75 Philip Commines a knight of Flanders writ the lives of Lewis Charles the Eighth Kings of France wherein he handles many passages betweene them and the Kings of England their contemporaries Of the Moderne These 76 Richard Grafton a Citizen of London writ a Chronicle from the beginning of the world to the beginning of the Reign of Queene Elizabeth in whose time he lived 77 Raphaell Holinshed a Minister writ a large Chronicle from the Conquest to the yeare 1577. and was continued by others to the yeare 1586. 78 Doctor Goodwin Bishop of Hereford writ the Lives of King Henry the eight King Edward the sixth and Queen Mary lived in the time of Qu. Elizabeth 79 Doctor Heyward writ the History of the first Kings William the Conquerour William Rufus and Henry the first also the Reigne of King Henry the fourth and Edward the sixth and lived to the time of King James 80 Samuel Daniel writ a Chronicle of the Kings of England to the end of King Edward the third and is continued by John Trussell to the beginning of King Henry the seventh 81 Sir Francis Bacon Viscount Viscount S. Albans hath written a History of the Reigne of King Henry the seventh in a most elegant stile and lived in the time of King James 82 John Fox writ three large Volumes of the Acts and Monuments of the Church particularly treating of the English Martyrs in the Reignes of King Henry the eighth and Queene Mary and lived in the time of Queene Elizabeth 83 Thomas Cowper Bishop of Winchester writ Chronicle Notes of all Nations specially of England from the beginning of the world to his owne time and lived in the time of Queene Elizabeth 84 William Camden King at Armes writ the life of Queene Elizabeth and a Description of Britaine and lived in the time of King James 85 William Martin Esquire writ the Reignes of the Kings of England from William the Conquerour to the end of King Henry the eighth to which was afterward added the Reignes of King Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 86 Francis Biondi an Italian Gentleman and of the Privy Chamber to King Charles hath written in the Italian tongue the Civill Warres between the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke from King Richard the second to King Henry the seventh Translated elegantly into English by Henry Earle of Monmouth now living 87 Henry Isaacson a Londoner hath written a Chronology of all kingdoms from the beginning of the world to the yeare 1630. being the fifth yeare of King Charles his Reigne 88 Nicholas Harpsefield Arch-deacon of Canterbury hath written a Chronicle of all the Bishops of England to which Edmund Campian the Iesuite made an Addition 89 John Stow Citizen of London writ a Chronicle from Brute to the end of Qu. Elizabeth and is continued to this present time being the 18. yeare of King Charles by Edmund Howe 's a Londoner 90 John Speed a Londoner writ the Story of Britaine from the first beginning to the yeare 1605. being the second yeare of King James 91 William Abington Esquire hath written the Reign of King Edward the fourth in a very fine stile and is yet living 92 Thomas Fuller Batchelour of Divinity and Prebendary of Sarum hath written the Holy Warre in very fine language wherein he relates the Acts of our Kings of England in the Holy Land and is now living 93 Andre du Chesne a Frenchman Geographer to the King of France hath written the History of England Scotland Ireland from their first beginnings to the seventeenth yeare of our present Soveraigne Lord King Charles The end of the Catalogue of Authors A CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND from the time of the Romans Government unto the Raigne of King CHARLES Of the first knowne times of this Island ALthough we begin the Aera of our Computation from William called the Conquerour as though he were the first King of our English Nation Yet before him were many other excellent Kings and their Acts perhaps as worthy to bee knowne if they could be knowne But seeing after ages can know nothing of former times but what is Recorded by writing It hath followed that as the first Writers were Poets So the first writings have been Fictions and nothing is delivered to Posterity of the most ancient times but very Fables Such as is the story of Albina of whom they say this Island was called Albion though others say ab albis rupibus of the white cliffes that shee should beâ— the eldest of the two and thirty daughters of Dioclesian King of Syria such as never was who being marryed to two and thirty Kings in one night killed all their husbands for which fact they were put in a shippe themselves alone without any Pyloâ— so to try their adventure and by chance arrived in this Island of whom Gyants were begotten And if you like not of this then have you the story of Albion the sonne of Neptune of whom the Island tooke its name But when these are exploded there followes another with great Attestation and yet as very a Fable as these namely the story of the Trojan Brute of whom the Island they say was called Britaine though many other causes are given of the name as likewise the story of Brutes cosin Corinaeus of whom they say the Country of Cornwall had its name to whom it was given for overcomming the Giant Gogmagog and that Brute having three sonnes Lectrine Albanact and Camber he gave at his death to his eldest sonne Locrine all the land on this side Humber and called it Loâ—gria to his second sonne Albanact all the land beyond Humber of whom it was called Albania now Scotland and to his youngest sonne Camber all the land beyond the river of Severne of whom it was called Cambria now Wales with other such stuffe which may please children but not riper Judgements and were first broached by Geoffry Archdeacon of Monmouth for which all the Writers of his time cryed shame upon him and yet can scarce keepe many at this day from giving credit to his Fictions And when we are once gotten out of Fables and come to some truth yet that truth is delivered in such slender draughts and such broken pieces that very small benefit can be gotten by the knowing it and was not till the time of Iulius Caesar a thousand yeares after the Fable of Brute at which time the Island was yet but in manner of a Village being without Walls as having no shipping which are indeed the true Wals of an Island but onely certaine small vessels made of boards and wicker And as they had no ships for defence without So neither had they any Forts for defence within scarce any houses but such as were made of stakes and boughes of trees fastned together Neither was it yet come to be a Kingdome but was Governed by a number of petty Rulers So as Kent onely had in it as Caesar calleth them foure Kings
Cingetorix Carvilius Taximagulus and Segonax which division as it made the Britaines the more easie to be conquered so it made the Romans the longer in conquering For if they had beene one united body one or two battailes might have made a conquest of the whole where being thus divided there was need to be as many battailes as there were divisions So as it was many yeares before the Romanes could conquer the whole Island even from the time of Iulius Caesar to the time of the Emperour Domitian not much lesse then two hundred yeares It is true after Caesars first comming the Island grew sensible of this defect of their division and thereupon by consent of a great part made choyce of Cassibelan King of the Trinovants who had his seate at Verulam to be Generall of their warres which made indeed some little stoppe to the Romanes proceedings but after the losse of a battaile or two they fell againe into a relapse of their former defect and thought it better to secure every one his owne by his owne meanes then by a generall power to hazard all at once whereby it came afterward to be true Dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur Yet before the Couâ—try could bee wholly Conquered at first by reason of the Nations valour seeking to keepe themselves free and afterward by reason of the insolency of the garrison souldiers that sought to make them slaves many great oppositions were made amongst which the most memorable was that of Voadicia a certaine Queene of the Country who having beene by the Romane souldiers herselfe abused and her daughters ravished used meanes to levy an Army of six score thousand men whom she led herselfe into the field and set upon the Romanes in their chiefe townes which were London Verulam and Camalodunum now Malden in Essex of whom she flew above seventy thousand but then in a second battaile had fourescore thousand of her owne Army slaine after which defeate for avoyding of slavery she poysoned herselfe This Island for a long time was so much esteemed of the Romanes that their Emperors sometimes came hither in person as first the Emperor Adrian in the yeare 124. who made a great wall of earth betweene England and Scotland and having set the Country in order returned After him sometime Severus the Emperor in the yeare 212. came over into Britâ—ine to represse the Incurâ—ions of the Picts and Scots by whom in a battaile neere Yorke he was wounded and thereof dyed or as others say he dyed of age and sicknesse Afterward in the yeare 305. Constantius the Emperor came into Britaine and ended his life at Yorke making that City famous for the death and buriall of two great Emperors and yet more famous for the honor done to Constantine the Great sonne of Constantius who in that City was first saluted Emperor But notwithstanding the great estimation the Romanes a long time made of this Island yet at last after five hundred yeares they had kept it in subjection they voluntarily left it the charge of keeping it being greater then the benefit for to keepe it in subjection they maintained no fewer than fourescore thousand souldiers in pay and when warres grew amongst themselves at home they could no longer spare so many abroad but recalled them home but then though they left Britaine yet they left not the Britaines but carried them at least a great part of them away with them of whom the most were slaine in their service and the rest planted in that part of France which of them was afterward and is to this day called Britaine And now one would thinke the Island should be in good case being freed from them that kept them in subjection but it proved to bee in worse case being at liberty then it was before in servitude for being deprived of their ablest men and at the same time their King Lucius happening to dye without issue they were left as a few loose sticks without the bond of a Governour which the Picts and Scots observing thought now was the time to make the Country their owne and thereupon made invasions upon it with all their Forces Whereupon the Britaines having none left of their Native Kings to succeed and knowing they could ill manage the Body of an Army without a Head they make choyce of Vortigerne Earle of Cornwall one extracted from the British Line and he whether so advised by his Cabinet Counsellor the Propheticall Merlin or as finding his owne strength too weake to make resistance implores first ayde of the Romanes and they making answer they had businesse enough to do of their owne and leaving them to themselves he then fled to the Saxons for ayde a warlike people of Germany and who had greater swarmes then their hives would well hold And here we may plainly see how dangerous a thing it is for a Nation to call in strangers to their ayd and especially in any great number for though they come at first but mercenaries yet once admitted and finding their owne strength they soone grow Masters as here it proved with the Saxons But before we speake further of the comming in of the Saxons who were at that time Infidels and brought with them their two Idols Woden and Frya whereof two of our weeke dayes Wednesday and Friday take their names it will be fit to say something of the state of the Christian Church in this Island First then it is recorded that in the yeare 63. what time Arviragus raigned here Ioseph of Arimâ—thea who buried the body of Christ came into this Island and laid the foundation of the Christian Faith in the Westerne parts at a place called then Hvalon now Glastenbury and that there came with him Mary Magdalen Lazarus and Martha and more then this that Simon Zelotes one of the Apostles suffered martyrdome here in Britaine and more then this that both St. Peter and St. Paul came into this Island and Preached the Gospell all which and more to this purpose is Recorded by Authors of good Account though it be hard believing That persons and specially women of so great age as these must needes be at this time should take so long a journey But howsoever it was certaine it is that the doctrine of Christianity was about this time planted in this Island though it made afterwards but small progresse and that with some persecution as in which time St. Alban suffered martyrdome at Verulam and at Liechfield shortly after no fewer then a thousand After this in the yeare 180 what time Lucius was King of this Island Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome sent Faganus and Damianus to him upon whose preaching the Temples of the Heathenish Flamins and Arch-flamins one and thirty in number were converted to so many Bishops Sees whereof London Yorke and Caerleyn now St. Davids were made the Metropolitans of the Province And there is a Table remaining at this day in the Parish Church of St. Peter on Cornhill London which
unfitly be here related First for the celebration of divine Service it was ordained that all Ceremonies tending to the encrease of reverence devotion should bee used as need required Secondly that upon the Sabbath day all publike Faires Markets Synods Huntings and all secular actions should be forborne unlesse some urgent necessity should require it Thirdly that every Christian should thrice in the yeare receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper Fourthly that if a Minister of the Altar killed a man or committed any notorious crime he should bee deprived both of his Order and Dignity Fifthly thâ—t a married woman convict of adultery should have her nose and eares cut off Sixthly That a widow marrying within a twelvemonth after her husbands decease should lose her Joynture These and many other good lawes were made whereby the kingdome remained during all his time in a most peaceable state and government In the third yeare of his Raign he heard how the Vandales taking advantage of his absence had entred Denmarke and annoyed his subjects whereupon with a great Army of English hee passed over the Seas and gave them battaile but with ill successe the first day when preparing for the next dayes battaile the Earle Goodwyn who was Generall of the English secretly in the dead of the night set upon the Vandals Campe with a great slaughter of their souldiers made their two Princes Ulfus and Anlave to flie the field In the morning it was told Canutus that the English were fled for that their station was left and not a man of them to be found which did not a little trouble his patience but he going in person to see the truth found the great overthrow the English had given for which service ever after hee held the English and especially the Earle Goodwyn in great estimation After this returning home hee made a prosperous Expedition against Malcolme King of Scots and at last in the fifteenth yeare of his Raigne wearied with the honourable troubles of the world and out of devotion he tooke a Journey to Rome to visit the Sepulchre of St. Peter and Paul from whence he writ to the Bishops and Nobility of England that they should carefully administer Justice and never seeke to advance his profit by any undue wayes or with the detriment of any man At his returne froÌ„ Rome he built in Essex the Church of Ashdone where he got the victory against King Edmund in Norfolke the Abbey of St. Benets which Saint he greatly reverenced and in Suffolke the Monastery of St. Edmund which Saint he deadly feared To the Church of Winchester hee gave many rich Jewels whereof one was a Crosse valued to be worth as much as the whole Revenue of England amounted to in one yeare To Coventry he gave the arme of the great St. Austin which he bought at Pavia in his returne from Rome for which he payd an hundred Talents of silver and one of gold One strange Act is recorded which he did for convincing his fawning flatterers who used to tell him that his power were more then humane For being one time at Southampton he commanded that his chaire of State should be set on the shoare when the Sea began to flow and then sitting downe there in the presence of his many attendants he spake thus to that Element I charge thee that thou presume not to enter my Land nor wet these Robes of thy Lord that are about me But the Sea giving no heede to his command but keeping on his usuall course of Tyde first wet his skirts and after his thighes whereupon suddenly rising he thus spake in the hearing of them all Let all the worlds Inhabitants know that vaine and weake is the power of their Kings and that none is worthy of the name of King but he that keepes both heaven and earth and sea in obedience After which time he would never â—uffer the Crowne to be set upon his head but presently Crowned therewith the Picture of Christ on the Crosse at Winchester from which example arose perhaps the custome to hang up the Armour of Worthy men in Churches as Offerings consecrated to him who is the Lord of battaile When he had Raigned nineteene yeares he deceased at Shafteâ—bery in the County of Dorset the twelfth of November in the yeare 1035. and was buried in the Church of the old Monastery at Winchester which being after new built his bones with many other English Saxon Kings were taken up and are preserved in gilt Coffâ—rs fixed upon the wals of the Quire in that Cathedrall Church He had by his two wives three sonnes Sweyne and Harold by his first wife Alfgive and Hardicnute by his second wife Queene Emma and two daughters of whom the eldest called Guinhilda was married to the Romane Emperour Henry the third who being accused of adultery and none found to defend her cause at last an English Page adventured to maintaine her Innocency against a mighty Gyantlike-Combatant who in fight at one blow cutting the sinewes of his adversaries legge with another he felled him to the ground and then with his sword taking his head from his shoulders redeemed both the Empresses life and honour But the Empresse after this hard usage forsooke her husbands bed and tooke upon her the Veyle of a Nun in the Towne of Burges in Flanders where she devoutly spent the râ—st of her life Of the second Danish King in England KIng Canutus dying left his Kingdome of Norway to his eldest Son Sweynâ— and his Kingdome of England to his youngest Sonne Hardiknâ—te whom he had by his wife Emma but he being at the time of his Fathers death in Denmarke Harold his elder Brother by a former wife taking advantage of his absence layes claime to the Crowne For determining of which Right the Lords assembled at Oxford where Queene Emma pleaded for her sonne Hardiknute urging the Covenant of Canâ—tus at their marriage and his last Will at his death as also Earle Goodwyn of Kent did the like being left Guardian of her Children and keeper of his last Will. But Harolds presence together with the favour of the Londoners Danes and Northumbrians so wrought with the Lords that the absent Hardiknute was neglected and Harold was Proclaimed and Crowned King at Oxford by â—lnothus Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the yeare 1036. Harold having now attained the Crowne was not so jealous of his Brother Hardiknute as of his mother in Law Queene Emma and her Sonnes by King Ethelreâ— who were beyond Sea and therefore how to secure himselfe against these was his first care For effecting whereof he framed a Letter as written by Queene Emma to her two Sonnes Edward and Alfred instigating them to attempt the Crown usurped by Harold against their Right to which letter comming first to the hands of Alfred he suspecting no fraud returned Answer that he would shortly come over and follow her Counsaile And thereupon with a small Fleet and some few souldiers lent
this outrage leaves his dinner hastes to the Savâ—y admonisheth them of the holy time being Lent assuring them all should be fairely ended for the good of the City with whose perswasions they were somewhat pacified but yet they tooke the Dukes Armes and hung â—hem up reversed in signe of Treason in all the principall streeâ—s of the City Upoâ— the Princesses advice the chiefe Citizens send to the sickâ— King to excuse this tumult saying it was not in their power to suppresse it the Commonalty being in commotion upon an information that their Liberties should be taken from them by Parliament The King told them it never was in his thought to infringe their liberties but he rather desired to enlarge them But this affrâ—nt of the Citizens would not downe with the Duke till he had pulled downe somâ— of the Principall of them for he caused the Major and Aldermen to â—e displaced and other put in their roomes a revenge he had better beene without for he never had the love of the City after and to want their love is a kind of banishment Wickliffe himselfe censured by the Bishops to abjure his Opinions chose rather to leave his Country then his Doctrine and going over into Bohemia was there much honoured while he lived and hath beene more since he dyed at least a great part of his Doctrine continues in veneration amongst that people to this day Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time HIs workes of Piety were great and many as the Founding of East Minster an Abbey of the Cisteaâ—â— Order neare the Tower An Abbey for Nunnes at Dâ—rtford in Kent The Kings Hall in Cambridge for poore Schollers An Hospitall for the poore at Callice He conferred upon the University of Oxford where he had himselfe beene trained up under the learned Walter Burley the chiefe rule of the City subordinating the Major and Citizens to the Chancellour of the University He Built Saint Stephens Chappel at Westminster with the endowment of 300. pound per annum He augmented the Chappell at Windsore and made provisions there for Church-men and foure and twenty poore knights These were his publicke workes But besides these his private Buildings were the Castle of Windsore which he re-edified and enlarged the Castle at Quinborough Fortifications at 〈◊〉 and other places His Queen Philippa founded Queens Colledge in Oxford 〈…〉 Countesse of Pembroke the Colledge called Pembroke Hall in Cambridge In this Kings tâ—me Sir Iohn Poultney Major of London built the Colledge in London calâ—â—d 〈◊〉 Lâ—wrence Poultâ—â—y and little Alholloâ—es a Parish Church in Thames street â—â—d also the Carmelite Friers Church in Câ—ventry Henry Earle of Lancaster and 〈◊〉 â—ounded the new Hospitall by the Castle of Leycester wherein a hundred 〈◊〉 impotent people were provided for with all things necessary William Elsing Mercâ—â— of London made a new Hospitall of an old house of Nunnes by Cripplegâ—â—â— and placing Chanons Regular there he became the first Prior thereof Walter 〈◊〉 Bishop of Exeter Founded Exeter Colledge and Hart Hall in Oxford William Bâ—â—eman Bishop of Norwich builded Trinity Hall in Cambridge Simon 〈◊〉 Arch-bishop of Canterbury Founded Canterbury Colledge in Oxford William 〈◊〉 Treasurer of England Founded the Monastery of Edendon the religious brethren whereof were called Bâ—nhommes Sir Walter de Manny borne in Cambray purchased a piece of ground called Spittle Croft containing thirâ—eene Acres withouâ— the barres of West Smithfield and caused the same to be enclosed where he built a Chappell and after Founded the same to be a house of Charter-house Monkes Humphrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex re-edified the Augustine Friers Church in London and was buried in the Quire thereâ— In the two and thirtieth yeare of this Kings Raigne Iohn Stody Major of London gave unto the Vintners of London all the Quadrant where the Vintners Hall now standeth with the Tenements round abouâ— from the lane to this day called Studis laneâ— where are Founded thirâ—eene houses for thirteene poore people which are there kept of charity Also in this Kings time Sir Iohn Cobham Founded the Colledge of Cobham in Kent Iâ—hn Lâ—vekin foure times Major of London builded at Kingston upon Thames where he was borne a Chappell called Magdalens to the which he joyned an Hospitall wherein was a Master two Priests and certaine poore men and for that the Parish Church of Saint Michael by Crooked-lane where he dwelled was a very homely thing and the ground thereabout a filthy plot by reason of the Burchers in Eastcheape who made the same their lay-stall he on the same ground builded the faire new Parish Church of Saint Michael now standing and was buried there in the middle of the Quire under a faire Tombe of stone He also Founded a Colledge to the same Church neare thereunto adjoyning Iohn Barnes Major of London gave a Chest with three locks and a thousand Markes to be lent to young men upon secâ—rity so that it passed not one hundred Markes and for the occupying thereof if he were learned to say at his pleasure De Profundis for the soule of Iohn Barnes if he were not learned to say Pater Noster but howsoever the money is lent the Chest at this day standeth in the Chamber of London without money or pâ—â—dges Thomas of Woodstocke the youngest sonne of King Edward Founded a Colledge at Playsiâ— in Essex where in his life he had providâ—d a sumptuous Tombe where he was first laid but translated afterward to Westminster Casualties happening in his time IN the the two and twentieth yeare of his Raigne a contagious Pestilence arose in the East and South parts of the world and spread it selfe over all Christendome and comming at last into England it so wasted the people that scarce the tenth person of all sorts was left alive There died in London some say in Nâ—rwich betweene the first of Ianuary and the first of Iuly 57374. persons In Yarmouth in oâ—e yeare 7052. men and women before which time the Parsonage there was worth 700. Markes a yeare and afterwards was â—carce worth forty pounds a yeare This Plague beganne in London about Alhollanâ—ide in the yeare 1348. and continued till the yeare 1357. â—here it was observed that those who were borne after the beginning of this mortality had but twenty eight teeth where before â—hey had two and thirty In the twelveth yeare of his Raigne a sudden â—â—undation of water at New-castle upon Tyne bare downe a piâ—ce of the Towne wâ—ll and sixe pearches in length neare to a place called Walkenew where a hundred and twenty men and women were drowned In the five and thiâ—â—ieth yeare of his Raigne another Pestilence hâ—ppâ—ned in England which was called the second Pestilence in which died Henry Duke of Laâ—caster also Reginâ—ld Lord Câ—â—haâ—â— and Walter Fits-warren two famous men and five Bishops of Wâ—rcester of London of Ely of Lincolne and of Chichâ—ster In this Kings time a Frost lasted from the midst of September to
