the twentieth of September the Towne of Beverley with the Church of Saint Iohn there was burnt And in this Kings time the bones of King Arthur and his Wife Guynevour were found in the Vale of Avalon under an hollow Oake fifteene foote under ground the haire of the said Guynevour being then whole and of fresh colour but as soone as it was touched it fell to powder as Fabian relateth Of his Wife and Children HE married Eleanor Daughter and heire of William Duke of Guien late Wife of Lewis the seventh King of France but then divorced but for what cause divorced is diversly related some say King Lewis carryed her with him into the Holy Land where she carryed her selfe not very holily but led a licentious life and which is the worst kind of licentiousnesse in carnall familiarity with a Turke which King Lewis though knowing yet dissembled till comming home he then waived that cause as which he could not bring without disgrace to himselfe and made use of their nearenesse in blood as being Cousins in the fourth degree which was allowed by the Pope as a cause sufficient to divorce them though he had at that time two Daughters by her Being thus divorced Duke Henry marries her with whom it was never knowne but she led a modest and sober life a sufficient proofe that the former Report was but a slander By this Queene Eleanor he had five Sonnes William Henry Richard Geoffry and Iohn and three Daughters Maude marryed to Henry Duke of Saxony Eleanor marryed to Alphonso the Eighth of that name King of Castile and Iane or Ioane marryed to William King of Sicilie Of his Sonnes William dyed young Henry borne the second yeare of his Raigne was Crowned King with his Father in the eighteenth yeare and dyed the nine and twentyeth yeare and was buryed at Roan marryed to Margaret Daughter of Lewis King of France but left no issue Richard borne at Oxford in the fourth yeare of his Fathers Raigne and succeeded him in the kingdome Geoffrey borne the fifth yeare of his Fathers Raigne marryed Constance Daughter and Heire of Conan Earle of Little Britaine in the foureteenth yeare and in the two and thirtieth yeare dyed leaving by his Wife Constance two Daughters and a Posthumus Sonne named Arthur Iohn his youngest called Iohn without Land because he had no Land assigned him in his Fathers time borne the twelfth yeare of his Fathers Raigne and succeeded his Brother Richard in the kingdome And this may be reckoned a peculiar honour to this King that of his five Sonnes three of them lived to be Kings and of his three Daughters two of them to be Queenes Concubines he had many but two more famous then the rest and one of these two more famous then the other and this was Rosamond Daughter of Walter Lord Clifford whom he kept at Woodstocke in lodgings so cunningly contrived that no stranger could find the way in yet Queene Eleanor did being guided by a thread so much is the eye of jealousie quicker in finding out then the eye of care is in hiding What the Queen did to Rosamond when she came in to her is uncertaine but this is certaine that Rosamond lived but a short time after and lyes buryed at the Nunnery of Godstâ—w neare to Oxford By this Rosamond King Henry had two Sonnes William called Long-Sword who was Earle of Salisbury in right of his Wife Ela Daughter and Heire of William Earle of that Country and had by her much issue whose posterity continued a long time And a second Sonne named Geoffrey who was first Bishop of Lincolne and afterward Arch-bishop of Yorke and after five yeares banishment in his Brother King Iohns time dyed in the yeare 1213. The other famous Concubine of this King Henry was the Wife of Ralph Blewet a knight by whom he had a Sonne named Morgan who was Provost of Beverley and being to be elected Bishop of Durham went to Rome for a dispensation because being a Bastard he was else uncapable But the Pope refuâ—ing to grant it unlesse he would passe as the Sonne of Blewet he absolutely answered he would for no cause in the world deny his Father and chose rather to lose the Dignity of the Place then of his Blood as being the Sonne though but the base Sonne of a King Of his personage and conditions HE was somewhat red of face and broad breasted short of body and therewithall fat which made him use much Exercise and little Meate He was commonly called Henry Shortmantell because he was the first that brought the use of short Cloakes out of Anjou into England Concerning endowments of mind he was of a Spirit in the highest degree Generous which made him often say that all the World sufficed not to a Couragious heart He had the Reputation of a wise Prince all the Christian World over which made him often say that all the World sufficed not to a Couragious heart He had the Reputation of a wise Prince all the Christian World over which made Alphonsus King of Castile and Garsyas King of Navarre referre a difference that was betweene them to his Arbitrament who so judiciousâ—y determined the Cause that he gave contentment to both Parties a harder matter then to cut Cloath even by a thread His Custome was to be alwayes in Action for which cause if he had no Reall Warres he would have Faigned and would transport Forces either into Normandy or Britaine and goe with them himselfe whereby he was alwayes prepared of an Army and made it a Schooling to his Souldiers and to himselfe an Exercise To his Children he was both indulgent and hard for out of indulgence he caused his Son Henry to be Crowned King in his owne time and out of hardnesse he caused his younger Sonnes to Rebell against him He was rather Superstitious then not Religious which he shewed more by his carriage toward Becket being dead then while he lived His Incontinency was not so much that he used other Women besides his Wife but that he used the affianced Wife of his owne Son And it was commonly thought he had a meaning to be divorced from his Wife Queene Eleanor and to take the said Adela to be his Wife Yet generally to speake of him he was an excellent Prince and if in some particulars he were defective it must be considered he was a Man Of his death and buriall HE was not well at ease before but when the King of France sent him a List of those that had conspired against him and that he found the first man in the Lyst to be his Son Iohn he then fell suddenly into a fit of Fainting which so encreased upon him that within foure dayes after he ended his life So strong a Corrosive is Griefe of mind when it meetes with a Body weakned before with sicknesse He dyed in Normandy in the yeare 1189. when he had lived threescore and one yeares Raigned neare five and thirty and was buryed
made the whole Country of the Welsh well pleased and sound forth his praises His Pious Acts were that he built and prepared seven and forty Monasteries and meant to have made them up fifty but was prevented by death But now his mixture of Vice marred all especially being a Vice opposite to all those Vertues which was Lasciviousnesse For first he deflowred a sacred Nunne called Wolfchild on whom yet he begot a Saint the chast Edyth After her another Virgin called Ethelflede for her excellent beauty surnamed the White on whom he begot his eldest Sonne Edward for which Fact he did seven yeares penance enjoyned him by the Arch-bishop Dunstan After this he chanced to heare of a Virgin Daughter to a Westerne Duke exceedingly praysed for her beauty and comming to Andover commanded her to his Bed But the Mother tender of her Daughters honour brought in the darke her mayd to him who in the morning making hast to rise and the King not suffering her to depart she told him what great worke she had to doe and how she should incurre her Ladies displeasure if it were not done by which words the King perceiving the deceit turned it to a jest but so well liked her company that he kept himselfe true to her ever after till he marryed But now his marriage it selfe happened by a greater vice then any of these For hearing of the admirable beauty of Elâ—rida the onely daughter of Ordganus Duke of Devonshire Founder of Tavestocke Abbey in that Country he sent his great Favorite Earle Ethelwold who could well judge of beauty to try the truth thereof with Commission that if he found her such as Fame reported he should seise her for him and he would make her his Queene The young Earle upon sight of the lady was so surprized with her love that he began to wooe her for himselfe and got her Fathers good will so as the King would give his consent Hereupon the Earle posted to the King relating to him that the Mayd was faire indeed but nothing answerable to the Fame that went of her yet desired the King that he might marry her as being her Fathers heire thereby to raise his Fortunes The King consented and the marriage was solemnized Soone after the fame of her beauty began to spread more then before so as the King much doubting that he had beene abused meant to try the truth himselfe and thereupon taking occasion of hunting in the Dukes Parke came to his house whose comming Ethelwold suspecting acquainted his wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure intreated her by all the perswasions he could use to cloathe her selfe in such attire as might be least fit to set her forth but she considering that now was the time to make the most of her beauty and longing to be a Queene would not be accessary to her owne wrong but decked her selfe in her richest Ornaments which so improved her beauty that the King at her first sight was strucke with admiration and meant to be revenged of his persidious Favourite yet dissembling his passion till he could take him at advantage he then with a Javelin ran him through and having thereby made the faire Elfrid a Widow tooke her to be his Wife This King founded the Monastery of Ramsey in Hamshire Raigned sixteene yeares Lived seven and thirty and with great Funâ—rall pompe was buryed in the Abbey of Glastenbury He had children by his first wife Ethelfleda one sonne named Edward and by his second wife Elfrid two sons one named Edmund who dyed young the other Ethelred He had also one naturall Daughter named Edgyth by a Lady named Wolfchild the daughter of Wolholme the sonne of Birding the sonne of Nesting which two