unlawful yet all the force and Law they then had could never obtain a Writ of Restitution the continuance of this new Saxon Monarchy was but during the times of these two Kings following 1. Edward the Confessour He was Crowned at Winchester by Edsine Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the beginning of his Reign the Danes Irish and Welsh entered England and destroyed all in their passage with Fire and Sword but they were withstood in their proceeding by Alfred the Warlike Bishop of Worcester In the fifth year of the King's Reign there fell so great a Snow in January that covered the Ground till the middle of March and much Cattel and Fowl died and in January after happened such an Earthquake that it seemed to rend the ground in sunder and withal such fearful Lightnings were then that the Corn in the Fâ—elds was burnt up which caused a great Dearth And now Goodwine Earl of Kent who was the main Instrument in setting up King Edward for his Favour to the Burgesses of Canterbury falls into dislike with the King and after several thwartings he and his five were banished but about two years after was received again into favour and being one day at the King's Table at Dinner the Cup-bearer coming in got a slip and had like to have spilt the Wine but as one Foot slipped the other recovered it whereupon the Earl said I see one Brother hath helped the other Yes said the King and so would my Brother Alured have helpen me if Goodwine had not been The Earl perceiving the King's Anger he took a piece of Bread and wished it might choak him if he were guilty of betraying the King's Brother so putting the Bread into his Mouth he was choaked therewith and fell down dead After this the King caused his Mother Emma to be tried whether she were guilty of Adultery or no by causing her to go blindfold over the place where nine Plow-shares lay glowing hot and she being clear of the Accusation laid to her charge went over the place where they lay and mist them every one stepping betwixt still all the way as she went when she was past them she not knowing so much cryed out saying Oh Lord When shall I come to the place of my Purgation And having her eyes opened and seeing herself past the Danger she fell on her knees and gave Thanks to her Deliverer this kind of Tryal was called Ordalium It is reported also that his Dealings with his own Beautiful Queen Edith a Daughter to Earl Goodwine were little better she being likewise accused of Adultery and kept in Prison during her Father's Banishment In this King's time was a blasing Star seen for sev'n dayes space all the World over The Abby of St. Peters at Westminster was enlarged by this King and he built the Church of St. Margarets at Westminster and removed the Bishop's Sea from Cridington in Devon-shire to Exeter and made Leofrick first Bishop thereof and he was the first of our Kings that cured the Disease called Struma now the King 's Evil and that first used to Seal his Patents with the Stately Seal now called The KING' 's Great Seal and he remitted the Tax of Dane-Guilt so grievous to his Subjects and Collected all the Laws of his Predecessors into one Body which some say is the Ground or Foundation of our Common Law This King Edward was seventh Son to King Ethelred and first by his Second wife Queen Emma he was born at I slip in Oxford-shire and was the 19 Sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno. Dom. 1042. and reigned 20 years 6 months and 27 daies He died the 4 of January and was buried at Westminster 2. Harrold This King at his Entrance freed his Subjects from those grievous Tributes his Predecessors had afflicted them withall he was crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of York Now there were three several Reports of Edward's disposing of the Crown some said to the Norman Duke who made that the Anchor-hold of his Claims others to young Edgar to whom he was great Vncle and lastly to this Harrold who in King Edwards days being at Sea in a Fisher-boat upon Pleasure was driven into Normandy where Duke William caused him to swear that if Edward died without Issue the Crown of England should be reserved for the Normans And hereupon after Edward's Death and Harrold's assuming of the Crown Duke William sent his Embassadours to him to put him in minde of his Oath but he returned Answer That it was extorted from him in his Imprisonment and so not obliging At this Answer the Duke was much inraged and prepared for an Invasion and at Harrold's Preparation to Encounter the Duke a fearful Comet appeared which was look'd upon as after it proved a bad Omen And now Harrold's Misery approaching Tosto Brother to Harrold and Harrold Harfagar King of Denmark invaded England and landed at Richal upon Owse in York-shire and spoiling the Country round about marched straitway to York News being brought to the King he with his Army marched Northwards to suppress these Danish Forces and at Stamford Bridg built over the River Derwent he was stopt by a single Dane who slew 40 of his men but at length the valiant Dane was slain by a Soldier who got a Boat and rowed under the Bridge and thrust his Spear up through a hole in the Bridge and so slew the famous valiant Dane Some say He was slain with a Dart thrown at him And the King now getting the Bridge he fell upon the Norwegians and made great slaughter of them and among the rest he slew Harfagar the King of Denmark and Tosto his own Brother and Olave the Son of Harfagar and Paul Earl of Orkny were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives of the King were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having 20 small Vessels of their great Fleet of three hundred Ships wherewith they invaded the Realm allowed them to carry away their slain and hurt with the heavy news to Denmark of the loss of their King and overthrow of their whole Army These Troubles were no sooner over but William Duke of Normandy landed at Pevensey in Sussex upon the eighth day of September Anno Domini 1066 who after his landing set his own Fleet on Fire that his Soldiers might have no hopes of flying back thither for succour When he first came on shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand and the Knight that was next to him said Now Sir Earl England sticks fast to thee Doubt not but presently to be King thereof after some small stirs he sent a Messenger to the King at London to demand the Kingdom but the Messenger was dismissed with Threats and Harrold now seeing no way but one either to fight or yield the Kingdom which was too sweet a Morsel to part with without Blows He therefore advances with his Army into Sussex and pitched his Tents in a fair plain within seven miles of the Enemy and
happened such a Raging Fire in London that it consumed a great part of the City from West-Cheap to Algate The next year after being the 34 of the King Duke Robert the King's Brother after 26 years Imprisonment and the putting out of his Eyes died in Prison And this year Worcester and Rochester were burnt This Henry the First was King of England and Duke of Normandy he was the 4th Son of William the Conqueror by Maud his Wife Daughter to Baldwine the Fifth Earl of Flanders He began his Reign on Wednesday the first day of August Anno 1100. and reigned 35 years 4 moneths and 1 day and was 23 Sole Monarch of England He died of a Surfeit with eating Lampreys at the Town of St. Dennis in Normandy on Munday the Second day of December Anno 1135. being the 36 of his Reign 21 of his Dukedom and 65 of his Age. His Body was buried at Redding in Bark-shire in an Abby of his own Founding CHAP. XIII Of King Stephen sometimes called Stephen of Bloyce THis Stephen at his first coming for England landed at Whitsand-Bay with whom came a wonderful Tempest of Thunder His endeavours for the Crown were aided by Henry his younger Brotherthen Bishop of Winchester William Arch Bishop of Canterbury Roger Bishop of Salisbury and Hugh Biggot late Steward to King Henry all which swore him Fealty although they had sworn it before to the Empress King Henry's Daughter who is now by them rejected And crown'd Stephen King at Westminster on the 26 day of December Anno 1135 by William Corbell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury After which he granted his Subjects a Charter of some Immuities Dated under his hand at Oxford Anno Domini 1136 whose Tenour was as followeth That all Liberties Customes and Possessions granted to the Church should stand firm That all Persons and causes Ecclesiastical should appertain only to Ecclesiastical Judges That none but Clergy men should meddle with the vacancies of Churches or any Church mens goods That all bad usages in the Land touching Forrests Exactions c. should be utterly extirpated And lastly That the antient Laws should be restored This year a Fire began at London Stone in the City of London and consumed all before it from thence East-ward to Aldgate and West-ward to St. Pauls Church Not long after this the King caused several Castles to be built in England but by the advice of Henry Fitz Empress shortly after 1115 of them were demolished again And now Baldwine de Redvers Rebelling again the King was taken and banished and a great Battel was shortly after fought against the Welsh but the English lost the day and many of them were led away Captives by the Welsh Women