off the memory of his former plighted Vowes and Engagements whatsoever and forthwith usurps the Kingdome and was Crowned at Westminster by William Corbel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the which his whole Reigne was continually infested with forraigne and domestick troubles But he was not to learn the pollicy of his Progenitors who having attained soveraignty by unjust and foul attempts have endeavoured by all fair means to settle their tottering Diadems upon their doubtfull Heads so did this King by wisdome and pollicy endeavour to lay a sure foundation to his estate And because riches are the strength of Kings and sinews of War He therefore to enrich himself seized upon the great and vast Treasure of his Uncle the late deceased King which he closed not up in Chests or in Bags as idle Archers doe their Arrows in Quivers but with a munificent hand he bountifully disposed of them among such as by Armes or by Counsell he judged most like to stand him instead at his need Then advancing the Nobility and remitting Dane-gelt to the Vulgar and honouring the Clergy he won the hearts of all granting liberty to hunt to the Nobility and Clergy Moreover to win the good Will of strangers he obtained for his Son Eustace Constance the Daughter of Lewis King of France yet did he not more by this marriage than by treasures strengthen himself in the Kingdome of which he spent not luxuriously but to levy Soldiers with and wage war which he too soon had occasion for Scarce was he Crowned before he was forced to fall to his Armes for David King of Scotland striving to assert the interest of Maud the Empresse proclaimed War against him and possessed himself of the Towns of Carlile and New-Castle but Stephen presently marched against him with a great Army and granting Cumberland to David and the County of Huntington to his son he put by a great storm without any bloud-shed at all Yet notwithstanding not long after in pursuance of Maud his Neeces Quarrell he again enters and resists the Northern Parts of this Kingdome with fire and sword but in the end he was encountered by Thurston Arch-Bishop of York who compelled him being pursued with unspeakable dangers to fly into Scotland and leave behind him dead upon the ground more then ten thousand of his Army Scarce had he composed domestick Commotions but he is saluted with an Alarum from abroad from Maud the Empresse who accompanied with Robert Earl of Gloucester her base brother landed with an Army in England and was quickly strengthened and emboldened in her enterprise by the wonderfull access of many of the English and of Raynulph Earl of Chester with a lusty Crew of bold and foâ—ward Welch-men Hereupon the King thinking it neither safe nor for his credit to make any demurre or delay forthwith levied a strong Army and marches resolutely against the Empress and her Forces who greeted him with such Musick as Warlike Troops are wont so that a cruell and a bloudy battel for many hours was fought between them Victory hovering with doubtfull wings not knowing where to light But at length the Kings Common Soldiers wearied with battel begun to cast about for their own escape and plainly run away and left their King who with his Nobles and Gentry scorning to run away fought Gallantry expressing wonderfull tokens of their high spirits and puissant valour till in the end the King was taken The Victory thus falling to Maud Stephen is brought before her and committed to Bristoll Castle and she in the mean while possesseth the Kingdome and as Conqueresse the enters London in Triumph But Mathilde the Wife of Stephen humbly beseeches the Empress to let her live a private life with her husband for she was weary of the Government The Londoners also require their ancient Lawes they enjoyed under the Confessor but the Empresse would grant neither Whereupon Mathilde not enduring the high â—tomach of the Empresse and detesting ignoble servitude calls Eustace her Son with a choyce Company of Souldiers out of Kent to London who joyning with the Londoners that were wonderfully offended that their suit was denyed also fortifying himself with the Bishop of Winchester they fall upon the Army of the Empresse which fled privately to Oxford and asked not in vain help of David King of Scotland by whose assistance she besieged Winchester but the Queen with her Son Eustace falling on her fortress overcame the Queen in a pitcht Battel and took Robert Son to the Empress but she her self eâ—caped A Treatie for Peace followed this Fortune whereby Robert on the one hand and Stephen on the other are set at Liberty There was another condition agreed upon whereupon Stephen now being free besieges the Empress in Oxford who escapes through his Army by night aparrelled in White by reason of much Snow newly fallen In the mean while Ieffery Husband to the Empresse dyes and leaves to his Son Henry the Dukedome of Anjou and Aquitane who befoâ—e had with his Wife Eleanor the County of Poictiers This Henry besieged Malmsbury but in vaine Not long after Henry is again invited over by some of his friends and comes with a gallant Army bravely conducted by noble Captains King Stephen and his Son had an Army in readiness to encounter them Great was the confidence on both sides somwhat they did but little But now happens a thing much to be wondered at amongst drawn Swords peace began to shew her self for in this expedition Eustace the only Heir of King Stephen is unfortunately drowned which overcame the King with infinite sorrow but it made a quiet end of this quarell For now the King wanting an heir to succeed him was pleased to accept the proffer of a friendly peace thereupon he adopted Prince Henry for his son and heir of his Crown gave him many Kingly gifts and assured him of his unchangeable love The Princes and all his followers return into Normandy with all imaginable Joy and next year King Stephen dyed when he had reigned nineteen years lacking one Month He dyed at Dover and was buried at Feversham in Kent Stephen a Valiant Prince sonne to Stephen Earle of Blois Charters and Champaigne and of Adela daughter to William ⧠Conquerour Vsurped the Kingdome of England which caused him to bâ— vexed with continuall warres He raigned 18 yeares 11 months died at the age of 49 yeares and lieth buried at Feversham 1154 Stephen next usurps the throne for when he drew His Sword he cut the Gordeon in two Valiant he was but vitiously inclin'd He is too strong a man Oaths cannot binde Maud had the Right Stephen Power Princes take Any advantage when a Crowns at stake He made no Laws he so in Wars did live He seemed rather to receive then give At last his Son dies now all storms blow fair Whilst Stephen adopts his enemy his heir What War could not a happy peace hath done This has a Kingdome got and that a Son HENRY the Second King of