Blake a Lawyer Shortly after the Parliament began called afterward The Parliament that wrought wonders On the first day whereof were arrested as they sate in their places all the Justices but onely Sir William Skipwith as Sir Roger Fulthorpe Sir Robert Belknappe Sir Iohn Cary Sir Iohn Holt Sir William Brooke and Iohn Alacâ—on the kings Serjeant at Law and were all sent to the Tower for doing contrary to an Agreement made the last Parliament Also in the beginning of this Parliament Robert Veere Duke of Irelâ—nd Alexander Nevill Archbishop of York Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke and Sir Robert Tresilian Lord Chiefe Justice of England were openly called to answer Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester Richard Earle of Arundell Henry Earle of Darby and Thomas Earle of Nottingham upon certaine Articles of high Treason and because none of them appeared It was ordained by whole consent of Parliament they should be banished for ever and all their landâ— and goods â—eized into the Kings hands their intailed lands onely excepted Shortly after the Lord Chief Justice Robert Tresilian was found in an Apothecaries house in Westminster where being taken he was brought to the Duke of Glocester who caused him the same day to be had to the Tower and from thence drawne to Tyburne and there hanged On the morrow after Sir Nicolas Brember was brought to his Answer who being found guilty was beheaded with an Axe which himselfe had caused to be made for beheading of others After this Sir Iohn Salisbery and Sir Iames Berneys lusty young men were drawne and hanged as also Iohn Beâ—â—champ L. Steward of the Kings house Iohn Blake Esquire and lastly Sir Symon Burley sonne to the great Sir Iohn Burley Knight of the Garter was beheaded on Tower-hill whose death the King tooke more heavily and more heynously then all the rest Also all the Justices were condemned to dye but by the Queenes intercession they were onely banished the Realme and all their lands and goods confiscate onely a small portion of money was assigned them for their sustentation Finally in this Parliament an Oath was required and obteined of the King that he should stand unto and abide such Rule and Order as the Lords should take and this Oath was required also of all the Inhabitants of the Realme In the later end of the Kings eleventh yeere the Earle of Arundell was sent to Sea with a great Navy of ships and men of warre with whom went the Earles of Nottingham and Devonshire Sir Thhmas Percy the Lord Clifford the Lord Camoiâ— Sir William Elmham and divers other Knights to ayde the Duke of Britaine against the king of France but before they came the Duke of Britaine was reconciled to the king of France and so needing not their ayde all this great Fleet returned with doing nothing And it was indeed a yeere of doing nothing unlesse we reckon some petty Inroades of the Scots and that Sir Thomas Tryvet dyed with a fall off his horse and that Sir Iohn Holland the Kings brother by the mother was made Earle of Huntington and that there was Contention in Oxford between the Northerne and the Southerne Scholars which was pacified by the Duke of Glocester In his twelveth yeere Commissioners were appointed to meet at Balingham betwixt Calliâ— and Bulloigne to treat of a Peace betweene the Realmes of England France and Scotland and after long debating a Truce was at last concluded to begin at Midsomer next and to last three yeeres But now the king to shew his plenary authority of being at full age removed the Archbishop of York from being Lord Chancellor and put in his place William Wickham Bishop of Winchester also he removed the Bishop of Hereford from being Treasurer and put another in his place The Earle of Arundell likewise unto whom the Government of the Parliament was committed and the Admiralty of the Sea was removed and the Earle of Huntington put in his roome About this time the Lord Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrooke as he was practising to learne to Just was stricken about the Privy parts by a knight called Sir Iohn St. Iohn of which hurt he soone after dyed In whose Family it is memorable that for many Generations together no sonne ever saw his father the father being alwaies dead before the sonne was borne The Originall of this Family was from Hastings the Dane who in the Reigne of K. Alured long before the Conquest about the yeere 890. came with Rollo jâ—to England But howsoever in this Iohn Hastings ended the then Honorable Titles of the Hastings for this man dying without issue his Inheritances were dispersed to divers persons The Honour of Pembrooke came to Francis at Court by the kings Gift the Baronies of Hastings and Welford came to Reynold Gray of Ruthin the Barony of Aburgâ—veny was granted to William Beaâ—â—hamp of Bedford About this time Iohn Duke of Lancaster was created Duke of Aquitaine receiving at the Kings hands the Rod and the Cap as Investitures of that Dutchy Also the Duke of York's sonne and heire was created Earle of Richmond In his thirteenth yeere a Royall Justs was Proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London to begin on Sunday next after the Feast of S. Michael which being published not onely in England but in Scotland in Almaigne in Flanders in Brabant and in France many strangers came hither amongst others Valeran Earle of S. Poll that had maried king Richards Sister and William the young Earle of Ostervant sonne to Albert de Bavâ—ere Earl of Hollond and Heynoult At the day â—ppointed there issued forth of the Tower about three a clock in the afternoone sixty Coursers apparrelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace After them came forth foure and thirty Ladies of Honour Froyssard saith threescore mounted on Palfries and every Lady led a knight with a chaine of Gold These knights being on the Kings part had their armour and apparell garnished with white Hearts and Crownes of Gold aboâ—â— their necks and so they came riding through the streets of London unto Smithfield The Justs lasted divers dayes all which time the King and Queen lay at the Bishops Palace by Pauls Church and kept open house for all Commers In his Fifteenth yeere the Duke of Lancaster went into France having in his traine a thousand horse and met the king of France at Aâ—iens to treat of a Peace between the two kingdomes but after long debate a Truce onely was concluded for a yeere About this time also the King required the Londoners to lend him a Thousâ—nd pounds which they refused â—o doe and not onely so but they abused an Italian Merchant for offering to lend it This moved the King to some indignation to which was added the complaint of a Ryot committed by the Citizens against the servants of the Bishops of Saliâ—bury L. Treasurer for that where one of the Bishops servants named Walter Roman had taken a
Stowre upon the West side of the Towne Upon this bridge the like report runneth stood a stone of some heigth against which king Richard as hee passed â—owards Bosworth by chance strook his spurre and against the same stone as he was brought back hanging by the horse side his head was dashed and broken as a Wise-woman forsooth had fore-told who before his going to battell being asked of his successe said that where his spurre strooke his head should be broken But these are but Repoâ—â—â— He had lived seven and thirty yeeres Reigned two and two moneths Of men of Note in his time OF men of Note for wickednesse and villany enough have been mentioned iâ— the body of the Story and for men of Valour and Learning they will fitteâ— be placed in a better Kings Reigne THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SEVENTH HENRY Earle of Richmond borne in Pembrooke-Castle sonne to Edmund Earle of Richmond by his wife Margaret sole daughter of Iohn Duke of Somerset which Iohn was sonne of Iohn Earle of Somerset sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by his third wife Katherine Swinford and by this descent Heire of the House of Lancaster having wonne the Battell at Bosworth against King Richard is by publick acclamations saluted King of England on the 22 day of August in the yeere 1485. and this was his first Title And now to take away a Root of danger before his departure from Leicester he sent Sir Robert Willougâ—by to the Castle of Sheriffehaton in the County of Yorke for Edward Plantageâ—et Earle of Warwick sonne and heire to George Duke of Clarence being then of the age of fifteen yeeres whom King Richard had there kept a prisoner all his time who was thence conveyed to London and shut up in the Tower to be kept in safe custodie In the same Castle also King Richard had left residing the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the Fourth and her now King Henry appoints honorably attended to be brought up to London and to be delivered to the Queene her mother This done he tooke his journey towards London where at his approaching neere the City Thomas Hill the Major Thomas Brittaine and Richard Chester Sheriffs with other principall Citizens met him at Shore-ditch and in great state brought him to the Cathedrall Church of St. Paul where he offered three Standards in the one was the Image of St. George in another was a red fiery Dragon beaten upon white and greene Sarcenet in the third was painted a dun Cow upon yellow Tarterne After Prayers said he departed to the Bishops Palace and there sojourned a season And in the time of his stay here he advised with his Councell and appointed a day for solemnizing his mariage with the Lady Elizabeth before which time notwithstanding he went by water to Westminster and was there with great solemnity Anointed and Crowned King of England by the whole consent as well of the Commons as of the Nobility by the name of Henry the Seventh on the thirtieth day of October in the yeere 1485 and this was his second Title And even this was revealed to Cadwalloder last King of the Britaines seven â—uâ—dred ninety and seven yeeres past That his off-spring should Raigne and bâ—aâ—e Dominion in this Realme againe On the seventeenth day of November following he called his High Court of Parliament where at the first sitting two scruples appeaâ—ed One concerning tâ—e Burgesses for that many had been returned Burgesses and knights of Shires who by a Parliament in king Richards time stood Attainted still and it was thought incongâ—uous for men to make Lawâ—â— who were themselves out-lawed For remedy whereof an Act was presently passed for their restoring and then they were admitted to sit in the House The other concerning the King himselfe who had been Attainted by king Richard but for this It was resolvâ—d by all the Judges in the Châ—quer Chamber that the possession of the Crowne takes away all defects yet for Honours sake all Records of hiâ— Attainder were taken off the File And so these scruples thus removed the Parliament bâ—gaâ— wherein were Attainted first Richard late Duke of Glocester calling himselfe Richard the Third Then his Assistants at the Battell of Bosworth Iohn late Duke of Norfolk Thomas Earle of Surrey Francis Viscount Lovell Walter Devereux late Lord Ferrers Iohn Lord Zouch Roberâ— Harington Richard Chaâ—letoâ—â— Richarâ— Ratâ—liffeâ— William Berâ—ley of Weley Robert Middleton Iames Haringtoâ—â—â—obert Brâ—câ—enbâ—â—y Tâ—omas Pilkington Walâ—er Hoâ—ton William Catesby Roger Wâ—ke William Sapcoâ—e Humfry Stafford William Clerke of Wenlock Geoffry St. Germaine Richard Watkins Herauld at Armes Richard Revell Thomas Pulâ—er Iohn Welsh Iohn Kenâ—all lâ—te Secretary to the late king Richard Iohn Buck Andrew Rat and William Brampton of Burford But notwithstanding this Attainder divers of the persons aforesaid were afterwards not only by King Henâ—y pardoned but restored also to their lands and livings As likewise he caused Proclamation to be made that whosoever would submit themselves and take Oath to be true subjects should have their Pardon whereupon many came out of Sanctuaries and other places who submitting themselves were received to mercy And now King Henry conâ—idering that â—aena Praemio Respublica contineâ—uy after Punishing for Offenceâ— he proceeds to Rewarding for Service and first Iasper Earle of Pembrooke his Unkle he created Duke of Bedford Thomas Lord Stanley he created Earle of Darbâ— the Lord Chendow of Britaine his speciall friend he made Earle of Bathe Sir Giles Daubenâ—y was made Lord Dawbeney Sir Robert Willoughby was made Lord Brooke and Edward Stafford eldest sonne to Henry late Duke of Buckingham he restored to his Dignity and Possessions Besides in this Parliament an Act was made for seâ—â—ing the Crowne upon the person of king Henry and the heires of his Body successively for ever And then with all speed he sent and redeemed the Marquesse Dorset and Sir Iohn Bourchier whom he had left Hostages in France for money and called home Morton Bishop of Ely and Richard Fox making Morton Archbishop of Canterbury and Fox Lord Keeper of the Privy Sâ—ole and Bishop of Winchester Besides these he made also of his Privy Counsell Iasper Duke of Bedford Iohn Earle of Oxford Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby Iohn Bishop of Ely Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlaine of his Houshold Sir Robert Willoughby Lord Brooke Lord Steward of his Houshold Giles Lord Dawbeny Iohn Lord Dynâ—â—m after made Lord Treasurer of England Sir Reginold Bray Sir Iohn Cheyny Sir Richard Guildford Sir Richard Tunstall Sir Richard Edgecombe Sir Thomas Lovell Sir Edmund Pâ—ynings Sir Iohn Risley with some other These things thus done as well in performance of his Oath as to make his Crown sit the surer on his head on the eighteenth day of Ianuary he proceeded to the solemnizing his marriage with the Lady Elizabeth which gave him a third title And indeed this conjunction made a wreath of three so indissoluble that no age since hath
his being saluted King And could it enter into his breast to put him to death that had saved his life and done him so many great services besides But it may be said It was not the Earle of Richmond that did it but the King of England for certainly in many cases a King is not at liberty to shew mercy so much as a private man may Though there be that affirme the cause of his death was not words onely but reall acts as giving ayde to Perkin under-hand by money And yet it seemes there was some conflict in the minde of King Henry what he should doe in this case for he stayed six weekes after his Accusation before before he brought him to his Arraignment How-ever it was the Summer following the King went in Progresse to Latham to the Earle of Darby who had maâ—ied his mother and was brother to Sir William Stanley perhaps to congratulate his own safety perhaps to condole with him his brothers death but certainly to keepe the Earle from conceiving any sinister opinion of him For to thinke that Sir William's suing to be Earle of Chester an Honour appointed to the kings sonne or his great wealth for he left in his Castle at Holt in ready money forty thousand markes besideâ— Plate and Jewells were causes that procured or set forward his death are considerations very unworthy of so just a Prince against a Servant of so great deserving But in this meane while Perkin having gotten a Power of idle loose fellows took to Sea intending to lâ—nd in Kent where though he were repelled yet some of his Souldiers would needs venture to goe on Land of whom a hundred and sixty persons were taken Prisoners whereof five were Captaines Mortford Corbet Whitebolt Quâ—â—tyn and Gemyne These hundred and sixty persons were brought to London rayled in ropes like horses drawing in a Cart who upon their Araignement confessing their offence were executed some at London and some in Towns adjoyning to the sea-coast Perkin finding no entertainment in Kent sayled into Ireland and having stayed there a while and finding them also being a naked people to bee no competent assistants for him from thence he sayled into Scotland where he so moved the King of Scots with his fayre words and colourable pretexts made no doubt before by the Dutcesse of Burgoigne that hee received him in great state and caused him to bee called the Duke of Yorke and to perswade the World that hee thought him so indeede hee gave to him in marriage the Lady Katherine Gourdon daâ—ghter to Alexander Earle Huntley his own neer kinswoman and soone after in Perkins quarrell entred with a puissant Army into England making Proclamation that whosoever would come in and ayde the true Duke of Yorke should bee spared but none comming in he then used all kinde of cruelty and the whole County of Northuâ—berland was in a manner wasted whereat Perkin at his returne expressed much griefe saying It grieved him to the heart to see such havock made of his people To whom the King answered Alas Alas you take care for them who for any thing that appeares are none of yours for not one of the Countrey came in to his succour King Henry incensed with this bold attempt of the king of Scots called his High Court of Parliament acquainting them with the necessity hee had of a present warre to revenge this indignity offered him by the Scots and thereupon requiring their ayde by money had a subsidie of sixscore thousand pounds readily granted him and then in all haste a puissant Army is provided and under the conduct of the Lord Dawbeney sent into Scotland but before hee arrived there hee was suddenly called back by reason of a commotion begun at Cornwall for payment of the Subsidie lately granted which though it were not great yet they grudged to pay it The Ring-leaders of this commotion were Thomas Flammock a gentleman leâ—â—ned in the Lawes and Michael Ioseph a Smith who laying the blame of this exaction upon Iohn Morton Archbishop of Canterbury and Sir Reynold Bray as being chiefe of the Kings Councell exhorted the people to take armes and having aâ—sembled an Army they went to Taunton where they slew the Provost Peryâ— one of the Commissioners for the Subsidie and from thence came to Wells intending to goe to London where the King then lay who having revoked the Lord Dawbeney appointed Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey after the death of the Lord Dinham made Lord Treasurer of England to have an eye to the Scots and if they made invasion to resist them In the meane time Iames Twychet Lord Audley confederated himselfe with the Rebells of Cornwall and tooke upon him to bee their Leader who from Wâ—lls went to Salisbury and from thence to Winchester and so to Kent hoping there â—o have had great ayde but found none for the Earle of Kent the Lord of Aburgâ—â—â— Iohn Brook Lord Cobham Sir Edmond Poynings Syr Richard Guildford Sir Thâ—â—as Bourchier Iohn Peachy and William Scott were ready in Armes to resist them whereupon the Rebels brought their Army to Black-heath foure miles distant from Lâ—ndâ—n and there in a plaine on the top of a hill encamped themselves whereof when the King had knowledge hee presently sent Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Bouâ—â—â—ier Earle of Essex Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Sir Riceap Thomas and Sir Hâ—â—fry Stanley to inviron the hill on all sides that so all hope of flight might hee takâ—n from them and then set forward himselfe and encamped in St. Georgeâ— fields where for encouragement he made divers Bannarets The next day he sent the Lord Dawbeney to set upon the Rebels early in the morning who first got the bridge at Debâ—ford Strand though strongly defended by the Rebels Archers whose arrowes were â—eported to bee a full cloath-yard in length but notwithstanding the Lord 〈◊〉 comming in with his Company and the Earles assayling them on every side they were soone overcome In which conflict were slaine of the Rebels above 〈◊〉 thousand taken prisoners a very great number many of whom the King pâ—â—doned but of the chiefe Authors none for the Lord Audley was drawne from Newgate to Tower-hill in a coate of his owne Armes paynted upon paper reversed and all torne and there on the foure and twentieth day of Iune was beheaded Thomas Flammock and Michael Ioseph were hanged drawn quartered and their heads and quarters pitched upon stakes set up in London and other places Of the Kings Army were slaine not above three hundred It is memorâ—ble with what comfort Ioseph the black-smith cheered up himselfe at his going to execution saying that yet he hoped by this that his name and memory should be everlasting so deere even to vulgar spirits is perpetuety of Name though joyned with infamy what is it then to Noble spirits when it is joyned with Glory In the meane time the king of Scots taking advantage of these troubles in England invaded the
indeed more guilty of the fact than Davyson were none of the number Before these Delegates Popham the Queens Atturney layeth to Davysons charge Contempt of the Queen Majesty violating of his trust and neglect of his duty laying open all particulars of his fact which after Egerton the Queens Solicitor Gawdy and Puckering her Serjeants at Law urged also against him with great aggraâ—ation To which Davyson mildely answered That he would not contest with the Queen only protests That if he had done any thing otherwise than he ought it was out of ignorance and mistaking and not out of any purpose to disobey her Majesty It seems the Queen had carried her selfe as one that would have it done and yet was loth to do it scarce knowing her one minde and yet would have another know it meaning to make it the work of mistaking rather than of purpose that so at least she might leave some place of satisfaction to her selfe that it was not absolutely of her doing The Pleadings ended the Commissioners went to censure Manwood began and gave his opinion That Davyson for the inconsideratnesse of his factâ— should be fined ten thousand pounds and Imprisonment during the Queens pleasure the rest went on in that Sentence only the Lord Grey excused Davyson so far That he thoâ—ght him worthy of reward rather than of punishment The conclusion was the first Sentence for his Fine and Imprisonment was by Wray keeper of the Privy Seal confirmed and Davyson never after recovered the Queens favour though she relieved him sometimes in his necessity A man ingenious indeed but not throughly acquainted with the wayes of the Court and thought to have been raised to this place of purpose to Act this part and for nothing else By this time Sir Robert Cary Son to the Lord Hunsdon who was sent to excuse the Queen was come to the Borders but being come thither was not suffered to set foot in Scotland The King would scarce hear him by another and with much adoe received his Letters He called home his Ambassador out of England and thought of nothing but revenge But the Queen still laying the fault upon Davyson and the unadvised credulity of her Councellros by little and little allayeth his passion and expecting till time had somewhat asswaged his griefe that it would endure to be touched at length by her Agents in Scotland And soon after by the Lord Hunsdon Governor of Berwicke She admonished him How dangerous it would be for him to break out into War against England and what little help he could justly expect from either Spain or France but if he persisted in the amity with England he might be sure the Queen of England would most lovingly account him for her Son And to the end that he should assure himself that the Queen his Mother was put to death without her privity she sent him the Sentence against Davyson under the Seals of all the Delegates and attested under the Great Seal of England and another Instrument likewise signed with the hands of the Judges of England in which they averre That the Sentence against the Queen of Scots could in no wise be prejudice to his right in the Succession Having now by these and the like courses somewhat asswaged the King of Scots indignation to prevent the War which they foresaw was imminent from the King of Spain they send forth Drake with four of the Queens ships and others unto the Coast of Spain to set upon their ships in the Haveâ—s and to intercept their Munition Drake entring into the Port of Cales sunck took and fired about an hundred ships wherein was great store of Munition and Victualls Then returning to the Cape of St. Vincent he set up three Forts and compelled them to yeild Thence setting sayl towards the Western Islands called Azores under the great Meridian by great good fortune he happened upon an huge and wealthy Carack called St. Philip returning from the East-Indies and easily vanquished it Wherupon the Mariners on both sides from the name of Philp portended no good luck to Philip King of Spain At the same time Thomas Cavendish of Suffolke in the other part of the World who two years before had set sayl from England with three ships passing thorough the Straights of Magellan in the Coast of Chily Peru and Nuâ—va Hispania fired a great number of Spanish Towns took and pillaged ninteen great ships and amongst them a wealthy ship of the Kings nigh unto Caliphornia in North America and so by the Philippine Isles the Molâ—cce the Cape de Bone Esperance and the Island of St. Helene returned home the next year being the third after Magellan that sayled about the World As Drake and Cavendish at this time gained great fame and renownâ— so two other men in the Netherlands Stanley and Yorke purchased as great infamy and disgrâ—ce This Yorke was a Londoner a bold fellow and of loose behaviour famous for bringing first into England the manner of turning the point upon the Adversary in single Combats whereas the English till this time were wont to be armed with Bucklers and swords and to strike with edge and it was held no manhood to turn the point or strike below the girdle He suffering some affront from the Earl of Leicester fled away and for a time served under the Spaniards in the Netherlands till at length being reconciled to Leicester he was sent over the Fort near Zutphen but being bribed he not only yeilded up the place to the Enemy but drew to the like villany one Stanley who with great valour had served in an Irish expedition to yeild up Daventry to the Spaniards a wealthy and well Fortified Town But what got they by their treachery The Spaniards set Yorke and Stanley at variance they poison Yorke and seize upon his goods his carkasse was three years after digged up by the States commandment and hanged upon a Gibbet till it rotted awayâ— Stanley went into Spain where there was no credit given to him for the Spaniards have a saying It is lawfull to give honor to a Traytor sometimes but never to trust him These late treacheries wrought the Earl of Leicester much envy with the Confederate Netherlands because the Traytors were very intimate with him whereupon the States in large letters to the Queen accuse Leâ—cester for his ill managing of the Weal-Publick in the matter of money Merchandize and Military affairs and to his credulity They impute the harm which accrewed by Yorke and Stanley The Queen for the narrow sifting of the matter and composing it sent thither Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckehurst lately taken iâ—to her Privie Councell in Leicesters absence Norris and Bartholmew Clerke Bâ—t when as the officious diligence of Buckhurst seemed to trench upon Leicesters reâ—utation his grace with the Queen proved so forcible that Buckhurst at his return was for certain moneths confined to his house Afterward Sluce being beleaguered by the Prince of Parma Leicester was by the