and such a number of them drowned by the fall of a Bridge over Temd that a passage was made over the Water with their dead Carcasses in the year eleven hundred thirty seven Rochester was destroyed with Fire After this David King of Scots invaded England and took Carlisle and New-Castle and the King marching to oppose his further Progress a Peace was concluded between them Afterwards the King in the Third year of his Reign Created Eustance his eldest Son Duke of Normandy This year the Arch-Bishop's Seat in York St. Martyns Church without the Walls and the Hospital with thirty nine Houses and much Riches were burnt The King now paied his elder Brother Theobald two thousand marks yearly for his Right of Normandy and England and to Jeffery Plantaginet Husband to Maud the Empress he paid five thousand Marks yearly for his Right to the Crown Whilest he was in Normandy setling his affairs the Scots again invaded England committing most barbarous Cruelties as ripping up Women with Child and tossing their Infants on their Spear points several of the Peers likewise Revolted and did Fortifie most of the strong Castles in the Realm against the King intending to bring Maud the Empress to the Crown But the King being no sluggard did so hotly pursue his Barrons that he won most of the Castles from them and put them to a stand And with like success did Ralph Bishop of Durham appointed General by Thurstan Arch-Bishop of York the King's Lieutenant of the North go against the Scots who were come as far as Northumberland and manfully forced them to fly the Country And shortly after the King in Person marched into Scotland and a Peace was again concluded between the two Kings And Stephen brought with him into England Henry David's eldest Son and made him Earl of Huntington And now the King began to quarrel with several of his Prelates as Salisbury Lincoln and Ely and demanding the keys of their Castles exacting likewise great summs of money from them About this time Maud the Empress landed in England and was carried into Arrundel-castle by William de Albeny who married the Queen Dowager King Henry's Widdow the King having intelligence thereof hasted to Arundel at whose coming a Woman's Wit being best at a pinch she perswaded him That none to her knowledge or with her consent were come with her but those who did and would owe him Allegiance Hereupon he honourably conveyed her to Bristol from which place she got to Wallingford-Castle and in the mean while Earl Robert her Brother divulged the News of her Arrivage whereupon he got such a number of People together for her cause that they were hard to be numbred The King hereupon forthwith besieges Wallingford-Castle but not able to accomplish his desires he removed his Siege to Malmesbury and in the mean time the Empress got to Lincoln and stored the City with Provision and other Necessaries Hereupon the King withdrew to Lincoln and so straitly begirt the City with his Siege that if the Empress had not made a shift to escape she had been here taken The King possessing himself of Lincoln Earl Robert and Ranulph Earl of Chester went against him with a mighty Army and making over the River pitched their Tents in the King's sight the King ordering his Army Trumpets sounded to Battel and the Armies joined in Fight but the Kings party being overpowred they began to faint and run away leaving the King almost alone who behaved himself so Champion-like that he drove down whole Troops before him until his Battel-Ax broke and his Sword flew into pieces in his hand and then being Weaponless he was struck down with a Stone which was thrown at him and so was seized on but preserved from Violence by Earl Robert's Command and from thence he was carried Prisoner to the Empress to Gloucester from which place he was sent bound to Bristoll And now the Empress Triumphed as sole Sovereign of England all the People save those of Kent doing her Allegiance to Winchester she marched in State and there received the Regal Crown from thence she went to London where she was received with Royal procession And now the reports of Stephen's Imprisonment being got into Normandy his Subjects there began to incline to Jeffery
to him such persons as he would name to which the King returned Answer that he and his adherents were all Traytors so the Yorkists assailed the Town and flew 48 Nobles Knights and Esquires amongst whom were the Earls of Somerset Northumberland and Stafford and 5000 Common Soldiers and wounded the King in the neck with an Arrow so he was taken Prisoner The next day the Duke of York and Earls of Salisbury and Warwick marched to London with the King and in his name summoned a Parliament by whose Authority the Duke of York was established Protector of England Salisbury Lord Chancelor and Warwick Captain of Callis but it was not long before they were again displaced The French by reason of these intestine Broils took their Advantage making several inroads on the Coasts of England killing the Mayor Bayliffs and several other Officers of Sandwich and burnt Foway and several other Towns in Devonshire Anno 1458 there was a Fray in Fleetstreet between the men of the Court and the inhabitants of the said Street in which Fray the Queens Attorny was slain for which Fact the King committed the Governours of Cliffords Furnivals and Barnards-Inn to Prison and William Taylor Alderman of the Ward and several others were sent to Windsor Castle The year after being 1459 the Science of PRINTING was found out in Germany at Magunce by a Soldier and was brought into England about 12 years after by one William Caxton a Mercer who practized it at St. Peter's Abby in Westminster for a pretty while And now a seeming reconcilement was concluded on between the King with his Lancastrians and the Yorkists but it had not long continuance for the Yorkists under the pretence of some Afronts offered to the Earl of Warwick by some of the King's Servants drew to an head again but their Intentions being discovered by one Andrew Trollop they all thereupon disperced themselves And shortly after a Parliament being called in it were the Duke of York Earl of March Earl of Warwick Earl of Rutland and Earl of Salisbury with certain others all attainted of High-Treason and their whole Estates consiscared but they neither fearing nor regarding their attainder drew out again from the several places whither they were fled and uniting their forces together consisting of about 25000 men they fought the King at Northampton slaying about ten thousand men with several Nobles as Humfry Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Egremont and others and taking the King himself Prisoner whereupon the Tower was surrendred and the Lord Scales Lieutenant thereof seeking to escape was murthered by Whirry men on the Thames Now a Parliament again being called the Duke of York coming out of Ireland made his Claim to the Crown deriving his pedigree from Lyonell the 3 Son of Edward the III elder Brother of John of Gaunt Father of King Henry the IV and after great debate in the Parliament at length it was concluded that King Henry should possess it during his life and after his Death then the Crown to remain to Richard Duke of York and his Heirs in general tail During these proceedings the Queen with her Son were in the North raising of Forces whither the Duke of York marched to encounter them reposing himself at Sandal Castle expecting more force to come to his aid but the Queen in the mean time coming before the Castle with a small force laying Ambushes on either side of the Hill before the Castle which the Duke not suspecting rushed out upon the Queen's men whom he had no sooner encountred but the Ambushes presently coming out surrounded him by which means the Duke with several of his Complices and Friends as the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Rutland a Child of 12 years old who though begging his life on his knees with tears were slain and about 3000 Soldiers Edward Plantaginet Earl of March Son and Heir to the Duke of York hearing of his Father's Death with an Army of 23000 men intended to Fight the Queen's Army but he found imployment by the way for at Mortimer's Cross near Ludlow he was encountred by the Earl of Pembrook and Earl of Ormond to whom he gave a great Overthrow slaying 3800 of them and taking several Prisoners amongst whom was Owen Tuder who had married Catherine Mother to Henry the VI. whose Head was chopped off in the mean time the Queen was gotten as far as St. Albans where the Londoners fearing their Plunder by her Army together with the King and several Nobles gave her Army Battel she giving them the overthrow and slaying two thousand of their men but Edward Earl of March drawing nigh the King and Queen retired into Scotland leaving the Kingdom to Edward whereupon he entered London giving a Period to Henry's Reign which accounted is but till this time although he lived eleven years after This Henry the Sixth was King of England France and Lord of Ireland he was the only Child of King Henry the Fifth by his Queen Catherine Daughter to Charles the VI. King of France His Reign began on Munday the 31 day of August Anno 1422. he reigned 38 years 6 months and 3 days and was the 35 sole Monarch of England he was stabbed to the Heart in the Tower by Crook-back Richard Duke of York afterwards