latter beare in their names the memory of their Fortunes the last of them being found in an Eagles nest by King Alfred as he was a hunting This Edgyth built the Monastery and Church of Saint Dennis at Wilton and was there buryed After the death of King Edgar succeeded his sonne Edward but not without some opposition for Queene Elfrid combined with divers of the Lords to make her Sonne Ethelred King saying that Prince Edward was illegitimate on the other side the Arch-bishop Dunstan and the Monkes stood for Edward abetting his Title as being lawfully borne but while the Counsell was assembled to argue their Rights the Arch-bishop came in with his Banner and Crosse and not staying for debating De Iure De Facto presented Prince Edward for their lawfull King and the Assembly consisting most of Clergy men drew the approbation of the rest and thereupon Prince Edward was admitted being but twelve yeares of age and was Crowned King at Kingstone upon Thames by Arch-bishop Dunstan in the yeare 975. In the beginning of his Raigne it fell into debate whether marryed Priests were to be allowed to live in Monasteries upon the revenues of the Church The Mercian Duke Alferus favouring the cause of the marryed Priests destroyed the Monasteries in his Province cast out the Monkes and restored againe the ancient revenues to the Priests and their wives On the other side Edelwyn Duke of the East Angles and Brithnoth Earle of Essex who stood for the Monkes cast marryed Priests out of their Provinces The matter being debated in a Councell at Westminster the Monkes cause was like to have the foyle till it was referred to the Rood placed on the Refectory wall where the Counsell sate For to this gréat Oracle Saint Dunstan desired them devoutly to pray and to give diligent eare for an Answer when suddenly a voyce was heard to say God forbid it should be so God forbid it should be so This was thought authority sufficient to suppresse the Priests till they perswading the people that this was but a cunning practise of the Monkes in placing behind the wall a man of their owne who through a Trunke uttered these words in the mouth of the Rood whereupon another Assembly was appointed at Cleve in Wiltshire whither repaired the Prelates with most of all the Lords and Gentlemen of the Kingdome The Synod being set and the matter at the heighth of discussing it happened that the Joysts of the roome where the Synod was held suddenly brake and the floore with all the people thereon fell downe whereof many were hurt and some slaine Onely the Arch-bishop Dunstan then President and mouth for the Monkes remained unhurt which whether it were done by practise or were miraculous it served the Monkes turne for justifying their cause and marryed Priests were thereupon discarded It were infinite and indeed ridiculous to speake of all the Miracles reported to be done by this Saint Dunstan which may be fit for a Legend but not for a Chronicle But now a most lamentable dysaster comes to be remembred For King Edward hunting one time in the Island of Purbacke not farre from Corfe Castle where his mother in Law Queene Elfrid with
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
February the foureteenth crowned at Westminster Shee surviving king Henry was re-married to Owen Teuâ—â—â— an Esquire of Wales who pretended to be discended from Cadwalladeâ— the antienâ— king of Wales though some write him to be the sonne of a Brewer whose meannesse of estate was recompensed by the delicacy of his personage so absolute in all the lineaments of his body that the only contemplation of it might well make her forget all other circumstances by him she had three sonnes Edmond Iâ—sper and Owen and a daughter that lived but a while Her sonne Owen tooke the habit of Religion at Westminster the other two were by king Henry the sixt their halfe brother advanced in honor Edmond was created Earle of Richmond and marrying the sole heyre of Iohn Beaufort Duke of Somerset was Father by her unto Henry the sâ—aventh king of England the only heyre of the house of Lancaster Iasper her second sonne was first created Earle of Pembroke and after Duke of Bedford but dyed without lawfull issue This Queenâ— either for devotion or her owne safety â—oke into the Monastery of Bermoâ—dsey in Southwarke who dying the second oâ— January 1436. she was buried in our Ladies Chappell within St. Peters Church at VVestminster whose corps taken up in the Reigne of king Henry the sâ—aventh her Grand-childe when he laid the foundation of that admirable structure and her Coffin placed by king Henry her husbands Tombe hath ever since so remained and never since re-buried where it standeth the cover being loose to bee seene and handled of any that will By her king Henry had only one son named Henry who succeeded him in the Kingdom Of his Personage and Conditions HE was tall of stature leane of body and his bones small but strongly made somewhat long necked black haired and very beautifull of face swift in runing so as hee with two of his Lords without bow or other engine would take a wilde Buck or Doe in a large Parke Hee delighted in songs and musicall Instruments insomuch that in his Chappell amongst his private prayers he used certaine Psalmes of Dâ—vid translated into English meeter by Iohn Lydgate Monke of Bury And indeed it may be truly said of him as was said of Aenaeâ—s Quo justior alter Nec piâ—tate fuit nec bello major arâ—iâ— for he seldom fought baâ—â—ell where he got not the victory and never got victory whereof he gave not the glory to God with publique Thanksgiving He was a better man a King then a Subject for till then he was not in his right Orbe and therfore no mervaile if he were somthing exorbitant He was of a mercifull disposition but not to the prejudice of wisedom as thinking wise cruelty to be better then foolish pitty He was no lesse politick then valianâ— for he never fought battell nor wonne Town wherein hee prevailed not asmuch by stratagem as by force He was so temperate in his dyet and so free from vain-glory that we may truly say he had something in him of Caesar which Alexander the Greâ—â— had not that he would not bee drunke and somâ—hing of Alexander the Great which Caesar had not that he would not be flattered He was indeede a great affector of Glory but not of glory the blâ—st of mens mouthes but of the Glory that fills the sailes of Time He dyed of full yeeres though not full of yeeres if he had lived longer he might have gone over the same againe but could not have gone further If his love were great to Military men it was not small to Clergy men insomuch as by many he was called the Prince of Priests Of his Death and Buriall SOme say he was poysoned which Polydore Virgill saith was much suspected The Scots write that he died of the disease called St. Fiâ—cre which is a Palsie and a Crampe Eâ—guerant saith that he died of St. Anthonies fire But Peter Basset Esquire who at the time of his death was his Chamberlaine affirmeth that hee died of a Pleurisie which at that time was a sicknesse strange and but little known Being dead his body was embalmed and closed in lead and laid in a Chariot-Royall richly apparelled in cloath of Gold was conveyed from Boys de Vinâ—â—nâ—es to Paris and so to Roaâ— to Aâ—bevyle to Câ—llys to Dâ—ver and from thence through London to Westminster where it was interred next beneath King Edward the Confessor upon whose Tombe Queene Katherine caused a Royall picture to be layed covered all over with silver plate gilt but the head thereof altogether of massie silver all which at that Abbies suppression were sacrilegiously broken off and transferred to pâ—ophaner uses Hee dyed the last day of August in the yeere one thousand foure hundred twenty two when he had reigned nine yeeres and five Moneths lived eight and thirty yeeres Of men of Note in his time MEN of valour in his time were so frequent that we may know it to be a true saying Regis ad exempluâ— and men of learning likewise in such numbers that we may know the Prince to have been their Patron First Alayn de Lyn a Carmelite Frier in that Towne who wrote many Treatises Then Thomas Otterborne a Franciscan frier who wrote an History of England Then Iohn Seguerd who kept a Schoole in Norwich and wrote sundry Treatises reproving as well the Monkes and Priests as Poets for writing of filthy verses Robert Rosâ— a Carmelite frier in Norwich who writing many Treatises yet said nothing against the Wickleâ—ists Richard Câ—yster borne â—o Nofolke a man of great holinesse of life favoring though secretly the doctrine of VVickliffâ— William Wallis a Black frier in Liâ— who made a booke of Moralizations upon Ovids Metamorphosisâ— William Taylor a Priest and a Master of Art in Oxford a stedfast follower of Wickliffes doctrine and burnt for the same at Smithfield in London the last yeere of this â—ings reigne Bartholomew Florarius called so of a Treatise which he wrote called Florarium who writ also another Treatise of Abstinence wherein he reproveth the corrupt manners of the Clergie and the pâ—ofession of the Friers Menâ—icants Alsâ— Titus Liviâ—â— de Foâ—â— Lâ—visâ—is an Itâ—lian bornâ— but seeing he â—as râ—siant here and wâ—ote the life of this King it is not unfit to make mention of him in this place also many others THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH THere had beene a Race of Princes of which for three generations together it might be rightly sayd Pulcherrima proles Magnanimi Heroes nati melioribus Annis For King Edward the Third had many Sons not inferior in valour to the many Sons of King Priâ—â—â—s not excepting his valiant Son Hector having so equall a match for him as Edward the blacke Prince who wanted but an Homer to have been an Achilles Then Iohn of Gâ—unâ— likewise had divers Sons men as valorous as any that Age afforded Then Henry the Fourth had foure Sons oâ— so heroicall disposition all that you might know them all to be
