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
London with the King his Majesty was received with great Joy and lodged in the Bishop's Pallace where all the Lords were sworn to him and there the subtile Duke of Gloucester behaved himself so reverently towards the King that the next Council he was chosen Protector At this Council the Arch-Bishop of York was reproved for his forwardness in giving up the great Seal to the Queen and was deprived of the Chancellorship and Dr. Russel Bishop of Lincoln put in his place All things thus proceeding according to the Protector 's mind he proceeds further in his wicked Plot making such a cunning Apology to the Council for getting the young Duke of York the King's Brother out of Sanctuary that they all suspecting no harm consented to him and agreed that the Arch-Bishop of York should repair to the Queen to desire her delivery of the young Prince and if denied then to bring him away by force and after a long conference between the Queen and Bishop at length with tears she delivered the Child into their hands from whence he was carried into the Star-Chamber to Gloucester who took him in his Arms with much seeming Joy and gave him a Judas kiss So having got what he desired he and Buckingham made Covenants between themselves that Gloucester should be King and that Buckingham should have the Earldom of Hartford and great part of the King's Treasure and to blind the People of their intentions several Lords from several parts of the Realm were called to devise things for Edward's Coronation at whose appearance the Protector and Buckingham withdrew into Bishops-gate Street to contrive the contrary Soon after several Lords repaired to the Tower to consider further of the Coronation and the time drew so near that all things were in readiness for it but not the Protector comes in amongst them seeming to be very merry excusing himself that he had been so long from them and desired to withdraw a little and about 2 hours after he came in with a sower and frowning Countenance and took his place and after a while he thus spake What are they worthy of saith he that compass and imagine my Destruction to whom Lord Hastings made Answer That they were worthy to be punished as Traytors That is quoth the Duke yonder Sorceress my Brother's Wife meaning the Queen and that other Witch of her Council Shoar's Wife At these words the Lords of the Council were much dismayed and hereupon the Lord Hastings said Surely they would not do so but the Protector answered and said I tell thee they have done so and that I will make good on thy Body Traytor and so giving a clap on the Table with his hand in came as many men in Harness as the Room would hold and all the Lords were conveyed some to one Room and some to another and the Lord Hastings within three hours after was beheaded on a Log before the Chappel Door in the Tower And now sending for several able Citizens into the Tower after Dinner he pretended to them that the Lord Hastings would have destroyed him and the Duke of Buckingham and so dismissed the Citizens and caused Proclamation to be made of the Lord Hastings Treason And not long after the Sheriffs of London were sent to seize of Jane Shoars goods which amounted to 300 marks and she afterward was forced to do Pennance to her great shame and now the Protector fought to strike whilest the Iron was hot and so sent for the Lord Mayor Edmund Shaw and made him acquainted with the Design who in hopes of Honour promised to draw the Citizens that way and means how to accomplish this Design was to get some able Ministers to Preach that King Edward the IV was a Bastard and that all his Children were Bastards and so to set up the praises of the wicked Protector thereby to seduce the People who are naturally apt to listen to Novelties and for this purpose Dr. Shaw the Mayors Brother and Dr. Pincker were the Men pitched upon who performed the Task very dexterously and it is wonderful to think what waverings and doubtings this caused amongst the People but the two Doctors felt God's Judgments for this Offence afterwards These things being thus bruited abroad the Duke of Buckingham shortly after repaired to Guild-Hall in London to which place the Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City were come where he made a Learned Apology to them for the Election of Richard Protector to be King the People here at were all mute and answered not one word but being asked thrice of their Opinions herein and in a manner threatned to it at length they drew down into the Hall and began to whisper among themselves at which instant a great Company of Apprentices and the Dukes Servants prepared for the purpose rushed in at their Backs Crying King Richard and hereupon it was concluded to be the Cry of the whispering Citizens and so the Assembly being dismissed for this time they were all required to meet Buckingham the next day at Baynards Castle in Thames-Street at which place the Protector then Lodged and after the Assembly was come the Duke of Buckingham made the Protector with their as he said Election of him to be King at which words Richard as though he had been ignorant looked very strangely on them and denied to accept of that he so much coveted the Crown but Buckingham making himself the Mouth of the Assembly told him If he would not accept of it they would make choice of some other Noble man whereupon the Protector seeming as