King of England on Monday the twenty day of May Anno Domini 1471 being the 49 of his Age his body was first buried in the Abby of Chartsy in Surry and afterwards removed to Winsor by King Henry the Seventh and after that again removed none knows to what place CHAP. XXV Of King Edward the Fourth KING Edward was Crowned at Westminster but his Carriages towards the Citizens at his first entrance made them repent their forwardness in his behalf against King Henry and hearing of Henry's preparations in the North he marched toward Pontefrack in York-shire giving the Lord Fitzwalter charge of the passage at Ferry Bridg nigh Pontefract where the said Lord and several of his men were slain shortly after the Armies drew into a plain between the Towns of Towton and Saxton the King's Army consisting of 48660 and Henry's of 60000 men the Fight was bloody and continued 10 hours but at last the Lancastrians not able to gain-stand Edward's Forces they betook themselves to their Heels leaving the glory of the day to King Edward there was slain that day being Palm-Sunday the 29 of March several Nobles as Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland John Lord Clifford John Lord Nevil and Leonard Lord Wells and several other persons of Quality to the Number of 357 and in all there was slain about 35091. This doleful News coming to Henry he with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland where they were honourably received by King James to whose Sister not long after the Prince was married and now after these passages in Scotland the Queen sailed into France to seek Aide where she got more men then her Coffers would discharge Edward in the
he thereby confirmed King and the Crown intailed upon him and his Heirs and Prince Edward his Son made Heir apparent but against his Coronation guilty Consciences accusing themselves he being still in Fear he sent for five thousand Soldiers out of the North under the Command of Robert of Ridsdale to come up to London and before his Coronation which was very glorious he set at Liberty the Arch-Bishop of York and the Lord Stanly but continued Bishop Morton's Imprisonment whereupon the University of Oxford sending a Letter to the King in Bishop Mortons behalf he was thereupon delivered to the Duke of Buckingham who sent him to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales and after the Coronation was over the King took his Progress to Gloucester and from thence sent a Letter by one John Green to Sir Robert Brackenbury Lieutenant of the Tower to destroy the two young Princes who detesting so foul a Murther Sir James Tirrel a Man of small estate for what will not Wealth and Honour prompt a man to being promised great things by the King undertook the Murther and for execution thereof he imployed two Bloody Varlets who about Midnight smothered the two Innocent Princes with pillows and the feather-bed But God's Judgments attended these murderers and the King's mind ever after was fill'd with Horror and Fear having his hand constantly on his Dagger And now the Duke of Buckingham began to dislike the King for he had denied the Duke the Earldom of Hartford which was promised by Richard before he got the Crown whereupon the Duke of whose Intentions Bishop Morton was privy never came to the Court but seeking how to depose him whose main Instrument he was in exalting to bring this business to effect a Marriage was propounded by him and sollicited afterwards by others to the Queen and the Countess of Richmond between Henry Earl of Richmond Heir to the House of Lancaster and Elizabeth the Queens eldest Daughter Heir to the House of York which match was well resented by all parties for hereby the Houses of Lancaster and York being United the Quarrel in which so much Blood had been spilt would be ended Upon this Account Bishop Morton went over into Flanders and did the Earl of Richmond then in Banishment very good Service now the Earl having intelligence of these Proceedings forthwith disclosed it to the Duke of Britain who promised him his Assistance whereupon he sent into England to the Duke of Buckingham to make him acquainted with his preparation for England but in the mean time the King heard some whisperings of this Plot and therefore sent for Buckingham to repair to the Court who refused to go immediately preparing for War against the King at which news the Marquess of Dorset left his Sanctuary and raised an Army in York-shire Sir Edward Courtny another in Devonshire and Cornwal and Sir Richard Guilford one in Kent The King roused up at this news took his march towards Shrewsbury from London intending to encounter the Duke of Buckingham the head first who hearing hereof made out to meet the King accompanied with a great number of Wild Welshmen and intending to pass Severn to join with the Courtnies he was prevented by the River it being then without the Bancks so not being able to get to them nor they to him his Welsh-men hereupon forsook him whereupon the Duke fled to the House of one Humphry Banister formerly his Servant and there in disguise thought to have stayed till he could either have raised new Forces or gotten into Britain to the Earl of Richmond As soon as the other Nobles heard of the misfortune of the Duke they all left their Armies and most of them fled beyond Sea to Henry and the rest took Sanctuary and a Proclamation being made with promise of a thousand pounds to those that could take Buckingham this Judas Banister who had gotten his Estate under the Duke was taken with the Golden Bait and preferring with Judas the money before his Master's Life went and discovered him to the Sheriff of Shrewsbury who took the Duke disguised like a poor Country-man digging in a Grove near Banister's House and carried him to Salisbury where the King then was at which place without Arraignment or Judgment he was beheaded and several Nobles of the Duke's Faction received the like Doom at London and elsewhere But this greedy Banister missing the promised Reward of the King was rewarded with the Judgments of God for not long after his Children came to unfortunate Ends and he himself had got his deserts in a Halter but that he escaped by his Clergy And now the King hearing of Earl Henry's preparation for England he thereupon called a Parliament in which the Earl and all those that had fled to him were Attainted and their Goods Confiscated and the King also to make himself more secure at home made Peace with the Scots and sent great Store of Gold to the Duke of Britain to betray Henry into his hands but the Duke at the Arrival of the Embassadors being so sick that he could not be spoke withal his Treasurer allured with the Gold thought though unknown to his Master to have done the Feat but Earl Henry having notice hereof by Bishop Morton then in Flanders he escaped into France to whom repaired the Earl of Oxford out of the Castle of Hammes with Captain Blunt his Keeper and Sir John Fortescue Captain of Callis being all resolved to take their Fortune with Earl Henry And now the King seeing the Duke of Britain would not be taken with his Bait he begins to solicit the Queen for the delivery of her Daughters to his Custody thinking thereby to prevent the Match of the Earl Henry with the Lady Elizabeth the eldest Daughter and after many sugared and fair flattering Speeches to the Queen she at length resigned them up to him and Queen Ann his Wife being purposely made away as was supposed he now begins to Court his Neese Elizabeth his own Brothers Daughter intending to marry her and to lessen his expences he discharged his Navy commanding the Welsh to keep the shoar where he supposed Earl Henry intended to land yet notwithstanding shortly after he landed at Milford-Haven in Wales with 2000 Britains and marching into England as far as Litchfield several worthy men joyned Forces with him on his March and the King then at Nottingham receiving Intelligence hereof commanded all his Nobles to wait upon him with their Forces and so took his March to Leicester and the next morning pitched his Tents in a plain called Reddmoor neare Bosworth in Leicestershire where he was encountered by the Earl of Richmond where after much Courage and Manhood shown he was slain with some of his Nobles and about 4000 Soldiers and after he was slain he was taken and hung over an horse all naked and besmeared with blood and dirt and so was carryed to Leicester and there lay two days without Burial for a spectacle to the people