Earle returning into Brittâ—iâ—e received there the news of the Duke of Buckinghams death and the dispâ—râ—ing of the Confederates forces with which though he was at first much troubled yet was he as much comforted afterward when he saw the Marquesse Dorset and those other Lords and Captaines come unto him soon after whose comming upon Christâ—â—sse day before the high Altar in the great Church of Rheims the Earle of Richmoâ—d gave Oath to marry the Lady Elâ—zabeth as soone as he should be quietly â—eâ—led in the Government of England and thereupon all the Lords and Knights there present did him homage and in the same place each to other Religiously Vowed taking the Sacrament upon it never to cease prosecuting warre against king Richard till either his Deposition or Destruction King Richard being informed of these things makes diligent enquiry after all such as might be suspected to be favourers of Richmonds association of whom Sir George Brown and Sir Roger Clifford with foure other Gentlemen are apprehended and exâ—cuted at London Sir Thomas Sentlâ—geâ— whom mâ—rried Anne the Duke of Excetâ—rs widdow this kings own sister and Thomas Rame Esquire were executed at Exceter Thomas Marquesse Dorset and all such as were with the Earle of Richâ—â—â—d were at a Parliament then holden attâ—inted of Treason and all their Goodâ— aâ—d Lands seized on to the kings use Besides these a poore Gentleman called Câ—lliâ—gborâ—â— for making a small ryme of thâ—ee of his wicked Coâ—nsellours the Lord Lâ—â—â—ll Sir Robert Ratcliffe and Sir William Catesby which ryme was thus framed 〈◊〉 Cat the Rat and â—â—vell the Dog rule all Englaâ—â— under a â—â—og was put to deatâ— â—nd his body divided into foure quarterâ— At this time a Truce is conclâ—ded betwixt England and Scâ—â—land for three yearsâ— and for a seâ—ling a firmer Amity between the two kingdomes a marriage it treatedâ— of between the Duke of Rothsay eldest Sonne to the king of Scots and the Lady Anne de la Poole daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolk by Anne sister to king Riâ—hard which sister he so much favoured that after the death of his own sonne who dyed some time before â—e caused Iohn Earle of Lincolne her sonne and his Nephew to be proclaimed Heire apparent to the Crown of England And now King Richard to take away the Root of his feare once againe sent Ambâ—â—â—adors to the Duke of Britaine with ordeâ— besides the great gifts they caried with them to make offer that king Richard should yeerly pay and answer the Duke of all the Revenues and Profits of all lands and possessionsâ— as well belonging to the Earle of Richmond as of any other Nobleman or Gentleman that were in his company if he after that time would keep them in continuall prison and restraine theâ— from liberty But the Duke of Britâ—ine being at that time fallen into such infirmity that the Ambassadors could have no audience they addressed themselves to â—eter Landois the Dukes chief Treasurer and he taken with this golden hook faithfully promised to satisfie their Request and had done so indeed but that B. Mortoâ— sojourning then in Flâ—â—ders had by his friends Intelligence of his purpose and presently informed the E. thereof The E. was then at Vaâ—â—eâ—â— who upon the Bps. information taking with him only five servants as though he went but to visit some friend when he was five miles forward on his way suddenly turned into a Wood adjoyning and there changing apparell with one of his servants followed after as their attendant and never rested till by wayes unknown he came to his company abiding at Angiâ—râ— yet was not his departure so secret nor so sudden but that Peter Landois had notice of it who sending Posts after him was so neer overtaking him that he was scarce entred one houre into Francâ— when the Posts arrived at the Conâ—ines and then durst goe no further In the mean time Sir Edward Woodvile and Captaine Pâ—ynings who with their companies were left behinde in Vannes had been in danger of Peter Lâ—ndis his malice but that the Duke being informed by the Chancellour of their case not only protected them but furnished them with all necessaries for their journey to the Earle and was so incensed against Lâ—â—dois for this action of his that for this and some other over-bold preâ—umptions he was afterward hanged The Earle having passed this danger in Britaine and being arrived in France addresseth himselfe to the French king imploring his ayde and hath it promised and performed and in this time Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford who had long time been kept prisoner in the Castle of Hammes so farre prevailed with Iames Blunt Captaine of the Fortresse and Sir Iohn Fortescue Porter of the Town of Callice that not onely they suffered him to be at liberty but accompanied him also to the Earle of Richmâ—â—â— to whom Captain Blunt gave assurance that the Fortresse remained wholly at his devotion At this time also there resorted to the Earle divers young Gentlemen that were Students in the University of Paris profering him their service amongst whom was Richard Fox at that time famous for his learning with whom afterward the Earle advised in all his affaires made him one of his most Privy Counsell and at last Bishop of Winchester But now king Richard having been disappointed of his designe in Britaine hath another way in his head to disapoint the Earle of Richmond of his marriage with the Daughter of Queen Elizabeth and to this end he sent to the Queenâ— being still in Sanctuary divers messengers who should first excuse and purge him of all things formerly attempted and done against her and then should largely promise promotions innumerable not onely to her selfe but also to her sonne Lord Thomas Marquesse Dâ—râ—etâ— by â—orâ—e of which promises the messengers so prevailed with her â—hat noâ— onely she began â—o relent but 〈…〉 was content to submit her selfe wholly to thâ— kingâ— pleasure And thereupon putting in oblivion the murther of her innoâ—â—â—â— Children the butchering of her own Brother and Sonne the infamy of her â—oyâ—ll Huâ—â—and the aspersion of Adulteâ—y cast upon her selfe the imputation of Bastardy laid to her Daâ—â—hterâ—â— forgetting also her Oaâ—h made to the Earle of Richmonds Mothâ—r seduced by flaâ—tering words she first delivered into king Richards hands her â—ive Daughters and after sent letters to the Marquesse her Sonne being then at Pariâ— witâ— the Earle of Richmond willing him by any means to leave the Earle and with all speed to repaire into Englandâ— where for him were provided great Honours and Promotions Assuring him further that all offences on both parts were forgotâ—en â—nd forgiven and both he and she incorporated in the kings favour If we wonder at this credulity in the Queen we may conceive she was moved with the 〈…〉 motives of Feare and hope she feared no doubt that if she denyed the kingâ— request he would presently take some sharpe course both against her and her Dâ—â—â—htâ—rs and she hoped that
thereupon for not coming into England as he had determined The Count found the Queen at Canterbury where she gave him Royall intertainment and Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury Royall intertainment to them both All this while since the death of the Earl of Marre there had been no Regent in Scotland but now by the procurement of Queen Elizabeth chiefly Iames Dowglas Earl of Morton is made Regent who when his Authority in a Parliamentary Assembly was established Enacted many profitable Laws for the defence of Religion against Papists and Hereticks in the name of the King But the proâ—ection and keeping of the Kings Person hee confirmed to Alexander Areskin Earl of Marre to whom the custody of the Kings in their tender yeers by speciall priviledge belongeth though hee were himself in his Minority Upon these conditions That no Papists nor factious persons should be admitted to his presence An Earl should come with onely two servants attending him A Baron with onely one All other single and every one unarmed The French King in the mean time sent his Embassadour Mounsier Vyriar to corrupt the Earls of Atholl and Hâ—ntley with large promises to oppose the Regent Queen ELISABETH as much laboured to defend him but though by the ministery of Killigrew shee had drawn Iames Hamilton Duke of Castle-Herald and George Gourdon Earl of Huntley and the most eminent of that Faction upon indifferent conditions to acknowledge the Regent yet VVilliam Kâ—râ—â—ld Lord Graâ—nge whom Murray when hee was Regeâ—t had made Goveâ—nour of Edingborough Castle The Lord Humâ—s Lydington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others would by no meanes admit of the Regents Government but held that Castle and fortified it in the Queen of Scots name having Lydington for their Counsellor herein and trusting to the naturall strength of the place and to the Duke D' Alva's and the Fâ—eâ—ch Kings promises to send them supplies both of men and money Now when these persons could by no meanes drawne to accept of conditions of peace and to deliver up the Castle to the Regent Queen Elizabeth who could in no case endure the French in Scotland suffered her self at length to be intreated by the Regent to send Forces Gunnes and Ammunition for assaulting of the Castle upon certain conditions whereof one was that ten Hostages should be sent into England to be security foâ— returning the men and Munition unlesse by the common hazard of War they should chance to miscarry The conditions being argued on William Drury Marshall of the Garrison at Barwick with some â—reat Ordnance and Fifteen hundred Souldiers amongst whom were some noble Voluntiers George Carie Henry Carie Thomas Cecill Heâ—ry Lee William Knolles Sutton Cotton Kelway VVilliam Killigrew and others entred into Scotland and besieged the Castle which after three and thirty dayes siege was delivered up to the Regent for the Kings use with all the persons that were in it amongst whom Kircald Lord Grange and Iames his brother Musman and Cook gold-smiths who had counterfeited Coyne in the Castle were hanged although to redeem Granges life a hundred of the Family of the Kircalds offered themselves to be in perpetuall servitude to the Regent besides an annuall Pension of three thousand Marks and twenty thousand pounds of Scottish money in present and to put in caution that from thence forth he should continue in duty homage to the King but it would not bee accepted Humes and the rest were