States sent for out of England to succour it the Town was furiously aâ—saulted with seventeen thousand great shot and a mighty breach was made into it which neverthelesse Roger Williams Franis Vere Nicholas Baskervile with the Garrison of the English and Wallons were valiantly defended for a while but at last were enforced to yeild it upâ— Leicester that came to relieve it finding himself too weak for the Besiegers being gone away And indeed the States would not commit any great Army to his Command who they knew had a determination to seâ—ze Lâ—yden and some other Towns into his own hands and had a purpose to surprize the absolute Government Whereupon the States used means that Leicester was called home gave up the Government to the States and in his roome succeeded Maurice of Nassaw Son to the Prince of Orange bâ—ing now but twenty years of age Peregrine Lord Willonghby was by the Queen made Geneâ—all of the English Forces in the Low-Countries to whom she gave command to reduce the English Factions into the States obedience the which with the help of Prince Maurice he easily effected Leicester being now come home and perceiving that an accusation was preparing against him by Buckhurst and others for his unfaithfull managing of affairs in Holland privately with tears he cast himself down at the Queens feet entreating her that she would not receive him with disgrace at his return whom she had sent forth with honor and so far prevailed with her that the next day being called to examination before the Lords he took his place amongst them not kneeling down at the end of the Table as the manner of Delinquents is and when the Secretary began to read the heads of his Accusation he interrupted him saying That the publick instructions which he had received were limited with private restriction and making his appeal to the Queen eluded the whole crimination with the secret indignation of his Adversaries This year was famous for the death of many great Personages In the moneth of February dyed Henry Nevill Lord of Aburgaveny great Grand-childe to Edward Nevill who in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth got this Title in the right of his Wife only Daughter and Heir to Richard Beauchamp Earl of Worcester and Lord of Aburgaveny In which right when as the only Daughter of this Henry Wife to Sir Thomas Fane challenged the Title of Baronesse of Aburgaveny a memorable contention arose concerning the Title between her and the next Heir Male to whom by Will and the same confirmed by Authority of Parliament the Castle of Aburgaveny was bequeathed This question being a long time debated at last in a Parliament holden in the second year of King Iames the matter was tryed by voyces and the Heir Male carried the Lordship of Aburgaveny and the Barony Le Dispencer was ratified to the Female This year also in the moneth of Aprill dyed Anne Stanhope Dutchesse of Somerset ninety years old who being the Wife of Edward Seymer Duke of Somerset and Protector of England contended for precedency with Katherine Parre Queen Dowager to King Henry the Eight There dyed also Sir Ralph Sadler Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster the last Baneret of England with which dignity he was adorned at the Battell of Musselborough in Scotland After him dyed Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellor of England and six dayes after He whom the Queen meant should have succeeded him Edward Earl of Rutland but he now fayling Sir Christopher Hatton was made Lord Chancellor who though he were a Courtier yet the Queen knowing him to be an honest man thought him not unfit for that place where conscience hath or should have more place than Law although some were of opinion That it was not so much the Queens own choice as that she was perswaded to it by some that wisht him not well both thereby to be a cause of absenting him from the Court and thinking that such a sedentary place to a corpulent man that had been used to exercise would be a means to shorten his life and indeed he lived not full out three years after This yeer Sir Iohn Perot was called home out of Ireland and left all in 〈◊〉 quiet to Fits Williams his Successor For hitherto the English 〈◊〉 it no hard matter to vanquish the Irish by reason of their unskilâ—ulnesse in Arms eight hundred Foot and three hundred Horse was â—â—ld an invincible Army but after that by Perots command they were â—â—â—â—cised in Feats of Arms and taught to discharge Muskets at a Mark 〈◊〉 had in the Low-Countries learned the Art of Fortification they held the English better to it and were not so easily overcome And now we are come to the one and twentieth yeer of Queen Elizaâ—â—â—â—s Raign being the yeer 1588 long before spoken of by Astrologers 〈◊〉 be a wonderfull yeer and even the Climactericall yeer of the World And yet the greatest Wonder that happened this yeer was but the wonderfull Fleet that Spain provided for invading of ENGLAND if the defeat of that wonderfull Fleet were not a greater Wonder It is true there was at this time a Treaty of Peace between England and Spaiâ— and the Earl of Derby the Lord Cobham Sir Iames Crofts Dale and Rogers Doctors of Law Commissioners for the Queen for the Prince of Parma the Count Aurenberg Champignie Richardot Maâ—s and Garvyer Doctors had many meetings about it neer to Ostend but it seemed on the pâ—rt of Spain rather to make the English secure that they should not make provision for War than that they had any purpose of reall proceeding seeing they accepted not of any reasonable Conditions that were offered but trifled out the time till the Spanish Navy was come upon the Coast and the Ordnance heard from Sea and then dismissed the English Delegates The Spanish Navy consisted of one hundred and thirty Ships whereof Galeasses and Galleons seventy two goodly Ships like to floating Towers in which were Souldiers 19290 Marriners 8350 Gally-slaves 2080 Great Ordnance 2630 For the greater holinesse of their Action twelve of their Ships were caâ—led The twelve Apostles Chief Commander of the Fleet was Don Alphonso Duke of Medina and next to him Iohn Martin Recalde a great Sea-man The twentieth of May they weighed Anchor from the River Tagus but were by Tempest so miserably disperst that it was long ere they mâ—t again but then they sent before to the Prince of Parma That he with his Forces consisting of fifty thousand old Souldiers should be ready to joyn with them and with his Shipping conduct them into England and to land his Army at the Thames Mouth The Queens Preparation in the mean time was this The Lord Charles Howard Lord Admirall with all her Navy and Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to be ready at Plimouth and the Lord Henry Seymor second son to the Duke of Somerset with forty English and Dutch Ships to keep the Coasts of the Netherlands to hinder the Prince of Parma's
be sowed on while the wound was green he most villanously eat it up and swallowed it down before his face After this all on a â—udden he took upon him a shew of wonderfull holinesse did nothing but hear Sermons and getting Scriptures by heart â—â—d counterfeting Revelations from God and an extraordinary calling and â—rew to be so magnified by certain zealous Ministers and specially of one â—â—â—ard Coppinger a Gentleman of a good house and one Arthington a great admirer of the Geneva Discipline that they accounted him as sent â—rom Heaven and a greater Prophet then Moses or Iohn Baptist and finally that he was Christ himself come with his fanne in his hand to judge the world And this they proclaimed in Cheapside giving out that Hacket participated of Christs glorified body by his especiall Spirit and was now come to propagate the Gospel over Europe and to settle a true Discipline in the Church of England and that they themselves were two Prophets the one of Mercie and the other of Judgement with many other such incredible blasphemies whereupon Hacket was apprehended and arraigned and at last hanged drawn and quartered continuing all the time and at his death his blasphemous Assertions Coppinger a while after starved himself to death in prison Arthington repented and made his Recantation in a publike writing Besides these other also at this time opposed the established Government of the Church of England crying down the calling of Bishops with whom sided some Common-Lawyers also affirming that the Queen could not depute nor these men exercise any such Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and that the Oath Ex Officio was unchristian But the Queen conceiving that through the sides of the Prelates she her self was shot at suppressed them what she could and maintained the Government formerly established About this time the Lord Thomas Howard with six of the Queens ships having waited at the Azores six whole Moneths for the coming of the Spanish Fleet from America was at last set upon by Alphonso Bassano with three and fifty ships sent out for the Convoy of the American Fleet where Richard Granvile Vice-Admirall being in the Revenge and separated from his company was so hemmed in by the Spanish ships and so battered with great shot that most of his men being slain his Main-mast cut off himself sore wounded in the head he commanded to sink the ship that it might not come into the Spaniards hands but this being countermanded by most voices it was agreed to yeeld it to the Spaniards upon condition that the men should be set at liberty Granvile himself was carryed into the Spanish Admirall where within two dayes he dyed not without praise of his very enemies Thus the great ship called the Revenge was yeelded but had so many leaks in the Keâ—l that soon after it was cast away in a storm and the losse of this one ship the English soon made good upon the Spaniards by taking many of theirs About this time also Cavendish who in the yeer 1578. had sailed round about the world now with five ships bent his course toward the Magellan Straits but by reason of foul weather was not able to passe them being driven to the coast of Brasile was there cast away And now enmity increasing daily between Spain and England two Proclamations were set forth one prohibiting upon pain of high-Treason to carry Victuals or Munition into any of the King of Spains dominions Another forbidding all persons to entertain any in their houses till inquiry made what they were lest they might entertain Popish Priests who at this time came swarming into England by reason the King of Spain had lately founded a Seminary at Valledolid for the English At this time dyed Sir Christopher Hatton Lord Chancelour whom of a mean Gentlemans house the Queens favour had raised to this height of Dignity a goodly personage of body of Noble but no aspiring spirits the onely of all the Queens speciall Favourites that dyed a Batchelour and therefore left William Newport his sisters son his heir who erected for him in Pauls Church a sumptuous Monument After his death the keeping of the great Seal was for certain Moneths committed to the Lord Burleigh Treasurer Hunsdon Cobham and Buckhurst Afterward Puckering the Queens Sergeant at Law was elected not Chancelour but Keeper of the great Seal At this time also Brian O-Rork the Irish Potentate was arraigned at Westminster his Indictments were For raising Rebellion against the Queen for dragging her Picture at a horse tail for giving the Spaniards entertainment which things being told him by an Interpreter for he understood no English hee said Hee would not be tryed unlesse the Queen her self in person sate to judge him Yet being told that it was the Law hee onely said If it must be so let it be so and so condemned was executed at Tyburn as a Traitour whereof hee seemed to make as little reckoning as if it had but been in jest And now this yeer the Queen made the Colledge of Dublin in Ireland an University which was formerly the Monastery of All-Saints endowing it with power to confer Scholasticall Dignities At this time Sir Iohn Pâ—rot who had been Deputy of Ireland and done good service there was yet by the malice of Adversaries of whom Hatton was one called in question before the Baron Hunsdon the Lord Buckhurst Sir Robert Cecill lately made a Councellour Sir Iohn Fortescue Sir Iohn Wolley and some of the Judges His Accusations were first that he had spoken opprobrious words against the Queen saying Shee was illegitimate and cowardly secondly that hee had fostered notorious Traitours and Popish Priests thirdly that hee held correspondence with the Prince of Parma and the Queens enemies To the first of which he confessed that in his passion he had spoken of the Queen unadvisedly for which hee was infinitely grieved the rest hee denyed And all men knew he was never Popishly affected His Accusers were one Philip Williams sometime his Secretary Denys O-Roghan an Irish marryed Priest whose life hee had saved and one Walton a fellow of no worth or Reputation Yet the crimes being urged against him by Popham and other Lawyers till eleven a clock at night hee was at last condemned of high Treason but Sentence waâ— not pronounced till twenty dayes after and yet was not put to death but dyed a naturall death in the Tower hee vvas a man of a goodly personage stout and chollerick and one whom many thought the Queen had the more reason to respect for her father King Henry the Eighths sake The Earl of Essâ—x after a tedious Winters siege in Normandy challenged Monsieur Villerse Governour of Roan to a single combate who refusing to meet him hee then returned into England being called home by the Queen whose favour by his long absence might else have suffered prejudice And now the King of France hearing that the Prince of Parma was coming iâ—to France once again was fain to flye to
the yeare 1290. in the time of King Edward the first 44 Thomas Langford an Englishman a Dominican Fryer of Chemsford in Essex writ an Universall Chronicle from the beginning of the world to his owne time and lived in the yeare 1320. in the time of King Edward the second 45 Radulphus de Rizeto an Englishman writ a Chronicle of the English Nation and lived about the yeare 1210. in the time of King John 46 Robertus Montensis a benedictine Monke writ a Chronicle from the yeare 1112. to the yeare 1210. at which time he lived 47 Johannes Burgensis an Englishman a benedictine Monke writ Annals of the English Nation 48 Thomas Spotâ—ey an Englishman a benedictine Fryer of Canterbury writ the Chronicles of Canterbury and lived about the time of King Edward the second 49 Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis called Florilegus for collecting Flores Historiarum chiefly of Briâ—aine containing from the beginning of the world to the yeare 1307. about which time he lived 50 Ranulphus Higden a benedictine Monke of Chester writ a Booke which he called Polychronicon containing from the beginning of the world to the sixteenth yeare of King Edward the third in whose time he lived 51 Matthew Paris a benedictine Monke of Saint Albans writ a History chiefly Ecclesiasticall of the English Nation from William the Conquerour to the last yeare of King Henry the third and lived about the time of King Edward the third 52 William Pachenton an Englishman writ a History of the English Nation and lived about the timâ— of King Edward the third 53 Bartholmeus Anglicus a Franciscan Fryer writ a Booke Intituled De Proprietatibus rerum and a Chronicle of the Scots and lived in the yeare 1360. in the time of King Edward the third 54 Nicholas Trivet borne in Norfolke of a worshipfull Family became a Domidican Fryer writ many excellent workes in Divinity and Philosophy also Annals of the English Kings from King Stephen to King Edward the second and lived in the yeare 1307. in the time of King Edward the third 55. Alexander Essebiensis Pryor of a Monastery of Regular Canons writ divers learned workes amongst other an Epitome of the British History and lived in the yeare 1360. in the time of King Edward the third 56 John Froyssart borne in the Low Countries writ a Chronicle in the French tongue containing seventy foure yeares Namely beginning with King Edward the third and â—nding with King Henry the fourth in whose time he lived whose Chronicle Sir John Bourchier knight translated into English and John Sleyden a French man hath lately contracted into an Epitome 57 Thomas de la Moore borne in Glocestershire in the time of King Edward the first by whom as having twenty pounds land holden by knights service he was made a Knight and afterward being very inward with King Edward the second writ a History of his life and death 58 Thomas Rodbourne an Englishman and a Bishop writ a Chronicle of his Nation and lived in the yeare 1412. in the time of King Henry the fourth 59 John Trevisa borne in Glocestershire a Priest translated Polychronicon into English adding to it an Eighth Book Intituled De Memorabilibus eorum temporum containing from the yeare 1342. to the yeare 1460. He writ also of the Acts of King Arthur and Descriptions both of Britaine and Ireland and lived in the time of King Edward the fourth 60 John Harding a Gentleman of a good Family in the North writ a Chronicle in verse of the Kings of England to the Reigne of King Edward the fourth whâ—rein he allâ—dgeth many Records which he had got in Scotland that testifie the Scottish Kings submissions to the Kings of England he lived in the yeare 1448. in the time of King Henry the sixth 61 John Capgrave borne in Kent an Hermit Fryer writ many learned workes in Divinity and a Catalogue of the English Saints and lived in the yeare 1464. in the time of King Edward the fourth 62 John Lydgate Monke of Saint Edmundsbury in Suffolke writ divers workes in verse and some in prose as the lives of King Edward and King Ethelstan of the round Table of King Arthur and lived in the yeare 1470. in the time of King Edward the fourth 63 John Weathamstead Abbot of Saint Albans in his worke of English Affaires accuseth Geoffrey of Monmouth of meere Fabulousnesse and lived about the yeare 1440. 64 Gulielmus Elphinston a Scotchman Bishop of Aberdene writ the Antiquitiâ—s of Scotland and the Statutes of Councells and lived in the yeare 1480. in the time of James the third King of Scotland 65 George Buchanan a Scotchman writ the story of Scotland from Fergusius to Queene Mary in whose time he lived 66 William Caxton an Englishman writ a Chronicle to the three and twentyeth yeare of King Edward the Fourth which he cals Fructus Temporum also a Description of Britaine the life of Saint Edward and the History of King Arthur and lived in the yeare 1484. 67 Thomas Walsingham borne in Norfolke a Benedictine Monke of Saint Albans writ two Histories One shorter the other larger the first beginning from the yeare 1273. and continued to the yeare 1423. The other beginning at the comming in of the Normans and continued to the beginning of King Henry the sixth to whom he Dedicated his worke 68 Robert Fabian a Sheriffe of London writ a Concordance of Histories from Brute the first King of the Britaines to the last yeare of King Henry the second and another worke from King Richard the first to King Henry the seventh in whose time he lived 69 Sir Thomas Moore borne in London Lord Chancellour of England besides many other learned workes writ the Life of King Richard the third and dyed for denying the Kings Supremacy in the Reigne of King Henry the Eight in the yeare 1535. 70 Hector Boethius a Scotchman writ a Catalogue and History of the Kings of Scotland also a Description of that kingdome and lived in the yeare 1526. in the time of James the fifth King of Scotland 71 Polydor Virgill an Italian but made here in England Arch-deacon of Wells amongst other his learned workes writ the History of England from its first beginning to the thirtyeth yeare of King Henry the Eighth to whom he Dedicated his Worke. 72 Edward Hall a Lawyer writ a Chronicle which he cals the Union of the two Roses the Red and the White containing from the beginning of King Henry the fourth to the last yeare of King Henry the eighth and dyed in the yeare 1547. 73 John Leland a Londoner amongst divers other workes writ a Booke of the Antiquity of Britaine and of the famous men and Bishops in it and lived in the yeare 1546. in the time of King Henry the Eighth 74 John Rogers first a Papist and afterward a Protestant amongst other his learned workes writ a History from the beginning of the world and lived most in Germany in the yeare 1548. in the time of King Edward the sixth
preserving the Liberty of themselves and their Country But such is the violence of conceit till it be mastered by time or rather so very a Changeling is Humane Reason that what they then cut downe great Woods to defend they have since beene content to see abolished without cutting downe so much as a twigge But one Law especially he made extreamely distastefull to all the Gentry of the Land for where before they might at their pleasure hunt and take Deere which they found abroad in the Woods Now it was Ordained under a great penalty no lesse then putting out their eyes that none should presume to kill or take any of them as reserving them onely for his owne delight And indeed so great delight he tooke in that kinde of sport that he depopulated a great part of Hamshire the space of thirty miles where there had beene saith Carâ—on six and twenty Townes and fourescore Religious Houses and made it a Habitation for such kind of Beasts which was then and to this day is called the New-Forest But the lamentable dysasters that have happened to this Kings Issue doe plainely shew that there is a power that observes all our Actions and which we may know to be Memorem Fandi atque Nefandi But in the first yeare of this Kings Raignâ— he granted to the City of London their first Charter and Liberties in as large forme as they enjoyed them in the time of King Edward the Confessor which he granted at the suite of William a Norman Bishop of London in gratefull remembrance whereof the Lord Major and Aldermen upon the solemne dayes of their resort to Pauls doe still use to walke to the Gravestone where this Bishop lies interred Also this King was the first that brought the Jewes to inhabite here in England as likewise he made a Law that whosoever forced a woman should lose his genitals and in his time long Bowes came first into use in England which as they were the weapons with which France under this King Conquered England so they were the weapons with which England under after-Kings Conquered Fraâ—ce as if it were not enough for us to beate them if we did not beate them with their owne weapons This King also appointed a Constable of Dover Castle and a Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports with Immunities as they are at this day Affaires of the Church in his Raigne IN the twelfth yeare of his Raigne Lanfranke Arch-bishop of Canterbury held a Synod at London where amongst other things he removed Bishops Sees from small Townes to great Cities as from Silliway to Chichester from Kyrton to Exceter from Wells to Bathe from Shirborne to Salisbury from Dorchester to Lincolne and from Lichfield to Chester and from thence againe to Coventry and not long before the Bishopricke of Lindafferne otherwise called Holy Land upon the river Tweede had beene translated to Durham In the sixth yeare of his Raigne a controversie arising betweene the two Arch-bishops of Canterbury and Yorke they appealed to Rome and the Pope remitted it to the King and Bishops of England Hereupon a Synod is holden at Windsor where sentence was given on Lanfranks then Arch-bishop of Canterburies side that in matters of Religion the Arch-bishop of Yoâ—ke should ever be subject to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Onely at Rome it was decreed for matter of Title that the See of Yorke should be stiled Primas Angliae and the See of Canterbury Primas totius Angliae as it is at this day And as the Arch-bishop of Yorke oweth obedience to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury So all the Bishops of Scotland owe obedience to the Arch-bishop of Yorke as to the Primate of Scotland But as this King tooke downe the Prelates in Temporalties for he ordained they should exercise no Temporall Authority at all So in Spiritualties he rather raised them as may be seene by a passage betweene Aldred Arch-bishop of York and the King for at a time upon the repulse of a certaine suite the Arch-bishop in great discontentment offered to depart when the King in awe of his displeasure stayed him fell downe at his feet desired pardon and promised to grant his suite The King all this while being downe at the Arch-bishops feetâ— the Noblemen that were present put him in mind that he should cause the King to arise Nay saith the Arch-bishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger Saint Peter And as by this story we see the insulting pride of a Prelate in those dayes So by another we may see the equivocating false-hood of a Prelate at that time For Stâ—gand Arch-bishop of Canterbury would often sweare he had not one penny upon the Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasure Also it is memorable but scarce credible of another Bishop who being accused of Simony and denying iâ— the Cardinall before whom he was to Answer told him that a Bishopricke was the gift of the Holy Ghost and therefore to buy a Bishopricke was against the Holy Ghost and thereupon bid him say Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the Holy Ghast which the Bishop beginning and oft essaying could never say and to the Holy Ghost but said it plainely when he was put out of his Bishopricke And yet was not the Church in that Age so barren of Vertue but that it afforded some good Bishops as William Bishop of Durham Founder of University Colledge in Oxford but specially Bishop Woolstan whom upon Lanfrankes reporting to be insufficient for the place for want of Learning the King commanded to put off his Pontificall Robes and to leave his Bishopricke when suddenly out of a divine Inspiration Woolstan answered A better then you O King bestowed these Robes upon me and to him I will restore them And therewithall going to Saint Edwards Shrine who had made him a Bishop and putting off his Robes he strucke his Staffe upon Saint Edwards Monument which stucke so fast in the stone of it that by no strength it could be drawne forth till he drew it forth himselfe which so terrifyed both Lanfranke and the King that they intreated him to take his Robes againe and keepe his Bishopricke Also Oswald Bishop of Salisbury who devised a Forme of Prayers to be daily used in his Church and was used afterwards in other Churches from whence proceeded the common saying of Secundum usum Sarum In this Kings time was Berengarius who denyed the true body of Christ to be in the Sacrament Also in his time Pope Gregory the seventh removed marryed Priests from executing Divine Service whereof great troubles arose in England Workes of Piety by him and others in his time THis King Founded the Abbey of Baltell in Sussex where he overcame Harold the Abbey of Selby in Yorkeshire and a third neere London called Saint Saviours He founded also the Priory of Saint Nicholas at Exceter and gave great priviledges to Saint Martins le Grand in London which