severe Laws and abolishes hard Customes He grants the Nobility free leave to hunt and to enclose Parks for Deer and free Warrens for their Conyes and such like Game and as Traytors to his vertues state and Kingly government he banished from his Court all Flatterers and all nicenesse in behaviour Luxuriousness and gorgeousness in apparel and superfluity in dyet He ordained punishments by death for such as rob by the high way and with wonderfull travel and industry he reformed the monstrous pride avarice and secure sloth and negligence of the Clergy He recalled from banishment Anselm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury giving him full power to assemble Synods and Convocations at his pleasure for the rectifying of such things that were amisse in the Church He piously and freely bestowed on godly sober grave Divines all such livings and Ecclesiasticall promotions as his Brother unjustly detained by the lewd advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham whom he sent prisoner to the Tower of London from whence not long after the said wicked Bishop escaped and fled into Normandy to Duke Robert whom he eagerly perswaded to claim his Crown with his Sword who thereupon levies a great Army which he intended with all expedition to transport into this Realme but as King Henry by his former clemencies had rooted himself in the peoples love so to assure himself the better of the Scots he takes Maud the Sister of King Edgar to be his Wife who was daughter to Malcom by his Wife Margaret who was Sister to Edgar Adeling who dyed without issue and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Robert was now arrived in England with a puissant Army and the day for Battel appointed and the Heraulds were sent up and down but at last as a thick lowring cloud is somtimes dispersed by a fair shining Sun so by the discreet mediation of worthy friends there was a friendly peace concluded between the two brothers on the same terms agreed on in King Rufus days whereupon the Norman Lords were much discontented and returned home with the Duke This danger dispelled Beliamy Earl of Shrewsbury with the Earl of Mortain and Cornwall rebell but are soon subdued But now Henry who was hitherto on the defensive part takes up Armes of his own accord against his Brother whether out of some distast for some scoffe his Brother gave him or which is more like stirred up with ambition and avarice to inlarge his Dominions and joyning with the Norman male-contented Nobles with little adoe chased the forsaken Duke from place to place and won from him the Cities of Roan Cane Valoyes indeed all Normandy presently in great honour and triumph he returns for England Robert having thus made tryall of his brothers severity he resolvs now to make tryall of his lenity whereupon he follows after his Brother into England and very submissively deprecates his error and begs his pardon But Henry either offended with the now fresh injury of his brother Or affecting the Dukedome of Normandy departs unkindly from the perplexed and distressed Duke his Brother Coily refusing to accept of his submission which in all humility by him was prosfered But Robert being impatient of that scorn his distress had begot him returns in all speed into Normandy and once more levies an Army resolving rather to dye manfully fighting in the Field then to follow the funeralls of his own Honour but his brother was prevalent and prevents him with a greater force suppressing the mischief in the Birth but not without bloud bringing his Brother Captive into England where for that he at Natures enticement practised his escape at his brothers Commandement both his eyes were pluckt out after which he lived as a miserable and wretched Captive the space of more then twenty years at length he dyed and was buryed at Gloucester This success made Henry magnificent but envied whence arose a foraigne War which by power and pollicy he quieted granting to William the Dukedome of Normandy upon condition of Homage But Charls Earl of Flanders being wickedly slain at Brussels leaving no other Heir William the Son of Robert who was the next right Heir to it for that he was of the Bloud of Maud Daughter to Baldwin and Wife to William the Conquerour was elevated to this Dignity who growing insolent with this prosperity endeavours to recover Normandy his Patrimony by his Grandfather which he brought to passe with no great difficulty by the assistance of the French King but receiving a slight wound in his hand and suffering it to rankle he lost his life and his Patrimony Next the Welch Rebell but the end of that War was a prey of Oxen and Sheep taken by Henry He seldome taxed the Land or never but once for a portion for his Daughter Maud. He was the first that called a Parliament In the Year 1020 William his Son with his Wife the Duke of Anjou's Daughter his Sister Maud the Lady Lucy a Neece of the Kings the Earl of Chester with divers ' other Noblemen and Ladies and others to the number 160 crossing the Seas from France to England were all most