besieged Somerton and won it and invading the Northumbers brought away great spoil which gave occasion to Cuthred the West-Saxon to fight him giving him the foyl at Burford and afterwards encountring Cuthred a second time he was treacherously slain by his own Subjects near Tanworth in Warwick-shire at the procurement of one Bernred one of their Leaders who thought thereby to gain the Crown to himself This King founded the Monastery of Crowland as some Authors affirm This Ethelbald was the tenth King of Mercia and eleventh petty Monarch he began to Reign Anno 716 and reigned 42 years 12. Offa His first War was with Alrick King of Kent whom he slew at Otteford and afterwards marching from South to North he made Havock of all before him to Humber and at his return overthrew Kenwolf and his West-Saxons near Merton whither he was going to visit his Paramour he caused a great Ditch to be cast between England and Wales which is still called Offa's ditch and the Welsh presuming to throw down some part thereof he thereupon entred their Territories with an Army and slew Marmodius their King and all his Associates His last Wars were against the Danes who had invaded England and were by him with their no small loss forced back to their Ships to this King was sent a Book of the Decrees of the Second Council of Nice for a present from Charles King of France And now growing weary of his Government he made his Son Egfride King and gave the Pope Peter-pence out of his Dominions after the example of Inas And so going to Rome he gave Pope Hadrian the first ample and Rich Gifts for canonizing Albane the Protomartyr of England for a Saint At his return he built the Monastery of St. Abane and in Testimony of Repentance for the Blood he had spilt he gave the tenth part of his goods to Church-men and the poor This Offa was the eleventh Mercian King and twelfth petty Monarch his Reign began Anno 758. and he ruled 39 years 13. Egfride He restored the Church to all her antient Priviledges which his Father had deprived her of This Egfride was twelfth King of Mercia and 13 petty Monarch his Reign was short about four Months only he began his Reign Anno Domini 797. 14. Kenwolfe He warred against Kent and took Ethelbert the third King of Kent of that name Prisoner giving the Kingdom to Cuthred but afterwards building a goodly Church at Winchcomb in Glucestershire upon the day of the Dedication he led Pren to the high Altar and there in the presence of 13 Bishops and ten Dukes and many other Nobles he released him and set him at liberty And now each of these petty Monarchs having striven which of them could extend and inlarge his Limits furthest at length this succeeding Egbert brought the seven headed Fountain of their Heptarchy to run in one Channel of an intire Monarchy This Kenwolf was the thirteenth King of Mercia and last of the petty Monarchs He began his Reign Anno Domini seven hundred ninety seven and reigned twenty two years CHAP. VII Of those 15 Saxon Princes who were accounted sole Monarchs of this Kingdom of ENGLAND 1. EGbert He gained Rule over all the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons and so became sole Monarch of England which none of them before him ever was he had fourteen years War with the Cornish and Welsh and took West-Chester their chief Hold from them making a strict Law against all those should dare to enter over Offa's Ditch or set one Foot within his English Dominions He slew Bernulf King of Mercia in Battel and drove the King of Kent out of his Kingdom the Eastangles and East-Saxons also submitted to him with the South-Saxons also whereupon he caused himself to be Crowned absolute Monarch at Winchester And this Monarchy continued in the Saxons till the Danes first got and then lost it again and the Saxon's issue upon the next entrance thereof failing it then fell to the Normans This Egbert first gave the name of ENGLAND to this Country and named the Inhabitants English In the fourteenth year of his Monarchy the Danes with 33 Ships landed in England to whom he gave Battel but had the worst of the day loosing two of his chief Captains and two Bishops hardly escaping himself And the second year after they landed in Wales with whom joined the Welsh but at this time fortune not always frowning he overcame both parties and in the last of his Reign the Danes sacked the Island of Shippy near Kent and with much ado were expelled This Egbert was the 17 King of the West-Saxons and first sole Monarch of England He began his Reign as Monarch Anno 819 and reigned 17 years 2. Ethelwolf This King was made Bishop of Winchester before his Father Egbert's Death and was in a manner constrained by his Clergy to take upon him the Government And so he bestowed his Bishoprick on Swithin his Tutor after several Bickerings with the Danes at length he gave them a great overthrow at Ocley he freed Church Lands from all Tribute and regal Services And going to Rome he there confirmed Peter-Pence and at his return he gave yearly to Rome 300 Marks for a requital of his kind reception there This Ethelwolf was eldest Son to Egbert and the 2 sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno 837 and reigned about 20 years 3. Ethelbald He was eldest Son to Ethelwolf by his first Wife Osburga his Butler's Daughter he was with his Father in several of the Battels against the Danes but all his good and valiant Actions were blasted by his taking of Judith his Stepmother the King of France his Daughter and his Fathers second Wife to his Imbraces for he was suddenly snatch away by the hand of Providence for this incestuous Marriage after whose Death Lady Judith returning to her Father was intercepted by the way and forced by Baldwine Forrester of Ardema who at length appeasing her Father was by him made Earl of Flanders from whom and this Judith descended Maud the Wife of our William the Conqueror This Ethelbald was the third sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno Domini 857 and reigned two years 4. Ethelbert He was never out of Wars but constantly pestered with those devouring Locusts the Danes And landing one time they destroyed Winchester but a great part of them were slain before they could recover their Ships again This Ethelbert was second Son of Ethelwolf and fourth sole Monarch of England he began to Rule Anno 860 and Ruled 5 years 5. Ethelred The Danes in his time began to over-run the whole Country and being Pagans spoiled all before them pulling down Monasteries and Abbyes and defiling the Virgins to evade which Disgrace the Virgins of Coldingham cut off their own Noses and upper lips to make themselves appear distastful to these leacherous Pagans These cruel Fellows under the Command of Hungar and Hubba their two Dukes in their
Princess Catherine in Marriage to King Henry but these proffers found no Acceptance for Antelope the Pursevant at Arms was sent to the French King with Letters of Defiance Hereupon Charles sent a million of Gold out of France to the Lords Scroop Gray and Cambridge all three in especial favour with King Henry to betray or murther him before he arrived in Normandy which they O the prevalency of Gold intended to have put in execution but being discovered the Night before the King intended to have put to Sea they were all three beheaded And so the King embarked for France and landed near Harflew commanding his Army that they should do no violence to Churches Church-men Women or Children and so advanced towards the Town and laid Siege to it which shortly after was yielded to him and he turned out the French and Peopled the Town with English Artizans from hence he marched with 2000 Horse and 13000 Foot through the Countries of Caux and Ewe towards Callis but finding so many Obstacles in his way the French having plased shed Woods pulled down Bridges and carried all Victuals out of the Country where he intended to pass and his Soldiers growing sick and faint for want of Victuals he therefore resolved to march back to Callis The French upon this Advantage thinking to surprize the King near Azin Court pitched their Banner Royal their Host consisting of 150000 Horse and 10000 Men at Arms Princes Noblemen and Knights King Henry considering the faintness of his Soldiers through want of Victuals and that the French were six to one desired a Peace but was denied the French making themselves so sure of the Victory as that they had disposed of Court-places and other preferments in England among themselves each knowing his place but this day proved more fatal to them than they expected for King Henry seeing no way but one encouraged his Men and entered Battel obtaining a most glorious Victory with the loss of Edward Duke of York the Earl of Worcester and some few others but of the French fell that day 4000 Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires besides 10000 Common Soldiers and so many Prisoners taken that they far exceeded the Conquerors wherefore the King Commanded to kill them all least they should rise up against them From thence the King marched to Callis and so took Ship for England landing at Dover where he was received with great Triumph and at his entrance into London was presented with 1000 pounds in Gold and two Gold Basons worth 500 pounds Not long after Sigismond the Emperor arrived in England desiring a Peace between England and France which would not be granted and so concluded a Peace between himself and England and received the honourable Order of Knight-hood of the Garter from King Henry he returned And now the King of France having a Navy wasting on the Seas with many Bravadoes the English Fleet under the Command of John Duke of Bedford battered sunk and took the most of them and sent the three great Carracks of Genoa to England But Burgundy now siding with France against England the King thereupon called a Parliament and a Subsidy and tenth was granted him for the maintenance of the Wars against France but all not being sufficient for defraying so vast a charge he was forced to pawn his Crown and sell his Jewells for raising more moneys And being now well prepared he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Protector of England and so made his second Expedition for