it were to have that forced upon him he most desired accepted of it promising more to the People then in a quarter of an hour than he performed in all his Life And so at this time Edward was deposed and he and his Brother about two months after were murthered in the Tower This Edward the V. though never Crowned was accounted King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of King Edward the IV by Elizabeth his Queen Daughter to Sir Richard Woodvile Earl of Rivers by Jaquilana his Wife Dutchess of Bedford He began his Reign on Friday the 9 day of April Anno 1483 and reigned two months and thirteen days and was the 37 sole Monarch of England He with his younger Brother the Duke of York were smothered to Death in their Beds in the Tower with Pillows about the lattter end of July Anno 1483 being the first and last year of his Reign and the 12 of his Age Their Murtherers were Miles Forrest and John Deighton Servants to Sir James Tirrel who was imployed for this purpose by the Duke of Gloucester their Uncle then King of England their Bodies were buried deep in the Ground under a Stare-case in the Tower and being afterwards taken up again none knows where they were laid CHAP. XXVII Of King Richard the Third PResently after his Election as is shewed before a Parliament was called and
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
Pennance was I. That he should at his own proper Charges maintain 200 Soldiers one year for Defence of the Holy Land II. That he should freely suffer Appeals to Rome III. That he should revoke all Customs against the Churches Liberties IV. That he should restore the Possessions of Canterbury And V. Receive all the banished Friends of Becket into England again About this time Silvester Girald a learned Man wrote a Book against the Wickedness of the Monks whereby he stirred up those Hornets against him And now the young King by the Instigation of his Mother sought to depose his Father But after several Battels fought between them and much Blood spilt for the space of Three years at length they were reconciled And after this the King called a Parliment at Northampton and divided England into six Câ—rcuits And appointed three Justices itinerants for every Circuit To this Parliament came the King of Scotland and his Peers Shortly after the calling of this Paâ—iament the young King Henry died And Hâ—raclius the Patriarch of Jâ—râ—salem came to the King to desire his Aid in the Holy Land but was denyed In the 20 of the King's Reign the City of Leicester was burnt by the King's Command the Walls and Castle rased and the Inhabitants dispersed into other Cities for their Disobedience to the King And this year Christ's Church in Canterbury was burnt and about six years after the City of York was burned and in the year 1185. The King bestowed Irelaâ—d upon his Son John And this year the Abby of Glastenbury was consumed with fire and the next year after was a great Earthquake that threw down many Buildings and rent in Pieces the Cathedral Church of Lincoln Chichester also was burnt After this Richard the King's Son by the help of Philip King of France rebelled against his Father and drove him out of the City Mentz in Main which he dearly loved being his Birth-place In the 33 of the King near Oxfâ—rd in Saffolk was taken a Fish having the shape of a Man which Fish was kept by the Governour of Orford-castle six months and above for a Wonder but was never heard to speak a word he would eat all manner of meat gladly but was most gready after raw Flesh or Fish at length he stole away from his Keeper and ran to the Sea again The King had a fair Concubine called Rosamond whom Elianor the Queen poisoned for which Cause and for stirring up his Son against him the King imprisoned her and caused Rosamond to be burien at Godstow near Oxford with this Epitaph over her Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa Mundi non Rosa munda Non Redolet sed Olet quae Redolere solot Within this Tomb lies the World 's chiefest Rose She who was sweet will now offend your Nose Anno 1188. The Town of Beverly with the Church of St. Johns there was burnt This Henry the Second was King of England and Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain He was the eldest Son to Jâ—ffery Plantaginet Earl of Anjou son to Fulk King of Jerusalem by Maud his Wife eldest Daughter to Henry the first He began his Reign on Munday the 25 of October Anno 1154. and reigned 34 years 8 months and 11 dayes and was the 25 sole Monarch of England He died at Chinon on Thursday the 6 of July Anno 1189. and was buried at Font-Everad in Normandy the 25 of the King's Reign Anno 1179. was the third Lateran Council Alexander the III was Pope this was the Eleventh General Council CHAP. XV. Of King Richard the first commonly called Richard Courdelion KING Richard at his Coronation by Balwine Arch-Bishop of Canterbury swore to keep several Articles Administred to him by the Peers which were for the benefit of the Realm in his time were those famous Robbers and Out-Laws called Robin-Hood and Little-John The King 's first attempts were for the Holy War for performance of which Voyage he sold and mortgaged several parcells of his Revenue scarce sparing his City of London from Sale and scruzed eleven hundred pounds Sterling out of Stephen de Turnham his late Fathers Treasurer but before his Expedition William King of Scots came into England and made a League with