miserably drowned not any one saved but a poor Butcher who like Iob's servant was spared to bring the sad News the King having no children left but his Daughter Maud the Empress who after the Emperors death marryed Ieffery Plantaginet With these and other griefs the King languished at last eating Lampreys he surfeited and dyed and was buryed in Reading Abby after he had reigned 35 years In this King ended all the issues Male of the Conquerour and the Crowne of this Realme devolved on his generall Heirs HENRY the first surnamed Beau-clark King of England and Duke of Normandie He raigned 35 yeares and 4 monthes died the 2 of December 1185. at the age of 67 yeares and lieth buried at Reading 1135. R E. sculpsit Robert's abroad still roving for renowne And now a second time forfeits his Crowne Which Henry his Brother means to weare At the old rate three thousand Marks a year Whose Eyes he now puts out incontinent Lest he should see his bargain and repent He that allows his Brother none now dyes Surfeiting of a Fish abounds with Eyes Crowns no Relation know they oft have stood Close cemented to Caesar's Head with bloud Thus to the Crown the third Descent does fail The Conquerour and all his Issue Male. STEPHEN King of England MOnday December the 26 1135. being St. Stephen's Day Stephen Earl of Mortaign and Bulloyne Son of Stephen Earl of Bloys and Champaine and of Adela Daughter to William the Conquerour notwithstanding all his Vowes and publick Protestations to Henry the First to further the Right and Succession of Maud the Empress being his Daughter and of her Children yet when the King was dead he finding that the Nobility though sworn as deep and solemnly as himself was applyed themselves totally to his devotion he presently shook
Wales He paid the Scots for all their Treacheries And 4 times brought them on their humbled knees EDVVARD the Second King of England EDward the Second succeeds his Father in the Throne who was too unmindâ—ull of his â—athers commands in his â—ast Will and Testament in which he was enjoyned and solemnly protâ—sted to performe three things especially namely that he should carry his fathers Bones along with him till he had conquâ—red Scotland Secondly that he should expend thirty thousand pounds in the Holy Warre and Thirdly that he should never recall Peirce Gaveston whom for just reasons his Father had banished for Life But he never performed any of these for his fathers bones he did well enough to let them rest but for Gaveston he recalled him and bestowed on him all the money designed to the Holy War longing more to brake his Oath touching him then to take his Coronation Oath The Noble men who perfectly knew how wickedly this Gaveston was enclined perceiving that the King doted on him and that his affections towards him were unlimited being perplexed with inward grief and foreseeing that his insolence would be the ruine of the Realme emboldened themselves to put the King in mind of his Oath But as his conscience nothing troubled him for the breach thereof so their disliking encreased his desires towards Gaveston and to make him great which was the next thing he took in hand and now none but Gaveston must rule all in all frown who would the King cared not Gaveston must and shall be great and therefore first he is Lorded with the Baronie of Wallingford and soon after he is created Earl of Cornwall and if this was not enough to make him rich he is made sole Commander over the Kings Jewells and Treasures in which Oâ—fice so absolute was his power and so cunning his crafty pate to provide in the time of his prosperity for adverse Fortune which might ensue that secretly he conveyed beyond the seas a fair Table and Tressells all made of beaten Gold and many rich and precious Ornaments to the great hurt of the King and dammage of this Realme He also took much pleasure to feed the Kings fancy with great variety of delights and by his example he inured him to excessive banqueting and drunkennesse and his vile and unchast all urements made him carelesse of the bed and society of his Religious and Vertuous Queen Isabel the Daughter of the French King Philip the fair Sister to Charls his successor and trained him to the adulterous Consortship of wanton curtizans and shameless Whores The Queen who sorrowed hereat beyond measure reposed all her means for redresse of those unsufferable wrongs in her prayers to God and her modest wooing for her Kâ—ngs love but all endeavours came to nothing for the beams of her excellent vertues could not pierce the thick clouds of his vanities neither could her pious tears mollifie his heart hardened in too much variety and plenty of loathsome sins The Nobles and those of the Kings Counsell secretly and severall timâ—s enformed the King what notice at offence strangers and his own people even the Vulgar at the lewd and vicious courses of Gaveston and how strangely they spoke of him and of his Government altogether eclipsed by the interposition of his fowle vices betwixt himself and it but all availâ—d nothing with him who was resolved rather to lose his Crown than his Companion Then at the Lords Petition the King sends him into Ireland not as a person proscribed but a President at length the Nobles perceiving the Kings heavinesse for his absence petition his recall in hope of his amendment and to please the King but he growes more insolent theâ— before At last the Barons hopelesse to redresse and unable to support so despised a burthen besiâ—ge this wicked Gaveston in a strong castle win it and cut off his head Then the King to vex his Nobility he entertained into his Society and Counsels the two Spencers father and son men as gracelesse and odious to the Nobles and common people as the other was They advised him to Whores and Concubines and to forsake the sweet Company of his modest and vertuous Queen which made him a scorne to forraigne Princes and all honest men yet the King in spight of his greatest