so wasted that he was not able to undertake it The Sultan fearing some such design had strongly Garisoned it with 30000 Men However the King Marched forward and took by the way divers Castles and Fortresses and 5000 Camels Laden with Riches from Egypt and Arabia which much Encouraged his Soldiers as being mostly distributed amongst them When one day Marching a Knight climbing up a high Hill came hastily to the King and told him from thence he might have a Prospect of Jerusalem which instead of Joy drew Tears from his Eyes when lifting up his Hands he passionately said O Lord I beseech thee let me not See thy Holy City since by the Disappointments I have met with I am not able to Deliver it out of the hands of the Enemies of thy Name and so turning aside he returned to Ptolomais where he found some new Adventurers Arrived when Marching cross the Country and Subduing all before him he brought such a Terrour upon the People that his very Name was frightful to them and as some Historians have it a long while after used to Bugbare their Children with it when they cry'd and were untoward viz. If you hold not your peace King Richard is coming and will have you which had such effects on them that they became still as Lambs However finding no more Forces were in Europe preparing to enable him to take Jerusalem
the main design of his Preparations having private notice that his Brother John was practicing against him and fearing whilst he was warring abroad he might lose his Kingdom at home he resolved to make such Conditions with the Turkish Sultan as might be best for the Settlement and Peace of the Christians in Syria But the crafty Infidel being very sensible of the weak condition the Christian Army was in would not hearken to any other Terms than to have all the Towns that were taken Ptolomais Excepted surrendered and upon that condition they should be suffered to have a quiet Enjoyment of their Effects and to Trade in the Country and so having made this Agreement and Sold the Island of Cyprus for a Sum of Money to Hugh of Lusingham the last Christian King of Jerusalem though at that time but in Name which Title he confered on King Richard and it lasted to many of our Kings afterward who were stiled Kings of Jerusalem he Embarked in divers Vessels with his Queen who had accompanied him in that dangerous Voyage and Sailed for England but the Ship he was in being separated from the rest of the Fleet in a Storm was driven on the Coast of Histria lying between Aquileia and Venice where he was Ship-Wrack'd and saving his Life by Swimming was made Prisoner and presented to the Duke of Austria in whose Territories he Landed but the Queen who was in another Ship and the rest of the Fleet came safe to England The King by misfortune thus made a Prisoner to his Enemy whom he had disgusted by throwing down his Standard as is said was Sold by him for 40000 Pounds to the Emperer Frederick who set his Ransom at 100000 Pounds Fourscore Thousand of which was raised in England but Duke Leopold was constrained to Pay the other Twenty Thousand Pounds before he could be released from the Popes Curse pronounced against him for making a Prince his Prisoner who for the honour of the Christian Name had Warred Victoriously in the Holy Land So that after almost a Years Imprisonment the King was set at Liberty of which Lewis the French King had no sooner notice but be sent John the Kings Brother word The Devil was got loose again However he did not immediately return to England but went to Normandy and with the Terror of his coming frighted the French out of many strong holds they had taken in his absence then raising a puissant Army he entered France wasting all before him with Fire and Sword reducing to his Subjection all such places as had been taken and made the Rebellious Norman Peers who had engaged in the French Faction prostrate themselves before him whose humble Submission he accepted and accordingly Pardoned them on promises of future Obedience and Fidelity Let me now speak of something that happened Remarkable in England during the Kings absence I told you he had left the Bishop of Ely Regent This Man being of mean Parentage his Grandfather a Plowman and himself the Son of a Cowheard soon forgot his Original as such mostly do who are raised from a low Estate to high Promotion and grew so Insolently Proud that he would not Ride abroad without a Guard of 500 Men to attend him his Table was exceeding Expensive on the Publick Cost and his Insolencies over all sorts as well the Clergy as Laiety was so great that he soon procured himself a Universal Hatred yet a while he Proudly spread his Peacocks Train being Served at his Table and every where Waited on by the Sons of Noblemen to whom he gave in Marriage with some Portion and Preferment divers of his Rustick Kindred thinking thereby to strengthen his Interest but this proved to him a broken Reed for finding he was generally hated by the Nobles and Commons to shun the storm that threatened him with some violent End he sewed up many Jewels and some Gold in the Garments of a Pedlar Woman and Disguised in that Habit resolved to leave the Land carrying under his Arm a piece of Country Cloath which he offering to sale at Dover was Discovered and Seized suffering much outrage from the Common People and being sent to London the Lords Committed him to the Tower where he remained till the Kings return who not only released him but restored him to his Bishoprick yet having seen the folly of his Pride he grew more Humble and shortly after Travelling to Rome Dyed by the way unlamented by all that had known his former carriage The Queen-Mother in the Kings absence perceiving her Son John's aspiring who had a hand in bringing the Bishop of Ely into Disgrace and Outing him made a strong Party of her Friends as soon as she heard King Richard was a Prisoner compelling the Nobles and such others as were in Offices and Trusts to Swear to be True to him and Conserve the Realm to his use and behoof and John hearing he was Released and in Normandy hasted to excuse himself submitting to his Grace and Mercy voluntarily surrendering all the Forts and Castles he had Seized into his hands saying What â—e had done he was provoked to do by the Extraordinary Pride and Insolent Behaviour of the Bishop of Ely who unworthily had disordered the Government of the Realm and particularly for the Outrages he had committed on the Person of Jeffery Arch Bishop of York the Kings Brother Yet by the Peers he was Condemned in the Forfeiture of his Goods Estate and Honours but not long after received them again and was restored to the Kings Favour and came with him to England where the King at his Landing was Joyfully received by Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury and most of the Nobles causing himself a second time to be Crowned and the Coronation Solemnity was performed at Winchester Then he made a new Broad-Seal by which device he got much Money out of his Subjects who were obliged to have their Patents Royal Grants for Offices and other Evidences new Sealed the former being declared null and void And yet this not sufficing to put the Kingdom in a good Settlement pay his Soldiers Arrears and repay the Money that had been taken upon trust for his Ransom the Treasuries of Religious Houses were ransacked and a Parliament being called he was allowed to reassume into his hands such Mannors Lordships Lands and Offices as had been disposed of at his setting out to the Holy War for Ready Money so that the Purchasers were enforced to content themselves with the Profits they had Received in lieve of the Money they had Paid After this as the King was at Dinner in his Palace of Westminster News came to him that the French had Besieged Nerville in Normandy upon which in a great Passion he Swore He would never turn his back till he had got thither with his Army and to save his Oath a place by order was immediatly broken in the Wall through which he passed the breach heing left open above a hundred Years afterward in Remembrance
of it and his Arrival so terrified the French That they no sooner heard of his Landing but they raised the Siege Yet pursuing this Advantage he gave a mighty Army of them Battel near Gysors slaying great numbers and putting the rest to Flight he not having half their number Whereupon said he Not we but Dieu Et Mondroit that is God and our Right hath obtained this Victory After which the Kings of England made it their Motto under their Arms and so he prosecuting this Victory took many Towns But in the midest of his Success Pope Innocent the Third Interceding a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns but it held not long for the French giving new provocations he passed the Seas again with a powerful Army when closely Besieging the Castle of Challons near to Lymois as he took a private view he was descried and known by a common Soldier who Shooting at him with a square impoisoned Arrow out of a Steel Bow grievously Wounded him in the Arm yet he took the Castle by Storm and caused all he found therein to be Slain except the Person who wounded him who being brought before him and demanded how he durst shoot a Poisoned Arrow at the King The Fellow who expected he was reserved for Death by Cruel Torments seemed not at all daunted but boldly reply'd That in the War he had lest his Father and his Brother and was exceeding glad Fortune had so well assisted him in Revenging their Deaths Upon this resolute Answer the King much contrary to the expectation not only of the Prisoner but all the rest freely Pardoned him and caused him to be led out of the Army to avoid the violence of the Soldiers towards a Person who had Slain their King for indeed he Dyed within three days after viz. the 6th of April Anno Dom. 1199. This King Richard began his Reign Anno Dom. 1189 and Reigned 9 Years and 9 Months Dying in the 42 Year of his Age and was Buried at Font-Everard in Normandy at his Fathers Feet as himself had directed He was for his surpassing Valour called Ceur de Leon or Lions-Heart fearing no danger where the attempt was Honourable In his Reign the Jews were Banished out of Norwich St. Edmunds-Bury Stamford Lyn and York in which last place about 500 of them besides Women and Children entered a Tower of the Castle and when they found themselves hard pressed by a Siege they cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them on the Heads of the Besiegers then in a desperate mood Fired the Tower and Burnt themselves in it tho' Quarter was offered if they would have Surrendered NORTHUMBERLAND Remarks on the County of Northumberland THis Northern County the Extremity of England is Bounded on the North and part of the West with Scotland another part of the West with Cumberland on the South with part of Cumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham and on the East with the German Ocean In many Parts there is Plenty of good Corn it produces a profitable Breed of Cattle has in it many pleasant Gardens Orchards Parks Hare and Coney Warrens on the Western side it is somewhat incommoded with Hills but otherwise produces Plains Inclosures Meadows Woods tho' not many It contains 46 Parishes 5 Market Towns and is branched with 21 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. Berwick upon Tweed 2 Morpeth 2 New-Castle on Tine 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire This County was the Antient Northumbrian Kingdom of the Saxons and suffered much by lying so near the borders of Scotland especially when the Scots utterly destroy'd the Pictish Kingdom that had for some time screened them from the Incroachment of that Northern Nation At a Place called Otterburn a great Battle was Fought between the English and Scots Alnwick is of note for the mighty Victories the English gained over the Scots and being the usual Seat of the Northumbrian Kings and lately of many of the Noble Earls of Northumberland At Emildon Duns Sirnamed Scotus was Born a Person of great Wit and Subtilty in School Philosophy Berwick is pleasantly situate on the Tweed looking a great way from its lofty Turrets into both Kingdoms and is fam us for the many Sieges it has held out against the Scots in divers Kings Reigns Newcastle is pleasantly seated on the River Tine that branches all the Southern part of this County and produces store of Salmon as dos also the River Bywel Newcastle is also famous for furnishing the City of London with Coals brought thence by Sea and therefore commonly called Sea-Coals which Trade is also a great Nursery for Seamen Vpon the Hills near North-Tine tho' Boggy and full of Water there are great heaps of Stones which some take as a Monument of a Roman British or Saxon Victory The Seats of the Nobility are Ogle Castle Bothat Castle Heple Tower belonging to the Noble Family of the Duke of Newcastle Prudhoe Castle to the Duke of Summerset Wark Castle Chillingham Castle Dunstaburg Castle and Horton Castle to the Lord Grey of Wark Widerington Castle to the Lord Widerington and some Houses there are of the Gentry very Beautiful and pleasantly Situate especially on the East side with a curious Prospect to the Sea by means of whose Washing its Shoars this County receives great Benefit The Reign of King JOHN RICHARD the First Dying in Normandy and Buried at Font-Everard his Brother John Earl of Lancaster by his own Right and of Glocester in Right of his Wife having long aspired to the Crown thought this was his time to push hard for it although Arthur Plantaginet Son to Geoffery his Elder Brother was Living and so with what store of Treasure he had heaped up making many of the Nobles and some Leading Commoners of his Party he openly laid claim to the Soveraignty of England as his Undoubted Right and Arthur not being able to stand in competition with him this way as being little Interested in the English by reason he had for the most part been brought up beyond the Seas and consequently a Stranger to the greatest part of the Nation his Right was carried away in the current of the Peoples Inclinations and John was Crowned at Westminster by Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury at what time the Bishop to flatter the People and curry-favour with the King declared in an Oration That the Crown of England was meerly Arbitrary and Elective yet the more sober part of the Nobility knowing this Princes Haughty Temper Swore him to several Articles upon his admission to the Crown for Observing and Maintaining their Rights and Priviledges Antient Laws and Customs c. Scarcely was King John Settled in his Throne but Philip the French King underhand assisted by others sent for Arthur to his Court protesting a great deal of Love and tender Affection to him Informed him of his Title to the Crown of England Dutchy of Normandy and Britany animating him to raise his Spirits and use his
Courage for the recovery of what was so unjustly taken from him and that if he were destitute of Friends that might Advise and Council him he and his Nobles would willingly supply that defect if he wanted Gold or Silver the Sinews of War his Coffers should be open at his Service or if Valiant Men to Fight for him and his Right many Thousand Frenchmen would venture their Lives in his Quarrel These large and Friendly proffers which rather proceeded from the fear King Philip had of Englands Strength and Prosperity which might as indeed it afterwards fell out get the Ascendant over France than for any cordial Love he bore to the Young Prince keeping him only as a Trump Card in his hand to play his Game as he saw occasion However these great Proffers bore up his Spirits and he wholly cast himself on the French King for Protection submitting to be Governed and Ruled by him in all things Whereupon Forces were Levied in France and Normandy and hereupon some Strong Holds in the latter Revolted from King John and declared for Prince Arthur and others they won however the Kings Lieutenant raised Forces to oppose them so that between both Armies there happened divers Encounters with various success King John hearing of these stirs in Normandy thought there remained no time for delay but gathering a strong Power passed the Seas and joyning with his Lieutenant retook several Towns and Overthrew the Young Prince in a set Battel with great Slaughter of the French Nobles and others that were Engaged with him This made the French King begin to consider he had laid hold on the wrong end of the staff and from that time procured divers Prelates and some Princes as Mediators to bring on Foot a Treaty for a Peace which Treaty gave both sides a short breathing But the King of England's Proposals being no less than the restoring all the Towns taken a defraying of the charges of the War and that King Philip should put for ever Prince Arthur out of his Protection it came in the end to nothing so that the War renewed more furious than before by which means the poor Inhabitants of Normandy were grievously Oppressed by Burning Plundering and many other Miserie 's attendant on Hostilities However to repress these Outrages of the Invading French the King raised a yet greater Army but then found his Treasure was much too scanty to defray the charges of that Expedition of which the Nobles and Commons were no sooner made sensible but of their own accord they largely contributed rather than the Honour of the King and Kingdom should be Eclipsed by the Bravadoes of a dastardly Nation and then Landing with a gallant Army in Normandy the number of his Forces were daily augmented and not long after the two Armies met and sought a dreadful Battel in which the French were Overthrown and Prince Arthur with divers of the French Nobility taken Prisoners and sent to the Castle of Roan where as it was given out leaping from the Walls to make his Escape he leaped short fell into the Moat and there was Drowned Tho' Historians who have made Remarks What a few Steps there are between the Prisons and Graves of Princes tho' they do not charge the King with the knowledg of it are apt to conjecture that this Prince came to be Drowned by other means than his own attempt And indeed the King had all his Life afterward a very troublesome and turbulent Reign For now the Prince was Dead the French King began to pull off his Vizor laying claim to Normandy in his own Right and poured in such a number of Forces that King John's Treasure being spent he could not Levy in any reasonable time Soldiers sufficient to oppose their torrent so that wining many Towns and Castles the whole Dutchy to prevent the Ruin and Desolation threatened it Subjected it self to the French King after it had been disbranched from France about 319 Years And that the King should not be at leasure to Regain it the French King underhand found him work at home by making Pope Innocent the Third his Enemy For about this time Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury Dying the Monks of the Order of St. Augustin met in the Cathedral Church about Midnight without the Kings knowledg or License and chose one Reynold a Brother of their own to Succeed in the Archiepiscopal See taking of him an Oath to travel to Rome and procure his Investiture and receive the Pall from the Pope The King hearing of these unwarantable Proceedings was much displeased which so affrighted the Monks that to regain his Favour they proceeded to a second Election and chose John Grey a Person whom the King had nominated to them who was then Bishop of Norwich and so the Kings Anger being appeased he sent Ambassadors with his Letters to the Pope to Entreat him to Ratify the second Choice But in the mean time a new Schism or Faction appeared for the Suffragan because he was not made acquainted nor an Actor in either of the said two Elections made suit to the Pope to displace them both But he imitating the proud Example of many of his Predecessors who coveted to swim against the stream and seldom or never granted any Kings request least in some sort they should be thought to be yeilding neglected both their suits and confirmed Raynold who was first chosen But the King growing angry hereat the Monks to please him rather out of fear than complacency refused to receive into their Quire or own the Arch Bishop the Pope had Confirmed tho' he was of their own chusing giving this Reason for it viz. That it was done Clandestinly and at an unseasonable Time for as much as the choice was made in the Night when as it should have been done in the open Day and so they concluded it void and in it self a Nulity yet remained good till by Judicial Proceedings and a Sentence it were pronounced void so that this matter was Controverted at Rome where the Pope made specious shews and pretences of accomodating the matter to heal the Schisme so that it should be to the satisfaction of the King and Monks but his aim was otherwise for he designed to prefer a creature of his own viz. Stephen Langton a Man that would always move by his dictates having before been made Cardinal of Chrisogone and privatly he Wrote to the Monks to Choose him yet not so cunningly but the King had Notice of it and strictly charged them not to proceed to any other Election but the Popes Threats and Promises of Rewards dispensed with their Obedience to the Kings Commands so that they did Elect him their Arch Bishop This so exasperated the King that he commanded on severe Penalties no Appeals should be made to Rome and that from thence forth he would take a strict account of such of his Subjects that for any matter of Right or Justice should go to Rome to require it seeing he had
Prelates Noblemen and Judges sufficient to determine any Controversies within his Kingdom that should arise either in Church or Common-Weal and added That he would rather expose himself to Ten Thousand Deaths than basely as he was required make himself and his Kingdom Servil to the Popes Insolency and Peremptory Commands But on the other side the Pope threatened what he would do if he was not Obey'd in the Election of Langton and the calling home such Monks as had Fled through fear of the Kings displeasure on this last Election and because this was not speedily done he sent his Apostolical Command to the Prelates of London Ely Worcester c. to Interdict the Kingdom if the King continued in his obstinacy as he termed it This Commission was put in Execution and the Church-Doors were shut up for several Years Some Authors say Six there being neither Prayers Sermons Christenings nor Service at the Funerals of the Dead said or performed publickly during that time so that the People distinguished not the Sabbath from other days but followed their Work and Sports on it living More like Infidels than Christians such power over the Minds of besotted Men had the Popes Usurpation in those dark and ignorant Times For this Affront the King Banished divers Bishops and others of the Clergy whom he found most forward in complying with the Popes Interest seizing on their Temporalities resolving to take the like course with all such as consented to receive Promotions Investitures or Ecclesiastical Degrees from the Pope or new Arch Bishop or that went to Rome upon any occasion without his License or did attempt to put in Execution any Command from the Pope within his Kingdom The Pope no sooner heard of this but resolving not to cool on it he sent into England two Legates viz. Pandulph and Durant to perswade the King to be Reconciled to Langton and the other Bishops and Clergy that were under his Displeasure in England or in Banishment to restore them to their Lands Places and Goods that a good understanding might be renewed between the Pope and him This did but little please the King yet however fearing to be Accursed and Embroyl himself in new Troubles for in those days the Popes Leaden Sword did more mischief in Kingdoms than many of Steel People being for the most part infatuated to believe what he did he did by the immediate Will and Command of God whose Vicegerent he assumed to himself to be He promised to perform all but allowing the Election of Cardinal Langton protesting that if another might be chosen he would yet prefer him to some other Bishoprick but the Imperious Legates instead of gratifying the Kings Request pronounced the Popes Curse not only against the King but all Persons who should do him Service or give him Attendance or supply him with things Necessary Absolving his Subjects from their Allegiance Duties and Oaths requiring all Christian Princes to make War upon him as upon the Arch and Grand Enemy of the Church of God The Pope also published and pronounced against him Sentence of Deprivation and gave his Crown and his Kingdom to Philip the French King if by any secret Plot or open Violence and Hostility he could Expel or Murther him These were the Fruits of this pretended Holy un-Holy Father The Popes Religion and Government and this Usurping Arrogance was a badg of his unsufferable Pride in that he presumed to do what no Earthly Creature can do nor what a Christian ought to attempt to do against a Prince who is Gods Anointed and against such a one as the Almighty has placed in his Kingdom to Govern and Rule his People Yet this Fulmination did not much startle King John and being determined to know the minds of his People how they stood affected to him after this matter he took a sollemn Oath of them for the defence of his Person and the performance of faithful Service to him and then raising an Army he went to Scotland because that King encouraged by the Pope was practicing against him sheltering such as had taken part with the Pope and fled out of England But King Alexander the Second perceiving that Fire and Sword began to devour apace in his Country he with much Humility sent to King John to desire him to spare his People and their Substance and what in reason he required he would accord to and a Peace was made shortly between them he consenting to Banish all the Kings Enemies out of his Country This much disappointed Philip of France who was preparing to Invade England and had to that end provided a gallant Army but by the Wisdom Valour and Circumspection of King John and the Providence of God 300 of his Ships Laden with Corn and other Provisions and Necessaries for the Invasion were Surprized by our Ships which great disapointment put an end at that time to the Design and frustrated his vain hope But after all this the King finding so many Efforts and Treacheries against him that disparing to weather every one of them and pittying the sufferings of his People under these distractions he suddainly without the Advice of his Nobles or of his Privy Council degenerating from his former daring and boldness of Spirit fell on his Knees before the Legate acknowledging his Disobedience craving of him the Popes Pardon resigning with his Crown the possession of his Kingdom to the See of Rome which Crown the proud Prelate took and to put him into some pain in considering whether he should ever have it restored again kept it Four Days and then returned it to the use of him and his Heirs reserving 1000 Marks Yearly by way of Tribute to the See of Rome which was the main thing the Pope had aimed at and for which he had all the while made such a prodigious noise and bustle But this low and Un-Prince-like Submission to a paltry Priest threw him into another mischief which was the contempt and dislike of his Nobles so that for the most part they Revolted from him and entered upon a cruel and unnatural War which went very near to have enslaved this flourishing Island once more to Strangers for the Barons finding they were too weak to oppose the King they leaned on Philip of Frrnce proposing if he would assist them with sufficient Forces and Money they would soon Depose King John and place the Crown upon the Head of Lewis Son to Philip This News fired the Young Ambitious French Prince who had also something of a Martial Spirit that he never left urging his Father till he had furnished him out with an Army But the Pope having now closed with King John on his complaining of this to him he sent his strict command under many Threats to the French King not to suffer his Son to pass the Seas or in the least to molest a Kingdom under the Protection of the Holy See tho' as you have heard a little before himself had given it to them
But Popes usually blow hot or cold as their Interest Ebbs or Flows and therefore it was no wonder he should so soon change his side But Philip refused to Obey his Mandate returning Answer That no King without the consent of his Nobles Prelates and Common People can Subject his Kingdom to the See of Rome or put it under its Protection it being Committed to them by God and consequently this Kingdom was not holden of the See of Rome nor ought to be Defended or Protected by her This Answer somewhat startled the Pope yet using his old way he sent Guallo his Legate Cardinal of St. Martins to Curse Philip and Lewis his Son and such of the English Nobility as took part with them as also all their other Adherents and Accomplices and tho' the wiser sort little minded this yet the ordinary degrees of Soldiers whose Devotion more directly depended on Fear than Knowledge or Judgment to apprehend any danger that could ensue from such threats were so amazed and daunted that they left their Leaders in the Field and returned home to their Wives and Children c. And the Rascally sort in England hearing divers Noblemen were under this Curse entered into their Houses Fields and Parks Robbing Spoiling and bearing away whatever they could find of value being so far from doubting or disputing with their own Consciences whether they did well in it or not that such was the blindness of those Times they supposed their so doing tended to the Glory of God Almighty and that their Rapin and Violence was well pleasing in his Sight yet this hastened many of the Lords who had little left to subsist on to submit to the King and prostrate at his Feet confess their undutiful Revolt and crave his Pardon Upon this they were received into Favour with gentle reproofs for their former failures and were restored to their Estates and Honours so that the Disorders that had happened were by this means settled and a Peace for a time ensued to the great refreshing of a Nation wearied out with Intestine Broyls The Pope intending to make his Proceedings with King John a President to other Princes Assembled a General Council at Lateran where he caused to be published at large the Assignment of the Kingdom of England to the See of Rome and there Otho the Emperour Peter King of Arragon Raymond Earl of Tholouse were Excomunicated for no other material reason than not submitting themselves and Principalities to the Popes Pride and Insolency to be disposed of at his pleasure Also the Empire Kingdom and Principality appertaining to them were Interdicted on pretended Heresie In this Council Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation were Decreed the Cup taken from the Laity in the Communion c. And it was made no less than Eternal Damnation to such as should speak evil of the Pope and that they who were guilty of it should immediatly when they Dyed descend into Hell without being admitted by the way to call in at Purgatory to take leave of any of their Acquaintance And that no Man should presume to take on him the Imperial Diadem till he was Sworn the Popes Vassal paid him Homage and received that Crown at his Hands But these Princes despised him and his idle Menaces yet he secretly wrought them many Troubles and put their Subjects into Rebellion but in time the Storm blew over with the end of his restless Life During these stirs the Irish fell into Rebellion but were soon Quieted on the Kings going over for at Dublin he was met by Twenty of their petty Kings who submitted and promised him their future Obedience And one Gualter Maxes Arch Deacon of Oxford Preached against the Pride of the Pope and wrote a Book Entituled The Revelation of the Romish Goliah for which the Bishops greatly Persecuted him And the Clergy not being heartily reconciled to the King because he had controuled them in many things as he was in his Progress to settle the Kingdom so long disquieted and out of order Dining at Swinstead-Abby not far from Lincoln one Simon a Villanous Monk who served at the Table being of the Order of St. Bernard Poisoned him by delivering into his hand a Bowl of Intoxicated Wine and Poisoned himself also for company the King compelling him upon suspecting by a suddain pain in his Stomach some Treachery to Drink part of it Too easy a Death for such a Monster in wickedness who considered not that Kings are God's Anointed and that the Affront is put upon Heaven when they are Injured Thus fell King John after a troublesom Reign for the most part when he had Reigned 17 Years 6 Months and 13 Days He Dyed on the 19th of October Anno Dom. 1216. and was Buried at Winchester To palliate this execrable Murther it was given out that he should say holding a Halfpeny Loaf in his hand That if he lived a Twelve-month he would make it at the Rate of Twelve Pence and that he should have Ridiculed the Mass when the Pope had Accursed him upon cuming to the Quarry of a Buck that was Slain in Hunting viz. See how fair and fat this Buck is that never heard Mass in all its Life That when he was vexed with the Rebellious Barons he should send to Mira Mula a prevaling King in Africa for Assistance promising him to turn Mahometan and hold his Kingdom Tributary of him if by his help he prevailed over his Enemies But these seem to be Monkish Stories raised to poison his Fame as well as Body and are Rejected by Authentic Historians In the Ninth Year of his Reign by a New Charter he enabled the Citizens of London for their good Service done him to make their Annual Choice of a Mayor and two Sherifs for the better Government of the City In his Reign London-Bridge was Built with Stone-Arches as still it remains being before only of Timber and a dreadful Fire happening on it taking both Ends by the vehemency of the Wind carrying the Flame in sheets from the one to the other the People that came to Quench it were caught in the middle of the danger and Boats coming to receive them by Water they thronged in a hurry so fast into them that divers Sunk so that in the Thames and Flames 300 are computed to perish OXFORD SHIRE By Ihon Seller He left behind him Four Sons viz. Henry who Succeeded him Richard Elected King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guidio Disany and Three Daughters viz. Isabella Married to Frederick the Emperer a Second to William Marshal Earl of Worcester and a Third to the Earl of Leicester Remarks on Oxfordshire c. OXfordshire abounds in rich Pastures store of Cattle Corn Fruits Fish Fowle Coneys Hares Deer and other things to render it Pleasant and Acceptable being a pleasant Inland County bounded with Glocestershire Warwickshire Northamptonshire Buckinghamshire and Barkshire It contains one City which is a Bishops See and in its 14 Hundreds has 280 Parishes 12
Wallo the Popes Legate and divers Nobles and by reason of his Non-age was put under the Gaurdianship of Pembrook who was by the consent of the Peers made Protector of the Realm during his Minority who prudently mannaged Affairs administring the Laws and Justice uprightly to the People Yet long he had not been Crowned before Philip the French King thinking to take advantage of this change dealt underhand with some discontented Noblemen and supposing by this means he had made a strong Party in England Invaded the Kingdom yet the Protector was not idle in his Charge but Leavied a considerable Army and though the Welsh under Llewellin their Prince Rebelled to favour the proceedings of the French he made head against them and stopt their Ravages before a sufficient Force could come to his Camp from other parts and slew many of them in several Skirmishes tho' as yet they came to no considerable Battel And now Pope Innocent being Dead and Honorius seated in the Pontifical Chair taking part with King Henry not only confirmed the power of his Predecessors Apostolical Legate in England but by him Cursed Prince Lewis who came over with the French Forces to take possession of this Realm and all his Adherents Excommunicating and Depriving them of all the Priviledges of Christians which put a stop to their carreer So that Lewis made shew as if he only waited for a fit opportunity to depart yet in the mean time King Philip his Father with great care and cost prepared Reinforcements and Shiped them for England But Hugh d' Burg Master of the Cinque Ports Manned out a Fleet upon notice they were putting to Sea and after a sharp Engagement Sunk Burnt and Took the greatest part of the Enemys Ships which consisted of 150 Sail. This Exploit got him a good esteem among the People which he after lost by his Covetousness as will appear and much daunted the French that were already in England making Prince Lewis intreat the Popes Legate to Absolve him and for so much Money as would defray the charges of his Return he promised to deliver up all the Castles and Places he had in his possession which being done and agreed to he Sailed for France and left his Friends in England to shift for themselves many of which were forced into Banishment and some of the more forward taken and Executed but the greater Number Pardoned Upon this a Parliament was called and in it the Antient Saxon Laws of Edward the Confessor and divers other good Laws made by succeeding Kings were reduced into a smaller compass what seemed superfluous according to the Constitution of the then present Government being left out And this has continued a happiness to the Kingdom being that Magna Charta or Great Charter of England that set a Barrier between the Succeeding Kings and the People That the one should not encroach on the Subjects Rights but live as free born Subjects nor the other upon the Prerogative of the Crown but that the Scale should be in a due Ballance between Soveraign and Subject This was Ratified and Confirmed under the Great Seal to the high satisfaction of the Kingdom so that the Parliament Granting the King a considerable Tax the People paid it with all the alacrity immaginable with which Money he not only discharged his Debts but Levied a formidable Army who under the Leading of Richard the Kings Brother and divers Nobles won much back again that the French had taken during the Troubles in his Fathers Reign entirely reducing the Provinces of Poictiers and Gascoyne and returning with little loss of Men from this Glorious Enterprize were received with great Joy However the absence of the Army gave the French King leasure to practice his usual method of stiring up Differences and Dissentions in those places by which means he surprized some Towns but King Henry grown up and being a Prince of Courage and Valour resolved to go in Person whose Arrival so terrified the French that they Deserted divers Places without contending and those that yielded not on Summons were taken by Force The French King perceiving the Cowardize of his own Men and the Courage of the English after many losses began to study how he might come to a Peace and upon surrendering what he had possessed himself of it was concluded advantagiously enough to the Honour of King Henry and the English Nation But soon after this some discontented Nobles at home laboured to Alienate the minds of his Subjects from him upon a Jealousie that he reposed his greatest confidence in Strangers and made little account of their Fidelity but to prevent any Eruption that might give his Enemies abroad the advantage of Regaining what they had Lost and what cost him much Treasure in Recovering he Laboured to reconcile himself to them and sent away many Strangers from his Court with whom indeed it was much pestered and the English Nobles had some reason to complain of it by which means and some other Concessions a Reconcilement was made And now the Earl of Chester Dying without Issue Male leaving only Four Daughters the King Seized his Possessions and Annexed them to the Crown augmenting them with large additions of Yearly Revenues Regal Priviledges and Honours giving the Ladies in lieu of it divers Castles Lordships and Mannors which exceeded their own in true value and having Married Prince Edward his Son to Elianor Sister to the King of Spain he gave him the Province of Guyan and the Lordship of all Ireland and created him Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales which two latter Dignities he then annexed as inseparable Titles to the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England and so they at this day continue soon after this the King narrowly escaped being Murthered by an Oxford Scholar who about Midnight crept in at the Window of that Chamber where he usually Reposed but that Night he was absent at a Merri-making however the Student being found there with unusual Weapons about him upon Examination Confessed he came with the before-mentioned Design but would not acknowledg what â—duced him to it or any that we â—upposed to have â—t him on work whereupon his Aâ—ms and Legs beâ—g fastened to Four Horses he was by them Drawn 〈◊〉 pieces The French King as you have heard entering into Peace with England nothing more at length appeared 〈◊〉 it but that he did it to gaine time so that he might â—come Stronger for Philip being Dead Lewis the â—inth his Son broke out into open Hostilities without â—ving any warning his Father before his death having â—ade preparations to enable him to do it wasting in â—uyan all the places where he came This roused King Henry and made him Levy great Forces with a purpose â—o drive him out not only of that but all Normandy and â—uch other places as he had a right claim to and were â—etained from him by the French So that passing over â—nto France many fierce Encounters passed between â—hem
with various success tho' in them the French were â—enerally worsted but Fortune no further favouring his endeavours but only to stop the French Torrent â—nd their further Encroachments he returned for England On his departure the French King Married Alphonsus his Brother to the Daughter of the Earl of Tholouse and gave him the Earldom of Poictiers and so cunningly contrived it that he would have procured the Earl of March to do him Homage for such Lands as he pretended he held in that Province but he refused it and could not by Entreaties or Threats be wrought on to comply which so enraged the French King that he entered with an Army into the Earldom of March and laid all waste before him but was Fought with by the English Army newly Transported near Burdeaux yet the English being much inferiour in Number after a Long Bloody and Doubtful Fight were constrained to quit the Field and King Henry who did wonders in the Battel that day hardly escaped being taken Prisoner whereupon the Earl of March found he was in a necessity to submit to the Terms offered him by the French King after which King Henry settling his affaires as well as he could returned to England and made a fiâ—m Alliance with the King of Scots to strengthen his Interest against France This continued happy to him for a time but his Court not being purged of Parasites and Whisperers who with their stories set him against the English Nobility a fatal Discord befel which at times lasted till his Death for the Nobles grudging he bestowed Favours on those that deserved them not and was scanty in his Liberalities towards them that had Merited of him at the expence of their Blood and Treasure from Murmuring they fell to open Reproaches charging him with the violation of those Liberties and Priviledges that he had so solemnly Confirmed and Granted This Angered the King and made him inwardly Fret but finding they spoke the sense of the greatest part of the Nation to bring things to a quieter temper and alay or satisfie the discontents of his Subjects he called a Parliament at Oxford tho' in it what he aimed at was for the most part if not altogether frustrated so that it was afterward through the Distractions that happened upon it called Insanum Parliamentum or The Mad Parliament For when multitudes of such as were Grieved came for Redress of their Grievances the Lords and Commons endeavouring to Redress what was amiss Established many things Profitable as they intended for the Common-Weal but highly derogatory to the Kings Prerogative and to the end those things that they had so contrived should be lasting and inviolably observed they made choice of Twelve Noblemen by the Title of Les douze Piers or The Twelve Peers giving them absolute Power and Authority to Maintain and Support those Laws of whom the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester were chief and for this they had their Pattent and took a solemn Oath which was Sealed and Ratified by the King although he did it unwillingly so that the Parliament being ended the Commissioners began by strict Execution to give Life unto those Laws and Ordinances thrusting out of their Places and Offices many of the Kings Menial Servants and Attendants placing others in their stead which very much troubled him for by these proceedings he perceived those that waited on his Person were rather to be Trusted by others than by himself and that he should be furthest from chusing those that were to be nearest to him this made him grow Melancholy and vex himself exceedingly yet thinking to mend what he supposed amiss he called another Parliament which contrary to his expectation Ratified and Confirmed more strongly all that the former had done tho' he at the opening of the Sessions had complained of the hard Usage he had received from the Twelve Peers and by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Nine other Bishops of the Kingdom a solemn Curse was denounced against all such as either by Direction Council Arms or otherwise withstood or hindered the Execution of those Laws or the Authority of the Twelve Peers This made the King more Melancholy than before when to divert himself he Sailed to France and had an Enterview with King Lewis who highly welcomed him Lodged him in his own Palace Feasted him and used him with all Gentleness Curtesie and Honour protesting in his Parliament of Estates That he was much dissatisfied in his Conscience for detaining from King Henry his Dutchy of Normandy and such other Territories in France as in Right he ought to Enjoy and on the other hand King Henry intending to conclude an inviolable Peace freely surrendered to him Normandy Anjou Poictiers and Mayn and in the same Parliament with great Solemnity and Honour he received them again to himself and his Heirs Whilst things thus proceeded in France a Quarrel happened between Prince Edward the Kings Son and the Duke of Glocester about the Laws being put too severely in Execution which made the King hasten home to prevent the Danger or Mischief that might happen thereby and with some difficulty he reconciled them and hoping to remove the curb the Peers had laid on him with much Expence he procured Bulls of Pope Alexander the Third by virtue of which himself and all others who had Sworn to maintain those new Laws and Ordinances and to support the proceedings of the Peers and their Authority were freely Absolved from their Oaths yet they took no notice of it but proceeded to displace such Judges Justices and Sheriffs as the King had appointed for not following their Orders and put such in their Places and Offices as they thought fit So that the King being no longer able to endure these Indignities caused the Popes Bulls to be Read and Proclaimed in the chief Towns and Cities of England and Wales straightly Commanding all Persons of what Estate Condition or Degree soever That from thence forth did by Word or Deed Support or Maintain the said Laws and Ordinances or the Authority of the Twelve Peers that they should be committed to Prison and not delivered thence without the Kings consent And hereupon he Swore the Londoners from twelve Years Old and upwards to be True and Faithful to him and to be Aiding to him and his Heirs against all Opposers In the mean while the Barons met and entered into a Resolution among themselves rather to lose their Lives than decline the upholding the Laws and fancying the King had some desperate design upon them their Jealousie so encreased that retiring to the Marches of Wales they raised a strong Army and furnished it with all things necessary for the War they intended yet pretended to abstain from any Hostility or Violence unless the King compelled them to it Then they sent their Letters in a most submissive and humble manner to the King protesting their Duty Service and true Allegiance to him entreating his Highness for the Honour of Almighty God for the