the King and sâ—nt his Brother David and ten thousand Scots with him for the holy War The King before he took his Journey gave his Brother John six Earldoms Cornwal Dorset Somerset Nottingham Derby and Lancaster he also made William Longchamp Bishop of Ely Governour of the Realm till his return joining with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for his Assistance in the North parts And now having settled his affairs he with several of his Nobles took Shipping for France where he and Philip King of France became sworn Brothers and both set forwards for the holy War King Richard coming to Sicilia assalted the King thereof who had usurped the Kingdom after the Death of William who was Husband to Lady Jane King Richard's Sister making an Agreement with him and gave him twenty thousand ounces of Gold for his Sisters Dowry and twenty thousand ounces more for the Love he bore to the English Nation yet for all this shew of Love he and Philip of France took Council against King Richard Joachin the Abbot expounding the Apocalypse to King Richard at Calabria near Sicily told him that Antichrist was born and then in the City of Rome viz. the Pope The King in his Passage Conquered the Isle of Cyprus and left in it Richard de Camvile and Robert de Tarnham Vice-Royes And the English and French besieged the City Ptolomais and won it shortly after this the French King returned not without great shame to his own Kingdom Whilst King Richard was imployed in the Holy War his Brother John and some others of the Peers deprived William Longchamp of his Command for several Outrages by him committed especially upon Jeffery Arch-Bishop of York the King's Brother The King at his approach to Jerusalem took three thousand Camels and four thousand Horses and Mules of the Salladines coming from Babylon and all the Carriages with their Rich Spoil And now the Duke of Burgandy and his Regiment forsaking King Richard he made a Peace with Saladine for three years and so returned very Pensive that he had neither conquered Jerusalem nor Saladine And intending to have gone through Germany he was taken in Disguise in Vienna and the Duke seized him for his Prisoner The News of the King's Imprisonment coming to England his Mother with other of his fast Friends Swore the Realm to be true to the King and made all the Strong Holds sure for him But the Subjects of Normandy in his Captivity were set upon by the French After this the King regained his Liberty paying to the Emperor 100000 Marks sterling and half so much to the Duke for his Ransom the Emperor afterwards to gratifie the King made him King of Province Philip of France having notice of the King's Releasement sent word to
and was afterwards interred with great solemnity in the Grey-Fryers in Leicester and at the dissolution thereof the stone-trough wherein his Corps were laid was taken up and is now a drinking trough for Horses at a Common Inn in Leicester After the Fight was over the Lord Stanly found the Crown among the spoiles of the field and set it upon the Earl of Richmond's head in the field at which instant began the Reign of this new King and so an End was put to the bloody Contentions between the Yorkists and Lancastrians there were fought here in England eleven Set-Battels five in Henry the Sixt days as St. Albans Blackheath Northampton Wakefield and Towton and five in Edward the Fourths time as Hexham Banbury Lose-Coat-Field Barnet field and Tewxsbury and lastly Bosworth field which put a period to the to the Reign of the Plantaginets and opened away for the Tewdors to succeed them in these Civil Wars between the Houses of Lancaster and York were slain above one Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Men. This Richard the Third was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was a younger Brother to King Edward the Fourth and Son to Richard Duke of York who was Son to Richard Earl of Cambridge who was Son to Edmund Duke of York who was Fifth Son to King Edward the Third his Reign began on Friday the 22 day of June Anno 1483. He reigned two years and two moneths and was the 38 Sole Monarch of England he was slain in the Battel at Bosworth field as is before shewed on Monday 22 day of August Anno 1885. and his Body was buried in the Grey-Fryers at Leicester CHAP. XXVIII Of King Henry the Seventh AFter the Battel at Bosworth field was over the King hasted to London where with great Joy he was received and shortly after Crowned and Edward Plantaginet Earl of Warwick imprisoned in the Tower And now a Parliament being called King Richard was attainted and the Crown intayled on Henry and his heirs for ever About this time was the Sweating-Sickness of which Disease a world of people dyed a new Disease never known in England before And now the King dissolving the Parliament in January after he married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth who in September after was brought to Bed of Prince Arthur and not long before the King's Marriage was Wheat sold for three shillings per Bushel and Bay-Salt the same price and the Cross in Cheapside was new builded And now the King taking his Progress to York to gain the Love of his Northern Subjects the Lord Lovel with some others that had taken Sanctuary after Bosworth Field raised forces thinking to surprize the King but he with 3000 men under the Conduct of the Duke of Bedford sent either to pardon or Fight them and the Duke