spared through Queen Elizabeths mercifull intercession Lydington was sent to Leith where hee dyed and was suspected to bee poysoned A man of the greatest understanding in the Scottish Nation and of an excellent wit but very variable for which George Buchanan called him the Camelion And now from this time Scotland began to take breath after long Civill Warres and as well the Captaines of both parties as the Souldiers betook themselves into Swedeland France and the Low-Countries where they valorously behaved themselves and wonne great commendation As for Iohn Lesle Bishop of Rosse he was now set at liberty but commanded to depart presently out of England and being beyond the Sea he continued still to sollicite his Mistresse the Queen of Scots cause with the Emperour the Pope the French King and the German Princes of the Popish Religion who all led him on with faire promises but performed nothing For indeed he in whom he had greatest confidence which was the Duke D' Alva was at that time called away partly out of Jealousie of State as being thought to grow too great and partly out of opinion that by his cruelty he made the people to revolt and therefore in his place was sent Ludovicus Zuinga a man of great Nobility in Spain â—ut of a more Peaceable disposition then D' Alva â—ow this man did all good Offices to win Queen Elizabeth to him and minding his owne Affairs only would not intermeddle with the Scottish or English matters About this a frentick Opinion was held by one Peter Bourcheâ— a Gentâ—eman of the Middle-Temple that it was lawfull to kill them that opposed the truth of the Gospell and so far was he possest with this opinion that he assaulted the famous Seaman Captain Hawkins and wounded him with a dagger taking him for Hutton who at that time was in great favour with the Queen and of her privy Counsell whom he had been informed to be a great Adversary to Innovations The Queen grew so angry hereat that she commanded Marshiall Law should be executed upon him presently till her Counsell advised her that Marshiall Law was not to be used but in the Field and in turbulent times but at home and in time of Peace there must be Legall proceedings Hereupon Bourchet was sent to the Tower where taking a brand out of the fire he strook it into the brains of one of his keepers named Hugh Longwroth and killed him for which fact he was condemned of murther had his right hand cutt off and nayled to the Gallows and then himselfe hanged After the violent death of this Varlet we may speake of the naturall death of two great persons First William Lord Howard of Effingham Son of that warlike Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk by his second wife Agnes Tilney This William was made a Baron by Queen Mary and Lord High Admirall of England and by Queen Elizabeth Lord Chamberlain till such time that being taken with age he yeelded up that place to the Earl of Sussex and was then made Keeper of the Privy Seal which is the fourth degree of honour in England His Son Charles succeeded him in the Dignity of his Barony who was after made Lord Chamberlain to the Queen and then Lord High Admirall of England A while after him dyed Reginold Grey Earl of Kent whom the Queen a yeer before of a private man had made Earl of Kent when as that Title from the death of Richard Grey Earl of Kent who had wasted his Patrimony and was elder brother to this mans
many Ieâ—es were hurt and some slaine and thereupon a rumour was suddenly spread abroad that the King had commanded to have all the Iewes destroyed Whereupon it is incredible what rifling there was of Iewes houses and what cutting of their throats and though the King signified by publike Declaration that he was highly displeased with that which was done yet there was no staying the fury of the multitude till the next day so often it fals out that great solemnities are waited on with great dysasters or rather indeed as being connaturall they can hardly be asunder Of his first Acts after he was Crowned HE beganne with his Mother Queene Eleanor whom upon her Husbands displeasure having been kept in Prison sixteen yeares he not onely set at liberty but set in as great authority as if she had beene left the Regent of the kingdom The next he gratifies was his brother Iohn to whom he made appeare how much the bounty of a Brother was better then the handnesse of a Father For he conferred upon him in England the Earledomes of Cornwall Dorset Somerset Nottingham Darby and Leycester and by the marriage of Isabel daughter and heire to the Earle of Glocester he had that Earledome also as likewise the Castles of Marleborough and Lutgarsall the Honours of Wallingford Tichill and Eye to the value of 4000. Markes a yeare an estate so great as were able to put a very moderate mind into the humour of aspiring of which Princes should have care Concerning his affianced Lady Adela it may be thought strange that having desired her so infinitely when he could not have her now that he might have her he cared not for her but the cause was knowne and in every mans mouth that she was now but his Fathers leavings yet he would not send her home but very rich in Jewels to make amends if it might be for the losse of her Virginity though this was something hard on his part when the Father had taken all the pleasure that the sonne should afterward pay all the charges But by this at least he made a quiet way for his marriage now concluded and shortly after to be consummated in Sicilie with Berengaria the daughter of Garsyas King of Navarre And now his minde is wholly set upon his long intended voyage to the Holy Land for which he thinkes not the treasure left by his Father to be sufficient which yet amounted to nine hundred thousand pounds but forecasting with himselfe the great charge it must needs be to carry an Army so long a journey he seekes to enlarge his provision of money by all the means he can devise Not long before Hugh Pudsey had been advanced to the Bishopricke of Durham and now for a great summe of money he sold him the Earledome and then said merrily amongst his Lords Doe yee not thinke me a cunning man that of an old Bishop can make a young Earle From the Londoners also he drained great summes of money and made them recompence in Franchises and Liberties which they had not before He made also greatsales to the the King of Scots he sold the Castles of Berwick and Roxborough for ten thousand pounds to Godfryde Lucie Bishop of Winchester the Manors of Weregrave and Ments to the Abbot of Saint Edmundsbery the Manor of Mildhall for one thousand Markes of silver to the Bishop of Durham the Manor of Sadborough and when it was marvelled that he would part with such things he answered that in this case he would sell his City of London if he could finde a Chapman But the worst way of all was that pretending to have lost his Signet he made a new and made Proclamation that whosoever would safely enjoy what under the former Signet was granted should come to have it confirmed by the new whereby he raised great summes of money to himselfe but greater of discontentment in his subjects By these and such like meanes he quickly furnished himselfe with money and now it remained onely to consider to whose care he should commit the government of the Kingdome in his absence and after deliberation he made choyce for the North parts of Hugh Bishop of Durham joyning in Commission with him Hugh Baldulph and William Brunell and for the South parts he appoints William Longshampe Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England and for his greater strength causeth the Pope to make a Legat of all England and Scotland and for Normandy and Aquitaine Robert Earle of Leycester all men eminent for prudence and uprightnesse and which is most of all for loyalty and indeed to make a man fit for such imployment all these vertues must concurre As for his brother Iohn he knew very well his aspiring minde and therefore would have tied him to live in Normandy and not to come into England till his returne but that their Mother Queene Eleanor interceded and passed her word for him and that nothing might be left unprovided for he appointed his Nephew Arthur the sonne of his brother Geoffrey Duke of Britaine to be his Successor if himselfe should faile And now Undique convenere vocat jam carbasus auras every man is ready to take Shipping and no stay now but for a Wind onely some say that King Richard before his departing calling his Lords and Knights unto him and swearing them to be true gave to overy of them a blew riband to be knowne by from whence the first occasion of the Order of the Garter is thought to beginne Of his journey into the Holy Land KING Richard having prepared an Army of thirty thousand foote and five thousand horse and having appointed to meete Philip King of France in Sicilie at the latter end of Iune in the yeare 1190. sets forward himselfe by Land to Marseillis and there stayes till his Ships should come about but his Navy being driven by tempest to other parts and the King weary of long staying after sixe weekes he hireth shipping for himselfe and his company and passeth forward to Messana in Sicilie where arrived also the King of France and not long after his owne Navy In this Iland the King William now lately dead had married Iane King Richards sister from whom Tancred the present King with-held her Dower and therefore though he shewed King Richard faire countenance yet he dealt secretly with the Messanians to use all meanes to get him gone whereupon the Messanians taking a small occasion set suddenly upon the English and thrust them out of their Towne with which King Richard justly offended who had his Campe without the Towne prepares himselfe to revenge the affront when Tancred sending to him to signifie that the affront was offered without his knowledge and much against his liking so pacified him that for the present he remained satisfied but understanding afterward that the Messanians did but waite their opportunity till the Spring when King Richard should be going he resenting their intention staies â—ot their leisure but assaulting the Towne with fire