out but it being more terrible abroad they fell on their Faces and lay as astonished near an Hour There also appeared as it were four Suns besides the Natural one which had a great Circle of a Chrystal colour and after St. Martins Day it began to Thunder very horribly which lasted 15 Days The Jews at Norwich Stole a Boy and Circumcised him intending to have Crucified him at Easter for which divers were Convicted and put to sundry Punishments In the 20th Year of the King the Thames over-flowed its Banks so that Boats were Rowed in the great Palace-Yard at Westminster and also in the midst of the Hall Pope Gregory the Ninth wrote to the King That he might have safe conduct to come and see England but was denied in consideration it was thought he did it with an intent to Embroyl the Kingdom In the 23d of the King a great Plague happened consuming 500000 People of all Degrees and Newcastle upon Tyne with the Bridge was consumed by Fire and two Years after the Sea Flowed without any considerable Ebb and in the Night by the fighting of the Waves seemed all on Fire making a terrible Noise which was heard many Miles On the 43d of the Kings Reign a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privy on a Saturday and refused to be helped out because it was on their Sabbath whereupon the Duke of Glocester Lord Lieutenant of the County made him keep our Sunday there when on Monday Morning he was found Dead And about this time Dr. Sternham wrote That the Sufficiency of Holy Scripture without Tradition or Innovation were only necessary to Salvation and Roger Bacon a famous Divine of Oxford was Imprisoned and severely Persecuted by the Pope for Preaching against the Absurdities of the Church of Rome And John De Warren Earl of Surry Killed Alen de La Zouch in Westminster-Hall on an Affront given by a Jostle Seven Hundred Jews were Slain in London upon an Insurrection because one of them had extorted more than two Pence per Week for 20 s. Interest Anno Dom. 1269 the Thames was so hard Frozen that Men Cattle and Wains passed over on the Ice a considerable time Anno Dom. 1271 the Steeple of Bow-Church in Cheapside London fell and in the fall oppressed many People which were slain in its Ruines Remarks on the County of Rutland RUtlandshire or the County of Rutland is commodiously Situate among divers fertil Shires or Counties being Bounded with Lincolnshire Northamptonshire and Leicestershire being very neatly compacted producing some considerable sprinkling of Corn but more Pasture being for the most part Plain without Hills and few Woods in it that are considerable also Cattle Wooll Fish Fowl and many other things worthy to Rank it with the rest It is divided into 5 Hundreds containing 48 Parishes 2 Market Towns and is a third part bordered by the River Weland branching into many pleasant Streams over which is laid a very advantageous Bridge leading to Barrowden It sends Members to Parliament Two Knights of the Shire RUTLAND By I. Seller Whitwell is memorable for another Overthrow given the Danes Scyten is noted for a Speaking Eagle in the Reign of King Harrold the Last which Prophesied the coming in of the Normans and the Subjection of the Kingdom by them The other chief Places are Whissenden Ashwell Barrow Market-Overton c. The Seats of the Nobility are Exton Brook and North Luffingham belonging to the Earl of Ganesborough The Gentry have some Seats here but not very many of any note In this County were formerly many Castles but Demolished in the several Civil Wars and other Commotions that have happened in this Kingdom the Ruinous Foundations of many yet being upon digging broke up I find but Four Parks in this County and some of them but slenderly stored with Deer yet there are many Hares some Coneys and pleasant Fishing and Fowling at the proper Seasons The Reign of King EDWARD the First since the Norman Conquest KING Edward had News of his Fathers Death when he was Warring in the Holy Land which made â—im settle the Affairs of the Eastern Christians on such Terms as could be so suddainly obtained very advanâ—agious for them and so returned home to take care â—f his more near concerns his Queen in this Voyage â—eing brought to bed of a Daughter Upon his Arrival he was Received by the Nobles â—nd Commons with many demonstrations of Joy and â—n a few Days he and his Queen were Crowned by Robert Killwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury and having disposed of divers Trusts and places of Honour giving some Largesses to ingratiate himself with the Higher and Lower Degrees he called a Parliament at Westminster and thither Llewellin Prince of Wales was Summoned to do Homage for the Principality he held But he taking disgust because Elianor Daughter to the deceased Earl of Leicester was taken by the English on the Seas as she was coming from France in order to Marry him not only refused to come but because the Lady was detained from him raised a considerable Army of Welshmen and Borderers and fell into Rebellion entering England and doing great Mischief But the King resolving to make his first Expedition Terrible to that Languishing Nation raised such a Power as Llewellin found himself in no capacity to oppose wherefore leaving his Men he came privately to the King and prostrating himself begged Pardon protesting that his Love was so exceeding great to the Captive Lady that nothing but the hopes of Redeeming her and entering on those Nuptials that had been Agreed on at the Court of France could have made him draw his Sword so that if she might be given to his Arms he would from thenceforth live in Peace and Obedience be always ready to use his Sword at the Service of King Edward against the French King or any other when he should Command it King Edward upon this considering his Government not to be very well settled and that the French King much relied on the Disturbances the Welsh could give when he designed any thing against England freely consented to what he demanded and upon Llewellin's Swearing Fealty the Lady was put into his possession with many Rich Presents bestowed on her at her departure by the Queen and Court-Ladies and the Nuptials were Solemnized to their mutual Satisfaction Soon after this King Edward in Monumental Honour to his Queen for the great Love she had shewed in Sucking his Envenomed Wound and accompanying him in the Holy Land where she endured many hardships raised Crosses in the most Remarkable Cross-ways in England with the Arms of Spain Quartered with those of England and the Queens Statue in Marble on the most Remarkable of them and remembering the Treacherous Practices of the Jews against him Abroad and their always taking part with the Infidels against the Christians he Banished them out of England to the Number of 15009 Persons Confiscating their Goods by which means and Fining corrupt Judges and
Guyan Gascoyne and other Provinces the former being mostly Victorious recovering many places and driving the Enemy for the most part out of his Territories there But whilst the King was intent to go over and finish what had been so well begun and carried on the French King as much as in him lay to cross his proceedings had made a Faction in Scotland against the new King who compelled him to renounce his Allegiance to King Edward and send Defiance to him nor was this all but with an Army hastily gathered he entered and wasted the Northern parts of England Slaying Burning and Plundering without Pity or Remorse Whereupon King Edward recounting his manifold Favours and the great love he had to the Revolted King of Scots this base Ingratitude so stirred his Anger That he resolved a bloody chastisement should be the punishment of his unthankfullness Whereupon recalling some of his Forces and raising more he Marched to the succour of his Subjects and such was his good Fortune that in a little time he met with and fought the Scotch Army slaying 25000 of them winning the strong Castles of Berwick and Dunbar and soon after the City of Edenburough with many other places of note which made King John too late see his Errors and to what distress his rashness had driven him However thinking to find Favour by an humble submission or at least prevent the further Ruin and Desolation of his Country he came and cast himself at King Edwards Feet wholle submitting with himself the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland to be at his dispose in expectation to have been Restored but King Edward resenting very heinously his ungrateful proceedings sent him under a strong Guard to the Tower of London yet ordered him allowance of Liberty Diet and Attendance as became his state when Marching from Sea to Sea without any farther resistance he settled the Affaires of Scotland committing the Government of the Kingdom to John Warren Earl of Surry as his Lieutenant Constituting Hugh Cressingham Lord Treasurer and William Barnsley his Chief Justice confining some of the Rebellious Scots within the Marches of England that they might be disabled from giving any Disturbance in his Absence and so returned in Triumph with great Honours and high applause of his Subjects The King being now at leasure to remember the Injuries the French had done him and resolving to Revenge them Leagued with Guy Earl of Flanders and Transported an Army thither and Fought with Robert Earl of Arthois whome he Routed taking many Towns and Fortresses on the Frontiers which made the French King play over the game again of stirring up the Scots to Rebellion hoping by that means to constrain him to return but on the contrary he appointed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland his General for that War who mannaged it with that Prudence that after some Marching Training them into the open Field he gave them Battel with incredible Slaughter so that many Miles of Ground were in a manner covered with their dead Bodies by which great Overthrow they found themselves constrained to return to their former Obedience so that the French King perceiving his Project took not on that side seemed very desirous to try his Strength with King Edward in the Field but his Courage failing he reposing more confidence in his Policy than Valour he proceeded to tamper about proposals of Love and Amity that might settle a lasting Peace and King Edward being now a Widower he earnestly solicited him to take his Sister to Wife to make the Alliance stronger which by the cunning subtilty of some Courtiers Bribed by the French King was brought about and Peace ensued after a tedious War that had caused much Bloodshead So the King with his Queen returned home and soon after he made Prince Edward his Son who had been Born at Carnarvan in Wales the better to ingratiate himself with those People Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and to gain the Hearts of the Londoners he restored them those Liberties his Father had deprived them of and without which they had continued the space of Twelve Years during which time a Governour was set over them by the King and their Magistrates chosen by his order But whilst things were well ordering at home the Scots again fell into Rebellion Whereupon the King sent to demand their Ring-leaders who had drawn them into this danger which principally was one Wallis a Gentleman of an inveterate Spirit against the English Nation with a promise of Pardon to all the rest upon their laying down their Arms or else threatned to waste the Country with Fire and Sword from Sea to Sea and spare none of that Nation he should find in his way But driven on by their hard Fate they were Deaf to these Proposals making yet greater preparations to weather as they thought the Storm they could not but expect and so upon the Kings entering the Marches of Scotland they bid him Battel where before the Armies joyned he made them the same Offers which they seemed to reject with scorn so the Bloody Blast being sounded by the order of the Incensed King who resolved now to Scourge them in earnest the English fell on with such fury and violence that they broke like a Tempest into the Scots Battel carrying all before them so that a miserable slaughter ensued and the King pressing too furiously upon those that Fled in the eagerness of the Pursuit fell from his Horse and broke two of his Ribs yet he lightly remounting and not regarding his Hurt drove them out of the Field with the slaughter of 32000 of them he not now as at other times restraining the Swords of his Soldiers but gave scope and encouragement to their thirst of Revenge and in this Battel fell the flower of the Scots Nobility and Gentry but on our side very few were slain some Historians make mention but of 28 of all Degrees tho' that seemes too Partial But in comparison of the Scots they were certainly very inconsiderable The Prisoners that were taken were not many by reason few were spared in the Fight or in the pursuit that were overtaken so that the small remainder of the Nobles came and Humbled themselves before the King charging the fault on such as they said had justly received their Deserts by being slain in the Battel and this Submission upon their taking a new Oath of Fealty and Homage was accepted and returning home upon the earnest request of Pope Boniface the Eighth he Released John the Deposed King of Scots out of the Tower who went to Normandy to live quietly there on Lands alotted him called Bayliolls Lordship or Lands where falling Blind and being much in Years he Dyed leaving his Estate to his Son Edward However his Death put not an end to the Scots Troubles for they had not long enjoyed Peace but forgetting their Oaths or at least despising all conditions with the English they again Revolted and again felt the same Scourge
of War the King taking by force and surrender all the strong Castles and Fortresses into his hands and Oath of the Justices Mayors and Officers of the several Towns and Forts and having disposed all things to the best advantage and settled the Government in trusty hands he brought away the Crown Robes of State and Marble Chair from Scone in which the Scots Kings had always been Crowned and placed the latter in the Kings Chappel at Westminster and on it there is said to be a Prophetick Latin Distick in English to this Effect Where e'er this Stone is Plac'd the Scot shall find And there shall Rule for there his Reign 's Assign'd This may indeed seem to be verified in the Union of the two Kingdoms under King James the First of the Scotish Line But to proceed As soon as King Edward was returned from his Journey he caused an Enquiry which was termed Troli Baston to be made in all his Dominions of the Misdemeanors and Oppressions of his Officers and others so that the Number of the Transgressors were so many that heavy Fines being laid on them and they like so many full Spunges Squeezed of their Unjust Gains into the Kings Coffers they were plentifully replenished thereby not only to Pay off old Debts but to Recompence such as had at their own Expence faithfully Served him in his Wars and among other Complaints Dr. Langton Bishop of Chester Exhibited one to the King against Prince Edward whom he said at the Instigation of Pierce Gaveston his Loose and Evil Counsellor had forcibly broken into his Parks wounded his Servants and destroyed his Game Whereupon the Prince was committed to Prison during the Kings pleasure and Gaveston Banished upon pain of Death never to return into the Land and Edward Earl of Cornwal Son to Richard King of the Romans Dying without Issue he gave that Earldom to Prince Edward which Title with that of Chester have been since inseparable from the Princes of Wales A Peace being now had in Scotland things remained quiet for a time during which space Robert Bruce one of the Competitors came with divers Nobles to the English Court and was highly Entertained which they did only for a shew whilst they were dealing underhand with the Pope to favour their Cause nor was he slow in it but sent an Instrument in Writing by which he pretended to lay claim to the Kingdom of Scotland as holden of the See of Rome wherein King Edward was peremptorily required to surcease from all Demands of Tenure and Soveraignty over it But he stoutly Answered by his Ambassadors That it did belong to the Kings of England and not unto the See of Rome or to any other requiring him to revoke his unjust Claim for that both he and his Nobles were resolved to maintain his Right therein at the hazard of their Lives and Estates and the Ambassador shewing the Hands and Seals of the Nobles and most of the Prelates of England that had Sworn to this Resolution the old Blade with the Leaden Sword drew in his Horns whereupon Bruce secretly withdrew and raised Tumults in Scotland Yet the King forced him to fly into Norway where he remained till in Edward the Seconds Reign he returned to broach new Troubles But the King upon his Marching through Scotland Dyed commanding in his Last Will That his Son should SHROP SHIRE By John Seller carry his Bones with him till he had utterly Subdued the Rebells and that Gaveston should not be Recalled from Banishment also that his Heart should be carried to the Holy Land and there Buried He began his Reign November 16 Anno Dom. 1272 and Reigned 34 Years 7 Months and 21 Days being the 29th Sole Monarch of England He Dyed of a Dyssentery at Burg upon Sands July 7 Anno Dom. 1307 in the 69th Year of his Age and was Buried at Westminster In the Third Year of this Kings Reign on St. Nicholas Day very terrible Thunders Earthquakes and Lightenings happened also a great Fiery Dragon in the Air and a Blazing Star which much amazed the People In the Year 1288 the Summer was so Scorching that many Dyed of extream Heat yet Wheat was Sold at 2 s. 8 d. the Quarter and all Corn at a proportionable rate but the Year following by reason of the great Rains that fell Wheat was raised to 20 s. a Quarter and so continued near Forty Years which was in those times accounted a great Dearth Anno Dom. 1299 the Kings Palace at Westminster with the Buildings of the Monastery were consumed with Fire and a great Whale coming up the River was struck and taken over-against Erif being 40 Foot Long and proportionable in Bulk c. Remarks on Shropshire c. SHropshire is commodiously situated intermixed with Hills Plains Woods Forrests Chaces c. and produces Corn Rich Pastures Cattle and many other things to the advantage of the Inhabitants It is Bounded with Cheshire Staffordshire Worcestershire Herefordshire Radnorshire Mongomeryshire and Denbyshire It contains 15 Hundreds divided into 170 Parishes and haâ— in it 14 Market Towns and 18 great and small Rivers branching mostly from the Severn which plentifully Waters this Shire and others It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Bishops-Castle 2 Bridgnorth 2 Ludlow 2 Shrewsbury 2 Wenlock 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire In Shropshire besides Shrewsbury the County Town a noted Mart for Cloath and Frizes brought from Wales and thence dispersed into divers parts of England There are Remarkable Ruins of some Antient Places which were certainly Towns or Cities of great splendor as Workcester Uriconium the antient Usoconia of which Okenyat is a small remainder Oswalstree retaines its Name from Oswald the 11th King of Northumberland who was here Slain in Battel by Penda King of the Mercians The other Towns of Note are Wellynton Newport Braynton c. At Shrewsbury and other places on the Severn is taken a Fish called a Mort in Taste like a Salmon at Pitchford is a Well whose Water casts up a Scum of Liquid Bitumen and near Oswaldstree is a Vestigia of a Roman Camp The Seats of the Nobility are Pepperhill belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury Highercal and Eyton to the Lord Viscount Newport Cherbury to the Lord Herbert Baron of Cherbury It has also in it 13 Bridges 13 Castles 7 Forrests and 27 Parks The Seats of the Gentry are likewise very pleasant and there is almost every where great store of Game and abundance of Fish The Reign of EDWARD the Second usually called Edward of Carnarvan EDWARD the Second Succeeded his Father in the Throne but having been brought up tenderly and given too much to Flatterers and loose Company he very early gave the Nobles cause to distast his Government for tho' his Father in his Last Will had strictly Prohibited his Recalling Peirce Gaveston from Banishment a Person who by his evil Example and pernicious Counsels had been the great Debaucher of his Younger Years yet he did it tho'
they could procure an Executioner to Behead him so greatly was he Beloved by all sorts of People but at length a vile Wretch was procur'd out of a Goal for a sum of Money to perform that Office Five others were put to Death there and at York the next day the Lords Clifford Mobray and Derwell were Hanged in Iron-Chaines The Earl of Hereford likewise lost his Head in all at several places Twenty Noblemen so that in no Reign so much Noble Blood by Executions wet the English Earth These terrible Executions astonished the rest and broke their Strength which greatly puffed up the Spencers by whose Instigation more than any cruel inclination in the King it was thought to be done to secure their own State which after this they imagined could not be shaken For soon after some Courtiers Intreating the King for the Life of a Person of mean Rank who had committed a Murther he broke out into a violent Passion in these words viz. A Plague overtake you all for Flatering Knaves you make much Suit for the Life of an errand Caitiff but which of you spoke a word for the good Knight Lord Thomas my Vnkle By the Bread of God this Varlet shall Dye the Death he deserves and so in a Rage he turned from them and soon after he called a Parliament at York in which Prince Edward his Son was Created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain and Sir Andrew Harkly whose extraordinary Service was a principal means of the Barons Overthrow Earl of Carlisle and demanded the Sixth Penny of all Temporalities in England Wales and Ireland to defray the Charges of his intended War against the Scots which he obtained yet the People grievously Murmured at Paying it affirming they were altogether Impoverished by the late Wars and Famine And now the Scots geting secret Inteligence of what the King intended against them resolved to begin first and well knowing they had Impoverished the Northern parts and that no further Booty was there to be had they crossed over the Narrow Straights and fell very furiously on Ireland but by the Courage and prudent Conduct of the Bishop of Armagh and the Lord Brinningham they were Overthrown their King Slain and most of them Cut in Pieces upon this advantage King Edward Marched into Scotland which he found full of Terror and Confusion the People every where flying before him into the Woods Mountains and other Fastnesses thinking by that means to weary out the English and indeed their Project failed not for Snows Rains and bitter Frosts ensuing the English were unable to keep the Field especially their Provisions being near spent and a great Mortality by reason of the raw Damps and Colds grievously afflicted the Camp so that contrary to the mind of the King they were forced to return which the Scots perceiving crept from their lurking Holes and carried Fire a cross which is the usual Signal for the Alarum or raising the Country and soon gathered into such Multitudes that following and wasting his Rear at last they boldly set on his main Battel and discomfited it so that he was constrained to fly and leave them Masters of his Treasure and Baggage This Defeat is said to be occasioned by the Treachery of Sr. Andrew Harkley who had been lately Created Earl of Carlisle who being Bribed by the Scots betraied his trust in the Battel But however it happened it was charged upon him and for it he lost his Head Upon the Kings return there happened a Quarrel between the Queen and the Spencers she charging them to have Alienated the Kings affections from her and to cause him to place it on Harlots and the King seeming to excuse or take part with them she so highly resented the Affront that under pretence of visiting her native Country she obtained leave to go over with the Prince her Son where she was received by King Charles her Brother Philip her Father being Dead with many expressions of kindness and shewing her dislike to return unless matters might be Reformed at home some of the Barons in England sent secretly by Letters to Advise her That if she could procure one Thousand Valliant Strangers they would joyn her on her Landing with a considerable Force and endeavour once more to Redress the Disorders of the State This she made known to her Brother who comforted her by earnest Promises and Oaths That by his Assistance and at his Cost her Wrongs and the Kingdoms Injuries should be Repaired but kept not his Word for being Bribed by the Spencers who by their Spies had notice of her tampering in the French Court when she demanded his Performance he grew cold upon it and chid her for such Intentions saying She was foolishly afraid of her Shaddow since she had Vndutifully forsaken the company of her Lord and Husband The Pope also and chiefest Cardinals being Engaged by great Rewards strictly required the French King upon pain of the Apostolick Curse to send home the Queen and Prince so that she perceiving he intended to deliver her into the hands of such as would have Forcibly brought her over she secretly retired with her Son into the Empire however during her stay at the French Court she had done England a kindness in causing by her Mediation the Troubles in Gascoyne to cease and making an Agreement in other matters relating to the King her Husband In consideration of which he was to confer the Dutchy of Aquitain and Earldom of Poictou on the Prince his Son which he did under his Seal and he did Homage for it to his Unkle the French King but upon his sending for her home she refused to come unless hers and others Grievances were Redressed by Parliament which occasioned his trying by other means to make her return but as is said she retiring into the Empire upon suspicion of what was Intended went to Hainalt where she was kindly received and to make her Interest strong at that Court she without the consent of her Husband or the Peers of England Married the Prince to Phillipa the Earl of Hainalts Daughter upon which account and the means of what Treasure she had brought she raised 2700 Soldiers Commanded by Sr. John of Hainalt and the Lord Beamont to whom Joyned the Young Lord Mortimer who had escaped out of the Tower of London and got beyond the Seas with some other Exiled English Noblemen and Strangers so that having all things in a readiness she Sayled for England and Landed at Orwell in Sussex whither a great Number of English resorted to her and the further she went her Army greatly encreased King Edward having notice of this left his Court and retired hastily into the West to raise Forces promising 1000 l. to any that should bring him the Lord Mortimer's Head The King was no sooner retired but the Londoners taking the Advantage of his Absence seized upon the Bishop of Exeter who was appointed to Govern the City and without any Legal Proceedings or Judicial
Sentence caused his Head to be stricken off at the Standard in Cheapside and then with great violence broke down the Tower Gates killing all they found in it and secured that and the City to the use of the Queen and of the Prince her Son The King being Informed of these Proceedings his Heart failed him so that desisting from his intent of raising Forces he Posted to Bristol and Fortified it committing the Defence thereof to the Earl of Arundale and the Spencer's Father and Son entered with him into the Castle which they determined as a last Refuge to defend with all their Strength but within a few days after the City was Besieged Assaulted and Taken by the Queen and Barons who took and Committed the Earl and divers others of Note to safe custody the King and his two Favourites dispairing of Safety there got out to Sea in a small Fisher Boat intending for Ireland but so Providence ordered it that it was thrice when put out driven by the shifting of the Wind near the Castle so that the last time the Lord Beamont Manning out a Vessel seized it and found there the King and the Elder Spencer the other having got on Shore and shifted away for a time These the Queen presented before the Castle which the Garison no sooner perceived but they Surrendered and here the Lord Arundel was Beheaded and the King sent Prisoner to Kenelworth Castle and by the way they contrived to Shave him to Disguise him least being known he should be Rescued when the Impudent Fellow of a Shaver set him on a Molehill and told him That Cold Water must now serve his turn pointing to the Ditch at which Indignity the King burst out in Tears saying There should be Warm Water whether he would or no. The Queen having thus far proceeded determined the Death of her Capital Enemy dooming him to be Quartered Alive which was done and his Head and Quarters set up in divers places she gave a considerable Reward to the Person who brought her the Head Young Spencer soon after was taken with the Lords Baldock and Reading carried to Hereford and Hanged on a Gallows 50 Foot high And thus fell these Favourites who put too much trust in their own Strength and Pollicy little expecting such suddain turns of Fortune to alter their conditions by throwing them from the Pinacle of Honour into the Gulf of Misery and Disgrace which ought to be a Warning to all who undeservedly aspire cautiously to behave themselves Upon this a Parliament was called to settle the disordered Affaires of the Kingdom who Resolved to transfer the Crown from Edward to his Son whereupon three Bishops three Earls two Barons two Abbots and two Justices were appointed to demand in the Name of the Parliament a surrender of it which if he refused they would perhaps take other measures and give it from his Family to one more worthy This he took so grievously that after many complainings of his hard Usage and a confession of his Failures in Government he fell in a Swoon which moved the Lords to pitty him but being brought to himself after some time bemoaning his hard Fate seeing there was no other Remedy he Signed and Sealed the Instrument tendered him by which he passed over his Crown and Right and Title to all his Dominions to Prince Edward his Son whereupon Sr. William Trussel one of the Judges or Justices in the name of the whole Realm renounced Homage to the King in these words viz. I William Trussel in the name of all Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator do resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee some times and from this time forward I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Power and Authority I shall never be tendant to thee as for King after this time SOMERSET SHIRE In this Kings Reign Anno Dom. 1311 The Order of the Knights Templers that Fought so long in the Holy Land was Abolished in all Nations Anno 1318 happened such a grievous Famine That the Poorer sort Eat Dogs Cats Rats and other Unclean things The Prisoners in Goals Murthered divers fresh commers and Eat them and yet many Thousands Dyed for want of this Nauseous Food This was succeeded by a Pestilence and Rot of Cattle Breaking in of the Sea Huge Land-Floods Fiery Armies Fighting in the Air and a Terrible Blazing Star Remarks on Somersetshire c. SOmersetshire abounds in Corn Cattle Wooll Woollen-Cloath Serges and many other valuable Commodities On the North-West it opens to the Irish Sea and for the rest it is Bounded by Devonshire Dorsetshire Wiltshire and Gloucestershire it containes 42 Hundreds 2 Bishopricks viz. Bristol Bath and Wells which are accounted Cities 385 Parishes 35 Market Towns 9 Rivers 45 Bridges 2 Forrests and 18 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 18 viz. Bath 2 Bridgwater 2 Bristol 2 Ilchester 2 Milborn Port 2 Minhead 2 Taunton 2 Wells 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Bath in this Shire is very Antient famed for its Mineral Waters Curing Diseases in many People said to be First found out by Bladud an Antient British King Bath and Wells joyntly together make one Bishoprick tho' Wells is principally esteemed for its curious Cathedral held to be Built by Inas King of the West Saxons At Pen the Britains were Overthrown by Kenwald King of the West Saxons and afterward the Danes by Edmund Ironside Bridgwater is noted for a great defeat given the Danes Anon Dom. 845 And for the Battel of Sedgmore near it beeween the late King James's Forces and the Duke of Monmouth Anno 1685 wherein the latter was totally Routed Glassenbury the Avalonia of the Romans is famed for the Burying Place of Joseph of Arimathea the first Preacher of the Gospel in this Island and here it is thought King Arthur was brought and Buried Cadburn is remarkable for a greak Defeat King Arthur there gave the English-Saxons Banesdown Mons Bandonicus was doubtless some Encampment of the Romans as appears by the Coins found there and on the Top there remains the Ruins of some Noble Castle said to be one of the Palaces of King Arthur tho' some Writers have placed this Town in Cornwal Ilchester is of good repute Taunton for its Memorable Siege in the Civil Wars and Bristol for the great Trade it drives and the many Sieges it has endured On Mendip Hills and several Places on the Shoar of the River Froom is store of Pit-Coal In the Quarrey at Kinghâ—â— are found Spiral Stones in the form of Snails at Ochyhale near Wells is a deep Cave in which are many Rivulets and hollow Recesses The Monument of Stones near Stanton Drew near Pensford is very remarkable being great Tracts of some vast Foundations St. Vincent's Rock is famous for the Stones found there nearly resembling Diamonds being equal to those of India in lustre but not hardness The Seats of the Nobility are Clevedon Court belonging to the
Female and that there was no force in that Law to debar him of such a Right This the King considered prudently and deliberated with Grave Counsel about it who all concluded it was his undoubted Right and the Earl of Arthois who fled out of France for saying upon the French Kings Sentencing his Earldom to Maud Countess of Burgundy By me was he made a King and by me shall he be Deposed vehemently solicited the King to claim and prosecute his Right promising him his Interest to make him many Friends even in the Heart of France But this was laid aside a while by reason of a difference arising between England and Scotland For King Edward sending to David the Scots King who had Married his Sister to restore the Castle of Berwick and do him Homage for his Kingdom he Answered That by the Sword he had won the Castle and would keep it and as for the Homage demanded his Father never acknowledged any such Service and if he had King Edward had released it if any such was due and therefore he would not confess any Tenure of the Crown of England This slighting Answer highly exasperated King Edward so that he raised a powerful Army and Marching into Scotland soon subdued the better part of it Fortifying and Garisoning to his own use the Towns and Castles he took and in his return posessed himself of Berwick and caused Edward Bayliol Son to John Bayliol who had been King of Scotland but was deceased there to be Crowned King of Scotland to hold it in Tenure of him and committing to his charge the Government of the Town of Berwick Yet he had not long withdrawn his Army ere the Scots had outed this new King and compelled him to fly into France whereupon King Edward Marched against David who had procured a great many French Forces and Overthrew him with a great Slaughter of his followers and so again having secured that Kingdom more strongly than before he returned in Triumph And now he had leasure to consider how to possess himself of the French Diadem and the firmer to bind the Earl of Arthois to his Interest he created him Duke of Richmond and to carry on the thing secretly till it should be ripe for execution The King by private Messages craved the Advice of the Earl of Hanialt his Wives Father the Lord Beaumont and others who had great Interest in Germany and the Netherlands who all approved it promising their best assistance and that he might have power to command the Nobles and Common People of those Countries when occasion required it They procured him to be created Vicar General of the Empire All this while the French King was Ignorant of their Proceedings being extreamly busy in providing Necessaries for an Army of 60000 Men with which he intended to pass into the Holy Land making his Brother John Duke of Normandy and Regent of all his Dominions till his return but at length having secret Notice of King Edwards Pretensions from some Treacherous Counsellors in England who under-hand were his Pensioners he laid aside his intended Eastern Expedition to defend his own Country yet this Discovery sooner than was wished did not at all amate King Edward nor slacken him in what he Designed but knowing Money is the Sinnew and main support of War by many Politick Devices he got vast Sums from his Subjects and Treasured it in his Coffers till his Affaires should require it so that for a time Money became so scarce among the Trading People That a fat Ox was sold for a Noble a fat Sheep for Twelve Pence a Quarter of Wheat for Two Shillings and other Provisions proportionable Matters being thus Resolved on and Forwarded he Sailed to Flanders with his Queen where he met and Conferred with a great many Princes of Germany who agreed to assist him and returning raised an Army of 27000 Men with which he Landed in France and to oppose him the French King took the Field with an Army of double the Number but when they were ready to joyn in Battel Jone Countess of Hainalt Sister to King Philip and Mother to the Queen of England by her unwearied Mediation staid their forward Swords by procuring a Twelvemonths Truce whereupon the French King dissolved his Army and King Edward with his returned to England Yet he gave not over his Design for going to Brussells after the expiration of the Truce the German Princes firmly Engaged themselves to his Interest and solicited the Flemings to Confederate in the League but they excused it unless the King would stile himself King of France and quarter the Arms of that Kingdom with his own That so he might be impowered to release unto them a Bond of Two Millions of Florins wherein they stood obliged not to wage War against the King of France These things he actually did and then they consorted with the German Princes who Signed and Sealed an Instrument to be True to King Edwards Interest and thereupon he returned to England to make speedy preparations for the War and found that in his Absence the French Squadrons had Burnt Southampton and Ravaged Hampshire and part of Sussex carrying away much Booty but not doubting they should one day pay dear for it he called a Parliament who Granted him a Fifth part of Moveable Goods and a Third Part of Corn also a great Tax on Wooll which lay heavy on the Meaner Sort. He Borrowed morover of his Rich Subjects and the City of London furnished him with 20000 Marks he Coined much Gold and Silver with the French Arms Quartered with the Lions and so early in the Spring Sayled to the Sluce which he found Blocked up by a Fleet of French Genois Picards and other Nations about 250 Sail and on Board them an Army of 40000 Men these he Encountered and utterly Defeated Destroying all that he seized not to his use sending a Multitude of Prisoners into England which Victory obtained by much an inferiour Number of Ships and Men gained him a large Reputation among the Princes his Confederates and greatly dismayed the French and Marching into Flanders he joyned the Forces of Jacob Dartwell General of the Flemings with those of the Duke of Guelders the Marquess of Muse Earls of Mons Suvians and Hainalt the Lord Tralquemont and many Thousand Germans c. and laid Siege to the City of Tournay which the French King prepared to Relieve but as before by the incessant Mediation of the Countess of Hainalt when the Place was at point of Yielding another Truce was made and the Armies Dissolved to the great perplexity of most that had Engaged Whilst King Edward was imployed abroad the Scots by the Encouragement of the French King Deposed Edward Bayliol and Renounced their Homage to the Crown of England but upon his Marching thither with 6000 Horse and 40000 Foot he Regained what had been Lost and made them Submit Yet he was no sooner retired but David coming out of France with some