proffering pardon the Lord Lovel fled by night and the multitude yeilded without stroak and shortly after Sir Humphry Stafford another Rebel suffered at Tyburn And not long after a new Tumult began upon the Report of one Richard Symon a Priest who broached abroad that one Lambert Symnell Scholar of his was heir to Edward Duke of Clarence who was cast into Prison a little before by Henry and so sailing with him into Ireland he there prevailed so much among the Peers especialy with Thomas Fitz-Girald Lord Chancelor that at Dublin he was Proclaimed and Crowned King and there obtaining some help he returned for England to whom those Lords that favoured the Cause of the Plant aginets joyned themselves although they knew the Fraud among whom the Earl of Lincoln was chief who with the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Collonel Swart and Mawrice Fitz Thomas near a little Village about three Miles for Newark called Stoak were all slain by the Kings Army and 4000 Common Soldiers besides and the Counterfeit Symnel with the lewd Contriver of this wicked Stratagem Simon the Priest were both taken and Symnel confessing the business to be forced on him was made one of the King's Falkoners and the Priest Simon was commited to a dungeon and perpetual shackles And shortly after this Battel the King sent Richard Fox Bishop of Exceter and Sir Richard Edgecomb Embassadors to the King of Scots where they to the King 's great Satisfaction concluded a seven years Truce About this time the Duke of Britain sent to the King for his Assistance against France but he unwilling to disoblige either party having been formerly beholden to both sought a reconciliation making himself Umpire between them to which the French seemed to listen but in the mean time prepared for War and at St. Albans gave the Britains a great Overthrow and slew the Lord Woodvile and all or most of his men who was gone to the Duke's aid without King Henry's knowledge hereupon the King prepared to lend his Assisting hand to the Britains but their Duke in the mean time died which put an end to the business And now began some stirs in York-shire where the Earl of Northumberland was slain by the Commons at a place called Cock-Leg near Thirske at the inticement of one John Chambers for demanding the Subsidy granted by Parliament to the King and the Plebeans afterwards made head under the Command of Sir John Egrimont but the King sending an Army against them under the Command of Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry they were quickly dissipated and the Ringleadears shortly after received death the due Reward for such Rebels but Sr. John Egrimont escaped to Margaret Dutchess of Britain the common Encorager and Receiver of all King Henry's Enemies About this time the Scots rose in Rebellion against James the Third their King and fought the Army at Bannocks-Burn where in a Mill in the same field he was murthered After this King Henry began to prepare for War against France at the Request of Maximilian the Emperor whom they had basely abused in not only divorsing his Daughter Margaret from the French King but also in making Ann the Heir of the Dukedom of Britain his Wife who had been betrothed to the said Emperor by his Embassadors and the King taking his Voyage for France landed at Callis and marched on as far as Bulloigne and finding the Emperour unprepared upon whose Accounts he had undertaken that War he thereupon made Peace with France and had the sum of 186250 li. granted yearly which was duly pay d during his time and his Son 's until the debt vvas run out After this Voyage Margaret the Dutchess of Burgumdy the King 's grand Enemy obtruded upon the English one Peterkin or Parkin Walbeck by the name of Richard Plant aginet Second Son of Edward the Fourth and many of the Nobility out of Innovation rather than Love knowing it to be a Deceit of the Dutchess sided with him and the Lord Stanly amongst the rest did supply him with Money for which Cause shortly after he lost his Head although formerly he had been a main Instrument
in advancing the King to the Crown About this time Wheat was sold for six pence per Bushel and Bay-Salt at three pence half peny Nantwich salt six pence per Bushel white Herring six shilling per Barrel red Herring three shilling per Cade Sprats six pence per Cade and Gascoign wine six pound per Tun. And now this Psendo Richard was discovered to the King to be but Perkin Warbeck by one Sir Robert Clifford a great actor for Perkin beyound Sea but afterwards won to the King with Gold for Perkin's sake all the Flemmings were banished the Realm and several of his Complices here discovered by the said Sir Robert Clifford were put to death And now Perkin coming on Shoar in Kent expecting a great Relief receiving in lieu therof great distress for being encountred by the Mayor of Sandwich and the Kentish men five of his Cheif Captains and 164 of others were taken and shortly after executed whereupon he fled back into Flanders and from thence fled into Ireland but expecting little help from so poor a Nation at last he betook himself into Scotland and the King of Scots being taken with Courtly cariage believed his Reports and Married him to Catharine Gourden the Earl of Huntly's Daughter and then the King in Person with a great number of Scots came with him against the Marches of England doing great harm and Proclaiming much favor and immunity to such as would