France and arrived in Normandy whose Terrour was such that 25000 Families fled out of the Country upon his Arrival His first Attempt was against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he presently took and bestowed it on his Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence and the Castle of Aumbelliers on the Earl of Salisbury with that of Lovers on the Earl Marshal and presently after Cane was also taken by him About this time the Scots laying Siege against Barwick and Roâ—ksborough they were all scared away with fear when they heard that the Lord Protector and Arch Bishop of York with other Nobles were drawing near them with an Army Presently after a Parliament was called by the Protector 's Authority for raising Money for the Wars in which Parliament Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who held the opinion of Dr. Wickliff was condemned and hanged in St. Giles's Fields being burnt also whilest he was hanging The King at this time laid against the Town and Castle of Fallais which after a while was surrendred upon certain Conditions and after this he divided his Army into several parts under the Command of Himself and Nobles who wan several Castles here and there he with his party laid Siege to Roan which after six months Siege was forced to Surrender there being famished in the Town during the Siege 50000 and 12000 Starvelings turned out of the Town who died in Ditches He caused the Burgesses there to pay him 356000 Crowns towards his Expences in the Siege and likewise to swear Fealty to him and his Successors This place had been about 215 years in the possession of the French from the time that King John of England lost it Presently after the Surrender of this place about 40 other Towns and places of note did yield themselves to the King and now the Duke of Burgundy sought to make Peace but it was denyed King Henry following on now to make an absolute and entire Conquest which shortly after he effected a Flood-Gate being opened unto him for accomplishing of the same by reason of some affronts offered by the Dauphin to his Mother the Queen who impatient of wrongs raised Forces and with the help of the Duke of Burgundy became Regent of France which civil Broils made well for King Henry for Peace being sought with him it was granted with these Conditions that the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of the French King Charles and his Queen should remain to King Henry and his Heirs for ever whereupon he married Lady Catherine Daughter to King Charles and so the Sallique Law of France at this time was made void but the Pope being sollicited to confirm Henry King of France would not condescend to it Upon the Sealing and Swearing the above mentioned Articles Philip Duke of Burgundy did Homage to King Henry who was then Stiled and Proclaimed Regent of France and kept his Court at Paris for a time Parliaments being then called which confirmed all things the Nobles all swearing to be true to King Henry except the Dauphin and his party who were in Rebellion and in the last Parliament had Sentence of Disinheritance pronounced against him and in the Court of Chancery in Paris all things were sealed with the Seal of King Henry And now all things thus confirmed the King with his Queen came for England who was no sooner out of France but the Scots hasted thither to the Aid of the Dauphin and in a Skirmish several of
mean time road Victoriously to London and was again Proclaimed King and a Parliament shortly after being called They disinherited Henry his Queen and Son and about 43 Nobles and others and now the Queen returning into Scotland with her French Fleet and afterwards making for England her Fleet was Scattered by a Tempest so that her Husband and She were left solely to the Aide of the Scots who marching into England as far as the Bishoprick of Durham King Edward prepared to meet them but making an halt at York he sent the Lord Montacute with forces to oppose them who was encountered on Hedgley Moore by the Lords Hungerford Roâ—'s and Sir Ralph Peircy to whom the Lord Montacute gave the foyl taking Sir Ralph Percy and several others being slain and growing proud of this Victory he assail'd King Henry's Camp at Hexham where after great slaughter he took the Duke of Somerset and other three Lords and one Knight which were all beheaded whereupon Henry fled into Scotland and afterwards coming into England in disguise he was taken and having his feet tyed to the stirrups and his guilt spurs taken off his heels he was then committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Shortly after King Edward called a Parliament and Enacted several good Laws especially against pride in Apparrel and now he begins to think of a wife whereupon the Earl of Warwick was sent to sollicite a Marriage between the King and Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy and all things being well approved of by the Lady and her Friends the Earl Returned before whose Return the King had set his Affections on the Lady Elizabeth Gray here in England whose Mother was Jaquelline Daughter to Peter Earl of St. Pauls to whom shortly after he was Married The Earl of Warwick took great distast thereat thinking himself hereby abused and endeavoured afterwards to uphold King Henry's Cause drawing to his Assistance some Nobles and Forein Princes and upon these discontents some of the Commons rose under the Command of one Robert Hildern intending to gave seized on York from which place they were beaten back by the Lord Montacute president thereof and their Leader beheaded Yet the Commons not dismai'd hereat chose Henry Lord Fitzhughs Son and Sir Henery Nevil Son to the Lord Latimer but they being but young made choice of Sir John Coniers a valliant Knight and intended their march for London of which the King having notice he made William Lord Herbert Earl of Pembrook General and Sir Richard Herbert his Brother assistant to him And now the Northern forces drawing near Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with 2000 Horse fell in the Rear of them but were repulsed and lost most of their Men afterwards the Armies meeting near Banbury some distast being then taken by the Lord Stafford at the Earl of Pembrook the Kings General he thereupon withdrew his Archers upon which occasion Pembrook lost the field and had 5000 men slain and the Earl with his Brother and other ten Gentlemen were taken and carryed to Banbury and there beheaded After this Victory some Commons under the Leading of Robin of Ridsdale hasten to Grafton the King's Mannour house and there surprized Earl Rivers the Queens Father and his Son John and at Northamton beheaded then and now the King set forth with an Army himself and pitched at Wolny four Miles from Warwick whose Guards were not so vigilant as they should have been the King being at that time animated with some hopes of peace of which the Earl of Warwick taking advantage he entered the King's Camp Treacherously by night and took him prisoner when he never dreamt upon it from whence they conveyd him with easie journys by night to the Castle of Midleham in Yorkshire and there left him to the keeping of George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Warwicks Brother from whom the King not long after escaped and came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an army he past from thence to London not long after this Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised 30000 plebeans in Lincolnshire and pitched near Stanford whereupon the King caused the Lord Wells Sir Roberts Father and Sir Thomas Dimmoâ—k his Kinsman to be beheaded which was against the King's Oath and promise to them and then marched to fight Sir Robert who with Sir Thomas Deland were taken Prisoners and Lincolnshire men cast of their Coats and run away whereupon that Battel was called Loss-Coat field there were slain that day about 10000. this Newes made the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick flye to sea and casting Anchor before the Town of Callis they were there denyed Entrance by the Lord Vanclere who was the Earl of Warwicks Deputy there for which good service he was by King Edward made Captain of Callis and Warwick discharged as a Traytor yet nevertheless he was welcome to the French where the Queen of King Henry at that time was with whom Warwick joyned whose Daughter at that time was betrothed to Prince Edward King Henrys Son and they all sollicited for Forces which was granted and the Earl landing in England with a great Army proclaimed King Henry to whose Aide great store of People flocked the Lord Fawconberge in the West and the Earl of Pembrook in the North doing the like And the Earl of Warwick now taking his March towards London King Edward Commanded his Lords to attend him in the War but several of them disowned his Mandates which he perceiving with some few Nobles in his Company hasted towards Nottingham there to determine what was best to be done but his Foes greatly increasing Bon-fires burning Bells ringing and all the people crying up King Henry for very fear King Edward with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester took shipping at Lyn and sailed into Flanders to Charles Duke of Burgundy and his Queen took Asylum at Westminster where she was delivered of Prince Edward afterwards King of England and at this time several of the Kings Friends took Sanctuary Edward being fled Warwick took King Henry out of the Tower where he was prisoner and Riding in Tryumph through the Streets of London great were the Acclamations of the People crying God save King Henry And now a Parliament being called Edward was declared Traytor and his with all his Adherent's Goods confiscated and the Crown Intayled to the Heirs Males of Henry's body and for default thereof to the Heirs Males of George Duke of Clarence and finally all the Statutes made by King Edward were Abrogated But King Edward having gotten some small Forces of about 12000 men of his Brother in Law the Duke of Burgundy he returned for England as a Subject and proclaimed King Henry deluding the People and so got to York which he making them believe that he came but to look for his own Inheritance surprized and assumed to himself leaving a Garison in it and from hence he marched to Nothingham and so to