common Soldiers yet with an undaunted Courage he Marched on and coming within sight of the Enemy Marshalled his small Army resolving to abide the Battel viz. He divided it into three Battels all which he Impaled in the Rear with Carriages and gave the conduct of the First to Prince Edward his Son who was by reason of his Young Years assisted by the Earls of Warwick and Crawford the Lords Harcourt Stafford Manney De La Warr Chandois Clifford and Bourchier â—ving 800 Men at Arms 2000 Archers and 1000 â—hers The Second Battel was Commanded by the â—rls of Northampton and Arundel accompanied with â—vers Nobles and Gentlemen consisting of 800 Men 〈◊〉 Arms and 1200 Archers The Third and main â—ttel the King Commanded and having Prayed for â—â—ccess and Refreshed themselves they prepared for â—e Fight but that day the French declined the Battel â—t the next it was begun on their side by 15000 Geâ—is with Crosbows Shooting Bearded Arrows but â—ey Charging on the Princes Battel were soon overâ—rn by the English Archers and in their Retreat put â—e French Kings Battel into disorder whereupon â—any of them were Slain by their Friends and then â—e French main Battel Charged on the Prince and put â—im so hard to it that he was obliged to send to the King to succour him who asked the Messenger Whether he was Alive or not And being Answered He â—as he said Report to him from me That he must expect no Aid for this shall be the day wherein he shall win his Spurs â—r lose his Life whereupon the English as Men in dispair Fought so desperately that they put the French Army in all parts to the Rout the Kings Battel standing entire and not Engaging slaying more than 30000 of them and the next day they Overthrew another Army that not knowing of the Defeat was coming to the Camp under the Leading of the Arch Bishop of Roan and Grand Prior of France and among the Slain were 11 Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and many of Note made Prisoners The Plunder of the Field the King bestowed upon his Nobles Gentry and common Soldiers which greatly Inriched them carrying the Slain of Note to Mountrell and there Honourably Interred them After this great Victory with inconsiderable Loss to the English the King laid Siege to Callis and the French King tho' he made some shews with a great Army to Relieve it defending the Passes stopt their retiring the Besieged were Summoned and threatned if they Surrendered not immediately to expect no Mercy they Capitulated but their Terms offered was not accepted they obstinately resisted so long that being brought to extremity the King would not accept of their Submission then tendered unless six of their chief Inhabitants would present themselves before him in their Shirts with Halters about their Necks and deliver up the Keys which was done when forthwith he commanded them to be Hanged but at the entreaty of the Queen and Nobles they were spared Whilst this Siege lasted David King of Scots with an Army of 50000 Men entered England and did great mischief but the Queen being then at home gave him Battel with an Army of 12000 and gave the Scots a fatal Overthrow King David was there taken Prisoner by one John Copeland who refused to deliver him to the Queen as claiming him his Prisoner by the Right of War till going over to the King he desired him to do it and for his good Service settled on him 500 l. per Annum in Lancashire and made him a Squire of his Body whereupon King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London The King having appointed Sr. Andrew D' Pavie a Lombard Governour of Callis and turned out the French Inhabitants returned to England but upon private notice the Governour for a great Sum designed to betray it to the Lord Cherney Captain of Arrays he went over and was received in the dusk of the Evening he prevented it by surprising that Lord and his Soldiers when they had partly entered and the rest waited for admittance Yet in this Fight the King Encountering hand to hand with Eustace of Ribomount was by him twice stooped on his Knees but scorning to yield he advanced with such fury and redoubled strength that he beat him down and took him Prisoner but having experienced him to be a Valiant Knight he soon released him without Ransom About this time King Philip Dyed and John his Son was Crowned and the Calicians took the strong Castle of Guyens and the King upon the obstinacy of the Flemings in refusing to Aid him removed the Marts to Callis settling there the Woollen Manufacture so that by the Priviledges and Imunities granted to Artificers happy was he that in a few Years could obtain the Kings leave to go over Soon after Prince Edward Sirnamed for his valourous deeds the Black Prince Landed an Army in Gascoine soon subduing the greater part of that Province which made the French King hasten thither with a very numerous Army and tho' he was six to one against the Prince the Battel was Fought near Poictiers where the English Archers put the French Horse into such confusion at the first onset that they fell into Rout and disordered all the Squadrons that were to support them however the Battel where the French King fought valiantly stood manfully to it a considerable time but such was the prevailing valour of the English That King John and Philip his Younger Son were taken Prisoners many Thousands Slain and the rest put to Flight The Fight being over Prince Edward treated his Royal Prisoners with all Gentleness and Humility cheering up their drooping Spirits attending at the Kings Table Lodged him in his own Bed and provided for him Honourable Attendance insomuch that he confessed He rather fancied himself at his own Court than a Prisoner by having met with so Courteous an Enemy From hence he was conducted to Burdeaux and so into England where he was Entertained with the like civilities and respect by the King and Queen and besides these and what Nobles were Slain there were taken 17 Earls 51 Barons and a great Number of Knights and Gentlemen the English Soldiers throughout the Army that had fewest being possessed of two Prisoners and moreover the rich Spoiles of exceeding value were divided amongst them and a Truce was concluded for two Years In the mean while the King of Scots who had been Ten Years a Prisoner was Released at the Ransom of 100000 l. to be Paid in Five Years and upon taking his Oath not to bear Arms against England nor be Aiding to any other in doing it and further he acknowledged Homage and Fealty for his Kingdom of Scotland to King Edward And proposing to the French King his Ransom with Articles to be signed on his Enlargement he sent them to Charles his Eldest Son who was Regent in his absence and to the Nobility of France who utterly disliking the Conditions prepared to Invade King Edwards Terretories to
compel him to more easie Terms but not to be behind hand with them he passed to Callis with an Army taking the Black Prince along with him and so wasted the Countries with Fire and Sword taking many strong Towns and Castles that they became humble Suitors to him for a Peace and submitted to his Terms so that after a short Treaty Articles were Agreed on viz. That the French King for his Ransom should Pay King Edward 500000l and not Aid any King of Scots in any War or Rebellion against England and That King Edward should not take part with the Flemings against France That the Kings of England should be ever quit of their Homage for Territories holden in France and That in Consideration these were performed King Edward in the behalf of himself and Successors Kings of England should renounce and leave the Name and Title to the Kingdom of France and so Hostages being delivered the French King after he had remained more than Four Years a Prisoner was set at Liberty and soon after he came with the Kings of Cyprus and Scots to visit King Edward and pay his respects for the Royal Treatment he had during his Imprisonment but falling Sick at the Savoy he Dyed and his Body was conveyed to St. Dennis in France And now Fortune seemed to turn against King Edward that had hitherto ever been Favourable to him for Peter the King of Castile being driven out of his Kingdom by Henry his Bastard Brother came to the Prince of Wales who then lived at Burdeaux with his Family Imploring his Assistance to Restore him which he did Overthrowing a Spanish and French Army that had joyned the Revolted Castilians with great Slaughter yet he was no sooner retired ere King Peter was again driven out and being taken in his Flight was by the Usurper put to Death but leaving two Daughters the Eldest Married John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Younger Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Sons who laid Claim to the Kingdom of Castile in their Right yet an unlucky Accident crossed all for the Black Prince to Pay his Souldiers Leavying a Tax on the English Subjects beyond the Seas they not only refused to pay it but looking on it to be an Innovation and Oppression they perswaded Charles the new French King to break the League his Father had made and generally Revolting delivered up most of the Cities Towns and Castles into his hands and he growing Proud of his Success sent a huge Navy into the Narrow Seas which was defeated and beaten home by the English and hereupon the King sent the Duke of Lancaster with an Army to Callais from whence he Marched to joyn the Prince at Burdeaux beating the French Kings Army by the way and forced his Passage and soon after another Army was sent to St. Omers under the Leading of Sr. Robert Knowls which took the strong Towns of Vanes and Ruily but there grow-a difference between him and the Lord Fitz-Walter The French King took the advantage of it and fell on the English Army near Paris slaying 1000 and putting the rest to flight and immediatly sent an Army into Cuyan where the Prince being weakly assisted most of the Towns were Lost To Remedy this evil the King called a Parliament wherein the Temporality granted him a large Subsidy but the Clergy complaining of Poverty gave him only fair words and promises of future Aid which made him in his Anger turn them out of all Offices and Places of Trust in Temporal matters And the English Navy going to Relieve Rochel under the Conduct of the Earl of Pembrook was worsted by Henry the Usurping King of Castile who kept the Narrow Seas for the French King the Earl was Taken and divers others whereupon Rochel and many strong Towns Yielded This made John Duke of Britanie fear the French Greatness and offer King Edward his Assistance so that another Army was sent under the Leading of the Duke of Lancaster which greatly Endamaged the French but coming to Burdeaux he found the Prince his Brother exceeding Sick who resigning the Government of King Edwards Territories to his Conduct came for England and tho' Treaties were set on foot by the Mediation of Pope Gregory the Eleventh yet such were the insolent demands of the French that they came to nothing Whereupon the King called a Parliament who refused to Grant him any Aid unless the Lord Latimer and other evil Counsellors were Removed which being done they Liberally supplied his wants But the Black Prince Dying the 8th of June Anno 1376 in the 40th Year of his Age and Buried at Canterbury the King in his Old Age being over perswaded Restored those Officers that had been turned out to the high discontent of his People and having Created Richard Son to the Black Prince Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwal and committed the Regency of the Kingdom in his Minority to the Duke of Lancaster He Dyed on the 12th of June Anno 1377 in the 51st Year of his Reign and about the 65th of his Age and lies Buried at Westminster being the One and Thirtieth Sole Monarch of England In this Kings Reign John Wicklif the First English Reformer of Popish Errors and Superstitions Preached openly and soon after Nicholas Lyryan and Doctor Ockham so that People began to Search the Scriptures and protest against the Abominations of Rome Anno 1339 an Inundation of Water broke down part of the Wall of Newcastle and Drowned 120 People a Serpent at Chiping-Norton in Oxfordshire was found with two Heads and Faces like a Woman the one dressed in the New Attire and the other in the Old by a resemblance of Scales and Pleats having Wings like a Batt and Fiends and Devils and strange Apparitions were seen by Men and spake to them as they Travelled in solitary places and such a Plague happened that 50000 Persons Dyed in London Anno 1366 Peter Pence was ordered no more to be paid to the See of Rome and Dr. Orum Preaching before Pope Vrban at Rome condemned the Papacy and writ an Epistle from Lucifer to the Clergy thanking them for sending so many Souls to Hell c. Remarks on Staffordshire c. STaffordshire is commodiously Situate pleasantly accomodated with Meadows Enclosures Hills Valleys Woods and Champian Grounds abounds in Cattle Corn Butter Cheese Wooll and some Minerals It is incompassed with Cheshire Derbyshire Leicestershire Warwickshire and Shropshire It contains 5 Hundreds and in these are 1 City 130 Parishes 12 Market Towns 5 Castles 13 Rivers 19 Bridges 1 Chase 1 Forrest and 38 Parks It sends Members to Parliamenn 10 viz. Litchfield City 2 Newcastle Underline 2 Stafford 2 Tamworth 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Stafford the County Town Antiently Bitheny from Berteline a Holy Hermit It was Founded by King Edward the Elder and made a Corporation by King John Tamworth is Memorable for the Mercian Kings keeping their Courts there Litchfield is an Episcopal See
joyntly with Coventry the Cathedral was Builded by Oswin King of Northumberland upon a Conquest gained over the Mercians and here Wulferre and Celred two Saxon Kings were Buried It was for some time an Arch Bishoprick by the means of King Offa. At Blore Heath in this County a Battel was Fought between the two Houses of York and Lancaster and 2400 of the Yorkists slain STAFFORD SHIRE The Seats of the Nobility are Blore Hall belonging to the Noble Family of Newcastle Newborough to the Earl of Bridgwater Cherley Castle to the Lord Ferrers Throwley to the Lord Cromwell Beudesert and Seaney Park to the Lord Paget Rolleston to the Lord North and Grey Gerards Brumley Sandon and Wislow to the Lord Gerard of Brumley Hamstal Ridware to the Lord Leigh Dudley Castle and Hinley to the Lord Ward Litchfield Close and Eccleshal Castle to the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry The Houses of the Gentry are likewise many and spacious The Reign of RICHARD the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux RICHARD the Second Son and Heir to Edward the Black Prince was Crowned Anno 1377 not much exceeding 11 Years in Age so that Charles the French King taking advantage of his Minority set out a great Fleet Sack't and Burnt the Towns of Dartmouth Plimouth Portsmouth Hastings Rie and others on the Sea-Coast of England but after they had roamed up and down doing great Mischief for three Weeks they were beaten off with considerable Loss by Edmund Earl of Cambridge the Kings Unkle and others nor were the Scots Incited by the French King less troublesom Burning Roxborough and taking by surprize the Castle of Berwick but the People breaking down the Draw-Bridge shut them out of the Town and being straightly Besieged all the Scots in the Castle were put to the Sword except Alexander Ramsey who was reserved for a large Ransom yet the French though they had been beaten off not giving over their designs Landed again and did much mischief at Winchelsea Dover Gravesend and other places on or near the Sea-coast So that the King to Enable him to set out a Fleet and Transport an Army that might put a check to these Insolencies fummoned a Parliament at Westminster in which a Subsidy was Granted him of Four Pence a Head on all Persons above the Age of Fourteen Years which was looked on in those days as a very grievous Tax and the Gathering it was attended with bad consequences However the Money set out an indifferent good Fleet and an Army were sent into France under Lord Thomas one of the Kings Unkles who wasting all in his way joyned with the Duke of Britanie and much anoyed the French Recovering many Towns and Castles but whilst this was doing abroad a dangerous Mischief befell at home John Wall a Factious Priest by his going from place to place and Preaching to the inferiour sort of People That they were Free by the Law of Nature and that Laws were made by Crafty People to keep them Poor and Low so to Enslave them and that by their Pedigree derived from Adam the good things of the Earth should be equally divided amongst them and not some grow Fat and Rich whilst others Pine and Starve And moreover no Taxes were due on any pretence but People Free Born in their Liberality ought to be left Free This and such like Cant being sutable to their humor and wishes mainly wrought with them to become Levellers so that these pernicious Insinuations spread soon into most parts of England before the Magistrates were aware to suppress it and to bring about what was wished by some cunning Knaves to Inrich themselves in the Spoil of others they raised Tumults and possess'd the Country People with a belief That the City of London was at their devotion and only waited till they came to take possession of it whereupon they flowed thither like an outragious Torrent from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and other places stiling themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Weale Publick chosing as their chief Captain one Wat Tyler by profession a Taylor and as his subordinate Officers Jack Straw Jack Shepherd and some others and to this Rout the Incendary of a lewd Priest John Wall Chaplain and being Encamped in Kent and Essex they sent to the King to come and Treat with them but he was disswaded by his Nobles Whereupon those in Essex crossed the Thames and joyning the Kentish Rebels came to Southwark which they Plundered and finding London-Bridge Fortified against them intended to have Burnt the Suburbs on the South side and have Murthered such as they had notice were not pleased with their Proceedings But the Citizens to prevent so great a Mischief let down the Draw-Bridge and admitted them into the City Feasting and Carressing them rather out of fear than good-will however they Burnt the Duke of Lancaster's House at the Savoy and Murthered all his Servants they found in it They ransacked the Inns of Court and Law Offices Burning all the Law Books and Records that came to their hands Plundering the Churches and Religious Houses and Wat Tyler having seized Richard Lyon his Master with whom he had been Apprentice caused his Head to be Cut off and carry'd before him on a Lance because in his Service he had sometimes Beat him for his Rogueries They Plundered likewise the Houses of all Strangers They likewise forced into the Tower where the King Lay Plundered his Mothers Lodgings and broke her Head because she reproved them for their Insolency They Murthered Simon Tybald Arch Bishop of Canterbury because he had some time before Imprisoned Wall for his Seditious Doctrine and after several meetings the King finding he could do no good with them their Behaviour being so Audacious and their Demands so Insolent and Unreasonable he laboured to make the Citizens his Frinds and resolved to repel them by force Whereupon a Conference being appointed in Smithfield the King beforehand thinking to bring them to better Terms without Extremity if possible sent them several of his Ensigns and their Pardons as a token that he owned them for his good Subjects and freely forgave them for what had happened and then meeting them as appointed he perswaded them to desist from all Violence assuring them that upon tryal they should find him to be their Good Lord and Gracious King But Tyler with a frowning countenance insolent behaviour and rough speech refused to accept the Kings Grace and Favour proudly telling him That all those Troops and many more Thousands were at his dispose to Execute whatsoever he would command Then he commanded Sr. John Newton one of the Kings Attendants who bore the Sword to deliver his Dagger which by the Kings command he did Then he Insolently proceeded to demand the Sword but he stoutly Answered It was the Kings Sword and should not be given to a Knave which so incensed Tyler That he Swore he should lose his Head before himself would Eat or Drink commanding the
Warlikâ— Stores who joyning the Scots Army Marched intâ— England but upon notice of King Richard's approacâ— with a formidable Army they crossed the Mountain into Wales leaving Scotland open to the English who Burnt Edenburg St. Johnstons Sterling and Dundee anâ— having harassed the Country almost from Sea to Seâ— they returned Laden with much Booty This greâ—â— Loss so perplexed the Scots who had got little Plundeâ— among the Barren Mountains that on their returâ— they made the French Admiral and most that Atteâ—â—â—â— him of note Prisoners till the French King who 〈◊〉 precipitated them into this War should make 〈◊〉 satisfaction as designing his own Interest and â—â—vantage by it and not theirs and tho' he was very â—â—gry at it yet the Scots kept them Prisoners till the â—â—ey demanded was sent for their Ransoms This â—red up the French King to raise a mighty Army with â—â—solution to Conquer England and to Transport it 〈◊〉 prepared 1200 Ships but when they had a long â—e in their unruly March Plundered the French and â—nings and by reason the Duke of Berry the Kings â—kle who was to command them approving not 〈◊〉 Enterprize delay'd to come to them their wants â—e so great that to supply them they Sold their â—rses Armour Weapons and lastly their Cloaths 〈◊〉 then fell so horribly to Plundering the Country 〈◊〉 the French King not able to endure the cries and â—plaints of the oppressed People and dispairing to 〈◊〉 any thing in England with such a half-starved disâ—erly Rout Disbanded them after he had been at â—000 l. Charge The English Nobles now began grievously to comâ—n of the Kings breaking his Oath and Promises in â—rkening to the evil Counsels and Advice of Robert 〈◊〉 Vere Michael De La Poole Alexander Arch Bishop 〈◊〉 York Nicholas Bamber and Robert Trisillian his Chief â—ice together with those flattering Judges who to â—se the King had Subscribed to the Nullity of the â—mmission and had Censured all such as procured it â—e Traitors to the King c. Intreating him to â—ish them the Kingdom but he would in no wise â—rken to any Proposals of parting with those Favoâ— who for their better safety counselled him to give 〈◊〉 Callice and his other Towns in France to the French â—g and rely on him for Aid to curb those proud Subjects who sought to Enslave him their Soveraign but this he looked on as dangerous and would not agree to it But the Nobles finding no Redress flying to Arms he practiced with the Lord Mayor of London to raise him an Army in and about the City which he laboured to do but the Graver Citizens who were well affected to the Nobles not only refused to further it but hindered it all they could declaring it was a means to hasten the desolation of that great City humbly beseeching the King not to require any such thing at their hands but rather seek an Accommodation of Differences This extreamly vexed him but finding he misseâ— of his purpose he dissembled his displeasure and laid aside that Project yet forgot them not But some time after this desiring a Loan of 1000 l. and it being refused him he seized into his hands their Charter and Liberties dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out John Hind their Mayor Henry Warner and John Shadworth Sherifs appointing Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City However finding he could not raise such an Army as he intended by reason most of his inferiour Subjects were well affected to the Lords because they sought not to injure the King but to remove his evil Counsellours who were great Oppressors and Disquieters of the Kingdom he promised to call â— Parliament wherein matters might be Debated with out heat or animosity and that there his five Favors should be Answerable to all Objections and if Convicted stand to such publick Censure or Punishment as the Parliament could justly inflict on them This Concession much pleased the Lords so that they disbanded their Forces and returned the King their humble thanks But it was not long before they were sensible a Snare was laid for them for the Duke of Ireland was privately Levying 5000 Men pretendedly for his Guard and Defence but it was secretly intimated they were to lie in wait in Parties and Surprize the Lords as they were coming to Parliament so that they suddainly recalled their disbanded Forces and shut him up on the Banks of the Thames which he was forced to Swim on Horse-back for the preservation of his Life and posting to the Sea Coast took Shipping for France where some Years after he was Slain in Chasing a wild Boar but so great was then the Kings Love towards him That he caused his Dead Body to be Embalmed brought over and Magnificently Bury'd After the flight of the Duke the Lords Executed some of the chief Ringleaders and suffered the rest to depart to their Houses and so passed with their Army to London where they were Joyfully received by the Citizens The King who kept his Court at the Tower well perceived how much they had gained the Hearts of the greater Part of the People and therefore for his own safety he desired a Conference with them in which it was Agreed a Parliament should be speedily called to Redress Grievances and accordingly a Parliament was Assembled in which the evil Counsellours and corrupt Judges were Sommoned to appear and Answer to the Articles Exhibited against them but upon their default they were Attainted of High Treason against the King and Common-weal and for this John Earl of Salisbury and Sir Nicholas Bambre lost their Heads the Lord Chief Justice Trisilian was Hanged at Tyburn and the rest of these Judges had suffered in like manner had not the Queens incessant supplications prevailed to change their Dooms into Banishment and in this Parliament the state of Affairs was settled to the high contentment of the People And tho' the next Year the Scots began to bustle yet at the Mediation of the French King a Truce was made between the three Kingdoms and King Richard by this means in Peace and Tranquility assisted the Duke of Lancaster to raise an Army when Leaguing with the King of Portugal he Warred on the Spaniard for the Kingdom of Castile which he claimed in Right of his Wife and so prevailed That the Spaniard was compelled to sue for a Peace which was granted on that Kings Marrying Constance the Dukes Eldest Daughter Loading him Eight Waggons with Gold and allowing him and his Dutchess during their Lives 10000 Mark a Year And after having Married Ann his Younger Daughter to the King of Portugal he returned into England Laden with Riches and Honour And now all Appeals to Rome and the Popes Authority in this Kingdom was Abrogated by Parliament and soon after the Vertuous Lady Queen Ann Dyed whose Death so exceedingly grieved the King that for some Weeks he would not be comforted causing the stately House at Sheen in which she Dyed to be utterly Razed
Cursing any that should afterward Build it yet this Sorrow wasting by time to strengthen his Alliance he Sailed to France and took the Lady Isabel Charles the Sixth's Daughter to Wife and brought her to England with her Nurse and a great Train of Ladies and not exceeding Seven or Eight Years she was called The Baby Queen the King having contracted not to Bed her till she should be Fourteen Years of Age and a 30 Years Peace was concluded whereupon the King gave up to the Duke of Britany the strong Town and Castle of Brest which much offended the English Nobles especially the Duke of Glocester his Unkle who plainly told him he had dishonoured himself and the English Nation by tamely parting with such an important Place which had not been gained but at the expence of much Blood and Treasure this so angered the King that he privately Swore to be Revenged on him and such other Noblemen as he said usually checked and controuled him in his Proceedings and accordingly getting a Parliament to his mind Sir John Bushe one of his Creatures being Speaker of the Lower House This upstart Speaker boldly Accused Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury who fitting in the House of Peers by the King was ordered not to Answer and it should be no damage to him his silence nevertheless was taken for Confession and he was Banished the Realm the Earls of Arundel and Warwick in this Parliament were Attainted of High Treason upon which the former lost his Head and the latter being confined to the Isle of Wight through Grief and want of Necessaries shortly Dyed But the Duke of Glocester stood too high in the Peoples Favour to be reached this way therefore he was privately seized at his own House hurried to Callice and there by the command of Thomas Moubray then Earl of Notingham and for this wicked exploit created Duke of Norfolk the Valiant Prudent Virtuous and Renowned Duke was Smothered to Death tho' in the manner of it Authors disagree some will have it by pressing and keeping him long between Feather-Beds others that he was thrown into and headed up in a Butt of Malmsey However here he was wickedly made away and never seen afterward to the great grief of all but the King and his Favourites who hugged themselves with joy to think they had removed out of their way the great Obstacle that hindered their Advances to Arbitrary Power After this Moubray proceeded to Accuse Henry Duke of Hartford Son to the Duke of Lancaster of Speaking Treasonable and Scandalous Words of the King whereupon Hartford Challenged his Accuser to the single Combate to try by the Sword the Truth and Justice of his Accusation but when they were both entered the Lists and prepared for the Encounter the King threw down his Warder staid the Combate Banished Hartford for six Years and Moubray forever who Travailing to Venice there Dyed miserably confessing his Guilt and trouble for the Death of the Noble Duke of Glocester but Hartford was honourably Entertained by Charles the French King who would have Married him to a Beautiful Lady Daughter to the Duke of Berry his Unkle but King Richard industriously prevented it as fearing such an Alliance might enable him to grasp at his Crown and when the Duke of Lancaster Dyed he seized on his vast Treasure tho' he had given his Cousin Henry leave on his departure to appoint his Attorney to Act for him and take care of his Inheritance But these Proceedings bred much Mischief For the King having lost most of his old and getting a new set of Counselors viz. The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushe Sir James Bagot and Sir John Green they advised him to many things contrary to the Advice of his grave Council and much troubled the People and now the Irish Rebelling the King to Raise an Army Farmed the Kingdom and all his Revenues belonging thereunto for certain Years and Sailed for Ireland The Duke of Hartford who wanted no Intelligence how matters went in England looked on the Peoples Ferment and the Kings Absence to give him a very favourable advantage to shake off his Chains wherefore as privately as he might he came to England accompanied by the Banished Arch Bishop and many other trusty Friends declaring to the People he only came to take quiet Possession of his Dutchy of Lancaster which by the Death of his Father was his Undoubted Right so that Trousands flocked to him And finding how the People were bent to favour his cause he Raised a considerable Army and seized the before named Counsellours whom they Beheaded King Richard in Ireland hearing of these Stirs setled Affaires there as well as he could and hasted over with a small Army but before he could pass Wales most of them had Deserted him and then being ascertained that his Counsellours in whom he had reposed much trust to Levy Forces for him were taken off despairing of any safety to be gained by force he came to Henry Duke of Lancaster of his own accord and publickly owned his Insufficiency and Weakness to Govern well praising the Duke's rare and singular Virtues his absolute worthiness to be a King c. profering to make him an absolute Surrender of his Kingdom if he would accept of it The Politick Duke who well knew this proceeded not cordially from him but from the effects of fear and constraint however refused it for tho' he much affected the wearing of a Crown yet he thought it more advisable to receive it at this time from the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and hereupon he caused the King with a very respective and honourable Attendance to be conveyed to the Tower and a Parliament being called in his Name Twenty Four Articles were Exhibited against him for Mismanagement and ill Conduct in Government and many henious Crimes which in his Restraint he seemed to confess and own and by an Instrument under his Hand and Seal he Resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry of Bullenbrook Duke of Lancaster which being publickly and generally Ratified and Approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Henry stood up and made this Challenge to the Crown viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the Third and the Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was at the point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words being said all the Estates acknowledged him for King and Richard was formally Deposed in the words and in manner Recited in Edward the Seconds Reign and thereupon was sent to Pomfret Castle but long he had not been there ere upon some practices of his Favourites to Reinstate him he was villanously Murthered by Sir Pierce of Exton and Eight others of whom he
Valiantly killed Four with a Bill he wrested out of one of their Hands Thus untimely Dyed King Richard the Second when he had Reigned 22 Years 3 Months and 8 Days Being the 32d Sole Monarch of England After his Death his Body was brought to London and exposed to the view of the People to satisfie them he was Dead and prevent their taking part with Impostors and then Buried at Langley In this Kings Reign the River Ouse between Swelstone and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Botton in the Middle remained dry for three Miles Soon after Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Bruce John Ashton and Peter Peteshall were Persecuted some by Perpetual Imprisonment some by Banishment for Preaching and Maintaining Wickliffe's Doctrine In the last Year of this Kings Reign all the Bay-Trees in England Withered and when Lancaster came to the Crown fresh Branches sprouted from the supposed dead Stocks And an Army of Birds Fighting in the Air strangely destroyed each other THE County of SUFFOLKE Remarks on the County of Suffolk c. SUffolk has many Advantages in its Situation by reason the Eastern part of it opens to the Sea and is stored with commodious Havens besides this County abounds with Cattle Wooll Corn Marshes producing fat Pastures store of Butter and much Cheese but not much approved of It is mostly plain branched with several curious Rivers flowing from and runing into the Ocean On the North it is Bounded with Norfolk on the West with Cambridgeshire and on the South with Essex It contains 22 Hundreds 575 Parishes 28 Market Towns 1 Castle 2 principal Rivers 32 Bridges 27 Parks most of them well stored with Deer It sends Members to Parliament 16 viz. Alborough 2 Dunwich 2 St. Edmunds-Bury 2 Ipswich 2 Orford 2 Sudbury 2 Eye 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Ipswich in this County was Founded by one Gipsa it has a flourishing Estate in Shiping-Trade by reason of the Navigable River it stands on it was often harassed in antient times by the Danes and is particularly noted for the Birth of that great Pagentry of Fortune Cardinal Wolsey whose Father was a Butcher in it St. Edmunds-Bury is Memorable for King Edmund's being Shot to Death by the Danes for Expiation of which Cruelty King Canute Erected here a stately Monastery once accounted the Richest in Europe And here a Parliament was held in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth Exning is the Birth-place of St. Audri Sister to King Ina. At Renlisham Redwald the first Christian King of the East-Angles kept his Court Lidgate is the Birth-place of John Sirnamed Lidgate a famous English Poet. The Seats of the Nobility are Busbrook Hall belonging to the Duke of St. Albans Ewston to the Earl of Arlington Christs Church in Ipswich Sudbury Hall Soham Lodge to the Lord Viscount Hereford Denham Hall to the Lord Viscount Townsend Broom Hall and Carleford Hall to the Lord Cornwallis Besides these there are a great many stately Buildings belonging to private Gentlemen In some of the Cliffs to the Sea Hawks build and there is much Game for Recreation as Fishing Fowling Hunting c. Here also stands Framlingham Castle a place of great State Beauty Strength and Conveniency and the Ruins of Burgh Castle Remain The Reign of HENRY the Fourth commonly called Henry of Bullenbrook THIS Henry was Crowned by the consent of the Estates in the life time of Richard the Second and created Henry his Eldest Son Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester Then he called a Parliament in his own Name in which the Bishop of Carlisle for speaking in the behalf of King Richard and moving a commiseration of his wrongs was committed close Prisoner to the Abby of St. Albans and the Crown was entailed on Henry and his Heirs forever This Parliament no sooner ended but many Lords Conspired the Death of the King entering into Oath and Covenant to do it at Oxford where they had appointed sollemn Sports for his Entertainment in honour as they Flatteringly pretended of his happy Accession to the Crown but really with an intent to restore King Richard And accordingly they met Armed all but Edward Plantagenet Duke of Aumarle Son to Edmund of Langley Duke of York the Kings Unkle who as he sat at Dinner with his Father had by chance the Label of the Instrument of Combination hanging out at his Bosom of which the old Duke taking hold drew forth the whole Writing and Reading the Contents of the Conspiracy prepared for Windsor to give the King an account of it which the young Duke perceiving hastily took Horse and out-stript him himself revealing all the Intrigue for which he had his Pardon Upon this Discovery the King put off his Journey to Oxford and hastened to the Tower of London securing the City to his Interest and raising an Army of which the Lords at Oxford had no sooner notice but they encreased their Forces causing one Magdalen much in likeness to Personate King Richard and advanced their Standard to meet the King but finding they were much inferiour to him in Number their courage failed which so disheartened the Souldiers that they dispersed and left their Leaders to shift for themselves so that most of them were Taken and Executed in divers places others fled the Kingdom and reserved themselves to broach new Broils and this hastened King Richard's Murther in the manner as has been said For King Henry complaining that so long as he Lived he should never be at rest and demanding if none loved him so well as to rid him of that Torment Pierce of Exton to curry favour with him posted away and with other Ruffians villainously performed it at which the French King was mightily displeased purposing to send his Letters of Defiance to King Henry and Invade his Kingdom but upon second thoughts tho' he had raised a potent Army he dissolved it and proceeded no further in the business Yet soon after he Levied another Army to Invade Aquitaine and Guyan but was so stoutly withstood by King Henry's Forces That he retired and Disbanded them But the King of England doubting the security of his ill-got Title laboured to make Peace with him the better to strengthen himself offering a Marriage between Henry his Son and the Lady Isabella Widow to King Richard and Daughter to Charles the Sixth of France but that King considering how unfortunate Marriages had been between France and England refused it whereupon she was sent over in great State and Married to her Cousin Charles Eldest Son of Lewis Duke of Orleance her Unkle Soon after this Owen Glendour with his Welsh Rebelled Overthrowing the King's Army and taking the Lord Grey of Ruthen and Edmund Mortimer the Kings Cousin Prisoners using them exceeding hardly the sooner to oblige the King to Ransom them but he neglected it because Mortimer was nearer Allied to the Crown by Right of Descent than himself yet tho' he might have had his
Liberty if he would have joyned with the Welsh and some English Nobles that were fled thither he rather chose to endure Extremities than to comply with them Whereupon they solicited the Scots who Invaded the Northern parts of the Kingdom doing much Mischief but the King soon requited it by entering Scotland and laying all waste before him However he no sooner returned but the Scots re-entered England with 20000 Men committing many Barbarous Cruelties but being Encountered by Henry Sirnamed Hotspur Son to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland 10000 of them were Slain and 500 taken Prisoners and of note Mordacke Earl of Fiffe Archibald Earl of Douglas Thomas Earl of Murray and Robert Earl of Angus The following Year the French sent 12 Ships with 1200 Nobles Gentlemen and others to assist the Welsh but most of them were Shipwrack'd on the Point of Cornwal and the rest with much difficulty returned to France yet soon after he Landed 12000 Men in Wales to assist Glendour and his Rebellious Companions who joyned them with 10000. But upon the Kings approach with an Army the Welsh fled into the Woods and Mountains leaving the French to shift for themselves which made them hasten to their Ships and return to France without doing any thing Memorable which made the French King become a Jest to the English viz. That he was often Big but never Brought-forth Notwithstanding King Henry to Strengthen his Interest Abroad Married Jane Widow to John the deceased Duke of Britany and gave Blanch his Eldest Daughter to William Duke of Bavaria Son and Heir Apparent to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and some time after Philippa his Youngest Daughter to the King of Denmark In the Third Year of his Reign he required Henry Piercy Earl of Worcester Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and Piercy Hotspur his Son to deliver up the Scots Prisoners taken in the late Battel on the Northern Borders but was Answered Those Prisoners were theirs by Right of War and they would not part with them desiring him at the same time to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer but this he refused alledging That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give Glendour and other his Accomplices a colourable pretence for Rebellion seeing he was so near Allied to the Crown and therefore his own Safety and his good Discretion gave him Advice not to hearken to their Motion but to punish his offence This much displeased the Piercies and designing to Levy War against the King they Ransomed Mortimer at their own charge secretly entering into a League and Friendship with Glendour they promised him great matters when King Henry by their United Strength should be Deposed then they Engaged the Scots Prisoners to take part with them also the Earl of Stafford Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York and many others and as they had done against Richard so they framed and published Articles against him as to his Misdemeanours in Government false claim to the Crown charging him with the Murther of King Richard his Lawful and Rightful Soveraign also his refusing to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer who was taken Fighting in his Cause but rather wished he might die in a loathsome Prison because the Crown of Right belonged to him as being Son and Heir to Philippa Daughter and Heiress to Lionel Duke of Clarence Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Father to Henry whom they stiled a Usurper This made many joyn with them so that their Army became very Formidable to the King And to bind the Welsh more firmly to them Edward Mortimer Earl of March Married Glendour's Daughter by which means in a little time they flattered themselves they should have a King of England of the Antient British Blood And indeed a very great danger about this time threatened the King for a Calthrop or Engin with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes was placed in his Bed which had certainly procured his Death had he suddainly lain down upon it but it was timely Discovered yet the Party who placed it could not be made known and divers Gray Fryers scattering defamatory Libels against the King several of them were taken and Hanged The King finding his greatest advantage now lay in Expedition suddainly raised an Army and by long Marches prevented the Earls joyning with the Welsh so that both Armies meeting near Shrewsbury Piercy Hotspur a Person of undaunted Courage no sooner saw the Royal Standard but he resolved to throw his Fortune on the hazard of a Battel so the Charge being Sounded the Scots gave the first onset and Fought desperately but were over-born and a great part of them Slain yet notwithstanding the Lords renewed the Battel with great fury and obstinacy perswading themselves of good success until the King and the Prince his Son determining by Honourable Death to leave their Bodies in the Field rather than fall into the hands of their Enemies or betake them to shameful flight and leave their Men a Sacrifice behind them redoubling their Strength and Valour set such Examples to the rest that the declining Battel was restored and Piercy Hotspur with many of chief Command being Slain the Lords Army fell into rout and confusion so that in the Field and Pursuit 6000 were slain the Earls of Worcester Douglas and many others were taken Prisoners and a famous Victory was obtained and it is said the King slew in this Battel 36 with his own hands but because the Earl Douglas in single Combate had fought with him and approved himself a valiant Man he had his Liberty granted without Ransom but the rest of the Prisoners had not that good luck for the Earl of Worcester and several of the chief were Beheaded many of a lower degree Hanged and Quartered and their Heads placed on London Bridge In this Battel the King lost not above 600 Men. To follow this lucky Success the Prince was sent into Wales with part of the Army where he found Owen Glendour forsaken by most of his Companions and with the rest for his safety he retired into a vast Wood which being encompassed and narrowly watched he was there with many others Famished to Death and such as were taken by hunting and beating that Wood suffered by Execution And hereupon the Prince returned to the King and in the mean while the Earl of Northumberland came and submitted himself to the Kings Mercy and tho' he was excused it was with no hearty goodwill but rather to prevent the Castle of Berwick and other strong Places on the Frontiers from falling into the hands of the Scots as being held by such Officers as the Earl had appointed under him These Troubles were no sooner over but Lewis Duke of Orleance sent the King in a Bravado a Challenge to meet him and a Hundred French with a Hundred English to Combate it for Honours sake in an indifferent place whereto the King returned Answer That his former Actions in Warlike undertakings could clearly acquit him from the imputation of Cowardize and that Kings