into England of purpose to visite the Shrine of Saint Thomas where having paid his Vowes he makes Oblations with many rich Presents The like many Princes since that time have done and many Miracles are reported to have beene done at his Tombe which yet may be unbeleeved without unbeliefe and with Faith enough Another difference in this Kings dayes was betweene the two Arch-bishops of England about the jurisdiction of Canterbury over Yorke which being referred to the Pope he gave judgement on Canterburies side Also in this Kings dayes there was a Schisme in the Church of Rome two Popes up at once of whom Alexander the third was one which Schisme continued the space of almost twenty yeares Also in this Kings dayes one Nicholas Breakespeare borne at Saint Albans or as others write at Langley in Hartfordshire being a bondman of that Abbey and therefore not allowed to be a Monke there went beyond Sea where he so profited in Learning that the Pope made him first Bishop of Alba and afterward Cardinall and sent Legate to the Norwayes where he reduced that nation from Paganisme to Christianity and returning backe to Rome was chosen Pope by the Name of Adrian the fourth and dyed being choaked with a Fly in his drinke In his dayes also Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came to King Henry desiring ayde for the Holy Land but not so much of money as of men and not so much of men neither as of a good Generall as himselfe was to whom King Henry answered that though he were willing to undertake it yet his unquiet State at home would not suffer him with which answer the Patriarch moved said Thinke not Great King that Pretences will excuse you before God but take this from me that as you forsake Gods cause now so he hereafter will forsake you in your greatest need But saith the King if I should be absent out of my kingdome my own Sonnes would be ready to rise up against me in my absence to which the Patriarch replyed No marvaile for from the Devill they came and to the Devill they shallâ— and so departed Also in this Kings dayes there came into England thirty Germans Men and Women calling themselves Publicans who denyed Matrimony and the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper with other Articles who being obstinate and not to be reclaimed the King commanded they should be marked with a hot iron in the forehead and be whipped which punishment they tooke patiently their Captaine called Gerard going before them singing Blessed are ye when men hate you After they were whipped they were thrust out of doores in the Winter where they dyed with cold and hunger no man daâ—ing to relieve them This King after his conquest of Ireland imposed the tribute of Peter pence upon that kingdome namely that every house in Ireland should yearely pay a penny to Saint Peter Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King Founded the Church of Bristow which King Henry the eighth afterward erected into a Cathedrall He also Founded the Priories of Dâ—ver of Stoneley and of Basinwerke and the Castle of Rudlan and beganne the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London He caused also the Castle of Warwicke to be builded Maude the Empresse his Mother Founded the Abbey of Bordesly In his time also Hugh Mortimer Founded Wigmore Abbey Richard Lucye the Kings Chiefe Justice laid the Foundation of the Coventuall Church in the honour of Saint Thomas in a place which is called Westwood otherwise Lesâ—es in the Territory of Rochester in the new Parish of Southfleete He also builded the Castle of Anger in Essex Robert Harding a Burgesse of Bristow to whom King Henry gave the Barony of Barkeley builded the Monastery of Saint Augustines in Bristow In the tenth yeare of his Raigne London Bridge was new made of Timber by Peter of Cole-church a Priest Robert de Boscue Earle of Leycester Founded the monastery of Gerendon of Monkes and of Leycester called Saint Mary de Prate of Chanons Regular and his Wife Amicia Daughter of Ralph Montford Founded Eaton of Nunnes In the two and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne after the Foundation of Saint Mary Overeyes Church in Southwarke the Stone bridge over the Thames at London beganne to be Founded towards which a Cardinall and the Arch-bishop of Canterbury gave a thousand Markes Aldred Bishop of Worcester Founded a Monastery at Glocester of Benedictine Monkes Casualties that happened in his time IN the Eleventh yeare of this Kings Raigne on the six and twentyeth day of Ianuary was so great an Earth-quake in Ely Norfolke and Suffolke that it overthrew them that stood upon their feet and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples In the seventeenth yeare of his Raigne there was seene at Saint Osythes in Essex a Dragon of marveilous bignesse which by moving burned houses and the whole City of Canterbury was the same yeare almost burnt In the eighteenth yeare of his Raigne the Church of Norwich with the houses thereto belonging was burnt and the Monkes dispersed At Andover a Priest praying before the Altar was slaine with Thunder Likewise one Clerke and his Brother was burnt to death with Lightning In the three and twentyeth yeare a showre of Blood Rained in the Isle of Wight two houres together In the foure and twentyeth yeare the City of Yorke was burnt and on Christmas day in the Territory of Derlington in the Bishopricke of Durham the Earth lifted up it selfe in the manner of an high Tower and so remained unmoveable from morning till evening and then fell with so horrible a noyse that it frighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the earth swallowing it up made there a deepe pit which is seene at this day for a Testimony whereof Leyland saith he saw the Pits there commonly called Hell-kettles Also in the same yeare on the tenth day of Aprill the Church of Saint Andrewes in Rochester was consumed with fire In the eight and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne Barnewell with the Priory neare unto Cambridge was burnt In the thirtyeth yeare the Abbey of Glastenbury was burnt with the Church of Saint Iulian. In the yeare 1180. a great Earthquake threw downe many buildings amongst which the Cathedrall Church of Lincolne was rent in peeces the five and twentieth of Aprill And on the twentieth of October the Cathedrall Church of Chichester and all the whole City was burnt This yeare also neare unto Orford in Suffolke certaine Fishers tooke in their Nets a Fish having the shape of a Man in all points which Fish was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford sixe moneths and more he spake not a word all manner of meates he did gladly eate but most greedily raw Fish when he had pressed out the juyce oftentimes he was brought to Church but never shewed any signe of adoration at length being not well looked to he stole to the Sea and never was seene after In the yeare 1188. on
brought to King Edward and for the love of her Prince Leolyn was content to submit himselfe to any conditions which besides subjection of his State was to pay fifty thousand pounds Sterling and a thousand pounds per annum during his life and upon these conditions the marriage with his beloved Lady was granted him and was solemnized here in England whereat the King and Queene were themselves present Three yeares Leolyn continued loyall and within bounds of obedience in which time David one of his Brothers staying here in England and found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit was much honoured by him Knighted and matched to a rich Widow Daughter of the Earle of Darby and had given him by the King besides the Castle of Denbigh with a thousand pounds per annum though as it was afterwards found he lived here but in the nature of a spy For when Prince Leolyns Lady was afterward dead and that he contrary to his Conditions formerly made brake out into rebellion then goes his Brother David to him notwithstanding all these Favours of the King and they together enter the English Borders Surprise the Castles of Flynt and Rutland with the person of the Lord Clifford sent Justiciar into those parts and in a great Battaile overthrew the Earles of Northumberland and Surrey with the slaughter of Sir William Lyndsey Sir Richard Tanny and many others King Edward advertised of this Revolt and overthrow being then at the Vyzes in Wiltshire prepares an Army to represse it but before his setting forth goes privately to his Mother Queene Eleanor lying at the Nunnery of Aimesbury with whom whilest he conferred there was one brought into the Chamber who faigned himselfe being blinde to have received his sight at the Tombe of King Henry the third Aâ—soone as the King saw the man he remembred he had seene him before and knew him to be a most notorious lying Villaine and wished his Mother in no case to beleeve him but his mother who much rejoyced to heare of this Miracle for the glory of her husband finding her sonne unwilling that his Father should be a Saint grew suddenly into such a rage against him that she commanded him to avoid her Chamber which the King obeyes and going forth meetes with a Clergy man to whom he tels the story of this Impostour and merrily said He knew the justice of his Father to be such that he would rather pull out the eyes being whole of such a wicked wretch then restore them to their sight In this meane time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had gone of himselfe to Prince Leolin and had laboured to bring him and his brother David to a re-submission but could effect nothing for besides other reasons that swayed Prince Leolin the conceit of a Prophesie of Merlin that he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute so overweighed him that he had no care for peace and shortly after no head for after the Earle of Pembroke had taken Bere Castle which was the seat of Prince Leolin he was himself slain in battell and his head cut off by a common Souldier was sent to King Edw. who caused the same to be Crowned with Ivie and to be set upon the Tower of London And this was the end of Leolin the last of the Welsh Princes betraied as some write by the men of Buelth Not long after his brother David also is taken in Wales and judged in England to an ignominious death First drawn at a horse taile about the City of Shrewsbury then beheaded the trunke of his body divided his heart and bowels burnt his head sent to accompany his brothers on the Tower of London his foure quarters to foure Cities Bristow Northâ—â—pton York and Winchester A manifold execution and the first shewed in that kind to this kingdome in the person of the son of a Prince or any other Noble man that we reade of in our History It is perhaps something which some here observe that at the sealing of this conquest King Edward lost his eldest son Alphonsus of the age of twelve years a Prince of great hope and had onely left to succeed him his sonne Edward lately borne at Carnarvan and the first of the English intituled Prince of Wales but no Prince worthy of either Wales or England And thus came Wales to be united to the Crowne of England in the eleventh yeare of this King Edwards Raigne who thereupon established the government thereof according to the Lawes of England as may be seene by the Statute of Rutland in the twelfth yeare of his Raigne The worke of Wales being setled King Edward passeth over into France upon notice of the death of Philip the Hardy to renew and confirme such conditions as his state in those parts required with the new King Philip the fourth intituled the Faire to whom he doth homage for Aquitaine having before quitted his claime to Normandy for ever After three yeares and a halfe being away in France he returns into England and now in the next place comes the businesse with Scotland and will hold him woâ—ke at times as long as he lives and his sonne after him Alexander the third King of Scots as he was running his horse fell horse and man to the ground and brake his necke and died immediatelyâ— by reason whereof he leaving no issue but onely a daughter of his daughter Margaret who died also soone after there fell out presently great contention about succession Ten Competitors pretend title namely Erick King of Norway Florence Earle of Holland Robert Bruce Earle of Anandale Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeveny Iohn Cummin Lord of Badenaw Patrick de Dunbarre Earle of March Iohn de Vescie Nicholas de Sulâ—s William de Rosse all or most of them deâ—cending from David Earle of Huntington younger brother to William King of Scots and great Unkle to the late King Alexander This title King Edward takes upon him to decide pretending a Right of Superiority from his Ancestours over that kingdome and proving it by authority of old Chronicles as Marianus Scotus William of Malmsbury Roger de Hoveden Henry of Huntington Ralph de Luceto and others which though the Scottish Lords who swaied the Interregnum opposed yet are they constrained for avoyding of further inconveniences to make him Arbiter thereof and the tenne Competitours bound to stand to his award Two are especially found betweene whom the â—ight lay Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway and Robert Brâ—ce the one descending from an elder daughter the other from a sonne of a younger daughter of Alan who had married the eldest daughter of this David brother to King William The controversie held long twelve of either kingdome learned in the Lawes are elected to debate the same at Berwick all the best Civilians in the Universities of France are solicited to give their opinions all which brought forth rather doubts then resolutions whereupon King Edward the better to
passed up to Munster and Thoumond performing every where much service with great valour and worthinesse that if he had stayed there but a while longer he might perhaps by his desorts in Ireland have redeemed his defects in England but the King impatient of his absence and asking advice what meanes might be used to recall him It was told him that if he could but match him with the Earle of Glocesters sister a man of such greatnesse and so greatly beloved of the people for his sake certainely no man would grudge at his comming home Hereupon the King sends for Gaveston and makes up the match betweene them and marryed they were at Barkamstead but this did no good For Gaveston still working upon the King in such manner that he scarce left him meanes to sustaine himselfe and as little to maintaine the Queene nothing being done but as Gaveston would have it put the Lords into a new discontentment who thereupon went againe to the King and told him plainly that unlesse he would put Gaveston out of the Court and kingdome they would rise up in Armes against him as a perjured King This put the King into a great strait Loath he was to leave Gaveston and fearefull he was to provoke the Lords in the end his feare prevailing over his love he was content he should be Banished and in such sort Banished that if ever he returned or were found in the kingdome he should be held and proceeded against as an Enemy of the State So once againe is Gaveston sent packing out of the kingdome and goes into France but found no safe Harbouring there For the King of France hearing of it gave strait charge if he were found in his Dominions to apprehend him Then he passeth into Flanders but is there no saâ—er then in France After waving about and finding no place to rest in safety he returnes secretly into England relying upon the Kings Love and the Duke of Glocesters Favour The King receives him as an Angell sent from Heaven and to be out of the Lords Eye goes a Journey to Yorke taking Gaveston along with him and there thinkes to be in quiet but the Lords hearing of it follow him thither chusing for their Generall Thomas Earle of Lancaster a man possest of five Earledomes Lancaster Leycester Ferrers Lincolne and Salisbury besides the Liberty of Pickering and the Honour of Cokermore and other Lands in Wales and there was not a man of the whole Nobility that was not of the Party but onely Gilbert Earle of Glocester the Kings Sisters Sonne These Lords sent to the King either to deliver Gaveston into their hands or at least to send him peremptorily out of the kingdome But the King led by ill Counsell and little regarding the Lords Message takes Gaveston with him to New-Castle upon Tine thence to Tynmouth where the Queene then lay who though great with Childe and entreating the King with teares to stay with her yet such was his desire to see Gaveston put into some place of security that hearing of the Lords approaching he tooke a Ship and passed with Gaveston to Scarborough and leaving him there in a strong Castle not easie to be wonne he went himselfe into Warwickshire perhaps that the Lords might see he had not Gaveston with him But the Lords hearing where Gaveston was assaulted the Castle with such violence that Gaveston seeing no meanes to escape was content to render himselfe requesting onely that he might but once be allowed to see the Kings face and the King hearing he was taken desired as much to which the Earle of Pembroke consented and taking Gaveston into his custody promised upon Forteiture of all he had to have him forth-comming but desiring to be with his Wife that night who lay not farre off at Dedington hâ— delivers him to his Servants to carry to Wallingford From whom as they passed by Warwicke the Earle of that place hearing of it tooke him forcibly from his keepers and brought him to his owne Castle Where after long deliberation whether it were wisedome to suffer Gaveston to speake with the King or no It was at last concluded to take ofâ— his head which at a place thereby called Blacklow was presently put in execution His Corps was carryed to Oxford and kept there two yeares till the King caused it to be brought to Longley and there builded a Monastery of purpose where his Soule should be prayed for This Gaveston was the Sonne of a Gentleman of France who had done good service for King Edward the first in France and for his sake this Sonne of his was taken and brought up with the Prince a man of excellent parts of body and of no lesse Endowments of minde Valiant and Witty to which if we might adde Vertuous he had beene compleate Though the Lords whether they had heard so or whether they said it to weane the King from him told the King that his Father was a Traitor to the King of France and for the same was executed and that his Mother was burnt for a Witch and that this Gaveston was banished out of France for consenting to his Mothers Witch-craft and that he had now bewitched the King himselfe But why should the Lords be so violent against Gaveston might not the King place his Affection where he pleased Might he not make his owne choyce of what companion he liked No doubt he might and fit he should but yet in this case the Lords had great cause to doe as they did both in regard of the King of themselves and of the Common-wealth It is true if the Valour of Gaveston could as well have made the King Valiant as his riot made him riotous there might some good have come of their extraordinary conjunction but seeing Vertues are but personall Vices onely are communicative it now made the King not onely more Vicious then otherwise he would have beene but Vicious where otherwise he would not have beene and therefore great cause in regard of the King to remove Gaveston from his company and no lesse in regard of the Lords themselves For Gavestons advancing was their debasing his greatnesse with the King made them but Cyphers but in regard of the Common-wealth most cause of all For while the King was altogether ruled by Gaveston and Gaveston himselfe was altogether irregular the Common-wealth could have but little hope of Justice but was sure to suffer as long as Gaveston was suffered And this may be sufficient to justifie the Lords that it be not interpreted to be Rebellion which was indeed but Providence Of his Troubles with Scotland ANd now we have seene two of the charges of his Fathers Will broken by the King and punished in him the two and thirty thousand pounds appointed for the Holy Warre bestowed upon Gaveston and the King for it punished himselfe with want Gaveston called home from banishment and the King for it punished with the losse of his Subjects love It remaines to see how
well he performed the third charge of his Fathers Will for subduing of Scotland It was now the sixth yeare after the death of his Father King Edward and Robert Bruce now gotten to be King of Scotland had stayed all this while to see how this new King Edward would prove and when he found by the courses he held that he was like to prove a good easie Enemy he thereupon tooke heart and began to stirre and in a very short time had brought almost all Scotland under his obedience and finding no opposition he entred the English Borders tooke and burnt Townes that now King Edward unlesse he would sit still and suffer Bruce to come and pull his Crown from his head he could not chuse but doe something to stop his proceeding Hereupon he prepares an Army but like himselfe fitter for a Court then for a Campe Many men and great Bravery but readieâ— to take spoiles then to make spoile and accordingly they sped For going to raise the siege at Strâ—veling defended for King Edward by the valiant knight Philip Mowbray the Kings Army consisting of a hundred thousand was defeated and overthrowne by the Scots Army consisting of scarce thirty thousand So true is that saying of an ancient Souldier There is more hope of an Army where the General is a Lion though the Souldiers be but Sheepe then of an Army where the Generall is a Sheepe though the Souldiers be Lions But indeed the Scots besides Valour used Policy For having in their owne Army none but Foot no Horse at all they had made Trenches in the Ground three foot deepe covering them with Twigges and Hurdles where the English Horsemen were to passe who Floundring in those Trenches were killed no lesse by their owne Fellowes then by the Enemy In this Battell called of Bannocks borough were slaine the Lord Mawle the Lord Clifford the Lord Tiptoft the Lord William Marshall Sir Giles Doctor Argenton and seven hundred Knights and Squires specially Gylbert Earle of Glocester who had shewed much Valour that day and whom the Scots would willingly have kept for ransome if they had knowne him but he had forgotten to put on his Coate of Armes whereby to be knowne The slaughter of common Souldiers was certainely great though perhaps not so great as Hector Boetius speakes of who saith they were fifty thousand There were taken Prisoners Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford Iohn Seagrave Iohn Claveringham William Latimer and Sir Roger Northbrooke bearer of the Kings shield the King himselfe with the Bishops the Earles of Hartford and Pembroke and Hugh Spenser saved themselves by flight Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford was afterward released in exchange for Bruces Wife who had beene long kept a Prisoner in England After this many English fell away to the Scots and all the North parts from Carlile to Yorke came under their Subjection and the English grew so faint-hearted and into such contempt that three Scots durst venture upon a hundred English when a hundred English durst scarce encounter with three Scots And what can be thought the cause of this great dysaster to this King but the want of his Fathers blessing for not performing the charge he gave him dying which is commonly accompanyed with the want of a higher blessing without which a Vacat is set upon the labours of men that makes them all frustrate But Bruce not satisfied with his Acquests in England sends his Brother Edward into Ireland also who so farre prevailed that many Irish came in unto him and in the end Crowned him King of a great part of that Island and so continued the space of three yeares till the Primat of Armagh and the Lord Brinningham Justiciar of Ireland gathering Forces together opposed him and in a Battaile taking him Prisoner at Dundalke cut off his head with the slaughter of many thousands of the Scots besides With which the Scots are so incensed that they invade againe the English Borders forraging as farre as Yorke whereupon a Parliament is assembled at London wherein an ayde is granted of Armed men to goe against them London sets forth two hundred Canterbury forty Saint Albons ten and so proportionably for all Cities and Boroughs whereby a great Army was levyed which comming to Yorke through mutiny emulation and other impediments was soone dissolved and returned backe without effecting any thing Not long after the Towne of Berwicke was betrayed to the Scots through the treason of Peter Spalding the Governour and other Englishmen whom the King of Scots to make them an Example caused to be hanged for being Traitors to their Country King Edward hearing of the surrendring of Berwicke raiseth an Army and beleaguers it but the Scots to divert his Forces enter upon England by other wayes and were like to have surprised the person of the Queene lying then neare â—orke The siege of Bâ—rwicke is notwithstanding eagerly continued and the King in great possibility to have regained the Towne had not the Earle of Lancaster with his follâ—wers withdrawne himselfe upon discontent hearing the King say he would give the keeping thereof to Hugh Spenâ—â—r the younger who was now grown a speciall favourite of the Kings and therefâ—râ— not to be enâ—ured by the Earle In the mean 〈◊〉 the Scots wonne the Castles of 〈…〉 and Midâ—ord so as they possessed the greater part of all Northâ—mberland burning all before them 〈◊〉 they came to â—â—â—pon which Towne they spoyledâ— and carrying there three dayes they received â— thousand Markes to save the Towne from burning as they had done the Townes of Norâ—hallerton Borâ—ugh-bridgâ— and others In their returning backe they 〈◊〉 Knaresborough and Shipton in Câ—â—ven and all other afore them carrying into â—â—land a marvellous number of Cattell besides prisoners men and womenâ— Theâ— â—â—â—â—shire men thus grievously endammaged gather together to the number of ten thousand and at the Towne of Mitton tenne miles from Yorke encounter the Scoâ—â— where they lost three thousand of their men and were defeatedâ— which bâ—ttell because of the many Spirituall men that were in it was called the white battell Whereof when the King heardâ— he left the siege of Beâ—wicke to follow the Scots but they returned another way The yeare following King Edward once againe with a great Army entred Scotland but the Scots having destroyed all afore the King oppressed with famine was forced to reâ—urneâ— whom the Scots followed and in a place of the Forest of Blackmore seâ— upon him that he hardly escaped where were taken Iohn Earle of Britaine and the Lord of Silâ—acâ— the French Kings Embassadour and many others After this King Edward finding the Scots either too strong or too wily for him made a Truce with them for two yeares some say for thirteene And this was the successe of this unfortunate King in his warres with Scotland Of his trâ—â—bles at home BUt his troubles abroad were not so grievous as those at home or rather they were those at home that made his