horse-loafe out a Bakers basket as he passed in the streets and ran with it into his Lords house the Citizens thereupon assaulted the house and would not be quieted till the Major and Aldermen were faine to come and with much adoe appeased them Upon complaint hereof urged against the Citizens by the Bishop of Salisbury L. Treasurer and Thomas Arundell Archbishop of York L. Chancellour the Major and Aldermen and divers other substantiall Citizens are arrested the Major is committed to the Castle of Windsor and the other to other Castles the liberties of the City are seized into the Kings hands and the authority of the Major utterly ceased the king appointing a Warden to governe the City first Sir Edmund Derligrug and afterward Sir Baldwin Radington till at length by speciall suit of the Duke of Glocester the king was contented to come to London to so great joy of the Citizens that they received him with foure hundred on horse-back clad all in one livery and presented the king and Queene with many rich gifts yet all gave not satisfaction to have their liberties restored till they afterwards paid Ten thousand pounds This it is to provoke a Lyon It may be fortune enough to us if by any meanes we can but keepe him quiet for if once we provoke him to lay his paw upon us it will be hard getting from him and not be torne in pieces In his Sixteenth yeere the Dukes of Lancâ—ster and Glocester are once againe sent into France to treat of a Peace but when they could not agree with the French-Commissioners upon Articles propoâ—nded there was onely a Truce concluded for foure yeeres though perhaps a further Agreement had then been made but that the king of France fell newly againe into his old fit of Frensie which called away the French Commissioners from further Treaty In his Eighteenth yeere a Proclamation was set forth That all Irish men should avoyd this Realme and returne home The occasion was because so many Irish were come over that Irelaâ—d in a manner was left unpeopled in so much that where K. Edward the Third had received from thence yeerely the summe of Thirty thousand pounds the king now laid forth as much to repell Rebels Whereupon at Michaelmas K. Richard went himself into Ireland attended with the Duke of Glocester the Earles of March Nottingham and Rutland the Lord Thomas Percy L. Steward and divers others of the English Nobility to whom came in the Great Oâ—eale king of Meth Bryan of Thomond king of Thomond Arthur Macmur king of Leymster and Câ—nhur king of Cheveney and Darpe and there K. Richard stayed all that winter and after Christmas called a Parliament at which time also the Duke of Yorke Lord Warden of England in the Kings name called a Parliament at Westminster to the which was sent forth of Ireland the Duke of Glocester that he might declare to the Commons the Kings great occasions for supply of money whose words so farre prevailed that a whole Tenth was granted by the Clergie and a Fifteenth by the Laytie In his Twentieth yeere was the famous Enterview between the two Kings of England and France There was set up for K. Richard a rich Pavilion a little beyond Guysnes within the English pale and another the like for the French King on this side Arde The distance betwixt the two Tents was beset on either side with Knights armed with theiâ— swords in their hands foure hundred French on one side and foure hundred English on the other The two Kings before their meeting took a solemne Oath for assurance of their faithfull and true meaning to observe the sacred Lawes of Amity one toward another in this Enterview After the two Kings were come together it was accorded that in the same place where they met there should be builded at both their costs a Chappell for a perpetuall memory which should be called The Chappell of our Lady of Peace On Simon and Iudes day the kings talked together of Articles concerning the Peace and having concluded them they received either of them an Oath upon the holy Evangelists to observe and keepe them This done the French king brought his daughter Isabel and delivered her to K. Richard who shortly after at Callis maried her and upon the 17. of January following she was Crowned Queen at Westminster A Match of great honour but of little conveniency and lesse profit for the Lady being but eight yeeres of age there could be no hope of issue a long time which was K. Richards greatest want and as little supply of his wants otherwise her Portion perhaps scarce paying the charges of his journey to fetch her which cost him three hundred thousand markes The Duke of Lancaster in the thirteenth yeere of K. Richards Reigne had been created Duke of Aquitaine but when the Gascoigners would not receive him shewing reasons why that Dukedome ought not to be separated from the Crown of England his Grant was revoked and so it remained still in Demesne of the Crown At this time in a Parliament the Duke of Lancaster caused to be legitimated the issue he had by Katherine Swinford before he maried her of whom Thomas Beaufort was created Earle of Sommerset This yeere also the king receiviug the money back which had been lent to the Duke of Britaine upon Brest delivered up the Towne unto him and thereupon the English souldiers that were there in Garrison were all discharged and sent home who at a Feast which the king kept at Westminster comming in companies together into the Hall as soone as the king had dined and was entring into his Chamber the Duke of Glocester asked him if he did marke those men that stood in such troops in the Hall Yes marry said the king who were they They were said the Duke those souldiers who by your rendring up of Brest have been sent home and now must either starve or steale and therewithall very unadvisedly in words taxed the king with unadvisednes of his deed To whom the king in great anger reply'd Why Unkle doe you thinke me either a Merchant or a Foole to sell my land By S. Iohn Baptist no But could I refuse to render the Town when tender was made of the money lent upon it Indeed nothing could more discover the Duke of Glocesters either weaknesse if he knew not that Brest was but onely a Morgage or injustice if knowing it he would have had the king though the money were tendred to have kept it still but such is the course of many to take part with the Politicks against the Ethicks work their ends by doing unjustly when doing justly ought to be their chiefest end How-ever it was the multiplying of words about this matter kindled in the King such a displeasure against the Duke that it could never afterward be quenched but by his blood And first he complained to his other two Unkles the Dukes of Lâ—ncaster and Yorke of his undutifull behaviour towards him who
for the suppressing of so many Monasteries the King instituted certaine new Bishoprickes as at VVestminster Oxford Peterborough Bristow Chester and Gloster and assigned certaine Canons and Prebends to each of them The third of November Henry Courtney Marquesse of Exceter and Earle of Devonshire Henry Poole Lord Montacute Sir Nicholas Carew of Bedington Knight of the Garter and Master of the Kings Horse and Sir Edward Nevill brother to the Lord of Aburgeiney were sent to the Tower being accused by Sir Geoffry Poole the Lord Montacutes brother of high treason theâ— were indiâ—ed for devising to promote and advance one Reinold Poole to the Crowne and put downe King Henry This Poole was a neere kinsman of the Kings being the sonne of the Lady Margaret Countesse of Salisbury daughter and heire to George Duke of Clarence he had been brought up by the King in learning and made Deane of Excetur but being sent after to learne experience by travaile he grew so great a friend of the Popes that he became an enemy to King Henry and for his enmity to the King was by Pope Iulius the third made Cardinall for this mans cause the Lords aforesaid being condemned were all executed the Lord Marquis the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Neâ—ill beheaded on the Tower-hill the ninth of Ianuary Sir Nicholas Carew the third of March two Priests condemned with them were hanged at Tyburn Sir Ieoffry Poole though condemned also yet had his pardon About thiâ— time one Nicholson alias Lambert being accused for denying the Reall presence in the Sacrament appealed to the King and the King was coâ—tent to heare him whereupon a Thronâ— was set up in the Hall of the Kings Pallace at Westminster for the King to siâ— and when tâ—e Bishops had urged their arguments and could not prevaile then the King tooke him in hand hoping perhaps to have the honour of conâ—erting an Hereticke when the Bishops could not doe it and withall promised him pardon if he would recant but all would not doe Nicholsoâ— remained obstinâ—te the King mist his honor the delinquent mist his pardon and shortly after was drawne to Smithfield and there burnt About this time King Henry being informed that the Pope by instigation of Cardinall Poole had earnestly moved divers great Princes to invade England He as a provident Prince endeaâ—oured aâ—â—arnâ—stly to provide â—or defence aâ—d to that end rode himselfe to the Sâ—a-coast◠〈◊〉 them fortifiâ—â— and in needfull places Bulwarkes to be erected Hee câ—used hiâ— Naâ—â—eâ—â— be rigged and to be in readinesse at any short warning he câ—â—sed Musters â—â— be raken in all sheeâ—es and lists of all able men in eâ—ery Countâ— in Lâ—â—â—don specially where Sir William Forman the â—hen Mâ—jor â—â—â—â—ified the number of fifteene thousand not that they were 〈…〉 but that so many were ready prepared and these on the eight of May the King himselfe saw Mustered in Iames Parke where the Citizeâ—s â—â—â—ove in such sort to exceed each other in bravary of armes and forwardnesse of service aâ— if the City had bin a Campe and they not men of the gownâ— but all profest Souldiers which they performed to their great cost but greater comendâ—â—ion It was now the one and thirtieth yeere of King Henriâ—s reigne and the nine and fortieth of his age when having continued a widdower two yeere he began to thinke of marrying againe and bee needed not be a suiâ—our for a wife for he was sued unto take one The Emperour sollicited him to marry the Dutchesse of Milan but to marry her he must first obtaine a Licence from the Pope and King