Casholton Kingston upon Thames Wandsworth and other places but the River Thames which is a great part in this County is the most Remarkable and the little River Mole that runs a great way under Ground and rises again It sends Members to Parliament 14 viz. The Borough of Southwark 2 Rygate 2 Blechenley 2 Gatton 2 Guilford 2 Haslemore 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire SURREY By J. Seller The Seats of Pleasure are Richmond belonging to the Royal Family Albury and Waybridge to the Duke of Norfolk Nonsuch to the Duke of Southampton Rowhampton to the Duke of Devon Byflet to the Duke of St. Albans Flanchford to the Earl of Plymouth Rygate Place to the Lord Mordant Towting Graveny to the Lord North and Grey and the Bishop of Winchesters Place in Southwark called Winchester-House The Reign of HENRY the Fifth commonly called Henry of Monmouth THis Henry the greater part of his Fathers Reign was much lead away by evil Company and was not free from committing in his Frolicks Robberies on the Highway especially on his own Receivers and one of his Gang being taken and about to be Sentenced in the Court of Kings Bench he rushed in and laboured to pull off his Irons in order to set him at Liberty but the Lord Chief Justice commanded him to desist whereupon in a rage he went up to the Bench and Struck him on the Face for which after he had given him some mild Reproofs as that the Bench he sat on was the Kings and that himself in that place represented his Person and what Injury was done to him was done to the King and if he shewed such evil Examples none would Obey him when he came to Reign he sent him to the Kings Bench Prison till the Kings pleasure should be known in the matter The King no sooner heard of it but he commended the Judge for his Courage and Impartiality wishing all his Ministers were like him and though the Prince was Enlarged yet for this he was put from his Presidentship in the Council and his Younger Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence placed therein to his great Grief These and other Irregular Passages of his past Years when he was Crowned by Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster he wisely considered and to repair what had been amiss strictly forbid the Leud Companions of his Youth to enter his Court or any where come near his Person till he had some cause to believe they had reformed and mended their Manners yet ordered some of them who had run out their Estates in pursuing his wild Extravagancies small Pensions to Subsist on till they could better provide for themselves Electing none for his Councel nor into Places of Justice or publick Government but such as were of known Integrity Wise Sober and not to be Biased through fear or favour greatly labouring to Reform the Abuses of the Clergy and for the better security of the Marches he caused the Castles and Towns thereabouts to be Repaired and Strongly Garisoned by which means he Awed the Scots and Welsh and kept his People free from their former fears and apprehensions of danger And the better to shew he had no hand in nor was consenting to the Death of King Richard he caused his Body to be brought from Langley to Westminster in much Funeral Pomp and to be Interred by Queen Ann his beloved Wife In the Second Year of his Reign he Assembled a Parliament at Leicester wherein he was Importunately Addressed to supress Religious Houses where they were ill mannaged and in stead of promoting Godly Lives had been made the Nurseries of Gluttony Idleness Pride and all Uncleanness considering they would yield into his Coffers an Annual Rent of 20000 l which might be better Employed for the Support of the Crown and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom in maintaining 15 Earls 1500 Knights and more than 6000 Men at Arms besides a great Number of Almes Houses for the support and relief of the Poor This much startled the Abbots Priors Fryers Monks Nuns c. as fearing to be Vn-Hived and forced to Labour for their Livings which they were little able to do considering they had so long been inured to a habit of Idleness and therefore to turn the Stream another way at their instant Entreaties Henry Chichesly who Succeeded Thomas Arundel in the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury took an opportunity in a very Learned Oration to make the King sensible of his Right to the Crown of France inciting him to Claim it as his proper Inheritance and in the Clergies behalf for the carrying on the Wars he offered a large Sum of Money whereupon the other business was laid aside and nothing now considerably debated or spoken of but how the King might Recover France The People every where shewing a willingness to Embark in the Undertaking And a Noble Embassy was sent to King Charles the Sixth peremptorily to demand the peaceable delivery of the Kingdom together with the Dutchies of Aquitain Normandy Anjou and whatever had formerly appertained to the Crown of England and if the French King without Effusion of Blood would yield to his demands he would take the Lady Catherine the Kings Daughter to Wife and Endow her with all the Dutchies and Provinces and be tractable in every thing tending to the French King's Honour and Estate but upon the Refusal he would attempt the gaining it by the Sword and bring on that Kingdom all the Miseries that are inseparable attendants on a cruel War The unexpected strangeness of this Message so amazed the French King and his Nobles that they could make no ready Answer but promised to send Ambassadors to King Henry who should endeavour to Adjust this weighty Affair yet the Dauphin of France had no sooner notice of the King's Demands but despising his Youth and holding him unfit to attempt a matter of so high a consequence in a scoffing manner sent him a Tun of Racket-Balls to sport with in his Tennis-Court This so Angered him that He Vowed by Gods assistance ere many Months were over he would toss so many Iron Balls within the Kingdom of France that their strongest Rackets should be too weak to turn them And hereupon he Levied a puissant Army so that the Dauphin seeing him in earnest began to repent of his Rashness and governing Affairs under his Father whose Imbecility rendered him not very capable of it he sent Ambassadors to Inform King Henry That if he would desist from his Purpose and Live in Amity with that Nation and take the Lady Catharine his Sister to Wife he should then receive with her a large Sum of Money with some small Territories and Possessions in that Kingdom To this King Henry Replied That unsess with the Lady he might have the Dutchies of Normandy Anjou Aquitain and all the other Signories to him and to his Crown justly appertaining he would not wave his Title to the Crown of France but attempt by all Hostile means to win it
might be any hopes to recover and some were recovered for in so suddain an Execution many received Wounds that were not Mortal This famous Victory obtained the King fell on his Knees and caused all the Army to do the like and with up-lifted Hands say Lord Not unto us not unto us but to thy Name be Glory and Honour In this Battel which the King said should be called The Battel of Agincourt to all Posterity because Fought near that Town were slain of the French Charles Lord Delabreth Constable of France Jaques Lord of Dampire High Admiral John Duke of Alanson Anthony Duke of Brabant Edward Duke of Barre The Earls of Marle Vaudemont Blawmount Grand Pree Russey Faulconbridg Foys and Lastrake 25 Lords 8000 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and about 10000 of the meaner sort The Prisoners of Note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon The Lords Donuart Fosseux Humiers Roy Cawny Hamcourt Noell Bonciqualt and some others and on King Henry's part of Note were slain Edward Duke of York and the Earl of Worcester Some Historians will have the latter to be the Earl of Suffolk and not above 600 others of all Ranks The King who before the Battel had Vowed to Dye or Conquer and that England should never be at a Penny charge for his Ransom was informed by some of his Noble Prisoners That the French were so confident of the Victory that they had not only disposed of his Person and the spoil of his Camp before hand but also of Places and Offices in England But when Man proposes God disposes The Dead being Honourably Buried and the Soldiers Inriched with the Spoil the King Marched to Callis without any interuption and having settled his Affairs passed into England where he was received by his Subjects with unspeakable Joy Soon after this the Duke of Exeter Captain of Harestew Ravaged the Countries and Overthrew the Earl of Arminiack the new Constable of France with considerable slaughter taking many Prisoners for which he had large Ransoms And Sigismund the Emperor of Germany coming into England laboured to conclude a Peace between the two Kings but not being able to effect it he made one for himself and being honourably attended by the King and his Nobles to his Ships he returned home highly satisfied with his Entertainment Shortly after the Duke of Burgundy made a Peace with King Henry only for the Counties of Flanders and Arthois for which he was suspected as an Enemy to the Crown of France In the Kings absence the French Besieged Hareflew by Sea and Land but their Fleet Commanded by John Viscount Narbon was utterly destroyed by John Duke of Bedford whereupon the Constable raised the Siege by Land and hasted to Paris upon which the French Nobility Quarelled among themselves about the several bad Successes charging the Miscarriage upon one another which made for King Henry's Interest so that he called a Parliament at Westminster declaring publickly his Right and undoubted Title to the Crown of France and the many wrongs the French had done the English Nation which now they had an opportunity to repair in giving him Supplies to enable him in the prosecution of his Wars which they liberally Granted him and it was raised without any murmurings of the People as in other Reigns had happened on the like occasion In the mean while John Holland Earl of Huntington after a sharp Engagement took three Carracks of Genoa and sunk other six that were going to Aid the French and in the Prizes found great store of Treasure and early in the Spring the King Landed a strong Army in Normandy took the Castle of Tonque whereupon the Villagers of that Dutchy fled into their Walled-Towns and he laid Siege to the City of Caen which after many fierce Assaults he took putting to Death the most obstinate who had too long refused his proffered Mercy in holding out against him and the more Wealthy Citizens he put to Fines and Ransoms And now a Quarrel happened between the Queen of France and the Dauphin her Son for she having raked together great store of Treasure he forcibly seized it for the use of the War which so enraged her that she vowed Revenge and procured John Duke of Burgundy to be Protector of the Kings Person and of the Kingdome so that an irreconcileable Quarrel continued among them The Constable and Dauphin labouring to weaken his Interest and he on the other hand supported by the Kings Favour was not wanting to do the like for them Whilst King Henry was Warring in Normandy and took in about 50 strong Towns and Castles reducing the Normans for the most part to his obedience and having appointed Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Captain of Caen Castle and Sir Gilbert Talbot the like of the Town Sir John Popham Baylif c. and disposed the other Places in Trusty Hands he Marched to Roan where he found the Citizens had drawn a great Trench about it and strongly Fortified it with Towers and Bullwarks and having laid Siege to it at Pontle-Arch he laid over a strong Chain and a Wooden Bridge to hinder any Succours coming by Water keeping likewise that Passage blocked up with a strong Squadron under the Command of the Earl of Warwick and whilst he lay at this Siege the Lord Kilmay with 16000 Irishmen came to him Armed with Darts and Coats of Mail being joyfully received and proved very servicable But the King finding his violent Assaults were repulsed the Garrison being very Numerous incompassed the place to the Landward with a wide and deep Trench impailed at the bottom with sharp Stakes and so well guarded with Archers that they durst not approach it so there being Multitudes of useless People in the City the Famine encreased so sore among them that nothing Unclean was left uneaten nor were those they turned out suffered to pass the English Camp so that many Hundreds with piteous cries lay and died under the Walls and the Siege having continued from Lamas tide till Christmas on New-Years Day they desired safe Conduct for their Commissioners to pass to the King which was allowed but to little purpose for a bold Frenchman so angered him with his vaunting speech wherein he taxed him with unprincely degenerateness and meanness of Courage for Cloistering up the Garrison to Starve them as not daring to let them be at liberty to Fight and sell their Lives bravely in the Field That he resolved not to hearken to any Terms but the Surrender of the City upon discretion Granting them only a Truce of Eight Days to well advise in the matter but nothing being determined the half-Starved Inhabitants with hideous cries and shouts compelled the Governour and Magistrates to a Surrender so that having Four Days more allowed they Surrendered the City and Castle to the King there being Famished during the Siege 5000 and 12000 Starvelings were turned out who many of them dyed in the Fields and Lanes Then he compelled the Burghers for
their Ransom to pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors and with this Capital City went the currant of the rest so that he became sole Master of Normandy Upon this the Duke of Burgundy came to King Henry under safe conduct to treat of an Accommodation but whatever the King asked was denied which made him in a passion Swear That he would have the Lady Catharine in Marriage and what he demanded with her or otherwise he would ere long drive both him and his Master out of the Kingdom To which the Duke Replied Those words were easie to be spoke but that he must take much Labour and Toil to make them good After this the Duke reconciled himself to the Dauphin ratified under their Hands and Seals before a publick Notary and King Henry to let the world see he resolved to persist in what he had enterprized created Gascoyn D' Foyes Earl of Longeville Sir John Grey Earl of Tankervile and Sir John Bourchier Earl of Ewe in the Kingdom of France and upon the approach of Captain Bueff with 1500 Men to Ponthoyse the Lord Listendame the Governour with 10000 Inhabitants Deserted it leaving for haste most of their Rich Goods behind them This Place the King Fortified and Marched to Paris which he lay before Three Days bringing a great terror on that City but with his small Army not able to incompass it he Marched back to Ponthoyse John Duke of Burgundy as is said having reconciled himself to the Dauphin yet it being superficial and not hearty he determined in a more submissive manner to humble himself unto him that thereby their Loves taking a deeper root might bring forth the fruits of Unity and Peace but when they met the Dauphin whose Mallice was irreconcileable and whose mistrustful Jealosie did perswade him that the Duke would not be faithful procured him treacherously to be Murthered by the blow of a Battel-Ax in his presence as he was about to kneel and pay him Homage This was looked on by many as a just Judgment because much in the same manner he had caused Lewis Duke of Orleance to be Murthered in the Tenth Year of King Henry the Fourth This made not amiss for King Henry but hastened his advancement for Philip Son to the Murthered Duke was so highly displeased that he not only in his melancholy Anger determined forever to separate himself from his Innocent Dutchess without any other reason or cause than that she was Sister to the Dauphin but as his fury abated her Tears and the sober Advice of his Counsellours brought him to better reason so that for that time his Love continued to her as at first Yet he resolved on Revenge another way viz. By joyning his Interest with King Henry for he was very powerful in Flanders as well as Burgundy and was able to give a considerable check to France but more especially to the Dauphins Interest and to bring this about he laboured to Reconcile the Kings of England and France and in those his endeavours he was the more powerful 1. Because his Wife was Daughter to the French King 2. Because the Lady Catharine who could do all with â—â—een Isabella passionately desired to be Married to King â—enry 3. Because the Queen for depriving her of her Treasure â—â—d some other Affronts put upon her had conceived a morâ—â— hatred against the Dauphin insomuch that she could not â—â—dure to hear him Named 4. Because the Dauphin was more Subtile Cunning â—afty and Revengeful Than Politick Wise or Valliant And Lastly Because the treacherous Murther of Burâ—â—ndy had rendered him Abhorred among the Neighbouring â—rinces and for the most part in France And soon after this by the means of the Duke and Queen of France matters so ripened towards a Peace That it was Agreed King Henry should have an Interview with Charles the French King his Queen and Daughter at Trois in Campaign whither he went accompanied with his Brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester the Earls of Warwick Salisbury Huntington Longevile Tankervile and Ewe and to prevent any Treacherous Surprise drew a Camp of 15000 Men â—ear the Place and so luckey were their Consultations that within a few Days a strict Amity was made and a Peace Proclaimed between the two Kings upon many Articles But the Substance briefly was That the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of King Charles and his Queen should reâ—â—in to King Henry and his Heirs forever whereupon 〈◊〉 Married the Lady Catharine with great Pomp and â—â—endour So that the Salique Law of France was at â—s time made void Yet the Pope being solicited to â—â—firm King Henry would not consent to it Howâ—â—er the Articles of Peace and Agreement were Proâ—â—med in both Kingdoms so that King Henry being â—w more at leasure and commanding for the French King as being appointed Regent or Protector of France he pursued the Dauphin from place to place stripping him with little labour of many important Towns Castles and Fortresses and in the strong Town of Moylin on the River Seine they took the Lord Barbason and divers others who were concerned in the Murther of the Duke of Burgundy who being sent to Paris were Tryed Sentenced and put to Death and the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy Appealing to a Grand Council in which the two Kings sat as Judges against the Dauphin and seven others they were Summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris at a fixed Day but failing to do it as likewise in the Parliament soon after called They were Banished the Realm deprived of their Honours Names Titles and Dignities whatsoever and Proclaimed Enemies This greatly perplexed the Dauphin Yet going into Languedock he was succoured and supported with Money Arms and other Necessaries by the Earl of Arminack Almost all France being reduced to Obedience the two Kings and Queens took leave and Henry received in his way to England Homage of all the Nobles of the Dutchy of Normandy and conferring high Honours and Titles on many came to Callis and from thence Sailed for England where he was Joyfully received and the February following Queen Catharine was Crowned at Westminster with great Solemnity The Dauphin upon King Henry's departure began to look up a little and having made the Young Duke of Alanson his Lieutenant the Duke of Clarence was left Lieutenant for Henry who deceived by one Andrew Forgusa a Treacherous Lombard whom he too much Trusted thinking to repress the French Forces was drawn into their Ambush and after a desperate Fight against four to one the English were Overthrown near Blangy yet the French lost 1200 of their choicest Men and of the English were slain the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Tankervile Sir Gilbert Vmphervile the Lord Ross and near 2000 of less Note and taken Prisoners the Earls of Suffolk Sommerset and Perch the Lord Fitz-Walter and others But upon the approach of Sir Thomas Beaufort with a Band of Archers the
French hasted out of the Field with their Prisoners and Spoil as having had hot work on it already and not willing to try a second Encounter The King was much troubled at this Overthrow and the death of his Brother but resolving Revenge he sent the Earl of Mountague to succeed him in the Command of the Provinces and assembling a Parliament caused to be laid before them the State of both Nations whereupon to enable him in his Wars the Temporality gave him one Fifteenth and the Clergy two and for Expedition the Bishop of Winchester Advanced 20000 l. and received it again out of the Tax Granted by Parliament whereupon an Army consisting of 24000 Men was Transported under the Command of John Duke of Bedford the King's Brother driving the Dauphin from the Siege of Chartieres from thence the Duke Marched to Paris and was soon joyned by the Duke of Burgundy with 4000 Horse nor was the King slow in following his Army having with him James the Young King of Scots who with his own People Besieged and Took Direux and delivered it to King Henry and so they chased the Dauphin out of all his strong Holds compelling him to take Refuge in Berry whither the King thought not fit to tire his Army in following him but having taken in a great many places repassed the Loire About this time Queen Catharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor which News coming to the King very much troubled him because he had charged her not to Lye-in there but being unexpectedly taken in Labour necessity compelled her to do it The King's Reason for it was grounded on an old Prophecy Predicting No Prince Fortunate that should be Born there Whereupon in a Passion he said to the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and Win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and Loose all But God's Will be done Soon after this the King having Reduced the Isles of France and almost all other Places fell Sick and unable to Travel whereupon he committed the charge of the Army to his Brother John Duke of Bedford Then calling together his Nobles and sending for the Queen he appointed the Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Lieutenant General of Normandy and his other Brother Humphry Duke of Glocester Regent of England and Protector of his Son's Person Exhorting the Nobles to maintain the Friendship with the Duke of Burgundy and always to be at Union among themselves to be faithful to his Son and Queen and never to conclude a Peace with the Dauphin till he submitted to his Son Soon after this he Dyed August 31st Anno 1422 at Boice Le Vincenois in France of a Burning Feavour and Flux in the 30th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 Days and his Body being brought over was Buried among his Noble Ancestors at Westminster with extraordinary Solemnity SUSSEX By I. Seller Remarks on the County of Sussex c. SUssex is a very pleasant open County in most parts and much advantaged by its lying open on its South side to the Sea It produces a considerable sprinkling of Corn flocks of Sheep and many Large Cattle Fruit great store and much Pasture-Ground It abounds in Butter Cheese and some Honey Flax and Hops on the West it is Bounded with Hampshire on the North with Kent and Surry and on the East with the Sea and some little part of Kent It contains 1 City viz. Chichester which is a Bishops See 65 Hundreds Parishes 312 Market Towns 17 1 Castle 2 Rivers 10 Bridges and 33 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Arundel 2 Bramber 2 Chichester 2 East Grinstead 2 Horesham 2 Lewis 2 Midhurst 2 New Shoreham 2 Steyning 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Besides the Cinque Ports viz. Hastings 2 Rye 2 Seaford 2 and Winchelsea 2. Chichester in this County is held to be Founded by Cissa a South Saxon and the Bishoprick was Translated thither from Sesley by William the Conqueror at Lewis King Ethelston Coined his Money and a strong Castle was Built there by Earl Warren and a Bloody Battel fought near it between King Henry and his Barons at Pensey or Pevensey the Conqueror Landed when he won England and near Hastings the great Fight was fought between William and King Harold for the Kingdom and the place is called to this day Battel-Field at Buckstead the first Great Iron Guns in England were Cast The Waters in this County produce the best Carp in the Island and on the Sea Coast store of Lobsters are taken Near Walsal are store of Lime Pits Sesley is famed for Cockles near Tenderden Steeple is a Stone that sensibly appears to Grow by the falliag of the Rain The Seats of the Nobility are Arundel Castle belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Buckhurs and Stoneland belonging to the Earl of Dorset part of Bolebrook to the Earl of Thanet Herst Monceux to the Earl of Sussex Cowdrey Battel-Abby and Poynings to the Lord Montague Petworth-Place to the Duke of Sommerset Eridg to the Lord Abergavenny Up-Park to the Lord Grey and Chichester Palace to the Bishop of the Diocess And many sightly Houses belonging to the Gentry c. The Reign of HENRY the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor HENRY the Sixth being at the Death of his Father not above three Months Old a Parliament was soon after called and he Crowned at Westminster at five Months Old the Queen holding him in her Lap whilst the Ceremony was performed and likewise brought into the Parliament-House where the Lords paid Homage to him as their Rightful Soveraign a Speech on his behalf being made to them by the Queen Exhorting them to be stedfast and Unanimous in securing his Right and opposing his Enemies c. which they promised to be and endeavour to the utmost Not long after this King Charles the Sixth Dying the French Nobles began to bethink themselves that it stood little with their Honour to be subject to a Prince of another Nation whilst they had a Son of their King amongst them and forgeting their Oaths and Fealty they began on a suddain to grow cold towards the English and seemed desirous to shake off their Yoak of which the Regent giving notice to his Brother in England care was taken continually to send him over Men and Money to compell them if necessity required it to their Obedience but first he used all manner of fair Means minding them if they persevered in their Loyalty the happy conclusion would make them Rich and Fortunate win to them the Love and Favour of their Young King as he grew up and increased in Wisdom and Years c. However the Dauphin got himself Crowned by his Party under the Title of Charles the Seventh and with his small Army took the Field sending the Lord Grandval to Besiege Pont-Melance on the River Seine which he had the fortune to surprize before the
and Solemnity Yet this stopped not the current of the Revolt whereupon no sooner was the King returned to England but the Regent hastned into Normandy to secure his Interest there for things run so strongly he knew not whom he might trust Whilst these things were doing Charles who had been likewise Crowned King of France with many Flatteries and large Promises of Honour Riches and Promotion laboured to withdraw the Duke of Burgundy from King Henry's Interest yet at this time tho' he was not well affected to the English by reason of the distaste he conceived at the Siege of Orleance he refused his offers and acquainted the Regent with the whole Intrigue so that when Charles perceived this device was fruitless he drew down his whole Army before Paris but after many Assaults he was beaten off with a great slaughter of his Men by the English in Garison there and some few Citizens as were well affected to King Henry for which the Regent at his return gave them many Thanks and Rewards at which they seemed greatly to rejoyce promising much but in the sequel performing little These troublesome Wars having held a long time the Princes of Europe mediated for Peace which only came to a six Years Truce and yet that was broke much sooner upon the death of Ann the Regents Dutchess Sister to the Duke of Burgundy and his Marrying the Lady Jaquet Daughter to the Earl of St. Paul For as much as hereupon the Duke of Burgundy's Love to the English more and more declined and the bond of Affinity that tied him more strictly to the Regent being sundered by the Death of his Sister and now the French taking all advantages secretly conveyed 200 Men into the Castle of Roan in Normandy but they were Assaulted by the Garrison with such timely Courage for they had been Introduced by the Treachery of the Deputy-Governour as Friends that they were beaten into the Dungeon from whence they were sentenced some to the Gallows others to a different manner of Death by Cruel Torments and those that sped best were put to great Ransoms Hereupon the Regent took the Field and being Reinforced by 800 Men at Arms brought over by the Lord Talbot who had sometime before by his Ransom being paid been set at liberty and often urged the French to a Battel which they declined In the mean while the Boors in Normandy rose in a tumultuous Rebellion but being Overthrown by the Earl of Arundel about 1000 of them Slain and several of their Ringleaders Executed this disturbance was quieted But as the Earl went to recover St. Rue which had Revolted attempting to take in by the way Greborie Castle he was shot in the Ancle with a Culverin Ball and being taken Prisoner soon after Dyed of his Wound The Duke of Bourbon who had been taken Prisoner at the Battel of Agincourt after fifteen Years Imprisonment paid his Ransom but the day he intended to Imbarke for France Dyed at London And now after many Jealousies between the Regent and Duke of Burgundy their Friends laboured to Reconcile them and they seemingly were again united in strict Amity But going together into the Town of St. Omer's thâ— Regent expected the first Visit as due to his Character and Dignity but the Duke being Soveraign Lord of that Town supposed he should be Checked by his Subjects for such a dishonourable condesention thereupon they declined the Visits and both left the Town in much Anger and forthwith the Duke of Burgundy entered into a strict League with Charles who had taken on him the stile of King of France After this St. Dennis and other Towns were Surprised or otherways Taken by the French but many of them again Retaken and those that were not looked on as Teneable Dismantled And now the Regent by reason of his unwearied Toil falling into a desperate Languishment Dyed and was Buried in a stately Monument erected for him in our Lady's Church in Roan and Richard Duke of York appointed Regent in his stead against the Mind of the Kings nearest Friends and best Counsellours who were not Ignorant of his Aspiring and pretensions to the Crown Soon after Paris Revolted and another Rebellion was raised in Normandy but soon suppressed by the Lords Talbot Seales and others and the Duke of Burgundy laid Siege to Callis but was compelled to raise it and fly by Night upon notice the Protector was sending great Forces from England to Relieve it and 20000 Men soon after Landed Burning and Wasting the Dukes Countries of Flanders and Arthois But now the French began to deal with the Scots the better to Favour their Designs and James the First of Scotland forgetting the Benefits he had received from King Henry the Fifth entered England with 30000 Men and Besieged Roxborough Castle which was valiantly Defended by Sir Ralph Grey But upon the approach of the Earl of Northumberland he raised his Siege and fled About this time Queen Catharine Mother to King Henry Married Owen Tuther a goodly Gentleman descended from Cadwallader the last of the British Kings and by her had Issue two Sons viz. Edmund and Jasper Edmund was by King Henry created Earl of Richmond and took to Wife the Lady Margaret sole Daughter to John Duke of Sommerset and on her he got King Henry the Seventh and Jasper was created Earl of Pembrook And now the Kings Council so prevailed with him that Richard Duke of York was discharged from his Regency in France and the Earl of Warwick appointed in his stead who beat the Duke of Burgundy from the Siege of Croy when in his flight Sir Thomas Tyrrel falling in his Rear took his Cannon and the greater part of his Baggage finding in Plate and Money 20000 l. And the Earl of Mortayn Son to Edmund Duke of Sommerset Assaulting the Castle of St. Avyar in Mayn took it by Storm and put to the Sword 300 Scots and Hanged all the Frenchmen he found therein because having Sworn Allegiance to King Henry they Revolted Whilst these things were doing the Elder Son of Charles raised a strong Faction and Rebelled against him and by publick Edicts divulged the insufficiency of his Father to Rule that Kingdom This Cloud threatened a coming Storm and begat the Question in his Father and his Counsellours of State Whether it was most proper to attempt the curing this Mallady by Civil War letting of Blood or by Discretion and Policy without Blows But the Latter was approved and Proclamations made by the French King to Prohibit all his Subjects on pain of Death not to yield any Obedience to the Dauphins Commands Pardoning such as by his perswasion had undertaken his Service so that divers Letters and Messages passing between them an Accommodation was made Whilest this Difference lasted the English endeavoured the regaining Paris but that failing John Lord Clifford surprised Panthois by Attiring his Men in White and passing the Ditches hard Frozen and covered with Snow scaling the Walls and
the Earls of Warwick Devonshire Salisbury and others they resolved to complain in Parliament of the Queen's Misgovernment who by reason of the Kings Weakness and Imbecility did what she pleased as also did her Favourits the chief of which now was the Duke of Sommerset but his complaints not taking such effect as he supposed upon new Counsels he took other Measures raising an Army under pretence of removing Evil Counsellours from the King charging the Duke of Sommerset with oppressing the People and the many Miscarriages in France during his Regency occasioning the loss of Normandy and Aquitain with many other things The King upon this fearing the worst raised likewise an Army whereupon the Duke of York sent a submissive Message and Letter to him That he intended nothing against his Royal Person nor against the State but only craved That in Parliament the Duke of Sommerset might be Tryed and caused to Answer to such Crimes as would be Objected against him and the Duke of Sommerset upon this being for shew sake committed to the Tower the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came to the King where contrary to his expectation he met with the Duke of Sommerset who Accused him of Treason for that without the Kings Leave or Commandment he had raised an Army with which he intended to have Murthered his Soveraign and made himself Inheritor and Possessor of the Crown Whereupon the Duke was Arrested but in a few days Released Whilst these things happened in England the Lords of Guyan and Aquitain threw off their Subjection to France and sent secret Messages to King Henry That if he would furnish an Army to Protect them they would re-deliver those Provinces into his Possession upon which the Earl of Shrewsbury was sent with 3000 Men who received them into the Kings Protection But soon after being fought with by 20000 French he was Overthrown and Slain with almost all his followers and thereupon these Provinces were utterly Lost In the mean while the Queen was delivered of a Son whom she caused to be Named Edward The Duke of York having strengthened his Faction made grievous Complaints to the Lords in Parliament against the Duke of Sommerset so that in the Queen's Chamber he was Arrested for High Treason and conveyed to the Tower But the Parliament being suddainly Adjourned and the King by many protestations faithfully promising that at some other time he should Answer those Accusations he was set at Liberty and made Captain of the Castle and Town of Callice which made the Duke of York Leavy another Army and fought with the King at St. Albans and so prevailed that the Duke of Sommerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford the Lord Clifford and about 8000 others were Slain the King was also hurt in the Neck with an Arrow and taken Prisoner but used with much dissembled Civility and brought to London where at the Duke of York's entreaty he called a Parliament and the Earl of Salisbury was made Chancellour The Earl of Warwick Captain of Callice The Duke of York was likewise appointed Protector of the Kings Person and of the Realm but the Queen being perswaded he Aimed at the Crown they were soon displaced Whilst these Differences continued many disorders happened The Houses of Merchant-Strangers were Rifled and Robbed in London and the French greatly Annoy'd our Merchants on the Seas which compelled the Queen who was Wise Politick and of a Masculine Spirit to use a Stratagem which was to get the King to retire into the North for his Pleasure and sent Letters to the Three Lords immediatly to come and Confer with him who delay'd not to do it but having secret notice their destruction was intended they timely Fled and prevented their Ruin Yet the King advised by his grave Counsellours laboured for an Accommodation of matters appointing for this purpose a General Meeting of all his Lords at London who came strongly Guarded with Friends and Servants where the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and other great Clergymen used such Perswasions and Arguments That the King Queen and all the Lords were pleased in friendly and in kind sort to consent that all Jars and Discontents should be laid aside and by Instruments in Writing a Reconciliation was outwardly Confirmed but not with any hearty goodwill on either side yet it greatly Rejoyced the People who thought it Real After this the King rod through the City with the Crown on his Head the Duke of York conducted the Queen and the Lords of either Faction rod two and two together Not long after this one of the Kings Servants was Wounded in the Court by a Gentleman belonging to the Earl of Warwick who escaping the rest of the Kings Servants fell upon the Earl as he came from the Council-Table but he Escaped by Water and was searched after in London in order to be sent to the Tower yet he was not there but fled into Yorkshire complaining to his Father the Earl of Salisbury of the Injury that had been done to him who Advised him immediatly to repare to his Government of Callice and then the Earl of Salisbury raised an Army and Marched towards London of which the Queen had no sooner notice but she sent the Lord Audley to oppose him so that the Battel being joyned after a sharp Fight the Lord Audley and 2200 of his Men was Slain the rest flying and leaving Salisbury Master of the Field upon this success the Duke of York conceiving he should gain what he aimed at raised an Army on the Marches of Wales and Joyning with Salisbury near Ludlow the King's Army came in sight of them but the Lords fearing they were Betrayed by one Andrew Trollop and John Blunt two famous Captains trained up in the French Wars who had been brought over by the Earl of Warwick because after they had shewed them advantageously how to Attack the Kings Army they had on scruple of Conscience deserted and gone over to him raised their Camp in the Night and secretly Retiring disbanded their Army and shifted for themselves yet several of their Captains being Taken were Executed but the common Soldiers Pardoned and the flying Lords Proclaimed Arch Traytors to the King and Kingdom their Goods Offices and Lands Sequestered to the Kings Use c. And the King made Henry Son to the Duke of Sommerset Slain in the Battel of St. Albans Captain of Callice and now the King on good Advice Assembled a Parliament in which the Lords of the Yorkist's Faction were Attainted of High Treason and to prevent the Returning of such as were Fled beyond the Seas the Ports were Fortified and strictly Guarded yet they returned took Sandwich and in a short time raised an Army of 25000 Men with which they Marched towards London to secure which the Lord Scales was sent by the King but the Lord Mayor refused him admittance saying He was able to defend the City and would do it seeing the King had committed it to his charge so that
brought into England about 12 Years after by William Caxton a Mercer Remarks on Warwickshire c. WArwickshire is an Inland County very pleasantly situate well Wooded and incumbered but with few Hills It is Bounded with Staffordshire Leicestershire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire It abounds with Cattle Corn Wooll Cheese Butter pleasant Pastures Fish and Fowl It contains 5 Hundreds in which are 158 Parishes 14 Market Towns 4 Castles 10 Rivers 10 Bridges 13 Parks and 2 Forrests It sends Members to Parliament 6 viz. Coventry City 2 Warwick 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Warwick the Shire Town is of very Antient foundation held to be Builded by Gurguntus a British King 375 Years before the Birth of our Saviour the Castle yet retaining very many marks of great Antiquity and Memorable for the Residence of the Renowned Guy Earl of Warwick where is kept a Vessel called his Pot and usually filled with good Liquor to be Drunk by all comers on memorable Days It is commodiously situate on the River Avon Coventry joyntly with Litchfield make a Bishoprick on one of its Gates called Gifford-Gate is the Bone of a Monstrous Beast fastned said to be that of the huge Boar Guy slew who with his Snout turned up a deep place now called Swanes Mear At Wolney Anno 1469 King Edward the Fourth was taken Prisoner by the great Earl of Warwick and his Forces scattered At Backlow Hill Pierce Gaviston was taken and Beheaded The other Places of Note are Henly Southam Sutton Atherstone Kyneton Rougby Aulchester Bitford The River Tame abounds with Fish and finely branches the Northern part of the County as Avon does most of the rest over which leading to Warwick is a sightly and strong Bridge At Lemington a Salt Spring arises a great distance from the Sea At Newenham or Menhem Reges is a Petrifying Well Snale Stones Star Stones and Cockel Stones are found near Shugbury The Noblemens Seats are Milcot-House belonging to the Earl of Dorset Compton-Place to the Earl of Northampton Newnham Padox to the Earl of Denby Wormleighton to the Earl of Sunderland Comb to the Earl of Craven Ragley and Luddington to the Earl of Conway Hewel Grange to the Earl of Plymouth Ettington to the Lord Ferrers Warwick Castle Knowel and Beuchamps Court to the Lord Brook Fletchamstead and Stonely to the Lord Leigh Wotenwaven and Aln-Lodg to the Lord Carrington besides many pleasant Seats of the Gentry sightful to Travellers The Reign of King EDWARD the Fourth EDWARD Duke of York having prevailed over the Lancastrians and put to death many of his great Enemies Marched Triumphantly to London where he was by the Citizens joyfully received and Proclaimed King on the 4th of March Anno 1461 and the 19th of June following he was Crowned at Westminster but his carriage towards the Citizens afterward made them repent their forwardness to take part with him against King Henry who had always loved them and been their constant Friend Soon after his Coronation he called a Parliament and laboured therein to settle the Affaires of the Kingdom which were much disordered by the Civil War And all former Statutes made in the Reign of Henry which Attainted him and his Adherents of High Treason were Cancelled and made void The Earl of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his Son were in this Parliament Attainted of sundry Treasons and lost their Heads and to strengthen his Interest he conferred Titles of Honour on a great many of his Friends Whereupon seeing little hopes left of King Henry's Recovering his Crown the Duke of Sommerset Sir Ralph Piercey and others submitted themselves to Edward's Mercy and were received into favour but upon notice the Queen was arrived from France in the North and by the Aid of the Scots had raised a considerable Army they secretly fled to her Edward had soon notice of these Proceedings and sent the Lord Montacute before him with a considerable Force himself followed with the rest of the Army and this Lord with such resolution and bravery set upon the Lords Hungerford and Ross that at the begining of the Fight they Cowardly fled away but Sir Ralph Piercey and other stout Commanders who preferred an honourable death before a shameful desertion of their Men fought it out bravely till they lost their Lives in the Field and left the Victory to their Adversary The Lord Montacute flushed with this success and thursting after fame without staying for the King set upon Queen Margaret's Army and after a bloody Fight put her to the Rout and Henry Duke of Summerset William Tallboies who stiled himself Earl of Kent the Lords Ross Mollines and Hungerford Sir Henry Nevel Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Richard Tunstal being Taken were in several places Beheaded and 27 others were shortly after Executed in divers manners But after this Overthrow Henry Escaped to Scotland with his half-Brother Jasper Earl of Pembrook Sir Ralph Grey and others and hereupon all the Castles in the North fell into King Edward's hands For this Service done by the Lord Montacute the King would have given him the Earldom of Northumberland but upon that Earls submitting though he had fought against him he restored him to his Lands and Honours giving Montacute in lieu of his Resignation the Title of a Marquess and to encourage his Soldiers and such as had deserved well he bestowed on them great Bounties out of the confiscated Estates of his Enemies causing many advantagious Laws to be Enacted the better to settle him on the Throne by gaining the affection of the People Soon after this King Henry returning disguised into England was discovered taken Prisoner and sent to Edward who committed him to close ward in the Tower King Edward now thinking himself firmly fixed in the Throne by the advice of the Estates after the proposals of several Matches concluded to send his great Friend Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick to require the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and Sister to Charete Queen to Lewis the Eleventh King of France in Marriage the Earl was sent over with a very splended Equipage and with many Rich presents to the Lady and was so prosperous in his Negotiation that all things he had in Commission were soon agreed to the Portion assigned and the Instruments for settling her Dowry ratified but this wrought much mischief to King Edward For going to Recreate himself at his Mannor of Grafton he there cast his Eyes on the Beautiful Elizabeth Widow to Sir John Grey slain in King Henry's cause at the Battel of St. Albans and by no perswasions being able to gain her for his Concubine though he had freely granted her her Husbands Estate which she Petitioned to him for so enflamed was he with the desire of Enjoying her and she plainly telling him As she thought her self of too mean a condition to be his Wife so she thought her self much above his demands of being his Concubine and tho' her Life might be at his dispose