Lords supported the Spencers in all whatever they took in band But this evill Government begets him envy and contempt at home and eneâ—ies abroad â—or Râ—â—liruse being re-crowned in Scotland invades England four or five dayes marcheth with fire and Sword making havock of all before him But King Edward had behavâ—d himself so ill aâ— home in over-favouring his Minions altogether neglecting his Nobles that his â—athers bones could stand him now in little stead for no lesse then three â—imes is he overthrâ—wne by the Scots yea with numbers farre inferiour to his own to the shame of this Realme famous for the best Souldiers in the World At home he became too fortunate for he overthrows his Barons Army beheads 22. Lords by the advice of these villanous perfidious Spencers But the Queen with the Prince her Son saile beyond Sea obtains assistance of her Cousin Sr. Iohn Henault and his friends returns into England and joyning with the Nobles and the City of London overthrowes the Kings Forces and besieging him and the Spencers in Bristoll Castle takes it and them and executes these miscreants the Spencers father and Son and other their Confederates and committed the King to Prison whence he never escaped Then a Parliament is called wherein they consulted to depose the King and to Crown his Son but he was so piously conscientious that he would not accept the Crowne unlesse his father willingly resigned it which he freely did being glad they would Crowne his Son in his stead And not long after he miserably ended his dayes in Barkly Castle by piercing his bowels with a red hot Spit through his fundament and at the Age of 43 he was buried at Gloucester He was tall and comely of Stature but of immoderate dotage on his Minions and given to drunkenness which made him too open of his Counsels too much addicted to lasciviousnesse his own nature being rather corrupted by his vicious Minions than otherwise Edward the 2d. King of England Duke of Aquitaine Earle of Poictou Anjou and Pontieu Lord of Ireland He raigned 19. yeares 7 mo ths and was deposed the 25th of Ianuary 1327. and shortly comâ—â—â—ted to prison in Barkley Castle and there cruelly murdered 〈◊〉 the age of 43 yeares huried at Glocester Edward the Second doth deserve to have All his Remembrance buryed in his grave He lead to Scotland many thousand men And having seen it e'ne came home agen Pierce Gaveston enthralled his jale heart So close that nothing but the axe could part Next come his dearling Spencers to his view Rid of one Rakeshame now he must have two Honour and Princely prudence are thrown down And Dotage takes
a lawfull Victory which as he said was given him of God This King as commonly Conquerours doe abolishing forthwith all the Customes of the English Nation and most of their Laws brought in immediately his own Country Fashions and commanded that all Causes should be pleaded in French And excluding all the English that had boarn Armes against him out of their Patrimonies he disposed of all their demeanes and Fields and the rest of their Goods among his Souldiers for a Reward of their Victory reserving to himself the direct principallity and homage held to himself and his Heirs as a Tenure from the Crowne so that none but the King should be the right and true Lord of any thing Also he caused a Seal to be made for himself wherein was engraved By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron but on the other side was engraven By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England Having thus subdued the Laity he turns himself to the Clergy and made an Edict that no English Monk should be capable of any secular dignity disdaining the facilnesse of Canutus who was formerly King who had continued the honours entreating the people whom he had subdued by which Lenity the Inhabitants growing bold after his death easily expelled Forreigners and redeemed their former Liberty Then he appeased the approaching War of the Danes by giving them money that he might enjoy it peaceably at any rate And hence it was that the English were in no fear at all of the Danes who formerly so infested them yet they were not so free from troubles but that here and there arose some tumults among the people that were hardly suppressed and overcome but the windy Faction was easily dispersed The greatest matter was the Rebellion of his Son Robert in Normandy because it was most against Nature This Son at the Instigation of Philip King of France demanded this Dukedome of his Father as his proper Right and without more words enters upon Normandy by force of Armes It is true his Father had promised him this Territory but the Son was weary of delay nor would he longer forbear from the Government he looked for The King hearing of his Sons Enterprize suddenly goes against him with a strong Army they meet in Battel the Son unhorses his Father and wounds him in the arme but when he knew his Fathers Voyce alighting from his horse he raiseth his Father from the ground and kneeling down before him craved pardon for his boldnesse which he obtained presently his Father embracing him in his armes however he seemed thus to have appeased his Fathers wrath yet God never suffering such faults to escape unpunished he had no good luck ever after Having conquered the Rebels partly by Sweetnesse and partly by Sword he endeavours to enlarge his Kingdome bringing Wales under his Command and causing Malcom King of Scots to doe him homage and so adding new Countryes he in some measure rewarded England for the Crown they gave unto him Yet least the frowardnesse of his newly conquered Subjects should grow insolent he laid upon them Taxes and Tributes that differed them little from slaves seeking by all means to weed out and keep under hatches the Nobility and with continuall Battels to wast and wear out the Commonalty Only the men of Kent held their old Customes For the King upon a certaine time journeying toward Dover was handsomly