hear the King's Cause pleaded which accordingly was done and when Sentence of Divorcement should have been according to the King's expectation pronounced Campius then caused Proclamation to be made and adjourned the Court and referred the Sentence to the Pope The King highly displeased hereat sent Dr. Cranmer and some others to the Pope to dispute the unlawfulness of the Marriage who gave Cornelius Agrippa the grand Rabbi in those days such Satisfaction in this point so that none of the Pope's Disputants durst encounter the Doctor about it whereupon a Parliament being called by the King all persons were forbidden to appeal or make payment to Rome and further the King's Marriage with the Lady Catherine of Spain by the said Parliament was Dissolved Upon these proceedings in England the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk in Flanders against the King and pronounced the Marriage Lawful but the King regarded it not for hereby the Pope lost his Supremancy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moore their Heads for standing for it And now the King married the Lady Ann Bullin Daughter to Viscount Rochford which Lady was accounted a Lutheran and Cardinal Wolsey for his dislike of this Marriage and Adjourning of the Court as is before shewed fell into the Kings Displeasure and several Articles being exhibited against him in Parliament as that he used to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Cap to be stamped on the Kings Coyn and several other grand Offences hereupon he lost all his Dignities and his House and Furniture were seized and the Earl of Northumberland was sent to bring him up to answer his Charge who took him at Cawood Castle about seven miles from York and as he was on his Journy to London at Leicester Abby he ended his dayes by taking an over much quantity of an Italian Confection for breaking Wind from his Stomach as Report went He is said to have suppressed 40 Monasterys for the raising his two Colledges in Oxford and Ipswich and to have laid by 12 Barrels full of Gold and Silver to serve the Pope in his Wars About this time Elizabeth Barton called the holy Maid of Kent was reported by those who feared the Downfall of Babel to have Revelations from Heaven among which one was That if the King proceeded in his Second Marriage he should not Reign a Moneth to an end but the Mouth of this Oracle was quickly stopt for herself with seven of her Disciples were all execued at Tyburn for Treason And now the Pope seeing his Revenue here in England likely to go to wrack began to write and stir up James the Fifth King of Scots against King Henry his Uncle promising the Crown of England to those that could win it About this time Queen Ann was deliver'd of the Princess Elizabeth afterwards Queen of England and the next year after of a Dead Child and not long after she was sent to the Tower and falsely accused of Adultery and Incest for which she with her Brother the Lord Rochford and Norris Weston and Brierton gentlemen of the Privy Chamber together with one Marks all lost their Heads and the next day after Queen Ann's Death the King married the Lady Jane Seymer And now began the Lord Cromwells rising who by birth was a Black Smyth's Son and had been Cardinal Wolsey's Soliciter he was first made Master of the King's Jewel-house Baron of Oakham in Rutlandshire then Knight of the Garter after that Earl of Essex and then Lord high Chamberlain and lastly the King's Vicar general he was the Sole cause of the demolishing of Monasteryes and the pulling down of Images Idols and Shrines in the Churches of England but this Pillar of the Church was undermined by Stephen Gardener that Murtherer of Protestants in Queen Mary's dayes and so by his means being brought into Dislike with the King at length he was beheaded Now several Commotions arose in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire occasioned by the demolishing of Abbys the Commons being incited thereto by the Monks who had lost their Roast-meat and took ill with Courser Fair but after several propositions made by the Commons to the King and Answers thereunto having Pardon granted they threw down their Arms but several of the Monks rising again with several persons of Quality as the Lord Darcy Lord Hussye Sir Robert Constable Sir Thomas Percy Sir Francis Biggot Sir Stephen Hambleton Sir John Bulmer the Abbot of Fountains Abbot of Gervaulx Abbot of Rivax and Prior of Burlington were afterwards taken and suffered Death and now the King having been two years a Widower since the death of Queen Jane who dyed in Child-Bed of Edward the Sixt afterwards King he was married to the Lady Ann of Cleve but about half a year after through Gardiner's false Suguestions was by Parliament divorsed from her and not long after he Married Catherine Howard Daughter to Edward Brother to Thomas Duke of Norfolk but about 6 Moneths after her Marriage she was condemned of Adultery and lost her Head at Tower Hill and with her the Lady Jane Rochford and several others that year as Margaret the Countess of Salisbury Lord Grey Lord Dacres Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper and now the King married the Lady Katherin Parr Wife to the Lord Lattimer And about this time it was enacted by Parliament to be high Treason either to deny the Oath of the King's Supremacy or to acknowledg the Pope and though by this the Discipline of the Church was altered yet little of Doctrine was changed for it was made heresie and death to deny any of the Six Articles following as 1. That after the speaking of the words of Consecration by the Priest the Real and Natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was Conceived and Crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Laws of God 5. That private Masses ought to be continued and 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God Upon the denial of these six Articles several People suffered the Flames Anno 1541. The King took upon him the Title of King of Ireland and the same year sent an Army against the Scots under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk who when he came to Fight the Scots they willingly lost the day and suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners out of disdain to their Leader Oliver St. Clere for grief whereof their King James the fifth dyed there was at this time 21 men of Account taken Prisoners and committed to the Tower of London but shortly after these Prisoners were released again and a Peace for 10 years concluded upon the promise of a Marriage with the Lady Mary King James his only Child and Prince Edward Henry's Son and Heir afterwards King by the name
Henry the Fifth for suppression of the Scriptures in English should be all repealed and Images all thrown out of the Churches throughout the Realm and the Church Service to be read in English and the Sacrament exhibited in both kinds and the other old Ceremonies were abolished and all those that made opposition were either imprisoned or deprived of their places Hereupon Tumults arose in Devonshire and Cornwal doing much harm especially to the City of Exceter which City for its Loyalty had the Mannour of Exilond not after bestowed upon it by the King and Pardon was granted to the Rebells yet notwithstanding they persisted in their Rebellion and 4 times being fought by the Lord Russel and each time worsted yet they still made head again till at length their Ring-Leaders were taken and Executed At this time also the Mayor of Bodmyn was Hanged and a Millers Man who took upon him his Master's name and cause when seeing himself likely to suffer for it thencryedout That he was but the Miller's Man well said Sir Anthony Kingston Thou canst never do thy Master better Service than to hang for him No sooner were these Troubles quelled but one Robert Ket moved about 20000 Commons in Norfolk to a Rebellion taking the City of Norwich in which place the Lord Dudly shortly after caused 60 of them to be executed and afterwards overthrew their Army and took Ket their Leader who was hanged up in Chains upon the Top of the Castle of Norwich and 9 of his Companions hanged in the Oak of Reformation a Tree in which Ket used to sit as Judge to determine of their intended Reformation and Proceedings the great occasion of these Commotions in several Counties in England was against Inclosures and taking up of wast