Henry was resolved rather to have no wife then to have any more to doe with the Pope Then the Duke of Cleve made suit unto him to marry the Lady Anne hiâ— Sister and hee was a Protestant Prince and so though differing in points of Doctrine yet in the maine Point of excluding â—he Pope both of one minâ—e Many about the King were forward for thiâ— Maâ—ch but the Lord Croâ—well specially and indeed it concerned him more then any other that the King should take a Protestant wife seeing 〈◊〉 actions hâ—d beene such as none but â— Protestant Queene would ever like and if the Queene should not like them the King though done by his leave would â—ot like them long Hereupon such meanes was used that Embâ—ssaâ—ours came from the Duke of Cleve to conclude the March and theâ— the elevâ—nth of December the Lady her selfe in grâ—at state was brought first to Callice and then over to Dover and being come to Rochester the King secretly came to see her afterward she was conducted to London meâ— by the way in severall places by all the great Lords and Ladies of the Kingdome The third of Ianuary she was received into London by Sir William Hollice then Lord Major with Orationâ— Pageants anâ— all complements of Staâ—e the greatest that ever had beene seene On Twelfth day the Marriage was â—olemnized the Archbishop of Canterbury did the office the Earle of Oversteine a German Lord gaâ—e her In Aprill following the Lord Cromwell as though he had won the Kings heart for ever by making this march was made Earle of Essex for in March before Henry Rourchieâ— Earle of Essexâ— and the ancientest Earle of England had broken his necke by seeking to breake a yong Horse leaving onely one Daughter and the dying without issue the Earldome came to the Family of Devereux which yet enjoyed not the honour till afterward in Queene Elizabeths time and then made but not restored The ninth of March the King created Sir William Paulet Treasurour of his House Lord Saint Iohn Sir Iohn Russell Controlour Lord Russell and shortly after Sir William Par was created Lord Par. The eight and twentieth of April began a Parliament at Westminster in the which Margaret Countesse of Salisbury Gertrude wife to the Marquesse of Exceter Reynold Poole Cardinall broâ—her to the Lord Montacute Sir Adrian Foskew Thomas Dingley Knight of Saint Iohns and divers others were attainâ—ed of high treason of whom Foskew and Dingley the tenth of Iuly were beheaded the Countesse of Salisbury two yeeres after and in this Parliament the Act of the six Articles was established and Sir Nicholas Hare was restored to his place of Speaker in the Parliament It was now five moneths after the Kings marriage with the Lady Anne of Cleve and though the King at the first sight of the Lady did not like her person yet whether as respecting the honour of Ladies he would not disgrace her at the first meeting or whether he ment to try how time might worke him to a better liking or indeed that he would not give distaste to the German Princes at that time for sole ends he had a working he dissembled the matter and all things went on in a shew of contentment on all hands But for all these shewes the crafty Bishop of London Stephen Gardiner finding how the world went with the Kings affection towards his
of Christ was not Really present in the Sacrament after Consecration 2. That the sacrament might not truly â—e Administred under one Kind 3. That Priests entred into Holy Orders might marry 4. That vowes of Chastity entred into upon mature deliberation were not to be kept 5. That private Masses were not to be used 6. That Auricular Confession was not necessary in the Church Tâ—is yeere also the Religion of St. Iohns in England commonly called the Order of Knights of the Rhodes was dissolved and on Assension day Sir William Weston Knight Prior of St. Iohns departed this life for thought as was reported after he heard of the dissolution of his Order for the King took all the lands that belonged to that Order into his owne hands in his six and thirtieth â—eere the Letany or Praecession was set forth in English with commandement by the King to be generally used in Parish Churches Workes of Piety done by him or others in his time UPon the suppressing of Abbeys King Henry instituted six new Bishopricks â—nd six Cathedrall Churches endowing them with convenient mainteâ—ance he also gave competent Pensions during their lives to such Riligious Persons as were turned out of their Cloysters he also instiâ—uted in both the Universities Professors of the Hebrew and Greek tongues of Divinity Civil-law and Physick allowing to each of them forty pound a yeer he also founded a Colledge at Cambridge he gave at his death a thousand markes to the poor and to twelve poore Knights of Windsore each of them twelve pence a day for ever and every yeere a long gowne of white cloath in the fifth yeer of this Kings reigne George Monor Major of London re-edified the decayed steeple of the Church of Waltham-stow in Essex adding thereunto a side Isle with a Chappel where he lieth buried on the North side of the Church-yard there he founded a faire Alms-house for a Priest and thirteen poor men and women giving them a weekly maintenance he also for the commodity of Travelours made a cawsey of timber over the marshes from Waltham-stow to Lock-bridg towards London In this Kings eighth yeer Richard Foxe Bishop of Winchester founded Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford minding to have made it a house for Monkes but Hugh Oldham Bishop of Exceter perswaded him to make it rather a Colledge for Schollars and joyned with him in it contributing great sums of money towards it contenting himselfe with the name onely of a Benefactour In his seventh yeâ—r King Henry builded the town of Greenwich In this Kings time Cardinall Woolsey Founded two Colledges one at Oxford another at Ipswich to his Colledge at Oxford he had given foure thousand pounds Land a yeere but his Lands being all confiscate to the King the King tooke the Lands but yet gave to the Colledge a competent maintenance for a Deane eight Prebends and a hundred Fellowes which Colledge is now called Christ-Church and accounts King Henry for their Founder His Colledge at Ipswich was demolished This Cardinall also built Hampton-Court the chiefest at this day of all the Kings houses and built or enlarged White-hall called then Yorke-Place King Henry in his foure and twentieth yeer built his Mansioâ— House of Saint Iames where also he made a faire Parke This place before had â—eene an Hospitall of Sisters with whom the King compounded giving them Pensions during their lives In his thirtieth yeere Nicholas Gibson Groâ—er then Sheriffe of London builded â— Free-School at Ratcliffe nere London with maintenance for a Master and an Usher â—e also builded an Alms-house there for fourteen poor and aged people In his one and thirtieth yeer Thomas Huntlow the then Sheriff of London gave certain tenements to the Haberdashers for finding of ten Almes-men of the same company In his six and thirtieth yeer Sir Iohn Allâ—n who had been twice Major â— London and of the Kings Counsaile gave at his death to the Citty of London a rich Coller of Gold to be worn by the Major which Collor was first worâ—e by Sâ—r William Laxton on Saint Edwards day at the Election of the new Major who gave to every Ward in London twenty pounds to be distributed amongst poore Housholders besides to sixscore persons whereof threescore men to every one a gowne of broad-cloth and a black cap and threescore women to every one a gowne of the like cloath â—nd a white Kerchiffe In his eight and thirtieth yeer King Henry gave to the Citty of London for reliefe of poore people Saint Barthalomews Spittle the Church of the Gray-Friers and two Parish Churches the one at Saint Nicholas in the â—hambles the other Saint Ewins in Newgate-Markeâ— all to be made one Parish Church of the Gray-Fryers and in Lands he gave for the maintenance of the same five hundred markes a yeere for ever and this Church to be named Christ-Church founded by King Henry the eighth Casualties in his time IN his ninth yeere happened a Sweaâ—ing-sicknesse whereof infinite multitudes in many parts of England dyed specially in London and was so violent that in three and sometimes two houres it tooke away mens lives and spared neither rich nor poore for in the Kings Court the Lord Clinton the Lord Gray of Wilton and many Knights Gentlemen and Officers dyed of it It began in Iuly and continued to the midst of December In his thirteenth yeere was a great mortality in London and other places of the Realme and many men of Honour and Worship dyed amongst others Doctor Fitz-Iames Bishop of London in whose place Doctor Tunstall succeeded In his nineteenth yeere by extremity of raine in seed-time there followed a great dearth of Corne which would have caused great calamity but that it was relieved in London by Merchants of the Styliard out of Germany and a thousand quarters supplied out of the Kings owne provision In his twentieth yeere in the end of May began in London another Sweating-sicknesse which afterwards infected all places of the Realme by reason whereof the Tearme was adjourned and the Cicuit of the Assizes also many dyed in the Court as Sir Fraâ—cis Poynts Sir William Compton Knights and William Carew Esquire of the Kings Privie-Chamber the King himselfe for a space removed almost every day till he came to Tittinhanger a place of the Abbot of Saint Albones where he with the Queene and a small number remained till the sicknesse was past In his thirtieth yeere the manner of casting Pipes of Lead for conveyance of water under-ground without using of soder was first invented by Robert Brocke Clerke one of the Kings Chaplaines a profitable invention for by this two men and a boy will doe more in one day then could have beene done before by many men in many dayes Robert Cooper Goldsmith was the first that made the Instruments and put this Invention in practice In a Rebellion in the North in this Kings time when the Duke of Norâ—olke was sent with an Army against the Rebels and that a day oâ— battaile