circumvented by the Inhabitants of Kent carrying Boughes cut down from Trees nor would they suffer him to depart untill he had granted them the enjoyment of their ancient Customes also he was indulgent to the Londoners to let them enjoy the priviledges they had in the Time of Edward the Confessor but he forbad the Nobility â—rom hunting of Deer reserving those sports for himself only About the end of his Life he placed his two Sons Robert and Henry almost in equall power over Normandy There happened on a day a quarrel between Henry and Lewis the Dolphin of France playing at Tables which was the cause of great Contention betwixt the French and the Normans the Dolphin drawing Robert on his side enters Normandy with an Army William forthwith having his Navy ready sails into Normandy and with no difficulty reducing his Son Robert to obedience he marched to Roan that he might find the French men work When he was weary with toyiing being very fat he made a halt a while The French derided him for his fat belly speaking scoffingly that he was with Child and ready to be delivered when William heard thereof he answered If please God I ever recover of this Child-birth I will burn a thousand lights to God in token of my thankfulnesse nor was it long before he entered the Territories of France and wasted all before him with Fire and Sword Yet shortly after he fell sick and dyed at Roan His followers not only forsook him being dead but spoyled him of what he had and his body unfortunately thrice forsaken was at last let down into his own Monument at Cane in Normandy but not entire William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy after he had in Battaiâ—e slaine Harald toke vppon him the Crowne of England He raigned 19 yeares 11 months 〈◊〉 at the age of 74 yeares And lieth buried at Caen in Normandy William the Conquerour resigns his breath Vnto a greater Conquerour grim Death I doe not say when he for England fought That any other then his right he sought But to the English he no Bowells had Whence his own Bowells served him as bad With what contempt these troublers of the World When breath forsakes into the earth are hurl'd A man may see in him who scarce could have ' Midst all his Realms friends a sorry grave As if the very Earth scorn'd to entombe The Son of so much slaughter in her Womb. WILLIAM the Second King of England WIlliam the Conquerour being Deceased the Crown of England by right of succession fell to Robert his Eldest Son but he being in Germany Lanfrank then Arch Bishop of Canterbury who by reason of his great Learning and singular vertue was in high and reverend esteeme with the people so prevailed with the dying Conquerour William the first that instead of Robert the true Heir by Primogeniture William surnamed Rufus because of his Ruddy or Red Complexion though the younger Brother was Crowned King of England Sept 9. 1087. The Beginning of his Reigne was very troublesome and unquiet For his Brother Robert took great offence at his attempt to take advantage of his absence honestly employed in his fathers service to intercept his Crown and dignity which in his Conscience belonged justly and only to him But not long after enraged Robert entered with a very puissant Army of valiant Normans and many French whom Philip their King had waged for his ayde the Confines of England resolving with his Presence to regaine what he had lost by his Absence abhorring that his Right should be
the age of 65 yeares after he had raigned 56 yeares and lieth intombed at Westminster 1272. The groaning Kingdome being rid of John Has found his very Image in his Son King Henry the Third nine years of Age Enters a troubled and a doubtfull Stage The Realme he found Rebecca like become With divers Nations strugling in her Womb All which he clear'd at last with promise fair With Oaths Vowes which prov'd nothing but Aiâ— He pill'd his subjects so that at his need Give him they nothing would nor could indeed He marries then with a mean Family And spoyles his Realme to lard their Poverty EDVVARD the First King of England WHen King Henry died Edward his son and heir was in Palestine very intent about the holy war where he underwent a grievous danger having received 3 desperate wounds from his adversary with a poysoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull Piety of his Wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venome from his wounds In his way being made more certain of his fathers death he made great journeyes and travelled in all hast into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and Common-people he was crowned King when he was of the age of 35 years At the beginning of his Reigne he used the Nobility well but to abate the insolence of the Clergy he commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them otherwise and so drew upon himself their envy The Welch rise against him but he luckily intercepts Monfort's daughter espoused to Lluellen their Prince upon surrender of whom that storm blew over and obedience was promised by the Welch to King Edward But within few years three or four at most Lluellen puts an end to his Oath and obedience for his wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new Rebellions also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him falls off to his brother and so with joynt forces they enter England and does some mischief to Edward both of them wonderfully inflamed by a false prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crowne of Brutus was promised to Lluellen but the battle being set Lluellen was killed by a private Soldier and his Head brought to King Edward his Brother David also was taken and had his Head struck off and with his Brothers it was set upon the Tower of London where it remained a long time after but his four Quarters were sent to four Principall Cities in England to be set up for a terrour to all Traitors hereafter so Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welch