Grounds which was then coming into Fashion for they disparked a great many Parks and other inclosed Grounds whereupon several of them were slain in the Quarrel the Plebeans also at Seymer near Scarborough in York-shire rose also under the Conduct one William Ombler a Yeoman there Thomas Dale a Parish Clerk and one Stephenson the Post but the King sending down his Pardon the Commons left their Leader to be led to York where they were Executed But now began greater Sorrows for the King 's two Uncles the Lord Protector and Lord Admiral falling at Variance about their Wives who should take place it proved unlucky to them both for the Lord Admiral was afterwards attainted of some Treasonable Articles as was supposed by his Brother the Protector 's procurement and was beheaded at Tower-hill and not many years after the Protector himself being fallen into dislike among the Lords at the same place received the same Doom and during these unhappy proceedings the English were quite driven out of Scotland and the French had sought to recover Bulloin but they were so bravely withstood by vallor of one Carter an English Soldier that 15 Waggons went loaded away with their slain and they afterwards attempting the Islands of Gernsie and Jersie they were there also forced to desist with the loss of a thousand men And now the King's Death began to approach he having taken the Death of the Protector his Uncle to Heart and before he died he ordained the Lady Jane Daughter to Henry Duke of Suffolk lately married to Guilford Lord Dudly to succeed him in the Kingdom Notwithstanding the Statute made for the Succession of his Fathers Children Anno 1552 about 7 miles from Oxford at a Town called Middleton a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards which were so conjoined together at the Navel that when they were laid out at length one Head and Body was East and the other West and the Leggs of both the Bodies were joined together in the midst they were Female Children and lived 18 days This Edward the Sixth was King of England France and Ireland he was the only Son of King Henry the Eight by Jane his Queen Daughter to John Seimer Knight He began his Reign on Thursday the 28 day of January Anno 1546 he reigned 6 years 5 months and 8 days and was the 41 sole Monarch of England He died of a Consumption of the Lungs on Thursday the 6 day of July Anno 1553 being in the 7 year of his Reign and about the 16 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXI Of Queen Mary AFter the Death of King Edward the Lords of the Council caused Lady Jane Guilford to be Proclaimed Queen Lady Mary hearing of these proceedings writ to the Lords to acquaint them with her Title to the Crown but they regarded it not alledging the divorce of her Mother hereupon she betook her self to Fremingham Castle to which place the Suffolk men repaired and promised their Aid Provided she would not alter the Religion Established in her Brother's days to which Request she willingly condescended but afterwards upon their Petition to her after she had got the power in her own hands for performance of her Promise she dismissed them with rough Answers And now several men of Account repaired to her and Proclaimed her Queen at Norwich the Lords at London having notice hereof sent the Earl of Northumberland with an Army against her but Queen Maries Forces still encreasing she was Proclaimed Queen in Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Northampton-shire and the Lords now began to grow fearful procured Dr. Ridly Bishop of London to maintain Lady Jane's cause in his Sermon at Paul's Cross but this working no effect they forthwith Proclaimed Queen Mary and so the poor distressed Earl of Northumberland being forsaken by his Soldiers for want of an Harrold at Cambridge proclaimed Queen Mary himself but notwithstanding shortly after lost his head although he had renounced his Religion in hope of Pardon with him suffered Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer and not long after them the Lord Guilford and Lady Jane his Wife a Princess for her Wisdom and Learning worthy of Immortal Fame It is reported that Morgan who gave Sentence of Death upon her fell afterwards into Madness always crying out Take away the Lady JANE from him Now the Queen released the Duke of Suffolk from his Imprisonment but he afterwards seeking to withstand the Queen's Marriage was betrayed by one Vnderwood his Servant and himself with his Brother Thomas Lord Gray were Beheaded and several worthy Bishops as Cranmer Ridly Story Coverdale Hooper c. and all married Priests were displaced and Romanists such as Bonner Gardiner Day Wesie Heath c. were put in their places Sir Thomas Wyat now with a great Power in Kent sought to withstand the Queen's Marriage and to have placed better Councellors about her and thinking to have enter'd over at London-Bridg was there stopt so spoiling Gardiner's the Bishopof Winchester's House he returned and got over the River of Thames at Kingston and intended to have entered the City of London at Ludgate but being there withstood upon his return at Temple-Bar
Calves and Lambs were Monstrous some with Collors of Skins about their Necks like to the double Cuffs of Shirts then used About this time Francis King of France dying Charles his Brother succeeded him and great Dissentions arising Queen Elizabeth sought a Reconciliation but it could not be obtained whereupon for supportation of Religion she sent an Army into France under the Command of Lord Ambrose Dudly Earl of Warwick who landed at Newhaven in Normandy and after eleven moneths possession thereof were then constrained to render it to the French through Famine and Plague which they brought into England Anno 1563 whereof there dyed in 8 moneths space 23660. The year after the Thames was so hard frozen that Markets were kept on the Ice and all manner of Exercise performed thereon without Danger which Frost going away with a five dayes thaw caused great Floods and drowned many people especially in Yorkshire and this year also was such a Terrible Tempest of Hail Lighting and Thunder in June that at Chelmesford in Essex 500 Acres of Corn was destroyed with it and the Windows on the East side of the Town all the Tyles of their houses were beaten down with it besides divers Barns Chimneys and the Battlements of the Church and the like harm was done in divers other places as at Leeds Crainbrook and Dover And now Shan O Neale Rebelling in Ireland and after several Submissions and Pardons still bursting out again into Armes at length he was slain by his Brother in a Tent. And about this time Anno 1566. The Royal Exchange in London was first built at the Charges of Sir Thomas Gresham the Marchants in former times using to meet in Lumbard-Street And two years after to wit Anno 1568 The Scots murthered their King and Mary Queen of Scotland fled into England where she was honourably received but at length lost her Head Now after these Commotions in Scotland the Earls in the North Westmerland and Cumberland Dacres Nevil Norton Tempest Danby and others in the year 1569 rebelled against the Queen but they were quickly dismaid at the Approach of the Earl of Sussex who was sent against them and surprized them and at Durham caused an Alderman a Priest called Plumtree and 66 Constables to be hanged and Sir George Bowes Knight Marshal did see them Executed in every Town betwixt Newcastle and Weatherby whereupon the Earls fled Westmerland into Flanders and Northumberland into Scotland from whence he was sent into England and lost his head Anno 1570 And the year after at Kingston in the County of Hereford on the 17 of February was the ground seen to open and certain Rocks with a piece of ground removed and went forwards four days together carryed with it great Trees and Sheep-Coats some with 60 sheep in them and overthrew Rimnalstone Chappel the depth of the hole where it first broke out is 30 Foot and the breadth of the Breach was 160 yards also two high ways were removed neare 100 yards with trees and hedg-rowes c. And now Peace being concluded with France and the Queen of Navar a Protestant coming to Paris in France to solemnize her Sons Marriage with the Kings Sister was there secretly poysoned and after her the Admiral of France cruelly murthered and such a Massacre made as neither Sex nor Age escaped the Fury of these Romanists this was about the year 1572. and the time being now elapsed for the delivery of Callis to Queen Elizabeth according to conditions when the Peace was concluded she therefore sent to demand it and after much Dispute and Debate it was at length absolutely denyed And not long after this the Queen was deprived of all Princely Authority at the fained suit of one Morton at Rome and the Pope sent his Bull into England to that purpose which Bull being hung up at the Bishop of London's gate the bringer therof John Felton was for his paines hanged and quartered in St. Paul's Church-yard After this Anno. 1576. In March near Richmond in York-shire a strange Tempest happened which overthrew Cottages Trees Barnes and Hay-stacks and great part of the Church called Patrick Brunton and most strange sights were seen in the Air both terrible and fearful And about this time the Regent of Scotland was murthered and after him the Earl of Lenox the new Regent so powerful