joyn with Perkin and â— 1000 pounds to such as could take King Henry but all this working no Impression upon the Peoples minds the Scotish King thereupon returned into Scotland esteeming the less of his new Cozen because none would rise in his behalf Upon this Account a Subsidy of 120 thousand pound was granted to the King for maintenance of the War against Scotland and the Lord Dawbnye sent General but on his March was called back to suppress some Cornish Rebells who withstood the Collectors of the Subsidy under the Command of one Thomas Flemmock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith these marching for Kent expecting more Aid at Well the Lord Awdly joyned with them who together with the other two Leaders were taken at Black-Heath in Kent and their Forces Routed three hundred being slain and 1500 taken Prisoners and afterwards the Lord Awdly was beheaded at the other two hanged and quartered at Tyburn for their Rebellion During these Stirs the King sent the Lord Howard Earl of Surry to defend the parts in the North aganst the Scots who were then doing great Damage in the Borders but before he got thither the Scots withdrew yet notwithstanding he marched into Scotland and after some Booty taken he returned again for a time And now Hialus the Spanish Embassador coming into Scotland he concluded a Peace between the two Kings And about this time Anno 1497 fell Hail-Stones at St. Needs in Bedfordshire of eighteen Inches about now upon the Conclusion of the Peace aforesaid Perkin's main Hope being gone his last Refuge were the Cornish men of whom he had a great Army but the King marching against him and he not daring to trust to his Cornish followers he thereupon fled by night and took Asylum at Bewdly which when his Followers perceived they all yielded themselves to the King's Mercy And not long after Perkin their Leader did the like and was carried to London and conveved through the Streets on horse-back for People to gaze at and afterwards attempting to escape from his Guard he was pursued and retaken and set in the Stocks upon a Scaflold a whole day before Westminster-Hall and another day in Cheap-side in London and after sent Prisoner to the Tower About this time one Ralph Wilford a Shoo-makers Son of London was hanged for assuming unto himself the name of Edward Earl of Warwick who was then close Prisoner in the Tower and not long after Perkin was hanged at Tyburn and Edward Plantaginet the Earl of Warwick beheaded for seeking to make their escape out of the Tower this Earl was Son to George Duke of Clarence who was Brother to King Edward the Fourth and was the last Heir of the Plantaginets Shortly after this there happened such a devouring Plague that the King and Queen left London and fled to Callis in France and after the Plague abated they returned again about which time the Lady Catherine of Spain arrived in England and was presently after married to Prince Arthur who injoyed her Bed not long for about five months after being then in Wales he was cut off by Death an and the next year after James the IV King of Scotland married the Lady Margaret the King 's eldest Daughter and not long after the Queen died and Henry the King 's second Son was made Prince of Wales and by the Pope's Indulgence took to Wife the Lady Catherine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow And now the Earl of Suffolk being fled and intending a Rebellion certain of his Adherents being discovered were thereupon taken and suffered Death as Courtney Earl of Devonshire the King's Brother in Law William de la Pool Brother to the Earl of Suffolk Sir James Tirrel King Richard's Wicked Instrument in the Murther of Edward the V. and his Brother and Sir John Windham and others all these with the Earl and the rest of his Faction were by Authority of the Pope's Bull Proclaimed at Paul's Cross to be accursed After this the Earl fled to Philip Duke of Austria who afterwards by the Right of his Wife coming to be King of Spain as he was on his Voyage thither was by Tempest driven into England where he was Royally entertain'd by King Henry and at their parting it was agreed between them that the Earl of Suffolk should be delivered up to King Henry upon Condition that no Violence should be offered to his Person and so he was only imprisoned but in Henry the Eighth's time lost his Head Now the King having dissipated all his Enemies he began to extort Money from his Subjects two Lawyers Empson and Dudly being the cheif Instrument herein by calling People in question for the breach of old moth-eaten Penal Statutes but the King's Death shortly after ensuing These beginning Oppressions were thereby also brought to a Period before they attained to that maturity which was feared by some but wished for by others especially by Empson and Dudly During this King's Reign there were about some nine Persons Men and Women that suffered the Flames for the Profession of a good Faith besides several others that did Pennance with a Faggot on their Backs and some were burnt in the Cheek with a hot Iron This Henry the Seventh was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was son to Edmund Tewdor Earl of Richmond by Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir to John Beaufort Duke of Sommerset Grand Child to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster he began his Reign on Monday the 22 day of August Anno 1485 and reigned 23 years