the moneth of Aprill In the fourth yeare of his Raigne a solemne Justing or Turnament was holden at London in Châ—â—pside beâ—wixt the great Crosse and the great Conduit 〈◊〉 Sâ—per-laâ—â—â— which lasted three dayes where the Queen Philippa with many Ladies fell from a Stage set up for them to behold the Justing and though they were not hurt at all yet the King threaâ—â—ed to pâ—nish the Carpenters for their negligence till the Queâ—ne inâ—â—â—ated pardon for them upon her knees as indeed she was alwayes ready to doe all good offices of mercie to all people In the eleventh yeare of his Raigne was so great plenty that a quarter of Wheate was sold at London for two shillings a fat Oxe for a Noble a fat Sheepe for sixe pence and sixe Pigeons for a penny a faâ— Goose for two pence and a Pigge for a penny and other things after that rate Of his Wife and Children HE married Philippa the daughter of William Earle of Haynault at Yorke a match made up in haste by Queene Isabell his mother for her owne ends although a better could never have beene made upon deliberation for King Edwards ends for though her Parentage were not great and her portion lessâ— yet she made amends for both in vertue for never King had a better Wife By her King Edward had seven sonnes and five daughters his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales and commonly called the Blacke Prince but why so called uncertaine for to say of his dreadfull acts as Speâ—de saith hath little probability was borne at Woodstocke in the third yeare of his Fathers Raigne he married Ioane the daughter of Edmund Earle of Kent brother by the Fathers side to King Edward the second She had beene twice married before first to the valiant Earle of Salisbury from whom she was divorced next to the Lord Thomas Holland after whose decease this Prince passionatly loving her married her by her he had issue two sonnes Edward the eldest borne at Angoulesme who died at seven yeaâ—es of age and Richard borne at Burdeaux who after his Father was Prince of Wales and after his Grandfather King of England This Prince had also naturall issue Sir Iohn Sounder and Roger Clarendon Knights the latter being attainted in the Raignâ— of King Henry the fourth is thought to have â—eene Ancestour to the house of Smiths in Essex He died at Canterbury in the sixe and fortieth yeare of his age and of his Fatheâ—â— Raigne the nine and fortieth and was buried at Christs Church there His second sonne William was borne at Hatfield in Hertfordshire who deceased in his childhood and was buried at Yorke His third sonne Lyonell was borne at Antwerpe in the twelveth yeare of his Fathers Raigne he married first Elizabeth the daughter and Heire of William Burgh Earle of Ulster in Ireland in whoâ—e Right he was first created Earle of Ulster and because he had with her the honour of Clare in the County of Toâ—mond he was in a Parliament created Duke of Clarence as it were of the Countrey about the Towne and Honour of Clare from which Dutchy the name of Clarentieux being the title of the King of Armes for the South parts of England is derived This Duke had issue by her one onely daughter named Philippa afterward wife of Edmund Mortimer Earle of March mother of Earle Roger Father of Anne Countesse of Cambridge the mother of Richard Duke of Yorke Father of King Edward the fourth The second marriage of this Duke was at Millaine in Lombardy with the Lady Viâ—lanta daughter of Gâ—leacâ—â— the second Duke thereof but through intemperance he lived not long â—fter King Edwards fourth sonne named Iohn was borne at Gaâ—â—t in the foureteenth yeare of his Fathers Raigne he had three wives the first was â—lâ—nch daughter and Coheire and in the end the sole Heire of Henry Duke of Lancaster sonne of Edmund sirnamed Crouch back by whom he had issue Henry of Bullingbrooke Earle of Derby after Duke of Hereford and lastly King of England named Henry the fourth who first placed the Crowne in the house of Lancaster By her also Iohn of Gaunt had two daughters Philip wife of Iohn the first King of Portugall and Elizabeth married first to Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington and after him to Sir Iohn Cornwall Baron of Fanhope Iohn of Gaunts second wife was Constance the eldest daughter of Peter King of Castile and Leon in whose Right for the time he intitled himselfe King of both those Realmes by her he had issue one onely daughter named Katherine married to Henry the third sonne of King Iohn in possession before and in her Right after King of both the said Realmes Iohn of Gaunts third wife was Katherine the Widow of Sir Hugh Swinford a knight of Lincolnshire eldest daughter and Coheire of Payn Roet a Gascoyne called Gâ—â—en King of Armes for that Countrey his younger daughter being married to Sir Geoffrey Chawcer our Laureat Poet. By her he had issue born before matrimony and made legitimate afterward by Parliament in the twentieth yeare of King Richard the second Iohn Earle of Somerset Thomas Duke of Exeter Henry Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall and Ioane who was first married to Robert Ferrers Baron of Wemme and Ouâ—sley in the Counties of Salop and Warwicke and secondly to Ralph Nevill the first Earle of Westmerland She and all her brethren were sirnamed Beaufort of a Castle which the Duke had in France where they were all borne and in regard thereof bare the Portcullis of a Castle for the Cognisance of their Family This Duke in the thirteenth yeare of his Nephew King Richard was created Duke of Aquitaine but in his sixteenth yeare he was called home and this title re-called and the third yeare after in the sixtieth of his age he died at Ely house in Holbourne and lieth honourably Entombed in the Quire of Saint Paul King Edwards fifth sonne Edmund sirnamed of Langley was first in the yeare 1362. created Earle of Cambridge and afterward in the yeare 1386. made Duke of Yorke he married Isabell daughter and Coheire to Peter King of Castile and Leon his sonne Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Anne Mortimer Heire of the foresaid Lyonell elder brother to Edmund of Langley King Edwards sixth sonne William sirnamed of Windsor where he was borne died young and is buried at Westminster King Edwards youngest sonne Thomas sirnamed of Woodstocke where he was borne was first Earle of Buckingham and after made Duke of Glocester by his Nephew King Richard the second He was a man of valour and wisdome but the King surmizing him to be a too severe observer of his doings consulted with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke how to make him away whom Mowbray unawares surprising convaied secretly to Callice where he was strangled the twentieth yeare of King Richards Raigne He had issue one sonne Humphrey Earle of Buckingham who died at Chester of the Pestilence in the yeare 1400. and two daughters
Lieutenant of the English pale they were forced to retire and flye The Earle of S. Paul escaped to S. Omers but left many of his men of quality behind him and more taken Prisoners After this Thomas Duke of Clarence the Kings second sonne and the Earle of Kent with competent Forces entred the Haven of Sluce where they burnt foure ships riding at anchour and then returned to the reliefe of Callis besieged at that time by the French and in the way tooke three Carricks of Gâ—noua richly laden and brought them into the Chamber of Rye And these were the troubles of this King abroad But now at home the Reliques of the former Northerne Rebellion began to revive for now Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall the Lords Hastings Fawconbridge and Bardolfe with divers others conspired at a time appointed to meet upon Yorkswould-Downes and there to bid defiance to king Henry Articles of Grievances were framed and set up in all publick places which drew multitudes to be partakers of the enterprize But now Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmeâ—land with the Lord Iohn the Kings third sonne the Lords Henry Fitz-Hughes Ralph Evers and Robert Vmphrevile make head against them and comming into a Plaine in the Forrests of Galltree they sate down right against the Archbishop and his Forces which were twenty thousand and Westmerland perceiving the Enemies forces to be farre more than theirs he used this policie he sent to the Archbishop demanding the reason why he would raise Forces against the king who answering that his Armes were not against the king but for his owne defence whom the king upon the instigation of Sycophants had threatned withall he sent him a scrowle of their grievances which Westmerland read and seemed to approve and thereupon desired a conference with him The Archbishop more credulous then wise perswaded the Earle Marshall to goe with him to the place appointed to conferre the Articles are read and allowed of and thereupon Westmerland seeming to commiserate the souldiersâ— having beene in armour all day and weary wished the Archbishop to acquaint his Party as he would his with this their mutuall agreement and so shaking hands in most Courtly friendship dranke unto him whereupon the souldiers were willed to disband and repaire home which they had no sooner done but a Troâ—p of horse which in a colourable manner had made a shew to depart wheeled about and afterwards returned and being come in â—ight the Earle of Westmerland arrested both the Arcbishop and the Earle Marshall and brought them both Prisoners to the king at Poâ—fret who passing from thence to York the Prisoners likewise were carried thither and the next day both of them beheaded At Durham the Lords Hastings and Fâ—wconbridge with two knights were executed Northumberland with the Lord Bardolfe fled first to Barwick and after into Scotland where they were entertained by David Lord Flemming whereupon the king gave summons to the Castle of Barwick which at first they refused to obey but upon the planting and discharging of a Piece they presently yeelded without composition and here William Greystock Henry Baynton and Iohn Blinkâ—nsop knights and five other were presently put to execution and many others committed to severall Prisons About this time Iames sonne and heire of Robert king of Scotland a childe of nine yeares old attended by the Earle of Orkney as he was sailing into France was taken by certaine Mariners of Norfolk who brought him to the King at Windsor the 30. of March 1408. and the King sent them to the Tower of London Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had been in Wales France and Flanders to raise a Power against King Henry returned back into Scotland and after a yeere with a great Power of Scots entred England and came into Yorkshire making great spoyle and waste as they passed but Sir Thomas Rokesby Sheriffe of Yorke levying the forces of the County upon Bramham-moore gave them battell in which Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight About this time also Sir Robert Vmphrevile Vice-admirall of England with ten men of warre entred Scotland burnt their Gallyâ—t and many other ships over against Lieth and brought away with him fourteen tall ships laden with corne and other staple commodities which at his returne he sent into the Markets round about and thereby brought down the prizes of all things and purchased to himselfe the name of Mend-market The Prince had been a Student In Queenes Colledge in Oxford under the tuition of his Unkle Henry Beaufort Chancellor of that University afterwards Bishop of Lincolâ—e and Winchester and lastly made a Cardinall by the title of Eusebius From Oxford the Prince was called to Court and the Lord Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester was made his Governour but comming afterward to be at his owne disposing whether being by nature valorous and not yet well stayed by time and experience oâ— whether incited by ill companions and emboldened by the opinion of his owne greatnesse he ranne into many courses so unworthy of a Prince that it was much doubted what he would prove when he came to be Prince Once it is said he lay in wait for the Receivers of his fathers Rents and in the person of a Thiefe set upon them and robbed them Another time when one of his companions was arraigned for felony before the Lord Chiefe Justice he went to the Kings Bench barre and offered to take the Prisoner away by force but being withstood by the Lord Chiefe Justice he stepped to him and struck him over the face whereat the Judge nothing abashed rose up and told him that he did not this affront to him but to the King his father in whose place he sate and therefore to make him know his fault he commanded him to be committed to the Fleete You would have wondred to see how calme the Prince was in his own cause who in the cause of his companion had been so violent for he quietly obeyed the Judges sentence and suffered himselfe to be led to Prison This passage was not a little pleasing to the King to thinke that he had a Judge of such courage and a Sonne of such submission but yet for these and such other pranks he removed him from being President of the Councell and placed in it his third sonne Iohn This made the Prince so sensible of his fathers displeasure that he thought it necessary to seek by al means to recover his â—ood opinion which he endeavored to doe by a way as strange as that by which he lost it for attiring himselfe in a garment of blew Sattin wrought all with Eylet-holes of black silke at every hole the needle hanging by which it was sowed and about his arme a thing in fashion of a hounds collar studded with SS of gold he came to the Court at Westminster to whom the King though not well in health caused himselfe in
withall made the Bishop sweare that if the said Iohn and Gaunt should at any time either directly or indirectly attempt the Crown or that rightfully through want of issue it should devolve unto him that then he should discover this matter and make it known unto the King and Councell Afterward the Queen being dead and the Bishop finding Iohn of Gaunt as he thought too much aspiring he secretly told him this relation and this adjuration of his supposed mother advising him not to seeke higher than a private state for else he was bound by oath to make it known to all the World Thus far the Bishop did well but when he saw the Son of Iohn of Gaunt not only aspiring but possessed of the Crown why did he not then discover it and joyn at least with the Bishop of Caâ—lile in opposing it Certainly we may know that either the whole relation was but a Fable or that Wickham was a Temporizer or that Iohn of Gaunt was a most patient man to suffer the affront of such an indignity with lâ—sse than the death of him that did it But howsoever it was it is certain the Duke bore a mortall grudge to the Bishop who had no way to withstand such an enemy but by making Alice Pierce his friend by whose means after two years he was restored to all his livings and afterward K. Edward being dead and Alice Pierce banished by the means of a greater friend than Alice Pierce his full ourse he obteined in the second year of k. Richard a generall pardon under the Great Seale of England and from that time forward enjoyed a quiet life and dyed in the fourth yeare of this King Henry the fourth being then of the age of above 80 years and lieth buried in the Church of St. Swithenâ— in VVinchester in a monument of his own making in his life time leaving for his heire Thomas Perrot the son of his sister Agnes married to VVilliam Perrot Another great example of the volubility of Fortune in Professors of learning was Roger VValden who dyed in the ninth yeare of this King he was at first a poor Scholler in Oxford and the first step of his rising was to be a Chaplain in the Colledge there of St. Maries from thence by degrees he got to be Dean of Yorke and after this a high step to be Treasurer of England and yet a higher after that upâ—n the banishment of Thomas Arundell to be Archbishop of Canterbury But beinâ— now at the top he came down again for in this kings time Thomas Arundell beiâ—g restored to the Archbishopricke VValden was not only put out of â—hat place 〈◊〉 was called to accompt for the Treasureâ—ship and though he shewed hiâ— quietus est yet all his Temporalties were seized and his person imprisoned till by the mediation of the now Archbishop Arundell he was made Treasurer of Calice and after promoted to be Bâ—shop of London The next place after these is justly due to Geoffry Châ—ucer and Iohn Gower two famous Poets in this time and the Fathers of English Poets in all the times after Chaâ—cer dyed in the fourth yeare of this king and lyeth buried at VVestminster Gower in this kings ninth yeare and was buried in St. Mary Overys Church in Southwarke And now come others to be remembred who lived and died in this kings time Hugh Legate born in Hartfordshire a Monke of St. Albons who wrote Scholies upon Boetius de Consolatione Nicholas Gorham born also in Hartfordshire a Dominick Frier and the French kings Confessor though an Englishman VValteâ— Disse so called of a Town in Norfolke where he was borne Confessor to the Duke of Lancaster Lawrence Holbeck a Monke of Ramsey who wrote an Hebrew Dictionary Iohn Cotton Archbishop of Armagh Richâ—rd Scroope brother to William Scroope Lord Treasurer of England made Archbishop of Yorke and writing an invective against King Henry lost his head William Thorpe an earnest follower of Iohn Wickliffe for which he was committed to Saltwood Castle where he dyed Stephen Patrington born in Yorkâ—shire and Robert Mascall a Carmelite Frier of Ludlow both of them Confessors to king Henry the fifth Boston a Monke of the Abbey of Burie in Suffolke who wrote a Catalogue of all the Writers of the Church and other Treatises Iohn Purvey who was convented for teaching Doctrine conâ—rary to the Church of Rome and compelled to recant Thomas Rudburne Bishop of S. Davids who wrote a Chronicle Nicolas Riston who considering the strife between the then Anti-popes wrote a booke De tollendo schismate Robert Wansham a Monke in Darâ—etshire who wrote a booke in verse Of the Originall and signification of Words Robert Wimbledon an excellent Preacher as appâ—arâ—th by the Sermon he made upoâ— this Text Redde rationem Villicatioâ—is tuae THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFTH HENRY of Monmouth so called from the place in Wales where he was born eldest Son of King Henry the fourth succeeded his Father in the kingdom of England to whom the Lords of the Realm swore Homage and Allegiance before he was yet Crowned an honor never done before to any of his Predecessors and afterwards on the ninth of Aprill in the yeare 1412 he was Crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all Riâ—es and Solemnities in such case accustomed And as the Scripture speaks of Saul that assoone as Samuel had annointed him King he had a new heart given him and he became another man than he was before So was it with this king Henry for presently after his Coronation he called before him all his old Companions who had been frâ—tres in malo with him strictly charging them not to preâ—ume to come within ten miles of his Court untill such time as they had given good proofe of their amendment in manners and least any of them should pretend want of maintenance to be any cause of their taking ill courses he gave to every one of them a competent meanes whereby to subsist And knowing as he did the fashion of the Scots and Welch that in times of change they would commonly take advaâ—tage to make Inroades upon the Borders he therefore caâ—sed Forts and Bulwarks in fit places to be erected and placed Garrisons in them for preventing or repelling any such incuâ—sions Immediately after this he called a Parliament where a Subsidie was granted without asking and in this Parlâ—ament the Commons began to harp upon their old string of taking away the Temporalties of the Clergie and the Bishops fearing how it might take in the kings ears thought it best to divert him by striking upon another string which they knew would be more pleasing to him which was to shew him the great right he had to the Crown of France And hereupon Chicheley Archbishop of Câ—nterbury in a long narration deduced the kings Right from Isâ—bel Daughter to Philip the fourth married to king Edward the second from whom it discended by direct line to his Majesty and no