her Chastity was not to be violated but with that Cumpulsion that would pull down vengance on his Head that laying aside the thoughts of any other he Married her promoting all her Kindred to Dignities and Honours creating the Lord Rivers her Father Earl Rivers and High Constable of England her Son Sir Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset and preferred him and others to Rich Heiresses of Noblemen and did many other things for them that displeased his nearest Friends For no sooner the Duke of Clarence his Brother heard of the Earl of Warwick's being greatly displeased at the Kings having put that affront on him but they met and consulted which way to constrain the King to lay aside these new Favourites and so great was the Earl of Warwick's Anger for the disgrace the King had made him incur in Foreign Courts by this Marriage which utterly disannulled that which he had treated about that he cast nothing in his mind more than how he might Depose him and Restore King Henry and several Consults with the Marquess Montacute his Brother and others were held to further his purpose The King who feared Warwick's Greatness and Popularity was not altogether ignorant of his discontents tho' he outwardly dissembled it as well as he could and therefore the better to weather the Storm he saw coming tho' as yet at a distance he concluded a Truce for Fifteen Years with the King of Scots to weaken the Earl on that side and to Henry King of Castile and John King of Arragon he sent as a Present to make Friends with them about a Hundred Cotshall-Sheep a thing they never before nor any of their Predecessors upon any Intreaty or for large sums offered could obtain from the Kings of England from which small Number such Multitudes have since Encreased as in the Woollen-Trade has turned greatly to our damage And that he might be the better able to deal with Lewis the French King if War by him should be Proclaimed or he should underhand assist the Earl of Warwick in any attempt he made a League with Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and gave him his Sister Margaret in Marriage and two other Sisters to the Dukes of Exeter and Suffolk But for all this Warwick's design was closely carried on and it was Agreed among them That he and the Duke of Clarence should go to Callice and there to strengthen the Alliance the Duke should Marry Isabella the Earls Daughter and in their Absence as if without their knowledge or consent the Marquess Montacute and Arch Bishop of York Brothers to Warwick should with the help of their Friends raise a Rebellion in Yorkshire which they did by inciting the Rusticks not to pay Tribute of Corn to the Hospital of St. Leonard in the City of York which upon refusal being exacted by the Collectors commotions arose and at length about 15000 came before the City with an intention to Plunder and Demolish that Hospital c. but by a Sally of the Citizens they were beaten off and so Marched away towards Northampton Headed by Sir John Conyers an Experienced Soldier but were met by William Earl of Pembrook and Humphry Lord Stafford who by the Kings Command had raised Forces in Wales and after they had overthrown 2000 Archers that the Lords had laid in Ambush to fall on their Rear upon a dissention arising between Pembrook and Stafford the latter withdrew his Forces so that the former with much courage tho' few in Number giving the Rusticks Battel in Banbury Field having near gained the Victory the Scale of success was suddainly turned in a surprising manner viz. One John Clapham a Servant to the Earl of Warwick having got his Masters Standard in which was Portraied the White Bear coming in with a small Troop and crying A Warwick a Warwick so daunted the Kings Men who thought the Earl had been there with a fresh supply that they threw down their Arms and fled and being hotly Pursued more than 5000 were slain Sir Richard Herbert and Eight others of Note being taken Prisoners were Beheaded at Banbury by the Rusticks Upon this Success their Army greatly encreased and a separate Party making one Robin of Risdale their Captain Plundered the Kings Mannor-House at Grafton and finding there the Earl of Rivers Father to the Queen and his Son John they carried them to Northampton and Beheaded them and some of the Kings Forces having Taken the Lord Stafford he lost his Head at Bridgwater for Deserting the Earl of Pembrook at Banbury Field The Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick taking the advantage of these Troubles Landed and with considerable Forces put themselves at the head of the Rusticks so that by this addition and Warwick's Great Name in War they became so formidable to the King that at the earnest request of some Nobles who fear'd the desolation of their Country by such a cruel War as was threatened he consented to a Treaty during which the King being more careless than he ought to have been of his Person the Earl of Warwick with a strong Band entered his Camp by Night and having killed the Watch carried him Prisoner from his Tent to the Castle of Middleham in Yorkshire Committing him to the ward of the Arch Bishop but soon after having liberty to go a Hunting he was Rescued by Sir William Standley and Sir Thomas Burgh who upon private notice lay in Ambush behind the Wood with a Troop of Horse and immediatly Posted to London This inwardly vexed the Earl of Warwick who thought to draw great Advantages from his Imprisonment However the Truce continued and a meeting of both sides was appointed in the great Hall at Westminster where nevertheless the objections of good Deserts and unthankful Requitals were with such vehement expressions repeated and maintained by the Earl of Warwick that the King being highly displeased with Threats and Fury they parted from each other The King taking his way to Canterbury and the Confederate Lords into Lincolnshire where they raised an Army and placed Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells in chief Command over it as being very expert in Millitary Affairs King Edward had no sooner notice of this but he sent for the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock his Brother-in-Law commanding them to use their endeavours to bring over Sir Robert to his Interest but though they very much laboured to do it it proved without effect which so angered the King that contrary to his sollemn promise he caused the Heads of the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock to be stricken off which gained him much displeasure of the Nobles and Commons and hastned Sir Robert Wells to give him Battel ere the Confederate Lords who wanted but a days March came up with the Lincolnshire-Men he commanded so that the King oppressing him with his Number though he fought Valiantly to revenge his Fathers and Unkles Death his Soldiers at last tired out for want of fresh supplies gave way and soon
different success But at length the Earl perceiving fresh supplies continually press on his weary Soldiers thinking by his Example to give them new Courage he dismounted and with his Sword in his Hand pressed into the Front of his Enemies making miserable slaughter But breaking in too far and not being timely succoured he was slain together with the Marquess his Brother who threw himself into the opening Jaws of Death in hopes to bring the Earl off These great Commanders slain the Army grew faint and giving way by degrees at length fell into a total rout about 10000 being slain and of King Edward's Part of Note only Sir Humphry Bourcher Son to the Lord Barns and the dead Bodies of the Earl and Marquess being brought to St. Paul's were exposed to view three Days and then Honourably Interred among their Ancestors in the Priory of Bissam Queen Margaret having notice of this Defeat fled with her Son to the Abbey of Bewley in Hampshire whither divers Lords resorted to her and agreed to raise new Forces and try the fortune of another Field which they did and were Overthrown at Tewxbury about 3000 being slain and of Note the Duke of Sommerset Sir John Lewkner Sir John Delves c. The Prisoners of Note were the Queen and Prince the Prior of St. John's Sir Jervis Cliffton Sir Thomas Tristram and Twelve others of Note all but the two first being Beheaded the next day and soon after Prince Edward being presented to the King by Sir Richard Crofts who took him Prisoner was piteously Murthered in his sight by the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and others on the signal given by the King in striking him on the Mouth with his Gantlet nor was it long after that Innocent King Henry was Murthered in the Tower by the same Duke of Gloucester who struck a Dagger to his Heart his Body being afterward exposed to view in St. Paul's three days that the People might be sure he was Dead however these Proceedings caused the King much hatred among the People when somewhat to satisfie them he consented to Ransome the Queen to pay which the poor Prince her Father sold his Titles to Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and returning home she Lived a Melancholy and Disconsolate Life which lasted not long ere she dyed of Grief particularly for the Death of the Prince her Son whom she dearly Loved King Edward by Bloodshed being rid of his greatest opposers took sollace in Pleasures being very Lustful and was rarely without two or three Concubins tho' his Queen was Young and Beautiful and among them Jane Shoar Wife to Mathew Shoar a Goldsmith in Grace-church-street was most pleasing to him though in the end it brought her to shame and misery But to pass this over The King being now as I may term it Established in the Throne the Duke of Burgundy vehemently incited him to War on France and recover it as his Antient Right and Inheritance upon which condition himself promised to do great matters towards assisting him The King was not slow in listening to it for many reasons urged by his Council as The French having frequently assisted his Enemies c. Yet Money being wanting it seemed difficult But to surmount this he resolved without a Parliament to ask it of his Subjects as a Free Gift which many indeed complied with tho' with an ill will But one thing in this is Remarkable The King to oblige them to bring in more freely if not for Love yet for fear of after-claps on Penal Laws seeing many that were Rich had engaged their Persons or Purses in the War against him he sat sundry Hours in a Day to receive it himself when among others a Rich yet Nigardly old Widow brought Twenty Pounds this so highly pleased him That he not only returned her thanks but told her For her kindness she should Kiss a King and having performed it once the Old Woman pull'd out another Bag crying Vdsbodikins if Kings Sell their Kisses so Cheap give me tother Touch on the Lips and here is another Twenty Pound for you The King smiled at this took her at her word and thought his Kisses well Sold. With this Benevolence of his Subjects and his own Treasure he Transported a fair Army over Sea but found the Duke of Burgundy altogether unprovided even of the promised Necessaries for the support of the English who Lying without the Towns on the cold Ground soon began to murmur however to employ them he Marched with the Duke towards St. Quintins which was secretly promised to be delivered to him by Lewis of Luxemburg great Unkle to King Edward's Queen but on their approaching its Walls the Cannon not only plaid fiercely on them but the Garison made great Sallies so that finding no good to be done they were constrained to draw off and soon after the Duke without taking leave went to raise Forces leaving only word That he would come again with an Army as soon as he was able These Proceedings made the King begin to repent he had come over upon his account and the French King making large offers to obtain a Peace it was after some debate Agreed to without the Dukes consent viz. 1. In consideration the French King Paid Edward 65000 Crowns towards his Charge and 50000l per Annum for his Life 2. That in one Year he should send for the Lady Elizabeth King Edward 's Eldest Daughter and Marry her to the Dauphin allowing them for Nine Years space Annually 50000 Crowns and then the Peaceable possession of the Dutchy of Guyan and in consideration of this Hostages should be left till the English had quitted France and were returned home This being Agreed on tho' the Marriage was never performed the Duke of Burgundy hastened to the Kings Camp and in a blustering and storming manner greatly inveighed against what he had done and was as sharply Answered by him whereupon he rod away in much discontent and the French King came to an Enterview with King Edward highly Feasting him and his whole Army giving Money to the Officers and Soldiers and commanding all his Subjects to use them with much Bounty and Civility which done King Edward Marched to Callice and there passed over to England and then the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheney the Hostages were sent after him with great Rewards The Duke of Burgundy however continued the War and was thrice Overthrown in one Year and in the last at Nancy he was slain King Edward being now at leasure to look if therâ— were after so many slaughters any that could lay â— Claim to his Crown or Interrupt by such a pretence the Peace of him or his Heirs for by this time he had two Sons and five Daughters he at last thought on Henry Earl of Richmond who remained with the Duke of Brittany he being of the Royal Blood and near of Allyance to the Crown To get this Prince into his hands he Bribed Peter Landois the Dukes Treasurer with great Sums
said to shed some Tears and wish it had not been done However he came to London and summoned a Parliament wherein to ingratiate with the People many good Laws were made which are highly in Esteem to this day But God shew'd him an early token of his displeasure by taking away his only Son being all the Children he had he falling from a Horse dyed of the Bruise Bishop Morton as is said being committed to the Duke of Buckingham's Custody that sagacious Prelate so wound himself into his favour and good opinion that finding he was Ambitiously enclined he spared nothing to encrease his aspiring thoughts to that height as to make him look with envious Eyes on King Richard's Crown and fancy it would sit more comely on his own Head He was indeed of the Royal Blood by the Female side but at a considerable distance However King Richard having broke Promise with him by detaining the Earldom of Hartford tho' he had been chiefly instrumental in Advancing him to the Royal Dignity That for many Reasons the Bishop urged he began to hate him which more and more encreasing from new disapointments and disfavours and in fine the Duke however seemed to decline the Crown it was urged by the Bishop he might be Instrumental to do good to his Country and gain Immortal Fame by Uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster in promoting a Match between the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth and Henry Earl of Richmond Son and Heir to Margaret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir to John Duke of Sommerset his great Unkle Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Fourth Son to Edward the Third This he attentively harkened to and thereupon the Bishop desired to go into the Isle of Ely and there he would raise Men and Money to forward this matter But the Duke considering his Absence would be charged on him and be a means to discover the Intrigue and that also he should want his Counsel at need refused to consent however the Bishop in disguise soon after got away and escaped to the Earl of Richmond Counselling and Animating him to prosecute the Project laid in England King Richard hearing there were secret Cabbals held against him in Britany by the Earl of Richmond and others renewed his Brothers Stratagem to get him into his hands But tho' it cost him much Money yet his Counsels being revealed he also was frustrated in his expectations But by this time having notice of Buckingham's discontents he by Friendly invitations entreated him to come to Court but the Duke excused it on pretence of Indisposition but King Richard well informed to the contrary knew it was rather an Indisposition of Mind than Body sent a second Summons peremptorily commanding him to make his personal appearance which made him believe his design was discovered and thereupon he stoutly replied by the Messenger That he reputed him a Monster a Tyrant Murtherer and not his Lawful King and therefore would not trust his Person in his hands who was cruelly unmerciful to his nearest Relations And so with many of his Friends raised Forces in Wales whilst Sir Edward Courtney did the like in Devonshire and Cornwal Sir Richard Guilford gathered many of the Kentish Commons and in Yorkshire the Marquess of Dorset leaving Sanctuary drew a great Number to him This Storm that threatened Ruine to the Usurper roused him to Arms so that Levying a considerable Army he Marched against the Duke to give him Battel ere he joyned his Friends supposing if he could rout him the rest would soon be Subdued The Duke was as resolute as he and intended to pass the Severn at a low Ford near Gloucester to meet him but that Night and for Ten days after such abundance of Rain fell that the River over-flowed its Banks drowning all the Meadows so that he could not pass and by lingering his Victuals growing scanty most of his Forces left him which unexpected misfortune made him shift for himself when coming to the House of one Humphery Banister near Shrewsbury who had been his Steward and got a good Estate under him he was there sheltered for a time but King Richard Proscribing him and setting a Thousand Pounds on his Head that Treacherous Servant discovered him to the Sherif of Shropshire who apprehended him in poor Apparel digging in the Garden and conveyed him to the King at Salisbury where in hopes of favour he made an ample confession but it availed not for without any Legal Proceedings he was Beheaded upon which the rest dispersed The Earl of Richmond knowing nothing of this disappointment having gotten some Forces of the Duke of Britany put to Sea for England but by contrary winds was driven into Normandy where the French King not only succoured him with Money and other Necessaries but gave him safe conduct through his Territories to Britany where he found a great number of his Friends Arrived before him and there making a sollemn promise to Marry the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Edward the Fourth if his success answered his expectations they owned him in a manner as their King vowing to adventure their Lives to settle him on the Throne King Richard in the mean while was busied in Fortifying the Sea-Ports and cutting off by terrible Executions all that he thought favoured the Earls Interest getting him and his adherents attainted in Parliament so that he seized their Lands and Effects bestowing them on his Creatures which caused much murmuring among the People And one Collingborn an Esquire of good Estate being in a Poetical strain reflecting on Richard's three Favourites viz. Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and the Viscount Lovel in this Distich The Rat the Cat and Lovel our Dog Rules all England under a Hogg Was Executed for it at Tyburn the Judges construing the last word to allude to the King because he had the White Boar for his Cognizance and so in their opinions the Scandal was wrested to Treason And then he laid another Trap for the Earl of Richmond by Bribing Peter Landoys the Duke of Britany's Treasurer but he escaped it on timely notice and fled to the French King however King Richard made an Alliance with James King of Scots by Marrying the Lady Ann one of his Neices to the Duke of Rothsey his Eldest Son and with large Presents and fair Promises so won on the infatuated Queen Dowager his Brothers Widow as to deliver her Daughters into his hands tho' she was sensible he had Murthured her Sons Then he caused it to be given out that Queen Ann his Wife who was Daughter to the great Earl of Warwick and had been Wife to Prince Edward Son to Henry the Sixth was suddainly Dead and though then very well yet soon after she was found unexpectedly dead not without suspicion of Poison which he so little regarded that he immediatly tendered Courtship to Elizabeth his Brothers Daughter who fearing her own and her Sisters safety put him off with
taken Executed which discouragement made him return to Burgundy Yet soon after he Sailed for Ireland where he was received with Promise of large Assistance but not finding it according to his expectation he passed thence into Scotland and was highly welcomed by James the Fourth who esteeming him by reason of his Courtly Behaviour as the True Prince he represented Married him to Catharine Gourdon his Neice and then with a Puissant Army Invaded England which miserably wasted the Northern Borders and compelled King Henry to set forward with all the Forces he on the suddain could raise under the Command of Giles Lord Dawbeny but was soon recalled upon an Insurrection in Cornwal occasioned by the Levying a Tax to support the War They strongly charging the fault on John Morton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Sir Reynold Bray who as they said to Inrich themselves had advised the King to oppress his Subjects desiring they might be removed from their Dignities Offices and Punished as Enemies to the Common Weale and chose for their Captains Thomas Flammock a Lawyer and one Joseph a Blacksmith and gathering as they Marched brought a great Terrour on the City of London being joyned by the Lord Audley and many Thousands he brought to their assistance and found a free passage till they came into Kent where the Kentishmen opposed them and now the King thinking it his time to set upon them gave them Battel at Black-heath near Greenwich and totally Routed them slaying 2000 and taking their Ringleaders with many others Prisoners who were most of them Executed Joseph the Blacksmith glorying in his way to Execution that for this deed he should be Recorded in History and indeed he missed not of his Expectation The King being now at leasure to revenge the wrongs the Scots had done in the North ordered the Earl of Surry and Richard Fox Bishop of Durham to raise such Forces as they could and oppose their Ravages till he sent a greater Strength but these two active Men raised such a Power that the Scots upon their approach immediatly retired into their own Country and were followed by the English who retaliated in a fearful manner the injuries done within the English Pale winning and razing many strong Castles Towns and Fortresses and though the Scots King made shew he would give Battel and Challenged the Field yet in the Night he Decamped and gave his Army free leave to disperse it self so that for seven Days the English hunted them in Woods and Mountaines tho' to little purpose for Winter approaching the Barrenness of the Country constrained them to return to Berwick to receive King Henry's Orders But in the mean while Peter Hyalus Ambassador from Ferdinand King of Castile arrived to Mediate a Peace between England and Scotland yet it came to no more than a Truce for certain Years on condition the Scots King Banished Perkin and all his Adherents out of his Dominions and about the same time the French King sent to Ratify the Peace that had been concluded between King Henry and himself which was Accorded and Maximillian perceiving his Country of Flanders c. much Impoverished for want of the English Trade with many Entreaties procured it to be Restored and our Merchants coming to Antwerp were received by the Inhabitants with solemn Processions Feastings and all demonstrations of Joy imaginable Perkin Warbeck by means of the Truce being Expell'd Scotland Sailed away with four Ships and Landed in Cornwal where the ordinary sort of People received him with Joy and loud Acclamations raising in a short time a great Multitude to Aid him tho' for Rebellion they had severely smarted but a little before and immediately with great Multitudes he Besieged the City of Exceter but the Citizens stoutly withstood them in their Attempts to Scale the Wales slaying very many of them Whereupon they put Fire to the Gates and Burnt them but could not Enter by reason the Besieged Countermured them with Fire and kept it with continual supplies of Fuel so fierce that they had time to raise Bulwarks and Ramparts Then the Rebells by Threats and fair Promises endeavoured to oblige them to submit but these proved fruitless for being encouraged by the King who promised to come to their Relief very speedily with an Army they stoutly refused all Conditions of Surrender and upon the Kings approach the Siege was raised the Rebells Marching into Somersetshire where they laid Siege to Taunton Dean but being close followed Perkin with 60 Horse fled from the rest and finding the Sea-ports stopped he took Sanctuary in Beauley Abby near Southampton Registering his own and the Names of some few of his Companions who had got thither with him the greater part of his Train being Taken by the King's Light-Horse-Men who closely Pursued And the Multitude Submitting and throwing down their Arms were received into the Kings Protection unless some of the Chief who being Taken were Executed in divers places The King after this coming to Exeter highly commended the Citizens for their Loyalty and Courage rewarding the Meaner sort with Money and those of Note with Knighthood and profitable Places of Trust giving his own Sword to the Mayor with a Priviledge that it should always be born before him And the Sanctuary where Perkin was being incompassed with Armed Men and he perceiving their orders were to take him thence by force he Surrendered himself to the Abbor of Sheen Intreating him to procure the Kings Pardon for him whereupon he was brought to Westminster and publickly declared his mean Birth and Parrentage and that he had been perswaded to this Undertaking chiefly by the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy whereupon with a Paper of all the Intreague Pinned on his Back he was set upon a Scaffold fastned in a pair of Stocks a whole Day before the Palace at Westminster and the following day in like manner at Cheapside-Cross and then made a close Prisoner in the Tower where Bribing the Keepers and practicing to Escape into Flanders tho' he had been Pardoned before he was for this Executed at Tyburn and the King laying hold on this to rid him of the fears he had of the True Earl of Warwick's being one day advanced to the Throne was not wanting of Evidence who Accused him to have attempted his Escape with Perkin and tho' having been kept in Prison from his Infancy so that he knew not a Goose from a Hen that poor Prince was wrongfully Condemned of High Treason and Beheaded on the Tower-Hill whose Innocent Blood fixed a stain on King Henry to all Posterity his Death being rather looked on as a State-Policy than any ways Just and that in this he had done that Crime for which he had so vehemently accused Richard the Third only with this difference That he made his Courts of Justice Guilty of a Crime not inferiour to what the other had imposed on private Assassins For this Edward Earl of Warwick was Son to George Duke of Clarence second Brother to
Edward the Fourth and the last of the Male Line of the Plantagenets who had sway'd the Scepter from Henry the Second King Henry by this Bloodshed having more firmly Established his Throne or at least himself from those fears that he apprehended from mutable Fortune whilst this Young Prince Lived Married Arthur Prince of Wales his Eldest Son to the Lady Catharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain with great Magnificence in St. Paul's But that Young Prince soon after Dying she was Married to Henry his Second Son who Succeeded But upon some pretended scruples Divorced as will appear at large in the History of his Reign And James the Fourth King of Scots suing for the Lady Margaret the Kings Eldest Daughter the Match was concluded tho' the French King and others had required her but could not obtain their Suits for in this Henry wisely considered That if his Sons Issue should fail it would be a means to unite Scotland to England when if he had Married her to a more Powerful Kingdom this must have been Subjected to that which he concluded would prove very dishonourable to the English Nation and the Lady being sent to Edenbourough was there Married with great Solemnity The King in the latter end of his Reign growing exceeding Covetous contrived how he might extort Money from his Subjects and for this as his chief Instrument he used Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley two Lawyers whom he appointed to put the Penal Laws in execution with great Rigor which they spared not to do to the utmost tho' in the next Reign it cost them their Lives nor was the complaints of the oppressed People minded tho' exceeding great and many from all parts of England which encouraged a whole swarm of Locusts as under Officers to pill and pole them in every Shire which caused the King much hatred After this Philip Duke of Austria in Right of his Wife coming to be King of Spain was in his Voyage thither driven by a Tempest into Weymouth Harbour in Dorsetshire where with his Queen he was Entertained by Sir Thomas Trenchard and after Invited to the King's Court at Windsor where for the Entertainment he gave him he procured the Duke of Suffolk fled into Austria to be put into his hands on condition he should have no violence offered him and indeed during this Kings Reign he was only kept a Prisoner but in the next lost his Head King Henry soon after falling Sick of a languishing Disease which was looked on as a Judgment for oppressing his Subjects remitted all offences against his Penal Laws enlarged all Prisoners except for Treason Murther restored Moneys to those that had been Ruined relieved the Poor and did many good Acts. And having Reigned 23 Years and 8 Months he Dyed and was Buried at Westminster in the famous Chappel of his own founding by Elizabeth his Queen who Dyed not long before in the 52d Year of his Age. In this Kings Reign Wheat was Sold for Six Pence a Bushel Nantwich Salt 6 d. and Bay Salt 3 d. per Bushel White Herings 6 s. per Barrel Red Herrings 3 s. per Cade Sprats 6 d. per Cade and Gascoign Wine at 6 l. per Tun. Anno 1495 a mighty Storm of Hail fell killing and wounding many Cattle and People several Stones being taken up at St. Neots in Huntingtonshire 18 Inches about And soon after a fearful Plague raged which made the King and Queen for a time remove their Court to Callice And during his Reign about Nine Persons Men and Women suffered the Flames for the profession of a good Faith Several did Penance by carrying Faggots on their Backs and some were Burnt in the Cheek c. Remarks on Wiltshire c. WIltshire is Renowned for the Frugal Industry of the Inhabitants It produces numerous Flocks of Sheep of whose Wooll Cloath is made and many Thousands of People set on Work as also large Cattle store of Corn and Pastures Venison Fish Fowl c. It is Bounded with Barkshire Hampshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire and Gloucestershire It contains 29 Hundreds in which are 304 Parishes 23 Market Towns 5 Rivers 1 City viz. Salisbury which is a Bishops See 3 Bridges 1 Castle 1 Chace and 2 Parks The River Avon branches its Southern parts and Wilby-Bourn extends to the West as also does a part of Avon and in other parts it is pleasantly Watered the Castle is that of Castlecomb It sends Members to Parliament 34 viz. Bedwin 2 Caln 2 Chipenham 2 Cricklade 2 Devizes 2 Downton 2 Heitsbury 2 Hindon 2 Ludgarsale 2 Malmsbury 2 Marleborough 2 New Sarum 2 Old Sarum 2 Westbury 2 Wilton 2 Wooton Basset 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire WILTSHIRE On Salisbury Plain is the memorable Wonder called Stone Henge supposed to be Erected as a Monument to Hingest the first Saxon Invader its Stones are of a prodigious bigness some 28 Foot long and 7 broad Morticed one within another tho' wasted by time some are falln Near Sawerth are Cockle-stones and those called the Grey Weathers near Marlborough On the Borders of this County between Great Bedwin and Lockington are certain deep Holes called the Giants Caves The Water breaking out of certain Stones near Knet is accounted a presage of Dearth At Luckington is a Well whose Virtue is to Cure Sore Eyes At Aubury is cast up a Ditch of a prodigious depth near Circular set round with large Stones supposed once a strong Encampment of the Romans as Yarnborough Castle on Salisbury Plain is supposed to have been one of their Fortresses The Seats of the Nobility are Marleborough-House and Allington-House belonging to the Duke of Somerset Wilton and Falstone alias Fallerdown to the Earl of Pembrook Clarlton to the Earl of Barkshire Stourton-Castle to the Lord Stourton Wardour-Castle to the Lord Arundel of Wardour Long Leats to the Viscount Weymouth Baron of Warmister the Bishops Seat in Salisbury The Reign of King HENRY the Eighth HENRY the Eighth being Eighteen Years old began his Reign the 22d of April Anno Dom. 1509. and was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury His first Policy was to wind himself into the Affections of his Subjects and soon found out a way to do it by issuing out Proclamations That such as had been Injured by Extortions and Oppressions of evil Persons in his Fathers Reign should be favourably heard and receive Satisfaction for the wrongs done them Whereupon great Numbers came with grievous Complaints those that had received the least Injury being the most clamorous and having recompenced many to please the rest Empson and Dudley the two corrupt Judges were Convicted of High Treason and Beheaded on Tower-Hill and divers imployed under them were Disgraced by Pillories Stocks and Whipping-Posts tho' these Catterpillars had exceedingly Enriched the Kings Treasury as well as their own Coffers For his Father left behind him the greatest Mass of Money that any King of England before him had done Things being a
little settled Ferdinand the King's Father-in-Law craved Aid of him against the Moors who infested his Kingdom which he obtained and drove them by that means out of Spain but the War ceasing he sent home the English poor and ill rewarded for their Service which much offended the King and Wars arrising between Pope Julius the Second and Lewis the French King in Italy where the latter seized on the strong Towns of Bologna and La Gasse and became very Formidable King Henry became a friendly Mediator between them But the French King refusing to yeild to Proposals of Peace pursuing his Conquests he required him by his Ambassadors to restore him the Peaceable possession of Guyan and Normandy with his Antient Inheritance of Mayne and Anjou unjustly detained from his Ancestors and himself which being refused he Proclaimed War and for this and Writing a Book in defence of the Roman Pontificate against Martin Luther the Pope on whose account this Quarrel was espoused stiled him Defender of the Faith which Title has ever since been retained by the Kings and Queens of England The King was not slow in raising an Army and King Ferdinand of Spain having notice of his preparations sent to offer his Service if he would Land his Forces in Biscay a part of his Country and from thence March into Guyan which was agreed to and done under the Leading of Thomas Crey Marquess of Dorset But the crafty Spaniard intending nothing but his own advantage by this after the English had suffered many hardships in his Country he joyned them and fell unexpectedly on the Kingdom of Navarre which he seized in a short time the Natives being so amazed at the suddainness of the Invasion that they made little or no resistance But after this success he afforded them no subsistance or any part of the spoil which made the Soldiers Disband of their own accord and come straglingly into England Poor and almost Naked But Sir Edward Howard Youngest Son to the Earl of Surry being Lord Admiral of England many times Landed in the French Territories and greatly endamaged them and at Sea overthrew their Navy in which Fight Sir John Carew of Devonshire in the Regent grapling with a great Carrick of Brest both Ships in the contest fell on Fire and in them on both sides about 800 Men perished This distress on his Coast made the French King augment his Fleet and Fortify his Harbours However the Admiral entered that of Brest with Boats and armed Barges and assailed three great Galleys of Rhodes brought to the assistance of the French King by Prior John these they soon Boarded but the Boats and Barges then returning and leaving them well Manned to be brought off at high Tide by this oversight the French regained them and in the contest the Admiral was born overboard by a Pike and Drowned But in few days his Elder Brother was made Admiral and two Land Armies prepared one under the Leading of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and the other by Charles Somerset Lord Herbert Chamberlain to the King These had not long been Landed but the King leaving the publick mannagement of Affaires to the Queen and directing the Earl of Surry to Guard the North against the Scots Incursion he Sailed to Callice and caused his Army to March to Terwyn which he Besieged and upon the overthrow of the French Army that came to its Relief had it put into his possession which he rased and consumed by Fire except the Cathedral and Bishops Palace During this Siege Maximilian the Emperour with 30 Nobles and Gentlemen repared to King Henry's Camp where to the Honour of England they Enrolled themselves in the King's Pay and were Nobly entertained The next Place that opposed him in his intended Conquest was Tournay which despairing of succour after many fierce Assaults yielded and on condition of their paying 10000 l. the Citizens were received into Henry's Protection and Wolsey his Almoner took an Oath of Allegiance of them to be True to him as his own Subjects However in his Absence the Scots Invaded England with 8000 Men under the Command of the Lord Humes and did great mischief but as they were returning with their Plunder Sir William Bulmer who lay in wait with 1000 Archers put them to the Rout in a sharp Fight slew 500 and took 400 Prisoners and recovered all the Booty so that those who had the luck to Escape returned Poor and Beggarly into Scotland But King James the Fourth to revenge this disgrace raised the Power of his Kingdom and come before the Castle of Norham some Historians say with 100000 Fighting Men which he Took by reason the Captain being prodigal of his Powder too soon spent it But the Earl of Surry Marching against the Scots with 26000 Fighting Men Anno 1513 the fatal Battel of Floden Field was Fought September 9 in which the Victory fell to the English the Scots King 2 Bishops 12 Earls 14 Lords and 12000 others of lesser note being slain For this good Service the Earl of Surry was Created Duke of Norfolk Charles Brandon Viscount Lysle Duke of Suffolk and Woolsey was made Bishop of Lincoln and after some Bickerings with the French on the Coast of Normandy King Lewis stricken much in Years sued for Peace and the better to confirm it Married the Lady Mary Second Sister to King Henry a Young and very Beautiful Lady at whose Wedding and Coronation many brave feats of Chivalry were performed by the English Nobility and Gentry who waited on her But Lewis the 12th Dying three Months after this Marriage she returned again for England and with the King 's private consent was Married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk who had a long time been her Lover Woolsey who was a Butchers Son at Ipswich now began to rise a pace for Doctor Bambridge dying he was made Arch-Bishop and after by the Pope Cardinal of York which puffed him up with so much Pride that he undertook to Rule the King and Kingdom doing for a time without controul what he listed placing and displacing Officers and meddling in all Affairs where there was Advantage or Homage to be gained Especially when made Lord Chancelour and Counsellour of State demanding Accounts of the Treasurers Captains and other Officers that had been in the Wars by which he got much Money out of some that were Rich and those that could not furnish him he Punished and Imprisoned Erecting Courts of his own head and by subtilty got himself to be made the Popes Legat and to Build two Colledges by the Popes permission suppressed and seized on the Lands Effects of many Religious Houses which gave an inlet to King Henry's suppressing the rest some time after who concluded if it were not Sacriledge in the Pope but he could alow of it at pleasure it would be none in him However this Cardinal was sent on several Honourable Embassies wherein he behaved himself so Proudly Naming the King but in the Second
place as Ego et Rex meus I and my King That Forreigners admired how such Arrogancy could be suffered by any Prince in his Subject but his Fall was swifter than his Rise so that what he chiefly aimed at viz. to be Elected Pope in making Interest for which promotion at Rome and in other Courts it had cost England vast sums of Money he never attained to For King Henry growing into a dislike of the Marriage between him and the Lady Catharine of Spain because she had been his Brother Arthur's Wife tho' indeed as it after appeared rather by a Divorce to make way for a fresh Beauty the Cardinals delays and crossing the Kings haste in this purpose made him fall into disgrace which brought him to his End as will by and by be manifested The King by Riotous Living at home and Expences in Forreign Courts where Ambassadors especially Woolsey were attended with such State that they rather seemed the King himself than his Representatives had now pretty well emptied his Coffers which put him into some discontent But Woolsey both to Enrich the King and himself laid hold of his Melancholy and Wants as a favourable opportunity of his own Authotity granted out Commissions under the Great Seal for Levying a Tax all over England and Wales according to the true value of every Mans Estate viz. Of every Fifty Pound value and upwards Four Shillings in the Pound and for every Pound above Twenty and under Fifty two Shillings and all under Twenty Twelve Pence in the Pound and in London he appointed himself chief Commissioner And by another Commission the Clergy without exception were Taxed Four Shillings in the Pound for their Livings This seemed so grievous to all sorts of People so great a Tax never having been laid on them before and this done without Authority of Parliament that the Meaner sort grievously Cursed the Author and Contriver of their Miseries and those more discreet laboured for these Reasons to have the Commission Revoked 1. Because the Commissions were not established or grounded on the Laws of the Kingdom 2. Because the Execution of them would be a dangerous President against the Liberty and Freedom of the People of England in time to come 3. Because Mens Credits many times exceeded their Estates and to bring them upon Oath or other ways to discover that it would prove their Ruin And Lastly That not one in ten had the value demanded in Plate or Ready Money and if they parted with so much Trade must cease for want of Coin to Trade with But these and many more Reasons prevailed not till the King perceived the Peoples discontents every where so great that he feared a general Insurrection and then he sent his Letters to countermand the Commission dissembling that he knew any thing of those Commissions that had been given out to Levy the Tax and the Cardinal seeing his Project frustrated and fawningly to excuse himself to the People he certified in all Counties by his Letters viz. That because he saw those Taxes were too grievous for them to bear he had in compassion to them kneeled to the King and prevailed with him to Revoke the Commissions Yet few believed him for the greater part were satisfied that it was done against his mind and that he inwardly fretted at the disappointment it being the first rub that had checked his Arbitrary Will When to spend his Gaul on some body and ease his Anger he after he had given the King Hampton Court and all his fine Buildings there in exchange for his Palace of Richmond prevailed to have the ordering the King's Houshould which was no sooner granted but he turned out all worthy deserving Persons and Sold their Places and Offices to such as would be more obedient to him About this time the French King requested the Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to be given in Marriage to the Dauphin his Son but whilst this Match was solicited and by some liked and by others disapproved a Scruple was cast in the way as most thought upon the secret intimation of Woolsey in despight to the Emperour because by Strength he had not made him Pope when by his Money and Policy he had failed to obtain it by the President of Paris who Questioned Whether the Lady was Legitimate as Born in Lawful Matrimony seeing she was Begotten on the Body of the Lady Catharine who had been his Brother Arthur 's Wife This made the Lawfulness of the King's Marriage be called in Questian and himself so averse to it that by the Counsel of Doctor Longland his Confessor who told him he had Lived Incestuously almost twenty Years he forsook the Queen's Bed to her great grief and discontent And however tho' upon this pretence the Match was broken off yet Woolsey was sent over who concluded a Peace with the French King The Legality of the King's Marriage after this coming hotly to be Disputed to determine which the Pope sent Campeius with a power Legantine which he also granted to Woolsey and so the two Legates reparing to the Queen to Inform her of their Power and Authority which she took very uneasy sharply telling Woolsey He was the first causer of this scruple to be Revenged on her Nephew because he had not made him Pope and on her because she had secretly in a loving and gentle manner often times Admonished him of his Coveteousness and Tyrany his Extortions and Oppressions his Pride and Lechery But with protestations he laboured to excuse it as if he had been altogether Ignorant of the matter and proceeded to erect a stately Court for himself and his Brother Cardinal in the Black Fryars in London where the King and Queen were Cited and Appeared The King protested That nothing but his trouble of Conscience could make him part with so Tender and Loving a Wife and if with the removal of that scruple he could Cohabit with her he should be exceeding Joyful But those that knew what little Scruples this King made in other weighty matters did not lean greatly on the truth of what he said however the Queen advised by her Councel appealed to the Court of Rome But her Appeal was not allowed and tho' the King desired a quick dispatch the business was delayed Yet they proceeded to sit Weekly and hear Learned Disputes on the matter At length the King being informed That after the Last day of July the Legates would sit no more till the Fourth of October in a great passion he sent the Dukes of Norfolk Suffolk and other Lords to demand a dispatch to the Judicial Sentence one way or the other Campeius Answered It could not be done so soon for by the Yearly Custom of the Court of Rome they were bound to Adjourn and if any Sentence in the interim was given it was utterly void in Law At this the Duke of Suffolk in a Rage struck his Fist on the Table saying That never Cardinal nor Legate did any good in England