and the death of Alphonsus his first Borne who was slain in the same battle In the eighteenth year of King Edward's Reigne Alexander the King of Scots not having any Issue of his body fell with his horse and unfortunately brake his neck He had three sisters the eldest of which was married to Iohn Balioll Lord of Galloway the second to Robert le Bruse Lord of Valley-Andrew and the third was married into England to Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergavenny amongst these three each of them backed with his best friends sharp bickerings and civill wars arose to the destruction of many worthy persons on all sides Whilst the matter thus was handled King Edward promises the Kingdome of Scotland to Bruse for ever so he would do him homage for it but Bruse refuseth it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own honour Yet Balioll yields to those conditions and so got the Kingdome of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country-men Envy against him increased for refusing Justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slaine for Baylioll exempted Albermeâ—h from punishment that slew him whereupon Baylioll cited before Edward's Tribunall is forced to plead his cause he was angry at this disgrace and denies Homage to Edward and proclaims warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloudy warre between the two Nations which lasted for three hundred years only some feigned cessations passed between No lesse than four times did this victorious King Edward subdue the false and fraudulent Scots compelling them with extraordinary tokens of subjection and humility to submit themselves to his mercy In the mean time a new warre breaks forth between King Edward and the French King Philip the fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King for Kings that envy one another easily break forth into open Hatred but Edward had other grudges against the French for conniving at the death of his Cousen Henry the Emperors Son Edward therefore when a day was appointed him hath a stipendary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appeare whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of King Edward in France by force of Armes the King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant with Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour presently marches against the King of France but finding the French divided in two parts and defrauded with the Emperours delayes when he had held his winters quarters at Gaunt not without the murmuring of the Citizens and great want of his souldiers At the beginning of the spring truce being made with the French for three years the King tooke Margaret the Dukes sister to wife for Eleoner died in the former Expedition against the Scots And the daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards sonne he retreated for England About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grievously to the King upon Edward the young Prince who by the lewd advice of Pierce Gaveston his loose and gracelesse Companion brake forcibly into his Park and made havock of his Game for which the Prince was committed to Prison and Gaveston banished for ever Lastly making an incursion into Scotland he is taken with a Disentery and dies of it and lies buried at Westminster He was very tall of Countenance somwhat sorrowfull of Chastitie like his Father but in fortitude farre before him Religious he was and wise The noble and Victorious Prince EDWARD the first surnamed Long-shanks King of England Duke of Aquitaine Earle of Poictices and Anjou Lo of Ireland c He Conquered Scotland and brought from thence the Marble Chaire He subdued and overcame llewelyn Prince of Wales and made his sonne Edward Prince Hereof he died at the age of 68 yeares 1307. after he had raigned 34 yeares 8 monthes buried at Westminster King Edward Saraceus Head Sholder sunders Where Christ wrought miracles this Prince did wonders His wife with such so pious love abounds She sucks the venome from his poysoned wounds 'T were Treason to their merits to conceal So great a Valour and so sweet a zeal The haughty Welch he soon did over-run And left them Vassalls to his Princely Son And by his sword so weighed down Fortunes scales That Englands heir succeeds stil Prince of
the 31 of August 1422. and crowned King of England at Westminster the 6. of Nouember 1429. and of Fraunce the 7 of December 1432. he reigned 38 yeres 6 monthes he died by violence May 21. aged 52. AnoÌ„ 1471. first buried at Chertsey Abbey thence remoued to Windsore wher he was solemhley interd R E. 〈◊〉 Mars begets Clineas Henry a Son That has lost more then all his Father won For he lost Normandy and France put to 't England and Ireland and his Life to boot Twice crown'd and twice depos'd at last he took Deaths fatall Errand from Yorks desperate Duke He was a Prince do Rebels what ye will Like Archimedes drawing Figures still Who not unlike some Gamesters I have seen Winning and losing still the same has been He was not Politick in the Worlds controle But he is wise enough that saves his Soul EDVVARD the Fourth King of England EDward Duke of York having overthrown the King and Queen and having overthrown and executed many of his greatest enemies at Towton field returned triumphantly to the City of London and was proclaimed King of this Realme the 4 of March 1461. and was crowned the 19. day of Iune then next following In the beginning of his Reigne he removed from all Offices all such as oppressed the people and to strengthen his part with powerfull and faithfull friends he creates his two brothers George Duke of Clarence and Richard Duke of Gloucester and Sr. Iohn Nevell brother to the Earl of Warwick he created Lord Montacute and Henry Bourchier who had married the Lady Elizabeth Aunt unto the King and was brother unto Thomas Bourchier Arch-bishop of Canterbury was created Earl of Essex and