was Iohn of Austria come into the Low-countries with a large Commission for he was the Naturall sonne of the Emperour Charles the fifth to whom the Queen sent Edward Horsey Governour of the Isle of Wight to Congratulate his coming thither and to offer help if the States called the French into the Netherlands yet at the same time Swevingham being exceeding importunate on the States behalfe she sent them twenty thousand pounds of English mony so well she could play her game of both hands upon condition they should neither change their Prince nor there Religion nor take the French into the Low-countries nor refuse a Peace if Iohn of Austria should condiscend to indifferent Conditions but if he embraced a Peace then the money should be paid back to the Spanish souldiers who were ready to mutiny for lack of pay So carefull she was to retaine these declining Provinces in obedience to the King of Spaine At this time a Voyage was undertaken to trie if there could be found any sea upon the North part of America leading to the wealthy coast of Cathaia whereby in one Comerce might be joyned the riches of both the East and West parts of the worlde in which voyage was imployed Martyn Frobysher who set saile from Harwich the eighteenth of Iune and the ninth of August entred into that Bay or sea but could passe no further for Snow and Ice The like expedition was taken in hand two yeers after with no better successe About this time died the Emperour Maximilian a Prince that Deserved well of Queen Elizabeth and the English who thereupon sent Sir Philip Sidney to his sonne Ridolphus King of the Romanes to condole his Fathers death and congratulate his succession as likewise to doe the like for the decease of the Count Electour Palatine named Frederick the third with her surviving sonne And now Walter Deveruex Earl of Essex who out of Leicesters envie had bin recalled out of Ireland was out of Leicesters feare as being threatned by him sent back again into Ireland but with the empty title of Earl Marshall of Ireland with the grief whereof he fell into a bloody Flux and in most grievous torments ended his life When he had first desired the standers by to admonish his sonne scarce tenne yeers old at that time to have alwayes before his eyes the six and thirtieth yeer of his age as the utmost terme of his life which neither himself nor his father before him could out-go and the sonne indeed attained not to it as shall hereafter he declared He was suspected to be poisoned but Sir Henry Sidney Deputie of Ireland after diligent search made wrote to the Lords of the Counsell That the Earl often said It was familiar to him upon any great discontentment to fall into a Flux and for his part he had no suspition of his being poisoned yet was this suspition encreased for that presently after his death the Earl of Leicester with a great sum of money and large promises putting away Dowglasse Sheffield by whom he had a son openly marryed Essex his widdow For although it was given out That he was privately marryed to her yeâ— Sir Francis Knolles his father who was well acquainted with Leicester's roving loves would not believe it unlesse he himself were present at the Marriage and had it testified by a publike Notary At this time also died Sir Anthony Cook of Gyddy-Hall in Essex who had been School-master to King Edward the sixth and was no lesse School-master to his own daughters whom he made skilfull in the Greek and Latine Tongues marryed all to men of great Honour one to Sir William Cecill Lord Treasurer of England a second to Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal a third to Sir Thomas Hobby who died Ambassador in France a fourth to Sir Ralph Lowlet and the fifth to Sir Henry Killigrew At this time the sons of the Earl of Claâ—ricard who scarce two months before had obtained pardon for their Rebellion fell into Rebellion again but were by the Deputy soon supprest and William Drury newly made President of Munster reduced the whole Provice to good Order except only the County of Kerry whither a number of Vagabonds were gotten trusting to the Immunities of the place For King Edward the third made Kerry a County Palatine and granted to the Earls of Desmond all the Royall Liberties which the King of England had in that County excepting Wreckby Fyre Forestall and Treasure Trouâ—e The Governour notwithstanding who wisely judged that these Liberties were granted for the better preservation of Justice and not for maintenance of outragious malefactors entred into it and violently put to flight and vanquished the mischievous crew which the Earl of Desmond had placed there in ambush The Earl in the mean while made great complaints of Drury to the Deputy and particularly of the Tax which they call Ceasse which is an exaction of provision of Victualls at a certain rate for the Deputies Family and the Souldiers in Garrison This Tax not he onely but in Leinster also many Lords refused to pay alleadging that it was not to be exacted but by Parliament but the matter being examined in England it appeared by the Records of the Kingdome That this Tax was anciently imposed and that as a certain Right of Majestie a Prerogative Royall which is not subjected to Laws yet not contrary to them neither as the wise Civilians have observed Yet the Queen commanded to use a moderation in exactions of this nature saying She would have her subjects shorn but not devoured It was now the yeer 1577 and the twentieth of Queen Elizabeths Raign when Iohn of Austria pretending to Queen Elizabeth nothing but Peace yet is found to deal secretly with the Pope to peprive her of her Kingdome and himself to marry the Queen of Scots and invade England of which his practices the Prince of Orange gives Queen Elizabeth the first intelligence Whereupon finding his deep dissembling she enters into a League with the States for mutuall defence both at Sea and Land upon certain Conditions but having concluded it because she would not have it wrongfully interpreted as though she meant to foster a Rebellion in the Netherlands she sent Thomas Wilkes to the King of Spain with these Informations That she had alwayes endeavoured â—o keep the Low-Countryes in obedience to the King of Spain had perswaded even with threatnings the Prince of Orange to accept of Peace but withall if the King of Spain would have his Subjects obedient to him she then requests him to restore their Priviledges and to remove Iâ—hn of Austria from the Government who not onely was her deadly enemy but laboured by all means to bring the Netherlands into utter servitude If this be granted by the King of SPAIN she then faithfully promiseth That if the States perform not their Allegiance to him as by their Promise to her they are engaged to doe she will utterly forsake them and bend
Rome where he tooke upon him the habit of a Monke and after other foure yeares dyed The tenth King was Ethelbald who at first was given to much lasciviousnesse of life but being reprehended for it by Boniface Archbishop of Ments was so farre converted that he Founded the Monastery of Crowland driving in mighty piles of Oake into that Marish ground where he laid a great and goodly building of stone and after two and forty years Raigne was slaine in a battaile by Cuthred King of the West Saxons The eleventh King was Offa who greatly enlarged his Dominions raigned nine and thirty yeares and Founded the Monastery of St. Albans The thirteenth King was Kenwolph who raigned two and twenty yeares and Founded the Monastery of Winchcombe in the County of Glocester where his body was interred The eighteenth King was Withlafe who overcome by Egbert King of the West Saxons held his Country afterward as his substitute and Tributary acknowledging Egbert as now the sole Monarch of this Island And by erection of this Mercian Kingdome were seventeene shires moâ—e lopped off from the Britaines Dominion and was a sixth and a great impairing so as now they were driven into a narrow roome The seventh Kingdome being of the East Angles THe seventh Kingdome was of the East Angles and began by Uffa in the yeare 575. containing Suffolke Norfolke Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely and continued 353. yeares during the raigne of fifteene Kings of whom the fifth was Sigebert who first brought the light of the Gospell into his Dominions and built a Schoole for education of youth but whether at Oxford or Cambridge is left a Quaere and after three yeares Raigne shore himselfe a Monke in the Abbey of Cumbreburg which himselfe had built but being afterward violently drawne from thence by his Subjects the East Angles to resist the Mercian King Penda and refusing to use any other weapon but onely a white wand was in a battaile by him slaine The seventh King was Anna who after thirteene yeares raigne was also slaine by Penda the Mercian King This King Anna was memorable chieâ—ly for the holinesse of his children of whom his sonne Erkenwald was Bishop of London and built the Abbey of Barking neere London His eldest daughter Etheldrid was twice married and yet continued a Virgin still and at last became a Nunne and is remembred to posterity by the name of St. Audrie His second daughter named Sexburg his third named Ethelburg his fourth a Naturall daughter named Withburg all entred into Monasteries and are Canonized all for Saints The foureteenth King was Ethelbert a learned and religious Prince who being invited by Offa the Mercian King to marry Elfrid his daughter came for that purpose to Offa's Court then seated at Sutton Walleys in the County of Hereford and there by him was cruelly murthered In whose memoriall notwithstanding hee afterward built a faire Church at Hereford the Cathedrall of that See as though he could expiate a murther of the living by a Monument to the dead and were not rather a Monument of his owne impiety The fifteenth King was Edmund who assaulted by the Danes for his possessions was more assaulted for his profession for continuing constant in his Christian Faith those Pagans first beat him with bats then scourged him with whippes â—nd lastly bound him to a stake and with their arrowes shot him to death whose body was buried at the Towne where Sigebert the East Anglian King one of his Predecessors had built a Church and where afterward in