John Rogers who in King Henry the Eighth's Reign had fled and associated himself with the famous Tindal after his Death returned into England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth and was made a Prebend of St. Pauls by Bishop Ridley being taken and cast in Prison Sentence of Death passed upon him to be burnt which pain he endured with great Constancy and undauntedness of Spirit Exhorting his Wife and Ten Children who weeping came to take their leave of him to part with him Joyfully and Trust in God who would be a better Husband and Father to them Doctor John Hooper Bishop of Gloucester came in for a Crown among the number of these Martyrs and they having Condemned him he was sent down to Gloucester to be burnt where as they said he had done the greatest mischief in sowing the Seeds of Heresie and there in mallice because he earnestly Exhorted the People to be Constant in a steadfast Faith and not to adheare to the destructive Tenents of the Church of Rome they Burnt him with Green Wood so that his Leggs and part of his Thighs were consumed whilst he continued Praying and Exhorting the People yet in these Torments he declared he was as Easie as in a Bed of Roses Dr. Robert Ferrar Bishop of Carmarden was likewise brought on the stage for thwarting Bishop Gardener's Humour and being Condemned as a Heretick by Dr. Morgan who had been thrust into his Bishoprick there happened but a short space between that and his suffering the Flames in Carmarden-Market-Place expressing a firmness of Mind and much resolution in undergoing his Torments accusing Gardener of his Death and Citing him to Answer it before God's High Tribunal Rowland Taylor an Eminent Minister of Hadley being accused as the former was sent to that Parish to be Burnt where he was Lamented by all sorts of People especially the Poor to whom he had been very Charitable calling out the Almes-People by Name and giving them then what Money he had Exhorting them to follow the Doctrine he had Taught them and coming to the Stake he Merrily said Now many would be deceived whereat a Popish Priest supposing he would have Recanted urged him to it with promises and hopes of longer Life but he smilingly Reply'd You mistake my meaning I do not intend by the Grace of God any that I have Preached his Word to shall find me Contradict what I have Taught for Life or any other thing but once supposing to have been Buried in Hadly Church-Yard the Worms will be deceived because my Corpulent Body that might have fed them must now be Burnt to Ashes Besides these divers others of Note were Burnt as Lawrence Saunders a famous Preacher at Coventry John Cardmaker Chancellour of Wells and Bath At London John Bradford a Man Eminent for his Learning and Sanctity in Smithfield At which place also suffered in the Flames that Eminent and Holy Martyr Mr. John Philpot saying at his Martyrdom I will pay my Vows in thee O Smithfield And with him suffered a little Youth praising God and Rejoyceing in the Flames Yet this Issue of Blood staid not for Tho. Tompkins whose Hand Bonner Bishop of London burnt in Prison to try his Constancy which he endured with much Patience was burnt in Smithfield also William Hawtree And in Essex Stephen Knight William Pigot and John Lawrence Rawlins White at Cardiff William Flower and George Marshal at Westminster and John Warn in Smithfield And now the Goâ—ls being full and complaint made by the Pope to the King and Queen That Hereticks were not so severely dealt-with as beyond the Seas they sent to Bonner prone enough of himself to Cruelty that he should disincumber the Prisons in his Diocess by sending such as were Condemned to Execution and proceed to the Tryals of the rest In obedience to this bloody Command he Condemned John Ardely and John Sympson who were burnt in Essex and Thomas Wats Tho. Hawks Tho. Osmond William Bamford Tho. Osburn Inhabitants of Cogshal in Essex being Committed for not Receiving the Easter Sacrament were Condemned and Burnt in several places of that County John Bland Nicâ—olas Shetterden John Frakesh and Humphery Middleton also suffered the Flames and a while after by the same Cruelty fell Nicholas Hall John Harpole Christopher Wade and Margery Boley In Kent John Launder Derick Carver Tho. Iveson John Denby James Abbes John Newman Patrick Packingham and Richard Hook suffered the Flames Robert Samuel a Minister was Burnt at Norwich two more at Ipswich five in the Diocess of Canterbury for Bonner especially took as much pleasure in Condemning these Good People and sending them to the Flames as Domitian did in Torturing Flys Seven were Burnt in one Fire in Smithfield four in Canterbury A Woman as she was Burning in the Isle of Guernsey had a Child sprung out of her Womb which the Cruel Torturers threw again into the Flames To be brief and not tire your Patience in drawing so Tragical a Scene too wide There were in this short Raign consumed in the Flames for the Confession of a Good Faith 277 of all Ages and Sexes viz. Five Bishops 21 Divines 8 Gentlemen 4 Tradesmen 100 Husbandmen Servants and Labourers 26 Wives 20 Widows and Virgins 2 Boys and 1 Infant Besides these 7 were Whipped one to Death 16 perished in Prisons 12 were Buried in Dunghills and many lay Condemned in Expectation of the Firey Tryal and some Hundreds fled beyond the Seas but the death of this Queen who gave way to so much Cruelty put an end to the Persecution the stream of Blood being thereby stopped And before this time and soon after most of the Persecutors were overtaken by Gods Judgments and came to Miserable and Detested Ends. Some were Executed for several heinious Crimes others wandered beyond the Seas till they Perished and some were Eaten up by Vermin And thus Reader have I heitherto made good my Promise and now passing over this Acaldama or Field of Blood I lead you to a more diverting Theme The Reign of Queen ELIZABETH ELIZABETH Youngest Daughter to Henry the Eighth after her many Sufferings in close Confinement and attempts made to take away her Life happily Succeeded to the Throne and put a stop to the cruel Persecutions her Sister had raised on the 17th of November 1558. And the first publick Testimony she gave of her Princly Discretion and Knowledge in the weighty Affairs of State was to chuse a Wise and Learned Council causing new Commissions and Instructions to be sent to the several Ambassadors in Forreign Courts and desired by Sir Edward Hern her Agent who had resided in Queen Mary's Time at the Court of Rome That mutual Good Offices might pass between her and the Pope in matters that concerned Publick Affairs seeing she had happily Succeeded her Sister on the Throne But the haughty Old Man would not Answer but in his usual Dialect viz. That the Kingdom of England was held in Fee of the See Apostolick That she
could not Succeed being Illegitimate That he could not contradict the Declarations of Clement the Seventh and Paul the Third That it was a great presumption to assume the Name of Queen and Government without his consent yet being desirous to shew a Fatherly Affection if she would renounce her pretentions to the Crown and refer herself wholly to his free disposition he would do whatever might be done with the Honour of the Apostolick See The Queen who was well assured of her Title to the Crown by her Right and by the Estates in Parliament little expecting such an Answer was very much displeased called home her Agent and from that time resolved never more to hold any Correspondency with the See of Rome But having refused the King of Spain's offers of Marriage with her counting the Dispensation he promised to procure at the Popes hands Unlawful and Wicked she set her mind to contrive the most easie and inofensive ways how to restore the Protestant Religion consulting with those of the greatest understanding in Affairs of Church and State and coming to some result she placed in the Courts of Judicature and Offices of greatest Trust such Persons as were of that Profession or well enclined to it And having wisely weighed all circumstances she made provision against the encouragement and growth of Popery by restraining the Nobles and others from sending their Children to be Educated beyond the Seas and caused many Ceremonies in Divine Worship used in the former Reign to be laid aside And so after the Funeral of her Sister prepared for her Coronation and was in order to it conducted with extraordinary Pomp and Triumph from the Tower through the City to Westminster where she was Invested with the Regal Ornaments and was Crowned by the Bishop of Carlile the other Bishops refusing to perform that Office as fearing the Popes displeasure or rather the fall of the Romish Religion in this Kingdom to which Alteration if they consented not they foresaw they must lose their Bishopricks And now People differing much in Points of Religion it was ordered by Proclamation That none should unreverently speak of the Sacrament and it was alowed to be received in both kinds yet a Conferrence was appointed to be held at Westminster between the Papists and the Protestants upon these Considerations viz. 1. Concerning Prayer and the Administration of the Sacrament in the Vulgar-Tongue 2. Concerning the Authority of the Church in Constituting and Abrogating Ceremonies to Edification 3. Concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass But the Papists in this would come to nothing without the Popes License and some of the Bishops threatning the Queen and her Nobles with Excommunication if they proceeded to make alterations for their male-pertness some of them were committed to Prison The Queen appointed a Form of Common Prayer in English and settled the Reformed Religion entirely throwing off the Roman Yoak and began to apply herself to other weighty Affairs sending to demand the Restitution of Callice Lost in the preceding Reign and after many Debates it was agreed That the French King should Enjoy it for the Term of Eight Years and that then it should be restored to the Queen of England or in refusal be Paid 500000 Crowns and hereupon a Peace was Agreed and Proclaimed between the two Nations as also between the Dauphin and the Queen of Scots his Wife whereby Scotland was Included Whilst these things were transacting the Parliament Advised the Queen to Marry leaving her entirely therein to her own Choice that Children might be Born to Succeed her To which the Queen made this reply That she was already Wedded which was to her Kingdom and People and having promised to take a Husband if so the good of the State should require it she dismissed those that were sent to her by both Houses on this Message And soon after came an Ambassador from the King of Sweden to propose a Marriage between her and Prince Ericus the Kings Eldest Son but after he had been sumptuously Treated he was dismissed with a modest Denial and tho' the Duke of Anjou the Arch Duke of Austria and others sued for her Favour she only gave them her Esteem instead of her Love and put them off with fair words In the meantime the Scots destroyed in most parts of that Kingdom the Religious Houses Altars Images c. declaring for a Reformation which was against their Queens mind Whereupon the French on her Husbands and her part raised Forces to oppose them which made them send their Complaints to Queen Elizabeth and implore her assistance for the speedy driving out the Frenchmen whom they said through their Queens favour had engrossed all the Places of Trust Honour and Profit into their Hands This Queen Elizabeth communicating to her Council after many Debates to prevent the French getting an inlet into England by the way of Scotland it was agreed Assistance should be given to the Reformers And the Duke of Norfolk was appointed Lieutenant General of the North to secure the Borders and on certain Articles agreed an Army was sent into Scotland under the Command of the Lord Grey and Ships to Edenborough Frith who dislodged the French Men of War that lay there This made the French King sue for Peace to the Queen but his suit was rejected on many weighty Considerations tho' he promised at this time to deliver up Callice in lieu thereof However a Treaty was held at Edenborough but it came to little upon the French King 's declining to Sign the Articles agreed on And now the Pope a Second time laboured to perswade the Queen to own his Supremacy and not separate England from the Body of the Roman Catholick Church but the Queen refusing to harken to the Popes Letters resolved firmly to adhere to the Protestant Religion And now the Queen of Scots returning into that Kingdom her Husband being Dead sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth full of kind expressions to desire that a sincere Friendship might be maintained between them and the Envoy that brought it had Commission to deal with the Queen to declare her Heir Apparent to the Kingdom which was insinuated as the safest way to continue Peace between the two Crowns But the Queen Answered She would do nothing to the prejudice of her Title but as to this matter she would refer it to the Personal Conferrence that was to be held shortly at York But that Interview was broken off by the Papists contrivance least it might be a means towards creating the Queen of Scots an inclination to the Reformed Religion whereupon the Queen the better to strengthen her Hands built several Sail of stout Ships cast a great many Ordnance and the Art of Gun-powder-making in England was first by her Encouragement found out so that having a great Fleet always at Sea she was by Forreigners stiled The Queen of the North Seas causing the Militia readily to be provided with Arms and frequently Exercised And the Guisean Faction
labouring to destroy the Hugonots or Protestant Party in France constrained them for the safety of their Lives to fall into a Civil War The Queen assisted the latter and had Haverdegrace and New Haven put into her Hands as Cautionary Towns for the reimbursment of her Charges when things should be settled and to keep them firm to her Interest so that they should not make a Peace without her consent and hereupon she sent them 6000 Men under the Command of the Lord Ambrose Dudley and kept the Seas with a considerable Navy Whilst matters went thus Abroad Designs were carrying on against the Queen at Home whereupon divers of Note especially those descended of the Blood Royal by the two Daughters of Henry the Seventh were Imprisoned And she calling a Parliament an Act passed for Assurance of the Queens Royal Power and Authority over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions And further Enacted That the Oath of Supremacy should be administered to all Persons for the better discovery of such as sided with the Pope against her which much startled the Papists and made them quiet for a time In the mean while the Prince of Conde one of the chief Leaders of the French Protestants being Overthrown at the Battel of Derux was taken Prisoner as likewise Sir Nicholas Trockmorton who paying his Ransom was set at Liberty But the Admiral Chastillion took so many Places as startled the Guises insomuch that they consented to an Edict of Pacification whereby the Princes were to be restored to the French Kings Favour Conde alured with the hopes of the Lieutenancy of France and a Marriage with the Queen of Scots the Hugonets to enjoy the freedom of their Religion c. The Agreement was suddainly made and the English not only treacherously Abandoned but they Joyned with the Papists to drive them out of the places they held and straightly Besieged New Haven which by reason of the Plague raged grievously in it they had Surrendered to them But the Spanish Greatness threatning England and the French offering reasonable Terms a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns and Ratified upon their delivering Hostages to pay the Queen at a set time a large Sum of Money upon which the French King was Invested with the Order of the Garter Hereupon the Spaniard in a fret prohibited all Commerce between the English and his Subjects which made the Queen remove the Wooll-Mart from Antwerp to Ems in Frizland but the Low Countries being much Impoverished thereby the Edict was Repealed and now the Queen made her great Favourite Sir Robert Dudley Lord Denbigh Earl of Leicester Knight of the Garter Chancellor of Oxford and Master of the Horse and this she seemed to do the better to qualify him for a Husband for the Queen of Scots but it swelled him to that Ambition that he soon aspired to make pretentions to herself and the Queen of Scots soon after Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Duke of Lenox of the Royal Blood and of this Marriage was born James the Sixth of Scotland and first of England This not only displeased Queen Elizabeth but the greater part of the Scots Nobility because he was scarce 20 Years of Age and easie to be sway'd any way However he was sollemnly Crowned King but by the contrivance of Murray the Queen of Scots Bastard Brother and others he some time after was Blown-up in his Lodging and his mangled Body thrown by the force of the Pouder into the Garden The Parliament of England meeting again humbly besought the Queen to Marry but she still declined it Shortly after the Queen of Scots falling into a Languishing condition Recommended her Son to the Protection of Queen Elizabeth yet Recovering Earl Bothwell suspected to be one with Murray in destroying Darnley was forced to fly the Kingdom and Murray raised a Party against the Queen to Depose her when after some contesting being over-powered she fled into England and craved Queen Elizabeth's Protection but by the Advice of some Counselours bribed by Murray's Faction in stead of allowing her tho' near in Blood that favour she was committed a Prisoner in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury and after 20 Years Confinement lost her Head for holding Correspondencies with the Papists to take away the Life of the Queen A Passage having been discovered by the English to Russia and great Privileges granted to the Merchants The Czar or Emperour of Moscovy and Russia sent his Ambassadors to Queen Elizabeth with Rich presents of Furrs and such other Commodities as his Country yielded and with them one Anthony Jenkinson an Englishman who had first Sailed the Caspian Sea his demands was to make a League Offensive and Defensive with her but by reason of the distance of the place the Queen agreed not to the former but left the latter indifferent and so the Ambassadors having been highly Treated were dismissed with a return of Presents In Ireland Shan O Neal fell into Rebellion but being defeated by the English and throwing himself on the Hebridians he was by them Slain after a seeming kind reception and the Earl of Desmond was seized and sent Prisoner to England and Sir John Hawkins being in America with some Ships and contrary to the Capitulation set-upon by the Spaniard his Goods rifled and some of his Men slain the English Nation was so exasperated with the Treachery that they demanded a War with Spain which however at that time was not granted for the Queen having taken the French Protestants who were cruelly Persecuted under Charles the Ninth was employed to support them with Money and Ammunition and in providing for such a fled hither tho' they had basely abandoned her at New Haven But the Duke of Alva the King of Spains General making fierce War in the Low Countries he brought in the Inquisition to Extirpate the Protestant Religion There there happened an Accident that opened a Breach between England and Spain viz. Vast Sums of Money being sent in a Spanish Ship by Italian Merchants to be Imployed in the Bank in the Low Countries for the ruin of the Protestants there those Vessells were Chased upon the English Coast by some French Men of War and the Money being brought on Shoar the Queen was Advised by her Privy Council to stay it and give the Merchants Owners Security for the Repaiment of it Whereupon the Duke of Alva caused all the Goods and Effects of the English in the Low Countries to be seized and the Queen caused the same to be done by the Dutch Merchants in England which were of greater Value and Commerce being Prohibited the English removed the Staple to Hamb rough and the Privatieâ—s set out so greatly Endamaged the Spaniard that the Queen was forced to restrain them yet the Duke of Alva secretly practised to raise Rebellion in England and Ireland and the Earls of Northumberland Westmorland and others did make an Insurrection in the North being Instigated to it by Morton a
them A Sow furrowed Piggs with Arms and Hands fingered as a Child instead of Legs And many other Creatures produced Monstrous Births A Plague likewise happened whereof Dyed in 8 Months 23660. The Thames was so hard Frozen that Waines and Carts passed it Markets and divers sorts of Exercises were kept and used on it Great Floods and Tempests happened spoiling much Corn and demolishing many Buildings In Yorkshire a Tempest over-threw a Church called Patrick Burton and laid many Villages in Ruins And many fearful Sights appeared in the Air. The Reign of King JAMES the First QUeen Elizabeth a little before she died having declared King James the Sixth of Scotland her Successor as indeed he was the next Allied to the Crown of England as being great Grand-Son to the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh he was upon that Queens death Proclaimed by Secretary Cecill and others and solemnly Invited to fill the vacant Throne when having disposed Affairs in Scotland for the preserving the Peace of that Kingdom he set forward with a very splendid Equipage And his first Act was to Establish and Continue Religion as it had been Setled by the deceased Queen causing the Old and New Testaments to be Translated from the Original and set many at liberty who were Imprisoned on sundry occasions by the Queen deceased But whilst these things were doing there wanted not some who envied his Accession to the Throne and secret contrivances were laid to Depose him and set up the Lady Arabella a Branch sprung from the same Stem by another Branch but it being timely discovered divers were Apprehended Tryed and Condemn'd yet only George Brook Brother to the Lord Cobham and two Popish Priests suffered Death Sir Walter Rawleigh and divers others being Pardoned and on the 25th of July 1603 the King and Ann his Queen were Crowned at Westminster in the Marble Chaire brought out of Scotland by Edward the First which fullfilled the Prophecy Inscribed on it and mentioned in that Kings Reign and Prince Henry the Kings Eldest Son was made Knight of the Garter and stiled Prince of Wales and Honours were conferred on divers Persons The next thing the King proceeded to do was to decide the Controversy between the Church of England and the Party that then stiled themselves Puritans and a Conference to that purpose was appointed at Hampton-Court where the King so Learnedly Argued that the former carried the day And the Jesuits proving over-hot in stirring up the People to change in opinions thereby to work their own ends were Banished the Kingdom and a Proclamation put out for Uniformity in the Church Soon after this the King Assembled a Parliament recommending to them the care of the Nation and a lasting settlement of Peace and Tranquility and thereupon restored the Antient Name of this Island causing himself to be Proclaimed King of Great Britain And whilst he and the Parliament happily accorded a private design was carried on to destroy them both for the Popish Party being denied the Tolleration they had petitioned for contrived one of the most Stupendious Mischiefs that ever entered into the Hearts of Men for their heat of Mallice would not be quenched with the Royal Blood but that of the Nobility and Gentry the representative body of the whole Kingdom united at Westminster was to have been shattered in pieces and dismembered by a blast of 36 Barrells of Gunpowder which they had placed in a Cellar under the Parliament House but it was Discovered by a Letter to the Lord Monteagle the Morning before it was to have been put in execution The principal Conspirators were Robert Catesby Thomas Piercy Robert Winter Thomas Winter John Garnet Ambrose Rookwood John Wright Francis Fresham Sir Everard Dighby and Guido Faux This Latter was to have set Fire to the Train and was taken with his Dark-Lanthorn at the Enterance of the Cellar on the 5th of November 1605. Which day by Parliament was appointed Annually a Day of Thanksgiving for that memorable Deliverance Upon this Discovery the Conspirators that escaped by flying were divers of them slain by Forces raised by the High-Sheriff of Warwickshire Faux upon Examination before the Council confessed the whole matter saying God would have had it prosper but the Devil Discovered it expressing himself sorry that it had not taken effect Garnet the Jesuite and others were Executed on this account and some Lords who were absent from Parliament and were suspected to have notice of the Design were committed to the Tower but after some confinement were released again and soon after this a rumour was spread without any certain Author That the King was Stabbed and Slain with an Impoisoned Knife as he was Hunting near Ockingham which for a time much troubled the People nor could their fears be allayed before a Proclamation came out to satisfie them of the contrary and the King of Denmark the Queens Brother coming to White-Hall was Magnificently Entertained and having stay'd about a Month departed highly satisfied The Kingdoms of England and Scotland that had long continued in bloody Wars were now United by both their consents in their Representatives on a foundation advantagious to either Nation and so it has ever since continued The Duke of Juliers about this time dying the Dukes of Newburg and Brandenburg strove for that Dutchey but whilst they weakly contended Spain more powerful resolved to take it from them both seizing on the City of Juliers the principal place of the Province which obliged King James at the States of the Netherlands supplication to send 4000 English under the Command of Sir Edward Cecill and Sir Hatton Cheek by whose Valour it was chiefly Reduced Soon after Henry the Fourth of France was Stabbed in his Coach by one Ravilliack passing the Ironmongers-street in Paris for which the Murtherer was pulled to pieces with Burning Pincers yet could not be compelled to tell who set him on that wicked Enterprize and King James startled with this untimely Death put out a Second Proclamation to Banish the Jesuits out of the Kingdom and all Popish Recusants Ten Miles from the Court. The Lord Sanquire a Scotish Baron having his Eye put out by one Turner a Fencing-master in White-Fryars in revenge hired two Persons to Murther him for which he was Hanged before Westminster-Hall-Gate in the Palace-Yard and Dyed very penitently tho' great intercession was made to save him And the Queen of Scots Beheaded in the foregoing Reign was by the Kings order removed from Peterborough to Westminster and there magnificently Interred and soon after the Elector Palatine of the Rhinâ— came into England and Married the Lady Elizabeth the Kings Daughter But the splendour of the Nuptials were Eclipsed by the Death of Prince Henry the Kings Eldest Son which happened a little before the Weding not without suspicion of Poison as some have it by the Scent of Perfumed Gloves others by eating a Bunch of Grapes but the Disease affecting mostly the Brain it carried him
Commons Ordered he should be brought to Exemplary Punishment and all his Books Burnt Nor do I hear that ever he made any Defence or Answer to those Articles that were brought against him It is affirmed That Dr. Laud who was a mighty stickler for Arminianism and Ceremonies and who first of all set up this Mountague understanding from the D. of Buckingham that the King intended to leave Mr. Mountague to a Tryal was heard to say I seem to see a Cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God in his Mercy dissipate it After this the Commons Question'd several Persons who were of the Council of War in the Affairs of the Palatinate concerning the management of that Business But the King understanding that the House of Commons were very busie in searching the Original of a Letter under the Signet written to the Mayor of York for Reprieving divers Jesuits Priests and Popish Recusants interrupted their Proceedings therein by a Message sent by Sir Richard Weston Chancellor of the Exchequer demanding a Supply for the English and Irish Forces this was so highly resented by the House that Mr. Clement Cook one of the Members openly Protested That it was better to Dye by a Forrign Enemy than to be Destroy'd at Home And Dr. Turner another Member of the House seconded him with these Quaeries 1. Whether the King had not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the D. of Buckingham was Admiral 2. Whether his not going as Admiral in this last Fleet was not the Cause of the ill Success 3. Whether the King's Revenues has not been Impaired through his Immense Liberality 4. Whether he hath not Engrossed all Offices and preferred his Kindred to unfit Places 5. Whether he hath not made Sale of places of Judicature 6. Whether Popish Recusants have not Dependence upon his Mother and Father in Law These bold Expressions so provok'd the King that he immediately sent Sir Richard Weston to Demand Satisfaction whereupon Dr. Turner made a Speech in his own Vindication alledging That what he had said was for the Good of the Kingdom and not Reflecting upon any one in particular with much more to the same Purpose And the further Debate of the matter being referr'd till another time Dr. Turner in the mean time with-drew himself and sent a Letter to the Speaker to excuse his Absence Sir William Walter speaking his Opinion about Grievances said That the true cause of them was because as was said of Lewis the 11th all the King's Council rode upon one Horse Thereby alluding to the D. of Buckingham's sole Management of all Affairs But for all these Discourses the Commons taking the King's Necessities into Consideration Voted three Subsidies and three Fifteens and that the Bill should be brought in assoon as the Grievances represented were redressed They likewise Consider'd of the matter of the D. of Buckingham and the mis-employing of the Revenue But the King observing they did not make such haste as he Expected in answering his last Message Summons both Houses together and by the Lord-Keeper complains to them for not Punishing Dr. Turner and Mr. Cook and likewise for searching his Signet-Office and justified the D. of Buckingham to have acted nothing of publick Concernment without his special Warrant and therefore forbid them to Concern themseves any farther therein and Blamed them for being too sparing in the matter of Supply and for Ordering the Bill not to be brought in till their Grievances were heard and Answered which he would not Admit of To which the King himself added He must also put them in Mind That his Father moved by their Counsel and won by their Perswasion broke the Treaties and that be himself was their Instrument towards his Father and was Glad to be Instrumental in any thing which might please the whole Body of the Realm nor was there any in greater Favour then than the Duke whom they now Traduced but that now finding him so far intangled in a War that he could make no Honourable nor safe Retreat they made Necessity their Priviledge and set what Rate they pleased upon their Supplies a Practice not very Obliging towards Kings And whereas Mr. Cook told them It was better for them to Dye by a Foreign Enemy than to be Destroyed at Home indeed he thought it more Honourable for a King to be Invaded and almost Destroyed by a Forreign Enemy than to be Despised at Home The Commons in Answer to this presented the King with a very Dutiful Remonstrance acquainting him That they gratefully Acknowledged his Majesty's Expressions of Affection to his People and Parliaments that they had taken Mr. Cook 's and Dr. Turner's Words into Consideration and might have given a good Account thereof by this time if His Majesty's Message had not Interrupted them That they had the Presidents of former Parliaments for Searching Letters of his Majesty and his Secretary of State the Signet-Office and other Records upon the like Occasions That it was the unquestionable Priviledge of Parliaments to Complain of any Person of any Degree and their Proceedings in Relation to the Duke should not Prejudice either Crown or Kingdom That they were willing to Supply his Necessities Liberally and Faithfully if Additions might be made of other things which concerned his Service and were now in Consultation amongst them The King having received this Remonstrance returned this Answer to it That he would have them in the first place Consult about matters of the greatest Importance and they should have time enough for other things afterwards Not long after this the Earl of Bristol being Ordered by the King to be Examined by a Committee of Lords about his Negotiations in Spain and having been in Prison and prohibitted access to his Majesty ever since his Return Petition'd the House of Lords for his Liberty or to come to a Tryal who applying themselves to the King he granted a Writ for the Earl's coming to Parliament but with a Proviso That his Personal attendance should be forborn Whereupon the Earl sent another Petition to the Lords that he might be heard both as to his Restraint and of what he had to say against the Duke At this the King was much concern'd and let the Lords know That it was his Royal Pleasure that the Earl of Bristol might be sent for as a Delinquent to answer his Offences to the House and his Scandalizing the Duke of Buckingham and the King likewise by Reflection Upon this the Earl was brought to the Bar and being ready to be Impeached of High-Treason by the Attorney-General the Earl said My Lords I am a Freeman and Peer of the Realm Vnattainted I have something to say of high Consequence to His Majesty's Service and I beseech your Lordships give me leave to Speak The Lords thereupon bid him go on Then said he I accuse that Man the Duke of Buckingham of High-Treason And immediately he presented Twelve Articles against him This unexpected procedure of the
Peace which was soon Concluded as had been with France before On the 29th of May 1630. the Queen was deliver'd of a Son who was Christened Charles and Succeeded in the Kingdom At whose Birth it is Remarkable a very bright Star appeared at Noon-day which being shewed the King as he came from his Devotion he greatly Rejoyced thereat as taking it for a fortunate Presage Soon after Dr. Leighton Writing and Publishing a Book Entituled Sion's Plea was Censured for it and Sentenced to have his Nose slit his Ears cropp'd and a Mark or Brand in his Fore-head which was inflicted on him Anno 1631 Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven was tryed by his Peers on the Petition of his Son and Heir for a Rape and Sodomy and being found Guilty lost his Head on Tower-hill The King hearing of some Murmurrings and Discontents in Scotland went thither in Person hoping to give his People of that Kingdom Satisfaction and being solemnly Crowned at Edenborough he called a Parliament But they fearing the bringing in of Episcopacy and the Form of Prayer and other Services in England seemed more and more to be Disgusted However the King having Confirmed and Ratified some Laws which the Scots construed to the worst Sense And which was indeed in order to the establishing Episcopacy there which King James the First had introduced Anno 1616. and which was apparent by the King 's giving Order to the Dean of his Royal Chappel in Edenborough to have Prayer read therein according to the English Liturgy c. In the Year 1632 the King incited thereto by Bishop Laud set out a Declaration for Tollerating of Sports on the Lord's-day which gave great Offence to all sober Men and for refusing to Publish it many of the best Ministers were Suspended and deprived of their Benefices Octob. 13. 1633. The Queen was delivered of her second Son named James afterwards Duke of York and after his Brother Charles his Death King of England c. And at that time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Bishop Laud was made Arch-bishop in his place After this a Fleet was set out by the Supply of a Tax called Ship-money which removed the Hollanders who had Confederated with the French from before Dunkirk and the Flandrians with the assistance of the Spaniard soon Routed the French Army by Land The King Considering the good success of this Fleet sent out an other which Sailing Northward scoured the Seas of the Dutch Busses and spoiled their Fishing-trade so that they were constrained to purchase their leave to Fish on our Coast on Valuable Considerations Several Gentlemen being Dissatisfied with the raising of Ship-money and being done without consent of Parliament refused to pay it upon which the King referr'd it to his Judges of whom Ten were for the Legality of it and subcribed their Names to be Enrolled in the Courts of Westminster but Hutton and Crook refused and thereupon Mr. Hamden of Buckinghamshire refusing to pay it had Judgment given against him which occasioned murmurings among the people of which Dr. Bastwick Prin and Burton taking the Advantage writ Books reflecting on the Bishops and Government for which they were sentenced to pay 5000 l. Fine lose their Ears in the Pillory and Imprisoned during the King's pleasure And Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln was fined 10000 l. and Imprisoned in the Tower During pleasure and left to the Censure of the High Commission Court as to what concerned them wherein the Bishop had very hard Measure his Offence being chiefly that he approved not of Archbishop Laud's Exorbitant Actions And now new Troubles arising about the Book of Common-Prayer in Scotland the King marched thither with an Army and the Scots met him near Berwick But a Treaty being began by means of the Scots Nobility a Peace was soon Concluded but they kept it no longer than the King's return to London which occasioned him to make a second Expedition but by this time they had entred into a solemn League and Covenant for the Extirpation of Episcopacy and Establishing of Presbytery On the 13th of April 1640. After twelve Years interval a Parliament met at Westminster to whom the King promised That if they would Supply him to maintain the War against the Scots he would quit his claim of ship-money And the Parliament seemed to have a great Disposition to comply with the King's desires but it being demanded in the House of Commons what supply the King expected It was answered by Mr. Secretary Vane Twelve Subsidies whereas at that time the King only desir'd Six This large Demand put the House into such a Ferment made things look so ill that the King Dissolved the Parliament the next Day having only sat 22 Days The Scots not yet quieted enter into England with an Army and having defeated the King's Forces at Newborn seized upon New-castle and Durham upon which the King is willing to hear their Grievances and receives a Petition from them wherein they require a Parliament to be called in England without which they could have no Redress Declaring their Intention not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion was settled in both Nations upon sure Grounds and the Causers and Abetters of their present Troubles Laud and Strafford were brought to publick Justice in Parliament After which several Peers the City of London and divers other places Petition'd the King for the sitting of a Parliament whereupon the King Summon'd another Parliament to meet Nov. 3. 1640. when the People were every where in a Ferment and Prejudice inveighing if not against the King yet against his Ministers of State In this Parliament all Ceremonies in the Church were suppressed except those used in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Strafford Arch-bishop Laud and Bishop Wren were Impeached of High-Treason and committed to the Tower Divers of the Judges that had declared for Ship-money were Voted Delinquents and Judge Berkley Arrested by the Usher of the Black Rod for High-Treason as he sate in the King's-Bench-Court The King being vexed at the proceeding of the Commons complained to the Peers who promised to Labour for a Moderation and good Understanding between the King and his two Houses But matters yet running high he removed divers Ministers of State and Officers in Trust appointing a new Lieutenant of the Tower which greatly displeased the Commons insomuch that tâ—â—â— Articled against the new Lieutenant to be Peers wâ—â— refused to meddle in it it being the King's Prerogative to â—â—nt in whom he pleased But not long after a multitude of â—â—prentices and others came to the Peers House clamouriâ—â—â—o have the Lieutenant removed and Threatning on refusaâ— to turn all Topsy-turvey they also demanded that the Bishops might be excluded the House of Peers And then going into Westminster-Abbey in their unadvised Fury spoiled the Vestments Organs Sepulchres and what else was comely and decent And as they returned by White-Hall uttered very opprobrious Threatnings against the King and his