discharged of his office done of purpose by his enemies to lay a blot upon him A lamentable thing in a State when private envy shall be suffered to undermine the publique safety and by this meanes Sir Thomas Gâ—rard had the more opportunity to sell the Towne for which if he were a gainer in money he was yet a loser in reputation and hated both of French and English in much discontent dyed Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Aurancâ—es but were with dishonor repelled by the Lord Talbot After this Le Hyre sent Letters to them that he had a promise from divers Burgers of Roâ—â— to let them in at any time appointed against which time they came to Râ—ze within foure leagues of Roan but the Lord Talbot having notice hereof marched covertly to Roaâ— and from thence before day to Ryze where he surprizeth the French takes the Lord Fountaines Sir Allan Geron and many others and with a rich booty returneth to Roan The sixt day of November in the sixteenth year of the Kings Reign the Earle of Warwicke having oftentimes been aboord and still beaten back by tempest landed at Harflâ—w with a thousand fresh Souldiers and from thence came to Roaâ— but in the meane time the Duke of Burgoigne seeing no new Regent yet come besiegâ—th the Towne of Croâ—â—y to the reliefe whereof the new Regent now come sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whose approach the Duke not enduring retired to Abâ—evyle leaving onely foure hundred with whom hee had manned the â—â—style by him there erected which was soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine And here the valiant Talbot sent word to the Duke that if he would save his Countrey from vastation he should come to a battell but the Duke not liking the match conveighs himselfe to Aâ—yeâ—s Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talboâ— with fire and sword passe through Piccardie and Arthoâ—s without opposition and then returned Sir Thâ—mâ—â— Kyriell seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victuall enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare he brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke And now Henry Earle of Mortaigâ—e Son to Edmund Duke of Somerset arrived with two hundred Archers and three hundred Spears took the Castle of St. Aâ—yoâ— wherein were three hundred Scots and French the Scots he flew all and hanged the French because they had sworn fealty to England and broke it he tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by means of an ambush taketh the Lord Camerois comming to the rescue thereof On the other side the Towns of Neux in Brye and Susan were sold and delivered to the French by the treacherous Burgers In Iune the Earle of Huntingtâ—â— with two thousand Archers and foure thousand Speares was sent into Gascoigne whither the Earle of Danois was lately come to buy Towns and Castles but the Earle of Huntington upon his comming thither changed all the Captains and Officers whereby he prevented all such bargains and so farre had bribery spread it selfe at this time that even in Normandy the English Captaines â—ad but small confidence in the Natives and not much in some of their owne Nation whereupon Sir Richard Woâ—dvile Sir William Chamberlaine and sir William Peâ—o were sent thither to stop the current of that corruption At this time the Councell of France procured a reconcilement between the king and the Dolphin who had beene long in jealousies and dissention which if â—t had not beene done the kingdome had beene torne with Factions and never beene able to subsist And now in a great frost and snow the English under the conduct of Sir Iohn Clifford having covered their Armour with white shirts and their heads with white Almâ—â— skulls came to Ponthois by night and undiscovered past the ditches scaled the walls slew the Guards and tooke the Towne but this good lucke was accompanied with a bad of more importance for presently upon it the Earle of Warwicke dyed in the Castle of Roan and conveyed into England was buried in his Castle of Wâ—rwicke To reduce Pontâ—ois the French King in person layeth siege unto it when Richard Duke of Yorke being the second time made Regent having with him the Earle of Oxford aud the Earle of Ewe levyes a power to raise the Siege and arriving there sends word to the King that the next morning he would give him battell but the King liked not his bidding but leaving his Ordnance at midnight stole away to Poyssy thither also the Regent followes him but with no provocations could draw him to fight About this time a treaty for Peace between the two Kings is appointed to be held at Callis by the mediation of the Dutchesse of Burgoigne a Portugall Lady Commissioners meet of both sides but nothing concluded only the Duke of Orleance who had been prisoner to the English five and twenty years is by the Dutchesse medâ—ation ransomed with three hundred thousand Crowns of the Duke of Burgoignes money The Lord Willoughby besiegeth Deepe which the Dolphin with sixteene thousand men commeth to raise and there young Talbot is taken prisoner with Sir Iohâ— Peto and sir Iohn Repley but are shortly after redeemed by exchange And now another weakning happened to the English party the Earle of St. Paul forsakes them and is reconciled to the King of France The English lay siege to Tartus for the raysing whereof the French King marcheth thither with 60000 men relieveth the Towne and then marcheth to Saveryne which he taketh in and in it Sir Iohn Rampston after which he tooke in Arques but then the English cutting off all convoyes of victualls from comming to him he is forced to returne after whose departure the English recover all that he had taken and to boot take his Lieâ—tenant prisoner slaying or hanging all his Souldiers In this meane while the Lord Talbot taketh in Conquet and driveth the Bastard of Orleance from the siege of Gagliâ—rdâ— but the French in the Castle of Cornhill detained many English prisonersâ— for redeeming of whom Sir Francis the Aragonist used this stratagem he apparelled halfe a dozen lusty fellowes like Peasantsâ— carrying baskets with corne and victualls and sends them to the Castle while he with his company lyes in ambush in a Valley neere the Castle the six unsuspected are admitted and comming to the Captaines chamber seize upon him and withall give the signe to the ambush who comming readily on entred the Castle put the Souldiers to the sword set the prisoners at liberty burnt downe the Castle and with the booty and Captaine of the Castle returned to Roan Whil'st these alternations passed in France a more unnaturall passed in Engâ—and the Uncle riseth against the Nephew the Nephew against the Uncle The Duke of Glocester Articles against the Cardinall charging him with affecting Preheminence to the derogation of the Kings Prerogative and contempt of his Lawes which Articles are delivered to the
Winchester and the Archbishop of Yorke to come aganst him who lay to his charge that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to Law wherein though he justified himselfe yet no justification would be heard but to avoyd tumultuary part-taking it was concluded he should be privately convicted and condemned and to this end a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies unwitting to the king is called at Bury to which the Duke of Glocester resorting is on the second day of the Session by the Lord Beamont L. High Constable abetted by the Duke of Buckingham arrested and put in Ward all his followers sequestred from him whereof two and thirty are committed to severall prisons and the next day after his imprisonment he is found in his bed murthered yet shewed the same day as though he had dyed of an Imposthume though all that saw his body saw plainly that he dyed of a violent and unnaturall cause some say strangled some that a hot spit was put up at his fundament and some that he was stifled between two feather-beds His corps the same day was conveyed to St. Albans and there buried Five of his meniall servants Sir Roger Chamberlaine knight Middleton Herbert Arizis Esquires and Iohn Needham Gentleman were condemned to be hanged drawne and quartered and hanged they were at Tiburne let downe quick stript naked marked with a knife to be quartered but then the Marquesse of Suffolk to make a shew as though he had no hand in the businesse brought their Pardon and delivered it at the place of Execution and so their lives were saved It is no unmemorable thing which Sir Thomas Moore writes of the pregnancy of this Duke of Glocester It happened the King comming one time in Progresse to St. Albans a Begger borne blinde as he said at the Shrine of St. Alban obtained his sight which miracle being noised in the Towne the Duke of Glocester being there with the King dâ—sired to see him whom being brought unto him he asked if he were borne blinde who told him yes truly and can you now see saith the Earle yes I thanke God and St. Albon saith the begger then tell me saith the Earl what colour is my gown the begger readily told him the colour and what colour saith the Earle is such a mans gown the begger likewise told him presently and so of divers others Then saith the Earle go you counterfeit knave if you had been borne blinde and could never see till now how come you so suddenly to know this difference of colours and thereupon instead of an Almes caused him to be set in the Stocks But in the death of this Duke the Queene who had a speciall hand in it was either not so intelligent or noâ— so provident as she might have beene for as long as he had lived his Primogeniture would have kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crown being but discended from the fifth Sonne of Edward the third where this Duke Humphrey was discended from the fourth And here were the first seeds sowne betweene the two houses of Laâ—caster whose badge was the Red-rose and Yorke whose badge was the White-rose And now upon the death of this Duke of Glocester the Duke of York began amongst his familiars privily to whisper his right and title to the Crown but so politickly carried his intent that all things were provided to further his project before his purpose was any whit discovered And in this time the rich Cardinall and Bishop of Winchester dyes who lying on his death bed as Doctor Iohn Baker his privie Counsellor and his Chaplain writeth used such like words why should I dye saith he having so much riches If the whole Realme would save my life I am able either by policy to get it or by money to buy it Fie will not death be hired will money do nothing and other words to such purpose But he being dead there succeeded in his Bishopricke a more deserving Prelate William Waâ—â—leâ—e called so of the place in Lincolneshire where he was borne though his name was Patterne of the worshipfull family whereof hee was descended And now to the end the Marquesse of Suffolke might not come behinde them in dignity whom he went before in power he is about this time made Duke of Suffolke In France about this time a victory was gotten which proved no better than an overthrow Before the Truce was expired Sir Francis Surâ—ens an Aragonois a man thought worthy to be admitted into the honorable Order of the â—arter taking advantage of the security of the French Garrisons suddenly surprizeth a Frontier Towne called Fougiers belonging to the Duke of Brittaine the Duke advertiseth the French King thereof who by his Ambassadors complaines both to the King of England and to the Duke of Somerset then Regent in France Answer was made it was the fault of the Aragonois who did it without warrant from either the King or the Councell neverthelesse Commissioners are appointed to meet at Louviers to treate of some course for satisfaction but in the time of the Treaty newes is brought to the Regent that the French by a stratagem of a Carter that with a load of Hey comming over the Draw-bridge caused the Axletree to breake and whil'st the Porter was ready to helpe the Carter the Porters braines were beaten out the Towne of Ardes surprized and the Lord Fawcoâ—bridgâ— Captaine thereof was taken prisoner Restitution being required by the English answer is made them in their owne language it was done without warrant from either the French King or any of his Councell so it was but one for another and from thence forward the Truce is broken of both sides and all things grow worse and worse The French King by composition taketh Louviers Gerbury and Verâ—oyle whil'st the Regent stands demurring what were best to be done If he command not obeyed If he counsell not followed as it happens to men once blemished in Reputation to have an ill construction made of all their actions by which means the French go on without resistance get Conâ—â—â—â—ce Guisard Gatiard St. Loe Festampe and many other pieces in Normandy upon notice whereof Maulesson in Guyen surrenders to the Earle of Foiâ— and by their example the City of Roâ—n it selfe takes composition to surrender where the E. of Shrâ—wsbury and the Lord Butler heire to the E. of Ormond were kept pledges till it was performed It is true succours were provided to be sent out of England under the conduct of the Duke of Yorke but a Rebellion happening in Ireland which was thought of more importance to be speedily suppressed diverted him and his forces thither where not only he suppressed the Rebels but so wonne the hearts of that people that it was no small furtherance to his proceedings afterward A fresh supply indeed of fifâ—eene hundred men under the command of sir Thomâ—s Kyriell is sent over but what could a handfull of men do against such
multitudes as opposed them for he marching with the rest of the Army towards Baugeux was encountred by the Earle of Clermont with seven thousand French and Scots whom yet at first he made to recoyle till the Constable of France with foure hundred men at Armes and eight hundred Archers came to the rescue and then fresh men comming upon them that were already tyred the English lost three thousand and above seven hundred besides divers that were taken prisoners After this losse of men followes presently a losse of Towns Harflew is assaulted and though valiantly for a while defended by Sir Robert Curson yet surrendred at last upon composition Then the French King with an Army royall besiegeth Caen in Normandy a Towne belonging to the Duke of Yorke defended in his absence by his Lievtenant Sir David Hall but the Duke of Somerset being Regent in commiseration of his Dutchesse being in the Towne notwithstanding the sâ—out opposition of Sir David Hall surrenders it upon composition to the French whereof Sir David giving notice to the Duke of Yorke it bred such a deadly quarrell between the two Dukes that they were never after throughly reconciled And thus is all Normandy recovered from the English after it had been in their possession a hundred years and finally all France is reduced to the obedience of Charles the French King And now hereafter there will be little to do abroad but there will be the more to do at home and more bloud will be shed in England by civill dissentions then was shed before in all the Wars of France This losse of Normandy and other parts in France is imputed much to the Duke of Somerset at that time Regent but the Duke of Suffolke must beare a great part of the blame partly for having beene the cause of the surrender of Anjou and Mayne and the chiefe procurer of the Duke of Glocesters death and partly for having wilfully wasted the Kings treasure and been a meanes to remove the ablest men from the Councell Boord of all which aspersions the Queen takes notice and knowing how far they trenched upon the Dukes destruction and her own She so wrought that the Parliament assembled at the Black-Friers is adjourned to Leicester and from thence to Westminster but though all means were used to stop these accusations against the Duke yet the lower House would not be taken off but exhibited their Bill of Grievances against him That he had traiterously incited the Bastard of Orleance the Lord Presigny and others to levy warre against the King to the end that thereby the King might be destroyed and his Son Iohn who had married Margaret Daughter and sole Heire of Ioâ—n Duke of Soâ—â—â—set whose title to the Crowne the sayd Duke had often declared in case king Henry should dye without issue might come to be King That through his treachery the French King had gotten possession of the Dutchie of Normandy and had taken prisoners the valiant Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Fawcâ—â—bridge and others but to these accusâ—tions he peremptorily affirmed himselfe not guilty so much as in thought Then were further allegations made against him that being with others sent Ambassador into France he had transcended his Commission and without privity of his fellow Commissioners had presumed to promise the surrender of Anjou and the delivery of the County of Mauâ—ts to Duke Rayner which accordingly was â—erformed to the great dishonour of the King and detriment of the Crowne That he had traiterously acquainted the French King with all the affaires of State and passages of secrecie by which the enemy was throughly instructed in all the designes of the King and Councell That he had received rewards from the French king to divert and disappoint all succours sent to the kings friends in France Upon these and divers other accusations brought against him to bleare the peopâ—es eyes he is committed to the Tower but the Parliament was no sooner dissolved but he was set at liberty which so incensed the common people that they made an Insurrection and under the leading of a desperate fellow styling himselfe Blewbeard they committed many outrages but by the diligence of the Gentlemen of the Country the Captain was apprehended and the Rebellion ceased And now another Parlâ—ament is called where great care is taken in chusing of Burgesses presuming thereby to stop any further proceeding against the Duke of Suffolke but his personall appearance at the Parliament gave such a generall distaste to the House though he came in the company of the king and Queene that they forbore not to begin the Assembly with Petitioning the king for punishment to be inflicted upon such as had plotted or consented to the resignation of Aâ—joâ— and Mayne whereof by name they instanced in the Duke of Suffolke Iohn Bishop of Salisbury Sir Iameâ— Fynes Lord Say and others This Petition was seconded by the Lords of the upper House whereupon to give some satisfaction to the Houses the Lord Say Lord Treasurer is sequestred from his place the Dukes Officers are all discarded and himselfe formally banished for five yeares but with an intent after the multitude had put out of minde their hatred against him to have revoked him but God did otherwise dispose of him for when he was shipped in Suffolke with intent to have passed over into France he was met by an Englishman of War taken and carried to Dover sands and there had his head chopt off on the side of the long-boate which together with the body was left there on the sands as a pledge of some satisfaction for the death of Duke Hâ—â—phry Whilâ—st these things are done in England the Duke of Yorke in Ireland began to make his way to the Crowne as descended from Philippe daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt great Grandfather to the present king Henry the sixth And for a beginning it is privately whispered that king Hâ—nry was of a weake capacity and easily abused the Queene of a malignant spirit and bloudily ambitious the Privie Councell if wise enough yet not honest enough regarding more their private profit then the publique good that through their delinquencies all Frâ—â—ce was lost and that God would not blesse the usurped possession of king Heâ—ry with these suggestions the Kentishmen seemed to be taken which being observed by an instrument of the Duke of Yorke called Mortimer he takes his time and tells the multitude that if they will be ruled by him he will put them in a course to worke a generall Reformation and free them for ever from those insupportable burthens of taxations so often upon every slight occasion obtruded upon them These promises of Reformation and freedome from impositions so wrought with the people that they drew to a head and make Mortimer otherwise Iacke Cade their leader who stiling himselfe Captaine Mend-all marcheth with no great number but those well ordered to Blâ—ck-heath where betweene Elthaâ— and Greenwich he
whom if the King would be pleased to commit toward till his legall tryall might be had in Parliament he would then not onely dismisse his army but come unto his presence as a loyall subject Hereupon the Duke of Somerset is committed to prison The Duke of Yorke dismisseth his army and commeth in person to the King in whose presence contrary to his expectation he found the Duke of Somerset which so moved him that he could not hold but presently charged him with Treason which the Duke of Somerset not onely denieth but 〈◊〉 aâ—re the Duke of Yorke to have conspired â—he kings death and the usuâ—pation of the Crown whereupon the king removeth to London the Duke oâ— Yorke as a prisoner ryding before him and the Duke of Somerset at liberty which was not a little mervailed at by many And now the king calleth a Councell at Westminster where the two Dukes are earnest in accusing each other but while the Counsell are debating of the matter there comes a flash of lightning out of France which diverted them for the Earl of Kendall and the L' Espar câ—me Embassadours from Burdeaux offering their obedience to the Crown of England if they might but be assured to be defended by it but withall at the same time there came a report that Edward Earle of March sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke with a great power was marching towards London Here was matter for a double consultation and for this latter it was resolved on that the Duke of York should in the presence of the king and his Nobility at the high Altar in Paulâ— take his Oath of submission and Allegiance to king Henry which he accordingly did and then had liberty to depart to his Castle of Wigmore And for the former the Earle of Shrewsbury with about three thousand men was sent into Gascoigne who ariving in the Isle of Madre passed forth with his power and took Froâ—sack and other pieces but having received in the night instructions from Burdeaux of certaine conspiratours he makes all the speed he can thither and was entred the Town before the French had notice of his comming so that many of them were slaine by the Lord L' Espar in their beds Shortly after there arrived the Earle of Shrewsbury's sonne Sir Iohâ— Talbot with the bastard of Somerset and two and twenty hundred men by whose means Burdeaux is well manned with English in which time the Earle was not idle but went from place to place to receive the offered submission of all places where he came and having taken Chatilloâ— he strongly fortified it whereupon the Freâ—ch king raiseth an army and besiegeth Chatillon to the rescue whereof the Earle maketh all possible speed with eight hundred horse appointing the Earle of Kendall and the Lord L' Espar to follow with the foot In his way he surprized a Tower the French had taken and put all within it to the sword and meeting five hundred French men that had been forraging many of them he slew and the rest he chased to their Campe. Upon whose approach the French left the siege and retyred to a place which they had formerly fortified whither the Earle followeth them and resolutely chargeth them so home that he got the entry of the Campe where being shot through the thigh with an Harquebuse and his horse slaine under him his sonne desirous to relieve his father lost his own life and therein was accompanied with his bastard brother Henry Talbot Sir Edward Hall and thirty other Gentlemen of name The Lord Nolius with threescoâ—â— other were taken prisoners the rest fled to Burdeaux but in the way a thousand of them were slaine And thus on the last day of July in the yeer 1453. at Chatilloâ— the most valourous Earle of Shrewsbury the first of that name after foure and twenty yeers service beyond the seas ended his life and was buried at Roaâ— in Normandie with this Inscription upon his Tombe Here lyeth the right Noble knight Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Weshford Waterford and Valence Lord Talbot of Goodrich and Orchenfield Lord Strange of Blackmere Lord Verdon of Actoâ— Lord Cromwell of Winkfield Lord Lovetâ—ft of Worsoppe Lord Furnivall of Shâ—ffield knight of the Noble Orders of St. George St. Michael and the golden fleece great Marshall to King Henry the sixth of his Realme of France The Earle of Kendall the Lords Montserat Rosaine and Dâ—â—gledas entred the Castle of Chatillon and made it good against the French the space of ten dayes but then having no hope of succour they delivered it upon composition to have liberty to depart to Burdeaux and now the Gascoigâ—â—s were as ready to open their gates to the French as they were before to the English by means whereof in short time the French recovered againe all Gascoigâ—e except Burdeaux and that also at length upon condition that both garrisons and inhabitants with all their substance might safely depart for England or Callice and that the Lords L' Espar and Durant with thirty others upon paine of death should never after be found in the Territories of France At this time upon St. Bartholomews day an ancient custome being that the Major of London and the Sheriffs should be present in giving prizes to the best wrestlers It hâ—ppened that at the wrestling place neere Moore-fields the Prior of S. Iohns was there to see the sports when a servant of his not brooking the disgrace to be foyled before his Master against the custome of the place would have wrestled againe which the Major denyed whereupon the Prior fetcht Bowmen from Clarkâ—â—â—ell to resist the Major and some slaughter was committed the Majors Cap was shot through with an Arrow he neverthelesse would have had the spoâ—t goe on buâ— no wrestlers came yet the Major Sr. Iohn Norman told his brethren he would stay awhile to make tryall of the Citizens respect towards him which he had no sooner said but the Citizens with Banners displayed came in great numbers to him and fetcht him home in great triumph Upon the neck of this began the quarrell in Holborne between the Gentlemen of the Inns of Chancery and some Citizens in appeasing whereof the Queens Atturney and three more were slaine And now the Duke of Yorke by all means laboureth to stirre up the hatred of the Commons against the Duke of Somerset repeating often what dishonour England sustained by Somersets giving up the strong Towns of Normandy and how he abuseth the Kings and Queens favour to his own gaine and the Commons grievance then he addresseth himselfe to those of the Nobility that could not well brook his too much commanding over the Kings and Queens affection amongst others he fasteneth upon the two Nevils both Richards the father and the sonne the one Earle of Salisbury the other of Warwick with whom he deales so effectually that an indissoluble knot of friendship is knit betwixt them by whose assistance the King lying dangerously sick at Claringdon the