William Lord Fawcâ—nbridge was made Earl of Kent The Duke of Sommerset and Sr. Ralph Percy with divers others the Kings professed enemies finding no further hope for the house of Lancaster came voluntarily in and submitted to the King and were received to pardon and favour but hearing that the Queen by the assistance of the Scots had raised an Army they slank away and revolted to her and afterwards taken at the battel of Exham were executed The Lord Montacute to whose valour the fortune of that day was ascribed is created Marquess Montacute to whom and others Edward gave great gifts After this Henry is taken in a disguise and sent to the Tower Then Warwick is sent to the Duke of Savoy and prevails for a Match between Edward and Bona the Dukes daughter but Edward in the mean time marries Elizabeth the widow of Sr. Iohn Grey at which Warwick vexed calls to his part his two Brothers and Clarence the Kings Brother and the King at Banbury The King notwithstanding these evill tidings marched confidently against Warwick and his northern Rebels but to prevent mischief many of the Nobillity endeavoured to conclude a peace so that Letters and Heraulds of Armes passed from one Army to the other for both were glad of peace by means of this Parlee King Edward became more carelesse of himself then was fitting whereof when the Earl of Warwick was informed he with some other well appointed rushed into the Kings Army slew his watches and surprised the King in his bed and secretly sent him to Midleham Castle in York-shire there to be safely kept by the Arch-bishop of York his brother who either repenting him of what he had done against the King or being won by large promises of great favour and good rewards suffered him with his Guarders to hunt and hawk by means whereof he made his escape and got to London where between the King and the Rebels another Parlee was had in Westminster Hall in which nothing was done but objections of good deserts and unthankfull requitals were proudly and insultingly urged by the Earl of Warwick in conclusion they departed each from other in great fury the King went to Canterbury and the confederated Lords to Lincolne Armies are raised on both sides they fight and the King wins the field The Lords Clarence and Warwick fly to the King of France who honourably entertains them and aids them with all necessaries for the levying of another Army with which they fight and drive King Edward out of the Kingdome who by the help of the Duke of Burgoyne returns with a small Army into the City of York where he is received upon solemn Oath that he claimed nothing but the Dukedome of York and that he would work no Treason against King Henry now again re-established in his Throne but he presently forfeits his faith and raising another great Army beats Warwick recovers the Crown and re-imprisons King Henry who soon after was murdered by the bloody hands of Richard Duke of Gloucester The King having through much trouble obtained peace betakes himself to dalliance with Iane Shore in the mean while his brother Duke of Clarence is drowned in a Butt of Malmsey The Scots threaten Warre and Richard Duke of Gloucester is sent against them a Peace was procured and King Edward dyed having reigned two and twenty years and is buried at Windsor He was doubtlesse a brave Prince however the clearest day is not without some clouds his perjury at York when he swore to the Citizens he would claim nothing but that Dukedome which was his right by inheritance and that he would in no sort interrupt King Henry's peace all which he falsified which afterward his innocent Sonnes sadly suffered for His lustfull Embraces with Shores wife got him the envy of his owne who was a chast and vertuous Lady in whom he got a good Wife though many enemies and though unfortunate in her Sons yet in her Daughter is composed all the fewd of York and Lancaster The right noble Prince EDWARD the 4th King of England and Fraunce Lord of Ireland He raigned 22. yeares and 5 weekes Died at the age of 52 yeares buried at Windsor 1483. R. Elstracke sculpsit Now sixty years out York obtains the Crowne And Lancaster with all his friends puts down Betwixt which Houses while the difference stood Fell more then fourscore of the Noble Bloud For which but think how many thousands bled And you will Iudge the Roses both were Red. Warwick advances Edward to the Crown And in distast againe he pulls him down But Edward to the Duke of Burgoine flyes And with his aid and his own perjuries Reerowns himself for Kingdomes men will dare A thousand Oaths and count them solemne Aire EDVVARD the Fifth King of England EDward the Fourth being dead his Eldest Son Edward succeeded him but he in his Reign was under Governors Anthony Lord Rivers Thomas Wagham Chamberlain and Richard Grey Knights who being sent for by the Queens Letters came in hast to London with the Prince Then also Richard Duke of Gloucester being at York and hearing of the Kings Death came to London with a small Army and being mindfull to usurp the Kingdome he overtook the young King Edward on his way to London and takes him into his own charge