Counsellors which made him Fortify his Pallace and accept of a Guard of the Inns of Court Gentlemen who offered their Service to defend his Person from any Insults The Parliament hereupon apprehending a fear of Danger that threaten'd them assumed a Guard for their Defence constituting the Earl of Essex Captain of it and appointed an extraordinary Assembly in the City of London and soon after committed twelve Pishops Prisoners to the Tower which scared most if not all the rest from giving their Attendance and many Ministers of State were Accused and Censured And the Earl of Strafford upon his Tryal being accused of many things and plainly answering all that by Articles was laid to his Charge and the Court Adjourning without prefixing any time of meeting the Commons proceeded to draw up and dispatch a Bill of Attainder against him which the King with great difficulty and some reluctancy of Mind Signed but the Warrant for his Execution he laboured much to defer saying He had heard the Cause and believed in his Conscience the Earl was not guilty of Treason and yet he could not clear him of Misdemeanour but hoped a way might be found out to satisfie Justice and their Fears without oppressing his Conscience and had consulted about it with his Judges and Bishops before he had Signed the Bill as also a Bill for the sitting of the Parliament during the pleasure of both Houses which last was occasioned for satisfying the Scots who required vast Sums of Money However the Earl was Executed tho' the King laboured much to save him proposing his perpetual Imprisonment and many other things He was attended at his Execution on Tower-Hill by the Arch-bishop of Armagh and to this Effect addressed him to the People viz. That he was come thither to pay the last Debt he ow'd to Sin with a good Hope of rising to Righteousness that he Dyed willingly Forgave all and patiently submitted declaring himself Innocent of the Crimes charged against him wishing Prosperity to the King and People He advised his Adversaries to repent of their violent Proceedings against him saying He thought it a strange way to write in Blood the beginning of Reformation and Settlement of the Kingdom however he wished his Blood might rest and not cry against them declaring he Dyed in the Communion of the Church of England for whose Prosperity he Prayed and concluded with a Desire that the Spectators would pray for him And then had his Head stricken off There having been about this time some Tumults made about White-Hall and Westminster and the King being inform'd they were encouraged by the Lord Kimbolton and five Members of the House of Commons the King demanded those five Members whom he accused of High-Treason as also the Lord Kimbolton a Member of the House of Peers but they were refused to be delivered Whereupon he came with about 500 armed Men to the House of Commons where the Speaker resigned the Chair to him but looking about and not seeing those he expected for upon Notice they were withdrawn he declared his good Intentions to the Parliament saying He hoped they would send him those Members against whom he had matters of high Concern But they were so far from doing it that they put the City of London in Arms and Adjourned their sitting for five days forbidding the Citizens to help the King to find out any of the accused Members and so far were they from it that the Parliament sitting again they carry'd them in Triumph and placed them in their Seats shouting and threatning as they passed by White-hall and to lessen the King's Power the Parliament sent Letters to the adjacent Counties commanding the Militia to draw up in Arms Whereupon they found that upon occasion more than 20000 Men could be got in a Readiness These proceedings made the King withdraw to Hampton-Court whose absence much encreased the Parliaments Authority among the People and to endear them to the Citizens they adjourned from Westminster to London and sent their Mandates to the Governors of Sea-port Towns strictly forbidding them to Obey any of the King's Orders unless they were confirmed by them This more weaken'd his Power than all their former Proceedings which the King by an early precaution in Garisoning those parts might have prevented The King considering that things were likely to go ill and that he had given away his Power and could not dissolve this Parliament he endeavoured by mild Terms to win them to his Interest and Writ from Windsor protesting his good meaning towarâ—s both Houses and that he would be ready to any thing that might be for the good of his People whereupon they sent Messengers to desire him to return to London but for some Reasons he refused it Hereupon the Commons drew up an humble Remonstrance which seemed so unreasonable to the Peers as to what therein they proposed that they rejected it till they saw the Commons uniting against them and then Messengers were sent to the King with it who with some Reservation yielded to part of it and denyed the rest which not satisfying them they proceeded to Petition the King That the accused Members might be freed from all imputation of Guilt which was Granted During the King's being busie in Scotland a horrid Conspiracy and Rebellion broke out in Ireland which was discovered but the Night before it began to the Lords-Justices by Owen O Conally by which means Dublin and some other places were secured and divers of the Conspirators apprehended However it was carry'd on with such a Rage and Fury by the Encouragement of the Popish Priests Monks and Fryars that nothing for a time but Slaughter and miserable Cruelties on the English and Scots were to be seen in most of the Provinces the Romish Priests loudly declaring that they were Hereticks and ought to be Extirpated from the Earth that it it was no more Sin to kill them than Dogs and a mortal one to Relieve and Protect them giving the Sacrament to divers on condition that they should spare neither Man Woman nor Child saying It did them a great deal of Good to wash their Hands in their Blood and they were told If any of the Murtherers in this Attempt were slain they should immediately go to Heaven so that nothing but Blood-shed and piteous Cries were to be seen and heard in most parts of that Kingdom The King to Redress this Solicited the Scots Parliament to send ovâ—r Forces but they refused Alledging It was a dependant Kingdom on England and if the English Parliament would make use of and pay any of their Men they might raise them or otherwise they would not intermeddle And the Parliament of England being slow in sending over Succours about 200000 of all sorts fell in this unparrallel'd Massacre but Forces going over the Cut-throats were every where Routed many Slain and the rest betook themselves to their Fastnesses and the state of Affairs were restored to some good Order The Contendings between the
and there being attended on a Scaffold before the Banquetting-House by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London he made a Profession of his Innocency and of his Faith forgiving his Enemies and praying to God not to lay his Blood to their Charge seeming troubled that he had consented to the Sentence against the Earl of Strafford and after this and much more to the like Purpose he kneeling down gave the Sign to the Executioner by stretching out his Arms and at one Blow had his Head separated from his Body which being put in a Coffin covered with Velvet was carried to Windsor and buried in a Vault in St. George's Chappel Thus without President fell King Charles when he had Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days being the 24th Year of his Reign and 49th of his Age. Put to Death by the Hands of his own Subjects contrary to all Law and Justice universally Pitied but unable to be help'd by his People He was one of the Chastest Princes that ever sate upon the Throne being all along so true to his Queen that he never Defil'd his Marriage-bed And had he not given too much heed to Buckingham Laud and some other fâ—attering Parasites and Courtiers who were continually Buzzing into his Ears nothing but Absolute and unlimitted Power putting him upon Dissolving his Parliaments and then raising Money and Ruling without them as appear'd by his Twelve Years interval of Parliaments viz. from Anno 1628 to 1640. whereby he lost the Love of his People he had never been brought to that dismal Catastrophe but might have Liv'd and Dy'd a Happy Prince And this may be observ'd from this King's Reign as well as from several before That never any Prince fell out with his Parliament and went about to Establish an Arbitrary Power but he not only found himself Mistaken but also thereby made himself Miserable Before the breaking out of this unnatural War amazing Sights were seen in the Air of Firey Men and Horses running at each other with Launces encountring with great Blasts of Lightning and noise of Thunder In Gloucester-shire Spectres were seen in a large Field not far from that City drawn up in Battalia furiously Engaging and then Vanishing to the Amazement of the Beholders The Reign of King CHARLES The Second KING Charles the First being put to Death the Relicks of the Parliament began to take out of the way such Nobles and others as they supposed would obstruct their Proceedings and particularly Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were Beheaded for Treason pretended against them And now to make their Power the Stronger they combined with the Army-Officers And tho' Charles Son to the preceding King had an undoubted Right to the Kingdom they proceeded to bar him and all the Royal Line as they hoped from the Crown or any other from being King or chief Magistrate unless by Publick Act of Parliament so appointed and that it should be Treason in any to attempt to further King Charles the Second by them generally called Charles Stewart in his Designs to possess the Crown by Proclaiming him or any Assistance given to him taking great care not to admit the Secluded Members lest they should put a stop to the Current of their Proceedings taking down every where the King 's Arms and placing the Harp and Cross in their places called the States Arms and having taken down the late King's Effigies from the Royal-Exchange they caused to be inscribed in the place where it stood in Letters of Gold Exit Tyranus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutiae Primo Anno 1648. Jan. 30. All Titles in Processes of Law were altered and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia c. was put in Custodes Libertatis Angliae c. The King's-Bench was called the Vpper-Bench and a new Stamp was made for Money having on the one side the Cross and on the other the Cross and Harp inscribed The Common-wealth of England on the one side and God with Vs on the other also a new Great Seal was prepared with the Cross and Harp on the one side with this Inscription The Great Seal of England and on the other side the Picture of the House of Commons with these Words In the first Year of Freedom by God's Blessing restor'd 1648. Things being thus Moddelled whilst King Charles was in France Solliciting for Aid to possess him of his Kingdoms Fairfax out of some dislike to the Patliaments proceedings laid down his Commission which was given to Oliver Cromwel who from this time laid the Projection of his future Greatness And indeed in his attempts on Ireland and Scotland he was so Successful as to reduce them to the English Obedience with incredible Slaughter of the Natives However King Charles was proclaimed by his Friends in England and Ireland and soon after in Scotland And now Money being wanting to maintain the Parliaments Armies c. the Crown-Lands Dean and Chapter and Bishops Lands were Sold with many stately Houses and most of the Castles in England Demolished and all Persons expelled from Places of Trust in Church and State that Subscribed not to be Conformable to the New-modelled Government The Scots all this while were Debating how to Restore the King who was in the Isle of Jersey and coming to a Result sent the Laird Libberton and Mr. Windram to him with Proposals the Heads being these 1. That he should Sign the Solemn League and Covenant 2. That he should Pass divers Acts concluded on in the two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland 3. That he should recall the Commissions given to Montross 4. That he should put from him all Papists and appoint some place in Holland to treat with their Commissioners and give them a speedy Answer And Sir William Fleming being sent by the King to the Estates of Scotland Breda was appointed for the place of Treaty and Commissioners were sent to represent the Kirk and State who delivered what they had in Charge to the same Effect as has been mentioned But whilst the Treaty held the Marquess of Montross making new Attempts was Surprized in Scotland where with much Indignity he was brought to Execution and Hanged on a Gibbet of extraordinary height Dying with a Courage and Bravery suitable to that wherein he had Lived and Quarters were set up in divers places This being done in a full Treaty greatly Displeased the King because he had his Commission and had acted in his Cause but the necessity of his affairs made him pass it over and he Condescended to most of the Proposals The Parliament of England soon heard of their Treaty and to prevent its taking effect sent an Army under Cromwel into Scotland and manning out a Fleet Admiral Blake fell in with Prince Rupert's Squadron sinking and burning most of the Ships he Commanded for the King however matters being agreed on the King hastened to Scotland and Landed at Spey where several Lords came to him and the Town of
Aberdeen presented him with 1500 l. which so angered the Estates that they strictly forbid all other Towns under great Penalties to do the like And coming to Edenburg he was a second time Proclaimed King July 16. Anno 1650. But the English overthrowing the Scots Army commanded by Montgomery at Muscleborough his Coronation was put off till January when with much Solemnity he was Crown'd at Scone and setting up his Standard at Aberdeen made him self Generallissimo of the Scots Army and Fortifying Sterling he removed his Court thither Whilst these things passed the English Parliament as they pretended found out several Plots against them for which Sir Henry Hyde and Capt. Brown Bushel were Beheaded and soon after Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love a Presbyterian Minister Cromwel perceiving he could not draw the Scots to a Battel Transported 1600 Foot and 4 Troops of Horse over the Fife who assisted by Lambert and Okey routed Sir John Brown's Forces killing about 2000 on the place taking him and about 200 more Prisoners and the King perceiving his Enemies prevail so fast in Scotland calling a Council it was agreed he should March into England to try what Friends he had to assist him But they came in very slowly the Parliament having taken care before to prevent it so that in a long March very few joyned him except the Lord Escreek's Son with a Troop of Horse and the Earl of Derby with 250 Foot and 6 Horse but whilst the King lingered by the way Lambert being Guided over the Moors and Dales in Yorkshire got before him and Cromwel pursued hard after yet after a sharp Dispute with Lambert he gained the Pass of Warington-bridge and sent to Coll. Mackworth to Surrender Shrewsbury but he refused it whereupon he marched to Worcester and was recieved with much Joy into that place but whilst he was Fortifying this Place news came that the Earl of Derby who went to raise Forces in Lancashire was overthrown by Lilburn and most of his chief Commanders slain or taken Prisoners and now the Trained-Bands from all parts gathering about Worcester Cromwel and others came up with the Regular Forces and Lambert gained the Pass at Vpton where the Bridge was broke down by swimming the River and rescuing a Party of their Men besieged by Massey in a Church and by this means beat the King's Party and entirely gained the Pass and Cromwel laid a Bridge of Boats over the River but the King scorning to be cooped up with his Army on the third of Sept. 1651 sallyed out of Worcester and gave the Enemy Battle but having Charged several times and two Horses shot under him over-powred by Numbers he was forced to Retreat but was closely pursued by the Parliament Forces who thrust with his into the Town and then the Cry being to Save the King he had the good Luck to get away with the Lord Wilmot and coming to a Farmer 's House on the edge of Stafford-shire disguised himself cutting off his long black Hair with a Knife for want of Scissars and after that was Secured a while in Boscobel-house by the Pendrills Hudstone a Priest and some few others that were thought fit to be made acquainted with his being there but 1000 l. being set upon him and Search almost every where made he narrowly Escaped one Evening by getting out at the Back-door into the Wood whilst the Searchers were entring at the Fore-door and there he made an Oak-Tree his Palace which shelter'd him till the heat of the Search was over And at length by the means of Mrs. Jane Lane for whose Servant he went and passed by some of Oliver's Troopers as such After having escaped many Dangers and passed through many Difficulties he Landed at New-Haven in France from whence he went to his Mother then at the French Court. In this Battle about 3000 were Slain but a far greater Number were taken Prisoners and most of the Scots sold as Slaves here and to the Plantations Their Colours taken were hung up in Triumph in Westminster-Hall and the Earl of Derby who was taken at his Overthrow was Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire The Marquess of Ormond and Lord Inchiqueen standing out in Ireland levied considerable Forces for the King's Service and the former Besieged Dublin with a Formidable Army but being Negligent and many of them raw Soldiers Collonel Jones the Governour Sallying first with a few and then with the whole Garison raised the Siege and took almost all the Plunder of the Camp afer which several other Towns were taken and Cromwel coming over with a sufficient Force took Drogheda and divers other places in many of which the bloody Irish were put to the Sword unless such as by hiding found means to Escape his Fury and in three Years time Ireland was Quieted and Reduced Scotland and Ireland being thus Reduced to the Obedience of the Common-wealth of England as it was then stiled the Parliament Resolved that Scotland shall be United to England and Monarchy Abolâ—shed also in that Kingdom and that Scotland shoul send up Deputies in such a Proportion as the Parliament should think meet to represent them in the Parliament of England which tho' the Kirk party opposed was notwithstanding done After which follow'd an Act of Grace to all the People of England pardoning whatever they had done and all Hostilities committed against the Parliament provided they take the Engagement which was To be true and Faithful to the Common-wealth of England as then Established without King or House of Lords No sooner were these things over and all things seemed Quiet at Home but our Young Common-wealth found new Occasion for the exercise of their Arms abroad There had been for some time a Grudge between them and the Senior Common-wealth of Holland occasion'd by the Assassination of their Agent Dr. Dorislaus there and afterwards by the Affronts put upon their Embassadors Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland by the common People in Holland insomuch that these Embassadors not thinking themselves sufficiently Vindicated by the States came away in great Discontent and afterwards when the States sent Embassadors here to Excuse themselves and to desire a Pacification they were answer'd with Demands of Reparation for their Herring-Fishing and Question'd about the Business of Amboyna and other things of that Nature which made them go back re infecta Upon this the Hollanders resolving to be as Stout as they set out a great Fleet for the Security of their Trade under the Command of Van Trump with instructions not to strike his Flag to the English Admiral c. Upon which on the 17th of May 1652. Van Trump came into Dover-road with 42 Sail of Men of War and Blake the English Admiral encountred them with a far less Number and tho' there was no great matter done on neither side yet Van Trump had the worst of it having had one Ship sâ—nk and another taken and about 150 men Slain whereas the English had not any Ship
strong into the Bay after the Fight was over veer'd suddenly about to the West and brought out all our Ships safe to Seâ— This News was so grateful to Oliver that he sent Blake a Jewel of 500 l. with Gratuities to the rest of the Officers After this Cromwel called another Parliament which would fain have had him taken the Title of King upon him but he declining it he was by the Parliament solemnly invested in th Protectorial Dignity in Westminster-Hall But the Royalists yet gave him some farther Disturbance by their Endeavours to restore the King tho' they were unhappily betray'd and several of them Executed among whom were Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Hewet with several others of less Note In pursuance of the Peace formerly concluded with France the English and French Forces laid Siege to Dunkirk which the Spaniards endeavouring to relieve were totally routed and Dunkirk soon after taken and put into the possession of the English And now on the fatal third of September in the Year 1658. Oliver Cromwel Dyed in the Sixty-third Year of his Age and the Fifth of his Protector-ship He was Born in Huntington and was the Son of a second Brother of Sir Oliver Cromwel of Huntington-shire his Mother was the Daughter of Sir Richard Stewart of the Isle of Ely and his Wife was Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Bourchier By whom he had Issue three Sons of which one Died â—oung and four Daughters By his Reputation in Arms he was Courted or Feared by most of the Princes of Europe he was a Man of singular Courage and Resolution attended with very great Success and kept his Army under him in so exact and strict a Discipline that they seem'd rather a Body of well-govern'd Citizens than an Army of Soldiers Swearing Drunkenness and Profaneness the common Vices of other Camps were not to be found in his His desire of Glory excited him to make attempts in other Countries by which a great Renown accrued to our Nation in all parts of the World In short had he not been a Vsurper he might have been compar'd with the best of our Princes but his Usurpation and the indirect means he used to obtain his Power spoil'd all his Good Qualities After his Death his Son Richard was Proclaimed Protector but he enjoy'd his Power but a short time the Army calling again the Rump Parliament which strait-way put an end to his Protector-ship and now the Stone began to rowl it stayed not there for Sir George â—oth having raised some Forces for the King in Cheshire and being subdued by Lambert Lambert turned the Rump out again and set up a Committee of Safety in Order to the setting up himself to prevent which General Monk in Scotland declares for the Rump and comes with his Army into England to restore them and having effected that brought in again those Members that had been Secluded by the Army before the Tryal of the late King These Members being restored issued out Writs for the Calling of a New Parliament to meet the 25th of April following and so dissolved themselves The King who had Notice of all these Proceedings with drew himself out of the Spanish Territories and went to Breda from whence at the opening of Parliament he sent over a Declaration promising Liberty of Conscience Pardon to all Offenders and Satisfaction to all Interests Upon the reading whereof the Parliament unanimously Voted That a Message be sent to his Majesty to thank him for his Gacious Declaration and to desire him to return to his Kingdom which he did upon the 29th of May following being received with the Universal Joy and Acclamations of his People Soon after which several of those that had sate in the High Court of Justice for the Tryal of his Father were themselves Tryed and Executed Of which Number were Thomas Harrison Hugh Peters Daniel Axtell John Cook Thomas Scot Gregory Clemont John Jones John Carew and Adrian Scroop who Suffered some at Charing-Cross and some at Tyburn The Bishops were also now restored to their Diocesses and the Common-Prayer Ordered again to be Read in Churches But now an over-cast of Sorrow happened for the Virtuous Princess Mary Princess of Orange coming over to see her Brother now settled in his Throne fell Sick of the Small-Pox and Dyed And in January after the King's Return one Venner a Wine-Cooper with divers other Desperate Persons fell upon the City of London being opposed many on both sides were Slain and the rest being taken or dispersed Venner with eleven more were Tryed Condemned and Executed in divers places of the City And on the 30th of January the Carcasses of Cromwel Bradshaw and Ireton were taken out of their Graves conveyed to Tyburn and Hanged up for several Hours then their Bodies buried under the Gallows and their Heads set on Westminster-Hall And soon after the Duke of Gloucester the King 's youngest Brother a Prince of great Hopes and a firm Protestant Dyed and on the 23d of April 1661 being St. George's Day the King was Crowned at Westminster with much Solemnity and Splendor having the Day before made a magnificent Cavalcade from the Tower of London to White-Hall The Army hereupon was Disbanded and the Parliament in Ireland Dissolved every thing appearing in a tendency to a lasting Settlement by a good Understanding between Prince and People For the Parliament that had been Assembled being Dissolved and another called the Peers were restored to their Antient Priviledges and the Militia declared to be Vested in the King as his right The like was also declared by the Parliament of Scotland who resigned the solemn League and Covenant and passed an Act for the Attainder of the Marquess of Argyle upon divers Crimes laid to his Charge whereupon being brought to his Tryal and Condemned he lost his Head much Lamented by the greater part of that Kingdom About this time a Convocation in England was assembled to adjust and settle matters of Religion and soon after the solemn League and Covenant which the KING had taken in Scotland was burnt by the common Hang-man in London and Westminster and then all over the Nation and a pretended Act for the Tryal of King Charles the first used in the same manner in Westminster-Hall The French and Spanish Ambassadors being at Court upon Notice of the arrival of the Broh Ambassador extraordinary from Sweeden with their Coaches went to receive him at his publick Entry on Tower-hill and contending for precedency a sharp Encounter happened some were killed and divers Wounded The Spaniard obtaining the better by the help of some English who for good Rewards tho' the King expresly by his Proclamation forbid any of his Subjects to intermeddle dressed themselves in Spanish Habits which Encounter had not the King interceeded as Mediator had at that time in all Likelihood created a War between the two Nations as being highly Resented at either Court. James Duke of Ormond being made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and
another Parliament called there that long harassed Kingdom was brought to a good Settlement And now a Match being Negotiated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina Infanta of that Kingdom her Dowry was settled and in Lieu thereof the English had Tangier which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation without any Profit So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King the Lady came over Royally attended and the King going to Portsmouth was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London and afterwards came to White-Hall and was Joyfully received Sir Henry Vane and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason for things done before the Restoration being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity the former was Beheaded but the latter Reprieved and kept in Prison till he Died and Archibald Johnson Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea and brought over was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland divers were Imprisoned and some Executed which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time And in the North of England another much about the same time being discovered one Gibbons and Baker were Tryed found Guilty and Executed whereupon the rest Dispersed The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000 l great Naval Preparations were made which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety and indeed a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations an Order of Council was made giving Letters of Reprisal against them and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats Men of War c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes and hereupon the King set out his Declaration touching his Proceedings for Reparation from the Subjects of the States Whilst these things were doing a Dutchman under the Disguise of a Sweed coming from Guinea publickly reported De Ruytter the Dutch Commander had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither but it proving False he was Sentenced and Whipt through London However the Parliament being Prorogued War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664 and a General Fast succeeded for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies was beaten off but whilst many Encounters happened at Sea a worse Calamity befell at Land for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring and but little cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air about the beginning of May 1665 a Plague began fearfully to Rage so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of all Degrees dyed and of these were accounted 68596 of the Plague However the War was carryed on with great Vigour and on the 3d of June the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy the two Fleets engaged and after a long and obstinate Fight which continued many Hours bloody and doubtful the Dutch gave way and such as got off stood to their own Coast The English having taken burnt sunk and shattered about thirty of their Ships and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000 tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire-ships Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth Portland Marlborough and the Lord Muskery Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester whereof 13 were Commanders Hereupon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Victory the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knighthood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action The Plague still continuing to Rage a Fast was Proclaimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month till it should cease and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights to purify the Air whilst the King c made his progress through the greater part of England the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford and upon his laying before them them the necessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War the Commons Voted him 1250000 l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City But the Plague abating the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster as did the King and Queen The French King envying the growing greatness of the English more than any love he had for the Dutch as it afterward plainly appeared Joyned with them and was soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others The Fleets being abroad Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albermarle then Joynt-Admirals of the English the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships the former being to the Westward with the rest engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders and maintained the Fight two Days when on the third Prince Rupert coming in the Fight continued very Bloody till the Evening with much Loss on both sides and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper and burnt by the Dutch Sir George Ascough who Commanded her being taken Prisoner and carryed into Holland About six or seven Weeks after there happened another Sea-Fight and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts and on the 7th of August Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly and the Town of Baudaris upon the Island of Scheling and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch one of them of 54 Guns was taken On the Second of September 1666 being Sunday began the dreadful Fire of London at one Faringdons a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane the back-side of Fish-street-hill It continued Burning until Wednesday Night following and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof take as followeth In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the heighth of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately
Edifices Thirteen thousand two hundred Dwelling-houses four hundred Streets Of the six and twenty Wards it utterly destroy'd fifteen and left eight other shattered and half burnt The Ruins of the City were four hundred thirty six Acres from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple-Church and the North-East Gate along the City-Wall to Holbourn-Bridge To the Estates and Fortunes of the Citizens it was merciless but to their Lives very favourable that it might in all things resemble the last Conflagration of the World The Destruction was sudden for in a small space of time the same City was seen most flourishing and reduced to nothing Three days after when this fatal Fire had baffled all humane Counsels and Indeavours in the Opinion of all it stopt as it were by a Command from Heaven and was on every side extinguished This Dreadful Fire was both begun and carried on by Papists as appeared by Hubert's own Confession who was Executed at Tyburn for the same and also by several Depositions given in to the Parliament Whereupon the following Inscription was Engraven round about the Pedestal of the Monument viz. Which Inscription being Razed out in K. James's Reign was set up again since the late Revolution And now large Supplies were Voted the King by the Parliament and War declared against Denmark and a ship of 52 Guns belonging to that Crown taken on the Coast of Scotland whilst Capt. Robinson took and destroyed three Dutch Men of War near the Texâ—l A Rebellion breaking out in Scotland Forces were sent thither which put 1500 of the Rebels to Rout and some of the Ring-Leaders being taken were Executed which put an end to that Disturbance and an Act passed for the speedy Re-building the City of London The Dutch attempting Burnt-Island in Scotland were beaten off but their whole Fleet coming to an Anchor in the Gun-fleet and finding us altogether unprepared several of their Frigats entered Chatham and the Thames River and burnt several Ships tho' with the Loss of two of their own But Sir John Harman with 16 Sail engaged 30 French Men of War near Martinego and burnt and Sunk the greater part of them Whereupon at a Treaty held at Breda all sides grown weary of War a Peace was Concluded with France Denmark and the States General which was Solemnly Proclaimed and soon after with Spain And upon the Address of the Commons the Laws were put in Execution against Recusants and Assemblies of Nonconformists with much Heats for a considerable time In the beginning of 1668 Great Tumults happened in the Suburbs of London by an Insurrection of Apprentices and ill Persons joyning with them so that much mischief was done under pretence of pulling down Bawdy-Hâ—â—ses upon which eight were Condemned for High-Treason and four of them Executed The Duke of Albemarâ—â— dying the King undertook the Charge of his Funeral which was very Magnificent being Interred in Westminster-Abbey And the same Year Dyed Mary the Queeâ— Moâ—â—er of England at Columbâ— in France and 〈◊〉 Dutchess of Orleance the King's Sister coming over to Vâ—sit him after a short stay she upon her Return dyed at Sâ— Clâ—â—s in â—rance There being now Peace near Home the King resolve to Chastize the Algerines for their Insolency and in Oâ—der to it sent Sir Thomas Allen with a strong Squadron of Men of War who took and sunk divers of their Ships and compelled them to renew the Peace they had lately broken and to deliver up a great Number of the English Captives And much about the same time Coll. Blood with other Accomplices Gagg'd the Keeper of the Jewel-House in the Tower took away the Crown and had carried it off had not speedy pursuit been made and being Imprisoned for this whilst the People were expecting what Punishment would be inflicted on him for so unpresidented a Crime the King freely pardoned him And now Orders were given out upon view for the Repairing and better Fortifying all the Sea-ports for the King very much resenting some new Affronts put upon him by the States-General of the United Netherlands a second War began to Threaten but Money being wanting which is the main Engine and Sinews of War the Exchequer was shut up which caused a general Murmurring and much Loss to many People To palliate this the King declared That nothing could have moved him to it but only the looking upon his Government under the Threatning of the States-General and other Neighbouring Princes without his appearing in the same Posture but seeing the Necessity was inevitable It was needful that some extraordinary Course should be taken till Money could be otherways procured After this the King published a Declaration of Indulgence to such as Dissented from the Established Religion And now the War being fully resolved on Sir Robert Holms who was cruising with five Frigats about the Isle of Wight fell in with the Dutch Smyrna-Fleet and other Ships coming from the Streights under the Convoy of six Men of War between whom there happened a smart Engagement upon their refusing to strike and lower their Flags which continued till Night and 〈◊〉 the next Morning renewed and five rich Dutch Merchant-men were taken and their Rear-Admiral for want of more Assistance sunk and the rest got home This first blow given War was Declared the French King joyning with us in it being Obliged by the Treaty to send a Squadron of his best Ships which was Commanded by the Count d' Estreeâ— as were the English by the Duke of York and standing over to the Coast of Holland a fierce Engagement soon happened with much Effusion of Blood on both sides for either part being Emulous of Honour fought with extraordinary Eagerness till at last the Dutch stood away to their own Coast and the English after them as near as they could for the Shallows but under the shelter of a Fogg they got into their Harbours In this Fight the English lost the Noble Earl of Sandwich and the Royal James and long they had not lain on the Flemish Coast but the Dutch Recruited and came out again but after two other Engagements with much Loss on either side a Peace was concluded and the King hereupon became Mediator for the like Accommodation between the Crowns of France and Spain labouring by his Embassadors to compose the Differences between them Commanding at the same time his Subjects not to enter into the Service of any Foreign Prince without his Leave The Parliament now sitting gave the King 584900 l. for the speedy Building thirty Ships of War whereupon he resolved to enter into an Allyance with some Princes abroad that they might be able to put a stop to the Torrent of the French King's Conquests in Flanders And to render the Union stricter he Married the Lady Mary his Neice and eldest Daughter to his brother to the Prince of Orange and proceeded to raise Forces so that in a short time he had a considerable Army on Foot and the Parliament promised
That if the King would enter into an actual War with the French King they would stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes So that finding the French King still went on with his Conquests King Charles delayed not to send several Regiments to the Aid of thâ— Confederates in Flanders and laid a Prohibition on Frâ—â—ch Goods Hereat the French King being somewhat Startled hoping to break the Measures of England made Proposals of Peace to the Dutch and they Understanding that the Parliament had taken up a Resolution to give no more Money till Satisfaction was first had and their Fears and Jealousies removed and not thinking for this Cause fit to rely on England since the Misunderstandings rendred it no longer it self did clap up a Peace in a very short time and the rest of the Confederates followed their Example However before the Peace could be Ratified the French took several Towns and at last Besieged Mons this made the King Command the Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Ossory to joyn the English Forces under their Command with the Prince of Orange who so bravely Behaved themselves that they forced the Duke of Luxemburg's Camp and raised the Siege with the Slaughter of some Thousands of French and had done greater things if all Hostilities had not thereupon been stopped Things being thus settled Abroad greater Disturbances threatned at Home for about this time a wicked design was discovered to take away the King's Life and involve the whole Nation in Blood and Ruin which was carried on for a considerable time by the Papists The first Discoverer was Titus Oats but his Evidence was little Credited till such time as Sir Edmundbury Godfrey who had taken Oats's Depositions was found Murthered at Primrose-Hill with a Sword run through his Body tho' by a visible Mark about his Neck it appeared he had been Strangled So that this giving a sufficient Ground of Belief Oats's Evidence being also further Corroborated by Letters found in the Custody of Edw. Coleman Secretary to the Duke of York the Parliament proceeded strictly to Enquire into the matter so that the Commons often sat from Morning till Night to Consult how to Prevent the Danger and make a thorow Discovery and having Voted and entred into their Journal That it was their Opinions that there had been and was an Execrable and Hellish Design carried on by the Papists for Assassinating the King Subverting of the Government and Destroying the Protestant Religion A Proclamation was â—ssued out for Banishing Papists and reputed Papists ten Miles from the City of London and Westminster and all Roman-Catholicks were turned out of the Guards and the Parliament Addressed the King That the Duke of York might be removed from his Presence and Counsels But the last was not Granted And now divers Persons being taken up and Imprisoned on the account of this Plot one Staly a Goldsmith's Son in Convent-Garden was first Executed for saying He would kill the King then Edw. Coleman the Duke of York's Secretary then Ireland Pickering Grove Whitebread â—enwick Gawen Langhurn and others as Concerned in the Plot and Green Berry and Hill being accused by Prance and Bedlow for the Murther of Sir Edmund-bury Godfrey were Tryed at the King 's Bench-bar Condemned and Executed And then the Commons called the Lord Treasurer to an Account who had been accused by Mr. Mountague sometimes the King's Embassador at the French Court for holding a private Correspondence with France but he relying on the King's Pardon the Business â—nded in a long Imprisonment in the Tower after much stir had been made about it And the King in Hopes the better to please the Commons and satisfie the Nation in General new modell'd his Council making it to consist of 30 Persons Fifteen of them to be Certain and the rest to be Elective at pleasure ten out of the Nobility and five Commoners besides a Lord-President a Secretary of Scotland and such of the Princes of the Blood-Royal as should be at Court with which the next Day he acquainted the Parliament and of this Council the Earl of Shaftsbury was made President But notwirhâ—â—anding this Alteration in the Council it had not the desired effect which the King intended for the Parliament were still solicitous in searching to the bottom of the Popish Plot and the more effectually to do it voted That the Duke of York's being a Papist and the hopes of his coming as such to the Crown have given the greatest countenance and encouragement to the designs of the Papists c. And therefore ordered a Bill of Exclusion of the Duke of York from the Sucession of the Crown to be brought in But the King and the Dukes party were for offering Expedients for securing the Protestant Religion tho' the Duke should come a Papist to the Crown But this would not content the Commons And there arising some heats between the Lords and Commons about the Bishops Voting in Capital Cases the King thinking he could expect but little from them Prorogued them to a more convenient season but in a little time after dissolved them and called another which he hoped to find more to his purpose But during the interval of the Parliament Sir George Wakeman was tryed for the Popish Plot and acquitted before the Lord Chief Justice Scroges whose carriage was so different in this Tryal from what it had been in those before that he was shrewdly suspected to have some very feeling Reasons for it For after this Tryal Scrogs was more violent against Oats and the Whigs than he had been before against the Papists And now there was set on foot a new Popish Plot to sham the old one and put a Plot upon the Presbyterians which was called The Meal-Tub Plot the Papers relating to it being found under Madam Celiers Meal-tub the design whereof was To leave Papers and Libels of dangerous things against the Government in the Houses of the most Eminent persons active in the Discovery of the Popish Plot by them called Presbyterians and then to inform the Government that such persons where these papers were left were dangerous persons to the King and Goverment upon which their Houses being search'd and these papers found there it should have been sufficient evidence to condemn them The Tryal how this would do was first made upon Colonel Mansfel a worthy Gentelman who was Prosecuted for it but the examination of it being left to Sir William Jones the Attorney-General his Report was That Mansfel was innocent and Dangerfield at that time the Papists Tool and who had left the Papers in Mansfels Lodgings was guilty Upon which Dangerfield was committed to Prison where he mad ae thorow discovery of this cursed intreague and Sir Wil. Jones was turn'd out of his place for his honest Report And indeed from this time forward the Duke of York and his Creatures ruled all things under the King so that now the whole Design of the Government seem'd to be to sham