honour of him was built another most spatious of a wonderfull frame of Timber and the name of the Towne upon the occasion of his buriall there called to this day St. Edmunds bury This Church and place Suenus the Danish King burnt to ashes but when his sonne Canutus had gotten possession of the English Crowne terrified with a Vision of the seeming St. Edmund in a religious devotion to expiate his Fathers sacriledge hee built it anew most sumptuously and offered his owne Crowne upon the Martyrs Tombe After the death of this Edmund the East Angles Country was possest by the Danes and so continued the space of fifty yeares untill that Edmund surnamed the Elder expelled those Danes and made that Kingdome a Province to the West Saxons By that which hath beene said it plainely appeares by what degrees the Britaines lost and the Saxons got the whole possession of this Island For after that Vortigern in the yeare 455. had called in the Saxons every Britaine King that succeeded him lost some part or other of it to the Saxonâ— till at last in the yeare 689. Câ—dwâ—llader the last Britaine King lost all and then the Saxon Kings striving amongst themselves for soveraignty they still gained one upon another till at last in the yeare 818 Egbert King of the West Saxons reduced them all under his subjection and then caused all the South of the Island to bee called England according to the Angles of whom himselfe came after whom they were no longer properly called Saxon Kings but Kings of England and so continued till the Danes in the yeare 1017. made an interruption of whose succession now comes the time to speake Of the Saxons that Raigned sole Kings of this Island and may properly be called English Kings EGbert the eighteenth King of the West Saxons is now become the first of the Kings of England in whose time the Danes began first to infest the Land as thinking they might do as much against the Saxons as the Saxons had done against the Britaines but though they made divers Invasions and did great spoyle yet they were still repelled This King raigned six and thirty yeares and dying in the yeare 836. was buried at Winchester Of his issue his daughter Edith was made Governesse of a Monastery of Ladies by her planted in a place which the King her brother had given her called Pollesworth situate in Arden in the North part of the County of Warwicke where shee died and was buriâ—d and the place in memory of her called St Edyths of Pollesworth To Egbert succeeded his sonne Ethelwolph who in his youth was so addicted to a Religious life that he was first made Deacon and after Bishop of Winchester but his father dying he was intreated by his people to take upon him the Crowne and by Pope Gregory the fourth was to that end absolved of his Vow His raigne was infested with many and great Invasions of the Danes to whom notwithstanding hee gave incredible overthrowes In the time of his Raigne remembring his former Religious profession he ordained that riches and lands due to holy Church should be free from all Tribute or Regall services and in great devotion went himselfe to Rome where he lived a yeare confirmed the grant of Peter pence and agreed beside to pay yearely to Rome three hundred Markes Returning home through France and being a Widower he there marryed Iudith the beautifull daughter of Charles the Bald
then Emperor in honour of whom in his owne Court hee ever placed her in a chaire of Estate with all other Majesticall complements of a Qâ—â—ene contrary to the Law of the West Saxons formerly made which so much displeased his Lords that for it they were ready to Depose him but howsoever hee lived not long after having Raigned one and twenty yeares His yongest sonne Neoto was much addicted to learning and was one of the first Divinity Readers in the University of Oxford and Founded a Monastery in Cornwall which of him was called Neotestock and being dead his body was Interred in the County of Huntington at a place then called Arnulphsbury and afterward in regard of his Interment St. Neotes and now St. Nâ—edes This King was famous for having foure sons who all of them were Kings of this Land successively First after him Raigned his eldest sonne Ethelbald in the yeare 857. who to his eternall shame tooke to wife Iudith his fathers widdow Raigned but two yeares and dying was buried at Shirborn in Dorsetshire at that time the Episcopal See From this Iudith married afterward to the Earle of Flanders after divers descents came Maude the wife of William the Conqueror from whom are descended all our Kings ever since Next to the eldest Raigned the second sonne Ethelbert all whose Raigne which was onely five yeares was perpetually disquieted with Invasions of the Danes which yet were at last repelled He died in the yeare 866. and was buried at Shirborne in Dorsetshire Next to the second Raigned his third sonne Ethelred whose Raigne was more disquieted with the Danes then any others before for they Invading the Land under the leading of Hungar and Hubba spoyled all the Country as they went not sparing Religious places amongst other the goodly Monasteries of Bradney Crowland Peterborough Ely and Huntington they laid levell with the ground the Monkes and Nunnes they murthered or ravished at which time a rare example of Chastity and Fortitude was seene in the Nunnes of Coldingham For to avoyd the baâ—barous pollutions of these Pagans they deformed themselves by cutting off their upper lips and noses Nine battailes in one yeare this King fought with the Danes in most oâ— them victorious but at last received a wound whereof he died and was buried in the Church at Winborne in Dorsetshire Next to the third Raigned his fourth son Alfred in whose time came over greater swarmes of Danes then ever before and had now got footing in the North the West South parts of this Island leaving this King nothing of all his great Monarchy but only Somerset Hampton and Wiltshire and not these neither altogether free so as he was forced sometimes to flie into the Fennes and Marish grounds to secure himselfe where he lived by Fishing and Fowling and hunting of wilde beasts till at last learning policy from adversity and gathering courage from misery hee ventured in the habit of a common Minstrell to enter the Danes Campe where having viewed the manner of their Encamping and observed their security he returned backe shewing his Lords in what condition he found them whereupon setting upon them at unawares he not onely made of them a great slaughter but brought upon them a greater terrour for presently upon this the Danes sue for Peace and deliver Hostages for performance of these Conditions that their King should receive Baptisme and their great Army depart quietly out of the Land But though upon this agreement they departed for the present into France yet the yeare following they returned with greater Forces forraging all parts of the Countrey in most cruell manner though still encountred by this Valorous Prince till hee ended his life in the yeare 901. after he had Raigned nine and twenty yeares The vertues of this King if they were not incredible they were at least admirable whereof these may be instances The day and night containing foure and twenty houres he designed equally to three speciall uses observing them by the burning of a Taper set in his Chappell there being at that time no other way of distinguishing them Eight houres he spent in Contemplation Reading and Prayers Eight in provision for himselfe his Health and Recreation and the other eight in the Affaires of the Common-wealth and State His Kingdome likewise he divided into Shires Hundreds and Tythings ordaining that no man might remove out of his Hundred without security by which course he so suppressed Theeves and Robbers which had formerly encreased by the long warres that it is said a boy or girle might openly carry a bag of gold or silver and carry it safely all the Country over Besidâ—s his great Piety he was also learned and â—s farre as it may be a commendation in a Prince a skilfull Musitian and an excellent Poet. All former Lawes hee caused to be survayed and made choyce of the best which hee translated into the English tongue as also the Pastorall of St. Gregorie the History of Bede and Boetius his consolation of Philosophie the Psalmes of David likewise he began to translate but died before he could finish it And so great a love he had to learning that he made a Law that all Freemen of the Kingdome possessing two Hides of land should bring up their sonnes in learning till they were fifteene yeares of age at least that so they might be trained to know God to be men of understanding and to live happily His buildings were many both for Gods service and for other publike use as at Edlingsey a Monastery at Winchester a new Minster and at Shaftesbâ—ry a house of Nunnes whereof he made his daughter Ethelgeda the Abbesse but his Foundation of the University of Oxford exceeded all the rest which he began in the yeare 895. and to furnish it with able Scholars drew thither out of France Grimbaldus and Scotus and out of Wales Asser who wrote his life whose Lectures he honoured often with his owne presence And for a stocke of Frugality he made a Survey of the Kingdome and had all the particulars of his Estate registred in a Booke which he kept in his Treasury at Winchester He Raigned seven and twenty yeares and dying was buryed in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter at Winchester though removed afterward into the Church of the new Monastery without the North-gate of the City called Hyde His Wife Elsewith Founded a Monastery of Nunnes at Winchester and was there buryed Their second daughter Ethelgeda tooke upon her the Vow of Virginity and by her Fathers appointment was made a Nunne of Shaftesbery in the County of Dorset in the Monastery â—ounded there by him who is also accounted the Founder of the Towne it selfe King Alfred being deceased his sonne Edward called Edward the Elder succeeded not so learned as his Father but in Valour his Equall and Superiour in Fortune For first he overcame his Cousin Ethelwald who aspired to the Crowne then the Danes whose chiefe leader he â—lew in battaile lastly the Welsh