a man he was of an approved judgement and understanding in State affairs and of a singular fidelity to his King and Countrey William Laud also Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England followed him a man admirably learned But now they touched the Kings bowells for they accuse the Queens Majesty as one that had caused the troubles in Ireland and caused that people of themselves inconstant enough to rebell the King hereupon accused five of the lower house and one of the upper House their names the Lord Viscount Mandevile Pim Hamden Hasilrig Hollis and Stroud cleerly detecting these men of these tumults and dissensions but the Parliament would never suffer them to come to tryal but hid them in the City The Parliament having brought the business to this resolve not to give it over but Ianuary 16. 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others to the number of 20000. and more under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties The King hasts to Hampton Court commanding his Councellors to follow him especially Essex and Holland who both refuse wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that sled so that for hast being he had no Purveyers to provide room for him sufficiently he his wife and children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed The King with some of his friends takes journey to York and is honourably received by the Gentry who proffer their best assistance the Parliament takes advantage of his absence and load him and his Queen with black and scandalous calumnies to render him odious to the City and having his Militia out of his hands together with the disposing of all places of trust they raise a great masse of money upon publick faith and I know not what State cheats they fortifie all places of strength they next send to the King humble Petitions containing most unreasonable demands calling them Priviledges of Parliament giving the King plainly to understand if he will not grant what they desire they will have it by force and forthwith raise a formidable Army under the command of the Earl of Essex the King is denyed entrance into his Town of Hull by the two Hothams father and son both which afterward their fellow Rebels beheaded on one and the same day spightfully executing the son first least he should have the honour to dye a Knight The King seeing his lenity hath been but their opportunity and that they were now in the field ready to surprize him sets up his Standard at Nottingham levies what forces he could and betakes himself to the field having fortified Oxford his chief Garrison many Battels are fought with various success till that fatal Battel at Naseby in which the Kings forces were totally routed and his very cabinet of private Letters between himself and his wife taken and most barbarously printed and divulged to his Majesties honour and the infamy of the divulgers For that the King in a disguize yields up his Person to the Scots who trayâ—erously sold him to the English for 200000 l. And the Rump having now what they desired murder him at his own Gate Ian. 30. 1648. He lyes buried by Henry the Eight at Windfor The high and Mighty Monarch CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defender of the Fayth etc. Are to be sould by Thomas Ionneâ— aty e Royall Exchaunge Thus Ah thus our dread Soveraign Charls the first The best of men was murder'd by the worst At his own Gate by his own Subjects too What more could barbarous Moors and Scythians do False Scots betray'd sold him Scots that would Betray again our Saviour Christ for gold Thus fell our Laws and Liberties Assertor The Churches Champion and the Peoples Martyr To prove him wise just learned only look Into his most incomparable Book Which shall his name from age to age present When Brasse and Marble need a Monument CHARLS IId. King of Great Britain France Ireland CHARLS the second By the Grace of God of England Scotland France Ireland King was born the 29. of May 1630. Never knew May a more hopefull flower than this that happily sprung from the Roses of York and Lancaster joyned to the Lillyes of France a flower to whose composure nature it seems summoned her divided glories as Zeuxis did his divided beauties to make up one Venus Well was this May thought then most happy untill now we have lived to see another May as much more happy as it is to be brought to a Kingdome than to be brought to the world or to be Crowned than to be Cradled His Royall Nativity was attended by a Starre discovered over St. Iames's at mid-day displaying its modest beams in spight of Sun-shine in the middle of the aire an Emblem of his future glory it seems when Vulgar births are passed by every day unobserved the whole frame of nature takes notice of Soveraign births and Complements them with Stars Meteors Thunders Earth-quakes such honour have Gods anointed when he made his own Son King over his holy Hill of Zion a starre came and waited upon him from the East For his Education His Father of blessed memory pitcht upon the Reverend Doctor Duppa Dean of Christ-Church in Ozon Lord Bishop of Chichester and afterward of Salisbury who went to him as his other Genius O â—ow the reverend Father insinuated himself with his sacred Theorems into his Princely soul in short he arrived at that proficiency was his own honour and the worlds admiration as forraign Tongues as Italian French Spanish Dutch c. Adversity hath been his School-master witnesse all Embassadors whom he Elegantly answers in their own Languages This every way accomplisht Prince whom this degenerous Land was unworthy of was expulsed his Kingdomes by Traytors whose names are blacker than my Ink accursed Assassines that murdered the Father than whom a better King England was never happy under and would have sent the thrice Noble Son the same way but that God preserved him miraculously to be the joy and honour of these long bleeding Kingdomes once again At last after many forreign troubles the Scots invite the King upon tearms almost as hard as Exile which yet the King receives and is Crowned in Scotland but tyred out with their Factions he makes for England with his friends and Lashly who at Worcester betrayes him where his Majesty in his own person performing wonders yet lost the day and escaped leaving all things behind him a prey to the enemies who fell upon the Royal plunder so hastily as if they thought to find Saul the King among the stuff but blessed be that losse that saved our Soveraigne But the King escapes their villany and violence and purposely loosing his company goes to White-Ladyes near Boscobil where cutting off his hair disguising his face with Wallnuts and his body with rustick Robes under the conduct of the Penderells he passed the dayes in obscure Coppices and