Writing had it been prov'd his was only an Answer to Sir Robert Filmer's Treatise of Absolute Monarchy which had been the Design not only of this but of the two preceding Reigns yet this Evidence such as it was was sufficient with such Juries as then were pack'd for their Purpose to find the Collonel Guilty notwithstanding the Learned Defence he made for himself So that he was Condemned and Beheaded dying with a Greatness of Mind worthy of himself The Duke of Monmouth who was also one of the Lord Howard's Council of Six had for some time absconded but now upon his Submission to his Father and his Unkle was admitted to Court but being urg'd to make a fuller Discovery and Confession of the Plot which he affirm'd he knew nothing of he fell again into his Unkle's Displeasure and consequently into his Father's and so was Banished from the Royal Presence Several others who were said to be concerned in this Plot fled beyond Seas and were Out-lawed for not appearing here in Court among whom was one Holloway a Bristol-Merchant who was taken at Nevis in the West-Indies and brought over hither He was wrought upon by some of the Duke's Creatures to make a Confession and he should have his Pardon and when he had own'd enough to Hang himself he was offered the Benefit of a Tryal which he refused and flung himself upon the King's Mercy and so was Executed And not long after Sir Thomas Armstrong Master of Horse to the Duke of Monmouth who upon the Proclamation put out for apprehending him had fled into Holland was taken out of Leyden by Surprize and brought to London and Committed to Newgate and it being Term-time was soon after carried to Westminster where that infamous Wretch Sir George Jefferies being at that time Lord Chief Justice order'd him to be Executed the Friday following he being already Out-lawed But Sir Thomas boldly Demanded the benefit of the Law which was on his side for by a Statute of the 6th of Edw. 6. it was Enacted That if any Person Out-law'd for Treason being beyond the Sea shall within one Year after such Out-lawry render himself to the chief Justice of England he should Reverse his Out-lawry and take a Tryal which Sir Thomas then desir'd it being his Case But the Cheif Justice over-rul'd it and would not admit of his Plea nor let him have Counsel to Argue it But gave a Rule of Court for his Execution the Friday following the Impudent Chief Justice charging Richardson in a Jeering manner to see that Sir Thomas had the full benefit of the Law then And accordingly he was drawn up on a Sledge to Tyburn and there Executed Denying his Knowledge of any Plot whatsoever against the King But Sir Thomas's Death was Voted Murther by the Parliament since this happy Revolution The pretence of this Plot gave them a specious Ground to Persecute the Dissenters the Goals throughout England being at this time filled with them and Multitudes Cited to and Excommunicated by the Spiritual Courts for Nonconformity Executing upon them all the Vengeance that was possible Some being punish'd as Rioters some for Treasonable Words and some upon Actions of Scandalum Magnatum and Fined Exorbitantly beyond all Law or Reason of which last Sir Thomas Pilkington and Dr. Oats were Severe instances each being Fined 100000 l. to the Duke But a little before this time the Vertuous Lady Anne youngest Daughter to the Duke was Married to Prince George the King of Denmark's Brother the Match being generally liked by the People he being a Protestant Prince And the Hamborough Company in Gratitude for Favours receiv'd from the King in Relation to their Charter erected his Statue of grey Marble in the midst of the Royal-Exchange in the Habit of a Roman Caesar This was the State of the Nation when upon Monday the second of February 1684 5 the King was taken with an Apoplectick Fit which if it carried him not out of the World then 't is certain it did the Friday following Dying in the 54th Year of his Age having Reigned 36 Years and some few Days He was a Prince that very much indulg'd himself in taking his Pleasure and was very unlike his Father in this That he was a great Lover of Women and kept variety of them as the Dutchess of Cleaveland Nell Gwynn and the Dutchess of Portsmouth the last of which was made use of by his Brother to make the King do whatever he had a mind to have done for so much was the King taken with her French Charms that he could deny her nothing And therefore advancing of Favourites was done by her Mediation and even Parliaments themselves Prorogu'd or Dissolv'd if she had a Mind to have it so He was not a Prince Bloody or Cruel in his own Nature yet by the Ascendant his Brother had over him many worthy Persons lost their Lives in his Reign He was a Prince of very good Natural Parts had they not been Vitiated by giving himself up so much to the satisfaction of his Lusts His making War with the Dutch and joyning with France against them weaken'd the Protestant Interest and has made the French so Formidable to Europe And having carry'd on his Brother's Designs in Masquerade as long as he thought Convenient he dyed of a sudden but whether Naturally or by some Foul Play I will not determine tho' the latter was much Suspected However the Nation had a real Kindness for him and the News of his Death fill'd all Eyes with Tears and all Hearts with Sadness except those of the Papists and some Tories that were worse than they But this proceeded chiefly from the Fears and dismal Apprehensions the People had of the ensuing Reign In the Eleventh Year of this Kings Reign a Prodigious Whale came up to Greenwich and run it self on shore there soon after which Oliver Cromwel then Protector died In his 17th Year 3 Blazing Stars appeared of different shapes and colours which were look'd on to be the Denuntiators of ensuing Judgements In his 18th Year was a great Plague in London of which died far more than ever did in any Plague before and in the next Year the greatest part of the City of London was Consumed by Fire In the 33d Year of his Reign on the 18th of May 1680 a great storm of Hail fell in London and the parts adjacent the Hail-stones being of an extraordinary bigness some of them nine inches about and generally as big as Pullets Eggs with the figures of Stars and other curious works upon them being also very hard Several Rooks in the Temple-garden being kill'd by them and many Sky-lights in London broken to pieces by their violent failing upon them Soon after which a Prodigious Blazing-Star appeared in the West for several Weeks together In the 37th Year of his Reign there was a great Frost that continued from the beginning of December to the end of February in which time the Thames was frozen
been only Tools in so doing to the Papists and had carried on their Wâ—â—k for them and now that their Eyes began to be 〈◊〉 and tâ—â—â— they would be so no more they would fain have made Tâ—â—s of the Dissenters to pull down the Church of England by aggravating the ill Usage they had receiv'd from them so many Years And that now was their time to call them to an Account and be even with them for it and several of the Dissenters who were very Honest tho' mistaken Men were by these specious Pretences drawn in to joyn with them The King was so fond or his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience that he Publishes it a second time with an Injunction to have it read in all Parish-Churches and the Bishops of the respective Diocesses were to see it done But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and several of the Bishops looking upon this as a thing contrary to Law not only refused to do it but humbly Petitioned the King to hear the Reasons why they could not comply with that Order But this was looked upon by Jefferies then Lord-Chancellor Father Peters then made one of the Privy-Council and others of the Popish Faction as a Crime next to High-Treason and therefore for their Contempt they were Committed to the Tower It was now more than a Year that had passed since the King's Declaration for Indulgence came forth and the Prince and Princeâ— of Orange having been privately sounded how they stood affected to the Test and Penal Laws they being the next Heirs to the Crown their Opinion seemed to be That the Papists should by Law have Liberty for the private Exercise of their Religion without Disturbance but that by no means the Tests should be taken off to let them in to have a share in the Government This it was that touch'd the Papists to the quick for they saw that the King was well stricken in Years and upon his Death which they knew not how soon might happen a Protestant Princess was the next Heir who would soon pull down all that Babel which they had been Building and therefore some other Provision must be made for another Popish Successor And nothing could do this so well as a young Prince of Wales during whose Minority if the Kiâ—â— should Die they might Govern themselves 〈…〉 Popery as in the days of Old This being resolv'd on the old Dâ—tchess of Modena makes hee Offering to the Lady of Loretto of whom she Implores That the Queen of England may have a Son for a Daughter would signify nothing to be Heir of the Crown of England By Vertue of these Prayers and the Queen's going down to the Bath and drinking the Waters there she was said to be Impregnated and nothing was now to be heard among the Popish Faction but drinking the Young Prince's Health even before he was Born for that it would be a Son there was no body question'd as taking it for Granted that was the Design And all things were carried on by the Faction in order to it's Birth The Princess Ann of Denmark being not very well was advis'd by her Physicians to go down to the Bath for the Recovery of her Health And the Arch bishop of Canterbury and several others of the Bishops being in the Tower and the Bishop of London suspended from his Office and other concurring Circumstances being ready it was now look'd upon to be a good time for the Queen to cry out which was accordingly so well manag'd that on Sunday the 11th of June 1688 a young Prince of Wales was said to be born Which was publish'd with so much Joy both throughout England Scotland and Ireland and by their Embassadors in all Foreign Courts that they abundantly over-acted it The great Point of a Popish Heir being thus secur'd the Popish Faction begun to go on with a high Hand turning out Dr. Hough whom the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford had chosen for their President and all the Fellows too because they would not accept of a Papist whom the King would have impos'd upon 'em by a Mandamus in Sidney Colledge in Cambridge Father Francis was put in and in Vniversity-Colledge in Oxford Obadiah Walker the Principal declar'd himself a Papist The Head of Christ-Church put in by the King waâ— also of â—â—e same Profession Nor was any Preferment to 〈…〉 unless he were a Roman-Catholick In Scotland the â—ing had issued out a Proclamation for Tolleration in Religion recommending his Roman-Catholick Subjects particularly to the Protection of the Government there and tells them he expects his Will should be Obey'd absolutely and without Reserve But in Ireland the King would allow no Liberty of Conscience to the Protestants for they were turn'd out of all Offices and Places whatsoever And the Earl of Clarendon recalled from his Lieutenancy and Talbot who had already reformed the Army there and made it perfectly Popish was for that good Service made Earl of Tyrconnel and Deputy of Ireland Sir Charles Porter also the Lord Chancellor was turned out and one Alexander Fitton a Papist who had been fetch'd out of Goal in England and made a Knight is now made Lord-Chancellor in his place I have before told you of the Committing of the Seven Bishops to the Tower which were the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Bishop of Bristol the Bishop of Peterborough the Bishop of Chichester the Bishop of St. Asaph â—nd the Bishop of Ely and of the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales while they were there the Bishops having by their Habeas Corpus been set at Liberty were Tryed for a high Misdemeanour in Trinity-Term following and notwithstanding the new Modelling of the Judges and that one of then Judge All'bone was a known Papist yet Mr. Justice Powel to his lasting Honour did both Learnedly and Zealously defend their Cause so that the Jury acquitted them The publick Rejoycing that was made for the acquittal of the Bishops was not Confined to the Cities of London and Westminster but upon the News thereof being brought to Hounsloe-Heath where the Army lay the King being at that time treated by the Earl of Feversham in his Tent it was received with a general Shout throughout the whole Army the King not knowing the Reason of that Shout was very much Startled at it and sent the Earl of Feversham out to enquire the Cause who upon his Return told the King ' Tâ—â—â— nothing 〈◊〉 the Soldiers Joy for the acquittal of the Bishops To whom the King reply'd with some Discomposure And call you that Nothing This being indeed enough to let him see how vain a Design he had undertaken to set up Popery by a Protestant Army The King was now busie in modelling all the Corporations in England that send Burgesses to Parliament to get a Parliament fitted to his own Turn in order to take off the Penal Laws and Tests no other obstacle now lying in his way when on a sudden he
was allarmed with the News of the great Preparations making by the Dutch both by Sea and Land Upon which account the King sends to his Envoy at the Hague to put in a Memorial to the States General to know the Reason The French King also who was concern'd at it orders his Ambassador there to deliver in a Memorial upon that occasion wherein he tells the States There are such Bonds of Friendship and Alliance between his Master and the King of Great Brittain as will oblige him the French King not only to assist the King of Great Brittain but to look on the first Act of Hostility committed against him the King of Great Brittain to be a Manifest Rupture of the Peace and a Breach with his Crown This left no longer any doubt in the mind of the Prince of Orange and the States General of the private League between England and France Which was a sufficient Ground for the Prince of Orange to rescue these Kingdoms to which in Right of his Princess he was the next Heir from Popery and Arbitrary Power For he saw plainly that the Supposititions Prince was Introduc'd to wrong him and his Princess of their Right to the Succession and to subject these Kingdoms to Popery and Slavery and by consequence all Europe besides The Dutch took no notice of the French King 's Memorial but gave King James's Envoy this Answer that they had Arm'd in Imitation of his Britanick Majesty and the other Princes and that they had thereby given no just occasion of Offence in Arming when all other Princes where in motion and that they were long since convinced of the Alliance that the King his Master had treated with France and what had been mention'd to them by Monsier de Count d' Avaux in his Memorial After this Answer King James expected no good from the Dutch and lookt upon them as if they had already declar'd War against him And now the Eyes of all England were turned to Holland and expected Deliverance from thence without which they saw themselves Ruined nor did his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange deceive them but Landed with an Army of about 14000 Men at Torbay near Exeter on the Fifth day of November 1688. A day deservedly Famous in England for two eminent Deliverances from Popery Soon after his Landing he went to Exceter where he was received by the People with Shouts and Acclamations of Joy as their Deliverer as indeed he was After some little stay there he came forwards towards the South but King James to oppose him sent down his Army to Salisbury whither he also went himself but part of the Army going over to the Prince the King was so Staâ—tled at it that he thought not himself there out of Danger and so return'd to London again and as the Prince came forward he was in all places look'd upon as a Blessing sent from Heaven to rescue 'em from Popery and Slavery In the mean time King James to prevent if it were possible the impending and growing danger Restores all the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge and puts out his Proclamation for vacating all New Charters and restoring of old ones and Particularly the Charter of London was carried in great Pomp to Guild-Hall by Jefferies and given the Citizens again But for all these good things there was no body now thank'd him as being the Effects of his Fear and not of his good will The Prince's coming nearer and nearer to London the Nobility and Gentry at every Place Flocking to him and Congratulating him King James first sends away his Queen and pretended Prince to France and in a little time after withdraws himself from White-Hall and goes to Feversham where attempting to go a-board he was seiezed and rifled by the Country People and after his being known he came back to London again and was well receiv'd but the Prince being then at Windsor and designing the next Day for London King James by a Message was desir'd to with-draw himself to Ham near Kingston to avoid those Inconveniences that might Ensue But the King rather chose to go to Rochester having the Princes Guards with him to secure him from the Insults of the People there he staid two or three Days and then Privately Embark'd himself for France where he soon after ariv'd King James being thus gone away upon the Prince's coming to London he was desir'd by the Nobility and Gentry to take the Government upon him thereby to suppress the Disorders of the common People which was then very Great but by the Prince's Order soon brought to be quiet The Mass-Houses were every vvhere pull'd down and the Priests and Jesuits with the whole Popish Crew put to the Scamper Jefferies being dropt by his Master was shifting for himself but taken by the Mobb in a Seaman's Habit was carried before the Lord-Mayor and from thence sent to the Tower attended by strong Guards to keep him from being torn in Pieces by the incensed Mobb who follow'd him with Threats Curses and Execrations where sometime after he drank himself to Death and so sav'd the Hang-man a Labour The Prince of Orange having the Government put into his Hands Summons such Gentlemen as were Members of King Charles's last three Parliaments to meet at Westminster to consult what was fit to be done for the Nation which they accordingly did and desir'd the Prince that Writs might be issued out for the calling a Convention of the Estates in the Nature of a Parliament to meet in January following Which being done the Convention met at the time appointed and entering into several Debates about the present States of Affairs they came to this Result That King James by privately withdrawing himself out of his Kingdoms had Abdicated the Throne whereby it was become Vacant And so ended the Four Years Reign of King James the Second An Account of what Remarkably Occur'd since the Reign of King WILLIAM the III. and Queen MARY the II. to the Year 1606. KING James as has been mentioned having Left the Land and that in Parliament being taking for an Abdication and the Throne declared Vacant William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange were Proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. before White-Hall and in the City of London with the Joy of the whole Nation on the 13th of Feb. 1688 and with Convenient speed they were Proclaimed with the like satisfaction in all the Principal Places of their Dominions and the King returned the Parliament a Gracious answer to their Declaration expressing himself highly satisfied with what they had done promising to the utmost his Care and Protection for the Preservation of the Established Religion Laws and Liberties and that he should always be ready to Concur with them in any thing that should be for the Good of the Kingdom and to do all that in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of it and thereupon he proceeded to quiet disorders in all
of Leinster arriving wiâ—h freâ—h Supplies from England and being joyned by a Detachment from the King's Camp under the Command of Lieutenant-General Talmash they marched towards Newport and 4 Regiments were sent to Possess themselves of Furnes which successfuly they did and 2000 Pioneers ordered to fortifie it and soon after Dyxmude fell into our hands with the Villages and dependant Territories and several Skirmishes happened with various success to the end of this Campaign And on the 8th of September 1692 an Earthquake happened in England giving 2 or 3 Quick Shoâ—ks yet with little harm and was felt almost at the same time in Ireland France Holland Flanders and other places it lasted about a minute The King of England was then in his Camp at Grammen in Flanders Dining in an old decay'd house which shook very much and every one apprehendâ—ng it would fall he was Perswaded to leave that Ruin-threatening-Fabrick but the Surprize was soon over and no harm happened there The Campaign now being ended the King by the way of Holland returned to England and found all things peaceable and well Governed by the Queens prudent mannagement not only in England but in the otheâ— two Kingdoms where War and Tumults ceasing Trade began to Flourish Whilst these things passed a very great Fleâ—t of Turkey and Streights Merchants Dutch and English set Sail richly Laden under a Convoy of Men of War Commanded by Sr. George Rook and in the Streights unexpectedly fell in with the French Fleet But though our Ships fell into this Ambush yet ours and the Dutch Men of War behaved themselves with such Conduct and Courage as also did the Merchantmen that whilst the French were making up and the Dispute lasted most the latter by running along the Shore got into Harbours and others came back again with Sir George who made a very good Retreat so that the French got but little though had they not been over hasty in appearing in probability the greater part of them might have been Encompassed by their whole Fleet. The King as is said being returned after Congratulations a day of Thanksgiving was appointed for Gods singular Providence that had protected him in the greatest dangers to which he had exposed his Royal Person for our Safety The Winter was spent in making Levies by Land and great Preparations at Sea The Parliament chearfully giving such Supplies as were necessary to carry on the War Early in the Spring the Streights and Turkey Fleet put again to Sea but entering the Streighte mouth such a violent Storm arose as blew many of the Ships cleaverly out of it and divers were Lost and much damaged yet many got safe to their proper Ports In March the King passed over to hasten an early Campaign and the Elector of Bavaria being appointed Governour of Flanders sent the Duke of Arco to Complement him on his arrival and Parties being abroad divers Skirmishes and Bickerings happened with various Success in a village called Malterne 100 Newburghers took 80 French Prisoners of War and brought them with their Arms Horse and Baggage to the general Rendesvouz However they sent an Army to Ravage the Palatinate and burnt divers places of note and to divert the Spanish Forces in Flanders a vigorous War was pushed on in Catalonia the Duke D' Nouailles Commanding in chief but met there with many Disapointments by our main Fleet 's appearing on the Coast yet drawing off a part of the Army for that Service The Duke of Wirtemburg with a considerable Body of Horse and Foot forced the Enemies Lines and Entering French Flanders for several Miles put the Country under Contribution raising a Million of Livres taking in divers small places and much Booty This Constrained the Duke of Luxemburg General for the French King to Endeavour by one Exploit or other to draw him back and first with 50 Squadrons of Horse and ten Battallions of Foot and some Field-pieces he attempted to fall on a part of the Garison of Liege and Maestrich being about 18 squadrons of Horse and some Regiments of Foot Commanded by Count Tilly but upon notice retired over the River Sare Leaving three Squadrons to secure his Retreat which beat back the French advanced parties But this was only as a Forerunner to greater Action for the King Marching to releive Huy had notice in his way of it's surrender and thereupon Strengthening the Garison of Liege Marched near Hespan and halted to get Intelligence of the Enemies further design and some hours after had notice they appeared from the high Grounds of St. Gertruden-Landen so that upon notice from the Scouts that it was the Vaunt-Guard of their Army all things were ordered to Receive them if they adventured to make any attempt which they soon after did and a terrible fight ensued which lasted from Sun-rising to Sun setting in this Battel the King was in all parts giving the necessary Orders and acted the part not only of a brave General but also of a Couragious Captain but in the Conclusion the Confederate Army being over-powered by Numbers the French being 80000 and the Confederate but 40000 they were forced to retire and left the French Masters of the Field tho' their loss was more than that of the Confederates Such another Encounter the French made in Savoy where Monsieur Catinat Commanded for France in which the Duke of Schomberg fighting Valiantly at the Head of his Battalion was slain and the Savoyards compelled to leave the field but the French notwithstanding this Success found themselves in so bad a Condition that being compelled to pass the Mountains very late for Recruits and Supplies of Necessaries abundance of them were lost in the Snow and deep Pits with Carriages and Cannon Tho' the French on these Occasions boasted of some Success by Land their Naval Forces since the last Overthrow were but slenderly Recruited and Admiral Russel having notice by a Swede there was a great Fleet in Conquet-Bay Laden with Corn and Naval Stores sent Capt. Pickard with another Man of War and a Fire-ship to get an account of them which struck such a Terror they supposing these Ships the Vaunt-Guard of our main Fleet that cutting their Cables they run on the Flats and Rocks into our Hands others sunk by the Shot so that there were computed about 50 Sail to have been Lost and soon after the Admiral had Orders to joyn the Spanish Fleet on the Coast of Catalonia to prevent the French Designs on that side which brought such a Terror on the French main Fleet under the Command of Monsieur Torville that he immediately got into Thoulon and there lay penn'd up not daring to stir till the English Fleet returned Being in those parts they brought a Terror on Argeirs and other Pyratical Governments so that they sent their Submissions and appeared very desirous to be at Peace with England However a sufficient Squadron being left in the narrow Seas Commanded by the Lord Berkly he attempted the French Coast
and Landed some Men at Cammaret-Bay under Lieutenant-General Talmash but they had drawn thither such great Bodies of Horse and Foot strongly Intrenched that the English with some Loss were constrained to retire in this Action the Lieutenant-General received a Wound in the Thigh with a Musket-shot and Dyed of it at Plymouth greatly Lamented as being an expert and Generous Commander But for this Disappointment not giving over they stood in before Diep and laid that Famous Town in Ashes and then throwing in about 250 Bombs into Havre-de-Grace fir'd a great part of it and afterward Bombed St. Maloes and Callis and sent in Machines to blow up the Works guarding the Entrance of Dunkirk Harbour which had some tho' not the wished Effect And so Sailing along the Coast of France brought such a Terror every where that they were forced Night and Day to be on their Guard The King in this Year 169â— labouring by the often moving his Camp to bring the French to battle but not able to do it caused Huy to be Besieged which with little resistance he took and Garisoned and the Prince of â—aden with the Saxon and German Troops passing the Rhine cut off divers in the Rear of the French Army it retiring before him so that he raised Contributions and returned unopposed and after this on all hands the French parties Scouting abroad were mostly deâ—eaâ—ed by the Confederates killed and taken Prisoners bringing in great Booties of Cattle c. And whilst the French advanced somewhat near the City of Leige the Garison Sallyed and took between 7 and 800 Horse entirely defeating two Squadrons of their forrage Guards These and the like matters ending this Campaign the King returned and was Welcomed home with the Universal joy of his People But all their joy was soon turned into Mourning For the Queen fell sick at Kensington on the 22 of December 1694 and in a little time her Distemper was known to be the small Pox a distemper Fatal to the Royal Family of which on the 28th she Dyed in the 33d Year of her Age and in the Flower of her Strength and Beauty to the great affliction of the King and three Kingdoâ—â— she lay a considerable time in State and then was Interred among her Royâ—â— Ancestors in Henry the 7th's Chappel at Westminster with a most Solemn Funeral Pomp a Stately Mausoleum was Erected in the Abbey whereon very remarkably a Robin-Redbreast for many weeks usually sat Singing Not only the English Court but most in Christendom went into the deepest Mourning and Condoleances were made not only by the Parliament but the Foreign Ministers c. The Clouds of sorrow being a little blown-over the King considering of his weighty affairs abroad appointed 7 Able Ministers of State Lords Justices in his absence to administer affairs of Government and having settled all things to the best advantage passed to the Army in Flanders which drawing into the Field very Numerous Marched towards the strong Town of Namure Situate on the Muse and Sambre and after a Vigorous Seige carried on by the King with all Imaginable Bravery and Gallantry tho' Marshal Bouflers had thrown himself into the Town and even in the fight of Vineroy at the head of an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men first the Town and afterwards the Castle was compelled to Surrender to the King This tedious Siege in a manner ended the Campaign so that little else of moment happened the French altogether declining a Battle and the King having settled Affairs upon his return made a Progress through most parts of England The Parliament being dissolved a New one was called and meeting among other things particularly upon the King 's Recommending that Important affair to them at the opening of the Sessions took into Consideration the State and badness of the Coyn and coming to a result an Act passed for calling in the Clipped Money and Re-coyning it in Mill'd Money according to the true Weight Standarâ— and Mints were set up in divers parts of the Kingdom for the better ordering a speedy supply of it in every part of the Nation Whilst these things were doing make things happy and easy to us our Enemies were contriving our utter destruction divers were sent from France to joyn with those already here and one of the most wicked Conspiracies contrived and a long time secretly carried on that any Age has known or History made mention of for whilst a Design was laid in the French Court to invade the Kingdom their Emmissaries here were framing a Design to destroy the King's Life by a villanous Assassination and Sir George Barclay brings over a Commission to encourage them in it The Conspirators many in Number had divers Meetings sometimes at one Capt. Porter's Lodgings and others at the Nagg's-Head in Govent-Garden and in Leaden-Haâ—â—-Street at the Sun in the Strand the blew-posts in Old-Spring-Garden in Pickadilly and other places and several Persons as a Committee from their Body were appointed as Knightly Porter King c. to view the Ground in the King's passage to Richmond a place he usually Frequented to acquaint the rest which was the most Convenient place to set upon him in his Coach and cut him off and accordingly they viewed the Avennues about Brentford Richmond c. and concluded on the Narrow-lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green was the most convenient to do it in where the Guards could pass but â—ew a Breast and with this upon their return they acquainted Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkyns Robert Charnock and others who approved it The Design thus laid they â—exâ— Consulted in what manner it should be done and came to a Result that one Party with 7 or 8 chosen Men should Assassinate the King in his Coach whilst two other Parties attacked the Guards their Number in all being upwards of Forty and the 15th of February 1695 being Saturday a day the King usually went a Hunting that way was the first appointed time and they prepared for it accordingly But Providence so Ordered it that he went not abroad that Day of which they had notice from 〈◊〉 two Orderly Men as they stiled them viz. Durance and Chambers who â—â—y at Kensington concealed for that Purpose Then they had other Meetings upon it and appointed to be in a Readiness the Saturday following and met accordingly and were setting out when again they had Notice the same hand of Providence had Disappointed them This startled them into new Fears that their wicked Design had taken Air especially upon notice the King 's going abroad was suddenly put off and the Guards were come back in haste their Horses Foaming and Keys one of the Conspirators heard them Mutter something which gave him and the rest a Jealousy to mistrust a Discovery was made as indeed Providence had Ordered it whereupon they Dispersed and gave over the Design For Capt. Pendergrass being acquainted with this bloody Design from Capt. Porter about the 13th of February at
himself to Miletus the first Bishop of St. Paul's in London by his grave Advice was induced to embrace the Christian Religion This famous Church was Founded by him and Ethelbert King of Kent in the place where before stood a Temple Dedicated to Diana wherein many Bloody Sacrifices had been offered to the supposed Goddess and so becoming the first Christian King of the East Saxons he was a great Encourager of Religious Men and Women building at their request divers other Churches in London and elsewhere He began his Reign Anno Dom. 591 and Reigned 21 Years Sered the Fourth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 611 He revoked the Indulgences of his Predecessors to the Christians and in attempting to Prophane The Lords Table being withstood by Miletus the Bishop of St. Paules he Banished him his Dominions but afterward entering on a War with Kingills King of the West Saxons which continued for some time he was in the conclusion of it Slain when he had Reigned Six Years A little before his Death he had a Dream like to that of Smyrdis Son to Cyrus the Great and Brother to King Cambysis of Persia viz. That he sat on the West Saxon Throne and his Head reached the Skies which being falsly Interpreted by his flatterers who pushed him on in his Ambitiaus designs whilst like the other he lost his Life though by different means the first Murthered by his Brothers command on a Jealousie he designed to Usurp the Persian Monarchy and the latter Fighting to enlarge his Dominions Sigesbert the Fifth King af the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 620. He made several Laws against Murtherers and Thieves that then much abounded in the Country In his time a dreadful Fire happened in London consuming most of the Eastern part of it but it was soon Re-built and much inlarged by this Kings Encouragement and the Michaelmas following a number of Porpoises came up the River whereupon preat Storms followed and the Thames overflowing lay'd many Hundreds of Acres under Water in Kent and Surry He Reigned Twenty Three Years Sigebert the Sixth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 643. He Restored again the True Worship in that Kingdom being perswaded by Oswy King of the Northumbers to be Baptized by Bishop Finnan giving Large Gifts to the Churches and Monasteries earnestly labouring to settle Peace among his Neighbours but being of a very wild temper and soft by Nature his two Brothers took the advantage of his weakness Conspired against him and Murthered him when he had Reigned Fifteen Years Swithelm the Seventh King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 658 upon the enterance on it he became a Christian and was Baptized by Bishop Cedda Ethelwald King of the East Angles being his Godfather In his time London began to flourish very much in Trade the Merchants and Traders having large Priviledges granted them A little before his Death A Globe of Fire fell on St. Paul 's Church and Burnt the Roof of it His Reign continued only Three Years and odd Days Sighere the Eighth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 661. He had embraced the Christian Faith but Apostatized on a slight Occasion and of a Father of the Church became a Persecutor but being afflicted with a grievous Disease he was smitten with Remorse of Conscience and many Thousands of his Subjects being Destroyed by a raging Pestilence he Remembered frem whence he was Fallen and Returned to the Christian Communion into which he was gladly received by an Assembly of the Clergy who prevailed with him to destroy the Idols and demolish their Altars He Reigned Five Years Sebba the Ninth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 666 being given much to a Religious Life and much Repenting the Blood he had shed when he was General in the Wars whereupon when he had Reigned Thirty Years he layed down his Scepter and took on him a Religious Habit in the Monastery of St. Paul's at London bequeathing his Kingdom to Sigherd his Kinsman Sigherd the Tenth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 696. He sent Forces to assist the West Saxons against the Britains who made strong Incursions into their Territories and carried away great Booties in the mean time divers Pirates from Denmark and Norway Invaded his Sea-Coasts Burning and Plundering many Villages but a mighty Tempest arising they suffered Shipwrack and so many of them as Escaped to Shoar were destroyed by the Country Peasants He Built many Religious Houses and Reigned Seven Years Seofrid the Eleventh King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 703. He Built Forts on the advantagious Havens to the Sea-Coast to prevent the Landing of Foreign Enemies by surprize encouraging his People to Trade with the Neighbour Nations so that many of the North East Countries were discovered and great Riches brought home which caused others who had advantagious Havens to take the like Measures whereupon the Shiping encreased He Reigned Seven Years Offa the Twelfth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 711. He was a great Encourager of the Christians and in his time the Christian Religion spread into all parts of his Dominions He Invited over Religious Men out of other Countries and ordered Publick Schooles to be Erected and being desirous to see Rome which he had heard so much of by Fame when he had Reigned Eight Years he went thither and being much taken with the Devotion of the Religious there he became a Monk and Dyed in that station leaving large Legacies to the Church Selred the Second and Thirteenth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 719. In his time a grievous Famine was in this Kingdom for the space of three Years so that People in many places were compelled to Eat Grass Roots Leaves and Barks of Trees and yet many Thousands were Famished Great flashes of Fire likewise Issued out of the Earth which Burnt up the Trees and Grass and Destroyed some People and much Cattel but soon after a great Plenty ensued He Reigned Thirty Eight Years Suthred the Fourteenth and Last King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 757. He had great Wars with Egbert King of the West Saxons so that in various Battels Fifty Thousand of his People being Slain he was so weakned that not being able to make head any longer he withdrew himself and left his Dominions to the prevailing Enemy when in much Trouble he had upheld them Eight Years So that Egbert annexing it as a Province to his own Kingdom Extinguished the Name of the East-Saxon-Kingdom about the Year of Christ 827. CHAP. VI. A Description of the Kingdoms of Northumberland and Mercia with the Succession of their Kings and the most Memorable Transactions Portents and Prodigies both in Peace and War that happened during their Reignes 4. The Kingdom of Northumberland as it Began and continued in
English Garrison was aware of his coming putting most he found therein to the Sword but it was soon regained by the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Grandval swore Allegiance for his Ransom to King Henry but basely revolted as soon as he was Enlarged Then the Earl took Senes whereupon the Parisians sued to the New French King to assist them underhand tho' at the same time they had for a colour sent some of their Citizens to King Henry promising a continued Duty and Loyalty for yet they found not matters ripe for an open Revolt But whilst the Regent was Magnificently Celebrating his Nuptials with the Lady Ann Sister to the Duke of Burgundy they secretly sent to Charles Advertising him That if he came speedily with any considerable Power they would over-master the English Garrison and deliver the City into his hands This greatly Rejoyced him but whilst his Preparations were slow the Conspiracy was made known to the Regent who swiftly Marched his Army in at their Gates seized on the chief Conspirators and caused them to be Executed in sundry places of the City placing a greater Garrison which very much curbed them bridling them more with the Castle of Pacy and Coursay not far from thence which he took and strongly Fortified and to prevent the Scots Aiding the French James their King was sent home who had been taken on the Seas and a Prisoner at Large to the English many Years yet the English Interest was something weakened by the Revolt of the Duke of Britainy who fearing the Regent growing Powerful might bring him into subjection joyned with the Dauphin as did his Brother Arthur Earl of Yvrie causing that Town in Normandy of which King Henry the Fifth had made him Captain to Rebel yet that and Vernoille which had likewise Revolted were soon Regained and the French Armies that came to Relieve them were Overthrown Soon after the defeated Governour of Yvrie whom the Dauphin had unworthily made Constable of France Besieged St. James Town in Bayon with 4000 Men but the Besieged issuing out with hideous cries of St. George and the Earl Salisbury who by his Martial deeds was grown Terrible to the French that Army being seized with a fear that the Earl was entered with his Army on the other side and about to break-in upon them all in confusion threw away their Arms and fled so a handful of Men pursuing a great many of them leaped into the River and were Drowned others were slain and all the Rich Plunder of the Camp fell to the English But whilst we thus Triumphed in France a Mischief had like to have marred all at home by a discord that happened between the Duke of Gloucester and his Unkle the Bishop of Winchester But the Regent leaving the Earl of Warwick his Lieutenant General in France came timely over and made them Friends in a Parliament he called in honour of which Reconciliation the Young King held a solemn Feast and the Regent Dubbed him a Knight after which the King made Richard Son to the late Earl of Cambridge Duke of York and Restored John Moubray Earl Marshal to his Fathers Dutchy of Norfolk and the Bishop of Winchester going to Callis met the Popes Bull which Invested him with the Dignity of a Cardinal which highly pleased him and new Forces being Levied in England were sent to strengthen the Armies in France so that a great number of Towns that had Revolted were Regained and many French Nobles put to their Ransoms which raised Money to maintain the War Orleance being now the strongest place the French held the Earl of Salisbury laid Siege to it but after two Months lying before it the Earl from a Watch-Tower taking a view of the Town where it was easiest to be Assaulted was slain by a shot from a Culverin being the first Noble Englishman ever known to be kill'd by a Great Shot and with his Death the Courage of the English much abated However the Earl of Suffolk succeeded him in the Command who sending out Sir John Falstaff to procure Provisions for the Camp the Lord Delabreth in his return intending to surprise him with a great Power was beaten by his small Party as being catched again with the Agincourt Trap by Goaring their Horses on Irons Pointed whilst the English retired safe behind them and with their Arrows made a miserable Slaughter of 2500 of his Men taking 11000 Prisoners and a great Booâ— whereupon the Besieged in Orleance offered to deliver up the City to the Duke of Burgundy if he would take them into his immediate Protection which he consented to do if the Regent would Agree to it But when he proposed it the Regent told him He could not for since King Henry had been at such great Charge to reduce it to Extreamity and at a point to Yield it was altogether reasonable it should obey no other Soveraign but him This much perplexed the Duke and made him ever after lessen his Affections to the English till he quite fell off and to their great detriment joyned with the adverse party The Citizens of Orleance finding their Proposal fruitless sent to the Dauphin for speedy Succour resolving to hold out to the last Extreamity and the Watches of the English Camp being careless as expecting every day it would Surrender in the depth of Night they thrust several Thousand Men in with store of Provisions so that within a few days they boldly Sallied with their main Strength won a strong Pass and slew 600 English that Guarded it but Assaulting a Bastile where the Lord Talbot lay he fell on them with such fury that leaving half their Number Dead the rest fled fearful into the Town But the next day the Earl of Suffolk by reason of the new Supplies seeing no probability of winning the Place raised the Sirge and put the greater part of his Army into Garrisons but whilst himself lay at Jargeaux the French won it and took him Prisoner and many Noble Prisoners were Slain because the French hotly contended among themselves to whom they rightly belonged and about 25000 French under the Earl of Vendosm and others meeting with the Lords Scales Talbot and Hungerford who Fought with them desperately but not having above 5000 English they were Overthrown and the Lords taken Prisoners yet the French magnifying their Victory many small Towns and Castles Revolted to them as Trois Rhemes Challons and many others which made the Regent resolve to give Charles Battel sending to defie him as a Usurper and Traytor to his Lord and Master and tho' he drew out his Army and made some semblance as if he accepted the Challenge yet he shifted and fled from place to place and could not be brought to a fair Field and the Towns still Revolting it was thought Expedient to send for King Henry over thinking his Presence might keep the rest in Obedience and accordingly coming to Paris he was Crowned there King of France with much Royal Pomp