were the Popes perswasions with these Idolizers of his holiness the Duke of Norfolk also lost his head on Tower-hill for being as was supposed too favourable towards these Scotch Proceedings and now another new Regent being chosen in Scotland he desired the help of Queen Elizabeth for the defence of the young King which was granted and 1500 Men were sent under the Command of Sir William Drury who presently caused the Surrender of Edenbrough Castle Anno 1580. that renowned English Navigator Sir Francis Drake finished his Voyage of compassing the Earth and now our Merchants began to Trade with the Muscovites and Turks This year there happned a great Earthquake and a Blasing Starr was seen Nightly in October and November a strange and Terrible Tempest also of Lightining and Thunder hapned which seized on the Churches of Blybrough in Suffolk and Bongey nine miles from Norwich and rent the Churches and steeples killing four Persons and several others thrown down groveling on the ground and the same year also in the Parish of Blandsdon in York-shire a women of 80 years of Age named Alice Perim was deliver'd of an hideous Monster whose head was like unto a sallet the fore part of him like a Man with eight Legs of several shapes and a Tail of half a yard long An. 1583 Tobacco came first into England The Pop's Envy now burning still against the Queen he procured the King of Spain to send 600 men for Irelands Rebellion who were all slain by the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland Anno 1585 Virginia was made an English Colony and about this time all the Assizes kept at the City of Exceter in Devonshire before Sir Henry Anderson Lord Justice of the Common Pleas there dyed Serjeant Floriday Sir John Chichester Sir Arthur Blasset and Sir Barnard Drake Knights Thomas Cary Richard Cary John Fortiscue William Waldrum and Thomas Risden Esquires and Justices of the Peace and of the Common People dyed very many Constables Reeves Tythingmen and Jurors especially of one Jury died eleven of the twelve this Sickness began amongst the Prisoners and fastned on the rest by degrees and about ten years before at the Assizes at Oxford before Sir Robert Bell Lord Chief Barron there dyed abundance of Persons also suddenly by the rising of a damp among them Now as is said before the Pope still seeking all occasions against the Reformed Religion it made several flye and some sued to Queen Elizabeth for Aide amongst whom the States of the Netherlands became her Petitioners for their Defender which Request She thrice denied but at length condescended which kindness hath been badly retaliated and sent 5000
could not draw the Scots to a Field Battel presently transported over the Fife 1600 Foot and 4 Troops of Horse who with the help of Lambert and Okey routed Sir John Brown's Forces took him and several other persons of Quality Prisoners and slew two thousand upon the place and took near 120 Prisoners Now the King seeing the English preval so fast thought it best to acquit Scotland and so marched for England beginning his march the last day of July Anno 1651 Cromwell seeing this sent Lambert after them with a select party of Horse to fall upon their Rear and himself with the rest that could be spared followed and the Parliament also hearing of the King's March interdicted all Aid and Assistance either of men or money to be given to his Majesty under the penalty of High-Treason and they also caused numerous Forces to be raised in most Counties in England The King's Army now in England carryed themselves very civilly yet for all that the People were so besorted that they came very slowly into his Assistance for few or none came during this tedious march saving the Lore Howard's Son of Estrich with a Troop of Horse and now Lambert with his Men having been guided over the Dales and Moors in York-shire got the Advantage of the King's Army in their March and instead of following them got before them and thought to have stopt the King's Army at Warrington-Bridg but after an hot Dispute and the loss of some men the King at length gained the passage over the Bridg and coming to Tong Norton he sent a Trumpeter with his Summons to Collonell Humphry Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury to render up the Town but he sent the King a flat denial giving him the Title only of Commander in chief of the Scottish Army in the Superscription of his Letter he sent back from hence the King marched on to Worcester where he entered the Town the Earl of Derby a little before had brought him a supply of 250 Foot and 60 Horse out of the Isle of Man and was gon into Lancashire in hopes to have gotten more Forces there but was routed there by Lilborn and most of his cheif Commanders slain as the Lord Withrington Sir Thomas Tilsly Collonel Trollop and Collonel Bointon and some others taken This misfortune was imputed to the disappointment his Lordship received in Lancashire to which place his Majesty had ordered him to repair with assurance that the Presbyterians would frely join with him in order to his Majesties Restauration but coming thither he found it otherwise and that they did all they could to hinder any Conjunction unless he would take the Covenant which refusing to do he was forced upon that Engagement before mentioned in Wiggon-lane where he behaved himself with all possible bravery and Col. Massy also had his part in the Honor of this occasion His Majesty all this time was busie in fortifying of Worcester in the mean time Major General Lambert gained the Pass at Vpton where the Bridg was cut down by causing the Troopers to swim the River upon their Horse-backs taking their Pistols out of the Holsters and carrying them in their hands to save them from wet and this Attempt was principally undertaken for saving the Lives of 40 or 50 desperate Fellows who had got over the Bridge upon a pole of Wood and were forced into the Church close nigh the Bridg by Major General Massy's men where they had all been cut off if the Troopers had not swum the River who thereby not only saved the said men but also put Major General Massy and his men to the Retreat and so the Royallists were forced to quit the Town and leave the pass to the Parliamentarians who quickly made a Bridg of Boats over the River and now Cromwel joining with the rest of the Forces against the King after some Sallies out of the Town against them at length the King in the Front of his men sallied out of the Town on the third day of September Anno 1651 and so valiantly charged Cromwell's Life Guard that they were forced to retire till seconded by fresh Forces and then they put the Royal party to the Retreat and the King had his Horse twice shot under him and not able to rally again they were forced to fly into the Town where the Cromwellian party entered pell mell with them and then the Cry went Save the King Save the King And now the King seeing all gone with some Nobles and Servants with much difficulty got away and coming to a Farmers House in the Borders of Staffordshire there he disrobed himself and for want of a pair of Scissars had his Hair cut off with a Knife and so he with the Company of one Friend who brought him Provision towards Night betook himself into a Wood about 4 miles from Woolverhampton where he made an Oak his Pallace and the Soldiers all this while were hunting about like Blood-hounds for the King a Thousand pound being the promised Reward of those that could take him But some few dayes after he was conveyed to the House of one Mris Jane Lane who proved a faithful and loyal Subject to him and was a chief Instrument in his conveyance beyond Seas which after many Dangers past he at length attained landing at new-Haven in France In the Battel at Worcester it is supposed there was about 3000 slain and 700 taken Prisoners The Parliament to manifest their joy for this Victory caused dayes of Publick Thanksgiving to be made and hung up all the Scotch Colours in Westminster-Hall and not long after this the Earl of Derby was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire And now the King being safely gotten to Paris from thence after a while the King removed to St. Germains and did confer with the Duke of Lorrain for the recovery of his Kingdom of Ireland but it came to nothing so the King returning again to Paris during his abode there his Brother the Duke of Gloucester who had a long time been detained by the Parliament of England in the Isle of Wight came to visit him accompanied from the Hague with Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile And not long after his Quandam Preserver Mris Jane Lane being escaped out of England arrived in France and sent Letters to his Majesty certifying him of her Arrival who presently sent Coaches to conduct her to Paris where his Majesty gave her a large demonstration of his Princely Favour and Bounty Now whil'st the King was passing away his time thus in France in the mean time Oliver Cromwel the 20 of April 1653 dissolved the long-lived Parliament which had sate twelve years six months and seventeen days and in derision they were cryed about the Streets Parliament men Four a peny And in this year and the year preceeding were five bloody Ingagements at Sea between the English and the Dutch after the long Parliament dissolved Oliver called another Juncto who after they had sate