by him are all the counsells of the Duke of Yorke discovered which so much discouraged him that he with his young Son the Earle of Rutland fled first into Wales and then into Ireland The Earles of March Salisbury and Warwicke got into Devonshire where by the means of Iohn Dynhâ—m Esquire the same man that afterward by king Henry the Seventh was made Lord Treasurer of England they were shipt from Exmouth to Gernsey and so to Callis All the common souldiers the king Pardons onely makes exemplary punishment of some few Captains sends the Dutchesse of Yorke and her two younger children to the Dutchesse of Buckingham her Sister to be â—afely kept and then having spoiled the Town and Castle of Ludlow he dismist his Armie And now a Parliament is called at Coventry wherein the Duke of Yorke Edward Earle of March his Son Richard Earle of Richardâ—arle â—arle of Warwickeâ— Iohn Lord Clifford and many other the confederates of the Duke of York are convict of Treason and all their lands and goods seized on to the kings use Henry D. of Somerset by the Queens means is made Captain of Callis whither comming to take possession he was by reason of Ordnance shot at him from Rice-banke forced to Retire which the Queen hearing was so incensed that in great passion she gave order to make ready all the kings Ships lying at Sandwich to give assistance to the Duke of Somerset but the forementioned Iohn Dynham out of love to the Earle of March boorded those ships in the harbour and tooke the Lord Rivers designed Admirall for that service and carried both him and the Ships to Callice from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland to the Duke of Yorke who having conferred and concluded what course to take he returned to Callice the new Admirall the Duke of Exeter not daring to stop his course Sir Simon Montford was appointed â—o guard the Cinque Ports having divers ships under his command to barre the Earle of Warwickâ—s entrance but the Earle by his espyalls having perfect intelligence of all passages fell sodainly upon Sir Simon before his ships were ready tooke him prisoner ransackt the Town of Sandwich carried his prisoner and the ships to Callice By the way he understood how much the kentishmen desired his return and longed for his comming whereupon he came the second time to Sandwich to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and very many Gentlemen of the Country so as now his army was five and twenty thousand strong with which he marched towards London against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to goe and with some convenient troopes to assure London but the Major directly refused to admit him whereupon he resorted to the Tower from whence afterwards he did the Londoners no small displeasure The Earle of Warwick having notice that his father the Earle of Salisbury was upon march to meet him passeth over his men and without impeachment joyned with him and his friends neer Exeter The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them and neer to the Town of Northampton both Armies meet The Earle of March with the advice of the Earle of Warwick prepares for the fight The Queen the King more intentive to devotion then fighting did the like the fight continued about two houres wherein were slaine of both sides above â—en thousand men but upon the fall of Humfry Duke of Buckingham the Kings side was discomfited and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury Thomas L. Egremont Iohn L. Beaumont and some other of account were slaine The Queen with the Duke of Somersâ—t taking with them the young Prince fled to the Bishoprick of Durham The King himselfe was taken and as a prisoner conveyed to London where the Tower is yeelded to the Earle of Warwick The Lord Scales in disguised apparell endeavouring to escape is taken by the water-men and by them beheaded and his Corpes carelesly left upon the sands Thomas Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer in the habit of a Monke his Crown shorne purposing to flie to the Queen is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower and after by the Commons beheaded at Highgate The Duke of Yorke being advertised of this good successe leaveth Ireland and posts to London where in the kings name he summoneth a Parliament which being assembled he in the presence of the Lords in the upper House placeth himselfe in the Imperiall Seate and with great boldnesse layes open his rightfull claime to the Crowne of England as being the Sonne and heire of Anne daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March Sonne and heire of Philip the sole daughter and heire of Lyonel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of Edward the third and elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Father of the usurper Henry the Fourth Grandfather to Henry the Fifth who was Father to him that at this time untruly stileth himselfe king Henry the sixth And after relating the many miseries that had befallen the Realme since the time of this Usurpation he concluded that he would not expect nor desire possession of the Crown except his discent were undisputable and his title without exception This being a businesse of importance required deliberation but in conclusion the Duke having before hand prepared the Lords Spirituall and few of the Nobility being present that were not of his part the Burgesses were easily perswaded and it was generally resolved and enacted accordingly that king Henry during his life should reteine the name and honour of a king that the Duke of Yorke should be Proclaimed heire apparent to the Crown and Protectour of the kings Person his lands and dominions and that if at any time any of king Henries friends allies or favourites in his behalfe should attempt the disaâ—â—lling of this Act that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crown It is not unworthy the noting that while the Earle of March was declaring his title in the upper house it happened in the nether house that a Crowne which hung in the middle of the house to garnish a branch to set lights upon without touch or winde fell suddenly down as likewise at the same time fell down the Crown which stood on the top of Dover Castle a signe as some thought that the Crowne of the Realme should be changed Assoone as the Parliament was dissolved the Duke dispatcheth letters into Scotland requiring in the kings name the Queen the Dukes of Somerset and Exeter and all other of the Nobility that remained in that kingdome with all speed to repaire to his presence in London but they had other worke in hand for having goten together of English and Scots to the number of eighteen thousand they came maâ—ching into Englandâ— against whom went the Duke of Yorke with his younger sonne the Earle of Rutland and the Earle of Salisbury leaving the king in the custody of the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Warwick and
a King and for a sacrifice than a Priest and he could not choose but dye a Martyr who all his life had beene a Confessor He had one immunity peculiar to himself that no man could ever be revenged of him seeing he never offered any man injury By being innocent as a Dove hee kept his Crown upon his head so long but if he had been wise as a Serpent he might have kept it on longer But all this is not sufficient if we expresse not in particular his severall virtues So modest that when in a Christmas a shew of women was presented before him with their breasts layd out he presently departed saying fie fie for shame forsooth you be to blame So pittifull that when he saw the quarter of a Traytor over Cripplegate he caused it to be taken down saying I will not have any Christian so cruelly handled for my sake So free from swearing that he never used other oath but forsooth and verily So patient that to one who strooke him when he was taken prisoner he onely sayd forsooth you wrong yourselfe more than me to strike the Lords annointed So devout that on principall Holy-dayes he used to weare sackcloth next his skinne Once for all let his Confeâ—â—or be heard speak who in ten years confession never found that he had done or sayd any thing for which he might justly be injoyned Pennance For which causes King Henry the Seventh would have procured him to be Cannonized for a Saint but that he was prevented by deathâ— or perhaps because the charge would have been too great the Canonization of a king being much more costly than of a private person Of men of Note in his time THere were men of valour in this Kings Reigne of extraordinary eminencie as first Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France whom when a French Lord upbraided that his sword was of lead he made him answer and made him feel that it was of steele Next him was Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury whose very name was a sufficient charme to daunt a whole French Army Then the next was Iohn Lord Talbot so great a terror to the French that when the women would still their children from crying they would use to say Talbot comes Then was Richard Nevill Earle of Warwicke so much greater than a king as that which makes is greater than that it makes and such a one was he Many other besides these not much inferior to these that we may truly say there never was a more heroicall King of England than Henry the Fifth nor ever a King of England that had more heroicall Subjects than Henry the Sixth And though Arms and Letters seem to be of different conditions yet they commonly grow up and flourish together as in this kings Reigne were Iohn Leland sirnamed the Elder who wrote divers Treatises for instruction of Gramarians William White a Priest of Kent professing the Doctrine of Wickliffe for which he suffered Martyrdome by fire Alexander Carpenter who wrote a booke called Destructorium vitiorum against the Prelates of that time Peter Basset Esquire of the Privy Chamber to king Henry the Fifth whose life he wrote Iohn Pole a Priest who wrote the life of St. Walhorayle an English woman Also Thomâ—s Walden alias Netter who wrote divers Treatises against the Wickliffifts Peâ—er Clerke a Student in Oxford and a defender of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled and was put to death beyond Sea Thomas Walsingham born in Norfolk a diligenâ— Historiographer Thomas Ringstead the younger an excellent Preacher who wrote divers Treatises Thomas Rudborn a Monke of Winchester and an Historiographer Peter Pâ—yne an earnest professor of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled into â—â—beâ—â—â— Nicholas Vpton a Civilian who wrote of Heraldry of colours in Armory and of the duty of Chivalry Iohn Capgrâ—ve born in Kent an Augustine Frier who wrote many excellent Treatises particularly the Legend of English Saints Humphry Duke of Glocester Protector of the Realm well learned in Astrologie whereof he wrote a speciall Treatise intiâ—uâ—ed Tabula Directionum Iohn Whethamstead otherwise called Frâ—mentariuâ— Abbot of St. Albâ—ns who wrote divers Treatises and amongst others a booke of the Records of things happening whiles he was Abbot which book Holinshead had seen and in some passages of his time followed Roger Oâ—lâ—y accused of Treason for practising with the Lady Elâ—â—nor Cobham by sorcery to make the king away and therof condemned and dyed for it he wrote one Treatise intituled Contra â—â—lgi superstitiones and another De sua Innocentia Henry Walsingham a Carmelite Frier oâ— Norwich who wrote sundry Treatises in Divinity Lidgateâ— Monke of Bury who had travelled France and Italy to learne languages and wrote many workes in Poetry Thomas Beckington Bishop of Bath who wrote against the Law Salique of France Michael Trigurie born in Cornwâ—ll whom for his excellent learning king Henry the Fifth made Governor of the Universitie of Caâ—n in Normandy after he had conquered it Reynold Peacocke Bishop of Chichester who wrote many Treatises touching Christian Religion Robert Fleming who wrote a Dâ—ctionary in Greeke â—â—d Latine and a worke in verse of sundry kindes Nicholas Mâ—ntacute an Historiographer Iohn Stow a Monke of Norwich and Doctor of Divinity in Oxfâ—rd Nichâ—lâ—â— Buâ—geie born in a Town of Norfolke of that name who wrote an History called Adâ—â—â—tiâ—nes Chronicorum Robert â—alsâ—cke who wrote a booke De â—e Militâ—ri Thomas Dâ—â—dâ— a Carmelite Frier of Mâ—rleborough who wrote the life of Alphred king of the West-Saxons Robert Bâ—le â—irnamed the Elder Recorder of London who gathered a Chronicle of the Customs Laws Foundations Changes Offices Orders and publique Assemblies of the Citie of London with other matters touching the perfect discription of the same Citie he wrote other workes also touching the state of the same Citie and the Acts of King Edward the third THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH EDWARD Earle of March born at Roane in Normandy sonne and heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke slaine in the battell at Wakefield succâ—eded his Father in the Right but exceeded him in the possession of the Crown of England and that by virtue of an act of Parliament lately made wherein the said Duke of York not only was declared heire apparent to the Crown and appointed Protector of the King and Kingdome but it was further enacted that if King Henry or any in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this Act that then the said Duke or his heire should have the present Possession which because his friends attempted to doe therefore justly doth Edward Earle of March his sonne by virtue of this act take possession of the Crown and is Proclaimed king of England by the name of Edward the fourth through the City of London on the fifth day of March in the yeer 1460. But before he could have leasure to be Crowned he was forced once againe to try his fortune in the field by battell For King Henry
in the North was raising a new army against whom King Edward upon the twelveth of March marched with his forces from London and by easie journeyes came to Pomfret Castle from whence the Lord Fitzwater was sent to guard the passage at Ferribridge to stop the Enemies approach that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward sending his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford whilest himselfe with his Queen and Sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palm sunday with a troop of Northern men fals upon those that guarded Fetribridge and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwater and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate comes posting to King Edwards Câ—mpe and in his presence killing his horse Proâ—ested his resolution to stand with him to the Death Upon â—his Resolution of the Earles the King made presently Proclamation that all who were afraid to sight should at their pleasure depart but to those that would stay he promised good reward adding withall that if any that stayed should after turn his back or flee then he that should kill him should have double pay After this he gave order to the Lord Fawconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to leade on the Vawâ—rd who in their march about Dandingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaughtered the young Earle of Rutland and he being stricken into the throate with an arrow some say without a head and presently dying the Lord Nevill Sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland was also slaine with most of their companies and the rest put to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sick to whom that place was assigned Fâ—â—conbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the Vaunt-guard and on Palm-sunday by break of day they came to a plaine field between Towton Saxtoâ— from whence they made a full survey of king Henries Army and certified king Edward that the Enemy was threescore thousand strong where his Army was but forty thousand and six hundred whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe that no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken The Armies being both in sight the Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the Archers upon a signall by him given to shoote every man a flight-arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall back three strides and stand The Northern men in the mean time plyed their bowes till all their sheaves were empty but their arrowes fell short of the Enemy by threescore yards and not onely did no hurt to the Enemy but did hurt to themselves for their arrows being spent and comming to hand-blows their own arrows sticking in the ground galled their shins and pierced their feet Ten houres the battell continued doubtfull till the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lord Beaumont Gray Dacres and Wells Sir Iohn Nevill Andrew Tâ—ollop and many other knights and Esquires the Earles of Exeter and Somerset fled leaving the Conquest to King Edward but the bloodiest that ever England felt for there fell that day six and thirty thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteen persons no prisoner being taken but the Earle of Devonshire The battell ended K. Edward hastes to York where he caused the heads of his father and other friends to be taken down and buried with their bodies setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devonshire and three other there at that time executed The Earle of Somerset acquainting King Henry with this overthrow perswades him with his Queen and Son to flie to Barwick where leaving the Duke of Somerset they flie further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine for in lieu of a pension to be allowed King Henry during his abode there the Towne and Castle of Barwick were delivered to him Queen Margaret and her Sonne are sent into France who obtained of Lewis the Eleveâ—th her Cosin that all of King Edwards friends were prohibited Stay or Traffick in the French kings Dominions but all King Henries friends might live there freely After this king Edward comes to London and upon his entrance to the Tower makes foure and twenty knights and the next day foure more and upon the 28 day of Iune in the yeare 1461. he rode from the Tâ—wer to Westminster and was there Crowned in the Abby-Church Shortly after a Parliament is summoned which began at Westminster the fourth of November In which all Acts of king Henry the Sixth prejudiciall to king Edwards Title are repealed and therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a valiant and wise man he who in a former Parliament had disputed the question concerning the precedency of Temporall and Spirituall Barons a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose Arguments Judgement was given for the Lords Temporall with his Sonne Aubry de Veer Sir Thomas Tiddingham knight William Tyrrell Walter Montgomery Esquires were without answer convicted of Treason and beheaded And to encourage others to well-deserving king Edward at this time advanced many in honour his brother George he created Duke of Clarence his brother Richard Duke of Glocester Iohn Lord Nevill brother to the Earle of Warwicke he made first Viscount then Marquesse Montacuâ—e Henry Bourchier brother to the Archbishop of Canterbury is made Earle of Essex and William Lord Fauconbridge Earle of Kent And now their new honours are presently put into imploiment the Earls of Essex Kent accompaneid with the Lords Audeley and Clinton Sir Iohn Howard Sir Richard Walgrave and others to the number of ten thousand are appointed to scowre the Seas who landing in Britaine took the town of Conqueâ— and the Isle of Ree and then returned At this time Henry Duke of Somerset Ralph Percy and divers others came in and humbly submitted themselves to king Edwards mercy who protested his propension of freely pardoning them and as many other that would submit themselves as they did All this time King Henry was in Scotland and Queen Margaret in France where she obtained of the French King a company of five hundred men with whom she sayled towards Newcastle and landed at Tinmouth but suddenly againe returned and was herselfe by tempest beaten to Barwick but her company was driven on the shore before Bamburg Castle where they set their Ships on fire and fled to an Islâ—nd called Holy Island but were so assayled there by the bastard Ogle and Iohn Manners Esquâ—re that many of them were slaine and almost foure hundred taken prisoners onely their Coronell Peter Bressie hâ—ppened upon a Fisherman who brought him to â—â—â—wick to Queen Margaret and by her was made Captaine of the Castle of Alnewick which he with his French-men kept till they were rescâ—ed Shortly afterâ— Queen Margaret having gotten together a great company of Scots and other of her friends bringing her husband with her and leaving
for which boldnesse I humbly intreat â—our Graces pardon The King not onely pardoned him but bestowed presently upon him the Deanery of Lincolne and soone after made him his Almoner In this state King Henâ—y the eight found him with whom also he grew into such favour that he made him of his Councell and having won Tourney made him Bishop of that Citie and returning into England the Bishopricke of Lincolne falling void by the death of Doctor Smith made him Bishop of that Diocesse And thus far the story hath now brought him but soone after he was raised higher for Doctor Bambridge Archbishop of Yorke dying he was translated from Lincolne to that See and that he might not be inferiour to the Archbishop of Canterâ—ury he procured of the Pope to be made Cardinall and Legat a Latere and after by the King was made Lord Chancellour of England and being come to this height of dignity he so carried himselfe in Expences of Houshold in number of Retinve and in all circumstances of State that no Subject before or since hath in any degree come neere him And if we may say it he was the first Debaucher of King Henry for to the end he might have the managing of all matters himself he perswaded the King that he should not need trouble himselfe with frequenting the Councell Table as he did but take his pleasure and leave those things to his Councell whereof himselfe would alwaâ—es give him â—nie Information This was plausible Councell and no marvaile if it were embraced of a yong King coming from the mouth of so great a Prelate In this fifth yeer of the King the Citizens of London finding themselves grieved with the Inclosures of the common fields about Islington Hogsdon and Shâ—rdich and other places adjoyning went one morning and threw downe all the Hedges and filled up all the Ditches whereat though the Kings Councell were at first offended yet the Maior and City shewed them such reasoâ—s that they rested satisfied and the fields were never since hedged On the nineteenth of May this yeer Pope Iulius the second sent to King Henry a Cap of Maintenance and a Sword and being angry with the King of France transferred by Authority of the Lateran Councell the title of Christianissimo from him upon King Henry which with great solemnity was published the sunday following in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul but this solemnity must not passe without Revelling Maskes and Justs wherein the King and the Duke of Suffolke were defendants against all commers who having the Duke of Longuevyle and the Lord of Clermont to be spectâ—tours spread the fame of their Chivalrie into forreigne Nations And now the great love that had been long between King Henry and the Flemings began to abate upon this occasion King Henry the seventh had concluded a match between his daughter Mary and Charles Prince of Spaine but by reason of her young yeers and for want of assurance of Joynture the match was deferred during his time but now King Henry the eight seeing his sister of convenient yeers began to call upon it and signified so much to the Councell of Flanders but they whether having other ends or out of Spanish delayes put him off with excuses and at last sent him word plainly they could doe nothing in it that yeer The King of France had soone Intelligence how much King Henry distasted these Spanish dealings and meant to make some good use of it for the ends he began to propose to himselfe which were to get the Lady Mary for himselfe and thereby procure peace with England being now old and weary of the War And for this purpose he got the new Pope Leo the tenth to be his mediatour and both of them send Embassadours to King Henry the Pope to perswade him to have peace with France the French King to treat about a Marriage with the Lady Mary upon whose Embassages King Henry partly to satisfie the Pope and partly to advance his sister did not unwillingly hearken to the motions but whilst this was in working Pryor Iohn who knew nothing of these intentions began again to play his Praâ—ks and coming with his Gallyes on the coast of Sussex burnt Bhighthem-steed and took away the goods he found in the Village whereupon the Lord Admirall sent Sir Iohn Walloppe to sea with divers ships and eight hundred men who for one Village that Pryor Iohn burnt in England burnt one and twenty Villages and Townes in France to the great honour of himselfe and his countrey And now King Henry by advice of his Councell and specially of Woolsey Bishop of Lincolne concluded both the peace with France and the Marriage of his Sister the Lady Mary with the French King but yet it stuck a while upon some differences King Henry demanding Bulloigne and the King of France Tourney in conclusion these demands were waved and the principall conditions wereâ— first concerning the Ladies Joynture that she should have two and thirty thousand Crownes of yeerly revenues if she survived the King and then concerning ths peace that the French King should pay yeerly to King Henry for five yeers one hundred thousand Crownes and the peace to continue between them during their lives and a yeer after and bound reciprocally to assist each other with ten thousand foot if the warre were by land with six thousand if by sea All things thus concluded the Lady Mary was brought to Dover by King Henry and his Queen and on the second of October taking shippiâ—g was conducted by the Duke of Norfolke the Marquesse Dorset the Bishop of Durhamâ— the Earle of Surry the Lord De la ware the Loâ—d Berners the Lord Monteagle Sir Maurice Berkely Sir Iohn Pechye Sir William Sands Sir Bulleyneâ— Sir Iohn Carre and many other Knights and Ladies but being not past halfe way over the sea their ships by tempest were dispersed and the Lady with some jeoperdy landed at Bullen where Sir Christopher Garnish was faine to stand in the water and take her in his armes and so set her on shore and there the Duke of Vendosme with a Cardinall and many other great States received her From Bullen the eight of October she came to Abbevyle where the Dolphyn received her on the morrow being Saint Dennis day she came to Saint Dennis where the marriage between the King of France and her was solemâ—ized though some write it had been solemnized before at Abbevyle The fifth of November she was Crowned Queene of France at which time the Dolphyn held the Crowne over her head as being too massie for her to weare and the day following she was received into Paris in most magnificent manner In honour of whose Marriage and Coronation the Dolphyn had caused a solemne Justs to be proclaimed which should be kept in Paris the seventh of November Upon report of this Proclamation in England the Duke of Suffolke the Marquesse Dorset and his four Brothers the Lord Clinton Sir Edward Neâ—â—ll
except Anthony Bishop of Landaffâ— as Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York Edmund Boner Bishop of London Cutbert Tunstall Bishop of Durham Thomas Thursby Bishop of Ely Gilbert Bourn Bishop of Bath and Wells Iohn Christopherson Bishop of Chichester Iohn White Bishop of Winchester Thomas Watson Bishop of Lincoln Ralph Bayne Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Owen Oglethorp Bishop of Carlile Iames Turbervile Bishop of Exeter and David Pool Bishop of Peterborough And with these Doctor Fecknam Abbot of Westminster All which were at first committed to prison but soon after delivered to the custody of private friends excepting those two sawcie Prelates Lincoln and Winchester who threatned to excommunicate the Queen Three onely namely Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester Richard Pate Bishop of Worcester and Thomas Goldwel Bishop of Saint Assaph changed their Religion of their own accord as also did certain Noble Personages namely Henry Lord Morley Sir Francis Englefield and Sir Robert Peckham who had been Privie-Councellours to Q. Mary Sir Thomas Shelley and Sir Iohn Gage In the seas of the Prelates removed were placed Protestant Bishops as Matthew Parker was made Archbishop of Canterbury who was consecrated by the Imposition of the hands of three that formerly had been Bishops namely William Barlow of Bath and Wells Iohn Scory of Chichester and Miles Coverdale of Exeter and being consecrated himself he afterward consecrated Edmund Grindall Bishop of London Richard Cox Bishop of Ely Edwyn Sands Bishop of Worcester Rowland Merick Bishop of Bangor Thomas Young Bishop of Saint Davyes Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Lincoln Iohn Iewell Bishop of Salisbury Richard Davis Bishop of Saint Assaph Edward Guest Bishop of Rochester Gilbert Barkeley Bishop of Bath and Wells Thomas Bentham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield William Alley Bishop of Exceter Iohn Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich Robert Horn Bishop of Winchester Richard Cheyney Bishop of Gloucester Edmund Scambler Bishop of Peterboâ—ough William Barlow Bishop of Chichester Iohn Scory Bishop of Hereford Young Archbishop of York Iames Pilkington Bishop of Durham Iohn Best Bishop of Carlile and William Downham Bishop of Chester Whilest these things were done in England the Treaty of peace at Cambray continued still Wherein King Phillip stood for the restitution of Calice to the English as firmly as if it had been his own interest and without it would agree to no peace with France But when by Messages he understood that his suit for marriage with Queen Elizabeth was rejected and that the Protestant Religion was established in the Kingdom he then left Queen Elizabeth seeing she would not be his to her self and though he became not presently a Foe yet he became presently lesse then a Friend and forbore to do any more good offices in that businesse Queen Elizabeth thus left to her self agreed with the French King to conclude her own peace apart and thereupon Delegates on both sides were appointed to meet at Cambray For the Queen of England were Thursby Bishop of Ely the Lord Williams the Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlain to the Queen and Doctor Wootton Dean of Canterbury and York For the King of France were Charls Cardinall of Lorrain the first Peer of France Annas Duke of Memorancy Iames Albon Lord of Saint Andrews Iohn Morvilliers Bishop of Orleance and Claude Aubespine Secretary of the Privie Councel The Commissioners meeting the chief point in difference was the restitution of Calice for which the English Commissionersâ— by the Qâ—eens appointment offered to remit two Millions of Crowns that by just accompt were due from France to England but the Queen was not more desirous to recover Calice then the French King was to hold it And thereupon at last it was concluded that Calice should remain in possession of the French foâ— the term of eight yeers and those expired it should be delivered to the English upon forfeiture of five hundred thousand Crownsâ— for which hostages were given But all this notwithstanding though the Conditions were sealed and sworn to and though hostages were assigned to remain in England till one or other were performed yet all was frustate and came to nothing About this time Henry King of France married his daughter Isabell to Phillip King of Spain and his sister Margaret to Emmanuel Phylibert Duke of Savoy at the solemnity of which Marriages he would needs be a Tiltor himself and thereupon commended the Earl of Montgomery to run against him who unfortunately breaking his Launce upon the Kings Cuyrasse a splinter thereof his Beaver being somewhat open struck him so deep in the eye that within few dayes he ended his life After whose death Francis his son at the age of sixteen yeers succeeded him in the Crown having by the marriage of Queen Mary the Title of Scotland and upon ground thereof laying claim to the Crown of England also and giving the Arms of England as properly belonging to him And now begins the game of Faction to be play'd wherein the whole estate of Queen Elizabeth lyes at stake a game that will hold playing the most part of her Reign and if not play'd well will put her in jeoparey of losing all seeing all about her are against her Phillip King of Spain hath a quarrell to her for being rejected in his suit the King of France hath a quarrell to her in right of his wife which is now his right The Queâ—n of Scots hath a quarrell to her for detaining her Inheritance The Pope hath a quarrell to her for excluding his Authority The King of Sweden hath a quarrell to her for slighting his son in the way of marriage And all these being against her whom hath she of her side but onely her own Subjects Papists yesterday and to day Protestants who being scarce setled in their Religion how should they be setled in their Loyalty And not being Loyall where can she finde to cast Anchor for her safety But it is a true saying Nullum numen abest si sit prudentia Wisdom is a sâ—pply for all defects And indeed the Queen being very wise her self and having a wise Councell about her she passed all these difficulties though not without danger yet with little or no hazard It happened if at least it happened and were not rather plotted of purpose that a Reformation of Religion was pretended in Scotland but was indeed an incroachment upon the Princes Authority for at the preaching of Iohn Knox and other headstrong Ministers not onely Images and Altars were cast down and burnt the Monasteries of Saint Andrews of Stone of Stryveling and of Lynlithew were overthrown but it was further put into the heads of the Nobility that it pertained to them of their own Authority to take away Idolatry and by force reduce thâ— Prince to the prescript of Laws Whereupon there was presently a bandying of the Lords of Scotland against the Queen Dowager Regent of the Country and in this case each of them â—ought for aid The Queen Dowager had aid out of France the Lords
at Louvayn But though the Queen were thus entangled with Rebellions at home yet she was not carelesse of the afflicted Protestants in France for she stirred up the Protestant Princes to defend the common Cause supplyed them with money taking in pawn the Queen of Navar 's Jewells and gave leave to Henry Champernoon to lead into France a Troop of a hundred Horse Gentlemen all and Voluntaries amongst whom were Philip Butshed Francis Barkley and Walter Raleigh a very young man who now began to look into the world But as the Queen of England assisted the French so in revenge thereof the King of France meant to assist the Scots but that he was taken away by death being slain by a shot at the Siege of S. Iohn D'Angelo There was at this time a Rebellion in Ireland also raised by Edmund and Peter brothers to Boteler Earl of Ormond but after many out-rages by them committed the Earl of Ormond first by perswasions obtained of them to submit themselves and when notwithstanding they were committed to prison he then obtained of the Queen they should not be called to the Barre being exceedingly grieved that any of his Blood should be attaynted of Rebellion The rest of the Rebells were pursued by Sir Humphrey Gilbert and soon dispersed And now the Earl of Murray Regent of Scotland when he had wrought all things to his hearts desire and thought himself secure at Lithquo riding along the streets was shot into the belly with a Bullet beneath the Navill and there fell down dead The actor was a Hamilton who did it upon a private revenge for that Murray had forced him to part with a piece of Land which he had by his wife who thereupon falling Lunatick he in a great rage committed this slaughter After Murrayes death the Countrey being without a Regent was cause of many disorders Tho. Carre and Walter Scot two principall men amongst the Scottish Borders and devoted to the Queen of Scots made Inâ—odes into England wasting all places with fire and sword till by Forces sent out of England under the command of the Earle of Sussex and the Lord Hâ—nsdon they were defeated In whose puâ—suit three hundred villages were â—ired and above fifty Holds were over-turned For which service the Earl made many Knights as Sir William Drury Sir Thomas Manners Sir George Carie Sir Robert Constable and others and then returned And now to prevent further disorders the Lords of Scotland being ready to assemble about the election of a new Regent they asked counsell of Queen Elizabeth in the matter but she making answer she would not meddle in it because she would not be thought to work any thing prejudiciall to the Queen of Scots whose cause was not yet triedâ— they created Matthew Earl of Lenox Regent which Queen Elizabeth did the better like as conceiving he could not chuse out of naturall affection but have a speciall care of the young King being his Grand-childe But while Queen Elizabeth favoured the Kings Party in Scotland the Earl of Hunâ—ley the Duke of Castle-Hâ—rald and the Earle of Argylâ— the Queen of Scots Liâ—uâ—enants imploy the Lord Seton to the Duke D'Alva Requiting him for many great reasons to vindicate the Queen of Scots liberty alleadging how acceptable a work it would be to all Christian Princes and to the whole Catholike Church whereunto the Duke made answer They should finde him ready to the uttermost of his power to satisfie their Request At which time also the French King dealt earnestly with Queen Elizabeth to the same purpose and the Spanish Embassadour in his masters name urged it no lesse extremely but Queen Elizabeth assaulted with all these Importunities made answer That as she would omit nothing that might serve for the Reconciling of the Queen of Scots and her subjects so shâ— must have leave to provide for her own and her subjects safety a thing which Nature Reason and her own Honor requires at her hands And now when these Princes prevailed not with Queen Elizabeth to set the Queen of Scots at liberty ouâ— comes Pope Pius Quintus with his Bull Declaratory which he caused to be fastened in the night time upon the gate of the Bishop of Londons Palace wherein all her subjects are absolved from their Oaâ—h of Allegiance or any other dutie and all that obey her accursed with Anathemâ— He that fastned up the Bull was one Iohn Fâ—lton who never fled for the matter but as affecting Martyrdome suffered himself to be apprehended confessed and justified the Fact and thereupon arraigned was condemned and hanged neer the place where he had fastened the writing The same day that Felton was Arraigned the Duke of Norfolk seeming now extremely pontitent for his fault and utterly to abhorre the marriage was delivered out of the Tower and suffered to goe to his owne house but yet to be in the custodie of Sir Henry Neuill still Indeed Cecill being a good friend of the Dukes had told the Queen That the Law of 25 of Edward the third could not take hold upon him And now being in a kinde of liberty Cecill deales earnestly with him to marry speedily some other thereby to take away all suspition in that behalf yet some again thought that this liberty of the Dukes was granted him of purpose to bring him into greateâ— danger At this time died William Herbert Earl of Pâ—mbâ—ook the grand-child of an Earl of Pâ—mbrook yet the son but of an Esquire and grand-father to Phillip Earl of Pembrook and Mountgomery now living who lieth buried in Pauls under a faire Monument of Marble with an Inscription â—estifying his great deservings while he lived Many conspiracies were at this time to set the Queen of Scots at liberty amongst others there conspired Thomas and Edward Stanley younger sonnes of the Earl of Derby with others but the matter discovered they were soon suppressed and some of them executed And now the Lords of the Queen of Scots Party continuing to protect the English Rebells the Earl of Sussex once again accompanied with the Lord Scroop entereth Scotland burneth the Villages all along the Valley of Anandale and compasseth the Duke of Castle-Herald and the Earls of Huntley and Argyle under a Writing signed with their own Hands and Seals to forsake the English Rebells Whereupon the Earl of Sussex returned home he made these Knights Edward Hastings Francis Russell Valentine Browne William Hilton Robert Stapleton Henry Carwen and Simon Musgrave Queen Elizabeths minde being now in great suspension by reason of that Bull from Rome and the late conspiracy in Norfolk sent Sir William Cecill and Sir Walter Mildmay to the Qâ—een of Scots who was then at Chattesworth in Derby-shire to consult with her by what means the breach in Scotland might best be made up She re-invested in her former Dignity and her son and Queen Elizabeth might be securedâ— The Queen of Scots did little deplore her own afflicted condition putting her self wholly upon the Queens clemency when
up a White Flagge and desired Parlee but Parlee was denyed because he had combined with Rebells with whom it is not lawfull to hold Parlee Then he demanded that his Company might passe away with their Baggage but neither would this be granted Then he required â—hat some of the chiefer sort might have leave to depart but neither could this be obtained At last when they could prevail in nothing they hanged out the white Flagge again and submitted themselves absolutely without any condition to the Deputies mercy who presently consulteth how to deal with them and this was the Case Their number was well neer as great as the English there was present fear of danger from the Rebells and the English were so destitute of meat and apparell that they were ready to mutiny unlesse they might have the spoyl granted them and besides there were no ships neither to send them away if they were spared For these Reasons it was concluded the Deputy gain-saying and letting tears fall That onely the Leaders should be saved the rest all slain and all the Irish hanged up which was presently put in execution to the great disliking of the Queen who detested the slaughter of such as yeelded themselves and would accept of any excuses or allegations And yet more cruelty then this was at that time committed in the Netherlands for Iohn Norris and Oliver Temple English Commanders together with some Companies of Dutch setting out early one morning took Mechlyn a wealthy Town of Brabant at an assault with ladders where they promiscuously murthered both Citizens and Religious Persons offering violence even upon the dead taking away Grave-stones which were sent into England to be sold. About this time certain English Priests who were fled into the Netherlands in the yeer 1568 by the procurement of William Allen an Oxford Schollar joyned themselves to study at Doway where they entred into a Collegiate Form of Government to whom the Pope allowed a yeerly Pension But tumults arising in the Low-Countries and the English Fugitives being commanded by the King of Spains Deputy to depart from thence other the like Colledges for the trayning up of the English youth were erected one at Rheims by the Guises and another at Rome by Pope Gregory the thirteenth which alwayes afforded new â—upplyes of Priests for England when the old fayled who should spread abroad the seeds of the Romish Religion here amongst us from whence those Colledges had the name of Seminaries and they called Seminary-Priests who were trayned up in them In these Seminaries amongst other Disputations it was concluded That the Pope hath such fulnesse of Power by Divine Right over the whole Christian world both in Ecclesiasticall and Secular matters that by vertue thereof it is lawfull for him to excommunicate Kings absolve their subjects from their Oath of Allegiance and deprive them of their Kingdoms From these Seminaries at this time there came two into England Robert Parsons and Edmund Campian both of them English-men and Jesuites Parsons was born in Somerset-shire a fierce and rough conditioned fellow Campian was a Londoner of a milder disposition They had been both brought up in Oxford Campian a Fellow of St. Iohn's Colledge and had been Proctor in the yeer 1569 and when he was made Deacon counterfeited himself to be a Protestant till such time as he slipped out of England Parsons was of Baylioll Colledge where he made open profession of the Protestant Religion till for dishonest carriage he was expelled the House and then fled to the Popish Party Both these came privily into England in the disguise one while of Souldiers another while of Noble-men sometimes like English Ministers and sometimes in the habit of Apparitors Parsons who was made the Superiour brake forth into such open words amongst the Papists about deposing the Queen that some of themselves had a purpose to complain of him to the Magistrates Campian though something more moderate yet in a Writing provoked the English Ministers to a dispuâ—e and published in Latine an Elegant Book of his ten Reasons in maintenance of the Doctrine of the Romish Church as Parsons in like manner set forth another violent Pamphlet against Clark who had written modestly against Campians Provocaâ—ion But Doctor Whitaker soundly confuted Campian who being after a yeer apprehended and put upon the Rack was afterward brought out to a Disputation where he scarcely made good the great fame that went of him In this yeer was the return of Captain Drake from his incredible Voyage round about the World which Magellan had before attempted but died in the Voyage whereof to relaâ—e all particular accidents would require a large Volume It may suffice in this place to deliver some speciall Passages He was born of mean Parentage in Devon-shire yet had a great man Francis Russell after Earl of Bedford to be his God-father His father in K. Henry the eighth's time being persecuted for a Protestant changed his Soyl and lived close in Kent K. Henry being dead he got a place amongst the Marriners of the Queens Navy to reade Prayers and afterward bound his son Franâ—is to a Ship-Master who in a Ship which went to and fro upon the Coast with Commodities one while to Zealand another while to France trayning him up to pains and skill at Sea who afterward dying took such a liking to him that he bequeathed his Barque to him by his Will This Barque Drake sold and then in the yeer 1567 went with Sir Iohn Hawkins into America in which Voyage he unfortunately lost all he had Five yeers after having gotten again a good sum of Money by Trading and Pyracy which the Preacher of his Ship told him was lawfull he bought a Ship of Warre and two small Vessells with which he set Sayl again for America where his first Prize was great store of Gold and Silver carryed over the Mountains upon Mules whereof the Gold he brought to his Ships but left the Silver hiding it under ground After this he fired a great place of Traffique called The Crosse at the River Chiruge when roaming to and fro upon the Mountains he espyed the South Sea where falling upon his knees he craved assistance of Almighty God to finde out that passage which he reserveth for another Voyage and for the present having gotten much riches he returned home Afterwards in the yeeâ— 1577 the thirteâ—â—th day of November with five Ships and Sea-men to the number of 163 he set Sayl from Plimmoâ—th for the Southern Sea and within five and twenty dayes came to Cantyne a Capâ— in Baâ—bâ—ry and then sayled along by the Islâ— of Fâ—gâ— which sends forth â—â—emes of Sulphur and being now unâ—eâ— the Line he let every one in his Ships blood The sixteenth of Apâ—â—l entring into the mouth of the Plateâ— they espyed a world of Sea-Calves in which place Iohn-â—oughty the next to Drake in Authority was called in question for raising Sedition in the Navy wâ—o being found guilty was beheaded
board and carryed away a great deale of Gold but the Vessell and Ordnance was wreck to the Governour of Calice Drake and Fencz in the mean while perceiving the Spanish Fleet to gather togethea again before Graveling set upon them with great violence to whom strâ—ightwayes Fenton Southwell Beeston Crosse and Riman joyne themselves and soon after the Admirall himself Sir Thomas Howard and the Lord Sheffield the Galleon called Saint Matthew was sorely battered by Seymor and Winter driven toward Ostend and set upon again by the Zelanders and at last was taken by the Flushingers And now the Spanish Navy having want of many necâ—ssaries and no hope of the Prince of Parma's coming they resolved to returne Northward for Spain in which passage they lost both many Ships and men the English Navy still following them close till they were faine to give them over for want of Powder Whilest these things passed at Sea the Queen â—n Person came to Tilbury to view the Army and Campe there where she shewed such undaunted Courage and Resolution that it wonderfully animated the spirits of them all And thus this Navy which was three whole Yeers in preparing in the space of a month was often beaten and at length put to flight many of their men being slain more then halfe of their Ships taken and sunk of the English not above a hundred at the most missing nor so much as a Ship but Cocks little Vessell and Sayling about all Brittaine by Scotland the Orkeneys and Ireland they returned into Spain with as much dishonour as they came out with boasting for indeed Mendoza in France by a Book in Print Triumphed before the Victory For the happy successe of this Action Queen Elizabeth appointed prayers and thanksgiving over all the Churches of England and she as it were in triumph came in Person attended with a great Troop of the Nobility into the City and went into the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul where the Banners taken from the Enemy was placed in view and there in most humble manner gave thanks to Almighty God And â—hat which increased the publike joy was the newes which Sir Robert Sidney brought out of Scotland That the King had over-past all injuries was lovingly affected towards the English and desired to imbrace sincere and perfect amitie with the Queen For as for the King of Spain he wittily told the Embassadour that he expected no other courtesie from him but such as Polyphemus promised Ulisses that he should be the last whom he would devoure And now dyed the great Earl of Leicester the fourth day of September at his Mannor of Killingworth of a violent Feaver I may well say the great Earl considering the many great Honours he enjoyed which are extant in the Story yet one honour greater then any he had before he effected even then when he was ready to go out of the world and that wasâ— To be Vice-gerent in the high Government of England and Ireland for which the Patent was already drawne and had been sealed but that Burleigh and Hatton shewed the Queen how dangerous a thing it might prove for so great Authority to reside in one Subject He was while he lived in so great favour with the Queen that some thought and himselfe not the least that she meant to marry him yet when he dyed his goods were sold at an Outcry to make payment of the debts he owed her About this time Philip Earl of Arundell who three yeers before had been cast in prison was now cited in Westminster Hall to the judgement of his Peers and Henry Earl of Derby was made High Steward of England for the time The matters layd to his charge were these That he had contracted friendship with Cardinall Allen Parsons the Jesuite and other Traytours exciting divers both abroad and at home to restore the Romish Religion promising his assistance thereunto and for that reason had a purpose to depart the Kingdom That he was privy to the Bull in which Pope Sixtus Quintus had deposed the Queen and given England to the Spaniard that being imprisoned in the Tower he caused Masse to be said for the prosperous successe of the Spanish Fleet and for that purpose had framed peculiar prayers for his own private use Being demanded whether he were guilty of these things turning himself to the Judges he asked them these questions First whether it were lawfull to heap up so many crimes together in one Bill of Indictment They answered that it was Then whether Arguments taken from presumptions were of force They answered that it was lawfull for him to interpose exceptions if he saw cause Then again if he might be Arraigned for those things which were Capitall by the Law made the thirteenth yeer of the Queen after that the time expressed in the Act was expired They promised they would proceed against him by no Law but the old Statute of Treason made in the Raigne of King Edward the Third But now again asked if he were guilty or notâ— He pleaded not guilty whereupon Puckening the Queens Sergeant at Law Popham Atturney Generall Shuttleworth Sergeant at Law and Egerton the Queens Sollicitour in their turnes urged and proved the crimes objected some whereof he denyed some he extenuated but in conclusion was by his Peers found guilty and condemned yet the Queen spared his life and was content with thus much done in terror to the Papists It was now the yeer 1589. And the two and thirtieth of Queen Elizaâ—eths Raign when to be in some sort revenged of the Spaniards for their invasion she gave leave to Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Francis Drake to underâ—ake an Expedition at their own private charges requiring nothing of her but a few Ships of War who took along with them Anthony the bastard laying clayme to the Kingdom of Portingall and of Souldidrs to the number of eleven thousand of Sea-men about fifteen hundred setting Sayle from Plimmouth the fifth day of Aprill they arrived at the Groyne in Gaâ—acia whereof with great valour they took first the Lower town and afterward the Higher and from thence sayling toward Portingall they met Robert Earl of Essex who without the Queens leave had put to Sea After two dayes they arrive at Penycha a Town of Portingall which they took and left the Castle to Don-Antonio and from thence they march by land towards Lisbon threescore miles off The Foot Companies led by Norris whom Drake promised to follow with the Fleet. Being come to the West Suburbs of Lisbon they found no body there but a few poor disarmed Portugalls who cryed out God save King Antonio The day following the Spaniards made a sayle out in which Skirmish Bret Caresley and Carre stout Commanders were slain yet did the Earl of Essex drive the Spaniards to the very gates of the Citie And now having tarryed here two dayes and seeing no signe of the Portingalls revolting which Don-Anthonio had assured them would be finding fresh supplies come